It’s been three weeks since the events of that bloody January. Harry McCoy is about to return to work with the Glasgow police hoping for some more quiet times. But when Murray calls him in early, he knows that it must be serious: a young football stars has been found, not just killed but also mutilated. It is obvious quickly that his fame as sports stars wasn’t the reason for his killing, it is much more his engagement with the daughter one of Glasgow’s underworld bosses. And then it all gets very personal: Harry’s past is going to catch up with him and the eager policeman loses control.

I already really liked the first instalment of the Harry McCoy series, but the second was actually even better. This is especially due to the fact that the protagonist gets more contours, becomes more human and thus his character and decision making becomes understandable. The development and insight in this character was for me the strongest and most interesting in reading “February’s Son”.

Again the murder case is quite complex and all but foreseeable. Different cases are actually linked and it takes some time until you understand their connection and their particular relevance for McCoy. The whole series is set in 1973 which means there is a fairly different atmosphere in comparison to many novels set today. Glasgow is an all but friendly town constantly at war, the police’s job is to prevent the worst, not to take care of minor misdoings and therefore, they sometimes need to find less legal ways to keep the upper hand. The tone is harsh at times, certainly nothing for the highly sensitive. Fights are part of everyday life and a bleeding nose is nothing to worry too much about. Yet, this all fits perfectly and creates an authentic atmosphere of a time long gone. It will not be easy to outstrip this novel with a third.

This story starts with a nicely nasty prologue and then Harry McCoy is back. There is an unpleasant murder scene of someone who may be well known. Assorted bodies are involved in this dark police story from 1970s Glasgow.
The book essentially carries on from the author's earlier book Bloody January. The characters are allowed to develop further in this book and McCoy seems little changed from the last book. However it does seem possible that his past may come back to haunt him again and to challenge his views on law and order. These are a little shaky at the best of times! While this book could be read as a standalone story I would recommend anyone who hasn't read the first book to do so first. It's a good read and provides useful background to some of the key characters.
It is worth mentioning that this book is fairly violent and does use quite a bit of bad language. That said I'm imagine that is perfectly appropriate for the 1970s crime scene in Glasgow. It's a tense and well paced read. Some of the main characters have developed nicely over the two books as far as I am concerned. I find McCoy - another troubled detective - a very good character.
My only real reservation about this book is that, if I'm honest, I found one of the story lines rather far fetched. That said I enjoyed reading this dark and at times powerful tale. I certainly intend to read the next one.

Loved loved loved this book cannot recommend it highly enough one to read in one sitting throughly enjoyed the twists and turns

Noirest of noir set in 1970s Glasgow: brutal and violent throughout though not without dark humour at times. The plot is weird and perhaps goes too far on the bonkers side... but the portrayal of gangland politics and the complicity of the police evens out the strange stuff. What makes this so compelling are the characters: McCoy caught between his troubled past and his police present, Connor and Murray as his good and bad 'angels'. The writing is taut and atmospheric - yes, I'm in for more of this series!

I haven't read the first book,and this proved to be a problem for me.
I didn't know who was who or what was going on.
Because of this,I found the first part of the book confusing.
Once I got into the swing of things,it was fast paced and in times brutal.
There was always something happening.
Our main character is not pleasant,but you can't help but feel sympathy for him with his history.
I think if I read the next one I would get a much more favourable opinion.

A second super atmospheric dark tale of 70's gangster life in Glasgow with our police hero walking a very tight line. Violence and dark humour abound as murder follows murder, child abuse rears its ugly head in the history of our hero and his gangster friend. It all builds to a shattering conclusion where the perpetrators get their just deserts in a unusual fashion and the tale is thankfully left open for another episode in this must read series!

This the second book in this series. And again the author has written a very gritty crime novel . Some of the scenes might be a bit grafic for some people, but i feel this only enhances the feel of the period tht the author is trying to portray.

All in all another excellent novel by the author, looking forward to the next one.

Would highly recommend this book 5 stars

I would like to thank Netgalley Netgalley and Cannongate Books for an advance copy of February’s Son, the second novel to feature detective Harry McCoy of the Glasgow Police.

When rising football star, Charlie Jackson is found mutilated and dead, alarm bells ring all over “the shop” as he was engaged to the daughter of ganglord, Jake Scobie. McCoy is called in early from leave to work the case but with his past coming back to haunt him and his criminal friend, Stevie Cooper, getting entangled in the investigation the hunt for a psychopathic killer on a mission is not always his top priority.

I thoroughly enjoyed February’s Son which is an interesting procedural (ok, it’s set in 1973 when procedure was a suggestion rather than a rule book) with some very good, clever twists that I never saw coming. The novel is told mostly from McCoy’s point of view with some brief chapters in italics from the killer. I like the fact that the author keeps his main narrative focussed on the one character as it gives the reader continuity and someone to identify with. It also allows the reader to speculate on events as they know nothing more or less than McCoy. I also like the killer’s chapters which are brief enough not to overly intrude on the main story but paint a picture of a very disturbed mind. There is none of the usual sob story back history (which I can’t stand as it is normally culled from the psychopath 101 textbook) instead it is a reflection of his current state of mind, making it fascinating I’d at times incomprehensible reading.

It should be noted that this is a violent novel with frequent use of bad language. It will not suit every reader but I found it consistent with the era and setting. I like a novel set in my old home town of Glasgow, finding an easy familiarity in the locations and vernacular and this suits well. What I wasn’t expecting was the sense of nostalgia at the mentions of long defunct establishments. I was 10 in 1973 so I don’t quite remember the actual shops and restaurants but the names certainly took me back. Mr Parks has obviously done his research. I also loved the patter in the book. I don’t think it is too Glaswegian that readers from other regions won’t understand it but it nails the black, deprecating humour I grew up with.

I was a wee bit disappointed in the evolution of Harry McCoy (hence 4 rather than 5 stars). He is obviously a man in crisis and running off the rails faster than he can think, drink, drugs and violence are becoming the norm for him. It’s not pretty reading and it sickened me slightly but, on the other hand, I can admire it as a good piece of writing to evoke these sentiments. The best character is Chief Inspector Murray, McCoy’s boss who is tough as old boots and liable to lose his temper at any minute but with a well concealed soft centre.

February’s Son is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.