Gallowstree Lane by Kate London – Blog Tour Review.

About The Book

Please don’t let me die. Please don’t. 

When a teenage boy steps out of the shadows of Gallowstree Lane and asks a passer-by for help, it’s already too late. His life is bleeding out on the London street. 

The murder threatens to derail Operation Perseus, a cover police investigation into the Eardsley Bluds, an organised criminal network. Detective Kieran Shaw can’t and won’t allow that to happen. But fifteen-year-old Ryan has other ideas. He’s witnessed the death of his best friend, and now he wants someone to pay…

As loyalties collide, a chain of events is triggered that threatens everyone with a connection to Gallowstree Lane. 

My Review

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. Gallowstree Lane is the third book in the series, I haven’t read the previous two and apart from curiosity on my part I had no problem following the storyline.

I think the main reason was because whilst the recurring characters who are the police do feature much of the novel concerns Ryan, a young teen who is a drug runner for a local gang. It was Ryan’s story that captivated me but also upset me. At the start of the novel when he witnesses his co runner and best friend die after being attacked by a member of a rival gang he is distraught. He still feels loyal to the gang leader, Shakiel, but also for the first time feels guilt and fear.

His isn’t the only sad story. There is also Lexi, a drug addicted prostitute whose life is far from what she imagined it being. And Loretta, Ryan’s mother, who can see her son’s life being destroyed by the same thing that took her husband. All three you see far too often on the news.

I liked following the two police investigations. Both of them wanting the same results for different reasons. And both struggling to accept that one may be more important than the other. This part of the novel was more detailed than many others I have read. It was easy to follow, and I found it interesting and informative without being overpowering.

I hope to read the previous books soon, Lizzie especially is a character I want to know more about.