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For today's #RecommendedRead, we return to the streets of Bradford and the world of Liz Mistry's brilliant Nikki Parekh.
I previously visited DS (now DI) Parekh when I reviewed Dark Memories, the third in the series. This is book six, and much has happened in the meantime. But that doesn't matter; as usual Mistry has slipped in the necessary backstory efficiently, with just enough detail to remind fans of the series how we've got here, whilst sowing tantalising details that will make new readers want to go back and fill in the gaps for themselves.

The premise is a really clever, good old-fashioned mystery, woven in with modern, contemporary subject matter. The wealthy Salinger family are found brutally slain over a game of Monopoly. All four family members are present: mum, dad, daughter and son. But Nikki immediately notices that there is a fifth place at the board …
Interspersed with DI Nikki Parekh's investigation into this heinous crime, is the first-person narrative of a young kidnap victim. We the reader know that these two stories must be linked, but how?
The investigation is expertly crafted, with carefully timed reveals and unforeseen twists and turns, leading to a very satisfying resolution. It's a cracking mystery.

Over the course of the series, Mistry has crafted a compelling world of politics and intrigue. Parekh and her team have fought against racism and prejudice throughout their careers and made powerful enemies. In this book, we see her blatantly set up for a fall; viewed as an expendable pawn to be sacrificed to vultures in the press to cover the failings of others. These experiences have shaped the flawed but tenacious Parekh especially, and over the years, we have seen her deal with tragedy and its emotional fallout - including mental health issues. The author, Liz Mistry, has been married to an Indian man for many years, and as such is uniquely qualified to write about the experiences and obstacles her characters face, and does so with compassion and authority.

Despite the darkness, I've always felt the overriding theme running through this series is one of love and family (in all senses of the word) and readers will find themselves invested in the fate of every one of her characters. Parekh is no saint, she certainly has her flaws, but she is likeable and the reader will find themselves cheering her on, even when she is at her lowest.
Likening Mistry's Yorkshire-based books to the magnificent Yorkshire-based Happy Valley TV series, might seem a lazy comparison. At first glance there seems to be little in common. But for many viewers, the emotional core of Happy Valley is Catherine Cawood and her loved ones. Flawed and often irascible, both Cawood and Parekh are intensely loyal and absolutely determined to do the right thing, no matter the cost, and will do anything to protect their family.

I heartily recommend this book to all fans of police procedurals.

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Neil Lancaster's Max Craigie series is fast becoming a regular treat. I've previously reviewed the first three books in the series, so there was no question that it went straight to the top of my To-Be-Read pile as soon as it dropped through the letter box.

Blood Runs Cold features the well-established team of DS Max Craigie, DC Janie Calder, the wonderfully foul-mouthed and irascible DI Ross Fraser, the ever-competent Norma and of course Barney, their tame ex-spook (with the obligatory cameos by Nutmeg the cockerpoo). Four books in and Lancaster is now really comfortable writing these old-friends, but I'm pleased to say that he has continued to grow and develop the characters. As ever, the dialogue and interactions between them are natural and realistic, and often laugh-out-loud funny.

​For those unfamiliar with Neil Lancaster, he has worked as a detective in London's Metropolitan Police, and before that was a Military Police Officer. He now lives in Scotland, and so his books are set there, with his investigative team part of Police Scotland. Consequently, his police procedure is spot-on, but he balances that authentic detail with a fast-paced story.
The theme this time is one that Lancaster cares deeply about, dealing with the trafficking of young victims for prostitution and county-lines drug running, and it shows in both the authenticity of the writing and the compassion he shows towards those involved.


Max Craigie's initial involvement in the case is personal; a fifteen-year-old former trafficking victim that his wife is working with disappears after going for a run. Max agrees to take a look into it and soon discovers that there are other disturbingly similar cases. With it becoming increasingly apparent that there is a leak somewhere within law enforcement, the case soon falls within the remit of Craigie's specialist anti-corruption team and they start to investigate.


