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Joel Sorrell #3
Hell is Empty
Private Investigator Joel Sorrell is exhausted and drinking hard, sustained only by a hopeful yet baffling note from his estranged daughter, Sarah. An SOS from an old flame whose child has been kidnapped gives him welcomed distraction, but the investigation raises more questions than answers. Then comes the news that his greatest enemy has escaped from prison with a score to settle. With Joel’s life and the remnants of his family at stake, any chance of peace depends on the silencing of his nemesis once and for all. But an unexpected obstacle stands in his way…
320 pages, Paperback
Published November 29, 2016
2 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Conrad Williams
98 books170 followersIn 2007 Conrad Williams won the International Horror Guild Award for Best Novel for The Unblemished. In 2008 he won the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, for The Scalding Rooms. In 2010 he won the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel for One.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 4, 2017
Joel Sorrell is a mess, recovering from another near-death event and missing his opportunity to reunite with his daughter. Sorrell goes rogue, locking himself in his apartment and drinking himself into oblivion. The individuals who care for his well being have other plans and set to drag him from his pit and back into his search for Sarah (even Ian Mawker can't stand by and watch him rot!). Overcoming his sudden on-set agoraphobia and fear that his life is constantly in danger, Sorrell regains his fire and sets out to bring Sarah home.
An old friend comes to Sorrell for help, her son has been kidnapped and the suspect is making her jump through rings to get him back. Their journey takes them all over the country and after the friend disappears suddenly Joel believes the whole venture to be a ruse; he was right about that. The sadistic murderer who killed his wife has escaped with several of his closest inmates and they waste no time hunting Sorrell down.
Hell is Empty is my favourite instalment of this series, it contains all the elements that CW has been building up throughout the trilogy; but it ramps up the unpredictability to another level. Sorrell 'rises from the ashes' with the help of those who are invested in him, and even some who aren't but can't stand by to see his flame go out. The adrenaline factor in Hell is Empty is off the hook, with violent murderers trying to end Sorrell anyway they can, from car chases and bombings to shoot outs and close quarters combat.
Sorrell's sanity is again tested as his worst nightmare is out free roaming the world once more and Graeme Tann is not going to stop until Sorrell is in the ground. For the most part, Joel was much stronger both physically and mentally for duration of this book, though his conversations with his dead wife in his head are both strange and emotional. The character interaction and relationships in this series sets it apart from all the other British crime pieces I have read this year. CW is so focused on emotion, humanity and connection which pulls the reader in and encourages them to invest in JS and his search for Sarah.
For me personally, the biggest let down of this series is the 'villain in the shadows' aspect. It works so well in this book but I could have done with more interaction between Sorrell and those who want him dead so it can add some additional depth to the meaning behind the attacks. That said, Hell is Empty is brimming with Sorrell-vs-villain action throughout, with unhinged killers and even some professionals pursuing him with one goal; his painful death. My other complaint is that Graeme Tann is under-developed and I thought he had so much potential for a main villain, but overall he was not used enough in my opinion.
CW's has crafted such a merciless and engaging series and I certainly recommend it to any British/crime/noir fiction lovers. A solid, well organised and executed plot split across three absorbing novels. I can breath now that it is all over, the carnage has come to an end and I can go back to non-fiction and hide there for a while so I can recover. Hopefully CW dives back into the British crime genre again soon as I will be ready for some more unrelenting badassery very soon.
An old friend comes to Sorrell for help, her son has been kidnapped and the suspect is making her jump through rings to get him back. Their journey takes them all over the country and after the friend disappears suddenly Joel believes the whole venture to be a ruse; he was right about that. The sadistic murderer who killed his wife has escaped with several of his closest inmates and they waste no time hunting Sorrell down.
Hell is Empty is my favourite instalment of this series, it contains all the elements that CW has been building up throughout the trilogy; but it ramps up the unpredictability to another level. Sorrell 'rises from the ashes' with the help of those who are invested in him, and even some who aren't but can't stand by to see his flame go out. The adrenaline factor in Hell is Empty is off the hook, with violent murderers trying to end Sorrell anyway they can, from car chases and bombings to shoot outs and close quarters combat.
Sorrell's sanity is again tested as his worst nightmare is out free roaming the world once more and Graeme Tann is not going to stop until Sorrell is in the ground. For the most part, Joel was much stronger both physically and mentally for duration of this book, though his conversations with his dead wife in his head are both strange and emotional. The character interaction and relationships in this series sets it apart from all the other British crime pieces I have read this year. CW is so focused on emotion, humanity and connection which pulls the reader in and encourages them to invest in JS and his search for Sarah.
For me personally, the biggest let down of this series is the 'villain in the shadows' aspect. It works so well in this book but I could have done with more interaction between Sorrell and those who want him dead so it can add some additional depth to the meaning behind the attacks. That said, Hell is Empty is brimming with Sorrell-vs-villain action throughout, with unhinged killers and even some professionals pursuing him with one goal; his painful death. My other complaint is that Graeme Tann is under-developed and I thought he had so much potential for a main villain, but overall he was not used enough in my opinion.
CW's has crafted such a merciless and engaging series and I certainly recommend it to any British/crime/noir fiction lovers. A solid, well organised and executed plot split across three absorbing novels. I can breath now that it is all over, the carnage has come to an end and I can go back to non-fiction and hide there for a while so I can recover. Hopefully CW dives back into the British crime genre again soon as I will be ready for some more unrelenting badassery very soon.
September 1, 2018
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Really fast paced, violent and plenty of swearing and humour. Reminded me of Christopher Brookmyre, which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned. Hadn’t read the earlier two and think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had.
Really fast paced, violent and plenty of swearing and humour. Reminded me of Christopher Brookmyre, which is a good thing as far as I’m concerned. Hadn’t read the earlier two and think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews