Wow, this book really does take you on a rollercoaster of emotion. Strong narrative, tight writing and plenty of tension. This book follows Tom Kilgannon on his second outing by Martyn Waites, building on things learned in the first book we find out even more in this. Tom gets sent on an undercover mission into Blackmoor Prison, so far so simple, he doesn't realise he is being set up nor the characters from his past he will come face to face with. I don't want to relay the plot as its more exciting to actually read it yourself. The prison atmosphere is conveyed strongly as a reader you can feel the tension, the pressures of that life and the unremitting drudgery of it - a far cry from the Daily Mail 'holiday-camp' portrayal. Here there is the constant undertone of a lid just being kept on something. I think Waites understands much about the dynamics of what goes on from his time leading writing classes in prisons and brings this to the page vividly. The cat and mouse games that go on come to a spectacular conclusion but whilst there are many ends tied up there are some loose ones that can be brought into a future novel in this series which just HAS to come. I have no hesitation in recommending this book for its good writing and strong plot and above all its portrayal of humanity in its many incarnations.

#TheSinner #NetGalley

The Sinner is the 2nd in the Tom Killgannon series. I didn’t know this but, I needn’t have worried you can read it as a standalone.
Tom Kilgannon ex- undercover Police officer and now he is in witness protection, is enjoying his life in Cornwall and it’s just starting to feel like home when he gets a visit from DS Sheridan asking him to return and go under cover and get information from child killer Noel Cunningham. To find out where the bodies of his victims are. Cunningham is in Blackmoor prison. Tom feels a bit apprehensive but finally agrees.
When he arrives at Blackmoor prison he not only does he meets Cunningham but, he is put in the same cell as him. Tom thought he would be in his own cell and he feels quite claustrophobic. After a while Cunningham seems to rely on Tom to protect him from other inmates. If he hasn’t got enough on his plate, Tom is reunited with Dean Foley, who used to run Manchester’s biggest gang and now runs Blackmoor Prison. Tom is responsible for putting him behind bars. Tom fears for his life and does everything he can to survive. He tries to avoid Foley at all costs. He tries to contact DS Sheridan to tell him what has happened and to get him out of there but, he fails miserably.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this book. Martyn Waites is a new author for me and after reading The Sinner I will make sure I will read others that he has written. I really enjoyed this. I thought it had the right mix of Tom life as a cop and his home life and the story of the other characters. This a gripping and highly entertaining read. I was just slightly disappointed on the way it ended. 4 stars from me.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of The Sinner, the second novel to feature former undercover detective and current witness protectee, Tom Killgannon.

Tom (not his real name) is enjoying his life in Cornwall when DS Sheridan and DC Blake come calling. The terms of this quiet life mean that he can be recalled for service at any time and they are insisting that he go undercover in Blackmoor prison to get a child killer to reveal where he buried the bodies. All is not as it seems, however, as Blackmoor also houses Dean Foley, the man Tom put away and led to his witness protection, and he has recognised Tom.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Sinner which I didn’t expect to as I wasn’t overly enthused by the preceding novel, The Old Religion and, from the blurb, I thought this might turn out to be a psychological thriller, a genre I’m not overly keen on. How wrong could I be? This is a top notch thriller with well developed characters, a great sense of tension and some unexpected twists. Once I accepted that realism is not a priority for Mr Waites (too many coincidences and unlikely events) I went with the flow and got really caught up in Tom’s trials and tribulations. It is told from several points of view but none of the characters is revealing their entire agenda so the reader gets surprised over and over again, not just by the twists but also by their actions. It makes for the exciting, tense read all thrillers aspire to but often fall short of. I’m impressed.

The novel also flashes back from time to time to the night in 2014 when Tom Killgannon orchestrated Dean Foley’s arrest. This is very well conceived and done as it not only fleshes out Tom’s character but also explains Dean Foley’s actions and motivation. It puts meat on the bones and gives the plot real bite.

The Sinner is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars


There were some fairly unbelievable parts to the story... how easily the damaged Lila gave up her number as soon as someone asks for it,how foolishly the top copper behaves just at the chance of sex. How easily someone gets in and out of Blackmoor jail . How easily our child murderer fell for a friendly shoulder to cry on.

However... it was a fast paced,entertaining story.
I liked the character of Tom Killgannon a lot,and feel I'm going to have to dig out book one now.
There was double crossing and confusing identities... and an ending for both cellmates,that although I guessed at,was still very satisfactory.
The mystery of Toms nieces death is going to get me reading book 3 too.
Good job. (

I really enjoyed this book. I adored the story line and loved the main characters. I read this book in one sitting and would highly recommend this book.

3.5 stars - I really enjoyed the storyline but just felt elements of it were too farcical for belief. In fairness however, I guess that applies to a lot of books!

I say disbelief because the storyline revolved around an undercover officer (Tom Killgannon) going into prison on the pretence of trying to get information out of a child-murderer (where he hid their bodies) but there was much more to this than Tom initially thinks. He is reunited (not in a good sense) with a high-grade gangster, Dean Foley, who Tom ultimately sent to prison for a life sentence. Dean was aware that Tom was undercover and vowed to take his revenge, so imagine his delight to find him incarcerated in the same prison. A prison I might add that Foley 'runs' and this is where I found the storyline unbelievable as everyone, from the prison officers right up to the governor, were under Foley's thumb.

There were definitely elements to this story I enjoyed though, Tom's tactics to keep Foley at bay and the sub-story of those that Tom has left behind at home whilst he is 'inside'. I would definitely read another from this series and I wonder whether I should go back and read the first one now!

My many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 Stars from me

Oh wow, I completely loved The Sinner by Martyn Waites! I haven't read anything of his before so had no idea really what to expect but after the first couple of chapters I was completely hooked and frankly a bit gutted when it ended.

Tom Killgannon's character in The Sinner was thoroughly engaging and the subplot with Noel Cunningham was just as interesting as the main 'undercover' op vs gangster Dean Foley thread. In fact I found the relationship between Tom and Dean to be fascinating, it made for really compelling reading. 

On the whole, a great and compelling read with some touches of magic - I don't want to give any spoilers but things like the impact of Dean and his suit were very nicely done.

I would love to read more like this and think it would make for a brilliant TV series.

Synopsis: In prison not everyone is guilty . . .

Tom Killgannon, ex-undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by his handler, DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his victims. The only problem is that Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor prison itself. Undercover and with only DS Sheridan knowing he is there, Tom soon runs into danger.

In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester's biggest gang, until Tom's testimony put him away for life. He recognises Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge.

But why can't Tom reach DS Sheridan and what is the real reason that he has been sent to Blackmoor prison?

I'd read the previous novel from the author, and had high hopes for this one. Loved it. Really pacy, but smart with it. The claustrophobia of the setting, and how much this unsettles Tom, left me on edge throughout.

Really enjoyed this one and read it in one weekend.
It's a tense prison thriller with enough of a human element to keep the pages turning.
The novel has several twists to keep you guessing and just enough brutality to make you wince but its also about brotherhood, friendship and loyalty.
I do wish I'd read the previous novel as this may have provided some better understanding of the background but it didn't really matter.
Easy flowing writing style and Mr Waites had obviously done his research too. A good conclusion which doesn't let you down.
Many thanks.

Wow! I literally did not know where this book was going - and I mean that in a good way! Predictable this was not! I've not read the first book in this series, but after reading this I will definitely be reading it! Well recommended.