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

Product Information

An investigation into one of London’s tit-for-tat killings can’t be allowed to derail Perseus and let the master criminals go free. The new novel from former Met detective turned author Kate London, one of the rising stars of crime fiction. To begin, a disclaimer that I didn't realise this was part of a series before I started reading it, so I was slightly thrown off by some of the backstory that didn't make sense, but ultimately it can really be read as a stand-alone story. As Sarah’s investigation threatens to jeopardise Operation Perseus and alert Shakiel Oliver to the interests of the undercover police, tensions between departments and distinct investigations threatens to muddy the waters as the competing egos of the detectives fight to prioritise their cases. Personally, I would have found a directory of the street slang used by some of the various gang members useful in navigating the darker depths of the drug culture described.

This was a good read especially on today’s time with knife crime and gang culture but I think because I hadn’t read the previous ones I struggled with the characters. The perspective of his best friend, Ryan, who is obviously deeply traumatised by seeing his friend stabbed but has to maintain his face, at only 15 years old, is heartbreaking. With wonderful characterisations, Kate London gives us an uncomfortable and harrowing glimpse into London gangs and the boys that get caught up in that world and a police force that has to deal with this. The trail leads to a gang leader who is the subject of a major organized crime investigation led by Detective Inspector Kieran Shaw. Here London’s experience working with the Metropolitan Police really shines as she effectively captures the politics and the pressures around both operations which, despite everyone’s best efforts, still manage to collide.

This death casts a shadow over the story to follow which starts a month before on Gallowstree Lane, a known strip for prostitution and drug deals.

The two investigations overlap with conflicting interests and needs, which presents a genuine and well-delineated problem for the protagonists. He is on the verge of a major coup and has no intention of letting the stabbing of a juvenile become the obstacle that will collapse his case. He is surrounded by adults who are all claiming to know what’s best for him, what is the right thing to do. It kept me hooked until the final pages and I’m only sorry it’s taken me so long to get around to reading it.

Gallowstree Lane" is the third in the Collins and Griffiths series written by Kate London and although I haven't read any in the series before, I feel this could still work as a standalone if wished. I admired her tenacity and determination to put everything on the line to prove a point, that she could do it all no matter what.