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Paterson & Clocks #3
The Burning Men
Discover a crime thriller full of shocking twists by one of the most exciting new authors you’ll read this year.
A MAN IS BURNT AT THE STAKE IN A LONDON PARK. HIS SMOULDERING CORPSE IS A MESSAGE OF THE MOST VIOLENT KIND.
The man burnt alive is Davey Caine. He is the heir to the criminal empire created by his father, William ‘Billy’ Caine. Billy is a notorious and violent gangster with total control of South East London. But he’s not the man he used to be and the sharks smell blood in the water. Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks must find the killer before Billy extracts his own brand of justice.
They find themselves drawn ever deeper into London’s underworld. The streets explode into violence and the body count rises. Men are shot and burned alive in a tit-for-tat power struggle between rival gangs. Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks find themselves trying to control men of extreme viciousness.
Men who have no fear of the law and its consequences and who are unafraid to kill anyone who stands in their way — including police detectives.
Paterson is stunned when he’s offered the chance to stop the conflict dead in its tracks. If he ignores it, the mayhem continues. If he takes it, there will be a price to pay. What he doesn’t know is that the price will come with hidden and devastating consequences.
ON THE STREETS OF LONDON, A SIMMERING GANG WAR IS ABOUT TO ERUPT WITH PATERSON AND CLOCKS CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
This is the third in a series of action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers, with an ending that will have your heart in your mouth. Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Damien Boyd, Rachel Abbott, Patricia Gibney or Martina Cole.
Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson is a young and (thanks to family money) wealthy womaniser, separated from his model wife and tipped to be the youngest ever commissioner of police. He knows he’s weak when it comes to practical policing and struggles to find a place among his peers, desperate to be a good policeman and not just a 'climber'.
Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks is a foul-mouthed, working-class officer. He grew up surrounded by rogues and villains to become a first-class thief taker with the Met police. However, his childish attitude has short-circuited his career and he spends his days antagonising as many people as he can.
THE AUTHOR Steve Parker is a retired police officer who served for 20 years in numerous high-profiles squads.
THE SETTING Bermondsey is an area of London nestled on the banks of the River Thames. It once had a reputation for housing more armed robbers, murderers and career criminals than anywhere else in the country. Now one of the most upmarket places to live and work in London, it has all but severed itself from its working-class roots. Home to the iconic Tower Bridge and crammed with expensive apartments, art galleries, fancy restaurants and famous residents. But for the police, those who truly know, Bermondsey never lost its roots . . . or its reputation.
DETECTIVE RAY PATERSON
Book 1: THEIR LAST WORDS
Book 2: THE LOST CHILDREN
Book 3: THE BURNING MEN
A MAN IS BURNT AT THE STAKE IN A LONDON PARK. HIS SMOULDERING CORPSE IS A MESSAGE OF THE MOST VIOLENT KIND.
The man burnt alive is Davey Caine. He is the heir to the criminal empire created by his father, William ‘Billy’ Caine. Billy is a notorious and violent gangster with total control of South East London. But he’s not the man he used to be and the sharks smell blood in the water. Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks must find the killer before Billy extracts his own brand of justice.
They find themselves drawn ever deeper into London’s underworld. The streets explode into violence and the body count rises. Men are shot and burned alive in a tit-for-tat power struggle between rival gangs. Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks find themselves trying to control men of extreme viciousness.
Men who have no fear of the law and its consequences and who are unafraid to kill anyone who stands in their way — including police detectives.
Paterson is stunned when he’s offered the chance to stop the conflict dead in its tracks. If he ignores it, the mayhem continues. If he takes it, there will be a price to pay. What he doesn’t know is that the price will come with hidden and devastating consequences.
ON THE STREETS OF LONDON, A SIMMERING GANG WAR IS ABOUT TO ERUPT WITH PATERSON AND CLOCKS CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
This is the third in a series of action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers, with an ending that will have your heart in your mouth. Perfect for fans of Kimberley Chambers, Damien Boyd, Rachel Abbott, Patricia Gibney or Martina Cole.
Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson is a young and (thanks to family money) wealthy womaniser, separated from his model wife and tipped to be the youngest ever commissioner of police. He knows he’s weak when it comes to practical policing and struggles to find a place among his peers, desperate to be a good policeman and not just a 'climber'.
Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks is a foul-mouthed, working-class officer. He grew up surrounded by rogues and villains to become a first-class thief taker with the Met police. However, his childish attitude has short-circuited his career and he spends his days antagonising as many people as he can.
THE AUTHOR Steve Parker is a retired police officer who served for 20 years in numerous high-profiles squads.
THE SETTING Bermondsey is an area of London nestled on the banks of the River Thames. It once had a reputation for housing more armed robbers, murderers and career criminals than anywhere else in the country. Now one of the most upmarket places to live and work in London, it has all but severed itself from its working-class roots. Home to the iconic Tower Bridge and crammed with expensive apartments, art galleries, fancy restaurants and famous residents. But for the police, those who truly know, Bermondsey never lost its roots . . . or its reputation.
DETECTIVE RAY PATERSON
Book 1: THEIR LAST WORDS
Book 2: THE LOST CHILDREN
Book 3: THE BURNING MEN
251 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2018
448 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
December 2, 2018
DS Ray Paterson #3
A man is burnt at the stake in a London park. His smouldering corpse is a message of the most violent kind. Davy Caine was the heir to the criminal empire that was created by his father, Billy Caine. Billy is a notorious and violent gangster who has control of South East London. Two old gangsters have grudges, but one of them kills the other ones son. The violence is unrelenting, with a shooting and another body that had been set on fire. Clocks and Paterson have their work cut out trying to solve this case before there are any more murders.
This book had plenty of potential but it just seemed to lack something. The twists at the end were bust plain stupid. I do like the characters of Clocks and Paterson, they work well together. I did like the book, just not as much as the first two books in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Steve Parker for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A man is burnt at the stake in a London park. His smouldering corpse is a message of the most violent kind. Davy Caine was the heir to the criminal empire that was created by his father, Billy Caine. Billy is a notorious and violent gangster who has control of South East London. Two old gangsters have grudges, but one of them kills the other ones son. The violence is unrelenting, with a shooting and another body that had been set on fire. Clocks and Paterson have their work cut out trying to solve this case before there are any more murders.
This book had plenty of potential but it just seemed to lack something. The twists at the end were bust plain stupid. I do like the characters of Clocks and Paterson, they work well together. I did like the book, just not as much as the first two books in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Steve Parker for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2018
Detectives Ray Paterson and John Clocks find themselves sitting right in the middle of two notorious drug lords fighting to be top dog.
They are called in to investigate the finding of a man's body. The man, identified as the son of one of the city's most notorious crime lord has been burned alive.
The war between two criminal empires results in escalating violence on the streets of London. Many more bodies will fall .. one way or another ... unless the detectives can find the killer or killers soon. Men who have no fear of the law and its consequences and who are unafraid to kill anyone who stands in their way — including other police detectives.
Paterson is a young man who has plenty of money behind him. He's on track to be the youngest ever commissioner of police, but he doesn't have near enough experience. He is not well liked among his peers but he has the will to learn and the desire to be an excellent policeman.
Clocks is a different kind of man. He was raised in poverty, spent some time as a very young criminal. He loves to taunt people, jut daring them to react. Of course, he will never rise in the ranks of the police department and he doesn't seem to care. He has sort of befriended Paterson and it's quite entertaining to watch the relationship between the men.
This is the third in a series of action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers, with an ending that will have your heart in your mouth. This easily reads as a stand alone, but there are just a few spoilers from the first two books. As always, I recommend starting at the very beginning.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley / Books n All Promotions / Jill Burkinshaw for the advanced digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 6, 2018
The Burning Men, the third novel in the Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks series, is based around the intense and explosive nature of gangland warfare. As always I loved the recurring characters, especially the crime-fighting duo and main protagonists Paterson and Clocks. Although they are both fascinating characters they do fit the stereotype for investigators from this genre, however, they are so thoroughly developed that this didn't bother me as much as it usually would. On display are two very distinctive but different personalities - Paterson is young, ambitious, affluent and a ladies man whereas Clocks is an officer who very much enjoys regularly spouting profanity and is belligerent, temperamental and can be boisterous. Together they are a formidable, if unorthodox, pair.
Based around a menacing turf war between rival gangs in Bermondsey, London, it is nicely written and perfectly plotted, and as it gathers pace there are some wonderful, tense nail-biting moments. The most dangerous people out there are those who have nothing to lose by committing a crime, and there are plenty of those throughout this book. There are lots of twists, turns and red herrings to hide the suspect's identity. Gritty, violent and bloody, this is not the faint-hearted. The humour interspersed through the journey is necessary to lighten the mood from all of the darkness going on and works well. However, this novel lacked something that the first two had. Again, Steve Parker's former job as a police officer is used to craft a fairly realistic and authentic atmosphere to the novel which permeates through the pages.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.
Based around a menacing turf war between rival gangs in Bermondsey, London, it is nicely written and perfectly plotted, and as it gathers pace there are some wonderful, tense nail-biting moments. The most dangerous people out there are those who have nothing to lose by committing a crime, and there are plenty of those throughout this book. There are lots of twists, turns and red herrings to hide the suspect's identity. Gritty, violent and bloody, this is not the faint-hearted. The humour interspersed through the journey is necessary to lighten the mood from all of the darkness going on and works well. However, this novel lacked something that the first two had. Again, Steve Parker's former job as a police officer is used to craft a fairly realistic and authentic atmosphere to the novel which permeates through the pages.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.
November 30, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.
I have read the previous 2 books of the Paterson and Clocks series and enjoyed them a lot. While this was the same good gory fast paced and action filled story type, I was disappointed with the lack of character development …. Paterson seems to be devolving and Clocks is basically stagnant in this book. And the plot twists at the end were ridiculous. By the time I finished, it felt like the book was just a rehash / mishmash of all the silly Steven Seagal movies from the 1980s. That's okay, I still enjoyed it, but I'm not sure that I'll be making a real effort to read any further Paterson and Clocks stories.
2.5 stars
I have read the previous 2 books of the Paterson and Clocks series and enjoyed them a lot. While this was the same good gory fast paced and action filled story type, I was disappointed with the lack of character development …. Paterson seems to be devolving and Clocks is basically stagnant in this book. And the plot twists at the end were ridiculous. By the time I finished, it felt like the book was just a rehash / mishmash of all the silly Steven Seagal movies from the 1980s. That's okay, I still enjoyed it, but I'm not sure that I'll be making a real effort to read any further Paterson and Clocks stories.
2.5 stars
September 15, 2021
Another Johnny Clocks/Ray Paterson novel that adds some interesting new info to the series.
A well-plotted and well-written novel focussing on a turf war in London which begins with no less than a burning male corpse. Nail biting in that are they about to stuff up this investigation to gritty, bloody and gruesome.
I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humour and the snarky personalities. A growing favourite!
A well-plotted and well-written novel focussing on a turf war in London which begins with no less than a burning male corpse. Nail biting in that are they about to stuff up this investigation to gritty, bloody and gruesome.
I enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humour and the snarky personalities. A growing favourite!
March 6, 2025
Oh, I do like me some Paterson and Clocks. There's an unapologetic sense of honour and righteousness to all their actions. They might be police but that doesn't always mean following all the rules and regulations and I do enjoy that side of that police duo.
The story in The Burning Men is brutal and gruesome just as you'd expect from Steve Parker. The writing's great, the story's gripping and well paced. And it's great to see more of personal lives of our leads.
Overall, The Burning Men is a great addition to the Paterson and Clocks series and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
The story in The Burning Men is brutal and gruesome just as you'd expect from Steve Parker. The writing's great, the story's gripping and well paced. And it's great to see more of personal lives of our leads.
Overall, The Burning Men is a great addition to the Paterson and Clocks series and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
December 28, 2018
I absolutely love the series featuring Detectives Paterson and Clocks and I impatiently wait for each new book in the series to be released. I eagerly snatched up my copy of the third book in the series called ‘The Burning Men’ and started to read. Blooming nora it is certainly one hell of a read that I absolutely loved but more about that in a bit.
I have developed a real soft spot for the detective partnership of Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks. Paterson is a career detective who likes to do things by the book. He’s charming, kind, gentle, tactful, diplomatic and he is a policeman who certainly gets results. Paterson is a bit of a hard nut, he stands up to bullies and monsters and he doesn’t scare easily. As for Clocks, well what can I say? He needs a refund from whichever charm school he attended because it clearly hasn’t worked. Clocks is blunt, he tells it like it is, he doesn’t scare easily and he is also a clever man. He deliberately provokes those people he and Paterson go to question, so that Paterson can then play good cop in the hope that the insulted party will give away more information than they at first intended. Clocks is also sneaky and secures information by any available means. He certainly has his ear to the ground. Paterson and Clocks work well together but then each is the opposite of the other- a bit like chalk and cheese. This case tests them in more ways than one.
Oh my giddy aunt ‘The Burning Men’ is one hell of a fantastic book that had me on the edge of my seat all the way through. The story starts in such a way that I am not likely to forget in a hurry. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. The author tempts you into the book and then refuses to let you go. As soon as I started reading, I felt as though I was reuniting with old friends in Paterson and Clocks. I was pretty much addicted to reading this book by the end of the first page. I found it impossible to put the book down because I had to keep reading to see if Paterson and Clocks solved the crimes, who was responsible and why. I didn’t realise just how quickly I was racing through the book until I looked up and saw that I had cleared 40% of the book. I was so focused on the story, the characters and the crimes that the pages seemed to automatically turn themselves. I had mixed feelings about finishing the book because on the one hand I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story ended but I was disappointed to finish reading because I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue. Reading ‘The Burning Men’ was very much like being on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to the story than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. There were also several unexpected moments that crept up on me and left me feeling as though I had been punched in the gut. There were times when I almost had to read between my fingers because I feared what was going to happen and the possible implications for Paterson and Clocks.
In short, ‘The Burning Men’ was one fantastic read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. For me, this is the best of the series so far. The ‘Paterson & Clocks’ series goes from strength to strength. I would definitely recommend this series to other readers. I can’t wait to read what comes next from the ever so slightly scary mind of Steve Parker. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have developed a real soft spot for the detective partnership of Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks. Paterson is a career detective who likes to do things by the book. He’s charming, kind, gentle, tactful, diplomatic and he is a policeman who certainly gets results. Paterson is a bit of a hard nut, he stands up to bullies and monsters and he doesn’t scare easily. As for Clocks, well what can I say? He needs a refund from whichever charm school he attended because it clearly hasn’t worked. Clocks is blunt, he tells it like it is, he doesn’t scare easily and he is also a clever man. He deliberately provokes those people he and Paterson go to question, so that Paterson can then play good cop in the hope that the insulted party will give away more information than they at first intended. Clocks is also sneaky and secures information by any available means. He certainly has his ear to the ground. Paterson and Clocks work well together but then each is the opposite of the other- a bit like chalk and cheese. This case tests them in more ways than one.
Oh my giddy aunt ‘The Burning Men’ is one hell of a fantastic book that had me on the edge of my seat all the way through. The story starts in such a way that I am not likely to forget in a hurry. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. The author tempts you into the book and then refuses to let you go. As soon as I started reading, I felt as though I was reuniting with old friends in Paterson and Clocks. I was pretty much addicted to reading this book by the end of the first page. I found it impossible to put the book down because I had to keep reading to see if Paterson and Clocks solved the crimes, who was responsible and why. I didn’t realise just how quickly I was racing through the book until I looked up and saw that I had cleared 40% of the book. I was so focused on the story, the characters and the crimes that the pages seemed to automatically turn themselves. I had mixed feelings about finishing the book because on the one hand I was pleased to finish because I knew how the story ended but I was disappointed to finish reading because I was enjoying the author’s writing style, the storylines and the characters so much that I just wanted the book to continue. Reading ‘The Burning Men’ was very much like being on a very scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to the story than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. There were also several unexpected moments that crept up on me and left me feeling as though I had been punched in the gut. There were times when I almost had to read between my fingers because I feared what was going to happen and the possible implications for Paterson and Clocks.
In short, ‘The Burning Men’ was one fantastic read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. For me, this is the best of the series so far. The ‘Paterson & Clocks’ series goes from strength to strength. I would definitely recommend this series to other readers. I can’t wait to read what comes next from the ever so slightly scary mind of Steve Parker. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
April 29, 2019
When I began this book I had no idea that it actually had two previous books with our main characters. Because of this it took me a little longer to get into the story line and follow along with who everyone was. Once I got into the story I was hooked.
We meet two quirky police/detectives. Paterson and Clocks are hilarious together. Clocks really has a sense of humor during dark times. Even though they dont always agree, Ray Paterson knows that detective Johnny Clocks would have his back in any situation.
Insert two gangs. Caine and Tanner are the heads to those gangs and have it out for each other. Especially since Tanner killed Caine's son. When the cops know who did it but dont have anything to pin it on them how can they stop the rival gang killings back and forth? Oh did I forget to mention that there are some dirty cops involved making it even harder to know who you can trust.
We meet two quirky police/detectives. Paterson and Clocks are hilarious together. Clocks really has a sense of humor during dark times. Even though they dont always agree, Ray Paterson knows that detective Johnny Clocks would have his back in any situation.
Insert two gangs. Caine and Tanner are the heads to those gangs and have it out for each other. Especially since Tanner killed Caine's son. When the cops know who did it but dont have anything to pin it on them how can they stop the rival gang killings back and forth? Oh did I forget to mention that there are some dirty cops involved making it even harder to know who you can trust.
January 4, 2019
This the third book I have read by Steve Parker , and I cannot wait for others to follow featuring Patterson And Clocks. What a team .
Love the story line and the two officers are so in tune with modern times and I love the way the author has made them so human, characters flaws, bad language and unorthodox methods of dealing with criminals.
Really anticipating the next book.
Michele Zito
Love the story line and the two officers are so in tune with modern times and I love the way the author has made them so human, characters flaws, bad language and unorthodox methods of dealing with criminals.
Really anticipating the next book.
Michele Zito
December 26, 2018
Can I just start by saying WOW! I realy enjoyed tis book, the story, plot, tone would stand toe to toe with any of the aclaimed cop shows and crime dramas such as THE BODY GUARD, LINE OF DUTY and THE NIGHT MANAGER. UK readers will get the refferances.
I picked those three in particular as this story sits firmly in all those worlds. Having said that the language can be a bit on the more real side (fruity).The story is well paced and does not let up from start to finish.
Having not done many reviews all I can say is that if you like police proceduals, gangsters and twists and turns you never see till they are on top of you. All the main charactors and situations are well written and totally beliveable, no last minute saviour stunts that can take you away from the story with a groan.
In Short well worth a read. At the end of the book it turns out this is part of a serila of books with the main character, I will be giving those a read to if this one is any indication of whats in store…..
#GalleyNet #theburningman
I picked those three in particular as this story sits firmly in all those worlds. Having said that the language can be a bit on the more real side (fruity).The story is well paced and does not let up from start to finish.
Having not done many reviews all I can say is that if you like police proceduals, gangsters and twists and turns you never see till they are on top of you. All the main charactors and situations are well written and totally beliveable, no last minute saviour stunts that can take you away from the story with a groan.
In Short well worth a read. At the end of the book it turns out this is part of a serila of books with the main character, I will be giving those a read to if this one is any indication of whats in store…..
#GalleyNet #theburningman
December 11, 2018
This is the third book in the series with detectives Ray Patterson and Johnny Clocks and Mr Parker goes from strength to strength. The story starts with a young man burned to death at a stake, a young man who's father is the master criminal Billy Caine. Billy's empire covers the south east of London and it is odds-on that one of his rivals, Tanner, is behind his murder.
Patterson and Clocks are called in to investigate and it leads them into mixing with these shady people and discovering that there is a plan afoot to steal Billy's empire. Billy is ill and wants to put his house in order before he dies but his arch rival Tanner has upset his plans to the point where Billy wants to help the police to trap him. I won't spoil the story by giving away more. You must read it to find out what happens.
I have enjoyed all of these books but I must admit to liking Johnny Clocks more than I like Ray Patterson. I know Patterson has had some terrible knocks but his character is sinking in my estimation, especially when we learn that he has taken to drugs to get through the day. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed the story to the point where I forgot to cook a meal - very unlike me! I am left on tenterhooks waiting for the next one in the series!
Patterson and Clocks are called in to investigate and it leads them into mixing with these shady people and discovering that there is a plan afoot to steal Billy's empire. Billy is ill and wants to put his house in order before he dies but his arch rival Tanner has upset his plans to the point where Billy wants to help the police to trap him. I won't spoil the story by giving away more. You must read it to find out what happens.
