Review of advance copy received from the author and NetGalley.

Due to the last case that Jazzy Solanki and her team, Queenie, Geordie and Fenton - The Jazz Queens worked on, the group have now been sidelined and are twiddling their thumbs in the office.

When they decide to look at the death of Queenie’s daughter, Billi, which was shut down quickly having been decided it was suicide by top brass, the case leads them to dark and murky paths involving drugs, trafficking, slavery, as well as murder.

This is a hard hitting story that has been beautifully written by the author. At times the story was emotional and I did cry, the author nearly broke me. However, there were also some fantastic moments of humour that had me snorting, a good mixture of darkness and light.

I also liked how we came to know Billi a little, this was thanks to the chapters that told her story from three years ago. To see her character jump out from the page told us so much about her mum and dad too.

This has been a story that stayed with me after I had finished it. So much of it is relevant now, whether it’s mental health issues or the slavery that we still seem to read about and hear on the news.

The Final Betrayal by Liz Mistry is book 4 in the Solanki and McQueen series. It is published on 18 November. It is so good to see the return of Jazzy and Queenie. Queenie is so irreverent and has little time or respect for those higher-ups who don’t deserve it. Teamed up with these 2 are Geordie McBurnie and Fenton Heggie (or Haggis). Together, they are the Drag Queens. The team has been sidelined after the last case, which affected them deeply and they are all struggling. They are starting to get bored so decide to investigate, in their own time, the murder of Queenie’s daughter, Billi, from 3 years ago. It was ruled an accidental death at the time. The story goes back and forwards in time and goes through Billi’s diary entries, which added to the story. I was on edge from the beginning as the tension works its way through the story. But then there are moments when I was laughing out loud. I loved the way the story unfolded, and the turmoil Kem, an acquaintance of Billi, is going through is heartbreaking and the fear is palpable. There is the portrayal of mental health, and the vulnerability of young people, which is heartbreaking. It is so very sad This was such an emotional read and not an easy one. I was in tears at times, but particularly at the end. This book will stay with me and is my top read of the year. It’s a powerful read and certainly not an easy one. The writing is superb. I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

I was fortunate to Beta read this novel. It is Book 4 in this author's third series. I have to be honest I preferred her other detectives - until now! This book, whilst having all the hallmarks of a thumping good detective novel, has so much more. It rips at your heart. So many themes forming a cohesive whole; friendship, families, poverty, wealth, young love, identity struggles, nastiness, suffering, corruption, misunderstandings, betrayal - so much betrayal! Yet despite all this the essence of the book actually manages to be love. Don't get me wrong, this is still the dark, gritty, sometimes unpleasant content which Liz Mistry is known for but the last chapter left me with a lump in the throat and hot, fat tears on my face - a first for crime fiction!
Read the author's blurb about the plot then do yourselves a favour and read the book. There is no disappointment with this one...

The fourth book in the Jazz Queens series is pure brilliance! The Final Betrayal is dark and deals with serious and sensitive issues throughout. Liz Mistry has the skill to highlight these issues while still bringing a smile to my face.
I fell in love with Queenie and Jazzy from the very first book. They are so well portrayed, not perfect but complex and so multi-layered that they could be real. In this instalment Jazzy decides to fulfil her promise to Queenie and that means attempting to find out what actually happened to Billi, her daughter. She died three years previously and her death was put down to an overdose. Queenie has always doubted this and now the Jazz Queens take the case 'under the radar'.
What they don't know yet is that it is a case that runs so much deeper and darker than they would ever guess.
Wow! I have always been a massive fan of Liz Mistry, but this series just takes her even higher on my go-to list. Every book I read, I think that is her best yet! Well, yet again I think The Final Betrayal cannot be improved upon!! I have no clue how good the next book will be!!
The teenage characters who are the main focus in this book are all tangible people for me. I felt for all of them. Kem is a character who I just wanted to hug and give him a bed! Billi, Tack and Star all ripped my heart apart. The fact that Star reminded me of my child meant I was emotionally committed to her, no matter what.
These kids are a reflection of society now, and it scared me to read this and think, these things are going on out there! I left a piece of my heart with these kids, long after I finished reading.
As always Liz Mistry has made me laugh and cry as well. I almost feel like I am related to Queenie and the crew. Congratulations on such an amazing and important book! Too many people keep the blinkers on, and The Final Betrayal may open eyes to the real world.