The Lollipop Man

The Yorkshire Killings #1

by Daniel Sellers

When a young girl is snatched from a West Yorkshire town there are eerie similarities with a cold case from many years earlier. It can't be the same killer, can it?

Yorkshire, 1994. Eighteen-year-old Adrian spends his days working at the local newspaper, and his evenings in his local pub. But under this ordinary surface lies a haunting story. Aged ten, Adrian was kidnapped by a shadowy figure known as The Lollipop Man, who had abducted three children before. Adrian was the only one to escape.

The Lollipop Man might well have returned when another missing child whips up a media frenzy. Journalist Sheila Hargreaves, troubled with memories of her own involvement in the reporting of the previous abductions, is determined to dig deeper, atone for what she did nearly a decade ago and bring the Lollipop Man to justice.

Genres: Crime, Thriller, Mystery, Procedural, Suspense

416 pages, Hardcover

Published February 20, 2025

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 1994
When young Sarah Barrett is taken from a West Yorkshire town, people jump to the conclusion that she is the latest victim of The Lollipop Man as there are many similarities. This perpetrators reign of terror in 1986 leaves three devastated families and a fourth traumatised, the latter being Adrian Brown who at age 10, is taken but quickly released. Is the Lollipop Man back after an eight year gap? Sheila Hargreaves, a well-known journalist who fronts TV programme Yorkshire Tonight is determined to get to the truth whether DCI Malcolm Struthers likes it or not. Adrian is temporarily working at The Calder Valley Advertiser prior to university and is also invested in bringing the perpetrator to justice.

When I first begin this, I’m not sure about the novel as it’s a bit confusing at the start because we’re introduced to a lot of characters and events from the past all at once. However, it pulls me in and I find myself gripped, keen to learn the truth as we are led up alleys with a tense path to the stark reality.

Some of the strongest features of the book are the timescale, the atmospheric setting and the characterisation. It captures the time so effectively giving good context by reference to things like Ceefax, Walkmans, phone boxes and early mobile phones .
Into the mix we have misogyny, homophobia and the very real spectre of AIDs. The West Yorkshire setting in a small town with the brooding Brontë moors in the background and references to its dark past of the moors murderers and the more recent capture of the Yorkshire Ripper, gives the novel a rich brooding atmosphere, perfect for the unfolding events. The central characters of Adrian and Sheila are excellent, Adrian in particular comes alive with all the issues that he experiences. I like the growing bond between them and the true friendship of Gav to Adrian. Struthers is a good character but maybe not as developed as the others.

There are multiple layers to unpack in the novel which makes for interesting reading and there are several mysteries to unravel which keeps me gripped. It’s suspenseful, tense, twisty and has an exciting end with another atmospheric setting which comes to life before my eyes.

Overall, I believe this is the start of a new series and if so, then I’m definitely in!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Allison and Busby for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Coffee&Cliffhangers · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Lollipop Man" by Daniel Sellers is a gripping and twisty crime mystery that transports the reader to a Yorkshire village community, home of the Lollipop Man who kidnapped and killed three children in 1986 before a ten-year-old boy named Matthew escaped. Seven years later, another child goes missing, the community fears that the Lollipop Man has returned.

Adrian Brown discovers the body of the missing child and reports it anonymously to protect his identity. As a child Adrian's parents changed his after his escape from the killer. Sheila Hargreaves, troubled by her involvement in the reporting of the previous abductions is determined to atone for her mistakes by finally bringing the Lollipop Man to justice.

I found the beginning a little difficult to follow due to the abundance of information. However, once the story picked up and the tense atmosphere was established, I was consumed with piecing together the mystery. Although the reveal was not a huge surprise to me and somewhat convoluted, overall, it was still and worth the read.

Thank you Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story by a Yorkshire writer about murders in West Yorkshire. How could I not read it!

Daniel Sellers is a new author for me. I'll definitely read more of his fiction.

The Lollipop Man is back. A series of disappearances 8 years before was never solved and the girls who were snatched were never found. 10 year old Matthew Spivey was snatched but returned. Then the trail went cold and the town breathed a sigh of relief.

But in 1994 the disappearances begin again and they are frighteningly similar to the previous ones. Matthew (now Adrian Brown) is working at a local paper. He remembers little of his terrifying ordeal but he's determined to stop The Lollipop Man this time.

Along with a beloved tv presenter and his friends Adrian will stop at nothing including Police warnings to stop the monster before he takes more little girls.

Daniel Sellers has produced a fast paced, thrilling story that kept me hooked to the end. Some parts of the finale did stretch the imagination a touch but the twists are all surprising and will keep you guessing. The characters are all interesting and Adrian was very likeable.

I may not have read Mr Sellers work before but he's on the radar now.

Highly recommended.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Allison & Busby for the advance review copy.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, The Lollipop Man, by Daniel Sellers, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Lollipop Man is an evil man, a kidnapper of children. Its the mid ninety's in Yorkshire, and a handful of kids have been kidnapped, but only one, Adrian Has survived. This was a heavy read, but a good one.

