John Ray / LS9 crime thrillers Series

Someone wants you dead. You don't know who. Or why. John Ray is called to the scene of a violent murder. The victim is an old associate of his father, local crime boss Tony Ray. There's no obvious motive for the crime, but everybody agrees on one thing: don't tell the police. John, the charismatic, Cambridge-educated white sheep of the Ray family, has always refused to be part of his father's business. But he's also a bit of a maverick, with a foot in both worlds, and he's not quite as white as he would like: exactly the kind of person you'd want to investigate an underworld murder. The fast-paced search for the killer takes John Ray back to events twenty years ago, and to another, even more heinous crime. It's a gripping ride, but also a painful one for John personally, and he doesn't really know what he's looking for. Until it's too late. Plus, he's not the only one looking... FATHER AND SON is the second crime thriller in the John Ray / LS9 series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel. *** NOTE ON THE TEXT: Chapter 17 of this novel includes a letter written by a child. The letter contains various grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. The are used deliberately by the author.

When good and evil come home *** Following the violent murder of his father, John Ray is getting his life back on track, and putting the criminal past of his family behind him. But when Shirley Kirk of the West Yorkshire Police asks him for a favour, he’s sucked into a mystery that is as confusing as it is devastating. Allegations of historical abuse have emerged at a Catholic Boys’ Home in the city. They involve a prominent businessman who is keen to get to the bottom of who is making the accusations. And he wants John Ray to do the looking. Discreetly. John soon begins to uncover a more complex mystery involving blackmail, kidnap and murder. But why are the police really asking for his help? There are people on the Force still out to get John Ray for his past misdemeanours. And they are not the only ones who know about his family's past. A novel set in Leeds, THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS is novel about innocence, vengeance, and the power of good and evil. It is the third crime thriller in the John Ray / LS9 series.

You can't change your past. But what about your future? *** 'A gripping read... A fascinating study in dark and evil... Beautifully cinematic… far more cinematic than a McDermid or a Rankin.' Crimefictionlover 'Crime thriller fans, this novel is a must read.' Jersey Girl Book Reviews 'Plenty of twists... fast-paced... HOPE ROAD is a fine novel.' Rough Edges *** John Ray, son of crime boss Antonio 'Tony' Ray, is the straight one of the family. With a successful business and a lifestyle to match, he wants nothing to do with his father's criminal world. But when a young woman is found dead in John's car, he sets out to find the killer. Things soon get complicated. His best friend and employee, Freddy Metcalfe, is arrested for the murder. Plus a stash of counterfeit money is found in John's car, and the police seem more interested in that than in the dead girl. Then old family friend Lanny Bride turns up; one of the north's most ruthless criminals, Lanny is desperate to know who killed the girl. Meanwhile, Freddy is too scared to talk to anyone, even his lawyer. John slowly uncovers the shocking truth about the girl's death. What he finds forces him to confront his own past, and risk destroying his future. Set in Leeds, HOPE ROAD is a novel about deception, trust and the boundaries of good and bad. It is the first crime thriller in the John Ray / LS9 series. *** Reviews of HOPE ROAD: I can't wait for the next book. Hope Road is a fast-paced, exciting novel. I Prefer Reading Crime thriller fans, this novel is a must read. Jersey Girl Book Reviews A gripping read... A fascinating study in dark and evil... The stuff of Great British grit and dark, dark humour ... Beautifully cinematic... far more cinematic than a McDermid or a Rankin.  Crimefictionlover I loved the story, good plot and plenty of interest for the reader. Little twists and turns and an ending I did not expect. Booketta A wonderful read which I highly recommend. [...] An engrossing story with fascinating and complex characters. The setting is wonderfully portrayed. A tremendously exciting debut and I look forward to more from John Barlow. Bravo! That Guy with the Glasses John [Ray] is a great character. Beth Kemp I enjoyed it tremendously. Barlow gives us a few twists and turns along the way to keep us on our feet. Not the Baseball Pitcher A pretty gripping story. The description of the city was great too. Click's Clan Moves along at a fast pace and carefully unfolds the story. An intriguing murder mystery from start to finish. Welcome to Tweedling The plot was solid with a good dash of twists and turns.  The whodunit aspect was handled well and the ending was pretty satisfying. Word Vagabond Barlow throws in plenty of twists before everything is untangled, since of course nothing in the case is exactly what it seems to be, and he spins the yarn in fast-paced, very readable prose. He also does a good job with the setting, the English city of Leeds, and made me feel like I'd been there. HOPE ROAD is a fine novel, the first in a series, and I look forward to reading the others. Rough Edges