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Harry McCoy #3
Bobby March Will Live Forever
WHO IS TO BLAME WHEN NO ONE IS INNOCENT?
The papers want blood.
The force wants results.
The law must be served, whatever the cost.
July 1973. The Glasgow drugs trade is booming and Bobby March, the city's own rock-star hero, has just ODed in a central hotel.
Alice Kelly is twelve years old, lonely. And missing.
Meanwhile the niece of McCoy's boss has fallen in with a bad crowd. When she goes AWOL, McCoy is asked--off the books--to find her.
McCoy has a hunch. But does he have enough time?
The papers want blood.
The force wants results.
The law must be served, whatever the cost.
July 1973. The Glasgow drugs trade is booming and Bobby March, the city's own rock-star hero, has just ODed in a central hotel.
Alice Kelly is twelve years old, lonely. And missing.
Meanwhile the niece of McCoy's boss has fallen in with a bad crowd. When she goes AWOL, McCoy is asked--off the books--to find her.
McCoy has a hunch. But does he have enough time?
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2020
90 people are currently reading
849 people want to read
About the author
Alan Parks
10 books114 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Alan Parks has worked in the music industry for over twenty years. His debut novel Bloody January was one of the top crime debuts of 2018 and was shortlisted for the prestigious international crime prize the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière. He lives and works in Glasgow
Alan Parks has worked in the music industry for over twenty years. His debut novel Bloody January was one of the top crime debuts of 2018 and was shortlisted for the prestigious international crime prize the Grand Prix de Littérature Policière. He lives and works in Glasgow
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews
February 14, 2020
Let’s just talk about grim for a second. Grim is 1973’s Glasgow, a place of hard men, hard drinkers, gangsters carrying out unspeakable acts in order to protect their patch, extreme violence on the streets, and corruption, not only amongst its criminal fraternity, but also among some of its police officers, who were not averse to beating a confession out of a suspect whether the suspect is guilty or not! Add to that mix, a vast consumption of drugs and alcohol among police officers whilst on duty, and you have an idea of how police interviews were conducted. Does it make for a terrific read though? You bet it does!
Bobby March, Glasgow’s very own world renowned rock star, has just had his last fix, his body being found in a hotel after a massive overdose, but whether it was intentional or not, is another matter. Meanwhile in another part of town, 13 year old Alice Kelly has disappeared after setting off for the local shop, just a matter of yards away.
In addition to the above two cases, DI Harry McCoy is approached by his boss Murray, who wants him to find his 15 year old niece Laura who has got in with a bad crowd, and has now gone missing. Laura’s father John (a rising star in local politics) wants it kept out of the press. His 15 year old daughter is missing, and he wants it hushed up? McCoy isn’t happy about that, he thinks there’s something very fishy going on, and he’s determined to find out what that is!
DI Harry McCoy isn’t at the helm of the main investigations this time around, he’s been seconded to more menial tasks thanks to his nemesis Raeburn. These two go back a long way and there’s certainly no love lost between them, but having to try and solve cases that Raeburn has been unable to, doesn’t go down well with Harry, especially when he could be conducting the search for Alice Kelly, but Raeburn has banned him from the inquiry, and Harry’s just biding his time until he can exact his revenge.
This is the third in the DI Harry McCoy series (though it can be read as a stand-alone). McCoy makes for a wonderful protagonist, (though you might question that opinion, given what I’m about to to say about him) he drinks himself into oblivion, has a liking for illegal drugs, he can be obnoxious at times, mixes with one of Glasgow’s most feared gangsters Stevie Cooper, and isn’t afraid to use violence if a situation calls for it, but you know something? Under all that, there is a kind heart, one who will give his last fiver to someone less fortunate, and unlike some of his colleagues, he actually cares about the truth, cares about Glasgow’s victims.
Only the third in the series, but I’m already hooked! Grim, gritty, an extremely strong and interesting protagonist, and a very realistic portrayal of Glasgow in the early 70’s. Has to be another 5 star rating for author Alan Parks.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate Books for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Bobby March, Glasgow’s very own world renowned rock star, has just had his last fix, his body being found in a hotel after a massive overdose, but whether it was intentional or not, is another matter. Meanwhile in another part of town, 13 year old Alice Kelly has disappeared after setting off for the local shop, just a matter of yards away.
In addition to the above two cases, DI Harry McCoy is approached by his boss Murray, who wants him to find his 15 year old niece Laura who has got in with a bad crowd, and has now gone missing. Laura’s father John (a rising star in local politics) wants it kept out of the press. His 15 year old daughter is missing, and he wants it hushed up? McCoy isn’t happy about that, he thinks there’s something very fishy going on, and he’s determined to find out what that is!
DI Harry McCoy isn’t at the helm of the main investigations this time around, he’s been seconded to more menial tasks thanks to his nemesis Raeburn. These two go back a long way and there’s certainly no love lost between them, but having to try and solve cases that Raeburn has been unable to, doesn’t go down well with Harry, especially when he could be conducting the search for Alice Kelly, but Raeburn has banned him from the inquiry, and Harry’s just biding his time until he can exact his revenge.
This is the third in the DI Harry McCoy series (though it can be read as a stand-alone). McCoy makes for a wonderful protagonist, (though you might question that opinion, given what I’m about to to say about him) he drinks himself into oblivion, has a liking for illegal drugs, he can be obnoxious at times, mixes with one of Glasgow’s most feared gangsters Stevie Cooper, and isn’t afraid to use violence if a situation calls for it, but you know something? Under all that, there is a kind heart, one who will give his last fiver to someone less fortunate, and unlike some of his colleagues, he actually cares about the truth, cares about Glasgow’s victims.
Only the third in the series, but I’m already hooked! Grim, gritty, an extremely strong and interesting protagonist, and a very realistic portrayal of Glasgow in the early 70’s. Has to be another 5 star rating for author Alan Parks.
* Thank you to Netgalley and Canongate Books for an ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
January 4, 2020
This is the third in Alan Parks's stellar Scottish noir historical crime fiction series featuring the anti-hero DI Harry McCoy set in a 1970s violent and brutal Glasgow of hard men, criminal gangsters, bent and corrupt police officers, fugged and smoky pubs with the social norms and attitudes of the period. It is July 1973, the drug trade has tightened its grip on the city, and in the sweltering heat of the summer, a young 12 year old girl, Alice Kelly, has gone missing. The media is baying for blood and the police force is under intense pressure for a result. With McCoy's boss seconded elsewhere, Detective Sergeant Bernie Raeburn is in charge, Raeburn is looking for glory, detests and loathes McCoy with a passion, blocking his involvement in the hunt for Alice, intent on goading Harry into reacting so he can be pushed out of the force.
Harry is keeping his cool so far as the bent Raeburn is concerned, only just, as he works on bank heists that Raeburn failed to get any results in, and is on the scene of has been rock star Bobby March's tragic death from an overdose in a hotel room. Harry had been to his concert the night before, a shambling affair, but nostalgic with the odd moment of brilliance from one of the best guitarists of his generation. It seems a straightforward case, but there are anomalies, and according to Bobby's dad, there is a missing bag. Chief Inspector Murray wants McCoy to find his 15 year old niece, Laura, who has run away from home but to keep it below the radar as his brother is seeking political office. Stevie Cooper, McCoy's best friend and gangland boss is not in a good place, and the desperately worried Harry, for once has to come to his rescue, discovering that the ex -love of his life, Angela, is now in Stevie's employ.
In the dark and bleak storylines, Parks skilfully knits together and connects the multiple threads that come together in a explosive finale. We learn of Bobby March's career as a rock star musician and his drug fuelled history in a narrative that goes back and forth in time. McCoy finds himself facing terror, death and vicious beatings, attending a funeral in Northern Ireland, and finally driven to the end of his tether when it comes to Raeburn after an unwarranted death. This is riveting historical crime fiction, if you have yet to encounter DI Harry McCoy, I strongly urge you to read this hard hitting series set in the mean and violent streets of Glasgow that Parks brings vibrantly alive. However, I do suggest that you start at the beginning. Highly recommended and I cannot wait for the next addition. Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.
Harry is keeping his cool so far as the bent Raeburn is concerned, only just, as he works on bank heists that Raeburn failed to get any results in, and is on the scene of has been rock star Bobby March's tragic death from an overdose in a hotel room. Harry had been to his concert the night before, a shambling affair, but nostalgic with the odd moment of brilliance from one of the best guitarists of his generation. It seems a straightforward case, but there are anomalies, and according to Bobby's dad, there is a missing bag. Chief Inspector Murray wants McCoy to find his 15 year old niece, Laura, who has run away from home but to keep it below the radar as his brother is seeking political office. Stevie Cooper, McCoy's best friend and gangland boss is not in a good place, and the desperately worried Harry, for once has to come to his rescue, discovering that the ex -love of his life, Angela, is now in Stevie's employ.
In the dark and bleak storylines, Parks skilfully knits together and connects the multiple threads that come together in a explosive finale. We learn of Bobby March's career as a rock star musician and his drug fuelled history in a narrative that goes back and forth in time. McCoy finds himself facing terror, death and vicious beatings, attending a funeral in Northern Ireland, and finally driven to the end of his tether when it comes to Raeburn after an unwarranted death. This is riveting historical crime fiction, if you have yet to encounter DI Harry McCoy, I strongly urge you to read this hard hitting series set in the mean and violent streets of Glasgow that Parks brings vibrantly alive. However, I do suggest that you start at the beginning. Highly recommended and I cannot wait for the next addition. Many thanks to Canongate for an ARC.
