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Tom Killgannon #2
The Sinner
Tom Killgannon, ex-undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by a local police task force, headed by DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his final two victims.
The catch? Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor Prison itself.
Undercover and with no backup, Tom soon runs into danger.
In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester’s biggest gang, until Tom’s testimony put him away for life. He recognizes Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge.
But why can’t Tom reach DS Sheridan, and what is the real reason he has been sent to Blackmoor Prison?
The catch? Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor Prison itself.
Undercover and with no backup, Tom soon runs into danger.
In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester’s biggest gang, until Tom’s testimony put him away for life. He recognizes Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge.
But why can’t Tom reach DS Sheridan, and what is the real reason he has been sent to Blackmoor Prison?
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2019
55 people are currently reading
1636 people want to read
About the author
Martyn Waites
46 books109 followersMartyn Waites (b. 1963) is an English actor and author of hard-boiled fiction. Raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, he spent his post-university years selling leather coats, working in pubs and doing stand-up comedy. After a stint in drama school, Waites pursued life on the stage, performing regionally in theaters across England. TV and commercial work followed, and he continued to act full-time until the early 1990s, when he began writing his first novel: a noir mystery set in the city of his birth. Mary’s Prayer was published in 1997, and Waites followed it with three more novels starring the same character, an investigative journalist named Stephen Larkin.
Since then he has divided his time between acting and writing. After concluding the Larkin series in 2003, he created another journalist, troubled reporter Joe Donovan, who made his first appearance in The Mercy Seat (2006). Waites’ most recent novel is Speak No Evil (2009). Along with his wife and children, he lives and works in Hertfordshire, a county north of London.
Since then he has divided his time between acting and writing. After concluding the Larkin series in 2003, he created another journalist, troubled reporter Joe Donovan, who made his first appearance in The Mercy Seat (2006). Waites’ most recent novel is Speak No Evil (2009). Along with his wife and children, he lives and works in Hertfordshire, a county north of London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
August 3, 2019
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4
Tom Killgallon #2
Tom Killgallon is an ex-undercover policeman. He now works in witness protection. He's now living in Cornwall but he gets a visit from DS Sheridan asking him to return and go undercover to get information from a child killer. They want him to go into Blackmoor prison to get a child killer to reveal where he had buried the children's bodies. But when Ton got into prison the jibs not going to be as easy as he first thought. He must be treated like any other prisoner so that no one becomes suspicious. Only problem is, he's already been recognised by one of the other prisoners.
There is definitely a lot goes on in this storyline. The characters are well rounded and believable. The storyline is gripping and the pace is steady from the beginning. There are unexpected twists along the way bit some parts seemed a little far fetched. This book could be read as a standalone but I always think it's best (if you can) to read a series from the start.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and the author Martyn Waites for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Tom Killgallon #2
Tom Killgallon is an ex-undercover policeman. He now works in witness protection. He's now living in Cornwall but he gets a visit from DS Sheridan asking him to return and go undercover to get information from a child killer. They want him to go into Blackmoor prison to get a child killer to reveal where he had buried the children's bodies. But when Ton got into prison the jibs not going to be as easy as he first thought. He must be treated like any other prisoner so that no one becomes suspicious. Only problem is, he's already been recognised by one of the other prisoners.
There is definitely a lot goes on in this storyline. The characters are well rounded and believable. The storyline is gripping and the pace is steady from the beginning. There are unexpected twists along the way bit some parts seemed a little far fetched. This book could be read as a standalone but I always think it's best (if you can) to read a series from the start.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and the author Martyn Waites for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2019
The Sinner is the 2nd in the Tom Killgannon series. I didn’t know this but, I needn’t have worried you can read it as a standalone.
Tom Kilgannon ex- undercover Police officer and now he is in witness protection, is enjoying his life in Cornwall and it’s just starting to feel like home when he gets a visit from DS Sheridan asking him to return and go under cover and get information from child killer Noel Cunningham. To find out where the bodies of his victims are. Cunningham is in Blackmoor prison. Tom feels a bit apprehensive but finally agrees.
When he arrives at Blackmoor prison he not only does he meets Cunningham but, he is put in the same cell as him. Tom thought he would be in his own cell and he feels quite claustrophobic. After a while Cunningham seems to rely on Tom to protect him from other inmates. If he hasn’t got enough on his plate, Tom is reunited with Dean Foley, who used to run Manchester’s biggest gang and now runs Blackmoor Prison. Tom is responsible for putting him behind bars. Tom fears for his life and does everything he can to survive. He tries to avoid Foley at all costs. He tries to contact DS Sheridan to tell him what has happened and to get him out of there but, he fails miserably.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this book. Martyn Waites is a new author for me and after reading The Sinner I will make sure I will read others that he has written. I really enjoyed this. I thought it had the right mix of Tom life as a cop and his home life and the story of the other characters. This a gripping and highly entertaining read. I was just slightly disappointed on the way it ended. 4 stars from me.
Tom Kilgannon ex- undercover Police officer and now he is in witness protection, is enjoying his life in Cornwall and it’s just starting to feel like home when he gets a visit from DS Sheridan asking him to return and go under cover and get information from child killer Noel Cunningham. To find out where the bodies of his victims are. Cunningham is in Blackmoor prison. Tom feels a bit apprehensive but finally agrees.
When he arrives at Blackmoor prison he not only does he meets Cunningham but, he is put in the same cell as him. Tom thought he would be in his own cell and he feels quite claustrophobic. After a while Cunningham seems to rely on Tom to protect him from other inmates. If he hasn’t got enough on his plate, Tom is reunited with Dean Foley, who used to run Manchester’s biggest gang and now runs Blackmoor Prison. Tom is responsible for putting him behind bars. Tom fears for his life and does everything he can to survive. He tries to avoid Foley at all costs. He tries to contact DS Sheridan to tell him what has happened and to get him out of there but, he fails miserably.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for a copy of this book. Martyn Waites is a new author for me and after reading The Sinner I will make sure I will read others that he has written. I really enjoyed this. I thought it had the right mix of Tom life as a cop and his home life and the story of the other characters. This a gripping and highly entertaining read. I was just slightly disappointed on the way it ended. 4 stars from me.
July 17, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of The Sinner, the second novel to feature former undercover detective and current witness protectee, Tom Killgannon.
Tom (not his real name) is enjoying his life in Cornwall when DS Sheridan and DC Blake come calling. The terms of this quiet life mean that he can be recalled for service at any time and they are insisting that he go undercover in Blackmoor prison to get a child killer to reveal where he buried the bodies. All is not as it seems, however, as Blackmoor also houses Dean Foley, the man Tom put away and led to his witness protection, and he has recognised Tom.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Sinner which I didn’t expect to as I wasn’t overly enthused by the preceding novel, The Old Religion and, from the blurb, I thought this might turn out to be a psychological thriller, a genre I’m not overly keen on. How wrong could I be? This is a top notch thriller with well developed characters, a great sense of tension and some unexpected twists. Once I accepted that realism is not a priority for Mr Waites (too many coincidences and unlikely events) I went with the flow and got really caught up in Tom’s trials and tribulations. It is told from several points of view but none of the characters is revealing their entire agenda so the reader gets surprised over and over again, not just by the twists but also by their actions. It makes for the exciting, tense read all thrillers aspire to but often fall short of. I’m impressed.
The novel also flashes back from time to time to the night in 2014 when Tom Killgannon orchestrated Dean Foley’s arrest. This is very well conceived and done as it not only fleshes out Tom’s character but also explains Dean Foley’s actions and motivation. It puts meat on the bones and gives the plot real bite.
