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Soho #2
Soho Ghosts
PI Kenny Gabriel is hunting ghosts from the past. But some of them are hunting him back.
When a disgraced politician is found dead at his London flat, there are few people who mourn his demise. George Dent’s reputation was in tatters, and his suicide surprises nobody—except one.
Dent’s childhood friend Peter Timms is certain the MP’s downfall was a set-up; why else was he being stalked in the weeks before his death? Timms can even name the culprit—the only problem is, he’s been dead for seventy years. But broke PI Kenny Gabriel can’t afford to be cynical. He agrees to round up Dent’s old school gang, although some of them are less than keen to be found.
Meanwhile, Meg Dylan, matriarch of a North London crime family, is hot on Kenny’s heels with another case. As pressure mounts on both sides, Kenny knows he must find the truth behind this ghost—or become one himself.
When a disgraced politician is found dead at his London flat, there are few people who mourn his demise. George Dent’s reputation was in tatters, and his suicide surprises nobody—except one.
Dent’s childhood friend Peter Timms is certain the MP’s downfall was a set-up; why else was he being stalked in the weeks before his death? Timms can even name the culprit—the only problem is, he’s been dead for seventy years. But broke PI Kenny Gabriel can’t afford to be cynical. He agrees to round up Dent’s old school gang, although some of them are less than keen to be found.
Meanwhile, Meg Dylan, matriarch of a North London crime family, is hot on Kenny’s heels with another case. As pressure mounts on both sides, Kenny knows he must find the truth behind this ghost—or become one himself.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 12, 2018
104 people are currently reading
614 people want to read
About the author
Greg Keen
4 books54 followersAs well as being a crime writer, Greg Keen is an independent media trainer.
Greg got his first proper job in Soho and has pretty much worked there ever since. This made it an ideal setting for his novel Soho Dead winner of the CWA Debut Dagger in 2015. Greg lives in North London. You can reach him at: info@gka.demon.co.uk.
Soho Dead introduces Kenny Gabriel, a down at heel skip tracer trying to turn his life round. When Kenny receives a summons from his previous employer, media magnate Frank Parr, his initial reaction is to turn the job down.
But the money is good and Kenny needs a break. How hard can it be to locate Frank's wayward daughter, Harry, who has been missing less than a week?
Unfortunately for him, the past has a way of repeating itself. Sooner than he could ever have imagined, Kenny's life must either change or end.
Find out more about Greg and the Soho series at www.gregkeen.co.uk
Greg got his first proper job in Soho and has pretty much worked there ever since. This made it an ideal setting for his novel Soho Dead winner of the CWA Debut Dagger in 2015. Greg lives in North London. You can reach him at: info@gka.demon.co.uk.
Soho Dead introduces Kenny Gabriel, a down at heel skip tracer trying to turn his life round. When Kenny receives a summons from his previous employer, media magnate Frank Parr, his initial reaction is to turn the job down.
But the money is good and Kenny needs a break. How hard can it be to locate Frank's wayward daughter, Harry, who has been missing less than a week?
Unfortunately for him, the past has a way of repeating itself. Sooner than he could ever have imagined, Kenny's life must either change or end.
Find out more about Greg and the Soho series at www.gregkeen.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 19, 2018
Brilliant. Love Kenny.
From the opening few lines of the prologue, set in 1979 I felt I was going to enjoy the book and was engrossed in the story instantly. Then I was drawn quickly into Kenny Gabriel's world. I just love this laconic British PI his character and the tongue in cheek humour. But what, for me, sets the writer and the writing above most crime thriller books is the quality of the writing which I think is unusual in this genre. It's fast paced and full of twists and turns and red herrings but he writes like a dream. For example: "Had there been an oxygen cylinder and a Sherpa handy, I might have attempted the seven flights of stairs. In their absence I took the lift.". Or this: " The only car on the rank was a twenty -year-old Honda Civic with more filler in her than Joan Collins. "
I love the humour the just enough descriptive writing and the characters as well as the natural and believable dialogue. I wish more crime writers were as skilled because it makes the book so much more enjoyable to read. Not pages of tell but showing us what Kenny is thinking and feeling. It's grisly in parts and occasionally violent but it's never gratuitous and always relevant to the characters. Tempered with Kenny and Odeerie's research and commitment to seek justice and do the right thing - usually at great cost to Kenny. - Some real baddies, some surprising goodies none of them one dimensional and a satisfactory conclusion to hopefully set us up for the next book.
I loved the first book Soho Dead but this follow up book which I preordered and it dropped in to my kindle a few days ago, I thought was even better. A great read. Loved it. I really hope there is a third in the series and soon.
From the opening few lines of the prologue, set in 1979 I felt I was going to enjoy the book and was engrossed in the story instantly. Then I was drawn quickly into Kenny Gabriel's world. I just love this laconic British PI his character and the tongue in cheek humour. But what, for me, sets the writer and the writing above most crime thriller books is the quality of the writing which I think is unusual in this genre. It's fast paced and full of twists and turns and red herrings but he writes like a dream. For example: "Had there been an oxygen cylinder and a Sherpa handy, I might have attempted the seven flights of stairs. In their absence I took the lift.". Or this: " The only car on the rank was a twenty -year-old Honda Civic with more filler in her than Joan Collins. "
I love the humour the just enough descriptive writing and the characters as well as the natural and believable dialogue. I wish more crime writers were as skilled because it makes the book so much more enjoyable to read. Not pages of tell but showing us what Kenny is thinking and feeling. It's grisly in parts and occasionally violent but it's never gratuitous and always relevant to the characters. Tempered with Kenny and Odeerie's research and commitment to seek justice and do the right thing - usually at great cost to Kenny. - Some real baddies, some surprising goodies none of them one dimensional and a satisfactory conclusion to hopefully set us up for the next book.
I loved the first book Soho Dead but this follow up book which I preordered and it dropped in to my kindle a few days ago, I thought was even better. A great read. Loved it. I really hope there is a third in the series and soon.
October 1, 2018
A welcome return
Mr Keen follows up his first book with this cracking story. Mr Keen evokes the atmosphere of a seedy Soho A good read
Mr Keen follows up his first book with this cracking story. Mr Keen evokes the atmosphere of a seedy Soho A good read
April 19, 2018
It’s the late 1970’s; five teenagers climb over the Highgate Cemetery (London) wall. A sixth boy takes the position of watchdog. One of the boys Paxo has convinced the others to participate in a ritual to bring back the ghost of Alexader Porteus, a well-known occultist who died in 1947. A ghost appears that scares the boys. They make a run for it, but someone has called the police. Clarkey was injured and can’t move as fast as the rest. They hear the police sirens and the rest of the boys decide to forsake Clarkey. Current day – George Dent one of the boys who participated in ritual, is found dead. The police believe he committed suicide. Peter Timms, another of the participants believes Dent was murdered by the ghost of Alexander Porteus. Kenny Gabriel, private detective and brother of Malcom Gabriel, close friend of Timms, has been asked to investigate. The investigation leads Kenny to the other participants, each of which is holding secrets to the past and present. Is the ghost real? Upon the deaths of Timms and others it is looking more like it, but there are no such things as a ghost right? At the same time Kenny is also tasked with finding a thief who stole a significant amount of money from a mob bosses wife. If he doesn’t find the money within the week he forfeits his life. His boss and apprentice have already been beaten up. This is a fantastic tale of mystery, murder, intrigue and delicious characters. Oh and did I mention the who done it was a complete surprise. Warning – you won’t want to put this book down until you finish.
I won this e-book on Goodreads.com
I won this e-book on Goodreads.com
June 26, 2023
really love this author ! Funny and always interesting !
