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Tina Boyd #2
Relentless
There is only one truth left in your world. They want you. And they want you dead — the new stand-alone thriller by crime-writing’s rising star.
John Meron, a happily married father of two, who’s never been in trouble, receives a phone call that will change his life forever. His friend, Jack Calley, a high-flying city lawyer, is screaming down the phone for help. As Meron listens, Calley is murdered. His last words, spoken to his killer, are the first two lines of Meron’s address.
Confused and terrified, Meron scoops up his children and hurries out of the house. Just in time. Within minutes a car pulls up outside and three men get out. It’s clear that they’re coming for him. He’s being hunted and he has no idea why. And with his wife missing, an unidentified corpse in her office, and the police after him for murder, his life’s about to get one hell of a lot worse.
From the Hardcover edition.
John Meron, a happily married father of two, who’s never been in trouble, receives a phone call that will change his life forever. His friend, Jack Calley, a high-flying city lawyer, is screaming down the phone for help. As Meron listens, Calley is murdered. His last words, spoken to his killer, are the first two lines of Meron’s address.
Confused and terrified, Meron scoops up his children and hurries out of the house. Just in time. Within minutes a car pulls up outside and three men get out. It’s clear that they’re coming for him. He’s being hunted and he has no idea why. And with his wife missing, an unidentified corpse in her office, and the police after him for murder, his life’s about to get one hell of a lot worse.
From the Hardcover edition.
462 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
190 people are currently reading
1788 people want to read
About the author
Simon Kernick
73 books1,158 followersSimon Kernick (born 1966 in Slough, Berkshire) is a British thriller/crime writer now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and two daughters. He attended Gillotts School, a comprehensive in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Whilst he was a student his jobs included fruitpicker and Christmas-tree uprooter. He graduated from Brighton Polytechnic in 1991 with a degree in humanities. Kernick had a passion for crime fiction writing from a young age and produced many short stories during his time at polytechnic. After graduating Kernick joined MMT Computing in London in early 1992, where a relative was the Chairman and Managing Director. Kernick was a key member of the sales team and was very highly regarded. However, he left the company after 4 years in the hope of trying to secure a publishing deal. Despite interest from a number of publishers Kernick was unable to secure a deal, so he joined the sales force of the specialist IT and Business Consultancy Metaskil plc in Aldermaston, Berkshire in 1998 where he remained until he secured his first book deal (The Business of Dying) in September 2001. His novel Relentless was recommended on Richard & Judy's Summer book club 2007. It was the 8th best-selling paperback, and the best-selling thriller in the UK in the same year
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
December 29, 2021
Being loved by the media and featured on the Richard and Judy list this book became a monstrous bestseller and it could be found everywhere, so kowtowing to peer pressure I grabbed it from the library...
Is this it? After all that hype? As Public Enemy used to plead - "Don't believe the hype!" The concept and idea was OK, but let's be frank it's just a generic thriller with some twists to engage the reader, except it wasn't, sorry but it has too many plot holes for me, and the characterisation? What characterisation? Unless you got a genuinely page-turny plot page-after-page like James Patterson, then a generic thriller will just be that. 4 out of 12.
2007 read
Is this it? After all that hype? As Public Enemy used to plead - "Don't believe the hype!" The concept and idea was OK, but let's be frank it's just a generic thriller with some twists to engage the reader, except it wasn't, sorry but it has too many plot holes for me, and the characterisation? What characterisation? Unless you got a genuinely page-turny plot page-after-page like James Patterson, then a generic thriller will just be that. 4 out of 12.
2007 read
January 27, 2020
Tom Meron's hopes of a perfectly ordinary Saturday are shatted once he receives a phone call from Jack Calley.
During the call Tom hears he's old friend speak his address before being murdered, panicked he soon realises both his weekend and life are thrown into disarray.
A very fast moving but totally implausible thriller definitely captures the unexpected terror to ordinary family man Tom's life, hes in complete shock.
The horror of trying to lie to his mother in law for a reason to temporarily take care of the kids is only the tip of the iceberg!
The story does falter during the second half as random plot twists are thrown into the mix just to add extra tension falls flat.
A trip to the New Forest just seemed to contrived...
But this definitely fits the dumb action adventure of the ordinary guy unsuspectingly caught up in danger rather well.
During the call Tom hears he's old friend speak his address before being murdered, panicked he soon realises both his weekend and life are thrown into disarray.
