John Milton hasn’t seen Elijah Warriner for three years. The last time they met, Milton’s efforts to keep the boy safe didn’t go exactly to plan. Now Elijah is a promising boxer, preparing for the bout that will take him to the big time. Milton decides that he will spend the week before Christmas in London so that he can watch the fight.But Elijah’s burgeoning fame has brought him to the … the attention of old acquaintances with long memories and grudges to bear. They have noticed Elijah, too, and decide that now is the time to settle old scores.
Can Milton keep the young man and his mother safe, or will Elijah’s old running mates get to him first?
“Nerve-shreddingly tense. Utterly addictive” – International bestselling author MJ Arlidge
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‘The Cleaner’ was the book which introduced the John Milton series, and this book is interesting for existing fans of Mark Dawson as it revisits the characters from The Cleaner, several years later, but it also makes a great stand-alone read for new Dawson/Milton fans.
This book does have a nod towards Christmas,when it is published, but it certainly isn’t all about Santa and elves, it is about violence, gangs, drugs and so on and portrays a disturbingly realistic picture of the issues facing the inner cities of the UK and the dehumanising effects of the gang, gun and knife crime culture some of the young generation find themselves being drawn in to. To balance this however, it is also about loyalty, friendship and paying dues.
Milton himself is an excellent character, who has developed throughout the series, a rather tarnished hero who tries to do the right thing, but doesn’t always get it right. However his ‘black ops’ background does make him a lot more resourceful than most and he is at his best when he’s in a tight corner, which he definitely is at the climax of this story.
So, a fairly short, explosive read, with an original plot, brilliant characters, great action and superb pacing, Mark
Dawson has done it again and produced one of the best action/thriller reads this year.
This is an honest review based on a complimentary copy of the book I received from the author.
Dawson seems to have a block as this episode was not as interesting as past episodes. Still enjoyed it but thought that his returning to a previous novel was a little lame.
Any Mark Dawson book I’ve read leaves me wanting more from this author. He is a winner! A must read.
Another great tale about John Milton, the English version of Reacher. Very entertaining
I have read a number of the books in this series and the author does build characters in depth. So good read. But the stories always leave a heavy, down feeling.
Good read!
John Milton is a great character
Just another mark dawson story,always entertaining, always holds your attention.
Not one of the better John Milton books.
I think John needs to work his Program a little better. He comes across as believing he is responsible for anything and everything. Yeah, he was a killer for hire, yeah he killed lots of people, but, he is not in charge of the world. His sense of guilt is like something he is proud of or enjoys. He needs to get over himself.
I have read all of the John Milton books and keep going back for more each time a new one is released, but his guilt is getting old.
I’m so looking forward to the end of the John Milton series…not because I want them to end, but because I so want Milton to find some peace.
This wasn’t my favorite of the series but it did answer the questions I had at the end of The Cleaner. I wanted to know more about what happened to Elijah, and well, I guess the author knew more than I did. Well played, Mr Dawson.
You know the author has done his job when you root for a cold-blooded killer. As Stephen King says, “even serial killers help old ladies across the street.”
John checks up on previous efforts to make amends. The intrigue, non-stop action and engrossing story you expect from Mark. I didn’t want to put it down.
This is a good series.
Another excellent John Milton story. Returning to England to see a boy he helped year ago in a boxing match, Milton ends up protecting him and his mother again from a viscious street gang. From his first days in England, the gang is after him too. The fast-paced story comes to a conclusion when Milton, helped by two friends, finds the boxer and kills the psychotic head but only in self-defense rather than retribution, as was his intention until Elijah signaled no.
I really like this series. Very good characters.
Mark Dawson is always a good read and this doesn’t disappoint
A very quick read. Gets right to the point.
Another great John Milton adventure from Mark Dawson. Christmas themed but can be read anytime.
It’s a bit shorter than other novels in the series, but Twelve Days is very entertaining. It wraps up a few loose threads from “The Cleaner” (the first book) and puts Milton back into the world of London gangs.
It was interesting to see how some of the characters had grown and changed over the course of a few years while others hadn’t.
If you like the Milton series, action thrillers, or books like the Jack Reacher novels, give these a chance.
I was lucky enough to have gotten a ARC copy of this book from the author. Great book plenty of action and suspense.
The John Smith series was fantastic! I was very sorry to come to the final book. Smith is tragic but realistically badass!