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John Milton #8
The Ninth Step
The ninth step of all twelve step programs requires addicts to make amends to the people they’ve hurt. John Milton’s been trying to do that for months, but it’s not a simple matter for him. Milton used to be an assassin, and most of the people that he hurt are dead.
Milton is keeping a low profile in London. He is at his usual meeting when a man confesses the reason for his alcoholism: he was abused as a child. Milton offers to help, but when the man is found dead in circumstances that Milton considers to be suspicious, events take a turn that no-one could have anticipated.
Milton’s attempted good deed becomes a quest to unveil corruption at the highest levels of government and murder at the dark heart of the criminal underworld.
Prepare yourself for another hair-raising, heart-pounding adventure from the new master of the thriller. With over one million downloads and thousands of five star reviews, if you haven’t read Mark Dawson yet, what are you waiting for?
Milton is keeping a low profile in London. He is at his usual meeting when a man confesses the reason for his alcoholism: he was abused as a child. Milton offers to help, but when the man is found dead in circumstances that Milton considers to be suspicious, events take a turn that no-one could have anticipated.
Milton’s attempted good deed becomes a quest to unveil corruption at the highest levels of government and murder at the dark heart of the criminal underworld.
Prepare yourself for another hair-raising, heart-pounding adventure from the new master of the thriller. With over one million downloads and thousands of five star reviews, if you haven’t read Mark Dawson yet, what are you waiting for?
456 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 4, 2016
2070 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
Mark Dawson
114 books1,849 followersFor news and special offers join Mark's mailing list at:
http://eepurl.com/Cai5X
Mark Dawson was born in Lowestoft and grew up in Manchester and Chicago. He has worked as a lawyer and currently works in the London film industry. His first books, "The Art of Falling Apart" and "Subpoena Colada" have been published in multiple languages.
He is currently writing two series. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, "The Black Mile", deals with the (real life but little known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. "The Imposter" traces the journey of a criminal family (think The Sopranos in austerity London and you'd be on the right track).
The John Milton series features a disgruntled special agent who aims to help people to make amends for the terrible things that he has done. Mark, as a child of the 80s, will freely admit that he watched a lot of The Equalizer in his youth.
Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.
You can find him at www.markjdawson.com or www.facebook.com/markdawsonauthor.
http://eepurl.com/Cai5X
Mark Dawson was born in Lowestoft and grew up in Manchester and Chicago. He has worked as a lawyer and currently works in the London film industry. His first books, "The Art of Falling Apart" and "Subpoena Colada" have been published in multiple languages.
He is currently writing two series. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, "The Black Mile", deals with the (real life but little known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. "The Imposter" traces the journey of a criminal family (think The Sopranos in austerity London and you'd be on the right track).
The John Milton series features a disgruntled special agent who aims to help people to make amends for the terrible things that he has done. Mark, as a child of the 80s, will freely admit that he watched a lot of The Equalizer in his youth.
Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.
You can find him at www.markjdawson.com or www.facebook.com/markdawsonauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
March 15, 2023
*Atonement*
**4.5 Stars**
This instalment finds John Milton in London. He is working as a cook for cab drivers only. He is also a recovering alcoholic who drank to cover up some of the horrors he witnessed throughout his military career. His last job was working as a assassin for the British Government.
To keep him on check he attends AA meetings in whatever area he ends up in. He is on the ninth step which means he has to atone and put right the wrongs in his life. In Milton’s case most of them are dead.
One of the men attending the meeting also a cabbie is severely troubled and he wants to atone but does not know where to turn. He was adopted but prior to that he was severely abused by well known politicians and other high profile characters, he was not alone and other boys were in the same boat as they were bused around the country to seedy parties. There is also the issue that his adopted family are serious gangsters. One day his past comes back to haunt him when one of the characters ends up in his cab, this character and many others have a group of mercenaries behind them who eliminate those who want to speak up.
He latches onto Milton not realising he is talking to the man who can deal with it all. He wants to tell his story but what are the consequences….
