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DI Braddick #1
Brick
A hard-boiled and utterly gripping crime thriller from a best-selling author
When a teenager is the victim of an unprovoked attack while walking his dog, a murder investigation begins. A cruel twist of fate makes his innocent family the targets of a vicious campaign of terror.
As the detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team try to contain the violence, several key members of an organised crime family begin to topple, causing shockwaves across the world.
Why was the teenager attacked?
And will the villains be brought to justice?
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2016
634 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Conrad Jones
125 books399 followersConrad Jones is a best-selling thriller writer with 30 thriller novels.
The Anglesey Murders 10 books
The Soft Target Series 6 books
The Detective Alec Ramsay Series 6 books
The Inspector Braddick Series 4 books
The Journey Series 3 books
Cuckoos on the Mersey
18 of his books are available in audio and his novels have been translated into six languages.
He is always keen to talk to readers and writers alike, jonesconrad5@aol.com
FaceBook Conrad Jones Author
Twitter @ConradJones
The Anglesey Murders 10 books
The Soft Target Series 6 books
The Detective Alec Ramsay Series 6 books
The Inspector Braddick Series 4 books
The Journey Series 3 books
Cuckoos on the Mersey
18 of his books are available in audio and his novels have been translated into six languages.
He is always keen to talk to readers and writers alike, jonesconrad5@aol.com
FaceBook Conrad Jones Author
Twitter @ConradJones
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
May 28, 2017
Wow, wow, wow, wow ,wow!
I enjoy this authors books so was very much looking forward to reading Brick. What I hadn’t expected was to be so gripped that I didn’t put it back down until I had read the very last page.
My heart was literally in my mouth through out the whole novel. What was happening to Bryn and his family was an absolute nightmare. Having a fourteen year old son myself I totally connected with Bryn and I wanted to take him and his family out of the story and put them somewhere safe. Parts were absolute torture to read and I didn’t know whether I wanted to carry on as I wasn’t sure how the author was going to play everything out or if my emotions could handle it.
The story is one of gangland crimes, drugs, lies, betrayal and the constant fight to stay in power. There are plenty of unlikeable characters in the story and I was waiting with baited breath for karma to come and kick their backsides into touch.
The whole sense of family really comes into play with Bryn and his family. I liked the brotherly love between the three brothers and the bond was really touching. In a way I didn’t want the story to end as I had got attached to the family as well as a couple of other characters and I wanted more. I’m hoping some may pop up in future novels.
Brick is a fast paced read that grabs and holds you right up until the very end. The story line is dark, frightening as well as heart stopping. The author has written a story that takes you right into the heart of the book having you feel a whole array of emotions. Absolutely brilliant and one that every crime lover should read.
I enjoy this authors books so was very much looking forward to reading Brick. What I hadn’t expected was to be so gripped that I didn’t put it back down until I had read the very last page.
My heart was literally in my mouth through out the whole novel. What was happening to Bryn and his family was an absolute nightmare. Having a fourteen year old son myself I totally connected with Bryn and I wanted to take him and his family out of the story and put them somewhere safe. Parts were absolute torture to read and I didn’t know whether I wanted to carry on as I wasn’t sure how the author was going to play everything out or if my emotions could handle it.
The story is one of gangland crimes, drugs, lies, betrayal and the constant fight to stay in power. There are plenty of unlikeable characters in the story and I was waiting with baited breath for karma to come and kick their backsides into touch.
The whole sense of family really comes into play with Bryn and his family. I liked the brotherly love between the three brothers and the bond was really touching. In a way I didn’t want the story to end as I had got attached to the family as well as a couple of other characters and I wanted more. I’m hoping some may pop up in future novels.
Brick is a fast paced read that grabs and holds you right up until the very end. The story line is dark, frightening as well as heart stopping. The author has written a story that takes you right into the heart of the book having you feel a whole array of emotions. Absolutely brilliant and one that every crime lover should read.
October 27, 2018
How have I not read a book by this author yet?? That was just brilliant. Totally gripping from the explosive opening chapter until the very end. I don't normally enjoy gangster/organized crime stories but this was so well done and so compelling I couldn't put it down. One word of warning though - lots of people die in this story and most of them die in very unpleasant circumstances. It is not for the faint hearted.
DI Brickall returns to regular policing from a stint with the National Crime Agency to find a fully fledged gang war on his hands. This is kicked off by the theft of an apparently empty shipping container from one gang by another gang. Except the container is not empty. It contains a shipment of drugs hidden in the ribs of the container.
Caught up in this hot mess is a 14 year old kid (Bryn Evans) who insulted the wrong person. When that person pursues him with the assistance of the son of one of the crime kingpins, Bryn accidentally kills the son in self defense. The father goes nuts and vows death and destruction to Bryn and his whole family. Brickall is pulled from one gruesome crime scene to another, trying to track down the drugs while also trying to protect Bryn and his family. It's a very tall order indeed. A brutal but brilliant book.
DI Brickall returns to regular policing from a stint with the National Crime Agency to find a fully fledged gang war on his hands. This is kicked off by the theft of an apparently empty shipping container from one gang by another gang. Except the container is not empty. It contains a shipment of drugs hidden in the ribs of the container.
