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Good Cop Bad Cop
COURAGEOUS HERO OR COLD-BLOODED CRIMINAL? TONIGHT WE FIND OUT.
It's 14 years after the worst terrorist atrocity in UK history and, with the perpetrators either dead or missing, the motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible.
Only one person can help him put together the final pieces of the puzzle - retired police officer Chris Sketty, who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack. But Cleverly thinks Sketty is a liar...and possibly far worse He has a dossier on all the former cop's dark secrets and will make them public unless Sketty tells the truth.
So, over one night, Sketty will share his brutal tale of betrayal, ruthlessness and corruption, finishing with a revelation so terrifying and unexpected that it will change everything. Is Sketty a brave hero, crippled in the line of duty, or the most ruthless mass murderer the country has ever seen?
With the suffocating suspense of LINE OF DUTY and gasping twists of THE USUAL SUSPECTS, this is a dizzying thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page.
It's 14 years after the worst terrorist atrocity in UK history and, with the perpetrators either dead or missing, the motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible.
Only one person can help him put together the final pieces of the puzzle - retired police officer Chris Sketty, who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack. But Cleverly thinks Sketty is a liar...and possibly far worse He has a dossier on all the former cop's dark secrets and will make them public unless Sketty tells the truth.
So, over one night, Sketty will share his brutal tale of betrayal, ruthlessness and corruption, finishing with a revelation so terrifying and unexpected that it will change everything. Is Sketty a brave hero, crippled in the line of duty, or the most ruthless mass murderer the country has ever seen?
With the suffocating suspense of LINE OF DUTY and gasping twists of THE USUAL SUSPECTS, this is a dizzying thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 11, 2021
113 people are currently reading
608 people want to read
About the author
Simon Kernick
73 books1,158 followersSimon Kernick (born 1966 in Slough, Berkshire) is a British thriller/crime writer now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and two daughters. He attended Gillotts School, a comprehensive in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Whilst he was a student his jobs included fruitpicker and Christmas-tree uprooter. He graduated from Brighton Polytechnic in 1991 with a degree in humanities. Kernick had a passion for crime fiction writing from a young age and produced many short stories during his time at polytechnic. After graduating Kernick joined MMT Computing in London in early 1992, where a relative was the Chairman and Managing Director. Kernick was a key member of the sales team and was very highly regarded. However, he left the company after 4 years in the hope of trying to secure a publishing deal. Despite interest from a number of publishers Kernick was unable to secure a deal, so he joined the sales force of the specialist IT and Business Consultancy Metaskil plc in Aldermaston, Berkshire in 1998 where he remained until he secured his first book deal (The Business of Dying) in September 2001. His novel Relentless was recommended on Richard & Judy's Summer book club 2007. It was the 8th best-selling paperback, and the best-selling thriller in the UK in the same year
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
October 29, 2021
4-5 stars.
Ex-DC Chris Sketty is meeting Dr Ralph Teller who whilst describing as a hero following the terrible events at Villa Amalfi, he is also regarding him with malevolence. However, the reason for the meeting predates this by fifteen years when Chris is sent undercover by SO15 (Counter Terrorism) to try to get information on a shadowy faceless figure known as Kalian Roman. He’s placed in DI Devon Andrews Gang Intelligence Unit, his target is DS Barry Cleaver - does he have a connection to Roman? Only time will tell. Chris tells most of his story with illuminating interjections by Teller, all we have to do is work out, is Chris a good cop or a bad cop??
Wowza, it sure is a conundrum as by his own admission Chris is often ‘Bonkers Chris’. One thing is for certain he’s a complex character who seems to have his own brand of moral code but does the at times clever smooth operator mask dark depths which lurk beneath? I thoroughly enjoy the way this is written, it’s very engaging, the storytelling is lively and visual with scenes springing to life before your eyes so you are immediately immersed in the fast paced plot. Initially there’s humour albeit of the dark kind but as things develop and events evolve that unsurprisingly drains away. There’s a sense of threat right from the start but where’s its source?? There is menace, danger and violence which Chris does not back down from despite the growing warning signs of being trapped between a rock and a hard place. He sure comes up against some scary people who always seem to be one jump ahead and some scenes are breathtaking, shocking adrenaline fuelled horrors of a whatsit show. I really like the puzzle we are presented with by Teller and your thoughts go every which way to match the rollercoaster twists and turns. One minute you think it’s all unravelling with the mountain of lies and the next you think Chris is on the right side despite the very fine line of the law he treads. The ending is excellent- is there a follow up I wonder, I can but hope!
Overall, this is a cracking read with a gritty storyline, excellent dialogue, believable characters and a plot that keeps you gripped to the end.
With thanks to Netgalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Ex-DC Chris Sketty is meeting Dr Ralph Teller who whilst describing as a hero following the terrible events at Villa Amalfi, he is also regarding him with malevolence. However, the reason for the meeting predates this by fifteen years when Chris is sent undercover by SO15 (Counter Terrorism) to try to get information on a shadowy faceless figure known as Kalian Roman. He’s placed in DI Devon Andrews Gang Intelligence Unit, his target is DS Barry Cleaver - does he have a connection to Roman? Only time will tell. Chris tells most of his story with illuminating interjections by Teller, all we have to do is work out, is Chris a good cop or a bad cop??
Wowza, it sure is a conundrum as by his own admission Chris is often ‘Bonkers Chris’. One thing is for certain he’s a complex character who seems to have his own brand of moral code but does the at times clever smooth operator mask dark depths which lurk beneath? I thoroughly enjoy the way this is written, it’s very engaging, the storytelling is lively and visual with scenes springing to life before your eyes so you are immediately immersed in the fast paced plot. Initially there’s humour albeit of the dark kind but as things develop and events evolve that unsurprisingly drains away. There’s a sense of threat right from the start but where’s its source?? There is menace, danger and violence which Chris does not back down from despite the growing warning signs of being trapped between a rock and a hard place. He sure comes up against some scary people who always seem to be one jump ahead and some scenes are breathtaking, shocking adrenaline fuelled horrors of a whatsit show. I really like the puzzle we are presented with by Teller and your thoughts go every which way to match the rollercoaster twists and turns. One minute you think it’s all unravelling with the mountain of lies and the next you think Chris is on the right side despite the very fine line of the law he treads. The ending is excellent- is there a follow up I wonder, I can but hope!
