A. Rose 4.0 out of 5 stars  Reviewed in the United Kingdom – Derek Takes Action – the end of an era. This is the fifth and final book of the ‘Derek’ series and I feel it is the best one. I’ve followed Derek from his childhood protest against a supermarket being built on his play area to this final protest against a high speed rail link running through the very centre of his village, hotel and golf course.

Starting with Derek spending a night in a police cell, I was happy to see that the same unfair chaos was staying close to Derek. There always seems to be a near-naked Sophie in the background just in time for Derek’s wife, Sally, to catch a glimpse leaving poor old Derek with a lot of explaining to do. After a theft on a train which leaves Derek holding someones stolen bag, we go on a journey up and down the country with a confusion of piecing together what the Top Secret papers found in the bag are all about, and coming out with clever, but not correct, assumptions.

I felt that this book had more substance than the earlier ones, the storyline was more cohesive and engrossing. Mac Black’s writing gave off more confidence than previously and felt more certain of where the story was going. The story itself has shrunk the characters back to the original close family, leaving out most of the new musical family members of Derek’s Revenge. I think this was a good move and makes it a less confusing story to anyone wanting to read this as a stand-alone book.

This book was sent to me by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.Read less