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Simon Kernick has found a winning formula, and he's clinging on to it like Linus and his comfort blanket. Said formula involves Mr Bloke seeing something he shouldn't have done, and then being pursued at speed around London by the bad guys wearing only the clothes he stands up in. This time out, we get forays into Berkshire and Essex for extra value. And our man on the run gets to have a shower or a cup of tea now and then. In TARGET, Mr Bloke is Rob Fallon who's a writer. One night he's the worse for wear after a night out on the town and ends up with Jenny, his best friend's girlfriend. They're in her flat when two men break in, kidnap her and try to kill Rob. Rob does what any sane person would do, and reports it to the police. Except, no one believes him. The flat appears untouched, the caretaker says he didn't see a thing, and Jenny's father claims she's on holiday abroad. Except Rob won't let it drop. And the more questions he asks, the more determined the heavy mob are to shut him up. As is often the case with Kernick, it's an engaging central premise, as the reader wonders why an seemingly ordinary person should be the target of the crime. And he's good at keeping the momentum going, and TARGET hurtles along energetically in the good old page-turner tradition. One twist breaks his usual formula, and there's a strong foil for Rob in the shape of sceptical cop DS Tina Boyd. The downside for me, though, is the fact that the violence rapidly reaches gross-out stage and actually loses all effect. If you've enjoyed Kernick's books in the past, you'll no doubt lap up TARGET. For those remaining to be convinced, it has the whiff of writing by numbers.
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, December 2009
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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