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Saturday 29 April 2017

‘Sympathy for The Devil’ by William Shaw



Published by Riverrun,
4 May 2017.
ISBN: 978-1-78429-726-8

It's 1969 and a high-class prostitute named Lena but known as Julie Teenager, should be in her flat awaiting her next client but Florence her maid is puzzled to find her place empty.

Detective Sergeant Cathal Breen is called in to investigate when she is found murdered. He is soon convinced that it is one of her clients who killed her but which one? There now begins the difficult task of tracing them all. The only names the police have to go on are made up ones by Florence based on their appearances.

Breen finds out that the local beat policemen were warned to keep away from Julie's road at night. Who could be responsible for such as order? Could there be a policeman with influence involved or does it go even higher? When Breen digs deeper and seems to be getting nearer the truth, more murders are committed.

His pregnant girlfriend, an ex-police officer, Helen Tozer, is bored now she has given up work and insists on helping Breen. The more they discover the more they are convinced that politics come into it, especially involving Russia and the exchange of spies. As Helen becomes more involved Breen begins to fear for her safety, with good reason. He also has the creepy feeling that he is being followed but he wonders if he is getting paranoid or is whoever is responsible just very good at it?

It all leads to a great finale but it leaves Breen wondering if he really wants to carry on as a policeman.

Another great story well written, from William Shaw, I do like his books. I particularly enjoyed the nostalgic feeling of the sixties, I remember all the events he describes well. It is easy to forget how different lives were without mobile telephones, they really do have their uses!

A really good book full of intrigue which keeps the reader guessing right until the final pages. Hurry up with your next one William! Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

William Shaw was born in Newton Abbot, Devon, and lived for sixteen years in Hackney. For over twenty years he has written on popular culture and sub-culture for various publications including the Observer and the New York Times. A Song from Dead Lips is his first novel. He lives in Brighton.






Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.






Wednesday 26 April 2017

‘Cold Killers’ by Lee Weeks



Published by Simon & Schuster,
1 December 2016.
ISBN: 978-1-4711-5319-8


The Butcher family are a ruthless, and much-feared, criminal gang from London’s East End. The story starts when the family are gathered for the funeral of Eddie Butcher, who has been tortured and murdered. The tension in the air is electrifying.

DS Ebony Willis and DI Dan Carter are assigned to head up the murder case. They turn up at the funeral as they are hoping to find Tony Butcher there. Tony is Eddie’s brother, he is now domiciled in Spain, but wanted in England for drug  trafficking, robbery and murder.

An assignment of cocaine is on its way, and the police are hoping that may bring Tony Butcher too, from the safety of the Costa Del Sol, as they have word there is conflict with the South American cartel, as well as the Butchers. Then there is Eddie’s widow too, whose side is she on?

Can this plot get any more complicated? Indeed.

DI Dan has personal issues with this family and is keen for a chance to get even, when he oversteps the mark he puts a lot of people in danger and his colleagues have to step in to protect them. Then the feared Butcher family close ranks and the tension soars quicker than an exploding champagne cork.

As with all Week’s novels as the tension mounts the story gains pace and momentum with it. Weeks knows how to write gritty page-turning crime drama and for fans of this strong genre this is yet another treat.
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Reviewer: Linda Regan
www.lindareganonline.co.uk.



Lee Weeks was born in Devon.  After leaving school she spent seven years working her way around Europe and South East Asia. She has worked as an English tearcher and personal fitness trainer. She is the author of the Willis/Carter series which is based on a London Murder Squad. MIT17. Lee now lives back in Devon.




Linda Regan is the author of six police procedural crime novels. She is also an actress. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader, and welcomes the chance to read new writers. 

A review of her recent book Sisterhoods can be read here.  http://promotingcrime.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/sisterhoods-by-linda-regan.html