Kris Lillyman's Finders Keepers is a high octane car chase of a novel ! The first few chapters threw me slightly because they seemed a bit superficial, rapidly presenting a number of characters who didn't seem to be linked. Their destinies soon became intrinsically interwoven though and the abominable and deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.
The novel begins by introducing Jake, a down-on-his-luck artistic designer, desperate to get a new job and win back his estranged wife and children. When all his plans come to nothing, the bottom falls out of his world and he considers suicide to be his only option, climbing up on a bridge to end his life. When a car crashes beside him, killing the driver outright and revealing a huge stash of diamonds in his possessions, this seems to be a gift from the gods, giving him the chance to sort his life out, pay off his debts and get back on track. If only ! Jake soon finds himself being tracked down by the ruthless criminals whose diamonds he discovered and has to try to bring them to justice, while protecting himself and his loved ones.
It reminded me very much of a Hollywood blockbuster - fast-paced, big on the action, with a gripping storyline but slightly shallow in the character descriptions. Despite a few dubious choices, Jake is ultimately a good guy so you find yourself rooting for him thoughout the whole novel, with all its murderous twists and turns. You always know he's going to come out on top with barely a scratch though !
There were a couple of things that detracted very slightly from my enjoyment. Firstly, the vast amount of spelling mistakes (hopefully these have been edited out in later editions - I thought I might scream if I saw any more it's/its and there/their confusion but maybe that's my teacher side coming out !) Secondly, the extended sex scene towards the end of the book that would have been a work of literary genius if it had been written as a comedic parody of erotic fiction but, as a serious piece of prose, had me inwardly howling with laughter. Fifty Shades of Grey eat your heart out !
Despite these slight niggles, I did really enjoy the book though and found myself reading way past my bedtime several nights on the trot, desperate to find out what would happen next ! If you like high-speed, action-packed plotlines and aren't averse to some rather stereotypical villains, it will be right up your street. I could easily see this being adapted for the big screen - I can think of several actors who would make a great Jake !
star rating : 4/5
RRP : £10.49
- Paperback: 460 pages
- Publisher: Boom Boom Books; 1 edition (14 Jun 2013)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1909250120
- ISBN-13: 978-1909250123
Disclosure : I received a copy of the book in order to write an honest review.
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