Simon Kernick A Good Day to Die

A Good Day to Die

Simon Kernick

St. Martin's, Aug 2006, $24.95

ISBN 0312349955

In London Detective Sergeant Dennis Milne was known to straddle the legal line when it comes to the sleaze of the city. However, he crosses totally over when he kills a thug; however, besides taking justice in his own hands, the victim turns out to not have been involved with the crime that led Dennis to him. In other words he used excessive force to kill an innocent person. Knowing he would be convicted of the murder, Dennis flees his home country for Asia finally taking residence in the Philippines.

Three years later, Dennis Milne no longer exists; instead Mick Kane earns a living as a vigilante bounty hunter for hire in Sabang Bay. His targets are nasty killers who beat the system. His current assignment is personal as he seeks revenge by killing a Londoner whose actions back home led to the homicide of a friend from his copper days, Detective Asif Malik. To complete his mission means sneaking back into London and hunting down the others.

Milne is a fascinating anti-hero whose ethics propels him to risk his freedom and perhaps his life to avenge his friend while readers will wonder whether he is a champion or a brute. The story line is so action-packed, fans will read in one sitting, but the adversaries remain somewhat caricatures. Still readers will devour Simon Kendrick's fine thriller in one good reading day.

Harriet Klausner