No Looking Back
by Alex Kane
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Pub Date Mar 20 2019 | Archive Date Mar 14 2019
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Description
He’ll find you… unless you find him first.
Kat Denton is a woman running away from her past.For the past sixteen years, her life has been a living hell as Jimmy, the man she fell in love with as a teenager, becomes ever more cruel and abusive. Following the fire that killed her parents, leaving her an orphan when she was just a teenager, Kat is utterly alone and can’t see a way out.
Until the day she finds out that she’s pregnant. Vowing to protect her child from Jimmy’s violence, Kat decides to fight for survival – for her and her unborn baby.
Fleeing the traveller camp that has been her lifelong home isn’t easy. But along with her sister in law, Kat escapes with just the clothes on her back and the one photograph she has of her parents.
Kat, along with her baby girl Lucia, starts to build a better life. But when she looks into what really happened in her parents’ death Kat uncovers dark secrets - including a revelation that will lead Kat back to the place she had been so desperate to run away from. Is she strong enough to uncover the truth and save everything that she loves most, or will Jimmy Denton have his revenge?
Previously published as Chasing the Traveller.
A fast-paced, totally unputdownable crime thriller that fans of Mel Sherratt, Mandasue Heller and Kimberley Chambers will absolutely love.
Available Editions
EDITION | Ebook |
ISBN | 9781912973057 |
PRICE | £0.99 (GBP) |
Featured Reviews
No Looking Back by Alex Kane is a book that pulls you in from the very beginning and not one you can easily put down. Kat Denton wants a new life, but can she evade the clutches of one man hell bound on keeping her as a possession. Having expected the best in Jimmy, she has overlooked all those tiny red flags along the way and has lost herself in the process. Her life as a traveler is compromised after the tragic loss of her parents in a house fire and this alone is a mystery. There is nowhere for her to turn and she appears to be surrounded by enemies rather than friends.
The abuse she suffers at the beginning of the book is hard to stomach and we hate Jimmy Denton from the very beginning. A narcissistic bully who has no business treating Kat the way he does. You can’t help wondering how she has managed to put up with it for sixteen years and whether she could have escaped sooner. But Kat is an innocent, controlled by a man (and his pit bull of a friend) with no intention of allowing her a mind of her own, let alone freedom or an opinion.
Then help comes in a very unusual corner. Running as far as she can with her sister-in-law, she is followed by an underlying tone of menace and as powerful as the Denton’s are, they are never far behind.
The book gallops along at lightning speed with little time to draw breath. It’s well-paced, well-written and not confusing, even though jumping through timelines as it unfolds.
Thank you to the author, Hera Books and Netgalley for the privilege of reading this book.
I first read this book when it was published as Chasing the Traveller and I loved it then. So what did I think the second time around? Well, I don't know what magical fairy dust these guys have been sprinkling but hell this was even better the second time around! There was something even tighter, rawer and more emotional about the read this time around, so much so I finished it in one night!
The prologue sets the scene for what the reader knows is going to be a hard-hitting tale exploring the travelling community and the issue of domestic abuse. The author does this with an air of sensitivity and recognition is given to the fact that being a member of the travelling community doesn't necessarily equate to domestic abuse. However, she does explore the culture and a family where women are considered to be the property of men and the male/female divide is clear to all..
No Looking Back is the story of one woman’s escape from the travelling community, a life of abuse and of how she unravels her past to discover the secrets that led her to where she is now. Kat Denton is married to the notorious traveller, Jimmy Denton. It is not a happy marriage, Jimmy controls every aspect of Kat’s life from what she wears to who she speaks to. Any transgression of his “rules” earns her a beating. Following one particularly brutal attack and a disturbing revelation from Jimmy’s sister Ellie, highlights to Kat just how sick her husband really is. The two women make the decision to escape. But will Kat ever escape her husband’s clutches and just what are the secrets that she is about to uncover about her past?
This is hard-hitting and no holds barred gritty tale of two women making a new life for themselves away from the control of the travelling community. The author paints a truly relatable picture of a woman who has lived with abuse. Jealousy, Trauma power and control are all explored in this taut and nail-biting read. It had me crying tears of anger at what Kat had lived with and tears of sadness as her story unfolded.
