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Collins and Griffiths #1
Post Mortem
She closed her eyes and saw, as if on a loop, a repeating backdrop of square windows, blue sky and concrete spinning and passing, passing, passing. She could not escape the horror of falling unstoppably, irretrievably until the hard concrete reaches up. That last glimpse of them at the edge. A long-serving beat cop in the Met and a teenage girl fall to their deaths from a tower block in London's East End. Left alive on the roof are a five year old boy and rookie police officer Lizzie Griffiths. Within hours, Lizzie Griffiths has disappeared, and DPS officer Sarah Collins sets out to uncover the truth around the grisly deaths, in an investigation which takes her into the dark heart of policing in London. Grounded in the terrifying realities of policing a city where the affluent middle-classes live cheek-by-jowl with the poorest immigrants, this is a complex, intelligent, thrilling crime novel by an author who has walked the beat.
375 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2015
87 people are currently reading
1533 people want to read
About the author
Kate London
9 books115 followersKate graduated from Cambridge University and moved to Paris where she trained in theatre. In 2006 Kate joined the Metropolitan Police Service.
Like all police officers she started in uniform, working for two years on a response team, and then moved into the CID. She qualified as a detective constable then went on attachment with the police nationale in France and finished her career working as part of a Major Investigation Team on SC&01 - the Metropolitan Police Service's Homicide Command.
She resigned from the MPS in August 2014. Post Mortem is her first novel.
Like all police officers she started in uniform, working for two years on a response team, and then moved into the CID. She qualified as a detective constable then went on attachment with the police nationale in France and finished her career working as part of a Major Investigation Team on SC&01 - the Metropolitan Police Service's Homicide Command.
She resigned from the MPS in August 2014. Post Mortem is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
May 3, 2018
I wavered between three and four stars for this one but ended up going for four. It was a very realistic and consequently rather uncomfortable read.
Truth be told there was very little positive to come out of this tale of policing in England, especially as it was written by someone with considerable real experience in the field. It was sad to see that racism still occurred within the ranks, frowned upon but not always dealt with. Worst of all was the way they settled for the easiest solution and did not dig for the truth.
I admired the character of Sarah Collins - she at least only gave in when it was inevitable! I believe rookie police officer Lizzie Griffiths takes a big role in the next book. She will have to do some fancy footwork before I can be convinced about her. Is it really okay to lie and yet be forgiven because you "made a mistake." It was a pretty big mistake. Huge in fact.
Nevertheless it was an intriguing book and I read it in a day. The last third is 'unputdownable' as it gallops to its conclusion. I absolutely have to read book 2:)
Truth be told there was very little positive to come out of this tale of policing in England, especially as it was written by someone with considerable real experience in the field. It was sad to see that racism still occurred within the ranks, frowned upon but not always dealt with. Worst of all was the way they settled for the easiest solution and did not dig for the truth.
I admired the character of Sarah Collins - she at least only gave in when it was inevitable! I believe rookie police officer Lizzie Griffiths takes a big role in the next book. She will have to do some fancy footwork before I can be convinced about her. Is it really okay to lie and yet be forgiven because you "made a mistake." It was a pretty big mistake. Huge in fact.
Nevertheless it was an intriguing book and I read it in a day. The last third is 'unputdownable' as it gallops to its conclusion. I absolutely have to read book 2:)
August 25, 2015
PC Lizzie Griffiths, reasonably new to the job and PC Hadley Matthews, a twenty seven year veteran in the Met were together doing a routine check on a criminal damage call. Between two neighbours, it seemed a simple call-out; neither cops had any idea of the magnitude of the minor case; the escalation which would lead to disaster and lives which would be changed forever.
When Lizzie was found on the roof of a tower block in London’s East end, cradling a terrified five year old Ben in her arms while Inspector Kieran Shaw looked on; the bodies of a teenage girl and a seasoned cop on the ground a long way below – it was the beginning of an investigation that was to prove the heart of darkness was always near at hand. Detective Sergeant Sarah Collins along with Detective Constable Steve Bradshaw were tasked with discovering the truth; discovering why a much respected cop who only had three years until retirement had met his death alongside a teenage girl whose father was currently in the lock-up.
Within the space of a half an hour, Lizzie had disappeared – the force immediately set to tracing her but she had vanished. What was going on? As the investigation deepened, Sarah felt she was running in circles; she couldn’t get any straight answers, nothing was making any sense. The need to find Lizzie was keeping Sarah from sleeping – her confusion about the seemingly simple yet tragic events was great. Was there corruption in the force?
Post Mortem is the debut crime novel by author Kate London; her intense knowledge of what she writes is because she spent eight years at the heart of the Met’s homicide squad in London. Post Mortem is also the start of a new series, which is pretty exciting! The novel is a fast paced, gritty psychological thriller which I found hard to put down. Highly recommended to lovers of the genre!
With thanks to Goodreads First Reads giveaway and Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof to read and review.
When Lizzie was found on the roof of a tower block in London’s East end, cradling a terrified five year old Ben in her arms while Inspector Kieran Shaw looked on; the bodies of a teenage girl and a seasoned cop on the ground a long way below – it was the beginning of an investigation that was to prove the heart of darkness was always near at hand. Detective Sergeant Sarah Collins along with Detective Constable Steve Bradshaw were tasked with discovering the truth; discovering why a much respected cop who only had three years until retirement had met his death alongside a teenage girl whose father was currently in the lock-up.
Within the space of a half an hour, Lizzie had disappeared – the force immediately set to tracing her but she had vanished. What was going on? As the investigation deepened, Sarah felt she was running in circles; she couldn’t get any straight answers, nothing was making any sense. The need to find Lizzie was keeping Sarah from sleeping – her confusion about the seemingly simple yet tragic events was great. Was there corruption in the force?
Post Mortem is the debut crime novel by author Kate London; her intense knowledge of what she writes is because she spent eight years at the heart of the Met’s homicide squad in London. Post Mortem is also the start of a new series, which is pretty exciting! The novel is a fast paced, gritty psychological thriller which I found hard to put down. Highly recommended to lovers of the genre!
With thanks to Goodreads First Reads giveaway and Allen & Unwin for my uncorrected proof to read and review.
August 21, 2023
Un procedimental policial bastante aburrido.
March 21, 2021
Thrilling
August 1, 2025
A really compelling, gritty and dark story of modern day policing in London. It felt quite dark and very realistic, a tough read but a very good one.
September 8, 2022
Saben que yo no suelo leer la sinopsis de los libros, y en este caso les recomendaría que no la lean tampoco porque les cuenta prácticamente todo lo que van a leer en la historia, casi sin excepción…
En principio aclaro que no es tanto un thriller sino más bien un policial que narra un poco las internas dentro de la profesión y mucho de la corrupción y las cosas que pueden llegar a hacer por encubrir ciertas acciones que no son correctas.
Se muestra claramente un abuso de poder y manipulación por aquellos que llevan años en la profesión tanto para sus compañeros novatos como para algunas de las víctimas, y la narración deja muy en claro que muchas veces la camaradería oculta casos graves de racismo y discriminación en particular hacia los inmigrantes.
Los personajes me parecieron super planos, predecibles y nada interesantes, la narración se me hizo muy aburrida, sentí todo el tiempo que estábamos intentando averiguar algo que no iba a llevarnos a ningún lado y que en resumen no era la causa real del problema y lo más triste es que al final tenía razón.
No es un libro donde haya mucho que descubrir, si buscan un misterio no lo van a encontrar, es más bien una lectura acerca de las cosas que podrían suceder a la hora de investigar un crimen cuando la mitad de los personajes tienen alguna relación o conexión entre ellos o están tratando de cubrirse unos a otros.
Creo que si buscan una lectura que narre un poco el día a día policial en medio de una investigación pueden llegar a disfrutarlo pero lamentablemente no era lo que yo esperaba.
En principio aclaro que no es tanto un thriller sino más bien un policial que narra un poco las internas dentro de la profesión y mucho de la corrupción y las cosas que pueden llegar a hacer por encubrir ciertas acciones que no son correctas.
Se muestra claramente un abuso de poder y manipulación por aquellos que llevan años en la profesión tanto para sus compañeros novatos como para algunas de las víctimas, y la narración deja muy en claro que muchas veces la camaradería oculta casos graves de racismo y discriminación en particular hacia los inmigrantes.
Los personajes me parecieron super planos, predecibles y nada interesantes, la narración se me hizo muy aburrida, sentí todo el tiempo que estábamos intentando averiguar algo que no iba a llevarnos a ningún lado y que en resumen no era la causa real del problema y lo más triste es que al final tenía razón.
No es un libro donde haya mucho que descubrir, si buscan un misterio no lo van a encontrar, es más bien una lectura acerca de las cosas que podrían suceder a la hora de investigar un crimen cuando la mitad de los personajes tienen alguna relación o conexión entre ellos o están tratando de cubrirse unos a otros.
Creo que si buscan una lectura que narre un poco el día a día policial en medio de una investigación pueden llegar a disfrutarlo pero lamentablemente no era lo que yo esperaba.
August 16, 2022
4 estrellas
Un agente de policía y una adolescente de ascendencia musulmana caen desde la azotea de la Torre Portland, y su compañera Lizzie Griffiths queda allí abrazada a un niño de 5 años en completo shock ante la tragedia ocurrida.
