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Paterson & Clocks #9
Slaughtered as They Slept
Meet Paterson and Clocks. The police detectives who never play by the rules.
Paterson and Clocks are faced with a horrific crime scene. A mother lies brutally murdered in her ransacked home. Beside her are the bloodstained bodies of the two police officers who were first on the scene. In the bedroom are the victim’s two children, a six-year-old boy and a baby, slaughtered as they slept.
And then comes the sound of breaking glass from the next room.
The killer is still there . . .
Paterson sets off in hot pursuit across the rooftops. But after a desperate chase, the killer escapes.
The following day, another woman is found dead in her flat, her decapitated body carefully posed in her living room, her wrists pierced by crucifixes.
Why were these women targeted?
Paterson and Clocks have never had to deal with a killer like this. A killer who shows no mercy. A killer who can’t be reasoned with. A killer who leaves no trace.
The bodies are piling up. To stop the carnage, the two detectives must break every rule in the book.
At the same time, married life is not turning out as Clocks had hoped, and his newly-discovered son has just given him some very bad news . . .
Paterson and Clocks are faced with a horrific crime scene. A mother lies brutally murdered in her ransacked home. Beside her are the bloodstained bodies of the two police officers who were first on the scene. In the bedroom are the victim’s two children, a six-year-old boy and a baby, slaughtered as they slept.
And then comes the sound of breaking glass from the next room.
The killer is still there . . .
Paterson sets off in hot pursuit across the rooftops. But after a desperate chase, the killer escapes.
The following day, another woman is found dead in her flat, her decapitated body carefully posed in her living room, her wrists pierced by crucifixes.
Why were these women targeted?
Paterson and Clocks have never had to deal with a killer like this. A killer who shows no mercy. A killer who can’t be reasoned with. A killer who leaves no trace.
The bodies are piling up. To stop the carnage, the two detectives must break every rule in the book.
At the same time, married life is not turning out as Clocks had hoped, and his newly-discovered son has just given him some very bad news . . .
- GenresFiction
307 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2023
174 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
March 2, 2023
Clocks and Patterson are back and I am doing the happy dance. These are two detectives who have thrown the rule book out. I love the one liners that spout frequently from the mouth of Clocks, he honestly has no filter. The banter between colleagues, gritty, brutal and not for the squeamish. These two are on the hunt for a nasty serial killer who has religious connotations. Another action packed crime thriller which had me sat on the edge of my seat and constantly holding my breath. If this is your first foray into the world of Clocks and Patterson there is a whole series to catch up on. Loved it!!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
March 6, 2023
This was my first time reading a Parker book and Slaughtered as they slept was in the middle of a series, although it can be read as a stand alone.
I really enjoyed the story, and the authors writing style. It was an edge of your seat type thriller, needing to know what happens next, but it also has a fair bit of a comedy element too it.
I found that, it felt like I had started reading kind of in the middle, so maybe starting from the beginning would have been better for me. The story was a bit too heavy with the dialogue for me, and therefore the book was more character based which is absolutely fine… however i wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of one of the main characters.
There is Paterson and Clocks – Paterson who is the guv is great. I loved him, he was funny and serious when needed.
BUT clocks kind of started grating on my nerves. In the beginning he was definitely a funny, unprofessional and carefree character and that was a breath of fresh air for me… but he started to become a little offensive, I am not easily offended and he did not offend me at all but it got a little overbearing at times, but if your looking for that kind of character than he will be a hoot for you.
I got more of a like 1980’s kind of vibe with these characters rather than them living in the same year as me.
Overall I found the book to be enjoyable and it would definitely be a series I would like to maybe go and start from the beginning as I may find a difference of opinion. This probably the kind of book and style I would recommend to someone like my dad. I know him and clocks would definitely become bruh’s!!
I really enjoyed the story, and the authors writing style. It was an edge of your seat type thriller, needing to know what happens next, but it also has a fair bit of a comedy element too it.
I found that, it felt like I had started reading kind of in the middle, so maybe starting from the beginning would have been better for me. The story was a bit too heavy with the dialogue for me, and therefore the book was more character based which is absolutely fine… however i wasn’t exactly the biggest fan of one of the main characters.
There is Paterson and Clocks – Paterson who is the guv is great. I loved him, he was funny and serious when needed.
BUT clocks kind of started grating on my nerves. In the beginning he was definitely a funny, unprofessional and carefree character and that was a breath of fresh air for me… but he started to become a little offensive, I am not easily offended and he did not offend me at all but it got a little overbearing at times, but if your looking for that kind of character than he will be a hoot for you.
I got more of a like 1980’s kind of vibe with these characters rather than them living in the same year as me.
Overall I found the book to be enjoyable and it would definitely be a series I would like to maybe go and start from the beginning as I may find a difference of opinion. This probably the kind of book and style I would recommend to someone like my dad. I know him and clocks would definitely become bruh’s!!
February 19, 2023
This was a cracker. It starts with a horrific crime with some religious overtones with the discovery of the murder of a young mother with her two young children. The two policemen first on the scene are also brutally murdered so Paterson and Clocks and the rest of the team are even more determined to catch the killer.
We find out early enough who the killer is but the subsequent hunt for him is quite intense and Paterson and Clocks unorthodox methods soon come to the fore. I love these two characters, definitely not for the faint-hearted and Clocks gets more foul-mouthed by the minute. I really couldn't put this down and read it in a day. There are few surprise reveals in this, and the twist towards the end was totally unexpected and a real wow moment. Can't wait to read more in this series.
