The dark, gritty underbelly of London is split open to let the bloody entrails of undercover policemen, informers, drugs, big money, gun battles and revenge spill forth.  This is noir urban crime, tough stuff.  It’s his second with number three coming into hardback at the same time, A Good Day, and number one, The Murder Exchange, not to be missed.

Comparison: Reginald Hill, Jake Arnott, Ian Rankin.
Similar this month: Peter Robinson, Susan Hill.

Comparison: Ian Rankin, Peter James, Reginald Hill
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Synopsis

When Operation Surgical Strike goes horribly wrong, suspicion quickly falls on one of the officers involved: ‘Stegs’ Jenner. No ordinary undercover cop, Stegs is a man who’s always lived life on the edge.Now he decides to go it alone.

DI John Gallan and his partner DS Tina Boyd are part of the subsequent investigation that will take them to the heart of one of London’s most notorious criminal gangs. What they cannot know is that they’ve also embarked on a collision path that will lead one of them straight into the rifle sights of the enemy.

Reviews

‘Kernick generates a potent cocktail of thrills that makes contemporary London feel like Dodge City’
Guardian

‘If you still think that real criminals are anything but cruel, vicious and vile – here’s the corrective’
Literary Review

‘Gripping and thought provoking…Kernick weaves his web with the assurance of a seasoned professional’

Time Out

About the Author

Simon Kernick was our Guest Editor in February 2010 - click here - to see the books that inspired his writing.   Simon Kernick is one of Britain's most exciting new thriller writers. He arrived on the scene with his highly acclaimed debut novel The Business of Dying, and his big breakthrough came with his novel Relentless which became the bestselling thriller of 2007. Simon's research is what makes his thrillers so authentic. He talks both on and off the record to members of Special Branch, the Anti-Terrorist Branch and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, so he gets to hear first hand what actually happens in the dark and murky underbelly of UK crime.   Author photo © Johnny Ring More books by this author Author 'Like for Like' recommendation