2024, April 14 — Review of Murder on the Clyde

I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

NINETY CHAPTERS in 4498 Locations on my Kindle Paperwhite (Page numbers are not available.)
I thought that the book was in serious need of editing. This pre-publication copy began on the Prologue with a lot of text in Italic font purporting to represent some sort of news article from the Glasgow Chronicle newspaper in Scotland. It describes the discovery of a murdered young man in the River Clyde. He is just one of the victims of a serial killer known as the “Clyde Pusher.” He kills his victims by striking them on the head rendering them unconscious. He then pushes them into the Clyde River where they subsequently drown.

The very first chapter begins introducing characters by name, with no explanation as to how they fit into the storyline. It took me a while to figure out that some of the characters are active and former detectives with Police Scotland. One of them is searching for a young man called “Cammie,” which is short for Cameron. Lola is searching for Cammie without success. Lola is a retired detective/social worker who is apparently still active in her profession for some unclear reason. There is a clear intent by the author to describe life in the gay community within Glasgow, Scotland.

The writing is cumbersome, with chapter headings titled by date and time. I have no idea why the author thought this might be important, but I did not find it helpful. I read as far as Chapter Eight, at which point I gave up on the book. Reading it had become too tedious. Chapter Eight begins with the subtitle, “9.10 p.m.” The very first sentence in the chapter, however, reads that: “Lola . . . woke with a jolt of adrenaline to find it was five to nine.” This is very confusing. Which is it? Is it 9:10 P.M., or is it five to nine? It can’t be both.

At the end of the story, and after several advertisements for other books from the same publisher, the author includes a “Glossary of English Usage for US Readers.” It is seven and a half pages long and might be more accurately titled “Glossary of Scottish slang and terminology for English readers.”

I apologize to other potential readers of this book for not finishing it so as to provide a more complete description, but I just did not enjoy the writing style at all. I can award only two of five available stars and no recommendation to others. Feel free to skip this one. 2 Stars

DCI Lola Harris #3

Detective Lola Harris is heading back over the river from a rare night out when she spots a crowd of people looking over the parapet. Someone's gone in. A young man called Cammy witnessed everything. He swears it's the work of the Clyde Pusher, but he is terrified of the police. The Clyde Pusher is the stuff of urban legend. A hooded figure who throws men into the river to drown. Eight victims over five years. But according to the police, the Pusher doesn't exist. There are no reliable witnesses, nothing to link the victims. Lola starts looking into the case unofficially but gets a rap on the knuckles from her higher-ups for nosing around. Someone is trying to derail the investigation.

There are a lot of characters to try and remember in this gripping read. The way the Glasgow people speak is how this book is written. There's a serial killer the locals have called the Clyde Pusher, as he pushes his victims into the water and watches them drown. But Lola's bosses tell her there's no connection between the victims. Cammy Leavey has captured footage of the Pushers latest attack, but the Pusher also saw that he was recording the event.

The story is told from DCI Lola Harris' perspective, and we get snippets of information from Cammy and his friend Brenda. There are quite a few flawed characters, But why do the higher-ups in the police force not want this case investigated? You'll need to read this book to find out.

Published 18th April

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #DanielSellers for my ARC of #MurderOnTheClyde in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

To begin with I have to know what it is with authors and writing so many chapters. In this case there are NINETY. And sure, they are on the shorter side and the plotline moves along at a steady pace, but do they have any idea just how intimidating that is for a reader?

Moving on to my review.

On the plus side, I liked this installment much more than I liked the first one (Murder on the Gallowgate). I found that while Lola was still very much the brash, take no shit Detective that she was in the first one, she had also softened a bit around the edges. I liked how she pushed back when she realized that things were not adding up, and how she wasn't afraid to stand her ground against the people doing the covering up.

In addition, finally giving her a team who actually listened to her and worked with her instead of trying to undermine her at every turn was a refreshing change from the first book. I was also pleasantly surprised as to who the killer was. I had my ideas, of course, but the truth was so much more interesting.

On the flip side, when it comes to the rest of the cast? They either faded into the background becoming harder to distinguish one from the other, or they were so over the top in their... should I call it villainy or stupidity? Either way, they were so unbelievable that it was comical. And of course, we have men in positions of power who hate Lola and glare at her and try to undermine (or outright stop) what she's doing at every turn. Now I'm not so naïve that I don't know this happens in the real world, but the fact that it happens to Lola so often (and at every turn) just makes me wonder if there is something in the water in Scotland that makes their officials so corrupt, or if it's just the author is for some reason jaded towards cops (especially of the male variety).

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my copy of Murder on the Clyde by Daniel Sellers.
I didn’t realise this was the third book in the series but it doesn’t matter. The book works well as a standalone and I’m now hooked on Detective Lola Harris.
If you need someone fearless, and tenacious she’s the detective for you.
Brilliant read, if you can read them in order for the full effect.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Murder on the Clyde, the third novel to feature DCI Lola Harris of Police Scotland set in Glasgow.

Lola is driving home when she sees a crowd on the riverbank, a man has landed in the water and drowned. Cameron Leavey is in no doubt, he saw the killer and the murder, but he’s unwilling to come forward. He saw the “Clyde Pusher” an urban legend who has allegedly claimed eight victims in the past five years. The police don’t believe it and Lola’s unofficial enquiries are rebuffed with a reprimand, until they aren’t.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder on the Clyde, perhaps because I know the places mentioned and understand the mindset or more likely because it is an absorbing read. It is mostly told from Lola’s point of view with Cammy and his friend Brenda chipping in to cover developments Lola can’t. Together they cover a wide ranging plot with unexpected offshoots into unrelated matters.

The plot is great with a lone wolf murderer and a conspiracy that has enough possibility of reality to be believable or if not believable then not dismissible out of hand. I certainly found it possible, but then I’m not very trusting of authority. What Lola finds when she finally gets the go ahead to investigate is shocking. I was gripped by every discovery and they come thick and fast as the novel progresses. At the same time there is tension in Cammy’s plight. The killer has seen him and is hunting him. This is a fast moving read that is well plotted with small twists. At the end of the day it is a police procedural with extras that follows the leads.

I love Lola Harris, who is past her youth but still maintains her thirst for justice. She is a bit of a warrior queen in this novel, taking on all comers and besting them. Go Lola. At the same time she is battling insomnia and a broken heart, but may have found an answer to both by the end of the novel. Imagine what she could do full power. Bring it on.

Murder on the Clyde is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is a well written, intricately plotted thriller from the author. Set in Glasgow, which I loved, it's book 3 in the Lola Harris series but easily read as a stand alone. The descriptions brought Glasgow to life, for anyone familiar with the city, and there are a few strands to the story. Lola is an interesting character, suffering from insomnia and leading the case of murdered young men found in the River Clyde. I liked the alternative points of view, which worked very well but I failed to like aunt Brenda! A very good read which I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

The 3rd in the Lola Harris series (I must have missed number 2 somehow, so I'm going back to find it!) .

The Pusher is an urban myth in Glasgow. Or are they?

Loved this.

I'll be honest in saying that if the story had been set elsewhere, I would probably have given it 4/4.5*but this is set in my home city and the author gives such a vivid description of the people, the streets and buildings, that I was there with all the characters. I really like Lola too as she is a no nonsense woman and not afraid to speak her mind to the hierarchy when she feels an injustice has been done. I learned a bit more about Glasgow and look forward to the next book.

Thanks to Netgalley / Joffe books for the ARC to review.

Thanks to Daniel and NetGalley for allowing me to read Murder on the Clyde prior to the publication date.
Although this is the third book in the series, it is the first that I have read. The title attracted me to the book ( I am watching the white horses on the Clyde as I write this review).

The river Clyde flows through Glasgow with multiple bridges connecting the North and South of the city.
Mainly set along the riverside, the story has exposed the sordid underbelly of society in the city.
There are so many flawed characters and the saying ‘Power Corrupts’ certainly applied to a number of them.

The backdrop to the story involves Police Scotland working closely with a Glasgow Council initiative and an arms- length CCTV service provider, creating endless scope for manipulation and corruption.
The council officials were first in the queue to take the credit for any benefits which the alliance delivered and first to deny responsibility for anything which went wrong.
There were plenty of twists and turns and more than few red herrings before the truth was revealed.

This is the third book in the DCI Lola Harris series. I knew it would be a cracking read as I have the first two books by the author. Lola is going through a time of insomnia so she is drinking far too many energy drinks and she feel it is affecting her work. However, Lola is interested in the case of the Clyde Pusher. Little does she know that she will soon be in charge of this case. Despite, a few people who want to stop her, she takes on the case and decides to bring the case to a conclusion. I love how Lola interacts with people, police or civilians. I found the story to be well written and the location of Glasgow has been well researched and very descriptive. All the strands of the plot lead to a dramatic reveal. I never guessed who was the antagonist. This book was unputdownable!! I will be recommending this book.

#murderontheclyde, 3rd in @danielsellersauthor series featuring DCI Lola Harris, is terrific. The villain remained quite a mystery (ha!) to me until pretty close to the end, but as always, Lola gets her man. Super creepy in some parts, which I appreciated. I really like Lola - she's not super human, she's fallible and real. Enjoyed the alternating POVs, even if I didn't care for the characters (I'm looking at you, Auntie Brenda). Highly recommend.

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley and the awesome @joffebooks for the ARC.

If I had not been pre approved I wouldn't have requested this instalment of the series as I found the first two lacked something. The third was very much the same. I can not decide what it is I don't like about the series but there something that doesn't connect with me. Sorry but I didn't finish this and I won't reading another.

DCI Lola Harris is currently unable to sleep, and relying on multiple highly caffeinated beverages per day to stay awake, when she ends up smack dab in the middle of a crime scene that has strong similarities to a local urban legend: the Clyde Pusher.
Over the last several years, multiple males have been found floating in or washed up on the shores of the Clyde River, all with head wounds, and the majority of them gay. Though Police Scotland says there is nothing linking these deaths, the public is not so sure, and have flagged this the work of a serial killer they call the Clyde Pusher. Is he real, or just a work of the public's imagination? There might be one person who can say for sure; Cameron Leavey claims to have not only witnessed the most recent attack, but recorded it on his phone. He also says The Pusher saw him do it.
As pieces of the puzzle seem to reveal themselves to DCI Harris, she is warned to stay far away from this investigation and keep her mouth shut. We ask ourselves, along with Lola, if she will learn the truth about The Pusher and will she ever sleep again?

//

I must say, I was a little concerned about reading this after I learned it was #3 in the Lola Harris series, however I was very happy to learn the first two are not prerequisites to be able to enjoy this. (Though I am very interested in Lola's journey, and will probably find my way to the first two books)
Where as it was not the most heart pounding thriller, it zipped right along! It was intricate in plot, but not so much so that it was difficult to read or follow. I enjoyed the time stamps that started each chapter, or as different events unfolded- it very much added to the exhausting pace of Harris' life, knowing she is not sleeping well. The ebook also includes a link to the author's website so you can look up maps of Glasgow in case you are unfamiliar with the area, as I am.

Overall, a very happy introduction for me to author Daniel Sellers. Solid 4 stars.

Thank you to Joffe Books (publisher) and Netgalley for the free copy in return for an honest review.

The first time I have read this Author. I enjoyed the style of writing. A solid four star read. Great premise. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to

Wow! Fantastic read!! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, action packed, murder, mystery, serial killers, a great who done it and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading!
Detective Lola is heading back over the river from a rare night out when she spots a crowd of people looking over the parapet. Someone’s gone in. A young man called Cammy witnessed everything. He swears it’s the work of the Clyde Pusher, but is terrified of telling the police. The Clyde Pusher is the stuff of urban legend. A hooded figure who throws men into the river to drown. Eight victims in five years. But according to the police, the Pusher doesn’t exist. There are no reliable witnesses, nothing to link the victims! Thank you Netgalley and Joffe books for sharing this book with me! Can't wait for more!!

if you want a gripping, twisted book showing a toxic relationship full of lies and deception and potential crime cover up this book is for you.

there was a lot of characters to remember so at times it was hard to follow. however the book was gripping, twisted yet written beautifully. the lingo used matches glasgow perfectly so it really sets the scene whilst relatable characters with solid background stories enrich the story even more. i enjoyed the social media inclusion felt very relevant to the times we are in nowadays. every chapter kept me guessing as to who was the killer.