Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents

by Lee Cockburn

Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks is back and in charge of tracking down a sadistic vigilante, with a penchant for torturing paedophiles, in this unsettling crime thriller by a real-life police sergeant.

High-powered businessmen are turning up tortured around the city of Edinburgh with one specific thing in common — a sinister double life involving pedophilia. Leaving his ‘victims’ in a disturbing state, the individual responsible calls the police and lays bare the evidence of their targets’ twisted misdemeanours to discover, along with a special memento of their own troubled past — a chilling calling card. Once again heading the investigation team is Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks, along with her partner Detective Constable Marcus Black, who are tasked not only with tracking the perpetrator down but also dealing with the unusual scenario of having to arrest the victims for their own barbarous crimes. But with the wounded piling up the predator’s thirst for revenge intensifies and soon Nicks discovers that she is no longer chasing down a sinister attacker but a deadly serial killer.

Vivid, dark and deeply unsettling Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents is the perfect next read for serious crime and police thriller fans.

Genres: Crime

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 21, 2017

Reviews

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spine-chilling, gritty and deeply disturbing!

This is a raw, creepy thriller full of violence, degradation, emotional entanglements, sex and murder.

The main heroine, Taylor, is relentless, determined, strong, confused and damaged. And the supporting characters are complex, intelligent and vulnerable. The writing is well done and exceptionally descriptive. And the plot is a well-crafted police procedural jam-packed with twists, turns, suspense and mayhem.

I have to point out that this story deals with some heartbreaking, horrific issues such as pedophilia and includes some explicit lesbian sex scenes so may not be for everyone. However, saying that, for everyone else this is a gripping, fast-paced murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat and definitely have you questioning the line between criminal and victim, retribution and revenge right from the haunting prologue.

Thank you to Authoright for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

All my reviews can be found on my blog at http://whatsbetterthanbooks.com

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times I love a good crime novel. Not every day, but I like to alternate genres. So when I read the book description of ‘Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents’ I was intrigued and really wanted to read this book for the Blogival event.

In ‘Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents’ we meet Taylor Nicks, a Detective Sergeant who has been through a lot lately. But not only her personal life is hard at the moment. Businessman who seem to be involved with pedophilia are being tortured around the city. And now Taylor, together with Detective Constable Marcus Black has to find the one who is doing the torturing.

‘Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents’ is definitely unlike any of the other books I read. It’s very descriptive in a very brutal way. And I found it hard to read to be honest. This book is filled with murder, a lot of violence, sex and it was just a little bit to disturbing for me. The chapters were short and we would go from a scene in the past, to the present, to the main characters point of view and back to another person’s point of view. I had a hard time keeping up.

The main character Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks was tough and hardworking. And apparently very beautiful, since that was something that was said often throughout the book. I just didn’t like Taylor. I couldn’t connect with her, and her infidelity was something I couldn’t understand at all.

I think this book has a lot of potential. But for me it was just too graphic and brutal to be really enjoyed by me. The scenes with the child abuse, just made me nauseous, and I work at a Traumatology department, so I’m used to horrible stuff. But if you’re a fan of very graphic crime novels this book is for you.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: the subject matter of this book may be hard for some to handle. It is not graphic but there are enough details about the opening scene involving two children and rape that you get a good enough visual in your mind. Yet, the scene was there to help set up the rest of the story. It does not mean however that it was not still hard to read. Additionally, one of the main detectives is in a female relationship that does offer plenty of sex scenes as well. While, I thought the sex scenes were tasteful; I just did not really feel like they added to the story.

However, I did like Detective Taylor and her working partner, Marcus. They worked well together. Also, I liked the fact that they were smart cops. What I mean by this is that sometimes it seems that the killer is always several steps ahead and the sops are just barely stumbling behind. For a fan of police thrillers, I enjoyed this book a lot.

[David Baird · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must forewarn readers that this book won’t be for everybody.. it’s dark and tackles such issues as child kidnapping and paedophilia.

