This is the first book in this series I've read and I received a copy from Elliott and Thompson via Netgalley.

When the legal team defending suspected war criminal Hannibal Strauss becomes victims of a terror attack in The Hague, barrister Michael Devlin immediately suspects something suspicious is happening. Once again partnering with Agent Joe Dempsey, they must uncover the mastermind before more innocent lives are lost. The only clue is a codename: the Monk.

This was a slow burn for me. It started out quite excitingly and fast-paced, but then it took a while before it reached the same level. The story itself is brilliant and I loved the elusiveness of that particular world. I usually enjoy spy thrillers and this was no exception so I would definitely read a follow up (although I found out later that this was already book 5 in a series).

4/5⭐️

The Shadow Network by Tony Kent delivers a thrilling mix of conspiracies, shadowy networks, and high-stakes action. A public massacre at The Hague hides a targeted hit on the lawyers of an alleged war criminal, pulling British barrister Michael Devlin and UN intelligence agent Joe Dempsey into a web of intrigue.

In this fifth instalment of Kent’s gripping series, Devlin and Dempsey’s connections draw them into the chaos. They must uncover the identity of the mystery man linked to the shooting while protecting Dempsey’s former lover from a network of assassins working for the elusive foreign agent known as "the Monk." With agencies like the CIA joining the fray, the stakes rise even higher.

Kent's fast-paced writing blends action, secrets, and betrayal, creating a compelling page-turner. Fans of Lee Child and Robert Ludlum will love the combination of clever plotting, intense fight scenes, and smart characters that make The Shadow Network a knockout.

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An action packed, fast moving thriller. A well plotted rollercoaster.
The story is set in the USA and Europe. I didn’t realise it was book #5 in a series. There is no need to have read the previous books. I was surprised how much punishment a person can take and still get up and carry on hitting each other. The action galloped along at a great rate so the plot didn’t feel stretched. The sudden inclusion of a heart to heart between the women in the middle of action seemed a bit out of character and not realistic at all.
I don’t think writing from a female perspective works in this story.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, but I felt that compared to the previous books it was a little rushed and didn't flow as well as the other books. Hopefully, the next book in the series will be

This is the first book by Tony Kent which I've had the pleasure of reading and what a pleasure it was. Gripping, right from the outset and a great pace to it which makes you want to "just read a bit more".
The fact that this book is number 5 in a series was in no way a hindrance and the recurring characters backstories are sufficiently introduced that you get a good idea of where they have been and the types of people they are without having read any of the others.
A must read for fans of Baldacci, Child etc.
I will now be looking to read some of the previous novels.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my advance copy for Trevor purposes.

My first book from this author. I truly enjoyed it. Week written, interesting characters and gripping story. Recommended.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the copy.

This is the 5th book in the Dempsey / Devlin series and I have read books 3, 4 + 5 in just a few weeks since I discovered them. They are a great action packed pair. I see some reviews say this is the 'new Jack Reacher' and funnily enough I've been watching the first series of Reacher and that was who I was picturing whilst reading these books.
I look forward to the next outing of the pair and their team.

This is the first book that I've read by Mr. Kent and I'm glad I did it! The Shadow Network is well-written, fast-paced, and kept me reading throughout the night. I love espionage stories and this one has sleeping agents, double working agents, and it focuses on the difficult relationship Russia has established with other countries, especially the USA. Thrilling and entertaining!
I thank Mr. Kent, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

A ripping yarn! My first experience of Tony Kent.
Superb plot, interesting characters and a couple of plot twists I didn’t see coming. Highly recommended.
I noted the comparison to Jack Reacher- I found the Dempsey/Devlin combo much more compelling

I also posted this review on goodreads

I chose to read THE SHADOW NETWORK based almost entirely on the enthusiastic blurbs posted here for it, particularly Ian Rankin's recommendation, but I ended up disappointed. The narrative had real possibilities. Sadly, however, that narrative was bogged down in such overwritten, ungainly prose that it was hard to get at it. Less than a quarter of the way in, I found myself skimming to try to unearth the meat of the story. It was like slogging through mud. Sentences, even whole paragraphs, occupied space that could have been a few words. Dialogue meandered on unnecessarily long after the point of the conversation had been exhausted.

Maybe it's a cultural thing and a matter of style. Maybe that's why UK titles often don't sell well in the US.

Despite being American, however, I do read a lot of UK crime fiction, so I'm not complaining that this book was nothing like Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum. Personally, I prefer a slow burn to constant action, but THE SHADOW NETWORK frequently exhibited no burn at all. I wish it had. It gives me no pleasure to say that I really didn't enjoy the read.