Book Review: Savage Tide

Reviewed By: Ali Karim - RAM

Savage Tide     Amazon UK PB
Glenn Chandler
Class/Genre:   Mystery

For most people, Hove is a suburb of Brighton, and an ‘up-market’ seaside resort on Britain’s south coast. But for DI Steve Madden, it becomes a place of savage murder as he is confronted by a case that leaves him cold, for the corpse on the slab is his estranged Teenage son. So begins this tough dark look at the world of drugs, prostitution, transsexuals, night-clubs and the world of the male-escort, a profession that Madden’s son was deeply involved in. The Glenn Chandler is better known as a TV writer who worked on such high profile shows such as Taggart, Angels and Crown Court. The book does at times read like a script as it is terse and well edited, so nothing stops the narrative flow. The characterization that Chandler brings to bear is striking as his dialogue is raw and direct. We watch Madden not so much as a police-officer, but as a man coping with having to put his life in order, and learning to live with himself following his sons death. We watch as he copes with the jealousy of facing up to his ex-wife and her new husband, and how the jealousy still stings. However he remains driven to find out who really killed his son, as there are suspects springing up all around him. He soon alienates his colleagues and refuses direct orders, resulting in him getting into more trouble with the force, even as his DS becomes involved both professionally as well as personally in the case, he keeps pushing. This is a straight-forward police procedural that rattles onward like a train to a thrilling climax – Highly Recommended.

Ali Karim - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ali Karim - RAM