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Godlefe's Cuckoo
Danny Lancaster has been missing since the fishing boat Rickyback exploded outside Brighton Marina. Police are winding down their inquiry but Wanda Lovejoy continues her one-woman campaign to find the truth. She told one newspaper, ‘Danny served his country. There are scars, on his skin and under it. Despite what they say he’s a decent guy with a good heart. Danny deserves his justice.’
Half a world away an evil man kept alive by machines in a private clinic nurses a corrosive hatred. He wants proof that Danny is dead.
As a toxic mix of drugs and disease pull his dying mind apart he throws the resources of his criminal empire into a scorched earth quest to find one man. If Danny Lancaster isn’t dead he soon will be.
Half a world away an evil man kept alive by machines in a private clinic nurses a corrosive hatred. He wants proof that Danny is dead.
As a toxic mix of drugs and disease pull his dying mind apart he throws the resources of his criminal empire into a scorched earth quest to find one man. If Danny Lancaster isn’t dead he soon will be.
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Published March 15, 2018
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About the author
Bill Todd
11 books14 followersI’ve spent most of my working life as a journalist on local and national newspapers.
You meet a lot of people, see things, learn stuff. For a crime writer, it’s a plot factory.
One treasured memory was lunching with colleagues when the bar filled with agitated policemen.
“Who’s he?” said a CID man, pointing.
A good friend didn’t like his tone and announced in her best Lady Bracknell voice, “He’s the editor of the local paper!”
The copper said, “I don’t care who the hell he is. He looks like the guy who just did the bank up the road. How long’s he been here?”
Luckily, the barman provided my alibi.
Before journalism I tried my hand at odd jobs including furniture removals (watch out for the flat-packs, they tend to pack flat when lifted!), photography, teaching and running a magazine group.
I’ve done quite a bit of travel writing. It’s not all cocktails under the palm trees but it is a fantastic job that’s taken me to more than 40 countries, from the white wastes of Arctic Finland to the deserts of Namibia.
People often ask my favourite place. In an age of globalisation, many destinations look the same but Iceland and Namibia are like stepping onto another planet. Go if you can.
I’ve enjoyed a long love affair with Western Crete. The mountains, coastline, food and people make me wonder if I lived there in some previous life. I just have to watch the waxed wings on a hot day.
I was delighted and surprised to receive the Ed Lacy travel award in 2007.
Another interest is my family tree. I’ve traced the ancestors back to William of Byfield, a farmer in 1600s Northamptonshire, just down the road from Shakespeare.
I love maps. They might seem old fashioned in the age of GPS but they tell stories, make promises. I have a ragbag collection of more than 2,000.
I’m also a fan of interesting cheeses, good beer and wilderness. They’re like Marmite, you’re an empty place person or you’re not.
I have written four full-length crime thrillers and a book of short stories featuring Danny Lancaster, a wounded Afghan veteran turned private investigator. They are:
The Wreck Of The Margherita
Death Squad
Rough Diamond
Rock Hard
Gargoyle Pixie Dog
My sixth Danny Lancaster - GODLEFE'S CUCKOO - will be published in March 2018.
I’ve also written three non-fiction books. GUNNER is based on my father's World War Two diary, photos and postcards from Normandy to Hamburg.
PIGTAIL PILOT is the tragic story of Barbara Gubbins, a talented young woman who was nearly the RAF’s first female pilot.
A CROCUS FROM JERUSALEM is the story of a country lad soldiering in 1917 Palestine.
If you fancy a chat I’m easy to find.
You meet a lot of people, see things, learn stuff. For a crime writer, it’s a plot factory.
One treasured memory was lunching with colleagues when the bar filled with agitated policemen.
“Who’s he?” said a CID man, pointing.
A good friend didn’t like his tone and announced in her best Lady Bracknell voice, “He’s the editor of the local paper!”
The copper said, “I don’t care who the hell he is. He looks like the guy who just did the bank up the road. How long’s he been here?”
Luckily, the barman provided my alibi.
Before journalism I tried my hand at odd jobs including furniture removals (watch out for the flat-packs, they tend to pack flat when lifted!), photography, teaching and running a magazine group.
I’ve done quite a bit of travel writing. It’s not all cocktails under the palm trees but it is a fantastic job that’s taken me to more than 40 countries, from the white wastes of Arctic Finland to the deserts of Namibia.
People often ask my favourite place. In an age of globalisation, many destinations look the same but Iceland and Namibia are like stepping onto another planet. Go if you can.
I’ve enjoyed a long love affair with Western Crete. The mountains, coastline, food and people make me wonder if I lived there in some previous life. I just have to watch the waxed wings on a hot day.
I was delighted and surprised to receive the Ed Lacy travel award in 2007.
Another interest is my family tree. I’ve traced the ancestors back to William of Byfield, a farmer in 1600s Northamptonshire, just down the road from Shakespeare.
I love maps. They might seem old fashioned in the age of GPS but they tell stories, make promises. I have a ragbag collection of more than 2,000.
I’m also a fan of interesting cheeses, good beer and wilderness. They’re like Marmite, you’re an empty place person or you’re not.
