Don't You Want Me?

This is a brilliant book if I could I would give it 10 stars. The story portrays the 80s wonderfully and the murders are ingenious. As someone whose teenage years plus where in this time frame I found myself being nostalgic over C&A, national Radio 1 and the music of the time.
Every time I thought I had worked out who the murder was I was so wrong it was ridiculous and when the reveal came it made perfect sense.
I can honestly say I loved this book and cannot wait for the next installment involving Anna Leeding.

I loved the nostalgia of this and remember every jingle, every newsworthy event. There is humour peppered through it and the murders, whilst undeniably bonkers and contrived, are hugely entertaining. The closing chapters are a full of leaps of logic that lesser mortals wouldn't've made but as my dad used to say 'it's all in the script'. The cover alone is worthy.

this was a great mystery novel, I loved the characters and going on this journey with them. The mystery was great and I really enjoyed trying to solve it.

London in the spring and summer of 1981. Detective Inspector Anna Leeding of the London Metropolitan Police, investigates the suicide of the 1960s model Jeanette West. There are some inconsistencies and oddities about the case which concern Leeding and indicate that it may not be just be a simple case of suicide. Another death on the streets in Primrose Hill has an element of similarity to West’s death, again posing questions. During the narrative, chapters also deal with an unidentified murderer, who grows up with a burning desire for revenge in her black heart and starts upon a series of staged murders. These two strands slowly merge as Leeding and her team realise they may have another serial killer on their hands.
The story is immersed in the popular culture of 1981 – the New Romantic music, the riots, the nuptials of Charles and Diana. For anyone who was living in those days, there is a nostalgic appeal as the writer’s detailed research re-creates those feverish days in Thatcher’s London. Anna is an enigma – charismatic, late 30s, undoubtedly attractive and yet a solitary figure, who relies on a finely honed instinct to provide her with leads in her detective work. The main characters all seem to have secrets and challenging backgrounds which are partially hidden from the reader until the novel draws to its conclusion. It is a well-plotted story that is capably narrated, and engages the reader’s interest throughout. Like all good mysteries, there are surprises along the way and the author cleverly nudges the reader in one direction, thinking that you have the mystery solved before springing a bit of a shock.
A sequel is on the way, which is pleasing as I would very much like to read more of Anna Leeding and her police career in the Met.

Yep, the title will stay in your head every time you see it but that’s no bad thing 😁
So, most definitely a book for anyone who was there or has interest in the early 80’s specifically 1981, there is so much about this year in the book ie music, fashion, food, TV, just about everything 1981 related and it is great to be back there, part of the book is set on the day of Charles and Di’s wedding, it couldn’t be more 80’s if it tried, I loved it
But there is more to this than an 80’s lookback, this is a book about revenge killings by someone who is on a mission to ‘right the wrongs’ done to her previously and in vicious ways
The investigation is led by a feisty D.I.Anna Leeding and is complex and many other detectives probably would have ‘given up’, not Anna though who once she has ‘that feeling’ is going to see it through
Anna also has rather a big secret herself
Cleverly narrated by different characters via past and present chapters you could be fooled into thinking quite early on you ‘have this worked out’, dont be complacent as I was.....there are many surprises to come
A really good read, helped of course as was set in the 80’s, helped even more that is was written really well if not to some tastes maybe in a quirky fashion

8/10
4.5 Stars

1981 What a year that was ! I had just left school in that year and this excellent book brought back happy memories even it was the hated Thatcher years.1981 was the year of Charles and Di getting wed,riots and a music scene that was the best,and with a killer on the loose D I Anna Leeding is puzzled when all the victims are made to look like suicide she is up against it,along with new WPC Lisa Fisher and her friend and colleague D I David Walker they try and find out just who is doing this and why ? Set against the backdrop of 1981 the story is expertly told with all the events told accurately and it was a great trip down memory lane for me.The plot was also a winner with an ending i didn't see coming and it kept me guessing until the murderer was revealed.I have read some negative reviews on Netgalley and each to their own i suppose but maybe because i lived through events in this book i found it a superb 5 star read from Richard Easter.

Firstly the title of this book caught my eye, those familiar with 1980s pop music will immediately recognise it as the hit by the same name by The Human League. Being a lover of the 1980s and after reading the synopsis, I was keen to read this title.

It’s set in 1981, where we follow DI Anna Leeding as she investigates several suicide deaths that transpire to be the work of a serial killer.

This was a very well-written book, especially the detail of 1980s Britain – The Royal Wedding of Charles & Diane, race riots in Brixton, troubles in Northern Ireland, and the capture of The Yorkshire Ripper. The storyline was gripping and had me engaged throughout, with a thrilling climax that I didn’t see coming.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley UK for the review copy.

This book got me with the cover and the link to the Human League.
I love the 80’s.

This is a bit of a different book set in 1981.
It’s very very well researched and I loved the nostalgia.
The detective story is good but it’s the nostalgia that made it for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and BooksGo Social for a copy of “ Don’t You Want Me ?” for an honest review.

This was the perfect book for me, a joy of a read !
I feel very nostalgic about the 80’s , in particular 1981.This book evoked so many memories in me .
I love a good ‘Whodunnit’ and this one definitely stood out from the crowd of other titles I’ve read.
Although it’s not a short book I really didn’t want it to end.
Whatever book I read next will have a lot to live up to..
Highly recommended and look forward to reading more by Richard Easter.

This is great. As a child of the eighties, I loved all the pop culture references and the political context. The mystery itself is a cracker and the characters are so perfect as they work through the events. The dialogue was fantastic - very realistic and engaging.

Since I grew up in the 80s, the title (which I can’t help but sing!) and promised pop culture references really attracted me to this book. I really enjoyed reminiscing over the music as well as the other events mentioned throughout the book. However, while the 80s nostalgia definitely made me pick up this book, the mystery itself definitely also lived up to expectations, with realistic dialogue, many twists and turns, and an ending you won’t see coming. Definitely recommended!

I’m so grateful to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read and review “Don’t You Want Me”.

Very enjoyable!

A well-written mystery with lots of little surprise elements to keep you guessing. The reveal was a big surprise and I enjoyed the thrill of trying to piece the puzzle together myself.

I liked the characters and felt that their stories were written with a sensitivity that was sorely lacking in the Eighties.

Lastly, how can I not mention the nostalgia. Great music references and really good cultural references for the time as well!