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always_need_more_books's review
4.0
DS ‘Heck’ Heckenburg and his colleagues have been tasked with finding some of the UK's most wanted men as part of Operation Sledgehammer. A lot rides on them finding these criminals - there are rumours that the Serial Criminal Unit (SCU) that he works for is in danger of being shut down to save money. During his investigations he discovers a film showing the man he is looking for, Eddie Creeley in an unfair fight for his life. It soon transpires that other fugitives on the most wanted list have also mysteriously disappeared and Heck soon realises they might not be the only players in this game of cat and mouse.
Heck has to decide how far he will go to protect some of the UK's most brutal criminals.
Wow! This is a real rollercoaster of a book - from the moment it kicks off to the very last page, Finch manages to keep you turning those pages. A gritty crime thriller, there are tons of dangerous situations Heck and his colleagues find themselves in but all feel (mostly) believeable. I loved the moral dilmena - someone else is taking out the bad guys - why not let them just get on with it?
This is the 7th book in a series of books about the character Heck, but the first one I've read - this didn't matter, it worked well as a stand alone book but I guess you'd be more invested in the characters if you'd read the whole series.
I really enjoyed this - a sign of a good book for me is if you are reading every second you have spare and when I was racing through the pages whilst also trying to cook dinner, I knew I was on to a good thing. I also liked the fact that there were some strong female characters (a couple of the more senior investigators are female). If you like books by Mark Billingham, Stuart MacBridge and Peter James, this is definately for you.
Thank you to Avon Books and Paul Finch for sending me a copy of this book as part of a blog tour.
Heck has to decide how far he will go to protect some of the UK's most brutal criminals.
Wow! This is a real rollercoaster of a book - from the moment it kicks off to the very last page, Finch manages to keep you turning those pages. A gritty crime thriller, there are tons of dangerous situations Heck and his colleagues find themselves in but all feel (mostly) believeable. I loved the moral dilmena - someone else is taking out the bad guys - why not let them just get on with it?
This is the 7th book in a series of books about the character Heck, but the first one I've read - this didn't matter, it worked well as a stand alone book but I guess you'd be more invested in the characters if you'd read the whole series.
I really enjoyed this - a sign of a good book for me is if you are reading every second you have spare and when I was racing through the pages whilst also trying to cook dinner, I knew I was on to a good thing. I also liked the fact that there were some strong female characters (a couple of the more senior investigators are female). If you like books by Mark Billingham, Stuart MacBridge and Peter James, this is definately for you.
Thank you to Avon Books and Paul Finch for sending me a copy of this book as part of a blog tour.
tarsel's review against another edition
4.0
Full on, gritty, Reacher-style antics from a stubborn and complex detective. Mad story, but the pace builds and doesn't let you think too deeply about what's actually happening.
bookworm_brad's review against another edition
4.0
Not wanting to give too much away about this book and where it leads but up until the last few chapters I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the characters, the action and the narration. Looking forward to seeing what comes next.
kaz_loves_books's review against another edition
5.0
Welcome back DS Heck! One of the best series around and not for the faint hearted! A real roller coaster of a ride in this book with DS Heck and the team tasked with trying to capture some of the most wanted men in Britain.
Heck lays his hands on some footage that shows one of the fugitives fighting for his life. There is a different type of club meting out justice and at a high price, Heck gets on their trail and then things really do go wild but what a twist at the end.
Heck lays his hands on some footage that shows one of the fugitives fighting for his life. There is a different type of club meting out justice and at a high price, Heck gets on their trail and then things really do go wild but what a twist at the end.
beccajbooks's review against another edition
4.0
When The Bill was cancelled, I nearly cried. Where was I going to get my weekly fix of Smithy and the gang from now?
So when I started reading Kiss of Death by Paul Finch, and found myself with a whole new band of police officers to play with, I was a very happy girl. (No one and nothing can replace Dale 'Smithy' Smith).
Kiss of Death is a police/crime drama type book with plenty of gruesome details and horrible crimes. The main guy is called Heck and this is the seventh in the series. I haven't yet read the others, but I think I will look them out now.
It was a good read, suspenseful, detailed. The characters were good, well rounded and as I say, I enjoyed having a police force to get into.
Unfortunately, I couldn't read this in big goes, (due to a certain sporting event which we are now not mentioning), so read it in little bursts. I think, had I had the time, I would have flown through this in a couple of sittings. You kind of get hooked into it quite early on, and I very grudgingly had to set it aside to watch our boys.
It's not a very realistic plot, but that doesn't detract from the thrilling story. I wouldn't want to be a criminal in this world. The ending leaves you wanting more, and that 'cliffhanger' is just immense! Is it a cliffhanger though? I'm not so sure - if it is, then maaan that's mean.
Fast paced, gritty, action-packed. I would recommend.
So when I started reading Kiss of Death by Paul Finch, and found myself with a whole new band of police officers to play with, I was a very happy girl. (No one and nothing can replace Dale 'Smithy' Smith).
Kiss of Death is a police/crime drama type book with plenty of gruesome details and horrible crimes. The main guy is called Heck and this is the seventh in the series. I haven't yet read the others, but I think I will look them out now.
It was a good read, suspenseful, detailed. The characters were good, well rounded and as I say, I enjoyed having a police force to get into.
Unfortunately, I couldn't read this in big goes, (due to a certain sporting event which we are now not mentioning), so read it in little bursts. I think, had I had the time, I would have flown through this in a couple of sittings. You kind of get hooked into it quite early on, and I very grudgingly had to set it aside to watch our boys.
It's not a very realistic plot, but that doesn't detract from the thrilling story. I wouldn't want to be a criminal in this world. The ending leaves you wanting more, and that 'cliffhanger' is just immense!
Fast paced, gritty, action-packed. I would recommend.
nietzschesghost's review against another edition
4.0
'Kiss of Death' is the seventh book in the DS Mark 'Heck' Heckenburg series by The Sunday Times bestselling author Paul Finch, and after taking a break in 2016 to be replaced by the DC Lucy Clayburn series of which there are now two bestselling books, Heck is back with a bang in 'Kiss of Death' but could this be the end for him in this new and compelling tale? Flaming Nora everybody, protect yourself because this is one rough ride!
As with all of the previous books, the story itself is self-contained meaning the books can be read as standalones or in any order. That said, Heck is (forgive me) a heck of a character and to understand his behaviour, complex personality and motivations fully you need to follow his evolution from the first novel in the series right the way through. Reflecting the current austerity situation here in the UK, there are rumours that the Serial Crime Unit (SCU), the specialist team who look into niche crimes, is to be disbanded to save police money. They are viewed as an unnecessary extravagance and most believe that the money would be better placed elsewhere. So, in a bid to save their jobs the team have reassigned themselves to Operation Sledgehammer and the dangerous job of tracking down and apprehending the UK's most wanted, with Heck tasked with finding a particularly nasty armed robber named Eddie Creeley who stands accused of disposing of his robbery victims in disturbing fashion. Unfortunately, noone knows where Creeley is until his sister receives a video and the whole search criteria changes - Heck is now searching for a violent psychopathic killer who has fallen in the clutches of someone who could be even more dangerous than himself, not only is Creeley in grave danger but Heck may be too. Let the games begin!
I thoroughly enjoyed some of the moral dilemmas explored in this book and the fact that the police still have to protect the life of psychopath Creeley despite him not valuing the life of his victims would be a tough one for anyone to stomach but in reality the police have to deal with these complexities everyday. This is a story that plays with your mind but never fails to make you consider the bigger picture. Finch's stories tend to have an authentic feel about them and that is no surprise, being a former cop and a scriptwriter for television police drama's. There is always action aplenty and I have found every one of his books to be extremely exciting and wholly gripping, sometimes the pages can't turn fast enough! 'Kiss of Death' begins at quite a steady pace for a Finch novel but it soon picks up to the usual breakneck speed I have come to both love and expect from his books. The story contained in each particular book is always unique and original and this one was no exception. And boy! That ending was certainly explosive, really explosive. I am pleased to report that Mr. Finch has the cliffhanger down to a fine art!
All in all, if you can suspend your disbelief for some aspects of the plot you will be well rewarded. Another episode of Heck fun and frolics comes to an end... until the next time y'all. Recommended for fans of Simon Kernick, Mark Billingham, M. J. Arlidge and Stuart McBride and crime buffs who like pacy, action-packed adventures.