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A crime thriller set around Yorkshire, playing on the notorious real life serial killers that struck fear into these communities in the 60s and 70s. A pacy read with plenty of twists and a collection of characters dealing with traumatic pasts and hidden secrets. One that fans of crime thrillers will definitely enjoy.

[Kavya (wishes and tries to be more active) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid 3-star read!

This story follows a series of kidnappings of young girls by the elusive "Lollipop Man." Throughout, I was completely hooked, constantly trying to guess his identity. However, when the reveal finally came, it wasn’t as thrilling as I’d imagined. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey of uncovering clues—the suspense, the hunches, the excitement—but the killers themselves didn’t feel as compelling as the investigation itself. They didn’t seem like the masterminds capable of evading capture and leaving cases unsolved for so long.

Interestingly, I found myself more invested in the personal life of Adrian. I appreciated the focus on his character, as it gave me a chance to understand him better, as well as Sheila, who was also well-developed. I especially enjoyed the strong friendship between Adrian and Gav. Their bond was portrayed realistically, with the two of them standing by each other through all challenges. The story even depicted a realistic reaction to Adrian’s sexuality, set in the context of 1995, which added depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read! Special thanks to NetGalley and Allison Busby publications for the advanced copy of this copy. Much appreciated!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really great! There were twists and I had a hard time putting this down. It's very fast paced and the characters are entertaining and well developed. The ending was unexpected which I liked. This is a well done thriller that I would recommend. Special Thank You to Daniel Sellers, Allison & Busby and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book through NetGally (my first one!) and loved it. This book was a bit of a slow burn, but definitely paid off in the end.

The Lollipop Man takes place in West Yorkshire where multiple young girls have been abducted. Only one survivor, the main character, Adrian. A decade later, it seems these crimes are starting to take place again. This story was gripping and had twist after twist!

[Stace · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

The Lollipop Man by Daniel Sellers is a pacy and captivating thriller set in the 1990s. Back in 1986, a serial killer is on the loose in West Yorkshire, named in the papers as ‘The Lollipop Man’ because of the clothing they were seen wearing. The man kidnapped four young children. Three of them were murdered, but their bodies were never discovered; however, one escaped. Then the kidnappings stopped, and the person was never caught.

Fast forward to 1994, and the escaped child, Matthew Spivey, is now eighteen years old and goes by the name Adrian Brown. He is working as a junior journalist at his local paper.

Reports have come in that a young girl has been abducted, and the similarities are eerily close to the events of the 1980s. The locals are in fear once again that the Lollipop Man is back. Can the man be stopped this time, or will he kill more children before going to ground again?

What an emotional rollercoaster The Lollipop Man is. Having grown up in the 1990s in northern England, it was like a walk down memory lane – although with more murders this time. The plot was intriguing and puzzling. Why was a kidnapper/killer back after eight years? Where had he been in that time?

There are a lot of characters to get your head around, and the police are portrayed as pretty useless, leaving most of the work to journalists, including Sheila Hargreaves, who worked on the first cases and now has her own TV chat show. Adrian is quite a complex character as he is both determined and scared, old-headed yet at times comes across as younger than he was. He is likeable, and you can’t help feeling for someone who has been through such a traumatic ordeal.

With plenty of secrets and lies to come out, and many twists in the story, The Lollipop Man had me glued to the pages, eager to unfold all the drama and get to the bottom of the case. I now can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Karen Chong · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 / 5.0

I thought this book would be more police procedural but turns out it was less of it and more centred around the main characters exploits. I did find the book to be alittle too convoluted and hard to follow at points. I have to admit when that occurred my interest started to deviate from the book. Overall it’s not a bad book, but because the plot got convoluted and my understanding started to wither the ending didn’t have as much of an impact as it should have. It’s not a bad book and worth a read if you’re willing to invest time into it.

[Hanlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There's shame and death hanging over you like a black shroud, Adrian Brown."

Seven years ago, a ten-year-old boy named Matthew Spivey was abducted by a man known as "The Lollipop Man." Unlike the other three victims, who remain missing, Matthew was released two hours later. Unfortunately, he was unable to provide an adequate description of the offender.

Now, another young girl has disappeared under similar circumstances, and people are whispering that the Lollipop Man is back. Matthew has changed his name to Adrian Brown and is working for Calder Valley Advertiser as an administrative assistant but is also doing duty as a driver, and this is how he ends up at the crime scene.

Soon, he finds himself in the midst of the investigation after he stumbles (literally!) over a body, and he feels obligated to attempt to determine the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators.

A brilliant read that captivated me from the very beginning!