My thanks to Joffe Books for an advance copy of this, and this is my honest review.
We find out early enough who the killer is but the subsequent hunt for him is quite intense and Paterson and Clocks unorthodox methods soon come to the fore. I love these two characters, definitely not for the faint-hearted and Clocks gets more foul-mouthed by the minute. I really couldn't put this down and read it in a day. There are few surprise reveals in this, and the twist towards the end was totally unexpected and a real wow moment. Can't wait to read more in this series.
My thanks to Joffe Books for an advance copy of this, and this is my honest review.
February 14, 2023
Not what I was expecting, but a pleasant surprise anyways. Were I though this would be a nice murder mystery with police officers as main characters, I found a very well constructed thriller plot, where the hunt for a serial killer (whose identity we get to know pretty soon) gets extended for the entirety of the plot.
What I especially liked about this book are three things:
1. The action scenes are so well written that I got to a point I didn´t mind much if the murderer escaped multiple times, by pure chance. I got the feeling I was, instead of reading, watching an awesome thriller. So yep, even though there was barely no mystery (unfortunately for me, cause I prefer mystery than action), it didn´t particularly bother me.
2. The killer was brutal. There´s no other way to describe it. I liked how he was characterized since I had no problem imagining him doing his worst and fear for the victims (I feel lately I haven´t been reading thrillers where I actually feel the murderer as a real menace... But this book achieves it)
3. Clocks is the best. I love his sense of humor and I think it´s a good balance for the novel, since everything in the plot is so tragic and overwhelming in general.
Overall. I didn´t expect to like this much this book, the cliffhanger in the end got me hooked and I want to read more of Paterson and Clocks :D
What I especially liked about this book are three things:
1. The action scenes are so well written that I got to a point I didn´t mind much if the murderer escaped multiple times, by pure chance. I got the feeling I was, instead of reading, watching an awesome thriller. So yep, even though there was barely no mystery (unfortunately for me, cause I prefer mystery than action), it didn´t particularly bother me.
2. The killer was brutal. There´s no other way to describe it. I liked how he was characterized since I had no problem imagining him doing his worst and fear for the victims (I feel lately I haven´t been reading thrillers where I actually feel the murderer as a real menace... But this book achieves it)
3. Clocks is the best. I love his sense of humor and I think it´s a good balance for the novel, since everything in the plot is so tragic and overwhelming in general.
Overall. I didn´t expect to like this much this book, the cliffhanger in the end got me hooked and I want to read more of Paterson and Clocks :D
March 4, 2023
I DNF’d this book 100 pages in.
It was super quirky and not my style.
It was super quirky and not my style.
February 5, 2023
Detectives Paterson and Clocks, series book nine.
This books starts at number 42 leman House, PCs Summers and Johnson a woman lying faced up with a large crucifix out of her chest, Summers is struck going down with a large knife in his neck, Johnson turns to see a wide eyed man then feeling a sharp pain a knife in his throat embedded in his larynx all Slaughtered.
Hollins Paterson and Clocks are responding to the assistance call at the scene a woman two police officers and worse of all a small boy and a baby have all been murdered in a small two bedroom flat, Slaughtered as they slept.
And the chase is on this maniac murderer takes the two detectives on a very wild chase before any more gruesome murders that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
I love these two characters as we get more banter mayhem they are good together bonded in work and private lives, Johnny may wind Ray up a lot but he says it how it is no monkey business that makes this series a joy to read.
This book is gritty and sharp and the murderer giving them the run around he's one fast individual that wont stop with a wild goose chase and more murders, the guys want him either dead or alive.
Fantastic book that was well worth waiting for from this author and for that I award a big five stars
This books starts at number 42 leman House, PCs Summers and Johnson a woman lying faced up with a large crucifix out of her chest, Summers is struck going down with a large knife in his neck, Johnson turns to see a wide eyed man then feeling a sharp pain a knife in his throat embedded in his larynx all Slaughtered.
Hollins Paterson and Clocks are responding to the assistance call at the scene a woman two police officers and worse of all a small boy and a baby have all been murdered in a small two bedroom flat, Slaughtered as they slept.
And the chase is on this maniac murderer takes the two detectives on a very wild chase before any more gruesome murders that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
I love these two characters as we get more banter mayhem they are good together bonded in work and private lives, Johnny may wind Ray up a lot but he says it how it is no monkey business that makes this series a joy to read.
This book is gritty and sharp and the murderer giving them the run around he's one fast individual that wont stop with a wild goose chase and more murders, the guys want him either dead or alive.
Fantastic book that was well worth waiting for from this author and for that I award a big five stars
February 26, 2023
Absolutely brilliant
What a rollercoaster of a read,twists,turns,intrigue and a lot of laughs, Clocks is so much like Hoon, a character in J D Kirks novels, rough with a heart of gold.
I did not see that ending coming.
The only problem I have,is,it is far to long between the new books coming out.
What a rollercoaster of a read,twists,turns,intrigue and a lot of laughs, Clocks is so much like Hoon, a character in J D Kirks novels, rough with a heart of gold.
I did not see that ending coming.
The only problem I have,is,it is far to long between the new books coming out.
February 28, 2023
I was drawn to this book by the title, so had no idea it was a series! The story gripped me instantly and i found it difficult to put this down. The story follows two police detectives, Clocks and Paterson, as they investigate murders that are happening with religious undertones. With lots of twists and turns, we follow these characters as they attempt to track down the killer with a lot of chaos happening as the story unravels. I will be definitely reading the others now as i loved these characters and how they were written and the ending left me wanting more!!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
February 25, 2023
I had a bit of a love, hate relationship with this book, and have to confess after a few chapters, I put it to oneside, for a couple of days.
When I started to read again,I was able to appreciate a good storyline and plot with strong characters.
Maybe the author was trying to portray how the main characters communicated with each other. The constant swearing, just grinded and spoilt at times the story.
As a whole, I have to say it's an intruging, enjoyable story. I am sure others will enjoy the book and look on things differently.
My thanks to Joffe books for the copy. This is my honest, unbiased review.
When I started to read again,I was able to appreciate a good storyline and plot with strong characters.
Maybe the author was trying to portray how the main characters communicated with each other. The constant swearing, just grinded and spoilt at times the story.
As a whole, I have to say it's an intruging, enjoyable story. I am sure others will enjoy the book and look on things differently.
My thanks to Joffe books for the copy. This is my honest, unbiased review.
February 12, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
I wanted to read this book from the title and description. I didn’t realise it was one in a series that I hadn’t read the others. Despite this I really enjoyed it.
When a young woman and her baby are murdered, and the responding police officers are also murdered, Paterson and Clocks are called in to investigate. They find a link to the church, but then another woman is murdered. They quickly find a suspect and it then becomes a game of cat and mouse of them trying to catch him.
I loved this book. The way Clocks speaks had me smiling. Both Clocks and a Paterson were larger than life characters and this really came across in the way they were written. Both upholding the the law but not afraid to bend the rules to get the bad guys. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
I wanted to read this book from the title and description. I didn’t realise it was one in a series that I hadn’t read the others. Despite this I really enjoyed it.
When a young woman and her baby are murdered, and the responding police officers are also murdered, Paterson and Clocks are called in to investigate. They find a link to the church, but then another woman is murdered. They quickly find a suspect and it then becomes a game of cat and mouse of them trying to catch him.
I loved this book. The way Clocks speaks had me smiling. Both Clocks and a Paterson were larger than life characters and this really came across in the way they were written. Both upholding the the law but not afraid to bend the rules to get the bad guys. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!
February 5, 2023
Steve Parker has created a riveting story that holds your attention the whole way through.
There are 2 detectives Clocks and Patterson that are not exactly on the straight and narrow but they are chasing a psycho that thinks he's doing the work of God. This story will take you through some rough situations for these 2 detectives and some of the descriptions will make you feel at if you are there with them. Buckle up for a wild ride.
The only down fall I found in this book is that Detective Clocks has an accent that is very hard to read and understand sometimes the way it is depicted in the book.
There are 2 detectives Clocks and Patterson that are not exactly on the straight and narrow but they are chasing a psycho that thinks he's doing the work of God. This story will take you through some rough situations for these 2 detectives and some of the descriptions will make you feel at if you are there with them. Buckle up for a wild ride.
The only down fall I found in this book is that Detective Clocks has an accent that is very hard to read and understand sometimes the way it is depicted in the book.
March 17, 2023
OTT
Used to enjoy these but they have now gone way beyond the realms of possibility, rough tough DCI’s are great, but I have an upper limit
Used to enjoy these but they have now gone way beyond the realms of possibility, rough tough DCI’s are great, but I have an upper limit
March 13, 2023
I am a huge fan of Steve’s work and have been for a while. I have read and loved each and every book in the series featuring Detectives Paterson and Clocks. ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ is the ninth book in the Paterson and Clocks series and what a cracking addition to a series it really is. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that I love both Paterson and Clocks and I love the working relationship that they have with each other. Both are loyal to each other. They work well as a team and they certainly get results although sometimes they end up bending the law and occasionally have to step outside the law. I have to say that I have a distinct soft spot for Detective Clocks who cracks me up every time. He is a man of a particular age, who has no filter and just comes out with things that perhaps you shouldn’t voice out loud. Clocks just doesn’t care. Clocks can rub people up the wrong way but he just doesn’t seem to care and carries on regardless. Clocks thinks an awful lot of Paterson and Clocks has been keeping his eye on his colleague, as Paterson seems to be on a bit of a slippery slope.
As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was reading something special and that I would find it hard to put the book down. I started reading and kept forgetting to stop. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the character that I would still be sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. My Kindle was well travelled that day because it went everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out for my two favourite detectives and whether or not they managed to solve the crime. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ and had to say goodbye to Paterson, Clocks and the rest of the characters. I found ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ to be the true definition of an unputdownable page turner of a read. The story was gritty, gripping, tense and dramatic and I loved it!
‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Steve Parker. Steve has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Steve certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of story and then some. For me, this story started with a bang, hit the ground running and maintained one hell of a fast pace. Despite the seriousness of the story, there were times when I literally laughed out loud at something that Clocks came out with. I have to say that in a sense, Clocks reminds me of a much loved and much missed family member. The fact that Steve is a former policeman himself helps to make the story seem that bit more authentic. Reading ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to it than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. I love the way in which Steve makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Steve’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have to say that I love both Paterson and Clocks and I love the working relationship that they have with each other. Both are loyal to each other. They work well as a team and they certainly get results although sometimes they end up bending the law and occasionally have to step outside the law. I have to say that I have a distinct soft spot for Detective Clocks who cracks me up every time. He is a man of a particular age, who has no filter and just comes out with things that perhaps you shouldn’t voice out loud. Clocks just doesn’t care. Clocks can rub people up the wrong way but he just doesn’t seem to care and carries on regardless. Clocks thinks an awful lot of Paterson and Clocks has been keeping his eye on his colleague, as Paterson seems to be on a bit of a slippery slope.
