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Fawkes and Baxter #3
Endgame
A locked room. A dead body. A secret that went to the grave.
When retired police officer Finlay Shaw is found dead in a locked room, everyone thinks it's suicide. But disgraced detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes isn't so sure.
Together with his former partner Detective Emily Baxter and private detective Edmunds, Wolf's team begin to dig into Shaw's early days on the beat. Was Shaw as innocent as he seemed? Or is there more to his past than he'd ever let on?
But not everyone wants Wolf back - and as his investigation draws him ever deeper into police corruption, it will not only be his career on the line - but the lives of those he holds closest as well...
When retired police officer Finlay Shaw is found dead in a locked room, everyone thinks it's suicide. But disgraced detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes isn't so sure.
Together with his former partner Detective Emily Baxter and private detective Edmunds, Wolf's team begin to dig into Shaw's early days on the beat. Was Shaw as innocent as he seemed? Or is there more to his past than he'd ever let on?
But not everyone wants Wolf back - and as his investigation draws him ever deeper into police corruption, it will not only be his career on the line - but the lives of those he holds closest as well...
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 9, 2019
About the author
Daniel Cole
25 books922 followersAt 33 years old, Daniel Cole has worked as a paramedic, an RSPCA officer and most recently for the RNLI, driven by an intrinsic need to save people or perhaps just a guilty conscience about the number of characters he kills off in his writing.
He has received a three-book publishing and television deal for his debut crime series which publishers and producers describe as “pulse-racing” and “exceptional”.
Daniel currently lives in sunny Bournemouth and can usually be found down the beach when he ought to be writing book two in the Nathan Wolfe series instead.
Ragdoll is his first novel.
He has received a three-book publishing and television deal for his debut crime series which publishers and producers describe as “pulse-racing” and “exceptional”.
Daniel currently lives in sunny Bournemouth and can usually be found down the beach when he ought to be writing book two in the Nathan Wolfe series instead.
Ragdoll is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 505 reviews
August 8, 2019
The dead body of retired police officer Finlay Shaw is discovered in a locked and sealed room. He’d died from a gunshot wound, and the only fingerprints on the gun belong to Finlay himself. It has to be suicide surely? Well of course it’s not going to be as cut and dried as that, and disgraced detective William (Wolf) Fawkes is determined to find another explanation for his friend and former colleague’s untimely death.
Endgame is brilliantly written with a seriously good plot, plenty of humour, and the inevitable twists and turns that one has come to expect from modern thrillers. However, I do urge readers to read the previous books in the series (something that I hadn’t done) and I feel that I definitely missed out on the character building, not to mention the storyline itself, some of which related to earlier events. It was a bit like being invited to an amazing party where you don’t know anyone, but everyone knows everyone else, and amazing as this party is, you’re left on the periphery feeling lost and wondering what the heck you’re doing there! That said, I still think it’s a great read and curse myself for missing out on the start of this series.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
Endgame is brilliantly written with a seriously good plot, plenty of humour, and the inevitable twists and turns that one has come to expect from modern thrillers. However, I do urge readers to read the previous books in the series (something that I hadn’t done) and I feel that I definitely missed out on the character building, not to mention the storyline itself, some of which related to earlier events. It was a bit like being invited to an amazing party where you don’t know anyone, but everyone knows everyone else, and amazing as this party is, you’re left on the periphery feeling lost and wondering what the heck you’re doing there! That said, I still think it’s a great read and curse myself for missing out on the start of this series.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
August 20, 2019
Daniel Cole concludes his Ragdoll trilogy with this scorcher of a finale, a twisted locked room mystery and the tying up of ends from the previous two books. To get the most from this addition, you are going to have to go back to the beginning, otherwise you will be bewildered by the numerous references to previous events and the back stories of the main characters. One of the major highlights of this trilogy are its intrinsic comic elements, from the blackest humour to the slapstick. Retired police officer, Finlay Shaw has been found shot dead, with a gun by his side, in his home in a locked room, in what looks like a obvious suicide. Disgraced Detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes is back, Shaw was his beloved mentor and his gut instincts are telling him there is no way Fin would kill himself, for starters he would never do that to his adored wife, Maggie.
Unsurprisingly Wolf is arrested, but Wolf has information on a wanted drug lord to bargain with despite his ambitious Commander Geena Vanita's desire to put him away for good.
Five past and present cops, Wolf, Alex Edmunds, now a private investigator, DCI Emily Baxter, still in a bad way, a woman with secrets, Police Commissioner Christian Bellamy, once Fin's police partner, still his close friend, and Jake Saunders begin to poke into Fin's past, where they believe the answer to his death lies. Their focus takes them back to Glasgow in 1979, a warehouse fire and drug bust that made heroes of Christian and Fin, resulting in a front page splash with the famous photograph of the pair. They are to find the past is far from dead and buried, there are powerful forces determined to ensure the past does not come to light, with danger swirling close to the team. Relationships come under the spotlight, Wolf's fraught history with Emily, whilst his ex-wife, celebrity reporter Andrea Hall is looking to make amends for her past behaviour and plays a critical role in the case. With a narrative that includes the man that would not die, a wanted agent ending up in prison and betrayal, it all culminates in a unforgettable thrilling twisted finale.
If you enjoy explosive fast paced, well plotted, twisted and inventive crime thrillers with charismatic, flawed and fascinating protagonists then this vibrant, well written and imaginative trilogy is a must read. Daniel Cole gives the strongest of hints that he has the bones of an idea that will continue the series beyond this particularly trilogy, news which I am overjoyed to hear. Moreover, I think the trilogy would make for a brilliant TV series, with the right director and actors. This is a fabulously entertaining read, full of action, with brilliant characterisation that takes the reader on one hell of a thrill ride. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
Unsurprisingly Wolf is arrested, but Wolf has information on a wanted drug lord to bargain with despite his ambitious Commander Geena Vanita's desire to put him away for good.
Five past and present cops, Wolf, Alex Edmunds, now a private investigator, DCI Emily Baxter, still in a bad way, a woman with secrets, Police Commissioner Christian Bellamy, once Fin's police partner, still his close friend, and Jake Saunders begin to poke into Fin's past, where they believe the answer to his death lies. Their focus takes them back to Glasgow in 1979, a warehouse fire and drug bust that made heroes of Christian and Fin, resulting in a front page splash with the famous photograph of the pair. They are to find the past is far from dead and buried, there are powerful forces determined to ensure the past does not come to light, with danger swirling close to the team. Relationships come under the spotlight, Wolf's fraught history with Emily, whilst his ex-wife, celebrity reporter Andrea Hall is looking to make amends for her past behaviour and plays a critical role in the case. With a narrative that includes the man that would not die, a wanted agent ending up in prison and betrayal, it all culminates in a unforgettable thrilling twisted finale.
If you enjoy explosive fast paced, well plotted, twisted and inventive crime thrillers with charismatic, flawed and fascinating protagonists then this vibrant, well written and imaginative trilogy is a must read. Daniel Cole gives the strongest of hints that he has the bones of an idea that will continue the series beyond this particularly trilogy, news which I am overjoyed to hear. Moreover, I think the trilogy would make for a brilliant TV series, with the right director and actors. This is a fabulously entertaining read, full of action, with brilliant characterisation that takes the reader on one hell of a thrill ride. Many thanks to Orion for an ARC.
March 29, 2020
The body of retired Detective Finlay Shaw is found in a completely sealed room with a gun shot to the head no fingerprints found on the gun except his. Was it Suicide? Or are there sinister elements going on here!!
Well of Course that sounds to easy Disgraced Detective William (Wolf) Fawkes is determined to find out the truth of what happened & will stop at nothing to find the killer.
End Game is the final in the Fawkes series & I loved every minute the pacing was frenetic & dark the characters were developed even more & the tension.... well you could hear a pin drop, there were a lot of reveals I didn't see coming & the ending was just so powerful , all I can say it had that wow factor that kept me invested in the prose from beginning to end. a strong 4 star read.
Well of Course that sounds to easy Disgraced Detective William (Wolf) Fawkes is determined to find out the truth of what happened & will stop at nothing to find the killer.
End Game is the final in the Fawkes series & I loved every minute the pacing was frenetic & dark the characters were developed even more & the tension.... well you could hear a pin drop, there were a lot of reveals I didn't see coming & the ending was just so powerful , all I can say it had that wow factor that kept me invested in the prose from beginning to end. a strong 4 star read.
June 22, 2023
4.5 rounded down
Writing: bangerlicious | Plot: solid for the most part | Ending: #JusticeForThomas #LockBaxterUp
SYNOPSIS
The big bad Wolf is back, giving up his 'freedom' to investigate his bestie and mentor's apparent suicide.
MY OPINION
WARNING: You CANNOT read this as a standalone. This book picks up directly right after #2 Hangman and there's some clues from it that are critical to the case at hand here. The good thing is, these books aren't thicc like the ACOTAR series, so you should be able to get through them in a regular amount of time (whatever that is for you).
SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM
This was honestly serving banger alert until the whole pregnancy storyline with Baxter and Wolf. I'm not a medical professional but some of the math was not quite mathing. These two unhinged maniacs had unprotected sex on Jan. 9 but just one week later, Baxter was experiencing ALLLLLL thee pregnancy symptoms including food aversions. Ignoring the fact it would be rare for her to get pregnant one week prior to her period, experiencing all those symptoms that early are only possible if she's growing some kind of vampire baby a la Twilight.
Now I know Daniel Cole said he doesn't write things within the realm of reality but this is taking it too far LOL. I'm on board with the OTT Criminal Minds crime scene and all that, but all he had to do was push the timeline out a week for it to work. It seemed like he had already set his timeline for how the case would unravel and decided to add this lil razzle dazzle in, even though it made no damn sense.
And on top of this: Baxter does NOT deserve anything or anyone good in her life. Poor Thomas (her bf at the time she raw dawgs Wolf) has bent over backwards more time one can count to accommodate Baxter despite her bringing absolutely NOTHING to the table. Not only is she extremely selfish, she does not put any effort into her relationship, and then she has the audacity to be so hopeless in the kitchen, she fks up microwaving dessert. JFC. Idk if she had some kind of magic Pucci or something, but Thomas was blinder than a bat when it come to acknowledging her many bright red flags.
So after enduring Baxter's shitty ass behaviour and non-existent investigative skills (literally, why is she even here???), she gets the happiest ending out of everyone??? I think the fk NOT. Even Wolf's deranged and worryingly immature ass deserves a better woman that Baxter. Ok I need to chill with my Baxter rant LOL.
END OF SPOILERS
Other than Baxter being the world's biggest bummer, I liked this book much more than #2. I'm always a fan of a 'was it actually suicide??' case, so consider me tuned tf in. I enjoyed the dual timelines; the flashbacks with Finlay and Christian reminded me of that throwback Hitchcock and Scully episode from Brooklyn Nine Nine. While this book was predictable through and through, it was still a fun journey to see how it all unfolded. And the good news is, the yeetage of disbelief requirement is minimal — especially compared to book #2.
Again, Cole's effortless dry wit and humour shone through, making this book stand out amongst the others in its genre. I was creepin' on his instagram and saw he has something coming out in 2023... colour me intruigedth!!!! I really wish that Amazon Prime hadn't fumbled the ball so aggressively on the TV adaptation, because this would be a very entertaining show to watch.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fast-paced, fun ride, great characters (except for Baxter... GTFO!!!!), entertaining, satisfying conclusion to the trilogy
Cons: BAXTER!!!!!!, one of the storylines (see spoilers)
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
Writing: bangerlicious | Plot: solid for the most part | Ending: #JusticeForThomas #LockBaxterUp
SYNOPSIS
The big bad Wolf is back, giving up his 'freedom' to investigate his bestie and mentor's apparent suicide.
MY OPINION
WARNING: You CANNOT read this as a standalone. This book picks up directly right after #2 Hangman and there's some clues from it that are critical to the case at hand here. The good thing is, these books aren't thicc like the ACOTAR series, so you should be able to get through them in a regular amount of time (whatever that is for you).
SPOILERS ALERT. SCROLL TO BOTTOM
This was honestly serving banger alert until the whole pregnancy storyline with Baxter and Wolf. I'm not a medical professional but some of the math was not quite mathing. These two unhinged maniacs had unprotected sex on Jan. 9 but just one week later, Baxter was experiencing ALLLLLL thee pregnancy symptoms including food aversions. Ignoring the fact it would be rare for her to get pregnant one week prior to her period, experiencing all those symptoms that early are only possible if she's growing some kind of vampire baby a la Twilight.
Now I know Daniel Cole said he doesn't write things within the realm of reality but this is taking it too far LOL. I'm on board with the OTT Criminal Minds crime scene and all that, but all he had to do was push the timeline out a week for it to work. It seemed like he had already set his timeline for how the case would unravel and decided to add this lil razzle dazzle in, even though it made no damn sense.
And on top of this: Baxter does NOT deserve anything or anyone good in her life. Poor Thomas (her bf at the time she raw dawgs Wolf) has bent over backwards more time one can count to accommodate Baxter despite her bringing absolutely NOTHING to the table. Not only is she extremely selfish, she does not put any effort into her relationship, and then she has the audacity to be so hopeless in the kitchen, she fks up microwaving dessert. JFC. Idk if she had some kind of magic Pucci or something, but Thomas was blinder than a bat when it come to acknowledging her many bright red flags.
So after enduring Baxter's shitty ass behaviour and non-existent investigative skills (literally, why is she even here???), she gets the happiest ending out of everyone??? I think the fk NOT. Even Wolf's deranged and worryingly immature ass deserves a better woman that Baxter. Ok I need to chill with my Baxter rant LOL.
END OF SPOILERS
Other than Baxter being the world's biggest bummer, I liked this book much more than #2. I'm always a fan of a 'was it actually suicide??' case, so consider me tuned tf in. I enjoyed the dual timelines; the flashbacks with Finlay and Christian reminded me of that throwback Hitchcock and Scully episode from Brooklyn Nine Nine. While this book was predictable through and through, it was still a fun journey to see how it all unfolded. And the good news is, the yeetage of disbelief requirement is minimal — especially compared to book #2.
Again, Cole's effortless dry wit and humour shone through, making this book stand out amongst the others in its genre. I was creepin' on his instagram and saw he has something coming out in 2023... colour me intruigedth!!!! I really wish that Amazon Prime hadn't fumbled the ball so aggressively on the TV adaptation, because this would be a very entertaining show to watch.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: fast-paced, fun ride, great characters (except for Baxter... GTFO!!!!), entertaining, satisfying conclusion to the trilogy
Cons: BAXTER!!!!!!, one of the storylines (see spoilers)
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
October 13, 2019
I will give it 3.75 stars, in all actuality!
Daniel Cole brings his Ragdoll trilogy to an end with this novel, saving what he feels could be the best for last. While William ‘Wolf’ Fawkes evades capture by those he used to call colleagues, he is drawn to visit the home of someone close to him. The recent death of Finlay Shaw by suicide is troubling for many, none more than his wife, Maggie. That being said a curious Wolf refuses to believe that it was by Shaw’s own doing that he ended up with a gunshot to the head. While Wolf is hauled in to answer for his crimes, he is able to negotiate some reprieve as he looks into the case. When Wolf comes face to face with his former partner, Emily Baxter, it’s oil and water, leaving Wolf to try mending fences as best he can. The deeper the investigation goes, the more Wolf is sure he is on the right track. With a powerful new Police Commissioner calling the shots, Wolf becomes a target of a cover-up no one saw in the making. With certain chapters telling a detailed backstory of how Finlay and Maggie met and grew closer, the reader can see the pieces of the puzzle coming together before their eyes. Someone is pulling the strings and willing to silence anyone who may spill the beans. It’s a hunt for power in an endgame that is sure to spill a great deal of blood. Cole does well bringing things together, though leaves some key threads to dangle for what he references in his author’s note will be a fourth explosive novel. Recommended to those who enjoyed the series and want some closure.