Caught up in this hot mess is a 14 year old kid (Bryn Evans) who insulted the wrong person. When that person pursues him with the assistance of the son of one of the crime kingpins, Bryn accidentally kills the son in self defense. The father goes nuts and vows death and destruction to Bryn and his whole family. Brickall is pulled from one gruesome crime scene to another, trying to track down the drugs while also trying to protect Bryn and his family. It's a very tall order indeed. A brutal but brilliant book.
May 29, 2017
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
I’m going to make one thing clear from the start I absolutely loved Brick by Conrad Jones. I love an authentic, gritty crime thriller so why oh why has it taken me so long to get around to reading this authors books? I’m literally kicking myself! From the prologue I was hooked, the author very much sets the tone of the book with an brutal and violent prologue that introduces the reader to the murky and violent underworld of gangland Liverpool.
Fourteen year old Bryn Evans happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, what starts out as an innocent walk with his beloved dog soon becomes his worst nightmare and Bryn and his family find themselves the victims of gangland retribution. What follows is a gritty and brutal read that I was reluctant to put down, I found myself picking this book at any opportunity I got, in fact if “life” hadn’t got in the way I would have read Brick in one sitting.
This is not a novel for the faint hearted as Conrad Jones paints a very vivid picture of gangland violence, but in the authors defence none of the graphic scenes are sheerly for shock value, there is always a proper place for the how and why it happens, and it also adds a sense of realism to the plot. I couldn’t help but feeling sympathy for Bryn’s plight, from the outset it’s obvious he’s a typical fourteen year old, never been in trouble and from an average home, his vulnerability shines through and you cant help hoping he will find away to escape the wrath of the gangsters. As to the gangsters they are a nasty bunch as you would expect, you can’t help but hope “karma” will intervene.
Brick is relentless in pace, gangland warfare, revenge and conflict are just a few of the themes explored, which all made for a hard hitting read. Conrad Jones has written a book that deftly explores the violent side of gangland life, but he also writes a gripping tale that had me flipping the pages on my kindle so fast it literally froze (I kid you not!). Would I recommend Brick? Of course I would especially if like me you love a gritty crime thriller with an exceptional plot.
I’m going to make one thing clear from the start I absolutely loved Brick by Conrad Jones. I love an authentic, gritty crime thriller so why oh why has it taken me so long to get around to reading this authors books? I’m literally kicking myself! From the prologue I was hooked, the author very much sets the tone of the book with an brutal and violent prologue that introduces the reader to the murky and violent underworld of gangland Liverpool.
Fourteen year old Bryn Evans happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, what starts out as an innocent walk with his beloved dog soon becomes his worst nightmare and Bryn and his family find themselves the victims of gangland retribution. What follows is a gritty and brutal read that I was reluctant to put down, I found myself picking this book at any opportunity I got, in fact if “life” hadn’t got in the way I would have read Brick in one sitting.
This is not a novel for the faint hearted as Conrad Jones paints a very vivid picture of gangland violence, but in the authors defence none of the graphic scenes are sheerly for shock value, there is always a proper place for the how and why it happens, and it also adds a sense of realism to the plot. I couldn’t help but feeling sympathy for Bryn’s plight, from the outset it’s obvious he’s a typical fourteen year old, never been in trouble and from an average home, his vulnerability shines through and you cant help hoping he will find away to escape the wrath of the gangsters. As to the gangsters they are a nasty bunch as you would expect, you can’t help but hope “karma” will intervene.
Brick is relentless in pace, gangland warfare, revenge and conflict are just a few of the themes explored, which all made for a hard hitting read. Conrad Jones has written a book that deftly explores the violent side of gangland life, but he also writes a gripping tale that had me flipping the pages on my kindle so fast it literally froze (I kid you not!). Would I recommend Brick? Of course I would especially if like me you love a gritty crime thriller with an exceptional plot.
May 4, 2022
Turbocharged Violence!
Yes, the violence was brutal and graphic but it was not voyeuristic. It remained an integral part of the story throughout. Here we were dealing with rival drug gangs not rival business competitors. Revenge, treachery, double crossing and, eventually, karma. One young man's moment of madness led to the deaths of many and to a restoration of order amongst Liverpool 's criminal fraternity. Well recommended!
Yes, the violence was brutal and graphic but it was not voyeuristic. It remained an integral part of the story throughout. Here we were dealing with rival drug gangs not rival business competitors. Revenge, treachery, double crossing and, eventually, karma. One young man's moment of madness led to the deaths of many and to a restoration of order amongst Liverpool 's criminal fraternity. Well recommended!
September 15, 2017
such a fast paced story that I just wanted to keep reading!
September 4, 2016
This is a great book which I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. One of those where you can easily lose a couple of hours by becoming so drawn into the story that you don’t really notice what’s going on around you. Such a GREAT read and I will be adding Conrad Jones to my ‘authors to keep an eye out for’ list.
