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DS Nikki Parekh #1
Last Request
A body is found. A lifetime of secrets revealed.
Will they ever uncover the truth?
When a body is discovered under Bradford’s derelict Odeon car park, DS Nikita Parekh and her team are immediately called to the scene.
Distracted by hunting down the drug cartel running rampant on her estate, Nikki is relieved when the investigation is transferred to the cold case unit.
However, the forensic team are quick to identify a link between Nikki and the dead man … one that will have a huge impact on her both professionally and personally.
With no real suspects, all fingers point to Nikki. But as the body count begins to rise, time is running out.
Can she clear her name and find the real killer before he strikes again?
The start of a brand new series from the bestselling author of the DI Gus McGuire cases.352 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2019
548 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
Liz Mistry
23 books193 followersBorn in Scotland, Made in Bradford sums up Liz Mistry’s life. 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.
Struggling with severe clinical depression and anxiety for a large number of years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. 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. One of the nicest things about being a published author is chatting with and responding to readers’ feedback and Liz regularly does events at local libraries, universities, literature festivals and open mics. She also teaches creative writing too.
Struggling with severe clinical depression and anxiety for a large number of years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. 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. One of the nicest things about being a published author is chatting with and responding to readers’ feedback and Liz regularly does events at local libraries, universities, literature festivals and open mics. She also teaches creative writing too.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
October 12, 2019
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
Author Liz Mistry might be an accomplished crime writer but this is the first book of hers I have read, I am now wondering why I haven’t picked up her work beforehand.
Last Request is the first in a new series featuring DS Nikita Parekh (Nikki). She has a tough job as well as trying to raise two children alone and look after her extended family, especially her easily lead nephew, plus an increasing list of bills to pay and not enough money to go around.
The book opens with the death of a woman from Aids in 1983 after she was infected by someone who has infected numerous other males and females and is currently in court. The woman’s child is there looking after her and before she takes her last breath the woman wants her child to remember to do something for her.
The opening scene had me hooked and I couldn’t wait to jump straight into the story which had moved to the present day. Nikki has been called to a derelict car park that belonged to the local cinema in Bradford. Whilst building works were being carried out skeletal remains were found. The remains are over ten-years-old so the case is passed onto the cold case’ department, unfortunately, that isn’t the last Nikki will have to do with the remains as her past comes crashing into the present and secrets start unravelling.
Nikki knows that she has a killer to find but can she before many more get killed?
As I said the prologue had me hooked and I flew through the book eager to know more. I always love a crime thriller when we get to hear snippets from the killer, it helps to try to put the pieces of the puzzle together and work out the suspect before the book reveals the answer. 🙂
There are quite a lot of characters to get to know and remember and at times I did have to look back through the book to familiarise myself with some of them again. It is a great start to the series as we get to not only discover Nikki the detective but also the private Nikki too, a woman who has plenty of good points and plenty of flaws, so she was perfectly realistic.
If this book is anything to go by this is going to be an amazing series and one to watch out for.
Author Liz Mistry might be an accomplished crime writer but this is the first book of hers I have read, I am now wondering why I haven’t picked up her work beforehand.
Last Request is the first in a new series featuring DS Nikita Parekh (Nikki). She has a tough job as well as trying to raise two children alone and look after her extended family, especially her easily lead nephew, plus an increasing list of bills to pay and not enough money to go around.
The book opens with the death of a woman from Aids in 1983 after she was infected by someone who has infected numerous other males and females and is currently in court. The woman’s child is there looking after her and before she takes her last breath the woman wants her child to remember to do something for her.
The opening scene had me hooked and I couldn’t wait to jump straight into the story which had moved to the present day. Nikki has been called to a derelict car park that belonged to the local cinema in Bradford. Whilst building works were being carried out skeletal remains were found. The remains are over ten-years-old so the case is passed onto the cold case’ department, unfortunately, that isn’t the last Nikki will have to do with the remains as her past comes crashing into the present and secrets start unravelling.
Nikki knows that she has a killer to find but can she before many more get killed?
As I said the prologue had me hooked and I flew through the book eager to know more. I always love a crime thriller when we get to hear snippets from the killer, it helps to try to put the pieces of the puzzle together and work out the suspect before the book reveals the answer. 🙂
There are quite a lot of characters to get to know and remember and at times I did have to look back through the book to familiarise myself with some of them again. It is a great start to the series as we get to not only discover Nikki the detective but also the private Nikki too, a woman who has plenty of good points and plenty of flaws, so she was perfectly realistic.
If this book is anything to go by this is going to be an amazing series and one to watch out for.
October 10, 2019
DS Nikita Parekh is investigating a case where skeletal remains were found under an old car park. She always though her husband had left her and returned to his family. But she soon discovers that the skeletal remains shes investigating are her husbands.
