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The Badge and the Pen #2
Vengeance
Jack Quintel is a hit man. When a job comes in to kill the Deputy Chief Constable of the Greater Manchester Police Jim Reedly, he contracts it out to a new guy, Charlie Parker…
Watching in the shadows, Quintel sees Parker shoot out Reedly’s windscreen, then drag him into the woods and thinks the job’s been done.
But when Parker tries to pass off a pig’s heart as Reedly’s, things start to go very wrong. Jack’s right hand man Jason kills Charlie, who it turns out is an undercover police officer.
Detective Vinnie Palmer is with the Preston police. He was called in when they received the information about the impending hit.
Now he has to figure out how to clean up the mess.
And he wants whoever killed Parker bad. He finds the man who put Parker in touch with Quintel, a low life hood named Dempter, living in an estate in Preston.
He doesn’t know much, but motivated by money, agrees to be an informant for the police.
Christine Jones is a TV reporter. She and Vinnie had worked together before, chasing a serial killer.
They meet again at the warehouse where Charlie was killed, and realise their relationship could be more than professional.
But first, Christine wants to know what’s happening. Christine is working on a documentary about positive discrimination against non-Catholic officers in Northern Ireland since the peace process. She makes contact with a former police officer in Northern Belfast named Paul Bury, who feeds her some of the information she needs.
Meanwhile, as the bodies start to pile up in Preston, there’s another attempt on Reedly’s life, when a grenade is thrown at him at his brother-in-law’s funeral.
As Vinnie fights to keep Reedly alive, suddenly Christine’s life is in danger.
And they both start to wonder if the contract against Reedly has anything to do with her documentary on Northern Ireland. But how could it?
Watching in the shadows, Quintel sees Parker shoot out Reedly’s windscreen, then drag him into the woods and thinks the job’s been done.
But when Parker tries to pass off a pig’s heart as Reedly’s, things start to go very wrong. Jack’s right hand man Jason kills Charlie, who it turns out is an undercover police officer.
Detective Vinnie Palmer is with the Preston police. He was called in when they received the information about the impending hit.
Now he has to figure out how to clean up the mess.
And he wants whoever killed Parker bad. He finds the man who put Parker in touch with Quintel, a low life hood named Dempter, living in an estate in Preston.
He doesn’t know much, but motivated by money, agrees to be an informant for the police.
Christine Jones is a TV reporter. She and Vinnie had worked together before, chasing a serial killer.
They meet again at the warehouse where Charlie was killed, and realise their relationship could be more than professional.
But first, Christine wants to know what’s happening. Christine is working on a documentary about positive discrimination against non-Catholic officers in Northern Ireland since the peace process. She makes contact with a former police officer in Northern Belfast named Paul Bury, who feeds her some of the information she needs.
Meanwhile, as the bodies start to pile up in Preston, there’s another attempt on Reedly’s life, when a grenade is thrown at him at his brother-in-law’s funeral.
As Vinnie fights to keep Reedly alive, suddenly Christine’s life is in danger.
And they both start to wonder if the contract against Reedly has anything to do with her documentary on Northern Ireland. But how could it?
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2017
32 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Roger A. Price
17 books56 followersThe author is a retired detective inspector who had been in charge of a covert unit, which received national acclaim for its successes in engaging those who openly sold Class A drugs.
Prior to this, he’d been in charge of the C.I.D. at Preston, having first led a dedicated informant unit.
He also worked on murders, drugs squads, and the regional and national crime squads, often in covert roles across the UK, Europe, and the Far East, receiving several commendations.
A member of the Crime Writers' Association he now writes crime, thrillers - in novel - and drama scripts. He uses his previous professional experiences to add gritty realism. Represented by SMA Talent.
www.rogerapriceauthor.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 25, 2018
This was my first foray into Roger's writing and I can honestly say I really enjoyed it. Having met the author on several occasions, I can certainly hear his voice throughout the novel. As we're both northerners, this gave me a warm, comfortable feeling as I read; a feeling of familiarity.
The novel is the second in a series, but was written so that you don't have to have read the first to follow the story (which I haven't). The novel centres around two main characters - Vinnie Palmer and Christine Jones.
Vinnie is a detective and Christine an investigative reporter, and the two storylines converge towards a very explosive ending. Vinnie is on the case of a hitman who is taking out various high ranking officials and Christine is working on an expose about a senior Irish politician.
Roger skillfully keeps these two storylines separate so that we believe they are completely unrelated, whilst at the same time sowing the seed for us to start connecting the dots ourselves.
