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Crane and Drake #2
The Heights
The discovery of a severed head on a London Tube leads private investigators Crane and Drake on a dark journey into the past – and a personal quest for retribution.
In this second title in the London-based Crane and Drake mystery series, Cal Drake has left the police force and is now working as a private detective, having teamed up with the motorcycle-riding Dr Rayhana Crane.
The chilling discovery of a severed head on the Tube draws Calil Drake back to the case he failed to solve four years ago which left his police career in tatters. Crane and Drake investigate while also searching for Howeida Almanara – a young international student from the Gulf and the missing girlfriend of a Crane family friend. Could her disappearance be linked to Cal’s past and the gruesome discovery on the Tube? Crane and Drake are plunged into the dark underworld of London and international crime, and must risk their lives to uncover the truth.
In this second title in the London-based Crane and Drake mystery series, Cal Drake has left the police force and is now working as a private detective, having teamed up with the motorcycle-riding Dr Rayhana Crane.
The chilling discovery of a severed head on the Tube draws Calil Drake back to the case he failed to solve four years ago which left his police career in tatters. Crane and Drake investigate while also searching for Howeida Almanara – a young international student from the Gulf and the missing girlfriend of a Crane family friend. Could her disappearance be linked to Cal’s past and the gruesome discovery on the Tube? Crane and Drake are plunged into the dark underworld of London and international crime, and must risk their lives to uncover the truth.
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First published June 25, 2020
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About the author
Parker Bilal
19 books106 followersParker Bilal is the pseudonym of Jamal Mahjoub. Mahjoub has published seven critically acclaimed literary novels, which have been widely translated. Born in London, he has lived at various times in the UK, Sudan, Cairo and Denmark. He currently lives in Barcelona.
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May 19, 2020
This is the second of Parker Bilal's London based trilogy featuring former Met DI Cal Drake and forensic psychologist Rayhana 'Ray' Crane, who have set up as private investigators. Drake was once a high flying police officer expected to go far, a successful public symbol of police diversity, until he went undercover as Terry Nash, a smart small town drug dealer, with the aim of bringing down Goran Malevich, a crime king pin with his fingers in many pies, including drugs, prostitution rings, illegal gambling and more. However, the operation fell apart, when Drake's informant, Esma Danin, aka Zelda, is murdered with her headless corpse washing up on Brighton beach. The ambitious DCI Vernon Pryce, a man surrounded by rumours for years, tried to get Drake thrown out of the force, casting aspersions on his decisions and suggesting gang links when Malevich was killed, and much of his empire taken over by Donny Apostolis.
Drake left the police as a pariah, joining forces with Crane instead to set up with the greater freedom to be found in the private sector. The book begins with the stressed and fraught Ruby Brown travelling on the London tube with her baby and disruptive 9 year old son, Tyler, a Tyler who inadvertently frees a human head from a bag which rolls around the train floor to the horror of the passengers. DS Kelly Marsh and Milo Kowalski get in touch with Drake to investigate below the radar, budget cuts mean the police are going to engage in a cursory investigation only and the case holds no interest for DCI Pryce. The dentistry suggests the victim was Eastern European, and it appears the head could be that of Zelda, but why had someone been keeping her head in a freezer for years? As connections between the head and Drake emerge, the past comes back to haunt the present, bringing with it grave danger.
Crane and Drake get hired by privileged and entitled author, Marco Foulkes, whom Crane had known as a child, he wants them to find his girlfriend, the wealthy student, Howeida Almanara, whom he believes has been abducted by her strict and disapproving Middle Eastern uncle. Strange connections begin to appear between this case and Drake's investigation into who killed Zelda. This is a gritty, dark and twisted read, one of the highlights of which is seeing the relationship between Drake and Crane develop from uncertainty into one of greater trust between them. Although I have not read the first in the trilogy, at no point did I feel disadvantaged as a result, the ending was rather abrupt but I nevertheless want to read the last in the trilogy as I enjoyed this one so much. Many thanks to Black Thorn for an ARC.
Drake left the police as a pariah, joining forces with Crane instead to set up with the greater freedom to be found in the private sector. The book begins with the stressed and fraught Ruby Brown travelling on the London tube with her baby and disruptive 9 year old son, Tyler, a Tyler who inadvertently frees a human head from a bag which rolls around the train floor to the horror of the passengers. DS Kelly Marsh and Milo Kowalski get in touch with Drake to investigate below the radar, budget cuts mean the police are going to engage in a cursory investigation only and the case holds no interest for DCI Pryce. The dentistry suggests the victim was Eastern European, and it appears the head could be that of Zelda, but why had someone been keeping her head in a freezer for years? As connections between the head and Drake emerge, the past comes back to haunt the present, bringing with it grave danger.
Crane and Drake get hired by privileged and entitled author, Marco Foulkes, whom Crane had known as a child, he wants them to find his girlfriend, the wealthy student, Howeida Almanara, whom he believes has been abducted by her strict and disapproving Middle Eastern uncle. Strange connections begin to appear between this case and Drake's investigation into who killed Zelda. This is a gritty, dark and twisted read, one of the highlights of which is seeing the relationship between Drake and Crane develop from uncertainty into one of greater trust between them. Although I have not read the first in the trilogy, at no point did I feel disadvantaged as a result, the ending was rather abrupt but I nevertheless want to read the last in the trilogy as I enjoyed this one so much. Many thanks to Black Thorn for an ARC.
August 28, 2020
Many Thanks to Net Galley, Black Thorn Book and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
Parker Bilal aka Jamal Mahjoub has written a gritty investigative fiction that is absolutely riveting and absorbing. The Heights is book # 2 in Crane and Drake series and now I want to get my hands on book #1. I didn’t feel like missing out on much, having not read book 1, although there are some past instances mentioned here and there in the story that would have made better sense if read in order.
Calil Drake and Dr. Rayhana Crane are into a new partnership in the Crane and Drake Investigations. Drake as well as Crane have issues with authority and are much better suited working outside the Met where they have been erstwhile employed.
The opening scene is quite gruesome, the discovery of a severed head wrapped in some rags and paper inside the carriage of a metro. It is probably a single chapter that shows us a harried mother Ruby Brown and her son who makes the discovery but it is the brilliance of the writing by the author that they remain in the minds of the reader even after the final chapter. Kelly and Milo of the Met police are tasked with the investigation but when it becomes evident that the case is linked to a past case that Drake had handled, things become murkier. Crane and Drake are in the meantime approached to a missing person Howeida Almanara, the inquiries of which leads them to financial skullduggery and the disturbing past of Crane’s childhood.
Alternating between Crane’s and Drake’s POV’s, the investigation becomes a race against time as it becomes evident that someone is hell-bent on framing Drake for the death of Zelda, an informant, who was murdered 4 yrs back and that which still haunts Drake.
The author offers the reader an excellent twisty thriller that touches all facets of crime; gang wars, mutilation, human trafficking also the pasts of both protagonists that come into play and exposing the underbelly of the London city. It was enlightening to read about the cross-cultural and transnational individuals that make the teeming crowd of the city. I did take some time getting Crane and Drake sorted in my mind as the names do create a muddle, so, until a few chapters in, the confusion remained.
The ending of the story was a little abrupt for my liking but as this series is a trilogy, I am wholeheartedly looking forward to reading the last one.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
Parker Bilal aka Jamal Mahjoub has written a gritty investigative fiction that is absolutely riveting and absorbing. The Heights is book # 2 in Crane and Drake series and now I want to get my hands on book #1. I didn’t feel like missing out on much, having not read book 1, although there are some past instances mentioned here and there in the story that would have made better sense if read in order.
Calil Drake and Dr. Rayhana Crane are into a new partnership in the Crane and Drake Investigations. Drake as well as Crane have issues with authority and are much better suited working outside the Met where they have been erstwhile employed.
The opening scene is quite gruesome, the discovery of a severed head wrapped in some rags and paper inside the carriage of a metro. It is probably a single chapter that shows us a harried mother Ruby Brown and her son who makes the discovery but it is the brilliance of the writing by the author that they remain in the minds of the reader even after the final chapter. Kelly and Milo of the Met police are tasked with the investigation but when it becomes evident that the case is linked to a past case that Drake had handled, things become murkier. Crane and Drake are in the meantime approached to a missing person Howeida Almanara, the inquiries of which leads them to financial skullduggery and the disturbing past of Crane’s childhood.
Alternating between Crane’s and Drake’s POV’s, the investigation becomes a race against time as it becomes evident that someone is hell-bent on framing Drake for the death of Zelda, an informant, who was murdered 4 yrs back and that which still haunts Drake.
The author offers the reader an excellent twisty thriller that touches all facets of crime; gang wars, mutilation, human trafficking also the pasts of both protagonists that come into play and exposing the underbelly of the London city. It was enlightening to read about the cross-cultural and transnational individuals that make the teeming crowd of the city. I did take some time getting Crane and Drake sorted in my mind as the names do create a muddle, so, until a few chapters in, the confusion remained.
The ending of the story was a little abrupt for my liking but as this series is a trilogy, I am wholeheartedly looking forward to reading the last one.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.
November 17, 2022
Parker Bilal is the pseudonym of Jamal Mahjoub, a British-Sudanese author. As Mahjoub, he has written extensively about Africa, its politics, peoples, and problems. As Bilal, he writes crime thrillers, the best known of which is the Makana series: Makana is a Sudanese detective who lost his family during a political turmoil and is living in exile in Egypt.