At the same time the latest recruit to the group of Mercenaries is having second thoughts. His motivation for joining is he needs money to fund his wife’s treatment for cancer. Far too late he wants out and knows that you cannot just leave. While surveilling the cab office to deal with his latest subject a man opens the door and is looking around he recognises him as Milton. (Aka no.1) He does not reveal it to the team, at his earliest opportunity he too approaches Milton…
The long and short of it is when John Milton acts if you get in his way you will never see him coming, especially now after a tragic event spurs him on more.
There is a lovely touch right at the end of the book that is very touching.
This one started off a little slower than usual but somehow I was still gripped the tension and lack of fear Milton has and the precision to his planning, although it is not all revealed until it happens, yet another instalment not to read before bed.
**4.5 Stars**
This instalment finds John Milton in London. He is working as a cook for cab drivers only. He is also a recovering alcoholic who drank to cover up some of the horrors he witnessed throughout his military career. His last job was working as a assassin for the British Government.
To keep him on check he attends AA meetings in whatever area he ends up in. He is on the ninth step which means he has to atone and put right the wrongs in his life. In Milton’s case most of them are dead.
One of the men attending the meeting also a cabbie is severely troubled and he wants to atone but does not know where to turn. He was adopted but prior to that he was severely abused by well known politicians and other high profile characters, he was not alone and other boys were in the same boat as they were bused around the country to seedy parties. There is also the issue that his adopted family are serious gangsters. One day his past comes back to haunt him when one of the characters ends up in his cab, this character and many others have a group of mercenaries behind them who eliminate those who want to speak up.
He latches onto Milton not realising he is talking to the man who can deal with it all. He wants to tell his story but what are the consequences….
At the same time the latest recruit to the group of Mercenaries is having second thoughts. His motivation for joining is he needs money to fund his wife’s treatment for cancer. Far too late he wants out and knows that you cannot just leave. While surveilling the cab office to deal with his latest subject a man opens the door and is looking around he recognises him as Milton. (Aka no.1) He does not reveal it to the team, at his earliest opportunity he too approaches Milton…
The long and short of it is when John Milton acts if you get in his way you will never see him coming, especially now after a tragic event spurs him on more.
There is a lovely touch right at the end of the book that is very touching.
This one started off a little slower than usual but somehow I was still gripped the tension and lack of fear Milton has and the precision to his planning, although it is not all revealed until it happens, yet another instalment not to read before bed.
December 7, 2022
My word
Come on Mark Dawson why did you have to make me cry like this at the end, why though?!. At least this time John didn’t get a whooping like the previous book 😂😂😂, I have never laughed at someone being beaten like I did with Milton when he got a second whooping after leaving the country still healing from the first one 😂😂🤭.
I’m not even sure I can write a proper review besides writing ,,,I’m having so much fun and I like the fact that the MC is so humanised everything is so believable.
Come on Mark Dawson why did you have to make me cry like this at the end, why though?!. At least this time John didn’t get a whooping like the previous book 😂😂😂, I have never laughed at someone being beaten like I did with Milton when he got a second whooping after leaving the country still healing from the first one 😂😂🤭.
I’m not even sure I can write a proper review besides writing ,,,I’m having so much fun and I like the fact that the MC is so humanised everything is so believable.
June 28, 2020
Milton never lets you down
First of all i love the John Milton series the books they are fast paced with great storylines and intriguing characters & this one is no different
i wish to say that i probably enjoyed this book more than the others for one reason and one reason only i stay in one of the areas that is in this story and have seen where john milton worked so next time i pass i think i,ll pop by for a cuppa and toast Mark Dawson for once again making this an enjoyable read
First of all i love the John Milton series the books they are fast paced with great storylines and intriguing characters & this one is no different
i wish to say that i probably enjoyed this book more than the others for one reason and one reason only i stay in one of the areas that is in this story and have seen where john milton worked so next time i pass i think i,ll pop by for a cuppa and toast Mark Dawson for once again making this an enjoyable read
July 11, 2017
Something of a Jack Reacher knock-off, or based on a fake trailer in the Quentin Tarantino movie, Grindhouse, call it a 'Hobo With A Shotgun' novel.
John Milton, the guy who used to train British special forces, now walks the earth righting wrongs.
