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Sam Batford #1
Rubicon
+++ COMING TO A TV SCREEN NEAR YOU +++ Rubicon has recently been optioned by the BBC with a view to making a 6 episode series Two cops, both on different sides of the law – both with the same gangland boss in their sights. Sam Batford is an undercover officer with the Metropolitan Police who will stop at nothing to get his hands on fearsome crime-lord Vincenzo Guardino’s drug supply. DCI Klara Winter runs a team on the National Crime Agency, she’s also chasing down Guardino, but unlike Sam Batford she’s determined to bring the gangster to justice and get his drugs off the streets. Set in a time of austerity and police cuts where opportunities for corruption are rife, Rubicon is a tense, dark thriller that is definitely not for the faint hearted. ‘A taut, exciting and utterly authentic thriller with a compelling narrator’ – Louise Voss ‘A sharp, slick, gripping and compelling novel’ – Jane Isaac
231 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 21, 2017
23 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 21, 2019
Even before I finished, I knew I’d be recommending this book to all my lovely crime reading peeps. So to help you derive maximum enjoyment & avoid possible jail time (see #1) I’ve put together a list of items you may want to gather before cracking the cover. You’re welcome.
1. “Go away I’m reading” sign: The book opens with a prologue that you may end up reading twice. It’s clear someone is going to die. The narrator even tells you so as they calmly identify their prey & the reason behind his impending demise. By the time you finish this part, there’s no way you’ll be putting it down. If someone were to interrupt you at this point, it’s only fair they be pre-warned you may become violent. Hence the sign.
2. a thinking cap: We go back in time before events in the prologue & meet DS Sam Batford. He has a military background that serves him well as an undercover agent with one of those murky agencies you hear rumours about. Now he’s been seconded to the National Crime Agency in a joint effort to bring down crime boss Vincent Guardino.
The NCA is led by DCI Klara Winter, an ambitious & by-the-book cop who’s not happy about being saddled with Sam. As far as she’s concerned he’s a cowboy with little regard for the rules. Or the fact she’s in charge. We get to know her mostly through daily log entries, transcribed in a blunt sardonic voice I really enjoyed.
I couldn’t reduce the plot of this book if I tried. Strap on that thinking cap & pay attention. What follows is a pacy, complex story with interesting characters. Hidden agendas, secrets & shifting alliances…at times even Sam isn’t sure who to trust. As things spiral out of control he begins to ponder his role. It’s not lost on the reader that at least he knows where he stands with the bad guys. As for the good guys….well, that’s a little more complicated.
3. neck brace: This will protect you through myriad plot twists, double crosses & jaw dropping reveals. I love reading a book that keeps me on shaky ground & this provides that feeling in spades. I genuinely had no idea how this would play out, only that not everyone was going to make it to the afterparty.
4. seatbelt: Please remain seated with it fastened for the duration. After the initial set-up there’s a rising tension that becomes palpable as you reach for the finish. Clever twists & thrills are all well & good but for a reader to really feel the story they must become invested in the characters. Sam & Klara are both compelling. They want the same result (sort of) but have different ideas on how to get there. As the book progresses we get to know them better & understand how they’ve been shaped by their individual pasts.
This is a smart, fast paced crime thriller that will keep you on your toes. Cozy fans, beware. This is gritty noir with everything that entails. Can’t wait to read book #2.
4.5/5 stars
1. “Go away I’m reading” sign: The book opens with a prologue that you may end up reading twice. It’s clear someone is going to die. The narrator even tells you so as they calmly identify their prey & the reason behind his impending demise. By the time you finish this part, there’s no way you’ll be putting it down. If someone were to interrupt you at this point, it’s only fair they be pre-warned you may become violent. Hence the sign.
2. a thinking cap: We go back in time before events in the prologue & meet DS Sam Batford. He has a military background that serves him well as an undercover agent with one of those murky agencies you hear rumours about. Now he’s been seconded to the National Crime Agency in a joint effort to bring down crime boss Vincent Guardino.
The NCA is led by DCI Klara Winter, an ambitious & by-the-book cop who’s not happy about being saddled with Sam. As far as she’s concerned he’s a cowboy with little regard for the rules. Or the fact she’s in charge. We get to know her mostly through daily log entries, transcribed in a blunt sardonic voice I really enjoyed.
I couldn’t reduce the plot of this book if I tried. Strap on that thinking cap & pay attention. What follows is a pacy, complex story with interesting characters. Hidden agendas, secrets & shifting alliances…at times even Sam isn’t sure who to trust. As things spiral out of control he begins to ponder his role. It’s not lost on the reader that at least he knows where he stands with the bad guys. As for the good guys….well, that’s a little more complicated.
3. neck brace: This will protect you through myriad plot twists, double crosses & jaw dropping reveals. I love reading a book that keeps me on shaky ground & this provides that feeling in spades. I genuinely had no idea how this would play out, only that not everyone was going to make it to the afterparty.
4. seatbelt: Please remain seated with it fastened for the duration. After the initial set-up there’s a rising tension that becomes palpable as you reach for the finish. Clever twists & thrills are all well & good but for a reader to really feel the story they must become invested in the characters. Sam & Klara are both compelling. They want the same result (sort of) but have different ideas on how to get there. As the book progresses we get to know them better & understand how they’ve been shaped by their individual pasts.
This is a smart, fast paced crime thriller that will keep you on your toes. Cozy fans, beware. This is gritty noir with everything that entails. Can’t wait to read book #2.
4.5/5 stars
June 18, 2018
This book is a thriller which dragged me in from the start and pulled me along with the momentum of the action. It wasn't all high tension, there were moments of rest and insight.
Most of the book is written from the perspective of the protagonist, DS Batford. There are breaks where we see things from the point of view of the secondary character, DCI Klara Winter. I liked the way her off the record log kept up a nice balance between the arrogance of DS Batford and the realities of the case: often Batford thinks he has Winter worked out but she's understood him and his motives better than he thinks.
The plot is multi-layered, we're never really sure where Batford's loyalties lie. He's certainly complex and like my own character, Salazar, he has a code of morality which does not coincide with the law. The same is true of many fictional detectives, Holmes wouldn't necessarily turn someone in at the end of a case. Having said that, Batford certainly lies further beyond the system than Holmes ever did, but then Holmes never seems to have had money worries.
The book takes us into the world of crime, its sleaze and its cruelty. People are disposable if they get between the Big H, the gangster being investigated by Winter, and his money. His greed ensures a complete lack of empathy for anyone else around him. The environment is one of casual and often extreme violence. We see the consequences of the violence too but for the most part, during the novel, there isn't time to brood or mourn.
We are also shown some of the results recent cuts to policing have caused: DCI Winter, the one person doing a straight policing job, sees her budget reduced to the extent that she can't really compete with the highly-funded crooks she's dealing with. Winter is underrated and undervalued yet, to me, she was the real hero of the book – the one who keeps on despite all obstacle in her way, the one losing sleep to help keep the streets safe and the one who does it because it's her job and not because she's going to make a personal profit from it all. She faces prejudice for being an accelerated graduate recruit yet, from what we see, she has a good idea of what's going on and what needs to be done to stop it.
Most of the book is written from the perspective of the protagonist, DS Batford. There are breaks where we see things from the point of view of the secondary character, DCI Klara Winter. I liked the way her off the record log kept up a nice balance between the arrogance of DS Batford and the realities of the case: often Batford thinks he has Winter worked out but she's understood him and his motives better than he thinks.
The plot is multi-layered, we're never really sure where Batford's loyalties lie. He's certainly complex and like my own character, Salazar, he has a code of morality which does not coincide with the law. The same is true of many fictional detectives, Holmes wouldn't necessarily turn someone in at the end of a case. Having said that, Batford certainly lies further beyond the system than Holmes ever did, but then Holmes never seems to have had money worries.
The book takes us into the world of crime, its sleaze and its cruelty. People are disposable if they get between the Big H, the gangster being investigated by Winter, and his money. His greed ensures a complete lack of empathy for anyone else around him. The environment is one of casual and often extreme violence. We see the consequences of the violence too but for the most part, during the novel, there isn't time to brood or mourn.
We are also shown some of the results recent cuts to policing have caused: DCI Winter, the one person doing a straight policing job, sees her budget reduced to the extent that she can't really compete with the highly-funded crooks she's dealing with. Winter is underrated and undervalued yet, to me, she was the real hero of the book – the one who keeps on despite all obstacle in her way, the one losing sleep to help keep the streets safe and the one who does it because it's her job and not because she's going to make a personal profit from it all. She faces prejudice for being an accelerated graduate recruit yet, from what we see, she has a good idea of what's going on and what needs to be done to stop it.
August 27, 2017
Rubicon is quite a book. It is dark, gritty and packed with action. The main characters, Sam Batford and Klara Winter are like chalk and cheese, so I really enjoyed their brief interludes during the course of the story. Both after the same thing, but for wildly different reasons, their story arc was really fun to read!
Batford is an undercover officer, corrupt as you like, and not one bit sorry. This attitude translates really well into his story as it makes him almost a bit of a lad, in terms of his cockiness and general devil-may-care approach to certain things. He's a bit of a renegade, let's be honest, but he is also my favourite part of the story!
I really enjoyed reading Rubicon, not least because the author's previous experience in this line of work really shines through, but also because it's not my usual kind of crime read. I tend not to read these gangland-y (not a word, I know!) books but I am SO glad I got to read this little gem.
Ian Patrick has a great writing style. Short, pacy chapters mean you're constantly turning the page to see what the hell Batford is going to do next, and because he's a bit of an asshole, you know he'll be up to no good. Can't wait to see where the author takes us with his next one.
Highly recommended!
Batford is an undercover officer, corrupt as you like, and not one bit sorry. This attitude translates really well into his story as it makes him almost a bit of a lad, in terms of his cockiness and general devil-may-care approach to certain things. He's a bit of a renegade, let's be honest, but he is also my favourite part of the story!
I really enjoyed reading Rubicon, not least because the author's previous experience in this line of work really shines through, but also because it's not my usual kind of crime read. I tend not to read these gangland-y (not a word, I know!) books but I am SO glad I got to read this little gem.
Ian Patrick has a great writing style. Short, pacy chapters mean you're constantly turning the page to see what the hell Batford is going to do next, and because he's a bit of an asshole, you know he'll be up to no good. Can't wait to see where the author takes us with his next one.
Highly recommended!
August 29, 2017
While I don't read a lot of crime, I do have a penchant for undercover stories and this is a corker. I was hooked from the word go. The main character feels totally real. The writing is great - perfect for the story - spare and uncompromising. Descriptions are spot on too. I could see the locations, smell the air. The characters, dialogue, everything was spot on for me. Gritty, totally believable and Excellent!
June 4, 2018
Rubicon is centred around Sam Batford an undercover officer who has been seconded (or has he) to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and DCI Klara Winter who runs that team.
They are completely different, yet both want the same result (or do they)?
To go into further detail to me wouldn’t necessarily spoil the book but more spoil the enjoyment and thrills that this book has to give and Ian Patrick writes about. However, I will say that this book opens with a bang and one that had me gripped and feverishly tapping the pages on my trusty kindle to see what would happen next on my commute to work.
Look forward to reading more by this author.
They are completely different, yet both want the same result (or do they)?
To go into further detail to me wouldn’t necessarily spoil the book but more spoil the enjoyment and thrills that this book has to give and Ian Patrick writes about. However, I will say that this book opens with a bang and one that had me gripped and feverishly tapping the pages on my trusty kindle to see what would happen next on my commute to work.
Look forward to reading more by this author.
June 8, 2018
The news that this novel had been picked up for adpatation by the BBC is what pricked my ears up and got me onto this book. It's slightly weird as I don't tend to watch many BBC dramas to be honest, but the thought that an indie crime book had been signed up for them acted as a mark of quality.
It is certainly a quality book with a great character at the centre of it. DS Batford is an undercover police officer tasked with taking down gang boss, Guardino, who is the centre of DCI Winter's investigation. DCI Winter hasn't requested an undercover deployment, so the addition of Batford to her case rankles to say the least. At first, DS Batford comes across as a bit of a superman, but slowly his insecurities and faults are fleshed out throughout the novel. He's all about self preservation and falls into some sticky moments that make for suspenseful reading. There is a definite "Line of Duty" vibe about it.
On reading the synopsis, I thought the novel would be a bit more of a back and forth between Batford and Winter, but judging by the ending I imagine we'll get a chance to see more of her as it screams sequel.
This one evolves into a great read with the story and main character slowly building to a crescendo throughout. I'd recommend giving it a read before it hits the small screen.
It is certainly a quality book with a great character at the centre of it. DS Batford is an undercover police officer tasked with taking down gang boss, Guardino, who is the centre of DCI Winter's investigation. DCI Winter hasn't requested an undercover deployment, so the addition of Batford to her case rankles to say the least. At first, DS Batford comes across as a bit of a superman, but slowly his insecurities and faults are fleshed out throughout the novel. He's all about self preservation and falls into some sticky moments that make for suspenseful reading. There is a definite "Line of Duty" vibe about it.
On reading the synopsis, I thought the novel would be a bit more of a back and forth between Batford and Winter, but judging by the ending I imagine we'll get a chance to see more of her as it screams sequel.
This one evolves into a great read with the story and main character slowly building to a crescendo throughout. I'd recommend giving it a read before it hits the small screen.
June 8, 2018
Rubicon is a fast paced novel with an extremely interesting protagonist in Sam Batford – an undercover cop who is walking a very fine line between right and wrong to get the result he wants. Right from the beginning, Sam was a very authentic character in his approach and the way the author has written his dialogue – his confidence just oozes from the pages.
Rubicon is a gripping and dark read, there are a few explitives throughout the book however these are used appropriately and in context – the language isn’t gratuitous, it is just reflecting how it is in the circles that Sam is infiltrating. Rubicon is a relatively quick read given it’s pace and the short chapters.
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, took me a few pages to get used to the snappy chapters but from then I was gripped! Ian Patrick’s background shines through this book and gives the story its authenticity – having been there, he understands the pressures that the police force feel every day and the fact that it potentially can only get worse in the very near future which is when this book is set. It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel – it’s so good and brilliantly written.
Rubicon is a clever novel which shows the two sides of the same investigation, 2 very different individuals trying to achieve the same outcome.
A brilliant and interesting take on a police procedural!
Rubicon is a gripping and dark read, there are a few explitives throughout the book however these are used appropriately and in context – the language isn’t gratuitous, it is just reflecting how it is in the circles that Sam is infiltrating. Rubicon is a relatively quick read given it’s pace and the short chapters.
I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, took me a few pages to get used to the snappy chapters but from then I was gripped! Ian Patrick’s background shines through this book and gives the story its authenticity – having been there, he understands the pressures that the police force feel every day and the fact that it potentially can only get worse in the very near future which is when this book is set. It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s debut novel – it’s so good and brilliantly written.
Rubicon is a clever novel which shows the two sides of the same investigation, 2 very different individuals trying to achieve the same outcome.
A brilliant and interesting take on a police procedural!
June 6, 2018
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
But that doesn't mean that Sam Batford isn't going to try.
Batford is an undercover police officer who's after a kingpin of some repute and his guns and drugs importing. DCI Klara Winter is a no-nonsense head of a task force going after the same kingpin, Big H, more directly -- phone taps, applying pressure to associates, interrogations, etc. Batford is assigned to her task force to supplement their intelligence. Neither want this assignment, and work to undermine it immediately. They do actually help each other out -- but it's almost despite their best efforts. Their mutual dislike, distrust and antagonism is one of the more interesting dynamics that I've run across lately.
We see most of the novel through Batford's eyes, with the occasional glimpse from Winter's perspective. It doesn't take much to get a strong sense of Winter's personality and thought process. Just from the volume, the reader ends up seeing things Batford's way -- whether or not they should.
Batford infiltrates Big H's organization -- at least to a degree -- for one job. A large one, no doubt, one that would secure Winter's career (and would do his own some favors). Like most undercover officers (especially in fiction), he cuts many legal and ethical corners to do so. There's some question -- as there should be -- whether or not Big H really trusts him, and the constant testing, evaluation and insecurity makes for great reading -- it's an atmosphere you can almost feel through the words.
So Batford is doing what he can to get enough information to take down Big H, to gain his trust (and therefore access), to disrupt the flow of drugs and guns -- and mostly to stay alive. If he can find a way to make a little money while he's at it . . . well, he might as well. Winter just wants enough evidence to make some arrests -- and maybe some headlines -- so she can get the budget to keep her team working.
This is not a book for the squeamish -- there are a few scenes I know that would cause some of my friends and readers to throw the book down in disgust (the same scenes will cause other friends/readers to fist pump their excitement -- I'm not sure which of these bothers me more). There's one scene in particular that made me think of the dental scene from Marathon Man (I've never watched the movie just in case they nail that scene from the novel).
There were two . . . I don't want to say problems for me, but things that kept me from going over the moon with Rubicon: Batford works his way into this assignment by worming his way in to the trust of one Big H's associates while they're in Bali. Do Metropolitan Police Undercover Officers really get to globe-trot the way that Batford does? Is that a bit of Artistic License? Is it a sign of just how far outside the lines that Batford colors? Does it tell us that he's not just a Metropolitan Police Officer? It's a minor point, I admit -- and it's really easy to accept as kosher (but that doesn't mean I don't wonder), because watching Batford's machinations there is fascinating.
Secondly, Batford displays a very particular vocabulary -- I'm not sure if it's London slang, or Ian Patrick-slang. I could believe either. I will admit that there were periods that the slang got in the way of the story. That's probably on me -- and some of it is Shaw's two countries separated by a common language phenomenon. With a little bit of work, and a small amount of guesswork (and a willingness to go back and revisit a passage later), it was all accessible enough and perspicuous.
There's a lot about this book that I'm not sure about -- I've been chewing on it for a couple of days, and it's going to take a few more at least. Patrick's characters take a little chewing, I think. It'd be easy to put Batford in the "murky anti-hero" category and move on -- but I'm not sure he fits there; I'm even less sure where Winter fits -- she's not the straight-laced cop you're at first tempted to label her, nor is she just the figure that makes life difficult for our anti-hero to do what he wants (although she functions pretty well that way). But even if/when I decide how to categorize these two -- then I have to decide what I think of them as these characters -- are they good people? No. That's easy. Are they good fictional beings in their particular roles? My gut says yes, and my brain leans that way, but I'm still working on that.
Either way, I'm enjoying chewing on the novel and these ideas -- and I'm definitely getting my money's worth out of this book, just having to think about it this much.
There is part of this evaluation that's easy -- the writing? Gripping. The pacing? Once it gets going, it's a runaway train that you're just hoping you can hang on to long enough to get through to the end. The narrative voice is as strong as you could ask, and even when you're thinking this cop might be more deserving of a being handcuffed on his way to a long incarceration than his targets, you'll need to hear his singular perspective on the events around him.
Strong writing (some of my favorite sentences of the year are in this book), characters that demand thinking about, a plot that you can't wrap up in a tidy bow -- this isn't your typical thriller. Whether it's your cup of tea or not, it's one that you won't forget easily.
---
. . . there’s no money in policing unless you cross the line.
But that doesn't mean that Sam Batford isn't going to try.
Batford is an undercover police officer who's after a kingpin of some repute and his guns and drugs importing. DCI Klara Winter is a no-nonsense head of a task force going after the same kingpin, Big H, more directly -- phone taps, applying pressure to associates, interrogations, etc. Batford is assigned to her task force to supplement their intelligence. Neither want this assignment, and work to undermine it immediately. They do actually help each other out -- but it's almost despite their best efforts. Their mutual dislike, distrust and antagonism is one of the more interesting dynamics that I've run across lately.
We see most of the novel through Batford's eyes, with the occasional glimpse from Winter's perspective. It doesn't take much to get a strong sense of Winter's personality and thought process. Just from the volume, the reader ends up seeing things Batford's way -- whether or not they should.
Batford infiltrates Big H's organization -- at least to a degree -- for one job. A large one, no doubt, one that would secure Winter's career (and would do his own some favors). Like most undercover officers (especially in fiction), he cuts many legal and ethical corners to do so. There's some question -- as there should be -- whether or not Big H really trusts him, and the constant testing, evaluation and insecurity makes for great reading -- it's an atmosphere you can almost feel through the words.
So Batford is doing what he can to get enough information to take down Big H, to gain his trust (and therefore access), to disrupt the flow of drugs and guns -- and mostly to stay alive. If he can find a way to make a little money while he's at it . . . well, he might as well. Winter just wants enough evidence to make some arrests -- and maybe some headlines -- so she can get the budget to keep her team working.
This is not a book for the squeamish -- there are a few scenes I know that would cause some of my friends and readers to throw the book down in disgust (the same scenes will cause other friends/readers to fist pump their excitement -- I'm not sure which of these bothers me more). There's one scene in particular that made me think of the dental scene from Marathon Man (I've never watched the movie just in case they nail that scene from the novel).
There were two . . . I don't want to say problems for me, but things that kept me from going over the moon with Rubicon: Batford works his way into this assignment by worming his way in to the trust of one Big H's associates while they're in Bali. Do Metropolitan Police Undercover Officers really get to globe-trot the way that Batford does? Is that a bit of Artistic License? Is it a sign of just how far outside the lines that Batford colors? Does it tell us that he's not just a Metropolitan Police Officer? It's a minor point, I admit -- and it's really easy to accept as kosher (but that doesn't mean I don't wonder), because watching Batford's machinations there is fascinating.
Secondly, Batford displays a very particular vocabulary -- I'm not sure if it's London slang, or Ian Patrick-slang. I could believe either. I will admit that there were periods that the slang got in the way of the story. That's probably on me -- and some of it is Shaw's two countries separated by a common language phenomenon. With a little bit of work, and a small amount of guesswork (and a willingness to go back and revisit a passage later), it was all accessible enough and perspicuous.
There's a lot about this book that I'm not sure about -- I've been chewing on it for a couple of days, and it's going to take a few more at least. Patrick's characters take a little chewing, I think. It'd be easy to put Batford in the "murky anti-hero" category and move on -- but I'm not sure he fits there; I'm even less sure where Winter fits -- she's not the straight-laced cop you're at first tempted to label her, nor is she just the figure that makes life difficult for our anti-hero to do what he wants (although she functions pretty well that way). But even if/when I decide how to categorize these two -- then I have to decide what I think of them as these characters -- are they good people? No. That's easy. Are they good fictional beings in their particular roles? My gut says yes, and my brain leans that way, but I'm still working on that.
Either way, I'm enjoying chewing on the novel and these ideas -- and I'm definitely getting my money's worth out of this book, just having to think about it this much.
There is part of this evaluation that's easy -- the writing? Gripping. The pacing? Once it gets going, it's a runaway train that you're just hoping you can hang on to long enough to get through to the end. The narrative voice is as strong as you could ask, and even when you're thinking this cop might be more deserving of a being handcuffed on his way to a long incarceration than his targets, you'll need to hear his singular perspective on the events around him.
Strong writing (some of my favorite sentences of the year are in this book), characters that demand thinking about, a plot that you can't wrap up in a tidy bow -- this isn't your typical thriller. Whether it's your cup of tea or not, it's one that you won't forget easily.
May 28, 2018
Filled to the brim with tension and gangland-style danger, I read Rubicon far too quickly; it is so fast-paced that I found it virtually impossible to put down but wished I'd read a bit slower to savour every perfectly written detail.
I really liked Sam Batford; he reminded me of Harry Bosch, doing whatever is necessary to bring the criminal to justice. Batford is ex-army and has a much darker side than Bosch, so much so that I often questioned his motivation; I wondered whether he had gone so far undercover that he didn't know which side he was on. Batford is such a wonderful character in this way as he is so unpredictable and even though his character is very well developed in Rubicon, I don't think we've even scratched the surface of him yet.
DCI Klara Winter has the delight of trying to control Sam Batford. Her frustration and exasperation was evident in the log she is keeping of her thought processes and decision making. It is clear from the start that she doesn't want to work with Batford so her log entries are a brilliant insight into how her working relationship with Batford is panning out. I laughed out loud at her candid thoughts on first meeting Batford and found myself growing to like her for her honesty.
I was going to say that this would make an excellent TV adaptation, as I could easily visualise somebody like Tom Hardy as Sam Batford and Rosamund Pike playing Klara Winter, but when I popped over to Amazon for the buy link I noticed that it has already been optioned by the BBC. I will definitely be watching the series and recommending it to all my friends and family. I think it'll be like mixing Bosch with the Sopranos, adding a dash of British flavour and seeing it all play out in London. I can't wait to see it so I think I will read the book again while I'm waiting.
Rubicon is a highly entertaining, full-throttle gangland thriller. With such an unpredictable protagonist, Ian Patrick tied my brain in knots and had me on the edge of my seat; I needed to stop and catch my breath when I finished it. An outstanding debut and hopefully there are plenty more Sam Batford stories to follow.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
I really liked Sam Batford; he reminded me of Harry Bosch, doing whatever is necessary to bring the criminal to justice. Batford is ex-army and has a much darker side than Bosch, so much so that I often questioned his motivation; I wondered whether he had gone so far undercover that he didn't know which side he was on. Batford is such a wonderful character in this way as he is so unpredictable and even though his character is very well developed in Rubicon, I don't think we've even scratched the surface of him yet.
DCI Klara Winter has the delight of trying to control Sam Batford. Her frustration and exasperation was evident in the log she is keeping of her thought processes and decision making. It is clear from the start that she doesn't want to work with Batford so her log entries are a brilliant insight into how her working relationship with Batford is panning out. I laughed out loud at her candid thoughts on first meeting Batford and found myself growing to like her for her honesty.
I was going to say that this would make an excellent TV adaptation, as I could easily visualise somebody like Tom Hardy as Sam Batford and Rosamund Pike playing Klara Winter, but when I popped over to Amazon for the buy link I noticed that it has already been optioned by the BBC. I will definitely be watching the series and recommending it to all my friends and family. I think it'll be like mixing Bosch with the Sopranos, adding a dash of British flavour and seeing it all play out in London. I can't wait to see it so I think I will read the book again while I'm waiting.
Rubicon is a highly entertaining, full-throttle gangland thriller. With such an unpredictable protagonist, Ian Patrick tied my brain in knots and had me on the edge of my seat; I needed to stop and catch my breath when I finished it. An outstanding debut and hopefully there are plenty more Sam Batford stories to follow.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 6, 2020
Sam Batford is an enigma. An undercover cop working on the margins, in the shadows, on the edge of what is right and what is wrong. His nemesis, DCI Klara Winter shares no such ambiguity. A by the book copper intent on carrying out the rule of law to its fullest extent. Both are ruthless, yet not entirely without a heart. Both want the same outcome: the apprehension of drug lord Vincenzo Big H Guardino and his shipment of heroin and arms. But are their motives for the seizure of the drugs and guns the same? The answer to that lies in the pages of this book.
And what a book.
I always tell my students that the art of writing is the art of listening.
For example:
“Alpha One, this is Six Zero, come in, over?” I can’t hear a thing above my breathing. The earpiece is shit, the mic maybe broken. The estate’s tower blocks rise above me like a beacon of oppression. I stay crouched behind a large concrete pillar. I can smell propellant hanging in the air’s whispers. A colleague to my right is doing the same thing, his 9mm Browning is out and held down by his side. His breath is short from our last sprint to safety. We haven’t been seen. Our objective is almost over. In the distance I can hear sirens. Sounds of glass against concrete and every now and then a larger crash as a heavier object connects with the earth. Shouting emanates in the distance. I pull the bandana up around the lower half of my face and look around the pillar.
You read the staccato prose, you read the words, but what you hear in your head is BANG BANG BANG - the sound of footsteps echoing in the dark, the sound of gunfire, the sound of your own heartbeat thundering in your ears.
You write such a clever story in such a hypnotic style, with characters of such strength and depth, a plot so tight, and what you have is something that has already been optioned for TV.
Rubicon is an outstanding book. Simply un-put-down-able. Rarely have I devoured a book in such a fashion as I devoured Rubicon. What makes it so special are the tiny details, the lived experience of what it is to be part of an undercover operation.
And what you want from a book that focuses so much on the small details is someone who has experience in this area. Someone like Ian Patrick.
This from his bio:
Ian spent twenty-seven years in the Metropolitan police the majority as a Detective Sergeant within the Specialist Operations Command. He specialised in Child Protection and was part of a Major Investigation Team that targeted abusers and investigated the murder of children. His last seven years were spent in the Covert Policing Command where he managed a specialist covert unit dedicated to the detection and disruption of organised criminal networks across London and the UK.
So, Rubicon is the real deal.
And what a book.
I always tell my students that the art of writing is the art of listening.
For example:
“Alpha One, this is Six Zero, come in, over?” I can’t hear a thing above my breathing. The earpiece is shit, the mic maybe broken. The estate’s tower blocks rise above me like a beacon of oppression. I stay crouched behind a large concrete pillar. I can smell propellant hanging in the air’s whispers. A colleague to my right is doing the same thing, his 9mm Browning is out and held down by his side. His breath is short from our last sprint to safety. We haven’t been seen. Our objective is almost over. In the distance I can hear sirens. Sounds of glass against concrete and every now and then a larger crash as a heavier object connects with the earth. Shouting emanates in the distance. I pull the bandana up around the lower half of my face and look around the pillar.
You read the staccato prose, you read the words, but what you hear in your head is BANG BANG BANG - the sound of footsteps echoing in the dark, the sound of gunfire, the sound of your own heartbeat thundering in your ears.
You write such a clever story in such a hypnotic style, with characters of such strength and depth, a plot so tight, and what you have is something that has already been optioned for TV.
Rubicon is an outstanding book. Simply un-put-down-able. Rarely have I devoured a book in such a fashion as I devoured Rubicon. What makes it so special are the tiny details, the lived experience of what it is to be part of an undercover operation.
And what you want from a book that focuses so much on the small details is someone who has experience in this area. Someone like Ian Patrick.
This from his bio:
Ian spent twenty-seven years in the Metropolitan police the majority as a Detective Sergeant within the Specialist Operations Command. He specialised in Child Protection and was part of a Major Investigation Team that targeted abusers and investigated the murder of children. His last seven years were spent in the Covert Policing Command where he managed a specialist covert unit dedicated to the detection and disruption of organised criminal networks across London and the UK.
So, Rubicon is the real deal.
March 4, 2018
visit the locations in the novel
I had the pleasure of hearing about this when it was a mere twinkle and then a draft in the author’s eye. I was not disappointed. Very impressed in fact despite being a little scared of Ian now I’ve read this. What a dark horse, eh!? You think someone’s worked in the police like many others and expect a certain kind of novel but then the dark horse gets up and kicks you out of that stable of thought! Ian, a blast of a novel.
There were many twists and shocks along the way. Short sharp sentences make this crack. Bam bam bam go the words on the page, hammering home every bit of violence, fear, surveillance stress and drug dealing to keep you glued to your seat.
I’m exhausted now. What a ride. Need a rest. Well, until book two!
September 2, 2017
Ian Patrick’s debut starts with a bang and just keeps going. As noted in the book blurb, Sam Batford is an undercover police officer, who is walking the wrong side of the line, although the very nature of the work he is involved in makes that line very blurred indeed. But he is unashamedly corrupt; the very first chapter makes that clear.
His approach to his work is unconventional, irritating his real bosses, DCI Klara Winter (who’s forced to take him onto her team), and the gangland types he meets. He’s such an unlikely copper that he fits right in with them.
Ian has written Batford as cocksure, and whilst he might irritate those he comes into contact with, for the reader, he’s a true delight. Rubicon is fast-paced and keeps you wanting more. I expect to see a lot more from both the author and the character.
His approach to his work is unconventional, irritating his real bosses, DCI Klara Winter (who’s forced to take him onto her team), and the gangland types he meets. He’s such an unlikely copper that he fits right in with them.
Ian has written Batford as cocksure, and whilst he might irritate those he comes into contact with, for the reader, he’s a true delight. Rubicon is fast-paced and keeps you wanting more. I expect to see a lot more from both the author and the character.
November 2, 2018
This debut novel from Ian Patrick was another recommendation from my son and although I usually prefer American or European crime noir, this is an excellent British crime thriller.
DS Sam Batford is an undercover cop, employed by the Metropolitan who gets seconded to DCI Winter, of the National Crime Agency, who are looking to take down the ‘Big H’, a drug and weapons dealer, who has large consignment due. Unknown to Winter, Batford has already infiltrated the crime gang and although they are both working to take down the same target, both have different methods of working and different aims. This leads to confrontation between Winter, Batford and his superior officers and for a strained but intriguing relationship between the two. Batford’s methods, as is his lifestyle, are unconventional to say the least and he crosses the line on numerous occasions in order to maintain his cover and to bring the operation to a satisfying conclusion, especially as far as he is concerned.
This is an excellent crime novel and in Batford, Ian Patrick has created a brilliant new protagonist. The story is told through Batford’s point of view, with the only deviation being DCI Winter’s crime log entries. He is an unconventional Police Officer and as the story progresses, his actions test the readers empathy towards him, as his methods and actions become more violent. Patrick does not reveal all of Batford’s past at the outset but drip feeds his backstory throughout the novel and he leaves one of the most vital parts of his identity until halfway through the story ! The novel is dark and violent with some great minor characters and also with some great dialogue, especially between Batford and Winter.
The novel has also been optioned by the BBC which if commissioned, I’m sure will make for brilliant viewing, based on some of the more recent crime dramas that they have produced. ‘Stoned Love’, the second Sam Batford novel has also been recently published and I’m going straight on to reading it as I write.
DS Sam Batford is an undercover cop, employed by the Metropolitan who gets seconded to DCI Winter, of the National Crime Agency, who are looking to take down the ‘Big H’, a drug and weapons dealer, who has large consignment due. Unknown to Winter, Batford has already infiltrated the crime gang and although they are both working to take down the same target, both have different methods of working and different aims. This leads to confrontation between Winter, Batford and his superior officers and for a strained but intriguing relationship between the two. Batford’s methods, as is his lifestyle, are unconventional to say the least and he crosses the line on numerous occasions in order to maintain his cover and to bring the operation to a satisfying conclusion, especially as far as he is concerned.
This is an excellent crime novel and in Batford, Ian Patrick has created a brilliant new protagonist. The story is told through Batford’s point of view, with the only deviation being DCI Winter’s crime log entries. He is an unconventional Police Officer and as the story progresses, his actions test the readers empathy towards him, as his methods and actions become more violent. Patrick does not reveal all of Batford’s past at the outset but drip feeds his backstory throughout the novel and he leaves one of the most vital parts of his identity until halfway through the story ! The novel is dark and violent with some great minor characters and also with some great dialogue, especially between Batford and Winter.
The novel has also been optioned by the BBC which if commissioned, I’m sure will make for brilliant viewing, based on some of the more recent crime dramas that they have produced. ‘Stoned Love’, the second Sam Batford novel has also been recently published and I’m going straight on to reading it as I write.
May 30, 2018
On rare (but happy) occasions I sit down to write a review and cannot think of any way to convey just how much I loved the book I have just finished. Going forward I may refer to this predicament as The Rubicon Dilemma.
Rubicon is utterly brilliant and you should make sure you read this book as soon as possible.
Not sure what else I can add…
…
…
Okay some information about the book may help. Sam Batford is working undercover for the Metropolitan Police, he is a wonderfully complex character who will do whatever it takes to complete his mission. But Sam is serving many masters and his motives and methods keep you guessing and you are never quite sure how he will behave next.
Sam is the main focus but we also keep track on DCI Winter – she wants drugs removed from the streets of London and will let nothing get in her way. With the two leads operating in very different ways it is inevitable that Rubicon will deliver some delightfully twisted and tense situations for readers to enjoy.
Reading about Sam spinning so many plates and keeping up the facade of confident bravado is engrossing. Yet the readers also get sneak peeks at the pressures it brings on him when he is alone and his guard lowered.
There always seems to be something happening in Rubicon. Some books will see the story ebb and flow but with this story there never seemed a good point to put the book to the side (even when I *really* needed coffee). If you want a story which delivers dark, twisty entertainment then I cannot think of many finer examples. Ian Patrick delivers a wonderfully crafted tale of tension and intrigue and I just did not want to stop reading.
Rubicon is utterly brilliant and you should make sure you read this book as soon as possible.
Not sure what else I can add…
…
…
Okay some information about the book may help. Sam Batford is working undercover for the Metropolitan Police, he is a wonderfully complex character who will do whatever it takes to complete his mission. But Sam is serving many masters and his motives and methods keep you guessing and you are never quite sure how he will behave next.
Sam is the main focus but we also keep track on DCI Winter – she wants drugs removed from the streets of London and will let nothing get in her way. With the two leads operating in very different ways it is inevitable that Rubicon will deliver some delightfully twisted and tense situations for readers to enjoy.
Reading about Sam spinning so many plates and keeping up the facade of confident bravado is engrossing. Yet the readers also get sneak peeks at the pressures it brings on him when he is alone and his guard lowered.
There always seems to be something happening in Rubicon. Some books will see the story ebb and flow but with this story there never seemed a good point to put the book to the side (even when I *really* needed coffee). If you want a story which delivers dark, twisty entertainment then I cannot think of many finer examples. Ian Patrick delivers a wonderfully crafted tale of tension and intrigue and I just did not want to stop reading.
June 8, 2018
**4.5 STARS OUT OF 5**
You have no idea how long I have wanted to read this book. I saw a couple of stonking reviews for it months ago now (before the recent blog tour) and I knew, as a die-hard fan of the police procedural, as a lover of coppers on the edge, as a book blogger that lives and breathes crime fiction that this book and I were destined to meet. I feel quite sad that it’s taken me this long to read it because it’s an incredible read and I relished every moment of being in Sam Batford’s company.
Rubicon is Ian Patrick’s debut and it’s such an assured read that I had to stop at times and remind myself of that fact. Ian Patrick has experienced life on the beat himself and that experience, that living of ‘the job’ gives the novel a level of authenticity that readers (readers like me, anyway) crave. Rubicon is a fast-paced crime thriller that keeps you turning the pages from start to finish and I was hooked from the explosive opening to the very last word.
Sam Batford is an Undercover Officer walking a very fine line. He’s prepared to do whatever is necessary to get what he wants. But he has a heart too, which I loved. Sam is seconded to work with DCI Klara Winter on the Vincenzo Guardino (or ‘Big H’) case but he has his own ideas and instead of working in harmony with his new DCI, he is determined to do his own thing and leave Winter flailing in his dust. Winter is an unlikable, do-gooder character who seems more out for the glory of arresting notorious local gangster Big H than anything else. She plays by the book though, whereas Sam…..doesn’t so much. The reader is regularly given an insight into Winter’s thought processes thanks to her ‘Sensitive Decision Log’; a clever move on the author’s part as it gives the reader a more candid look into this senior detective’s thoughts and feelings.
Now I’m a fairly slow reader but you can easily lose a day (chances are you read faster than me) to Rubicon. It has a way of completely absorbing you into the story and before you know it, you’ve read half of the book before you’ve even realised. It’s punchy, it’s thrilling and it’s everything I want in a crime thriller. One of the things I liked most about Rubicon is that Sam isn’t your usual copper. I read a lot of detective fiction so it’s good to have a lead who isn’t scared of REALLY breaking the rules (and oh my gosh, those rules get shattered!). Sam Batford is a character I want to see more of, I love the idea of a renegade cop and Sam fits the mould perfectly.
Would I recommend this book? I would. It’s edgy, absorbing and so deliciously different to other books in the genre. An absolute delight to read and I will be recommending this book to everyone. What a debut!
Four and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an ARC of Rubicon. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
You have no idea how long I have wanted to read this book. I saw a couple of stonking reviews for it months ago now (before the recent blog tour) and I knew, as a die-hard fan of the police procedural, as a lover of coppers on the edge, as a book blogger that lives and breathes crime fiction that this book and I were destined to meet. I feel quite sad that it’s taken me this long to read it because it’s an incredible read and I relished every moment of being in Sam Batford’s company.
Rubicon is Ian Patrick’s debut and it’s such an assured read that I had to stop at times and remind myself of that fact. Ian Patrick has experienced life on the beat himself and that experience, that living of ‘the job’ gives the novel a level of authenticity that readers (readers like me, anyway) crave. Rubicon is a fast-paced crime thriller that keeps you turning the pages from start to finish and I was hooked from the explosive opening to the very last word.
Sam Batford is an Undercover Officer walking a very fine line. He’s prepared to do whatever is necessary to get what he wants. But he has a heart too, which I loved. Sam is seconded to work with DCI Klara Winter on the Vincenzo Guardino (or ‘Big H’) case but he has his own ideas and instead of working in harmony with his new DCI, he is determined to do his own thing and leave Winter flailing in his dust. Winter is an unlikable, do-gooder character who seems more out for the glory of arresting notorious local gangster Big H than anything else. She plays by the book though, whereas Sam…..doesn’t so much. The reader is regularly given an insight into Winter’s thought processes thanks to her ‘Sensitive Decision Log’; a clever move on the author’s part as it gives the reader a more candid look into this senior detective’s thoughts and feelings.
Now I’m a fairly slow reader but you can easily lose a day (chances are you read faster than me) to Rubicon. It has a way of completely absorbing you into the story and before you know it, you’ve read half of the book before you’ve even realised. It’s punchy, it’s thrilling and it’s everything I want in a crime thriller. One of the things I liked most about Rubicon is that Sam isn’t your usual copper. I read a lot of detective fiction so it’s good to have a lead who isn’t scared of REALLY breaking the rules (and oh my gosh, those rules get shattered!). Sam Batford is a character I want to see more of, I love the idea of a renegade cop and Sam fits the mould perfectly.
Would I recommend this book? I would. It’s edgy, absorbing and so deliciously different to other books in the genre. An absolute delight to read and I will be recommending this book to everyone. What a debut!
Four and a half stars out of five.
I chose to read and review an ARC of Rubicon. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 10, 2017
Both police corruption and undercover policing are subjects that I’m very interested in. As a former current affairs journalist with Channel 4 Dispatches I didn’t work on any programmes which touched on these subjects myself, but I have had the great honour over the years to get to know several journalists who have, not least Michael Gillard and Laurie Flynn who wrote the masterpiece that was Untouchables, a book that blew the lid on corruption in the Met in the 1990’s. So, when I saw that Fahrenheit Press, one of the finest small independent publishers in operation today, were bringing out a novel written by a former Met undercover officer, I was more than intrigued. When I read the book’s blurb and saw that it also addressed issues of corruption, I knew I had to get myself a copy.
Rubicon’s protagonist is Sam Batford, a veteran undercover officer with Met. He’s been seconded to the National Crime Agency (NCA), onto a team run by DCI Klara Winter, which is targeting an upper echelon crime figure called Vincenzo Guardino. Guardian is bringing in a large shipment of cocaine and Mac-10 machine pistols and Klara is determined to bring him to justice. She is not happy with Sam Batford’s deployment, suspicious of the Met’s motives - are they trying to claim the glory of Guardino’s demise for themselves? - and wary that he might not be answerable to her but to his masters in Scotland Yard.
A lot of other reviewers writing about this book have focused on Batford’s corruption, portraying the novel as quite a straightforward contrast between his moral duplicity and Klara Winter’s rectitude. For me Rubicon was more nuanced than that. While I started off believing Batford to be corrupt, as the narrative span out I quickly found myself in a hall of mirrors unsure just how much of his actions had been sanctioned by his superiors and why. Even at the close of the narrative, while I had concluded that he was corrupt, was he so out of greed or due to fear that he would be hung out to dry, that he needed a nest egg so to speak? Rubicon is written in contrasting styles - first person for Batford and third person for Klara, whose narrative thread is also told through the official reports she logs. Batford’s strand is by far the strongest, Klara being a more straight forward character, but this works for the majority of the novel is told through Batford.
