Little Triggers

Stephen Larkin #2

by Martyn Waites

Stephen Larkin is back in his native Newcastle. Working as an agency journalist, he's busy blackmailing the powerful into keeping their campaign promises. But he still feels dissatisfied, which is why he jumps at the chance to track down a child abuser with friends in high places.

Genres: Crime

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Martyn Waites (b. 1963) is an English actor and author of hard-boiled fiction. Raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, he spent his post-university years selling leather coats, working in pubs and doing stand-up comedy. After a stint in drama school, Waites pursued life on the stage, performing regionally in theaters across England. TV and commercial work followed, and he continued to act full-time until the early 1990s, when he began writing his first novel: a noir mystery set in the city of his birth. Mary’s Prayer was published in 1997, and Waites followed it with three more novels starring the same character, an investigative journalist named Stephen Larkin.

Since then he has divided his time between acting and writing. After concluding the Larkin series in 2003, he created another journalist, troubled reporter Joe Donovan, who made his first appearance in The Mercy Seat (2006). Waites’ most recent novel is Speak No Evil (2009). Along with his wife and children, he lives and works in Hertfordshire, a county north of London.

Reviews

[Sharon4 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well-written and plotted and as grim as death. It kept me turning the pages, but it did not do much for my mood. Some of the scenes are frankly harrowing, but if you are after a writer who keeps you engaged, Martyn Waites is your man.

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

capturing, bitter, dark and grim. excellent to read but as another reviewer has said quite harrowing.

[Christine bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this book and I love a good ending, again i got the person wrong that was the big boss and did the murders/abuse

[Nada · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the blurb states, this is brutal and as another reviewer wrote, grim. However, the pages kept turning and I wanted to read the entire novel. I did however hope for retribution against McMahon's foster brother. Overall, that this story could even have a semblance in reality is extremely heartbreaking.