Bryn is your average 14 year old lad. He keeps himself out of trouble, has two older brothers who do the same thing and two fairly useless parents. He’s a normal, likeable young man. But life changes for Bryn when he encounters ‘the fat man’ whilst out walking his beloved pet dog, Alice. After exchanging a few choice words, Bryn is chased through the local park by ‘the fat man’ and his much more athletic avenger. Bryn suffers the beating of his short life, beaten to a messy pulp. Exhausted and bloodied but desperate to save his dog, Bryn reaches out for the nearest object to stop the battering and finds a house brick. Before long a murder investigation is underway and Bryn’s family are the main focus of a revenge driven organised crime family with international links. Can they survive the reign of terror brought against them…?
Bryn is so lovely that you can’t help feeling shocked by what happens to him throughout the book; from that first savage beating and everything else that occurs after that. There were some real jaw dropping moments for me, I felt outraged for Bryn. How could this poor, sweet lad become a murderer (albeit, accidentally). If you’ve read this book, did you feel the same? I’d be interested to know.
The links between the crime families were intricate and I enjoyed seeing how one family could easily wipe out another, along with the lengths the characters would go to to protect their own backs. There’s almost a domino effect going on which I found immensely satisfying.
Would I recommend this book? I would. It has a great plot with characters you will love and characters you will loathe, the perfect balance of good versus evil. You’ll be cheering Bryn and his family on, hoping they all make it to the end in one piece (do they? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out). I mentioned it earlier and I will say it again, I will be keeping an eye out for Conrad Jones’s books in the future and I would love to read more of this author’s work.
Four out of five stars.
Many thanks to #TBConFB and Conrad Jones for a copy of Brick in exchange for an honest review.
Bryn is your average 14 year old lad. He keeps himself out of trouble, has two older brothers who do the same thing and two fairly useless parents. He’s a normal, likeable young man. But life changes for Bryn when he encounters ‘the fat man’ whilst out walking his beloved pet dog, Alice. After exchanging a few choice words, Bryn is chased through the local park by ‘the fat man’ and his much more athletic avenger. Bryn suffers the beating of his short life, beaten to a messy pulp. Exhausted and bloodied but desperate to save his dog, Bryn reaches out for the nearest object to stop the battering and finds a house brick. Before long a murder investigation is underway and Bryn’s family are the main focus of a revenge driven organised crime family with international links. Can they survive the reign of terror brought against them…?
Bryn is so lovely that you can’t help feeling shocked by what happens to him throughout the book; from that first savage beating and everything else that occurs after that. There were some real jaw dropping moments for me, I felt outraged for Bryn. How could this poor, sweet lad become a murderer (albeit, accidentally). If you’ve read this book, did you feel the same? I’d be interested to know.
The links between the crime families were intricate and I enjoyed seeing how one family could easily wipe out another, along with the lengths the characters would go to to protect their own backs. There’s almost a domino effect going on which I found immensely satisfying.
Would I recommend this book? I would. It has a great plot with characters you will love and characters you will loathe, the perfect balance of good versus evil. You’ll be cheering Bryn and his family on, hoping they all make it to the end in one piece (do they? Well, you’ll have to read the book to find out). I mentioned it earlier and I will say it again, I will be keeping an eye out for Conrad Jones’s books in the future and I would love to read more of this author’s work.
Four out of five stars.
Many thanks to #TBConFB and Conrad Jones for a copy of Brick in exchange for an honest review.
May 29, 2017
WOW!!!! What a book this is! I cannot recommend this enough.
This novel has an extremely tight and complex plot which drives through the tension right from the start which does not let up until literally the very end. Brick starts as it means to go on with a graphic gangland retaliation – it is brutal and difficult reading but this, and other parts of the book, are completely necessary and relevant to ensure that the gangland elements are realistic.
Bryn is walking his faithful dog when he gets into a verbal altercation with a man who threatens him, to be fair Bryn is just being a mouthy teenager and the man was being particularly vile, pushing Bryn’s buttons. Bryn is then attacked a short while afterwards in the park, he receives one hell of a beating but the final straw comes when they turn upon his dog, Bryn reaches out for anything to help him defend them…..with dire results. As if this terrible ordeal isn’t enough, it is actually only just the beginning as the fourteen-year-old has unwittingly exposed his family to a gangland revenge which puts everyone and everything they know at risk – all because he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team have the difficult challenge of investigation the murder of a gang member whilst trying to protect the accidential murderer from the repurcussions as well as keeping the violence at bay….not easy!
Jones has written a fantastic novel which is full to the brim of twists and turns, at points I was holding my breath, terrified as to what was to come. The linkage between the criminal families is well plotted out, sharing the cross-over between the activities of them both. All the scenes are extremely believable, a scary insight into down-and-out council estates, the tentants who try keep themselves to themselves and the criminals who run them!
This novel has an extremely tight and complex plot which drives through the tension right from the start which does not let up until literally the very end. Brick starts as it means to go on with a graphic gangland retaliation – it is brutal and difficult reading but this, and other parts of the book, are completely necessary and relevant to ensure that the gangland elements are realistic.
