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Ukraine 2001. Dima, Alyona and Sasha, three street-kids with nothing but each other, stumble on a holdall full of cocaine. This could be it. A way out.

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Leonid, a Mafia hit man who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, is sent to retrieve the cocaine and dispose of the children. Failure isn't an option.

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Nadia, a naive expat is looking for a new beginning. She wasn't expecting this!

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As their paths get tangled up in the biting cold of a ferocious winter in Kyiv all of them will need to find more strength and courage than they ever imagined they had if they are to survive. When you have nothing left give what do you call on?

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Reviews

“The street kids the story speaks of can't help but grip you, heart breaking but at the same time heart warming, you can't not love and become embroiled into their lives. Expat Nadia adds the compassion to the story as she wants to help these kids so much, and her friend and fellow expat Maggie helps to add a little light humour into a tale that could essentially have been very dark.
Its compelling, engaging and at times quite poignant and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Kiev with these kids.
Highly Recommended” Alex J Book Reviews

 

“An atmospheric read with some beautiful scenes making me feel like I am in the story. I have to admit I have never read a book like this one before. There is something really mesmerising about this story. Along with the crime, the author takes us on an emotional roller-coaster with scenes that pulled on my heartstrings. This is the first book that I have read by this author and it most certainly won't be the last.” Baker's Not So Secret Blog

 

“The streets of Kiev come alive with vivid imagery and the story is raw, sensitive and compelling.” Waggy Tales Blog

 

“Don’t Get Involved is dark and gritty, providing an insight into the hidden aspects of society that most of us are fortunate enough to not ever have to experience. F.J. Curlew does a fantastic job of painting a picture of the city. From the perspective of outsiders it seems to be a place of wonder, new experiences to be found around each corner. From the side of the street children Kiev appears stark, inhospitable and corrupt to the core.” Books & Beyond

 

“Curlew certainly knows how to draw the reader in and keep them engrossed. I had my heart in my mouth as the story unfolded. Don’t get Involved packs so much into its pages, we have crime, its thrilling, full of compassion, and makes for one hell of a read, taking you on a roller-coaster of emotions. My first book by Curlew and with writing like that it wont be my last.” Lost In The Land Of Books

 

“The writing style is top-notch, immersive, atmospheric, and full of emotion. Despite the hard topic of the book, I had a great time reading it. This is not a book to leave you with a smile on your face but with hope in your heart that even on the hardest winters there is room to dream and to believe in magic.” Miss Known

 

“A novel with surprising action with each page turned, and unfolding on each of those pages is a story that feels like it has been written by an author well established for decades. I feel privileged having been asked to take part in the blog tour and I highly recommend the read.” Page Turner's Nook

 

“Don't Get Involved grabbed my attention and I found it very difficult to put down, reading it in one sitting. It's a dark and often tense novel, written in a manner that I found very involving with short and snappy sentences charged with detail that drew me right in to the culture of Kyiv.” Book Drunk

 

“A fantastic thriller with a beautiful insight into Ukraine and in particular Kiev as a city, its culture and beauty really sing though the pages of this story. I loved the characters in this, they all felt very real, especially Dima, Sasha and Alyona where their lives and behaviours felt very raw and very emotional.” Books & Emma

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