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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
Actual rating: 3.5 Stars
ARC provided by HarperCollins UK, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to both!
This was such a pleasant surprise!
Jessie Flynn is a psychologist treating the troubled four-year-old son of an army Major. Ben Callan is a Captain trying to figure out why a soldier shot a fellow British corporal while on tour in Afghanistan. Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons is a DI investigating a murder in which the only remains recovered are a burnt torso. As I expected the three stories ended up being related, but the whole picture turned out to be so complex that most of it was completely unexpected for me, not to mention heartbreaking.
Jessie Flynn is very appealing as an MC. As usual the girl is beautiful and resourceful, but she also has issues, and I mean ISSUES. I loved how she wasn't above using not-so-moral means in order to help Sami, and how her dealing with OCD was depicted. The relationship with Callan here is mostly professional and the romance is barely hinted, but the pair definitely have chemistry and it will be interesting to see how this is developed in future books.
I have some minor issues with the book and a big one.
There's a lot of army talk and terminology, which is necessary for the story as both Jessie and Ben are military and working army cases, but this dragged the story a bit for me.
The final scene between Jessie and her mother was too saccharine - their relationship was one of the things that interested me the most, and the way everything was solved felt too rushed and unrealistic in my opinion.
My big issue is the writing. It's not bad, but I wished the author would have kept things simpler. Maybe it's because English is not my first language, but the way most sentences were constructed made me feel like Yoda had written the book, which was confusing at times and diverted the attention from a story that is actually pretty good.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone loving a good thriller, stories with a heartbreaking touch and characters that are not what they seemed.
ARC provided by HarperCollins UK, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to both!
This was such a pleasant surprise!
Jessie Flynn is a psychologist treating the troubled four-year-old son of an army Major. Ben Callan is a Captain trying to figure out why a soldier shot a fellow British corporal while on tour in Afghanistan. Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons is a DI investigating a murder in which the only remains recovered are a burnt torso. As I expected the three stories ended up being related, but the whole picture turned out to be so complex that most of it was completely unexpected for me, not to mention heartbreaking.
Jessie Flynn is very appealing as an MC. As usual the girl is beautiful and resourceful, but she also has issues, and I mean ISSUES. I loved how she wasn't above using not-so-moral means in order to help Sami, and how her dealing with OCD was depicted. The relationship with Callan here is mostly professional and the romance is barely hinted, but the pair definitely have chemistry and it will be interesting to see how this is developed in future books.
I have some minor issues with the book and a big one.
There's a lot of army talk and terminology, which is necessary for the story as both Jessie and Ben are military and working army cases, but this dragged the story a bit for me.
The final scene between Jessie and her mother was too saccharine - their relationship was one of the things that interested me the most, and the way everything was solved felt too rushed and unrealistic in my opinion.
My big issue is the writing. It's not bad, but I wished the author would have kept things simpler. Maybe it's because English is not my first language, but the way most sentences were constructed made me feel like Yoda had written the book, which was confusing at times and diverted the attention from a story that is actually pretty good.
I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone loving a good thriller, stories with a heartbreaking touch and characters that are not what they seemed.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was genuinely surprised that this book had 1 star reviews. I don't think I would even consider it anything below 3 stars. I thought it was a really good book.
It has a good baseline, and I thoroughly enjoyed that Jessie has her own issues to deal with and wasn't one of the typical storybook psychologists that just tried to fix everyone around them.
I was pleased that there were things that happened in the book that you didn't see coming. I swore to myself that I knew what was coming and then BAM! Didn't see that coming.
I'm giving this 3 stars only because more story on Callan at the end would've been nice. Kind of just left us up in the air on that note, but maybe there will be more about him in book #2??
It has a good baseline, and I thoroughly enjoyed that Jessie has her own issues to deal with and wasn't one of the typical storybook psychologists that just tried to fix everyone around them.
I was pleased that there were things that happened in the book that you didn't see coming. I swore to myself that I knew what was coming and then BAM! Didn't see that coming.
I'm giving this 3 stars only because more story on Callan at the end would've been nice. Kind of just left us up in the air on that note, but maybe there will be more about him in book #2??
Book was ok. Bit hit & miss. Story didn't flow greatly. But I do think as series goes along it will get better has good promise. Wouldn't put me off reading more.
I will not spoil this book for anyone. But omg this is sooo good it gripped me from the beginning also I have a similar background of growing up in an army family and so this was quite hard reading but wow real emotional page turner loved it. This is an author to follow
For more book reviews go to www.silvxr.uk
Jessie Flynn, a military psychologist, has to work alongside her former patient, Captain Ben Callan, to uncover the truth behind the death of an officer in Afghanistan. At the same time, Jessie starts counselling Sami, a four year old son of a Major. Why does he refer to himself as 'the girl' and who is 'The Shadowman'? Will Jessie manage to get to the truth before something dangerous happens?
Today I want to share my thoughts on Kate Medina's psychological mystery novel Fire Damage - the first book in the Jessie Flynn Investigation series.
I have to admit that at first I found the number of events taking place at the same time a bit overwhelming so I was slightly hesitant about carrying on reading. However, as the story progressed I was so impressed! I do love a good thriller and Fire Damage was certainly not a disappointment; I found it very difficult to put the book down (well actually my tablet).
I grew really attached to Jessie when I read the book, she's a complex character and she may have made some bad choices but you can't help but have a soft spot for her. The portrayal of her relationships with the different characters was very realistic. Medina didn't portray Jessie as a psychologist who has a perfectly balanced life but rather as someone who needs help herself. This shows that no one is perfect and we are all vulnerable at times.
As for the other characters in the book, I would have really liked to find out more about Callan because I think he is as much of a major character as Jessie. I'm not sure whether it was necessary to include the character of Marilyn in the story but as it's a series I understand that the characters are not going to massively develop in one book so there's a chance I can still take a liking to him in the future books!
I was intrigued by the way Medina integrated military themes drawn from her own experiences into the plot. It gave a modern twist on the classic thriller story and made it original. The ending was just perfect for me; the story was nicely wrapped up and it left me feeling very satisfied! I immensely enjoyed reading Fire Damage so I decided to give it a rating of four out of five (it would be a five if it wasn't for the overwhelmingness at the beginning). This book is an absolute page turner and I honestly recommend it!
I'm looking forward to find out what's next for Jessie Flynn and will definitely get my hands on the next book in the series which is coming out in May!
Jessie Flynn, a military psychologist, has to work alongside her former patient, Captain Ben Callan, to uncover the truth behind the death of an officer in Afghanistan. At the same time, Jessie starts counselling Sami, a four year old son of a Major. Why does he refer to himself as 'the girl' and who is 'The Shadowman'? Will Jessie manage to get to the truth before something dangerous happens?
Today I want to share my thoughts on Kate Medina's psychological mystery novel Fire Damage - the first book in the Jessie Flynn Investigation series.
I have to admit that at first I found the number of events taking place at the same time a bit overwhelming so I was slightly hesitant about carrying on reading. However, as the story progressed I was so impressed! I do love a good thriller and Fire Damage was certainly not a disappointment; I found it very difficult to put the book down (well actually my tablet).
I grew really attached to Jessie when I read the book, she's a complex character and she may have made some bad choices but you can't help but have a soft spot for her. The portrayal of her relationships with the different characters was very realistic. Medina didn't portray Jessie as a psychologist who has a perfectly balanced life but rather as someone who needs help herself. This shows that no one is perfect and we are all vulnerable at times.
As for the other characters in the book, I would have really liked to find out more about Callan because I think he is as much of a major character as Jessie. I'm not sure whether it was necessary to include the character of Marilyn in the story but as it's a series I understand that the characters are not going to massively develop in one book so there's a chance I can still take a liking to him in the future books!
I was intrigued by the way Medina integrated military themes drawn from her own experiences into the plot. It gave a modern twist on the classic thriller story and made it original. The ending was just perfect for me; the story was nicely wrapped up and it left me feeling very satisfied! I immensely enjoyed reading Fire Damage so I decided to give it a rating of four out of five (it would be a five if it wasn't for the overwhelmingness at the beginning). This book is an absolute page turner and I honestly recommend it!
I'm looking forward to find out what's next for Jessie Flynn and will definitely get my hands on the next book in the series which is coming out in May!
Dr. Jessie Flynn must assist Sami Scott, who is suffering from some sort of post-traumatic stress situation, with talk about a "Shadowman". She's also called in to assist former patient Ben Callan, recently returned to duty, to question Colin Starkey, suspected in the death of his colleague. There's also the matter of a body washed up on a beach that Det. Bobby "Marilyn" Simmons is investigating. How does all of this tie in together?
Yay, a 4 star story! It didn't get five stars, because there were elements that annoyed me. For example, learning all about a character's history when they're basically just there to discover a dead body. It's not needed. There's also too much description about the routes characters travel down to reach a destination. It's another one of my pet hates. I just don't see how it's pertinent! Too many pages are devoted to this useless information. Also, I get a bit tired of the "tragic backstory" trope. It too often seems like a cheap, easy way to give your characters "depth". You know, there are plenty of happy, well-balanced people out there who are also complex! Having a psychiatrist with OCD and a penchant for meaningless sex was just a bit too silly. Also, character viewpoints would change within the same paragraph. That's a bit sloppy. So was a bit of the research.
With all that grumpy-old-woman (well, I'm not that old, but, you know) complaining out of the way, this was actually really good! I actually felt myself coming to care for Jessie and Ben. After a bit of a slow start (too much needless description), this really kicked into gear. It has a terrific plot, with plenty of surprises, and avoids the tropes of many other British thrillers. You know - vindictive journalists, backstabbing colleagues, lazy red herrings, that sort of thing. By the last third, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! Everything comes together really well!
I very much enjoyed this, despite its faults, and will certainly check out the other books in the series.
Yay, a 4 star story! It didn't get five stars, because there were elements that annoyed me. For example, learning all about a character's history when they're basically just there to discover a dead body. It's not needed. There's also too much description about the routes characters travel down to reach a destination. It's another one of my pet hates. I just don't see how it's pertinent! Too many pages are devoted to this useless information. Also, I get a bit tired of the "tragic backstory" trope. It too often seems like a cheap, easy way to give your characters "depth". You know, there are plenty of happy, well-balanced people out there who are also complex! Having a psychiatrist with OCD and a penchant for meaningless sex was just a bit too silly. Also, character viewpoints would change within the same paragraph. That's a bit sloppy. So was a bit of the research.
With all that grumpy-old-woman (well, I'm not that old, but, you know) complaining out of the way, this was actually really good! I actually felt myself coming to care for Jessie and Ben. After a bit of a slow start (too much needless description), this really kicked into gear. It has a terrific plot, with plenty of surprises, and avoids the tropes of many other British thrillers. You know - vindictive journalists, backstabbing colleagues, lazy red herrings
Spoiler
although we never find out what Nick Scott's criminal conviction was all aboutI very much enjoyed this, despite its faults, and will certainly check out the other books in the series.
Great multi-layered plot, great characters, and a perfectly complex protagonist.
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Well written intro to what will be an intriguing series.
Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for a great read.
Thoroughly enjoyable read. Well written intro to what will be an intriguing series.
Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for a great read.
3.5 out of 5
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, the author and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book for an honest review.
When psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn starts counselling Sami, the four-year-old son of an injured Major, she begins to suspect that his trauma runs deeper than his family have led her to believe. Why does he refer to himself as “the girl”? And who is the “Shadowman” who instils such terror in her patient?
Meanwhile, Flynn’s former patient, Captain Ben Callan, is investigating the controversial death of an officer in Afghanistan. Shot only days before he was due to arrive home, there is only one suspect – a fellow soldier who is refusing to talk.
Flynn and Callan’s cases converge when a dead body is found washed up on a Sussex beach, revealing a connection between Sami and the dead soldier. And it soon becomes clear that what seemed to have its origins in Afghanistan began with a secret much closer to home.
Can't say I loved this book, but I didn't hate it either, I just felt that the plot didn't flow. One thing that annoyed me is that once again we have a complex main character who is fighting her own demons, can't we, for once, have a "normal" person who doesn't have so many issues, it certainly would make it stand out from the current market of books.
I expected the book to be fast-paced but I found the first three-quarters quite slow and whilst I understand it's the first book in a series, the story only really started to unfold in the last 30% of the book. The ending did happen over a short period of time and this made it feel quite rushed which meant there wasn't that build of tension that it should have had.
I would definitely like to read the next installment as I think this series does have potential.
To read this and other reviews like and follow me at
https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/crimemysteryboo
www.facebook.com/crimeandmysterybooksreview
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, the author and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book for an honest review.
When psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn starts counselling Sami, the four-year-old son of an injured Major, she begins to suspect that his trauma runs deeper than his family have led her to believe. Why does he refer to himself as “the girl”? And who is the “Shadowman” who instils such terror in her patient?
Meanwhile, Flynn’s former patient, Captain Ben Callan, is investigating the controversial death of an officer in Afghanistan. Shot only days before he was due to arrive home, there is only one suspect – a fellow soldier who is refusing to talk.
Flynn and Callan’s cases converge when a dead body is found washed up on a Sussex beach, revealing a connection between Sami and the dead soldier. And it soon becomes clear that what seemed to have its origins in Afghanistan began with a secret much closer to home.
Can't say I loved this book, but I didn't hate it either, I just felt that the plot didn't flow. One thing that annoyed me is that once again we have a complex main character who is fighting her own demons, can't we, for once, have a "normal" person who doesn't have so many issues, it certainly would make it stand out from the current market of books.
I expected the book to be fast-paced but I found the first three-quarters quite slow and whilst I understand it's the first book in a series, the story only really started to unfold in the last 30% of the book. The ending did happen over a short period of time and this made it feel quite rushed which meant there wasn't that build of tension that it should have had.
I would definitely like to read the next installment as I think this series does have potential.
To read this and other reviews like and follow me at
https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wordpress.com/
www.twitter.com/crimemysteryboo
www.facebook.com/crimeandmysterybooksreview
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found this to be a really enjoyable thriller - looking forward to reading more of the series when they are published.
I found this to be a really enjoyable thriller - looking forward to reading more of the series when they are published.