Book Review: Hard Knocks

Reviewed By: Luke Croll - RAM

Hard Knocks     Amazon US HC Amazon UK PB Amazon UK HC Amazon Canada HC
Zoe Sharp
Class/Genre:   Mystery
2003, Piatkus, 382 pages

When Charlie Fox was in the Army, she had many problems with her colleagues. So much so, she did not care that one of them was shot dead during a bodyguard-training course. However, when her old flame asks her to go undercover and find out what really happened, she cannot bring herself to refuse. However, in doing so, she puts herself directly in the firing line ? since there are secrets that people want to keep hidden!

Zoë Sharp's writing has been improving with each successive novel, and 'Hard Knocks' is clearly her best yet. The writing has a crispness about it and she has succeeded in creating an excellent sense of pace. The novel could well make the transition to the big screen, as there is enough action, car chases and shoot-outs to make this an exciting enough thriller for any Hollywood fan, especially with its sharp denouement.

Sharp also triumphs with a large cast of characters. It would be easy to let some fall by the wayside, but as the novel progresses, we learn more and more about the different instructors and trainees, all of whom seem to have secrets to hide. As usual, Charlie Fox is a powerful and attractive character whose dry humour works well, even in the tense situations in which she finds herself.

With a fast-paced and exciting novel from start to finish, Zoë Sharp deserves to have a long and successful career in her series of crime and thriller novels.

Luke Croll - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Luke Croll - RAM

Luke Croll - Conference interpreter and translator
http://lukecroll.translatorscafe.com