#taken

DC Max Wolfe, Book 6

By: Tony Parsons

Narrated by: Colin Mace

Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

#taken in the night: They thought they were kidnapping the mistress of one of London’s most powerful gangsters. But they’ve taken the wrong woman. And crossed the wrong detective.  

#taken underground: Detective Max Wolfe's hunt for the missing woman takes him from New Scotland Yard’s legendary Black Museum to the glittering mansions of career criminals, from sleazy strip joints to secret sex dungeons - and to unspeakably dark deeds committed decades ago.  

#taken to the limit; It’s a world of family secrets, sexual jealousy, and a lust for revenge - which might also become Wolfe’s grave.... 

©2019 Tony Parsons (P)2019 W. F. Howes Ltd

Critic reviews

“Tense and human.” (Lee Child)

“Brilliant Stuff.” (Peter James)

Parsons never disappoints.

I've been with Max since the beginning and this is another great installment. Mace's performance is flawless. Parsons is one of my favorite writers in this genre. His characters are complex and he manages to deliver the thrills without too much gore.

Wonderful

I so love a smart mystery with great characters that pull you into their world. Tony Parsons gets there every time.

Always great, best to date

Loved this story, hate the ex-wife but hopefully she is gone for good this time!

A joy to listen!

Another wonderful chapter in the life of Max and Scout. These books have it all. There is the mystery and all the action one book can handle and yet there plenty of the personal.

A Series Going from Strength to Strength!

I think I'm having some kind of Bromance with Max Wolfe. He is such a complete character; tough, decisive when he needs to be and yet of course still managing to show human frailty. And that frailty never is more obvious than when he's dealing his daughter, Scout. In amongst Parsons's London world of the police, lowlifes and tough old gangster families he still finds time for something very charming and human that is Wolfe's relationship with his daughter and the challenges that they face.

Colin Mace voices Wolfe perfectly managing to convey both the tough policeman and the often-confused and out of his depth father whose daughter constantly reminds me of her young child's wisdom.

There are of course a surfeit of detective series out there and people's preferences will vary as to which is best but I would say that this is definitely up there and worthy of anyone's consideration. It has decent characters both good and bad, an atmospheric setting and enough action and intrigue to keep most people happy.

Yawn! Very similar to previous books

I had enjoyed this series and looked forward to this latest one. The story is almost formulaic. The evil gangland boss, the fight in the disused tube station and by the way it sounds like the author has not been on the tube in the last 15 years. The relationship with ex wife, daughter, boss etc all the same. Boring, boring even identical wording. Seems more to make money than telling a story.

There are a couple of very obvious mistakes which irritate those who know the tube or area he writes about.

This series gets better.

Love Tony Parsons series of MaxWolfe and love Colin Mace’s narration. The combo is a match made in heaven.

You can read these books out of order but I would suggest that they are read in order to fully grasp the family dynamics of Max,Scout and Stan.

Often these series of detective, thriller can get a bit same old, and I personally get bored easily in this genre.

However Tony Parsons has written this series with emotion and feeling regarding the Wolfe family which brings you back for more. It reminds me of Michael Robothams’s Joe O’ Loughlin series which like this gives you a detective thriller and family story all at the same time, 2-4-1 is excellent.

Another Brilliant Max Wolfe book

I cannot get enough of this cop and his family. Tony Parsons knows how to write a great and such believable story. Brought together by yet another remarkable performance by Colin Mace. Keep them coming Tony!!

Another great Max Wolf

Excellent addition to the series. Hope we’ll get to have more of them in the future

Dull and formulaic

Every cliche possible : diamond geezer, retired boxer with damaged hands, bitter retired cop who wants to be in on the case....they’re all there. The cockney informant and the tart with the heart make the investigation extremely efficient by volunteering the name of the very person who can move the plot along and even where to find him. (Bear in mind, we’re talking about the whole of London. ) The flawed but sensitive and basically sound detective manages to take yet another (very helpful) clue given by one of suspects this time and finds the location that cracks the case. I feel this might have been written by a computer in 1975.

Another great book by Tony Parsons

I thoroughly enjoy listening to Colin Mace narrate the tale… definitely Mr Parsons best work so far.

#taken

I enjoyed this series looking forward to more books. Narrator was perfect clear and precise.

great author

I always forget how good Tony Parsons writing is. A great crime novel but with real interesting characters a drop of dry humour and philosophy and sharp dialogue and thoughts. Narrator great too.

Terrific Thriller with a Heart

I've read all the books in this series and have come to know and love the characters, to the extent that, in many ways, plot is secondary to character development. However, this novel has a tight and twisty plot that's like a boy racer in a stolen car doing handbrake turns on a narrow cliffside road - exciting but not very sensible. The central relationship between Max Wolfe and his daughter is very well written and forms a humane backdrop to all the cartoon violence and death. I also like the descriptions of London as well as the modest exploration of the moral dilemmas faced by the police as they navigate the increasingly thin blue line. Okay, it's not Tolstoy but I like it.