[Gales Tales70 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy the storyline but it was rather confusing at times, so many people involved it was hard to keep track at times and I read lots of books based on a similar premise. I really liked Adrian and Gavs characters and relationship. His relationship with his parents was very weird but understandable given his history. Sheila was a strong FMC and fitted in really well. Jeanette was a pain but could see why as the story progressed. If you like psychological thrillers, give this a go it’s worth the read.

[For The Love of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️. I don't know what I expected from this book with the title, however I quickly became engrossed with the story. A missing girl who it seems was taken by a child abductor from seven years previous. Adrian the only surviving child of being abducted previously has changed his name but becomes embroiled in the mystery surrounding the missing girls. I felt the characters were true to life without graces. The story kept me guessing right until the final chapters. An outstanding thriller if you like this genre definitely one to read.

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set against the brooding backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, this novel thrusts readers into a tense mystery that interweaves past horrors with present-day dread. The story opens in April 1994 with the abduction of a young girl, a chilling echo of the notorious “Lollipop man” incidents from 1986—when three girls vanished without a trace and a near tragedy struck a ten-year-old boy whose life was forever altered. Now known as Adrian, he grapples with personal secrets and the weight of a painful past, all while concealing his true self from his troubled family.

Adrian, who works for The Calder Valley Advertiser and struggles with academic setbacks amid his mother’s health challenges, finds himself drawn into a desperate quest for justice. His determination to unmask the perpetrator is paralleled by Sheila Hargreaves, a resolute TV journalist from Yorkshire Tonight, whose own pursuit of truth adds another layer to the unfolding drama. Their investigations, set against a time when technology was limited to dial-up and Walkmans, evoke a nostalgic yet starkly different era—a world without the instant connectivity of today’s digital age.

The narrative skillfully blends multiple storylines and a rich cast of characters, each contributing to an intricate puzzle of clues and red herrings. The atmospheric setting, punctuated by references to the Moors Murders and the Yorkshire Ripper, amplifies the pervasive sense of unease. Moreover, the novel does not shy away from addressing the social issues of its time—AIDS, homophobia, and misogyny—adding depth to its characters and their interactions.

Ultimately, the strength of the book lies in its character development, particularly in Adrian’s transformation as he finds courage and camaraderie with his friend Gav. Although Detective Struthers makes a notable appearance, it is the layered portrayal of Adrian and Sheila that anchors the narrative. With its relentless twists and an ending that defies expectations, this engrossing read promises not only to satisfy fans of psychological thrillers but also hints at the possibility of an even more expansive series to come.

Is this the beginning of a new series? Only time will tell, but for now, the novel stands as a gripping, multi-faceted mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.

[Jessica Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on a roll of choosing books that have a few too many characters, making them hard to follow at times. This book falls into that category and it sort of took me out of the story.

That being said, this kind of book works for many people. So, if you read the blurb and you're intrigued by The Lollipop Man, read it! The premise is rather interesting and some of the main characters are rather compelling.

[Tahera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well paced mystery/thriller with lots happening and enough clues and twists to keep a reader guessing till the end. There were a lot of characters but once I got the hang of the plot, it was easy to keep track of all of them and their role in the story.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Allison & Busby and the author for the digital ARC of the book.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

1994, Adrian is an intern with a local newspaper where no one knows he was kidnapped as a child by the Lollipop Man, who also took three young girls who were never found. When another girl is kidnapped in the same way as the previous abductions, Adrian and another journalist try to dig deeper and find out what is going on. I enjoyed this. I would read more from this author. It wasn't blatantly obvious what was going to happen, which I always appreciate. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

[Yvonne G · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Can Sheila and Adrian stop history repeating itself?'

…

Okay! So where to begin with sharing my thoughts about this intense, complicated and highly nuanced thriller?

First of all, I needed to get my head around recalling what policing standards and the role of the assorted press would have been, back in the 1980s and 1990s, pre social media, mainstream internet access and modern crime investigative techniques - (who remembers microfiche?).

Now, I needed to imagine myself in the late 1980s, as a primary school age boy called Matthew, an only child, living in a relatively small community, at a time when it would have been considered gospel truth, that anyone in uniform was someone to be trusted, respected and obeyed (not difficult to imagine as this was a tenet instilled in me by my own parents!). Three girls of a similar age to Matthew have already been abducted by a man in uniform over a period of the last few months, none of them have been seen again, nor any bodies found and although the police have a potential suspect, they have insufficient evidence to arrest. So, when Matthew becomes the fourth victim, is taken by a man in uniform, but several hours later is returned home, unharmed by a random lady in the street, the initial relief of his parents and the police is tempered by the question - why?

Fast forward to 1994 and we meet Adrian, a young man still living at home, although almost totally estranged from his parents, working, he hopes temporarily as he aspires to gain enough qualifications to attend Leeds University, as a gofer for a local newspaper. Considered by many to be a loner, Adrian has a secret, known only to his closest friends and the crowd he mixes with outside of work hours. With the suspect for the 1980s abductions having been declared long dead, the community is aghast when the unthinkable happens and the abductions begin again, not once, but twice, leaving Adrian filled with a deep sense of fear and foreboding.

