What do you think?
Rate this book
Breen and Tozer #1-4
A Sixties London Crime Omnibus (Breen and Tozer #1-4
The complete Breen & Tozer series in one ebook an outcast detective fights crime and corruption in sixties London.
-----------------------
'Rising talent of UK crime fiction' Peter James
'A Superb Storyteller' Peter May
'Astoundingly good' Elly Griffiths
'A Modern crime master' Sun
--------------------
A SONG FROM DEAD LIPS
The Runaway
A nameless young woman is found naked and strangled in an alley on Abbey Road.
The Reject
DS Cathal Breen, an outcast in the Marylebone CID, struggles to make sense of the case.
The Rookie
Until new recruit WPC Helen Tozer - the first woman to join the team - makes a breakthrough.
--------------------
A HOUSE OF KNIVES
The Black Sheep
The wayward son of a rising MP is mutilated and burnt in suspicious circumstances.
The Honest Detective
DS Cathal Breen dodges political embargo and death threats to pursue the case.
The Rolling Stone
Notorious art dealer Robert Fraser may provide the only clue - if only he will talk.
--------------------
A BOOK OF SCARS
Never forgotten
Teenager Alexandra Tozer was murdered on her family's farm. Five years later, her sister Helen will return.
Never suspected
As soon as DS Breen tracks down the original investigating sergeant, the man goes missing. And so does Helen.
Never revealed
The only connection between the suspects is the Kenya Emergency - a nightmare that Englishmen prefer to forget.
--------------------
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
London 1969: A detective in love. A crime of passion.
The She made a profit from rich men. They paid for her youth. She paid with her life.
The To investigate the prostitute's murder, DS Cathal Breen isn't scared to question powerful suspects.
The But when a mysterious man from MI6 calls, Breen begins to fear he's uncovered a spy scandal.
-----------------------
'Rising talent of UK crime fiction' Peter James
'A Superb Storyteller' Peter May
'Astoundingly good' Elly Griffiths
'A Modern crime master' Sun
--------------------
A SONG FROM DEAD LIPS
The Runaway
A nameless young woman is found naked and strangled in an alley on Abbey Road.
The Reject
DS Cathal Breen, an outcast in the Marylebone CID, struggles to make sense of the case.
The Rookie
Until new recruit WPC Helen Tozer - the first woman to join the team - makes a breakthrough.
--------------------
A HOUSE OF KNIVES
The Black Sheep
The wayward son of a rising MP is mutilated and burnt in suspicious circumstances.
The Honest Detective
DS Cathal Breen dodges political embargo and death threats to pursue the case.
The Rolling Stone
Notorious art dealer Robert Fraser may provide the only clue - if only he will talk.
--------------------
A BOOK OF SCARS
Never forgotten
Teenager Alexandra Tozer was murdered on her family's farm. Five years later, her sister Helen will return.
Never suspected
As soon as DS Breen tracks down the original investigating sergeant, the man goes missing. And so does Helen.
Never revealed
The only connection between the suspects is the Kenya Emergency - a nightmare that Englishmen prefer to forget.
--------------------
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL
London 1969: A detective in love. A crime of passion.
The She made a profit from rich men. They paid for her youth. She paid with her life.
The To investigate the prostitute's murder, DS Cathal Breen isn't scared to question powerful suspects.
The But when a mysterious man from MI6 calls, Breen begins to fear he's uncovered a spy scandal.
1474 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2020
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
William Shaw
20 books532 followersI'm a crime writer and write the Eden Driscoll series set in South Devon, the Alex Cupidi series set in Dungeness, Kent and the Breen & Tozer series set in London in 1968-9. The Red Shore – first in the Eden Driscoll series – is published on July 3 2025.
My most recent book is The Wild Swimmers,, the fifth in the Alex Cupid series - if you don't count The Birdwatcher .
In July 2025 I'm publishing the first in a new series set in South Devon, The Red Shore.
My non-fiction books include Westsiders , an account of several young would-be rappers struggling to establish themselves against a backdrop of poverty and violence in South Central Los Angeles, Superhero For Hire , a compilation and of the Small Ads columns I wrote for the Observer Magazine, and Spying In Guru Land , in which I joined several British religious cults to write about them.
A Song From Dead Lips was the first in a trilogy of books set in London in 1968, featuring DS Cathal Breen and WPC Helen Tozer. It was followed by A House of Knives and A Book of Scars .
I live in Brighton and play music with Brighton Ceilidh Collective. I also run an online book event called
My most recent book is The Wild Swimmers,, the fifth in the Alex Cupid series - if you don't count The Birdwatcher .
In July 2025 I'm publishing the first in a new series set in South Devon, The Red Shore.
My non-fiction books include Westsiders , an account of several young would-be rappers struggling to establish themselves against a backdrop of poverty and violence in South Central Los Angeles, Superhero For Hire , a compilation and of the Small Ads columns I wrote for the Observer Magazine, and Spying In Guru Land , in which I joined several British religious cults to write about them.
A Song From Dead Lips was the first in a trilogy of books set in London in 1968, featuring DS Cathal Breen and WPC Helen Tozer. It was followed by A House of Knives and A Book of Scars .
I live in Brighton and play music with Brighton Ceilidh Collective. I also run an online book event called
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 1, 2025
I think William Shaw is one of the best crime writers today. I found this set difficult to get into - the period detail of attitudes to women and people of colour were particularly off putting. But I persevered and the books kept on getting better. Tight plots, convincing characters and hints of true crime woven through. I am now really cross that he left us at a critical point in the story and I really really want to know what happened next!
Displaying 1 of 1 review