A Blockbuster of a revenge thriller, which like a Hollywood movie twists and turns and explodes in jaw dropping suspense until the reader is left speechless and desperate to know whats going to happen next! Redemption is a heartbreaking tale of love, loss and revenge and what two parents are prepared to do to avenge the tragic death of their child. Tackling dark themes throughout, the writing is simply flawless with a plot which skillfully explores a wide range of emotions before erupting into a no holds bar race against time filled with power, action, suspense and was a fantastic journey throughout. For eleven years, Evelyn and Tobias have been waiting for their revenge. For the day when Aaron Alexander would be released from prison for killing their son in a hit and run and they will finally have the chance to seek him out and get the justice their son really deserves. But in this story their are no easy answers and many victims with their own story to tell and all seeking there own path to redemption. But as Evelyn's heartbreak leads her down a spiraling path of death and disaster, Tobias will go to any lengths to save his wife even if it means betraying her in the cruelest way possible by protecting the man who killed their son. Evelyn, Tobias and Aaron are set on a collision course and retribution or redemption await! Redemption is a total edge of your seat thriller with a soul searching dilemma at its core which propels the story on at breath taking speeds until my head was in a spin and loving it all the more. The writing is FANTASTIC with pacing and storytelling maintaining the highest of standards throughout whilst the reader cannot help being pulled into the story and experiencing such a wide range of emotions and dilemmas alongside it's broken characters. Characterization is exquisite with everyone getting there own backstory and moment to shine before being propelled along a dark non stop roller coaster at breakneck speed filled with emotional upheaval, propulsive drama and a truly thought provoking moral anguish at its heart that will have every reader stop and wonder what lies in their own heart when pushed to the limit. Redemption is a brilliant non stop thrill ride, Fantastically written with a gut wrenching story at its core helping to propel it into bold and exciting new directions. One of the best books of the year and a masterpiece in every way!

Groundbreaking. That really is the only word I can find to describe Jack Jordan’s writing. From the delicious soul-crushing tension of “Do No Harm” to the sublime, looming dread of “Conviction,” Jordan has established his voice for writing remarkably pacy, overwhelmingly intense experiences on the page. It is next level writing in every possible sense. And, foolishly, I had doubts about his latest thriller, “Redemption.” The plot seems to be a standard revenge tale; a mother looking to inflict some brutal justice on the monster who killed her child. But this is a Jack Jordan thriller. Nothing is that simple - and more than that, my doubts were unfounded. Somehow Jack Jordan has transformed the revenge thriller, turning it into something that feels familiar and yet wholly unique. We follow Evelyn on her dark mission to bring forth a violent reckoning on a child killer, but we also follow the parallel tale of her husband, Tobias, as he frantically works to prevent his wife from taking this step and becoming a monster herself. And then Jordan turns things on their head even more by giving a voice to an unexpected character in proceedings, which I don’t want to delve to deeply into here as it really was remarkable storytelling. Every character in Jordan’s world is capable of achieving their titular “Redemption,” as we delve into the very fabric of what can tear human beings apart both physically and emotionally. It is powerful writing, sure enough, but that doesn’t mean that Jordan skimps on the shocking, bone-crunching brutality that his thrillers have become known for. There were a handful of moments throughout “Redemption” that made me shudder and flinch. But I never wanted to put it down. I didn’t read “Redemption.” I consumed it. I needed to finish it. And when I did, I felt like I had experienced something truly unique. These characters were real; their struggles were real; and, by the final pages, every moment, every redemption felt honest, earned and masterful. You owe it to yourself to read “Redemption.” I don’t doubt that it will be one of the most talked about books of the year.

This was a tense thriller set against the backdrop of ever increasing wildfires with Evelyn hunting down Aaron in revenge for killing her son whilst her husband Tobias is tracking down Evelyn to try to stop her killing Aaron. Told from each of their perspectives which really helped to understand the impact each had on the other whilst each was struggling with their own situation. There’s plenty of action in this but I had no idea how this could be resolved and how it would end but Jack Jordan did a good job of not only progressing the story with a lot of sympathy for each character but concluding it in a way that weirdly worked for each. 9/10

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Jordan’s books and as such, I have the highest expectations for each new one. DO NO HARM is one of my all time favourite books, but REDEMPTION has come along and absolutely blown me away. There’s elements of the popcorn, action thriller that I loved DO NO HARM for, but these punctuate a much deeper, more painful story that is utterly breathtaking. REDEMPTION is the evolution of Jack Jordan, firmly putting him on the map as one of the greatest crime writers of our generation. This book has it all: action, suspense, brutality, but also heart, love, beauty. It blends so many emotions together into a cauldron of pain, anguish, violence and ultimately hope. The pace starts off very evenly, building a detailed picture of Evelyn and Tobias, their relationship, the loss of their son, and the fissures this has caused in their marriage. The narrative is so much about grief and Jordan paints a very deep and heartfelt portrait of it. I felt every ounce of this couple’s pain, it got under my skin and rooted in my very soul. We then meet Aaron - the young man responsible for the death of Evelyn and Tobias’s son, Joshua - and I expected to feel some of Evelyn’s anger. However, Jordan has created characters who are the very epitome of humanity. They are flawed, but they are essentially good. They are the product of their experiences and I immediately felt compassion for all of them. I felt incredibly invested in all of these characters, which really had me turning the pages. The moments of blistering action were explosive and Jordan knows how to perfectly blend these with the more emotional aspects of the plot, keeping things moving forward with tension and suspense. This book will equally appeal to those who enjoy a taut and exhilarating thriller and those who relish a more literary and emotional thriller that gets you thinking. As well as having my mind blown by the brilliance of the plot, REDEMPTION is a hugely thematic and visual novel. It is absolutely begging to be adapted for the screen. The imagery is simultaneously stark and effervescent, thrusting the reader into the bleakness of these characters’ lives. The sense of loneliness, abandonment, desolation and emptiness is so perfectly reflected in the landscape. The desert is its own character, and one that lends real tension and anguish to this story. Similarly, the wild fires that form a backdrop to the narrative act as a physical reminder of the slow burn of Evelyn’s unravelling grief, rage and plan to murder Aaron. As the fires burn in the background (the references to the smoke, a constant reminder for the reader), we wait on tenterhooks to find out whether Evelyn will burn herself out or whether she, Aaron and Tobias will collide in a blazing inferno that threatens to destroy them all. Jordan also explores the nature of family, unconditional love, and the strength of relationships. This book could almost be marketed as a love story, as it permeates through all of the different elements of the narrative. It’s also very much about finding yourself. It’s a journey of self-acceptance and forgiveness for all of the characters. Aaron’s journey is particularly heartbreaking. He’s been shunned, bullied and abused for his sexuality. Kicked out of his home by his mother as a teenager, he falls into a unsavoury life, confusing it for the love he has craved. His gradual realisation that he deserves more than abuse and trauma is one of the most beautiful aspects of this book. I was genuinely moved by his story. The final element of the book that I really noted was the references to Shelley’s FRANKENSTEIN. Evelyn and Tobias first meet in a cafe, where they are both reading it. This fits perfectly, because like that classic text, REDEMPTION is so much about monstrosity and where it lies. All of the characters in this novel do something monstrous, but all of them are painfully human and none of them are monsters. Jordan balances each to perfection, allowing us to sympathise with each of them, whilst also feeling the horror in things that they do. As with FRANKENSTEIN, human nature and experience is what creates the monstrosity in our society. It’s a poignant and impactful message that resonates just as vibrantly in this text as it does in literature’s seminal example. If you’ve read all of this, thank you for persevering. All that is left to say is READ THIS BOOK! You won’t regret it!

What an engrossing read, we are faced with one of this author’s trademark moral dilemmas; what would you do if someone killed your child? Evelyn and Tobias Moore lost their son Joshua in a hit and run and the man who killed him, Aaron Alexander, has been released from prison after serving 11 years. But Evelyn has been waiting for this day as she is determined to that Aaron will pay with his life. Told from the POV’s of Evelyn, Tobias and Aaron in the present but with chronological flashbacks at the start of each section. The book is split into 5 sections based on the 5 Stages of Grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. Briefly, setting off together Evelyn leaves Tobias in a motel taking all his belongings, even his shoes! She knows that he won’t be willing to go through with killing Aaron but what she didn’t realise is that Tobias is not as weak as she thought and he is determined to save Evelyn from herself and in the commission of this save Aaron. With Tobias chasing after Evelyn, who leaves a trail of disaster in her wake, Aaron is initially unaware that his life is in danger and when he does find out he decides to leave town. This is a fascinating ‘cat and mouse’ chase across country from San Diego to Beatty then to Reno and Walker Lake via Death Valley which I know from experience is not a fun drive - very remote, hot and arid. Evelyn is motivated by her grief to seek revenge whereas Tobias is unable to let go of his feeling that without Evelyn he is nothing and he has to stop her not just from a feeling of what is right but for himself. The character I really felt for was Aaron, no spoilers but as you learn more about him it’s clear that his life has been fraught with abuse. There are some real shocks along the way and some fairly graphic violence but nothing gratuitous in what I found to be a compelling and exciting read. Don’t miss this!