This is book 3 in the series.
This is a very dark and gripping read. The characters are well developed.
This is a fantastic ending to this series

A perfect ending to this wonderfully written trilogy. I will miss the characters immensely.

Trevor Wood has created characters that are realistic, flawed and are, fundamentally, just like us despite their homelessness putting them on the periphery of society.

Hooked from the very start with this pacey read. Quite an unusual standpoint as the crime solver is embedded in the world of the homeless. It was sobering to see how a life on the path of normality and stability could so easily tip into chaos, crime and sleeping rough. Really enjoyed the quick snappy chapters and the way the story kept moving.

The third and final gritty Newcastle-set crime thriller in this acclaimed trilogy about a PTSD-suffering veteran turned sleuth in the face of local villainy. Truly could not put this down. Such a brilliant opening chapter and then so many twists and turns.

And so the curtain falls on what has been one of the most compelling, sensitive and totally enjoyable crime trilogies, that it has been my pleasure to read. From the very outset with The Man On The Street and then One Way Street, this series, set amongst the homeless community in Newcastle Upon Tyne, has shone a light on a previously neglected section of our community, usually side-lined as victims or bystanders. With an immense sensitivity and truthful depiction of life on the streets Trevor Wood has consistently sought to emphasise the humanity and camaraderie that exists between his characters, but never shying away from the less honourable and more dangerous aspects of their lives as they strive to survive on the city streets.

With each book, Wood has focussed in on the particular lives and experiences of his triumvirate of characters, Jimmy- ex serviceman haunted by his experience of the Falklands conflict; Deano, a young lad who has experienced systemic abuse throughout his life, and finally Gadge, a wily old man with his love of conspiracy theories, whose previous life is put front and centre in this book. The interplay between these characters has been absolutely essential, underscored by both affectionate joshing, and times of intense exasperation and danger, that brings a vivid and utterly credible feel to the characters. Wood’s depiction of Jimmy’s integrity and honour, despite his difficulties from suffering with intervals of PTSD, and his fierce loyalty to both Deano and Gadge is the lynchpin of the series, and never more so in this one, when his seemingly more settled life is disrupted by his intervention to exonerate Gadge. As the completely unexpected myriad levels of Gadge’s former existence unfold, Wood neatly draws together the trilogy, further defining the way that these men conduct themselves, and their essential beliefs, that are unpeeled like an orange over the course of the three books. He also cleverly addresses some unfinished business from the previous book, putting the focus back on the need for these three characters to remain bonded and loyal to each other, whatever life throws at them. Flanked by a credible cast of surrounding characters, who we have got to know better over the course of the series, Wood’s gift for credible and colourful characterisation is the key to the enjoyment of these books, and with a particular event towards the close of this book, I was completely moved, having felt so intimately acquainted with all these people, and the sense of knowing them so well.

Perhaps with this book, and the previous two, I have a special affinity with them with the setting of Newcastle Upon Tyne, being very familiar with the city and its surrounds. Having said this though, I think that Wood so effectively captures the mood and feel of this particular location, that even if you had never set foot there, you would have a real and lasting impression of Newcastle: the passion for football, the areas of regeneration and renewal, the bustling nightlife, but yet, (in common with every big city) the underlying poverty, neglect and crime, with the work of a few selflessly deflecting the hopelessness of those below the radar. This is exemplified by The Pit Stop, where Jimmy and his cohorts can guarantee some warmth and a square meal, offering a place of sanctuary for the homeless, away from the grim reality of life on the streets. Equally, in focussing on the homeless community across the series, Wood meets this potentially contentious and unfamiliar subject to some, with a clarity and balance that doesn’t overly romanticise his characters, or conversely totally demonise them, with a pitch perfect balance of both their strengths and flaws.

