The Burning Men (Ray Paterson #3) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Steve Parker
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 3rd December 2018
A MAN IS BURNT AT THE STAKE IN A LONDON PARK. HIS SMOULDERING CORPSE IS A MESSAGE OF THE MOST VIOLENT KIND.
The victim is Davey Caine. He is the heir to the criminal empire created by his father, William ‘Billy’ Caine. Billy is a notorious and violent gangster who controls South East London. But he’s not the man he used to be and the sharks smell blood in the water.
Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks must find the killer before Billy extracts his own brand of justice. They are drawn ever deeper into London’s underworld.
The streets explode into violence and the body count rises. Men are shot and burned alive in a tit-for-tat power struggle between rival gangs.
Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks find themselves trying to control men of extreme viciousness. Men who have no fear of the law and its consequences and who are unafraid to kill anyone who stands in their way — including police detectives.
Paterson is offered the chance to stop the conflict dead in its tracks. If he ignores it, the mayhem continues. If he takes it, there will be a price to pay.
What he doesn’t know is that the price will come with hidden and devastating consequences.
ON THE STREETS OF LONDON, A SIMMERING GANG WAR IS ABOUT TO ERUPT WITH PATERSON AND CLOCKS CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
This is the third in a series of action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers, with an ending that will have your heart in your mouth.
What readers are saying about THE BURNING MEN
“It is a real rollercoaster of a read. I could not put this book down. I loved it.” Peggy
“A must read for all crime thriller fans.” Viv
“A fast-moving action-packed thriller which will keep you enthralled from page one.” Barbara
“Another gripping, fast-paced and twisted caper for the most unorthodox police duo in UK fiction.” Donna
“Loved the book, Clocks makes me laugh out loud.” Aileen
THE DETECTIVES
Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson is a young and (thanks to family money) wealthy womaniser, separated from his model wife and tipped to be the youngest ever commissioner of police. He knows he’s weak when it comes to practical policing and struggles to find a place among his peers, desperate to be a good policeman and not just a ‘climber’.
Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks is a foul-mouthed, working-class officer. He grew up surrounded by rogues and villains to become a first-class thief taker with the Met police. However, his childish attitude has short-circuited his career and he spends his days antagonising as many people as he can.
THE SETTING
Bermondsey is an area of London nestled on the banks of the River Thames. It once had a reputation for housing more armed robbers, murderers and career criminals than anywhere else in the country. Now one of the most upmarket places to live and work in London, it has all but severed itself from its working-class roots. Home to the iconic Tower Bridge and crammed with expensive apartments, art galleries, fancy restaurants and famous residents. But for the police, those who truly know, Bermondsey never lost its roots . . . or its reputation.
What the bloggers and reviewers thought:
Black Books Blog
Overall I loved this book, although it may be a bit gruesome for some people. The story had me hooked throughout as I tried to work out how the two of them would stop the murders. I also really like the chemistry between Paterson and Clocks, and they way they work together and bring the best out of each other is brilliant. Read more here
Books From Dusk Till Dawn
This story builds in momentum at every chapter with the two detectives pushing to the ultimate limit of the law and beyond. The story line was superb with an outcome that I didn’t guess, but I must admit that the ending tickled me in some twisted way. A cracking book, I must read more of this pair of detectives, they have me intrigued. Read more here
Linda Strong Book Reviews
This is the third in a series of action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers, with an ending that will have your heart in your mouth. This easily reads as a stand alone, but there are just a few spoilers from the first two books. As always, I recommend starting at the very beginning. Read more here
Ginger Book Geek
Oh my giddy aunt ‘The Burning Men’ is one hell of a fantastic book that had me on the edge of my seat all the way through. The story starts in such a way that I am not likely to forget in a hurry. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. The author tempts you into the book and then refuses to let you go. Read more here
On The Shelf Reviews
This a real gritty and gruesome novel! So much is pack into It’s pages, brutal and bonkers gangsters, kidnapping and stomach churning murder! Read more here
My Review
Firstly, thank you to Joffe Books for the advance digital copy of this book. This is my unbiased review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Paterson and Clocks are back so I settled down for a few hours of adrenaline pumping reading and I was not disappointed. Steve Parker is not for the faint-hearted but if you love the grit and gore of crime fiction then this is an author that is right up your street.
The story begins with a man being burned alive. He is soon revealed to be the son of a gangster and so begins a war to gain control of the London underworld. Paterson and Clocks are not amused and set out to bring an end to the violence by whatever means they see fit.
I do love this pair. They balance each other out perfectly and we get to know them a little more each book and they are balance by other team members who we also get to know more about.
Humour, corruption, drugs, violence, twists, turns and curve balls this book has it all. An absolutely brilliant read ticked all my boxes and I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.
STEVE PARKER – author bio
Steve Parker was born and raised in South East London (Camberwell and Peckham). At age twenty-one he joined the Metropolitan Police where he served for twenty years in numerous high profile squads before being pensioned out with a serious back injury.
Thankfully, he was blessed with a complete lack of DIY skills so was legitimately able to get away with swanning around the house doing bugger all, all day long. Finding himself with plenty of spare time and a deep desire to never work for anyone again, he dug out an old screenplay he’d written when he was still a policeman and set himself a challenge to turn it into a book which eventually became his debut novel ‘Their Last Words’.
