I am sorry to say that I could not get into this book. I found it perhaps too brutal for my state of mind at this time. Ther was a lot of diaglog with rough language which I just didn't want to read through. I am sure that others would enjoy the ride especially if you had read the former books but I also felt that I had missed something of the detectives backgrounds from the beginning and that I never really 'got' them.

This is the third book in this series but it can be read as a standalone. DS Nikki Parekh and her partner DC Sajid Malik are assigned to the case of a body found under the railway arches. When there are no leads and the case seems stalled she receives a taunting note about the case. The there’s another body and another note. When the third body hits too close too home and a third note is delivered, Nikki must figure out her connection to the case if she’s going to catch a killer.

This is a not an easy story. With some dark themes, this can be a tough read at times. Nikki is a strong feisty character even though she is somewhat broken by her past.

This was fast paced and one I enjoyed even with the difficult material and I plan on going back and reading the prior installments as well.

I give this 3.75 of 5 stars and thank Rachel’s Random Resources, author Liz Mistr and Netgalley for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fast paced serial killer thriller entwined with Nikki’s past. Though the plot felt a stretch, the prose and the suspense made up for it. The police investigation in this book was not as good as the previous books and many lines of enquiry were not followed upon just for the big reveal in the conclusion. Fans of the series would enjoy it.

Another serial murder case for Nikki and Sajid to solve. But this time those in danger include Nikki's family. Fast moving and full of gritty passages - a feature of Li Mistry's writing - we are soon feeling the stress against which Nikki has to fight throughout this investigation.
Whilst enjoying the action I struggled to keep up with the plot and, truth be told, found the story just a little bit too contrived. However Liz Mistry has now established Nikki and Sajid as two detectives with a very established chemistry and intuitive trust of each other so I am quite certain their next case will prove to be a popular read.

This is an excellent novel from Liz Mistry. It is indeed a dark, psychological thriller, that will keep you on edge wondering what is going to happen next. Follow DC Nikki as she tries to protect her family and resolve all the clues the murderer is leaving.

This book was just simply amazing and for those who like their criminal/thriller books this will be a position worth reaching for.

First of I must say that it was the first time that I have read something from the author, and oh boy I am no disappointed. The author gave me everything I needed from a good crime and mysterious book.
The characters are so likeable that you pretty much want to go on a journey with them to see whether they will be able to catch the murderer.
Moreover, the language it so simply you go through the book in no time, it’s very gripping so it’s difficult to put the book down just like that.
I’ve simply forgotten about all the tasks I’ve had to do as I wanted to finished this book.

I will definitely reach for more books from this author because I like the style she’s using whilst writing and the storyline are pretty much relatable to the current life situations we might hear of.
At times it was even difficult to read some of the parts when finding out about the past of Nikita but nonetheless, I’ve truly had fun with book.

I do truly recommend this book as I love it and if you like your crime books with a mysterious plot, you will definitely enjoy this position..

This is my first venture not the world of Nikki Parekh although I do have the first two novels on my TBR pile waiting for me. I do feel I may have known Nikki a little better had I read the others first but diving straight into book 3 did not spoil the reading experience and there is enough information woven throughout to keep me updated on what I needed to know.
My absolute favourite aspect of this novel is the contrast between dark and light – strongly representing the good and evil portrayed through characters and events. This is done very cleverly through setting, character behaviour and superb storytelling.
Despite being from Yorkshire originally, I’ve never visited Bradford but feel that Mistry has taken me there in this book. She has shown the community spirit and the diverse cultural aspects and I‘m curious and really want to pay a visit now. I cannot honestly comment on whether the more hidden side of Bradford is as represented however it felt very real when reading. The atmosphere of the narrative changes when the investigation is out in the field and visiting the deeper, darker places. The voice of Nikki, her family and her team all show Bradford through positive and loving eyes. When we are brought into the killer’s world, the tone changes. Everything seems dingy and dull, tainted with hatred and spite and this is where the chills come from.
The plot moves quickly and has a good balance between the police investigation and Nikki’s personal life and these are cleverly woven together throughout. I enjoyed learning about her family and friends but also became engrossed in in the investigation itself and found it riveting.
Nikki herself is a string character. Yes she’s not the most openly friendly or social but she is fiercely loyal to those people in her life and she is excellent at her job. She has a big heart and shows a lot of compassion to everyone she meets (not the criminals), regardless of their situation. Sajid is a great balancing friend and partner for Nikki. He is quite the opposite and isn’t shy of telling her what he thinks, but he gets Nikki. He knows her below the surface and they make such a great team.
Overall, this is an engrossing plot with fabulous characters and a great contrast in tone between the dark and light side of life in Bradford. I absolutely loved it.

I've come to expect a book which explores the darkest recesses of society with the Nikki Parekh series but the perfectly named Dark Memories is quite possibly the most harrowing yet. Without going into specifics, this time the plot forces Nikki to confront her painful past and it makes for a distressing read at times; it's a compliment to Liz Mistry's powerful writing that there were moments where I had to put the book down for a bit.
It's obvious even from the prologue (see extract below) that this is a novel which is focused on the terrible damage done to children by the adults in their lives. However, despite the nature of the crimes committed in the present and the past, the violence is never gratuitous and Dark Memories is written with tremendous compassion. Nikki quickly becomes aware that somebody is trying to send her a message about two apparently unrelated deaths but it's only when a third person is killed that she realises just how personal a case this is.
One of the highlights of this series for me is the way in which Liz Mistry explores the different facets of Nikki's personality. She is strong yet vulnerable, self-contained but reliant on the grounding support she receives from her family and friends. As always DC Sajid Malik - Saj - is on hand with the words she needs to hear and a freshly laundered handkerchief. His own personal life which has become fraught with danger since his family discovered the truth about his sexuality doesn't feature as much this time but there are definite indications that this is an ongoing storyline which will be developed further as the series progresses.
Nikki's tempestuous relationship with her sister comes under the spotlight following the awful events in the previous novel, Broken Silence. It's worth mentioning that Dark Memories can be enjoyed as a standalone but I would recommend reading the first two books if possible to understand better the family dynamics at play here. As an increasingly anguished Nikki confronts her own dark memories, we see that while she is frequently able to drawn strength and solace from those around her, she is still tormented by the fear that nature may prove to be more influential than nurture
A new character is introduced this time but I hope this won't be the last we see of him. Isaac is a family friend who has been living alone since the death of his mother but as a man with Down's Syndrome he is a target for bullies. However, although it's heart-wrenching to see him physically attacked or cruelly manipulated, Isaac isn't a helpless victim and I loved that he was able to demonstrate his emotional strength and his importance to the Parekh family. In contrast, there are some chilling chapters written from a malevolent perspective which divulge some of the killer's inner thoughts and plans. It's not clear what exactly motivates them, although it's soon apparent that Nikki's troubled childhood holds the key to what is happening - and that somebody is back and is watching her and her family.
The ongoing evolution of the characters is exemplary and this feels like a cathartic moment for both Nikki and the readers; I'm looking forward to discovering what certain revelations here mean for her in the future. Dark Memories is a tense, intriguing police procedural which once again demonstrates just how good Liz Mistry is at examining the very worst of humanity while sensitively centring the victims of crime. Not an easy read, then but a compelling and rewarding one - I highly recommend it.

Dark Memories, a very appropriate title as this thriller discloses DS Nikki Parekh's formative years and it's a grim read indeed. Thankfully her mother escaped her abusive, coercive relationship with her father and took Nikki and her sister to a place of refuge. I'm sure Nikki reflects over the saying, "You can choose your friends but you can't choose your family". DS Parekh has tried to put her early years behind her but it comes back to haunt her in this thriller. The story uncovers family ties which she could hardly have imagined. To be honest I'm useless at all these cousin, half brother / sister details, so some of it left me confused. Furthermore some of the rationale for the murders I considered tenuous but who knows what goes on in someone's brain. The story had pace and grime aplenty but was upsetting when it came to the exploitation of women, girls and boys. In a lighter aside, I would like the budget of DC Sajid Malek who seems to have an infinite supply of strarched and pressed handkerchiefs to give away for those lachrymosely inclined.
Two little niggles, what the heck is 'grounded'? Used frequently, seemingly instantly altering someone's mood. I'd like a bit of that. Finally I'm a bit old school and know that a cash register and glacial deposit can be called a till, or just till and until is a delay pending an outcome but I object to till being an abbreviation of until.

I enjoyed the story, fast paced and certainly keeps up the interest. I didn’t realise that there is a previous book in the series and there are references to the previous story. Although this one does stand alone it was obvious in both the main character’s personal and professional lives, that I didn’t have some of the background.
The story revolves around peadophiia happening in the present and from last history and the descriptions are fairly graphic. People could find this upsetting, it is certainly shocking. I recommend t with this proviso.

This series gets better with each book and I love getting to know Detective Sergeant Nikki Parekh more with each installment. In Dark Memories, Mistry digs deeper into Nikki’s past, and whilst this is often uncomfortable to read, it gave me a lot of insight into why Nikki is the way that she is. However, Nikki is not the only brilliant character in this novel. Her partnership with Detective Constable Sajid Malik is, as always, wonderful and I loved the introduction of Isaac and enjoyed following his journey as he became more independent.

There are sections of Dark Memories that are written in first person from the perspective of the killer. This shows the reader what a twisted individual the killer is, and having an idea of his mindset definitely increased the tension as I began to feel worried for the person who would be the next victim.

I’ve already mentioned that Dark Memories looks in detail at some difficult subjects. I am very impressed with the way that Mistry does this in all her books: none of the violence is gratuitous but she makes sure that her readers go away with a greater understanding of the issues. The crimes in this novel are despicable and I was on the edge of my seat hoping that Nikki and her team would solve them in time.

Dark Memories is the third book in the DS Nikita Parekh Series by Liz Mistry. This is the first book from the series that I have read and I found it easy enough to follow. I would recommend reading the first two books if you’re interested in learning more about events that are mentioned in this book.

The beginning of the book started off really slow for me but once the pace picked up I found it to be more enjoyable. I really liked the relationship between DS Nikita Parekh and DC Sajid Malik because the banter between the two of them was really entertaining. I also really liked how they had each other’s backs. I can’t believe how strong Nikki is especially after everything she went through as a child. It was interesting to learn more about Nikki and her families past especially when all of the secrets started to unravel.

A third person narrator is used to provide insight into multiple characters throughout the story except for the killer who narrates from their POV. I liked that the story provided insight into multiple characters but I would have liked a clearer separation between each one because it was hard to tell who I was reading about. I had to reread parts of the story multiple times because the character changed multiple times in a small amount of time.

The storyline was interesting, it had a lot of twists and I liked the characters except for the ones that were pure evil. I didn’t expect the story to end the way it did but I found it to be a great ending.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

Nikki Parekh returns in the third instalment of this compulsive series, and this is the best episode yet. Enough plot action to keep you captivating, entertained and thoroughly engrossed throughout and twisty mystery runs through the entire narrative. The characterisation, in particular with regards to Parekh, is impressive and Mistry flawlessly builds a complex and intriguing protagonist. I look forward to the next instalment. Highly recommended.

Based in Bradford, DS Nikita Parekh (Nikki) seems more settled now after the harrowing cases of books one and two, and family life is starting to get back to normal although relationships with her sister Anika are still very strained. Marcus is living with Nikki, his two children Sunni and Ruby, and Charlie from Nikki’s earlier marriage. Anika still lives next door with her son Haqib, and their mother Lalita resides a few doors down the street. Nikki still works with her loyal and trusted partner, DC Sajid Malik who himself has had family issues since his relationship with pathologist Langley Campbell was accidentally revealed to everyone, and boss DCI Archie Hegley is back in charge after his health scare. Rumour has it he even has a new woman! During the book we hear segments related by the killer, talking about the list of people they want to kill as he or she works their way through it, but the reader is given no clue as to who they are or why they are doing any of this. They are watching the news, waiting for the police to discover the victims and talking about protecting “her” from “him”. There have already been two kills and, frighteningly, there are many more on that list. We also hear about a man called Freddie Downey who is following and watching someone from the past with revenge on his mind. Who is he and how is he involved in the murders? At same time Nikki has now been sent two photocopies of newspaper articles, one about the murder of Peggy Dyson, a drug addict, rough sleeper and prostitute in Bradford, and the other about the disappearance in Cambridge of Liam Flynn, a young University geneticist, who has now been found dead. When she receives a third communication, this time it is copies of diary extracts which sound like someone is being abused but she has no idea when they date back to. Who could be sending them? Are they trying to direct her into connecting the two murders? She and Saj drive down to Cambridge to find out more about Liam’s death and are convinced his parents are hiding something when they pay them a visit. To compound matters, Nikki knows her mother and Peggy were friends years ago but Lalita has clamed up and refuses to discuss it. An incredibly brave and resolute woman, now Lalita is feeling threatened too with good reason. When a third murder occurs right opposite the house where Nikki spent the first decade of her traumatic childhood, she is forced back in time and finds more diary entries have been sent to the man who lived there. The evidence from the house suggests links to despicable past crimes might be a motive for murder. Just who is writing to Nikki and how dangerous are they? Is it direction, misdirection or are they just plain taunting her? Sidelined from the case for her own good, she is forced to share details of her family’s past which may have a bearing on the case and the reader learns more about her early years. The detectives are struggling to link the victims and identify a possible suspect, but it’s looking like Nikki and her family could be in a lot more danger than they all realize as years of tangled history and secrets have to be exposed.
The main cast are well known now in this third story and there are some great returning characters like taxi boss Ali who provides more than cars when required, and young Isaac who is starting to make a success of himself in a café job. The superb tension and pace throughout this story are constant and the suspense almost unbearable at times, as the pieces slowly drop into place and the words of the killer and Downey's presence start to make sense. In a thrilling conclusion, no one is going to come out of this one unscathed. Another brilliant addition to the series! 5*

In Bradford west Yorkshire detective sergeant Nikki Parekh and detective constable Sajid Malik are called to the murder of a female vagrant. Nikki recognises the woman who used to be a friend of Nikki's mother.
Nikki starts to receive press cuttings and a diary extract of someone who is being abused. The cuttings involve the murdered woman and a young man missing in Cambridge.
Nikki soon suspects that her biological father Freddie Downey, who abused their mother and ill treated Nikki and her sister Anika, is possibly back in Bradford seeking revenge. After a short jail sentence for nearly murdering a 12 year old Nikki , he moved to Scotland.
Nikki's boss detective chief inspector Archie Hegley because she is too close to the investigation and much to Nikki's annoyance makes her arch enemy detective sergeant Felicity Springer ( the Spaniel!) as senior investigating officer. However murders continue and are getting closer to their family and Nikki realises she needs to make them safe at any cost.
This is the third book in the series by the Scottish born author now living in Bradford. She also has another established police series. This book gives an insight into the harrowing early years of a mother and her two daughters. Prostitution and paedophilia existing side by side.
I enjoy this series but was a little confused with the relationship of some of the Parekh's extended family. Also Marcus ( her rock ) does he have a job outside their home or is he a house husband? I probably will have to check the previous books for this information. Recommended.

Excellent read with the familiar characters who develop during the book. It is a ‘stand alone’ story but I would recommend reading all the others. The story is slow to start and left me wondering where it was going and how the victims were interrelated then bang! The story was off, fast paced, twisting and turning. It was really two stories running parallel, right up until the end. I am sure the ending is open for a follow up at a later date. A thoroughly enjoyable read.

The murder of a homeless woman in the city of Bradford, is just the first of three murders for DS Nikki Parekh and her partner DC Sajid Malik to investigate, and though there appear to be no links between the murders, Nikki will discover to her cost, that these deaths are close to home - personal to her, and it takes her back to a time in her life that was extremely traumatic, and one that she’s worked hard to forget.

