Tag Archives: crime fiction

Review: ‘Porcelain Flesh of Innocents’, by Lee Cockburn

This is the first review I’m posting as part of the Clink Street Spring Reading Week Blog Tour. I was sent a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review, by Rachel at Authoright as part of the Blog Tour.

Lee Cockburn Cover 4.2

Published By: Clink Street

Publication Date: 2017

I.S.B.N.; 9781911525318

Format: Paperback (Also available as an ebook)

See other posts for the blurb

MY REVIEW

Pros:

  • Good plot
  • Complex characters that drive the narrative forward
  • Nice plot twists.
  • Tackles a painful and complex issue – child abuse – with sympathy
  • The language used gives a flavour of the setting – Edinburgh – while being accessible
  • The author’s experience as a police officer shows through in the minutia of procedure and attitudes.

Cons:

  • For an experienced crime novel reader, the villain was obvious from fairly early on.
  • The book needed some serious editing for spelling and grammar.
  • The was a lot of telling and not much showing, especially with the characters personalities and relationships with each other.
  • The formatting left something to be desired. Changes in perspective weren’t signalled by any line breaks, causing confusion as to which character’s viewpoint I was reading.
  • There were times when I wanted to get my pen out and start deleting whole paragraphs for repetition and unnecessary exposition.
  • There’s only so much sex and violence I can read before I get bored, and while the violence had some purpose in the plot, the sexual encounters added nothing. In both cases, allusion is more effective that blow-by-blow description.
  • The victims of the crimes are evil people, but the author uses their bodies to show they are evil, and regularly equates fat with depravity, and thin athleticism with goodness. I’d prefer my novels to not strengthen prevailing fatphobia, thanks ever so.

Overall – 2/5

This book suffers from being published too soon. While the plot and characters were good, poor editing and heavy handedness let this novel down. With a bit more work it could be a damn good crime novel.

Warning, if I haven’t put you off, the book deals with, and there is explicit descriptions of child abuse and sexual assault. Honestly, read the first three chapters and thought ‘I’m going to need vodka to get through this’; unfortunately, I can’t drink on my medication.

Author Spotlight: Lee Cockburn

Lee Cockburn Photo

Lee Ann Cockburn has a new book out and has kindly agreed to tell us about herself.

What can I say, born in 1968, so I am not a spring chicken, although I still act like a giant child.  I am six foot one inch, very tall for a woman, I have a strong frame, so when in my uniform, I am quite a formidable lady, and receive many comments about my height and build whilst out on duty.

 

I swam for 11 years when I was younger, reaching Scottish National times and represented Edinburgh in the youth Olympics in Denmark when I was 15 years old and thus my broad shoulders and swimmers gait when I walk.  Towards the end of my swimming career, I swam 4 hours a day and 1 hour in the gym, 6 days a week, busy me, busy parents, but I met many, many lovely people, some of which I am still in contact with today, friends forever, great times, thank you for all the good times.

 

I then went into a career in Rugby, playing for 25 years, 15 of those for the National side, gaining 77 full caps for my country, playing the very first international on February the 14th 1993, going on to win the first ever 5 nations championship in 1998, with a grand slam win, I have 4 British lionesses caps, all played in Bermuda, taking the field shoulder to shoulder with those competitors who you used to class as foes, but now proud to call my friends.  Three nomads multi nationality caps, playing alongside some true greats, from other countries out with Britain, I played many games, attaining numerous National league and Cup wins with my clubs, Edinburgh Accies and Royal High, and finally we won the 2001 European championships.  These were brilliant days, being part of a very special group of people.  My international career ended in 2006, along with many other Scottish Rugby greats.

 

I was upset when my international playing days were over, but had this not been the case, I would  never have embarked in the most remarkable achievement of my life, and that was having our two children.

 

Emily and I met when we joined the police in 2000, and it was then we felt the connection, but circumstance did not allow us to get together at this time.  We eventually got together in 2005 and had our civil partnership in 2010, I was 6 months pregnant and Emily 3 months pregnant, and so Jamie and Harry were there at our wedding too.

 

I am a happy go lucky person, kind, caring, enjoy a laugh and will always stand up for what I think is right.  I like fairness, respect, and good manners, there is never a reason to be rude in my books, and manners cost nothing.

 

Regarding my sexuality, I am glad things have moved on in Britain and people like myself and Emily and our precious children can live a life that is free from the stigmas of the past.  Unfortunately though, there will always be the odd individual that feels they have the right to get in about your business in a negative way.  I believe in live and let live, help one another, as there are so many other things to channel your emotions and attention into, and move away from negativity.

