What do you think?
Rate this book
Jack Sheridan Mystery #1
A Cross to Bear
"They burned it down once…they should burn it down again."Once the star of Scotland Yard, burned out East London detective Jack Sheridan is now working a low end station, estranged from his family and haunted by his past.
When a young woman is discovered in woodland nailed to a cross, Jack is sent spiralling into direct confrontation with that past after she’s identified as the daughter of a murdered cop he once knew.
On his way to the Tunisian border, Alex Dorring is informed that his sister has been murdered. Dorring is Agent 192 of Uriel, a clandestine assassins wing of MI6.
With revenge on his mind, Dorring makes his way to London and begins investigating her death in his own special way.
With both men operating under entirely different rules, the death of one girl sees a bed of lies, sexual violence, murder and corruption come rising to the surface as London descends into chaos.
When a young woman is discovered in woodland nailed to a cross, Jack is sent spiralling into direct confrontation with that past after she’s identified as the daughter of a murdered cop he once knew.
On his way to the Tunisian border, Alex Dorring is informed that his sister has been murdered. Dorring is Agent 192 of Uriel, a clandestine assassins wing of MI6.
With revenge on his mind, Dorring makes his way to London and begins investigating her death in his own special way.
With both men operating under entirely different rules, the death of one girl sees a bed of lies, sexual violence, murder and corruption come rising to the surface as London descends into chaos.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2017
3730 people are currently reading
1149 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 185 reviews
March 13, 2018
What a mess. It's too bad, really. The first half had very uneven prose and pacing, and some pretty stupid "technology", the second half was pretty good, but with a long, terrible info-dump and contrived ending.
Early on...
A few reasonable quotes:
Alex wasn’t naive. He knew not to involve himself in the politics of the thing. To Alex, the world was rotten however you looked at it and from whichever angle it was viewed. He’d learned that a long time ago and was never overly bothered by his target’s ideology, or the hypocrisy that they represented. After all, don’t we all represent hypocrisy?
Gradually Alex’s ears flooded with the sound of a woman’s melodic humming. It was the same song she always hummed, an old Ukrainian hymn that her own mother had taught her, and Alex’s mind was cast back to golden windswept fields of barley and the little wooden house hugging the long bay of the giant lake, no other houses around for miles. He felt himself crossing the fields toward the lakeside home, Katya, and the dog, a mutt called Bruno who’d wandered onto the farm one day and manipulated the little girl into begging her parents to keep it, dancing around among the barley stalks in front of him.
Dorring held Chloe under his gaze, and she felt uncomfortable within the glare of his crystal-blue eyes. There was a hardness to them that she had witnessed many times in her life; it was the sign of an ossified heart. Of a person who had been beaten so hard by life and had lost so much that they had hardened into an impenetrable shell.
"Now she’s dead all I can think about is Becky. Isn’t that strange that we hold the dead in such reverence, but while they’re living we show them such contempt."
This is utter baloney. Heat vision doesn't work through walls. Duh:
When he made it to the center [of the roof], he perched himself down and switched his night vision goggles to infrared. He began scanning the house that was underneath him, looking for the red and yellow heat signatures of people.
.
Early on...
A few reasonable quotes:
Alex wasn’t naive. He knew not to involve himself in the politics of the thing. To Alex, the world was rotten however you looked at it and from whichever angle it was viewed. He’d learned that a long time ago and was never overly bothered by his target’s ideology, or the hypocrisy that they represented. After all, don’t we all represent hypocrisy?
Gradually Alex’s ears flooded with the sound of a woman’s melodic humming. It was the same song she always hummed, an old Ukrainian hymn that her own mother had taught her, and Alex’s mind was cast back to golden windswept fields of barley and the little wooden house hugging the long bay of the giant lake, no other houses around for miles. He felt himself crossing the fields toward the lakeside home, Katya, and the dog, a mutt called Bruno who’d wandered onto the farm one day and manipulated the little girl into begging her parents to keep it, dancing around among the barley stalks in front of him.
