My first Simon Kernick book and I am hooked. The writing is fluid, hard hitting and fast paced. Just how I like my crime novels. I'm not sure where I've been been before, bit I will certainly be catching up with his books in the near future. This may not be literary fiction, but it is absorbing, realistic and brutal.
I can now relax into my calm urban life knowing that the nations' finest are out there looking after me.
I get my kicks from reading about pathological killers and psychopaths. I'm just a innocent country girl, really...........
I thank Netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this novel and the fact that I received this free of charge does not influence the review given in any way.

I took the time to read the earlier books in this series before diving in here which was time well spent, as you need really to have read those to fully appreciate this excellent book, with great characterisation and gripping story. Well paced and thoroughly enjoyable.

I received a free ecopy of this book in return for an honest review. Many thanks to Netgalley and and the publisher for the opportunity.

If you haven’t read the first book, stop right now and go back. I read this book without having read The Bone Field and I felt like I was constantly playing catch-up. This second book, The Hanged Man, is very much a continuation of a story, and though you are given relevant information I still felt like I might be missing information.

The story begins with a solicitor (Manning) running from both the police and his partners in crime. The narrative jumps throughout from Manning, to the main character, DI Ray Mason, an officer in the National Crime Agency, and to Ray’s girlfriend, Tina Boyd who is a private detective. The story moves quickly to a ferocious climactic shoot out. By the end of the book, both Ray’s career and his freedom is on the line.

Violence rears its ugly head early in this book and is pretty much a constant companion. Ray Mason is a damaged man who suffered a macabre loss early in life and it translates in his adult life into aggressive rule breaking. He gets the job done, the question is - what price will be paid? Tina Boyd is a former police detective who is tough and not afraid to take risks. They are pitted against ruthless criminals who kill for fun. The criminals have left a trail of deaths behind them, satanic murders of young girls and staged murder/suicides of those who come close to revealing their secrets. It gives the reader the terrifying thought something like that could really be happening somewhere.

I’m all for a bit of violence and gore in my fictional life but there was a little too much here for my tastes. I didn’t take to the characters emotionally despite the flashback reveals. They never quite translate into an empathy for the characters. Ray is a man who fights violence with violence and doesn’t really have a conscience about it. He has chosen to legitimise it by joining the police.

If you are looking for a book with mystery and emotional depth this is probably not the book for you. However, if you are looking for a swashbuckling thriller of crime and violence you should grab this with both hands. This would make fantastic tv series too.

A fab read to keep you gripped and second guessing everyone!

I always enjoy Simon Kernick’s thrillers and when I was granted access to ‘The Hanged Man’ on NetGalley I couldn’t wait to get reading.
This book is the 2nd in The Bone Fields series and although it is possible to read it as a stand alone it would make much more sense to read the first book as there are many references to it during the novel. If you haven’t read the earlier book you are in for a real treat!
As usual in Simon’s books the opening is really exciting and hooks you in from the first page. Hugh Manning is a crooked lawyer on the run from a bunch of evil gangsters who will stop at nothing to catch him and his wife- he is in posession of information which can send them to prison so they want him dead.
Also looking for him is Ray Mason, a renegade and extremely flawed detective who is trying to bring down the same criminal gang headed by Cem Kalaman and Mr Bone who have murdered numerous young women over the course of the years. Ray is inherently a ‘good guy’ but is not averse to taking the law into his own hands in order to achieve his goal. He has just returned from suspension and is helped by his girlfriend ex policewoman Tina Boyd and his new partner Dan.
This is a real rollercoaster of a read and I barely came up for breath as I was whizzing through it. Ray and Tina are separately chasing down leads and the story is told from both of their views as well as that of the evil Cem and Mr Bone. There are many characters, most of them quite nasty and even the detectives are flawed which makes this a very dark thriller.
The ending is a real cliffhanger and now I am eagerly awaiting the next book to find out what will happen to Ray and Tina..
Mr Kernick has written another winner and gets five stars from me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Eeeeek! I am super excited to share my review of this book with you all today! My thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a review copy!

The reader is instantly faced with secrets, organised crime, betrayal, power, greed, anger, payback, the hunted vs the prey, guilt, relationships and justice. There is a great opening that leads straight into chapter one and takes us back to where it began in The Bone Field.

I was soooooo NOT disappointed when I began to read this book, but being a HUGE fan of this author, I really had no fear on that front! I absolutely love Simon Kernick’s writing style – you are pulled right into the pages and certainly feel a part of the story as the plot unfolds. There was an intense build up and the ever so important #killerhook that had me racing through this compelling storyline! I thoroughly enjoyed the mixed POV so that we got a varied perspective.

Oooooh – the characters…anyone who reads my reviews will know how much I value characters and this book was filled with a fantastic mix that had me drawn in. Ray Mason works for the NCA and is driven to bring down the leader of an organised crime gang that has tormented the streets for a long time – Cem Kalaman! Ray is determined, strong-willed and a risk-taker in my view…but I loved that about him! With his terrible childhood haunting him, his drive really gets under the readers skin.

Cem Kalaman is one of those characters who intrigues and repulses you at the same time. Ruthless, he has secrets that if uncovered, would shatter the very existence he has become used to. With a predatory nature, he is evil, destructive and one person you would not want crossing your path!

I absolutely loved Dan – who was on a pure self destruct mode with his work life overshadowing his personal life and an inner conflict/anger bubbling to the surface, as I reader I really felt for him.

Tina Boyd had to be one of my firm favourites though – in a relationship with Ray – they just work! Tina has a secret and is a recovering alcoholic ex cop turned PI — to say she has a lot going on is an understatement! Tina is clever, confident and like Ray, a risk taker but she has a steely determination that you just have to admire!

OMFG- Lola and Alistair Sheridan ….WTAF!? I am not going to say anymore about this brother and sister – except ..well, no– I am not even going to go there, read the book and find out yourself!

Talk about eery, creepy and totally twisted…meet Mr Bone! An evil sociopath who works for the Kalaman family cleaning up their….mess…this guy will make your skin crawl.

There are so many others I want to talk about- like Ray’s father….holy sh*tballs! However, the above are the ones that have stayed with me so definitely worth a mention. This was an enthralling, twisted and absolutely unputdownable read that I urge people to go out and buy. Although it is the second book in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

A house deep in the countryside where the remains of seven unidentified women have just been discovered.

A cop ready to risk everything in the hunt for their killers.

A man who has seen the murders and is now on the run-in fear of his life.

So, begins the race to track down this witness before the killers do.

For Ray Mason and PI Tina Boyd, the road ahead is a dangerous one, with bodies and betrayal at every turn…
Fans of the British author will undoubtedly enjoy this book which will keep them turning page after page, but I’d recommend reading The Bone Field first. The Hanged Man is a tense crime drama, fast paced and full of violence.
DI Ray Mason with his new partner Dan now working to get evidence to bring the notorious crime boss, Cem Kalaman, to justice. Kalaman is one of the individuals suspected of being behind the killings. Meanwhile Ray’s other partner, Tina Boyd, is pursuing the case from another angle in France. When Kalaman’s accountant, Hugh Manning, goes on the run with his wife, it gives Mason a way of getting the evidence on the gangsters, provided they can keep Manning alive.

It is one of those books it is difficult to put down. The story ends on a massive cliff-hanger where Ray's future is on the line.

I thought the book was nicely tied-up at the end, yet with an opening for continuation should the author wish to do so.

The Hanged Man is not my favourite Simon Kernick book, but it is still a good read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Hugh Manning is an accountant. But not just any old accountant. He has been working for the Kalaman family crime business for many years and has made a lot of money. But just at this minute, he is trying to evade the clutches of the law, who want to question him about crimes associated with what was known in the press as The Bone Field. But things are not going well and his planned escape route is no longer possible.

Although he is afraid of the police catching him, he is more afraid of his employers finding him. And if they do, then the game is up.

Simon Kernick has written a splendid second book, featuring all the main characters from the first. DI Ray Mason is as maverick as ever. The romance with PI Tina Boyd, which smouldered in the first book, is now on fire, and the baddies are back, with Mr Bone as a chief hitman.

Having promised the parents of Dana Brennan – the first girl to go missing in the serial murders - he would find her killers, Ray is determined to do all he can to bring them to justice, even his form of justice!

Please hurry and complete the last in the trilogy Simon Kernick, as I do not think I can stay very long on the cliff edge you have left for us at the end of this book!

Sméagol

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

When I requested to read and review this novel, I didn't realise it was the second book of the series until I had finished the book. That said, it didn't make any difference to me, and I felt like I didn't miss out by not reading the first one. To me, that is usually the first sign of a good series, which you can read the books in any order or skip out books and not miss out on the storyline.

I was drawn to this book because it has been a while since I've read a good mystery/thriller storyline and quite frankly, this one did not disappoint. I was hooked on the first chapter. The novel really opens with a bang and there are so many twists packed in to keep you guessing. I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more by this author.

I'm really uncertain what to rate this book: If I hadn't read any other Simon Kernick books I would be very conflicted as to whether this was a great thriller (if I was a virgin SK reader) or not so great (as an avid SK fan). Not his greatest, but probably far better than many other current thriller writers. I felt it was assuming - it assumed the reader knew the characters and therefore they needed little explanation; assumed that most readers could keep all the diverse character information in their heads, assuming that we would have an unquestioned acceptance of the tactics of the main protagonists. Sorry but this book isn't floating my boat

The book begins with witness to The Bone Field murders, Hugh Manning, fleeing in fear of his life. Detectives Ray Mason and Dan Watts are tasked with bringing him in before the killers discover his whereabouts and execute him gangland-style.

First of all I must state that I haven't read the first book in this series, The Bone Field. Whilst it would have been helpful to establish characters who appear in both, I didn't feel it was a necessity. Enough information is given in The Hanged Man for the reader to have a good grasp of what has gone before.

The book is very cleverly written with many a twist and turn. Detectives Mason and Watts are flawed individuals working on the fringes of the law. Ray Mason's temper often gets the better of him and Dan Watts has a penchant for meaningless one-night-stands since his marriage breakdown. Yes, the book is gritty and violent - not to everyone's tastes - but I thought it no more so than modern-day tv crime dramas. In fact I could see this book and it's predecessor being serialized for television. It was action-packed and fast-paced from start to finish.

I thought events were nicely tied-up at the end; yet with an opening for continuation should the author so wish.

Hugh and Diana Manning liked the good things in life spending money, fancy cars, a big house the whole lifestyle, and it was that greed that caused Hugh a lawyer to get involved with Cem Kalaman who was head of a multi billion pound business empire not always on the right side of the law. Now Hugh and Diana were on the run Hugh hadn’t directly committed any crime but he knew too much and if he was caught by the police he was a dead man Cem could get to him anywhere.
Ray Mason was back from suspension after being exonerated from any wrongdoing from the investigation into The Bone Field three months earlier. He was working along side Dan Watts at Dans request they were looking for Hugh Manning to help with their enquiries they now knew he was on the run they managed to track him down to a small cottage which was overhung with ivy and barely visible from the road.
Once they gained entry into the cottage they smelt that unmistakable smell of death also a suicide note but no sign of Hugh. Has he managed to escape if so how long can he stay alive with the police and Cem Kalaman on his tail?
This is the follow up book to The Bone Field and I’ve got to say this was well worth waiting for. It’s fast paced plenty of action and a little romance too. I am definitely a big Simon Kernick fan. Looking forward to reading more of Simons books.

This is a great book which kept me gripped throughout.
It’s the second book in this series and while you could read it as a stand-alone book, I’d say reading the first book helps give you a fuller understanding of the characters and also how they discovered the Bonefield.
DI Ray Mason is offered another position and starts to work with Dan but also with his new girlfriend PI Tina Boyd who he met in the first book.
They are all trying to find their way through the web of deceit that seems to be hiding those responsible for the dead girls and it all comes to a nail biting showdown, whilst still leaving plenty of questions still to answer.
I can’t wait for Book 3 as this one ends on a real cliff hanger.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK for sending me a copy to read and review.

I was looking forward to reading this follow on novel to the Bone Field.. The story starts with Hugh Manning and his wife Diana hiding from his criminal employees The Kalaman organisation who wants to silence him as he knows too much. It isn't long before the Kalamans hitman Mr. Bone and his blond haired psychopathic knife wielding assistant turns up. Manning manages to escape and go on the run however Diane isn't so lucky and ends up dead. The police are looking for Manning in connection with his wifes death.

Ray Mason is on the case after returning from suspension. It isn't long before he connects it all up with Cem Kalaman, murderous incestuous brother and sister Alastair and Lola Sheridan and the Bone Field murders. It isn't long before Ray Mason's controversial methods get him into trouble with his bosses. Tina Boyd is now in a relationship with Mason and is also investigating the case. The story rattles on at a great pace with many twists and turns and bodies littering the way..

The end leaves you with the opinion that this isn't the end, and there will be another novel to follow this one to tie up the loose ends where this one left off. I am looking forward to reading it, so get writing Simon.

In December 2016 I read the first book in this series The Bone Field by Simon Kernick. It ended on a cliff-hanger in the last sentence (just when you thought it was all over). The Hanged Man is the second book in the series and refers back to events in The Bone Field, but in enough detail so it probably doesn’t matter much if you haven’t read the first book. It’s packed full of action right from the opening chapter as Hugh Manning and his wife are on the run from some very dangerous and violent people who are out to kill them. The police are also looking for Hugh as he is the only witness to what had happened at the farmhouse (dubbed ‘The Bone Field‘) where the bodies of seven women had been found.

