Published by Zaffre Books an imprint of Bonnier Books on 9th July 2020. It is available in paperback, ebook and audiobook. My thanks to the author and the publisher for the review copy.
Gangs of London meets Martina Cole in this gripping thriller of betrayal and survival in a world where one mistake could cost you everything.
YOU THINK YOU'RE FREE, BUT THEY'LL NEVER LET YOU LEAVE . . .
Twenty years ago, Jon Kavanagh worked for a crime syndicate.
Then one night he made a mistake.
He left a witness at a crime scene. Alive.
Now, he is haunted by the memories of that young girl. Her face a constant reminder of the life he chose to leave behind. Time has passed and now he wants answers: What ever happened to her?
Anna Hill is an aspiring singer, but the bars and clubs she works in are far from exciting. When she is given the opportunity to work in Portugal, she takes it. This is her chance to finally kick-start her career.
But the job offer comes at a price; one that will endanger the lives of those she knows, and those she doesn't. Becoming involved with the Syndicate is risky, and Anna will need her instincts to work out who to trust - and who not to . . .
'One of my reads of the year' DAVID JACKSON
'A gripping story that builds to a stunning conclusion. Kavanagh is a complex and original creation; a man haunted by his past and living on borrowed time' HOWARD LINSKEY
'Truly sinuous suspense that when you think you've got it worked out, has a resolution that snaps back and bites' KATE BRADLEY
My Thoughts:
The Syndicate is the fourth novel by G.J.Minett and the first I have read. I did have Graham as a guest on my Monday Musing series way back in 2016. If you want to read that piece you can do so here. I don't read that much gangland fiction and at first I wasn't sure that I was the right reader for The Syndicate but my fears were allayed as The Syndicate was excellent.
Jon Kavanagh is an ex military man. When he was injured he left the military and went under the wing of Maurice, Crime boss and head of The Syndicate. Jon Kavanagh allows a witness to live, a young girl and The Syndicate do not rate Jon Kavanagh highly for this. He needs to get out, his heart isn't in it, although leaving for good is easier said than done.
What follows is years later and is really an exploration of peace of mind for Jon Kavanagh who seems to seek redemption and salvation. He also wants to know what happened to that little girl whose face he cannot forget even all the years later. The question is though will The Syndicate let him forget.
Jon Kavanagh as a character is a revelation and is the star of the show. Gritty and complex, haunted by his past and unsure of his future. I was absolutely mesmerised by him and the subtle observations by the author about how the events that can happen can shape and change us.
The settings of Durdle Door and Praia D'El Rey were particularly well written and they really made me feel as if I was there in amongst the action.
I found The Syndicate to be more psychological than gangland and for that I was pleased. A highly enjoyable read and well worth the change of pace.
About the Author:
Graham Minett studied Languages at Churchill College, Cambridge before teaching for several years in Gloucestershire and West Sussex. In 2008 he completed a part-time MA in Creative Writing at the University of Chichester and subsequently won both the inaugural Segora short story competition in 2008 and the Chapter One competition in 2010. The latter consisted of the opening sections of what would eventually become his debut novel, The Hidden Legacy. This was followed by Lie In Wait and Anything For Her and his fourth novel, The Syndicate, is scheduled for publication in July 2020. Now writing full-time, he is published by Bonnier Zaffre and represented by Lisa Moylett of Coombs Moylett Maclean Literary Agency. He lives in West Sussex with his wife and children.
You can find the author on Twitter: @GJMinett or on his website: https://gjminett.com/graham-minett/
No comments:
Post a Comment