Dorring held Chloe under his gaze, and she felt uncomfortable within the glare of his crystal-blue eyes. There was a hardness to them that she had witnessed many times in her life; it was the sign of an ossified heart. Of a person who had been beaten so hard by life and had lost so much that they had hardened into an impenetrable shell.
"Now she’s dead all I can think about is Becky. Isn’t that strange that we hold the dead in such reverence, but while they’re living we show them such contempt."
This is utter baloney. Heat vision doesn't work through walls. Duh:
When he made it to the center [of the roof], he perched himself down and switched his night vision goggles to infrared. He began scanning the house that was underneath him, looking for the red and yellow heat signatures of people.
.
Want to read
June 15, 2018💝FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (6/15/2018)!💝
Blurb:
"They burned it down once…They should burn it down again."
Once the star of Scotland Yard, burnt out East London detective Jack Sheridan is now a washed up cop working a low end station, estranged from his family and haunted by his past. The discovery in woodland of a young woman nailed to a wooden cross sends Jack spiralling into a direct confrontation with that past when the woman is identified as the daughter of a murdered cop he once knew. With a serial killer the media are dubbing the ‘Crucifix Killer’ slaying working girls on his patch, Jack must face his own demons and uncover a series of terrible secrets if he is to find the twisted killer.
On his way to the Tunisian border, Alex Dorring is informed that his sister has been murdered. Dorring is Agent 192 of Uriel, a clandestine assassins wing of MI6. With revenge on his mind, Dorring makes his way to London and begins investigating her death in his own special way. As he moves like a ghost through the underbelly of the city, he meets Chloe, a troubled nineteen year old trying to escape the very people Dorring has come to hunt. Could this girl be the key to leading him to the killer?
As both men operate under entirely different rules, the death of one girl sees a bed of lies, sexual violence, murder and corruption come rising to the surface as East London descends into chaos.
Blurb:
"They burned it down once…They should burn it down again."
Once the star of Scotland Yard, burnt out East London detective Jack Sheridan is now a washed up cop working a low end station, estranged from his family and haunted by his past. The discovery in woodland of a young woman nailed to a wooden cross sends Jack spiralling into a direct confrontation with that past when the woman is identified as the daughter of a murdered cop he once knew. With a serial killer the media are dubbing the ‘Crucifix Killer’ slaying working girls on his patch, Jack must face his own demons and uncover a series of terrible secrets if he is to find the twisted killer.
On his way to the Tunisian border, Alex Dorring is informed that his sister has been murdered. Dorring is Agent 192 of Uriel, a clandestine assassins wing of MI6. With revenge on his mind, Dorring makes his way to London and begins investigating her death in his own special way. As he moves like a ghost through the underbelly of the city, he meets Chloe, a troubled nineteen year old trying to escape the very people Dorring has come to hunt. Could this girl be the key to leading him to the killer?
As both men operate under entirely different rules, the death of one girl sees a bed of lies, sexual violence, murder and corruption come rising to the surface as East London descends into chaos.
October 29, 2017
This may be the worst book I have actually finished. The story line was interesting enough to keep me plowing through most of it, but in the end I just started skimming to see if I was correct about who-done-it. It felt like it had been written by a 17 year old high school student who had played WAY too many violent video games. The body count was high (and graphic and gratuitous) and the grammar poor. Even at $0.99 the price was too high. Someone should have paid me to read it.
June 2, 2018
A great story with many twists !
Thoroughly enjoyed this book - all characters were believable and it was so well written , drawing you in page by page . Would like to have known what happened to Ty but perhaps at some point I will .....!!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book - all characters were believable and it was so well written , drawing you in page by page . Would like to have known what happened to Ty but perhaps at some point I will .....!!
July 5, 2018
Great Story And Character Creation
This book was amazing, the character were so interesting and fun he story was well told. It also had the amount of violence to keep you wanting more. Kendall t was so good I unknowingly stayed up to 2:00 reading it.
This book was amazing, the character were so interesting and fun he story was well told. It also had the amount of violence to keep you wanting more. Kendall t was so good I unknowingly stayed up to 2:00 reading it.
