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Lucy Clayburn #2
Shadows
As a female cop walking the mean streets of Manchester, life can be tough for PC Lucy Clayburn. But when one of the North West’s toughest gangsters is your father, things can be particularly difficult.
When Lucy's patch is gripped by a spate of murder-robberies, the police are quick to action. Yet when it transpires that the targets are Manchester’s criminal underworld, attitudes change.
Lucy is soon faced with one of the toughest cases of her life – and one which will prove once and for all whether blood really is thicker than water…
When Lucy's patch is gripped by a spate of murder-robberies, the police are quick to action. Yet when it transpires that the targets are Manchester’s criminal underworld, attitudes change.
Lucy is soon faced with one of the toughest cases of her life – and one which will prove once and for all whether blood really is thicker than water…
447 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2017
82 people are currently reading
441 people want to read
About the author
Paul Finch
206 books464 followersPaul Finch is a former cop and journalist, now full-time writer. Having originally written for the television series THE BILL plus children's animation and DOCTOR WHO audio dramas, he went on to write horror, but is now best known for his crime / thriller fiction.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
He won the British Fantasy Award twice and the International Horror Guild Award, but since then has written two parallel series of hard-hitting crime novels, the Heck and the Lucy Clayburn novels, of which three titles have become best-sellers.
Paul lives in Wigan, Lancashire, UK with his wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
October 18, 2017
Fast-paced police procedural jam packed with twists, turns and plenty of action!
This is book two in the Lucy Clayburn series, but can be read as a stand alone.
When criminal under lords in Manchester start getting robbed by a duo wearing red ski masks, all hell breaks loose. Lucy, now part of CID, inadvertently gets pulled into solving these crimes. Making matters even more interesting is how these crimes link back to her father. As Lucy gets closer to solving who is behind the red ski mask robberies, she winds up putting her life in danger.
Shadows is told primarily through Lucy’s POV. However, there are multiple story lines and additional POVs. It might seem a little much at first, but everything is tied together in the end.
I loved the first book in the series. While I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading Shadows, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t much development with Lucy’s character--the first book focuses a lot more on her personal life and background. I was hoping this element would continue in the second book. However, this was still a fun read where I was able to just zone out and get lost in the book. The last 20% was non-stop, heart pounding action!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is book two in the Lucy Clayburn series, but can be read as a stand alone.
When criminal under lords in Manchester start getting robbed by a duo wearing red ski masks, all hell breaks loose. Lucy, now part of CID, inadvertently gets pulled into solving these crimes. Making matters even more interesting is how these crimes link back to her father. As Lucy gets closer to solving who is behind the red ski mask robberies, she winds up putting her life in danger.
Shadows is told primarily through Lucy’s POV. However, there are multiple story lines and additional POVs. It might seem a little much at first, but everything is tied together in the end.
I loved the first book in the series. While I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading Shadows, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t much development with Lucy’s character--the first book focuses a lot more on her personal life and background. I was hoping this element would continue in the second book. However, this was still a fun read where I was able to just zone out and get lost in the book. The last 20% was non-stop, heart pounding action!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2017
3.5 stars
PC Lucy Clayburn has a lot on her plate. A shadowy killer known as “The Creep” may have relocated to the Manchester area, there’s been a string of home burglaries & she’s saddled with a less than motivated partner. And her mother wonders why she’s still single….sigh.
But things take an interesting twist when information she receives links one of her cases to an ongoing investigation by the elite Robbery division. They have a reputation for being cowboys but you can’t argue with results & Lucy is thrilled when she gets seconded to the team (especially after she meets the fetching Danny Tucker).
In alternate chapters, we follow some of the area’s career criminals & get to know the major players. For years there has been an unwritten rule book. The bosses tolerate minor crimes by small time grifters as long as they remember their place. And sending a cut of the proceeds up the food chain ensures they’ll keep breathing.
But the arrival of a new team of thieves is threatening the hierarchy. Ruthless, efficient & well armed, they’re targeting the area’s biggest crime figures & making off with the profits. Suddenly, there’s a rash of violent attacks among the gangs as they try to figure out who’s responsible. The cops take an interest when several investigations yield common threads. But no one could have predicted where it leads & when the dust finally settles, Lucy’s world is rocked by the shocking truth.
I really enjoyed the author’s DS Heckenburg series so thought I’d give this a go. Although it’s book #2, it can easily be read as a stand alone as enough back story is provided. Finch’s strengths include intricate story lines, fast paced action & bad guys you love to hate. All of those are here in spades. The last 20% is a literal sprint to the finish & you’ll probably be as gobsmacked as Lucy when some jaw dropping connections are revealed.
Where is succeeded less well (for me) lay with Lucy’s character. I’m one of those obnoxious readers that requires a certain level of credibility, especially when it comes to police procedurals. Lucy is strong willed & a bit of a kickass, to be sure. But she’s not really a team player & has a tendency to rush into obviously dodgy situations without back-up. There are several incidents where her reckless decisions endanger others & her escapes may test your ability to suspend disbelief.
But hey, that’s just me. It’s purely a case of personal preference so if you’re looking for something with lots of action paired with clever twists, pick this & enjoy the ride.
PC Lucy Clayburn has a lot on her plate. A shadowy killer known as “The Creep” may have relocated to the Manchester area, there’s been a string of home burglaries & she’s saddled with a less than motivated partner. And her mother wonders why she’s still single….sigh.
But things take an interesting twist when information she receives links one of her cases to an ongoing investigation by the elite Robbery division. They have a reputation for being cowboys but you can’t argue with results & Lucy is thrilled when she gets seconded to the team (especially after she meets the fetching Danny Tucker).
In alternate chapters, we follow some of the area’s career criminals & get to know the major players. For years there has been an unwritten rule book. The bosses tolerate minor crimes by small time grifters as long as they remember their place. And sending a cut of the proceeds up the food chain ensures they’ll keep breathing.
But the arrival of a new team of thieves is threatening the hierarchy. Ruthless, efficient & well armed, they’re targeting the area’s biggest crime figures & making off with the profits. Suddenly, there’s a rash of violent attacks among the gangs as they try to figure out who’s responsible. The cops take an interest when several investigations yield common threads. But no one could have predicted where it leads & when the dust finally settles, Lucy’s world is rocked by the shocking truth.
I really enjoyed the author’s DS Heckenburg series so thought I’d give this a go. Although it’s book #2, it can easily be read as a stand alone as enough back story is provided. Finch’s strengths include intricate story lines, fast paced action & bad guys you love to hate. All of those are here in spades. The last 20% is a literal sprint to the finish & you’ll probably be as gobsmacked as Lucy when some jaw dropping connections are revealed.
Where is succeeded less well (for me) lay with Lucy’s character. I’m one of those obnoxious readers that requires a certain level of credibility, especially when it comes to police procedurals. Lucy is strong willed & a bit of a kickass, to be sure. But she’s not really a team player & has a tendency to rush into obviously dodgy situations without back-up. There are several incidents where her reckless decisions endanger others & her escapes may test your ability to suspend disbelief.
But hey, that’s just me. It’s purely a case of personal preference so if you’re looking for something with lots of action paired with clever twists, pick this & enjoy the ride.
September 26, 2023
This novel is the second volume of the Lucy Clayburn book series. I haven’t read volume 1 yet, but it’s easily possible to understand volume 2 without reading the other book before.
It’s a British thriller which takes place in Manchester, and for me as a European, it was nice to read that not every English police officer has hundreds of guns at their disposal, as is usually the case in US novels, and that the bobbies on the beat are even invited to a cup of tea by local residents sometimes.
And although I didn’t always like the description of the characters in the book so much (especially the characterization of the female characters is too much focused on their looks, for my taste), the main character is an interesting, tough heroine and the book is quite a thrilling (though at times brutal) read with several surprising turns.
3.5 Stars.
It’s a British thriller which takes place in Manchester, and for me as a European, it was nice to read that not every English police officer has hundreds of guns at their disposal, as is usually the case in US novels, and that the bobbies on the beat are even invited to a cup of tea by local residents sometimes.
And although I didn’t always like the description of the characters in the book so much (especially the characterization of the female characters is too much focused on their looks, for my taste), the main character is an interesting, tough heroine and the book is quite a thrilling (though at times brutal) read with several surprising turns.
3.5 Stars.
October 2, 2017
A female police officer in Manchester.. whose father is a known criminal. Lucy works on a spate of robberies in the area. this is the second in the series but the first I have read. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book to read and review
October 18, 2017
Shadows – A Brilliant Detective
DC Lucy Clayton has finally arrived, she is a member of CID, bottom of the rung but there is only one place to go and that is up. Well as long as nobody ever finds out she is the daughter of one of Manchester’s most dangerous criminals, it is a detail that would do damage to both their careers.
Clayton is getting a reputation amongst her colleagues as a thief taker, good at her job, and always looking to do the right thing. It is when she is investigating a spate of house robberies she discovers that a Robin Hood has been in action around one of the more deprived area.
Little does she know that this fact alone, and finding another crime scene will put her life in danger and that of her mother also. As she is hunted like a criminal, and an ensuing motorbike chase, she really does have to step over the line to save her mother and at least hope she can get out of all this trouble exploding around her. Can she really trust her ex-boyfriend to help her out, now that he is a completely other world, while she waits for back-up from her colleagues.
Paul Finch is one of the best police thriller writers in the country at the moment. The characters he creates are dynamic, if somewhat defective in character. Lucy Clayton, part of the ‘Crowley’ area of the Greater Manchester Police force with all its many faults, and the faults in the characters reflect the force that they are in.
To many readers in Greater Manchester will be able to recognise parts of the conurbation in the story, but saves the blushes of those boroughs by not naming them. What is clear, Paul Finch knows how to write thrillers and is a natural born storyteller, who knows how to make things dark but wonderful at the same time. Read this and you will not regret any time spent with Lucy Clayburn.
DC Lucy Clayton has finally arrived, she is a member of CID, bottom of the rung but there is only one place to go and that is up. Well as long as nobody ever finds out she is the daughter of one of Manchester’s most dangerous criminals, it is a detail that would do damage to both their careers.
Clayton is getting a reputation amongst her colleagues as a thief taker, good at her job, and always looking to do the right thing. It is when she is investigating a spate of house robberies she discovers that a Robin Hood has been in action around one of the more deprived area.
Little does she know that this fact alone, and finding another crime scene will put her life in danger and that of her mother also. As she is hunted like a criminal, and an ensuing motorbike chase, she really does have to step over the line to save her mother and at least hope she can get out of all this trouble exploding around her. Can she really trust her ex-boyfriend to help her out, now that he is a completely other world, while she waits for back-up from her colleagues.
Paul Finch is one of the best police thriller writers in the country at the moment. The characters he creates are dynamic, if somewhat defective in character. Lucy Clayton, part of the ‘Crowley’ area of the Greater Manchester Police force with all its many faults, and the faults in the characters reflect the force that they are in.
To many readers in Greater Manchester will be able to recognise parts of the conurbation in the story, but saves the blushes of those boroughs by not naming them. What is clear, Paul Finch knows how to write thrillers and is a natural born storyteller, who knows how to make things dark but wonderful at the same time. Read this and you will not regret any time spent with Lucy Clayburn.
November 7, 2017
I was looking forward to the second installment in this series as I loved the first book. This second book was I thought very different to the first. For a start the beginning was a little...sludgy? Is that even a word? I absolutely loved Lucy but couldn't help but feel like she was stuck in a rut? When a spate of Robberies start occurring Lucy of course has to get involved and it seems like there could be crossover with other cases. A few characters in this book I didn't warm to and by the end of the book I discovered why. However I still felt like the beginning was like she was wading in deep mud.
Skip forward to maybe the halfway point and it turns into a full on action packed 5 star read. It was literally like reading about a different woman. With Manchester's Underworld leading figures now being targeted it felt like the book ratcheted up the ante and it was every man for themselves. Lucy finds herself in literally more and more hot water as the book continues which just makes it all the more engaging and the second half of the book I read in one sitting, it was absolutely first class.
As for the 'Daddy Issue' let's not spoil for others but suffice to say this is a cracking element to the series made all the more interesting with this book. I was almost smiling 'gleefully' at the events that transpired for Lucy on this front. I think for me there was only one element missing and that's a senior figure that is there for Lucy. normally in books like this there is a chain of command but it seems Lucy is almost on her own for most of the time and think that doesn't sit quite right with me. I am a HUGE fan of this series and would highly recommend reading both this and the earlier books in order, another cracker by Finch!
Skip forward to maybe the halfway point and it turns into a full on action packed 5 star read. It was literally like reading about a different woman. With Manchester's Underworld leading figures now being targeted it felt like the book ratcheted up the ante and it was every man for themselves. Lucy finds herself in literally more and more hot water as the book continues which just makes it all the more engaging and the second half of the book I read in one sitting, it was absolutely first class.
As for the 'Daddy Issue' let's not spoil for others but suffice to say this is a cracking element to the series made all the more interesting with this book. I was almost smiling 'gleefully' at the events that transpired for Lucy on this front. I think for me there was only one element missing and that's a senior figure that is there for Lucy. normally in books like this there is a chain of command but it seems Lucy is almost on her own for most of the time and think that doesn't sit quite right with me. I am a HUGE fan of this series and would highly recommend reading both this and the earlier books in order, another cracker by Finch!
March 8, 2018
Terrific Crime Thriller
Paul Finch is a great talent when it comes to the crime thriller game. Shadows is a gritty nasty story of a British policewoman and is easy to read, hard to put down, and great fun to read. Right from the start, it's an engrossing read. It's filled with motorcycle gangs, robbery games, vicious masked bandits, and a tortured past with Lucy having roots and connections on both sides of the law. It's not stiff and unapproachable as many British mysteries are, but a terrific read that really fleshed out Lucy as a character. Never felt a let up in the action. When you finish a book and immediately want to know what else this bloke wrote, you know he did something right.
Paul Finch is a great talent when it comes to the crime thriller game. Shadows is a gritty nasty story of a British policewoman and is easy to read, hard to put down, and great fun to read. Right from the start, it's an engrossing read. It's filled with motorcycle gangs, robbery games, vicious masked bandits, and a tortured past with Lucy having roots and connections on both sides of the law. It's not stiff and unapproachable as many British mysteries are, but a terrific read that really fleshed out Lucy as a character. Never felt a let up in the action. When you finish a book and immediately want to know what else this bloke wrote, you know he did something right.
February 13, 2019
I had my doubts about this book until about two thirds of the way in! It seemed to be more of a collection of unconnected crimes and outcomes. But then Lucy Clayburn leapt onto her Ducati M900 motorbike, engaged in a hurtling escape from an F type Jag and a Yamaha YZF600 and things roared off to a very satisfying conclusion. Actually things had hotted up quite substantially before that but the chase was the icing on the cake! I’m going to backtrack and read book 1 and then more!
September 21, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books Uk for an advance copy of Shadows, the second novel to feature DC Lucy Clayburn of Greater Manchester Police.
The Creep, a robber with a sabre, has moved north from Birmingham to Manchester so when Lucy gets wind of this she is seconded to the Robbery Squad. In the meantime the Squad is concerned about some vicious armed robberies but with the victims being villains they don't have much to go on until Lucy, back on general CID duties, finds a link which brings her close to danger.
Wow! What a read. Mr Finch has produced another high octane, tense, thrill of a novel which had me glued to the pages from start to finish. On reflection it is not the most realistic of plots but it is exciting and I lived every minute of it with Lucy so who cares about realism? Apart from the tension and excitement it has a well executed and paced plot with some very unexpected twists and turns. For readers of a more delicate nature it is also a violent novel. It's a cracker.
Much of the novel revolves around Lucy. She is extremely smart, making connections that elude other detectives, resourceful when it comes to saving her skin and very honest which can cause her problems in the greyer areas of policing. Her relationship with her secret father, gangster Frank McCracken, has been fraught on the few times they've met but they're both learning from it, him developing family feelings and her trying to understand that not everything is black and white. In a sense she comes across as naïve but a desire to uphold all areas of the law and put honesty before self interest should be admired rather than condemned as naïve. It's a shame that the eponymous, brutal shadows will inevitably intrude into her ideals.
Shadows is an excellent read which I wholeheartedly recommend.
The Creep, a robber with a sabre, has moved north from Birmingham to Manchester so when Lucy gets wind of this she is seconded to the Robbery Squad. In the meantime the Squad is concerned about some vicious armed robberies but with the victims being villains they don't have much to go on until Lucy, back on general CID duties, finds a link which brings her close to danger.
Wow! What a read. Mr Finch has produced another high octane, tense, thrill of a novel which had me glued to the pages from start to finish. On reflection it is not the most realistic of plots but it is exciting and I lived every minute of it with Lucy so who cares about realism? Apart from the tension and excitement it has a well executed and paced plot with some very unexpected twists and turns. For readers of a more delicate nature it is also a violent novel. It's a cracker.
Much of the novel revolves around Lucy. She is extremely smart, making connections that elude other detectives, resourceful when it comes to saving her skin and very honest which can cause her problems in the greyer areas of policing. Her relationship with her secret father, gangster Frank McCracken, has been fraught on the few times they've met but they're both learning from it, him developing family feelings and her trying to understand that not everything is black and white. In a sense she comes across as naïve but a desire to uphold all areas of the law and put honesty before self interest should be admired rather than condemned as naïve. It's a shame that the eponymous, brutal shadows will inevitably intrude into her ideals.
