The Turnaround

Nick Sharman Mystery #5

by Mark Timlin

The fifth Nick Sharman thriller—London's answer to Elmore Leonard

When businessman James Webb asks Sharman to find out who murdered his sister, her husband and two young children, the trail's been cold for over a year; the original police investigators had found nothing—no clues, no witnesses, no motive. There isn't much to go on. Besides, Sharman has other things to occupy him—his relationship with topless model Fiona is rapidly souring, his best friend Wanda is dying, and his ex-wife leaves him to babysit their 11-year-old daughter, Judith. While Sharman's back is turned things start to heat up—he is threatened with a shotgun on a busy road in broad daylight and the murder victims start to multiply. When Judith is kidnapped by a gang of very nasty thugs, Sharman finally loses his temper.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

aka Johnny Angelo, Tony Williams, Jim Ballantyne, Lee Martin.

Mark Timlin lives in east London, has a Rolex and drives flash old American cars.

Reviews

[Warren Stalley · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the fifth novel of the Nick Sharman series by crime author Mark Timlin, we find the tough London private detective hired by businessman James Webb to look into the brutal and unsolved murder of his sister Sandra Kellerman and her family. The laconic PI is rattled this time round by the death of a close friend and the decline of his relationship with girlfriend Fiona. As Sharman starts to dig deeper into the case things get typically violent and bloody, with his young daughter Judith unexpectedly caught up in the crossfire. But who’s on the level and who’s crooked when Sharman can’t trust anyone involved around him including police officers. To summarise The Turnaround is another impressive Sharman crime novel laden with violence, car chases, smart clothes and high drama. Mark Timlin cleverly manages to blend the wit of Raymond Chandler along with the toughness of Mickey Spillane skilfully wrapped up with a gritty British slant. Existing fans of Mark Timlin shouldn’t hesitate to pick up this book. However, newcomers to the Nick Sharman series would be best to seek out the first novel A Good Year for the Roses, rather than jump straight in with The Turnaround, to really appreciate the growth of the central character.

[Chris Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Far as my reading habits go Timlin is always right on target for what I want in a crime book.