Having thoroughly enjoyed Lola, I was eager to read American Heroin, the stunning sequel; boy oh boy can Ms Love write. Wow. Main character Lola is unforgettable, and despite her being a stone-cold killer you can't help but admire how she manages to reconcile the vastly different sides of her personality. The author has once again crafted a truly thrilling, gripping story which is as much a character study of Lola than anything plot-driven. This is a gritty, all-action tale with plenty of high-octane surprises throughout, but I feel that it's essential to read the first novel before this to ensure understanding of what's happening.

American Heroin will make a junkie out of you as its simply impossible to put down once started. There is plenty of bloodshed and graphics violence as well as profanity, so if that's not your bag I would skip this one. I liked Lola a lot as she has managed to not only survive in a male-dominated environment, but she has also thrived. She's a no-nonsense realist which I found most refreshing too; there's no sugar-coating. The depiction of the drug world and the players within it seemed fastidious and well-researched; the situations Lola gets herself into certainly get your blood pumping. I look forward to the next instalment.

Many thanks to Point Blank for an ARC.