What do you think?
Rate this book
DCI Jack Mason #5
Hackney Central
When newly appointed Detective Sergeant Jack Mason steps through the doors of Hackney Central Police Station, he is tasked with his biggest nightmare. A pensioner lies dead, his flat has been ransacked, and no one is willing to talk.
But why pick on a vulnerable old man?
No stranger to London’s East End, Mason is under no illusion that the chance of finding the killer is slim. Gripped by notorious drug gangs, knife crime runs rife, and nowhere appears safe.
With time rapidly running out, it soon becomes clear that he’s dealing with a version of justice terrifyingly different to his own. . .
But why pick on a vulnerable old man?
No stranger to London’s East End, Mason is under no illusion that the chance of finding the killer is slim. Gripped by notorious drug gangs, knife crime runs rife, and nowhere appears safe.
With time rapidly running out, it soon becomes clear that he’s dealing with a version of justice terrifyingly different to his own. . .
160 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 23, 2020
13 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Michael K. Foster
8 books61 followersMichael has been writing bestseller crime thrillers since 2006, all of them based in and around the North East of England. His bestselling debut novel, ‘The Wharf Butcher,’ was released in 2015 and offers a unique insight into this rugged landscape. Since then, he has written seven more full-length novels featuring the hard-hitting DCI Jack Mason and has garnished an army of loyal readers.
Michael grew up in Leeds, and after ten years’ service in the British Army he moved to Newcastle where he gained his master’s degree. A former Magistrate and lifelong fan of the mystery and crime thriller genres, he now lives in County Durham where enjoys travelling, walking, and two Siamese cats.
You can find out more about Michael by visiting his website: https://www.michaelkfoster.com
Michael grew up in Leeds, and after ten years’ service in the British Army he moved to Newcastle where he gained his master’s degree. A former Magistrate and lifelong fan of the mystery and crime thriller genres, he now lives in County Durham where enjoys travelling, walking, and two Siamese cats.
You can find out more about Michael by visiting his website: https://www.michaelkfoster.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 15, 2020
This is another series where I am late to the party. Being the fifth book in the DCI Jack Mason series, I am very late to it indeed. Saying that though, the author made it easy reading in that I didn’t feel like I should have read the previous books before this one. It reads perfectly well as a standalone.
Set in the early nineties, in the East End of London, I didn’t envy Mason with his latest case. The thugs that he finds himself facing had me feeling uneasy. Gangs are something that sadly have never died out and seem more rife in the inner-city areas where crime is rife. It all adds to the pressure of him trying to do his job, especially in his new role of Detective Sergeant.
We find out enough about Mason and his home life throughout the course of the book. I enjoyed getting to know him better without it taking to much away from the storyline itself.
Hackney Central was a great introduction to a new author to me. At less than 200 pages, it was a relatively quick and compulsive read. It was great to see some good old fashioned police work with a case that makes for some dark and tense reading. Will definitely be checking out the authors other books.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Set in the early nineties, in the East End of London, I didn’t envy Mason with his latest case. The thugs that he finds himself facing had me feeling uneasy. Gangs are something that sadly have never died out and seem more rife in the inner-city areas where crime is rife. It all adds to the pressure of him trying to do his job, especially in his new role of Detective Sergeant.
We find out enough about Mason and his home life throughout the course of the book. I enjoyed getting to know him better without it taking to much away from the storyline itself.
Hackney Central was a great introduction to a new author to me. At less than 200 pages, it was a relatively quick and compulsive read. It was great to see some good old fashioned police work with a case that makes for some dark and tense reading. Will definitely be checking out the authors other books.
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
April 22, 2020
A quick, interesting read which gave me a bird's eye view into the life of Detective Sergeant Jack Mason and the crime world in the 90s.
Though Book 5 in the series, this was the story from the early years of Jack Mason's time at Hackney Central. A pensioner was beaten up in his home, and he died due to his injuries. It was up to Mason to sort to the clues and get to the truth.
My first book by author Michael K Foster depicted old fashioned police investigation where crimes were solved by backbreaking leg work and intelligence, with minimal forensics. The story was quite straightforward, and Mason proved to be capable of finding a balance between his home and work.
Cohesive team mates and surprisingly good boss made his work easier as he had the support he wanted to get to the perp. Criminals and gangs were always two steps ahead, and I liked how the author showed Mason to be clever enough to unmask them.
Overall, an entertaining read.
Though Book 5 in the series, this was the story from the early years of Jack Mason's time at Hackney Central. A pensioner was beaten up in his home, and he died due to his injuries. It was up to Mason to sort to the clues and get to the truth.
