A good thriller, mostly about Sky/Sam an undercover ex army police sergent. He is involved with underworld activities, drugs / weapon smuggling and stretches the law a little himself. The book is written mosly from his point of view and bits of his personal history are revealed. The writing style is to the point, descriptions from his viewpoint and he calls a spade a "f...ing Shovel". Not for the faint hearted, there is plenty of violence and glimpses into dubious police practices and gangland/drugs societies in London and elsewhere. The pace is fast with plenty of action.
I was fascinated by tis book, it kept my attention and was a great read. I liked the main character who is a product of a chequered history and also the short reports of DCI Winter. I hope that this is the beginning of a series, I look forward to reading more !
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I must admit for some reason this well-written police procedural didn't catch my interest.

That said, it might be your cuppa, and the description definitely intrigued me - for whatever reason I just couldn't make my way through this one,

The action is fast and furious in this Hardboiled Crime Thriller. It's gritty and graphic, violent and visceral, with a plot that is cutthroat razor-sharp. The voice of the narrator is chilling and cold-blooded.
Sam Batford, is a larger than life character. He's an undercover cop, a maverick, a vigilante. He's infiltrated the dark underbelly of the criminal underworld in the UK, dealing in drugs, guns, and death. He may appear to take orders but he's got a hidden agenda of his own.
Zara Stone, is a gangster's moll, and can be just as deadly and ruthless as those who pay her.
These damaged, flawed characters are at the heart of this powerfully engrossing thriller. Together they break all the rules in a deadly cat-and-mouse race, hunted by DCI Winter and the forces of law, and by Zara's gangland boss and violent lover.
It's explosive!

This has to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. It drew me in from the start, and wouldn’t let go. When I woke up at night I was still reading it at 3am! It is absolutely fabulous, and I was thrilled to see that it’s just the start.

Sam is so resourceful and he’s one step ahead all the time. I didn’t care for the DCI, she was definitely on a mission to trip him up and make an example of him.

I’ve always said police officers write the best novels, and this just proves my point.

My thanks to the author and Netgalley for the ARC. It was only by chance I found it on their lists, and I hadn’t applied to read it, but I’m so glad I did.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The successful and talented undercover agent Sam Batford finds himself in a difficult position when he is sent to work with a crime team in London. He is faced with working with an agency that is heavily understaffed. London has been overwhelmed by illegal drug activities and Sam’s job will be to take down the boss of the operation. However, to add to his problems, the chief investigator he reports to is suspicious about some of his previous activities and she doesn’t want him involved in the case. The two of them go head-to-head when he does his own thing and refuses to cooperate with her.
As Sam begins his investigation, he finds himself involved with the gang leader’s girlfriend whose link to the gangs' operations will be a help to him. As he begins carrying out his undercover drug-related duties for the gang his eyes turn to the money they are bringing in. He soon finds himself at risk of having his cover blown when some of the syndicate members become suspicious of him and he is threatened with torture. He is suddenly in a life-or-death situation and the decision he makes will either save him or kill him.
This is a riveting pulp crime thriller guaranteed to keep you up all night!

A book like so many others, but it didn’t have that vital ingredient that made it stand out in the field where there are so many similar storylines.

This was a really good read fast paced and one that made me want to keep reading It is the 1st in a series,The characters are really well written and Sam is definitely a captivating man who Im looking forward to catching up with in future books.My only little gripe is that some chapters were a bit too long but thats a personal preference.A good strong read that I recommend.
Thanks to Netgalley and The Book Folks for the ARC.

Criminal Justice is an edgy, gripping and gritty covert cop action thriller from Ian Robinson showing the underside of covert police work. A really absorbing read and I couldn't put it down.

Sam Batford's been undercover for five years and now back in London covering a ruthless Italian Drugs gang.

Undercover with no back up and little support he's right at the sharp end of the covert operation. A wrong move, reaction or second look means he ends up in a body bag. He was an abused child. He's now reliving his darkest memories and flash backs whilst infiltrating a guns and drug smuggling gang for high stakes and big money.

Under pressure from his NCA boss and the DCI of serious crime team to obtain results for them, his life is constantly on the line ensuring not only his own safety but also that his bosses don't compromise him through lack of manpower.

The Sensitive Log entries remind readers of what going dark is about and evidence a constant tug of war, mixed feelings and motives for the DCI when dealing with a UCO.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read and provide a fair review of Criminal Justice.

A good start to a new series featuring DS Sam Batford. The former soldier is now an undercover Met officer, seconded to the National Crime Agency. His task is to get close to a major importer of drugs, known to have a large shipment about to land.

Batford is in a difficult position, wit two sets of bosses to please - and his own agenda to run. He is determined not to get caught in the middle, and to escape with a hidden retirement fund. The action is fast and, at times, brutal.

Batford is a good lead character. His back story is hard, his experiences have made him tough. But there's a moral ambiguity at his heart, and his idea of right and wrong isn't the same as his superiors. Criminal Justice explores this theme as Batford tries to complete his mission - bot on his own terms. It's a good thriller with a thought provoking plot.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The book is out now! I loved this book I devoured it in a few days and I’m so excited for the next book in the series. This book was brilliant, fast- paced and highly addictive! A fantastic police procedural with many twists and turns and many gasp out loud moments!

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’m now a fan!

I thoroughly enjoyed this read about an undercover officer who is involved with a criminal gang importing drugs and firearms. The characterisation is excellent, Sam is an interesting character. I failed to like Klara though, his DCI. The pacing and plotting was good, as was the writing style, told from two perspectives and the ending was wrapped up very neatly. I look forward to the next in the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.