A new Paul Finch book is always met with much excitement at Grab This Book so when Shadows hit my Kindle I could not wait to start reading.

Lucy Clayburn returns for a second outing following her debut in Strangers. Having read Strangers will help you better understand a couple of the conversations in Shadows, however, Shadows can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. Both are great reads so you are not going to be unhappy whichever reading option you opt for!

Lucy had a terrible start to her police career and has been working hard to restore her credibility and prove her value to the department. Events in Strangers has significantly helped and her stock is rising but now an old acquaintance is looking for help as one of his friends has been caught in possession of narcotics – if Lucy can have a lesser charge pursued he can provide information on a violent armed robber.

The possibility of catching a serial offender gives Lucy the opportunity to join the high profile team that work on capturing armed robbers. She embraces the opportunity and tries to ensure she shines through careful planning and preparation. It is great to see Lucy getting the chance to step-up and her enthusiasm and determination make her an engaging a likeable character.

Away from Lucy’s case the reader gets to see what the “bad guys” are up to. Established (and high profile) criminals are being attacked in places they believe to be safe. It looks like there are new players in town and they are intent on disrupting the old guard and taking out the competition. Their mission is deadly and the story takes a dark turn when they met out their unpleasant lessons and establish their authority. It makes for gripping story telling and I got completely caught up in events.

I have yet to read a Paul Finch book that I have not enjoyed – Shadows is another great read and I highly recommend it.

Such a great book. I loved it. 5 stars from me. It kept me hooked to the end with many twists and turns in the storyline. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Paul Finch for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I am now a Paul Finch Number 1 fan, absolutely thought this was a brilliant 5 star read

Loved this story and fell in love with the character, Lucy. Full of twists and turns.

I was looking forward to the second installment in this series as I loved the first book. This second book was I thought very different to the first. For a start the beginning was a little...sludgy? Is that even a word? I absolutely loved Lucy but couldn't help but feel like she was stuck in a rut? When a spate of Robberies start occurring Lucy of course has to get involved and it seems like there could be crossover with other cases. A few characters in this book I didn't warm to and by the end of the book I discovered why. However I still felt like the beginning was like she was wading in deep mud.

Skip forward to maybe the halfway point and it turns into a full on action packed 5 star read. It was literally like reading about a different woman. With Manchester's Underworld leading figures now being targeted it felt like the book ratcheted up the ante and it was every man for themselves. Lucy finds herself in literally more and more hot water as the book continues which just makes it all the more engaging and the second half of the book I read in one sitting, it was absolutely first class.

As for the 'Daddy Issue' let's not spoil for others but suffice to say this is a cracking element to the series made all the more interesting with this book. I was almost smiling 'gleefully' at the events that transpired for Lucy on this front. I think for me there was only one element missing and that's a senior figure that is there for Lucy. normally in books like this there is a chain of command but it seems Lucy is almost on her own for most of the time and think that doesn't sit quite right with me. I am a HUGE fan of this series and would highly recommend reading both this and the earlier books in order, another cracker by Finch!

Shadows by Paul Finch

Manchester’s gangsters are no strangers to violence and crime but the tables have been turned. A series of brutal robberies, with criminals as the victims, has the city’s biggest gangs reeling. DC Lucy Clayburn has firsthand experience of just how dangerous these streets can be but she is determined to sweep them clean. It doesn’t matter to her that one of Manchester’s most infamous criminals is her father. That’s nobody’s business but her own. And when she manages to pull off a key arrest, Manchester’s elite Robbery Squad is keen to welcome her among their number. Perhaps now Lucy can really make a name for herself on her own terms. Solving the strange crimes that are shaking the foundations of Manchester’s crime world would be a very good start. But it could also be the end of her…

Shadows is only the second novel by Paul Finch to feature detective Lucy Clayburn but this is already a very strong series indeed. I loved Strangers, immediately falling for Lucy. She is a wonderful heroine – undoubtedly flawed and vulnerable but also courageous, stubborn, determined to stand alone, and resolute. Nobody understands crime like she does – she’s only had to observe her parents to see its effects – and she’s set on defeating it, bit by bit. She’s only a DC and so she does what she can, pounding the streets after insignificant lowlifes, but grabbing every chance she can get to strike higher up the criminal foodchain.

