Many a debut thriller sinks without trace, while others have success embedded in their DNA. Joseph Knox’s Sirens... is resoundingly in the latter category – a firecracker of a first novel which strongly suggests a far more experienced novelist ... It’s a satisfyingly seamy slice of noir, with the conflicted Waits sporting all the accoutrements of the best antiheroes in the genre. Knox presents the city as pungently and uncompromisingly as Ian Rankin does Edinburgh.
Joseph Knox’s debut thriller Sirens has taken the U.K. by storm, and it’s no surprise why. Knox... delivers a debut thriller that’s mature beyond its years; taut, sleek, and gritty, Sirens is urban noir at its finest ... Knox is an undeniable talent, and Sirens is a gut-punch of a thriller. Readers will come to Sirens for its stunning package and grim plot, and they will stay for Knox’s lean, razor-sharp prose and heartbreaking characters. This is an outstanding debut sure to earn Knox as strong a legion of fans in the U.S. as he has already earned in the U.K. ... Sirens is a stunning debut: a gritty, grim journey down into the underbelly of society - a masterclass in urban noir.
... gritty, exceptionally-written ... Joseph Knox’s strong prose pairs perfectly with the story’s dark plot and content, all of which comes together in a way that’s reminiscent of early works from Don Winslow and Dennis Lehane. He’s not quite on their level yet, but crime fans should take note. . . this debut author is one to watch moving forward.
... Knox, taking a cue from legendary Manchester band Joy Division's doom-laden romanticism, is brilliantly in command of the book's unusual blend of horrific and hopeful ... A powerfully assured debut by a British novelist who has the potential to be a leading player in modern noir.
... [an] impressive debut ... Waits’s youth makes his being so hard-boiled a bit implausible, but Knox sets a dizzying pace and convincingly evokes the murky, unbalanced atmosphere of an empire built around drugs and money with vivid prose ... The hard-hitting action builds to a bleak, wrenching conclusion...
