Underground

by Linda Nelson

Danny wants his art scholarship, but Meggsie wants the money Danny's sick mum owes him. Who does he look to for repayment? Danny.
Mike's a good guy. He stops Meggsie in his tracks, takes Danny under his wing.
But is Mike all he seems? And when teenage Danny is forced to make a choice between right or wrong, what's he going to do?

Find out in a hard hitting, realistic Teenage/YA thriller about bullying, addiction and hope from Linda Nelson, coming mid 2024! With all net royalties for this book being kindly donated by the author to Barnado's Children's Charity.

252 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2025

About the author

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Reviews

[Roz Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a powerful and gripping read. Sadly, the events in the book happen far too often in reality and I appreciate the author speaking out for teenagers who haven't had the best start in life.

I really loved Danny, Skye, Chip and Grits. The author really brought each of them to life. I just wanted to give them all a big hug. Danny is so loyal to his mum, despite her letting him down time and time again. It is really important to acknowledge the power of family and sense of identity for young people. They need that sense of belonging and sadly there are too many people willing to exploit that need. The author powerfully showed how young people just want to be accepted and how this can lead them down the wrong path

I loved Danny's sense of doing the right thing and he genuinely saw the good in everyone. I don't want to spoil the book but the ending was perfect!

I highly recommend this book. It is well written, gripping and highlights the sad reality of the modern world where adults feel it is okay to exploit and use children for their own gain. All young people should have a sense of safety and have a key adult to look out for them. I really liked that the author really showed the value of teenagers and what happens if they just get a chance to do something positive.

If you need any further convincing to buy the book, the author is also donating net royalties to the Harrogate Homeless Project!

Huge thanks to the author, publisher and Hygge Book Tours for providing a copy of the book to review.

[Tami Wylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d like to start by saying how much I admire the author for donating her royalties to the Harrogate homeless project. I think this is brilliant. I honestly felt like Danny story needed to be written because even though it’s a work of fiction, it really is, unfortunately, a bit of a sad reflection on some part of today’s world. The group of runaways and homeless teens, Danny, Chip, Skye and Grits, were preyed upon by a vicious predator who convinced him that he could help them if they’d help him by stealing. The group was vulnerable and desperate, so they were easy to targets. The book is well written with some good, well developed characters. I wanted to take the kids and give them a good life and give Mike a good hard kick somewhere painful. I highly recommend giving this book a read.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts off with a heartbreaking choice for Danny, when his mum is rushed to hospital and he faces social care, knowing it will be final this time.
Instead he runs, bumping into Meggsie wanting the money hes owed. Thankfully he's saved by Mike, but is he all that he seems?
Danny, Chip, Skye and Grits were great well fleshed out characters. Very resourceful and incredible survival instincts but still showing the vulnerability of childhood.
Mike, ooo the things id like to do to Mike.
This is a great gripping story that I didnt want to put down. The money for this is being donated a homeless project which is why I'll be buying a copy on its release.

[Miss Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very close to home for myself as I work in close proximity with vulnerable teens and see far too often the evil people that prey on them. Danny is such a loveable character and I just wanted to take him home and look after him. I may have shed a few tears.

Although this is a fiction book it is so very true for what is happening all over the country and is such a powerful gripping read. I think everyone who isn’t aware of what is going on in the world should read this and have their eyes opened.

To top it off the author is donating the profits of the book to the Harrogate homeless charity which is just so wonderful. Thank you so much for this read.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard hitting, raw and with all the brutality life gives out sometimes. I got all sorts of emotions whilst reading this gem of a book, the writing was so good I had to remind myself it was fiction at times it felt so real.
A modern day Oliver Twist brought up to date with dubious, colourful and very real characters.
A book that will stay with me, it gripped me from the very first page to the last.

Thank you @hyggebooktours @weareprovoco @lindanelson876 for having me on the tour and for a copy of this ebook.

#adpr #underground #ebookreview #bookstagram

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Underground by Linda Nelson.
I really did enjoy this book. I loved the cover and blurb of this book. I really admire this author for donating all royalties to the Harrogate homeless project. I really felt for Danny, Skye, Chip, and Grits. This book was very cleverly written. Its a tough subject. I really wanted to jump in this book and protect the kids. They were vulnerable. I would most definitely recommend this book.

[Claire Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the blurb on this book which made me pick it up. It was a hard read in places and I would certainly recommend checking the trigger warnings if you haven’t read certain trigger areas. Danny was a brilliantly written character and the pull he felt to help his mum really highlights that special bond between parent and child. I read it quite quickly and it gave me much food for thought!

[Nicola Scourfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous read. Amazing page-turner I found myself racing through to see what happens to Danny. It would make an amazing adaptation for TV.