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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brilliant crime story, full characters, intertwining of city life, family commitment. Great - read more
The first book featuring the Detective Harry Virdee. Bradford takes centre stage in this story, and while it is the setting for power struggles between different factions in the city it also looks at the different religions and cultures and the lives that are lived through these. There are too many crimes to count during the space of time that the story is set but it is not the usual type of detective novel and there are some surprises and high drama along the way. It took me a few chapters before I started to connect with the drama but as the pace quickened I didn't want to put the book down. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
A great read. Racial tensions are high in Bradford. Saima, Harry Virdee's wife, is due any day with their first child. Then the city explodes. Which side of the law is Harry on. Can't wait to read the next book
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was the last book in the Harry Virdee series I read as they were gifted to me in the wrong order. This is why, I think, my rating is lower as Harry seemed less likable having read his development later on first.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
I love books set in places I know, and as I was born in Leeds I know Bradford fairly well so was excited to listen to this book. It is an amazing debut from A A Dhand and he has portrayed Bradford brilliantly, and I loved the way he referred to it as Gotham City :-) This is the dark side of multicultural Britain
Streets of Darkness is a real rollercoaster ride with enought twists to make you dizzy. It is well writted, the plot is strong and fast paced with lots of violence, and when I'd finished I wanted more!
What a character Harry Virdee is. He's a British born Sikh married to Saima, a muslim, and both have been ostracised by their families. I loved the bond that they had as a couple. Currently suspended from work, he's a real maverick who breaks every rule in the book. The rest of the characters and diverse and interesting.
This is one of my favourite listens so far this year, and I'm going straight on to listen to Book 2. I can't get enough of Harry!
I have seen much criticism of the narrator, Muzz Khan, but I enjoyed his narration. I felt his voice was authentic for the book. My only criticism is that he spoke quite slowly so I had to speed up the narration, but then it was perfect.
Streets of Darkness is a real rollercoaster ride with enought twists to make you dizzy. It is well writted, the plot is strong and fast paced with lots of violence, and when I'd finished I wanted more!
What a character Harry Virdee is. He's a British born Sikh married to Saima, a muslim, and both have been ostracised by their families. I loved the bond that they had as a couple. Currently suspended from work, he's a real maverick who breaks every rule in the book. The rest of the characters and diverse and interesting.
This is one of my favourite listens so far this year, and I'm going straight on to listen to Book 2. I can't get enough of Harry!
I have seen much criticism of the narrator, Muzz Khan, but I enjoyed his narration. I felt his voice was authentic for the book. My only criticism is that he spoke quite slowly so I had to speed up the narration, but then it was perfect.
Streets of Darkness is to my knowledge the first crime book set in Bradford that I have encountered, and with only having visited the city a couple of times, my curiosity was instantly aroused with the mouthwatering prospect of unexplored crime territory. Unlike other British police procedural writers, Dhand paints an entirely bleak and unflinching portrait of this city, without the little moments of affection that normally punctuate other writers’ portrayals of their home towns. The image that Dhand portrays of his city is unrelentingly grim and depressing, and there is a downtrodden air amongst its inhabitants that hammers home the true picture of inner city deprivation and neglect that this city has suffered. Even allowing for the rare moments of happiness that Virdee experiences on the cusp of the birth of his first child, his character, with all his personal torments and professional frustrations, is a perfect mirror of Bradford itself. Dhand also highlights the long standing religious intolerance experienced by those marrying outside of their religion- Virdee is a Sikh, but is married to Saima, a Muslim- and I very much enjoyed Dhand’s exploration of the role of religion in their marriage and personal beliefs. Indeed, the attendant problems of faith loom large for Virdee throughout, both personally and professionally, as he becomes embroiled in a violent and dangerous investigation, that soon threatens all he holds dear, against a backdrop of a city thrown into a state of social unrest. Virdee is a traditional maverick, and goes out on a limb in the course of the book, despite operating whilst suspended as a police officer. Despite his downtrodden and naturally pessimistic air I did quite take to him as a character, but was a little unconvinced by the slightly schmaltzy feel when Dhand turned his attentions to Virdee’s home life. There was also an annoyingly predictable plot device linked to this that did make me punch the air in frustration as it wasn’t needed, and rather undid the fact that this was a very well-plotted and compelling depiction of inner city strife and burgeoning violence up to that point. However, that niggle aside I would still strongly recommend this debut. Grim, violent and a welcome addition to the British crime writing scene.
This is a gripping read set on the streets of Bradford as an underground turf war spills out across the city with suspended detective Harry Virdee smack bang in the middle as he sets out to find a killer, but not by the book. In doing so he uncovers a much larger problem that he is determined to resolve, one that will test him at every turn and push him and his very pregnant wife, Saima, to their absolute limits. The writing is superb, dark and gritty creating a tense and slightly disturbing atmosphere making you feel as if the tension is right on your doorstep. Dhand has weaved his own knowledge and experiences of the city into the story, making every moment feel much more real, increasing the tension and showing all sides of the story with no-one walking away without blood on their hands. A very impressive debut novel.
I've found another police procedural, but I had been looking for this one for a long time for the simple reason that A.A. Dhand is from Bradford and the Harry Virdee books are set in Bradford. As a fellow Wessie Dhand never needed to explain to me why he wanted to write Bradford based thrillers. I cannot really think of a more perfect city. Glowering darkness. Decaying faded glory. A desperation and a meanness... Bradford has it all.
Dhand's complex relationship with his home town is captured brilliantly on the page. He doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the forgotten city or its reputation. I've always had a soft spot for Bradford and I think, deep down, Dhand has as well. But I think I have to be honest, if some of the most compelling scenes didn't take place five miles from my house I probably wouldn't have been as into this book.
It's incredibly violent but the plot moves well. It's easy to read and pacy and there are more than enough twists and turns, and the writing isn't so horrendous it physically makes me wince, and it doesn't rely on lazy stereotypes. That's all I really want from detective novels.
Dhand's complex relationship with his home town is captured brilliantly on the page. He doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of the forgotten city or its reputation. I've always had a soft spot for Bradford and I think, deep down, Dhand has as well. But I think I have to be honest, if some of the most compelling scenes didn't take place five miles from my house I probably wouldn't have been as into this book.
It's incredibly violent but the plot moves well. It's easy to read and pacy and there are more than enough twists and turns, and the writing isn't so horrendous it physically makes me wince, and it doesn't rely on lazy stereotypes. That's all I really want from detective novels.