Danny O'Leary writes a fun and entertaining thriller with an underlying sense of humour, it is an enjoyable read, providing you can suspend your sense of disbelief. Set primarily in Los Angeles with a visit to Britain. The central protagonist is Jeremiah 'Jerry' O'Connell, an Essex legend, a lad made good from his humble beginnings as a bouncer, who has moved to the US, establishing himself and making a fortune, diversifying his interests from close body protection, to debt collection and 'problem solving'. In his efforts to do good, Jerry finds himself inadvertently facing what appear to be insurmountable problems of his own after a tragic set of events unfold at Sunshine Heights in the Cedar Tree Neighbourhood, the base of the leader of the CT40 who runs it as his own personal fiefdom, CT40 is the most feared drugs gang in the city.

Ronson Beaufoy is the White Ghost, the personification of evil, a powerful, sadistic, ruthless, and volatile enforcer with a gruesome history of violence, torture and killing that culminated in his blood drenched climb to the top as a drug gang kingpin. Beaufoy cannot comprehend the concept of the sanctity of human life, and eggs on a addled drug addict mother to commit an unspeakable act. After hooking up with the beautiful high class escort, Noah, Jerry is determined that Ronson should pay, the only trouble is everyone he knows is too afraid to join him in his dangerous quest for justice. When he realises he has been betrayed, although not by whom, Jerry has to fall back on his tight loyal crew of 'musketeers', from Essex to help him, which includes the likes of Mad Micky Walker, and YumYum. However, as the body count rises, has Jerry taken on more than he can handle?

This is a fast paced read with plenty of action and suspense, and it is the charismatic Jerry that drives the story, a laid back and down to earth guy with plenty of charm. Whilst Jerry is a good guy, there is no denying that there are many elements of his personality that he shares with Beaufoy, and he finds himself tested to his limits when he comes close to making the kind of mistakes that could challenge his belief in himself as a force for good. This is a crime read for those occasions when you need a straightforward, enjoyable, adrenaline fuelled thrill ride that makes few demands, with a clear cut villain with no redeeming features whatsoever and a Jerry willing to do what is necessary to try and bring him down. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.

Jerry O'Connell is a bodyguard from Essex but now in Los Angeles. he gets caught up in a situation with the most feared drugs gang in L.A. As he tries to do the right thing, events escalate quickly and Jerry struggles for his life. I enjoyed this fast paced book, filled with interesting characters, and I hope there is a follow up. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

A Violent Gentleman is the first book I have read by Danny O’Leary and probably won’t be the last one.

Jeremiah O’Connell aka Jerry is definitely a Violent Gentleman as he sorts out issues in his own unique way but has he bitten off more than he can chew?

The main characters are well drawn and this book was definitely an easy and enjoyable read and I suspect the first in what will become a series

Recommended