Most Wanted (2005)

Most Wanted is a gripping crime thriller set in the rough streets of Corby, England. The novel follows the lives of the Johnston and Hind families as they navigate the dangerous and ever-evolving underworld, where loyalty is tested, and survival means making difficult choices.

Ray Hind, a hardened gang leader with ambitions of total control over Corby, is a man torn between his empire and his family. As new criminal crews from Newcastle and Glasgow start to muscle into his territory, Ray finds himself short on trusted allies, including his son-in-law, Chris Johnston, who wants to leave the life of crime behind for the sake of his partner, Claire, and their son, Cameron.

At the heart of the novel is the Johnston family-a powerful but surprisingly humble clan led by Ricky Johnston, a former boxer turned businessman with deep connections all over the UK. His home, a massive estate symbolising wealth and influence, stands in contrast to the modest lives of Chris and Claire. While Chris wants nothing more than to start a fresh life with his family, his father's overwhelming influence lingers in the background.

In parallel, Ray's son Lee Hind faces his own challenges on the football pitch, here his personal struggles mirror the tensions within his family. As Lee fights to make a name for himself as a professional footballer, his relationship with his father deteriorates, leaving him to search for his own identity in a world of shadows and missed connections.

Most Wanted paints a vivid, gritty picture of family dynamics, loyalty, and the lengths people go to protect those they love-whether through power or distance. It's a novel about choices, consequences, and the fine line between love and duty.