Finger of Suspicion-bookcover

By: Dale Dawson

Finger of Suspicion

Pages: 272 Ratings: 5.0
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This novel depicts events that happened to officers from Strathclyde Police covering the periods between 1990 and 2003. The names have been changed in most circumstances to protect those involved but the detail within the stories reflect events that happened and written by me in my own words as an interpretation of what I recall.

Being a police officer during this time was rewarding and I met many lovely people whilst I worked there and still remain friends with many of them.

Policing during that era was difficult and drugs were a major scourge in the deprived areas in the north of Glasgow and many families lost loved ones through overdose or other serious drug related illnesses. The criminal gangs operated in these areas ruled by fear with many drug dealers only doing it to repay a debt.

The stories provide an insight into a behind the scenes look at how investigations are managed and the characters involved in running them. It is a sad depiction of life at the front end of policing, dealing with death and misery. More alarmingly, it will discuss the lack of support provided by senior officers towards other lower level colleagues.

The author used every power of strength and determination to set the record straight with some of the events and was helped by a few other like-minded friends. It is a story of belief in one another and colleagues involved in these incidents all looked out for one another—which didn’t always happen but I am glad we did!

Dale Dawson is a married man with two children. He is immensely proud of them and is devoted to his sensible, caring wife. He was bought up on the outskirts of Glasgow in a small countryside village setting. Life was tough in his early years like many others bought up with council backgrounds.

Customer Reviews
5.0
30 reviews
30 reviews
  • GM

    Beginning as a vividly described and extremely interesting insight into a journey through Policing of Glasgow's drug and crime areas, (that at times you can almost smell!), shifting from largely amusing to at times quite harrowing, events described within this book soon reveal that it is not only the city's drug dealers and areas of depravation that prove a risk to the officer at the centre of this tale, instead the very institution and those aligned to it that are responsible for serving justice, are exposed of harbouring an ugliness that even hardened criminals would likely find shocking. A great read, and a story all the more stunning as you are reminded throughout that these events are not a work of fiction but actually took place in the not too distant past, raising questions about what goes on among our institutions such as the police and court systems today.

  • Mr G

    A brilliant read. We couldn’t put the book down once we started to hear about the real side of “Glasgows finest”
    An honest account of an ambitious and driven good guy who was continually ground down.

    Do yourself a favour and read it.

  • E Laiolo

    If you want to know what working for the Police is like then look no further than this book.
    Based on true events the author explains it in glorious detail from dealing with the criminals of Glasgow to the politics of police management and the judicial system.
    Once you start this book you will not want to put it down as each chapter captivates the reader and leaves them wanting to know more.

  • Helen R

    Couldn’t put this book down. Funny, sad, scary and detailed information about a post mortem I never thought I would read about. How Dale and his family coped during trying times is beyond me. A must read crime novel for everyone. Absolutely superb. Hope there’s more to follow as I was gripped.

  • Scott Cockburn

    A warts and all insight of being a Glasgow police officer in the East end of Glasgow in the late 90's. Dale brilliantly depicts with both humour and raw emotion the day to day duties and experiences that a policeman faces. Written from the heart, he exposes the impact cronieism and nepotism had on his personal and family life and how this was was the more difficult part of the job than trying to "catch the bad guys".
    It makes you question where the defining line lies between the crooks and the police.
    At times funny, at times extremely sad and at times very very personal. He holds nothing back and bares his soul for the reader.
    A truly great read and i personally cant wait in the hope there is a follow up.

  • MarkG

    Fantastic book. Hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. Dawson storytelling was superb. This is a must read if you like crime novels.

  • JS

    Not a book reader but was recommended this one, and couldn't put it down. Caught me from a few pages in, and with the gritty, no messing storyline - LOVED IT......

  • CL

    Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Loved the stories of drug searches, very detailed and I thought I was there. Poor treatment by the police against one of its own. Can’t recommend it enough.

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