It is now, when Adrian is sent to help cover the latest disappearances for the paper, that he comes face to face with Sheila, a successful journalist turned popular television show host. He recognises her long before she manages to put a name and place to the young man who seems so eager to avoid her. However, it doesn't take Sheila long to put two and two together to work out where she has met Adrian before, although her guilt and remorse at her own actions during that first meeting, initially make her reluctant to approach him for fear of his reaction on seeing her.

However, as the new and unfolding situation threatens to spiral out of control and the investigating police officer, who was also the lead officer on the original abduction cases more than a decade ago, seems to have no more leads or evidence than he did then about the identity of the perpetrator, it doesn't take long for both Sheila and Adrian to work out that it is only by sharing their combined memories and information, that they are likely to discover exactly who is responsible for this new spate of abductions, before a third victim is snatched...

...

I would have liked to have sped through this book much more quickly than I in fact did, so eager was I to have the mystery unravelled and see the culprit get their 'just deserts'. However, there was such a plethora of characters, who were falling over themselves, often unintentionally, to deflect both the combined forces of Sheila and Adrian, and the authorities led by DCI Struthers, that the investigation was often derailed and sent off in the wrong direction. Mercifully, the chapters were kept short, well-signposted and fast paced, leaving me the odd few minutes to break from my reading to carry out my more mundane, but necessary chores!

So many layers of tension filled storytelling to negotiate, so many twists and turns and blind alleys to navigate, so many potential suspects to be considered - maybe, if I am being brutally honest, some of which were not really necessary to have made this an awesome read. Characters who, as a whole, I never felt any synergy or connection with, and probably was never meant to, but who were wonderfully crafted and developed into their individual roles.

Whilst Adrian and his friend Gav were instrumental in helping bring the perpetrator to justice, Adrian was forced to confront memories which had long ago been supressed and confined to that space in his mind which he never visited. He is also forced to examine the fractured relationship he has always had with his father and is surprised to discover that his early memories of events were in fact incorrect and that he had completely mistaken his father's motives and actions, with his mother so deeply affected herself as to have been rendered incapable of instigating dialogue and resolution between father and son. However, rather than overwhelming him, Adrian eventually found the entire process of facing and expunging his demons quite cathartic, leaving him able to draw a line under a childhood he remembers for all the wrong reasons.

Solving the case also drew a firm line under events for Sheila, ridding her of the burden of guilt she had carried around for all those years. The team she and her friend Jeanette made, proved to be a formidable combination when it came to working through and solving a problem, leaving me still in two minds about whether there might be any mileage in further stories featuring this dynamic, crime-busting duo.

As a confirmed 'armchair traveller', author Daniel Sellers really managed to immerse me in the culture and sense of place, which was the backdrop to this chilling storyline. With a mix of both fictional and imagined locations, the bleakness of the Yorkshire Moors; the secretive, insular nature of the many smaller villages which nestle within its protective, dark cloak; combined with the urban spawl of the landmark towns and cities which define the landscape, were all beautifully brought to life as I read. Also, being of a 'certain age', mention of the infamous and at the time, very scary, 'Moors Murders', evoked many memories, adding an extra layer of intrigue and foreboding to the darkness of the story, which was always there in the back of my mind.

Bleak and disturbing, doesn't even come close to describing this terrible series of events, spanning many years; the affect it had had, and the consequences it had heaped upon so many innocent lives. The ripples on this pond of human despair, spread far and wide!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love discovering new (to me) authors, so when invited to read this book by the publisher, I didn't hesitate. The plot sounded intriguing and right up my street. Begrudgingly, I acknowledge that this is (technically) historical fiction, but for anyone old enough to remember the 90s (I am, I do, and I am also - sadly - older than protagonist Adrian), then this really does feel like a bit of a blast from the past. When mobile phones were somewhat of a novelty, social media was a concept of only science fiction, and the internet was, at best, something that could only be accessed via use of a compact disk and a dial up connection. Remember those days?

Those of us who are nostalgic (i.e. old) remember the 90s as simpler times. Not so for this book's protagonist, Adrian Brown, a young man who is working for a newspaper as somewhat of a gopher, whilst trying to achieve the grades he needs in college to get to University. Now this should be a relatively trouble and worry free time for any eighteen year old, but Adrian has a bit of a past, and more reason than most to be anxious about the latest crime to demand the attention of the media. A young girl has been abducted in a manner that is scarily, reminiscent of a long silent presumed killer, the eponymous Lollipop Man. As one of the mystery abductors previous near victims, could Adrian hold the key to this latest investigation?

I actually found this to be quite a quick read, finishing the book in a couple of days. Daniel Sellers sets the story up really well, creating a fair amount of intrigue and making me wonder just why Adrian should feel so much dread when he hears about the scene he is being asked to drive the paper's photographer to. It's clear it has some meaning to him, and the sense of mystery only builds from there. As reluctant as Adrian is to get involved, it is clear from the start that this is inevitable. As the author pulls us further into the story, and more of Adrian's history, and that of the Lollipop Man is revealed, the faster I found myself turning the pages, curious to see just how Adrian's past and present intersected. There is an undercurrent of threat that you can feel pulsing around Adrian, and although the author manages to make his fear clear, you also get the understanding that beneath it all is a courageous young man who will do what is right, regardless of how much he is told to stay away, or how much danger he might be in.

The pacing of the book is actually pretty quick, driven by a the dialogue which helps to create a real feeling of the time in which the book is set. I did get a sense of the setting too, the descriptions of the Yorkshire towns and countryside coming through clearly in the narrative. Because this book is set in the 90s, there is a fair amount of prejudice and homophobia that comes through in the book, particularly from certain characters, but this is very reflective of the time, and only really from specific characters. It lends itself to the story, and one of the reasons that Adrian is perhaps less than transparent about some if the things he is a party to. It also leads to him making a few questionable decisions which put him in a very difficult position, and add conflict to the already growing tension.

I liked the character of Adrian, and his best friend, Gav. He doesn't always make the best decisions, but his heart is in the right place. Sheila was perhaps a bit harder to warm to, and I wasn't initially sure if she was just after a scoop, or if solving the case was going to be a kind of cathartic moment for her too. She came good in the end though, with an unlikely friendship between her and Adrian offering them both the clues they need to uncover a killer. Speaking of which, their identity remains a well hidden secret until nearly the end of the book, the author using plenty of red herrings to steer our attention in other directions. There are clues a plenty, but only of use when you understand their context, and it is a real team effort to get to the bottom of what is really going on.

Whether Adrian and Sheila catch their Lollipop Man you'll have to read the book to find out, but I really enjoyed my foray into their. An entertaining and engrossing read, perfectly plotted and executed to keep the suspense and mystery going right to the very end.

[Carole Tyrrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another young girl, 11 year old Sarah Barrett, has gone missing in the Yorkshire town of Tollers Bridge. The police only find her clothes and the community is shocked as it means that the Lollipop Man has returned. 8 years earlier 3 girls and a boy were abducted. The girls were never found but the boy was.
Adrian is 18 and an admin on the local paper, the Calder Valley Advertiser, and he’s soon in the thick of it as the paper covers the events. But the possible return of the Lollipop Man brings back disturbing memories. He was the killer’s last victim and his name used to be Matthew Spivey. Although his name has changed and his relationship with his parents has always been strained since, he has more disturbing reminders of his abduction as the hunt for the killer continues.
The media circus soon becomes a feeding frenzy when local TV celebrity and journalist, Sheila Hargreaves becomes involved. She has her own memories of the first girl’s disappearance and her part in the aftermath.
A local woman, Edna Wormley, contacts Adrian and they meet. She hints that she knows who the killer is and has proof of it in the form of a letter. But she wants to be on the front page. But someone knows that she’s got too far near the ruth and it’s Adrian who finds her, murdered, on a towpath near his favourite gay pub, the Jester.
There was a book published about the case who named three suspects – two have alibis and the third is dead. It’s also established that a woman was seen taking Sarah Barrett which brings back memories of Myra Hindley. Adrian and his mate, Gav, now begin their own investigation focussing on Edna Wormley’s allegations and Sheila Hargreaves accepts that she has to atone for what she’s done and becomes involved once she realises who Adrian really is.
When another young girl vanishes from Adrian’s mother’s back garden, it’s time for them all to join forces and find out the truth before it’s too late.
The Yorkshire moors have been the backdrop for notorious killers such as the Moors Murderers and Peter Sutcliffe and the brooding landscape lends itself to dark dees and disappearances. The murderers echo throughout the book.
The book is set in 1994 and there are enough references; Walkmans, Russian trench coats, faxes, Ceefax, AIDS and phone boxes to make it authentic. Adrian was a typical teenager but also suffered from survivor guilt - why was he returned and found? I thought that this was really well portrayed.
The media circus was also a major theme with several people determined to become rich and notorious because of it. However, Sheila Hargreaves pestering Adrian by assuming different voices to speak to him was really nauseating.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of and I thought that perhaps a couple could have been dispensed with. Adrian and Gav’s investigation methods were unprofessional bordering on amateur to say the least. I felt that the ending was rushed compared to what had gone before but on the whole it was a good solid psychological thriller by a writer who was new to me.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and, on the back of it, it won't be the last! Set back in the mid 90s - how refreshing - we follow 18 year old Adrian who is an intern at a local newspaper. His main job is to ferry the reporter around, driving him as he lost his license. One day, they are called to the scene of a kidnap. A young girl has been snatched. They soon learn that this abduction matches that of an old cold case. One that Adrian is personally connected to. The Lollipop man abducted several children, including 10 year old Adrian, who managed to escape. Adrian has mixed memories of that day but has tried hard to put to in the past. Changing his name helped. But his past is about to become his present...
As well as Adrian we also follow media darling Sheila Hargreaves who has her own demons surrounding the Lollipop man case. She needs him brought to justice for her own atonement.
I said how refreshing to have a book set in the 90s. Before all the technology we have got used to. Phone boxes play their parts herein for example, early mobiles being huge. We also have ceefax (loved that). But along with that, we also have the prejudices that go along with that time, attitudes towards women, homophobia, and the AIDS crisis, all of which are handled very well indeed, and kept within context.
In Adrian and Sheila, the author has created two very rich characters. I took to the both of them right from the off. Other characters were just as well drawn and all played their parts very well. There were rather a lot of them and I can't help feeling that maybe whittling them down, combining roles might have helped the book to flow better.
The story was great, with all the necessary twists and turns, secrets and lies, dysfunctional behaviour, obfuscation, etc that you would expect from a book of this genre. I especially loved Adrian's interactions with his family and best friend. I also took to DCI Struthers, eventually, as he took a bit of getting used to!
And the ending, when it came, was perfect... Apart from me having to say goodbye to a few of the characters that I had bonded with. Maybe, hopefully, we will see them again in the future... In the meantime, I'm off to stuff my tbr with his back catalogue. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy a good mystery, you’ll like this book and the plot is so convoluted I defy anyone to solve the mystery themselves, you will definitely have to wait until the end.