Lancaster has chosen not only to follow Craigie and his team, but also tell the story from the perspectives of the trafficking victim, Affi, as well the bad guys. This really fleshes out the story and helps ratchet up the tension, giving a delicious sense of foreboding as we the reader sometimes know more about what is coming than the heroes. Spending time inside the head of young Affi not only evokes sympathy, it also ensures that we are really invested in her and genuinely fear for her safety. Similarly, we gain an insight into the bad guys, and whilst we may not sympathise with them, we can see why they do what they do and their motivations.


I've said in previous reviews that this is a series that gets better every time, and I still believe that. Neil Lancaster is not only a terrific writer, but also a brilliant story teller. I'll be elbowing my way to the front of the queue for the next one!

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This isn't the sort of book I tend to read these days. I used to be a big fan of science fiction, but in recent years, have largely moved away from it (except Star Trek, obviously!). But I won an advanced copy at Harrogate Crime Festival. The premise was certainly intriguing enough; pair a human detective with an advanced AI-powered hologram. It's a concept that has been explored many different ways over the years. The problem is that usually, the author has the idea, but not always the technical understanding and the books tend to become rather fantastical. Which is fine, and not a criticism, but ST aside, I tend to have a low tolerance for 'made up science'.

I'm delighted to say that the author, Jo Callaghan has NOT stretched the bounds of credibility.

AIDE Locke - the name given to the artificial officer - is based on technology that is entirely plausible for a book set two or three years from now. Even better, the book is a damned-good police procedural. The central character, DCS Kat Frank, is well-crafted and sympathetic, and she has been surrounded by a fully fleshed out supporting cast. According to the acknowledgments, this is the first in a series, and it makes for a very strong start. I'll certainly be following it.
The investigation surrounds missing people. Frank grudgingly agrees to take part in a pilot project, working alongside Locke, looking at older missing persons cases. The theory is that the AI's ability to process massive amounts of data millions of times faster than human officers, would be ideal in an investigation. Locke is very much a work in process, and the interactions between it and Frank, and others, is at times amusing, at other times cringe-worthy. Of course, Kat learns as much from him as he learns from her.
The book is set in Warwickshire, an area I am familiar with, and it is pleasing to see an area that doesn't often feature in crime novels.
The motivation for the disappearances is coldly plausible. I'm not going to say anymore, to avoid spoilers, suffice to say that I have some background in the area, and was impressed. The author has relevant contacts, and has used them to good effect. Again, the acknowledgments reveal that the writer has personal experience of the emotional themes running through the novel, and therefore it feels authentic.
All in all, definitely a recommended read. 

What a cracking read! I picked this up as a freebie a few months ago, but it sat on my TBR pile for longer than it should. Simon Toyne is an author and TV producer - if you can find his series "Written In Blood" where he interviews crime fiction authors about real-life cases that have inspired his writing, I heartily recommend it.

In brief, a woman - one half of a 'perfect' couple - is brutally murdered in her own home, in a wealthy London suburb. Her body is found by the couple's cleaner, posed with a number of objects, including a copy of How To Process A Murder, by troubled criminologist, Laughton Rees. Her husband is missing.
DCI Tannahill Khan is assigned the case. What unfolds is an excellently crafted police procedural, with plenty of twists, turns and misdirections. Khan is a well-formed and sympathetic character, but arguably the principal character is Laughton Rees. She has a complex and tragic background, which led her to becoming an expert in the field of criminology, but which has left her reluctant to leave the theoretical comfort of academia and teaching to examine live cases. Unfortunately, the presence of her book at the scene means that she has little choice but to become involved.

What I like about this book, is that in addition to it being an excellent detective novel, is the well-layered and complex characters. They have a rich background that makes them compelling to read. Laughton's own tragic past, which has coloured her relationship with her daughter, brings emotional depth to the character. We also see glimpses through the killer's eyes. This not only adds depth to the narrative, but also ratchets up the tension, as we see him watching those who are trying to bring him to justice. It makes the characters feel more vulnerable.

The relationship between Khan and Rees grows and matures throughout the book, and by the end of the story I found myself hoping that the author chooses to visit them again in future.

Another highly recommended read. 

