Another gripping read in the series and another fascinating case. As usual, it deals with gritty crime and isn't for the faint-hearted but it's a good read.

Sixth book in this series featuring Detective inspector Nikhi Parekh. A gritty,fast paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns.

End Game is the sixth book in Liz Mistry's Nikki Parekh series and continues an impressive catalogue of gripping, socially observant police procedural thrillers. As with the previous novels, End Game can be read as a standalone but it would be a crying shame to miss out on the earlier books and I'd highly recommend reading them first, if possible.
There are a few notable changes here, the most important being that Nikki has been promoted and is now Detective Inspector Parekh. Further changes include a new boss; Archie has retired and the 'Dark Knight' Zain Ahad is now in charge. When Nikki and her partner, Saj are called out to a home invasion with fatalities, she is acutely aware that it's her first official case as detective inspector and senior investigating officer. The previous book in the series, Dying Breath saw a stronger Nikki and it's clear throughout End Game that the combination of having a close-knit, supportive group of family, friends and colleagues around her, and more effective strategies for managing her stress levels means she is more able to cope with what turns out to be a difficult, emotionally trying investigation.
The excellent development of the characters is at the heart of this series and one of the main reasons why I look forward to each new instalment. Nikki's family aren't as personally involved in this case as they have been in the past but their importance can't be understated. In a book which explores some horrifically dark themes, the love, understanding and warmth that Liz Mistry brings to some scenes is a welcome beacon of light. As the series has progressed, I've become invested in the lives of the other returning characters too, particularly the relationship between Saj and Langley and I enjoyed seeing a more personal side to DC Liam Williams and DC Farah Anwar. Liz Mistry effortlessly explores bigotry and tolerance through her diverse cast, ensuring the issues they face feel natural and never forced.
This is a series which never flinches from examining the most horrific crimes and End Game is another chillingly tense thriller. The book opens with a scene which would strike fear into anybody but particularly parents. We continue to follow the young girl who appears here throughout the novel and while the chapters which are told from her perspective are never graphic, they leave readers in no doubt as to the horrors she is subjected to. Meanwhile, the shocking murder of a family inevitably makes the headlines and Liz Mistry cleverly reflects real-life media rabble-rousing as Nikki and her colleagues are accused of wokeness amidst what becomes a challenging investigation for a number of reasons.
As it becomes clear that this investigation involves the past as well as the present and numerous victims as well as perpetrators, there are chapters which give us an insight into the person behind everything. Their identity isn't revealed until late in the novel but there are clues and cunning red herrings which kept me guessing throughout. End Game is a superbly compelling read; harrowing, tense and thought-provoking – this is contemporary crime fiction at its best. I highly recommend it.

An enjoyable read that was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. I found it hard to put it down

I simply love the Nikki Parekh series and apologies for the cliche but the covers are also so wonderfully distinct. Really good series and the plot made me chuckle: a murder happened round the scene of a Monopoly game! How amazing! If you played Monopoly round my house you would sympathize with the concept as anyone playing Monopoly with my son wants to murder him! Once again the plot is well written and the characters a joy to catch up with as they are a really good team.
Really good series as ever,

This series continues to improve. However, this mystery is not for those easily disturbed. It is a bit brutal. I always appreciate Mistry allowing Nikki to grow from book to book rather than doing the same crazy stuff and never changing. And yea she still does some crazy stuff.
I was given a copy by Netgalley opinions are my own.

Oooh it’s great to catch up with Nikki, Saj and the rest of the team. End game grabs you from the first chapter and doesn’t really let go till the last chapter. As with all the Nikki books I find there is always something happening, the storyline flows and keeps you intrigued as to where it’s going to go. One of my go to authors that I know I will enjoy the book, so much so that I no longer read the blurb.

I love the Nikki Parekh series so was very excited to read this latest one. It certainly didn't disappoint! Nikki and her team are called to an horrific murder scene. 4 members of the same family are found dead seated around the table playing a game of Monopoly. However, there were 5 people playing. So was the 5th player the murderer, or did they escae the scene? Alongside this story, 11 year old Marnie is abducted from her garden and taken to a big house where she and other children are sexually abused. How are these linked? This is a real page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Detective Nikki Parekh and DS Sajid Malik are called to the scene of a gruesome quadruple murder. A father, mother, son and daughter have been slaughtered whilst having a pizza and game night. But wait a minute, there are five monopoly pieces on the board, was the 5th player the perpetrator, another (missing victim), or someone who escaped? Along with this investigation there are disturbing chapters dealing with a spate of child abductions. The darkness of these topics are somewhat alleviated by the breezy banter of the police and I really enjoyed these characters. An excellent story with likeable characters.

After a family of 4 is slaughtered around a game of Monopoly in their home, Nikki Parekh and her team have a mystery to solve. There was a fifth place set. Was this for the killer, or did someone escape and if so where are they?

This is such a dark, chilling book which left me with goosebumps. This may be fiction, but feels so realistic, and we all know there are some evil people out there. The book is well written and expertly plotted and my mind was all over the place trying to figure everything out.

I absolutely love Nikki Parekh! She's a kickass detective but has a soft centre and would do anything for her family. I love her realtionships with her team, especially Saj.

And after such a sad and gruelling case, the book has a very happy ending.

I have really enjoyed reading this book this week. It's fast paced with lots happening throughout the book. It kept my attention with the storyline and especially the great characters. There are many characters in the book and at first I worried I wouldn't keep up but they all are very distinct and memorable in their own right. I enjoyed the links between them all and finding out more about them. The writing showed the human side of the characters very well particularly in light of the hard topics they were facing in their job roles.
I'd definitely be interested in reading more in this series. Thank you

‘End Game’ is a chilling book that kept me up till the early hours as I couldn't put it down. It was fast paced, multi-layered and the tension was amazing, especially towards the end! This is the sixth book in the series but it can be read as a standalone very easily. The story in this one is contained and very little character background is required which makes it an ideal book to pick up if you are new to Liz’s brilliant books!

DI Nikki Parekh is called to one of the most challenging crime scenes of her career. A whole family sat round a table have been killed during a game of Monopoly and pizza. The Salinger family is well known in Bradford’s elite and there is a lot of pressure on Nikki to solve the case. But Nikki has made a crucial observation, there is five pieces on the game board but only four victims round the table? Was there another guest who escaped or did the killer play the game…

Wow, this is a writer that is at the top of her game! I came late to this series but it has rapidly become one of my favourite series. Nikki is a character that you can't help but root for, she comes across as real. Yes, she has her problems but that only helps her become more relatable. It isn't just her that twangs a hairband on her wrist! I love Nikki, she is opinionated but not ballsy with it, an intuitive detective that loves to mull things over, loyal, oh so very loyal and she is also a woman to look up to! It could be that a young Asian woman might pick this book up and see herself represented and think maybe I can have my dream. Representation of normal but nuanced characters who reflect the population needs to happen in fiction as well and Liz is the best at doing this in my opinion.

This was not a jolly book. Yes, there is the normal banter between Nikki and her team but it can't counterbalance the fact that this is a dark topic. However, it is treated with a sensitive hand and is respectful of the victims. I flew through this book and literally did not put it down. I love all the team and especially Nikki and this is an auto buy series for me now as you know you will get a belter of a book for your money! Roll on book seven!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

A family sit around a Monopoly game board. Except they are all dead and one place doesn't have a corresponding body - is this the murderer? This bizarre setting is the scene for the sixth book in the series about Bradford-based detective and her team, Nikki Parekh.

Following the same format as the other books, the prologue offers a view of the crime from the perspective of the victim. Similarly, the story is mainly told from the point of view of the the detective, Parekh, with a smattering of first person narratives from the perpetrator as well as another character. As always, this police procedural is only part of the story as the challenging personal life and the local community feature heavily and are a distinctive part of the appeal of the series.

This is not a simple case of whodunnit. The storylines are complex, uncomfortable and true to life. The central police officers are rounded human beings who display tension, frustration, pettiness and good humour just like the rest of us. Plus they suffer with the current poor image of the Met and accusations of being 'woke' because of the diversity in the workforce in Bradford. All relatable.

Written in an engaging style and good pace, this is a great read with themes of family, loyalty and friendship. Not forgetting the darkness of abuse, greed, revenge and survival, this novel shows the extremes of humanity. Recommended.

Four dead bodies. One missing person. Let the game begin.
When an anonymous tip-off leads Detective Nikki Parekh and DS Sajid Malik to the sprawling Salinger estate, Nikki’s senses are on high alert. The brutal murder of all four members of the Salinger family has shocked the sleepy Bradford village to the core.

This is the first book I have read by this author, although I have known about her for quite a while through my Goodreads network. This was a very creepy start to a book, four bodies arranged around a table and one missing, an empty seat, what happened to the fifth and who was in this particular seat? I thought this was very clever as immediately the reader is drawn into the darkness of what has occurred in this house and I was hooked straight away. This is actually a police procedural, and a very good one at that. The Salinger murders will stay with me for a while I think.

Two stories run parallel to each other and are told from different perspectives. Be warned there is abuse as a one of the themes, this is always a hard topic to read about (that and animal cruelty are normally themes I keep away from) and hard to write about, but the author did a great job of tackling this which is impressive and was also essential to the story, it is such a shame that these issues are now so prevalent in todays world.

The plot moves a long at a nice pace, building the tension and suspence. I found myself turning the pages quickly and next thing I knew two hours had past me by. I felt all the characters were well developed and each one of them was essential in bringing the story to life. The team of DI Nikki Parekh and her partner DS Sajid Malik will now be a welcome addition to my reading list, I really enjoyed watching them work together and they do so very effectively when solving this crime. I will also be looking for more books by this author moving forward.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to adding more of the series to my to read shelf. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions are my own.

Nikki Parekh is back in this octane and dark thriller.
Missing girls and child abuse make this a dark read but Mistry’s writing makes this book authentic and readable and makes the story a page turner not to be missed .
I was late to Mistry’s writing but I’m glad I’ve finally found this series it’s full of true northern grit and characters that are both amiable and ones that you can relate to .
The Parekh series has diversity , authenticity and all the components that make a great read .
Looking forward to the next in the series.
Even though at times this story was a tough read I highly recommend it!
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ.

A twisty, dark, and fast paced police procedural that kept me hooked and guessing. There's a lot going on and the author delivers a story that keeps you on the edge till the end.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

End Game by Liz Mistry starts out with an 11-year-old girl with the pouts, she wants to go to the same high school that her friends go to, and she tries to convince her parents to no avail. As she sits under a tree and pouts, her little sister comes to make nice with a bag of treats, her sister returns to the house when all of a sudden a bag is put over her head and she is abducted.

A phone call to the police alerts them of a murder. DI Nikki Parekh and Di Sajid Malik, arrive in a posh neighborhood to a horrific scene. Four people have been murdered, A father, mother, son, and daughter have been stabbed repeatedly. They are all seated at the table, having recently been playing Monopoly. Four dead people but 5 seats were used. 5 glasses at the table where is the fifth person? Nikki and Sajid now have the daunting task of sifting through the clues and talking to neighbors, business partners of the deceased, classmates to the son and daughter, etc.

In alternate chapters, the story tells of child abductions that have been and are happening. The reader finds out pretty much in the middle of the book that these children are being abducted for sex, kept hidden, and abused. This was a hard part for me to read as it would be for anyone.

This book is #6 but with the narration from Nikki, the reader is brought up to speed on all the characters in the novel. This book is definitely character-driven, with the good guys and the bad. You really don't have to have read the previous five books in the series to come up to speed on who is who and their past.

I will most likely at some point read the previous books as there are some events and characters that I am curious about. I love a good murder mystery and this one is right up there with the best. The book had me immersed from start to finish!

I give it 5 stars

If you love a great, gritty explosive Police Procedural thriller then absolutely give End Game a read. It’s set at a fabulous pace that keeps you involved from the off. This is book 6 in the Nikki Parekh series but I feel it worked well as a standalone too. Liz Mistry gives you enough back detail to work out the team and how they work together.

The initial murder scene is brutal, with the deaths of a whole family whilst playing monopoly. However there appears to have been a fifth guest that has disappeared. Are they the murderer? Have they managed to escape the attack? more importantly, who are they and where are they?

If this isn’t enough to grab you then there is also the fact that the Salinger family lost another daughter, Marnie, many years before the family are viciously murdered. There are many secrets lying within this family, their friends, businesses and love lives.

The relationship between Nikki and her trusty sidekick Saj is brilliantly crafted. They know each inside out and work superbly well together. They hold the whole together with a strength that just carries the whole plot to its accomplished end.

🖤 ARC Review 🖤

End Game by Liz Mistry
DI Nikki Parekh #6

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I haven't read the first 5 books in this series so I didn't have the same character development that ongoing readers of the series might. However, this was still enjoyable as a stand alone.

The plot was fantastic, loved the story and trying to figure out what was going on. It was a great mystery novel.

The parts that didn't work so well for me were that I found the pace slower so it didn't seem full of suspense or very thrilling, and it was just too repetitive (in a cringe way) to be an absolute hit. Lastly, whilst I know it was an ARC, it definitely needs a lot of editing.

All in all, it was enjoyable enough and the story was good but the execution wasn't as great as a lot of other police procedurals I've read.

⚠️ check TWs online ⚠️

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

End Game by Liz Mistry

🕵️ Just Finished 🕵️

I got lost in Liz Mistry’s latest. This is the 6th novel in the D.S. Nikki Parekh series. I came into this book with no prior knowledge of her other books in the series. This can be read as a stand alone.

A disturbing crime scene with four family members slashed to death at a table while playing monopoly. Fifth empty seat that appears to have been occupied prior to the massacre that leaves the team with more questions than answers.

Some years ago, this same family has endured the unthinkable — an abduction of Winnie, their oldest daughter when she was just eleven years old. That investigation closed and Winnie was never found.

Does the annihilation of the family have anything to do with Winnie’s disappearance? Nikki Parekh’s and her team are determined to find out as a complex investigation ensues.

A very well organized and written crime novel. I throughly enjoyed the investigation process in great detail. What a ride! Reminded me of Louise Penny books minus the coziness factor. To say I was engrossed is an understatement. I devoured this thing. Mistry made reading every sentence enjoyable. It’s like she knew exactly how to form sentences in a way that would make the reader glide through them.

This book is all about investigation details. You get a little bit of character development but not much. Perhaps that boils down to me being new to Nikki Parekh, and if you read the other five books, you may be more attached to her and her team. With that said, it didn’t take away from the story for me. It would be challenging to make the investigation exciting while creating complex characters. Something’s gotta give.

Triggers: child abduction, sex trafficking, murder

Others: some politics involved/mentioned — Brexit, “woke” policing, racism