A SOFT-hearted detective who even obligingly helps his wife by taking his baby daughter with him while he sleuths wouldn't seem an obvious or ideal candidate to tackle gritty inner-city crime and a sleezy web of sex, drugs and vicious murders.

Yet that's what makes the quirkily named Detective Sergeant Aector (pronounced Hector) McAvoy, the central character of Original Skin, so refreshing, appealing and totally believable.

Set against a backdrop of Hull's cobbled streets, cafes and bleak housing estates, a complex story evolves which ventures into the politics of policing and local government and shocks with graphic descriptions of violence and sex rings.

This is definitely for those who like their crime stories to be dark, chilling and authentic - no cardboard heroes or villains here - but enjoy seeing the humanity in some of the lost souls caught up in a dangerous world.

McAvoy made his debut in David Mark's first book, Dark Winter, and this intuitive, empathetic detective, who is also ruthless in his pursuit of justice, seems set to be a 'break-the-mould' new hero who should appeal to crime thriller fans looking for something different.

9/10
Review by Gabrielle Fagan