Kill The Next One is the third novel by Argentinian author, Federico Axat. Successful businessman, husband and father, Ted McKay has a brain tumour. He is sitting in his study with a gun. He’s about to put it to his head when someone persistently knocks on his door. Justin Lynch has a proposition: instead of leaving his family to deal with the stigma of his suicide, he can die by another’s hand.

He must first kill two people who need to die: a murderer (who got off on a technicality) and another prospective suicide; then someone will do the same for him. Perhaps it’s a sign of Ted’s desperation: he finds himself agreeing; he does as he is asked.

Really? This tale seems to be full of holes. Ah, but wait. Read on. It soon becomes apparent that Ted’s narrative is rather unreliable. Is his perspective affected by his brain tumour? Is Lynch for real? Does the second victim actually want to die?

Axat has cleverly crafted a fast-paced psychological thriller that does not go where expected. Nothing and no-one is what they first seem. Each time the reader believes he has solved a puzzle, the story turns. There are so many twists the reader’s head will spin: lawsuits for whiplash injury should be anticipated.

Axat’s novel features a myriad of topics, none of which can be revealed without being a plot-spoiler. Flawlessly translated from Spanish by David Frye, this is a brilliant page-turner.