March 4, 2019
I just found this book 2 in the series listed. Not sure where I was when it was released but I’ve read it now in 2 days. Another great adventure with Kenny Gabriel and his scruffy cohorts. Never sure if Kenny will survive his involvement with some of London’s lower class gangster. In this one Billy and his gang are out to get him. Billy’s mom sounds worse than Billy. A misadventure by some school boys into a cemetery binds them all with a well known dark spirit. Did they see the those of Alexandre Poreous? Who is killing them off and why. It is a mystery in a mystery and is very intriguing. Turns out his involvement with Billy’s wife is not the worst event to happen but it causes Kenny to think it is. I love this series and the flawed characters in it. Kenny is a bit like Philip Marlowe’s characters and almost all gritty investigators you read about. His partner, the fat man, who eats 6 croissants for breakfast and never leaves his apartment is helpful with computer searches. He can walk through the internet while Kenny walks the real world. Both are essential to solving the crime. Can’t wait to get the next book and see how Kenny continues his pursuits. A good read. I listened to audible and the narrator, Simon Vance, is excellent.
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October 27, 2020i got this book as part of the goodreads giveaway program in exchange for a review.
I found the main character (Kenny Gabriel) very well fleshed out more then the first book. He kept me wondering what he was going to do next to find the killer and the ghost. He kept me on the edge of my seat from the prologue to the end of the book I knew that I was going to enjoy reading this book
I am now looking for the next book in the series.
I found the main character (Kenny Gabriel) very well fleshed out more then the first book. He kept me wondering what he was going to do next to find the killer and the ghost. He kept me on the edge of my seat from the prologue to the end of the book I knew that I was going to enjoy reading this book
I am now looking for the next book in the series.
December 31, 2020
Complicated
Its to be expected that a murder story has twists and turns and this has more than most which is good if you can follow them and bad if you can't.I struggled but nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed this story but probably because I love the way thus guy writes.he has original wit and that is rare as going fishing in the Sahara with lettuce as bait and wearing a mink coat,see what I mean. Enjoy the book I did.
Its to be expected that a murder story has twists and turns and this has more than most which is good if you can follow them and bad if you can't.I struggled but nevertheless thoroughly enjoyed this story but probably because I love the way thus guy writes.he has original wit and that is rare as going fishing in the Sahara with lettuce as bait and wearing a mink coat,see what I mean. Enjoy the book I did.
April 29, 2018
I received this book for free from goodreads
this was a well thought out thriller of a mystery story. I enjoyed it very much and might check out the first book, since it is a series. this story does stand alone, though. you don't need to know anything that happened in the first book, all is explained that you need to know.
this was a well thought out thriller of a mystery story. I enjoyed it very much and might check out the first book, since it is a series. this story does stand alone, though. you don't need to know anything that happened in the first book, all is explained that you need to know.
August 21, 2018
I raced through this one in a couple of days, a bit of a silly premise for the main plot but I've read dafter. The pace is great, no so fast that you wonder if the author is trying to get you to skip over glaring plot issues but enough to keep you turning the pages. I wouldn't call it unputdownable but it was a good read.
Would I read another? Yes.
Would I read another? Yes.
August 17, 2019
A good follow up
Following the tried and tested old cynical PI this is the 2nd in the series. Read the 1st before this. Enjoyable but sadly the premise behind the murders is way too weak and simply not expanded upon. Too much of a plot device and not enough upon which to hang the story
Following the tried and tested old cynical PI this is the 2nd in the series. Read the 1st before this. Enjoyable but sadly the premise behind the murders is way too weak and simply not expanded upon. Too much of a plot device and not enough upon which to hang the story
October 2, 2019
Another cracking read from Greg Keen
Some books take an age to read, others just a few days or even hours. This belongs in the last category.
I really like Keen's PI, a world weary investigator who's seen it all and got the t-shirt.
The story races along with interesting characters and hold your breath situations meaning you can't stop turning the page.
Highly recommended.
Some books take an age to read, others just a few days or even hours. This belongs in the last category.
I really like Keen's PI, a world weary investigator who's seen it all and got the t-shirt.
The story races along with interesting characters and hold your breath situations meaning you can't stop turning the page.
Highly recommended.
May 4, 2018
Very well paced, with a narrator who never loses his dry sense of humor & wit. Kenny is a fictional character any reader would like to buy a drink & listen to for hours. (Podcast, anyone?) I won a Kindle edition from a Goodreads giveaway.
May 9, 2018
Entertaining with a predictable ending
I enjoy the writing style of thus author and the characters he conjures. But the plot is rather transparent - I’d twigged the ending 62% of the way through the book, which is a bit disappointing.
I enjoy the writing style of thus author and the characters he conjures. But the plot is rather transparent - I’d twigged the ending 62% of the way through the book, which is a bit disappointing.
May 20, 2018
I enjoyed, and sometimes cringed at the actions of, the quirky characters in this second of Greg King's Soho books. The rather convoluted plot kept me guessing "who done it" but I didn't find this story quite as engaging as the previous one. Overall entertaining.
August 4, 2018
I am not sure how I would feel if my previous employer a person whom I walked away from come back and demand that I find his daughter. I guess ol' girl got the last laugh. He deserved everything that came ar him.
January 13, 2020
Surprise
I was surprised with how much I liked this book. It did not start off as being the type of book I would like and I was prepared to be disappointed. I was not. Greg Keen has become one of my favorite authors. .
I was surprised with how much I liked this book. It did not start off as being the type of book I would like and I was prepared to be disappointed. I was not. Greg Keen has become one of my favorite authors. .
May 2, 2020
Still fun
Second book every bit as fun as the first. The lead character still plods along but manages to bump into sundry villains and allies. A surprise at the end offers a bit of hope for his future.
Second book every bit as fun as the first. The lead character still plods along but manages to bump into sundry villains and allies. A surprise at the end offers a bit of hope for his future.
November 29, 2020
Another great book in this series
I purchased this after finishing the first in the Soho series and I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoy the characters and storylines and I'm off to read the next in the series.
I purchased this after finishing the first in the Soho series and I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoy the characters and storylines and I'm off to read the next in the series.
April 22, 2018
Another great book from Greg Keen
April 25, 2018
I enjoyed the first book in this series, and so I bought the audiobook for this instalment as soon as I could. It was very enjoyable, and well performed by Simon Vance.
May 27, 2018
Very enjoyable. Snappy dialog, nicely-drawn characters, great sense of the locations. When’s the next one out?
August 31, 2018
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It isn’t your typical “broken down PI” plot. Well paced & creative...
October 13, 2018
Lovely Jubbly!
Enjoyed the story from beginning to end. Kenny's really an easy chap to like and the humour is just about right. Let's hope the Soho series is a long one.
Enjoyed the story from beginning to end. Kenny's really an easy chap to like and the humour is just about right. Let's hope the Soho series is a long one.
December 19, 2018
A great read
The characters are so real and the plot maintains pace, intrigue and fear in just the right amount.
Looking forward to the next in the series.
The characters are so real and the plot maintains pace, intrigue and fear in just the right amount.
Looking forward to the next in the series.
May 10, 2019
good in the begining...
but lost interest in the middle. somethings in this book I found unnecessary to the plot.
however, still read through
but lost interest in the middle. somethings in this book I found unnecessary to the plot.
however, still read through
May 12, 2019
Awesome story. Fast paced! Looking forward to reading the next one, “Soho Angel”.
June 10, 2019
Soho excellent
An excellent follow up to the first Soho book. I'm now looking forward to reading the third one in the series.
An excellent follow up to the first Soho book. I'm now looking forward to reading the third one in the series.
June 21, 2019
another romp through Soho for Kenny Gabriel..good to see farelly back with his son
August 11, 2019
Fun, funny read.
October 2, 2019
Another good one, even tho I knew who it was early on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews