I received this book from NetGalley and HQ in exchange for an honest review. This statement is always true. I’m not given compensation to discuss a book and I’m not told how to rate a book. I am given a book in exchange for my opinions on it, and I am truthful in all my reviews whether I loved them or not.

"End Game" by Liz Mistry is definitely a thriller, mystery, and suspense all rolled into one. I found the prologue interesting and wasn't sure how it fit into the story exactly right away, which is fine. Ms. Mistry links everything together in time and the scene starts unfolding.

A family of four dead over a game of Monopoly. Who was the 5th person there that night or was there a 5th? Why hadn't the other family members reacted to the attacks? A missing girl, how does she fit into this puzzle?

I really do wish that I knew about the books prior to "End Game" as it would have been nice to see how Nikki's character had formed and grown over each novel. The character development, even as a stand alone book, works well.

I would definitely recommend this book to avid fans of mystery and suspense. The writing is clear and concise. It is easy to stay engaged in this book to see what happens next.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to review this book.

Whilst I’ve enjoyed every one of Liz’s books, this one is absolutely fabulous. I just love Nikki and her team, and although this book is harrowing, sadly it seems to be a fact of life where sexual predators are concerned. It’s fast paced, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, brilliantly written and I liked the fact that all the team work together, and even Archie was back in the fold. 5 stars ⭐️ plus.

My thanks to Liz, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

Northern Noir doesn't get much better than this! The excellent Liz Mistry is on fine form in the last in her Bradford based Nikki Parekh series. The slaughter of a whole family presents Nikki with a very tough conundrum to solve, and the revelations in the course of the case are breathtaking. Gripping from start to finish, this is a superb story.

End Game is the sixth book in the DS Nikki Parekh series. Although I hadn’t read the previous five novels, I didn’t feel that detracted from this book. In this novel, a family of four are found murdered in their home. However they’re seated around a monopoly board that is set for five, but where is the fifth victim? I enjoyed this book and felt the plot flowed smoothly. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

Once again the team at Trafalgar House nick, led by DI Nikki Parekh, are tested to solve a multiple murder. The Salinger family, all four of them, are brutally murdered whilst playing monopoly. But this is far from a straightforward police enquiry.

This was a perfect police procedural book, with everything going for it. Murders, kidnapping, adultery, coercion, secrecy, lies, et al. The storyline was exciting from the start and the characterisation spot on. The child abduction and treatment of the victims is unpleasant, but done with care and empathy, not sensationalised at all.

A really good example of its genre, an excellent read, and although the latest in a series it more than holds its own as a standalone and I thoroughly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of End Game, the sixth novel to feature DI Nikki Parekh of Bradford Police.

A family of four is found brutally murdered in their own home, a game of Monopoly unfinished in front of them. Nikki is intrigued by the fact that five people were playing. Is the mysterious fifth player the murderer or did this person escape?

I thoroughly enjoyed End Game, which is an exciting read with so many twists and turns it made my head spin. I was impressed by the way the author takes one incident, brutal as it may be, and expands the plot into something much darker and wide ranging.

The novel is told from three points of view, Nikki as lead investigator, the unnamed manipulator and Marnie, a victim of that manipulation. I’m not always a fan of multiple voices, thinking that this approach doesn’t always encourage immersion and concentration, but in this case it works perfectly, hammering home the harm that callousness and greed cause. It’s heartbreaking comparing the thoughts of the manipulator and the manipulated. Nikki, on the other hand, is going to do whatever it takes to solve the murders and the associated crimes uncovered, even if it means fighting her bosses and taking on a hostile press.

The plot is immersive and I struggled to put it down. The twists are amazing and frequently took me by surprise, appearing at strategic moments in a well paced read. Normally in police procedurals the focus narrows as suspects are found, but in this case the focus broadens almost beyond management as further crimes, both historical and current, are uncovered. And yet, the novel never feels messy, it is tightly plotted and remains constantly on message. It is strong writing.

Nikki is the cornerstone of the novel. She is finally happy and not so tightly wound and it is a joy to behold the new, more mature Nikki. Of course, her and her partner Saj’s jokes are still corny, but the warmth and friendship between them echoes throughout the novel. It’s a pleasure to spend time with them.

End Game is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This wasn't what I was expecting at all. The topic may be a bit of a trigger for soke but I liked that they were sensationalised and nor were they minimised
These are things that happen in the real world and shying away from them and ignoring them is as much of an injustice as cashing in on them and sensationalising them for the sake of a story line.

This is a really well written, gast paced and multi layered police procedural. I didn't realise it was part of a series and don't think that took anything away from reading this book as a standalone. I was swept up from the start when you are thrown in at the deep end with this murder just being discovered. The overall plot is unique and original and the characters feel well written and realistic. There are some red herrings thrown in and twists and turns and I had no odea just where this story was going or who was responsible and why. It's one kf those books that just makes you forget absolutely all your plans for the day and you end up just locking yourself away with this book and being complete absorbed by it. I proved every second and would recommend to any fans of the genre

When Detective Inspector Nikki Parekh and partner, DS Sajid, arrive at the beautiful country home of a local Bradford businessman, not even all their years of experience can prepare them for the traumatic crime scene which awaits. Finding an entire family brutally slain with almost no clues as to why is an instant headline maker and Nikki is once again in the spotlight as her nemesis, journalist Lisa Kane, questions her ability to solve such a difficult case.

With nothing quite as it appears and unexpected discoveries providing more questions than answers, both Nikki and Sav have very little to help them to solve the case. With someone on the inside leaking details to the press, they both know speed is of the essence, and that's before another body is found.

In this sixth Nikki Parekh novel, the tension from the previous story arc is removed but instantly replaced with other work related worries. Nikki is also becoming gradually aware that the responsibilities of being a best woman are far more involved than she had imagined, which added some welcome light relief when it was most needed.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the opinions expressed are my own. I thoroughly enjoyed this 5-star read and recommend it highly.

Although this is a continuation of a series it is very much a stand alone read. The story is based around the work of police officer Nikki Parekh and her faithful team. The opening is the murder of a family with an empty seat showing that there is a missing person. The search for the murderer and the fifth person begins with the question was this one or two people they are looking for. At parts this is very heart rending as it is dealing with the topic of abducted children but Liz Mistry has written this so beautifully that it clearly describes the situation without over concentrating on the horrific descriptions.
As a recommendation I would suggest that everyone reads all the books inn this series as they are all just as gripping.

A family of four are found slaughtered in their own home. Looks like they’d been having a normal happy family night in, the remnants of their pizza supper were in the kitchen, and the table was set for a game of Monopoly. How on earth had this relaxing ordinary night spent in the company of loved ones, turned into the dreadful scene that awaited police investigators?

It was an anonymous tip off that brought Detective Nikki Parekh and DS Sajid Malik to the sprawling Salinger estate, but Nikki notices immediately that there are 5 pieces on the Monopoly board, so where is the fifth person - are they a survivor or the perpetrator of these horrific murders?

Running parallel to this case, is the abduction and abuse of children going back many years - a case that will challenge Nikki and her team like no other - the processing of which will take some time to overcome both mentally and emotionally.

The storyline following the child abductions is a tough read, but Mistry rightly includes it, not to sensationalise, but to add authenticity, because working in an inner city environment (as she has) she surely recognises that this (unfortunately) is part of the grim reality of life, and the very nature of grooming in the 21st century.

Liz Mistry has certainly made her mark amongst the saturated crime fiction genre. True Northern grit is what you get, dark and emotive themes, terrific characters, plenty of tension and a a kickass protagonist who doesn’t strive for perfection in life, but puts her heart and soul into bringing some vile individuals to justice. Another winner for Ms Mistry.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this eARC.

Wow, wow, wow Liz Mistry certainly knows how to engage and entertain her readers through her writing. I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in less than two days, even staying up late because I had to know what happened next and to finish reading it. End Game had the best start that immediately grabbed my attention and drew me in. Follow that start with a family found murdered and you've got a cracker of a read that is very, very hard to put down. I loved being back in Nikki’s world as she and the team investigate a horrific set of murders. This book has very current themes that you know take place daily in todays world, which were dealt with very sensitively by the author leaving it to the readers imagination to fill the gaps. I love the authors writing style, the story being told through different characters and enjoyed following Nikki and her team on their investigations. The book flowed effortlessly from past to present times, and I was rooting for Nikki and the team to find out who was responsible for these murders. Can she trust everyone around her though? I really like the snippets into her home and personal life with her family and I adore her friendship and working rapport with Saj, who is my second favourite character. This is a very fast paced, multi layered, and engrossing read that held my attention from start to finish. It raced to a satisfying conclusion that tied everything up well. And I loved the ending, it was light hearted, sweet and gave the story the best closure. I cannot fault this book at all, I loved everything about it. Will be looking forward to the next one.

Absolutely brilliant! A clever plot line but beware there are some harrowing moments. Highly recommended.

End Game is the 6th book in Liz Mistry's D.I. Nikki Parekh series and is as dark and twisty as its predecessors.

There are 2 threads to the story, the brutal mass murder of the 4 members of the Salinger family in a palatial house in an affluent village near Bradford and the abduction of a young girl from her garden several years earlier. The butchered remains of the murdered family are still seated around a table where a game of Monopoly had been rudely interrupted to put it mildly.......and there is evidence of a 5th player having left suddenly, who and are they victim or killer?
With Parekh and trusty sidekick DS Sajid Malik investigating the murder the girl's fate over the years runs as a constantly updated backstory ,and what a dark and disturbing tale it is.

