Steve Hamilton is an acclaimed mystery writer, one of only two writers to win an Edgar for both Best First Novel and Best Novel, and winning or receiving multiple nominations for virtually every other crime writing award. This was a bestseller, and the quotes on the jacket from Harlan Coben, Lee Child, Michael Connelly and Don Winslow told me which neighbourhood we were in, so I expected a great start to a new series.
Stop me if you've heard this one before: a low level criminal is caught in a sting operation and framed for a felony homicide he didn't commit. His 25 year sentence is reduced to nil when the leader of Chicago's underworld pulls strings to set him free - he is also incarcerated but is powerful enough to run the prison and the city from his cell. Nick Mason is given a luxurious townhouse, cash, freedom, and access to several pristine classic muscle cars. The catch is at any time his cell phone will ring and he must do whatever is asked; he is now an indebted mob hitman. Catch two: his targets are a secret cabal of crooked cops buried within the police system. While he wrestles with his conscience, he spends a lot of time trying to reunite with his ex-wife and young daughter, finds time for dating and romance, kills some people, and tries to find a way out. He may not, because this is the start of a new series (Exit Strategy is the follow-up).
This is not covering new territory, so it is up to the writer to inject something that will keep me hooked. I am a series addict, so was ready to follow this up before I even read it. For me, this was rote. Definitely well written and solid all around, but so similar to other thrillers starring conflicted rogues that it didn't impress. It's not surprising that this first edition hardcover already advertises "soon to be a major motion picture", because it has that same formula you've seen before.
If you like Lee Child, you are going to like this, and I did.
But then, this is not better than any Jack Reacher novel.
Entertaining, but I won't continue the series.
2016 / Hardcover / 288 pages
Comments