Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This was the second novel in a series about a former Met DI Cal Drake and forensic psychologist Rayhana Crane.
When a severed head is found this draws Cal back to an old case which ultimately ruined his career. This was a good read but I wish I had read the first in the series. I enjoyed the author’s writing and would read more. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Drake and Crane thriller, and wow was it good. A police procedural with twists, turns, and nail-biting scenes, I now want to go back and read the backstory of these two complex characters. I honestly loved the ending and can’t wait for the next book.

A thriller that started well. The discovery of a severed head on a crowded London tube train was a great opener then the story slowed. I lost interest and struggled to finish.

I had no clue this was the second book of a series when I started it, but I can honestly say I don’t feel like I missed much from the first book.

This story is written well enough to be a standalone, so don’t fret if you didn’t read the first one either.

I read this book in less than two days because it was so fast paced.

# The Heights #
Started really well, finding a a head rolling around on a train. Fortunately it’s been wrapped up in newspaper. I thought wow if this is the start I think I will enjoy this book. Not that I am onto heads rolling around on a train. I like myself thrillers and this is definitely one hell of a thriller. I was hooked the book really had got me and continued like this not all the way through it had a couple of slower periods but nothing to want me to put the book down had got too involved and no matter how a couple of times it seemed a little slow i Was to invested I actually wanted to know how it ended because the twist and turns in the book kept throwing me off. It actually was really something when a twist would come because you just was not expecting it. It also made you really sit up and think oh definitely just as you thought you where on the right track the author threw another couple of twists just at the right time. God what a book with all the twists coming like they did blood awesome to be fair. Loved it if you like thrillers then this is a book that just as to be read. I am only marking it down one star which if I had a choice it would be half a star just because I hit a couple of slow parts I don’t think I am being unfair.

I didn’t realise that this was the second book in a series when I picked it up so I am not sure what or how much i’ve missed or its effects on this book, but; I’m sure as hell going to find out! Book one, The Divinities has now firmly cemented itself to the top of my tbr pile!

As the police are called to a gruesome discovery of a severed head found on the London Underground, Crane and Drake are hired by her childhood acquaintance and author, Marco Foulkes, to investigate the disappearance of a foreign university student Howeida Almanara.

As their investigation begins it is not long before it becomes apparent that both cases are connected, and not just connected but personal to former Detective Inspector Cal Crane and a case he was working undercover on four years ago. The decapitated head was wrapped in newspaper, a very specific page from the newspaper, the headline of the article reading – “Finger of Suspicion Pointed at Rising Star Met Police. Links to Organised Crime.” The rising star? None other than DI Crane!

The investigation of the unidentified head is being led by Crane’s former police partner, newly promoted DI Kelly Marsh. Unofficially they share case details helping both Crane in his new career as a private investigator and Marsh’s official investigation.

As the pressure grows to crack the case more details emerge, details and evidence that points the finger of blame straight at Crane.

Can PI’s Drake and Crane, with the help of Marsh, clear his name and lead them to the real criminals in time?

Set in London this book brings the city to life across the pages, from the high end of some of the expensive boroughs to the darker side of the city and its forgotten individuals who make their beds in doorways. It takes you on a journey into some of the seedier sides of the city as well as the gang culture who always seem three steps ahead of the police, touching on all to real problems such as human trafficking, corruption, organised crime and exploitation that go on not just in the fictional London but the real city as well.

The book is filled with multicultural fictional characters, some good, some pure evil wrapped in flesh and bone, all blended with a storyline that could just as easily feature in the True Crime genre with a compulsive, high tension plot and an ending that will drive you insane! I just hope the next book isn’t going to be too much of a wait because it has certainly left me needing more and I can guarantee that you will feel the same once you have turned that last page!

This is a real slice of life wrapped in fiction.

I didn’t realise that this was the second book in a series when I picked it up so I am not sure what or how much i’ve missed or its effects on this book, but; I’m sure as hell going to find out! Book one, The Divinities has now firmly cemented itself to the top of my tbr pile!

As the police are called to a gruesome discovery of a severed head found on the London Underground, Crane and Drake are hired by her childhood acquaintance and author, Marco Foulkes, to investigate the disappearance of a foreign university student Howeida Almanara.

As their investigation begins it is not long before it becomes apparent that both cases are connected, and not just connected but personal to former Detective Inspector Cal Crane and a case he was working undercover on four years ago. The decapitated head was wrapped in newspaper, a very specific page from the newspaper, the headline of the article reading – “Finger of Suspicion Pointed at Rising Star Met Police. Links to Organised Crime.” The rising star? None other than DI Crane!

The investigation of the unidentified head is being led by Crane’s former police partner, newly promoted DI Kelly Marsh. Unofficially they share case details helping both Crane in his new career as a private investigator and Marsh’s official investigation.

As the pressure grows to crack the case more details emerge, details and evidence that points the finger of blame straight at Crane.

Can PI’s Drake and Crane, with the help of Marsh, clear his name and lead them to the real criminals in time?

Set in London this book brings the city to life across the pages, from the high end of some of the expensive boroughs to the darker side of the city and its forgotten individuals who make their beds in doorways. It takes you on a journey into some of the seedier sides of the city as well as the gang culture who always seem three steps ahead of the police, touching on all to real problems such as human trafficking, corruption, organised crime and exploitation that go on not just in the fictional London but the real city as well.

The book is filled with multicultural fictional characters, some good, some pure evil wrapped in flesh and bone, all blended with a storyline that could just as easily feature in the True Crime genre with a compulsive, high tension plot and an ending that will drive you insane! I just hope the next book isn’t going to be too much of a wait because it has certainly left me needing more and I can guarantee that you will feel the same once you have turned that last page!

This is a real slice of life wrapped in fiction.

A detective/thriller that takes you into the. London underworld when Drake and his partner Crane simultaneously try to solve two cases that end up linked . Their pasts play out through this second book of a trilogy but enough background is given to allow you to read this as a stand-alone.
Due to the detailed completion of the characters background stories the book seemed a little slow but did pick up momentum. It will be interesting to see where the third book takes the characters.

I read the first of this scorching new series, The Divinities, some time ago and at the close of the review said how much I was anticipating the next book in the series. Well, Parker Bilal has come up trumps again, and just as the first book made it in to my Top Ten of the Year, The Heights may achieve a similar status…

With the two main characters, ex-detective Cal Drake and forensic pathologist/psychologist Dr Rayhana Crane, having now embarked on a closer working relationship in private investigation, Bilal takes this series in an interesting new direction. Drake is as screwed up personally and emotionally as before, with the events of the first book gaining even greater prominence here. Rest assured, the author constructs the story so the reader is fully aware of the previous events, if you missed the previous book. Drake is an interesting character, living life to his own slightly skewed moral compass, and haunted by his previous career in both the military and as an undercover police officer. He is brusque and understandably mistrustful of people generally, but this odd pairing works extremely well, and the small chinks of decency and morality that he seeks to veil do appear from time to time, as he works more closely with the vibrant and outgoing Crane. Not that Crane doesn’t have her own demons, emanating from her very unusual family background, which features heavily in this book, and her own single minded determination, that makes her both forthright and brave. The dynamics of their working relationship propel the plot along at a good pace, and with the differing strands of their investigations, and personal tumult, Bilal does an excellent job of juggling the various tensions that these tangential cases places upon them.

What struck me most with the first book, and to an even greater extent with this one, is the superb characterisation of London itself and how Bilal depicts the essential energy and feel of this teeming metropolis. Having so perfectly captured the chasm between rich and poor in The Divinities, some of this book sees Drake moving about the homeless community in pursuit of an individual crucial to their enquiries. These scenes are written with a real attention to the plight of this community, highlighting how easy it is to fall between the cracks, and what kind of existence this leads to. Likewise, with the story spiralling back to the nefarious deeds of an international crime network involved in drug and people trafficking, and drawing on the particular backgrounds of Drake and Crane themselves, there is a strong multi-cultural feel to the book too. In the scenes relating to Drake’s previous undercover case with the police, Bilal brings a strong thread of realism to the story of his involvement with a witness, Zelda, and her subsequent death, as she sought a better life in Britain only for it to go so desperately awry. I felt a huge amount of sympathy both for her, and for the complex moral dilemma this put Drake through, torn between his duty as a police officer, but also his indebtedness to and dangerous coercion of her to speak out.

Although The Heights makes for, at times, bleak and uncomfortable reading, I was utterly mesmerised by it throughout. Bilal maintains a real energy and pace to the book, and with the story comprising of a number of different strands, there is certainly no opportunity for the reader’s attention to wander. I liked the way that these strands wove in and out with each other, keeping a real control to the narrative arc, and making some interesting connections along the way, and even more excitingly some unresolved issues that may bode well for a further addition to the series. The characters of Drake and Crane themselves, serve as an effective anchor to the book, and through their differences in personality, but an uncanny knack to actually work rather well together, all in all Bilal has hit on a winning combination I feel. Packed with tension and with an adroit rendition of London itself, highlighting the gap between rich and poor, the exploited and the exploiters, this was an immersive and compelling read. Highly recommended.

I started The Heights without realising it is the second part of a trilogy. However, this did not impact upon my enjoyment of this complex, intelligent thriller.

The Heights focuses on the work of Detectives Drake and Crane, and I loved the way they worked together. Both detectives have colourful histories and I enjoyed delving deeper into these as the novel progressed and learning how their experiences shaped the way they work.

The novel begins with some shocking scenes and the tension builds as it continues. The detectives are working on two cases at the same time and I enjoyed reading as they both gathered pace. I enjoyed trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together and work out what had happened.

There are some twists towards the end that I had not predicted. I look forward to reading the other novels in the trilogy.

A rollercoaster of a ride with an ending not to be missed. Edgy and taunt with a strong plot it'll keep you glued to your chair. You will devour this or. Happy reading!

This is the second book in this series and having read both I don't think it matter if you reads this one as a stand alone. This book looks more into the main characters and how their past is now mixed up in the present. Why I enjoyed the two plots of this book, I felt it getting a little flat and confusing midway, there was a little to financial talk for my liking. This book picks up again nearing the end and does the ending justice.

I didn’t realise this was the second book in a series but I think there’s enough information given to make it okay to read without reading the first book in the series.
A severed head is found on a London Underground train by a young mother and her son and DS Kelly Marsh is called into investigate.
Marsh begins to think that this is connected to Drake’s old undercover case so he gets involved and tries to get to the bottom of what’s happened.
A few years ago the headless body of a woman was found and Drake thinks the body and the head belong to an informant he worked with whilst undercover.
Drake and Crane are asked by an old friend of Crane’s to investigate the disappearance of a girl but Crane doesn’t realise it will take her back to her father and open up old wounds.
This is a bit of a slow burner but once it gets going it’s a gripping read.
Thanks to Black Thorn and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I didn’t realise that this was the second book in a series when I picked it up so I am not sure what or how much i’ve missed or its effects on this book, but; I’m sure as hell going to find out! Book one, The Divinities has now firmly cemented itself to the top of my tbr pile!

As the police are called to a gruesome discovery of a severed head found on the London Underground, Crane and Drake are hired by her childhood acquaintance and author, Marco Foulkes, to investigate the disappearance of a foreign university student Howeida Almanara.

As their investigation begins it is not long before it becomes apparent that both cases are connected, and not just connected but personal to former Detective Inspector Cal Crane and a case he was working undercover on four years ago. The decapitated head was wrapped in newspaper, a very specific page from the newspaper, the headline of the article reading – “Finger of Suspicion Pointed at Rising Star Met Police. Links to Organised Crime.” The rising star? None other than DI Crane!

The investigation of the unidentified head is being led by Crane’s former police partner, newly promoted DI Kelly Marsh. Unofficially they share case details helping both Crane in his new career as a private investigator and Marsh’s official investigation.

As the pressure grows to crack the case more details emerge, details and evidence that points the finger of blame straight at Crane.

Can PI’s Drake and Crane, with the help of Marsh, clear his name and lead them to the real criminals in time?

Set in London this book brings the city to life across the pages, from the high end of some of the expensive boroughs to the darker side of the city and its forgotten individuals who make their beds in doorways. It takes you on a journey into some of the seedier sides of the city as well as the gang culture who always seem three steps ahead of the police, touching on all to real problems such as human trafficking, corruption, organised crime and exploitation that go on not just in the fictional London but the real city as well.

The book is filled with multicultural fictional characters, some good, some pure evil wrapped in flesh and bone, all blended with a storyline that could just as easily feature in the True Crime genre with a compulsive, high tension plot and an ending that will drive you insane! I just hope the next book isn’t going to be too much of a wait because it has certainly left me needing more and I can guarantee that you will feel the same once you have turned that last page!

This is a real slice of life wrapped in fiction.

The Heights will be published on 03 September 2020 and is available for pre-order now.

I didn’t realise that this was the second book in a series when I picked it up so I am not sure what or how much i’ve missed or its effects on this book, but; I’m sure as hell going to find out! Book one, The Divinities has now firmly cemented itself to the top of my tbr pile!

As the police are called to a gruesome discovery of a severed head found on the London Underground, Crane and Drake are hired by her childhood acquaintance and author, Marco Foulkes, to investigate the disappearance of a foreign university student Howeida Almanara.

As their investigation begins it is not long before it becomes apparent that both cases are connected, and not just connected but personal to former Detective Inspector Cal Crane and a case he was working undercover on four years ago. The decapitated head was wrapped in newspaper, a very specific page from the newspaper, the headline of the article reading – “Finger of Suspicion Pointed at Rising Star Met Police. Links to Organised Crime.” The rising star? None other than DI Crane!