Kat’s fear and lack of confidence in herself is palpable and Alex Kane paints a terrifying picture of a woman so cowed by her past that it is difficult not to place yourself in her shoes and taste her fear as she strives to make a new life for herself while constantly looking over her shoulder waiting for Jimmy to find her.
Now, Jimmy Denton and his sidekick Rab are probably two of the most evil men you could ever meet. There is a special place in hell reserved for those two. Their treatment of Kat is barbaric and it is heartbreaking to watch her go through the humiliation. They made me want to reach into the pages and give them a taste of their own medicine.
I loved Kat’s journey to discover the truth behind her family’s past which is told via a series of letters and we watch in horror as the pieces of the jigsaw slowly come together to uncover just what happened to her family.
"No Looking Back" is not a pretty romantic read of life in the travelling camps. It is raw and it is brutal. It kept me hooked all the way through, the pace fast and twisted enough to keep me guessing as to what the outcome would be for Kat and her daughter. Is there a happy ending or will Jimmy Denton rise up and claim back what he believes to be rightfully his - you will just need to read it and find out!
Review will be posted on my blog as part of the blog tour
After falling in love as a teenager and her father forbidding her from every seeing Jimmy Denton, her parents die from a fire in their caravan. She only has Jimmy and his family so soon marries him.
Living on a traveller encampment, Kat is living a life of hell with Jimmy who's family own the site and who's father rules the group with violence. She is regularly beaten and raped for just breathing the wrong way. Enough is enough and Kat decides she wants out, but if Jimmy finds out or discovers her leaving he will kill her.
She escapes with an unlikely ally and, after finding out she is pregnant by Jimmy her life is further in jeopardy.
Kat changes her identity so that Jimmy cannot find her and after being taken in by a women's refuge is given her own flat in a town miles away from the camp.
She gives birth to a little girl who she names Lucia and is determined to keep her a secret and her identity safe from Jimmy's clutches and brutality.
This was such a brilliant book and kept me enjoying page after page. I guessed a couple of things but it didn't spoil the book for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity x
I enjoyed this book but it didn't blow me away. Good story line but felt a little slow at times especially in the middle I kept waiting for something to happen. Would try more from this author.
Thus storyline was gripping
It's about jimmy and Kat both brought up in the travellers camp , Kat has had a dogs life and is downtrodden and has had enough the poor woman can't take anymore as she finds out something special , Kat wants out and escapes with Jimmy's sister who also despises the life she puts up with
Together they embark on an adventure which will have your heart rate pumping
What happens before and after will have you up till the early hours to finish this book
I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one
excellent for a debut novel and can't wait for the next one
Highly recommended
No Looking Back is a story about Katelyn who is married to Jimmy but is very abusive towards her, finally she has had enough and plans to leave him, I found this book to be a gripping read, I really wanted to know what would happen next, I enjoyed it very much.
Wow great story and wasn’t sure how it woulld end. But I loved the ending. But kept me engrossed in it all the way through. Really enjoyed I read it in a day as couldn’t put it down
No Looking Back by Alex Kane opens with a very disturbing prologue, it will anger you, it may even upset you, but Kat’s story is one you will be eager to follow. You will be faced with some hard-hitting and emotional themes such as domestic abuse, control and manipulation, but amid the gritty story there’s also an element of mystery which made this book such an exciting read. No Looking Back follows Kat Denton a woman whose trapped in a world where she has never belonged, and even more so after the death of her parents who were killed in a fire when she was fourteen years old. Kat has suffered years of physical and mental abuse at the hands of her husband Jimmy, when she finds out she’s pregnant she makes the brave decision to flee from the travellers’ camp, the only home she’s ever known.