I remember listening to the first two novels in the series and enjoying them to varying degrees. The themes that come up and the way Cole discusses them was always of interest to me. I felt less connected in this final piece, which is sad, as it seeks to collect the questions and provide needed answers. William Fawkes and Emily Baxter remain central characters, though their roles in this investigation have them working apart rather than in tandem. Their characters continue to advance and are pushed together in the middle of the novel, which turns out to loosely work in their favour, though creates a little drama for the reader to discover. Other characters make strong appearances throughout, including segments of a backstory with Finlay and Maggie, as well as a few other key players who reemerge in the present tale. Cole does well to develop these characters, weaving them into key plot lines and keeping the reader guessing. The overall story was decent and developed nicely, but it did not pack the punch I was hoping to get as I started the book. I wanted something sinister, that would blow my mind, but was instead given something that slowly emerged and offered some finality. Cole’s hinting at a new book that keeps some of the characters active has me curious, though he mentions new angles to the same cast, so perhaps the focus will shift to new eyes and dramatic situations. We shall see in the months to come!
Kudos, Mr. Cole, for a strong story, even if it was not my favourite. I have a great appreciation for your work and hope to feel more attached to your next publication.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Daniel Cole brings his Ragdoll trilogy to an end with this novel, saving what he feels could be the best for last. While William ‘Wolf’ Fawkes evades capture by those he used to call colleagues, he is drawn to visit the home of someone close to him. The recent death of Finlay Shaw by suicide is troubling for many, none more than his wife, Maggie. That being said a curious Wolf refuses to believe that it was by Shaw’s own doing that he ended up with a gunshot to the head. While Wolf is hauled in to answer for his crimes, he is able to negotiate some reprieve as he looks into the case. When Wolf comes face to face with his former partner, Emily Baxter, it’s oil and water, leaving Wolf to try mending fences as best he can. The deeper the investigation goes, the more Wolf is sure he is on the right track. With a powerful new Police Commissioner calling the shots, Wolf becomes a target of a cover-up no one saw in the making. With certain chapters telling a detailed backstory of how Finlay and Maggie met and grew closer, the reader can see the pieces of the puzzle coming together before their eyes. Someone is pulling the strings and willing to silence anyone who may spill the beans. It’s a hunt for power in an endgame that is sure to spill a great deal of blood. Cole does well bringing things together, though leaves some key threads to dangle for what he references in his author’s note will be a fourth explosive novel. Recommended to those who enjoyed the series and want some closure.
I remember listening to the first two novels in the series and enjoying them to varying degrees. The themes that come up and the way Cole discusses them was always of interest to me. I felt less connected in this final piece, which is sad, as it seeks to collect the questions and provide needed answers. William Fawkes and Emily Baxter remain central characters, though their roles in this investigation have them working apart rather than in tandem. Their characters continue to advance and are pushed together in the middle of the novel, which turns out to loosely work in their favour, though creates a little drama for the reader to discover. Other characters make strong appearances throughout, including segments of a backstory with Finlay and Maggie, as well as a few other key players who reemerge in the present tale. Cole does well to develop these characters, weaving them into key plot lines and keeping the reader guessing. The overall story was decent and developed nicely, but it did not pack the punch I was hoping to get as I started the book. I wanted something sinister, that would blow my mind, but was instead given something that slowly emerged and offered some finality. Cole’s hinting at a new book that keeps some of the characters active has me curious, though he mentions new angles to the same cast, so perhaps the focus will shift to new eyes and dramatic situations. We shall see in the months to come!
Kudos, Mr. Cole, for a strong story, even if it was not my favourite. I have a great appreciation for your work and hope to feel more attached to your next publication.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
June 17, 2019
The title says it all: Endgame. This is where it all comes together. Where questions and relationships are resolved. Where things… END????!!!
As usual, Daniel Cole opens with an author’s note. In the previous books this was used more as an amusing intro to his irreverent style, and this is still the case in this one, but primarily it's a warning to readers that this is the finale of a trilogy. Usually, when you’re reading crime fiction it’s easy enough to pick up the necessary detail for each instalment without having to work through the other books in series order, or sometimes even reading them at all. However, this is NOT the case here. There is so much in Endgame that directly references the past, bringing together plot and character arcs from the first two books, that you’d be missing half the story. At least. I'd read both Ragdoll and Hangman before and I STILL decided to do a reread because I wanted to make sure all the details were fresh in my mind. Both previous books are easy 5 star reads and genuinely good fun. Dark and gory, funny and clever. Start with Ragdoll and work your way through, you won’t regret it.
For those that are up-to-date, I’m going to keep this review as free of spoilers as possible. I mean, the blurb lets you know that the entire plot revolves around the death of a certain character so there’s not much I can do about that, but rest easy that I’m not here to spoil anyone’s fun…
*****
A member of the team is dead and it’s been ruled a suicide. It has to be. Fin’s fingerprints on the gun. The room locked from the inside. No evidence that anyone else was there.
Except Fawkes doesn’t believe it. His friend would never have killed himself, no matter what. And he’s willing to bank his freedom on it, maybe even his life.
So now the gang is back together (save the dead one) and it is TENSE. The ripples of past actions and the strain of the investigation into Finlay’s death increases the pressure on the already fraught relationships of the team. Right in the centre of it all is Wolf, finally under arrest but still fighting to find out what the hell happened to Finlay in that room. Anyone who knows him knows that he’s not about to let it go. And if someone else was involved, no way will it go unpunished. Several bad guys could attest to that, if they weren’t already dead. Yet his return has also thrown some lives into chaos. Baxter’s already got enough shit on her plate, and Wolf stomping his way through her life and work only serves to muck things up even further. On a positive note, it certainly brings her acerbic commentary to a whole new level. The attitude and snark they both bring to the book, and the series as a whole, is exquisite, the balance of competence and flawed personality creating characters that are beyond just likeable. They’re the ones to laugh with, to root for.
Information about the case is tantalisingly revealed, the narrative moving smoothly between the present and significant moments of the team’s past, adding new dimensions to relationships and offering alternative explanations for the kind of ‘truths’ around which characters have built their worlds. There are real surprises on offer, revelations that have the potential to change everything held back until the last minute. After all, this is the Endgame not only of the narrative arc we’ve been following through the last two books, but of threads woven way before that. Essential plot details, and not a little humour, are developed by well placed flashbacks to Fin’s early cases. These scenes have him and his partner acting as a kind of Scottish version of The Sweeney. It fits perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the novels since they all feel like they should be made into either a Hollywood film with an explosively huge budget or one of those cooly British tv series in the same vein as Luther or Line of Duty. But with more laughs. Everyone needs a few jokes to lighten the mood in the midst of death and disaster, right? And, as always with Daniel Cole, there’s no shortage of that. The book never lets up on the thrills, keeping the tension high right until the perfection of an ending.
I really hope there’s more to come, I’m not ready to let this lot go just yet.
ARC via Netgalley
As usual, Daniel Cole opens with an author’s note. In the previous books this was used more as an amusing intro to his irreverent style, and this is still the case in this one, but primarily it's a warning to readers that this is the finale of a trilogy. Usually, when you’re reading crime fiction it’s easy enough to pick up the necessary detail for each instalment without having to work through the other books in series order, or sometimes even reading them at all. However, this is NOT the case here. There is so much in Endgame that directly references the past, bringing together plot and character arcs from the first two books, that you’d be missing half the story. At least. I'd read both Ragdoll and Hangman before and I STILL decided to do a reread because I wanted to make sure all the details were fresh in my mind. Both previous books are easy 5 star reads and genuinely good fun. Dark and gory, funny and clever. Start with Ragdoll and work your way through, you won’t regret it.
For those that are up-to-date, I’m going to keep this review as free of spoilers as possible. I mean, the blurb lets you know that the entire plot revolves around the death of a certain character so there’s not much I can do about that, but rest easy that I’m not here to spoil anyone’s fun…
*****
A member of the team is dead and it’s been ruled a suicide. It has to be. Fin’s fingerprints on the gun. The room locked from the inside. No evidence that anyone else was there.
Except Fawkes doesn’t believe it. His friend would never have killed himself, no matter what. And he’s willing to bank his freedom on it, maybe even his life.
So now the gang is back together (save the dead one) and it is TENSE. The ripples of past actions and the strain of the investigation into Finlay’s death increases the pressure on the already fraught relationships of the team. Right in the centre of it all is Wolf, finally under arrest but still fighting to find out what the hell happened to Finlay in that room. Anyone who knows him knows that he’s not about to let it go. And if someone else was involved, no way will it go unpunished. Several bad guys could attest to that, if they weren’t already dead. Yet his return has also thrown some lives into chaos. Baxter’s already got enough shit on her plate, and Wolf stomping his way through her life and work only serves to muck things up even further. On a positive note, it certainly brings her acerbic commentary to a whole new level. The attitude and snark they both bring to the book, and the series as a whole, is exquisite, the balance of competence and flawed personality creating characters that are beyond just likeable. They’re the ones to laugh with, to root for.
