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El Gardener #2
The Push
A 20 year old crime. A 40 year old mystery. And a deadly threat in the here and now.
El Gardener thinks she’s finished with the con - that she can walk away from the life of crime she’s lived since childhood.But when a murderous attacker emerges out of nowhere and the people closest to her are threatened, she’s left with no choice but to take on one final, very dangerous job - and get her whole crew back together to defend her family.
With the terrible legacy of the last job they worked together still haunting them, they’ll travel halfway across the world to trap their mark, from the moors of North Yorkshire to the San Francisco Peninsula - confronting long-buried secrets, an unspeakable crime and an old enemy intent on taking his revenge on the women who’ve wronged him.For El and her team, the clock is ticking - and the sins of the past are about to come calling.
Previously published as The Push by Natalie Edwards
El Gardener thinks she’s finished with the con - that she can walk away from the life of crime she’s lived since childhood.But when a murderous attacker emerges out of nowhere and the people closest to her are threatened, she’s left with no choice but to take on one final, very dangerous job - and get her whole crew back together to defend her family.
With the terrible legacy of the last job they worked together still haunting them, they’ll travel halfway across the world to trap their mark, from the moors of North Yorkshire to the San Francisco Peninsula - confronting long-buried secrets, an unspeakable crime and an old enemy intent on taking his revenge on the women who’ve wronged him.For El and her team, the clock is ticking - and the sins of the past are about to come calling.
Previously published as The Push by Natalie Edwards
320 pages, Paperback
Published March 26, 2021
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
T.C. Parker
16 books140 followersI'm a writer and researcher based in the fox-ravaged wilds of Leicestershire.
I've been a copywriter, a lecturer and, very briefly, an academic; now I run a semiotics and cultural insight agency by day and dream up horror and crime fiction at night, when the kids are asleep.
I write mostly horror and crime, skeet enthusiastically as @tcparker.bsky.social, and post the occasional poorly-composed photo on Instagram (as @writestc).
For stories, serialised novels and other thoughts about the universe, visit/subscribe to my Substack - tcparker.substack.com
I've been a copywriter, a lecturer and, very briefly, an academic; now I run a semiotics and cultural insight agency by day and dream up horror and crime fiction at night, when the kids are asleep.
I write mostly horror and crime, skeet enthusiastically as @tcparker.bsky.social, and post the occasional poorly-composed photo on Instagram (as @writestc).
For stories, serialised novels and other thoughts about the universe, visit/subscribe to my Substack - tcparker.substack.com
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 5, 2022
After I finished reading The Debt last week, I couldn’t wait to get more of El, Ruby, Sita, Rose, and the others. Don’t try to read The Push as a standalone, there’s a lot of background in the first book and you really should start at the beginning of the story.
Once again, I’m not even going to attempt to say what this book is about, it’s impossible without spoiling. What I can say is that I’m coming to realise that these books play the long game. You can’t trust anything you read on any page until you get to the end. And even then, I wouldn’t be too sure. Think Usual Suspects (without Kevin Spacey) in book form. Very exciting. I love the back and forth in time, I keep getting lost, but instead of being annoying or frustrating, it adds to the thrill, the feeling of being in over your head that at least some of the characters experience. The story is delightfully convoluted, and when everything falls into place, the author leaves only the one loose end necessary to lead to the next book.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Once again, I’m not even going to attempt to say what this book is about, it’s impossible without spoiling. What I can say is that I’m coming to realise that these books play the long game. You can’t trust anything you read on any page until you get to the end. And even then, I wouldn’t be too sure. Think Usual Suspects (without Kevin Spacey) in book form. Very exciting. I love the back and forth in time, I keep getting lost, but instead of being annoying or frustrating, it adds to the thrill, the feeling of being in over your head that at least some of the characters experience. The story is delightfully convoluted, and when everything falls into place, the author leaves only the one loose end necessary to lead to the next book.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 2, 2022
Another absolutely riveting book by TC Parker! All too often, sequels fail to fill the shoes of their predecessors; I can assure you that The Push held its own – it will draw you in, hold your attention, and keep you guessing all the way through.