As soon as I started reading, I knew that I was reading something special and that I would find it hard to put the book down. I started reading and kept forgetting to stop. I would pick the book up only intending to read a chapter or two but I would become so wrapped up in the story and in the lives of the character that I would still be sat there reading several chapters and an hour or so later. My Kindle was well travelled that day because it went everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out for my two favourite detectives and whether or not they managed to solve the crime. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ and had to say goodbye to Paterson, Clocks and the rest of the characters. I found ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ to be the true definition of an unputdownable page turner of a read. The story was gritty, gripping, tense and dramatic and I loved it!
‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Steve Parker. Steve has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Steve certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of story and then some. For me, this story started with a bang, hit the ground running and maintained one hell of a fast pace. Despite the seriousness of the story, there were times when I literally laughed out loud at something that Clocks came out with. I have to say that in a sense, Clocks reminds me of a much loved and much missed family member. The fact that Steve is a former policeman himself helps to make the story seem that bit more authentic. Reading ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to it than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. I love the way in which Steve makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Slaughtered As They Slept’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Steve’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
March 7, 2023
Two of my absolute favourite detectives are finally back again!!
Detective Supt Ray Paterson is young, good looking and extremely wealthy, and at the start of the series was on a fast track to the top until it all went wrong, whilst DI Johnny Clocks is the complete opposite - loud, foul-mouthed and brash having come up through the ranks but a loyal friend for life once he decides he likes you, a bit like a rabid Labrador. The pair have since been through so much together and are now inseparable but Clocks is getting worried about just how far into the dark side Ray has stepped. He also has the problem of his armed robber son, recently discovered at his wedding to ex DI Lyndsey Kitchener, a tactical firearms officer who is now working for Wol’s little gang of problem solvers.
Day one presents Peterson and Clocks with the devastating scene of a mother, her young son and her baby all murdered in their home with religious overtones. The first two uniformed officers on the scene also fall victim to the killer’s knife and Paterson takes off after the man and his two devil hounds in a pursuit across the rooftops until cornered, the man escapes a shootout by Clocks. The biblical utterings by the killer lead the detectives to a local church where they discover the name of their suspect and a shocking cover up. Day two reveals another murdered and defiled woman, a churchgoer like the first victim, with a bizarre link between the two cases. It becomes clear David Steers believes he is some kind of avenging angel ridding the world of sin in all its forms. A terrifying standoff on Tower Bridge leads to absolute carnage and the realisation that this man needs to be stopped by any means possible before he can kill again. And knowing Paterson and Clocks, nothing is off limits.
The repartee between the two extremely un-pc and incredible pair of detectives in this book is even better than before and had me in stitches at times. Definitely more Sweeney than pc and I completely love the pair of them! Once again the pace is terrific with loads of shocking and gripping action, and this really is a book that kept me hooked till the very last unexpected pages. Clocks and Paterson make a great team and have a fantastic relationship built on shared and very traumatic events, together with the rest of their team, including Jackie, “Monkey” Harris, Tommy Gunn and “Dusty” Doneghan, making the book fun at the same time as tackling deadly serious crimes. If you haven't, I urge you to read the series in order. There is a lot of history and although it is well described and the books can be enjoyed as standalones, it just wouldn't be the same reading them out of turn. There’s a couple of unresolved threads at the end of the book which leaves me begging for the next book soon. 5*
Detective Supt Ray Paterson is young, good looking and extremely wealthy, and at the start of the series was on a fast track to the top until it all went wrong, whilst DI Johnny Clocks is the complete opposite - loud, foul-mouthed and brash having come up through the ranks but a loyal friend for life once he decides he likes you, a bit like a rabid Labrador. The pair have since been through so much together and are now inseparable but Clocks is getting worried about just how far into the dark side Ray has stepped. He also has the problem of his armed robber son, recently discovered at his wedding to ex DI Lyndsey Kitchener, a tactical firearms officer who is now working for Wol’s little gang of problem solvers.
Day one presents Peterson and Clocks with the devastating scene of a mother, her young son and her baby all murdered in their home with religious overtones. The first two uniformed officers on the scene also fall victim to the killer’s knife and Paterson takes off after the man and his two devil hounds in a pursuit across the rooftops until cornered, the man escapes a shootout by Clocks. The biblical utterings by the killer lead the detectives to a local church where they discover the name of their suspect and a shocking cover up. Day two reveals another murdered and defiled woman, a churchgoer like the first victim, with a bizarre link between the two cases. It becomes clear David Steers believes he is some kind of avenging angel ridding the world of sin in all its forms. A terrifying standoff on Tower Bridge leads to absolute carnage and the realisation that this man needs to be stopped by any means possible before he can kill again. And knowing Paterson and Clocks, nothing is off limits.
