London Large Crime Thriller Series featuring Inspector Harry Hawkins #1-3 by Roy Robson

London Large Crime Thriller Series featuring Inspector Harry Hawkins #1-3 Reviews

• 
  Bob Hurley

  Great thriller writing, the story of DI Harry Hawkins and then his continuing story having been “sacked/retired” from the Met is first class. I really enjoyed these three books, great as standalone but enjoyed even more as sequels. Harry Hawkins is an “Old School” copper that knows a “wrong un “ but happy to work with old school lags to win the battles with real hard men invading the UK from Eastern Europe, Middle East etc. Very well written and very enjoyable
• 
  Texas

  London Large, Blood on the Streets #1 - A well written, action filled, suspense novel set in present day London. The multiple battles of old school vs. new police, Russian and Albanian mafias, and the elites of government. The pace is fast and the reader is intrigued by what is on the pages. I couldn't put the book down. I contacted the authors to review their books after reading Tipping Point, the intro of the old school raising of several of the major characters. Tipping Point should be read first, if possible. 5*
  
  London Large, Bound by Blood #2 - A well written, action filled, suspense novel set, in present day London, that picks up from Blood on the Streets a few months later with the same characters plus. The prime focus is still the continuing battle against the Albanian mafia. I couldn't put this book down any more than I did the first book. I contacted the authors to review their books after reading Tipping Point, the intro the old school raising of several of the major characters. Tipping Point should be read first, if possible. 5*
  
  London Large, Bloody Liberties #3- Blood and thunder, to borrow a British phrase. A well written, action packed, suspense filled novel that grabs the reader by the throat and doesn't let go until the end. Then you think about what you've read. I couldn't put the book down; I was immersed in the horror that is so possible today. Good old fashion soldiering, new technology and human perseverance; the combination making a great read. The twisting plot was well thought out and believable; the dialog realistic; and the technology spot on. If you haven't read the prequel and the first two books, you need to do so. Liberties can be read without them, but they enhance the story and you understand the viewpoints of the characters better. 5*
  
  London Large, American Lockdown #4 - Absolutely the best of this good series. Fast paced; action packed; suspense filled; evil and deadly. It's even harder to put this book down, the others were difficult to stop reading, but this one makes the others look like child's play. Every character is well developed and we have the gang from previous books. The plot is a roller coaster ride of horror, hate, revenge, anger and love. Full of emotions: simmering to full blown; you name it, it's covered. How much can H take? I wonder what the next book will be since it will be difficult to top this one, but I'm sure the Robson Brothers can handle it. This is a 10 star book! 5*
  
  London Large, Tipping Point, Prequel- Must read Tipping Point first before LL Blood on the Streets. The introduction of the old school raising of several of the major characters of the London Large series. This intro clarify any confusion the reader may experience in LL, Blood on the Streets. 5*
  
  Sharp and Short: A collection of shorts about Harry 'H' Hawkins, which should be read, in the sequential order of time, before and during the London Large series, especially Tipping Point. Tipping Point will explain a lot about the type of man he is and how he became Harry of the London Large series. Also, there's some information in this book that is mentioned in the first book and causes confusion for the reader that hadn't read TP. The other books have background about how H develops his feelings, good and bad, of the people, good and bad, in his life and work. Also, his mates are featured. Good background stories. 5*
  Home Front - November, 2003. Age 45. Harry's reaction to a string of violated, murdered young girls and health scare and his marriage.
  Counter Punch - October, 1984; February, 1985. While still in the army, H handles an extended family problem against a crime lord, with an American GI by H's side.
  On Tour - 1978. Nineteen year-old H, Shy Nervous John and Ronnie as part of the Anglers Athletic under-21s on tour in Amsterdam and Hamburg. Their first time out of England.
  That's Life - November, 1995. Little Ronnie is born and H lives his code about his friends, his "own".
  Unsafe Space - November 2017. As a private investigator, a case leads him to a university where the students are brainwashed by their professor into destruction and hatred.
  Tipping Point - January, 1974. Prequel - Must read Tipping Point first before LL Blood on the Streets. The introduction of the old school raising of several of the major characters of the London Large series. This intro clarify any confusion the reader may experience in LL, Blood on the Streets.
  Sharp and Short: End
• 
  Julian White

  An interesting collection - three novels and some shorts - featuring D I Harry Hawkins (H) of New Scotland Yard, an old-fashioned cop, Falklands veteran (2 Para) dubbed London's Top Copper for his record of solving crime. The three novels are linked by theme - corruption and subversion in high places and the influx of Albanian and Russian villains. The first two are largely contemporary but the third is set slightly in the future (I judge, by the martial law declaration). H doesn't entirely follow the rule book, and ends the first two books badly injured; he is encouraged to take retirement and in the third book he is a PI. The shorts span his career from the end of his schooldays up to 2017 and serve to fill out what might otherwise be a potentially two-dimensional character.
  
  The writing quickly moves the plot along - short chapters building to four sections in each novel. There are one or two stylistic quirks (computers are never just turned on - they are 'sparked up' - and H surges, barges and barrels his way around, rarely just walking - which underlines his force of nature personality.
  
  I can see why some readers don't take to the books but I enjoyed the experience tremendously - and I'll be looking out the next in the series (which I see I've already bought).
• 
  Mystee Pulcine

  Really great crime dramas. The characters are believable and deep. They are far from perfect, and that's what makes it interesting. Especially if you read this whole collection, you will get background on why they are the way they are. The villans may be a touch flat in comparison, but the point of the stories is the choices of the "good guys". The constant battle between emotions, the letter of the law, and the heart of the law is palpable. Personally, I really liked the shorts even more than the three full-length novels, but it is all worth reading.
  
  Do note that these books are VERY British. Locations and jargon abound with very little explanation. I assume this is all very thrilling for a Londoner, but to someone who has been to Europe only on layovers, I found some parts a bit hard to follow. The kindle dictionary and wiki were sometimes helpful, but often I was left guessing and searching for context clues. It didn't really detract from the book, and not including those phrases and locations would remove some of the authenticity, so I would not recommend a change, but non-British readers should prepare for a bit of a tough read.
  
  Authors, we need a background short story on Amisha.
• 
  gillian

  Just finished the three books, I have not read the short stories yet as I am not a fan of prequels, however will probably read them eventually. But the three novels were fantastic, thoroughly enjoyed them. Wonderful character's that you can relate to, excellent story that kept me hooked from the first page until the last. The authors pull you in from the start. As a front line worker for the NHS this was just the ticket to allow me to get lost between shifts. They are certainly not standalone books so read them in order.
• 
  David

  Couldn’t stand the writing! Got about 40 pages in and quit.
• 
  Dav Hair

  FUN!
• 
  WT Bart

  Julian White wrote a far better review than I could.