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The Score
DS Catrin Price has been told to stay away. But sometimes you have to break the rules to find out the truth.
DS Catrin Price is on administrative duty recovering from the trauma of her last case, when she receives a series of cryptic messages from an old school friend. She tracks him down to an isolated town in the wilds of the Brecon Beacons. There she finds him destroyed by fear for his missing daughter and living in terror of a shadowy figure he refuses to name. The girl is a promising singer, and all Cat has to go on is a haunting video of her performing in a local talent competition. Other girls in the area have been going missing, and when one of them is found dead in an abandoned mine shaft, Cat fears the worst. She embarks on a journey that leads to one of London's most notorious drug gangs and into the darkest corners of her mind. Cat will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, but there are people who will do anything to keep it hidden -- and they are watching her every move.
DS Catrin Price is on administrative duty recovering from the trauma of her last case, when she receives a series of cryptic messages from an old school friend. She tracks him down to an isolated town in the wilds of the Brecon Beacons. There she finds him destroyed by fear for his missing daughter and living in terror of a shadowy figure he refuses to name. The girl is a promising singer, and all Cat has to go on is a haunting video of her performing in a local talent competition. Other girls in the area have been going missing, and when one of them is found dead in an abandoned mine shaft, Cat fears the worst. She embarks on a journey that leads to one of London's most notorious drug gangs and into the darkest corners of her mind. Cat will stop at nothing to uncover the truth, but there are people who will do anything to keep it hidden -- and they are watching her every move.
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 4, 2013
3 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Howard Marks
36 books72 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Howard Marks (born Dennis Howard Marks) was a Welsh author, former teacher and drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug Enforcement Administration. At the height of his drug career, he was said to have controlled 10% of the world's hashish trade.
Marks attended Balliol College, Oxford between 1964 and 1967 to study Natural Science, with a Physics (B.A., Oxon). Among his friends at Balliol was the epidemiologist Julian Peto, and the journalist Lynn Barber. After this he studied Physics (Grad. Inst P.) at the University of London (1967 to 1968). Then, he went back to Balliol, Oxford (1968 to 1969) to study History and Philosophy of Science (Dip. H.Ph. Sc.) and then he went on to the University of Sussex (1969 to 1970) to study Philosophy of Science.
Following his release from prison, Marks published a best-selling autobiography, Mr Nice (Secker and Warburg, 1996), which has been translated into many languages. In addition to Mr Nice, he compiled an anthology called The Howard Marks Book of Dope Stories (Vintage, 2001) and more recently a follow-on from his autobiography; Señor Nice: Straight Life From Wales to South America. Señor Nice differs from his previous book as drugs are not central to the story and, while autobiographical, the book is more Marks' own exploration of his ancestor, the pirate Sir Henry Morgan. His ex-wife Judy Marks has also written her autobiography of their life together entitled "Mr Nice and Mrs Marks" published by Ebury Press, 2006.
He is also the subject of a biopic starring Rhys Ifans as Marks entitled Mr Nice, named after his autobiography of the same name. Chloë Sevigny plays the role of his wife Judy. The film was released in October 2010.
Marks was a campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis and tours the world with a one-man show. Marks recorded the song 'Grow More Weed' with the UK dub punk band P.A.I.N.
Within the world of music, Marks has managed the Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals for a period of time in the late 1990s. He also co-recorded a song 'Three men in a boat' with his long time friend Lee Harris. The record was later remixed by River Styx (Musician, rap poet) and released on the album 'Angel Headed Hip Hop' on Genepool/Universal Ltd.
Marks stood for election to UK Parliament in 1997, on the single issue of the legalization of cannabis. He contested four seats at once: Norwich South (against future Home Secretary Charles Clarke), Norwich North, Neath and Southampton Test. The average vote was over 1%. This led to the formation of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) by Alun Buffry in 1999.
From 1999 to 2000 he was the honorary rector of Glasgow Caledonian University.
On 25 January 2015, it was announced that Marks had inoperable colorectal cancer.He died of the disease on 10 April 2016, at the age of 70.
Howard Marks (born Dennis Howard Marks) was a Welsh author, former teacher and drug smuggler who achieved notoriety as an international cannabis smuggler through high-profile court cases, supposed connections with groups such as the CIA, the IRA, MI6, and the Mafia, and his eventual conviction at the hands of the American Drug Enforcement Administration. At the height of his drug career, he was said to have controlled 10% of the world's hashish trade.
Marks attended Balliol College, Oxford between 1964 and 1967 to study Natural Science, with a Physics (B.A., Oxon). Among his friends at Balliol was the epidemiologist Julian Peto, and the journalist Lynn Barber. After this he studied Physics (Grad. Inst P.) at the University of London (1967 to 1968). Then, he went back to Balliol, Oxford (1968 to 1969) to study History and Philosophy of Science (Dip. H.Ph. Sc.) and then he went on to the University of Sussex (1969 to 1970) to study Philosophy of Science.
Following his release from prison, Marks published a best-selling autobiography, Mr Nice (Secker and Warburg, 1996), which has been translated into many languages. In addition to Mr Nice, he compiled an anthology called The Howard Marks Book of Dope Stories (Vintage, 2001) and more recently a follow-on from his autobiography; Señor Nice: Straight Life From Wales to South America. Señor Nice differs from his previous book as drugs are not central to the story and, while autobiographical, the book is more Marks' own exploration of his ancestor, the pirate Sir Henry Morgan. His ex-wife Judy Marks has also written her autobiography of their life together entitled "Mr Nice and Mrs Marks" published by Ebury Press, 2006.
He is also the subject of a biopic starring Rhys Ifans as Marks entitled Mr Nice, named after his autobiography of the same name. Chloë Sevigny plays the role of his wife Judy. The film was released in October 2010.
Marks was a campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis and tours the world with a one-man show. Marks recorded the song 'Grow More Weed' with the UK dub punk band P.A.I.N.
Within the world of music, Marks has managed the Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals for a period of time in the late 1990s. He also co-recorded a song 'Three men in a boat' with his long time friend Lee Harris. The record was later remixed by River Styx (Musician, rap poet) and released on the album 'Angel Headed Hip Hop' on Genepool/Universal Ltd.
Marks stood for election to UK Parliament in 1997, on the single issue of the legalization of cannabis. He contested four seats at once: Norwich South (against future Home Secretary Charles Clarke), Norwich North, Neath and Southampton Test. The average vote was over 1%. This led to the formation of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance (LCA) by Alun Buffry in 1999.
From 1999 to 2000 he was the honorary rector of Glasgow Caledonian University.
On 25 January 2015, it was announced that Marks had inoperable colorectal cancer.He died of the disease on 10 April 2016, at the age of 70.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 9, 2019
2.5
I’ve got to start by saying that I don’t think it warrants any less than what I’ve given it. 2.5 is average. And that is exactly what this book was.
There were things wrong with it- the pace was too slow, there were people and places in it that held absolutely no relevance and there clearly there just to add pages. It often skipped to people doing things but you didn’t have any idea as to why.
But. There were also things I liked in the book, the writing wasn’t bad, just stretched out at times. The premise was good, and could have easily been 5* if written differently or just made into a shorter story.
The ending was underwhelming when realistically it should have been a massive shock. But when you find out who the killers are it’s as if every other character in the book had already suspected it even if there were virtually no clues. And so it seemed like it wasn’t shocking.
I managed to get through it quick enough, but did end up skim reading some parts that I felt had little relevance to the story.
I’ve got to start by saying that I don’t think it warrants any less than what I’ve given it. 2.5 is average. And that is exactly what this book was.
There were things wrong with it- the pace was too slow, there were people and places in it that held absolutely no relevance and there clearly there just to add pages. It often skipped to people doing things but you didn’t have any idea as to why.
But. There were also things I liked in the book, the writing wasn’t bad, just stretched out at times. The premise was good, and could have easily been 5* if written differently or just made into a shorter story.
The ending was underwhelming when realistically it should have been a massive shock. But when you find out who the killers are it’s as if every other character in the book had already suspected it even if there were virtually no clues. And so it seemed like it wasn’t shocking.
I managed to get through it quick enough, but did end up skim reading some parts that I felt had little relevance to the story.
February 9, 2019
All a bit too unbelievable.
July 12, 2021
Great story!
A real page turner ! It kept me guessing until the end I thought it was
definitely a five star 🌟 story !
A real page turner ! It kept me guessing until the end I thought it was
definitely a five star 🌟 story !
July 2, 2025
The ending saved the book. I was lost the first 1/4 of the book. I t was hard to keep reading. Ince the pieces started to fall together it did get better. I enjoyed the ending.
June 22, 2014
Rubbish!
August 21, 2014
didn't think it was particularly well written so couldn't get into it.
April 3, 2015
I tried to give this book a chance. I've read his others and enjoyed them. This however, was simply dross and I can't torture myself into even trying to finish it
February 12, 2016
don't waste your time on this slow paced, boring & bekaaaaaar thriller.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews