A Review for Never Go Back by Jason Beech

Barlow Vine is on the run from the Spanish police. Returning home to Sheffield, England, Barlow hoped to escape his problems and reconnect with those he had left five years earlier. Instead of being welcomed home, Barlow finds that, with the exception of his friend Alex, he has been largely forgotten by his hometown. What’s more, he had managed to put himself in the cross-hairs of a local crime boss, through his inability to ignore those in need. Barlow finds himself being pulled ever deeper into trouble, and forcing him to become like the very monsters he was trying to stop. 

Jason Beech’s Never Go Back is a suspenseful crime-thriller that keeps the reader guessing till the very end. Well written and structured, Beech provides a skillful insight into the mind of a man who is descending into darkness. His setting is dark in gritty, but he gives us glimpses of the bustling college town to remind the reader of societies willing efforts to turn a blind eye. Beech is able to provide what every fan of crime-thrillers are looking for in a story, to keep them guessing as to who the real heroes and villains are. Each time it seems like we have an idea of where the story is going, Beech spins us off in another question, having us question ourselves just as much as Barlow. 

Barlow is designed as a haunted and clearly flawed character. This is what keeps the reader’s attention, and is the greatest source of frustration with him. A reoccurring theme of Never Go Back is the idea that Barlow truly believes that he is the good guy, and that his actions are justified in the sense that he feels compelled to help and protect those that cannot help themselves. This self-appointed protector attitude is the fuel that keeps Barlow and the story moving forward, rather than seeking less extreme, or rather, more rational, ways to solve his problems.  This theme and that of an apathetic society, seem to become over emphasized at times, but helps to show the mental state of Barlow and creates a type of mile marker for his de-evolution.  

Never Go Back is an engaging story that flows nicely, and is easy to read. As someone who likes to make story predictions, Beech was able to keep me doubting myself until the end, which made the process enjoyable and kept me pushing to finish “just one more chapter.” I would recommend Never Go Back to anyone looking for a fast paced and solid crime story. I give it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, largely because I felt that Barlow’s good/bad obsession and the public reactions were repeated too often and I wanted a little more robust explanation at the end of the story. This was only a personal preference, however, which did not take away from the overall enjoyment I had while reading this story, and my desire to see what was going to happen next.