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DI Matt Barnes #1
A Reason To Kill
Book 1 in the DI Matt Barnes Series.
Detective Inspector Matt Barnes is a cop dedicated to his job at the expense of all else. He and his team are protecting the star witness in the upcoming trial of gangland boss, Frank Santini.
All aspects of Matt’s life are altered forever when Santini hires a contract killer, Gary Noon, to hit the safe house. Only Matt survives the onslaught of an inventive and sadistic killer, but is left seriously wounded.
The subsequent search for Noon is both a personal and professional challenge, during which Matt is aided by Criminal Psychologist Dr. Beth Holder, who is brought in to build a profile on Noon.
The man they seek comes to consider Matt a threat to his continued wellbeing, and determines to eliminate him.
As Matt and Beth’s relationship flourishes, more people die at Noon’s hand, and events conspire to bring the cop and killer ever closer to a deadly showdown.
With an unknown enemy within New Scotland Yard, Santini’s goons hunting for him, and a second imported hitman also on his trail, Matt knows that the odds against him surviving by outmanoeuvring the various factions are at best slim. Noon is the personification of evil; a psychopath using violence and cruelty to feed his sadistic needs. He considers himself a his fellow man, and especially Matt Barnes, the prey.
Detective Inspector Matt Barnes is a cop dedicated to his job at the expense of all else. He and his team are protecting the star witness in the upcoming trial of gangland boss, Frank Santini.
All aspects of Matt’s life are altered forever when Santini hires a contract killer, Gary Noon, to hit the safe house. Only Matt survives the onslaught of an inventive and sadistic killer, but is left seriously wounded.
The subsequent search for Noon is both a personal and professional challenge, during which Matt is aided by Criminal Psychologist Dr. Beth Holder, who is brought in to build a profile on Noon.
The man they seek comes to consider Matt a threat to his continued wellbeing, and determines to eliminate him.
As Matt and Beth’s relationship flourishes, more people die at Noon’s hand, and events conspire to bring the cop and killer ever closer to a deadly showdown.
With an unknown enemy within New Scotland Yard, Santini’s goons hunting for him, and a second imported hitman also on his trail, Matt knows that the odds against him surviving by outmanoeuvring the various factions are at best slim. Noon is the personification of evil; a psychopath using violence and cruelty to feed his sadistic needs. He considers himself a his fellow man, and especially Matt Barnes, the prey.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2013
424 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Michael Kerr
88 books38 followersI write the type of original, action-packed, violent crime thrillers that I know I would enjoy reading if they were written by such authors as: Lee Child, David Baldacci, Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly and their ilk.
Over twenty years in the Prison Service proved great research into the minds of criminals, and especially into the dark world that serial killers - of who I have met quite a few - frequent.
I live in a cottage a mile from the nearest main road in the Yorkshire Wolds, enjoy photography, the wildlife, and of course creating new characters to place in dilemmas that my mind dreams up.
What makes a good read? Believable protagonists that you care about, set in a story that stirs all of your emotions.
If you like crime fiction, then I believe that 'Deadly Reprisal' and 'A Reacher Kind of Guy - Aftermath' will push all the right buttons for you.
Over twenty years in the Prison Service proved great research into the minds of criminals, and especially into the dark world that serial killers - of who I have met quite a few - frequent.
I live in a cottage a mile from the nearest main road in the Yorkshire Wolds, enjoy photography, the wildlife, and of course creating new characters to place in dilemmas that my mind dreams up.
What makes a good read? Believable protagonists that you care about, set in a story that stirs all of your emotions.
If you like crime fiction, then I believe that 'Deadly Reprisal' and 'A Reacher Kind of Guy - Aftermath' will push all the right buttons for you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
January 17, 2023
Non -stop action, very gruesome details (so it’s not for everyone ), but it’s suspenseful.
Michael Kerr has a way of grabbing your attention and not letting go, even though sometimes you wish you could break free, such is the level of violence. There's the mob to deal with, contract killers,(one of whom is a psychopath) and bent cops, so what's new you might ask? Well nothing, apart from the fact that the author spent over 20 years in the prison service, no doubt coming into contact with some very unsavoury characters. Who knows, we may have met some of them in this book! And besides it is a riveting read. Well worth it if you can get past the gore.
