Harry McCoy, #6

A woman enters a Glasgow police station to report her son missing., but no record can be found of the boy. when Detective Harry McCoy, seconded from the cop shop across town, discovers the family is part of the cultish Church of Christs Suffering, he suspects there is more to Michael's disappearance than meets the eye. Meanwhile, reports arrive of a string of poisonings of down-and- outs across the city. The dead are men who few barely notice, let alone care about - but, as McCoy is painfully aware, among this desperate community is his own father.

Set in the 1970s, Harry and his sergeant Wattie are seconded to Possil police station. Down and outs are being poisoned, and a local woman reports her son missing, but there is no record of her son anywhere. Add to this a touch of police corruption and gang warfare. There is quite a lot of violence, but there is just about as much humour to this story so it kind of evens things out. I have only read one other book in this series, and I think I have missed out on a lot if backstories. Even though there is a lot of subplots, they weren't confusing, and they were all tied up nicely by the end.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Cannongate and the author #AlanParks for my ARC of #ToDieInJune in exchange for an honest review.

I’m ashamed to say this is the first book in the Harry McCoy series , but it I’ll certainly be reading more .
Harry is a great character flawed as you’d expect but an excellent policeman although he does have unorthodox methods at times.
His relationship with his partner Wattie has its ups and downs but they can always rely on each other .
A number of homeless men have died and McCoy is worried that some one is targeting them .
I found this book easy to read but I think I would have been better reading the preceding books first , but I will read them now!
A great Tartan noir read the calibre of writing is excellent making it an easy and enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Canongate .

Alan Parks continues to deliver compulsive, gritty, historical crime fiction with the sixth in his Harry McCoy series To Die in June. Once again Parks brings the streets of Glasgow in the 1970s to vivid, grimy, corrupt life as he centres his narrative around a slightly compromised but somehow still morally upright policeman.
When To Die in June opens, McCoy and his offsider have been moved to a small local station, actually also McCoy’s first posting. They are there ostensibly while a restructure is occurring but really to get behind a series of post office robberies that seem to have been facilitated by the local police. But before long there are complications. A couple of deaths of local alcoholics starts to look like the work of a serial killer and with McCoy realises that his father, one of the many living on the street, may be in danger. There is also a strange Christian cult-like sect and a potentially missing child. And then, to make matters worse, McCoy’s childhood friend and gangster Cooper leans on McCoy to help him with a hostile, violent takeover of the territory from the ruling gang.
Parks once again delivers dark but pitch perfect Tartan Noir. As always, as bad as people seem, there is always room for readers to discover they are worse. McCoy continues to be the perfect guide to the mean streets of 1970s Glasgow, from the squats and dark alleys to swanky award ceremonies on the arm of his movie-star girlfriend. And as any good series, while it can be read as a stand-alone, the complications build from events and decisions made in previous books. And the resolution of some of the mysteries here is likely to reverberate at least into the next book, which cannot come soon enough.

This second encounter with Inspector McCoy and the distinctly murky world of Glasgow gangs is a happy reunion. The writing style is again easy to read and quickly immerses the reader in the, at best, unconventional policing style of Inspector McCoy. The plot is pacy and well-developed and introduces the necessary dead ends together with an adequacy of red herrings so that the eventual denouement is not revealed too soon. Fans of Alan Parks and his creation are likely to be pleased to see a significant hook left in the text that implies a further instalment in the life and times of Inspector McCoy could be with us in the future.
Recommended for readers who like to explore the tricky interface between criminals and law enforcement in the Glasgow of some half a century ago.

This is the second Alan Parks novel I've read and was sent to me as an Advanced Read by his publisher. I enjoyed the last one but enjoyed this one even more. I read a lot of crime novels and now feel a bit annoyed that I didn't chase down his other books sooner. This one has the same two cops at its heart as the last I read, DC McCoy and his faithful but honest sidekick, DS Watts or Wattie as he's known. Alongside them is their pathologist Phyllis, who deals with McCoy's squeamish nature as best she can while taking the micky out of him for it every time. The book is set in 1975. I was 12 in 1975 and so got a lot of the cultural references. I especially liked McCoy meeting Billy Connelly at a charity event and him telling tales of Billy's outlandish outfit and platform shoes. If you're of a certain age, you'll enjoy the descriptions of tenements in Glasgow, food consumed, booze glugged etc. It adds nicely to the whole feel of Parks' novels. He is the king of the 70s snapshot and it adds something unique to the perspective. The crime writing is as good as ever, good but flawed coppers mixing it up with violent but occassionally likeable villains. McCoy is chasing down someone poisoning homeless guys; usually alcoholics and so the crowds he mixes with sometimes mix disgust and pity in equal measure. Wattie, as usual attempts to keep McCoy on the legal and judicial straight and narrow, with mixed results. Parks' ability to show us the whole character, their dedication as cops and partners mixed in with their troubled past lives makes us truly 'know' the characters well. McCoy's dedication to solving this case is lead by his desire to find his own father, a hopeless and now homeless alcoholic and perhaps save him from this poisoner. The ending of the book left me troubled and concerned about McCoy, which means I will need to read the next one!

The latest book in the Harry McCoy series is as good as the rest.
McCoy and Wattie have been transferred to another station in Glasgow to uncover some bent cops.
Filled with the usual colourful characters, from gangsters to down and outs, 1970's Glasgow comes to life. A time when police brutality and corruption is normal.
There are several storylines in this book and it moves at a fast pace.
A great read of "tartan noir".

It's June 1975 and someone is poisoning down and out alcoholics in Glasgow. McCoy and Wattie have transferred to another station for reasons McCoy can't tell Wattie. A women reports her son missing, which turns out to be not the case. The woman is married to the reverend of a strange cult like church. McCoy searches for his father to warn him not to drink homemade hooch.
A compelling read, the above makes it seem disjointed, but it's not. All of the above is happening at the same time and there is a lot of overlap.
I really enjoyed this and had to sneak read the last pages when I got to work as I couldn't wait to find out what happened.

McCoy and Wattie have been moved to search out bent cops, their dry humour continues to please. The feeling of 70s Glasgow feels so real - the grimy, smokey pubs, strange eating habits, down and outs on the streets not to mention murder, dodgy booze, bizarre religious sects and a missing boy who apparently does not exist. Plenty of twists and turns but the strands do come together to an extent in the end, Slightly dodgy McCoy and his glamorous film star girlfriend/lover are all part of the bizarre mixup, no doubt helped by my lack of having read earlier parts. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Another fantastic addition to the McCoy series.

Harry has moved stations and the cases keep coming - the mysterious deaths of down and outs, a missing child, the savage murder of a man in his own flat.

Meanwhile, Cooper is looking to McCoy for help in expanding his empire and Wattie is becoming more exasperated with his partner’s tendency to go it alone. Add a touch of police corruption and Harry’s life is getting extremely complicated.

Whilst Harry uses his skills to control events in his professional life, his grip on his own wellbeing and sense of self-worth is slipping.

Deftly plotted and constantly entertaining, this is a proper page turner with an emotional heft. A final teaser sets up an anxious wait for the next in the series.

The only thing that disappointed me on finishing To Die in June Alan Parks was the realisation that it's the 6th book in a series that until now had somehow escaped my radar. I'm now,albeit belatedly,a massive fan. This is a book that never flags with several storylines running alongside each other ,a whole host of fascinating characters and McCoy's past and present life and relationships also playing a big part in the tale.

Set in 1970's Glasgow this reads like a faster paced and more complex William McIlvanney novel. McCoy is a great character,a complex man with a foot on both sides of the law and ,in this book, wondering which is actually the more criminal.

While this can be read as a standalone I'd recommend reading the previous books in the series first, I wish I had as while you'll still enjoy a great read there are many complex relationships and characters with fascinating backstories that are tantalisingly mentioned.

A great read with a couple of teasers at the end suggesting a potential change of direction for the series in following books.

DI Harry McCoy is back in another 1970s gritty crime novel. It’s the beginning of summer and Glasgow is warming up, but many of it’s streets are still mean and dirty and crying out for demolition and renewal. Someone is killing off homeless men sleeping rough with poisoned alcohol and Harry is determined to stop it. He and his partner DS Watson (Wattie) have been posted to Possil police station, where Harry started his career on the beat. His DCI believes there might be some corruption in the station and has sent Harry in undercover to sniff it out. Poor Wattie has no idea what’s going on and is not happy about it. Meanwhile he and Harry have a murder to solve and his old friend, crime lord Stevie Cooper, has started a gang war on his patch and wants Harry to help him with inside information.

This is Scottish noir at its best. The description of the mean streets and grotty pubs of Glasgow, along with the humour and vernacular of the inhabitants is very atmospheric and paints a vivid picture of the city fifty years ago. Harry is such a great character whose character has really developed over the series. He’s basically a tough cop with a strong sense of justice despite his difficult past. Although he’s well respected by felons and police alike, he treads a not so straight line himself between crime and following the rules. He’s currently dating an actress and, although everyone keeps telling him he’s punching above his weight, I hope she sticks around for a while. It’s also good to see Wattie also developing into a good, confident cop who is great at handling Harry, even when he gets frustrated at him for keeping things back. This is a very solid addition to the series and I can’t wait to see what July will bring for Harry and Wattie.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for access to an early copy for review

Alan Park's novels are one of the titles I look forward to most each year - Harry McCoy and his sergeant Wattie are brilliant characters, and they don't let down in this years novel. It's now June 1975 and they've been seconded to Possil (another Glasgow police office). As they try to settle in a woman reports her son missing ... but there is no record of her son anywhere. Meanwhile, Glasgow's down and outs seem to be being targeted with poison (which means that McCoy has more reason to worry about his dad) and there are rumblings between gang leaders, including Steve Cooper. McCoy has to deal with all of this while trying to keep the real reason he's been seconded under the radar so he can complete the mission.

It's another belter from Parks ... and the only downside is the wait for the next book

This is my first Alan Parks book so huge thanks to NetGalley. I will certainly be reading more starting from the first in the series.
This is a gritty Scottish crime thriller set in the 1970's with two great old school cops as the main characters.
The story twist and turns and as you get drawn into it you can't put it down.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it

I never repeat the blurb. Another step this fascinating series which I have followed from the start. The complexities of the main character are boith perplexing at times but also surprising, as the story explores his work and relationships with both the ordinary and the dark sides of people and life in 70s Glasgow. Roll on July! Can't wait!!

This is the latest addition to Alan Parks's award winning gritty Glasgow series set in the 1970s and featuring the flawed DI Harry McCoy and DS Wattie. It is 1975, McCoy and Wattie have been transferred to Possil Police Station, where he once served as a beat officer earlier in his career, headed by Long. DCI Hector Murray has sent McCoy undercover to look into corruption, he suspects there is police involvement in a string of Post Office robberies. Murray insists to an unhappy McCoy that Wattie is to be kept in the dark about the mission. There are various other threads, to test a McCoy who is seeing well known wealthy actress, Margo Lindsay, with others constantly pointing that he is punching above his weight, and has him attending awards ceremonies and eating at places he would ordinarily never go to.

A despairing mother, Judith West, reports that her 9 year old son, Michael, has gone missing. She is married to a pastor of the weird and cultish Church of Christ's Suffering, but it turns out there is no son, and it appears a traumatised Judith is experiencing severe mental health issues. McCoy is not so convinced that this is all there is to it. He finds himself in charge of a murder inquiry, the victim Malky McCormack, a small timer brutally tortured and murdered, but why would anyone want to kill him? Added stress comes his way, the homeless Govan Jamie MacLeod has been discovered dead, an upsetting event, but a common one amongst the homeless community. However, when McCoy receives information that the homeless are being deliberately poisoned with tampered hooch, he is consumed by fear, his father has been homeless for years.

To top it all, his childhood friend, the volatile, violent crime boss Stevie Cooper, is intent on beginning a gang turf war, planning to depose Archie Andrews who is getting on in years, and he expects Harry to help him. It is a joy to become reacquainted with what has now become an established set of characters, such as Phyllis Gilroy, the medical examiner and Murray's partner, the would be gardener and Cooper's bodyguard, Jumbo, and an irate Wattie who is shaping up to be a competent officer, but is far from happy that McCoy is leaving him out of the loop. This is a great addition to what is a marvellous Scottish historical crime noir series, and I look forward with much anticipation to the next in the series! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

The first of the Harry McCoy series I have read and just maybe that is why I cannot consider thus book to be as good as obviously others do. I found the story and settings too cliched and very far fetched in places (I hope!). Sorry, just not for me.
My thanks however to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.

The 6th book in the brilliant Harry McCoy series finds a more settled McCoy than in previous books.

Less angry, less troubled and with good things in his personal life he feels calmer yet still has that air of a Man who can easily fall on the wrong side of the tracks.

Working at a new police station, trying to weed out bad cops. Harry, Wattie, and the rest return in another excellent read though a book that feels very much one for fans of the series - I think a new reader would lose quite a bit of what’s going on at times - and one that possibly feels like a bit of book to fill the series out.

Alan Parks always writes his books with a lot of story strings, there are many plots fizzing away at the same time and I find he has an immense skill in keeping those plots from becoming confusing and he brings them all to conclusions very well.

I don’t need to write about the plot. It’s historical crime writing at its finest. And the ending leaves some intrigue and possible starts the opening of what may become the final battles to come with the series arriving at what I imagine is it’s half way point.

This continues to be one of my favourite series, albeit not my favourite book so far. Yet still really very good.

Another great read by Alan Parks. Having read his previous books about Detective Inspector Harry McCoy this didn't disappoint. The story involving a missing girl takes you into the gangland streets of Glasgow and McCoy's friendship with his long time friend Stevie Cooper. Definitely to be recommended.

We're with D.I. Harry McCoy again in the gritty, heavy drinking, down and out parts of Glasgow that seem to draw him in like a magnet. He has been transferred to a different Glasgow police station to investigate "undercover" as to whether there is corruption there amongst it's officers.
A lot of his endless pub visits and meetings with their less salubrious inhabitants turn up clues and information that draw him ever deeper into uncomfortable and dangerous territory. As his investigation progresses it becomes personal and his behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and unpredictable, much to the frustration of his ever loyal sidekick Wattie.
However there is no escaping the fact that Harry's heart remains firmly in the right place and it is this characteristic, I suspect, that draws readers again and again to Parks' novels. Formulaic they may be in terms of setting, characters and grime but Harry is such a loveable rebel cop you're always sure to enjoy the read.

I've been on the Harry McCoy journey right from the start and Glasgow's most unorthodox 1970's police detective just keeps getting better and better and his methods more un police like.
Hoping that Alan Parks is going to keep this winning formula going for sometime to come and that he has many more planned. Although this could be read as a standalone book as certain background issues are covered, I would nonetheless recommend starting at the beginning of the series and read all six in order.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.