Not without it's faults but still an entertaining, gritty and gripping crime tale. ( )

i rarely stop reading a book. Probably a bad practice. But I quit this one. Couldn't find any redeeming value anywhere.

Oddly enough, I had picked up this book by accident, thinking it was Iain Banks' work (sci-fi). Turns out I couldn't really have been farther from the mark, but... it was a good mistake to make. I've been looking for this kind of protagonist for awhile (ever since I ran out of Jack Reacher or Matt Scudder books to read).

This one reads a lot like the Scudder books, actually, not so much like the Reacher ones since there is a bit less justice-by-toe-of-boot than there would have to be to compete with Reacher. The protagonist is trying to solve a mystery while fighting his past, and his alcohol use, and the bad guys in his way.

All in all it is a pleasant little violent book with a mostly satisfying ending and a protagonist that I will follow into his future escapades. It does have a British setting which means some of the things they say sound odd to a North American ear, but you can get the gist of what they mean. Specifically, one of the bad(der) guys speaks of himself in the plural - us - which might make a North American think he's a little nuts, when, actually, this is not really that uncommon an activity in certain regions and is a sign of upbringing more than a sign of insanity. ( )

Great book - described as a crime thriller but that doesn't do it justice. Read it the same day and it's a long time since i've done that. Base on an ex prisoner's investigations for an underworold boss. Based in Manchester,England. ( )