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London Large - Bound by Blood

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A gritty gangster thriller

When pop superstar Bazza Wishbone is murdered in the dead of night at a top London hotel, the whole world looks on in horror. Inspector Harry ‘H’ Hawkins, only just back at work after a mental and physical breakdown, investigates the crime in the only way he knows how; he embarks on a full-blooded search for the truth.

But the truth can be brutal

As the murder investigation gathers pace H discovers his own son has been sucked into the dark world of organised crime.

A traumatized young man; and a traumatized father

H's hard-boiled instinct is to fight, to protect the things he loves. But when his son becomes his enemy his world view is shattered.

How can son be turned against father?

H’s gripping mission is no longer a search for a killer; but a quest to save his boy, and exact a terrible vengeance against the man who has corrupted him. And his search is a search for a deeper truth, a truth that will stretch family loyalty - and the love of a father for his son - to its very limits.

Blood Is Thicker than Water…Or Is It?

425 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2016

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About the author

Roy Robson

27 books54 followers
Roy Robson was born in southeast London, in the UK. He has worked on a market stall, as a squash coach, on a factory assembly line and as a youth support worker. He eventually trained in the dark art of computer programming and worked for many years in the City of London, designing systems to track the flow of money around the world. He will confess to this being an almost impossible task.

He presently writes two series.

The Kenzie Marsh books involve a detective who has hit rock bottom after the death of her son and the collapse of her marriage. She is recruited by British Intelligence on a secret mission where she discovers a conspiracy so shocking it threatens not only her life, but the lives of everybody she knows.

The bestselling London Large series - which he co-authors with his brother Garry - features the relentless force of nature that is DI Harry 'H' Hawkins. As the tide of criminal gangs that flood London increases, Harry will stop at nothing to protect those he loves and do everything in his power to keep his city halfway civilised.

Roy has two daughters and currently lives in Bromley with his wife.

Website: https://royrobsonauthor.com/

Sign up for Roy's Newsletter and receive your FREE starter library: https://subscribepage.io/St8MdI

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5 stars
120 (54%)
4 stars
70 (31%)
3 stars
20 (9%)
2 stars
7 (3%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
438 reviews46 followers
March 20, 2020
Those who didn’t read the first book in the series will have no problem with this 2nd story. The outlines of those events are recapped several times and it even may feel a bit boring to those reading the box set. I’m rather grateful for attentive writers who understand that not everybody can start to read the books in chronological order. And even if you do so, there can be an extended period between the readings.
After the traumatic events with the gang-war and paedophile ring, DI Harry Hawkins ended up in the hospital with a bullet wound and has since been recovering. When his shrink finally allows him to return to work, he’s restricted to light work and desk duties. As if this is gonna work!
So, when a major pop star is shot in a posh London hotel room, it is DS Amisha Bhanushali and DI Graham Miller-Marchant that are called upon to solve this crime. The supermodel girlfriend witnessed the events but the receptionist who facilitated the murder is killed as well. From doing background checks and phone enquiries, it doesn’t take h long to unofficially head the investigation. He also enlists the help of Andrew Glass, a rookie policeman who turns out a useful and very promising asset.
Both Harry’s son and his old friend Ronnie are in prison. Harry feels bad that his friend has taken the wrap for him but can’t change a thing. Certainly not because Graham, as well as Amisha, were less than forthcoming with the true cause of events.
Young Ronnie gets groomed and brainwashed by the Albanian gang leader that his dad put in prison in the first book. He turns the young man into a ruthless killer, knowing that this will hurt Harry more than anything else.
So, when a major pop star is shot in a posh London hotel room, it is DS Amisha Bhanushali and DI Graham Miller-Marchant that are called upon to solve this crime. The supermodel girlfriend witnessed the events but the receptionist who facilitated the murder is killed as well. From doing background checks and phone enquiries, it doesn’t take h long to unofficially head the investigation. He also enlists the help of Andrew Glass, a rookie policeman who turns out a useful and very promising asset.
It’s not because Dragusha is in jail that the Albanian mafia will stop their activities. Their overlords leave the second in command, Fatos Gazjet handles the business in London as he remains in close contact with his former leader. But a lorry containing ‘live’ goods, breaks down on the M and the driver reports that the ‘merchandise’ has died. The order from prison is to kill all the surviving immigrants as well as the driver. But there’s a glitch and in the dark of the night, the driver escapes in the woods without being noticed.