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/MrParkerspen/
Twitter: @mrparkerspen
Website: https://mrparkerspen.com/
The Ray Paterson Series
Their Last Words (Ray Paterson #1) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Steve Parker
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 18th June 2018
A VICTIM. A MUTILATED BODY. A SINGLE WORD. A young woman is found dead on the streets of London. Her throat slashed, her body mutilated, and one word carved into her flesh: “DON’T.” Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson is assigned to the case. Young, handsome, and from a well-off background, he’s tipped for the top. He joins a team based out of Bermondsey, South London. It’s meant to be a stepping stone to his next promotion, but this case will threaten to bring down his career and everything he thought he knew about policing. Paterson is put in charge of the dead girl’s investigation and quickly discovers he must rely on his friend and mentor, Detective Sergeant Dave Jordan to guide him through. THEN ANOTHER BODY IS DISCOVERED. ANOTHER WORD CUT INTO THE VICTIM’S CHEST. The police realise they may have a depraved serial killer on their hands. The murderer is trying to send them a message carved in his victims’ bodies. But who’s the message for? How many more must die? Detective Paterson may be the only man who can stop this vile killer . . . if he can survive long enough.
THE LOST CHILDREN (Ray Paterson #2) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Steve Parker
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 26th August 2018
A MAN IS SHOT DEAD IN THE STREET. BUT WHAT THE POLICE FIND NEARBY IS FAR WORSE. An elderly African man is found dead in the street, shot through the head. The killing has the hallmark of a professional assassin. Dumped in a waste bin next to the dead man is the dismembered torso of a child. On his first day back at work, disgraced Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson finds himself teamed up again with newly promoted Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks. They must hunt down a ruthless killer with connections that go far beyond anything they’ve ever come across before. Within days they know who committed the murders and why, but are left reeling when they are ordered by the government to release the child’s killers. FINDING THE KILLERS WASN’T THE HARD PART. BRINGING THEM TO JUSTICE IS. This is the second in a series of action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thrillers, with an ending that will have your heart in your mouth. TWO DETECTIVES WHO HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER MUST WORK TOGETHER.
The Burning Men (Ray Paterson #3) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Steve Parker
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 3rd December 2018
A MAN IS BURNT AT THE STAKE IN A LONDON PARK. HIS SMOULDERING CORPSE IS A MESSAGE OF THE MOST VIOLENT KIND. The victim is Davey Caine. He is the heir to the criminal empire created by his father, William ‘Billy’ Caine. Billy is a notorious and violent gangster who controls South East London. But he’s not the man he used to be and the sharks smell blood in the water. Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks must find the killer before Billy extracts his own brand of justice. They are drawn ever deeper into London’s underworld. The streets explode into violence and the body count rises. Men are shot and burned alive in a tit-for-tat power struggle between rival gangs. Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks find themselves trying to control men of extreme viciousness. Men who have no fear of the law and its consequences and who are unafraid to kill anyone who stands in their way — including police detectives. Paterson is offered the chance to stop the conflict dead in its tracks. If he ignores it, the mayhem continues. If he takes it, there will be a price to pay. What he doesn’t know is that the price will come with hidden and devastating consequences. ON THE STREETS OF LONDON, A SIMMERING GANG WAR IS ABOUT TO ERUPT WITH PATERSON AND CLOCKS CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
Also available: A box set of Ray Paterson books 1,2 and 3
PATERSON & CLOCKS BOOKS 1-3 AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Steve Parker
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 3rd December 2018
Three explosive crime thrillers in 1 great value Box Set. Book – Their Last Words. Book 2 – The Lost Children. Book 3 – The Burning Men
You Can’t Hide (Ray Paterson #4) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Steve Parker
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 3rd December 2018
YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE. YOU CAN NEVER HIDE. Albert Tanner, vicious psychopath and burner of men, is in the USA with unfinished business Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson and Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks must find him first. Their task is straightforward: hunt Tanner down and bring him home. But a few explosions, an assassin and a dead child change everything. Dragged into a sordid world of high class sex parties they discover an Albert Tanner they never knew existed. Then a child is snatched from her own bed and Tanner wants to do a deal. However the price is far too high. Paterson and Clocks realise they have no choice but to hunt Tanner down their own way.
NEW RELEASE:
Their Dying Breath (Ray Paterson #5) GOODREADS
Author – Steve Parker
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 11th February 2020
A MURDERER TERRORIZES LONDON Detectives Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks attend the scene of a brutal murder on the banks of the River Thames. Someone’s head is found with a star carved into their forehead. The rest of their body is buried in the mud. The next day the airwaves are hacked. A live-stream shows a man imprisoned in a box. He also has a star cut into his head. Then the man is drowned alive in the box. TWO MORE MEN ARE MURDERED ON LIVE TV, TWO MORE WILL DIE WITHIN HOURS Paterson and Clocks race against time to make sure their next breath isn’t their last. But this enemy is far more deceptive and deadly than any they’ve encountered before. THEY WILL DO ANYTHING FOR REVENGE. WHY?
