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Robert Finlay #3
End Game
When the author of a book about secret government operations goes missing – along with his agent, and the manuscript itself – Police Inspector Robert Finlay is thrust into a complex and terrifying investigation. The final instalment in a searingly authentic series. 'A taut, knife-edge thriller you won't put down till the last full stop' M R Hall 'Matt Johnson's real-life experiences shine through in the vivid plotting and authentic action' Rob Sinclair 'Another fast-moving and beautifully detailed page-turner from a master thriller writer' Robert Daws ____________________ Robert Finlay has finally left his SAS past behind him and is settled into his new career as a detective, but when the author of a book about secret operations goes missing, along with his agent and an explosive new manuscript, it's clear that Finlay's troubles are far from over. With his friend and former colleague, Kevin Jones, in trouble, and police complaints branch gunning for them both, Robert teams up with MI5 agent Toni Fellowes to find out who's behind the growing conspiracy. Their quest soon reveals a plot that goes to the very heart of the UK's security services. End Game , the final part in the critically acclaimed Robert Finlay trilogy, sees our hero in an intricate and terrifyingly fast-paced race to uncover the truth and escape those who'd sooner have him dead than be exposed. ____________________ 'A compelling mix of highly credible detail, tactics, procedures, and all striated into the political games that the intelligence services play. Highly Recommended' Shots Mag 'Gripping stuff' New Welsh Review 'Matt Johnson is a brilliant new name in the world of thrillers' Peter James 'This tense, edge-of-the-seat writing will keep fans frantically turning the pages as they race towards the conclusion' Amanda Jennings 'Utterly compelling and dripping with authenticity' J S Law 'Five shining gold stars of brilliant' The Quiet Knitter 'Nothing is clear-cut in a gripping labyrinthine plot, which – despite thrills and spills aplenty – never falls short of believable' David Young
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2018
21 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Matt Johnson
6 books380 followersMatt Johnson
Matt Johnson served as a soldier from 1975-78 and Metropolitan Police officer from 1978 -1999.
His debut novel Wicked Game – a crime thriller - was published by Orenda Books in March 2016. The sequel Deadly Game, was published March 2017.
Wicked Game was listed for the Crime Writers Association John Creasey Dagger award, has topped the Amazon and WH Smith KOBO charts in several categories and at the end of 2016 was listed by Amazon UK as the highest-rated ‘rising star’ novel of 2016.
Peter James, the international best-selling novelist said of Matt’s first book "Terse, tense and vivid writing. Matt Johnson is a brilliant new name in the world of thrillers."
Matt's first non-fiction was the multi award-winning No Ordinary Day which reveals the startling truth behind the 1984 murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.
Winner of the Book of the Year and Reader's Choice awards at the 2024 CrimeCon True Crime Awards.
Highly-Commended at the 2024 CrimeCon True Crime awards for Outstanding Investigative Reporting.
Winner of the 2024 Capital Crime Fingerprint Award (True Crime)
Shortlisted for the 2024 Crime Writers Association ALCS Gold Dagger for non-fiction.
Background
In 1999, Matt was discharged from the police with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whilst undergoing treatment, he was encouraged by his counsellor to write about his career and his experience of murders, shootings and terrorism.
Matt was eventually persuaded to give this a go, and one evening, he sat at his computer and started to weave his notes into a work of fiction that he described as having a tremendously cathartic effect on his own condition. He used his detailed knowledge and recollections to create what has been described by many readers as a fast paced, exciting and authentic tale of modern-day policing and terrorism.
It could be argued that Matt Johnson is living proof PTSD is a condition that can be controlled and overcome with the right help and support. He has been described by many fans as an inspiration to fellow sufferers.
Matt Johnson served as a soldier from 1975-78 and Metropolitan Police officer from 1978 -1999.
His debut novel Wicked Game – a crime thriller - was published by Orenda Books in March 2016. The sequel Deadly Game, was published March 2017.
Wicked Game was listed for the Crime Writers Association John Creasey Dagger award, has topped the Amazon and WH Smith KOBO charts in several categories and at the end of 2016 was listed by Amazon UK as the highest-rated ‘rising star’ novel of 2016.
Peter James, the international best-selling novelist said of Matt’s first book "Terse, tense and vivid writing. Matt Johnson is a brilliant new name in the world of thrillers."
Matt's first non-fiction was the multi award-winning No Ordinary Day which reveals the startling truth behind the 1984 murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher.
Winner of the Book of the Year and Reader's Choice awards at the 2024 CrimeCon True Crime Awards.
Highly-Commended at the 2024 CrimeCon True Crime awards for Outstanding Investigative Reporting.
Winner of the 2024 Capital Crime Fingerprint Award (True Crime)
Shortlisted for the 2024 Crime Writers Association ALCS Gold Dagger for non-fiction.
Background
In 1999, Matt was discharged from the police with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Whilst undergoing treatment, he was encouraged by his counsellor to write about his career and his experience of murders, shootings and terrorism.
Matt was eventually persuaded to give this a go, and one evening, he sat at his computer and started to weave his notes into a work of fiction that he described as having a tremendously cathartic effect on his own condition. He used his detailed knowledge and recollections to create what has been described by many readers as a fast paced, exciting and authentic tale of modern-day policing and terrorism.
It could be argued that Matt Johnson is living proof PTSD is a condition that can be controlled and overcome with the right help and support. He has been described by many fans as an inspiration to fellow sufferers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
March 12, 2018
End Game is the third, and sadly also final, instalment in the brilliant Robert Finlay series and what an amazing ride it’s been! Personally, I don’t feel this reads well as a stand-alone as there’s a storyline arc that flows throughout the three books in the series and you’d be missing out on a whole lot of intricacies and details. Besides, these books are so good, you’d be doing yourself a favour by starting at the beginning. Promise!
Robert Finlay’s dreams of a quiet life are once again shattered when his close friend, Kevin Jones, is accused of murder. Someone is obviously out to silence anyone who’s come in contact with a certain document and they will stop at nothing to reach their objective. As the body count rises, will Robert make it out of this end game alive?
Talk about nail-biting suspense! This thriller had me on the edge of my seat throughout. With such a highly complex plot, you’d think you might end up confused at some point but it’s a huge credit to Matt Johnson’s writing that I never once felt lost. End Game is intensely gripping, superbly intelligent and just oozes authenticity. There is no way of knowing who to trust in this murky world of the secret services and I had no idea what the outcome would be.
This fast-paced thriller is a fantastic conclusion to an absolutely brilliant series. Like the previous books, it’s a multi-layered and compelling story of corruption, deceit and the games those in power play. Of course I’m sad to see Robert Finlay’s journey come to an end and I’m going to miss him fiercely. But it has been an absolute privilege to have been a part of it and Matt Johnson has wrapped things up perfectly. So like I said at the start, do yourself a favour, grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in the world of spies. You won’t regret it! And I do so hope there will be more from Matt Johnson in future.
Robert Finlay’s dreams of a quiet life are once again shattered when his close friend, Kevin Jones, is accused of murder. Someone is obviously out to silence anyone who’s come in contact with a certain document and they will stop at nothing to reach their objective. As the body count rises, will Robert make it out of this end game alive?
Talk about nail-biting suspense! This thriller had me on the edge of my seat throughout. With such a highly complex plot, you’d think you might end up confused at some point but it’s a huge credit to Matt Johnson’s writing that I never once felt lost. End Game is intensely gripping, superbly intelligent and just oozes authenticity. There is no way of knowing who to trust in this murky world of the secret services and I had no idea what the outcome would be.
This fast-paced thriller is a fantastic conclusion to an absolutely brilliant series. Like the previous books, it’s a multi-layered and compelling story of corruption, deceit and the games those in power play. Of course I’m sad to see Robert Finlay’s journey come to an end and I’m going to miss him fiercely. But it has been an absolute privilege to have been a part of it and Matt Johnson has wrapped things up perfectly. So like I said at the start, do yourself a favour, grab yourself a copy and lose yourself in the world of spies. You won’t regret it! And I do so hope there will be more from Matt Johnson in future.
March 28, 2018
This is the third and final book in the Robert Finlay series and I am gutted that it has ended. What a truly amazing series this has been and what makes it top of its league is the background of Matt Johnson, the author. No-one tells it as it is, better than someone who knows how it was. It all comes down to years of experience and using that knowledge to create the ultimate conditions for his fictional characters. Absolutely bloody awesome!
Wow, wow, wow, this is book just continues the fast and action packed predecessors in the series that will put any pacer maker under stress to keep a steady beat. Robert Finlay’s past is not prepared to stay there, when an old friend finds himself facing a murder charge. I mean what else can Finlay do? No matter what job title he has now, the SAS is still running through his blood and watching out for comrades would always be high on his list of ‘must do’. But it isn’t long before he finds himself set up to take a fall too. It is game on!
It has characters that make you feel like they have crawled under your skin at times, not only from what they do but how other people in the story talk about them. Robert Finlay was a bloke that wanted the quite life now seeing his time out as a Detective. This wasn’t going to happen. Finlay is a fabulous character whose career has seen to a diminishing list of friends as they have lost their lives and he was determined that this wasn’t going to happen again, especially with MI5 agent Toni Fellowes joining forces with him.
This story is one that puts all of his self-control to the test, where I was literally waiting with bated breath to see if he still had enough humanity left to make the right choices. Such a gripping perfect end.
To get the full impact of this book do read the whole series. I believe it is one of the most visual that you will come across. I just want it all to hit the big screen because it has all the ingredients to be a block buster series there too. Perfection!
Wow, wow, wow, this is book just continues the fast and action packed predecessors in the series that will put any pacer maker under stress to keep a steady beat. Robert Finlay’s past is not prepared to stay there, when an old friend finds himself facing a murder charge. I mean what else can Finlay do? No matter what job title he has now, the SAS is still running through his blood and watching out for comrades would always be high on his list of ‘must do’. But it isn’t long before he finds himself set up to take a fall too. It is game on!
It has characters that make you feel like they have crawled under your skin at times, not only from what they do but how other people in the story talk about them. Robert Finlay was a bloke that wanted the quite life now seeing his time out as a Detective. This wasn’t going to happen. Finlay is a fabulous character whose career has seen to a diminishing list of friends as they have lost their lives and he was determined that this wasn’t going to happen again, especially with MI5 agent Toni Fellowes joining forces with him.
This story is one that puts all of his self-control to the test, where I was literally waiting with bated breath to see if he still had enough humanity left to make the right choices. Such a gripping perfect end.
To get the full impact of this book do read the whole series. I believe it is one of the most visual that you will come across. I just want it all to hit the big screen because it has all the ingredients to be a block buster series there too. Perfection!
March 7, 2018
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
I have read all of the books in this series and I can honestly say that they have got better and better. I would recommend that they are read in order, there are a couple of storylines that run through all of the books.
Robert Finlay, ex military, now police officer has plenty of demons with what he experienced in various war zones and he is the right person to be brought in to help in a hostage situation. Unfortunately it also brings him into contact with Superintendent Mellor who bears him a grudge for events that happened previously. When tragedy affects his close friend Kevin shortly after, events go from bad to worse for the pair of them.
I will be honest. I rarely read military style fiction. Mainly because I don’t understand much of the politics, religion and geographical borders. But, Matt Johnson has made this series so readable and understandable anybody could read and enjoy them.
There are plenty of characters. As always, some are good, some evil and there are a few who walk a fine line. I had doubts about some of them, but they were unfounded.
I believe this is the last in the series which saddens me, certainly there are a lot of threads that have been resolved. I will be interested in what we will see next from the author.
I have read all of the books in this series and I can honestly say that they have got better and better. I would recommend that they are read in order, there are a couple of storylines that run through all of the books.
Robert Finlay, ex military, now police officer has plenty of demons with what he experienced in various war zones and he is the right person to be brought in to help in a hostage situation. Unfortunately it also brings him into contact with Superintendent Mellor who bears him a grudge for events that happened previously. When tragedy affects his close friend Kevin shortly after, events go from bad to worse for the pair of them.
I will be honest. I rarely read military style fiction. Mainly because I don’t understand much of the politics, religion and geographical borders. But, Matt Johnson has made this series so readable and understandable anybody could read and enjoy them.
There are plenty of characters. As always, some are good, some evil and there are a few who walk a fine line. I had doubts about some of them, but they were unfounded.
I believe this is the last in the series which saddens me, certainly there are a lot of threads that have been resolved. I will be interested in what we will see next from the author.
March 13, 2018
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Not having read all of the books in this series, I was a little bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to follow the storyline as well as someone who had read all of the books in order. I would say that, whilst I managed perfectly fine with the majority of this novel, you would probably benefit a lot more if you read all of the books in order due to the intricacy of the details which flow from book to book.
Anyway, back to the #EndGame! Matt Johnson had me hooked line and sinker from the very beginning! If I didn't have short nails to begin with, I certainly would have stumps after biting them down due to the intensely crafted storyline.
Whilst the book is incredibly fast paced, it didn't overwhelm me at all, in fact it did the opposite. I am genuinely surprised that my fingers weren't covered in paper cuts by the end - I was turning the pages that quickly, just to find out how 'End Game' was brought to a conclusion.
What I loved most about Matt Johnson's novel, was the fact that there was constantly something gritty just waiting for me to sink my teeth into. I was never left waiting for something to happen to one of the characters, or left trying to fill any pregnant pauses by twiddling my thumbs. Honestly, there was none of that. It was as though every nook and cranny of the 'End Game' was filled with cleverly crafted tension, edge of the sofa intensity, and characters which didn't seem to want to leave my head days after finishing this book.
What a brilliant book. If you need a new series to binge, you will not be disappointed with this one, that's for sure!
Not having read all of the books in this series, I was a little bit concerned that I wouldn't be able to follow the storyline as well as someone who had read all of the books in order. I would say that, whilst I managed perfectly fine with the majority of this novel, you would probably benefit a lot more if you read all of the books in order due to the intricacy of the details which flow from book to book.
Anyway, back to the #EndGame! Matt Johnson had me hooked line and sinker from the very beginning! If I didn't have short nails to begin with, I certainly would have stumps after biting them down due to the intensely crafted storyline.
Whilst the book is incredibly fast paced, it didn't overwhelm me at all, in fact it did the opposite. I am genuinely surprised that my fingers weren't covered in paper cuts by the end - I was turning the pages that quickly, just to find out how 'End Game' was brought to a conclusion.
What I loved most about Matt Johnson's novel, was the fact that there was constantly something gritty just waiting for me to sink my teeth into. I was never left waiting for something to happen to one of the characters, or left trying to fill any pregnant pauses by twiddling my thumbs. Honestly, there was none of that. It was as though every nook and cranny of the 'End Game' was filled with cleverly crafted tension, edge of the sofa intensity, and characters which didn't seem to want to leave my head days after finishing this book.
What a brilliant book. If you need a new series to binge, you will not be disappointed with this one, that's for sure!
March 30, 2018
‘Even though she displayed no sign of life, he aimed at her temple and squeezed the trigger again. Her head jerked slightly as the bullet entered her skull’
End Game, is the final part in the critically acclaimed Robert Finlay trilogy and is published by Orenda Books. Written by Matt Johnson, an ex-soldier and ex-Met Police Officer, he uses his own personal experiences in his writing, which brings great authenticity to the novel.
Described as ‘an intricately plotted and terrifyingly fast-paced race’ I can honestly say I was knackered after finishing this!!
Robert Finlay is moving on with life. He is married with two young kids in a lovely home and seems finally to be coming to terms with his past as an SAS soldier. Now working on the police force, he hopes to ease into retirement and draw no trouble from any quarter. He is successfully dealing with his PTSD, following stints overseas in the war against terror, after bearing witness to some horrendous atrocities. In other words life is okay for Robert Finlay….for now….
But as we all know, life likes to throw a few curve balls in the way and for Robert Finlay it comes in the shape of a missing person, a dead body and his best friend being accused of murder.
Robert Finlay is a man’s man, one who takes no s**t from anyone, but he soon realises that this attitude will get him into deeper trouble as he searches for the truth. With old vendettas and folk from his past making sudden appearances, Robert discovers that his comfortable life is about to get a serious shake-up.
SAS, MI5, MI6, politicians, dirty players – End Game has it all. With the help of one or two trustworthy colleagues, Robert Finlay delves deep into the underworld of espionage and spies. He needs every ounce of his army training, every survival skill learned to discover the truth behind a plot that goes right to the core of the UK’s security services.
In a world where trust is a very highly sought after commodity, Robert Finlay uses all his wits to stay alive. When his friend Kevin Jones is in trouble, it all becomes very personal for Robert. He and Kevin go back a very long way together. There is that bond that exists between people who have come back from the jaws of death together on more than one occasion.
Can Robert Finlay survive this time or is it really End Game?
Okay admission time from me….I have not read the first two books in this series, Wicked Game and Deadly Game, so I went into End Game completely blind. I have no idea of the previous two books and, as ever, this carries a little trepidation when jumping right in to an already existing series. Did I struggle? Yes I did a little, but through absolutely no fault of the author. There are references to historical situations which did clear up a few uncertainties for me, but I do think this is a series that needs to be read from Book 1 to give it full justice.
Matt Johnson has openly spoken about his own personal trauma with PTSD, after witnessing the horrors of war both at home in the UK and overseas. His writing has developed as a method of dealing with his own personal experiences and this shines through in End Game.
End Game is fast. It will leave you breathless and almost traumatised. This stuff happens, that’s the scariest bit. Whilst this series is fiction, the author is real and his thoughts and memories are very very real.
Is it a man’s series? I think not. It’s the perfect read for all lovers of John Le Carré, for all lovers of secrecy and spy thrillers, for anyone looking for a heart-pounding, fast-paced, page-turning series.
Matt Johnson, I hope, has something new coming down the tracks and this time I intend to start his next books in the right order!!
End Game, is the final part in the critically acclaimed Robert Finlay trilogy and is published by Orenda Books. Written by Matt Johnson, an ex-soldier and ex-Met Police Officer, he uses his own personal experiences in his writing, which brings great authenticity to the novel.
Described as ‘an intricately plotted and terrifyingly fast-paced race’ I can honestly say I was knackered after finishing this!!
Robert Finlay is moving on with life. He is married with two young kids in a lovely home and seems finally to be coming to terms with his past as an SAS soldier. Now working on the police force, he hopes to ease into retirement and draw no trouble from any quarter. He is successfully dealing with his PTSD, following stints overseas in the war against terror, after bearing witness to some horrendous atrocities. In other words life is okay for Robert Finlay….for now….
But as we all know, life likes to throw a few curve balls in the way and for Robert Finlay it comes in the shape of a missing person, a dead body and his best friend being accused of murder.
Robert Finlay is a man’s man, one who takes no s**t from anyone, but he soon realises that this attitude will get him into deeper trouble as he searches for the truth. With old vendettas and folk from his past making sudden appearances, Robert discovers that his comfortable life is about to get a serious shake-up.
SAS, MI5, MI6, politicians, dirty players – End Game has it all. With the help of one or two trustworthy colleagues, Robert Finlay delves deep into the underworld of espionage and spies. He needs every ounce of his army training, every survival skill learned to discover the truth behind a plot that goes right to the core of the UK’s security services.
In a world where trust is a very highly sought after commodity, Robert Finlay uses all his wits to stay alive. When his friend Kevin Jones is in trouble, it all becomes very personal for Robert. He and Kevin go back a very long way together. There is that bond that exists between people who have come back from the jaws of death together on more than one occasion.
Can Robert Finlay survive this time or is it really End Game?
Okay admission time from me….I have not read the first two books in this series, Wicked Game and Deadly Game, so I went into End Game completely blind. I have no idea of the previous two books and, as ever, this carries a little trepidation when jumping right in to an already existing series. Did I struggle? Yes I did a little, but through absolutely no fault of the author. There are references to historical situations which did clear up a few uncertainties for me, but I do think this is a series that needs to be read from Book 1 to give it full justice.
Matt Johnson has openly spoken about his own personal trauma with PTSD, after witnessing the horrors of war both at home in the UK and overseas. His writing has developed as a method of dealing with his own personal experiences and this shines through in End Game.
End Game is fast. It will leave you breathless and almost traumatised. This stuff happens, that’s the scariest bit. Whilst this series is fiction, the author is real and his thoughts and memories are very very real.
Is it a man’s series? I think not. It’s the perfect read for all lovers of John Le Carré, for all lovers of secrecy and spy thrillers, for anyone looking for a heart-pounding, fast-paced, page-turning series.
Matt Johnson, I hope, has something new coming down the tracks and this time I intend to start his next books in the right order!!
April 16, 2018
End Game – Brilliant Ending to the Trilogy
Matt Johnson has created a brilliant trilogy, with his former SAS officer, now Police Inspector, Robert Finlay. I wish, hope that he changes his mind and turns this into a series of Finlay thrillers, especially as the series ends in the early noughties.
