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Marshall Grade #2
Marshall's Law
'It's easy to see what the fuss is about. Sanders' prose is sharper than a switchblade ... It's like Raymond Chandler, Lee Child and Elmore Leonard rolled into one.' Sydney Morning Herald
Ex-undercover cop Marshall Grade is hiding out in California when he learns that federal agent Lucas Cohen has survived a kidnapping. Cohen was Marshall's ticket into witness protection, and his captors have a simple where's Marshall now?
Marshall's undercover work gave him a long list of enemies, and the enemy in this case is a corrupt businessman named Dexter Vine. Vine's almost broke, in debt to people even worse than himself, and he wants to settle old scores while he has time. He's hired Ludo Coltrane - a nonchalant psychopath and part-time bar manager - to find Marshall at any cost. Ludo's no stranger to killing, but his associate, the cash-strapped ex-con Perry Rhodes, may prove more of a liability than an asset.
The question what has Marshall done to make Dexter want him dead? And are the contacts from his old life - ex-colleague Lana, and the heroin dealer Henry Lee - prepared to help him, or will they just sell him out?
Ex-undercover cop Marshall Grade is hiding out in California when he learns that federal agent Lucas Cohen has survived a kidnapping. Cohen was Marshall's ticket into witness protection, and his captors have a simple where's Marshall now?
Marshall's undercover work gave him a long list of enemies, and the enemy in this case is a corrupt businessman named Dexter Vine. Vine's almost broke, in debt to people even worse than himself, and he wants to settle old scores while he has time. He's hired Ludo Coltrane - a nonchalant psychopath and part-time bar manager - to find Marshall at any cost. Ludo's no stranger to killing, but his associate, the cash-strapped ex-con Perry Rhodes, may prove more of a liability than an asset.
The question what has Marshall done to make Dexter want him dead? And are the contacts from his old life - ex-colleague Lana, and the heroin dealer Henry Lee - prepared to help him, or will they just sell him out?
351 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2017
27 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
Ben Sanders
8 books152 followersBEN SANDERS was born in 1989. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
February 16, 2023
Not a bad crime thriller for number 2. Marshall Grade in the thick of things against thugs, dealers and avoiding a hit man hired by a jailed mobster's daughter.
February 21, 2017
Dark, violent, and grimy; the latest tale from Ben Sanders shows the still-young Aucklander has really found his stride when it comes to action-packed, gritty noir. His fifth novel (second starring ex-undercover cop Marshall Grade), crackles with vengeful energy.
When Marshall finds out a federal agent was abducted so hired killers get info on Marshall’s whereabouts, he decides offense is the best form of defense. Saying goodbye to his California hideaway, Marshall returns East, linking up with former contacts in the drugs world – questionable characters with blurry ethics, on both sides of the law.
There’s a real zing to Sanders’ writing. While his prose can be bone-dry, the marrow is rich. Violence abounds. It would be too simplistic to call Marshall a Reacher-like hero, and Sanders actually nods more towards Elmore Leonard in style and the quality of his prose. You can easily imagine the Coen brothers or Quentin Tarantino helming a screen adaptation.
Top-notch crime writing from a rising star.
When Marshall finds out a federal agent was abducted so hired killers get info on Marshall’s whereabouts, he decides offense is the best form of defense. Saying goodbye to his California hideaway, Marshall returns East, linking up with former contacts in the drugs world – questionable characters with blurry ethics, on both sides of the law.
There’s a real zing to Sanders’ writing. While his prose can be bone-dry, the marrow is rich. Violence abounds. It would be too simplistic to call Marshall a Reacher-like hero, and Sanders actually nods more towards Elmore Leonard in style and the quality of his prose. You can easily imagine the Coen brothers or Quentin Tarantino helming a screen adaptation.
Top-notch crime writing from a rising star.
April 17, 2017
This was my second Marshall book in under 24 hours and, whilst this was still a good read, I felt that it wasn't up there with the first in the series.
The characters were still strong but the plot got a little bit convoluted and the jumping backwards and forwards between characters happened a little bit too often so I broke up the flow.
I was also moderately disappointed with the ending. Can't say much more than that without giving away a key plot item but Book 3 won't be the same for me.
That said, I look forward to Book 3 when it comes out.
The characters were still strong but the plot got a little bit convoluted and the jumping backwards and forwards between characters happened a little bit too often so I broke up the flow.
I was also moderately disappointed with the ending. Can't say much more than that without giving away a key plot item but Book 3 won't be the same for me.
That said, I look forward to Book 3 when it comes out.
May 6, 2017
Top Notch Crime Thriller
I really like this guy. This is the second book of his I've read( the first was American Blood). And both were great very hardboiled crime novels. A little like Westlake's Parker with some Leonard thrown in. Will read all his books. Recommended, especially if you like your crime thrillers tough and violent.
I really like this guy. This is the second book of his I've read( the first was American Blood). And both were great very hardboiled crime novels. A little like Westlake's Parker with some Leonard thrown in. Will read all his books. Recommended, especially if you like your crime thrillers tough and violent.
April 21, 2017
The second Marshall Grade book is a good crime thriller with one minor flaw. It is told from the points of view of a half dozen of the characters. That choice almost works very well in that it fleshes out some of the characters, but it also takes attention away from Marshall himself. Marshall Grade (once John Marshall) is a former undercover cop whose assignment turned very deadly. Having gone into WITSEC, Marshall (as he's always referred to) is still on the run from the vengeance of the family that he went undercover to investigate. In "American Blood," Marshall's own instincts for decency (no mean feat in someone raised by a heroin dealer and a bank robber or two) unraveled his niche in the witness protection program. At the point of "Marshall's Law" he has been on the run for a couple of years, though he remains in contact with the US marshal originally assigned to his case. What was true of the first book remains true in the second: Marshall, in his own words, is "a handful." His core toughness and focus make him a very dangerous man.
The ending of "Marshall's Law" overcomes the fragmented points of view to give the book five stars, for it is pretty harrowing and just about perfectly executed.
The ending of "Marshall's Law" overcomes the fragmented points of view to give the book five stars, for it is pretty harrowing and just about perfectly executed.
January 29, 2018
Embarrassed to have read this "shoot 'em up, bang bang" The author can write but the main emotion appears to be fear follow by car chases or getting roused and thrown in the back of someone's car, SVU, etc. Tiresome, and one dimensional. I like to pick up books at the library, randomly, and once I started this one, I thought I'd give it a chance...bad idea.
December 24, 2017
I won this book as part of a giveaway. Easy read. Similar in vein to a Jack Reacher, Harry Bosch novel. Second in series but it reads well as a standalone. New Zealand Author.
January 18, 2023
I was blown away by the first book in the series I read, American Blood. Surprisingly perhaps that I don't read a lot of this type of fiction considering my demographic, but l really thought that was something special. The fact that Ben Sanders is a Kiwi like me is really cool too.
So I probably was carrying high expectations going in to this. It's certainly very, very good but the change of setting, with the lead character heading back to New York, threw me a little, and the fact there was a couple character I was looking forward to reading more about, weren't returning.
Still, what I've really enjoyed about the first book, was the switching of narrative to the criminal's Point of View, and there is plenty of that in this one. Is it a Elmore Leonard trait? I really want to read more of his books as well. But I really like this point of, especially when you realize when sometimes they aren't bad people, but they have sometimes made bad or desperate decisions.
Likewise what's really good about the lead, Marshall is he's not always perfect in his choices, and he suffers, physically, psychologically, even existentially, from the results of them. U S. Marshall Lucas Cohen really shines in this as well, and could possibly carry his own book quite nicely. Typing that out I've just realized there are 2 Marshalls in this book. Make's the title twice as relevant I guess.
The finale, somewhat similar to the first book, didn't quite have my pulse racing as fast. I do hope that that fate of one particular character is vague enough m, that there may be the chance of a return in the next in the series.
So I probably was carrying high expectations going in to this. It's certainly very, very good but the change of setting, with the lead character heading back to New York, threw me a little, and the fact there was a couple character I was looking forward to reading more about, weren't returning.
