"The Murder Exchange", by Simon Kernick

This thriller/mystery may be Simon Kernick’s second novel but far from the second one I have read through the years. I am just catching up with his repertoire. In fact, I have highly recommended his novels in the past and I have a sneaking impression I will do so for many more years, yes I admit being a huge fan….

“The Murder Exchange” is a gritty exploration of London’s underworld. The engaging plot is cleverly written, has a touch of humour to it and provides numerous twists to keep us tuned in and flipping pages. Told from the points of view of its two lead characters and in alternate chapters, this dual narrative delivers an interesting contrast and proves to be an excellent way of building the tension, albeit confusing at first. Mid-way through the book the action really kicks off and the reading gets exciting, though some twists seem rather far-fetched and some scenes have plenty of violence. Mr. Kernick’s books are known to be fast paced and for pulling the readers in a matter of a few chapters, this one is no exception. We have a wide scope of characters all intricate in their own way and surprising brief appearance from recurring ones (or maybe they appeared in later books).This novel is another excellent read hard to put down.