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Dempsey/Devlin #2
Marked for Death
A thrilling follow-up to one of 2018’s hottest debuts, Killer Intent
When London’s legal establishment is shaken to its foundation by the grisly crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice, Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy is tasked with finding his killer. With fifty years of potential enemies to choose from, only the identical murder of former solicitor Adam Blunt offers a ray of hope: what is it that connects these victims who met such a gruesome end?
Assigned to the story from the start, news reporter Sarah Truman sets out to investigate on her own, not suspecting that the trail will lead straight back to her own front door and her fiancé Michael Devlin. A criminal barrister determined to prove the innocence of his own client, Michael is at first oblivious to the return of the murderous figure from his past � until tragedy strikes closer to home.
Struggling with his grief and guilt, and now caught up in a madman’s terrible quest for revenge, Michael must race to bring the killer to justice � before it’s too late.
When London’s legal establishment is shaken to its foundation by the grisly crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice, Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy is tasked with finding his killer. With fifty years of potential enemies to choose from, only the identical murder of former solicitor Adam Blunt offers a ray of hope: what is it that connects these victims who met such a gruesome end?
Assigned to the story from the start, news reporter Sarah Truman sets out to investigate on her own, not suspecting that the trail will lead straight back to her own front door and her fiancé Michael Devlin. A criminal barrister determined to prove the innocence of his own client, Michael is at first oblivious to the return of the murderous figure from his past � until tragedy strikes closer to home.
Struggling with his grief and guilt, and now caught up in a madman’s terrible quest for revenge, Michael must race to bring the killer to justice � before it’s too late.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published February 7, 2019
69 people are currently reading
462 people want to read
About the author
Tony Kent
11Ìýbooks83ÌýfollowersTony Kent’s first novel, KILLER INTENT, was one of the ‘must readsâ€� of 2018. It was selected for the Zoe Ball Book Club and is now to be adapted for television, directed by the award-winning filmmaker Duncan Jones.
Tony Kent grew up in a close-knit Irish family in London and studied law in Scotland.
A top-ranking barrister, Tony’s case history includes prosecuting and defending many high-profile, nationally reported trials.
Before his legal career, Tony boxed internationally as a heavyweight and won a host of national amateur titles.
Tony’s love of crime thrillers was inspired by powerhouse writers like Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, David Baldacci and Frederick Forsyth.
Tony Kent grew up in a close-knit Irish family in London and studied law in Scotland.
A top-ranking barrister, Tony’s case history includes prosecuting and defending many high-profile, nationally reported trials.
Before his legal career, Tony boxed internationally as a heavyweight and won a host of national amateur titles.
Tony’s love of crime thrillers was inspired by powerhouse writers like Lee Child, Robert Ludlum, John Grisham, David Baldacci and Frederick Forsyth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
January 11, 2019
I have not the read the first in this series of Killer Intent by Tony Kent, but I really wished I had because this was so good, and whilst there are plentiful references to previous events, it still works well as a standalone. This is a brilliant fast paced thriller which just does not let up on the action front. Michael Devlin is a young QC barrister plagued by insecurites that he has not really earned his silks as he takes the lead as the defending counsel for the young Simon Kash on trial for the brutal murder of two brothers. Michael is convinced he is innocent, a man bullied and threatened, and so unwilling to provide the necessary information that will allow Michael to defend him effectively. Michael's fiance is a Journalist of note, Sarah Truman, and she is covering the explosive story of the elderly Phillip Longman, the former Lord Chief Justice, discovered gruesomely crucified in his bedroom.
DCI Joelle Levy of the London Met is a woman who has previously served with the Israeli security services, a single mother, running the investigation into Longman's murder with her under resourced police team. Pressure increases for her and DI Steven Hale when a gang leader and his close cohorts are killed in what looks like a professional hit. Scrabbling to find any leads, Joelle and her team face the overwhelming task of finding suspects from Longman's long career as a judge. The killer in the meantime has barely just begun, as he targets others in what seems to be a quest for revenge. Joelle and Sarah develop a close personal friendship that allows for them to help each other. Michael is largely oblivious to the killer, absorbed by the trial and his obsession to ensure that Simon Kash is acquitted, that is until it becomes clear that his past is key to what is motivating the deranged and deadly serial killer as tragedy hits close to home.
Tony Kent writes a complex and well plotted story that is intense, and totally gripping that will keep your attention from beginning to end with ease. He expertly ratchets up the suspense and tension whilst juggling the two separate storylines of the criminal trial and a frighteningly scary and menacing serial killer running rampant. The characterisation is well done, Michael is not your usual barrister, his traumatic background and experience ensures he is not going to take the threat to those close to him lying down. Joelle Levy is another character whose background differentiates her from others in the police service, and she too is willing to go over and beyond her role to ensure her own version of justice. This is a fantastic thriller that is both entertaining and compulsive reading. Many thanks to Elliot and Thompson for an ARC.
DCI Joelle Levy of the London Met is a woman who has previously served with the Israeli security services, a single mother, running the investigation into Longman's murder with her under resourced police team. Pressure increases for her and DI Steven Hale when a gang leader and his close cohorts are killed in what looks like a professional hit. Scrabbling to find any leads, Joelle and her team face the overwhelming task of finding suspects from Longman's long career as a judge. The killer in the meantime has barely just begun, as he targets others in what seems to be a quest for revenge. Joelle and Sarah develop a close personal friendship that allows for them to help each other. Michael is largely oblivious to the killer, absorbed by the trial and his obsession to ensure that Simon Kash is acquitted, that is until it becomes clear that his past is key to what is motivating the deranged and deadly serial killer as tragedy hits close to home.
Tony Kent writes a complex and well plotted story that is intense, and totally gripping that will keep your attention from beginning to end with ease. He expertly ratchets up the suspense and tension whilst juggling the two separate storylines of the criminal trial and a frighteningly scary and menacing serial killer running rampant. The characterisation is well done, Michael is not your usual barrister, his traumatic background and experience ensures he is not going to take the threat to those close to him lying down. Joelle Levy is another character whose background differentiates her from others in the police service, and she too is willing to go over and beyond her role to ensure her own version of justice. This is a fantastic thriller that is both entertaining and compulsive reading. Many thanks to Elliot and Thompson for an ARC.
June 15, 2022
When I requested this didn’t realise it had already been published, I only looked at the day and the month but not the year of publication. But none of that matters as I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced book. It was freaking awesome and, while I might not go back and read book 1 I will certainly be looking for book 3. In either case this reads really well as a stand alone.
The story was a clever blend of crime thriller and legal thriller. The main protagonists are newly appointed, at a shockingly young age, Queen’s Counsel Michael Devlin, his fiancé - journalist Sarah Truman and Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy.
There is a spate of murders. A former high court judge has been brutally killed in his home, crime boss Leon Ferris and three of his henchmen are swiftly dispatched with a knife in the bosses office. Another former lawyer is killed in the same fashion as the judge. Levy is investigating all these cases and is struggling to find links and motives.
Meanwhile Devlin is trying to keep a young man out of prison for murder. The man is too scared of retribution to dob in the real killers. The case weighs heavily on Devlin and he feels duty bound to help the young man even when it seems that his own life may be on the line, at which point he goes all Rambo
The story was tautly plotted and the pace never let up from the very dramatic first page until the last. There were plenty of red herrings and not all things were as they seemed. It was a rather compulsive story that I couldn’t put down.
The characterisations were really well done. You get a sense of who these people are and what they believe in and value. The real villain of this story (there was more than one) though was a very scary, pitiless dude. I didn’t like being in his head at all. The story flowed really welland the writing was very immersive. All in all a fantastic book!