When Nikki starts to receive newspaper clippings from an anonymous source, she realises that (although she doesn’t yet understand why), she is the link to each of these murders.

This is a dark and emotive story, lightened somewhat by the great working relationship and banter between Nikki and DC Malik. Behind the story though, is the very dark subject matter of child abuse, though thankfully we’re spared the graphic details.
Well written, with a compelling storyline, and a feisty protagonist, it kept me gripped throughout. I hadn’t read the previous books in the series, but nevertheless it read well as a stand-alone. Look forward to more from Liz Mistry.

I’d like to thank HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dark Memories’ by Liz Mistry in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Peggy Dawson, a rough sleeper and friend of DS Nikki Parekh’s mother Lalita, is found dead on the streets of Bradford. As the body count increases, Nikki receives anonymous A4 envelopes containing newspaper articles and pages of a diary that are connected to Nikki’s abusive childhood, bringing back memories she’d rather forget. Nikki and her loyal partner DC Sajid Malik investigate until it gets too close to home and she’s removed from the investigation in favour of her old adversary DS Springer.

‘Dark Memories’ is the latest in the DS Nikki Parekh series and the subject of domestic and child abuse is handled in a compassionate and sympathetic manner. It’s an entertaining thriller with drama, suspense, action and some very unsavoury characters, and although I became slightly confused with the many different names mentioned and the final chapters were brought a tear to my eye, it’s an entertaining thriller and one I can recommend.

Enjoying the Nikki Parekh novels, this being the third in the series. Great writing and premise. Interesting and flawed characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing..Definitely looking forward to the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it s

Peggy Dyson was in her sixties and hadn't worn well. She was a drug addict and was living under the arches in Forster Square Station in Bradford. Her killer thought that he was probably doing her a favour by putting her out of her misery. DS Nikki Parekh and DC Sajid Malik are on the case. Nikki can't quite understand why she's been sent an anonymous letter with a press report of the death. It had been impossible to make any progress in the case and the note seemed to taunt the police. Then another note arrived with a report of a seemingly unconnected death in Cambridge. The third death - in the street where Nikki lived as a child - brought another communication, with a further clue under the victim - and Nikki was sure that there was something personal in the case.

Nikki's childhood had been far from happy. Her biological father was Freddie Downey but Nikki preferred to think of him as nothing more than a sperm donor. She still bore the scars of his attacks. Her mother, Lalita, had finally plucked up the courage to get her two children, Nikkita and Annika, and herself out of the Downey home and to a place of safety. Downey had gone to prison for what he had done to the three of them but not for long enough in Nikki's view and as an adult, she'd had a private investigator keep an eye on Downey to ensure that he could not threaten the family again. But now everything suggested that Downey was back in Bradford.

In this part of the West Riding, Bradford has always seemed like the poor cousin of the more prosperous city of Leeds, but in Dark Memories Liz Mistry gives us a rich tapestry of what the city is really like - and, boy, does she bring it to life. There's a splendid mixture of ethnicities and wonderfully-supportive communities: I worked there for many years and Mistry has it perfectly. You'll be able to walk the street with DS Parekh. You'll smell the curry houses for which it's so rightly famous. In this series, the city is very much a character in its own right.

The characterization is good: I loved Nikki's family. It felt as though it was drawn from personal experience. Mistry herself was born in Scotland but came to Bradford to study for a teaching degree. Her husband is Indian and she's now part of a bustling, extended family. Nikki Parekh is mixed race and married to Marcus, a landscape gardener. It's a community where race and colour seem not to matter: I was quietly envious.

The plot is excellent. I couldn't see where it was going at first or how the police could establish the identity of the killer. Mistry does confusion well and you have to concentrate to follow how the case is resolved - and it certainly wasn't how I was expecting. I'd like to thank the publishers for making a copy available to the Bookbag. You could read it as a standalone but you wold get more out of it if you've read earlier books in the series.