Next of Kin: the brand new gripping and shocking legal crime thriller that you won’t want to miss in 2022! Paperback – 12 May 2022

Wow. I devoured this book, I read it in 8 hours as it was so gripping I couldn’t put it down.It is beautiful written and the story develops so well and quickly.I would absolutely recommend!

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. The book is well written and very emotive there was a not in there that could be triggering for a lot of people and at times I had to take breaks to allow myself to not get too emotional by the themes. Nevertheless I finished the book. There were a lot of twists and turns which was surprising and shocking, and quite overwhelming at the end. Throughout the book I was switching between feeling sorry for one sister to the other but I think that was very clever writing, the reader not quite knowing who deserved more sympathy. It kept me going and wanting to know the whole truth. I enjoyed it and will read more from this author.

FROM THE VERY START OF THIS BOOK , my JAW DROPPED !What a story ! Jesus x highly recommend x just read it x

A good thriller book that I came across while on Facebook it was a good story line it kept me interested and engaged look forward to reading more of her books

Enjoyed it, not a very earth shattering complex read but kept me engaged. Somewhat unrealistic but most stories are I guess! Good to see a more diverse cast than usual in these type of novels.

Rating: 4.6/5Although this is her third novel "Next of Kin" is my first experience of Kia Abdullah's work - but it certainly won't be my last. I don't give out many 5-star ratings for book reviews, but I can't find any good reason not to award that top grade in this instance."Next of Kin" is, at it its heart, a compelling courtroom drama - but it is also much more besides. From the outset - with the shocking and visceral realisation that a young child has been left to die from hyperthermia in the back seat of Leila Syed's car on a sweltering summer's day - this novel grabs hold of your attention, and your emotions, and doesn't relinquish its grip until you have read the final page.The story is constructed in three parts. Part one essentially deals with establishing the events that will lead to the trial. The court case itself is the crux of part two and then part three deals with the aftermath once the legal proceedings have been concluded.The plot is tightly constructed and wonderfully executed. There are twists and turns that regularly crept up on my blindside and took the storyline in a direction that I hadn't quite anticipated. However, never did I feel that I had been cheated by the author employing underhand tactics to achieve this. The characterisation is excellent and I genuinely felt that I could envisage the protagonists in front of me rather than purely as words on a page. The court scenes are wonderfully effective and engrossing, with just the right amount of dramatic licence to make for compelling reading, without going over the top and losing credibility. A number of deeply emotional themes are covered in the course of this novel, all of which are engaging, but some of which can be quite disturbing, or even harrowing, and may make for difficult reading for certain people.I have no hesitation in recommending this to anyone who not only loves reading crime fiction, but well-written fiction of any genre.

One of my favourite books this year. I had guessed where it was heading and I recall a courtcase a couple of years ago in America I followed very closely indeed that it reminded me of. I'm not referencing it, however, as it would be spoiling and I never do that.Suffice it to say, it is a really enthralling tale and there are a FEW "wow" moments when my jaw hit the floor. It really does hold your interest, wondering how things are going to go for Leila and if the family will speak to her again, etc....it is my first book by this author but will not be the last, though she'll need to go some to top this !! (Mind you, Suzanne Redfearn managed it) ! I found that Yasmin was a terribly spoilt little cow in the main and I wasn't a fan. Most of the other characters I had a lot more time for.I did spot the odd mistake...she wrote this line how people actually speak-"We better get going." That seems to be happening a lot recently in e-books at least. She also wrote about a mug and described it as "the shivery Paddington Bear" which I didn't understand so highlighted it. She wrote footstall where I think she meant footstool but footstall hasn't been highlighted as I write this review to say it is wrong. This sentence lost a word, "I'm going kill him" and THIS sentence gained a word that wasn't needed, "So is there's a chance...." then another lost in this one, "....for a few short days in youth." Blue tack should be Blu Tack, too.I laughed aloud at the mention of a dinosaur bone in the context it was used and one part left me distinctly sniffling as well.....it really is a great story so take it from me, it's well worth your time.

This is a really well written and tense book. I have to say though that I thought there was a bit of a large plot hole in it. What three year old is asleep first thing in the morning when he's on his way to nursery school? I've had four children and seven grandchildren and NEVER has one of them been asleep at that time of the day. Not even dozing. Even if he got up at 6 as some kids do, he wouldn't be ready for a nap at 8. And at three he wouldn't even be napping at all during the day.The rest of the book is great, but it hinges on the kid sleeping so heavily at 8 in the morning that she forgets he's in the car. I just don't believe it. Not possible. He'd be wide awake. Not a normal three year old at all.