{"id":6238,"date":"2016-11-29T09:25:30","date_gmt":"2016-11-29T14:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=6238"},"modified":"2026-03-22T08:54:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T12:54:05","slug":"the-severed-streets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/6238","title":{"rendered":"The Severed Streets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Severed Streets<\/a><\/em> (2014) Paul Cornell<\/a> (Shadow Police)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>Well done, Paul Cornell, well done.<\/p>\n

He turned round and saw that he\u2019d encountered the long legs of a man in black jeans, black T-shirt and black leather jacket who was sitting in a discreet corner of the bar, his mobile phone in his hand. He had a long face, caring, slightly sad, with a worried look around his mouth, and a shock of dark hair. He was looking as if Quill had disturbed him in the middle of a thought. <\/p>\n

Quill realized, to his surprise, that he recognized this man. He didn\u2019t quite know from where, but he had a feeling that it wasn\u2019t in a police context. <\/p>\n

\u2018Can I help you?\u2019 said the man. <\/p>\n

Quill became aware that he had been staring, and at the same moment knew where he\u2019d seen this guy before. It had been on the inside flap of a book he\u2019d read to Jessica, and on another that Sarah had been reading in bed, and he\u2019d been surprised that the same bloke had written both. \u2018Here,\u2019 he said, \u2018aren\u2019t you that writer?\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I knew who that was immediately, and THIS bit is fabulous.<\/p>\n

Once the story moved along and I got to the further bits, I was all, “Wait, what? That didn’t really just happen, did it?”<\/p>\n

Like the first book, it took me a bit to keep everyone and everything straight at the beginning. But once I got settled into the story, I fell in completely and stayed up past my bedtime to finish.<\/p>\n

One of the strongest things about his writing is the dialog.<\/p>\n

He blinked awake, realizing that this time the noise wasn\u2019t the voice of his child, but of his phone on the bedside table, ringing. He lay there for a moment. There was a lovely pre-dawn light through the curtains. <\/p>\n

\u2018Would you please answer that,\u2019 said Sarah, \u2018and tell them to fuck off?\u2019 <\/p>\n

Quill saw who was calling and answered the phone. \u2018Lisa Ross,\u2019 he said, \u2018my wife sends you her fondest regards.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018If it\u2019s her, I actually do,\u2019 amended Sarah.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2018Listen,\u2019 Tunstall said immediately. \u2018I want to change my statement.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018Now, wait\u2014\u2019 began Quill. <\/p>\n

\u2018What I said happened was impossible. It couldn\u2019t have gone like that, could it? One of the protestors must have got into the car\u2014\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018Mate,\u2019 said Costain, \u2018we believe you.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Tunstall stopped short. \u2018You what?\u2019 Then he slumped, a tremendous weight on him again. \u2018Oh, right, I get it: you\u2019re the good cop.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Costain pointed to himself, looking surprised. \u2018Bad cop.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018Surreal cop,\u2019 said Sefton, also pointing to himself. <\/p>\n

\u2018Good cop,\u2019 admitted Quill. \u2018Relatively. Which is weird.\u2019 <\/p>\n

Ross just raised an eyebrow. <\/p>\n

Tunstall looked between them, unsure if they were taking the piss.<\/p>\n

Being interviewed by this unit, thought Quill, must sometimes seem like being interrogated by Monty Python\u2019s Flying Circus.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u2018So, DI Quill,\u2019 said Forrester, \u2018what can you bring to the table?\u2019 <\/p>\n

Quill had prepared this report mentally over the last few days. \u2018We\u2019ve placed undercovers in relevant communities and are already hearing useful chatter, though none yet of operational relevance.\u2019 He wished he could mention the silver, but couldn\u2019t think of a way to do it. <\/p>\n

\u2018So, you\u2019ve got fuck all?\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018Yes, sir.\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u2018Fantastic. Keep up the good work.\u2019<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I will warn you that this story is dark. I suppose it could be considered bordering on horror, but it’s not startle-scary horror (the stuff I hate) it’s more the manifestation of all the horrible things in the world, horror.<\/p>\n

As far as he and the others could tell, they were some sort of \u2026 well, they were either a metaphorical representation of various psychiatric disorders \u2013 of human misery, basically \u2013 or they actually were that misery, and psychiatry was the metaphor.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

If you don’t like dark horrible things, these story isn’t for you. But it’s the kind of dark and horrible that mirrors society, rather than monsters that attack from under the bed horrible.<\/p>\n

Me, I loved it.<\/p>\n

Published by Tor<\/p>\n

Rating: 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Severed Streets (2014) Paul Cornell (Shadow Police) Well done, Paul Cornell, well done. He turned round and saw that he\u2019d encountered the long legs of a man in black jeans, black T-shirt and black leather jacket who was sitting in a discreet corner of the bar, his mobile phone in his hand. He had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,30,292,2,207,8,42,148,16,934],"tags":[641,645,111,212,112,655],"class_list":["post-6238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-10","category-british","category-ebook","category-fantasy","category-mental-health-rep","category-mystery","category-police","category-queer","category-supernatural","category-trigger-warnings","tag-bad-family","tag-child-harm","tag-paul-cornell","tag-ptsd","tag-shadow-police","tag-violence"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/piQkW-1CC","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21359,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/21359","url_meta":{"origin":6238,"position":0},"title":"The Severed Streets, Audio Edition","author":"Michelle","date":"December 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Severed Streets (2015) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (Shadow Police) Riots are breaking out across London. The police are voting on a walkout. And someone has just killed an important MP in a locked car in the middle of one of those riots. The DCI\u2019s expression grew even\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Severed Streets","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/The-Severed-Streets-e1511011469723.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23207,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/23207","url_meta":{"origin":6238,"position":1},"title":"The Severed Streets, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"February 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The Severed Streets, Audio Book (2015) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (Shadow Police) TW: murder (on the page), drug use, death of a main character, general horribleness This story astounds me every single time I read or listen to it. \u2018Would you please answer that,\u2019 said Sarah, \u2018and tell\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Severed Streets","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/The-Severed-Streets-e1511011469723.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25527,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/25527","url_meta":{"origin":6238,"position":2},"title":"The Severed Streets, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"November 24, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Severed Streets, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police #2) Trigger Warnings: there are not detailed descriptions, but if a bad thing can happen, it likely happens in this series. You despair about making accurate judgements about anyone. Well, I\u2019m here to tell you,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Severed Streets","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/The-Severed-Streets-199x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18463,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/18463","url_meta":{"origin":6238,"position":3},"title":"The Severed Streets","author":"Michelle","date":"November 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Severed Streets (2014) Paul Cornell (Shadow Police) When the Secretary of the Treasury is killed violently and inexplicably, Quill's group is certain the case falls to their remit--even if they are the only ones who know it. \u2018We\u2019ve been given access to \u2026 advanced sensor \u2026 techniques, the details\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Severed Streets","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/The-Severed-Streets-e1511011469723.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25524,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/25524","url_meta":{"origin":6238,"position":4},"title":"London Falling, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"November 14, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police #1) Trigger Warnings: there are not detailed descriptions, but if a bad thing can happen, it likely happens in this series. \u201cMight as well look as if we\u2019re together,\u201d said Sefton, under his breath, as he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"London Falling","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/LondonFalling-197x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5168,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/5168","url_meta":{"origin":6238,"position":5},"title":"London Falling, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"March 5, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"London Falling, Audio Book (2014) Paul Cornell narrated by Damian Lynch (The Shadow Police) I really liked the audible version of London Falling. Detective Inspector James Quill is heading the investigation (which includes undercover officers Costain and Sefton) to take down crime lord Rob Toshack. Intelligence analyst Lisa Ross has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"London Falling","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/LondonFalling-e1511017057893.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/LondonFalling-e1511017057893.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/LondonFalling-e1511017057893.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6238"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6238\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}