It’s an engrossing and downright scary read and as a new parent it had my pulse racing at times.

Throughout this book we learn about a brother and sister who’ve suffered abuse at the hand of those they should be able to trust during their childhood.

While that tale unfolds we also learn of a present day vigilante who is standing up for those who need protection..this vigilante soon gets wrapped up in an active police kidnapping case when a child goes missing!

This book does really make you think.. these are bad people who get what they deserve but at the same time we have laws and the vigilante is breaking them too.

There’s a team of detectives on the case to hunt down this vigilante and for some there’s a very full on complicated love relationships going on and there is a load of sex scenes. For me this is the only bit I didn’t enjoy about the book. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no prude and it did add to the sexual nature of the book and explores the emotional needs of sex but it took my focus away from the main plot which I was fully committed to. By the third major sex scene I ended up just flicking past the pages as I just wanted to get back to the main focus of the tale..the vigilante.. that storyline had me hooked.

Did the sex ruin the book? No..it’s just not for me..It’s just not what I expected to happen.

It’s a dark and gritty book that really makes you think.. these things can and do go on in the world around us.. this is a subject most of us wouldn’t even want to think about.

As the pressure mounts the vigilante makes a mistake and the police are closing in..I kept going back and forward between characters trying to decide the identity of the vigilante until the big reveal and I wasn’t disappointed.

The ending left me wondering what’s next… either more is planned or more likely left up to your imagination and I loved it.

It’s a tough subject so by its nature some people may not like the book but it’s definitely worth the read. I can honestly say I would have rated it 5* if the book had stayed on the case and had a little less sex..but that’s my taste.. I know many of you will love the book.

A disturbingly good story..take a look

I’ve read the other reviews so far during the blog tour and the book is receiving a very positive response!

My thanks go to Authoright and the author for the chance to read and review their work in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm torn.

This could have been a good book. By the writing was awful. Was there an editor involved? Beta readers?

How often does the reader have to be told that a character is attractive? It felt like every second page I was being told how attractive Taylor was.

The subject matter is supposed to be dark, but the writing didn't make it feel like that.

The coincidences that happened felt forced and out of place.

And the sex scenes. I have no problem with reading sex scenes. But these were completely inappropriate and graphic considering the subject matter of the book.

[Mayu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Porcelain is a gripping crime thriller that hooks you in from the very first chapter. Porcelain is an absolute page turner and I was not able to keep the book down until the very last word.

Apart from the plot, the well built characters were also a very big plus point for this book. There were many characters in the book like DS Nicks, Nathan, Amy, Marcus, etc. I will only talk about a few which were my favourite, and also in my opinion the most important.

DS Nicks is fierce and brave police sergeant who has garnered a lot of respect in the police force as she is very good at her work. I think DS Nicks character was really good and with her team she did a great job in solving the gruesome crime.

Now coming to the twins Nathan and Amy. They had a very disturbed childhood, the memories of which still haunt their present. The moments of their childhood which were shown were deeply unsettling, painful and gruesome. And in present when they talk about their childhood you can almost feel the pain from their voice penetrating through the pages into your heart.

I had just one problem with this book. It was the excess of sex scenes(I think there were total 7). Apart from one, others were completely unnecessary for the plot. And I Actually skipped one or two because in middle of the gripping thriller I didn't want to get distracted.

Porcelain has description of assaults which were carried on. The descriptions are brutal and gruesome and I feel this could be a bit too heavy for some people, so those of you with this problem could give it a miss. Apart from them this chilling read is recommended for all mystery and crime lovers.

[Amanda ChocolatePages · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I looked at interviews that Author Lee Cockburn has given previously, she stated that her books are about good conquering evil. This book contains true evilness, the bad guys are really bad and the good guys good. Sergeant Taylor Nicks and Detective Constable Marcus Black are on the search for a vigilante who has been torturing paedophiles, and while the incentives for their mission is understandable, they are still a wanted criminal. This in turn leads the police to finding paedophiles, which of course is another job in itself.

