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. ( )

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. ( )

This mystery/thriller takes the reader back to the gritty world of the miners' strikes in the early 1980s. The growing desperation of those miners as well as the crushing poverty that some of them face is well-drawn and gives a remarkable flavor to the backdrop of the story. As Clare attempts to solve the mystery of a murdered baby, she is also trying to rescue her career- damaged almost beyond repair by a personal tragedy she refuses to acknowledge. Her relationship with fellow reporters and police ring true, and it is easy to see why she gets sucked into attempting to create a better like for little Amy. The big twist wasn't much of a surprise to me, but I'm certain the read is supposed to suspect what is going on- only Clare is wallowing in ignorance, unable to separate facts from feelings. I wasn't thrilled with the end as I think Clare should have realized the need to cute ties and run, but that is a niggling quibble. Overall, this is a strongly written and enjoyable story; I will be on the lookout for more by this author. ( )

A special thank you to Legend Press and NetGalley for a complimentary reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bea Davenport’s THIS LITTLE PIGGY is a riveting and compelling psycho thriller, centered on the murder of a baby, and the devastating times of political unrest, turmoil, poverty, tragedy, and tension of the Miner’s Strike.

In 1984, times were difficult during the Miner’s Strike, leaving England in disarray. There is trouble at the Sweetmeadows estate, where screams were not uncommon. The estate houses mostly miners, a collection of sixties-built, flat-roofed, box-shaped flats, up to four stories high. The local council had plans for knocking down the whole estate and rebuilding but there was no money. Some were even empty and boarded up, and what was left standing was mold ridden and damp and housed those among the desperate.

Residents are left shocked by the suspicious death of a baby. A mother, Debs, is frantic about Jamie Donnelly, aged nine months, appearing the baby fell from the balcony and died from the injuries. However, who would throw a baby off a balcony? Rob Donnelly says his wife is innocent.

Clare Jackson, is a driven journalist and is always trying to get a story, and sometimes it is difficult as the police are often closed mouthed and not very forthcoming to the media. Clare is also haunted by a personal trauma and then there is the little nine-year-old Amy, a misfit, which seems to know more than she is saying. Clare wants to help this little girl have a real life, thinking of her past life, and she may just be the only adult to help Amy.

Clare becomes involved personally, while chasing the story and will not give up, digging deeper as we learn more about the poor and bad living conditions of this community. Amy has a vivid imagination and is street smart; however, at times she gets carried away with her stories, so you did not know what to believe. At the same time the poverty and the picketing continues and the father of the baby is one that has chosen to go back to the mines to work, looked upon as a traitor.

In addition there are two other characters interacting with Clare (Joe), another writer for a different paper than the Post, and Finn, a newly appointed heard of the Miner’s Union. These two men do not get along. As the investigation turns up dead ends by the police, Clare is more determined to find the killer, while continuing to become emotionally involved in the life of complex Amy, the abuse, while following the Miner’s strike. A horrible accident, a whole string of pointless deaths, a whole estate that will take years to recover.

This is the kind of book you want to read in one sitting or weekend; however, I happened to be traveling and had to stop many times, as could not wait to get back to this well written intriguing mystery of political unrest, a crime thriller.

I enjoyed Clare’s character, told from her POV and her emotional relationship with Amy, making for a dynamic human interest story diving into social issues, with well- developed characters, and the author does a good job of capturing the era and tension. This was my first book by Davenport, and look forward to reading more!

Judith D. Collins Must Read Books ( )