MARK NEWMAN - IN FOR THE KILL (2016)

Synopsis/blurb.....

Malkie Thompson's out of favour, and this time Glasgow Crime Lord McAlister wants him gone - permanently. There's no turning back, he's sent for the cleaner, an ex-cop known simply as Baxter. He's the go to guy for delicate jobs, when problems need to disappear, no questions asked.

If only it was that simple. Baxter's got his own set of problems. Haunted by the past, he vowed never to return, and now he's broke, with Callaghan's Newcastle firm closing in demanding he repay the debt. What choice does he have? He's backed into a corner. If he misses the deadline they're going after his family.

In For The Kill is the second in series of the Crime Syndicate thrillers, and leads on from the Amazon #1 Bestseller Violence in the Blood. The setting is Glasgow Scotland 1987. Although second in series, In For The Kill is a self contained story and can be read either in sequence or as a standalone novel.



First read of 2020 and a re-read and an enjoyable start to kick off. I previously read it in March, 2017, so memories of it were beginning to dim. No real stunning insight or additional thoughts to add to my previous encounter.

Fast, pacey, violent, connects to the first outing with some additional characters. I'm looking forward to the third instalment soon.

4.5 from 5

Read - January, 2020 (2nd time)
Published - 2016
Page count - 104
Source - author
Format - kindle
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* Previous thoughts below.......

 http://col2910.blogspot.com/2017/05/mark-j-newman-in-for-kill-2016.html

Synopsis/blurb......

Malkie Thompson's out of favour, and this time Glasgow Crime Boss McAlister wants him gone. There's no turning back, he's sent for Baxter the freelance cleaner and go to guy for the underworld. Baxter's non affiliated, that's how he likes it and that's how it's staying. He doesn't sleep anymore because his past still haunts him. He vowed never to return, but he’s broke, and owes Callaghan's Newcastle firm 20K. He's out of choices, if he misses the deadline they're going after his family.

It's time to take out the trash.

In For The Kill is the second in series of the Crime Syndicate thrillers, and leads on from the Amazon #1 Bestseller Violence in the Blood. The setting is Glasgow Scotland 1987.

Second time around for me with Mark J. Newman following on from January's reading of Violence in the Blood. Reviewed here.

Probably not a read that will appeal to everyone, we have a tale of violence - fairly graphic and a cast of characters with few redeeming features among the lot of them. That said, I really, really liked it.

Gangsters, illegal gambling, bare-knuckle boxing, an unpayable debt, a dispute in Glasgow with a parting of the ways between employer and employee and a call for the clean-up guy.

Really cleverly constructed in the way it ties in with the first in the series. I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series. Newman packs a hell of a lot of action, story and character history into this one and gets the job done in less than 70 pages.

4.5 from 5

Mark J. Newman has written one further tale in his Crime Syndicate series, which I hope to read later this year - Walk Amongst the Dead.

He has his website here. He's also on Facebook here and catch him on Twitter - @marknewmanwrit1

Read in March, 2017
Published - 2016
Page count - 67
Source - from author after signing up to his website newsletter
Format - Kindle