Ray Mason, suspended from the police after the events told in The Bone Field, and now exonerated, is back on the case, working with Dan Watts in the National Crime Agency. The main suspects are the Kalamans, brother and sister, Alastair and Lola Sheridan and a mysterious character called Mr Bone. It’s told through different characters’ viewpoints, including Ray’s partner, ex-cop and now a PI, Tina Boyd. With so many characters acting as narrator it’s useful that Kernick uses the first person when telling what happens as seen through Ray’s eyes, whereas the rest are told in the third person.

It’s complicated, maybe over-complicated and I found myself racing through it. There are too many characters and sub-plots. Some characters are like cardboard cut-outs, the ‘baddies’ really bad and the ‘goodies’, particularly Ray Mason, who breaks all the rules, not much better. It’s a world full of corruption and secrets, where life is of little account and murder commonplace, and nobody is safe. But because I knew the identities of the criminals from the start there is no mystery – it’s just a matter of who will get to Manning first, the police or the villains and will the villains be caught? There’s climatic ending – but is this really the end …?

Simon Kernick writes extremely well and The Hanged Man kept me entertained throughout the book and I certainly wanted to keep in reading to find out what happened next. Although this is the second outing for DI Ray Mason and TIma Boyd in the Bone Field Series, I would say it is not necessary to have read the first book in the series as tbere are enough recaps in this book to help a reader new to the series pick up and be able to follow what is going on (without being so much to bore those of us who have read the first).
The reason I did not give it five stars? Although I really enjoyed the book, I just felt that as the story developed some of the parts became a little too far fetched. I will certainly read the next in the series, but I would urge Simon just to please tone it down, just a wee bit when it comes to the plot line!

Book Review: The Hanged Man by Simon Kernick - Hold on to your breeches for this one folks - you'll need to!
The Hanged Man (release date is November 16th 2017) is the fast paced follow up to Simon Kernick's widely acclaimed The Bone Field. I have to admit, there is no writer I've come across who keeps the pace as fast and furious as Kernick does. Every time I pick up one of his books I know I'm in for a breathless, non stop ride of sheer adrenaline fueled action ... and I bloody love it!
So for Kernick fans out there, just to be absolutely clear, The Hanged Man is brilliant!

Hot on the trail of The Bone Field murderers, Detective Ray Mason, barely holding on to his police badge, is determined to find corrupt lawyer, Hugh Manning. He knows that Manning could be the key to getting justice for the murdered girls once and for all. Meanwhile, his PI girlfriend, Tina Boyd, is pursuing a different angle to the Bone Field investigation in France. With many of The Bone Field characters resurfacing, this book is an easy follow on (best to read the Bone Field first though). Apart from the action, this book is about trust, gut instincts and bloody minded doggedness. I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Boyd and Mason develop and there are some particularly poignant insights into Boyd's hopes for the future. The baddies are chillingly convincing and with a few deft words Kernick is always able to push the readers imaginations just that little bit further.
I doubt you'll be disappointed in this. It has something for everyone and of course ends on another cliffhanger. Dexterously delivered, tightly plotted and very convincing.

I hadn't realised this was a continuation of Mr. Kendrick's earlier book, The Bone Field. Although this book was easy enough to follow, and had some handy references to what had gone before. I would however recommend reading them in order as you'll probably get more out of them that way. At this point I wondered why I didn’t go & read the first book , it’s very simple I wasn’t engrossed in this book enough to read another novel by the author.
It was very well written & the characterisation is very good but I didn’t enjoy how there were various points of view throughout the book & the villain’s point of view wasn’t enjoyable & I found it put me off the book. I can’t say I enjoyed the book in fact it made me uncomfortable.

Firstly, I am a big Simon Kernick fan, he is a master of fast paced, action packed thrillers and this book seemed to tick all my boxes - murder, action, flawed characters and a bit of devil worship to top it all off.

But I never fully engaged with The Hanged Man, I have read the first in the series, as the plot is pretty complex and it feels like a ‘link’ book so I don’t think it would work that well as a stand-alone.

So where did it go wrong for me?
I didn’t connect with any of the characters (except Tina Boyd but she didn’t have a large part) Ray Mason, our main protagonist has gone way past being a loose cannon and is now a liability - basically (and I never thought I’d say this) the characters are TOO flawed, there needs to be a straight man somewhere, someone who will bring in some much needed stability. But also, there was a distracted quality to the writing, which I’ve never come across in a Simon Kernick novel before, little sections that didn’t quite scan right. And finally, My litmus test for a book is how I feel when I’ve finished it, a great book for me is when I really don’t want it to end - but this one, I didn’t feel that way at all, I was pleased it was over. Having said all that, I’m hoping because this is a ‘link’ book the next one in the series will pull everything together and I’ll look back and say, ok, I’m with you now Mr Kernick.

Thank-you to Random House Uk and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed some parts of this book and some parts not so much. I was not keen on the ending . Just not for me. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to review it.