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This is 1980s and the all-too-common British backdrop of the time was: social tension, institutionalised racism in the police force, the newspaper industry beginning to realise that technology was catching up with it and Thatcher was eroding the unions, and on ''the estates'' a full scale riot was only an excuse away. Meanwhile, not too far away were people making really serious money. Millionaire was a description beginning to lose its kudos.
Gemmell captures all of this perfectly. He tells a crime tale routed in social commentary. He captures believable characters. Billing it as a ''thriller'' doesn't work for me. [[:Category:Conn Iggulden|Conn Iggulden]] makes some serious comparisons in his introduction to the advance reading copy. I'm afraid I don't agree. It doesn't have the tension of a [[:Category:Lee Child|Lee Child]], or the humour or consistency of voice of a [[:Category:Raymond chandler|Chandler]]. I can see why Gemmell didn't publish it once he was influential enough to have done so. It's a journeyman piece.
Handed this from an unknown, I would be saying that they are one to watch. It is cleverly crafted. As a straight crime novel, it works. Clues and red herrings and I was very late ''getting'' the culprit. Characters that are believable and make you root for them. There's even some grand philosophy thrown in there too. All of which brings me back to the notion that Gemmell might have gone down the 'thriller' route…I don't think so.
For where it was all heading we can recommend [[Legend by David Gemmell|Legend]].
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