From the horrors of war in Yugoslavia to life on a Newcastle council estate in the north of England, the tremendous pace of Flying with Kites will take your breath away. Katya Gjikolli is bent on her own and her son's survival in a world gone mad. Her husband may have been caught by the Serbs, he may be imprisoned, tortured or even dead.

She eventually escapes on a refugee flight to the UK. She finds herself housed with another Kosovan refugee in a high-rise flat in a depressed area of Newcastle in the north of England. She begins her new life, finding new friends and a new love. One woman's struggle to survive leads to new friends who live on the edge of the law.

There's Bigsy who will do anything to make money, strictly for cash. Chirpy and Wazza make up the colourful trio who aid Bigsy in delivering drugs to the clubs in Newcastle for Everton Sheedie, a dealer with roots in Brixton. Carol, Bigsy's wife, dishes out 'favours' to him dependent on how well he behaves and how much money he gives her to spend. Polly is an art student with a talent for flying kites, as well as an eye for a good photograph and for Katya.

Other characters are peppered throughout the novel providing colour and depth, making this a terrific read. It has got sex and violence. It's also got tenderness so well written that it will bring a tear to the eye.