The Reckoning

The Reckoning is the fourth and final book in the Carter Brothers series by Kerry Kaya.

The Reckoning picks up Danny Mckay's story, as we see what his life looks like now after leaving gangland life. An abrupt and shocking incident causes turmoil amongst Danny and his family, and forces Danny to return to the world of violence and deceit he hates most. Danny comes to find out that certain people can't be trusted, and his naivety could have played a part in his family being hurt.

In my review for Top Dog, I mentioned how I struggled with Danny as a character and that led me to struggle with investing in the storyline. In the early stages of The Reckoning, I found myself feeling the same way about Danny. I found him to be incredibly naive, and this is reflected in his new relationship with Maria. However, I appreciate his genuine love for his children, Lexi and Logan, and this love is what drives the plot of the book.

Plot-wise, I found The Reckoning to be much stronger than Top Dog, and I actively wanted to root for Danny to find out the truth and get his revenge. The action and plot twists were done really well, I enjoyed following the conflict play out and eventually get resolved.

I really enjoyed seeing characters from previous books reappear, mainly Moray, Maxine, and Stacey. The sense of familiarity that these characters brought really made the book for me because I wanted to see their stories play out just as much as Danny's. Kerry Kaya writes really complex yet compelling female characters who have a lot to bring to the overall story, whether they are allies or the villains. I feel as though Maxine was the voice of reason in regard to Danny's past, and Stacey was the voice of reason in regard to Danny's future.

Overall, a welcome and fulfilling end to the Carter Brothers series, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in the gangland genre.