Nemesis

Michael Bale #1

by Anthony Riches

Mickey Bale, a Met close protection officer, wants revenge on the mafia family who killed his sister. First in The Protector, a gripping British thriller series from Anthony Riches. 'Nemesis is a full-throttle adventure' ANDY McNAB'Fast-moving... The Bill meets Jack Reacher' THE TIMES Thriller of the MonthThey killed his sister. Now he'll kill them all. Mickey Bale is an elite close protection officer. That's why the Met police has given him the toughest job of guarding the Minister of Defence at a moment when Chinese-British relations have hit a deadly boiling point.And when Mickey's life isn't on the line for his work, he's taking his chances waging war on a powerful London gang family. Their dealer supplied a lethal ecstasy pill to his sister, and Mickey is determined to take them down, one at a time.But will he get away with it – or will his colleagues in the force realise that the man on an underworld killing spree is one of their own?'Nemesis is a full-throttle adventure that twists and turns from the corridors of power to London's gangland underbelly, propelled by a hero with a thirst for vengeance and the skillset to execute it' Andy McNab'Nemesis kicks like a 12-bore shotgun... A British thriller to rival Reacher' Giles Kristian'Mickey Bale is a Jack Reacher for a harder, faster, more assured millennium. Nemesis is the kind of book for which the word 'compelling' was coined' Manda Scott'Meet Mickey Bale – London's John Wick. A rocket-propelled grenade of a book, shot through with gallows humour. Guy Ritchie meets Lee Child' Robyn Young'This may be Riches' first contemporary-set novel but he throws his protagonist into a gladiatorial climax worthy of Ancient Rome' Shots

Genres: Thriller, Mystery

395 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2021

About the author

Anthony Riches began his lifelong interest in war and soldiers when he first heard his father's stories about World War II. This led to a degree in Military Studies at Manchester University. He began writing the story that would become Wounds of Honour after a visit to Housesteads in 1996. He lives in Hertfordshire with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very surprising contemporary thriller is the 1st volume of a new series from the originally historical fiction author, Anthony Riches.

Storytelling is of a very good quality, no doubt about that, the storyline well executed with short lines, but the characters are in my view somewhat shallow and one-dimensional throughout this story.

It's a fast-paced and action-packed contemporary thriller featuring Michael (Mickey) Bale as our main protagonist.

In this adventurous thriller we'll follow Michael Bale as a Prot Officer within the Met, doing his services for King and Country, whether it is in the UK or abroad, and besides that his personal actions against a certain gangster who goes by the name of, Joe Castagna, who's responsible for the death of Michael's younger sister, Katie.

While the book contains great parts, especially concerning Michael Bale's actions and enterprises as a Prot Officer of the Met at home and abroad, there are also certain parts that are a bit too far-fetche for me, meaning to act by the law on the one side and above the law on the other, and the fact that Bale very naively will connect himself by someone or somewhat called "Nemesis" without even knowing who or what it really is.

What is to follow is a final reckoning between Michael Bale and his team of killers against those of Joe Castagna and his Gangster gang, while also an intriguing fact will be that a high-ranking Police mole will come to the forefront in this murderous thriller.

Really recommended, although this episode is a very good start, it still needs to improve in reality and believability to become a full bloodied and genuine top-class thriller series, and to come back to this book I like to call it: "A Rather Daring Jekyll & Hyde Theme Thriller"!

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nemesis is Riches’ first foray into the action-thriller genre and boy does he blow the competition out of the water with this scintillating setpiece. We are introduced to Michael ”Mickey” Bale, a Protective Command Officer for the Metropolitan Police who is hellbent on gaining vengeance and punishing those involved in his younger sister's death. Katie died from a drug overdose and Mickey knows stepping into the criminal and gangland underworld puts him in immense danger. Most often assigned as an Elite Protection Officer for the Minister of Defence, he has a calm, cool and collected exterior and is renowned for his professionalism on the job. Those under his care feel safe with him just as they should and protected from any threats but what Mickey quite simply can't get over is the fact that he wasn't there to make Katie feel safe in her time of need. Putting his skills and courage to the test he decides to go after drug kingpin Joe Castagna, the guy responsible for flooding the streets with all manner of dangerous and illegal substances, and Mickey is going to ensure he is sorry for the part he played. Katie died after taking a deadly ecstasy pill as unbeknownst to her Castagna’s subordinate had handed her the wrong drug resulting in the tragedy.

As he embarks on his mission to tear down a prominent and powerful London-based gangland family, we discover that a mysterious being, code-name Nemesis, is providing Mickey with information he can use to knock Joe and his ilk off their high horse. Joe Castagna is an evil, despicable excuse of a human being whose unbounded carelessness and his love of money over all else, including peoples lives, makes Mickey livid and he would love to do the world a favour and wipe him off the face of the planet for good but he knows there will always be another character waiting to fill his shoes. As his personal and working lives converge, can Mickey continue to evade both the police and Joe or has he taken his quest for revenge too far? This is a riveting, compulsive and scintillating thriller that moves at rapid-fire pace and is packed with non-stop action, danger, drama and a series of wicked twists. Riches knows exactly how to craft an exciting, page-turning narrative with plenty of palpably tense moments and a whole host of suspense. The action sequences were plotted brilliantly and it's clear that extensive research went into the discussion of tactical weaponry. Gritty, violent and explosive, this is a highly entertaining and enthralling thrill ride. Strongly recommended.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Bale is an elite protection officer. And while he's protecting the Minister of Defense, hes also plotting how to kill someone.

He's waged a personal war against a London gang. One of their dealers supplied a lethal pill to his sister. Beal is determined to take them down .. one by one.

But will he get away with it – or will his colleagues in the force realize that the man on an underworld killing spree is one of their own?

It's fast paced from the get-go with lots of action. The plot is engaging, the story line suspenseful. Characters are well-developed and work well in the midst of uncertainty. This looks to be the beginning of a page-turning series.

Many thanks to the author / #Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Terry Rudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am up to date on the authors HF series, so I thought it was time to try his crime thriller.

I loved that the author made the dialogue in this book feel very real. The use of rhyming slang and swear words made it feel as if all the conversations were realistic and purposeful

That said, I just didn't connect to the story. There was a fair amount of plot convenience and then I really struggled to believe how the character could stray across his day job and his extra curricular activities

[Cathy Geha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nemesis by Anthony Riches

Sergeant Michael James Bale – “Mickey” – works as an Elite Close Protection Official for the Metropolitan Police force in Britain. He is happily married, enjoys his work, has good friends he meets with at the pub on Friday evenings, and stays fit boxing. He has one issue that bothers him and it is the niggling desire to get revenge for the “murder” of his sister so when that becomes an option, he seeks to mete out justice – vigilante justice. There is an unknown assistant he only knows as “Nemesis” that feeds him information that assists him in his endeavors. Will he be able to come through successful and unscathed or…not?

What I liked:
* Mickey: a good man with his own moral compass, sort of. He is professional, skilled, lethal, smart, and intriguing.
* Martin: Mickey’s friend from childhood, has a side business that comes in handy from time to time, and is a good friend to Mickey.
* The Friday night friends: a bit older than Mickey – seem to be true friends
* That there are two main storylines…with a third that might show up in future books. 1) the revenge against Jo and his gang 2) the protection job and threats encountered there 3) possible traitor in the govt with terrorist leanings
* The way the various threads of the story are brought together in the end
* That not all the good guys were totally good and the bad guys were totally bad
* Getting to read a new-to-me author
* Cavendish, Shaw, and Shaw’s team
* Being able to read the first book in a new series that has potential

What I didn’t like:
* Joe and his ruthless gang – they were evil and easy to detest
* Corrupt cops (there were a couple) and newspaper people
* Knowing that the evil in this book happens more often than we might think
* Roz didn’t seem the best fit as a spouse for Mickey but I am not sure why.

