Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

This is my first read by this author. The blurb looked like it was my kind of read. I thought this was an ok read, just not a great one or one that had me on the edge of my seat and wanting more. For me the two main police characters were unlikeable and I couldn’t take to them. I found myself skimming pages when reading and the book didn’t really capture and hold my attention as I hoped it would. Maybe it’s because I’ve not read the previous books and don’t know the history of the characters, I just felt this book wasn’t for me.

2.5 - 3 Stars

First of all, if I had known this was the sixth book in a series, I never would’ve requested it from Netgalley. I don’t really think that not having read the previous books really affected my ability to read and understand the story itself, but I may have been more forgiving to the main protagonists if I had some background on them. Ultimately, I hated the main characters and could not care less about what ended up happening to them. It’s also important to note that this takes place in the UK so there is a lot of slang terms used that are completely unfamiliar for most people in the U.S. (where I’m at). This wasn’t a problem for me mainly being that I read a lot of books that take place in the UK and have plenty of friends and acquaintances that have used most of the slang, so it wasn’t a struggle for me. For those that would have no idea, it’s important to note that at the end of the book there is a glossary of the different slang and what they mean. But I really think most people could garner the meaning simply from the context of what’s being talked about. It’s also important to note that this book is seriously messed up. And I mean seriously messed up. HUGE TRIGGER WARNINGS for violence against children, incest and abuse.

I know I won’t be reading anymore of this series, even with the cliffy that’s provided at the end with regards to the two main protagonists. But, being that I couldn’t stand the men and didn’t care about them at all, I don’t care about finding out what happens to them in the next book.

Received via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Steve Parker's London based crime series featuring Detective Superintendent Ray Patterson and DI Johnny Clocks of the Homicide and Major Crimes Unit is dark, gritty, intense and fast paced. crime fiction. Patterson and Clocks are chalk and cheese characters, so different from each other, but other than initial hostilities at the beginning, have developed a relationship that works remarkably well together, bonding over their now shared history, bonding over the traumatic cases they have come through. In this shocker of a twisted and gruesome case, it begins with the police arriving at the house of a suspected burglary, only for the situation to spiral out of control. The burglar is discovered with a knife in his chest and his face missing. A madly crazy and bonkers woman is wearing the face and wielding a knife and the situation escalates further into tragedy. Worse is to be revealed with what is found in the bricked in wall, revealing a house of horrors and nightmares. Patterson and Clocks face further pressures with the recently appointed police commissioner determined to nail them as he comes after them. Many thanks to Joffe Books.

Never having read anything by this author before let alone any of the others in this series, I took a punt based on the blurb and I certainly wasn't disappointed and I was absolutely hooked from page 1.

On his website, Mr Parker describes "My style of writing is hard-hitting, fast-paced, violent and carry moral messages that you might have to dig a bit deeper for. I try not to use more words than is necessary although more than a few of them are of the swearing variety. Hey! People swear. And they swear a ******* lot in my world. I will unashamedly tackle issues where some writers fear to tread." I would say this is a pretty accurate reflection - this book is not for the feint-hearted; it contains bad language and graphic scenes which leave nothing to the imagination so be warned!

This is a fast-paced, action packed read from the first to the last page with twists and turns and shocks along the way. The characters are an interesting and eclectic bunch with the 2 main protagonists of Paterson and Clocks being, what I would describe, an acquired taste - Mr Parker advises that they are based loosely on characters he has known throughout his 20 year career in the Police ... all I can say is that if I knew Clocks in particular, I would have probably disliked him intensely on first impression however, I can see a very loyal friend who would do anything for you plus there is definitely a troubled softie in there. Having said that, I still found him annoying!

The main plot is hard-hitting and totally gripping - there is some humour interspersed throughout which did provide some much needed lighter moments. The sub-plots are intriguing and an interesting insight into the politics within the various echelons within the Police; these, I assume, are linked to previous cases covered in earlier books in the series. Like I said, I haven't read any of the others but didn't find this too confusing but I do think I was missing the backstory somewhat which probably impacted on my overall enjoyment of the story as a whole but this is my fault rather than the fault of the author.

This is a no-holds-barred, gritty thriller that I would recommend to any who enjoy the harsher stories dealing with horrific crimes but, as I have said, it does contain gruesome details of crimes against children so if this isn't your preference, then I wouldn't go there but you will be missing out on a really excellent book.

Many thanks go to Joffe Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

Oh boy, the reader is hardly given a opportunity to take a breath during the opening chapters of this thrilling and at times very dark thriller as you are lauched into the fast paced and intense beginning of a very complex and twisted case. A routine call out to a suspected burglary descends into a terrifying confrontation with a crazy woman with a very large knife. By the time DI Ray Paterson and his partner DI Johnny Clocks arrive at the scene, the preferable brown stuff has hit the fan. Then things turn from seriously bad to seriously bloody horrifying when they make a sickening discovery behind a wall, a discovery that shocks the two hardened officers to the core. I think Paterson and Clocks could be described as the marmite of the fictional detective world, some readers love them and some hate them. They were complete opposites in upbringing and behaviour but they had a close working relationship due to events from previous cases and worked well together. Some of their banter and interactions were quite comical and there was some funny laugh out loud moments but they could also be quite controversial at times. Whilst our heroes of villains depending on your point of view were digging into the secrets hidden behind the front door of no 1365 Lynton Road using their very own unique and unorthodox investigation skills a certain Commissioner Anderson was continuing his own personal vendetta against the two detectives. He was determined to uncover the evidence that he needed to charge Paterson and Clocks with murder using every method at his disposal. I think saying that he had a bit of an obsession would be putting it mildly. Paterson and Clocks were like teflon, nothing ever stuck to them but everyone's luck runs out sooner or later. Could this possibly be the time that Anderson would reap the rewards for his tenacity and patience and finally uncover something that could bring the Detectives down?

to be honest, I'm not a fan of plots that include police politics so my favourite parts of the story were the twists and turns of the investigation into the discovery behind the wall. The investigation was gripping, very dark and kept the reader guessing. This is the sixth book in the series and although it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone,I think if you want to enjoy this series properly to its full extent then it is advisable to read them in the correct order. This is a very enjoyable,well written thriller and I would happily read more of this author's books in the future.

A routine arrest for burglary leads to a nightmare for those involved, one officer killed,one injured and a woman clearly insane wearing the face of the dead burglar. Several dead children and a badly injured child bricked into a wall are also present at the house

Another hreat Paterson and clocks novel that grips from the start and keeps you guessing on the race to the end and keeps you reading all night

Cannot wait for the next instalment

This is a good, solid crime novel, albeit a bit gruesome! Paterson and Clocks are back investigating their most horrific case yet with their usual banter in the team. Steve Parker has woven an intricate tale in this gritty and fast paced read. It's not for the faint hearted but it's a roller-coaster read from the first page until that cliffhanger ending. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thoroughly enjoyed this story. Loved the characters and now need to read the previous 5 books just so I can have a little more of their snarky sarkey banter. They made me chuckle with their 80's sexism and very inappropriate behaviour and chapter seven and the porno site enormous norks and I was in hysterical laughter. I am still chuckling now. Fabulous all round thank you for sharing

Absolutely gripping! The plot is fast paced and I found myself racing through the book just to find out what happened. The author did an amazing job of setting the scene and I could practically see what the police saw when they went into the house! The characters were so easy to get to know - I really hope we will see more books from this author.

I didn't realize this was part of a series but reads as a standalone. Wow. Just wow. This has to be one of the most twistiest books I have read in a long time. An absolute must read. Starts out creepy and just gets worst from there. Absolutely pick this up and check out the rest of the series. Happy reading!

Not sure why I have had such a string of thriller/murder mystery style books of late. Perhaps I’m preparing for Halloween early? I don’t know! In any case, this is my 4th book in this genre for the month and while I probably could use a break with some more light-hearted reads, I still didn’t mind this one. It’s fast paced, shocking, dark and gruesome at times. It was a book I had to prepare myself for, but once I got into reading it, it was hard to stop. It was book 6 in a series though, so I feel like I stumbled in late to the party and missed some of the tea ~ but this is my own fault, and not of the author. In saying that, I wasn’t super lost, there were just references throughout that went over my head. It didn’t detract from the story in any way.

The two main characters are Detective Superintendent Ray Paterson, regarded with potential to be the youngest ever commissioner of police, and Detective Inspector Johnny Clocks who is maybe Paterson’s opposite. But they make a great team. Arriving at the scene of a burglary with the suspect still inside, they are shocked at what they discover. This book got super creepy at times, gory details and all that. But it was definitely an engaging read!

Thank you to the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review!

This is the sixth book featuring Superintendent Ray Paterson and his team from the Homicide and Major Crime Command unit in Bermondsey, London. Paterson is young, good looking and extremely wealthy, and until recently was on a fast track to the top, whilst DI Johnny Clocks (nicknamed Timex or Thrush) is the complete opposite - loud, foul-mouthed and brash having come up through the ranks but a loyal friend for life once he decides he likes you. I completely love the pair of them! I mean, who cares if they are a little more "Sweeney" than "pc" and their language is a bit colourful? Clocks has mellowed a little thanks to the addition of his fiancée DI Lyndsey Mullins, a Metropolitan Police tactical firearms officer who is a terrific match for him and often appears in these stories. Until his retirement the pair had received complete support from former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Wallace (Wol) Young but now the new man in the job is a completely different kettle of fish. Sir Scott Anderson is determined to bring down Paterson and Clocks at any cost, and is going to extreme lengths to find some evidence that they were responsible, not only for the supposed copycat killings of young girls in the Beckenham area, but now also the attempted murder in his own office of DCI Chris Lambert who was investigating these crimes. Anderson’s former surveillance operation on the pair went belly up in the last book and now it is back on with a vengeance. The main story commences with police officers dashing into a house where they believe a burglar is on the premises. Yes, he is still there, only he has a knife in his chest and a deranged woman is wearing the skin she has just taken off his face and is singing to herself. The situation soon erupts and by the time Paterson and Clocks get there, a lot more blood has been spilt. As if this wasn’t gut-wrenching enough for the officers in attendance, the grisly discoveries they make over the next days both on display and bricked up in the house are the worst most of them have ever had to deal with. Just who is “the childmaker” and what secrets is the house of horrors hiding? Paterson and Clocks are never ones to shy away from the truly awful cases but this one is set to test the whole team in ways they could never imagine. No one will emerge unscathed and the shocking discoveries made at the end of the story could be more than some will be able to get over.
As in all the other books in this series the pace is terrific with loads of shocking and gripping action, and this really is a book that kept me hooked till the last very unexpected page. Clocks and Paterson make a great team and have a fantastic relationship built on the shared traumatic events of the first five stories in this series. There is a lot of humorous banter between the two and also with others in their team, making the book fun at the same time as tackling deadly serious crimes. These past events have truly shaped Paterson and Clocks into the characters they are now and you wonder how they would have survived if it weren’t for each other. If you haven't, I urge you to read the series in order. There is a lot of history and although it is well described and the books can be enjoyed as standalones it wouldn't be the same reading them out of turn. The cliffhanger at the end of the book is just - wow!! – and which leaves me begging for the next book on the hurry up!
Warning – this book does contain some terrible accounts of crimes against children. There is nothing whatsoever gratuitous about the nature of the content but I realise this will not be suitable for some readers and they should be aware of this. If you can’t cope with this, then this is probably not the best choice for you, even though you will be missing out on an amazing read. 5*

Amazing. A grim, nightmare of a story - which also made me laugh. 3 children born out of incest - their parents were brother and sister - abused in turn by their parents, physically, mentally sexually? After being taking into care by social services they are given the chance at a normal life - but what chance do they really have.

Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

DS Ray Paterson and DI John Clocks are back in a crime fiction thriller extraordinaire.

Paterson and Clocks, along with a squad of cops, are about to break into a house to catch a burglar red-handed. What they find is far different .....

They hear a woman singing about the childmaker while holding a knife in her hand. The burglar has been stabbed to death ... and his face removed. When confronted by the police, she goes mad and stabs one of the police.

What they find while searching the house, behind a wall, is far worse than anything they've ever seen.