I must confess to feeling a little bereft at this point, having enjoyed this series so much, and Dead End Street in particular, and now parting company with these characters. In closing all I can say is, please discover these books for yourselves, and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. Highly recommended.

blimey these are such fantastically written books, full of drama, crime, empathy and emotion and takes you on a journey you never expected to go on. This is the third outing for Jimmy Mullen, ex naval officer turned criminal - turned reformed criminal and now offering guidance in a homeless hostel . He is still spending time with his closest friends Gadge and Deano. There are rumours amongst the street homeless community that there are 'vigilantes' out to rid the street of 'fake homeless' and the book opens with a violent attack of just this sort. All too soon, Gadge has been attacked. Jimmy has to decide how much to get involved in the investigation, knowing it will take him into some dodgy places and illegal situations, and if he's caught, his probation officer will have no choice other than to send him back to prison.
I love Jimmy's sense of loyalty and daring, he is a fantastic character to read about and the back story to Gadge's situation was heartbreaking and realistic.
I spotted in the credits that this is likely to be the last in the Jimmy Mullen series; I understand the reasons but it would always be a wonderful thing to have more of his adventures out there in the world

Jimmy Mullen is a former Royal Navy man, but he has fallen on hard times. He served in The Falklands and has recurrent PTSD. He has served a jail term for manslaughter after intervening to stop a girl being slapped around and, until recently, lived out on the streets of Newcastle, among the city’s many homeless. Now, for the first time in years, he has a job – working for a charity – and a proper roof over his head. Author Trevor Wood introduced us to Mullen in The Man On The Street (2019), and the follow-up novel One Way Street (2020) Thanks to his Navy training, Mullen has skills in investigation, and his closeness to the dark end of Newcastle street life has enabled him to put himself in places and among people where access is denied to conventional detectives.

Mullen frequents The Pit Stop, a refuge for the homeless and one of his closest mates is a man known as Gadge, who is cranky, abrasive, drinks for England, but highly intelligent. For the first time, we learn about Gadge’s back story. In the late 1980s, he was married, had a thriving tech start-up business – hence ‘Gadge’ for gadget – and had the world at his feet. His downfall makes for grim reading, but now he is in even more trouble. There has been an outbreak of assaults on homeless men, some receiving cruel beatings. Can these be linked to the campaign of a city pub owner, who is convinced that most of the homeless are working a clever scam, begging during the day, and then secretly returning to homes in the suburbs at night with a pockets full of untraceable cash?

Gadge becomes the victim of one of these assaults, but when he is woken up from his drunken stupor by the police, he is covered in blood – most of it not his – and in an adjacent alley lies the corpse of man battered to death with something like a baseball bat. And what is Gadge clutching in his hands when the police shake him into consciousness? No prizes for working that one out!

Keith Kane aka Gadge is arrested on suspicion of murder. All the forensic evidence suggests he is the killer, and he basically has only one chance of redemption, and that is if Mullen can get to the bottom of a complex criminal conspiracy involving a bent taxi firm, a former drug dealer and pimp mysteriously knocked down and killed by a bus and – just possibly – a family who may still be seeking revenge for a death, years ago, which brought about Gadge’s metamorphosis from wealthy tech wizard to alcoholic tramp.

As Mullen bobs and weaves between some of the nastier inhabitants of Newcastle’s gangland, the case becomes ever more complicated and, just as when a rock is turned over, all kinds of nasty things scuttle away from the unwelcome light. There are embittered folk determined to avenge family members, ghosts from the past, and increasing pressure on Mullen to make some pretty momentous moral choices.

Trevor Wood’s novel – apparently the final one in this series – is compassionate and compelling but, above all, a bloody good crime story. It is published by Quercus and is available in all formats now.

Third book in the Jimmy Mullen series and what an ending to a unique crime thriller.
The first book The Man on the Street took me a while to get in to but I soon got pulled into the crazy lives of Jimmy and his street friends. The second book One Way Street was even better and I couldn't wait to read the next part.
Dead End Street ties everything together perfectly.
Great series that I highly recommend. I look forward to whatever Trevor Wood writes next. Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced copy

