Review: Retribution
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 21, 2014
Although this book can be read as a stand alone, it is the second in the Travis series and I really wish I’d read the first book before embarking on this one. There is no doubt at all that this is a gripping thriller but in the beginning I found it hard to get to know the characters as so many seemed to be introduced without really giving the reader a chance to identify with them. This was further compounded by the numerous pseudonyms that were used throughout with several characters having more than one name. Add to the mix, action that takes place in Wales, Poland, The North-East and that the action is divided into five parts rather than a beginning, a middle and an end, and you can see that it is a recipe for confusion.Having said that, I really liked the way the author dealt with topical problems such as phone hacking and media harassment. The fact that the newspaper refuses to change its story even after getting the facts wrong speaks volumes about today’s society.By the end of the story I could admire the way the author brought all the strands together with many unexpected twists and turns. In addition, the character of Ann is very well portrayed and we were given glimpses into what had happened five years ago. Gareth too is extremely well described but I think that the whole story would have been held together far better by reading the first book.On the whole this is a thrilling story of suspense with some real villains. Personally though I would have preferred fewer characters and more backdrop about the location. I felt the description of Wales worked well but as for Poland, to be honest the setting could have been anywhere as there were few details to relate to. The villains and especially the Russian Mafia did come across as slightly stereotyped at times.If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller that will have you wondering about the next twist then I can recommend it- just read book one first!