I read the entire Makana series, eagerly awaiting each new instalment. Then, Bilal suddenly stopped writing them and started writing a new series about a detective based in London and his colleague, a female forensic psychologist (the Crane & Drake series). I was so angry that he stopped writing about Makana before finishing its overriding story arc that I didn’t purchase the first book in his new endeavour. I felt that we were due at least one more Makana book, one that could have tied up a major thread running throughout them.
However, when THE HEIGHTS, the second book in the new, London-based series, became part of a kindle promotion, I couldn’t resist and purchased it. Just reading the opening chapter reminded me of the author’s outstanding writing talents: a harried mother on a train who is trying to keep her son under control until he accidentally discovers a severed head wrapped in some newspapers. Bilal’s descriptions of scenes, ability to weave several plot strands in unusual ways, and meticulous character development are brilliant. This is not a book to skim; it is one to savour.
At the beginning of this story, Cal Drake and Rayhana Crane have formed a private investigation team. Drake is a former DI who left the police under a cloud of suspicion and also a former military officer, and has been deeply affected by his experiences in both organizations. The discovery of the severed head leads back to a case that has haunted him since he was an undercover officer—the murder of Zelda, a prosecution witness he failed to keep safely hidden. At the same time, the private investigators are hired by a well-known author to look into the disappearance of a young female student from the Middle East, a woman who was the author’s girlfriend. Crane has known this man since her childhood, and he is her father’s friend, but Crane is estranged from her father. Both Crane and Drake have qualms about taking the missing person case but they do so because they need to keep their firm afloat. Throughout most of the novel, Drake delves into the mystery of the severed head while Crane follows cues regarding the missing young woman.
Eventually the cases overlap, with threads tying both to an international crime syndicate involved in drug and people trafficking. But as mentioned earlier, it’s not an easy-to-read “thriller lite” with simple solutions. Bilal writes novels that are intellectually challenging, with plots that are difficult to unravel. But it is his descriptions of places and people that grab the discerning reader—the diversity of the homeless community, the decaying mansion that Crane’s father inhabits, not to mention the disintegrating shell that is her father. Then there are Drake and Crane, both challenged by their own demons. Drake is weary, emotionally distant, an outsider who doesn’t “belong” to a specific group—is, in fact, very much like Makana in personality. Crane, also, doesn’t “belong” to a group because she is torn between her parents’ differing cultures and their ultimately different fates. She is angrier than Drake, more of a fighter.
THE HEIGHTS is very well written and not difficult to read on a descriptive level, but it is not an easy read on an intellectual/emotional level. However, it is a highly satisfying book for those willing to immerse themselves in a conflicted world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books in this series:
The Divinities (Crane & Drake, #1)
The Trenches (Crane & Drake, #3)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I read the entire Makana series, eagerly awaiting each new instalment. Then, Bilal suddenly stopped writing them and started writing a new series about a detective based in London and his colleague, a female forensic psychologist (the Crane & Drake series). I was so angry that he stopped writing about Makana before finishing its overriding story arc that I didn’t purchase the first book in his new endeavour. I felt that we were due at least one more Makana book, one that could have tied up a major thread running throughout them.
However, when THE HEIGHTS, the second book in the new, London-based series, became part of a kindle promotion, I couldn’t resist and purchased it. Just reading the opening chapter reminded me of the author’s outstanding writing talents: a harried mother on a train who is trying to keep her son under control until he accidentally discovers a severed head wrapped in some newspapers. Bilal’s descriptions of scenes, ability to weave several plot strands in unusual ways, and meticulous character development are brilliant. This is not a book to skim; it is one to savour.
At the beginning of this story, Cal Drake and Rayhana Crane have formed a private investigation team. Drake is a former DI who left the police under a cloud of suspicion and also a former military officer, and has been deeply affected by his experiences in both organizations. The discovery of the severed head leads back to a case that has haunted him since he was an undercover officer—the murder of Zelda, a prosecution witness he failed to keep safely hidden. At the same time, the private investigators are hired by a well-known author to look into the disappearance of a young female student from the Middle East, a woman who was the author’s girlfriend. Crane has known this man since her childhood, and he is her father’s friend, but Crane is estranged from her father. Both Crane and Drake have qualms about taking the missing person case but they do so because they need to keep their firm afloat. Throughout most of the novel, Drake delves into the mystery of the severed head while Crane follows cues regarding the missing young woman.
Eventually the cases overlap, with threads tying both to an international crime syndicate involved in drug and people trafficking. But as mentioned earlier, it’s not an easy-to-read “thriller lite” with simple solutions. Bilal writes novels that are intellectually challenging, with plots that are difficult to unravel. But it is his descriptions of places and people that grab the discerning reader—the diversity of the homeless community, the decaying mansion that Crane’s father inhabits, not to mention the disintegrating shell that is her father. Then there are Drake and Crane, both challenged by their own demons. Drake is weary, emotionally distant, an outsider who doesn’t “belong” to a specific group—is, in fact, very much like Makana in personality. Crane, also, doesn’t “belong” to a group because she is torn between her parents’ differing cultures and their ultimately different fates. She is angrier than Drake, more of a fighter.
THE HEIGHTS is very well written and not difficult to read on a descriptive level, but it is not an easy read on an intellectual/emotional level. However, it is a highly satisfying book for those willing to immerse themselves in a conflicted world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books in this series:
The Divinities (Crane & Drake, #1)
The Trenches (Crane & Drake, #3)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
July 15, 2022
“There are no angels or demons,’ said Drake. ‘Just a lot of people struggling between good and evil.”
✮ ✮ ✮
I did like this book, it just really frustrates me that the last chapters hold all the goodness. We’re talking 90% through the book. Like come on, move it forward a bit! However, this book was full of suspense. The ‘crime’ was a decapitated head on a train, I mean like that’s an extreme case, and a really interesting read, I just felt like it dragged on a bit too long. Crane and Drake were working two cases technically in this book, and neither of them really got super intriguing until the last minute.
In terms of characters… Crane is a badass superwoman. She is everything most women aspire to be. Drake, on the other hand, is still growing on me. He’s the troubled guy, with a bad past, that feels responsible for a lot of stuff that happened a few years ago (no spoilers)! And Pryce just frustrates me as a character. I somehow feel like it will all come back down on him in a sequel book maybe, I hope so!
I struggled to get into this book as much, because it really was slow moving for the bulk of it. However, if you can bare a slow paced book, it was interesting!
✮ ✮ ✮
I did like this book, it just really frustrates me that the last chapters hold all the goodness. We’re talking 90% through the book. Like come on, move it forward a bit! However, this book was full of suspense. The ‘crime’ was a decapitated head on a train, I mean like that’s an extreme case, and a really interesting read, I just felt like it dragged on a bit too long. Crane and Drake were working two cases technically in this book, and neither of them really got super intriguing until the last minute.
In terms of characters… Crane is a badass superwoman. She is everything most women aspire to be. Drake, on the other hand, is still growing on me. He’s the troubled guy, with a bad past, that feels responsible for a lot of stuff that happened a few years ago (no spoilers)! And Pryce just frustrates me as a character. I somehow feel like it will all come back down on him in a sequel book maybe, I hope so!
I struggled to get into this book as much, because it really was slow moving for the bulk of it. However, if you can bare a slow paced book, it was interesting!
September 8, 2020
I read the first of this scorching new series, The Divinities, some time ago and at the close of the review said how much I was anticipating the next book in the series. Well, Parker Bilal has come up trumps again, and just as the first book made it in to my Top Ten of the Year, The Heights may achieve a similar status…
With the two main characters, ex-detective Cal Drake and forensic pathologist/psychologist Dr Rayhana Crane, having now embarked on a closer working relationship in private investigation, Bilal takes this series in an interesting new direction. Drake is as screwed up personally and emotionally as before, with the events of the first book gaining even greater prominence here. Rest assured, the author constructs the story so the reader is fully aware of the previous events, if you missed the previous book. Drake is an interesting character, living life to his own slightly skewed moral compass, and haunted by his previous career in both the military and as an undercover police officer. He is brusque and understandably mistrustful of people generally, but this odd pairing works extremely well, and the small chinks of decency and morality that he seeks to veil do appear from time to time, as he works more closely with the vibrant and outgoing Crane. Not that Crane doesn’t have her own demons, emanating from her very unusual family background, which features heavily in this book, and her own single minded determination, that makes her both forthright and brave. The dynamics of their working relationship propel the plot along at a good pace, and with the differing strands of their investigations, and personal tumult, Bilal does an excellent job of juggling the various tensions that these tangential cases places upon them.
What struck me most with the first book, and to an even greater extent with this one, is the superb characterisation of London itself and how Bilal depicts the essential energy and feel of this teeming metropolis. Having so perfectly captured the chasm between rich and poor in The Divinities, some of this book sees Drake moving about the homeless community in pursuit of an individual crucial to their enquiries. These scenes are written with a real attention to the plight of this community, highlighting how easy it is to fall between the cracks, and what kind of existence this leads to. Likewise, with the story spiralling back to the nefarious deeds of an international crime network involved in drug and people trafficking, and drawing on the particular backgrounds of Drake and Crane themselves, there is a strong multi-cultural feel to the book too. In the scenes relating to Drake’s previous undercover case with the police, Bilal brings a strong thread of realism to the story of his involvement with a witness, Zelda, and her subsequent death, as she sought a better life in Britain only for it to go so desperately awry. I felt a huge amount of sympathy both for her, and for the complex moral dilemma this put Drake through, torn between his duty as a police officer, but also his indebtedness to and dangerous coercion of her to speak out.
Although The Heights makes for, at times, bleak and uncomfortable reading, I was utterly mesmerised by it throughout. Bilal maintains a real energy and pace to the book, and with the story comprising of a number of different strands, there is certainly no opportunity for the reader’s attention to wander. I liked the way that these strands wove in and out with each other, keeping a real control to the narrative arc, and making some interesting connections along the way, and even more excitingly some unresolved issues that may bode well for a further addition to the series. The characters of Drake and Crane themselves, serve as an effective anchor to the book, and through their differences in personality, but an uncanny knack to actually work rather well together, all in all Bilal has hit on a winning combination I feel. Packed with tension and with an adroit rendition of London itself, highlighting the gap between rich and poor, the exploited and the exploiters, this was an immersive and compelling read. Highly recommended.
With the two main characters, ex-detective Cal Drake and forensic pathologist/psychologist Dr Rayhana Crane, having now embarked on a closer working relationship in private investigation, Bilal takes this series in an interesting new direction. Drake is as screwed up personally and emotionally as before, with the events of the first book gaining even greater prominence here. Rest assured, the author constructs the story so the reader is fully aware of the previous events, if you missed the previous book. Drake is an interesting character, living life to his own slightly skewed moral compass, and haunted by his previous career in both the military and as an undercover police officer. He is brusque and understandably mistrustful of people generally, but this odd pairing works extremely well, and the small chinks of decency and morality that he seeks to veil do appear from time to time, as he works more closely with the vibrant and outgoing Crane. Not that Crane doesn’t have her own demons, emanating from her very unusual family background, which features heavily in this book, and her own single minded determination, that makes her both forthright and brave. The dynamics of their working relationship propel the plot along at a good pace, and with the differing strands of their investigations, and personal tumult, Bilal does an excellent job of juggling the various tensions that these tangential cases places upon them.
What struck me most with the first book, and to an even greater extent with this one, is the superb characterisation of London itself and how Bilal depicts the essential energy and feel of this teeming metropolis. Having so perfectly captured the chasm between rich and poor in The Divinities, some of this book sees Drake moving about the homeless community in pursuit of an individual crucial to their enquiries. These scenes are written with a real attention to the plight of this community, highlighting how easy it is to fall between the cracks, and what kind of existence this leads to. Likewise, with the story spiralling back to the nefarious deeds of an international crime network involved in drug and people trafficking, and drawing on the particular backgrounds of Drake and Crane themselves, there is a strong multi-cultural feel to the book too. In the scenes relating to Drake’s previous undercover case with the police, Bilal brings a strong thread of realism to the story of his involvement with a witness, Zelda, and her subsequent death, as she sought a better life in Britain only for it to go so desperately awry. I felt a huge amount of sympathy both for her, and for the complex moral dilemma this put Drake through, torn between his duty as a police officer, but also his indebtedness to and dangerous coercion of her to speak out.
Although The Heights makes for, at times, bleak and uncomfortable reading, I was utterly mesmerised by it throughout. Bilal maintains a real energy and pace to the book, and with the story comprising of a number of different strands, there is certainly no opportunity for the reader’s attention to wander. I liked the way that these strands wove in and out with each other, keeping a real control to the narrative arc, and making some interesting connections along the way, and even more excitingly some unresolved issues that may bode well for a further addition to the series. The characters of Drake and Crane themselves, serve as an effective anchor to the book, and through their differences in personality, but an uncanny knack to actually work rather well together, all in all Bilal has hit on a winning combination I feel. Packed with tension and with an adroit rendition of London itself, highlighting the gap between rich and poor, the exploited and the exploiters, this was an immersive and compelling read. Highly recommended.
May 9, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Black Thorn for an advance copy of The Heights, the second novel to feature former Met DI Cal Drake and forensic psychologist Rayhana Crane.
When a head is discovered in a plastic bag on the Tube it soon becomes apparent that not only does it have links to Carl’s past but someone is trying to destroy his present and future.
I enjoyed The Heights which starts with an interesting premise, a severed head in a public place and just enough evidence to link it to Drake, but turns into a far bigger novel in terms of scope and plotting. I must admit that I don’t have much interest in this wider scope, crooked financial dealings and gangland rivalries, but the author’s storytelling was such that I became engrossed and couldn’t wait to find out where it was going.
This is the second novel in a proposed trilogy and while I haven’t read the first, The Divinities, I didn’t feel at a disadvantage as it seems self contained as far as history goes, but there are several unresolved threads in this one that I assume will explored in the next instalment. It is slightly frustrating for the reader not to get everything tied up in a neat bow but the journey to this frustration is interesting and full of action, events and interconnecting relationships, so something for everyone. My eyes did glaze over at some of the financial detail but that’s possibly because I assume that tax havens and avoidance are the norm in rich circles, if the papers are to believed, so nothing to get excited about. Otherwise the novel is good and it held my attention throughout.
I’m not actually sure what to say about Drake and Crane. They both come from dysfunctional backgrounds and carry a lot of baggage which seeps into the investigation from more than one angle. Serendipity or clever plotting? Who knows. Whatever, it does mean that they have an uneasy partnership and are prone to under sharing. I’ll be interested to see where they go next, apart from the obvious hints in this novel.
The Heights is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When a head is discovered in a plastic bag on the Tube it soon becomes apparent that not only does it have links to Carl’s past but someone is trying to destroy his present and future.
I enjoyed The Heights which starts with an interesting premise, a severed head in a public place and just enough evidence to link it to Drake, but turns into a far bigger novel in terms of scope and plotting. I must admit that I don’t have much interest in this wider scope, crooked financial dealings and gangland rivalries, but the author’s storytelling was such that I became engrossed and couldn’t wait to find out where it was going.
This is the second novel in a proposed trilogy and while I haven’t read the first, The Divinities, I didn’t feel at a disadvantage as it seems self contained as far as history goes, but there are several unresolved threads in this one that I assume will explored in the next instalment. It is slightly frustrating for the reader not to get everything tied up in a neat bow but the journey to this frustration is interesting and full of action, events and interconnecting relationships, so something for everyone. My eyes did glaze over at some of the financial detail but that’s possibly because I assume that tax havens and avoidance are the norm in rich circles, if the papers are to believed, so nothing to get excited about. Otherwise the novel is good and it held my attention throughout.
I’m not actually sure what to say about Drake and Crane. They both come from dysfunctional backgrounds and carry a lot of baggage which seeps into the investigation from more than one angle. Serendipity or clever plotting? Who knows. Whatever, it does mean that they have an uneasy partnership and are prone to under sharing. I’ll be interested to see where they go next, apart from the obvious hints in this novel.
The Heights is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
September 3, 2020
The Heights is a crime thriller set in London and follows a former detective and a pathologist through an investigation into the crime riddled shadows of the city. It is the second book in the Crane and Drake series, the first book being the Divinities. Though, the book is the second in the series, I did not feel at a disadvantage in not reading the first one; though I will be definitely be picking a copy up. The story caught my attention the moment a decapitated head rolled around a train carriage; and trust me, that was very early in the book. This victim becomes the core of the story, one of which is explained and links to our main characters dismissal from the force.
The book follows two main characters and two investigations, both of which they have links. The first character, DI Cal Drake, who was once one of the force’s sharpest investigators finds himself investigating the murder of ghost from his past. A victim to the criminal empire he fought to bring down. He enlists the help of his new partner, Dr Rayhana Crane, a forensic pathologist that packs a punch. She is head-strong, witty and smart, though you would be smarter to keep her as an ally. She is also investigating a missing person of a young woman who is linked to a business connection of her father.
Throughout the book, as demons get poked and the threats edge closer to home, the events of the investigation start to pick up the pace. I found the book gritty, exciting and an adrenaline rush. Every time I popped it down, my brain was wired and ready for more. I felt like I was their receptionist, in on the action behind a computer screen. For me, the book was fast paced and had me hooked, needing to find my fix. It is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on and looking up their previous work. Though, I do recommend not reading the book whilst playing catch with your 9 month old. I got that hooked that I never realised the ball he had managed to get airborne.
The book follows two main characters and two investigations, both of which they have links. The first character, DI Cal Drake, who was once one of the force’s sharpest investigators finds himself investigating the murder of ghost from his past. A victim to the criminal empire he fought to bring down. He enlists the help of his new partner, Dr Rayhana Crane, a forensic pathologist that packs a punch. She is head-strong, witty and smart, though you would be smarter to keep her as an ally. She is also investigating a missing person of a young woman who is linked to a business connection of her father.
Throughout the book, as demons get poked and the threats edge closer to home, the events of the investigation start to pick up the pace. I found the book gritty, exciting and an adrenaline rush. Every time I popped it down, my brain was wired and ready for more. I felt like I was their receptionist, in on the action behind a computer screen. For me, the book was fast paced and had me hooked, needing to find my fix. It is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on and looking up their previous work. Though, I do recommend not reading the book whilst playing catch with your 9 month old. I got that hooked that I never realised the ball he had managed to get airborne.
September 3, 2020
I didn’t realise this was the second book in a series but I think there’s enough information given to make it okay to read without reading the first book in the series.
A severed head is found on a London Underground train by a young mother and her son and DS Kelly Marsh is called into investigate.
Marsh begins to think that this is connected to Drake’s old undercover case so he gets involved and tries to get to the bottom of what’s happened.
A few years ago the headless body of a woman was found and Drake thinks the body and the head belong to an informant he worked with whilst undercover.
