Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This is a book that I had to put down as I realised it was a second book in a series and I was yet to read the first one. I have purchased this book to read after this.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance reading copy of this book. Like so many male heroes this self contained ex-military man protects the girls from the bad men. Not a new story line but one that you can read every day. Despite that the story was set around the Mexico/US border and I found it a refreshing take on the premise. I enjoyed it and will be reading more of Mark Dawson's offerings.

This is a cracker of a quick read and although this is the second in the series, you most definitely can read it as a standalone.

Absolutely jam-packed with action from start to finish and with the main protagonist that you quickly begin to care about despite his dodgy history, this is a great book.

John Milton is ex-army, ex-special forces and ex-government agent - well he wants to be ex-agent but it's not that easy and John has "escaped" to South America. Trying to keep off-the-radar, he finds himself working as a cook in a "restaurant" in Juarez, Mexico when the proverbial hits the fan and John can't stand by watching innocent people get murdered. Unfortunately, his intervention puts him in the line of sight of the cartel and his old bosses whilst trying to avoid corrupt police and the local population who are under the thumb of the cartel.

This is a book that I absolutely raced through, full of action and violence with many scenes of peril, which some may find upsetting, but one which I thoroughly got lost in and I will definitely read more from this author.

Thank you to Welbeck Publishing Group and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

John Milton has been of the grid for over 6 months and people are looking for him.
John's mission is to help people and gets caught up in a massacre that puts him back on the radar.
Fast paced book that has John involved with the Police against the drug cartels but also has people chasing him.
Page turner

4.5 stars
John Milton is hiding out in Juarez, but when he becomes entangled in a dispute between the cartel and a journalist who is trying to expose them he risks being found from the very people he's running from.

I didn't realise that this was the second book in the John Milton series until after I started reading; although I recommend reading the books in order I still loved this novel. I was gripped by John's character and his need for redemption and will definitely go back and read the first novel and await any further instalments in the series.

Thank you to Netglley and the publishers for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

After I requested this book I realised I had already read it! However I read it again and thoroughly enjoyed it! Dawson’s Milton is a deeply flawed protagonist. Trouble seems to follow him despite his continued lonely roaming across countries and continents. Highly recommend this book and the subsequent ones that follow.

This was my first Mark Dawson (John Milton) novel and I really enjoyed it. It fit well into the genre of crime thriller but the character of Milton is so personable, as well as deadly, that there was a human element to the story too and not all blood and bullets. The story ended with plenty of scope for more adventure and further development of some of the other characters in to book too. Plenty to keep your heart racing and the pages turning in this book. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book.

I am sorry to say that I was not gripped by this book. It was very slow to start, a few questions unanswered and I failed to get to grips with the characterisation. It was predictable and formulaic and not as good as the first book. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Such an epic read. Following on from The Cleaner we find John Milton working as a cook in a cafe and trying to keep a low profile in Ciudad Juárez, a place that keeping a low profile in might just keep you alive! But this is John Milton and trouble will always find him as he fights the good fight
Mark Dawson’s brilliant writing grabs you from the off and you’re dragged along for a fabulous rollercoaster of a read

I thoroughly enjoy a good thriller and even though I hadn't read book 1 (I always seem to read stuff out of order LOL) I wasn't lost for long and just immersed myself into the world.

John had just about all he could take of government service. He's trying to do good in the world, helping out those he thinks needs it. After his last escapade ended up putting those he was trying to help in more danger, he escaped blighty and has been hiding off grid in South America. Sadly his quiet time is about to blow up in his face - again through doing a good deed.

This is like Bond/Bourne and Jack Ryan merged together into one uber-spy. He's not only on the run from his past missions, his own agency, Moscow and cartels are in a three way fight to see who can capture him first!

This is a tale of attempting redemption, finding good people to help rather than dealing with politics and I'm just thankful that this one-man army actually finds some allies! There are multi POV in the book but Milton is always the driving force. I got sucked into the world and read it all in one go (Thankfully I have a very understanding hubby who doesn't quite get my obsession with good books!)

I'd love to read more in this series so they are all going on my TBR list.

I love this book you have great characters and a fantastic story I cannot recommend these books highly enough