Relentless

Relentless is a fast-paced thriller that became one of the UK's top-selling books of 2007 after being selected for Richard & Judy's Summer Book Club. The novel follows Tom Meron, an ordinary family man whose life shatters when he receives a disturbing phone call from an old friend. After hearing his friend's murder over the phone, Tom must protect his family while evading both the police and dangerous pursuers. His situation grows more complex when he becomes the prime suspect in another murder, forcing him to uncover the truth while staying ahead of multiple threats. The story moves through the streets of London as Tom navigates a web of deception, conspiracy and violence while trying to understand his connection to these crimes. His search leads him into increasingly dangerous territory as he discovers dark secrets from the past. This thriller explores themes of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, examining how far someone will go to protect their family and the ways that past decisions can resurface with devastating consequences.

Readers call this a fast-paced thriller that maintains tension throughout, with short chapters and multiple viewpoints driving the action forward. Many note they finished it in 1-2 sittings. Liked: - Quick plot momentum - Realistic police procedure details - Character of Tom Meron as an everyday person thrust into danger - Unpredictable twists - Clean, straightforward writing style Disliked: - Some found the multiple perspectives confusing - A few readers felt the ending was rushed - Several mentioned implausible coincidences in the plot - Characters could lack depth according to some reviews Ratings: Goodreads: 3.96/5 (5,479 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (386 ratings) Amazon US: 4.3/5 (89 ratings) "Like being strapped to a rocket" - Amazon UK reviewer "The pacing is relentless but the characters feel two-dimensional" - Goodreads review "Perfect airplane read but don't expect deep meaning" - LibraryThing review

The Innocent by Harlan Coben A blameless man receives a mysterious message leading to a spiral of violence and secrets from his past that force him to run from both criminals and law enforcement.

Gone by Mo Hayder A parent's search for a missing child leads to uncovering police corruption and criminal networks while racing against time.

The Break by Katherena Vermette A phone call about a violent crime sets off a chain of events that forces a family to confront both present dangers and buried histories.

Tell No One by Harlan Coben A widower receives evidence his dead wife might be alive, launching him into a dangerous pursuit while being hunted by police and killers.

Before He Finds Her by Michael Kardos A woman in witness protection breaks cover to investigate the truth about her father's crimes, putting herself in the crosshairs of multiple threats.

🔍 The novel was inspired by Kernick's real-life experience of receiving a mysterious late-night phone call that left him wondering "what if?" 📚 Simon Kernick spent over two years shadowing London Metropolitan Police officers to ensure authentic police procedural details. 🏆 "Relentless" was chosen by the WHSmith Travel stores as their 'Read of the Week,' helping catapult the book to bestseller status. ⚡️ The entire narrative unfolds over just 48 hours, a storytelling technique Kernick perfected after studying Alfred Hitchcock's approach to suspense. 🌟 Before writing "Relentless," Kernick had written four other novels that achieved modest success, but this was his breakthrough book, selling over 500,000 copies in the UK alone.