Drake and Crane are asked by an old friend of Crane’s to investigate the disappearance of a girl but Crane doesn’t realise it will take her back to her father and open up old wounds.
This is a bit of a slow burner but once it gets going it’s a gripping read.
Thanks to Black Thorn and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
A severed head is found on a London Underground train by a young mother and her son and DS Kelly Marsh is called into investigate.
Marsh begins to think that this is connected to Drake’s old undercover case so he gets involved and tries to get to the bottom of what’s happened.
A few years ago the headless body of a woman was found and Drake thinks the body and the head belong to an informant he worked with whilst undercover.
Drake and Crane are asked by an old friend of Crane’s to investigate the disappearance of a girl but Crane doesn’t realise it will take her back to her father and open up old wounds.
This is a bit of a slow burner but once it gets going it’s a gripping read.
Thanks to Black Thorn and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
July 28, 2020
I had a hard time with this book. Starts off with a great story....head found in an Ikea bag, then the rest of the torso washes up on shore. Intriguing, but then too much back story on the detectives trying to solve the case. Many layers. We find out that the missing head and torso was for a witness to a big case one of the detectives was trying to protect. Then we have a side story thrown in about Crane helping her father who she clearly does not like with his finances, which I feel had nothing to do with the story . Too much dragging out of the narrative.
September 11, 2020
The second book in Parker Bilal's Crane and Drake series, The Heights sees the main characters - Cal Drake and Rayhana (Ray) Crane embarking on a new venture as private investigators. There is plenty of back story here but I have no doubt that those who have read the previous novel, The Divinities will have some advantage over those of us who are newcomers to the series, however, it can still easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone story.
The book opens with what would appear to be a familiar scene as a harassed young mother tries to juggle her baby and her restless little boy, Tyler on a packed Tube, under the watchful eye of her fellow commuters. Tyler, it has to be said, is the sort of child most people dread being near on public transport and the exhausted Ruby almost welcomes his interest in an abandoned IKEA bag when it distracts him from his previous activity of constantly kicking her legs. Her relief is short-lived however, when the bag reveals its gruesome contents and a severed head, wrapped in cloth and newspaper rolls under the feet of the horrified passengers.
Meanwhile, Drake and Crane are with a prospective new client, although Drake's instant dislike of celebrity author Marco Foulkes means they are soon in danger of losing him. Ray Crane is understandably concerned that her new partner's inability to put his personal feelings aside will lose them business but suspects that her long-term links to Foulkes will see him return. He has come to the fledgling agency due to his concern over the disappearance of Howeida Almanara, a young post-grad student from Kuwait. Despite the age gap, it would seem that he and Howie were involved and he suggests that her controlling, jealous uncle may be behind her disappearance. They accept the case despite their reservations but as they begin to investigate, Crane is forced to confront her strained relationship with her eccentric father, Sir Edward Crane, who we learn was one of the architects behind the infamous dodgy dossier that led to Britain's involvement in the Iraq War.
The Heights finds both main characters involved personally as well as professionally with their investigations as the newspaper the severed head is found wrapped seems to be sending a clear message to Drake. He left his former role as a detective inspector in the Met under a cloud and although there was never enough evidence to convict him of any wrongdoing, there are still those - most notably DCI Pryce - who remain convinced of his guilt. It's perhaps fortunate then that Pryce suspects there will be little chance of a murder conviction and so hands over the case to Drake's sympathetic former colleagues, Kelly Marsh and Milo Kowalski. Realising the significance of the newspaper and hoping that he will be able to cast some light on the case, they form a mutually beneficial, albeit unofficial alliance.
The relationship between the two main characters is an interesting one; their strengths and indeed flaws, complement one other but there is still a hesitancy between them and they are not yet sure how far they are able to trust their partner. Drake previously worked as an undercover officer, infiltrating an organised crime gang and became close to an informant, Zelda. Despite the promises he made, he was unable to protect her and she was brutally murdered. Now seeking some form of resolution and atonement for the mistakes he made, he has to confront his memories as he comes face to face with some powerful and unpredictable criminals once more. He was wrongly accused of corruption but has clearly always struggled with authority and the glimpses into his difficult upbringing reveal a troubled past. As Crane delves into white-collar crime involving financial irregularities and money laundering, she is also still clearly tormented by her past, particularly the loss of her mother in Iran and her father's role in her death.
London is rightly celebrated for its diversity but its criminal element is international too and the global nature of both the wealthy and seedier parts of the underbelly are explored here. The drugs, prostitution and people trafficking might be the violent side of organised crime but those who deal in high-end fraud are perhaps not so far apart and Drake and Crane both find themselves in peril as the tension increases considerably towards the end of the book.
The Heights is a meticulously crafted, slow-burning gritty thriller; it should come as no surprise that Parker Bilal also writes literary fiction as Jamal Majoub and his wry, perceptive observations ensure that London itself almost becomes another character in the novel. This is a compelling, intricately plotted book which rewards readers with its thoughtful character development and complex storylines. The burgeoning trust between the two main characters is fascinating to follow and with no firm resolution to one of the cases, the conclusion is a mouthwatering enticement to read on. I'm looking forward to it!
The book opens with what would appear to be a familiar scene as a harassed young mother tries to juggle her baby and her restless little boy, Tyler on a packed Tube, under the watchful eye of her fellow commuters. Tyler, it has to be said, is the sort of child most people dread being near on public transport and the exhausted Ruby almost welcomes his interest in an abandoned IKEA bag when it distracts him from his previous activity of constantly kicking her legs. Her relief is short-lived however, when the bag reveals its gruesome contents and a severed head, wrapped in cloth and newspaper rolls under the feet of the horrified passengers.
Meanwhile, Drake and Crane are with a prospective new client, although Drake's instant dislike of celebrity author Marco Foulkes means they are soon in danger of losing him. Ray Crane is understandably concerned that her new partner's inability to put his personal feelings aside will lose them business but suspects that her long-term links to Foulkes will see him return. He has come to the fledgling agency due to his concern over the disappearance of Howeida Almanara, a young post-grad student from Kuwait. Despite the age gap, it would seem that he and Howie were involved and he suggests that her controlling, jealous uncle may be behind her disappearance. They accept the case despite their reservations but as they begin to investigate, Crane is forced to confront her strained relationship with her eccentric father, Sir Edward Crane, who we learn was one of the architects behind the infamous dodgy dossier that led to Britain's involvement in the Iraq War.
The Heights finds both main characters involved personally as well as professionally with their investigations as the newspaper the severed head is found wrapped seems to be sending a clear message to Drake. He left his former role as a detective inspector in the Met under a cloud and although there was never enough evidence to convict him of any wrongdoing, there are still those - most notably DCI Pryce - who remain convinced of his guilt. It's perhaps fortunate then that Pryce suspects there will be little chance of a murder conviction and so hands over the case to Drake's sympathetic former colleagues, Kelly Marsh and Milo Kowalski. Realising the significance of the newspaper and hoping that he will be able to cast some light on the case, they form a mutually beneficial, albeit unofficial alliance.
The relationship between the two main characters is an interesting one; their strengths and indeed flaws, complement one other but there is still a hesitancy between them and they are not yet sure how far they are able to trust their partner. Drake previously worked as an undercover officer, infiltrating an organised crime gang and became close to an informant, Zelda. Despite the promises he made, he was unable to protect her and she was brutally murdered. Now seeking some form of resolution and atonement for the mistakes he made, he has to confront his memories as he comes face to face with some powerful and unpredictable criminals once more. He was wrongly accused of corruption but has clearly always struggled with authority and the glimpses into his difficult upbringing reveal a troubled past. As Crane delves into white-collar crime involving financial irregularities and money laundering, she is also still clearly tormented by her past, particularly the loss of her mother in Iran and her father's role in her death.
London is rightly celebrated for its diversity but its criminal element is international too and the global nature of both the wealthy and seedier parts of the underbelly are explored here. The drugs, prostitution and people trafficking might be the violent side of organised crime but those who deal in high-end fraud are perhaps not so far apart and Drake and Crane both find themselves in peril as the tension increases considerably towards the end of the book.
The Heights is a meticulously crafted, slow-burning gritty thriller; it should come as no surprise that Parker Bilal also writes literary fiction as Jamal Majoub and his wry, perceptive observations ensure that London itself almost becomes another character in the novel. This is a compelling, intricately plotted book which rewards readers with its thoughtful character development and complex storylines. The burgeoning trust between the two main characters is fascinating to follow and with no firm resolution to one of the cases, the conclusion is a mouthwatering enticement to read on. I'm looking forward to it!
July 29, 2020
The heights wasn't the easiest of reads for me and that wasn't due to the severed head. Crane and Drake are running a private investigation angecy and find themselves with a case to find a missing girl. The case comes from an old 'friend' of Cranes a friend that Drake takes an instant disliking to. Even though they have been asked to investigate a disappearance Drake suspects there's more to the story and he's not wrong. However at the same time DI Marsh is called to an tube station where a severed head has bedn found on a train. Marsh believes the head is linked to an old undercover case Drake was on when he was with the MET so asks for his help solving this cold case this case though is personal for Drake it turns out in more ways than one.
I haven't read the first in the series and I wondered if that was why I was struggling with the characters and their alluded back stories. But the book does clear up any key events the reader has missed, allowing this to be read as a stand alone book (I won't be rushing to get the first one). But the more I read I realised I couldn't get into the story because it just wasn't gripping enough for me, with a start do out there of a head rolling up and down a train, i think I expected a lot more gore which wasn't the case. By anout 40% of the way through i contemplated not finishing the book at all but im no quitter and if i start reading I finish reading (except that one book 😅) anyway I'm glad I did. By 60% of the way through it got more fast past more drama filled and a lot of missing pieces started to come together. This made my mind up i was finishing no matter what!
So why did it get so good, well that would be a spoiler now wouldn’t it! But what I will say is they're start to get on the right tracks of both cases, which at one strange point overlap. That chapter I must say was by far the most page turning and completely unexpected also with a random bit of comedic value, which when you read it you may think im mad but bare with it.
What the book does well is looks at relationships/partnerships and actually all of them platonic but important for different reasons. It really makes you think about the value of trust in relationships when can someone hold a successful partnership even if trust is being questioned. I think the author really depicts this well that actually doubt is okay and its how you deal with it that matters.
The author also uses a lot of description, sometimes i was extremely grateful, for it, because i got lost in the fast pace of the story where everyone was. There's a great section of the book with Crane where she finds herself in an unexpected predicament where the description of her surroundings really makes you feel like your there! Occasionally though the drsctiption doesn't add much to the story but I didn't mind it.
So my conclusion is this i would normally pick a book like the heights to read a crime book some psychological elements seems so me. It wasn't but im glad I finished it and got to enjoy the last half of the book the ending however finished on such a "this just got serious" paragraph that I know i will have to read the next book. Which I hope keeps up the pace from where it left off. I must say for both cases I solved them quite early on, but I'm a crime thriller fiction geek that maybe it might appear like a twist?
I would recommend this book for those of you who are new to the genre and trying to find an easy-ish story to follow. Its not bloody or completely psychological that you might get overwhelmed with it. From a point it was an easy read (I read the first 55% over a period of 9 day and the remInder in a few hours), it just takes while to grip you. If like me your genre is crime thriller/psychological and you haven't read the first one read at your own risk its not up to some of the standards of books in that genre, but believe me this is by far not the worst crime book I've read.
I rate this book 2.5 stars closer to 3 than 2 so my rating will reflect a 3.
Thank you to netgalley and blackthorn publishers for the ARC given to me for my fair and honest review.
I haven't read the first in the series and I wondered if that was why I was struggling with the characters and their alluded back stories. But the book does clear up any key events the reader has missed, allowing this to be read as a stand alone book (I won't be rushing to get the first one). But the more I read I realised I couldn't get into the story because it just wasn't gripping enough for me, with a start do out there of a head rolling up and down a train, i think I expected a lot more gore which wasn't the case. By anout 40% of the way through i contemplated not finishing the book at all but im no quitter and if i start reading I finish reading (except that one book 😅) anyway I'm glad I did. By 60% of the way through it got more fast past more drama filled and a lot of missing pieces started to come together. This made my mind up i was finishing no matter what!
So why did it get so good, well that would be a spoiler now wouldn’t it! But what I will say is they're start to get on the right tracks of both cases, which at one strange point overlap. That chapter I must say was by far the most page turning and completely unexpected also with a random bit of comedic value, which when you read it you may think im mad but bare with it.
What the book does well is looks at relationships/partnerships and actually all of them platonic but important for different reasons. It really makes you think about the value of trust in relationships when can someone hold a successful partnership even if trust is being questioned. I think the author really depicts this well that actually doubt is okay and its how you deal with it that matters.
The author also uses a lot of description, sometimes i was extremely grateful, for it, because i got lost in the fast pace of the story where everyone was. There's a great section of the book with Crane where she finds herself in an unexpected predicament where the description of her surroundings really makes you feel like your there! Occasionally though the drsctiption doesn't add much to the story but I didn't mind it.
So my conclusion is this i would normally pick a book like the heights to read a crime book some psychological elements seems so me. It wasn't but im glad I finished it and got to enjoy the last half of the book the ending however finished on such a "this just got serious" paragraph that I know i will have to read the next book. Which I hope keeps up the pace from where it left off. I must say for both cases I solved them quite early on, but I'm a crime thriller fiction geek that maybe it might appear like a twist?
I would recommend this book for those of you who are new to the genre and trying to find an easy-ish story to follow. Its not bloody or completely psychological that you might get overwhelmed with it. From a point it was an easy read (I read the first 55% over a period of 9 day and the remInder in a few hours), it just takes while to grip you. If like me your genre is crime thriller/psychological and you haven't read the first one read at your own risk its not up to some of the standards of books in that genre, but believe me this is by far not the worst crime book I've read.
I rate this book 2.5 stars closer to 3 than 2 so my rating will reflect a 3.
Thank you to netgalley and blackthorn publishers for the ARC given to me for my fair and honest review.
September 24, 2023
In The Heights we catch up with former DI Cal Drake and Dr Rayhana 'Ray' Crane near the start of their new partnership as Private Investigators. Approached by an old friend of Ray's to find his girlfriend who has disappeared, whilst initially apprehensive about taking the case, they can have no idea how dark their investigations are about to become. Meanwhile, Drake finds himself a touch distracted as a case from his past, the one which very nearly ended his career, comes back to haunt him. Has a vicious killer come back to finish what they started, or does someone have a very different agenda? Either way, Drake's neck is on the block and he's going to have to work fast and hard to stop the axe from falling.
I love this series. I am quite annoyed with myself that I waited so long to read it, but also feeling a little smug as it means I get to read it afresh now. Knowing what we do now about the complexities of the Metropolitan Police and their corruption, prejudice etc, (understatement, I know), adds a certain amount of authenticity to the story. Add into that characters who I have grown to like very quickly, and a story which is perplexing and compelling, and more than a touch emotional at times, and we have a book which kept me completely hooked from start to finish.
Crane and Drake really do make a great partnership. Crane is focused, intelligent, strong and independent. Drake is a touch cynical and jaded, but driven by his morals and a desire to do right by someone he feels he let down in the worst possible way. Both are determined to see justice done, no matter the cost, and it's fair to say that this time around, that comes very close, once again, to being the ultimate price any person can pay. I liked that this time Parker Bilal gives the characters more context, explaining about their backgrounds and their childhoods, giving us a clear insight into what has moulded their personalities and why they are the way that they are. I also like that Crane is equally as capable, in a physical capacity, as Drake, but in a way that feels realistic given her past experiences. She's not a superhuman hero, but someone who combines rigorous training with a fierce intelligence and uses it to her advantage. Drake is perhaps a little more blunt in his approach, but quick witted and with a quiet intellect that he uses to draw closer to the truth.
There is a real undercurrent of jeopardy that flows through this book, manifesting itself quite overtly at times throughout the story. I like the way in which the author has framed the story, the many threads that cross each other at various intervals, not quite allowing us to see the whole picture, but making it clear that there are far more than coincidences at play here. Whilst the books can be read as stand alone thrillers, there are subtle hints of the before and I am supposing the yet to come, story arcs which inform the present investigations and leave me hungry for the next book. There is also quite an emotional tone to this particular story, one which left me feeling more than a touch of sympathy for one of the antagonists in this case. The other ... well they leave a lot to be desired and I was wary of them from the start for reasons that will be obvious in the reading.
This is quite a gritty series, taking readers to the heart of gangland London. Whilst the 'gang' elements of the story might not be as dark or explicit as some similar novels, there is no doubting the influence of certain members of society on what comes to pass, and I like that Parker Bilal has managed to convey this without resorting to gratuitous violence. He still manages to highlight some very harrowing and dark elements of society - indentured slavery, human trafficking, sexual violence and murder - but in a way that condemns the acts without necessarily needing to portray them on the page.
Perfectly paced, and with a story that demanded my attention, I ate this book up and am looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy, The Trenches.
I love this series. I am quite annoyed with myself that I waited so long to read it, but also feeling a little smug as it means I get to read it afresh now. Knowing what we do now about the complexities of the Metropolitan Police and their corruption, prejudice etc, (understatement, I know), adds a certain amount of authenticity to the story. Add into that characters who I have grown to like very quickly, and a story which is perplexing and compelling, and more than a touch emotional at times, and we have a book which kept me completely hooked from start to finish.
Crane and Drake really do make a great partnership. Crane is focused, intelligent, strong and independent. Drake is a touch cynical and jaded, but driven by his morals and a desire to do right by someone he feels he let down in the worst possible way. Both are determined to see justice done, no matter the cost, and it's fair to say that this time around, that comes very close, once again, to being the ultimate price any person can pay. I liked that this time Parker Bilal gives the characters more context, explaining about their backgrounds and their childhoods, giving us a clear insight into what has moulded their personalities and why they are the way that they are. I also like that Crane is equally as capable, in a physical capacity, as Drake, but in a way that feels realistic given her past experiences. She's not a superhuman hero, but someone who combines rigorous training with a fierce intelligence and uses it to her advantage. Drake is perhaps a little more blunt in his approach, but quick witted and with a quiet intellect that he uses to draw closer to the truth.
There is a real undercurrent of jeopardy that flows through this book, manifesting itself quite overtly at times throughout the story. I like the way in which the author has framed the story, the many threads that cross each other at various intervals, not quite allowing us to see the whole picture, but making it clear that there are far more than coincidences at play here. Whilst the books can be read as stand alone thrillers, there are subtle hints of the before and I am supposing the yet to come, story arcs which inform the present investigations and leave me hungry for the next book. There is also quite an emotional tone to this particular story, one which left me feeling more than a touch of sympathy for one of the antagonists in this case. The other ... well they leave a lot to be desired and I was wary of them from the start for reasons that will be obvious in the reading.
This is quite a gritty series, taking readers to the heart of gangland London. Whilst the 'gang' elements of the story might not be as dark or explicit as some similar novels, there is no doubting the influence of certain members of society on what comes to pass, and I like that Parker Bilal has managed to convey this without resorting to gratuitous violence. He still manages to highlight some very harrowing and dark elements of society - indentured slavery, human trafficking, sexual violence and murder - but in a way that condemns the acts without necessarily needing to portray them on the page.
Perfectly paced, and with a story that demanded my attention, I ate this book up and am looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy, The Trenches.
September 5, 2020
This is the second story in what I believe is planned as a trilogy featuring former Metropolitan police Detective Inspector Calil Drake and forensic psychologist Dr Rayhana Crane. They first joined forces in book one, "The Divinities”, when Cal was still a serving officer, and since he has now left the Met, they have set up a private investigation agency together. Although Ray has all her qualifications and has a different form of investigative experience from her time working for the intelligence services, she cannot run the agency alone and has brought in Cal as she needs him, even though he struggles to remember he is not a policeman anymore and she finds him hard to trust or fathom at times. Fortunately his close ties with DS Kelly Marsh and DC Milo Kowalski and the loyalty he has earned from them in the past means if he needs a little help at times, he knows who he can call on. The story begins with an inquisitive young boy on a packed tube train pulling out a carrier bag that is soon found to contain a severed head. DS Marsh wastes no time in contacting Cal to inform him that wrapping the head is the newspaper article which pointed the finger of suspicion at him as Operation Hemlock went belly up. This was the undercover operation that spelt the end of Cal’s career. The woman, Zelda, was the first decent witness they had against an organized crime gang boss, but in trying to protect her and not knowing if he could even trust his handler, DCI Pryce, Cal overstepped the mark and helped her to temporarily disappear. Three weeks later her headless body was fished out of the sea. The whole affair resulted in demotion and relocation for Cal, and ultimately led to his resignation from the police. He still feels guilty to a certain degree and would give anything to find out who killed her. So with the appearance of her head four years later, is someone trying to insinuate that Cal killed the woman or drag him back to investigate her death? With a lack of police interest and resources, Drake is allowed to look into the cold case, knowing that finding her killer will also remove any suspicion that still hangs over him.
At the same time the agency gets a visit from a man called Marco Foulkes. He and Ray grew up together as children, their families’ country estates bordering each other. He reports the disappearance of a student called Howeida Almanara, a woman he has taken more than a passing interest in and whom he suspects of being abducted and taken back to her home country of Kuwait by an uncle. Drake takes an instant dislike to the rather flowery man and Crane is not exactly pleased to be revisiting anything to do with her family history that she has tried so hard to distance herself from.
The two investigations run concurrently, probably neither should be handled by the pair due to their personal involvement and feelings, but at the same time they are uniquely placed to uncover more than a police enquiry ever would. The cases take the investigators through many different places in London, from the gloriously opulent to the downright seedy, and on the way they encounter a bewildering array of colourful characters. Much of the story is firmly rooted in the past, and there is a lot of history recounted in these pages rather than present day action. The pace is rather slow for most of the book, but really hots up in the last few chapters as both cases conclude in shocking and dramatic ways. I would have preferred there to be a bit more action and suspense throughout. There were a few twists and surprises at the end, leaving a nice thread which I’m sure will be expanded on in the next story. Crane and Drake are a bit of an odd couple, but they did start to grow on me towards the end as I learnt more about them as people, and they look set to make a formidable team in book three. 4*
At the same time the agency gets a visit from a man called Marco Foulkes. He and Ray grew up together as children, their families’ country estates bordering each other. He reports the disappearance of a student called Howeida Almanara, a woman he has taken more than a passing interest in and whom he suspects of being abducted and taken back to her home country of Kuwait by an uncle. Drake takes an instant dislike to the rather flowery man and Crane is not exactly pleased to be revisiting anything to do with her family history that she has tried so hard to distance herself from.
The two investigations run concurrently, probably neither should be handled by the pair due to their personal involvement and feelings, but at the same time they are uniquely placed to uncover more than a police enquiry ever would. The cases take the investigators through many different places in London, from the gloriously opulent to the downright seedy, and on the way they encounter a bewildering array of colourful characters. Much of the story is firmly rooted in the past, and there is a lot of history recounted in these pages rather than present day action. The pace is rather slow for most of the book, but really hots up in the last few chapters as both cases conclude in shocking and dramatic ways. I would have preferred there to be a bit more action and suspense throughout. There were a few twists and surprises at the end, leaving a nice thread which I’m sure will be expanded on in the next story. Crane and Drake are a bit of an odd couple, but they did start to grow on me towards the end as I learnt more about them as people, and they look set to make a formidable team in book three. 4*
September 3, 2020
I didn’t realise that this was the second book in a series when I picked it up so I am not sure what or how much i’ve missed or its effects on this book, but; I’m sure as hell going to find out! Book one, The Divinities has now firmly cemented itself to the top of my tbr pile!
As the police are called to a gruesome discovery of a severed head found on the London Underground, Crane and Drake are hired by her childhood acquaintance and author, Marco Foulkes, to investigate the disappearance of a foreign university student Howeida Almanara.
As their investigation begins it is not long before it becomes apparent that both cases are connected, and not just connected but personal to former Detective Inspector Cal Crane and a case he was working undercover on four years ago. The decapitated head was wrapped in newspaper, a very specific page from the newspaper, the headline of the article reading – “Finger of Suspicion Pointed at Rising Star Met Police. Links to Organised Crime.” The rising star? None other than DI Crane!
The investigation of the unidentified head is being led by Crane’s former police partner, newly promoted DI Kelly Marsh. Unofficially they share case details helping both Crane in his new career as a private investigator and Marsh’s official investigation.
As the pressure grows to crack the case more details emerge, details and evidence that points the finger of blame straight at Crane.
Can PI’s Drake and Crane, with the help of Marsh, clear his name and lead them to the real criminals in time?
Set in London this book brings the city to life across the pages, from the high end of some of the expensive boroughs to the darker side of the city and its forgotten individuals who make their beds in doorways. It takes you on a journey into some of the seedier sides of the city as well as the gang culture who always seem three steps ahead of the police, touching on all to real problems such as human trafficking, corruption, organised crime and exploitation that go on not just in the fictional London but the real city as well.
The book is filled with multicultural fictional characters, some good, some pure evil wrapped in flesh and bone, all blended with a storyline that could just as easily feature in the True Crime genre with a compulsive, high tension plot and an ending that will drive you insane! I just hope the next book isn’t going to be too much of a wait because it has certainly left me needing more and I can guarantee that you will feel the same once you have turned that last page!
This is a real slice of life wrapped in fiction.
The Heights will be published on 03 September 2020 and is available for pre-order now.
As the police are called to a gruesome discovery of a severed head found on the London Underground, Crane and Drake are hired by her childhood acquaintance and author, Marco Foulkes, to investigate the disappearance of a foreign university student Howeida Almanara.
As their investigation begins it is not long before it becomes apparent that both cases are connected, and not just connected but personal to former Detective Inspector Cal Crane and a case he was working undercover on four years ago. The decapitated head was wrapped in newspaper, a very specific page from the newspaper, the headline of the article reading – “Finger of Suspicion Pointed at Rising Star Met Police. Links to Organised Crime.” The rising star? None other than DI Crane!
The investigation of the unidentified head is being led by Crane’s former police partner, newly promoted DI Kelly Marsh. Unofficially they share case details helping both Crane in his new career as a private investigator and Marsh’s official investigation.
As the pressure grows to crack the case more details emerge, details and evidence that points the finger of blame straight at Crane.
Can PI’s Drake and Crane, with the help of Marsh, clear his name and lead them to the real criminals in time?
Set in London this book brings the city to life across the pages, from the high end of some of the expensive boroughs to the darker side of the city and its forgotten individuals who make their beds in doorways. It takes you on a journey into some of the seedier sides of the city as well as the gang culture who always seem three steps ahead of the police, touching on all to real problems such as human trafficking, corruption, organised crime and exploitation that go on not just in the fictional London but the real city as well.
The book is filled with multicultural fictional characters, some good, some pure evil wrapped in flesh and bone, all blended with a storyline that could just as easily feature in the True Crime genre with a compulsive, high tension plot and an ending that will drive you insane! I just hope the next book isn’t going to be too much of a wait because it has certainly left me needing more and I can guarantee that you will feel the same once you have turned that last page!
This is a real slice of life wrapped in fiction.
The Heights will be published on 03 September 2020 and is available for pre-order now.
September 2, 2020
When a severed head is found on a busy London Underground carriage, the investigation soon draws in private detective Cal Drake and his partner Dr Rayhana Crane. Drake is a disgraced former Met police undercover detective, while Crane has her own history in intelligence and psychological profiling for the police. It quickly becomes apparent that the head links back to the case that ruined Drake’s reputation and led him to leave the police. A subplot runs along with this main story, as the two PI’s investigate a missing student.
This is the first of Parker Bilal’s books that I’ve read (though I have a few on my ever-growing list of titles on my kindle, which wait for me to get around to reading) and is the second in the author’s Drake & Crane series. It can be read as a standalone and the author gives backstory when needed, but personally I felt that I would have enjoyed this novel more had I read the first in the series, The Divinities. That said, I did enjoy this novel and found it compelling.
At heart, The Heights is a gangland/undercover police novel, a sub-genre I tend to enjoy, though I suspect that The Divinities was even more so. Unlike some series, where each novel is a self-contained story, the main story in The Heights is a direct continuation from that of The Divinities. It’s not concluded in The Heights either, so will continue on into a third title. A sense of resolution is given by the subplot, but this series should be seen as akin to a drama such as The Wire or Breaking Bad, where the major story spans a number of titles. Personally, I like this style of storytelling, which makes me even keener to now read The Divinities (I have a copy on my Kindle) so that I can fully appreciate the third title when it comes out.
The Heights is a well-written story with a tight plot and compelling characters. I just have one criticism and it’s a personal bugbear of mine. The author refers not once, but three times, to female uniformed police officers as WPCs. The W for Women Police Constable was dropped a long time ago and female police constables, like their male counterparts, are known just as PC. Unless an author is writing a historical set novel, the use of WPC is just galling. The Heights is a contemporary set novel and so it’s wrong here.
That said, I really enjoyed this book and will make sure to read The Divinities prior to the next instalment so that I can get a fuller appreciation of the complex tale that the author has adeptly weaved.
This is the first of Parker Bilal’s books that I’ve read (though I have a few on my ever-growing list of titles on my kindle, which wait for me to get around to reading) and is the second in the author’s Drake & Crane series. It can be read as a standalone and the author gives backstory when needed, but personally I felt that I would have enjoyed this novel more had I read the first in the series, The Divinities. That said, I did enjoy this novel and found it compelling.
At heart, The Heights is a gangland/undercover police novel, a sub-genre I tend to enjoy, though I suspect that The Divinities was even more so. Unlike some series, where each novel is a self-contained story, the main story in The Heights is a direct continuation from that of The Divinities. It’s not concluded in The Heights either, so will continue on into a third title. A sense of resolution is given by the subplot, but this series should be seen as akin to a drama such as The Wire or Breaking Bad, where the major story spans a number of titles. Personally, I like this style of storytelling, which makes me even keener to now read The Divinities (I have a copy on my Kindle) so that I can fully appreciate the third title when it comes out.
The Heights is a well-written story with a tight plot and compelling characters. I just have one criticism and it’s a personal bugbear of mine. The author refers not once, but three times, to female uniformed police officers as WPCs. The W for Women Police Constable was dropped a long time ago and female police constables, like their male counterparts, are known just as PC. Unless an author is writing a historical set novel, the use of WPC is just galling. The Heights is a contemporary set novel and so it’s wrong here.
That said, I really enjoyed this book and will make sure to read The Divinities prior to the next instalment so that I can get a fuller appreciation of the complex tale that the author has adeptly weaved.
September 1, 2020
(I received a book from the publisher for a review as part of the blog tour.)
The second in a series featuring ex-DI Cal Drake and forensic pathologist Dr Rayhana Crane, The Heights opens on a Tube train, where exhausted mother Ruby is dealing with a crying baby and a sulking nine-year-old who only stops kicking his mother’s shins to start kicking at a bag near his feet. It takes her a moment to process what she is seeing roll out of the bag before she joins the screaming…
Drake learns this severed head belongs to a headless corpse washed up near Brighton four years ago; a body thought to be that of an informant working for him while he was undercover trying to bring down a gang run by a man called Goran.
Meanwhile, Drake and Crane are trying to discover if a potential client – a figure from Crane’s past, and not an entirely welcome one – has a case for them to investigate or not, involving possibly missing student Howeida, from Saudi Arabia.
I was frustrated for much of the first half of the book, keen to see progress in the investigation into both the severed head and the missing student. But you have to be patient. What appear to be diversions are all building a picture of a London most people never see – the homelessness, the sex trade, the less than legal business deals - but it's the world Goran operated in, and we learn why Drake was so determined to take him down.
Meanwhile, Crane is investigating the world of offshore accounts and international money laundering as she tries to make progress tracking down what happened to Howeida.
I’m not convinced about this subplot, too many things don't add up. But the main strand of Drake and Zelda is strong, and the final pages suggest we may hear more of the case as it threatens to get even more personal for Drake, which is always a rich seam to mine.
The second in a series featuring ex-DI Cal Drake and forensic pathologist Dr Rayhana Crane, The Heights opens on a Tube train, where exhausted mother Ruby is dealing with a crying baby and a sulking nine-year-old who only stops kicking his mother’s shins to start kicking at a bag near his feet. It takes her a moment to process what she is seeing roll out of the bag before she joins the screaming…
Drake learns this severed head belongs to a headless corpse washed up near Brighton four years ago; a body thought to be that of an informant working for him while he was undercover trying to bring down a gang run by a man called Goran.
Meanwhile, Drake and Crane are trying to discover if a potential client – a figure from Crane’s past, and not an entirely welcome one – has a case for them to investigate or not, involving possibly missing student Howeida, from Saudi Arabia.
I was frustrated for much of the first half of the book, keen to see progress in the investigation into both the severed head and the missing student. But you have to be patient. What appear to be diversions are all building a picture of a London most people never see – the homelessness, the sex trade, the less than legal business deals - but it's the world Goran operated in, and we learn why Drake was so determined to take him down.
Meanwhile, Crane is investigating the world of offshore accounts and international money laundering as she tries to make progress tracking down what happened to Howeida.
I’m not convinced about this subplot, too many things don't add up. But the main strand of Drake and Zelda is strong, and the final pages suggest we may hear more of the case as it threatens to get even more personal for Drake, which is always a rich seam to mine.
September 8, 2020
This book begins after Cal Drake, a former Met DI, has left the police force, and begun work as a private detective, partnering with Dr. Rayhana Crane, a forensic psychologist. The story begins as this partnership starts to work together, and coinciding with the disturbing discovery of a severed head of a woman on a tube train. The plot develops and draws in Drake’s past during an undercover drugs operation, and a complex web of gangs, drugs, suspicion and plotting develops.
I really enjoyed the plot layers, and you have to keep focused as past and present collide in this well written crime thriller. Added into the mix is a seemingly Middle East connected abduction, than spirals into another connection, bringing both investigations on a similar tangent. The relationship between Drake and Crane adds a further dimension, and although suffers from mistrust, they make an interesting team. Both have layers, and I may have some missing gaps from not reading ‘The Divinities’, the first book in the series, but it didn’t seem to matter. There’s a lot of depth and complex detail in the book, which can slow the pace, but when it picks up it hurtles along!
It’s dark, intense, disturbing and complex. A decent crime thriller read.
I really enjoyed the plot layers, and you have to keep focused as past and present collide in this well written crime thriller. Added into the mix is a seemingly Middle East connected abduction, than spirals into another connection, bringing both investigations on a similar tangent. The relationship between Drake and Crane adds a further dimension, and although suffers from mistrust, they make an interesting team. Both have layers, and I may have some missing gaps from not reading ‘The Divinities’, the first book in the series, but it didn’t seem to matter. There’s a lot of depth and complex detail in the book, which can slow the pace, but when it picks up it hurtles along!
It’s dark, intense, disturbing and complex. A decent crime thriller read.
September 9, 2020
The second book of the Crane and Drake series set in London. This is an urban thriller with an enigmatic team of investigators who work in the private sector as they both have issues with the establishment. Cal Drake is an ex-detective inspector, who after a stint in undercover left the police force disillusioned. Ray Crane is a forensic pathologist estranged from her family.
The menacing atmosphere is established from the first page, as is the vibrant urban setting. The observations and characters in the early chapters give the novel a good sense of place. The plot pulls together elements from the first book in the series, and a current, seemingly unrelated case for the new investigative team. Ray's background is exposed in this second story and the team dynamic becomes stronger.
The characters are authentic and diverse, and it's easy to empathise with the two protagonists. The plot is intricate and cleverly layered to produce a relevant gritty thriller that exposes the crime in the city and beyond.
It reads, as a standalone but the quality of the writing makes reading the series a must.
I received a copy of this book from Black Thorn Books in return for an honest review.
The menacing atmosphere is established from the first page, as is the vibrant urban setting. The observations and characters in the early chapters give the novel a good sense of place. The plot pulls together elements from the first book in the series, and a current, seemingly unrelated case for the new investigative team. Ray's background is exposed in this second story and the team dynamic becomes stronger.
The characters are authentic and diverse, and it's easy to empathise with the two protagonists. The plot is intricate and cleverly layered to produce a relevant gritty thriller that exposes the crime in the city and beyond.
It reads, as a standalone but the quality of the writing makes reading the series a must.
I received a copy of this book from Black Thorn Books in return for an honest review.
September 19, 2020
# The Heights #
Started really well, finding a a head rolling around on a train. Fortunately it’s been wrapped up in newspaper. I thought wow if this is the start I think I will enjoy this book. Not that I am onto heads rolling around on a train. I like myself thrillers and this is definitely one hell of a thriller. I was hooked the book really had got me and continued like this not all the way through it had a couple of slower periods but nothing to want me to put the book down had got too involved and no matter how a couple of times it seemed a little slow i Was to invested I actually wanted to know how it ended because the twist and turns in the book kept throwing me off. It actually was really something when a twist would come because you just was not expecting it. It also made you really sit up and think oh definitely just as you thought you where on the right track the author threw another couple of twists just at the right time. God what a book with all the twists coming like they did blood awesome to be fair. Loved it if you like thrillers then this is a book that just as to be read. I am only marking it down one star which if I had a choice it would be half a star just because I hit a couple of slow parts I don’t think I am being unfair.
Started really well, finding a a head rolling around on a train. Fortunately it’s been wrapped up in newspaper. I thought wow if this is the start I think I will enjoy this book. Not that I am onto heads rolling around on a train. I like myself thrillers and this is definitely one hell of a thriller. I was hooked the book really had got me and continued like this not all the way through it had a couple of slower periods but nothing to want me to put the book down had got too involved and no matter how a couple of times it seemed a little slow i Was to invested I actually wanted to know how it ended because the twist and turns in the book kept throwing me off. It actually was really something when a twist would come because you just was not expecting it. It also made you really sit up and think oh definitely just as you thought you where on the right track the author threw another couple of twists just at the right time. God what a book with all the twists coming like they did blood awesome to be fair. Loved it if you like thrillers then this is a book that just as to be read. I am only marking it down one star which if I had a choice it would be half a star just because I hit a couple of slow parts I don’t think I am being unfair.
May 4, 2020
Good read but felt like something was missing. I enjoyed this story, good character development and it held my attention, though it wasn’t as enjoyable as other crime thrillers I’ve read. There were many characters to keep up with, and the merging with private investigators and police I found a little confusing, especially as many knew each other previously. It felt like a great recipe that lacked an ingredient, yet hard to distinguish just which ingredient was missing. I may read the previous book to see if that helps explain things better. I thought this would be a stand alone book. I was quite slow to warm up to it, and not an instant page turner. I was ready to put it away more than once but always try to finish my books unless something in the story is overly offensive which is not the case here. For me, The Heights was a good but not great read.
Thanks to Parker Bilal, Black Thorn publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks to Parker Bilal, Black Thorn publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 2, 2020
A gritty, dark & twisty novel!
'Sometimes what is underground should stay buried...' what a tagline! This novel is intriguing from the start and I didn't want to put it down until the end.
Bilal's writing is engrossing & filled with tense moments. I love Drake & Crane as lead characters they have a really interesting dysfunctional dynamic.
It just missed out on 5⭐because found it dragged slightly at some of the financial details but otherwise it was an engrossing read.
The perfect read for crime fans looking for more than the routine thrills. I certainly will be looking out for the next book in the Drake & Crane series.
This is book two in the series, I didn't feel at a disadvantage having not read the first installment, I think The Heights can certainly be read as a standalone but I am off to find it so I read it now and I don't miss out.
A huge thanks to Anne Cater & Black Thorn for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Sometimes what is underground should stay buried...' what a tagline! This novel is intriguing from the start and I didn't want to put it down until the end.
Bilal's writing is engrossing & filled with tense moments. I love Drake & Crane as lead characters they have a really interesting dysfunctional dynamic.
It just missed out on 5⭐because found it dragged slightly at some of the financial details but otherwise it was an engrossing read.
The perfect read for crime fans looking for more than the routine thrills. I certainly will be looking out for the next book in the Drake & Crane series.
This is book two in the series, I didn't feel at a disadvantage having not read the first installment, I think The Heights can certainly be read as a standalone but I am off to find it so I read it now and I don't miss out.
A huge thanks to Anne Cater & Black Thorn for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 6, 2020
The Heights is #2 in the Drake and Crane series, but can also be read as a stand-alone.
Set in London, ex-DI Cal Drake and forensic psychologist, Rayhana ‘Ray’ Crane are now private investigators.
When a severed head is found on a tube train their investigation begins.
The victim may be Zelda, an informant of Drakes from when he was still a DI. But why wait until now to leave her head to be found?
Drake and Crane are also tasked with finding the missing girlfriend of a client. But how are these cases linked?
This is a dark and gritty thriller that shows the dark and sometimes seedy side of multicultural London. It has complex characters with all their faults and an utterly gripping plot. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Random Things Tours for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of The Heights. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Set in London, ex-DI Cal Drake and forensic psychologist, Rayhana ‘Ray’ Crane are now private investigators.
When a severed head is found on a tube train their investigation begins.
The victim may be Zelda, an informant of Drakes from when he was still a DI. But why wait until now to leave her head to be found?
Drake and Crane are also tasked with finding the missing girlfriend of a client. But how are these cases linked?
This is a dark and gritty thriller that shows the dark and sometimes seedy side of multicultural London. It has complex characters with all their faults and an utterly gripping plot. I can thoroughly recommend it.
Thank you to Random Things Tours for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, for the promotional material and an eARC of The Heights. This is my honest and unbiased review.
August 24, 2020
Second book in the Drake/Crane PI series - first one for me. Drake is an ex policeman who left under a cloud and who is struggling with working in the private sector.. He had been working undercover as a drug dealer trying to work his way up the criminal world empire of Goran Malevich.
A severed head is found on a London Underground train by a young mother and her son starts the story off with a bang. DS Kelly Marsh is called into investigate
and begins to think that this is connected to Drake’s old undercover case.
Drake and Crane are asked by an old friend of Crane’s to investigate the disappearance of a girl.
Early parts of the story are focused on the backstory of the main characters which helps but does slow down the pace. Things pick up in the last third of the book when all the strings unravel to make sense.
3 stars from me.
A severed head is found on a London Underground train by a young mother and her son starts the story off with a bang. DS Kelly Marsh is called into investigate
and begins to think that this is connected to Drake’s old undercover case.
Drake and Crane are asked by an old friend of Crane’s to investigate the disappearance of a girl.
Early parts of the story are focused on the backstory of the main characters which helps but does slow down the pace. Things pick up in the last third of the book when all the strings unravel to make sense.
3 stars from me.
January 8, 2021
This is such a great read. Cal Drake has become a private investigator after a period working as a police officer. This book sees him become involved when a head is found on the Tube.
Along with pathologist Dr Crane he looks into the death and realises it might be linked to a previous case that he worked on. There is a lot of back story in this book but I found that it added to the story and my understanding of the characters. I am really looking forward to reading the first in the series.
The story is well written and hooked me from the beginning, I mean who wouldn’t be hooked by a head rolling around on the Tube! The story also connects to another case Crane is working on but how?
Although this is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone
Along with pathologist Dr Crane he looks into the death and realises it might be linked to a previous case that he worked on. There is a lot of back story in this book but I found that it added to the story and my understanding of the characters. I am really looking forward to reading the first in the series.
The story is well written and hooked me from the beginning, I mean who wouldn’t be hooked by a head rolling around on the Tube! The story also connects to another case Crane is working on but how?
Although this is a part of a series, it can be read as a standalone
September 9, 2021
This is the second book of what the author envisions as a trilogy involving a pair of unlikely private investigators who are based in London, but The Heights also works as a stand-alone story so not having read the first book is not an undue burden. The opening is a corker. Unfortunately, the story does not sustain the suspense. Partners Crane and Drake tackle two cases here and I believe that's one too many. The disappearance of a Middle Eastern woman advances Crane's back story, but the mystery gets short shrift from the author. I found the details distracting. So, while I wouldn't spurn the third installment in this series if I come across it at my library, I probably won't remember to seek it out, either.
August 8, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Thorn publishing for an eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
This was the second novel in the Crane and Drake thrillers. I haven't read the first one, but didn't feel that I was missing anything overly important. It read well on its own, and did a good job of introducing who you need to know even though it was the second book. This one starts off with a huge bang and sucks you in, but after that first initial wow moment I felt it was fairly slow building until the end. The last 50 pages or so, the story does pick up and you can't stop turning the pages. Overall, it was a decent thriller.
This was the second novel in the Crane and Drake thrillers. I haven't read the first one, but didn't feel that I was missing anything overly important. It read well on its own, and did a good job of introducing who you need to know even though it was the second book. This one starts off with a huge bang and sucks you in, but after that first initial wow moment I felt it was fairly slow building until the end. The last 50 pages or so, the story does pick up and you can't stop turning the pages. Overall, it was a decent thriller.
August 7, 2020
This genre of thriller has a disfuctioning male and a feisty female working together against the odds to unravel the mystery of a murder. The ex colleagues of the Police are either helpful or scheming to wreak havoc in the lives of the book's heroes.
This novel has all these characteristics, but reveals a more important story of loss and despair in the history of the wronged victims. It was beautifully crafted and an enjoyable read. Recommended.
This novel has all these characteristics, but reveals a more important story of loss and despair in the history of the wronged victims. It was beautifully crafted and an enjoyable read. Recommended.
September 12, 2020
A detective/thriller that takes you into the. London underworld when Drake and his partner Crane simultaneously try to solve two cases that end up linked . Their pasts play out through this second book of a trilogy but enough background is given to allow you to read this as a stand-alone.
Due to the detailed completion of the characters background stories the book seemed a little slow but did pick up momentum. It will be interesting to see where the third book takes the characters.
Due to the detailed completion of the characters background stories the book seemed a little slow but did pick up momentum. It will be interesting to see where the third book takes the characters.
November 29, 2020
While this was a decent, average book and I gave it 3 stars, for me there were two major flaws. First, the story took place in the London area with lots of European and middle eastern characters, so the places, names and terms were foreign to me (pet peeve of mine). Second, this book is one in a series so the ending left the reader hanging (another pet peeve) and this left the reader hanging more than most. So for me, the book was a 2, but otherwise a3.
October 20, 2022
This was the second novel in a series about a former Met DI Cal Drake and forensic psychologist Rayhana Crane.
When a severed head is found this draws Cal back to an old case which ultimately ruined his career. This was a good read but I wish I had read the first in the series. I enjoyed the author’s writing and would read more. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
When a severed head is found this draws Cal back to an old case which ultimately ruined his career. This was a good read but I wish I had read the first in the series. I enjoyed the author’s writing and would read more. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
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