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The Nostrils Series #5
We Don't Call Them Raids
It is 2003 and Christopher Pritchard is a Detective Sergeant on Scotland Yard’s world famous murder squad.
A drugs raid on a Bethnal Green council flat triggers a sequence of events that put the seasoned detective’s investigative abilities to the most challenging of tests.
Unless he can solve the perplexing murder of a drug dealer, DS Pritchard must admit his own wrongdoing or watch the prosecution of an innocent colleague. Meanwhile, his complicated private life starts to unravel, as his troubled past catches up with him.
We don’t call them raids is the fifth book from the author and follows on from the critically acclaimed Blue Trilogy and When you wear the blue; cult reads for serving and former law enforcement officers.
Jonathan Cox was a police officer for over thirty years during which time he investigated dozens of London murders.
A drugs raid on a Bethnal Green council flat triggers a sequence of events that put the seasoned detective’s investigative abilities to the most challenging of tests.
Unless he can solve the perplexing murder of a drug dealer, DS Pritchard must admit his own wrongdoing or watch the prosecution of an innocent colleague. Meanwhile, his complicated private life starts to unravel, as his troubled past catches up with him.
We don’t call them raids is the fifth book from the author and follows on from the critically acclaimed Blue Trilogy and When you wear the blue; cult reads for serving and former law enforcement officers.
Jonathan Cox was a police officer for over thirty years during which time he investigated dozens of London murders.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2017
55 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Cox
16 books34 followersJonathan Cox retired from the Metropolitan Police in 2013 and within days had published 'The Blue Trilogy', in which he hoped to capture the atmosphere and attitudes of policing in the 1980s.
Only ever intended to be just the three books, such was the success of the trilogy, four sequels followed; 'When You Wear The Blue', 'We Don’t Call Them Raids’, ‘A Necessary Fiction’ and ‘Purple Cover’ - making the complete set a seven book series.
The stories are penned with a deference to realism born of personal experience and have become a cult read for serving and retired officers.
The series follows the life of PC Chris Pritchard, aka Nostrils, who joined the Met in 1983 and like the author, was posted to a police station in London's tough East End. Each subsequent book is set several years later and collectively they trace the main character's police career via his numerous postings and his slow rise through the ranks.
Pritchard is an anti-hero, fatally flawed in so many ways, yet honest at heart and always loyal to his friends.
Jonathan's career was largely spent investigating police and public sector corruption and so his books tend to slant in that direction. He also completed postings on the murder squad, several crime squads, the Met fraud squad, a witness protection unit, a financial intelligence unit, a team investigating historic terrorist offences in Northern Ireland and counter corruption surveillance teams. He worked in Turkey on a policing project for HMG and spent many years seconded to a large government department combating corruption. During several of these postings, it was necessary for Jonathan to assume covert identities.
Jonathan concludes "Being a policeman was, and still is, the best job in the world. I was privileged to work alongside some really great people, many became life long friends, a few, pretty impressive enemies. I wish both every future happiness and success."
For up-to-date information on the series, including details of live events and the latest special offers, please follow the author's Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/FromGreenToBlue
Only ever intended to be just the three books, such was the success of the trilogy, four sequels followed; 'When You Wear The Blue', 'We Don’t Call Them Raids’, ‘A Necessary Fiction’ and ‘Purple Cover’ - making the complete set a seven book series.
The stories are penned with a deference to realism born of personal experience and have become a cult read for serving and retired officers.
The series follows the life of PC Chris Pritchard, aka Nostrils, who joined the Met in 1983 and like the author, was posted to a police station in London's tough East End. Each subsequent book is set several years later and collectively they trace the main character's police career via his numerous postings and his slow rise through the ranks.
Pritchard is an anti-hero, fatally flawed in so many ways, yet honest at heart and always loyal to his friends.
Jonathan's career was largely spent investigating police and public sector corruption and so his books tend to slant in that direction. He also completed postings on the murder squad, several crime squads, the Met fraud squad, a witness protection unit, a financial intelligence unit, a team investigating historic terrorist offences in Northern Ireland and counter corruption surveillance teams. He worked in Turkey on a policing project for HMG and spent many years seconded to a large government department combating corruption. During several of these postings, it was necessary for Jonathan to assume covert identities.
Jonathan concludes "Being a policeman was, and still is, the best job in the world. I was privileged to work alongside some really great people, many became life long friends, a few, pretty impressive enemies. I wish both every future happiness and success."
For up-to-date information on the series, including details of live events and the latest special offers, please follow the author's Facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/FromGreenToBlue
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 2, 2020
It may be an amalgam, but it's a good one
This is a good story, very well told. Being retired from the best career in the world I suspect possibly a few careers have been rolled into one, if not, Chris was a very busy boy. It read like the real thing. The characters all had substance. It tied into the previous books but could also be a stand alone. If this was your career, Chris, you were a very lucky boy. If it wasn't, well, it's a great read.
This is a good story, very well told. Being retired from the best career in the world I suspect possibly a few careers have been rolled into one, if not, Chris was a very busy boy. It read like the real thing. The characters all had substance. It tied into the previous books but could also be a stand alone. If this was your career, Chris, you were a very lucky boy. If it wasn't, well, it's a great read.
November 3, 2020
Where is book 6
You must start with book 1 or they won't make sense. Jonathan brings you through years of policing, reading about things I could never imagine. He keeps you on the edge, reading for hours just to know what the out come is, what happens on the crime scene, what is happening to his work mates. Hoping for book 6 and to hear about his colleagues and PC Pritchard's life. Really enjoyed reading all 5 books.
