The Fightback

by Alex Kane

You can try and hide. But this gangland boss will get their revenge no matter how long it takes

Lifelong friends Lori Graham and Stephanie Lyle are sitting on the balcony of Lori's flat in Glasgow, chatting, drinking, enjoying the summer's warmth.

Until the peace is shattered by the sound of gunshots from a drive-by shooting.

Running to investigate, the women find both their worlds shattered. One of their sons is the shooter, and one is the victim.

As Lori and Stephanie try and pick through the pieces, they discover that they themselves hold the key to why their boys have turned each other.

A deadly secret from their teenage years has come back to haunt them, and now a face from the past is back for vengeance, using the one thing that will hurt Lori and Stephanie the most their children.

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 2, 2026

Reviews

[Lady MacDeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori and Stephanie, lifelong friends live on the Blackhill Court estate, in Glasgow. Most of the people on the estate are either addicted to alcohol or drugs, or both. Lori’s own parents, who died from an overdose when Lori was 16, were addicts of both, having parties every night and never bothering to feed Lori and her sister Charley 13. They should have been able to rely on their older brother Kev 18, but he’s always in and out of prison, and has followed in his parents footsteps, and is also an addict. One night, Lori and Stephanie are involved in a terrifying incident which will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

It’s no secret that these gangland crime thrillers are my guilty pleasure, and this book was just perfect. I’ve only read one of Alex Kane’s books before this one, but know that whatever she writes, is going to be a huge hit with me. There are so many twists and turns, and though I did guess some, the ending still came a shock. I loved Lori and Steph’s friendship, and how close they stay throughout their turbulent lives. This was definitely a big win for me, and I can’t wait to read more from Alex Kane.

Thanks to Alex, Hera, and NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.

5 ⭐️

Available: 2nd April 2026

[Lainy]

review to follow xxx

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lifelong friends Lori Graham and Stephanie Lyle are sitting on the balcony of Lori's flat in Glasgow, chatting, drinking, and enjoying the summer's warmth. Until the peace is shattered by the sound of gunshots from a drive-by shooting. Running to investigate, the women fin both their worlds shattered. One of their sons is the shooter, and one is the victim. As Lori and Stephanie try and pick through the pieces, they find that they themselves hold the key to why their boys have turned against each other. A deadly secret from their teenage years has come back to haunt them, and now a face from the past is back with vengeance,using the one thing that will hurt Lori and Stephanie the most, their children.

Living on Blackhill Court estate has never been easy for Lori Graham or Stephanie Lyle. Lori's parents were addicts, her brother Kev was never out of prison, and Lori had to look after her young sister Charley. Stephanie Lyle was brought up by her grandmother who was a bit reliant on alcohol. Lori and Stephanie were out one night, and that night has haunted them ever since.

I love a good gangland crime book, and this book does not disappoint. The past is brought into the present day in a way the women never expected it would. This is a fast-paced, gripping, and tense read that I couldn't put down. The ending surprised me. This is the best book by the author that I've read, so far.

Published 2nd April 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HeraBooks and the author #AlexKane for y ARC of #TheFightback in exchange for an honest review.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fightback is exactly the kind of tense, twisty gangland drama that keeps you glued to the pages. Alex Kane wastes no time throwing you into the chaos—one moment two lifelong friends are enjoying a quiet evening on a Glasgow balcony, and the next their entire world is blown apart by a drive‑by shooting. The shock is immediate, and the emotional fallout is even more gripping.

What really stands out is the relationship between Lori and Stephanie. Their friendship feels lived‑in and believable, which makes the unravelling of their lives all the more heartbreaking. When they discover that one of their sons pulled the trigger and the other took the bullet, the story becomes a knot of guilt, fear, and long‑buried secrets.

Kane does a great job weaving the past into the present, slowly revealing the teenage mistake that ties everything together. The tension builds steadily as a figure from their past resurfaces, determined to use their children as leverage. It’s dark, messy, and full of that gritty Glasgow edge the author does so well.

The pacing is sharp, the stakes are high, and the emotional beats land exactly where they should. If you enjoy thrillers where family loyalty collides with criminal revenge, this one delivers.

A punchy, addictive read that kept me turning the pages.

with thanks to Alex Kane, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Lovetoread2023 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read all of Alex Kane’s books, and for me, The Fightback is her best yet. This novel dives into much darker territory than her previous work and features the darkest character she’s ever written — chilling, unsettling, and impossible to forget. Alex handles this darkness with confidence, never shying away from the psychological impact it has on the story or the characters. As always, the female characters are a standout. They’re strong, fiercely independent, and written with real depth. The twists are classic Alex — smart, well-executed, and genuinely gripping. While I managed to work out a couple along the way, there were still plenty that caught me completely off guard. The pacing is tight, making this a strong, addictive read that’s very hard to put down. The ending was unexpected and absolutely perfect, fitting seamlessly with the story and tying everything together in a way that felt both satisfying and earned.
Yet again, Alex has written a winner. The Fightback is dark, compelling, and unforgettable — a must-read for fans and a brilliant place to start for new readers.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book. I really liked that there were references to characters from some of the authors other books.

Lori and Steph were best friends and lived on a rundown estate with their families. Lori’s parents and her brother were drug addicts and she had to look after her younger sister Charley a lot of the time. Lori’s parents died from an overdose and her brother Kev was put in jail. Her sister was put into care and Lori felt like her life was just getting worse.

Lori and Steph went on a date with two local drug dealers and things quickly spiralled out of control. After that night they loved with constant guilt and a sense of dread.

Their lives were never the same after that night and things just went from bad to worse.

Thanks to NetGalley and the punishers for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc received through netgalley
That was brilliant !!
It was full of action, I didn't see half of what happened coming. It kept me on the edge of my seat.
Lori & Steph still live on the run down estate where they grew up. They both now have sons Jay & Reece. When the boys apply for a job as security on the run down towers. Logan is their new boss, a gangster with a lot of fingers in a lot of different pies.. But does he have a motive for hiring them? Is there something familiar about this new man Logan? Do Lori &steph have secrets of their own??
I definately recommend this book

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good gangland thriller, with plenty of action and suspense to thrill the reader. Set in Glasgow, the plotting centres round revenge, friendship and family loyalty. I really liked Lori and Stephanie, the main characters, their friendship endured through trauma and hardship, and they are quite unforgettable. The book is dark but strangely compelling with one of the nastiest characters in Logan that I have ever encountered in a thriller. A highly recommended read for lovers of gangland fiction. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori and Stella have been best friends since their teens, always ready to do anything for each other and their sons. Lori’s parents were drug addicts, and so is her brother Kevin, so she does everything she can to protect her sister Charley. Then one night changes everything—Lori moves in with Stella, and young Charley goes into care. Stella convinces Lori to go on a double date, but something terrible happens, leading to a twisty and gripping story.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lori Graham and Stephanie Lyle.
A deadly secret from their teenage years comes back to haunt them.
It's time to fightback.
Nobody hurts their children.
You can try and hide, but this gangland boss will get their revenge, no matter how long it takes.
Set on the Blackhill Court Estate Glasgow.
A mind blowing crime thriller so unputdownable.
Pages of pages of action.
For readers to enjoy.