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lurker_stalker's review against another edition
5.0
I always feel the same way whenever I start one of Cari Hunter's books: Why the hell did I wait so long to read one?? I did really well with this one, though. I actually read the advanced copy BEFORE the publication date! Anyone who even sort of follows my reviews knows that's a rarity. So I'm feeling pretty chuffed right now. I still have at least one book by Hunter that has gotten lost in my TBR but I'll be digging it up soon.
Cari Hunter is, without a doubt, one of the most talented authors I've had the pleasure to read. She writes such real characters and puts them together in such a way that the reader absolutely has to care about them. Not just our main protagonists but any characters we spend any amount of time with. A Calculated Risk was just so damn well done. Some of the scenes with one of the victims and her family nearly brought me to tears. And, of course, Jo and Isla (pronounced EYE-la - I looked it up), were perfect. And I thought their past and present was handled beautifully. It felt natural with what we knew about the characters.
I've been thinking about this all day and if I was stranded on a desert island and could only have books by a single author, I'd absolutely pick Cari Hunter's books. I mean, I get everything I really want: good action, an interesting crime, lovely damaged characters, lots of genuine emotion and situations, and plenty of dry witty humor.
If you're reading this before September 2023, preorder it. You won't regret it.
So thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for giving me another chance to get a book read on time! And an even bigger thanks to Cari Hunter for being such a wonderful writer.
Cari Hunter is, without a doubt, one of the most talented authors I've had the pleasure to read. She writes such real characters and puts them together in such a way that the reader absolutely has to care about them. Not just our main protagonists but any characters we spend any amount of time with. A Calculated Risk was just so damn well done. Some of the scenes with one of the victims and her family nearly brought me to tears. And, of course, Jo and Isla (pronounced EYE-la - I looked it up), were perfect. And I thought their past and present was handled beautifully. It felt natural with what we knew about the characters.
I've been thinking about this all day and if I was stranded on a desert island and could only have books by a single author, I'd absolutely pick Cari Hunter's books. I mean, I get everything I really want: good action, an interesting crime, lovely damaged characters, lots of genuine emotion and situations, and plenty of dry witty humor.
If you're reading this before September 2023, preorder it. You won't regret it.
So thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for giving me another chance to get a book read on time! And an even bigger thanks to Cari Hunter for being such a wonderful writer.
mischievous_monkey's review against another edition
4.0
This book is as much a buddy story as it is a crime thriller and I am all for it. I loved the rapport between DI Jo Shaw and DI Mark Tully and found that it enriched the story to no end. And in that vein, the inclusion of Detective Sargeant Safia from Unbreakable made me smile every time she popped up. The camaraderie, teasing and genuine affection that these characters share makes me look forward to more to come.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nicola Victoria Vincent (this edition was not an option at the time of shelving this book) and thoroughly enjoyed her work. Especially her interpretation and accent for Isla. Oh, my.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nicola Victoria Vincent (this edition was not an option at the time of shelving this book) and thoroughly enjoyed her work. Especially her interpretation and accent for Isla. Oh, my.
judeinthestars's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
When I reviewed this story in its book form last summer, I wrote that one of the things I love about Cari Hunter’s books is “the author’s ability to make me hear the characters” and that I was looking forward to Nicola Vincent’s narration, so I could check whether I had got them right. As usual, Vincent went beyond my expectations (even though I had a moment of uncertainty at the beginning, I’m not sure why). She’s so good at varying voices, matching them to each character, even the smallest secondary one.
Every time I review one of Cari Hunter’s stories—and I guess even more when I review an audiobook after the book—I worry that I might keep repeating the same things and sound overly enthusiastic. I am not, though. Enthusiastic, absolutely, but not overly so.
The stories she tells don’t leave me warm and fuzzy at the end, they’re dark and bleak and would absolutely make me cry if I let myself think about them too much. I don’t read Hunter’s books for escapism. They’re realistic and believable and, in that, as disheartening as real life.
But.
But they also have the most beautiful characters. I know I’ve written this before and I know I’ll write it again, the world may be a horrible place but people like Jo and Isla and Tully—because I want to believe there are people like them IRL—give me hope that all isn’t lost. I don’t get that hope from sunshiny novels, with those I get to escape and recharge. The hope, however, I get from dark, gritty, painful stories from which it emerges on the shoulders of those who overcome the dark, the grit, the pain. Who live with them, find happiness despite them.
These are the books that inspire me and give me strength, they feed me and empower me, even if all I do with this power is wake up another day (and sometimes I do a lot more than that, but even that feels like a win). In some books, the dark, the grit, the pain come from inside the characters—though often it’s inside because of something that happened outside—and in others, it’s in the circumstances. Hunter writes the latter, and she writes her MCs and the people around them with such tenderness, such generosity, that everything that is wrong with the world feels manageable.
Loads of thanks to fellow reviewer Marie Sotiriou for the gift of this audiobook 🙏
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
vivelelivre's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
liezlk9's review against another edition
5.0
A Calculated Risk, the highly anticipated new novel from Cari Hunter (Bold Stroke Books), award-winning author of the Dark Peaks Series, takes readers on an enthralling journey. This tale unfolds against the backdrop of Northern England, introducing us to the tenacious DI Jo Shaw, a scrappy but intuitive police detective known for her proclivity to court trouble.
When circumstances demand quick thinking and risking her own career to save a life, Jo finds herself plunged back into the world of Isla Munro. Isla, a trauma surgeon and Jo's first and only real love, disappeared without a trace fifteen years ago, leaving Jo with unanswered questions. Amidst the backdrop of the Moorside community living in fear, Jo must set aside her pride and work with Isla to unravel the mysteries behind a stabbing, an abduction, and the enigmatic layers beneath these unsettling crimes.
As with many of her previous novels, A Calculated Risk is set against a bleak backdrop of bad weather, morally ambiguous characters, crime, and psychological tension. The darker aspects of human nature are set off beautifully by the charismatic and quick-witted protagonist, Jo, and the entrancing Isla Munro.
What sets "A Calculated Risk" apart is not just its suspenseful, well-thought-out, and excellently paced plot but also the depth of emotion and vulnerability that Hunter brings to her characters. Consistently, within Hunter's books, the depictions of scenes stand out as exceptional, facilitating a vivid visualisation of the story. Medical scenes in novels can sometimes prove challenging. While I find them intriguing and exciting (please don't stop writing them), there's a risk of alienating certain readers with excessive technical terminology. However, in "A Calculated Risk" these scenes strike a remarkable balance—authentic, realistic, and with just the right touch of technicality to both engross and exhilarate, ensuring you remain on the edge of your seat.
Characters are well-crafted and realistic. Jo is fun and naughty, sweet and vulnerable, but also extremely capable and fearless, making her instantly endearing. You’ll find yourself rooting for her right from the first (very entertaining) scene. Isla is a strong and competent woman, with a gentleness behind her apparent strength. As layers of Jo and Isla’s personalities are peeled back, a raw and authentic connection is revealed that will tug at your heartstrings.
The supporting cast of characters adds richness to the narrative. Each character feels distinct and essential, contributing to the overall dynamics and providing both moments of levity and moments of gravitas.
I found myself marvelling at the excellent use of language while enjoying this beautifully written work. The utter Britishness of this thriller adds to its appeal, and the reader gets introduced to very interesting foods and ways of speaking that can only enrich your general knowledge if you give it a chance.
In conclusion, "A Calculated Risk" is a masterpiece of the thriller genre. Cari Hunter's impeccable writing, well-crafted characters, and complex and intriguing plot combine to create an unputdownable novel that will leave you breathless and craving for more. I cannot wait for the next book in this series and will miss Jo and Isla terribly until then. Cari Hunter remains firmly at the top of my favourite authors list! I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily left my review.
When circumstances demand quick thinking and risking her own career to save a life, Jo finds herself plunged back into the world of Isla Munro. Isla, a trauma surgeon and Jo's first and only real love, disappeared without a trace fifteen years ago, leaving Jo with unanswered questions. Amidst the backdrop of the Moorside community living in fear, Jo must set aside her pride and work with Isla to unravel the mysteries behind a stabbing, an abduction, and the enigmatic layers beneath these unsettling crimes.
As with many of her previous novels, A Calculated Risk is set against a bleak backdrop of bad weather, morally ambiguous characters, crime, and psychological tension. The darker aspects of human nature are set off beautifully by the charismatic and quick-witted protagonist, Jo, and the entrancing Isla Munro.