The repartee between the two extremely un-pc and incredible pair of detectives in this book is even better than before and had me in stitches at times. Definitely more Sweeney than pc and I completely love the pair of them! Once again the pace is terrific with loads of shocking and gripping action, and this really is a book that kept me hooked till the very last unexpected pages. Clocks and Paterson make a great team and have a fantastic relationship built on shared and very traumatic events, together with the rest of their team, including Jackie, “Monkey” Harris, Tommy Gunn and “Dusty” Doneghan, making the book fun at the same time as tackling deadly serious crimes. If you haven't, I urge you to read the series in order. There is a lot of history and although it is well described and the books can be enjoyed as standalones, it just wouldn't be the same reading them out of turn. There’s a couple of unresolved threads at the end of the book which leaves me begging for the next book soon. 5*
December 22, 2023
Slaughtered As They Slept. My fellow readers. Alright. Here we go. The plot is amazing. Very original.
It fits to modern times from the laws prospective to the communities being protected from the dangers that surrounds them. First I want to say that the killer, his character is off the chain. I mean he is a sicko that the most hard nose people of New York who walk the back alleys at night, do not want to cross paths with. I mean if you have a dog try to attack me with the word kill-. Let me just put this out there.
If I survive said dog attack that you instigated. I’m coming after you and I’m coming after you real hard. There will be no DNA of you left behind. You feel me?! That’s how I see Patterson’s motivation when he’s chasing down the crazy insane nut jobs who Clocks’s refer to them as.
We will get Clocks’s character in a moment. Back to the plot. Again the story is brilliantly crafted and worded beautifully. Clocks’s thick Scottish accent was phenomenal. I actually felt that I was right next to the man every time he talked.
I was waiting for Eejit pop up somewhere. The story is very engaging and spine tingling psychologically insane. But that’s a good thing. The dark side of the killer was very evil and very sinister and that is what makes Patterson and Clocks’s motives all the more clear among their team to catch him. Now Clocks’s character really got on my nerves.
He screwed up the whole enjoyment of the book for me. Having his character being portrayed as a comedian, with the driest humor the is on the planet was very bad for the book. His humor is so dry the Sahara desert would be begging for water. I’m for real.I just think that the book can do without the childish humor and “D” wad comments can be left out.
I know the stars says that the book is good, but I believe that it could be better without that useless dialogue. Like I said the writing is amazing in the book. The narrative, the dialogue and certain characteristics of the main characters are out of this world. Perhaps maybe even position the book series to be a tv show. I enjoyed the entertainment as much as I enjoyed reading some great writing.
I give this book two snaps and a, “Clocks: Patterson, are we in the freaking movie twister? Patterson: Why? Clocks: Because instead of seeing darn flying cows, I saw a flying dog back there. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
It fits to modern times from the laws prospective to the communities being protected from the dangers that surrounds them. First I want to say that the killer, his character is off the chain. I mean he is a sicko that the most hard nose people of New York who walk the back alleys at night, do not want to cross paths with. I mean if you have a dog try to attack me with the word kill-. Let me just put this out there.
If I survive said dog attack that you instigated. I’m coming after you and I’m coming after you real hard. There will be no DNA of you left behind. You feel me?! That’s how I see Patterson’s motivation when he’s chasing down the crazy insane nut jobs who Clocks’s refer to them as.
We will get Clocks’s character in a moment. Back to the plot. Again the story is brilliantly crafted and worded beautifully. Clocks’s thick Scottish accent was phenomenal. I actually felt that I was right next to the man every time he talked.
I was waiting for Eejit pop up somewhere. The story is very engaging and spine tingling psychologically insane. But that’s a good thing. The dark side of the killer was very evil and very sinister and that is what makes Patterson and Clocks’s motives all the more clear among their team to catch him. Now Clocks’s character really got on my nerves.
He screwed up the whole enjoyment of the book for me. Having his character being portrayed as a comedian, with the driest humor the is on the planet was very bad for the book. His humor is so dry the Sahara desert would be begging for water. I’m for real.I just think that the book can do without the childish humor and “D” wad comments can be left out.
I know the stars says that the book is good, but I believe that it could be better without that useless dialogue. Like I said the writing is amazing in the book. The narrative, the dialogue and certain characteristics of the main characters are out of this world. Perhaps maybe even position the book series to be a tv show. I enjoyed the entertainment as much as I enjoyed reading some great writing.
I give this book two snaps and a, “Clocks: Patterson, are we in the freaking movie twister? Patterson: Why? Clocks: Because instead of seeing darn flying cows, I saw a flying dog back there. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2023
307 pages
5 stars
Superintendent Ray Paterson and DI Johnny Clocks find themselves awfully deep in this latest story from Steve Parker. They are facing a perpetrator unlike any they have faced before.
It all begins when they respond to a home where they find five bodies. One mother, two young children and two police officers. The suspect is still in the house. Escaping out the window with Paterson hot on his trail, they jump from rooftop to rooftop. The man gets away.
Ray and Johnny call the team together and the search for this seemingly deranged man becomes intense. Working with very little and restless sleep, the team is desperate, but the killings continue. The suspect turns out to be delusional and has fixated on Paterson. He calls him the devil and Clocks is called a demon - and seems to really mean it. He is a master of escape.
Johnny is in rare form in this book. His disrespectful?, snarky?, irreverent? comments are nearly non-stop. At the same time, Ray is losing control. They get into some very dangerous situations while trying to capture this man.
