Author:Frank Lean
When Fred Travis, multi-millionaire and eccentric political leader, is found with his throat cut and private eye Dave Cunane's card between his fingers, things quickly go downhill for the Manchester detective. It's hard enough persuading the police he had nothing to do with the murder, but when they arrest Clint Lane, the one person Dave knows couldn't have done it, hes forced to look for the real killer. His investigations lead him to a local pop star, a controversial cult leader, and the wife of a senior police officer. And as Dave digs deeper, the patterns surrounding the murder get more and more complex until he no longer knows who or what to believe.
Probably the greatest living crime writer in the world
—— Ian RankinCracking stuff. The Vine continues to flourish . . . (A) miracle of storytelling with her customary aplomb and cool composure
—— Express on THE CHILD's CHILDVine is not afraid to walk down the mean streets of the mind and can build up an almost tangible atmosphere of menace and unease
—— Daily TelegraphA twist-filled page-turner
—— CloserA truly remarkable novel. The Boy That Never Was is a pitch-perfect balance of driving plot and honest, complex human emotion. Written in a captivating, lyrical style and brilliantly structured, the story grips your heart from the first pages and simply never lets go
—— Jeffrey DeaverBeautifully written, tense and twisty tale
—— Sunday MirrorGripping from its dramatic opening chapter, this tense, unpredictable novel blends a thriller with an intimate family story to produce a most compelling read
—— John BoyneThe Boy That Never Was is that powerful thing, a beautifully written mystery driven by its exploration of the characters' innermost hearts - of the inexorable ripples that loss sends out, and the terrible damage people can do to those they love most. Both as a crime novel and as an emotional journey, it's gripping stuff
—— Tana FrenchThis assured debut is equal parts thriller, mystery and fascinating psychological study
—— Irish TimesTaut, smartly written, empathetic and at times unbearably tense . . . The Boy That Never Was hits the bullseye
—— Irish IndependentA debut novel that will catch fire
—— Nelson DeMilleA tense domestic thriller that is full of surprises
—— Irish Mail on SundayOne of those unique books that grips you from the start . . . climaxing in an unexpected and explosive twist that we simply didn't see coming. This isn't a relaxed read, but it is dramatic and thrilling
—— Irish Country LivingThe Boy That Never Was is that powerful thing, a beautifully written mystery driven by its exploration of the characters' innermost hearts - of the inexorable ripples that loss sends out, and the terrible damage people can do to those they love most. Both as a crime novel and as an emotional journey, it's gripping stuff
—— Tana FrenchA brilliant introduction to a new crime series… The plot is tight, the anger righteous and the action thrilling
—— Paul Connolly , MetroAn absorbing debut detective series. The burnt body of a migrant worker is found and it's up to DI Zigic and DS Ferreira to find out the truth. We loved it – keep an eye out for this author!
—— EssentialsCool, confident and classy, Eva Dolan's LONG WAY HOME is a stand out debut that combines intelligent, issue-led crime fiction with a vivid prose style, a compelling plot and a detective duo to root for. Dolan provides a fresh and fascinating insight into a little-known aspect of Modern Britain, and I can't wait to read more of DI Zigic and DS Ferreira in future books
—— Chris EwanLong Way Home is a truly exceptional debut crime novel, a perceptive, smart and harrowing look at modern England. Written with great skill, confidence and originality, it feels like a game-changer for twenty-first century British crime fiction
—— Doug Johnstone, author of Smokeheads and Hit and RunLong Way Home gave me that tingle of excitement that only happens rarely, the feeling I got when I first read George Pelecanos and Dennis Lehane - the combination of brilliant writing, a thrilling plot and social heart. I genuinely think it's one of the best debuts I've ever read
—— Mark EdwardsEva Dolan is the real deal. Plenty of contemporary British crime writers claim to write about the real world but in Dolan's brave, brilliant debut she nails it completely. The Daily Mail will hate it. I loved it.
—— Martyn WaitesA pacy, twisty, compelling and addictive crime thriller - but it's so much more besides. For me, the best experiences in literature are those that take you somewhere you don't know; to people and places you have never encountered. I was hoping for a rattling good page-turner. I wasn't expecting anything quite so profound
—— Kevin SampsonEva Dolan’s stunning novel is a gritty and unflinching look into a seedy, violent world that most of us would rather pretend never existed. In DI Zigic and DS Fereira, Dolan has created two authentic and intriguing characters
—— Howard Linskey, author of The Drop and The DamageCrisp and intelligent writing, strong characters, a great mystery and an engaging style. From the first page, I knew I was in safe hands
—— Dan Smith, author of The Child Thief and Red WinterA novel set in Peterborough might not be the most tempting of premises, but this is worth your time detective duo Zigic and Ferreira, Dolan has created two engaging characters. The first of a series, this is a promising debut that pulls no punches
—— ShortlistWith such compelling characters, Dolan breathes new life into the police procedural novel and marks herself out as an exciting writer to watch
—— UK Press SyndicationDolan's a terrific new talent, and I can't wait to be kept awake by her next novel
—— Kate Saunders , SagaA great read, a real page turner and a very satisfactory ending
—— Jeremy Ransome , Spalding GuardianAn impressive series debut, and the next book will be eagerly awaited
—— Good Book GuideRaw and real start to a new series
—— Sarah Hilary , Red OnlineWhat could be standard police procedural stands out for its excellent character work and the timely way it deals with hot-button political topics dominating the headlines
—— HeraldThe plot is tight, the anger righteous but not worthy, and the action thrilling. Happily she has a new novel out next year
—— MetroWell paced and packed with some genuinely surprising twists and turns, not to mention a sneaky red herring or two…, the book will definitely keep your interest piqued to the end
—— Cambridge NewsGripping…Excellent book.
—— Dorothy Flaxman , NudgeAn assured and compelling debut that brings multi-cultural Britain vividly to life. I feel I know Zigic and Ferreira, the protagonists of this terrific novel, and look forward to their next outing. I hope I don’t have to wait too long
—— Craig Roberston, author of Random and Witness the Dead