What sets "A Calculated Risk" apart is not just its suspenseful, well-thought-out, and excellently paced plot but also the depth of emotion and vulnerability that Hunter brings to her characters. Consistently, within Hunter's books, the depictions of scenes stand out as exceptional, facilitating a vivid visualisation of the story. Medical scenes in novels can sometimes prove challenging. While I find them intriguing and exciting (please don't stop writing them), there's a risk of alienating certain readers with excessive technical terminology. However, in "A Calculated Risk" these scenes strike a remarkable balance—authentic, realistic, and with just the right touch of technicality to both engross and exhilarate, ensuring you remain on the edge of your seat.
Characters are well-crafted and realistic. Jo is fun and naughty, sweet and vulnerable, but also extremely capable and fearless, making her instantly endearing. You’ll find yourself rooting for her right from the first (very entertaining) scene. Isla is a strong and competent woman, with a gentleness behind her apparent strength. As layers of Jo and Isla’s personalities are peeled back, a raw and authentic connection is revealed that will tug at your heartstrings.
The supporting cast of characters adds richness to the narrative. Each character feels distinct and essential, contributing to the overall dynamics and providing both moments of levity and moments of gravitas.
I found myself marvelling at the excellent use of language while enjoying this beautifully written work. The utter Britishness of this thriller adds to its appeal, and the reader gets introduced to very interesting foods and ways of speaking that can only enrich your general knowledge if you give it a chance.
In conclusion, "A Calculated Risk" is a masterpiece of the thriller genre. Cari Hunter's impeccable writing, well-crafted characters, and complex and intriguing plot combine to create an unputdownable novel that will leave you breathless and craving for more. I cannot wait for the next book in this series and will miss Jo and Isla terribly until then. Cari Hunter remains firmly at the top of my favourite authors list! I highly recommend this book.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily left my review.
judeinthestars's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Cari Hunter doesn’t churn out books by the dozen every year but they’re all well worth the wait. They’re extremely well-plotted, for one. And with A Calculated Risk, Hunter gives us, once again, the kind of characters I love most. I want to say they’re perfect, but I don’t mean they’re flawless. On the contrary, they’re wonderfully human, fallible, relatable. Fifteen years after Isla broke her heart, Jo bumps into her at the local hospital. Isla went on to become a cardiothoracic surgeon and a consultant with the Emergency Response Team. Jo dropped out of med school and joined the police instead. A DI with the Serious Crime Team, she still can’t resist an animal in need of a foster home and is at her best when she gets to do “all this detective stuff”. She’s never told anyone about Isla, not even her partner and friend Tully, and when a case involving a gruesome attempted murder and the kidnapping of teens puts her and Isla in unavoidable proximity, every feeling – the good and the bad – rushes back to the surface.
I love many many things about Cari Hunter’s books, as anyone who has read my reviews before knows. One of these things is the author’s ability to make me hear the characters. Don’t expect them to sound American. They aren’t and they won’t. You may have to google a word here and there or accept that you don’t need to understand exactly what they’re eating or what an idiom means precisely. That’s part of the fun, of travelling via reading. I’ll read a sentence and hear their voices. Now I can’t wait for the audiobook and Nicola Victoria Vincent’s narration so I can check whether I got them right.
I know police procedurals aren’t for everyone and I know readers who enjoy contemporary romance above all are not very likely to pick up this book. And I get it, I really do. I love romance too. These readers are missing out on some of the best characters in sapphic fiction, however. Some of the best in fiction, period. I know I say it every time but it’s true: I want to live in a world in which Cari Hunter’s characters exist. To get them though, to experience their emotions and crushes and angst, to fall in love with and alongside them, the reader also has to contend with criminals who feel just as real – terrifyingly so. There’s no escaping ordinary evil either in the real world or in the one Hunter writes but at least in hers, there are genuinely kind people fighting it, and with success to some extent. What I’m trying to say is that despite reading about the horrible things humans do to each other, my heart will be full and warm by the time I turn the last page. It’s true again with A Calculated Risk. It will be alright, it says. We will be alright. In this burning world, Jo and Isla, like Meg and Sanne before them, like Grace, Safia, Jem or Rosie, like the side characters in their lives too, are beacons of hope I very much want to believe in.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
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