What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Morgan Brookes #1
Die Überlebende
Eine leichte Brise wehte das blonde Haar über ihr Gesicht, und ihre glasigen Augen starrten ausdruckslos in den Sonnenuntergang. Die Gestalt wirkte klein und verloren neben der großen Eiche. Sie war zu jung, um zu sterben.Als die Leiche einer Frau an einem Baum hängend in ihrem Vorgarten gefunden wird, ist die frisch zum Dienst angetretene Detective Morgan Brookes als erste am Tatort. Für Olivia Potter kommt jede Hilfe zu spät und kurz darauf entdeckt Morgan auch die kalten Körper von Olivias Mann und ihren Töchtern im dunklen Keller, die Gesichter mit einem Tuch bedeckt. Doch als Morgan sich neben die Familie kniet, stellt sie fest, dass eines der Mädchen noch atmet. Als sie Brontes kleine Hand hält und sie anfleht, durchzuhalten, schwört sie, herauszufinden, wer das getan hat. Aber jede neue Spur führt in eine Sackgasse. Erst als Morgan Akten durchforstet, entdeckt sie eine Verbindung zu einem alten Eine andere Familie wurde vor Jahren ermordet aufgefunden – ihre Gesichter ebenfalls mit weißen Tüchern zugedeckt. Dann taucht am Tatort dieses Cold Cases eine weitere Leiche auf. Da Bronte immer noch bewusstlos im Krankenhaus liegt, muss Morgan schnell handeln, bevor der Mörder zu dem Mädchen zurückkehrt und beendet, was er begonnen hat ...
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 27, 2020
7867 people are currently reading
8308 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 748 reviews
April 12, 2025
3,5 Sterne
Die Geschichte liest sich sehr flott, der Schreibstil ist einfach, was auch an der Übersetzung liegen mag. Das ist nicht als Kritik gemeint; das Buch lässt sich einfach gut und schnell lesen.
Ich mochte den Fall an sich, denn diese Mordserie ist grundsätzlich schon spannend. Eine ganze Familie wurde in ihrem Haus brutal ermordet, wobei eine der Töchter schwerverletzt überlebt hat, jedoch im Koma liegt.
Wie sich herausstellt, wurde in dem Einfamilienhaus vor Jahrzehnten bereits einmal eine Familie auf ganz ähnliche Weise ermordet. Ein Zufall?
Das Ermittlerteam, das sich der Aufklärung des Falles annimmt, muss sich erst noch kennenlernen, wobei hierauf ein guter Teil des Buches beruht.
Die wirkliche Ermittlungsarbeit kam mir ein klein wenig zu kurz dabei, auch wirkte es alles ein bisschen zu einfach. Trotzdem hat mich das Buch aber gut unterhalten können und ich möchte auch den zweiten Band bald lesen.
Die Geschichte liest sich sehr flott, der Schreibstil ist einfach, was auch an der Übersetzung liegen mag. Das ist nicht als Kritik gemeint; das Buch lässt sich einfach gut und schnell lesen.
Ich mochte den Fall an sich, denn diese Mordserie ist grundsätzlich schon spannend. Eine ganze Familie wurde in ihrem Haus brutal ermordet, wobei eine der Töchter schwerverletzt überlebt hat, jedoch im Koma liegt.
Wie sich herausstellt, wurde in dem Einfamilienhaus vor Jahrzehnten bereits einmal eine Familie auf ganz ähnliche Weise ermordet. Ein Zufall?
Das Ermittlerteam, das sich der Aufklärung des Falles annimmt, muss sich erst noch kennenlernen, wobei hierauf ein guter Teil des Buches beruht.
Die wirkliche Ermittlungsarbeit kam mir ein klein wenig zu kurz dabei, auch wirkte es alles ein bisschen zu einfach. Trotzdem hat mich das Buch aber gut unterhalten können und ich möchte auch den zweiten Band bald lesen.
February 5, 2021
Well SHIT.
I have so much to rant about so strap yourselves in cause this is going to be a long one and yes, there are spoilers but honestly, that’s fine cause you shouldn’t waste your time reading this anyway.
I almost gave this a 2.5 stars until I read that ending. So now it’s just two stars.
Let’s begin with the positive. The plot. That is the only reason I read the book, you’re immediately thrown into the heart of the action and it was promising indeed. I wanted to know what had happened and why and who.
But let me save you some time. Basically the murderer is in fact the first person they suspect so there’s no climax in that respect. As for the other murders, the murderer is also one the people suspected from the start. Also there aren’t any BIG revelations or twists.
Okay now let’s try and break down everything I hated about this book. And clearly I have some strong feelings on this.
• One : The fact that Morgan, who has NO experience WHATSOEVER and has only been on the job for two days, is immediately promoted to detective and assigned a lot of responsibility IN A MURDER CASE. This is highly unlikely and WOULD NEVER happen. It’s so easy. She doesn’t have to work to get where she is AT ALL. Simply because her boss can’t be asked to work with the person who was the more qualified one and who was actually next in line for the position. Also everything is so easy for her to the point where everyone loves her, people who “aren’t usually easily impressed” immediately love her for no reason and sing her praise constantly. They keep saying that she helps the case immensely and she’s not bad for a newbie BUT SHE’S LITERALLY JUST USING COMMON SENSE. It annoys me how she immediately takes an authoritative position when she has literally a day’s experience.
ALSO THEY LET HER DRIVE THE AMBULANCE ????? Wtf ? I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t happen. Surely ????
• Two : There is NOTHING likeable about the main character. She starts of as feisty but actually she’s irritating, childish, wimpy and a pushover. She’s constantly embarrassed and sensitive but then the next minute she’ll be bossing around her superiors. She’s insubordinate and a very basic white bitch with her primark slippers and “pink fluffy pyjamas”. (Sorry that was unnecessary, I’m not coming for you basic white bitches, I just really hate Morgan). Also, she’s totally clueless??? She doesn’t understand why her former friend is upset that she got the job he rightfully deserved and has actually been working for ? Sure he’s a prick but like ???? The audacity of this woman.
• Three : The relationship with her former friend that goes sour is never again addressed ? There’s no finality to the conflict ? Nothing ? In fact they never even speak to each other after she gets the job ?
Also the thing that begins the conflict seriously annoys me. Dan or whatever he’s called, pokes fun at her in front of the other colleagues so she just storms out ??? And acts so immature about it ??? She never has a conversation about it with him and immediately calls him her arch enemy???? Like bitch how old are you ????
• Four : THE UNPROFESSIONALISM. Even her boss is shit at showing the least amount of professional capacity and they have an ambiguous relationship from the start that again, shows no level of professionalism. I could understand if they had known each other for years but surely you wouldn’t immediately allow yourself to be so casual with someone who is supposed to be a colleague/boss.
Also he literally gets a guy arrested because he was “arsy”. That’s how you handle a prime suspect ??? Like yeah sure, that’ll get him to talk.
• Five : The Romance.
