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alvin_the_bookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
bookswithemily's review
5.0
This book was such a fast paced and thrilling read. I was intrigued by this book because these are the books my dad normally read and I wanted to see why he enjoys them so much. This book definitely did not disappoint!
The plot of this book was very exciting and it was such a page turner. I loved the police/crime theme, it gave me major Line of Duty vibes! I found I fell into this book immediately and it was easy to follow, nothing was made complicated. There were a lot of events which happen in this book and a lot of twists and turns. I wasn’t sure what expect for the end of this book but it was such a good ending with still a hint of mystery.
The book was told as if the main character, Sketty, was telling the story to Teller and looking back on the past. We got small chapters in between the past, story telling, chapters to see present day conversations between Sketty and Teller. In these small chapters we also alternated in the perspective it was in. Teller is convinced Sketty had more of an input in the attack than he is saying so it is interesting to see how he pushed Sketty for information. The past chapters were so good, I loved the action and just reading about Sketty being an police officer.
I thought the characters were good. I felt the reader could create a good relationship with Sketty by the way he was telling his story. The other characters were very mysterious and it was difficult to work out who to trust. I don’t want to say much more about the characters and the plot because I don’t want to ruin the story.
As I mentioned before, this book is so easy to read. The authors style of writing is straight to the point, so makes the book fast paced. I also enjoyed the short chapters, they also made the book feel like it was going quickly. I highly recommend this to everyone who loved Like of Duty!
The plot of this book was very exciting and it was such a page turner. I loved the police/crime theme, it gave me major Line of Duty vibes! I found I fell into this book immediately and it was easy to follow, nothing was made complicated. There were a lot of events which happen in this book and a lot of twists and turns. I wasn’t sure what expect for the end of this book but it was such a good ending with still a hint of mystery.
The book was told as if the main character, Sketty, was telling the story to Teller and looking back on the past. We got small chapters in between the past, story telling, chapters to see present day conversations between Sketty and Teller. In these small chapters we also alternated in the perspective it was in. Teller is convinced Sketty had more of an input in the attack than he is saying so it is interesting to see how he pushed Sketty for information. The past chapters were so good, I loved the action and just reading about Sketty being an police officer.
I thought the characters were good. I felt the reader could create a good relationship with Sketty by the way he was telling his story. The other characters were very mysterious and it was difficult to work out who to trust. I don’t want to say much more about the characters and the plot because I don’t want to ruin the story.
As I mentioned before, this book is so easy to read. The authors style of writing is straight to the point, so makes the book fast paced. I also enjoyed the short chapters, they also made the book feel like it was going quickly. I highly recommend this to everyone who loved Like of Duty!
velsbooknook's review
3.0
I read all books by the author but this one was only ok for me. The MC was not very likeable in my opinion and I was missing some tension story-wise.
bookish20's review
4.0
If other reviewers are saying this wasn’t his best I can’t wait to read his other books.
nixbix_reads's review
4.0
This had me hooked right from the start! Over the course of an evening, Chris is blackmailed into recounting what happened in the lead up of his most heroic act as a police officer - stopping a terror attack. I thought the storytelling was fantastic & it had me on the edge of my seat. Was Chris a good cop or was he a bad cop, or was he just unlucky? Going undercover into a gang unit to get an in with a shadowy organisation aiding various criminal elements leads to many cliffhangers in Chris’ story & had me saying just one more chapter at the end of each chapter. I was constantly chasing my mind about Chris and whoever else was involved, so I was shocked by the ending. This was a fast paced & gripping read that I struggled to put down.
skye_parker1's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
oliverepic's review against another edition
2.0
I struggled to get through this book and almost left it unfinished multiple times, but it was gifted to me, so I struggled on. I wasn't going to leave a review, but this book currently averages 4.13 stars, and I feel like bringing it down a little out of spite.
The characters were all extremely shallow and predictable, almost as if they were based entirely on stereotypes. The decisions made by the characters felt as if they were made only to move forward with the plot and prolong the book. It started strong, and I had high hopes, but once it started to fizzle out, it didn't stop fizzling out. Not one character was likeable (other than Trevor, the cat), and I know that doesn't always matter, but it felt like I was supposed to be sorry for Sketty, and I just felt nothing but annoyance towards him. Sketty's constant justification of his brutality and violence made it extremely difficult to feel anything positive towards him.
Having said all that, the book wasn't TERRIBLE; the fast-paced scenes were well-written and page-turning - I just didn't care for their outcome. The ending was also disappointing - a cliffhanger I'll have to live with never finding out - and towards the end, it was confusing who was telling the story. I can't give it one star, because I'll feel bad, and I did sit there and read the whole thing - regardless of how long it took and the thoughts of leaving it - so I'll give it two.
The characters were all extremely shallow and predictable, almost as if they were based entirely on stereotypes. The decisions made by the characters felt as if they were made only to move forward with the plot and prolong the book. It started strong, and I had high hopes, but once it started to fizzle out, it didn't stop fizzling out. Not one character was likeable (other than Trevor, the cat), and I know that doesn't always matter, but it felt like I was supposed to be sorry for Sketty, and I just felt nothing but annoyance towards him. Sketty's constant justification of his brutality and violence made it extremely difficult to feel anything positive towards him.
Having said all that, the book wasn't TERRIBLE; the fast-paced scenes were well-written and page-turning - I just didn't care for their outcome. The ending was also disappointing - a cliffhanger I'll have to live with never finding out - and towards the end, it was confusing who was telling the story. I can't give it one star, because I'll feel bad, and I did sit there and read the whole thing - regardless of how long it took and the thoughts of leaving it - so I'll give it two.
snoakes7001's review
5.0
In Good Cop Bad Cop Simon Kernick is on top form. You know what to expect: a flawed hero, plot twists aplenty and enough gripping action to keep those pages turning.
At the start, retired police officer Chris Sketty is recounting events from fifteen years ago to Dr Ralph Teller. At that time Sketty was undercover infiltrating a terrorist group and ultimately was injured in the line of duty. Teller doesn't believe he is telling the whole truth though and has compiled his own dossier. For his part, Sketty doesn't entirely trust Teller either - or his motives.
As the story moves forwards to the present day, the truth that has been hidden for a decade and a half finally comes to light. It's a fast-paced and exciting story and those short chapters mean there is always time for one more.
At the start, retired police officer Chris Sketty is recounting events from fifteen years ago to Dr Ralph Teller. At that time Sketty was undercover infiltrating a terrorist group and ultimately was injured in the line of duty. Teller doesn't believe he is telling the whole truth though and has compiled his own dossier. For his part, Sketty doesn't entirely trust Teller either - or his motives.
As the story moves forwards to the present day, the truth that has been hidden for a decade and a half finally comes to light. It's a fast-paced and exciting story and those short chapters mean there is always time for one more.
ilovenaps's review
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25