Reviews

Bloody January by Alan Parks

carolyn0613's review against another edition

5.0

I enjoyed this book a lot. The setting in Glasgow added to the grittiness of the drama and I enjoyed reading about the old places and the redevelopment in the seventies, around the time the story is set. The actual story of the murder is very good but is overshadowed by the excellent back story of Harry. It is very gory and has graphically described violence which I found a bit too much at times but I did understand that it was integral to the plot and setting. An excellent gritty detective novel

gawronma's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

I am not sure if I even liked the book.

rainbow_janebow's review against another edition

dark funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

davethescot's review against another edition

4.0

A great addition to the great Tartan Noirists.

fran_mcbookface's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

aliromg's review against another edition

2.0

Popsugar Reading Challenge #28: Un libro que compraste de segunda mano.

La historia no está mal, pero el personaje de McCoy es terrible. Además que los temas de corrupción, drogas, prostitución, etc. hacen mucho ruido al caso "principal"

pinskal's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

_marian_'s review against another edition

3.0

Lo siento (en realidad no) pero Harry McCoy es insufrible -y, por eso, la parte con Susan resulta increíble. Sí, arrastra varios traumas y dos muy serios, pero aún así, más que complejo, resulta pejiguero, irritante y bastante infantil. Hace cosas y no sabe ni por qué las hace: ¿inercia, rutina, comodidad? Hay breves destellos hacia el final en que he podido sentir una pizca de compresión hacia él, pero han sido momentos fugaces.

A pesar de McCoy, la forma de escribir de Alan Parks me ha gustado. Un Glasgow duro, frío, feo, implacable, que no perdona, que te devora si te descuidas, el de los 70. El libro es oscuro, deprimente, lúgubre, elimina todo atisbo de esperanza pero a la vez la narración es enérgica.

No sé si leeré el segundo porque esta entrega ha sido excesivamente sórdida, especialmente por la total y absoluta deshumanización de la mujer, y porque McCoy se me ha hecho muy desagradable.

skattkatten_'s review against another edition

3.0

En hemsk historia som lämnar en dålig eftersmak.

doobyus's review against another edition

3.0

This is a decent debut noir. I enjoyed it well enough, despite a couple of things which seemed a little out of place, discordant... did anyone refer to people as 'peeps' in 1973? I dont know. I was there and i dont recall it.

Despite that, the hero, McCoy, is an excellent construct. Flawed but inherently decent. Believable. Likeable.

I think I'd have felt more positive about this if i hadnt just finished Liam McIlvanney's 'The Quaker', which was just outstanding. That being said, i liked it enough to have bout the second book in the series.