A brilliant mind. A violent passion. Is DCI John Luther a force for good or a man hell-bent on self-destruction?
DCI John Luther has an extraordinary clearance rate. He commands outstanding loyalty from friends and colleagues. Nobody who ever stood at his side has a bad word to say about him. And yet there are rumours that DCI Luther is bad – not corrupt, not on the take, but tormented. Luther seethes with a hidden fury that at times he can barely control. Sometimes it sends him to the brink of madness, making him do things he shouldn’t; things way beyond the limits of the law.
Luther: The Calling takes us into Luther’s past and into his mind. It is the story of the case that tore his personal and professional relationships apart and propelled him over the precipice. Beyond fury, beyond vengeance. All the way to murder…
'Quite literally bloody brilliant'
Metro
Winner, Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel Award (NZ) 2012
Longlisted, Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2012
'Luther is to crime fiction what his historical counterpart was to religion. The mystery he is trying to solve is the murder of his soul in an imperfect world. Fallen from grace but struggling for salvation, Luther’s most formidable foe is himself. Gripping, taut fiction by a new master in the genre'
Guillermo del Toro
“Neil Cross has created such a compelling character”
Idris Elba, star of Luther and The Wire
“Cross’ storytelling skill and deft characterization emphasizes how much credit he deserves for creating Luther–one of the best crime series to show up on TV in a long time. The novel is a reminder that the show’s Emmy nomination for best mini-series and Cross’ nomination for best writing were well deserved. It also reveals that for all his skill as scriptwriter, Cross is above all else a gifted novelist. The Calling is more than a tie-in novel. It is some of best crime fiction to hit bookstores this year.”
Hollywood Reporter (see full review)
“Quite literally bloody brilliant”
Metro (see full article)
“Cross has always dealt in darkness and been so adept at conjuring bogeymen from the catacombs of mythology that you start to see them everywhere”
Guardian (see full review)
“Cross is an amazing writer, capable of lyricism and pathos as well as some of the most traumatising scenes you’re ever likely to experience in a mainstream crime novel.”
Eurocrime (see full review)
“This goes beyond the vicarious pleasure of standard crime, and into the territory inhabited by horror writers; we read because we wish to see the killer brought to justice, but more so because we cannot look away.”
Book Geeks (see full review)
“…heartbreakingly well-done. Troubled, self-tormenting Luther, who debuted in the BBC America TV miniseries Luther, is a compelling and memorable figure in print as well.”
Kirkus Reviews
“an excellent stand-alone police procedural. Cross’s skills as a novelist are every bit as good as his screenwriting skills, and DCI John Luther is as compelling on the page as on the screen. This series launch is a must-read for fans of the show and will inspire those readers who haven’t seen the BBC episodes to place holds on the series in your DVD collection.”
American Library Journal
“Cross’s prose is vivid. This book deserves 5 stars for its brilliant storytelling style, in depth character study and Cross’s ability to have Luther’s world come vividly to life on the page as well as the screen.”
Roslyn’s Reviews (see full review on Amazon)–
“Luther: The Calling is a crisply told thriller…Cross has created a character of mythic proportions and happily he will be back. Luther is slated for a third TV season in 2013. Even more happily, Luther: The Calling promises more novels to come.”
BlogCritics.com (see full review)
Radio New Zealand National review of The Calling
Nine-to-noon – listen to the review
