Farrel's Last Case by Gerald R Wright.

               Farrel's Last Case by Gerald R Wright.

"Four years of celibacy had weighed heavily upon him. It was like being a starving man, close to death having a sumptuous meal set before him. Would the man choose to starve?"

Ian Farrel is considered as being a good, small-town cop. He started out as a beat officer, giving out parking tickets which was rather tedious for an ambitious guy like him. Promotion to the Criminal Investigation Department allowed him to gain respect as well as a fearful reputation. As his career soared his marriage floundered. His excessive work schedule seemed to be the main reason why his wife left him four years before the action begins. When she realised that his job came first she wanted out.

He was twenty when he joined the force and had almost completed twenty-two years of service. Described as grumpy and on the tetchy side, Farrel didn't suffer fools gladly. He had a tendency to become cynical and pessimistic although he liked his women a bit like 007 as well as his drink. D.S. George Preston was his loyal side-kick, D.C. Alan Parkins was reliable, then there was D.C. Dick Johnson, newcomer D.C. Richard Copley, nephew of the Assistant Chief Constable, who proves to be an asset to the squad. D.C. Peter Rowles had a tendency to become petulant. We are told that he was still bitter about being passed over for promotion.

Tommy Acton was simply a deep little crook well-known to Farrel and squad. Rumours indicate that he has been murdered. He was "told to swim home, so to speak," having been dropped off somewhere between Dover and Calais. An euphemism of course-the rumour suggested he had been tied to something heavy and drowned, pumped full of heroin. His body eventually turns up in the Goodwin Sands. It seems that he had got himself involved with a large criminal operation and he was in it too deep for comfort. His girlfriend was also well-known to Farrel, Jill Franks and she goes missing. She holds the key to Tommy's diary with detailed accounts of the criminal underworld. Dangerous information.

In the underworld there seems to be unhealthy competition between Big Mick's criminal activities with "some big boys{who}have moved into the area and muscled in on his action." Farrel soon discovers that the "big boys" East Europeans have been operating in an industrial estate: units 5 and 6. Rumours suggest they are dealing in drugs, people smuggling and running guns, enough to keep Farrel and his men busy for quite some time! Surveillance is set up and when Farrel drives around he meets up with Julie the prostitute on her patch. She has witnessed some strange things going on and becomes the star witness in what proves to be a messy case.

His paternal nature of wanting to protect her conflicts with his need for sexual gratification, something that is second nature to Julie and they have a fling. She was able to "awaken feelings that for so long he had missed and that had lain dormant." Farrel enjoys the "therapy" that she provides but has moments of guilt because she is a "whore" after all and half his age. Another factor which is equally significant is that he enjoys making love to Elizabeth, widow of criminal Harry Coulter who was murdered. Wright presents us with an interesting love triangle.

"You may have seen things that you shouldn't have," he tells Julie and decides to move her into his home the second time he meets her on her patch looking pale and scared. It's not long before Julie's name is on a " list of some damned foreign criminals." Farrel realises his place isn't safe for Julie so he arranges for her to stay with Liz. Convenient for Farrel. Both under the same roof.

Inside information reveals the global organisation operating throughout the world known under code name Hydra, a crime syndicate, a multi-headed monster. "Cut off one head and another grows." Powerful and extremely dangerous. Inspector de Large was coordinating the Hydra operation in France and works through Copley before liaising with Farrel. Criminal activities spread to Cranton Court and Court Farm with white vans coming and going. A number of unsuccessful hits of the units are suspicious-too squeaky clean for comfort until Farrel and Copley realise they have a mole in  their operation and the criminals have been warned in advance.

We have an exciting car chase, abductions followed by a shoot-out, a lot of noise of gun fire with an acrid smell of cordite, followed by a scene of mayhem. Is Farrel down and out as he passes through the tunnel of death? After all, this is his last case, isn't it? Read it and find out for yourself. Recommended reading.

Publisher: Trafford Publishing.    ISBN: 978-1-4907-0853-9.

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

COPYRIGHT 2016. Permission must be obtained from the author before any part of this article review is reproduced.