I had one tiny niggle - the use of “span� when it should be “spun�, as in she span on her heel. Otherwise it close to perfect. Many thanks to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson for the much appreciated free copy which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
4.5 stars.
The story was a clever blend of crime thriller and legal thriller. The main protagonists are newly appointed, at a shockingly young age, Queen’s Counsel Michael Devlin, his fiancé - journalist Sarah Truman and Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy.
There is a spate of murders. A former high court judge has been brutally killed in his home, crime boss Leon Ferris and three of his henchmen are swiftly dispatched with a knife in the bosses office. Another former lawyer is killed in the same fashion as the judge. Levy is investigating all these cases and is struggling to find links and motives.
Meanwhile Devlin is trying to keep a young man out of prison for murder. The man is too scared of retribution to dob in the real killers. The case weighs heavily on Devlin and he feels duty bound to help the young man even when it seems that his own life may be on the line, at which point he goes all Rambo
The story was tautly plotted and the pace never let up from the very dramatic first page until the last. There were plenty of red herrings and not all things were as they seemed. It was a rather compulsive story that I couldn’t put down.
The characterisations were really well done. You get a sense of who these people are and what they believe in and value. The real villain of this story (there was more than one) though was a very scary, pitiless dude. I didn’t like being in his head at all. The story flowed really welland the writing was very immersive. All in all a fantastic book!
I had one tiny niggle - the use of “span� when it should be “spun�, as in she span on her heel. Otherwise it close to perfect. Many thanks to Netgalley and Elliott & Thompson for the much appreciated free copy which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
4.5 stars.
June 12, 2020
After thoroughly enjoying the first novel in this series by Tony Kent, I turned to the second, which did not disappoint. Kent pulls some of his key players back into the mix, spinning a new and complex story that will keep readers wondering as they make their way through the journey. The body of Phillip Longman is gruesomely discovered in his home, crucified against a wall. The former Lord Chief Justice has surely crossed paths with many a criminal element during his time on the bench, but it is up to DCI Joelle Levy and her team within the London Met to sift through all the possibilities. Levy has quite the past, having served within Israel’s security services. Her grit and determination will make the work pay off, though some leads tend to lead down rabbit holes, baffling many along the way. Recently appointed QC barrister Michael Devlin is still trying to understand why this honour has been bestowed upon him, fighting with his confidence. Devlin works as defence counsel and has made it his goal to help defend his client, even if the man refuses to cooperate in his own defence. Devlin begins to see that there may be some other factors at play, ones that will disrupt the flow of justice and send an innocent man to jail. While Devlin shares this with his fiancée, Sarah Truman, she is trying to report on the ongoing Longman investigation. Devlin and Truman discuss some of the cases that the Lord Chief Justice must have seen during his rise to power, but also some demons that might be lurking in a key case Devlin remembers from years ago. When a key suspect is found, all the pieces begin to fall into place, though it will take more than a few coppers and Levy’s determination to capture the man who seeks retribution for what was done to him. Chilling in its delivery and yet so well paced that the reader will feel fully ensconced in the action, Tony Kent has done a brilliant job here with this piece. Recommended to those who love slowly evolving police procedurals, as well as the reader who has a penchant for British legal dramas.
I believe that it was a recommendation of a friend that I try this series that brought me to discover Tony Kent. While his writing can be a tad intense and heavy, the stories prove to be some of the best that I have read in a long time. Kent uses a mix of characters and great plots to keep the reader wondering through the maze that this novel offers. Michael Devlin and Sarah Truman return for another exciting adventure, though they are now firmly affixed together, romantically and somewhat on a professional level. The reader who has read the opening novel will see some great progress in their relationship as well as the depth that the characters offer. Adding the likes of Joelle Levy to the mix creates a new character on which the reader can hone their interest. Levy’s backstory is interesting and adds some great flavour to this novel, which is already brimming with exciting twists. The handful of secondary characters proves useful to push the plot forward and flavour the narrative effectively, keeping the reader focussed on everything that is going on. The story was quite strong and kept my attention throughout. Twists and turns left me wondering where Kent was seeking to direct the reader, though the depth of writing made the novel’s length quite justified. There is a mix of long and shorter chapters, keeping the reader on their toes throughout the experience. The writing is such that the book does not take as long as it would seem, showing that Kent can push the narrative forward without issue and has left me wanting more, as I read for the third novel in this series. I cannot wait to see what’s to come, as Kent has yet to disappoint.
Kudos, Mr. Kent, for a great continuation to the series. I am eager to see what’s next, as I pull the next book out to devour soon.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
I believe that it was a recommendation of a friend that I try this series that brought me to discover Tony Kent. While his writing can be a tad intense and heavy, the stories prove to be some of the best that I have read in a long time. Kent uses a mix of characters and great plots to keep the reader wondering through the maze that this novel offers. Michael Devlin and Sarah Truman return for another exciting adventure, though they are now firmly affixed together, romantically and somewhat on a professional level. The reader who has read the opening novel will see some great progress in their relationship as well as the depth that the characters offer. Adding the likes of Joelle Levy to the mix creates a new character on which the reader can hone their interest. Levy’s backstory is interesting and adds some great flavour to this novel, which is already brimming with exciting twists. The handful of secondary characters proves useful to push the plot forward and flavour the narrative effectively, keeping the reader focussed on everything that is going on. The story was quite strong and kept my attention throughout. Twists and turns left me wondering where Kent was seeking to direct the reader, though the depth of writing made the novel’s length quite justified. There is a mix of long and shorter chapters, keeping the reader on their toes throughout the experience. The writing is such that the book does not take as long as it would seem, showing that Kent can push the narrative forward without issue and has left me wanting more, as I read for the third novel in this series. I cannot wait to see what’s to come, as Kent has yet to disappoint.
Kudos, Mr. Kent, for a great continuation to the series. I am eager to see what’s next, as I pull the next book out to devour soon.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: /group/show/...
January 3, 2019
Yeesh�.after finishing this I’m not sure which I need more. A drink or a nap? This is a fast paced thriller with 2 story lines that battle for your attention. At the centre of it all are barrister Michael Devlin & his fiancée Sarah Truman, a well known TV reporter.
Devlin has his hands full after he’s handed a murder trial on short notice. HIs client is a quiet young man unwilling to participate in his own defence. Is he guilty or just too scared to name the real killer?
DCI Joelle Levy also has a murder on her plate. And it’s a doozy. It’s bad enough that someone tortured & crucified an elderly man in his home. Add in the fact the victim was one Philip Longman, former Lord Chief Justice, & the case also becomes a political nightmare. Poor Levy…little does she know it’s about to get much, much worse.
Sarah is initially after the story behind Longman’s death but after a few more bodies appear, the whole mess will become frighteningly personal for her & Devlin.
And then there’s the man with pale eyes�*gulp*…okay, moving on.
Chapters alternate between the 2 main plot lines & both are populated with secondary characters who are mostly cops or lawyers. There are plenty of side stories to keep you occupied as Devlin & Levy work overtime on their respective cases.
Michael & Sarah were introduced in , first book of the series. If you haven’t read it, no worries. The author gives enough background so you can easily get the gist of their past & read this as a stand alone. Levy is a new addition, a tough, smart cop with an interesting background. By the time it was all over, she’d become my favourite character.
