Do you love utterly gripping, fast-paced, crime thrillers? The best-selling Brick is a must read for all fans of crime fiction.When a teenager is the victim of an unprovoked attack while walking his dog, a murder investigation begins. A cruel twist of fate makes his innocent family the targets of a vicious campaign of terror.As the detectives of Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team try to contain … Liverpool’s Major Investigation Team try to contain the violence, several key members of an organised crime family begin to topple, causing shockwaves across the world.
Why was the teenager attacked?
And will the villains be brought to justice?
Also available in the DI Braddock Books series:
The unmissable Shadows
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Brick: an action-packed crime thriller (DI Braddick Book 1) by Conrad Jones.
It is always a delight to discover a new author. I found Conrad Jones purely by accident. The word ‘serendipity’ springs to mind because I was delighted to have found this book and author.
It certainly lived up to the description of “action-packed.” I was breathless as I followed the action from chapter to chapter.
The writing was fresh. Mr. Jones writes in a popular genre, yet he is different. Different in a good way. It was like a breath of Spring air to read a crime fiction author getting away from all the tired, clichéd protagonists. There was a protagonist of sorts – DI Braddick. And, this is not a criticism, the DI took a back seat as the action unfolded.
The story, set in Liverpool and greater Merseyside, starts off with the character Bryn Evans, a 14-year old schoolboy. He’s a character we get to know well. He is also the conduit to the rest of the story.
That story is about Liverpool organised crime gangs, the Farrells and the Tuckers. They are violent drug lords aided and abetted by some heavy Russians – the Karpovs.
Yes, it’s fiction but all too realistic. That’s one of the stand-out things for me in crime fiction. The setting and tale must be realistic. This author scores heavily in these departments. The book has a contemporary feel to it. As an exiled Scouser who relies on an online Liverpool Echo to keep in touch, this book reflects the sad reality of the current ‘drugs wars’ being fought out on the streets of Liverpool.
The author builds tension and the story excellently through some longish early chapters. That was necessary to include the back stories of all the main characters. But the pace is always spot on and increases as the reader nears the final denouements. Yes, plural not singular. The increase in pace is enhanced by deliberate shorter chapters. I liked that writer’s device as it increased the ‘page turnability’ of this book.
I will be reading more of Conrad Jones.
I thought it was great, hated to put it down.
Good read
Didn’t like it mych, but only because it didn’t interest me, not because of poor writing, story, etc. It just wasn’t for me.
Somewhat violent.
This book was set in America, but obviously written by a Brit. That was a cute layer to this action packed story.
A really different kind of thriller, and different in a way that was original and engaging. I feel that this is a great book and I recommend it highly.
I enjoyed this read. Good characters. Good plot. Suspenseful.
Unpredictable and tragic at times, a sad, fast paced read. Didn’t like the ending – but it wasn’t bad. I just would have preferred a different one!
It’s ok. Not great, but ok.
Looking forward to more.
Not anything I want to read
An original story line in a genre prone to similarities in plots.
I enjoyed it very much
Intriguing with interesting twists. Lifesize characters and believable plot.
Innocent 14 y.o. boy inadvertently gets into an altercation with a member of a drug family., Who spend the rest of the book seeking revenge. Lots of torture and brutality.
Unputdownable.
2 thumbs up
This book is not what I expected but it is a really good read. The characters are colorful and you really feel for the good guys! It is not for the faint at heart, but it is a good action book with attention to building characters and their stories. I would definitely read more books from this author.
It was tense the whole way and hoping for the good guy that same way!!
Keeps me coming back to see what happens next.