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The Sky Turned Black
‘HARD-BOILED AND CRACKLING WITH INTENSITY. JOHN STEELE GETS UNDER THE SKIN OF THE NYPD AS WELL AS ANYONE WRITING TODAY’ T. J. English
‘DARK, HARD-HITTING AND FAST MOVING’ Thomas Mullen
***
HIS BIGGEST CASE YET. BUT IT COULD BE HIS LAST…
NYPD officer Callum Burke is on a routine drugs raid when he bursts in on a scene of monstrous horror – and two killers about to get away.
The men are caught but they won’t talk. All the cops learn is that they’re Russian and extremely dangerous which means this could be the start of a savage new gang war.
Callum Burke is assigned to the investigation. It’s Manhattan in 1997 and the city is being cleaned up. The pressure is on.
But when Callum discovers there might be more to the Russian involvement than just criminal gangs, he finds himself in deeper trouble than he’s ever known…
***
‘Hard and intriguing. Callum Burke is a cop on the edge’ David Albertyn
‘The Sky Turned Black will make your head spin’ T. J. English
‘A crime saga that combines gritty detail with a global scope’ Thomas Mullen
‘DARK, HARD-HITTING AND FAST MOVING’ Thomas Mullen
***
HIS BIGGEST CASE YET. BUT IT COULD BE HIS LAST…
NYPD officer Callum Burke is on a routine drugs raid when he bursts in on a scene of monstrous horror – and two killers about to get away.
The men are caught but they won’t talk. All the cops learn is that they’re Russian and extremely dangerous which means this could be the start of a savage new gang war.
Callum Burke is assigned to the investigation. It’s Manhattan in 1997 and the city is being cleaned up. The pressure is on.
But when Callum discovers there might be more to the Russian involvement than just criminal gangs, he finds himself in deeper trouble than he’s ever known…
***
‘Hard and intriguing. Callum Burke is a cop on the edge’ David Albertyn
‘The Sky Turned Black will make your head spin’ T. J. English
‘A crime saga that combines gritty detail with a global scope’ Thomas Mullen
357 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2022
10 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
John Steele
78 books9 followersThere are multiple other John Steele authors.
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Please check the correct space between first and last name (^) for the correct author page.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 14, 2022
This was a very action packed thriller.
I did struggle at the start as I felt like I was thrown into a book that had already started- it takes the reader straight into the story! I probably would have benefitted from reading the first book, or perhaps one of the author's other books so I knew what his writing style was, but once I had adjusted, it was a very gripping read!
The first book will have helped with the character development, but the author does a solid job of filling us in.
The plot is pretty fast-paced, and is gritty in places too, so this is a book crime or police procedural fans will love!
I did struggle at the start as I felt like I was thrown into a book that had already started- it takes the reader straight into the story! I probably would have benefitted from reading the first book, or perhaps one of the author's other books so I knew what his writing style was, but once I had adjusted, it was a very gripping read!
The first book will have helped with the character development, but the author does a solid job of filling us in.
The plot is pretty fast-paced, and is gritty in places too, so this is a book crime or police procedural fans will love!
June 16, 2022
I’ve enjoyed John Steele’s books previously, so when the tour invite for The Sky Turned Black showed up in my email, the decision to join in was easy!
The beginning of this novel is a bit of a slow burn, so I wasn’t sitting on the edge of my seat, but once the action picked up, I couldn’t put this down. It was quite fast paced toward the end and kept me invested in the story.
The story takes place in New York in 1997, following NYPD police officer Callum. I really enjoyed the setting. I’m from upstate NY, but NYC is an interesting place and John Steele really brings you thete as a reader.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, however, they are well written so it was relatively easy to keep track of who was who.
Once the pacing picked up, there were lots of twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and recommend giving it a read.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy and tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
The beginning of this novel is a bit of a slow burn, so I wasn’t sitting on the edge of my seat, but once the action picked up, I couldn’t put this down. It was quite fast paced toward the end and kept me invested in the story.
The story takes place in New York in 1997, following NYPD police officer Callum. I really enjoyed the setting. I’m from upstate NY, but NYC is an interesting place and John Steele really brings you thete as a reader.
There are a lot of characters in this novel, however, they are well written so it was relatively easy to keep track of who was who.
Once the pacing picked up, there were lots of twists and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and recommend giving it a read.
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the free review copy and tour invite. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
June 12, 2022
It took me a little while to get into this at the start but after a certain point I couldn’t put it down and it was really fast paced😊 I read over 100 pages in one sitting.
The book itself is set in New York in 1997 and follows NYPD police officer Callum as he investigates criminal gangs in the city. There is alot of characters in this book to keep track of but I didn’t get lost at all.
The Sky Turned Black took alot of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting at all, it was certainly gripping. I didn’t realise this was a part of a series but The Sky Turned Black can be read as a standalone for sure. I do want to read the first book in the series Rat Island, both are currently available on Kindle Unlimited if you have it and you feel like it would be your cup of tea📚 I know that crime fans will love this one😊
The book itself is set in New York in 1997 and follows NYPD police officer Callum as he investigates criminal gangs in the city. There is alot of characters in this book to keep track of but I didn’t get lost at all.
The Sky Turned Black took alot of twists and turns that I wasn’t expecting at all, it was certainly gripping. I didn’t realise this was a part of a series but The Sky Turned Black can be read as a standalone for sure. I do want to read the first book in the series Rat Island, both are currently available on Kindle Unlimited if you have it and you feel like it would be your cup of tea📚 I know that crime fans will love this one😊
June 10, 2022
An action packed crime thriller with some intense shots. If you are interested in gangs, drugs, some Russian action, then the book is for you. Inspector Callum Burke emerges as a character of strength and wits. I really enjoyed the book. Although, the plot was a little bit slow but it kept its pace.
Definitely, 4 stars for the book. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
Definitely, 4 stars for the book. Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for providing me an opportunity to read and review the book.
Read more on bibliophileverse.blogspot.com
June 17, 2022
The second installment of the Callum Burke series comes back with a wallop, every bit as intense, gripping and unputdownable as its brilliant predecessor.
Rich with raw and well-drafted characters, this book (and this series) reads very much like an authentically gritty behind-the-scenes look at police procedure, banter, rivalry and partnerships; coupled with an intricate plot, plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and a wonderfully flawed and relatable main protagonist.
Callum Burke is an Irish cop, on secondment to NYPD, with a knack for getting himself into violently-escalating situations. A mass of contradictions , Callum is a former boxer, a “soulful Celtic type”, with eyes “so expressive and guileless” it’s hard for others to reconcile the sudden shift to “something pure and cold and relentless” awakening a “black hardness in his eyes”, as his internal darkness “claws its way back to the light of day”.
Set in the time-capsule that was NYC in 1997, as Callum battles Russian mobsters, horrific murders, drugs, hustlers, and psychopathic hit-men, his most difficult challenge may be on a much deeper level. Estranged from his wife and daughter, finding himself suddenly emotionally vulnerable to newly-shared female affection, and still in the grips of “hot and savage” flashbacks from his time in Belfast in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Callum is a mass of fried neural connections, desperate yearnings, and passionate volatility.
Once again playing with clever and subtle themes examining all sides of a fractured moral equilibrium, as Callum’s balance wavers, but seems to settle somewhat-squarely on the “hero” side of the scale, the author introduces a master “villain” as equally complex, triggered, traumatized, and troubled. A sort of evil doppelgänger to Callum’s brokenness, bearing similarity physically, temperamentally and in terms of latent psychological damage.
A troubling look at the many faces of darkness, rage, violence and loss - this book is a harshly-hitting example of crime-fiction writing at its peak. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this terrific series.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
Rich with raw and well-drafted characters, this book (and this series) reads very much like an authentically gritty behind-the-scenes look at police procedure, banter, rivalry and partnerships; coupled with an intricate plot, plenty of unexpected twists and turns, and a wonderfully flawed and relatable main protagonist.
Callum Burke is an Irish cop, on secondment to NYPD, with a knack for getting himself into violently-escalating situations. A mass of contradictions , Callum is a former boxer, a “soulful Celtic type”, with eyes “so expressive and guileless” it’s hard for others to reconcile the sudden shift to “something pure and cold and relentless” awakening a “black hardness in his eyes”, as his internal darkness “claws its way back to the light of day”.
Set in the time-capsule that was NYC in 1997, as Callum battles Russian mobsters, horrific murders, drugs, hustlers, and psychopathic hit-men, his most difficult challenge may be on a much deeper level. Estranged from his wife and daughter, finding himself suddenly emotionally vulnerable to newly-shared female affection, and still in the grips of “hot and savage” flashbacks from his time in Belfast in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Callum is a mass of fried neural connections, desperate yearnings, and passionate volatility.
Once again playing with clever and subtle themes examining all sides of a fractured moral equilibrium, as Callum’s balance wavers, but seems to settle somewhat-squarely on the “hero” side of the scale, the author introduces a master “villain” as equally complex, triggered, traumatized, and troubled. A sort of evil doppelgänger to Callum’s brokenness, bearing similarity physically, temperamentally and in terms of latent psychological damage.
A troubling look at the many faces of darkness, rage, violence and loss - this book is a harshly-hitting example of crime-fiction writing at its peak. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this terrific series.
A great big thank you to the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.
June 21, 2022
The Sky Turned Black is my second read from John Steele. My first being Rat Island which is the first book in the Callum Burke NYPD series. I was so lucky to be part of Rat Island's blog tour and now this one also. I didn't even consider that this book wouldn't be good. I was already raring to catch up with Callum Burke the NYPD police officer who takes centre stage.
This time it's 1997, New York and Callum is given a case to investigate the world of criminal gangs which is a dark one anyway. As Callum begins to discover that the Russians are much more involved in things than the gangs he also realises he may just be in much more trouble than he has ever experienced before.
It was so good to return to Callum, a character who I felt was so real in Rat Island. John Steele has kept up the action and the tension racked up again in The Sky Turned Black and I wondered what else could go wrong for Callum. There are quite a few characters in the storyline too, but the author has, again, created them so well that I had no issues keeping up with who was who as the plot unfolded.
Again, the setting of New York is so real. I have never been but as I was reading this book I felt I could be there. The pacing was a little slower at the start but it soon picks up and that's when I found myself hooked. I was so invested in this book and Callum Burke.
With The Sky Turned Black, John Steele has made this a book that can be read as a standalone too. He fills in the background needed to help new readers feel they are up to speed. This is quite handy as I know the confusion that starting after the first book of a series can bring.
A gripping, gritty and action filled crime thriller that grabs you and doesn't let go. This is sure to hit the right note with any crimer thriller/police procedural fans out there.
This time it's 1997, New York and Callum is given a case to investigate the world of criminal gangs which is a dark one anyway. As Callum begins to discover that the Russians are much more involved in things than the gangs he also realises he may just be in much more trouble than he has ever experienced before.
It was so good to return to Callum, a character who I felt was so real in Rat Island. John Steele has kept up the action and the tension racked up again in The Sky Turned Black and I wondered what else could go wrong for Callum. There are quite a few characters in the storyline too, but the author has, again, created them so well that I had no issues keeping up with who was who as the plot unfolded.
Again, the setting of New York is so real. I have never been but as I was reading this book I felt I could be there. The pacing was a little slower at the start but it soon picks up and that's when I found myself hooked. I was so invested in this book and Callum Burke.
With The Sky Turned Black, John Steele has made this a book that can be read as a standalone too. He fills in the background needed to help new readers feel they are up to speed. This is quite handy as I know the confusion that starting after the first book of a series can bring.
A gripping, gritty and action filled crime thriller that grabs you and doesn't let go. This is sure to hit the right note with any crimer thriller/police procedural fans out there.
June 29, 2022
I wasn’t sure about this one initially, I’d never read anything by John Steele before and coming in at book 2, I hadn’t given myself the opportunity to learn his style of story telling previously.
Without reading book 1 I felt like I had missed a bit of the world building to bring this story to life, so I would recommend book 1 before this one. It was a slower read to start in spite of that and I did struggle to get into it initially; however don’t think that my luke warm intro here means I didn’t like this book because all that was soon forgotten as the pace picked up and the action got going, by the end I was ripping through the pages and I couldn’t put it down!
The writing is brilliant and the characters solid, the twists had me guessing and they were never what I expected!! Reading book 1 would only enhance your experience of this book and it’s definitely a crime series and New author that I will be following.
Raw, Edgy and hard hitting a brilliant Crime Fiction and what is shaping up to be an amazing series
We received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review, all opinions are our own
Without reading book 1 I felt like I had missed a bit of the world building to bring this story to life, so I would recommend book 1 before this one. It was a slower read to start in spite of that and I did struggle to get into it initially; however don’t think that my luke warm intro here means I didn’t like this book because all that was soon forgotten as the pace picked up and the action got going, by the end I was ripping through the pages and I couldn’t put it down!
The writing is brilliant and the characters solid, the twists had me guessing and they were never what I expected!! Reading book 1 would only enhance your experience of this book and it’s definitely a crime series and New author that I will be following.
Raw, Edgy and hard hitting a brilliant Crime Fiction and what is shaping up to be an amazing series
We received a copy of this book free of charge in return for an honest review, all opinions are our own
June 29, 2022
Great follow up to Rat Island.
When I read Rat Island one of the first thoughts I had was "I hope there's a second book" and guess what, there is and it's as good as the first.
Strong storyline and characters make for an excellent read. Highly recommended.
When I read Rat Island one of the first thoughts I had was "I hope there's a second book" and guess what, there is and it's as good as the first.
Strong storyline and characters make for an excellent read. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews