I wasn't overly impressed with this author's debut book- Call Time - however I did see the potential in his offering so I was willing to give him another chance. And I am blooming glad I did just that. This book was brilliant! We start in a group chemotherapy session where former cop Ray "Sugar" Leonard joins fellow patients Gog, Rose, and Luke as they chat and get to know each other. After one such session, Ray is caught short (apparently a symptom/after effect) and rushes into an alleyway to relieve himself. And promptly gets mugged, although things escalate when his self-defence attempts leave his attacker dead. His military training kicking in despite his weakened state. Long story short, and with his brother-in-law John (still a cop) investigating, this act will define the rest of the book. Ray is terminal, with nothing to lose, and the mugger was a low-life... Can you see where I am going. Being terminal and unlikely to get as far as being banged up for his crimes, Ray realises that he can do some - shall we call it - sanitising before he goes... take one for the team if you like. Shocking I know, but to be honest, I would be lying if I said that that very premise hadn't crossed my mind and, although controversial and I am not advocating such behaviour, it's a rather neat trick if you can pull it off and we all know at least one person who...! Although, that said, it's a bit of a brave topic to base a book around. But yeah, wholly credible! Things get more serious when Ray starts to focus on the man who killed his wife, at the same time as he opens up more to his chemo group. What happens in Chemo Club, stays in Chemo Club... Especially when John shows him something he has found, something belonging to his late wife... After the shaky start of Call Time, he smashed it out of the park for me with this one. It's hard to say I loved a book which centres on cancer and chemotherapy but it is handled so blooming well, with some of the greatest characters I have met in time that it never got too dark. Ray is wonderful, as is his step-daughter Chaynnie, the both of whom are still hurting from the loss of Odette, mother and wife. And the other members of Chemo Club and nurse Donna absolutely excelled. Other characters who I will leave you to meet and get to know as the author intends (spoilers) are just as well crafted and all did a stellar job. The overall story was both compelling and intriguing and delivered shock after twist as it travelled towards the final denouement, and an ending that, again, I will leave you to discover, but one which I felt was the only way it could go, and which wholly satisfied. So the lesson here is never sack off an author on one book that didn't suit. I'm so glad I gave him a second chance and I am really looking forward to seeing what he serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

What a brilliantly researched book, the description of the disease was so accurate, the tiredness, always being cold, the unknown. I know because I’ve been there and come out, what I would say no one in my chemo group became a killer (not that I know of anyway). This is the second book written by this author and both of them have been dark and looking at human nature, of people wanting to make things right and the consequences of that. This is an excellent read, well researched and full of twists and I had to ration myself to make it last three days.

I couldn’t wait to start this book after loving Steve Jones first novel and it did not disappoint. Ex policeman Ray has cancer and meets some unusual friends while going through chemotherapy. I loved the characters that Ray meets and I really felt like I knew them and was part of the group. My favourite character was Gog. It was a really interesting clever story with some unexpected twists. While the story was heartbreaking I really enjoyed this book and it definitely showed how life can change in the blink of an eye and the true meaning of friends and family.

T/W for cancer. Steve Jones second novel, the first being ‘Call Time’ which I think is one heck of a read! 4+ A tale of mortality. Former soldier and ex Detective Inspector Ray ‘Sugar’ Leonard has had more than his fair share of bad, if not tragic, breaks but now faces the fight of his life against the deadly whims of cancer. He shares his chemo sessions with three others. There’s God fearing Welsh bouncer Gog, aka Paul, Rose, a cantankerous older lady with a colourful grasp of language and flashy Luke, a wannabe Jordan Belfort style financial wizard with the requisite ruthless streak. The be fateful day after leaving his chemo session, Ray acts in self defence against a vicious attacker who wants to rob him, taking the only action he can and justifying it in his head. However, will his intuitive brother-in-law DI John Facey figure it out? Ray is on a mission and the next one is for his much loved stepdaughter Chaynnie. He reckons without the incisive instincts of his chemo chums and their first rule is, what’s said in the chemo room, stays in the room. I thoroughly enjoy this latest offering from the talented Steve Jones. I love the blend of dark humour with an investigation and the emerging secrets of the gang formed in scary circumstances. The premise is great, it’s well written with a storyline that flows, it’s a clever and never a dull moment read. It’s darkly funny in places, in one such I’m taking an ill advised swig of coffee - all thanks to Gog, the Mr Malaprop of the room. They’re all likeable quirky characters being colourful in their different ways and there’s terrific dialogue between them. There’s growing friendship, reliance and trust between them. As for Ray, what a guy. I love the relationship between him and Chaynnie which brings the odd tear to my eye. As the book progresses, it gets grittier and there are some really good twists that I definitely don’t see coming. Overall, it’s a gripping read with a well thought out storyline and a good blend of the sad and moving combined with humour and plenty of action.

After getting injured in Afghanistan, Ray Leonard joined the police and has just retired after his stint and after his wife was murdered. Now Ray has discovered that he has prostate cancer and is having to attend chemotherapy sessions with a disparate group of strangers. After one session a man attempts to mug Ray but Ray responds instinctively and the man ends up dead. Ray does not want to spend what little time he has left in prison but does wonder about settling a few scores and his chemo group are very supportive! This is a surprisingly good book! I loved the premise about a terminally ill man and felt Ray was a well-written character. I also liked the ending because it wasn't too obvious. However what I loved was the very black humour employed, it didn't sugarcoat anything.