You must start with book 1 or they won't make sense. Jonathan brings you through years of policing, reading about things I could never imagine. He keeps you on the edge, reading for hours just to know what the out come is, what happens on the crime scene, what is happening to his work mates. Hoping for book 6 and to hear about his colleagues and PC Pritchard's life. Really enjoyed reading all 5 books.
January 9, 2022
Another utterly compelling read from Jonathan Cox
Each volume of this series gets better and better. The twists and turns make this book utterly riveting. Jonathan Cox is a story teller par excellence. He is equal to such greats as Alastair MacLean and Hammond Innes.
I foresee the film rights for this series being fought for. This could easily be the new “Line of Duty”.
Each volume of this series gets better and better. The twists and turns make this book utterly riveting. Jonathan Cox is a story teller par excellence. He is equal to such greats as Alastair MacLean and Hammond Innes.
I foresee the film rights for this series being fought for. This could easily be the new “Line of Duty”.
March 14, 2019
Another great chapter in the life of DS Pritchard
One of the best series I have read in a long time. Great characters led by DS Pritchard. A good few wrists meant I could hardly put the book down. Definitely worth a read
One of the best series I have read in a long time. Great characters led by DS Pritchard. A good few wrists meant I could hardly put the book down. Definitely worth a read
September 16, 2020
read all five
Brilliant story telling . The flawed hero very believable , his colleagues also . The tricks of policemen and women revealed . Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone
Brilliant story telling . The flawed hero very believable , his colleagues also . The tricks of policemen and women revealed . Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone
April 3, 2022
Finished this book tonight 5*/5*
Bloody fantastic read, full of twist and turns etc, that i did not see coming. Really enjoyed the book, well wrote again wrote with the pen of experience! Can't wait to see what happens in book 6!
Any former coppers needs to read the series, the way it starts from training school in the 80s up until 2003 when this book ends!
Roll on book 6
Bloody fantastic read, full of twist and turns etc, that i did not see coming. Really enjoyed the book, well wrote again wrote with the pen of experience! Can't wait to see what happens in book 6!
Any former coppers needs to read the series, the way it starts from training school in the 80s up until 2003 when this book ends!
Roll on book 6
August 23, 2020
Gripping series of books
I finished this gripping series of books after starting book 1 a few months ago. Well worth the time reading.
I finished this gripping series of books after starting book 1 a few months ago. Well worth the time reading.
September 22, 2020
Good read throughout
Completely enjoyed reading every book with in this series. Look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Completely enjoyed reading every book with in this series. Look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
October 14, 2020
Brilliant series of books, well worth the read.
October 21, 2020
Gripping
Really enjoyed the series and this one was the best yet.funny sad and edge of seat to see if he made it
Really enjoyed the series and this one was the best yet.funny sad and edge of seat to see if he made it
December 11, 2020
another great book in the series, Chris AKA nosterilles is agian up to his nose in trouble both at work and in his love life.
well paced
well writen
a great book
well paced
well writen
a great book
December 29, 2024
Another book in the series you can’t put down!
Yet another great book in the series with more gripping tales & storyline’s. I have read the first five books with barely a pause!
Yet another great book in the series with more gripping tales & storyline’s. I have read the first five books with barely a pause!
July 3, 2025
must read
This book like the last 4 before keep you guessing ,right to the last minute
Then sometimes things get sorted but not the way you expected .
Looking forward to next book
This book like the last 4 before keep you guessing ,right to the last minute
Then sometimes things get sorted but not the way you expected .
Looking forward to next book
October 12, 2020
Gripping
It has been a long time since an author got my attention in this way - not only did I not want to put them down (all 5) but I was disappointed and. They ended - super easy reading - can’t wait for the next one
It has been a long time since an author got my attention in this way - not only did I not want to put them down (all 5) but I was disappointed and. They ended - super easy reading - can’t wait for the next one
January 14, 2023
Great books. I found the stories very near to real police work, well at least in my case. Must read all in the series and hopefully will continue. Thank you
September 18, 2018
I've read this twice now and it just keeps getting better. The background and detail is perfect. The core story of a good Detective trying to cover up his addiction and the strange life of a Murder Squad Detective resonated with me. The way that Jonathan wound his plot around this great cover up and even weirder lifestyle was brilliant. I can't wait for the next one (although he won't be drawn on when that will be - at least not on Facebook).
I was recently asked to identify my favourite book for the opening two paragraphs. This wasn't it, because I thought that the opening was quite slow and methodical, opening as it did with an Murder Squad briefing at Arbour Square. I wanted the author to show me something exciting and different, something outside my experience. Putting that together I realised that I've actually been at those briefings at HA so I was unfairly judging the opening when most people would find this fascinating.
All in all Jonathans books chronicle a life full of death that few (mercifully) experience and many find a riveting read. So, in conclusion can I just say that what Jonathan Cox writes is reality based on experience and it knocks Lynda La Plante and Ashes to ashes into a cocked hat (incidentally I went for the opening two paras of Long Firm by Jake Arnott - the white hot poker business).
I was recently asked to identify my favourite book for the opening two paragraphs. This wasn't it, because I thought that the opening was quite slow and methodical, opening as it did with an Murder Squad briefing at Arbour Square. I wanted the author to show me something exciting and different, something outside my experience. Putting that together I realised that I've actually been at those briefings at HA so I was unfairly judging the opening when most people would find this fascinating.
All in all Jonathans books chronicle a life full of death that few (mercifully) experience and many find a riveting read. So, in conclusion can I just say that what Jonathan Cox writes is reality based on experience and it knocks Lynda La Plante and Ashes to ashes into a cocked hat (incidentally I went for the opening two paras of Long Firm by Jake Arnott - the white hot poker business).
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews