Friday, 20 January 2017

Rob McCarthy - A Handful Of Ashes


Rating: 4/5

Review:
A good thriller



I enjoyed this police/medical thriller.  It has its flaws, but it was exciting and gripping.

Dr. Harry Kent is a junior doctor in London who also works as a Police Medical Examiner.    He is called to certify a suicide which turns out to be murder; the victim is a doctor who reported a colleague to the authorities, and plot develops involving post-operative deaths and hospital cover-ups.  It's a very decent story; it does get a little silly as the denouement approaches and unravels, but I was happy to suspend disbelief sufficiently to enjoy it.    Rob McCarthy writes pretty well (with the occasional slightly clunky moment) and plainly knows what he's talking about – the medical stuff is a real strength of the book, and he unravels it with care and genuine realism.

The two central characters, Harry Kent and his ex-lover, DCI Frankie Noble both have Addiction Issues and, while they are well enough done, it did become a bit much for me as Harry's Personal Journey Into Darkness dominated more than it should have done.  Nonetheless, I found this a gripping and intelligent read and I'll be looking out for the next in the series.

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