The Ninth Step

John Milton, Book 8

By: Mark Dawson

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

John Milton is a former assassin for the British government. He is a ronin, trying to atone for his past sins by offering his services to those people who have no one else to whom they can turn.

Milton is keeping a low profile in London when he meets Eddie Fabian. Fabian confesses that he is considering suicide and that the reason for his depression was the abuse that he suffered as a child. Milton offers to help, but, before he can, Eddie is found dead in circumstances that Milton considers suspicious. And then events take a turn that no one could have anticipated....

Milton's attempted good deed becomes a quest to unveil corruption at the highest levels of government and murder at the dark heart of the criminal underworld. Milton is pulled back into the game, and that's going to have serious consequences for everyone who crosses his path.

Cover design by Stuart Bache.

©2016 Mark Dawson (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Consistently Wonderful

I would recommend this book to fans of the John Milton series, for sure. I would also recommend it to those who are into spy-type edge of your seat-type thrillers. John Milton does not follow a conventional formula and he is not a spy, but he fits well into the genre. Whenever Milton is around, something seems to happen that has you biting your nails. This story in particular was pretty good: though not the best in the series thus far.

Loved it!

John is at it again. Trying to make amends for his past while still adding to the pile of bad guys he's leaving behind.
This is a good story and I think one of the more "human" John Milton life chapters. I really enjoyed it.

Eight is Great

Dawson's best book of the series so far. The narrative on the sick wife is a little cliché though. Why is it people complain about the cost of medicine in the US yet it is the only place the medicine is obtainable at all?

Intense

Dawson just gets better with each novel. Milton continues to put his life in jeopardy to help others and atone for his past sins.

Another great novel by Mark Dawson!

The author has written an excellent novel with plenty of intrigue and suspense! The narration is superb!

Plenty of action

Good story but recording is flawed by several duplicate passages of dialogue. Perhaps just a matter of editing. Still, well worth a listen.

The Truth Will Come

Lots of things going on that finally bring the story together. Another good adventure for Milton.

Very Good Series.....

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend the complete series. The series really grows on
you. From book 1 to the most current book released. I have listened
to all of the books. Different trips the writer (Mark Dawson) takes
John Milton on. The Ninth Step takes him back to London.

What did you like best about this story?

The main character helping so many people in this story. I believe the
most of all the series.

What about David Thorpe’s performance did you like?

Have really enjoyed all of the books that he has done in
this series. Changing character voices always helps keep
everything in place.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

No abuse goes unpunished.

Any additional comments?

Didn't think I would get into this series after the first audio book. But tried the
second audio book and was totally hooked. Just a great series and so glad
I didn't give up on it. Highly recommend this series.

Not the best John Milton thriller

I had a decision to make this morning as three books I had pre-ordered were released including this one. Since the Kindle version of The Ninth Step was released several weeks ago and had an average customer rating of 4.8 stars I selected it. I am a huge Mark Dawson fan, but after listening to the first 6 hours I was tempted to return the audiobook without finishing it. It was slow, excessively wordy, and boring. Then things changed and from there on it deserves a solid 5 star rating. I'm down rating the book to 4 stars because of its slow and boring start.

The "ninth step" in the title refers to the 9th step in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step program; “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.” It follows step 8 which states, "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all." Step 9 is always the most difficult for an alcoholic. After three years of sobriety John Milton was having a very difficult time with it. The Ninth Step is very much about John Milton's struggle with Step 9.

This book, at least the last half, has constant action and suspense. I still prefer Mark Dawson's Beatrix Rose series to the John Milton series, but since Rose died in book 3 of the series there will be no more.

I recommend this book for those who like action and suspense thrillers. There are lots of action and suspense packed into the second half of the book.

Another John Milton Thriller

I’ve read each of Mark Dawson’s different series and enjoyed them all. The Ninth Step, from Dawson’s John Milton series, is one of my top ten Dawson books. The twists and turns kept me engaged and left me disappointed that it was over. Well done Mr. Dawson