The Push brings back characters from the first book for another twisty mission with a sinister backstory. I relished getting a deeper understanding of each of the women, and am crossing my fingers that Parker retains her fantastic cast of misfits in the final installment of this series. They are all such well-formulated and diverse women with interesting skills and backstories – these characters alone make for a great story, even without the phenomenal plot! Annnnnd I was super pleased to find that the hint of chemistry I felt in The Debt was indeed there and developed into a hint of sapphic romance this time around – it’s subtle and it’s only a subplot, but enough to make my little gay heart happy!
The plot was f***ing MASTERFUL, I must say! It’s a complex story – full of twists and turns, intrigue and mystery – but Parker leads the reader through it so skillfully and unravels each of the intricately woven threads so well that, even though there’s a lot going on, it’s so easy to follow along without feeling like you’re being spoon-fed. An indisputable chef’s kiss for you, TC Parker! I love the tie-in to the first novel and cannot wait to see how all of this culminates in The Remembrance.
I have no doubt that The Remembrance is going to be just as phenomenally devised and written as the first two books, Netflix really needs to snap this series up, it has the makings for a fantastic movie trilogy!
The Push brings back characters from the first book for another twisty mission with a sinister backstory. I relished getting a deeper understanding of each of the women, and am crossing my fingers that Parker retains her fantastic cast of misfits in the final installment of this series. They are all such well-formulated and diverse women with interesting skills and backstories – these characters alone make for a great story, even without the phenomenal plot! Annnnnd I was super pleased to find that the hint of chemistry I felt in The Debt was indeed there and developed into a hint of sapphic romance this time around – it’s subtle and it’s only a subplot, but enough to make my little gay heart happy!
The plot was f***ing MASTERFUL, I must say! It’s a complex story – full of twists and turns, intrigue and mystery – but Parker leads the reader through it so skillfully and unravels each of the intricately woven threads so well that, even though there’s a lot going on, it’s so easy to follow along without feeling like you’re being spoon-fed. An indisputable chef’s kiss for you, TC Parker! I love the tie-in to the first novel and cannot wait to see how all of this culminates in The Remembrance.
I have no doubt that The Remembrance is going to be just as phenomenally devised and written as the first two books, Netflix really needs to snap this series up, it has the makings for a fantastic movie trilogy!
March 14, 2024
SCREAMS AT THAT CLIFFHANGER AND IMMEDIATELY GOES TO READ BOOK 3!!
(No, but I loved this one, too. I love all the characters. I love the non linear way we get bits of info and insight to the cons like watching a movie, and I love that El and Rose are starting to acknowledge they like each other. My ONLY qualm, is I wish there was more of that—downtime scenes of them together more often. But I know the romance is very much with side plot to the main thriller/cons stuff, and that’s okay, but I AM GREEDY AND WANT BOTH)!
(No, but I loved this one, too. I love all the characters. I love the non linear way we get bits of info and insight to the cons like watching a movie, and I love that El and Rose are starting to acknowledge they like each other. My ONLY qualm, is I wish there was more of that—downtime scenes of them together more often. But I know the romance is very much with side plot to the main thriller/cons stuff, and that’s okay, but I AM GREEDY AND WANT BOTH)!
June 1, 2021
T.C. Parker’s crime novel The Push: El Gardener Book 2 is a follow-on to The Debt. I highly recommend reading that first; otherwise I think you’ll get a bit confused by the number of characters and references to important back-story.
El Gardener, her mentor Ruby (who taught her how to run cons), and the rest of their “gang” realize they’re in trouble when one of Ruby’s twin sons gets stabbed on the doorstep of the safehouse they’re currently staying in. When someone also tries to stab Sita (a good friend and compatriot of Ruby’s), in the same location and with a knife she recognizes, they realize they have a serious problem.
We get to watch the group pull several cons over the course of the book, and they have enemies who are trying to play them as well. There are frame jobs, one of Ruby’s sons (almost) getting conned by someone, revenge plots, old grudges, blackmail, and the possibility that an old enemy, Hannah, who was part of the previous book, might be behind what’s going on. It’s so much fun to watch El in particular do her thing, since she’s an “inside woman.” I also love the fact that in their line of work “real” violence is considered cheating, and they all go out of their way to survive on their wits.
The timeline jumps around a lot, which left me confused in places. The “present day” is 1997, but the timeline includes stops in 1955, 1972, and a wide array of back-and-forth months in 1997. I really wish it had been a bit simplified. This is my only real complaint about this book, however. If your memory is better than mine you might not mind it.