Bryn is walking his faithful dog when he gets into a verbal altercation with a man who threatens him, to be fair Bryn is just being a mouthy teenager and the man was being particularly vile, pushing Bryn’s buttons. Bryn is then attacked a short while afterwards in the park, he receives one hell of a beating but the final straw comes when they turn upon his dog, Bryn reaches out for anything to help him defend them…..with dire results. As if this terrible ordeal isn’t enough, it is actually only just the beginning as the fourteen-year-old has unwittingly exposed his family to a gangland revenge which puts everyone and everything they know at risk – all because he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team have the difficult challenge of investigation the murder of a gang member whilst trying to protect the accidential murderer from the repurcussions as well as keeping the violence at bay….not easy!
Jones has written a fantastic novel which is full to the brim of twists and turns, at points I was holding my breath, terrified as to what was to come. The linkage between the criminal families is well plotted out, sharing the cross-over between the activities of them both. All the scenes are extremely believable, a scary insight into down-and-out council estates, the tentants who try keep themselves to themselves and the criminals who run them!
May 29, 2017
Conrad jones has crafted a tightly-plotted, confident and solid offering with Brick. Several plotlines run throughout the book, the complexities of which this seasoned writer handles with ease. The dialogue is mostly excellent and moves the story along nicely at some crucial points.
At times I felt the novel suffered from large exposition dumps, particularly in Bryn’s early chapter, but this is a minor quibble, mostly a personal preference, and one that readers of this genre won’t find off-putting.
Jones’ strength, in this particular novel, is his ability to convey a very real sense of danger, horror, fear and conflict. His prose is descriptive, often graphic but never wantonly so. Each atrocious act or event is entirely justified and in keeping with the plot. Jones’ eye for detail is impressive, as is his descriptive skill, which aids in immersing the reader in the constantly-shifting, precarious world he presents them with.
It’s always nice to see social media utilised in a modern novel. Aside from making the story feel current…fresh, the use of social media is inspired in this case and a skilful tool for moving this story on, and for heightening the realism (ironically) and the urgency of the scenes.
An often dark, sometimes gruelling, and hugely-entertaining offering from a confident writer.
At times I felt the novel suffered from large exposition dumps, particularly in Bryn’s early chapter, but this is a minor quibble, mostly a personal preference, and one that readers of this genre won’t find off-putting.
Jones’ strength, in this particular novel, is his ability to convey a very real sense of danger, horror, fear and conflict. His prose is descriptive, often graphic but never wantonly so. Each atrocious act or event is entirely justified and in keeping with the plot. Jones’ eye for detail is impressive, as is his descriptive skill, which aids in immersing the reader in the constantly-shifting, precarious world he presents them with.
It’s always nice to see social media utilised in a modern novel. Aside from making the story feel current…fresh, the use of social media is inspired in this case and a skilful tool for moving this story on, and for heightening the realism (ironically) and the urgency of the scenes.
An often dark, sometimes gruelling, and hugely-entertaining offering from a confident writer.
August 6, 2016
I would like to thank David at UKCBC and the author for giving me an ARC of this in exchange for an honest and open review.
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the Detective Alec Ramsey and Soft Target series' of books by Conrad Jones so I was delighted to be given an Arc of Brick , his latest stand-alone thriller.
This is a no-holds barred thriller about the gang culture in Britain today.
It is not for the faint hearted as the violence is extremely graphic. Saying that, it is not gratuitous and fits in with the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this engrossing crime thriller and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a frightening but riveting novel.
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed the Detective Alec Ramsey and Soft Target series' of books by Conrad Jones so I was delighted to be given an Arc of Brick , his latest stand-alone thriller.
This is a no-holds barred thriller about the gang culture in Britain today.
It is not for the faint hearted as the violence is extremely graphic. Saying that, it is not gratuitous and fits in with the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this engrossing crime thriller and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a frightening but riveting novel.
May 27, 2017
Audiobook review
Wow
This just starts with a bang and keeps on rolling.
Such a good base story with extra added in. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking for more.
Thank you
Wow
This just starts with a bang and keeps on rolling.
Such a good base story with extra added in. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be looking for more.
Thank you
Want to read
December 21, 2017💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/21/2017)! 💝
January 21, 2021
I wasn’t sure about this book at first. At the outset I felt the author was quite judgemental and there were very negative and stereotypical depictions of those who were on benefits or impoverished - but I work with this population and might be hypersensitive to this. I’d received a free copy in return for a review; otherwise I might have abandoned it. I’m so glad I didn’t. The tone of the book changed, the characters were fleshed out, the story was engrossing, and it’s the first book in a long time where, when I wasn’t reading, I found myself thinking about the book and wondering what would happen next. Brilliant narration, each character very distinct and easily identifiable. Thoroughly enjoyable. My first Conrad Jones and definitely not my last.
May 27, 2017
This is a real adrenaline pumping book that is everything a thriller should be and more!
I have read books by Conrad Jones and found them totally gripping so was looking forward to this latest book which is a stand alone thriller and therefore a deviation from the Target and Detective Alec Ramsay series’.
The book definitely doesn’t disappoint the suspense starts from the beginning and keeps building throughout the book. Conrad has a very unique way of describing injuries that brings the pain and adrenaline straight in to the reader’s head.
The title is spot on and the book itself is totally unputdownable. Some authors tend to ‘pad’ the book out with large sections of descriptive text but Conrad manages to bring the characters to life without this. The story itself is very good with several story lines interlinking and eventually merging together to make this one of the best books I have read in a long time with suspense from the very first page and several storylines merging together this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.
Conrad is a very talented author and I am looking forward to more of his work.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books who provided me with a free copy of this book
.
@bloodhoundbook @books_n_all #conradjones #thriller #5stars
I have read books by Conrad Jones and found them totally gripping so was looking forward to this latest book which is a stand alone thriller and therefore a deviation from the Target and Detective Alec Ramsay series’.
The book definitely doesn’t disappoint the suspense starts from the beginning and keeps building throughout the book. Conrad has a very unique way of describing injuries that brings the pain and adrenaline straight in to the reader’s head.
The title is spot on and the book itself is totally unputdownable. Some authors tend to ‘pad’ the book out with large sections of descriptive text but Conrad manages to bring the characters to life without this. The story itself is very good with several story lines interlinking and eventually merging together to make this one of the best books I have read in a long time with suspense from the very first page and several storylines merging together this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.
Conrad is a very talented author and I am looking forward to more of his work.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books who provided me with a free copy of this book
.
@bloodhoundbook @books_n_all #conradjones #thriller #5stars
August 3, 2016
I thought this book was amazing, I found I was holding my breath and my stomach was churning at the descriptions that Conrad puts into this books. The beginning of the book is quite humorous in parts but don't be fooled it is a crime thriller through and through. Set in northern England in the middle of gang land crime, the gangs compete to be top dog and no one stands in their way, anyone who tries is swiftly dealt with in the most gruesome and violent way. A young local lad who is essentially a good lad is forced to defend himself when he is attacked by one of the main players in one of the leading gangs. He is almost beat senseless but at the last moment he grabs a brick and hits his attacker over the head, this leads to the most unimaginable chain of events. Thank you for the ARC. I loved it.
August 7, 2016
Brick by conrad Jones is a mystery and thriller read.
When a teenager is the victim of an unprovoked attack while walking his dog, a murder investigation begins. A cruel twist of fate makes his innocent family the targets of a vicious campaign of terror. As the detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team try to contain the violence, several key members of an organised crime family begin to topple, causing shockwaves across the planet.
Absolutely fantastic read.
I loved the story and the characters.
Simply unputdownable.
Devoured in less than 24 hours.
Full of twists.
I loved the ending too.
Highly recommended.
5* from me.
Thanks to tbc on fb for the arc.
#tbconfb.
When a teenager is the victim of an unprovoked attack while walking his dog, a murder investigation begins. A cruel twist of fate makes his innocent family the targets of a vicious campaign of terror. As the detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team try to contain the violence, several key members of an organised crime family begin to topple, causing shockwaves across the planet.
Absolutely fantastic read.
I loved the story and the characters.
Simply unputdownable.
Devoured in less than 24 hours.
Full of twists.
I loved the ending too.
Highly recommended.
5* from me.
Thanks to tbc on fb for the arc.
#tbconfb.
August 7, 2016
After reading so many amazing reviews about Conrad Jones, I jumped at the opportunity to read and review Brick, my first but not last book by this author.
Brick is a hard hitting story about gangsterism in Northern England. It is pretty gruesome and violent and not for the faint hearted.
I was hooked on this book from the first chapter and highly recommend this page turning great stand alone thriller. I now look forward to reading the Detective Alec Ramsay series
Many thanks to the author and THE Book Club (TBC) for this fantastic ARC .
Brick is a hard hitting story about gangsterism in Northern England. It is pretty gruesome and violent and not for the faint hearted.
I was hooked on this book from the first chapter and highly recommend this page turning great stand alone thriller. I now look forward to reading the Detective Alec Ramsay series
Many thanks to the author and THE Book Club (TBC) for this fantastic ARC .
August 28, 2016
4.5 stars. Excellent book by Conrad Jones. About the fourth I've read by him and they never disappoint.
The book grabs you from the outset and the action comes quickly. Writing style is fast paced but with enough description that you get a real sense of each character.
Typically from the author there are graphic descriptions of violence and fear but nothing gratuitous given the characters we are reading about.
Recommended.
The book grabs you from the outset and the action comes quickly. Writing style is fast paced but with enough description that you get a real sense of each character.
Typically from the author there are graphic descriptions of violence and fear but nothing gratuitous given the characters we are reading about.
Recommended.
August 8, 2016
OMG this book is fantastic, drugs, torture and the criminal underworld, The Krays are amateur's compared to these guys. I was hooked from the first page on the edge of my seat until the very end. Brilliant.
August 6, 2016
A dark and chilling thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed! This is the first book I've read by Conrad Jones. I've heard lots of good things about the Detective Alec Ramsay series so I've added those to my TBR.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 2, 2016
Brilliant. One small object can change your life. Small actions causing a chain of events that shift your whole world. Brilliant thriller
January 15, 2022
Good read
A young kid, walking his dog in the park, had an fight for his life. He had insulted a fat man. The fat man had a young friend, who beat on the kid. The kid defended himself.
Also, we have three drug Lords, feuding it out.
A police detective, trying to avenge a lady who died, and all kinds of other actions.
A young kid, walking his dog in the park, had an fight for his life. He had insulted a fat man. The fat man had a young friend, who beat on the kid. The kid defended himself.
Also, we have three drug Lords, feuding it out.
A police detective, trying to avenge a lady who died, and all kinds of other actions.
May 25, 2017
I found this a reasonably well written and fast paced story. Characters were well detailed and apart from some scenes that have been done before, it was fairly fresh.
I, mostly, listened to this on audio and the narration was spot on, with good accents and emotion bringing the text to life.
I, mostly, listened to this on audio and the narration was spot on, with good accents and emotion bringing the text to life.
January 16, 2021
Brick is a fast paced story of right bad types gangsters drugs and the rest. There are two stories Number one is Bryn who innocently enough gets involved with some dangerous men who could potentially finish off his family
The second story is about drugs and is gripping throughout
I thought the narrative was really good and loved the different accents I couldn't stop listening and finished it quicker than I liked
Would highly recommend
The second story is about drugs and is gripping throughout
I thought the narrative was really good and loved the different accents I couldn't stop listening and finished it quicker than I liked
Would highly recommend
September 1, 2016
Book review of the new novel by Conrad Jones
“BRICK”
I was fortunate enough to be given a copy of Brick through The Book Club on facebook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
The murky underworld of gangland Liverpool is the setting for this gritty, fast paced thriller. With a prologue that leaves us with no illusions about the darker, violent sides of the story that are to come, the different threads and characters are introduced quickly. From the thugs of the prologue & burnt corpses of the first chapter, to a 14 year old boy and his family, to the new Detective Inspector with the police department, each character has their individual tale to bring, but these all feed one larger tangled web.
14 year old Bryn is the teenager who, out walking his dog one day, happens to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and finds himself the victim of an unprovoked attack. But this leads to a death, and the investigating police squad soon find that the teenager and his family are now unwittingly on the radar of a dangerous gangland criminal wanting vengeance. Stolen drugs, misplaced loyalties and the lengths that these gangs will go to, in order to protect their turf and their stock, make this a dangerous world for an ordinary family to find themselves in. Even DI Braddick who is investigating both the case of young Bryn and the case of the charred corpses, has some personal reason from his time in London to want to catch the Russians at the top of the chain. His investigations converge with an ongoing drugs squad investigation, and there also appears to be a mole within the police team. How else is the gang boss managing to find out the confidential whereabouts of witnesses & stay one step ahead? Even Bryn’s brother and the expensive lawyer that he hires appear to have something to hide.
This is not a novel for the faint hearted or squeamish as Conrad Jones paints a very vivid picture of the violence inflicted and the cheapness of life in the drugs underworld. This extends to the psychopathic tendencies of certain characters who are depicted as lacking in any empathy or morals, and unable to distinguish an innocent family for the sake of revenge & warped loyalties. I appreciated the way in which the police officers were depicted – they were not the usual upstanding pillars of the community who were whiter than white, but rather were humans with a range of personalities & emotions that they each brought to the job in hand. There were parts of the book that made me want to shout at the characters or hide behind my own hands as I couldn’t bare what might be coming next – how could Bryn’s family possibly think this action might be a good move, or why were the police not investigating that? For me this is great writing! I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next and yet almost didn’t want to know, as things couldn’t possibly work out “happily ever after” – Conrad Jones has not written a fairy tale but rather about real life.
I would love to see a follow up to this as the characters of several of the police officers have developed sufficiently to move into another investigation, and there are loose ends from this plot that could be investigated in a sequel – no spoilers! In my opinion a gritty page turner that I could not put down – this gets 5 stars from me. Please Mr Jones, bring DI Braddick back for more!
“BRICK”
I was fortunate enough to be given a copy of Brick through The Book Club on facebook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
The murky underworld of gangland Liverpool is the setting for this gritty, fast paced thriller. With a prologue that leaves us with no illusions about the darker, violent sides of the story that are to come, the different threads and characters are introduced quickly. From the thugs of the prologue & burnt corpses of the first chapter, to a 14 year old boy and his family, to the new Detective Inspector with the police department, each character has their individual tale to bring, but these all feed one larger tangled web.
14 year old Bryn is the teenager who, out walking his dog one day, happens to say the wrong thing to the wrong person and finds himself the victim of an unprovoked attack. But this leads to a death, and the investigating police squad soon find that the teenager and his family are now unwittingly on the radar of a dangerous gangland criminal wanting vengeance. Stolen drugs, misplaced loyalties and the lengths that these gangs will go to, in order to protect their turf and their stock, make this a dangerous world for an ordinary family to find themselves in. Even DI Braddick who is investigating both the case of young Bryn and the case of the charred corpses, has some personal reason from his time in London to want to catch the Russians at the top of the chain. His investigations converge with an ongoing drugs squad investigation, and there also appears to be a mole within the police team. How else is the gang boss managing to find out the confidential whereabouts of witnesses & stay one step ahead? Even Bryn’s brother and the expensive lawyer that he hires appear to have something to hide.
This is not a novel for the faint hearted or squeamish as Conrad Jones paints a very vivid picture of the violence inflicted and the cheapness of life in the drugs underworld. This extends to the psychopathic tendencies of certain characters who are depicted as lacking in any empathy or morals, and unable to distinguish an innocent family for the sake of revenge & warped loyalties. I appreciated the way in which the police officers were depicted – they were not the usual upstanding pillars of the community who were whiter than white, but rather were humans with a range of personalities & emotions that they each brought to the job in hand. There were parts of the book that made me want to shout at the characters or hide behind my own hands as I couldn’t bare what might be coming next – how could Bryn’s family possibly think this action might be a good move, or why were the police not investigating that? For me this is great writing! I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know what would happen next and yet almost didn’t want to know, as things couldn’t possibly work out “happily ever after” – Conrad Jones has not written a fairy tale but rather about real life.
I would love to see a follow up to this as the characters of several of the police officers have developed sufficiently to move into another investigation, and there are loose ends from this plot that could be investigated in a sequel – no spoilers! In my opinion a gritty page turner that I could not put down – this gets 5 stars from me. Please Mr Jones, bring DI Braddick back for more!
January 29, 2017
The Blurb . . .
When a teenager is the victim of an unprovoked attack while walking his dog, a murder investigation begins. A cruel twist of fate makes his innocent family the targets of a vicious campaign of terror. As the detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team try to contain the violence, several key members of an organised crime family begin to topple, causing shockwaves across the planet.
My thoughts . . .
Brick is story about wrong place, wrong time.
14 year old Bryn Evans takes his dog Alice for a walk and gets into a bit of a silly argument with a random bloke in the street. A run-in which he thinks is immediately over. But this is Liverpool and the random bloke is an instrumental element to parts of the cities criminal underworld, which means he won't take some little twerp giving him lip and just leave it.
The chain of events that follow lead the police on a race against time to try and prevent repercussions, revenge attacks and more blood being spilled.
Brilliantly written, Jones has a way of writing that is rather unique in that the character dialogue is natural, you get the swearing, the slang and the grit that comes from being involved in this lifestyle, the raw emotions from even the hardest of criminal are so apparent that at some points I actually felt sorry for them!
This is the 3rd book of Jones' I have read and it didn't disappoint.
With plot twists and turns that will leave you breathless and relentless gore and brutality, Brick is not for the feint-hearted!
This is an absolutely gripping, high-octane gruesome thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I'd like to thank the author for providing me with an ARC via Facebook in exchange for my honest review.
When a teenager is the victim of an unprovoked attack while walking his dog, a murder investigation begins. A cruel twist of fate makes his innocent family the targets of a vicious campaign of terror. As the detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team try to contain the violence, several key members of an organised crime family begin to topple, causing shockwaves across the planet.
My thoughts . . .
Brick is story about wrong place, wrong time.
14 year old Bryn Evans takes his dog Alice for a walk and gets into a bit of a silly argument with a random bloke in the street. A run-in which he thinks is immediately over. But this is Liverpool and the random bloke is an instrumental element to parts of the cities criminal underworld, which means he won't take some little twerp giving him lip and just leave it.
The chain of events that follow lead the police on a race against time to try and prevent repercussions, revenge attacks and more blood being spilled.
Brilliantly written, Jones has a way of writing that is rather unique in that the character dialogue is natural, you get the swearing, the slang and the grit that comes from being involved in this lifestyle, the raw emotions from even the hardest of criminal are so apparent that at some points I actually felt sorry for them!
This is the 3rd book of Jones' I have read and it didn't disappoint.
With plot twists and turns that will leave you breathless and relentless gore and brutality, Brick is not for the feint-hearted!
This is an absolutely gripping, high-octane gruesome thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
I'd like to thank the author for providing me with an ARC via Facebook in exchange for my honest review.
May 23, 2017
Well, where do I start with this book?
Bryn, the main character, is just a normal 14 year old boy going about his life when a chance occurrence irreparably changes his and his family's life . This book just shows how one moment can completely change everything. Bryn is absolutely lovely and throughout the book I was hoping against hope that things would work out for him. I didn't think I'd get behind a teenage boy as much as I did and that just shows how well written the character is. I actually found all the characters believable in one way or another and DI Braddick was really interesting.
It was really interesting to see gangs/crime families based in the UK as I think all other gang related books I have read have been based in America. Their workings are so intricate and how each affects the other is fascinating and just incredibly well written. It's also terrifying to think just how much influence some people can have and the lengths some people will go to. The story also shows the extreme grit and brutally of the gangland in Liverpool, so this book is not for the faint of heart!
Brick is extremely fast paced and I flew through it, following each character and seeing how all the stories intertwine and overlap. It's definitely a hold onto your pants and edge of your seat kind of read and you'll find yourself arguing with the characters when they're doing things that are beyond baffling! There are so many intricate goings on that I just can't do the story justice in any description I can come up with and I definitely don't want to spoil anything by going into too much detail.
Overall an excellent book and one I just couldn't put down. If you are a fan of grittier and hard hitting crime stories based in the UK, then this book is definitely for you!
Bryn, the main character, is just a normal 14 year old boy going about his life when a chance occurrence irreparably changes his and his family's life . This book just shows how one moment can completely change everything. Bryn is absolutely lovely and throughout the book I was hoping against hope that things would work out for him. I didn't think I'd get behind a teenage boy as much as I did and that just shows how well written the character is. I actually found all the characters believable in one way or another and DI Braddick was really interesting.
It was really interesting to see gangs/crime families based in the UK as I think all other gang related books I have read have been based in America. Their workings are so intricate and how each affects the other is fascinating and just incredibly well written. It's also terrifying to think just how much influence some people can have and the lengths some people will go to. The story also shows the extreme grit and brutally of the gangland in Liverpool, so this book is not for the faint of heart!
Brick is extremely fast paced and I flew through it, following each character and seeing how all the stories intertwine and overlap. It's definitely a hold onto your pants and edge of your seat kind of read and you'll find yourself arguing with the characters when they're doing things that are beyond baffling! There are so many intricate goings on that I just can't do the story justice in any description I can come up with and I definitely don't want to spoil anything by going into too much detail.
Overall an excellent book and one I just couldn't put down. If you are a fan of grittier and hard hitting crime stories based in the UK, then this book is definitely for you!
January 28, 2018
Not having read any books by Conrad Jones before, I was blown away by how enjoyable Brick is. It’s a breathtakingly action-packed crime thriller where the fast-paced, often shockingly violent action never lets up from beginning to end. I’ve read many books in this genre and Brick is definitely one of my favourites. I can see why it’s the number one thriller on Amazon today. Like anyone else reading Brick, I was rooting for teenager Bryn Evans and his family, fearing for their lives throughout, especially with three powerful, brutal, heartless crime gangs in the mix. The author certainly knows how to bring characters to life and set the scene. He also knows how to kill off many of his characters in gut-wrenching ways. Brick kept me glued to each skilfully written page as my heart raced like the clappers. DI Braddick is a credible, multi-faceted law enforcer, and I’m delighted there are more books in the DI Marcus Braddick series, so I can cheer him on as he battles against the baddies. I suspect I’ll be working my way through all the other books by Conrad Jones.
September 13, 2017
Conrad Jones is a moron! There, I said It! There's no doubt in my mind. He doesn't play by the rules of Writing a Book 101, He hasn't read the handbook or He doesn't care ( I suspect the latter).
The manual clearly specifies that You have to write some insubstantial chapters in the book like scenes of detectives kissing, or making up or describing the sky, or the hair colors of all the characters, even the secondary ones because We need this dull moments to: 1-Go to the Loo (Look Ma! I'm British) 2-say hello to the wifey once in a while ( apparently She expect Us to do so) or 3- To actually do some work at the office (apparently They expect us to do so too!). But Conrad Jones wrote this book as a non stop action book so there's no time to do other things but to keep reading. No time to stop, so You'll be late for work/school/your wedding, whatever. Don't pick this book unless is a weekend. That is my advise and please Mr. Jones stay within your limits next time (read the manual).
The manual clearly specifies that You have to write some insubstantial chapters in the book like scenes of detectives kissing, or making up or describing the sky, or the hair colors of all the characters, even the secondary ones because We need this dull moments to: 1-Go to the Loo (Look Ma! I'm British) 2-say hello to the wifey once in a while ( apparently She expect Us to do so) or 3- To actually do some work at the office (apparently They expect us to do so too!). But Conrad Jones wrote this book as a non stop action book so there's no time to do other things but to keep reading. No time to stop, so You'll be late for work/school/your wedding, whatever. Don't pick this book unless is a weekend. That is my advise and please Mr. Jones stay within your limits next time (read the manual).
July 26, 2016
This is a novel of a brutal gangland war and a young boy and his family drawn into the crossfire. It again is very well written and high octane if you like your thrillers gruesome and bloody then this is one for you. The trouble for me is that I didn't feel like the action had a satisfying resolution although I am more of a cosy crime fan. Again the characters were fairly well developed although I would have liked to focus more on Bryns story as that family were the most fleshed out for me. There was a good range of twists and turns in the plot and you could see that some of the characters are going to develop across a series of books. This is the first of Conrad jones books I have read, and I will be reading more, I received an ARC from the UK Crime book club on facebook in exchange for an honest review.
August 8, 2016
4:5 star read
Thanks to TBC fora review copy for an honest review.
What an action packed, scary book.
From the point of view of wrong place, wrong time.
Two stories intertwined, but extremely well written so easy to keep track of what is going on...there are some graphic, hard hitting themes. Well executed ( no pun intended)...
Great selection of charachters running from mean, to meaner and downright nasty,
Loved it. I could have read it quicker, but wanted to savour it.
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