THE SINS OF THE FATHERS

In this debut thriller, an inspector pursues a methodical serial killer and fights to prevent a gang war in East London.

A particularly brutal murder scene unsettles DCI Frank Palmer despite years of experience. Career criminal Billy Barker and his family are dead, with much of the violence inflicted on him and his 12-year-old daughter. Palmer, having grown up with the Barker brothers, is known for his ties to London’s underworld. So he may be the only one to stop Billy’s dangerous older brother, Jack, whose retaliation Palmer anticipates will be a “bloodbath” (“He knew that Barker would react quickly and violently, as he always did”). The DCI scrambles to unmask the killer, with the P carved into Billy’s skin his best piece of evidence. Jack’s hunt for his brother’s murderer, meanwhile, leaves bodies in his wake, while a villainous Russian immigrant, taking advantage of the chaos, tries muscling into the criminal’s territory. As the murderer kills again, Palmer inches closer to the culprit. But he may not have enough time, especially as someone, it seems, is trying to frame him for the escalating murder spree. Brown’s dynamic antihero fuels this somber tale. Palmer is determined to take down a killer, but he faces enemies at the police station, and even conversations with Jack are relentlessly tense. Palmer is submerged in a narrative that buzzes with a moody, noirish vibe. For example, incessantly pouring rain and dimly lit scenes set the tone for a plot teeming with unpredictable criminals. Still, the author grounds the story with a familiar backdrop: It unfolds at the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic, as many characters grow accustomed to face masks and social distancing. What begins as a slow-burn procedural picks up in the latter half, with the animosity between rival gangs surging and the killer’s disturbing motive becoming clearer. Surprises keep popping up as the final act winds its way to an ending that’s both convincing and unforgettable.

A fierce, sublimely brooding, and exceptional murder mystery.