Want You Gone is the third in a Jack Parlabane trilogy, with each novel a top notch thriller. This isn't a technothriller - it's a rich novel with excellent charectarisation and plotting, raised to new heights by Brookmyre's astute understanding of people's psychology and behaviour, Indeed it's that understanding of how and why people behave the way they do that makes this book so real.

See also my interview with the author on The Crime Warp - link below

I am a big Brookmyre/Parlabane fan and so I was very excited to read this the eighth book in the series. I have found that quite a few series start to flag once the get over 6 or so books but not this series. It has matured throughout and every new addition has breathed more fresh air into the main character as he has evolved. Each new book adds another layer to the brilliant Jack Parlabane and each story takes him to a different place, with some of the same people, but always refreshingly different.
In this book we delve into the wonderful world of hacking. Parlabane is drawn (dragged) into this world by a hacker already known to him, one who has "helped" him in the past, one who is on a long list of people who "have something on" him. Samantha Morpeth is in trouble. Trying to make ends meet and look after her sister, she makes a big mistake, one that someone takes advantage of. Needing help, she blackmails Parlabane into assisting her with a very daring robbery. Jack has no option and together with Samantha, formulates a plan to get what is needed. With him at the sharp end and her behind a screen, will they manage to get out unscathed, and more importantly, will they get away with it?
Blooming heck, this was one roller coaster of a ride. I was especially fascinated with the skills of the hackers as they conned their way into systems, sometimes bypassing some rather sophisticated security. I was also quite shocked at how easy it was, maybe a little scared too. As I followed what Samantha and Jack were doing, occasionally with my heart in my mouth, I was also trying to work out who the baddies were. Who was the puppet master? Who was friend and who was foe? Not an easy job given the twists and turns that this book kept taking.
Parlabane was typical Parlabane. Having just managed to crawl his way out of the mire once again and score a new job, he is faced with the possibility of loosing it all again. Ironically the reason he got the job is also kind of the reason he may loose it again. Loose his job and maybe more, his freedom and life also being threatened along the way.
I found the interactions between Jack and Samantha to be excellent. They complemented each other as characters very well. They are really polar opposites in many ways but as they say, opposites attract and eventually, I thought they worked together very well. There are also a lot of similarities between the two as well; they are both determined and protective.
The plot is brilliant and very well executed. Just when I started to believe one thing, something else happened which made me initially question things and then a bit later on completely turned it all upside down. There were a few things in the reveal that I had my eye on, had an inkling about, but I have to admit that Mr Brookmyre completely pulled the wool over my eyes for quite a bit. He also had me shouting "no" quite a few times. I do have a bit of a thing for Parlabane and I am quite protective of him and I know he's a bit of a lad, walks on the wild side, crosses the line, but he's my Jack, he's not all bad, and I don't like it when... well... that'd be spoilery and we can't have that!
Anyway, all in all another great addition to one of my favourite series. One I have followed for a fair while and one that I hope will keep going for a long time yet.

My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Having only just discovered this series with book 7, I couldn't wait to read more of the same. This was a totally different read to the last book but was, for me at least, a brilliant read.

This book is bang up to date as it delves into the world of cyber crime and hackers. The author takes Jack on a journey he doesn't expect as he joins forces with a very clever young woman. Sam is a struggling to look after her vulnerable sister while their mum is in jail for something she claims she didn't do. As the story progresses we discover that what is going on is far more complicated than first thought, and it goes a lot further back in time.

The story is brilliantly told, the characters are all written well, and the storyline takes you on a journey you won't be expecting.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a copy.

Brookmyre on top form again - this Parlabane novel cracks along with Brookmyre's usual cutting prose and follows a cyber plot that requires him to team up with BUZZKILL to get up to no good. Taut and very well plotted, this story moves at pace to a neat and satisfying conclusion. Top marks for this underrated author.

I'm grateful to the publisher for an advance e-copy copy of this book via NetGalley, and honoured to be joining the blogtour.

I will be buying a copy of the hardback to go on my shelves!

Sam Morpeth doesn't have it easy. Sam's mother is in prison, she's bullied by the popular girls in her class and she's the only carer for a sister, Lilly, who has learning disabilities.

And it all seems to be getting worse as Sam's benefits are cut and the lowlife move in to tale what they claim Sam's mum owes them for drugs...

Jack Parlabane, in contrast, is on the up at last. Still glowing - a little - from his reporting of the Black Widow case, he's now been able to use his hacker contact, "Buzzkill" to get the inside story on a major bank hack. Buzzkill has featured several times in recent books, but now we're going to learn a great deal more about him ("there are no women on the Internet") as he and Jack circle and double cross each other, looking for a way out of a pretty extreme situation.

It's a situation that also draws Sam in, and one where she'll have to dig deep into her history to discover what's really going on.

And to survive.

All while juggling schoolwork, Lilly-care and the labyrinthine benefits system.

Brookmyre gives a realistic portrayal of real people in real dilemmas: what do you do when your flat is burgle, the TV stolen, and your little sister will just melt down if she can't watch her favourite DVDs at the regular time? As a parent of a LD child I can assure you, this isn't a trivial issue but Brookmyre clearly gets it. The need to provide care throws a few spanners in the works here, heightening the tension as the story winds to a gripping climax.

This is a book that ranges widely in its themes - from the comaraderie of hacker gangs to financial fraud (that bank deserved what happened to it), the changing face of journalism: Jack's got himself hooked up with a Buzzfeed style outfit, all bean bags and pool tables and based at an achingly trendy North London address (Hmmm, let's see how long that lasts). We also see the grim reality of the benefits system, for those caught up in its workings. All in support of a really thrilling plot with the usual Parlabane shenanigans - whatever he tells himself, when he breaks into an office it's not only in search of the story, it's just as much because he can.

But there's a serious edge. Buzzkill nearly ruined Jack once before - By accident? On purpose? - and has been an ambiguous figure throughout. All the same, he's done Jack some favours. Now, Buzzkill is calling in the debts, faced with an enemy the hacker can't hack. But this could bring all Jack's new-found credibility crashing round his ears.

Will he repay his debt?

Will it be the end of him if he does?

From the ominous preface to the final, suspense-filled pages of the story, this is a book that'll keep you gripped and reading whether you're a longtime fan of Parlabane or a newcomer.

Yet another winning Jack Parlabane story from the pen of Chris Brookmyre! The dark sense of humour and the plot twists always deliver. More please!

Chris Brookmyre has become a must-read author for me; I enjoyed Black Widow very much and I thought Want You Gone was even better.

This time, Jack Parlabane is based in London where he and his shadowy occasional collaborator, the hacker Buzzkill, are drawn into some very devious and dangerous hacking and industrial espionage. There's a twisty plot which develops convincingly and very grippingly and it became very exciting – I found it very difficult to tear myself away and fairly raced through the book. There is an awful lot about the techniques of hacking and the circumventing of security systems, which may sound rather dry and technical, but which is so well done that I found it absolutely riveting. There are some thrilling and nail-biting episodes, a genuine sense of threat and layer upon layer of mystery and deceit. Brookmyre also cleverly plays with stereotypes and assumptions for some neat but very plausible surprises.

In addition, he paints his usual subtle and convincing portraits of his characters in the now familiar combination of third person narrative of Parlabane's activities and inner life, and first-person narrative from another character. It's very well done indeed; I was completely drawn in to their lives as well as the plot, and Brookmyre makes some shrewd observations about people, behaviour and modern life along the way.

In short, I thought Want You Gone was brilliant and immensely entertaining. Very warmly recommended.

(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)

There is a reason why I love Chris Brookmyre. It is because he is consistently brilliant. This is the latest book featuring investigative reporter Jack Parlabane. Jack has been down on his luck, but just for once things seem to be going his way. He should have known that couldn't last... He is soon as deep in doody as he has ever been and there doesn't seem to be any way out. Someone has taken over his life, the clock is ticking, and every turn he takes seems to get him deeper in trouble. How is he going to get out of this one?

The plot of this book is all about technology and hacking. The details of the hackers' world were fascinating, and I ended up quite paranoid and much more aware of the dangers of putting information online! I loved everything about this book, and my only complaint is that I have now finished it and have to wait for another one :-(

Classic Brookmyre , tightly plotted, sense of humour . Scotlands answer to Elmore Leonard in many ways.

I’ve been a fan of Chris(topher) Brookmyre’s work ever since I picked up a copy of The Sacred Art of Stealing many years ago. I like how he’s developed as an author, and I like it even better he’s still writing Jack Parlabane books. Black Widow, the previous instalment, may even have been his best book to date.
The plot of Want You Gone is centred around hacking and industrial espionage. As always it’s complex and every time I thought I’d figured it all, something happened and I had to change my theory.
I always like how Brookmyre creates his characters and Want You Gone isn’t any different. They’re complex with serious flaws but still likeable. I really liked how Parlabane and Sam worked together.
I don’t know much about hacking but that didn’t interfere with my understanding of the story. Brookmyre manages to explain all that’s relevant without losing pace. I’ve just become slightly paranoid about using my computer and the internet.
I really enjoyed this book and it’s as good as most of his other books. It doesn’t quite meet the standard set by Black Widow but then it’s not realistic to expect perfection every single time.
4 stars.

Fast paced, gritty, interesting and page turning. Would have liked it more if less had been written about the computer hacking.

Chris Brookmyre is a brilliant writer and this time we are led into the world of hackers, cyber-crime, fraud and corporate espionage.

The book starts with what looks like two separate stories, one told by Sam Morpeth, a teenage girl who is becoming overwhelmed with the responsibility of looking after her younger sister with learning difficulties. Things get worse when she's told she can't claim benefits because she is in full time education. No one seems to be listening. In the evenings when her sister is asleep she spends her time in online chat rooms to escape her harsh reality.

In the 'second' story, investigative reporter Jack Parlabane is in London having been invited there for an interview with Broadwave, an online news site. Could this be an opportunity to get his career back on track? While he's there, there is a major cyber attack on RSGN Bank. Parlabane recognises the trademark of a group of hackers called Uninvited and contacts a hacker who goes by the name Buzzkill with whom he has had dealings in the past, in the hope of getting some inside information on the hack for a story. Jack has no idea who Buzzkill is, he's never discovered his real identity nor actually spoken to him.and he doesn't particularly want to owe him any favour but he gets some quotes and writes a piece for Broadwave.

Sam's situation suddenly deteriorates further when she herself is hacked by a blackmailer who seems to know everything about her and is threatening to reveal things from her past that could lead to her going to jail. The blackmailer is demanding that she steal a prototype device from company. Having read Jack Parlabane's story on the attack on the Bank she attempts to contact him to seek his help.

The two are soon involved in the dark world of cyber-crime: hacking, breaching security systems, corporate espionage, all the while trying to identify the blackmailer who calls himself Zodiac. They also find themselves having to 'disappear' after a body is found on premises where Jack had gained entry having previously hacked the software that controlled access.

Despite some of the things Sam has done, she comes across as a good character and I had a lot of sympathy for her. I also like Jack Parlabane despite his, at times, rather dubious past when his actions in pursuit of the truth of a story sometimes led to him stepping over the line. The two characters worked well together. I also got the feeling there was another connection between Jack and Sam waiting to be revealed.

The first part of the book moves along at steady pace but is never boring. It's not long before the action really starts and then the pace really ramps up until the conclusion. Sam tells her story in first person voice. Jack's story is narrated in the third person present tense. The dialogue is good and there is an exciting immediacy. I could see the story playing out in my head and I got very engrossed. For me, it quickly became a real page turner.