In the meantime Dragusha had Ronnie kill a rival gang-leader and manages to organise both their escapes. It doesn’t take long before they’re connected with the mass murder grave that’s been discovered, despite been in jail at the time it happened. Harry wants to save his son somehow; Well aware that they’re transgressing all rules and orders, his 2 colleagues support him. In the meantime, the investigation into the Wishbone murder is temporarily put on the backburner.

Be warned, this isn’t a fairytale with a HEA ending. It’s a tragic, grim story about the ugly underbelly of our society. There is a lot of wanton violence -though not as much as in the first book- and people do die in this book, even likeable and heroic major characters.
I don’t know how the brothers chose the names of their main characters, but those of both of Harry’s nearest colleagues are a serious mouthful, and every time they meet a witness or suspect they have to introduce themselves with their full names. It looks as if this is a private inside-joke from the writers.
I have to admit that I get most but not every slang term used in the book. Not a problem for me, it adds real ‘couleur local’ and I think it’s a good way to pick up new words and expressions. There are plenty of free dictionaries and translation apps available. If you’re too lazy to do that, usually the meaning is clear from the context.




Profile Image for Tiger.
419 reviews9 followers
May 27, 2018
Bazza Wishbone, winner of the talent show "Britain Blazes Bright" is a superstar on the rise.......until he is murdered in his posh Hilton Hotel room in London. The cast of sordid suspects is many, from his unscrupulous agent to scumbags after his 15 year old sister to virtually anyone seen at the parties for the rich and famous that Bazza attended.

After the brutal ending of Book 1 in this series, Harry "H" Hawkins finds himself on "desk duty only" for this murder, but when his son, Ronnie, breaks out of prison.....his life in the balance......"H", not knowing where his son's loyalties lie knows he must jump feet first back into the action. "H" is a great character who plays by his own rules......a rogue who often forgets the script and leaves the mess behind for someone else to clean up. One great quote from this book that sums it up....when "H" has badly beaten a perp and his partner says they now need to help him, "H" replies "My first aid certificate expired."
Profile Image for Texas.
1,685 reviews394 followers
June 26, 2018
London Large, Blood on the Streets #1 - A well written, action filled, suspense novel set in present day London. The multiple battles of old school vs. new police, Russian and Albanian mafias, and the elites of government. The pace is fast and the reader is intrigued by what is on the pages. I couldn't put the book down. I contacted the authors to review their books after reading Tipping Point, the intro of the old school raising of several of the major characters. Tipping Point should be read first, if possible. 5*

London Large, Bound by Blood #2 - A well written, action filled, suspense novel set, in present day London, that picks up from Blood on the Streets a few months later with the same characters plus. The prime focus is still the continuing battle against the Albanian mafia. I couldn't put this book down any more than I did the first book. I contacted the authors to review their books after reading Tipping Point, the intro the old school raising of several of the major characters. Tipping Point should be read first, if possible. 5*

London Large, Bloody Liberties #3- Blood and thunder, to borrow a British phrase. A well written, action packed, suspense filled novel that grabs the reader by the throat and doesn't let go until the end. Then you think about what you've read. I couldn't put the book down; I was immersed in the horror that is so possible today. Good old fashion soldiering, new technology and human perseverance; the combination making a great read. The twisting plot was well thought out and believable; the dialog realistic; and the technology spot on. If you haven't read the prequel and the first two books, you need to do so. Liberties can be read without them, but they enhance the story and you understand the viewpoints of the characters better. 5*