Follow Lee Cockburn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lee_leecockburn

Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents 

Lee Cockburn Cover 4.2

Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks is back and in charge of tracking down a sadistic vigilante, with a penchant for torturing paedophiles, in this unsettling crime thriller by a real-life police sergeant.

High-powered businessmen are turning up tortured around the city of Edinburgh with one specific thing in common — a sinister double life involving pedophilia. Leaving his ‘victims’ in a disturbing state, the individual responsible calls the police and lays bare the evidence of their targets’ twisted misdemeanours to discover, along with a special memento of their own troubled past — a chilling calling card. Once again heading the investigation team is Detective Sergeant Taylor Nicks, along with her partner Detective Constable Marcus Black, who are tasked not only with tracking the perpetrator down but also dealing with the unusual scenario of having to arrest the victims for their own barbarous crimes. But with the wounded piling up the predator’s thirst for revenge intensifies and soon Nicks discovers that she is no longer chasing down a sinister attacker but a deadly serial killer.

Vivid, dark and deeply unsettling Porcelain: Flesh of Innocents is the perfect next read for serious crime and police thriller fans.

Purchase from Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Porcelain-Flesh-Innocents-Lee-Cockburn-ebook/dp/B01MR8004F/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1486590103&sr=1-1&keywords=porcelain+flesh+of+innocents

Purchase from Barnes & Noble – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/porcelain-lee-cockburn/1125500067?ean=9781911525318

 

Review: ‘Written in Bones’ by James Oswald

Publication Date: 23rd February 2017

Published by: Penguin UK

I.S.B.N.: 9780718183677

Price: £12.99

Format: Hardback

 

Blurb

The roots of murder run deep . . .

When a body is found in a tree in The Meadows, Edinburgh’s scenic parkland, the forensics suggest the corpse has fallen from a great height.

Detective Inspector Tony McLean wonders whether it was an accident, or a murder designed to send a chilling message?

The dead man had led quite a life: a disgraced ex-cop turned criminal kingpin who reinvented himself as a celebrated philanthropist.

As McLean traces the victim’s journey, it takes him back to Edinburgh’s past, and through its underworld – crossing paths with some of its most dangerous and most vulnerable people.And waiting at the end of it all, is the truth behind a crime that cuts to the very heart of the city . . .

Inspector McLean is back in the next gripping instalment in James Oswald’s bestselling crime series.

Continue reading “Review: ‘Written in Bones’ by James Oswald”

Review: ‘The Devil’s Ribbon’ A Hatton and Roumande Mystery by D.E. Meredith

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2011
Allison and Busby

In July 1858 a cholera epidemic once again threatens an overheated London. Professor Hatton of St. Barts Hospital and his chief diener Albert Roumande spend their days cutting up cadavers in an effort to learn as much ad they can about the disease. At the same time they are also working in the new science of forensics and as London’s leading experts are called in to help when an Irish MP is murdered a few days before the anniversary of Drogheda, a green ribbon found in the dead man’s mouth.

A series of other murders follow. The victims all seemed to have known each other in Donegal, during the Potato Famine. What happened there and who would want revenge? As Hatton, and Inspector Grey of Scotland Yard, about whom Hatton has grave doubts, investigate they are interrupted by an explosion in a packed shopping arcade. The Inspector, and the widow of the first victim are seriously injured. Hatton has more questions than answers. Is the explosion connected to the murders or is one a cover tor the other? What has Donegal to do with it? Why does all the opium and fly papers keep disappearing? And is the mortuary budget really getting cut?

Using their new method of fingerprinting the Professor and his diener discover the murderers. Using torture Inspector Grey finds the bombers.

I do like a good murder mystery, and this is an excellent example. The characters are engaging even if the set up hasn’t been original since Conan Doyle wrote his Sherlock Holmes stories (skilled amateur investigators/useless professional policeman). The plot is strong, and conclusion unexpected and imaginative. Full of period detail which immerses the reader in the scenario without being overwhelming or too descriptive, and which adds to the plot. The premise, of an early forensic pathologist working in a world that doesn’t understand what he does, is interesting.

This is the second book in the series. I haven’t read the first but I probably will try to at done point. It isn’t necessary though as it is perfectly possible to read the novel as a stand alone story. Previous cases are hinted at throughout, drunken/drugged confessions about their pasts develop the characters, although some of the repeat characters need fleshing out a bit. How did they all end up in London? What secrets, because they all have secrets, do they hide, and why? Presumably we will find out in future novels although somethings can be guessed at.

I really did like this book; the audio book is available soon. It is a beautifully bound and presented article.

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I might be easily pleased but I like a well presented hardback book.

I noticed a small number of typos but nothing that took away from the story significantly.

Definitely a must read if you like historical mysteries.

****

Rose