I have been meaning to read Broken Dreams by Hull based author, Nick Quantrill, for some time now. So, after making the decision that I don't always need to read the latest 'must have', it was time to tackle my reading mountain.
I must admit I had always been slightly put off by the description of the setting being in the northern city of Hull and the book being referred to as grim and gritty. Not my usual kind of thing. So, with a little trepidation, I went in.... and was really pleasantly surprised. This is an engaging read that encompasses great storytelling and a passionate take on a city springing back to life.
Our lead, Joe Geraghty, is a private investigator, called in to investigate why a staff member has gone missing from her workplace. I've not really read many private investigator based books so it made a refreshing change from the typical police procedurals. The missing employee is found dead at home and immediately it turns into a murder investigation. Also, running alongside this case is the disappearance of a young singer some years beforehand. What follows are two cases that embroils the police, gangsters, corrupt businessmen and great settings within Hull city itself. From reading it becomes clear that the author knows his city well and his passion for it. We get a realistic feel for how the city has suffered with industry dying over the years that has affected large areas of communities that go back generations. Especially the sea trawler fishing (which I knew very little of but found totally fascinating) and how hope is being sparked with regeneration occurring all around. And not all of that comes from descriptive prose, much of it is from great dialogue that was totally engaging and compelling to read. Not often books have as much dialogue as I found here but it worked really well in this instance.
The story itself was great with plenty of interweaving and little given away. I honestly didn't know which way either case was going to go and the ending was a total surprise. Didn't see that coming at all. I know this book is a few years old now, but for a debut, it's pretty darn good. Good enough to want to know what else might be in store for likeable PI Geraghty and all that entails.
Broken Dreams is definitely one I recommend.