posted on 23 Jun 2025

Cold Turkey by Simon James Green

I’m going to pose you a conundrum: you could have a half share of £100 cash if you do a simple task over the next two hours – but you have to co-operate and complete the job with someone who was once your best friend but who you now think is a cheating rat. What would you do?

Well, that’s the decision facing Kit in Simon James Green’s new book for Barrington Stoke, Cold Turkey. Kit’s neighbour, Mrs Mason, wants a full roast turkey delivered to her friend at an address across London and it must get there in two hours before the bird gets cold. It sounds like easy money and with a birthday due the next day, it would be opportune BUT Mrs Mason insists Kit has to share the task with Hamza who was his best friend until he used Kit’s share of profits from other odd jobs to fund his attempt to woo a girl. Now Kit thinks of Hamza as his cheating mortal enemy.

The two boys had been inseparable buddies until this moment and although Kit was still steaming, the thought of the money persuades him that the two could probably manage a couple of hours together as long as they don’t talk to each other.

And so the two set off on their quest and we follow their comic progress across London as the clock ticks down over their allotted two hours. Are they going to make it despite their hapless Laurel-and-Hardyesque mishaps with an unscheduled stop at their favourite fried chicken shop, a brush with underground trains and a short-cut that takes them into gangland territory?

Well, clearly, I’m not going to tell you because you’re going to have plenty of fun finding out for yourself. You’re also going to find out whether the two erstwhile friends can mend their feud as the clock ticks down to its final minutes.

Kit (and you) may well be in for a final surprise when they finally reach the address that they’ve been given for the delivery. Barrington Stoke specialise in books for reluctant readers of all kinds and have guided this one as appropriate for an audience aged 11+, so, why not get your copy from your local independent bookshop – who will be happy to order it for you if they don’t have it on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

June 2025