Shadows is an excellent read which I wholeheartedly recommend.
January 3, 2018
I love Lucy Clayburn and book 2 has confirmed what I suspected with book 1 - that this is a series to watch. So exciting!!
June 25, 2021
Too many characters left me confused and flicking back to clarify who was who. Lots of location and building description which I skimmed. Some may love this series but it's not for me.
March 2, 2018
Terrific series, looking forward to more!
October 6, 2017
It seems forever ago since I read the first book to feature Lucy Clayburn - Strangers
It's actually just a year since I read book 1, and here I am privileged to be reading an ARC of book 2.
Strangers is a great read, something to get your teeth stuck into. I'm a huge fan of books that are based in and around Manchester. Lucy has her work cut out this time around, this case is going to really test her. When 'The Creeper turns up in Manchester the streets become a little scary. Alongside that there seems to be a number of 'odd robberies. Luckily Lucy has friends she can rely on in the Robbery squad.
Lucy is one tough cookie, and a character I'm really growing to like and I can't wait to read more about her. I can see this series going on to be a long standing one. (I hope).
I was a little unsure when I started to read this book, but it soon become clear that I was hooked, page after page begins to drag you into the story and doesn't let you go.
With twists I didn't see coming and violence a plenty this isn't for the faint hearted. What it is, is a damn good thriller. And if that's the sort of book you like to read, then you need to start this now. At times, I felt the book was a little over the top, but I think now I have finished it, it all helped with the story. I have read book 1 as I said, and I always like to read books in order, but to be honest I don't think it would make much of a difference if you hadn't read book 1. It's a personal choice.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of Shadows.
It's actually just a year since I read book 1, and here I am privileged to be reading an ARC of book 2.
Strangers is a great read, something to get your teeth stuck into. I'm a huge fan of books that are based in and around Manchester. Lucy has her work cut out this time around, this case is going to really test her. When 'The Creeper turns up in Manchester the streets become a little scary. Alongside that there seems to be a number of 'odd robberies. Luckily Lucy has friends she can rely on in the Robbery squad.
Lucy is one tough cookie, and a character I'm really growing to like and I can't wait to read more about her. I can see this series going on to be a long standing one. (I hope).
I was a little unsure when I started to read this book, but it soon become clear that I was hooked, page after page begins to drag you into the story and doesn't let you go.
With twists I didn't see coming and violence a plenty this isn't for the faint hearted. What it is, is a damn good thriller. And if that's the sort of book you like to read, then you need to start this now. At times, I felt the book was a little over the top, but I think now I have finished it, it all helped with the story. I have read book 1 as I said, and I always like to read books in order, but to be honest I don't think it would make much of a difference if you hadn't read book 1. It's a personal choice.
I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of Shadows.
June 29, 2021
Couldn't put this book down, lots of action, lots of threads which all came together at the end. Had to re read the last few pages to sort all the details out. Will definitely read more from this author.
September 21, 2017
What a fantastic read!! Tense and thrilling that had me hooked from page 1. The plot is fast paced and very well executed, full of twists and turns. It is quite violent but I thoroughly recommend this book! A well deserved 5 stars!!
October 17, 2017
What an excellent read from Paul Finch. Set in Manchester and featuring PC Lucy Clayborn in book two of the series. The story line is very intricate with murder, drug deals, gangs and plenty bad guys double crossing each other. Lucy is strong but a bit of a solo player, however, there is plenty action and a clever twist to keep the reader engrossed with the story. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy.
March 5, 2022
DC Lucy Clayburn is a cop with tough background and an estranged dad who is one of the most dangerous gangsters in Manchester.
A brilliant story of the underworld and the connecting crimes Lucy is trying to solve.
Well worth reading and losing sleep over until the book is finished.
A brilliant story of the underworld and the connecting crimes Lucy is trying to solve.
Well worth reading and losing sleep over until the book is finished.
November 10, 2017
Audio version of this book- excellent narration again and brilliant storyline, another great read in a great series
October 29, 2024
Another enjoyable book in this trilogy. Look forward to reading the third and final book in this series. Great read.
October 1, 2017
Bloody good read! Won a copy at an author reading evening two weeks ago.....read the novel in three days. I thought the premise was interesting, the crafting was tight, the action most descriptive. The ending was a little predictable but the red herrings are carefully slotted in, the main focus finally seeing DCI Clayburn facing up to more than just Daddy issues.
Recommended for all thriller lovers out there.
Recommended for all thriller lovers out there.
December 17, 2017
I have been meaning to read this authors work before now but never got round to it. This was the first one and after finishing this one I realise I have been waiting too long!
Great book, excellent police procedural and a real page-turner.
Highly recommended and 5 full stars.
Great book, excellent police procedural and a real page-turner.
Highly recommended and 5 full stars.
July 5, 2019
Another new author for me but not a story I really enjoyed.
DC Lucy Clayburn is a female cop in Manchester. Her father, although very few know it, is a dangerous gangster. Lucy is working hard at solving her cases as well as trying to make it onto the Robbery Squad. She's dealing with numerous robberies and violent offenders and eventually stumbles onto a link between cases that may prove deadly.
The idea sounds great but again I found there was way too much going on for just one story. A lot of characters that it's hard to keep everyone straight. There's also the use of regional language and slang that makes the book a little hard to follow at times. Even though there is so much gong on the outcome is still pretty predictable.
DC Lucy Clayburn is a female cop in Manchester. Her father, although very few know it, is a dangerous gangster. Lucy is working hard at solving her cases as well as trying to make it onto the Robbery Squad. She's dealing with numerous robberies and violent offenders and eventually stumbles onto a link between cases that may prove deadly.
The idea sounds great but again I found there was way too much going on for just one story. A lot of characters that it's hard to keep everyone straight. There's also the use of regional language and slang that makes the book a little hard to follow at times. Even though there is so much gong on the outcome is still pretty predictable.
April 29, 2021
I thought that Lucy Clayburn was given a tough time of things in book one but, blimey. Paul Finch really does not like to make life easy for his protagonists. Weaker people would have given up, walked away while they still could. Maybe it's her heritage, the combined strength of her parents which has leached into her character by virtue of genetics that keeps her going. Maybe it's just that the author likes to imbue his characters with traits that make them not only smarter than the average bear (cop), but. also with a strength of character that makes you instantly warm to them Root for them. Makes you want to watch them kick ass. Lucy manages that and a whole heap more in Shadows but not without some real personal pain for her along the way.
This time around we see Lucy making her way towards the Robbery squad with a very brief secondment to the unit following the receipt of some intel from an informant. The case she is working on is quite tense, a street robber who just happens to moved onto the streets of Crowley having kicked up his m.o. from aggravated theft to murder. This case is pretty full on, the apprehension of the perp full of Paul Finch's trademark tension, action and jeopardy and it certainly earns a few brownie points for Lucy. But it's a short sharp shock after a tense opening to the novel and perhaps only really a prelude to the main focus of the book.
The main story revolves around the criminal underworld, an organisation that Lucy is sadly all too familiar with courtesy of her father. Someone is robbing some of the crime syndicates top bosses, with quite dramatic results, but you can tell from the way the story plays out that it is not as straightforward as it seems. Old fashioned turf wars or something just a little left of centre? Well, you can read and find out, but it is certainly a story that left me conflicted. I can't feel a great amount of sympathy for the victims, but the methods of the thieves is more than a little extreme. Not overtly graphic, but certainly packed with violence, these are not books for the sensitive of nature.
I do really like the character of Lucy. Straight talking, focused, committed and really street-smart, she has a clear knack for the job and an innate ability when it comes to catching the bad guys. She has mixed fortunes when it comes to the personal side of life, but then this does kind of ring true given her dedication to her career which had taken a bit of a knock following the events in book one. That sets her up for some additional conflict in terms of a face from her past who works in the robbery squad, as if her father's choice of career isn't problematic enough. But she is kind of gung ho, led by action, perhaps a little foolish in walking into situations she may not be able to get out of. Perhaps it's quite lucky that she has herself a guardian angel - even if she doesn't know or want it ...
Full of fast paced action, tense stand offs and twisted motives, this is a book which kept me hooked and kept me guessing. I mostly listened to the audio book which was perfectly narrated, and can definitely recommend them if you like to listen to rather than read your books. There came a point where I could finally see where the story was going, but I have to admit that it came very late on in the book, all of the clevely spread trail of breadcrumbs leading us to a very unexpected conclusion. The tension was off the charts by the end of the book, the jeopardy for Lucy, and her mother, quite intense. My pulse picked up, my bum moved closer to the edge of the seat and my urge to press on and race to the end absolutely grew. And it didn't disappoint. I'm off to find book three now and kicking myself for not reading (or listening to) this sooner. Definitely recommended if you like your reads to be. a. full on thrill fest.
This time around we see Lucy making her way towards the Robbery squad with a very brief secondment to the unit following the receipt of some intel from an informant. The case she is working on is quite tense, a street robber who just happens to moved onto the streets of Crowley having kicked up his m.o. from aggravated theft to murder. This case is pretty full on, the apprehension of the perp full of Paul Finch's trademark tension, action and jeopardy and it certainly earns a few brownie points for Lucy. But it's a short sharp shock after a tense opening to the novel and perhaps only really a prelude to the main focus of the book.
The main story revolves around the criminal underworld, an organisation that Lucy is sadly all too familiar with courtesy of her father. Someone is robbing some of the crime syndicates top bosses, with quite dramatic results, but you can tell from the way the story plays out that it is not as straightforward as it seems. Old fashioned turf wars or something just a little left of centre? Well, you can read and find out, but it is certainly a story that left me conflicted. I can't feel a great amount of sympathy for the victims, but the methods of the thieves is more than a little extreme. Not overtly graphic, but certainly packed with violence, these are not books for the sensitive of nature.
I do really like the character of Lucy. Straight talking, focused, committed and really street-smart, she has a clear knack for the job and an innate ability when it comes to catching the bad guys. She has mixed fortunes when it comes to the personal side of life, but then this does kind of ring true given her dedication to her career which had taken a bit of a knock following the events in book one. That sets her up for some additional conflict in terms of a face from her past who works in the robbery squad, as if her father's choice of career isn't problematic enough. But she is kind of gung ho, led by action, perhaps a little foolish in walking into situations she may not be able to get out of. Perhaps it's quite lucky that she has herself a guardian angel - even if she doesn't know or want it ...
Full of fast paced action, tense stand offs and twisted motives, this is a book which kept me hooked and kept me guessing. I mostly listened to the audio book which was perfectly narrated, and can definitely recommend them if you like to listen to rather than read your books. There came a point where I could finally see where the story was going, but I have to admit that it came very late on in the book, all of the clevely spread trail of breadcrumbs leading us to a very unexpected conclusion. The tension was off the charts by the end of the book, the jeopardy for Lucy, and her mother, quite intense. My pulse picked up, my bum moved closer to the edge of the seat and my urge to press on and race to the end absolutely grew. And it didn't disappoint. I'm off to find book three now and kicking myself for not reading (or listening to) this sooner. Definitely recommended if you like your reads to be. a. full on thrill fest.
October 19, 2017
I really loved the first in series, Strangers, when I read it last year so I was really looking forward to this follow up. Lucy is a bit complex and has a rather, shall we just call it, interesting past in the Police so, I would really advise reading that first to get the best from her with respect to her backstory and development. Incidentally, the author also writes another cracking series starring DS Heckenburg which I would also recommend reading, although not connected to this series.
Oh Lucy, will you ever fully escape your past? Even with the eventual success you reached in the previous book, you are still suffering! Still, all makes for an interesting spin on things in this book.
Still hanging on in CID, Lucy is part of a team that is tasked with investigating a spate of murder-robberies. Nothing too unusual in that in this genre of book but, the thing is, here the targets are criminals themselves, making these crimes a little close to home for Lucy, her father being one of the criminal fraternity himself. Is there a new gang in the neighbourhood, intent on cementing their place by eliminating the opposition, quite literally in some cases? With her "connections" Lucy manages to join some dots that others have missed and her reward is secondment to the infamous Robbery Squad, a position she quite fancies permanently. But will her past allow it and, more to the point, will she find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence?
I read this when I was away on holiday which meant that I had to put it down on occasion to be sociable and do the sightseeing things. Every time I was forced to put it down I was thinking about it, yearning to get back into the action. Cos it is action packed pretty much all the way with twists and turns that I never saw coming, even with my widespread experience of the genre.
It helps that I really love Lucy as a character. Sometimes authors give their main characters some pretty samey character flaws. Here I believe that Lucy really stands out. With her father being revealed to her in book one as a gangland criminal and also having an ex-boyfriend treading the other side of the line, Mr Finch has created something special in Lucy. Her grit, tenacity, and indeed belief in right and wrong has her in conflict with those she holds dear and indeed care about her. This takes the whole story to another level in my eyes, one that I am very happy to have found and relish reading about. She's also a bit lonely and outside the job, is a bit lacking in life and love, something that she craves, leaving her pretty vulnerable despite her outward projection. She also really doesn't help herself with her lone wolf attitude at times but she manages to survive, often by the skin of her teeth and with a little help from those she'd rather not have.
The story itself is gritty and, in parts, a bit gruesome. Intriguing and intricate and very well plotted, it had me rapt from start to finish. There are quite a few things happening throughout the book but it all comes together very nicely at the end and left me with that completely satisfied feeling that I crave from a book. I say satisfied, I really mean satisfied and a bit gobsmacked as Mr Finch delivered quite a few jabs in quick succession in the lead up to the conclusion.
Much as I am loving Lucy, I still need my Heck fix, hopefully we'll get a new one of that series next... and then more Lucy too please Mr Finch.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Oh Lucy, will you ever fully escape your past? Even with the eventual success you reached in the previous book, you are still suffering! Still, all makes for an interesting spin on things in this book.
Still hanging on in CID, Lucy is part of a team that is tasked with investigating a spate of murder-robberies. Nothing too unusual in that in this genre of book but, the thing is, here the targets are criminals themselves, making these crimes a little close to home for Lucy, her father being one of the criminal fraternity himself. Is there a new gang in the neighbourhood, intent on cementing their place by eliminating the opposition, quite literally in some cases? With her "connections" Lucy manages to join some dots that others have missed and her reward is secondment to the infamous Robbery Squad, a position she quite fancies permanently. But will her past allow it and, more to the point, will she find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence?
I read this when I was away on holiday which meant that I had to put it down on occasion to be sociable and do the sightseeing things. Every time I was forced to put it down I was thinking about it, yearning to get back into the action. Cos it is action packed pretty much all the way with twists and turns that I never saw coming, even with my widespread experience of the genre.
It helps that I really love Lucy as a character. Sometimes authors give their main characters some pretty samey character flaws. Here I believe that Lucy really stands out. With her father being revealed to her in book one as a gangland criminal and also having an ex-boyfriend treading the other side of the line, Mr Finch has created something special in Lucy. Her grit, tenacity, and indeed belief in right and wrong has her in conflict with those she holds dear and indeed care about her. This takes the whole story to another level in my eyes, one that I am very happy to have found and relish reading about. She's also a bit lonely and outside the job, is a bit lacking in life and love, something that she craves, leaving her pretty vulnerable despite her outward projection. She also really doesn't help herself with her lone wolf attitude at times but she manages to survive, often by the skin of her teeth and with a little help from those she'd rather not have.
The story itself is gritty and, in parts, a bit gruesome. Intriguing and intricate and very well plotted, it had me rapt from start to finish. There are quite a few things happening throughout the book but it all comes together very nicely at the end and left me with that completely satisfied feeling that I crave from a book. I say satisfied, I really mean satisfied and a bit gobsmacked as Mr Finch delivered quite a few jabs in quick succession in the lead up to the conclusion.
Much as I am loving Lucy, I still need my Heck fix, hopefully we'll get a new one of that series next... and then more Lucy too please Mr Finch.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 26, 2017
All of my reviews can be found at: https://hookedfrompageoneblog.wordpre...
I recently finished reading the first book in the Lucy Clayburn series which I thoroughly enjoyed so I jumped at the chance to sign up to the blog tour for the second book in the series. I have loved every single one of Paul Finch’s books; he is a writer who grips you from the first page right up until the last. I would recommend that you read the first book in the Lucy Clayburn series before reading this one as you will get a better understanding of her character and family history; there are a few references made to the plot of the first novel which some readers may find hard to understand if they are coming to the series for the first time.
In Shadows, the Manchester underworld is being targeted by a gang of fearless robbers. The victims are left shell shocked when they realise that their attackers have got away with it. This proves just how dangerous these people are, they will stop at nothing to get what they want. DC Lucy Clayburn finds herself thrown into the middle of it all. There are some who say that the criminals deserve what they get but Lucy is determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice. But Lucy begins to sail close to danger once again and she realises that she may have to rely on the help of a person who she would rather never see again.
Wow, what a brilliant book. What I’ve always enjoyed about Paul Finch’s work is his attention to detail and his brilliant action scenes. You can always tell that his novels are impeccably researched, particularly when he takes you on a whirlwind of a ride through Manchester.
Lucy is a strong lead and a force to be reckoned with, I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of her. What I think gives this series a unique flare is that her father is a gangster wanted by the police. They both know that if anyone was to find out about their relationship then both their reputations would be ruined. This is a great source of tension in the book, I’m intrigued to see how this will pan out.
