What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Birch #2
What You Pay For
DI Birch joined the police to find her little brother, who walked out of his life one day and was never seen again. She stayed to help others, determined to seek justice where she could.
On the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie's disappearance, Birch takes part in a raid on one of Scotland's most feared criminal organisations. It's a good day's work - a chance to get a dangerous man off the streets.
Two days later, Charlie comes back. It's not a coincidence. When Birch finds out exactly what he's been doing all those years, she faces a terrible choice: save the case, or save her brother. But how can you do the right thing when all the consequences are bad?
As she interrogates Charlie, he tells his story: of how one wrong turn leads to a world in which the normal rules no longer apply, and you do what you must to survive.
From one of the most acclaimed new voices in crime fiction, What You Pay For is a brilliantly tense and moving novel about the terrible disruption caused by violence and the lines people will cross to protect those they love.
On the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie's disappearance, Birch takes part in a raid on one of Scotland's most feared criminal organisations. It's a good day's work - a chance to get a dangerous man off the streets.
Two days later, Charlie comes back. It's not a coincidence. When Birch finds out exactly what he's been doing all those years, she faces a terrible choice: save the case, or save her brother. But how can you do the right thing when all the consequences are bad?
As she interrogates Charlie, he tells his story: of how one wrong turn leads to a world in which the normal rules no longer apply, and you do what you must to survive.
From one of the most acclaimed new voices in crime fiction, What You Pay For is a brilliantly tense and moving novel about the terrible disruption caused by violence and the lines people will cross to protect those they love.
346 pages, Hardcover
First published August 22, 2019
55 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Claire Askew
28 books123 followersClaire Askew is a poet, novelist and the current Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh. Her debut novel, All the Hidden Truths, was the winner of the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, and longlisted for the 2014 Peggy Chapman-Andrews (Bridport) Novel Award. Claire holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh and has won a variety of accolades for her work, including the Jessie Kesson Fellowship and a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.
Her debut poetry collection, This changes things, was published by Bloodaxe in 2016 and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and a Saltire First Book Award. In 2016 Claire was selected as a Scottish Book Trust Reading Champion, and she works as the Scotland tutor for women's writing initiatives Write Like A Grrrl! and #GrrrlCon.
Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The Guardian, Poetry Scotland, PANK, Edinburgh Review and Be The First To Like This: New Scottish Poetry (Vagabond Voices, 2014), and have been selected twice for the Scottish Poetry Library's Best Scottish Poems of the Year. In 2013 she won the International Salt Prize for Poetry, and in 2014 was runner-up for the inaugural Edwin Morgan Poetry Award for Scottish poets under 30. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
Her debut poetry collection, This changes things, was published by Bloodaxe in 2016 and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and a Saltire First Book Award. In 2016 Claire was selected as a Scottish Book Trust Reading Champion, and she works as the Scotland tutor for women's writing initiatives Write Like A Grrrl! and #GrrrlCon.
Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The Guardian, Poetry Scotland, PANK, Edinburgh Review and Be The First To Like This: New Scottish Poetry (Vagabond Voices, 2014), and have been selected twice for the Scottish Poetry Library's Best Scottish Poems of the Year. In 2013 she won the International Salt Prize for Poetry, and in 2014 was runner-up for the inaugural Edwin Morgan Poetry Award for Scottish poets under 30. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 19, 2019
Having absolutely LOVED All The Hidden Truths last year there was no way I was waiting to read this once it dropped onto my doormat and once again I was drawn in by the beautifully written and absolutely absorbing plot.
Helen Birch works on a case that will hit very close to home as around that we hear her brother Charlie's story- missing from Helen's life for years and about to make an emotional and hard hitting return.
Tense, emotive and with a resonant and authentic central theme, What You Pay For just cements my opinion that Claire Askew is a talented writer and one to watch in the future.
Fuller review to follow nearer publication.
Helen Birch works on a case that will hit very close to home as around that we hear her brother Charlie's story- missing from Helen's life for years and about to make an emotional and hard hitting return.