Did I enjoy this book? For the most part though I did skim parts of it to get to what I needed to know
Would I read more in this series? I think so

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus-Aries for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

[Nick Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely one for fans of Stephen Leather and Simon Kernick, a fast paced thriller with plenty of action.
Anthony Riches is well known for his excellent Roman novels (well worth catching up on if you haven’t already) but now turns his hand to thriller writing and pulls it off with considerable aplomb.
Mickey Bale is a Metropolitan Police officer, a member of the elite armed Protection Group. But when his sister is killed after taking dodgy drugs, Mickey decides those responsible must die and starts a one man war on a local crime boss.
It works very well, plenty of action in his “day job” but also in his new role as assassin. This is a well-researched page turner with a lot to enjoy. The author’s skills that were demonstrated in his Roman works have transferred well to this and I look forward to the next one in the series.

[Trevor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gosh - what a departure from Anthony Riches’ usual fare. I’ve read pretty much all of his swords and sandals epics following the adventures across all corners of the Roman Empire. This book, Nemesis, is a world away and is largely set in modern day London with its hero Mickey Bale a Metropolitan police officer working in close protection and out for revenge for the death of his sister.
Mickey’s grudge is with an old school London gang and although this forms the central plot other threads involve his dispute with the Met hierarchy, assorted guns for hire, mercenary types and super-power politics between the US and China, but yep, it all hangs together nicely.
My overwhelming feeling is that I stuck to this book out of a sense of loyalty to the author whose others works I’ve enjoyed so much but that this story is ‘not really my sort of thing’. Why this is the case I’m not entirely sure. His other works notched up impressive body counts with plenty of gore (as does this one) but maybe their detailed historical context lends them a greater feeling of respectability - not too sure about this latter point, but I’m instinctively more drawn to historical adventure tales than to modern day London gang-bangers.
Anyway, the research into police procedure, firearms and more seems impressive and in Mickey Bale, Riches seems to have a character around whom he can wrap a good few more stories. So, for Riches it’s goodbye Rome I assume.
The final few pages of Nemesis are the first chapter of the next Mickey Bale adventure - will I be eagerly awaiting it coming off the presses? For me, the jury is out at the moment.

[Robin Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review)

Anthony Riches is one of my favourite authors, he is well known for his (Roman) Empire series and its band of soldiers who pull off impossible missions with humour, flair and bloody skill. So when I heard that he had branched out into thrillers I was desperate to read it, and emails flew off to the publisher begging for a copy, if anyone could inject something new and exciting into the genre its Anthony Riches.

full review: https://parmenionbooks.wordpress.com/...

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good spy/ thriller novel, so you can probably understand why the synopsis for ‘Nemesis’ really did scream ‘read me’ at me. It sounded right up my street. I couldn’t wait to get started so I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for an interesting afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Nemesis’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to admit that I liked the character of Mickey Bale and I warmed to him from the very start. He is a police officer with the close protection squad of the Metropolitan Police. He has to protect the Minister For Defence at a time when international relations with China are a bit tense to say the least. Mickey is very good at his job. However Mickey has a whole different side to him, which sees him breaking the law. Mickey’s sister died after taking drugs and Mickey is going after those who he perceives as being responsible for his sister’s death. Even though Mickey breaks the law, I can understand why he does what he does.
It took me no time at all to get into ‘Nemesis’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first few pages, I knew that I was going to be in for a treat and that I would find it extremely difficult to put the book to one side for any length of time. My Kindle wasn’t glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. For me, ‘Nemesis’ was the book equivalent of watching a James Bond movie. This was an action packed, dramatic, brutal read, which kept me guessing and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I was so wrapped up in the story that I lost track of time and I didn’t notice just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of the book.
‘Nemesis’ is extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into one hell of a fast paced read. Reading ‘Nemesis’ was like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns than you would find on a Snakes & Ladders board. Just when you thought that you could take a moment to gather your breath, collect your thoughts and reclaim your stomach then off the action would go again. I felt as though I was part of the story, which is all down to Anthony’s superb storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Nemesis’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Anthony’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lee Child fans are going to absolutely love Anthony Riches’ Nemesis. A deftly plotted high octane thriller packed with plenty of chills and thrills, Nemesis is a jaw-dropping tale that will keep readers glued to its pages.