I have written four full-length crime thrillers and a book of short stories featuring Danny Lancaster, a wounded Afghan veteran turned private investigator. They are:
The Wreck Of The Margherita
Death Squad
Rough Diamond
Rock Hard
Gargoyle Pixie Dog
My sixth Danny Lancaster - GODLEFE'S CUCKOO - will be published in March 2018.
I’ve also written three non-fiction books. GUNNER is based on my father's World War Two diary, photos and postcards from Normandy to Hamburg.
PIGTAIL PILOT is the tragic story of Barbara Gubbins, a talented young woman who was nearly the RAF’s first female pilot.
A CROCUS FROM JERUSALEM is the story of a country lad soldiering in 1917 Palestine.
If you fancy a chat I’m easy to find.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 16, 2018
Taut writing, gripping story, fast paced Godlefe's Cuckoo is a fantastic thriller. Lots of action, intrigue, big cast of characters and yet somehow Bill Todd ties all those threads beautifully to produce a great read.
With so many characters coming into play, lots of different action I had to really concentrate when reading not to lose sense of what was going on but Todd somehow makes it work. I do feel I'd get more out of it if I read previous Danny Lancaster books but Godlefe's Cuckoo still works well as a standalone.
If you're looking for an action packed read, Godlefe's Cuckoo is your book.
With so many characters coming into play, lots of different action I had to really concentrate when reading not to lose sense of what was going on but Todd somehow makes it work. I do feel I'd get more out of it if I read previous Danny Lancaster books but Godlefe's Cuckoo still works well as a standalone.
If you're looking for an action packed read, Godlefe's Cuckoo is your book.
December 22, 2018
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
So Danny Lancaster is a former soldier, injured in the line of duty -- leaving him with one prosthetic (see also, Cormoron Strike). He didn't seem to know what to do with himself after leaving the army and ended up a small-time criminal who did a little time in prison. Then he started working as a P. I. (I'm not sure if he could have officially done that given his record, but I don't know). He seems to have skirted the edge of legality through this career -- helping the police frequently, but a known associate of noted criminals (see also, Rebus and Big Ger). The picture I get is of a less intellectual, more violent, and less alcoholic Matt Scudder.
Given that this is Book 6 in a series, Danny Lancaster is a pretty established character and the novel doesn't spend a lot of time exploring the character, mostly it's just using him. Which makes sense, especially given the plot -- but that means I have to rely a bit more than I normally would on extrapolating from what we're given and comparing him to better known characters.
When the book opens, he's been missing -- presumed dead by many -- for months. There are some hoping he's still alive, who wish the police (or someone) would find him. There are some who are convinced (hoping?) he's dead, and are fully prepared to leave him this way. And then there's one person who is convinced he's alive -- and will continue to be convinced until he sees a body -- and he's determined to find Danny.
The problem is that this man is a Russian mobster, with a lot of money, a lot of power -- and no patience or much time to live. Shortly before the "accident," Danny had disrupted this Russian's smuggling enterprise and he wants revenge. His associates in England pursue a particular strategy to bring Danny out of wherever he's hiding -- they start killing people associated with him, and will continue to do so until it works. They do this in such a way that it takes the police a long time to realize that's what's going on (and no one believes the first one to come to this conclusion).
Once Lancaster realizes what's happening, he takes definitive steps to bring this to an end. Now that the prey has been flushed from cover, it becomes a matter of hunter vs. the hunted (I'm not sure which is which, really). The action scenes are great, and it's easy to see why Danny Lancaster (the series or the character) have made it through five books already.
Most of the characters, like Lancaster, are clearly previously drawn and established. There are plenty of them, too. Again, if I knew them, I could appreciate their appearance and use. Those characters that are used for the first time I have a strong handle on and appreciate for.
I'm convinced that I'd have enjoyed this more than I did if it wasn't my first Danny Lancaster book. That said, you can absolutely read this as an entry point to the series -- it won't work as a stand-alone, you're going to want to read a possible seventh, and at the very least to go back and read the previous five. I just don't see anyone reading this and thinking, "yeah, I'm done now." I didn't fully appreciate everything that happened here, but I could tell that long-time readers would and that there was something about these characters that could inspire loyalty and excitement.
I liked it, I think I should've and could've liked it more, if I'd only done my homework. Give it a shot -- or better yet, read some of the earlier books and you'll like this all the more.
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided (including the book).
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---
He lit another cigarette. Popped the ringpull on another can of Stella.
This was pointless.
He could sit here forever debating the pros and cons like some poncy intellectual while all the time he knew what he would do.
Fuck it, those bastards had to be sorted out.
Anyway, you had to die of something.
So Danny Lancaster is a former soldier, injured in the line of duty -- leaving him with one prosthetic (see also, Cormoron Strike). He didn't seem to know what to do with himself after leaving the army and ended up a small-time criminal who did a little time in prison. Then he started working as a P. I. (I'm not sure if he could have officially done that given his record, but I don't know). He seems to have skirted the edge of legality through this career -- helping the police frequently, but a known associate of noted criminals (see also, Rebus and Big Ger). The picture I get is of a less intellectual, more violent, and less alcoholic Matt Scudder.
Given that this is Book 6 in a series, Danny Lancaster is a pretty established character and the novel doesn't spend a lot of time exploring the character, mostly it's just using him. Which makes sense, especially given the plot -- but that means I have to rely a bit more than I normally would on extrapolating from what we're given and comparing him to better known characters.
When the book opens, he's been missing -- presumed dead by many -- for months. There are some hoping he's still alive, who wish the police (or someone) would find him. There are some who are convinced (hoping?) he's dead, and are fully prepared to leave him this way. And then there's one person who is convinced he's alive -- and will continue to be convinced until he sees a body -- and he's determined to find Danny.
The problem is that this man is a Russian mobster, with a lot of money, a lot of power -- and no patience or much time to live. Shortly before the "accident," Danny had disrupted this Russian's smuggling enterprise and he wants revenge. His associates in England pursue a particular strategy to bring Danny out of wherever he's hiding -- they start killing people associated with him, and will continue to do so until it works. They do this in such a way that it takes the police a long time to realize that's what's going on (and no one believes the first one to come to this conclusion).
Once Lancaster realizes what's happening, he takes definitive steps to bring this to an end. Now that the prey has been flushed from cover, it becomes a matter of hunter vs. the hunted (I'm not sure which is which, really). The action scenes are great, and it's easy to see why Danny Lancaster (the series or the character) have made it through five books already.
Most of the characters, like Lancaster, are clearly previously drawn and established. There are plenty of them, too. Again, if I knew them, I could appreciate their appearance and use. Those characters that are used for the first time I have a strong handle on and appreciate for.
I'm convinced that I'd have enjoyed this more than I did if it wasn't my first Danny Lancaster book. That said, you can absolutely read this as an entry point to the series -- it won't work as a stand-alone, you're going to want to read a possible seventh, and at the very least to go back and read the previous five. I just don't see anyone reading this and thinking, "yeah, I'm done now." I didn't fully appreciate everything that happened here, but I could tell that long-time readers would and that there was something about these characters that could inspire loyalty and excitement.
I liked it, I think I should've and could've liked it more, if I'd only done my homework. Give it a shot -- or better yet, read some of the earlier books and you'll like this all the more.
My thanks to damppebbles blog tours for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials they provided (including the book).
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March 2, 2018
After an explosion on a small boat eighteen months ago, Danny Lancaster is missing, presumed dead. He’s crossed a Russian who wants to make sure he is, and to pull him out of hiding if he isn’t, by killing his known friends.
This is a taut thriller with some nasty people. Danny has to remain focused to remove the threat. He knows that might mean some of those he cares for are put in harm’s way. The two people who found him after the explosion are resourceful people and their clear heads are vital in a hostage situation. I believe this story would work well as a stand-alone, not just another in a series. There are several points in the story where I wondered how it could possibly work out well for Danny. There’s some real heart-in-mouth stuff in this story and I enjoyed it very much.
This is a taut thriller with some nasty people. Danny has to remain focused to remove the threat. He knows that might mean some of those he cares for are put in harm’s way. The two people who found him after the explosion are resourceful people and their clear heads are vital in a hostage situation. I believe this story would work well as a stand-alone, not just another in a series. There are several points in the story where I wondered how it could possibly work out well for Danny. There’s some real heart-in-mouth stuff in this story and I enjoyed it very much.
February 14, 2020
I found that I enjoyed this book, not my normal fare. Danny Lancaster injured ex-service man, private detective gives the author plenty to work with. Certainly action packed, a page turner and edge of the seat moments. This will appeal to a great many people with a few books in the series to get your teeth into.
April 1, 2018
Author and journalist Bill Todd is in his element, as he brings together a not too healthy cocktail of Russian terror in his latest offering of Godlefe’s Cuckoo.
His material could quite easily be the stuff of today’s breaking news stories. The Argus and the boys and girls in blue are already on the case.
An explosion in a boat leaves an ex-paratrooper mysteriously dead or missing at sea. It almost feels like its author may have decided to give up on his trade and opt for a £2 deck chair on Brighton beach.
But no, Bill breathes new life into our ace detective Danny Lancaster. He is now fighting to save the lives of his mates who are being picked off one by one by mobster Staršiná’s baddies in order to flush him out as a loose end, from a previous chapter in his life.
Zaitsev, Kubanczyk, Abramov, Hansel and Gretel, are new ruthless characters who feel deadly real, each professionally hired killers in their own field with a mission to do away with our hero.
With the odds stacked up against him, how is Danny going to save his friends? Only an experienced writer with a well-crafted storyline, a sound and aptly-researched knowledge of the machinations of the underworld, can help him get out of this predicament.
We return to traditional haunts such as the Bellerophon public house, and it’s gratifying to see old faces reappear – Wanda and Bob Lovejoy, Detective Inspector Pauline Myers, Hector James Wiltshire aka Skidmarks, ‘Big Eddie’ Archer, Emma Driscoll and Soduko Wally. Some of them will not return in future books, if there is any, because they will be dead.
Each new novel Bill brings out is full of surprises. It’s not short on drama and has plenty of twists and turns with a strong narrative.
Now that Danny is back in the world of the living, it will not be too long before our hero heads for Jubilee Library, as despite the success of his latest book, this author’s next book is already long overdue.
His material could quite easily be the stuff of today’s breaking news stories. The Argus and the boys and girls in blue are already on the case.
An explosion in a boat leaves an ex-paratrooper mysteriously dead or missing at sea. It almost feels like its author may have decided to give up on his trade and opt for a £2 deck chair on Brighton beach.
But no, Bill breathes new life into our ace detective Danny Lancaster. He is now fighting to save the lives of his mates who are being picked off one by one by mobster Staršiná’s baddies in order to flush him out as a loose end, from a previous chapter in his life.
Zaitsev, Kubanczyk, Abramov, Hansel and Gretel, are new ruthless characters who feel deadly real, each professionally hired killers in their own field with a mission to do away with our hero.
With the odds stacked up against him, how is Danny going to save his friends? Only an experienced writer with a well-crafted storyline, a sound and aptly-researched knowledge of the machinations of the underworld, can help him get out of this predicament.
We return to traditional haunts such as the Bellerophon public house, and it’s gratifying to see old faces reappear – Wanda and Bob Lovejoy, Detective Inspector Pauline Myers, Hector James Wiltshire aka Skidmarks, ‘Big Eddie’ Archer, Emma Driscoll and Soduko Wally. Some of them will not return in future books, if there is any, because they will be dead.
Each new novel Bill brings out is full of surprises. It’s not short on drama and has plenty of twists and turns with a strong narrative.
Now that Danny is back in the world of the living, it will not be too long before our hero heads for Jubilee Library, as despite the success of his latest book, this author’s next book is already long overdue.
December 28, 2018
If there’s one thing this Ginger Book Geek loves, it’s discovering new authors and Bill Todd is certainly a new author to me. I must admit that prior to being invited to take part in the blog tour for ‘Godlefe’s Cuckoo’, I hadn’t come across Bill before. After having finished reading the book, I cannot understand how the hell I have missed him until now. ‘Godlefe’s Cuckoo’ is certainly a different sort of read and I thoroughly enjoyed it but more about that in a bit.
One of the main characters in this book is called Danny Lancaster, who is a Private Investigator. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of him at first- especially as I learnt that he is actually supposed to be dead or missing, presumed dead. There are five previous books in the Danny Lancaster series and I did feel as though I was missing something by not having read the five previous books. That’s not meant in a bad way but I am a tad obsessive and I love reading series in numerical order so I don’t feel as though I am missing a crucial bit of information about past events. The positive is the fact that I now have another five books to catch up on and I can learn a lot more about the legend that is Danny Lancaster.
‘Godlefe’s Cuckoo’ is one of those books that is going to stay fresh in my mind for quite a while to come. For a starter, the book’s title is certainly unlike any title I have come across before. I also loved the fact that the author gave a little bit of historical background at the beginning of the story. I love learning little nuggets of information that many others would consider to be boring.
The author’s writing style is such that he grabs your attention from the first word onwards and before you realise what is happening you are hooked on the book. That’s what happened to me at any rate. I found it extremely difficult to put this book down. I just had to keep reading to see what fate had in store for Danny Lancaster and whether or not he could escape those who were wanting to capture him and kill him. The more I read, the more addicted to the story I became. The pages seemed to fly past in a blur and I didn’t notice just how quickly the time was passing. I picked the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but a dozen chapters later and I was still sat there glued to the book.
For me the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. Reading this book was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. This story certainly gets the adrenaline flowing, the blood pressure soaring and the heart rate increasing. There were times when I almost had to read through my fingers or from behind a cushion because I feared what was going to happen next.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Godlefe’s Cuckoo’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. The book has the perfect mix of drama and humour. I will definitely be reading the first five books in the series and I can’t wait to read what Bill Todd comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
One of the main characters in this book is called Danny Lancaster, who is a Private Investigator. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of him at first- especially as I learnt that he is actually supposed to be dead or missing, presumed dead. There are five previous books in the Danny Lancaster series and I did feel as though I was missing something by not having read the five previous books. That’s not meant in a bad way but I am a tad obsessive and I love reading series in numerical order so I don’t feel as though I am missing a crucial bit of information about past events. The positive is the fact that I now have another five books to catch up on and I can learn a lot more about the legend that is Danny Lancaster.
‘Godlefe’s Cuckoo’ is one of those books that is going to stay fresh in my mind for quite a while to come. For a starter, the book’s title is certainly unlike any title I have come across before. I also loved the fact that the author gave a little bit of historical background at the beginning of the story. I love learning little nuggets of information that many others would consider to be boring.
The author’s writing style is such that he grabs your attention from the first word onwards and before you realise what is happening you are hooked on the book. That’s what happened to me at any rate. I found it extremely difficult to put this book down. I just had to keep reading to see what fate had in store for Danny Lancaster and whether or not he could escape those who were wanting to capture him and kill him. The more I read, the more addicted to the story I became. The pages seemed to fly past in a blur and I didn’t notice just how quickly the time was passing. I picked the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but a dozen chapters later and I was still sat there glued to the book.
For me the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. Reading this book was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. This story certainly gets the adrenaline flowing, the blood pressure soaring and the heart rate increasing. There were times when I almost had to read through my fingers or from behind a cushion because I feared what was going to happen next.