May 5, 2019
"Gripping"
Once you got past the fact it was a British story written by an American it was a cracking tale. One that was high on violence with more shady characters than your average thriller. Entertaining.
Once you got past the fact it was a British story written by an American it was a cracking tale. One that was high on violence with more shady characters than your average thriller. Entertaining.
June 3, 2018
Jack Sheridan, a burned out detective sergeant with the London police. He's dogged in his pursuit of the killer of Becky Dorring, left crucified on a cross. The irony is her father, a former police officer, was also nailed to a cross after he had been killed.
Alex Dorring, the assassin for British MI6. His involvement pretty much saved the story for me. One nasty killer.
Too much 'skim over' material in the story. The author put in more side material than he really needed. Also, there are a couple of loose ends. Will they be resolved in the second of the series?
All in all, nothing really exciting here.
Alex Dorring, the assassin for British MI6. His involvement pretty much saved the story for me. One nasty killer.
Too much 'skim over' material in the story. The author put in more side material than he really needed. Also, there are a couple of loose ends. Will they be resolved in the second of the series?
All in all, nothing really exciting here.
December 20, 2018
A good detective story
I really enjoyed this fast paced and well written detective story. All the characters were well developed and the twists in the story kept me interested all the way through.
I highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this fast paced and well written detective story. All the characters were well developed and the twists in the story kept me interested all the way through.
I highly recommend this book.
June 2, 2018
Overwhelming!
Though I don't want to read this genre again, I recognized that the author did an excellent job.
And I always appreciate a surprise ending!
.
Though I don't want to read this genre again, I recognized that the author did an excellent job.
And I always appreciate a surprise ending!
.
August 9, 2020
A Cross to Bear implied more than just a serial killer on the loose. When this book was recommended to me, I was struck by the name and synopsis of the story.
Each character had so much weight to bear, so profound that I got lost in the story of each individual which formed a unique tapestry of pain, and survival intertwined with hope. Each holding a piece of the puzzle and it was up to one man to get to the bottom of it all.
Jack Sheridan was a man with a hurtful past. A past that still held him captive in the present. Though he seemed like a lost cause at first he was the best man for the job. Doing the best he could with what he had. It was this hurt that led him to dig deeper, look further and unruffle the knots, unwavering in his task. Even in the little, he became the centre as he pulled every thread together in a great turn of events.
Alex's story also captivated me, it was fascinating to watch as these two men shared one goal. To find the killer. Alex's direct approach stirred things up as he swept through the ring of deceit and secrets. A debauched ring filled with utter filth that made it almost unbelievable.
The gruesome acts were seldom spelt out. I liked that the author gave me just enough description to get the picture. And the pictures were vivid and frightening as I followed the path of destruction with Jack and Lange. The author's compassion and empathy glued you to the pages as you got entangled in the web of prostitution, rape, and child abuse in its worst scenarios.
Each character's role was perfectly added to enhance the plot. Each expertly timed for emphasis. Lange the perfect partner for Jack as he tried to find a killer while getting to the bottom of a mystery being covered up. A mystery that highlighted the true monsters within.
The author had me guessing at the true culprit's identity until the end. It is thrilling and engaging at the same time.
The only thing stopping me to give it a 5-star rating was the fact that the descriptions were at times too long, the backstory too much and I had to skip several paragraphs to get back to the story itself.
Otherwise a very engaging read.
Each character had so much weight to bear, so profound that I got lost in the story of each individual which formed a unique tapestry of pain, and survival intertwined with hope. Each holding a piece of the puzzle and it was up to one man to get to the bottom of it all.
Jack Sheridan was a man with a hurtful past. A past that still held him captive in the present. Though he seemed like a lost cause at first he was the best man for the job. Doing the best he could with what he had. It was this hurt that led him to dig deeper, look further and unruffle the knots, unwavering in his task. Even in the little, he became the centre as he pulled every thread together in a great turn of events.
Alex's story also captivated me, it was fascinating to watch as these two men shared one goal. To find the killer. Alex's direct approach stirred things up as he swept through the ring of deceit and secrets. A debauched ring filled with utter filth that made it almost unbelievable.