A very fast moving but totally implausible thriller definitely captures the unexpected terror to ordinary family man Tom's life, hes in complete shock.
The horror of trying to lie to his mother in law for a reason to temporarily take care of the kids is only the tip of the iceberg!
The story does falter during the second half as random plot twists are thrown into the mix just to add extra tension falls flat.
A trip to the New Forest just seemed to contrived...
But this definitely fits the dumb action adventure of the ordinary guy unsuspectingly caught up in danger rather well.
January 5, 2025
Приличен трилър, чете се доста бързо.
Някак неубедително ми стояха тези събития в Англия, още по-нереална ми се видя като образ жената на главния герой.
Става да се убие малко време.
Някак неубедително ми стояха тези събития в Англия, още по-нереална ми се видя като образ жената на главния герой.
Става да се убие малко време.
June 4, 2010
My god, this book is the most cliché riddled bag of rubbish ever committed to paper. Every single "plot twist" is so laughably ridiculous, every character is so uninspired and unoriginal. The only saving grace is simple language makes it a quick and easy read. But if you want anything to make you think or appreciate writing skills, get something else
A minus mark would be the most appropriate rating
A minus mark would be the most appropriate rating
May 30, 2013
There really isn't much to recommend this book for. The plot is devoid of any interesting ideas, the characters are bland and the action is pathetic. The story revolves around a simple, ordinary guy named John Meron. He´s married, with two young children and a boring job. Suddenly he receives a call from his childhood´s best friend and hears him being attacked. Before he dies, his friend tells the murderer Tom´s address. Just like that Meron is deep inside a conspiracy that threatens his whole family and his life. He has the police after him for a murder he did not commit and gangsters torturing him for something he has no idea where it is or even what it is.
The idea that Meron is a regular boring guy in a dreadful and dangerous situation is a good one. Unfortunately the book just throws all credibility out of the window after a few pages. Soon enough the action starts pouring in with Meron fighting hand to hand with hardened criminals, in shootouts and in wild escapes from impossible situations. Unfortunately John Meron is also not a very likable character. He has no personality except being... well average. He is a also not very bright and doesn't seem to make a single good decision all through the story. The other part of the book is about a parallel investigation by the police about two murders in which Meron finds himself involved. The detective is Mike Bolt and he is a much more interesting character with some back story and at least some personality. Unfortunately the investigation, like the whole plot, never goes anywhere. Simon Kernick literally has to spend three or four pages in the end of the book explaining the plot in a phone conversation between Bolt and his partner. Bolt´s whole triumph is basically asking for someone to trace a cellphone.
There are lots and lots of pages full of action but its all rather bland. Meron is put again and again in situations where his death is imminent but where he is saved at the last second. After four or five of these situations its was actually funny how predictable the action would be. You never get a sense of danger because when only after a few pages Meron is already fighting for his life you know the lead character simply wont die so soon. This happens numerous times and ends in the predictable way every time.
There is only one villain and his only trait is that he´s... evil. That´s it. He´s really evil. He´s evil and he likes it. He´s a hired killer and he really loves his job. That´s some compelling writing!
The ending falls completely flat with little or no resolution. Things just get really ridiculous with shock twists that come out of nowhere about characters who appeared for three pages a hundred and fifty pages ago. To be honest I just didn't care by then.
The book is easy enough to read. It moves at a brisk page, between Bolt and Meron with lots of action every few pages. However the story never takes off, Meron is a weak character and the plot just seems like an excuse for lots of torture and gun fights and escapes in the last second. As a reader I was going through the motions, hoping for some sort of resolution that never came. It was a waste of time. A waste of a good idea.
For a good book, a really great read in fact, from Simon Kernick, read “The Business of Dying”. A gripping plot with a wonderfully complex character, DS Dennis Milne.
“Relentless” just isn't worth it.
The idea that Meron is a regular boring guy in a dreadful and dangerous situation is a good one. Unfortunately the book just throws all credibility out of the window after a few pages. Soon enough the action starts pouring in with Meron fighting hand to hand with hardened criminals, in shootouts and in wild escapes from impossible situations. Unfortunately John Meron is also not a very likable character. He has no personality except being... well average. He is a also not very bright and doesn't seem to make a single good decision all through the story. The other part of the book is about a parallel investigation by the police about two murders in which Meron finds himself involved. The detective is Mike Bolt and he is a much more interesting character with some back story and at least some personality. Unfortunately the investigation, like the whole plot, never goes anywhere. Simon Kernick literally has to spend three or four pages in the end of the book explaining the plot in a phone conversation between Bolt and his partner. Bolt´s whole triumph is basically asking for someone to trace a cellphone.
