Really liked the premise of this book and was looking forward to reading and reviewing.
Unfortunately, I must be honest in my review and state that I really struggled with writing style from the author.
It all really seemed a little bit disjointed and difficult to follow and piece together the different threads.
Subsequently I didn't actually finish the book and gave up about a third of the way through.
Thank you nonetheless to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.

This was a well written exciting novel that described the fear and worry about county lines drug dealing and how difficult it can be to police it. The characters were well described and I enjoyed the plot lines and twists.

A great insight into the lives of kids who get involved in county lines. The police have such a difficult job to do which was obvious from this touching story. A real page turner which was really sad at times and very touching. A tremendously good read.

Ryan Kennedy has killed a policeman and is now in prison seeing out his time, in the knowledge that he is going to be looked after when he eventually gets out. A detective involved in the case goes to live in the countryside, but a new case brings links back to the capital and she is caught up in it all again. A powerful and haunting novel.

Kate London's The Misper is a gripping and thought-provoking police procedural that explores the devastation of gang violence. The novel follows DI Sarah Collins as she investigates the disappearance of a young woman in a small town in England. As Collins digs deeper, she uncovers a web of lies and deceit that leads her to London and the world of organized crime.

London's writing is sharp and suspenseful, and she does an excellent job of bringing the characters to life. Collins is a complex and relatable protagonist, and the supporting cast is equally well-developed. The novel's plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, and London does a masterful job of keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

In addition to being a gripping thriller, The Misper is also a thought-provoking exploration of the effects of gang violence. London does not shy away from the harsh realities of this issue, and she paints a powerful and disturbing picture of the lives of young people who are caught up in the world of gangs.

Overall, The Misper is an excellent novel that is sure to keep readers entertained and engaged. It is a must-read for fans of police procedurals and crime fiction.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Collins and Griffiths #2

Fifteen year old Ryan Kennedy is a ‘roadman’, on the periphery of a gang but he’s sent to prison after the killing of a police officer. Though he’s only young, he knows exactly what he has to do when serving time, he says nothing, keeps his head down and in return he’s ‘looked after’. The death of the officer impacts on DI Sarah Collins and DC Lizzie Griffiths too. Sarah relocates from the Met to a rural county near the Welsh border and Lizzie goes to Missing Persons. Each of these characters as well as former undercover officer DC Steve Bradshaw connect in a way that none of them would have predicted.

Although I think the start of this is a bit choppy and disjointed once it gets going and I become more familiar with the characters and their backstories it becomes a really good and compelling read. I begin to see the bigger picture, how everything connects, the plot is immersive and the different strands are woven together well. It’s obvious as the plot thickens and deepens that the author is drawing in her experience in the Metropolitan Police as it delivers a novel with a real air of authenticity and it sure packs a punch. I really like the way it’s written as we ‘hear’ the voices of the vulnerable young people who are wickedly exploited and used in county lines operations. It’s hard hitting, chillingly dark and powerful displaying a cruel and toxic world. The smart dialogue both from those involved in the gangs and within the police forces adds further realism and accuracy to the storyline. I also like that we have two characters who are single mothers struggling to do their very best in difficult circumstances.

Some of the scenarios in the storyline are exciting and tense, they’re so vividly described they seem visual. Some scenes make you angry and others make you want to weep at the injustice in the world. This constantly changing approach to a police procedural feels fresh and also keeps the attention. I like the imperfect ending which feels more truthful than a neatly sewn up one.

Overall, the author has a new fan and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Ryan is a teenager and low level member of a South London drugs gang. Carrying,a gun he is cornered by an undercover policeman and shoots the arresting officer. Convicted and sent to Dartmoor, he knows that if he keeps quiet and keeps his head down he'll be looked after when he gets out. Sarah is a DI who was on the margins of Ryan's case has left London and moved to the home counties for a quiet life, A missing South London teenager is reported on her patch and things quickly get complicated. It's a fast moving story told with insider information about how drugs gangs pull in vulnerable youths. Recommended.

Wow this book was good. A confusing storyline in some parts but I couldn't put it down at all. Can't wait for another by this author. Thankyou for the chance to read this book

Although a bit confusing through different timelines a good read. Starting with the murder of an undercover policeman by a young lad when he is cornered. The lad Ryan Kennedy ends up in jail for a short term as he is found not guilty of murder but guilty of lesser charges. After the murder Sarah Collins has moved out of the met to a quieter patch . When a boy Leif goes missing from home and is traced to her area she has to deal with former colleagues in the Met.Lizzie and Steve and all signs are that Ryan is involved in drug dealing. Leif is sent to help a girl called Shell with a deal that is going down near a caravan site they are staying at ,but the drugs are stolen and Shell is raped.They are told they owe the money for the lost drugs but must work to pay it off. Shell is found murdered and Leif has to face the truth.

Enjoyed this book - but it got a bit confusing with numerous code names! Would have loved to have learned more about the police involved in this novel - their back stories, how they ended up doing what they're doing - but that's my personal preference!

I was a bit confused about the connections between the various police characters and whether there was any connection between Ryan and the missing boy Leif.

There were a few occasions that I felt could have either been new chapters or at least breaks in the chapter where you read about one set of characters and suddenly switched to others leaving me confused and having to go back.

Those things aside, a good story that keeps you wondering whether the police will get to the bottom of the gang, and whether Leif will make it out alive. It does keep you guessing right to the end.

I loved the premise of this book and it certainly started well.
Piqued my curiosity from the get-go and I settled down to what I hoped was a good read.
Unfortunately, I couldn't quite get my head around the changing timeline and I suspect this may have been more to do with it being an advanced copy than the plot itself.
I had to give up in the end which was a real shame as the writing style was excellent.

The Tower, #2 (Collins and Griffiths #2)
is the second novel in a new series by Kate London, that focuses on the investigations of DS Sarah Collins and PC Lizzie Griffiths.
The previous novel in the series was a successful tv series on itv.

The story drives straight into the action with numerous strands of the storyline:
- Ryan Kennedy is facing trial for killing a police officer and then we follow Ryan during his time in jail
- Sarah Collins is attending the inquiry into the death of the same police officer and also dealing with the fallout from the previous novel
- Lizzie Griffiths is back at work, though in a different role and trying to raise her son
Each of these characters and their stories prove to be interlinked with Ryan being the touchstone between them and being the tie to the current investigation.
Although familiar with the characters from the earlier book, I struggled with the first few chapters to determine the individual connections between the characters and their backstories.
I would certainly recommend that you have at least watched the show before embarking on The Misper as the relationships ate complicated.
What follows next is a powerful story, that benefits from the immense knowledge of the author in regard to investigations and the internal forces within the Met.

Wow, I loved this book. I am a massive fan of crime fiction but there is something just that bit more special when you read a book by someone who has clearly been there and done it.

The sense of grittiness just jumps off the page and the minute details of the inner workings of the police just shine through here

Loved it and can't wait to read more from this author

A hard hitting book for sure. Part thriller, part drama, part police prodocal. Shining a light on topics that are worrying, startling and don't get enough coverage. Well written.

I couldn’t keep straight in this book, there was no fluidity in the writing and it wasn’t worth finishing.

Unfortunately I didn't connect with this book and found the writing style was not to my taste. Really gutted as I was expecting to enjoy the story but had to mark as dnf

Well, what a novel! A gripping and gutsy detective thriller which exposed the child exploitation of the 'County Lines' drugs trade. It also gave a cops view of the system which begged the question, "Who would want to be a cop?" Seems like Sisyphus had it easy. The novel explores how low level crime can quickly become a lot more serious and children can be so easily coerced. How many young people's lives were lost to a disrupted upbringing where a solid childhood could have made all the difference? County lines is all about pushing the drugs trade out from the cities, using children for the heft. The guys behind the scenes use immense cruelty to keep the children in line and some of the descriptions in the novel are quite shocking.
If you like a novel that will give you food for thought after you've turned the last page, this is for you. What you'll think is up to you. I felt I had seen things behind the term.......'CountyLines' which many would avert their eyes from.

This is a book about police officers with strained relationships pursuing criminal teenagers. It starts with the shooting of an undercover police officer but the teenager with the gun gets off in court. He is jailed for lesser crimes. Then there are a number of story lines which cut across each other. The book requires editing to remove the confusing switches from paragraph to paragraph without warning. Much of the time the reader doesn’t know what bit of the story is being told. The subject matter of difficult teenagers and drug gangs is not unusual either. I was not impressed by this book in its current format.

I thought this might be a book I would enjoy, but it wasn’t to be.
Didn’t grip me from the start and it failed to drag me into the story as many do.
Although it was not entirely to my liking, I won’t give up on the author and will look out for other titles from her pen.