Eye for Eye by J.K. Franko

How to commit the perfect crime is a regular concern of protagonists in crime fiction, as is how to commit the perfect murder. At heart this is what forms the basis of the plot of Eye for Eye, J.K.Franko’s debut, and the first in a planned trilogy. 

Roy Cruise is a successful financier, a former lawyer who now finds start-ups to invest in. He’s good at what he does and has become very successful. His wife Susie is a former television news journalist, turned advocate, warning people against texting while driving. This came out of their family’s personal tragedy; their daughter, Camilla, having died after a man crashed into her car while doing so. While holidaying they meet another couple, Tom and Deb Wise, whose daughter Kristy was raped. They suggest that the Cruise’s kill their daughter’s rapist so that they might secure justice, Old Testament justice, symbolically also avenging Camilla too.

I won’t say any more about the plot, or why the Cruises might agree to do this, or what other twists and turns lie in store for all concerned, for fear of divulging spoilers.  Needless to say, all is explained within the novel’s pages. What I can say is that this is a tightly plotted novel with numerous strands which are all woven together with aplomb. The author has obviously thought carefully about how his characters might get away with a “perfect homicide” and he creates a compelling scenario. Clearly, a lot of research has gone into this novel too, the fruits of which are used to make the story very believable.

Eye for Eye is 432 pages, quite a length for a novel, and I have to say that when opening it I was a little concerned that it might flag somewhere in the middle. It wouldn’t be the first novel which did, even famous writers can have trouble sustaining a novel-length story. I’m pleased to say that the author managed it, and I never found my interest waning. In part that’s due to a cast of interesting and compelling characters, who even when engaged in horrible acts remain sympathetic and relatable. But it’s also due to the sheer desire of the reader to know whether they really can pull off the “perfect murder” and the author ensures that one’s interest is captivated throughout.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed this novel and will definitely read the sequel. Eye for Eye’s narrator is unknown until the end of the book and I’m guessing this person takes a more centre stage in book 2, so it will be interesting to see how the titles intersect.  The Talion Trilogy, as the author is calling the novels, are a series and so I’m sure characters will recur. Will those from Book 1 finally be brought to justice for their crimes or will they forever get away with murder? Will they continue murdering people in book 2 and 3, or will we be introduced to other perpetrators? Needless to say, I look forward to finding out.

4 out of 5 stars