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If there's one thing more exciting than getting a parcel, it's getting an unexpected parcel. So I was thrilled a few weeks ago when I opened a mysterious package to find a proof copy of the latest DS Max Craigie novel, The Night Watch, sent to me by Neil Lancaster's publicist.
Now first of all, I want to remind you of the rules for this blog. I only recommend books that I've enjoyed, it doesn't matter if the author is a mate. The first two in the series have been top notch - and I'm delighted to tell you that this series just keeps on getting better.

This outing is a real whodunnit. The book kicks off with two murders; a recently released convict and a prominent defence solicitor. Pretty soon, Craigie's team are called in to oversee the investigation, since there are links to past events that might indicate corruption.
I'm not going to outline the plot here - read it for yourself and enjoy the ride. But as ever the central mystery is satisfying complex, there are some terrific action scenes and it packs an emotional punch.

Best of all, Craigie, his ever reliable sidekick Janey Calder, and gloriously foul-mouthed boss, Ross Fraser (and Nutmeg the cockapoo), are all back, on sparkling form, along with Barney their slightly dodgy covert surveillance technician and Norma their IT whizz.
This is the third go around the block for these characters, and it really shows. Lancaster writes them like old friends. The dialogue is pacy and confident, and laugh-out-loud funny at times. Lancaster is an ex-detective, and so the detail is spot on, whilst never being too onerous. Fans of the series will be delighted to find that all of the characters get their chance to shine, with genuine growth and development, but newcomers to the books are given everything they need to join in the fun.

Max, Ross and Janie are fast becoming one of my favourite crime teams.  The book isn't out until September, but I am already waiting impatiently for book 4.
Highly recommended!

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What a treat! Today's #RecommendedRead is The Botanist, M.W. Craven's latest Washington Poe and Tilly Bradshaw masterpiece. I've reviewed others in the series (The Curator and Dead Ground), but this time I was fortunate enough to get an early copy.
Yes I am being hyperbolic, but I don't care. I devoured it in 3 days and it is absolutely fantastic.
Washington Poe, former soldier, and now a detective working for the National Crime Agency, specialises in serial killers and the most fiendish of crimes, and in this book he is given a doozy. The Botanist is targeting high-profile victims, and they just can't figure out how the killer is getting to the targets. At the same time, Poe's friend, series-regular, pathologist Professor Estelle Doyle, is arrested for the murder of her father. ALL the evidence points towards her, but Poe and Tilly know that she can't possibly be guilty.
Poe hates locked room mysteries - but here he has two, and the stakes couldn't be higher, both personally and professionally.
Mike Craven has crafted an enviable series that ticks all the boxes. Central to the books is the wonderful pairing of Poe, and gifted analyst, Tilly Bradshaw. The chemistry of this mismatched duo is what sets them apart. Poe is taciturn, rude and technically inept, but he is a brilliant and tenacious detective who's never met a meat dish he doesn't love. Tilly is a technical genius, whose early cloistered upbringing amongst other intellectual giants, has left her with few social skills, and a wide-eyed naivete and forthright manner that is refreshing, toe-curlingly cringeworthy and laugh-out-loud hilarious. Much to Poe's disgust, she's also a vegetarian.
What's great is the way the author's own dry wit comes across in the narrative, and the book is full of quotable lines.
The fact is, that Craven could have given these two any investigation, and the books would have been popular and fun reads. But he hasn't. The investigations here are fiendishly clever, locked room mysteries. And the answers when they come are brilliant, but obvious when you look back and ignore the expertly placed misdirection.
What's especially impressive is the pacing. Despite two complex and detailed investigations, and the need for the series' trademark Tilly and Poe diversions off topic, the book gallops along. You get a huge amount for your money, yet the book feels neither rushed or overly long.
And on a personal note, as the title of the book suggests, the books rely on a degree of scientific expertise. Through the need for Tilly to explain everything to Poe, the readers are also kept in the loop, and it doesn't become burdensome. The science is a little out of my own area of biology, but as best I can tell is accurate and plausible. Craven has wisely taken advice from advisors such as fellow writer Brian Price, who he has credited in the acknowledgments.
All in all, the book is an excellently crafted novel, from a writer at the top of his (and anyone's) game.
If he wasn't such a nice bloke, and I didn't enjoy these books so much, I'd hate him!
The Botanist is out on June 2nd and is sure to be showered with accolades.
Have you had a chance to read The Botanist yet? Is it on your TBR pile? Feel free to comment here, or on social media.
Happy reading!
Paul

