A Gripping New Action Thriller: Read our Review of The Inside Man by James Phelps

He’s the only one who can stop a massacre … The unputdownable action thriller from Australia’s #1 true crime writer.

Riley Jax, convicted murderer. Once a promising engineer in the army, he lost everything in a single night when he killed a man—an act he cannot remember.

It’s a devastating gap in an otherwise perfect memory.

Now he’s facing a new life, one behind bars, where he has to learn a whole different set of rules and only the toughest survive.

And as a series of deadly bombings rocks the outside world, the only man who might be able to find the truth behind the conspiracy … is on the inside.

James Phelps is an award-winning journalist and author who is best-known for his critically acclaimed biographies and his bestselling true-crime prison series, which includes such titles as Australia’s Hardest Prison, Australia’s Most Murderous Prison, and Australia’s Toughest Prisons. Now he has decided to turn his eye to fiction with the release of The Inside Man, the first instalment in a new action-packed crime series, perfect for fans of Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher.

The Inside Man follows protagonist Riley Jax, who finds himself in prison for a crime he can’t remember committing. Phelps doesn’t shy away from showing the brutality of prison life, making sure to capture every gritty detail. We witness some violent scenes, but it’s clear that Jax was made for environments like these; his ingenuity and skills shine through as he tries to survive the brutal experience.

Phelps is a big reader himself, and this understanding of character and plot shows in his writing. While the influences of other action heroes on Riley Jax are clear, Phelps takes time to break his hero down before slowly building him up to a worthwhile character that I’ll be keen to revisit in coming instalments.

The story moves along at a lightning-fast pace with action scenes that bring out the best in Phelps’ writing. He’s got a knack for bringing you right into the heart of the action, making for some truly tense moments.

The Inside Man ticks all the boxes when it comes to an action-packed crime novel. If you enjoy authors like Tom Clancy, or are just looking for a thrilling new read, check out The Inside Man. I can’t wait to see where Phelps takes this series next.