Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Panic Button ups the heat
PANIC BUTTON by CHARLIE GALLAGHER Joffe Books Mystery & Thrillers Pub Date 08 Feb 2017
Review
Out of the frying pan and into the fire. George Elms’s life has been a mess since the accidental shooting of his partner at the end of Bodily Harm. Plagued by tinnitus from an explosion, he’s begun drinking heavily and is currently separated from his wife and child. With his career in tatters, it doesn't look like it can get worse, until he is blamed for the brutal murder of four police officers. He is being framed, but he has few friends he can turn to. The Langthorne officials want the case closed, as do Elms’s enemies - preferably with Elms DOA.
Panic Button is a direct follow up to Bodily Harm. Neither are your standard British police procedural. There are a lot of bodies, and far more violence than I’m used to - and I read a ton of British police fiction. The police are easily manipulated. It’s easy to feel for George Elms, but readers like a little hope, and at the end all you can say is that he's still alive. If you are looking for a standard British police procedural, I wouldn't recommend Panic Button, but if you are looking for a unique police thriller, I would definitely recommend it. The novels have to be read in order.
4 / 5
I received a copy of Panic Button from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Description
“A man is stood in front of me with a gun. He has a message for me and for us all. He says that he will come for us. He will come for all of us one by one. Until it is finished.” A police officer is called to an emergency on a blazing hot day in Langthorne. He is forced to read out these words live on police radio. Then he is shot dead. One of the tensest, most authentic police thrillers you will read this year. Full of twists and turns, you won’t want to put this down until the shocking conclusion. Someone is killing the officers of the Langthorne Police one by one. And in a sadistic twist he makes each victim push their radio panic button before they die, thus broadcasting their last moments to the entire force. And as the police face this ruthless adversary, Detective George Elms is in no fit state to help. What is the connection between ruthless former officer Ed Kavski and the wave of killings? And can their boss Helen Webb do anything to stop the carnage? Authentic, fast-paced, and with a touch of black humour, PANIC BUTTON will have you gripped from start to finish. PANIC BUTTON is the stunning sequel to the best-selling BODILY HARM. DS George Elms has lost almost everything. Now they will try to take away the little he has left.
