Before It’s Too Late by Jane Isaac

4 Stars from me

A new direction from Jane Isaac in Before It’s Too Late as she introduces us to a new character, a male lead, Detective Inspector Will Jackman.

I found Chinese student Min Li to be likeable and found her plight both believable and engaging – I wanted her to be ok. The central ‘suspects’ surrounding her life were all credible and it was challenging to pick them off and work through them trying to be one step ahead of Jackman in locating the right one.

The elements of Chinese culture that were dropped into the story were very interesting, the ways in which the UK police would expect a family to work with them were skewed by the cultural differences and traditions.

As ever, with Jane Isaac’s writing, the scene setting and atmosphere are built brilliantly and you ‘live’ the situation as you read the book.

Interesting side story with DI Will Jackman’s wife and daughter.

I’ve read three books by Isaac now and enjoyed them all. If pushed I would say I think my favourite is The Truth Will Out and I’ve picked that one purely for it’s heart stopping first few chapters – I do like a book that can scare me! As it’s Internation Women’s Day today I’d also champion the female lead in that book – DCI Helen Lavery.

Why’d it drop a star? Because I guessed who dunnit!

Synopsis: I concentrated hard, desperately listening for something familiar, the sound of life. I heard nothing. Just my own breaths and the wind, whistling through branches above… The thought made me shiver. I am buried alive. Following an argument with her British boyfriend, Chinese student Min Li is abducted whilst walking the dark streets of picturesque Stratford-upon-Avon alone. Trapped in a dark pit, Min is at the mercy of her captor. Detective Inspector Will Jackman is tasked with solving the case and in his search for answers discovers that the truth is buried deeper than he ever expected. But, as another student vanishes and Min grows ever weaker, time is running out. Can Jackman track down the kidnapper, before it’s too late?