Tense, emotive and with a resonant and authentic central theme, What You Pay For just cements my opinion that Claire Askew is a talented writer and one to watch in the future.
Fuller review to follow nearer publication.
March 27, 2020
A crime novel where the crime part is barely dealt with? Again, Askew somehow manages to take a narrative where not a lot actually happens in terms of plot, and make it utterly riveting.
As in the first book in this hopefully-series, Askew lays out all the pieces that make up the book clearly from the first few pages and then proceeds to quietly unravel a ton of emotional and moral intricacy that left me unable to put the book down until it was finished. (I do almost wonder if the cover blurb should have been a little more vague - would that add to the suspense? Does anything need to add to the suspense? Very minor quibbles, and certainly not a fault on the author's part).
Recommended, and more please.
As in the first book in this hopefully-series, Askew lays out all the pieces that make up the book clearly from the first few pages and then proceeds to quietly unravel a ton of emotional and moral intricacy that left me unable to put the book down until it was finished. (I do almost wonder if the cover blurb should have been a little more vague - would that add to the suspense? Does anything need to add to the suspense? Very minor quibbles, and certainly not a fault on the author's part).
Recommended, and more please.
January 13, 2020
This 2019 crime fiction novel is the second book in the D.I Birch series. While the first book was all about a mass shooting at an Edinburgh college, this sees the return of Helen Birch's younger brother Charlie who disappeared from university without trace fourteen years earlier.
The chapters alternate between Charlie's perspective (first person) and Helen's (third person). Charlie is caught up in a case Helen is working on and we slowly find out what he's been doing all these years. It's a great read though there's more violence than the previous one. If Askew writes a third book I'll definitely read it.
The chapters alternate between Charlie's perspective (first person) and Helen's (third person). Charlie is caught up in a case Helen is working on and we slowly find out what he's been doing all these years. It's a great read though there's more violence than the previous one. If Askew writes a third book I'll definitely read it.
April 11, 2020
This was a 3.5 star read for me. I chose it because of the recognition this new writer has gotten in Scotland, and crime writing circles including being shortlisted for McIlvanney and CWA Awards. The setting in Edinburgh was also a selling point. I would have rated it higher but I really have a distaste for crime novels that have gangsters as the bad guys. I find them boring, very violent, and lacking imagination.
Helen Birch is a police officer in Edinburgh and currently out of favor with her boss. Her brother Charlie has been missing for 14 years, when the Edinburgh police stage a huge raid on an incoming shipment of drugs and capture the top crime boss from Glasgow. A big difference between UK law, Scottish law (which varies from English law), and American law, are the strict limits on the length of time police can hold a suspect. So getting evidence against the crime boss is the Edinburgh cops' top priority.
In the meantime, Helen is being followed, threatened and more by some of the crime boss's thugs. I must say that the scenes where she is pursued, and those where there is someone, real or imagined, in her house, were the scariest I have ever encountered in crime fiction.
This book is currently 99 cents on Kindle so give it a try. There were enough Edinburgh details to make me happy and plenty of Scotticisms to keep me smiling, including a couple characters that speak in dialect.
Helen Birch is a police officer in Edinburgh and currently out of favor with her boss. Her brother Charlie has been missing for 14 years, when the Edinburgh police stage a huge raid on an incoming shipment of drugs and capture the top crime boss from Glasgow. A big difference between UK law, Scottish law (which varies from English law), and American law, are the strict limits on the length of time police can hold a suspect. So getting evidence against the crime boss is the Edinburgh cops' top priority.
In the meantime, Helen is being followed, threatened and more by some of the crime boss's thugs. I must say that the scenes where she is pursued, and those where there is someone, real or imagined, in her house, were the scariest I have ever encountered in crime fiction.
This book is currently 99 cents on Kindle so give it a try. There were enough Edinburgh details to make me happy and plenty of Scotticisms to keep me smiling, including a couple characters that speak in dialect.