Robert Finlay is called out to an incident at Kentish Town Police Station, where a police officer and former soldier has taken a fellow officer hostage in the toilets of the station. It has been years since he took a hostage negotiation course and is out of practice. Some how he manages to talk the officer down even though the Professional Standards team wanted to go in all guns blazing.
The local commander warns him that Mellor the head of Professional Standards is out to get him any way he can. That he is not a man to be crossed and certainly does hold grudges. One of the reasons why he could never be rotated back in to mainstream policing teams. When one of his friends and colleague is arrested for murder he once again crosses swords with Mellor, who wants to suspend but cannot.
At the same time, he is reporting to his Mi5 handler that Kevin Jones’ house has been professionally bugged and that he may be being set up by outside powers. When Jones’ escapes from the magistrate’s courts, Finlay is suspended from duties.
As Finlay tries to help Jones out the world and his enemies close in on them both and are facing certain death. Will they survive to live another day, especially as Finlay can see that Jones is being set up to take an almighty fall.
All Finlay and Jones can hope is that Mi5, and their former colleagues in the SAS can work out what is happening to them and where they are before bullets are planted in the pair of them. Will Finlay see his children again and his wife Jenny, all he can do is hope and pray that they are going to be fine.
This Robert Finlay series is nothing but brilliance, written by a master of his subject, through experience and knowledge. He delivers fast moving beautifully written thrillers that keep you gripped to the edge of your seat. Simply stunning and such a shame it ends here.
Matt Johnson has created a brilliant trilogy, with his former SAS officer, now Police Inspector, Robert Finlay. I wish, hope that he changes his mind and turns this into a series of Finlay thrillers, especially as the series ends in the early noughties.
Robert Finlay is called out to an incident at Kentish Town Police Station, where a police officer and former soldier has taken a fellow officer hostage in the toilets of the station. It has been years since he took a hostage negotiation course and is out of practice. Some how he manages to talk the officer down even though the Professional Standards team wanted to go in all guns blazing.
The local commander warns him that Mellor the head of Professional Standards is out to get him any way he can. That he is not a man to be crossed and certainly does hold grudges. One of the reasons why he could never be rotated back in to mainstream policing teams. When one of his friends and colleague is arrested for murder he once again crosses swords with Mellor, who wants to suspend but cannot.
At the same time, he is reporting to his Mi5 handler that Kevin Jones’ house has been professionally bugged and that he may be being set up by outside powers. When Jones’ escapes from the magistrate’s courts, Finlay is suspended from duties.
As Finlay tries to help Jones out the world and his enemies close in on them both and are facing certain death. Will they survive to live another day, especially as Finlay can see that Jones is being set up to take an almighty fall.
All Finlay and Jones can hope is that Mi5, and their former colleagues in the SAS can work out what is happening to them and where they are before bullets are planted in the pair of them. Will Finlay see his children again and his wife Jenny, all he can do is hope and pray that they are going to be fine.
This Robert Finlay series is nothing but brilliance, written by a master of his subject, through experience and knowledge. He delivers fast moving beautifully written thrillers that keep you gripped to the edge of your seat. Simply stunning and such a shame it ends here.
March 29, 2018
I would like to thank the author Matt Johnson, the publisher Orenda books and blog tour organiser Anne Cater for the ARC of End Game in return for an honest review.
End Game is a fabulous ending to a superb trilogy. From page one to its final chapter I was engrossed and furiously turning the pages to reach the epic ending.
You become invested in characters when the writing is as good as this and my nerves were on edge throughout, wondering at the fates of our heroes. Robert Finley is such a superb creation, you can tell he was written by an author who has experience in both the armed forces and the police. He feels real and imbued with characteristics such as integrity and resourcefulness, which we expect in those that serve to protect us. That’s why I liked him so much, he felt real and plausible in every way.
It is full of twists and turns that wrong footed me. I was forced to reevaluate where I thought the story was going and who I thought were the characters I could trust. The narrative perfectly balancing characterisation and story, because for me, thrillers need to be intelligent as well as action packed. End Game was both.
It is a superb read and a book I would very much recommend.
End Game is a fabulous ending to a superb trilogy. From page one to its final chapter I was engrossed and furiously turning the pages to reach the epic ending.
You become invested in characters when the writing is as good as this and my nerves were on edge throughout, wondering at the fates of our heroes. Robert Finley is such a superb creation, you can tell he was written by an author who has experience in both the armed forces and the police. He feels real and imbued with characteristics such as integrity and resourcefulness, which we expect in those that serve to protect us. That’s why I liked him so much, he felt real and plausible in every way.
It is full of twists and turns that wrong footed me. I was forced to reevaluate where I thought the story was going and who I thought were the characters I could trust. The narrative perfectly balancing characterisation and story, because for me, thrillers need to be intelligent as well as action packed. End Game was both.
It is a superb read and a book I would very much recommend.
March 29, 2018
This is the final instalment in the Robert Finlay series. I do have a little confession here, and please don’t tell anyone, but I have not read any of the other books (hangs head in shame) but I have ordered them (raises head a little higher). When an email from the wonderful Anne Cater dropped in I was not going to say no, reviews from other bloggers about the two previous books were wonderful and glowing, after reading End Game I can absolutely see why.
So to my thoughts, surely the fact that I immediately bought the other two books after finishing this one is testimony as to what I thought. But in case you are not convinced by that…. With any book in a series, characters are important. You follow them as they evolve and grow, you know their back stories, problems and history as well as their interaction with others (whether they play nicely in a group or not). But as I have not had this experience (yes I know!) I found that the dynamics of the characters very evident, they have strong personalities and traits and have a great established believable feel about them. It didn’t take long for me to remember them or to identify them within the story.
Right then to the plot, where to start, well there is an underlying plot from the previous stories, again something you would expect from a trilogy. Matt has included great references to this and there is enough for this, late to the party reader, to get enough of an idea to understand. It has also given plenty of intrigue and left me wanting to know more about the back stories, hence me the first two books. For End Game, you are plunged into a world of British Secret Service and Police Investigations at an intense and breathtaking pace . There are real life events that have been mentioned and incorporated into the story, I love this as it gives the reader a great reference point for the setting of a story. These real events and also the authors own experiences give a real edgy feel to this story, the author knows his stuff. It’s the lit details that add that extra element, these seemingly trivial little facts that are added are there because of the authors experience within the military and police force. This “insider” knowledge is what makes the story stand out and adds that important authentic and believable factor.
This was an absolute pleasure to read, it was intense and intricate in its plot and in the details but not at all confusing, fast paced and addictive. The espionage aspect is devilish with a real edge of the seat feel. A brilliantly woven tale and one that I Highly Recommend. Don’t just take my word for it, buy all three books and see for yourself.
So to my thoughts, surely the fact that I immediately bought the other two books after finishing this one is testimony as to what I thought. But in case you are not convinced by that…. With any book in a series, characters are important. You follow them as they evolve and grow, you know their back stories, problems and history as well as their interaction with others (whether they play nicely in a group or not). But as I have not had this experience (yes I know!) I found that the dynamics of the characters very evident, they have strong personalities and traits and have a great established believable feel about them. It didn’t take long for me to remember them or to identify them within the story.
Right then to the plot, where to start, well there is an underlying plot from the previous stories, again something you would expect from a trilogy. Matt has included great references to this and there is enough for this, late to the party reader, to get enough of an idea to understand. It has also given plenty of intrigue and left me wanting to know more about the back stories, hence me the first two books. For End Game, you are plunged into a world of British Secret Service and Police Investigations at an intense and breathtaking pace . There are real life events that have been mentioned and incorporated into the story, I love this as it gives the reader a great reference point for the setting of a story. These real events and also the authors own experiences give a real edgy feel to this story, the author knows his stuff. It’s the lit details that add that extra element, these seemingly trivial little facts that are added are there because of the authors experience within the military and police force. This “insider” knowledge is what makes the story stand out and adds that important authentic and believable factor.
This was an absolute pleasure to read, it was intense and intricate in its plot and in the details but not at all confusing, fast paced and addictive. The espionage aspect is devilish with a real edge of the seat feel. A brilliantly woven tale and one that I Highly Recommend. Don’t just take my word for it, buy all three books and see for yourself.
March 25, 2018
It’s with some sadness that I write this review because End Game is the conclusion to what has been a fantastic series. I love this series for introducing me to a memorable new character in Robert Finley and for providing me with hours of entertainment. End Game can be read as a standalone but if you’re only just discovering the works of Matt Johnson, I urge you to start at the beginning because then you’ll be treated to the full force of this unforgettable series!
End Game is as fast-paced as they come. Continuously I found myself reading for what felt like mere moments, only to look up and find that hours had passed me by.
Something I love about Matt’s books is how important the emotional core is. His books aren’t just about the action, the guns and the investigation, they’re about characters – who feel as if they are about to leap from the page – about their lives, their families, their hopes and fears. And the dangers that threaten them. Robert has just welcomed a little girl into the world and you can really feel his love for his family ripple across the page. It’s astounding, the way Matt Johnson seamlessly blends these two elements!
Another factor I have to mention in this review is how real End Game feels to the reader. It’s author is an ex-soldier and Metropolitan Police Officer and all of his experience is harboured in these pages. It lends the book a real authenticity! It almost feel as if you are walking in Robert’s footsteps. Every danger is not only a risk to him but to you also, every worry and fear and piece of the puzzle affects you as well as him. it’s shocking and thrilling and so, so emotional.
End Game is the conclusion to what has been a wonderful series. I couldn’t have enjoyed these books more than I did. And I hope we’ll have another series from Matt Johnson very soon.
Thrilling. Absorbing. Emotional.
End Game is as fast-paced as they come. Continuously I found myself reading for what felt like mere moments, only to look up and find that hours had passed me by.
Something I love about Matt’s books is how important the emotional core is. His books aren’t just about the action, the guns and the investigation, they’re about characters – who feel as if they are about to leap from the page – about their lives, their families, their hopes and fears. And the dangers that threaten them. Robert has just welcomed a little girl into the world and you can really feel his love for his family ripple across the page. It’s astounding, the way Matt Johnson seamlessly blends these two elements!
Another factor I have to mention in this review is how real End Game feels to the reader. It’s author is an ex-soldier and Metropolitan Police Officer and all of his experience is harboured in these pages. It lends the book a real authenticity! It almost feel as if you are walking in Robert’s footsteps. Every danger is not only a risk to him but to you also, every worry and fear and piece of the puzzle affects you as well as him. it’s shocking and thrilling and so, so emotional.