The Sinner is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Tom (not his real name) is enjoying his life in Cornwall when DS Sheridan and DC Blake come calling. The terms of this quiet life mean that he can be recalled for service at any time and they are insisting that he go undercover in Blackmoor prison to get a child killer to reveal where he buried the bodies. All is not as it seems, however, as Blackmoor also houses Dean Foley, the man Tom put away and led to his witness protection, and he has recognised Tom.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Sinner which I didn’t expect to as I wasn’t overly enthused by the preceding novel, The Old Religion and, from the blurb, I thought this might turn out to be a psychological thriller, a genre I’m not overly keen on. How wrong could I be? This is a top notch thriller with well developed characters, a great sense of tension and some unexpected twists. Once I accepted that realism is not a priority for Mr Waites (too many coincidences and unlikely events) I went with the flow and got really caught up in Tom’s trials and tribulations. It is told from several points of view but none of the characters is revealing their entire agenda so the reader gets surprised over and over again, not just by the twists but also by their actions. It makes for the exciting, tense read all thrillers aspire to but often fall short of. I’m impressed.
The novel also flashes back from time to time to the night in 2014 when Tom Killgannon orchestrated Dean Foley’s arrest. This is very well conceived and done as it not only fleshes out Tom’s character but also explains Dean Foley’s actions and motivation. It puts meat on the bones and gives the plot real bite.
The Sinner is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
September 29, 2019
Having not read the first book in this series, I don’t feel I needed to do so. Tom Killgannon is an undercover officer with a highly complex background which makes his character incredibly intriguing.
Tom is coerced into taking a job in Blackmoor prison where he is to obtain information regarding the location of the bodies of murdered children. What follows is an extremely clever plot. The highs are truly high, the lows extremely frustrating but all in the name of great writing!
Four-stars for the slightly long-winded start but despite this little hiccup it is definitely one worth reading!
Tom is coerced into taking a job in Blackmoor prison where he is to obtain information regarding the location of the bodies of murdered children. What follows is an extremely clever plot. The highs are truly high, the lows extremely frustrating but all in the name of great writing!
Four-stars for the slightly long-winded start but despite this little hiccup it is definitely one worth reading!
August 11, 2019
Martyn Waites last novel, ‘The Old Religion’, found Tom Killgannon living in Cornwall, in the witness protection programme for reasons unknown to the reader, and getting caught up in pagan rites and farmers’ rights. In ‘The Sinner’, Tom’s past catches up with him as his ‘handlers’ demand that he enters Blackmoor prison in an attempt to persuade a child killer to reveal the location of his victims’ bodies. Tom is undercover, his true identity unknown to even the prison authorities and he very soon discovers that something is not right in the police unit that is directing him. Worse, he finds that the crime boss whom he ‘betrayed’ when an undercover operative is also in Broadmoor.
‘The Sinner’ has a completely different feel to ‘The Old Religion’, owing more to the likes of ‘Bronson’ or ‘Scum’ where the previous book was more ‘The Wicker Man’. Waites makes the change in direction just as believable and exciting though, as Tom struggles to survive in an increasingly hostile situation while those he has left behind in Cornwall are tormented by the people whose agenda he is being manipulated into following. The book is gritty and dark and very televisual as one might expect from the author’s background as an actor. I was drawn into the darkness and could really see this working as one of those 9PM Sunday night crime miniseries that the BBC do so well.
‘The Sinner’ has a completely different feel to ‘The Old Religion’, owing more to the likes of ‘Bronson’ or ‘Scum’ where the previous book was more ‘The Wicker Man’. Waites makes the change in direction just as believable and exciting though, as Tom struggles to survive in an increasingly hostile situation while those he has left behind in Cornwall are tormented by the people whose agenda he is being manipulated into following. The book is gritty and dark and very televisual as one might expect from the author’s background as an actor. I was drawn into the darkness and could really see this working as one of those 9PM Sunday night crime miniseries that the BBC do so well.
December 19, 2021
I was very excited to get a chance to read this book and I was not let down. I enjoyed the thriller very much! I really liked the ending and the characters were exciting and deep to me. I have not read book one but I did not feel like I needed it for this book. I think I will looked into more books from this author because I enjoyed this one so much. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*
February 8, 2020
A fast paced and well written story that I would definitely recommend.
This is the second book in the series but can definitely be read as a stand alone novel as the connections that had been developed between the characters in the first were clearly demonstrated and nothing that happened in this one seemed dependant on anything that happened in the other book.
I don't know why but I wasn't expecting to enjoy this book (I cant apologise enough to the author) but I was totally surprised by it. I flew through it and thoroughly enjoyed it, so much so that I have bought the first book! (Only £2 on amazon!!)
Upon finishing the book I read the authors notes and was amazed to find that the author had been an author in residence inside prisons, it was a fascinating piece of information that explained how he was able to write the mind set of the prisoners so well.
February 8, 2020
Really enjoyed this thriller. Loved the characters & some of the “lorry car park” scenes were set in a town ten minutes away from where I live which was interesting ... I read it as a stand alone as I hadn’t realised that it was part of a series but it read fine although I wish I had read the first book soon for more background. Will definitely look out for other books by this author. (I received this book free from net galley)
June 14, 2019
3.5 stars - I really enjoyed the storyline but just felt elements of it were too farcical for belief. In fairness however, I guess that applies to a lot of books!
I say disbelief because the storyline revolved around an undercover officer (Tom Killgannon) going into prison on the pretence of trying to get information out of a child-murderer (where he hid their bodies) but there was much more to this than Tom initially thinks. He is reunited (not in a good sense) with a high-grade gangster, Dean Foley, who Tom ultimately sent to prison for a life sentence. Dean was aware that Tom was undercover and vowed to take his revenge, so imagine his delight to find him incarcerated in the same prison. A prison I might add that Foley 'runs' and this is where I found the storyline unbelievable as everyone, from the prison officers right up to the governor, were under Foley's thumb.
There were definitely elements to this story I enjoyed though, Tom's tactics to keep Foley at bay and the sub-story of those that Tom has left behind at home whilst he is 'inside'. I would definitely read another from this series and I wonder whether I should go back and read the first one now!
My many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
I say disbelief because the storyline revolved around an undercover officer (Tom Killgannon) going into prison on the pretence of trying to get information out of a child-murderer (where he hid their bodies) but there was much more to this than Tom initially thinks. He is reunited (not in a good sense) with a high-grade gangster, Dean Foley, who Tom ultimately sent to prison for a life sentence. Dean was aware that Tom was undercover and vowed to take his revenge, so imagine his delight to find him incarcerated in the same prison. A prison I might add that Foley 'runs' and this is where I found the storyline unbelievable as everyone, from the prison officers right up to the governor, were under Foley's thumb.
There were definitely elements to this story I enjoyed though, Tom's tactics to keep Foley at bay and the sub-story of those that Tom has left behind at home whilst he is 'inside'. I would definitely read another from this series and I wonder whether I should go back and read the first one now!
My many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 5, 2019
I was a huge fan of The Old Religion, a dark tale, the first to feature Tom Gilgannon-and whilst the character still engaged me I have to be honest and say I wasn't QUITE as enamoured of this one although it was still beautifully written and especially in its second half a real page turner.
I'll get the less positive out of the way first- that being that the central premise the story relied on I found to be frankly rather unbelievable. There were at least two points in this book that I stopped to shake my head, even describing the scenario to a friend to get their take on it. So that was what brought it down a bit for me.
