Collins and Griffiths: Gritty female detectives in London by London

Kate London is a graduate of Cambridge University, interestingly working in theatre before joining the London Metropolitan Police Service. Before taking up writing. Kate was part of the Major Investigation Team on the Met's Homicide Command. She certainly has the background to write an authentic police series so I was intrigued to read her books. Also, gritty female detectives are totally my jam.

The Collins and Griffiths books form the Tower series, four novels published in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023. Each book is connected and follows the story through, so I recommend reading them in order. I've read books 2 and 3, but have watched the television version of books 1-3. The television show stays pretty faithful to the books and the actors who play Sarah and Lizzie are how I expected them to be.

I love the television and book version of DI Sarah Collins as she's clever and committed and a total bad ass, yet she's also portrayed as genuine and empathetic. I'm less of a PC Lizzie Griffiths fan, and her personal life takes up a lot of the books. That said, Kate London nicely explores the challenges of women who juggle single parenthood with a demanding job.

Here's my review of books 2 and 3. I will update this post once I've had the chance to read books 1 and 4.

Death message | Book 2 | Published April 2017 | Read October 2024

First off, Kate London's experience as a homicide detective is apparent in Death message. The book feels authentic and a terrific example of British crime writing. The pacing, suspense, and plotting fit with the genre and theme of the book. Her characterisations of all the players is detailed, sensitive and genuine, taking the book to another level in a crowded police procedural genre.

DS Sarah Collins is investigating a cold case from 1987, when 15-year-old Tania Mills disappeared after The Great Storm. Sarah is also pulled into a contemporary case involving domestic violence. This case didn't need solving so much as bringing the perpetrator to justice. PC Lizzie Griffith is drawn into the case, too, as she tries to help a young woman and her daughter in an increasingly volatile situation.

Death message is book 2 in a series of four. I understand from watching the television series that there is a difficult history between Sarah and Lizzie that is explored in Book 1. It probably would have been better to have read book 1 first, but I still managed to connect to the two main characters. I didn't have much time for Lizzie, who seems immature and tended to make questionable decisions, but I couldn't fault her concern for the young woman at the heart of the contemporary case.

I loved Sarah! I assume she is the literary version of the author. Sarah is a compelling character, confident and determined to find the truth in the face of opposition from male colleagues. I love the way she takes an intelligent approach to investigating the cold case. I was impressed with the sensitive way Kate London explored Sarah's investigative techniques, allowing the case to be solved by removing prejudice and asking the right people the right questions. As a side note, it is great to see authentic lesbian representation, where Sarah's sexuality is not the most interesting thing about her, just a part of who she is.

Also, thumbs up to Elaine, Sarah's snarky colleague, juggling family and a career, and coming up with the goods. Kate London gets my vote for advancing the sisterhood, that's for sure! All of her characters are convincing, and that takes some skill, especially for the minor players who only contribute a small amount to the story.

Death message has been written with the voice of experience and with integrity. It's gritty and grim, but well constructed and compelling. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Gallowstreet Lane | Published February 2019 | Read December 2024

In book 2, Death message, Sarah Collins and Lizzie Griffiths clash as the former is investigating a cold case and juggling that investigation with a current case involving PC Lizzie Griffiths. In book 3, Gallowstreet Lane, the two cross paths again, but this time their respective cases overlap. DI Collins is investigating the stabbing of a teenage boy on Gallowstreet Lane. Lizzie finds herself assigned to an undercover operation that DI Kieran Shaw has been overseeing for two years. He's been painstakingly building evidence against a highly organised crime network, the Eardsley Bluds. It looks like this gang may have been involved in the stabbing that DI Collins is investigating. Operation Perseus is closing in on the gang as they have an officer undercover, so the stabbing of the teenage boy, a low-level gang member, threatens to derail the operation. There's a witness to the murder, Ryan Kennedy, another teenage member of the gang and the murdered boy's close friend. The story explores clashing priorities and colliding loyalties as Sarah continues her dogged quest to bring the killer of the stabbing victim to justice.

Gallowstreet Lane is gritty, harrowing and realistic. Kate London is uncompromising in her exploration of gang warfare, life on London estates where communities with little money and social status fight for survival, and the realities of modern policing. Again, her experience as a Met detective shines through. The book does a good job of highlighting the impact of drugs, prostitution, and violence on multiple characters.

Unlike Death message though, book 3 did not grab me as much, I think because the futility of gang reprisals isn't really my thing. I admired London for her authentic portrayal of contemporary issues, but I found the strong focus on gang culture and its associated vernacular a bit laborious. I'm still keen to read the other two books in the series, I just don't think Gallowstreet Lane is my cup of tea, despite enjoying being back with DI Collins.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