February's Son (A Harry McCoy Thriller Book 2)

After reading the first book a while ago I was really looking forward to seeing how things progressed. I should mention that I have read the books that follow this one, the author is currently up to book 5 in the series.Detective Harry McCoy is a copper with dubious friends. Having recently been injured he is back to work as a new brutal case rears its head. This isn't a pleasant one as the body has a word carved into the chest. As the team is getting their heads around this murder another body turns up.This is set in the tough 1970s Glasgow area. Gangs, drugs and prostitution are rife, life is tough and for some, it is going to get tougher. The fact that Harry has dubious friends can at times work to his advantage. At others though these friends test the patience of Harry's boss. Wattie finds himself in the midst of things as well.This is one tough one to read at times as there is a lot of violence in it. If you are a fan of hard-boiled crime then you are going to want to read this one. This is a tough area, people do not hold back and if you find yourself on the wrong side then you had better know how to disappear or find yourself in a fight for your life. The book, the language and the storyline are, well colourful to say the least. It is all in context and having anything softer would not work.The cases and the evidence does start to stack up and another storyline is introduced, this one though is one that McCoy is going to try to sort out with his old friend Stevie. The author does like to give these two a battering.As I have read the next few books I am aware of things that are going to happen, but coming back to the start of the series is great as I get to find out more about the main recurring characters. McCoy seems to court trouble at every turn and it is Wattie, his colleague who is starting to keep an eye on McCoy a little more. While he is naive he does what is best.If you like tough, gang-related, crime fiction then this is a book you are going to enjoy. This one also has a great psychological edge to it and this makes it very twisted and dark. Pasts are brought up, egos are bruised, names are made and things are changing. Fabulous 2nd instalment and one I would definitely recommend.

Glasgow at its worst! The lead character is shown with all his faults but achieves success

Another meaty crime novel which isn’t for the faint hearted ! But hard to put down especially if you remember Glasgow in the 70s.

I am so pleased I came across this series, it is fantastic. The depiction of 70's Glasgow is brilliantly written, gritty, dark and menacing. The characters are wonderfully crafted, from the seriously, flawed McCoy, the larger than life Murray, the innocent Wattie to the psychopathic Cooper. The language is full on, the violence stomach churning, the investigations taken at a high speed gallop and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.

Great follow up to Bloody January! Alans writing is so descriptive and it really makes you feel as if you're in the story.

I found this better than the first Harry McCoy book. I can't help but picture him as older than he is, and I think this is down to the difference in lifestyles between the 1970s and now. A Glasgow that I don't know, but one that loves up to the hard image of the murder capital of Europe that we used to be subject to. Horrific crimes and a handling of mental health issues that are at odds with today. The child abuse from the childrens' homes that was part of the first book is a focal point in this one, and we get to know Harry and his relationship with gangster Stevie Cooper a lot more. Reading about police practices then makes for hard reading. It's strange that DNA isn't a consideration in finding out "whodunnit", and detective work was definitely harder with no mobile phones or internet. Having to walk the walk made things much slower. And yet. There is more character in this than many a modern crime book. A great read, and I can't wait to start Bobby March!! #februarysson

A very dark and bleak police procedural. Certainly evocative of the times- 1970’s. A time when police regulations were not as strict as today and liaisons were made between criminals and detectives.The author portrays the gang culture, where extreme violence bubbles in an attempt to be ‘top control’. This is the background to a string of murders where victims have messages carved into their dead bodies.The lead detective participates in criminal activities himself to meter justice. He- Harry Mc Coy, has a close relationship with Stevie Cooper a would be gang leader. Harry and Steve were in care together as children. The perpetrator to the murders is identified early on and that is an issue for me. However, the author certainly makes up for it with a twist that is both humorous and scary.The first half of the book is better than the second half. The second half dips into endless violence and becomes a bit silly; doesn’t get far. All in all though, this is an ok read.

Good plot & characters