February's Son

February 1, 2019
Glasgow, 1973: As the city's gangs inch toward war, detective Harry McCoy (introduced in Bloody January, 2018) hunts an unhinged gangland enforcer who is strewing Glasgow with mutilated bodies. The first victim was soon to have become the son-in-law of Jake Scobie, the city's reigning crime boss. Scobie grudgingly admits that his right-hand man, Connolly, has gone a bit off the rails and has been stalking Connolly's daughter, Elaine. Determined to get to Elaine, Connolly targets Scobie while McCoy races to find him and prevent war over Scobie's underworld throne. It's not all professional for McCoy, though: his best friend from childhood, ambitious street boss Stevie Cooper, is beefing up his troops for a move up the ladder. Further complicating things, a moment of uncontrolled rage threatens McCoy's future after he recognizes, among Glasgow PD's top brass, a sadistic abuser whom McCoy knew from his days in a group home. Imbued with all the grit, blood, and pervasive damp of the best Celtic crime, this series is destined to become a favorite among Adrian McKinty's and Denise Mina's followers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)