February 5, 2021
I know we’re only at book #3 but this series has quickly become a favourite. The time period, the setting, the characters…..all these elements add so much colour, atmosphere & personality to each instalment. Mix this distinctive vibe with compelling drama & you have a series that stands out in a crowded genre.
It kicks off with a prologue that is the stuff of parents’ nightmares. Twelve year old Alice Kelly has disappeared without a trace. It seems like every cop in Glasgow is on the case…except Harry. He had a run-in years ago with the man who is temping as his boss & apparently he has a long memory. While colleague Wattie runs down clues, Harry is assigned a hopeless robbery case that is going cold. Then he takes a call from a local hotel & finds Bobby March.
Contrary to the title, there’s zero chance of Bobby becoming immortal. At least not in the physical sense. What Harry finds instead is a sad cliché……an almost-was/has-been rock star in a cheap hotel room with a needle in his arm. Back in the day, Bobby came so close but eventually he was just another one hit wonder. In alternate chapters we go back & follow the arc of his career, from his first high to his last.
In the present, his demise looks pretty straightforward but don’t worry. As usual, Harry has a buffet of problems. His boss may become a permanent fixture, the search for Alice has gone horribly sideways, his old boss needs a favour & old pal Cooper needs a babysitter. He’s like one of those circus performers who is in perpetual motion to keep their spinning plates in the air.
The result is an entertaining & gripping read. The author’s style & story telling skills have been incredibly self assured from book #1 & that continues here. Characters appear on the page fully formed and come out swinging. At the centre of it all is Harry, a likeable & sympathetic guy who’s like a cross between Rebus & Bosch. But make no mistake…he is his own man. He may look the other way from time to time but his loyalty to Cooper is a testament to the personal tenets that drive his decisions.
The pacing is bang on & for the first time in a while, I found myself happily immersed in a good story. The only thing missing is a soundtrack. The classic bands & songs mentioned in Bobby’s chapters had me head bobbing along to old favourites (yes, I am that old 🤨 )
By the time it’s all over, most of the threads are tied up & poor Harry has a few more scars to add to his collection. I just wanted to drag him off to a quiet pub somewhere & buy him a pint. Maybe 2. Here’s hoping he gets a nap in before "The April Dead" arrives.
It kicks off with a prologue that is the stuff of parents’ nightmares. Twelve year old Alice Kelly has disappeared without a trace. It seems like every cop in Glasgow is on the case…except Harry. He had a run-in years ago with the man who is temping as his boss & apparently he has a long memory. While colleague Wattie runs down clues, Harry is assigned a hopeless robbery case that is going cold. Then he takes a call from a local hotel & finds Bobby March.
Contrary to the title, there’s zero chance of Bobby becoming immortal. At least not in the physical sense. What Harry finds instead is a sad cliché……an almost-was/has-been rock star in a cheap hotel room with a needle in his arm. Back in the day, Bobby came so close but eventually he was just another one hit wonder. In alternate chapters we go back & follow the arc of his career, from his first high to his last.
In the present, his demise looks pretty straightforward but don’t worry. As usual, Harry has a buffet of problems. His boss may become a permanent fixture, the search for Alice has gone horribly sideways, his old boss needs a favour & old pal Cooper needs a babysitter. He’s like one of those circus performers who is in perpetual motion to keep their spinning plates in the air.
The result is an entertaining & gripping read. The author’s style & story telling skills have been incredibly self assured from book #1 & that continues here. Characters appear on the page fully formed and come out swinging. At the centre of it all is Harry, a likeable & sympathetic guy who’s like a cross between Rebus & Bosch. But make no mistake…he is his own man. He may look the other way from time to time but his loyalty to Cooper is a testament to the personal tenets that drive his decisions.
The pacing is bang on & for the first time in a while, I found myself happily immersed in a good story. The only thing missing is a soundtrack. The classic bands & songs mentioned in Bobby’s chapters had me head bobbing along to old favourites (yes, I am that old 🤨 )
By the time it’s all over, most of the threads are tied up & poor Harry has a few more scars to add to his collection. I just wanted to drag him off to a quiet pub somewhere & buy him a pint. Maybe 2. Here’s hoping he gets a nap in before "The April Dead" arrives.
March 14, 2021
March Madness.
Setting: Glasgow Scotland 1973
Bobby March, iconic local rock star, has just been found dead in a hotel room, needle still in his arm.
Meanwhile, a thirteen year old girl has disappeared and the media and public are panicked for a solution. The investigation however, is going nowhere.
If that isn’t enough, Detective Harry McCoy’s boss asks him to look into the disappearance of his teenage niece. The parents think she’s run away but they aren’t sure and don’t want the press alerted. It seems that the publicity may hurt the father’s chances in the upcoming election.
There are several mysteries to be solved and detective McCoy has his plate full. Although only thirty, he’s a bit of a curmudgeon as an old school tough cop with connections to nefarious entities which he mines to dangerous depths.
Whether he’s side stepping or head-on confronting his immediate supervisor, cosying with iniquitous acquaintances or navigating past romances, he mostly keeps his cool in the blistering heat wave.
I loved the writing in this book! Full of local colloquialism, I had to look up a couple of words including “nonce” which was uttered more than a few times. Some of the descriptions made me smile too including this one:
“Jamie was his name, some big Highlander with sandy hair and hands the size of shovels. There were fewer of them now, these big Highland lads…. big gruff guys from up north, took no shit.”
Bobby March Will Live Forever works perfectly as a stand alone although it’s the third in a series. Any history is irrelevant to the story so I felt like I was reading a singleton.
It wasn’t until I checked the author’s previous books after I finished that I saw the titles were connected: Bloody January, February’s Son, Bobby March, and the fourth titled The April Dead, which is due to publish later this month. I’m on board for all of these!
I purchased a hardback copy from Amazon.
Setting: Glasgow Scotland 1973
Bobby March, iconic local rock star, has just been found dead in a hotel room, needle still in his arm.
Meanwhile, a thirteen year old girl has disappeared and the media and public are panicked for a solution. The investigation however, is going nowhere.
If that isn’t enough, Detective Harry McCoy’s boss asks him to look into the disappearance of his teenage niece. The parents think she’s run away but they aren’t sure and don’t want the press alerted. It seems that the publicity may hurt the father’s chances in the upcoming election.
There are several mysteries to be solved and detective McCoy has his plate full. Although only thirty, he’s a bit of a curmudgeon as an old school tough cop with connections to nefarious entities which he mines to dangerous depths.
Whether he’s side stepping or head-on confronting his immediate supervisor, cosying with iniquitous acquaintances or navigating past romances, he mostly keeps his cool in the blistering heat wave.
I loved the writing in this book! Full of local colloquialism, I had to look up a couple of words including “nonce” which was uttered more than a few times. Some of the descriptions made me smile too including this one:
“Jamie was his name, some big Highlander with sandy hair and hands the size of shovels. There were fewer of them now, these big Highland lads…. big gruff guys from up north, took no shit.”
Bobby March Will Live Forever works perfectly as a stand alone although it’s the third in a series. Any history is irrelevant to the story so I felt like I was reading a singleton.
It wasn’t until I checked the author’s previous books after I finished that I saw the titles were connected: Bloody January, February’s Son, Bobby March, and the fourth titled The April Dead, which is due to publish later this month. I’m on board for all of these!
I purchased a hardback copy from Amazon.
April 6, 2020
The third episode in Alan Parks Harry McCoy series, this is excellent gritty Scottish noir. Set in the dark and grimy streets of 1970s Glasgow, a city overun by drugs, gangs and hard men, Harry McCoy is that rare thing, an honest cop in a world of graft and corruption. Although not one above using his underworld connections and turning a blind eye if he feels its warranted.
In the sweltering summer of 1973, with his boss DCI Murray seconded to another station for six months, Harry has been sidelined by the acting head, Bernie Raeburn, who harbours an old grudge against him. Raeburn and the rest of the team are investigating the case of a missing girl while Harry is left in the office to look into a string of bank robberies. When he is called out to a hotel where popular rock star Bobby March has died of a suspected drug overdose after a concert, something about the scene troubles him and he sets out to fill in the details of Bobby's last night. He's also asked by DI Murray to look for his runaway fifteen year old niece, but to do so quietly off the books as her father is a politician.
Parks paints a darkly atmospheric picture of the gritty streets of 1970s Glasgow, grim and hard edged with hard drinking men in smoky pubs and shebeens. There is also humour as Harry tries to get his best friend and crime boss Stevie Cooper off drugs and attends a funeral in Ireland. Harry's ex partner Angie, who he discovers is now working for Stevie also lightens the atmosphere with her exploits, as does Stevie's new fixer Jumbo who'd really rather be a gardener. As well as great characters, Parks expertly weaves together various threads to make for a gripping plot.
With many thanks to Canongate and Netgalley for a digital copy to read.
In the sweltering summer of 1973, with his boss DCI Murray seconded to another station for six months, Harry has been sidelined by the acting head, Bernie Raeburn, who harbours an old grudge against him. Raeburn and the rest of the team are investigating the case of a missing girl while Harry is left in the office to look into a string of bank robberies. When he is called out to a hotel where popular rock star Bobby March has died of a suspected drug overdose after a concert, something about the scene troubles him and he sets out to fill in the details of Bobby's last night. He's also asked by DI Murray to look for his runaway fifteen year old niece, but to do so quietly off the books as her father is a politician.
Parks paints a darkly atmospheric picture of the gritty streets of 1970s Glasgow, grim and hard edged with hard drinking men in smoky pubs and shebeens. There is also humour as Harry tries to get his best friend and crime boss Stevie Cooper off drugs and attends a funeral in Ireland. Harry's ex partner Angie, who he discovers is now working for Stevie also lightens the atmosphere with her exploits, as does Stevie's new fixer Jumbo who'd really rather be a gardener. As well as great characters, Parks expertly weaves together various threads to make for a gripping plot.
With many thanks to Canongate and Netgalley for a digital copy to read.
June 27, 2022
A solid four stars. A Steady Eddie. The time period and atmosphere give the book a genuine feel of realism as if it really happened. A tough nut to crack in the writing world. This is a mystery construct that tends to plod along dealing out information in small doses. There are a number of plot lines that are juggled with true aplomb, yet none of which leaps out as the main one. Interesting choice of story structure and kept this reader on his toes wondering what was going to happen. This is the main job of a mystery.
At times the choice of language in order to hold true to the country and time period felt a little overwrought. Along with the use of "Wee." It's on every page usually multiple times.
But what carries the book most is the character, the time and place, and the atmosphere, all difficult to maintain. It's easy to see why this book won the Edgar.
d.
At times the choice of language in order to hold true to the country and time period felt a little overwrought. Along with the use of "Wee." It's on every page usually multiple times.
But what carries the book most is the character, the time and place, and the atmosphere, all difficult to maintain. It's easy to see why this book won the Edgar.
d.
August 24, 2022
Following Bloody January and February's Son, this is the third novel in Alan Parks' excellent series featuring DI Harry McCoy of the Glasgow police force. McCoy is a battered veteran of the force who's divorced and living in a crappy apartment, who drinks too much, uses the occasional illegal substance, and is best friends with one of the city's leading gangsters. Clearly Harry is something of a compromised individual, but he's also a brilliant detective who makes for a very compelling protagonist.
The year is 1973, and as the book opens a young girl named Alice Kelly is missing and feared kidnapped. Spurred on by the newspapers, the entire city is caught up in the search for Alice, demanding that the police act quickly to find her and bring her safely home. Sadly McCoy's boss is away on assignment, and the investigation is being let by McCoy's bitter rival, Bernie Raeburn. Raeburn has always been jealous of McCoy who continually outshines him and Raeburn is determined to hog all the glory from this case for himself. He thus refuses to allow McCoy to play any role in the investigation and assigns him to meaningless cases far removed from the action.
McCoy, though, will soon have plenty to fill his plate, beginning with the death by overdose of Bobby March, a very talented rock star who nearly made it big before succumbing to the usual temptations of the rock life. Harry finds March dead in a hotel room, but was it an accidental overdose or was it a deliberate homicide?
At the same time, McCoy's real boss reaches out from his other posting and asks Harry to try to find his fifteen-year-old niece who has run away from home. The girl's father has political ambitions and wishes at all costs to avoid a scandal, and so Harry is supposed to find the girl and get her safely home on the QT.
Before long, McCoy will be up to his neck in trouble, both personal and professional, tangled up with a variety of sinister and amoral characters. This is a very atmospheric novel and the city of Glasgow becomes a major character in and of itself. The book is very well-written; the tension builds from the first page and, all in all, this is a very satisfying hard=boiled novel.
The year is 1973, and as the book opens a young girl named Alice Kelly is missing and feared kidnapped. Spurred on by the newspapers, the entire city is caught up in the search for Alice, demanding that the police act quickly to find her and bring her safely home. Sadly McCoy's boss is away on assignment, and the investigation is being let by McCoy's bitter rival, Bernie Raeburn. Raeburn has always been jealous of McCoy who continually outshines him and Raeburn is determined to hog all the glory from this case for himself. He thus refuses to allow McCoy to play any role in the investigation and assigns him to meaningless cases far removed from the action.
McCoy, though, will soon have plenty to fill his plate, beginning with the death by overdose of Bobby March, a very talented rock star who nearly made it big before succumbing to the usual temptations of the rock life. Harry finds March dead in a hotel room, but was it an accidental overdose or was it a deliberate homicide?
At the same time, McCoy's real boss reaches out from his other posting and asks Harry to try to find his fifteen-year-old niece who has run away from home. The girl's father has political ambitions and wishes at all costs to avoid a scandal, and so Harry is supposed to find the girl and get her safely home on the QT.
Before long, McCoy will be up to his neck in trouble, both personal and professional, tangled up with a variety of sinister and amoral characters. This is a very atmospheric novel and the city of Glasgow becomes a major character in and of itself. The book is very well-written; the tension builds from the first page and, all in all, this is a very satisfying hard=boiled novel.
June 23, 2020
Superior 1970s set Tartan noir with a flawed protagonist with a good heart. Tightly plotted & witty.
Alan Parks’ third novel in his 1970s Glasgow based series of gritty crime thrillers reunites readers with emotionally damaged, flawed but morally sound protagonist, DC Harry McCoy, in a brilliantly plotted and truly absorbing encounter. Big on atmosphere the city of Glasgow is once again portrayed vividly and whilst the casual violence and culture of drink, drugs and backhanders to polis remain, the stifling heatwave of July 1973 takes the edge off the bleakness. Drugs have firmly taken hold in the city but for Glasgow constabulary the disappearance of thirteen-year-old Alice Kelly has most of the team occupied and the papers and top brass impatient for results. DS Bernie Raeburn is acting up and in charge of the investigation in the absence of DCI Murray and due to his enmity towards McCoy is keeping him sidelined. In a further effort to antagonise him Raeburn has chosen McCoy’s regular partner, Wattie, as his number two on the case. For McCoy Bernie Raeburn epitomises the type of bad polis that he has always resisted becoming in a time when corrupt cops are two a penny.
Shafted and assigned to looking into a series of bank robberies that have gone stale and finding and returning the fifteen-year-old niece of his boss, DCI Murray, to her suburban home McCoy’s first headache of the day comes in the form of a suspected overdose in a hotel. And when the unexpected victim is the now washed-up best session guitarist of his generation, Bobby March, discovered less than twenty four hours after entering the country with three times the normal level of heroin in his bloodstream and a missing bag according to his father, it starts to look decidedly deliberate. With gangland boss and McCoy’s long-term pal, Stevie Cooper, needing a trusted friend more than ever the unorthodox relationship between jaded cop and drugs kingpin once again comes to the fore and proves no less fascinating or darkly humorous than in previous instalments.
The story plays out from the perspective of troubled McCoy with the exception of brief excerpts which provide an overview of Bobby March’s downward spiral of drugs. Watching McCoy work these various lines of inquiry makes for mesmerising reading as he rubs shoulders with criminals and shady contacts in a time of ambiguous morals, far less politically correct attitudes and when police brutality were the norm. Without too much probing all three narratives becomes tangled and Parks’ weaves them together superbly whilst keeping all of the plates spinning and making it hard to look away. Parks’ eye for characterisation introduces some memorably depraved figures and McCoy himself is a wonderful creation. Whilst far from perfect, McCoy’s understanding of the type of the kind of damage limitation policing that keeps the wheels of a huge city mired in problems turning makes him feel relatable yet nobody’s fool. Characters in the story get what they want through a mixture of violence, blackmail and the threat of reprisals and whilst it might not be subtle it is very effective and hugely compelling.
Superior characterisation, authentic dialogue and a wryly witty narrative that with each instalment deepens McCoy’s integral relationships with Stevie Cooper, Chief Inspector Murray and Wattie. McCoy’s innate goodness is a wonderful counterbalance to the violent 1970s streets of Glasgow city and a time of questionable policing, attitudes and behaviour and I cannot wait for more. Highly recommended.
Alan Parks’ third novel in his 1970s Glasgow based series of gritty crime thrillers reunites readers with emotionally damaged, flawed but morally sound protagonist, DC Harry McCoy, in a brilliantly plotted and truly absorbing encounter. Big on atmosphere the city of Glasgow is once again portrayed vividly and whilst the casual violence and culture of drink, drugs and backhanders to polis remain, the stifling heatwave of July 1973 takes the edge off the bleakness. Drugs have firmly taken hold in the city but for Glasgow constabulary the disappearance of thirteen-year-old Alice Kelly has most of the team occupied and the papers and top brass impatient for results. DS Bernie Raeburn is acting up and in charge of the investigation in the absence of DCI Murray and due to his enmity towards McCoy is keeping him sidelined. In a further effort to antagonise him Raeburn has chosen McCoy’s regular partner, Wattie, as his number two on the case. For McCoy Bernie Raeburn epitomises the type of bad polis that he has always resisted becoming in a time when corrupt cops are two a penny.
Shafted and assigned to looking into a series of bank robberies that have gone stale and finding and returning the fifteen-year-old niece of his boss, DCI Murray, to her suburban home McCoy’s first headache of the day comes in the form of a suspected overdose in a hotel. And when the unexpected victim is the now washed-up best session guitarist of his generation, Bobby March, discovered less than twenty four hours after entering the country with three times the normal level of heroin in his bloodstream and a missing bag according to his father, it starts to look decidedly deliberate. With gangland boss and McCoy’s long-term pal, Stevie Cooper, needing a trusted friend more than ever the unorthodox relationship between jaded cop and drugs kingpin once again comes to the fore and proves no less fascinating or darkly humorous than in previous instalments.
