Blood Games by Liz Mistry (review + #giveaway)

 

"Time stretched out before her - an interminable flatness, a never-ending darkness, an eternity of nothingness and each day the struggle to continue became harder".

"They were everywhere, spying on everyone. Thing was, nobody knew who they reported to which made it even creepier. All he knew was that if the Eyes reported on you, you could expect some sort of punishment".

Blood Games by Liz Mistry is the fourth book in the Nikki Parekh series. If you enjoy dark police procedurals, with terrifying twists and exploration of the human psychology at its worst, then this book is for you.

I have read two previous books in the series, and believe you would benefit from knowing the backstory of the main protagonist. 

The story begins with the online post about the acid attack. The victim, a young girl, is walking through the town on her own, when her face is splashed with vinegar. That girl will never feel completely safe in her own city, or trust the crowded public spaces. The post brings on a wave of trolling, blaming the victim for going out with a boy of a different cultural background.

At the same time Bradford police are investigating the increasing number of machete attacks involving young people.

There's a report of a body found at the edge of Chellow Dene reservoir. Detective Nikki Parekh and DC Sajid Malik arrive promptly to the crime scene. This is the third murder which has happened in the few weeks. All the murders have different MOs, but all victims are teenagers.

The dead teen looks so much like Nikki's nephew that she loses her control. 

She has always been unpredictable, but recent volatile events made her behaviour irrational. It's been a difficult time for Nikki. Her mother was brutally murdered recently, and Nikki is grieving. On top of the bereavement, her criminal father who has escaped abroad, is taunting her with threatening messages on postcards. "Nobody knew better than Nikki how conniving, brutal and vindictive that man was. There was no certainty that he'd remain at a distance, leaving it at merely taunting her".

"She'd been retreating more and more inside herself for weeks", and her colleagues presumed she'd get over it on her own.

DCI Hegley is sympathetic, but he sees that Nikki is traumatised and is in no state to continue her job. "Nikki was one of the best detectives - hell, her performance was second to none, which was why Archie turned a blind eye to her sometimes less-than-by-the-book methods".

Hegley tells her to take a couple of months off, see a counsellor and try to get herself back to normal.

Nikki's depression is turning into a "venomous, self-destructive canker". Each day is a struggle. Her family is supportive, and Sajid keeps in close contact with her. The tension is palpable, as the suspense ratches up. You feel Nikki's mental anguish, and root for her to get better.

With the help provided by the quirky freelance police psychiarist, Dr Mallory, Nikki begins to pick up the pieces. Mallory is "edgy, unpredictable, and good at her job. Some of her comments were risqué, to say the least, but she got results".

While Nikki is recovering her strength, another crime is committed. A teenager is abducted, and his mother receives a terrifying package through the door. The teen's father, taxi firm owner Ali, appeals to Nikki for help. The young people live in fear of the so called Eyes, who enforce their own sick set of rules.

The pattern of the crime appears to be different yet again. Just who is playing the blood games? 

With four murders and the missing boy, there is a significant lack of progress in the police investigation. 

Will Nikki be able to find her inner strength and return to work? Will she discover the shocking truth before the killer makes another move in their blood games?

Along the police investigation, we see the glimpses of the horrific Honourable Fixer character, who's overseeing the unfolding killing spree and getting rich without getting their hands dirty. The Fixer views their actions like a massive chess game. But they are playing with human lives.

DS Nikki Parekh and her partner DC Sajid Malik are becoming one of my favourite detective teams. "Over the years, Sajid and Nikki had worked on instinct. They understood each other's strengths and weaknesses in the field". And don't even mention DCI Archie Hegley with his proverbials. He's another remarkable character that you care about.

The storyline is complex and multi-layered. Blood Games explores such relevant issues as racism, youth knife crime, fundamentalism and honour-based violence, the influence of social media and the power of the dark net, as well as mental health. 

Blood Games is a heart-stopping police procedural and psychological thriller, that will keep you up till the early hours. Like the other books in the series, it is very dark, raw, intense, and impossible to put down. 

I have read and reviewed two previous books in the series, if you want to catch up, here are the links: Broken Silence and Dark Memories.

This post is part of the blog tour for Blood Games.

Many thanks to Liz Mistry and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Games-gripping-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B09MN1526W

Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Games-gripping-procedural-Detective-ebook/dp/B09MN1526W

Author Bio –

Born in Scotland, Made in Bradford sums up Liz Mistry’s life. Over thirty years ago she moved from a small village in West Lothian to Yorkshire to get her teaching degree. Once here, Liz fell in love with three things; curries, the rich cultural diversity of the city … and her Indian husband (not necessarily in this order). Now thirty years, three children, two cats and a huge extended family later, Liz uses her experiences of living and working in the inner city to flavour her writing. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’ whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath.

Being a debut novelist in her fifties was something Liz had only dreamed of and she counts herself lucky, whilst pinching herself regularly to make sure it’s all real. One of the nicest things about being a published author is chatting with and responding to readers’ feedback and Liz regularly does events at local libraries, universities, literature festivals and open mics. She also teaches creative writing too.

In her spare time, Liz loves pub quizzes (although she admits to being rubbish at them), dancing (she does a mean jig to Proud Mary – her opinion, not ratified by her family), visiting the varied Yorkshire landscape, with Robin Hoods Bay being one of her favourite coastal destinations, listening to music, reading and blogging about all things crime fiction on her blog, The Crime Warp. 

 

Social Media Links –

FB https://www.facebook.com/LizMistrybooks/

Twitter @LizMistryAuthor

Website: https://www.lizmistry.com/

If you enjoy gritty thrillers, you have a chance to win the previous book in the Nikki Parekh series, as well as a  selection of relaxation goodies.

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Dark Memories and a relaxation bundle (Open INT)

The contents are :

A signed copy of Dark Memories (Nikki Parekh book 3)

A Weekly Planner pad

A fruit infuser water bottle

Planet Spa face mask

Avon Footworks

Pomegranate and rhubarb bath salts

A Candle Bag

 

*Terms and Conditions –

Worldwide entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  

The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. 

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. 

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

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This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Please bear in mind that this giveaway is being run across several book blogs as part of the book promotion.

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Good luck!

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