Endgame is the last of the Ragdoll trilogy and though it contains all the characters we have come to know and love, as a story I think it works well in its own right and could therefore be read as a stand-alone. To get the most from it though, start with Ragdoll, the first book. I think Endgame is the best of the three books so far. It has an excellent story arc, starts with a locked room mystery and is full of the irascibility, humour and fast paced action for which the Ragdoll series is known. Our protagonist,. Wolf, reminds me slightly of Mick Herron’s Jackson Lamb. He has the same lack of respect for rules; the ability to suss out double dealing and match it with even greater duplicity, the foul mouth and the biting wit. The comparison ends there, of course, but Wolf is a larger than life figure that cannot be ignored. Finlay Shaw an ex-copper, is found dead at his home, by his wife Maggie, with a gun by his side William Fawkes (Wolf) is not prepared to believe that his long term friend would ever commit suicide because he loved his wife too much. Wolf ropes in DCI Emily Baxter, PI Alex Edmunds and Jake Saunders Police to look into Finlay’s old cases. Commissioner Christian Bellamy, Finlay’s partner in the early days and long-term friend ever since, joins them in searching out the answers to how and why this happened. The answer lies in the past and it is soon clear that there are people who will go to any lengths to make sure it stays there. With Wolf treading a very thin line between being re-arrested and sent to prison, you’d think this would not be a time for Wolf to go round picking fights and complicating his already pretty dire personal life, but that wouldn’t be Wolf. His past actions as well as Emily Baxter’s impinge on this case and as they get into the depths of the investigation there is a tension in the team that is palpable and things get very heated. Daniel Cole has written a cleverly constructed plot, with great characters and a lot of fast paced and sometimes quite violent action. What makes these books stand out though is the interaction between the characters with all the scathing wit and put downs that make the reader laugh at the same time as they are in the midst of deadly gun battles. Verdict: Excellent, fast paced entertainment that offers a thrilling ride. Cole’s tight plotting and lively wit make this a sure fire winner. Let’s hope there’s more to come.

I received a free eARC of Endgame from NetGalley but that has in no way influenced my review. I am a huge fan of this author’s books. I really liked Ragdoll. I LOVED the second book, Hangman. And knowing this was a trilogy I was very keen to read book three. But also a little nervous too. What if it wasn’t as good as the first two books? What if a series I felt quite invested in didn’t deliver? What if it wasn’t all rounded-off perfectly and I was left feeling completely let down and dissatisfied? No pressure there then

Endgame is the final book in the Ragdoll trilogy and sees the return of disgraced detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes. I felt this final installment was less edgy than its predecessors but nonetheless very enjoyable The love-hate chemistry between Detective Emily Baxter and charismatic but flawed Wolf is reignited as they investigate the apparent suicide of retired colleague Finlay Shaw inside a locked room. Convinced that Shaw wouldn't kill himself — he loved his wife Maggie far too much to leave her on her own — it becomes a near impossible task proving what really happened and how the present day is connected to events from 1979. Endgame, and, in fact, the whole trilogy is exceptionally well-written. Characters are gritty and real. The plot races ahead with an abundance of twists and turns to keep the reader immersed. There are plenty of humorous exchanges that really are laugh-out-loud funny and elevate the book to another level. I'd strongly advise reading Ragdoll and Hangman before attempting Endgame, as the story relies heavily on events from the first two books; as does character development. It really is an excellent, gripping series.

I was delighted to receive this book through Netgalley and when I loaded it down and saw that Daniel Cole himself said you needed to read the first two books first - I went in search - and I am so glad I did. The development of the characters and their relationships are so well developed. This third book in the trilogy was another great story line - the humour in these books just gets better and better - and contrasts with the violence and tension - the balance is brilliant. I understand there is to be a fourth book in the trilogy??? Four and a half stars! Many thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.