The investigation of the unidentified head is being led by Crane’s former police partner, newly promoted DI Kelly Marsh. Unofficially they share case details helping both Crane in his new career as a private investigator and Marsh’s official investigation.

As the pressure grows to crack the case more details emerge, details and evidence that points the finger of blame straight at Crane.

Can PI’s Drake and Crane, with the help of Marsh, clear his name and lead them to the real criminals in time?

Set in London this book brings the city to life across the pages, from the high end of some of the expensive boroughs to the darker side of the city and its forgotten individuals who make their beds in doorways. It takes you on a journey into some of the seedier sides of the city as well as the gang culture who always seem three steps ahead of the police, touching on all to real problems such as human trafficking, corruption, organised crime and exploitation that go on not just in the fictional London but the real city as well.

The book is filled with multicultural fictional characters, some good, some pure evil wrapped in flesh and bone, all blended with a storyline that could just as easily feature in the True Crime genre with a compulsive, high tension plot and an ending that will drive you insane! I just hope the next book isn’t going to be too much of a wait because it has certainly left me needing more and I can guarantee that you will feel the same once you have turned that last page!

This is a real slice of life wrapped in fiction.

The Heights will be published on 03 September 2020 and is available for pre-order now.

A gritty, dark & twisty novel!

'Sometimes what is underground should stay buried...' what a tagline! This novel is intriguing from the start and I didn't want to put it down until the end.

Bilal's writing is engrossing & filled with tense moments. I love Drake & Crane as lead characters they have a really interesting dysfunctional dynamic.

It just missed out on 5⭐because found it dragged slightly at some of the financial details but otherwise it was an engrossing read.

The perfect read for crime fans looking for more than the routine thrills. I certainly will be looking out for the next book in the Drake & Crane series.

This is book two in the series, I didn't feel at a disadvantage having not read the first installment, I think The Heights can certainly be read as a standalone but I am off to find it so I read it now and I don't miss out.

A huge thanks to Anne Cater & Black Thorn for gifting me a copy in return for an open & honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

An excellent thriller that kept me hooked till the end. It's gripping and highly entertaining.
I loved the storytelling and character development and the solid mystery that kept me hooked.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Many Thanks to Net Galley, Black Thorn Book and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.


Parker Bilal aka Jamal Mahjoub has written a gritty investigative fiction that is absolutely riveting and absorbing. The Heights is book # 2 in Crane and Drake series and now I want to get my hands on book #1. I didn’t feel like missing out on much, having not read book 1, although there are some past instances mentioned here and there in the story that would have made better sense if read in order.

Calil Drake and Dr. Rayhana Crane are into a new partnership in the Crane and Drake Investigations. Drake as well as Crane have issues with authority and are much better suited working outside the Met where they have been erstwhile employed.

The opening scene is quite gruesome, the discovery of a severed head wrapped in some rags and paper inside the carriage of a metro. It is probably a single chapter that shows us a harried mother Ruby Brown and her son who makes the discovery but it is the brilliance of the writing by the author that they remain in the minds of the reader even after the final chapter. Kelly and Milo of the Met police are tasked with the investigation but when it becomes evident that the case is linked to a past case that Drake had handled, things become murkier. Crane and Drake are in the meantime approached to a missing person Howeida Almanara, the inquiries of which leads them to financial skullduggery and the disturbing past of Crane’s childhood.

Alternating between Crane’s and Drake’s POV’s, the investigation becomes a race against time as it becomes evident that someone is hell-bent on framing Drake for the death of Zelda, an informant, who was murdered 4 yrs back and that which still haunts Drake.

The author offers the reader an excellent twisty thriller that touches all facets of crime; gang wars, mutilation, human trafficking also the pasts of both protagonists that come into play and exposing the underbelly of the London city. It was enlightening to read about the cross-cultural and transnational individuals that make the teeming crowd of the city. I did take some time getting Crane and Drake sorted in my mind as the names do create a muddle, so, until a few chapters in, the confusion remained.

The ending of the story was a little abrupt for my liking but as this series is a trilogy, I am wholeheartedly looking forward to reading the last one.

This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/; Amazon India, Goodreads, and Twitter.

Well written, bit too visceral times but overall an engaging read. The two main characters are disparate to say the least, have baggage, but are learning to work together well. Easily read as a standalone - I hadn't realised that it was number two in a series. Thanks to NetGalley and Black Thorn for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.