A regular winner

As a jockey, Dick Francis was unbeatable when he got into his stride. The same is true of his crime writing

Vivid and colourful . . . A well thought out, thorough mystery that does have you wanting to turn the next page

A tale of mystery, secrets and love

Highly absorbing

A delicious new mystery . . . We started reading this over lunch yesterday, and became so engrossed, it was a struggle to get back to work

Harvey’s gritty, downbeat tales of Nottingham copper Charlie Resnick are some of the best recent English crime novels. Sadly this is the last one and the weary, jazz-loving ‘tec bows out in style.

In this masterful unearthing of the grudges and resentments left behind by the Miners' Strike of three decades ago, John Harvey has found the perfect case for Resnick to get his teeth into. All the ingredients are here: social history, the problem of male violence, the shadow of death, and, of course, the search for a decent cup of coffee. Anyone new to Resnick's world should probably start here; John Harvey has saved the best for last.

Not since D.H. awrence has a writer so captured the Nottinghamshire vernacular and place. In this atmospheric novel the crime is real: seedy and un-glamorised and the detective, Charlie Resnick, delving into a cold case, is older, wiser and like all good detectives, doing things his own sweet way. King of Crime John Harvey here demonstrates with trademark rationed lyricism how he earned his crown: he offers up a pitch-perfect ending for Resnick and the series that’s masterful, poignant and true.

The last bow for Harvey’s intuitive Nottingham-based Detective Inspector Charlie Resnick, with his offbeat ways and difficulties with relationships, moves you to tears with its indelible poignancy.

A vivid portrayal of a community riven by anger, guilt and betrayal, as well as mystery, this expertly rendered time slip is a fitting swan song for a wonderful detective.

Gripping … a final and poignant hurrah which allows Harvey to masterfully round off his fascinating character and all his frailties and offer a measured if chilling assessment of Britain's social landscape and woes. Without Resnick, there would have been no Rebus, Grace, Thorne, Banks or so many other Premier League British cops, and Harvey never gets a note wrong. An admirable character and series.

With its polished prose, vivid period feel and debauched protagonist, this assured first novel will be relished by fans of literary crime and historical fiction alike.

The story is not for the faint of heart, but for those who love being thrilled, gripped by an unputdownable book, and who loves reading about the dark side of life, then this is the book for them. This chilling novel is amazing and I loved every page. Simply fabulous.

At once a close character study and a sweeping panorama of the era of 'dissectionists', who buy bodies for medical research and the 'resurectionists' who dig them up, this fascinating book is a stirring work of fiction and a perceptive chapter in Ireland's social history.

ghastly, riveting tale.

Highly unsettling

A tantalising mystery

Captures sinister atmosphere brilliantly