An epic story set in the 'real' world of the 1960's. 'Swinging' London was at the height of the pendulum.
It was late August in 1967, and New Scotland Yard detectives DCI Andy Spearing and DI Kevin Devlin were about to be thrown into another turmoil of horrific scenes across the UK. ---
From; the psychedelic drugs, and cheap booze-fuelled, streets of 'swinging' London in 1967, which so often led to widespread depravity, extortion, murder, or corruption at all levels of society. In addition, a deluded MI5 Vigilante group were still carrying out murders across the UK. DI Kevin Devlin stumbles across vital evidence to identify some of the leaders of the MI5 Vigilante group and tries to find a way to prosecute them. For the first time we also learn the sad story of London East End boxer Roy Tyler, who once fought for the world boxing championship in New York's world famous Maddison Square Gardens.
To; the uncompromising blues of the 'no mean' city streets of Glasgow in 1967, as 'they' tore the heart out of DI Kevin Devlin's old hometown. Just like the Scottish highland clearances all over again, 'They' summarily displaced the city people, and separated families out to the backwoods in the Scottish countryside, or to concrete jungles on the outskirts of the city. Among many other things up north, Kevin also uncovers dark secrets, including within his own family, during the demolition of the Gorbals. Then, just around the corner for Kevin, he uncovers the 'new' Irish troubles starting to emerge in Glasgow during 1967.
This was the real hard world in the 1960's. It was nothing like the 'All you need is Love' world, as seen through the rose-coloured spectacles of 'The Hippies' and 'The Flower People.' Not to mention, the wars, including The Cold War, Vietnam, the open killing of anti-war protestors. Then there was the Civil Rights movement, the Ku Klux Klan murdering innocent coloured people and the assassination of Presidents, Politicians, plus civil rights people like Martin Luther King.
In less than two months during the summer of 1967, since joining New Scotland Yard from Glasgow as a Detective Sergeant, Kevin had already investigated, with his then DI Andy Spearing, multiple murders, rapes of both boys and girls. Also, both detectives had been shot by one of the MI5 Vigilantes' people who they were seeking for the murder of Sir Mark Wright, none other than the London Mets Commissioner of police.
Sir Mark had been investigating corruption throughout NSY, which included many officers in the pockets of London gangs. He was about to have a clear out of the corrupt officers when he was murdered with an injection of poison. Although, at the time, it could not be proved, a NSY Detective Chief Superintendent John Sutherland was suspected to be involved with the murder, in cahoots with the MI5 Vigilantes.
Ian Johnstone, who was Kevin's' old boss in the Glasgow city police, took over from Sir Mark at NSY, and quickly completed the clear out of the corrupt officers, but DCS Sutherland escaped because of the lack of proof, although it was made obvious his career in NSY was all but finished.