December 4, 2024
4.5 rounded up
I really liked book 2 in the Helen Birch series. Her brother was an infuriating character who made a series of stupid decisions but very realistic. At times I wanted to scream at the characters but I guess that makes for a realistic book. The dual timeline worked really well although on a couple of occasions I wondered if Charlie wasn't speaking in a voice that seemed too posh and a bit inconsistent, although it could make sense given his background prior to what he then went on to do. That did not spoil my enjoyment at all. I've lived in Russia and I'm glad the Russian slang and phraseology was correct in this book, and also appreciated that the characters weren't stereotypes. I liked the original plot which kept me reading to find out how Helen could get herself out of all this. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks to my library for a copy of the book.
I really liked book 2 in the Helen Birch series. Her brother was an infuriating character who made a series of stupid decisions but very realistic. At times I wanted to scream at the characters but I guess that makes for a realistic book. The dual timeline worked really well although on a couple of occasions I wondered if Charlie wasn't speaking in a voice that seemed too posh and a bit inconsistent, although it could make sense given his background prior to what he then went on to do. That did not spoil my enjoyment at all. I've lived in Russia and I'm glad the Russian slang and phraseology was correct in this book, and also appreciated that the characters weren't stereotypes. I liked the original plot which kept me reading to find out how Helen could get herself out of all this. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thanks to my library for a copy of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2019
This is a fantastic book - its the second in a series about DI Helen Birch. I haven't read the first but admit I wish I had - it's not necessary in terms of understanding this story but I imagine it would be similarly fantastic.
The story starts with Police Operation Citrine - wholly reliant on a Police informant who has since disappeared. This is a major operation looking to bust a serious Organised crime group, leader of which the police have been trying to bust for years. Alongside this story, we also get the story of Helen's brother who disappeared 14 years ago without a trace.
This is quite a long book but it's got such a fast pace - the chapters are relatively short and they alternate between Helen's perspective and that, back in time, of her brother Charlie. This is such a compelling read - I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. Charlie's story is really sad story in so many ways. I liked him a lot even though I probably shouldn't have!!
I think I should warn that the author does not shy away from all involved in organised crime - including scenes of torture, rape, serious injury and a reference to animal cruelty. It's a difficult read in places but this detail is used to create tension and a real emotional response to some of the characters. I think is is also a very realistic representation of this type of crime which cannot be made into a comfortable read.
This book is set in Scotland and one of the officers speaks with a Scottish accent and this is reflected in the spelling - at times, I wasn't completely sure of the meaning of everything that was said or some of the expression but knew enough to figure it out!
I received a free copy of this book from Amazon in exchange for an honest review.
The story starts with Police Operation Citrine - wholly reliant on a Police informant who has since disappeared. This is a major operation looking to bust a serious Organised crime group, leader of which the police have been trying to bust for years. Alongside this story, we also get the story of Helen's brother who disappeared 14 years ago without a trace.
This is quite a long book but it's got such a fast pace - the chapters are relatively short and they alternate between Helen's perspective and that, back in time, of her brother Charlie. This is such a compelling read - I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. Charlie's story is really sad story in so many ways. I liked him a lot even though I probably shouldn't have!!
I think I should warn that the author does not shy away from all involved in organised crime - including scenes of torture, rape, serious injury and a reference to animal cruelty. It's a difficult read in places but this detail is used to create tension and a real emotional response to some of the characters. I think is is also a very realistic representation of this type of crime which cannot be made into a comfortable read.
This book is set in Scotland and one of the officers speaks with a Scottish accent and this is reflected in the spelling - at times, I wasn't completely sure of the meaning of everything that was said or some of the expression but knew enough to figure it out!
I received a free copy of this book from Amazon in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2023
I really like Helen Birch. She is flawed and interacting which makes her a fabulous main character.
This be ok follows on from 3 Rivers, but you don't have to have read that to enjoy this novel. I enjoyed the concurrent story lines of Helen and her brother Charlie.
Pretty gruesome in parts, but that was expected when you are dealing with the gangster element.
This be ok follows on from 3 Rivers, but you don't have to have read that to enjoy this novel. I enjoyed the concurrent story lines of Helen and her brother Charlie.
Pretty gruesome in parts, but that was expected when you are dealing with the gangster element.
January 30, 2020
4.5 stars
July 7, 2020
Absolutely fantastic read! This is worth all the praise it has got in all those lists,
Bring on more, Claire Askew.
Bring on more, Claire Askew.
February 7, 2021
Good characters, strong writing, like this.
October 4, 2020
I liked this book for a few reasons - the way it was told from two perspectives, the gritty narrative and the writing style. There were a couple of glaring errors, e.g. we are led to believe one page that Charlie has no idea his mother has died, then we're told he was collecting cuttings and info from that day onwards. The character of Helen is also a little too hysterical for me, especially being a DI and, having lived in Glasgow, I think the author is taking the mickey a bit too much by emphasizing the accent like she does. It's broader than Edinburgh but not THAT different! The story is told well, but very slowly and the outcome predictable. I didn't think it was anything special at all.
November 19, 2020
I really wanted to enjoy this more than I did. I enjoyed the plot. I enjoyed the way it all wrapped up together. I thought Helen was an IDIOT. Kind of your typical idiot woman police officer making wrong decisions and being stupidly reckless.
But it was pretty good.
But it was pretty good.
March 23, 2020
Meh.
I felt no connection to the characters, particularly DI Birch. I skipped through pages and pages of her waffling thinking.
Good in theory, poor in execution.
I felt no connection to the characters, particularly DI Birch. I skipped through pages and pages of her waffling thinking.
Good in theory, poor in execution.
July 23, 2019
The book begins with a tense stand-off on the Forth at Queensferry where, following a tip-off by an informer, the police hope to finally catch the infamous leader of a feared and violent criminal organisation. This takes place on the 14th anniversary of Birch's brother Charlie's disappearance. This is always a difficult day for her. She joined the police to try to track him down and has always been convinced that he is still alive. Exhausted, she heads home but instead of finding it her usual place of peace, she experiences fear in her home. It no longer feels a place of safety to retreat to after a shift but a place she feels uneasy, watched, under threat even.
It's not a spoiler to tell you that Charlie comes back (it's in the blurb) and that he is connected with the case. The story is told in alternate chapters as we hear not just from Birch but also discover what actually happened to her brother in his own words. It shows just what can happen when good people get caught up in bad situations. This gives Birch a huge ethical dilemma. What is more important to her - her family or the case?
This is a dark story with strong language and violence but there's nothing gratuitous. It's all necessary to show the kind of people Birch was up against and the kind of people Charlie had been involved with.
This book is quite different from All The Hidden Truths in that the focus is much more on Birch's private life and the difficult situation she found herself in. It was fascinating to read about her inner turmoil as her loyalties swayed between her family and her job, in particular the case she was working on. A case that could see one of the most wanted, toughest criminals in Glasgow finally caught, but a case that put her and those she loved in grave danger. It was also fascinating yet disturbing to hear how Charlie had been caught up in this underworld. It showed how easy it might be for anyone to get involved with situations they really didn't want to and how they could, to a certain extent, justify what they were doing. And it also showed how difficult and dangerous it could be to try to get out when they decided enough was enough.
I thought this was a brilliant book and I devoured it over one warm, cloudy, sunny, windy, rainy weekend - Scottish summer at its finest. The short chapters made it almost impossible for me to put down, as the viewpoints shifted rapidly from one character to the other. With the events in the book taking place over just a week (at least from Birch's point of view), it was a fast paced read. What You Pay For is a tense and absorbing read and a very satisfying book. Claire Askew makes it seem like the tricky second novel is a breeze with her accomplished and compelling writing. I can't wait to read more about DI Birch.
It's not a spoiler to tell you that Charlie comes back (it's in the blurb) and that he is connected with the case. The story is told in alternate chapters as we hear not just from Birch but also discover what actually happened to her brother in his own words. It shows just what can happen when good people get caught up in bad situations. This gives Birch a huge ethical dilemma. What is more important to her - her family or the case?