I loved the voice and language used and felt, probably due to Roger's background in the police, that he had nailed this. Even the way the bad guys conversed seemed like you were just eavesdropping on a conversation you shouldn't be, it was so real. Well done, Roger!
I do have a few grumbles though...
I feel that instead of telling us what was said between two characters, Roger should have shown us via dialogue. I know it was probably to move the story along, but if it can't be put into dialogue then leave it out.
The other thing was the intimate detail in describing the motorway network. I found this a little tedious and don't think it was really necessary. It interrupted the story rather than added to it.
All in all though, I would definitely read more of Roger's books and would highly recommend this series to all you crime readers!
The novel is the second in a series, but was written so that you don't have to have read the first to follow the story (which I haven't). The novel centres around two main characters - Vinnie Palmer and Christine Jones.
Vinnie is a detective and Christine an investigative reporter, and the two storylines converge towards a very explosive ending. Vinnie is on the case of a hitman who is taking out various high ranking officials and Christine is working on an expose about a senior Irish politician.
Roger skillfully keeps these two storylines separate so that we believe they are completely unrelated, whilst at the same time sowing the seed for us to start connecting the dots ourselves.
I loved the voice and language used and felt, probably due to Roger's background in the police, that he had nailed this. Even the way the bad guys conversed seemed like you were just eavesdropping on a conversation you shouldn't be, it was so real. Well done, Roger!
I do have a few grumbles though...
I feel that instead of telling us what was said between two characters, Roger should have shown us via dialogue. I know it was probably to move the story along, but if it can't be put into dialogue then leave it out.
The other thing was the intimate detail in describing the motorway network. I found this a little tedious and don't think it was really necessary. It interrupted the story rather than added to it.
All in all though, I would definitely read more of Roger's books and would highly recommend this series to all you crime readers!
May 28, 2017
This was my first time reading a book by Roger A. Price so I was going into Vengeance not knowing what to expect from the author's style, other than that with Price's history in the job himself, his books were bound to be as accurate and truthful to the cause as they could be. I wasn't disappointed by the authenticity of Price's writing.
Normally when reading a book to review I try to take my time, but this book I started one afternoon and was finished it the next day in the early hours of the morning. I was completely hooked on it and it went by so quickly. What really sold this novel to me is how dark and gritty it is. I've become increasingly interested in the darkest side of crime since reading Danielle Ramsay's novels, and have been struggling to find other crime novels that I can really get into, usually I stick to those based in the North East/Northumberland as that's where I'm from and reading about places I know always gives me a thrill.
This book was so well written that it didn't matter that I've never been to Manchester, expect once when I was eleven and went to Old Trafford, can't say I remember much about the trip. The description of the locations was so well done that I could picture them just as clearly as if I had seen the places for myself. It also doesn't hurt to have another author from my home town of Whitley Bay to buy my books from, even if this series is set in Lancashire/Manchester.
After the story itself, the most important part of a crime book is that the Detective leading the story is someone I can get along with, Detective Vinnie Palmer ticked that box for me almost straight away. I only wish I'd had a chance to read the first book in the series first as I'd really like to see more from him and hope there is still more to come.
I'll be keeping an eye out for Price's next novel and have added Nemesis, the first Detective Vinnie Palmer book, to my TBR pile already, which I'll be looking forward to reading in the near future. I highly recommend Vengeance to any fan of crime thrillers .
Normally when reading a book to review I try to take my time, but this book I started one afternoon and was finished it the next day in the early hours of the morning. I was completely hooked on it and it went by so quickly. What really sold this novel to me is how dark and gritty it is. I've become increasingly interested in the darkest side of crime since reading Danielle Ramsay's novels, and have been struggling to find other crime novels that I can really get into, usually I stick to those based in the North East/Northumberland as that's where I'm from and reading about places I know always gives me a thrill.
This book was so well written that it didn't matter that I've never been to Manchester, expect once when I was eleven and went to Old Trafford, can't say I remember much about the trip. The description of the locations was so well done that I could picture them just as clearly as if I had seen the places for myself. It also doesn't hurt to have another author from my home town of Whitley Bay to buy my books from, even if this series is set in Lancashire/Manchester.
After the story itself, the most important part of a crime book is that the Detective leading the story is someone I can get along with, Detective Vinnie Palmer ticked that box for me almost straight away. I only wish I'd had a chance to read the first book in the series first as I'd really like to see more from him and hope there is still more to come.
I'll be keeping an eye out for Price's next novel and have added Nemesis, the first Detective Vinnie Palmer book, to my TBR pile already, which I'll be looking forward to reading in the near future. I highly recommend Vengeance to any fan of crime thrillers .
