A review by nietzschesghost
Die Alone by Simon Kernick

5.0

Die Alone is the third and final instalment in The Bone Field trilogy featuring disgraced Detective Inspector Ray Mason, his ex-partner and badass Tina Boyd and Mike Bolt who is leading the chase to catch them. Each book can be read as a standalone without any issues as the characters are well fleshed out although you may not be privy to some of the backstory if you just jump right in. The story revolves around Alastair Sheridan, a man with everything to lose including his shot at being Prime Minister who has a dark secret; he has a disturbing penchant for young girls whom he brutally offs in cold blood. Ray is one of the few people who are aware of his criminal undertakings and after being accused of a murder he didn't commit is on the run and rapidly running out of people he can trust. Broken out of prison by an unidentified armed gang, they proposition him; kill Sheridan to earn a new identity and a new life.

This is the most superbly gripping and compulsively readable political thrillers I have read in years. You always know what you going to get with Kernick; non-stop action with barely a moment to breathe, danger lurking around every corner, a story that moves at breakneck speed and enemies every which way, and this book is no exception. There's never a dull moment and more excitement than you can shake a stick at. Of course, you need to suspend your disbelief a little but this is intended as a fun and highly entertaining read rather than realistic and it succeeds with both of those. It's an adrenaline-fuelled cat and mouse game from start to finish with many twists and turns and a masterful use of misdirection. A pure exhilarating page-turner and a cracking way to conclude the trilogy. I only hope the next book is as explosive but Kernick never disappoints. Many thanks to Century for an ARC.