Crime Noir

Book Blurb

A must read for all those who like to sit uncomfortably on the edge of their seats.

Dark City is the fourth book in the Nick Harland detective series. In this one we follow him on his most perplexing and disturbing case to date, as he tracks down a serial killer from the past.
The book begins with an elderly man being released from prison, after serving seventeen years for a double murder. A few days after his release a young woman is snatched from outside a London pub.

The police seem to be dragging their heels, so the family of the missing girl call on the services of the tough, uncompromising ex murder squad detective, turned Private Investigator, Nick Harland. During his initial investigation another girl suddenly goes missing, he then gets a tip off that Charles Thorpe had just been released from prison. Nick knows the killer, as he was the detective who put him behind bars when he was a detective in the murder squad. And so the hunt is now on for Thorpe, and Nick will not rest until Thorpe is found, and he promises that Thorpe will pay the ultimate price for his crimes this time around.

Much more can’t be revealed, as it would give too much of the exciting plot away.
This is a fast paced dark and gritty story, packed with hard hitting action, highs and lows, intrigue and tension. This story has characters, that are good, and sometimes very, very bad. Dark City is crime noir in the truest sense.

My Review

 Rip-Roaring and Atmospheric *****

Dark City, the fourth book in Bill Carson’s Nick Harland British Detective Series is the first book that I have read by the author and it is a hard-hitting and no-holds- barred read. Although part of a  series it worked perfectly well as a stand-a-lone novel and it succeeded in making me want to go and read the earlier books.

Ex police detective Nick Harland, now working as a private investigator, is employed to find a missing girl, who is later found brutally murdered. The murder bears all the hallmarks of his old nemesis and serial killer, Charles Thorpe, who Nick put behind bars any years ago but who has been released from prison. Nick is determined to bring the killer to justice once again.

Thus begins a fast-paced read in which time is not on Nick’s side as the body count begins to increase. He is fortunate that he is contacted by an ex-colleague who sheds more light on what is becoming an ever more complex and sinister case. As the novel reaches its crescendo Nick and others face some shocking revelations as their lives are put on the line……..  I will not say any more apart from it is an entertaining and rip-roaring read which took me a little out of my confort zone.

Nick is a fascinating character. He is a maverick and likes to gamble and drink. When solving cases he doesn’t always play by the rules and it is plain to se why he has left the constraints of the police. Although Nick is the main protagonist, there are also a host of supporting characters who add depth and breadth to the story: Nick’s expectant wife, Anna; their best friend George; members of the local police force; the victims and their families; a psychic and of course Charles, the ex con. The read is very atmospheric and, as one would expect from a crime noir, has some very dark and gruesome themes.

Recommended for those who enjoy a realistic and hard-hitting crime read which is a little darker than the norm, where even the good guy does not play by the rules.

Reviewed by Tina Williams

Please nore, a copy of the book was given to me by the author for a fair and honest review.

Purchase Links 

Amazon US    Amazon UK

Connect with the Author

http://www.billcarsoncrimenoir.com/

http://www.billcarsonbooks.com/