March 20, 2017
Have coffee handy
Mr. Price certainly wastes no time in this story- the action is absolutely non stop from beginning to end. I actually felt drained by the time I finished reading Vengeance. I strongly recommend having plenty of tea or coffee handy when you open the book up since you won't want to put it down until it's finished.
The best part of Vengeance is that, with this story, author Price not only continues his successful run of police thrillers (it really does take an ex cop to do the genre justice), but he also introduces Vinnie and company to the Byzantine labyrinth that is the Irish Troubles. I almost expected Liam
Devlin to pop up somewhere at the climatic press conference. (Fortunately, this doesn't actually happen, and that's my one obligatory attempt at humor done, so now I can get on with it.)
The premise that, 20 years after the violence in northern Ireland officially ended, the protagonists are still at odds with each other and the rest of society certainly seems plausible, and deserves further exploration. That aside, Mr. Price's handling of it here worked very well, in my opinion. Mind you, it was a bit hard to keep up with all the goings on; who's mad at who and why- but it felt believable regardless. Plus, if you like a bit of shock value in your stories, when you combine homicide investigation with terrorist activities, every chapter has a vivid example of such, shall we say, proclivity? Poor old Dempster's ear comes to mind. You'll see.
So, if you're a fan of police or Troubles thrillers, Mr. Price has very thoughtfully combined both genres into one with this book. Successfully too, I might add. As I said early on, don't expect to be able to put it down. My only wonder or quibble at this point is, when the hell will Vinnie and his reporter friend finally deepen their relationship? They both keep on being shot at, blown up, and going through so many pleasant experiences together- I just figure that at least one of them would try a little harder to initiate some stress reduction with the other before one or both of them wind up in a basket. Ah well. Something to look forward to?
Mr. Price certainly wastes no time in this story- the action is absolutely non stop from beginning to end. I actually felt drained by the time I finished reading Vengeance. I strongly recommend having plenty of tea or coffee handy when you open the book up since you won't want to put it down until it's finished.
The best part of Vengeance is that, with this story, author Price not only continues his successful run of police thrillers (it really does take an ex cop to do the genre justice), but he also introduces Vinnie and company to the Byzantine labyrinth that is the Irish Troubles. I almost expected Liam
Devlin to pop up somewhere at the climatic press conference. (Fortunately, this doesn't actually happen, and that's my one obligatory attempt at humor done, so now I can get on with it.)
The premise that, 20 years after the violence in northern Ireland officially ended, the protagonists are still at odds with each other and the rest of society certainly seems plausible, and deserves further exploration. That aside, Mr. Price's handling of it here worked very well, in my opinion. Mind you, it was a bit hard to keep up with all the goings on; who's mad at who and why- but it felt believable regardless. Plus, if you like a bit of shock value in your stories, when you combine homicide investigation with terrorist activities, every chapter has a vivid example of such, shall we say, proclivity? Poor old Dempster's ear comes to mind. You'll see.
So, if you're a fan of police or Troubles thrillers, Mr. Price has very thoughtfully combined both genres into one with this book. Successfully too, I might add. As I said early on, don't expect to be able to put it down. My only wonder or quibble at this point is, when the hell will Vinnie and his reporter friend finally deepen their relationship? They both keep on being shot at, blown up, and going through so many pleasant experiences together- I just figure that at least one of them would try a little harder to initiate some stress reduction with the other before one or both of them wind up in a basket. Ah well. Something to look forward to?
April 2, 2017
I found Vengeance fast paced from the word off, non stop action all the way through. A real crime thriller novel with an exciting look into the underworld.
I particularly love the short chapters which are too the point and keep you on your toes. They keep you reading wanting more.
Follow the police inspector and police reporter while they try to uncover a series of murders which appear to have been done by some serious hitmen. It contains lots Factual evidence and some interesting detective work full of intrigue and mystery.
Meanwhile alternate chapters featured the criminals themselves with some nice gritty gruesome torture thrown in for good measure. You feel like you get to know the characters as they embark on terrorising theirs victims.
I liked the fact it was centred all around the area of Lancashire and Manchester, being familiar with these areas it added some more interest and drew me in to the book. I feel like i want to go and find all pubs and areas now to get a better insight, not that the author didn't do justice in describing them.
The terrorism angle with just that little bit of politics was an added bonus making the storyline just that bit more interesting and believable.
I particularly love the short chapters which are too the point and keep you on your toes. They keep you reading wanting more.
Follow the police inspector and police reporter while they try to uncover a series of murders which appear to have been done by some serious hitmen. It contains lots Factual evidence and some interesting detective work full of intrigue and mystery.
Meanwhile alternate chapters featured the criminals themselves with some nice gritty gruesome torture thrown in for good measure. You feel like you get to know the characters as they embark on terrorising theirs victims.
I liked the fact it was centred all around the area of Lancashire and Manchester, being familiar with these areas it added some more interest and drew me in to the book. I feel like i want to go and find all pubs and areas now to get a better insight, not that the author didn't do justice in describing them.
The terrorism angle with just that little bit of politics was an added bonus making the storyline just that bit more interesting and believable.
May 3, 2017
Two main offenders; One secret boss; several targets and lots of mysteries....... this book has all this and more. Full of intrigue and mystery.
I instantly warmed to the characters Vinnie; a Police Inspector and Christine; a local TV investigative reporter.
Vinnie had made it his mission to find out what (or who), two hit men for hire, Quintel and Jason, were targeting. Especially after he witnessed an undercover Officer, one of his own, killed.
This was a fast paced novel, and there were two stories running alongside each other. Christine was investigation a Political story line. The stories seamlessly joined together towards the end. There were several mystery characters along the way you had to try in your head and identify. They could have been anyone. Who would you trust? I thoroughly enjoyed this; even the political aspect of the novel, which is something I would not normally read, but would certainly pick up now.
It is book two in the series, but I have not read book one and it still read well as a standalone.
I instantly warmed to the characters Vinnie; a Police Inspector and Christine; a local TV investigative reporter.
Vinnie had made it his mission to find out what (or who), two hit men for hire, Quintel and Jason, were targeting. Especially after he witnessed an undercover Officer, one of his own, killed.
This was a fast paced novel, and there were two stories running alongside each other. Christine was investigation a Political story line. The stories seamlessly joined together towards the end. There were several mystery characters along the way you had to try in your head and identify. They could have been anyone. Who would you trust? I thoroughly enjoyed this; even the political aspect of the novel, which is something I would not normally read, but would certainly pick up now.
It is book two in the series, but I have not read book one and it still read well as a standalone.
July 10, 2019
If you liked 'Line of Duty' (and who doesn't?) you're going to love this gem which is the second in the 'Badge and the Pen series), Vengeance. The true investigation into contract killings is limited to just DI Vinnie Palmer, his boss Harry who sanctions involvement with Christine Jones, the investigative reporter who worked with Vinnie in Book One (Nemesis). Other than that, they have their work cut out on who they can trust, especially amongst more senior police ranks from the Chief Constable down.
The contract killers clearly enjoy their craft, and they employ their skills brutally and creatively, which is not for the faint-hearted.
Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, which made it harder to put this book down.
The contract killers clearly enjoy their craft, and they employ their skills brutally and creatively, which is not for the faint-hearted.
Each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, which made it harder to put this book down.
February 5, 2022
Excellent page turner with lots of plot twists. Well thought out and thoroughly enjoyable. I have currently finished this book on my sunbed in the Canaries and my fellow sun worshippers are not only looking at me for my full head of hair and 59 year old six pack but because I keep laughing out loud at the superb one liners that Roger has the gift to deliver in real life. A total spirit lifter. I’m looking forward to the next instalment ‘Hidden’.
December 7, 2020
A strange twist
My second book by Roger A Price, and I was not disappointed. This book is full of action and surprises. I think anyone who likes detective novels will love this group of books.
My second book by Roger A Price, and I was not disappointed. This book is full of action and surprises. I think anyone who likes detective novels will love this group of books.
August 30, 2018
Vengeance is one of those crime novels that grabs you by the throat and never lets you go, no matter how hard you squeal! Knowing Roger’s background as an undercover cop, the story is all the more believable – worryingly so. It is hard to imagine that villains and hit men can be as callous and merciless in real life as Jack Quintel. It’s also no surprise that the main protagonist, the likeable and true-to-life Detective Vinnie Palmer, has to cut through police politics and regional red tape to track down the assassins without interference from his superiors. But he’s always one step behind. Each fresh murder presents Palmer with another curved ball – inexplicable, seemingly disconnected, yet the same MO. It’s a good job he has the indefatigable, obsessional Christine Jones, a classy TV crime reporter, to help him. The clever interweaving storyline and links to the troubles in Northern Ireland, provide the reader with a classic murder investigation alongside the killer’s point of view. It’s a gritty story, packed with violence, excitement and political intrigue. Can’t say better than that! It’s a great read.
July 24, 2020
Vengeance by Roger A Price.
