Evil Turn

Nathan Hawk Mystery #4

by Douglas Watkinson

When two trawlermen are murdered, an old police acquaintance, Tom Blackwell, asks Hawk to house a main witness in the forthcoming murder trial. But are Blackwell’s motives quite as honourable as he makes out? Almost certainly not. Within days Hawk is caught up in a huge drug deal, becomes a likely IRA target and has severe doubts about the murder charge itself…
The witness, a charming down-and-out called Liam Kinsella, isn’t Hawk’s only unwanted house guest. He 's in the charge of two officers from S.O.U, one an attractive 30 year old woman, the other a grumbling and resentful bear of a man called Bill Grogan. Hawk enrols his help to re-investigate the murder. After a testy, monosyllabic start, they become friends.
As unforeseen dangers rise to the surface and as Grogan and Hawk set about dealing with them, so the latter's eldest daughter, Fee, joins the party, unannounced. She’s flown in from Tokyo, having just broken up with her long term boyfriend, and needs her father’s support. Her father is only too happy to see her of course but fears that her presence could put her in jeopardy…
And on top of that her brother, Con, hasn't been seen or heard from for months. In Hawk's effort to keep his family together, in spite of the miles between them, it seems that Con is the first to break ranks.
Hawk is a very English ex-copper. He's full of wit and his unpredictable temper bubbles away beneath the surface. As his children have told him, carefully, he really is too old get into fights and win them. He refuses to believe it...

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2015

About the author

I’ve been writing for television all my life, everything from Z Cars, through Juliet Bravo, Boon, Lovejoy, The Bill, Poirot - right up to Midsomer Murders, which I helped to establish. You can see a catalogue of my television and stage work on my website.

I also write crime novels featuring a high ranking police officer Nathan Hawk, who was 'required to retire' as we English so delicately phrase it. Hawk's a man with a fiery temper, biting wit and four grown up children he worries about, sometimes with good reason.

Strange, that, because so do I.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are lots of great ratings for this book but no reviews so I just wanted to leave a quickie as I catch up on this series. I can't remember where I picked up the first book but it hooked me & here we are at book #4.

In this outing, retired copper Nathan Hawk is approached by an old colleague with a strange request. A big murder trial is set to start & the police need somewhere to stash the material witness. Could he possibly put him up for a couple of weeks, along with 2 officers assigned for protection?

In short order, Nathan's usually empty house begins to resemble a hotel. The witness turns out to be a manky homeless guy proud of his lack of personal hygiene & the 2 cops would rather be anywhere else. Cops & lawyers come & go & one of daughters has shown up out of the blue. As the days pass, Nathan old instincts kick in & he starts to suspect there is something hinky about the case. He's right.

I'll leave it there. Just know there are plenty of twists to chew on as you enjoy Nathan's grumpy, sardonic commentary. He's an entertaining & interesting character who's led a full life. In a genre full of dashing young MC's, it's a pleasure to meet one "of a certain age" who is a widower with 4 grown children. He's a smart, edgy guy with a soft spot for good whisky & a low tolerance for idiots. The series is consistently well written & this is another great entry. On to the next one!