My only quibble is that I found 1 story line much more compelling than the other. Devlin’s court case was the weaker of the 2 for a couple of reasons. Long discussions during the trial that detailed technical aspects such as cell phone triangulation soon had my mind wandering. They could have been shorter & revealed the same information. Or it might have something to do with the fact I have the attention span of a hummingbird. The other thing was I guessed early on in the trial just why Devlin’s client wouldn’t talk so those chapters never developed any real tension for me.
But the investigation/hunt for a truly despicable killer definitely kept my little grey cells occupied. As both plot lines reach the finish there are a few surprises in store that will have fans waiting impatiently for book #3.
Devlin has his hands full after he’s handed a murder trial on short notice. HIs client is a quiet young man unwilling to participate in his own defence. Is he guilty or just too scared to name the real killer?
DCI Joelle Levy also has a murder on her plate. And it’s a doozy. It’s bad enough that someone tortured & crucified an elderly man in his home. Add in the fact the victim was one Philip Longman, former Lord Chief Justice, & the case also becomes a political nightmare. Poor Levy…little does she know it’s about to get much, much worse.
Sarah is initially after the story behind Longman’s death but after a few more bodies appear, the whole mess will become frighteningly personal for her & Devlin.
And then there’s the man with pale eyes�*gulp*…okay, moving on.
Chapters alternate between the 2 main plot lines & both are populated with secondary characters who are mostly cops or lawyers. There are plenty of side stories to keep you occupied as Devlin & Levy work overtime on their respective cases.
Michael & Sarah were introduced in , first book of the series. If you haven’t read it, no worries. The author gives enough background so you can easily get the gist of their past & read this as a stand alone. Levy is a new addition, a tough, smart cop with an interesting background. By the time it was all over, she’d become my favourite character.
My only quibble is that I found 1 story line much more compelling than the other. Devlin’s court case was the weaker of the 2 for a couple of reasons. Long discussions during the trial that detailed technical aspects such as cell phone triangulation soon had my mind wandering. They could have been shorter & revealed the same information. Or it might have something to do with the fact I have the attention span of a hummingbird. The other thing was I guessed early on in the trial just why Devlin’s client wouldn’t talk so those chapters never developed any real tension for me.
But the investigation/hunt for a truly despicable killer definitely kept my little grey cells occupied. As both plot lines reach the finish there are a few surprises in store that will have fans waiting impatiently for book #3.
February 5, 2019
Retired Lord Chief Justice is the first to die. He was elderly, he was tortured, he was crucified. Former solicitor Adam Blunt was also killed in the same way. How many more will die?
News reporter Sarah Truman investigates on her own, not knowing that the trail will lead straight back to her fiance Barrister Michael Devlin.
DCI Joelle Levy is tasked to find this killer. There are 50 years of potential suspects .. people charged, imprisoned by the dead men.
Michael Devlin is in the middle of a criminal trial and isn't really paying much attention to the killer ... the man he determines is the killer. Michael understands the man's request for revenge .. and Michael was a part of it.
This is an action-packed page turner full of twists and turns and lots of suspects to look at. The killer comes as quite a surprise and leads to an exciting suspenseful ending.
There are also sub-plots ... the young man Devlin is trying to proved innocent of a murder charge.... the young pretty assistant that has eyes on Devlin for more than just friendship. The guilt Michael feels over the men who died...
Many thanks to the author / Elliott & Thompson / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this tremendous crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 19, 2018
Retired Lord Chief Justice is the first to die. He was elderly, he was tortured, he was crucified. Former solicitor Adam Blunt was also killed in the same way. How many more will die?
News reporter Sarah Truman investigates on her own, not knowing that the trail will lead straight back to her fiance Barrister Michael Devlin.
DCI Joelle Levy is tasked to find this killer. There are 50 years of potential suspects .. people charged, imprisoned by the dead men.
Michael Devlin is in the middle of a criminal trial and isn't really paying much attention to the killer ... the man he determines is the killer. Michael understands the man's request for revenge .. and Michael was a part of it.
This is an action-packed page turner full of twists and turns and lots of suspects to look at. The killer comes as quite a surprise and leads to an exciting suspenseful ending.
There are also sub-plots ... the young man Devlin is trying to proved innocent of a murder charge.... the young pretty assistant that has eyes on Devlin for more than just friendship. The guilt Michael feels over the men who died...
Many thanks to the author / Elliott & Thompson / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this tremendous crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Book available 2/7/19
News reporter Sarah Truman investigates on her own, not knowing that the trail will lead straight back to her fiance Barrister Michael Devlin.
DCI Joelle Levy is tasked to find this killer. There are 50 years of potential suspects .. people charged, imprisoned by the dead men.
Michael Devlin is in the middle of a criminal trial and isn't really paying much attention to the killer ... the man he determines is the killer. Michael understands the man's request for revenge .. and Michael was a part of it.
This is an action-packed page turner full of twists and turns and lots of suspects to look at. The killer comes as quite a surprise and leads to an exciting suspenseful ending.
There are also sub-plots ... the young man Devlin is trying to proved innocent of a murder charge.... the young pretty assistant that has eyes on Devlin for more than just friendship. The guilt Michael feels over the men who died...
Many thanks to the author / Elliott & Thompson / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this tremendous crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Book available 2/7/19
August 17, 2018
Thrilling follow up is spot on. Killer Intent was an excellent read, with a lot of edge of the seat action and introducing two brilliant characters Michael Devlin and Sarah Truman who luckily for readers are back in this fantastic sequel.
Marked for Death is actually different in a lot of ways with much of the action taking place within a dramatic courtroom trial. Around that Michael has to deal with an old enemy who is hell bent on revenge. This makes for a right proper page turner with some terrific writing, cool new characters and a creepy, genuinely compelling bad guy.
This is an edgy, considered and pitch perfect crime drama with great depth, some engaging twists and plenty of unexpected moments � I loved it for it’s fresh feel and utterly riveting plot. Bring on more is what I say. This is a series I’d like to see run and run.
Highly recommended.
Marked for Death is actually different in a lot of ways with much of the action taking place within a dramatic courtroom trial. Around that Michael has to deal with an old enemy who is hell bent on revenge. This makes for a right proper page turner with some terrific writing, cool new characters and a creepy, genuinely compelling bad guy.
This is an edgy, considered and pitch perfect crime drama with great depth, some engaging twists and plenty of unexpected moments � I loved it for it’s fresh feel and utterly riveting plot. Bring on more is what I say. This is a series I’d like to see run and run.
Highly recommended.
December 30, 2018
Really excellent follow up to Killer Intent and arguably even better, which is no mean feat. Wonderfully plotted, horrifying in places and hugely exciting. The pages fly through the fingers. It's also good to see the return of journalist Sarah and barrister Michael. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
December 20, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Elliot & Thompson for an advance copy of Marked for Death, the second novel to feature London based barrister Michael Devlin and reporter Sarah Truman.
When former Lord Chief Justice, Phillip Longman, is brutally murdered in his own home DCI Joelle Levy of The Met is put in charge of the high profile investigation but her workload doesn’t end there when she also has to investigate a gangland massacre. Reporter Sarah Truman is covering the investigations and manages to dig up a few leads herself but the key seems to her fiancé, barrister Michael Devlin who is in the middle of a murder trial.
I thoroughly enjoyed Marked for Death which is basically the hunt for a cold, vicious serial killer. The novel has plenty of violence and is quite graphic in parts which suits the theme but may not be for the faint hearted. It is told from various points of view which requires recalibration on the reader’s part but doesn’t distract from the main narrative except on one point. It is quite a long novel and I felt that it would have been shorter and punchier without the subplot of Michael’s performance in court which doesn’t add much to the reading experience, except possibly in the denouement but by then I didn’t care. The descriptions of cross examinations are tedious and destroy the momentum that the main plot builds up. The main plot, that of the hunt for the serial killer, is excellent with all the tension, action and twists any reader could ask for. It follows a fairly standard format with the detectives looking for a needle in a haystack at the beginning but slowly narrowing their parameters as more information becomes available. I liked their false starts and incisive thinking although I was less convinced at Sarah and Michael’s roles in the investigation.
