Mark Dawson

So, I have been there with James Bond, Travis McGee, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan, Jack Reacher, Elvis Cole, Jane Hawk and now John Milton. There are a lot of similarities and a lot of differences, but Mark Dawson’s John Milton series has its own intense charm.

At this point, I have read the first three of the series which has recently grown to thirteen. The box initial box set is a three book set containing the first three novels. The Cleaner, Saint Death and the Driver. I binge read all three and then ordered the second box set.

John Milton is intense, highly skilled and seeking to work out his Karma. Over the years he had become increasingly unsettled by what his government has asked of him and he has dropped out, seeking to help others with his skills. In this he is much like a British Jack Reacher, but unlike Reacher he didn’t leave on good terms with his service. They wouldn’t let him go, but he said goodbye and dropped from the grid. This drove the British powers that be a bit crazy. You can easily see the opportunities for complexity and intrigue this opens up.

As to the style of the book, and speaking as someone who grew up in the American mid west and then moved to Texas, I find myself loving the unabashed British-ness of the books, the dialogue and the character are spot on as Milton might say. As much as I like Reacher’s unabashed American perspective, I really enjoy Milton’s British spin on the action adventure.

All in all, at 3 through the 13 book series I am very happy to have found another great series. I look forward to spending a lot more time with Mark Dawson’s John Milton.