I really felt for Kat besides the mental and physical abuse is a woman who has had no control over her life, she’s anxious, timid and understandably afraid of her own shadow, but once she escapes Jimmy’s clutches Kat blooms and make a life for herself, but the scars run deep and she’s constantly on her guard. The author has created a character who unfortunately is very realistic, Kat’s pain, her anxiety and the fear of Jimmy finding her, are palatable, which made No Looking Back a disconcerting read. The author deals with the difficult subject of domestic abuse and highlights the damage done to those in such situations with sensitivity and understanding, something I sometimes find lacking in such books. As for Jimmy and his partner in crime Rab made my skin crawl and my hackles rise, their treatment of a kat was beyond cruel and I read on desperate for karma to catch up with these loathsome characters. Alex Kane definitely has the knack for creating characters you will either love or hate, and for me that’s always a bonus, I’m not one for mediocre characters they have to stand out for me to invest in their story.
Although No Looking Back features domestic abuse, this book has so much more to offer, there’s an intriguing mystery centred on Kat’s parents, I found Kat’s journey to discover the truth behind her family’s past riveting, it’s told through a series of letters and as the author slowly reveals their story I read on in horror, but desperate to unravel the truth. The setting of a travellers’ camp fits this book perfectly it gives a fascinating insight into travellers, not your usual setting for a book I must admit, but it made the book more compelling. Alex Kane has written a book that’s both raw and brutal but it’s also one that’s full of hope, it’s a story that will capture the reader’s imagination, whilst rooting for Kat to find the answers and the happiness she deserves. So the burning question has to be would I recommend this book? It’s a big fat “yes” definitely not be missed if you’re a fan of gritty crime/domestic thrillers.
Review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog
I enjoyed reading this book had me gripped from the start a great story and the charactors gel together.A very good read look forward to the next.5*
I applied to review this book as it sounded similar to other authors I enjoy and it didn't disappoint. I was reading this till the early hours and will be eagerly awaiting Alex's next book.
Alex Kane is actually the pseudonym for Emma Clapperton and because I am a fan of her other books I was looking forward to reading this new material. The previous books she has written have a supernatural element to them and in all honesty that's never been my favourite subject but she does the books well enough that it's not an issue for me. I was looking forward to seeing how she would fare outside of her normal stuff and what this new material would be lie. What I wasn't prepared for was how amazing it would be.I had started this and read the first few chapters whilst being constantly interrupted. I put the book down and finally picked it up again at around 8pm. It was shortly after that I realised just how amazing the story was and I had no intention of putting the book down. Kat is the star of this show and she is in the worst possible place you could imagine. Married to a member of a particular travelling community her life is a living hell. Her husband Jimmy is an evil and barbaric man who frankly I wanted dead from the moment I started reading about him. As I read I could almost feel the fear from this character dripping off the pages and it seems her days are numbered until a chance conversation with Jimmy's sister Ellie.From that moment the two women are determined to get away from that life and they take the huge risk of running. The story follows Kat and Ellie as they try to make a new life for themselves. However what you end up with is watching these two women take a journey that makes the hair on your arms stand on end. The constant fear they will be caught, and with the added fear of Jimmy discovering another of the reasons she left.I was so shocked when I read this book as it is totally different to her other stuff and I literally couldn't put this down. The book had me gripped from the early chapters and I read it in two straight sittings. An absolute corker of a book and I think there are many people out there who would be surprised at just how much I think they would like this book. A huge hats off to Emma (or should I Say Alex?) an amazing book which I devoured and frankly would be happy to read all over again. A first class book and I will eagerly be looking to another book like this.
I read this book when the author self published it as Chasing The Traveller and loved it and didn't think it was possible for it to be even better than it already was, but it is.
Everything I loved about it originally was even better and stronger. Whilst still very much a domestic noir, there is also more of an underlying threat coming through and yet again, I loved the build up of suspense to do with Kat's family.
Kat is a great character, who even scared out of her wits about bumping back into her ex, manages to draw strength from somewhere to battle on and make a new life for her and her daughter. Yes she has a couple of people who are there for her but otherwise she is very much isolated.
Jimmy I hated even more second time round than when I originally met him. Just shows how great an authors writing is when they have you feeling such emotions for fictional characters. He is certainly up there with some of my love to hate characters.
No Looking Back is a corker of a read that held me captive through out. I loved that danger could be on every page, which has you racing through to see how it will all end. Great book and can't wait for more from Alex Kane.
Brilliant! Book with lots of OMG shouted out aloud throughout,
Blimey what a fantastic book "No Looking Back" by Alex Kane was. I've never read any of his books before But Wow this was a cracking read and Loved every minute of it. It had me gripped from the very first page, its gripping, fast pace that will have you sitting on the end of your seat!
Kat is married to Jimmy Denton, they lived in a travellers camp. She fell in love with Jimmy and his charms when she was a teenager. Her beloved parents who were also travellers warned her about Jimmy but she was so in love with him she ignored their advise. Sadly her parents died in a fire and shortly after their deaths Kat who was now an orphan married Jimmy. Life was sweet for a short time and then her life became a living hell. Jimmy became very violent and abusive towards her. Kat could not go shopping etc, she had to wear the clothes he chose her to wear daily. Kat was living on fear from day to day.
After sixteen years of being married to Jimmy she finds out she is pregnant and doesn't want their child to living in this run down trailer and to have this nightmare life she is having!
Jimmys sister gives her a way out and they both flee from the travellers camp. They take no clothes etc with them.
The only thing Kat takes is an old photo of her mum and dad and on the back of this photo is a name and an address.
Kat does not know this person.......
Who is this person?
Is he related to Kat and how?
Will this person help her to be free from this dreadful life?
Are they still alive?
Kat, her baby girl Lucia and her sister in law start to build a new and better life. They both have new identities and things are looking okay for them.
But, they're still looking over their shoulders..........as Jimmy will never stop looking for her!
Kat finds out about her parents past and uncovers some dark secrets about them.
Is she strong enough to uncover the truth about the deaths of her parents?
Was the fire an accident or was it arson? That lead to their deaths?
Will Jimmy find her and his sister?
Will Kat face her demons of her past?
Will she and her daughter ever be safe?
Will she ever find happiness and trust someone ever again?
WoW..........I highly recommend this book. It was a cracking read throughout. I read it in one day!
Big Thank you to Hera Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This book was fantastic, keeping you on the edge of your seat routing for Kat and Helen in their escape. You feel their emotions, their fear and it takes you on a journey willing them to seek happiness. Five star, highly recommended!
This was a great read.
Kat has suffered for many years at the hands of her husband, Jimmy, but reaches the point where she can’t take it any more.
Kat is part of the travelling community but is used by Jimmy as his very own punch bag.
Her parents died when she was younger and all she had left was Jimmy and his family and at the time, she was in love with him.
As soon as they were married he changed and became physically abusive towards her.
Kat discovers she’s pregnant and can’t bear to think of bringing a child into the world with Jimmy in it, so her sister in law helps her leave.
Kat and Helen get help and are soon settled in their own home with baby Lucia.
They don’t feel completely safe as they lived so long in fear of their lives so Kat gets some therapy to help her cope.
The only thing Kat took with her when she left was a photo of her parents. There’s an address on the back with the name Oscar, so she goes in search of someone who knew her parents.
What Kat finds is a surprise to her and leads to a dangerous confrontation.
This is an addictive read and I really felt for Kat.
Thanks to Hera Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
I enjoyed this book and found the characters well developed. The writing was also very good, my only downside is that the story itself isn't very gripping - almost waiting for something to happen. That said, this would make a very good introductory book if there was to be a sequel or a series.
This book just got a whole lot better second time round! totally addictive......I couldn't put it down full review to follow on Blog Tour
This story was previously published under the title of Chasing The Traveller.
I need to start with the beginning of this book as it does draw the reader in but it is dark, twisted and contains heavy domestic violence and a scene of what I would describe as rape which is not to some readers tastes due to personal circumstances. So just a little warning.
I felt so sorry for Kat from the beginning noone should have to go through what she has been through, especially with noone to turn to. I was beside her the whole way. She is a strong, determined character even if at times she doesn’t seem it.
A brilliantly written story, fast paced and a page turner of a read. Hard to put down. Would have loved to devour this in one go. A well deserved four stars from me. Highly recommend. Gripping, thrilling and heart pumping.
Kat has suffered domestic violence for many years at the hands of her husband, Jimmy….even kept locked in the belly box as punishment for an unknown slight.
Kat is part of the travelling community but as her parents died when she was younger, all she had left was Jimmy and his family…she did love him……once.
As soon as the wedding was over he changed and the physical abuse began…
Finding herself pregnant, Kat realises she just can’t bring a baby into the world with Jimmy, so she gets help to leave the community, a huge risk to her self and Helen her sister in law.
After running away and setting up a new home she never feels completely safe…..so she decides to find out more about her parents by trying to find anyone who knew them, all she has is an address on an old photo….this ends up putting her in danger again……
This is a domestic thriller, the clever writing by Alex Kane really builds the tension and the characters are so well written I really really dislike Jimmy! And I learned a lot about the travelling community. It also deals with the emotive subject of domestic abuse and the impact this has. Not an easy read but a masterpiece of emotion.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for the opportunity read this and for a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest and unbiased review.
No Looking Back by Alex Kane will grip you from the very first page, it will have you wanting to know what will happen next, before you have even turned the page.
This is Alex's debut book and she is one author that I will be keeping my eye out for future books.
Whoop! Whoop! I am so happy to be taking part in shouting out about this amazing book. I had the pleasure of beta reading the original novel, Chasing the Traveller and to read it now that it has been picked up by Hera Books – OMFG – soooo good!
The story begins on a traveller’s site in Scotland and jumps between this and Glasgow/surrounding areas throughout. The reader is faced with some hard-hitting and emotional themes such as betrayal; loss; survival; protecting those you love; hope; discovery; trust; domestic abuse; relationships; recovery; power & control; manipulation and new beginnings.
Wow! Talk about grabbing your reader by the throat with a prologue that has you holding your breath whilst fighting back the anger and tears! The writing is edgy, focused and full of suspense and the build up is gradually placed before us to the point where we are almost invited to join Kat on her journey of discovery and survival. Told in third person POV you get a rounded look at all the action and various perspectives of the characters as well as insight into the travelling community. I also loved the letters we come across when Kat finds someone from her past -it delivers pieces of Kat’s backstory/ family history until all is revealed!
This story is littered with some interesting characters, but I will only touch upon a few so as not to spoil anything for other readers. The main character, Kat has suffered years of horrendous domestic abuse on all levels imaginable. Something finally snaps (no spoilers) and she realises she cannot stay in her marriage any longer. She is vulnerable, constantly looking over her shoulder but has a feisty and fierce determination to survive.
Jimmy Denton – Kat’s husband …what a bloody arsehole! There is absolutely nothing likeable about this guy! NOTHING! He is the epitome of a domestic abuser: full of charm initially, a master manipulator but evil to the core underneath it all. He objectifies Kat, believing he owns her and puts her through physical, emotional and every other level of abuse imaginable. Would I like to have seen him get his comeuppance? Absofrigginlutely! Would I like to have delivered a few blows myself? Damn right, I would! Does this happen – not me beating the crap out of him, of course – I totally believe in karma 😉 You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Ellie was another interesting character. Kat finds an ally in Ellie (Jimmy’s sister) but I initially was wary of her. What we learn is that despite her mean, hard exterior, Ellie is also a vulnerable and misread/misunderstood young lady full of her own demons and fears. I loved everything about her, once the layers were peeled back and we saw her for who she really was! Superbly written and really shows the depth and breadth of how domestic abuse can be generational and impacts those outside of the immediate abuse.
Seb was another character I enjoyed. A counsellor who helps Kat piece her past together and draw strength from within. He allows Kat to do all the work as he understands and empathises with her.
There are so many more characters I could go on about, (like a fellow she meets in Glasgow – lips sealed) but you really do need to discover them for yourself as each delivers a different feel to the story as it unfolds.
Would I recommend this book? OMFG! Absolutely I would! There are twists, suspense and a very emotive but riveting storyline to keep you hooked and turning the pages! Once you start your journey with Kat, you will not want to stop! A massive *well done* Alex Kane – I am certainly keeping my eye out for what you have in store for us readers next!
The start of the book already sent chills down my spine. How is it possible to behave in such a way? But I have to say the author had my attention at top level straight away.
This story is dripping with emotions. My heart broke several times, but the author added enough heartwarming moments to mend it a bit every time. I cannot start to imagine what Kat has been through and how hard it must be to start to heal. And indeed, I think there is only one way out, one way that allows you be able to sleep again at night.