I s w e a r t o g o d. The suggestion of romance between Ben and Morgan is straight up out of a wattpad fan fiction or some shit. He needs to protect/save her from everything and she can see what others can’t, that he’s actually a big softie under that rough exterior. *Throws up* It’s cheesy, unnecessary and predictable. “OMG you don’t have a car ? Stay over at mine. But don’t sleep downstairs, you can sleep in my bed.”
“OMG I must save this grown woman from being bullied by her colleague who is such an arsehole, grrrr.”
• Six : There’s just randomly a supernatural element thrown in there for no reason ? The passage with Ettie ? It’s never explained or anything. Just why not add a “witch” who knows stuff about the murders that she shouldn’t ???
• Seven : Lastly, the finale with Harrison is ridiculous. Like it’s just so silly. Of course the main character has to have a near death experience because otherwise how can her love interest save her and cry over her ? And then everything is just neatly swept away, a quick explanation as to why this kid kills an entire family ??? Like this kid likes the mum in a creepy way, so he kills everyone? Like ? What ? That’s it ???
So it’s safe to say, I didn’t like it. It’s a quick read though. I feel like the writing makes this something that would mostly target YA readers ?
In any case, I don’t think I will be reading anything else from this author.
I have so much to rant about so strap yourselves in cause this is going to be a long one and yes, there are spoilers but honestly, that’s fine cause you shouldn’t waste your time reading this anyway.
I almost gave this a 2.5 stars until I read that ending. So now it’s just two stars.
Let’s begin with the positive. The plot. That is the only reason I read the book, you’re immediately thrown into the heart of the action and it was promising indeed. I wanted to know what had happened and why and who.
But let me save you some time. Basically the murderer is in fact the first person they suspect so there’s no climax in that respect. As for the other murders, the murderer is also one the people suspected from the start. Also there aren’t any BIG revelations or twists.
Okay now let’s try and break down everything I hated about this book. And clearly I have some strong feelings on this.
• One : The fact that Morgan, who has NO experience WHATSOEVER and has only been on the job for two days, is immediately promoted to detective and assigned a lot of responsibility IN A MURDER CASE. This is highly unlikely and WOULD NEVER happen. It’s so easy. She doesn’t have to work to get where she is AT ALL. Simply because her boss can’t be asked to work with the person who was the more qualified one and who was actually next in line for the position. Also everything is so easy for her to the point where everyone loves her, people who “aren’t usually easily impressed” immediately love her for no reason and sing her praise constantly. They keep saying that she helps the case immensely and she’s not bad for a newbie BUT SHE’S LITERALLY JUST USING COMMON SENSE. It annoys me how she immediately takes an authoritative position when she has literally a day’s experience.
ALSO THEY LET HER DRIVE THE AMBULANCE ????? Wtf ? I’m pretty sure that wouldn’t happen. Surely ????
• Two : There is NOTHING likeable about the main character. She starts of as feisty but actually she’s irritating, childish, wimpy and a pushover. She’s constantly embarrassed and sensitive but then the next minute she’ll be bossing around her superiors. She’s insubordinate and a very basic white bitch with her primark slippers and “pink fluffy pyjamas”. (Sorry that was unnecessary, I’m not coming for you basic white bitches, I just really hate Morgan). Also, she’s totally clueless??? She doesn’t understand why her former friend is upset that she got the job he rightfully deserved and has actually been working for ? Sure he’s a prick but like ???? The audacity of this woman.
• Three : The relationship with her former friend that goes sour is never again addressed ? There’s no finality to the conflict ? Nothing ? In fact they never even speak to each other after she gets the job ?
Also the thing that begins the conflict seriously annoys me. Dan or whatever he’s called, pokes fun at her in front of the other colleagues so she just storms out ??? And acts so immature about it ??? She never has a conversation about it with him and immediately calls him her arch enemy???? Like bitch how old are you ????
• Four : THE UNPROFESSIONALISM. Even her boss is shit at showing the least amount of professional capacity and they have an ambiguous relationship from the start that again, shows no level of professionalism. I could understand if they had known each other for years but surely you wouldn’t immediately allow yourself to be so casual with someone who is supposed to be a colleague/boss.
Also he literally gets a guy arrested because he was “arsy”. That’s how you handle a prime suspect ??? Like yeah sure, that’ll get him to talk.
• Five : The Romance.
I s w e a r t o g o d. The suggestion of romance between Ben and Morgan is straight up out of a wattpad fan fiction or some shit. He needs to protect/save her from everything and she can see what others can’t, that he’s actually a big softie under that rough exterior. *Throws up* It’s cheesy, unnecessary and predictable. “OMG you don’t have a car ? Stay over at mine. But don’t sleep downstairs, you can sleep in my bed.”
“OMG I must save this grown woman from being bullied by her colleague who is such an arsehole, grrrr.”
• Six : There’s just randomly a supernatural element thrown in there for no reason ? The passage with Ettie ? It’s never explained or anything. Just why not add a “witch” who knows stuff about the murders that she shouldn’t ???
• Seven : Lastly, the finale with Harrison is ridiculous. Like it’s just so silly. Of course the main character has to have a near death experience because otherwise how can her love interest save her and cry over her ? And then everything is just neatly swept away, a quick explanation as to why this kid kills an entire family ??? Like this kid likes the mum in a creepy way, so he kills everyone? Like ? What ? That’s it ???
So it’s safe to say, I didn’t like it. It’s a quick read though. I feel like the writing makes this something that would mostly target YA readers ?
In any case, I don’t think I will be reading anything else from this author.
August 28, 2020
Detective Morgan Brookes #1
Morgan has just completed her training and this was the first day she has been out on her own. She's called out to what looks like a suicide. Olivia Potter is hanging from a tree outside her home. The rest of the Potter family are missing. Morgan gets seconded to the Detective team to help in their investigation. Morgan quickly realises this is the job she wants to do and she's determined to prove her worth.
This is a great start to a brand new police procedural series featuring Morgan Brookes. This is a fast paced, well written police procedural. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put the book down. I was guessing all the way to who was behind it all. I was shocked when the reveal came. I never saw it coming. There were a few loose ends left hanging but I'm hoping when the second book comes out in December, they will be tied up then. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Helen Phifer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Morgan has just completed her training and this was the first day she has been out on her own. She's called out to what looks like a suicide. Olivia Potter is hanging from a tree outside her home. The rest of the Potter family are missing. Morgan gets seconded to the Detective team to help in their investigation. Morgan quickly realises this is the job she wants to do and she's determined to prove her worth.
This is a great start to a brand new police procedural series featuring Morgan Brookes. This is a fast paced, well written police procedural. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put the book down. I was guessing all the way to who was behind it all. I was shocked when the reveal came. I never saw it coming. There were a few loose ends left hanging but I'm hoping when the second book comes out in December, they will be tied up then. I highly recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Helen Phifer for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2020
Rookie Morgan Brookes ... her first day of patrolling on her own ... answers a call to investigate a call for help. First on the scene, she sees a teenage boy beneath the hanging body of a woman .. trying to hold her up until help calls. The woman hanging there is quite dead.
The teenager is the boyfriend of the woman's daughter. Once identified, the police start looking for the woman's husband and her two daughters. But they are nowhere to be found.