I also really enjoyed the scenes featuring Lucy’s mother. Poor Cora often finds herself thrown into the middle of it all, she is trying desperately hard to win over her daughter’s affection, I’m hoping that they’ll soon be able to patch up their past quarrels, even if there are things that they don’t always agree on.
As with all of Paul’s books the pacing is excellent, it only took me a couple of sittings to read it and by the second day I was finished, if only I didn’t have work to go to, then I’m sure I would have devoured the whole thing in one. I really liked how Paul pulled the plot together and I was left feeling gobsmacked by the final twists. Exceptional writing.
Paul Finch is a writer who I’m sure I will continue to follow, another outstanding read. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy and to Sabah Khan at Avon for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
I recently finished reading the first book in the Lucy Clayburn series which I thoroughly enjoyed so I jumped at the chance to sign up to the blog tour for the second book in the series. I have loved every single one of Paul Finch’s books; he is a writer who grips you from the first page right up until the last. I would recommend that you read the first book in the Lucy Clayburn series before reading this one as you will get a better understanding of her character and family history; there are a few references made to the plot of the first novel which some readers may find hard to understand if they are coming to the series for the first time.
In Shadows, the Manchester underworld is being targeted by a gang of fearless robbers. The victims are left shell shocked when they realise that their attackers have got away with it. This proves just how dangerous these people are, they will stop at nothing to get what they want. DC Lucy Clayburn finds herself thrown into the middle of it all. There are some who say that the criminals deserve what they get but Lucy is determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice. But Lucy begins to sail close to danger once again and she realises that she may have to rely on the help of a person who she would rather never see again.
Wow, what a brilliant book. What I’ve always enjoyed about Paul Finch’s work is his attention to detail and his brilliant action scenes. You can always tell that his novels are impeccably researched, particularly when he takes you on a whirlwind of a ride through Manchester.
Lucy is a strong lead and a force to be reckoned with, I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of her. What I think gives this series a unique flare is that her father is a gangster wanted by the police. They both know that if anyone was to find out about their relationship then both their reputations would be ruined. This is a great source of tension in the book, I’m intrigued to see how this will pan out.
I also really enjoyed the scenes featuring Lucy’s mother. Poor Cora often finds herself thrown into the middle of it all, she is trying desperately hard to win over her daughter’s affection, I’m hoping that they’ll soon be able to patch up their past quarrels, even if there are things that they don’t always agree on.
As with all of Paul’s books the pacing is excellent, it only took me a couple of sittings to read it and by the second day I was finished, if only I didn’t have work to go to, then I’m sure I would have devoured the whole thing in one. I really liked how Paul pulled the plot together and I was left feeling gobsmacked by the final twists. Exceptional writing.
Paul Finch is a writer who I’m sure I will continue to follow, another outstanding read. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy and to Sabah Khan at Avon for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
November 6, 2017
A new Paul Finch book is always met with much excitement at Grab This Book so when Shadows hit my Kindle I could not wait to start reading.
Lucy Clayburn returns for a second outing following her debut in Strangers. Having read Strangers will help you better understand a couple of the conversations in Shadows, however, Shadows can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. Both are great reads so you are not going to be unhappy whichever reading option you opt for!
Lucy had a terrible start to her police career and has been working hard to restore her credibility and prove her value to the department. Events in Strangers has significantly helped and her stock is rising but now an old acquaintance is looking for help as one of his friends has been caught in possession of narcotics – if Lucy can have a lesser charge pursued he can provide information on a violent armed robber.
The possibility of catching a serial offender gives Lucy the opportunity to join the high profile team that work on capturing armed robbers. She embraces the opportunity and tries to ensure she shines through careful planning and preparation. It is great to see Lucy getting the chance to step-up and her enthusiasm and determination make her an engaging a likeable character.
Away from Lucy’s case the reader gets to see what the “bad guys” are up to. Established (and high profile) criminals are being attacked in places they believe to be safe. It looks like there are new players in town and they are intent on disrupting the old guard and taking out the competition. Their mission is deadly and the story takes a dark turn when they met out their unpleasant lessons and establish their authority. It makes for gripping story telling and I got completely caught up in events.
I have yet to read a Paul Finch book that I have not enjoyed – Shadows is another great read and I highly recommend it.
Lucy Clayburn returns for a second outing following her debut in Strangers. Having read Strangers will help you better understand a couple of the conversations in Shadows, however, Shadows can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. Both are great reads so you are not going to be unhappy whichever reading option you opt for!
Lucy had a terrible start to her police career and has been working hard to restore her credibility and prove her value to the department. Events in Strangers has significantly helped and her stock is rising but now an old acquaintance is looking for help as one of his friends has been caught in possession of narcotics – if Lucy can have a lesser charge pursued he can provide information on a violent armed robber.
The possibility of catching a serial offender gives Lucy the opportunity to join the high profile team that work on capturing armed robbers. She embraces the opportunity and tries to ensure she shines through careful planning and preparation. It is great to see Lucy getting the chance to step-up and her enthusiasm and determination make her an engaging a likeable character.
Away from Lucy’s case the reader gets to see what the “bad guys” are up to. Established (and high profile) criminals are being attacked in places they believe to be safe. It looks like there are new players in town and they are intent on disrupting the old guard and taking out the competition. Their mission is deadly and the story takes a dark turn when they met out their unpleasant lessons and establish their authority. It makes for gripping story telling and I got completely caught up in events.
I have yet to read a Paul Finch book that I have not enjoyed – Shadows is another great read and I highly recommend it.
November 6, 2017
Hello, my fellow readers and bloggers. It is November already and I hope you are having a great time. I’ve been absent for a while, been ill little bit, but don’t worry, I am fine now. And I have a very good book for you today. I am taking part of the Paul Finch’ blog tour for his latest book Shadows. I had a great time reading this book and I hope you will too. And don’t forget to visit all the other stops on the blog tour. Enjoy!