Having managed thereafter to suspend my disbelief I rocketed through the rest, caught up in the action and I loved that we learned more about Tom and saw his previously tentative family start to firm up, becoming a group dynamic I'm looking forward to reading more about.
The interaction between divisive characters was another strength here and the ending left some interesting themes to explore in future instalments.
Overall a very good read, minor bugbears aside - so I'll look forward to more.
As a series I still definitely recommend it.
I'll get the less positive out of the way first- that being that the central premise the story relied on I found to be frankly rather unbelievable. There were at least two points in this book that I stopped to shake my head, even describing the scenario to a friend to get their take on it. So that was what brought it down a bit for me.
Having managed thereafter to suspend my disbelief I rocketed through the rest, caught up in the action and I loved that we learned more about Tom and saw his previously tentative family start to firm up, becoming a group dynamic I'm looking forward to reading more about.
The interaction between divisive characters was another strength here and the ending left some interesting themes to explore in future instalments.
Overall a very good read, minor bugbears aside - so I'll look forward to more.
As a series I still definitely recommend it.
December 14, 2024
5 stars.
I loved this! Didn't realise it was Book 2 of a series, just picked it up from Borrowbox based on the blurb, and the fact that the audiobook version is read by the author - and brilliantly performed as well! Waites is both an actor and a writer, and it really shows.
It isn't obvious for much of the book the who's who, and I enjoyed seeing how the book unfolded the nature of each of the characters. It's one of those where . I have to admit I was surprised by .
Highly recommend this one, and I will be looking out for others by the author!
I loved this! Didn't realise it was Book 2 of a series, just picked it up from Borrowbox based on the blurb, and the fact that the audiobook version is read by the author - and brilliantly performed as well! Waites is both an actor and a writer, and it really shows.
It isn't obvious for much of the book the who's who, and I enjoyed seeing how the book unfolded the nature of each of the characters. It's one of those where . I have to admit I was surprised by .
Highly recommend this one, and I will be looking out for others by the author!
February 4, 2021
Following on from the stunning first Tom Kilgannon book, The Old Religion, The Sinner is a book I’ve been wanting to read for a while. Readers don’t need to have read the first book, The Sinner works fine as a stand-alone.
Kilgannon is in witness protection in Cornwall but as a former police officer, he knows that he can be called back to duty if circumstances require it. So when DS Sheridan and DC Blake come to see him, they make it clear that his skills are required for an undercover job.
A child killer is currently serving life in Blackmoor prison and the authorities are keen to get him to say where he buried the bodies so that the families may get a degree of closure and be able to bury their children.
Kilgannon reluctantly agrees, but he’s not been in Blackmoor for long before he realises that he is inside with a dangerous enemy. Dean Foley is a hardened criminal and Tom is the man responsible for his sentence. Not only that, but Foley is the reason that Tom is in witness protection.
As not even the prison Governor is aware of his true identity, Kilgannon realises he has to make contact with his police handlers and get out fast. But DS Sheridan is adamant that Kilgannon has to see his role through and cuts off contact. Something is rotten in this relationship, but Kilgannon has more urgent things to deal with as it soon becomes apparent that Foley is the one who is really running this prison.
Not knowing who, if anyone, he can trust, Kilgannon must battle to survive in a deeply hostile climate whilst winning the trust of a child killer and hoping that he can find a way out of this situation.
Meanwhile, he has two people in Cornwall that he has left behind, one of them very vulnerable, but they stand out as pawns in a battle to get Kilgannon to do what his tormentors ask.
The Sinner does require a bit of a leap into suspension of disbelief, but once you have made the jump this is a fast-paced and thrilling read full of cross and double cross, duplicity, manipulation, lies and surprising twists.
Waites is excellent at conveying a nightmare scenario and then managing to ramp that up until it literally captures the reader’s breath as we wait for the devastating impact of events to strike.
His knowledge of prisons is very clear as he portrays a strong and convincing claustrophobic atmosphere in which alliances are everything and the price of life is as cheap as a packet of fags.
Verdict: Beautifully written, dark, tense and suspenseful with more thrills and spills than you could ask for. Well thought through psychology and a clear narrative structure infuse a classic cat and mouse game to expose double dealing and provide some surprising and dramatic moments.
Kilgannon is in witness protection in Cornwall but as a former police officer, he knows that he can be called back to duty if circumstances require it. So when DS Sheridan and DC Blake come to see him, they make it clear that his skills are required for an undercover job.
A child killer is currently serving life in Blackmoor prison and the authorities are keen to get him to say where he buried the bodies so that the families may get a degree of closure and be able to bury their children.
Kilgannon reluctantly agrees, but he’s not been in Blackmoor for long before he realises that he is inside with a dangerous enemy. Dean Foley is a hardened criminal and Tom is the man responsible for his sentence. Not only that, but Foley is the reason that Tom is in witness protection.
As not even the prison Governor is aware of his true identity, Kilgannon realises he has to make contact with his police handlers and get out fast. But DS Sheridan is adamant that Kilgannon has to see his role through and cuts off contact. Something is rotten in this relationship, but Kilgannon has more urgent things to deal with as it soon becomes apparent that Foley is the one who is really running this prison.
Not knowing who, if anyone, he can trust, Kilgannon must battle to survive in a deeply hostile climate whilst winning the trust of a child killer and hoping that he can find a way out of this situation.
Meanwhile, he has two people in Cornwall that he has left behind, one of them very vulnerable, but they stand out as pawns in a battle to get Kilgannon to do what his tormentors ask.
The Sinner does require a bit of a leap into suspension of disbelief, but once you have made the jump this is a fast-paced and thrilling read full of cross and double cross, duplicity, manipulation, lies and surprising twists.
Waites is excellent at conveying a nightmare scenario and then managing to ramp that up until it literally captures the reader’s breath as we wait for the devastating impact of events to strike.
His knowledge of prisons is very clear as he portrays a strong and convincing claustrophobic atmosphere in which alliances are everything and the price of life is as cheap as a packet of fags.
Verdict: Beautifully written, dark, tense and suspenseful with more thrills and spills than you could ask for. Well thought through psychology and a clear narrative structure infuse a classic cat and mouse game to expose double dealing and provide some surprising and dramatic moments.
May 10, 2021
Very good especially in its portrayal of prison life. I look forward to more from this author
October 26, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Sinner is the second Tom Killgannon book. I did not know this heading into the book, but it does read like a stand-alone, and isn’t an issue if you haven’t read the first book.
The Sinner follows Tom Killgannon, ex-cop who is called back into service to go undercover at a prison. His aim is to befriend a notorious child killer, and try to find out information on where the bodies had been buried. When he arrives at the prison, a gangster who he helped put away recognized him and Tom’s life is in danger. When Tom reaches out for help, he can’t reach the local police force, and begins to wonder as to the real reason he’s in Blackmoor prison.
I enjoyed this. It reads like a lot of police thrillers, and I didn’t find anything groundbreaking or new, but it was a solid, fun read. There was the right amount of background for Tom, and the gangster who recognized him. The twists were interesting and kept the story moving, but were mostly predictable. All in all, it was a quick read that kept me interested but won’t be one that I’ll think about for years to come. I will be on the lookout for other books by Martyn Waites though, as I enjoyed his straightforward writing style and his character building.
The Sinner is the second Tom Killgannon book. I did not know this heading into the book, but it does read like a stand-alone, and isn’t an issue if you haven’t read the first book.
The Sinner follows Tom Killgannon, ex-cop who is called back into service to go undercover at a prison. His aim is to befriend a notorious child killer, and try to find out information on where the bodies had been buried. When he arrives at the prison, a gangster who he helped put away recognized him and Tom’s life is in danger. When Tom reaches out for help, he can’t reach the local police force, and begins to wonder as to the real reason he’s in Blackmoor prison.
I enjoyed this. It reads like a lot of police thrillers, and I didn’t find anything groundbreaking or new, but it was a solid, fun read. There was the right amount of background for Tom, and the gangster who recognized him. The twists were interesting and kept the story moving, but were mostly predictable. All in all, it was a quick read that kept me interested but won’t be one that I’ll think about for years to come. I will be on the lookout for other books by Martyn Waites though, as I enjoyed his straightforward writing style and his character building.
August 6, 2019
#The Sinner # Netgally
This is one awesome bood. With more twist and turns that any maze has to offer. When Tom realises he's been recognised things start to get very very uncomfortable for Tom. Because he can not contact Henderson Sheldon who is supposed to be handling thing . Tom as no choice but to tray and deal With it himself. He start to question who he can and cannot trust. In parts this. book runs too near to the mark regarding his live,. With lives on the line the double crossing and lies soon starter to show. I was sat on the edge of my seat. Hoping and praying that Tom can get through another day. It's one he'll of a rollercoaster fast paced brilliant novel extremely well written my heart was in my mouth on more than one occasion.. If you want a real thriller that can make your heart beat so much faster than this is definitely the book for you. Just remember not everything is not as iit seems r through . A amazing book bloody fantastic. A element read a must .
This is one awesome bood. With more twist and turns that any maze has to offer. When Tom realises he's been recognised things start to get very very uncomfortable for Tom. Because he can not contact Henderson Sheldon who is supposed to be handling thing . Tom as no choice but to tray and deal With it himself. He start to question who he can and cannot trust. In parts this. book runs too near to the mark regarding his live,. With lives on the line the double crossing and lies soon starter to show. I was sat on the edge of my seat. Hoping and praying that Tom can get through another day. It's one he'll of a rollercoaster fast paced brilliant novel extremely well written my heart was in my mouth on more than one occasion.. If you want a real thriller that can make your heart beat so much faster than this is definitely the book for you. Just remember not everything is not as iit seems r through . A amazing book bloody fantastic. A element read a must .
October 1, 2019
This is the second novel about Tom Killgannon, who is an ex undercover policeman, now in a witness protection programme and based in Cornwall. As part of his witness protection rules, he is requested to pose undercover as a prisoner at Blackmoor Prison. He is placed as the cell mate of a notorious child killer, with the aim of finding out where he buried two of his innocent victims. However, he is unaware that his old adversary Dean Foley, is also a prisoner there and hates Tom with a vengeance.
I really enjoyed the book, it had plenty of good twists and turns, with characters turning out to be very different than we had at first thought. We where kept guessing, until right at the end as to who had stolen some money that Dean Foley had amassed and wanted returned.
Once again I enjoyed the way Martyn, wove the complex emotional side of his characters into the story.
I hope there'll be a third novel.....
I really enjoyed the book, it had plenty of good twists and turns, with characters turning out to be very different than we had at first thought. We where kept guessing, until right at the end as to who had stolen some money that Dean Foley had amassed and wanted returned.
Once again I enjoyed the way Martyn, wove the complex emotional side of his characters into the story.
I hope there'll be a third novel.....
February 4, 2020
Tom Killgannon was an u dear over cop, responsible for putting away notorious drug baron, Dean Foley.
Now in witness protection, Tom lives a quiet life in Cornwall. But, as part of this deal, he is on call for the odd undercover operation. So, when the child killer, Noel Cunningham says he may be willing to give up the whereabouts of his last victims bodies, Tom is sent to prison to find out more.
He ‘befriends’ Noel and is about to get the information, but a face from his past, Dean Foley, appears in the same prison. Coincidence or is something else going on?
Wow…..this really is a rollercoaster of a read, with gangsters, violence, corrupt prison officers, murder and betrayals, twisty and action packed to say the least. Great characters with their secrets, hopes and fears make this an utterly gripping and exciting read.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Now in witness protection, Tom lives a quiet life in Cornwall. But, as part of this deal, he is on call for the odd undercover operation. So, when the child killer, Noel Cunningham says he may be willing to give up the whereabouts of his last victims bodies, Tom is sent to prison to find out more.
He ‘befriends’ Noel and is about to get the information, but a face from his past, Dean Foley, appears in the same prison. Coincidence or is something else going on?
Wow…..this really is a rollercoaster of a read, with gangsters, violence, corrupt prison officers, murder and betrayals, twisty and action packed to say the least. Great characters with their secrets, hopes and fears make this an utterly gripping and exciting read.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
July 6, 2019
3.5 stars
There were some fairly unbelievable parts to the story... how easily the damaged Lila gave up her number as soon as someone asks for it,how foolishly the top copper behaves just at the chance of sex. How easily someone gets in and out of Blackmoor jail . How easily our child murderer fell for a friendly shoulder to cry on.
However... it was a fast paced,entertaining story.
I liked the character of Tom Killgannon a lot,and feel I'm going to have to dig out book one now.
There was double crossing and confusing identities... and an ending for both cellmates,that although I guessed at,was still very satisfactory.
The mystery of Toms nieces death is going to get me reading book 3 too.
Good job.
There were some fairly unbelievable parts to the story... how easily the damaged Lila gave up her number as soon as someone asks for it,how foolishly the top copper behaves just at the chance of sex. How easily someone gets in and out of Blackmoor jail . How easily our child murderer fell for a friendly shoulder to cry on.
However... it was a fast paced,entertaining story.
I liked the character of Tom Killgannon a lot,and feel I'm going to have to dig out book one now.
There was double crossing and confusing identities... and an ending for both cellmates,that although I guessed at,was still very satisfactory.
The mystery of Toms nieces death is going to get me reading book 3 too.
Good job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2024
Well written, full of suspense and twists
February 14, 2020
I have a little confession to make. Yes, yet another one. Although I have the first book ('The Old Religion') in the Tom Killgannon series on my ever increasing 'to be read' mountain, I haven't actually read it yet. I know, I know where have I been all this time? Having just read the second book in the series called 'The Sinner', I now realise just what I have been missing out on. I can't believe I haven't read the first one. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Sinner' but more about that in a bit.
Tom Killgannon is definitely an intriguing character. When this book starts, he is living in Witness Protection in Cornwall. Tom used to be a police officer but following a previous case, Tom entered Witness Protection. The exact details of what happened in the run up to Witness Protection aren't immediately apparent but as the story continues little details are given out. Tom is living quite happily in Cornwall but as is often the case, life throws him a curveball and he is pressed back into service. His undercover mission this time is to enter prison and gently tease out crucial information from a convicted child killer. I certainly don't envy him in that respect. Tom doesn't really want to take this case on but he feels that he doesn't have any choice. Tom is tough, tenacious, determined and stubborn. He is also a good actor in a way but then he has had to be in his undercover work, where he has to adopt different identities and different cover stories. Does Tom finish the story in one piece? Are Tom's loved ones in danger? Does Tom succeed in his mission? Well for the answers to those questions and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It's no word of a lie when I say that I was hooked on this book from the moment I read the synopsis alone. I seem to have a bizarre fascination with prisons and so the thought of an undercover mission taking place in a prison really appealed to me. I did have a look round a prison once- HMP Durham to be precise and I found the history of the place fascinating. Anyway enough of the prison talk. As soon as I started to read the story itself, that was it and I was in the zone. Putting this book down was not an option and woe betide anybody, who tried to prise the book out of my hands. Put it this way, they would have been sent away with a flea or ten in their ear. I just couldn't stop reading. This was one book that deserved to be read in a single day and that is exactly what I did. I soon reached the end of the book, which I was disappointed about. I had been enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wish the book had continued for longer than it did. I soon cheered up though when I realised that I could still get my fix of Tom Killgannon as I still had 'The Old Religion' to catch up on.
'The Sinner' is superbly written and I enjoyed every single second of it. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and he gradually draws you into the story. He writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that it was me in prison and not Tom. I got a real sense of the power hierarchy and status that exists in the prison system and the huge drug problem that can be found in any prison. Martyn describes the claustrophobia that prisoners often feel so well that I felt myself suffering the same symptoms with the walls closing in and the need to get out. The story gains added authenticity when you discover that the author worked in the prison system himself and so he knows all about prison life.
Reading 'The Sinner' was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several dozen twists and turns along the way. There were numerous times where I almost had to read through my fingers or hide behind a cushion as I feared what was going to happen next. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, 'The Sinner' was an amazing and fantastic read. I can't say that it did any damage to my fascination with prisons but I certainly wouldn't want to stay in one. I will definitely be reading more of Martyn's work in the future- starting with 'The Old Religion'. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
Tom Killgannon is definitely an intriguing character. When this book starts, he is living in Witness Protection in Cornwall. Tom used to be a police officer but following a previous case, Tom entered Witness Protection. The exact details of what happened in the run up to Witness Protection aren't immediately apparent but as the story continues little details are given out. Tom is living quite happily in Cornwall but as is often the case, life throws him a curveball and he is pressed back into service. His undercover mission this time is to enter prison and gently tease out crucial information from a convicted child killer. I certainly don't envy him in that respect. Tom doesn't really want to take this case on but he feels that he doesn't have any choice. Tom is tough, tenacious, determined and stubborn. He is also a good actor in a way but then he has had to be in his undercover work, where he has to adopt different identities and different cover stories. Does Tom finish the story in one piece? Are Tom's loved ones in danger? Does Tom succeed in his mission? Well for the answers to those questions and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It's no word of a lie when I say that I was hooked on this book from the moment I read the synopsis alone. I seem to have a bizarre fascination with prisons and so the thought of an undercover mission taking place in a prison really appealed to me. I did have a look round a prison once- HMP Durham to be precise and I found the history of the place fascinating. Anyway enough of the prison talk. As soon as I started to read the story itself, that was it and I was in the zone. Putting this book down was not an option and woe betide anybody, who tried to prise the book out of my hands. Put it this way, they would have been sent away with a flea or ten in their ear. I just couldn't stop reading. This was one book that deserved to be read in a single day and that is exactly what I did. I soon reached the end of the book, which I was disappointed about. I had been enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wish the book had continued for longer than it did. I soon cheered up though when I realised that I could still get my fix of Tom Killgannon as I still had 'The Old Religion' to catch up on.
'The Sinner' is superbly written and I enjoyed every single second of it. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and he gradually draws you into the story. He writes so realistically and uses such vivid descriptions that I felt as though I was part of the story myself and that it was me in prison and not Tom. I got a real sense of the power hierarchy and status that exists in the prison system and the huge drug problem that can be found in any prison. Martyn describes the claustrophobia that prisoners often feel so well that I felt myself suffering the same symptoms with the walls closing in and the need to get out. The story gains added authenticity when you discover that the author worked in the prison system himself and so he knows all about prison life.
Reading 'The Sinner' was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several dozen twists and turns along the way. There were numerous times where I almost had to read through my fingers or hide behind a cushion as I feared what was going to happen next. I was gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, 'The Sinner' was an amazing and fantastic read. I can't say that it did any damage to my fascination with prisons but I certainly wouldn't want to stay in one. I will definitely be reading more of Martyn's work in the future- starting with 'The Old Religion'. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
February 15, 2020
The Sinner…
A person who transgresses against divine law by committing an immoral act or acts.
This novel blew my flipping socks off. This is the second instalment of the Tom Killgannon series, but rest assured you can easily read this as a standalone. I did and at no point did I feel like I was missing any major plot point. The plot moulded and transformed into an all-encompassing shadow. It started off small but quickly broke free of its bonds and showed its monstrous side. I lapped this story up like there were no tomorrow. I proceeded to buy book one straight after devouring this enticing novel.
I’m like an addict for Crime Fiction, nothing gets my excitement flowing than an intriguing plot with murder and a bad ass detective, but, The Sinner was so much more. It doesn’t give you what you expect. It likes to break the mould. It creates a bigger beast, one you won’t find easy to forget.
Martyn Waites is a new author to me but one I will be reading more of in the future. He has the ability to examine the psyche of his readers and exploit it to his agenda. He plays on our emotions, using both good and bad to evoke both the worst and best out of us. The power of his storytelling plays out in the most vivid foreshadowing that the brain conjures up.
We see the scenario in The Sinner time and time again in crime dramas on TV. Undercover cop finally exposes himself in the big moment and the bad guy is taken away, screaming and shouting about betrayal. This was Tom Killgannon’s life until he was put into witness protection for his part in bringing to justice, Dean Foley. What’s the impact of this on his mental health? What is the fallout and just how does someone rebuild their life with a new name but memories of a troubling past?
The Sinner epitomises the feeling that you shouldn’t trust anyone. Everyone should set off your siren. Everyone has the potential to back stab and fill you with mistruths…the good guys aren’t necessarily good. The Sinner leads you down a slippery, ice covered road – just when you think you have your footing, you slip and fall without grace. Its secrets and lies that have brought you there. Just what will help you navigate back out?
The take down of Dean Foley was the most successful sting of his career but it is not without great personal pain and turmoil. Fast forward a few years and he is settled in Cornwall. Martyn Waites has really laid bare Tom Killgannon’s vulnerabilities. He doesn’t let many get too close to him and leads a pretty much solitary life but that is about to be turned on its head by the demand that he does one last job – Undercover in Broadmoor Prison. This is where The Sinner truly comes into its own.
Broadmoor is the last place he either wants or needs to be. If he had any choice, he would be tucked up in his cosy house in Cornwall. He doesn’t, so he is in the hellish, cramped and claustrophobic Broadmoor. He develops a palpable coldness, like an armour. He’s meant to be extracting information from child killer, Noel Cunningham but instead he’s faced with the cruel twist of fate of being in the same prison as Dean Foley, the drug lord he double crossed all those years ago. How much danger is he in? When he envisioned this being is last job just how literal did he imagine he was being.
The Sinner is a bubbling pit of brilliance with multiple diversions, great big red herrings and deceives us all by omission. A book that you just can’t get out of your head in-betweens sittings.
Thanks to Tracy @ Compulsive Readers for my spot on the blog tour.
A person who transgresses against divine law by committing an immoral act or acts.
This novel blew my flipping socks off. This is the second instalment of the Tom Killgannon series, but rest assured you can easily read this as a standalone. I did and at no point did I feel like I was missing any major plot point. The plot moulded and transformed into an all-encompassing shadow. It started off small but quickly broke free of its bonds and showed its monstrous side. I lapped this story up like there were no tomorrow. I proceeded to buy book one straight after devouring this enticing novel.
I’m like an addict for Crime Fiction, nothing gets my excitement flowing than an intriguing plot with murder and a bad ass detective, but, The Sinner was so much more. It doesn’t give you what you expect. It likes to break the mould. It creates a bigger beast, one you won’t find easy to forget.
Martyn Waites is a new author to me but one I will be reading more of in the future. He has the ability to examine the psyche of his readers and exploit it to his agenda. He plays on our emotions, using both good and bad to evoke both the worst and best out of us. The power of his storytelling plays out in the most vivid foreshadowing that the brain conjures up.
We see the scenario in The Sinner time and time again in crime dramas on TV. Undercover cop finally exposes himself in the big moment and the bad guy is taken away, screaming and shouting about betrayal. This was Tom Killgannon’s life until he was put into witness protection for his part in bringing to justice, Dean Foley. What’s the impact of this on his mental health? What is the fallout and just how does someone rebuild their life with a new name but memories of a troubling past?
The Sinner epitomises the feeling that you shouldn’t trust anyone. Everyone should set off your siren. Everyone has the potential to back stab and fill you with mistruths…the good guys aren’t necessarily good. The Sinner leads you down a slippery, ice covered road – just when you think you have your footing, you slip and fall without grace. Its secrets and lies that have brought you there. Just what will help you navigate back out?
The take down of Dean Foley was the most successful sting of his career but it is not without great personal pain and turmoil. Fast forward a few years and he is settled in Cornwall. Martyn Waites has really laid bare Tom Killgannon’s vulnerabilities. He doesn’t let many get too close to him and leads a pretty much solitary life but that is about to be turned on its head by the demand that he does one last job – Undercover in Broadmoor Prison. This is where The Sinner truly comes into its own.
Broadmoor is the last place he either wants or needs to be. If he had any choice, he would be tucked up in his cosy house in Cornwall. He doesn’t, so he is in the hellish, cramped and claustrophobic Broadmoor. He develops a palpable coldness, like an armour. He’s meant to be extracting information from child killer, Noel Cunningham but instead he’s faced with the cruel twist of fate of being in the same prison as Dean Foley, the drug lord he double crossed all those years ago. How much danger is he in? When he envisioned this being is last job just how literal did he imagine he was being.
The Sinner is a bubbling pit of brilliance with multiple diversions, great big red herrings and deceives us all by omission. A book that you just can’t get out of your head in-betweens sittings.
Thanks to Tracy @ Compulsive Readers for my spot on the blog tour.
February 12, 2020
Newcastle born Martyn Waites is one half of the husband and wife thriller writing team publishing under the pseudonym Tania Carver. Although I haven't read any Tania Carver books, the name was well known enough to me to pique my interest in the Tom Killgannon series that Martyn Waites has published under his own name. I own a copy of the first book in the series, The Old Religion, and I was hoping to read it before I started book two, The Sinner, but as always there are too many books and so little time.
So having jumped into the series at book two and been absolutely blown away, I'd say you could definitely read The Sinner as a standalone, however, it will leave you wanting to explore certain parts of Tom's own story in more detail. Tom Killgannon is living under a new identity following an undercover operation that saw Manchester drug lord, Dean Foley, imprisoned in Blackmoor prison. A job well done as far as Tom's previous identity of Mick Eccleston is concerned.
Tom is now living in Cornwall with a young girl named Lila, who he refers to as his niece, and working for Pearl who runs a pub. Tom is approached by the police to return undercover in order to extract the location of the bodies buried by creepy child killer, Noel Cunningham. Tom is claustrophobic so the idea of going undercover in a prison is terrifying for him but unfortunately the assignment is an order not a request so he says goodbye to Lila and Pearl and heads to Blackmoor prison. Yes, the same prison as Dean Foley, who blames Tom for his incarceration. I'm not going to reveal any more about the plot but suffice to say, Tom is too busy trying to keep himself alive to worry about his claustrophobia.
Due to the changes of identity, it is a little bit confusing at first, but I soon got into the rhythm of the book. The rhythm being something like a very fast beating heart as there is so much danger around every corner. It's so fast-paced and perilous that I frequently had sweaty palms and a rapidly beating heart when I was reading The Sinner; I even found that I was holding my breath without even realising.
Tom is a very intriguing character as you don't really know who he is, but I also loved the spunky character of Lila. I wasn't surprised to learn that Lila has a huge backstory and features heavily in book one, The Old Religion. Reading The Sinner has made me very eager to read The Old Religion as soon as I possibly can.
Full of thrills and spills and packed with danger, The Sinner is a supersonic fast-paced page turner; calling it high octane doesn't even come close to doing it justice. The Sinner is a book that made me forget to breathe and if that isn't a good recommendation, I don't know what is!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
So having jumped into the series at book two and been absolutely blown away, I'd say you could definitely read The Sinner as a standalone, however, it will leave you wanting to explore certain parts of Tom's own story in more detail. Tom Killgannon is living under a new identity following an undercover operation that saw Manchester drug lord, Dean Foley, imprisoned in Blackmoor prison. A job well done as far as Tom's previous identity of Mick Eccleston is concerned.
Tom is now living in Cornwall with a young girl named Lila, who he refers to as his niece, and working for Pearl who runs a pub. Tom is approached by the police to return undercover in order to extract the location of the bodies buried by creepy child killer, Noel Cunningham. Tom is claustrophobic so the idea of going undercover in a prison is terrifying for him but unfortunately the assignment is an order not a request so he says goodbye to Lila and Pearl and heads to Blackmoor prison. Yes, the same prison as Dean Foley, who blames Tom for his incarceration. I'm not going to reveal any more about the plot but suffice to say, Tom is too busy trying to keep himself alive to worry about his claustrophobia.
Due to the changes of identity, it is a little bit confusing at first, but I soon got into the rhythm of the book. The rhythm being something like a very fast beating heart as there is so much danger around every corner. It's so fast-paced and perilous that I frequently had sweaty palms and a rapidly beating heart when I was reading The Sinner; I even found that I was holding my breath without even realising.
Tom is a very intriguing character as you don't really know who he is, but I also loved the spunky character of Lila. I wasn't surprised to learn that Lila has a huge backstory and features heavily in book one, The Old Religion. Reading The Sinner has made me very eager to read The Old Religion as soon as I possibly can.
Full of thrills and spills and packed with danger, The Sinner is a supersonic fast-paced page turner; calling it high octane doesn't even come close to doing it justice. The Sinner is a book that made me forget to breathe and if that isn't a good recommendation, I don't know what is!
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
February 25, 2020
I’ve been looking forward to writing this review – books like The Sinner are why I started blogging all those years ago. I wanted to make sure my love for a story which had held me gripped from first page to last could reach a wide audience and hopefully as many people as possible will be on the lookout for this book.
First the housekeeping. The Sinner follows on from The Old Religion (also a cracking read) which introduced protagonist Tom Killgannon – there are minor spoilers if you read them out of order but only because it is necessary to introduce new readers to the characters in Tom’s life. The Sinner can easily be read and enjoyed without first reading The Old Religion.
Killgannon is a former undercover cop who is now in witness protection. A condition of his new lifestyle was that he had to remain available for further operations should the need arise. When the police come calling seeking his help Tom is resigned to his fate, however when he learns he will be required to go undercover behind bars at Blackmoor prison he does try to resist his assignment. As a former cop Tom has concerns he may be recognised if he goes into a prison – he is also not keen on the claustrophobic conditions he may face. The police are quick to assure Tom they have carefully checked to ensure nobody within Blackmoor will know him from his former life so he reluctantly agrees.
All does not go to plan and Tom finds himself face to face with Dean Foley, the gangster at the head of the organization Tom had infiltrated. Foley is a powerful figure within Blackmoor and it is not long before he learns of Tom’s arrival and a meeting between the two is inevitable. Tom is horrified his mission has been compromised so quickly and contacts his handlers to find out what went wrong with the planning. He needs pulled out of Blackmoor immediately or his life will be in danger.
Unfortunately for Tom his placement took lots of preparation and if he has not yet completed the mission he was chosen for then the urgency to remove him may not match his own. Tom is in a deadly race against time – get the info he was sent to discover, keep out of trouble and never let his guard down…
Given the introduction I wrote it should come as no surprise to learn that I loved The Sinner. The claustrophobic prison conditions, Tom’s personal battles against memories from his past and the real danger he faces from Foley and his minions. I am trying to avoid too many spoilers so will not go into detail on the perils Tom’s friends may be facing on the outside as they wait his return. Similarly the investigating cops have problems to deal with while waiting for Tom to report – that really threw me sideways as I hadn’t expected them to feature once Tom was in prison. It’s chapter after chapter of tension and excitement.
First the housekeeping. The Sinner follows on from The Old Religion (also a cracking read) which introduced protagonist Tom Killgannon – there are minor spoilers if you read them out of order but only because it is necessary to introduce new readers to the characters in Tom’s life. The Sinner can easily be read and enjoyed without first reading The Old Religion.
Killgannon is a former undercover cop who is now in witness protection. A condition of his new lifestyle was that he had to remain available for further operations should the need arise. When the police come calling seeking his help Tom is resigned to his fate, however when he learns he will be required to go undercover behind bars at Blackmoor prison he does try to resist his assignment. As a former cop Tom has concerns he may be recognised if he goes into a prison – he is also not keen on the claustrophobic conditions he may face. The police are quick to assure Tom they have carefully checked to ensure nobody within Blackmoor will know him from his former life so he reluctantly agrees.
All does not go to plan and Tom finds himself face to face with Dean Foley, the gangster at the head of the organization Tom had infiltrated. Foley is a powerful figure within Blackmoor and it is not long before he learns of Tom’s arrival and a meeting between the two is inevitable. Tom is horrified his mission has been compromised so quickly and contacts his handlers to find out what went wrong with the planning. He needs pulled out of Blackmoor immediately or his life will be in danger.
Unfortunately for Tom his placement took lots of preparation and if he has not yet completed the mission he was chosen for then the urgency to remove him may not match his own. Tom is in a deadly race against time – get the info he was sent to discover, keep out of trouble and never let his guard down…
Given the introduction I wrote it should come as no surprise to learn that I loved The Sinner. The claustrophobic prison conditions, Tom’s personal battles against memories from his past and the real danger he faces from Foley and his minions. I am trying to avoid too many spoilers so will not go into detail on the perils Tom’s friends may be facing on the outside as they wait his return. Similarly the investigating cops have problems to deal with while waiting for Tom to report – that really threw me sideways as I hadn’t expected them to feature once Tom was in prison. It’s chapter after chapter of tension and excitement.
June 10, 2019
Stars from me
Oh wow, I completely loved The Sinner by Martyn Waites! I haven’t read anything of his before so had no idea really what to expect but after the first couple of chapters I was completely hooked and frankly a bit gutted when it ended.
Tom Killgannon’s character in The Sinner was thoroughly engaging and the subplot with Noel Cunningham was just as interesting as the main ‘undercover’ op vs gangster Dean Foley thread. In fact I found the relationship between Tom and Dean to be fascinating, it made for really compelling reading.
On the whole, a great and compelling read with some touches of magic – I don’t want to give any spoilers but things like the impact of Dean and his suit were very nicely done.
I would love to read more like this and think it would make for a brilliant TV series.
Synopsis: In prison not everyone is guilty . . .
Tom Killgannon, ex-undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by his handler, DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his victims. The only problem is that Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor prison itself. Undercover and with only DS Sheridan knowing he is there, Tom soon runs into danger.
In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester’s biggest gang, until Tom’s testimony put him away for life. He recognises Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge.
But why can’t Tom reach DS Sheridan and what is the real reason that he has been sent to Blackmoor prison?
Oh wow, I completely loved The Sinner by Martyn Waites! I haven’t read anything of his before so had no idea really what to expect but after the first couple of chapters I was completely hooked and frankly a bit gutted when it ended.
Tom Killgannon’s character in The Sinner was thoroughly engaging and the subplot with Noel Cunningham was just as interesting as the main ‘undercover’ op vs gangster Dean Foley thread. In fact I found the relationship between Tom and Dean to be fascinating, it made for really compelling reading.
On the whole, a great and compelling read with some touches of magic – I don’t want to give any spoilers but things like the impact of Dean and his suit were very nicely done.
I would love to read more like this and think it would make for a brilliant TV series.
Synopsis: In prison not everyone is guilty . . .
Tom Killgannon, ex-undercover police officer and now in witness protection, is recalled to active service by his handler, DS Sheridan. His mission is to befriend notorious child killer Noel Cunningham and find out where he buried the bodies of his victims. The only problem is that Tom has to obtain that information from within Blackmoor prison itself. Undercover and with only DS Sheridan knowing he is there, Tom soon runs into danger.
In the prison is convicted gangster Dean Foley. He used to run Manchester’s biggest gang, until Tom’s testimony put him away for life. He recognises Tom, and so begins a cat-and-mouse game as Tom fights for survival before Foley can get his revenge.
But why can’t Tom reach DS Sheridan and what is the real reason that he has been sent to Blackmoor prison?
January 30, 2025
Tom Kilgannon hides a secret past. He is in witness protection after working undercover to ensure gangster Dean Foley ended up behind bars. Now his skills are required again and he is sent to prison to befriend a convicted child killer and find their graves.
Except the prison is the one where Dean is currently residing...
The tension and anticipation of whether Tom and Dean will confront each other is created really effectively. Tom begs for help from the officer running the operation but police corruption means he is stuck in prison at the mercy of the inmates and guards who are mostly on Foley's payroll.
The Sinner was a deeply fascinating glimpse into prison life and the psychological strength needed to be an undercover cop. There was not a great deal of violence with the exception of one fight scene where Tom is attacked by two inmates. For the most part, the violence isn't too graphic or occurs outside the scene which leaves it to the imagination of the reader instead.
There is an hilarious line on the first page about UKIP and I really enjoyed Martyn Waites' tone and style of narrative. There are some parts set in the past to show the relationships between characters which affect action in the present.
Tom is an interesting character and has obviously made some difficult choices in life as part of his undercover role. He has an honesty and integrity that have resulted in him doing the wrong things but for the right reasons to catch criminals.
References are made to events in the past and after finishing The Sinner I discovered it was book 2 in the Tom Kilgannon series. However, this works perfectly well as a stand alone novel.
Except the prison is the one where Dean is currently residing...
The tension and anticipation of whether Tom and Dean will confront each other is created really effectively. Tom begs for help from the officer running the operation but police corruption means he is stuck in prison at the mercy of the inmates and guards who are mostly on Foley's payroll.
The Sinner was a deeply fascinating glimpse into prison life and the psychological strength needed to be an undercover cop. There was not a great deal of violence with the exception of one fight scene where Tom is attacked by two inmates. For the most part, the violence isn't too graphic or occurs outside the scene which leaves it to the imagination of the reader instead.
There is an hilarious line on the first page about UKIP and I really enjoyed Martyn Waites' tone and style of narrative. There are some parts set in the past to show the relationships between characters which affect action in the present.
Tom is an interesting character and has obviously made some difficult choices in life as part of his undercover role. He has an honesty and integrity that have resulted in him doing the wrong things but for the right reasons to catch criminals.
References are made to events in the past and after finishing The Sinner I discovered it was book 2 in the Tom Kilgannon series. However, this works perfectly well as a stand alone novel.
September 11, 2024
I am so down for a good thriller, but sadly not all books labeled thriller really are, or at least not to me. The Sinner, however, really met the criteria! Tom Killgannon is an ex-undercover cop who ended up being in witness protection. However, when a convicted child killer is imprisoned but won't divulge where he buried them, a task force headed by Detective Sergeant Sheridan missions Tom to get the serial killer to divulge where he buried the last victims. Problem is, Tom must do it while inside Blackmorr Prison. UNDERCOVER...that word alone sets him up for danger. First, being an ex-cop puts a huge target on his back if he's discovered. Second, doing undercover while inside prison is obviously very dangerous, especially if he gets caught. But there is a very good reason that Tom is the one man who is best to get the job done.
I thought the character development was done really well. Characterization is super important to me when reading books, and if they're unconvincing then I just can't buy into the plot. But Martyn Waites did a very good job so the characters resonated with me in different ways.
I also really liked the short chapters because (like with James Patterson's books) I feel like I'm getting something read very quickly and I truly believe it somehow speeds up my reading. Of course, that's not imperative to a good book but it helps me!
I highly recommend this book but I'd like to add this: if you do read it, please be sure to read the author's notes after you finish the book. They're very interesting and helped me to appreciate the book even more.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I thought the character development was done really well. Characterization is super important to me when reading books, and if they're unconvincing then I just can't buy into the plot. But Martyn Waites did a very good job so the characters resonated with me in different ways.
I also really liked the short chapters because (like with James Patterson's books) I feel like I'm getting something read very quickly and I truly believe it somehow speeds up my reading. Of course, that's not imperative to a good book but it helps me!
I highly recommend this book but I'd like to add this: if you do read it, please be sure to read the author's notes after you finish the book. They're very interesting and helped me to appreciate the book even more.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 25, 2022
Tom Kilgannon is an ex-undercover cop who, 4yrs ago and known under a different name, was responsible for getting a notorious Manchester gangster put away in prison after infiltrating the gang and befriending the ultra dangerous criminal. Revenge was sworn on him.
Now he is living under police protection and living in Cornwall with his new name. The police make a demand on him, they set him a task to go under cover as a prisoner into Blackmoor prison, where he is to try and find out from a cynical and vicious murderer, where he has buried his victims out on the moors, once having achieved this he would be out and able to resume his new life. However, he isn’t to know that the gangster whom he put away 4yrs before is now actually an in mate of Blackmoor prison, which puts Tom in mortal danger. Is this just coincidence or is he being set up for a fall?
Martyn Waites has a flowing hand and knows how to build up the tension, and although I thought that the ending was a bit lack lustre, it was still a damn fine read. This was one of my holiday reads and it kept me well glued to my sun-bed for a couple of days, good stuff! 4/5.
Now he is living under police protection and living in Cornwall with his new name. The police make a demand on him, they set him a task to go under cover as a prisoner into Blackmoor prison, where he is to try and find out from a cynical and vicious murderer, where he has buried his victims out on the moors, once having achieved this he would be out and able to resume his new life. However, he isn’t to know that the gangster whom he put away 4yrs before is now actually an in mate of Blackmoor prison, which puts Tom in mortal danger. Is this just coincidence or is he being set up for a fall?
Martyn Waites has a flowing hand and knows how to build up the tension, and although I thought that the ending was a bit lack lustre, it was still a damn fine read. This was one of my holiday reads and it kept me well glued to my sun-bed for a couple of days, good stuff! 4/5.
February 4, 2020
Tom Killgannon was an u dear over cop, responsible for putting away notorious drug baron, Dean Foley.
Now in witness protection, Tom lives a quiet life in Cornwall. But, as part of this deal, he is on call for the odd undercover operation. So, when the child killer, Noel Cunningham says he may be willing to give up the whereabouts of his last victims bodies, Tom is sent to prison to find out more.
He ‘befriends’ Noel and is about to get the information, but a face from his past, Dean Foley, appears in the same prison. Coincidence or is something else going on?
Wow…..this really is a rollercoaster of a read, with gangsters, violence, corrupt prison officers, murder and betrayals, twisty and action packed to say the least. Great characters with their secrets, hopes and fears make this an utterly gripping and exciting read.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Now in witness protection, Tom lives a quiet life in Cornwall. But, as part of this deal, he is on call for the odd undercover operation. So, when the child killer, Noel Cunningham says he may be willing to give up the whereabouts of his last victims bodies, Tom is sent to prison to find out more.
He ‘befriends’ Noel and is about to get the information, but a face from his past, Dean Foley, appears in the same prison. Coincidence or is something else going on?
Wow…..this really is a rollercoaster of a read, with gangsters, violence, corrupt prison officers, murder and betrayals, twisty and action packed to say the least. Great characters with their secrets, hopes and fears make this an utterly gripping and exciting read.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
September 20, 2020
Tom Killgannon is back
After the folktale horror of The Old Religion I wasn’t sure what The Sinner would be like. Would a supernatural oddness remain part of the series? Were we heading down the road of a supernatural/crime crossover series like John Connolly’s Charlie Parker books?
The answer seems to be no. There is still a hint of the possibly supernatural in The Sinner but it’s very easily explained away as the imaginings of a stressed and sleep deprived mind (the character’s not mine).
After surviving The Old Religion Tom Killgannon has settled back into rural St Petroc. But one day the police come calling looking for him to go back undercover to persuade a serial killer to give up the location of his victims’ bodies. While achieving that goal sets the timeframe of the book it’s actually more of a subplot. The real story is about the secrets Killgannon is keeping from the undercover mission which sent him into hiding in St Petroc in the first place.
Well-paced and intriguing this is another great thriller from Martyn Waites.
After the folktale horror of The Old Religion I wasn’t sure what The Sinner would be like. Would a supernatural oddness remain part of the series? Were we heading down the road of a supernatural/crime crossover series like John Connolly’s Charlie Parker books?
The answer seems to be no. There is still a hint of the possibly supernatural in The Sinner but it’s very easily explained away as the imaginings of a stressed and sleep deprived mind (the character’s not mine).
After surviving The Old Religion Tom Killgannon has settled back into rural St Petroc. But one day the police come calling looking for him to go back undercover to persuade a serial killer to give up the location of his victims’ bodies. While achieving that goal sets the timeframe of the book it’s actually more of a subplot. The real story is about the secrets Killgannon is keeping from the undercover mission which sent him into hiding in St Petroc in the first place.
Well-paced and intriguing this is another great thriller from Martyn Waites.
December 10, 2024
First look of this book's cover, I thought it is an autobiography of actual sinners in real life. I was disappointed. But having purchased this book, I have no choice but to make worth of it. So I read the first few page of the book, then BOOM, I am hooked. I am feeling Foley's intense frightening gaze; I can picture Mick's nonchalance; I am in the backseat of the car, listening to both of them.
This book is very immersive, the story telling is very simple but very intriguing. You can feel the thrill of reading this novel.
But there are some few flaws around the story, the ending part feels rushed, Clint story line wasn't given any justice, the story could've been better. I would have given this book 4.5 stars, but there is no such thing as 4.5, so I will be giving this 5 star.
THIS BOOK IS WORTH THE MONEY I SPENT
This book is very immersive, the story telling is very simple but very intriguing. You can feel the thrill of reading this novel.
But there are some few flaws around the story, the ending part feels rushed, Clint story line wasn't given any justice, the story could've been better. I would have given this book 4.5 stars, but there is no such thing as 4.5, so I will be giving this 5 star.
THIS BOOK IS WORTH THE MONEY I SPENT
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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