Alan Parks is certainly a voice to be reckoned with. When I read his stunning debut Bloody January, I was taken aback by how raw the writing was, how grimy the characters were, and how the lines between good and evil blurred together so seamlessly. February's Son matches that intensity, a brutal sequel set in the same 1970s Glasgow that doesn't shy away from exploring the horrors of what people are capable of.
Not for the faint of heart, we follow McCoy, Murray and Wattie as they try to track down a deranged murderer who dismembers his victim and cuts a message onto his chest. McCoy, just back on the job after the events of Bloody January, is noticeably not at his best as he tries to adjust. During the investigation, a newspaper clipping and a suicide in a church bring back some horrible memories from his past.
Harry McCoy is a complex character with a storied past that believably affects his present day life. His complicated relationship with Stevie Cooper - his childhood friend and saviour - adds so much to the story. Old loyalties and love for Stevie often clash with his duty as a detective, creating an interesting internal battle throughout the novel. McCoy's own demons see him leaping over that invisible line on more than one occasion, and only time will tell if there's any hope of him getting back. A raw and gripping sequel from an author who is quickly becoming one of my favourites.
Not for the faint of heart, we follow McCoy, Murray and Wattie as they try to track down a deranged murderer who dismembers his victim and cuts a message onto his chest. McCoy, just back on the job after the events of Bloody January, is noticeably not at his best as he tries to adjust. During the investigation, a newspaper clipping and a suicide in a church bring back some horrible memories from his past.
Harry McCoy is a complex character with a storied past that believably affects his present day life. His complicated relationship with Stevie Cooper - his childhood friend and saviour - adds so much to the story. Old loyalties and love for Stevie often clash with his duty as a detective, creating an interesting internal battle throughout the novel. McCoy's own demons see him leaping over that invisible line on more than one occasion, and only time will tell if there's any hope of him getting back. A raw and gripping sequel from an author who is quickly becoming one of my favourites.