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ClareR (5879 KP) rated Nightcrawling in Books

Aug 27, 2022 (Updated Aug 27, 2022)  
Nightcrawling
Nightcrawling
Leila Mottley | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
This is a firm five star read for me. It’s visceral, heartbreaking and beautifully written.

Kiara, 17 years old, gets drawn in to prostitution and is picked up by a group of corrupt cops who like to ‘invite’ young sex workers to their parties. And a lot of these girls are too young. Kiara included.

It really angered me that people who were supposed to take care of and protect people, young black girls included, should take advantage and blackmail them.

Kiara and her neighbours son Trevor, live in poverty. Kiara has stopped going to school, so has no qualifications and no one will employ her. Trevor’s mother goes missing for days at a time, and Kiara sees children's services as a last resort, wholly unacceptable. So to feed them and to pay the rent, she walks the streets, sells sex, and does what the cops want her to do. These men made me feel quite murderous, actually.

Nightcrawling made me feel emotionally exhausted, but I had to read every page. It’s a story that drags you in, grabs your attention, and doesn’t let go until the last page. The fact that it’s based on a true story makes it even more saddening.

If you’re up for a challenge, I’d recommend this. It deserves its place on the Booker Prize long list.

Many thanks to The Pigeonhole.
  
The Schoolmaster's Daughter
The Schoolmaster's Daughter
Naomi Laeuchli | 2024 | Romance
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE SCHOOLMASTER'S DAUGHTER is a gentle and genteel story of mistaken identity and the amusing shenanigans that follow.

Julius is neck-deep in debt and has come up with a plan to marry an heiress to get himself out of it. When a friend tells him of an heiress in Bath, far from the London crowd that knows of his predicament, he travels there and tries to win her hand. Unfortunately for him, the woman he presumes is the companion is actually an heiress herself and none too pleased with his plan. So Lydia decides to teach him a lesson, all of which leads to an amusing story of brightly coloured fashion disasters and wayward children.

This story is well-paced and treads lightly on topics such as generational debt, forced elopement, blackmail, and poverty. It made for a great read to see Lydia's feelings of guilt make themselves known once she started to have feelings for Julius. It is a sweet read, with no spice, that perfectly suited the cooked-up scheme between Julius and Lydia.

A thoroughly enjoyable read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Apr 18, 2025
  
The Cutting Place (Maeve Kerrigan #9)
The Cutting Place (Maeve Kerrigan #9)
Jane Casey | 2020 | Crime, Thriller
9
9.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I absolutely devoured this book and, once again, I find myself sounding like a broken record in that I haven't got enough different words to describe how much I enjoyed it and despite it being the ninth in the series, it continues to feel fresh with the partnership of DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent being a particular highlight of mine and one which I absolutely adore.

Here we find the team investigating a particularly brutal murder when a body part is found by a mudlarker on the banks of the Thames; the ensuing investigation leads to a missing journalist and an exclusive gentleman's club ... are they related? Amongst all this is a look into the private life of Maeve and the importance of strong friendships and trust.

This is a compelling and engaging story line and not just a police-procedural; it delves into the murky world of "gentleman's" clubs, domestic violence, blackmail, privilege and power. I'm not going to lie, it's a dark story full of tension that is all too plausible but there are lighter moments that provide some occasional relief.

Highly, highly recommended and you don't have to have read previous books in the series to appreciate just how good this is but you will certainly want to after reading this.

My thanks and appreciation go to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.