‘The Lollipop Man’ by Daniel Sellers

Published by Allison & Busby,
20 February 2025.
ISBN: 978-0-7490-3261-6 (HB)

It’s 1994 and young Adrian Brown works for the local newspaper, assisting Nige, the photographer. When his editor Linda calls him to say that the police have found a young girl’s clothes by the canal at a place called Gorton Lane.  Just the name makes him shiver. Eight Years previously three young girls had been kidnapped by a man known as the Lollipop man. Adrian has been taken but escaped.

When they arrive, the police are there, also journalist Sheila Hargreaves, the anchor of Yorkshire Tonight, Yorkshire’s TV magazine programme. With her motherly appearance often called Yorkshire’s auntie. She clearly recognised Adrain but couldn’t quite place him. Adrian felt sick and needed to get away. 

Pleading a migraine, he hurries away to phone his friend Gav, who is strikingly gothic with his Russian trench coat, backcombed hair and eyeliner. The news is soon out that after a gap of eight years another young child has been taken. The word travels fast. Is the lollipop man back?

While back at the newsroom, his mum calls, asking when he will be home, clearly rattled, she was sobbing ‘it’s him again’. While on his way home he is accosted by a stocky old woman he’d seen at Gorton Lane. ‘Adrian Brown, isn’t it? Don’t lie’. Who are you? he said, heart racing. ‘Edna Wormley, just want a little chat. I know your name – your real name, I mean.

As the story progresses it becomes clear, that both Adrian and Sheila Hargreaves are burdened by their past but for different reasons.  Adrian has an uneasy relationship with his parents, but have they been honest with him.  Sheila with memories of the previous abductions, is holding onto secrets she cannot share even with her friends.

The ordeal that Adrian experienced has shaped his life, so much so that he finds it impossible to interact with his parents. The only person he is comfortable with is his friend Gav.

Cleverly plotted, full of twists and turns.  This tale has a chilling ending and will keep you riveted to the end.  Most highly recommended.
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Review: Lizzie Sirett 

Daniel Sellers grew up in Yorkshire. He has lived and worked in Liverpool, Glasgow, Dublin, and Vaasa in Finland. Daniel loves crime fiction, old and new, particularly the work of Margaret Murphy, Mo Hayder, Ruth Rendell, P. D. James and Josephine Tey. He is a huge (if not obsessive!) fan of Agatha Christie. Daniel's detective thrillers are pacy and dark, with as much interest in whydunit as who. He now lives in Argyll with his partner.