Michael Kerr has a way of grabbing your attention and not letting go, even though sometimes you wish you could break free, such is the level of violence. There's the mob to deal with, contract killers,(one of whom is a psychopath) and bent cops, so what's new you might ask? Well nothing, apart from the fact that the author spent over 20 years in the prison service, no doubt coming into contact with some very unsavoury characters. Who knows, we may have met some of them in this book! And besides it is a riveting read. Well worth it if you can get past the gore.
November 3, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
This is a free novel e-book from Amazon and the first book in a nine book series.
This is British 🏰👑 romantic family and friends relationships murder mystery. The A man 🚹 with pathologic issues is part of a program which helps people with issues. It turns out that he is a contract killer. He is under contract to kill a witness before the trial which he does and the fun begins.
This is the first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised.
I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 😀👒😡👻🏡👑🏰
This is a free novel e-book from Amazon and the first book in a nine book series.
This is British 🏰👑 romantic family and friends relationships murder mystery. The A man 🚹 with pathologic issues is part of a program which helps people with issues. It turns out that he is a contract killer. He is under contract to kill a witness before the trial which he does and the fun begins.
This is the first book by this author and I was pleasantly surprised.
I would recommend this series and author to 👍 readers of romantic mystery novels 👍🔰. 2023 😀👒😡👻🏡👑🏰
September 13, 2017
London police have been trying for a long time to put mob boss Frank Santini behind bars, and now they have a witness willing to testify against him. Not willing to risk that, Santini sends a contract killer after the witness who success in taking out his target, most of his protection team, and a witness besides. DI Matt Barnes barely survives the hit and is determined to get the man who had his colleagues murdered - but when the hitman learns that he left survivors, he has no intentions of letting the matter lie and going to ground.
Plenty of action, but in the end the whole thing was a little too predictable. Added to that, the characters are fairly flat and spend entirely too much time talking in clichés. Entertaining enough, but rather average fare.
Plenty of action, but in the end the whole thing was a little too predictable. Added to that, the characters are fairly flat and spend entirely too much time talking in clichés. Entertaining enough, but rather average fare.
April 16, 2015
(Spoiler alert)
Fantastic. A real page turner. I loved most things about this book including the characters. A lot of other negative comments here focus on the fact that Michael Kerr didn't develop his characters, but I disagree with them. I think he did develop his characters enough for this kind of book. I'm not reading a Jane Austin novel, I'm reading a crime thriller and Kerr used his page space brilliantly. I understood all of the characters, their motives and I liked most of them and was rooting for them, especially the baddie.
The one complaint I have about this book, which is why I am giving it four instead of five stars is that the author suddenly changed his baddie's character at the very end and in quite a drastic way. Gary Noon had displayed no urge to rape women at any stage in this book, because his character was a coldblooded murderer without "those" kind of desires. I couldn't understand why suddenly in the last scene he was going to rape Beth, it didn't fit with Gary's character - HE should have cut and run (or shot and run should I say?) but he didn't.
The other niggling issue I have is that for every character (no matter how minor) Kerr gave them a convoluted backstory. This really wasn't necessary as they were not the characters I am interested in.
On the whole though, this had a fantastic plot, yeah it seemed a bit american with the guns and everything, but you know what? London England can be like that too, just walk down Harlesden High Street one evening and you'll see what I mean. I'd love to meet the author and shake his hand for this. He kept me interested up until the last page, there were no "dead zones" and although his writing style may not suit all, I thought it was great and perfect for a crime thriller.
It doesn't surprise me that Mr. Kerr spent time working in prison service - experience shows. Thanks Mr. Kerr, I will definitely be reading more of your novels.
Fantastic. A real page turner. I loved most things about this book including the characters. A lot of other negative comments here focus on the fact that Michael Kerr didn't develop his characters, but I disagree with them. I think he did develop his characters enough for this kind of book. I'm not reading a Jane Austin novel, I'm reading a crime thriller and Kerr used his page space brilliantly. I understood all of the characters, their motives and I liked most of them and was rooting for them, especially the baddie.
The one complaint I have about this book, which is why I am giving it four instead of five stars is that the author suddenly changed his baddie's character at the very end and in quite a drastic way. Gary Noon had displayed no urge to rape women at any stage in this book, because his character was a coldblooded murderer without "those" kind of desires. I couldn't understand why suddenly in the last scene he was going to rape Beth, it didn't fit with Gary's character - HE should have cut and run (or shot and run should I say?) but he didn't.
