This Little Piggy: A gripping, page-turning crime thriller

By Bea Davenport

'Addictive reading... Bea has a rare ability to create the true atmosphere of a place and time, and to take the reader there.' --Rachel Abbott

'This Little Piggy is a gripping, devastating and utterly absorbing read. I found myself thinking of the characters long after the book had ended.' --Emma Kavanagh

'Deeply compelling, quietly threatening.' --Caro Ramsay

It's the summer of 1984 and there is a sense of unease on the troubled Sweetmeadows estate. The residents are in shock after the suspicious death of a baby and tension is growing due to the ongoing miners' strike.

Journalist Clare Jackson follows the story as police bungle the inquiry and struggle to contain the escalating violence. Haunted by a personal trauma she can't face up to, Clare is shadowed by nine-year-old Amy, a bright but neglected little girl who seems to know more about the incident than she's letting on.

As the days go on and the killer is not found, Clare ignores warnings not to get too close to her stories and, in doing so, puts her own life in jeopardy.

A gripping thriller perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Mark Edwards and B A Paris

• Language: English
• Publisher: Legend Press
• Release date: Oct 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9781909878624

Reviews for This Little Piggy

[foreigncircus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This mystery/thriller takes the reader back to the gritty world of the miners' strikes in the early 1980s. The growing desperation of those miners as well as the crushing poverty that some of them face is well-drawn and gives a remarkable flavor to the backdrop of the story. As Clare attempts to solve the mystery of a murdered baby, she is also trying to rescue her career- damaged almost beyond repair by a personal tragedy she refuses to acknowledge. Her relationship with fellow reporters and police ring true, and it is easy to see why she gets sucked into attempting to create a better like for little Amy. The big twist wasn't much of a surprise to me, but I'm certain the read is supposed to suspect what is going on- only Clare is wallowing in ignorance, unable to separate facts from feelings. I wasn't thrilled with the end as I think Clare should have realized the need to cute ties and run, but that is a niggling quibble. Overall, this is a strongly written and enjoyable story; I will be on the lookout for more by this author.

[nicx27 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

1984, the north of England during the miners' strike. Journalist for local paper, The Post, Clare Jackson is investigating the death of a baby on the notorious Sweetmeadows estate, along with reporting on the strike and the unrest it's causing. She befriends a kid from the estate, Amy, who is suffering from neglect and whose presence and neediness helps Clare get over some things that happened to her.This is a good book. I liked the fact that it was set during the strike which added an extra dimension to the story of the baby's murder and who might have done it. I did have a good idea of who it was by about half way but I liked how it all unfolded to reveal all at the end. I also liked how it was written from a journalistic angle rather than that of the police or the miners and their families. It's an easy and interesting read which kept me engaged all the way through.