As with any novel written by an author who’s “been there and bought the T-Shirt”, there’s a fair amount of authenticity here. There’s good detail on surveillance - for example, the unmarked cars that one sees racing up the motorway with the light’s blaring from their grills? Quite possibly a surveillance vehicle leapfrogging from one mainline train station to the next. But the best detail is broader brush. Rubicon is set in the near future, “at a time of austerity and police cuts” as the blurb says, and the narrative addresses how this has impacted the work of undercover officers - how they have less support, less back up. Reading the novel, one has a sense of the author’s anger, that he’s experienced this himself in his own deployments or knows of people who have. Equally the relationship between the police and the NCA is telling. A few years back I read an interesting biography - The Interceptor by Cameron Addicott. Addicott was a former Customs investigator who had been hired by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the NCA’s predecessor. In The Interceptor, Addicott detailed his growing disillusionment with SOCA, which eventually led him to resign in disgust. While that was a biography and Rubicon is a novel, I sense a similar theme here and wonder whether Ian Patrick hasn’t had bad experiences of the NCA when working as an undercover for the Met. Certainly, the NCA don’t come out of Rubicon very well.
All in all, Rubicon is a fantastic novel and one that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good crime thriller.
Rubicon’s protagonist is Sam Batford, a veteran undercover officer with Met. He’s been seconded to the National Crime Agency (NCA), onto a team run by DCI Klara Winter, which is targeting an upper echelon crime figure called Vincenzo Guardino. Guardian is bringing in a large shipment of cocaine and Mac-10 machine pistols and Klara is determined to bring him to justice. She is not happy with Sam Batford’s deployment, suspicious of the Met’s motives - are they trying to claim the glory of Guardino’s demise for themselves? - and wary that he might not be answerable to her but to his masters in Scotland Yard.
A lot of other reviewers writing about this book have focused on Batford’s corruption, portraying the novel as quite a straightforward contrast between his moral duplicity and Klara Winter’s rectitude. For me Rubicon was more nuanced than that. While I started off believing Batford to be corrupt, as the narrative span out I quickly found myself in a hall of mirrors unsure just how much of his actions had been sanctioned by his superiors and why. Even at the close of the narrative, while I had concluded that he was corrupt, was he so out of greed or due to fear that he would be hung out to dry, that he needed a nest egg so to speak? Rubicon is written in contrasting styles - first person for Batford and third person for Klara, whose narrative thread is also told through the official reports she logs. Batford’s strand is by far the strongest, Klara being a more straight forward character, but this works for the majority of the novel is told through Batford.
As with any novel written by an author who’s “been there and bought the T-Shirt”, there’s a fair amount of authenticity here. There’s good detail on surveillance - for example, the unmarked cars that one sees racing up the motorway with the light’s blaring from their grills? Quite possibly a surveillance vehicle leapfrogging from one mainline train station to the next. But the best detail is broader brush. Rubicon is set in the near future, “at a time of austerity and police cuts” as the blurb says, and the narrative addresses how this has impacted the work of undercover officers - how they have less support, less back up. Reading the novel, one has a sense of the author’s anger, that he’s experienced this himself in his own deployments or knows of people who have. Equally the relationship between the police and the NCA is telling. A few years back I read an interesting biography - The Interceptor by Cameron Addicott. Addicott was a former Customs investigator who had been hired by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the NCA’s predecessor. In The Interceptor, Addicott detailed his growing disillusionment with SOCA, which eventually led him to resign in disgust. While that was a biography and Rubicon is a novel, I sense a similar theme here and wonder whether Ian Patrick hasn’t had bad experiences of the NCA when working as an undercover for the Met. Certainly, the NCA don’t come out of Rubicon very well.
All in all, Rubicon is a fantastic novel and one that I would recommend to anyone looking for a good crime thriller.
April 10, 2018
A gripping police thriller, with a twist! If you don't already have this book on your bookshelf or on your Kindle, order it now. Rubicon has also been optioned by the BBC for its own series. Sadly, I live in the US, so I'll miss out on this, but if you're in the UK, you should make sure you don't!
So, I initially randomly came across Mr Patrick in the intertwined rabbit holes that make up Twitter, and this is how I found Rubicon. I'm a sucker for police crime novels, and can never get enough of finding new authors, so it didn't take me long to add Rubicon to my collection of way-too-many books to read.
I was not disappointed.
And, as a side note, it's the only time I've ever encountered mentions of Brian Clough, Buddhism, and Curious George in the same book. That alone should be enough to make you buy Rubicon, right now! It's also highly educational....for instance, it was my first introduction to the phrase "under the cosh." Don't ask me how I've made it to almost 50 being English, yet had never heard this phrase until now. His characters also have the best names. Given my science background, my favourite was "Bunsen." Although, (spoiler alert) Bunsen didn't get that nickname from spending long days in the lab.
I'm also very confused, too, because Mr Patrick seems like such a nice guy, but this book takes corruption and dirty characters to a new level! He clearly has a very vivid imagination. Yes, that must be it....
Yes, Rubicon will grab you from the first chapter, the ending of which will prevent you from putting down the book before at least heading into chapter 2. It's a tense thriller that takes you on a bumpy ride into the seedy underworld of police corruption in London as well as internationally, where everyone has something to gain, and something to lose. A new version of Cat & Mouse, but with more than one cat, and more than one mouse.
They (whoever "they" are) say the greatest criminals are the ones with the strongest sociopathic tendencies. On that note, Sam Batford, the lead character, is a pretty despicable fella, who'd seemingly stop at nothing to get what he wants. He's like a Dirty Harry on steroids who's breaking all the rules, and making up his own in their wake, to pursue the bad guys for his own agenda, rather than for the good of civilisation. And he certainly doesn't struggle with his lack of either morals or integrity.
Honestly, the guy's beyond corrupt, but apparently, while some of us love to hate the dirty cops, some others among us hate to hate them. Me? I found myself strangely drawn to him, and empathetic towards him. And it didn't take long before I found myself rooting for this sociopathic Dirty Harry. Now who's struggling with her morals and integrity!?
Nicely played, Mr Patrick, nicely played....
My only disappointment? This is Mr Patrick's debut novel, so I have to wait impatiently for his next piece of marvellousness!
(Bonus mention: Although I'm an Amazon Prime member, I bought the book via the Fahrenheit Press website. Fahrenheit Press is an independent publisher specialising in crime fiction, and Ian Patrick is one of their authors. You'll find a heap of other great authors and books there, too. While you're there, check out the "Support Fahrenheit" page and consider becoming a patron, it's a ridiculous bargain. For instance, pledge just $1 per month and you'll receive one book download each month. And, just so you know, I have no affiliation with Fahrenheit Press. I'm just sharing the love. It's 2018, folks. I'm not aware of anywhere else that'll bring me hours of fun and entertainment for just $1 per month.)
So, I initially randomly came across Mr Patrick in the intertwined rabbit holes that make up Twitter, and this is how I found Rubicon. I'm a sucker for police crime novels, and can never get enough of finding new authors, so it didn't take me long to add Rubicon to my collection of way-too-many books to read.
I was not disappointed.
And, as a side note, it's the only time I've ever encountered mentions of Brian Clough, Buddhism, and Curious George in the same book. That alone should be enough to make you buy Rubicon, right now! It's also highly educational....for instance, it was my first introduction to the phrase "under the cosh." Don't ask me how I've made it to almost 50 being English, yet had never heard this phrase until now. His characters also have the best names. Given my science background, my favourite was "Bunsen." Although, (spoiler alert) Bunsen didn't get that nickname from spending long days in the lab.
I'm also very confused, too, because Mr Patrick seems like such a nice guy, but this book takes corruption and dirty characters to a new level! He clearly has a very vivid imagination. Yes, that must be it....
Yes, Rubicon will grab you from the first chapter, the ending of which will prevent you from putting down the book before at least heading into chapter 2. It's a tense thriller that takes you on a bumpy ride into the seedy underworld of police corruption in London as well as internationally, where everyone has something to gain, and something to lose. A new version of Cat & Mouse, but with more than one cat, and more than one mouse.
They (whoever "they" are) say the greatest criminals are the ones with the strongest sociopathic tendencies. On that note, Sam Batford, the lead character, is a pretty despicable fella, who'd seemingly stop at nothing to get what he wants. He's like a Dirty Harry on steroids who's breaking all the rules, and making up his own in their wake, to pursue the bad guys for his own agenda, rather than for the good of civilisation. And he certainly doesn't struggle with his lack of either morals or integrity.
Honestly, the guy's beyond corrupt, but apparently, while some of us love to hate the dirty cops, some others among us hate to hate them. Me? I found myself strangely drawn to him, and empathetic towards him. And it didn't take long before I found myself rooting for this sociopathic Dirty Harry. Now who's struggling with her morals and integrity!?
Nicely played, Mr Patrick, nicely played....
My only disappointment? This is Mr Patrick's debut novel, so I have to wait impatiently for his next piece of marvellousness!
(Bonus mention: Although I'm an Amazon Prime member, I bought the book via the Fahrenheit Press website. Fahrenheit Press is an independent publisher specialising in crime fiction, and Ian Patrick is one of their authors. You'll find a heap of other great authors and books there, too. While you're there, check out the "Support Fahrenheit" page and consider becoming a patron, it's a ridiculous bargain. For instance, pledge just $1 per month and you'll receive one book download each month. And, just so you know, I have no affiliation with Fahrenheit Press. I'm just sharing the love. It's 2018, folks. I'm not aware of anywhere else that'll bring me hours of fun and entertainment for just $1 per month.)
November 1, 2017
‘Rubicon’ is Ian Patrick’s debut novel and therefore I had no preconceptions or expectations from the author when I started to read it. However, from the very first chapter, I was immediately hooked.
With a career mostly spent within the Specialist Operations Command of the Metropolitan Police, Ian has used his knowledge and training to develop a compelling story, set against the underbelly of London’s drug trade. However, the novel carries a unique twist that sets it apart from others of its kind, as it soon becomes apparent Ian’s main character – DS Sam Batford – is definitely not someone who can be relied on to struggle tirelessly on behalf of justice and society. On the contrary, the only person Batford represents is himself.
The clever opening scenario has the reader believing the narrator is merely a hired hit man. The illusion is then shattered as he walks towards the crime scene.
Because Batford is not the kind of main character you would normally expect to find in a detective novel, the story is refreshingly different. An undercover police officer with the Metropolian Police Covert Intelligence Command, Batford is a totally self-serving and corrupt individual, operating within his own distorted moral compass to feather his nest with illegal drug money.
As a child, his father’s harsh and violent discipline helped prepare Batford for the army. However, having joined the army as a young man, he was not only taught discipline but also how to kill. Now, as a rogue police officer, Batford is not above killing people to further his own criminal ends. Although he is a rotten apple within the force, he is nevertheless a compelling presence throughout the novel, perpetually walking a tightrope between two opposing sides of the law.
Batford’s flawed character traits are in strict contrast to the integrity of DCI Klara Winter. Her diligence and strong sense of duty serve to illustrate she is everything Batford is not.
Ambitious and determined to make her mark by ridding the capital’s streets of drug dealing, Winter has spent a long time chasing down drug crime lord Vincenzo Guardino. Suspicious of Batford from the start, Winter’s misgivings about his assignment to her team are soon compounded when – instead of working with her – he begins to operate on his own, while continually leaving her out of the loop.
Unfortunately, with Batford’s superior refusing to discuss his assignment to Winter’s team – for reasons of national security, to which Winter is not privy – her complaints fall on stoney ground. With Batford protected by his covert status, it is not long before Winter realises Guardino is not her only problem.
Although exciting, the story is quite brutal and, at times, not for the squeamish, especially when Guardino (aka Mr H) starts to suspect he has an informant in his ranks. Batford then finds himself walking a dangerous line, especially as his superiors at the Met have made it clear to him he is on his own if rumbled.
With suspense around every corner, ‘Rubicon’ is a fast-paced novel, with intriguing and wildly contrasting characters. Its gripping storyline makes for an exciting read and I can thoroughly recommend it.
With a career mostly spent within the Specialist Operations Command of the Metropolitan Police, Ian has used his knowledge and training to develop a compelling story, set against the underbelly of London’s drug trade. However, the novel carries a unique twist that sets it apart from others of its kind, as it soon becomes apparent Ian’s main character – DS Sam Batford – is definitely not someone who can be relied on to struggle tirelessly on behalf of justice and society. On the contrary, the only person Batford represents is himself.
The clever opening scenario has the reader believing the narrator is merely a hired hit man. The illusion is then shattered as he walks towards the crime scene.
Because Batford is not the kind of main character you would normally expect to find in a detective novel, the story is refreshingly different. An undercover police officer with the Metropolian Police Covert Intelligence Command, Batford is a totally self-serving and corrupt individual, operating within his own distorted moral compass to feather his nest with illegal drug money.
As a child, his father’s harsh and violent discipline helped prepare Batford for the army. However, having joined the army as a young man, he was not only taught discipline but also how to kill. Now, as a rogue police officer, Batford is not above killing people to further his own criminal ends. Although he is a rotten apple within the force, he is nevertheless a compelling presence throughout the novel, perpetually walking a tightrope between two opposing sides of the law.
Batford’s flawed character traits are in strict contrast to the integrity of DCI Klara Winter. Her diligence and strong sense of duty serve to illustrate she is everything Batford is not.
Ambitious and determined to make her mark by ridding the capital’s streets of drug dealing, Winter has spent a long time chasing down drug crime lord Vincenzo Guardino. Suspicious of Batford from the start, Winter’s misgivings about his assignment to her team are soon compounded when – instead of working with her – he begins to operate on his own, while continually leaving her out of the loop.
Unfortunately, with Batford’s superior refusing to discuss his assignment to Winter’s team – for reasons of national security, to which Winter is not privy – her complaints fall on stoney ground. With Batford protected by his covert status, it is not long before Winter realises Guardino is not her only problem.
Although exciting, the story is quite brutal and, at times, not for the squeamish, especially when Guardino (aka Mr H) starts to suspect he has an informant in his ranks. Batford then finds himself walking a dangerous line, especially as his superiors at the Met have made it clear to him he is on his own if rumbled.
With suspense around every corner, ‘Rubicon’ is a fast-paced novel, with intriguing and wildly contrasting characters. Its gripping storyline makes for an exciting read and I can thoroughly recommend it.
June 3, 2018
This had been a quite interesting book, full of twists and a fresh view of the typical detective cases.
On one side we have an undercover officer (that seems to be corrupted) and a very strict detective that loves to follow the rules and report any little irregularity. Both worlds will crash when they will have to work together... Of course their agendas are not the same... So be prepared for an interesting crime thriller!
I liked this book because it was not only based on catching the crime lord, but how Sam works undercover and his secret plans. The story was told like the reader is part of the action, vivid and full of details.
I was absorbed by the plot since the first page, it was astonishing how the main character, Sam Batford, works; his ambivalism way to act, he has everyone fooled!
Be prepared for a surprising read.
Ready to enter to Sam's world?
On one side we have an undercover officer (that seems to be corrupted) and a very strict detective that loves to follow the rules and report any little irregularity. Both worlds will crash when they will have to work together... Of course their agendas are not the same... So be prepared for an interesting crime thriller!
I liked this book because it was not only based on catching the crime lord, but how Sam works undercover and his secret plans. The story was told like the reader is part of the action, vivid and full of details.
I was absorbed by the plot since the first page, it was astonishing how the main character, Sam Batford, works; his ambivalism way to act, he has everyone fooled!
Be prepared for a surprising read.
Ready to enter to Sam's world?
May 4, 2018
A futuristic ex-policeman with one leg and a bit more depth than Jack Reacher. I'm a Reacher fan so this is all good. I really enjoyed this book, partly because it was very visual and partly because it was something different (I guess too much of a risk for mainstream publishing). It worked. Definitely worth reading.
June 4, 2018
Review to follow on blog tour...
March 23, 2018
Another great debut from a new Fahrenheit Press author.
Fast paced and cleverly put together, this story just grabs you and pulls you along for a ride full of bad men on both sides of the law. Our main man here is a smooth operating, arrogant bastard; the kind of anti-hero you really want to hate but can't due to his morals and painful history (and because he's actually pretty cool). If the building was on fire, you'd want him to walk out of it. That's some good writing!
I'd love to see Klara Winter shine in the next.
Fast paced and cleverly put together, this story just grabs you and pulls you along for a ride full of bad men on both sides of the law. Our main man here is a smooth operating, arrogant bastard; the kind of anti-hero you really want to hate but can't due to his morals and painful history (and because he's actually pretty cool). If the building was on fire, you'd want him to walk out of it. That's some good writing!
I'd love to see Klara Winter shine in the next.
September 3, 2017
With a completely new take on the police protagonist, this book has been one of my favourites of year. I couldn't put it down and I can't wait for the second book in the series. Edge of your seat reading.
September 14, 2017
Amazing
I loved this book. It's a great debut and I can't wait for Ian's next outing. I didn't want the book to finish I enjoyed it so much.
I loved this book. It's a great debut and I can't wait for Ian's next outing. I didn't want the book to finish I enjoyed it so much.
February 21, 2018
Great book gripping dark and gritty well written and a really good pace. I loved it and will definitely read his next book.
August 27, 2018
A sharp opening provides that tense temptation of the killer hook needed to draw me in! The hunter is hunting and the prey is about to get annihilated and bang we are in! Immediately I want to know who this narrator is and what their motivation is! And I have to say what a brilliant opening and introduction to a character!
Sam Batford is probably the most corrupt policeman I have ever met in my literary tour of policing across the UK. This guy will stop at nothing to achieve his outcome and I mean nothing! At the opposite end of the spectrum is Klara Winter; like Batford, she too is on a mission, however, her methods are not quite as unorthodox as his. The two characters do not meet often in the novel but when they do you can see the sparks fly! I loved that the narrative of Winter was provided through her "Sensitive Decision Log" which lays bare how she really feels about Batford! It is clear that she is not his biggest fan and that she didn't want him on board at all. This all makes for a fantastically twisted read!
Rubicon mainly focuses on Batford and his almost multiple personalities as he treads a very fine line between being on the side of the law and that of the lawless. He had my head in a spin as I tried to keep up with whose game he was playing! He was a refreshingly different character and I'm saying no more but once you read the beginning of the book you will know what I mean!
It is a fast and furious read with a very strong sense of authenticity about it; there is a real feeling of this is what it is really like on the streets as an undercover officer; a no-nonsense approach to the telling of the story with realistic dialogue between the characters. It's dark, it's cruel and it's engrossing! I really found myself caught up in the thick of it all! The sense of place is superb, I found myself on the streets of London, some places which I had been and those where I hadn't I found myself in the thick of it all.
Rubicon would translate perfectly into a TV series, it has got that edge about it that keeps it raw, fresh and gritty. Organised crime and corruption go hand in hand to provide a "grab you by the throat" kind of read! Read it and see!
Sam Batford is probably the most corrupt policeman I have ever met in my literary tour of policing across the UK. This guy will stop at nothing to achieve his outcome and I mean nothing! At the opposite end of the spectrum is Klara Winter; like Batford, she too is on a mission, however, her methods are not quite as unorthodox as his. The two characters do not meet often in the novel but when they do you can see the sparks fly! I loved that the narrative of Winter was provided through her "Sensitive Decision Log" which lays bare how she really feels about Batford! It is clear that she is not his biggest fan and that she didn't want him on board at all. This all makes for a fantastically twisted read!
Rubicon mainly focuses on Batford and his almost multiple personalities as he treads a very fine line between being on the side of the law and that of the lawless. He had my head in a spin as I tried to keep up with whose game he was playing! He was a refreshingly different character and I'm saying no more but once you read the beginning of the book you will know what I mean!
It is a fast and furious read with a very strong sense of authenticity about it; there is a real feeling of this is what it is really like on the streets as an undercover officer; a no-nonsense approach to the telling of the story with realistic dialogue between the characters. It's dark, it's cruel and it's engrossing! I really found myself caught up in the thick of it all! The sense of place is superb, I found myself on the streets of London, some places which I had been and those where I hadn't I found myself in the thick of it all.
Rubicon would translate perfectly into a TV series, it has got that edge about it that keeps it raw, fresh and gritty. Organised crime and corruption go hand in hand to provide a "grab you by the throat" kind of read! Read it and see!
November 15, 2018
What a deliciously dark delight this book turned out to be - Rubicon, the debut novel by British ex-cop Ian Patrick.
If you follow my blogs, you'll know all about my Cops Writing Crime project (see link - Also: Cops Writing Crime.) Well, part of my promise to myself with that project is to start reading more of my fellow ex-cops turned crime fiction writers.
Patrick is my third this year, following Bruce Robert Coffin and Clare Mackintosh (see earlier book reviews on my blog).
Rubicon has a tremendous plot line and will keep you reading in anticipation of what the hell is going to happen next. It sure did for me. It's noir, certainly, but also oozes the realism that comes from an ex-cop writing crime fiction. The characters are so believable - in fact, I felt like I'd met some of them, in my own police career! The wonderful tension between the old-school cop mentality, with results all important and ethics... (what are ethics?), versus the up-and-coming police who are obsessed with their own careers and results being secondary, is absolutely palpable in Rubicon. And in the tradition of the finest noir, you're never sure who to cheer on in this bloody and dirty tale. But the insidious reach of corruption through all society's layers and institutions is flagrantly evident here. This was a novel right up my alley, and I am really looking forward to reading more of Patrick's work.
That's the beauty of Cops Writing Crime - the feel of the realism is more acute than a smack in the face and the taste of that realism is sharper than a nose bleed.
If you like realistic, gritty crime writing, then I highly recommend Mr Patrick to you.
Bring on more of it!
Cheers,
ABP
If you follow my blogs, you'll know all about my Cops Writing Crime project (see link - Also: Cops Writing Crime.) Well, part of my promise to myself with that project is to start reading more of my fellow ex-cops turned crime fiction writers.
Patrick is my third this year, following Bruce Robert Coffin and Clare Mackintosh (see earlier book reviews on my blog).
Rubicon has a tremendous plot line and will keep you reading in anticipation of what the hell is going to happen next. It sure did for me. It's noir, certainly, but also oozes the realism that comes from an ex-cop writing crime fiction. The characters are so believable - in fact, I felt like I'd met some of them, in my own police career! The wonderful tension between the old-school cop mentality, with results all important and ethics... (what are ethics?), versus the up-and-coming police who are obsessed with their own careers and results being secondary, is absolutely palpable in Rubicon. And in the tradition of the finest noir, you're never sure who to cheer on in this bloody and dirty tale. But the insidious reach of corruption through all society's layers and institutions is flagrantly evident here. This was a novel right up my alley, and I am really looking forward to reading more of Patrick's work.
That's the beauty of Cops Writing Crime - the feel of the realism is more acute than a smack in the face and the taste of that realism is sharper than a nose bleed.
If you like realistic, gritty crime writing, then I highly recommend Mr Patrick to you.
Bring on more of it!
Cheers,
ABP
February 16, 2023
Kinda yes and no I guess!
This is tense and dark without question. I've a feeling it would have made a quite decent TV cop drama for a Sunday evening (!). However... Sam Batford is an undercover cop. He finds himself working with an NCA DCI as it appears they are after the same criminal. So far so good but that isn't really what is going on. The two police organisations actually have different agendas and Sam's is different again. It is sharply written and pacey. But for me it lacks anything much in the way of depth and the character development is pretty sketchy too.
I do think it's a pity that an editor and proof reader haven't (it appears) worked on this. There are misprints, spelling mistakes and from time to time the wrong words. There are time shifts which are not signalled at all. I am not a punctuation freak but this book might change that - some sentences are far easier to read if there is the correct punctuation.
Trying to leave the nuts and bolts issues out this is quite a decent read though I have definitely read better is similar veins. I see the second book doesn't seem available in Kindle and the 3rd book isn't even on here - maybe the publisher lost interest too, a pity and there is some good stuff here. 3.5/5
This is tense and dark without question. I've a feeling it would have made a quite decent TV cop drama for a Sunday evening (!). However... Sam Batford is an undercover cop. He finds himself working with an NCA DCI as it appears they are after the same criminal. So far so good but that isn't really what is going on. The two police organisations actually have different agendas and Sam's is different again. It is sharply written and pacey. But for me it lacks anything much in the way of depth and the character development is pretty sketchy too.
I do think it's a pity that an editor and proof reader haven't (it appears) worked on this. There are misprints, spelling mistakes and from time to time the wrong words. There are time shifts which are not signalled at all. I am not a punctuation freak but this book might change that - some sentences are far easier to read if there is the correct punctuation.
Trying to leave the nuts and bolts issues out this is quite a decent read though I have definitely read better is similar veins. I see the second book doesn't seem available in Kindle and the 3rd book isn't even on here - maybe the publisher lost interest too, a pity and there is some good stuff here. 3.5/5
July 11, 2018
I loved this gritty story. Ian Patrick has a slick, clever writing style that whisked me along and had me laughing out loud at times. There’s fascinating interplay between the characters and the protagonist, Sam Batford, with his street smarts and dubious character, is hugely engaging. I was never quite sure whose side he was on which kept me guessing - and totally intrigued. Another fantastically vivid character was the gangster girlfriend, Zara Stoner. She, despite being used and abused, is funny, flirtatious and awfully lovable - and I felt desperately sad for her. This is a quick, fabulous read that I recommend for all crime thriller lovers. And just by the way, the author had a career in the Metropolitan Police, where he spent twenty-seven years as a police officer, the majority as a detective within the Specialist Operations Command. No wonder Rubicon comes across as so authentic.
June 4, 2018
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. Rubicon is one of those novels that takes over your life. From the opening chapter I could see immediately that this would be a novel that I would struggle to put down. It was very fast paced with some very unlikable characters.
The characters who feature are either members of the police, from a variety of departments, none of whom really want to work together or criminals. There is at least one who is both. I had my suspicions about more. Sam Batford is one of them, and unlike the others he admits to being corrupt from the beginning.
You get to know him quite well. When I first read about his nightmares I felt very unsettled, mainly because I hadn’t realised what was happening. But that, and his other nightmares explain a lot about the way he is. They made me realise that even though he was a corrupt officer it wasn’t only for his gain. He noticed a lot more than I did.
I read a huge amount of crime fiction and thought I had seen it all. But this book contains murders that are among the most gruesome that I’ve read. I think that when this book makes it to the TV screen, it has been optioned by the BBC, I will be hiding behind a cushion.
A great debut, I just wonder what will be next.
The characters who feature are either members of the police, from a variety of departments, none of whom really want to work together or criminals. There is at least one who is both. I had my suspicions about more. Sam Batford is one of them, and unlike the others he admits to being corrupt from the beginning.
You get to know him quite well. When I first read about his nightmares I felt very unsettled, mainly because I hadn’t realised what was happening. But that, and his other nightmares explain a lot about the way he is. They made me realise that even though he was a corrupt officer it wasn’t only for his gain. He noticed a lot more than I did.
I read a huge amount of crime fiction and thought I had seen it all. But this book contains murders that are among the most gruesome that I’ve read. I think that when this book makes it to the TV screen, it has been optioned by the BBC, I will be hiding behind a cushion.
A great debut, I just wonder what will be next.
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