Mallory is an ex-UK Special Forces soldier on the loose after a disastrous operation in Afghanistan. He feels guilty after his friend Donno is left in a coma with a brain injury. Donny’s mother asks Mallory to help find his missing brother in South Africa. The job allows Mallory to assuage his guilt, find renewed purpose, apply his considerable skills and to direct his anger and rage at an appropriate target of evil people.

This is Middleton’s first novel and the character of Mallory is clearly drawn from his own experiences and background in Special Forces. Mallory is well-drawn and interestingly complex, but the other characters are little more than cyphers. The action predominates and is exciting and original. The global locations are hardly mentioned so we have little feel for place. The several loose ends suggest this is the first of a series.

This is a good thriller and a fine opener to a series where we hope we can see characters, plot and place develop into something richer. ( )