Adam Kindred is a climatologist with a bright future. After a seemingly successful job interview, he decides to dine at a little Italian bistro in Chelsea, London. He strikes up a conversation with a the lone diner next to him…like some might do, and when the diner leaves, forgetting his briefcase, Adam feels compelled to return it to him…as some might do. He calls the stranger, who instructs him to bring the briefcase to his home, which is not far off. From that moment on, life as Adam’s knows it is forever altered.

He suddenly finds himself on the run without access to anything from his former life. With an assassin sniffing out his trail, he delves deeper and deeper into the dark underground of an unnoticed street life, and becomes one of the faceless ranks. All while carefully and patiently navigating the minefield of a pharmaceutical giant’s machinations, to clear his name and bring to light a potentially fatal new drug worth millions.

There are some mixed reviews out there regarding this, Boyd’s, latest thriller, but I have to say that this was one of the most exciting reads I’ve had all winter. From the book jacket I was expecting a completely different story, but was taken somewhere dark and seedy, to places I didn’t see coming, with characters that intrigued me more and more and began to genuinely care about. Each one surprising me at every turn, whether with pride or disgust. This is what a thriller is about…and Boyd nailed it!