Brutal Disclosure is a gritty, emotionally raw thriller that follows Declan O’Neill, a young man from Brighton whose world collapses after the mysterious death of his brother, Sean. Fleeing the suffocating poverty, crime, and guilt of his past, Declan escapes to New York in search of reinvention. What he finds instead is a world equally unforgiving, one full of hustlers, danger, and fleeting kindnesses. The book is both a crime story and a character study, tracing Declan’s struggle to survive and make sense of loss while navigating the dark edges of human nature. Author Kevin Polin writes with cinematic detail, turning each grimy alley and smoky bar into a character of its own.

Reading it, I felt pulled into Declan’s head. His fear, his anger, and his yearning for meaning hit hard. Polin doesn’t write clean or polite sentences. His prose feels lived-in, raw, broken in places, honest to a fault. The dialogue sounds real, almost like an overheard conversation. There’s a deep sadness running through every chapter, but it’s balanced by moments of unexpected gentleness, especially in Declan’s encounters with Isabella and the people who briefly pass through his life. Polin never romanticizes suffering, and that makes the story hit even harder. The writing reminded me of early Irvine Welsh or Roddy Doyle, where every bit of grime carries weight.

It’s dark, sometimes brutal, and not every turn feels comfortable. But that’s the point. Polin’s world is painfully real, the kind of truth you don’t want to admit exists. Still, there’s something human and tender at its core. Declan’s longing to become someone better, someone whole, kept me turning the pages. I caught myself caring about him like he was a real person, stumbling through a place that doesn’t care whether he makes it or not. The pacing sometimes lags when the scenes stretch long, but Polin’s eye for detail makes even the quiet moments matter.

I’d recommend Brutal Disclosure to readers who appreciate dark, character-driven fiction, readers who liked Trainspotting or A Clockwork Orange, or anyone drawn to stories about lost souls trying to find a way out. If you want something that feels real, something that bleeds a little, this one’s worth the ride.

Pages: 280