Down Among The Dead Men – Kerry Wilkinson

Down Among The Dead Men 

I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book as an ARC and first of all thanks go to the author for the pleasure and privilege. 

Down Among The Dead Men is due for release on 22nd October 2015

Blurb

‘I’m going to do you a favour: I’m going to tell you my name and then I’m going to give you thirty seconds to turn and run. If any of you are still here after those thirty seconds, then we’re going to have a problem.’

Jason Green’s life is changed for good after he is saved from a mugging by crime boss Harry Irwell. From there, he is drawn into Manchester’s underworld, where stomping into a newsagents and smashing the place up is as normal as making a cup of tea.

But Jason isn’t a casual thug: he has a plan that doesn’t involve blowing his money on the usual trappings. That is until a woman walks into his life offering one thing that money can’t buy – salvation.

My review

Wasn’t sure what to expect when I received this book for review but have to say Kerry has done it again.  This is an excellent stand-alone read and one that has allowed me to get my reading mojo back (have been picking up books and reading them and enjoying but this author yet again as usual had me HOOKED).  

Jason Green would be the guy you walked past in the street, a normal guy who doesn’t stand out in a crowd. He is ordinary but unbeknown to some inhabits a shady criminal underworld and therefore does not want or wish to be noticed.  He doesn’t make friends easily and has a group of people he relies on.  

However, someone has noticed him and someone will go out of their way to ensure Jason helps them. 

The story is told across a period of 11 years and you are treated to flashbacks in the story behind Jason Green, the boy he was and the man he is becoming. 

You have his rescuer, Harry Irwell (who is a name you know through organised crime), Harry’s right hand man “Carter” along with other people that Harry relies on.  You have Harry’s rival (or are they) Richard Hyde along with Jason’s brother Chris and his mum.  You are made to feel sorry for Jason in one step and unsure of where your loyalties will lie in another.  

The book had me hooked and has been read in a week (which lately with a family and a full time job) can be hard work.  However yet again Kerry Wilkinson has done it and yet again I am left waiting patiently for the next book.    Kerry has a flare for (in my honest opinion) of providing books with unexpected endings.  I have questions which are left unanswered and left to draw my own assumptions of how things conclude.  This is a book that has the potential to be made into a series but is excellent as a stand-alone read. 

My rating is 5 / 5.