The book is a testimony of strong women. Even the hardest times can be conquered, but you need people to stand by you. Even the worst nightmare can turn into a dream.
My heart totally goes out to people being in this situation. Unfortunately this brilliant work of fiction is real life for some. I really hope one day, they will find the strength to fight their demons and create a future for themselves.
I was dragged into Kat’s life from the very beginning of the book and I laughed and cried with her. I loved this book and the writing style and the author has gained a fan. 5 stars.
Thank you, Alex Kane and Book On The Bright Side Publicity & Promo.
No Looking Back by Alex Kane
Sometimes you have to make a change...even if you are afraid
Kat Denton NEEDS to make a change.
BUT...She is afraid...and rightly so.
Her sister-in-law, Helen, gives her the strength and support to run...and run she does...and though she tries not to look back...her past is always there with her...and she is afraid.
This is not an easy book to read. Kat is a battered, abused wife who has “taken it” for over a decade and she is miserable. She has tried to get away in the past but seems to have given up when another opportunity to flee is presented by Helen. She has never felt she belongs with The Travelers but is not sure why. The young love she had for Jimmy has morphed into something completely different. This book tells of the hardship of the Denton women and also tells of what it takes to get away from abuse, how to go about it and how much good those who help in shelters provide. Moving on with one’s life is not easy. Baggage from the past seems to come along for the ride in the form of PTSD, nightmares, day-mares and fear.
This is Kat’s story and the life she lives from the age of 14 till her mid-thirties. It has ups and downs, love and loss, mysteries to uncover related to her parents and...so much more.
Was this book interesting? Yes
Was it easy to read? The writing was clear and concise but some cenes were difficult to read
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Are there triggers? Yes – for some readers: rape, physical and mental abuse
Do I recommend this book? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Hera Books and Books on the Bright Side for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
What a sensational book! I was pulled into this turbulent story from the outset and found that I couldn't put it down. The writing was compelling with a hypnotic rhythm that had me reading with such frenzy to find out what happened. I absolutely loved it.
Kat's story was a horrific battle that didn't seem as though it could ever end. I read with baited breath at the trials and tribulations she faced at the hand of her abuser. Her bravery to withstand such an ordeal was both courageous and inspirational and I championed her on every step of the way to find peace and safety.
The character creations in this story were exceptional.... I don't think I've detested a pair of characters with such passion before which says it all about Alex Kane's ability as a writer. The monstrous behaviour was shockingly disturbing and delivered many uneasy moments throughout the reading journey of this narrative. The writing showed a keen sense of psychological awareness for the situation that Kat was in which in turn delivered a terrifyingly real story.
No Looking Back is a raw and gritty journey of survival that will leave you shocked to the core. It is unapologetically honest at the horrors faced from a lifetime of abuse and I know this story will stay with me for years to come.
Kat believes she is alone in her world, no family of her own, taken in by the Dentons and married to Jimmy. He beats her, doesn’t matter the reason but he batters her for any reason. But that day finally comes where she finds the one person to help her break the cycle and get out.
I really felt for Kat, desperate to escape the daily punishments for frequently nothing in her control. I admire her balls for getting out. What I read after her escape was a journey of self discovery. Kat had to learn how to live her own life, one without fear, one where she can be herself and learn to be a mum. I loved getting to knew “new” Kat, watching this young woman spreading her wings in her new life.
I personally think Alex Kane has portrayed the emotional spectrum of a woman in Kat’s situation. I’ve never experienced what Kat went through with Jimmy but the emotions I felt reading what happened to her both before and after her escape, felt real. The constant fear of running into him or one of his cronies.
Alex Kane has written a fabulous thriller packed with tension and emotion. The characters are so lifelike, picturing the story unfold was so easy. If you like a tense thriller with strong characters, you can’t go wrong with No Looking Back.
5☆ Unputdownable, Gritty, Thrilling, Domestic Thriller!
Kat fell head over heels in love with traveller Jimmy, they was Teenage sweethearts.
Everyone warned her not to get involved with him and his family, they had a reputation, they was bad news!
Kat's parents passed away in a tragic fire.
She had no other traveller family only Jimmy. So his family and Jimmy took her under their wing.
They were soon married, but what followed next was 16years of abuse, mental abuse and torture as Jimmy turned into a vile, drunken wife beater, just like his father!
But now Kat is pregnant with Jimmy's baby.
Determined to keep her unborn child safe and a secret, away from him, she knows she has to escape her traveller family.
But she's not going alone. Jimmy's sister Ellie is going with her. Helping her to escape.
After all she has dark secrets at the hands of Jimmy too.
Kat is also determined to discover more about her parents, as she embarks on a journey to find out who Oscar is? And how does he know her parents?
Can Kat ever truly escape Jimmy?
Or will she be forever looking over her shoulder in fear?
From the opening Prologue I was gripped, it created a Taut, dark, claustrophobic atmospheric scene of just what Kat was facing at the hands of Jimmy and his thug sidekick Rab. As you delve deeper into the pages Kat's story is told and why she is so desperate to escape!
Learning about the Travellers was really intriguing and it certainly made the story even more enthralling.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gripping book, it was thrilling, gritty, Unputdownable, at times nail biting domestic thriller with a hint of mystery and suspense.
There are some sensitive subjects such as domestic abuse and violence, fear, grief and references to rape, which some readers may find difficult to read. However they are handled with much sensitivity, but still make a relevant impact on the story.
No Looking Back is a Dark, Twisting, Pacy read that kept me on the edge of my seat, praying that Kat, baby Lucia and Ellie are safe. I could literally feel their anxiety and fear, i was completely drawn in.
It's a story of survival, secrets, danger, new identities, new beginnings, discoveries, family, relationships.
The Characters are really well written, believable and get under your skin.
No Looking Back is definitely going on my favourites list, it was a Compulsive, Gritty, Unputdownable Domestic Thriller!
Which I highly recommend!
Alex Kane is going on my Authors to watch out for list!
I'm excited to see what she writes next!
Thank you to The Bright Side Publicity & Promo for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
What a read. Wow. I'm still reeling from it. I think its a scary way to live. Constant looking over your shoulder for someone to find you. Or not find you.
This was really a very gripping read, and I loved it from beginning to end.
This was written by Emma Clapperton, who uses Alex Kane as another pen name.
Highly recommended.
I've been wanting to read this book for so long. I first won a copy of Chasing the Traveller, which this book was first called. I didn't get around to reading it for one thing or another always got in the way. Deciding I needed to read some of the books I wanted to read and not just books I needed to review, I dived into this one while passing away time as my little girl was in theatre. I knew the beginning of it quite well as I seemed to have started it not taken anything in then started again, repeat.
I decided to wait until we got home and I could sit back and actually get started with out interuptions.
Once I started there was no stopping me, Although the subject matter isn't a nice one, I found this such an easy book to read. I wasn't trying to take in eleventy billion characters and figure out who was who. We follow the story, the life of Kat Denton. A lady who is in a very abusive and controlling marriage. This story follows Kat on a massive journey. I really had strong emotions through this book and really did feel for Kat. When she finally escaped the marriage we see Kat returning to how things all started, learning of her life before meeting Jimmy and then how things changed once she met him. Her life could only get better but how she does this is up to her.
This book really shows what can happen when in a controlling, abusive relationship. How things are portrayed as 'normal'. how a person can start to believe that they are at fault for everything they do wrong, and even everything they do right. The author has done brilliantly bringing this subject out, and showing that we never know what goes on behind closed doors, as they say.
Brilliantly written and a fantastic yet easy read.
I don’t think I have read a book that is based around the traveller community, I think there should definitely be more focused on them, hopefully not all as brutal as this one starts out. Men thinking they own their partners is not a good thing in my eyes. Kat needs to get out of this situation, she wants to but how can she leave when women are not allowed to leave the site?
This book gives detail of the time she was in the traveller site and then a year later. This is a harrowing book, full of emotion but equally a very good one, it was written very well and the author did a great job at highlighting domestic abuse and dealing with the aftermath of it.
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Stéphanie Boyer, illustrated by Caroline Hamel, translated by Carine Laforest
Children's Fiction