Overall, this is a cracking read with a gritty storyline, excellent dialogue, believable characters and a plot that keeps you gripped to the end.
With thanks to Netgalley and especially to Headline for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
November 1, 2021
A legend of quick fire, tense ( mega tense ) thrilling thrillers Simon Kernick is the master of quickly involving books that grab you and keep you there
Good Cop, Bad Cop is more of the same although this time ( without giving any plot away ) I found the story to be at times a bit unbelievable…..that is until the end when it all made much more sense and my grumbles became ‘right, now I see why…’
As always the characters are sharp, real, accessible and you get to know them well, and quickly, there are some humdingers in this book, good, bad and shockingly even more bad!
Time is of the essence as always with this authors writing and there is no nattery chapters wasted on filling out the story, the action is immediate and long lasting throughout
A good read made much more satisfying with the last chapters as they really did hurtle towards the explosive ending
9/10
5 Stars
Good Cop, Bad Cop is more of the same although this time ( without giving any plot away ) I found the story to be at times a bit unbelievable…..that is until the end when it all made much more sense and my grumbles became ‘right, now I see why…’
As always the characters are sharp, real, accessible and you get to know them well, and quickly, there are some humdingers in this book, good, bad and shockingly even more bad!
Time is of the essence as always with this authors writing and there is no nattery chapters wasted on filling out the story, the action is immediate and long lasting throughout
A good read made much more satisfying with the last chapters as they really did hurtle towards the explosive ending
9/10
5 Stars
February 13, 2022
Good Cop Bad Cop by Simon Kernick
Synopsis /
It's 14 years after the worst terrorist atrocity in UK history and, with the perpetrators either dead or missing, the motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible.
Only one person can help him put together the final pieces of the puzzle - retired police officer Chris Sketty, who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack. But Cleverly thinks Sketty is a liar...and possibly far worse He has a dossier on all the former cop's dark secrets and will make them public unless Sketty tells the truth.
So, over one night, Sketty will share his brutal tale of betrayal, ruthlessness and corruption, finishing with a revelation so terrifying and unexpected that it will change everything. Is Sketty a brave hero, crippled in the line of duty, or the most ruthless mass murderer the country has ever seen?
My Thoughts /
At the same time, as the car pulled away from the kerb and I realised I couldn't breathe, Cleaver said the words I'd thought I'd never hear on this assignment, because I'd been so careful.
'We've heard you're an informant, Chrissy boy'.
You will have to excuse me, I just need a moment. I've read the last page, closed the book, put it down and taken a breath……
First thoughts:- OMG, this book is good. Second thoughts, upon reflection:- This book is really, really good!
If you want a book that will keep you reading into all hours of the night, this is that book. It really is as simple as that. Simon Kernick has written a book that I was hooked on right from the start. It's a tense, riveting read that comes very nicely packaged with what I would call that wow factor.
The book transitions from past to present and back again. With the past being Sketty's own personal account of the fateful events that happened 15 years earlier. The way Sketty retells the story, it's as if it's happening now - until we are brought back into the present by discussions with his accuser, Dr Ralph Teller.
Past: Undercover cop Detective Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery. Present: Now no longer with the Force, Chris Sketty has since lost everything that mattered to him, his family and his career. But not everyone believes his hero status was justified. Ralph Teller is now in his 70s. Although Multiple Sclerosis has left him confined to a wheelchair, grief has driven him to investigate the night of his wife’s death. She was one of the victims of the terror attack siege. Teller has painstakingly collated information, interviewed witnesses and reconstructed the lives of those involved and concluded, that the answer to all his questions lies with Chris Sketty. He alone is the linchpin that will unravel this whole affair. Skelly, now face to face with his accuser is forced (by Teller) to recount his version of events.
It all began with the death of his daughter, which then led to the destruction of his marriage and the slow but sure disintegration of his police career. He found himself written up on disciplinary charges after tangling with a violent thug who came out worse for wear. It should have marked the beginning of the end of his career, but Sketty was given a hall pass - a second chance if you will. While on suspension Sketty was contacted by a DCI Marina Reineke of SO15 - the Counter Terrorism Command. They had an arms dealer in their sight who was supplying weapons to Al-Qaeda and right wing extremists. Reineke wanted Sketty to infiltrate the CTC's Intelligence Unit and keep an eye on Sergeant Barry Cleaver, whom Reineke suspected had links to an arms dealer who was supplying the weapons.
What follows is Sketty's true account of the events which led to that fateful night that changed everything. Or are they?
Hero or Villain? Good Cop or Bad Cop? You will have to read this yourself to find out. Only in the final pages does it become clear, but it's a terrifically exciting ride to get there!!
Synopsis /
It's 14 years after the worst terrorist atrocity in UK history and, with the perpetrators either dead or missing, the motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible.
Only one person can help him put together the final pieces of the puzzle - retired police officer Chris Sketty, who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack. But Cleverly thinks Sketty is a liar...and possibly far worse He has a dossier on all the former cop's dark secrets and will make them public unless Sketty tells the truth.
So, over one night, Sketty will share his brutal tale of betrayal, ruthlessness and corruption, finishing with a revelation so terrifying and unexpected that it will change everything. Is Sketty a brave hero, crippled in the line of duty, or the most ruthless mass murderer the country has ever seen?
My Thoughts /
At the same time, as the car pulled away from the kerb and I realised I couldn't breathe, Cleaver said the words I'd thought I'd never hear on this assignment, because I'd been so careful.
'We've heard you're an informant, Chrissy boy'.
You will have to excuse me, I just need a moment. I've read the last page, closed the book, put it down and taken a breath……
First thoughts:- OMG, this book is good. Second thoughts, upon reflection:- This book is really, really good!
If you want a book that will keep you reading into all hours of the night, this is that book. It really is as simple as that. Simon Kernick has written a book that I was hooked on right from the start. It's a tense, riveting read that comes very nicely packaged with what I would call that wow factor.
The book transitions from past to present and back again. With the past being Sketty's own personal account of the fateful events that happened 15 years earlier. The way Sketty retells the story, it's as if it's happening now - until we are brought back into the present by discussions with his accuser, Dr Ralph Teller.
