What do you think?
Rate this book
DCI Kate Daniels #9
The Longest Goodbye
Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannau was murdered, her killers never brought to justice.
Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK.
Has someone finally taken the law into their own hands?
Seeking out the truth will force Kate Daniels to confront her own past mistakes, and put her career, and her team's lives, on the line.
The gripping new Kate Daniels thriller about what happens when someone takes the law into their own hands from award winning crime writer Mari Hannah.
Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK.
Has someone finally taken the law into their own hands?
Seeking out the truth will force Kate Daniels to confront her own past mistakes, and put her career, and her team's lives, on the line.
The gripping new Kate Daniels thriller about what happens when someone takes the law into their own hands from award winning crime writer Mari Hannah.
435 pages, Paperback
Published January 18, 2024
36 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Mari Hannah
25 books363 followersWhen an injury on duty ended my career as Probation Officer, I began writing. I am the author of the Kate Daniels and Ryan & O’Neil series published by Pan Macmillan and the Stone & Oliver series published by Orion. My debut, The Murder Wall, was written as a TV pilot for a BBC Drama Development Scheme - before the adaption. The novel won the Polari First Book Prize. Before becoming an author, I fell in love with scriptwriting and submitted speculative original dramas to the BBC Writersroom. I've also written a romantic comedy feature film that I hope will find a producer one day. In 2010, I won the Northern Writers' Award for my second novel, Settled Blood. And in 2017, I won the Dagger in the Library for my body of work. I'm represented by AM Heath literary agent, Oli Munson, and live in Northumberland with my partner, a former murder detective.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 13, 2023
DCI Kate Daniels # 9
4.5 stars
2018. Three years ago Kate’s day is the usual (i.e. not that great), but when she hears there is an officer down, inevitably, that’s a major concern. However, when that officer proves to be someone you work with and is a really good friend, then it takes your breath away and breaks your heart. This murder, that of Georgina Ioannu haunts Kate, especially as her killer or killers are never brought to justice.
2021. Three years on, the prime suspects return to Newcastle and are shot dead hours later. This is way too coincidental, so is someone taking the law into their own hands? As things spin out of control you wonder if this is Newcastle or the Wild West. What can Kate and the team do to contain the situation? Kate is forced to confront past mistakes in order to get to the truth.
This is another cracking read as Mari
Hannah knocks it right out of St James’s Park*. It ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a mystery/thriller police procedural. It is thoughtful and well written with a good pace throughout, the plot moves fast and constantly changes direction keeping you immersed. There are multiple twists and turns that spin things on their head ensuring you keep turning pages as it builds to a surprising but very good conclusion. It’s chock full of suspense and tension, both within the police team and between officers and suspects as well as with Georgina’s family. It tugs on the emotions especially the extent of the loss.
The characterisation is excellent. Kate is a terrific central character, she’s not always easy, just ask her partner Jo Soulsby, but she’s gritty, determined and dogged. Through her, you feel all the emotion of the loss of Georgina and her shame and guilt at the inept first investigation. All the characters in the team feel authentic and real as does the dialogue between them. In addition, there are villains to loathe and a killer whose identity keeps me guessing until the end. Although it’s a dark tale there is some occasional welcome humour to lighten the bleakness.
Finally, a big shout out for the excellent setting in and around the fantastic city of Newcastle. I can almost hear those lovely Geordie accents.
If you like books in this genre, check out this series as they’re belters. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
*St James Park is home to Premier League Club Newcastle United aka The Toon.
4.5 stars
2018. Three years ago Kate’s day is the usual (i.e. not that great), but when she hears there is an officer down, inevitably, that’s a major concern. However, when that officer proves to be someone you work with and is a really good friend, then it takes your breath away and breaks your heart. This murder, that of Georgina Ioannu haunts Kate, especially as her killer or killers are never brought to justice.
2021. Three years on, the prime suspects return to Newcastle and are shot dead hours later. This is way too coincidental, so is someone taking the law into their own hands? As things spin out of control you wonder if this is Newcastle or the Wild West. What can Kate and the team do to contain the situation? Kate is forced to confront past mistakes in order to get to the truth.
This is another cracking read as Mari
Hannah knocks it right out of St James’s Park*. It ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a mystery/thriller police procedural. It is thoughtful and well written with a good pace throughout, the plot moves fast and constantly changes direction keeping you immersed. There are multiple twists and turns that spin things on their head ensuring you keep turning pages as it builds to a surprising but very good conclusion. It’s chock full of suspense and tension, both within the police team and between officers and suspects as well as with Georgina’s family. It tugs on the emotions especially the extent of the loss.
The characterisation is excellent. Kate is a terrific central character, she’s not always easy, just ask her partner Jo Soulsby, but she’s gritty, determined and dogged. Through her, you feel all the emotion of the loss of Georgina and her shame and guilt at the inept first investigation. All the characters in the team feel authentic and real as does the dialogue between them. In addition, there are villains to loathe and a killer whose identity keeps me guessing until the end. Although it’s a dark tale there is some occasional welcome humour to lighten the bleakness.
Finally, a big shout out for the excellent setting in and around the fantastic city of Newcastle. I can almost hear those lovely Geordie accents.
If you like books in this genre, check out this series as they’re belters. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
*St James Park is home to Premier League Club Newcastle United aka The Toon.
April 11, 2025
The Longest Goodbye is an engrossing read, following a multi-layered police investigation in Newcastle (UK) from beginning to end. I picked this one up on the basis of all the great reviews I'd been seeing on Goodreads, and can't believe that it's taken me so long to discover this series by Mari Hannah. I'll definitely be returning soon to read more of D.I. Kate Daniels and her team.
The book opens with a Prologue in which DI Kate Daniels is notified of an officer down, and is shocked to learn that her friend and fellow police officer Georgina Ioannou has been shot and killed. Daniels rushes to the crime scene, but is deflected by Senior Investigating Officer DCI Gordon Curtis, who's jealously guarding his investigation from perceived interference from those who knew and loved Georgina best.
The timeline then moves three years forward, to the main narrative of this book. Brothers Lee and Jackson Bradshaw have secretly returned to Newcastle on Christmas Eve, having gone into exile overseas in the wake of PC Ioannou's murder, for which they remain the prime suspects. No sooner have they arrived at the safe house occupied by their parents, gangland boss Christine Bradshaw and her husband Don, than they are also gunned down by an assailant who's somehow gained foreknowledge of their arrival.
Kate Daniels is acting DCI of the Northumbria MIT (Murder Investigation Team) while their guv'nor is on leave, and is blindsided when she learns the identities of the victims of this seasonal shootout, especially when she learns that Don Bradshaw has been killed and an armed response officer seriously injured in the aftermath, as police attempted to take control of the situation. This case will have personal ramifications for several officers on the team, as they scramble to interview witnesses and identify the killer, just as many had hoped for a few days off over the festive season.
The Longest Goodbye is a superlative example of police procedural fiction. Much-lauded author Mari Hannah is a former probation officer, her partner once a homicide detective in Northumbria. Hannah's level of research and the expertise she calls upon is evident in the realistic portrayal of police procedure and the interactions between the police characters. The plot of this book was inspired by the real-life shooting of a police officer, and the visceral reaction Hannah felt during the time she waited to learn whether it was her own partner who'd been injured or killed. There's an emotional depth and veracity to the story, both between the members of Daniels' team and in her personal relationships with her partner and her friend Georgina's widower and children, who have unwittingly become suspects in the present murder investigation. At 437 pages, The Longest Goodbye is a longer read than a "regulation-length" crime-thriller, but every paragraph packs a punch and the narrative never seems over-burdened with detail or unnecessary sub-plots.
I'd highly recommend The Longest Goodbye to any reader who enjoys quality crime fiction, especially stories featuring well-developed police characters and plots.
The book opens with a Prologue in which DI Kate Daniels is notified of an officer down, and is shocked to learn that her friend and fellow police officer Georgina Ioannou has been shot and killed. Daniels rushes to the crime scene, but is deflected by Senior Investigating Officer DCI Gordon Curtis, who's jealously guarding his investigation from perceived interference from those who knew and loved Georgina best.