‘Dead End Street’ is the third (and final) book in the series featuring Jimmy Mullen. I read, loved and reviewed the first two books in the series and I have been eagerly awaiting the third book. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because the third book in the series is called ‘Dead End Street’ and it was released on 20th January 2022. It’s another cracker of a read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Dead End Street’ but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Jimmy Mullen? I have to say that over the series I have grown quite fond of him. When the series starts Jimmy is a homeless military veteran, who suffers with mental health problems- the main one being PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Jimmy has a definite sense of right and wrong and will help those in need. I also liked the fact that Jimmy is a bit of a detective too- Sherlock Homeless is just one of the nicknames Jimmy has acquired over the years. ‘Dead End Street’ sees things improve for Jimmy on a personal level as he has accommodation and a job. Jimmy is extremely loyal to his friends and is always there for them. It soon becomes apparent that his friend Gadge is in a pickle and Jimmy sets out to clear his friend’s name as well as trying to find out who is behind the vigilante attacks on the homeless. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Just seeing Trevor’s name on a book that I hadn’t read was enough to grab my attention and draw me in. As soon as I started reading I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down at all. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me as I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. The pages were turning that quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves and the page numbers became a blur. This was one of those books that I was desperate to finish because I needed to know how the story (and trilogy) ended but I was enjoying the story so much that I just didn’t want it to end. I soon finished ‘Dead End Street’ and I had to say a reluctant goodbye to Jimmy and the rest of the characters..sob. I found ‘Dead End Street’ to be the true definition of an unputdownable, gripping page turner of a read, which certainly kept me guessing and it also kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Dead End Street’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less. Trevor has one of those easy going writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. The tension grew throughout the story before concluding in a dramatic fashion. Reading ‘Dead End Street’ was like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love the way in which Trevor makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action. For me, and I know we are still fairly early in 2022, ‘Dead End Street’ is one of my top reads of 2022.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Dead End Street’ and I would recommend it to other readers. The series featuring Jimmy Mullen has gone from strength to strength and this third instalment has been the best so far. I will certainly be reading more of Trevor’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Having read the first two books in Trevor Wood's Newcastle based series I was extremely looking forward to reading this, Dead End Street. The talented author's writing is as sharp and superb as ever, never shying away from his descriptions of homelessness and great hardship. This is the final book in the series and focuses primarily on Jimmy's street friend Gadge. The other two books see Jimmy himself in the spotlight in instalment #1 and Deano in the 2nd instalment. With humour and emotion, this really is a riveting tale. I'm sad there will be no more of the trio that is Jimmy, Gadge and Deano.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Quercus via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Final book in this thrilling crime trilogy featuring Newcastle homeless veteran Jimmy Mullen aka Sherlock Homeless.
This novel opens with a vicious unprovoked assault on a homeless man by vigilantes. When Jimmy's drunken friend "Gadge" is set upon, one of his attackers ends up dead and he is arrested for murder. Can the street detective save his friend from an injustice? A poignant backstory reveals Gadge's tragic tale from riches-to-rags.
A darkly intense and thoroughly enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

The final book in Wood's Jimmy and Dog series, Dead End Street set in the gritty streets of Newcastle. When a group of vigilantes are hounding homeless people Jimmy, formerly homeless and who now is getting his life back on track, is reluctant to get involved. But when his friend Gadge goes ahead anyway and ends up being a murder suspect he tries to find out who set Gadge up. Excellent read, which evokes a sense of place perfectly.

Dead End Street (Jimmy Mullen 3) By Trevor Wood
The final book in the Sherlock Homeless story and what a book to finish of this outstanding trilogy.
Jimmy is on the up with a job and accommodation at the homeless shelter so finally he no longer living on the streets but they are never far away for him when so called vigilantes are carrying out a campaign of harassment against the homeless.
All our favourite characters return from the first two books Deano, Gadge, and Dog determined to get to the bottom of this campaign of terror on the homeless.

As book one was a Jimmy centric story and book two was Deano this time round it seems only fitting that book 3 should be alcoholic Gages story and this one is heart breaking.
The writing is superb as Wood writes with so much skill not shying away from the horrors of life on the street for the homeless and how easy it is to have your life spiral out of control, to have seen these characters grow over the three books has been a joy and it saddens me that this will be the final time I spend with these fantastic individuals.
If you are just coming to this book for the first time and have no prior knowledge you would be missing out and the first two books should be read first to understand the emotional impact that this book has I was devastated a the end.
This is a fantastic book and the trilogy is an outstanding achievement in crime writing.
The series is describe as "Gritty Crime" but it is so much more it has humour, heart, and emotion at it's core along side one of the biggest characters in the book the city of Newcastle.
This is a fantastic read and a series I shall recommended to anyone that I meet go read this is brilliant.

Well worth your time and hard earned cash.

With thanks to Quercus Books and Netgalley for a copy to read.

EXCERPT: He liked sleeping with the dead.

Some people might think it weird but sod them and the horse they rode in on. There was a reason they talked about laying people to rest. Graveyards were an oasis of calm, a place to think about where it all went wrong - or, as in his case, how others had screwed it up for you and how you were going to make them pay.

ABOUT 'DEAD END STREET': A group of vigilantes are carrying out a campaign of harassment against the homeless, hounding them both verbally and physically to get them off the streets. Jimmy Mullen is approached by his friend Gadge, who wants to confront the people behind it but Jimmy has finally got his life back on track. He's working at a hostel for 18 to 25-year-olds and he's reluctant to get involved in anything dodgy.

Gadge decides to go it alone but is attacked by two of the vigilantes. The police find him unconscious in an alley, covered in blood. Problem is, there's a dead body in the alley too and it's his blood that Gadge is covered in. He's also got the murder weapon in his hand.

Convinced that Gadge has been set up, and feeling guilty that he didn't back him up in the first place, Jimmy returns to the streets to try and find out who's behind his friend's difficulties. Unfortunately, he's about to discover that Gadge has a lot of enemies to choose from.

MY THOUGHTS: I have really enjoyed this series and am a little sad that it has come to an end.

Sherlock Homless - this is the tag that young Deano has coined for Jimmy Mullen, a homeless man who can't turn his back on a friend or walk away from a mystery.

If you need reminding that everyone has a story, then this is the series for you. The first in the series, The Man on the Street is Jimmy's story. The second, One Way Street, is Deano's story, and this, the third book in the trilogy is Gadge's story. And what stories they are! All are compelling and engaging.

Trevor Wood provides a realistic look at the life of the homeless and provides the backstories to show just how they got to where they are. It's not pretty reading. Wood writes with a grim reality, a rare empathy, a warm wit and a sense of hope.

The plots are well crafted as are the various characters. The relationship between these three characters is based on trust and loyalty. I love their banter, constantly putting one another down, but always ready to protect the others back.

It is essential to read this series in order. I doubt that any but the first book would work as a stand-alone. I have loved this series and admit to shedding a few tears towards the end of this one. Highly recommended.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.4

#DeadEndStreet #NetGalley

I: @trevorwood5822 @quercusbooks

T: @TrevorWoodWrite @QuercusBooks

#contemporaryfiction #crime #murdermystery #privateinvestigator #thriller

THE AUTHOR: Trevor Wood has lived in Newcastle for twenty-five years and considers himself an adopted Geordie. He’s a successful playwright who has also worked as a journalist and spin-doctor for the City Council. Prior to that he served in the Royal Navy for sixteen years.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Dead End Street by Trevor Wood for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage

Did I like the book?

The perfect ending for a strong and original series. I am sad to say goodbye to Jimmy, Deano, and Gage, but their personal stories and their friendship will stay with me for a long time. I was eagerly waiting for this book, and Trevor Wood delivered!

What did I feel?

When characterization is mastered, the protagonists spring from the page and stay with you. You share hours of your life, you are privy to their thoughts and secrets. A bond appears. If you are lucky enough to be served a expertly crafted plot, you create memories with those people. This is what happened to me with Dead End Street. In fact, it happened with all three books. Each had a little something, focusing on a particular character, giving me the feels, teaching me lessons, reminding me of important things.

Trevor Wood’s series is more than an excellent example of outstanding thrillers, it’s a journey into human nature, decisions - good and bad - and life paths that don’t always lead you to green grass.

I already feel the need to get back to Newcastle and give Dog the dog a little cuddle (Yes, Dog is a name. Dog is the name of a dog. By the way, I’d like to thank Trevor for taking care of Dog. I would not have forgiven him if…)

How would I describe it?

Riveting, a perfect conclusion to the trilogy.

A totally different genre from my usual read. So glad I made the change! What an exciting read that had me on the edge of my seat at times. Well done.

