Member Reviews
You can tell the author has lived experience - he goes about his search with an almost clinical focus. I had not actually heard of the TV show with which he was involved but, on looking into his background after reading this book, I was not surprised he had managed to win. It would be interesting to know more about what drives the author to do what he does because he seems very sincere and almost takes the cases personally. I thought it was well written and showed inside knowledge of the police system. These are crimes about which many people will never have heard. This book brings them to the fore.
Peter Bleksley is a man possessed.......and obsessed. The object of that obsession is Liverpudlian criminal Kevin Parle who who has been on the run for over 15 years from Police who want to question him in connection with 2 cowardly murders.
For the last 18 months they've been joined by top investigator Peter Bleksley, a former top undercover Policeman, who it often seems is a lot keener on bringing Parle to justice than the authorities.
Bleksley's hunt has been followed by millions of listeners worldwide on his massively popular "Manhunt: Finding Kevin Parle "podcast . The book doesn't just tell of the hunt for Parle but is also the tale of the podcast,from inception ,to convincing the BBC to commission it and the way it has helped in the hunt for Parle as it takes the story worldwide and prompts some to contact Bleksley with crucial information.
This is a great read,I love True Crime books and have read all of the ones Bleksley recommends in this one.
Bleksley and trusty right hand man Mark knock on doors,look under stones,tweak noses and get in the faces of people who consider themselves dangerous in their hunt for Parle. Both of them are veterans of dangerous situations and laugh off most of the threats from cardboard gangsters while being aware that they're treading on the toes of some seriously heavy people. I think what Parle will really hate about this book is not the fact he's being hunted but that he's exposed as not much more than a bully,one former associate calls him a clown, and in his circles reputation is everything.
As Bleksley says at the start of the book,there is no neat ending,the hunt goes on and Parle is still "out there" but the net is closing ,and closing quickly.
Also interesting is Bleksley's observation that various Police departments don't seem overly interested in catching Parle, which raises questions.
Thanks to Peter Bleksley, Ad Lib Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.