My first book by author Michael K Foster depicted old fashioned police investigation where crimes were solved by backbreaking leg work and intelligence, with minimal forensics. The story was quite straightforward, and Mason proved to be capable of finding a balance between his home and work.
Cohesive team mates and surprisingly good boss made his work easier as he had the support he wanted to get to the perp. Criminals and gangs were always two steps ahead, and I liked how the author showed Mason to be clever enough to unmask them.
Overall, an entertaining read.
April 17, 2020
In this novella we go back to the 1990’s to when Jack Mason is a newly appointed Detective Sergeant at Hackney Central Police Station.
Why will nobody talk when a pensioner is found dead and his flat ransacked? With rival gangs running the area and carrying knives, Mason knows he has his work cut out.
Having read all the books so far in this series, I have enjoyed getting a glimpse of Jack Mason in his early career and married life. It was really interesting to understand how and why gangs work on a lot of estates and areas, especially as it is something that still happens.
This is a crime thriller that had me hooked from the start.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Why will nobody talk when a pensioner is found dead and his flat ransacked? With rival gangs running the area and carrying knives, Mason knows he has his work cut out.
Having read all the books so far in this series, I have enjoyed getting a glimpse of Jack Mason in his early career and married life. It was really interesting to understand how and why gangs work on a lot of estates and areas, especially as it is something that still happens.
This is a crime thriller that had me hooked from the start.
My thanks to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.
April 23, 2020
Although Hackney Central is book five in the DCI Jack Mason series, it is actually a prequel novella so can most definitely be read as a standalone. If, like me, you've read the first four books in the series then it's a glimpse into Jack Mason's past when he was a DS in London.
Jack Mason is a character I already know and love but I loved reading about his past when he was about to become a father for the first time whilst investigating a gang related crime. The impending birth of his daughter doesn't mean that Mason has one eye off the ball; far from it, he's as determined as ever to bring the murderer to justice.
With a fast-paced and gripping plot I absolutely raced through this novella. Although I love reading about places I know in the North East, I enjoyed going back to Jack Mason's roots in London. We also get to read about his first introduction to criminal psychologist David Carlisle who also appears in the North East based books and plays an invaluable role in helping Mason solve crimes. Reading about Mason's past felt like flicking through an old photo album; it didn't need to fill in any missing blanks as there are none: what you see is what you get with Jack Mason.
The storyline is very intriguing, especially when Mason has a run in with a local gang leader at the start of the book. The victim had a valuable watch stolen and Mason knows that this is the key to solving the crime. The writing is so vivid that I felt like I was following the clues along with the police and I was on the edge of my seat as the net closed around the killer.
Hackney Central is a fabulous novella and not only a great addition but also a great introduction to the amazing DCI Jack Mason series. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to all.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Jack Mason is a character I already know and love but I loved reading about his past when he was about to become a father for the first time whilst investigating a gang related crime. The impending birth of his daughter doesn't mean that Mason has one eye off the ball; far from it, he's as determined as ever to bring the murderer to justice.
With a fast-paced and gripping plot I absolutely raced through this novella. Although I love reading about places I know in the North East, I enjoyed going back to Jack Mason's roots in London. We also get to read about his first introduction to criminal psychologist David Carlisle who also appears in the North East based books and plays an invaluable role in helping Mason solve crimes. Reading about Mason's past felt like flicking through an old photo album; it didn't need to fill in any missing blanks as there are none: what you see is what you get with Jack Mason.
The storyline is very intriguing, especially when Mason has a run in with a local gang leader at the start of the book. The victim had a valuable watch stolen and Mason knows that this is the key to solving the crime. The writing is so vivid that I felt like I was following the clues along with the police and I was on the edge of my seat as the net closed around the killer.
Hackney Central is a fabulous novella and not only a great addition but also a great introduction to the amazing DCI Jack Mason series. I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it to all.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
April 25, 2020
Hackney Central by Michael K Foster
DCI Jack Mason Crime Thriller #5 (really a prequel)
Quick intense easy to read novella length prequel to the DCI Jack Mason Crime Thriller series in which I met 28 year old Jack Mason – a soon to be new father and working his first case as Detective Sergeant at Hackney Central PD. The case is a brutal one that sees the badly battered elderly male die from his wounds. The home of the deceased pensioner has been robbed and the police believe that if they can find the stolen gold retirement watch it will take them to the murderer.
What I liked:
* Getting to know Jack – he seems to be a good man, dedicated to his job, a loving husband and eager to be a new father.
