Tag Archives: Jane Isaac

For Better, For Worse by Jane Isaac

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5 Stars from me

I am a long time fan of Jane Isaac and am therefore delighted that For Better, For Worse is just as excellent as her previous books.

Beautifully written and with a breathtaking start, For Better, For Worse will have you whizzing through the pages in a bid to keep up.

Hats off to Gina Ingram, I can’t imagine the horror of having the police accuse your husband of being a child abuser – the sheer world-altering, future-changing, past-destroying horror. But then to have the test to your relationship of him protesting his innocence – how could you really ever be sure?

A difficult subject is thought provokingly handled throughout the core of this book, with the main thrust of the crime thriller built around it.

DC Beth Chamberlain is back and needs to use all of her liaison officer training to begin to unpick the tightly woven threads of the truth. She is a solid and likeable character throughout this book and I hope we get to read more about her in future stories.

Blurb: Stuart Ingram was once a respected local councillor… The first time the police knocked on Gina’s door, they arrested her husband.

The second time, they accused him of child abuse.

But he died a guilty man.

This time, the police are here for Gina – to tell her that her husband is dead. Murdered, just two weeks before his trial.

Gina always stood by her husband. Even when everyone else walked away. She believed the trial would clear his name. But now Stuart is dead.

And his wife is the suspect.

It’s a race against time for DC Beth Chamberlain to uncover the truth – especially when a second man turns up dead.

Domestic noir meets police procedural in this pacy thriller from Jane Isaac, perfect for fans of Samantha Downing, Fiona Barton and K.L. Slater. Previously published as Presumed Guilty.

A Deathly Silence by Jane Isaac

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5 Stars from me

Jane Isaac has a lovely writing style, she is among the group of authors whose books I pick up without hesitation for I know that I am guaranteed an exciting tale with comfortable and well rounded characters.

DCI Helen Lavery is fast becoming a favourite of mine and I might just adopt her mantra for myself:

“Assume nothing. Believe nobody. Challenge everything.”

In A Deathly Silence Helen is just returning from an absence – I loved the opening scenes with her in the hotel ordering a bottle of wine, SO real and total sucked me straight into her life – and finds herself plunged deep into a major investigation as a fellow officer has been found murdered.

Not only has one of their own been murdered but also quite brutally tortured and yet the victim seemed to live quite a blameless life – liked by fellow officers and respected by criminals for her fairness – and she leaves behind two young children and a grieving partner for whom Helen is determined to find justice.

There are many lines of enquiry and we follow Helen has she determinedly set off to work through them all. The book has a great pace and I could easily have devoured it in one rainy day into evening sitting, however I made sure to spread it over a couple of days! Having looked forward to reading A Deathly Silence for so long I made sure to do it justice.

Characterisation throughout is spot (as I would totally expect) and all characters – from our two young scallwags, through all ranks of the police and a variety of members of the public – are all beautifully well defined.

This is police procedural at its best and I can easily visualise it becoming a TV series, much like Tennison.

I would heartily recommend #ADeathlySilence and indeed any of Jane’s books to any fans of crime thrillers and police procedurals and I look forward to reading more.

#ADeathlySilence @JaneIsaacAuthor @Legend_Press

Synopsis: When the mutilated body of a police officer is found in a derelict factory, Hamptonshire force are shocked to the core.

DCI Helen Lavery returns from injury leave and is immediately plunged into an investigation like no other. Is this a random attack or is someone targeting the force? Organised crime groups or a lone killer?

As the net draws in, Helen finds the truth lies closer than she could have imagined, and trusts no one.

But Helen is facing a twisted killer who will stop at nothing to ensure their secrets remain hidden. And time is running out…

After He’s Gone by Jane Isaac

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5 stars from me

Having read and loved Jane Isaac‘s previous novels, I was thrilled to be offered a chance to read After He’s Gone, featuring new main character Beth Chamberlain. Having read Jane’s previously novels and enjoyed getting to know Will Jackman I was surprise to see a new lead in this book but I have to say it worked brilliantly – I can’t wait to read more about Beth and hey who knows, maybe she and Will can work together in the future 🙂

It is a simple yet clever story which unfolds gradually at first but then fast gathers momentum as you get drawn into the lives of Beth, Monika, Sara and of course, Cameron.

What appears to be a straight forward – if dramatic – murder, soon turns into a deep and murky glimpse into the life of Cameron Swift. His death has all the markers of a ‘hit’, but is it? Beth is a brave and feisty character who puts others first which makes her a truly wonderful heroine for what I hope will be the first in a new series.

In addition to a brilliants constructed whodunnit, the effort put into building Beth’s back story is noteworthy on it’s own. She is alive within these pages and finish the book really feeling as though you know her.

I love the cover too – really fresh and tells you at one glance that this is going to be ballsy female lead in a murder case – pretty impressive!

Not only is Jane Isaac a fabulous author but is also utterly lovely on Twitter. I’m sure she’d like to hear from you if you loved reading any of her books.

Synopsis: You think you know him. Until he’s dead.

When Cameron Swift is gunned down outside his family home, DC Beth Chamberlain is appointed Family Liaison Officer: a dual role that requires her to support the family, and also investigate them.

As the case unfolds and the body count climbs, Beth discovers that nothing is quite as it appears and everyone, it seems, has secrets. 

Even the dead…

Shallow Waters by Rebecca Bradley

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Shallow Waters5 Stars from me!

What a great debut.

I downloaded Shallow Waters after seeing it on a free promotion by Rebecca Bradley, I had no idea what to expect from it.

It took me the first two or three chapters to get used to the writing style which changes between first and third person depending on which character is being focused on. With first person being reserved for leading lady DI Hannah Robbins.

Once the first couple of chapters were out of the way I found myself immersed in the story and from then onwards I was absolutely hooked! Not only is DI Hannah Robbins a brilliant character but the whole storyline and supporting cast is utterly compelling and I raced through the book desperate to find out how it would conclude.

Fast paced, gritty, informative, very hard to put down and with a fabulous building of tension that completely immerses you in the lives of all involved.

If you are a fan of crime thrillers – you will enjoy this book – highly recommend, can’t wait for no.2.

 

Synopsis: When the naked, battered body of an unidentified teenager is found dumped in an alleyway, post-mortem finds evidence of a harrowing series of events.

Another teenage death with the same MO pushes DI Hannah Robbins and her team on the Nottingham City division Major Crimes Unit, to their limits, and across county borders. In a race against the clock they attempt to unpick a thick web of lies and deceit to uncover the truth behind the deaths.

But it doesn’t stop there. When catching a killer isn’t enough, just how far are the team willing to push themselves to save the next girl?

‘A gritty police procedural, with no-holds barred and a shocking insight to the reality of some. Dark and disturbing, yet exceptionally compelling.’ – Mel Sherratt, author of Taunting The Dead.

‘Tense, compelling and utterly absorbing. DI Hannah Robbins is a force to be reckoned with.’ – Jane Isaac, author of The Truth Will Out.

The Truth Will Out Goes Audio – #WIN a signed version

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Audio BookI am very excited to be able to share with you the chance to #WIN a signed version of an audio book by Jane Isaac! Please see below for details of the competition, written by Jane herself.

‘First, I’d like to thank readandrated.com for taking part in this giveaway.

The audio version of my second book, The Truth Will Out, was released on 17th March 2015. The unabridged box set contains eight CDs spanning almost nine hours and is read by Cathy Sabberton, whose bio claims numerous theatre and TV credits including Emmerdale and Cold Feet.

This is my first audio version and I wasn’t really sure what to expect when I placed it in the machine and pressed play. Initially it did feel rather strange to hear my own words read aloud. But Cathy’s beautifully engaging reading voice quickly allayed any nerves. Very soon I became lost in the story and it felt like I was listening to a play, or ‘Book at Bedtime’ on Radio 4. I’m truly delighted with the results.

To celebrate its release, I’d like to give away one signed version. Entry into the prize draw is simple: just email me your details via the contact page on www.janeisaac.co.uk. The closing date for entries is 24.4.15 and the winning entry will be picked out at random and announced on my blog on 27.4.15.’

Author Pic Jane IsaacJane Isaac is a crime fiction author of An Unfamiliar Murder and The Truth Will Out. She lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire, UK. Jane’s latest title, Before It’s Too Late, will be released on 1.6.15.

Before It’s Too Late by Jane Isaac

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Before It's Too Late4 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?

An Unfamiliar Murder by Jane Isaac

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Unfamiliar Murder5 Stars from me!

What an absolute gem of an author Jane Isaac is, I am so glad to have found her books and honestly don’t feel I can fault a single thing (ok, except the cover).

Isaac is, in my view, an astonishingly accomplished writer. Her stories are virtually flawless in their pace, content and style.

I read her second book, The Truth Will Out, before I read this one and for me it didn’t spoil the books in any way but it would obviously make more sense to read them in the correct order if you can.

I read lots and lots of crime thrillers and genuinely think that Jane Isaac is up there with the big hitters, she had me led completely up the garden path with ‘who dunnit’ which is a feat in itself and I usually know by about a third of the way in! In An Unfamiliar Murder though I got it wrong right up until the end.

Fabulous book, absolutely loved it, can’t wait to read more.

Synopsis:

Arriving home from a routine day at work, Anna Cottrell has no idea that her life is about to change forever. But discovering the stabbed body of a stranger in her flat, then becoming prime suspect in a murder enquiry is only the beginning. Her persistent claims of innocence start to crumble when new evidence links her irrevocably with the victim… 

Leading her first murder enquiry, DCI Helen Lavery unravels a trail of deception, family secrets and betrayal. When people close to the Cottrell family start to disappear, Lavery is forced into a race against time. Can she catch the killer before he executes his ultimate victim?

 

The Truth Will Out by Jane Isaac

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Truth Will Out

5 stars from me!

Love, love, love this book!

I bought The Truth Will Out after seeing @NovelBird recommend it on twitter. Actually she was mentioning to @JaneIsaacAuthor how much she was enjoying it and I always think there is nothing better than a personal recommendation, so I bought it too.

I’m so glad I did. What a great book. It literally grips you from the first few pages and doesn’t let go.

I lovedthe DCI Helen Lavery character, hated Dean’s character and enjoyed the whole host of characters in between.

I thought The Truth Will Out was a very accomplished book with a great story line, plus additional side plots, which kept me on my toes the whole way through. Several nice little twists and turns and a great insight into the life of a female DCI, makes a change for it to be a woman in the lead role in books like this one.

I haven’t read anything by Jane Isaac before but I certainly look forward to finding more of her books now.

 

Synopsis:

“Everything’s going to be okay.” 

“What if it’s not?”

Suddenly, she turned. For a split second she halted, her head inclined.“Naomi, what is it?”

She whisked back to face Eva.

“There’s somebody in the house…”

Eva is horrified when she witnesses an attack on her best friend. She calls an ambulance and forces herself to flee Hampton, fearing for her own safety. DCI Helen Lavery leads the investigation into the murder. With no leads, no further witnesses and no sign of forced entry, the murder enquiry begins.

Slowly, the pieces of the puzzle start to come together. But as Helen inches towards solving the case, her past becomes caught up in her present.

Someone is after them both. Someone who will stop at nothing to get what they want. And as the net starts to close around them, can Helen escape her own demons as well as helping Eva to escape hers?