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Ted Tayler
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Conception: Birth of The Phoenix (Prequel to The Phoenix Series) Kindle Edition

by Ted Tayler (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 146 ratings
See all formats and editions

A compilation of the two novels that preceded 'The Phoenix' series. 'The Final Straw' and 'Unfinished Business'. A vigilante killer seeks revenge. A heart-rending story of loss. What moulded the character of the main male protagonist of the series that features this vigilante killer? Follow Colin Bailey's adventures as 'The Phoenix'. He would be disappointed if you didn't.

The Final Straw - Colin Bailey is bitter and emotionally damaged. An only child who was unloved and unwanted. A devastating family tragedy proves the final straw. Now he’s hell-bent on revenge. Detective Phil Hounsell has battled for years to stop his quiet West Country town falling into the grip of two rival gangs. Suddenly, he has other problems to solve, as the town suffers a series of unexplained deaths. Will he find the killer, or will he become another victim?

This tale of revenge spans two decades and builds in pace and tension to a thrilling climax in -

Unfinished Business - After a decade abroad Colin Bailey returns to the UK. With a new name and a new face, he has scores to settle. His meticulous planning lets him slip unnoticed across the country ticking names off his list. The police are clueless. DCI Phil Hounsell has pitted his wits against Colin before. He drives to Durham to team up with super intelligent young DS Zara Wheeler. Together they track Bailey to Manchester and then eventually south to Bath. In the final scenes on the streets of the Roman city, Phil Hounsell’s family is under threat. A dramatic struggle, reminiscent of Holmes and Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls, ensues above historic Pulteney Weir. Two men plunge into the foaming waters. Who will survive? Follow Colin Bailey's adventures as 'The Phoenix'.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    438 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    July 14, 2015
  5. File size
    2271 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

Front Cover Image and Blurb content

Editorial Reviews

Review

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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B011OQ3F1Y
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Ted Tayler (July 14, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 14, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2271 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 438 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 146 ratings

About the author

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Ted Tayler

Ted Tayler

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Ted Tayler is the international best-selling indie author of the Freeman Files and Phoenix series. Ted lives in the English West country, where his stories are based. He was born in 1945 and has been married to Lynne since 1971. They have three children and four grandchildren.

His thought-provoking mysteries appeal to readers of Sally Rigby, Joy Ellis, Pauline Rowson, and Faith Martin. His action-packed thrillers are a must for fans of Mark Dawson and J C Ryan.

Gus Freeman’s cold case investigations are carried out with reasoned deduction rather than bursts of frantic action. In each of the 24 books, unsolved murders are accompanied by romance, humour, and country life. The core message in the 12 Phoenix novels is that criminals should pay for their crimes. Unfortunately, the current system fails to deliver the correct punishment, so Phoenix helps redress the balance.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
146 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Julie SC
5.0 out of 5 stars The Perils Of The Phoenix!
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is an awesome book! The storyline is excellent, the characters are amazing, and the ending is intriguing! I just couldn't put the book down. This book is about the life of a man that sees the world in a different light than the rest of the world. He goes through a lot, and loses a lot. There's more to come after this book, so that will be another journey of the Phoenix, that's when it gets better! I highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed, and with the collection of the other twelve books it's even better!
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Kara Goetz
4.0 out of 5 stars Kindle books are great
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
I love to read this type of book
3 people found this helpful
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Mrs Michelle Medhat
5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating read – storytelling at its best!
Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2015
Conception is two earlier books Unfinished Business and The Final Straw combined to give the full backstory as to how Colin Bailey became The Phoenix. As maternal matters go, this was free of any labour pains. Although pain was certainly the aim as anti-hero Colin Bailey initiated his meticulous maelstrom of revenge and righteousness upon the uncaring, and moreover, unsuspecting world. From the first line 'Colin Bailey was invisible' it is clear that this book will be a journey of regret, revenge and a litany of deep longing for a life that had been denied. Although Mr Tayler writes his prose with a conversational knowing wink, and scenes play out as if one's watching a high end drama, there is a constant inner pain that threads through, giving a touching, engrossing realism, which in less experienced hands, would have descended into predictable cliché. This is storytelling at its finest!

It is interesting to see, when both books are read back to back, that a clear change in tone has come through. The Final Straw has Bailey as a loner; a shy and confused young man. Unfinished Business shows the transformation, and demonstrates what the love of a good woman has done for him. Accomplished, confident and cool. This is the tone of the second book. There is also certain arrogance that becomes Bailey’s downfall in the final scenes.

The partnership of Phil Hounsell and Zara Wheeler fondly named ‘Cat and Mouse’, was fascinating to read, and it is hoped that Bailey’s nemesis won’t be too far behind in The Phoenix series of books. Throughout Unfinished Business there is some reluctance from Hounsell, in wanting to catch Bailey, and this can be partly attributed to the similar attitude Hounsell and Bailey share for ‘taking out the trash’ on the streets of the UK. However, Hounsell cannot countenance Bailey’s dispatch of his parents with quite the same dispassionate regard, and Bailey is thus his quarry.

As one goes through the book, it becomes apparent for all Bailey’s intricate planning and his great intelligence, his lack of emotional connectivity leaves him open to make mistakes. The hostage taking is perhaps a step too far. He believes himself to untouchable, and doesn’t factor in people with similar intelligence on his tail. A miscalculation that results in a heart-pounding ending, and one for me, establishes Mr Tayler as a master craftsman in the written word.

I really enjoyed Conception. It is one of those reads that engrosses and captivates. I would highly recommend Mr Tayler’s exciting opus into the mind, motivation and life of a disturbed but incredibly likable young man, and I look forward to reading about the shadowy world of the Olympus Project and their role in Bailey’s new life.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
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B. Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars An Entertaining Read.
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2015
Conception is a collection of two books, and there is a definite contrast between the novels. The first novel is an introduction to a character who is most definitely disturbed, yet at times appears normal. Colin Bailey, as he is known in The Final Straw, is a young man trying to find his way in life. His father abandoned him at a young age, while his mother barely acknowledges him, so it's understandable that he would be saddled with some issues.

But then something terrible happens, and the formerly awkward Colin Bailey is transformed into a vigilante. This is the Colin Owens we meet in Unfinished Business. Now he's a stone cold killer, with the experience and resources to carry out his brand of justice with frightening efficiency.

And then there's DI Phil Hounsell. He appears in both books, but it's in Unfinished Business that he truly comes to life, chasing leads across England in attempt to bring Colin to justice. Hounsell and Owens are true enemies, and it's fascinating watching Colin trying to stay one step ahead of the law.

Conception is a fun, at times disturbing, look into the evolving mind of a killer who is convinced his path is a righteous one.
9 people found this helpful
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Budman
2.0 out of 5 stars Just my not my cup of tea !
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
I like a good story but this does not do it.
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Chameleon.
2.0 out of 5 stars Needs a good proof reader.
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
The many, many errors in grammar and punctuation make this a very tiresome and difficult book to read. Even the later books in this series are full of errors. This is a real insult to the readers.
14 people found this helpful
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DERogue
5.0 out of 5 stars Action packed Military Operative And his dog!
Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2021
Verified Purchase
Pulse pounding worldwide action About a Almost literally 1 man army against the worldwide drug trade. Taking down a few international sex peddlers And exposing their sources Leaves the reader wanting more. Highly recommended book!
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh yes! That was brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
This was a total page turner. I was torn between wanting to back the police and applauding the ingenuity of the perpetrator. It was clear to see how he came to be, it was all so credible, logical and understandable.
What a great read!
Thank you
Report
Jacqueline Sidwell
5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery thriller. But is the bad guy really a bad guy?
Reviewed in France on March 7, 2022
Verified Purchase
This is a great book. Personally speaking, I think I and my sister can identify with the young Colin Bailey and his feeling of invisibility, even to school teachers not being able to work out who this pupil was who got such brilliant GCSE results, and marked him down to what they thought he would have got, therefore dashing his dreams of university and a sparkling career. His parents, who dragged him down or ignored him all his life needed their fitting punishment in his mind, and were at the top of his list He is very much more clever and cunning than anyone, except the one woman who loves him, gives him credit for. Having unwittingly allowed a paedophile to rape and murder his precious daughter, he swears revenge. After ten happy years away with his love, he returns in time for his daughter's murderer to be let out on parol. He carefully and meticulously carries out his revenge first on the beast who killed his daughter, then on everyone who has wronged him, and determined to "Clean the streets" of the criminals infesting society. Always one step ahead of the police, the one who follows his career starts to wonder, in the end, if what he is doing is a bad thing. It will be fascinating to read on and find out how his "mission" progresses.
Report
Mrs Michelle Medhat
5.0 out of 5 stars A captivating read – storytelling at its best!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2015
Verified Purchase
Conception is two earlier books Unfinished Business and The Final Straw combined to give the full backstory as to how Colin Bailey became The Phoenix. As maternal matters go, this was free of any labour pains. Although pain was certainly the aim as anti-hero Colin Bailey initiated his meticulous maelstrom of revenge and righteousness upon the uncaring, and moreover, unsuspecting world. From the first line 'Colin Bailey was invisible' it is clear that this book will be a journey of regret, revenge and a litany of deep longing for a life that had been denied. Although Mr Tayler writes his prose with a conversational knowing wink, and scenes play out as if one's watching a high end drama, there is a constant inner pain that threads through, giving a touching, engrossing realism, which in less experienced hands, would have descended into predictable cliché. This is storytelling at its finest!

It is interesting to see, when both books are read back to back, that a clear change in tone has come through. The Final Straw has Bailey as a loner; a shy and confused young man. Unfinished Business shows the transformation, and demonstrates what the love of a good woman has done for him. Accomplished, confident and cool. This is the tone of the second book. There is also certain arrogance that becomes Bailey’s downfall in the final scenes.

The partnership of Phil Hounsell and Zara Wheeler fondly named ‘Cat and Mouse’, was fascinating to read, and it is hoped that Bailey’s nemesis won’t be too far behind in The Phoenix series of books. Throughout Unfinished Business there is some reluctance from Hounsell, in wanting to catch Bailey, and this can be partly attributed to the similar attitude Hounsell and Bailey share for ‘taking out the trash’ on the streets of the UK. However, Hounsell cannot countenance Bailey’s dispatch of his parents with quite the same dispassionate regard, and Bailey is thus his quarry.

As one goes through the book, it becomes apparent for all Bailey’s intricate planning and his great intelligence, his lack of emotional connectivity leaves him open to make mistakes. The hostage taking is perhaps a step too far. He believes himself to untouchable, and doesn’t factor in people with similar intelligence on his tail. A miscalculation that results in a heart-pounding ending, and one for me, establishes Mr Tayler as a master craftsman in the written word.

I really enjoyed Conception. It is one of those reads that engrosses and captivates. I would highly recommend Mr Tayler’s exciting opus into the mind, motivation and life of a disturbed but incredibly likable young man, and I look forward to reading about the shadowy world of the Olympus Project and their role in Bailey’s new life.
3 people found this helpful
 Report
unsecret shopper
5.0 out of 5 stars So disappointed that ..
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 14, 2022
Verified Purchase
having read this I don't have the Pheonix series to look forward to, having read them all beforehand! A great series of books with interesting characters and certainly not to be missed. Thoroughly enjoyable.
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