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Grey in the Dark (2)
Too many people loved Kelly Rowland. One of them killed her, but was it the man in prison for her murder? Gethin Grey and the Last Resort Legals team investigate another miscarriage of justice, taking them from post-industrial dereliction of the South Wales Valleys to the gated communities of the Cardiff docklands.
Gethin Grey is back in the game. His wife may have left him and he's struggling with life as a single father, but now he's got his biggest case in years. The brutal murder of a young woman called Kelly Rowland has been the talk of the South Wales valleys. Even the conviction of a neighbor, a builder called Morgan Hopkins, failed to stop the gossip. There were too many other suspects still around, among them a pair of coppers: brother and sister.
So Gethin was delighted when Morgan's family stumped up the money to pay him and his Last Resort Legals team to reinvestigate the case. But when a new lead takes him undercover into a support group for recovering addicts, Gethin has to confront his own demons.
Moving from the former mining towns of the valleys to the shiny new waterfront developments of Cardiff, taking in adult puppet shows and piercing parlors, derelict mines and country clubs, Grey In The Dark lays bare a world in which sex and money collide and everyone has their secrets.
Gethin Grey is back in the game. His wife may have left him and he's struggling with life as a single father, but now he's got his biggest case in years. The brutal murder of a young woman called Kelly Rowland has been the talk of the South Wales valleys. Even the conviction of a neighbor, a builder called Morgan Hopkins, failed to stop the gossip. There were too many other suspects still around, among them a pair of coppers: brother and sister.
So Gethin was delighted when Morgan's family stumped up the money to pay him and his Last Resort Legals team to reinvestigate the case. But when a new lead takes him undercover into a support group for recovering addicts, Gethin has to confront his own demons.
Moving from the former mining towns of the valleys to the shiny new waterfront developments of Cardiff, taking in adult puppet shows and piercing parlors, derelict mines and country clubs, Grey In The Dark lays bare a world in which sex and money collide and everyone has their secrets.
320 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 26, 2023
Grey in the Dark is a gritty read which takes you from the South Wales valleys through the fringes of city life.
We meet Gethin Grey, an investigator with formidable sidekicks, Bex and Lee. Gethin takes on a case where Morgan Hopkins is behind bars for the brutal murder of Kelly Rowlands. Kelly has a fairly messy life involving a fair few people, and in Gethin's eyes, Morgan's guilt is in question due to sister and brother police officer duo, Leanne and Ryan, giving one another an alibi.
Gethin starts to ruffle feathers in some fairly unsavoury spots in the villages and there's some enjoyable cutting observations and remarks from him. I marked this part: "The Four Feathers would be just out of sight and blissfully out of mind over the opposite brow of the valley. Instead he was wasting his time, arguing with some retard in a stained Umbro sweatshirt." The scenes of hostility and physical violence are really well crafted and very visual to the reader.
Gethin is on the hunt for the truth in this case but he's also a man conflicted emotionally personally. He still has feelings for Cat, his wife who is separated from, and at the same time has feelings growing for Ella, who he trusts too easily due to his physical attraction to her. Let's just say she turns out to be somewhat involved in the conclusion of the deaths occurring through the novel.
I enjoyed the local Welsh terms and dialect scattered throughout, and how this kept the book true to its location and the close knit communities it was depicting. I valued how the landscape was a dominant presence and backdrop, and how an old mine featured at a dramatic point and it made me laugh that Gethin's provisions were a large chocolate bar and a Costa coffee - I'd make the same choices!
I also feel that John's novel is completely original, not piggy backing on other crime plots or premises which some authors can be guilty of.
Grey in the Dark is a great read, and I recommend you getting your hands on a copy. I'll be recommending it to family and friends and fully expecting my copy to disappear. Thanks to No Exit Press for the blogtour invitation.
We meet Gethin Grey, an investigator with formidable sidekicks, Bex and Lee. Gethin takes on a case where Morgan Hopkins is behind bars for the brutal murder of Kelly Rowlands. Kelly has a fairly messy life involving a fair few people, and in Gethin's eyes, Morgan's guilt is in question due to sister and brother police officer duo, Leanne and Ryan, giving one another an alibi.
Gethin starts to ruffle feathers in some fairly unsavoury spots in the villages and there's some enjoyable cutting observations and remarks from him. I marked this part: "The Four Feathers would be just out of sight and blissfully out of mind over the opposite brow of the valley. Instead he was wasting his time, arguing with some retard in a stained Umbro sweatshirt." The scenes of hostility and physical violence are really well crafted and very visual to the reader.
