Simon Kernick's debut novel introduces DS Dennis Milne, a tough, jaded, boozing cop with a sharp mind but flexible morals. Milne has a sideline to earn some extra cash. He's paid by criminals to kill other criminals. Things get a little complex when he has to investigate a triple murder he's just committed. He discovers the dead men he killed were two customs agents and an accountant, which doesn't jibe with what he was told when he accepted the contract. In his legitimate job, Dennis is also investigating the death of a young girl found by the side of a canal. Eventually these two cases will be connected and Dennis will be in the uncomfortable position of being the hunter and hunted at the same time. The result will turn into Dennis's worse nightmare as he becomes a man with no place to hide.

I loved the dark nature of this book. Dennis Milne is definitely not a “good guy”. He is an assassin with a simple code of conduct: kill the bad guys that the police can't get legitimately and pocket some cash for his trouble. As the story unfolds you find yourself rooting for him and then questioning whether you should be. He is a great character, considering he is a bad cop. This was my first Simon Kernick novel and I just loved his style. I rushed out and got four more. If you enjoy a good thriller I would highly recommend any of them. ( )

This was Simon Kernick's first book as an author and was a good honest attempt, which was very enjoyable to read. He is one of my favourite suspense authors but do know that other books he wrote later on build on this early promise. This was a very unique take on a story with a Detective a Sergeant (Dennis Milne) being a hit man! Read and enjoy. ( )

“Three murders and now we got a witness.” Dennis and Danny have just finished shooting three hoodlums behind a house. Dennis is Detective Sergeant Milne and he kills criminals. In this case at the behest of criminals.

DS Milne is also a very tenacious cop and is in the midst of an investigation into the death of Miriam Fox. He has reason to suspect that the pimp all the evidence points to may not be the actual killer; something just doesn’t seem right, especially as another runaway has disappeared and is presumed to have been killed. Everyone else is just thrilled to close out the case.

But things are beginning to spiral out of control as the witness to his killing (the supposed bad guys turn out to be Customs officers) has managed to produce an ID-drawing that remarkably resembles Milne and Raymond, the guy who ordered and paid for the hit, now wants to tie up loose ends.

Excellent novel. I will definitely read more from this author. ( )

Simon Kernick's debut novel introduces DS Dennis Milne, a tough, jaded, boozing cop with a sharp mind but flexible morals. Milne has a sideline to earn some extra cash. He's paid by criminals to kill other criminals. Things get a little complex when he has to investigate a triple murder he's just committed. He discovers the dead men he killed were two customs agents and an accountant, which doesn't jibe with what he was told when he accepted the contract. In his legitimate job, Dennis is also investigating the death of a young girl found by the side of a canal. Eventually these two cases will be connected and Dennis will be in the uncomfortable position of being the hunter and hunted at the same time. The result will turn into Dennis's worse nightmare as he becomes a man with no place to hide.

I loved the dark nature of this book. Dennis Milne is definitely not a “good guy”. He is an assassin with a simple code of conduct: kill the bad guys that the police can't get legitimately and pocket some cash for his trouble. As the story unfolds you find yourself rooting for him and then questioning whether you should be. He is a great character, considering he is a bad cop. This was my first Simon Kernick novel and I just loved his style. I rushed out and got four more. If you enjoy a good thriller I would highly recommend any of them. ( )

Very readable, but not enough to make me want to read more of his books particularly. I see there's a sequel now so if I see it maybe.... ( )