* Being introduced to Jack and his team
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The gritty feel of the East End of London with the gangs, violence and fear the gangs created
* Brenda – Jack’s wife
* The plotting, writing and realness of the story
* That the mystery was solved and bad guys found
* The happy ending :)
* Reading a good book by a new-to-me author
What I did not like:
* The gang leaders – creepy guys for sure!
* The disregard for the lives of those who were brutalized by the gang members
* The murderer – but did enjoy his comeuppance
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely
Thank you to the author and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
DCI Jack Mason Crime Thriller #5 (really a prequel)
Quick intense easy to read novella length prequel to the DCI Jack Mason Crime Thriller series in which I met 28 year old Jack Mason – a soon to be new father and working his first case as Detective Sergeant at Hackney Central PD. The case is a brutal one that sees the badly battered elderly male die from his wounds. The home of the deceased pensioner has been robbed and the police believe that if they can find the stolen gold retirement watch it will take them to the murderer.
What I liked:
* Getting to know Jack – he seems to be a good man, dedicated to his job, a loving husband and eager to be a new father.
* Being introduced to Jack and his team
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The gritty feel of the East End of London with the gangs, violence and fear the gangs created
* Brenda – Jack’s wife
* The plotting, writing and realness of the story
* That the mystery was solved and bad guys found
* The happy ending :)
* Reading a good book by a new-to-me author
What I did not like:
* The gang leaders – creepy guys for sure!
* The disregard for the lives of those who were brutalized by the gang members
* The murderer – but did enjoy his comeuppance
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely
Thank you to the author and BOTBS for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
April 24, 2020
I have been a fan of Michael K. Foster's work for a little while now. In fact, ever since I had the good fortune to pick up a copy of the first book in the series, ' The Wharf Butcher', featuring Detective Chief Inspector Jack Mason a couple of years ago. I was blown away by how fantastic the story was and of course by the fact that the story was set in the North East of England, which is where I live. I have devoured each and every book that has been released in the series since. The latest book in the series is called 'Hackney Central' and it is actually a prequel to the main series, showing how the then 'Detective Sergeant' came to be the man we know so well. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Hackney Central' but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Detective Sergeant Jack Mason? This book gave me a fuller sense of his personality. In 'Hackney Central' he is just finding his feet, having recently been promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant. He ends up leading a small team in a murder investigation. I got the impression that Mason was a bit excited and at the same time nervous about taking on the extra responsibilities that come with the role. Mason has thrown himself into his work and has completed a lot of overtime of late, which hasn't gone down well with his wife, who is heavily pregnant when the story starts. Mason resolves that he will be around more after the baby is born, although I wasn't sure that he would be able to. Mason is keen, eager, determined and stubborn.
It didn't take me long at all to get into 'Hackney Central'. In fact I was hooked by the fact that it involved one of my heroes- DS Jack Mason- and the fact that Mike wrote it. I just knew that I was going to be in for one hell of a read. I wasn't wrong either. I fell under this book's spell from the moment I first picked the book up and the spell lasted until the moment I read the last word on the last page. 'Hackney Central' isn't actually what you might call a full length story, as it is more of a novella sort of length. A short book to you and me. Consequently, it didn't take me long to get through the story. I seemed to race through the story and soon I had to say a temporary farewell to DS (now DCI) Jack Mason.
'Hackney Central' is superbly written but then I think that to be true of all of Mike's books. He has a knack of grabbing your attention with an eye catching cover and synopsis and he then draws you into the story. He then takes you on one hell of a fast paced and often unpredictable rollercoaster ride of an investigation, with more twists and turns than you would know what to do with. I genuinely felt as though I was part of Mason's team too and part of the story, which is all thanks to Mike's very vivid and realistic descriptions and superb storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Hackney Central' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Mike's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
What can I say about Detective Sergeant Jack Mason? This book gave me a fuller sense of his personality. In 'Hackney Central' he is just finding his feet, having recently been promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant. He ends up leading a small team in a murder investigation. I got the impression that Mason was a bit excited and at the same time nervous about taking on the extra responsibilities that come with the role. Mason has thrown himself into his work and has completed a lot of overtime of late, which hasn't gone down well with his wife, who is heavily pregnant when the story starts. Mason resolves that he will be around more after the baby is born, although I wasn't sure that he would be able to. Mason is keen, eager, determined and stubborn.
