Title: 
The Inquisitor
Author: Mark Allen Smith
Pages: 336
Genre: Thriller / Mystery
Mark Allen Smith’s debut novel The Inquisitor is about an “information retrieval specialist”. That’s a pretty fancy term for interrogator, or professional torturer.
It’s an intriguing premise. Interrogators (especially if they’re the sort who use torture) evoke a certain visceral response in people – we assume that they’re the bad guys. Smith’s hero (anti-hero) Geiger isn’t a bad guy. Admittedly, when the book starts out, he’s a cold man – closed-off from the world and his emotions. It’s hard to be sympathetic. But as the book progresses, we start to see a man with very high moral standards, who’s honorable, and who, in his own way, is a good man. Geiger is a fascinating character, and it’s his back story and the developments in his character that really pull the reader into this thriller. Indeed, I think he’s one of the best new heroes to come along since Lee Child’s Jack Reacher came on to the scene.
You see Geiger has lost his memory. When he arrives in New York on a bus, he doesn’t know his last name, he can’t remember his past, and he hardly ever displays any emotion. All he knows is that he can do carpentry… and he has a knack for spotting a lie the moment he hears it. Pretty handy for someone in the information retrieval business… and Geiger’s the best there is. He makes a good living “convincing” people to tell the truth using psychological techniques (and rarely physical ones when it can’t be helped). Geiger’s a mercenary, selling his skill to the highest bidder, but he does have a moral code that he adheres to strictly. He won’t interrogate children or the elderly, and he won’t kill.
Geiger’s comfortable with the life he’s building for himself until a client insists that he take a rush job where the “subject” is a twelve-year-old boy. This upsets Geiger greatly, and he instinctively wants to protect the boy. He quickly rescues the boy and goes on the run, intent on preventing the boy from harm. But to do this, Geiger and his partner, former journalist Harry Boddicker, have to find out why the client is so determined to have the boy’s secret – or Geiger, Harry and the boy’s lives will be forfeit. As if that isn’t enough, with the rescue of the boy, Geiger subconscious starts to access some of his memories, and his past also starts to catch up with him.
Smith’s debut novel is a riveting read. It’s an action-packed thrill ride from beginning to end with characters that you’ll, if not love, then at least care about. The writing is excellent, with a style somewhat reminiscent of Robert Crais — there’s an economy of words, that nonetheless paints a vivid picture. If you enjoy mysteries and thrillers, then you’ll definitely won’t want to miss The Inquisitor.
Title: What Doesn’t Kill You
