3.5 stars for me
I have read other books from the author and have liked his style of action. My thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the review copy.

Like other thrillers by Rob, this is a seriously intense ride.
This is the start of a new series which introduces Simon Peake, a former soldier with a messy past and plenty of baggage who is now managing his life as a hired muscle for a mobster who finds himself being dragged deeper into a violent world that echoes the horrors of his old military days. The story jumps between past and present, and this is a type of structure that really worked for me and it gave the character depth and made the tension feel constant.

What I liked:
The action like other Rob' books is fast and brutal and Simon’s personal history and struggle makes him more than just another tough guy with a gun. This raw, emotional edge keeps the story grounded amidst all the chaos.

What didn’t quite work:
It’s very grim. The violence is unflinching, sometimes way over the top (okay for me) and at times I found it hard to connect with Simon, who’s compelling but not exactly likable. Some side characters felt thin, too and this lets most of the steam out.

But, if you like your thrillers gritty and morally gray like me, this one's worth checking out.

Simon is a man down on his luck. A former soldier, he's fallen far from his heroic past. He's not proud of having gone to jail for assault, but he's not ashamed of why he went. As far as he's concerned it was worth a few years of his life.

But now he's out, he's broke, and possibly about to make another monumental error by trying to meet the shady contact at O’Hare’s bar in the hope of earning enough to stave off his sticky landlord.

Simon is soon in with the Irish mob and he's realising that there is a lot more going on than he bargained for. New allies and friends are hard to find and he's going to have to rely on muscle memory and street smarts to get him through.

A brilliantly twisty crime thriller with a likable but flawed hero. He's not afraid to do the wrong thing for the right reason and it kills him when people he has started to care about are getting hurt because of him and his choices. Shady Irish Mob mixes with Middle Eastern politics and there are a range of dangers to thwart.

Y’all, buckle up, because Simon Peake isn’t here to play nice—unless breaking bones counts as nice. 😎

This book? A gritty, gut-punch of a ride. Peake’s a broken ex-soldier just trying to keep his head down, but of course that doesn’t last long. He ends up working for a shady Irish mobster in NYC (because of course), and suddenly “quiet life” turns into “use your very particular set of skills on very bad people.” Cue chaos.

It’s fast, raw, and feels like a gritty 90s action thriller with a soul. Think Jack Reacher meets The Departed with a splash of emotional damage.

If you’re into anti-heroes, mob drama, and high-stakes moral conflict—you’ll devour this one. Just don’t expect to come out clean.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for providing this advance copy via NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review.

#BookReview #DeadReckoning #RobSinclair #NetGalley

Wow this was a good book it’s part of 2 book series and if you like thrillers this is perfect

Here the blurb

The most dangerous people are those with nothing to lose. Who don't care if they live or die.

Simon Peake does care… he just isn’t sure about what right now. The ex-soldier’s life is as close to rock bottom as it gets.

He needs a job and he needs a quiet life, but trouble always finds him...

Working for New York-based Irish mobster Harry Lafferty, he finds a job that requires him to use his special skills on some very unsavory people. His relationship with Harry’s niece isn’t exactly conducive to a quiet existence either…

As Peake tries to walk the fine line between surviving in this new life, and atoning for his old one, he struggles on both counts. And when his past comes back to bite him, and those closest to him are threatened, the reckoning will be merciless for anyone who stands in his way.

Simon Peake Thrillers #1

Simon Peake does care.... he just isn't sure about what just now. He needs a job and he needs a quiet life. What he gets is a whole load of mess working for the New York Based Irish mobster Harry Lafferty. A job that requires him to use hos special skills on some very unsavoury people. His relationship with harry's niece isn't exactly conductive to a quiet existence either....

This fast-paced thriller had me hooked by the end of the first chapter. Peake finds himself embroiled with the local Mafia. Peake is ex-military, he's also an ex-co, and he's quite a complex character. The story has a dual timeline - when he was in the military and the present day. This action-packed read is filled with twists. This is an enjoyable start to a new series.

Published 23rd June 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #RobSinclair for my ARC pf #DeadReckoning inexchange for an honest review.

I have read a few of this author's books, so I'm glad to see that I have managed to read the first book in a new series. I so often miss them.

If you are a fan of action-packed, fast-paced thrillers, then this is an author and a book you may want to put on your list. Simon Peake is essentially a loner; he needs money and so ends up working with an Irish American mob boss, Harry Lafferty.

Simon is an ex-soldier; there are details about one of his missions that are told in a back-and-forth style. It fills in some of the details that explain his character, but I feel this is scratching the surface. Peake is hired as a driver for the Laffertys, which gives him the chance to earn some money, but not all the family are in favour of him. They don't trust him and his calm demeanour.

The jobs he is out on takes him to some interesting places, and there are airport runs and other meetings for him to attend as and when he is called, regardless of his social life. He walks a fine line, and this line is getting blurred, and there is something from his past that is fighting to make itself known.

This author does not shy away from descriptions when it comes to torture, beatings and the seedier side of life. This is set in New York, and it has the feel of the city I know from TV, media and the like. The rough apartments, the dodgy coppers and obviously, the gangs or mobs. Peake's past and present are laid out, and this back-and-forth works really well. It soon becomes more dangerous than even Peake could ever have been aware of. The author doesn't hold back! It has left me definitely wanting to know more and follow him into other escapades.

This is a fabulous intro to a new series with a character who has a dodgy moral compass, but sort of for the right reasons! It is a thriller that delves into the life of a soldier, one who has been kicked out and is merely looking to exist. Excellent book and one I would definitely recommend.

Unfortunately, I read this book to the end, as I was curious about why a main character would do all these stupid things. There was no reason, only a plot to get a lot of nonsense action, even speculating in gore at the end. There's also messy storytelling, with changing back and forth in time. So, it's possible to read this book, but all it gave me was frustration.

'Dead Reckonin' is the second Rob Sinclair book I have read. A fast moving all action thriller that will appeal to fans of Jo Nesbo. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

A brutal blood soaked tale of Simon Peake and his history in a Middle Eastern conflict with a group of secret agents ostensibly there to prevent a recurrence of war. Fast forward to New York and his attempts to gain a job leads him to an Irish crime family. The two tales go back and forth never losing the intriguing plot and it all comes together in a brutal fashion with extreme violence in both stories. Not one for the squeamish but personally I hope there’s more to come from this character!

Fantastic read!!! This book kept me hooked in from start to finish through Simon's journey across Manhattan and also in his life before NYC! A brilliant story throughout.

This story encompasses Simon Peake's (a.k.a. 'Hades') involvement in his active duty role, and then, the after. It was interesting to see how the author pulled the two time frames together, but was it all necessary and for the greater good? Peake would like to know. How could a 'before' life come back to bite him! I felt that there was a thoughtful thread to consider in how active duty affects the soldier as to what was seen and done, whether rightly or wrongly, in order for goverments to achieve covert ends. There was sadness and tragedy, some romance peppered with frustrations. Overall, I found this type of story was a bit too much for me but readers who are intrigued by Covered Ops, violence, blood, guts and gore, will very likely apprciate this thriller.

~ Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger ~

June 2025

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Nonstop action, secrets, betrayals, and revenge - relentless and unforgiving, will Simon ever catch a break or always be Hades?

This is a fast paced thriller set in NewYork. We follow Simon Peake as he tries to find employment. The story flits back and forth between the time he was a soldier and present day to set the scene of why he is where he is and the why of it. I really enjoyed the narrative of this story even if some bits were a little too descriptive. It has the makings of being a good series, particularly for fans of Reacher and similar titles. Thoroughly recommend this book. With thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for this ARC copy for a honest review.

This is well written and fast paced, but ultimately too brutal and gritty for my taste. The main character appeared to have no redeeming features, so I found it difficult to care about him.
This book was a wrong choice for me, I’m sorry to say.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

If you like jam packed action thrillers, this is one for you. I absolutely loved the non stop pace of this book and I really liked Simon Peake, the main character. He is a multi layered, complex character but there is just something which really appealed to me about his personality and back story. Okay, it stretches belief at times but it is fiction after all! If you like action thrillers, then you will love this one. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Well written book whose lead character is not really likeable. He has questionable morals but deep down he is not a bad guy. Not one of my favorite Rob Sinclair books.

Simon Peake is ex military and an ex convict. A man of convictions but dangerous when provoked.
He’s found himself in New York, struggling to pay the rent and to survive. His solution is to work his way into a local gang as a driver and gopher, he is not really trusted but has some skills that are of use. He finds himself in the middle of a number of agendas and dealing with some very dangerous people. He has very few friends and he may struggle to keep them out of the firing line.
Unusual this in a few ways, Peake is very much an anti-hero and a real mix of self interest and morality. We also get to see a lot of his past in a military unit deep undercover which provides more background to his ability and character and may have links to his current situation.

I enjoyed this. Refreshingly downbeat and different and I liked that the main story stayed rooted in the criminal underbelly of New York. Peake was complex and I’d be delighted to see more of him.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well, Peake is a one isn’t he! Trouble and threats just follow him wherever he goes. He does have some luck, just not sure if it’s good or bad. I really enjoyed the fast paced action of this one, wondering what the heck could and would go wrong next - in this life and his previous military one.

He does have a bit of a temper and I did wonder if this was going to get him in trouble but that finds him no matter what. I’m still not sure about the landlord or the family he’s got himself mixed up in, I’m sure there’ll be more to come. He’s like another Reacher type, but a bit more cursed! There are some good side characters in this too, I really liked his neighbour, and Katie, and Harry’s son Sean - not so keen on the rest of the family tho!

I have seen there is another book coming later this year which I will definitely be picking up. If you like action packed no holds barred type of novels, this is one for you.

Peake is an ex-servicemen and ex-convict living in New York and looking for work. He gets a job with Harry Lafferty, an Irish gang boss as a driver and collector.
There are two story lines, one in the Middle East where Peake was on a dangerous mission and the present day in New York.
The book is really violent, the Lafferty family are a load of thugs, and terrible things happen in the middle east. The characters are mostly horrible. Peake has seen so many bad things, it is like he is desentised.
The plot is well constructed and all comes together at the end.

I found Dead Reckoning to be an interesting and action packed read. It was full of twists and turns and quite graphic in places so not for the faint hearted. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for my ARC.