Book Review: Unforgivable (DC Will MacReady #2), by Mike Thomas

Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre

Publication date: 27th July 2017

A very happy publication day to author, Mike Thomas!

When a malicious spectre’s intent is merely to inflict indiscriminate damage to innocent lives their actions are Unforgivable.

From the immediate tone of the story and an accompanying eye-witness report you would naturally assume that the suspect’s actions were racially motivated. As new evidence materialises complications ensue and it becomes clear that the action during the first chapter is just the beginning. So sit tight, it’s going to be a very bumpy ride…

There’s no doubt it’s an explosive beginning, both literally and metaphorically. The search for the culprit may be extensive but it’s supported by inadequate manpower, which lends an insight into interesting police procedures and few absurd errors of judgement by investigators who are, after all, only human too – solving the case of this magnitude relies on heavily on perception but government cuts, lack of shut-eye, the archaic attitude of a colleague, and even a complicated personal life on the skids can disrupt proceedings.

I’d imagine that the author’s previous background as a former police officer contributes enormously to the reality of the complex labyrinth of evidence Will MacReady and co. are faced with. The narration is edgy and feels staggeringly authentic, so too are the observations of the resulting carnage at specific locations where herds of people gather. Add to this the false sense of relief when everyone believes the danger has passed, and the engineer’s indifference as they appreciate their handiwork, and you have all the ingredients of a riveting read.

And I hadn’t even realised this was book two in a series! It’s apparent there are some references to earlier event(s) as to why MacReady is the subject of a few wisecracks from his ‘buddies’ but I’m happy to report this didn’t affect my overall reading experience. The necessary background is casually integrated into the story without dwelling or hindering the pace.

To sum up: Unforgivable has a solid plot where ordinary people face extreme scenes that no one could have prepared for – except a vengeful and vicious choreographer, of course.

Rating:      4/5

(My thanks to the publisher via their Reader’s First website for providing a copy of this title, for which It is my pleasure to provide this unbiased review.)

(Courtesy of Amazon UK)

A dark slice of Cardiff crime for fans of TONY PARSONS, JAMES OSWALD and LUCA VESTE. There isn’t always a welcome in the valleys . . .

Bombs detonate in a busy souk, causing massive devastation. 
An explosion rips apart a mosque, killing and injuring those inside. 
But this isn’t the Middle East – this is Cardiff . . . 

In a city where tensions are already running high, DC Will MacReady and his colleagues begin the desperate hunt for the attacker. If they knew the ‘why’, then surely they can find the ‘who’? But that isn’t so easy, and time is fast running out . . . 

MacReady is still trying to prove himself after the horrific events of the previous year, which left his sergeant injured and his job in jeopardy, so he feels sidelined when he’s asked to investigate a vicious knife attack on a young woman. 

But all is not as it seems with his new case, and soon MacReady must put everything on the line in order to do what is right.

BUY THE BOOK

(Courtesy of Amazon UK)

Mike Thomas was born in Wales in 1971. For more than two decades he served in the police, working some of Cardiff ’s busiest neighbourhoods in uniform, public order units, drugs teams and CID. He left the force in 2015 to write full time.

His debut novel, ‘Pocket Notebook’, was published by William Heinemann (Penguin Random House) and longlisted for the Wales Book of the Year. The author was also named as one of Waterstones’ ‘New Voices’ for 2010. His second novel, ‘Ugly Bus’, is currently in development for a six part television series with the BBC.

The first in the MacReady series of novels, ‘Ash and Bones’, was released August 2016 by Bonnier Zaffre. ‘Unforgivable‘, the second in the series, is released in July 2017.

He lives in the wilds of Portugal with his wife and two children.

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