It didn't take me long at all to get into 'Hackney Central'. In fact I was hooked by the fact that it involved one of my heroes- DS Jack Mason- and the fact that Mike wrote it. I just knew that I was going to be in for one hell of a read. I wasn't wrong either. I fell under this book's spell from the moment I first picked the book up and the spell lasted until the moment I read the last word on the last page. 'Hackney Central' isn't actually what you might call a full length story, as it is more of a novella sort of length. A short book to you and me. Consequently, it didn't take me long to get through the story. I seemed to race through the story and soon I had to say a temporary farewell to DS (now DCI) Jack Mason.
'Hackney Central' is superbly written but then I think that to be true of all of Mike's books. He has a knack of grabbing your attention with an eye catching cover and synopsis and he then draws you into the story. He then takes you on one hell of a fast paced and often unpredictable rollercoaster ride of an investigation, with more twists and turns than you would know what to do with. I genuinely felt as though I was part of Mason's team too and part of the story, which is all thanks to Mike's very vivid and realistic descriptions and superb storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Hackney Central' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Mike's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
April 28, 2020
Another grand crime thriller from Michael K Foster - no hidden tricks, just good old-fashioned police work!
DS Jack Mason has a real conundrum on his hands this time round; an elderly gentleman bludgeoned in his own flat and the place ransacked. Whilst the nature of the crime revolts him, it also makes him more determined to track down the culprit and get him behind bars. But crime is rampant on the estate, so what are the chances?
I love this author's style of writing; he pulls me into the story from the very first and keeps me there to the very last. Mason doesn't work alone, but he is sharp and observant as well as determined. With his personal life touched upon, he comes across as very human and it all adds up to a gripping read! This isn't the first I've read from this series and I fully intend to catch up with the earlier ones at some point. Crisply written, easily flowing and, just as important, it all makes sense! No stone is left unturned, no issue overlooked. A cracking read, well worth all five sparkling stars!
DS Jack Mason has a real conundrum on his hands this time round; an elderly gentleman bludgeoned in his own flat and the place ransacked. Whilst the nature of the crime revolts him, it also makes him more determined to track down the culprit and get him behind bars. But crime is rampant on the estate, so what are the chances?
I love this author's style of writing; he pulls me into the story from the very first and keeps me there to the very last. Mason doesn't work alone, but he is sharp and observant as well as determined. With his personal life touched upon, he comes across as very human and it all adds up to a gripping read! This isn't the first I've read from this series and I fully intend to catch up with the earlier ones at some point. Crisply written, easily flowing and, just as important, it all makes sense! No stone is left unturned, no issue overlooked. A cracking read, well worth all five sparkling stars!
April 28, 2020
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
I thought that the plot was well developed and I loved getting to know and meet the different characters - they were all well crafted and I liked their different personalities and the strengths and weaknesses that they brought to the story.
The book was a fairly quick read for me and the author had definitely packed in a lot, there was something happening in every chapter and I was totally hooked.
This is book 5 in the series but it read absolutely fine to me as a stand alone, but I will be looking to read the rest of the series and catch up on anything I might have missed too!
It is 4 stars from me for this one, I thought that the plot was well developed and really enjoyable - highly recommended!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story!
I thought that the plot was well developed and I loved getting to know and meet the different characters - they were all well crafted and I liked their different personalities and the strengths and weaknesses that they brought to the story.
The book was a fairly quick read for me and the author had definitely packed in a lot, there was something happening in every chapter and I was totally hooked.
This is book 5 in the series but it read absolutely fine to me as a stand alone, but I will be looking to read the rest of the series and catch up on anything I might have missed too!
It is 4 stars from me for this one, I thought that the plot was well developed and really enjoyable - highly recommended!
April 27, 2020
I was a fan of the author’s writing after reading Chameleon another book in the Jack Mason series.
This book set in 1993 sees Mason and his team look into the murder of a defenceless old man. The man lives on a notorious estate divided up by gangs, no-one is willing to talk for fear of reprisals. Mason meets one of the gang leaders up close and is sure he knows something about the death of the man.
The police flood the estate and the gang leaders are feeling the pressure.
Mason is joined by new recruit David Carlisle, a fast tracked policeman who works in the up and coming field of criminal profiling.
Really well written, highly recommended.
This book set in 1993 sees Mason and his team look into the murder of a defenceless old man. The man lives on a notorious estate divided up by gangs, no-one is willing to talk for fear of reprisals. Mason meets one of the gang leaders up close and is sure he knows something about the death of the man.
The police flood the estate and the gang leaders are feeling the pressure.
Mason is joined by new recruit David Carlisle, a fast tracked policeman who works in the up and coming field of criminal profiling.
Really well written, highly recommended.