I have enjoyed all of these books but I must admit to liking Johnny Clocks more than I like Ray Patterson. I know Patterson has had some terrible knocks but his character is sinking in my estimation, especially when we learn that he has taken to drugs to get through the day. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed the story to the point where I forgot to cook a meal - very unlike me! I am left on tenterhooks waiting for the next one in the series!
January 31, 2019
The Burning Men is part of a series that I have not read. I tried this one, but I didn't care for how gruesome it was to me. I read bits of it and skimmed through the rest. Not for me. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2022
Both are really good detectives with wit, sarcasm and humour but with all that, get the job done and put the bad ones behind bars. Epic story 👌
December 14, 2018
So this is the third in the Paterson and Clocks series while it could be read as a stand alone, it does refer to the previous books so I’d personally start with the first, Their Last Words, if you don’t want any spoilers.
Paterson and Clocks are called to a crime scene where a man has been cuffed to a pole and burnt alive. They quick find out that he is no other than David Caine who’s father Billy Caine is a notorious gangster.
As their investigation progresses they find themselves blocked at every turn by Serious and Organised crimes who claim that they will put their undercover operatives in danger.
Billy wants revenge for his son but can Paterson and Clocks stop him before it turns into a full scale gang war on the streets of London.
This a real gritty and gruesome novel! So much is pack into It’s pages, brutal and bonkers gangsters, kidnapping and people being burned alive!
As I said in my first review, Steve Parker really puts his police experience into his writing and gives a lot more of the procedural side of things than most authors to give it that realistic feel.
To me Clocks is his same old self in this novel, dishing out his own brand of pitch black humour and mouthing off to anyone and everyone. The only thing that has changed for me is his relationship with Paterson, which has become what looks more like a friendship with some grudging respect on either side. Paterson on the other hand is a broken man, self medicating and burying his problems which I feel are going to come to the surface soon!
To me the second half of the book turned into a bit gangland drama, which I have to be honest I’m not really a fan of and would have preferred a bit more focus on the police procedural side but of course that’s just my opinion.
I would recommend The Burning Man to anyone who loves a good gritty gangland thriller mixed with a police procedural. The ending leaves it open for another book, I’m interested to see where the story is heading.
Paterson and Clocks are called to a crime scene where a man has been cuffed to a pole and burnt alive. They quick find out that he is no other than David Caine who’s father Billy Caine is a notorious gangster.
As their investigation progresses they find themselves blocked at every turn by Serious and Organised crimes who claim that they will put their undercover operatives in danger.
Billy wants revenge for his son but can Paterson and Clocks stop him before it turns into a full scale gang war on the streets of London.
This a real gritty and gruesome novel! So much is pack into It’s pages, brutal and bonkers gangsters, kidnapping and people being burned alive!
As I said in my first review, Steve Parker really puts his police experience into his writing and gives a lot more of the procedural side of things than most authors to give it that realistic feel.
To me Clocks is his same old self in this novel, dishing out his own brand of pitch black humour and mouthing off to anyone and everyone. The only thing that has changed for me is his relationship with Paterson, which has become what looks more like a friendship with some grudging respect on either side. Paterson on the other hand is a broken man, self medicating and burying his problems which I feel are going to come to the surface soon!
To me the second half of the book turned into a bit gangland drama, which I have to be honest I’m not really a fan of and would have preferred a bit more focus on the police procedural side but of course that’s just my opinion.
I would recommend The Burning Man to anyone who loves a good gritty gangland thriller mixed with a police procedural. The ending leaves it open for another book, I’m interested to see where the story is heading.
December 2, 2018
2 stars
Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and DI Johnny Clocks respond to the scene of a crime. A man has been tied to a stake and burned alive. It is later ascertained that he is Davey Caine the son of a crime kingpin in London.
Ray is well educated and soft spoken while Johnny is a loudmouth who says exactly what is on his mind. When they go to tell Billy Caine senior that his son is dead, he already knows. Johnny gets mouthy and an altercation ensues. After Johnny is dismissed, it gives Ray the opportunity to question Caine, but he doesn’t get much information. Caine figures it is the Albanians who killed his son, not his other rival Tanner.
I was doing fine with this book until I read that Ray was a cocaine addict. The book is well written, but I didn’t get far enough into it to determine anything about the plotting. The cocaine addiction was such a big turn off for me that I couldn’t get past it and the scene with the television…Really? I did not finish the book.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.
Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and DI Johnny Clocks respond to the scene of a crime. A man has been tied to a stake and burned alive. It is later ascertained that he is Davey Caine the son of a crime kingpin in London.
Ray is well educated and soft spoken while Johnny is a loudmouth who says exactly what is on his mind. When they go to tell Billy Caine senior that his son is dead, he already knows. Johnny gets mouthy and an altercation ensues. After Johnny is dismissed, it gives Ray the opportunity to question Caine, but he doesn’t get much information. Caine figures it is the Albanians who killed his son, not his other rival Tanner.
I was doing fine with this book until I read that Ray was a cocaine addict. The book is well written, but I didn’t get far enough into it to determine anything about the plotting. The cocaine addiction was such a big turn off for me that I couldn’t get past it and the scene with the television…Really? I did not finish the book.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.
November 6, 2020
Too hot to handle
A major criminal"s son is found in the park - burnt alive. His father controls a quarter of London"s criminal activity.
It is believed Billy Caine, the father knows that his rival, Albert Tanner ordered the murder.
Tit for tat, other members of the rival gangs are killed and the gangland war escalates.
Lots of twists and turns, an anagram reveals the name of the son's killer leading to more mayhem. As usual Clocks upsets someone every time he speaks & this time he comes close to losing his life, but once again his guardian angel is looking out for him.
A riveting book, which i couldn"t put down. It"s 4am and im off to bed!!!
A major criminal"s son is found in the park - burnt alive. His father controls a quarter of London"s criminal activity.
It is believed Billy Caine, the father knows that his rival, Albert Tanner ordered the murder.
Tit for tat, other members of the rival gangs are killed and the gangland war escalates.
Lots of twists and turns, an anagram reveals the name of the son's killer leading to more mayhem. As usual Clocks upsets someone every time he speaks & this time he comes close to losing his life, but once again his guardian angel is looking out for him.
A riveting book, which i couldn"t put down. It"s 4am and im off to bed!!!
February 1, 2022
This one is a highly imaginative story of hate and violence, black police humour, and of course foul language.
Steve PARKER obviously thought he had to add to all the previous violence he had written of, but dropped into a vein of ridiculousness. Yes, of course I understand these stories are highly improbable, but one would hope a writer could inject a feeling of well, maybe this could occur in extreme circumstances.
Oh well, I expect there is a market for this type of literature and writers and editors are looking to earn money, but they really do little for a credible literature market.
Steve PARKER obviously thought he had to add to all the previous violence he had written of, but dropped into a vein of ridiculousness. Yes, of course I understand these stories are highly improbable, but one would hope a writer could inject a feeling of well, maybe this could occur in extreme circumstances.
Oh well, I expect there is a market for this type of literature and writers and editors are looking to earn money, but they really do little for a credible literature market.
June 24, 2019
Paterson is called out to the latest crime scene - a man burnt alive at an stake. It is soon determined that he is one Davey Caine, only son of criminal mastermind William ‘Billy’ Caine. Not before long a retaliation killing takes place. This is just the start of Paterson and Clocks introduction into the London underworld.
This is the third in the series and have read them all. Certainly an action book, not the usual type for me to read but I still enjoyed the story but wonder where the characters are going next.
Received an ARC from Joffe Books
This is the third in the series and have read them all. Certainly an action book, not the usual type for me to read but I still enjoyed the story but wonder where the characters are going next.
Received an ARC from Joffe Books
November 7, 2019
Yet another mad thriller!
This is yet another mad thriller featuring those two loose cannons Paterson and Clocks. This time those loose lips of Clock's nearly end up costing him his life which if you have read the other two books in the series should come as no real surprise. If you like your books full of action and excitement and aren't too bothered about them being a little far fetched then this is for you.
This is yet another mad thriller featuring those two loose cannons Paterson and Clocks. This time those loose lips of Clock's nearly end up costing him his life which if you have read the other two books in the series should come as no real surprise. If you like your books full of action and excitement and aren't too bothered about them being a little far fetched then this is for you.
December 14, 2019
This is the third of Steve Parker's novel's I've read, and so far, my favorite. I look forward to more of Ray Paterson and John Clocks in the future.
This novel is about two criminal kingpins Caine and Tanner and their terrible ways and means. I found this peek into the "other" side interesting. I'm glad the police were able through not exactly "Kosher" means to overcome the evil, yet Mr. Parker left the ending open in such a way the reader can look forward to another book.
This novel is about two criminal kingpins Caine and Tanner and their terrible ways and means. I found this peek into the "other" side interesting. I'm glad the police were able through not exactly "Kosher" means to overcome the evil, yet Mr. Parker left the ending open in such a way the reader can look forward to another book.
November 12, 2021
WOW!! What a ride!!
Mr. Parker THANK YOU! You never disappoint and this novel was no exception. Couldnt stop reading, a real nail biter! Patterson, Clocks, Young quite The Team. These detectives NEVER disappoint, smart, witty. and i agree and admire the way they handle their cases.My eyes were like saucers as i could picture the scenes and couldnt wait to turn the page. Get this book, add Steve Parker to your favorite authors. you wont regret it!
Mr. Parker THANK YOU! You never disappoint and this novel was no exception. Couldnt stop reading, a real nail biter! Patterson, Clocks, Young quite The Team. These detectives NEVER disappoint, smart, witty. and i agree and admire the way they handle their cases.My eyes were like saucers as i could picture the scenes and couldnt wait to turn the page. Get this book, add Steve Parker to your favorite authors. you wont regret it!
December 16, 2018
This one was definitely a page turner! Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks are quite a pair! I love how Steve Parker has created these characters and put them in the midst of a stellar plot. I can’t say this about every book, but it was so easy to get lost in pages to find out what happens next. A gripping crime. Hidden messages. Gangsters in London’s underworld–This was quite a surprise!
October 21, 2020
Five Stars
I found this book very entertaining. All characters depicted in the story were well thought out by the author. Some violence seemed unnecessary but all in all the basis of the book was the best. The two main characters, Patterson and Clocks are an interesting team with the rhetoric so good between them and with others. I like a book with humour. Well done.
I found this book very entertaining. All characters depicted in the story were well thought out by the author. Some violence seemed unnecessary but all in all the basis of the book was the best. The two main characters, Patterson and Clocks are an interesting team with the rhetoric so good between them and with others. I like a book with humour. Well done.
August 5, 2022
Again I loved the story this is the 3rd in the series that I read and aside from every mystery being solved I love getting to know the characters with each book. Clocks is a foul mouth and he's obviously hard to handle and unpredictable but somethin about him makes me just love his character. This one is truly just as shocking.
October 19, 2023
The Burning Men (Detective Ray Paterson crime thrillers Book 3)
Well what can I say about this book, it was amazing, interesting beyond words. Thrilling well written and couldn’t put it down. Following Ray Paterson and his sidekick John was a really good read. I thoroughly recommend you read it too. Thank you Steve Parker.
Well what can I say about this book, it was amazing, interesting beyond words. Thrilling well written and couldn’t put it down. Following Ray Paterson and his sidekick John was a really good read. I thoroughly recommend you read it too. Thank you Steve Parker.
December 10, 2018
Review
Blinking brilliant, it literally kept me on the edge of my seat. I am so looking forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a really twisted crime thriller.
Blinking brilliant, it literally kept me on the edge of my seat. I am so looking forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a really twisted crime thriller.
January 12, 2019
Another great story
A third great story in this series featuring Inspector s Paterson and Clocks.Plenty of action with lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. Hopefully there will be more in the series.
A third great story in this series featuring Inspector s Paterson and Clocks.Plenty of action with lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending. Hopefully there will be more in the series.
February 23, 2019
Brilliant crime series
Action packed edge of seat page turner with laugh out loud humour.
Patterson and Clocks are a great duo . Hope there are more books to come. Can't wait.
Action packed edge of seat page turner with laugh out loud humour.
Patterson and Clocks are a great duo . Hope there are more books to come. Can't wait.
May 14, 2022
Quite an horrific read.
A good read,storyline well put together and flowed.There is A lot of bad language and horrific incidents so it depends how you like your reads.I've read most of the series quite savage they are.
A good read,storyline well put together and flowed.There is A lot of bad language and horrific incidents so it depends how you like your reads.I've read most of the series quite savage they are.
January 25, 2019
THE BURNING MEN
The twists and turns of the story kept me glued to the book. It was a gripping thriller as promised!
The twists and turns of the story kept me glued to the book. It was a gripping thriller as promised!
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