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zoer03's review against another edition
I cannot rate a book which I haven't been able to finish. So really I shouldn't be able to review this either. I am afraid I couldn't rate this book because 1. there is so much back chat that I can handle 2.fucking hell why is it always about us against them and 3. this is so cliche it goes up its own arse and comes back looking dirtier than before. The plot was dull and just sooo tedious nothing really got going... if at all. the back story sequences were confusing and just put in at odd moments. so all in all no rating from me. I would not recommend this to anyone.
coffeebooksandescape's review
4.0
“When we lose someone in an accident, or to an illness, there is a kind of logic that applies. We can understand that this was out of our hands. There was nothing we could do.’ … ‘Suicide leaves us with questions about whether we could have done more. To be more understanding, more supportive, more sensitive to the other person’s pain.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Parker Bilal is a connoisseur at writing an incredible crime mystery. The book perfectly balances the case the detectives and forensic psychologist are researching, with character background building, an private life. I find a lot of books in this genre don’t build an accurate depiction of the character they have as their main detective, because they don’t build the background enough, but this book was brilliant. The plot was brilliant too, and I think I just got sucked into it. There were a couple of moments that I was a bit like, woah hang on “what has this got to do with anything?” Kinda thing… but overall it was thoroughly researched and written.
I loved Cal Drake and his little trio of a team with Milo and Kelly, I definitely would have stood with Drake against PC whatshisname asswipe too! You’ll have to read the book to find out more because you won’t find out any spoilers from me! Crane also grew on me as a person throughout too. Both Drake and Crane as characters, seemed to prefer doing things alone so the last few chapters really were crucial to the duo!
This book also truly captures a lot of issues surround race, poverty, mental health and prejudice. And the murder is pretty gruelling too, so yeah this was pretty awesome!
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
Parker Bilal is a connoisseur at writing an incredible crime mystery. The book perfectly balances the case the detectives and forensic psychologist are researching, with character background building, an private life. I find a lot of books in this genre don’t build an accurate depiction of the character they have as their main detective, because they don’t build the background enough, but this book was brilliant. The plot was brilliant too, and I think I just got sucked into it. There were a couple of moments that I was a bit like, woah hang on “what has this got to do with anything?” Kinda thing… but overall it was thoroughly researched and written.
I loved Cal Drake and his little trio of a team with Milo and Kelly, I definitely would have stood with Drake against PC whatshisname asswipe too! You’ll have to read the book to find out more because you won’t find out any spoilers from me! Crane also grew on me as a person throughout too. Both Drake and Crane as characters, seemed to prefer doing things alone so the last few chapters really were crucial to the duo!
This book also truly captures a lot of issues surround race, poverty, mental health and prejudice. And the murder is pretty gruelling too, so yeah this was pretty awesome!
kerrysj's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
raven88's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this opening salvo to a new London set crime thriller series from Parker Bilal, author of the Markana Investigations. Not only capturing the chasm existing between rich and poor in our capital city, and the general feel, spirit and energy of London, Bilal has produced the best police procedural I have read so far this year. The Divinities quickly reveals itself as a multi-faceted thriller, encompassing a gamut of issues and social observation, that gives layers of interest to what could have ostensibly been a straightforward narrative. I was intrigued, shocked and genuinely curious about the issues that Bilal raises, once again demonstrating how so much more of ‘real life’ can be encapsulated and distilled in a crime novel than more traditional forms of fiction. Drake and Crane are two of the most complex and interesting characters, working through and coming to terms with events from their chequered pasts, but adding a vitality and emotional heft to the narrative, sadly lacking from many police procedurals at the moment. What I also liked was the sensitive and compelling handling of the scars both mental and physical left on our protagonists through their prior involvement in warfare, and how difficult it is to make that transition from this life to their civilian careers. Both characters react and act to their own defined moral compass, and Bilal depicts the contrast between them beautifully, as they struggle at first to work together in a complex and testing investigation. This will probably be one of the few crime thrillers that I will re-read in later life (there’s no higher praise than that), but for now I would highly recommend this one, and am anticipating a similarly brilliant book two. No pressure…
zoer03's review
I cannot rate a book which I haven't been able to finish. So really I shouldn't be able to review this either. I am afraid I couldn't rate this book because 1. there is so much back chat that I can handle 2.fucking hell why is it always about us against them and 3. this is so cliche it goes up its own arse and comes back looking dirtier than before. The plot was dull and just sooo tedious nothing really got going... if at all. the back story sequences were confusing and just put in at odd moments. so all in all no rating from me. I would not recommend this to anyone.
abbie_'s review
4.0
Many thanks to @theindigopress for sending me a copy of The Divinities by Parker Bilal to read and review - this one is out in May and I recommend it to those of you looking for a crime novel with that little extra bite, as it doesn’t shy away from addressing pertinent and modern themes that abound in society today around terrorism.
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Usually crime fiction is not my favourite genre to read because all the tropes tire me out (white detective, sometimes a sidekick or minor character of colour, detective has alcohol issues), and while admittedly our detective here DOES have a murky past, Bilal offers a fresh voice to the crime fiction scene. Set in London, Bilal depicts London like it is, a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities, and as he is an author of colour, it was devoid of clichéd descriptions and stereotypes.
.
As well as the crime aspect of the novel (which was VERY gruesome, crime aficionados won’t be complaining!) Bilal addresses social and racial issues evident in council housing in London, as well as Muslim communities. As I said, this is a crime fiction novel that goes deeper than just a murder and then finding out whodunnit (although that part is done incredibly well too!) - it explores issues of capitalism and consumerism, radicalisation and racism, while maintaining the compulsive readability of a detective novel.
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Oh and did I mention the badass Rayhana, a forensic psychologist who rides a motorcycle and is an accomplished martial artist? Tbf at times she does seem like a bit of a idealistic woman, but she is smart, strong and I’m looking forward to seeing where the (working!!) relationship between her and Calil goes in any future books!
.
Usually crime fiction is not my favourite genre to read because all the tropes tire me out (white detective, sometimes a sidekick or minor character of colour, detective has alcohol issues), and while admittedly our detective here DOES have a murky past, Bilal offers a fresh voice to the crime fiction scene. Set in London, Bilal depicts London like it is, a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities, and as he is an author of colour, it was devoid of clichéd descriptions and stereotypes.
.
As well as the crime aspect of the novel (which was VERY gruesome, crime aficionados won’t be complaining!) Bilal addresses social and racial issues evident in council housing in London, as well as Muslim communities. As I said, this is a crime fiction novel that goes deeper than just a murder and then finding out whodunnit (although that part is done incredibly well too!) - it explores issues of capitalism and consumerism, radicalisation and racism, while maintaining the compulsive readability of a detective novel.
.
Oh and did I mention the badass Rayhana, a forensic psychologist who rides a motorcycle and is an accomplished martial artist? Tbf at times she does seem like a bit of a idealistic woman, but she is smart, strong and I’m looking forward to seeing where the (working!!) relationship between her and Calil goes in any future books!
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