Tag: Contemporary thriller

The Will by Rebecca Reid – a clever, brilliantly written family thriller set in a huge family home

November 7, 2022

The Will by Rebecca Reid

This is an unusual and absolutely enthralling novel which I found difficult to put down. Set in a family stately home, Roxborough Hall, over several days one summer, this is a book that could so easily have diverted into a murder mystery as all the characters manifest some intense feelings during their stay. All the characters are related to each other, with one exception; Violet, the lifelong companion of Cecily, the most recent owner. The Mordaunt family have lived in this special, huge, beautiful house for generations, since Tudor times at least. It has descended to its successive owners, along with the bulk of a considerable sum of money for its upkeep, not by predictable but sometimes disastrous primogeniture, the eldest son inheriting however feckless or unsuitable he be, but by a quaint and symbolic process. It is that system which provides the narrative drive of this well written novel, with its surprises and twists, and its entirely relatable characters. Each family member has their own motives and backstory revealed, but not in a straightforward manner as significant events reveal their attitude to a house, a charge for life, an undertaking that will transform their lives whatever they choose to do.  As each character is revealed, in the light of a system that almost forces honesty at whatever the cost, the mystery of who will inherit the house runs throughout, a mystery that I found tantalising. I found this such an enjoyable book, so well written and carefully plotted that I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it.

The practice or entail which arranges who will receive the house is that the previous owner will write letters to each member of the family individually, either stating that they are the new owner, or explaining why they are not. The ceremony of the letters takes place after the funeral in the dining room of the house at a meal at which all the potential legatees must attend. Cecily had died with only Violet in attendance, so her children and grandchildren are summoned to the house for the funeral and the revelation of who was to inherit. David, the eldest son with his second wife Bryony and their son Lucca, Grant with his latest much younger girlfriend and his son Jonty who lives locally. David’s two adult daughters from his first marriage, the troubled Willa and free spirit Lizzie, are also summoned, while Cecily’s daughter Elspeth has been contacted but has not replied. Each of those arriving in the family home where they have each spent school holidays, Christmas and Easter for most of their lives, reacquaint themselves with the house and its glorious countryside setting, for most their only real home after tumultuous lives in other places. Each know that they stand to inherit at least on paper, and they each have various attitudes to that. For one or two it would represent a new start, for others a means to an end – a source of money, a venue for a project, a steadying influence in a difficult life. Each wonder about their chances, the chances that another member of this dysfunctional family will have been the preferred heir of the unpredictable, quixotic Cecily. Only Violet, who has been Cecily’s confidante for so long, has an idea, but is genuinely confused by the events that transpire in this enclosed community over a short space of time.

I really enjoyed the interaction between the characters that feature in this novel, and the tension that the author has managed to continue to virtually the final pages. While some characters are unlikable or elusive, their back stories go some way to explain their current actions and attitudes. This is a nonviolent thriller of the best kind, with superb dialogue, twists and surprises that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I recommend it as a really good, immersive read.

Listen To Me by Tess Gerritsen – a thriller and mystery from a well established detection team

July 18, 2022

Listen To Me by Tess Gerritsen

A murder, a puzzle and so much more – this is a vivid and challenging book in which established characters, Detective Jane Fizzoli and Forensic Pathologist Maura Isles, have to discover what is truly going on. A nurse has been brutally murdered in her own home in a seemingly motiveless attack, but what can be discovered from the information she left behind? As if Jane has not got enough to concern her, her mother Angela seems to have become a neighbourhood vigilante, obsessed with her new neighbours and what may be going on across the road. Angela usually confines herself to cooking up a storm for all comers, but is she now walking into danger? This fast moving novel is far more than a police procedural or mystery; the characters feel very real and have genuine depth. This was my first encounter with Rizzoli and Isles, so I can definitely guarantee that this works as a standalone, though I can see that the earlier books in the series will be worth tracking down. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this enthralling book which I really found difficult to put down.

The great success of this book lies in the reality of the characters alongside a twisty plot. From a black boy’s mother angrily defending her son through to a young woman who seems to be being pursued by an older man, every main character is given a real focus, and in Angela’s case, a voice to describe what she thinks, feels and ultimately experiences. The detective team of Rizzoli and Frost has been together long enough to be a real family affair, even if Alice is a little trying. From such a background the breakthroughs that occur after a lot of hard work seem logical. Much of Angela’s commentary on her sort of investigations is almost light relief, though Jane’s weary reactions to her phone calls empathise how annoying she is, distracting her from a complex investigation with so many threads. Gerritsen obviously enjoys herself balancing humour and tension; not down playing the genuine suspense and terror of murder, but balancing it with a certain amount of honest comedy. As Jane has to work out the central mystery of who would find it necessary to kill a quiet, widowed nurse who has gained the respect of those who had worked with her, an old case seems to be haunting the investigation. 

There are many threads or strands to this case, some of which I spotted while others were a mystery. It is such a cleverly constructed novel where instinct and making the connections are so important, and I found as a first time reader of this author I felt completely able to follow. Its settings are convincing, and the author’s medical knowledge is well deployed to ground the clues and ideas. It was also interesting to get hints of Maura’s secret life. 

This is a murder mystery/ thriller which I greatly enjoyed, despite my relative lack of knowledge of American life and policing. I found it a fascinating read which I greatly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary crime with a humourous twist.      

Let’s Pretend by Laura Vaughan – a thriller that glimpses into the world of celebrity life and its challenges

April 7, 2022

Let’s Pretend by Laura Vaughan

Pretending is what Lily Thane has been doing all her life – after all, it is another word for acting, which she has been trying to do since being the famous four year old in a cult Christmas film. Now, despite being part of a theatrical family and her determined mother – the “Momanger”, she is struggling. She is good at what she does, being a perfected attractive blonde who is always auditioning for parts, but real success in being cast is eluding her. So when she meets an old friend from theatre school, the sort of famous Adam Harker, and a proposal is made of a sort of acting job with sweeteners is made, it seems reasonable to take it. Adam has secrets and a darkness that attract and repel her at the same time, but pretending to be in a celebrity romance at least raises her profile. If only she knew how deep she must plunge – and how it will feature death…

This is a thriller set in the celebrity world behind the red rope, where things can be safe and separate, but also be a pressure cooker of emotion and varied desires. It certainly looks at what seems to be the reality of life in Britain, when success as an actor is a matter of connections and good fortune as much as talent. Laura Vaughan has created a character in Lily Thane that has  a family that is known in theatrical circles, even if it’s not for the sort of lightweight roles that she is currently linked to in her efforts. She is shown as having a lingering element of fame as a child actor, but that seems a long time ago as she is shown as having her nose fixed, watching her weight, guarding her image. The other characters are also complex creations, with their awareness of social media, and in the case of Nina, celebrity gossip, as a force in their success or failure. Not being an expert in the field, I can only say that this element of the book is certainly convincing, and Vaughan never lets her research get in the way of the strong narrative. The character of Adam is certainly as contradictory and unstable as a nearly successful actor would need to be to survive such a challenging environment with his big secret. In a way, Vaughan has created a special world which transcends geographical boundaries as she establishes a world where the super rich and the created celebrity images overlap, guarded by an impressive range of managers, agents and PR experts. The settings also vary from hotels through hideaways to a modernist house with many secrets and distinguishing features in its lack of comforts. This is a complex book which is genuinely enthralling as Lily must try to survive, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it. 

Adam’s need for a public companion is not an easy thing for Lily to cope with, given that he is a professional charmer and even in his worst moments maintains the sort of handsome aura that has given him some success in the past to the point of some cult status. Lily’s presence by his side is to confirm his image of all action hero with a hint of danger. It is only when Lily gets close that she realises his dark side may be dangerous not only to him, but those around him. Her motivations throughout are deliberately vague – this is a thriller which twists and turns around the central idea of a fake romance with real impact. It is a very contemporary story that I found fascinating, and I recommend it as an exciting read.    