May 5, 2020
Set in London’s East End in the 1990’s, DS Jack Mason is faced with an elderly man who has been murdered and his home ransacked. With rival gangs on the East side and West side of the estate, no one will talk, but Mason needs to find out who the killer is before others are targeted……
This is the fifth book in the series but was easily read as a standalone. I loved Mason! He takes so many risks to get what he needs which had me on the edge of my seat. His dedication to the job, and dislike of the ‘scum’ is evident which makes him a great DS! I did feel a bit sorry for his wife though. Pregnant and ready to drop, she’s sat at home while her Husband is out catching bad guys. But we do get a good insight into his feelings around this and the concerns/guilt that he has which made me love him more.
The gang members are interesting to read about, and it’s definitely eye opening! The rivalry between them is clear and even though you know they’re unsavoury characters, you really don’t want anything horrible to happen to them (even though half the time they deserve it!)
This is a relatively quick read, with action in every chapter. There are twists, turns and unexpected things that will keep you gripped! I sometimes found some of the characters confusing, and forgot which gang member was from which patch a few times, but that’s probably just because of my overactive brain! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read more from this author!
This is the fifth book in the series but was easily read as a standalone. I loved Mason! He takes so many risks to get what he needs which had me on the edge of my seat. His dedication to the job, and dislike of the ‘scum’ is evident which makes him a great DS! I did feel a bit sorry for his wife though. Pregnant and ready to drop, she’s sat at home while her Husband is out catching bad guys. But we do get a good insight into his feelings around this and the concerns/guilt that he has which made me love him more.
The gang members are interesting to read about, and it’s definitely eye opening! The rivalry between them is clear and even though you know they’re unsavoury characters, you really don’t want anything horrible to happen to them (even though half the time they deserve it!)
This is a relatively quick read, with action in every chapter. There are twists, turns and unexpected things that will keep you gripped! I sometimes found some of the characters confusing, and forgot which gang member was from which patch a few times, but that’s probably just because of my overactive brain! Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this and would definitely read more from this author!
May 23, 2020
Jack Mason - early days
The fifth book in this excellent series takes us back in time to Jack Mason's early career, here seen as a detective sergeant, assigned to his first murder case in the role. An elderly man on a crime-ridden estate has been brutally murdered, his most valued possession, a watch presented to him on his retirement, stolen.
Mason and his team are led into the inter-gang warfare which plagues the estate, where fear enforces the silence of the residents.
Piece by piece, Mason gathers minute clues, until he has a theory as to who is responsible. Trouble is, he now has to prove it. Mr Foster is at the top of his game as he puts the case together using painstaking police procedures. Mason is a likeable character, made more so here as he tries to concentrate on the investigation as his wife draws near to the birth of their first child.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, especially for fans of the series. It was good to see into Mason's past and at one of the cases that shaped the future career of eventual detective chief inspector. I loved it and came to the conclusion all too quickly. More please!
The fifth book in this excellent series takes us back in time to Jack Mason's early career, here seen as a detective sergeant, assigned to his first murder case in the role. An elderly man on a crime-ridden estate has been brutally murdered, his most valued possession, a watch presented to him on his retirement, stolen.
Mason and his team are led into the inter-gang warfare which plagues the estate, where fear enforces the silence of the residents.
Piece by piece, Mason gathers minute clues, until he has a theory as to who is responsible. Trouble is, he now has to prove it. Mr Foster is at the top of his game as he puts the case together using painstaking police procedures. Mason is a likeable character, made more so here as he tries to concentrate on the investigation as his wife draws near to the birth of their first child.
A thoroughly enjoyable read, especially for fans of the series. It was good to see into Mason's past and at one of the cases that shaped the future career of eventual detective chief inspector. I loved it and came to the conclusion all too quickly. More please!
July 29, 2020
Hackney Central is book 5 in this series, however, reads perfectly fine as a standalone. This is my first read from Michael K Foster and I’m a new fan after this read!
Hackney Central is gripping. This is a quick read, but the author was able to grab me and keep me invested. A great introduction to this author for me. Bad news, that means more books on my TBR.
Overall, a quick, heart-pounding read. I’m a new fan and I suggest checking this out.
Rating:
4/5☆
*I recieved a free copy of this book from BOTBS Publicity in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
Hackney Central is gripping. This is a quick read, but the author was able to grab me and keep me invested. A great introduction to this author for me. Bad news, that means more books on my TBR.
Overall, a quick, heart-pounding read. I’m a new fan and I suggest checking this out.
Rating:
4/5☆
*I recieved a free copy of this book from BOTBS Publicity in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews