Trevor Wood (left) introduced us to Jimmy Mullen in The Man On The Street in October last year. Mullen is a Royal Navy veteran who has fallen on hard times. Not the first man to struggle after a military career ends, he has served time for manslaughter, lost his wife and daughter, and lives in a Newcastle hostel for homeless men. His PTSD means that his dreams are often invaded by visions of the several hells he went through in his service career. In the previous book he gained a certain temporary celebrity as the 'Homeless Private Eye' when he tracked down a murderer, but now life has returned to its drab normality. He still lives in the hostel, dines at The Pit Stop, a drop-in centre that feeds the homeless, goes everywhere with his dog (called 'Dog') and has a precarious friendship with a man called Gadge who is also homeless, but is a regular user of the computers in the local library, and has a grasp of modern technology that is often useful to Mullen.

Into Mullen's life comes a young man called Deano. Deano is a wreck of a boy with a stack of criminal convictions, addicted to whatever can ease the pain of the next couple of hours, traumatised by being pimped out as a male prostitute, and forever searching for his missing mother and brother. Deano's brother Ash has turned up dead in nearby Sunderland, and Deano convinces Mullen to take a look at the case, as several other youngsters have turned up dead in a variety of unpleasant ways, apparently out of their heads on Spice - a cheap and potent chemical version of cannabis.

The search for answers takes Mullen not just into the grimy underworld of the Newcastle drug scene, but brings him face to face with a prominent local politician, a clergyman whose teenage daughter has been leading a double life and - more painfully - the wreckage of his relationship with his ex-wife and their daughter.

On the way to resolving the mystery of the murdered children, Mullen survives attempts on his life and struggles hard to subjugate his own violent and retaliatory instincts as he encounters some seriously depraved individuals.

As you may gather, this book is not a bundle of laughs. Mullen is convincing, likeable even, but his world is full of human shipwrecks. To extend the analogy, Mullen appears at low tide, but some of the other characters are many leagues down at the bottom of the human ocean. I cannot imagine what personal research has gone into this, but Trevor Wood has produced another addictive read. One Way Street is published in Kindle by Quercus, and will be available on October 29th. It will be out in hardback in March next year.

This might be set around Christmas but it's a Christmas in gritty, dark Newcastle where drug barons sell terrible things to vulnerable people. Jimmy, a veteran with issues who is intermittently homeless. finds himself helping his young friend Deano search for his brother Ash. Ash, sadly, is found dead in a bin, in part due to a bad dose of Spice, a pernicious drug. This sets Jimmy, along with his friends, into an effort to find the source of the drugs. While the crime aspects of this might take center stage, it's also very much the story of a man struggling with his place in the world and trying to cope with his demons. Wood doesn't pull punches about homelessness. I missed the first book so this was a standalone for me- and it was fine that way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good atmospheric read with an unusual and vital protagonist.

Jimmy Mullen #2

A series of bizarre drug related deaths against runaway teenagers has set the North East's homeless community on edge. There's a rogue batch of spice sweeping the inner city's is being blamed. One of Jimmy's few close friends is caught up in the carnage. Jimmy Mullen is the homeless, PTSD suffering veteran who is trying to rebuild his life.

Jimmy is determined to find out who is behind the bad batch of designer drugs. But he doesn't realise how dangerous this could be. There is some interesting characters and we learn a little more of their backgrounds. The story jumps back and forward in time. This is a well written story. It did take me a little longer to get into this book, ut once I did I was hooked. The plot line is complex. I can't wait for the third installment of this series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #QuercusBooks and the author #TrevorWood for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's always good to find something new in the Mystery and Thriller genre and Trevor Wood's Jimmy Mullen series is definitely that. Mullen is a homeless ex Con, a Falklands veteran suffering from PTSD . Mullen is a magnet for trouble and despite being on licence and one arrest away from being called back to prison never backs down or turns the other cheek.

In One Way Street there is a spate of deaths deaths of runaway teenagers that is assumed to be down to a bad batch of drugs. Mullen's young friend,young addict Deano disappears and he finds himself dragged into investigating what's going on as the Police don't appear to see any link ,or even be very interested,in the deaths of a few street kids. The great thing about this series is that all of the main characters are those usually ignored or looked down on by society., the homeless,addicts,those in Mullen's therapy group, but they're all shown to have qualities , useful talents and skills that aid Mullen in his misadventures. Conversely most of the "straight" people are pretty seriously flawed beneath the more socially acceptable surface.

This is a great read, better if you've read the first book in the series but it works as a standalone. Mullen is a great character,"Sherlock Homeless" as one character labels him, and there are enough skills in his motley band of associates to broaden the possibilities for future plot-lines.
Also good is Trevor Wood's often pointed comments,via his characters,as to how those who are on the fringes of society are viewed and treated,which he manages without preaching.

This is the excellent second book about homeless navy veteran and amateur detective Jimmy and his friends Deano, Gadge and of course the fabulous 4 legged friend, “Dog”.
In this episode we learn more about the background of the main characters but especially young Deano when he decides to look for his little brother, Ash, whom he has not seen for many years.
This quest leads to a drugs conspiracy affecting several young teenagers and Jimmy decides to help Deano investigate and find out what has happened.
All the same characters are in this book and they are developed well including their relationships with each other. We have Jimmy’s unlikely friendship with policeman Burns and his love interest with Julie which appears to be progressing well!
He still suffers from nightmares due to PTSD but he is attending group therapy sessions so his mental health is improving.
Deano’s childhood and teen years are discussed in flashbacks and the reader learns about some horrifying episodes and people, one of whom makes a reappearance. Life for a homeless teenager is not easy at all and Trevor Wood describes all this in gritty detail which stays with the reader long after the book is finished.
This is definitely a follow on novel but even if you haven’t read the first book you will still enjoy this one. In my opinion you have got a real treat in store if you decide to read them both!
As in book one I really loved the Newcastle setting of One Way Street, an area obviously well known to the author.
I’m now really hoping that there will be a book 3 and that I will not have to wait too long to read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

One Way Street is the supposed “difficult” second novel from Trevor Wood featuring his homeless veteran Jimmy Mullen and his few close friends but there is nothing to worry about with this excellent book.

The main storyline is the deaths of teenagers due to a bad batch of drugs with one of the deaths being the long lost brother of Jimmy’s mate Deano. This storyline drives the book which kept this reader turning the pages as the various twists and turns kept coming. In addition, Jimmy’s relationship with his daughter and some of the other issues he faces are progressed during the book.

One Way Street can easily be read as a stand-alone book but once you’ve read it you will definitely be seeking out the first one in the series and no doubt future instalments.

Definitely fully recommended

This is another brilliant read from Trevor Wood - possibly even more gripping than his first novel, The Man On The Street. The fabulous characters of Jimmy, Gadge, Deano (& of course Dog) return - we get to find out more about their histories, and follow them as they become embroiled in the ruthless & dangerous world of drug dealing on the streets of Newcastle. Wood has a real talent of bringing characters to life with witty & realistic dialogue & I loved this story. Five star recommended.