In this case, a group of mercs, who along with killing and robbing drug dealers and other miscreants, also protect government officials who are child molesters. A new member of the group starts to get cold feet. Meanwhile, working in a cab shelter, Milton meets a cabbie with a whole lot of problems. The guy is an alcoholic on the Ninth Step of the twelve step program of AA. The cabbie also just happens to be the adopted son of a family of hiesters.
Milton tries to help both people, and kills a whole lot of people to do it.
Pretty exciting, even though you might learn far more than you wish to about AA.
John Milton, the guy who used to train British special forces, now walks the earth righting wrongs.
In this case, a group of mercs, who along with killing and robbing drug dealers and other miscreants, also protect government officials who are child molesters. A new member of the group starts to get cold feet. Meanwhile, working in a cab shelter, Milton meets a cabbie with a whole lot of problems. The guy is an alcoholic on the Ninth Step of the twelve step program of AA. The cabbie also just happens to be the adopted son of a family of hiesters.
Milton tries to help both people, and kills a whole lot of people to do it.
Pretty exciting, even though you might learn far more than you wish to about AA.
Read
December 30, 20163.5
I think this was the daily deal on Audible, and I didn't have anything to listen to, so decided to hop in despite its being the 8th book in the series. The idea of the protagonist trying to make amends was intriguing, but his idea of justice wasn't in tune with mine. I didn't warm to him for being so offish when approached by a fellow AA member - he didn't want to be bothered basically, which again, doesn't seem to have the right spirit of giving. (In the next book he says something about how he ALWAYS has to help when asked, which made this stand out even more annoyingly.)
I think this was the daily deal on Audible, and I didn't have anything to listen to, so decided to hop in despite its being the 8th book in the series. The idea of the protagonist trying to make amends was intriguing, but his idea of justice wasn't in tune with mine. I didn't warm to him for being so offish when approached by a fellow AA member - he didn't want to be bothered basically, which again, doesn't seem to have the right spirit of giving. (In the next book he says something about how he ALWAYS has to help when asked, which made this stand out even more annoyingly.)
January 7, 2016
Mafia, Military and Milton -- Oh, My!
This eighth outing in Dawson's John Milton series, to me, is his most personal. Retired assassin John Milton has returned to London, still working on his self-imposed redemption for his bloody past. He is continuing to work through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and, at one of the meetings, meets a fellow alcoholic, Eddie Fabian. Eddie is the adopted son of a British Mafia family and had an intensely troubled childhood before his adoption. He confides in Milton that he is working on the 9th of the 12 Steps, making amends, and asks Milton for support.
When Eddie is found dead, Milton doubts that it was a suicide and begins a personal investigation. He is immediately drawn into two deadly conspiracies -- one involving a group of renegade ex-military men, the other involving Eddie's criminal family. Determined to finish Eddie's quest and finish making his amends for him, Milton devises a diabolically clever plan for justice.
What follows is a wonderfully plotted, twisted tale that takes us further into to mind of John Milton than ever before. Each Milton novel exposes more of his inner core and humanity. He IS slowly climbing out of his pit of self-loathing, but each step comes at a cost. When will it be too much?
If you have not read a John Milton novel yet, you are missing out on a great literary treat. Mark Dawson somehow manages to imbue his novels with briskly-drawn-but-believable characters in settings so evocatively described you feel you are there. Please, do yourself a favor and become one of John Milton's growing army of fans.
This eighth outing in Dawson's John Milton series, to me, is his most personal. Retired assassin John Milton has returned to London, still working on his self-imposed redemption for his bloody past. He is continuing to work through the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and, at one of the meetings, meets a fellow alcoholic, Eddie Fabian. Eddie is the adopted son of a British Mafia family and had an intensely troubled childhood before his adoption. He confides in Milton that he is working on the 9th of the 12 Steps, making amends, and asks Milton for support.
When Eddie is found dead, Milton doubts that it was a suicide and begins a personal investigation. He is immediately drawn into two deadly conspiracies -- one involving a group of renegade ex-military men, the other involving Eddie's criminal family. Determined to finish Eddie's quest and finish making his amends for him, Milton devises a diabolically clever plan for justice.
What follows is a wonderfully plotted, twisted tale that takes us further into to mind of John Milton than ever before. Each Milton novel exposes more of his inner core and humanity. He IS slowly climbing out of his pit of self-loathing, but each step comes at a cost. When will it be too much?
