Last Request (Detective Nikki Parekh, #1)

by Liz Mistry

‘Absolutely fantastic, had me gripped!!! Loved it!’ 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer

When human remains are discovered under Bradford’s derelict Odeon car park, DS Nikita Parekh and her team are immediately called to the scene.

Distracted by keeping her young nephew out of trouble, Nikki is relieved when the investigation is transferred to the Cold Case Unit, and she can finally focus on her family.

But after the identity of the victim is revealed, she’s soon drawn back into the case. The dead man is a direct link to her painful past.

As the body count begins to rise, Nikki must do everything she can to stop the killer in their tracks before anyone else gets hurt – even if it means digging up secrets she had long kept hidden…

For readers of Angela Marsons and LJ Ross comes a gritty new crime series featuring bold, brave and ferocious D.S. Nikki Parekh! This rip-roaring thriller will have you reading long into the night!

Readers LOVE Last Request:

‘I devoured this over two nights, literally not being able to put it down.’ 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer

‘Amazing… A story so twisted it makes your head spin in a good way.’ 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer

‘An excellent crime thriller… Entertaining and exciting and a particularly satisfying finale… Engrossing.’ 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer

‘What a cracking novel! Right from the first page the story is hugely entertaining and fast paced.’ 5 stars, Amazon Reviewer

‘The characters in this book are amazing, especially the police team.’ 5 stars, Amazon Reviewer

‘I have hardly been able to put this book down, so gripping was the storyline, characters & fast-paced writing.’ 5 stars, Amazon Reviewer

‘Simply unputdownable!’ 5 stars, Amazon Reviewer

‘Gripping from beginning to end, and I enjoyed each and every moment of it!’ 5 stars, NetGalley reviewer

• ISBN13: 9780008358358
• Publish Date: 12 December 2019 (first published 16 October 2019)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: HQ Digital
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 352
• Language: English
• URL: http://harpercollins.co.uk

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.


Last Request is the first book in a new series by Liz Mistry. Released 16th Oct 2019, it's 352 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats.

This is a gritty police procedural set in West Yorkshire, featuring an ensemble cast and a multi-thread plot which is taut and well written. The main protagonist, Nikki, is fearless, female, intelligent, and irascible after growing up as multiracial in a lower income area full of crime, factions, and gangs. She's a DS after having fought her way up through the ranks, promoted after she'd cleared a high-profile previous case.

There are a number of recurring themes here including racism, domestic violence, drugs and gangs, and a long time serial killer who is watching everything the police do. The book is written in the third person, with occasional interludes from the serial killer separated from the main text by being written in first person PoV, in italics.

This is a very well crafted mystery and after the introductory backstory for Nikki and co., moves along at an accelerating tempo toward a dramatic (but not unexpected) denouement. I am looking forward to the next book(s) in the series. Readers of gritty procedurals won't be shocked or dismayed by the language or violence (or drugs, etc), but readers who are unhappy with strong language or content might want to be aware that this book contains both.

Four strong stars. I love the ensemble cast.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.