I’ve followed the DI Nikki Parekh series from the start and was delighted to be invited onto this blog tour – thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on the tour and for providing the book.
Opinions are entirely my own.
About the Book:
Four dead bodies. One missing person. Let the game begin.
When an anonymous tip-off leads Detective Nikki Parekh and DS Sajid Malik to the sprawling Salinger estate, Nikki’s senses are on high alert. The brutal murder of all four members of the Salinger family has shocked the sleepy Bradford village to the core.
A mother, father, daughter, and son. . . all killed in exactly the same way – whilst sat around the coffee table, playing a game of monopoly.
But Nikki notices that there are five pieces on the board. One of the players is missing… Did they manage to escape the killer, or was the killer part of the game?
Purchase Links:
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/End-Game-absolutely-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BSWNHX66/
US – https://www.amazon.com/End-Game-absolutely-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B0BSWNHX66/
My Review:
I’ve followed DI Nikki Parekh since the beginning, so it was an absolute pleasure to be invited onto the blog tour for this – Nikki’s sixth outing. Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the blog tour and copy of the book for review. As always, opinions are entirely my own.
The book opens with DI Nikki Parekh being called to an intriguing murder scene – four people have been killed as they sat around the table playing a game of Monopoly. A fifth place is set at the table…but was it used by another victim or the murderer? As the shock waves from the brutal crime spread through the village on the outskirts of Bradford, Parekh and partner Sajid Malik begin to make connections to older crimes in the area – and realise the huge extent of the investigation.
This book marks a bit of a shift in the series, I think. Previous books have focused on Nikki’s own traumatic past which very much takes a back seat here. She’s still struggling with her anxiety but is now positioned at the heart of her large, loving extended family. Personally, I liked this change in Nikki – and it allows her to get on with being a brilliant detective in the middle of a complex investigation. I love that Saj, Langley, Archie, Marcus, Zain, Anika and all the children make up her support network, as well as the fact that the characters have become old friends to loyal readers of Mistry’s series.
That’s absolutely not to say that this couldn’t be read as a standalone. It would be fine for those new to Nikki Parekh as key back-story is referenced. However, you’re probably best starting with Book 1 (‘Last Request’) to get the most enjoyment from the series.
The plotting of this book is tight – there’s lots of action, but it all cleverly slots together. There’s honestly never a dull moment here – a feeling enhanced by the fact that the narrative shifts every now and again away from the investigation to one of the victims and also to a key perpetrator of the crimes. This allows the reader to start piecing together the crimes alongside DI Parekh and her team.
It’s worth noting that Mistry does (as with her other books) tackle some dark themes. This isn’t a spoiler (a very early chapter in the book introduces one of the victims) but child abduction and abuse are a key theme. It’s not – thankfully – written in a graphic way, but it is a sad aspect of the book that makes the reader root for Nikki and Saj in their quest to unmask the criminals.
This book is one of my favourites in this series of police procedurals – and that’s saying something as the standard is high! The strange nature of the initial crime scene drew me in immediately and there were plenty of twists to keep me reading. This, along with a slightly more secure and confident DI Nikki Parekh than previously, totally won me over. Bring on Book 7!
About the Author:
Born in Scotland made in Bradford sums up LIZ MISTRY’s life. Over thirty-five years ago she moved from a small village in West Lothian to Yorkshire to get her teaching degree. Once here, Liz fell in love with three things: curries, the rich cultural diversity of the city… and her Indian husband (not necessarily in this order). Now thirty years, three children, Scumpy, the cat, and a huge extended family later, Liz uses her experiences of living and working in the inner city to flavour her writing. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’, whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath.
Having struggled with severe clinical depression and anxiety for many years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. She credits the MA in Creative Writing she took at Leeds Trinity University with helping her find a way of using her writing to navigate her ongoing mental health struggles. Liz’s PhD research contributes significantly to debates concerning issues of inclusion and diversity of representation within the most socially engaged genre of contemporary crime fiction Being a debut novelist in her fifties was something Liz had only dreamed of and she counts herself lucky, whilst pinching herself regularly to make sure it’s all real.
You can contact Liz via her website https://www.lizmistry.com/
Social Media Links –
Twitter @LizMistryAuthor https://twitter.com/LizMistryAuthor
Facebook @LizMistrybooks https://www.facebook.com/LizMistrybooks
Website https://www.lizmistry.com/
Thanks so much, Kate for posting this review and for being part of the blog tour. I’m so glad you like this new Nikki xx
You’re welcome – I love this series! 😀