The timeline then moves three years forward, to the main narrative of this book. Brothers Lee and Jackson Bradshaw have secretly returned to Newcastle on Christmas Eve, having gone into exile overseas in the wake of PC Ioannou's murder, for which they remain the prime suspects. No sooner have they arrived at the safe house occupied by their parents, gangland boss Christine Bradshaw and her husband Don, than they are also gunned down by an assailant who's somehow gained foreknowledge of their arrival.
Kate Daniels is acting DCI of the Northumbria MIT (Murder Investigation Team) while their guv'nor is on leave, and is blindsided when she learns the identities of the victims of this seasonal shootout, especially when she learns that Don Bradshaw has been killed and an armed response officer seriously injured in the aftermath, as police attempted to take control of the situation. This case will have personal ramifications for several officers on the team, as they scramble to interview witnesses and identify the killer, just as many had hoped for a few days off over the festive season.
The Longest Goodbye is a superlative example of police procedural fiction. Much-lauded author Mari Hannah is a former probation officer, her partner once a homicide detective in Northumbria. Hannah's level of research and the expertise she calls upon is evident in the realistic portrayal of police procedure and the interactions between the police characters. The plot of this book was inspired by the real-life shooting of a police officer, and the visceral reaction Hannah felt during the time she waited to learn whether it was her own partner who'd been injured or killed. There's an emotional depth and veracity to the story, both between the members of Daniels' team and in her personal relationships with her partner and her friend Georgina's widower and children, who have unwittingly become suspects in the present murder investigation. At 437 pages, The Longest Goodbye is a longer read than a "regulation-length" crime-thriller, but every paragraph packs a punch and the narrative never seems over-burdened with detail or unnecessary sub-plots.
I'd highly recommend The Longest Goodbye to any reader who enjoys quality crime fiction, especially stories featuring well-developed police characters and plots.
February 24, 2024
4.25 / 5
A strong classic police procedural book set in Northumbria, this is linked back to murder of Kate’s closest friend Georgina Ioannu who’s case remained unsolved for three years. Fast forward three years, after the impact of COVID, the prime suspects responsible for Ioannu’s Murder but never charged is shot dead in Newcastle after returning back to the UK. Was this a random shoot out or a hit piece to avenge the death of Georgina.
I’ve not read the Kate Daniel series but this book has blown me away on the level of detail, but also how well the book has been written. We see aspects of both Kate’s private and professional life, alongside a few of her closets colleagues. This book is relatable, but gripping. The twists and reveals along the plot was unpredictable. This book does very well to touch the human emotional side of personal loss. Overall an excellent read, one that is worth investing into and one that you won’t be disappointed by. A note to add is that there is mention/ topic of sexual abuse which readers may find distressing.
A strong classic police procedural book set in Northumbria, this is linked back to murder of Kate’s closest friend Georgina Ioannu who’s case remained unsolved for three years. Fast forward three years, after the impact of COVID, the prime suspects responsible for Ioannu’s Murder but never charged is shot dead in Newcastle after returning back to the UK. Was this a random shoot out or a hit piece to avenge the death of Georgina.
I’ve not read the Kate Daniel series but this book has blown me away on the level of detail, but also how well the book has been written. We see aspects of both Kate’s private and professional life, alongside a few of her closets colleagues. This book is relatable, but gripping. The twists and reveals along the plot was unpredictable. This book does very well to touch the human emotional side of personal loss. Overall an excellent read, one that is worth investing into and one that you won’t be disappointed by. A note to add is that there is mention/ topic of sexual abuse which readers may find distressing.
February 3, 2024
This is Mari Hannahs fifteenth book, and having bean there from the very start and throughly enjoyed reading them all, for me this is her best book to date.
The Longest Goodbye is the 9th book in the series featuring Kate Daniels, a series which goes from strength to strength.
This is one of the best Police procedurals you will read. Dramatic tension and suspense combined with real feeling and heartfelt emotion
There is something different about this book though, not only in the team dynamic as whilst Bright is away, Kate is in temporary charge which means that Hank finds himself leading the team, then you have the book itself a masterpiece in writing an in depth, convincing Police procedural, there is a real depth to the quality of the writing with a sublime plot-line and storytelling that sings on the page
There is much to enjoy about this book, you have a dual murder investigation, one a cold case involving a serving officer and then you have the double murder of the prime suspects, the way that they are interwoven allows the team to investigate from differing angles.
The plotting is sublime, wonderfully structured and layered, the twists and turns are not just there to surprise the reader, you have the overriding sense that these come at the same time as the police unearth vital pieces of information and clues which will lead the investigation on another path
Another area in which the book shines are the characters, these are brought superbly to life on the page, you can see them as real people in their own environment, you live vicariously with them as they deal in their own way with the deaths of loved ones, in someways due to her position you see a slightly different side to Kate
It takes not only a certain skill to take a police procedural with all those moments within the incident room and to keep the book relevant and entertaining, it also comes from having the knowledge of how an investigation works, the authors experience shines throughout
This is also a read packed with emotion, which at times tugs at the heartstrings, it deals with loss and shows the anguish and torment that officers go through, a human rollercoaster. The booked is steeped in atmosphere
The length of the book allows the story to really flow and develop and the characters to be fleshed out, it this depth and insight that stood out for me. As to the finale, we’ll it had me blindsided
This is a book from the heart. The title of the book is so poignant, it gets to you. Then you have the final sentence!
There is a reason why Mari Hannah is an award winning author, The Longest Goodbye is the latest exhibit
I can’t recommend Mari’s writing highly enough, the books are not just about murder, it’s about the people, she understands the human side and knows what is involved, bringing all this to the fore in reads that engage the reader from the opening pages.
The Longest Goodbye is the 9th book in the series featuring Kate Daniels, a series which goes from strength to strength.
This is one of the best Police procedurals you will read. Dramatic tension and suspense combined with real feeling and heartfelt emotion
There is something different about this book though, not only in the team dynamic as whilst Bright is away, Kate is in temporary charge which means that Hank finds himself leading the team, then you have the book itself a masterpiece in writing an in depth, convincing Police procedural, there is a real depth to the quality of the writing with a sublime plot-line and storytelling that sings on the page
There is much to enjoy about this book, you have a dual murder investigation, one a cold case involving a serving officer and then you have the double murder of the prime suspects, the way that they are interwoven allows the team to investigate from differing angles.
The plotting is sublime, wonderfully structured and layered, the twists and turns are not just there to surprise the reader, you have the overriding sense that these come at the same time as the police unearth vital pieces of information and clues which will lead the investigation on another path
Another area in which the book shines are the characters, these are brought superbly to life on the page, you can see them as real people in their own environment, you live vicariously with them as they deal in their own way with the deaths of loved ones, in someways due to her position you see a slightly different side to Kate
It takes not only a certain skill to take a police procedural with all those moments within the incident room and to keep the book relevant and entertaining, it also comes from having the knowledge of how an investigation works, the authors experience shines throughout
This is also a read packed with emotion, which at times tugs at the heartstrings, it deals with loss and shows the anguish and torment that officers go through, a human rollercoaster. The booked is steeped in atmosphere
The length of the book allows the story to really flow and develop and the characters to be fleshed out, it this depth and insight that stood out for me. As to the finale, we’ll it had me blindsided
This is a book from the heart. The title of the book is so poignant, it gets to you. Then you have the final sentence!
There is a reason why Mari Hannah is an award winning author, The Longest Goodbye is the latest exhibit
I can’t recommend Mari’s writing highly enough, the books are not just about murder, it’s about the people, she understands the human side and knows what is involved, bringing all this to the fore in reads that engage the reader from the opening pages.
August 12, 2024
This is going to be a review of the 9 book series as a whole so far.
4 stars overall
I have thoroughly enjoyed the DCI Kate Daniel’s series from start to end (I think there will be another book in the future). You really get to know and understand the main characters throughout the books and their relationships to one another. The lead detective is a strong and powerful woman who leads a team through many investigations.
The investigations themselves were well thought out and it was obvious that the author had some inside knowledge of how criminal investigations play out whilst reading.
I felt so many emotions whilst reading this series, which I think is always a good sign that the writing is good and able to draw to reader in to the emotions felt by the characters and what is going on.
Some books were better than others which is usually a given when reading such a large series. I felt like some dragged on with no real plot for some parts of the book whilst others flew over and were exciting the whole time.