I absolutely love this caper-series, and look forward to reading book three!
Original review posted on my blog: https://www.errantdreams.com/2021/06/...
El Gardener, her mentor Ruby (who taught her how to run cons), and the rest of their “gang” realize they’re in trouble when one of Ruby’s twin sons gets stabbed on the doorstep of the safehouse they’re currently staying in. When someone also tries to stab Sita (a good friend and compatriot of Ruby’s), in the same location and with a knife she recognizes, they realize they have a serious problem.
We get to watch the group pull several cons over the course of the book, and they have enemies who are trying to play them as well. There are frame jobs, one of Ruby’s sons (almost) getting conned by someone, revenge plots, old grudges, blackmail, and the possibility that an old enemy, Hannah, who was part of the previous book, might be behind what’s going on. It’s so much fun to watch El in particular do her thing, since she’s an “inside woman.” I also love the fact that in their line of work “real” violence is considered cheating, and they all go out of their way to survive on their wits.
The timeline jumps around a lot, which left me confused in places. The “present day” is 1997, but the timeline includes stops in 1955, 1972, and a wide array of back-and-forth months in 1997. I really wish it had been a bit simplified. This is my only real complaint about this book, however. If your memory is better than mine you might not mind it.
I absolutely love this caper-series, and look forward to reading book three!
Original review posted on my blog: https://www.errantdreams.com/2021/06/...
September 14, 2023
I don't know how to leave a coherent review, this trilogy keeps messing with my head in the best way!
The plot is so bloody brilliant and I love that we get to spend more time with these amazing women.
As I mentioned before, you can't really talk about the story without spoiling it, pick up this series and see for yourselves.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with the third and final book.
The plot is so bloody brilliant and I love that we get to spend more time with these amazing women.
As I mentioned before, you can't really talk about the story without spoiling it, pick up this series and see for yourselves.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with the third and final book.
January 5, 2022
This is the second run out for this cast of characters, following on from The Debt. In The Push El Gardener along with the rest of the crew, get blackmailed into doing a con they don't want to be anywhere near, have they been outwitted or can they solve a decades old kidnapping and get themselves off the hook in the process?
I love the characters in these books and genuinely found myself invested in them. There are some disturbing scenes in it, TC Parker isn't afraid to make her bad guys bad! Set across different times in different countries, the story is so well told that it feels seemless when you move from one to the other. Love the strong female representation and these con artists will have you rooting for them all the way through. No matter how intricate a story may be, TC Parker always wraps it up beautifully.
This is proving to be a fantastic crime trilogy with well rounded characters and engaging plots. I can't wait to finish it out with The Remembrance.
I love the characters in these books and genuinely found myself invested in them. There are some disturbing scenes in it, TC Parker isn't afraid to make her bad guys bad! Set across different times in different countries, the story is so well told that it feels seemless when you move from one to the other. Love the strong female representation and these con artists will have you rooting for them all the way through. No matter how intricate a story may be, TC Parker always wraps it up beautifully.
This is proving to be a fantastic crime trilogy with well rounded characters and engaging plots. I can't wait to finish it out with The Remembrance.
December 9, 2020
I just love these characters, the 'matriarchs' Ruby and Sita and the younger women, treated like daughters and basically made to do as they're told - and they do - even if the act is somewhat illegal! The warmth and genuine bonds of love and friendship shine through even when nerves are being stretched to the limit. This follow-up to The Debt brings the women face-to-face a threat from the past and forces them into a con from which there appears to be no apparent escape. Or is there? Another great page turner which has you rooting for its main characters and keeping your fingers-crossed that El finally finds happiness. I can't wait for the third part of the trilogy to see how her story is wrapped up.
August 8, 2023
This is the second installment in the El Gardner series and I am loving this cast of characters. The team has a new con this time but it's related to the previous book as well so make sure you read this trilogy in order. The same team is back again and these ladies make such a fun group. I love their camaraderie and their creativity as a group of con women is so much fun. The writing style just adds to this, feeding you bits of their plan as you go but also keeping you on the edge of your seat waiting for the hammer to fall on them. On to book 3 now! Can't wait to see what they get up to next and kind of sad it will be the last one.
July 6, 2022
Review to come
October 13, 2023
3.5 Stars
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews