Books: Defective detective the star of dark thriller

AIDAN Waits is a young disgraced detective working in Manchester, England.

AIDAN Waits is a young disgraced detective working in Manchester, England.

He has trouble keeping his undercover identity and true identity separate and this brings him to the attention of his superior officers and a highly regarded MP who wants discreet inquiries made into the whereabouts of his young teenage daughter, who has gone missing.

Upon diving further into the seedy underworld of drug lords and sex workers, Waits discovers that he is drawn to the perks of this world. He is intrigued by a girl named Catherine who is much more than she appears, and he befriends the young teenage runaway Isabelle.

Things start to make sense as he delves into his investigation, but every time he thinks he's working something out, a new plot twist throws him off and he has to start again. Waits spends much time being beaten up, threatened and getting high, but it doesn't stop him getting closer to the truth.

An unlikely friendship is struck up with the major drug lord in the area, and every side knows he's an operating cop, using this to his utmost advantage.

Sirens, by Joseph Knox, is indeed a page-turner, true to the brags on the front cover. I was glued, dying to know what was going to happen to our Waits.

I wanted to know if all the things that obstructed the truth and twisted the truth were finally sorted. I can't help but think Sirens was an excellent name for this novel as Aidan Waits had to struggle with both types - the job and the women - as he tries to protect both. The outcome for everyone wasn't all good.

A great suspenseful story with well-drawn characters. This is a true thriller and a great way to spend a lazy, rainy Sunday afternoon.

Sirens by Joseph Knox, published by Penguin, RRP $32.99, is out now.