Prey

Ho hum

Author
British. Splits her time between London and Sydney. Started out writing “eco-thrillers.” This is the second in a series based around globe trotting British investigative journalist Olivia Wolfe, who is 39, has multiple piercings including her tongue, rides a Harley Davidson, and is a bit of a whiz at Brazilian ju-jitsu. She’s single, unsurprisingly, although prone to dangerous liaisons (stalkers, psychopathic killers, Russian spies, that sort of thing).
Under the name Louisa Bennet, Ms Larkin also writes humorous mysteries where one of the protagonists is a dog. (Shades of Spencer Quinn’s Chet and Bernie mysteries. I think I’ll pass.)

Plot
Four gruesome murders, apparently unrelated, across four different countries. Dodgy politician with off shore bank account. Dodgy copper, or possibly not. Suave Vietnamese tech billionaire/philanthropist with a dark side. African rhinos slaughtered by poachers, yada, yada. The action moves from London to South Africa, which is well served with dodgy politicians and police too. Russians are involved as well (see above comments about our gal’s love interests.) Builds to a last man/woman/person standing scenario.

Narrative
Third person from POVs of our hero and of the evil psycho-assassin.

Characters
Lack credibility to put to mildly. In my day, or Frederick Forsyth’s, no self respecting professional assassin would make Saw style snuff videos of his kills to share with his followers on the Internet. That’s millennials for you.

Prose
Harley Davidson pace, and decibels (as in pow, wallop, thwack, bam. And screaming, lots of screaming). Cliches and genre tropes abound, but well executed (sorry) for what it is.

Bottom line
Ho hum. Will doubtless do well on Netflix.