Gethin is on the hunt for the truth in this case but he's also a man conflicted emotionally personally. He still has feelings for Cat, his wife who is separated from, and at the same time has feelings growing for Ella, who he trusts too easily due to his physical attraction to her. Let's just say she turns out to be somewhat involved in the conclusion of the deaths occurring through the novel.
I enjoyed the local Welsh terms and dialect scattered throughout, and how this kept the book true to its location and the close knit communities it was depicting. I valued how the landscape was a dominant presence and backdrop, and how an old mine featured at a dramatic point and it made me laugh that Gethin's provisions were a large chocolate bar and a Costa coffee - I'd make the same choices!
I also feel that John's novel is completely original, not piggy backing on other crime plots or premises which some authors can be guilty of.
Grey in the Dark is a great read, and I recommend you getting your hands on a copy. I'll be recommending it to family and friends and fully expecting my copy to disappear. Thanks to No Exit Press for the blogtour invitation.
May 26, 2023
This is the second novel by John Williams, writing as John Lincoln, featuring Gethin Grey and his team at Last Resort Legals.
In this case, the team are hired by the sister of a man convicted for the brutal murder of a young woman called Kelly Rowlands, who she insists was framed and is innocent.
All the action takes place in and around Cardiff, the Vale and the Valleys of South Wales. The book is peppered with references to pubs, clubs and premises in the area (some no longer there and one or two with a name change but never-the-less identifiable if you know) but that’s a plus for locals but not a distraction if you’re not.
As his wonderful and rather irregular team start to investigate, a number of suspects arise and it soon appears that the man convicted of murder may well be not guilty. Suspicion falls on, amongst others, a brother and sister, both police officers. And Kelly herself had led a rather colourful life.
This is another great crime novel, with some believable characters and a convoluted storyline. I really enjoyed it and look forward to any more in the series.
Rob D
In this case, the team are hired by the sister of a man convicted for the brutal murder of a young woman called Kelly Rowlands, who she insists was framed and is innocent.
All the action takes place in and around Cardiff, the Vale and the Valleys of South Wales. The book is peppered with references to pubs, clubs and premises in the area (some no longer there and one or two with a name change but never-the-less identifiable if you know) but that’s a plus for locals but not a distraction if you’re not.
As his wonderful and rather irregular team start to investigate, a number of suspects arise and it soon appears that the man convicted of murder may well be not guilty. Suspicion falls on, amongst others, a brother and sister, both police officers. And Kelly herself had led a rather colourful life.
This is another great crime novel, with some believable characters and a convoluted storyline. I really enjoyed it and look forward to any more in the series.
Rob D
March 5, 2023
4.5⭐️s
The story instantly drew me in as we follow Gethin and his Last Resorts Legal Team who have been hired to investigate a possible miscarriage of justice for a gruesome murder case. The South Wales setting works perfectly; the run down old mining town adds to the eerie atmosphere and the wealthier side of town contrasts with this to further highlight the darker, grittier side of life.
We are given a great cast of characters to get to know and Gethin was an intriguing main character with a compelling voice. We see how professionally he’s up against it with such a big case to crack but he’s also dealing with personal struggles – coming to terms with his wife leaving and juggling his hectic workload with being a dad to Hattie. John Lincoln has the great ability to craft characters with a true human side showing them flaws and all, and making the reader feel a deeper connection while having a better understanding of them.
Bex and Lee make up the rest of the team and their no nonsense, straight talking approach was refreshing. I loved all the team’s interactions together, the amusing and caring side they show one another and how they all pull together to search for the truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed following their investigation as they consider all angles including possible police involvement. As they review the suspects, dig into the past and go undercover to try and find answers they realise things aren’t what they seem, everyone has something to hide and there’s danger still lurking.
As they delve into Kelly Rowland’s life and unearth new information we see there’s more to her than meets the eye; the way the information is slowly pulled together gives the feel of a real investigation as we see the difficulties they encounter. It’s hard to find people willing to talk, and as the locals turn to violence to stop questions being asked we wonder what it is they are so keen to keep hidden. I couldn’t stop reading as I needed to find out the truth just as much as the Team did!
Grey in the Dark has a terrific plot and enjoyable writing style making it a gripping page-turner. There’s twists and suspense aplenty – we never know who can be trusted and have to distinguish between the facts and lies. It’s a brilliant legal thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end!