The story plays out from the perspective of troubled McCoy with the exception of brief excerpts which provide an overview of Bobby March’s downward spiral of drugs. Watching McCoy work these various lines of inquiry makes for mesmerising reading as he rubs shoulders with criminals and shady contacts in a time of ambiguous morals, far less politically correct attitudes and when police brutality were the norm. Without too much probing all three narratives becomes tangled and Parks’ weaves them together superbly whilst keeping all of the plates spinning and making it hard to look away. Parks’ eye for characterisation introduces some memorably depraved figures and McCoy himself is a wonderful creation. Whilst far from perfect, McCoy’s understanding of the type of the kind of damage limitation policing that keeps the wheels of a huge city mired in problems turning makes him feel relatable yet nobody’s fool. Characters in the story get what they want through a mixture of violence, blackmail and the threat of reprisals and whilst it might not be subtle it is very effective and hugely compelling.
Superior characterisation, authentic dialogue and a wryly witty narrative that with each instalment deepens McCoy’s integral relationships with Stevie Cooper, Chief Inspector Murray and Wattie. McCoy’s innate goodness is a wonderful counterbalance to the violent 1970s streets of Glasgow city and a time of questionable policing, attitudes and behaviour and I cannot wait for more. Highly recommended.
March 4, 2020
Bobby March Will Live Forever is the third instalment in the Detective Inspector Harry McCoy historical crime fiction series set in Glasgow and is a brilliant work of Scottish/Tartan noir of every bit the impeccable standard we've come to expect from Parks. Each instalment can be read as a standalone without an issue. It's July, 1973, and at the height of summer Glasgow ripples with violent crime, gangland killings and police corruption all taking place in the searing city heat. Many of Harry’s colleagues are investigating the disappearance of teenager Alice Kelly, however, he has been banned from joining them by bent boss DS Bernie Raeburn who despises Harry with a burning passion and is looking for a reaction that'll give him a reason to get rid of the pricipalled Harry for good. Instead, Harry is looking into a number of bank heists, probing the suspicious death of rockstar Bobby March, seemingly from an overdose in his hotel room, and quietly searching off the books for Chief Inspector Murray’s rebellious runaway niece, Laura.
It’s clear that Parks was present in 70s Glasgow as the atmosphere he masterfully crafts from the dense, smoke-filled pubs frequented by many and the barroom brawls the intricate detail he pens is second to none and could only be created so authentically by someone who witnessed the violence and brutality of the city at the time; he certainly brings 1970s Glasgow vividly to life on the page. He doesn't shy away from addressing the prejudices and old-fashioned, now drastically outdated attitudes of the era and the plentiful consumption of alcohol and drugs by many including on-duty police employees of all people. This is a cracking police procedural thriller and from the opening pages, it captures your attention and keeps you in its grasp throughout. Gritty, hard-hitting and subtly sophisticated in terms of attention having being paid to every little detail, and there is a complex, convoluted collection of different plot threads that are adeptly woven together in the explosive denouement.
The unusual and rather unorthodox partnership between gangland boss Stevie Cooper and Harry is ingenious and creates some superb humorous moments which cut through the bleakness of the often-nihilistic narrative. If you are into your crime fiction then this is an unmissable and richly-imagined series and one of my favourites of all time. It really is that riveting. Written with a devastatingly deft hand this series has no modern comparison. A real page-turner. Highly recommended. Roll on the next instalment. Many thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC.
It’s clear that Parks was present in 70s Glasgow as the atmosphere he masterfully crafts from the dense, smoke-filled pubs frequented by many and the barroom brawls the intricate detail he pens is second to none and could only be created so authentically by someone who witnessed the violence and brutality of the city at the time; he certainly brings 1970s Glasgow vividly to life on the page. He doesn't shy away from addressing the prejudices and old-fashioned, now drastically outdated attitudes of the era and the plentiful consumption of alcohol and drugs by many including on-duty police employees of all people. This is a cracking police procedural thriller and from the opening pages, it captures your attention and keeps you in its grasp throughout. Gritty, hard-hitting and subtly sophisticated in terms of attention having being paid to every little detail, and there is a complex, convoluted collection of different plot threads that are adeptly woven together in the explosive denouement.
The unusual and rather unorthodox partnership between gangland boss Stevie Cooper and Harry is ingenious and creates some superb humorous moments which cut through the bleakness of the often-nihilistic narrative. If you are into your crime fiction then this is an unmissable and richly-imagined series and one of my favourites of all time. It really is that riveting. Written with a devastatingly deft hand this series has no modern comparison. A real page-turner. Highly recommended. Roll on the next instalment. Many thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC.
October 11, 2021
“Bobby March Will Live Forever” is set in 1973’s Glasgow, Scotland, and offers up a superb taste of Scottish noir. The third in the Harry McCoy series has McCoy facing off against his nemesis, Raeburn, a corrupt incompetent boob who takes over the investigation of the crime of the century, the disappearance of little Alice.
Meanwhile, for spite, McCoy is frozen out of the investigation, leaving him available to find a dead rockstar and a needle. Meanwhile, the niece of the commissioner above McCoy has run off and he’s asked to find her on the down low. Don’t expect neat organized resolutions to any of these situations. Don’t expect that justice will be served or that everyone lives happily ever after. The point of this tale is really to follow McCoy’s experiences as he grows further and further morose and cynical.
Parks does a great job of setting this novel both in time and place. Although Bobby March is not too active in McCoy’s timeline, we learn about Bobby through a series of flashbacks. For McCoy, his Glasgow is filled with graft, police brutality, and menacing crime lords who are deeply linked throughout society.
Parks’ Harry McCoy novels, all four of them, are an unexpected treat.
Meanwhile, for spite, McCoy is frozen out of the investigation, leaving him available to find a dead rockstar and a needle. Meanwhile, the niece of the commissioner above McCoy has run off and he’s asked to find her on the down low. Don’t expect neat organized resolutions to any of these situations. Don’t expect that justice will be served or that everyone lives happily ever after. The point of this tale is really to follow McCoy’s experiences as he grows further and further morose and cynical.
Parks does a great job of setting this novel both in time and place. Although Bobby March is not too active in McCoy’s timeline, we learn about Bobby through a series of flashbacks. For McCoy, his Glasgow is filled with graft, police brutality, and menacing crime lords who are deeply linked throughout society.
Parks’ Harry McCoy novels, all four of them, are an unexpected treat.
August 15, 2024
[9/10]
‘Twenty-seven,’ said McCoy. ‘Another one.’
The manager looked blank.
‘Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison. All twenty-seven when they died.’
The manager nodded, still no real idea what he was talking about.
Bobby March, the closest local musician to come within spitting distance of celebrity, is found dead from an overdose in a seedy Glasgow hotel. Nobody seems to care or to make an effort to find out more about the whizz guitar kid who was once invited to join the Stones.
The city is reaching boiling point, both from an unexpected heat wave and from the pressure of the coming Glasgow Fair [ the two weeks when the factories closed and you took your holidays, whether you liked it or not. ]
The city had become dusty, dry; it even smelt different, of hot asphalt and drains and bins gone over in the heat. This was the kind of weather that made people edgy, do stupid things, drink too much, start fights. The kind of stuff Glasgow needed more of like a hole in the head.
Harry McCoy, one of the few true fans of the deceased Bobby March, is going through a hard time on his own, bullied by a new boss who has a bone to pick after Harry has reported him for bribery years ago. Divorced, depressed, often drunk and disorderly, [ ‘You always were a miserable little bugger.’ says his ex Angela] Harry McCoy still has the instincts of a true copper and senses that there is some connection between the bad stuff that dominates the news cycles in the city.
‘He was a junkie, junkies overdose. Not the first or the last time that’s going to happen.’
>>><<<>>><<<
I planned to read this series once a year, in the specific month referenced in the title, but I couldn’t quite manage it, which turned out to be an actual bonus because this third episode takes place during a heat wave [July 1973], not unlike the one going on outside my apartment right now [Still, what the British and what South-East Europe calls heat wave are hardly the same kettle of fish].
Harry McCoy is growing on me, despite being a miserable little bugger in each book. He is cast in the mould of the classic gumshoe / hardboiled cop with an aggravating attitude, a quick fist, a certain flexibility in applying the law, a roving eye after women and a weakness for hard liquor. But he also has good instincts and an uncompromising sense of integrity, of respect for the bonds of friendship [his rookie Wally, his childhood friend turned mob boss Stevie].
This episode is for me the best of the series so far, despite [or probably because] the author throws everything in the mix and somehow makes it work: suspect suicide, bank robberies, a kidnapped child, a runaway teenager, heroin dealers, police brutality, Belfast militias and more. Only Harry [and Alan Parks] can untangle this Gordian Knot of vice and crime, that is if he survives to tell his tale to somebody who cares.
‘This is Bandit Country, McCoy. The Wild West. Anything can happen here. All bets are off.’ He grinned. ‘And in case you haven’t noticed, you’re the one tied to a tree.’
I’ve been a little vague about each specific investigation line because I don’t want to spoil the fun for the next reader, but there’s one event that stood out for me as it defines the position of Harry McCoy inside his own police station. A teenage suspect dies in custody and his superior wants Harry to keep quiet about it.
‘You going to tell his maw that? Sorry, love, we killed your boy but don’t take it personally. It’s just that one of our boys got out of hand, not going to do anything about it, though, because, you know what? He’s in the Super’s lodge, drinks in the same pubs as us. He’s one of our own.’
This third episode could well become the final one in the series, when Harry chooses to hand in his badge instead of being a part of the ‘blue brotherhood wall’ [not that I know myself if the Glasgow coppers wear blue or something else]
Ignorant assholes, chucking their weight about, lining their own pockets, bending the law whichever way suited them. And if that was the case he didn’t want to be part of it.
Since we know there are more books in the series, we can guess that this incident will be closed with some form of accounting for the corrupt copper.
For myself, I hope I will not let another year pass before I pick another Harry McCoy story.
‘Twenty-seven,’ said McCoy. ‘Another one.’
The manager looked blank.
‘Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison. All twenty-seven when they died.’
The manager nodded, still no real idea what he was talking about.
Bobby March, the closest local musician to come within spitting distance of celebrity, is found dead from an overdose in a seedy Glasgow hotel. Nobody seems to care or to make an effort to find out more about the whizz guitar kid who was once invited to join the Stones.
The city is reaching boiling point, both from an unexpected heat wave and from the pressure of the coming Glasgow Fair [ the two weeks when the factories closed and you took your holidays, whether you liked it or not. ]
The city had become dusty, dry; it even smelt different, of hot asphalt and drains and bins gone over in the heat. This was the kind of weather that made people edgy, do stupid things, drink too much, start fights. The kind of stuff Glasgow needed more of like a hole in the head.
Harry McCoy, one of the few true fans of the deceased Bobby March, is going through a hard time on his own, bullied by a new boss who has a bone to pick after Harry has reported him for bribery years ago. Divorced, depressed, often drunk and disorderly, [ ‘You always were a miserable little bugger.’ says his ex Angela] Harry McCoy still has the instincts of a true copper and senses that there is some connection between the bad stuff that dominates the news cycles in the city.
‘He was a junkie, junkies overdose. Not the first or the last time that’s going to happen.’
>>><<<>>><<<
I planned to read this series once a year, in the specific month referenced in the title, but I couldn’t quite manage it, which turned out to be an actual bonus because this third episode takes place during a heat wave [July 1973], not unlike the one going on outside my apartment right now [Still, what the British and what South-East Europe calls heat wave are hardly the same kettle of fish].
Harry McCoy is growing on me, despite being a miserable little bugger in each book. He is cast in the mould of the classic gumshoe / hardboiled cop with an aggravating attitude, a quick fist, a certain flexibility in applying the law, a roving eye after women and a weakness for hard liquor. But he also has good instincts and an uncompromising sense of integrity, of respect for the bonds of friendship [his rookie Wally, his childhood friend turned mob boss Stevie].
This episode is for me the best of the series so far, despite [or probably because] the author throws everything in the mix and somehow makes it work: suspect suicide, bank robberies, a kidnapped child, a runaway teenager, heroin dealers, police brutality, Belfast militias and more. Only Harry [and Alan Parks] can untangle this Gordian Knot of vice and crime, that is if he survives to tell his tale to somebody who cares.
‘This is Bandit Country, McCoy. The Wild West. Anything can happen here. All bets are off.’ He grinned. ‘And in case you haven’t noticed, you’re the one tied to a tree.’
I’ve been a little vague about each specific investigation line because I don’t want to spoil the fun for the next reader, but there’s one event that stood out for me as it defines the position of Harry McCoy inside his own police station. A teenage suspect dies in custody and his superior wants Harry to keep quiet about it.
‘You going to tell his maw that? Sorry, love, we killed your boy but don’t take it personally. It’s just that one of our boys got out of hand, not going to do anything about it, though, because, you know what? He’s in the Super’s lodge, drinks in the same pubs as us. He’s one of our own.’
This third episode could well become the final one in the series, when Harry chooses to hand in his badge instead of being a part of the ‘blue brotherhood wall’ [not that I know myself if the Glasgow coppers wear blue or something else]
Ignorant assholes, chucking their weight about, lining their own pockets, bending the law whichever way suited them. And if that was the case he didn’t want to be part of it.
Since we know there are more books in the series, we can guess that this incident will be closed with some form of accounting for the corrupt copper.
For myself, I hope I will not let another year pass before I pick another Harry McCoy story.
March 15, 2020
Bobby March Will Live Forever is the third book in the Harry McCoy series by British author, Alan Parks. Mid-July 1973, and Glasgow swelters through an unusually hot summer, but any personnel at Stewart Street Police Station not departed on vacation have joined the search for missing thirteen-year-old, Alice Kelly.
Except for DS Harry McCoy. CI Hector Murray has been seconded to Central for six months and his replacement, Bernie Raeburn, holds a powerful grudge against McCoy: Harry is excluded from this high-profile case and instead assigned a stagnating set of robberies; Harry’s usual right-hand man, Wattie, is forced to attend to Raeburn’s every need.
As the only cop not searching, McCoy attends an apparent accidental drug overdose at the Royal Stuart Hotel. Rock star, Bobby March is found with a syringe in his arm. But the medical examiner suspects foul play. And it seems certain of Bobby’s property is missing.
Meanwhile, Hector Murray asks McCoy, off the record, to locate his missing fifteen-year-old niece, who has been seen associating with undesirables. Talented McCoy, with his contacts, soon tracks down Laura Murray, but has misgivings about returning her immediately to her family. And while on her trail, he comes across a brutally murdered petty criminal, and learns something about a certain old friend (and local gangland boss) that may upset the delicate balance of power in the local crime scene. McCoy is having to spread himself quite thin…
This instalment features a forced confession with tragic consequences, a kidnapping, and child abuse, and McCoy takes a revelatory (but ultimately painful) trip to Belfast. While McCoy may not be the straightest cop on the force, he does have standards and his heart is in the right place, and this leads him to brawl with another senior officer.
As with book #2, this one can stand alone, but the earlier books do give some useful background on the characters and their history. Again, the prolific use of expletives may offend some readers, but there’s a bit of black humour in the banter. Portraying Glasgow at its grittiest, this is excellent Scottish Noir.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin. Also by NetGalley and Canongate Books.
Except for DS Harry McCoy. CI Hector Murray has been seconded to Central for six months and his replacement, Bernie Raeburn, holds a powerful grudge against McCoy: Harry is excluded from this high-profile case and instead assigned a stagnating set of robberies; Harry’s usual right-hand man, Wattie, is forced to attend to Raeburn’s every need.
As the only cop not searching, McCoy attends an apparent accidental drug overdose at the Royal Stuart Hotel. Rock star, Bobby March is found with a syringe in his arm. But the medical examiner suspects foul play. And it seems certain of Bobby’s property is missing.
Meanwhile, Hector Murray asks McCoy, off the record, to locate his missing fifteen-year-old niece, who has been seen associating with undesirables. Talented McCoy, with his contacts, soon tracks down Laura Murray, but has misgivings about returning her immediately to her family. And while on her trail, he comes across a brutally murdered petty criminal, and learns something about a certain old friend (and local gangland boss) that may upset the delicate balance of power in the local crime scene. McCoy is having to spread himself quite thin…
This instalment features a forced confession with tragic consequences, a kidnapping, and child abuse, and McCoy takes a revelatory (but ultimately painful) trip to Belfast. While McCoy may not be the straightest cop on the force, he does have standards and his heart is in the right place, and this leads him to brawl with another senior officer.
As with book #2, this one can stand alone, but the earlier books do give some useful background on the characters and their history. Again, the prolific use of expletives may offend some readers, but there’s a bit of black humour in the banter. Portraying Glasgow at its grittiest, this is excellent Scottish Noir.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by Allen & Unwin. Also by NetGalley and Canongate Books.
February 23, 2022
Sigue sin parecerme nada del otro mundo pero es entretenido.
March 31, 2022
Me sigue pareciendo que raya a gran altura. He leído las 3 del agente Harry McCoy y además de entretenidas están escritas estupendamente para mi gusto.
January 11, 2022
Great.McCoy is definitively Rebus's heir.
April 3, 2020
Three books now, and this series is consistently great. It’s dark and gritty, with a protagonist who sometimes crosses the line. Harry McCoy is a conflicted, headstrong, caring cop. He does things his way, gets into rough situations frequently, often drinks too much, and yet survives in the Glasgow of 1973.
Interspersed chapters from the 1960’s show an up and coming young musician named Bobby March. The current time chapters show the end result of his journey. Think sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll. Mixed in are other storylines, including the citywide search for a missing child, McCoy’s search for his boss’s runaway neice, and a dirty cop who is out for McCoy.
This book left a recuperating McCoy sitting in Stevie Cooper’s garden. I am eager to read what Harry does in the next book. This has become a favorite series of mine and I hope there are many books in the future.
Interspersed chapters from the 1960’s show an up and coming young musician named Bobby March. The current time chapters show the end result of his journey. Think sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll. Mixed in are other storylines, including the citywide search for a missing child, McCoy’s search for his boss’s runaway neice, and a dirty cop who is out for McCoy.
This book left a recuperating McCoy sitting in Stevie Cooper’s garden. I am eager to read what Harry does in the next book. This has become a favorite series of mine and I hope there are many books in the future.
October 27, 2022
Novela policíaca que muestra el Glasgow sórdido y violento de los 70, donde Harry McCoy, siempre coqueteando con ambos lados de la ley, tendrá que resolver la desaparición de dos chicas y la extraña muerte de una estrella del rock. Magnífica.
March 28, 2020
Glasgow, 1973. After leaving Glasgow in the mid '60s Bobby March became a rock star, he returns home only to die of an overdose in a seedy hotel. A series of bank robberies has left the police scratching their heads, clueless with no leads. Chief Inspector Murray's teenaged niece has run away from home. And the big case, the headline grabber, wee Alice Kelly went out to buy an ice cream cone and never came home. What do all of these things have in common? Detective Harry McCoy.
Due to personal conflict and professional jealousy McCoy has been sidelined from the big case, relegated to everything from fetching coffee to delivering messages to whatever dead end case or menial task comes along. But this is Glasgow in the '70s, where anything can happen, nothing is what it seems, and being innocent just means you beat the rap.
Once this story gets going it's a page turner. Great characters, gritty noir, plot twists that come out of nowhere but in hindsight make perfect sense. I loved it!
Seldom does one find a writer who can create a multi-layered plot with diverse storylines that doesn't either 1) become so muddled and confused as to be nearly incomprehensible, or 2) so predictable that you may as well stop reading after the first few chapters. Alan Parks is one of those rare authors who can lead the reader down a path of chaotic unpredictability while never allowing them to get lost. You will never be entirely sure of where you're going but when it's all over you'll know exactly how you got there
My first thought after finishing Bobby March Will Live Forever - Harry McCoy #3 by Alan Parks was, "Why am I just now discovering this series?!!" Yes, I thought it with two exclamation points because it's just THAT good. Seriously, no, SERIOUSLY.
Where Galway (Ireland) has Ken Bruen and Jack Taylor, Glasgow (Scotland) has Alan Parks and Harry McCoy. Considerably less bleak and a bit more functional is our Harry but the world he lives in is every bit as twisted and seedy.
My one and only complaint is the occasional Scottish slang that I didn't understand. Even then the context generally gave it away and it added a certain authenticity so... Very minor issue.
Adult language, adult situations, violence. Not for the overly sensitive.
***Thanks to NetGalley, Cannongate, and author Alan Parks for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Due to personal conflict and professional jealousy McCoy has been sidelined from the big case, relegated to everything from fetching coffee to delivering messages to whatever dead end case or menial task comes along. But this is Glasgow in the '70s, where anything can happen, nothing is what it seems, and being innocent just means you beat the rap.
Once this story gets going it's a page turner. Great characters, gritty noir, plot twists that come out of nowhere but in hindsight make perfect sense. I loved it!
Seldom does one find a writer who can create a multi-layered plot with diverse storylines that doesn't either 1) become so muddled and confused as to be nearly incomprehensible, or 2) so predictable that you may as well stop reading after the first few chapters. Alan Parks is one of those rare authors who can lead the reader down a path of chaotic unpredictability while never allowing them to get lost. You will never be entirely sure of where you're going but when it's all over you'll know exactly how you got there
My first thought after finishing Bobby March Will Live Forever - Harry McCoy #3 by Alan Parks was, "Why am I just now discovering this series?!!" Yes, I thought it with two exclamation points because it's just THAT good. Seriously, no, SERIOUSLY.
Where Galway (Ireland) has Ken Bruen and Jack Taylor, Glasgow (Scotland) has Alan Parks and Harry McCoy. Considerably less bleak and a bit more functional is our Harry but the world he lives in is every bit as twisted and seedy.
My one and only complaint is the occasional Scottish slang that I didn't understand. Even then the context generally gave it away and it added a certain authenticity so... Very minor issue.
Adult language, adult situations, violence. Not for the overly sensitive.
***Thanks to NetGalley, Cannongate, and author Alan Parks for providing me with a free digital copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2020
thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review.
based in early 1970's Glasgow this is the latest in the harry McCoy series this one isn't as dark as the other 2 in the series but the character building continues and the action shifts between Glasgow and Belfast and several different storylines merge as the story goes along but the novel doesn't disappoint and is a page turner. liked the added part for the 3rd novel the musical aspect and more there is the growing drug trade which is in the background.
based in early 1970's Glasgow this is the latest in the harry McCoy series this one isn't as dark as the other 2 in the series but the character building continues and the action shifts between Glasgow and Belfast and several different storylines merge as the story goes along but the novel doesn't disappoint and is a page turner. liked the added part for the 3rd novel the musical aspect and more there is the growing drug trade which is in the background.
March 11, 2021
You can find my full review for this as well as other books on my bloghere
I am really happy and excited to be taking part in this blog tour and to be able to promote this fantastic book to you all. Many thanks to the author and Random Things Tours for my gifted copy of the book.
I think it needs to be said first of all that this is the 3rd book in a series and that I didn't actually know that when I decided to review this book. Having said that it was perfectly fine to read as a standalone and I didn't find myself getting lost at all. I would definitely like to go back and read the first two books in the future though as Harry McCoy is an interesting and exciting character and I think that by going straight into the third book I have probably missed out on a lot of his development.
Regardless of that though I really did enjoy this story, it was well-written, easy to follow and had plenty of excitement and mystery that kept me guessing all the way to the end. The book is set in 1970's Glasgow as it quite gritty and dark and the author does an excellent job of painting a picture for the reader and tells it as it is which I thought was brilliant.
The story begins with the case of a missing child and the death of a famous musician. McCoy is pushed off the missing child case and forced to work a far less high profile case simply because his "superior" has it in for him and there is no glossing over that fact in the book. There is a lot of animosity between the two detectives.
McCoy spends his time trying to understand what happened to dead musician Bobby March as well as working an "off the record" case for a runaway teenager who happens to be the niece of his boss. I really love how all the cases are woven together and how they all eventually come to a head that I did not expect at all.
I really enjoyed all the characters, there are some that you instantly like and some that you instantly loathe but I think that if I had read the earlier books and knew more about who everyone was that I could have liked it even more.
There is a lot of violence, some of which is very graphic and overall I found it to be a really exciting read that I wouldn't normally have picked up.
Books like this can be very difficult to review and as such I have tried to keep it quite vague so as not to spoil the plot for a potential reader.
I would highly recommend this to someone who enjoys a dark and gritty crime thriller with a lot of police presence and some very dodgy characters too!
I am really happy and excited to be taking part in this blog tour and to be able to promote this fantastic book to you all. Many thanks to the author and Random Things Tours for my gifted copy of the book.
I think it needs to be said first of all that this is the 3rd book in a series and that I didn't actually know that when I decided to review this book. Having said that it was perfectly fine to read as a standalone and I didn't find myself getting lost at all. I would definitely like to go back and read the first two books in the future though as Harry McCoy is an interesting and exciting character and I think that by going straight into the third book I have probably missed out on a lot of his development.
Regardless of that though I really did enjoy this story, it was well-written, easy to follow and had plenty of excitement and mystery that kept me guessing all the way to the end. The book is set in 1970's Glasgow as it quite gritty and dark and the author does an excellent job of painting a picture for the reader and tells it as it is which I thought was brilliant.
The story begins with the case of a missing child and the death of a famous musician. McCoy is pushed off the missing child case and forced to work a far less high profile case simply because his "superior" has it in for him and there is no glossing over that fact in the book. There is a lot of animosity between the two detectives.
McCoy spends his time trying to understand what happened to dead musician Bobby March as well as working an "off the record" case for a runaway teenager who happens to be the niece of his boss. I really love how all the cases are woven together and how they all eventually come to a head that I did not expect at all.
I really enjoyed all the characters, there are some that you instantly like and some that you instantly loathe but I think that if I had read the earlier books and knew more about who everyone was that I could have liked it even more.
There is a lot of violence, some of which is very graphic and overall I found it to be a really exciting read that I wouldn't normally have picked up.
Books like this can be very difficult to review and as such I have tried to keep it quite vague so as not to spoil the plot for a potential reader.
I would highly recommend this to someone who enjoys a dark and gritty crime thriller with a lot of police presence and some very dodgy characters too!
January 23, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Canongate Books for an advance copy of Bobby March Will Live Forever, the third novel to feature Glasgow detective Harry McCoy.
It’s July 1973 and Glasgow is sweltering. Most of the team are searching for missing 13 year old Alice Kelly but McCoy who has been frozen out by the corrupt Acting Inspector Braeburn. Instead he is left to investigate the series of armed hold ups Braeburn has failed to solve, attend the suspicious overdose death of rockstar Bobby March and carry out an off the books search for Inspector Murray’s runaway teenage niece, Laura.
Who could resist this novel with such an intriguing title? I couldn’t and while it’s a bit of a red herring the novel in its entirety is a belter that held me engrossed from start to finish.
I would like to start with the atmosphere which seems authentic to me with its smoke filled rooms, heavy drinking culture, corruption and the very prevalent shrug of its acceptance and the Masonic influence, even the language and cultural references of the times. There may be the odd word that non Glaswegians don’t understand but the sense is clear so I don’t think it will be inaccessible to most readers.
I found the plot mesmerising as McCoy investigates all these different threads. He doesn’t take a particularly organised route so they often overlap and are all constantly on his mind. This sounds like a bit of a nightmare for the reader but actually creates a very moreish narrative where the reader wants to know what’s coming next in every strand. To be honest I found the Bobby March strand the least compelling, although most personal to McCoy and skim read the chapters of his backstory inserted into the current day narrative. I also like all the little plot details that add nuance, like the role of his ex-wife, Angela.
Harry McCoy is a great protagonist. He’s not perfect and he makes mistakes but he’s honest, not a given in the 1970s police force, and idealistic to a certain extent. This idealism can lead to problems but more often to disappointment and a necessary pragmatism - fight the battles you can win. In keeping with the era his best friend is a gangster and they seem to operate on a “don’t ask” basis. Their relationship is warm and caring in an offhand and frequently amusing way.
Bobby March Will Live Forever is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
It’s July 1973 and Glasgow is sweltering. Most of the team are searching for missing 13 year old Alice Kelly but McCoy who has been frozen out by the corrupt Acting Inspector Braeburn. Instead he is left to investigate the series of armed hold ups Braeburn has failed to solve, attend the suspicious overdose death of rockstar Bobby March and carry out an off the books search for Inspector Murray’s runaway teenage niece, Laura.
Who could resist this novel with such an intriguing title? I couldn’t and while it’s a bit of a red herring the novel in its entirety is a belter that held me engrossed from start to finish.
I would like to start with the atmosphere which seems authentic to me with its smoke filled rooms, heavy drinking culture, corruption and the very prevalent shrug of its acceptance and the Masonic influence, even the language and cultural references of the times. There may be the odd word that non Glaswegians don’t understand but the sense is clear so I don’t think it will be inaccessible to most readers.
I found the plot mesmerising as McCoy investigates all these different threads. He doesn’t take a particularly organised route so they often overlap and are all constantly on his mind. This sounds like a bit of a nightmare for the reader but actually creates a very moreish narrative where the reader wants to know what’s coming next in every strand. To be honest I found the Bobby March strand the least compelling, although most personal to McCoy and skim read the chapters of his backstory inserted into the current day narrative. I also like all the little plot details that add nuance, like the role of his ex-wife, Angela.
Harry McCoy is a great protagonist. He’s not perfect and he makes mistakes but he’s honest, not a given in the 1970s police force, and idealistic to a certain extent. This idealism can lead to problems but more often to disappointment and a necessary pragmatism - fight the battles you can win. In keeping with the era his best friend is a gangster and they seem to operate on a “don’t ask” basis. Their relationship is warm and caring in an offhand and frequently amusing way.
Bobby March Will Live Forever is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 12, 2020
This has been a very good series so far and I think that Bobby March Will Live Forever is probably the best so far.
It is summer 1973 this time and a 15-year-old girl is missing. McCoy is excluded from the investigation by a rival who hates him, but the case he is working on eventually becomes tangled up with the missing girl, leading him again into the world of Glasgow’s gangs and major criminals and even to Belfast at the height of the Troubles. It’s a good, involving story in which McCoy’s ambivalent relationship with Steve Cooper plays a significant part and which is one of the very good things about the series.
The summer setting means that the book has a slightly less oppressive feel than its predecessors, although there is still a lot of gruesome violence and a menacing air is always present. As always, one really fine feature is Alan Parks’s evocation of the atmosphere of 1970s Glasgow, both the place itself and the period. Period attitudes are well portrayed, including what we would now see as gross police corruption but was just the way things were done then and his characters are extremely well drawn and believable.
I have to say that the plot relies on a couple of pretty outrageous coincidences and the climax gets a bit silly. There are some holes – such as McCoy taking a hideous beating including several powerful kicks full in the face in which his “nose bursts,” but a day later he is perfectly fit and no-one so much as comments on any damage to his face. Nonetheless, this is well enough written for these things not to matter too much and I found Bobby March Will Live Forever a thoroughly gripping, enjoyable read. Warmly recommended, and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
(My thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
It is summer 1973 this time and a 15-year-old girl is missing. McCoy is excluded from the investigation by a rival who hates him, but the case he is working on eventually becomes tangled up with the missing girl, leading him again into the world of Glasgow’s gangs and major criminals and even to Belfast at the height of the Troubles. It’s a good, involving story in which McCoy’s ambivalent relationship with Steve Cooper plays a significant part and which is one of the very good things about the series.
The summer setting means that the book has a slightly less oppressive feel than its predecessors, although there is still a lot of gruesome violence and a menacing air is always present. As always, one really fine feature is Alan Parks’s evocation of the atmosphere of 1970s Glasgow, both the place itself and the period. Period attitudes are well portrayed, including what we would now see as gross police corruption but was just the way things were done then and his characters are extremely well drawn and believable.
I have to say that the plot relies on a couple of pretty outrageous coincidences and the climax gets a bit silly. There are some holes – such as McCoy taking a hideous beating including several powerful kicks full in the face in which his “nose bursts,” but a day later he is perfectly fit and no-one so much as comments on any damage to his face. Nonetheless, this is well enough written for these things not to matter too much and I found Bobby March Will Live Forever a thoroughly gripping, enjoyable read. Warmly recommended, and I’m looking forward to the next in the series.
(My thanks to Canongate Books for an ARC via NetGalley.)
January 1, 2020
The third entry in Parks' dark series set in 1970s Glasgow - yet despite the violence and cruel storylines (drugs, gangland killings, corruption) this feels somehow lighter than the previous two books and less bleak overall. The pairing of Harry McCoy and Stevie Cooper, one a cop, the other a gangland boss, gives both heart and a wicked humour to the story, and McCoy's wry musings on women are revealing and funny. It's good to see Parks expand his repertoire without losing the edgy brutality of his depiction of Glasgow.
April 1, 2020
Well, here is a book to gladden the heart in uncertain times, continuing on from the brilliant Bloody January, and February’s Son, both of which reached my top 10 reads of 2018 and 2019 respectively. Harry McCoy is back and with some style it has to be said. There is always a slight sense of trepidation as one book develops into a series as we start to form a connection with, and an affection for the central character. I also appreciate that this tension must be a hundredfold on the author themselves, but I’ll tell you something for nothing, I think this is possibly the strongest out of the trilogy to date. Yes. I should coco. Obviously, Parks has hit on the winning formula of writing an instantly recognisable police procedural set in 1970’s Glasgow, but it’s what the author layers into his books that make them all the more sharp and compelling…
Harry McCoy embodies all that we love in our detectives being both flawed but also a man who works by his own code that does imbue in him a real integrity and honesty. Yes, he’s a wee bit damaged emotionally, but for the most part overcomes this, and goes about his business both on and off the books with a steely focus and determination. Adhering to his own moral code naturally leads him into conflict with some of his colleagues, but it is gratifying to see that his immediate superior does know what a rough, and useful, diamond he has in Harry. Equally, McCoy’s long term friendship with one of the criminal kingpins of Glasgow Stevie Cooper, allows the stories to take an additional frisson, and it was good to see that due to one strange turn of events, Cooper is suddenly placed in a submissive position for part of the book as he succumbs to a particular weakness of the flesh.
As usual, Parks’ characterisation is a tour de force from those that work alongside McCoy, in particular his on-off partner the delightful Wattie and McCoy’s nemesis, Detective Raeburn, and on the other side of tracks Cooper’s band of merry and not-so-merry associates. I particularly the world weary and sharp-tongued brothel madam Iris, and the truly annoying and potty-mouthed local reporter Mary. The book is also interspersed with the stream of consciousness of the eponymous Bobby March, a musician of some talent on a downward spiral of drug addiction and self destruction, that is both bleak but also profoundly touching. Parks’ characters are unerringly vividly drawn with a nervy energy, and no matter how small or large a part they play in the overall plot, each contributes a pertinent and necessary contribution, putting a real flesh on the bones as the story progresses.
Obviously, being set in the 1970’s and in a rough and ready Glasgow, the book rejects all of the politically correct nonsense which we are so hyper aware of now, and that is a real tonic. In a nod to the more sensitive reader, Parks balances his depiction of the more sexist treatment of women, with characters such as the previously mentioned Iris and Mary, who are often far more intimidating than the male protagonists. The police are less hands off and more fists out in some cases, but context is everything, and fits perfectly with the zeitgeist of the era. Glasgow is depicted in all its grim glory, but Parks balances this beautifully with moments of pure affection for this city and its inhabitants, giving small chinks of light in its grey, downtrodden environs. I always notice this more in Scottish crime fiction, and it warms the cockles every time I encounter this acceptance and honesty about their chosen locations.
So, with no element of surprise whatsoever, you’ll probably have guessed that in Bobby March Will Live Forever, Parks has once again produced a total winner. With its grim, unflinching plot, punctuated by moments of humour, and the acceptance of both the good and the bad, both in his characters, the period, the cultural references and the location itself, I would totally and completely recommend this, and the entire series to you all. Gritty, witty and an absolute must read. Highly recommended.
Harry McCoy embodies all that we love in our detectives being both flawed but also a man who works by his own code that does imbue in him a real integrity and honesty. Yes, he’s a wee bit damaged emotionally, but for the most part overcomes this, and goes about his business both on and off the books with a steely focus and determination. Adhering to his own moral code naturally leads him into conflict with some of his colleagues, but it is gratifying to see that his immediate superior does know what a rough, and useful, diamond he has in Harry. Equally, McCoy’s long term friendship with one of the criminal kingpins of Glasgow Stevie Cooper, allows the stories to take an additional frisson, and it was good to see that due to one strange turn of events, Cooper is suddenly placed in a submissive position for part of the book as he succumbs to a particular weakness of the flesh.
As usual, Parks’ characterisation is a tour de force from those that work alongside McCoy, in particular his on-off partner the delightful Wattie and McCoy’s nemesis, Detective Raeburn, and on the other side of tracks Cooper’s band of merry and not-so-merry associates. I particularly the world weary and sharp-tongued brothel madam Iris, and the truly annoying and potty-mouthed local reporter Mary. The book is also interspersed with the stream of consciousness of the eponymous Bobby March, a musician of some talent on a downward spiral of drug addiction and self destruction, that is both bleak but also profoundly touching. Parks’ characters are unerringly vividly drawn with a nervy energy, and no matter how small or large a part they play in the overall plot, each contributes a pertinent and necessary contribution, putting a real flesh on the bones as the story progresses.
Obviously, being set in the 1970’s and in a rough and ready Glasgow, the book rejects all of the politically correct nonsense which we are so hyper aware of now, and that is a real tonic. In a nod to the more sensitive reader, Parks balances his depiction of the more sexist treatment of women, with characters such as the previously mentioned Iris and Mary, who are often far more intimidating than the male protagonists. The police are less hands off and more fists out in some cases, but context is everything, and fits perfectly with the zeitgeist of the era. Glasgow is depicted in all its grim glory, but Parks balances this beautifully with moments of pure affection for this city and its inhabitants, giving small chinks of light in its grey, downtrodden environs. I always notice this more in Scottish crime fiction, and it warms the cockles every time I encounter this acceptance and honesty about their chosen locations.
So, with no element of surprise whatsoever, you’ll probably have guessed that in Bobby March Will Live Forever, Parks has once again produced a total winner. With its grim, unflinching plot, punctuated by moments of humour, and the acceptance of both the good and the bad, both in his characters, the period, the cultural references and the location itself, I would totally and completely recommend this, and the entire series to you all. Gritty, witty and an absolute must read. Highly recommended.
February 19, 2021
This is the third book in the Harry McCoy series. I really like the creative title pattern which hints at a twelve book series.
I enjoyed this book more than the first. I didn’t read the second book but now have an interest to do so knowing this could be a longer series. My main issue is I am a ‘fish out of water’ with the Glasgow setting so I struggle with some of vocabulary and dialogue while reading it. - but maybe more books will get me there.
I like the series characters and I thought the plot was above average as it came to a final conclusion with a few good twists along the way.
For me, this is a series progressing in the right direction and hope it keeps building in a way a good trilogy does!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed this book more than the first. I didn’t read the second book but now have an interest to do so knowing this could be a longer series. My main issue is I am a ‘fish out of water’ with the Glasgow setting so I struggle with some of vocabulary and dialogue while reading it. - but maybe more books will get me there.
I like the series characters and I thought the plot was above average as it came to a final conclusion with a few good twists along the way.
For me, this is a series progressing in the right direction and hope it keeps building in a way a good trilogy does!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review
April 14, 2020
Bobby March Will Live Forever by Alan Parks is the third installment involving Glasgow detective Harry McCoy.
The novel takes place in 1973 and Parks continues the gritty consistency of his previous novels with Bobby March.
Earlier introduced characters are included in this story, including McCoy's long time gangster-childhood friend Stevie Cooper.
A thirteen-year-old girl has gone missing, though, for reasons not of his own, McCoy is not part of that investigation and is instead tasked with other investigations, including the heroin overdose of premier, rock guitarist Bobby March, a string of violent robberies and the location of a local politicians' fifteen-year-old rebellious daughter.
Bobby March is a gritty, urban police procedural with different plot lines, with interesting villains and compelling writing.
Highly recommended and also recommended to readers that enjoy Adrian McKinty, Joseph Knox, and Stuart Neville.
The novel takes place in 1973 and Parks continues the gritty consistency of his previous novels with Bobby March.
Earlier introduced characters are included in this story, including McCoy's long time gangster-childhood friend Stevie Cooper.
A thirteen-year-old girl has gone missing, though, for reasons not of his own, McCoy is not part of that investigation and is instead tasked with other investigations, including the heroin overdose of premier, rock guitarist Bobby March, a string of violent robberies and the location of a local politicians' fifteen-year-old rebellious daughter.
Bobby March is a gritty, urban police procedural with different plot lines, with interesting villains and compelling writing.
Highly recommended and also recommended to readers that enjoy Adrian McKinty, Joseph Knox, and Stuart Neville.
February 27, 2024
Buenísima, a por la siguiente. Como puede ser que este escritor no sea más famoso de lo que es en España?
November 19, 2021
Sono pochi, per me, i momenti storici musicali più interessanti dei primi anni Settanta e sapendo l’ambito lavorativo di Alan Parks mi aspettavo una incursione in questo mondo. E finalmente nella terza saga di McCoy il pop-rock entra nella trama ma lo fa in maniera delicata, non invadente, in sottofondo.
Tre indagini parallele e le sotto trame delle figure ricorrenti rendono intrigante la lettura, avvincente, potrei partire con ardite similitudini ma mi trattengo!
Forse un filino, ma proprio un filino, confusa una delle indagini ma già solo la “gita” a Belfast vale tutto il libro.
Mi resta solo più un mese, per favore sig. Parks datti da fare su maggio.
Tre indagini parallele e le sotto trame delle figure ricorrenti rendono intrigante la lettura, avvincente, potrei partire con ardite similitudini ma mi trattengo!
Forse un filino, ma proprio un filino, confusa una delle indagini ma già solo la “gita” a Belfast vale tutto il libro.
Mi resta solo più un mese, per favore sig. Parks datti da fare su maggio.
June 10, 2022
I can't remember which book site recommended this procedural, but I'm so glad I responded. This is the third novel in a series featuring Detective Harry McCoy of the Glasgow Police, set in the raunchy, ramshackle 70s.
Parks, who spent decades in the recording industry before starting these mysteries, somehow manages to juggle four subplots at once -- the high-profile kidnapping of a young girl; the overdose death of a rock guitarist; a series of bank and payroll robberies; and the disappearance of city councilor's 15-year-old daughter. At least some of these seemingly separate subplots will end up having connections with each other, which Parks dollops out throughout the novel.
It also features a ludicrously villainous rival for McCoy, detective Bernie Raeburn, who is an incompetent bootlicker who is almost laughably obsessed with besting McCoy in his thirst to rise to the top. Raeburn has been put in charge of the kidnapping case (which he bollixes) and makes sure from the outset that McCoy is relegated to marginal duties (which doesn't stop Harry from actually cracking the case).
The other interesting angle is the acknowledgement that one of McCoy's best friends is a small-time gangster named Stevie Cooper, and he keeps in touch with Cooper while looking the other way on his drug taking and other criminal activities, but never letting that keep him from being a "proper polis," as he would say.
Really well done and well paced. I've already gone back to start this series from the beginning.
Parks, who spent decades in the recording industry before starting these mysteries, somehow manages to juggle four subplots at once -- the high-profile kidnapping of a young girl; the overdose death of a rock guitarist; a series of bank and payroll robberies; and the disappearance of city councilor's 15-year-old daughter. At least some of these seemingly separate subplots will end up having connections with each other, which Parks dollops out throughout the novel.
It also features a ludicrously villainous rival for McCoy, detective Bernie Raeburn, who is an incompetent bootlicker who is almost laughably obsessed with besting McCoy in his thirst to rise to the top. Raeburn has been put in charge of the kidnapping case (which he bollixes) and makes sure from the outset that McCoy is relegated to marginal duties (which doesn't stop Harry from actually cracking the case).
The other interesting angle is the acknowledgement that one of McCoy's best friends is a small-time gangster named Stevie Cooper, and he keeps in touch with Cooper while looking the other way on his drug taking and other criminal activities, but never letting that keep him from being a "proper polis," as he would say.
Really well done and well paced. I've already gone back to start this series from the beginning.
March 9, 2020
#3 in the DI Harry McCoy series, but it can be read as a stand-alone.
Set in 1703’s Glasgow, a violent time full of drugs, alcohol and some really nasty people, and that’s just the police!
Young Alice Kelly has gone missing and it’s a race against time to find her.
But, McCoy is assigned to a different case as his acting boss wants the glory of the Kelly case.
So McCoy is sent to investigate the Bobby March case. Bobby, a well known rock star has been found dead with a needle in his arm…..so OD ?
McCoy is also asked by his actual boss, Murray to find his niece, Laura, as she has run away from home again. He wants this done on the quiet and McCoy wonders why?
This brings to life the reality of inner city poverty, the violence of gangs, the drugs, alcohol, music and even the IRA in the 70’s.
I can’t say much more for fear of spoiling this amazing tale. It will drag you through the grim world of the dark side of Glasgow, with its truly great characters, good and downright evil, and a complex plot. This is Noir with a capital N, it’s gritty, violent and downright grim at times, but it’s thoroughly engrossing from the first page to the last.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Set in 1703’s Glasgow, a violent time full of drugs, alcohol and some really nasty people, and that’s just the police!
Young Alice Kelly has gone missing and it’s a race against time to find her.
But, McCoy is assigned to a different case as his acting boss wants the glory of the Kelly case.
So McCoy is sent to investigate the Bobby March case. Bobby, a well known rock star has been found dead with a needle in his arm…..so OD ?
McCoy is also asked by his actual boss, Murray to find his niece, Laura, as she has run away from home again. He wants this done on the quiet and McCoy wonders why?
This brings to life the reality of inner city poverty, the violence of gangs, the drugs, alcohol, music and even the IRA in the 70’s.
I can’t say much more for fear of spoiling this amazing tale. It will drag you through the grim world of the dark side of Glasgow, with its truly great characters, good and downright evil, and a complex plot. This is Noir with a capital N, it’s gritty, violent and downright grim at times, but it’s thoroughly engrossing from the first page to the last.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
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