Information about the case is tantalisingly revealed, the narrative moving smoothly between the present and significant moments of the team’s past, adding new dimensions to relationships and offering alternative explanations for the kind of ‘truths’ around which characters have built their worlds. There are real surprises on offer, revelations that have the potential to change everything held back until the last minute. After all, this is the Endgame not only of the narrative arc we’ve been following through the last two books, but of threads woven way before that. Essential plot details, and not a little humour, are developed by well placed flashbacks to Fin’s early cases. These scenes have him and his partner acting as a kind of Scottish version of The Sweeney. It fits perfectly with the overall aesthetic of the novels since they all feel like they should be made into either a Hollywood film with an explosively huge budget or one of those cooly British tv series in the same vein as Luther or Line of Duty. But with more laughs. Everyone needs a few jokes to lighten the mood in the midst of death and disaster, right? And, as always with Daniel Cole, there’s no shortage of that. The book never lets up on the thrills, keeping the tension high right until the perfection of an ending.
I really hope there’s more to come, I’m not ready to let this lot go just yet.
ARC via Netgalley
January 7, 2020
Clever! Clever! Clever!
Gripping is an understatement for this un-put-down-able final book in the trilogy. And what an ending!
Loved it!
Gripping is an understatement for this un-put-down-able final book in the trilogy. And what an ending!
Loved it!
February 9, 2023
Third book in the series of “Fawkes & Baxter” is an awesome finish to this fast paced, heart throbbing thriller by Daniel Cole. I really enjoyed this trilogy! Smartly written with a lot of humor. If you are interested in this series, please start from book one, The Ragdoll. There is a flow to the characters and the plot over three books. You will miss a lot of the connections and references to the intricate details if you don’t start from the beginning. None of the books can be read as a standalone.
We follow the love/hate relationship between two police detectives Baxter and Fawkes AKA Wolf solving gruesome crimes taking place in London and New York City. Each story is fast paced and cleverly written with parts that made me laugh out loud. There are also many supporting characters which we follow in each book that I immensely connected with and relished their friendship with the two main characters.
Towards the end Daniel Cole strongly suggests that there may be a fourth book in the horizon. I am keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoy!
We follow the love/hate relationship between two police detectives Baxter and Fawkes AKA Wolf solving gruesome crimes taking place in London and New York City. Each story is fast paced and cleverly written with parts that made me laugh out loud. There are also many supporting characters which we follow in each book that I immensely connected with and relished their friendship with the two main characters.
Towards the end Daniel Cole strongly suggests that there may be a fourth book in the horizon. I am keeping my fingers crossed 🤞
A solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Enjoy!
March 23, 2024
A brilliant end to a brilliant series! Really gripping and gritty, with a neat, detailed and not completely unrealistic resolution to all story threads which I appreciate
May 8, 2021
I spent probaby the first quarter confused and trying to recall who was who and who had done what, with who and why ( these books are character rich ) after that a bit of time not caring but then the rest of the book enjoying
I have had a love/ not hate but not love relationship with this trilogy, loved Book 2 after a lukewarmish start with Book 1 and yet I didn’t consider not finishing all 3, the writing is different, as said before it’s littered with very dark humour and I wouldn’t say unputdownable, more annoyingly gottoseeithroughable!
This story focuses on the law enforcers, no extra baddies but there is more than enough bad to go round without any added from external sources
I sighed when finished, not sure if relief really but am glad read the books and went and had a look at ‘Mimic’ the authors new book due out this year that isen’t related to this series, and put it on my TBR list 😎
7/10
3.5 Stars and for the trilogy
7/10
3.5 Stars
I have had a love/ not hate but not love relationship with this trilogy, loved Book 2 after a lukewarmish start with Book 1 and yet I didn’t consider not finishing all 3, the writing is different, as said before it’s littered with very dark humour and I wouldn’t say unputdownable, more annoyingly gottoseeithroughable!
This story focuses on the law enforcers, no extra baddies but there is more than enough bad to go round without any added from external sources
I sighed when finished, not sure if relief really but am glad read the books and went and had a look at ‘Mimic’ the authors new book due out this year that isen’t related to this series, and put it on my TBR list 😎
7/10
3.5 Stars and for the trilogy
7/10
3.5 Stars
November 9, 2021
3.75 stars
June 30, 2019
“De wolven - Daniel Cole”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In het begin wat moeilijker te volgen, er wordt weinig herhaald uit de vorige delen. Op zich goed, omdat je dan meer NIEUW verhaal hebt :D Maar, soms wat moeilijk als het al wat langer geleden was dat je deel 2 las.
Top verhaal (opnieuw), leuk geschreven, leest vlot & verrast regelmatig de lezer doorheen het hele boek. Alles valt op z'n plooi.👌
Ik krijg nu wel de indruk dat dit het laatste boek is van de reeks. :o Hopelijk is dat niet het geval OF volgt er nog een evengoede serie ;)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In het begin wat moeilijker te volgen, er wordt weinig herhaald uit de vorige delen. Op zich goed, omdat je dan meer NIEUW verhaal hebt :D Maar, soms wat moeilijk als het al wat langer geleden was dat je deel 2 las.
Top verhaal (opnieuw), leuk geschreven, leest vlot & verrast regelmatig de lezer doorheen het hele boek. Alles valt op z'n plooi.👌
Ik krijg nu wel de indruk dat dit het laatste boek is van de reeks. :o Hopelijk is dat niet het geval OF volgt er nog een evengoede serie ;)
June 4, 2019
Toppertje, zoals de vorige boeken
June 2, 2020
3.5 stars
Again an easy read, suspenseful enough to keep me focused even though this was an audiobook (narrated by Jelle Amersfoort***) which I often find difficult to focus on. Baxter was insufferable as usual. Would've liked if Rouche and Edmunds had played a bigger part (I'm all for a Rouche-Edmunds spin-off lol).
Again an easy read, suspenseful enough to keep me focused even though this was an audiobook (narrated by Jelle Amersfoort***) which I often find difficult to focus on. Baxter was insufferable as usual. Would've liked if Rouche and Edmunds had played a bigger part (I'm all for a Rouche-Edmunds spin-off lol).
April 23, 2021
Ik vond dit deel wel oké. Ik heb me vermaakt en ik wilde weten hoe het zou aflopen, maar wie er nou precies achter zat, dat werd al vrij snel duidelijk gemaakt. Ook vond ik het einde wat teleurstellend, ik vond dat het vrij snel gebeurde en ook dat het meer werd verteld dan dat ik zelf kon lezen wat er precies is gebeurd. De stukjes ‘geschiedenis’ vond ik ook niet zo boeiend, ook al waren ze nodig voor het geheel.
March 2, 2023
De Wolven is het derde deel in de Ragdoll-trilogie. Baxter heeft het niet makkelijk gehad in de eerste twee delen en in deel drie zit het nog steeds niet mee voor haar. Haar privéleven en werkleven zijn een puinhoop..
Ik ben geen fan van de schrijfstijl van Daniel Cole, maar de personages vind ik interessant en ik wilde natuurlijk weten hoe het eindigde. Ik vloog door dit boek heen, soms stond er ook maar 1 zin op een bladzijde omdat het net niet paste voor het nieuwe hoofdstuk..
Blij dat ik het gelezen heb, maar ik ga deze serie niet herlezen.
Ik ben geen fan van de schrijfstijl van Daniel Cole, maar de personages vind ik interessant en ik wilde natuurlijk weten hoe het eindigde. Ik vloog door dit boek heen, soms stond er ook maar 1 zin op een bladzijde omdat het net niet paste voor het nieuwe hoofdstuk..
Blij dat ik het gelezen heb, maar ik ga deze serie niet herlezen.
July 20, 2019
The third book is completely different as the other 2, but is it a bad thing. Well, I didn’t thinks so. Really enjoyed the plot and how a lot of stories that were still pending got an ending.
October 26, 2022
Este libro pertenece a una serie del autor. La gran pregunta: ¿se puede leer de manera individual? Poder se puede, pero hay muchos detalles que se pierden. Aunque son casos independientes, siempre hay tramas que permanecen a lo largo de una serie y que, sin leer los anteriores, no disfrutas plenamente. Mi consejo es que si os llama la atención, os leáis los anteriores antes de leer este.
Partida final tiene una trama adictiva e intrigante, de esas que te dejan sin respiración. El ritmo es muy rápido y a cualquier amante de los thrillers le va a encantar.
Los investigadores son muy particulares y carismáticos. Son uno de los pilares fundamentales de esta obra.
Pese a ser un thriller bastante oscuro también hay momentos de humor, algo que se agradece bastante para contrarrestar.
Aunque a priori parece el libro que cierra una trilogía, deja la puerta abierta a que el autor continúe con la serie. Y no me sorprendería que se hiciese alguna serie o película con sus obras porque este thriller llevado a la gran pantalla sería todo un lujo.
En resumen: un thriller retorcido con una trama muy bien montada y grandes giros. Unos personajes muy carismáticos capaces de dejarte sin respiración y también sacarte alguna sonrisa. No deberíamos perder de vista a este autor.
Partida final tiene una trama adictiva e intrigante, de esas que te dejan sin respiración. El ritmo es muy rápido y a cualquier amante de los thrillers le va a encantar.
Los investigadores son muy particulares y carismáticos. Son uno de los pilares fundamentales de esta obra.
Pese a ser un thriller bastante oscuro también hay momentos de humor, algo que se agradece bastante para contrarrestar.
Aunque a priori parece el libro que cierra una trilogía, deja la puerta abierta a que el autor continúe con la serie. Y no me sorprendería que se hiciese alguna serie o película con sus obras porque este thriller llevado a la gran pantalla sería todo un lujo.
En resumen: un thriller retorcido con una trama muy bien montada y grandes giros. Unos personajes muy carismáticos capaces de dejarte sin respiración y también sacarte alguna sonrisa. No deberíamos perder de vista a este autor.
July 1, 2019
Wat een teleurstelling was dit boek zeg. Op de achterflap stond 'Een bloedstollende race tegen de klok', die ik volgens mij gemist heb. Ik vond het totaal niet bloedstollend, soms zelfs saai.
Wat ik vooral echt miste was een terugblik op de vorige boeken, ik wist echt niet meer waar die over gingen en daardoor was ik het grootste deel van het boek de weg kwijt. Ook de hoeveelheid personages die erin spelen zorgden ervoor dat ik regelmatig de weg kwijt was.
Het boek kreeg er een ster bij door een klein deel van de plot die ik niet had aan zien komen en die ik origineel vond, maar verder vond ik er maar weinig aan.
Wat ik vooral echt miste was een terugblik op de vorige boeken, ik wist echt niet meer waar die over gingen en daardoor was ik het grootste deel van het boek de weg kwijt. Ook de hoeveelheid personages die erin spelen zorgden ervoor dat ik regelmatig de weg kwijt was.
Het boek kreeg er een ster bij door een klein deel van de plot die ik niet had aan zien komen en die ik origineel vond, maar verder vond ik er maar weinig aan.
July 5, 2019
A cracking thriller laced with some fantastic twists in the tail!
What begins as a locked room mystery spirals 40 years back in time to a deadly secret shared between two police officers responsible for a major drugs bust when they were young cops in Glasgow.
The story opens with the seeming suicide of retired policeman Finlay "Fin" Shaw, long time mentor of disgraced detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes. But Wolf refuses to believe that Fin would take his own life. He bargains with his superiors to be allowed to investigate this mysterious death.
Along with his former partner Detective Emily Baxter, Wolf's team delve back in police files to 1979 when Fin and his colleague - now Commissioner of London's Metropolitan police - risked their lives in a blazing building to foil a criminal gang's major heroin smuggling operation. Up to date forensic science blends with piles of musty files as the detectives struggle to find out how the past affects the present.
The frantic action swings back and forth 40 years to the present day, with Fawkes facing imprisonment for his previous misdemeanours while Baxter has a secret which could see her also end up in jail. The team's personal relationships become tangled up with their investigation. As they carry out their work, Fawkes and Baxter struggle to deal with their feelings for each other amid swathes of bloody violence and dark humour.
Throughout the story, there's a feeling that strings are being pulled and all is not as it seems. What is certain is that Fawkes is determined to discover the truth about his friend's death whatever the cost to him and his team.
This is the final part of a trilogy, although hopefully it's not the end of Fawkes and Baxter books. I'd urge anyone to read "Ragdoll" and "Hangman" - the first 2 books in this series - as it could get very confusing reading this as a stand alone. A terrific read, recommended for all crime thriller fans.
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group/Trapeze and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
What begins as a locked room mystery spirals 40 years back in time to a deadly secret shared between two police officers responsible for a major drugs bust when they were young cops in Glasgow.
The story opens with the seeming suicide of retired policeman Finlay "Fin" Shaw, long time mentor of disgraced detective William 'Wolf' Fawkes. But Wolf refuses to believe that Fin would take his own life. He bargains with his superiors to be allowed to investigate this mysterious death.
Along with his former partner Detective Emily Baxter, Wolf's team delve back in police files to 1979 when Fin and his colleague - now Commissioner of London's Metropolitan police - risked their lives in a blazing building to foil a criminal gang's major heroin smuggling operation. Up to date forensic science blends with piles of musty files as the detectives struggle to find out how the past affects the present.
The frantic action swings back and forth 40 years to the present day, with Fawkes facing imprisonment for his previous misdemeanours while Baxter has a secret which could see her also end up in jail. The team's personal relationships become tangled up with their investigation. As they carry out their work, Fawkes and Baxter struggle to deal with their feelings for each other amid swathes of bloody violence and dark humour.
Throughout the story, there's a feeling that strings are being pulled and all is not as it seems. What is certain is that Fawkes is determined to discover the truth about his friend's death whatever the cost to him and his team.
This is the final part of a trilogy, although hopefully it's not the end of Fawkes and Baxter books. I'd urge anyone to read "Ragdoll" and "Hangman" - the first 2 books in this series - as it could get very confusing reading this as a stand alone. A terrific read, recommended for all crime thriller fans.
My thanks to Orion Publishing Group/Trapeze and NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
May 28, 2019
De eerste twee boeken heb ik werkelijk verslonden, en dus zat ik met spanning te wachten op dit derde deel. Marionet oversteeg naar mijn idee Ragdoll, dus wat zou er nu gebeuren?
Vooropgesteld: ik denk dat ieder die de eerste twee delen (gelezen) heeft, zeker blij zal zijn met dit boek. Het is zelfs zo dat je dit niet moet pakken als je de eerdere delen niet kent. Maar.... het haalt het niet bij de vorigen. Zo luguber en spannend is het niet meer.
In mijn ogen niet meer dan een aardige afsluiter. Beetje jammer...
Vooropgesteld: ik denk dat ieder die de eerste twee delen (gelezen) heeft, zeker blij zal zijn met dit boek. Het is zelfs zo dat je dit niet moet pakken als je de eerdere delen niet kent. Maar.... het haalt het niet bij de vorigen. Zo luguber en spannend is het niet meer.
In mijn ogen niet meer dan een aardige afsluiter. Beetje jammer...
July 25, 2022
El libro ha estado bien. No ha sido el ritmo tan ágil como los otros dos pero ha tenido sus puntos de humor.
En este libro se tratan varios puntos: la investigación de la muerte de Finlay y la aparición de Wolf después de 18 meses. Ya en el prólogo, el autor - Daniel Cole - habla que aunque al principio había pensado en una trilogía pero que se ha animado y que habla de un cuarto libro. No sé si lo tiene escrito o está en ello, pero hay una historia que evocan de pasada e imagino que será esa la historia.
Recomiendo el libro.
En este libro se tratan varios puntos: la investigación de la muerte de Finlay y la aparición de Wolf después de 18 meses. Ya en el prólogo, el autor - Daniel Cole - habla que aunque al principio había pensado en una trilogía pero que se ha animado y que habla de un cuarto libro. No sé si lo tiene escrito o está en ello, pero hay una historia que evocan de pasada e imagino que será esa la historia.
Recomiendo el libro.