Past: Undercover cop Detective Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery. Present: Now no longer with the Force, Chris Sketty has since lost everything that mattered to him, his family and his career. But not everyone believes his hero status was justified. Ralph Teller is now in his 70s. Although Multiple Sclerosis has left him confined to a wheelchair, grief has driven him to investigate the night of his wife’s death. She was one of the victims of the terror attack siege. Teller has painstakingly collated information, interviewed witnesses and reconstructed the lives of those involved and concluded, that the answer to all his questions lies with Chris Sketty. He alone is the linchpin that will unravel this whole affair. Skelly, now face to face with his accuser is forced (by Teller) to recount his version of events.
It all began with the death of his daughter, which then led to the destruction of his marriage and the slow but sure disintegration of his police career. He found himself written up on disciplinary charges after tangling with a violent thug who came out worse for wear. It should have marked the beginning of the end of his career, but Sketty was given a hall pass - a second chance if you will. While on suspension Sketty was contacted by a DCI Marina Reineke of SO15 - the Counter Terrorism Command. They had an arms dealer in their sight who was supplying weapons to Al-Qaeda and right wing extremists. Reineke wanted Sketty to infiltrate the CTC's Intelligence Unit and keep an eye on Sergeant Barry Cleaver, whom Reineke suspected had links to an arms dealer who was supplying the weapons.
What follows is Sketty's true account of the events which led to that fateful night that changed everything. Or are they?
Hero or Villain? Good Cop or Bad Cop? You will have to read this yourself to find out. Only in the final pages does it become clear, but it's a terrifically exciting ride to get there!!
November 11, 2021
It's fourteen years after the worst terrorist atrocity in UK history and, with the perpetrators either dead or missing, the motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible. Only one person can put together the final pieces of the puzzle - retired police officer Chris Sketty who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack,
This story is told from multiple perspectives and it held my attention throughout. I was kept guessing until the end. The ending is brilliant and I couldn't put the book down, needing to find out the truth. This is a cleverly crafted police thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. Although I didn't like the main character, Chris Sketty, very much, I still found myself rooting for him. It's written in flashbacks and the present day format. This is a fantastic read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Headline and the author #SimonKernick for my ARC of #GoodCopBadCop in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told from multiple perspectives and it held my attention throughout. I was kept guessing until the end. The ending is brilliant and I couldn't put the book down, needing to find out the truth. This is a cleverly crafted police thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. Although I didn't like the main character, Chris Sketty, very much, I still found myself rooting for him. It's written in flashbacks and the present day format. This is a fantastic read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #Headline and the author #SimonKernick for my ARC of #GoodCopBadCop in exchange for an honest review.
October 29, 2021
I have always enjoyed author Simon Kernick’s books so was really looking forward to this one. The novel started strongly but stalled a little in the middle for me. Good characters and an interesting plot made this a good read.
Undercover cop Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible.
Only one person can help him put together the final pieces of the puzzle – retired police officer Chris Sketty, who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack. But Cleverly thinks Sketty is a liar and possibly far worse He has a dossier on all the former cop’s dark secrets and will make them public unless Sketty tells the truth. Is Sketty a brave hero, crippled in the line of duty, or the most ruthless mass murderer the country has ever seen?
Like I say it started very strongly and was instantly into the novel. Good plot and an exciting finale made this a good read.
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Undercover cop Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery. But Dr Ralph Teller, a wealthy industrialist who lost his wife in the attack, never gave up hope of justice. He thinks he knows the real identity of the mastermind responsible.
Only one person can help him put together the final pieces of the puzzle – retired police officer Chris Sketty, who infiltrated the terrorist group and was wounded trying to prevent the attack. But Cleverly thinks Sketty is a liar and possibly far worse He has a dossier on all the former cop’s dark secrets and will make them public unless Sketty tells the truth. Is Sketty a brave hero, crippled in the line of duty, or the most ruthless mass murderer the country has ever seen?
Like I say it started very strongly and was instantly into the novel. Good plot and an exciting finale made this a good read.
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2022
This novel marks something of a change in pace for Simon Kernick, although, rest assured, there are a few of his signature supersonic action scenes later on.
Former undercover cop Chris Sketty is being interviewed by anthrozoologist Dr. Ralph Teller at the latter’s Oxfordshire home in connection with his role in partly foiling a brutal terrorist attack at a Mayfair restaurant 15 years ago. However, it appears that Teller may have his own agenda and he distrusts Chris’s recollections of the event. At the time Chris was working undercover to expose a senior officer there who was suspected of being part of a right-wing cell run by Kalian Roman – a mysterious Keyser Söze type figure. Does he really exist, or is he someone we already know? In fact, the whole story has a distinct The Usual Suspects feel with its flashbacks, interrogations and unreliable witnesses.
The tension throughout builds steadily but relentlessly. Throughout the second half of the novel we always seem to be on the verge of yet another shocking and possible fatal revelation. And the final one comes totally out of the blue.
This was a brilliantly constructed page-turner. Although Simon Kernick slightly steps out of his comfort zone with this novel, he has done so in a masterful and assured way.
Former undercover cop Chris Sketty is being interviewed by anthrozoologist Dr. Ralph Teller at the latter’s Oxfordshire home in connection with his role in partly foiling a brutal terrorist attack at a Mayfair restaurant 15 years ago. However, it appears that Teller may have his own agenda and he distrusts Chris’s recollections of the event. At the time Chris was working undercover to expose a senior officer there who was suspected of being part of a right-wing cell run by Kalian Roman – a mysterious Keyser Söze type figure. Does he really exist, or is he someone we already know? In fact, the whole story has a distinct The Usual Suspects feel with its flashbacks, interrogations and unreliable witnesses.
The tension throughout builds steadily but relentlessly. Throughout the second half of the novel we always seem to be on the verge of yet another shocking and possible fatal revelation. And the final one comes totally out of the blue.
This was a brilliantly constructed page-turner. Although Simon Kernick slightly steps out of his comfort zone with this novel, he has done so in a masterful and assured way.
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November 23, 2021BRAVE HERO OR CRIMINAL MASTERMIND?
TONIGHT WE FIND OUT.
Undercover cop Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery.
But someone is convinced Sketty is a liar.
A criminal mastermind.
A murderer.
Or is he a Hero ?
Blackmailed into revealing the truth, Sketty will share a twisting tale of betrayal, deception and murder...with a revelation so shocking that nothing will be the same again, his story, from the start to the end!
Simon Kernick delivers here a story that is very unique, different from anything I have read.
