Reviews: London in Black (6)

London in Black is a breathless conspiracy thriller / murder mystery set in a terrifying near future. DI Lucy Stone is a memorable central character and she is surrounded by a compelling cast of villains, scientists, preachers and a police force that seems to be acting against her.

London In Black is a dark, gritty, action packed thriller that will have you talking about it long after you reach the final page and I loved it.
London 2027 and terrorists release a highly sophisticated nerve gas known as London Black in Waterloo Station, throwing the city into chaos. Two years later and the world has changed and vulnerables are forced to rely on boaster injections to survive, whilst copy cat attacks remain a constant threat. Into this world steps DI Lucy Stone, a no nonsense detective who as well as being a vulnerable herself is haunted by the ghosts of the past and desperate to repay an unspoken of debt. Paired with a new and unwanted partner, Lucy is tasked with investigating the brutal murder of a leading scientist who just might have discovered an antidote to London Black. But who would want to kill him and steal a cure that could save millions. Family, friends, business partners, terrorists and religious fanatics are all under suspicion and as the clock ticks down, Lucy finds herself quite literally questioning who she can trust in this battle for survival.
This really is a hard hitting and at times quite dark thriller, which has all the hallmarks of a great television series. In his first novel writer Jack Lutz has created a fantastic and utterly absorbing thriller that will hook you in from the very first page. Be warned at times London In Black can go to some pretty scary places and may be a bit much for some people as it questions the best and the worst of humanity after a life changing event, but this only goes to build the tension and the captivating characters that run through it. Lucy Stone is a wonderful creation, a hard hitting detective desperate to make a difference and one the reader cannot help becoming absorbed by as she races from one battle to another in search of the truth and the cure to her own survival.
This really is an action packed and utterly gripping thriller that is not to be missed and a great start for a new writer making his debut.
Great stuff and I can't wait to read more from Jack Lutz.

Set in the near future, London has been attacked by unknown terrorists using a Chemical Weapon that destroys people slowly in the worst possible way. Lucy is in the Police and comes across information that there may be a cure, she is a vulnerable and has to inject every so often but the effects are beginning to wear off quicker. Several murders and she appears to be getting no nearer. But a breakthrough, she is a super recogniser and sees somebody she used to know.
No more as spoilers will be needed.

Thanks to Vertigo Pushkin for the uncorrected proof. Fast paced but not sure the overuse of the fword is needed.

LONDON IN BLACK is a near future dystopian thriller set in London 2029, with flashbacks to 2027. For a debut novel from a lawyer living in London this is an excellent story, amazingly plotted and executed very well. It’s never easy, in my opinion, to create a futuristic/dystopian thriller that only really exists in the author’s imagination and then convey those ideas into a enjoyable read but Jack Lutz accomplished this and incorporated an intriguing murder to solve too. - The attacks won’t stop. Neither will she. London, 2027. Terrorists deploy ‘London Black’, a highly sophisticated nerve gas, at Waterloo Station. For the 'Vulnerables', exposure means near-certain death. A lucky few survive, aided by ‘Boost’ injections. London, 2029. Copy-cat attacks plague the city. DI Lucy Stone, a guilt-ridden Vulnerable, is called to investigate a gruesome murder of a scientist, who might have held the key to an antidote. But is the antidote real? And can Lucy solve the case before her Boosts stop working, leaving her defenceless once again?DI Lucy Stone, a super recogniser, was an unusual character with a lot of emotional baggage and with the constant medical issues she faced measuring her Boost levels this produced quite a flawed, frustrated character. I’m not sure I actually endeared to her, possibly because of the amount of swearing she used in her head but I could see exactly where she was coming from in her attitude and determination to find an antidote. I did however like her relationship with DI King and how it developed throughout the story and I’d like to think there could be further books set in 2029, featuring these two detectives. There are a lot of commonalities between London Black and our recent pandemic but a lot more severe with regards to the manifestation of the disease, so I don’t think this will be a trigger for anyone. I certainly wasn’t upset by it and found it easier to believe due to what we’ve all been through. An excellent, high concept novel for a debut author, which I can definitely see being made into a movie/series, due to its commercial appeal. #LondonInBlack - 4 stars

Thank you to the publishers for this debut dystopian thriller.
It is fast paced throughout, you are always on edge with each chapter.
I think it would make a great movie or TV series - so maybe read the book first.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. This was a refreshing read - a crime thriller which is set in a dystopian future. You can feel the desperation in Lucy, she's carrying a real weight on her shoulders and it shows in her speech pattern and her language. The trauma of her past weighs heavily on her and gives her strength, independence and determination. There is a clear, somewhat scary, parallel to the Covid pandemic which makes this dystopia seem more realistic. This is a breakneck thriller, barely pausing for breath. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.