Gallowstree Lane: 'An authentic depiction of gang life and police politics' From the author of ITV's The Tower

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Kate London has written a police procedural but with a difference, it has a realistic feel, totally believable with a human touch. The perspectives of earnest Sarah and impetuous Lizzie, rather consumed by her personal woes with baby son, Connor, dominate the story with occasional interludes from DI Kieran Shaw. As tenacious DI Sarah Collins struggles fo make progress in identifying the witness to Spencer’s murder or gaining an insight into his life, beleaguered DC Lizzie Griffiths is struggling to juggle single parenting with the demands of a career in the force. These were, in the main one-act dramas and not very good ones either; no complication, no twist to make them interesting, no learning for the persons involved.

I was being asked to follow different parts of the story happening simultaneously and was feeling no empathy with any of the characters, although experience told me that it would probably all come together at the end. Lizzie Griffiths and Sarah Collins, two members of the force, are both also involved in this case but coming at it from very different angles. Kate London’s novel takes this scenario further when a turf war and the stabbing of a teenage boy threatens to escalate and potentially disrupt a secretive two year operation into the Eardsley Bluds and their leader, Shakiel Oliver, who is intent on illegally trafficking guns into the country and onto the streets named Operation Perseus. I loved Lizzie’s vulnerability as a single Mum, desperately trying to be a good mum to her toddler as well as a good police officer. I just flowed with this and plan to read them so that I can understand their backgrounds as well as reading two more excellent police procedurals from Kate London.Whilst Kate London’s awareness of the underworld that she depicts is clearly evident and her knowledge of current police procedures is head and shoulders above many authors of the genre, I began to loose track of which of the police were really working to the same objectives and a united team the longer the story went on for.

When Shaw is made aware of the death of this young man, he immediately clamps down on how the case is handled. I really liked the writing style of this book, the whole book feels gloomy and intense, but at the same time, it is a very pleasant read. Kate London is a former murder detective, having worked with the Major Investigation Team of the Metropolitan Police Service’s Homicide Command, which I feel gives this novel an edge.London handled her characters beautifully, her complex plot with ease, laying down layer upon layer of background, delicious intrigue and the London streets that held so much menace and danger. Like all police officers she started in uniform, working for two years on a response team, and then moved into the CID.