Originally posted at The Review Hart: http://www.thereviewhart.com/2014/08/acts-of-violence-ross-harrison/

Where to start? It has to be with the real stars of the show, the dark and richly realistic characters which leap off the page. This book is told from the first person point of view, and the author makes the most of that with interesting, well-written, and witty internal dialogue. Every move is carefully considered and fits firmly into the character’s established personality. There is nothing fake about Jack Mason. He is very much a product of his surroundings and his history. That means that he’s dark, his thought patterns aren’t always socially acceptable, he makes foolish decisions, and he’ll never be the hero that perhaps many readers will be screaming for him to be. All of the secondary characters were equally as interesting and thoroughly developed. Even those which only appeared for a few brief sentences were cemented in the author’s descriptions, which meant that they stood out as people and were memorable in their own right.

The world was scarcely described. It didn’t need to be. That worked perfectly. It was nothing more than a few little details here and there rather than sitting looking out the window, the background for the story which unfolded at a breakneck speed, a landscape that helped bring the action alive and no more. That meant that the focus was entirely on the characters and the plot, an intense focus that was exactly what this book needed.

The plot was quite familiar in its very broad arc, but the writing of it made it shine and stand out as something interesting and well worth reading. The basic idea was that a man was accused of murder and needed to prove he didn’t do it, and of course he finds out there’s a lot more going on than he initially thought. That’s been done many times, but never quite like this. The action was executed brilliantly. It was well researched and fit into the character’s personality and experience base. It maintained the character’s voice throughout with his decisions and thoughts on his own actions throughout the quick-paced and well-timed scenes. It is worth noting that there were a few instances where some of the details given gave the distinct impression of the author covering potential plot holes before the reader had a chance to notice them. There were instances where a choice or move on part of the character would almost begin to not make sense before the author leapt in and explained it by giving some little detail about the surroundings which hadn’t been mentioned prior.

There are, of course, twists; there has to be in a story such as this. They aren’t a huge surprise, but they’re hardly neon signs either. The very final one was an interesting play on a particularly familiar idea. The author should be given credit for the use of that.

That brings us around to the ending, which is exactly as it needs to be. It satisfies the reader and wraps up all of the necessary threads without being trite and irritating. The emotional residue which remains at the end of this book is haunting and will no doubt have the reader looking for other works by the author.

On a technical note, the grammar and related bits and pieces were without fault. The use of language was firmly within the established character of the narrator at all times. There were some slightly odd phrases, but that fit within the noir feeling and the character’s voice. The pacing was spectacular. The author made the most of the tension they built up and used the pacing to have the reader gripped at the right moments. The breathing spaces were also interesting and gave insights into the world, secondary characters, and ideas about the plot as a whole. Nothing was left hanging or left boring; everything had a purpose and moved the plot forwards.

All in all, this was a very interesting and well-written book. The characters leap off the page and their flaws shine through in the plot with its fascinating twists. The author makes good use of the noir style and tone, which comes through strongly in the background setting and the overall dark and gritty feeling of the complete piece. There is nothing bad to say about the pacing or the well-executed action. It’s gripping and leaves the reader looking for more.

By Mary Fan, Author of Artificial Absolutes. Originally posted on Ziagzag Timeline: http://zigzagtl.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/review-acts-of-violence-ross-harrison.html

Ross Harrison's Acts of Violence is a fast-paced, entertaining mystery packed with action and grit. The story takes place on a backwater planet in the NEXUS universe - Harrison's galaxy-spanning space opera series - but other than a few references to fictional technology (holograms, flying transports, and the like), the book reads more like a thriller or nouveau noir than sci-fi.

The narrator is Jack Mason, a police academy dropout turned wannabe private detective. He tells the story in sharp-edged sentences ideal for the setting: a crime-ridden, mob-run town full of violence and debauchery. A caustic wit and blunt demeanor make him an entertaining character to read, both because of his sarcastic quips and quick descriptions of action scenes. The plot follows his efforts to clear his name of the murder of a bargirl whose name he didn't even know when he brought her home for a one-night stand. But as he delves further into the shady operation she worked for, he learns that it's much more than it seems. Driven to find the truth, he winds up tangled up in a web of deceit and power struggles.

I really enjoyed reading this book - even missed my train once because I was reading it at the platform and didn't look up in time. Harrison certainly knows how to plot a novel. The suspense and action were riveting, and the twists at the end gave the book a powerful finish. It's not very long, and with its pounding pace and chapter hooks, I could easily have read this book in one afternoon if I hadn't been saving it for my commutes.

Acts of Violence explores the dark underworld of Harem, the aptly named sin city it takes place in, and doesn't pull its punches. It's not horror, and the violence isn't particularly graphic, but there is a lot of it. Things get real rough for poor Jack.

As far as character goes, Jack is somewhat of an enigma. The story is told in past tense, and he often seems emotionally detached from the situation, but every so often, the anger gets the better of him. He's also an unreliable narrator, denying the reader information about his past, and that adds an extra level of interest.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining thrill-ride of a read, which was just what I was looking for when I cracked its spine. Well, its digital spine.