Pigs by Daniel James – Review by Francis O’Sullivan

Pigs by Daniel James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pigs by Daniel James is an action packed crime novel, with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on their feet. It follows Isaac, newly released from prison and determined to stay away from the life that got him locked up – a life that isn’t going to let him go so easily.

The book opens with a fairly graphic torture scene which sets the tone for the rest of the book. If you find that uncomfortable, you won’t enjoy the book. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of graphic violence but it added to the tension which got me hooked.

This is the kind of book where you can never really relax. Like Isaac, you’re always looking over your shoulder, never feeling safe. Although much of the story comes from Isaacs perspective, occasionally chapters show us what other characters are up to giving us a broader perspective and time to let Isaac stew.

Pretty much everyone in this story is a criminal, but James achieves a variety of motivations and personal morals which make it easy for readers to pick a side. I particularly liked Grace, who prefers to talk people into doing her bidding to avoid having to use her gun.

For me, this is a five star book. A real page turner, with plenty of interest and action to flesh it out. Once I got going, I struggled to put it down!

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