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Bloody January
Bloody January | Alan Parks
12 posts | 7 read | 12 to read
When a teenage boy shoots a young woman dead in the middle of a busy Glasgow street and then commits suicide, Detective Harry McCoy is sure of one thing. It wasn't a random act of violence. With his new partner in tow, McCoy uses his underworld network to lead the investigation but soon runs up against a secret society led by Glasgow's wealthiest family, the Dunlops. McCoy's boss doesn't want him to investigate. The Dunlops seem untouchable. But McCoy has other ideas . . . In a helter-skelter tale - winding from moneyed elite to hipster music groupies to the brutal gangs of the urban wasteland - Bloody January brings to life the dark underbelly of 1970s Glasgow and introduces a dark and electrifying new voice in Scottish noir.
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Ddzmini
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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Pickpick

Although I didn‘t like some of the writing it was an okay read . It is a little different but overall a good read

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Ddzmini
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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Book mail

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Anna40
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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Pickpick

Grim, dark, triggers: sexual assault, abuse of children, but the writing is so good. Set in January 1973, Glasgow, this is the first case in the Harry McCoy series. A young prostitute is shot dead in broad daylight, her murderer commits suicide. McCoy is the 30 year old detective, a broken man with a drug lord friend and prostitute girlfriend, leading the investigation.

andrew61 Glad you enjoyed, great review 6mo
Anna40 @andrew61 thanks to your book review I discovered Alan Parks. He‘s brilliant at creating atmosphere and developing the character. I don‘t read much crime but this was great. I ordered the next one in the series at my library. (edited) 6mo
24 likes2 comments
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andrew61
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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Pickpick

My second book in #outstandingOctober @andrew65 follows my hearing the author on the crimetime podcast. A new series set in early 1970's Glasgow is suitably as dark as the ever oppressive weather and deprived environment. The detective, Harry McCoy is v troubled+like the force itself morally conflicted, and the investigation of a random shooting of a young woman leads to very dark places. Still digesting this and whether I will try more as v grim

Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 Not heard of this series. 1y
31 likes1 comment
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Susanita
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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rabbitprincess
Bloody January | Alan Parks
Bailedbailed

I personally am not fond of books with multiple sex scenes in the first 50 pages and language that describes women in an objectifying way. This book felt squalid in a way that McIlvanney‘s Laidlaw series, also set in Glasgow, does not. Oh well, one less series to worry about.

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Kristy_K
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A good start to a (hopefully) good year. I really enjoyed the majority of these books.

#january #stats

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Libretto_Reviews
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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Pickpick

I don‘t know where to start with my praises. Vivid set up realistically described. Graphic violence, misogynistic behaviours and a great deal of swearing ( you might get offended but I think is part of the character development). All characters are well draw and Glasgow‘s most violent and dark side is well represented by a police force that draws a very faint line between good and evil. Old school investigations. Looking forward for the next book.

halfdesertedstreets It‘s so interesting how graphic language can be gratuitous or it can actually add to the character development, hey? 6y
Libretto_Reviews Yes, you are right! sometimes is just too much and unnecessary but in this case, despite the c-word is use profusely, it actually works with the character personality so well that without it wouldn‘t be the same. 6y
6 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Libretto_Reviews
Bloody January | Alan Parks

‪I like my detectives like #HarryMcCoy, the more socially awkward and with messed up lifes, the better. BLOODY JANUARY is a pretty darn good detective noir novel.
‪I can‘t believe this is a debut, Parks is the real deal #TartanNoir

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Libretto_Reviews
Bloody January | Alan Parks

Just had a look to who Alan Parks is and... he is a Philosophy graduate who worked 20+ years in music industry.
You‘ll never know from when, or who, the next good novel will come. There are writers wannabe that chase the dream but never succeed and then there is fate . In case you are still wandering, yes, I am quite enjoying Bloody January.
McCoy makes me think to Harry Hole and Mia Kruger.
#noir

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Eyejaybee
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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Enjoying this decidedly gritty crime story set in gang-ridden Glasgow in 1973. A worthy addition to the burgeoning Scottish noir genre. #alanparks #bloodyjanuary #scottishnoir #glasgow #crimefiction #scottishcrimefiction #1970s #scottishfiction #modernfiction #policeprocedural #contemporaryfiction #contemporaryliterature

10 likes1 stack add
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HiddenGemBooks
Bloody January | Alan Parks
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When a boy shoots a woman in the middle of a Glasgow street and then commits suicide, Detective McCoy is sure of one thing. It wasn't a random act of violence.

With his new partner in tow, McCoy uses his underworld network to lead the investigation but soon runs up against a secret society led by Glasgow's wealthiest family, the Dunlops.

McCoy's boss doesn't want him to investigate. The Dunlops seem untouchable. But McCoy has other ideas...

44 likes7 stack adds