R.J. Mitchell – Parallel Lines

‘Parallel Lines’ by R.J. Mitchell is the first book in the DS Thoroughgood series and over the next three weeks I am reviewing this one and the other two, can’t wait to publish all these reviews! These books are so good.

The series is a crime thriller/police procedural and set in Glasgow, Scotland in the shady criminal underworld with Declan Meehan wanting the total control of the drug trading and on the verge of getting it. On the other side of things we meet DS Angus Thoroughgood, the copper whose aim in life is to bring Meehan down. Thoroughgood is determined to get Meehan and it isn’t just about his criminal activities…for Thoroughgood this is personal. A decade earlier Thoroughgood lost the love of his life to Meehan and his hate has snowballed since. So when he sees a possibility of taking Meehan down nothing will stop him.

From the beginning of this book, I was thrown headlong into the action and there is no let-up. A story that reflects the mean side of Glasgow with an authenticity that shows the authors experience of his 12 years service in the Glasgow Police force. A book that does not baulk in highlighting the violence and brutality of the city’s criminal occupants. The violence is not gratuitous but real and it adds to the tension of this fast-paced thriller.
The characters along with the story have been so well fleshed out they jump out of the page. The realism is further cemented with all their flaws and complexities that come naturally with human beings, I was fascinated with them, even the gangsters have their own issues and these little details draw you in a little bit more and before you know it you are knee-deep in the shady side of Glasgow with them.

A book in which the plot and the characters take hold in your mind and don’t want to loosen their grip! All I can say is, thank goodness I have another two books to review, I don’t need to leave Thoroughgoods world just yet.

Thanks to @damppebbles, @spitfiremedia and @MJPGroup for the book to write my review today.