There are lots and lots of pages full of action but its all rather bland. Meron is put again and again in situations where his death is imminent but where he is saved at the last second. After four or five of these situations its was actually funny how predictable the action would be. You never get a sense of danger because when only after a few pages Meron is already fighting for his life you know the lead character simply wont die so soon. This happens numerous times and ends in the predictable way every time.
There is only one villain and his only trait is that he´s... evil. That´s it. He´s really evil. He´s evil and he likes it. He´s a hired killer and he really loves his job. That´s some compelling writing!
The ending falls completely flat with little or no resolution. Things just get really ridiculous with shock twists that come out of nowhere about characters who appeared for three pages a hundred and fifty pages ago. To be honest I just didn't care by then.
The book is easy enough to read. It moves at a brisk page, between Bolt and Meron with lots of action every few pages. However the story never takes off, Meron is a weak character and the plot just seems like an excuse for lots of torture and gun fights and escapes in the last second. As a reader I was going through the motions, hoping for some sort of resolution that never came. It was a waste of time. A waste of a good idea.
For a good book, a really great read in fact, from Simon Kernick, read “The Business of Dying”. A gripping plot with a wonderfully complex character, DS Dennis Milne.
“Relentless” just isn't worth it.
May 25, 2017
2.55/5
Uzun zamandır birilerini bu kadar gömmemiştim sanırım :D Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
Uzun zamandır birilerini bu kadar gömmemiştim sanırım :D Yorumu için: http://kronikokur.blogspot.com.tr/201...
December 16, 2017
This book is fast paced with short chapters that keep you turning the pages. Unfortunately it isn't very well written and the plot gets increasingly unlikely as it goes along.
Things that bugged the hell out of me:
The main character is at home with his children when he receives a phone call from an old friend, from this call it becomes apparent that his friend has been killed by some bad men and said bad men are now coming after him. So what does he do? Drive to the nearest police station and ask for help? No, he drops the children off with his mother-in-law and goes to find his wife.
It turns out that his wife is having affairs with two different people. Besides anything else how does she find the time?
One character takes an overdose of 'sleeping pills' - problem is the drug mentioned is not a sleeping tablet at all, it's a anti-convulsant used for epilepsy, certainly not for insomnia!
As I mentioned previously the writing isn't very good and there were a few bits that made me roll my eyes:
"I have a morbid fear of being stabbed to death." Really?
After being kidnapped by the bad men: "Remarkably, I wasn't actually that scared." You should have been.
"The village of Hambleden, perched at the edge of the Chilterns, is quintessentially English and has been used as a backdrop for numerous films and TV programmes. I know this because I've seen some of them." What???
"Their eyes met and even from behind the double-glazed glass of the windowpane Bolt recognized instantly that they belonged to a killer." Hmmm.
You've probably guessed that I won't be bothering with any more books by this author.
Things that bugged the hell out of me:
The main character is at home with his children when he receives a phone call from an old friend, from this call it becomes apparent that his friend has been killed by some bad men and said bad men are now coming after him. So what does he do? Drive to the nearest police station and ask for help? No, he drops the children off with his mother-in-law and goes to find his wife.
It turns out that his wife is having affairs with two different people. Besides anything else how does she find the time?
One character takes an overdose of 'sleeping pills' - problem is the drug mentioned is not a sleeping tablet at all, it's a anti-convulsant used for epilepsy, certainly not for insomnia!
As I mentioned previously the writing isn't very good and there were a few bits that made me roll my eyes:
"I have a morbid fear of being stabbed to death." Really?
After being kidnapped by the bad men: "Remarkably, I wasn't actually that scared." You should have been.
"The village of Hambleden, perched at the edge of the Chilterns, is quintessentially English and has been used as a backdrop for numerous films and TV programmes. I know this because I've seen some of them." What???
"Their eyes met and even from behind the double-glazed glass of the windowpane Bolt recognized instantly that they belonged to a killer." Hmmm.
You've probably guessed that I won't be bothering with any more books by this author.
September 8, 2021
3,5 / 5
Nasıl bir seri bu anlamadım 🤔 1 ile 2.kitap arasında sanki başka kitaplar varmış da onları okumamışız gibi olaylar olmuş bitmiş 🤔 Ayrıca seriye ismini veren Tina Boyd yan karakterden hallice biri. Tüm kitapta 2 sahnesi anca var. Bir de bu kitabın kurgusu güzeldi 4 yıldızı hak eder derken çok saçma bir şekilde bitti. Acaba 3.kitapta konu devam mı edecek 🤔 Kafamda deli sorular 🤔
Nasıl bir seri bu anlamadım 🤔 1 ile 2.kitap arasında sanki başka kitaplar varmış da onları okumamışız gibi olaylar olmuş bitmiş 🤔 Ayrıca seriye ismini veren Tina Boyd yan karakterden hallice biri. Tüm kitapta 2 sahnesi anca var. Bir de bu kitabın kurgusu güzeldi 4 yıldızı hak eder derken çok saçma bir şekilde bitti. Acaba 3.kitapta konu devam mı edecek 🤔 Kafamda deli sorular 🤔
December 1, 2012
A great novel from the excellent Simon Kernick.
The novel grabs you from the start in this fast paced story. I love his work and have subsequently read everything else he has written.
The novel grabs you from the start in this fast paced story. I love his work and have subsequently read everything else he has written.
November 16, 2013
Hi,
My second book in a row buy this author after his latest book Payback.
This on reading my research on this author was the book that was his first international bestseller, the top selling book in the UK in 2007, and added him to the list of top selling crime mystery writers.
This is a fantastic book, fast paced, action packed, shocks all the way through, twists and turns, with each chapter like an episode of 24 !!
Like another of my favourite British authors S J Bolton brings another ingredient to their books with using the same character in more than one book, maybe a small role in one book, then the main role in another book. Done so well by SJ Bolton.
I highly recommend this more just a notch above Payback, but I am now trying to find all his books.
I really could not put this book down !!
What a treat this year finding SJ Bolton, Allan Folsom and Simon Kernick !!
regards
Sean
My second book in a row buy this author after his latest book Payback.
This on reading my research on this author was the book that was his first international bestseller, the top selling book in the UK in 2007, and added him to the list of top selling crime mystery writers.
This is a fantastic book, fast paced, action packed, shocks all the way through, twists and turns, with each chapter like an episode of 24 !!
Like another of my favourite British authors S J Bolton brings another ingredient to their books with using the same character in more than one book, maybe a small role in one book, then the main role in another book. Done so well by SJ Bolton.
I highly recommend this more just a notch above Payback, but I am now trying to find all his books.
I really could not put this book down !!
What a treat this year finding SJ Bolton, Allan Folsom and Simon Kernick !!
regards
Sean
November 22, 2011
I get this mixed up with Restless by William Boyd, because I'm thick.
July 3, 2017
Çeviri hatalarına rağmen heyecanlı ve sürükleyiciydi. Bu kitap ile her yorumcunun yorumunu dikkate almamam gerektiğini öğrendim. İyi ki şans vermişim ve okumuşum. Tavsiye ederim.
November 25, 2021
İngiliz polisiyesi sevenler için tavsiye ederim.
December 11, 2007
RELENTLESS (Suspense-UK-Cont) – VG
Kernick, Simon – 5th book
Bantam Press, 2006- UK Hardcover
Tom Meron is a married, father of two, software salesman. His life isn’t exciting, but it’s not terrible either. Then he receives a phone call from an old friend who begs for Tom’s help. Tom realizes his friend is being chased and hears his die, but not before telling someone Tom’s address. He takes his kids to his mother-in-law, but when he goes to find his wife, he finds her missing, and her co-worker killed and he’s attacked. The police think he’s the killer and the bad guys think he knows where something is. Now all Tom has to do is find his wife and survive.
*** The title of this book says it all. I’ve not read Kernick before, but this book grabbed me a page one and didn’t let go until I finished it at 3 a.m. Kernick tells the story from the first person POV of Meron, alternating to the third person of others, but he makes it work. The story is definitely plot driven, but there was enough character development that I felt an affinity for both Meron and the lead officer, DI Mike Bolt. I wasn’t crazy about the ending—life is open-ended, books I want the characters’ stories tied up—but it didn’t destroy the book for me and I don’t know whether this is the author’s usual style. That fact might make me a bit cautious about reading another by Kernick, but I’d probably give it a try. All-in-all, it was a great escape/airplane book.
Kernick, Simon – 5th book
Bantam Press, 2006- UK Hardcover
Tom Meron is a married, father of two, software salesman. His life isn’t exciting, but it’s not terrible either. Then he receives a phone call from an old friend who begs for Tom’s help. Tom realizes his friend is being chased and hears his die, but not before telling someone Tom’s address. He takes his kids to his mother-in-law, but when he goes to find his wife, he finds her missing, and her co-worker killed and he’s attacked. The police think he’s the killer and the bad guys think he knows where something is. Now all Tom has to do is find his wife and survive.
*** The title of this book says it all. I’ve not read Kernick before, but this book grabbed me a page one and didn’t let go until I finished it at 3 a.m. Kernick tells the story from the first person POV of Meron, alternating to the third person of others, but he makes it work. The story is definitely plot driven, but there was enough character development that I felt an affinity for both Meron and the lead officer, DI Mike Bolt. I wasn’t crazy about the ending—life is open-ended, books I want the characters’ stories tied up—but it didn’t destroy the book for me and I don’t know whether this is the author’s usual style. That fact might make me a bit cautious about reading another by Kernick, but I’d probably give it a try. All-in-all, it was a great escape/airplane book.
March 15, 2009
I didn't really think I was going to enjoy 'Relentless' because I feared it would sacrifice quality of writing and character for plot, but I was pleasantly surprised! I read it, initially, because I had just decided to self-publish my own novel and I felt that I needed to work on plot and pace/tension, so I decided that I needed to read thrillers! The story had me gripped from the dramatic opening pages and I found myself wanting to read it in one sitting. The pace is actually relentless, but somehow the reader still sympathises with the narrator and his predicament. The narrator is presented from the beginning as an everyday guy, with whom we can empathise and because of this it almost feels as if the incredible nightmare scenario is unfolding for us, too, in a totally credible way. I will definitely be reading other novels by Simon Kernick.
February 11, 2016
Well this man came with cudos, but I didn't get it.
It lacked tension for me and I wasn't desperate to turn the pages to find out what was going on.
The copper was a good character, but his back story came right at the end and the main man, the civilian having one hell of a day was flaky. The original hook, a best friend is murdered on the phone and this guy has time to pack his kids stuff but not call the police, doesn't seem real.
And I can't give away the ending because there wasn't one, suffice to say the bad guys won and the good guys got to live another day.
I am going to try another story. I'm curious, the writing was good enough, for me to give his second book a try.
So I'm flaky too.
It lacked tension for me and I wasn't desperate to turn the pages to find out what was going on.
The copper was a good character, but his back story came right at the end and the main man, the civilian having one hell of a day was flaky. The original hook, a best friend is murdered on the phone and this guy has time to pack his kids stuff but not call the police, doesn't seem real.
And I can't give away the ending because there wasn't one, suffice to say the bad guys won and the good guys got to live another day.
I am going to try another story. I'm curious, the writing was good enough, for me to give his second book a try.
So I'm flaky too.
July 16, 2012
screen play writing. good for movies.
but characters a not deep. could not sympathize with anybody.
the lead is so stupid ,idiotic that his only line everytime is whats happening around me? so annoying. spineless stupid character.
plot twists are funny and just to shock the readers. u cant imagine the stupidity of the twists. many times i thought 'oh,come on!'
cant match the seriousness , depth and witty dialogues of James Patterson.
but characters a not deep. could not sympathize with anybody.
the lead is so stupid ,idiotic that his only line everytime is whats happening around me? so annoying. spineless stupid character.
plot twists are funny and just to shock the readers. u cant imagine the stupidity of the twists. many times i thought 'oh,come on!'
cant match the seriousness , depth and witty dialogues of James Patterson.
July 20, 2015
Excellent thriller that keeps you guessing virtually right to the end. Don't understand some of the really negative comments made but then again each to their own I suppose.
I like the fact that it is easy to read and the storyline keeps you wanting to not put the book down.
I like the fact that it is easy to read and the storyline keeps you wanting to not put the book down.
August 15, 2016
This is a real page turner, fast paced and exciting, I really enjoyed it and would recommend.
October 5, 2024
I had no idea Relentless is the second book in the ‘Tina Boyd’ series but this Tina (a former police officer) only makes a very brief appearance in this novel when she’s having a meeting with the lead investigator Mike Bolt so it’s a perfect standalone read (I guess the reason why she’s not a police officer now is developed in the first novel).
The story was suspenseful and a real rollercoaster from the very beginning and it had me hooked right away. Who doesn’t love to cheer for the underdog? The idea alone that someone gives your address right before getting killed! There were some questionable choices there because I would certainly tell the first person I see about that phone call but not Tom of course. See how that works out… Anyway he’s just got enough time to drop his kids off because literally everyone seems to be chasing Tom Merron who finds himself in more than one dangerous situation. I liked how Mike Bolt and other colleagues are investigating a couple of murders which brings Merron suddenly into their sights and it all comes together beautifully.
I liked Mike Bold who has the lead here. He’s the cliché of a tormented cop, one who lives and breathes for his work, available at all times and I have no idea why they didn’t name the series after him because he turned into my hero.
Relentless was full of twists and turns and was able to surprise even me several times. The only thing that could have been better was that I felt the ending wasn’t resolved entirely satisfactory.
Relentless was another book from my long backlist. If you’re looking for a pacey read full of suspense then I really recommend this one. I’m not the biggest action reader but this one certainly pleased me and I hope to read more of this author’s books in the future.
The story was suspenseful and a real rollercoaster from the very beginning and it had me hooked right away. Who doesn’t love to cheer for the underdog? The idea alone that someone gives your address right before getting killed! There were some questionable choices there because I would certainly tell the first person I see about that phone call but not Tom of course. See how that works out… Anyway he’s just got enough time to drop his kids off because literally everyone seems to be chasing Tom Merron who finds himself in more than one dangerous situation. I liked how Mike Bolt and other colleagues are investigating a couple of murders which brings Merron suddenly into their sights and it all comes together beautifully.
I liked Mike Bold who has the lead here. He’s the cliché of a tormented cop, one who lives and breathes for his work, available at all times and I have no idea why they didn’t name the series after him because he turned into my hero.
Relentless was full of twists and turns and was able to surprise even me several times. The only thing that could have been better was that I felt the ending wasn’t resolved entirely satisfactory.
Relentless was another book from my long backlist. If you’re looking for a pacey read full of suspense then I really recommend this one. I’m not the biggest action reader but this one certainly pleased me and I hope to read more of this author’s books in the future.
July 17, 2023
Tina Boyd serisinin ilk kitabını okuyup beğenmeyenler kesinlikle bu ikinci kitaba şans vermeliler çünkü gerçekten iyi bir kitaptı. İlk kitabı okuyup bitirenleri tebrik ediyorum çünkü ben bitiremedim o kadar sıkıcı ve karmaşa gelmişti bana . Ama bu kitap gerçekten iyiydi , olay örgüsü , heyecan akışı , bilinmezlikler ve ihanetler olsun güzel yazılmıştı . Kitabın ne anlattığına gelirsek : Tom bir öğleden sonra çocukları ile beraber arka bahçede oyun oynuyordu. Bir ara telefonu çalıyor ve sizi araya kişi birkaç yıldır görüşmediğiniz okuldaki en yakın arkadaşınız. Aramasının sebebi eski günleri yad etmek değildi , telefonu açtığında sesi kesik kesik geliyordu sanki işkence altındaymış gibi... Çığlık atıyor ve sonra hayatınızı tamamen değiştirecek altı kelime mırıldanıyor: Adresinizin ilk iki satırını...
May 9, 2021
Honestly?
Great thriller writing. Tom is at home when he gets a call from an Old school friend, Jack Calley, what follows over the next 48 hours is a rollercoaster of emotions that neither Tom or Kathy, his wife, ever expected. Tom is a mild mannered software salesman who normally would not say boo to a goose. However the next 48 hours make him question his own stability, relationships and his whole rationale for living. Great thriller writing with a lot of twists and turns. Well worth the read. On a personal note I still struggle to enjoy Simon Kernick's writing but for sure will read more. Thanks to Mark Williams for introducing the author to me.
Great thriller writing. Tom is at home when he gets a call from an Old school friend, Jack Calley, what follows over the next 48 hours is a rollercoaster of emotions that neither Tom or Kathy, his wife, ever expected. Tom is a mild mannered software salesman who normally would not say boo to a goose. However the next 48 hours make him question his own stability, relationships and his whole rationale for living. Great thriller writing with a lot of twists and turns. Well worth the read. On a personal note I still struggle to enjoy Simon Kernick's writing but for sure will read more. Thanks to Mark Williams for introducing the author to me.
January 15, 2018
Öncelikle bu kadar kötü bir çeviri ile uzun zamandır karşılaşmamıştım. Bir ara merdiven altında çevrilmiş korsan kitap okuyorum zannettim. Redaksiyon hataları, özne yüklem uyumsuzlukları.. Kötüydü.
İçeriğe gelirsek, bir çok bilinmez olduğu için merak ederek hızla okudum ama öğrendiklerim beni tatmin etmedi. İlk bölümündeki merak ettirebilmesinden ve zaman geçirmek için okuduğumdan amaca hizmetinden 3 verdim.
İçeriğe gelirsek, bir çok bilinmez olduğu için merak ederek hızla okudum ama öğrendiklerim beni tatmin etmedi. İlk bölümündeki merak ettirebilmesinden ve zaman geçirmek için okuduğumdan amaca hizmetinden 3 verdim.
September 21, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
Audiobook
Na storytel w j. polskim z niewiadomych powodów tytuł "Ścigany"..
Audiobook
Na storytel w j. polskim z niewiadomych powodów tytuł "Ścigany"..
August 24, 2021
A brilliant well written story easy and quick to read - it was a hard boo to put down. The fear and desperation were palpable and the twists and turns completely unexpected.
A definite must read.
A definite must read.
February 11, 2013
Simon Kernick’s “Relentless” redeemed the author a little in my eyes. This is my sixth book by Mr. Kernick; after delightfully depraved “The Business of Dying” (4 stars), and two good novels, “The Crime Trade” (3.5) and “The Murder Exchange” (3), I read two horrible clunkers - “The Last 10 Seconds” (1.5) and “A Good Day to Die” (1 star, an utter failure). So I was quite afraid to read “Relentless”, but I am happy that my fears proved groundless.
“Relentless” is a good thriller, with a fascinating premise, a plot that is not excessively implausible, and a tolerable ending. The incompatibility of premises and denouements is one of Mr. Kernick’s trademarks; in each of the six books that I have read the beginning is much better than the ending. I love reading the beginnings, whereas I have to force myself to read the endings. Yet another trademark is the ability of the protagonists to use the last vestiges of their strength to regain full strength. I noticed this magical ability in five of the six books. Here, on page 47 (paperback, U.S. edition), we see “summoning my remaining strength […], etc. True, it is a minor fault of writing, but I wonder about its consistency.
The writing in “Relentless” is acceptable. The main character, Tom Meron, is drawn rather vividly, but his wife, Kathy, is just a paper cutoff. The character of DI Mike Bolt is well written, and out of all other characters, Lench is well presented and memorable, as a true monster, relentless murderer and torturer.
This novel is quite far in quality from “The Business of Dying”. It is good if brutal entertainment, without any depth. Fabulous first hundred or so pages.
Three and a half stars.
“Relentless” is a good thriller, with a fascinating premise, a plot that is not excessively implausible, and a tolerable ending. The incompatibility of premises and denouements is one of Mr. Kernick’s trademarks; in each of the six books that I have read the beginning is much better than the ending. I love reading the beginnings, whereas I have to force myself to read the endings. Yet another trademark is the ability of the protagonists to use the last vestiges of their strength to regain full strength. I noticed this magical ability in five of the six books. Here, on page 47 (paperback, U.S. edition), we see “summoning my remaining strength […], etc. True, it is a minor fault of writing, but I wonder about its consistency.
The writing in “Relentless” is acceptable. The main character, Tom Meron, is drawn rather vividly, but his wife, Kathy, is just a paper cutoff. The character of DI Mike Bolt is well written, and out of all other characters, Lench is well presented and memorable, as a true monster, relentless murderer and torturer.
This novel is quite far in quality from “The Business of Dying”. It is good if brutal entertainment, without any depth. Fabulous first hundred or so pages.
Three and a half stars.
July 8, 2008
http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5...
I would possibly not have chosen to read this, but it was a Richard and Judy Summer Read last year and I do usually like to try their recommendations. Also my husband has read it and thought I might enjoy it! Well he was wrong; although I sometimes enjoy a thriller it is far from my favourite genre this was not even particularly thrilling in the sense that it was a good adventure. Far from it, this was just a novel about violent crime.
