Long Reach by Peter Cocks

The beginning of the end?
Review by The Mole

When Steve Palmer is found dead then his brother feels that his great hero, his role model, has gone from his life. Both he and his mother are devastated but when he realises what is happening to himself, he picks himself and tries to get his life back on track. Then, bit by bit, Tony Morris begins to play a role in his life and he is offered a job in trying to make the world a better place - the job his brother had been doing. He takes the job on and becomes Eddie Savage. Eddie quickly starts to wonder if he has bitten off more than he can chew.

I heard a couple of passages from this book read out by Peter Cocks at Hay Book Festival and came to the conclusion that I must read this book. I had been forewarned that the extracts chosen were, perhaps, the grisliest - which is what I banked on! - and so they were. But if you don't mind a little grisliness in your thriller, or if you positively like it then this book will entertain you immensely. If you don't like grisliness then don't let me put you off - I am particularly squeamish.

The story moves from first person with Eddie Savage to an occasional third person view following Donnie - one of the 'Tommy Kelly' heavies, chauffeurs and fixers. Tommy Kelly is the head of a crime gang that controls much of London crime and a target that Tony Morris is trying to 'hit'.

The story is fast paced and underlines the confidences and lack of confidences that the 17 year old Eddie feels as he gets in deeper and deeper, feeling at times that he is trapped between a rock and a hard place. This makes the story that much more 'real' and accessible.

While this is meant to be a book targeted at teenagers, I see no reason why adults, like me, should not equally enjoy it - why should teenagers have all the fun. My only concern is that this is the start of a series of books about Eddie Savage - How can it be?

Maryom got there first with reading and reviewing this. Check out her thoughts here

Publisher - Walker Books
Genre - YA crime, thriller

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