Gallowstree Lane is my introduction to the work of Kate London. Her style of writing draws in the reader from the very first chapter and moves along at a good pace. The story feels credible and I was able to relate to all key characters despite this being the third book of the series. The author clearly understands the challenges in our modern world and I was captivated from start to finish. I can recommend this book and I shall be looking for the first 2 books for inclusion on my bookshelf.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

By chance I read this as the latest surge in knife crime across Britain was making headlines and leaving politicians and police officers struggling to offer a serious approach to stem the tide, or even understand the real causes of this modern urban blight.

So, the basics - a novel about low-level gang rivalry that led to the death of a young man and a series of planned and unplanned consequences of this untimely death. But this book is so much more than the plot outline suggests; it didn't need the publicity blurb to understand that in Kate London, the reader has a guide and mentor who takes her/him on a journey through the complex relationships and loyalties within both the gang culture and the Metropolitan Police that is based on hard-won knowledge and experience. There is, of course, a perfectly acceptable - indeed, rather more than acceptable - detective plot, with developing tension and all the other plot devices a skilled author will deploy. But to this must be added a real sense of hands-on experience won from tackling the messy details of gang culture and criminality that spills over into such senseless and often fatal violence on the streets of our cities. Readers who especially relish their police procedurals written with flair within a beautifully structured narrative will be especially happy with this book. Highly recommended

Book 3 in a series but an be appreciated as a stand alone. It is set in London portraying the difficulties experienced in modern policing. It starts with the murder of 15 year old Spencer that is witnessed by his friend Ryan. It leads to an unfolding drama connecting to and endangering an undercover operation Perseus that has been running for 2 years. Collins and Griffiths , the main characters are hard hitting ambitions officers along with colleague Kieran Shaw. The storyline encompasses knife crime, murder and arms smuggling. Underneath the nutty gritty policing though lies the personal lives of the officers and how their career choice affects that.

Gang warfare on the streets of London

Having watched numerous news reports about the seemingly senseless mounting knife crime on the streets of London, I think I have become immune to the turf wars and the endless stream of young men dying as the gang lords fight over territory in which to sell drugs and cause mayhem.

This has prompted my 3-star rating as the subject is not one, I would choose to read about. I also found the writing quite stilted, and it did not flow seamlessly. Perhaps if I had read the previous two books, I would be more invested in the characters.

I really battled to finish the book. I cannot fault the author’s knowledge of knife crime or police procedures, but the novel failed to grip me on any level.

That being said, perhaps readers that take an active interest in gang warfare will enjoy the story more than I did.

Gillian

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I loved this thrilling fast paced police drama. It kept me hooked from the first page and I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended. Five stars from me

Many thanks to Netgalley and Kate LONDON for the advanced copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Wow, what a cracking book that was to read! Good great characters and a storyline that has you reeled in from the off, wanting to find out what happens!

'Gallowstree Lane' is a police procedural which tackles a very real and prevalent issue without undermining it, and using it as a platform.It is saying that gangland violence is real, it happens and there is no honour in dying for a cause like Spencer did. It happens way too often, is morally unacceptable and these children are being preyed upon and used until they ultimately it is too late.

The investigation into Spencer's death and it's ensuing effects are played out across a timeframe for what you imagine is real life police work amidst interdepartmental wrangling-it then races towards a climatic showdown between those responsible and those searching to bring justice in death to a boy who was so ill served any in his short life.

It is the third in the series but you can absolutely read this without reading the others , as a stand alone novel, but I will definitely be seeking out the other 2 in the series.

Satisfying thriller. Police investigations try to catch a crime gun runner while at the same time the detectives try to manage the players on the periphery. Well plotted and pacy.

This is the first Kate London that I have read, but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed this fast-paced thriller and am now going to read the first two in the series,

The story begins with a tragedy, with so many twists and turns throughout to an amazing ending.

Being a fan of Jacquie Rose and Martina Cole, I was intrigued as to how this book would fit in their genre, and the truth is it doesn't, it rises above it, very well written with characters that are so easy to appreciate and relate to..

Loved this book and would definitely recommend it

I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.

This is the third book in the Collins and Griffiths series, although this story reads well as a standalone. I needed more backstory on the two detectives, to fully appreciate their relationship.

This is a story about knife crime and gangs and their omnipotent presence in parts of London in the 21st century. The crimes and the gang’s influence on the young men in the area, make this story believable. The police procedural aspect is authentic and well-written. The problems experienced by the Met as different departments clash, whilst pursuing competing outcomes is realistic.

Told from several points of view, the story gives all sides and the boundaries are blurred. The reader can understand why gangs are so attractive to young men who have no family life and little to look forward to in the future. The infighting within the police force is also seen to be counterproductive to the end goal of crime solving.

A dynamic police procedural with harrowing true to life characters and crimes that will draw you into a world of crime, dysfunction and gangs.

I received a copy of this book from Atlantic Books- Corvus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A rather depressing read but only because of its believability. It took me a while to get the characters in my head and perhaps if I had read the two other books in this series it might have helped.

Gallowstree Lane by Kate London was a non-starter for me. I only got a small percentage of the way into the book before I decided to stop.

The small part of the book I read was ok, the stabbing and the off-duty paramedic trying to save the boys life, the boy’s friend abandoning him. My trouble came when the police officers were introduced because I hadn’t realised this was part of a series and I had no bond with them as characters because there wasn’t a great deal of detail on them.

I think my main problem may have been that I was suffering from a book hangover after reading The Glass Woman. A very different kind of book that kept hold of me and maybe that is why I just couldn’t get into Gallowstree Lane.

I read this as stand alone as I had no idea it was in a series and it was really good. It was fast paced and intriguing. I really couldn't put it down.

This is number 3 in the Collins and Griffiths series by Kate London, but can easily be read as a stand-alone.

It’s set in 2016 London and covers gang culture, crime and the knife crime prevalent at the moment amongst young men. Gallowstree Lane is a grim place, which just bristles with unseen tensions.....not a place to walk alone.

One evening 15 year old Spencer is fatally stabbed, his friend, Ryan is distraught and turns to The Bluds leader, Shakiel for help. Shaks is an old family friend as he knew Ryan’s dad before his untimely death and exacted revenge on the person responsible. Ryan wants him to do the same for Spence......he’s told it will happen but there’s other things to do first.....and here’s where the tension begins.

DI Kieran Shaw is part of Operation Perseus, undercover to finally get the evidence needed to arrest and charge Shakiel, to bring an end to his reign and stop guns getting on the streets. Not a particularly nice guy, but good at the job he does.

Lizzie is a likeable young cop, she has a son, Connor after an affair with Kieran and she is assigned to Perseus and is integral to the investigation due to her ability to link different pieces of intelligence together.

DI Sarah Collins, is investigating Ryan’s murder and while doing this her operation mixes with the undercover Perseus and there is further tension as neither want the others to jeopardise either investigation.

Kate London has written a police procedural but with a difference, it has a realistic feel, totally believable with a human touch. It shows the emotional pressures and stress the police officers are under all the time, the mention of dealing with a rail crash it so real.....I know from experience, the ringing of unanswered mobile phones amidst the devastation brought many officers nightmares. This also has the story of the young men involved in these gang and knife crimes, and while I appreciate they are violent and lawless, I felt such sympathy for the clearly troubled Ryan and this is a credit to Kate London’s brilliant, creative, and emotional writing. I loved every heart thumping moment.....

I would like to thanks to Netgalley, the author, Kate London and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this ebook for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. (I do also have a hardback copy of my own)

Going into this novel I was unaware that it was part of a series. However, it didn't really have an impact on my enjoyment.

A fast paced read highlighting modern day issues. A definite must for lovers of mystery/suspense.

Gallowstree Lane is the first book that I have read by Kate London and it is an excellent police procedural thriller.

The London based story is about drugs, guns, murder and lots more including how separate investigations overlap and impact on other crimes.

There are a number of main characters who get fairly equal billing without detracting from the overall complex and multi layered story which lives up to the blurb on the back of the book.

The author clearly knows her topic and this comes through in the story which keeps you engaged and hooked until the climatic ending or actually endings as all the strands are pulled together.

Overall this is an excellent book and another one that I fully recommend.

When it comes to modern day crime in Britain nothing could be more on point than the rise in knife crime in Britain, more specifically in the capital. It has become a veritable Wild West scenario, except the weapon of choice is knives and the majority of crimes are being committed by youths and teens. The MET, well the police in general are woefully understaffed and are trying to stay on top of what can only be called an epidemic at this point.

Sarah is called to the crime scene of a knife crime. A young teen has been killed as part of a gang vs gang act of revenge. His friend witnesses the stabbing and inadvertently becomes a pivotal player in a story that questions whether there is any escape from the inevitable destiny of a criminal and socio-economically depraved environment.

In this book it becomes even more apparent how much of a connection DI Sarah Collins and DC Lizzie Griffiths have. The common denominator is their gender in relation to working in what is considered to be a more masculine job. They both have to contend with having to work ten times harder to prove themselves.

Now that Lizzie is a single mother she finds it hard to reconcile the image and life she had before she was faced with finding dependable childcare and getting through her daily work commitments. She is struggling to cope and expects her baby daddy to do his bit to support, he however has completely different ideas. The kind of drastic solution only a manipulative and desperate person would come up with.

London makes a valid point about women who want both careers and children often being forced to choose one or the other, whereas their male colleagues never seem to have to make the same choices. Although society has come a long way to trying to level the playing field, it is still women who suffer when they want both worlds at the same time.

It’s worth mentioning that although this is the third in the Collins & Griffiths series and that some plot elements lead on from previous books, this can absolutely be read as a standalone novel. It’s a dynamic police procedural with a character-driven plot.

Gallowstree Lane is the third novel to feature DI Sarah Collins and DC Lizzie Griffiths of The Metropolitan Police, but it works perfectly well as a standalone, too. What I enjoyed the most was the shining authenticity, the dark, often oppressive atmosphere and the originality; I have never read a crime novel quite like this before. It has more substance and intellect than most in the genre and is as gritty and realistic as they come; it's clear the author's previous job as a Met officer has informed her work and injected it with power and believability. I was gripped from the very beginning and had no problem polishing it off in a single sitting.

It explores the lives of gang members and the impact the violence, which has become second nature to the youngsters involved, has on them. We then take a look at the difficult nature of policing the streets when there are conflicting priorities and politics. Told from multiple perspectives, we see the impact a murder has on the different characters, and each of said characters are developed well and interesting. With the current knife crime epidemic this is a timely read and although bleak and merely fiction it does feel refreshingly real and raw, and it reflects what is going on in society right now.

Many thanks to Corvus for an ARC.

It took me some time to get into this, but I'm pleased that I kept on. Overall, a great story, although I felt that the relationship drama of one of the lead characters a little unnecessary.
Well paced, and with a powerful core to the story, I would highly recommend

A well crafted and gritty police procedural novel written with insider knowledge and dealing with very contemporary problems
Thank you to netgalley and Atlantic books for an advance copy.