Like us here on the site, British Irish author Kerry J Donovan loves crime fiction unashamedly. Though he has been a furniture designer and a scientist, he always harboured a passion for crime and mystery and wrote his first novel back in 1985. That was never published, but in 2016 he did release his first police procedural, Perfect Record. Soon, he was writing action thrillers too, with his fugitive hero Ryan Kaine leading the charge in On the Run. Kerry became an ebook sensation, and now On the Run and the entire Ryan Kaine series is being printed as paperbacks by Vinci Books – so you’ll see them not only on Amazon but in major bookshops like Waterstones, Barnes & Noble and WH Smith at the airport.
On the Run, and 12 further Ryan Kaine books arrived in print on 13 February 2025, so we decided to talk to the author, who is already an international bestseller on Kindle and may soon claim the accolade in print as well.
What are crime fiction lovers going to love about On the Run?
If you like non-stop action, or have the same affinity for an underdog serving up a very satisfying revenge, you will love On the Run. There are gunfights and fistfights galore. Explosions, blood, gore and much more. No poetry though. I promise. Mind you, some of action scenes are pretty grisly and full on. Cosy crime, it isn’t. You have been warned! Teehee.
Who is Ryan Kaine and how did you conceive of the character?
Captain Ryan Kaine is a highly decorated former Royal Marine and Special Boat Services operative. He is honest, reliable, highly skilled, resourceful and someone you want on your side when push comes to a dagger in the throat. Ryan is a composite of everything I aspire – and largely fail – to be.
Spoiler alert.
In the series, Ryan turns a horrific, gut-wrenching mistake into a lifelong mission to help the families of the people he killed aboard Flight BE1555.
I really enjoy the episodic nature of TV crime shows, but in these shows things are often wrapped up too neatly and the characters aren’t always realistically affected by the things that happen to them. As a result, I spent time playing the ‘what if?’ game and became determined to add pragmatism to the stereotypical good-guy-seeking-revenge trope. My aim is to add depth and realism to Ryan’s character, and to provide ongoing challenges to his motivation to complete his mission, while remaining true to his moral code and his values as a human being.
And who or what is he up against in On the Run?
In On the Run, Ryan faces his worst nightmare. After being tricked into shooting down a passenger plane, with the loss of all on board, Ryan is branded a mass murderer. The UK police want him on terrorism charges, but he soon discovers that a sinister organisation wants him dead. Alone and seriously injured, Kaine faces overwhelming odds as he fights to survive and to clear his name.
The cover flash says “For fans of Jack Reacher”, but what would you say sets him apart?
What we’re really saying is if you like Lee Child’s wonderful and well-loved lead character, you’re probably going to like Ryan, too.
What sets Ryan and Reacher apart? Ryan’s English for a start, and he’s not a loner. Although as resourceful and deadly as Reacher, he’s five foot ten inches tall and lean as a well-muscled whippet. Although handsome in an understated way, he doesn’t stand out in a crowd – a useful trait for a fugitive.
However, like Reacher, Ryan relies on speed of thought and action. He boasts masterful fighting skills and is a world-class marksman. In another life he could have been a successful Olympic triathlete or a biathlete.
Why did you gravitate towards writing action thrillers as opposed to other types of mysteries, and how would you describe your brand of action writing?
I actually do write police procedurals – see my DCI Jones casebook series. I love all crime genres, but I particularly enjoy the freedom given to me by the vigilante and action thriller genres. Unlike DCI Jones, Ryan doesn’t have to obey the rule of law. He is, however, governed by his strict moral code. He protects the innocent against the guilty in the best way he sees fit.
As for my brand of action writing, I’d like to consider it as fast-paced and ultra realistic. In fact, my fans often tell me that my detailed descriptions create a world in which they can immerse themselves as they read. For example, if a bloke is hit over the head with a brick, he goes down, and he stays down. There are no miraculous, Hollywood recoveries in my books. I always aim for hyper-realism and physiological accuracy – for example, blood doesn’t pump through veins, it flows. Veins don’t have a pulse, arteries do! I hope your readers will agree. I’d love to know what they think.
It’s amazing that the whole series is coming out in print at once and going into bookshops. For you, which books have been the big highlights in the series, and why?
Thank you. Of course, I’m absolutely delighted and excited that my books will be available to a whole new tranche of readers, but I couldn’t possibly highlight one book over any of the others. In my opinion, they’re all brilliant – but I would say that, wouldn’t I! That being said, the pace, action and characters evolve over the whole series as Kaine and his team work through their new reality as fugitives. With settings like the rugged Scottish highlands, the scenic French countryside, London’s urban ghettos and the wilds of Eastern Europe, every member of Kaine’s growing team features across the series in surprising ways. So surprising that even my editor can’t pick the twists in advance!
At first, the readers don’t know whether Ryan’s a hero or a villain, but it doesn’t take long before his actions speak loudly in his favour. Although, as a character, Ryan reaches the pages fully formed, the readers will learn to love and admire his faults as well as his strengths. And, despite everything he faces, he still finds room for growth and even romance.
Who are the main secondary characters to look out for and what’s the deal with each of them?
During the course of the series, I introduce a large cast of regular supporting characters. Apart from the members of Ryan’s disbanded SBS troop, who are his staunch allies and fierce supporters – including the giant, Sergeant ‘Rollo’ Rollason, and the youngster, Corporal Danny Pinkerton – there’s Lara, the veterinary surgeon who saves Kaine’s life in On the Run. Other characters include a quirky IT wizard who never appears in person, and a number of other military associates. Oh, and a couple of characters from the DCI Jones Casebook series make regular appearances.
The cast of supporting players demonstrates how Ryan instils loyalty, respect, and love in the people he comes into contact with. Well, most of them.
Which other crime authors/books have influenced you and what are you reading at the moment?
The first grown-up book I ever read was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Complete Works of Sherlock Holmes. The main characters, Holmes and Watson, and the ingenious way they solve their cases set my 13-year-old imagination aflame. Other influential authors include Alistair MacLean, Hammond Innes, David Baldacci, Ann Cleeves, Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly, Colin Dexter, Peter James, Robert Ludlum… the list goes on and on.
Currently, I’m reading Chris Allen’s Defender. I’m really enjoying the story and cannot recommend it highly enough. Chris Allen is an Aussie and a former special forces operative and I would never, ever upset him – not without Ryan as my backup.
Book 13 came out in August. What’s next for you and for Ryan Kaine?
That’s right, we released book 13 of the Ryan Kaine series, On the Charge, last August. I’m currently working on book 14, On the Trail. After that, I plan to write another DCI Jones casebook. It’s been a while and I’m really looking forward to spending time with my old friend, David, again.
Is there anything else you’d like to mention?
If you don’t mind, I’d like to thank my partner, Margaret, for her unwavering support over so many years. She is my rock and my love. And also, I’d like to give a big shout out to my readers and fans, some of whom have supported me for almost fifteen years now. Without them, there would be no books, no action, no adventure, no joy.
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