Bea Davenport

Who would murder a nine month old baby? That is the burning question in this fantastic psychological thriller. A seemingly motiveless crime reeks havoc on a northern estate already in turmoil over the on-going miner's strike. Clare Jackson, a journalist with a chip on her shoulder after missing out on a promotion she deserved is determined top find out the truth. She befriends Amy a neglected child left to run lose on the estate but is she letting her own demons influence her actions?
I really enjoyed this book. It brought back memories of the eighties both good and bad (I remember those fish and chip crisps as well!) The way the miner's strike tore communities apart is sympathetically portrayed, as is the relationship between the community on the estate and the police and journalists who cover the strike. I have always lived in the South of England so was not directly affected by the strike but I remember the nightly news reports and the scenes of violence that occurred. Add a child killer into the mix and the Sweetmeadows estate becomes a powder keg.
However the story is not just a simple murder mystery there's so much more to it than that. It's about damage and how much a person, a community even a country can take before becoming broken. I loved it and sincerely hope it's the first in a series.… (more)

This Little Piggy is a great read that engages you from the beginning and keeps the momentum up until the end. Set against the backdrop of a troubled North East housing estate during the miners strike of the 1980's. Claire Jackson is a reporter following the suspicious death of a 9 month old baby.

There are a number of strands to the novel that maintain the interest over and above the search for the child's killer. What is the unspoken reason for Claire failing to attend for interview which means she was passed over for promotion? What is the truth about the enigmatic and mysterious Finn, the newly appointed Head of the Miners Union? What really happened at the Police station that resulted in the death of an innocent suspect? Why does Claire allow herself to become involved with Amy, a young 9 year old girl from the estate who claims to know what happened? What is the nature of her relationship with Joe (the photographer)?

It was interesting to see how the case develops from a viewpoint other than a traditional police procedural angle. Seeing how the search for the possible killer develops through the eyes of those reporting as well as those living on the estate offers a viewpoint often lost and makes the story more human. Again seeing the Miner’s Strike and its’ effects reported on from the inside offers a balance to the oft reported media and government viewpoint that those of us who remember it were fed at the time.

Claire is a very likeable character, and the depiction of a reporters’ life is a less than glamorous one that depends on hard work and dedication – something that Claire and her photographer colleague have in spades.

I did have an idea of who was responsible from quite early on, but that did not spoil the enjoyment as I still wanted to know how and why, as well as wanting answers to all the other strands running through the book. I am more than happy to recommend this book, it was a good read and I’ll be looking out for more from Bea Davenport.

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
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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.… (more)