Simon Kernick

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 show more 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. show less

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 show more 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. show less

Handel med döden är spännande från första sidan. Jag håller inte med Uffeman att man inte får sympati med huvudpersonen eftersom han både är polis och mördare, tvärt om så får han min sympati. Jag gillar böcker där allt inte är svart eller vit, där onda handlingar kan utgöras av goda och sympatiska människor, för just så är det i livet, inget är självklart. Jag är ingen kriminalroman älskare men är en bok bra så spelar det ingen roll vilket genre den tillhör.
Jag show more kan helt klart tänka mig att fortsätta läsa Simon Kernicks böcker efter denna. show less

Stay Alive starts off when Amanda Rowan arrives home earlier than expected to discover her husband and his mistress have been murdered in her bed. She hears noise and realizes the killer is still there which sets off a thrilling chase out the window and through the woods. She barely escapes from a man the police think is a serial killer known as The Disciple. The Disciple chooses isolated homes like Amanda’s, where he tortures his victims before using their blood to smear Satanic symbols show more on the walls. Amanda is the only person to ever have seen him so the police decide to move her to an isolated safe house in Scotland while DCS Mike Bolt does his best to catch the elusive killer.

It turns out the safe house isn’t safe at all and Amanda finds herself on the run again, pursued by gunmen who seem to want to take her alive, while ruthlessly killing anyone who gets in their way. When Amanda crashes into the middle of a family canoe trip, Jess Grainger and her family do their best to help, but they’re no match for the killers who are after Amanda.

Stay Alive is a heart thumping page turner that I just couldn't put down. Every time I thought we were slowing down, Simon Kernick would ramp up the action again with a set of brilliant twists and turns. This was my second Simon Kernick thriller and I'm picking up more of his books. If you haven't given him a try I highly recommend Stay Alive. show less