Sketty injured in the line of duty and praised and created by the press as a hero but he has been slowly robbed of everything he held dear - his family, his career and now he faces yet another ... issue. Not everyone believes his hero status is as deserved as the public may have been led to believe, is he an hero, or was he a bad cop !
14 years after the event DC Chris Sketty is blackmailed by the mysterious Dr Teller into explaining how he became a hero in stopping a serious terrorist attack, because Mr Teller doesn’t believe the official narrative.
So we have the story and for me this was a three star story..... TILL... I reached the last 10% of the book, the very clever twisting, full of shocks ending delivers this book to a four star rating.
TONIGHT WE FIND OUT.
Undercover cop Chris Sketty became a hero when he almost died trying to stop the most brutal terror attack in UK history. With the suspects either dead or missing, the real motive remains a mystery.
But someone is convinced Sketty is a liar.
A criminal mastermind.
A murderer.
Or is he a Hero ?
Blackmailed into revealing the truth, Sketty will share a twisting tale of betrayal, deception and murder...with a revelation so shocking that nothing will be the same again, his story, from the start to the end!
Simon Kernick delivers here a story that is very unique, different from anything I have read.
Sketty injured in the line of duty and praised and created by the press as a hero but he has been slowly robbed of everything he held dear - his family, his career and now he faces yet another ... issue. Not everyone believes his hero status is as deserved as the public may have been led to believe, is he an hero, or was he a bad cop !
14 years after the event DC Chris Sketty is blackmailed by the mysterious Dr Teller into explaining how he became a hero in stopping a serious terrorist attack, because Mr Teller doesn’t believe the official narrative.
So we have the story and for me this was a three star story..... TILL... I reached the last 10% of the book, the very clever twisting, full of shocks ending delivers this book to a four star rating.
December 21, 2021
I’m not sure how much I enjoyed this book and find my review quite difficult to write.. Some parts were absolutely brilliant and the secretive nature of the story was superb but then there were parts I found slow and a bit tedious and fairly unrealistic. It was quite difficult to keep up with all the characters even though they all intertwined. There is also the unanswered question of how one policeman, undercover or not, could get away with killing so many people, whether or not it was in the line of duty. The premise of the story was great and the ending was unexpected although was left open for a sequel. If there was a sequel I would read it as I want to know who is behind it all. Also I’m still not sure if the main character is a Good Cop or Bad Cop.
December 30, 2021
Oh this book is good. Really, really good. You know when characters and story really just grab you and keep your focus from start to finish? This book did that for me. I've had a somewhat turbulent relationship with reading of late, so when I find a book I can essentially start and finish in a day, I take that as a real positive. And that's exactly what happened when I sat down and tucked into Good Cop Bad Cop, Simon Kernick's latest high stakes, high tension offering.
This is the story of former Detective Chris Sketty. Injured in the line of duty and lauded as a hero, he has been slowly robbed of everything he held dear - his family, his career and now he faces yet another ... issue. Not everyone believes his hero status is as deserved as the public may have been led to believe, and that, in a nutshell, is the outline of this book. Confronted by his accuser, who has far more evidence of the past than any member of the public should, Chris Sketty slowly but surely recounts his past. The events which led to that fateful night that changed everything. And he is brutally honest in his account, taking us as readers on a guided tour of his past, and his present, and pushing us to act not only as voyeur, but also sit in judgement as to which side of the law Sketty really operates on.
If only it were that simple. Few things in life ever are, and Simon Kernick has written a tale which is so twisted, in nearly every sense of the word, that it's almost impossible to not start second guessing the motives of the characters, and our own understanding of what is happening. This is a story in which subterfuge is the name of the game, where deception comes as naturally to the central protagonists as breathing. It may not always sit comfortably with them, especially with Sketty, which is, I have to say, some comfort given the nature of the crimes he becomes embroiled in, but the transition from law abiding to something far darker is almost seamless, and at times startling.
I liked the character of Chris Sketty. Simon Kernick has managed to make him sympathetic but retain a kind of edge to his personality. He is quick to temper, and not always able to control his urge to violence, and the more we learn of his past, the easier it is to understand. And yet, although he is not the picture perfect copper by any means, there is a line even he does not wish to cross, although it's fair to say the author has pushed him to his very limits. Whether he is essentially a good guy or if he is the bad cop that his accuser would believe ... well, it's not quite that straightforward. He makes mistakes, with huge implications, and his efforts to do the right thing often result in violence and, a little too often, the ultimate of all ends. But was that due to corruption or ill judgement? You need to read to understand and then make your call.
The tension in this book is pitch perfect. Keeping readers on edge from the very beginning, there is an underlying sense of threat that permeates every chapter. Some of the characters will make your skin crawl. Often you may find yourself astounded by the calls that some of time make, as I often did. It's a story where even the good guys make bad calls, but all in the name of justice. Isn't it? Based around the theme of domestic terrorism, the story is actually multi-dimensional, with so many different threads that the truth is often hard to uncover and even when you think you have a handle on what is happening, don't get comfortable. Simon Kernick is there, ready to lob another fluffing curveball right at your head. And I bloody loved every minute of it.
Although of the book is Chris Sketty's account of the fateful events of 14 years earlier, the transition from his past to the present days works seamlessly. I almost forgot that he was telling a story until we are brought back into the scenes with his accuser. We are fully transported and immersed in the action that is taking place, developing a real sense of time and of space, with the author making us feel as present on the Cliveden Forest estate, as we are in the Oxfordshire mansion of Dr Teller. He gives just enough detail to put us front and centre in the various locations, using setting to enhance and not overwhelm the story. On the estate, the sense of deprivation is essential to setting the tone of what follows, and also in establishing the dynamic in Sketty's new team and used to great effect in driving that particular part of the narrative.
This book is littered with violence, but never played out in a gratuitous to graphic way, the very worst of it kept off the page. What there is drives the story, enhances our sense of right and wrong and colours our opinion of Sketty and what comes to pass. There is a kind of 'Usual Suspects' vibe, Simon Kernick's own take on the Kayser Söze legend, a character who is omnipresent but, much like the movie, almost mythological in status and impossible to pin down. That very fact made me want to keep turning the page, partly to see if justice would be served, maybe for Sketty but most definitely for others, but a larger part of it was to see if the most perplexing of questions that this book asks is ever, finally, answered.
If you want to know if that answer is yes, or no, you'd best grab yourself a copy of the book. Fast paced, and full of mystery, misdirection, tension and conflict, you'd be mad to miss it.
This is the story of former Detective Chris Sketty. Injured in the line of duty and lauded as a hero, he has been slowly robbed of everything he held dear - his family, his career and now he faces yet another ... issue. Not everyone believes his hero status is as deserved as the public may have been led to believe, and that, in a nutshell, is the outline of this book. Confronted by his accuser, who has far more evidence of the past than any member of the public should, Chris Sketty slowly but surely recounts his past. The events which led to that fateful night that changed everything. And he is brutally honest in his account, taking us as readers on a guided tour of his past, and his present, and pushing us to act not only as voyeur, but also sit in judgement as to which side of the law Sketty really operates on.
If only it were that simple. Few things in life ever are, and Simon Kernick has written a tale which is so twisted, in nearly every sense of the word, that it's almost impossible to not start second guessing the motives of the characters, and our own understanding of what is happening. This is a story in which subterfuge is the name of the game, where deception comes as naturally to the central protagonists as breathing. It may not always sit comfortably with them, especially with Sketty, which is, I have to say, some comfort given the nature of the crimes he becomes embroiled in, but the transition from law abiding to something far darker is almost seamless, and at times startling.
I liked the character of Chris Sketty. Simon Kernick has managed to make him sympathetic but retain a kind of edge to his personality. He is quick to temper, and not always able to control his urge to violence, and the more we learn of his past, the easier it is to understand. And yet, although he is not the picture perfect copper by any means, there is a line even he does not wish to cross, although it's fair to say the author has pushed him to his very limits. Whether he is essentially a good guy or if he is the bad cop that his accuser would believe ... well, it's not quite that straightforward. He makes mistakes, with huge implications, and his efforts to do the right thing often result in violence and, a little too often, the ultimate of all ends. But was that due to corruption or ill judgement? You need to read to understand and then make your call.
The tension in this book is pitch perfect. Keeping readers on edge from the very beginning, there is an underlying sense of threat that permeates every chapter. Some of the characters will make your skin crawl. Often you may find yourself astounded by the calls that some of time make, as I often did. It's a story where even the good guys make bad calls, but all in the name of justice. Isn't it? Based around the theme of domestic terrorism, the story is actually multi-dimensional, with so many different threads that the truth is often hard to uncover and even when you think you have a handle on what is happening, don't get comfortable. Simon Kernick is there, ready to lob another fluffing curveball right at your head. And I bloody loved every minute of it.
Although of the book is Chris Sketty's account of the fateful events of 14 years earlier, the transition from his past to the present days works seamlessly. I almost forgot that he was telling a story until we are brought back into the scenes with his accuser. We are fully transported and immersed in the action that is taking place, developing a real sense of time and of space, with the author making us feel as present on the Cliveden Forest estate, as we are in the Oxfordshire mansion of Dr Teller. He gives just enough detail to put us front and centre in the various locations, using setting to enhance and not overwhelm the story. On the estate, the sense of deprivation is essential to setting the tone of what follows, and also in establishing the dynamic in Sketty's new team and used to great effect in driving that particular part of the narrative.
This book is littered with violence, but never played out in a gratuitous to graphic way, the very worst of it kept off the page. What there is drives the story, enhances our sense of right and wrong and colours our opinion of Sketty and what comes to pass. There is a kind of 'Usual Suspects' vibe, Simon Kernick's own take on the Kayser Söze legend, a character who is omnipresent but, much like the movie, almost mythological in status and impossible to pin down. That very fact made me want to keep turning the page, partly to see if justice would be served, maybe for Sketty but most definitely for others, but a larger part of it was to see if the most perplexing of questions that this book asks is ever, finally, answered.
If you want to know if that answer is yes, or no, you'd best grab yourself a copy of the book. Fast paced, and full of mystery, misdirection, tension and conflict, you'd be mad to miss it.
December 30, 2021
This is an great thriller that keeps you on guessing all the way to the end, and even then you are not sure if you really believe that whether Sketty is innocent or guilty, good cop or bad cop. He certainly crossed a few blurred lines. What is the truth?
Chris Sketty has been transferred to a new unit, not entirely of his own choosing, and to make matters worse he is undercover. He would be considered a rat, if his colleagues discovered he was spying on one of their own. Sketty has been tasked with infiltrating a British terrorist organisation, that also includes members of the police, and he needs to befriend one of these and be invited into the organisation. He has to get close to DS Cleaver who is thought to be a member of the terrorist organisation.
Sketty quickly gains a reputation as an excellent team player on his new team, taking down the untouchables of London’s drug gangs. He works closely with Cleaver and they build up a good rapport, especially when tasked at finding a kidnapped child. What happened to get the information stayed strictly between Sketty and Cleaver, or so he thought. The further he gets in with Cleaver the closer he gets to the terror organisation.
When he finally makes contact with the group he is tested a number of times, and it really begins to shake his confidence. Especially when he has to drive someone he would never trust, especially after he sticks a loaded gun in his face. He is worried that he may be facilitating crimes which he cannot tell his superiors, but he does continue.
When Sketty stops a terror attack in a London restaurant begins his slide into a nightmare, which he does not seem to be able to escape from. This is when you start to question whether he really was a good cop or is he really a bad cop? As he tries to get to the truth, discover who Roman is, and who else knows the truth about what happened that night. More importantly the reason or reasons behind the attack. The closer he gets to what he hopes is the truth the body count starts to pile up.
Will he be able to find the truth? Or will he wind up dead? He fights on knowing that death might be the only outcome for him. Whether he is a good cop or a bad cop you will have to read on and find out.
Chris Sketty has been transferred to a new unit, not entirely of his own choosing, and to make matters worse he is undercover. He would be considered a rat, if his colleagues discovered he was spying on one of their own. Sketty has been tasked with infiltrating a British terrorist organisation, that also includes members of the police, and he needs to befriend one of these and be invited into the organisation. He has to get close to DS Cleaver who is thought to be a member of the terrorist organisation.
Sketty quickly gains a reputation as an excellent team player on his new team, taking down the untouchables of London’s drug gangs. He works closely with Cleaver and they build up a good rapport, especially when tasked at finding a kidnapped child. What happened to get the information stayed strictly between Sketty and Cleaver, or so he thought. The further he gets in with Cleaver the closer he gets to the terror organisation.
When he finally makes contact with the group he is tested a number of times, and it really begins to shake his confidence. Especially when he has to drive someone he would never trust, especially after he sticks a loaded gun in his face. He is worried that he may be facilitating crimes which he cannot tell his superiors, but he does continue.
When Sketty stops a terror attack in a London restaurant begins his slide into a nightmare, which he does not seem to be able to escape from. This is when you start to question whether he really was a good cop or is he really a bad cop? As he tries to get to the truth, discover who Roman is, and who else knows the truth about what happened that night. More importantly the reason or reasons behind the attack. The closer he gets to what he hopes is the truth the body count starts to pile up.
Will he be able to find the truth? Or will he wind up dead? He fights on knowing that death might be the only outcome for him. Whether he is a good cop or a bad cop you will have to read on and find out.
December 22, 2021
What a nail-biting thriller. I was invested in Sketty as a character. A likeable, seemingly reckless detective with a sad past who nevertheless seemed to do what he thought was the right thing at the time but did he? How reliable is Sketty's version of events? Simon Kernick made me doubt my impression of the book's characters at times. I found this a real page turner. A brilliant ending too which still left me guessing. It made me really think about what is going on in the real world, the control some people hold over us and who is complicit in this. Fantastic book!
Merged review:
What a nail-biting thriller. I was invested in Sketty as a character. A likeable, seemingly reckless detective with a sad past who nevertheless seemed to do what he thought was the right thing at the time but did he? How reliable is Sketty's version of events? Simon Kernick made me doubt my impression of the book's characters at times. I found this a real page turner. A brilliant ending too which still left me guessing. It made me really think about what is going on in the real world, the control some people hold over us and who is complicit in this. Fantastic book!
Merged review:
What a nail-biting thriller. I was invested in Sketty as a character. A likeable, seemingly reckless detective with a sad past who nevertheless seemed to do what he thought was the right thing at the time but did he? How reliable is Sketty's version of events? Simon Kernick made me doubt my impression of the book's characters at times. I found this a real page turner. A brilliant ending too which still left me guessing. It made me really think about what is going on in the real world, the control some people hold over us and who is complicit in this. Fantastic book!
December 18, 2021
I absolutely loved this book.
How the book is mostly narrated by the main character Chris Sketty reminded me of a 1940'2 film noir.
Right up until the end the reader is taken on a rollercoaster of opinions as to whether Sketty is Good or Bad. I kept changing my mind the whole time as the body count around him kept rising.
If you loved the TV drama Line of Duty then this book will be right up your street, or should I say dark alley.
I read this as part of an online book club read along and everyone seems to have loved it.
Thanks to Netgally, the publishers and The Book Club for a free copy in return for a honest review.
How the book is mostly narrated by the main character Chris Sketty reminded me of a 1940'2 film noir.
Right up until the end the reader is taken on a rollercoaster of opinions as to whether Sketty is Good or Bad. I kept changing my mind the whole time as the body count around him kept rising.
If you loved the TV drama Line of Duty then this book will be right up your street, or should I say dark alley.
I read this as part of an online book club read along and everyone seems to have loved it.
Thanks to Netgally, the publishers and The Book Club for a free copy in return for a honest review.
January 25, 2023
I didn't enjoy it as much as I had expected to.
July 8, 2022
The story begins with ex DC Chris Sketty being interviewed by Dr Teller, a doctor of anthrozoology, whose wife died fourteen years ago at something known as the Villa Amalfi massacre. He believes that Chris is a manipulative killer, a monster. Chris relates the story starting fifteen years ago. His young daughter has died and he has split up with his wife. Now he is looking likely to be thrown out of SO11 (the Met’s Organised Crime Branch) for manhandling a suspect in an arrest and is offered the chance of moving to Counter Terrorism Command working under cover for them. They are trying to catch a man suspected of financing and equipping extremist groups and suspect DS Baz Cleaver working for the Gang Intelligence Unit to be involved. Chris is given a job working alongside Baz and told to get incriminating information on him. Soon he finds himself helping to torture information out of a paedophile when a young girl goes missing but getting a confession and finding the girl makes it ok – right? Also “Bonkers” Sketty seems to be enjoying himself. As a result, Cleaver recruits him and Sketty finally has a chance to infiltrate the group but soon finds himself complicit in a killing and trapped with no way out. Having made a fatal error in not reporting back to his handler, things can only get worse. And they do. He is soon brought in a job as a driver but it turns into something far far worse, leaving ten people dead and many injured, including police officers. Injured himself and suffering from PTSD eventually Chris is retired on health grounds. But now, fourteen years later someone is trying to discover the real reason for the supposed terrorist attack and someone else is very intent on covering it up at all costs. Battling through numerous twists and an explosive ending, and not knowing who he can trust, Chris, a man with a limp and a destroyed life, is now on a mission to reveal the truth, whatever the cost.
Wow! This is an absolutely superbly thrilling book from start to finish. I was hooked on Chris’s story from the very first page and loved his character as an essentially good man put in some terrible and impossible situations. With loads of action and a lead character that the reader will love, it’s a huge 5+ star read which I can thoroughly recommend! 5*
Wow! This is an absolutely superbly thrilling book from start to finish. I was hooked on Chris’s story from the very first page and loved his character as an essentially good man put in some terrible and impossible situations. With loads of action and a lead character that the reader will love, it’s a huge 5+ star read which I can thoroughly recommend! 5*
October 29, 2021
This was an absolute nail biter by Simon Kernick and I couldn't wait for it to finish - in a good way, not a bad way.
Chris Sketty is a former police officer summoned to the house of a mysterious man. Sketty previously foiled a terrorist attack and was considered a hero for doing so. However not everyone believes Sketty is a hero...some believe he was involved in the attack.
Blackmailed by the mysterious man, Sketty spends the night telling the story of what really happened during the course of the events leading up to the attack, the role he played and how the events really transpired.....belt up for a hell of a ride and you can finally find out whether Sketty is a good cop or a bad cop.
I really enjoyed this one and loved the structure of the story. Set in the present day Sketty is forced to relive past events which are revealed through flashbacks. I did think there could have been more of the story set in the present day between Sketty and the mysterious man and that was the only thing that prevented me giving this 5 stars.
However if you like a thrilling story with a dramatic and satisfying ending then this is the book for you.
Thanks to Headline and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Chris Sketty is a former police officer summoned to the house of a mysterious man. Sketty previously foiled a terrorist attack and was considered a hero for doing so. However not everyone believes Sketty is a hero...some believe he was involved in the attack.
Blackmailed by the mysterious man, Sketty spends the night telling the story of what really happened during the course of the events leading up to the attack, the role he played and how the events really transpired.....belt up for a hell of a ride and you can finally find out whether Sketty is a good cop or a bad cop.
I really enjoyed this one and loved the structure of the story. Set in the present day Sketty is forced to relive past events which are revealed through flashbacks. I did think there could have been more of the story set in the present day between Sketty and the mysterious man and that was the only thing that prevented me giving this 5 stars.
However if you like a thrilling story with a dramatic and satisfying ending then this is the book for you.
Thanks to Headline and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 7, 2021
Reading Stuff 'n' Things
Simon Kernick never disappoints and here we have yet another nail-biting, tense and enthralling thriller from one of my favourite authors.
Just what did happen on that fateful day 14 years ago and what part did DC Chris Sketty have in it? Is he the hero everyone thinks he is or is he the ultimate betrayer?
Written in flashbacks and in the present, this book goes behind the headlines into the murky world of cops investigating cops, gangs and terrorism and what really happened on that fateful day BUT who can you trust? Is Sketty spinning a yarn or is he just dreadfully unlucky?
With a great plot, fast paced and great characters, although not many are particularly likeable, this is a book that I devoured in quick time such was the pull of the story and my need to find out just what the heck happened and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.
From start to finish, this is a winner for me and I must thank Headline via NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
Simon Kernick never disappoints and here we have yet another nail-biting, tense and enthralling thriller from one of my favourite authors.
Just what did happen on that fateful day 14 years ago and what part did DC Chris Sketty have in it? Is he the hero everyone thinks he is or is he the ultimate betrayer?
Written in flashbacks and in the present, this book goes behind the headlines into the murky world of cops investigating cops, gangs and terrorism and what really happened on that fateful day BUT who can you trust? Is Sketty spinning a yarn or is he just dreadfully unlucky?
With a great plot, fast paced and great characters, although not many are particularly likeable, this is a book that I devoured in quick time such was the pull of the story and my need to find out just what the heck happened and I wasn't disappointed in the slightest.
From start to finish, this is a winner for me and I must thank Headline via NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.
October 31, 2021
Simon Kernick really does know how to write a page turner. Most of his books are set within the British Police and often use a repeating set of characters. This is set in the Police but fans of his many great characters will not find any of them appearing. Instead we have a Detective Constable recruited to help source a mysterious bad guy who seems to be behind a lot of terrorist activity. Getting even close to him will take DC Sketty close to the edge and maybe into the dark side himself. As the book unravels you find yourself unsure of him and his motives and what the truth of the matter is. And that keeps you turning the pages.
Mr Kernick started off his thrillers with the excellent Business of Dying featuring a policeman who is also an assassin and this kind of hits that same spot, someone trying to cope with secrets and changing circumstances. It’s a violent and brutal read at times with a finish that will have you thinking.
Great stuff.
Mr Kernick started off his thrillers with the excellent Business of Dying featuring a policeman who is also an assassin and this kind of hits that same spot, someone trying to cope with secrets and changing circumstances. It’s a violent and brutal read at times with a finish that will have you thinking.
Great stuff.
October 30, 2021
Good cop, bad cop is a pulse racing thriller that kept me up a few good hours last night.
The transitions between past and present were so smoothly done that I got so entrained and loved this book so much. I wanted to know the truth as well and more so after each chapter shows a new layer of lies and mischief, hidden secrets that come out when some people thought they were really deep buried and I couldn’t stop reading honestly.
I can’t say I got close to any of the characters but I did cheered up on both Cleverly and Sketty to show up and tell the truth of what happened 14 years ago and if there’s any relation with the present investigation.
Once again, the author has showed why his books are so great and high praised because this one is definitely a must read.
The transitions between past and present were so smoothly done that I got so entrained and loved this book so much. I wanted to know the truth as well and more so after each chapter shows a new layer of lies and mischief, hidden secrets that come out when some people thought they were really deep buried and I couldn’t stop reading honestly.
I can’t say I got close to any of the characters but I did cheered up on both Cleverly and Sketty to show up and tell the truth of what happened 14 years ago and if there’s any relation with the present investigation.
Once again, the author has showed why his books are so great and high praised because this one is definitely a must read.
November 7, 2022
This had me hooked right from the start! Over the course of an evening, Chris is blackmailed into recounting what happened in the lead up of his most heroic act as a police officer - stopping a terror attack. I thought the storytelling was fantastic & it had me on the edge of my seat. Was Chris a good cop or was he a bad cop, or was he just unlucky? Going undercover into a gang unit to get an in with a shadowy organisation aiding various criminal elements leads to many cliffhangers in Chris’ story & had me saying just one more chapter at the end of each chapter. I was constantly chasing my mind about Chris and whoever else was involved, so I was shocked by the ending. This was a fast paced & gripping read that I struggled to put down.
December 20, 2021
A little disappointed
I’ve read most if not all of Simon Kernick’s books.but whilst this is a good story it’s not the book I’ve enjoyed the most. I thought the book took a while to get into but then the story gathered pace. It’s written in the first person but from two different viewpoints (two characters) 14 years or so apart. There’s a really great dramatic piece which feels like the crescendo with a shooting at the restaurant which feels like the end of the book but in some respects only just starting. Although it’s a real page turner, the ending feels rushed and a little disappointing. Still 4 stars because it’s Simon Kernick, but it’s different to his usual stuff.
I’ve read most if not all of Simon Kernick’s books.but whilst this is a good story it’s not the book I’ve enjoyed the most. I thought the book took a while to get into but then the story gathered pace. It’s written in the first person but from two different viewpoints (two characters) 14 years or so apart. There’s a really great dramatic piece which feels like the crescendo with a shooting at the restaurant which feels like the end of the book but in some respects only just starting. Although it’s a real page turner, the ending feels rushed and a little disappointing. Still 4 stars because it’s Simon Kernick, but it’s different to his usual stuff.
January 9, 2023
A furious and clever plot, makes this a simple pleasure to read. A bereaved policeman accepts an undercover mission to root out far right corruption in the police force. Needless to say he is over his head in next to no time. Subject to such a punishing pace of reveals, twists and various cavorting that you wince for him.
All good with a plot that really is a cut above. However the originality of plot is tarnished by the execution. With some rather glaring holes, and above a written style where the characters are constantly expounding on what is going on - there is an awful lot of tell and not a lot of show.
