Brothers Sam Parker and Joe Parker seem to be at odds with one another. Sam is a detective, working to capture criminals and make the world a better place, whilst Joe is a criminal defence lawyer, working to help those same criminals escape conviction and custodial sentences. But in Next To Die intentions and motives are not always as dissimilar as they first appear.
When Ronnie Bagley requests Joe Parker defend him against charges of murdering his wife and baby, Joe comes running. He likes a challenge, and winning murder cases brings a lawyer notoriety. Elsewhere Sam is asked by the powers that be to spy on his brother, to try and find out anything that can ensure Ronnie’s conviction. Add to that a string of seemingly linked murders throughout Manchester and the Parker brothers have got their hands very much full.
Author, Neil White is a lawyer by day, crime fiction writer by night. He knows exactly what he’s writing about and his experience comes through in every chapter. But this isn’t a novel of tedious legal jargon which requires a reader wade through it. It’s small, beautifully observed details which paint legal scenes so brilliantly; outside of court lawyers are wearing smart, tailored suits, but defendants are dressed in cheap suits a couple of sizes too big for them.
There is another layer to proceedings as well: Ellie Parker. Joe and Sam’s younger sister raped and murdered on her way back from school fifteen years ago. Her brothers still feel immense guilt at not being able to save their little sister, and her memory taints everything. It’s this aspect of the book which supplies the emotional grunt, and the murder mystery which provides the addictiveness. Superb stuff.