THE SUSPENSEFUL SEQUEL TO CHARLOTTE LANGLEY'S THE BLAME.
When a police detective is found murdered, all clues point to Amma Reynolds, a young woman who lives in the town. Amma has a clear motive. She resents the police for failing to properly investigate her brother's death, written off as an accidental drowning, but which she believes was murder.
If that wasn't suspicious enough, she is now refusing to speak to the police.
Former detective and private investigator Erin Crane is hired by Amma's family to try and convince her to talk and to find out what really happened on the evening of DI Mark Stormont's murder.
As she digs deeper, Erin realises that in order to solve the case, she first needs to uncover why Amma's brother turned up dead in a river all those years ago. Even if it means tearing her friendship with DI Lewis Jennings apart.
Because there are some secrets the Wakestead police force would rather stay buried…
Charlotte lives in London where she works as a journalist. Her debut novel, The Blame, is a psychological thriller following the story of DI Erin Crane. She is currently working on a sequel. You can find Charlotte on Twitter @c_langley_ and Instagram @charlottelangleyauthor
This "suspenseful sequel" to "The Blame" lacked the suspense I was seeking.
This sequel was also a standalone read.
"The Blame" was a 5-star police procedural that exposed police corruption.
In "The Intrusion", the author's protagonist Erin Crane returns as a private investigator investigating the death of a police officer.
Police corruption and racism surface in the investigation.
I would have enjoyed the book more if Erin investigated a case that did not involve police corruption (been there, read that!) and had fewer characters.
I listened to the audiobook read by Tamsin Kennard who did an outstanding job with the narration.
Even with Tamsin Kennard's expert narration, the book unfolded from multiple POVs in different timelines and, at times, was hard to follow.
"Aaron" was one of the book's many characters and his name was difficult to distinguish from "Erin".
The Aaron/Erin names would not have been an issue in an e-book but it was in the audiobook.
Overall, the book is ok. Of all the books I have read it’s a standard police procedure but there’s nothing in this book that screams absolute banger. The book is a short read, I do have to give credit on the unpredictability which did take me off guard- but overall it’ meh. Unfortunately it’s a plot that I will not remember as there’s nothing that happened in this plot that stood out to me. Ask me in two weeks time and I’ve probably long forgotten the plot. It’s not a bad read but it does touch upon the other side of UK policing which is a topic my authors have not explored much of.
Thanks to NetGalley and No Exit Press for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I only recently read Charlotte's book, The Blame, and absolutely loved it. In fact, I owned it before I received this early copy of the sequel but hadn't got round to reading it, but when I did, I flew through it. It was so good and so I was really hoping this one would live up to it, and it most certainty did.
I can always rely on a thriller to get me out of a reading slump! There is no preamble here, it is straight in with a case, police, a dead body, and a suspect.
There are some of the same characters from The Blame, but also a fair few new ones, which gives us a sense of familiarity, but with enough new things to get us excited for more.
We have Erin of course, the main detective who was in the first one, along with other recognisable police officers. Our main suspect is Amma, a lost young woman with a grudge, still grieving for her late brother. There are other characters of course, old and new, but it is these two women who carry the story along, and it was hard to decide if I thought Amma was guilty or not as I really liked her. Even if she did some morally dodgy things, her heart always seemed to be in the right place.
It is still interesting to see Erin as our main character amongst all the men. Policing and investigating is still such a male dominated field, and so to see her be the boss of her own success and whatnot, from a female reader's perspective, it is really good to read.
Because I enjoyed The Blame so much, I was wondering if a) I wouldn't enjoy this as much, and b) if it would be too similar, but it's not. It's got everything I loved about the first one but with some extras.
I read the first half before bed, and the second half straight away when I woke up as I couldn't bear to be without it for much longer, so determined I was to find out what happened.
Because of what happened in the first book and how surprising the whodunnit turned out to be (no spoilers), I was trying to look for little clues right from the off with this one, but it still took me completely by surprise, which, in my books, makes for the perfectly written thriller.
What was interesting in both books is this unease and distrust of the police. Now, don't get me wrong, I really hope there's nothing as bad as what you read in books happening in real life, but there is a general distrust of police nowadays, it's hard to ignore. Not by everyone, but you can tell through various news stories over the last few years that there is definitely this undercurrent. And it's interesting to read that, because in most books that I've read, the police are the trusted ones. But how do you trust a force that may not be all they seem?
I am really hoping Charlotte makes this a long series because I am here for it. I'm loving everything about it and can't wait to see her progress as a writer.
Here is my review for Intrusion by Charlotte Langley
This book was a great read and it was a really deep read too that touched on the police and the colour issue as Amma and her brother were black. All the family felt that the case wasn’t properly investigated and that they weren’t treated right at the time of the investigation. It has been thirteen years that Amma and her family have been trying for justice and the police have not acknowledged them. A police officer is killed not too far from her house and when they knock on her door, she has just woken up. When they ask if she knows this officer, she doesn’t answer them. They ask if she is alone in the house, she doesn’t answer - she just runs from them so the officers have to give chase until they catch her which they do. They then take her and question her but she doesn’t speak at all to them but they try to charge her with murder but the CPS say no so they have to release her. The charging officers aren’t happy. Her family employs a private investigator who she speaks to, eventually. She is good at her job. She is ex-police and knows people in the village but not the officer who was killed, he was roughly her replacement. There are technicalities after speaking to Amma but she can work with it. In the end, they all want the same thing, the killer brought to justice. I loved reading this book, it was so in depth and intriguing, I was hooked from the beginning. I thought the character Amma was very well written and portrayed. Splitting the book in parts was another good move by the author as it made it easier to break the book down for the reader. The book was really well written and plotted. The author had thought the book out well in advance and planned it before writing it. I liked how the author had done this and I approve of his method.
Blurb :
When a police detective is found murdered, all clues point to Amma Reynolds, a young woman who lives in the town. Amma has a clear motive. She resents the police for failing to properly investigate her brother's death, written off as an accidental drowning, but which she believes was murder. If that wasn't suspicious enough, she is now refusing to speak to the police. Former detective and private investigator Erin Crane is hired by Amma's family to try and convince her to talk and to find out what really happened on the evening of DI Mark Stormont's murder. As she digs deeper, Erin realises that in order to solve the case, she first needs to uncover why Amma's brother turned up dead in a river all those years ago. Even if it means tearing her friendship with DI Lewis Jennings apart. Because there are some secrets the Wakestead police force would rather stay buried…
4.5* Strong females, weak men, lies and obfuscation make for a decent read.
This book didn't feel female-dominant but boy, did the females show the males up. I struggled to believe that weak (as accused by Erin, the PI) Lewis was a detective. He had no instincts, no balls, no courage and he only had a very late Eureka! moment, actually 2 of them, just shortly before the end. Erin, Amma, June and Vicky were strong, passionate, supportive females, in total contrast. And goodness, even bitchy Olivia came through. I thought that the author did well not to make this a total take on Stephen Lawrence's murder, though there were similarities. Thankfully institutional racism didn't rear its head, though male chauvinism and arrogance did, as well as shades of Sarah Everard being more than hinted at. And contempt for policing pretty much was the underlying message of the tale, though reform was mentioned, too.
Erin was surprisingly astute and managed to get the tiniest details from people and have several Eureka moments of her own. Her courage, too, going where she did, at night, phone-less, with someone who'd just admitted to their part in Isaac's murder, paid off, but it could have been at the cost of her own demise. Amma, a female from an ethnic minority heritage, who seemed to straddle 2 worlds, was strong and resolute, and I hope that she ended up suing those involved in what happened to her, her brother, her family, and her reputation. Where we saw her at the end of the tale, was perfect icing on a very nice cake.
I wish the final words from Mark could have healed Amma a little. He turned out to be less of a b'stard than I thought, but just a little. I think you have to be a certain kind of person to do what he did, but I had hoped he'd ended up being genuinely in love with Amma. Sadly, I didn't feel we got that clarification, though at the same time, I didn't get the impression that Amma needed or wanted it.
The author has taken quite a bit of artistic license with some of the policing aspects, but overall, it's a very decent story that made me want to know more about Erin, Tom, Lewis and their pasts. I'm off to nose and see if there's a previous tale.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for my reading pleasure.
I can’t even imagine being in custody charged for the murder of my man.
In this case, well, the first one in the book anyways, it starts with a police detective being found murdered.
A woman is taken into custody and refuses to speak. To be honest, I am not sure I would either when I find out why she was not willing to communicate with the police.
And as the dawn becomes day, I still feel like a cloudiness is affecting us as we are intertwined with another murder that happened over a decade ago.
The woman’s family hires a PI who has experience with the local police, and together with the DI on the newest case, we have a pair of delightfully complicated characters intertwined as a force to be reckoned with.
As the days go by and we unravel more of the mysteries, the ambience still carries a heavy, simmering foreboding promise on the horizon. This plot is so engaging. 🤗🤗🤗
Although I had an overall feeling of who might have done the deed of the oldest case, there were still plenty of twists throwing me off my game here and my game was off enough to not being able guess the murderer of the newest case.
After reading & loving Charlotte's previous book, The Blame, I was looking forward to picking this one up and it definitely did not disappoint. The storyline of the book was so good and had real depth to it, creating twists and turns along the way, some of which I was not expecting. I really liked the characters within the book, some of which are familiar and some are new to the reader. I really liked Erin's character, as despite everything that she has been through, she is still such a strong person. It was nice to see a female lead within a police procedural and Erin really does step up when others step back. Charlotte's writing style is brilliant and I was instantly drawn into the storyline, with the short chapters only reinforcing my need to keep reading and turning the pages. I was constantly second guessing everyone and I did not expect the twist at the end. The story ends so well and really concludes the story in a good way. I really can't wait for more of Charlotte's work soon.
With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily Having been blown away by Charlotte Langley’s debut novel I was super excited to read the sequel. Once again the author has reeled me in and kept me on the edge of my seat in this compelling police drama. This moves at a frantic pace as the plot twists and turns on many levels with the brilliant Erin at the heart of it all. This is solid, sharp, perfectly written and executed. Charlotte Langley is fast proving she is up there with some of the best writers of police procedurals. An absolutely cracking 5⭐️ ( and then some) read.
I unfortunately have not read The Blame, which The Intrusion is the sequel to. However, this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel. If you too missed The Blame by Charlotte Langley, do not worry – but once you have read The Intrusion, you will want to add The Blame to your TBR. This book delivers an intriguing blend of personal vendetta and police corruption that keeps the suspense intense. The novel starts with a bang—DI Mark Stormont is found murdered and all evidence points to Amma Reynolds, a woman who has a clear motive. Her brother’s suspicious death long ruled an accidental drowning, has left Amma bitter and determined to expose what she believes was a murder swept under the rug by the local police. Langley expertly weaves Amma’s silence and refusal to cooperate with the police into a gripping psychological question: What is she hiding, and why? Erin Crane, a former detective turned private investigator, enters the story at just the right moment. Hired by Amma’s family, she takes on the task of unravelling the truth. Erin’s investigation serves as the driving force of the novel, and Langley builds her character with enough depth to make her emotionally invested, especially when it becomes clear that solving the case could destroy her friendship with DI Lewis Jennings. The tension in their relationship provides an engaging subplot. The story excels in its portrayal of a small town with secrets. Wakestead's police force is depicted as holding dark truths that Erin must navigate carefully. The mystery surrounding Amma’s brother’s death is as compelling as the main plot, and Langley does a brilliant job tying both threads together. Langley’s pacing is spot-on, with each revelation making you question who can be trusted. The narrative is also packed with red herrings, keeping you guessing. However, Amma’s refusal to speak felt at times frustrating, as it dragged the story, though it eventually pays off with satisfying twists. The Intrusion is a gripping read that combines family loyalty, police corruption and a well-crafted mystery. If you enjoy books where the past and present collide in unexpected ways, this is a solid pick. https://featzreviews.com/the-intrusio...
This one is action packed from the beginning, and hooks you in straight away! The main two protagonists are both female and pretty cool, they’re complicated characters that will undoubtedly hold your interest. The supporting characters are equally as interesting and all add something to the story.
This has lots of twists and turns and as hard as I tried I couldn’t figure out what the end game would be, which makes it perfect, I love a crime thriller and not guessing the ending is essential for me!
This will leave you questioning everything and wondering who the good guys actually are at times.
This is a very compelling, well written police drama, with shades of racism and male chauvinism woven throughout. The characters are interesting, especially the female ones and the pacing is fast with some interesting twists along the way. There is plenty of drama, which pulled me in from the start and the ending left me hoping for more in another book. I do hope to read more from Erin and I highly recommend the read. An easy 5* from me. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
This was a follow on and big improvement from The Blame. I liked the character development, and the unfolding storyline was intriguing right through to the end. It has left me wanting more, which is always a good sign.
😑 ugh. SO MUCH biting and chewing on their lips, cheeks, mouths. IRRITATINGLY, RIDICULOUS. It got old, FAST. And the story was just ok at best. I knew who did it way too soon. 😑😑 if there is another book, count me OUT.
Unfortunately, this book has not had the wow factor. I have not connected with any of the characters at all, and I've been left underwhelmed by the story
This is the fastest I've read a book all year so that's gotta say something good about it right? Really enjoyed the story and all of the strong female characters. Not the most unique story as I've read a lot of thrillers but still very enjoyable. I'm gonna go back and read the first book in the series and hope that there's more to come. First time seeing my surname in a book too so that was a nice surprise 🤣❤️