If you have not read a John Milton novel yet, you are missing out on a great literary treat. Mark Dawson somehow manages to imbue his novels with briskly-drawn-but-believable characters in settings so evocatively described you feel you are there. Please, do yourself a favor and become one of John Milton's growing army of fans.
November 29, 2022
Not a bad story and few clever twists made this good read.
August 18, 2020
There is so much about John Milton that reminds me of Jack Reacher... although Jack asking for “forgiveness” for anything rather boggles the mind. I also can’t picture John Milton looking anything like Tom Cruise…which, thanks to Hollywood, that is who I see now with every Jack Reacher book. This book makes John more “human” and more compassionate than ever before as he is determined to complete the 9th step of the 12 step program that his friend Eddie was working on before he was found dead. His death was called a suicide but John believes Eddie was murdered. The ninth step is “making amends” for past wrongs committed to others. In investing his friends death John finds himself drawn into the tasks of completing that step… not only for Eddie but for himself as well. Milton then devises a diabolically clever plan for justice. It seems that each John Milton novel shows and expresses more and more of his humanity. He is slowly shedding his self-loathing, but each step costs him more. John Milton’s story just keeps getting better and better with each book. If you like Lee Child’s Reacher series…forget the Tom Cruise image…you will probably also make friends with John Milton.
December 31, 2018
The Ninth Step by Mark Dawson has a fast start with a clean hook. I gave it four stars.
Corporal Alex Hicks is stationed on the roof of a jeweler's building. He was soaked to the skin and freezing cold. The forecast indicated that the weather would be like this for a week. However, when the time came, he got the job done. It was a successful operation.
The general called his unit "the Feather Men, on account of their light touch during operations and the fact that they never left evidence that might later betray them."
After the job their habit took them to a pub. "Hicks would not normally have chosen that kind of pub for a social event, but this was not social, and the proprietor was an old friend of the general from the Regiment who guaranteed them privacy and discretion in return for a very small shaving of their profits.
Although the men were all over forty, there was a certain element of juvenile humor and hazing of the new guy.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Ninth-Step-John...
Corporal Alex Hicks is stationed on the roof of a jeweler's building. He was soaked to the skin and freezing cold. The forecast indicated that the weather would be like this for a week. However, when the time came, he got the job done. It was a successful operation.
The general called his unit "the Feather Men, on account of their light touch during operations and the fact that they never left evidence that might later betray them."
After the job their habit took them to a pub. "Hicks would not normally have chosen that kind of pub for a social event, but this was not social, and the proprietor was an old friend of the general from the Regiment who guaranteed them privacy and discretion in return for a very small shaving of their profits.
Although the men were all over forty, there was a certain element of juvenile humor and hazing of the new guy.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Ninth-Step-John...
November 5, 2019
Milton has returned to London, where he continues to attend AA meetings and try to find ways to work on the Ninth Step - making amends. When a fellow meeting attendee, a troubled soul by the name of Eddie Fabian, reaches out to him for help after being threatened by a powerful figure whose past misdeeds Eddie has been seeking to expose, Milton is at first reluctant to get involved. Then Eddie turns up dead in an ostensible suicide shortly after their conversation and Milton decides to find out what truly happened to him and finish what he started.
In sharp contrast to the decidedly mediocre Headhunters, this was actually one of the best books in the series thus far. If only more of them turned out like this.
In sharp contrast to the decidedly mediocre Headhunters, this was actually one of the best books in the series thus far. If only more of them turned out like this.
September 22, 2018
John Milton does it again! Fighting and defeating his internal demons while taking on a whole raft of bad guys: abused children, blackmail, kidnapping, extortion, murder. Is there no wrong that Milton will not work to put right? The hard man gets harder every time.
And if Milton does it again, then so does Mark Dawson. This is a story which starts slowly but builds to a breath-taking, page-turning climax. I couldn't put it down.
And if Milton does it again, then so does Mark Dawson. This is a story which starts slowly but builds to a breath-taking, page-turning climax. I couldn't put it down.
January 31, 2018
Another page turner.
A great read and thoroughly enjoyable. The best part is when I finish another in the series there is one or more to follow. Many twists and turns to the story which keep it interesting and really believable characters are created.
A great read and thoroughly enjoyable. The best part is when I finish another in the series there is one or more to follow. Many twists and turns to the story which keep it interesting and really believable characters are created.
March 23, 2021
The best of this series so far. Perhaps because it is set in London.
January 25, 2022
That was pretty fucking clever plotting Mr Dawson ♥️
December 11, 2023
Good old John Milton sorting out the world's nutters in between visits to AA. Love this man.
April 30, 2022
The author does a great job of describing all the action and putting you right there… keeps you turning the page !
February 18, 2022
Action packed. John Milton continues to try to make amends for his years as a government assassin by bringing down a pedophile ring and a crime family. He’s a hero.
March 27, 2023
I find the John Milton series to a bit variable - but for me this is easily the best so far. In the previous book, I was worried that he might be getting a bit soft but in this story we see him getting back to his best. The 9th step is a reference to AA steps to recovery - which calls on alcoholics to make amends to those they have harmed. A fellow AA member tries to do such - and is murdered for his attempts. At this point, Milton picks up the baton. It's an intriguing story with two threads and two independent sets of bad guys. The way the two threads are brought together into a satisfying conclusion is brilliant.
February 4, 2020
Things moved a little slowly at first in The Ninth Step but, frankly, I never became impatient or tempted to put the book aside for two reasons. Firstly, I have read a number of Dawson's books and had found them to be well plotted, well littered with interesting characters and engaging. Secondly, he writes well and I enjoy reading his work for the quality of his writing as much as the story itself.
The Ninth Step refers to the ninth step in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Process, "Be Willing to Make Amends: The individual must be willing to take this step no matter how severe the personal consequences. If making amends requires the person to report a past crime, he or she must be willing to go to jail to complete this step on the road to recovery."
This step has great meaning for John Milton, Dawson's assassin who had worked primarily for a rather mysterious group called Group 15 in the British intelligence service - some many authors have created one of the "mysterious," and nearly invisible groups within some country's intelligence service, you'd think that they might hold an annual convention - in an unannounced location, of course.
While working as a night shift cook in a taxi driver's rest stop, Milton, known of course as John Smith - What else?, becomes involved in the precursors to the death of one of the drivers who frequents the rest stop. The late driver, it turns out, is the adopted son of a very big time English gangster. As you might suspect, mayhem ensues.
As is Dawson's habit, several of the characters are quite well developed and very interesting to read about. The pace of the book became more than adequate after a somewhat slow beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read other John Milton books and I would recommend the series to readers who enjoys cleverly plotted, fairly realistic and thoroughly engaging stories featuring a strong anti-hero.
The End
The Ninth Step refers to the ninth step in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 Step Process, "Be Willing to Make Amends: The individual must be willing to take this step no matter how severe the personal consequences. If making amends requires the person to report a past crime, he or she must be willing to go to jail to complete this step on the road to recovery."
This step has great meaning for John Milton, Dawson's assassin who had worked primarily for a rather mysterious group called Group 15 in the British intelligence service - some many authors have created one of the "mysterious," and nearly invisible groups within some country's intelligence service, you'd think that they might hold an annual convention - in an unannounced location, of course.
While working as a night shift cook in a taxi driver's rest stop, Milton, known of course as John Smith - What else?, becomes involved in the precursors to the death of one of the drivers who frequents the rest stop. The late driver, it turns out, is the adopted son of a very big time English gangster. As you might suspect, mayhem ensues.
As is Dawson's habit, several of the characters are quite well developed and very interesting to read about. The pace of the book became more than adequate after a somewhat slow beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read other John Milton books and I would recommend the series to readers who enjoys cleverly plotted, fairly realistic and thoroughly engaging stories featuring a strong anti-hero.
The End
January 14, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
"You are an interesting man, Mr.Smith"
First, the confession - I am a Mark Dawson fan. And of all of his creations, John Milton is my favourite. Little surprise, then, that I heartily recommend this latest book to anyone who enjoys novels of the Reacher adventure style. But Milton is better than Reacher in that the action feels real, that it could actually happen. Milton is a reformed alcoholic, one time assassin, now just trying to live a quiet life and make amends as best he can for past deeds, an impossible task when those to whom he wishes to apologise are all dead. But he does his best and along the way makes occasional recompense by helping out others. This can, and does, lead to trouble...
As well as an excellent story line and interesting protagonists, the strength of Dawson's writing lies in his masterful conveyance of atmosphere. With a paucity of description, he is able to paint the place as well as the tensions bringing it all vividly to life. This book is no exception. Well worth reading
"You are an interesting man, Mr.Smith"
First, the confession - I am a Mark Dawson fan. And of all of his creations, John Milton is my favourite. Little surprise, then, that I heartily recommend this latest book to anyone who enjoys novels of the Reacher adventure style. But Milton is better than Reacher in that the action feels real, that it could actually happen. Milton is a reformed alcoholic, one time assassin, now just trying to live a quiet life and make amends as best he can for past deeds, an impossible task when those to whom he wishes to apologise are all dead. But he does his best and along the way makes occasional recompense by helping out others. This can, and does, lead to trouble...
As well as an excellent story line and interesting protagonists, the strength of Dawson's writing lies in his masterful conveyance of atmosphere. With a paucity of description, he is able to paint the place as well as the tensions bringing it all vividly to life. This book is no exception. Well worth reading
January 6, 2016
Mark Dawson has done it again. Another John Milton novel that was different enough from the earlier Milton books to be very entertaining.
Milton sets out to avenge the death of a fellow AA member and in so doing he takes on a major English crime family. He also is working against a group of mercenaries whose main interest is blackmail and similar crimes. At the risk of being a spoiler, when he sets the two against each other, it's classic.
All in all a very good book and worth the read (very quick read).
Don't let my Four Star rating put you off this book. I very seldom give out Five Stars anymore.
Milton sets out to avenge the death of a fellow AA member and in so doing he takes on a major English crime family. He also is working against a group of mercenaries whose main interest is blackmail and similar crimes. At the risk of being a spoiler, when he sets the two against each other, it's classic.
All in all a very good book and worth the read (very quick read).
Don't let my Four Star rating put you off this book. I very seldom give out Five Stars anymore.
April 16, 2019
I thought I'd read all the Milton series until a man came to do my garden. I'd put him on to the Milton series last year and he was working his way through them. This one is set in my manor at the start...right opposite my doc's surgery in fact. He said 'you've read the Ninth Step?' It turned out I'd missed this one .... he loves them particularly as he's a practising AA member. Why do I like the Milton series? Total escapism into a world where the bad guys get their just deserts ie. they usually get bumped off by Milton without discussion. There's no second chance. In my real world I abhor violence...totally. In Milton's world it's the main option. And somehow it's neat and satisfying. Milton, has in theory, given up violence but somehow each situation he finds himself in results in another killing, another meting out of justice in the way his life, training and expertise has equipped him for. It's hard to feel any modicum of empathy for those for whom he enables execution. There's few shades of grey in his world. Unlike in the real world.
My garden guy says this one ' got him through Xmas' the most difficult time for AA members. The Milton books have often got me through dark patches in my life with their straight forward escapism taking me into another world far away from my own.
My garden guy says this one ' got him through Xmas' the most difficult time for AA members. The Milton books have often got me through dark patches in my life with their straight forward escapism taking me into another world far away from my own.
August 14, 2022
Back in Britain for the first time since the first book, The Cleaner, we find Milton lying low in London, working a night shift in a café, when he meets Eddie Fabia. He and Fabian become ‘friends’, as much as Milton has friends, and Fabian shares with out lead details of the abuse he suffered as a child. Milton wants to help, but when Fabian is found, Milton cannot accept it was suicide.
Alongside Milton’s hunt for the truth, we are introduced to a vigilante criminal group – ex-military men who attack criminals they deem worthy of death to steal their money, whilst claiming to be doing good. But Milton learns there is more too it than vigilante justice – the horrific deeds of the past, linked to his friend Eddie soon emerge, and Milton plots.
A return to his home gives Milton the chance to explore London. I read this quickly, and it is perfectly fine, but perhaps a bit too familiar. Once again, there isn’t much to learn about Milton. The robbery set piece in the middle was reminiscent of a book I read years ago about the Knightsbridge Security Deposit Box raid, and we know how things turn out. I have quite a few more on my Kindle to read, but am going to hold off on buying any more as I want to see where Milton goes.
Alongside Milton’s hunt for the truth, we are introduced to a vigilante criminal group – ex-military men who attack criminals they deem worthy of death to steal their money, whilst claiming to be doing good. But Milton learns there is more too it than vigilante justice – the horrific deeds of the past, linked to his friend Eddie soon emerge, and Milton plots.
A return to his home gives Milton the chance to explore London. I read this quickly, and it is perfectly fine, but perhaps a bit too familiar. Once again, there isn’t much to learn about Milton. The robbery set piece in the middle was reminiscent of a book I read years ago about the Knightsbridge Security Deposit Box raid, and we know how things turn out. I have quite a few more on my Kindle to read, but am going to hold off on buying any more as I want to see where Milton goes.
August 29, 2025
Milton makes a friend (whether he wants to or not).
After being befriended by another member at a local AA meeting, Milton finds himself the confidant of the man's story - his childhood abuse, it's links to important people, and vague references to estrangement from his adopted family.
When Eddie subsequently approaches him for help after a home invasion with the purpose of sending him a message to stay quiet about his past, Milton offers advice and asks Eddie if he has a safe place to stay the night, which he indicates he does, however, is subsequently found dead in what appears to be a suicide.
This doesn't ring true for John, and he decides to investigate for himself, while also determining who else can be trusted - the police detective, the 'helpful' journalist, an apparently repentant mercenary who now wants to help?
This book also introduces us to the new character of Alex Hicks.
I listed to the audio version of this book and found the narrator to be suited to the story.
Am I glad I read it - yes.
Was it a waste of my time - no.
Would I sit down and read it all over again - not really that kind of book - once you know how it ends, you know.
Would I read more by this author based on this book - yes.
After being befriended by another member at a local AA meeting, Milton finds himself the confidant of the man's story - his childhood abuse, it's links to important people, and vague references to estrangement from his adopted family.
When Eddie subsequently approaches him for help after a home invasion with the purpose of sending him a message to stay quiet about his past, Milton offers advice and asks Eddie if he has a safe place to stay the night, which he indicates he does, however, is subsequently found dead in what appears to be a suicide.
This doesn't ring true for John, and he decides to investigate for himself, while also determining who else can be trusted - the police detective, the 'helpful' journalist, an apparently repentant mercenary who now wants to help?
This book also introduces us to the new character of Alex Hicks.
I listed to the audio version of this book and found the narrator to be suited to the story.
Am I glad I read it - yes.
Was it a waste of my time - no.
Would I sit down and read it all over again - not really that kind of book - once you know how it ends, you know.
Would I read more by this author based on this book - yes.
December 12, 2022
3.5 Was really hoping he was going to spend some time with his pal Charlotte since that is what previous ending implied. Having a mission, plan and some real baddies to eradicate would go against his whole redeem yourself and forgive vibe. Of course there are more baddies young and old that need to be dealt with so why not get some govt. officials, scammers, gangsters and pedophiles swept up in the same net. Oddly Eddie who was being avenged really never did have his death exposed, just the old car exhaust hose trick peacefully putting him out of his misery. Reporter was an idiot for as clever as she came off, and the planning and implementing heist of oldest vault in the world was completely unbelievable 500+ boxes, just happen to find one with pictures only to have the old coot they implicate thrown off balcony rendering them USELESS. The shoot out at end crazy, Franky the gangster vs Invisibles crazy, Milton sticking around London Town, crazy but if it makes him feel better to have avenged a guy he talked with 3 times then check step 9 off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2020
I almost took a point off because of the endless descriptions of the various streets the folks took - probably eliminate 30 pages if minimized driving/walking instructions.
That said, John Milton is at it again, helping to right wrongs. People have compared him to Jack Reacher, but Milton now lives a simple life, trying to help people and trying to be a better person. He meets Eddie at an AA meeting; Eddie later confides he was abused by powerful men as a child and he wants to expose them; Eddie commits suicide but Milton doesn't believe it; and, Milton finds that the suicide was murder. In the meantime, we find there's a group of former soldiers who are blackmailing the child abusers and want to kill Eddie. Then we learn Eddie's family did kill him. So John Milton must make things right and get Eddie's two stories out there. Lots of careful planning and lots of bloodshed - good story!
That said, John Milton is at it again, helping to right wrongs. People have compared him to Jack Reacher, but Milton now lives a simple life, trying to help people and trying to be a better person. He meets Eddie at an AA meeting; Eddie later confides he was abused by powerful men as a child and he wants to expose them; Eddie commits suicide but Milton doesn't believe it; and, Milton finds that the suicide was murder. In the meantime, we find there's a group of former soldiers who are blackmailing the child abusers and want to kill Eddie. Then we learn Eddie's family did kill him. So John Milton must make things right and get Eddie's two stories out there. Lots of careful planning and lots of bloodshed - good story!
July 4, 2022
Another solid installment of this series about an ex-assassin who has gone underground and continues to live a simple life while continually finding himself in situations that call for his particular set of skills.
In this one he's back in London and focusing on going to AA meetings as a way to continue to control his predilection for alcohol. He gets involved with ex-special operators who have formed a regiment under an ex-officer to involve themselves in various money making schemes. He finds a way to support a fellow AA member who was an abuse victim as a young boy and was adopted into a crime family with whom he did things for which he now had great guilt. Milton helps to see that his subsequent murder is revenged legacy in a proper manner.
Dawson is one of the better writers of this genre.
In this one he's back in London and focusing on going to AA meetings as a way to continue to control his predilection for alcohol. He gets involved with ex-special operators who have formed a regiment under an ex-officer to involve themselves in various money making schemes. He finds a way to support a fellow AA member who was an abuse victim as a young boy and was adopted into a crime family with whom he did things for which he now had great guilt. Milton helps to see that his subsequent murder is revenged legacy in a proper manner.
Dawson is one of the better writers of this genre.
July 8, 2023
I am absolutely hooked on John Milton, an ex-alcoholic ex-government assassin on the run from his previous employers and determined to carry out the ninth step of his Alcoholics Anonymous pledges i.e. making retribution to those you have wronged. As it's impossible to make retribution to an already dead target, he tries to help out wherever he can. In this episode Milton helps an ex military man who has got himself involved with a private protection racket.
This is not, as I have read in a previous review, a "knock-off" Jack Reacher.
John Milton is British, has a believable background story and family history, and often gets it wrong. However, if you want to read a story where the bullies get their just desserts, pick up a John Milton. You will find action, emotion, plot and satisfaction.
This is not, as I have read in a previous review, a "knock-off" Jack Reacher.
John Milton is British, has a believable background story and family history, and often gets it wrong. However, if you want to read a story where the bullies get their just desserts, pick up a John Milton. You will find action, emotion, plot and satisfaction.
October 6, 2024
John seems to get a bit more hands on in this outing. He's back in London and meets a Eddie at a AA meeting, followed by a coffee. Eddie later confides in Milton before he is murdered.
As John looks into it there are two stories involving Eddie, one where he was a getaway driver, and another where he was abused. John, with the assistance of a soldier that wants out decides to set things right and make the perps pay.
In this case however, how better to get revenge for Eddie then to have both parties take the other out, with Milton to cleanup what's left.
A typical Milton tale, but still a good read. I particularly liked the scene in the vault where Milton leaves half of the bad guys behind.
As John looks into it there are two stories involving Eddie, one where he was a getaway driver, and another where he was abused. John, with the assistance of a soldier that wants out decides to set things right and make the perps pay.
In this case however, how better to get revenge for Eddie then to have both parties take the other out, with Milton to cleanup what's left.
A typical Milton tale, but still a good read. I particularly liked the scene in the vault where Milton leaves half of the bad guys behind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2017
While I have liked all of the John Milton series so far, I think this one was the best of the bunch. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would have. It seems as if John has gotten a handle on his need to help people who are in a jam and to find justice for them. He's working smarter, less reactive. Of course it helps that he's no longer being pursued by a mad ex-Mossad assassin. That was resolved in the last book. It's always nice to have a bit of breathing room. I'm curious to see where the story line goes next.
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