One weekend Tom and Kathy Meron’s world is turned upside down when Tom receives a phone call from an old friend Jack Calley. They are drawn into a web of crime and the fast paced and horrendously violent action takes place over just two days and an epilogue three weeks later. The story is narrated either by Tom or by DI Mike Bolt a detective from the National Crime squad.
Although I was just about interested enough to find out what happened to finish the book, I found the violence altogether distasteful. There are some unpleasant characters in this story and one particularly nasty example of humanity known by the name of Lench.
I understand that Simon Kernick’s research for his novels is always very extensive and they are considered to be very authentic. I know the world is a cruel and violent place but this is authenticity I personally can do without, so I doubt I will be reading any more of this authors work which in some circles are obviously considered realistic crime novels.
I would possibly not have chosen to read this, but it was a Richard and Judy Summer Read last year and I do usually like to try their recommendations. Also my husband has read it and thought I might enjoy it! Well he was wrong; although I sometimes enjoy a thriller it is far from my favourite genre this was not even particularly thrilling in the sense that it was a good adventure. Far from it, this was just a novel about violent crime.
One weekend Tom and Kathy Meron’s world is turned upside down when Tom receives a phone call from an old friend Jack Calley. They are drawn into a web of crime and the fast paced and horrendously violent action takes place over just two days and an epilogue three weeks later. The story is narrated either by Tom or by DI Mike Bolt a detective from the National Crime squad.
Although I was just about interested enough to find out what happened to finish the book, I found the violence altogether distasteful. There are some unpleasant characters in this story and one particularly nasty example of humanity known by the name of Lench.
I understand that Simon Kernick’s research for his novels is always very extensive and they are considered to be very authentic. I know the world is a cruel and violent place but this is authenticity I personally can do without, so I doubt I will be reading any more of this authors work which in some circles are obviously considered realistic crime novels.
November 10, 2017
Bir günde biten, yazım hatalarıyla dolu olmasına rağmen çok sürükleyici (fakat biraz zorlama bir hikayesi olan) bir polisiye roman okudum. Malum, sınavlar yaklaşırken beni çok yormayacak kitaplar okumaya çalışıyorum. Bu kitap sizi hiç yormuyor, bunu gönül rahatlığıyla söyleyebilirim. Yazarın ters köşe yapmaya çalıştığı kısımlar en azından "köşe" olsaymış iyi de sonuç verirmiş. Bana çok yuvarlak geldi çünkü geçişleri, bir adım sonrasını rahatça tahmin edebildim. Ama bu belki de, benim geçmişte polisiyeye olan düşkünlüğümden kaynaklanıyordur, şimdi yanlış yönlendiriyor da olmayayım. Olimpos Yayınevi'nin en çok okunan ve sevilen kitaplarından biridir kendisi zira. Sürükleyici bir polisiye okumak istiyorum diyenlere tavsiyemdir. =)
December 8, 2010
This was a book that you would have had to rip out of my hands to stop me reading. In fact, I think I ended up reading it in one long insomniac stretch. This is the story of John Meron, an average father of two who all of a sudden finds himself running for his life. He doesn't know why and he doesn't really know from whom either. Although John isn't a commando, he refuses to go down easy and will do whatever it takes to ensure his family's safety. Suspenseful, thrilling and action-packed.
Comparison? Favorably, with "Bourne Identity." Only here we have a normal character, with whom one can relate - no special skills - and we are very much in his head moment to moment.
Comparison? Favorably, with "Bourne Identity." Only here we have a normal character, with whom one can relate - no special skills - and we are very much in his head moment to moment.
June 15, 2015
This is not the kind of book I would normally read, however it looked action-packed and my other half suggested it. The entire plot hinges on the protagonist receiving a phone call where he hears an old friend getting murdered. The friend's last words are the address of the protagonist, spoken to whoever is about to kill him. This leads the protagonist to get his kids out of the house and go on the run. From there, an action-packed story unravels.
I found the characters two-dimensional and the motivations of characters a little unbelievable. However if you fancy a high octane read, on holiday perhaps, this is a book for you!
I found the characters two-dimensional and the motivations of characters a little unbelievable. However if you fancy a high octane read, on holiday perhaps, this is a book for you!
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