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Tennison #8
Dark Rooms
The thrilling new Detective Jane Tennison crime novel from the bestselling crime writer, Lynda La Plante.
Helena Lanark is the only one who knows about the horrors which once occurred in her family's house. The heiress of an immense family fortune, she now resides in a luxurious care home; her mind and memory fading fast.
Jane Tennison is leading a murder investigation into the recent brutal death of a young girl, her decomposed, starved body discovered in an old air raid shelter in the garden of the Lanark's now derelict house. Initially the focus is on identifying the victim, until another body is found hidden in the walls of the shelter.
As the investigation and search for answers intensifies, Jane travels to Australia. There she discovers the dark secret that the Lanark family has kept hidden for decades. A secret that not only threatens to bring down a family dynasty, but also places Jane Tennison in mortal danger . . .
Helena Lanark is the only one who knows about the horrors which once occurred in her family's house. The heiress of an immense family fortune, she now resides in a luxurious care home; her mind and memory fading fast.
Jane Tennison is leading a murder investigation into the recent brutal death of a young girl, her decomposed, starved body discovered in an old air raid shelter in the garden of the Lanark's now derelict house. Initially the focus is on identifying the victim, until another body is found hidden in the walls of the shelter.
As the investigation and search for answers intensifies, Jane travels to Australia. There she discovers the dark secret that the Lanark family has kept hidden for decades. A secret that not only threatens to bring down a family dynasty, but also places Jane Tennison in mortal danger . . .
400 pages, Paperback
First published August 24, 2022
567 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
About the author
Lynda La Plante
123 books1,825 followersLynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 233 reviews
May 3, 2023
2.5 stars
I have mixed thoughts on this book. I didn’t dislike it but I definitely didn’t enjoy it. The suspect plot line felt so all over the place and the romance subplot was questionable at best. Personally, i felt there was a lot of useless information about the house renovation, I get having sub plots but man, that was boring.
Overall, nothing really came together for me. I didn’t care/ particularly want Jane and Eddie to get together and I didn’t care about the Lanark’s because the story was so all over the place.
I have mixed thoughts on this book. I didn’t dislike it but I definitely didn’t enjoy it. The suspect plot line felt so all over the place and the romance subplot was questionable at best. Personally, i felt there was a lot of useless information about the house renovation, I get having sub plots but man, that was boring.
Overall, nothing really came together for me. I didn’t care/ particularly want Jane and Eddie to get together and I didn’t care about the Lanark’s because the story was so all over the place.
October 2, 2022
It has been a very long time since I have read a book by Lynda LaPlante and I wondering why after reading Dark Rooms. I was worried going into a series at book 8 but I thoroughly enjoyed it and hope to go back and read the previous 7 books. Thank you, Allen and Unwin, for the surprise bookmail and putting this author back on my radar.
These books show the early days of Jane Tennison, as you will know from the hit TV series "Prime Suspect" where Jane was played by Helen Mirren. We get a look into her life when she was younger and making her mark in the force. In Dark Rooms, she is a newly promoted DI and is starting at a new station. She has just bought a house and doing quite a lot of renovating, which brings Eddie into her life. She is like a dog with a bone, on the case of body found in the walls of an old, abandoned air raid shelter in the gardens of an old home being knocked down. Her investigation doesn't make her many friends, but she is determined to get to the bottom of it and justice for the victim. She makes a whirlwind trip to Sydney, to get the answers she needs.
An enjoyable police drama that kept me invested in the story right until the end.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for my copy of this book to read. Dark Rooms is out now and well worth a read.
These books show the early days of Jane Tennison, as you will know from the hit TV series "Prime Suspect" where Jane was played by Helen Mirren. We get a look into her life when she was younger and making her mark in the force. In Dark Rooms, she is a newly promoted DI and is starting at a new station. She has just bought a house and doing quite a lot of renovating, which brings Eddie into her life. She is like a dog with a bone, on the case of body found in the walls of an old, abandoned air raid shelter in the gardens of an old home being knocked down. Her investigation doesn't make her many friends, but she is determined to get to the bottom of it and justice for the victim. She makes a whirlwind trip to Sydney, to get the answers she needs.
An enjoyable police drama that kept me invested in the story right until the end.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for my copy of this book to read. Dark Rooms is out now and well worth a read.
August 31, 2022
My first book from Lynda, I enjoyed her writing style this is a classic police procedural. There is an insta love element in here it was overdone in my opinion and not necessary in the book it really didnt add any value. This book is #8 in the series, I would be keen to go to the beginning to read these books and the other cases out main character worked on where mentioned in this book and i was intrigued.
Enjoyable read, I give it 3.5 stars
Enjoyable read, I give it 3.5 stars
November 20, 2023
Bit iffy on this one.
For the first time in a long time a Jane Tennison novel felt too long (and a little boring). The plot lacked any real gusto and the crime felt drawn out and even unnecessary. Jane seemed to have a bee in her bonnet and at times it felt like she was inserting herself in all the wrong places.
The subplot had me wondering too. Why the detailed details? What was a long read was made worse by the minuscule minutia of home renovating.
Hindsight- skip this one and move straight onto Number Nine.
For the first time in a long time a Jane Tennison novel felt too long (and a little boring). The plot lacked any real gusto and the crime felt drawn out and even unnecessary. Jane seemed to have a bee in her bonnet and at times it felt like she was inserting herself in all the wrong places.
The subplot had me wondering too. Why the detailed details? What was a long read was made worse by the minuscule minutia of home renovating.
Hindsight- skip this one and move straight onto Number Nine.
September 11, 2022
Not her best
I have just re-read all the Travis books, which are all 5+ star, then decided to read this one. Very, very disappointed. It's vanilla. Nothing had my heart racing or my blood pressure pounding in my ears. Cannot believe it's the same author.
I have just re-read all the Travis books, which are all 5+ star, then decided to read this one. Very, very disappointed. It's vanilla. Nothing had my heart racing or my blood pressure pounding in my ears. Cannot believe it's the same author.
September 3, 2022
I just didn’t enjoy this one as much as I hoped I would
April 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
A young woman’s body is found in a basement of a home due to be demolished. However, that’s not the only body found, as there’s also a mummified baby. DI Jane Tennison is determined to get to the bottom of their deaths…
I thought the storyline was really interesting as the mysteries unfolded, with a ton of family secrets dug up along the way. Although, I wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the subplots. I was glad to be back in Jane’s world and I quite like some of the new characters that were introduced, but I wish that we learnt more about them. I flew through the spook because I wanted to get to the bottom of the mysteries because I was so intrigued.
I really love how the series touches on important topics that affect women police officers, such as discrimination, abuses of power, as well as misogyny, as Jane has demonstrated throughout this series her progression on how she attempts to tackle these issues whilst being in a male dominated field.
⚠️ CWs: child abuse, child death, drug use, chronic illness, physical abuse, suicide, torture, violence, murder, incest, rape; mentions terminal illness ⚠️
A young woman’s body is found in a basement of a home due to be demolished. However, that’s not the only body found, as there’s also a mummified baby. DI Jane Tennison is determined to get to the bottom of their deaths…
I thought the storyline was really interesting as the mysteries unfolded, with a ton of family secrets dug up along the way. Although, I wasn’t the biggest fan of some of the subplots. I was glad to be back in Jane’s world and I quite like some of the new characters that were introduced, but I wish that we learnt more about them. I flew through the spook because I wanted to get to the bottom of the mysteries because I was so intrigued.
I really love how the series touches on important topics that affect women police officers, such as discrimination, abuses of power, as well as misogyny, as Jane has demonstrated throughout this series her progression on how she attempts to tackle these issues whilst being in a male dominated field.
⚠️ CWs: child abuse, child death, drug use, chronic illness, physical abuse, suicide, torture, violence, murder, incest, rape; mentions terminal illness ⚠️
September 20, 2022
Disappointed!
My belief in Lynda La Plante and Ruth Randell being the queens/inventors of psychological thrillers will never be shaken! That is why the three stars: simply on the basis of their resume/achievements that give these 2 writers their unsurpassed quality. But, Dark Rooms is not up to La Plante’s brilliant standards of writing, to say the least! It is a lame attempt to delve into a family history in boring details to unearth a past crime which, I’m afraid, dims La Plante’s brilliant lights! The choice of an “overchewed” family drama as the central crime and getting into the gritty details of a past history around a limited number of characters kill the thrill and excitement the readers normally feel in turning La Plante’s book pages! I know this as a fact as I have read everything she has produced plus the movies made out of her rich collection of books! I was looking forward to reading Dark Rooms and preordered it. But alas, very disappointed.
My belief in Lynda La Plante and Ruth Randell being the queens/inventors of psychological thrillers will never be shaken! That is why the three stars: simply on the basis of their resume/achievements that give these 2 writers their unsurpassed quality. But, Dark Rooms is not up to La Plante’s brilliant standards of writing, to say the least! It is a lame attempt to delve into a family history in boring details to unearth a past crime which, I’m afraid, dims La Plante’s brilliant lights! The choice of an “overchewed” family drama as the central crime and getting into the gritty details of a past history around a limited number of characters kill the thrill and excitement the readers normally feel in turning La Plante’s book pages! I know this as a fact as I have read everything she has produced plus the movies made out of her rich collection of books! I was looking forward to reading Dark Rooms and preordered it. But alas, very disappointed.
November 6, 2022
Lacklustre story line. Struggled very much to get through it. This is the first book I’ve read by La Plante and It doesn’t give me the desire to delve further into her other work.
November 4, 2023
Awful. Poor storyline, abrupt ending. Too much filler.
June 11, 2025
Really gripping story, great characters, loved it. I will need to read more from this author!
October 21, 2023
Ok, I love a good thriller but I think I’m in minority with this one. There were SO many characters in the victims back story and their ancestry was super confusing to me. There were references to a Russian family and idk it was very strange.
Then Jane’s partner Eddie was weird. I had no idea what he actually looked like as it was never said so I had to make something up in my head - felt very strange - and he just didn’t seem like a good bloke for someone who’s a good detective - I mean, read the red flags!
I also kept thinking something was going to happen with him, like when he asked for money for a new van or she found her back door left open but then nothing??
Very anticlimactic and I’d checked out but finished to see if it turned around. Very very strange.
Then Jane’s partner Eddie was weird. I had no idea what he actually looked like as it was never said so I had to make something up in my head - felt very strange - and he just didn’t seem like a good bloke for someone who’s a good detective - I mean, read the red flags!
I also kept thinking something was going to happen with him, like when he asked for money for a new van or she found her back door left open but then nothing??
Very anticlimactic and I’d checked out but finished to see if it turned around. Very very strange.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2023
I love this series of prequels to Prime Suspect.
All the misogynistic horrors, sexual harassment in the workplace and tropes of the 1970s are there amid a rather bizarre plot of not just dark rooms but dark "family secrets" and dark discoveries. If I was to be completely objective, I would say that this was deeply flawed. What new DI shares details of a delicate case with family and friends? However I wallowed in the retro on every level and enjoyed my wallow as much as Jane Tennison enjoys a bath.
Great literature, it ain't but it is compulsive with an awful lot of poetic licence, but I can deal with that!
All the misogynistic horrors, sexual harassment in the workplace and tropes of the 1970s are there amid a rather bizarre plot of not just dark rooms but dark "family secrets" and dark discoveries. If I was to be completely objective, I would say that this was deeply flawed. What new DI shares details of a delicate case with family and friends? However I wallowed in the retro on every level and enjoyed my wallow as much as Jane Tennison enjoys a bath.
Great literature, it ain't but it is compulsive with an awful lot of poetic licence, but I can deal with that!
March 13, 2023
I generally enjoyed the plot of the book and all for a female lead in a senior position what we would term the boys club in the police force. I was very disappointed when the character made a few poor choices during the investigation and furthermore discussing details of the case with her boyfriend and family I found it to be very unprofessional especially seeing she was just promoted to a senior position.
September 25, 2023
I've read all the books in this series so far and really enjoyed them but there is something about this particular book that is just 'off' for want of a better word.
Jane herself comes off as quite dislikable, the whole storyline of her doing a big renovation of her house suddenly out of nowhere became quite boring - the trip to Australia was quite simply ludicrous and on the whole, the whole story was meh.
A disappointing read really.
Jane herself comes off as quite dislikable, the whole storyline of her doing a big renovation of her house suddenly out of nowhere became quite boring - the trip to Australia was quite simply ludicrous and on the whole, the whole story was meh.
A disappointing read really.
March 5, 2024
This book was quite shit. Outdated, sexist, nonsensical drivel. The stuckup main character and dodgy AF construction worker were in love and meeting each others' families about a week after fucking, and then moving in together a week after that, after she had conveniently remodeled her house to his liking? wtf? If you're really that interested in reading it, I left my copy on a bench facing the London Eye on the South Bank.
August 24, 2023
My first and probably last LLP book. I found the main DI pretty annoying and wasn't sure why she was discussing the police investigation with everyone she came into contact with, it seemed. Weird. A lot of the book didn't lead anywhere. I know this author is VERY popular so she won't care, I'm not a fan.
July 2, 2023
I had a struggle to complete the book and once I have completed reading it, the ending was lackluster. This is my first book from this author and I was disappointed to say the least. Could have a better plot and storyline.
July 23, 2023
Complete waste of time!
March 23, 2024
Time taken to read - < 3 days
Pages - 336
Publisher - Zaffre
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Helena Lanark is the only one who knows about the horrors which once occurred in her family's house. The heiress of an immense family fortune, she now resides in a luxurious care home; her mind and memory fading fast. Jane Tennison is leading a murder investigation into the recent brutal death of a young girl, her decomposed, starved body discovered in an old air raid shelter in the garden of the Lanark's now derelict house. Initially the focus is on identifying the victim, until another body is found hidden in the walls of the shelter. As the investigation and search for answers intensifies, Jane travels to Australia. There she discovers the dark secret that the Lanark family has kept hidden for decades. A secret that not only threatens to bring down a family dynasty, but also places Jane Tennison in mortal danger . . .
My Review
Welcome to book eight in the Tennison series, you can read it as a standalone but the series is so fab and you would miss so much backstory/character development if you start here. Jane is into yet another new team but this time she will be the lead on a case her superiors aren't enthusiastic about. During work being done on an older wealthy owned estate a body is found chained up in an air raid shelter not on the building plans. Jane being the lead heads down and uncovers another body, this one causing more annoyance from Janes "superiors". Jane is like a dog with a bone and will stop at nothing to find out what happened and get justice and as always to the truth.
This book is really busy, it has a lot going on, the investigations, dealing with the original owners - the attitudes, more inappropriate attitudes, sexism, abuse of position, inappropriate conduct from Janes male counterparts. Honestly I feel in this one we see a different side to Jane, we get the usual where she is absolutely dedicated to the job and victims and regardless of who she may annoy or upset she is getting to the bottom of her case(s). I feel she was a bit more almost wreckless this time, in some of her behaviours, speaking freely about her case to the guy she has in doing work on the house.
We also see Jane dabbling with a relationship and maybe it was ripples from her previous relationships and why she is a bit different/guarded this time. Yet that being said there was also an incident within her home and something she did that I was shocked. Nothing overly major but just from what we know of Jane I felt it was so out of character, she seemed to have a different side showing this time. Not bad but just risks that I didn't expect from her, character development maybe, response to all she has been through, age, I don't know but it is certainly interesting to see her flash a bit off the straight and narrow so to speak.
Family secrets, scandals, touching on some horrific themes, SA, murder, abuse of power/status, police investigation and as always Janes metal at not being badgered or bullied into dropping something or behaving a certain way. I think that is why we are big Tennison fans, she has some flaws (don't we all) but she comes from a good place and always an advocate for the victims who can no longer speak for themselves, 4/5 from me.
Pages - 336
Publisher - Zaffre
Source - Review copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Helena Lanark is the only one who knows about the horrors which once occurred in her family's house. The heiress of an immense family fortune, she now resides in a luxurious care home; her mind and memory fading fast. Jane Tennison is leading a murder investigation into the recent brutal death of a young girl, her decomposed, starved body discovered in an old air raid shelter in the garden of the Lanark's now derelict house. Initially the focus is on identifying the victim, until another body is found hidden in the walls of the shelter. As the investigation and search for answers intensifies, Jane travels to Australia. There she discovers the dark secret that the Lanark family has kept hidden for decades. A secret that not only threatens to bring down a family dynasty, but also places Jane Tennison in mortal danger . . .
My Review
Welcome to book eight in the Tennison series, you can read it as a standalone but the series is so fab and you would miss so much backstory/character development if you start here. Jane is into yet another new team but this time she will be the lead on a case her superiors aren't enthusiastic about. During work being done on an older wealthy owned estate a body is found chained up in an air raid shelter not on the building plans. Jane being the lead heads down and uncovers another body, this one causing more annoyance from Janes "superiors". Jane is like a dog with a bone and will stop at nothing to find out what happened and get justice and as always to the truth.
This book is really busy, it has a lot going on, the investigations, dealing with the original owners - the attitudes, more inappropriate attitudes, sexism, abuse of position, inappropriate conduct from Janes male counterparts. Honestly I feel in this one we see a different side to Jane, we get the usual where she is absolutely dedicated to the job and victims and regardless of who she may annoy or upset she is getting to the bottom of her case(s). I feel she was a bit more almost wreckless this time, in some of her behaviours, speaking freely about her case to the guy she has in doing work on the house.
We also see Jane dabbling with a relationship and maybe it was ripples from her previous relationships and why she is a bit different/guarded this time. Yet that being said there was also an incident within her home and something she did that I was shocked. Nothing overly major but just from what we know of Jane I felt it was so out of character, she seemed to have a different side showing this time. Not bad but just risks that I didn't expect from her, character development maybe, response to all she has been through, age, I don't know but it is certainly interesting to see her flash a bit off the straight and narrow so to speak.
Family secrets, scandals, touching on some horrific themes, SA, murder, abuse of power/status, police investigation and as always Janes metal at not being badgered or bullied into dropping something or behaving a certain way. I think that is why we are big Tennison fans, she has some flaws (don't we all) but she comes from a good place and always an advocate for the victims who can no longer speak for themselves, 4/5 from me.
March 24, 2024
As a crime thriller “Dark Rooms” makes a decent standalone but if you want to see Jane progress through the ranks from probationer to Detective Inspector then I’d recommend you read them in order to achieve full continuity. Jane has impressed me from the very first book, with her dedication to get justice for victims, young or old, no matter how long they’ve been dead or how they’ve died. She will work determinedly until she uncovers the truth, battling misogyny and sometimes defying police rules. In this book, when a young woman’s decomposed body is found chained to a bed in a disused air raid shelter and another body tragically found not long after, Jane must travel half way around the world to unveil a dark secret that has been kept buried for a long time.
However, I did find this book a bit of a deviation from the normal style of the series with Jane taking slightly too much solo interest in an historical case. I felt with the filler of Jane’s house renovation and new love interest, that this was maybe the weakest book in the series but this is just my personal opinion. However, the multilayered plot with a tragic back story was heartbreaking for the characters involved, revealing incomprehensible horrors that pulled at my heartstrings.
I’m looking forward to reading the next and latest book “Taste of Blood”, it’s always a pleasure reading any Lynda La Plante and highly recommend the ‘Jane Tennison’ series if you love police crime thrillers.
However, I did find this book a bit of a deviation from the normal style of the series with Jane taking slightly too much solo interest in an historical case. I felt with the filler of Jane’s house renovation and new love interest, that this was maybe the weakest book in the series but this is just my personal opinion. However, the multilayered plot with a tragic back story was heartbreaking for the characters involved, revealing incomprehensible horrors that pulled at my heartstrings.
I’m looking forward to reading the next and latest book “Taste of Blood”, it’s always a pleasure reading any Lynda La Plante and highly recommend the ‘Jane Tennison’ series if you love police crime thrillers.
June 23, 2024
This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and the plot has lots of twists and turns. I shall look out for more books in the series. Apparently many of Lynda's books are now TV series including the ones with the detective from this book, Jane Tennison. I don't watch TV so havent seen any.
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Helena Lanark is the only one who knows about the horrors which once occurred in her family's house. The heiress of an immense family fortune, she now resides in a luxurious care home; her mind and memory fading fast. Jane Tennison is leading a murder investigation into the recent brutal death of a young girl, her decomposed, starved body discovered in an old air raid shelter in the garden of the Lanark's now derelict house. Initially the focus is on identifying the victim, until another body is found hidden in the walls of the shelter. As the investigation and search for answers intensifies, Jane travels to Australia. There she discovers the dark secret that the Lanark family has kept hidden for decades. A secret that not only threatens to bring down a family dynasty, but also places Jane Tennison in mortal danger...
