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paulabrandon's review against another edition
4.0
Dennis Milne is an ex-cop now living in the Philippines running a hotel, since his side work as an assassin (who only kills those who deserve it, of course) means he can't go home to London. Except that's exactly what he does when his latest hit reveals before his death that he was the one behind the murder of a cop Milne considered a friend. Not a close friend, or one he had seen in three years, but enough for him to return to London to uncover the conspiracy behind his death. Of course, he exposes far more than he expects, and finds people keep trying to kill him.
I found Milne's reason for returning to London a bit flimsy. The murdered cop wasn't a best friend. He hadn't even talked to him in three years! Why put yourself in so much danger and risk exposing yourself for that sort of minor connection? The book didn't quite do a good enough job of convincing me that this was something Milne absolutely had to do, whether he was atoning for his past or not.
Other than that, this was a solid Jack Reacher knock-off. Sometimes the book doesn't feel like much more than Milne going to meet a new contact so we can get a detailed description of how Milne gets there and what the place he goes to looks like, which got a bit exasperating, but at least the story moves. (Although that chapter in the pub with the stripper didn't need to be there.) Something is always happening. There's exciting action sequences, and a complex conspiracy for Milne to untangle, and it all mostly makes sense by the time we get to the end, with a couple of plot twists that also make sense. It's an entertaining action thriller in which you can turn your brain off for a couple of hours.
I found Milne's reason for returning to London a bit flimsy. The murdered cop wasn't a best friend. He hadn't even talked to him in three years! Why put yourself in so much danger and risk exposing yourself for that sort of minor connection? The book didn't quite do a good enough job of convincing me that this was something Milne absolutely had to do, whether he was atoning for his past or not.
Other than that, this was a solid Jack Reacher knock-off. Sometimes the book doesn't feel like much more than Milne going to meet a new contact so we can get a detailed description of how Milne gets there and what the place he goes to looks like, which got a bit exasperating, but at least the story moves. (Although that chapter in the pub with the stripper didn't need to be there.) Something is always happening. There's exciting action sequences, and a complex conspiracy for Milne to untangle, and it all mostly makes sense by the time we get to the end, with a couple of plot twists that also make sense. It's an entertaining action thriller in which you can turn your brain off for a couple of hours.
10lewis2011's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
laus3012's review
5.0
Great page turner. Easy read crime thriller. It has thrilling plot twists and turns.
seanbyrne92's review
4.0
Really enjoyed reading this in the second installment involving Dennis Milne - years after we last see him. He is now under a new identity Mick Kane in the Philippines as he aims to escape his past and continue on with his life. As he learns of a death of his former colleague and friend Asif Malik - he is burdened with responsibility to find out more and ensure his death is revenged. He makes the treacherous journey back to London to solve the case. From here, the story unravels at a great pace keeping you hooked on Dennis' every move. I even was invested in his fleeting romance - that's how the author draws you in to Dennis' world. Really enjoyed it - will be ordering the 3rd installment in 'Payback'
jaco_minnaar's review
2.0
I did not read the first book in the series. If I had, it might have changed my opinion. As it stands though, these are my thoughts.
There is way too much going on in this story for it's relatively short length. There's no time to really build suspense, as plot points are explained almost as soon as they come up.
The story itself strongly reminds me of the first season of True Detective. The difference, however, is that TD built its suspense and mystery from the beginning, and it would have served this story well if it had done something similar. The whole conspiracy paedophile ring is only revealed in the latter half of the book, with the whole revenge thing taking the main stage for most of the story. This is a major oversight and a missed opportunity to have created some real suspense.
All in all, not a bad read, just rather disappointing. I have to give the author props for closing up all the plot points rather nicely, with no real questions going unanswered by the end.
There is way too much going on in this story for it's relatively short length. There's no time to really build suspense, as plot points are explained almost as soon as they come up.
The story itself strongly reminds me of the first season of True Detective. The difference, however, is that TD built its suspense and mystery from the beginning, and it would have served this story well if it had done something similar. The whole conspiracy paedophile ring is only revealed in the latter half of the book, with the whole revenge thing taking the main stage for most of the story. This is a major oversight and a missed opportunity to have created some real suspense.
All in all, not a bad read, just rather disappointing. I have to give the author props for closing up all the plot points rather nicely, with no real questions going unanswered by the end.
ericwelch's review
4.0
Ex-DS Dennis Milne is partnered with a former informant and running a small hotel and dive shop in the Philippines. He’s hiding out after the events that occurred in the first novel, The Business of Dying. He’s asked to kill a man due on Friday’s plane from London. Having recognized the man as the killer of his former partner, DS Asif Malik, he shoots him and then decides (implausibly) to return to London where he was the subject of an intense manhunt to wreck vengeance on Les Pope, the man behind Malik’s killing, and also the man who solicited Milne to kill the man off the plane.
The trail to Malik’s killer is convoluted and has a surprising ending, at least as far as one character is concerned. Good read. The books should be read in order.
The trail to Malik’s killer is convoluted and has a surprising ending, at least as far as one character is concerned. Good read. The books should be read in order.
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