A graffiti artist falls to his death in Bristol. A case of misadventure? Or something far more sinister? To uncover the truth, DI Harlyn Quaye must peel back the layers of an anarchic movement etched onto every surface of the city. And he must seek the advice of an unlikely ally, Lisa – schoolgirl blogger, and resident expert in Bristol street art. But does she know more than she is letting on? Is she connected to the incident more fundamentally than even she realises?

Quaye’s own motivations are no more straightforward. Dark secrets threaten to compromise his efforts, and his life, at every turn. Torn between two worlds, he is on borrowed time. Soon he will have to make an impossible choice. He only hopes that this time … nobody has to die.

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review.

When a graffiti artist suffers an unfortunate, and terminal mishap, DI Harlyn Quaye finds himself drawn into the murky underworld of urban art. Did the artist succumb to an unfortunate accident, inherent in his choice of nocturnal pursuit? Or did he fall victim to a criminal act? And with a dark past threatening to derail everything, can Quaye unravel the mystery before him.

I found Making a Mark to be a fascinating, thrilling novel though not in the traditional sense. As Quaye seeks answers, he also learns about the background and history of the graffiti subculture. Though I could not attest to the accuracy of the story, it hooked me in from the start. Throughout the book, it becomes clear that this crime bears significant resemblance to another death of a graffiti artist. He must unravel these two cases, seek out connections and protect those involved while keeping the dark secrets of his past at bay.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. From start to finish it felt dark and gritty. I loved the way the story was told. It features multiple perspectives. First off, that of DI Quaye and his investigation. Then there is the perspective of the unfortunate artist and his accomplice. Finally, there is also the perspective of a homeless person who has a deeper connection to be unraveled. Somehow Paul J. Newell manages to reign in all of these narrative lines and keep them in order to create an engaging novel.

My rating: