Didn’t enjoy the first two books of this series so I have decided to give the third a miss as expect I won’t enjoy that either. Not for me.

Set in the 70s this is apparently the third in a series about the main character. It’s good. And it’s tough reading. And it’s completely addictive. I’m off to buy the first 2 now.
4/5

Set in the 1970s Glasgow which is very dark and violent. consisting of crime bosses, rival gangs, drugs and prostitution and murder. It was a bit too depressing for me.

A boiling hot Glasgow during the 1973 fair week, the city is empty, but crime never sleeps. Harry McCoy is a hard bitten, cynical police inspector, more in the mould of a Philip Marlow than a Sergeant Dixon. His moral compass more aligned to those of Prince Andrew and Boris Johnson than of Theresa May. Seventies Glasgow is vibrantly recreated and period behaviour jumps from every page. The contrast with today's overly moral behaviour makes one wince, laugh and cry in equal measures. Harry sees the good in the criminal classes and the self righteous, criminality of the ruling classes. He's surviving from one day to the next.
Sharp Glasgow wit and dialogue, fast paced action and story line, written in a sharp style commensurate with the period and location. Brilliant. Bring Harry back soon, there is so much more of the dark side of Glasgow's recent past to be raked through.

I’m not sure about living forever, but I quickly found myself uninterested in anything Bobby March did, alive or dead. Sadly, I found the story dragging along, with seemingly little purpose at times, and for me it was a real struggle to keep going.

I’m sure many people will rave over the book and it will have rave reviews, but unfortunately mine is not one of them,

From a genre point of view, this is a police procedural. However, in this case it’s the Glasgow Polis, essentially just one Polis, Harry McCoy, in 1973, so proper procedure is basically absent. We first meet our hero in Napiershall Street where he is being excluded from a major missing child investigation because his new boss hates him. As it happens, I actually lived in Napiershall Street in 1973 so I can attest to the accuracy of the geography, and the dialogue, and the general ambience of the city. Not being connected with the police or the criminal fraternity I can’t speak for the rest. There are several plot lines connected to different crimes which appear unrelated, but which gradually knit together, helped by a number of coincidences; perhaps too many The eponymous Bobby March, a fading pop star, appears to be unconnected to any of Harry’s investigations but ultimately we see the reason for the title. It may just have been the nostalgia effect, but I enjoyed this book a lot.

When a 13-year-old girl disappears from an estate on her way to buy icecream all of Glasgow wants to know what the police are doing about it. However, for Harry McCoy, he is not on the case, his nemesis Raeburn is leading it. McCoy is asked to look into the death of faded local rock star Bobby March but that just seems to be an accidental overdose and his boss' 15-year-old niece is relatively easy to find. However, all is not as it seems in the 1973 world of Glasgow crime as drugs are now the new way of making money whereas old-school armed robbery is more specialised.
This is a terrific read. Parks manages to hit the time and place aspect so perfectly, the sectarian issues in Glasgow, the split between the haves and the have nots, the sexism and the fantastic characters are coupled with a series of clever little subplots to combine to make a thoroughly enjoyable police procedural. I've read all of Parks' books and this is another triumph

Retro 1970's tartan noir. Hard drinking men in a tough and violent Glasgow. Scottish cop Harry McCoy searches for a missing teenage girl. Although the third in this series, this brilliant edgy page-turner can be read as a standalone.

Well, here is a book to gladden the heart in uncertain times, continuing on from the brilliant Bloody January, and February’s Son, both of which reached my top 10 reads of 2018 and 2019 respectively. Harry McCoy is back and with some style it has to be said. There is always a slight sense of trepidation as one book develops into a series as we start to form a connection with, and an affection for the central character. I also appreciate that this tension must be a hundredfold on the author themselves, but I’ll tell you something for nothing, I think this is possibly the strongest out of the trilogy to date. Yes. I should coco. Obviously, Parks has hit on the winning formula of writing an instantly recognisable police procedural set in 1970’s Glasgow, but it’s what the author layers into his books that make them all the more sharp and compelling…

Harry McCoy embodies all that we love in our detectives being both flawed but also a man who works by his own code that does imbue in him a real integrity and honesty. Yes, he’s a wee bit damaged emotionally, but for the most part overcomes this, and goes about his business both on and off the books with a steely focus and determination. Adhering to his own moral code naturally leads him into conflict with some of his colleagues, but it is gratifying to see that his immediate superior does know what a rough, and useful, diamond he has in Harry. Equally, McCoy’s long term friendship with one of the criminal kingpins of Glasgow Stevie Cooper, allows the stories to take an additional frisson, and it was good to see that due to one strange turn of events, Cooper is suddenly placed in a submissive position for part of the book as he succumbs to a particular weakness of the flesh.

