A footballer's past comes back to haunt him and sets off a train of murders. I found the plot somewhat unbelievable and the violence was quite graphic in places. ( )

Excellent read. Full of twists and turns which almost made you feel sorry for the murderer. ( )

Neil White's first novel is a real corker. He introduces us to freelance journalist Jack Garrett, now living in Soho but originally from Turner's Fold, a small town in Lancashire where his father is still a police constable.
The book opens with the assassination of Henri Dumas, a French footballer who has reached mega stardom in the English Premiership, along with the almost "incidental" murders of two potential witnesses. The next day another leading player is killed in a similar manner, and the football world goes into meltdown.
Garrett is near at hand when the first murder happens, and seizes the opportunity to start work on a feature, which, for various reasons, takes him back to Turner's Fold where his present becomes caught up in his father's past.
The pace is maintained and the plot is carefully crafted. Definitely worth reading. ( )

The plot of this was very well worked out, and the atmospheric description of East Lancashire very recognisable (to one living there now). Despite what the author says I still think Turner's Fold is more like Nelson than Great Harwood, but as a great follower of Reader Response Criticism I have no problem with that at all :-) The twist at the end of the plot took me completely by surprise. No spoilers-- read it and see for yourself. Having said all that, I like 'intellectual' Detective novels best, and , for me, there was entirely too much 'chase and shoot' towards the end of the book. ( )

A debut novel that promises much but somehow winds up being on expected lines... ( )