Regular fans of the series will love this latest addition with important life changes for some of the regular cast and a bit of a shocker thrown in for good measure.

If you haven't tried the series,if you're a fan of Katerina Diamond and Angela Marsons you'll enjoy the Parekh books as well

DI Nikki Parekh is back in the 6th instalment of this excellent police procedural series. This time it’s another dark subject, which starts with a being family murdered, and takes in kidnap, child abuse and corruption. As always she is backed up by her team and extended family, all great characters, well rounded and realistic. I like the fact that this sticks close to how an investigation could run, and very senior officers are portrayed as the office bound staff that they really are, not off questioning suspects as some authors have them doing.

The writing is great, well paced, and you don’t know who the kingpin is, right until the end. The subject is difficult to read at times, as it should be, but unfortunately all too believable, I love Marcus and the children, who really are Nikkis’ strength, but also her weakness at times. Can’t recommend this book, and this author enough,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Edgy, Tense..
The sixth Nikki Parekh police procedural pulls the detective into scenes of horror when the vicious slaying of a family is discovered. The killings took place in a seemingly happy environment- a family playing a game in their beautiful country home set in an idyllic village. As investigations commence the team soon come to realise that nothing could be further from the truth. Swiftly moving with an edgy narrative and a continuous thread of tension and with a plot populated with a deftly drawn cast.

This was my second book in this series. I normally hate reading a series out of order but I didn't want to pass up the chance of this ARC and I'm glad I made that choice.

I love books which start out with an exciting and puzzling premise. Here detectives are called out to a house where there are four dead bodies, seemingly killed whilst playing Monopoly however Police soon discover there were 5 players.....where is the fifth player and were they a witness or are they the perpetrator.

The book moves along at an excellent pace, keeping the story going but not overwhelming the reader. I think this is a series where I would have benefited from reading the whole series as there seems to be a significant backstory amongst the characters however you can read it as a standalone and I would recommend doing so.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

What an excellent read, in fact it is the best of the series so far. It was so good I binge read it, but, although I was totally absorbed in the story I really did not want it to end. The storyline was so clever and exceptionally well constructed it keeps you on the edge of your seat right to the end, with all the threads seamlessly coming together. Great to see newly promoted DI Nikki Parekh had not lost any of her feistiness and is still so singleminded when it comes to her commitment to her job, supported by her colleagues and family. Can’t wait for the next one.

Liz has done it again- a book with a crime seemingly impossible to solve and keep the reader spinning all the way through. DI Nikki Parekh and team are faced with a crime scene where a family have all been murdered whilst sat at a game of monopoly. There is an extra place and game piece. Who is the extra player and why did they all sit there apparently not moving as each of the four were killed? Meanwhile a girl has been abducted and finds herself in a dark, dank room, her clothes changed. She is then led upstairs to a luxury house to who knows what?
OMG! The opening paragraphs are stunning, almost prosaic and within it we get the first crime scenario. I love Nikki and the team and Liz’s writing. There is quickly a drama to draw the reader in and then twists and turns with a double plot, alternate chapters being from the captor of the girl or the girl herself. It’s very cleverly and carefully crafted, done superbly with an easy writing style that meant I didn't want to put the book down. A wonderful tension between the pages and a book I didn't want to end. Stunning, captivating, one heck of a thriller of a read. PS. Please could I have the next one now?

#blogtour

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

So I haven't read the other books in this series, so some backstory was a little bit lost on me. However, it wasn't prominent throughout the book, and I still really enjoyed it! Nikki is a great character, and I enjoy the cast of characters in general. I found myself feeling for some of them and would love to start this series from the beginning and see how they all started.

One thing that was a bit confusing for me was the POV shift between Marnie, the suspect, and Nikki - the suspect especially, because the shifts from them into Nikki would happen without transition, while Marnie's chapters at least said "Present: Marnie". However, this is an uncorrected digital copy so I don't think that'll be an issue for the actual published version?

I also think the final explanation for what happened to the family was a little bit quickly explained and brushed over a bit, but overall this book was really engrossing! I'm usually just Okay with detective stories, and the recent ones I've read haven't been great, but I actually really appreciated this book quite a lot.

Another excellent novel in the superb Nikki Parekh series. This time the newly promoted Bradford DI leads her team in a baffling investigation with a scope that keeps expanding.

Four members of a family are found stabbed - but the evidence shows that there were five people there at the time. So who is the missing person - the killer? Another intended victim? The case becomes more complex with possible motives around business dealings and an affair. But without knowing why this has happened, the cast of potential suspects remains wide.

In a parallel track, we learn of Marnie, a young girl kidnapped by a paedophile ring. What is her connection to the case? And how will Nikki and the team work it all out?

End Game is fast paced and compelling, with some very difficult passages. It is, in places, brutal, yet in others the warmth of Nikki's family shines through and keeps her going. This is an excellent series with real character development throughout as well as gruesome crime to solve.