Still, what I've really enjoyed about the first book, was the switching of narrative to the criminal's Point of View, and there is plenty of that in this one. Is it a Elmore Leonard trait? I really want to read more of his books as well. But I really like this point of, especially when you realize when sometimes they aren't bad people, but they have sometimes made bad or desperate decisions.
Likewise what's really good about the lead, Marshall is he's not always perfect in his choices, and he suffers, physically, psychologically, even existentially, from the results of them. U S. Marshall Lucas Cohen really shines in this as well, and could possibly carry his own book quite nicely. Typing that out I've just realized there are 2 Marshalls in this book. Make's the title twice as relevant I guess.
The finale, somewhat similar to the first book, didn't quite have my pulse racing as fast. I do hope that that fate of one particular character is vague enough m, that there may be the chance of a return in the next in the series.
March 10, 2017
Marshall's Law by Ben Sanders
I was fortunate enough to win a copy of Ben Saunders' new book - Marshall's Law from the publisher Allen & Unwin. Fortunate is definitely the right word, I'd previously never heard of Ben Saunders so I had no expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be purchasing his previous work. The story is told from multiple first person perspectives which seemed odd at first but I really enjoyed this writing style, it gives the reader a deeper understanding of the character's, their back stories and motivations especially. It's easy to relate to the characters which gives the book a deeper dimension. Marshall, the main character is a handful but flawed, think Lucas Hood, much more authentic than Jack Reacher.
Highly recommended especially for fans of Elmore Leonard or Harlan Coben.
I was fortunate enough to win a copy of Ben Saunders' new book - Marshall's Law from the publisher Allen & Unwin. Fortunate is definitely the right word, I'd previously never heard of Ben Saunders so I had no expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will be purchasing his previous work. The story is told from multiple first person perspectives which seemed odd at first but I really enjoyed this writing style, it gives the reader a deeper understanding of the character's, their back stories and motivations especially. It's easy to relate to the characters which gives the book a deeper dimension. Marshall, the main character is a handful but flawed, think Lucas Hood, much more authentic than Jack Reacher.
Highly recommended especially for fans of Elmore Leonard or Harlan Coben.
December 29, 2017
I was given this book for Christmas from my son Marshall ... well played Son, well played!
The fact that I have already finished reading it speaks volumes about its content. Fast paced action with lots of suspense and intrigue, the author Ben Sanders paints a vivid picture of the violent underbelly in urban America and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold through the eyes of the main protagonist, Ex-undercover cop Marshall Grade. He is a likeable tough guy, but one you wouldn't want to cross. His friend, federal agent Lucas Cohen, was also a bit of a hard case character. The story is exciting, flows well, uses strong and vibrant descriptions and has a satisfying, if bittersweet, ending.
It was a pleasant surprise to look into Ben's biography and learn he is a young author from New Zealand. From another fellow Kiwi author, well done Ben, I'm sure you are going to go far with your books.
The fact that I have already finished reading it speaks volumes about its content. Fast paced action with lots of suspense and intrigue, the author Ben Sanders paints a vivid picture of the violent underbelly in urban America and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold through the eyes of the main protagonist, Ex-undercover cop Marshall Grade. He is a likeable tough guy, but one you wouldn't want to cross. His friend, federal agent Lucas Cohen, was also a bit of a hard case character. The story is exciting, flows well, uses strong and vibrant descriptions and has a satisfying, if bittersweet, ending.
It was a pleasant surprise to look into Ben's biography and learn he is a young author from New Zealand. From another fellow Kiwi author, well done Ben, I'm sure you are going to go far with your books.
December 31, 2016
Marshall's Law by Ben Sanders was gripping and dramatic and altogether fast paced. Marshall's Law is the second book in the Marshall Grade series. Not having read the first book I didn't find the story difficult to understand nor the changing of characters in each chapter difficult to follow. The starting chapter was unbelievably explosive!
Review copy received from Allen & Unwin Publishers Australia
Review copy received from Allen & Unwin Publishers Australia
November 1, 2017
This was an interesting book. I guess there are others with this character, Marshall, but I didn't know that going in. I kind of liked the lack of back story. I didn't always understand the motivations of the Perry character, but I felt that his actions were believable and that's what I liked. The Marshall character is just a little too-cool-for-school and gets out of scraps a little too easily. Overall, it was an okay story for an easy read.
July 7, 2018
Marshall's Law starts with the dramatic kidnap of a federal Marshal and goes downhill from there.
The story is told through the shifting perspectives of the key players. Unfortunately this means that the tale is confusing and at times I found it difficult to keep track of who was doing what to whom.
The ending was deeply unsatisfactory and left me feeling short changed.
This one is long on gratuitous violence and short on any redeeming features.
The story is told through the shifting perspectives of the key players. Unfortunately this means that the tale is confusing and at times I found it difficult to keep track of who was doing what to whom.
The ending was deeply unsatisfactory and left me feeling short changed.
This one is long on gratuitous violence and short on any redeeming features.
December 17, 2022
I had hoped that the second book in this series would be better than the first, but this was not the case for me. While most of the story takes place over a few days, the pacing of the story is thrown of by the overly complicated plot & the multiple POVs. I found it hard to keep track of what was happening & why. I feel like the author was aiming for Marshall to be like Jack Reacher but we got store brand instead of the genuine article.
February 5, 2023
After reading the first of this series, I did not really want to read the second. But I had already borrowed it on some others recommendation. I liked this even less than the first.
The main characters has no scruples left and it appears to me like he likes killing. Yes, must of the people he kills are bad guys, but he enjoyed it too.
If there are any more books of this series, I will not be reading them!
The main characters has no scruples left and it appears to me like he likes killing. Yes, must of the people he kills are bad guys, but he enjoyed it too.
If there are any more books of this series, I will not be reading them!
February 3, 2025
The jury is out on this author. I think his writing is choppy -- jumping back and forth to different characters in each chapter. I didn't quite figure out the whole story....but it ended as I expected.....the main character Marshall Grade survives even though he has been stabbed and beaten up. I will read another of Mr. Sander's works if I come across one, just to see if I feel the same about his writing.
June 19, 2017
I found the book to be fast paced and while some of it was a little hard to believe, still very enjoyable. I particularly liked the story being told from different characters' perspective. It added depth to each character that would be very difficult to set up in this genre. My first Ben Sanders book and I will go back and read the first one and the third in the series when it comes out.
December 22, 2021
Found this book in a Dollar Store. On its face I thought it would be good and I read a lot of this genera. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a dud. Why, because it was disjointed and jumped around I don't know how many weird characters. About the only thing I liked was it took place mostly in NYC. Other than that it was a lost effort. Let's put it like this, it was no "Reacher".
February 7, 2018
Ex-undercover cop Marshall is in the witness protection program until he finds out someone from the past is trying to find him. He needs to find them before he ends up dead. Lots of twists in the story.
December 11, 2018
Great newer author with a lot of potential. Lots of new thriller / crime authors are compared to Lee Child, but Ben Sanders is the real deal. Marshall is a great character and I look forward to many more novels with him in it. Thoroughly enjoyable. When is the next one?
January 25, 2019
Another great installment of Marshall Grade. This story has lots of threads that all lead back to Marshall. He touched base with everyone and slowly all the characters were drawn together for a very messy violent ending. Loved it.
September 14, 2020
It's amazing but I dislike one thing ie. everyone got threatened and opens up so quickly like no one has yet pointed a pistol or did anything and he starts speaking for whom he work and everything else.
July 1, 2022
This was surprisingly good. I have never heard of this guy but I enjoyed this story and would probably read the first instalment if I could find it. Very good characters and an entertaining storyline.
January 7, 2025
Rated 7/10 A kiwi writer in the vein of Lee Childs. An easy read if you like a good yarn, this one being a bit more complicated with how it swings between the characters, but all in all a good read for the genre.
January 18, 2017
The book was action packed and immersive. The characters were well portrayed and it was an overall fun book to read.
May 15, 2017
The new Jack Reacher! Really enjoying this Auckland based author.
June 2, 2017
great ending. leaves you wanting more.
July 25, 2017
I only gave it two stars, not one, because I bothered to finish it.
August 24, 2017
Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews