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eleellis's review against another edition
4.0
Bobby March Will Live Forever by Alan Parks is the third installment involving Glasgow detective Harry McCoy.
The novel takes place in 1973 and Parks continues the gritty consistency of his previous novels with Bobby March.
Earlier introduced characters are included in this story, including McCoy's long time gangster-childhood friend Stevie Cooper.
A thirteen-year-old girl has gone missing, though, for reasons not of his own, McCoy is not part of that investigation and is instead tasked with other investigations, including the heroin overdose of premier, rock guitarist Bobby March, a string of violent robberies and the location of a local politicians' fifteen-year-old rebellious daughter.
Bobby March is a gritty, urban police procedural with different plot lines, with interesting villains and compelling writing.
Highly recommended and also recommended to readers that enjoy Adrian McKinty, Joseph Knox, and Stuart Neville.
The novel takes place in 1973 and Parks continues the gritty consistency of his previous novels with Bobby March.
Earlier introduced characters are included in this story, including McCoy's long time gangster-childhood friend Stevie Cooper.
A thirteen-year-old girl has gone missing, though, for reasons not of his own, McCoy is not part of that investigation and is instead tasked with other investigations, including the heroin overdose of premier, rock guitarist Bobby March, a string of violent robberies and the location of a local politicians' fifteen-year-old rebellious daughter.
Bobby March is a gritty, urban police procedural with different plot lines, with interesting villains and compelling writing.
Highly recommended and also recommended to readers that enjoy Adrian McKinty, Joseph Knox, and Stuart Neville.
laurahastoomanywips's review against another edition
5.0
Was recommended to read this author and got this book as it was on offer at the time.
Even though it was the third in the series it did not spoil my enjoyment or cause confusion.
Loved it, lots of action, fast paced, great (dark) humour, that Scotland is well known for. The characters were well done and vivid. The music references added to the story. Will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
Even though it was the third in the series it did not spoil my enjoyment or cause confusion.
Loved it, lots of action, fast paced, great (dark) humour, that Scotland is well known for. The characters were well done and vivid. The music references added to the story. Will definitely be reading the rest of the series.
sarah_faichney's review against another edition
4.0
Ah, the good old days when the polis could beat a confession oot ye and naebody cared. Alan Parks perfectly captures the mood of the era in "Bobby March Will Live Forever". The book is the third in the DI Harry McCoy series of gritty, Glaswegian '70s crime fiction but also works well as a standalone. Parks has superior powers of observation, breathing new life into the mundane. A brief exchange between McCoy and a taxi driver elicited an amused bark of recognition from this reader. I loved seeing Glasgow through the eyes of Parks' characters - the Barras, Govan's infamous Wine Alley and our dear departed Paddy's Market. I enjoyed the cultural references - Tufty Club, anyone? The plot also touches on the Troubles in Northern Ireland via a trip to Belfast. My favourite character was Iris, who has bigger balls than all of the men put together. A real nostalgia trip but I refuse to call it historical crime fiction because that makes me feel ancient! I would like to read the series from the beginning.
justineharvey's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
An excellent noir, bleak and gripping.
The plot is full of twists and turns, the cast of characters is well thought, and the mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
The plot is full of twists and turns, the cast of characters is well thought, and the mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
missmesmerized's review against another edition
5.0
A heat wave is rolling over Glasgow in July 1973 and just so is the drug business booming. One of the victims is Bobby March, the city’s greatest rock star, found dead in a hotel. Yet, this goes more or less unnoticed since the town is holding its breath with looking for young Alice Kelly who has disappeared into thin air. Her parents are neither rich nor famous, no ransom has been demanded, so everybody fears she might have been killed by some random perpetrator. With his boss Murray away and Raeburn in charge, life at Glasgow police becomes unbearable for Detective Harry McCoy who is ordered to the most loathing jobs. With the heat not going to cool down, the atmosphere is getting more and more tense and it is just a question of time until the necessary explosion comes.
The third instalment of Alan Parks’s series set in the 1970s Glasgow is by far the best. In the first, “Bloody January”, we get an idea of the city slowly declining, in “February’s son”, we learn about the underworld and their connection with McCoy. Now, the focus is set on the police who have the hardest job imaginable to do. Apart from the very personal aspects in this novel, again Alan Parks managed to create a brilliant atmosphere which gives you a feeling of the city and the constraints the inhabitants have to live in.
The plot combines several lines all equally thrilling and suspenseful. Apart from the kidnapping story – which will have much wider repercussions than apparent at the beginning – and McCoy’s personal war with Raeburn, there is also the ominous death of rock star Bobby March which gets unexpectedly personal for McCoy, too (and serves to continue the witty naming of the series). Added to this, Harry is asked by his boss to secretly look for his niece, 15-year-old Laura has been in trouble for quite some time, but now her disappearance seems to be more serious. All this is poured over McCoy and leads to a fast-paced story which you have to follow carefully in order not to get lost. Yet, the skilful and clever detective can connect the dots and bring all cases to an end.
The character of Harry McCoy is a fantastic protagonist. On the one hand, he is totally down to earth and knows how to talk to people no matter their background. He is an excellent policeman yet blends in easily with the underworld and its shady figures. On the other hand, he is totally loyal to his colleagues and has very high standards when it comes to police work and law and order. He knows where not to look too closely, but he is also determined when it comes to crossing a red line. Thus, his pragmatic but straightforward approach to his work makes him a sympathetic and authentic character.
A superb read which combines a great protagonist with a complex plot and lives from the stunning atmosphere the author creates.
The third instalment of Alan Parks’s series set in the 1970s Glasgow is by far the best. In the first, “Bloody January”, we get an idea of the city slowly declining, in “February’s son”, we learn about the underworld and their connection with McCoy. Now, the focus is set on the police who have the hardest job imaginable to do. Apart from the very personal aspects in this novel, again Alan Parks managed to create a brilliant atmosphere which gives you a feeling of the city and the constraints the inhabitants have to live in.
The plot combines several lines all equally thrilling and suspenseful. Apart from the kidnapping story – which will have much wider repercussions than apparent at the beginning – and McCoy’s personal war with Raeburn, there is also the ominous death of rock star Bobby March which gets unexpectedly personal for McCoy, too (and serves to continue the witty naming of the series). Added to this, Harry is asked by his boss to secretly look for his niece, 15-year-old Laura has been in trouble for quite some time, but now her disappearance seems to be more serious. All this is poured over McCoy and leads to a fast-paced story which you have to follow carefully in order not to get lost. Yet, the skilful and clever detective can connect the dots and bring all cases to an end.
The character of Harry McCoy is a fantastic protagonist. On the one hand, he is totally down to earth and knows how to talk to people no matter their background. He is an excellent policeman yet blends in easily with the underworld and its shady figures. On the other hand, he is totally loyal to his colleagues and has very high standards when it comes to police work and law and order. He knows where not to look too closely, but he is also determined when it comes to crossing a red line. Thus, his pragmatic but straightforward approach to his work makes him a sympathetic and authentic character.
A superb read which combines a great protagonist with a complex plot and lives from the stunning atmosphere the author creates.
ashleighheartsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
13 year old Alice Kelly has gone missing and the whole force is searching for her, apart from Harry McCoy who has been assigned to the death of rockstar, Bobby March.
Whilst reading this book, I went through stages of liking and hating Harry, I think of him a little bit of a dirty cop but i think his intentions are good.
The two storyline of missing girl Alice and Bobby March's death are investigated in this book and it comes with its twist and turns.
Being from Scotland, I loved the fact this book is based on Glasgow and reading Scottish lingo in this book but I'd loved more of it.
I love the theme of the series, how each book has a month in the title, I haven't read the other books in this series and this can be read as a standalone but I will look into the other books now and read them
Whilst reading this book, I went through stages of liking and hating Harry, I think of him a little bit of a dirty cop but i think his intentions are good.
The two storyline of missing girl Alice and Bobby March's death are investigated in this book and it comes with its twist and turns.
Being from Scotland, I loved the fact this book is based on Glasgow and reading Scottish lingo in this book but I'd loved more of it.
I love the theme of the series, how each book has a month in the title, I haven't read the other books in this series and this can be read as a standalone but I will look into the other books now and read them
lunacarmona's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25