yasdnilr's review
3.0
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT YOU BASTARDS
Also was this edited? Because Ray contradicts himself - were you or were you not a smoker, Ray????
Also was this edited? Because Ray contradicts himself - were you or were you not a smoker, Ray????
snoakes7001's review
4.0
In The Bone Field, Simon Kernick serves us up another helping of highly entertaining nonsense. Fans will be happy that plenty of characters from the previous books (such as Tina Boyd) are back. The plot has its roots in the horrific trade of human trafficking, but it fast descends into a marvellously ludicrous and unlikely setup with plenty of thrills and spills.
All in all it's an undemanding and riveting page-turner - but be warned, it ends with the most preposterous cliffhanger that will have you clamouring for the next book in the series.
All in all it's an undemanding and riveting page-turner - but be warned, it ends with the most preposterous cliffhanger that will have you clamouring for the next book in the series.
kirsty147's review
3.0
I like Simon Kernick, I really do, but this wasn't one of his slickest novels. The writing was off somehow, particularly at the end of chapters where Kernick seems to have got into the habit of ending with a sentence that basically says 'this is important, take note, something will happen next ...' The reader is not that stupid. Ending chapters like this is very much an amateur thing to do. I'm surprised at Kernick.
I had several moments of disbelief when reading, too. When Charlotte had found the surveillance camera in her home, been warned there were more and the bad guys are watching, she then goes and starts packing her bags to escape. Really?! A seemingly intelligent woman would not give it a thought that the bad guys would be straight round to kill her if she starts packing her suitcase? Please ...
When Ray told Dan that he would travel to the farmhouse he suddenly switched to using 'we', yet Dan didn't know who he was with. Why didn't Dan, a police office, enquire who was going to be put in danger?
Overall, it was an average read. But I did finish it, which usually says that it wasn't THAT bad!
I had several moments of disbelief when reading, too. When Charlotte had found the surveillance camera in her home, been warned there were more and the bad guys are watching, she then goes and starts packing her bags to escape. Really?! A seemingly intelligent woman would not give it a thought that the bad guys would be straight round to kill her if she starts packing her suitcase? Please ...
When Ray told Dan that he would travel to the farmhouse he suddenly switched to using 'we', yet Dan didn't know who he was with. Why didn't Dan, a police office, enquire who was going to be put in danger?
Overall, it was an average read. But I did finish it, which usually says that it wasn't THAT bad!
damppebbles's review
4.0
Now I don’t think Simon Kernick needs much of an introduction as I (and many others) consider him to be a household name and one of the biggest names in UK-based thriller writing. However, if you have never read a Simon Kernick novel before (…seriously? You’ve been missing out!) then all you need to know is that Simon has released a number of darn good, bestselling, high intensity thrillers over the years and continues to do so (I hope, for many years to come). He leads the way for British crime thriller writers, leaving many in his wake.
The majority of Simon’s books are standalone thrillers chock full of action, adventure and heaps of excitement. He has previously published a couple of three-part serial thrillers but this, The Bone Field, marks the start of a brand new series. And what a series it’s going to be! High energy, action packed reading that’ll keep your heart rate high and your attention glued to the pages. Some books should come with a health warning and this is certainly one of them. Edge of your seat stuff that I insist you read!
What I love about The Bone Field is that the author, as is customary in his previous books, has used fully developed, pre-existing, previously published characters but put them up against (or with, in this case!) a new ally. The Bone Field features DI Ray Mason who is now working at part of the Met’s Homicide Command. We have met DI Mason before when he featured in The Witness (published June 2016) but back then he was part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. DI Mason (who I love by the way, he’s nearly everything I look for in my detectives…just not quite grumpy enough!) contacts a PI by the name of Tina Boyd as part of the ongoing investigation. There was something familiar about Tina to me. A strange sense of recognition. That was when I realised that she is the lead protagonist in Relentless (pub. 2006), Target (pub. 2009) and The Last 10 Seconds (pub. 2010), all of which I have read and very much enjoyed. What a treat! The simmering chemistry between Ray and Tina was quite addictive. As I may have mentioned before, I’m not one for romance in my crime books but they really worked for me.
I loved the action which was well written and at a consistent pace throughout. This novel was incredibly easy to read, I polished it off in two short days (that’s quick for me). There is, unsurprisingly in a Simon Kernick novel, a number of violent scenes but regular readers of the blog will know that the more gore and violence in a book, the more it appeals to me. I would also like to mention the villain of this book who is by far one of the creepiest bad guys I have met in a novel for some time. Expertly written much like the majority of characters within the pages of The Bone Field. I very much enjoyed the plot which I found twisty and unpredictable from start to finish. And as for that last sentence….WOW!!
Would I recommend this book? I would as it’s a high octane, well written thriller by an author who knows his characters inside out and round-side-round. To be able to maintain such a high level of action and suspense is a real skill and Simon Kernick is a master of the thriller. I can’t wait for the second book in this new series.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an ARC of The Bone Field. Many thanks to Sam Deacon at Penguin Random House for providing me with a copy. All of the above views are my own and are unbiased.
The majority of Simon’s books are standalone thrillers chock full of action, adventure and heaps of excitement. He has previously published a couple of three-part serial thrillers but this, The Bone Field, marks the start of a brand new series. And what a series it’s going to be! High energy, action packed reading that’ll keep your heart rate high and your attention glued to the pages. Some books should come with a health warning and this is certainly one of them. Edge of your seat stuff that I insist you read!
What I love about The Bone Field is that the author, as is customary in his previous books, has used fully developed, pre-existing, previously published characters but put them up against (or with, in this case!) a new ally. The Bone Field features DI Ray Mason who is now working at part of the Met’s Homicide Command. We have met DI Mason before when he featured in The Witness (published June 2016) but back then he was part of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. DI Mason (who I love by the way, he’s nearly everything I look for in my detectives…just not quite grumpy enough!) contacts a PI by the name of Tina Boyd as part of the ongoing investigation. There was something familiar about Tina to me. A strange sense of recognition. That was when I realised that she is the lead protagonist in Relentless (pub. 2006), Target (pub. 2009) and The Last 10 Seconds (pub. 2010), all of which I have read and very much enjoyed. What a treat! The simmering chemistry between Ray and Tina was quite addictive. As I may have mentioned before, I’m not one for romance in my crime books but they really worked for me.
I loved the action which was well written and at a consistent pace throughout. This novel was incredibly easy to read, I polished it off in two short days (that’s quick for me). There is, unsurprisingly in a Simon Kernick novel, a number of violent scenes but regular readers of the blog will know that the more gore and violence in a book, the more it appeals to me. I would also like to mention the villain of this book who is by far one of the creepiest bad guys I have met in a novel for some time. Expertly written much like the majority of characters within the pages of The Bone Field. I very much enjoyed the plot which I found twisty and unpredictable from start to finish. And as for that last sentence….WOW!!
Would I recommend this book? I would as it’s a high octane, well written thriller by an author who knows his characters inside out and round-side-round. To be able to maintain such a high level of action and suspense is a real skill and Simon Kernick is a master of the thriller. I can’t wait for the second book in this new series.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an ARC of The Bone Field. Many thanks to Sam Deacon at Penguin Random House for providing me with a copy. All of the above views are my own and are unbiased.
rachyc85's review
5.0
I think Simon is definitely on my favourite author list after reading this. I couldn't put it down. Something about cold cases always piques my interest so I had a feeling I would enjoy this. After reading a guest blog post by Simon I was in equal parts horrified and excited to discover that The Bone Field is just the start of the story with the remainder split over several books to come.
I was unsure how this would end and whether I would be left bereft waiting for the rest of the tale. Simon wrapped it up satisfyingly enough but with a humdinger of a cliff hanger! The Bone Field was the first of Simon's novels for me but definitely won't be the last. I loved his style and flow and found this book unpredictable which was a refreshing change from predicting the ending. One to watch out for in 2017 and eagerly anticipating the next installment.
I was unsure how this would end and whether I would be left bereft waiting for the rest of the tale. Simon wrapped it up satisfyingly enough but with a humdinger of a cliff hanger! The Bone Field was the first of Simon's novels for me but definitely won't be the last. I loved his style and flow and found this book unpredictable which was a refreshing change from predicting the ending. One to watch out for in 2017 and eagerly anticipating the next installment.
jcastell's review against another edition
5.0
Great book, really enjoyed this and got into the characters. Ready for the next two in the series now.
natashaw's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book by Simon Kernick - Im hoping that the fact it is labelled 'The Bone Field Series' means that this is the first of many!
The story revolves around Kitty who vanishes on a holiday in Thailand in the 90s... so how do her bones end up in a field in England in 2016?
The story is told from the viewpoint of several characters - mostly DI Ray Mason who is brought into the case by Kittys boyfriend who hints the case is deeper that it seems, but also a key witness to the case, an ex-cop turned PI for who the case quickly becomes personal and Ramon who is part of an underworld which has links to Kittys dissapearance.
This has a quick moving plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested. Kernick winds all the threads of each story together effectively so that what first seems unrelated comes together without being obvious.
HOWEVER the reason why the book has lost a star is that the pace of the plot is great and then suddenly within a few pages at the end everything feels rushed as if Kernick has a page limit and has realised that he has run out of space and then crams the last bits in!
This weird ending is almost redeemed by the last line of the book.... bring on book 2 in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review :-)
The story revolves around Kitty who vanishes on a holiday in Thailand in the 90s... so how do her bones end up in a field in England in 2016?
The story is told from the viewpoint of several characters - mostly DI Ray Mason who is brought into the case by Kittys boyfriend who hints the case is deeper that it seems, but also a key witness to the case, an ex-cop turned PI for who the case quickly becomes personal and Ramon who is part of an underworld which has links to Kittys dissapearance.
This has a quick moving plot with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader interested. Kernick winds all the threads of each story together effectively so that what first seems unrelated comes together without being obvious.
HOWEVER the reason why the book has lost a star is that the pace of the plot is great and then suddenly within a few pages at the end everything feels rushed as if Kernick has a page limit and has realised that he has run out of space and then crams the last bits in!
This weird ending is almost redeemed by the last line of the book.... bring on book 2 in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review :-)
flogigyahoo's review
1.0
The first book I have read by Simon Mernick and the last. It actually starts out good: a guy and his girlfriend travel to Thailand. They have a fight and the girl leaves and is never seen again. Her disappearance is big news in England. But 20 years go by and this mystery is not solved until her skeleton is found together with another young woman's back in England. DI Ray Mason a celebrated detective, is put on the case. But then things start to happen Jack Reacher style although not as well written. A group of killers are involved bearing an occult tattoo. Organized crime is involved. Mason hooks up with a private detective named Tina. They soon end up in bed together, of course, in one of the most childish and silliest love scenes I've ever read. Not recommended.
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