FATHER AND SON - the new crime thriller from John Barlow
Father and Son is a fast-paced, gritty murder mystery that will keep you reading long into the night. A C Flory
Someone wants you dead. You don't know who. Or why...
John Ray is called to the scene of a violent murder. The victim is an old associate of John's dad, local crime boss Tony Ray. There's no obvious motive for the crime, but everybody agrees on one thing: don't tell the police.
Father and Son quickly develops into a gripping, fast-paced crime thriller with enough twists and turns to keep you reading until the last page. John Ray, the charismatic, Cambridge-educated white sheep of the Ray family, has always refused to be part of his father's business. But he's a bit of a maverick, with a foot in both worlds, and he's not quite as white as he would like: exactly the kind of person you'd want to investigate an underworld murder mystery.
The fast-paced search for the killer that ensues takes John Ray back to events twenty years ago, and to another, even more heinous crime. It's a gripping search, but also a painful one for John personally, and he doesn't really know what he's looking for. Until it's too late.
Plus, he's not the only one looking...
FATHER AND SON is the second crime thriller in the John Ray / LS9 series.
NOTE ON THE TEXT: Chapter 17 of this novel includes a letter written by a child. The letter contains various grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. The are used deliberately by the author.
Early reviews of the new crime thriller FATHER AND SON...
Amazon 5-star review : It's a fast paced book... Anyone who likes crime thrillers will like this book. I highly recommend it. Cactuspare
Amazon 5-star review : I loved this book... a fast paced, gritty murder mystery that will keep you reading long into the night. A C Flory
Amazon 5-star review : Once again an excellent novel. Really pulls you in. Couldn't get enough of this story, love the series, can't wait for the next one. Alicia
Amazon 5-star review : Strongly recommended, both this one and the first, HOPE ROAD. George R Johnson
Reviews of HOPE ROAD, the previous crime thriller in the John Ray / LS9 series:
Crime thriller fans, this novel is a must read. Jersey Girl Book Reviews
A gripping read... A fascinating study in dark and evil... The stuff of Great British grit and dark, dark humour ... Beautifully cinematic... far more cinematic than a McDermid or a Rankin. Crimefictionlover.com
I can't wait for the next book. Hope Road is a fast-paced, exciting novel. I Prefer Reading
Barlow throws in plenty of twists... he spins the yarn in fast-paced, very readable prose. Rough Edges
I loved the story, good plot and plenty of interest for the reader. Little twists and turns and an ending I did not expect. Booketta
A wonderful read which I highly recommend. [...] An engrossing story with fascinating and complex characters. The setting is wonderfully portrayed. A tremendously exciting debut and I look forward to more from John Barlow. Bravo! That Guy with the Glasses
John [Ray] is a great character. Beth Kemp
I enjoyed it tremendously. Barlow gives us a few twists and turns along the way to keep us on our feet. Not the Baseball Pitcher
A pretty gripping story. The description of the city was great too. Click's Clan
Moves along at a fast pace and carefully unfolds the story. An intriguing murder mystery from start to finish. Welcome to Tweedling
The plot was solid with a good dash of twists and turns. The whodunit aspect was handled well and the ending was pretty satisfying. Word Vagabond
Review
It's a fast paced book, and really shows what "guilty by association" is about. Anyone who likes crime thrillers will like this book. I highly recommend it. (Amazon 5-star review , Cactuspare)
I loved this book... Father and Son is special because it takes a flawed, but extremely charismatic, likable character - John Ray - and uses the murder mystery of the plot to show why he is so flawed... But Father and Son is not just a psychological novel , it also happens to be a fast paced, gritty murder mystery that will keep you reading long into the night. Trust me, I did not finish reading until 4am but I don't regret the misery of the next day! ... And for those who care about such things, the quality of the writing was excellent.
(Amazon 5-star review , A C Flory)
Once again an excellent novel. Really pulls you in. Couldn't get enough of this story, love the series, can't wait for the next one. (Amazon 5-star review , Alicia)
It's a welcome return to the world of John Ray. I found myself engrossed again in the story. Ready for more John Ray. Strongly recommended , both this one and the first, HOPE ROAD.
(Amazon 5-star review , George R Johnson)
The story is gripping , with unexpected twists and turns that seem to be the author's trademark.(Cheryl B Dale)
John Barlow has again written a book which keeps the reader wanting more. I anxiously await the next installment to the John Ray Series. (Amazon 5-star review ,Joyce, NC)