A Wanted Man

DS Heckenburg #0.5

by Paul Finch

Get back to where it all started in this race-against-the-clock short story, as a young PC Mark Heckenburg tackles the first in a long line of very bad criminals…Including an extract of the new Heck novel, HUNTED.

It’s 1997 and PC Mark ‘Heck’ Heckenburg is patrolling the rain-lashed streets of Manchester. In the quiet hours of the early morning, nothing stirs. Until the crackle of Heck’s police radio signals that all isn’t well out there in the darkness…

‘The Spider’ – a housebreaker notorious for his violent, vicious assaults – has come out to play. And it looks like Heck’s about to become his prey…

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Short Stories, Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller

70 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 19, 2015

About the author

Paul Finch is a former cop and journalist, now full-time writer. Having originally written for the television series THE BILL plus children's animation and DOCTOR WHO audio dramas, he went on to write horror, but is now best known for his crime / thriller fiction.

He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.

Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a series of books with PC Heckenburg starring in each. He is a young PC and this story actually tells us about one of his first cases.

As a 21-year-old constable, he's still a little unsure of his career choice. After an embarrassing talk-down from his commander, his thoughts stray to what he'd do with his life if he wasn't a PC. His thoughts also take him to why he is now pulling the night shift.

While one of his colleagues is eating her dinner in his car, he receives a call regarding a domestic problem. However, "Heck" knows the widowed older woman who lives there..alone. "Heck" also knows that everyone is on the alert to a man they call The Spider.. a housebreaker known for violently raping the women.

He comes face to face with The Spider and the ensuing chase takes them both to the underbelly of the railway system.

This is a short story that focuses mainly on the chase between the two men. One good .. one evil. It is very well written, lots of energy and excitement. PC Heckenburg is a terrific character. He's young, he's ambitious, and he takes his job seriously.

Also included with the short story is a short sampling of the next book out ... Hunted.

4.5 Stars

[Richard Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a very brief foray into the world of Heck, which is always going to be restrictive, but for such a short work it remains effective. A great insight into Heck The Younger.

[Paul Ataua · Rating 1 out of 5]

A young cop has just received a dressing down from his superior, and gets an opportunity to redeem himself. It was a disappointing 0.5 taster for the DS Heckenburg series from an author whose work I had previously enjoyed. Worst than this was the fact that the book was advertised as 70 pages, but the story itself came in around 32-33 pages and the rest of the pages were taken up by the title page, copyright, an extract from his another of his novels, an about the author section, and an about the publisher section. Even worse, the extract was from Book 5 in that series, suggesting that you should read the extract and then skip books 1-4 and buy Book 5. The mind boggles.

[M R B Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short story

A fast paced thriller that doesn't last long! shame it was so short. Having read the other Heckenburg books it provided an insight to his early uniform days. More would have been better.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

60 pages, yes but bearly a short story in all the self-promotion. A cheek to make you pay for this.

[Cybercrone · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed to be written sort of like a TV show. Lots and lots of action, very, very little story.
May try one in the regular series to see if the balance gets better.

[Bixi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurzgeschichte über eine spannende Verfolgungsjagd.

[Antschi100 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nett, aber unspektakulär! Da aber die Verfolgungsjagd sehr anschaulich und spannend war, 3 Sterne!

[Jelena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of the story is an action scene between the bad guy and the hero. It's nice and quick read, and good introduction to detective Heck.

[Juliette · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Fiona · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Die Spinne" ist eine Kurzgeschichte von Paul Finch. Ich würde sie allerdings nicht wirklich als "typischen Krimi" bezeichnen.
Es geht in der Geschichte um einen jungen Police-Officer, der sich beweisen will und um einen Kriminellen Einbrecher und Vergewaltiger - die "Spinne".
Die Geschichte ist etwas plump, klar bei einer Kurzgeschichte hat man nicht viel Platz um einen Plot und Charaktere zu entwickeln, aber der Autor macht es sich auch etwas einfach. Die Verfolgungsjagd hat mir allerdings gefallen, das Ende war dann etwas abrupt, aber wieder: hey das ist halt nur ne Kurzgeschichte.
Insgesamt eine nette kleine Lektüre für Zwischendurch, wirklich fesselnd ist sie aber nicht.

[Adele Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give it a 2.5 if it was available - not terrible - quite easy to read but just not great

[Angela Free · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what the Heck books are all about: fast paced, thrilling chases, and visual fight scenes.