This is one of these stories that starts off slow. But the more you read, the faster the pace gets. It's also one of these stories that the more you read, the better it gets. The background story outlays just who Nikita really is. Her family is dysfunctional and she is just a little bit feisty. There is quite a lot of characters to get your head round. As the body count rises, Nikits must get closure on this case. I liked the banter between Nikita and her partner, Sajid. The story is action packed. I was kept guessing throughout this book. The ending, I really liked. This is my first Liz Mistry book but it wont be my last.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author Liz Mistry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of these stories that starts off slow. But the more you read, the faster the pace gets. It's also one of these stories that the more you read, the better it gets. The background story outlays just who Nikita really is. Her family is dysfunctional and she is just a little bit feisty. There is quite a lot of characters to get your head round. As the body count rises, Nikits must get closure on this case. I liked the banter between Nikita and her partner, Sajid. The story is action packed. I was kept guessing throughout this book. The ending, I really liked. This is my first Liz Mistry book but it wont be my last.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author Liz Mistry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2019
I read this on #pigeonhole and was intrigued by the main character Nikki, I liked her very much, but after a while she irritated me, a lot!
The story has a lot of action and is quite gritty with a fair bit of bad language and violence, not a problem to me, but maybe for others.
I liked the DC in the story, seems a good dependable sidekick, and definitely one that DS Parekh needs to keep her safe.
The story has a lot of action and is quite gritty with a fair bit of bad language and violence, not a problem to me, but maybe for others.
I liked the DC in the story, seems a good dependable sidekick, and definitely one that DS Parekh needs to keep her safe.
October 17, 2019
This is the first in a new crime series by Mistry. Her main character DS Nikita Parekh pulls no punches and is a determined fighter for her family, herself and for the victims she encounters. She is torn between family loyalty and problems, and her career. At times she is like a demented ping-pong ball bouncing back and forth from one thing to the other.
Kudos to Mistry for bringing an important point to the table about the lack of awareness the wealthy or any social class above the working class, especially those living in poverty, have when it comes to living a daily struggle. If you have never lived from payday to payday, struggled to feed yourself and loved ones or as in this case, had to face the miscreants of society on a daily basis - then you have no business judging those people or have the right to a sanctimonious opinion.
DS Nikita Parekh and her family have to deal with these kind of situations on a daily basis. It's a dog eat dog world and she struggles to keep her loved ones out of the clutches of the type of criminals who think nothing of maiming and disfiguring kids and young people. To make matters worse her the majority of her colleagues treat her with disdain, especially when she becomes the main suspect in a murder case.
It's a fast-paced urban crime series with a strong female lead. Mistry doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths our society has to deal with. The way she melds fact, fiction and realism results in a gripping read.
*Disclosure - I received a courtesy copy for purposes of an honest review*
Kudos to Mistry for bringing an important point to the table about the lack of awareness the wealthy or any social class above the working class, especially those living in poverty, have when it comes to living a daily struggle. If you have never lived from payday to payday, struggled to feed yourself and loved ones or as in this case, had to face the miscreants of society on a daily basis - then you have no business judging those people or have the right to a sanctimonious opinion.
DS Nikita Parekh and her family have to deal with these kind of situations on a daily basis. It's a dog eat dog world and she struggles to keep her loved ones out of the clutches of the type of criminals who think nothing of maiming and disfiguring kids and young people. To make matters worse her the majority of her colleagues treat her with disdain, especially when she becomes the main suspect in a murder case.
It's a fast-paced urban crime series with a strong female lead. Mistry doesn't shy away from uncomfortable truths our society has to deal with. The way she melds fact, fiction and realism results in a gripping read.
*Disclosure - I received a courtesy copy for purposes of an honest review*
September 23, 2020
Summary: Not worth the time it took to read it.
There are way too many plot lines - way too many. The protagonist, DS Nikki Parekh, is both so broken that she can't handle the stress of her life and, at the same time, so good that she can solve a case where no one else has the slightest idea what's going on. She also takes on more and more responsibility for stuff while at the same time collapsing from the stress.
The plot lines. There are at least ten, not counting the main one. DS Parekh bounces from one to another like a superball thrown into a concrete room, never staying with one long enough to deal with it (though she keeps promising herself she'll get back to it soon). Since one of her talents is compartmentalization, you would think she would see at least one of them to its logical end, but no, she has to bounce off somewhere else to keep that plate in the air.
The next problem here is that, somehow, all of the plot lines manage to get wrapped up in something like the last ten percent of the book. It's like the author was running out of pages and had to fix everything up before there weren't any left. Yes, I'm glad the scum-puppies are off the street. However, the book would have been just as good without their presence in the first place - and then maybe the author could have focused enough on the main plot line to do it justice instead of making it seem like just another aside.
Character development - both too much and too little. The book says it's the first in a series, but there are constant back references to events prior, and we never find out what went on there - but those events motivate the behavior of some of the characters. Some characters seem to be there for no other reason than to make things more complicated - and they were already too complicated. Some characters pop up and down like the moles in whack-a-mole, showing up to throw a monkey wrench into one of the plot lines and then disappearing until they find another monkey wrench and pop up again.
The writing attempts to portray local accents - a good plot device to help you keep track of who's in which plot line, but doesn't do so consistently. The same individual who, on one page, uses "summat" and "owt" speaks perfectly well on other pages.
I've moved this and the sequel (which I haven't read and don't plan to) to my "Not worth it" collection and will be deleting them from my tablet.
There are way too many plot lines - way too many. The protagonist, DS Nikki Parekh, is both so broken that she can't handle the stress of her life and, at the same time, so good that she can solve a case where no one else has the slightest idea what's going on. She also takes on more and more responsibility for stuff while at the same time collapsing from the stress.