As I was reading this, I got about half way through and I thought I could see the end in sight, I just couldn’t see how it was going to take another half a book to finish it. But the glorious-ness of an Author’s imagination gave us the twists that we needed to set the second half of the book up for an intense twisty read. The plot made me shiver and can totally be described as spine tingling.

I loved that the book was set in Edinburgh, the streets I know, and the language I know. Though I know Edinburgh, the book writes about a side I have never and I expect never will see. But it also speaks briefly about the wonders of Edinburgh, the extinct volcano and the wonderful Edinburgh Festival. I get the feeling that the Author is writing partly what she knows, in the city, the police work but would have had to delved deep into the dark minds of criminals she has perhaps come into contact with to make the true evilness of the criminals mentioned in the story.

When Lee Cockburn said its good versus evil, she puts me in mind of the goodness still in people, where police will go without sleep, seeing family and put themselves in danger to find the evil ones that are in this world. So although part of this book is very disturbing, we can also take comfort that there are real ‘Goodies’ in the world too. This is the kind of book I could only read occasionally as it is so dark. However, the plot is twisty and well planned – totally worked. The characters are well developed, I remember Taylor, Marcus, Kay and Fran from the last book, while enjoying the addition of the newest member of the police force too. I will definitely read more from Lee Cockburn, as I have a feeling she will write more about Taylor and Marcus, but I will read some lighter hearted books in between.

Will good defeat evil, and will they find the torturer of paedophiles, or will they continue their rein of revenge? And what will become of Taylor and her relationships? You will have to read to find out.

[Fred · Rating 1 out of 5]

What made me buy this book? Why did I think it would be an interesting read? I can't remember, but without a doubt, this is an awful book. I always finish reading a book once I start it, but about a third of the way through I gave up on this one. Badly written, disjointed, and confusing in the use of pronouns, I was irritated and frustrated reading it. Thrown in at random and without adding to the story or the development of the characters is a series of graphic lesbian sex acts, the purpose of which could only be to titillate. From this book, it would appear that the Scotland police force is run by lesbian women. I would have given this book no stars at all, were that possible. It is utter drivel.

[Louise Child · Rating 2 out of 5]

Strange police force

Most of the policewomen depicted in this were tall, gorgeous and in this ,relatively small group , were lesbian enjoying rough ,gratuitous sex with the main character . Not likely .The identical twin scenario is so extremely rare I found this unlikely too . The vigilante idea was interesting but the could have been done better .The sex scenes were a big turn off , unnecessary ,so I skipped them all .

[paige macleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed despite poor grammar

The story line is good despite the subject matter. Although the grammar is poor the pace of the story keeps you reading. Worth a read

[Wayne Johannesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been better

The core of the story (the abuse of children) was tense and often unpleasant to read but it was well written.

I felt the segments of lesbian sex was unnecessary and for me, broke the continuity of the story. I actually found myself flipping past these sections because they were so unrelated.

The writer should have stuck with either writing a lesbian romance or a tense thriller, not mix the two together.

If you are seeking something to compare this with for a better read, try Mo Hayder’s “Birdman”.

[Amanda Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous sequel! Cried literal tears to this 😂 cannot wait to read the 3rd book.
Karmas a bitch

[Magda Ziemniewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, interesting plot.

Book was recommended to me by a friend.
Very good and quick read. Interesting story line. Could not put the book away until the last page.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start this story 22 years prior with twins Nathan and Amy. They are horribly abused physically, mentally, and sexually by their step father as their mother stands by and does nothing. Nathan does everything he can to protect his sister but there is only so much a 5 year old can do.

Zip ahead to present day and there is a vigilante on the hunt for pedophiles. They are paying back those that have abused and killed the young. He marks them in a noticeable way and leaves a creepy calling card behind. The police are trying to stop him but he is covering his tracts well until one slip up. The vigilante seems to have become a serial killer, but it’s hard to be too hard on him since his victims are getting what they deserve.

This is one book that will get your attention. We start with horribly detailed child abuse. Then we are exposed to the vigilante that graphically gets their revenge on his victims. You will also be reading about a lot of sex. I warn you of that first off because this will put a lot of people off this book. For me, it make the book even better, it makes this book very realistic and makes you pay attention to the facts that this stuff happens in real life.

I really liked Taylor and Marcus. They have different approaches but they work well together to catch the vigilante. And speaking of him, it’s kind of hard to want to stop him when he is essentially cleaning up the crap on the streets.

This is a great, graphic thriller that drew me in quickly and left me guessing at who the vigilante was. I will be putting Porcelain on my keep shelf and will be purchasing Devil’s Demise shortly.

I received Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents from Authoright for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this  has to be one of the most intense police procedural/thriller novels that I have read. You will find yourself completely engrossed in the police investigation and that of the vigilante that take the law into their own hands. This book does come with a warning as there are scenes of children being abused in the most horrendous manner. It describes in detail what happens to these children, the affect it has on them and the appalling conditions in which they live and also includes violent and explicit adult scenes.
The story begins 22 years ago as twins Nathan and Amy face another day of constant hunger, abuse and cold with the only comfort they can find is in each other. A brother protecting his sister as much as any 5 year old can against their mother, who enjoys to watch her children being abused with her boyfriend. There will be a day when it ends but can it really go away?
In present day the police certainly have their work cut out as a vigilante sets about to even the score up against the paedophiles. The sadistic attacks from early years of mental scaring becomes obsessional,  it seems that no matter how many depraved people face the wrath of this avenger, there will always be plenty more to fill the gap. These are no random beatings there is precision and reason behind every action to ensure the paedophiles will never even be able to take part in even any normal relationship ever again. Each attack is different and leaves nothing for your imagination to fill in.
The police are there to protect everyone though, including the bad guys, as how can you justify one brutality with another? They make a formidable team but personal lives and work aren’t always the best of mixes. I really liked this team, they had a bounce about them that at times made the atmosphere sizzle especially among themselves. This is an extremely well written book that will keep you up until you turn the last page. Lee Cockburn hasn’t danced around the edge this subject of child abuse it really is a tell it as it is story. This is the second novel in the Taylor Nicks and Marcus Black novels. A third novel will be available in the near future.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was aware before I embarked on this book that it was branded as unsettling however I feel duty bound to point out some *trigger* aspects because I know several of my readers will be troubled by such content. This is an extremely harrowing tale involving paedophilia, murder and self-harming. There are also explicit lesbian sex scenes. If any of these subjects upset/offend you I would suggest NOT reading it.

BUT now I have made that clear I am going to continue and say I was absolutely mesmerised by this, it’s dark, edgy, stomach churning, heart-wrenching stuff but it is also highly addictive. Once I had got past the first few pages I was hooked, in my opinion it is worth sticking with it and it will eventually all become clear and progress into a crime, police procedural thriller.

Nathan and Amy suffer hideous torture and abuse at the hands of their mother and step-father this is their story.

As the years have progressed people are being assaulted and bodies start appearing, they all have a connection to a crime ring and whoever the attacker is leaves a ‘calling card’ with each mutilated corpse. If I wasn’t freaked out by porcelain dolls previously I am now!

The police team investigating are a strong tight unit, Taylor the Detective Sergeant was clearly my favourite, she is a powerful woman full of confidence and totally aware of her appeal to other women. She fights for justice and stands no crap from any suspects. Detective Constable Marcus Black also endeared himself to me .. a situation with his family is so well written it sent shivers down my spine and the sheer terror and desperation was palpable.

Once the team know they are chasing a serial killer the tension escalates .. I was convinced I knew who would be found guilty but I was wrong and was kept guessing the outcome until nearer the end. The ending itself leaves the way open for another book *I hope*.

I hesitate to say I enjoyed this due to the subject matter but it is certainly highly entertaining, the author excels with her knowledge of the police and that comes across strongly. It’s a bloody marvellous book and I am glad I read it!

Thanks to the author and publishers .. I read and reviewed voluntarily.