I always enjoy a new Parlabane novel, and this is one of the best in recent years. As this one starts, Jack is still struggling post-Leveson, and about to flunk an interview with a hip online news site, while an ordinary young girl struggles with her grim domestic circumstances. The two come together in a murky tale of hacking and corporate espionage, with the usual mix of excitement, humour and whatever it is that makes you turn the pages faster and faster. The descriptions of hacking and social engineering are highly engaging, and should make you think about exactly what information you give out day to day. An interesting character from previous books is elevated to a bigger role this time round, and there's even a wee bit of Spammy in there as well. Good one.

I’ve loved Chris Brookmyre’s writing for years and I think his Jack Parlabane character is a really strong mix of ironic and hard bitten journalist/detective. Parlabane works hard to keep up with the times, but knows that when it comes to stories, the old motives still prevail, even if the methods of achieving them are different.
Want You Gone is the 8th book in this series and Brookmyre has lost none of his edge or humour.
With the decline in the newspaper industry, Jack is struggling to find work, but when he goes to see the online news operation Broadwave, his contacts – and one old friend in particular – a digital hacker called Buzzkill - gives him the lead that he needs to impress them with his ability to ferret out a story.
His lead relates to a pretty stunning data breach at a major hi-tech company and he is determined that he will follow it through to deliver a splash.
Sam Morpeth has a pretty hard life. The 19 year old cares for her sister Lily, who has developmental difficulties. Her mother is in prison and she is trying but failing to sustain her college education because her benefits are being cut, so all that is open to her is the no-hope fast food retail outlet job. On top of all that she is being seriously bullied.
Sam’s real life may be dire, but her online life allows her to be who she needs to be. That is, until an anonymous hacker called Zodiac invades her world and threatens her with losing all she holds dear if she will not carry out the tasks he is stipulating.
Sam reaches out to Jack and he knows that he owes her, so together they embark on a two pronged journey – to keep Zodiac at bay by carrying out the assigned tasks; and to simultaneously discover who this blackmailer is and expose them.
In the process, Parlabane will put both his and Sam’s life in jeopardy (not to mention pissing off his new boss) and he and Sam will have to go into hiding.
But who is Sam really and what is her connection to Parlabane? Can Sam be trusted or will she sacrifice Jack to ensure Lily’s safety?
In this fast paced thriller where no online transaction is truly safe and cyber hacking can lead to the destruction of entire corporations, Christopher Brookmyre has created a brilliantly plotted nightmare scenario.
Tense, twisty and very edgy, Want You Gone combines Brookmyre’s best loved character with a new partner to create a racy and compelling must-read thriller.

Funny and bitingly satirical, Want You Gone is Brookmyre is back to his best!
After being slightly disappointed with Black Widow, I was a bit wary about reading another Jack Parlabane so quickly afterwards. But I shouldn't have been, this is one of the best books I've read this year.and a fantastic addition to the Jack Parlabane universe.
Jack is approached by Buzzkill, the anonymous hacker plaguing him throughout the last few books, with a near-impossible task.. They are being blackmailed by the mysterious Zodiac into stealing a cutting-edge prototype; both the physical device, and the technical blueprints. Hence the need for an expert hacker, and an individual known for skirting around security systems.
As the story twists and turns between the perspective of Jack and Buzzkill, you learn more about Buzzkill's past, and the connections tying to them to Jack, whilst progressing the story at a break neck speed. Fantastic read.

So jack is back in his 8th book in the series. Mild spoilers will follow. This book, while still retaining some of the dark humour Brookmyre is renowned for, is a little lighter than some of the earlier books. Part of this, may be due to the split narrator technique, used to quite powerful effect, during the book.
Long time readers will remember Buzzkill, the online warrior who has been known to help jack out from time to time. Well now we find out not only who Buzzkill is, but also that previous encounters weren’t all as one sided as they originally appeared. What has been a supporting character, who themselves was a bit of a mystery, now takes centre stage, and shoves Jack into an arrangement he really does not want to get into.
Jack, just for a change is in a good place, taken on by an online news agency, even actually managing to land a scoop. To all appearances there’s a new medical breakthrough on the way, unfortunately, where there is money, there’s going to be murder, and Jack and Buzzkill get dragged into the mix.
This is a proper cybertech thriller novel, and I can not fault any of the techniques used. It feels and sounds genuine, managing to avoid the usual trapdoors of these form of thrillers, in inventing new tech.
At the same time Brookmyre manages to subtly look at the state of the modern welfare state. At least one scene is reminiscent of “I, Daniel Blake” but with a significantly lighter touch. I challenge you not to feel anything will reading through some of the welfare office scenes.
For those who have been following Jacks adventures over the years, this is an excellent addition to the collection. If Parblane, or Brookmyre are new to you, this is the perfect jumping on point.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Great to read another Jack Parlabane novel quite soon after the excellent Black Widow. This one is all set in London and Jack seems to be getting through and over some of his issues. This doesn't mean life is without its problems however and this story has perhaps even more gut-wrenching moments than earlier ones. These sometimes forced me to put the book down cos I couldn't bear to read on for fear of the worst then I couldn't let it lie there cos I needed to know what happened next. Don't want to include any spoilers in this review so will limit myself to saying that the plot flowed speedily and kept me intrigued to the end. The character of Sam was really well written and I have always admired Chris Brookmyre's ability to write from a woman's point of view so credibly. Loved reading another JP book and I look forward to more but also hope that Brookmyre continues to write his other, non-Parlabane stories.

This is the first book I've read by Chris Brookmyre.. grrr now I have to go and download the first 7 of this series. A tense thriller with interesting characters.

A new book by Christopher Brookmyre is something to be treasured: never again can you experience the clever twists and turns of the story, or getting to know the characters, for the first time; each chapter is to be cherished so that the fun isn't over too quickly.

Once again, in Want You Gone, the plotting is skilful and the writing is peerless: it is a master class in complexity, tension and shrewd wit, and many passages bear immediate repetition to fully appreciate their smart structure. Some might consider the first half a bit of a slow burner but I really enjoyed the build up to the story's climax and some of the more tense points were nerve-shreddingly unbearable!

Jack is at his dry, pessimistic and reluctantly-involved best here, and Sam is a very sympathetic and surprising character. I can't wait to see what Christopher Brookmyre does next. I am very grateful to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK and for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Samantha Morpeth is a teenage girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Her Mum is in prison, leaving her to care for her younger sister with learning difficulties, and dealing with bullies at school. As if this isn't enough, she's being blackmailed by a stranger, threatening to publish all her secrets online for the world to see.

Jack Parlabane is a reporter looking for a way to regain his credibility; to show he's still relevant in the word of journalism. Looks like he's found it as well, but at a cost, as a former source who operates on the wrong side of the law, calls in an old debt. If Jack doesn't help, he risks everything coming crashing down around him. The two are pitted against the same nameless tormentor, and both have to decide how far they'll go to keep their secrets hidden, and where their true loyalties lie.

A fast-paced thriller, equally as compelling whether were seeing it through Sam's eyes, or Jack's, and takes us deep into the murky world of cyber-criminals, world class hackers, and industrial espionage. If you don't already have a healthy fear of who or what lurks online, then you soon will after reading this. The to-and-fro between Sam and Jack makes for a great pair of leading characters, and Chris Brookmyre does a cracking job of keeping the tension cranking up, as we're dragged from real world cliffhanger, to online hack-gone-wrong and back again.

It's the first in the Parlabane series I've read, but I'm already looking through the back catalogue to get another fix, which tells you all you need to know.