Wasp Latitudes (DI Will Harlan – 2) by Allan Watson
Against a background of brutal attacks on people and property by a rag-tag group of homeless men whom the media quickly dub Berserkers, DI Will Harlan is juggling with a head-in-a-bucket patricide, a lethal wife-swapping session, a sex-tape scandal involving the Royal Scottish National Orchestra – and perhaps most discomfiting of all – a spate of late night phone calls from his favourite serial killer, Howie Danks.
As the wife-swapping investigation spirals into a glut of cold-blooded slayings carried out by a mysterious pair of killers known as the Wasp Queen and the Priest, Harlan has to look into the past where a cold case may contain uncomfortable answers. But it’s in the present where the real danger lies as he follows a twisted path of mind control and madness leading to a cruel land some call the Wasp Latitudes.
About the Author
Allan Watson is a writer whose work leans towards the dark end of the fiction spectrum. He is the author of seven novels – Dreaming in the Snakepark, Carapace, The Garden of Remembrance, 1-2-3-4, Monochrome, Heart Swarm and Wasp Latitudes.
In between the books, Allan wrote extensively for BBC Radio Scotland, churning out hundreds of comedy sketches, in addition to being a regular contributor for the world famous ‘Herald Diary’.
He occasionally masquerades as a composer/musician, collaborating with crime writer Phil Rickman in a band called Lol Robinson with Hazey Jane II whose albums have sold on four different continents (Antarctica was a hard one to crack)
Allan lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland, but has never worn the kilt or eaten a deep fried Mars Bar. He also once spent three days as a stand-in guitarist for the Bay City Rollers, but he rarely talks much about that…
My Review
5 Stars
DI Will Harlan has his hands full. A group of homeless men dubbed the Berserkers by the media, have been going around killing people. You have a wife swapping group that has gone deadly. Then there is the famous musician caught up in a sex tape scandal. Even though his case load is over full he also finds himself in a Youtube video and being questioned by his bosses over the incident.
Things seem to be going dark and dangerous with no leads when a phone call from serial killer Howie Danks gives Harlan a lead that might connect everything to a cold case from 20 years earlier. But can Harlan trust Danks?
I admit that I have not read the first book in this series, Heart Swarm. But I had no problem jumping into Wasp Latitudes with both feet and not missing a beat. This story is dark and full of bloody violence. But it is a great thriller that will hook you from the first page. Although it seems a lot is happening, everything is linked and the closer we get to the end.
This is a great thriller and one that I recommend checking out. I can’t wait to go back and catch up along with see where Harlan finds himself next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
I would like to thank Books On The Bright Side for the opportunity to read and share this book.
Thanks so much for being part of the blog tour x
Thank you for the opportunity to read an amazing book!!