The plot lines. There are at least ten, not counting the main one. DS Parekh bounces from one to another like a superball thrown into a concrete room, never staying with one long enough to deal with it (though she keeps promising herself she'll get back to it soon). Since one of her talents is compartmentalization, you would think she would see at least one of them to its logical end, but no, she has to bounce off somewhere else to keep that plate in the air.
The next problem here is that, somehow, all of the plot lines manage to get wrapped up in something like the last ten percent of the book. It's like the author was running out of pages and had to fix everything up before there weren't any left. Yes, I'm glad the scum-puppies are off the street. However, the book would have been just as good without their presence in the first place - and then maybe the author could have focused enough on the main plot line to do it justice instead of making it seem like just another aside.
Character development - both too much and too little. The book says it's the first in a series, but there are constant back references to events prior, and we never find out what went on there - but those events motivate the behavior of some of the characters. Some characters seem to be there for no other reason than to make things more complicated - and they were already too complicated. Some characters pop up and down like the moles in whack-a-mole, showing up to throw a monkey wrench into one of the plot lines and then disappearing until they find another monkey wrench and pop up again.
The writing attempts to portray local accents - a good plot device to help you keep track of who's in which plot line, but doesn't do so consistently. The same individual who, on one page, uses "summat" and "owt" speaks perfectly well on other pages.
I've moved this and the sequel (which I haven't read and don't plan to) to my "Not worth it" collection and will be deleting them from my tablet.
October 8, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy of Last Request, the first novel to feature DS Nikita Parekh set in Bradford.
When skeletonised remains are found in a cinema car park Nikki and her partner, Sajid, are pleased to hand the investigation over to the Cold Case Unit so that Nikki can concentrate on extricating her nephew from trouble. This turns out to be a temporary reprieve as the bones not only have strong links to Nikki’s past but show signs of murder. As more skeletons are discovered they believe that they are hunting a serial killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed Last Request which is a tense, exciting read with an extremely likeable protagonist in Nikki Parekh. I was gripped from start to finish. The plot has three separate strands, the murder investigation, Nikki’s fight with some local drug dealers and a threat to her 14 year old daughter, Charlie. These, more or less, only collide in Nikki’s head so there is no confusion for the reader but ratchet up the tension as she juggles her priorities. I was very impressed by Ms Mistry’s ability to keep all these plot lines not just running coherently but giving them equal attention, excitement and tension. Nothing peters out or seems like an also ran.
The novel is told from various points of view, including the unnamed killer’s. I’m not always a fan of this approach but here it works extremely well, widening the reader’s perspective and keeping the tension high as the reader wonders how Nikki will deal with everything that’s about to come at her. Even the dreaded “thoughts of the killer” (normally something I hate) are interesting and unusual and a bit more than the usual narcissistic psycho 101.
It is very much Nikki Parekh’s show with everything relating to her or her nearest and dearest and despite a third person narrative the reader gets to know her intimately. In her a star has been born and I’m already itching to read more. She is of mixed heritage, Hindu and Scottish, feisty, private and fiercely protective of her close family but more than that she has a rather cynical take on life which can be highly amusing. She’s a very modern woman raising her children and doing her job to the best of her ability and while she’s not perfect she typifies the struggles of many.
Last Request is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When skeletonised remains are found in a cinema car park Nikki and her partner, Sajid, are pleased to hand the investigation over to the Cold Case Unit so that Nikki can concentrate on extricating her nephew from trouble. This turns out to be a temporary reprieve as the bones not only have strong links to Nikki’s past but show signs of murder. As more skeletons are discovered they believe that they are hunting a serial killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed Last Request which is a tense, exciting read with an extremely likeable protagonist in Nikki Parekh. I was gripped from start to finish. The plot has three separate strands, the murder investigation, Nikki’s fight with some local drug dealers and a threat to her 14 year old daughter, Charlie. These, more or less, only collide in Nikki’s head so there is no confusion for the reader but ratchet up the tension as she juggles her priorities. I was very impressed by Ms Mistry’s ability to keep all these plot lines not just running coherently but giving them equal attention, excitement and tension. Nothing peters out or seems like an also ran.
The novel is told from various points of view, including the unnamed killer’s. I’m not always a fan of this approach but here it works extremely well, widening the reader’s perspective and keeping the tension high as the reader wonders how Nikki will deal with everything that’s about to come at her. Even the dreaded “thoughts of the killer” (normally something I hate) are interesting and unusual and a bit more than the usual narcissistic psycho 101.
It is very much Nikki Parekh’s show with everything relating to her or her nearest and dearest and despite a third person narrative the reader gets to know her intimately. In her a star has been born and I’m already itching to read more. She is of mixed heritage, Hindu and Scottish, feisty, private and fiercely protective of her close family but more than that she has a rather cynical take on life which can be highly amusing. She’s a very modern woman raising her children and doing her job to the best of her ability and while she’s not perfect she typifies the struggles of many.
Last Request is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
November 17, 2019
A thrilling police procedural which caught my eye with its cover. My first book by this author, I was immediately gripped with the main character DS Nikita Parekh.
Human remains found with links to her past, led to her team to investigate. As more Murders occur, the race against time started with Nikki wanting to stay one step ahead of the killer.
My first book by Liz Mistry, I loved the way the writing drew me in. The characters were many and did my head in initially, but soon I could get them sorted. The writing flowed as the story was revealed one page at a time. The road of investigation had many twists, it was fun to see Nikki trying to find her way to get to the killer.
Nikki was the one who caught my eye. She was strong yet vulnerable. Bold yet flawed. But always real.
The first book of the series did make a fab read.
Human remains found with links to her past, led to her team to investigate. As more Murders occur, the race against time started with Nikki wanting to stay one step ahead of the killer.
My first book by Liz Mistry, I loved the way the writing drew me in. The characters were many and did my head in initially, but soon I could get them sorted. The writing flowed as the story was revealed one page at a time. The road of investigation had many twists, it was fun to see Nikki trying to find her way to get to the killer.
Nikki was the one who caught my eye. She was strong yet vulnerable. Bold yet flawed. But always real.
The first book of the series did make a fab read.
October 20, 2019
Watch out Bradford, there’s a new detective in town and she’s a force to reckoned with!
Nikki Parekh is a copper with a huge heart. She loves her family with no bounds but she is dedicated to the job and that is her downfall. Two massive pulls in her life but at opposite ends of the spectrum. I for one love the feisty Nikki, she’s someone I’m going to cling to as Mistry develops this series.
This is a cracking police procedural that suddenly out of nowhere we get a voice, the voice of a killer… a killer who knows Nikki… This killer has been operating under the radar, the question is for how long?! Can Nikki track this killer before any fresh victims are made to suffer and give their Last Request?
Meeting Nikki, Sadiq and those around them made me feel like I need to return to this community…soon!! It’s like returning to a northern version of The Bill! Can’t wait for the next one!
Nikki Parekh is a copper with a huge heart. She loves her family with no bounds but she is dedicated to the job and that is her downfall. Two massive pulls in her life but at opposite ends of the spectrum. I for one love the feisty Nikki, she’s someone I’m going to cling to as Mistry develops this series.
This is a cracking police procedural that suddenly out of nowhere we get a voice, the voice of a killer… a killer who knows Nikki… This killer has been operating under the radar, the question is for how long?! Can Nikki track this killer before any fresh victims are made to suffer and give their Last Request?
Meeting Nikki, Sadiq and those around them made me feel like I need to return to this community…soon!! It’s like returning to a northern version of The Bill! Can’t wait for the next one!
June 6, 2020
An all-round good procedural.
August 9, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. Crime fiction, police investigation and some humour to lighten things up a bit. I like Nikki, and how Mistry managed to mix Nikki's sometimes inappropriate thoughts into quite a dark crime story. The story flowed really well thanks to Mistry's writing style, and the ending surprised me when the killer was revealed - my hunch was completely wrong!
July 19, 2020
1.5 rounded up. I read book #2 in this series first and am glad that I did. The second one was a well-written thriller/police procedural. This one, Last Request, was a mess. I didn’t like Nikki, the main protagonist, because she was all over the place, chasing shadows and real foes without any logical rationale. When it was finished, I still didn’t understand the characters’ motives, neither the motives of the villains nor the motives of the good guys, especially those of Nikki. Do yourself a favour and skip this one, the first in the series, and go directly to #2. You won’t miss anything but a stuttering start.
October 9, 2019
Having loved the authors DI Gus McGuire series, I was very excited to see that she had the first in a new series coming out which has a female protagonist. Even though set in Bradford again, poor DI Gus McGuire didn’t even enter my head whilst I devoured the author’s newest offering.
Firstly I have to say there is quite the cast of characters in the novel. It did take me a while to settle into who everyone was but when I did, I was hooked. Nikki is a great lead who doesn’t have an easy work or home life. A mother who is very much torn between the love of her job and spending time at home and being a good role model.
As the human remains are linked to someone that Nikki knew, we get the ideal opportunity to find out more about Nikki and her past as well as how she works within her team. It’s a great introduction and meant the author doesn’t have to spend time away from the main crime to let the reader get to know the main character better. For me this can sometimes spoil the enjoyment as even though we need to know more about the person we will be routing for, we also want the thrills and chills we get from this sort of book. So well done to the author, as this was spot on for me.
There is plenty going on throughout the story. The case itself I was second guessing who could be behind it all, of which I was totally in the wrong. Kudos again to the author as I was kept guessing all the way through.
Last Request is a great start to a new series with more than a few heart stopping moments. There was never a good time to put the book down as there was always something happening that had me having to keep turning those pages. Needless to say I flew through the book. Can’t wait for more books in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Firstly I have to say there is quite the cast of characters in the novel. It did take me a while to settle into who everyone was but when I did, I was hooked. Nikki is a great lead who doesn’t have an easy work or home life. A mother who is very much torn between the love of her job and spending time at home and being a good role model.
As the human remains are linked to someone that Nikki knew, we get the ideal opportunity to find out more about Nikki and her past as well as how she works within her team. It’s a great introduction and meant the author doesn’t have to spend time away from the main crime to let the reader get to know the main character better. For me this can sometimes spoil the enjoyment as even though we need to know more about the person we will be routing for, we also want the thrills and chills we get from this sort of book. So well done to the author, as this was spot on for me.
There is plenty going on throughout the story. The case itself I was second guessing who could be behind it all, of which I was totally in the wrong. Kudos again to the author as I was kept guessing all the way through.
