The recently released In The Shadows is the fifth book in the series by Jane Isaac, featuring the determined female police officer, DCI Helen Lavery. I have yet to read the others but nevertheless really enjoyed this book and I felt as if I really understood the lead character and her motivation.
As a popular school reunion disco at a busy pub winds to an end, all hell breaks loose as some of the guests head outside. With gunfire puncturing the stillness of the night, five victims are left lying on the ground and the assassin has fled into the shadows. Who is behind these murders and why has the peaceful town of Hampton been targetted ? Could this be linked to the past investigations of DCI Lavery and her detective father and the criminals they put behind bars?
Helped by the counter-terrorism unit, Lavery leads the investigation into this bloody crime. But that is not all she has on the cards. The trial of Chilli Franks is being arranged and this organised crime boss has Lavery and her family in his sights as revenge for being put in prison back in the 1990's. Helen's teenaged son Robert is best friends with Zac, who just happens to be the nephew of Chilli Franks. DCI Lavery has her hands full, trying to solve the case, track down the criminal but also look after her family.
With short chapters packed full of action, the tension builds as the narrative progresses. The constant references to the issues going on in DCI Lavery's personal life help to see her as more than just a police inspector and help us to understand the stresses that she is going through.
It's a gripping read and has definitely made me want to go back and catch up with the previous titles. The only bad point in my view is that I frequently read way past my bedtime and felt tired the next day, but it was definitely worth it !
star rating : 4.5/5
RRP : £8.99
- Publisher : Legend Press (25 May 2023)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1915643899
- ISBN-13 : 978-1915643896
The name of the main character looked familiar, and I realised I have read the previous book in the series, Evil Intent. The new book sounds intriguing.
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