I like the characterisation of Sarah, Michael and Joelle who are all inherently decent, hard working people. It is always satisfying in a read when the goodies are easily supportable although I would have liked to know more about Michael and Joelle’s pasts which are maybe not as squeaky clean as their current personas suggest.
Marked for Death is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When former Lord Chief Justice, Phillip Longman, is brutally murdered in his own home DCI Joelle Levy of The Met is put in charge of the high profile investigation but her workload doesn’t end there when she also has to investigate a gangland massacre. Reporter Sarah Truman is covering the investigations and manages to dig up a few leads herself but the key seems to her fiancé, barrister Michael Devlin who is in the middle of a murder trial.
I thoroughly enjoyed Marked for Death which is basically the hunt for a cold, vicious serial killer. The novel has plenty of violence and is quite graphic in parts which suits the theme but may not be for the faint hearted. It is told from various points of view which requires recalibration on the reader’s part but doesn’t distract from the main narrative except on one point. It is quite a long novel and I felt that it would have been shorter and punchier without the subplot of Michael’s performance in court which doesn’t add much to the reading experience, except possibly in the denouement but by then I didn’t care. The descriptions of cross examinations are tedious and destroy the momentum that the main plot builds up. The main plot, that of the hunt for the serial killer, is excellent with all the tension, action and twists any reader could ask for. It follows a fairly standard format with the detectives looking for a needle in a haystack at the beginning but slowly narrowing their parameters as more information becomes available. I liked their false starts and incisive thinking although I was less convinced at Sarah and Michael’s roles in the investigation.
I like the characterisation of Sarah, Michael and Joelle who are all inherently decent, hard working people. It is always satisfying in a read when the goodies are easily supportable although I would have liked to know more about Michael and Joelle’s pasts which are maybe not as squeaky clean as their current personas suggest.
Marked for Death is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 29, 2020
I was a huge fan of Tony Kent's début "killer intent" So I was expecting great things from book 2 "Marked for Death" unfortunately this for me did not hit the same highs of book one.
We follow three main characters and two interwoven story lines when Lord Chief Justice is found brutally murdered in his London home enter Chief Inspector Joelle Levy tasked with finding his killer.
Michael Devlin A criminal barrister determined to prove his clients innocence and Sarah Truman Devlin's Fiancé hot-shot reporter has the lead story on Lord Chief Justice murder the aforementioned are both returning characters from book one Killer Intent.
The two stories run parallel with Devlin court case and the murders of the lord justice both coming together at the end.
This is a very different book from Killer intent with most of the action taking place in the court room and this was where I found the problem as right from the outset I found this was too similar to an old film "Primal Fear" with Richard Gere, well if I'm honest an almost complete copy bar the crime so the twist was not a surprise just a let down.
I enjoyed the hunt for the killer and found Joelle a new interesting character as she tries to juggle multiple investigations and her private life with her young son, Sarah however is just background noise and a plot device to move the story forward in many ways which is a shame as she played a far more important role in book 1, Devlin is his charming smouldering self and is a fabulous creation I do enjoy spending time with him.
The writing is good and the plot moves at a fair speed I was never bored and kept looking forward to turning the page, Our villain of the piece is fairly cartoonish being able to handle guns and knives and take out many foes in the blink of an eye with no mention of specialised training in his background a little unrealistic for my liking.
I would have liked to have seen the return of Joe Dempsey the star of book one instead of a small cameo towards the end, this was a shame.
This is still a good book and I did enjoy it, it's just that book one was so good I was just disappointed I guess it is better than a lot of trash that's knocking around, here is hoping that book 3 will reach the same heights of book one I shall be returning to Mr Kent's world.
Worth your time and hard-earned cash a good solid summer read.
We follow three main characters and two interwoven story lines when Lord Chief Justice is found brutally murdered in his London home enter Chief Inspector Joelle Levy tasked with finding his killer.
Michael Devlin A criminal barrister determined to prove his clients innocence and Sarah Truman Devlin's Fiancé hot-shot reporter has the lead story on Lord Chief Justice murder the aforementioned are both returning characters from book one Killer Intent.
The two stories run parallel with Devlin court case and the murders of the lord justice both coming together at the end.
This is a very different book from Killer intent with most of the action taking place in the court room and this was where I found the problem as right from the outset I found this was too similar to an old film "Primal Fear" with Richard Gere, well if I'm honest an almost complete copy bar the crime so the twist was not a surprise just a let down.
I enjoyed the hunt for the killer and found Joelle a new interesting character as she tries to juggle multiple investigations and her private life with her young son, Sarah however is just background noise and a plot device to move the story forward in many ways which is a shame as she played a far more important role in book 1, Devlin is his charming smouldering self and is a fabulous creation I do enjoy spending time with him.
The writing is good and the plot moves at a fair speed I was never bored and kept looking forward to turning the page, Our villain of the piece is fairly cartoonish being able to handle guns and knives and take out many foes in the blink of an eye with no mention of specialised training in his background a little unrealistic for my liking.
I would have liked to have seen the return of Joe Dempsey the star of book one instead of a small cameo towards the end, this was a shame.
This is still a good book and I did enjoy it, it's just that book one was so good I was just disappointed I guess it is better than a lot of trash that's knocking around, here is hoping that book 3 will reach the same heights of book one I shall be returning to Mr Kent's world.
Worth your time and hard-earned cash a good solid summer read.
May 17, 2020
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel
i dont normally read many of these courtroom dramas but this one sucker punches you right in the stomach
but its not just a courtroom drama, there are police procedures and then theres the violence....and boy its a great mixture of all really....
once you get the characters sorted in your head as there are quite a few...but on the whole i loved this book
important people are being murdered in gruesome ways... crucified and castrated with their testicles shoved in their mouths....but who or why....
there are no leads and no clues to who is doing it....
brilliantly written and will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works
i dont normally read many of these courtroom dramas but this one sucker punches you right in the stomach
but its not just a courtroom drama, there are police procedures and then theres the violence....and boy its a great mixture of all really....
once you get the characters sorted in your head as there are quite a few...but on the whole i loved this book
important people are being murdered in gruesome ways... crucified and castrated with their testicles shoved in their mouths....but who or why....
there are no leads and no clues to who is doing it....
brilliantly written and will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works
August 22, 2018
I was fortunate to pick up a arc at the Harrogate Crime Festival,
Following on from the stunning debut novel Killer Intent, Tony Kent returns with another explosive high octane crime thriller Marked for Death which reunites us with Sarah Truman and Michael Devlin.
Beginning with the crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice, Sarah finds herself assigned to the story, meanwhile her now fiancée Michael has to try to prove the innocence of a man charged with murder, little do they know how fate and circumstance will bring them together in a race against time and a brutal killer, to say anymore of the story would be to spoil this highly charged thriller.
There are two main stories at the heart of this book, both wonderfully and in the case of the court scenes expertly told, we are also treated in parts to a history of some of London’s streets and locations.
We also get to know more of the back story of Sarah and Michael so adding more depth to the characters, I also particularly liked the way the character of Joelle Levy was written as she struggled the demands of the job with being a single parent (maybe more for another book).