Close protection officer Mickey Bale is the best there is. There is nobody who can come close to doing as good a job as he does which is why the Met have given him the toughest assignment of all: guarding the Minister of Defence when British-Chinese relations are at their very lowest ebb. There is danger and jeopardy round ever corner and Mickey must keep his wits about him because one never knows who is friend or foe. Mickey trusts nobody and never lets anybody come between him and his job, but could this assignment end up being the one that could break him? With everything to lose, the stakes have never been higher for him, but will he rise to the challenge and prove yet again why he is the best in the business? Or will deadly enemies manage to get to him and destroy him…for good?

Mickey is a man who thrives on danger. When he isn’t risking life and limb on the job, he wages war on a powerful London gang family who supplied his sister with a lethal ecstasy pill that had cost her everything – leaving Mickey determined to take them down and make them pay for the damage they had inflicted to his family and for destroying his sister’s life.

Mickey Bale is a man who has two identities and leads two lives that are at odds with one another: the cop who upholds the law and a lethal killer engaged in an underworld killing spree. Will Mickey be caught before he has completed his mission? One never knows who is watching from the shadows and when they will strike at the most inopportune moment…

A fast-paced thriller where the excitement does not let up, the action moves at breakneck speed and the suspense will leave readers with their jaws on the floor, Nemesis is an exciting, engrossing and mesmerizing thriller where the pages just turn themselves. Mickey Bale is a brilliant hero and somebody readers will find themselves rooting for – even when he makes rather questionable choices.

A slick, stylish and assured debut thriller, Anthony Riches’ Nemesis is a compulsively readable chiller perfect for Line of Duty addicts.

[Chelle W (teaandplottwists) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is absolutely jam packed with action – there is no chance of getting bored! Mickey gets himself into all sorts of situations, in and out of work, that are full of danger, guns, and gore.

As a character I loved Mickey. Determined to get revenge for his sisters death he gets himself mixed up in an absolute mess, but he is so good at it! He’s a bit like a James Bond, but a faithful and good husband at the same time. He has some fabulous characters surrounding him, although I wasn’t a massive fan of his wife, Roz. The definition between the ‘goodies’ and ‘badies’ isn’t clear in this and I loved that – you never know who is on the right side and who might be a traitor – and this kept me on my toes.

It did take me a little while to get into the book but I think it’s because I don’t usually read such action packed books. There is quite a lot of reference to different guns and military/police strategies that went over my head but I know some people will thoroughly enjoy this part. Also in the beginning I found the way it was written a bit unusual – in short, sharp sentences, which didn’t flow well in my mind. But I did get used to it in the end, and it did ease off so again, I think it’s just because it’s something I wasn’t used to.

However, I absolutely loved the storyline. The plot was fantastic and even though there is so much going on, in and out of Mickey’s work, it was easy and enjoyable to follow. So if you’re looking for an action packed, exciting plot with a fantastic main characters, then you should definitely check this out. I’m looking forward to seeing what he gets up to next! Recommended by me.

[jeff popple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nemesis is the first foray into modern thriller fiction by well regarded historical writer Anthony Riches, who is best known for his exciting Roman Empire adventure novels.

Nemesis features Mickey Bale, an elite close protection officer who is usually assigned to the Minister of Defence. Outwardly Mickey is a calm professional, but underneath that veneer he is troubled by the death of his younger sister from drugs. Determined to take revenge on the dealers who gave his sister the lethal ecstasy pill, Mickey launches a personal war on a powerful London gang family. Meanwhile his job as a body guard becomes more dangerous as relations between China and Britain deteriorate.

This is an enjoyable action thriller, with a brisk plot, some good scenes of violence and nice dose of moral ambiguity. The story starts quickly and Riches keeps it bubbling along with a couple of unexpected developments and the regular infusion of tough violence. The international elements add extra tension and give the story some meat. The two two storylines also come together nicely with an exciting explosion of violence at the end. Bale is an interesting character, and Riches does a good job of keeping him sympathetic, while not making him into a flawless hero. It would be good to see what Riches does with him in future books.

In all, an enjoyable thriller with a neat final wrap-up and a couple of good twists. Recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the book to review.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5* rounded to 5
This is the first book I read by this author and I don’t usually read this type of stories but the reviews I read well all positive and decided to request it.
That said I had a lot of fun as it’s action pack, fast paced and with plenty of interesting characters.
It starts slowly but as soon as the action starts you are hooked.
I loved the tightly knitted plot, and I loved the characters. We can define them chaotic neutral or chaotic evil, using the D&D jargon, but almost all of the are morally grey.
You can love or hate some, but they are well written and fleshed. My favorite was Mickey and his character arc: he is on a mission and we read about his changes and how he becomes a killing machine whose aim is to kill everyone who was involved in his sister death.
Even if it’s a highly entertaining story I would also define it somehow disturbing: the bent policemen, the links between powers and gangsters and even the ending describes a world where law and order are something apparent and everything can be different.
Being Italian born and bred I saw this happening in Italian history and it somehow resonated and it could be more realistic than we think.
I learned a lot about arms and appreciated how well the action scenes were written.
I think this could be the first in a series and I would surely read the next installment as thoroughly enjoyed this one.
If you are a fan of action thriller this is strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Keshav Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Nemesis' is my first read of the author Anthony Riches's compositions and it was indeed an action-packed high octane saga with characters and plot that grips you on your seat. The action sequences in the plot are loosely themed around Jack Reacher's kind with an added tang of personal vendetta. The protagonist Michael Bale (Mickey) plays a dual role - one that of an indomitable and honest elite protection officer within the Met Police department and the other of a vigilante to obliterate a family-owned drug syndicate run by Joe Castagna, who was responsible for his sister's death. As he is mulling over the idea of personal revenge with his friend Martin, he is approached by an unknown identity by the name Nemesis, who offers to help Mickey to avenge the death of his sister and bring down the drug lord's empire. He then begins his meticulously planned dual role - One that of a responsible prot officer assigned to a security detail of a high-ranking UK government official visiting Belize, and then the visiting US Ambassador to the UK and in parallel, demolishing the drug lord's key persons and assets. Alongside in the plot are Mikey's wife Ross, a reporter of a newspaper, a corrupt police officer on the payroll of the gangster, and Mikey's close pub friends who assist him to execute his vengeful assignment. Overall a brilliantly scripted tale, provocative and daring with well-evolved characters. Hope to see more of Mickey Bale sequels from the author. Well recommended read for action buffs.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

This is my first read by this author and I started it with no expectations and thought the premise looked like my kind of read.

Wow, this was one rollercoaster of a read. Mickey Bales younger sister dies and when revenge is offered to Mickey he grabs it with both hands. I literally couldn’t get enough of this book. I loved Mickey as a character and knowing what he was doing and the reason for his actions made him all the more likeable. The book starts off with a bang and just gets better and better. I was convinced I knew who Nemesis was and was wrong. Overall I thought this was a very well written book with a great plot line that was fast paced and thrilling. I hope there is a second book featuring Mickey, I would definitely read it.

[Gareth Norris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spoilers but for my own reference in case I’m ever tempted to read this rubbish again

He’s a met cop
Protection Officer so trained in fire arms
Goes after his sisters killer, then the men above him
Till he kills the gang boss. A nasty piece of work. But with a special forces gang destroys him.
Best bit putting a henchman in a bath of concrete and letting the lime kill him

All the time protecting a govt minister twit who the Chinese want to kill. No real story there apart from meeting the special forces and getting in a shoot out Jack Ryan style

Just about caught in the end but has dirt on his boss that keeps him out of jail.

Story synopsis over - poor characterisation, big plot holes, but with easy to read script and not taxing on the brain. Would make a good tv movie on an action channel (hence use of script)

2.5 stars really but not as bad as 2

[Peter Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mickey Bale has two personas. One - he guards the Minister of Defence at the most crucial of times. Two - he takes on gangland London, in the hunt for the supplier who gave his sister a deadly ecstasy pill.
He must use all his skills to pick the people off that are in his way so he can get to his quarry. But can he succeed and not get caught by the very people he works with?
Anthony Riches has created a character in Mickey Bale that will have other thriller writers wishing they could create someone so tough, ruthless and just downright brilliant. A novel that is hard-hitting with intense scenes that keeps hold of you and won’t let go until its spectacular end.
A blockbuster of brilliance. I highly recommend this book.

[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see that the author has written primarily historical stuff - not my cup of tea - so Nemesis is a change and my first of his books. And it is an absolute cracker, lots of action, lots of interesting detail and plenty of drama. I have been exclusively audiobook for 15+ years, so new authors and new narrators are of interest. The narrator here is pretty good but he has a few curious glitches. When he says escape, he pronounces it "excape". The acronym for standard operating procedure is usually read as S - O - P, but he says "sop". And the famous Sig Sauer handgun, he says S - I - G Sauer. I am surprised that the producer didn't pick these up!

However, the book is excellent and I am looking forward to listening to book 2 in the series.

[Kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really sucked me in.

At first I found it a bit slow and considered giving it up, but I kept going and I’m glad I did!

Mickey has a good job and a good life, but after receiving a random text goes after the drug dealer who was responsible for killing his sister. What follows are multiple well planned and executed attacks on the organisation & its members.

As well as his vigilante role, Mickey is in multiple explosive CP jobs (both times saving the life of his Principal); a battle of wits with his commanding officer; and trying to keep his friends and family both in the dark and safe from retaliation.

This book made me laugh out loud at the sarcasm, wince with the brutality, and cheer with the outcome.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Child, Clancy, McNab, Ludlum you will love this!

I love historical fiction and have read Tony's books with delight for years, I was delighted with news of this diversion however. Tony has a great understanding of the warrior mind and this is the perfect vehicle. Edge of your seat from start to finish...I read it in one sitting staying up until 3 am this morning something that happens very rarely these days. It's a great story, an awesome 'cast' and I can't wait for the big guns tv version :) also very much looking forward to book two!

[Travis Berketa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nemesis is a great book with some excellent characters.

Mickey Bale is a MET close protection officer, whose sister was murdered by an underworld figure. A bit like Marvel's Punisher comic character, Mickey wages a one man war on the crime family with the help of several shadowy figures - one in particular is an informant calling themselves Nemesis.

Many twists and turns, along with Mickey's need to keep his vigilante justice a secret while still maintaining his official policing duties, make this book well worth the read.

[Melanie Hollin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a bit partial to a good police procedural thriller and I love a sort of special forces hero wreaks revenge too.
Somehow, and in an extremely clever way, 'Nemesis' manages to combine the two.
A really pacy read which stretches the boundaries of right and wrong yet still manages to make us feel a little in love with the hero.
This novel has all the right ingredients for a superb, fuel filled ride into the early hours.

[David Slater · Rating 5 out of 5]

A major departure in genre for Anthony Riches but with his masterful eye for plotting, character and ratcheting up the tension shines through in this first class thriller. No spoilers here as the sense of peril is a constant throughout and no character is safe. This was a joy to read and I broke the habit of a lifetime and was compelled to read the "trailer" for Mr Riches next novel. My 25th novel of 2021 - and without doubt, the best.

[Scott Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put it down

I've enjoyed all the books Mr. Riches has written on the Roman era and thought that it would be at least an interesting read. How wrong could I be? I literally could not put the book down without finishing it.

Immersive and full of details with a great character. I'm looking forward to many more books in this series.

[Jodi Shealy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read!!!!

I’m glad I read the book as I listened to the audio copy because the British lingo/slang was hard to understand and grasp! With that said this was a great read and it had some surprises I didn’t expect. The bad guys were also well written as the psychos they were. I also was well satisfied with the two endings and the comeuppance people got.

[ukkindlecustomer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caught Between Two Stools

Proof that Anthony Riches can write a contemporary crime thriller to match his excellent Roman historical thrillers. The same attention to detail of weaponry and tactics does not impede the violence and action.

[rawlinsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shoulder shrug

I really enjoyed Anthony's Empire series. I didn't get pulled in with the main character in this new series as I did with Empire. I wish the author luck with this new venture in hopes he returns to historical Roman history soon.

[Leigh Bruerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

first by this author

A good read. A tad far fetched maybe but enjoyable nonetheless. Lots of action, the bad guy gets taken out and our hero lives to do yet more battle with future baddies.

[Andrew Shanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different kind of thriller

Great read,
Not your typical gangland story that's been done to death and identical to most others in that genre. Full of excellent twists and sub plots, best I've read in ages.

[Mike Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read did not want it to end
Anthony Riches at his best , love this author never fails to keep me turning the pages