This book ... such a compelling read and it totally hooked me from the very beginning. I was drawn into the lives of Evelyn and Tobias, connection, the chemistry, and the happiness that I just knew, from the blurb, is to be all too short lived thing. The opening chapter provides a moment of peace, almost euphoria, for the characters before what is to become a all consuming quest ... but perhaps not in the way you might be expecting. It certainly took me by surprise, but it also had me turning the pages at speed, wondering just how far this quest for revenge might be taken. How far a grieving parent might go to see the man who killed their son face justice.

The story is told from alternating points of view, largely Tobias and Evelyn, but also from Aaron, the man who killed their son. It's a style that works really well, each character telling their story in their words, giving us a far greater insight into their behaviour, leaving the story perhaps far more shocking as a result. It is fair to say that nothing in this book is quite as you might expect, and there was more than the odd occasion when Jack Jordan has managed to take me by surprise in what comes to pass, but as outrageous and, on occasion, dangerous as some scenes in this book seem to be, I still bought into it. We are faced with three characters who are driven by some very strong motivating factors, and the book certainly makes you question just how far you might go if faced with a similar situation.

For Evelyn, the motivation is clear. Still lost in the grief caused by the loss of her beloved son, Joshua, she has only one thing on her mind - revenge. For Tobias his only motivation is to save what is left of his family, his love for Evelyn outweighing his ability to just go along with her plans. For Aaron, he is only seeking acceptance. A place to call his own and someone who will love him as he is. He is also mired in regret, and it is actually him who I found most fascinating. The more we learn of his backstory, the more I understood that his culpability in the death of Joshua is not really as simple as it appeared. It is also to understand why both Tobias and Evelyn have very different reactions to his story and why there can be no happy ever after for any of them in the the chances of a happily ever after for any of them are slim.

Set against a back drop of wildfires, raging out of control and moving ever close to the trio, adds an extra layer of urgency to the story. It's also a perfect metaphor for Evelyn's desire for revenge, burning out of control, seemingly unstoppable until there is nothing but devastation left in it's wake. There was one scene where I thought for a moment that me and Mr Jordan were going to have to have words, but thankfully he didn't take it quite that far. There is still a lot of heartache and hard to read scenes though, the emotions boiling over in all the ways you might expect, evan though Evelyn seems to take to her task with clinical precision.

This is story of three people pushed to their very limits. A tale of family, bereavement, revenge and redemption. It makes you question that whole nature versus nurture debate, and whether someone who has suffered the worst loss you can imagine can be driven to act far beyond the law and their normal moral standards. It is fast paced, full of tension and jam packed with emotion that had me heartbreaking for each of the characters in turn. A truly compelling cat and mouse story in which you know there can be no real winners. And that, perhaps, is the only way this story could ever really end. Definitely recommended.

Jordan returns with a thriller so powerful you’ll never stop thinking about it!

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Jordan’s books and as such, I have the highest expectations for each new one. DO NO HARM is one of my all time favourite books, but REDEMPTION has come along and absolutely blown me away. There’s elements of the popcorn, action thriller that I loved DO NO HARM for, but these punctuate a much deeper, more painful story that is utterly breathtaking. REDEMPTION is the evolution of Jack Jordan, firmly putting him on the map as one of the greatest crime writers of our generation. This book has it all: action, suspense, brutality, but also heart, love, beauty. It blends so many emotions together into a cauldron of pain, anguish, violence and ultimately hope. The pace starts off very evenly, building a detailed picture of Evelyn and Tobias, their relationship, the loss of their son, and the fissures this has caused in their marriage. The narrative is so much about grief and Jordan paints a very deep and heartfelt portrait of it. I felt every ounce of this couple’s pain, it got under my skin and rooted in my very soul. We then meet Aaron - the young man responsible for the death of Evelyn and Tobias’s son, Joshua - and I expected to feel some of Evelyn’s anger. However, Jordan has created characters who are the very epitome of humanity. They are flawed, but they are essentially good. They are the product of their experiences and I immediately felt compassion for all of them. I felt incredibly invested in all of these characters, which really had me turning the pages. The moments of blistering action were explosive and Jordan knows how to perfectly blend these with the more emotional aspects of the plot, keeping things moving forward with tension and suspense. This book will equally appeal to those who enjoy a taut and exhilarating thriller and those who relish a more literary and emotional thriller that gets you thinking.

As well as having my mind blown by the brilliance of the plot, REDEMPTION is a hugely thematic and visual novel. It is absolutely begging to be adapted for the screen. The imagery is simultaneously stark and effervescent, thrusting the reader into the bleakness of these characters’ lives. The sense of loneliness, abandonment, desolation and emptiness is so perfectly reflected in the landscape. The desert is its own character, and one that lends real tension and anguish to this story. Similarly, the wild fires that form a backdrop to the narrative act as a physical reminder of the slow burn of Evelyn’s unravelling grief, rage and plan to murder Aaron. As the fires burn in the background (the references to the smoke, a constant reminder for the reader), we wait on tenterhooks to find out whether Evelyn will burn herself out or whether she, Aaron and Tobias will collide in a blazing inferno that threatens to destroy them all. Jordan also explores the nature of family, unconditional love, and the strength of relationships. This book could almost be marketed as a love story, as it permeates through all of the different elements of the narrative. It’s also very much about finding yourself. It’s a journey of self-acceptance and forgiveness for all of the characters. Aaron’s journey is particularly heartbreaking. He’s been shunned, bullied and abused for his sexuality. Kicked out of his home by his mother as a teenager, he falls into a unsavoury life, confusing it for the love he has craved. His gradual realisation that he deserves more than abuse and trauma is one of the most beautiful aspects of this book. I was genuinely moved by his story.

The final element of the book that I really noted was the references to Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN. Evelyn and Tobias first meet in a cafe, where they are both reading it. This fits perfectly, because like that classic text, REDEMPTION is so much about monstrosity and where it lies. All of the characters in this novel do something monstrous, but all of them are painfully human and none of them are monsters. Jordan balances each to perfection, allowing us to sympathise with each of them, whilst also feeling the horror in things that they do. As with FRANKENSTEIN, human nature and experience is what creates the monstrosity in our society. It’s a poignant and impactful message that resonates just as vibrantly in this text as it does in literature’s seminal example.

If you’ve read all of this, thank you for persevering. All that is left to say is READ THIS BOOK! You won’t regret it!

A lovely book which is both exciting and thought provoking as it deals with issues like revenge, survivor guilt and redemption as well as being a brilliantly plotted action thriller.

The author has done a marvellous job of combining action and thoughtfulness and characterisation and the book educates as well as excites.

A mature action thriller that really gets into the heads of the protagonists.

Highly recommended.

This was a tense thriller set against the backdrop of ever increasing wildfires with Evelyn hunting down Aaron in revenge for killing her son whilst her husband Tobias is tracking down Evelyn to try to stop her killing Aaron. Told from each of their perspectives which really helped to understand the impact each had on the other whilst each was struggling with their own situation. There’s plenty of action in this but I had no idea how this could be resolved and how it would end but Jack Jordan did a good job of not only progressing the story with a lot of sympathy for each character but concluding it in a way that weirdly worked for each. 9/10

What an emotional roller coaster! 

This incredibly gripping new thriller from Jack Jordan follows Evelyn and Tobias, a husband and wife who are travelling through the desert to track down Aaron Alexander.... The man who killed their son in a hit and run 11 years ago. 

The story is told through the three perspectives and will keep you on the edge of your seat. As Evelyn's rage fuels the game of cat and mouse, her plan starts to go terribly wrong despite the years of planning and preparation.  

Tobias is desperate to save his wife and will stop at nothing to save her from herself... even if that means protecting the man who killed his son. 

This on going battle between man and wife to do what they feel is right by their son Joshua results in an increase in bodycount, felonies and emotion.  

It is such a well written, tense, action packed and heartbreaking novel! And despite the rage and despair that is fueling Evelyn's violent killing spree, you cant help but feel sympathy and distress for her and the void that Joshua left behind. 

It is definitely in my top books of 2024 so far!

Jack Jordan knows how to write a nail biting read and gripping read! The book is told from alternative points of view , those of Tobias, Evelyn and Aaron, who caused the death of their young son Joshua, and has recently been released from jail.
Evelyn is still overwhelmed with grief and determined to kill Aaron in revenge for her son‘s death. She’s been plotting this since the event took place. Tobias however, is trying to stop her, with the hope of holding onto the remains of the wife he used to have before the accident. Evelyn, however is too far gone and ends up going on a killing spree whilst tracking down Aaron.
Aaron is running for his life!
A highly recommended action pack read.

4-5 stars

“There is no redemption from hell” Pope Paul III, however, it seems that Evelyn is already there.

In London in the autumn of 2004, Tobias and Evelyn are beyond happy as they await the arrival of their long for child. Twenty years on in San Diego, everything has changed because eleven years ago Aaron Alexander kills their nine year old son Joshua in a hit and run. He’s sentenced to 20 years but makes parole after serving 11. It’s now one month since his release and Evelyn is on a countdown until she can exact revenge. Now, the pair take a road trip to track him down but are they on the same page about what’s intended? The gripping tale is told via Tobias, Evelyn and Aaron, demonstrating that things are never as straightforward as they seem.

Oh my goodness, Jack Jordan can sure write a jaw dropping thriller, this well written, powerful and emotional story has me riveted throughout. The grief, pain and loss of Tobias and Evelyn surges off the pages, its impact clear to see especially in their relationship. Into the void left by the shocking loss of their son, enters obsession and memories of their son sharpen the present day situation. It pulls no punches with regard to what happens to Joshua and it haunts them, although the perspective of Aaron allows you to see an unexpected side to the tragedy and his point of view is very illuminating, making me feel something I hadn’t anticipated.

The reader is privy to the couples thoughts and Evelyn’s murderous intent is loud and clear, her rage is like a living thing. As the pair journey across desert regions it’s aa arid as what’s left of their marriage though Tobias is love for Evelyn shines through. Around them fires are blazing as it is in Evelyn, this adds an additional layer to an angry, atmospheric read.

As the fast paced novel progresses and the twists keep on coming, a tension fuelled cat and mouse situation develops and many an ‘out of the frying pan into the fire’ scenarios. There’s a trail of rage fuelled destruction in its wake and a rising body count so the tension ramps up and up and it’s impossible to put the book down, desperate to see how it all plays out. The ending is a good one and it feels right.

Overall, this plays on all the emotions. It shocks, it moves, it’s terrifying in places and many other things besides. What a read.

PS If you are squeamish, there’s some self administered “treatment” that even makes my toes curl!!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Simon and Schuster for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Evelyn and Tobias Moore moved all the way from London to start a new life in San Deigo with their son Josha. But their life fell a part when their son was killed in a hit and run. The driver Aaron Alexander just drove away but was caught and convicted or the crime. Eleven years later, he was released from jail due to good behaviour. He now wants to put the past behind him and get on with his life.
But Evelyn Moore hasn’t forgotten her son and that fatal day and has planned to get rid of the man who killed her son. Evelyn has been planning for 11 years for the day when he is released from jail to act her plan out of revenge. The story is set through three perspectives across the Nevada desert. Will Evelyn find Aaron Alexander and act out her plan or will she be stopped?
Wow, this is the third book from the author I have read. Honestly, although I read the blurb this book is better than I was expecting. The is a brilliant read. It is a fast-paced edge of your seat thriller and loads of action of a mother getting retribution for her child murder. It is also an emotional ride due to the three points of view. You start to question, whether the mothers is doing the right thing of getting justice and at times I felt sorry for Aaron as if the life was different would be in the same situation. It is a very thought provoking read. If you only read one thriller this year. Read this one I highly recommend.

OMG what a book I found myself holding my breath at times the tension was so real and so strong.Jack Jordan writes so well you are pulled in to the story and can feel every emotion radiating from the pages.Hard to put down I read till my eyes were begging for rest.
Told from 3 different points of view,at times graphic and covering determination in so many forms you can't
help but feel for each character but in totally different ways.
For me this is one book that would be perfect for the big screen.
Im so pleased Ive not got a dentist appointment anytime soon,I'm sure you'll feel the same once you've read this as well.
I recommend you cancel all your plans you won't want to put this book down.
By far the best book I've read this year.
Highly Recommended
Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for the ARC.

Evelyn Moore has been waiting eleven years for the man who killed her son to be released from prison. She has one thing on her mind, to kill the man who killed her nine-year-old son. Evelyn’s husband, Tobias, loves his wife deeply and has stuck by her in the intervening years, hoping that he can persuade his wife not to carry out her deadly plan.

Having read Jack Jordan’s previous two novels, Do No Harm and Conviction, I know that the author writes about protagonists who are forced to face moral dilemmas. The author’s latest novel, Redemption, features people facing moral dilemmas but this time around it seems to be on a much greater scale. Evelyn isn’t being coerced to take a life, it’s her own choice.

The heart of the novel is about grief, and how we move through the different stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. We see two people who are at different points on this journey. After eleven years Tobias has reached acceptance but his wife hasn’t moved past the anger stage. As a result, their marriage is strained. We get brief glimpses of the young couple in the early years of their relationship and learn that Tobias still loves his wife. It’s his love that has kept him in the relationship, he knows what Evelyn plans to do and hopes that he can prevent her from carrying out her plan.

Evelyn is single-minded. She has planned what she is going to do for eleven years. The author has given us a glimpse into the mind of a grieving mother bent on revenge and it is intense. This is a woman who will stop at nothing and will not let anyone get in her way. She knows that her husband doesn’t share her convictions, she sees him as a hindrance, so plans to move on without him as soon as possible.

Aaron Alexander is the third person in this story. We learn about his terrible childhood, his teenage years as a petty criminal and the fateful night when he ran over Joshua Moore and left him for dead. Aaron seems to have given up on life, he’s existing from one day to the next.

All of the characters elicit sympathy. Jack Jordan has written the characters in such a way that you can get inside their minds, you understand what is driving them. You may not agree with what they are doing but you understand why.

This novel is set in Nevada, USA rather than the UK. This was obviously necessary for the plot. Wide open space, miles between inhabited areas and a sparse population allow for a drawn-out cat-and-mouse chase. The desert setting also adds an apocalyptic feel, as if you are at the end of the world with no hope in sight.

The body count is high and the violence is extreme, the author has pulled no punches as Evelyn is consumed by her goal. There are a couple of scenes in particular where I’d have been covering my eyes if this had been a film.

I love reading books by Jack Jordan especially this one as it dealt with so many emotions throughout and I couldn't put it down.

What an incredible book!

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I felt I was in for a thrilling ride. This novel tells the story of Evelyn and Tobias, parents heartbroken at the loss of their son 11 years ago, killed in a hit and run.

When the driver, Aaron, is released from prison, Evelyn is still consumed with anger and hatred, and a sense of injustice that Aaron will now be released after only 11 years.

Evelyn sets in motion a plan to track Aaron down and exact revenge of her own however Tobias is equally determined to stop her, fearing that exacting her own brand of justice will mean Evelyn is lost forever.

After that set up, I was all in. Here comes an all-action, high speed, page turning thriller. And it was......but it was so much more. The book also covers some many other topics around guilt, parenting, redemption, trauma, forgiveness, loyalty and a million other issues which I can't even get my head around right now.

It was a truly remarkable story and piece of writing which will stay with me for a long, long time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Interesting book told from different points of view. I thought it was a good book and well worth a read.

Written in 3 different perspectives, Redemption is gripping , tense and quite sad in some places. Highly enjoyable.

Thank you to Simon and schuster for my early access in exchange for a honest review.
Jacks books never disappoint and you always know you’re in for an experience when you turn that first page .
I was on the edge of my seat reading this and he has managed to execute the pain these parents are feeling.
Written in the 3 Narratives-this gives you excellent rich in-depth insight into what each are feeling .
This is a journey of pain , healing , mistakes ,growth and of course redemption.
I must say as well the tooth part, I felt every inch of that torture !!
He writes with such descriptive and emotive language that sets the scene .
Gripping , tense and quite sad in terms of each character’s experiences .