The other niggling issue I have is that for every character (no matter how minor) Kerr gave them a convoluted backstory. This really wasn't necessary as they were not the characters I am interested in.
On the whole though, this had a fantastic plot, yeah it seemed a bit american with the guns and everything, but you know what? London England can be like that too, just walk down Harlesden High Street one evening and you'll see what I mean. I'd love to meet the author and shake his hand for this. He kept me interested up until the last page, there were no "dead zones" and although his writing style may not suit all, I thought it was great and perfect for a crime thriller.
It doesn't surprise me that Mr. Kerr spent time working in prison service - experience shows. Thanks Mr. Kerr, I will definitely be reading more of your novels.
April 20, 2014
Dreadful writing. Awful.
Author seems to have once read a 'how to write' book and mistook an exercise in character motivation for the finished novel. Every interaction is trite and the over-explaining of everyone's inner thoughts now has me giggling.
I am reading to the end though. Go ahead, judge me.
Author seems to have once read a 'how to write' book and mistook an exercise in character motivation for the finished novel. Every interaction is trite and the over-explaining of everyone's inner thoughts now has me giggling.
I am reading to the end though. Go ahead, judge me.
April 19, 2015
A fast paced, slightly disturbing psychological thriller with plenty of twists and turns.
July 2, 2017
DI Matt Barnes is part of a team assigned to protect a witness scheduled to testify against one Frank Sartini, a mob boss. Little do they know that a schizophrenic hitman is holding a couple next door hostage and in no short time shoots them, poses as the husband taking the dog for a walk and then slaughters everyone in the safe house apart from Matt, who is left for dead with a shot up leg.
The hunt is on for the killer who soon realises that Matt and the wife from the neighbouring house have survived and need to be eliminated as witnesses.
If one did not know one would hardly guess that this is set in London. There's very little background atmosphere and not much to suggest where Matt's police station is. His love interest, Beth, a forensic psychologist, lives in Roehampton. I used to live there myself. It's a distinctive and somewhat leafy area, but as far as the reader is concerned it might just as well have been Kilburn or Oxford Circus.
My other issue with this is the dialogue which is stilted and unrealistic.
It's a quick and easy read but ultimately unsatisfying. The killer, Gary, is almost superhuman in his ability to evade detection. This is a common trait of serial killers but is usually offset by a depth of characterisation which gives them a level of credibility. Hannibal Lektor for instance gets away with umpteen unbelievable things before a breakfast of human liver, but there is so much more going on with him that we are able to suspend our disbelief. That extra dimension is missing here.
There's a higher than average body count, some of them being quite surplus to requirements, as if Kerr felt he was being paid by the murder.
It's a decent enough read, having said all that, but reads more like a first draft where the author has not really got to know his characters all that well yet.
The hunt is on for the killer who soon realises that Matt and the wife from the neighbouring house have survived and need to be eliminated as witnesses.
If one did not know one would hardly guess that this is set in London. There's very little background atmosphere and not much to suggest where Matt's police station is. His love interest, Beth, a forensic psychologist, lives in Roehampton. I used to live there myself. It's a distinctive and somewhat leafy area, but as far as the reader is concerned it might just as well have been Kilburn or Oxford Circus.
My other issue with this is the dialogue which is stilted and unrealistic.
It's a quick and easy read but ultimately unsatisfying. The killer, Gary, is almost superhuman in his ability to evade detection. This is a common trait of serial killers but is usually offset by a depth of characterisation which gives them a level of credibility. Hannibal Lektor for instance gets away with umpteen unbelievable things before a breakfast of human liver, but there is so much more going on with him that we are able to suspend our disbelief. That extra dimension is missing here.
There's a higher than average body count, some of them being quite surplus to requirements, as if Kerr felt he was being paid by the murder.
It's a decent enough read, having said all that, but reads more like a first draft where the author has not really got to know his characters all that well yet.
January 12, 2015
This book is that guilty-pleasure you just cannot stop reading!