Faceless by Vanda Symon – a clever thriller with a real feeling for character and the build up of suspense

March 22, 2022

Faceless by Vanda Symon

A thriller told from up to four points of view, this is an intense and powerful story of determination in the face of impossible odds. Featuring homeless characters in a city in New Zealand, it is written with a sparse prose that does not waste time on descriptions, feelings and emotions which will emerge from the characters’ actions and reactions. This is a book which shows how desperate people can react when circumstances demand – and a little of how past hurts can power the present. Each switch of character is clear, though they pick up the story at slightly different times, as the desperation rises for more than one person. It is a mystery that works out brilliantly as various people know only a little of what is going on – and only the author and reader can put it together as time carries on and tension rises. In a way it is a masterclass in contemporary writing, a well balanced story of crime and investigation starting from very different places than normal. I found it an enthralling novel, and I am pleased to have had the opportunity to read and review it. 

 Bradley is an ordinary man with family pressures and a job which demands more than he can possibly manage. A sudden impulse sends him into a nightmare that changes lives.  Not that it is solely his nightmare by any stretch of imagination – his descent is a painful revelation in every way. Billy is a young woman who is trying to surmount her situation with art, who descends into a danger that she could never have imagined. Her torment is messy and painful, and calls on all her inner resources. Her previous experience as a homeless woman has not always been pleasant, yet there was light and in Max a friend and companion who cared. Max has descended about as low as it is possible to go, barely surviving as a wreck of the man he once was, shocking in his physical state and attitude to himself. Only his friendship with Billy has kept him going, and when she suddenly disappears he cannot rest, cannot  cope without discovering what has happened to her. Even though it costs him everything, even when he realises it will be physically risky, he still makes every effort, uses every contact, however tenuous, to discover what has happened to her. He knows that he is stirring up memories and situations that he has made every effort to suppress, but he is desperate. 

With her usual flair for creating characters and situations that may slowly develop but twist and turn in their revelation, Symon has so much control of the plot that it truly absorbed me. She does not spend time setting the scene and explaining everything, but layers up the suspense brilliantly. There are some dark elements of this story, but they are well handled and necessary to the story. I was so impressed by the character of Max, for whom so much of this book is a revelation of how far he has descended, and the beginning of realising what he must do to change his life in every respect. This is an amazing story, and a well written thriller with real suspense.    

The Crooked Shore by Martin Edwards – a contemporary crime thriller set in the Lake District

July 26, 2021

The Crooked Shore by Martin Edwards

With suspicious deaths, cold cases and a sumptuous setting, Edwards’ latest novel is an impressive tale of relationships centred on the Lake District. This novel follows The Dungeon House, but works well as a stand alone with some well established characters. DCI Hannah Scarlett is a determined investigator, keen to increase her team to better find leads in the twenty year old disappearance of a young local woman. Ramona Smith had a reputation locally for a complex romantic life, and her mysterious fate has cast a destructive shadow over many lives. The investigation has sprung to life again with a new tragedy that could only happen on the Crooked Shore, a special place of particular danger. Hannah’s team must work hard to track down all the potential people who may know the truth of past events and contemporary dangers. With at least one murder already committed, the desperate search for the killer must speed up to prevent more deaths.

This intense novel is written with several strands of story. Hannah is obviously a skilled and experienced detective who is keen to get her team up to full strength, with the support of the new Police Commisioner, Kit Gleadall. The Prologue features an anonymous speaker confessing to the murder of Ramona Smith, and from that moment various characters are introduced who may well fulfill that role. Edwards is extremely able to introduce three dimensional characters with realistic attitudes and personal histories that weave in and out of the narrative. The establishment of the setting is well done, with the particular atmosphere of a town and countryside of historic significance. I enjoyed the writing immensely and was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this excellent novel. 

Kingsley Melton is sitting on a bench overlooking the Crooked Shore. He is charged with selling luxury apartments at Strandbeck Manor, a difficult job for this man in his fifties, who has the air of one defeated by life. The appearance of a lone jogger barely attracts his attention, while Kingsley considers a sighting of a young man that he feels he has every reason to suspect of guilty dealings. Logan Prentice has spent time at a nursing home where Kinsley’s mother was a resident, and Kingsley believes him guilty of a crime there. While he contemplates this, the jogger becomes trapped in the sand in front of him and Kinsley can only look on in horror as the tide advances. Kingsley’s obsession with a woman who lives in an apartment in the manor comes to dominate his waking hours. It later emerges that the jogger possibly meant to end his life in an horrific way, following his father’s suicide exactly twenty years before. Gerry Lace had been the chief suspect in the disappearance of Ramona, an investigation led by the late Ben Kind. The death of his son, Darren Lace, on the beach provokes a reassessment of what really happened to Ramona, with implications for many people in the area. 

This novel has real depth as both the investigators and the investigated are seen with all their interrelated stories. It is a relatively small community in a contemporary world where rumours and theories of guilt are easily communicated. This is a thriller where time is of the essence as old wounds and new dangers emerge, and Edwards maintains the tension admirably throughout, building to an exciting climax. The characters are well drawn and realistic. The plot is complex as the investigation and action takes place in the present but is affected by the past. This is a well written novel which I found completely involving and intriguing. I recommend it strongly to those who enjoy a contemporary thriller with a strong sense of place and complex characters.   

The Crimson Thread by Anna Sayburn Lane – An 800 year old murder, a 400 year old play – but fresh discoveries mean present danger for Helen Oddfellow

July 10, 2021

The Crimson Thread by Anna Sayburn Lane

A play by an Elizabethan dramatist seems to be an innocent and safe enough project for a provincial theatre and attending or being connected with its premiere seems safe enough. In this novel, however, the writer was the turbulent Christopher Marlowe, the saint whose death is written about is Thomas Becket, and disturbing forces are busy in Canterbury, home of the pilgrimages that have taken place over the centuries in his honour. For Helen Oddfellow, credited with discovering the play’s text after its “loss” four hundred years before, this fast paced, tense and well plotted novel tells of her latest literary adventure.

Sayburn Lane rachets up the tension of a book which deals with danger and an awful discovery in the crypt of the cathedral which brings home how desperate certain dark forces are to conceal the truth about a literary secret several hundreds of years in the making. Incorporating actors, long established guardians of secrets, clergy and a surprisingly enterprising young helper, the characters in this book challenge Helen’s past, present and future. The setting, of ancient buildings and secret places in the ancient city, is brilliantly exploited and so well described that it feels like a three-dimensional tour in many ways. Helen is a truly well-established character, with some arcane and academic knowledge which fuels the story, but also a real humanity and experience which makes her feel real. Although not her first outing in the field of literary adventures, her story is well enough explained in this book for it to be read as a standalone novel. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this outstanding thriller.  

The novel opens with an older woman, Alice, being lured into a mysterious meeting in the Chapter House of Canterbury Cathedral. She is a little concerned about it, especially as she is keen to meet her friend William and attend the premiere of the play in the local theatre. Moreover, she encounters Derek, a man described as “furtive” en route, and she has no time to listen to his concerns. Too late she realises that both her and William have been brought for a meeting which is far more threatening than she could have ever imagined, and that a desperate search for a secret is placing them in danger. Meanwhile Helen is tasked with introducing the play to a packed audience, but it seems she is not going to be allowed to explain anything concerning a text about crucial events in local history without dramatic incidents taking place. Her joint discovery in a chapel in the Cathedral early the following morning jolts her into realizing that something powerful is taking place in the small city, and it proves that no one is safe, from the oldest person who may be a keeper of secrets, to a chorister with a strong streak of curiosity.

This is an intelligent thriller which has much to say about old secrets and new dangers. It incorporates personal histories and greater forces which bring their own dangers. From the first revelations of danger through to a thrilling climax, this is a book which is fascinating and gripping. Helen is a wonderful lead character with enough knowledge to be able to slot together clues, but also human enough to be concerned for those who have become involved in a series of dangerous mysteries. There is a lot of research behind this short novel, but it never gets in the way of the exciting narrative.  I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a tense thriller with a literary and historical base firmly set in a place which is worthy of further investigation and maintains the tension until the very end.   

Nearest Thing to Crazy by Elizabeth Forbes When a life is questioned…

May 24, 2021

Nearest Thing to Crazy by Elizabeth Forbes

It all begins so innocently. A village group of friends enjoying lunch together. Everyone is relatively well off, living in beautiful houses, knowing who their friends are, certain of their place. There may have been cracks; an affair, difficult parents, money worries. There is nothing really to worry about, though, everyone is so nice. Into this perfect summer day walks Ellie. Attractive, vibrant, she catches the eye, is reluctant to share her own story but open to everyone else’s secrets. She seems keen to blend in, even bond. She seems to be alone, having moved into a new barn conversion, apparently fleeing from London. Cassandra is welcoming, attempting to include her, offering lifts, an outing. Within days something seems to be not quite right, confidences exchanged are used, “concerned” allegations are made. Cassandra begins to think that there is more to Ellie than meets the eye, and that writing a novel may be a cover for something else, far closer to home.

This is a brilliantly written and plotted tale of clever invasion of a conciousness, seen from the eyes of a woman who is rapidly becoming concerned and confused about this new person in her life. Cassandra, narrator and perhaps victim is a woman who begins to feel besieged in the most insidious of ways. This is a sort of domestic thriller, though not in the sense of physical danger. Cassandra is married to a man, Dan, whom she loves but who can be distant. Their only child, Laura, is becoming distant from her, at university and apparently closer to her indulgent father. A mother who is manipulative, who likes to wound her daughter, must be visited regularly, even though nothing is ever good enough. The things that Cassandra enjoys – gardening, cooking and being in the domestic sphere, seem inadequate compared with the stylish life of Ellie, successful ex journalist and novelist. This is a book that has a lot to say about the insecurity felt by women in society, when violence is not only physical. I found this a chilling and effectively written novel, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it.

Cassandra loves her husband, “cosy Dan”, relaxing at weekends, interested in gossip, mostly thoughtful, despite his worries about his job in the notoriously fickle world of advertising. Laura is further away, and her visits can be spasmodic, but there is evidence that she needs her mother despite her usual air of self-containment. Cassandra’s mother, safely in a residential home is “brutally honest” bitter, accusing, and impossible to please. Cassandra has her worries, but also her joys, such as her garden, her friends, her community. Ellie seems to be trying to undermine that, suggesting that she is upset, perhaps a little unstable. Cassandra confides that she had post-natal depression when Laura was born; perhaps, it seems Ellie is suggesting, that depression is returning.

This is a novel where the narrator discovers that she is being undercut on every side, forced to question everything, must respond to what is being insinuated. She feels she has no where to turn, no one to believe her, in her doubts about her husband, her daughter, even her own thoughts. This is such a clever novel, exploring the pressures that can be placed on women in contemporary society, the control that can be exercised without being suspected. It questions what can be believed, who has the truth, even if it exists. It works on the fears that many people have, especially women. An intense read, it has much to say about the nature of truth, and how far we can trust others and our own perceptions of life.    