There were a few inconsistencies throughout the series that aren’t a big deal but I picked up on:
- Bright was their boss, then moved to be the head of CID, and then he was their boss again without any kind of explanation
- Naylor took over from Bright when Bright went to be head of CID and then we didn’t hear much of him in the following book, and then it’s told that he left to go to Yorkshire?? This was again without any previous explanation. I can understand that not everyone reads every book in a series, but for those who do, things like this are inconsistent
The way the books ended wasn’t my favourite. Every investigation was so detailed and then it was piled into a couple of pages to wrap up. It just seemed rushed sometimes.
The tension between Kate and Jo was such a good addition to the first few books, but then seemed to stop abruptly when it was revealed that they had moved in together. I know their relationship isn’t the main focus of the books but it was a nice addition to add complexity to books about criminal investigation and the officers involved.
4 stars overall
I have thoroughly enjoyed the DCI Kate Daniel’s series from start to end (I think there will be another book in the future). You really get to know and understand the main characters throughout the books and their relationships to one another. The lead detective is a strong and powerful woman who leads a team through many investigations.
The investigations themselves were well thought out and it was obvious that the author had some inside knowledge of how criminal investigations play out whilst reading.
I felt so many emotions whilst reading this series, which I think is always a good sign that the writing is good and able to draw to reader in to the emotions felt by the characters and what is going on.
Some books were better than others which is usually a given when reading such a large series. I felt like some dragged on with no real plot for some parts of the book whilst others flew over and were exciting the whole time.
There were a few inconsistencies throughout the series that aren’t a big deal but I picked up on:
- Bright was their boss, then moved to be the head of CID, and then he was their boss again without any kind of explanation
- Naylor took over from Bright when Bright went to be head of CID and then we didn’t hear much of him in the following book, and then it’s told that he left to go to Yorkshire?? This was again without any previous explanation. I can understand that not everyone reads every book in a series, but for those who do, things like this are inconsistent
The way the books ended wasn’t my favourite. Every investigation was so detailed and then it was piled into a couple of pages to wrap up. It just seemed rushed sometimes.
The tension between Kate and Jo was such a good addition to the first few books, but then seemed to stop abruptly when it was revealed that they had moved in together. I know their relationship isn’t the main focus of the books but it was a nice addition to add complexity to books about criminal investigation and the officers involved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2024
Gripping, gritty and gutsy, The Longest Goodbye is the mesmerizing new crime novel by Mari Hannah.
Three years ago, police officer Georgina Ioannau was brutally murdered and her killers were never brought to justice. The prime suspects were meant to be brought to the UK, but within hours of their return, they had all been shot dead. As this case gets even more twisted and tangled, Kate Daniels realises that the only way she can get to the truth and to the bottom of this investigation is by looking back in time – even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths and her own past mistakes.
With the stakes having never been higher, Kate’s investigation is going to test her and challenge her like never before. With everything to lose, Kate and her team. must all tread carefully, work together and trust nobody because one false move and everything they care for and cherish will go up in smoke: their reputations, their jobs and even their lives…
Will Kate manage to solve this case? Can she bring Georgina’s killers to justice and allow her to finally rest in peace? Or will old sins and dangerous mistakes end up putting Kate firmly in the line of fire?
Crime fiction fans will not be able to resist devouring Mari Hannah’s The Longest Goodbye in one go. Fast-paced, unsettling and engrossing, this deftly plotted and brilliantly written thriller chills readers to the bone and will keep them reading until the early hours of the morning.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Three years ago, police officer Georgina Ioannau was brutally murdered and her killers were never brought to justice. The prime suspects were meant to be brought to the UK, but within hours of their return, they had all been shot dead. As this case gets even more twisted and tangled, Kate Daniels realises that the only way she can get to the truth and to the bottom of this investigation is by looking back in time – even if it means confronting uncomfortable truths and her own past mistakes.
With the stakes having never been higher, Kate’s investigation is going to test her and challenge her like never before. With everything to lose, Kate and her team. must all tread carefully, work together and trust nobody because one false move and everything they care for and cherish will go up in smoke: their reputations, their jobs and even their lives…
Will Kate manage to solve this case? Can she bring Georgina’s killers to justice and allow her to finally rest in peace? Or will old sins and dangerous mistakes end up putting Kate firmly in the line of fire?
Crime fiction fans will not be able to resist devouring Mari Hannah’s The Longest Goodbye in one go. Fast-paced, unsettling and engrossing, this deftly plotted and brilliantly written thriller chills readers to the bone and will keep them reading until the early hours of the morning.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 24, 2024
I am so familiar with the setting of this book my first Mari Hannah read. I enjoyed being able to relate to Rothbury the Simonside Hills and St James Park the home of Newcastle United.⚽️
I thought this book started off slowly but soon picked up pace . As this was my first book by this author I was a little confused with the characters and their roles within the story line. Once I got into the book I really enjoyed it and was quite surprised with the ending.
More Mari Hannah on the TBR list and probably back to the beginning. It may make more sense thereafter !!!
I thought this book started off slowly but soon picked up pace . As this was my first book by this author I was a little confused with the characters and their roles within the story line. Once I got into the book I really enjoyed it and was quite surprised with the ending.
More Mari Hannah on the TBR list and probably back to the beginning. It may make more sense thereafter !!!
December 6, 2023
Another excellent read from the ever reliable and entertaining Mari Hannah. DCI Kate Daniels is back as lead cop in this novel and she is as tough and resilient as always. The plot combines past and present cases and it is very much personal. It perhaps takes a tad too long to reach its denouement but it is nevertheless extremely enjoyable.
April 21, 2024
OK, but not Mari's best.
January 9, 2024
This is the last book (hopefully just at the moment) in the DCI Kate Daniels series & you already know that I love this one just as much as I loved the others.
I picked this book up & honestly felt like I’d never left the incredible world that Mari Hannah created and it just mesmerised me from start to finish.
Honestly the end had me questioning everything & I just wanted to pick up the next book and continue reading. The whole narrative was beautiful and flowed seamlessly. This book is out on January 18th & I urge every man and their dog to read this series. I think it is my most treasured detective series of all time. In fact, I know it is my most treasured detective series of all time.
Did I want this to end? No.
Until next time, DCI Daniels ❤️
I picked this book up & honestly felt like I’d never left the incredible world that Mari Hannah created and it just mesmerised me from start to finish.
Honestly the end had me questioning everything & I just wanted to pick up the next book and continue reading. The whole narrative was beautiful and flowed seamlessly. This book is out on January 18th & I urge every man and their dog to read this series. I think it is my most treasured detective series of all time. In fact, I know it is my most treasured detective series of all time.
Did I want this to end? No.
Until next time, DCI Daniels ❤️
October 30, 2024
A really well written novel. A number of different strands all coming together for a very satisfying ending. Great characters and even the more minor characters have realistic backgrounds and interesting personalities. A great read!
June 27, 2024
I love an above average murder book and Mari Hannah never disappoints.
The only reason I don’t give a 5 to books like these is usually because although they are entertaining and page turners and the reader wants to know who the murderer is, they do not, for me, generate that truly original storyline which would make me give it a 5 stars rating. However, this will not stop me reading whatever Hannah produces 👍
The only reason I don’t give a 5 to books like these is usually because although they are entertaining and page turners and the reader wants to know who the murderer is, they do not, for me, generate that truly original storyline which would make me give it a 5 stars rating. However, this will not stop me reading whatever Hannah produces 👍
December 17, 2024
The most dramatic of starts as there is an officer down. DCI Kate Daniels rushes to the scene, but the officer doesn’t make it. Against all protocols Kate stumbles into the scene, her best friend Georgina Ioannau has been murdered, her discarded hat a poignant marker of a life lost in service.
Three years have passed, and the family are still waiting for justice. The investigation has stalled, the police being unable to track down the prime suspects. The CIO has since retired and the case whilst still open is effectively cold.
When the prime suspects return from their temporary exile in Spain, to celebrate Christmas with their family, somebody is several steps ahead of the police and guns them down on their doorstep. Is this just a gangland killing or has somebody decided to resort to their own sense of justice and taken the law into their own hands?