There is a freshness to Marked for Death a gritty, multi layered, engaging cleverly constructed thriller which leaves no loose stones unturned, and ties all the plot lines together, raw, and violent in parts but also with warmth.
Thanks to the authors writing Tony Kent has the ability to grab the readers attention from the opening pages. Make sure you have nothing planned once started you will soon be hooked and drawn in as the book resists any attempt to let go, a classic page turner. The plotting and storyline with its twists and turns is spot on, a fast slick explosive read which will leave you breathless, with a clever an unexpected twist at the end
If like me you loved Killer Intent, then you’re in for a real treat.
Cannot recommend this highly enough. This will undoubtedly be one of the reading hits of 2019
One definitely for the screen.
Following on from the stunning debut novel Killer Intent, Tony Kent returns with another explosive high octane crime thriller Marked for Death which reunites us with Sarah Truman and Michael Devlin.
Beginning with the crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice, Sarah finds herself assigned to the story, meanwhile her now fiancée Michael has to try to prove the innocence of a man charged with murder, little do they know how fate and circumstance will bring them together in a race against time and a brutal killer, to say anymore of the story would be to spoil this highly charged thriller.
There are two main stories at the heart of this book, both wonderfully and in the case of the court scenes expertly told, we are also treated in parts to a history of some of London’s streets and locations.
We also get to know more of the back story of Sarah and Michael so adding more depth to the characters, I also particularly liked the way the character of Joelle Levy was written as she struggled the demands of the job with being a single parent (maybe more for another book).
There is a freshness to Marked for Death a gritty, multi layered, engaging cleverly constructed thriller which leaves no loose stones unturned, and ties all the plot lines together, raw, and violent in parts but also with warmth.
Thanks to the authors writing Tony Kent has the ability to grab the readers attention from the opening pages. Make sure you have nothing planned once started you will soon be hooked and drawn in as the book resists any attempt to let go, a classic page turner. The plotting and storyline with its twists and turns is spot on, a fast slick explosive read which will leave you breathless, with a clever an unexpected twist at the end
If like me you loved Killer Intent, then you’re in for a real treat.
Cannot recommend this highly enough. This will undoubtedly be one of the reading hits of 2019
One definitely for the screen.
February 20, 2019
I am not one for reading the synopsis immediately before I start reading a book or the author bio for that matter, I usually leave it till the end. For some reason, I decided to read both beforehand. It made me wonder how much of the authors� experiences would show in his story and also how would they come across to me as a reader. He is a Barrister, Ex-Boxer and Crime Writer, well that’s an impressive resume! Well, I immediately felt that the author had an advantage, the legal stuff (stuff is not very technical I know!) had extra details, not that I am knowledgable in this area, but they had that extra something to them. The boxing details again showed themselves and added the air of someone who really knows what they are talking about. The writing well if I say I loved this book I think that will give a pretty good indication of how much I enjoyed it. I think 3 out of 3 is pretty spot on.
Right to the story itself then� this is a thriller that is fast paced, it has brilliant courtroom scenes, an intense investigation and if that is not enough, there are friendships and relationships that intersperse and link the various different characters.
The characters themselves are brilliant and it did not take me long to become familiar with them, they have interesting traits that make them stand out from each other. Many come across as strong and have their own determined presence, they really suit and complement this style of story. A weaker character just wouldn’t cut it in this powerful cast.
The plot or I should say plots are carefully entwined and full of surprise. They are clever and twist their way through the story, full of red herrings and blind alleys. I loved that I could keep up with all these without feeling confused or lost and it left me to thoroughly enjoy this intense story. The courtroom scenes I really enjoyed, especially while witnesses where being interrogated, sorry questioned, especially when those cocky, so sure of themselves ones, got so tangled up they fell flat on their faces.
The police investigation that is part of the story is also linked in with a news reporter. The pressure that DCI Levy is under to solve the case is evident and believe me when I say she is not a woman to be messed with, I really liked her tenacity and principles, but she is a woman with a past and would love to get to know her a bit more.
I have to give mention to the bad guy, Oh he is a real nasty piece of work and such a cleverly put together character.
So, a mix of courtroom drama, police investigations, thriller, crime and full of action from start to finish. For me, this was an absolutely brilliant read with so many aspects that hit the mark for me. It is one I would Highly Recommend.
Right to the story itself then� this is a thriller that is fast paced, it has brilliant courtroom scenes, an intense investigation and if that is not enough, there are friendships and relationships that intersperse and link the various different characters.
The characters themselves are brilliant and it did not take me long to become familiar with them, they have interesting traits that make them stand out from each other. Many come across as strong and have their own determined presence, they really suit and complement this style of story. A weaker character just wouldn’t cut it in this powerful cast.
The plot or I should say plots are carefully entwined and full of surprise. They are clever and twist their way through the story, full of red herrings and blind alleys. I loved that I could keep up with all these without feeling confused or lost and it left me to thoroughly enjoy this intense story. The courtroom scenes I really enjoyed, especially while witnesses where being interrogated, sorry questioned, especially when those cocky, so sure of themselves ones, got so tangled up they fell flat on their faces.
The police investigation that is part of the story is also linked in with a news reporter. The pressure that DCI Levy is under to solve the case is evident and believe me when I say she is not a woman to be messed with, I really liked her tenacity and principles, but she is a woman with a past and would love to get to know her a bit more.
I have to give mention to the bad guy, Oh he is a real nasty piece of work and such a cleverly put together character.
So, a mix of courtroom drama, police investigations, thriller, crime and full of action from start to finish. For me, this was an absolutely brilliant read with so many aspects that hit the mark for me. It is one I would Highly Recommend.
July 14, 2022
London’s retired Lord Chief Justice is murdered, crucified and DCI Levy has to find the killer. Former solicitor is murder, crucified and now DCI Levy thinks they are connected; it should be easy to find the killer, right? Wrong. News Reporter Sarah Truman has been assigned to the story and while she’s investigating the story, it turns out her fiance Michael Devlin is connected, but how? Now, Devlin needs to help bring a killer to justice, but can he survive the murderer?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for legal thrillers. The author jumped right into the action and didn’t waste too much time on background. While it is a part of a series, I didn’t read the first book and this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book. Yes, some references were made from the first book, but it didn’t seem like it was necessary to read it in order to follow this book. I didn’t give it five stars because I was able to deduce what was happening really early on, though I didn’t figure out how Devlin was involved. I also thought the book was longer than it needed to be as some parts in the middle dragged on a bit. At over 400 pages, something can be cut out. That being said, for anyone that loves legal thrillers, whodunits, police procedurals, this book has it all rolled up into one. I would definitely recommend it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for legal thrillers. The author jumped right into the action and didn’t waste too much time on background. While it is a part of a series, I didn’t read the first book and this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book. Yes, some references were made from the first book, but it didn’t seem like it was necessary to read it in order to follow this book. I didn’t give it five stars because I was able to deduce what was happening really early on, though I didn’t figure out how Devlin was involved. I also thought the book was longer than it needed to be as some parts in the middle dragged on a bit. At over 400 pages, something can be cut out. That being said, for anyone that loves legal thrillers, whodunits, police procedurals, this book has it all rolled up into one. I would definitely recommend it.
January 24, 2020
Another first time author for me. Not an author I'd heard of before, so I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading! Well, I'm glad I decided to give it a go, because just wow! It was an amazing read with fast paced action and the good guys that you were definitely rooting for. Likeable characters, fast paced action plus twists you didn't see coming added to a fantastic read! Would highly recommend this book!
December 5, 2019
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
If you like violence then this maybe for you.
My problem was that I found the actual story line boring.
Most of this book has been done previously by other authors.
A real let down for me.
If you like violence then this maybe for you.
My problem was that I found the actual story line boring.
Most of this book has been done previously by other authors.
A real let down for me.
March 1, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and have added this author to my list of must read.
February 27, 2021
Got bored, wandered off. Somewhat annoying of me, but it was dull. I'll put it by and try again another day.
November 14, 2024
Excellent found another good author. This is book 2 wish I had read book 1 first. Good news there is another one after this.
April 16, 2020
Better than the average. I got to know the people. Body count was a bit high.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2021
An interesting plot with some good characters - the book drags a bit in the middle section - still worth a read.
September 24, 2019
Second book in a week I've finished that part of a series 🙄 I'll need to look for the first.
All in all it was a good book. It was a bit of a slow read as I kept getting confused with the many different professional names and titles.
But the twists and turns kept me reading and I enjoyed all of them. Some of them I could guess and some I couldn't which kept the book interesting.
The main character is an interesting chap, with a mixed back ground, rough and professional. It was a good contrast to some of the other characters.
All in all it was a good book. It was a bit of a slow read as I kept getting confused with the many different professional names and titles.
But the twists and turns kept me reading and I enjoyed all of them. Some of them I could guess and some I couldn't which kept the book interesting.
The main character is an interesting chap, with a mixed back ground, rough and professional. It was a good contrast to some of the other characters.
February 10, 2019
Outstanding!
Killer Intent was one of if not my most favourite book of 2018, well I can now say Tony Kent you have gone beyond my expectations of you as an author. In my opinion Marked For Death was better then Killer Intent so thank you. I am so pleased you continued to follow Michael and Sarah and I loved the introduction of Levy. Pleased to hear in the Acknowledgements that we will be seeing more of Joe Dempsey in Book 3.
Until then, thank you Tony Kent.
Killer Intent was one of if not my most favourite book of 2018, well I can now say Tony Kent you have gone beyond my expectations of you as an author. In my opinion Marked For Death was better then Killer Intent so thank you. I am so pleased you continued to follow Michael and Sarah and I loved the introduction of Levy. Pleased to hear in the Acknowledgements that we will be seeing more of Joe Dempsey in Book 3.
Until then, thank you Tony Kent.
June 13, 2019
Follow up to Killer Intent
Michael Devlin is back along with girlfriend Sarah as along with Joelle Levy of the Mets tactical team search for the killer of Lord Chief Justice and a couple of well known lawyers and a London gangster and his gang.
Shocking brutal twists and turns police murdered doing their jobs Devlin shows he is no 10 stone amateur.
Michael Devlin is back along with girlfriend Sarah as along with Joelle Levy of the Mets tactical team search for the killer of Lord Chief Justice and a couple of well known lawyers and a London gangster and his gang.
Shocking brutal twists and turns police murdered doing their jobs Devlin shows he is no 10 stone amateur.
February 4, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley for a copy of this book however I don't really like to give negative views, but it did start well and thought this is going to be a good novel, but after the 1st few chapters it seemed to wander in places and the characters could have done with a bit more polish. I have given 3* but I felt that it was pushing it a bit, it seemed that the QC bit of a big head obviously has won some very important cases before went off on a tangent and I did wonder at one time whether there were 2 novels in one, and to tell the truth both novels with a bit more to it, rather than waffle would have made for great reading, however as the story was about the Presiding Judge and the rest of the court personnel from a murder case from 14yrs ago would have been a great story on its own without some barrister going off in court completely threw me.could not wait to finish it, very disappointed.
December 7, 2019
Bloody hell. What a ride! Fast paced, well written, fantastically delivered. Amazing grittiness of Tony Kent’s style brings, combined with dynamic action and a bit of courtroom drama gave this book a flavour of Dan Brown meets John Grisham. And, as I said to Tony, I enjoyed it more than ‘Killer Intent�. Cannot wait for the next instalment. Tony’s style is developing. The vocabulary, the style, the development of main characters. You can clearly see there is a strategy and vision behind their story.
Why four stars, however? Alas, I feel our antagonist was slightly underdeveloped. I’d love to see some meaty details on how exactly he got to the way he was. What drove him. What other experiences shaped him into the creature he had become. Or, if he was simply a psychopath, I’d love to learn a bit more about his other exploits. There was enough to dislike him, of course, but I feel Tony could have made him truly detestable.
But it was still one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a very long time. Gripping and entertaining without trying too hard.
Why four stars, however? Alas, I feel our antagonist was slightly underdeveloped. I’d love to see some meaty details on how exactly he got to the way he was. What drove him. What other experiences shaped him into the creature he had become. Or, if he was simply a psychopath, I’d love to learn a bit more about his other exploits. There was enough to dislike him, of course, but I feel Tony could have made him truly detestable.
But it was still one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a very long time. Gripping and entertaining without trying too hard.
September 4, 2018
This was just brilliant - a really clever courtroom drama / thriller / police chase. Highly recommend it to anyone who likes a murder mystery. It’s apparently the second novel to feature Irish barrister Michael Devlin and American TV reporter Sarah Truman but it works well as a stand-alone too - I haven’t read Tony Kent’s previous book.
The gruesome murder and crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice is investigated by Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy who like Michael Devlin is a great character. This is a tale of many gruesome murders, police investigations, gangland killings and courtroom cross examinations.
Michael is involved on every level and the whole plot comes together in a very clever ending. An intelligently written and thrilling tale with many clever twists and a superb ending - no spoilers - I think it would make a fantastic film!!�
The gruesome murder and crucifixion of a retired Lord Chief Justice is investigated by Detective Chief Inspector Joelle Levy who like Michael Devlin is a great character. This is a tale of many gruesome murders, police investigations, gangland killings and courtroom cross examinations.
Michael is involved on every level and the whole plot comes together in a very clever ending. An intelligently written and thrilling tale with many clever twists and a superb ending - no spoilers - I think it would make a fantastic film!!�
June 24, 2019
My first Tony Kent read. A Boxer Lawyer Author who writes a legal 'thriller' ought to be credible and accurate, even for Crime Fiction genre. Also some humility would go a long way. The 'chapter' of longwinded Acknowledgements which follow this almost-textbook obsessively over-informative story is a clue that too much can be too much, and off-putting to pick up his next book.
Throughout, the author displays his knowledge of physical training and fighting technique, usually referring back to some mysterious background about himself, almost obsessively.
The story starts well and follows a good pace, but by page 151, some credibility is lost. For a lawyer to behave in such a way in reaction to a physical standoff concerning the current trial in which he represents a defendant, this is tantamount to causing his trial to be compromised. He should report the incident to police immediately, and, vitally, declare the incident to Court next morning, instead of acting as he did. Instead, being consoled by girlfriend in 'there, there' fashion, again, throwing back to past incidents and memories, keep him crusading on. The love story between the lawyer and girlfriend/journalist is already somewhat sooky.
There are a couple of claims about law and court dress, which reads like a tutorial, too much descriptive or historical information, almost obsessively, when less is better.
At page 136, we are told that Penfold tried to appeal his Sentence. Why did his lawyer not appeal the Conviction, for if judge Longman had biased the jury when addressing it ( 'blew the defence...when he addressed the jury before verdicts' ), Penfold could at least have moved for a mis-trial at the time It didn't add up and I was hoping it might be explained. Conspiracy theorists will love this one.
Writing style:- Annoyingly, his grasp of English sentence-making is lacking. Overuse of full stops to separate phrases is irritating, tedious, and a lay way to write instead of making a good sentence, keeping the flow: this is like rat-a-tat-tat-tat style of writing which seems to have become a trend, and can cause skimming by this reader, phrase after phrase after phrase, separated by full stops, often repeating words from the previous phrase. Best writers write descriptively flowing sentences to describe atmosphere, action and dilemmas, allowing the impact of those words to sink in without using incessant stop-starts. I hope he discovers commas, and not to put mere thoughts into italics, it adds nothing.
P.202, Elton's assertion we have 'evidence' of a 'serial' killer : incorrect. Two is not a serial situation. Evidence? Being a crime editor Elton would understand legal definitions, but silly Sarah accepts it without question. For an Investigative reporter, she muddied the waters a lot, especially by befriending the Police, secret-girlfriend-style.
P.232 tries to add suspense but seems overdramatic and laughable. We see the tv hows, know how it works and this tedious over-explanation of every detail throughout, in this book (padding out to over 400 pages) was banal. I blame the author's editor for not guiding, or finding him a mentor to condense for better effect. More skimming, speed-reading.......
The conclusion: - fairly predictible and fairly similar to the Richard Gere/ Edward Norton film Primal Fear. How did Michael not see it coming, it was fairly obvious about 3/4 through. As for the darling Sarah not telling the man she adores that the certain someone he feared was out of gaol, keeping secret but telling her favourite new cop-friend, how is that not mis-trust and damaging? Of course, all is forgiven in the name of love. Unfortunately the love relationship became the focus, despite the open ending.
Pages of Acknowledgements are also longwinded with the author's life history, again blame the Editor, the author loves talking all about himself, then remembers Oh "after all, the readers enjoyment is ultimately all that matters" and then, the new baby is the reason for everything.... what was the reason before baby arrived in his life, puhleeaze...
Judging by other readers' 5-star rave reviews and enjoyment, I may very well be the only reader who found this below average compared to Crime Fiction top writers. There are many busy stories intertwined, too much detail about extraneous stuff, despite the main story which was muddied by all the others.
Throughout, the author displays his knowledge of physical training and fighting technique, usually referring back to some mysterious background about himself, almost obsessively.
The story starts well and follows a good pace, but by page 151, some credibility is lost. For a lawyer to behave in such a way in reaction to a physical standoff concerning the current trial in which he represents a defendant, this is tantamount to causing his trial to be compromised. He should report the incident to police immediately, and, vitally, declare the incident to Court next morning, instead of acting as he did. Instead, being consoled by girlfriend in 'there, there' fashion, again, throwing back to past incidents and memories, keep him crusading on. The love story between the lawyer and girlfriend/journalist is already somewhat sooky.
There are a couple of claims about law and court dress, which reads like a tutorial, too much descriptive or historical information, almost obsessively, when less is better.
At page 136, we are told that Penfold tried to appeal his Sentence. Why did his lawyer not appeal the Conviction, for if judge Longman had biased the jury when addressing it ( 'blew the defence...when he addressed the jury before verdicts' ), Penfold could at least have moved for a mis-trial at the time It didn't add up and I was hoping it might be explained. Conspiracy theorists will love this one.
Writing style:- Annoyingly, his grasp of English sentence-making is lacking. Overuse of full stops to separate phrases is irritating, tedious, and a lay way to write instead of making a good sentence, keeping the flow: this is like rat-a-tat-tat-tat style of writing which seems to have become a trend, and can cause skimming by this reader, phrase after phrase after phrase, separated by full stops, often repeating words from the previous phrase. Best writers write descriptively flowing sentences to describe atmosphere, action and dilemmas, allowing the impact of those words to sink in without using incessant stop-starts. I hope he discovers commas, and not to put mere thoughts into italics, it adds nothing.
P.202, Elton's assertion we have 'evidence' of a 'serial' killer : incorrect. Two is not a serial situation. Evidence? Being a crime editor Elton would understand legal definitions, but silly Sarah accepts it without question. For an Investigative reporter, she muddied the waters a lot, especially by befriending the Police, secret-girlfriend-style.
P.232 tries to add suspense but seems overdramatic and laughable. We see the tv hows, know how it works and this tedious over-explanation of every detail throughout, in this book (padding out to over 400 pages) was banal. I blame the author's editor for not guiding, or finding him a mentor to condense for better effect. More skimming, speed-reading.......
The conclusion: - fairly predictible and fairly similar to the Richard Gere/ Edward Norton film Primal Fear. How did Michael not see it coming, it was fairly obvious about 3/4 through. As for the darling Sarah not telling the man she adores that the certain someone he feared was out of gaol, keeping secret but telling her favourite new cop-friend, how is that not mis-trust and damaging? Of course, all is forgiven in the name of love. Unfortunately the love relationship became the focus, despite the open ending.
Pages of Acknowledgements are also longwinded with the author's life history, again blame the Editor, the author loves talking all about himself, then remembers Oh "after all, the readers enjoyment is ultimately all that matters" and then, the new baby is the reason for everything.... what was the reason before baby arrived in his life, puhleeaze...
Judging by other readers' 5-star rave reviews and enjoyment, I may very well be the only reader who found this below average compared to Crime Fiction top writers. There are many busy stories intertwined, too much detail about extraneous stuff, despite the main story which was muddied by all the others.
March 8, 2020
Well ... I wasn't expecting that. Not that the book would be brilliant - I was expecting that, obviously. But this story, the mixture of legal thriller and action was just about perfect.
When I picked up book one in this series, Killer Intent, I quickly grew to love the characters of Michael Devlin, Sarah Truman and Joe Dempsey. A brilliant trio who held your attention from the first page to the last. Well this is very much Michael's story, with his now fiance, Sarah, along for what is going to be a very turbulent and deadly ride. Michael is no stranger to loss, and this time is no different as he is faced with a murder case, both one he is defending and one which is very much in the headlines, that brings the threat devastatingly close to home once again.
I don't want to say too much about the story other than this is one where a decision made many years earlier, for all of the right reasons, comes back to haunt those involved in a the most severe of ways. The murders are violent but kept largely off the page, the description of the aftermath, the devastation caused enough to highlight the cruelty inflicted and the level of anger with which the acts are carried out. Tony Kent writes in such a way that you don't need to be there for the actual act to feel the menace and the threat inherent in the story. There is only really one major scene of violence that the reader is present for, but it fits the story and is over as quickly, a kind of blink and you miss it act of such minimalist efficiency that shows the measure of the man behind the violence.
I really do love the characters of Michael and Sarah and this time around we see them both in their element, doing what they do best. Michael is caught up in a murder trial, now as QC, defending a young man whose innocence he believes in wholeheartedly. His skills in the court, his innate ability, are fun to watch, his belief in his client absolute. This is where Tony Kent's own experience and knowledge add such authenticity to the text. No doubt elements have been embellished to make it more 'entertaining' to readers, but there is a ring of truth that he brings to events as well. Michael is such a principled character, that things we learn throughout the book might appear shocking and yet they also make him more appealing, more relatable. A man who will do anything to protect people he loves, respects and those he believes in.
Sarah is back on the frontline as a reporter, finding herself working the main murder case from a completely different angle. I like Sarah - she is honest and, like Michael, principled, wrestling between doing the right thing by her job and by the people who are in danger from a very violent killer. The friendship she strikes up with the lead investigator, Chief Inspector Joelle Levy, feels right. Levy is another strong female character, dedicated to her job and her family. I liked her straight off the bat, a kind of female equivalent of Joe Dempsey, with skills learned from years working for Israeli special forces. There is an open relationship between her and Sarah, quick to form and one which allows the story to flow perfectly.
The book is full of action, of shocks and thrills that will keep you on edge, whilst also being rich in emotion and character. The flow back and forth between the court case and the murder investigation is seamless, the language authentic but accessible. The characterisation is perfect, and the action balanced brilliantly, keeping the intensity when needed and offering moments of quiet reflection too, allowing readers to catch their breath. With a high stakes, high octane showdown near the end and a moment of being completely blindsided to boot, this is another brilliant read. Can't wait to tuck into book three now.
When I picked up book one in this series, Killer Intent, I quickly grew to love the characters of Michael Devlin, Sarah Truman and Joe Dempsey. A brilliant trio who held your attention from the first page to the last. Well this is very much Michael's story, with his now fiance, Sarah, along for what is going to be a very turbulent and deadly ride. Michael is no stranger to loss, and this time is no different as he is faced with a murder case, both one he is defending and one which is very much in the headlines, that brings the threat devastatingly close to home once again.
I don't want to say too much about the story other than this is one where a decision made many years earlier, for all of the right reasons, comes back to haunt those involved in a the most severe of ways. The murders are violent but kept largely off the page, the description of the aftermath, the devastation caused enough to highlight the cruelty inflicted and the level of anger with which the acts are carried out. Tony Kent writes in such a way that you don't need to be there for the actual act to feel the menace and the threat inherent in the story. There is only really one major scene of violence that the reader is present for, but it fits the story and is over as quickly, a kind of blink and you miss it act of such minimalist efficiency that shows the measure of the man behind the violence.
I really do love the characters of Michael and Sarah and this time around we see them both in their element, doing what they do best. Michael is caught up in a murder trial, now as QC, defending a young man whose innocence he believes in wholeheartedly. His skills in the court, his innate ability, are fun to watch, his belief in his client absolute. This is where Tony Kent's own experience and knowledge add such authenticity to the text. No doubt elements have been embellished to make it more 'entertaining' to readers, but there is a ring of truth that he brings to events as well. Michael is such a principled character, that things we learn throughout the book might appear shocking and yet they also make him more appealing, more relatable. A man who will do anything to protect people he loves, respects and those he believes in.
Sarah is back on the frontline as a reporter, finding herself working the main murder case from a completely different angle. I like Sarah - she is honest and, like Michael, principled, wrestling between doing the right thing by her job and by the people who are in danger from a very violent killer. The friendship she strikes up with the lead investigator, Chief Inspector Joelle Levy, feels right. Levy is another strong female character, dedicated to her job and her family. I liked her straight off the bat, a kind of female equivalent of Joe Dempsey, with skills learned from years working for Israeli special forces. There is an open relationship between her and Sarah, quick to form and one which allows the story to flow perfectly.
The book is full of action, of shocks and thrills that will keep you on edge, whilst also being rich in emotion and character. The flow back and forth between the court case and the murder investigation is seamless, the language authentic but accessible. The characterisation is perfect, and the action balanced brilliantly, keeping the intensity when needed and offering moments of quiet reflection too, allowing readers to catch their breath. With a high stakes, high octane showdown near the end and a moment of being completely blindsided to boot, this is another brilliant read. Can't wait to tuck into book three now.
April 15, 2020
When a retired Lord Chief Justice is murdered and crucified, barrister Michael Devlin and his fiancé, ITN journalist Sarah Truman, are drawn to investigate. Leading the police investigation is DCI Joelle Levy, and the three are soon liaising. When both a retired solicitor and a barrister friend of Michael’s suffer identical fates, it becomes apparent that there’s a killer on the loose with a very particular hatred for certain members of the legal profession.
Having read the author’s debut, I was already planning on reading his second book. But when I attended a talk the author gave at the Capital Crime literary festival, I had an inkling that Marked for Death was going to be something special. The author, Tony Kent, is a criminal law barrister himself, and he told us that the murderer in Marked for Death is based on a real-life criminal, somebody who’s known to be one of the most dangerous people currently residing in the prison estate (this is something he also hints at in the acknowledgments at the back of the book).
While the author does not name the real-life offender or give any particular details of his actual crimes, he does give the strong impression (both during his talk at Capital Crime and in the acknowledgments at the back of the book) that the man is more than capable of committing the fictional crimes in Marked For Death. This imbues the tale with more than a little frisson. Needless to say, this piqued my interest even more and elevated the novel up my (burgeoning and constantly growing) tbr pile.
There are many things that make a good crime thriller, but if you’re like me and enjoy your fiction pitch dark and noir, then a good villain is a key ingredient. The criminal in Marked for Death is a benchmark in the sinister. Perhaps it’s because I knew him to be based on a real offender, his crimes based (loosely) on a real case, that I found him so compelling. It’s also helped by the fact that the author writes violence brilliantly, and there’s one scene, which lasts just a few pages, that is a masterclass in writing an action sequence.
Marked for Death moves away from the global conspiracy thriller genre that characterised his first book (and characterises Power Play, his third) and is set squarely in the UK and its legal system - though I should point out that this isn’t a courtroom saga, although there are some courtroom scenes within its pages. There are a number of subplots, such as a young man accused of murder, that run alongside the main plot and which perhaps introduce characters that might reappear in a future volume. As such, the barrister Michael Devlin is the main character here, while Joe Dempsey only features briefly.
I have to say that having read all three of Tony Kent’s books, Marked for Death is my favourite. All of them are very good, all of them I’ve awarded five stars, but if I could I would award a sixth or seventh star to this book. There’s something about it which just shines a little brighter, and while I have enjoyed immensely his conspiracy fiction, Marked for Death just stood out a little more for me.
Having read the author’s debut, I was already planning on reading his second book. But when I attended a talk the author gave at the Capital Crime literary festival, I had an inkling that Marked for Death was going to be something special. The author, Tony Kent, is a criminal law barrister himself, and he told us that the murderer in Marked for Death is based on a real-life criminal, somebody who’s known to be one of the most dangerous people currently residing in the prison estate (this is something he also hints at in the acknowledgments at the back of the book).
While the author does not name the real-life offender or give any particular details of his actual crimes, he does give the strong impression (both during his talk at Capital Crime and in the acknowledgments at the back of the book) that the man is more than capable of committing the fictional crimes in Marked For Death. This imbues the tale with more than a little frisson. Needless to say, this piqued my interest even more and elevated the novel up my (burgeoning and constantly growing) tbr pile.
There are many things that make a good crime thriller, but if you’re like me and enjoy your fiction pitch dark and noir, then a good villain is a key ingredient. The criminal in Marked for Death is a benchmark in the sinister. Perhaps it’s because I knew him to be based on a real offender, his crimes based (loosely) on a real case, that I found him so compelling. It’s also helped by the fact that the author writes violence brilliantly, and there’s one scene, which lasts just a few pages, that is a masterclass in writing an action sequence.
Marked for Death moves away from the global conspiracy thriller genre that characterised his first book (and characterises Power Play, his third) and is set squarely in the UK and its legal system - though I should point out that this isn’t a courtroom saga, although there are some courtroom scenes within its pages. There are a number of subplots, such as a young man accused of murder, that run alongside the main plot and which perhaps introduce characters that might reappear in a future volume. As such, the barrister Michael Devlin is the main character here, while Joe Dempsey only features briefly.
I have to say that having read all three of Tony Kent’s books, Marked for Death is my favourite. All of them are very good, all of them I’ve awarded five stars, but if I could I would award a sixth or seventh star to this book. There’s something about it which just shines a little brighter, and while I have enjoyed immensely his conspiracy fiction, Marked for Death just stood out a little more for me.
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