I blooming loved the first in this series - The Man on the Street - and raved about it to everybody. So... with that in mind, I was a wee tad scared to start this, the (in my case anyway) long awaited sequel. Pfft - shouldn't have worried - loved it just as much - are you listening book buddies?
In Jimmy Mullen, the author has created one of my new favourite characters. There is no one like him in any other book series I read and it's like a breath of fresh air reconnecting to him once again. He's got a bit of a past - obviously as he has ended up on the streets - but he's smart and loyal and all things in between as he strives to keep himself and his friends safe.
We start at Christmas and Jimmy's friend Deano is missing. When he eventually turns up he explains that he has been trying to find his brother. Meanwhile we find out that there are some bad drugs which appear to be in circulation culminating in a couple of street deaths. With the police trying to do their best with what they have, which isn't nearly enough, Jimmy takes it upon himself to get to the bottom of what is happening.
And that's all I am going to say about the plot of this one. Less is definitely more going into this book as the author does such a good job of drip feeding information that anything you know ahead of time might spoil things. I've already said how much I love Jimmy as a character. He really is the complete package for me - his own past and story of how he ended up where he is - his family and how he is trying to make amends - his street family and how he protects them and himself as best he can.
Hats off definitely to the author for the way he had portrayed the homeless, their struggle and the places and people who try and help them. Both professionally and, like the librarian, just being kind.
But characters, great as they may be, can't make a book on their own. They need a story to act out and here we have one heck of an intriguing one. One which flummoxed me along the way as it twisted and turned to a really rather satisfying conclusion.
All in all, a cracking follow up to what was one of my favourite books of 2019. I'd be surprised if this wasn't same for 2020. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Quercus Books for the eARC.
This is the second in the series set in Newcastle featuring the homeless, PTSD suffering veteran protagonist, Jimmy Mullen. I did not read the first one , but that didn't stop me from enjoying the book.
There is a batch of drugs, Spice, that is killing homeless youth and Jimmy is determined to find the distributors. He's befriended a young homeless man, Deano, whose life has been terrible and who's looking for his younger brother and his mother. He's high on drugs most of the time, the only way he can cope with life. Along with his friend Gudge, he tries to help Frank and not only find his brother, but also a girl called Ginger, who is a stone cold psychopath and involved in dealing Spice.
This is a nailbiter with many twists and turns which had me turning the pages well into the night. I really liked Jimmy, he's a driven man who wants to do right after his many past mistakes and I loved Dog, his constant canine companion; hope he continues to be featured in upcoming books and finds many more comfy couches to sleep on! Definitely recommended.

Sequel to Wood’s debut crime novel, The Man on the Street, this can be read as a stand-alone but I’d recommend reading them in order to get the full impact. Once again ex-soldier Jimmy, homeless and on probation thanks to his Falklands War PTSD, and his dog Dog hold centre stage. This time he gets caught up with a ruthless gang of drug dealers and a batch of very dodgy spice when his friend Deano goes missing. Calling in a favour from a police officer he’d helped in his first foray into crime solving, Jimmy soon finds himself sent to Sunderland to identify the body of a young victim who matches Deano’s description. I hadn’t realised how much I’d got caught up in the lives of Jimmy, Deano and Gadge I the first book until that moment, I was devastated to think that Wood could have killed off this young addict even though statistically life expectancy for boys like him is very low, a real heart in the mouth moment.
This is a brilliant fast-paced crime novel, with believable characters empathetically portrayed and the added bonus that it’s set on the streets of Newcastle, my favourite city. Can’t wait for the next one.!

One Way Street is the 2nd book from Trevor Wood featuring his homeless protagonist Jimmy Mullen, an ex Navy Officer who suffers from terrible PTSD.

This story set in Newcastle at Christmas Time finds Jimmy looking into the deaths of young drug users, when his close friend Deano, who has a drug problem goes missing. Fearing the worst, Jimmy soon discovers that there is a rogue batch of the awful ‘spice’ drugs on the street.

With the help of the returning Gadge and Dog, Jimmy is soon on the case as Trevor Wood brings to life his brilliantly created characters.

This Gritty, Urban and authentic feeling mystery thriller is a real cracker.

Following on from Man on the Street was always going to be a difficult task and Trevor Wood has absolutely nailed it.

Tough, uncompromising, gripping and tenacious, this is a crime thriller that will pull you in to the cold, dark and harsh realties of Street Life.

With hints toward more in the series, I for one can’t wait for more from Jimmy, Deano, Gadge and Dog and Highly Recommend the thoroughly captivating, One Way Street.

4🔥🔥🔥🔥

Thanks to Quercus Books and Net Galley for the ARC

North-East England: Newcastle and Sunderland: a crime landscape usually frequented by Ann Cleeves and Vera but now there are some new kids on the block: Trevor Wood and Jimmy, oh, and I mustn't forget Dog. I rather think they've come to stay. I don't think Vera will mind.
Trevor Wood writes with great affection for his characters. It permeates every single page. The plot unfolds well and never lags for a moment.
J. Jefferson Farjeon wrote several novels in the 1930s using a homeless man, Ben, as his investigator. It is good to see Jimmy as a modern reincarnation. A timely, gritty novel by a writer we are going to hear a lot more from.

The second book from Trevor Wood returns to the streets of Newcastle with Jimmy, Dog and their band of friends and acquaintances. The first outing was a New Blood Pick for the Crime Writers Festival in Harrogate which unearths some true gems (think Jane Harper, Abir Mukherjee and Will Dean in recent years), which sets a bar that Trevor Wood is a superb talent.

I was hugely looking forward to this book and it didn’t disappoint. Subjectively, I love reading about Newcastle ... events happening on streets I walked earlier the same day (with my own dog who appears to be less well behaved than Jimmy’s canine companion; Dog).

The characters are superb. Each had issues but all are a pleasure to join again. The wider concerns of homelessness is smartly tackled and has led me to the website for the People’s Kitchen to see how to help.

The plot took a little longer to get going this time around but was hugely enjoyable nonetheless. I’ll be eagerly hoping for a 3rd instalment.

Thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for an advanced copy in consideration of an honest review.

This is Trevor Wood's sequel to his cracking debut, The Man on the Street, featuring ex-naval, PTSD suffering, homeless sleuth, Jimmy Mullen, aka Sherlock Homeless, based in Newcastle. Much like the second album, the second book often does not come easy, as the author himself admits, and this did not feel as fluent at the beginning, and it took some time for my interest to be fully engaged but eventually it all works out and becomes a immersive and absorbing read. This novel revolves around the young homeless lad, Deano, that Jimmy and Gudge have befriended. In a novel that goes back and forth in time, we learn of Deano's traumatic background and family, a mother that neglected him, his younger brother, Ashley, playing truant from school, getting into trouble and ending up spending time in a young offender's institution at HMP Northallerton, unable to find and reconnect with his mother and Ashley upon release, being exploited on the streets until he is rescued, but still reliant on drugs to get him through in daily life.

It is Christmas and Deano is nowhere to be found as Gudge and Jimmy look for him, it turns out he had discovered accidentally from Colin, the vicar from St Thomas's, that Ash, his brother, was in Sunderland. In Sunderland, Deano had met Ginger and had a bad experience with spice, a drug used by many young and homeless people. On the streets, your friendships are everything, and as Jimmy tries to help Deano find Ash, it transpires the worst has happened as Ash's body is recovered from a bin, he had died from hypothermia whilst under the influence of spice. It soon becomes clear that a number of deaths have occurred, the young victims under the influence of a bad batch of spice, although one young girl, Amy Pearson, is rescued from drowning, but in a coma in hospital. As a face from the past comes back to haunt Deano, Jimmy investigates what lays behind the deaths, facing dangers as his life falls apart, his relationship with Julie under sever strain and he is forced to leave his hostel.

Wood does a terrific job in describing just how hard, terrifying and life threatening being homeless is, the life saving and necessary work done by the charity and volunteers who run The Pit, providing food and other services for those in need. I appreciated the character development in Jimmy, still suffering dreadful nightmares, he is attending group therapy sessions for the traumatised, and how those there provide help and assistance, such as Mac with his skills in the martial arts. Jimmy gets help with the IT proficient Gudge, is building a close relationship with his social worker daughter, Kate, reconnects with his ex-wife, Bev, and seeks refuge with Carrie, the nurse he had helped previously. This is a great and engaging addition to the series, and I was delighted to see that Jimmy just might be setting up as a PI. Many thanks to Quercus for an ARC.

One Way Street is the second title in Trevor Wood's Jimmy Mullen mystery series. This is a new series for me, and I'm very glad to have come across it.

Jimmy, the amateur investigator in the series is a veteran of the Faulklands War with PTSD who has been living on the streets. He's got his demons and hasn't completely overcome them, but he's learned a great deal since returning from combat, reconnected with his daughter, and made some troubled, if reliable friends, among the homeless community. When a bad batch of a designer drugs hits the streets, Jimmy feels driven to investigate. The case is complicated, and more dangerous than he'd anticipated.

The writing here is top-notch, with crisp dialogue, complex plotting, and well-developed characters. If you like a non-cozy mystery, you are going to enjoy this title. I'll be going back to purchase and read the first volume in this series. Then I'll just have to try to remain patient while waiting to see if Jimmy will be coming my way again.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley for review purposes, The opinions are my own.

I haven't read the first book in this series so can say this works as a standalone read but I've added it to my TBR.
A clever concept with engaging characters, a good dose of humour and a relevant subject