This is a fast-moving action-packed thriller, full of twists and turns, amid an intricate plot. The deftly drawn characters keep the reader engaged. For those who have not read any of the series ... Paterson is a wealthy man, determined to be an excellent policeman. His wife was killed by a serial killer, and unknown to most .. he took care of the killer himself. Clocks ..sometimes known as Timex .. is a working class officer, with a foul mouth and a wicked sense of humor. He is not liked by many ...especially by his superiors.

Although 6th in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I do recommend starting at the beginning .. this is a terrific series.

The author, himself, is a retired police office who served for 20 years. Due to his background, I always expect a great deal of realism/credibility to his stories .... I have never been disappointed.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books 'n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I do love this series Steve Parker goes where other authors fear to tread. It is not for the feint hearted but if you like a gritty thriller that personifies the evil that lives among us then this book is definitely for you.

Paterson and Clocks started their working relationship hating each other. They are total opposites. Paterson is suave, sophisticated and rich whereas Clocks is rough around the edges and pretty tactless with it but inside is a big softie that you have to love. Despite having little in common they both share a common goal and that is to take down the baddies in any way they can and that often means disobeying rules and sometimes direct orders. The team is a mish mash of personalities but they all work brilliantly together supporting each other at all times.

A burglary is reported and the Police attending stumble into a horrific scene which they certainly weren't expecting but when Paterson and Clocks arrive they find the devastation in the bedroom is not the only horror to be found in the house.

The investigation takes the team many miles as they try to work out what is behind the manic behaviour.

An absolutely gripping read that had me turning the pages all the way to the adrenaline pumping ending.

A big thank you to the author and Joffe Books for the advance digital copy of this book. These are my unbiased thoughts and opinions.

Can you believe it, this is already the sixth book in the series! The series just gets better and better. This is one of my new favorite reads, and I will look out for the next one.

Steve Parker is a retired police officer. This is a police procedural, but darker and more gritty than anything I have read before.
If you thought Jack Frost was a bit unconventional and that Andy Dalziel often used unorthodox methods wait till you meet Ray Paterson and Johnny Clocks. They don't just sail close to the wind they break every rule in the book.
Expect a bloodbath of violence, lots of bad language and a black humour that permeates every page.
Not a novel for the feint-hearted but if you like plenty of gruesome detail this won't disappoint.

I started reading this book, not realising it was part of a series BUT this did not in any way stop me enjoying this book. Absolutely brilliant read - couldn’t put it down and read it in one day!!
Both the main characters were likeable rogues who you could not help but like. Even though the storyline was a grim read, I found myself laughing at the one liners from these 2 policemen. First time I have read something from this author and I’m really considering starting at the beginning of the series.
Thank you for letting me have a chance to read this and discover a new fabulous author!!

#steveparker #netgalley

Not for the faint-hearted from the gruesome start - call-out to a scene where a mad woman is brandishing a blood stained weapon and wearing the face of a slaughtered child to the end denouement. Psychopaths abound, think making a patchwork child from dead children, to table mats and cushions made from skin stripped from victims. Add to the Police mix an appalling couple of oh so near the line cops whose banter has so much nastiness in it that I wonder why their colleagues haven't all complained en masse (or murdered them) as well as a desk-jockey of a very senior policeman whose main aim in life is to get the so-called main team of two stitched up for the earlier murder of a colleague. Not forgetting the gruesome deaths of another couple of colleagues. It's no wonder that police find it hard to recruit. The miss match of the main two characters could have worked - ever so rich privileged man versus, fink East Ender working boy. But it doesn't. They are so out of touch with lines of evidence and procedure that anyone they caught (and who, in the unlikely event survived) would never be sentenced so the police side of the story is irrelevant in a way. If there was any depth in the story I missed it I'm afraid, and I'm not averse to psychopaths and a certain level of nastiness. Glad I haven't read the others in the series. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I had no idea this was sixth in the series but it works well as a stand-alone. Child Behind The Wall is shocking, breathtaking and surprisingly very funny!

I fell in love with Paterson and Clocks. They can only possibly exist in fiction, they’re absurd but I loved them! Their characters were consistent and well written. I enjoyed this so much I’ve just ordered the first five books!

The crime is shocking, the plot was intelligent and entertaining. This is a book you have to read!