Este es el punto de partida para este Thriller vertiginoso y atrapante donde una detective Sarah Collins, una solitaria que solo posee su trabajo, investiga que pasó en ese último piso ese 17 de abril y por lo cual desaparece la testigo principal que puede aclarar el confuso episodio donde murieron dos personas. A medida que Sarah avanza en la investigación de los hechos y también en la búsqueda de la joven agente que escapó, se va topando con obstáculos y limitaciones que tienen que ver con lo que indaga se relaciona con la práctica policial cotidiana de quienes recorren Londres para luchar contra el delito y las tensiones que van ocurriendo en ésta, donde los límites de ser un buen policía o uno malo son cada vez más difusos y las lealtades se juegan a cada momento de la jornada laboral.
Las protagonistas de esta novela son mujeres valientes, idealistas, con valores muy firmes, inmersas en un mundo masculino donde cualquier deslealtad es juzgada estrictamente y trae consecuencias perjudiciales para su profesión y su vida. Tanto Sarah como Lizzie actúan de acuerdo a sus ideales, aún sabiendo que eso puede llevarlas a pasar un mal momento y poner en riesgo su vida.
Se nota que la autora tuvo un pasado como agente de policía, ya que logra transmitir en cada línea de la historia su conocimiento sobre cómo es el día a día de este trabajo y los sentimientos que cada persona que es parte del cuerpo policial. La trama es atrapante y no da respiro, vemos paso a paso como se van intricando los hechos con las traiciones y lealtades que se producen al descubrir por qué ocurrió ese fatídico día.
Este Thriller muestra de manera muy verosímil los “grises” de la tarea policial, donde se desdibujan los parámetros de lo bueno y lo malo, y como esto repercute tanto en la vida de los agentes como de los ciudadanos que deben proteger.
Un agente de policía y una adolescente de ascendencia musulmana caen desde la azotea de la Torre Portland, y su compañera Lizzie Griffiths queda allí abrazada a un niño de 5 años en completo shock ante la tragedia ocurrida.
Este es el punto de partida para este Thriller vertiginoso y atrapante donde una detective Sarah Collins, una solitaria que solo posee su trabajo, investiga que pasó en ese último piso ese 17 de abril y por lo cual desaparece la testigo principal que puede aclarar el confuso episodio donde murieron dos personas. A medida que Sarah avanza en la investigación de los hechos y también en la búsqueda de la joven agente que escapó, se va topando con obstáculos y limitaciones que tienen que ver con lo que indaga se relaciona con la práctica policial cotidiana de quienes recorren Londres para luchar contra el delito y las tensiones que van ocurriendo en ésta, donde los límites de ser un buen policía o uno malo son cada vez más difusos y las lealtades se juegan a cada momento de la jornada laboral.
Las protagonistas de esta novela son mujeres valientes, idealistas, con valores muy firmes, inmersas en un mundo masculino donde cualquier deslealtad es juzgada estrictamente y trae consecuencias perjudiciales para su profesión y su vida. Tanto Sarah como Lizzie actúan de acuerdo a sus ideales, aún sabiendo que eso puede llevarlas a pasar un mal momento y poner en riesgo su vida.
Se nota que la autora tuvo un pasado como agente de policía, ya que logra transmitir en cada línea de la historia su conocimiento sobre cómo es el día a día de este trabajo y los sentimientos que cada persona que es parte del cuerpo policial. La trama es atrapante y no da respiro, vemos paso a paso como se van intricando los hechos con las traiciones y lealtades que se producen al descubrir por qué ocurrió ese fatídico día.
Este Thriller muestra de manera muy verosímil los “grises” de la tarea policial, donde se desdibujan los parámetros de lo bueno y lo malo, y como esto repercute tanto en la vida de los agentes como de los ciudadanos que deben proteger.
September 6, 2015
Debut author Kate London joined the Metropolitan Police Service after an early career in theatre. It seems an odd switch and has me kinda intrigued but guess both combine to offer a first-hand knowledge of policing and police procedures; and an ability to stage a scene… something which is awfully handy when writing crime fiction!
Although I didn’t feel as if I knew DS Sarah Collins well, I did (for the most part) like Lizzie Griffiths. London does a great job of getting inside the head of the relatively new police officer and her internal struggle felt very believable.
I was ultimately disappointed with the conclusion but think it’s probably because I’m a control freak and like everything tied neatly in a bow. London instead offers up something more realistic where good and bad are far from black and white. In fact, she does a great job of not overdramatising or overcomplicating the plot. It’s simple and sadly… it felt very real.
This is a good debut from London and I look forward to more as she continues to grow in her new craft. (And I note she’s just finishing the sequel which is great news!)
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
Although I didn’t feel as if I knew DS Sarah Collins well, I did (for the most part) like Lizzie Griffiths. London does a great job of getting inside the head of the relatively new police officer and her internal struggle felt very believable.
I was ultimately disappointed with the conclusion but think it’s probably because I’m a control freak and like everything tied neatly in a bow. London instead offers up something more realistic where good and bad are far from black and white. In fact, she does a great job of not overdramatising or overcomplicating the plot. It’s simple and sadly… it felt very real.
