A very moving and gritty story that had me gripped from Page One. A very sensitive and brilliantly written story about a vulnerable young man which certainly pulls on the heart strings. The characters are very well formed, especially Louis and Connor. I wanted the story to continue and was sad to read the last page. All I can say is, I highly recommend ‘Care and Control’ – a superb read. I can’t wait for the next novel from this talented author.

I didn’t know what to expect going into Care & Control.

I have read books of a similar genre already but they are usually biographical accounts from the victims point of view such as the works of Judy Westwater or Dave Pelzer.

The fact that Care & Control was a work of fiction was not a concern to me upon receiving it in my recommendations. It was as I scanned the synopsis and thought “Here we go” Another drop in an ocean of LGBTQ+ novella that is becoming ubiquitous in the world. Often, in my opinion as a gay man, not the best written with the market becoming oversaturated by people trying to write for audiences that were previously ignored.

I couldn’t have been more incorrect with regards to this book.

Care & Control is written to showcase the side of protecting children we don’t often see. What goes on behind the scenes? What processes and procedures are in place? The use of diverse characters feels natural and not shoe-horned in like a lot of other books.

This story was written by an author who clearly understands the subject matter and reading about the him afterwards and understanding his detailed experience in the field, it was clear to see why.

The plot revolves around a seemingly “bad-kid” whom most outsiders witnessing events, would say causes trouble for the sake of it. But Connor has had a difficult start in life and although most people entrusted to care for him do the best they can, others are not as forthcoming such as his foster parent.

I was immediately able to see the world of Louis through his eyes and imagine what it would be like to have recently started a new job in a new place and wanting to do the best to help. His character development throughout the book was heartwarming.

What was immediately apparent to me within the first few chapters was that the characters in this book are likeable! You’d be surprised how often this is not the case but you quickly grow to care for Connor and you’re rooting for him because you know he’s not really a bad kid at all. Louis’ colleagues are more like family and each one has unique personality traits well described by the author.

The pacing of the book keeps the reader invested, wanting to find out more to the story of Connor’s past and see what is in store for his future. This is paired with insider terminology of the police force and social services, woven in to build a detailed and realistic world.

The story covers some dark and, at times, shocking subject matters. Themes of neglect and a child bouncing from placement to placement whilst longing to find their birth mother reminded me of a grown up version of ‘Dustbin Baby’ by Jacqueline Wilson.

The complex story develops quickly and the plot is executed with effortless drops of breadcrumbs foreshadowing the ending.

There were a couple of surprising plot points that I wasn’t expecting and after reading other reviews I spent a lot of the book trying to guess this big plot twist that others had mentioned.

I failed to do so. I think I audibly gasped when it happened. I had started the book in the late afternoon after it was delivered to me and I type this now in the early hours of the morning having devoured the whole book in one day.

The story only gripped me more as I progressed further and I found myself saying “just one more chapter” over and over until I decided to just finish it.

The fact that this is the authors first published release is, to me, astounding. The complexity and well thought out details showcase a writing talent expectant of someone far further into their career. They say “Write about what you know” and as I mentioned earlier, the writer clearly knows his stuff.

I found the whole thing enthralling, although at times uncomfortable given the subject matter. However I thought the balance of the truly dark material was well maintained. In my personal opinion, the story is a triumph and I wouldn’t hesitate to purchase a sequel if one were released.

I’ve read both Care and Control and Voodoo Room so far. The characters are utterly believable, the plot is fast paced and leaves you unable to put the books down.

I have never been so invested in a set of fictional characters. I’m praying for happy endings but Roshan makes his books so real I don’t know what will happen next.

If you’re a fan of crime fiction that has a real and tangible feel to it, these book and this author will be the perfect fit.