Putting up with a down-on-his-luck protagonist pays off with lots of action. The main character captures the personality of so many lone wolf ex-soldiers and puts it to work to create a faster-paced story…. eventually.

Simon Peake is ex-military with many issues and looking for money. He joins a local gang/mafia and gets more than he asked for.

I gave this 4 stars because while it is too much like an action movie for me to love, I also didn't hate it, which is saying something. It includes a few twists and keeps you on your toes from beginning to end.

Read this book if you like:

-> action-packed stories
-> stories involving vigilante justice
-> thrillers in a big city
-> uncanny twists

Thank you Boldwood Books, Rob Sinclair, and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

A really clever book in this over crowded genre.

Loner, ex army, fearless to the point he appears to invite danger, even death. We’ve read a few of these runaway series that have a hook that keeps us returning for more. The vigilante out to clean up the bad guys; frustrate evil enterprise and make the world a safer place.

Simon Peake seems to fit that publisher’s profile of the next great thing in thriller novels. A rival to a Reacher, a balance for a Bond or Bourne, an action hero and killing machine.

But Rob Sinclair’s latest protagonist, primed with potential is also a flawed individual. A slowly revealed troubled past, a criminal record and some deep mental trauma.

Rather than a guy to get behind he seems forlorn; down on his luck, a long way from being able to influence and challenge injustice. Indeed he seems on the wrong side of the law, joining the criminal underworld of extortion and enforcement.

The story splits into two parallel narratives one being his troubled past, a failed tour with the British Army and the unfolding present, his broken life, directionless, an ex-con desperate for a job to pay his rent.
When he tries to get a job with an Irish family of gangsters you question how far he has fallen and assume he is in deep undercover mode with a manufactured past to con the criminals with a sting like operation. You have to trust the writer, believe the storytelling and accept the changing perspective on the events in the life of this character.

Things seem to take forever to provide scope for the hero to emerge; you start to doubt the rules of fiction writing expecting if Peake can’t save others or himself then for the modern day cavalry, SAS or FBI has to intervene.

I loved the writing. The slow build up of character. The hard work to find traits to warm to with Peake other than his openness and desire to protect his neighbour. You try to see redeeming qualities or excuses for his situation. To understand his past, what caused his PTSD and share in a more positive future. It is a compelling read as you try to match Peake to the pattern of righteous hero in this type of story. I really enjoyed the journey the author takes you on before we find person we can get behind.

Plenty of action and drama; some deep psychological issues touched in conversations about life and death and strong characters. What I liked best for all the thrills and excitement was the sense of not knowing how the story ends or why Peake is in this predicament. This motivation to read on and turn pages and then suddenly to find close to the end of the book, you do care about this person, for all his mistakes and failures. That real heroes can’t save everybody and sometimes in the process they can lose themselves.

Edge of your seat reading. Compelling reading but very gory in places. Not for the fainthearted.

Drug mafia on the streets of New York and the lengths as to what the mafia gangs will do to rule the roost. Also combined with a story of the past of mercenaries going in under covert operations in the far east.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Simon Peake is an all action, mysterious character. A man with a military background and with special skills. and also a with a past he'd like to forget. Based in New York he's down on his luck and anxious to find work, he's willing to do anything. By contacting a notorious family of unorthodox businessmen he finds himself drawn into the underworld of dangerous gangs, not knowing who to trust.
This book is on a dual timeline with one part based in the middle east in troubled times with Peake part of a secret mission, one which shapes his character. As is normal with this author there is no shortage of action, violence and killings. It is very fast paced and a very good read.

Simon Peake is a down and out ex military special ops guy who is
looking for anything yo bring him money to survive.
I am a huge fan of Sinclair's but found much of this just too depressing to enjoy.
Peake goes to work as a driver for some real nasty people and shows little
effort to try and lift himself up.
He is willing to do almost anything to make money and even the action can not pull it up for me.
It's hard to get into a character that shows not a bit of redemptive qualities.

Rob Sinclair is a favorite author of mine. His latest, Dead Reckoning was a five star read. It’s available next month!

The book is filled with twists and turns that will have you guessing who to trust, if anyone. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

A twisty thriller -3*

This book is so intense. I didn't even know where I was half of the time. No, I did know where I was but I did not know who to trust. I didn't even know who Simon Peake was. Could I trust this man? Could I trust anyone?

This book is filled with twists and turns. I was completely hoodwinked. My advice to future readers: don't trust anyone.

A great thriller that hooks you right from the beginning. It was such a page turner that I finished it in one sitting. Highly recommended.