November 4, 2021
Nu cred că o să mă satur vreodată de această serie fenomenală. Am așteptat cu mare nerăbdare volumul 3 și sunt foarte încântată de faptul că acesta nu va fi și sfârșitul jocului. Romanul de față ne pune în fața unor probleme din trecutul personajelor ce își găsesc rezolvare abia acum. Povestea Păpușarului și a marionetelor sale este lăsată puțin deoparte, accentul fiind pus pe secretele unor oameni sus puși, ce au repecursiuni grave și pe modul inteligent în care acestea sunt scoase la lumină - asta nu înseamnă că volumul este lipsit de suspans, acțiune și crime complicate.
Pe departe, cel mai controversat, misterios și jovial personaj din întreaga serie este Lupul sau oficial Detectiv William Fawkes. Pe cât de inteligent, pe atât de nătărău, Lupul este cel care aduce umor în carte, cel care aduce acel ceva specific doar autorului Daniel Cole. Am spus misterios și controversat, pentru că nu știi niciodată ce îi coace mintea, de unde scoate un cadavru sau cum ajunge să se bage în cele mai ciudate necazuri. Cu o viață destul de complicată, Fawkes este cel mai bun polițist, motiv pentru care i se și spune Lupul - poate mirosi un caz sau un suspect de la o poștă. Însă atunci când vine vorba de problemele din viața personală, lucrurile sunt cât se poate de încețoșate și încâlcite. Cu un instinct animalic pentru depistarea crimelor, el nu poate să-și dea seama când e mai bine să tacă pentru a nu stârni furia femeilor din jurul său.
Personajele feminine, în frunte cu detectiv Baxter, ocupă un loc foarte important în acest roman. femeile, fără vreo nuanță feministă, sunt cele care salvează situația, cele care sunt suficient de frumoase și inteligente să se infiltreze acolo unde trebuie pentru a smulge mărturisirile ce pot salva viața altcuiva.
Daniel Cole tratează subiecte serioase, morbide cu un umor ce știrbește gravitatea faptelor.Întotdeauna viața personală se amestecă cu cea profesională, ceea ce creează o presiune imensă asupra personajelor. Din acest motiv, glumele, ironia, sarcasmul - mecanisme de supraviețuire - sunt nelipsite din întreaga serie, ce este construită impecabil. Cu toate astea, autorul a luat anumite decizii destul de șocante și pripite, care nu sunt foarte justificate. Nu o să vă spun despre ce e vorba, pentru că asta ar însemna să vă dau un mare spoiler, dar vă pot spune că alege să-și pună personajele în niște situații ce par incompatibile cu personalitățile lor foarte puternice și diferite.
Dacă ați fost alături de Faukes și de Baxter în primele două părți, trebuie să-i urmați și în cea de-a treia, în care piesele lipsă din puzzle sunt așezate acolo unde trebuie. Abia aștept să văd ce ne mai pregătește autorul în continuare... dar până atunci vă recomand din tot sufletul această serie plină de crime grotești, prietenii false, personaje memorabile, mai ales cele secundare, și acțiune cât cuprinde.
Pe departe, cel mai controversat, misterios și jovial personaj din întreaga serie este Lupul sau oficial Detectiv William Fawkes. Pe cât de inteligent, pe atât de nătărău, Lupul este cel care aduce umor în carte, cel care aduce acel ceva specific doar autorului Daniel Cole. Am spus misterios și controversat, pentru că nu știi niciodată ce îi coace mintea, de unde scoate un cadavru sau cum ajunge să se bage în cele mai ciudate necazuri. Cu o viață destul de complicată, Fawkes este cel mai bun polițist, motiv pentru care i se și spune Lupul - poate mirosi un caz sau un suspect de la o poștă. Însă atunci când vine vorba de problemele din viața personală, lucrurile sunt cât se poate de încețoșate și încâlcite. Cu un instinct animalic pentru depistarea crimelor, el nu poate să-și dea seama când e mai bine să tacă pentru a nu stârni furia femeilor din jurul său.
Personajele feminine, în frunte cu detectiv Baxter, ocupă un loc foarte important în acest roman. femeile, fără vreo nuanță feministă, sunt cele care salvează situația, cele care sunt suficient de frumoase și inteligente să se infiltreze acolo unde trebuie pentru a smulge mărturisirile ce pot salva viața altcuiva.
Daniel Cole tratează subiecte serioase, morbide cu un umor ce știrbește gravitatea faptelor.Întotdeauna viața personală se amestecă cu cea profesională, ceea ce creează o presiune imensă asupra personajelor. Din acest motiv, glumele, ironia, sarcasmul - mecanisme de supraviețuire - sunt nelipsite din întreaga serie, ce este construită impecabil. Cu toate astea, autorul a luat anumite decizii destul de șocante și pripite, care nu sunt foarte justificate. Nu o să vă spun despre ce e vorba, pentru că asta ar însemna să vă dau un mare spoiler, dar vă pot spune că alege să-și pună personajele în niște situații ce par incompatibile cu personalitățile lor foarte puternice și diferite.
Dacă ați fost alături de Faukes și de Baxter în primele două părți, trebuie să-i urmați și în cea de-a treia, în care piesele lipsă din puzzle sunt așezate acolo unde trebuie. Abia aștept să văd ce ne mai pregătește autorul în continuare... dar până atunci vă recomand din tot sufletul această serie plină de crime grotești, prietenii false, personaje memorabile, mai ales cele secundare, și acțiune cât cuprinde.
December 10, 2019
The third and final book in this trilogy although based on the blurb at the beginning maybe not the true end and I hope that's the case as this set of books has been one of my favourites in recent years. I've enjoyed the crimes, the relationships and the humour in all three.
This time retired police office (& mentor to Wolf) Finlay Shaw is found dead of an apparent suicide and classed as such due to the locked room however the team don't believe he could have done that and so look for evidence to prove otherwise. You find out the truth and the killer identity quite early on and then it's more a race to find the evidence and bring about justice. Within this you get some flashbacks to Shaw's past which links into how he ended up dying.
It's very fast paced, all the loose ends of the trilogy are tied up at the end. It does help if you have read the previous two books as there are lots of references back to them. Overall an excellent end to an excellent series and I can't wait to see what the author writes next
This time retired police office (& mentor to Wolf) Finlay Shaw is found dead of an apparent suicide and classed as such due to the locked room however the team don't believe he could have done that and so look for evidence to prove otherwise. You find out the truth and the killer identity quite early on and then it's more a race to find the evidence and bring about justice. Within this you get some flashbacks to Shaw's past which links into how he ended up dying.
It's very fast paced, all the loose ends of the trilogy are tied up at the end. It does help if you have read the previous two books as there are lots of references back to them. Overall an excellent end to an excellent series and I can't wait to see what the author writes next
February 3, 2022
Het is eigenlijk gewoon een doorsnee thriller met wat zaken uit de eerste twee delen die nu opgelost raken/uitgediept worden. Om het zo toch maar een serie te noemen denk ik, haha. Ik ben niet overtuigd van dit deel want deel 1, ragdol, was zo extreem goed en spannend dat dit wat tegenvalt op dat vlak. Maar goed, het is geen slecht boek.
June 21, 2019
William Fawkes, of ook beter gekend als ‘Wolf’, arriveert bij het huis van zijn
mentor en goede vriend Finlay Shaw. Wolf, die achttien maanden geleden als
sneeuw voor de zon verdween, duikt weer op omdat Finlay zelfmoord heeft
gepleegd. Alleen is Wolf ervan overtuigd dat dit niet het geval is. Zijn vriend zou
nooit zelfmoord plegen en bovendien zou hij nimmer zijn echtgenote Maggie
alleen achtergelaten. Wolf wist dat de politie op de loer lag, maar na
Finlay’s dood kon hij niet anders dan naar Maggie gaan. Terwijl Wolf nog maar
juist in het huis is valt de politie al binnen om hem te arresteren.
Wolf was na de Lappenpopmoordenaar verdwenen en er worden hem nu
verscheidene dingen ten laste gelegd. Commissaris Vanita die Wolfs bloed kan
drinken, is in haar nopjes met het feit dat ze hem heeft kunnen arresteren.
Tijdens zijn afwezigheid heeft hij ook niet stil gezeten en hij kan een deal sluiten
met Vanita en Hoofdcommissaris Christian Bellamy. Hij mag Finlay’s zogenaamde
zelfmoord onderzoeken en daar krijgt hij wel gepast vijf dagen de tijd voor om
met concrete resultaten te komen.
Vijf voormalige en huidige rechercheurs van Moordzaken, nl. Edmunds, Baxter,
Wolf, Saunders en Christian beginnen aan de zaak te werken. Baxter, die haar
wonden nog aan het likken is van wat er een maand voordien is gebeurd, is niet
opgezet met Wolfs terugkeer en is woest omdat ze al die tijd niets van hem heeft
vernomen. En zo heeft ieder op zich nog wel geheimen waarvan ze liefst niet
willen dat die boven water komen.
Doordat ze Finlay’s moord bekend hebben gemaakt, hebben ze tevens de box
van Pandora geopend; iemand wil kost wat kost vermijden dat de waarheid aan
het licht komt … het wordt een race tegen de klok!
Zalig was het weer om een boek van Daniel Cole te lezen en ik had lang
uitgekeken naar dit deel. Ik wilde weten hoe het verder ging na Marionet en
vooral of en hoe Wolf terug zou komen. Dit is heel aardig gelukt en de toon van
het verhaal was meteen gezet. Baxter en Wolf moeten de rangen sluiten om het
mysterie rond Finlay op te lossen. Alle personages van zowel Ragdoll als
Marionet komen terug aan bod en het is als lezer prettig om te lezen hoe ze
doorheen de tijd zijn geëvolueerd, zowel op professioneel als privévlak. De
verstandhoudingen tussen de personages zijn zeer goed uitgewerkt en door de
vele emoties die Cole erin legt hebben ze een diepgang. Dit zowel bij de hoofd-
als bijpersonages. En wat voor een heerlijke vent is die Wolf toch! Trekt zich van
God en klein Pierke niets aan, heeft een eigen mind-set, een doorgedreven
willetje en kan het ook niet laten om af en toe tegen iemands schenen te
schoppen en last but not least: hij provoceert graag! Wolf geeft door dit alles een
extra cachet aan het verhaal!
Zoals we ondertussen van Cole gewend zijn, worden de hoofdstukken tussen
heden en verleden ingedeeld. Deze gaan van 1979 tot en met 2016 en in
onwillekeurige volgorde. Door dit is het soms wel even opletten maar dat maakt
het verhaal des te spannender en op die manier kom je ook te weten hoe de
vork in de steel zit. Dat neemt niet weg dat je het einde zo al kan voorspellen,
Cole zou Cole niet zijn om er een geweldig plot aan te geven. En wat de auteur
ook heeft, is een geweldige humor. Van die lekkere sarcastische zwarte humor,
helemaal mijn ding! Ik heb dan ook meerdere keren in een deuk gelegen van het
lachen en de manier waarop hij dit verweeft in het verhaal, is echt hilarisch met
momenten.
Dit verhaal is meer een psychologische thriller, hier zijn geen moorden aan de
lopende band maar is het meer een kat-en-muisspel. Doordat Cole een
begenadigd verteller is, ben je als het ware aan het boek gekluisterd. Want wie
kun je in dit verhaal vertrouwen? Wie is vriend en vijand?
Het is ten zeerste aangeraden om Ragdoll en Marionet te lezen want dit boek
vereist dat wel. Door alle gebeurtenissen en personages die in de vorige delen er
ook bij waren, kom je nu tot de slotconclusie en ieder op zich heeft wel een
belangrijke rol gespeeld in deze drie delen.
Ook hier weer heeft de uitgeverij geopteerd om hetzelfde te doen met de rug van
het boek; die is doorschijnend en daar zie je dat het boek is samengebonden met
ditmaal groen garen. Enige voorzichtigheid is hier wel geboden omdat het heel
fragiel is!
Spijtig dat deze trilogie ten einde is, ik zou nog meer verhalen van Wolf & Co
kunnen lezen. Hopelijk komt de auteur vlug met iets nieuw op de proppen want
zijn verhalen zijn verslavend!
Wolf is terug en dat zul je wel degelijk merken! 5 sterren voor deze pageturner.
mentor en goede vriend Finlay Shaw. Wolf, die achttien maanden geleden als
sneeuw voor de zon verdween, duikt weer op omdat Finlay zelfmoord heeft
gepleegd. Alleen is Wolf ervan overtuigd dat dit niet het geval is. Zijn vriend zou
nooit zelfmoord plegen en bovendien zou hij nimmer zijn echtgenote Maggie
alleen achtergelaten. Wolf wist dat de politie op de loer lag, maar na
Finlay’s dood kon hij niet anders dan naar Maggie gaan. Terwijl Wolf nog maar
juist in het huis is valt de politie al binnen om hem te arresteren.
Wolf was na de Lappenpopmoordenaar verdwenen en er worden hem nu
verscheidene dingen ten laste gelegd. Commissaris Vanita die Wolfs bloed kan
drinken, is in haar nopjes met het feit dat ze hem heeft kunnen arresteren.
Tijdens zijn afwezigheid heeft hij ook niet stil gezeten en hij kan een deal sluiten
met Vanita en Hoofdcommissaris Christian Bellamy. Hij mag Finlay’s zogenaamde
zelfmoord onderzoeken en daar krijgt hij wel gepast vijf dagen de tijd voor om
met concrete resultaten te komen.
Vijf voormalige en huidige rechercheurs van Moordzaken, nl. Edmunds, Baxter,
Wolf, Saunders en Christian beginnen aan de zaak te werken. Baxter, die haar
wonden nog aan het likken is van wat er een maand voordien is gebeurd, is niet
opgezet met Wolfs terugkeer en is woest omdat ze al die tijd niets van hem heeft
vernomen. En zo heeft ieder op zich nog wel geheimen waarvan ze liefst niet
willen dat die boven water komen.
Doordat ze Finlay’s moord bekend hebben gemaakt, hebben ze tevens de box
van Pandora geopend; iemand wil kost wat kost vermijden dat de waarheid aan
het licht komt … het wordt een race tegen de klok!
Zalig was het weer om een boek van Daniel Cole te lezen en ik had lang
uitgekeken naar dit deel. Ik wilde weten hoe het verder ging na Marionet en
vooral of en hoe Wolf terug zou komen. Dit is heel aardig gelukt en de toon van
het verhaal was meteen gezet. Baxter en Wolf moeten de rangen sluiten om het
mysterie rond Finlay op te lossen. Alle personages van zowel Ragdoll als
Marionet komen terug aan bod en het is als lezer prettig om te lezen hoe ze
doorheen de tijd zijn geëvolueerd, zowel op professioneel als privévlak. De
verstandhoudingen tussen de personages zijn zeer goed uitgewerkt en door de
vele emoties die Cole erin legt hebben ze een diepgang. Dit zowel bij de hoofd-
als bijpersonages. En wat voor een heerlijke vent is die Wolf toch! Trekt zich van
God en klein Pierke niets aan, heeft een eigen mind-set, een doorgedreven
willetje en kan het ook niet laten om af en toe tegen iemands schenen te
schoppen en last but not least: hij provoceert graag! Wolf geeft door dit alles een
extra cachet aan het verhaal!
Zoals we ondertussen van Cole gewend zijn, worden de hoofdstukken tussen
heden en verleden ingedeeld. Deze gaan van 1979 tot en met 2016 en in
onwillekeurige volgorde. Door dit is het soms wel even opletten maar dat maakt
het verhaal des te spannender en op die manier kom je ook te weten hoe de
vork in de steel zit. Dat neemt niet weg dat je het einde zo al kan voorspellen,
Cole zou Cole niet zijn om er een geweldig plot aan te geven. En wat de auteur
ook heeft, is een geweldige humor. Van die lekkere sarcastische zwarte humor,
helemaal mijn ding! Ik heb dan ook meerdere keren in een deuk gelegen van het
lachen en de manier waarop hij dit verweeft in het verhaal, is echt hilarisch met
momenten.
Dit verhaal is meer een psychologische thriller, hier zijn geen moorden aan de
lopende band maar is het meer een kat-en-muisspel. Doordat Cole een
begenadigd verteller is, ben je als het ware aan het boek gekluisterd. Want wie
kun je in dit verhaal vertrouwen? Wie is vriend en vijand?
Het is ten zeerste aangeraden om Ragdoll en Marionet te lezen want dit boek
vereist dat wel. Door alle gebeurtenissen en personages die in de vorige delen er
ook bij waren, kom je nu tot de slotconclusie en ieder op zich heeft wel een
belangrijke rol gespeeld in deze drie delen.
Ook hier weer heeft de uitgeverij geopteerd om hetzelfde te doen met de rug van
het boek; die is doorschijnend en daar zie je dat het boek is samengebonden met
ditmaal groen garen. Enige voorzichtigheid is hier wel geboden omdat het heel
fragiel is!
Spijtig dat deze trilogie ten einde is, ik zou nog meer verhalen van Wolf & Co
kunnen lezen. Hopelijk komt de auteur vlug met iets nieuw op de proppen want
zijn verhalen zijn verslavend!
Wolf is terug en dat zul je wel degelijk merken! 5 sterren voor deze pageturner.
August 23, 2019
I loved the premise of the book, a retired cop Finlay Shaw was found dead in a sealed room, locked from inside with a gunshot wound. A suicide it was presumed. Detective Wolf Fawkes thought otherwise, was called to investigate his friend's death.
My first book by author Daniel Cole, I went in blind, not knowing this was the third in the series. Having not read the first two, I was at a distinct disadvantage in understanding the subtle politics and the past skirmishes between the various characters. The author too did not give me any hint of the past two books. But I treated the story as a murder investigation and ignored the subtle byplay which happened in the sidelines.
Dark humor adorned the story, tight plot marked the pages, the twists and turns brought the past of these cops to light. A banger of a story, this book was fast paced where the author's writing showed his mastery over words. He kept the information about the past flowing into the present under a tight leash making it an edge of the seat kind of a story.
The characters seemed strong yet flawed so they became real over the course of the chapters. Action interspersed, the tension in the scenes raised the pressure right up to the very end. Needing to get to the killer was not only Wolf's aim, but it soon became mine. Turning the pages was the target. A high riding crime thriller, I would say!!
My first book by author Daniel Cole, I went in blind, not knowing this was the third in the series. Having not read the first two, I was at a distinct disadvantage in understanding the subtle politics and the past skirmishes between the various characters. The author too did not give me any hint of the past two books. But I treated the story as a murder investigation and ignored the subtle byplay which happened in the sidelines.
Dark humor adorned the story, tight plot marked the pages, the twists and turns brought the past of these cops to light. A banger of a story, this book was fast paced where the author's writing showed his mastery over words. He kept the information about the past flowing into the present under a tight leash making it an edge of the seat kind of a story.
The characters seemed strong yet flawed so they became real over the course of the chapters. Action interspersed, the tension in the scenes raised the pressure right up to the very end. Needing to get to the killer was not only Wolf's aim, but it soon became mine. Turning the pages was the target. A high riding crime thriller, I would say!!
November 11, 2021
Fan service total... como ambientación para encuadrar la serie o películas está bien, como tercera parte, pierde.
Aquí Finlay está muerto y hay que saber qué ha pasado. Vuelve Wolf... y una investigación con poca chicha. Volvemos a tener un malo random, que ha habido 2 libros para meterlo, pues no, aparece aquí (cuando se supone que está ahí desde siempre)... y esos personajes tan potentes que arrastramos de los dos libros anteriores aquí se diluyen y se pierden (Andrea, Edmunds, Rouche...). Y el final? Fan service. Desilusión.
Aquí Finlay está muerto y hay que saber qué ha pasado. Vuelve Wolf... y una investigación con poca chicha. Volvemos a tener un malo random, que ha habido 2 libros para meterlo, pues no, aparece aquí (cuando se supone que está ahí desde siempre)... y esos personajes tan potentes que arrastramos de los dos libros anteriores aquí se diluyen y se pierden (Andrea, Edmunds, Rouche...). Y el final? Fan service. Desilusión.
August 11, 2019
My rating might come as a surprise to you and I can tell you, I wasn’t expecting to give anything lower than a 5 star rating myself because my god, I loved the first and second novel in this trilogy SO MUCH. But, yeah here it is.. my opinion of this novel is colored by a few small details that made such a mark on my reading experience that it became too difficult to see past it.
You see, I have the feeling that the main thing I will remember about Endgame in a few months time will be my frustration and struggle at the start of the novel which lasted way longer than I wanted. The author made it clear that he doesn’t want to rehash what happened in book 1 and 2 and that you really need to read the series in order, but guess what, I did read the first two novels (it’s been 2 years since I read about Wolf though) and I was STILL at a loss about the characters, about what happened in the past and the relationships among the members of the team, as there really isn’t any reference point to before. I didn’t like this feeling that it’s on the tip of your tongue but just out of reach. Why was Baxter so mad at Wolf? It didn’t feel it was merited. I vaguely remembered how book 1 ended but that didn’t ring a bell at all. And was Christian a character from the first novel too because I didn’t remember him? The only one who I really had no trouble remembering was good ‘ol Edmunds. So yes, this irritation overshadowed my reading pleasure quite a bit. What didn’t help either was that my ecopy had some poor formatting because there weren’t any paragraphs dividing the scenes, there wasn’t any blank space. One minute someone’s handing over a coat. A brief fullstop and two words later someone’s smiling in a camera in a very different scene. That constant change without any warning at all took lots of energy to follow the story. I’m sure the finished copy won’t have this though so you don’t have to take this into account, but it’s where I’m coming from ;-).
As for the storyline itself, the suspected non-suicide of Finlay formed the base of an entertaining mystery, especially since he was found in a locked room. It’s clear that the answer must have something to do with one night a lot of years ago but it takes a while to get to the crux. In this story finding out the suspected murderer of Finlay didn’t form the biggest thrill for me, no it was actually seeing how Wolf would find a way to prove it. The last part of the novel, with a sublime twist, was therefore definitely the best part.
Overall, this was a good read but it didn’t match the first two novels (except for that amazing twist). It’s also fairly different reading experience compared to the previous novels where lots of people are targeted and plenty of grisly murders, where the focus here is on Finlay (there’s definitely no big cinematic show here). If you’re going to read this, then I certainly advise you to read the three novels around the same time, I’m sure this will be a whole other experience then!
You see, I have the feeling that the main thing I will remember about Endgame in a few months time will be my frustration and struggle at the start of the novel which lasted way longer than I wanted. The author made it clear that he doesn’t want to rehash what happened in book 1 and 2 and that you really need to read the series in order, but guess what, I did read the first two novels (it’s been 2 years since I read about Wolf though) and I was STILL at a loss about the characters, about what happened in the past and the relationships among the members of the team, as there really isn’t any reference point to before. I didn’t like this feeling that it’s on the tip of your tongue but just out of reach. Why was Baxter so mad at Wolf? It didn’t feel it was merited. I vaguely remembered how book 1 ended but that didn’t ring a bell at all. And was Christian a character from the first novel too because I didn’t remember him? The only one who I really had no trouble remembering was good ‘ol Edmunds. So yes, this irritation overshadowed my reading pleasure quite a bit. What didn’t help either was that my ecopy had some poor formatting because there weren’t any paragraphs dividing the scenes, there wasn’t any blank space. One minute someone’s handing over a coat. A brief fullstop and two words later someone’s smiling in a camera in a very different scene. That constant change without any warning at all took lots of energy to follow the story. I’m sure the finished copy won’t have this though so you don’t have to take this into account, but it’s where I’m coming from ;-).
As for the storyline itself, the suspected non-suicide of Finlay formed the base of an entertaining mystery, especially since he was found in a locked room. It’s clear that the answer must have something to do with one night a lot of years ago but it takes a while to get to the crux. In this story finding out the suspected murderer of Finlay didn’t form the biggest thrill for me, no it was actually seeing how Wolf would find a way to prove it. The last part of the novel, with a sublime twist, was therefore definitely the best part.
Overall, this was a good read but it didn’t match the first two novels (except for that amazing twist). It’s also fairly different reading experience compared to the previous novels where lots of people are targeted and plenty of grisly murders, where the focus here is on Finlay (there’s definitely no big cinematic show here). If you’re going to read this, then I certainly advise you to read the three novels around the same time, I’m sure this will be a whole other experience then!
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