Lucy Clayburn is back! Winning her last case she has earned some points among her colleagues in the police forces. But this time she has more challenges to face. There is a strange person who robs people taking money out of ATM machines. The Creep is so scary and violent that police has to call all the forces to catch the guy. And there is another even more strange case. Well-known criminals are being robbed. There are two people wearing ski masks who pass the most secured places in the city to enter into devil’s den and actually steal from the best in the criminal business. And they are very violent.
Being a woman in the police department and a daughter of well-known top-criminal, Lucy has to prove herself one more time. After all, she is one of a hell character!
But how to catch the bad guys who actually are not the bad guys?
When I started reading Strangers, the first book in the series, I didn’t know what to expect. With Shadows, I already had some expectations. While I enjoyed reading the second one in the series, I was a little bit disappointed that there wasn’t much of Lucy’s personal life, like in the first book. I was hoping her personal life would continue to develop in the book number two. However, this was still an adrenaline filled read a twist around every corner. Fully packed with action and tension, this book won’t let you sleep at night. At least until you finish reading it.
Lucy Clayburn is back! Winning her last case she has earned some points among her colleagues in the police forces. But this time she has more challenges to face. There is a strange person who robs people taking money out of ATM machines. The Creep is so scary and violent that police has to call all the forces to catch the guy. And there is another even more strange case. Well-known criminals are being robbed. There are two people wearing ski masks who pass the most secured places in the city to enter into devil’s den and actually steal from the best in the criminal business. And they are very violent.
Being a woman in the police department and a daughter of well-known top-criminal, Lucy has to prove herself one more time. After all, she is one of a hell character!
But how to catch the bad guys who actually are not the bad guys?
When I started reading Strangers, the first book in the series, I didn’t know what to expect. With Shadows, I already had some expectations. While I enjoyed reading the second one in the series, I was a little bit disappointed that there wasn’t much of Lucy’s personal life, like in the first book. I was hoping her personal life would continue to develop in the book number two. However, this was still an adrenaline filled read a twist around every corner. Fully packed with action and tension, this book won’t let you sleep at night. At least until you finish reading it.
December 8, 2017
Huge thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this latest book from Paul Finch. I am a huge fan of Paul's books and was interested in seeing how the new character DC Lucy Clayburn developed in this 2nd instalment. I wasn't disappointed!
The action starts with Lucy receiving a tip off from an eccentric informant regarding the whereabouts of a nasty piece of work known as The Creep who has committed several violent robberies in nearby towns. During the course of looking further into this Lucy comes into contact with the Robbery Squad and finds herself energised and interested in the work they do.
The story develops at a furious pace and before long Lucy is headlong into an investigation relating to high profile attacks and robberies of several well-known underworld criminals - including Lucy's secret biological father who is a major player within the underworld community.
The twists and turns are fast-paced and clever and I have to admit that even though I felt confident that I had identified the culprit early on at no point was my enjoyment of the story spoiled.
Very much looking forward to the next instalment in DC Clayburn's rollercoaster life! A great read!
The action starts with Lucy receiving a tip off from an eccentric informant regarding the whereabouts of a nasty piece of work known as The Creep who has committed several violent robberies in nearby towns. During the course of looking further into this Lucy comes into contact with the Robbery Squad and finds herself energised and interested in the work they do.
The story develops at a furious pace and before long Lucy is headlong into an investigation relating to high profile attacks and robberies of several well-known underworld criminals - including Lucy's secret biological father who is a major player within the underworld community.
The twists and turns are fast-paced and clever and I have to admit that even though I felt confident that I had identified the culprit early on at no point was my enjoyment of the story spoiled.
Very much looking forward to the next instalment in DC Clayburn's rollercoaster life! A great read!
October 24, 2024
5 stars
Ahhhhhhh this is such a good book!!
I read the first of the series last year, and didn’t realise that a second and third had been released until last week! I loved the first one so much so I was excited when I realised there were more.
This book is so complicated but in the best way. There are so many characters and story lines that chop and change, but it all starts to come together towards the end with a few surprises.
I don’t know what sparked it, but I had a tingling feeling that tucker wasn’t as nice as he made himself out to be, so was pleasantly surprised when this turned out to be true. As soon as harry said he hadn’t called the big boss, I knew straight away that he was in on it!! He was just a lazy incel and a corrupt cop… embarrassing really😬😬
Also the ending was just wow. So much information but all made sense
Ahhhhhhh this is such a good book!!
I read the first of the series last year, and didn’t realise that a second and third had been released until last week! I loved the first one so much so I was excited when I realised there were more.
This book is so complicated but in the best way. There are so many characters and story lines that chop and change, but it all starts to come together towards the end with a few surprises.
I don’t know what sparked it, but I had a tingling feeling that tucker wasn’t as nice as he made himself out to be, so was pleasantly surprised when this turned out to be true. As soon as harry said he hadn’t called the big boss, I knew straight away that he was in on it!! He was just a lazy incel and a corrupt cop… embarrassing really😬😬
Also the ending was just wow. So much information but all made sense
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2018
Another enjoyable thriller from Paul Finch! I found this one took a little longer to get going than the first instalment but Lucy was, if possible, even more badass than she was in Strangers. This was another dark and gritty story, with lots of unexpected twists and turns that kept me reading late into the night!
I loved seeing how certain relationships and storylines were developed, and I also liked the new characters that were introduced. There was also a hint of romance in this book which was delightful.
Finch writes intricate plotlines that can seem a bit complex at first but that then converge perfectly to tie up nicely at the end. Both of his Lucy Clayburn books are compulsively readable and I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for the third!
I loved seeing how certain relationships and storylines were developed, and I also liked the new characters that were introduced. There was also a hint of romance in this book which was delightful.
Finch writes intricate plotlines that can seem a bit complex at first but that then converge perfectly to tie up nicely at the end. Both of his Lucy Clayburn books are compulsively readable and I will certainly be keeping my eyes open for the third!
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