London Large, American Lockdown #4 - Absolutely the best of this good series. Fast paced; action packed; suspense filled; evil and deadly. It's even harder to put this book down, the others were difficult to stop reading, but this one makes the others look like child's play. Every character is well developed and we have the gang from previous books. The plot is a roller coaster ride of horror, hate, revenge, anger and love. Full of emotions: simmering to full blown; you name it, it's covered. How much can H take? I wonder what the next book will be since it will be difficult to top this one, but I'm sure the Robson Brothers can handle it. This is a 10 star book! 5*

London Large, Tipping Point, Prequel- Must read Tipping Point first before LL Blood on the Streets. The introduction of the old school raising of several of the major characters of the London Large series. This intro clarify any confusion the reader may experience in LL, Blood on the Streets. 5*

Sharp and Short: A collection of shorts about Harry 'H' Hawkins, which should be read, in the sequential order of time, before and during the London Large series, especially Tipping Point. Tipping Point will explain a lot about the type of man he is and how he became Harry of the London Large series. Also, there's some information in this book that is mentioned in the first book and causes confusion for the reader that hadn't read TP. The other books have background about how H develops his feelings, good and bad, of the people, good and bad, in his life and work. Also, his mates are featured. Good background stories. 5*
Home Front - November, 2003. Age 45. Harry's reaction to a string of violated, murdered young girls and health scare and his marriage.
Counter Punch - October, 1984; February, 1985. While still in the army, H handles an extended family problem against a crime lord, with an American GI by H's side.
On Tour - 1978. Nineteen year-old H, Shy Nervous John and Ronnie as part of the Anglers Athletic under-21s on tour in Amsterdam and Hamburg. Their first time out of England.
That's Life - November, 1995. Little Ronnie is born and H lives his code about his friends, his "own".
Unsafe Space - November 2017. As a private investigator, a case leads him to a university where the students are brainwashed by their professor into destruction and hatred.
Tipping Point - January, 1974. Prequel - Must read Tipping Point first before LL Blood on the Streets. The introduction of the old school raising of several of the major characters of the London Large series. This intro clarify any confusion the reader may experience in LL, Blood on the Streets.
Sharp and Short: End
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845 reviews41 followers
May 5, 2017
For anyone who hasn't read the 1st book in the series, Blood on the Streets, I would recommend that you read it before you start this one.

This book picks up pretty much where the first book ended. Harry Hawkins aka H is a formidable character with a reputation for finding and removing from society the villains, gangs and drug lords that plague the streets of London. He works by his own rules and is never short of colleagues to follow where crime takes him.

In book 1 Albanian and Russian gangs were at war and the wife of H's closest friend is murdered which for H made it personal he escaped with his life but mentally battered and bruised with colleagues getting caught up in the violence and his son and friend in prison.

We start this book with H eager to return to work but very fragile and still under the care of a psychiatrist. Keeping H behind a desk was never going to work and he is soon running the show with Ames and Graham puppets on the end of his strings.

When it becomes clear that seemingly separate cases are linked and Ronnie,H's son, is groomed by Dragusha to be his warrior it all gets violent and H as papa bear with an axe to grind becomes unstable and goes rogue the reader is dragged along for one hell of a bumpy ride

Thank you to Roy and Gary who provided me with a free copy of this book.

#londonlarge @londonlarge #booksnall @books_n_all #5stars
2,000 reviews39 followers
August 9, 2017
This is the second book in a series, so of course, it helps if you read them in order. I didn't, but that's ok. It didn't take me long to figure out who was who and roughly where everybody was coming from so if you're like me and read whatever is close at hand, don't worry. You'll still love it.
Not surprisingly the story is set in London England, and stars detective Harry Hawkins, a career cop who's been on medical leave as a result of the battle with Albanian gangsters that took place in the previous story. H has managed to convince his psychologist that things are good in his life and he's ready to rejoin his work team as they investigate the bloody murder of a pop sensation.
Meanwhile the whole country is in shock over the discovery of a mass grave in a national forest and, in prison, his arch enemy is plotting to settle old scores. As the story progresses, discoveries pull all of the plot lines closer together but life for H and his team begins to spiral out of control.
If you're a fan of Dirty Harry type cops who place justice over protocol and will do whatever it takes to get the bad guys, you will love this one. I did. Now I just need to go back and read the first book before the third story comes out.
665 reviews4 followers
September 9, 2019
After I finished reading ‘Blood On The Streets’, part one of this series, I was eager to read the sequels. So I sat down with this book and was immediately hooked again. We’re back with ‘H’, Harry Hawkins, no nonsense tough ‘old school’ south London copper. Only this time ‘H’ isn't feeling quite as tough. Following the events from book one he has had a breakdown (who wouldn’t?!) and is fighting to get his life back on track. I feel I should point out here that if you’ve not read the first book then do as it’s an entertaining read but it’s not going to affect this story as it works fine on its own. This time things get very personal with ‘H’ as he learns his son is mixed up with the worst kinds of people in prison. At the same time there’s an investigation into the brutal murder of a pop star. This is part mystery, part police procedural, part action thriller but it’s all great fun. I enjoyed this book even more than the first and I loved that one. The story is fast paced with so much going on I wondered how the writers could resolve it all. Of course they do just that. It flew by with me hooked from page one. I recommend this book, as well as this series, to anyone who likes their heroes ‘larger than life’ and ‘tougher than nails’. Now, time for more Harry Hawkins!
7,795 reviews51 followers
October 2, 2019
LONDON LARGE. :
UNDEFEATED...Gary.& Roy Robson
A dream, so close and the stakes are high. To high, or will he sacrifice a dream for his family. An Uncle, who is not afraid to use brass tactics
Good plot, of showing the values within a person, a love of a dream, which made the family proud. Or to scarfice a part of him.
Good intriguing plot, and liked the family aspect.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Lisa-Jaine.
661 reviews4 followers
December 24, 2017
Another slice of London crime with H and Amisha teaming up once more. This time Harry has more on his plate as he tries to contact his son Ronnie who is in jail, solve the murder of a popstar and get between the various Russian / Argentinian / Polish gangs vying for top spot in the capital. Kept me gripped right through.
Profile Image for Anna.
159 reviews2 followers
June 27, 2018
I thought Blood on the Streets was mega, Bound by Blood was just as good if not better. An action packed, page turning crime thriller with brilliant characters and storyline, I was saddened to lose Graham though, he had shaped up well!
377 reviews1 follower
October 24, 2018
Disappointing.

After thoroughly enjoying "Blood On The Streets" I was looking forward to this second outing of Big 'H', unfortunately I found it a bit of an anti-climax. Whereas "Blood On The Streets" was full throttle all the way, "Bound By Blood " was very much stop start and never seemed to get going until next the end.


667 reviews26 followers
January 15, 2019
This is another amazing book in this series. It is another nonstop exciting story by the author. I love the characters and are amazed at what they do in the story. There is not a boring moment. I am glad that I read this book and will read more from this author!
Profile Image for Mystee Pulcine.
282 reviews
October 29, 2019
If you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one. If you found yourself at all attached to the main characters, you will love how they continue to develop through this book. Expect the same level of scum of humanity opposing them as well.
Profile Image for Clive Willcocks.
295 reviews2 followers
May 22, 2017
Another great read from Gary and Roy. Although it is a standalone story it is advisable to read the first book in the series before this one. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Eric.
50 reviews
September 27, 2017
Excellent second in the series, cant wait for number 3 on Oct 12th 2017
Profile Image for Bonny Millard.
248 reviews5 followers
February 20, 2018
Too Violent

Not for me, reader, this story and violence depicts a sign of our times, and I read to escape. End.
Profile Image for Tina.
1,298 reviews9 followers
February 23, 2019
Great 2nd instalment which didn't disappoint at all. Full of action from the get go 😁
Profile Image for A KERR.
41 reviews
February 7, 2021
Another page turner

Although I still have the same reservation about the central character I'm really enjoyed this book and got drawn into tale with lots of unexpected twists.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews