‘Downfall’ by Jeff Abbott

Published by Sphere,
5 December 2013.
ISBN: 978-0-7515-47887

The action never falters for a second, leaping from crisis to doublecross to disaster to betrayal to triple-cross to stab in the back, and on again, relentless as a bobsled ride at the Olympics.  There is a lot of violence, by and to both men and women, and people are killed ferociously and fast throughout the story. 

Ah: the story!  Basically, Sam Capra is peacefully working in one of many bars he owns, when a girl stumbles in, begging him to help her.  She is followed by a Russian giant of a man and an expensively-suited executive type, both of them after the girl with deadly intent.  Sam kills the giant.  The girl brains the suit, who staggers away and later dies.  Meanwhile, the girl's mother, who works for a frightening baddie called John Belias, is on a mission to kill three men whom Belias wants disposed of.  Before setting off, she has made a video for her daughter, detailing the ins and outs of Belias' business, which promises his adherents comfort and affluence beyond their wildest dreams, by bringing down their rivals in business. Belias needs this video if his empire is to survive.  Capra, meanwhile, wants to save the girl.

It's a complicated plot, tricky and convoluted, and the action never lets up for a minute.  Abbott writes well, and has some extremely felicitous turns of phrase. Recommended.

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Reviewer: Susan Moody

Jeff Abbott graduated from Rice University with a degree in History and English. H is the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author of many mystery and suspense novels. He has been called “one of the best thriller writers in the business”

He lives in Austin with his wife and two sons.

http://jeffabbott.com

Susan Moody was born in Oxford is the principal nom de plume  of Susan Elizabeth Donaldson, née Horwood, a British novelist best known for her suspense novels. She is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer's Association, served as World President of the International Association of Crime Writers, and was elected to the prestigious Detection Club. Susan Moody has given numerous courses on writing crime fiction and continues to teach creative writing in England, France, Australia, the USA and Denmark.  In addition to her many stand alone books, Susan has written two series, on featuring PI Penny Wanawake (seven books) and a series of six books featuring bridge player Cassie Swan.