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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Far too much graphic description of violence and brutality for me, otherwise I’d have given 4 stars
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Torture
Absolutely loved this. A brilliant thriller set in my favourite place. Can't wait to read more in this series.
There is nothing quite so satisfying to me as reading a British police procedural crime thriller. When it has an engaging protagonist, a Lake District setting, and a compelling and well rendered plot, then it is for me, reading bliss.
DI Kelly Porter grew up in the Lake District, though for the past decade she has policed in London, honing her trade - until a personal betrayal by a co-worker convinced her that it was time to 'up-sticks' and move back to her roots. We meet her as she is settling into her position as Detective Inspector for the Cumbria Constabulary. She is trying to make the most of this opportunity, make a good impression on her new team, and make a place for herself. Her personal situation is tenuous, as for the time-being she is back living with her widowed mother until she finds a place of her own. At thirty-six years of age, this is less than an ideal situation. Also, being the daughter of John Porter, a 'legend on the force' muddies her way further.
"Detective work was liable to put one off people generally; it was the nature of the job."
I'm not going into detail of Kelly's first cases on the Cumbrian force. Suffice it to say that her keen eye and thorough work ethic connects a five-year-old cold case with a current murder of a prominent businessman in a seedy hotel. To say more would ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it yet. The characterization is skillfully done, making the police, the criminals, and the victims all very real. The story shows how even a place as idyllic and beautiful as the Lake District can have a sordid, and brutal underbelly that is thankfully seldom witnessed by the average resident or tourist. Part of the action takes place in hotels and guest houses in the quaint village of Ambleside.
I warn you that this novel is not without its seamy and graphically violent scenes. If you are put off by that type of thing, then steer clear. This is a crime novel with brutal crimes perpetrated upon innocent victims. The criminals put the 'vile' in the word villains. Their scorn for the English justice system and way of life is evident as well.
The story of illegal immigrants and sex-trafficking is not a new one, but Rachel Lynch executes her story so well that this novel stands apart from novels using a similar premise. Also included are descriptions of the appalling and heinous deeds committed by some members of an organized crime syndicate.
A quality series debut like this one ensures that I will be avidly waiting for the next installment in the DI Kelly Porter series. A must-read for those who enjoy well-written, grittily realistic crime novels. Highly recommended!
I received a digital ARC of this novel, FREE at my request, from the publisher Canelo via NetGalley. In return I have written this candid review.
I was happy to read that Canelo signed the first three books in the DI Kelly Porter series and Rachel is currently writing the fourth.
DI Kelly Porter grew up in the Lake District, though for the past decade she has policed in London, honing her trade - until a personal betrayal by a co-worker convinced her that it was time to 'up-sticks' and move back to her roots. We meet her as she is settling into her position as Detective Inspector for the Cumbria Constabulary. She is trying to make the most of this opportunity, make a good impression on her new team, and make a place for herself. Her personal situation is tenuous, as for the time-being she is back living with her widowed mother until she finds a place of her own. At thirty-six years of age, this is less than an ideal situation. Also, being the daughter of John Porter, a 'legend on the force' muddies her way further.
"Detective work was liable to put one off people generally; it was the nature of the job."
I'm not going into detail of Kelly's first cases on the Cumbrian force. Suffice it to say that her keen eye and thorough work ethic connects a five-year-old cold case with a current murder of a prominent businessman in a seedy hotel. To say more would ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it yet. The characterization is skillfully done, making the police, the criminals, and the victims all very real. The story shows how even a place as idyllic and beautiful as the Lake District can have a sordid, and brutal underbelly that is thankfully seldom witnessed by the average resident or tourist. Part of the action takes place in hotels and guest houses in the quaint village of Ambleside.
I warn you that this novel is not without its seamy and graphically violent scenes. If you are put off by that type of thing, then steer clear. This is a crime novel with brutal crimes perpetrated upon innocent victims. The criminals put the 'vile' in the word villains. Their scorn for the English justice system and way of life is evident as well.
The story of illegal immigrants and sex-trafficking is not a new one, but Rachel Lynch executes her story so well that this novel stands apart from novels using a similar premise. Also included are descriptions of the appalling and heinous deeds committed by some members of an organized crime syndicate.
A quality series debut like this one ensures that I will be avidly waiting for the next installment in the DI Kelly Porter series. A must-read for those who enjoy well-written, grittily realistic crime novels. Highly recommended!
I received a digital ARC of this novel, FREE at my request, from the publisher Canelo via NetGalley. In return I have written this candid review.
I was happy to read that Canelo signed the first three books in the DI Kelly Porter series and Rachel is currently writing the fourth.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
*3.75 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DI Kelly Porter just moved back home from the big city. As a new detective in the force, she does everything she can to fit in and takes as many cases as possible.
As the story goes along, we follow not only our DI’s point of view but also some witnesses and suspects.
I can enjoy the several points of views thing from time to time but here, I just felt like it took something away from the mystery and I could actually put together what happened before the cops could.
In mysteries, I usually like following along with the police…
Still, the story was very well built and I had a good time reading it even though the many many points of views sometimes lost me…
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DI Kelly Porter just moved back home from the big city. As a new detective in the force, she does everything she can to fit in and takes as many cases as possible.
As the story goes along, we follow not only our DI’s point of view but also some witnesses and suspects.
I can enjoy the several points of views thing from time to time but here, I just felt like it took something away from the mystery and I could actually put together what happened before the cops could.
In mysteries, I usually like following along with the police…
Still, the story was very well built and I had a good time reading it even though the many many points of views sometimes lost me…
This is the story of things are not always exactly what they seem, two simple cases to solve but they are more than meets the eye. This is a gripping crime thriller, a genre which has exploded in the last year. One that will keep you turning pages until the very end.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Trafficking
There were a number of reasons I wanted to read this....
Firstly, it sounded exciting and the synopsis really made me hit that download button rapidly! Secondly, the setting is pretty close to where I live -just across the border in Northumberland so this appealed to me a lot. Some of the best series' are those that are set in places I know well and love. E.g. The Scottish Highlands, Outer Hebrides. Thirdly, I KNOW WHERE SHE IS by S.B. CAVES, my first ever Canelo novel impressed me so much that I have been keeping my eyes open for another great sounding thriller from them and here it is.
Let me say, this hit the mark exceptionally well for me. It has everything you want or need in a thriller - fab setting, plenty of twists in the tale and well structured and written. I throroughly enjoyed this ride and I hope there are many more to come like this from Canelo in the future, I have high expectations due to these two amazing thrillers that have definitely blown my mind. Also, consider I KNOW WHERE SHE IS if you love dark, disturbing crime novels.
Highly recommended.
Thank you Canelo for the ARC, this is my honest opinion.
Firstly, it sounded exciting and the synopsis really made me hit that download button rapidly! Secondly, the setting is pretty close to where I live -just across the border in Northumberland so this appealed to me a lot. Some of the best series' are those that are set in places I know well and love. E.g. The Scottish Highlands, Outer Hebrides. Thirdly, I KNOW WHERE SHE IS by S.B. CAVES, my first ever Canelo novel impressed me so much that I have been keeping my eyes open for another great sounding thriller from them and here it is.
Let me say, this hit the mark exceptionally well for me. It has everything you want or need in a thriller - fab setting, plenty of twists in the tale and well structured and written. I throroughly enjoyed this ride and I hope there are many more to come like this from Canelo in the future, I have high expectations due to these two amazing thrillers that have definitely blown my mind. Also, consider I KNOW WHERE SHE IS if you love dark, disturbing crime novels.
Highly recommended.
Thank you Canelo for the ARC, this is my honest opinion.