Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I’m not a killer. I’m just an ordinary bloke who wants a bit of justice.”

An author AND a Yorkshireman? This book was bound to be decent. (Not biased at all…) And right from the start, it was clear my predictions were correct. I had a great time with The Itch That Couldn’t Be Scratched and absolutely flew through it. I’m so happy to be sharing my review!

About the book

Ed and Jess are happy in retirement – that is, until their lives are forever changed when they witness a woman take her own life. Why did she do it? The police aren’t investigating and no one seems to care. But Ed and Jess do, and they’re determined to uncover the truth behind her tragic act.

Their investigation soon reveals a pandora’s box that includes war crimes, criminal conspiracies, police corruption and a pervasive need for justice left unfulfilled. Can this ordinary elderly couple succeed where officials refuse to tread? The deeper Ed digs, the more strain it puts on his marriage as Jess grows fearful of the dangers involved.

Yet despite tensions at home and sinister forces working against them, Ed persists, compelled by his conscience to see this through to the end. His good intentions pave an unpredictable path filled with chance encounters, family complications, and life-threatening risks.

Will Ed unravel the mystery in time or will his obsession bring disaster upon himself and those close to him? One thing’s for sure: he has no plans to stop until justice is served.

The beginning

I loved the opening to this book. I felt so attached to Ed and Jess, an elderly, semi-retired couple who love to walk and go on traveling adventures. They were loveable and witty, and it already felt as though the author had injected a little of his personality into them. They really felt like real people. There was the most perfect sprinkle of humour in Ed’s character, but he also had a serious side too, which becomes more apparent when he and his wife witness a woman in despair, about to jump from a busy motorway bridge. She can’t be saved and the police do nothing to investigate further. They write her off as another jumper with mental health issues. However, this explanation isn’t enough for Ed. And that’s where the story really begins. He’s determined to investigate what caused Tajra Brkić to stand on that bridge. The intrigue so early on was great and I already became so interested in what Ed and Jess would uncover. A brilliant opening which perfectly sets the scene.

“I remember her face and I can’t get it out of my thoughts. It haunts me. A face that was gaunt and troubled. Yet, just in those last few moments, one with flashes of hope, of defiance, a glimpse of long-lost fire.”

There’s certainly a fire in Ed that can’t be extinguished. His horrific nightmares and sleepless nights combined with his kind-hearted nature make him determined to find the truth about the real Tajra, about her life and her past. What could have caused her to want to take her life? As soon as Ed and Jess began playing detective, I was hooked. In fact, they do a much better job than the police department. I was very pleasantly surprised by the intricate detail, the thoroughness of their own little investigation. Their findings and clues seamlessly roll into the next which felt so satisfying, with each getting us closer to the truth. It seemed Tajra had a very complex life; going through all the facts was fascinating, but at the same time, certain sections felt like I was just reading from a textbook which took me out of the story a little. However, I did appreciate that the author has clearly spent a lot of time researching so many topics such as the Bosnian War in order to develop Tajra’s character, even though she is no longer alive. That takes some skill!

The middle

Ed seems to have a habit of not knowing how or when he’s going to do something (he says these words a lot) but in the end, he always does find a way. He and his wife seem to venture further and further into dangerous territory and they’d really have to watch their backs if they continued. They get in too deep and open a huge can of worms; helping illegal immigrants, attempting to interfere with gang operations, spying on dangerous men. Some of it seemed a little far-fetched – what sort of elderly couple would have the strength or the desire to plunge themselves into a world such as this?! But saying this, I really enjoyed what they got up to and what they find out, and it really was a pleasant surprise to be so invested in this like I was. As well as this, the author balances the danger with a more emotional side which really tugs at the heart strings. Jess wants to support him, but she’s had enough of his obsession. It had become too dangerous now. Would their marriage survive all this?

“She’s backed me as long as she’s known me and always will. And I’ve always backed her. We’ve always worked as a team and supported each other. But not this time, quite the opposite.”

After spending so much time looking into one of the most dangerous men around, Jovanovic, there are some things that aren’t what they appear. The twist we get at this point was very unexpected! However, the news Ed discovers puts him in more danger than he could have anticipated. The introduction of Izzie, a gang youth without many prospects was great, and this character ended up being one of my favourites. The change in him from when Ed meets him and takes him under his wing was just wonderful character development. I felt really attached to him and loved how he became Ed’s partner in crime. Ed’s determination gets him far and his confidence when faced with somewhat dangerous people had certainly grown. The whole experience was sure to change him as a person and I loved this growth. But there’s some shocking news about the fate of some characters which felt like a punch in the gut. Ed feels entirely responsible. How much longer could he keep this up?

The end

The fear and the worry I felt when Ed and Jovanovic meet face to face away from the public eye was so intense, and the scenes that followed were gripping and pulse-quickening. The author builds up such brilliant tension here, and Ed’s panic was easily passed onto me. This part of the book was the first time we really see the extent of his actions, exactly what meddling in things have resulted in. He was in the most danger he’d ever been in. If he took one wrong turn now, he’d pay with his life or the lives of those closest to him. Right until the final chapters, we’re left questioning everything which felt really good. I couldn’t really predict whether Ed would ever feel satisfied. Would he ever get the justice he was so desperate for? Would life ever get back to how it was pre-Jovanovic? Thinking about these questions, even when I wasn’t reading is proof that this story has really stuck with me!

“It’s a terrible thing, paranoia. It makes us regard everyone as potential enemies and see dangers that don’t exist. But at least it keeps us on our toes.”

Ed plays a significant part, a messenger between two rival gangs. Despite the danger he could potentially face, he does a pretty good job of keeping his cool on the surface. It felt as though some sort of ending was in sight, that we were reaching a point of no return. I just wasn’t sure exactly how things would go. There was a lot happening in those final chapters to bring everything together, but a lot of it felt brushed over and that it wasn’t given the attention to detail that it deserved after everything we’d learned over the course of the book. I felt there was so much that could have been explored further or that could have been fleshed out more to give it more impact, and some of the big, crucial reveals were simply given in a sentence. However, despite feeling a little let down with the thin ending, what actually happened was packed with emotion and I felt characters’ feelings so strongly. I’m curious about where things would go in a second book with the ending we get here! It’s definitely an ending that could be explored… any plans, Jeff? 🤔

Overall thoughts

The Itch That Couldn’t Be Scratched is a story of one man’s obsession with finding the truth, and the lengths a person will go to get justice. Ed, along with his wife Jess, encounter dangerous situations that really test their marriage, their journey of playing detective pushing them to their limit. From interfering with gang operations, spying on dangerous men and helping illegal immigrants, their unforgettable journey had me turning page after page. And of course, there are so many brilliant, memorable characters thrown into the mix! An intense read which gets dark and uncertain in places, but one that will have you thinking even when the book isn’t in your hands. A great debut from this author and hoping for a second book!

You can grab your own copy of the book right now over on Amazon!

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