Next of Kin examines a truly devastating tragedy: the accidental death of a child caused by his loving aunt. She claims she forgot he was in the back of the car but the prosecution says she left him there deliberately. Who is telling the truth?

Authors take note, because THIS is how you write a gripping legal thriller. Once again, Abdullah takes a shocking crime and puts a thought-provoking spin on things. This trope is proving to be her signature and forte; executed to perfection each time as she makes you ponder the grey areas of a crime, holds you hostage in breathless anticipation, and throws in some shocking twists.

The book opens with a normal family get together that quickly gives way to crushing and heartbreaking scenes as three-year-old Max dies after being left in a hot car by his Aunt, Leila. As we learn his fate the pain and anguish is palpable. It is like you can actually feel their hearts shattering. Tears stung my eyes and my heart ached as I read. The emotions continue to leap from the pages as the family try to deal with Max’s tragic death, Leila’s possible guilt, the impending court case, and an array of family secrets lurking in the shadows.

Every facet of this book is spectacularly written. The story and characters are nuanced, compelling and full of depth. As with all this author’s books, this is a story that has many layers and deals with a multitude of topics, going beyond simply the crime that took place. At the heart of this book is a family who have been visited by tragedy many times. She explores the effect this has on mental health and how trauma and jealousy can affect our perception of people and events, often clouding our ability to see things clearly. She asks just how much someone can take before they break and examines the complicated threads that can both hold a family together and threaten to tear it apart.

Another aspect of Ms. Abdullah’s books I admire, is how she uses them as a social commentary, focusing on a different issue in each one. In Next of Kin it is childless women. Leila isn’t a mother, and through this she explores how it feels to be a childless woman in our society. She shows how these women are scorned, viewed as cold and selfish and looked down upon. In Leila’s case, her childlessness is even used against her as a reason she’d want to kill her nephew, adding to the already pervading sense of injustice you feel on her behalf.

Sizzling with tension, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat right until the last page, the author slowly peeling away the layers to reveal the hidden truth. And just when I thought I’d got it all figured out… Holy twist, Batman! In comes a curve ball that hits like a bomb and blows everything I thought I knew into pieces. Days later I’m still reeling from the shock.

Gritty, hard-hitting and addictive, this is one of the best legal thrillers I’ve ever read. Ms. Abdullah just keeps getting better and better and is now my go-to author recommendation in this genre, overtaking John Grisham, who I’ve been a huge fan of since my mid teens. If you haven’t read her books, then what are you waiting for? Do it now!

This story is a fusion of family drama, moral dilemma, legal thriller and psychological suspense. All the elements are believably woven into an addictive, poignant human drama with unexpected twists and unreliable protagonists.

The characters are flawed and relatable, but the two sisters draw the reader's empathy as they face an unparalleled tragedy. Divided into three parts, the tragedy and aftermath, the courtroom drama and the unexpected twists. The story deals with an emotive subject sensitively. It focuses on the two sisters and their husbands and the police officer investigating the case.

It is an impactful and well-paced story that immerses the reader in an unthinkable situation and lets them draw their conclusions. The unreliable protagonist element adds doubt.

The final twists are shattering in a story that shocks throughout.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is the first book by Kia Abdullah that I have read but as a massive fan of a court room drama I hoped I would like it… I wasn’t disappointed! From the opening incident I was gripped and was fascinated to learn more about the characters in order to try and figure out what had actually happened, and why. I felt throughout the book that there was more to this story than met the eye and the final resolution more than satisfied! This is a clever, well paced, gripping story and I am really grateful to HQ Stories and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my honest review. I will definitely be checking out more from this author in the future.

I’m quite new to Kia’s books but after having recently read a previous book, Truth Be Told (which was excellent by the way), I could quite understand why her books gather such good reviews. When the opportunity arose to review Next of Kin, I couldn’t resist. I love legal thrillers and if they have that moral dilemma undercurrent too as this does – that’s a winning combination for me.

Next of Kin is a tragic and powerfully told story of two sisters – successful and career driven London architect Leila and her younger sister Yasmin. They have a difficult backstory with Leila taking responsibility for both of them from a young age, something which she has found it hard to let go of. Yasmin is married with a young son, a settled family life which has eluded Leila. Theirs is a complex relationship – they clearly love each other but there is also jealousy and resentment simmering underneath.

The crux of the story is that Leila is meant to be doing her brother-in-law Andrew a favour by dropping 3 year old Max off at nursery on her way to work. But unexpected events overtake and Leila has to face the consequences.

I didn’t want to put this book down. The way the narrative is constructed, I found it difficult not to take sides – it seemed clear that a tragic mistake had been made but the more you find out about the two sisters’ background and their relationship, the muddier the waters become. Add in the tense courtroom scenes where the most intimate and personal details of Leila’s life are pulled apart for public consumption and she is criticised for the choices she has made to put her career first, together with the detective who doggedly pursues the evidence file and you have a story that is both thrilling and heartbreaking in equal measures.

Without going into any plot details there are so many layers to this story and it is a real rollercoaster of a story that will surprise and shock. The pacing is spot on, the characters to me felt believable and are written such that the reader may feel more sympathetic towards one than another – I began by feeling irritation for one sister for seeming greedy, ungrateful and manipulative but then as with everything in life, nothing is black and white.

Next of Kin is both a heartrending and emotionally tense family and courtroom drama written with sensitivity and authenticity. A fantastic read and one I have no hesitation in recommending.


My thanks to the publisher for the tour invitation and for providing a review copy via Netgalley.

Next Of Kin was a gripping, emotional read that will stay with me for a long time.

I was soon drawn into the story and into the horrendous situation the characters find themselves in. It’s a situation that sadly is quite realistic as we’ve all read similar stories in the news. I liked the way the author approached the subject though as, although hard to read at times, I felt that it was sensitively described and the harder details weren’t overdone. My heart did break for the parents as I read and I found myself wondering how on earth I’d react in a similar situation.

The relationship between the characters was fascinated to explore throughout the book as what on the surface seems a very happy, together relationship is in fact a very complicated one full of jealousy and long held resentment. It was interesting to learn more about this and to dig into their past to further understand the their history. There are some very thought provoking subjects discussed in this book about the concept of motherhood, the competition between women and the need to tear each other down which would be perfect for book club discussions.

Overall I thought this was a very interesting read which I will be recommending to fans if the genre. It was fascinating to follow the case in court and to find out more about the lead up to the events. The tension soon increases to the point where it is almost impossible to put the book down and my heart was in my mouth as I watched the story unfold. I can’t wait to read more from her in the future!

Huge thanks to Sian from HQ stories for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via netgalley.

I’ve always loved legal thrillers and having read both of Abdullah's previous books and loved them, I was very excited to read this one - and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Abdullah is the master of taking difficult subjects and weaving them into gripping reads that evoke all sorts of emotions, make you think and keep you on the edge of your seat - this book is no exception, with an opening chapter that I guarantee will make you hold your breath but draws you in from the start and never lets up..

Next of Kin is about two sisters, Leila, a successful architect, and her sister Yasmin.. Leila has looked after her sister from a young age following the death of their mother and is very protective of her but they lead very different lives - Leila the childless career woman, Yasmin a mother of one and much less career-oriented Then one day tragedy strikes and the family finds itself torn apart as Leila is charged with manslaughter.

The court case is full of tension as prosecution and defence lay out their case and we get to know more about the sisters and their complex relationship - Leila’s seemingly perfect life is far from it as she battles infertility and has recently separated from her husband; Yasmin, envious of her sister’s success, has her own demons. And in the middle is Yasmin’s husband Andrew, a devoted husband and father but struggling to provide financial security for his family. All flawed but relatable, your heart breaks for them all as they struggle to come to terms with events, but as their secrets start to be revealed, you begin to question them all. And just when I thought I had guessed the ending, Abdullah throws in twists that I certainly didn’t see coming.

Abdullah’s skill lies in creating an emotional character driven story and combining it with a clever plot with some shocking twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages - her books are never easy reads but so worthwhil and she is now firmly on my list of must-buy authors.

There was a real roller coaster of emotions wrapped up inside this book. Within the first few chapters the story unfolds at an alarming rate and we learn about Leila, a businesswoman who leaves her nephew in her car on a hot day, causing his death. As a mother to young children, I found this incredibly emotional and disturbing, it was genuinely hard to read. With so much action happening at the start of this book, I wondered where it was going to go from there. The rest of the book followed Leila and her sister throughout the trial surrounding young Max's death.

