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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
I actually feel a bit bad giving this book 4 out of 5 and the previous book I read, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong, only 3. But I've realised in my time of reading (since I was old enough to read and spent hours under the covers with a torch reading Roald Dahl) that no matter what other people think of a book, it's your reading experience that counts. I know this book is low brow and basically a blockbuster action movie in book form, I know I don't need to use my brain, or feel that the book might change my life. I just enjoyed reading it. I wanted to know what happened to the characters and wanted the bad guys to get their comeuppance in the end. I wanted fight scenes and stop-or-I'll-shoot and that's what I got. My life is not changed, I've learned nothing, but I was entertained.
Action packed plot, involving 2 of Kernick's main characters, Dennis Milne and Tina Boyd, who make a great team to eliminate some very bad men in the Philippines!
Omg, enjoyed this significantly more than I thought. Definitely the best one in the trilogy!
I loved Dennis in this, from his thoughts to his actions. I could finally imagine his face, something I wasn't able to do in the previous books. He felt even more real to me than in the last book. Tina was also extremely well thought-out and I enjoyed getting to know her. The other characters kept the story going and had a lot to give to the plot, so I was never bored or disinterested.
The plot of this book was well fleshed out and I was invested from the very beginning to the very end, which was not the case in the other books in this series. I enjoyed the aspect of Dennis being on a mission to kill Tina, whilst she is a cop who is being to nosy but then they join forces against those Dennis worked for.
The writing of this book was for sure my favorite part. I don't think I've ever read a book where some chapters are written in first perspective, whilst others are written in third. However, Kernick was able to do that flawlessly and I hope I find more books with this structure. It ensured my interest was present throughout.
Happy I read this series, but this specific book carried the whole series. Don't plan on reading more from Kernick specifically but we'll see what the future holds!
I loved Dennis in this, from his thoughts to his actions. I could finally imagine his face, something I wasn't able to do in the previous books. He felt even more real to me than in the last book. Tina was also extremely well thought-out and I enjoyed getting to know her. The other characters kept the story going and had a lot to give to the plot, so I was never bored or disinterested.
The plot of this book was well fleshed out and I was invested from the very beginning to the very end, which was not the case in the other books in this series. I enjoyed the aspect of Dennis being on a mission to kill Tina, whilst she is a cop who is being to nosy but then they join forces against those Dennis worked for.
The writing of this book was for sure my favorite part. I don't think I've ever read a book where some chapters are written in first perspective, whilst others are written in third. However, Kernick was able to do that flawlessly and I hope I find more books with this structure. It ensured my interest was present throughout.
Happy I read this series, but this specific book carried the whole series. Don't plan on reading more from Kernick specifically but we'll see what the future holds!
3.5
It's an amazing thriller. The action sequences were so descriptive that I could imagine it in front of my eyes like a movie. Only sad thing of finishing this book is that now I miss Dennis Milne and Tina Boyd.
It's an amazing thriller. The action sequences were so descriptive that I could imagine it in front of my eyes like a movie. Only sad thing of finishing this book is that now I miss Dennis Milne and Tina Boyd.
The Payback hooks you in early and maintains its momentum throughout. It's a fast paced, gritty read with a high body count. I found it very hard to put down, finishing it in a day.
The plot brings together characters from several of Kernick's previous novels. If you are a Kernick fan, you will enjoy seeing the way he's brought various strands together, but there is sufficient back history given to make it accessible for those who haven't read all the other books.
Jaded ex-policeman turned hitman, Dennis Milne, previously appeared in The Business Of Dying and A Good Day To Die. He's a great character and I was really pleased to revisit him. When the book opens, he is reluctantly accepting a job to kill a journalist in the Philippines. Meanwhile Detective Inspector Tina Boyd is still desperate to apprehend her long-term nemesis, Paul Wise, who she holds responsible for the death of her lover some years previously. She has been co-operating with a journalist in the UK, hoping that he might help to build a case against Wise. When Wise has him murdered, she becomes even more determined to pick up the trail.
The story alternates between Milne's point of view (told in the first person) and Tina's (told in the third person). I kept getting totally involved in one story and not wanting to switch to the other, but then getting involved in that story and not wanting to switch back. Eventually the two intersect and the book builds to a final and violent conclusion.
I really enjoy Kernick's books and they keep getting better. You can tell he's really worked away at this one to keep the reader hooked in and turning the pages frantically - and he's succeeded brilliantly. Clear the decks before you start this, because you won't want to put it down.
The plot brings together characters from several of Kernick's previous novels. If you are a Kernick fan, you will enjoy seeing the way he's brought various strands together, but there is sufficient back history given to make it accessible for those who haven't read all the other books.
Jaded ex-policeman turned hitman, Dennis Milne, previously appeared in The Business Of Dying and A Good Day To Die. He's a great character and I was really pleased to revisit him. When the book opens, he is reluctantly accepting a job to kill a journalist in the Philippines. Meanwhile Detective Inspector Tina Boyd is still desperate to apprehend her long-term nemesis, Paul Wise, who she holds responsible for the death of her lover some years previously. She has been co-operating with a journalist in the UK, hoping that he might help to build a case against Wise. When Wise has him murdered, she becomes even more determined to pick up the trail.
The story alternates between Milne's point of view (told in the first person) and Tina's (told in the third person). I kept getting totally involved in one story and not wanting to switch to the other, but then getting involved in that story and not wanting to switch back. Eventually the two intersect and the book builds to a final and violent conclusion.
I really enjoy Kernick's books and they keep getting better. You can tell he's really worked away at this one to keep the reader hooked in and turning the pages frantically - and he's succeeded brilliantly. Clear the decks before you start this, because you won't want to put it down.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pedophilia
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
It was very fast paced, which I normally love, but for this book the ending came too quick for the build up. It felt like 60% build up, where the actual plot has yet to start, and then 40% of the plot, where everything goes in a straight line without anythung that throws the main characters off of their path completely. Another issue I had was that the Milne changed his mind about what he was doing very suddenly, and it made me stop reading for awhile. Later when the 'plot-twist' happened, it also made me want to stop reading since it felt very unneeded. A smaller issue was that alot of stereotypes were used in the book, men calling women whores, the assisn being russian, etc. Aside from these issues, it was a good quick book with morally grey characters.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another stellar book from Simon Kernick - the third in the series involving Dennis Milne. We meet Dennis again several years after the events in 'A Good Day to Die', he seems to be trying to escape the life he has been leading after so many murders and sins throughout the years. Until he gets pulled back in by a debt owed to Bertie Schagel (a fixer) who reminds him that he owes him a debt due to rescuing Dennis and helping him escape London all those years ago.
Dennis is asked to kill Tina Boyd who has become a problem for a client of Schagel's - Dennis reluctantly accepts the task even though he has hesitations about killing a woman. He knows after this job he can retire in Laos. What entails is a thrill a minute, uncovering more and more behind the lies of the underworld and the cover-ups. Plenty of violence to keep you hooked, similar to all other Kernick books that I have read. Looking forward to reading more of his back catalogue.
Dennis is asked to kill Tina Boyd who has become a problem for a client of Schagel's - Dennis reluctantly accepts the task even though he has hesitations about killing a woman. He knows after this job he can retire in Laos. What entails is a thrill a minute, uncovering more and more behind the lies of the underworld and the cover-ups. Plenty of violence to keep you hooked, similar to all other Kernick books that I have read. Looking forward to reading more of his back catalogue.