Stealing the Spanish Princess by Bea Green – when murder and art come together

May 14, 2021

Stealing the Spanish Princess by Bea Green

A painting so beautiful that it is unknown, hidden away by its owner, is stolen. A young woman is killed at the same time. An art expert from the Art and Antiquities Unit at Scotland Yard is called in, but with an unknown masterpiece that he must verify his life soon becomes complicated. This tense thriller takes its inspiration from the potential existence of a painting by El Greco, but then goes on to cover so much more, offering a real insight into the world of art conservation and verification, and the international importance of a few experts who can give definitive answers. As it features a Russian oligarch, Igor Babikov, the novel also supplies a glimpse into the world of the super rich, as well as the impact of a visit to St Petersburg among other exotic destinations.

 Richard Langley is the art expert whose quiet world of art recovery is rocked when he is called into help with a brutal murder, and the help of Detective Inspector Eilidh Simmons is going to be essential as they both strive to discover a painting which was never though to exist because of a body which definitely does. This is a well-paced crime thriller which deals brilliantly with the difficulties of discovering a painting which may provide the motive for murder. As Richard’s knowledge of and love for art is central to the novel the reader learns so much about the world of art and fraud, while Eilidh realizes the problems of keeping her own life separate from the fast-moving demands of her job. This is an intense crime thriller with a real basis in a fascinating world, and I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review it.

As a first line goes, it is an unusual introduction to a crime novel: “Chief Inspector Richard Langley was inspecting a mummified foot in his basement office at New Scotland Yard when the phone call from the Superintendent came.” Richard is immersed in a world of objects which came into the building from airports among other places where dubious pieces turn up. It is a surprising call as the Superintendent is in charge of Homicide and Serious Crime Command, which rarely overlaps with the world of art, fine or otherwise. Richard soon discovers that in the world of Serious Crime, the human element is far more unpredictable than carefully gained knowledge of potential art fraud. Happily, he has a vital link to an investigator who has more robust abilities, Mike Telford, who has methods that are effective, even if not always fully in line with the law.

This is a book which I found hard to put down once I started; though not that knowledgeable about art, I soon understood that the existence of a near mythical painting provides the basis for an impressive novel of red herrings, exotic travel and much more. Richard is an unusual lead character in a novel which delves into some pretty murky places in the hunt for the truth, so it was easy to follow his point of view as he deals with the half-truths and red herrings of a complex case. The character of Eilidh proves another high point in a book which neatly covers the worlds of crime and art. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime novels which go beyond the usual format.  

Geiger by Gustaf Skordeman – A well paced thriller with multidimensional characters and many surprises

May 8, 2021

Geiger by Gustaf Skordeman

A thriller set in contemporary Sweden with a fast paced plot, based on old crimes and present threats, Geiger begins with a trigger that sets off a whole trail of danger. Partly reflecting the complexity of Cold War issues, partly a personally felt confirmation that no one is entirely what they seem, two women dominate a novel which combines brilliantly the huge forces at play with the private betrayals of the past. Agneta is a grandmother, a respectable and quiet woman married to a celebrity. Sara is a police officer working with vulnerable women and arresting those who exploit them. The plot that they find themselves involved in may have been fifty years in the making, but the dangers are real now. This is a powerful, complex novel which maintains the suspense right through to the end, while managing to narrate the actions and reactions of Agneta and Sara throughout. As the focus changes between the various characters, this is a well worked out novel which raises then ties up many ends. The research is immense, and does not reflect straightforward history as much as the suggested material on the edge, which is thoroughly backed up in the action. A definitive thriller, I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this exciting book.

The novel begins with grandparents Agneta and Stellan’s time looking after their two daughters’ sets of children. They have been on holiday, while doting grandmother Agneta has taken the brunt of the childcare, and Grandpa Stellan has taken refuge in the study. When Lotta and Malin return with their respective husbands, peace begins to return to the big house in an expensive suburb, one that befits a retired television celebrity whose legendary programmes had dominated the schedules when options were limited. Just as the two families are stowed in their respective cars and begin to drive off, a landline call comes through. Agneta rushed to answer it, and hearing the one word “Geiger”, she takes action to retrieve a pistol  and begins an apparently preordained series of actions which have been prepared for over decades. As soon as the call registers, it provokes action in a semi defunct intelligence centre and people start moving. Sara is at work, an ex model with a job in the prostitution unit, angry at a system that allows them only to fine clients of the exploited girls. She pursues a man who has injured a girl, and makes an arrest which shocks her associate. It is at this adrenaline filled moment that she gets a call from her friend Anna who is charged with investigating a crime in a setting that Sara has special knowledge of, and which will envelop her as she tries to deal with her own family issues.

This is a book which switches focus quickly, but which always provides sufficient information to allow the reader to catch up and understand where the story is heading. There are intriguing twists and turns spread throughout, and surprising revelations for nearly everyone concerned. The author has constructed a thriller which has solid and memorable characters, all with motivations that can be seen if not understood. Carefully written, this is a book which is paced like a crime and mystery book, but with multidimensional characters with their own stories. It is altogether a terrific read, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast paced read with real depth from a debut author.  

Judas Horse by Lynda La Plante – Detective Jack Warr on the trail of an informer while maintaining good relations

April 3, 2021

Judas Horse by Lynda La Plante

Violent burglars rampaging around an area of highly desirable properties is one thing for Detective Jack Warr to deal with, but coping with more senior officers is another thing altogether in La Plante’s latest crime thriller. When diplomacy is not enough, he must consider other methods to prevent those he struggles with from getting in the way of stopping a sophisticated gang perpetrate more attacks on homes that will soon only end one way. When a frightened woman explains that a “Judas Horse” is trained to betray the other wild beasts, Jack realizes that protecting victims is a fine art. Those people who have read the first book in this excellent series will pick up some of the reasons why Jack acts as he does, but there is certainly enough detail in this book for those who have not previously encountered Jack Warr to work out why he is a divided man. His love for his partner Maggie who is heavily pregnant is never in doubt, and in many ways he operates in the kind and thoughtful way taught him by his adoptive father, Charlie. His birth father is another matter, however, and he is a great police officer with an extra edge. This well written police procedural has much to offer as the detectives are seen as real people, with their own skills and talents to offer. La Plante handles this complex story and her large cast of characters with great skill and experience, drawing in the reader to a totally compelling climax. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this well written book.

The novel opens with the traumatic discovery of a body by two boys. Not that this situation is picked up again until later in the book, but it sits in the reader’s mind as evidence of how brutal criminals can be on occasion. The case of the Wimbledon Prowler was not Jack Warr’s case to begin with, but while assisting the officer in charge who has lost all confidence in his ability to solve the series of burglaries, he encounters Mike, a retired officer who has good ideas about how to trap done a serial offender. A happy event leaves Jack thoughtful as well as totally content, and even his rather taciturn boss, Ridley is touched by Maggie and Jack’s thoughtfulness. When an assignment outside London comes up, Ridley is surprised when Jack volunteers, but is perhaps underestimating Jack’s enthusiasm to put some of his recently learnt skills into practice. Soon Jack is trying to balance the detection of a series of crimes which has shown him the real effects on those who already have daily challenges, the skills necessary to maintain at least a working relationship with those senior to him, and the pull of his family at home.

This is the sort of book that ‘just one more chapter’ becomes difficult as I found the plot absorbing, as well as finding out what would happen to the dedicated but human Jack and those he is fighting to protect. The writing is well paced, and La Plante is well able to handle the interactions between characters that include professional jealousy as well as ambition. As some more senior officers struggle to accept Jack, he maintains his clear plan and wins the trust of those who he needs to encourage. This is an extremely well written crime thriller where the main character does have self doubts, but is not plagued with a serious problem with other people. I am a rather selective reader of contemporary crime novels, but have found this book so enjoyable I will definitely be looking out for more La Plante novels, especially those featuring DS Jack Warr.