Kate is itching to get involved, but must recuse herself, making Hank the CIO, the most she can do is review the cold case. The search for answers will open old wounds, highlight past mistakes and risk the lives and careers of those around her.
The story follows a device loved by soap operas and long running television series, the discovered past. Here we have a deep and very close relationship between Kate and Georgina, with earlier events that the reader has no prior inkling of. Not only that but the friendship extends to Georgina’s husband Nico and their twins Charlotte and Oscar. An additional layer of complexity is added by the twins also being police officers. This means that all three could be responsible for Death Wise style vigilante justice.
Kate digs into the cold case aspect and soon she is ruffling the feathers of colleagues, current and former, as only she can. It is Hank who is placed out of his comfort zone heading up the murders of Jackson and Lee, and the considerable fall out from the minutes immediately following their murder. Hank gets to realise just how much pressure Kate is put under during investigations and will be relieved to return to ‘bagman’ duties.
The Bradshaw family are a good example of the local gangsters who are mad, bad and dangerous to know. The vicious sort capable of anything in pursuit of money or revenge. They are given nuance though, in shades of just who is the most dangerous between the family members and their ‘trusted’ employees. It keeps the reader on their toes and adds the occasional surprise.
Kate’s emotions are put through the shredder, firstly as a painful past is relived, but also because she must question the family. Georgina’s death had a profound effect on all of them and now Kate must question them, she doesn’t want to treat them as suspects, but the reality is if she is to do her job then she must. They are mentally in an odd place, not exactly shedding a tear over the murder of the Bradshaws but sensing that justice has been denied.
Kate is not alone in the suffering stakes as DI Lisa Carmichael must deal with shocking news of her own. She may see a bit of a ‘teacher’s pet’ of Kate’s in the series, but most readers will find her an empathetic character and here she is pushed to breaking point. Like Kate before her, the job focussed Lisa considers whether her career is worth it.
The plot is effectively two whodunnits, with the crimes only three years apart which keep things nice and tight. Is the search for one killer or two? A small pool of suspects keeps the story focussed but it still manages to pack in some surprises. There is plenty of action with danger and some brutality. Witnesses to the second shooting add to the sense of jeopardy as their lives are put in danger too. The author has done a fabulous job in keeping the intensity within the search such that is almost has a claustrophobic feel about it.
Three years have passed, and the family are still waiting for justice. The investigation has stalled, the police being unable to track down the prime suspects. The CIO has since retired and the case whilst still open is effectively cold.
When the prime suspects return from their temporary exile in Spain, to celebrate Christmas with their family, somebody is several steps ahead of the police and guns them down on their doorstep. Is this just a gangland killing or has somebody decided to resort to their own sense of justice and taken the law into their own hands?
Kate is itching to get involved, but must recuse herself, making Hank the CIO, the most she can do is review the cold case. The search for answers will open old wounds, highlight past mistakes and risk the lives and careers of those around her.
The story follows a device loved by soap operas and long running television series, the discovered past. Here we have a deep and very close relationship between Kate and Georgina, with earlier events that the reader has no prior inkling of. Not only that but the friendship extends to Georgina’s husband Nico and their twins Charlotte and Oscar. An additional layer of complexity is added by the twins also being police officers. This means that all three could be responsible for Death Wise style vigilante justice.
Kate digs into the cold case aspect and soon she is ruffling the feathers of colleagues, current and former, as only she can. It is Hank who is placed out of his comfort zone heading up the murders of Jackson and Lee, and the considerable fall out from the minutes immediately following their murder. Hank gets to realise just how much pressure Kate is put under during investigations and will be relieved to return to ‘bagman’ duties.
The Bradshaw family are a good example of the local gangsters who are mad, bad and dangerous to know. The vicious sort capable of anything in pursuit of money or revenge. They are given nuance though, in shades of just who is the most dangerous between the family members and their ‘trusted’ employees. It keeps the reader on their toes and adds the occasional surprise.
Kate’s emotions are put through the shredder, firstly as a painful past is relived, but also because she must question the family. Georgina’s death had a profound effect on all of them and now Kate must question them, she doesn’t want to treat them as suspects, but the reality is if she is to do her job then she must. They are mentally in an odd place, not exactly shedding a tear over the murder of the Bradshaws but sensing that justice has been denied.
Kate is not alone in the suffering stakes as DI Lisa Carmichael must deal with shocking news of her own. She may see a bit of a ‘teacher’s pet’ of Kate’s in the series, but most readers will find her an empathetic character and here she is pushed to breaking point. Like Kate before her, the job focussed Lisa considers whether her career is worth it.
The plot is effectively two whodunnits, with the crimes only three years apart which keep things nice and tight. Is the search for one killer or two? A small pool of suspects keeps the story focussed but it still manages to pack in some surprises. There is plenty of action with danger and some brutality. Witnesses to the second shooting add to the sense of jeopardy as their lives are put in danger too. The author has done a fabulous job in keeping the intensity within the search such that is almost has a claustrophobic feel about it.
February 3, 2024
This tough and unflinching Tyneside police thriller is the latest outing for Mari Hannah's DCI Kate Daniels. The Longest Goodbye is the ninth in a series which began in 2012 with The Murder Wall. We are in late December 2022, and in Newcastle, like other cities across Britain, revellers are raising two fingers to the recently discovered Omicron variant of the Coronavirus, and are out in the clubs and pubs wearing - because it is Newcastle, after all - as little as possible, despite the freezing weather. Two lads in particular - homeward bound from overseas, and just off the plane - are determined to have a few beers before being reunited with mum and dad.
However, neither the two bonny lads nor mum and dad quite fit the 'home for Christmas' template. Lee and Jackson Bradshaw are only in their twenties, but have already done serious time for violence, and are returning from a European bolthole where they have been hiding from British police. Mum and Dad? Don Bradshaw is a career criminal, but pales into insignificance beside his wife Christine, who is the ruthless boss of the region's biggest crime syndicate.
When the two prodigal sons are gunned down on the doorstep of their parents' (recently rented) home just as they are about to sing 'Silent Night', la merde frappe le ventilateur (pardon my French) The police are called and Don Bradshaw, brandishing the handgun dropped by one of his sons, is shot dead by a police marksman. No-one on the staff of Northumbria police will mourn three dead Bradshaws, but for Kate Daniels, the incident opens up a particularly unpleasant can of worms. Three years earlier, her best friend and police colleague Georgina Ioannou was found dead in a patch of woodland. Shot in the back. Executed. And it was the Bradshaw boys who were prime suspects.
Kate is forced to think the unthinkable: that Georgina's twins, Oscar and Charlotte, now both police officers, were involved; even worse is the thought that Georgina's husband Nico, although ostensibly a peaceful restaurateur, has avenged his wife's murder. Revisiting old cases is never easy, and this one is made even worse by the fact that the Senior Investigating Officer at the time, was lazy, incompetent, and all-too-willing to cut corners.
Mari Hannah does not spare our sensibilities. She takes us through the painful process of self-examination one uncomfortable step at a time. It isn't just Kate Daniels who must own up to past mistakes and errors of judgment, it is the whole Major Incident Team. Meanwhile, although the appalling Christine Bradshaw is safely behind bars facing a murder charge (the Firearms Officer she brained with a baseball bat has since died) like a badly treated tumour, malignant cells remain, and these men, enabled by her corrupt lawyer, are hard at work on the streets and in the pubs, clubs and private homes of Newcastle, determined to prevent the police from discovering the truth.
The Longest Goodbye, with its gentle nod to the Raymond Chandler thriller of almost the same name, grips from the first page, and we are fed the reddest of red herrings, one after the other, until Mari Hannah reveals a murderer who I certainly had not suspected. While few mourn the two dead criminals, when their killer is finally unmasked it is heartbreaking on so many levels. This is superior stuff from one of our finest writers. The Longest Goodbye is published by Orion and was published on 18th January.
However, neither the two bonny lads nor mum and dad quite fit the 'home for Christmas' template. Lee and Jackson Bradshaw are only in their twenties, but have already done serious time for violence, and are returning from a European bolthole where they have been hiding from British police. Mum and Dad? Don Bradshaw is a career criminal, but pales into insignificance beside his wife Christine, who is the ruthless boss of the region's biggest crime syndicate.
When the two prodigal sons are gunned down on the doorstep of their parents' (recently rented) home just as they are about to sing 'Silent Night', la merde frappe le ventilateur (pardon my French) The police are called and Don Bradshaw, brandishing the handgun dropped by one of his sons, is shot dead by a police marksman. No-one on the staff of Northumbria police will mourn three dead Bradshaws, but for Kate Daniels, the incident opens up a particularly unpleasant can of worms. Three years earlier, her best friend and police colleague Georgina Ioannou was found dead in a patch of woodland. Shot in the back. Executed. And it was the Bradshaw boys who were prime suspects.
Kate is forced to think the unthinkable: that Georgina's twins, Oscar and Charlotte, now both police officers, were involved; even worse is the thought that Georgina's husband Nico, although ostensibly a peaceful restaurateur, has avenged his wife's murder. Revisiting old cases is never easy, and this one is made even worse by the fact that the Senior Investigating Officer at the time, was lazy, incompetent, and all-too-willing to cut corners.
Mari Hannah does not spare our sensibilities. She takes us through the painful process of self-examination one uncomfortable step at a time. It isn't just Kate Daniels who must own up to past mistakes and errors of judgment, it is the whole Major Incident Team. Meanwhile, although the appalling Christine Bradshaw is safely behind bars facing a murder charge (the Firearms Officer she brained with a baseball bat has since died) like a badly treated tumour, malignant cells remain, and these men, enabled by her corrupt lawyer, are hard at work on the streets and in the pubs, clubs and private homes of Newcastle, determined to prevent the police from discovering the truth.
The Longest Goodbye, with its gentle nod to the Raymond Chandler thriller of almost the same name, grips from the first page, and we are fed the reddest of red herrings, one after the other, until Mari Hannah reveals a murderer who I certainly had not suspected. While few mourn the two dead criminals, when their killer is finally unmasked it is heartbreaking on so many levels. This is superior stuff from one of our finest writers. The Longest Goodbye is published by Orion and was published on 18th January.
January 18, 2024
One of the reasons I love Mari Hannah’s book so much is that she understands the stresses and strains of modern policing and is never slow to highlight the lack of resources and other constraints under which the police have to work – especially in a wide rural area like Northumbria, adding authenticity to her police procedurals.
This time the case is intensely personal for both Kate and her team. Three years ago, one of Kate’s closest friends and colleagues, Georgina Ioannau, was murdered. Shot dead in a remote bit of parkland, leaving behind a husband and two children. Worse, her case was never investigated as thoroughly as Kate would have wanted because everyone thought they knew who was responsible. The detective leading the case was, in her view, at best formulaic and at worst, derelict in his duty to investigate thoroughly. The people assumed to be responsible, the Bradshaws, two gangland brothers, fled to Spain and no-one was ever charged.
Now, the Bradshaw brothers have returned to spend Christmas with their mother, the matriarch Christine Bradshaw and no sooner have they got to their Newcastle home than they are executed in the family driveway before they even get inside the house. Kate is acting up for Major Crimes’ DCS Bright who is away and her DS, Hank Gormley, is Acting Senior Investigating Officer in her stead.
Kate takes charge of re-opening Georgina’s original case. If this was a revenge killing, she needs to know everything she can about the original case and whether the Bradshaws were indeed responsible, while Hank Gormley is in charge of who killed the brothers.
There’s a heavy air of responsibility hanging over the whole team because another one of their own has died and catching the person responsible is taking every ounce of energy they have. Christmas is cancelled for these teams as they work closely together to look for their murderer/s.
Mari Hannah’s writing is pacy and compelling. The tension is high from the outset and Kate’s mettle is tested at every turn, even by her own team who rebel at some of her decisions, feeling that her actions are betraying their colleague. The pressure takes its toll on everyone as emotions run high and tempers fray.
Kate and her life partner Jo Soulsby are trying to hold things together, but with Georgina’s unsolved murder weighing on Kate’s conscience, she’s not the easiest person to live or work with.
Mari Hannah does a terrific job of letting you into all the conflicting emotions of the team, showing the tight procedures that they follow and the leadership skills that Kate employs to keep her people on track.
It’s a dark time for them all and you can feel the anxiety seeping through the pages. The Longest Goodbye is also a cracking murder mystery, offering surprises throughout and in Christine Bradshaw she has crafted a queen of crime who deserves all the vilification she gets.
Verdict: A strong, nerve-shredding thriller that shows Mari Hannah is riding high at the top of her game.
This time the case is intensely personal for both Kate and her team. Three years ago, one of Kate’s closest friends and colleagues, Georgina Ioannau, was murdered. Shot dead in a remote bit of parkland, leaving behind a husband and two children. Worse, her case was never investigated as thoroughly as Kate would have wanted because everyone thought they knew who was responsible. The detective leading the case was, in her view, at best formulaic and at worst, derelict in his duty to investigate thoroughly. The people assumed to be responsible, the Bradshaws, two gangland brothers, fled to Spain and no-one was ever charged.
Now, the Bradshaw brothers have returned to spend Christmas with their mother, the matriarch Christine Bradshaw and no sooner have they got to their Newcastle home than they are executed in the family driveway before they even get inside the house. Kate is acting up for Major Crimes’ DCS Bright who is away and her DS, Hank Gormley, is Acting Senior Investigating Officer in her stead.
Kate takes charge of re-opening Georgina’s original case. If this was a revenge killing, she needs to know everything she can about the original case and whether the Bradshaws were indeed responsible, while Hank Gormley is in charge of who killed the brothers.
There’s a heavy air of responsibility hanging over the whole team because another one of their own has died and catching the person responsible is taking every ounce of energy they have. Christmas is cancelled for these teams as they work closely together to look for their murderer/s.
Mari Hannah’s writing is pacy and compelling. The tension is high from the outset and Kate’s mettle is tested at every turn, even by her own team who rebel at some of her decisions, feeling that her actions are betraying their colleague. The pressure takes its toll on everyone as emotions run high and tempers fray.
Kate and her life partner Jo Soulsby are trying to hold things together, but with Georgina’s unsolved murder weighing on Kate’s conscience, she’s not the easiest person to live or work with.
Mari Hannah does a terrific job of letting you into all the conflicting emotions of the team, showing the tight procedures that they follow and the leadership skills that Kate employs to keep her people on track.
It’s a dark time for them all and you can feel the anxiety seeping through the pages. The Longest Goodbye is also a cracking murder mystery, offering surprises throughout and in Christine Bradshaw she has crafted a queen of crime who deserves all the vilification she gets.
Verdict: A strong, nerve-shredding thriller that shows Mari Hannah is riding high at the top of her game.
November 30, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of The Longest Goodbye, the ninth novel to feature DI Kate Daniels of Northumbria Police.
Three years ago Kate’s close friend, PC Georgina Ioannau, was shot dead. Kate wasn’t allowed to investigate and the case was bungled by the investigating detective. Now, the prime suspects in Georgina’s murder have been shot dead on their return to the UK. This time Kate will get justice for Georgina.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Longest Goodbye, which is a way above average police procedural with a great premise that offers two murder investigations that may or may not be linked. To be on the safe side they are kept separate with Kate taking on Georgina’s unsolved case and her deputy, Hank, taking on the recent murders.
I don’t really know what to say about the plot as there is so much that shouldn’t be mentioned to avoid spoilers. It is immersive for the way it is written with a strong sense of realism and plenty of developments. Kate’s case revolves around trying to get proof that the recently murdered prime suspects actually killed Georgina or if a sloppy initial investigation overlooked other obvious suspects, while Hank is trying to deal with the victims’ family who are major players in local organised crime and the repercussions of that. The two crimes intersect in interesting ways and diverge in others, so while it isn’t a merry go round there are times when the overlap can’t be ignored. Despite all this, the final resolution is still a surprise and I was impressed by the way the author avoids any hints about identity and yet has the possibility in play.
Kate Daniels is a tough cookie. She faces down mutterings from her staff about her decisions (I loved it) and still has the emotional intelligence to support a staff member or witnesses in pain. She isn’t afraid of the hard decisions and backs herself in taking them. All round she’s a great character.
The Longest Goodbye is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Three years ago Kate’s close friend, PC Georgina Ioannau, was shot dead. Kate wasn’t allowed to investigate and the case was bungled by the investigating detective. Now, the prime suspects in Georgina’s murder have been shot dead on their return to the UK. This time Kate will get justice for Georgina.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Longest Goodbye, which is a way above average police procedural with a great premise that offers two murder investigations that may or may not be linked. To be on the safe side they are kept separate with Kate taking on Georgina’s unsolved case and her deputy, Hank, taking on the recent murders.
I don’t really know what to say about the plot as there is so much that shouldn’t be mentioned to avoid spoilers. It is immersive for the way it is written with a strong sense of realism and plenty of developments. Kate’s case revolves around trying to get proof that the recently murdered prime suspects actually killed Georgina or if a sloppy initial investigation overlooked other obvious suspects, while Hank is trying to deal with the victims’ family who are major players in local organised crime and the repercussions of that. The two crimes intersect in interesting ways and diverge in others, so while it isn’t a merry go round there are times when the overlap can’t be ignored. Despite all this, the final resolution is still a surprise and I was impressed by the way the author avoids any hints about identity and yet has the possibility in play.
Kate Daniels is a tough cookie. She faces down mutterings from her staff about her decisions (I loved it) and still has the emotional intelligence to support a staff member or witnesses in pain. She isn’t afraid of the hard decisions and backs herself in taking them. All round she’s a great character.
The Longest Goodbye is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 18, 2024
For the last few months I have been involved in #TeamDaniels which was set up to support the full series of Kate Daniels novels, in particular this latest book which was published today. For me this series has stood out for its setting, an area I know little about, but more importantly for its wonderful characters who are shown to be more than just police officers. With all of the main characters I could see their personalities, the impact the job they loved had on their lives and regret for things that they wish they had handled differently.
It is set during the pandemic, something that strangely feels like a lifetime ago in many ways. Kate has to remind Hank that going into a crowded area isn’t the wisest decision when the police are already running on reduced staffing levels. Businesses struggling to survive and conducting meetings in chilly rooms made worse by keeping windows open isn’t a happy memory.
The Longest Goodbye is probably one of the most poignant novels in the series. A loss of a friend is hard to accept and in many ways retribution could help loved ones. But the retribution carried out here has a bigger impact for Kate and her team. For risk of spoilers I have to say less but this aspect of the storyline did create a bigger role for one of the main characters and they are definitely a character who I could see a bigger role for in the future as their career progressed. My only concern is that they used some of Kate’s worst ways of coping. Throwing themselves into work and making mistakes through grief and exhaustion. Kate, Hank, and Jo, who works closely with the team throughout the investigation, but don’t always handle the situation correctly try and help with differing results but what is evident is the amount of genuine support and understanding. It’s strange how all of these characters now feel real, May’s because I’ve read all of the books so closely together but more likely because of the strength of the writing.
I have no idea if this series will continue, if it does I will be a happy reader. If it doesn’t, the ending was perfect.
It is set during the pandemic, something that strangely feels like a lifetime ago in many ways. Kate has to remind Hank that going into a crowded area isn’t the wisest decision when the police are already running on reduced staffing levels. Businesses struggling to survive and conducting meetings in chilly rooms made worse by keeping windows open isn’t a happy memory.
The Longest Goodbye is probably one of the most poignant novels in the series. A loss of a friend is hard to accept and in many ways retribution could help loved ones. But the retribution carried out here has a bigger impact for Kate and her team. For risk of spoilers I have to say less but this aspect of the storyline did create a bigger role for one of the main characters and they are definitely a character who I could see a bigger role for in the future as their career progressed. My only concern is that they used some of Kate’s worst ways of coping. Throwing themselves into work and making mistakes through grief and exhaustion. Kate, Hank, and Jo, who works closely with the team throughout the investigation, but don’t always handle the situation correctly try and help with differing results but what is evident is the amount of genuine support and understanding. It’s strange how all of these characters now feel real, May’s because I’ve read all of the books so closely together but more likely because of the strength of the writing.
I have no idea if this series will continue, if it does I will be a happy reader. If it doesn’t, the ending was perfect.
January 31, 2024
With a gripping storyline, vast array of brilliantly constructed and written characters, excellent pace, murder, kidnap, lies, deceit, affairs, organised crime, police corruption, child abuse, plenty of red herrings, shocking plot twists and a nail biting climax. Mari Hannah's 9th book in the Kate Daniels series is one I couldn't put down.
It was actually my first outing with Kate, and all I can think of is, 'How am I SO late to the party?'.
Kate is a diligent, objective, fair, trustworthy, thorough, professional, and conscientious investigator and a loyal and caring friend, colleague, and partner. Which is really highlighted in this particular story, due to the fact that she is tasked with trying to finally solve the murder of her best friend. Whilst also trying to piece together the recent murders of the two men who were the prime suspects of her murder. I really love the dynamics between Kate, her team, and those closest to her. They work really well together, and each one brings a different dynamic and depth to the storyline.
Mari's writing is fluid, atmospheric, vividly descriptive, and, quite frankly, easy to get totally lost in. Every time I thought I had worked it all out. Mari threw in a curve ball. Leaving me scrapping my theory altogether and just follow where the story took me blindly. I wasn't disappointed!
It's definitely a story that can be read as a stand-alone. But u can also say with confidence that once you've read one, you'll want to read the whole series. I know I will be!!
I'm really excited to see that the series is currently in development for TV.
It was actually my first outing with Kate, and all I can think of is, 'How am I SO late to the party?'.
Kate is a diligent, objective, fair, trustworthy, thorough, professional, and conscientious investigator and a loyal and caring friend, colleague, and partner. Which is really highlighted in this particular story, due to the fact that she is tasked with trying to finally solve the murder of her best friend. Whilst also trying to piece together the recent murders of the two men who were the prime suspects of her murder. I really love the dynamics between Kate, her team, and those closest to her. They work really well together, and each one brings a different dynamic and depth to the storyline.
Mari's writing is fluid, atmospheric, vividly descriptive, and, quite frankly, easy to get totally lost in. Every time I thought I had worked it all out. Mari threw in a curve ball. Leaving me scrapping my theory altogether and just follow where the story took me blindly. I wasn't disappointed!
It's definitely a story that can be read as a stand-alone. But u can also say with confidence that once you've read one, you'll want to read the whole series. I know I will be!!
I'm really excited to see that the series is currently in development for TV.
January 27, 2024
Here is my review for The Longest Goodbye by Mari Hannah
It has been a long time since I have read a Mari Hannah book and that is just because I have been busy and I must say, it was like meeting up with an old friend and like I hadn’t been away. I got into the story straight away and loved the author's writing style from the start. Kate Daniels is one of my favourite detectives as she is so diligent and caring but likes to get the job done right with the correct person caught. This had to be one of the hardest cases possible for Kate, it was linked to the killing of her best friend three years ago. The prose is superb as is the detention to detail. The reading style is easy and there is a great story line where you can see the author has done a great job with the plotting. It’s a good police procedural set in MIT with Kate being in charge. The author hasn’t lost her touch and still writes a very good book. Now to catch up on the ones I have missed!
Blurb :
LIES COST LIVES
THE BRAND NEW KATE DANIELS THRILLER
Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannau was murdered, her killers never brought to justice.
Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK.
Has someone finally taken the law into their own hands?
Seeking out the truth will force Kate Daniels to confront her own past mistakes, and put her career, and her team's lives, on the line.
The gripping new Kate Daniels thriller about what happens when someone takes the law into their own hands from award winning crime writer Mari Hannah.
It has been a long time since I have read a Mari Hannah book and that is just because I have been busy and I must say, it was like meeting up with an old friend and like I hadn’t been away. I got into the story straight away and loved the author's writing style from the start. Kate Daniels is one of my favourite detectives as she is so diligent and caring but likes to get the job done right with the correct person caught. This had to be one of the hardest cases possible for Kate, it was linked to the killing of her best friend three years ago. The prose is superb as is the detention to detail. The reading style is easy and there is a great story line where you can see the author has done a great job with the plotting. It’s a good police procedural set in MIT with Kate being in charge. The author hasn’t lost her touch and still writes a very good book. Now to catch up on the ones I have missed!