*******************************
Helena Lanark is the only one who knows about the horrors which once occurred in her family's house. The heiress of an immense family fortune, she now resides in a luxurious care home; her mind and memory fading fast. Jane Tennison is leading a murder investigation into the recent brutal death of a young girl, her decomposed, starved body discovered in an old air raid shelter in the garden of the Lanark's now derelict house. Initially the focus is on identifying the victim, until another body is found hidden in the walls of the shelter. As the investigation and search for answers intensifies, Jane travels to Australia. There she discovers the dark secret that the Lanark family has kept hidden for decades. A secret that not only threatens to bring down a family dynasty, but also places Jane Tennison in mortal danger...
March 9, 2023
Lynda la plante is one of my favourite authors, I have read so many books by her, all of which I’ve loved.
This one isn’t a favourite but is still really good, all her books are easy to read and she gets you gripped to the story by the end of chapter one.
This one isn’t a favourite but is still really good, all her books are easy to read and she gets you gripped to the story by the end of chapter one.
September 3, 2022
Enjoyable because I really like Jane but the investigation itself makes you wonder in the end whether it was worth all her efforts.
August 27, 2023
Kryminał całkiem spoczko, ale momentami przeciągany i rozwiązane akcji przewidywalne.
October 18, 2023
Had high hopes for my first La Plante book and was quite frankly disappointed.
Jane Tennison herself was an extremely unlikable character and i often found myself frustrated with how she treated practically everyone around her.
Eddie’s whirlwind relationship with Jane was also lacklustre and unnecessary.
Jane had an issue with a light and ended up having her entire house renovated? What was the point?
The brief storyline with the weed was so so so unneeded and began with ooh whats Eddie hiding and ended abruptly a chapter later, why?
Thats without even commenting on the actual storyline yet!
None of it made sense, there were too many characters that appeared out of the blue and then seemingly never existed (where did tim go?) and by the end i’d practically forgotten what had happened at the beginning for them to even end up there.
What was the point of the investigation? The family history was so all over the place and by the end of the book the whole thing seemed like a waste of time.
I also doubt this book was ever proof read considering the amount of mistakes i noticed while reading!
Overall, i’m really disappointed and, despite hearing great things about La Plante, i will not be reading another of her novels.
Jane Tennison herself was an extremely unlikable character and i often found myself frustrated with how she treated practically everyone around her.
Eddie’s whirlwind relationship with Jane was also lacklustre and unnecessary.
Jane had an issue with a light and ended up having her entire house renovated? What was the point?
The brief storyline with the weed was so so so unneeded and began with ooh whats Eddie hiding and ended abruptly a chapter later, why?
Thats without even commenting on the actual storyline yet!
None of it made sense, there were too many characters that appeared out of the blue and then seemingly never existed (where did tim go?) and by the end i’d practically forgotten what had happened at the beginning for them to even end up there.
What was the point of the investigation? The family history was so all over the place and by the end of the book the whole thing seemed like a waste of time.
I also doubt this book was ever proof read considering the amount of mistakes i noticed while reading!
Overall, i’m really disappointed and, despite hearing great things about La Plante, i will not be reading another of her novels.
September 19, 2024
Loved this book!
Really easy to read, storyline easy to follow, great characters, good twist.
Can’t wait to read more from the author!
Really easy to read, storyline easy to follow, great characters, good twist.
Can’t wait to read more from the author!
September 16, 2025
lots of twists, kept u guessing
September 16, 2022
DI Jane Tennison starts at a new police station and is thrown right in to a new murder investigation. A decomposed body of a young female has been found in an old air raid shelter in the garden of the Lanark's derelict house. She has been brutally murdered. They are focusing on identifying the victim until they find another body hidden in the walls. Jane travels to Australia to get to the bottom of the case.
Full of mystery added with family drama and some romance tossed in to make it a great read. This is a classic police procedural and is book eight in the Tennison series. This is my first Lynda La Plante book and can be easily read as a standalone novel. I enjoyed the read and I'm looking forward to reading more about DI Tennison.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me a gifted copy of this book for my honest review.
Full of mystery added with family drama and some romance tossed in to make it a great read. This is a classic police procedural and is book eight in the Tennison series. This is my first Lynda La Plante book and can be easily read as a standalone novel. I enjoyed the read and I'm looking forward to reading more about DI Tennison.
Thank you Allen and Unwin for sending me a gifted copy of this book for my honest review.
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