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The novel is peopled by strong characters who are all very human and make mistakes (not always a given in fiction). There are different gangs with equally despicable characters and it is important to the story to keep track of who’s who. But then the brutal murder of a teenager sends a shockwave through the very organization he has been targeting, threatening not only Shaw's case, but everyone with a connection to the boy who was killed on Gallowstree Lane.
Sarah is a fairly typical detective, dedicated with little life outside work and yet she has a strong sense of right and wrong which works against her this time. I think it shows the skill of the author to make Ryan, the witness to the murder of his friend, in any way a sympathetic character. And sure, I still felt sympathy for Ryan, but not enough to keep me engaged and connected to the story.Sarah and Lizzie have gripping and heart-breaking stories too, as the drama of Portland Tower comes full circle. Finance is provided by PayPal Credit (a trading name of PayPal UK Ltd, Whittaker House, Whittaker Avenue, Richmond-Upon-Thames, Surrey, United Kingdom, TW9 1EH). My thanks once more to Anne Cater of Random Things for my turn on the Blog Tour, Corvus Books and Kate London for this gripping story. I found myself just not interested enough in the recurring characters to want to try and find out more about them.
DI Kieran Shaw is part of Operation Perseus, undercover to finally get the evidence needed to arrest and charge Shakiel, to bring an end to his reign and stop guns getting on the streets.Lizzie is stretched, trying to juggle being a single mother with the demands of being a police detective. These are not only Shaw and Sullivan but also DC Lizzie Griffiths, Shaw’s ex-lover and mother of his son. In her English procedural debut Post Mortem, Kate London showed a deep understanding of not only the London Metropolitan Police but the milieu in which they worked.
Also, the fact that her and Kieran clashed so strongly in terms of ideals and ethics makes the last chapter in the book ring very falsely in my opinion. He's spent two years putting this operation in place and whilst murder might seem to trump gun running, the guns might result in hundreds of deaths if they reach the streets.He finds himself in a situation he can’t control and is pitifully loyal to those who view him in reality as no more than a useful tool in their criminal enterprises.
I genuinely hope that this is adequately conveyed, as I really appreciate the inclusion without it being overplayed, it’s totally natural and perfect. This area, Gallowstree Lane, is a space that is unwelcoming,with a history of justice being met out with death, and represents an area of London that should be one thing-a park and open space-but has become another, a no go area, a site for gang based violence between the Bluds and the Soldiers where tit for tat revenge becomes deadly for one boy in the right place at the wrong time. So, a little about the characters, Lizzie is a single mother, who got pregnant after the affair with a fellow detective, who was married. Whilst the subject matter and storyline failed to capture my enthusiasm I suspect others with a keener interest in gangland culture and the practicalities of policing in modern cities may well enjoy this insight. I would definitely consider reading further books entirely from her POV and her clashes with police procedure and corruption.Kate London is a Master Storyteller, from book 1 she defines her characters and brings a set of intimacy with each of them that you feel you know them well and you are so immersed in the storyline that its like you are present to witness all the events as they unfold. I found the plot convincing and very relevant, given the current soaring level of knife crime in London. I was very curious to read Ryan’s thoughts, he is a fifteen-year-old drug dealer, who’s friend gets stabbed.
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