The gruesome acts were seldom spelt out. I liked that the author gave me just enough description to get the picture. And the pictures were vivid and frightening as I followed the path of destruction with Jack and Lange. The author's compassion and empathy glued you to the pages as you got entangled in the web of prostitution, rape, and child abuse in its worst scenarios.
Each character's role was perfectly added to enhance the plot. Each expertly timed for emphasis. Lange the perfect partner for Jack as he tried to find a killer while getting to the bottom of a mystery being covered up. A mystery that highlighted the true monsters within.
The author had me guessing at the true culprit's identity until the end. It is thrilling and engaging at the same time.
The only thing stopping me to give it a 5-star rating was the fact that the descriptions were at times too long, the backstory too much and I had to skip several paragraphs to get back to the story itself.
Otherwise a very engaging read.
June 22, 2018
Fantastic
I loved this book it was riveting from the start to the very end. The storyline was great and I didn't want to put it down. Looking forward to reading more of these books.
I loved this book it was riveting from the start to the very end. The storyline was great and I didn't want to put it down. Looking forward to reading more of these books.
August 11, 2018
Exciting and gripping tale, with some discrepancies
I actually loved this book. The story was gripping and the characters were well portrayed and for the most part, very true to life. What annoyed me was that in the midst of some great writing the author kept referring to the Metropolitan Police's 'Deputy Commissionare'. There is no such thing in the British police as a commissiinare, deputy or otherwise. He should have used the correct rank which is Deputy Commissioner. Then there will was the annoying use of the word 'gotten', frequently use by Americans but not by the British. I began to wonder whether the author is British or American. If not for such annoying niggles I would have had no hesitation in awarding the book 5 stars, and I will certainly be reading the next Jack Sheridan story, but please, please, get the police ranks correct. A commissiinare is a glorified doorman, not a high - ranking police officer.
I actually loved this book. The story was gripping and the characters were well portrayed and for the most part, very true to life. What annoyed me was that in the midst of some great writing the author kept referring to the Metropolitan Police's 'Deputy Commissionare'. There is no such thing in the British police as a commissiinare, deputy or otherwise. He should have used the correct rank which is Deputy Commissioner. Then there will was the annoying use of the word 'gotten', frequently use by Americans but not by the British. I began to wonder whether the author is British or American. If not for such annoying niggles I would have had no hesitation in awarding the book 5 stars, and I will certainly be reading the next Jack Sheridan story, but please, please, get the police ranks correct. A commissiinare is a glorified doorman, not a high - ranking police officer.
October 22, 2017
Page Turner
This novel shows flawed humanity. Even the hero did something in his past that caused him great shame and anguish ...a character flaw caused by selfishness that damaged not only his own life but especially those who loved him. That being said, it was a good read and I was right in guessing one person when introduced but not the other to solve the mystery.
This novel shows flawed humanity. Even the hero did something in his past that caused him great shame and anguish ...a character flaw caused by selfishness that damaged not only his own life but especially those who loved him. That being said, it was a good read and I was right in guessing one person when introduced but not the other to solve the mystery.
June 2, 2018
Jack might be many things but he is a good cop. There is a serial killer on the loose and the case has just taken a horrible turn. Jack knows the young woman that has been killed, she died a similar death to her cop father. But Jack doesn't think that it is the same killer, there are differences but can Jack find the answers that he is looking for? Becky was a young girl that lost the two most important men in her life first her father and then her brother left to join the marines and she became lost and confused. She was being abused by her stepfather and she can't turn to her mother as she didn't believe her. She became trapped in a life that she didn't chose but she had found the path again and she was doing well. So who killed her & why? Jack finds out that the Doyle brothers are involved and this time he hopes to bring them down for good but a war is coming and Jack might just have to sit back and let it all settle.
Alex can't believe that his sister is dead, he blames himself he shouldn't have left her and now he will find her killer no matter what. Alex is a trained assassin and it is time for him to get justice for his family and he will do whatever he has. But when Jack learns the truth he realizes that Becky was killed by someone that she considered a friend someone who knew all her secrets and they need to bring Alex home and this was the only way that they knew how. A good read. Like Jack a good man even though he seems lost at times. He has a ton of baggage and guilt that will never go away but he does try his best.
Alex can't believe that his sister is dead, he blames himself he shouldn't have left her and now he will find her killer no matter what. Alex is a trained assassin and it is time for him to get justice for his family and he will do whatever he has. But when Jack learns the truth he realizes that Becky was killed by someone that she considered a friend someone who knew all her secrets and they need to bring Alex home and this was the only way that they knew how. A good read. Like Jack a good man even though he seems lost at times. He has a ton of baggage and guilt that will never go away but he does try his best.
October 18, 2019
I actually figured out the identity of the murderer but what a roller coaster ride and fully packed story to get to confirming it. I have to say I hate filthy language and this is packed with it but the descriptive writing is way up there so I didn't toss the book aside. Some of the character descriptions made me smile. It is rare to read a book and be able to visualize what the author is having the characters tell me but this set does a good job of telling their sordid stories. This is no feel good tome. It is rough. It is filled with absolutely terrible things that human beings do to one another. We actually had a power outage right after I downloaded this so I read straight through it over the hours. It was that interesting and magnetic.
Jack Sheridan is a believable character. He is no shining knight. He is hanging from a low rung after a mighty fall. He isn't perfect but I still like him. His sense of humor is dry, sarcastic and biting. He made me laugh. This is part of Vince Vogels talent. He has human characters complete with their warts and odors. This is good. Despite the nastiness of the characters lives.
Warning: Language, violence, murder, sexual depravity, abuse, incest and child abuse.
Jack Sheridan is a believable character. He is no shining knight. He is hanging from a low rung after a mighty fall. He isn't perfect but I still like him. His sense of humor is dry, sarcastic and biting. He made me laugh. This is part of Vince Vogels talent. He has human characters complete with their warts and odors. This is good. Despite the nastiness of the characters lives.
Warning: Language, violence, murder, sexual depravity, abuse, incest and child abuse.
March 12, 2020
😊
It all began with the murder of a cop years ago. This is the incident that entwined Jack, Alex and his sister. Alex was 14 and his sister only 8 years old when they saw the body of their father being thrown from a moving vehicle displayed on a cross.
Fast forward and a series of murders are now being committed. Young girls drugged and crucified. A serial killer on the loose. It's Jack's job to solve the crime as it lands on his patch, Scotland Yard isn't too happy about the idea of Jack heading the investigation though as there is bad blood between the!selves and Jack. Jack was once their star.
Alex now a grown man is a MI6 agent only known as agent 192. Once told of his sister's death, the sister he left behind and cut all contact with he went rogue seeking out the killers. He learns that might be the Doyle brothers, the same brothers that were suspected of killing his father many years ago.
This book is superbly written. Very good background story and proper depth to the characters, main and otherwise. Basically two stories in one. Jack and Alex, although fighting for the same cause these two main characters don't come together till near the end of the book. Plenty of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Definitely a 👍.
It all began with the murder of a cop years ago. This is the incident that entwined Jack, Alex and his sister. Alex was 14 and his sister only 8 years old when they saw the body of their father being thrown from a moving vehicle displayed on a cross.
Fast forward and a series of murders are now being committed. Young girls drugged and crucified. A serial killer on the loose. It's Jack's job to solve the crime as it lands on his patch, Scotland Yard isn't too happy about the idea of Jack heading the investigation though as there is bad blood between the!selves and Jack. Jack was once their star.
Alex now a grown man is a MI6 agent only known as agent 192. Once told of his sister's death, the sister he left behind and cut all contact with he went rogue seeking out the killers. He learns that might be the Doyle brothers, the same brothers that were suspected of killing his father many years ago.
This book is superbly written. Very good background story and proper depth to the characters, main and otherwise. Basically two stories in one. Jack and Alex, although fighting for the same cause these two main characters don't come together till near the end of the book. Plenty of twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Definitely a 👍.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2018
As a rule I'm not a big fan of the English mystery because, as a rule, I find them dry, slow moving, and boring, but Vince Vogel with A Cross to Bear: A Jack Sheridan Mystery won me over as a reader. A Cross to Bear starts out in medias res, for those of you whose Latin may be a little rusty, that means in the middle of the action. The story begins with Alex, our hero, doing the thing he does best--killing people. The action continues nonstop until you have reached the very last sentence on the very last page.
Alex, Jack, and George are all characters that are easy to like and root for, You want them win against all odds. This story has more twists and turns than a venomous snake, just when you think you have it all figured out, Vogel throws you a new curve ball. The final denouement, when it final arrives, during the very last few pages of the book will leave you as surprised as it did me. Vince Vogel is the new master of the mystery genre. I will be reading more of his books in the Jack Sheridan Mystery series.
August 15, 2018
The first book of hopefully a series. I have tried to find out more about the author without success. It feels very much like an American writing a book set in the UK. There are various grammatical differences and expressions that a Brit wouldn't say. Also cultural references aren't quite right. I think the author is male but I wouldn't be hugely shocked to find it was a female There are also some things that don't quite ring true and one that I know you couldn't do - the eye at the beginning- sorry- you can't do that- way too far fetched. There some gory bits to the book as well which some might not like- they can be glossed over without losing the story line. Wasn't really happy with the way it panned out for Alex and Chloe. I did guess the story but was hoping I was wrong. Shows promise just needs careful editing and maybe curbing some of the more unbelievable elements
December 29, 2019
This is a detective/thriller/suspense book. Fifteen years past a cop is murdered, crucified outside his police station and had his throat cut. Today the cop's daughter is found brutally murdered in similar circumstances. The story winds around different threads and looks to involve criminal gangs who smuggle sex workers into the country. Containing adult themes, this is certainly not a book for children or the faint hearted, but draws you in as you try to solve the crime for yourself and see that justice is served.
This book is actually the start of a trilogy, but I read it as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed it (and is currently free on Amazon), but a bit heavy/dark for me to read as a trilogy. I have added the second two books to my wishlist, but will read something lighter in between.
This book is actually the start of a trilogy, but I read it as a stand-alone. I really enjoyed it (and is currently free on Amazon), but a bit heavy/dark for me to read as a trilogy. I have added the second two books to my wishlist, but will read something lighter in between.
October 11, 2018
Jack was a cop who was trying to solve a case about someone who was murdering people and then nailing them to a cross that he built for them. The case was a hard one to solve. Two families in town were kind of like Hinkle and McCoys fighting constantly but then some how they made a pack to stop fighting each other. But did both sides honestly really agree or were they faking it. Alex was in the service and found out his sister was the latest to be murdered and he finally came home after years of working for the government and brain washed to be a hit man for them. Alex was gonna solve this case one way or another . He was hiding from the government the whole time search for who did it.So much going on at the end of the story , so many lives lost or destroyed. What an ending.
October 18, 2018
An Excellent paced detective thriller intermixing M16 Scotland Yard with a good twist at the end. I find myself once again enjoying a book with a good storyline with well-developed characters.
Yes, you have to suspend belief with some aspects of the book. Sadly this seems to have become essential to keep some audiences happy.
I read some of the reviews here and cannot help but smile when all they seem to be able to do is criticise the grammar or English spelling. Self-publishers and small writers cannot afford the luxury of an editor. I know I would rather read a good story than the trash produced by many of the prolific writers turning out six or 8 books a year half written by other authors and corrected by teams of editors.
Are you a reader or an English teacher?
Yes, you have to suspend belief with some aspects of the book. Sadly this seems to have become essential to keep some audiences happy.
I read some of the reviews here and cannot help but smile when all they seem to be able to do is criticise the grammar or English spelling. Self-publishers and small writers cannot afford the luxury of an editor. I know I would rather read a good story than the trash produced by many of the prolific writers turning out six or 8 books a year half written by other authors and corrected by teams of editors.
Are you a reader or an English teacher?
March 14, 2021
Really enjoyed this novel, it had a bit of everything in it. The aging cop, the MI6 agent, the crime kings, the serial killer, the innocent and not so innocent all wrapped up in a load of mystery and intrigue.
The pace kept going all through, I would avoid this one if you are at all squeamish though as there are some graphic parts that certain don't hold back on the gore.
As serial killers go this one is a right bad one, but don't be fooled its more than just a book about a cop trying to catch the perpetrator, its a trip into the dark underworld of life where the good guys are almost as bad as the bad guys.
Well worth a read, I will look out for the next in the series now.
The pace kept going all through, I would avoid this one if you are at all squeamish though as there are some graphic parts that certain don't hold back on the gore.
As serial killers go this one is a right bad one, but don't be fooled its more than just a book about a cop trying to catch the perpetrator, its a trip into the dark underworld of life where the good guys are almost as bad as the bad guys.
Well worth a read, I will look out for the next in the series now.
April 16, 2020
Disturbing thriller- great!
Strong themed crime thriller full of a myriad of robust characters & themes- very intense, graphic portrayal of violence- everything I wanted in a crime thriller fiction- & some!! Exceeded my expectations in many regards providing a compulsion to keep reading- something I haven't really found in more recent reading choices in this same genre. Could be construed as gratuitous with some of the extreme violent content but not to the point of detracting from what I found to be a tense & intriguing book. To be recommended.
Strong themed crime thriller full of a myriad of robust characters & themes- very intense, graphic portrayal of violence- everything I wanted in a crime thriller fiction- & some!! Exceeded my expectations in many regards providing a compulsion to keep reading- something I haven't really found in more recent reading choices in this same genre. Could be construed as gratuitous with some of the extreme violent content but not to the point of detracting from what I found to be a tense & intriguing book. To be recommended.
May 11, 2022
How did I miss this author?
I really liked this book! It was generally fast paced! But that can be hard in a first book while setting the scene, and developing your characters! The plot was good, sub plots were just as good. There was enough violence and gore to keep me on the edge, but not enough to make !e sick. It was pretty close to perfect. And he did a smart thing with getting us interested in a lead character for another series. I for one am looking forward to continuing this series!!
I really liked this book! It was generally fast paced! But that can be hard in a first book while setting the scene, and developing your characters! The plot was good, sub plots were just as good. There was enough violence and gore to keep me on the edge, but not enough to make !e sick. It was pretty close to perfect. And he did a smart thing with getting us interested in a lead character for another series. I for one am looking forward to continuing this series!!
August 3, 2022
First time reading this author and I will say I am now a fan. This was a story with lots of players, all of whom were well developed and imperfect. You can relate to their lives and understand why they are where they are in life. How their past choices and events have molded their current selves. Jack is flawed but to me very likeable. Great story, has some brutal tones, but doesn't go overboard. It really adds to the flavor and reality of the story. Can't wait to start the next book in the series.
July 26, 2018
While some of the scenes are a bit more graphic than I am used to, this story was well written with plenty of twists and turns as several side stories met and formed the overall plot. Just when I thought I knew who did what, another piece was revealed and I realized I didn't know as much as I thought I did. He might not follow all the rules but he is good at what he does. Would I read more in this series? Yes!
July 28, 2018
I really liked this book. I couldn't put it down. Some of the characters were overdone but so was the story. All the characters were well developed and believable according to their definition. It was too violent in places but warm and soft in others. It is a book where you only meet a couple good guys and lots of bad guys. The basket case was a little unbelievable but frightening. Good read if you like action and a complicated plot. I will read the next one.
March 4, 2019
I wasn't quite sure what to make of this book. The story-line was entertaining enough even though it did try to pack in too many of the crime fiction stereotypes. However, the book read like the author was making it up as he went along while someone else wrote it down verbatim and then didn't bother editing it. I am torn but I might try to read another by this author to see whether the presentation can match the story telling.
March 8, 2019
Wow! The latest victim of a serial killer is found nailed to a cross. Her father had also died nailed to a cross. The detective who unsuccessfully investigated the father's murder is set to investigate the serial killings. Her brother (an MI6 hit-man) also does his own investigations. Lots of lowlife and some good people. A very consuming story. I nearly cried at the end - so many good people destroyed.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 185 reviews