Blurb :
LIES COST LIVES
THE BRAND NEW KATE DANIELS THRILLER
Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannau was murdered, her killers never brought to justice.
Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK.
Has someone finally taken the law into their own hands?
Seeking out the truth will force Kate Daniels to confront her own past mistakes, and put her career, and her team's lives, on the line.
The gripping new Kate Daniels thriller about what happens when someone takes the law into their own hands from award winning crime writer Mari Hannah.
January 11, 2024
“The Longest Goodbye” by Mari Hannah is the latest thriller in her DCI Kate Daniels series and boy was it thrilling. I’ve been reading this series since the very first book and I think the best was definitely saved till last - but hopefully not the last ever!
In this story we see Kate’s DS - Hank Gormley, promoted to Senior Investigating Officer and Kate stepping into DCS Bright’s shoes while he’s away. Both are not keen on their new roles, knowing that they are better suited to their normal responsibilities. However, due to the personal connection to the case, Kate is compelled to find justice for her murdered friend and ex colleague Georgina, who was brutally killed three years ago.
Kate is her usual determined self once again, firing on all cylinders to right the wrongs that were obvious during the initial investigation. Originally ran by a narrow minded SIO, mistakes were made and evidence overlooked. When the two suspects in the shooting of Georgina are killed execution style, within hours of arriving back in their home city of Newcastle, Kate puts her emotions to one side to finally solve Georgina’s case together with the recent murders of the two men.
Using stories shared with her from police officers including the author’s own partner, a former murder detective, Mari Hannah has written a fast paced, compelling and utterly page turning story, written with real heart and nail biting precision. Exploring the contradictions of human behaviour, the quirks of desire and the power of vigilantism, “The Longest Goodbye” is everything a crime reader wants in a police procedural with central characters who are impossible not to adore.
#TheLongestGoodbye - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In this story we see Kate’s DS - Hank Gormley, promoted to Senior Investigating Officer and Kate stepping into DCS Bright’s shoes while he’s away. Both are not keen on their new roles, knowing that they are better suited to their normal responsibilities. However, due to the personal connection to the case, Kate is compelled to find justice for her murdered friend and ex colleague Georgina, who was brutally killed three years ago.
Kate is her usual determined self once again, firing on all cylinders to right the wrongs that were obvious during the initial investigation. Originally ran by a narrow minded SIO, mistakes were made and evidence overlooked. When the two suspects in the shooting of Georgina are killed execution style, within hours of arriving back in their home city of Newcastle, Kate puts her emotions to one side to finally solve Georgina’s case together with the recent murders of the two men.
Using stories shared with her from police officers including the author’s own partner, a former murder detective, Mari Hannah has written a fast paced, compelling and utterly page turning story, written with real heart and nail biting precision. Exploring the contradictions of human behaviour, the quirks of desire and the power of vigilantism, “The Longest Goodbye” is everything a crime reader wants in a police procedural with central characters who are impossible not to adore.
#TheLongestGoodbye - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 15, 2024
When I read Her Last Request, the previous book to this one, I pondered on what would come Kate’s way next - I couldn’t have predicted it.
2021 - Two prime murder suspects are gunned down on their doorstep having only just returned to the UK from Spain.
2018 - Who was killed? A female police officer who also happened to be a close friend of DCI Kate Daniels.
In the intervening three years justice had not been served but has it now? Kate is acting up as Head of & reopens the old case which means Hank is SIO on the double killing. They are well acquainted with the criminal as well as the bereaved family, are they too close?
I love this series of books, the characters are just like old friends & Kate is fabulous; flawed, determined & written with realism. Even though this is book 9, what stood out for me, apart from the excellent plot, was the dialogue. It is written so well, I could ‘hear’ it, it wasn’t stilted or forced to make a plot point, it just flowed naturally be it banter, procedural or argumentative. I really didn’t see the reveal coming & having read the previous eight in a relatively short timescale, I thought I might have. The fact that I didn’t is down to an excellent writer & storyteller; where Kate goes from here I don’t know - I’m worn out let alone her!
2021 - Two prime murder suspects are gunned down on their doorstep having only just returned to the UK from Spain.
2018 - Who was killed? A female police officer who also happened to be a close friend of DCI Kate Daniels.
In the intervening three years justice had not been served but has it now? Kate is acting up as Head of & reopens the old case which means Hank is SIO on the double killing. They are well acquainted with the criminal as well as the bereaved family, are they too close?
I love this series of books, the characters are just like old friends & Kate is fabulous; flawed, determined & written with realism. Even though this is book 9, what stood out for me, apart from the excellent plot, was the dialogue. It is written so well, I could ‘hear’ it, it wasn’t stilted or forced to make a plot point, it just flowed naturally be it banter, procedural or argumentative. I really didn’t see the reveal coming & having read the previous eight in a relatively short timescale, I thought I might have. The fact that I didn’t is down to an excellent writer & storyteller; where Kate goes from here I don’t know - I’m worn out let alone her!
January 21, 2024
The latest in this incredible series of thrillers centred around DCI Kate Daniels has been well worth the wait. The cover itself sets you up for what lies in wait within the pages you are about to read and brings a sense of foreboding before you even start, with this powerful image of the police cap lying in the snow.
The way that Kate and her MIT team investigate the murder of a police colleague, and friend,whose killers have never been brought to justice, along with the killer of the killers, is very cleverly done. You are drawn in to the story lines which take you down paths that merge and part at different stages through the book, characters who one minute you will suspect and the next have empathy with , all the while you are wondering how Kate and her team cope.
Kate's relationship with Jo is now on a secure footing and this helps by allowing the storyline to progress through feelings and emotions that you would expect in a well developed union and being able to look at the cases they are trying to solve without letting themselves get in the way of this.
This is Mari Hannah at her best and I now have a long time until the next book after having the privilege of being able to read all the previous books over the last three moths as part of #TeamDaniels.
The way that Kate and her MIT team investigate the murder of a police colleague, and friend,whose killers have never been brought to justice, along with the killer of the killers, is very cleverly done. You are drawn in to the story lines which take you down paths that merge and part at different stages through the book, characters who one minute you will suspect and the next have empathy with , all the while you are wondering how Kate and her team cope.
Kate's relationship with Jo is now on a secure footing and this helps by allowing the storyline to progress through feelings and emotions that you would expect in a well developed union and being able to look at the cases they are trying to solve without letting themselves get in the way of this.
This is Mari Hannah at her best and I now have a long time until the next book after having the privilege of being able to read all the previous books over the last three moths as part of #TeamDaniels.
January 16, 2024
My first book by Mari Hannah and it worked really well as a standalone, despite being number 9 in the series. It has made me wonder what I’ve missed!!!
A compulsively brilliant, detailed police procedural, dark, gritty, thorough, uncomfortable and compelling reading.
DCI Kate Daniels makes for a brilliant lead character, showing sensitivity, flaws and vulnerability alongside dogged determination to solve the case and care for her team.
It took me a while to get used to the many characters in this book, but this was not a distraction to the enjoyment. Each is portrayed fully with their personalities developed making them individually succinct from each other. The darkness and brutality of some is unnerving and certainly raised the fear levels.
What really impressed me was the intricacies of the plot and the reality of the time the investigations took. I felt it reflected what real life investigations might be like, the long shifts, exhaustion of the team, emotional costs to name but a few. This was an amazing, fast-paced 5 🌟 read with twists and turns and revelations.
A compulsively brilliant, detailed police procedural, dark, gritty, thorough, uncomfortable and compelling reading.
DCI Kate Daniels makes for a brilliant lead character, showing sensitivity, flaws and vulnerability alongside dogged determination to solve the case and care for her team.
It took me a while to get used to the many characters in this book, but this was not a distraction to the enjoyment. Each is portrayed fully with their personalities developed making them individually succinct from each other. The darkness and brutality of some is unnerving and certainly raised the fear levels.
What really impressed me was the intricacies of the plot and the reality of the time the investigations took. I felt it reflected what real life investigations might be like, the long shifts, exhaustion of the team, emotional costs to name but a few. This was an amazing, fast-paced 5 🌟 read with twists and turns and revelations.
January 19, 2024
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Hello and welcome, I’m sad to say that this is the final book in reviewing for the #TeamDaniels project, I’ve enjoyed every book but I’m sad that’s it’s over but it’s publication day for the latest book The Longest Goodbye that I’m reviewing below.
This story starts with a prologue that’s so sad, Georgina a police officer who is friends with Kate is killed in the line of duty execution style.
Fast forward three years and Georgina’s killers are back in Newcastle after hiding out in Spain but that night they also get murdered.
This is such a deeply personal case for Kate, Georgina was her good friend who she’d known and loved for many years, so Kate being Kate thinks it’s her personal mission to reinvestigate Georgina’s case and finally get to the bottom of anything once and for all.
As usually the story is told in such flawless way, each page is as exciting as the next and the whole plot doesn’t miss a beat.
I’ve really enjoyed this wild ride reading the series and it’s had me on the edge of my seat wanting more, i can’t wait to read more from this author.
Hello and welcome, I’m sad to say that this is the final book in reviewing for the #TeamDaniels project, I’ve enjoyed every book but I’m sad that’s it’s over but it’s publication day for the latest book The Longest Goodbye that I’m reviewing below.
This story starts with a prologue that’s so sad, Georgina a police officer who is friends with Kate is killed in the line of duty execution style.
Fast forward three years and Georgina’s killers are back in Newcastle after hiding out in Spain but that night they also get murdered.
This is such a deeply personal case for Kate, Georgina was her good friend who she’d known and loved for many years, so Kate being Kate thinks it’s her personal mission to reinvestigate Georgina’s case and finally get to the bottom of anything once and for all.
As usually the story is told in such flawless way, each page is as exciting as the next and the whole plot doesn’t miss a beat.
I’ve really enjoyed this wild ride reading the series and it’s had me on the edge of my seat wanting more, i can’t wait to read more from this author.
September 27, 2023
I requested the opportunity to review and read this novel having read some of the novels in Mari Hannah’s other detective series. In both those series I was thoroughly absorbed in the storyline, not wanting the story to end. I’m happy to say that this continued that tradition.
Although this is the first novel I’ve read in the Kate Daniels series, it read well as a stand-alone novel whilst teasing you into wanting to know more about Kate. I will definitely read more in the near future.
This novel is fast paced and consuming with lots of twists and turns. As the story goes you are left wondering who killed Kate’s friend Georgina? Who killed the Bradshaw boys? What happened to Richard Fitzsimmons along who kidnapped Ella the witness and other revelations.
This is a chunky novel you realise when you get to the end and diagnose all that happened but at no point in reading it did I feel disengaged or that it was a chore, in fact, I just didn’t actually want it to end!
As you can guess, I’d heartily recommend. - write more soon please!
Although this is the first novel I’ve read in the Kate Daniels series, it read well as a stand-alone novel whilst teasing you into wanting to know more about Kate. I will definitely read more in the near future.
This novel is fast paced and consuming with lots of twists and turns. As the story goes you are left wondering who killed Kate’s friend Georgina? Who killed the Bradshaw boys? What happened to Richard Fitzsimmons along who kidnapped Ella the witness and other revelations.
This is a chunky novel you realise when you get to the end and diagnose all that happened but at no point in reading it did I feel disengaged or that it was a chore, in fact, I just didn’t actually want it to end!
As you can guess, I’d heartily recommend. - write more soon please!
January 9, 2024
Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannou was killed, executed in cold blood, and her assailant was never apprehended. The force believed it was two brothers who had been released from custody recently and conveniently fled the country. Now they are both dead, killed as they returned to Newcastle to celebrate Christmas with their family and friends. Temporarily in charge of Major Crimes, Kate has to balance the reopening of the original case with the new events which have left four dead, including another officer.
I really enjoy Hannah's books about policing in the North East. She has created a set of characters who interweave throughout different stories and all are realistic and hard-hitting. Here there is the element of vengeance for a colleague who was murdered as well as a great deal of consideration of the effects on all involved. There is also some background around the prevalence of organised crime groups and their networks. All-in-all an excellent police procedural to start the new year!
I really enjoy Hannah's books about policing in the North East. She has created a set of characters who interweave throughout different stories and all are realistic and hard-hitting. Here there is the element of vengeance for a colleague who was murdered as well as a great deal of consideration of the effects on all involved. There is also some background around the prevalence of organised crime groups and their networks. All-in-all an excellent police procedural to start the new year!
September 24, 2023
The Longest Goodbye - Mari Hannah.
I cannot believe I have never read any of this series previously!!
I love a good crime novel and this certainly hit the brief for me. The story had good pace to it and the characters are all believable and real.
I thought half way through I guessed ‘who done it’ but was I wrong - I certainly didn’t couldn’t have predicted the final outcome outcome!!
The only minor issue for me was that initially we were given a lot of insight into the comings and goings of the ‘gang’ but this petered off and I would have liked to have read a bit more about their actions during the ongoing investigations but it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I will now be looking to read the back catalogue.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this and find a new favourite author in Mari Hannah. My review is my genuine opinion of the book.
I cannot believe I have never read any of this series previously!!
I love a good crime novel and this certainly hit the brief for me. The story had good pace to it and the characters are all believable and real.
I thought half way through I guessed ‘who done it’ but was I wrong - I certainly didn’t couldn’t have predicted the final outcome outcome!!
The only minor issue for me was that initially we were given a lot of insight into the comings and goings of the ‘gang’ but this petered off and I would have liked to have read a bit more about their actions during the ongoing investigations but it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.
I will now be looking to read the back catalogue.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this and find a new favourite author in Mari Hannah. My review is my genuine opinion of the book.
January 19, 2024
I hadn't read any of Mari's books before picking this one up and didn't realise it was part of a series but found this didn't matter, as I found myself instantly engrossed within the story.
I loved the storyline and the way in which we found ourselves straight into the thick of it and the way in which the two cases intertwined. This created suspense and tension throughout the book, left me questioning everyone's motives and left us with a killer who I didn't suspect.
The characters within the book were so good and I really loved Kate. She had the authority for her role, but I liked how we got to see her emotional side as well. There were some poignant and humerous scenes within the book and all important topics covered were written so well. There were so many other good characters in the book, but at one point I did find myself having to catch up as there were just so many names to remember.
This was a fantastic thriller and I find myself looking forward to more
I loved the storyline and the way in which we found ourselves straight into the thick of it and the way in which the two cases intertwined. This created suspense and tension throughout the book, left me questioning everyone's motives and left us with a killer who I didn't suspect.
The characters within the book were so good and I really loved Kate. She had the authority for her role, but I liked how we got to see her emotional side as well. There were some poignant and humerous scenes within the book and all important topics covered were written so well. There were so many other good characters in the book, but at one point I did find myself having to catch up as there were just so many names to remember.
This was a fantastic thriller and I find myself looking forward to more
January 20, 2024
This latest book by Mari Hannah, in the DCI Kate Daniels series is quite simply amazing. The pace never lets up from the first page right through to the last. The raw emotion in some of the scenes literally seeps from the pages. I will admit I was in tears from the start and I hadn't even got passed the prologue.. so be prepared. Mari takes you a white knuckle , heart in the mouth ride throughout. Her outstanding ability to make you feel as if you are standing shoulder to shoulder with the characters in the book itself, is testament to how brilliant a writer she is. The descriptions and story telling are so vivid and alive. I would go so far as to say this is, without a doubt, her best novel to date and all the other 14 books she has written are pretty amazing. A fast paced, gripping, emotional page turner of a novel. 5 stars all the way. If you pick up no other book this year, make sure you pick up this one.
September 29, 2025
This is the latest instalment in the Kate Daniels series (Book 9) and was published only last year. I've read and enjoyed all of them, and this was no exception. Three years ago, Kate’s good friend and colleague, Georgina, was shot dead and the chief suspects had fled the country. The men (sons of a Newcastle crime boss) sneak back into the UK to spend Christmas with their parents and both are shot dead on the doorstep of what the family believed to be a safe house. Kate is in charge of investigating the killings, which gives her the chance to reinvestigate Georgina’s murder at the same time. This was a good story that rattled along at a good pace. The characters are all well-drawn and there are plenty of red herrings and complications which make it hard to guess who the killers are.
Review by: Norfolk Gal, Oundle Crime
Review by: Norfolk Gal, Oundle Crime
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews