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racheager's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
clairabella_bookworm's review against another edition
2.0
The overall story is fine, however you are introduced to far too many characters in the first few pages, some of which you never see again. For example the female fire fighter who Lynda describes as sexy and that she doesn't mind the men staring at her arse. How is that progressing the story?
The second example is DC Warr's partner being in love with him despite Jack being in a relationship. Again, you could have cut this out completely and it wouldn't alter the story.
There is also inconsistencies throughout. The four women stole £27 million but then gave £5 million to Mike which Barry then stole, but the women stashed £25 million in the coach. I'm sure I also read that Jack and Maggie were married, but then he proposes to her on the plane?
A lot of the dialogue between the characters was difficult to read as well. I would just skip the dialogue as I found it cringeworthy and too predictable.
The second example is DC Warr's partner being in love with him despite Jack being in a relationship. Again, you could have cut this out completely and it wouldn't alter the story.
There is also inconsistencies throughout. The four women stole £27 million but then gave £5 million to Mike which Barry then stole, but the women stashed £25 million in the coach. I'm sure I also read that Jack and Maggie were married, but then he proposes to her on the plane?
A lot of the dialogue between the characters was difficult to read as well. I would just skip the dialogue as I found it cringeworthy and too predictable.
weez_reads's review against another edition
5.0
This is a first time read with this author and I loved this book read it within 24 hours if i could of i would of read it within one sitting. This hero is a loveable mess and he grasps with his own identity. while on the job as a cop . This is a great book filled with storys of gangsters , mystery of how and who did this great crime no one can solve. Aswell as getting to know a great loveable mess of jack Warr who I just loved getting to know . Cant wait to read more about him and other books by this author.
Thanks to pigeonhole for a chance to read this book
Thanks to pigeonhole for a chance to read this book
coffeeandlostinabook's review against another edition
5.0
First off, this book has two mysteries that Jack Warr needs to figure out with one being an arson and murder in the Rose cottage that is possibly linked to an old train robbery in the 80's. The second is that Jack learns that his adoptive father is dying from cancer and is given all of the info to his birth parents. At first, Jack really wants to know nothing about them as he is happy with his parents until curiosity gets the best of him. He is an unmotivated Police Detective and finally finds the fire that drives him to become a passionate detective and really good at his job between the two cases. What little did Jack know was how these two mysteries would eventually find themselves intertwined with each other. I loved how this book kept you guessing at every turn between the two mysteries that Jack had now put so much dedication into. I was so intrigued in this book all the way to the end with even twists at the end of the story that I wasn't expecting. I love a good crime thriller that doesn't have that expected ending and surprises you still. I definitely can't wait to read more of Lynda La Plante books!
teebeethegreat's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I love mafia movies and I stumbled across La Belle Mafia while looking for mother mafia movies to watch and I feel in love with the female gangster trope, even though those women fell into the roles because of necessity. Imagine my surprise when I found out one of my favorite movies was also a book!!
Ok I'm going to stop fangirling.
After Belle Mafia and Widows I just had to get my hands on her latest book and boy oh boy I was not disappointed. La Plante's heroes and even her villains are flawed. They aren't all evil and all good. They are decent folks that stumble and the evil in thee world is capable of good when the chips are down. I like grey characters as well but I can take a true evil character with the best of them. She has a way of making her characters feel like real breathing people. They leap off the page and become corporeal and its like watching a pantomime in your living room. you forget you are looking at words on a page.
As usual La Plante gave us a cabal of strong women. Not strong in the sense of Wonder Woman, but strong in the unbendable nature. Their desire to survive no matter what lemons life throws at them. Their desire to stand on their own two feet without a man or society telling them its ok. That sort of strength. There is beauty in that.
The pacing was good, even with the backstory and the setup. There were a few moments where you might have gotten bored, but a turn of the page cured you. This is the first in a brand new series and its another home run.
La Plante has stumbled across a formula that works and I for one want to be along for this ride as long as possible.
Ok I'm going to stop fangirling.
After Belle Mafia and Widows I just had to get my hands on her latest book and boy oh boy I was not disappointed. La Plante's heroes and even her villains are flawed. They aren't all evil and all good. They are decent folks that stumble and the evil in thee world is capable of good when the chips are down. I like grey characters as well but I can take a true evil character with the best of them. She has a way of making her characters feel like real breathing people. They leap off the page and become corporeal and its like watching a pantomime in your living room. you forget you are looking at words on a page.
As usual La Plante gave us a cabal of strong women. Not strong in the sense of Wonder Woman, but strong in the unbendable nature. Their desire to survive no matter what lemons life throws at them. Their desire to stand on their own two feet without a man or society telling them its ok. That sort of strength. There is beauty in that.
The pacing was good, even with the backstory and the setup. There were a few moments where you might have gotten bored, but a turn of the page cured you. This is the first in a brand new series and its another home run.
La Plante has stumbled across a formula that works and I for one want to be along for this ride as long as possible.
jeni_dean's review against another edition
1.0
No spoilers but I honestly do not know how this is rated so highly. One of my biggest complaints, other than the predictability of the plot and conclusion, is how much Maggie let’s this guy get away with just because he’s oh so handsome, powerful and ‘insert masculine words here’, Oh and apparently has such amazing eyebrows, and they make quite the number of appearances. I would like to meet this infamous and striking brow. The way he talks, treats and thinks about his Dad is just awful... surely we’re not supposed to like this guy? Perhaps we’re not... and if that is the case then mission accomplished.
I always finish a book once I start because I like to give it the opportunity to change my opinion and perhaps grow on me. I really try to be open minded until the last page... but this was a hard one to finish, truly. To each their own, but I wish I could take back the time I just wasted on this. I have some paint I would easily have rather watched dry.
I always finish a book once I start because I like to give it the opportunity to change my opinion and perhaps grow on me. I really try to be open minded until the last page... but this was a hard one to finish, truly. To each their own, but I wish I could take back the time I just wasted on this. I have some paint I would easily have rather watched dry.
orlily's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
kirkw1972's review against another edition
5.0
Lynda La Plante is one of those writers who I've heard so much about and seen some of their TV shows but yet have never actually read any of their books until now and I really enjoyed this. I managed to read in less than 24 hours. You can really tell Lynda has written for TV as you can picture the cinematics of this so well. Everything just flows so well.
Jack Warr is a great new character that is trying to find his way in the world and worrying whether policing is actually for him. When his adopted father declares he has terminal cancer and gives him some information on his real parents he's taken down a fascinating voyage of discovery.
I loved the crime. I tend to hate modern gangs and gangsters but love anything about the same from decades ago and so trying to solve a 20-odd year old great train robbery really appeals to me. In this age of modern technology you don't get crimes like that these days.
One of my favourite things about this is the ambiguous ending. Jack is given a choice which I won't spoil but we never find out what his decision is. Maybe it'll come out in Book 2 but I hope it doesn't. I like the not knowing. Not everything has to have a happy ending or one all tied up and perfect. I like being able to try and guess what I think he may have done.
Overall loved it and another author to add to my never ending TBR pile
Jack Warr is a great new character that is trying to find his way in the world and worrying whether policing is actually for him. When his adopted father declares he has terminal cancer and gives him some information on his real parents he's taken down a fascinating voyage of discovery.
I loved the crime. I tend to hate modern gangs and gangsters but love anything about the same from decades ago and so trying to solve a 20-odd year old great train robbery really appeals to me. In this age of modern technology you don't get crimes like that these days.
One of my favourite things about this is the ambiguous ending. Jack is given a choice which I won't spoil but we never find out what his decision is. Maybe it'll come out in Book 2 but I hope it doesn't. I like the not knowing. Not everything has to have a happy ending or one all tied up and perfect. I like being able to try and guess what I think he may have done.
Overall loved it and another author to add to my never ending TBR pile