Booklist, Chicago, reviewed Jimmy Docherty‘s The Ice Cream Con on May 1st. ‘Scottish writer Docherty takes kids living in an urban housing project and imbues them with the power of a crime lord in this rollicking, laugh-out-loud thriller. The novel starts with a kick to the groin in a stairwell and ends with a gutsy ice-cream-truck chase through Glasgow. Holding everything together is hero Jake Drake, 13, who, refusing to be bullied out of his money, seeks protection from local crime lord Cortesi, only to discover that Cortesi is behind the stairwell muggings during which Jake lost his money in the first place. Jake and his friends then invent an imaginary protector, the Big Baresi, and use a rumor and- flier campaign to convince everyone that Baresi is for real. When a load of diamonds goes missing, however, Cortesi comes after Baresi-and Jake and his chums are in big trouble. Punny, wry, age appropriately gross, and great fun.’