Matt Barnes breaks that archetype of the middle-aged detective who drinks too much and is so emotionally scarred he can barely function. Instead, Matt is a young, breath of fresh air that restored my faith in British crime fiction. Furthermore, I enjoyed the realism that Kerr injected into Matt’s injuries. In films, and a lot of books, when someone gets shot in the leg they dig it out with a pair of pliars and just carry on going like the terminator. Matt’s injuries are a big theme in this novel and I appreciated the authenticity given to them.
“Seconds passed. He felt dizzy and sick to the stomach. Glanced down to see bloody bubbling through the denim of his jeans. An artery. Jesus! He needed help, and fast. If he passed out, he knew that he would not wake up again.”
Matt spends the majority of the book in a full leg cast which lends a certain humility to an otherwise tough character. I think this was an interesting direction to set off in and watching him try to overcome his injuries, both physical and emotional, really kept my interest.
“Having elected to take a cab to the scene, Matt needed to climb three flights of stairs about as much as he needed a brain tumour. Even with the cane, he only made it up to the top with the help of Pete Deakin.”
The other broad theme tying the plot together is that of allowing life to pass by without consideration. It take’s the injury to make Matt realise what he has and what he is lacking. In this, he is attracted to a similar soul and so ensues a very naturally progressing romance element. However, I do fear that Beth may become too much of a damsel in distress character in future novels but that is just a feeling.
“Matt and Beth locked eyes, read volumes in each others gaze, and were then together, embracing. Matt found her lips with his and tenderly kissed them. He could smell the freshness of her. Far better than lipstick or perfume. Au naturel.”
On the flip-side, the antagonist character, Gary Noon is identified quickly and the story is told from his viewpoint at several junctures. I don’t know whether the fact that the author has worked in the prison service has anything to do with it but this character really made my skin creep. Nicely done, Mr. Kerr.
“It was his mother’s voice speaking. She was dead, but had taken up residence in his head – which was a crowded place – where so many voices were a constant static, background noise.”
Whilst the storyline is absolutely five star, it was not without its flaws. I felt as though the book may have originally been intended to be set in the USA. Police officers were referred to as ‘cops’ throughout and though this does happen in the UK it is far more common to call them ‘coppers’. This was a small but slightly irritating detail as it took away some of the cultural authenticity. Finally, the book could definitely have been more atmospheric as, aside from a few London suburb names, setting was almost absent.
However, all things considered, I was astonished by this book. For a kindle freebie, it connected with me on a basic, storytelling level. So much so that I could see right through the shortcomings. I am now, excitedly reading the second DI Matt Barnes novel and looking forward to seeing him in real copper mode without his leg encased in full-leg-cast!
Matt Barnes breaks that archetype of the middle-aged detective who drinks too much and is so emotionally scarred he can barely function. Instead, Matt is a young, breath of fresh air that restored my faith in British crime fiction. Furthermore, I enjoyed the realism that Kerr injected into Matt’s injuries. In films, and a lot of books, when someone gets shot in the leg they dig it out with a pair of pliars and just carry on going like the terminator. Matt’s injuries are a big theme in this novel and I appreciated the authenticity given to them.
“Seconds passed. He felt dizzy and sick to the stomach. Glanced down to see bloody bubbling through the denim of his jeans. An artery. Jesus! He needed help, and fast. If he passed out, he knew that he would not wake up again.”
Matt spends the majority of the book in a full leg cast which lends a certain humility to an otherwise tough character. I think this was an interesting direction to set off in and watching him try to overcome his injuries, both physical and emotional, really kept my interest.
“Having elected to take a cab to the scene, Matt needed to climb three flights of stairs about as much as he needed a brain tumour. Even with the cane, he only made it up to the top with the help of Pete Deakin.”
The other broad theme tying the plot together is that of allowing life to pass by without consideration. It take’s the injury to make Matt realise what he has and what he is lacking. In this, he is attracted to a similar soul and so ensues a very naturally progressing romance element. However, I do fear that Beth may become too much of a damsel in distress character in future novels but that is just a feeling.
“Matt and Beth locked eyes, read volumes in each others gaze, and were then together, embracing. Matt found her lips with his and tenderly kissed them. He could smell the freshness of her. Far better than lipstick or perfume. Au naturel.”
On the flip-side, the antagonist character, Gary Noon is identified quickly and the story is told from his viewpoint at several junctures. I don’t know whether the fact that the author has worked in the prison service has anything to do with it but this character really made my skin creep. Nicely done, Mr. Kerr.
“It was his mother’s voice speaking. She was dead, but had taken up residence in his head – which was a crowded place – where so many voices were a constant static, background noise.”
Whilst the storyline is absolutely five star, it was not without its flaws. I felt as though the book may have originally been intended to be set in the USA. Police officers were referred to as ‘cops’ throughout and though this does happen in the UK it is far more common to call them ‘coppers’. This was a small but slightly irritating detail as it took away some of the cultural authenticity. Finally, the book could definitely have been more atmospheric as, aside from a few London suburb names, setting was almost absent.
However, all things considered, I was astonished by this book. For a kindle freebie, it connected with me on a basic, storytelling level. So much so that I could see right through the shortcomings. I am now, excitedly reading the second DI Matt Barnes novel and looking forward to seeing him in real copper mode without his leg encased in full-leg-cast!
February 11, 2014
This is the first DI Matt Barnes book I've read, and I think I like it.
A hit man is hired to kill a mob guy giving state's evidence (or whatever the UK equivalent is) against his boss, a Teflon-coated gangster who has long eluded law enforcement's grasp. The stool pigeon is in witness protection, but with a police officer on the take in the employ of said slick mob head, he's not really safe. The hit man strikes, killing the canary, four of the officers keeping watch, two neighbors, and nearly killing our hero, DI Matt Barnes.
And then the proverbial fan is soiled.
The tension is kept high throughout the book, and the hit man, a guy who does his job seemingly more for the thrill than the money, is extremely intense, a real psychopath. He is smarter than everyone else, especially the filth (aka, the police) and in particular DI Matt Barnes. There are some nice psychological insights along the way.
I like the parallels between Barnes and Noon (the hit man) throughout the story. What's scary is Barnes recognizing how they are alike. All the main characters are fairly well drawn, and even some of the incidental characters have an evident existence beyond just being literary automatons to advance the plot point-oh-one-eight steps by revealing an Important Piece of Information. The story turns into cat and mouse and crocodile chase, only those positions are fluid among the characters, though Noon is pretty much the crocodile throughout.
If you like detective stories even if all the players are all out in the open right up front and the joy comes from seeing how it all plays out, then this is definitely the book for you. Remember, just because *you* know something doesn't mean the rest of the characters know what you know. Even if this might not be your normal cup of Earl Grey, you should give it scan to support our hero, DI Matt Barnes. While he might not be overly thankful for your reading, he will do his best to protect you from all manner of scum and filth.
A hit man is hired to kill a mob guy giving state's evidence (or whatever the UK equivalent is) against his boss, a Teflon-coated gangster who has long eluded law enforcement's grasp. The stool pigeon is in witness protection, but with a police officer on the take in the employ of said slick mob head, he's not really safe. The hit man strikes, killing the canary, four of the officers keeping watch, two neighbors, and nearly killing our hero, DI Matt Barnes.
And then the proverbial fan is soiled.
The tension is kept high throughout the book, and the hit man, a guy who does his job seemingly more for the thrill than the money, is extremely intense, a real psychopath. He is smarter than everyone else, especially the filth (aka, the police) and in particular DI Matt Barnes. There are some nice psychological insights along the way.
I like the parallels between Barnes and Noon (the hit man) throughout the story. What's scary is Barnes recognizing how they are alike. All the main characters are fairly well drawn, and even some of the incidental characters have an evident existence beyond just being literary automatons to advance the plot point-oh-one-eight steps by revealing an Important Piece of Information. The story turns into cat and mouse and crocodile chase, only those positions are fluid among the characters, though Noon is pretty much the crocodile throughout.
If you like detective stories even if all the players are all out in the open right up front and the joy comes from seeing how it all plays out, then this is definitely the book for you. Remember, just because *you* know something doesn't mean the rest of the characters know what you know. Even if this might not be your normal cup of Earl Grey, you should give it scan to support our hero, DI Matt Barnes. While he might not be overly thankful for your reading, he will do his best to protect you from all manner of scum and filth.
December 30, 2013
I read mysteries recreationally, but even there I require a certain level of skill and originality in writing and ideas, even if just a skillful reworking of familiar themes. I found none of these qualities in A Reason to Kill. Rather, a string of cliches laid end to end, both in event and expression. A collection of tropes and stereotypes gathered from the most simplistic U. S. crime dramas packaged thinly in the U.K., this author creates characters with no more depth than paper dolls.