I took some time to think about this book. I believe it just may be the best Mr. Parker has penned yet. While I wanted to protest parts of it, I found I couldn’t. Ray and Johnny are anti-heroes that deserve respect, even if the reader doesn’t agree with their unconventional tactics. I would say that the novel has a medium gore score. The writing is good and the insults that Johnny flings… well, some are funny, but they are all biting and on point.
I really appreciate the relationship between Paterson and Clocks. The joking and true camaraderie that the men share is good to see. The relationship of the two men to the rest of the team is solid. They truly care and would do anything for their “bosses.”
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
5 stars
Superintendent Ray Paterson and DI Johnny Clocks find themselves awfully deep in this latest story from Steve Parker. They are facing a perpetrator unlike any they have faced before.
It all begins when they respond to a home where they find five bodies. One mother, two young children and two police officers. The suspect is still in the house. Escaping out the window with Paterson hot on his trail, they jump from rooftop to rooftop. The man gets away.
Ray and Johnny call the team together and the search for this seemingly deranged man becomes intense. Working with very little and restless sleep, the team is desperate, but the killings continue. The suspect turns out to be delusional and has fixated on Paterson. He calls him the devil and Clocks is called a demon - and seems to really mean it. He is a master of escape.
Johnny is in rare form in this book. His disrespectful?, snarky?, irreverent? comments are nearly non-stop. At the same time, Ray is losing control. They get into some very dangerous situations while trying to capture this man.
I took some time to think about this book. I believe it just may be the best Mr. Parker has penned yet. While I wanted to protest parts of it, I found I couldn’t. Ray and Johnny are anti-heroes that deserve respect, even if the reader doesn’t agree with their unconventional tactics. I would say that the novel has a medium gore score. The writing is good and the insults that Johnny flings… well, some are funny, but they are all biting and on point.
I really appreciate the relationship between Paterson and Clocks. The joking and true camaraderie that the men share is good to see. The relationship of the two men to the rest of the team is solid. They truly care and would do anything for their “bosses.”
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.
February 21, 2023
SLAUGHTERED AS THEY SLEPT
by Steve Parker
3 🌟🌟🌟
Pub Date 25 Feb 2023
Paterson and Clocks are faced with a horrific crime scene. A mother lies brutally murdered in her ransacked home. Beside her are the bloodstained bodies of the two police officers who were first on the scene. In the bedroom are the victim’s two children, a six-year-old boy and a baby, slaughtered as they slept.
And then comes the sound of breaking glass from the next room.The killer is still there . . .
Paterson sets off in hot pursuit across the rooftops. But after a desperate chase, the killer escapes. The following day, another woman is found dead in her flat, her decapitated body carefully posed in her living room, her wrists pierced by crucifixes.
Why were these women targeted?
Paterson and Clocks have never had to deal with a killer like this. A killer who shows no mercy. A killer who can’t be reasoned with. A killer who leaves no trace.
The bodies are piling up. To stop the carnage, the two detectives must break every rule in the book.
At the same time, married life is not turning out as Clocks had hoped, and his newly-discovered son has just given him some very bad news .
🛑My Review🛑
Meet Paterson and Clocks. The police detectives who never play by the rules. I tried so hard to like them but i just couldn't connect with them. This book is the ninth book in the series featuring Detectives Paterson and Clock .I wanted to read this book from the title and description. I didn’t realise it was part of a big series. If you can connect with the detectives then you will love page after page of action while the detectives play cat and mouse . There is also some shocking twist. The ending also ended in a clift hanger.
#SLAUGHTEREDASTHEYSLEPT #NetGalley
by Steve Parker
3 🌟🌟🌟
Pub Date 25 Feb 2023
Paterson and Clocks are faced with a horrific crime scene. A mother lies brutally murdered in her ransacked home. Beside her are the bloodstained bodies of the two police officers who were first on the scene. In the bedroom are the victim’s two children, a six-year-old boy and a baby, slaughtered as they slept.
And then comes the sound of breaking glass from the next room.The killer is still there . . .
Paterson sets off in hot pursuit across the rooftops. But after a desperate chase, the killer escapes. The following day, another woman is found dead in her flat, her decapitated body carefully posed in her living room, her wrists pierced by crucifixes.
Why were these women targeted?
Paterson and Clocks have never had to deal with a killer like this. A killer who shows no mercy. A killer who can’t be reasoned with. A killer who leaves no trace.
The bodies are piling up. To stop the carnage, the two detectives must break every rule in the book.
At the same time, married life is not turning out as Clocks had hoped, and his newly-discovered son has just given him some very bad news .
🛑My Review🛑
Meet Paterson and Clocks. The police detectives who never play by the rules. I tried so hard to like them but i just couldn't connect with them. This book is the ninth book in the series featuring Detectives Paterson and Clock .I wanted to read this book from the title and description. I didn’t realise it was part of a big series. If you can connect with the detectives then you will love page after page of action while the detectives play cat and mouse . There is also some shocking twist. The ending also ended in a clift hanger.
#SLAUGHTEREDASTHEYSLEPT #NetGalley
November 12, 2024
Once more, Steve Parker has treated us to a gripping rollercoaster of a ride with Paterson and Clocks up to their usual tricks. Despite their questionable methods, this pair certainly get the job done, although not always within the boundaries of the law. This one was no exception. It was quite a chilling plot, with the killer being an evil and dangerous man who killed a lot of innocent people during his mission to do the will of God. It was one of those frustrating stories where every time you think he has been caught, he manages to get away and kill again. The frantic car chase made me grip my seat with anticipation as it progressed at such a fast pace I imagined I was in the vehicle with them. The author has an excellent way of describing everything and it starts to become real. Yes, there are times when I feel that Johnny Clocks’ behaviour goes just a little too far, and although some of the things he comes out with are hilarious, it does slightly detract from the story. However, I have come across people like him, and it takes me back to the 80’s when this sort of thing was normal. Over the closing chapters I got the impression that there was a big twist in the horizon and, needless to say I wasn’t wrong. The ending is interesting and didn’t really come as a surprise, although I hadn’t quite expected what actually happened. Knowing that the next book is due to be released soon, I am eagerly waiting to find out what is going to happen next in the lives of our intrepid heroes.
March 17, 2023
Paterson and Clocks are back in this adrenaline pumping addition to the series. These books may not be for the faint hearted but they definitely ARE for me. I have loved every single book and have watched this partnership of very lovable rogues put their lives on the line to take down the bad guys in whatever way they can.
The book begins with the heinous murder of a mother and her 2 young children. It soon becomes clear that they have a sadistic killer on their hands, a very fit and agile killer that challenges even the very fit Paterson.
Paterson and Clocks have suffered during their efforts to clean up Bermondsley as the series progresses we realise that each case affects both of them and also their team but they can't and won't give up. Being a team means they stick together and have each others' backs but have they gone too far this time?
The suspense begins on the first page and doesn't let up. Adrenaline pumping twists and turns all the way through keep the reader turning page after page. There is no let up this is like a non-stop roller coaster ride like you have never seen. WOW!
And as always and ending you definitely won't see coming. Mind-blowing.
Absolutely brilliant! Definitely one of the best books I have read in a long time. 5 stars from me.
The book begins with the heinous murder of a mother and her 2 young children. It soon becomes clear that they have a sadistic killer on their hands, a very fit and agile killer that challenges even the very fit Paterson.
Paterson and Clocks have suffered during their efforts to clean up Bermondsley as the series progresses we realise that each case affects both of them and also their team but they can't and won't give up. Being a team means they stick together and have each others' backs but have they gone too far this time?
The suspense begins on the first page and doesn't let up. Adrenaline pumping twists and turns all the way through keep the reader turning page after page. There is no let up this is like a non-stop roller coaster ride like you have never seen. WOW!
And as always and ending you definitely won't see coming. Mind-blowing.
Absolutely brilliant! Definitely one of the best books I have read in a long time. 5 stars from me.
February 19, 2023
Detectives Paterson and Clocks #9
Paterson and Clock are faced with a horrific crime scene. A mother lies brutally murdered in her ransacked home. Beside her are the bloodstained bodies of the two police officers who were first on the scene. In the bedroom are the victims two children, a six -year-old boy and a baby, slaughtered as they slept.
Paterson and Clocks are looking for a brutal killer who slaughtered a mother and her children while they slept. The two police officers who were first on the scene were also dead. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. There's a game of cat and mouse as Paterson and Clocks try to catch the bad guy. This is quite a gritty read. This is a well written addition to the series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #SteveParker for my ARC of #SlaughteredAsTheySlept in exchange for an honest review.
Paterson and Clock are faced with a horrific crime scene. A mother lies brutally murdered in her ransacked home. Beside her are the bloodstained bodies of the two police officers who were first on the scene. In the bedroom are the victims two children, a six -year-old boy and a baby, slaughtered as they slept.
Paterson and Clocks are looking for a brutal killer who slaughtered a mother and her children while they slept. The two police officers who were first on the scene were also dead. Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. There's a game of cat and mouse as Paterson and Clocks try to catch the bad guy. This is quite a gritty read. This is a well written addition to the series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #SteveParker for my ARC of #SlaughteredAsTheySlept in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2023
This book began with a horrific multiple murders and from the off I was thrust straight into the action as detectives Paterson and Clocks are in a desperate race against time to prevent any more deaths by the deranged killer. The story never let up in it’s breathless pace with quite a few almost heart-stopping moments. The camaraderie of Paterson and Clocks is fabulous, and although at first I did find the way Clocks spoke a bit annoying, by the end of the book I realised that if he spoke any other way I wouldn’t love him as much. He really grew on me and at times delivered some fantastic lines. And the killer? He has to be one of the most terrifying characters I’ve ever met.
This book had me by the throat from the first page until it’s final stunning climax, with plenty of twists along the way. This is the first Paterson and Clocks book I’ve read and without doubt, one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
This book had me by the throat from the first page until it’s final stunning climax, with plenty of twists along the way. This is the first Paterson and Clocks book I’ve read and without doubt, one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.
February 14, 2023
As soon as I saw this book was due out , I just had to have it!. Love the whole series and this is one of the best to date (may be read as a standalone however you will get the full impact of both detectives if you read the other ones).You can guess from the title that this is a 'no holds barred' book and yes these are trigger warnings so if extreme violence, swearing, misogyny along with everything else which is not p.c. today is not in your nature, then avoid reading this BUT if not then this is a great book and you cannot help smiling at Clocks which is the proof of a great writer that can evoke that feeling even when you know how wrong Clocks is! And as for the ending................Well I am still debating that with myself. Highly recommend if your not squeamish.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
February 8, 2023
What a story. Paterson and Clocks are back. They're as irreverent, irascible and about as unWoke as it is possible to be - especially DI Johnny Clocks. They aren't for the faint hearted, but boy are they funny. They also get the worst of the worst cases - and this is a doozy. Women, men, children and a 4 month old baby murdered in cold blood. Can they sort it - it'll take everything they've got and more than they thought they had to do it.
Loved it. Laughed out loud, and gasped with shock and horror.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Loved it. Laughed out loud, and gasped with shock and horror.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
March 5, 2024
I was sorry to finish this book! What an ending! Fabulous. I can’t wait for the next one.
Paterson and clocks have their work cut out with someone committing heinous murders. These aren’t the ordinary run of the mill, but there is a religious influence behind them. The murders are really depraved and blood thirsty, and Paterson and Clocks are against it, this is one sick individual. He always seems to be one step ahead of them.
Clocks does make me laugh. He’d never get away with his “banter” in real life he be frogmarched from the force.
I think, however, somewhere along the line, I’ve missed a couple of these, but it doesn’t matter as they can be read as a standalone.
Paterson and clocks have their work cut out with someone committing heinous murders. These aren’t the ordinary run of the mill, but there is a religious influence behind them. The murders are really depraved and blood thirsty, and Paterson and Clocks are against it, this is one sick individual. He always seems to be one step ahead of them.
Clocks does make me laugh. He’d never get away with his “banter” in real life he be frogmarched from the force.
I think, however, somewhere along the line, I’ve missed a couple of these, but it doesn’t matter as they can be read as a standalone.
March 1, 2023
Plenty of Twists and Turns
On paper you would not Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and Detective Johnny Clocks to have anything in common, but in reality they are the best of friends. They know all of each others darkest secrets and would quite likely die for each other. Ray is a well off sophisticated, educated man and Johnny is a bit of a Jack the lad. There is a lot of violence in this book but with Johnny around there is also much humour. I really enjoyed the book and did not see the end coming. Roll on the next book in the series.
On paper you would not Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and Detective Johnny Clocks to have anything in common, but in reality they are the best of friends. They know all of each others darkest secrets and would quite likely die for each other. Ray is a well off sophisticated, educated man and Johnny is a bit of a Jack the lad. There is a lot of violence in this book but with Johnny around there is also much humour. I really enjoyed the book and did not see the end coming. Roll on the next book in the series.
March 13, 2023
4* ADVANCED COPY REVIEW
I enjoyed this, not sure I was " gripped" but I was entertained, and I wasn't bored.
The prose is clear, precise and "modern" - not a read for the easily offended..."you spanners" 😊
This, the ninth Paterson & Clocks, was my first, but it will not be my last as I'd like to catch up if time allows.I enjoyed this, not sure I was " gripped"allows but I was entertained, and I wasn't bored.
The prose is clear, precise and "modern" - not a read for the easily offended..."you spanners" 😊
I enjoyed this, not sure I was " gripped" but I was entertained, and I wasn't bored.
The prose is clear, precise and "modern" - not a read for the easily offended..."you spanners" 😊
This, the ninth Paterson & Clocks, was my first, but it will not be my last as I'd like to catch up if time allows.I enjoyed this, not sure I was " gripped"allows but I was entertained, and I wasn't bored.
The prose is clear, precise and "modern" - not a read for the easily offended..."you spanners" 😊
March 13, 2023
This is the first book from this series that I have read, so I read it as a standalone but I dont think that hindered me at all, and it definitely won't be the last that I read.
I really enjoyed this read, it was a well written and gripping read with well developed characters and I didn't want to put it down.
I really enjoyed the relationship of Clocks and Paterson, it was full of banter, witty one liners and held no punches.
It is fast paced and full of action and perfect for thriller fans who love their thrillers brutally raw and real.
I really enjoyed this read, it was a well written and gripping read with well developed characters and I didn't want to put it down.
I really enjoyed the relationship of Clocks and Paterson, it was full of banter, witty one liners and held no punches.
It is fast paced and full of action and perfect for thriller fans who love their thrillers brutally raw and real.
March 23, 2023
This book is absolutely brilliant. It starts out strong, with a scene that binds you to the book, wanting to find out who could be responsible for something so horrible, so grotesque. You become completely hooked on trying to find who the person is and how they do what they do.
The author writes so well and really brings to life the speed with which the police try to solve the mystery. You feel a sense of urgency and dread as you follow the path the murderer leaves. I found myself needing to read chapter after chapter-fully hooked. Overall, an epic book.
The author writes so well and really brings to life the speed with which the police try to solve the mystery. You feel a sense of urgency and dread as you follow the path the murderer leaves. I found myself needing to read chapter after chapter-fully hooked. Overall, an epic book.
March 26, 2023
I had fun reading Paterson and Clocks banter and all the chaos around the man hunt, but at some point I just lost interest. The premise is interesting, the two detectives arrive at the crime scene to find a gruesome horrific crime and the killer is still inside the house. The hunt is quite intense and Paterson and Clocks don't always follow the rules to get the bad guy.
Overall it was an enjoyable book, just not my style.
Overall it was an enjoyable book, just not my style.
February 5, 2023
Clocks and Paterson are back. I just love their outrageous antics and banter, which shock and add humour to a grim crime situation. [Five bodies at the outset!] I find the various scenes very visual and descriptive and can imagine it being adapted for screen.
An enjoyable and shocking thriller. I recommend reading the series for maximum impact.
An enjoyable and shocking thriller. I recommend reading the series for maximum impact.
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