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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
"Her father always told his trainees: If one side says it's raining and the other says it's dry, it's not your job to quote both. It's your job to look out of the window and find out the truth."
It's a gift to find an author you love and look forward to reading. There are countless crime fiction authors out there, but finding one who writes compelling stories time and again with captivating characters is rare - especially if those stories include reccuring characters. You grow kind of attached to these characters and look forward to seeing how their futures unfold.
I am heartbroken that this is Susie Steiner's last story, and that we won't get to see DS Manon Bradshaw's storyline through. While admittedly this was my least favorite of the series, Manon, for me, remains one of the most real and raw fiction characters out there. Steiner is a bright literary talent taken from us far too young. But, I can and will continue to recommend her work as one of my favorite police procedurals, and choose to imagine that Manon's life worked itself out in the end.
It's a gift to find an author you love and look forward to reading. There are countless crime fiction authors out there, but finding one who writes compelling stories time and again with captivating characters is rare - especially if those stories include reccuring characters. You grow kind of attached to these characters and look forward to seeing how their futures unfold.
I am heartbroken that this is Susie Steiner's last story, and that we won't get to see DS Manon Bradshaw's storyline through. While admittedly this was my least favorite of the series, Manon, for me, remains one of the most real and raw fiction characters out there. Steiner is a bright literary talent taken from us far too young. But, I can and will continue to recommend her work as one of my favorite police procedurals, and choose to imagine that Manon's life worked itself out in the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review! Definitely a high three stars, just didn’t wow me enough to earn four. I loved the plot basis for this involving the exploitation of Lithuanian workers and the characters were, for the most part, strong. I enjoyed overall how the narrative panned out and had no issues with red herrings or plot twists. The book, despite being the third in a series, works perfectly fine as a stand-alone to a reader who knows nothing about Manon.
My main gripes come from the diversions to the overarching plot: they seemed unnecessary and irrelevant with no real follow-up, reliant on later sequels to tie the strings. One or two of these is fine but there were so many to keep up with and no real conclusions! There were also some off descriptions here and there I found issue with, personal (least) favourites including a character being attractive on the basis of looking like ‘a malnourished Harry Styles’, as well as another character being attractive despite appearing about twelve years old. These really detracted from my overall experience so while the plot was great, room for improvement!
My main gripes come from the diversions to the overarching plot: they seemed unnecessary and irrelevant with no real follow-up, reliant on later sequels to tie the strings. One or two of these is fine but there were so many to keep up with and no real conclusions! There were also some off descriptions here and there I found issue with, personal (least) favourites including a character being attractive on the basis of looking like ‘a malnourished Harry Styles’, as well as another character being attractive despite appearing about twelve years old. These really detracted from my overall experience so while the plot was great, room for improvement!
Jag har totalt missat de två tidigare böckerna men det går ju tack och lov att åtgärda. Tonvis med ironi men också mycket känslor gör den här boken speciell. Exploatering av arbetskraft, vår tids slaveri, är den mörka sidan av fri rörlighet och det förekommer i stor utsträckning även i Sverige så ta alltid kvitto och betala aldrig svart.
Susie Steiner’s writing just keeps getting better & better. This third in the series has locked me in. DS Manon Bradshaw is so fleshed out, she’s real. Her crass & self deprecating humour is sprinkled with amazingly profound & tender hearted insights that blow me away; I love to be inside this characters head.
dark
tense
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I am writing this review in exchange for a free ARC from Random House Books.
Very good writing, very good plot, but I felt the whole time like I was missing something. This is the third book in Steiner's Manon Bradshaw series. I've read the other two and enjoyed them immensely, but have forgotten much of the backstory since then. A lot of this novel refers to her relationships with her husband and sons, but did not give me enough reminders of how they all came to be where they are. She loves her husband, but doesn't, but is only newly married? Why are they together then? This seems to be a question that Manon has as well.
Despite this one frustration, if you like a good character-driven story that also has a strong plot, this is a great read! The story moves along well through the POV of several characters. Manon is pulled into an investigation of a suicide (or is it murder) of a Lithuanian refugee she finds hanging in a park near her suburban home. The author manages to cover questions of human trafficking, how much and what we owe our families, what family means, what love really is, whether it's better to be content with what we have or if we dare to reach for something better all while creating a funny and relatable character in Manon. Fly plays a much smaller part in this book, but Davy (her partner) does get more time. We also get into the heads of two of the refugees struggling in this new life they're trying to carve out and a teenage girl dealing with a father whose hatred of refugees leaves him little time to have any relationship with his daughter.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much as well as the character of Manon, but feel I would have got even more out of it if she'd fleshed out the backstory a bit more for new readers as well as more forgetful (that's me!) readers.
Very good writing, very good plot, but I felt the whole time like I was missing something. This is the third book in Steiner's Manon Bradshaw series. I've read the other two and enjoyed them immensely, but have forgotten much of the backstory since then. A lot of this novel refers to her relationships with her husband and sons, but did not give me enough reminders of how they all came to be where they are. She loves her husband, but doesn't, but is only newly married? Why are they together then? This seems to be a question that Manon has as well.