This was book 2 in the badge and pen series.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. Although I wasnt sure if I liked Vinnie. I liked Christine. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. 4*.
This was book 2 in the badge and pen series.
I really enjoyed this book. Great story. Although I wasnt sure if I liked Vinnie. I liked Christine. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author. 4*.
May 12, 2018
Vengeance, Roger A Price’s second book in his Detective Vinnie Palmer series, follows on from the tearaway success Nemesis. Liked Nemesis? You’ll love this. Palmer’s back on the job, but I don’t envy him. When the first few chapters serve up a pig’s heart on a paper plate, a murder, arson and the suggestion of political intrigue you know that one of the very best of British crime thriller writers is going to take you on a car chase of a story. Buckle in; it’s breakneck from start to finish, with a twisting, deftly weaved plot that qualifies Vengeance for the sometimes overused accolade of ‘unputdownable’. Roger braids different story lines with a skill that makes it seem easy, and gets the balance between gritty, violent realism and old school chivalry spot on. His attention to police procedural detail adds a ballast of authenticity to the whole story and his creative reach, taking us from the regional details of the England’s North West to the troubled history of Northern Ireland, suggests a writer really starting to flex his muscle. Looking forward to re-joining the Vinnie and Christine (for goodness sake man kiss her!) in book three. Two successes in a row, and like Vinnie Palmer, I don’t believe in coincidences. Roger rocks.
November 6, 2019
On the plus side, the basic plot is engaging. The story arc is wide and the pace is good. Ok, some of the Irish political story line is hard to believe. But the writer's knowledge of police procedures comes through strongly giving authenticity. And the characters are interesting, if a little one dimensional.
What lets this novel down is the lack of editing. It reads like an early draft. There are many long and convoluted sentence constructions that require reading and re-reading several times. There are more semi colons than I've ever seen in one novel, yet no colons, even where one is clearly required. And there are very many typos. I particularly liked the "car born camera" and the flash from the "mussel" of a gun.
What lets this novel down is the lack of editing. It reads like an early draft. There are many long and convoluted sentence constructions that require reading and re-reading several times. There are more semi colons than I've ever seen in one novel, yet no colons, even where one is clearly required. And there are very many typos. I particularly liked the "car born camera" and the flash from the "mussel" of a gun.
November 16, 2023
Roger A Price continues his Badge and the Pen series with a real show stopper and creates a noir all his own set in Preston. His characters are subtlety ambiguous, enabling the reader to both sympathise and revile them without, losing sight of the fact that they are killers. However Prices’s hero DI Vinnie Palmer runs the show, deftly guiding us through the twists and turn of this nonstop revenge thriller, with his stalwart catch phase - ‘I don’t believe in fairies.’ Price, a former police detective writes with great authenticity as he recreates the murky world of hired killers and paramilitaries.
June 19, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book, a no nonsense crime fiction, Vinnie & Christine make a great team, possibly in more ways than one, no doubt we'll find out in the next book, hopefully there will be a next.
Being from Preston I recognised most of the area mentioned in the book, keep up the good work Roger
Being from Preston I recognised most of the area mentioned in the book, keep up the good work Roger
January 13, 2024
Vengeance (Badge and the Pen, #2)
This is a Gritty read for all us crime thriller fans. Especially if like me you enjoy books when they are set in and around Manchester. I always get a stronger sense of enjoyment when my mind actually pictures the area or places mentioned in a book.
I found this book quite well written and interesting.
This is a Gritty read for all us crime thriller fans. Especially if like me you enjoy books when they are set in and around Manchester. I always get a stronger sense of enjoyment when my mind actually pictures the area or places mentioned in a book.
I found this book quite well written and interesting.
August 9, 2021
I absolutely loved this book, It was a bit of a longer than expected since i read the first one and this was just as good. I won't even attempt to embarrass myself with writing a poor review of a great book but there is no waiting I have gone straight on to book three
May 27, 2019
The first in the series was good, this one is great, very exciting ending. believable Characters and scenarios.cant wait for the next one roll on June the first.
Read
December 8, 2019Please see blog for review: https://thepturnersbookblog.wordpress...
November 22, 2020
Started off quite flat but picked up pace, just about understood the politics of it all.
March 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, the writing was fast paced but never mired down with so much information you felt like you would miss something, I really enjoyed seeing both sides of the coin. The era that it references is not something I know much about however that didn’t hinder my reading experience at all. Will be keeping my eyes out for any more books by Mr Price
did-not-finish
April 21, 2025I just couldn't get into this as I found I didn't care enough about the characters. It's not to my personal taste but others may like it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews