One Way Street – Trevor Wood

A series of bizarre drug-related deaths among runaway teenagers has set the North East’s homeless community on edge. 

The word on the street is that a rogue batch of Spice – the zombie drug sweeping the inner cities – is to blame, but when one of Jimmy’s few close friends is caught up in the carnage loyalty compels him to find out what’s really going on. 

One Way Street sees the welcome return of Jimmy Mullen, the homeless, PTSD-suffering, veteran as he attempts to rebuild his life following the events in The Man on the Street. 

As his probation officer constantly reminds him: all he needs to do is keep out of trouble. Sadly for him, trouble seems to have a habit of tracking Jimmy down.

A couple of weeks ago I read Trevor Wood’s first book, The Man On The Street. It had just won the CWA New Blood Dagger for best debut, I was between books, I found myself clicking ‘buy it now’ and before I knew it, I was hooked.

Last week I went along to the virtual launch of book 2, One Way Street in the excellent company of Rob Parker and Chris McGeorge and a host of other lovely bookish people via Zoom. I do quite like these virtual events, mainly because I get to go to more of them, but also because I was lucky enough to win a copy of Trevor’s book.

The first book was (and indeed is) brilliant, with a great cast of characters, set in my home town of Newcastle. I was intrigued to see what Trevor Wood would have in store this time, and reader, I was not disappointed.

There have been a series of drug-related deaths in the North East, runaway teenagers falling victim to a deadly batch of Spice. Before long, Jimmy and the gang find themselves investigating, and going down some very dark paths indeed.

It’s another great story, and kept me up far too late last night (or early this morning) finishing it. Jimmy Mullen is a great lead, with a different take on the regular investigative process. His PTSD episodes feel visceral, and add a real depth and complexity to his character.

But it’s the rest of the cast of characters that inhabit Jimmy’s world that really make these books pop – the inseparable Gadge and Deano. Dog -everyone loves Dog. And Sandy, Jimmy’s probation officer. I would *love* to see more of her in book three, she’s fabulous.

I don’t want to spoil the story of course, and think you’re better off going into this one fresh. Suffice it to say that Trevor Wood has been added to my list of authors to watch.

You should too. Cracking stuff, roll on book 3!