Just read: Nobody's Hero by M.W. Craven
On the road with a man with no fear
Best known for his Cumbria-based Poe and Tilly detective novels, M.W. Craven — a top bloke I’ve bumped into a few times at Crime Fest over the years — has recently branched out into high-octane, US-style thrillers. His first Ben Koenig novel, Fearless, had shades of Jack Reacher. Nobody’s Hero feels more like Bond. A bloody, brutal Bond.
Koenig, a US Marshal-trained operative with a medical condition that means he literally can’t feel fear, comes across as more likeable this time round, thanks largely to the sniping, grudgingly respectful double-act with his handler, Draper. Genre fans will also lap up the scatter of film references, from Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter to affectionate nods to the aforementioned 007.
The short, sharp chapters — sometimes breaking two or three times in a single conversation — keep you hooked, propelling you into the next set-piece. Add in the steady stream of twists, turns and betrayals, along with Craven’s effortless prose, and you’ve got a thriller as intricately plotted as it compulsive.
Nobody’s Hero isn’t for the faint-hearted — the violence is bloody, brutal and often wince-inducing — but if you’re a fan of Bond, Wick or Reacher, this should absolutely be your next fix!
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