Simon Kernick - The Payback

review by showhost
This is his latest book and another roller coaster of a read albeit a little ‘James Bondish’ in parts especially at the end on the island.
The main character is Dennis Milne, who made his appearance in SK’s first book ‘The business of Dying’. He was a corrupt copper who would kill the bad guys for a fee.
Now he is living in south East Asia on his ill gotten gains, still wanted by Interpol for murder for the past 10 years but is still a gun for hire.
He tries to justify his killings by telling himself his victims deserved to die but when he is asked to kill Tina Boyd, a DI in the British Police force, his conscience pricks him..
Tina Boyd is another character we have met in SK’s previous books, unpredictable, gutsy, suffers with alcoholism but on the right side of the law.
Tina is unofficially chasing the perp Paul Wise who had evaded British justice too often, for murder & child paedophilia and the murder of her lover. Attempts had recently been made on Tina’s life at the request of Paul Wise.
Tina’s quest had taken her to the Philippines and unexpectedly, Dennis Milne. When Dennis Milne realises he has been given contracts on innocent people and that his boss may be the perp Paul Wise, he joins forces, albeit an uneasy alliance, with Tina to bring the paedo ring to an end.
Tina doesn’t agree with Milnes ethics, he is a cold blooded killer but she needs him as an ally and Milne needs to try and make amends to himself, for the wrongs he has done.
It has been a good holiday read, fast and furious. Its payback time! In fact this review was written on a beach on a hot windy day in Feurteventura (Caleta De Fuste), in December.