Last night I bought and downloaded Lifters by Joe Craig for the Kindle.  I’d known the book was coming for a while but, aside from having seen the cover, I didn’t know anything about the story itself.  So, I was really looking forward to reading it.

It’s not easy keeping the word count down when it comes to writing a story – especially not when the story features as much action, plot and solid characterisation as Lifters.  Having read Joe’s Jimmy Coates books, I knew I was in for an adventure that would keep me turning the page – but I didn’t realise that I would empathise with the main character, Adaq, quite so quickly.  In a few short paragraphs, we understand everything we need to know about his relationship with his sister, why he’s doing something he clearly feels is wrong, and how he is persuaded to go for one more score.  Add to the mix a mysterious ‘package’, and two more compelling characters and you’ve got a book you couldn’t put down, even if you wanted to.  Plus, this is the first time I’ve seen parkour – or free running – dealt with so brilliantly in book form; the description jumps off the page at you.

The only downside is that the book must end just as the story gets going – although that, in a way, is its strength.  Joe respects his readers enough to allow them to decide what happens next themselves, rather than try to spoon-feed us with a forced ending.  That said, if he ever decided to tell us more about Adaq, Maya and the ‘package’ – I’ll be first in line to read it.

Highly recommended for anyone who wants a fast, edge-of-the-seat urban adventure.

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