Dead Heat

by Jessie Keane

The gripping new gangland thriller from the Sunday Times bestseller and Queen of the Underworld, Jessie Keane.

Once, he loved her.
Now he's going to put her away for murder.

Christie Doyle is living the she has a beautiful mansion on the South Downs with an infinity pool and stables, and her husband, Kenny, spoils her rotten. It's her birthday and she is the centre of the most amazing party.

And then the bombshell drops. Kenny confesses to an affair and asks for a divorce. Worse is to come when the 'other woman'- Lara, nineteen years old and pregnant with Kenny's child - is found dead.

Suspicion falls on Christie and the Doyles' life is ripped apart as the police hunt for lead investigator DCI Dexter Cooper is a face from Christie's own troubled past and he knows better than anyone what she is capable of.

The race to unmask a killer is on...

Genres: Crime

320 pages, Paperback

Published January 21, 2025

About the author

Now what about me? I’ve done a lot of writing, but way back before I even dreamed I could be a professional writer I was just the youngest in a big family. My Dad was a surveyor with an edge of brilliance. My Mum was from gipsy roots and used to drive around in a goat-cart (yes, really!) when she was little. Once we were rich (although I didn’t know it then, and it was all thanks to my Dad’s ingenuity) and then suddenly – pretty shockingly, really – we were poor (thanks to greedy people who exploited his kindness). I have to tell you, rich is better. But the great thing about life is, even painful events pass, and if you make bad choices, hopefully you learn from them.

Reviews

[Pol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was into this book from page one
I didn’t want to stop reading
What a page turner had to find out how it ended and I wasn’t disappointed
Great read. Really enjoyed it
Worth so much more than the 5 stars I could give it

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. Devoured in a matter of days. Loved it.

[Racheal Pedder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed, kept you guessing till the end!!

[Angela Kulcsar · Rating 5 out of 5]

you can never go wrong reading a Jessie Keane book. Got right into it from page 1.
Excellent book, easy reading, couldn't put it down. Highly recommended

[Valerie Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wattsy

Wow loved this book from beginning to end,it was a page turning thriller,didn't guess for quite a few chapters who the killer was,will start reading more from this author and recommend to friends and family.

[Zak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jessie Keane's work, and this book is a stand-alone novel, so there isn't any need to seek out other books to fill in the gaps. Keane's work rivals everything that Martina Cole, Roberta Kray, and all the gangster dames have written. Emotional, heart-wrenching, and providing an amazing propulsive twisty plot, Keane has delivered another smash hit, no doubt about it. Read it and cheer, weep and grin.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and didn't want it to end.
Four year old Christie Butler survives the car crash that kills her beloved parents, Anna and Graham. Her father's brother, Jerome, and his wife, Julia, reluctantly take Christie in, as they are her godparents. They make it plain that she's not really welcome. and favour their two children over her at every opportunity.
Christie grows up, feeling unloved and frightened. She marries a local gangster for protection, as everyone is afraid of him, even cousin Ivo. Life goes on. Kenny, Christie's husband, moves his latest woman into a cottage in the next village. There's a fire, and the girl dies. The senior investigating officer is Christie's first love from over twenty years ago.
Christie's traumatic life catches up with her, and she is suspected of murder. The case against her is compelling, but there's an element of doubt.
Will DI Dex Cooper have to arrest Christie, and charge her with murder? I was surprised at the outcome. Looking forward to more from Jessie Keane in the future.

[The Book Review Café · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jessica Keane’s Dead Heat grabs you by the throat from page one and doesn’t let go. With its relentless pace, gritty storyline and razor-sharp twists, this is crime fiction at its best. There’s no doubt about it Christie Doyle’s character has flaws but as you learn more of her backstory you can understand how her past has shaped her into a woman who appears to have a heart made of stone! I really enjoyed this book and read it over 24 hours

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[Paul Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book you cannot put down.

I have read a few Jessie Keane books, but this one is by far the best one I have read. Once started it is difficult to put down. It has more twist at the end than a corkscrew. The story is based on Christe a girl orphaned at 4 by a road accident. After being brought up un loved by her Aunt and Uncle and abused by her cousin she enters into a loveless marriage. From here on her life spirals away until she is re-united with a lost love.
If you like a good fast moving thriller, this is the book for you.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a page Turner.

Really good read from jessie keane she has nailed it again .I couldn't put this book down from the beginning to the end of just gripped me .Well done jessie I would recommend this book its well worth reading .I give this new novel give stars.

[roberta carse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book from start to finish. Some information repeated a few times but a totally different read from most of the gangster novels set in Soho. Christie was so vulnerable and not your usual gangsters moll.

[Patsy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy a gangland thriller but this isn’t one of them. There are far better out there.
This was way too long. It all felt very surface level and repetitive, I was sick to death of that bloody view 🤦🏼‍♀️
You can skim read this and not loose any of the story.

[judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desd Heat

Really interesting read even though there were sooo many chapters I managed to get through to the end. Horrible characters except for Christie & Dex which made the story gripping & wanting to see what happens next.

[John Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well I was thankfully wrong! Wow this book was brilliant. Kept me guessing, trying to fit the picies of the stiry together! All got there just deserts. I couldn't help but love the main character. This was just briiliant! I of course highly recommend this book.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong 4.5!
My first Jessie Keane novel! very much enjoyed it! A gripping twisty plot with some shady yet addictive east end gangsters!

Dax was definitely my favorite character!

Easy to read this was a page turner I did not want to put down!

[Lisa Thewlis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline

Absolutely great book, Christie has a sad life, but does she deserve it. I won't spoil it but you won't be disappointed

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

More 5 star gangland reading from Jessie Keane! As always, couldn't put it down from the first page to the last!

[Sue Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book couldn't put it down

[joanne baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping

A really good read I couldn't put it down and really enjoyed reading it. I do like a happy ending so was happy all round.

[Mrs G Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Having read all this authors book ,this one is definitely my favourite. Great story and characters .Would highly recommend this book

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessie Keane has done it again great read would highly recommend

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner for Jessie Keane. I’ve read all her Books she just gets better and better. A real page turner

[Kerry Stafford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Really good read with lots of twists. Jessie Keane is a fab author. You will not ever be disappointed !

[Dan Hooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow want a page turner couldn’t of been better reading well done to the author and as it’s a stand alone no need to find the next one

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an endingbook wasnt doing it for me although u till I got to end 4 stars from me

[yvonne griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant throughly enjoyed and excellent twist

Brilliant as usual keep them coming
Excellent twist highly recommend
Read in 2 days a must read Jessie Keane awesome

[Joanne Dickinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as good as her other books

Found the story boring and long-winded

Sad story just far too slow.


Skip some pages and still manage to work out the story.

[JANE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Excellent book and story. So nice to have a book not littered with swearing. Fully recommend reading this book.
Will look at other books by her

[Charlene Amos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started and finished in one day! Really enjoyed it

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesse never disappoints.

Great read spanning years, A likeable heroine, plenty nasty characters, twists and turns and a gritty storyline with an exciting end.