The Shift: Z325 Thoroughgood

Gus Thoroughgood #4

by R.J. Mitchell

It's 1989 and fresh-faced graduate Angus Thoroughgood has just become Z325 Constable Thoroughgood and has exchanged the cosy cloisters of Glasgow University for the broken streets of Lennox Hill, 'Z' Division, the frontier posting that no rookie wants. He soon discovers his shift is full of veterans of the Northern Ireland troubles who are intent on ruling 'The Hill' by a brutal set of rules they have transferred from their time in the Province. Recruited by a new Internal Investigations Unit, he discovers that Glasgow's criminal overlord Bobby 'Mojito' Dawson is a member of a deep cover special Army Unit and that his foes in the escalating gangland feud known as The Ice Cream War, the McGuigans, have strong links to the IRA. When Mojito recruits a deadly assassin from across the Irish Sea to bring the Ice Cream War to an end, Thoroughgood finds himself in a race against time before Glasgow is blown to smithereens.

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2016

About the author

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[ReadsSometimes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1989 and fresh-faced graduate Angus Thoroughgood has just become Z325 Constable Thoroughgood and has exchanged the cosy cloisters of Glasgow University for the broken streets of Lennox Hill, Z Division, the frontier posting that no rookie wants. The Shift is an exceptionally gritty read and one that will transport the reader back to the summer of 1989 and is based on the author experiences after he joined Strathclyde Police on July 31, 1989. It is interwoven with a fictionalised account of the Ice Cream War and the Northern Ireland troubles spilling over into Glasgow. Drawing heavily from his experiences as a Glasgow cop Mitchell has created the critically acclaimed and award-nominated DS Thoroughgood detective series spanning Parallel Lines: The Glasgow Supremacy, the Scottish Crime best seller The Hurting: The Glasgow Terror and The Longest Shadow. The Shift is the latest edition to this series.

A very clever piece of crime fiction writing.

I found the main character - Thoroughgood - a rookie to the Strathclyde police, a very likeable character. Frowned upon from the old school police, he has to battle to become acknowledged and respected. This is quite an eye opener into the hidden side of the police.

A fast-paced, realistic and gritty encounter which delivers in both storytelling and quality writing.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book, an entertaining read.

This book was supplied by the publisher, McNidder & Grace Crime for an unbiased review.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The newest book in author R.J. Mitchell's Gus Thoroughgood series, "The Shift: Z325", takes us back to 1989 with this explosive thriller. An eye opening prequel that shines some light onto Constable Angus Thoroughgood's beginnings fresh out of college, and assigned to the Strathclyde police stationed in Lennox Hill. Needless to say the brass has positioned this rookie in possibly the worst station to work out of. No Cop wants to be assigned to Lennox Hill willingly. Long suspected of corruption, graft, and working for the local gangs these officers want no part of a rookie showing up as a possible spy for the brass. The very green Thoroughgood finds himself all alone , and a punching bag for the other cops he must work with. Gus is assigned the ID number Z325. The Z standing for Zulu (AKA Lennox Hill) What Gus doesn't realize at first is that he's stepped right into the middle of the "Ice Cream Wars". Ice cream trucks are being used locally for cover selling drugs to the desperate junkies. On one side is the Bobby "Mojito" Dawson crime family, and the Frank McGuigan crime family on the other. The Ice Cream War boils down to control of the city. Gus suspects his brother cops may be working for one of the crime families. Unwinding in a night club one evening, Gus meets Celine Lynott. What Gus doesn't see coming is that Celine is the squeeze of none other than Crime boss Bobby "Mojito" Dawson. So after all the abuse from his fellow cops and now an ugly confrontation with Dawson, Gus is looking to move elsewhere for a career. Luckily for Gus two IA. detectives take an interest in Gus. They see Gus as an opportunity to investigate Strathclyde, and do damage in Ice Cream War. Acquiring his first CI (Confidential informant), "Cat Collins, Gus finally gets some leverage on the street. Collins is a master house burglar, and a severely addicted junkie. It's Collins who makes Gus realize that being a cop was right choice for his career. At just over 270 pages this high powered action thriller is a very quick and enjoyable read. Author R.J. Mitchell's characters are all somewhat colorful, and tightly wound. With the likes of amoral gangsters like Frank & Gerry McGuigan, Duney Parkinson (McGuigan soldier), and Bobby "Mojito" Dawson help maximize a very well built plot. Mix in the IRA, "Bloody Sunday-1972, British Elite Para's, and an Irish hit woman named Devorgilla, and things get pretty crazy. Mitchell's snappy dialog is fun to read. I imagine he's captured the street lingo of that area. The action rarely relaxes with bombs going off, drive by shootings, and grisly murders during the Ice Cream Wars. Having been a big fan of author R.J. Mitchell's other Gus Thoroughgood books, this one didn't disappoint. From the first chapter the pages flew by very quickly. Hopefully this author will spin more Gus Thoroughgood yarns out quickly. Gus is a unique protagonist. Five stars out of a possible five stars for, "The Shift- Z325", a take it to the limit and beyond thriller. Author Mitchell has established himself as a pretty good story teller. So far it's an excellent series. Jump in and find out soon ! (R.J. has pretty good taste in music as well)

[Mary B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked

R J Mitchell is a new author to me, and I bought this book on a recommendation. Initially, in the first few chapters I wasn’t sure but, as I continued to read, the more I was hooked. Well worth reading.

[Billy Forbes]

this is the first book I've read by this author but won't be the last.