Ed James (1)

This is the second book featuring DI Simon Fenchurch and I enjoyed it a lot more than The Hope that Kills, the first in this police procedural series. To get the full history of the characters and appreciate their development, I would nevertheless suggest starting with the first book.
There were still the drums in Fenchurch's ears and his burrito obsession; two things which I found repetitive in book 1, but fortunately, Fenchurch shows development as well. He is back together with his wife show more Abi, is drinking less, and has vowed to move on with his life without obsessing over their daughter Chloe's disappearance a decade ago.
During a night out, Fenchurch and Abi witness the fatal stabbing of a young woman. Fenchurch manages to apprehend a young boy who appears to be involved in mobile phone thefts. With the boy in custody, the case seems pretty much solved. But, of course, it isn't that straightforward, and this is where Ed James really started to impress me. He crafted a very complex and highly original storyline. It moved along at a fast pace and was not predictable at all. While I still feel that there are parts that are a tad clichéd (e.g. Fenchurch constantly getting disciplined and his eternal conflicts with other cops), the plot is developed brilliantly. I loved the way Ed James incorporated the London setting amid the contemporary topics of politics, leaving the EU, racial tension and gangs. It was very British. By that, I simply mean that you may end up Googling at least a couple of things unless you're very used to the vernacular and British life. But this was also part of what made the plot and the dialogue seem very realistic and believable. So basically, with this second book, Ed James has convinced me to keep going with yet another British police procedural series and after that ending, I have to say I'm quite keen to find out what's next for DI and Mrs. Fenchurch.
I received an ARC via NetGalley. show less

Review of eBook

Detective Inspector Vicky Dodds, called out to the scene of a homicide, finds Gavin Mason lying dead in his Dundee flat, his skull smashed in with a hammer. With the assistance of Detective Sergeant Luke Shepherd from Edinburgh’s Major Investigation Team, she sets out to find the murderer.

But Shepherd, also assigned to Professional Standards and Ethics, the police department’s internal affairs unit, is investigating someone in Dundee. Who is under investigation and what show more will Vicky find as she investigates Mason’s murder?

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Fifth in the Detective Inspector Vicky Dodds series, the narrative is short on backstory, leading to some confusion for readers new to the series. The continual reference to Vicky's last case without sufficient explanation leaves readers at a loss to understand the nuances of the situation.

A strong sense of place and well-developed characters keep the story moving, but readers new to the series are likely to be a bit bewildered as they try to sort out who's who. The intriguing plot is action-packed, offering readers continually-building suspense. But the revelations at the end of the story are not likely to endear readers to the detectives and the denouement is disappointing, even for fans of the series.

I received a free copy of this eBook from The Book Whisperer, Grey Dog and NetGalley
#GuiltTrip #NetGalley show less

Thrillers always bring me out of a reading slump, and this was no exception. I was kept wanting more until I found I'd reached the end!⠀

The book plays out every parent's nightmare - having your baby stolen while with the babysitter. I felt my heart pounding in my chest as I read this... I loved the way that the author intertwined the different POV, between the cop chasing the kidnapper and the kidnapper and the parents.⠀

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and Ed James for allowing me to show more read this and give my honest opinion. show less

This is the third book in the London-based police procedural about DI Simon Fenchurch. Preferably, they should be read in order because a major part involves the arc about Fenchurch's missing daughter, Chloe, which has run through all the books. I think previous knowledge of all the characters involved would definitely make this more enjoyable.
This one starts with the murder of a female lawyer who was last seen catching a taxi using an app-based service. A suspect is soon apprehended, but show more the story really takes off after that and becomes Fenchurch's most twisted and hazardous case as well as his most personal one yet.
This series has been steadily getting better. I once again enjoyed how the author inserts little snippets of topics that very nicely pinpoint the story in time and place (the mayor of London, Euro 2016 competition etc.) It's really fast-paced and full of energy. A few times I felt it was all getting a little too overdramatic and the latter part of it stretched credibility. Fenchurch's very active and not-by-the-book participation in cases that are so closely linked to him seems unrealistic but if you can get over that, then this is a gripping crime drama with a complex storyline and a shedload of action. show less