Morgan feels that something is just not right ... but she's just a rookie... and has never worked this kind of crime. The next day she tells her supervisor of her misgivings. He tells her to go back to the scene of the crime and take a second look.
What she finds is the husband and two young girls in the basement surrounded by blood and with their faces covered with a cloth ... and one of them is still alive.
The author has done a fine job of balancing a gripping plot with steady character development and word-building that puts readers right in the middle of all the action. This thriller is seen through the eyes of a young person hungering for her chance to prove she's made the right decision for her future. Brookes is not without issues ... she has a contentious relationship with her father. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Morgan and her supervisor ... a great start to a friendship, maybe a romance in the future. But he also has issues to overcome. It's the start of a riveting crime fiction.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this police procedural/crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The teenager is the boyfriend of the woman's daughter. Once identified, the police start looking for the woman's husband and her two daughters. But they are nowhere to be found.
Morgan feels that something is just not right ... but she's just a rookie... and has never worked this kind of crime. The next day she tells her supervisor of her misgivings. He tells her to go back to the scene of the crime and take a second look.
What she finds is the husband and two young girls in the basement surrounded by blood and with their faces covered with a cloth ... and one of them is still alive.
The author has done a fine job of balancing a gripping plot with steady character development and word-building that puts readers right in the middle of all the action. This thriller is seen through the eyes of a young person hungering for her chance to prove she's made the right decision for her future. Brookes is not without issues ... she has a contentious relationship with her father. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Morgan and her supervisor ... a great start to a friendship, maybe a romance in the future. But he also has issues to overcome. It's the start of a riveting crime fiction.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this police procedural/crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
She remembered what it was like to be a teenager all too well; you never accepted anything an adult offered. God, was that what she was now: an adult? It was strange to think that she was probably only five or six years older than him, yet here she was trying to solve the murder of his girlfriend’s family.
If you ask me, she was already dead when they did that. Awful thing to do, vile. It’s like killing her twice; once wasn’t enough so they did it all over again.
What had her life come to getting relationship advice from a doctor who only worked with dead people?… ‘I have to go; I’m not used to being around so many living souls, it’s not good for my chakras.’
‘It’s not like on the television, is it?’ Amy spat crumbs of brownie all over herself, almost choking on the laughter which erupted. ‘No, it definitely is not. We don’t manage to solve the crimes in an hour.’
My Review:
An excellent start to a new series, and I plan to be following every one of their riveting cases if they are all as absorbing and well-crafted as this one. I’m rather new to police procedurals but I enjoyed the deft storytelling and complex characters on both sides of the law. The case was cannily layered and well-nuanced with compelling side stories and welcome hits of humor and humanity to balance the emotional tone. I respected these people as well as their process and look forward to solving more conundrums with them, as well as seeing how well they rub along together in future endeavors.
She remembered what it was like to be a teenager all too well; you never accepted anything an adult offered. God, was that what she was now: an adult? It was strange to think that she was probably only five or six years older than him, yet here she was trying to solve the murder of his girlfriend’s family.
If you ask me, she was already dead when they did that. Awful thing to do, vile. It’s like killing her twice; once wasn’t enough so they did it all over again.
What had her life come to getting relationship advice from a doctor who only worked with dead people?… ‘I have to go; I’m not used to being around so many living souls, it’s not good for my chakras.’
‘It’s not like on the television, is it?’ Amy spat crumbs of brownie all over herself, almost choking on the laughter which erupted. ‘No, it definitely is not. We don’t manage to solve the crimes in an hour.’
My Review:
An excellent start to a new series, and I plan to be following every one of their riveting cases if they are all as absorbing and well-crafted as this one. I’m rather new to police procedurals but I enjoyed the deft storytelling and complex characters on both sides of the law. The case was cannily layered and well-nuanced with compelling side stories and welcome hits of humor and humanity to balance the emotional tone. I respected these people as well as their process and look forward to solving more conundrums with them, as well as seeing how well they rub along together in future endeavors.
September 14, 2020
ONE LEFT ALIVE is book 1 in a brand-new police procedural series featuring Detective Morgan Brookes by Helen Phifer. I’ve read a few of Helen Phifer’s books but this is definitely my favourite. A definite winner!
Police Officer Morgan Brookes has completed her police training and on her first day she responds to a call regarding a suspected suicide, a female hanging from a tree, and is first on the scene. But Olivia Potter is past saving.
When her husband and daughters cannot be traced, Morgan knows there is more to this tragedy. And then she finds them. Lying huddled together in the dark basement, each of their faces covered with a small cotton cloth, their bodies cold to the touch.
But as Morgan kneels beside the family, she realizes that one of the girls is still breathing. As she holds Bronte’s fragile hand in hers, begging her to hold on, she vows to find out who has done this.
Morgan starts investigating and DS Ben Matthews from CID is so impressed with her work, he offers Morgan a 3-month attachment, to work in CID as a detective, to see if she would like it in the future or not. Being short-handed, DC Amy Smith and DS Ben Matthews would take the lead, and Morgan would be given tasks from both on the case. Morgan happily accepted the secondment.
There are doubts surrounding Olivia Potter’s hanging. Is there a chance this is a murder-suicide?
But Morgan eventually discovers a link to a cold case from years ago. Another family was murdered in this house, and the killer was never caught.
When Morgan returns to the scene of the crime to discover more about this forgotten case, she finds another body. With Bronte still unconscious in hospital, Morgan must act fast to solve this case and lay two families to rest, before the killer returns for the girl left alive.
This is a fast paced, well written police procedural. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put the book down. I was really impressed with the interaction between the characters in the team; Ben, Amy and Morgan make a great team. They all are dedicated to their job, treat each other with respect and care about each other. Morgan is Ben’s new protégé…and maybe more in the future. One Left Alive marks the start of a promising addictive new series. I highly recommend this book.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.
Police Officer Morgan Brookes has completed her police training and on her first day she responds to a call regarding a suspected suicide, a female hanging from a tree, and is first on the scene. But Olivia Potter is past saving.
When her husband and daughters cannot be traced, Morgan knows there is more to this tragedy. And then she finds them. Lying huddled together in the dark basement, each of their faces covered with a small cotton cloth, their bodies cold to the touch.
But as Morgan kneels beside the family, she realizes that one of the girls is still breathing. As she holds Bronte’s fragile hand in hers, begging her to hold on, she vows to find out who has done this.
Morgan starts investigating and DS Ben Matthews from CID is so impressed with her work, he offers Morgan a 3-month attachment, to work in CID as a detective, to see if she would like it in the future or not. Being short-handed, DC Amy Smith and DS Ben Matthews would take the lead, and Morgan would be given tasks from both on the case. Morgan happily accepted the secondment.
There are doubts surrounding Olivia Potter’s hanging. Is there a chance this is a murder-suicide?
But Morgan eventually discovers a link to a cold case from years ago. Another family was murdered in this house, and the killer was never caught.
When Morgan returns to the scene of the crime to discover more about this forgotten case, she finds another body. With Bronte still unconscious in hospital, Morgan must act fast to solve this case and lay two families to rest, before the killer returns for the girl left alive.
This is a fast paced, well written police procedural. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put the book down. I was really impressed with the interaction between the characters in the team; Ben, Amy and Morgan make a great team. They all are dedicated to their job, treat each other with respect and care about each other. Morgan is Ben’s new protégé…and maybe more in the future. One Left Alive marks the start of a promising addictive new series. I highly recommend this book.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.
September 8, 2020
One Left Alive, a brand new police procedural by the author Helen Phifer finds rookie police constable Morgan Brookes become part of the investigating team, led by DS Ben Matthews after responding to a call where a woman is found dead hanging on a tree. The woman's name is Olivia Potter and to DS Ben it seems a case of apparent suicide. Her family, consisting of her husband and two daughters, oddly, cannot be contacted or traced. Morgan has misgivings about the whole thing and on a second search of the home, finds the bodies of the remaining family, brutally beaten on the head. One of the daughter's is still miraculously alive and taken to the hospital. What's more, this murder is similar to the one that took the lives of another family occurred in the same house, in 1975. Are the two crimes connected? Has the same killer striked again?
This is a promising start to the series. It was really fast paced and did not have a dull moment although I felt the ending was a bit rushed up. I also felt that it is a bit too early to work the 'romance' angle between Ben and Morgan.... let them stay and become solid professional partners first before thinking about going personal. The book also hinted at the tragedy both Ben and Morgan live with as a result of suicide of Ben's wife and Morgan's mother and I hope we get a bit of back story about what might have happened in the later books.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Helen Phifer for an e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
This is a promising start to the series. It was really fast paced and did not have a dull moment although I felt the ending was a bit rushed up. I also felt that it is a bit too early to work the 'romance' angle between Ben and Morgan.... let them stay and become solid professional partners first before thinking about going personal. The book also hinted at the tragedy both Ben and Morgan live with as a result of suicide of Ben's wife and Morgan's mother and I hope we get a bit of back story about what might have happened in the later books.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and the author Helen Phifer for an e-Arc of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐💫
August 6, 2022
Morgan Brookes is new on the job as a Police Officer but that doesn't keep her from being thrown into the deep end on her first ride with Detective Sergeant Ben Matthews. The scene is an apparent suicide. Olivia Potter is suspended from a tree in the front yard, no one else is at home. Saul, Olivia's husband, can't be found. Neither can the two daughters, Bronte, and Beatrix, so no death notification to next of kin has been made. Harrison Wright, the boyfriend of one of the daughters is the one that made the discovery and appears to be very upset. His behavior in the days that follow appear to the police to be is questionable. The reason no one can find the other family members soon becomes an even more tragic event. The story was very well written and there were many, many suspects to choose from.... almost too many. I didn't get it right, but I had a great time unraveling it. I always consider it a plus when I don't figure out "who done it" before the author exposes him or her. The author used a clever way to introduce the next book. unbeknownst to Morgan, or any of her colleagues, she is now in the sights of someone very dangerous and it may not be just her time in CID which comes to an abrupt end. Stay tuned.
August 30, 2020
This was quite an interesting read, I was hooked from chapter 1. Morgan was a strong character. I don't know why but I expected Ben to behave differently in quite a few scenarios. Amy was fun, she reminded me of Gina from the Brooklyn-nine-nine TV series. This book was a real page turner, the chapters were short and packed with revelations, kept me guessing the who-dun-it right till the end. And I'm definitely looking forward to reading the second book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an opportunity to read this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an opportunity to read this book.
November 4, 2021
One Left Alive is the first book in the Detective Morgan Brookes series by Helen Phifer. I read the second and third books first, but wanted to go back and read the first where we meet Detective Brookes and learn about her beginnings. Rookie Detective Morgan Brookes is on her first day alone on patrol when a call comes in about a woman who is found hanging from a tree. She is the first on the scene and is sure there is more to the case. At this time, her husband and two daughters are also missing. Morgan asks to go back to the house and on this second trip, she finds the rest of the family in the cellar, one of them barely alive, the other two dead. Morgan is in the right place at the right time, when the force is shorthanded and Ben Matthews asks her to join CID since he sees her potential. The more she investigates, the more she uncovers. Will they find the murderer before anyone else ends up dead.
I enjoyed meeting Morgan, learning about her past as well as seeing what a natural investigator she is. She works well with the team, but also follows her hunches which are instrumental in solving the case. She has some personal problems to deal with that include some harassment from another officer. She also has a tenuous relationship with her father that comes to play in this investigation. Helen Phifer does a good job balancing a gripping plot with steady character development. This thriller is from the POV of a young woman trying to prove herself and that she has the skills to do the job. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Morgan and Ben, her supervisor. It is a great start to a friendship, partnership and maybe even a romance in the future. Ben also has some issues to sort out and he and Morgan share some of that with each other. There are other team members that are partially developed and I hope we will see more of them as this series progresses. This is a promising start to the series. It was a well written, fast paced police procedural/crime thriller and did not have a dull moment with twists throughout. I recommend this book and series and suggest that they are best read in order as there is character development throughout. If you enjoy police procedurals or crime thrillers, then pick this book up, you won't be disappointed.
I enjoyed meeting Morgan, learning about her past as well as seeing what a natural investigator she is. She works well with the team, but also follows her hunches which are instrumental in solving the case. She has some personal problems to deal with that include some harassment from another officer. She also has a tenuous relationship with her father that comes to play in this investigation. Helen Phifer does a good job balancing a gripping plot with steady character development. This thriller is from the POV of a young woman trying to prove herself and that she has the skills to do the job. I really enjoyed the back and forth between Morgan and Ben, her supervisor. It is a great start to a friendship, partnership and maybe even a romance in the future. Ben also has some issues to sort out and he and Morgan share some of that with each other. There are other team members that are partially developed and I hope we will see more of them as this series progresses. This is a promising start to the series. It was a well written, fast paced police procedural/crime thriller and did not have a dull moment with twists throughout. I recommend this book and series and suggest that they are best read in order as there is character development throughout. If you enjoy police procedurals or crime thrillers, then pick this book up, you won't be disappointed.
January 7, 2024
This one was pretty good. It is in #1 in a series and I got it free on Stuff Your Kindle Free Day. I loved most of the characters and I was rooting for Morgan, the new detective the whole way!
August 10, 2020
The book starts with a very thoughtful dedication: to all the key workers that kept Britain going through the pandemic. I add my regards to this to all of them anywhere in the world.
This book is set in the most beautiful part of England that I visited. Unfortunately, we’re not given beautiful scenery but vile, horrible examples of the worst human behaviour; a shrill contrast.
PC Morgan Brookes works her first day as an independent patrol woman when she called to the scene of an apparent suicide. When nor the children, nor the husband can be contacted, she senses that something is off with this case. DS Ben Matthews sends her back to the house to look for more clues. Behind a door that looks as if it leads to the garage, she finds a cellar with the lifeless bodies of the husband and the 2 daughters of the dead woman. It’s a horrid, gruesome view; their heads are all smashed in and blood is everywhere. The oldest daughter has very weak signs of life but remains in a coma and chances for survival are very slim.
As the team is missing half of its detectives, they’re seriously understaffed and Ben is told to pull someone from the general response as a temporary relief. He picks out rookie Brookes, which doesn’t fall well with other hopeful officers.
The detectives discover that 45 years ago, in the seventies, there was a very similar murder case in the same house. There’s also a politician that had an affair with the murdered mother, a nosy newspaperman, a few red herrings along the way before they find out the truth.
I have several, issues with this book. The main one being that there’s absolutely no respect for procedures, hierarchy, and even common sense of the police. There’s no way that a rookie will ever be promoted like that on her first day. This is not the only place where this happens. Procedures are repeatedly ignored. Ben doesn’t obey anything he’s ordered to do and disrespects his boss in a way that no-one will accept. On top of that, it’s made out as if Morgan is some kind of genius while the experienced officers need 3 visits to the house to discover the murder weapon. When they have it, nothing is done with it.
Around the halfway mark, I figured out what must have happened. It wasn’t too hard to figure out. When the detectives have all the information the reader has, surely they must suspect something along that line.
Then there’s the developing relationship between Ben and Morgan. You see it coming from the first day they meet. Getting together would be nefarious for their careers, but I predict that by book 2 or 3, they’ll be an item.
All those elements speak of a romantic cosy mystery, not of a gripping crime thriller. If you’re looking for a simple, pleasant beach read that doesn’t have to be realistic but can put a smile on your face, this is a good choice.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided for me, this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
This book is set in the most beautiful part of England that I visited. Unfortunately, we’re not given beautiful scenery but vile, horrible examples of the worst human behaviour; a shrill contrast.
PC Morgan Brookes works her first day as an independent patrol woman when she called to the scene of an apparent suicide. When nor the children, nor the husband can be contacted, she senses that something is off with this case. DS Ben Matthews sends her back to the house to look for more clues. Behind a door that looks as if it leads to the garage, she finds a cellar with the lifeless bodies of the husband and the 2 daughters of the dead woman. It’s a horrid, gruesome view; their heads are all smashed in and blood is everywhere. The oldest daughter has very weak signs of life but remains in a coma and chances for survival are very slim.
As the team is missing half of its detectives, they’re seriously understaffed and Ben is told to pull someone from the general response as a temporary relief. He picks out rookie Brookes, which doesn’t fall well with other hopeful officers.
The detectives discover that 45 years ago, in the seventies, there was a very similar murder case in the same house. There’s also a politician that had an affair with the murdered mother, a nosy newspaperman, a few red herrings along the way before they find out the truth.
I have several, issues with this book. The main one being that there’s absolutely no respect for procedures, hierarchy, and even common sense of the police. There’s no way that a rookie will ever be promoted like that on her first day. This is not the only place where this happens. Procedures are repeatedly ignored. Ben doesn’t obey anything he’s ordered to do and disrespects his boss in a way that no-one will accept. On top of that, it’s made out as if Morgan is some kind of genius while the experienced officers need 3 visits to the house to discover the murder weapon. When they have it, nothing is done with it.
Around the halfway mark, I figured out what must have happened. It wasn’t too hard to figure out. When the detectives have all the information the reader has, surely they must suspect something along that line.
Then there’s the developing relationship between Ben and Morgan. You see it coming from the first day they meet. Getting together would be nefarious for their careers, but I predict that by book 2 or 3, they’ll be an item.
All those elements speak of a romantic cosy mystery, not of a gripping crime thriller. If you’re looking for a simple, pleasant beach read that doesn’t have to be realistic but can put a smile on your face, this is a good choice.
I thank Netgalley and Bookouture for the free ARC they provided for me, this is my honest, unbiased review of it.
June 4, 2021
After being called to the scene of a suicide by hanging, Morgan has more questions than answers. That leads to Ben Matthews asking her to join CID since they are short staffed and he sees her potential.
Since Morgan is so new, she doesn't have the jaded outlook as some of the other police and she is just gullible and naïve enough. The characters are caring and warm and want to see her proceed. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes police procedurals, and I can not wait to read the sequel.
Since Morgan is so new, she doesn't have the jaded outlook as some of the other police and she is just gullible and naïve enough. The characters are caring and warm and want to see her proceed. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes police procedurals, and I can not wait to read the sequel.
September 4, 2020
The idea's not totally bad,but it gets lost in all the silliness .
August 8, 2020
Having enjoyed the author’s Lucy Harwin series I was very happy to get my hands on this one. This book introduces a whole new case of characters: DC Morgan Brookes is the lead character and she is joined by DS Ben Matthews and another DC called Amy. They work in the CID in the Cumbrian town of Rydall Falls.
On her second day of being on solo patrol, newly minted police constable Brookes (Morgan) is the first responder to an apparent suicide. A woman, Olivia Potter, is hanging from a tree in the her garden. Morgan does all the right things and then tries to trace the woman’s family (a husband and two teenage daughters). By the next morning, with still no word on the family, Morgan asks if she can search the house again, even though it had been done the day before. The sargeant, Ben, agrees and when she finds the family dead in the cellar, with one of the daughters clinging to life, he is impressed with her initiative. With Ben’s team short handed Morgan is offered a 3 month placement in CID and she jumps at the chance.
This was an interesting story that had quite a few twists and turns, likeable characters and just enough drama and suspense to keep you turning the pages. Notwithstanding the unlikelihood of such an inexperienced constable getting a chance to work as a detective you were not required to suspend disbelief. I enjoyed reading this and will be keen to see what Morgan gets up to in her next outing. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up.
On her second day of being on solo patrol, newly minted police constable Brookes (Morgan) is the first responder to an apparent suicide. A woman, Olivia Potter, is hanging from a tree in the her garden. Morgan does all the right things and then tries to trace the woman’s family (a husband and two teenage daughters). By the next morning, with still no word on the family, Morgan asks if she can search the house again, even though it had been done the day before. The sargeant, Ben, agrees and when she finds the family dead in the cellar, with one of the daughters clinging to life, he is impressed with her initiative. With Ben’s team short handed Morgan is offered a 3 month placement in CID and she jumps at the chance.
This was an interesting story that had quite a few twists and turns, likeable characters and just enough drama and suspense to keep you turning the pages. Notwithstanding the unlikelihood of such an inexperienced constable getting a chance to work as a detective you were not required to suspend disbelief. I enjoyed reading this and will be keen to see what Morgan gets up to in her next outing. Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Helen Phifer for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars rounded up.
September 13, 2020
Bookouture is my favourite publisher and this book shows why- every book is gripping, twisty and oh so unputdownable!
Detective Brooks is a great character and I cannot wait to see what happens to her next. This is going to be the start of a brilliant series, I can taste it!
Detective Brooks is a great character and I cannot wait to see what happens to her next. This is going to be the start of a brilliant series, I can taste it!
August 22, 2020
This is the first book in a new series that will be centered around Morgan. I found it to be a decent read, but had a couple issues with it. The story starts off quickly, with Morgan, on her first day on solo patrol duty, getting called to the scene of an apparent suicide. Olivia, a married mother of 2, is hanging from a tree in her yard and her family is nowhere to be found. Fast forward to the discovery of the rest of the family and also a tie to previous murders and you have a police procedural with Morgan and her colleagues trying to solve the mystery.
The storyline around the murders was pretty interesting, and there were some surprises as the team considered, then discounted certain theories. I was mildly surprised when the villain was revealed- it is someone that I had considered earlier but I felt that the book was leading me in a different direction by the time it was revealed.
The issues I had with the book were first the very unrealistic situation of Morgan being moved up to be a detective and personal protege of her boss literally after her first day on patrol- there is no way that this would have happened, and Morgan, while seeming smart and capable, didn't seem to bring anything to the table that would explain this boost and the leapfrogging of all of those above her. Secondly, there were hints of a budding romance between Morgan and her boss Ben, which I found unlikely and unnecessary. I felt that the constant focus on the way they felt about each other and how new to the job Morgan was got rather tedious as the book went on.
All in all, I thought this was an OK book and I will likely pick up the next book in the series when it comes out. The characters were all fairly likable even if some of the relationships didn't ring true. I particularly liked Amy and hope the author builds her storyline out further in the next edition. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The storyline around the murders was pretty interesting, and there were some surprises as the team considered, then discounted certain theories. I was mildly surprised when the villain was revealed- it is someone that I had considered earlier but I felt that the book was leading me in a different direction by the time it was revealed.
The issues I had with the book were first the very unrealistic situation of Morgan being moved up to be a detective and personal protege of her boss literally after her first day on patrol- there is no way that this would have happened, and Morgan, while seeming smart and capable, didn't seem to bring anything to the table that would explain this boost and the leapfrogging of all of those above her. Secondly, there were hints of a budding romance between Morgan and her boss Ben, which I found unlikely and unnecessary. I felt that the constant focus on the way they felt about each other and how new to the job Morgan was got rather tedious as the book went on.
All in all, I thought this was an OK book and I will likely pick up the next book in the series when it comes out. The characters were all fairly likable even if some of the relationships didn't ring true. I particularly liked Amy and hope the author builds her storyline out further in the next edition. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2020
A very engrossing police procedural. I couldn’t believe how time rolled on when I started reading about Morgan, a rookie cop promoted to CID, whose instincts were sharp enough to guide her to answers.
Morgan, a beat cop to begin with, was called for the case of a body hanging from a tree. That disturbed her instincts and on the next day, she found a few more bodies. But one was still alive. With the support of her boss, Ben, she found herself right in the middle of the team investigating the murders.
Having read her earlier book, author Helen Phifer had surpassed my expectation. I thought it would be a routine police procedural, but it turned out to be more exciting due to a kickass main character. I could honestly say that I loved this book far, far more.
Morgan, as the main character, endeared herself to me as the pages turned. There was something so grounded about her. I was happy that the author didn’t go overboard with her personal problems. She felt normal and reliable with her intelligence sharpened to a fine tune. That made the investigation seem sharp.
The story was fast paced, and twists were hidden well. Time just floated away with me savoring every line of the prose. One striking point was the words had powerful imagery. I could ‘see’ the story as I read the book. I loved that feeling of seeing a movie in the lines.
For me, the spotlight was on Morgan, and she along with the author who created her made the book awesome. One of my favorite characters in this genre.
Morgan, a beat cop to begin with, was called for the case of a body hanging from a tree. That disturbed her instincts and on the next day, she found a few more bodies. But one was still alive. With the support of her boss, Ben, she found herself right in the middle of the team investigating the murders.
Having read her earlier book, author Helen Phifer had surpassed my expectation. I thought it would be a routine police procedural, but it turned out to be more exciting due to a kickass main character. I could honestly say that I loved this book far, far more.
Morgan, as the main character, endeared herself to me as the pages turned. There was something so grounded about her. I was happy that the author didn’t go overboard with her personal problems. She felt normal and reliable with her intelligence sharpened to a fine tune. That made the investigation seem sharp.
The story was fast paced, and twists were hidden well. Time just floated away with me savoring every line of the prose. One striking point was the words had powerful imagery. I could ‘see’ the story as I read the book. I loved that feeling of seeing a movie in the lines.
For me, the spotlight was on Morgan, and she along with the author who created her made the book awesome. One of my favorite characters in this genre.
October 30, 2020
I don’t know where to start. The rookie beat cop ends up solving the biggest case in years while doing whatever she wants, when she wants and doesn’t follow procedure. How do you miss 3 bodies in a basement???? She drives the ambulance while holding the patient’s hand??? Morgan is childish, immature and is afraid all the time. She and her boss end up holding hands while checking out a storage garage??? Then she lets the real killer into her apartment where she does shots with him??? Shots he laced with GBH??? I’ve never read about a police force so jovial ever before. They laugh all the time. They cry at the drop of a hat and they fall in love in a few days. This book was a joke!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2020
what a story was engrossed from page one .Morgan has completed her police training on her first day she is called to a suicide . Olivia Potter . but as the story unfold all the potter family have been murdered in the basement but one is still alive Bronte . CID want Morgan to work with them Ben and Amy. and they find out that another family before the potter s where murdered in that house how this story unfolds is brilliant i so cant wait for book two highly recommend
August 11, 2020
Detective Morgan Brookes is a rookie cop who happens to fall into a detective position. A multiple murder is what Morgan arrives on during her first solo night on patrol. Story is made even better when she finds out that the murdered family home was the site of another similar crime many years before. Characters are great as is the story. Read it quickly. I have read other Phifer books and enoy her style of narrative. Look forward to the next in this series. "A copy of this book was provided by Bookouture via Netgalley with no requirement for a a review. Comments here are my honest opinion."
September 2, 2020
One Left Alive by Helen Phifer is the first in the Detective Morgan Brookes series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Information:
Morgan Brookes has always dreamed of being a detective. As a rookie officer, she finds the body of a woman, and is catapulted into the Crime Investigation Department under the direction of DS Ben Matthews, where she will work with him and DC Amy Smith.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
On the first day that Morgan is riding alone, she finds the dead body of Olivia Porter hanging from a tree on her front lawn. Her family is not so easily located. But again, it is Morgan who finds Olivia's husband and two daughters, brutally beaten to death. Miraculously, the older daughter survives, but is in a coma.
As Morgan delves deeper into this horrific act, a similar case surfaces from 45 years ago. Perhaps finding a connection will help solve both cases.
Meanwhile, Morgan is feeling very comfortable with her new team-mates, although she cannot figure out the animosity that has suddenly appeared with her old partner Dan.
Then there is the fact that her father has insinuated himself back into her life. She is not pleased.
My Opinions:
I really enjoy books by this author, and this new series is looking good. Phifer has another crime series hit on her hands.
The writing, as always, is good, and the plot was rich with twists and turns. The book is a fast and entertaining read, with fairly short chapters and a lot of action. The characters already have some depth, and I'm looking forward to learning more about Amy. I enjoyed the camaraderie between the team members.
I guess my only complaint would be that the probability of Morgan being assigned to this case in a "detective" role is pretty much nil. That, and the fact that she was on her own so much, and allowed to do whatever she felt was right. However, for the sake of fiction, it worked well.
Overall, it was a well-written book, with a great plot, and interesting characters. I'm looking forward to the next one already!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including author information, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
September 3, 2020
This was my first book by Helen and after reading this I’m going to have to go and buy her entire back catalogue. This is a writer who has taken me nostalgically back to when I loved police procedural books and they were my comfort reads, somewhere along the way I switched to thrillers.
This book had everything I wanted and I’m not joking when I say I couldn’t put it down and totally unlike me I’m wishing for December to get here so I can read book two (hate winter love summer).
So what did I love so much…. well every single character for starters. From rookie police officer Morgan who is thrown in at the deep end on her first day and her moody boss Ben who is struggling with guilt after his wife’s suicide. Morgan I seriously adored and loved that she was intelligent, feisty, prepared to work hard but still thoughtful and caring. The banter between Ben and his Detective Constable Amy Smith was some much needed light in a very dark situation and them bringing Morgan into the fold makes me feel the next book in the series will hopefully be these three musketeers resuming to fight more crime. Then there was Morgan’s dad Stan, the wonderful friendly pathologist, jealous colleague Dan and the seriously unlikeable lineup of suspects.
Look I’m in serious ramble mode here (that’s what happens when I love something, I don’t shut up) as I haven’t even got to the plot yet and this ones a goodun. Morgan is first at the scene of what appears to be the suicide of a wife and mother yet the family cannot be contacted. Morgan feeling something is wrong goes back to the house even after it was searched and discovers the rest of the family bound and violently beaten to death. However the eldest daughter is still alive. Then it’s a race to put together the clues (and you totally feel as if you are part of the crime solving unit) and work out who did it.
I did work out everything but let me tell you something it made me love it even more as I felt I was part of it and one of the gang. I really can’t thank Bookouture enough for giving me the absolute pleasure of reading this and adding a new favourite author to my must read list.
This book had everything I wanted and I’m not joking when I say I couldn’t put it down and totally unlike me I’m wishing for December to get here so I can read book two (hate winter love summer).
So what did I love so much…. well every single character for starters. From rookie police officer Morgan who is thrown in at the deep end on her first day and her moody boss Ben who is struggling with guilt after his wife’s suicide. Morgan I seriously adored and loved that she was intelligent, feisty, prepared to work hard but still thoughtful and caring. The banter between Ben and his Detective Constable Amy Smith was some much needed light in a very dark situation and them bringing Morgan into the fold makes me feel the next book in the series will hopefully be these three musketeers resuming to fight more crime. Then there was Morgan’s dad Stan, the wonderful friendly pathologist, jealous colleague Dan and the seriously unlikeable lineup of suspects.
Look I’m in serious ramble mode here (that’s what happens when I love something, I don’t shut up) as I haven’t even got to the plot yet and this ones a goodun. Morgan is first at the scene of what appears to be the suicide of a wife and mother yet the family cannot be contacted. Morgan feeling something is wrong goes back to the house even after it was searched and discovers the rest of the family bound and violently beaten to death. However the eldest daughter is still alive. Then it’s a race to put together the clues (and you totally feel as if you are part of the crime solving unit) and work out who did it.
I did work out everything but let me tell you something it made me love it even more as I felt I was part of it and one of the gang. I really can’t thank Bookouture enough for giving me the absolute pleasure of reading this and adding a new favourite author to my must read list.
August 28, 2020
Detective Morgan Brookes #1
Morgan has just completed her training and this was the first day she has been out on her own. She's called out to what looks like a suicide. Olivia Potter is hanging from a tree outside her home. The rest of the Potter family are missing. Morgan gets seconded to the Detective team to help in their investigation. Morgan quickly realises this is the job she wants to do and she's determined to prove her worth.
This is a great start to a brand new police procedural series featuring Morgan Brookes. This is a fast paced, well written police procedural. I was hooked from the beginning and I didn't want to put the book down. I was guessing all the way to who was behind it all. I was shocked when the reveal came. I never saw it coming. There were a few loose ends left hanging but I'm hoping when the second book comes out in December, they will be tied up then. I highly recommend this book.
Morgan has just completed her training and this was the first day she has been out on her own. She's called out to what looks like a suicide. Olivia Potter is hanging from a tree outside her home. The rest of the Potter family are missing. Morgan gets seconded to the Detective team to help in their investigation. Morgan quickly realises this is the job she wants to do and she's determined to prove her worth.
This is a great start to a brand new police procedural series featuring Morgan Brookes. This is a fast paced, well written police procedural. I was hooked from the beginning and I didn't want to put the book down. I was guessing all the way to who was behind it all. I was shocked when the reveal came. I never saw it coming. There were a few loose ends left hanging but I'm hoping when the second book comes out in December, they will be tied up then. I highly recommend this book.
August 23, 2021
On her first solo patrol, Morgan heads to what appears to be a suicide scene. The next day, she finds the rest of the family in the cellar.
The novel follows Morgan, a 23 years old rookie thrown into a murder investigation, and Ben, the widower lead detective. Those two are different but Morgan is the wake-up call Ben needed and in Ben, Morgan finds a guide and the biggest opportunity of her life to become a detective.
The mystery in itself was not that complicated to figure out. The author didn't waste time creating many unreasonable plot twists and let us follow Morgan's discovery of her job and of clues.
Morgan has keen insight and she is hardworking. But she is also very green, makes basic mistakes, and has trouble keeping with the long hours. She is smart, a bit too eager, and slightly damaged; basically straight out from the Rookie Blue show.
One Left Alive might not have been the craziest ride but it was entertaining enough to have me read it in one sitting and jump into the second installment of Morgan's story right away.
> 23 years old heroine
> No romance (possibly later)
> No cliffhanger
> Multiple installments
Trigger Warning:
Pretty soft for a mystery actually. Somewhat descriptive crime scene, suicide, alcoholism.
August 27, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of One Left Alive, the first novel set in the fictional Cumbrian town of Rydal Falls to feature PC Morgan Brookes.
On her first day of working solo Morgan is sent to an apparent suicide, Olivia Potter has been found hanging from a tree in her garden. There is no trace of the family so, sensing something is wrong she returns to the house and finds the rest of the family dead in the cellar, until she realises that Bronte, the elder daughter, is still alive. Determined to get justice Morgan keeps investigating and is horrified to discover that a similar murder took place in the same house 45 years ago. What links them?
I thoroughly enjoyed One Left Alive which is the relatively straightforward hunt for a killer. There are twists and turns along the way but the goal never wavers and there are few distractions, like subplots or unnecessary interference from the brass. It is mostly told from Morgan and her boss, DS Ben Matthews’ points of view with no hint of who the killer is or why it was done. That’s good as I like to speculate along with the detectives and the more I’m kept in the dark, the more I get involved in the novel.
I could nitpick on the realism of a rookie patrol officer being transferred to CID and making a success of it but why bother? The novel is entertaining and held my attention throughout. I thought the plot was done well with the perpetrator well concealed and I enjoyed the build up to the reveal with all the small steps taken and the uncertainty over which discoveries were relevant. After the first suspension of disbelief about Morgan’s job I felt the novel was grounded, up to and including the rather banal motives.
I like Morgan Brookes who has the zeal and enthusiasm of a newbie. She has her problems but they don’t overwhelm either her or the novel. There is something simmering between her and Ben but the author is noncommittal on whether it’s friendship or romance. I definitely want to know more.
One Left Alive is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
On her first day of working solo Morgan is sent to an apparent suicide, Olivia Potter has been found hanging from a tree in her garden. There is no trace of the family so, sensing something is wrong she returns to the house and finds the rest of the family dead in the cellar, until she realises that Bronte, the elder daughter, is still alive. Determined to get justice Morgan keeps investigating and is horrified to discover that a similar murder took place in the same house 45 years ago. What links them?
I thoroughly enjoyed One Left Alive which is the relatively straightforward hunt for a killer. There are twists and turns along the way but the goal never wavers and there are few distractions, like subplots or unnecessary interference from the brass. It is mostly told from Morgan and her boss, DS Ben Matthews’ points of view with no hint of who the killer is or why it was done. That’s good as I like to speculate along with the detectives and the more I’m kept in the dark, the more I get involved in the novel.
I could nitpick on the realism of a rookie patrol officer being transferred to CID and making a success of it but why bother? The novel is entertaining and held my attention throughout. I thought the plot was done well with the perpetrator well concealed and I enjoyed the build up to the reveal with all the small steps taken and the uncertainty over which discoveries were relevant. After the first suspension of disbelief about Morgan’s job I felt the novel was grounded, up to and including the rather banal motives.
I like Morgan Brookes who has the zeal and enthusiasm of a newbie. She has her problems but they don’t overwhelm either her or the novel. There is something simmering between her and Ben but the author is noncommittal on whether it’s friendship or romance. I definitely want to know more.
One Left Alive is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 5, 2023
Morgan has just joined the police force and is on her first solo patrol. She is called to a suicide by hanging at some drool worthy country home. Morgan has an 'odd feeling' about the woman's death, and when the husband and daughters cannot be tracked down, she raises her concerns with DCI Ben, who takes an immediate liking to her and posthaste promotes her into his investigating team, which does not go down well with her more experienced squad mates. Morgan cannot understand the hard feelings - she's just so incredibly nice. And rather naive.
When they return to the scene the next day, they discover the mutilated bodies of the missing family members in the mansion's cellar. One of the daughters is still clinging on to live and rushed off to hospital - with no one lesser than Morgan herself driving the ambulance!
Over the remaining 300-or-so pages, rookie Morgan single-handedly solves the case simply by applying 'common sense' while things with DCI Ben heat up. This involves some scenes that could easily be classified as sexual harassment in the workplace or just as plain creepy - a superior following a junior staffer home to 'check that she's ok' or being all touchy in the office.
But it's ok because Ben and Morgan are both kind but troubled souls - one with a penchant for whisky and being 'arsy', the other for chilled vodka and smashing windows - who lost a loved one to suicide. Enough said about depth of a character.
There's only two suspects to begin with so the big reveal is a rather dull one yet the story remains riddled with gaps and loose ends. It's unclear why the neighbour dabbling in witchcraft had inside knowledge of the 'case', the suicide was staged or the perp would want to kill off a whole family when all he's after is his 15 minutes of fame.
The writing is pretty average too, with lots of telling instead of showing. So do yourself a favour and give this one a wide berth - there's intelligent, well-written crime out there!
When they return to the scene the next day, they discover the mutilated bodies of the missing family members in the mansion's cellar. One of the daughters is still clinging on to live and rushed off to hospital - with no one lesser than Morgan herself driving the ambulance!
Over the remaining 300-or-so pages, rookie Morgan single-handedly solves the case simply by applying 'common sense' while things with DCI Ben heat up. This involves some scenes that could easily be classified as sexual harassment in the workplace or just as plain creepy - a superior following a junior staffer home to 'check that she's ok' or being all touchy in the office.
But it's ok because Ben and Morgan are both kind but troubled souls - one with a penchant for whisky and being 'arsy', the other for chilled vodka and smashing windows - who lost a loved one to suicide. Enough said about depth of a character.
There's only two suspects to begin with so the big reveal is a rather dull one yet the story remains riddled with gaps and loose ends. It's unclear why the neighbour dabbling in witchcraft had inside knowledge of the 'case', the suicide was staged or the perp would want to kill off a whole family when all he's after is his 15 minutes of fame.
The writing is pretty average too, with lots of telling instead of showing. So do yourself a favour and give this one a wide berth - there's intelligent, well-written crime out there!
September 6, 2020
This is the first in a new series featuring Morgan Brookes, a rookie who manages to impress the boss on her first day of independent patrol. Promoted to assist in a murder investigation because she's feisty, outspoken, and apparently more observant than her colleagues, Morgan rapidly dives in to help hunt for the killer.
I guess I've read enough police procedural and detective novels now that it is impossible to find something new and fresh. I had it all figured out fairly quickly and had a hard time buying into Morgan's rapid rise in the CID for the Cumbria Constabulary. The investigative work was really sloppy and her relationship with her supervisor, DS Ben Matthews, seemed quite inappropriate and unlikely given their age difference and his past.
Although it was a fast read, I doubt I'll continue on with the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
I guess I've read enough police procedural and detective novels now that it is impossible to find something new and fresh. I had it all figured out fairly quickly and had a hard time buying into Morgan's rapid rise in the CID for the Cumbria Constabulary. The investigative work was really sloppy and her relationship with her supervisor, DS Ben Matthews, seemed quite inappropriate and unlikely given their age difference and his past.
Although it was a fast read, I doubt I'll continue on with the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
July 28, 2020
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
2.5* rounded up. I suppose this would be described as a police procedural, although I hope the actual police don't operate like those in this novel. The story held my interest throughout, although I thought the ending was slightly rushed. The 'romance' creeped me out a little, and I spent most of the novel rolling my eyes at the incompetence, unprofessionalism, insubordination etc etc displayed by our plucky heroine and her colleagues.
Still, a pleasant enough way to spend a few hours.
2.5* rounded up. I suppose this would be described as a police procedural, although I hope the actual police don't operate like those in this novel. The story held my interest throughout, although I thought the ending was slightly rushed. The 'romance' creeped me out a little, and I spent most of the novel rolling my eyes at the incompetence, unprofessionalism, insubordination etc etc displayed by our plucky heroine and her colleagues.
Still, a pleasant enough way to spend a few hours.
April 4, 2022
3.75 ⭐
Not my favourite Phifer book, but quite enjoyable.
The major issue I had with this book was how unethically the entire police procedure was carried out. Other than that I enjoyed the budding friendship between ben and morgan. Morgan's character seems quite naive but then again what do you expect from a rookie. She's learning and adapting and that's what i'm here for.
Not my favourite Phifer book, but quite enjoyable.
The major issue I had with this book was how unethically the entire police procedure was carried out. Other than that I enjoyed the budding friendship between ben and morgan. Morgan's character seems quite naive but then again what do you expect from a rookie. She's learning and adapting and that's what i'm here for.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 748 reviews