With thanks to @OldCastleBooks, @JohnelWilliams and @noexitpress for my gifted copy and place on the tour.
The story instantly drew me in as we follow Gethin and his Last Resorts Legal Team who have been hired to investigate a possible miscarriage of justice for a gruesome murder case. The South Wales setting works perfectly; the run down old mining town adds to the eerie atmosphere and the wealthier side of town contrasts with this to further highlight the darker, grittier side of life.
We are given a great cast of characters to get to know and Gethin was an intriguing main character with a compelling voice. We see how professionally he’s up against it with such a big case to crack but he’s also dealing with personal struggles – coming to terms with his wife leaving and juggling his hectic workload with being a dad to Hattie. John Lincoln has the great ability to craft characters with a true human side showing them flaws and all, and making the reader feel a deeper connection while having a better understanding of them.
Bex and Lee make up the rest of the team and their no nonsense, straight talking approach was refreshing. I loved all the team’s interactions together, the amusing and caring side they show one another and how they all pull together to search for the truth.
I thoroughly enjoyed following their investigation as they consider all angles including possible police involvement. As they review the suspects, dig into the past and go undercover to try and find answers they realise things aren’t what they seem, everyone has something to hide and there’s danger still lurking.
As they delve into Kelly Rowland’s life and unearth new information we see there’s more to her than meets the eye; the way the information is slowly pulled together gives the feel of a real investigation as we see the difficulties they encounter. It’s hard to find people willing to talk, and as the locals turn to violence to stop questions being asked we wonder what it is they are so keen to keep hidden. I couldn’t stop reading as I needed to find out the truth just as much as the Team did!
Grey in the Dark has a terrific plot and enjoyable writing style making it a gripping page-turner. There’s twists and suspense aplenty – we never know who can be trusted and have to distinguish between the facts and lies. It’s a brilliant legal thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end!
With thanks to @OldCastleBooks, @JohnelWilliams and @noexitpress for my gifted copy and place on the tour.
February 27, 2023
John Lincoln is a new author to me and “Grey in the Dark” won’t be my last book by him for sure. Such a delightful read that certainly keeps the reader entertained from start to finish and not just with the storyline but the constant red herrings and twists and turns. This made for a professional, well executed crime fiction thriller that was a different take on solving crime mysteries.
Due to Gethin Grey’s criminal history, he can’t run as a lawyer so operates the Cardiff, private based “Last Resorts Legal” company, investigating miscarriages of justice. Together with his team of office manager Bex and his legal assistant Lee (who often doubles as a bodyguard) and Deano, assistant investigator who can do things Gethin cannot, they build a formidable team that won’t stop until justice is corrected.
I enjoyed following the whole team as they examined the clues and with an atmospheric South Welsh valleys setting, you are absorbed into the story instantly. A delightful read, endearing characters and with a focus on correcting miscarriages of justice using adult puppet shows and tracking suspects from their unusual piercings, made this an entertaining, memorable experience and a book I’d be happy to recommend.
#GreyInTheDark - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Due to Gethin Grey’s criminal history, he can’t run as a lawyer so operates the Cardiff, private based “Last Resorts Legal” company, investigating miscarriages of justice. Together with his team of office manager Bex and his legal assistant Lee (who often doubles as a bodyguard) and Deano, assistant investigator who can do things Gethin cannot, they build a formidable team that won’t stop until justice is corrected.
I enjoyed following the whole team as they examined the clues and with an atmospheric South Welsh valleys setting, you are absorbed into the story instantly. A delightful read, endearing characters and with a focus on correcting miscarriages of justice using adult puppet shows and tracking suspects from their unusual piercings, made this an entertaining, memorable experience and a book I’d be happy to recommend.
#GreyInTheDark - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 15, 2023
This is an enjoyable thriller from the author, set in Cardiff and the mining towns around it. I liked the plotting, filled with secrets, and the character of Gethin, an investigator. His latest assignment has him investigating the wrongful imprisonment of Morgan, found guilty of murder. There are plenty twists in the book and although I guessed the killer, it did not detract from my enjoyment. A very good read and one I would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
April 14, 2023
A gripping and compelling mystery, full of twists and well plotted. It kept on the edge and guessing. I like the fleshed out characters and the solid mystery.
it's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
it's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
February 23, 2023
This is the second featuring Gethin Grey and his legal team- Last Resort. I really like Gethin as a character and the writing absorbs you right away. The writing flows and I enjoyed this book massively.
January 17, 2024
This was an entertaining second book in a series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews