Harry Miller fled from the world. Three years later, the world has come calling.

Previously a rising star in the British special forces, Harry was left a broken man, consumed with guilt, following his role in the violent collapse of his family. His only desire was to be left alone.

Instead, he is hunted down and dragged back to the country of his birth, then ensnared by the shadowy, profits-driven ‘Company’. His cold, amoral handlers dispatch Harry on a mission that will take him into the seedy underworld of Bangkok, and the heart of a brutally efficient, multinational people trafficking operation.

At the same time, Harry is set on a devastating crash course with the horrors of his past.

What Money Can’t Buy is a twisting thriller with heart and action in equal measure.

Its world is one of grey areas, in which the good and bad guys can be one and the same. It is punchy, fast-paced, and unafraid to tackle themes both modern and timeless.

What Money Can’t Buy is the first of the Harry Miller trilogy which was published in its entirety last summer. The subsequent volumes are Worth Killing For and A Price to Pay.

These are the first novels to be published in Joe Halliday’s name but he is no novice to creative writing. After graduating in English literature and gaining an MA in Creative Writing, Joe worked in marketing and then as a freelance writer which included ghost-writing five “acclaimed” novels. Alongside this he has freely shared on his websites a number of short stories on various subjects and styles.

That experience has ensured that with What Money Can’t Buy truly has hit the ground running. From the outset the book exudes quality in the writing and plot which moves at a pace with the action flipping between Harry in Europe, the camp in Thailand and to back episodes in Harry’s life.

The protagonist Harry Miller is the archetypical tough guy who unsuccessfully tries to lead a peaceful life. Other characters include his fellow adventurer Anna, the “Farang”, Noy and Hom. All strong and believable personalities.

At times the action is violent but not as strong as many recent books. Contrasted with this we have some very tender moments in the back stories and with the girls caught up in the trafficking camp. One thing they all have in common is that their lives are not their own.

If my review book pile were not so large I would now be well into Worth Killing For and I look forward to reading it in the near future. In the meantime I am pleased to give What Money Can’t Buy a full five stars.

Joe Halliday has ghost-written five acclaimed novels, and several novellas.

He holds a Masters degree in Creative Writing, is a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction, and is a full-time professional copywriter. He is also an obsessive reader in a wide range of genres.

Joe currently splits his time between the UK and Spain.