I have not the read the first in this series of Killer Intent by Tony Kent, but I really wished I had because this was so good, and whilst there are plentiful references to previous events, it still works well as a standalone. This is a brilliant fast paced thriller which just does not let up on the action front. Michael Devlin is a young QC barrister plagued by insecurites that he has not really earned his silks as he takes the lead as the defending counsel for the young Simon Kash on trial for the brutal murder of two brothers. Michael is convinced he is innocent, a man bullied and threatened, and so unwilling to provide the necessary information that will allow Michael to defend him effectively. Michael's fiance is a Journalist of note, Sarah Truman, and she is covering the explosive story of the elderly Phillip Longman, the former Lord Chief Justice, discovered gruesomely crucified in his bedroom.

DCI Joelle Levy of the London Met is a woman who has previously served with the Israeli security services, a single mother, running the investigation into Longman's murder with her under resourced police team. Pressure increases for her and DI Steven Hale when a gang leader and his close cohorts are killed in what looks like a professional hit. Scrabbling to find any leads, Joelle and her team face the overwhelming task of finding suspects from Longman's long career as a judge. The killer in the meantime has barely just begun, as he targets others in what seems to be a quest for revenge. Joelle and Sarah develop a close personal friendship that allows for them to help each other. Michael is largely oblivious to the killer, absorbed by the trial and his obsession to ensure that Simon Kash is acquitted, that is until it becomes clear that his past is key to what is motivating the deranged and deadly serial killer as tragedy hits close to home.

Tony Kent writes a complex and well plotted story that is intense, and totally gripping that will keep your attention from beginning to end with ease. He expertly ratchets up the suspense and tension whilst juggling the two separate storylines of the criminal trial and a frighteningly scary and menacing serial killer running rampant. The characterisation is well done, Michael is not your usual barrister, his traumatic background and experience ensures he is not going to take the threat to those close to him lying down. Joelle Levy is another character whose background differentiates her from others in the police service, and she too is willing to go over and beyond her role to ensure her own version of justice. This is a fantastic thriller that is both entertaining and compulsive reading. Many thanks to Elliot and Thompson for an ARC.

Yeesh….after finishing this I’m not sure which I need more. A drink or a nap? This is a fast paced thriller with 2 story lines that battle for your attention. At the centre of it all are barrister Michael Devlin & his fiancée Sarah Truman, a well known TV reporter.

Devlin has his hands full after he’s handed a murder trial on short notice. HIs client is a quiet young man unwilling to participate in his own defence. Is he guilty or just too scared to name the real killer?

DCI Joelle Levy also has a murder on her plate. And it’s a doozy. It’s bad enough that someone tortured & crucified an elderly man in his home. Add in the fact the victim was one Philip Longman, former Lord Chief Justice, & the case also becomes a political nightmare. Poor Levy…little does she know it’s about to get much, much worse.

Sarah is initially after the story behind Longman’s death but after a few more bodies appear, the whole mess will become frighteningly personal for her & Devlin.

And then there’s the man with pale eyes…*gulp*…okay, moving on.

Chapters alternate between the 2 main plot lines & both are populated with secondary characters who are mostly cops or lawyers. There are plenty of side stories to keep you occupied as Devlin & Levy work overtime on their respective cases.

Michael & Sarah were introduced in Killer Intent, first book of the series. If you haven’t read it, no worries. The author gives enough background so you can easily get the gist of their past & read this as a stand alone. Levy is a new addition, a tough, smart cop with an interesting background. By the time it was all over, she’d become my favourite character.

My only quibble is that I found 1 story line much more compelling than the other. Devlin’s court case was the weaker of the 2 for a couple of reasons. Long discussions during the trial that detailed technical aspects such as cell phone triangulation soon had my mind wandering. They could have been shorter & revealed the same information. Or it might have something to do with the fact I have the attention span of a hummingbird. The other thing was I guessed early on in the trial just why Devlin’s client wouldn’t talk so those chapters never developed any real tension for me.

But the investigation/hunt for a truly despicable killer definitely kept my little grey cells occupied. As both plot lines reach the finish there are a few surprises in store that will have fans waiting impatiently for book #3.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Elliot & Thompson for an advance copy of Marked for Death, the second novel to feature London based barrister Michael Devlin and reporter Sarah Truman.

When former Lord Chief Justice, Phillip Longman, is brutally murdered in his own home DCI Joelle Levy of The Met is put in charge of the high profile investigation but her workload doesn’t end there when she also has to investigate a gangland massacre. Reporter Sarah Truman is covering the investigations and manages to dig up a few leads herself but the key seems to her fiancé, barrister Michael Devlin who is in the middle of a murder trial.

I thoroughly enjoyed Marked for Death which is basically the hunt for a cold, vicious serial killer. The novel has plenty of violence and is quite graphic in parts which suits the theme but may not be for the faint hearted. It is told from various points of view which requires recalibration on the reader’s part but doesn’t distract from the main narrative except on one point. It is quite a long novel and I felt that it would have been shorter and punchier without the subplot of Michael’s performance in court which doesn’t add much to the reading experience, except possibly in the denouement but by then I didn’t care. The descriptions of cross examinations are tedious and destroy the momentum that the main plot builds up. The main plot, that of the hunt for the serial killer, is excellent with all the tension, action and twists any reader could ask for. It follows a fairly standard format with the detectives looking for a needle in a haystack at the beginning but slowly narrowing their parameters as more information becomes available. I liked their false starts and incisive thinking although I was less convinced at Sarah and Michael’s roles in the investigation.

I like the characterisation of Sarah, Michael and Joelle who are all inherently decent, hard working people. It is always satisfying in a read when the goodies are easily supportable although I would have liked to know more about Michael and Joelle’s pasts which are maybe not as squeaky clean as their current personas suggest.

Marked for Death is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is a great follow up to Tony Kent’s debut novel, Killer Internet and is about the same characters, maverick barrister, Michael Devlin and his fiancée, reporter Sarah Truman.
Sarah is investigating the cruel murder of an aged judge in his own home when the trail leads her to Michael. The late judge was a friend of Michael’s pupil- master and dear friend, Reid who is himself devastated by the murder.
When the killer murders again in the same cruel way Michael, Sarah and Joelle Levy, the Detective assigned to the case, start to look for a serial killer and connections. Why are elderly lawyers being targeted?
There are a number of twists and turns as well as a sub plot where Michael is defending an innocent boy accused of a double murder. He works with Draper, a young female barrister and she definitely has feelings for him that are not strictly professional.
This is a fast paced read with a clever plot which kept my attention. Michael is an interesting hero who has secrets and many skills that would not be usual for a Barrister!
I had read the previous book which meant I already knew Michael Devlin’s family background.
However Marked for Death would work equally well as a stand alone novel although I would suggest reading the first book as it is so amazingly good!
I thoroughly recommend Marked For Death to all crime and legal thriller fans.
I am already looking forward to the next book in the series and hoping that the author is well into writing it already.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Retired Lord Chief Justice is the first to die. He was elderly, he was tortured, he was crucified. Former solicitor Adam Blunt was also killed in the same way. How many more will die?

News reporter Sarah Truman investigates on her own, not knowing that the trail will lead straight back to her fiance Barrister Michael Devlin.

DCI Joelle Levy is tasked to find this killer. There are 50 years of potential suspects .. people charged, imprisoned by the dead men.

Michael Devlin is in the middle of a criminal trial and isn't really paying much attention to the killer ... the man he determines is the killer. Michael understands the man's request for revenge .. and Michael was a part of it.

This is an action-packed page turner full of twists and turns and lots of suspects to look at. The killer comes as quite a surprise and leads to an exciting suspenseful ending.

There are also sub-plots ... the young man Devlin is trying to proved innocent of a murder charge.... the young pretty assistant that has eyes on Devlin for more than just friendship. The guilt Michael feels over the men who died...

Many thanks to the author / Elliott & Thompson / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this tremendous crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.