The Cycle: The second prequel in the Parliament House Books series.

by John Mayer

The Calton is a community which helps itself.They trust no-one but themselves and especially not the police. So when not one, but two of their widow women are brutally assaulted and robbed of their winnings won in the Grand National horse race, the whole community is cut to the core. Burning for honour to be restored, the 14 year old only sons of the widows, Brogan McLane and Big Joe Mularkey are inducted into the Council of the Calton Bar. On that day, they become men. A suspect is found and brought to Trial late at night in the closed Calton Bar. But what are the facts and will they lead to the Sentence of Solomon ?

ebook

First published May 17, 2015

About the author

John Mayer would love to be a top-flight blues guitar player and have dated Jennifer Aniston. But what he did achieve, amongst other things was to be a 1970s Indie Record Producer before becoming a top-flight Advocate in the Supreme Court of Scotland where he specialised in international child abduction: rescuing the children, not abducting them, of course.

In his youth, John was shot! Twice! Once in Glasgow, Scotland and once in New York City. John attacks everything he does with passion. And that's what he brings to his writing.
The Parliament House Books.
The Trial Book 1
The Order Book 2
The Bones Book 3
The Trust Book 4 available Nov 03 2017
Also now available three prequels;
The Cross
The Cycle
The Boots
Coming soon
Nuclear Peace

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cycle is another relatively short read though longer than the first prequel book, The Cross.

This novel picks up fourteen years after where The Cross finishes.

The Cycle is a story that is set in Glasgow and is a dark and gritty read.

We get to know more about the main characters in this book and it is a good base for the rest of the series.

Will certainly be interested to see where the author takes the characters and readers in the next book in the series.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A teenage Brogan and a 'case' which has such personal resonance for the young man. In this book we get the first glimpse of the man that Brogan will become, but also the strength of the community links which will ultimately keep him tied to his roots and the people of the Calton Bar.

This is an interesting short story that will take only around an hour to read. Tinged with a little of the violence that defines Brogan's early years, there is also a clear demonstration of the strength of character and the intelligence that the young boy possesses. Capturing both the darkness of the gang or almost mafia-esque culture and the surety and justice seeking nature of Brogan, this book really set the scene for the later books and explains just how Brogan goes from rags to riches so to speak. It also defines the difference between Brogan and his blood-brother, Joe Mularkey but seals their friendship once and for all. A great set up for the future full length novels.