Alan Parks – May God Forgive @RandomTTours @canongatebooks @AlanJParks #MayGodForgive #HarryMcCoy #RandomThingsTours #SharonBTB

May God Forgive by Alan Parks is on the blog today. Thanks to Random Things Tours and Canongate Books for my copy of the book to take part.

Glasgow is a city in mourning. An arson attack on a Royston hairdresser’s has left five women and children dead, and a community reeling. People, more used to turning a blind eye to criminality, erupt now with rage.

When three youths are charged with the crime, an angry mob gathers outside the courthouse, the prisoners are snatched from a police van and disappear. Days later the body of one is found with a note attached to his mutilated body – ‘One down, two to go’.

Detective Harry McCoy comes from these streets; his feral childhood battling to survive on them still haunts him years on. But it also gives him an insight into the soul of Royston and the people who control it. Time is ticking, and Harry must confront his own past and figures that haunt him still to prevent another body being found on its mean streets.

First of all, I need to say something I am quite gutted about. This is my first Alan Parks book. Yes, honestly it is. I now know what I have beenissing amd plan to rectify my error ASAP. This is the fifth (yes, I have to rub it in!) Book in the Detective Harry McCoy series. I had heard lots of good things about this book and was looking forward to seeing if I could add another Scottish detective to my favourite list.

Set in a tense,1974 Glasgow, Harry has returned to work, after a stay in hospital due to a painful stomach ulcer. He signed himself out before he was meant to, but he isn’t planning on telling his boss that anytime soon. He is faced with trying to
find the two remaining men, in a race against time. This is made even harder with his health not bring 100% either.

This is a such a riveting and complex thriller that’s such a multi-layered story. I think McCoy is a totally fascinating character. He has his own ways of doing things which aren’t  exactly conventional but he gets results. He is a man who carries the emotional baggage of his past with him. I liked getting to know him. He is such an authentic, and has his flaws.

The way Alan Parks writes about Glasgow, makes it almost a character in its own right too. He makes it so atmospheric with the poverty, and violence of the place prevalent. I always picture a harsh,unforgiving and gritty place when I think of Glasgow. This book didn’t change my mind one iota.

An intense, twisty, violent, dark and gritty thriller that holds the level at suspense so high. The conclusion is one that does serve a portion of justice and it is powerful too. I can’t wait to read the others now.

Author Bio

Alan Parks worked in the music business for twenty years before he turned to crime writing. Initially he managed up- and-coming bands before moving into the creative side of the business, commissioning videos, photography and artwork for household names including New Order, All Saints, The Streets and Enya. This background has played a significant role in the creation of Parks’ crime novels. The atmosphere and tone of his novels are partly created by using notebooks full of visual references he makes for each story. The main inspiration for the books comes from wandering around Glasgow itself. #HarryMcCoy Follow on Twitter @AlanJParks