Lee Child’s Reacher is iconic. This novel is a rip-off. Craven has judged the market can support two Reacher-style psychopathic loners living outside the law. Both, of course, are formerly law officers, and so know all the tricks.

The usual tropes are in place. Craven’s first page lays out the narrative arc.

“Six was a kind of insult. It wasn’t enough….I’m not a huge man – five eleven, weigh a buck-ninety but….They looked scared. Jittery.” p3

Craven has written a thrilling thriller. Sadistic violence of a horrific unspeakable kind begins Ben Koenig’s rootless hunted life. Bloodbath slaughter, casual murder, and just everyday murder follow closely behind.

Just as with Reacher our *hero* flies in the face of certain death in a series of preposterous scenarios. They work because they’re well written and you’ve parked your brains in a locker a long time before you reach them.

A quick nasty read, which you may *enjoy* but totally lacks the graceful characters of his Washington Poe novels. Those are warmly recommended. Fearless is recommended for those who like gore-fest novels.