Lockdown by Peter May

When I see this book it was during the Covid 19 pandemic in the year 2020. Yes it is set and mentions the prediction of ‘A world in quarantine’ but I was intrigued enough to get and read. This is however, set to the backdrop of the quoted ‘Unrealistic’ pandemic lockdown because of ‘Bird flu’ or H5N1. Then Covid 19 hit our UK shores.

Oh my the coincidences continue sadly, in this book the Prime Minister falls ill and passes away in St. Thomas hospital. Luckily in real life our Prime Minister Boris Johnson yes, he falls ill during the Covid 19 pandemic and yes is taken and treated in St. Thomas hospital but he happily subsequently recovers. This book high-lights that things could have turned out so much worse. I can see why this book has now been one, believed and two, published after 15 years of ‘This can’t happen’ and it has, ok, not quite as bad as in this book but bad and believable enough.

It is good to read that social distancing is being adhered to and the non shaking of hands sadly, it is not nice in the circumstances of a crime scene of a murdered child. The only difference I see as with today's rules over the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown is people can elbow bump or I believe fist bump when they cannot shake hands. This book is incredibly accurate. It is unbelievably amazing.

It is good to read that police investigations need and are to be carried out despite the pandemic. Justice for the victim needs to be found/carried out.

This book has been extremely well extensively researched along with the author's imagination and as we now know the predictive nature of this storyline the author has covered practically all the correct terminology we are hearing and using now in 2020.

Strangely, I often wondered why the ‘Isle of Dogs’ was called the Isle of Dogs, in this book it mentions that King Henry the 8th had kept his dogs in that part of London. This is interesting to read and shows that you can potentially learn something new every day even if you actually want to know or not, or even realise that you were just a little curious as to the information on something.

Sadly, even during a pandemic we see that crime doesn’t stop. At this point I have no idea why ‘Pinkie’ did what he did to the old woman. This is where the police investigation comes in, starting with the crime scene until hopefully it is solved.

Sadly, when D.I. Jack MacNeil and Martha’s son Sean fall ill with the virus there are enough familiar aspects of/to what is happening now in 2020, with only slight differences like now they turned the Excel exhibition venue into an overflow hospital and in this book they use the Millenium Dome.

Also the hospitals weren't accepting visitors where Jack and Martha saw their son and the tube and other public transport was all shut down whereas in real life it was kept running so that essential workers like the NHS staff could get to work.

However, inevitable, you could say about Sean, but I do feel that it was a bit quick. Reading about Jack’s parents shows that normal everyday life went on as usual and nobody knew/knows what is to come. Sadly, now I don’t think Jack should go back to work so soon afterwards, his last day or not.

Reading about how Amy and Jack first met is nice in two ways one, that it takes your mind off the horrors of the virus and two, it is heart-warming how it all happened.

I feel that it was a clever part where shots were fired, seemingly for no reason. I am glad Jack was saved but, I can see how it confused Jack. I know we know why but it is interesting to think of how it will all get solved by Jack.

It is also heart-warming to read of what Jack’s work colleagues did for his son Sean for Jack’s retirement but sadly, we again know what happened and I am now glad that Laing, Jack’s boss, now finally knows the truth as well. It is also heart-warming and nice to see Laing’s personal human side even though the story he tells is a sad one.

During the 2020 lockdown there were animals that ventured into towns but sadly, all we hear about in this book’s lockdown is about the rats roaming around the city. It doesn’t help that the bins are not emptied whereas in 2020 bin men are classed as front line workers.

Although the tragic circumstances, I find it funny that the Army stopped Jack and searched him when a bank got blown up and a bar was open illegally at the same time.

What happens in the illegal bar is disgusting and the rest why was it even written? I don’t know, it should have been left out, there was no need for it, even if it has anything to do with the story, I am sure the author could have found another way to get any connected point across. Even though what I find out as I read on. I still disagree with the nature of it. That part still shouldn’t be there.

I would like to know who ‘Mr Smith’ is. I have an idea of who it could be. I am intrigued enough to try and solve this case and I think someone is lying or if not has gone the adoption route. This case is tangled enough that I don’t want to say too much on my theory to give the mystery away. If I am right, that is.

Also whatever this flu is, it is getting interesting, who would want to ‘Make a virus?’. This storyline has certainly taken a strange turn.

I want to say that a part that shows a fun great imagination during the tragedy of the virus and the murders. It is where a sign is answered with a declaration of innocence which is funny to read despite the situation it is in. It also shows a bit of respite light-heartedness amongst all the heavy bad parts.

It is an absolute shock, evil and awful as to what Jack finds in Flights apartment. It is not at all nice to read and also horrifying. I do like how all the pieces of the case are coming together. It is an extremely clever, I want to say, ‘Tangled puzzle’, which most cases are, of a case, that is slowly being untangled and solved.

I think I know who Mr Smith is, well I am pretty certain of it, sadly, if someone is in a trusted position they can acquire insider/useful information which can be used to their advantage. MacNeil is getting close to some evidence. For the sake of justice for the little girl I hope it all turns out all solved and ok. We just have to find out who her adopted mother and father is for sure and how she became infected.

Even under the tragic circumstances it is sad to see how OCD or the like over take someone’s thinking. In this case the ‘Hair was wrong’. 

We also need to know who owns the house? There are a lot of unanswered questions to be answered in just five hours. I like how this book really makes you think and in all tense and purposes try and solve this tangled case.

Wow what a twist, MacNeil should be careful who he ‘Manhandles’ however, I did think the same as him, that his life was in danger or more so why they were there. Also this high-lights that sometimes the age of someone is no barrier when there is a job to be done.

This book has just become huge in it’s storyline. I can see how the evidence can all add up to this alleged accusation. This book is good/clever as to while you are reading about the case you, or I did, forgot about the Flu pandemic. Only to all of a sudden come to a massive conclusion. If correct that is. I don’t want to put this book down and I want to read on. 

This book is really good. I am glad I gave into the intrigue when I first heard about this book. I was at first reluctant to get as who would want to be reminded of an actual ‘Lockdown/pandemic’ that in 2020 we are currently living through for real.

I find it hard to believe what Pinkie did getting away. It is also tragic what happened to Harry, that part is sadly, believable, I think he wanted the soldiers to shoot the driver of the car but if that is true it ‘Backfired’ to pardon the pun you have to read this book to get it.

Well I got the adoptive parents wrong. I suppose it wouldn’t be that easy to solve. Like I said I don’t want to put this book down getting near the end. We are still yet to find out who Pinkie is so there could still be a chance I have some of my hunch right.

The tunnel does seem a strange tourist attraction, but it turned out a very handy route to know and that it existed. Also I do think a torn skirt is the least of their worries.

It is clever how it is explained, the reason for using the London Eye and for using the London Eye in the way it was used. However, it doesn’t stop being sad and tragic though. It didn’t turn out as I thought it would but MacNeil goes off into retirement however long that will be with his last case solved.

This book goes to show that an awful lot can happen in such a short amount of time, also  this book is not bad, pretty good considering it was said ‘It could never happen’ unfortunately now think again for real.