Victor is back…
Tom Wood burst onto the scene last year with his debut novel ‘The Hunter’. Introducing a new anti-hero in Victor, an assassin for hire, ‘The Hunter’ was a lesson in action thriller writing. Following such an excellent debut is no easy task.
After the explosive first chapter however, any worries about Wood living up to the high standard he set last year disappear. From the first page, it’s clear you’re in safe hands. Wood has an innate sense of how to tell an intricate story, with the plot strands weaving together to create an expansive story set in a number of different countries.
Now, for a little confession...I generally dislike books in this genre. But, in the same vein of my enjoying Matt Hilton's series of Joe Hunter books, Tom Wood has created an incredible way of telling this kind of story, which allows a reader to suspend their disbelief throughout. You'll go with Victor on his journey, wherever it takes you, purely due to the fact Wood is a quite mesmerising writer. His prose is sparse yet absorbing, with an excellent knack for description and detail which never intrudes on the story.
More aspects of Victor's personality are revealed in 'The Enemy', his intelligence coming to the fore in this tale. Always one step ahead of his enemy, there's a reason why he's stayed alive for so long. On the surface, he's an evil man. Killing without emotion or reason. Yet, you can't help but root for him as he becomes the target, which is a real skill with this type of character.
A fast paced, thrill ride of a novel, ‘The Enemy’ firmly puts Tom Wood at the top echelons of his genre. Great characterisation, complex yet eminently readable, and so suspenseful, it will keep you up all night turning the next page until the end. This was a joy to read, and I can’t wait for the next instalment.