I have to admit that, being a huge Beatles fan, I am always drawn to books set in Liverpool and so was keen to read this first in a series (I hope) set in my favourite city and featuring Detective Sergeant Nathan Cody. I know most of the readers like to know more about the detective, their personal life when they read a detective series. But then I am convinced the author thoughts, shit, how on earth do I pull this together: why is my killer using birds? One killer with a crossbow can hold two able-bodied hostages all night, force them to drive across the city and then force then to climb to the top of the Liver Building through security, and milling people?

As far as a summary is concerned, I am only going to reveal that a serial killer who is murdering members of the police force is being hunted by Nathan and his team. Despite the obvious trauma that he has gone through, trauma that is at first held back from the reader but slowly revealed as the story progresses, he is actually quite a humorous character in places with a similar sense of humour and outlook on life as myself. In fact most of the characterisations are excellent – from Cody’s damaged and troubled soul to the almost motherly concern of his chief, DCI Stella Blunt, and the common sense of Webley. Although at first glance, you could be mistaken for thinking that this was an all too familiar plot of weirdo on rampage with twisted agenda, versus damaged cop, Jackson adds a certain verve to the whole affair as he sucks us in deeper to the tormented worlds of his protagonists.The man endured some horrific events while working undercover and the scars are evident in his behaviour, even when he tries so hard to hide them. But, later in the story when it becomes clear just what it all meant it became even more disturbing and looking back it's quite impressive how this story was told, and I can't imagine there will be a single reader that will fully work out where this story is heading. The whole idea of the murderer being motivated to capture birds and then plant them on the bodies of the police he kills was fine until Jackson reveals why the "birds" are so important.

I've spent just a few hours in the company of Nathan Cody and he's without doubt my most favourite detective since Angela Marsons' Kim Stone. And then the killer strikes again, and Cody realises the threat isn't to the people of Liverpool after all - it's to the police. Jonathan Keeble is an experienced narrator and does his best with this drivel, but somehow his efforts just add an extra layer of ridiculousness to the proceedings. The rest, a decent police procedural, with promising characters, specially her boss, Stella Blunt, and her ex fiancée, Megan Webley.Although Megan is now engaged to someone else, there seems to be unfinished business between her and Cody. When a book starts out with unexpected promise and then disappoints on several levels despite strong storytelling in many regards, it's a big letdown. This is Cody’s first case back after he was involved with a undercover mission that went terribly wrong. This was also very well done with its helpful explanation of the difference between the new touristy bits and those slightly rougher parts of town cleverly slipped into the story to give a sense of place and to me this felt distinct from any generic English city.

From the bestselling author of Cry Baby, the beginning of a brilliant and gripping police procedural series set in Liverpool, perfect for fans of Peter James and Mark Billingham.

Not only was the murder investigation really good, and kept me on the edge of my seat, I also really loved getting to know the main character Cody.

The story begins with a tapping at the door and it’s a deliciously creepy way to reel the reader in from the get-go. My blogging friend Raven over at Raven Crime Reads shared a brilliant guest post from David about the Liverpool setting and I highly recommend you give it a read. Having an irrational fear of birds (completely ridiculous, I know), this book was totally creeping me out at the beginning and I thought I had stumbled into a horror story rather than a crime procedural set in Liverpool. Okay, the first time it's described, it has its intended effect of grossing us out, but to repeat it every single time the character goes in there is just ridiculous. You have an unerring sense of the devil on his shoulder, but this is counterbalanced well by the curious mix of bravado, and at times deep self-questioning, that Jackson imbues into his character.

I don't know what made my ears bleed more - the awful cardboard characters or the ridiculous mystery behind it all. The police find a large black bird at the scene with a scrap of paper wrapped around the birds scrawny leg with the printed text Nevermore. I'm now at 93%, right in the middle of the "Great Resolution" on the roof of the Liver Building in Liverpool and I still almost can't be bothered to read to the end. There is a section related to the secondary plot which was so graphic that I had to skip/skim a good bit to get through it. Some hard hitting scene setting and descriptive prose occasionally had me clutching my head, the beautifully placed little twists and turns worked well, perfectly paced and entirely absorbing throughout.