Take It Back: The thrilling, explosive and shocking novel that has everyone gripped

A thrilling, brave and explosive novel, perfect for fans of Anatomy of a Scandal and He Said/She Said.
‘Razor-sharp…Much more than a courtroom thriller’ Christina Dalcher, Sunday Times bestselling author of VOX
* * * * *
The Victim: A sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, neglected by an alcoholic mother. Who accuses the boys of something unthinkable.
The Defendants: Four handsome teenage boys from hardworking immigrant families. All with corroborating stories.
Whose side would you take?
Zara Kaleel, one of London’s brightest young legal minds, shattered the expectations placed on her by her family and forged a glittering career at the Bar. All before hanging up her barrister's wig to help the victims who needed her most. Victims like Jodie Wolfe.
Jodie’s own best friend doesn’t even believe her claims that their classmates carried out such a crime. But Zara does. And Zara is determined to fight for her.
Jodie and Zara become the centre of the most explosive criminal trial of the year, in which ugly divisions within British society are exposed. As everything around Zara begins to unravel she becomes even more determined to get Jodie the justice she’s looking for. But at what price?

Literature & Fiction

Abdullah, Kia

Literary

‘Bold and brave, shocking and heartfelt, Kia Abdullah handles this story with such skill and empathy, yet builds the tension toward the kind of jaw dropping turn that had me gasping aloud. A very special book from a very special author’ Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month We Begin at the End 
‘Abdullah's legal thrillers make John Grisham seem like a maiden aunt’ Sunday Times Crime Club 
‘Vividly examines some of the issues that shape (and deform) society . . . A gritty, extremely hard-hitting drama’ Adele Parks, Platinum magazine 
‘A masterpiece [and] a triumph . . . When you get to the final chapters, buckle up . . . She writes with such intelligence, research and compassion’ Daily Record 
* * * * *\nARE YOU READY TO START THIS CONVERSATION?\nKamran Hadid feels invincible. He attends Hampton school, an elite all-boys boarding school in London, he comes from a wealthy family, and he has a place at Oxford next year. The world is at his feet. And then a night of revelry leads to a drunken encounter and he must ask himself a horrific question. 
With the help of assault counsellor, Zara Kaleel, Kamran reports the incident in the hopes that will be the end of it. But it’s only the beginning… 
Powerful, explosive and important, Truth Be Told is a contemporary courtroom drama that vividly captures today’s society. You will not stop thinking about it for a long time to come. 
* * * * * 
More praise for Truth Be Told: 
‘The court scenes are pacy and atmospheric, and there is more than one unexpected twist’ i 
‘Brave, compelling and absolutely riveting’ A A Dhand, bestselling author of Streets of Darkness 
‘Gripping, sensitive, nuanced and heart-breaking, it will stay with you long after you read it’ Roz Watkins, author of Cut to the Bone 
‘Tense, harrowing and brilliantly written. A powerful story’ Khurrum Rahman, author of East of Hounslow 
‘An excellent and intelligent novel’ The Literary Review 
‘A deeply profound and thought-provoking read’ Heat

Truth Be Told: the most thrilling, suspenseful, shocking and gritty crime fiction book of 2020

Contemporary

Truth Be Told

Take It Back

Next of Kin

Genre Fiction

‘Abdullah’s legal thrillers make John Grisham seem like a maiden aunt’ Sunday Times Crime Club 
‘Intelligent, clever, poignant, sharp, and thought-provoking, right through to the perfect final line. Another sure hit for Kia Abdullah’ Andrea Mara\n‘Brilliantly pacey and wonderfully written with a lovely big twist. Highly recommended’ Neil Lancaster\n* * *\nYou can choose your house. Not your neighbours.\nWELCOME TO YOUR DREAM HOME… 
Salma Khatun is extremely hopeful about Blenheim, the safe suburban development to which she, her husband and their son have just moved. Their family is in desperate need of a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like the place to make that happen.\nMEET YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURS… 
Not long after they move in, Salma spots her neighbour, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner her son put in their front garden. She chooses not to confront Tom because she wants to fit in. It's a small thing, really. No need to make a fuss. So Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window instead. But the next morning she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint.\nAND PREPARE FOR THE NIGHTMARE TO BEGIN… 
This time she does confront Tom, and the battle lines between the two families are drawn. As things begin to escalate and the stakes become higher, it's clear that a reckoning is coming… And someone is going to get hurt.\nA gripping thriller about nightmare neighbours, Those People Next Door explores the loss of innocence and how far we’re prepared to go to defend ourselves and the people we love.\n* * *\nPraise for Those People Next Door:\n‘This powerful social drama about racism and microaggression in today’s society is a must-read’ Prima\n‘A stunning, thought-provoking and morally challenging read. It had me guessing until the ingenious reveal – a world-class story’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good\n‘A tense, clever tale about the seething underbelly of a picture-perfect suburban town’ Country and Town House

Those People Next Door

HARPER/COLLINS

'Abdullah's legal thrillers make John Grisham seem like a maiden aunt' Sunday Times Crime Club'An enthralling, heartbreaking and thrilling courtroom drama that had me shouting out loud and gripped until the last page' Nadine Matheson, author of The Jigsaw Man'Brilliantly tense, this is another clever page turner from Kia Abdullah that I couldn't put down. Just superb' Louise Hare, author of This Lovely City'Twists and turns aplenty . . . The author's greatest strength lies in her sensitive and relatable description of the relationship between sisters Leila and Max's mother Yasmin' i'A tense, brilliant read' Bella* * * * ON AN ORDINARY WORKING DAY... Leila Syed receives a call that cleaves her life in two. Her brother-in-law's voice is filled with panic. His son's nursery has called to ask where little Max is. YOUR WORST NIGHTMARE... Leila was supposed to drop Max off that morning. But she forgot.Racing to the carpark, she grasps the horror of what she has done. IS ABOUT TO COME TRUE... What follows is an explosive, high-profile trial that will tear the family apart. But as the case progresses it becomes clear there's more to this incident than meets the eye... A gripping, brave and tense courtroom drama, Next of Kin will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final, heart-stopping page. * * * * Readers are GRIPPED by Next of Kin 'Kia Abdullah is the absolute queen of the courtroom drama' NetGalley Reviewer, &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;'WOW!! This book is astonishingly brilliant! An absolute masterpiece' NetGalley Reviewer, &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;'I couldn't put this down and Kia Abdullah is becoming a firm favourite read' NetGalley Reviewer, &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;'Kia Abdullah is a writing maestro' NetGalley Reviewer, &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;'A gripping legal thriller that will leave you reeling. A book that will stay with you long after the last page. The ending is a stunner!' NetGalley Reviewer, &#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;&#11088;

<h2>Shortlisted for The Diverse Book Awards 2021</h2> 'Bold and brave, shocking and heartfelt . . . A very special book from a very special author' Chris Whitaker, bestselling author of Waterstones Thriller of the Month We Begin at the End 'Abdullah's legal thrillers make John Grisham seem like a maiden aunt' Sunday Times Crime Club 'Vividly examines some of the issues that shape (and deform) society . . . A gritty, extremely hard-hitting drama' Adele Parks, Platinum magazine 'A masterpiece [and] a triumph . . . When you get to the final chapters, buckle up . . . She writes with such intelligence, research and compassion' Daily Record * * * * * <h2>ARE YOU READY TO START THIS CONVERSATION?</h2> Kamran Hadid feels invincible. He attends Hampton school, an elite all-boys boarding school in London, he comes from a wealthy family, and he has a place at Oxford next year. The world is at his feet. And then a night of revelry leads to a drunken encounter and he must ask himself a horrific question. With the help of assault counsellor, Zara Kaleel, Kamran reports the incident in the hopes that will be the end of it. But it's only the beginning... Powerful, explosive and important, Truth Be Told is a contemporary courtroom drama that vividly captures today's society. You will not stop thinking about it for a long time to come. * * * * * More praise for Truth Be Told: 'The court scenes are pacy and atmospheric, and there is more than one unexpected twist' i 'Brave, compelling and absolutely riveting' A A Dhand, bestselling author of Streets of Darkness 'Tense, harrowing and brilliantly written. A powerful story' Khurrum Rahman, author of East of Hounslow 'An excellent and intelligent novel' The Literary Review 'A deeply profound and thought-provoking read' Heat

“One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars.” — Lisa Jewell, New York Times bestselling author of None of This is True\nA twisty and consuming thriller, Perfectly Nice Neighbors asks: When your dream home comes with nightmare neighbors, how far will you go to keep your family safe?\nSalma Khatun is hopeful about Blenheim, the suburban development into which she, her husband, and their son have just moved. The Bangladeshi family needs a fresh start, and Blenheim feels like just the place. 
Soon after they move in, Salma spots her White neighbor, Tom Hutton, ripping out the anti-racist banner her son put in the front garden. Avoiding confrontation, Salma takes the banner inside and puts it in her window. But the next morning, she wakes up to find her window smeared with paint. 
When she does speak to Tom, battle lines are drawn between the two families. As racial and social tensions escalate and the stakes rise, it’s clear that a reckoning is coming . . . 
And someone is going to get hurt.

Perfectly Nice Neighbors

G.P.Putnam's Sons

Take It Back: A Novel

From author Kia Abdullah, Take It Back is a harrowing and twisting courtroom thriller that keeps you guessing until the last page is turned. One victim. Four accused. Who is telling the truth? Zara Kaleel, one of London's brightest legal minds, shattered the expectations placed on her by her family and forged a brilliant legal career. But her decisions came at a high cost, and now, battling her own demons, she has exchanged her high profile career for a job at a sexual assault center, helping victims who need her the most. Victims like Jodie Wolfe. When Jodie, a sixteen-year-old girl with facial deformities, accuses four boys in her class of an unthinkable crime, the community is torn apart. After all, these four teenage defendants are from hard-working immigrant families and they all have proven alibis. Even Jodie's best friend doesn't believe her. But Zara does--and she is determined to fight for Jodie--to find the truth in the face of public outcry. And as issues of sex, race and social justice collide, the most explosive criminal trial of the year builds to a shocking conclusion.

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Thrillers & Suspense

St.Martin's Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Abdullah, Kia. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Abdullah, Kia

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Abdullah, Kia. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Take It Back: The thrilling, explosive and shocking novel that has everyone gripped

Truth Be Told: the most thrilling, suspenseful, shocking and gritty crime fiction book of 2020

Truth Be Told

Take It Back

Next of Kin

Those People Next Door

Next of Kin

Truth Be Told

Perfectly Nice Neighbors

Take It Back: A Novel