In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Godlefe’s Cuckoo’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. The book has the perfect mix of drama and humour. I will definitely be reading the first five books in the series and I can’t wait to read what Bill Todd comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
March 12, 2018
Sometimes you just know simply by the author's name that you're in for a cracking read. And here we have it. Bill Todd. No nonsense. Sounds like a great bloke, - and even if he isn't, he sure can tell a damn good story! This book has it all going on. Mystery, intrigue(or are they the same?), - anyway, it's the diversity of bustling Brighton that sets the scene for this fast-paced seaside escapade, where 'Danny the Champion of the World' meets 'Ladies in Lavender' and I loved it! I got slightly confused at the beginning with the flashbacks and newspaper clippings and character count - but that's definitely me not you William. May I call you William? William Todd aye?...slightly posher version but sounding equally as nice-a bloke I reckon. Yup, proper story this. An unlikely hero, baddies, lust, unorthodox D.I. with a penchant for vibrators, and best of all, the writing was a joy! A beginning. A middle. An end. And the talented Mr Todd even typed The End. Ages since I've seen that! Shall most certainly seek out where 'Danny's story begins'....
March 15, 2018
This is a very fast paced thriller, with one of the best introductions I have read. I love reading about legends, so this gem was a fantastic treat. There are many characters that are central to the plot as the story unfolds. I did have to concentrate quite hard to follow the action at times. The weaker part for me was the Police interaction at the station. I found it difficult to feel as much dislike for the DS/Acting DI as I felt I should. I found the sexual activity surrounding the female main character as unnecessary to the plot. If these two points were not there, for me this would have merited 4.5 stars at least. A cracking read with lots of thrilling action.
March 11, 2018
I nearly gave up after the first few chapters of this book as I got a bit confused with all the characters being introduced in a short space of time. This could just have been me as I was a bit tired at the time! I am glad that I kept going as it did get better as the story settled down and in the end it was quite a good read. I did however find it a little predictable and wondered what DI Myers's sexuality had to do with the storyline as it added nothing to it as know one else seemed to know about it apart from her partner! Danny Lancaster does seem to live a precarious life and it might have been better, (for me at least), if I had read the other books in the series first as I would have understood some of the dialogue better but having said that this is a stand alone book. If you are wanting an shortish action packed read then this book will fill the brief for you.
March 15, 2018
You really need to concentrate well whilst reading this book as there are so many different characters it can be hard to follow if, like me, you stop and start quite a lot. Apart from this it was a very fast moving thriller, with lots of action and mystery involved. Overall a very good read.
March 18, 2018
god lefe's cuckoo by Bill Todd.
Danny Lancaster has been missing since the fishing boat. Will they find him dead or alive?
a good read. I liked the story. slow and steady. 4*.
Danny Lancaster has been missing since the fishing boat. Will they find him dead or alive?
a good read. I liked the story. slow and steady. 4*.
March 8, 2018
This was a brilliant read, fast paced and much heart in mouth involved.
The character is not going through an easy time! And you can feel the tension as he goes through the story, with many moments you don’t know what to expect or what is coming.
His decisions are difficult because he knows his family is at risk , but he gets on with it in surprising ways at times.
Absolutely loved this story! I both admired and felt sorry for the main character although i must say i wanted to kick Danny up the bottom a few times 😂😂
Well worth a read!!
The character is not going through an easy time! And you can feel the tension as he goes through the story, with many moments you don’t know what to expect or what is coming.
His decisions are difficult because he knows his family is at risk , but he gets on with it in surprising ways at times.
Absolutely loved this story! I both admired and felt sorry for the main character although i must say i wanted to kick Danny up the bottom a few times 😂😂
Well worth a read!!
December 17, 2018
This is my first book by Bill Todd, although I believe it is the fifth full-length book featuring ex-soldier-turned-private-detective, Danny Lancaster. The fact I had not read the previous books in the series did not detract from my enjoyment of this book, although having knowledge of the previous books may have increased the depth of my understanding of events in this book, so you might want to read them in order. I would certainly like to go back and catch up with how Danny got to the place we find him at the beginning of Godlefe’s Cuckoo, which is missing, presumed dead by some.
I was drawn in to the novel very quickly by the historical opening scenes, which bed the book firmly in the setting of Brighton, and I have to say that the author shows great skill in bringing the location to life, from the wild areas of uninhabited coastline to the gritty back streets and local pubs, as well as the bits familiar to tourists. I really enjoyed the fact that the sea and the coast play an important part in this book, which makes the coastal setting very relevant, rather than just an aside. This is a novel where sense of place is important.
There are a lot of characters introduced very quickly at the start of the book and it was a little dizzying and hard to keep up with to begin with, especially for someone who has not read the previous books and is not familiar with the characters which are recurring from the previous volumes. They all have separate storylines, and it is quite hard to fathom for the first third of the book how they could possibly tie together, although all does become clear as the book progresses. Therefore, the book requires a degree of concentration to follow, which is not necessarily a criticism. I like a book which is mentally challenging, but this is not a book that can be read on ‘coast’ mode.
There are a lot of very interesting and diverse characters in the story, and I particularly like the fact that this male author had created a cast of strong, independent and varied women, with not a female stereotype in sight. I grew particularly fond of Wanda throughout the book, but all of the characters bring something to the story and have a range of complex motivations. The Russian element were the weakest in the book as far as character development went, and I did feel that it parts they were in danger of tipping in to ‘typical of the type’ villains and I would have liked them to have had more depth to be honest, but it is a minor quibble that may well be peculiar to me. You will have to be your own judge.
The book is a little different in development to a standardly plotted book, because the main character, Danny, features very little be begin with in person and is mostly referenced by other characters in his absence, so there is not much time for those of us coming fresh to the series to develop a sense of who he is or a direct relationship with him. However, this would obviously be different for people who had read the previous stories and, I have to say, once he did appear and start taking centre stage, I found him a fascinating and compelling character with a strong personality, which definitely made me want to read more about him.
The plot clipped along at a brisk pace and contained enough excitement, action and mystery to keep me turning the pages without wanting to put it down. I am not sure how realistic it is, as a plot as my knowledge of international criminal activity is minimal, but it was easy enough to buy in to it to a degree to allow me to enjoy the book. I have to say, I think a particular strength in this book is the author’s use of convincing dialogue. It certainly moved the book along nicely and sounds natural, which is not an easy thing to achieve, and it impressed me enough to stand out as a positive attribute.
Somewhat out of my usual reading tastes, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely go back and check out the earlier Danny Lancaster stories when I get chance. Highly recommended.
I was drawn in to the novel very quickly by the historical opening scenes, which bed the book firmly in the setting of Brighton, and I have to say that the author shows great skill in bringing the location to life, from the wild areas of uninhabited coastline to the gritty back streets and local pubs, as well as the bits familiar to tourists. I really enjoyed the fact that the sea and the coast play an important part in this book, which makes the coastal setting very relevant, rather than just an aside. This is a novel where sense of place is important.
There are a lot of characters introduced very quickly at the start of the book and it was a little dizzying and hard to keep up with to begin with, especially for someone who has not read the previous books and is not familiar with the characters which are recurring from the previous volumes. They all have separate storylines, and it is quite hard to fathom for the first third of the book how they could possibly tie together, although all does become clear as the book progresses. Therefore, the book requires a degree of concentration to follow, which is not necessarily a criticism. I like a book which is mentally challenging, but this is not a book that can be read on ‘coast’ mode.
There are a lot of very interesting and diverse characters in the story, and I particularly like the fact that this male author had created a cast of strong, independent and varied women, with not a female stereotype in sight. I grew particularly fond of Wanda throughout the book, but all of the characters bring something to the story and have a range of complex motivations. The Russian element were the weakest in the book as far as character development went, and I did feel that it parts they were in danger of tipping in to ‘typical of the type’ villains and I would have liked them to have had more depth to be honest, but it is a minor quibble that may well be peculiar to me. You will have to be your own judge.
The book is a little different in development to a standardly plotted book, because the main character, Danny, features very little be begin with in person and is mostly referenced by other characters in his absence, so there is not much time for those of us coming fresh to the series to develop a sense of who he is or a direct relationship with him. However, this would obviously be different for people who had read the previous stories and, I have to say, once he did appear and start taking centre stage, I found him a fascinating and compelling character with a strong personality, which definitely made me want to read more about him.
The plot clipped along at a brisk pace and contained enough excitement, action and mystery to keep me turning the pages without wanting to put it down. I am not sure how realistic it is, as a plot as my knowledge of international criminal activity is minimal, but it was easy enough to buy in to it to a degree to allow me to enjoy the book. I have to say, I think a particular strength in this book is the author’s use of convincing dialogue. It certainly moved the book along nicely and sounds natural, which is not an easy thing to achieve, and it impressed me enough to stand out as a positive attribute.
Somewhat out of my usual reading tastes, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely go back and check out the earlier Danny Lancaster stories when I get chance. Highly recommended.
December 19, 2018
Omg - Why have I not heard of this author before? Where has he been hiding? How can this be book number six in a series that I have not come across until Emma Welton emailed me about the Blog tour for this book. I mean, it's exactly the type of thriller that I love reading, fast paced,full of twists and turns, a likeable hero,vicious,nasty villains, people's lives in danger and a number of yay,serves you right, you got exactly what you deserved moments.
Danny Lancaster is missing, presumed dead after an explosion on a boat. The Police, who are struggling with a major lack of resources,overloaded caseloads and nothing that was flagging Danny as a priority have wound down their investigation. But Wanda wants to know how a boat can explode and a man completely disappear without anyone being able to find out what happened and is continuing her campaign to find the truth. A certain Russian also wants to know the truth and is convinced that Danny is still alive. A evil man who as he lays on his death bed throws all his crime empire behind his twisted plans to use the people that Danny cares about as bait, to draw him out of hiding. If Danny isn't dead,he soon will be.
Bill Todd has created a multitude of vivid,memorable characters and there was a number of changes of main character points of view in every chapter of this gripping,thriller. Because this is the first book that I have read in this series,it took me a while to get to know all the established characters and it was all a bit confusing to begin with but it didn't take me long to figure out who was who and find myself hooked in by all the fast paced action.Being my first introduction to Danny Lancaster, I thought that he was likeable but could also be a little frustrating at times. I liked that the female characters in Danny's life were strong,independent and resourceful and weren't there just to be the stereotypical damsel in distress. As a parent, I felt an instant connection to baby Georgie and felt very anxious about his safety and well being at times as the story unfolded and Starsina's evil plan came into fruition. The Russian villains were evil,twisted cruel and very very nasty but for all their vindictiveness,they forgot one very important lesson in life, appearances can be very deceptive. The only parts that I didn't enjoy about this story were DI Pauline Myers battle of wits with dinosaur DS Andy Beaton and her stereotypical useless DCI. It's one of my pet hates when it comes to stories involving the police. Yes, I know it happens in reality but it's a plot device that is utilised a bit too often in my opinion.
Godlefe's Cuckoo is a well written,fast paced,gripping page turner that had me on the edge of my comfy chair at times,forgetting to breath as the breath taking action unfolded before my eyes. I enjoyed this book so much that I will definitely be getting my hands on the previous five titles in this series and look forward to reading more of Danny's adventures in the future.
Many thanks to Emma Welton of Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book and take part in the Blog tour
Danny Lancaster is missing, presumed dead after an explosion on a boat. The Police, who are struggling with a major lack of resources,overloaded caseloads and nothing that was flagging Danny as a priority have wound down their investigation. But Wanda wants to know how a boat can explode and a man completely disappear without anyone being able to find out what happened and is continuing her campaign to find the truth. A certain Russian also wants to know the truth and is convinced that Danny is still alive. A evil man who as he lays on his death bed throws all his crime empire behind his twisted plans to use the people that Danny cares about as bait, to draw him out of hiding. If Danny isn't dead,he soon will be.
Bill Todd has created a multitude of vivid,memorable characters and there was a number of changes of main character points of view in every chapter of this gripping,thriller. Because this is the first book that I have read in this series,it took me a while to get to know all the established characters and it was all a bit confusing to begin with but it didn't take me long to figure out who was who and find myself hooked in by all the fast paced action.Being my first introduction to Danny Lancaster, I thought that he was likeable but could also be a little frustrating at times. I liked that the female characters in Danny's life were strong,independent and resourceful and weren't there just to be the stereotypical damsel in distress. As a parent, I felt an instant connection to baby Georgie and felt very anxious about his safety and well being at times as the story unfolded and Starsina's evil plan came into fruition. The Russian villains were evil,twisted cruel and very very nasty but for all their vindictiveness,they forgot one very important lesson in life, appearances can be very deceptive. The only parts that I didn't enjoy about this story were DI Pauline Myers battle of wits with dinosaur DS Andy Beaton and her stereotypical useless DCI. It's one of my pet hates when it comes to stories involving the police. Yes, I know it happens in reality but it's a plot device that is utilised a bit too often in my opinion.
Godlefe's Cuckoo is a well written,fast paced,gripping page turner that had me on the edge of my comfy chair at times,forgetting to breath as the breath taking action unfolded before my eyes. I enjoyed this book so much that I will definitely be getting my hands on the previous five titles in this series and look forward to reading more of Danny's adventures in the future.
Many thanks to Emma Welton of Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book and take part in the Blog tour
December 18, 2018
This is set around Brighton and provides a dramatic backdrop to an action-packed read. A book with a fair sized cast of characters with individual roles that you will soon come to recognise as the story unfurls and the how’s and why’s of each character becomes more obvious.
A good amount of concentration was required by me and my so very tired brain when I started this book. The author really does lay down the groundwork for this book well, it involves the characters and describes various aspects of who they are, what they do. Any connections to each other are tenuous at best and it is not until the second half of the book that the author gradually starts pulling these connections together. This builds up a real sense of intrigue and initially caught me unawares until I realised the style of the writing.
The chapters are quick and flit between the characters, this was actually really good for me as it meant I was able to remember them, rather than focusing on one then moving on. I did find the first half slower paced, but as I had mentioned being tired, but then suddenly the author seemed to kick up a gear, or my brain felt slightly better and awake. The vagaries and groundwork of the first half started to come together and things started to add up and it really did turn into a fast action riddled read. It is at this point I realised how important the groundwork was in the first half.
I am not going into the plot as the synopsis does a great job in a very small space of a few lines. These few lines do give a sense of what to expect, drugs, evil man, missing person, search for the truth with a threat of death. The plot involves all of the above and then some. It had me hooked and turned an already interesting and intriguing good read into a great action read.
This is a book that I think readers of crime, thriller and mystery books would really enjoy. Even though it is part of a series it can definitely be read as a stand-alone, although I am intrigued by Danny Lancaster and I am looking to get the earlier books to discover more about him and what makes him tick. It is one I would happily recommend.
A good amount of concentration was required by me and my so very tired brain when I started this book. The author really does lay down the groundwork for this book well, it involves the characters and describes various aspects of who they are, what they do. Any connections to each other are tenuous at best and it is not until the second half of the book that the author gradually starts pulling these connections together. This builds up a real sense of intrigue and initially caught me unawares until I realised the style of the writing.
The chapters are quick and flit between the characters, this was actually really good for me as it meant I was able to remember them, rather than focusing on one then moving on. I did find the first half slower paced, but as I had mentioned being tired, but then suddenly the author seemed to kick up a gear, or my brain felt slightly better and awake. The vagaries and groundwork of the first half started to come together and things started to add up and it really did turn into a fast action riddled read. It is at this point I realised how important the groundwork was in the first half.
I am not going into the plot as the synopsis does a great job in a very small space of a few lines. These few lines do give a sense of what to expect, drugs, evil man, missing person, search for the truth with a threat of death. The plot involves all of the above and then some. It had me hooked and turned an already interesting and intriguing good read into a great action read.
This is a book that I think readers of crime, thriller and mystery books would really enjoy. Even though it is part of a series it can definitely be read as a stand-alone, although I am intrigued by Danny Lancaster and I am looking to get the earlier books to discover more about him and what makes him tick. It is one I would happily recommend.
June 27, 2018
Danny finally returns to the land of the living. After missing for 18 months we still have to wait for a good part of this book to learn that the character David who is introduced early on in the story is Danny for sure. The writing style ties back to the previous book ‘Gargoyle Pixie Dog’ which was like an intermission giving impressions and snippets of insights into Danny’s life and the quest of one of his friends Wanda Lovejoy to find out what happened.
I really enjoyed that this story gives a satisfying and logical arc of how Danny is able to get out of the situation of being targeted by the Russian mob. That seemed a very unhealthy proposition and could have severely curtailed Danny’s overall life expectancy. While he didn’t escape the boat explosion entirely unscathed and certainly spent a good part of the interim period recuperating from his injuries, we only learn about his physical and mental challenges retrospectively when he has already overcome a lot of them.
I liked how the author toyed with Danny’s mental state. Was he amnesiac? Were his actions deliberate? Was he hiding or was he kept? As usual the truth is neither black nor white and that is certainly one of the aspects that make this book so thrilling. The final showdown again shows us all of Danny’s tactical brilliance and the ending gives us hope for him for a better future ahead. A worthy addition to the Danny Lancaster series!
I really enjoyed that this story gives a satisfying and logical arc of how Danny is able to get out of the situation of being targeted by the Russian mob. That seemed a very unhealthy proposition and could have severely curtailed Danny’s overall life expectancy. While he didn’t escape the boat explosion entirely unscathed and certainly spent a good part of the interim period recuperating from his injuries, we only learn about his physical and mental challenges retrospectively when he has already overcome a lot of them.
I liked how the author toyed with Danny’s mental state. Was he amnesiac? Were his actions deliberate? Was he hiding or was he kept? As usual the truth is neither black nor white and that is certainly one of the aspects that make this book so thrilling. The final showdown again shows us all of Danny’s tactical brilliance and the ending gives us hope for him for a better future ahead. A worthy addition to the Danny Lancaster series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2018
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This is a well written story that has a great pace.
I really enjoyed the characters and I thought that the plot was gritty and gripping.
There are quite a lot of characters in the book which could have been confusing but the author did a brilliant job of characterisation and making sure that didn’t happen. He also really wrapped up all the lose ends and plot lines in the book too, which I thought was excellent – nothing more disappointing than a book that leaves me guessing!
Four stars from me for this one – highly recommended, I really enjoyed it!
This is a well written story that has a great pace.
I really enjoyed the characters and I thought that the plot was gritty and gripping.
There are quite a lot of characters in the book which could have been confusing but the author did a brilliant job of characterisation and making sure that didn’t happen. He also really wrapped up all the lose ends and plot lines in the book too, which I thought was excellent – nothing more disappointing than a book that leaves me guessing!
Four stars from me for this one – highly recommended, I really enjoyed it!
July 13, 2019
Danny Lancaster is missing, after an explosion on a boat, he is presumed dead…..
The Police have closed the investigation because of lack of progress and a low budget…
But the marvellous Wanda will not give up her search to find out what happened and why.
Others also want to know, they want to make sure Danny is really dead ! If he isn’t, he soon will be !
Evil Russians, violence and many twists and turns …Another brilliant tale by Bill Todd…great characters and a truly thrilling, breathtaking plot.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
The Police have closed the investigation because of lack of progress and a low budget…
But the marvellous Wanda will not give up her search to find out what happened and why.
Others also want to know, they want to make sure Danny is really dead ! If he isn’t, he soon will be !
Evil Russians, violence and many twists and turns …Another brilliant tale by Bill Todd…great characters and a truly thrilling, breathtaking plot.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
May 28, 2022
You need to start reading early, almost impossible to put down. Deep multifaceted characters that come to life as you read. This is not for someone wanting a light story. I usually read at night, but this book took me so late it was almost early. A need to know what and who could make it was intriguing. Don't miss this, especially if mystery is your passion.
January 8, 2019
This is very different to my normal reads, full of action but the characters are fascinating and well developed and have flaws which make them very readable. I liked the main character Danny and would read more from the author
February 14, 2020
You can stick Bosch, Reacher and Strike,,Danny Lancaster is the man for me, great stories. Well Written real page turners. All action from an author on the top of his game. Do not expect to sleep while reading this book.
June 18, 2024
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