Last Request is a great start to a new series with more than a few heart stopping moments. There was never a good time to put the book down as there was always something happening that had me having to keep turning those pages. Needless to say I flew through the book. Can’t wait for more books in the series.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
October 9, 2019
I love Liz Mistry’s Gus McGuire series so I knew I had to give this new detective Nikki Parekh a go!
When a skeleton is dug up under a car park, it brings up some uncomfortable secrets from Nikki’s past. As the body count rises, Nikki must put her own issues aside to find the killer.
Last Request is a gritty and hard hitting police procedural with a diverse cast of characters.
As always with Liz Mistry’s books, her attention to detail and ability to make believable characters really comes across in this novel.
Nikki is a complex and multifaceted character. A single mum with three kids, by two different dads, dual heritage and Hindu to boot. She’s quite an abrasive person at the beginning of the novel, I personally didn’t find her all that likeable, but as the story goes on and we get to know her and her painful past, I warmed to her.
As it’s the first in the series, we’re getting to know the characters, which I felt dragged the pace a little in the first part of the book but it does pick up in the second half.
Last Request is a good start to series and I’m interested to see where the story will head next!
When a skeleton is dug up under a car park, it brings up some uncomfortable secrets from Nikki’s past. As the body count rises, Nikki must put her own issues aside to find the killer.
Last Request is a gritty and hard hitting police procedural with a diverse cast of characters.
As always with Liz Mistry’s books, her attention to detail and ability to make believable characters really comes across in this novel.
Nikki is a complex and multifaceted character. A single mum with three kids, by two different dads, dual heritage and Hindu to boot. She’s quite an abrasive person at the beginning of the novel, I personally didn’t find her all that likeable, but as the story goes on and we get to know her and her painful past, I warmed to her.
As it’s the first in the series, we’re getting to know the characters, which I felt dragged the pace a little in the first part of the book but it does pick up in the second half.
Last Request is a good start to series and I’m interested to see where the story will head next!
October 20, 2019
The concept appealed to me and I was offered a place to read this novel on line. I love a really good murder mystery but from the off set it was clear this book was not for me. I am not particularly interested in political correctness but this novel had characters leaving doors open in a bad area, and characters that were unlikeable and annoying. Its quite well written, good author mind is clear but it has gruesome bits and other distasteful dialogue. When a body is found under a Bradford car park it’s only the beginning for Nikki Parekh. This body has links to her past and has serious repercussions. This is the second police novel I have read of late that has completely turned me off. I love a good mystery, what I don’t like is a lead I cannot warm too and Nikki is dreadful, so full of herself and what she wants, a dreadful mother though I believe the reader is meant to believe she is feisty and love her for it. She has issues that a reader could identify with and should sympathise but this is too hard. Its dark and I was so irritated I could not enjoy it.
I love reading and want a book I can sink into, to like the characters, to get lost in the plot and this book had none of that for me, I am sure many others will love it, the author seems to know her stuff but its dark. I hate to be negative but this book was not for me at all. I am sure despite my review it will do well and that is the reason its good that readers like different things.
August 18, 2019
Getting into this book was a challenge for me and only once the characters took shape and the plot developed that it became more enjoyable to read. There is a lot of tension in the story but the sometimes choppy writing and transitions interfered with the flow. It was only after I was more than half-way through that the book became difficult to put down. I wanted to feel sympathy for Nikita Parekh and her difficult relationships but just didn’t. There is also more violence than necessary to push the plot forward and I found that off putting. Overall it’s a good read, just not a great read.
Thank you to Net Galley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the advanced copy.
Thank you to Net Galley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the advanced copy.
October 21, 2019
I read this through a Book Club and the readers were divided between those who liked and those who disliked the main character, Nikki Parekh. I was one of the latter and found this detective reckless, impulsive, unpolished, dirty and rude. The basis of the story made for good reading with a body being dug up at a theatre site, but I found the writing choppy particularly in the last quarter of the book. There were many unlikeable characters and violence which might appeal to some readers but didn't add value to the story for me.
November 19, 2019
Last Request is the first in a new series by accomplished crime writer Liz Mistry featuring DS Nikita Parekh (Nikki). As this is the first book of hers I have read, I am wondering why I haven’t picked up any of her other books before now. What have I been doing and where have I been!?
Nikki and her team are immediately called to the scene when human remains are discovered under Bradford’s derelict Odeon car park. Busy Nikki has also been keeping her young nephew out of trouble and she is relieved when the investigation is transferred to the Cold Case Unit, so she can focus on her family. But after the identity of the victim is revealed, she’s drawn back into the case. The dead man is a direct link to her painful past. As the body count begins to rise, Nikki must do everything she can to find the killer before anyone else gets hurt – even if it means digging up untold secrets.
As is usual in a new series, this first book sets up the recurring characters and though there seemed to be an abundance of them, I didn't feel too overwhelmed! The author's descriptions of the setting were impressive and the pacing was spot on. There was always plenty going on and there was certainly never a dull moment.
Liz Mistry, a seasoned crime writer, clearly knows how to write a story that is compelling, entertaining and all-consuming, with characters that I grew to love. Although it was a wee bit slow in the beginning, the author’s characterisation was brilliant. I really took to Nikki who was feisty, bold, vulnerable and flawed, yet always real.
Nikki's partner-in-crime, DC Sajid Malik, also left an impression on me; he was caring, straight-talking and protective; a gay man living with his boyfriend, Langley, who ought to have been blissfully contented but is living a double life. I really appreciated the banter between Nikki and Sajid and I loved the way Liz Mistry's clever use of the Yorkshire dialect helped bring the story to life. All of the characters had a great part to play, whether or not they were likeable and all had plenty of audacity and spirit. Although Nikki was the main protagonist, I loved that some of the chapters were written from the killer's perspective, as this allowed the reader a glimpse into an ever darkening mind and hear the chilling voice of a true sadist.
Liz Mistry delivered an unrestrained and exuberant story of drama in this clever police procedural - a toxic concoction of harboured secrets, menace, evil and familial dysfunction. Taut and compelling, it was a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through. It brought no disappointments and the clever plotting enabled me to fully grasp the situation and motivations of the protagonists. The masterful twists paved the way for an enthralling denouement. I would love to read more from this gifted story-teller and I am delighted to recommend this book
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ Digital via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Liz Mistry for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
Nikki and her team are immediately called to the scene when human remains are discovered under Bradford’s derelict Odeon car park. Busy Nikki has also been keeping her young nephew out of trouble and she is relieved when the investigation is transferred to the Cold Case Unit, so she can focus on her family. But after the identity of the victim is revealed, she’s drawn back into the case. The dead man is a direct link to her painful past. As the body count begins to rise, Nikki must do everything she can to find the killer before anyone else gets hurt – even if it means digging up untold secrets.
As is usual in a new series, this first book sets up the recurring characters and though there seemed to be an abundance of them, I didn't feel too overwhelmed! The author's descriptions of the setting were impressive and the pacing was spot on. There was always plenty going on and there was certainly never a dull moment.
Liz Mistry, a seasoned crime writer, clearly knows how to write a story that is compelling, entertaining and all-consuming, with characters that I grew to love. Although it was a wee bit slow in the beginning, the author’s characterisation was brilliant. I really took to Nikki who was feisty, bold, vulnerable and flawed, yet always real.
Nikki's partner-in-crime, DC Sajid Malik, also left an impression on me; he was caring, straight-talking and protective; a gay man living with his boyfriend, Langley, who ought to have been blissfully contented but is living a double life. I really appreciated the banter between Nikki and Sajid and I loved the way Liz Mistry's clever use of the Yorkshire dialect helped bring the story to life. All of the characters had a great part to play, whether or not they were likeable and all had plenty of audacity and spirit. Although Nikki was the main protagonist, I loved that some of the chapters were written from the killer's perspective, as this allowed the reader a glimpse into an ever darkening mind and hear the chilling voice of a true sadist.
Liz Mistry delivered an unrestrained and exuberant story of drama in this clever police procedural - a toxic concoction of harboured secrets, menace, evil and familial dysfunction. Taut and compelling, it was a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through. It brought no disappointments and the clever plotting enabled me to fully grasp the situation and motivations of the protagonists. The masterful twists paved the way for an enthralling denouement. I would love to read more from this gifted story-teller and I am delighted to recommend this book
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from HQ Digital via NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion. Thank you also to Pigeonhole and Liz Mistry for giving me the opportunity to read this book!
December 15, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
Last Request is the first book in a new series by Liz Mistry. Released 16th Oct 2019, it's 352 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats.
This is a gritty police procedural set in West Yorkshire, featuring an ensemble cast and a multi-thread plot which is taut and well written. The main protagonist, Nikki, is fearless, female, intelligent, and irascible after growing up as multiracial in a lower income area full of crime, factions, and gangs. She's a DS after having fought her way up through the ranks, promoted after she'd cleared a high-profile previous case.
There are a number of recurring themes here including racism, domestic violence, drugs and gangs, and a long time serial killer who is watching everything the police do. The book is written in the third person, with occasional interludes from the serial killer separated from the main text by being written in first person PoV, in italics.
This is a very well crafted mystery and after the introductory backstory for Nikki and co., moves along at an accelerating tempo toward a dramatic (but not unexpected) denouement. I am looking forward to the next book(s) in the series. Readers of gritty procedurals won't be shocked or dismayed by the language or violence (or drugs, etc), but readers who are unhappy with strong language or content might want to be aware that this book contains both.
Four strong stars. I love the ensemble cast.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Last Request is the first book in a new series by Liz Mistry. Released 16th Oct 2019, it's 352 pages and available in paperback, ebook, and audio formats.
This is a gritty police procedural set in West Yorkshire, featuring an ensemble cast and a multi-thread plot which is taut and well written. The main protagonist, Nikki, is fearless, female, intelligent, and irascible after growing up as multiracial in a lower income area full of crime, factions, and gangs. She's a DS after having fought her way up through the ranks, promoted after she'd cleared a high-profile previous case.
There are a number of recurring themes here including racism, domestic violence, drugs and gangs, and a long time serial killer who is watching everything the police do. The book is written in the third person, with occasional interludes from the serial killer separated from the main text by being written in first person PoV, in italics.
This is a very well crafted mystery and after the introductory backstory for Nikki and co., moves along at an accelerating tempo toward a dramatic (but not unexpected) denouement. I am looking forward to the next book(s) in the series. Readers of gritty procedurals won't be shocked or dismayed by the language or violence (or drugs, etc), but readers who are unhappy with strong language or content might want to be aware that this book contains both.
Four strong stars. I love the ensemble cast.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 13, 2019
Last Request by Liz Mistry is a gripping contemporary murder suspense that I just could not put down. I read with heart racing as I sped towards the conclusion.
A serial killer is on the loose in Bradford. The reader ‘hears’ the killer’s voice from the murky depths. I was clueless to guess who it was.
The literary device of pathetic fallacy is employed as the weather becomes as murky as the action.
Cold case files mingle with present day crimes as the police battle to solve them and the clock ticks down.
The lines between the criminals and the cops blur as characters put themselves on line for their families.
As the criminals wander the streets of Bradford, the reader is surprised by the depths to which some will stoop.
The location of Bradford was familiar to me as our daughter has lived up there for several years. It was therefore easy to picture the settings.
The story was gruesome at times. It is well written and thought out, keeping me glued and guessing as my jaw dropped.
The main character is likable with her rough and ready street demeanour. Family means everything to her and she goes to lengths to protect her loved ones.
Last Request is not a book for the faint hearted. If you read to escape and are of a sensitive nature, this book is not for you. There are themes and language some readers will not be able to stomach.
I think Last Request would translate well into a television drama. It would be up there with Silence Of The Lambs.
Last Request was an excellent murder suspense that consumed my mind as I tried and failed to work it out.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
A serial killer is on the loose in Bradford. The reader ‘hears’ the killer’s voice from the murky depths. I was clueless to guess who it was.
The literary device of pathetic fallacy is employed as the weather becomes as murky as the action.
Cold case files mingle with present day crimes as the police battle to solve them and the clock ticks down.
The lines between the criminals and the cops blur as characters put themselves on line for their families.
As the criminals wander the streets of Bradford, the reader is surprised by the depths to which some will stoop.
The location of Bradford was familiar to me as our daughter has lived up there for several years. It was therefore easy to picture the settings.
The story was gruesome at times. It is well written and thought out, keeping me glued and guessing as my jaw dropped.
The main character is likable with her rough and ready street demeanour. Family means everything to her and she goes to lengths to protect her loved ones.
Last Request is not a book for the faint hearted. If you read to escape and are of a sensitive nature, this book is not for you. There are themes and language some readers will not be able to stomach.
I think Last Request would translate well into a television drama. It would be up there with Silence Of The Lambs.
Last Request was an excellent murder suspense that consumed my mind as I tried and failed to work it out.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
October 22, 2019
My thanks to HQ Digital for an eARC via NetGalley of Liz Mistry’s ‘Last Request’ in exchange for an honest review.
Double thanks are due as I also participated in The Pigeonhole’s group read and was able to share my thoughts and comments with other readers as we read the daily chapters.
This is the first in a series of gritty police procedurals set in Bradford featuring D.S. Nikita Parekh.
When human remains are found under an Odeon car park, Parekh and her team are initially called in. She is relieved when the investigation is quickly passed over to the Cold Case Unit allowing her to return her attention to dealing with her troubled nephew. Yet when the remains are identified she is drawn back into the case and has to come to terms with her painful past. Then the body count starts to rise.
D.S. Nikita Parekh wasn’t an easy character to like as she was initially very guarded and prickly when first introduced though over the course of the novel Mistry did a brilliant job of revealing the foundations of her guarded personality and winning me over.
There was no doubt that Parekh is passionate about her community and determined to protect it and her family from the dangers presented by illegal drugs on the estate where they live.
It’s a fast paced story that presented some interesting twists and kept me guessing.
This is the first novel that I have read by Liz Mistry and certainly enjoyed it. Therefore, I have already obtained the first in her D.I. Gus McGuire series and will be on the lookout for future books in the D.S. Nikita Parekh series.
Double thanks are due as I also participated in The Pigeonhole’s group read and was able to share my thoughts and comments with other readers as we read the daily chapters.
This is the first in a series of gritty police procedurals set in Bradford featuring D.S. Nikita Parekh.
When human remains are found under an Odeon car park, Parekh and her team are initially called in. She is relieved when the investigation is quickly passed over to the Cold Case Unit allowing her to return her attention to dealing with her troubled nephew. Yet when the remains are identified she is drawn back into the case and has to come to terms with her painful past. Then the body count starts to rise.
D.S. Nikita Parekh wasn’t an easy character to like as she was initially very guarded and prickly when first introduced though over the course of the novel Mistry did a brilliant job of revealing the foundations of her guarded personality and winning me over.
There was no doubt that Parekh is passionate about her community and determined to protect it and her family from the dangers presented by illegal drugs on the estate where they live.
It’s a fast paced story that presented some interesting twists and kept me guessing.
This is the first novel that I have read by Liz Mistry and certainly enjoyed it. Therefore, I have already obtained the first in her D.I. Gus McGuire series and will be on the lookout for future books in the D.S. Nikita Parekh series.
September 20, 2021
A new author to me as we meet DS Nikita Parekh whose team are alerted when remains are found in a building site and although it's initially a case for the Cold Case Unit, it soons becomes clear that this is part of an ongoing serial killer. Although there were a lot of characters to get used to early on, their various connections which each other are often reference throughout so you soon get used to it and it's well worth it. Nikki's turbulent home life is just as captivating as the investigation as she often puts work first while her family, and oldest child Charlie, suffers at home. There are a few little subplots involving local gangsters and all in all its a great, grisly read involving characters that are flawed and battling with personal demons. Highly recommended
February 11, 2021
A gritty, well paced exciting crime thriller and a brilliant start to a new series. Strong characters and great plotting. There is evil in her town. Gutsy, ferocious, adrenaline high and strong headed Nikki Parekh will not rest until she has sort and dealt with every low life scumbag that is causing menace and disruption to her Bradford home....and her family life.
A great read and highly entertaining.
A great read and highly entertaining.
August 29, 2022
I'm a big fan of crime fiction so was naturally likely to enjoy this type of book however it was still one of the best crime books I've read this year. Enjoyable leading character who you get to know several levels through the sub plots which weave together throughout. Generally good intensity and pace although did feel this dipped towards the final chapters hence not awarding the full five stars.
December 21, 2022
But long winded but nevertheless a good book.
August 24, 2019
I flew through this book, it was just brilliant, the characters were likeable, and comical and Nikita was just such a strong woman despite everything that was thrown at her. I really felt for her, she’d lost the love of her life and poor Marcus was just about second best. She loved her family but also her job and to keep all the plates spinning was indeed a job and a half.
I felt like I knew my way around Bradford, which of course I don’t not having been there, but the writing is so descriptive I think I could find my way around.
I really hadn’t worked out who the killer was, and that’s unusual for me, and I kept counting the pages because I didn’t want it to end.
Please keep Niki going, I love her almost as much as Gus!
My thanks to Netgalley and Liz for such a wonderful read.
I felt like I knew my way around Bradford, which of course I don’t not having been there, but the writing is so descriptive I think I could find my way around.
I really hadn’t worked out who the killer was, and that’s unusual for me, and I kept counting the pages because I didn’t want it to end.
Please keep Niki going, I love her almost as much as Gus!
My thanks to Netgalley and Liz for such a wonderful read.
October 13, 2019
This was the first time that I read a Liz Mistry book and I enjoyed reading it. It was quite an intriguing and twisty book. But I had quite a hard time getting into the book in the beginning and was struggling with it as it was quite a slow start. But it soon started picking up pace and getting interesting. I quite like DS Nikita Parekh, she is a hard as nails, no nonsense woman but she's quite likeable. I felt sorry for her sometimes at the amount of balls she had in the air juggling at the same time. All in all, it was quite an enjoyable book and I look forward to the next book in this series, A big thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
December 18, 2020
Book 1 in the Nikki Parekh detective series and it’s a great introduction. A fan of Mistrys Gus McGuire series I was looking forward to reading this and I wasn’t disappointed. As always it was well written with a couple of storylines running alongside each other, both of which impact Nikki’s family.
In brief, Nikki becomes involved when a long hidden body is discovered and even though it is being handled by the cold case team her investigation continues. Alongside this she is trying to keep her nephew from connecting with local gangsters. But Nikki has a horrible shock when the body is identified.
Liz Mistry is a great writer and i love her latest detective and Gus was a hard act to follow. Recommended 5* read for me.
In brief, Nikki becomes involved when a long hidden body is discovered and even though it is being handled by the cold case team her investigation continues. Alongside this she is trying to keep her nephew from connecting with local gangsters. But Nikki has a horrible shock when the body is identified.
Liz Mistry is a great writer and i love her latest detective and Gus was a hard act to follow. Recommended 5* read for me.
August 4, 2021
It might just be me but I found the throwing in of the out ‘owt’ and ‘nowt’ to reinforce the Bradford roots of Parekh a bit much whereas the way she dealt with stress was beautifully portrayed and showed a lot of understanding of the way self harming becomes a real issue .
I was also underwhelmed by the killers narratives which appeared staged and contrived which was also an issue for me as far as Franco was concerned. Why on earth would he go out of his way to annoy and antagonise Nikki? It made no sense!
I dithered between two and three stars and couldn’t bring myself to be mean enough so opted to give it a very low three as the plot had a lots of good twists and turns like the tunnels but really a bit of good editorship and this could have been stunning.
I was also underwhelmed by the killers narratives which appeared staged and contrived which was also an issue for me as far as Franco was concerned. Why on earth would he go out of his way to annoy and antagonise Nikki? It made no sense!
I dithered between two and three stars and couldn’t bring myself to be mean enough so opted to give it a very low three as the plot had a lots of good twists and turns like the tunnels but really a bit of good editorship and this could have been stunning.
August 18, 2019
Getting into this book was a challenge for me and only once the characters took shape and the plot developed that it became more enjoyable to read. There is a lot of tension in the story but the sometimes choppy writing and transitions took away from the flow. It was only after I was more than half-way through that the book became difficult to put down. I wanted to feel sympathy for Nikita Parekh and her difficult relationships but just didn’t. There is also more violence than necessary to push the plot forward and I found that off putting. Overall it’s a good read, just not a great read.
Thank you to Net Galley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the advanced copy.
Thank you to Net Galley and HQ Digital for the opportunity to read the advanced copy.
November 11, 2019
3.5 stars. I had not read this author’s prior series but looked forward to this book. DS Nikita Parekh Is your typical damaged protagonist. There is a big back story which is hinted at in this book, which is the first in this series. I both loved Nikita and frequently wanted to smack her due to her terrible treatment of her daughter and partner. I did appreciate the cultural diversity of the characters and that there were two gay couples. I would definitely read more in the series if they come.
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