Despite this one frustration, if you like a good character-driven story that also has a strong plot, this is a great read! The story moves along well through the POV of several characters. Manon is pulled into an investigation of a suicide (or is it murder) of a Lithuanian refugee she finds hanging in a park near her suburban home. The author manages to cover questions of human trafficking, how much and what we owe our families, what family means, what love really is, whether it's better to be content with what we have or if we dare to reach for something better all while creating a funny and relatable character in Manon. Fly plays a much smaller part in this book, but Davy (her partner) does get more time. We also get into the heads of two of the refugees struggling in this new life they're trying to carve out and a teenage girl dealing with a father whose hatred of refugees leaves him little time to have any relationship with his daughter.
Overall, I enjoyed this book very much as well as the character of Manon, but feel I would have got even more out of it if she'd fleshed out the backstory a bit more for new readers as well as more forgetful (that's me!) readers.
Manon Bradshaw is a character that I really loved in the first two books in the series. While there were still glimpses of her personality I love so much (“I put the no in innovation”) - this story fell flat. I was disappointed by the resolution of the main case. From the ending, it sounded like this may be the final Manon Bradshaw book - and while I would have been sad, now it seems like maybe this is time for the series to end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.
Remain Silent by Susie Steiner is an intriguing mystery with a topical storyline. This newest addition to the Manon Bradshaw series can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend books one and two as well.
Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw is enjoying her shortened work schedule so she can be home with four year old Teddy, sixteen year old Fly and partner Mark. But after discovering the body of Lithuanian immigrant Lukas Balsys hanging from a tree, her new boss Detective Chief Superintendent Glenda McBain assigns her work the case with Detective Sergeant Davy Walker. The investigation is slow moving but Manon and Davy doggedly track down every lead in hopes of catching Lukas's killer.
Manon has been working cold cases so she is excited to be working a fresh case. Becoming more involved in the investigation, she struggles with leaving Teddy with a childminder and keeping up with everything at home. More stress arrives when Mark is hospitalized and they nervous awaiting his test results. Gruff and to the point, Manon tries to put her family problems out of mind as she continues following each new piece of evidence.
Davy is nervous and a little uncertain as his fiancé Juliet plunges head first into wedding plans. He, too, is also dealing with the work/home balance as Juliet once again becomes a little resentful of his late nights and long hours. But Davy tries to push these worries aside as the investigation takes them to the unsettled town of Wisbech where anti-immigration sentiments are on the rise.
Lukas' friend Mattis is of special interest to Manon since he has gone missing. The two men came to England for a better life but they instead find themselves working for traffickers. Their living conditions are absymal as they are crammed together with other men in tight quarters. All of the men work long hours for little pay as their handler takes most of their money for the men's "debt".
Remain Silent is a clever police procedural which deftly balances murder, people trafficking and the realities of life with humor. Manon is a very true to life character who is flawed yet incredibly appealing. The investigation takes a while to gain traction, but once it does, the truth about Lukas is uncovered. With a couple of unexpected twists, Susie Steiner brings this engrossing mystery to a satisfying and realistic conclusion. I highly recommend this third installment of the Manon Bradshaw series to readers of the genre.
Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw is enjoying her shortened work schedule so she can be home with four year old Teddy, sixteen year old Fly and partner Mark. But after discovering the body of Lithuanian immigrant Lukas Balsys hanging from a tree, her new boss Detective Chief Superintendent Glenda McBain assigns her work the case with Detective Sergeant Davy Walker. The investigation is slow moving but Manon and Davy doggedly track down every lead in hopes of catching Lukas's killer.
Manon has been working cold cases so she is excited to be working a fresh case. Becoming more involved in the investigation, she struggles with leaving Teddy with a childminder and keeping up with everything at home. More stress arrives when Mark is hospitalized and they nervous awaiting his test results. Gruff and to the point, Manon tries to put her family problems out of mind as she continues following each new piece of evidence.
Davy is nervous and a little uncertain as his fiancé Juliet plunges head first into wedding plans. He, too, is also dealing with the work/home balance as Juliet once again becomes a little resentful of his late nights and long hours. But Davy tries to push these worries aside as the investigation takes them to the unsettled town of Wisbech where anti-immigration sentiments are on the rise.
Lukas' friend Mattis is of special interest to Manon since he has gone missing. The two men came to England for a better life but they instead find themselves working for traffickers. Their living conditions are absymal as they are crammed together with other men in tight quarters. All of the men work long hours for little pay as their handler takes most of their money for the men's "debt".
Remain Silent is a clever police procedural which deftly balances murder, people trafficking and the realities of life with humor. Manon is a very true to life character who is flawed yet incredibly appealing. The investigation takes a while to gain traction, but once it does, the truth about Lukas is uncovered. With a couple of unexpected twists, Susie Steiner brings this engrossing mystery to a satisfying and realistic conclusion. I highly recommend this third installment of the Manon Bradshaw series to readers of the genre.