The book is set in 1994 and it certainly takes you back to those times. I couldn’t work out at first why the author would have chosen to set the book at that time, it seemed a bit random. However our main character Adrian is gay. To be 18 years old and gay, living in a West Yorkshire working class town at that time wasn’t always easy for Adrian. He didn’t have the best relationship with his father, who he assumed to be ashamed of his son.

I think also given the theme of the plot, young girls going missing, the Yorkshire ripper and Moors murderers synonymous with this area were still fresh in the minds of those living in this fictional tale. West Yorkshire was no stranger to serial predators.

I really enjoyed the characterisation. Adrian, 18 worked for a local newspaper. He was employed to drive around the news photographer who’d lost his driving licence due to being a little over fond of spending his spare time in the local pub. Adrian was naive and after stumbling over a dead body on the canal towpath, he’d already got himself into a bit of an awkward situation by trying to report his find anonymously to the police as he feared his parents would know he’d been in the pub known to be frequented by gays and he didn’t want his parents finding out. He turns to his friend Gavin to help him out and together they become ever more deeply embroiled in the mystery of the Lollipop man’s true identity.

I have to admit that crime fiction isn’t really my thing and I did find the constant search throughout the book for a missing letter to get a little long and drawn out but then I don’t have the patience for solving clues. However there is a certain amount of dark humour between Adrian and Gavin as they go about their “investigation” which did keep me interested. So what to me, felt like plodding along for an eternity, the ending more than made up for it. I think I probably enjoyed the last 20% of the book more than the first 80% but overall for someone who is never over excited by crime fiction it was a good read.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing thriller set very firmly in W YORKSHIRE.



The Lollipop Man is a brutal and sinister thriller set in West Yorkshire. It also, perhaps strangely, has the feel of a cozy crime novel. This is possibly because two of the main characters solving the mystery are not police but members of the community. In the mid 1980s four children in fictitious Toller Bridge were kidnapped off the streets. Three girls were never seen again, the fourth – a boy – escaped (or was released?) almost immediately. Around two weeks after they disappeared, an item of clothing from each girl was left for the police to find, and small shrines were discovered on the local moors. The perpetrator was nicknamed The Lollipop Man because, disguised as a school crossing volunteer, he was seen leading the second child hand in hand across the street to the van into which he bundled her.

Fast forward to 1994, and The Lollipop Man appears to strike again. Another little girl is kidnapped and the same routine of an item of clothing and a shrine follows. Two citizens take it upon themselves to help the police (though I’m not certain the police would call it help…). They are the boy who survived the 1994 kidnapping and an erstwhile journalist turned local TV presenter. They both have history with the 1994 events (the boy obviously, the presenter because she covered the story at the time and was not proud of what she wrote). They discover connections and clues they follow, clues that lead them – via circuitous routes – to the location where they believe the kidnapper is living. The police are always one step behind them… Given the location (the moors of West Yorkshire) the similarities to the crimes of Myra Hindley and Ian Brady (just over the Lancashire border) are hard to ignore.

The climax is frightening and macabre, and not for the faint hearted.

The Lollipop Man is very firmly set in West Yorkshire, an area a little to the south of where TripFiction is based. It feels quite close to home… It is also the location for the real crime exploits of the Yorkshire Ripper and, as remarked above, just over the border from the Moors Murders. An area with history…

[Denis Wheller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yorkshire is nicknamed “God’s Own Country”, despite the fact that it has been the stamping ground for the “Ripper” and the “Moors Murderers”. It is a county of contrasts, open moorland and high farms on the one hand, and dense, once heavily industrial, urban communities, such as Bradford, Leeds and Halifax. In the latter, Adrian Brown, aged eighteen, is working for the local paper as a driver and general office junior. It is April 1994 and Adrian has two secrets, he is homosexual but not yet ‘out’, and Adrian Brown isn’t his real name. On three occasions in1986 a young girl had vanished from local streets and clues to them being taken by a man, posing in one case as a Lollipop Man. Then an eight year old boy, Matthew Spivey, disappeared in similar circumstances, only to be suddenly returned. To preserve his anonymity, his parents changed his name. Adrian/Matthew has largely got over the trauma, although his parents haven’t. There have been no other incidences since then, but now a young girl has disappeared and evidence suggests that “The Lollipop Man” has returned. Circumstances now contrive to drag Adrian into the investigation and, along with his pal Gav, TV journalist Sheila, and Reporter Jeanette, he finds himself retracing his own story and entering into dangerous territory.
This is an interesting story, with a lot of characters and some very contrived incidents. The characters are well differentiated and mostly fairly believable, although the actions of the police seem a bit erratic (I can’t get a handle on DCI Struthers). It moves quite quickly, perhaps a bit repetitious, and the final scenes are logical in the context. There are references to the “Hardy Boys”, the “Famous Five” and “Scooby-Doo”, which I think are to ‘remind’ us that Adrian and Gav are young, but which kept making me think, unfairly, that this story is unsophisticated. The plot is good, with a couple of twists, but no real surprises. I’m a bit torn but reckon 3.5 is fair, which will round to 4, which is a bit generous.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

[GP Hyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a crime mystery about a serial abductor of small children. It’s set in 1994 in West Yorkshire, in and around Hebden Bridge, and although it’s just 30 years ago, it has the sense of a historical novel. Mobile phones are only just becoming commonplace, computers are rare and the internet is unheard of.

There are several protagonists. The first is 18-year-old Adrian, gay but not out to his family, and himself a victim of the abductor who had acquired the nickname of ‘The Lollipop Man’. Adrian has a low-level job at the local newspaper, The Calder Valey Advertiser, where he is the butt of homophobic jokes from colleague Kev. From today’s viewpoint, these are quite shocking and again give a sense of history. Adrian and best pal, Gav, set out to follow up clues as to the current whereabouts of the Lollipop Man.

The second protagonist is Sheila Hargreaves, local celebrity and anchor for the regional news programme ‘Yorkshire Tonight’ who also becomes involved in the hunt for the Lollipop Man.
The action is pacey and avoids being dragged down into lengthy descriptions. Instead the author drives the action along through well pitched dialogue. This allows us to get clear insights into the characters of Adrian and Sheila and the multitude of characters they encounter on their search. One of these is the eccentric character of Mrs Wormley who may hold the key to the Lollipop Man. The dramatic action in pursuit of Lollipop Man builds to a truly gruesome climax towards the end and the tone of the novel slips into horror.

I very much enjoyed this novel that is strongly driven through dialogue and characters’ interaction. driven. There’s an interesting dynamic set up by having two protagonists, Adrian and Sheila. But because the antagonist is not present for much of the novel (if indeed s/he is still alive) the story has insufficient jeopardy to really have the pace of a thriller. But if you enjoy regional crime thrillers with well-realised characters, then this may well be for you.

I’m grateful to Allison and Busby for making available a pre-publication copy so that I might make an honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received an advanced copy of this book from Allison & Busby via NetGalley.

When a young girl goes missing in a West Yorkshire town, eerie similarities to a string of abductions from years earlier come to light. Could the infamous “Lollipop Man,” a kidnapper from the past, have returned? Set in Yorkshire in 1994, this psychological thriller follows Adrian, a young journalist who survived the Lollipop Man’s clutches as a child. He was the only one of the kidnapped children to escape, and the trauma has haunted him ever since. Now, as the new disappearance sparks fresh fear and media frenzy, Adrian finds himself drawn back into the nightmare, determined to uncover the truth.

Adrian’s character is the heart of the story, and his journey is layered and compelling. The bond between Adrian and his best friend, Gav, is one of the standout elements of the book. Their friendship feels authentic and raw, a portrayal of loyalty and support amidst the challenges of both personal struggles and a harrowing investigation. The story also thoughtfully explores Adrian’s sexuality, set against the backdrop of 1995 societal attitudes, adding an extra layer of realism and depth.

Sheila Hargreaves, a journalist with a troubled past tied to the original case, provides a parallel perspective. Her determination to atone for her earlier involvement adds another emotional dimension to the story as she seeks redemption while uncovering long-buried secrets.

While the plot is gripping and atmospheric, there are moments where the execution falters. The writing can be hard to follow at times, and the sheer number of characters can feel overwhelming. Adrian and Gav’s investigative efforts, though engaging, often come across as amateurish and unpolished, which may frustrate readers looking for a sharper edge to the mystery. Additionally, the ending feels somewhat rushed, lacking the weight and resolution of the build-up.

[Big Bertha · Rating 4 out of 5]

April 1994, the small community of Toller Bridge is thrown into chaos when a young girls clothes are discovered next to the Rochdale canal a week and a half after 11 year old Sarah Barrett went missing. The same community that eight years previously had been torn apart by the abduction of three girls and a boy all from the local area. An eyewitness saw one of the girls with someone dressed like a lollipop man prior to her disappearance and picked up by the media, the name stuck. The girls were never seen again but the fourth child, a boy called Matthew was released a couple of hours after he was taken and the abductions stopped. The lollipop man was never caught and the case remains unsolved.

The press are having a field-day, TV anchor for Yorkshire Tonight, Sheila Hargreaves had been there as a rookie reporter for the first abductions and she's determined to be front and centre for this one too.

Working for a local newspaper is Adrian Brown and he's also got a keen interest in this one, but unlike Sheila he shrinks away from the spotlight not wanting anyone to focus their attention on him, he used to be called Matthew.

A fast moving novel with a colourful cast of characters this novel was a good portrayal of a small community where gossip reigns supreme, everyone has their suspicions and away from the spotlight Matthew helped by friend Gav is looking for answers.

My thanks to Allison & Busby and NetGalley for the advance review copy, all opinions expressed are my own

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yorkshire 1994. Eighteen-year-old Adrian works at the local newspaper during the day and in the evening, He works at the local gay pub called the Jester. I lives quite a normal life this day but not 8 years a go when he was ten years old. He was abducted by a child killer call the ‘Lollipop man’ and he was the only child survived. Then he had long hair, and the killer usually only takes young girls so that how he managed to get away.
When news comes in that a little girl called Rachel has disappeared similarities of how Adrian was abducted and the other two children all of them years ago. That media frenzy occurs when they think that the Lollipop man has returned. Journalist Shelia Hargreaves that reported the previous abductions goes out of her way to find out what happened to the children.
Even Adrian tries to do his own bit of digging to help in the search for Rachel but, this leads him in all sorts of trouble.
I thank Alison & Busby for a copy of ‘The Lollipop man’. This is my first book I have read by the author Daniel Sellers and by reading this book I am sure to look out for more.
This is a great read full of tension and a quite complex plot trying to find killer. But the characters are well developed and relatable and you quite feel sorry for the protagonist on what he went through past and present. It also has a surprising but satisfying ending. 5 stars from me.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me, but will definately add to my must read list. Set mostly in 1994, in West Yorkshire, the book is told from 2 different viewpoints, Adrian, a young man currently working at a local paper before he goes on to university and Sheila, a reporter on a local tv. It was difficult to find the connections between the two at first and to sort out who the many characters were. Adrian has had a troubled past and although he is Gay, is not out to his parents or in his local area. Young girls have disappeared, in the past and as the book starts, Sarah is also kidnapped. Rather than the plot being told by the investigating team or the victim's point of view, Sheila and Adrian (and Gav) are reporters, interested parties. In the first few chapters, both gain information and follow clues but the book really came into its own once they had decided to work together.
I liked the descriptions which gave a good sense of place, a smallish West Yorkshire town and an almost deserted hamlet, the locals and life in the 90s when mobile phones were new and fairly unreliable. The attitudes to the events in the 80s and 90s also rang true. Were people seen as poor parents because their children were taken? Plenty of food for thought about this, as well as the social attitudes to homosexuality and child abuse in the past.
Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher Allison and Busby for a great read. Not an easy book to get into, but once I had it was an excellent read.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

Not sure why I've kept pushing this to the back of my tbr but I'm glad I finally got round to reading it. This was a solid thriller/mystery that also touched on specific true crime cases in Yorkshire which I found intriguing & thought made the general story really immersive & added to the darker theme of the plot.

I loved the writing in this, I found it so gripping & Sellers is great at building tension as well as creating a setting so gritty & dark, it made this perfect for a nighttime read. The characters were well written in my opinion; they all felt believable & I thought the subplot surrounding Adrian's sexuality was done well & never took away from the overall story.

There were a couple negatives which notched down my rating for this— firstly, there were a lot of characters to get my head round, it made it confusing to read at times as I kept losing track of who's who. I also thought the end seemed rushed & felt weak compared to the rest of the book; not to say it was a bad ending, I just could have done with something more.

If you like your more slow burn mysteries, I'd recommend picking this up; there were moments at the start I thought it was going to be too slow for me but as I got further into it, this bothered me less & I came to really like the slower pace of the story. I also liked that I couldn't predict who The Lollipop Man was going to be & I wasn't unsatisfied with the reveal at all.

Overall, this was a decent intro to a new thriller series & I'm definitely up for reading the next book as well as other work from this writer.

Thank you to the publisher & Netgalley for the free eARC!