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Never Walk Away
'Like a darker, grimier version of Mick Herron's Slough House novels, this is a highly promising debut.' Mail on Sunday
'Mesmerising'. The Financial Times
A senior civil servant dies in suspicious circumstances. A sensitive file in his possession and evidence of contact with a human rights lawyer lead the authorities to believe he is a whistle-blower. This needs a police officer used to operating in the murky world between policing and intelligence.
DS Mark (Max) Lomax is a former Special Demonstration Squad officer – a Special Branch unit dedicated to infiltrating political and extremist groups, a world he thinks he has left far behind. Following a botched stakeout of a north London gangster, he finds himself on enforced leave and is called back into his old world of half-truths and conflicting agendas.
As he digs into the death of the civil servant, Max is obstructed at every turn, forcing him to turn to the people he once betrayed for help. With political reputations on the line, the case becomes less about uncovering the truth, than burying it for good.
'Mesmerising'. The Financial Times
A senior civil servant dies in suspicious circumstances. A sensitive file in his possession and evidence of contact with a human rights lawyer lead the authorities to believe he is a whistle-blower. This needs a police officer used to operating in the murky world between policing and intelligence.
DS Mark (Max) Lomax is a former Special Demonstration Squad officer – a Special Branch unit dedicated to infiltrating political and extremist groups, a world he thinks he has left far behind. Following a botched stakeout of a north London gangster, he finds himself on enforced leave and is called back into his old world of half-truths and conflicting agendas.
As he digs into the death of the civil servant, Max is obstructed at every turn, forcing him to turn to the people he once betrayed for help. With political reputations on the line, the case becomes less about uncovering the truth, than burying it for good.
- GenresCrime
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2023
20 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 28, 2023
Enjoyable
I really liked Max and his devil may care attitude ( with hidden sensitivity ) and his determination to make the best of every situation wether he liked it or not would serve us all well
The story is intriguing and more than plausible and had me hooked from the initial visit to retrieve the document onwards
Well written and yes occasionally I did have to pause and think who was who but that was fine
Loved the settings in London almost everyone even Bounds Green I could visualise,always great in a book
Very much look forward to the next book from this author
I really liked Max and his devil may care attitude ( with hidden sensitivity ) and his determination to make the best of every situation wether he liked it or not would serve us all well
The story is intriguing and more than plausible and had me hooked from the initial visit to retrieve the document onwards
Well written and yes occasionally I did have to pause and think who was who but that was fine
Loved the settings in London almost everyone even Bounds Green I could visualise,always great in a book
Very much look forward to the next book from this author
October 31, 2024
Nick Triplow is a fan of all things noir, though in this novel his take on the genre that follows the path from bad decisions to inevitable consequences also blends in some notes of the maverick cop police procedural and a big dose of spy novel secrecy and grey areas, which chime with his protagonist Max's time infiltrating political and extremist groups for Special Branch.
Max is surveilling a flat, hoping to spot a gangster who has guns stockpiled somewhere in north London. He's working solo, and without back-up things do not go well. Unsurprisingly, he is suspended. But then his old boss, Kilby - now an assistant commissioner - takes him back under his wing.
Meanwhile, Michael Tyler is, under instruction from someone much further up the food chain, heading to the home of a top Home Office figure to retrieve a file. Tyler leaves the house with the required paperwork, but now there's a man lying dead at the foot of the stairs, and the file is bloodstained and bedraggled.
The death is deemed accidental, but Kilby wants Max, to go over the case file after a strange anonymous message arrives about it. Max finds the file is full of holes - is this just a sloppy investigation, or something more sinister?
We also have a meeting with senior Home Office people and a woman who represents a US security firm. UK government contracts are under discussion, to do with a new surveillance network that, as the details spill out over the course of the novel, is revealed to be a terrifying prospect.
The three threads run throughout the novel, with sneaky, suspicious and downright nasty interludes along the way, and finally weaving together - sometimes painfully and frequently shockingly. Everyone is working their own angle; "moral compass" isn't a phrase that most characters in this novel would understand. Max also has his own rules, which are not the same as the rules he should be adhering to, though he prefers to do the right thing.
If you're looking for humour, this isn't the book for you - aside from a few barbed quips, it's often pretty bleak. However, there is light and shade, and introspection and emotion that demand your sympathies and keep you in the heart of the story, especially as some of Max's life is revealed. He's a character I'm intrigued by, but I'm not sure I'd want him in my life, seeing some of what he's capable of.
Never Walk Away is a terrific and thoughtful exploration of power and corruption, and I can't wait to read more about Max.
Max is surveilling a flat, hoping to spot a gangster who has guns stockpiled somewhere in north London. He's working solo, and without back-up things do not go well. Unsurprisingly, he is suspended. But then his old boss, Kilby - now an assistant commissioner - takes him back under his wing.
Meanwhile, Michael Tyler is, under instruction from someone much further up the food chain, heading to the home of a top Home Office figure to retrieve a file. Tyler leaves the house with the required paperwork, but now there's a man lying dead at the foot of the stairs, and the file is bloodstained and bedraggled.
The death is deemed accidental, but Kilby wants Max, to go over the case file after a strange anonymous message arrives about it. Max finds the file is full of holes - is this just a sloppy investigation, or something more sinister?
We also have a meeting with senior Home Office people and a woman who represents a US security firm. UK government contracts are under discussion, to do with a new surveillance network that, as the details spill out over the course of the novel, is revealed to be a terrifying prospect.
The three threads run throughout the novel, with sneaky, suspicious and downright nasty interludes along the way, and finally weaving together - sometimes painfully and frequently shockingly. Everyone is working their own angle; "moral compass" isn't a phrase that most characters in this novel would understand. Max also has his own rules, which are not the same as the rules he should be adhering to, though he prefers to do the right thing.
If you're looking for humour, this isn't the book for you - aside from a few barbed quips, it's often pretty bleak. However, there is light and shade, and introspection and emotion that demand your sympathies and keep you in the heart of the story, especially as some of Max's life is revealed. He's a character I'm intrigued by, but I'm not sure I'd want him in my life, seeing some of what he's capable of.
Never Walk Away is a terrific and thoughtful exploration of power and corruption, and I can't wait to read more about Max.
January 26, 2024
An enjoyable , well written novel .
Reminded me of Mick Herron in the style of writing .
Interesting characters and very involved storyline .
A good intelligent read .
Reminded me of Mick Herron in the style of writing .
Interesting characters and very involved storyline .
A good intelligent read .
December 26, 2023
Fabulous read
What a terrific book - fast paced great story frighteningly bleak and believable - !ooking forward to author's next book
What a terrific book - fast paced great story frighteningly bleak and believable - !ooking forward to author's next book
April 22, 2025
This is a dark and gritty crime novel, featuring D.S. Max Lomax. Disgraced when we first meet him, he is contacted by his old boss to investigate a suspicious death. Michael Tyler is a civil servant asked to go and collect a file from senior staff, only to have his death haunt him, and it is Lomax who has to try to work out what is going on - shady dealings, government cover-ups, and danger at every turn.
Lomax is a likeable character, mainly because he tries to do the best he can. Previously, he was suspended after infiltrating a group and becoming involved with a lawyer who has political ideals and a dislike of the police. However, Lomax, despite being an honest and uncorruptible man, is realistic and has to negotiate both his world and the police force under the difficult situations he finds himself in.
I liked this a lot. I guess I was pulled in by the comparison to Mick Herron. Herron is very different though - this is dark, but lacks the humour of Herron's writing. That's fine though and I dislike authors and books being compared. It helps neither Mr Triplow, who is a fine author, or the reader. However, would I read more by Nick Triplow. Definitely.
Lomax is a likeable character, mainly because he tries to do the best he can. Previously, he was suspended after infiltrating a group and becoming involved with a lawyer who has political ideals and a dislike of the police. However, Lomax, despite being an honest and uncorruptible man, is realistic and has to negotiate both his world and the police force under the difficult situations he finds himself in.
I liked this a lot. I guess I was pulled in by the comparison to Mick Herron. Herron is very different though - this is dark, but lacks the humour of Herron's writing. That's fine though and I dislike authors and books being compared. It helps neither Mr Triplow, who is a fine author, or the reader. However, would I read more by Nick Triplow. Definitely.
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October 4, 2024New author, recent publication (this paperback edition not showing on GR). Too bad the main protagonist seems to be a dimwit. Botched operation - yes, botched by himself, refusing to wait for backup despite a direct order from his superior. That's probably why the superior doesn't like him and why he's only a DS (that's Det. Sgt. by the way) - causes too many problems. Our "hero" gets bullied and threatened by a criminal boss - don't they normally avoid antagonising police for fear of bring in unwanted heat?
Sorry, it's not for me. DNF so no rating. Back to the library so others can have a go.
Sorry, it's not for me. DNF so no rating. Back to the library so others can have a go.
March 6, 2025
This is a superb piece of noir writing that not only brings elements of the greats of the genre but brings a brilliantly plotted modern political lens to the tale.
Characters here are both recognisable and fully fleshed out, none seems to be a cypher just to push exposition or allow the story to progress.
It reads with so much pace, purpose and intelligence that you can't fail to be grabbed and drawn into the web that's woven.
I devoured this in 2 sittings and highly recommend this as a result. Book 2 is in the TBR and I can't wait to see the journey that takes me on a result
Characters here are both recognisable and fully fleshed out, none seems to be a cypher just to push exposition or allow the story to progress.
It reads with so much pace, purpose and intelligence that you can't fail to be grabbed and drawn into the web that's woven.
I devoured this in 2 sittings and highly recommend this as a result. Book 2 is in the TBR and I can't wait to see the journey that takes me on a result
April 10, 2024
A engrossing political thriller that is believable within the corridors of power in Whitehall.
Murder, corruption, shadowy 'fixers' and an undercover cop with a conscience.
well worth a read.
Murder, corruption, shadowy 'fixers' and an undercover cop with a conscience.
well worth a read.
February 10, 2026
Good read, It took time to get into the novel,
but that might just be me !
once i got into the story it was very evenly paced. Now i'm ready to read
Nick's next book
The Last days of Jonny Nunn.
but that might just be me !
once i got into the story it was very evenly paced. Now i'm ready to read
Nick's next book
The Last days of Jonny Nunn.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews