Is it wrong to be a little bit in love with a fictional character? Max Wolf has got it all, rough, tough but with a very soft centre. When a drone brings down an air ambulance helicopter over a shopping centre, killing and maiming those inside then those responsible have to be brought to justice and Max Wolf is part of the team tasked to do this. Despite the meticulous planning things do not go to plan and Max has to battle to find not only those responsible but also a mysterious character called Bad Moses who is threatening his life. Add in a custody battle for his daughter Scout plus a sprinkling of romance and you have a gripping story that you will not want to put down.

Another thoroughly gripping tale in the DC Max Wolfe series. A terrorist outrage causes protests and anger which targets the innocent as well as the guilty. Extremists from all sides are brought out of the woodwork; so many angles, so much anger – and the body count starts to rise…

Max himself is personally threatened with a repeated, haunting taunt. He suspects various individuals , but you’re never sure… The tightrope balance of police marksmen doing their duty is well managed here – murderer or medal receiver. Max’s refusal to lie to cover for someone, then the hair’s breadth judgement of white lying that covers up another, later shooting has you questioning where your own personal lines of honesty would lie. (I don’t want to give stuff away, I just found this dilemma fascinating and couldn’t fault Max’s reasoning at either point).

As well as an overfull professional life, Max’s personal homelife is also threatened. His ‘recovering’ family, carefully nurtured since Scout’s mother’s abandonment is in danger of being irreparably damaged too.

It’s one of those ‘couldn’t put it down‘ books. The end is truly shocking. Don’t read it just before you go to sleep like I did. There’s a jolt. It‘s not nice. And Mr Parsons, I think you have to start being nicer to Max soon. But no other word for it – Superb! Best of the series yet, and that’s saying something; I’ve loved all of them. I have recommended these to at least 5 people and they’ve all loved the series too. There’s no middle way with this one!

This is my first introduction to Tony Parsons work and I’m really impressed. From the thrilling opening to the stunning ending the pages fly by with the speed of a bullet. A novel that has current themes of Terrorism, Murder and Family at its core as the book spirals from the hunt for Terror suspects to a murderer by the name of Black Moses. I for one will certainly be going through this authors back catalogue. A highly recommended read.

Loved it.
I knew by the end of the first page that this would be a classy thriller and it had me gripped from the beginning.
A fast paced police procedural thriller with an excellent plot and exquisite twists throughout, the novel had me ignoring everyone in the house for the entirety of the Easter weekend and getting very little done.
Extra thanks to the author for his clever method of explaining the technical stuff (like acronyms etc) without managing to sound patronising to those of us that weren't sure.
Somehow managed to learn a lot while feeling entertained rather than educated.
Looking forward to reading my next one by Mr Parsons.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the copy.

Another excellent read by a great author.

Here Parsons addresses the emotive subject of terrorism, race and bigotry. We meet people who walk both sides of the line, and delicately along it, and who show us that there is not ever going to be a simple solution to a war that has raged for centuries.

A terrorist attack of horrific proportions shakes London and the fall-out is equally violent, affecting Max Wolfe and his colleagues in unexpected ways. It's a beautifully written story in terms of characterisation and developing the background to those characters we have met in earlier books, but there are frustrations here, in as much as too much is revealed early on, so the reader knows what's coming, if not the how and when.

That aside, i really enjoyed the parallel story of Max's relationship with his daughter, Scout. This is beautifully done, his love for her overriding any selfishness a man might feel when challenged by the woman who betrayed them both.

I definitely recommend it and look forward to the next. Right now I am off to find the earlier books in the series that I managed to miss!

When terrorists use a drone to bring down a plane on one of London's busiest shopping centres, it ignites a chain of events that will draw in the innocent and guilty alike. DC Max Wolfe finds himself caught in the crossfire in a city that seems increasingly dangerous and hostile.
This is the first book I’ve read by the author & it won’t be the last in fact now off to get the earlier ones in the series. It grabbed me from the start & I was engrossed & found it very hard to put down. Definitely a keeper

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This book is great at dealing with racial prejudice and stereotyping. Two main threads of the plot concern the aftermath of a terrorist attack on a shopping centre and the fallout from an armed police raid that goes horrifically wrong. The relationship of Wolfe and his daughter was the best part of the book for me, it is so sensitively described. The dog is also a great character!
I was not comfortable reading about police officers who broke the rules, and in particular, armed officers with anger issues. This just didn't feel realistic to me, hence the 4 stars, not 5.

Another excellent episode in this series. Gritty London scenes abound with terrorists, thugs and some dodgy cops to keep things bubbling nicely. The side issue of our heroes home life all adds to the rip roaring plot line. Well worth it!

The 2nd Max Wolfe book I have read. Gripping story I couldn’t put down. Sent me on a rollercoaster or emotions. Well worth a read. I need to read the other max Wolfe books now!

Many moons ago I read Man and Boy by Tony Parsons and was pleasantly surprised by this warm and delightful story of family relationships and a father faced with the responsibility of being the sole parent for his small son. I was aware that he had written a detective series, for some years I avoided but often wondered how it could be possible to produce such emotive writing in a totally different genre. Girl on Fire has been an amazing read combining all Parson's warmth from his earlier books with a gritty fast paced detective story engaging and shocking in equal measures.

"I woke up and found the world was gone" These are the opening "explosive" thoughts of DC Max Wolfe as he recovers and surveys the aftermath of a terrorist attack at a local shopping centre. Wolfe is a member of a specialist firearms unit of the Metropolitan police. Following the explosion he and his team are tasked with finding the individuals responsible, made all the more urgent when it becomes clear that an unknown number of Croatian hand grenades have..."found their way across from the Balkans to our streets"....They have been traced to two brothers Asad and Adnan Khan who also appear to be linked in some way to the shopping centre explosion. The race is on to expose the terrorist cell before more death and destruction "bloodies" the streets of London.

This is an astounding, intelligent, up to the minute, thriller that not only addresses terrorism on the capital's streets but also the affects such acts of hatred has on both the individuals and families involved. What happens when different cultures and beliefs collide? When social media can be used to brainwash the bad and the vulnerable? And when angry young men and women are prepared to kill for what they feel is a righteous and just cause....But this story is much more than that. The warmth, the love and values that graced the earlier books of Tony Parsons is still present and adds an extra layer of brilliance to some of the best emotive prose I have read in a very long time. There is Scout, Max Wolfe' cherished daughter, living with him but now the subject of a court battle between Wolfe and his ex "model" wife Anne. There is the harsh reality that life in a dangerous frontline policing job means friends and colleagues may be present one day and sadly gone tomorrow. There is the unquestionable love that exists between man and (his) dog (Stan)..."I lie belly-up in the sunshine, happier than you will ever be. Today I sniffed many dot butts-I celebrate by kissing your face"....There is the complex often hypocritical belief in religious teachings and the affects and fallouts that all in society must bear witness to.

There is an explosive start to Girl on Fire and an equally harrowing "I never expected that" conclusion. Tony Parsons has accomplished what I never thought possible by creating something new and deeply heartfelt in crime fiction. In DI Max Wolfe we have a vulnerable antihero and a story that brilliantly moulds all the jagged edges of this sorry tale together. We as readers understand and appreciated Wolfe's weaknesses. The story is real, the action is real, the people the emotions, the daily turmoil, the highs and lows of modern living are all so real and on these pages..wonderful stuff...wonderful writing.

Many thanks to the publishers Random House UK, Cornerstone Century and netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written. Highly highly Recommended.

I requested all the books in this series but as yet have only received this one. As I want to read them in order I will give a proper review when I have read all the ones before as well as this one.

Parsons is really hitting his stride with the lates Max Wolfe book, the character is developing and, weird one this, I found myself getting more intrigued with the reappearance of his ex-wife and her attempts at regaining custody of their daughter Scout. Oh, there is also a plot about terrorists using drones to bring down aircraft which is underplayed.

I am getting more into the Wolfe books, I would have given this four stars but Parsons sometimes pushes the suspension of disbelief just a little too much. He is at the shopping mall when the terrorists bring down a helicopter, he is at the bust at the house of the terrorist cell, he is there when key characters get killed. It all gets a bit much and, to be honest, robs the narrative of a bit of mystique. Its okay for Wolfe (and, by extension, us) to be a bit in the dark, we are quite happy to wait until the big reveal.

Anyway, this is still a worthwhile read and Parsons is a fabulous writer, his words crackle with verve and passion.

From the outset this book captivates the reader. The action is swift and relentless, capturing the mood of anger and mistrust in the UK of today. The narrator is absolutely believable, trying to juggle being a single parent with terrorist plots and religious fervour. The book has style: the motif of the backpack runs subtly through the story and clever "red herrings" intruige the reader. Parsons is not afraid to lose a character for the sake of reality. Sad, satisfying and intelligent: it is well worth the read.

O my goodness I want to give Max a great big hug. What an emotional read this was. An amazing, topical storyline, loads of action and a blurred line between right and wrong, innocent and guilty makes this a fantastic addition to the series. It's Max's personal life that really made this unputdownable for me however. Max's ex-wife is back and trying to rebuild her relationship with Scout. Mean while will Edie give up her married man and finally realise where her heart truly lies? I'm going to need to read something very light weight now in order to recover!

Girl on Fire by Tony Parsons a great four-star read. I know that some people will adore this book and think it’s the best thing ever written, and it was well written and very thrilling but it lacked something that the other Max Wolfe books had, it may be me and the place I am at present but I struggled to get through it all. I’m glad I did in the end and if more books come in the series then I will definitely read them and will probably buy this book for my mum as she will definitely love the depth to this book.

A slow burner but enjoyable read.
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OMG Wow! Just wow!

This story felt so close to reality because events like this are sadly common place in this day and age. On more than one occasion parts of the book gave me goose bumps, it certainly evoked an emotional response from me.

Saying that I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was emotional, sad, happyand devastating in places, it had it all and that’s why I think it was such a good book. OMG that ending, Nooooooo!

I feel quite exhausted after reading Girl on Fire, I need to have a rest to let my heart rate get back to normal. There was non-stop action throughout the book that didn’t let up, I just had to keep turning pages to see what was going to happen next. I read the book pretty quickly as I had a really hard job putting it down, it was the type of book to keep you up late because you don’t want to stop reading.

The book also made me think a lot about the world we are living in today.

This is only my second book I have read by Tony Parsons and I will definitely be reading more, this book deserves the 5 stars that I am going to give it, it is a really great piece of writing, I highly recommend it.

Using a drone, terrorists have brought a helicopter down on the Lake Meadows Shopping Centre in London, causing the death of 46 innocent people. Though the terrorists, Assad and Adnan Khan, are found out and killed when the police storm their house, the case isn´t solved for Max Wolfe and his colleagues. Lots of citizens demand punishment or death for Ahmed Khan, the dead terrorists´ father. As he has been leading a well-integrated life as a busdriver for more than forty years and he can´t be proven to have taken part in the terrorist attack, the police have to protect him, his wife and granddaughter against the angry mob.
Max Wolfe is also facing problems in his private life: his selfish ex-wife Anne has decided that their daughter Scout should live with her and her current husband. Max , who has established a good family life for Scout, himself and dog Stan, isn´t happy with the situation, but he has Scout´s best interests at heart.
In the fifth book in his Max Wolfe- series, Tony Parsons again deals with very topical issues: the (non) integration of muslim migrants in Europe, the question of responsibility for radicalization and – as far as family constellations are concerned – the effects of custody struggles between divorced parents on their children. All these grave topics are dealt with in a very descriptive manner, the book is gripping from the very first page to the last.
As there is a constant development in Max Wolfe´s professional and personal life, it is highly recommended to read the books in the correct order.

4,5 stars

I have read and enjoyed all the Max Wolfe books and this was a wonderful addition to the series. The story grips you from the very start and will not let you go until the very end. The book deals with very topical issues and manages to seamlessly tie all the complicated threads together. And that unexpected ending - insert sad face here- shocked me a little but I quite like that it did! I highly recommend the whole series.

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Drones: terrorists’ new weapons?

DC Max Wolfe, a member of Homicide and Serious Crime Command, West End Central, had been in the Lake Meadows shopping centre to buy his daughter, Scout, a new backpack, when an air ambulance helicopter crashes into the centre; brought down by a drone. He is lucky to survive the damage and mayhem that results from this crash.

His team is part of a combined police operation. tasked with bringing the killers to justice. They quickly ascertain who the suspects are and Max Wolfe, DC Edie Wren and the new member of the team, TDC Joy Adams is on hand when the armed unit arrives to arrest the two brothers they’ve identified as the suspects. Unfortunately, Specialist Firearms Officer DS Alice Stone is killed when one of the brothers rushes out of the house they are about to storm, opening fire with an assault rifle.

These two incidents are the beginning of what is going to be the most horrific and hardest case that Max Wolfe, and the other members of the team he is part of, have ever faced.

To make matters worse, Max must deal with losing his daughter Scout. Her mother, Anne, who had left Max and her daughter when she fell in love with another man, severing all ties with both Scout and Max on her departure, insists that Scout should live with her. He takes the line of least resistance, hoping not to cause more unhappiness for his daughter.

This is the fifth book featuring DC Max Wolfe. I’ve grown to know him, Scout, their beautiful Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Stan, Mrs Murphy, who keeps house for them, and the team he is part of - DCI Whitestone, Edie Wren and the newest member Joy Adams and they feel like an extension of my circle of friends. Because I feel such a close connection to each of them, I take it personally if something happens to one of them as they try to get the “nasties” off the street, more often than not one of them ending up battered and bruised.

Unfortunately, Tony Parsons has ratcheted up the horrors facing not only Max Wolfe but also the team in this book, reducing me to using a box of tissues as I tried to come to terms with the ending.

Tony Parsons must surely be one of the best crime writers around. I think what sets him apart from other writers is that his writing makes you feel as though you’re reading Max Wolfe’s personal journal because he feels and is so real.

If you’re not already a fan, may I suggest that you don’t take my word for it but grab the first book in the series, The Murder Bag? I can guarantee that reading it will make you keep reading through the series until you end up with this, the latest - “Girl on Fire” -hoping that Max Wolfe is keeping his journal up to date so that we don’t have to wait too long before the next “instalment.”

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.