Severed [Paperback]

Maybe it depends on what you're looking for in a book but I agree with another reviewer (on Amazon.co.uk) who mentioned there being a lot of snobbery around reading. There's nothing wrong with reading a thought provoking book...but neither is there anything wrong with enjoying a fast moving thriller that doesn't take up too much of your brain power. Depends what mood you're in. This is the latter and I ended up staying up until the small hours reading it.

I wasn't sure about the book being written in the first person as it tends to remind me of those American private detective sketches but to be honest the story moved so fast that I didn't mind it at all.

Best read on a weekend or long journey so you don't have to put it down!

I have only read one other book by this author which was titled Relentless. That book was a different style to this one, Relentless was more of a Harlan Coben style novel and if that is all you're after you may be disappointed with this different genre novel. If however you also enjoy fast paced albeit a little unrealistic action thriller, well trained ex army guy who rights a wrong type reads (such as say David Morrell's novels then you'll also love this one.

Severed is a fun read, there's enough action plus the having to guess who's behind it all factor in each chapter to keep you turning the pages. The main character Dan Tyler, is well written as are the supporting ones, including the villains.

Basic plot, Dan Tyler an ex British soldier who has served in most of the recent wars including Bosnia and Northern Ireland has moved on from that life and now runs a successful BMW dealership. He couldn't be happier having just met Leah, a beautiful woman who he thinks he will have a nice long future with. Unfortunately one day he awakens in a strange room beside her corpse, which even though it is missing the head he instantly recognises. He can't remember how he got here and notices a DVD player with a note on top telling him to press play. He does and witnesses a man who looks like him (and who Leah calls by his name) brutally murder her while she's tied to the bed. Shocked he is not fast enough to react to a needle entering him from behind and awakens lying in the back seat of a car to a ringing mobile where he is told the DVD and other evidence such as the murder weapon which contains his prints will be handed over to the police if he doesn't exchange a briefcase in the car for another at an address he is told to go to. Knowing he has no way of tracking down the killer, especially since it's highly likely he'll be behind bars, Tyler decides to do what the caller asks until he has time to turn the tables!

I have enjoyed both books I've read by this author and will definitely check out his other work.

Severed is no literary masterpiece, but it is non stop action from start to finish. I enjoyed it because it read very much like an action movie. The chapters are short and usually end in a decent enough cliffhanger to keep you interested.
If you're looking for something believable then this is best avoided, but for sheer fun it's a good shout. Easy to read and very entertaining. The author's previous book "Relentless" is probably better though.