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Bad for Good

The top ten bestseller
Series: Jo Howe
3.93 goodreads logo

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( 564 ratings, 141 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Bad for Good by Graham Bartlett is a gripping crime thriller set in a city on the edge, where a wave of violence and corruption challenges the thin line between justice and revenge. As tensions rise, a dedicated detective grapples with brutal gangland conflicts and betrayals within the force, forcing him to confront his own principles. This nail-biting story explores the complexities of morality and duty in a world where the end might justify the means.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you enjoy gritty crime thrillers with complex characters and a gripping storyline, this book might be just what you're looking for. Set in Brighton, it weaves a tale of corruption and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Ideal for those who appreciate detailed police procedurals and unexpected twists in their plots.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

DS Jo Howe is called to the murder of a young man. When she arrives, she knows instantly who the victim is: Harry Cooke, a promising young footballer and crucially, Chief Superintendent Phil Cooke's son.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Forced to deliver the news to her boss (which, given their previous affair, creates its own set of problems), Phil's terminally ill wife, Ruth, collapses and is rushed to hospital.

After Phil receives a mysterious and sinister phone call, instructing him to pay Β£100k to have Harry's killer found and 'dealt with', he balks. However, after more calls and a devastating blackmail threat, he eventually agrees. His conflict with his bosses reaches a crescendo and, in a fit of pique, he retires from the police, and Jo takes over.

In a final twist of the knife, the blackmailers force Phil to stand for election as Police and Crime Commissioner, which, if won, places the entire Brighton police force and larger community in grave danger. For, if you can't trust the ones who are meant to protect you, where can you turn?

Bad for Good is a thrilling tale from Graham Bartlett. "As an ex-cop, Graham Bartlett knows what he's talking about and he certainly knows how to tell a good story. Bad for Good is a cracking debut." - Mark Billingham

Series: Jo Howe

View all
  • Bad for Good
    Forced to deliver the news to her boss (which, given their previous affair, creates its own set of problems), Phil's terminally ill wife, Ruth, collapses and is rushed to hospital. After Phil receives a mysterious and sinister phone call, instructing him to pay Β£100k to have Harry's killer found and 'dealt with', he balks. However, after more calls and a...
    Paperback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $3699
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Bad for Good
    The murder of a promising footballer, son of Brighton's highest-ranking police officer, means Detective Superintendent Jo Howe has a complicated and sensitive case on her hands. The situation becomes yet more desperate following devastating blackmail threats. Howe can trust no one as she tracks the brutal killer in a city balanced on a knife edge of vigilante action and a...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • City on Fire
    After losing her sister to an overdose, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe is desperate to tackle the world of drugs that consumes the shadowy backstreets of Brighton. Operation Eradicate is her response, but not everyone sees it as a positive development. For self-made millionaire Sir Ben Parsons, it is a threat to his businessβ€”his colossal empire relies on addicts who survive...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Force of Hate
    When a night-time firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers' site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders. Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deep into the killings, secretly briefing the senior investigating officer of her suspicions. As she delves...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Force of Hate
    When a firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers' site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders. Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deeper into the killings. She uncovers a criminal ring of human trafficking and euthanasia, all leading to...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Force of Hate
    When a night-time firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers' site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders. Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deep into the killings, secretly briefing the senior investigating officer of her suspicions. As she delves...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Bad for Good by Graham Bartlett is highly praised for its gripping and authentic portrayal of crime and policing, drawing on the author's background as a former police officer. Reviewers appreciate the complex characters and the fast-paced plot, which keeps readers engaged. The book is noted for its realistic and gritty depiction of the criminal underworld, making it a compelling read for fans of crime and thriller genres.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780749028473

Publisher: Allison & Busby

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 June 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Allison & Busby

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 153.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 352

About the Author

Graham Bartlett is former detective and Chief Constable of Brighton Police. He is now a crime fiction and police advisor to authors and TV writers.

Also by Graham Bartlett

View all
  • Bad for Good
    The murder of a promising footballer, son of Brighton's highest-ranking police officer, means Detective Superintendent Jo Howe has a complicated and sensitive case on her hands. The situation becomes yet more desperate following devastating blackmail threats. Howe can trust no one as she tracks the brutal killer in a city balanced on a knife edge of vigilante action and a...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • City on Fire
    After losing her sister to an overdose, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe is desperate to tackle the world of drugs that consumes the shadowy backstreets of Brighton. Operation Eradicate is her response, but not everyone sees it as a positive development. For self-made millionaire Sir Ben Parsons, it is a threat to his businessβ€”his colossal empire relies on addicts who survive...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Force of Hate
    When a night-time firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers' site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders. Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deep into the killings, secretly briefing the senior investigating officer of her suspicions. As she delves...
    Hardback
    $4999
    Elsewhere:
    $5500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Force of Hate
    When a firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers' site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders. Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deeper into the killings. She uncovers a criminal ring of human trafficking and euthanasia, all leading to...
    Paperback
    $2799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Force of Hate
    When a night-time firebomb attack at a Brighton travellers' site kills women and children, Chief Superintendent Jo Howe has strong reason to believe the new, dubiously elected, far-right council leader is behind the murders. Against the direct orders of her chief constable, Jo digs deep into the killings, secretly briefing the senior investigating officer of her suspicions. As she delves...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

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