Kick Back is the second book in the Kate Brannigan series by Val McDermid and was originally published in 1993. Kate Brannigan is approached by a builder whose line of credit has been cut short at the bank and his unable to make any headway with what is happening. Someone is going around removing his newly installed conservatories and he is desperate as he does not want to lose his business. Kate’s friend Alexis is a journalist with the Evening Chronicle (Manchester did have an evening chronicle but defunct by the time of this book). Alexis and her partner have paid a £5,000 deposit on land so they can self-build a property. Unfortunately, she has been ‘stiffed’ on the cash and the land. Kate finds out that there is a full-blown mortgage and land fraud in progress. This is an excellent thriller.