I hate giving up on books I start, but after plodding through no more than a quarter of this one, I put it aside. Life is too short.
I hate giving up on books I start, but after plodding through no more than a quarter of this one, I put it aside. Life is too short.
September 15, 2013
If you like crime thrillers you will like this one. its definitely a case of good cop/bad cop/nasty bad guys.
there is a lot of violence a bit of sex and a lot of pent up emotion.
really quite good and I would read more from this author.
there is a lot of violence a bit of sex and a lot of pent up emotion.
really quite good and I would read more from this author.
August 6, 2016
This is one of those books that grips you tightly and won't let go, its straight into a fast moving story, and that's how it stays right to the end, through all its twists and turns, its a thoroughly good read.
March 25, 2014
First book from this author, and I have to say will defo be reading his books again. Gripping from start to finish. A blooming good read...
October 9, 2017
I actually finished this book a couple of days ago but chose not to review it immediately as I really wasn't sure what I thought of it. I hoped some time to mull it over would help... unfortunately not.
So, for one thing. I finished the book early Saturday morning, and promptly forgot I had read or finished it until Sunday. I know I read some dross at times, but I don't think I have ever read a book that is quite so forgetable before!
The characters I felt to be rather bland, they don't stand out from the crowd - and in the crime/thriller genre there are a lot of reasons to want to stand out. There was a good effort at rounding them out but it came across more as an attempt as opposed to creating a reality.
I found the hitman to be rather stereotypical. It seems that a lot of serial killers have some sort of psychological problem that authors seem to take to the extreme to create what feels like a caricature as opposed to someone who could be living next door. His easy belief in the therapist felt more like a plot device as opposed to something that would happen based on previous interactions.
The psychologist was... naive to my mind. Her intelligence was shown in the things she owned but it never felt like she was intelligent - or it came across as an after-thought!
Matt, our lead, our hero... he did feel realistic if you ignore the falling in love with a woman he'd met maybe 3 times previously and have spent a couple of hours with. Wait, did I say love? Surely I mean lust! His ability with a gun, and his physical limitations felt realistic (for the most part... not sure about driving with a busted leg - even for the person you love).
The 'mob'.. well, think of five stereotypes for cartels or mobs and I bet you they were all covered off in this book.
In terms of the plot, this was pretty by the numbers as well. There are some minor changes but I bet you can get this plot in a lot of other books of this genre. The part with the second hitman I found particularly redundant. Could have saved a few minutes of reading time and a handful of pages by just deleting that entire sub-plot. It wouldn't change the story in any way.
This author also fell into a trap that I particularly dislike. DROPPING IN A MAJOR HINT AT A POTENTIAL FUTURE THREAT - because that'll draw me in to read any sequels.... in my case the opposite effect has been achieved.
I didn't find this book to be a waste of reading time, it killed time on the train and I was clearly invested enough to read it on the weekend but... not a book series I'd knowingly pick-up in the future.
So, for one thing. I finished the book early Saturday morning, and promptly forgot I had read or finished it until Sunday. I know I read some dross at times, but I don't think I have ever read a book that is quite so forgetable before!
The characters I felt to be rather bland, they don't stand out from the crowd - and in the crime/thriller genre there are a lot of reasons to want to stand out. There was a good effort at rounding them out but it came across more as an attempt as opposed to creating a reality.
I found the hitman to be rather stereotypical. It seems that a lot of serial killers have some sort of psychological problem that authors seem to take to the extreme to create what feels like a caricature as opposed to someone who could be living next door. His easy belief in the therapist felt more like a plot device as opposed to something that would happen based on previous interactions.
The psychologist was... naive to my mind. Her intelligence was shown in the things she owned but it never felt like she was intelligent - or it came across as an after-thought!
Matt, our lead, our hero... he did feel realistic if you ignore the falling in love with a woman he'd met maybe 3 times previously and have spent a couple of hours with. Wait, did I say love? Surely I mean lust! His ability with a gun, and his physical limitations felt realistic (for the most part... not sure about driving with a busted leg - even for the person you love).
The 'mob'.. well, think of five stereotypes for cartels or mobs and I bet you they were all covered off in this book.
In terms of the plot, this was pretty by the numbers as well. There are some minor changes but I bet you can get this plot in a lot of other books of this genre. The part with the second hitman I found particularly redundant. Could have saved a few minutes of reading time and a handful of pages by just deleting that entire sub-plot. It wouldn't change the story in any way.
This author also fell into a trap that I particularly dislike. DROPPING IN A MAJOR HINT AT A POTENTIAL FUTURE THREAT - because that'll draw me in to read any sequels.... in my case the opposite effect has been achieved.
I didn't find this book to be a waste of reading time, it killed time on the train and I was clearly invested enough to read it on the weekend but... not a book series I'd knowingly pick-up in the future.
September 29, 2020
Rubbish
Not just rubbish but utter rubbish. No character development, a plot twist at the end that is painfully obvious, and sex scenes that could have been written by a teenage boy. There is no character development because the main character has no room to develop. He starts as a superman, where can his character go? The "plot twist" is as obvious as it is unsatisfactory, on a number of levels. The less said about the sex scenes, the better.
The main villain has an office decorated with pictures of USA gangsters. Really?
Spoiler alert, if you want to read this book do not read the next paragraph.
At one point someone who has been abused, blackmailed, filmed secretly, and thrown aside agrees to become a willing partner in murder when asked. She then changes her mind without any real reason other than to provide another gory death scene.
Do not waste your time, or money. Let my mistake stop you from making one.
Not just rubbish but utter rubbish. No character development, a plot twist at the end that is painfully obvious, and sex scenes that could have been written by a teenage boy. There is no character development because the main character has no room to develop. He starts as a superman, where can his character go? The "plot twist" is as obvious as it is unsatisfactory, on a number of levels. The less said about the sex scenes, the better.
The main villain has an office decorated with pictures of USA gangsters. Really?
Spoiler alert, if you want to read this book do not read the next paragraph.
At one point someone who has been abused, blackmailed, filmed secretly, and thrown aside agrees to become a willing partner in murder when asked. She then changes her mind without any real reason other than to provide another gory death scene.
Do not waste your time, or money. Let my mistake stop you from making one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2019
This was a good solid book. The premise is all about revenge when a hit man attacks a mob target and takes down some Police who stand in his way. The only survivor is DI Matt Barnes who seeks revenge. I liked the development of the hitman and there was a good display of his mental health issues. I would say that the ending was fairly predictable and on the whole, the American Mob thing just seemed to be a little out of place in this English set novel - british gangsters would have sufficed. Bit of predictable romance thrown in for good measure. There was nothing particularly special about this however I did enjoy and I continued to turn the pages so it was worth a punt and I would quite possibly read the series for an easy, non stop action read!
June 16, 2017
Mark Gillingham worthy
This was a rollercoaster of a book with a mentally unstable hitman targeting both victims, cops and even his employees This man has no moral compass and doesn't do it for the money. In fact he would be an asset to the SAS. Gripping read and you want him to get his comeuppance. I thought DI Matt Barnes an honest, likeable Bruce Willis type hero and this author was imaginative and exciting.
This was a rollercoaster of a book with a mentally unstable hitman targeting both victims, cops and even his employees This man has no moral compass and doesn't do it for the money. In fact he would be an asset to the SAS. Gripping read and you want him to get his comeuppance. I thought DI Matt Barnes an honest, likeable Bruce Willis type hero and this author was imaginative and exciting.
December 22, 2017
For me, this is an ideal book for reading during a bus or train journey, or in an airport waiting lounge. It's well written, has nicely paced plot development and the characters are interesting enough. It's not one of those books that leaves you astonished at the plot, or makes you feel really connected to the characters, or thinking about it days after you finish it, so I think 3 stars is a fair score, but it's an enjoyable read.
February 8, 2018
Spectacular
This is the first book I've read by this author and as it was free on Amazon I thought I'd give it a go I'm glad I did I starts off with a hit man doing his job and killing all in sight and carries on with murder and mayhem all the way through with a Di Matt Barnes trying to track down the paid assassin so as to save his own life it's a riveting book with a spectacular ending looking forward to the next installment now
This is the first book I've read by this author and as it was free on Amazon I thought I'd give it a go I'm glad I did I starts off with a hit man doing his job and killing all in sight and carries on with murder and mayhem all the way through with a Di Matt Barnes trying to track down the paid assassin so as to save his own life it's a riveting book with a spectacular ending looking forward to the next installment now
April 30, 2018
There’s terrific tension in this police procedural, well-placed on the noir scale, with most of a police unit being gunned down early on and the murderer a nasty piece of work in several directions at once. I wasn’t wholly convinced by the main character’s (I mean Matt Barnes’, not the villain’s) romantic attachment and not keen on the time spent on it, nevertheless the characters are interesting and for the most part sympathetic, and the plot moves relentlessly.
April 26, 2020
Good & gripping plot.!
Found this to be a very gripping read with lots of intrigue & intensity! Kept me wanting to keep reading avidly to get into.the characters & plot that it was creating- sure, there is plenty of graphic & gratuitous violence within the dialogue but it was in my opinion validated given the context of this novel!
A very enjoyable & engrossing read I would recommend to any potential reader of this genre of fiction!
Found this to be a very gripping read with lots of intrigue & intensity! Kept me wanting to keep reading avidly to get into.the characters & plot that it was creating- sure, there is plenty of graphic & gratuitous violence within the dialogue but it was in my opinion validated given the context of this novel!
A very enjoyable & engrossing read I would recommend to any potential reader of this genre of fiction!
June 7, 2017
Gripping
This story gripped me from the beginning! It came across as though you were living it as you were reading it.
I sat in bed at nights reading and because I couldn't put it down before I knew it was 3am.
I am looking forward to reading DI BARNES books and hope they are as good,and hope Beth is his wife?
This story gripped me from the beginning! It came across as though you were living it as you were reading it.
I sat in bed at nights reading and because I couldn't put it down before I knew it was 3am.
I am looking forward to reading DI BARNES books and hope they are as good,and hope Beth is his wife?
September 27, 2018
Page turner
A fascinating insight into the life of a hired hitman. His attention to detail and fastidious fore planning and ability to seem harmless in his daily life is intriguing. Matt Barnes survives a hit and is now a loose end to tidy up. The action doesn’t let up and the characters make you care what happens to them. A great read.
A fascinating insight into the life of a hired hitman. His attention to detail and fastidious fore planning and ability to seem harmless in his daily life is intriguing. Matt Barnes survives a hit and is now a loose end to tidy up. The action doesn’t let up and the characters make you care what happens to them. A great read.
December 6, 2024
It was promising, I enjoyed the action and twists and turns and was my kind of book. But I just didn’t connect with it although the action did hook me in parts so I did finish it, but it took me a while.
I just didn’t quite engage with the characters and it was a bit cliche and predictable in places. I didn’t finish it wanting to read the next so I probably won’t bother.
I just didn’t quite engage with the characters and it was a bit cliche and predictable in places. I didn’t finish it wanting to read the next so I probably won’t bother.
September 9, 2018
Grabs you from the first page to the last, why have I only just discovered this brilliant author. It's everything a crime thriller should be with a great storyline and strong characters. I will definitely be following up with the second in the series.
September 18, 2018
Enjoyed
First book of series as so often the lead Detective has his own flaws he has to deal with as well as catching the killer on the loose,good storyline,Interesting make up of characters will definitely move on with DI Matt Barnes
First book of series as so often the lead Detective has his own flaws he has to deal with as well as catching the killer on the loose,good storyline,Interesting make up of characters will definitely move on with DI Matt Barnes
December 7, 2018
While protecting an informer, DI Matt Barnes, becomes the only survivor of a hit on his team and the informer. The hitman, Gary Noon, has been employed by Frank Santini, crime boss. Apart from Barnes there is another witness . Can Noon get to the witnesss first.
A fast-paced enjoyable thriller
A fast-paced enjoyable thriller
August 11, 2022
A very entertaining cop story with plenty of twists and turns. Two implacable men cross paths and things go from bad to worse. It is something like Chandler or Spillane would produce. A recommended read for detective fans.
February 18, 2023
Evil, pure evil
What a ride in the sordid mind of a psychopath. The author captures the thinking process of a devious mind accurately. I was really moved with scenes described. Conrad Samayoa.
What a ride in the sordid mind of a psychopath. The author captures the thinking process of a devious mind accurately. I was really moved with scenes described. Conrad Samayoa.
May 16, 2017
Cliched and a bit old fashioned, but good fun.
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