I have to say, the first half of this book didn't grab me, but the second half has the pace, suspense and twists you expect from a decent crime thriller. Primarily urban and dark, there are few light moments to break the bleakness., making this a gritty read.
Things go bad quickly for the lead character from the start, but although there is escalation, the pace seems too slow in the first half. I also didn't connect with Ollie. Paranoid and pessimistic, he seems to have neither the intelligence of a history teacher nor the street smarts of a man with a delinquent adolescence. It made it hard to feel empathy for him, especially with some of the stupid decisions he makes.
The second half is far better. Although some twists are not entirely unexpected, the outcome never feels certain, and it's well paced. If you like this genre, it's worth persisting with the book long enough to get to the good bits.
Many thanks to Flame Tree Press for the ARC. My review is my honest opinion. ( )