As usual, Parks’ characterisation is a tour de force from those that work alongside McCoy, in particular his on-off partner the delightful Wattie and McCoy’s nemesis, Detective Raeburn, and on the other side of tracks Cooper’s band of merry and not-so-merry associates. I particularly like the world weary and sharp-tongued brothel madam Iris, and the truly annoying and potty-mouthed local reporter Mary. The book is also interspersed with the stream of consciousness of the eponymous Bobby March, a musician of some talent on a downward spiral of drug addiction and self destruction, that is both bleak but also profoundly touching. Parks’ characters are unerringly vividly drawn with a nervy energy, and no matter how small or large a part they play in the overall plot, each contributes a pertinent and necessary contribution, putting a real flesh on the bones as the story progresses.

Obviously, being set in the 1970’s and in a rough and ready Glasgow, the book rejects all of the politically correct nonsense which we are so hyper aware of now, and that is a real tonic. In a nod to the more sensitive reader, Parks balances his depiction of the more sexist treatment of women, with characters such as the previously mentioned Iris and Mary, who are often far more intimidating than the male protagonists. The police are less hands off and more fists out in some cases, but context is everything, and fits perfectly with the zeitgeist of the era. Glasgow is depicted in all its grim glory, but Parks balances this beautifully with moments of pure affection for this city and its inhabitants, giving small chinks of light in its grey, downtrodden environs. I always notice this more in Scottish crime fiction, and it warms the cockles every time I encounter this acceptance and honesty about their chosen locations.

So, with no element of surprise whatsoever, you’ll probably have guessed that in Bobby March Will Live Forever, Parks has once again produced a total winner. With its grim, unflinching plot, punctuated by moments of humour, and the acceptance of both the good and the bad, both in his characters, the period, the cultural references and the location itself, I would totally and completely recommend this, and the entire series to you all. Gritty, witty and an absolute must read. Highly recommended.

Sex, drugs and rock and roll in 1970s Glasgow. This is a dark and gripping novel that kept my attention from start to finish. The characters are tough and uncompromising and I particularly liked the relationship between McCoy and Stevie Cooper.
I would thoroughly recommend this book and thank you Alan Parks, Canongate and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion.

I had never heard of this local, to me, author after reading this book which gave me a wonderful look back at a well remembered Glasgow, I will certainly lookout for more of his work.

My thanks to Canongate Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Bobby March Will Live Forever’ by Alan Parks in exchange for an honest review.

This is Book 3 in the Detective Harry McCoy series of gritty police procedurals set in Glasgow during the early 1970s. While I hadn’t read either of the earlier books in the series it wasn’t an issue as enough background was provided.

In July 1973 thirteen-year old Alice Kelly is missing and Acting DI Raeburn, who has an adversarial relationship with McCoy, is excluding him from the investigation. Instead, Harry has to do busy work including looking into a suspicious death. It turns out that Bobby March, Glasgow’s own rock star hero, has ODed in his hotel room. While March’s drug use was known, McCoy has a hunch there is more to this situation.

In addition, the niece of McCoy’s old boss, Chief Inspector Murray, has run away from home and he asks McCoy to find her - off the books.

Parks does a brilliant job of weaving together these three cases into his narrative with the occasional flashback to Bobby March’s early career when he was tipped for stardom. It makes for a complex plot but I never felt lost.

Being set in 1970s allows for old school style investigations, more in line with ‘Life On Mars’ than police procedurals set in today’s high tech world. It was dark, violent and uncompromising.

This proved a great read, highly engaging with a strong sense of its setting in both time and place. I hope to read the first two in the series in order to learn more of McCoy’s history with others and I will certainly look out for future novels in the series.

Tartan noir at its best.

Another cracking tale from Alan Parks featuring Detective Harry McCoy. I read the first in the series, Bloody January, via NetGalley and really liked it so jumped at the chance to read Bobby March Will Live Forever. However I hadn't read the second in the series, February's Son. That was soon remedied (local library had it in e-book format) and then I went straight on to read Bobby March. (February's Son is also an excellent read).

1970s Glasgow is still violent, dark and bloody. Crime bosses looking to expand, rival gangs doing what rival gangs do, drugs and prostitution are rife, murder seems to be a regular occurrence.

McCoy has a lot to contend with – a missing 12 year old; a local rock-star hero found dead in a city centre hotel. The press want blood; the police want a result – no matter what. But Raeburn is in charge and doesn't want McCoy's help, sends him away and McCoy ends up having to attend the rock star death.

On top of all that McCoy's has been asked to find his boss's niece, who had got mixed up with a bad crowd and then gone AWOL, but off the book and without arousing any suspicion.

If you've read the earlier books, you'll know McCoy has his demons and a number of issues. He's not a stranger to alcohol. He keeps in with Stevie Cooper, a violent gangster who he's known since he was a boy. I'm not sure how McCoy has survived all the 'doings' (beatings) he's had at the hands of various thugs. Trouble just seems to find him. He doesn't have to look far. But even with all his habits and faults I've actually come to like the character.

I feel as the series progresses we are seeing a slightly more mellow, more mature McCoy. He's even started to tolerate his sidekick Wattie. He's a hard character but perhaps there's a softer centre trying to get out.

The book is fine as a standalone although characters that have appeared in the other books give some continuity: McCoy's sidekick Wattie; Stevie Cooper; Bernie Raeburn; and of course the wonderful city of Glasgow itself. (I do like it when I am familiar with locations or at least know where they are).

There are several threads to the story and it kept me guessing as to whether they were connected.. When I started reading the first book in the series I wasn't sure if I was going to like it – it did seem very dark and violent, not my usual type of crime novel, but the books do capture the time and place really well and the writing is very good. It didnt take me long to become a fan.

I'm looking forward to the next one.

It’s 1973. It’s Glasgow. It’s very hot. Detective Harry McCoy is embroiled in three different cases: the abduction of a thirteen-year-old girl, Alice, his boss’s runaway teenage niece, and the death by overdose of rock star and local hero Bobby March in a hotel room. It’s a shame then, that he isn’t officially working on any of them. All while balancing his friendships with criminals and his feuds with colleagues.

The heat contributes to the claustrophobic buildup of fear and tension as the police fail to find Alice. As time goes on it looks increasingly likely that she is dead. McCoy has been marginalised from the main investigation, given an unpromising robbery case to work on, but he is convinced the team are going down the wrong track. He’s got his hands full, though, as the other cases he’s freelancing on both have a personal angle.

Bobby March Will Live Forever is just what I look for in a crime novel. A distinctive voice, morally ambiguous characters, a rich vein of dark humour, and a cleverly layered story. This is the third in the series but the first I’ve read and it didn’t matter. You can pick up on the dynamics, even if you don’t know the specifics.

It’s rich in the flavour of the city and the period, authentic, but not weighed down with self-conscious period detail. We’re seeing it through McCoy’s eyes, and to him it’s just life. The three stories are only tangentially connected, and they aren’t neatly tied together, but that’s okay, because that’s life too.
*
I received a copy of Bobby March Will Live Forever from the publisher via Netgalley.

Wow! Don't think I have ever read a book that runs full tilt on one storyline - a missing girl - whilst on the periphery we have a dead rock musician, the IRA, multiple bank robberies, a very bent copper with connections to the masons and a teenage girl running wild. Hold on tight as McCoy and Wattie attempt to steer the Polis in the right direction. Standby for that ending. Brilliant

This is the third book in the DI Harry McCoy series, although it can be read as a stand alone, which I did. It is set in a grim Glasgow in the 70’s with gangs, beatings, murders, drugs, prostitution, bank raids etc rife in the area. McCoy is an edgy, down to earth, good at heart polis, who finds himself in some scary situations, not least on a brief visit to the trouble torn city of Belfast.

In Glasgow, a 13 year old girl is missing (but the corrupt and newly promoted Acting Inspector Raeburn excludes McCoy from the case, as he wants all the glory of a fast resolution, at any cost). Elsewhere in the city, a local rock star hero, Bobby March is found dead from a massive drugs overdose in a hotel room, a spate of armed bank raids, drugs, gang murders are all on McCoy’s radar. Add to that, McCoy is asked by his boss, Murray, to quietly look for his niece, Laura who has run away from home. This may all sound a bit manic, but the author keeps all the strands interesting and they all knit together nicely, with an explosive finish.

Bobby March Will Live Forever is a great, fast paced read and I have no hesitation in recommending this book. I enjoyed it so much that I will be catching up on the first 2 books in this series, as I want to find out more about McCoy, why his nemesis Raeburn hates him so much, how McCoy is so close to gangland boss Stevie Cooper, past relationship etc, as well as looking forward to the next book in this series.

Set in July 1973, this is the third story in the series and follows on a few months after the end of books 1 and 2. And it's an excellent addition to the series! Harry is a detective in the Glasgow police force, quite an achievement for a boy who grew up in various children's homes and with foster parents until enrolling at age sixteen. Part of his survival is due to the protection from his continuing friendship with Stevie Cooper who ended on up on the other side of the law running prostitutes, dealing drugs and dishing out any amount of violence and threats necessary to survive. The story starts with Glasgow sweltering in a heat wave and lots has happened since February. Harry's boss Chief Inspector Murray has been seconded out to Central for six months, leaving Bernard Raeburn as Acting Detective Inspector. This is a man who has had it in for Harry ever since Harry requested a transfer away from him and the dodgy backhanders he encouraged years ago. It was widely believed that it was probably only Raeburn's friends in high places (the masons) who had kept him out of trouble for so long. There are a few different strands running as the book begins. A thirteen year old girl has gone missing from home, with the police and media all starting to come to the conclusion that she has been taken or killed by a paedophile. A famous pop star guitarist originally from Glasgow has been found dead in his hotel room and there has also been a spate of vicious armed robberies. With Raeburn wanting the glory for finding the missing girl, Harry is allowed nowhere near the investigation and gets given all the rubbish jobs, including these other two cases. Then to cap it all, Murray reappears wanting Harry to find his missing niece - completely off the books. No wonder Harry is frequently to be found in a pub!! It was gripping, watching and waiting to see if all the different cases would start to converge as the events of that month unravel with alarming consequences for some of the characters. Again there is much in the way of violence, drug dealing and poverty, and some of the settings are certainly a very grim portrayal of life in certain parts of the city. The author makes a great job of conveying a real sense of sadness and despair at many of the lives of the people there. I would definitely recommend reading the books in order to make more sense of events. Many of the old faces, like Jumbo, Stevie and Iris are back again and this time there is less by way of introduction or explanation of the history between them. Harry is still a bit flawed, probably more jaded than before and displays questionable judgement at times but he is still basically a good man put in awful situations sometimes, and this book sees all the characters progressing and becoming more defined. The ending was both shocking and surprising, and leaves lots of doors open for more from this series which I am sincerely hoping for soon. Dark, atmospheric and totally absorbing! 5*

This is the third installment in the series featuring DI Harry Mc Coy and is set in grim 1970's Glasgow. It has gangsters, hard men, gangland killings and police corruption. The author has created a very realistic crime thriller filled with characters from a bygone age and touched with a bit of humour. I would recommend this series and thank Net Galley for my ARC.

This is a raw drama set in 1970's Scotland _ reminiscent of Taggart! The storyline is compelling and, obviously, rather gory and grim. Nevertheless the plot moves along quickly with some surprising twists and turns. The characters are varied and extremely well-drawn, though most are far from lovable and all have many flaws. Is this an accurate picture of Glasgow police police in the 1970's?

Detective Harry McCoy is a Glasgow cop who seems to know most of the local criminals personally. In true style he is unpopular with the bosses but successful enough to get away with annoying them. Whilst his DCI is away McCoy is nominally outranked by an older DI , whom he hates, and who gives him all the rubbish jobs. Bobby March is a fading rock star who ODs in a local hotel.- accident or murder? Meanwhile the DCI's teenage niece has gone missing and he wants McCoy to find her. Convoluted plot but it keeps you reading to see id and how McCoy is going to come out on top. Parks is looking to overtake Rankin as Scotland's number one crime writer.