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I admit it, I'm pretty late to the party for this one, pardon the pun.
I first encountered Michael Connelly's detective Renee Ballard when she crossed paths with the long-established Harry Bosch in Dark Sacred Night.
For some reason, I hadn't quite twigged that this was her second outing. The Late Show introduces this fascinating new character, and is entirely her own show (pardon another pun).
The premise is somewhat different to his other books. Ballard is a member of the late show - the night shift. The LAPD cops who pick up everything that happens when the regular detectives have ended for the day. They get the ball rolling on investigations, but often hand them over to other divisions, such as Robbery Homicide or burglary. They rarely close cases, or see them through to the end. This suits Ballard's partner just fine, but frustrates her.
The late show is something of a punishment duty - Ballard was banished to it because of a betrayal that we learn more about over the course of the book.
For those used to a more 'traditional' detective story, that opens with the big crime that needs solving and then follows the investigation, the initial pace may seem slow. Stick with it. Connelly is setting the scene as we follow Ballard through her shift, dealing with everything from the theft of a credit card to a brutal assault and a multiple murder. I really enjoyed it for a change, and buried within there are the seeds of the tale that will follow.
The book is ultimately a very satisfying story, with a coherent but slightly unusual structure. More importantly, it introduces us to the character that will, I suspect, one day take the torch from Harry Bosch.
Ballard is based on a real-life LAPD detective that Connelly is keen to acknowledge publicly. Tough and somewhat brittle after her betrayal, she is a fascinating character. Brought up in Hawaii, she lives her life in a camper van bedecked with her beloved paddleboards, and sleeps in a tent on the beach during the day, accompanied by her loyal rescue dog, Lola.
Renee Ballard is a great character who works well with Harry Bosch, but I highly recommend this book as an introduction to her as a fully-fledged individual. Will she one day shoulder Harry's mantle? Only Michael Connelly knows, but if she does, this book marks her as a worthy successor.

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Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to receive a pre-publication copy of Dead Man's Grave the first of Neil Lancaster's new DS Max Craigie series. It was a damn good read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Well, the second in the series, The Blood Tide, is on its way in February 2022 and again I have been sent an early copy.

Once again, Craigie is back, along with his team - the brilliant Janie Calver, the foul-mouthed Ross Fraser and reader's favourite, Nutmeg.
The first book cleverly set up the characters and the premise for the series, but was careful to keep plenty back, and so we learn more about them this time around.
As before, the book is set in some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland, with the action taking place in the remote countryside and coastal regions, rather than the gritty streets of Edinburgh or Glasgow. Indeed it is the isolated, windswept landscape that inspires the central idea. Scotland has hundreds of miles of coastland, but only a couple of patrol boats to try and stop smugglers. It is this lawlessness that provides opportunities for the criminals at the heart of this novel.

Lancaster is a former Met detective, and as before his intimate understanding of police procedure adds a note of authenticity to his writing. But he resists the urge to over-inform, keeping the pace brisk and driving the story through plot and characterisation.

Something that I really enjoy about Neil's writing, is that he fully fleshes out his bad guys and allows the reader to spend time with them, instead of just keeping it centred on Craigie. Because of this, the reader is often privy to details that the police are not. Indeed the book seems to be heading towards a conclusion by its mid-point, with key players already identified by the team. But of course, the fun is that they are just the tip of the iceberg and the pace kicks up another couple of notches, and the stakes are raised still further, as we head towards a very satisfying conclusion, with plenty of surprises along the way.

I really enjoyed this, and look forward to future instalments in what I am certain will be a long and successful series.
I heartily recommend this book.

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#TeamPoe or #TeamTilly? It's a question increasingly asked by the legions of fans of M.W. Craven's award-winning Washington Poe series and it's not hard to see why so many have fallen in love with Craven's wonderfully taciturn Poe and the gloriously naïve, and delightfully quirky, Tilly Bradshaw.
This is the third outing for this brilliant duo, and if you are wondering why I am only just reviewing the third in the series, when the fourth has already been released to such acclaim, it is because I have forced myself to ration this genuine pleasure.
For many writers, just creating such a compelling cast of characters would be enough. You could place these two in the centre of an average thriller and they would be good enough to carry the book, even if other aspects of the story failed to excite. Yet Craven has resisted the temptation to take the easy route. The Curator, like The Puppet Show and Black Summer before it, features an intricate and clever plot that is both shocking and ingenious. Marry it with Poe and Tilly, and you have an absolute winner. If you haven't yet read any of this series, I recommend you start at the beginning with The Puppet Show; not because you need to - you can easily read The Curator as a standalone - but why deprive yourself of getting to know them from the beginning of their journey, and watching them evolve?

In this outing, National Crime Agency detective, Washington Poe and his analyst side-kick, Tilly Bradshaw, are called back to Cumbria to investigate a serial killer. His signature is the placing of body parts in unusual places that defy explanation, along with the cryptic code #BSC6. The opening of chapter one will ensure you think twice about taking part in the office secret Santa this year.
I'm not going to recap the plot here, to do so would deprive you of the pleasure of discovering it for yourself. Suffice to say, it is wonderfully complex, creepy and shocking. Several times Craven leads us to what appears to be the final solution, before spinning on a sixpence and showing us that, despite appearances, we've got it all wrong. When it finally comes, the answer is satisfying, unexpected and upsetting in equal measure.

Part of what makes these books such a pleasure to read is the interaction between the characters, but that would be nothing without Craven's wry and humorous prose. He's not afraid to place some of the best lines into the mouth of the narrator, rather than the characters, and you'll find yourself laughing out loud at his witty turns of phrase. In addition, Craven has a real love for Cumbria and its breath-taking scenery (and weather). If ever there was a series that deserved to be adapted for the screen, this is it.  
As to whether I am #TeamTilly or #TeamPoe - well I'm neither. They are two halves of a whole and to separate them wouldn't work.

I can't recommend this highly enough, and it will take all of my will-power not to go out read the next in the series, Dead Ground, immediately - maybe I'll fill the void with a couple of the short stories, from Cut Short? 

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Liz and I will be taking part in a live online panel with Roz Watkins and Jane Bettany as part of National Crime Readers Month at 19:30h BST Tuesday 15th June.
"Crafting a Compelling Copper".
For a FREE ticket, follow this eventbrite link.
There will be a 30% discount code on featured books for all attendees.
I look forward to seeing you there!

Unbound Ties is the seventh novel in Liz Mistry's DI Gus McGuire series.
This is my first foray into Gus McGuire's world, but it won't be my last.
The story centres around the ritualistic murder of pregnant women. This is bad enough, but McGuire soon finds that the killings are linked to his own mother's troubled childhood in the foster care system.
McGuire is a fantastic character. Driven and dedicated, he chafes at being side-lined from the main investigation, especially when the case means so much to him personally.


Picking up an ongoing series so far into it can be difficult sometimes, but Mistry finds the correct  balance between hints at key events in previous books and not giving too much away. It left this reader keen to read more about McGuire and his team's prior adventures.
McGuire is surrounded by a rich cast of supporting characters. From the flatulent Crime Scene Manager Hissing Sid and eccentric forensic psychologist Carlton to his loyal team of officers, Alice, Compo and Taffy, all are vividly and uniquely portrayed. I enjoyed the banter and repartee between these series regulars, and again, Mistry makes new readers want to go back to earlier books in the series to learn more about them.
The ritualistic murders are brilliantly plotted and the skilful shifting of perspective between McGuire, the killer and other characters draws the reader into the narrative without ever being distracting.
Mistry sets her books in Bradford, a place she knows intimately, and her characters reflect the vibrant and multicultural nature of the city.
Unlike many authors, Mistry hasn't shied away from referencing Covid19, but it is done skilfully with a light touch. References to restrictions, and the impact they have on day-to-day policing are mentioned, but they simply add authenticity and fix the book's place in time, without impacting the story or jarring the reader. Those for whom reading is an escape from reality can safely pick-up this book without fear of the real world intruding.
This is a cleverly plotted story, with a well-crafted protagonist and fiendish villain. I thoroughly recommend it.