Twelve in 12: The Business of Dying in OD

Title: The Business of Dying

Author: Simon Kendrick

Genre: Crime

446 pages

This is the third of three books I will be reviewing for The Great Transworld Crime Caper

Meet Dennis Milne. He’s a cop who sometimes crosses the line.

By being a hitman.

Unfortunately, his latest job goes somewhat wrong leaving him with people chasing him from both sides of his life, he’s going to have to work hard to stay in the land of the living.

I have to admit, out of the three books I’ve reviewed for this challenge, this is by far the best of the bunch. Milne is a cracking character, though a bit cynical and jaded, he does still somewhat believe in justice and good and evil. It’s how he justifies his sideline. Which is why he freaks out when he thinks he’s been duped.

The more I read this book, the more I realised that Milne is simply Dexter Morgan, just slightly reversed. This isn’t a problem as long as it’s done well and Kendrick does this very, very, very well indeed.

The book moves at a cracking pace and never seems to flag. This is especially true in the last third when Milne is struggling to keep it together in the face of stunning revelations as well as tyring to stay at least one step ahead of his pursuers, whichever side of the law they happen to be on. You’ll wonder how Milne can stop for breath and you certainly won’t be able to put it down.

Kendricks attention to detail is amazing and the whole thing is shot through with a kind of humour, even if, at times, it is bordering on pitch black. There are a few twists, but they are the kind that take the characters by surprise as well as the reader which, if you are going to indulge in that kinda thing, is the way it should be.

I cannot, cannot, cannot recommend this book highly enough and I cannot, cannot, cannot wait to read more from Kendrick.

Will