“He asked me not to let him die.” He managed, just about, to get the next words out. “I’ve got one the same age at home.”
I honestly didn’t realise it was book 3 in the series until 3/4’s the way through. Its is such a fast paced and well written novel that it works amazingly well as a stand-alone – whether or not it was intentional. I wasn’t much of a fan girl for crime and thrillers novels; at least not until last year, and since then I have read a fair few different authors. Kate London’s style is new and so refreshing to read. I was gripping the edge of my settee through this novel, literally and was having major withdrawal symptoms every time I placed the book down. I had me tuning pages, praying for the characters.
The story starts with the stabbing of a teen boy Spencer. Spencer and Ryan were making a regular drop off for a customer before falling into a turf-war trap. They were ambushed and Spencer paid the final price. The story follows the investigation into the murder, as well the dangers that follow Ryan as he falls further and further into the blackhole that is London’s criminal underground. The story is 120% believable as it happens every day in cities across the world. A story of how easy a pained youth from a dysfunctional home can become the ultimate pawn in a criminal’s game.
“Death had been indifferent to him as it is to ants.”
I really felt for the characters in the book as Kate touched on some important issues that occur in society today. I was ready to throw the book over Detective Shaw’s thought on our main character; Lizzie’s, parenting skills. The themes of the book are realistic, not overplayed and genuine issues in todays society. Every time I was reading about Ryan, I was imagining my little brother and how scary it is to fall in with the wrong crowd.
The book is orientated around Ryan, Lizzie, Kieran and Sarah. Ryan is a teenager who has been taken under the wing by the local kingpin. He is a dealer, nothing more than tool who has been groomed for the job by a family friend. He comes from a broken home where no one seems to care what he does. Oh, and he was with his best friend when the attack took place. He is damaged, a kid who has probably played too my Grand Theft Auto and seen a thrill in the lifestyle; but still just a kid. I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him he’s better than this all the way through as he becomes a key part of the events to follow.
The next character is Detective Lizzie Griffiths, a single mother juggling her commitments to the job and a young child; Connor. She is working to provide for her family in a job that she loves; a job that doesn’t care about cancelled babysitters or a lacking support system. But even through all this she never falters and shows the real side to motherhood; the daunting exhaustion that attacks us all.
Detective Kieran Shaw is our next character and. in my opinion, is a complete A-hole. He is also the father of Connor. He is all for the job and becomes a key piece to the operation following the stabbing on Gallowstree Lane. I didn’t like him. I know he was doing his job; but his attitude really grated me as he came across as wishing Lizzie had given up work to look after the child. He just seems to want a taste of all the pies, but no one else can. But it’s just my opinion, we are all allowed to hate sometimes.
Our last main character is Detective Sarah Collins and is the main homicide detective on the stabbing case. She demonstrates a strive for justice so strong that it can topple dominos as a result. She is feisty and a personality that packs a punch.
You really do connect with these characters, Lizzie and Ryan especially. It definitely is a new era for crime; I cannot wait to get my hands on the previous two. I really do recommend this book to fans of the crime genre. It is a refreshing read that never puts the breaks on.
I honestly didn’t realise it was book 3 in the series until 3/4’s the way through. Its is such a fast paced and well written novel that it works amazingly well as a stand-alone – whether or not it was intentional. I wasn’t much of a fan girl for crime and thrillers novels; at least not until last year, and since then I have read a fair few different authors. Kate London’s style is new and so refreshing to read. I was gripping the edge of my settee through this novel, literally and was having major withdrawal symptoms every time I placed the book down. I had me tuning pages, praying for the characters.
The story starts with the stabbing of a teen boy Spencer. Spencer and Ryan were making a regular drop off for a customer before falling into a turf-war trap. They were ambushed and Spencer paid the final price. The story follows the investigation into the murder, as well the dangers that follow Ryan as he falls further and further into the blackhole that is London’s criminal underground. The story is 120% believable as it happens every day in cities across the world. A story of how easy a pained youth from a dysfunctional home can become the ultimate pawn in a criminal’s game.
“Death had been indifferent to him as it is to ants.”
I really felt for the characters in the book as Kate touched on some important issues that occur in society today. I was ready to throw the book over Detective Shaw’s thought on our main character; Lizzie’s, parenting skills. The themes of the book are realistic, not overplayed and genuine issues in todays society. Every time I was reading about Ryan, I was imagining my little brother and how scary it is to fall in with the wrong crowd.
The book is orientated around Ryan, Lizzie, Kieran and Sarah. Ryan is a teenager who has been taken under the wing by the local kingpin. He is a dealer, nothing more than tool who has been groomed for the job by a family friend. He comes from a broken home where no one seems to care what he does. Oh, and he was with his best friend when the attack took place. He is damaged, a kid who has probably played too my Grand Theft Auto and seen a thrill in the lifestyle; but still just a kid. I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him he’s better than this all the way through as he becomes a key part of the events to follow.
The next character is Detective Lizzie Griffiths, a single mother juggling her commitments to the job and a young child; Connor. She is working to provide for her family in a job that she loves; a job that doesn’t care about cancelled babysitters or a lacking support system. But even through all this she never falters and shows the real side to motherhood; the daunting exhaustion that attacks us all.
Detective Kieran Shaw is our next character and. in my opinion, is a complete A-hole. He is also the father of Connor. He is all for the job and becomes a key piece to the operation following the stabbing on Gallowstree Lane. I didn’t like him. I know he was doing his job; but his attitude really grated me as he came across as wishing Lizzie had given up work to look after the child. He just seems to want a taste of all the pies, but no one else can. But it’s just my opinion, we are all allowed to hate sometimes.
Our last main character is Detective Sarah Collins and is the main homicide detective on the stabbing case. She demonstrates a strive for justice so strong that it can topple dominos as a result. She is feisty and a personality that packs a punch.
You really do connect with these characters, Lizzie and Ryan especially. It definitely is a new era for crime; I cannot wait to get my hands on the previous two. I really do recommend this book to fans of the crime genre. It is a refreshing read that never puts the breaks on.