A group of vigilantes are carrying out a campaign of harassment against the homeless, hounding them both verbally and physically to get them off the streets. Jimmy Mullen is approached by his friend Gadge, who wants to confront the people behind it but Jimmy has finally got his life back on track. He's working at a hostel for 18 to 25-year-olds and he's reluctant to get involved in anything dodgy.
Gadge decides to go it alone but is attacked by two of the vigilantes. The police find him unconscious in an alley, covered in blood. Problem is, there's a dead body in the alley too and it's his blood that Gadge is covered in. He's also got the murder weapon in his hand.
Convinced that Gadge has been set up, and feeling guilty that he didn't back him up in the first place, Jimmy returns to the streets to try and find out who's behind his friend's difficulties. Unfortunately, he's about to discover that Gadge has a lot of enemies to choose from.

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own hone\st voluntary review.

Like most readers I am fortunate never to have had to sleep on the streets, the nearest I’ve ever been is unpleasant all night stay at Monastir airport, so I have no first-hand experience but this novel feels truthful. If anything, One thing that shines through the writing is that the author has compassion and empathy for these unfortunate people, and it comes as no surprise that he volunteers at the Pit Stop.

The plot places alcoholic and homeless Gadge in the wrong place at the wrong time as he is set up for murder whilst in an alcoholic stupor. Luckily for Gadge, his friend Jimmy Mullen aka Sherlock Homeless agrees to help his solicitor, Charlie Gascoigne a smart young woman, by working as her investigator. Jimmy with Deano in tow end up unearthing far more than they expected.

The strength of the book is the relationship and interactions between the Three Musketeers (Jimmy, Deano and Gadge) which is beautifully captured. Here are three men who have little in common but able to bond together with fortitude and some humour. They have little in material terms but do have great generosity spirit looking after others as well as themselves. It is said that those with little are often the most generous, sometimes a kind word and a little support can make all the difference.

In Jimmy we have a man who has hit the bottom and though he still has his problems, particularly with his PTSD, is well on the road to his personal redemption. Yes, he does try to fix everyone’s problems, but he is clearly a man who is consciously trying to do the right thing even when he is unsure of each step. There is much to like in Jimmy as a wise reformed character.

Gadge’s (who gets his nickname from Inspector Gadget) story is grim. Here is an inventor, an 80s entrepreneur, close to a life changing success who has it snatched away from him by the control of others and his own pig-headedness. From there his demons take hold and his life spirals out of control into alcoholism and homelessness. Even at the bottom though he continues to mine a seam of black humour.

Yes, even though the subject matter is serious and uncomfortable these are balanced by nicely judged lighter moments. There’s the odd lame joke, some ribald expressions and one lovely scene that put this mature (in years) reader in mind of the classic The Goodies episode ‘Ecky Thump’.

Ending at the top whilst the series is still fresh is no sin and some situations are self-limiting, but perhaps we shall hear more from Jimmy another day.
A very enjoyable novel with a serious background which hopefully will get readers thinking about their life and the lives of those less fortunate.

Dead end street by Trevor Wood.
Jimmy Mullen Newcastle Crime Thriller Book 3.
A group of vigilantes are carrying out a campaign of harassment against the homeless, hounding them both verbally and physically to get them off the streets. Jimmy Mullen is approached by his friend Gadge, who wants to confront the people behind it but Jimmy has finally got his life back on track. He's working at a hostel for 18 to 25-year-olds and he's reluctant to get involved in anything dodgy.
Gadge decides to go it alone but is attacked by two of the vigilantes. The police find him unconscious in an alley, covered in blood. Problem is, there's a dead body in the alley too and it's his blood that Gadge is covered in. He's also got the murder weapon in his hand.
Convinced that Gadge has been set up, and feeling guilty that he didn't back him up in the first place, Jimmy returns to the streets to try and find out who's behind his friend's difficulties. Unfortunately, he's about to discover that Gadge has a lot of enemies to choose from.
This is the 3rd and final book of this trilogy. I did enjoy it. I loved Jimmy's character. Great story. 4*.

I absolutely love these books. They are full of raw human emotion. They show that homeless people are not an inconvenience or just a statistic. They are people with hopes, dreams, fears.

With Jimmy finally getting settled he wants nothing more than to keep his head down. But Gadge has other ideas. So, obviously, Jimmy and Deano are dragged into it aswell.

The interwoven plot is meticulously thought out and keeps you guessing the whole way through. Combined with the realistic characters this book had me totally engrossed.

I have never read a set of books I was so emotionally attached to. I will really miss reading about Sherlock Homeless and this group of wonderful people.

I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.