Adam Colclough lives and works in the West Midlands, he writes regularly for a number of websites, one day he will get round to writing a book for someone else to review.
Jaleesa, Kai, Dani, and Ilya are super fans of cult TV sci-fi show City of Night. Living in different countries, the challenges they face and the online friendship that give them strength. Out of the blue, they get the chance to travel to America to meet the show's star Alice Temple. Their idol has troubles of her own and within hours of meeting for the first time in real life, the four friends are on the run, pursued by the police, the Russian mob, and a sinister right-wing militia.
As the author of the cult Killing Eve trilogy, Luke Jennings knows a thing or two about writing high concept thrillers. He also has a tough act to follow, something he does here with a handy turn of speed.
The action comes thick and fast and is rooted deep in the cultural conflicts going on in the US and beyond. Using a cult TV show as the frame for a novel that, judging by the loose ends left enticingly hanging, could become one itself is a neat touch.
Jennings does more than just tell a ripping yarn. What he has delivered is a story about friendship and the importance of being true to yourself that is powerfully topical.
This could have come out as either mealy mouthed and cynical, or worth and didactic. In his hands, it is neither, instead, it is hopeful and life-affirming.
Luke Jennings might just have another cult hit on his hands. About which, using the text speak of the title all this reviewer can say is #goodjob #bringonthesequel.