All good with a plot that really is a cut above. However the originality of plot is tarnished by the execution. With some rather glaring holes, and above a written style where the characters are constantly expounding on what is going on - there is an awful lot of tell and not a lot of show.
February 28, 2022
A tense book with a lot of twists. I also liked the element of questioning what is it appropriate for an undercover officer to do to keep the cover up.
December 11, 2024
What a thrilling roller coaster of a book!!!!! Such a brilliant read, and quite thought provoking.. . This could be happening in real life, maybe....
Read it!!!!
Read it!!!!
March 15, 2024
Fast paced page turner, the secretive nature of the plot keeps you invested leading to an interesting finale
January 21, 2023
I struggled to get through this book and almost left it unfinished multiple times, but it was gifted to me, so I struggled on. I wasn't going to leave a review, but this book currently averages 4.13 stars, and I feel like bringing it down a little out of spite.
The characters were all extremely shallow and predictable, almost as if they were based entirely on stereotypes. The decisions made by the characters felt as if they were made only to move forward with the plot and prolong the book. It started strong, and I had high hopes, but once it started to fizzle out, it didn't stop fizzling out. Not one character was likeable (other than Trevor, the cat), and I know that doesn't always matter, but it felt like I was supposed to be sorry for Sketty, and I just felt nothing but annoyance towards him. Sketty's constant justification of his brutality and violence made it extremely difficult to feel anything positive towards him.
Having said all that, the book wasn't TERRIBLE; the fast-paced scenes were well-written and page-turning - I just didn't care for their outcome. The ending was also disappointing - a cliffhanger I'll have to live with never finding out - and towards the end, it was confusing who was telling the story. I can't give it one star, because I'll feel bad, and I did sit there and read the whole thing - regardless of how long it took and the thoughts of leaving it - so I'll give it two.
The characters were all extremely shallow and predictable, almost as if they were based entirely on stereotypes. The decisions made by the characters felt as if they were made only to move forward with the plot and prolong the book. It started strong, and I had high hopes, but once it started to fizzle out, it didn't stop fizzling out. Not one character was likeable (other than Trevor, the cat), and I know that doesn't always matter, but it felt like I was supposed to be sorry for Sketty, and I just felt nothing but annoyance towards him. Sketty's constant justification of his brutality and violence made it extremely difficult to feel anything positive towards him.
Having said all that, the book wasn't TERRIBLE; the fast-paced scenes were well-written and page-turning - I just didn't care for their outcome. The ending was also disappointing - a cliffhanger I'll have to live with never finding out - and towards the end, it was confusing who was telling the story. I can't give it one star, because I'll feel bad, and I did sit there and read the whole thing - regardless of how long it took and the thoughts of leaving it - so I'll give it two.
December 31, 2021
Chris Sketty spends a lot of time thinking about the before and after of events that have defined his life, his choices and the paths he decides to take along the way. It takes him a while to comprehend that many of those have been manipulated and mapped out for him. Knowing his predictable behaviour patterns have made it easier for others to do so - or do they?
He is a good guy with a great reputation, a hero. He is also self-assured and determined to outwit the man who has invited him into his home under false pretences. The truth will out. Or will it be a version of the truth?
It's a combination of psychological crime with a taste of urban, and it's all tinged with the flavour of corruption. Kernick has his character straddle the black, white and all the grey areas at the same time. That sense of instability, doubt and battle with the remnants of a conscience - it's all just a little too close to reality for comfort.
It's a fast-paced crime read, which will probably keep you guessing and doubting until the end. What's the difference between good or bad when the two are so closely intertwined.
He is a good guy with a great reputation, a hero. He is also self-assured and determined to outwit the man who has invited him into his home under false pretences. The truth will out. Or will it be a version of the truth?
It's a combination of psychological crime with a taste of urban, and it's all tinged with the flavour of corruption. Kernick has his character straddle the black, white and all the grey areas at the same time. That sense of instability, doubt and battle with the remnants of a conscience - it's all just a little too close to reality for comfort.
It's a fast-paced crime read, which will probably keep you guessing and doubting until the end. What's the difference between good or bad when the two are so closely intertwined.
January 28, 2022
A twisty engaging thriller where we don’t know who to trust. The main question that remains unanswered throughout the book is whether former detective Chris Sketty is a good guy who happens to find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time or is he part of something more sinister.
We see events unfold from Sketty’s point of view but we can’t be quite sure if he is telling it like it really is. The book moves on at great pace and When Sketty is part of an undercover mission that doesn’t turn out the way it’s planned we are left wondering does Sketty know more about what happened than he is letting on and is he really the hero of the hour. Years later when people from his past and a journalist try to uncover what actually happened Sketty finds himself in danger and so do those around him.
An engaging book with a flawed but likeable main character.
We see events unfold from Sketty’s point of view but we can’t be quite sure if he is telling it like it really is. The book moves on at great pace and When Sketty is part of an undercover mission that doesn’t turn out the way it’s planned we are left wondering does Sketty know more about what happened than he is letting on and is he really the hero of the hour. Years later when people from his past and a journalist try to uncover what actually happened Sketty finds himself in danger and so do those around him.
An engaging book with a flawed but likeable main character.
December 30, 2021
I am hoping and praying that they will bring this one to the screen, as a fan of Line of Duty I would absolutely lap it up!
Was Chris Sketty good or bad? We can only judge his version of the story which was, under duress, vividly told to Doctor Ralph Teller. I was totally immersed in this book - intriguing, gritty and a rollercoaster of a read which was gripping and had me changing my mind throughout the narrative about whether this complex, flawed and unreliable man was a hero or a heartless calculating villain. To top it all the author then treats us to an absolutely brilliant ending which totally blindsided me.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this addictive stand-alone thriller.
Was Chris Sketty good or bad? We can only judge his version of the story which was, under duress, vividly told to Doctor Ralph Teller. I was totally immersed in this book - intriguing, gritty and a rollercoaster of a read which was gripping and had me changing my mind throughout the narrative about whether this complex, flawed and unreliable man was a hero or a heartless calculating villain. To top it all the author then treats us to an absolutely brilliant ending which totally blindsided me.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this addictive stand-alone thriller.
November 17, 2021
Unusual format of this book made it an interesting and gripping read - story telling from different people and different times - the end was a bit disappointing though.
December 6, 2021
Absolutely brilliant.
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