it was a pleasant enough read but nothing to excite me, it lacked a few things like fear and shock. It was a happy ending and an easy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this publication! I really enjoyed this book!

This was an enjoyable book. Sometimes the noir doesn't work for me, in a modern setting, but this one did it excellently. Great characters, action, and pacing. Couldn't wait to start the next chapter each time, to see what would happen next. Will definitely need to look for more books by A F Carter. #TheYards #NetGalley

Pretty good. It felt a bit gritty at times, and I enjoyed the story telling and writing style. I stayed mostly engaged and felt the suspense. The ending was good, but abrupt.

Thanks very much for the ARC for review!!

Git O'Rourke, born on the wrong side of town to an addicted mother, has somehow managed to rise above her rough beginnings and works 70 some hours a week to stay there. During her one day off she decides to go out and have some fun, meaning find someone to hit the sack with. She hits a local bar and turns down the first two who try to pick her up, she has caught the eye of a man that seems more to her liking. She follows him out of the bar and they quickly agree that she'll follow him to his motel. Talk about disappointed, he's done in ten minutes, throws some money at her and tells her to leave then promptly passes out. A messenger bag she peeks into holds a gun and a lotta cash, eighteen thousand she finds out later. She also finds out that the guy was a runner of sorts for a local crime family and the eighteen large is missing and she is the prime suspect in the murder and the missing money. What follows is Git's very smart steps to stay one step ahead of the police and the local crime family who very much want the money back. The story is very quick and easy to read and I found it enjoyable. I would recommend. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Was given an ARC in exchange for this review. Story felt very current with an understory of COVID impacting a small town. As the story unfolds through three different perspectives, you’re given introspective into the minds of the notorious town criminal, an involved party, and a police officer. A few twists and turns that seemed plausible. A very quick read. The ending felt a little abrupt (had to check it was the last page a few times) but overall a great story.

In this twisty crime novel, a hotel hook up gone wrong finds a single mother suspected of murder. I’d like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley UK, for my copy of this engaging story which I recommend to anyone looking for a fulfilling, page-turning read.

Once I realized this was by the author of All of Us, I didn’t even read the plot description, just hot the request button. Which should tell you all you need to know about how much all of me loved All of Us. Alas, this wasn’t the sophomore effort one might have been hoping for.
The author, to her credit, tried something different, pivoting from the mental disorders that made her debut such a blast to the white trash noir, creating a moribund nowhere town with disappearing economy and rampant small time crime, where the protagonists (all different people this time and less fun for it) find themselves involved in some murder business.
It begins with a single mom named Git who works almost twice the normal work week to get away from her white trash origins and give her and her young daughter a chance at a decent life. Git has a terrible taste in men, in fact she has all by swore off men, but every so often she gets too horny to bear, throws on $100 worth of lingerie (seriously, Git? What sort of a shopping decision is that for a woman on your budget?) and hits up a local bar to get laid. She tries to be selective, but once again fails, ending up with a guy so wrong that he literally ends up dead on the same night. Also, 18 grand worth of local crime family’s money he had with him disappears.
So now not only are the cops involved, but also the scion of the crime family who has employed the guy is looking for the money too.
The novel has three narrators, Git, Connor the criminal and Delia the cop. But it’ mainly Git and Delia show. Delia’s also a single mom. And a lesbian. And apparently a career driven masochist, because the smallness of the town and its denizens all by guarantees her no romantic life whatsoever. But Delia’s tough. And determined to solve the case. And Git’s tough and determined to get out alive. And Connor’s just fronting tough, because he has a loyal sidekick who does the heavy lifting for him.
But really most everyone in this novel is some kind of tough, because that’s the kind of life there are leading. It’s the genre, you know, they are written that way. They are all kind of like battered pickup trucks of people. And so’s the town. Everyone’s just beaten down by life, weathered, downtrodden and desperate. But scrappy, very much so, admirably so, scrappy.
So that’s essentially it. Not so much of a mystery, more of a crime drama, albeit with enough suspense and thrilleresque elements to qualify for the genre. Makes an overtly conscientious effort of having two mighty and righteous female characters. Reads easily and quickly, the author certainly does that right, establishes and maintains the immediacy of the narrative. But overall, it leaves something to be desired. Possibly because it’s just nowhere near as clever or original as the author’s first novel, it just pales in comparison. Without the comparison it’s a fine read, especially if white trash noir (if that is indeed a genre) is your thing. Sufficiently entertaining for the time it takes to get through. Thanks Netgalley.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview The Yards by A.F. Carter.
A young woman, Git, who leads a rough life heads out one night for a night of fun. She meets a man in a bar. He seems ok at first, but she realizes that he is not who appears to be. He passes out and she discovers cash in his bag. Alot of cash - life changing cash!
A femaile sherriff is called to a crime scene - a man is found dead at a hotel - and his passing was not an accident - he was shot.
The roads leads back to Git - but Git knows she didn't kill him, but she is the last known person to be with this man. Git;'s life is going to change and no amount of money will keep her safe because that money belonged to someoine else. They want it back.
Good book - strong female leads - 3.5 stars.

Good book!! I definitely enjoyed reading this one! I wasn't sure after I read the description but I really liked it! This book was filled with suspense, action ,drama, and all kinds of twists and turns! I highly recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!