The latest in the DCI Craig Gillard series, and a great story. I just think that if you’re a Gillard fan you are going to be a bit disappointed, as although he’s the lead Police Character, he doesn’t actually appear much in the book.
The story is one of revenge. An English accountant has just served 6 months in an American jail for laundering drugs money for an American gang.
He got a short sentence compared to the gang bosses because he gave evidence against them. Now two of them are dead and one, the fiercest of all of them, has sworn revenge.
The Reptile, as he is known because of a skin condition, is out of segregation and plotting his revenge. Still locked in a maximum security jail in the middle of the desert he shouldn’t be a threat.
But he gets his hand on a smart phone, how hard should it be to find the English Accountant.
Meanwhile the Accountant is in serious financial difficulties. He had a life style funded by his cut of the laundered drug money and was living well beyond his means.
He has a wife and a teenage daughter, they both know, and are both trying to fly below the radar, staying off social media and out of the headlines.
The Reptile is determined and working with the slimmest slither of information starts to use his smart phone to track down the Accountant.
The story centres on the naivety of young teenagers and the information they share. The dogged determination of a desperate man, out for revenge.
Ultimately it’s a bit of an eye opener. It’s a psychological thriller based around internet stalking and grooming.
Young girls desperate for an internet presence, sharing hat they think is trivial information. All of this acting as a mosaic letting the Reptile gradually build a picture of a lifestyle and ultimately a location.
Then it’s time to wreak revenge, and he’s really going to make somebody suffer.
I really enjoy this series. Nick Louth brings a lot of realism to his books and although I mentioned Gillard is not in this book very much, it doesn’t distract from what is a very good story and a cautionary tail.
I wondered how easy it is to dig into a persons life, via social media, whilst I was reading this book. So I gave it a go. Believe me it’s scary.
Pages: 274. Publisher: Canelo Crime. Publishing date: 22nd September 2022
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