Many thanks to Avon for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
As with all of the previous books, the story itself is self-contained meaning the books can be read as standalones or in any order. That said, Heck is (forgive me) a heck of a character and to understand his behaviour, complex personality and motivations fully you need to follow his evolution from the first novel in the series right the way through. Reflecting the current austerity situation here in the UK, there are rumours that the Serial Crime Unit (SCU), the specialist team who look into niche crimes, is to be disbanded to save police money. They are viewed as an unnecessary extravagance and most believe that the money would be better placed elsewhere. So, in a bid to save their jobs the team have reassigned themselves to Operation Sledgehammer and the dangerous job of tracking down and apprehending the UK's most wanted, with Heck tasked with finding a particularly nasty armed robber named Eddie Creeley who stands accused of disposing of his robbery victims in disturbing fashion. Unfortunately, noone knows where Creeley is until his sister receives a video and the whole search criteria changes - Heck is now searching for a violent psychopathic killer who has fallen in the clutches of someone who could be even more dangerous than himself, not only is Creeley in grave danger but Heck may be too. Let the games begin!
I thoroughly enjoyed some of the moral dilemmas explored in this book and the fact that the police still have to protect the life of psychopath Creeley despite him not valuing the life of his victims would be a tough one for anyone to stomach but in reality the police have to deal with these complexities everyday. This is a story that plays with your mind but never fails to make you consider the bigger picture. Finch's stories tend to have an authentic feel about them and that is no surprise, being a former cop and a scriptwriter for television police drama's. There is always action aplenty and I have found every one of his books to be extremely exciting and wholly gripping, sometimes the pages can't turn fast enough! 'Kiss of Death' begins at quite a steady pace for a Finch novel but it soon picks up to the usual breakneck speed I have come to both love and expect from his books. The story contained in each particular book is always unique and original and this one was no exception. And boy! That ending was certainly explosive, really explosive. I am pleased to report that Mr. Finch has the cliffhanger down to a fine art!
All in all, if you can suspend your disbelief for some aspects of the plot you will be well rewarded. Another episode of Heck fun and frolics comes to an end... until the next time y'all. Recommended for fans of Simon Kernick, Mark Billingham, M. J. Arlidge and Stuart McBride and crime buffs who like pacy, action-packed adventures.
Many thanks to Avon for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
alwaysneedmorebooks's review against another edition
4.0
DS ‘Heck’ Heckenburg and his colleagues have been tasked with finding some of the UK's most wanted men as part of Operation Sledgehammer. A lot rides on them finding these criminals - there are rumours that the Serial Criminal Unit (SCU) that he works for is in danger of being shut down to save money. During his investigations he discovers a film showing the man he is looking for, Eddie Creeley in an unfair fight for his life. It soon transpires that other fugitives on the most wanted list have also mysteriously disappeared and Heck soon realises they might not be the only players in this game of cat and mouse.
Heck has to decide how far he will go to protect some of the UK's most brutal criminals.
Wow! This is a real rollercoaster of a book - from the moment it kicks off to the very last page, Finch manages to keep you turning those pages. A gritty crime thriller, there are tons of dangerous situations Heck and his colleagues find themselves in but all feel (mostly) believeable. I loved the moral dilmena - someone else is taking out the bad guys - why not let them just get on with it?
This is the 7th book in a series of books about the character Heck, but the first one I've read - this didn't matter, it worked well as a stand alone book but I guess you'd be more invested in the characters if you'd read the whole series.
I really enjoyed this - a sign of a good book for me is if you are reading every second you have spare and when I was racing through the pages whilst also trying to cook dinner, I knew I was on to a good thing. I also liked the fact that there were some strong female characters (a couple of the more senior investigators are female). If you like books by Mark Billingham, Stuart MacBridge and Peter James, this is definately for you.
Thank you to Avon Books and Paul Finch for sending me a copy of this book as part of a blog tour.
Heck has to decide how far he will go to protect some of the UK's most brutal criminals.
Wow! This is a real rollercoaster of a book - from the moment it kicks off to the very last page, Finch manages to keep you turning those pages. A gritty crime thriller, there are tons of dangerous situations Heck and his colleagues find themselves in but all feel (mostly) believeable. I loved the moral dilmena - someone else is taking out the bad guys - why not let them just get on with it?
This is the 7th book in a series of books about the character Heck, but the first one I've read - this didn't matter, it worked well as a stand alone book but I guess you'd be more invested in the characters if you'd read the whole series.
I really enjoyed this - a sign of a good book for me is if you are reading every second you have spare and when I was racing through the pages whilst also trying to cook dinner, I knew I was on to a good thing. I also liked the fact that there were some strong female characters (a couple of the more senior investigators are female). If you like books by Mark Billingham, Stuart MacBridge and Peter James, this is definately for you.
Thank you to Avon Books and Paul Finch for sending me a copy of this book as part of a blog tour.
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