Mass murder stalks the land. A damaged, hurting cop at war with his son. One last shot at redemption.Bound by Blood is the second book in the London Large crime thriller series, featuring the exploits of Detective Inspector Harry ‘H’ Hawkins, an old-school London copper in a new world. H is only just back at work after a mental and physical breakdown when pop superstar Bazza Wishbone is murdered … Bazza Wishbone is murdered in the dead of night in a top London hotel. As the whole world looks on in horror H investigates the crime in the only way he knows how; he embarks on a full-blooded, uncompromising search for the truth.
But the truth can be brutal. As the investigation gathers pace H discovers that his own neglected son has been sucked into the international crime ring responsible for one of the worst mass murders in British history, and has been turned against his father. H’s mission is now no longer merely a search for a killer but also a quest to save his boy and deal with the man who has corrupted him. As events move towards their climax H is faced with a trio of extraordinary challenges: can he find the killer of Bazza Wishbone, get to the truth about the twenty bodies discovered in a mass grave in Kent, and find and reconnect with his son before he is spirited out of the country – or worse?
If you like hard-boiled, gritty and action packed novels with terrific twists you’ll love Bound by Blood – let it take you on a thrilling, rollercoaster ride through the dark underbelly of criminal London.
TRIGGER WARNING:
If you require a trigger warning of any kind then this book is NOT for you.
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Those who didn’t read the first book in the series will have no problem with this 2nd story. The outlines of those events are recapped several times and it even may feel a bit boring to those reading the box set. I’m rather grateful for attentive writers who understand that not everybody can start to read the books in chronological order. And even if you do so, there can be an extended period between the readings.
After the traumatic events with the gang-war and paedophile ring, DI Harry Hawkins ended up in the hospital with a bullet wound and has since been recovering. When his shrink finally allows him to return to work, he’s restricted to light work and desk duties. As if this is gonna work!
So, when a major pop star is shot in a posh London hotel room, it is DS Amisha Bhanushali and DI Graham Miller-Marchant that are called upon to solve this crime. The supermodel girlfriend witnessed the events but the receptionist who facilitated the murder is killed as well. From doing background checks and phone enquiries, it doesn’t take h long to unofficially head the investigation. He also enlists the help of Andrew Glass, a rookie policeman who turns out a useful and very promising asset.
Both Harry’s son and his old friend Ronnie are in prison. Harry feels bad that his friend has taken the wrap for him but can’t change a thing. Certainly not because Graham, as well as Amisha, were less than forthcoming with the true cause of events.
Young Ronnie gets groomed and brainwashed by the Albanian gang leader that his dad put in prison in the first book. He turns the young man into a ruthless killer, knowing that this will hurt Harry more than anything else.
So, when a major pop star is shot in a posh London hotel room, it is DS Amisha Bhanushali and DI Graham Miller-Marchant that are called upon to solve this crime. The supermodel girlfriend witnessed the events but the receptionist who facilitated the murder is killed as well. From doing background checks and phone enquiries, it doesn’t take h long to unofficially head the investigation. He also enlists the help of Andrew Glass, a rookie policeman who turns out a useful and very promising asset.
It’s not because Dragusha is in jail that the Albanian mafia will stop their activities. Their overlords leave the second in command, Fatos Gazjet handles the business in London as he remains in close contact with his former leader. But a lorry containing ‘live’ goods, breaks down on the M and the driver reports that the ‘merchandise’ has died. The order from prison is to kill all the surviving immigrants as well as the driver. But there’s a glitch and in the dark of the night, the driver escapes in the woods without being noticed.
In the meantime Dragusha had Ronnie kill a rival gang-leader and manages to organise both their escapes. It doesn’t take long before they’re connected with the mass murder grave that’s been discovered, despite been in jail at the time it happened. Harry wants to save his son somehow; Well aware that they’re transgressing all rules and orders, his 2 colleagues support him. In the meantime, the investigation into the Wishbone murder is temporarily put on the backburner.
Be warned, this isn’t a fairytale with a HEA ending. It’s a tragic, grim story about the ugly underbelly of our society. There is a lot of wanton violence -though not as much as in the first book- and people do die in this book, even likeable and heroic major characters.
I don’t know how the brothers chose the names of their main characters, but those of both of Harry’s nearest colleagues are a serious mouthful, and every time they meet a witness or suspect they have to introduce themselves with their full names. It looks as if this is a private inside-joke from the writers.
I have to admit that I get most but not every slang term used in the book. Not a problem for me, it adds real ‘couleur local’ and I think it’s a good way to pick up new words and expressions. There are plenty of free dictionaries and translation apps available. If you’re too lazy to do that, usually the meaning is clear from the context.
London Large, Blood on the Streets #1 – A well written, action filled, suspense novel set in present day London. The multiple battles of old school vs. new police, Russian and Albanian mafias, and the elites of government. The pace is fast and the reader is intrigued by what is on the pages. I couldn’t put the book down. I contacted the authors to review their books after reading Tipping Point, the intro of the old school raising of several of the major characters. Tipping Point should be read first, if possible. 5*
London Large, Bound by Blood #2 – A well written, action filled, suspense novel set, in present day London, that picks up from Blood on the Streets a few months later with the same characters plus. The prime focus is still the continuing battle against the Albanian mafia. I couldn’t put this book down any more than I did the first book. I contacted the authors to review their books after reading Tipping Point, the intro the old school raising of several of the major characters. Tipping Point should be read first, if possible. 5*
London Large, Bloody Liberties #3- Blood and thunder, to borrow a British phrase. A well written, action packed, suspense filled novel that grabs the reader by the throat and doesn’t let go until the end. Then you think about what you’ve read. I couldn’t put the book down; I was immersed in the horror that is so possible today. Good old fashion soldiering, new technology and human perseverance; the combination making a great read. The twisting plot was well thought out and believable; the dialog realistic; and the technology spot on. If you haven’t read the prequel and the first two books, you need to do so. Liberties can be read without them, but they enhance the story and you understand the viewpoints of the characters better. 5*
London Large, American Lockdown #4 – Absolutely the best of this good series. Fast paced; action packed; suspense filled; evil and deadly. It’s even harder to put this book down, the others were difficult to stop reading, but this one makes the others look like child’s play. Every character is well developed and we have the gang from previous books. The plot is a roller coaster ride of horror, hate, revenge, anger and love. Full of emotions: simmering to full blown; you name it, it’s covered. How much can H take? I wonder what the next book will be since it will be difficult to top this one, but I’m sure the Robson Brothers can handle it. This is a 10 star book! 5*
London Large, Tipping Point, Prequel- Must read Tipping Point first before LL Blood on the Streets. The introduction of the old school raising of several of the major characters of the London Large series. This intro clarify any confusion the reader may experience in LL, Blood on the Streets. 5*
Sharp and Short: A collection of shorts about Harry ‘H’ Hawkins, which should be read, in the sequential order of time, before and during the London Large series, especially Tipping Point. Tipping Point will explain a lot about the type of man he is and how he became Harry of the London Large series. Also, there’s some information in this book that is mentioned in the first book and causes confusion for the reader that hadn’t read TP. The other books have background about how H develops his feelings, good and bad, of the people, good and bad, in his life and work. Also, his mates are featured. Good background stories. 5*
Home Front – November, 2003. Age 45. Harry’s reaction to a string of violated, murdered young girls and health scare and his marriage.
Counter Punch – October, 1984; February, 1985. While still in the army, H handles an extended family problem against a crime lord, with an American GI by H’s side.
On Tour – 1978. Nineteen year-old H, Shy Nervous John and Ronnie as part of the Anglers Athletic under-21s on tour in Amsterdam and Hamburg. Their first time out of England.
That’s Life – November, 1995. Little Ronnie is born and H lives his code about his friends, his “own”.
Unsafe Space – November 2017. As a private investigator, a case leads him to a university where the students are brainwashed by their professor into destruction and hatred.
Tipping Point – January, 1974. Prequel – Must read Tipping Point first before LL Blood on the Streets. The introduction of the old school raising of several of the major characters of the London Large series. This intro clarify any confusion the reader may experience in LL, Blood on the Streets.
Sharp and Short: End
Very good read. Enjoyed the story and characters. Especially liked British terminology and phrases, they certainly have a way with words.