This is a good debut from London and I look forward to more as she continues to grow in her new craft. (And I note she’s just finishing the sequel which is great news!)
Read the full review on my blog: http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...
June 3, 2024
Sin palabras, da vueltas y vueltas para no avanzar
April 14, 2017
Post Mortem is an unusual novel and quite compulsive in its own way but there is very little actual crime in the main plot. It opens with the death of a policeman and a young immigrant woman who fell from the roof of a tower block. The main witness, PC Lizzie Griffiths, does a runner before giving her evidence and it is left to DS Sarah Collins to try and piece together the events leading up to this accident.
The novel follows Sarah's investigation and flashes back to prior events from Lizzie's point of view. It does not paint a particularly flattering view of modern policing, not just rogue operators but the stifling nature of the regulations they have to work with and the desperate need to appear competent and squeaky clean. It also makes abundantly clear how ambiguous the truth can be as it all seems to be a matter of interpretation.
It is extremely well done and I found it to be an unsettling read. I disagree strongly with the final outcome as does Sarah but am forced to admit that from a police point of view it is expedient which, all told, is probably the point. I think this is a novel that will stick in my mind for a while and I will be interested to see where the follow up goes.
The novel follows Sarah's investigation and flashes back to prior events from Lizzie's point of view. It does not paint a particularly flattering view of modern policing, not just rogue operators but the stifling nature of the regulations they have to work with and the desperate need to appear competent and squeaky clean. It also makes abundantly clear how ambiguous the truth can be as it all seems to be a matter of interpretation.
It is extremely well done and I found it to be an unsettling read. I disagree strongly with the final outcome as does Sarah but am forced to admit that from a police point of view it is expedient which, all told, is probably the point. I think this is a novel that will stick in my mind for a while and I will be interested to see where the follow up goes.
November 14, 2017
This was an unusually interesting book, there was not a lot if action and at times a bit slow.
October 1, 2022
Lo primero que me llamo del libro es que tiene una serie y que tengo muchas ganas de ver ahora. Yendo al libro está bueno, se lee súper rápido, y tiene varias perspectivas aunque no muy profundas. Lo que más se ve en este libro es la corrupción que hay en los círculos policiales. Lo que si me dio bastante bronca es Lizzie, no puedo decir mucho por qué ya que sería spoiler, pero si me dejo mal el libro al igual que otro personaje de la historia, o varios.
September 22, 2022
4⭐️ Buen thriller policial.
Este es un libro que sin duda engancha desde el principio. Una historia con muchos matices y temas diversos, desde crimenes, escandalos, racismo, sexismo, sexonofobia y un toque de romance. Todo abordado desde la perspectiva de detectives y policias, lo cual es muy interesante y debo decir que me decepciona darme cuenta (o más bien confirmar) que las autoridades son corruptas y sin ética al igual que en la vida real. La autora trabajó mucho tiempo como tal y sabe perfectamente lo que escribio.
Esta es una historia que destaca también por la impotencia que provoca en ciertos momentos y aquí tenemos a 2 detectives tratando de hacer lo correcto y dejando muchas veces su criterio y sus creencias en el intento.
Lo único malo que le veo es que tiene saltos en el tiempo sin previo aviso.
Este es un libro que sin duda engancha desde el principio. Una historia con muchos matices y temas diversos, desde crimenes, escandalos, racismo, sexismo, sexonofobia y un toque de romance. Todo abordado desde la perspectiva de detectives y policias, lo cual es muy interesante y debo decir que me decepciona darme cuenta (o más bien confirmar) que las autoridades son corruptas y sin ética al igual que en la vida real. La autora trabajó mucho tiempo como tal y sabe perfectamente lo que escribio.
Esta es una historia que destaca también por la impotencia que provoca en ciertos momentos y aquí tenemos a 2 detectives tratando de hacer lo correcto y dejando muchas veces su criterio y sus creencias en el intento.
Lo único malo que le veo es que tiene saltos en el tiempo sin previo aviso.
June 13, 2025
It was written in a jilted, gritty way. I did not find it a flowing read, the story was good almost an incite to policing and the continued racism in the job. I was hoping for more information about what happened on the roof, did Hadley fall, did Farah pull him with her, did Lizzie push him?
April 18, 2025
For Jess and Rebekah: I read the third book in this series last year and couldn’t put it down so wanted to go back to the start of the series. This book, like the third, reinforced my long standing love affair with London and BBC-esque crime dramas about bent coppers. Note: read by torch light during Cyclone Tam and the world’s longest power cut.
December 4, 2015
I don't normally read this genre, but I must say, I really enjoyed it. I can definitely see myself reading some more crime novels in the future. This novel felt very realistic, and the description of many details was very intricate.
There weren't really any characters that stood out to me, or that I really liked. However, I actually didn't mind too much, as I was totally engrossed in the mystery of it all. I am normally quite an emotional reader, as in I like to feel some sort of feeling for the characters and the story itself. I didn't get any of that with this book, which is a shame. The closest I got to that was with the character of Lizzie, as she was going through quite a lot throughout the story. I also felt pretty bad for Farah, as she was just a girl who had lost her way.
Like I said, I wasn't too broken up about not feeling much emotion towards the characters, as the mystery aspect of the novel was really well written. It wasn't a "whodunnit" kind of scenario, rather a "how did things get to this event" situation. The story flicked between the aftermath of accident and the weeks prior to it. I found this to be a very effective way of telling the story, rather than all the post-accident stuff happening, then the reader finding out what happened in an interview situation.
As the author was an officer with the Met, all the details in the book are incredibly accurate. Everything about this story felt very real, from how a crime scene is controlled, to the way the cops talked to each other.
For me, what brought this down to 4 stars was that I didn't really like any of the characters. They all had something about the that bothered me. Basically none of the cops were very likeable, and the civilian characters were all pretty average in terms of likeability.
Overall, I thought this was actually a really good book, and I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I recommend it for anyone that watches any of those TV cop shows.
There weren't really any characters that stood out to me, or that I really liked. However, I actually didn't mind too much, as I was totally engrossed in the mystery of it all. I am normally quite an emotional reader, as in I like to feel some sort of feeling for the characters and the story itself. I didn't get any of that with this book, which is a shame. The closest I got to that was with the character of Lizzie, as she was going through quite a lot throughout the story. I also felt pretty bad for Farah, as she was just a girl who had lost her way.
Like I said, I wasn't too broken up about not feeling much emotion towards the characters, as the mystery aspect of the novel was really well written. It wasn't a "whodunnit" kind of scenario, rather a "how did things get to this event" situation. The story flicked between the aftermath of accident and the weeks prior to it. I found this to be a very effective way of telling the story, rather than all the post-accident stuff happening, then the reader finding out what happened in an interview situation.
As the author was an officer with the Met, all the details in the book are incredibly accurate. Everything about this story felt very real, from how a crime scene is controlled, to the way the cops talked to each other.
For me, what brought this down to 4 stars was that I didn't really like any of the characters. They all had something about the that bothered me. Basically none of the cops were very likeable, and the civilian characters were all pretty average in terms of likeability.
Overall, I thought this was actually a really good book, and I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I recommend it for anyone that watches any of those TV cop shows.
December 21, 2021
An infuriating read, especially given current events. A realistic, gritty look at the institutional pressure that results in cover ups to keep officers’ reputations in tact regardless of their behaviour. This book is realistic because it shows that some lives matter more than others; in this case, the reputation of an old, white, racist police officer matters more than the fourteen year old North African girl he bullies into committing suicide.
The book had no real ending, with everyone just deciding to let things go. Realistic though this may be, it was dissatisfying.
The book had no real ending, with everyone just deciding to let things go. Realistic though this may be, it was dissatisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2022
WARNING: Possible SPOILERS ahead.
WARNING: Lots of angry ranting ahead.
WARNING: Some swearing ahead.
TRIGGERS: offensive language, racist terms, sexist, mentions of self-harm.
I feel like this book was an utter waste of my time. It was made into a TV series by ITV, but I have NO idea why, or why it was so highly acclaimed. It makes a mockery of the police and their work - making the CID, internal affairs the bad guys - and lets the shitty police officers get off absolutely Scot free. As someone with police in the family, that is NOT the image you want people to have of the police. Or, to think they they're all bent coppers who will put their own interests before anything else.
Here, one officer is a racist, and to cover that up, his partner is convinced by higher ups to lie, and eventually does. And because of this - because of this ONE racist cop - a child dies. Lives are irreparably ruined. A cop dies. A cop's career is ruined. And we discover that nearly everyone involved in this investigation is totally, completely bent.
Honestly, if that's the kind of book the author - once a police officer themselves - is going to write, I won't be reading any more. I certainly won't be reading any more of this series.
The story is told in 3rd person POV, mostly dual - Lizzie (the female cop involved) and Collins (the female CID investigator). There's also one POV in Steve's (male CID investigator) POV, and a few moments of omnipresence that could have used some work.
The formatting separates scenes with an indistinct two line gap, though I did find a few one-line gaps throughout the book that were confusing, for that reason. I wasn't sure if they were a mistaken scene break, or a real scene break.
The plot itself is illogical. A small disciplinary matter, and a small lie, both culminate in serious consequences. Fine. But a smart, bright cop going on the run for DAYS, and then coming back to spin a story that she could - and the higher ups wish she should - have given immediately after the incident, is ridiculous. What exactly did she expect to accomplish by running? It made her a fugitive, no longer a witness but a suspect, drawing even MORE attention to the situation than it warranted.
Sadly, when it comes to characters, they are ALL unlikeable. I felt bad for Collins, because she's a strong woman, no nonsense cop, who was shat on at every opportunity. By her own boss, eventually by her own colleague, and by every witness except the victim's father. She was made out to somehow be a worthless piece of shit, a waste of a cop, because she was a lone female, not married or in a relationship, and because she wanted to do her fucking job without being bent.
Jesus. What a twisted situation that is, when a woman is degraded and verbally pissed on by a colleague just for being single.
Similarly, I think Collins was done a SERIOUS disservice by the author. Her POV scenes were stark, no nonsense police work, with absolutely ZERO character development or personality. But, from the start, we're given Lizzie's POV which waxes lyrical about her life, her relationships, her motivations, what a good cop she is, and how this is all JUST SO UNFAIR. From really early on, I knew the point was to make us sympathise with Lizzie, but I didn't. She was an idiot, who made stupid choices, didn't stick to her story, and descended into stupidity quicker than I could turn a page.
The story was full of info-dumps, mostly contained to Lizzie's POV, which were all emotion and no logic. She had an affair with a senior officer, yet everyone under the sun claims that's not a disciplinary matter, though it's still seriously unprofessional.
There is a really weird obsession with weight, where the author frequently points out people as "fat nurse" or "a fat PCSO". But, no one is ever described as skinny, thin, emaciated or whatever. It's always emphasised as fat, as if that somehow defines that person beyond any other descriptor.
The offensive terms are just...everywhere. "Wagwan" - by a white police officer. "pikey". Threats of immigration proceedings, just to scare a suspect.
In the end, the only thing this story does is say that all cops are bent. There isn't a single officer - except Collins - who does their job properly, without bending the rules or twisting them to their own ends. The cops here are no better than criminals, when it comes to being questioned, treating the CID like an infectious disease. They all have secrets, and contempt for the CID. Everyone is trying so hard to justify and accept a "little lie", which is a miscarriage of justice that left a girl dead, because the case that caused it - a racist remark by a cop, and a lie told by a cop - is considered so inconsequential it doesn't even warrant talking about. It's a "non-event" to everyone there, and no one gives a flying F that a girl died, because it wasn't their fault. It was always someone else's doing. Someone else made the mistake, and every bent copper comforts himself by insisting all they're doing is protecting that idiot. Not accepting or even acknowledging their own complicity.
They're all so far up their own asses I don't even know how they can breathe. Then, Shaw selfishly uses Hadley's funeral as a soap box and royal FU to Collins, as if that's in any way appropriate.
They lied. They were selfish. They were shitty, dirty cops. But, they got away with it.
They're responsible for the negligent homicide of a child, but they get to dust their hands clean and say "job well done" all because they don't give a shit.
If it had been Ben who died, not some troublemaking foreign girl, they wouldn't have thought twice about investigating properly - though they'd probably have blamed it on Farah anyway.
The moral of the story?
A guy was a prick. He was racist. A girl lied, and covered up for him. And, in the end, she made a promise she never kept, and a girl died because of it.
What an absolutely shitty ending.
And you expect me to want to read a second book in this series, where Collins - stepped on by everyone on this case - is forced to work with Lizzie, again? Someone who literally got away with murder? NO. NO. NO. NEVER.
WARNING: Lots of angry ranting ahead.
WARNING: Some swearing ahead.
TRIGGERS: offensive language, racist terms, sexist, mentions of self-harm.
I feel like this book was an utter waste of my time. It was made into a TV series by ITV, but I have NO idea why, or why it was so highly acclaimed. It makes a mockery of the police and their work - making the CID, internal affairs the bad guys - and lets the shitty police officers get off absolutely Scot free. As someone with police in the family, that is NOT the image you want people to have of the police. Or, to think they they're all bent coppers who will put their own interests before anything else.
Here, one officer is a racist, and to cover that up, his partner is convinced by higher ups to lie, and eventually does. And because of this - because of this ONE racist cop - a child dies. Lives are irreparably ruined. A cop dies. A cop's career is ruined. And we discover that nearly everyone involved in this investigation is totally, completely bent.
Honestly, if that's the kind of book the author - once a police officer themselves - is going to write, I won't be reading any more. I certainly won't be reading any more of this series.
The story is told in 3rd person POV, mostly dual - Lizzie (the female cop involved) and Collins (the female CID investigator). There's also one POV in Steve's (male CID investigator) POV, and a few moments of omnipresence that could have used some work.
The formatting separates scenes with an indistinct two line gap, though I did find a few one-line gaps throughout the book that were confusing, for that reason. I wasn't sure if they were a mistaken scene break, or a real scene break.
The plot itself is illogical. A small disciplinary matter, and a small lie, both culminate in serious consequences. Fine. But a smart, bright cop going on the run for DAYS, and then coming back to spin a story that she could - and the higher ups wish she should - have given immediately after the incident, is ridiculous. What exactly did she expect to accomplish by running? It made her a fugitive, no longer a witness but a suspect, drawing even MORE attention to the situation than it warranted.
Sadly, when it comes to characters, they are ALL unlikeable. I felt bad for Collins, because she's a strong woman, no nonsense cop, who was shat on at every opportunity. By her own boss, eventually by her own colleague, and by every witness except the victim's father. She was made out to somehow be a worthless piece of shit, a waste of a cop, because she was a lone female, not married or in a relationship, and because she wanted to do her fucking job without being bent.
Jesus. What a twisted situation that is, when a woman is degraded and verbally pissed on by a colleague just for being single.
Similarly, I think Collins was done a SERIOUS disservice by the author. Her POV scenes were stark, no nonsense police work, with absolutely ZERO character development or personality. But, from the start, we're given Lizzie's POV which waxes lyrical about her life, her relationships, her motivations, what a good cop she is, and how this is all JUST SO UNFAIR. From really early on, I knew the point was to make us sympathise with Lizzie, but I didn't. She was an idiot, who made stupid choices, didn't stick to her story, and descended into stupidity quicker than I could turn a page.
The story was full of info-dumps, mostly contained to Lizzie's POV, which were all emotion and no logic. She had an affair with a senior officer, yet everyone under the sun claims that's not a disciplinary matter, though it's still seriously unprofessional.
There is a really weird obsession with weight, where the author frequently points out people as "fat nurse" or "a fat PCSO". But, no one is ever described as skinny, thin, emaciated or whatever. It's always emphasised as fat, as if that somehow defines that person beyond any other descriptor.
The offensive terms are just...everywhere. "Wagwan" - by a white police officer. "pikey". Threats of immigration proceedings, just to scare a suspect.
In the end, the only thing this story does is say that all cops are bent. There isn't a single officer - except Collins - who does their job properly, without bending the rules or twisting them to their own ends. The cops here are no better than criminals, when it comes to being questioned, treating the CID like an infectious disease. They all have secrets, and contempt for the CID. Everyone is trying so hard to justify and accept a "little lie", which is a miscarriage of justice that left a girl dead, because the case that caused it - a racist remark by a cop, and a lie told by a cop - is considered so inconsequential it doesn't even warrant talking about. It's a "non-event" to everyone there, and no one gives a flying F that a girl died, because it wasn't their fault. It was always someone else's doing. Someone else made the mistake, and every bent copper comforts himself by insisting all they're doing is protecting that idiot. Not accepting or even acknowledging their own complicity.
They're all so far up their own asses I don't even know how they can breathe. Then, Shaw selfishly uses Hadley's funeral as a soap box and royal FU to Collins, as if that's in any way appropriate.
They lied. They were selfish. They were shitty, dirty cops. But, they got away with it.
They're responsible for the negligent homicide of a child, but they get to dust their hands clean and say "job well done" all because they don't give a shit.
If it had been Ben who died, not some troublemaking foreign girl, they wouldn't have thought twice about investigating properly - though they'd probably have blamed it on Farah anyway.
The moral of the story?
A guy was a prick. He was racist. A girl lied, and covered up for him. And, in the end, she made a promise she never kept, and a girl died because of it.
What an absolutely shitty ending.
And you expect me to want to read a second book in this series, where Collins - stepped on by everyone on this case - is forced to work with Lizzie, again? Someone who literally got away with murder? NO. NO. NO. NEVER.
November 16, 2021
I enjoyed this book, but there was a lot of detail of how exactly police work is done. That and the frequent flashbacks slowed things down. The ending was full of moral ambiguity, which disappointed me. I wanted Lizzie to stop letting the men around her direct her actions and team up with Sarah. The characterization was a little shallow - both Steve and Sarah were shadowy, and I found Lizzie frustrating. Hadley was perhaps the best-rounded character, but he won't be returning in the next book!
Read
March 7, 2018Just finished this first Collins & Griffiths from Kate London. It felt more like a story than a crime novel. Just enough police action to take it into the category. However it was a very good read. Although the ending wasn't as expected - bit of a twist - it was well written and I'm about to start the next one!
March 15, 2019
Mixed feelings. I kept on reading. I think the narrator of the audiobook ruined it a bit so difficult to know. I wasn’t always convinced by aspects of the novel but I did find it compelling.
October 30, 2022
Finalizada. Edición digital. Novela aburrida hasta el infinito y más allá. Relata un procedimiento policial partiendo de una actuación de dudosa legalidad. No me gustó ningún personaje. No existe acción de ningún tipo. Me vi varias veces tentada a sacrificarla, pero al final la terminé por cabezonería. Nota 1,5/5. FIN.
September 16, 2022
Desde que inicie este libro supe que sería adictivo y no me equivoque, pero siendo honesta esperaba algo totalmente diferente tal vez más drama o acción pero no fue algo que me molestara.
Tenemos personajes bastante interesantes Sarah y Lizzie son mujeres de carácter fuerte con ideas fuertes. Sarah con más experiencia esta decidida a descubrir que pasó en esa azotea donde perdieron la vida un policía veterano y una joven inmigrante de solo 14 años. Por otro lado Lizzie tendrá que lidiar con sus demonios y con las consecuencias de sus decisiones que poco a poco iran desencadenando una bola de nieve que está por derrumbarla.
Este libro nos habla más sobre el dilema moral que tiene Lizzie y como tiene que lidiar con lo que está por venir, así que si están esperando asesinatos y mucho drama no lo encontrarán aquí.
Respecto al final creí que seria algo distinto pero sabemos de sobra que no todo es miel sobre hojuelas así que lo acepto 🤭
El libro es bueno, la trama adictiva y personajes bien desarrollados, si esperaba algo diferente pero no me voy decepcionada. La forma de narrar de la autora me pareció muy amena, tenemos capítulos cortos que hacen la lectura más ágil. Pará ser la novela debut de la autora lo hizo muy buen y ya estoy esperando la continuación de esta serie de libros que están por venir.
Tenemos personajes bastante interesantes Sarah y Lizzie son mujeres de carácter fuerte con ideas fuertes. Sarah con más experiencia esta decidida a descubrir que pasó en esa azotea donde perdieron la vida un policía veterano y una joven inmigrante de solo 14 años. Por otro lado Lizzie tendrá que lidiar con sus demonios y con las consecuencias de sus decisiones que poco a poco iran desencadenando una bola de nieve que está por derrumbarla.
Este libro nos habla más sobre el dilema moral que tiene Lizzie y como tiene que lidiar con lo que está por venir, así que si están esperando asesinatos y mucho drama no lo encontrarán aquí.
Respecto al final creí que seria algo distinto pero sabemos de sobra que no todo es miel sobre hojuelas así que lo acepto 🤭
El libro es bueno, la trama adictiva y personajes bien desarrollados, si esperaba algo diferente pero no me voy decepcionada. La forma de narrar de la autora me pareció muy amena, tenemos capítulos cortos que hacen la lectura más ágil. Pará ser la novela debut de la autora lo hizo muy buen y ya estoy esperando la continuación de esta serie de libros que están por venir.
August 26, 2022
La verdad es que estuve todo el libro esperando que la real explicación del asunto diera un giro bien turbio al relato pero... no, era eso que contaban desde el principio nomás 😐
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2018
This is Kate London's very first novel. Post Mortem is an excellent police procedural from Kate London. The story is draws you in and doesn’t let go with impressive police dialogue.
Without giving too much away. The first page opens with disastrous consequences of on the 17th April two bodies, spread on the tarmac of the square in plain view. Face down was a white uniformed male. The teenage girl,s face was dark-skinned North African that lay face up. They fell to their death from a tower block in London's East End.
With high stakes and high tension I am sure book lovers will hear from Kate London very soon with another novel. I for one do hope so.
About Kate London
In 2006 Kate joined the Metropolitan Police Service, first working in uniformed response and then moving to the CID. She qualified as a detective constable then went on attachment with the police national in France and finished her career working as part of a Major Investigation Team on SC&01 the Metropolitan Service’s Homicide Command. She resigned from the MPS in August 2014. Post Mortem is Kate London’s first novel.
November 21, 2016
I found it a bit hard to get into and then once I persevered I became hooked. it was a crime novel with a difference focussing on issues of morality in the police force. How important is it to "back" a fellow cop at all costs compared with doing what you know is right. This is the point on which the plot turns for a young police constable Lizzie Griffiths. There is an investigation into the death of her partner and a young girl. There are allegations of racism and a cover up and Lizzie herself finds it difficult to go on. Worthwhile read.
April 20, 2016
Quite well written with some good characters. Bit concerned at the way people were described by the author(not by the characters). e.g. a black woman was crossing the road; an Asian youth was hanging about - but she rarely calls someone a white boy etc. I wouldn't normally notice this but it felt really odd and over the top in this book. Don't know why but it really wound me up!
November 16, 2016
Ambiguous! I really enjoyed the writing style but feel dissatisfied with the ending- the whole book is an exercise in finding answers, from one perspective or another, but neither reaches a conclusion. Adds to the realism (and I'm still thinking about it) but doesn't give the sense of satisfaction a finished book normally does.
September 14, 2015
A good debut novel from an author I am keen to read more from. Kate London is an ex-police detective and this shines through in a tale that is rich in police procedures. Provides an insight to the inner workings, relationships and politics of the force.
December 5, 2015
As a first novel this one ticks all the boxes, London clearly has experience of which she writes, she manages to offer us the voices of believable people in very real situations, allowing us an insight which at times isn't very pleasant. I have high hopes for her next novel...
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