#Review #NetGalley #TerminallyKill
Ray might be about to die. But he's sure as hell not going quietly …
Former policeman Ray 'Sugar' Leonard is no stranger to bad breaks. But even Walter White never had to open up and share his feelings with a bunch of misfits like Ray's chemotherapy group: a giant God-bothering Welsh bouncer, a sharp-suited wannabe Wolf of Wall Street, and a misanthropic, potty-mouthed little old lady. Compared to that lot, getting mugged on his way home from the clinic was almost a relief.
But Ray is not your average victim. And when his training kicks in and his would-be attacker winds up dead, he wonders, who else might be equally deserving of such summary justice? After all, he's got cancer, what's he got to lose?
Then Ray lets slip his new philosophy to the group and it soon becomes clear that he's not the only one with murder in mind …
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My Review
This is the second book I've read by this author. His first (and debut) book was Call Time which I absolutely loved, so I knew I just had to read this one. We meet Ray "Sugar" Leonard, ex Forces and recently retired police officer. Ray has cancer and forms a friendship with three other people he meets during his chemotherapy sessions. Ray's had a lot happen in his life so to be dealt the hand of his cancer diagnosis just tops everything. When a chance encounter with a mugger changes how Ray thinks about everything that's happened, he begins to wonder who else deserves his form of justice.
This was an absolutely fantastic read. I loved the previous book and thought that was cleverly written, and this book is definitely up there on that same level with a very well thought out story, great characters and an ending to make you cry! I loved Ray's character, so likeable and you really felt for him. I also loved his cancer group friends - Rose, a cantankerous old woman; Luke, a young wide boy with a flashy Range Rover and Gog, a giant Welsh churchgoer! Their sessions together made me laugh, sometimes for the wrong reasons, and how the relationship built between them was wonderfully done.
The storyline flows superbly and we find Ray, who feels he has nothing left in life, becoming a form of vigilante, dispensing justice to those he felt deserved it. It does unexpectedly twist and turn throughout and definitely throws some curveballs into the story. I have to admit to being a bit hesitant with the cancer storyline as I usually find these quite upsetting, but the dark humour surrounding it was a welcome change. The writing was amazing and I found myself hooked into Ray's storyline from the very first page. A mixture of life lessons and friendships with some murders, tears and laughter thrown in for good measure. If you're going to read any book, make it this one!
The Author
Steve Jones' first job was in a petrol station. It was also the first job he was fired from for putting diesel in Dai-The-Milk's petrol truck.
From there he gained employment in a printing factory before setting off for distant shores to "find himself". He subsequently found a mediocre career in modelling which thankfully segued into a fairly successful twenty year (to date) career in TV presenting. His cherished accomplishments: He was crowned Welsh Rear Of The year in 2002. His suitcase has come out first at the airport on no less than two occasions, and now, he has written Call Time. Which he very much hopes you will enjoy.
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