This is a dark story with strong language and violence but there's nothing gratuitous. It's all necessary to show the kind of people Birch was up against and the kind of people Charlie had been involved with.
This book is quite different from All The Hidden Truths in that the focus is much more on Birch's private life and the difficult situation she found herself in. It was fascinating to read about her inner turmoil as her loyalties swayed between her family and her job, in particular the case she was working on. A case that could see one of the most wanted, toughest criminals in Glasgow finally caught, but a case that put her and those she loved in grave danger. It was also fascinating yet disturbing to hear how Charlie had been caught up in this underworld. It showed how easy it might be for anyone to get involved with situations they really didn't want to and how they could, to a certain extent, justify what they were doing. And it also showed how difficult and dangerous it could be to try to get out when they decided enough was enough.
I thought this was a brilliant book and I devoured it over one warm, cloudy, sunny, windy, rainy weekend - Scottish summer at its finest. The short chapters made it almost impossible for me to put down, as the viewpoints shifted rapidly from one character to the other. With the events in the book taking place over just a week (at least from Birch's point of view), it was a fast paced read. What You Pay For is a tense and absorbing read and a very satisfying book. Claire Askew makes it seem like the tricky second novel is a breeze with her accomplished and compelling writing. I can't wait to read more about DI Birch.
December 26, 2020
I can’t believe I missed What You Pay For by Claire Askew when it was released in 2019. I was a huge fan of her debut, All the Hidden Truths. This time around, things are about to hit far too close to home for DI Helen Birch, and everything for Helen is about to change. It’s been fourteen years since her younger brother, Charlie disappeared. The reason she joined the police force was because she wanted to try and find out what had happened to him. When Charlie turns up on her doorstep out of the blue, Helen has no idea, how much of an impact this will have on her career as a police officer, and the current case they are working on.
Claire Askew brilliantly builds up the suspense in this book, and she opens it in a very dramatic way. As the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie’s disappearance approaches, Helen starts receiving strange calls. No one speaks. All she can hear is heavy breathing. Helen’s first thought is that this is someone’s idea of a joke, but her whole life is about to be turned upside down. In some chapters, we also hear from the voice of an unknown individual. I thought these scenes, in particular, were very chilling.
What You Pay For makes for a really gripping read. I wanted to find out what Charlie had been up to in the fourteen years since he first went missing. I wanted to know why he was willing to put his family through the pain and misery of not knowing where he was for all these years. His mother would never know as she died a few years before his return. And during that time, Helen had convinced herself that her brother was dead, and the most she could hope for was for some form of closure.
Claire Askew’s writing pulls you into the story, making this a very difficult read to put down. I needed answers to the questions that were buzzing around inside my mind as I was reading it. I wanted to know just what exactly Charlie had got himself involved in. Why did it mean that he could never return home to his family when he knew they were searching for him? I wanted to see how much of an impact his return would have on his future relationship with his sister. Would she be able to forgive him for staying away for all this time? It seemed impossible that things could go back to just how they were before he went missing. Too much time had passed, and Charlie had changed beyond recognition for Helen.
The DI Helen Birch books are turning into a must-read crime series. If you haven’t yet discovered it, then you need to read these books as soon as possible
Claire Askew brilliantly builds up the suspense in this book, and she opens it in a very dramatic way. As the fourteenth anniversary of Charlie’s disappearance approaches, Helen starts receiving strange calls. No one speaks. All she can hear is heavy breathing. Helen’s first thought is that this is someone’s idea of a joke, but her whole life is about to be turned upside down. In some chapters, we also hear from the voice of an unknown individual. I thought these scenes, in particular, were very chilling.
What You Pay For makes for a really gripping read. I wanted to find out what Charlie had been up to in the fourteen years since he first went missing. I wanted to know why he was willing to put his family through the pain and misery of not knowing where he was for all these years. His mother would never know as she died a few years before his return. And during that time, Helen had convinced herself that her brother was dead, and the most she could hope for was for some form of closure.
Claire Askew’s writing pulls you into the story, making this a very difficult read to put down. I needed answers to the questions that were buzzing around inside my mind as I was reading it. I wanted to know just what exactly Charlie had got himself involved in. Why did it mean that he could never return home to his family when he knew they were searching for him? I wanted to see how much of an impact his return would have on his future relationship with his sister. Would she be able to forgive him for staying away for all this time? It seemed impossible that things could go back to just how they were before he went missing. Too much time had passed, and Charlie had changed beyond recognition for Helen.
The DI Helen Birch books are turning into a must-read crime series. If you haven’t yet discovered it, then you need to read these books as soon as possible
April 3, 2020
Claire has done it again, written a roller coaster of a thriller that makes her main character question every aspect of her ideas of justice and loyalty! This is Claire’s follow up to her impressive debut and once again it has been nominated for numerous awards. This book needs to be hyped up more!
.
The main story of bringing down a Glasgoweian gangster takes an interesting turn when Helen’s long lost brother Charlie turns up on her doorstep. This makes Helen question everything - does she help her brother or apprehend a whole criminal network?
.
I loved the dual narrator aspect to the novel. It was interesting to see a criminal portrayed with a heart. It shows how people get sucked into criminality without knowing at first. Charlie was multi-faceted, yes there were dark aspects to his actions and personality but you could still see the brother hidden inside.
.
I kept questioning every character about whether they were helping the criminal organisation but you know what was lovely, no one was! Every character showed us hope in humanity - the DI from Glasgow - ✔️, Charlie ✔️, Helen ✔️, Amy ✔️, Anjun ✔️, Toad ✔️.
.
I would recommend this book to anyone, Claire is definitely a ‘princess of Tartan Noir’ (Sorry Val is the Queen)! Roll on the next one!
.
The main story of bringing down a Glasgoweian gangster takes an interesting turn when Helen’s long lost brother Charlie turns up on her doorstep. This makes Helen question everything - does she help her brother or apprehend a whole criminal network?
.
I loved the dual narrator aspect to the novel. It was interesting to see a criminal portrayed with a heart. It shows how people get sucked into criminality without knowing at first. Charlie was multi-faceted, yes there were dark aspects to his actions and personality but you could still see the brother hidden inside.
.
I kept questioning every character about whether they were helping the criminal organisation but you know what was lovely, no one was! Every character showed us hope in humanity - the DI from Glasgow - ✔️, Charlie ✔️, Helen ✔️, Amy ✔️, Anjun ✔️, Toad ✔️.
.
I would recommend this book to anyone, Claire is definitely a ‘princess of Tartan Noir’ (Sorry Val is the Queen)! Roll on the next one!
January 7, 2025
After being captivated by Claire Askew's first instalment in the DI Helen Birch series, I eagerly dived into What You Pay For. This fast-paced episode plunged into the world of organized crime—a genre not typically among my top picks, yet I found it handled with skill and nuance.
The author weaves a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, though it's worth noting that the squeamish should brace themselves for some intense moments. The storyline is deftly plotted, with twists and turns that hold your interest throughout.
What particularly stood out is the development of DI Helen Birch's character. We gain deeper insights into her life beyond the badge, adding layers to her persona and making her all the more compelling. This behind-the-scenes glimpse enriches the reader’s connection to her and sets the stage for more intricate character arcs in future instalments.
Overall, What You Pay For is a well-crafted, thrilling read that both newcomers and fans of the series will appreciate. I can't wait to see where DI Birch's journey takes us next!
The author weaves a gripping narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, though it's worth noting that the squeamish should brace themselves for some intense moments. The storyline is deftly plotted, with twists and turns that hold your interest throughout.
What particularly stood out is the development of DI Helen Birch's character. We gain deeper insights into her life beyond the badge, adding layers to her persona and making her all the more compelling. This behind-the-scenes glimpse enriches the reader’s connection to her and sets the stage for more intricate character arcs in future instalments.
Overall, What You Pay For is a well-crafted, thrilling read that both newcomers and fans of the series will appreciate. I can't wait to see where DI Birch's journey takes us next!
August 25, 2022
4 ☆
Finished reading ... What you pay for / Claire Askew ... 20 August 2022
Series: DI Birch, No.2
ISBN: 9781473673113 ... 352 pp.
As well written as the first in this series, All the Hidden Truths, but quite different.
Birch's missing brother reappears after 14 years and we are plunged into the world of crime gangs and international drug smuggling, neither being what I particularly want to read about. (Why I went slow, and now am way behind, on Rebus and Big Ger.)
The two stories are told alternately until they clash together towards the end. Who survives, who doesn't and how much can a cop get away with when bending the rules?
A jolly good read if this is your scene, and that's how I've ☆ rated it.
If the rate was for my personal like of the chosen subject matter, it would be a bit less.
Borrowed from my local library.
Finished reading ... What you pay for / Claire Askew ... 20 August 2022
Series: DI Birch, No.2
ISBN: 9781473673113 ... 352 pp.
As well written as the first in this series, All the Hidden Truths, but quite different.
Birch's missing brother reappears after 14 years and we are plunged into the world of crime gangs and international drug smuggling, neither being what I particularly want to read about. (Why I went slow, and now am way behind, on Rebus and Big Ger.)
The two stories are told alternately until they clash together towards the end. Who survives, who doesn't and how much can a cop get away with when bending the rules?
A jolly good read if this is your scene, and that's how I've ☆ rated it.
If the rate was for my personal like of the chosen subject matter, it would be a bit less.
Borrowed from my local library.
September 5, 2021
This is a lovely sequel, and I love that the story is from 2 perspectives. Proving that even if you have made some bad choices in life, you can still make amends.
Carradice is a real piece of work and he is written really well. You are convinced of his evil mob-boss character and he fuels and drives the plot nicely. Helen is a bad-ass cop, and she goes through some very moving challenges throughout the course of the book. I love the book, I love the story, I love the characters. Amazing read.
I will definitely be reading more of Claire's stuff in the future.
P.S It took me a little longer than normal to read it because I have been very busy of late.
Carradice is a real piece of work and he is written really well. You are convinced of his evil mob-boss character and he fuels and drives the plot nicely. Helen is a bad-ass cop, and she goes through some very moving challenges throughout the course of the book. I love the book, I love the story, I love the characters. Amazing read.
I will definitely be reading more of Claire's stuff in the future.
P.S It took me a little longer than normal to read it because I have been very busy of late.
February 3, 2024
Following on from the very good All the Hidden Truths where Charlie was a back story, this is now the main focus in What you Pay For. Entering the world of organised crime we find out what really happened to Helen’s missing brother. A slow burner but worth sticking with as the tension ramps up. The author does a great job of letting us inside Helen’s head and I particularly liked the bits where she talks to herself adding a touch of realism. I like Helen, but feel the story would be more authentic if she was cast as a DS and not a DI, but that is just a minor gripe. All in all despite no twists or surprises this is a riveting read.
December 2, 2019
A gripping tale told alternately by two narrators - one is Helen Birch, the other is her brother Charlie.
Birch's tale is what is happening in current time, Charlie's brings us up to date with what he has been doing for the past 14 years and why he has come to her.
Birch should turn Charlie in - he has committed more serious crimes than you can count on both hands. But she desperately wants to make sure he will be safe, but it really comes down to a choice between her career and his freedom. She can't have both.
Birch's tale is what is happening in current time, Charlie's brings us up to date with what he has been doing for the past 14 years and why he has come to her.
Birch should turn Charlie in - he has committed more serious crimes than you can count on both hands. But she desperately wants to make sure he will be safe, but it really comes down to a choice between her career and his freedom. She can't have both.
April 6, 2020
......you pay little to read such a lot
Not sure where to start - oh yes, it's a very good book. It is very violent in places, where you prefer to skip a few lines, but it rattles along like a McIlvanney book does. It knows where it is going and how to get there
which sounds easy but too many thriller writers don't know how to do it. This writer does and more. Be prepared for one of the nastiest pieces of villain short of a Lecter that you will see in a fiction book. Enough of me, get stuck in!
Not sure where to start - oh yes, it's a very good book. It is very violent in places, where you prefer to skip a few lines, but it rattles along like a McIlvanney book does. It knows where it is going and how to get there
which sounds easy but too many thriller writers don't know how to do it. This writer does and more. Be prepared for one of the nastiest pieces of villain short of a Lecter that you will see in a fiction book. Enough of me, get stuck in!
June 15, 2020
Longlisted for the 2020 Dagger prize for best crime novel, this is the second in a series with A female Detective. The first in the series (All the hidden truths) was listed For the same prize last year.
I think this author is at her best when writing action themes. The opening scene taking place in a water fight was outstanding, as were several very scary scenes that took place at night. Unfortunately the plot didn’t stand out for me like her first book in the series and relied on an unbelievable coincidence.
I think this author is at her best when writing action themes. The opening scene taking place in a water fight was outstanding, as were several very scary scenes that took place at night. Unfortunately the plot didn’t stand out for me like her first book in the series and relied on an unbelievable coincidence.
April 28, 2020
A complex fiction that draws you in from the start. A plausible tale of how a young guy gets drawn into organised crime. Interesting concepts of family and morality. We are all a mixture of light and shade; good people do bad things and so called bad people do good things. A more complex rendering of ‘honour amongst thieves’. I liked DI Birch and found the cast line up a well rounded bunch.
If you enjoy crime fiction, you’ll enjoy this ‘cut above’ Scottish based novel.
If you enjoy crime fiction, you’ll enjoy this ‘cut above’ Scottish based novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2020
100% Recommend that you read Claire Askew's first two DO "Birch" Novels
Claire Askew is an excellent writer.
A tale-teller.
She feels you in, strings you along.
Readers become both observer and collaborator.
I've enjoyed many crime thriller writers over the years, but Claire Askew is in my opinion, a class above.
Excellent first two books.
Highly recommended by a raddled, old fan of crime fiction.
Claire Askew is an excellent writer.
A tale-teller.
She feels you in, strings you along.
Readers become both observer and collaborator.
I've enjoyed many crime thriller writers over the years, but Claire Askew is in my opinion, a class above.
Excellent first two books.
Highly recommended by a raddled, old fan of crime fiction.
January 21, 2023
I had enjoyed the three other books in this series set around Edinburgh about Detective Helen Birch so was pleased to finally get hold of the second book in this series. While most of the story is about Helen's role in an investigation into organised crime there are chapters told from the viewpoint of her younger brother who disappeared fourteen years earlier. Having read the later books I knew how things were going to end up but this was still a good read.
September 22, 2019
Another incredible book by Claire Askew! The writing is beautiful as always. I was really impressed with the pace. I was absolutely hooked and couldn't put it down! While loving every minute of the book I was also cursing Claire for the late nights glued to the pages! Highly recommended. I cannot wait for the next one!
November 14, 2020
Fast paced Scotish police procedural and well written if a little full of troupes.
I dont normally like the 'American style' (where narrator voice changes in chapters between detective and criminal) as i prefer the who-done-it puzzle; but this was more a character based story - i guess to set up the series although its book 2. Very enjoyable nice weekend read.
I dont normally like the 'American style' (where narrator voice changes in chapters between detective and criminal) as i prefer the who-done-it puzzle; but this was more a character based story - i guess to set up the series although its book 2. Very enjoyable nice weekend read.
August 20, 2019
I got a proof copy of this and it’s brilliant, even better than the first.
The story continues where the last left off, following the life of DI Birch. It’s a great read full of action and it’s written superbly.
The story continues where the last left off, following the life of DI Birch. It’s a great read full of action and it’s written superbly.
September 12, 2019
This is the second book by Claire Askew in the DI Birch series and it is totally engrossing and a riveting read. It concerns her brother Charlie who disappeared 14 years ago and hasn’t been seen since. It is about violence, gangsters, saunas, police informers and love.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews