Member Review

This was a real gem of a thriller full of the unexpected with so many twists and turns I was barely able to keep up. Even the last line of the book was a real twisty cliffhanger and made me wonder if there will be a book 2.
Set in Brighton, with shades of “Brighton Rock” this book plumbs the depth of the city’s murky underworld. Set in 1969 and the present day the story revolves round Arthur and his daughter Susan.
Arthur is suffering early dementia and is trying to get his affairs in order. His mind returns to 1969 when he was working for some very unsavoury characters along with his best friend, Robert. Wandering the streets of Brighton, he writes down his memories in a number of notebooks.
Robert now owns an antique shop and has left his old life behind. When Arthur is mugged after seeing a corpse washed up on the beach it becomes clear that their past is catching up on them.
Susan knows nothing of her Dad”s earlier life but is worried about him. Arthur has brought her up alone after her late mother’s death and apart from her daughter, Ruby, he is her only relative.
Susan has to use all her skills to work out why her father is being targeted and try and find out what he knows before he gets himself into very deep water whilst trying to hold on to her job as a nurse care assistant visiting old people in their homes.
The author treats Arthur’s dementia in a sympathetic manner. The criminal underworld are well described, both the present day Albanians and the old men who used to be the enforcers in the 1960s.
Robert was an interesting character- I wanted to dislike him for his past behaviour but I was strangely drawn to him as he endeavours to protect his best friend and save Susan and Ruby.
This was definitely a five star read for me and I’m secretly hoping I will be able to read more about Susan, Robert and Arthur.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.