Prime Day
£1.99

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

You've subscribed to ! We will pre-order your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships and Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Next to Die (Joe & Sam Parker 1) Kindle Edition

4.2 out of 5 stars 630 ratings

Joe Parker is Manchester's most ingenious criminal defence lawyer.
Sam Parker is Manchester's most tenacious homicide detective.

Both bear the burden of the unsolved murder of their sister fifteen years earlier. And both have a stake in a new series of murders that has shaken their city to its core.

Ronnie Bagley is locked up and facing trial for the murder of his girlfriend and baby and there's only one lawyer he wants to defend him: Joe Parker. As Joe takes to the courtroom to represent Ronnie, little does he know that Bagley is smarter than anyone has given him credit for, and soon Joe will find himself pitched against his own brother, Sam, in a race to outwit the most terrifying serial killer the city has ever seen.

It isn't long before Joe and Sam's shared past comes crashing into the present in a pulse-pounding race to find out who is
NEXT TO DIE...

Shop this series

 See full series
There are 3 books in this series.
This option includes 3 books.

Product description

Review

Down and dirty authenticity reeks from every page - the smell of the cells, the artificiality of court appearances, the intensity of the investigation - all helping to make this hypnotic, troubling crime writing with a superb villain and a distinctive atmosphere. ― Daily Mail

Pacey and packed with atmosphere thanks to author Neil White's day job as a practicing criminal lawyer. ―
Irish Independent

Compulsive but disturbing...it's the first in a new series and we can't wait for the next instalment. ―
Bella Magazine

About the Author

Neil White was born and brought up around West Yorkshire. He left school at sixteen but studied for a law degree in his twenties, then started writing in 1994. He is now a lawyer by day, crime fiction writer by night. He lives with his wife and three children in Preston.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009SS98HG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sphere
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 26 Sept. 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 795 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 417 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1405515405
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Parker brothers trilogy
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 630 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Neil White
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I am a criminal lawyer and I am a bestselling British crime fiction author. I try to write books I enjoy, which are fast-paced, page-turning thrillers, often with a legal angle.

My books include the Jack Garrett and Laura McGanity series, the Parker brothers trilogy, and the Dan Grant trilogy. My latest book is The Photograph, released in 2023.

When I'm not writing or doing legal work, you'll find me watching rugby league or Netflix, or reading (of course).

I hope you enjoy the books.

Neil

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
630 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find this book a great read with a real belter of a storyline that delivers unforeseen twists throughout. The pacing rolls along at a good pace, and customers appreciate the well-developed characters and writing quality. They maintain interest throughout, with one customer noting it holds attention to the last page.

64 customers mention ‘Readability’64 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable and thoroughly enjoyable, with one customer describing it as brilliantly constructed.

"...Superb stuff." Read more

"...This is a good read told in more than a good way. So much so, I went straight onto the next one, The Death Collector." Read more

"An ok read but disappointing. Seemed to me that it was written to be filmed, scenes were overly detailed, characters were too 2 dimensional." Read more

"...As always the author has written a cracking book, it's well paced and has once again displayed his talent for focusing a story around two main..." Read more

31 customers mention ‘Storyline’31 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of this book, describing it as a brilliant thriller with unforeseen twists and a cracking set of crime stories.

"...book which supplies the emotional grunt, and the murder mystery which provides the addictiveness. Superb stuff." Read more

"...murders, it didn't detract from the breathless, speedy, completely thrilling end that I raced to...." Read more

"...There are a few excellently horrid pervs and satisfying red-herrings in the story, so it has elements of a true serial-killer thriller...." Read more

"...with the authors work and enjoy this book, or just fancy a cracking set of crime stories, then I strongly recommend grabbing hold of the..." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Pacing’14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing, noting that it rolls along at a good pace, with one customer highlighting the non-stop action and another mentioning there's no long boring schpeel.

"...It all rolls along at a good pace and though admittedly I did see who was behind the murders, it didn't detract from the breathless, speedy,..." Read more

"...It was fast-paced and I looked forward to going back to read it each time I picked my kindle up. Cracking." Read more

"...As always the author has written a cracking book, it's well paced and has once again displayed his talent for focusing a story around two main..." Read more

"...I also liked the author's knowledge of the law courts - no long boring schpeel, just succinct snippets necessary for us to understand the procedure..." Read more

12 customers mention ‘Character development’9 positive3 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer particularly praising Joe as a star of the genre.

"...I loved the character Joe, in fact, all the characters are great...." Read more

"...constructed novel from an author who is fast becoming an established star of the genre, and fully justifies a place at the same table as Robinson..." Read more

"...was written to be filmed, scenes were overly detailed, characters were too 2 dimensional." Read more

"...New characters. Two new excellent heroes, and a real belter of a storyline. Keeps you guessing right up to the end...." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Writing quality’10 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it well composed and easy to read, with one customer particularly noting the beautiful descriptions of Castlefield and Piccadilly.

"...It’s small, beautifully observed details which paint legal scenes so brilliantly; outside of court lawyers are wearing smart, tailored suits, but..." Read more

"...The books is well written with good descriptiveness of what Lancashire has to offer, be it weather, the rolling moors or the two up two down housing..." Read more

"...His descriptions of Castlefield and Piccadilly are great...." Read more

"...Well, it did. I couldn't put it down. Very well written and so detailed...." Read more

6 customers mention ‘Interest’6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, with one mentioning it maintains interest throughout and another noting it holds attention until the last page.

"Plenty of action and maintained interest throughout. Probably worked out who was the main character before the end, however, quite like this author." Read more

"...a very good read not my usual type of book but I found it to be a good change and will probably read more books by Neil white" Read more

"...Great story that keeps you going to the end .characters are very true to life ,the sort of people you can imagine going about their business..." Read more

"very good book - holds your attention to the last page would recommend to any insomniac! well worth reading -" Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Brothers Sam Parker and Joe Parker seem to be at odds with one another. Sam is a detective, working to capture criminals and make the world a better place, whilst Joe is a criminal defence lawyer, working to help those same criminals escape conviction and custodial sentences. But in Next To Die intentions and motives are not always as dissimilar as they first appear.

    When Ronnie Bagley requests Joe Parker defend him against charges of murdering his wife and baby, Joe comes running. He likes a challenge, and winning murder cases brings a lawyer notoriety. Elsewhere Sam is asked by the powers that be to spy on his brother, to try and find out anything that can ensure Ronnie’s conviction. Add to that a string of seemingly linked murders throughout Manchester and the Parker brothers have got their hands very much full.

    Author, Neil White is a lawyer by day, crime fiction writer by night. He knows exactly what he’s writing about and his experience comes through in every chapter. But this isn't a novel of tedious legal jargon which requires a reader wade through it. It’s small, beautifully observed details which paint legal scenes so brilliantly; outside of court lawyers are wearing smart, tailored suits, but defendants are dressed in cheap suits a couple of sizes too big for them.

    There is another layer to proceedings as well: Ellie Parker. Joe and Sam’s younger sister raped and murdered on her way back from school fifteen years ago. Her brothers still feel immense guilt at not being able to save their little sister, and her memory taints everything. It’s this aspect of the book which supplies the emotional grunt, and the murder mystery which provides the addictiveness. Superb stuff.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 August 2015
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Next to Die is the first in a series featuring the Parker brothers. Firstly, we have Sam a police officer working on fraud cases who is desperate to be in the Murder Investigation team and then we have Joe, a criminal defence lawyer who is often at odds with his brother in his approach to defendants. Many times these two brothers are at logger heads and yet time and time again they are thrown together and forced to find a mutual understanding as events unfold throughout the book.

    The books centres on Ronnie Bagley, a suspect accused of murdering his wife and child. A suspect that lands in the lap of Joe and has Sam shaking his head at his actions. Also, running alongside is the backstory of Ellie, the boys' sister who had been brutally murdered some years previously. A murder that has left deep and long lasting repercussions on the whole family, as one would expect. What plays out is a thrilling tale of cat and mouse as the body count mounts up. I should note that the author, Neil While, is a criminal lawyer himself and it is obvious throughout that little details that come to the fore are of someone who knows the 'business'. The books is well written with good descriptiveness of what Lancashire has to offer, be it weather, the rolling moors or the two up two down housing on narrow cobbled streets. It's all there in stark reality but not depressingly so.

    It all rolls along at a good pace and though admittedly I did see who was behind the murders, it didn't detract from the breathless, speedy, completely thrilling end that I raced to.

    This is a good read told in more than a good way. So much so, I went straight onto the next one, The Death Collector.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 April 2017
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    In a genre that is dominated by books about grizzled detectives where the reader's palate can become easily jaded, I started reading this, written by criminal prosecutor, Neil White. His main protagonist is Joe, a defence lawyer. What a refreshing change to have a whodunnit (more of a who's doing it?) that focuses on the legal side of prosecution rather than solely on the policing side. Joe's brother, Sam is a detective, however, and is one of the main characters, but what sets this book apart is the interesting family dynamic where the two competing brothers seem to sit on opposite sides of the same fence but must set their differences aside to solve the disappearances of several young girls. The setting is Manchester, which White paints very well. His descriptions of Castlefield and Piccadilly are great. There are a few excellently horrid pervs and satisfying red-herrings in the story, so it has elements of a true serial-killer thriller. It was fast-paced and I looked forward to going back to read it each time I picked my kindle up. Cracking.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2017
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    An ok read but disappointing. Seemed to me that it was written to be filmed, scenes were overly detailed, characters were too 2 dimensional.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 November 2013
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    I'm not really a big crime reading fan, I much prefer science fiction, but theres one exception to that as I've been a keen reader of Neil White ever since Fallen Idols had me glued to my Kindle.

    Next to Die marks a fresh start with new characters that haven't been previously featured, and so is suitable for new and existing fans alike. I've always enjoyed his books being set up north, and with this book being set in and around Manchester I was certainly able to easily recognise the areas well described.

    As always the author has written a cracking book, it's well paced and has once again displayed his talent for focusing a story around two main characters, flicking between them and slowly drawing the story lines together. I enjoyed this book a lot, although I would say I've found his previous books to be more unpredictable.

    If you're not familiar with the authors work and enjoy this book, or just fancy a cracking set of crime stories, then I strongly recommend grabbing hold of the excellentNeil White 3 Book Bundle.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Barbara Turner
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on 12 November 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Excellent book!
  • Mittelalterfreak
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read !
    Reviewed in Germany on 9 September 2014
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Kein Jack Garret, daher anfangs ungewohnt. Nimmt aber an Spannung zu. Wereinen sehr guten Krimi sucht, liegt hier genau richtig.
    Report
  • linda
    1.0 out of 5 stars Not well written
    Reviewed in Canada on 30 May 2022
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Wouldn't buy this author again
  • W. MAARTENS
    3.0 out of 5 stars Average.
    Reviewed in the United States on 10 December 2018
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Good story, but give me British writers any day. The language and lack of proper editing unsettles me.
  • cgreera
    3.0 out of 5 stars ... way and the police being made to look incredibly stupid.
    Reviewed in the United States on 19 July 2015
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Tired of books always ending the same way and the police being made to look incredibly stupid.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?