‘Never Be Broken’ by Sarah Hilary

Published by Headline,
16 May 2019.
ISBN: 978-1-4722-6375-9 PB)

London streets are becoming more and more unsafe for young children.

Detective Inspector Marnie Rome and her team are investigating the case of a number of children being recruited, often from care homes, to run weapons and drugs for the London gangs. Many of them end up being killed. The case suddenly becomes more urgent when unusually a thirteen-year-old white girl Raffa from a wealthy family is shot down in the street by a gang member. A case of mistaken identity? Or not?

Marnie and Detective Sergeant Noah Jake visit the devastated family, to be met by a tirade of abuse from the father. How could they accuse his innocent daughter of having anything to do with street gangs? But then they find evidence in her bedroom that connects her to the notorious block of flats, Erskine tower.

While following a lead at the flats, Noah witnesses another tragic death of a young girl leading him to become really obsessed with getting rid of the gangs.

Meanwhile he has his own demons to deal with. He is followed around by the ghost of his brother, knifed to death ten weeks ago. He finds solace in his company at first but then begins to fear him.

The further Marnie and team delve into the involvement of Erskine tower the more they discover just how much gang culture it is hiding. Then they find a connection to Russia, is it a coincidence that Raffa's father has business dealings with the Russians? Is he all that he makes out, what is he hiding?

It seems just about everyone connected to Erskine tower is corrupt, even a grief counsellor comes under suspicion.

Can Marnie and her fellow police officers untangle this web of murder and deceit before any more youngsters are killed?

A really well written book dealing with the present culture of gang related crimes. Sarah Hilary has a knack of bringing the true feelings of her characters to the fore. I have already read Come and Find Me which I really enjoyed and I think Never Be Broken is even better. I hope she writes another very soon. Highly Recommended.

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Sarah Hilary’s debut novel Someone Else’s Skin won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2015. It was the Observer’s Book of the Month, a Richard & Judy Book Club bestseller, and has been published worldwide. Come and Find Me is her latest book published in March 2018. Sarah lives in Bath.

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.