I bonded with the characters and was completely invested in the story, regularly wondering what I would do in certain situations. I was gripped and regularly stayed up late to read 'just one more chapter'. There were a few twists and turns that I hadn't been expecting.

I would recommend this book, although it's not an easy read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this ARC in return for an honest review.

This was my first Kia Abdullah and I'm happy to join the chorus of raving reviews as it was a tense and gripping rollercoaster that kept me turning pages.
An excellent book can keep you turning pages even if you are not a huge fan of the characters and this is one of those books.
Great plot, excellent character development and lot of unexpected twists.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was kindly #gifted this one by @hqstories and @netgalley as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review. I did really enjoy reading it and was constantly guessing what might happen next. I’m not sure I really warmed to any of the characters though and found them all a bit cold. I had plenty of questions while reading this book and think it would make a great discussion in a buddy read or reading group. There were a few twists at the end that I really wasn’t expecting so that is the sign of a great read to me. Although I did find the book was a bit of a slow burn. Overall, I’m really glad I read it and will definitely be looking out for more from this author.

What a compelling read as I expect from Kia Abdullah. Leila Syed and her sister Yasmin are closer than many sisters, as their family has been just them since a young age. From the age of 18, Leila brought up her 11 year old sister and has always protected her, continuing into adult life where she regularly helps Yasmin and her husband Andrew with payments to buy a car, or help them secure their house. She loves her three year old nephew Max, dearly and when a moment of forgetfulness leads to tragic circumstances, all their worlds are blown apart. Leila is separated from her husband, Will, but the two couples remain close and he is there to support her through the tragedy and the trial that follows. Gripping throughout, but the twists (plural) at the end blew me away!! Highly recommend. #netgalley #nextofkin

I’m not really sure what to say. Did I love this book? Not necessarily. Did I find the storyline enthralling? Definitely. Was it harrowing? For sure. Did I like the characters? In some ways, yes, but in some ways, no. There’s a lot of really good reviews for this book and I understand why, twists and turns can make for brilliant reading. But I don’t know. Something about this book left me feeling not entirely satisfied. I don’t know if it’s the characters, the disappointment I feel about them. In some ways it feels like one twist and turn too many. I didn’t dislike reading this book, and it’s well written; the language (aside from a couple of words which didn’t feel British English), the speech, the characters, it was all well rounded. Technically it’s an amazing book, but I just don’t personally feel it.

Brilliant, this could even make my book of the year. So many unexpected twists and turns, beautifully written that will keep you up all night reading it. Loved the characters with such a shock ending, this really is very good.

This was always a scary thought and on the news in Australia (where I am from) you here constantly reminders regarding this.

The plot line and the character development was brilliant and I just got so engrossed in the book I just had to keep reading.

Another new favourite author.

Thank you so much HQ and netgalley for the opportunity but the review is entirely my own

The opening chapter to this book was so hard to read and is one that will stick with me for a while. I needed to stop and take a minute or two to think whether I wanted to carry on reading, but the fact that the author had got that reaction out of me was enough to make me carry on, and I am definitely glad that I did.

The less you know plot wise with this book, the better I think, but it is a top notch legal drama with some incredibly written courtroom scenes. There is also family drama in there too, following the rollercoaster aftermath of the events from the opening chapter.
I know I am being vague, but honestly, if you like legal and family dramas, read this book. You really won't regret it.
Highly recommended.

Many thanks to HQ and Sian Baldwin for the opportunity to read a gifted copy of Next of Kin for my stop on the blog tour 🤗.

When I received the invitation for this blog tour the first thing I was drawn to was the cover and I know we should never judge a book that way but I did and I am so glad I signed up. It was a fantastic read. Also horrifically sad but damn, it was a darn good read.

In Next of Kin we meet Leila who after a panicked call from her brother in law to say his son, Max never made it to nursery, we find instead of being the dutiful aunt and dropping Max off that morning, Leila forgot, got sidetracked and after six hours on the hottest day of the year, has left Max in her car. The result is devastating, and due to her actions, Leila finds herself caught up in a court trial that tears the family into a million pieces.

Holy kettlebells. This book was good. I think I hyperventilated all the way through. It was emotional as I followed the family through the aftermath and the court trial, but so gripping, my knuckles were white holding my kindle. I mean this could happen. To imagine it happening makes me shudder.

I’ve not read anything by Kia Abdullah before but if Next of Kin is anything to go by I think I really need to read her other novels. Shockingly emotional with a cast of fantastic and believable characters, I was whisked to the edge of my seat where I was clinging on for dear life. The court room drama was perfect, absolutely outstanding but along the way, the twists and turns were just crazy. Kia Abdullah knows exactly where she’s got her readers. I know she had me hooked!

I’d say Next of Kin should be marked as a difficult subject, but the writing was beautiful and the storyline and how it is executed is just exceptional.

Kia Abdullah has very quickly become an author whose next book I want to read whatever the subject matter. She is a fascinating storyteller with a firm grasp of the law and a clear sense of how to make a story writhe and twist in her grasp as well as telling an emotive tale.

Next of Kin is stomach clenchingly harrowing. It deals with the death of a child and therefore is emotive and upsetting. But from this one occurrence Kia Abdullah builds an immersive character driven courtroom family drama that I read in one sitting.

Next of Kin deals with two sisters, Leila Syed, a very successful commercial architect, married but currently separated from journalist Will. Her sister Yasmin, a secretary, who she has looked after since Leila was in her teens, lives not far away from her with her husband Andrew and their three year old son, Max.

Yasmin envies Leila’s success and Leila, while wishing her sister happiness, longs for a child of her own. Leila is a doting auntie and often makes time in her busy schedule to look after Max when Yasmin and Andrew have other plans.

Then one day tragedy strikes and Leila is charged with manslaughter. What follows is a high profile case in which your emotions are up and down like a rollercoaster as the sister’s relationships are examined and family secrets are revealed and dissected.

Abdullah has something to say too about how women are judged and this family drama with its intense and complex layers threatens to destroy the closeness the sisters always believed they had. When everything is pointed against Leila, can Yasmin find it in her heart to forgive her sister?

With Leila under close scrutiny, things look bleak but this complex story of relationships has more than one secret to divulge and many lies will be told before the verdict is delivered.

Verdict: A really tense and propulsive read that is often heart-breaking and which is as taut as a violin string. Next of Kin is a powerful and character driven story of family and sibling relationships that highlights serious issues as well as delivering an intense and riveting read.

Leila loves her nephew Max. Though she is a high flying executive, she is always happy to see him when she can. So when he brother in law rings and asks Leila to drop Max off to nursery on her way into work, she is happy to help. Except on route she gets an urgent call from work asking her to come in as soon as possible. Max is fast asleep in a rear facing car seat when Leila parks up at work and heads in to the office. It’s a heatwave and Max is left in the car seat for 3 hours. When the worst happens, Leila maintains she simply forgot he was in the car. The police don’t buy it and as Leila goes on trial, the truth will emerge.

Wow. I finished this book about an hour ago but I don’t think I have caught my breath yet. What a whirlwind of a thriller. I don’t think I have ever felt so tense in the opening chapters of a book before. The author perfectly captures the horror of Max’s death and it’s hard going but compulsive reading. Then comes the aftermath of the tragedy and the trial and the book became totally gripping and unputdownable. I just couldn’t call how the trial would go or for truth of the matter. I didn’t know who to trust or sympathise with.

I particularly appreciated the salient points made about how ambitious, career driven, childless women are seen in our society. The prosecuting barrister made my blood boil!

I guessed one point in the ending but aside from that I was kept guessing until the end and then left reeling by revelation after revelation at the end of the book.

If you love tense, gripping thrillers that keep you guessing and then blow you away, then boy has Kia Abdullah written the book for you. It’s incredible!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.

A fabulous read, fast paced, emotional, full of twists and turns. Very well written. I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommended

A heartbreaking story that tears two families apart. A workplace distraction has devastating consequences for Leila. How can she look her sister in the eye again? Resentment from the past and unexpected twists will keep you wanting to read on for more.

Next of Kin is both hard to read and incredibly gripping. The book opens with a devastating event, and I wasn't sure how I'd deal with the storyline, but while Abdullah doesn't shy away from horrific details she moves the story forward in a way that compels the reader to keep going, to explore what happened, and to live the journey of what will happen next.

The ending? Well. Wow. Bravura.