Redevelopment was under way, but the estate was still a haven for violent criminals. In those two years alone, Operation Trident investigated 48 shootings in Brent, the borough where the estate is located. Most, if not all, led back to Stonebridge. Even if the suspects didn't live there, they dealt or bought drugs there and knew the estate well. They were well established and had fallen out with several other gangs, including the Stonebridge Gang.
There were tit-for-tat shootings all the time and it was at this time that the murders we are dealing with took place. Stonebridge was a series of concrete blocks with walkways between. It was difficult for police to get in and out. It was rife with drug dealing and violence. Any police investigation into the killings was fraught with difficulties. Detectives faced a wall of silence, attempts to place undercover officers in the estate were almost impossible, and the chances of catching anyone who perpetrated the crimes was slim.
In the Moore murder there was no forensic evidence, no weapons and a dearth of witnesses. For two years the case stalled, but in Mathurin, known as Spider, was convicted of conspiracy to kill Moore. Facing a life sentence, Mathurin broke the law of the streets and did what was anathema to him and his friends: He was taken into police protection, as were his family, and for months he was interviewed by officers not connected to Trident.
He admitted another conspiracy to murder, possession of firearms and drugs offences. As part of the protected witness system under the Serious and Organised Crime Act he was sentenced for these crimes and given eight years. There was no doubt the police were excited by his decision to come forward: His first test as the crown's star witness came in May when he gave evidence against Shakah Anderson, claiming he had shot dead two men at a Dizzee Rascal concert in aid of an anti-gun charity in But the jury rejected Mathurin's evidence and acquitted Anderson of the killings.
Review: Stonebridge Conspiracy by David Moore
As Anderson walked free from the Old Bailey, prosecutors were left to decide whether to risk putting Mathurin before another jury. They took the gamble, and six months later came his greatest test with the trial of two men for Jahmall Moore's murder. The two men accused were Mathurin's friends. All three had gone on a drug-fuelled holiday to Ayia Napa with other associates after the shooting. For years the young man Alex carried the sadness that the priest caused him.
Stonebridge Secret by David Moore
After Alex mother gets into a verbal dispute with the priest she drives off emotional and gets into a car accident. This further fuels Alex. He then goes to stay with his wealthy Republican grandparents. They send him to one of the top prep school Stonebridge Secret is a story about a young man with a heart full of vengeance. They send him to one of the top prep schools for lawyers.
Alex has his mind set on the day he will have a position of power and can get his revenge on the womanizing priest who destroyed his childhood. Stonebridge Secret exceeded my expectations. It goes into politics with the government and with the church plus its all wrapped into the life of this young man Alex. In addition, Alex grandmother Doris gives some exceptional advice that I will be applying in my own life.
This is an awesome book; I did not want to put it down. I am happy I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. Sep 08, Theresa rated it really liked it. I tried to win this book as a Goodreads giveaway but didn't. I got an email though saying the book was on sale so I bought it.
I'm so glad I did. The beginning of the book starts with Alex in church and the peace that comes over him when he prays.
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And I admit to feeling jealous because that's how I want to feel. But it isn't a churchy, preachy, God book. And when the kids in the class stood up to greet the priest, I felt like I was back in my catholic grade school. The priest in the story is des I tried to win this book as a Goodreads giveaway but didn't.
The priest in the story is despicable. But there are other things going on and you find yourself with the same questions as the characters and wanting answers and resolutions as much as they do. Jul 13, Dawn Decker rated it it was amazing. Thrilled that I could read a book written by a friend's husband!! That aside, it was a wonderful book. I was put off a bit by the initial subject matter, involving the church. While I'm spiritual, I'm not always a fan of the church. While it played it's role, I was much more wound up in the characters and the author's attention to detail in describing settings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Two enthusiastic thumbs up! Sep 07, Maggie Doerle rated it it was amazing. All I can say is: Oct 04, John Graney rated it really liked it. The first part of the book in Stonebridge with the Catholic church and Father Francis resonated with me since I served mass at that age and flirted with some of the same thoughts of the priesthood, so the beginning resonated with me.
But as the book progressed, I found Alex to lack depth while Father Francis became a cardboard character, an amoral egotist. Moore missed a chance create an interesting "villan" by not making him at all likable, which didn't really fit with his ability to maintain r The first part of the book in Stonebridge with the Catholic church and Father Francis resonated with me since I served mass at that age and flirted with some of the same thoughts of the priesthood, so the beginning resonated with me.
Moore missed a chance create an interesting "villan" by not making him at all likable, which didn't really fit with his ability to maintain relationships with the women. Many of the other characters such as Reed, the grandparents, and the teachers at the school suffered from similar lack of character development.
Alex seemed able to turn on and turn off his emotions and his grandparents seemed very hard to warm up to though the grandfather did develop a little humanity as the novel entered the last stages. David Moore writes well as I enjoyed the nature and physical descriptions. His plot had a couple of nice turns. For a first novel, it read well. In conclusion, I enjoyed the story, the small town atmosphere of the first part of the novel, but I found the characters, even Alex, hard to connect with or like.
Aug 31, Patricia rated it liked it. This book came highly recommended by some good friends, and while I really enjoyed the book, I guess because of the recommendations I was probably expecting too much. I found the main character, Alex, to be unemotional about the many difficult situations he faced in his life. I perceived his reactions to be "oh well I'll just move on to the next thing. He should have been exposed for his affairs with so many women, exposed for recommending abortion SO wrong in the eyes of the Catholic church but yet it seemed he was allowed to prosper and advance in his clerical positions, with no repercussions of his sins.
I really struggle with that concept. The loss of his reputation and his vocation would have been a much more painful experience for him than the loss of his life, without his wrongdoings being made known. View all 6 comments. Sep 24, Julie rated it liked it Shelves: I didn't love this book. It involved a little to much politics for me, which I guess I should have realized from the beginning. It kind of just dragged on for me. I felt like it left the end hanging a little bit.