End Game is the conclusion to what has been a wonderful series. I couldn’t have enjoyed these books more than I did. And I hope we’ll have another series from Matt Johnson very soon.
Thrilling. Absorbing. Emotional.
March 29, 2018
End Game is book three and the final instalment in the Robert Finlay series. This is the first book I have read in the series and it reads well as a standalone. It does makes references to the previous books in the series but no major spoilers. Best to read the series in order! I have bought the previous two books so I can back track and read the full series.
End game is a fast paced thriller that just keeps on giving, there is always something going on to keep the story alive. I enjoyed reading this story. You will not expect what will hit you towards the end of this story, what a big grande finale to the series. This story will have you hooked! You wont want to put it down. This has definately got me intrigued and wanting to read the previous books in the series!
Rob Finley is the main character in this series and is a brilliant character with a history in the military service that was and still is a big part of his life. I also loved how Matt brought the element of his home/family life in throughout giving it thst personal touch to the story. I awarded a well deserved four stars and would highly recommend End Game to you all. But please read the series in order! Dont spoil it for yourself.
End game is a fast paced thriller that just keeps on giving, there is always something going on to keep the story alive. I enjoyed reading this story. You will not expect what will hit you towards the end of this story, what a big grande finale to the series. This story will have you hooked! You wont want to put it down. This has definately got me intrigued and wanting to read the previous books in the series!
Rob Finley is the main character in this series and is a brilliant character with a history in the military service that was and still is a big part of his life. I also loved how Matt brought the element of his home/family life in throughout giving it thst personal touch to the story. I awarded a well deserved four stars and would highly recommend End Game to you all. But please read the series in order! Dont spoil it for yourself.
March 23, 2018
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This book was so enjoyable - I cannot recommend it highly enough!!
The writing style was brilliant and I am genuinely gutted that this is the final book in the series, it has definitely been a thrilling one and one I had been looking forward too - it is a fitting end for a fantastic series and I will miss Robert Finlay!
The characters in the book are great and they work so well within the storyline that the author has woven through the series, this one is ok as a standalone but you will get so much more from it if you read the books in order (and they are worth it!) - compelling, full of intrigue, twists and turns galore - everything I want from this type of book!
Five stars from me - grab a copy of the book when you can - it is so worth it!!
This book was so enjoyable - I cannot recommend it highly enough!!
The writing style was brilliant and I am genuinely gutted that this is the final book in the series, it has definitely been a thrilling one and one I had been looking forward too - it is a fitting end for a fantastic series and I will miss Robert Finlay!
The characters in the book are great and they work so well within the storyline that the author has woven through the series, this one is ok as a standalone but you will get so much more from it if you read the books in order (and they are worth it!) - compelling, full of intrigue, twists and turns galore - everything I want from this type of book!
Five stars from me - grab a copy of the book when you can - it is so worth it!!
March 14, 2018
Robert Finlay believes that he has left his military days behind him and it is now time to kick back and enjoy life as a detective working in London. That dream is quickly shattered as a series of odd incidents start happening around him. First an author and his agent go missing just when their about to publish a new book that will shock the world about the Muslim underground efforts growing in the Middle East. This literary work brings back memories of another document that Finlay once held in his hands containing the same secrets. This document also threatened his life and those of his fellow soldiers who were present for the discovery, as over the course of the years many of the men involved have turned up dead.
Finlay has managed to maintain a close friendship with one of those soldiers who was present, Kevin Jones. The two have experienced a lifetime of events together, including fighting off threats against their life. It now seems that Jones has landed himself in a world of trouble with accusations swirling around him for crimes Finlay does not believe he could have ever committed. With the aide of an MI5 operative, Toni Fellowes, Finlay will delve deep in to the heart of the UK's security services to uncover the truth behind the document that has haunted his past and the crimes Jones is being accused of. What exactly does this document say and who is hunting those who have been exposed to it?
END GAME is the riveting conclusion to Matt Johnson's Finlay trilogy. While I have not had the pleasure of reading it's predecessors, WICKED GAME and DEADLY GAME, I can assure you I will be placing an order very soon to get my hands on them! Robert Finlay is the main character in this novel. Finlay is a captivating man with an immense history in his military service that the reader sees come back to influence his current life. Johnson brings the heart of Finlay and the passion that drives him to light through the actions he takes, be it his hostage negotiating techniques, his concern for fellow veterans, or the way he interacts with his family. It becomes clear very quickly that Finlay is a man of many dimensions with a deep core of goodness that drives him to fight for what is right and protect his country. END GAME is equal parts mystery, intrigue, heart, and soul. This novel is perfect for readers looking for a unique take on crime fiction that blends a rarely seen mix of military and government activities with the life of a detective to create a heart pounding story.
Thank you so much to Orenda Books and Matt Johnson for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. Please be sure to check out the rest of the blogs showcasing this book on it's blog tour!
Finlay has managed to maintain a close friendship with one of those soldiers who was present, Kevin Jones. The two have experienced a lifetime of events together, including fighting off threats against their life. It now seems that Jones has landed himself in a world of trouble with accusations swirling around him for crimes Finlay does not believe he could have ever committed. With the aide of an MI5 operative, Toni Fellowes, Finlay will delve deep in to the heart of the UK's security services to uncover the truth behind the document that has haunted his past and the crimes Jones is being accused of. What exactly does this document say and who is hunting those who have been exposed to it?
END GAME is the riveting conclusion to Matt Johnson's Finlay trilogy. While I have not had the pleasure of reading it's predecessors, WICKED GAME and DEADLY GAME, I can assure you I will be placing an order very soon to get my hands on them! Robert Finlay is the main character in this novel. Finlay is a captivating man with an immense history in his military service that the reader sees come back to influence his current life. Johnson brings the heart of Finlay and the passion that drives him to light through the actions he takes, be it his hostage negotiating techniques, his concern for fellow veterans, or the way he interacts with his family. It becomes clear very quickly that Finlay is a man of many dimensions with a deep core of goodness that drives him to fight for what is right and protect his country. END GAME is equal parts mystery, intrigue, heart, and soul. This novel is perfect for readers looking for a unique take on crime fiction that blends a rarely seen mix of military and government activities with the life of a detective to create a heart pounding story.
Thank you so much to Orenda Books and Matt Johnson for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. Please be sure to check out the rest of the blogs showcasing this book on it's blog tour!
March 29, 2018
A couple of weeks ago, I received very exciting #bookpost! Now, all book post is exciting, but this was especially so, as it was End Game by Matt Johnson, and I'm in it!
Last year, I was lucky enough be the winner of Matt's lot in a huge author auction to raise money for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Part of the prize was to have my name used in Matt's new book and my copy arrived recently. I read (devoured) it as soon as I could, but have only just has chance to post up my review. I
I have been looking forward to this book for ages, having loved the first two in the series, Wicked Game and Deadly Game. And I wasn't disappointed. Time has moved on a bit from the second book, Robert Finlay has a second daughter, and has settled in at work. But then his friend Kevin's girlfriend is murdered and everything goes haywire! Once the action gets going, it doesn't let up.
It can easily be read as a standalone, although there are references back to previous events, but you would enjoy it if you came to it fresh. However, if you get the chance to read the first two, because they are well worth it.
I love Finlay. He is such a well written, well rounded character. His love for his wife and daughters shines through, as does his commitment to the job. And his relationship with Kevin is brilliant - complete trust both ways. It was good to see Toni Fellowes back with her no nonsense approach. One of my favourite characters in this series has been Toni's assistant, Nell - a very bright, focused young woman, possibly with autistic tendencies who is incredibly good at her job of researching pretty much anyone or anything. She's a really interesting character.
I don't want to say too much about the story itself for fear of spoiling it. Suffice to say, we meet some slimy individuals and some downright nasty ones, as Findlay fights to help his friend, and himself. And the action doesn't stop til the end.
What makes this series stand out is that it oozes authenticity. Matt Johnson is an ex policeman and has drawn on his own experience when writing. I am sad that this is the last in the trilogy, and hope this doesn't mean we've heard the last of Bob Finlay. But whatever comes next from Matt, I can't wait to read it.
And my character? Well, that would be telling... You will just need to read it to find out!
Last year, I was lucky enough be the winner of Matt's lot in a huge author auction to raise money for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. Part of the prize was to have my name used in Matt's new book and my copy arrived recently. I read (devoured) it as soon as I could, but have only just has chance to post up my review. I
I have been looking forward to this book for ages, having loved the first two in the series, Wicked Game and Deadly Game. And I wasn't disappointed. Time has moved on a bit from the second book, Robert Finlay has a second daughter, and has settled in at work. But then his friend Kevin's girlfriend is murdered and everything goes haywire! Once the action gets going, it doesn't let up.
It can easily be read as a standalone, although there are references back to previous events, but you would enjoy it if you came to it fresh. However, if you get the chance to read the first two, because they are well worth it.
I love Finlay. He is such a well written, well rounded character. His love for his wife and daughters shines through, as does his commitment to the job. And his relationship with Kevin is brilliant - complete trust both ways. It was good to see Toni Fellowes back with her no nonsense approach. One of my favourite characters in this series has been Toni's assistant, Nell - a very bright, focused young woman, possibly with autistic tendencies who is incredibly good at her job of researching pretty much anyone or anything. She's a really interesting character.
I don't want to say too much about the story itself for fear of spoiling it. Suffice to say, we meet some slimy individuals and some downright nasty ones, as Findlay fights to help his friend, and himself. And the action doesn't stop til the end.
What makes this series stand out is that it oozes authenticity. Matt Johnson is an ex policeman and has drawn on his own experience when writing. I am sad that this is the last in the trilogy, and hope this doesn't mean we've heard the last of Bob Finlay. But whatever comes next from Matt, I can't wait to read it.
And my character? Well, that would be telling... You will just need to read it to find out!
March 24, 2018
So... Can I just have a moment please. I'm in mourning. The end of yet another brilliant series. This seems to be the year for it and I am having a very hard time ...
But oh my. What an ending. I have loved this series since I listened to the first book, Wicked Game on audiobook whilst on my travels up and down the country. I love a bit of an action thriller and I love a good police procedural and this series has always given me the best of both worlds. Daring chases, explosions, high action and high tension scenes, all centred around a man who you cannot help but love and with a central theme which keeps the reader hooked and engrossed from the off. I am so going to miss this.
If you haven't read the first two books in the series (and if not, why not?) then you may find yourself at a small disadvantage when coming to the start of End Game as it is exactly what it says on the cover. The end of the game. The final play. A fight to the death as it were. Live or die - it is all in the decisions you make and maybe a little bit in the lap of the gods.
The main premise of this book, one which has fed through the previous novels, is the desire to either uncover or cover up, depending on which side of the action you are on, the existence of a manuscript which tells of the plans and organisation of a political and religious faction that could pose a significant threat to the safety of the country, if not the world. Some would have it hidden as knowledge of its contents could compromise the security services, others would wish to leverage the monetary value of such knowledge. No matter which side of the fence you are on, the one thing that is certain is that people are willing to kill for this.
Robert Finlay is very much on the side of right and not wrong, but in a game played by Spooks and Politicians, it is hard to know quite what this means. What is clear is that someone is out to get Finlay and his friend and former Army colleague, Kevin Jones. But how far will they go? Well ... pretty far as it happens, with Jones framed for the murder of his girlfriend and Finlay in the frame for assisting him. Now there are circumstances which precede this, factors which play into the hands of those who would see them taken down which take the reader right back to the very first book, but they are explained enough, or at least referred to, so you may have enough knowledge to make sense of what is happening. Not enough to be spoilers mind so you can still go back and catch up.
I love the way in which Matt Johnson has created Finlay. Similar to his own story, Finlay is a man who has been through highly volatile and difficult situations, the trauma of this manifesting itself as PTSD and night tremors. Each event which unfurls impacts him in ways that you could not understand, but he uses his training, the counselling he has received and the support of his wife, Jenny, to get him through. He is a highly principled man and one you have to admire. He is loyal to a fault, determined and the almost perfect action hero. And in this book we get to see another side of his character as he finds himself involved in a hostage negotiation with a former soldier whose story he recognises well. Whilst many admire his skill in talking the man down, another would use his actions against him. Superintendent Mellor. He really is a miserable and cantankerous sod.
Another character I have grown to love in this series is Jones, although Mr Johnson shows us another, perhaps unexpected side to his character in this book. I was warned but I still wasn't expecting that lol. Jones is less, how should I phrase it ... 'refined' and perhaps a bit more gung ho than Finlay, which compliments his nature perfectly but again his loyalty is never in question and he can provide some of the lighter moments. Well at least until he is set up for murder, then it all takes a darker turn. Supported by some fantastic characters, Jenny, Toni, Grahamslaw, Nell and Stuart, they really drive the story and it is largely through the strength of their friendship that you find yourself drawn into the story as much as the thrilling nature of the plot.
Matt Johnson has created a really great back story and central story arc for the series and it is brought to a conclusion in End Game. All the lose ends, the threads from the previous two books, are pulled together here and everything, all the unconfirmed but half suspected links between characters, become very clear. Mixing more grounded moments, such as the scenes where Finlay acts as negotiator, with scenes of tense action where Finlay's and Jones' lives are very much under threat, you are taken on a complete rollercoaster of a ride. It is a ride you are happy to be on, no matter the ups and downs, twists and turns and one, if you are like me, you are very, very sad to see come to an end.
I have loved to see the development of this story, thoroughly enjoyed the way in which you get the blend of third person narrative with elements of the story and then first person as Finlay takes the helm. The way in which the author has captured all emotions, good and bad, fear and anxiety, passion and compassion, and turned them into something brilliant on the page. And ultimately the way he has kept me on the edge of my seat, reading into the small hours and devouring the book so quickly I can hardly believe it is over. The tension, the heart stopping moments of action, the sheer thrill and the utter surprise. Big ticks on all of those. They are all here, just as I like them.
If you are aware at all of Matt Johnson's own story then you will see how he has used this to good effect in the creation of these books. He is someone I have a great deal of respect for, not only for what he has been through, but also the way in which he has sought to overcome it. In finding an outlet for his own PTSD, he has given us a brilliant set of action thrillers, highly regarded and quite rightly so.
If you love a good action thriller, with thoroughly likeable characters, then I highly recommend you read this series from start to finish. I am very sad to see this end but I cannot wait to see what Matt Johnson brings us next as I am confident it will be a stonkingly brilliant thrill ride.
Good stuff Mr Johnson.
April 6, 2018
I'm grateful to the publisher for an advance copy of the book and for inviting me to take part in the blogtour. (Full disclosure: I also reviewed the previous two books in the series for their tours and one of my reviews is quoted in this one).
End Game, as you might expect, brings to a close the trilogy of books (Wicked Game, Deadly Game) featuring Detective Inspector Robert Finlay, ex SAS. If you've read those you will want to read this and see how things pan out - I can tell you that this book is every part as twisty, as tense and as gritty as they are. If you haven't read them then, first, shame on you and, second, let me try and persuade you.
NB I will warn when approaching spoilers for the first two books - read on without fear!
End Game opens in 2002 with Finlay in the middle of an operation as part of his Scotland Yard anti-trafficking unit. The action very quickly moves back to the conspiracy that has dominated the three books: the mysterious document in Arabic whose existence must be protected, the string of murders, and all the cross purposes, suspicions and double motives among the police and MI5 officers.
As in the previous books, Johnson adopts a risky - but in his hands, successful - strategy of seeming to show us everything, narrating things from Finlay's perspective in the first person but also giving other characters' viewpoints in third person. So we'll get Finlay's take on a meeting and then read something like 'After Finlay walked out, Grahamslaw picked up his phone...' At other times we don't get this seamless transition but we do see what the antagonists (not naming them because that's a spoiler for the earlier books) are up to. They are though distanced by that third person voice. The result is that the reader identifies strongly with Finlay but also knows more than him - which is, as I said, a risky thing for an author to do but works well here, helping to emphasise the general murkiness of the world that Johnson creates (and building tension by showing just how deep Finlay's in - something he doesn't realise till very late in the book).
Yet some things are kept back from the reader: there are aspects that aren't revealed, leaving us, too, worrying about what is happening and why...
That murky world is one of the strengths of these books. Struggling to think of a way to explain it, I can only think of comparing the book to other genres. This book and its predecessors are clearly thrillers - set in modern London, they have guns, cops, spooks, ploys and tension. Yet there's also something of the fantasy about them. No magic or anything like that, but the atmosphere evoked isn't far off one of those stories where assassins roam the capital with impunity and the characters accept that anything can happen. For example (and this is a mild spoiler) people have been killed to protect the secret of that document. In a certain sort of thriller this would be the central scandal in itself: State sanctioned murder! It must be exposed! How do we get the truth out there?
Yet here it is very much taken for granted as the kind of thing that might happen and nobody wastes time getting outraged. Rather they process the facts and consider what it means for their safety and that of their families. At one level that's rather liberating, at another it makes for a very grim, dangerous world.
If somebody died, was it an accident? A suicide? A simple criminal act?
Or were State forces behind it?
If so, was that sanctioned or does someone have a private thing going on?
This ambiguity creates a whole world of doubt quite aside from the realities of what happened.
It's a very strong premise for a thriller, a world where nothing is off limits (in the previous books Finlay has basically mounted Special Ops actions under the radar and got away with it, and the bad guys here are just as prepared to do the same). In End Game it becomes even more iffy than in the previous books because new players join the deadly game - in particular a hunter from Complaint Investigation Branch who's got it in for Finlay and his friend, Kevin Jones. Between that hostility, the ambiguous roles of the various MI5 officers and a suspicion that he's being bugged, Finlay has a lot to worry about from the start.
And he's right to be worried. There's no safety net in these books, no margin for error. Past mistakes won't go away, cupboard doors swing open to reveal their skeletons, the skies are filled with chickens coming home to roost. It's all very compelling and amidst the mayhem Johnson does a very good job at tying up the many plot threads from the previous books and bringing things to a satisfying end (insofar as an end can be - I wouldn't say no to more stories about Finlay!) I wasn't sure if, in the end, we ever quite had an explanation for the full importance of that document, but maybe there are things it's better not to know...
Taken together the three books are a considerable achievement, all the more impressive given that they are Johnson's first books - he had an extensive police career before turning to writing and they arose from his need to process what he'd been through and confront his PTSD. I don't mean that to be faint praise of the "good books considering..." sort: they are good books, full stop. The octane is so high that if you sniff this book too hard you're likely to ignite. In particular Johnson's first person/ third person style makes the story come over as very visual and the chicanery and multiple agendas here presents here aren't a million miles from the world seen in current TV hits like David Hare's Collateral.
Which - given Johnson was in the Met and presumably closer to some of this stuff than Hare - might be just a teeny bit worrying... but thank goodness it's only fiction.
End Game, as you might expect, brings to a close the trilogy of books (Wicked Game, Deadly Game) featuring Detective Inspector Robert Finlay, ex SAS. If you've read those you will want to read this and see how things pan out - I can tell you that this book is every part as twisty, as tense and as gritty as they are. If you haven't read them then, first, shame on you and, second, let me try and persuade you.
NB I will warn when approaching spoilers for the first two books - read on without fear!
End Game opens in 2002 with Finlay in the middle of an operation as part of his Scotland Yard anti-trafficking unit. The action very quickly moves back to the conspiracy that has dominated the three books: the mysterious document in Arabic whose existence must be protected, the string of murders, and all the cross purposes, suspicions and double motives among the police and MI5 officers.
As in the previous books, Johnson adopts a risky - but in his hands, successful - strategy of seeming to show us everything, narrating things from Finlay's perspective in the first person but also giving other characters' viewpoints in third person. So we'll get Finlay's take on a meeting and then read something like 'After Finlay walked out, Grahamslaw picked up his phone...' At other times we don't get this seamless transition but we do see what the antagonists (not naming them because that's a spoiler for the earlier books) are up to. They are though distanced by that third person voice. The result is that the reader identifies strongly with Finlay but also knows more than him - which is, as I said, a risky thing for an author to do but works well here, helping to emphasise the general murkiness of the world that Johnson creates (and building tension by showing just how deep Finlay's in - something he doesn't realise till very late in the book).
Yet some things are kept back from the reader: there are aspects that aren't revealed, leaving us, too, worrying about what is happening and why...
That murky world is one of the strengths of these books. Struggling to think of a way to explain it, I can only think of comparing the book to other genres. This book and its predecessors are clearly thrillers - set in modern London, they have guns, cops, spooks, ploys and tension. Yet there's also something of the fantasy about them. No magic or anything like that, but the atmosphere evoked isn't far off one of those stories where assassins roam the capital with impunity and the characters accept that anything can happen. For example (and this is a mild spoiler) people have been killed to protect the secret of that document. In a certain sort of thriller this would be the central scandal in itself: State sanctioned murder! It must be exposed! How do we get the truth out there?
Yet here it is very much taken for granted as the kind of thing that might happen and nobody wastes time getting outraged. Rather they process the facts and consider what it means for their safety and that of their families. At one level that's rather liberating, at another it makes for a very grim, dangerous world.
If somebody died, was it an accident? A suicide? A simple criminal act?
Or were State forces behind it?
If so, was that sanctioned or does someone have a private thing going on?
This ambiguity creates a whole world of doubt quite aside from the realities of what happened.
It's a very strong premise for a thriller, a world where nothing is off limits (in the previous books Finlay has basically mounted Special Ops actions under the radar and got away with it, and the bad guys here are just as prepared to do the same). In End Game it becomes even more iffy than in the previous books because new players join the deadly game - in particular a hunter from Complaint Investigation Branch who's got it in for Finlay and his friend, Kevin Jones. Between that hostility, the ambiguous roles of the various MI5 officers and a suspicion that he's being bugged, Finlay has a lot to worry about from the start.
And he's right to be worried. There's no safety net in these books, no margin for error. Past mistakes won't go away, cupboard doors swing open to reveal their skeletons, the skies are filled with chickens coming home to roost. It's all very compelling and amidst the mayhem Johnson does a very good job at tying up the many plot threads from the previous books and bringing things to a satisfying end (insofar as an end can be - I wouldn't say no to more stories about Finlay!) I wasn't sure if, in the end, we ever quite had an explanation for the full importance of that document, but maybe there are things it's better not to know...
Taken together the three books are a considerable achievement, all the more impressive given that they are Johnson's first books - he had an extensive police career before turning to writing and they arose from his need to process what he'd been through and confront his PTSD. I don't mean that to be faint praise of the "good books considering..." sort: they are good books, full stop. The octane is so high that if you sniff this book too hard you're likely to ignite. In particular Johnson's first person/ third person style makes the story come over as very visual and the chicanery and multiple agendas here presents here aren't a million miles from the world seen in current TV hits like David Hare's Collateral.
Which - given Johnson was in the Met and presumably closer to some of this stuff than Hare - might be just a teeny bit worrying... but thank goodness it's only fiction.
November 6, 2019
Just like the title I started at the end. This is the last book in the series and now I have to go back to the beginning
This is a page turner of the first order I tried to put it down and go to bed but I just had to finish
This is a page turner of the first order I tried to put it down and go to bed but I just had to finish
November 18, 2020
Trouble seems to find Robert Findlay, recent events still haunt him and his friend Kevin Jones and the end game is now about to happen. The Police Complaints team are after them, determined to bring them to justice but this is just part of a wider conspiracy and Findlay needs MI5 help. Who finds who first? The race is on.
A cracking end to the Robert Findlay trilogy and I’ll miss this series. It’s been a breath of fresh air, a mix of police, spy, thriller genre, full of action that has you on the edge of your seat. I hope we haven’t seen the last of Robert Findlay.
A cracking end to the Robert Findlay trilogy and I’ll miss this series. It’s been a breath of fresh air, a mix of police, spy, thriller genre, full of action that has you on the edge of your seat. I hope we haven’t seen the last of Robert Findlay.
April 6, 2018
This is actually the first book I have read in the series (although I am certainly going to go back to the start and read the others!) and I didn't find it too confusing as the author does provide a little bit of background so you can keep up with what is happening as the actions in this book are based on events that have happened previously. From what I have read though, the first two books along with the subject matter sounds incredibly good so I can't wait to actually find the time and read them!
This is the type of book I really enjoy reading. A lot of action but also some great investigation work. I really enjoyed learning a bit more about the techy side of investigations so I like hearing from Nell and Stuart and they work they carried out behind the scenes.
I can understand why people are sad about this series ending, the characters are well written and you genuinely almost feel the tension that they are feeling as you are reading along. The first chapter really hooks you in and sets the tone for the storyline as we follow Robert Finlay as he becomes involved in a conspiracy that dates back to when he was serving in the military.
You really feel for Finlay as his life and career in the police force slowly start to unravel as actions from the past come back to haunt him. The tension is built up so well as you eagerly turn each page to discover who and what is behind everything.
The author also served in the military and police so he really writes with authenticity and clearly knows what he is talking about. He doesn't sugarcoat anything and tells you as it is which was a refeshing change.
Absolutely brilliant! Such an enjoyable book - I'm looking forward to going back to read the others!
March 4, 2018
I’m sad to say that End Game is the conclusion to the Robert Finlay trilogy and he is a character who will be missed. However, Matt Johnson has brought the trilogy to a fantastic end and this instalment will not disappoint the fans of his previous two books.
Johnson has a great talent for creating fast-paced books while managing to maintain plot intricacies that come together perfectly at the end and End Game displays this talent to perfection. When close friend Kevin Jones’s girlfriend is murdered and he is subsequently arrested for the killing, it appears that he and Finlay have been framed. Teaming up with MI5 agent, Toni Fellowes, to get to the truth results in his life being thrust into danger and the uncovering of a plot that goes far deeper than he thought.
I have a great affection for Robert Finlay and Johnson has created an authentic character who you automatically root for. Finlay’s issues and his empathy toward fellow ex-soldiers comes across as genuine and it is clear that Johnson has called on his own experiences in creating him. I’m quite upset that we won’t be seeing him again but I feel satisfied at the conclusion.
End Game starts with a bang and this sets the tone for the rest of the book. As the tension increases with each page turn, End Game immediately grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go until the end. You will find yourself thinking about it during the time you have to spend away from reading it.
Johnson has also written a trilogy of books that are intelligent and thoughtful and yet nothing is taken from the thrills and terror that End Game provides. I think I said in my review for Deadly Game that Johnson’s books would make great films and he has confirmed this for me with the final book. So, come on film companies, snap them up and let’s see Robert Finlay on the big screen!
While I’m sad that End Game is, indeed, the end game, I feel satisfied by the conclusion. This is a great series of books and while you could read End Game as a standalone, I highly recommend that you read the first two books as well. It delivered on everything I expected from Matt Johnson in terms of great characters and plot and once again I was totally hooked from the outset. Another great read.
My thanks to Matt Johnson, Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater for my advance copy and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
Johnson has a great talent for creating fast-paced books while managing to maintain plot intricacies that come together perfectly at the end and End Game displays this talent to perfection. When close friend Kevin Jones’s girlfriend is murdered and he is subsequently arrested for the killing, it appears that he and Finlay have been framed. Teaming up with MI5 agent, Toni Fellowes, to get to the truth results in his life being thrust into danger and the uncovering of a plot that goes far deeper than he thought.
I have a great affection for Robert Finlay and Johnson has created an authentic character who you automatically root for. Finlay’s issues and his empathy toward fellow ex-soldiers comes across as genuine and it is clear that Johnson has called on his own experiences in creating him. I’m quite upset that we won’t be seeing him again but I feel satisfied at the conclusion.
End Game starts with a bang and this sets the tone for the rest of the book. As the tension increases with each page turn, End Game immediately grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go until the end. You will find yourself thinking about it during the time you have to spend away from reading it.
Johnson has also written a trilogy of books that are intelligent and thoughtful and yet nothing is taken from the thrills and terror that End Game provides. I think I said in my review for Deadly Game that Johnson’s books would make great films and he has confirmed this for me with the final book. So, come on film companies, snap them up and let’s see Robert Finlay on the big screen!
While I’m sad that End Game is, indeed, the end game, I feel satisfied by the conclusion. This is a great series of books and while you could read End Game as a standalone, I highly recommend that you read the first two books as well. It delivered on everything I expected from Matt Johnson in terms of great characters and plot and once again I was totally hooked from the outset. Another great read.
My thanks to Matt Johnson, Karen Sullivan and Anne Cater for my advance copy and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
August 19, 2018
A great read. This is the second of his books I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A page turner with interesting characters. Good writing too. I would recommend this set of books.
March 26, 2018
All of my reviews can be found at: https://hookedfrompageoneblog.wordpre...
End Game is the third and final book in the brilliant Robert Finlay series by Matt Johnson and it is a series which I highly recommend to any thriller seekers. I’m sad to see this series come to an end as I will definitely miss these characters. Matt also writes really well and so I am sure that I’ll be picking up what he writes next as I really like his style. Before you pick up End Game I would recommend that you read the first two books in the series, which began with Wicked Game, although they can all be read as standalones, I feel you would get more enjoyment out of them if you read all three.
It seems that Robert Finlay will never quite be granted his wish of enjoying a quiet life with his wife and two children. He has put his military days behind him; however he has since joined the Metropolitan police as an Inspector. But when his friend’s girlfriend is murdered he is thrown into a chaotic mess as he tries to prove his friend’s innocence. He can’t believe that his friend had any involvement in this woman’s murder. But his friend only makes matters worse when he escapes from jail. And as Robert struggles to clear his name, he learns that someone is plotting to kill them both. Will they both manage to survive?
What I really like about these books is their authenticity. Matt Johnson is a former soldier and police officer, and his own, personal experiences feeds into the Robert Finlay novels. He offers us a fascinating insight into the worlds of policing and spies at the very highest level of security. Although the Robert Finlay novels are works of fiction, Matt does refer to real, historical events which only occurred in this country a few decades ago and this is another part of the plot which I found really interesting and it compelled me to research them.
One of my favourite characters from this series, I would say, would have to be Toni Fellows. She is a force to be reckoned with and I really liked the working relationship that she has with Finlay. If you are on her side, she is a friend who will do anything for you.
End Game is a fitting end to a fantastic series. If you haven’t yet discovered these books and if you’re a fan of action packed, spy thrillers, then you definitely need to add them to your TBR pile. Thank you to Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book to review and to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
End Game is the third and final book in the brilliant Robert Finlay series by Matt Johnson and it is a series which I highly recommend to any thriller seekers. I’m sad to see this series come to an end as I will definitely miss these characters. Matt also writes really well and so I am sure that I’ll be picking up what he writes next as I really like his style. Before you pick up End Game I would recommend that you read the first two books in the series, which began with Wicked Game, although they can all be read as standalones, I feel you would get more enjoyment out of them if you read all three.
It seems that Robert Finlay will never quite be granted his wish of enjoying a quiet life with his wife and two children. He has put his military days behind him; however he has since joined the Metropolitan police as an Inspector. But when his friend’s girlfriend is murdered he is thrown into a chaotic mess as he tries to prove his friend’s innocence. He can’t believe that his friend had any involvement in this woman’s murder. But his friend only makes matters worse when he escapes from jail. And as Robert struggles to clear his name, he learns that someone is plotting to kill them both. Will they both manage to survive?
What I really like about these books is their authenticity. Matt Johnson is a former soldier and police officer, and his own, personal experiences feeds into the Robert Finlay novels. He offers us a fascinating insight into the worlds of policing and spies at the very highest level of security. Although the Robert Finlay novels are works of fiction, Matt does refer to real, historical events which only occurred in this country a few decades ago and this is another part of the plot which I found really interesting and it compelled me to research them.
One of my favourite characters from this series, I would say, would have to be Toni Fellows. She is a force to be reckoned with and I really liked the working relationship that she has with Finlay. If you are on her side, she is a friend who will do anything for you.
End Game is a fitting end to a fantastic series. If you haven’t yet discovered these books and if you’re a fan of action packed, spy thrillers, then you definitely need to add them to your TBR pile. Thank you to Karen Sullivan at Orenda Books for sending me a copy of the book to review and to Anne Cater for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
March 1, 2018
Like its predecessors ‘Wicked Game’ and ‘Deadly Game’, Matt Johnson’s latest novel – the conclusion to his Robert Finlay trilogy – is a compelling and multi-layered story of intrigue, corruption, threat, violence and treachery. It is littered with sub plots, including a complicated and sensitive hostage negotiation, which also leads Finlay into conflict with a senior police officer.
One of Matt Johnson’s principal strengths is the ability to create all the elements of a first class thriller, while at the same time keeping the story grounded in reality. The reader is fully convinced by the procedures, actions and reactions of the main protagonists – no doubt a result of the author’s military and police experience.
Finlay has just become a father for the second time. He is now hoping to put the turmoil of his recent past firmly behind him and look to the future both in terms of career and family – an aspiration wholeheartedly endorsed by his wife, Jenny. Unfortunately, life is rarely that simple … especially for Finlay.
As with Matt’s previous two novels, there is much more going on than meets the eye and trust becomes a precious and guarded commodity. When Finlay’s old friend Kevin Jones is arrested and falsely accused of killing his girlfriend, Sandi, it soon becomes clear to Finlay that Sandi’s murder is part of a conspiracy to frame Kevin. If this was not bad enough, Jim Mellor – the officer investigating the murder – bears a longstanding grudge against Finlay and Kevin. When Kevin escapes from custody, Mellor is therefore eager to accuse Finlay of assisting his friend. This subsequently leads to Finlay’s suspension from duty, pending investigation.
As his longed for new life packs its bags and disappears into the sunset, Finlay soon realises that he and Kevin are in mortal danger. From this point the story becomes increasingly tense as Finlay and Kevin are both lured into a trap, leaving the MI5 team in a frantic race against time to save their lives and finally expose the conspiracy.
Once again, Matt Johnson has combined standard police procedure with convincing criminal activity, and then used his talent for storytelling to weave them into a fast-paced and exciting plotline. Add to this his natural writing style, precise descriptive text and cast of compelling characters, and you are drawn into a world that is vivid, terrifying and believable.
One of Matt Johnson’s principal strengths is the ability to create all the elements of a first class thriller, while at the same time keeping the story grounded in reality. The reader is fully convinced by the procedures, actions and reactions of the main protagonists – no doubt a result of the author’s military and police experience.
Finlay has just become a father for the second time. He is now hoping to put the turmoil of his recent past firmly behind him and look to the future both in terms of career and family – an aspiration wholeheartedly endorsed by his wife, Jenny. Unfortunately, life is rarely that simple … especially for Finlay.
As with Matt’s previous two novels, there is much more going on than meets the eye and trust becomes a precious and guarded commodity. When Finlay’s old friend Kevin Jones is arrested and falsely accused of killing his girlfriend, Sandi, it soon becomes clear to Finlay that Sandi’s murder is part of a conspiracy to frame Kevin. If this was not bad enough, Jim Mellor – the officer investigating the murder – bears a longstanding grudge against Finlay and Kevin. When Kevin escapes from custody, Mellor is therefore eager to accuse Finlay of assisting his friend. This subsequently leads to Finlay’s suspension from duty, pending investigation.
As his longed for new life packs its bags and disappears into the sunset, Finlay soon realises that he and Kevin are in mortal danger. From this point the story becomes increasingly tense as Finlay and Kevin are both lured into a trap, leaving the MI5 team in a frantic race against time to save their lives and finally expose the conspiracy.
Once again, Matt Johnson has combined standard police procedure with convincing criminal activity, and then used his talent for storytelling to weave them into a fast-paced and exciting plotline. Add to this his natural writing style, precise descriptive text and cast of compelling characters, and you are drawn into a world that is vivid, terrifying and believable.
March 12, 2018
MATT JOHNSON’S END GAME, the last book in his acclaimed Robert Finlay trilogy, opens in 2002 with an assassin stalking his target in the English countryside. From the first line, Johnson drops us into the thick of things and it’s this immediacy, this immersion in the storyline that fans love so well.
End Game finds protagonist Finlay disillusioned and slightly weary. Family apart, he’s just had one of the worst years of his life and now he’s been passed over for a promotion that he didn’t really think he’d get, but still secretly hoped for. Things really start to unravel though when he tries to help former SAS-colleague and great friend Kevin Jones, accused of murdering his girlfriend, Sandi. When Jones goes on the run, Finlay finds his career rapidly unravelling and himself embroiled in a conspiracy that seems to lead back to the security services and his own past. Helped by his former MI5 liaison officer, Toni Fellowes, Finlay struggles to uncover the truth, but at what cost?
Like Johnson’s earlier novels, this is a gritty, fast-paced, authentic British thriller, reminiscent of masters Len Deighton and Dick Francis. There are no frills or gimmicks.
Written with great precision and attention to detail, the Finlay books draw on the author’s own knowledge of serving in the military and Metropolitan police force. His depiction of Finlay, a man suffering from PTSD, is honest, courageous and raw. In 1999, Johnson was diagnosed with PTSD; he started writing down his experiences at his counsellor’s suggestion, Wicked Game, the first Finlay novel, the result.
End Game is an extremely readable, action-packed turn-pager of a thriller and a fitting conclusion to Finlay’s story.
While fans will no doubt be disappointed that the trilogy has come to an end, we can only wait with baited breath to see just what Johnson does next.
A version of this review was published as part of a book blog tour. Thanks to Anne Cater and the publisher, Orenda. All thoughts and opinions are our own. www.theliteraryshed.co.uk
March 19, 2018
In the new book of Robert Finlay we will have secrets, murder and a poisoned chalice that everyone who sees it appears dead... will be our main character the next victim?
This is the last book of the Robert Finlay trilogy, but let me say that you can read it perfectly without having read the previous books, but is so addictive and well written that I would recommend you to start from the beginning, this is one of those books that has a complex story and so addictive that you will not be able to stop reading till the last page.
Robert Finlay thinks that his past is buried, but when his former colleague and friend discovers that someone is spying on him, he knows that something is not right. Yes, both of them have made enemies in the past, but who could be trying to frame them with a murder and ready to kill everyone that talks about a very secret document? Robert will need the help of his friend, the MI5 agent Toni Fellowes, who trusts and knows that even if his life is in danger she will help him.
I always read fiction, but really sometimes fiction scares me more than reality, for example in this book, Finlay is not spied by a dark agency in another country or a serial killer, he is pursued by someone in the same country he is working and with enough power to kill someone and frame his best friend for it. How can someone has so much power and no one able to stop him? I really, really, want to think that reality is not so dangerous, but then watching the news, you could see that fiction and reality are the same nightmare. Good job Matt Johnson, your book seems real and dangerous as reality, fingers crossed "the good ones" win in reality too! ;)
I hope this will not be the last adventure of Robert Finlay, I know this is the end of a chapter, but his adventures are so engaging that I want to believe I will read another of his missions soon.
Ready for a layered up plot with brave and adventurous characters that will keep you up all night?
This is the last book of the Robert Finlay trilogy, but let me say that you can read it perfectly without having read the previous books, but is so addictive and well written that I would recommend you to start from the beginning, this is one of those books that has a complex story and so addictive that you will not be able to stop reading till the last page.
Robert Finlay thinks that his past is buried, but when his former colleague and friend discovers that someone is spying on him, he knows that something is not right. Yes, both of them have made enemies in the past, but who could be trying to frame them with a murder and ready to kill everyone that talks about a very secret document? Robert will need the help of his friend, the MI5 agent Toni Fellowes, who trusts and knows that even if his life is in danger she will help him.
I always read fiction, but really sometimes fiction scares me more than reality, for example in this book, Finlay is not spied by a dark agency in another country or a serial killer, he is pursued by someone in the same country he is working and with enough power to kill someone and frame his best friend for it. How can someone has so much power and no one able to stop him? I really, really, want to think that reality is not so dangerous, but then watching the news, you could see that fiction and reality are the same nightmare. Good job Matt Johnson, your book seems real and dangerous as reality, fingers crossed "the good ones" win in reality too! ;)
I hope this will not be the last adventure of Robert Finlay, I know this is the end of a chapter, but his adventures are so engaging that I want to believe I will read another of his missions soon.
Ready for a layered up plot with brave and adventurous characters that will keep you up all night?
March 28, 2018
End Game is the last in the Robert Finlay trilogy by Matt Johnson. It fits comfortably into the Andy McNabb style military-action genre.
What really gets my goat is the deference one has to show to superiors in the military and the police force, as pertaining to the story. I understand neither organisation functions without the proper hierarchy and without obedience or rules there is chaos, however when you get a complete and utter tool like Mellor it makes the loopholes in the structure more evident. Some people are just morons, end of, even if they have higher ranks or hold more powerful positions. They seem to become almost untouchable and allowed to get away with any behaviour, no repercussions for the powerful, which then makes a mockery out of our democratic system.
I just needed to get that off my chest.
The brotherhood of man in military type environments, especially if they share traumatic experiences in war zones bond in a way outsiders will never completely comprehend. Having each others backs is paramount, and that sense of loyalty and support lasts beyond the boundaries of being in the same unit together. So it is fair game to say Finlay is willing to go to any length to help his old brother-in-arms when he is arrested for killing his girlfriend.
The whole thing appears to be an elaborate set-up to hide the fact certain people are trying to hide a bigger conspiracy, and it is no surprise when Finlay gets dragged straight into the middle of it.
Johnson gives his stories a flair of mystery, and combines it with the action and knowledge of a military action adventure. It’s what sets it apart from that genre, because he caters to the crime and thriller readers at the same time. I can’t wait to see what comes after this trilogy.
*I received a copy courtesy of the publisher.*
What really gets my goat is the deference one has to show to superiors in the military and the police force, as pertaining to the story. I understand neither organisation functions without the proper hierarchy and without obedience or rules there is chaos, however when you get a complete and utter tool like Mellor it makes the loopholes in the structure more evident. Some people are just morons, end of, even if they have higher ranks or hold more powerful positions. They seem to become almost untouchable and allowed to get away with any behaviour, no repercussions for the powerful, which then makes a mockery out of our democratic system.
I just needed to get that off my chest.
The brotherhood of man in military type environments, especially if they share traumatic experiences in war zones bond in a way outsiders will never completely comprehend. Having each others backs is paramount, and that sense of loyalty and support lasts beyond the boundaries of being in the same unit together. So it is fair game to say Finlay is willing to go to any length to help his old brother-in-arms when he is arrested for killing his girlfriend.
The whole thing appears to be an elaborate set-up to hide the fact certain people are trying to hide a bigger conspiracy, and it is no surprise when Finlay gets dragged straight into the middle of it.
Johnson gives his stories a flair of mystery, and combines it with the action and knowledge of a military action adventure. It’s what sets it apart from that genre, because he caters to the crime and thriller readers at the same time. I can’t wait to see what comes after this trilogy.
*I received a copy courtesy of the publisher.*
November 3, 2018
The story centers around Robert Finlay, a former SAS agent, who now works as a detective. This time, his former SAS colleague, Kevin Jones, is in trouble. Jones’ girlfriend is murdered and he is arrested for her murder. So, Jones turns to his old friend and former colleague Finlay to help him clear his name and find the real murderer. As the story continues, it seems that there is more than just a murder here. Finlay’s investigation digs deep into the UK’s secret services where foreigners are hired as payed murderers, where there are listening devices almost everywhere. Top secret documents, top secret missions, fake news released in public, conspiracy everywhere. Very soon, Finlay’s life is in danger.
Can he solve the case and survive his mission?
Even if this is third in the series, End game is my first book from this author, who is also former soldier and Metropolitan Police officer. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. It can perfectly stand alone. The story is fast-paced, adrenaline-rushed, full of action thriller. I could almost feel the chase and the rush in the story. I enjoyed the story, found it tensed at the moments, but I liked it. The author described the main character well. Maybe it’s little bit him in the Robert Finlay’s personality and biography and this guy definitely knows what he writes about. For the fans of action thrillers and spy novels, this is the perfect read!
Can he solve the case and survive his mission?
Even if this is third in the series, End game is my first book from this author, who is also former soldier and Metropolitan Police officer. But that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. It can perfectly stand alone. The story is fast-paced, adrenaline-rushed, full of action thriller. I could almost feel the chase and the rush in the story. I enjoyed the story, found it tensed at the moments, but I liked it. The author described the main character well. Maybe it’s little bit him in the Robert Finlay’s personality and biography and this guy definitely knows what he writes about. For the fans of action thrillers and spy novels, this is the perfect read!
February 11, 2020
Having devoured the first two books in this Robert Finlay trilogy in a matter of days whilst on holiday, I wasted no time in continuing with the series. The sun was out, the sea was blue, the sand was white and the beer was cold – the perfect conditions for reading a Matt Johnson thriller!
As if our hero, Finlay, didn’t have enough to contend with in his life as he sought the truth behind all the murders of his former colleagues, he now had a tenacious and vindictive cretin in the shape of Jim Mellor, Complaint Investigation Branch, on his case too.
MI5 officer Toni Fellowes remains a prominent character in this third and final instalment, and we’re still not quite sure which side she’s batting for. And with Finlay and his best mate, Kevin Jones, still targets for some unseen malevolent force, the threat level continues to rise.
As the story builds to its climax, and we learn how all the threads of the story over the trilogy have been connected, the pressure builds to a conclusion in the Welsh hills.
It would be unwise to say much more at this point, other than to recommend you to Matt Johnson. I read the whole trilogy in five days (four if you deduct a day for the holiday outing that robbed me of precious time on day 4) , and I now do indeed have to wait for Matt to get writing some more stories.
Crack on then, Matt!
As if our hero, Finlay, didn’t have enough to contend with in his life as he sought the truth behind all the murders of his former colleagues, he now had a tenacious and vindictive cretin in the shape of Jim Mellor, Complaint Investigation Branch, on his case too.
MI5 officer Toni Fellowes remains a prominent character in this third and final instalment, and we’re still not quite sure which side she’s batting for. And with Finlay and his best mate, Kevin Jones, still targets for some unseen malevolent force, the threat level continues to rise.
As the story builds to its climax, and we learn how all the threads of the story over the trilogy have been connected, the pressure builds to a conclusion in the Welsh hills.
It would be unwise to say much more at this point, other than to recommend you to Matt Johnson. I read the whole trilogy in five days (four if you deduct a day for the holiday outing that robbed me of precious time on day 4) , and I now do indeed have to wait for Matt to get writing some more stories.
Crack on then, Matt!
August 30, 2020
This is the final instalment in the Robert Finlay series, and I have to admit that I have enjoyed reading it far more than I thought I would as it is not my usual type of read. I have really enjoyed following Finlay’s career in the police force and how his former career in the Army has played a large part in what has happened to him during this time. I was therefore intrigued to see how this final book would play out and if at last he would be able to achieve some sort of a quiet life with no further threats to either his or his family’s lives.
Once again Finlay has to work out who he can trust as he fights for his life and career whilst trying to help his friend Kev Jones who has been framed for the murder of his girlfriend. In the middle of all of this he is also trying to help another police officer who has found himself on the wrong side of the law and under the scrutiny of the police complaints department due to some hazing gone wrong that triggered flashbacks. This is not helped by the fact the lead investigator has a grudge against Finlay so is out to put as many obstacles in his way as possible and if he manages to discredit him in the process that’s all to the good in his eyes.
The pace of this book certainly matches that of the previous ones and you will find yourself on one hell of a rollercoaster ride as people manipulate Finlay and Jones, treating them like puppets in their own private game that only they know the rules to. Thankfully, he does still have some people on his side who are working to keep him alive and out of prison and it is this fact along with the unwavering support of his wife Jenny that often keeps him pushing for the truth. The bond between Finlay and Jones is a strong one and you just know no matter what the outcome they will always have each others back. Whilst I will miss the characters the book really does give them and the reader closure on the thread that has weaved its way through all the books so there are no questions left unanswered and you don’t walk away feeling that you have been robbed of something.
Whilst you could potentially read each book on its own, having read the whole series I would recommend that you start from the beginning to ensure that some of the events truly make sense. All I am left wondering now is what to expect next from Matt Johnson, but whatever it is I am sure it will be a gripping read.
Once again Finlay has to work out who he can trust as he fights for his life and career whilst trying to help his friend Kev Jones who has been framed for the murder of his girlfriend. In the middle of all of this he is also trying to help another police officer who has found himself on the wrong side of the law and under the scrutiny of the police complaints department due to some hazing gone wrong that triggered flashbacks. This is not helped by the fact the lead investigator has a grudge against Finlay so is out to put as many obstacles in his way as possible and if he manages to discredit him in the process that’s all to the good in his eyes.
The pace of this book certainly matches that of the previous ones and you will find yourself on one hell of a rollercoaster ride as people manipulate Finlay and Jones, treating them like puppets in their own private game that only they know the rules to. Thankfully, he does still have some people on his side who are working to keep him alive and out of prison and it is this fact along with the unwavering support of his wife Jenny that often keeps him pushing for the truth. The bond between Finlay and Jones is a strong one and you just know no matter what the outcome they will always have each others back. Whilst I will miss the characters the book really does give them and the reader closure on the thread that has weaved its way through all the books so there are no questions left unanswered and you don’t walk away feeling that you have been robbed of something.
Whilst you could potentially read each book on its own, having read the whole series I would recommend that you start from the beginning to ensure that some of the events truly make sense. All I am left wondering now is what to expect next from Matt Johnson, but whatever it is I am sure it will be a gripping read.
February 27, 2022
The blurb says:
Robert Finlay seems to have finally left his SAS past behind him and is settled into his new career as a detective. But when the author of a book about secret operations goes missing, along with his agent and an explosive new manuscript, it’s clear that Finlay’s troubles are far from over.
With his friend and former colleague, Kevin Jones, in trouble, and police complaints branch gunning for them both, Robert teams up with MI5 agent Toni Fellowes to find out who’s behind the growing conspiracy. Their quest soon reveals a plot that goes to the very heart of the UK’s security services.
End Game, the final part in the critically acclaimed Robert Finlay trilogy, sees our hero in an intricate and terrifyingly fast-paced race to uncover the truth and escape those who’d sooner have him dead than be exposed.
This is a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. 4*
Robert Finlay seems to have finally left his SAS past behind him and is settled into his new career as a detective. But when the author of a book about secret operations goes missing, along with his agent and an explosive new manuscript, it’s clear that Finlay’s troubles are far from over.
With his friend and former colleague, Kevin Jones, in trouble, and police complaints branch gunning for them both, Robert teams up with MI5 agent Toni Fellowes to find out who’s behind the growing conspiracy. Their quest soon reveals a plot that goes to the very heart of the UK’s security services.
End Game, the final part in the critically acclaimed Robert Finlay trilogy, sees our hero in an intricate and terrifyingly fast-paced race to uncover the truth and escape those who’d sooner have him dead than be exposed.
This is a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. 4*
June 6, 2018
Conclusion to Bob Finlay trilogy – engaging eye-opener
This novel brings to a close the trilogy about Bob Finlay, ex-SAS and now a police officer. It deals with the aftermath of various incidents that occur in the two previous books which are explained to some extent but I recommend reading Wicked Game and Deadly Game first. The plot moves along at a good steady pace and there are plenty of well-drawn characters although it's easy at times to forget who is who, especially in the police and secret services! It's definitely a page-turner (it took me only two days to read!) Thoroughly recommended to lovers of tales about spy services, corruption, murder, terrorism and mayhem with some police procedural along the way. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This novel brings to a close the trilogy about Bob Finlay, ex-SAS and now a police officer. It deals with the aftermath of various incidents that occur in the two previous books which are explained to some extent but I recommend reading Wicked Game and Deadly Game first. The plot moves along at a good steady pace and there are plenty of well-drawn characters although it's easy at times to forget who is who, especially in the police and secret services! It's definitely a page-turner (it took me only two days to read!) Thoroughly recommended to lovers of tales about spy services, corruption, murder, terrorism and mayhem with some police procedural along the way. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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