Lucy is fantastic to spend time with and in Shadows, as with Strangers, she’s given a story worthy of her. Much of this novel had me on the edge of my seat and I thoroughly enjoyed the twisty ways in which it developed. But it’s enriched by Lucy’s own unusual background, her self-doubt and her relationships with her family and other detectives. Life isn’t easy for Lucy but you sense that she thrives on this police role that she’s shaping for herself in her own unique way.

The Manchester setting is great! I spent some time in its clubs and neighbourhoods as a teenager and Paul Finch’s portrait of it feels so possible and authentic, frightening yet also alive. The policing is also well done and the investigations – and competition for results – are exhausting. I must admit that I’m normally not a fan of gangster books in the least and so I initially had my doubts about this series but these have proven unfounded. This is largely due to the strong storytelling and Lucy herself. The policing is what dominates here. There is nothing glamorous in the portrayal of Manchester’s controlling bullies.

I’m a big fan of Paul Finch’s other longer-established detective series featuring Heck. But, if it isn’t heresy to say so, I’m starting to think that these Lucy Clayburn books are even better – for their Manchester setting and feel but also for the character of Lucy. She is so well-drawn, unusual and likeable. I hope to spend much more time in her company over the years to come.

Other reviews and features
Strangers
Hunted
Ashes to Ashes
Guest post – ‘What seven things you should know if you want to write crime fiction’

I’m delighted to post this review as part of the blog tour to celebrate the publication of Shadows this month. For other stops on the tour, please take a look at the banner below.

I recently finished reading the first book in the Lucy Clayburn series which I thoroughly enjoyed so I jumped at the chance to sign up to the blog tour for the second book in the series. I have loved every single one of Paul Finch’s books; he is a writer who grips you from the first page right up until the last. I would recommend that you read the first book in the Lucy Clayburn series before reading this one as you will get a better understanding of her character and family history; there are a few references made to the plot of the first novel which some readers may find hard to understand if they are coming to the series for the first time.

In Shadows, the Manchester underworld is being targeted by a gang of fearless robbers. The victims are left shell shocked when they realise that their attackers have got away with it. This proves just how dangerous these people are, they will stop at nothing to get what they want. DC Lucy Clayburn finds herself thrown into the middle of it all. There are some who say that the criminals deserve what they get but Lucy is determined to see the perpetrators brought to justice. But Lucy begins to sail close to danger once again and she realises that she may have to rely on the help of a person who she would rather never see again.

Wow, what a brilliant book. What I’ve always enjoyed about Paul Finch’s work is his attention to detail and his brilliant action scenes. You can always tell that his novels are impeccably researched, particularly when he takes you on a whirlwind of a ride through Manchester.

Lucy is a strong lead and a force to be reckoned with, I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of her. What I think gives this series a unique flare is that her father is a gangster wanted by the police. They both know that if anyone was to find out about their relationship then both their reputations would be ruined. This is a great source of tension in the book, I’m intrigued to see how this will pan out.

I also really enjoyed the scenes featuring Lucy’s mother. Poor Cora often finds herself thrown into the middle of it all, she is trying desperately hard to win over her daughter’s affection, I’m hoping that they’ll soon be able to patch up their past quarrels, even if there are things that they don’t always agree on.

As with all of Paul’s books the pacing is excellent, it only took me a couple of sittings to read it and by the second day I was finished, if only I didn’t have work to go to, then I’m sure I would have devoured the whole thing in one. I really liked how Paul pulled the plot together and I was left feeling gobsmacked by the final twists. Exceptional writing.

Paul Finch is a writer who I’m sure I will continue to follow, another outstanding read. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy and to Sabah Khan at Avon for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

Looked forward to this book as l have read Paul Funch before but l just couldn’t get into the story line

This book was fast-paced, the plot was brilliant and I loved the twists and turns - they really made the book! I was gripped as soon as I started reading and I loved the characters and how they worked together to deal with the case, Lucy is a superb character!

This is the second book in the series and I think it is fine to be read as a stand alone but I enjoyed it so much I have bought the first in the series to read!  5 stars from me for this one - I really, really enjoyed it!!  See below for an extract from the book!

Fast-paced police procedural jam packed with twists, turns and plenty of action!

This is book two in the Lucy Clayburn series, but can be read as a stand alone.

When criminal under lords in Manchester start getting robbed by a duo wearing red ski masks, all hell breaks loose. Lucy, now part of CID, inadvertently gets pulled into solving these crimes. Making matters even more interesting is how these crimes link back to her father. As Lucy gets closer to solving who is behind the red ski mask robberies, she winds up putting her life in danger.

Shadows is told primarily through Lucy’s POV. However, there are multiple story lines and additional POVs. It might seem a little much at first, but everything is tied together in the end.

I loved the first book in the series. While I wholeheartedly enjoyed reading Shadows, I was a little disappointed that there wasn’t much development with Lucy’s character--the first book focuses a lot more on her personal life and background. I was hoping this element would continue in the second book. However, this was still a fun read where I was able to just zone out and get lost in the book. The last 20% was non-stop, heart pounding action!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved the first in series, Strangers, when I read it last year so I was really looking forward to this follow up. Lucy is a bit complex and has a rather, shall we just call it, interesting past in the Police so, I would really advise reading that first to get the best from her with respect to her backstory and development. Incidentally, the author also writes another cracking series starring DS Heckenburg which I would also recommend reading, although not connected to this series.
Oh Lucy, will you ever fully escape your past? Even with the eventual success you reached in the previous book, you are still suffering! Still, all makes for an interesting spin on things in this book.
Still hanging on in CID, Lucy is part of a team that is tasked with investigating a spate of murder-robberies. Nothing too unusual in that in this genre of book but, the thing is, here the targets are criminals themselves, making these crimes a little close to home for Lucy, her father being one of the criminal fraternity himself. Is there a new gang in the neighbourhood, intent on cementing their place by eliminating the opposition, quite literally in some cases? With her "connections" Lucy manages to join some dots that others have missed and her reward is secondment to the infamous Robbery Squad, a position she quite fancies permanently. But will her past allow it and, more to the point, will she find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side of the fence?
I read this when I was away on holiday which meant that I had to put it down on occasion to be sociable and do the sightseeing things. Every time I was forced to put it down I was thinking about it, yearning to get back into the action. Cos it is action packed pretty much all the way with twists and turns that I never saw coming, even with my widespread experience of the genre.
It helps that I really love Lucy as a character. Sometimes authors give their main characters some pretty samey character flaws. Here I believe that Lucy really stands out. With her father being revealed to her in book one as a gangland criminal and also having an ex-boyfriend treading the other side of the line, Mr Finch has created something special in Lucy. Her grit, tenacity, and indeed belief in right and wrong has her in conflict with those she holds dear and indeed care about her. This takes the whole story to another level in my eyes, one that I am very happy to have found and relish reading about. She's also a bit lonely and outside the job, is a bit lacking in life and love, something that she craves, leaving her pretty vulnerable despite her outward projection. She also really doesn't help herself with her lone wolf attitude at times but she manages to survive, often by the skin of her teeth and with a little help from those she'd rather not have.
The story itself is gritty and, in parts, a bit gruesome. Intriguing and intricate and very well plotted, it had me rapt from start to finish. There are quite a few things happening throughout the book but it all comes together very nicely at the end and left me with that completely satisfied feeling that I crave from a book. I say satisfied, I really mean satisfied and a bit gobsmacked as Mr Finch delivered quite a few jabs in quick succession in the lead up to the conclusion.
Much as I am loving Lucy, I still need my Heck fix, hopefully we'll get a new one of that series next... and then more Lucy too please Mr Finch.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

What an excellent read from Paul Finch. Set in Manchester and featuring PC Lucy Clayborn in book two of the series. The story line is very intricate with murder, drug deals, gangs and plenty bad guys double crossing each other. Lucy is strong but a bit of a solo player, however, there is plenty action and a clever twist to keep the reader engrossed with the story. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon.

Darn good procedural with a terrifically tough female protagonist in Lucy Clayburn. She's dealing with all the usual issues but has the added problem of a gangster father. I liked this one for the realistic portrayals of conflict between partners, families, and best of all how to do what's right. Manchester, like any big city, can be a hard town to work as a police officer as there's always a lot going on but for Lucy, there are even more challenges. This is a fast read and entirely readable as a standalone, although I'll admit I'm looking forward to the third book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this one for a page turner.

3.5 stars

PC Lucy Clayburn has a lot on her plate. A shadowy killer known as “The Creep” may have relocated to the Manchester area, there’s been a string of home burglaries & she’s saddled with a less than motivated partner. And her mother wonders why she’s still single….sigh.

But things take an interesting twist when information she receives links one of her cases to an ongoing investigation by the elite Robbery division. They have a reputation for being cowboys but you can’t argue with results & Lucy is thrilled when she gets seconded to the team (especially after she meets the fetching Danny Tucker).

In alternate chapters, we follow some of the area’s career criminals & get to know the major players. For years there has been an unwritten rule book. The bosses tolerate minor crimes by small time grifters as long as they remember their place. And sending a cut of the proceeds up the food chain ensures they’ll keep breathing.

But the arrival of a new team of thieves is threatening the hierarchy. Ruthless, efficient & well armed, they’re targeting the area’s biggest crime figures & making off with the profits. Suddenly, there’s a rash of violent attacks among the gangs as they try to figure out who’s responsible. The cops take an interest when several investigations yield common threads. But no one could have predicted where it leads & when the dust finally settles, Lucy’s world is rocked by the shocking truth.

I really enjoyed the author’s DS Heckenburg series so thought I’d give this a go. Although it’s book #2, it can easily be read as a stand alone as enough back story is provided. Finch’s strengths include intricate story lines, fast paced action & bad guys you love to hate. All of those are here in spades. The last 20% is a literal sprint to the finish & you’ll probably be as gobsmacked as Lucy when some jaw dropping connections are revealed.

Where is succeeded less well (for me) lay with Lucy’s character. I’m one of those obnoxious readers that requires a certain level of credibility, especially when it comes to police procedurals. Lucy is strong willed & a bit of a kickass, to be sure. But she’s not really a team player & has a tendency to rush into obviously dodgy situations with out back-up. There are several incidents where her reckless decisions endanger others & her escapes may test your ability to suspend disbelief.

But hey, that’s just me. It’s purely a case of personal preference so if you’re looking for something with lots of action paired with clever twists, pick this & enjoy the ride.

It was a good mystery novel . You have to pay attention if you want the book to understand it.

I wish I had started with the first Lucy Clayburn book. It didn't impact on my enjoyment of this book however I really loved the female lead and wanted to know a little more about her background.
Lucy is chasing a killer that has moved onto her patch. She is a strong female who wants nothing more than to jump right into the action, this however can put her right at the centre of danger. This book is full of twist and well written. It's a gritty, fast paced thriller and at times has you on the edge of your seat.
I enjoy the book and loved this female lead however I have enjoyed this authors previous stories more.

It seems forever ago since I read the first book to feature Lucy Clayburn - Strangers
​You can read my review of that here.
​It's actually just a year since I read book 1, and here I am privileged to be reading an ARC of book 2.
​Strangers is a great read, something to get your teeth stuck into. I'm a huge fan of books that are based in and around Manchester. Lucy has her work cut out this time around, this case is going to really test her. When 'The Creeper turns up in Manchester the streets become a little scary. Alongside that there seems to be a number of 'odd robberies. Luckily Lucy has friends she can rely on in the Robbery squad. 
​Lucy is one tough cookie, and a character I'm really growing to like and I can't wait to read more about her. I can see this series going on to be a long standing one. (I hope).
I was a little unsure when I started to read this book, but it soon become clear that I was hooked, page after page begins to drag you into the story and doesn't let you go. 
​With twists I didn't see coming and violence a plenty this isn't for the faint hearted. What it is, is a damn good thriller. And if that's the sort of book you like to read, then you need to start this now. At times, I felt the book was a little over the top, but I think now I have finished it, it all helped with the story.  I have read book 1 as I said, and I always like to read books in order, but to be honest I don't think it would make much of a difference if you hadn't read book 1. It's a personal choice. 

I would like to thank Netgalley and Avon Books UK for an advance copy of Shadows.

A female police officer in Manchester.. whose father is a known criminal. Lucy works on a spate of robberies in the area. this is the second in the series but the first I have read. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book to read and review

Finch' s typical over the top writing style makes this book an exciting if unrealistic read but that is why it works. Great to see the return of Lucy Clayburn in another dramatic, fast paced instalment in this series.

What a fantastic read! Tense and thrilling,, I was hooked from page 1. The plot is fast paced and very well executed, full of twists and turns. The story is quite violent however I thoroughly recommend the book! A very well deserved 5 stars!
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my advance copy in return for an honest review.