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The Scene of the Crime
The brand-new forensic thriller series from legendary crime writer Lynda La Plante.
The husband of a prominent and infamously ruthless barrister is found in horrific condition after a robbery and brutal assault. Now in a coma, a major investigation is launched using the newly formed, experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit.
Jessica Russell is an experienced CSI with degrees in psychology and criminology with an exceptional Masters in Investigative psychology and behaviour analysis. But Jessica's first job as team leader of MSCAN is entirely new to to bring together a team of three trusted officers.
The four of them have dealt with every kind of murder and major crime scene - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis, digital forensics and beyond.
Now they must piece together the complex puzzle at the heart of this brutal crime. If it was a robbery gone horrifically wrong, what was so important to have been stolen?
Like with any new police department, there is immense pressure for instant results. One careless decision, one wrong accusation from Jessica or her team and their superiors would be all too happy to close down MSCAN for good.
The husband of a prominent and infamously ruthless barrister is found in horrific condition after a robbery and brutal assault. Now in a coma, a major investigation is launched using the newly formed, experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit.
Jessica Russell is an experienced CSI with degrees in psychology and criminology with an exceptional Masters in Investigative psychology and behaviour analysis. But Jessica's first job as team leader of MSCAN is entirely new to to bring together a team of three trusted officers.
The four of them have dealt with every kind of murder and major crime scene - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis, digital forensics and beyond.
Now they must piece together the complex puzzle at the heart of this brutal crime. If it was a robbery gone horrifically wrong, what was so important to have been stolen?
Like with any new police department, there is immense pressure for instant results. One careless decision, one wrong accusation from Jessica or her team and their superiors would be all too happy to close down MSCAN for good.
400 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2026
287 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Lynda La Plante
127 books1,845 followersLynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.
In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.
She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.
Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).
Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 14, 2025
I love Lynda La Plante
But I just couldn't relate to the Protagonist in the story. As good as it was I just couldn't warm to the character and it ruined it for me.
I will never ever forget the Lorraine Page books, amongst the best books that I have ever read. But unfortunately this book didn't do it for me 😔
But I just couldn't relate to the Protagonist in the story. As good as it was I just couldn't warm to the character and it ruined it for me.
I will never ever forget the Lorraine Page books, amongst the best books that I have ever read. But unfortunately this book didn't do it for me 😔
September 5, 2025
4.5 / 5.0
Solid book from start to finish, although it’s a mighty 500 pages book the minute you start reading the pages will start flying. I’m definitely going to keep my eye out on this series, the characters the plot, in particular meeting Jessica Russell. This book has everything, for the science nerds out there, you can tell by the heavy research how much effort La Plante has gone to make this a credible plot that stands true to the current policing standards. This book has everything you want from police procedural, hearty and fiesta main characters to policing gossip it’s a great read. I think this is the first book I’ve read from a crime scene POV which generally these books focus on the detective POV. My only bone to pick with this book is how ‘detective’ like Jessica is, maybe I’m being incredibly nit-picky but at times I’m like surely you want a detective to do this right? It probably comes from the lack of understanding, but also understanding of the role of a CSI but I do question at point where the line is drawn to her involvement borderlines a detective role. I also have to tie it down to the number of books I’ve read that only are from detective POV, so truth be told I am still learning about how Jessica's role is ever expanding. All in all it’s a great read from start to finish, I definitely know there’s some unfinished business and I’m already excited for the next book in this series.
The book centres around Jessica Russel is the new lead of MSCAN - the murder and serious crime analysis unit. Essentially for any serious murders/ bust up you call her up and her crew (which she hand selected) cover all crime forensic works. Her first case in this book involves a robbery and brutal assault of the husband of a prominent and infamously rightness barrister. As well as this we gain abit of insight into her personal life and struggles. For readers, just beware there is themes of SA and assault mentioned throughout the book (just be mindful).
It’s a great book from start to finish, I found reading this book literally took no time once you start you only want to finish the book to see how it all ends. It’s a great read, worth the time investment, excited for the next book in the series!
Solid book from start to finish, although it’s a mighty 500 pages book the minute you start reading the pages will start flying. I’m definitely going to keep my eye out on this series, the characters the plot, in particular meeting Jessica Russell. This book has everything, for the science nerds out there, you can tell by the heavy research how much effort La Plante has gone to make this a credible plot that stands true to the current policing standards. This book has everything you want from police procedural, hearty and fiesta main characters to policing gossip it’s a great read. I think this is the first book I’ve read from a crime scene POV which generally these books focus on the detective POV. My only bone to pick with this book is how ‘detective’ like Jessica is, maybe I’m being incredibly nit-picky but at times I’m like surely you want a detective to do this right? It probably comes from the lack of understanding, but also understanding of the role of a CSI but I do question at point where the line is drawn to her involvement borderlines a detective role. I also have to tie it down to the number of books I’ve read that only are from detective POV, so truth be told I am still learning about how Jessica's role is ever expanding. All in all it’s a great read from start to finish, I definitely know there’s some unfinished business and I’m already excited for the next book in this series.
The book centres around Jessica Russel is the new lead of MSCAN - the murder and serious crime analysis unit. Essentially for any serious murders/ bust up you call her up and her crew (which she hand selected) cover all crime forensic works. Her first case in this book involves a robbery and brutal assault of the husband of a prominent and infamously rightness barrister. As well as this we gain abit of insight into her personal life and struggles. For readers, just beware there is themes of SA and assault mentioned throughout the book (just be mindful).
It’s a great book from start to finish, I found reading this book literally took no time once you start you only want to finish the book to see how it all ends. It’s a great read, worth the time investment, excited for the next book in the series!
October 7, 2025
Audio version of this book 📕- normally love this author but just hated the main character! Was not likeable and thought rather a lot of herself so much that she ended up telling the Inspector on the case what to do ! Which had me rolling my eyes in places !! So DNF I’m afraid 😟
July 1, 2025
My Review –
I must extend my gratitude to Nicola Mander for kindly sending me a proof copy of The Scene Of The Crime. I was honoured to receive it and read it for review.
I am a massive fan of Lynda La Plante’s work, and I feel like I’ve been a fan of her all my adult life from watching Widows and Trial & Retribution, to reading all her novels, and they have all been 5-star reads… I’ve absolutely no idea how she does it, but Lynda is an utter legend in my opinion!
So when I saw the blurb for The Scene Of The Crime, I was really interested, and boy, when I started reading, I knew from the first page I would LOVE this new series!
We are introduced to CSI Jessica Russell, who is a fiery redhead, and the best the Metropolitan Police have. Not only is she a very experienced CSI, but she is also a degree holder in psychology and criminology, where she excelled. After a horrific attack on the husband of one of the country’s most well-known ( and feared ) barristers, Jessica is asked to head up a new unit – the Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit or MSCAN for short, which she accepts. She brings together a small team whom she trusts implicitly, and who bring even more skills to the table, and together they have their first investigation.
I loved The Scene Of The Crime, Jessica Russell’s character had the right amount of background story to really bring her to life, and the plot is absolutely sensational ( How Lynda comes up with these plots every time I will never know! ), this is a really unique police procedural as its told directly from the point of view of Jessica and the forensic teams side which you might think is going to be a bit dry and heavy? NO its not its SO intrestiiong and this book is an absolute book-banging page turner. I would say this is my PERFECT crime fiction book, because the descriptions of the forensics investigations and tests are written so well, it was so engaging to read a plot from this point of view, and I think, utterly unique. And the thing that stood out for me is Lynda’s knowledge of forensics and her attention to detail…I mean, how she writes it, making every little test seem so interesting, is simply amazing! It is a love story to the teams of CSIs and forensic technicians who work tirelessly in supporting the police to gain convictions.
The plot is twisty and complicated, and kept me guessing, and the whole book is really marvellous. I would say that this is Lynda’s best work to date, and I suspect that it will be applauded by her peers! It may even encourage the younger members of the population to pursue a career in forensics, who knows!
For me personally, I loved The Scene Of The Crime, it really blew me away and as Ive said, it was like my perfect crime fiction novel ( other authors take note!) – having come from a police background myself, its always a joy to read correct and realistic novels, and its clear that Lynda takes great care over her research.
A fantastic start to another new series, I am totally hooked on CSI Jessica Russell and her team and cannot wait to read book two! A 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star read.
I must extend my gratitude to Nicola Mander for kindly sending me a proof copy of The Scene Of The Crime. I was honoured to receive it and read it for review.
I am a massive fan of Lynda La Plante’s work, and I feel like I’ve been a fan of her all my adult life from watching Widows and Trial & Retribution, to reading all her novels, and they have all been 5-star reads… I’ve absolutely no idea how she does it, but Lynda is an utter legend in my opinion!
So when I saw the blurb for The Scene Of The Crime, I was really interested, and boy, when I started reading, I knew from the first page I would LOVE this new series!
We are introduced to CSI Jessica Russell, who is a fiery redhead, and the best the Metropolitan Police have. Not only is she a very experienced CSI, but she is also a degree holder in psychology and criminology, where she excelled. After a horrific attack on the husband of one of the country’s most well-known ( and feared ) barristers, Jessica is asked to head up a new unit – the Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit or MSCAN for short, which she accepts. She brings together a small team whom she trusts implicitly, and who bring even more skills to the table, and together they have their first investigation.
I loved The Scene Of The Crime, Jessica Russell’s character had the right amount of background story to really bring her to life, and the plot is absolutely sensational ( How Lynda comes up with these plots every time I will never know! ), this is a really unique police procedural as its told directly from the point of view of Jessica and the forensic teams side which you might think is going to be a bit dry and heavy? NO its not its SO intrestiiong and this book is an absolute book-banging page turner. I would say this is my PERFECT crime fiction book, because the descriptions of the forensics investigations and tests are written so well, it was so engaging to read a plot from this point of view, and I think, utterly unique. And the thing that stood out for me is Lynda’s knowledge of forensics and her attention to detail…I mean, how she writes it, making every little test seem so interesting, is simply amazing! It is a love story to the teams of CSIs and forensic technicians who work tirelessly in supporting the police to gain convictions.
The plot is twisty and complicated, and kept me guessing, and the whole book is really marvellous. I would say that this is Lynda’s best work to date, and I suspect that it will be applauded by her peers! It may even encourage the younger members of the population to pursue a career in forensics, who knows!
For me personally, I loved The Scene Of The Crime, it really blew me away and as Ive said, it was like my perfect crime fiction novel ( other authors take note!) – having come from a police background myself, its always a joy to read correct and realistic novels, and its clear that Lynda takes great care over her research.
A fantastic start to another new series, I am totally hooked on CSI Jessica Russell and her team and cannot wait to read book two! A 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️star read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2025
I hadn’t read a Lynda La Plante for a while and was excited because her early books I thoroughly enjoyed but this one I only got half way through. The characters are so sickly sweet and the dialogue incredibly superficial. There is no complexity to the characters and therefore felt like a complete fairy tale. The forensic aspect was clearly well researched and very detailed but quite monotonous and it was a bit of a drudge to get through. I didn’t care about the crime, victim or the reasons for the murder and this was at 50% through. It was making me angry to read it so I had to stop.
November 29, 2025
I was disappointed in this the first of a new series. I found the main character, Jessica, unlikable. She was very opinionated and thought a lot of herself. She was even telling the DCI in charge of the case what to do! The book was over long with far too much detail on the forensic side at the beginning so the story didn't really start until halfway into the book. Not sure I'll read the next one.
August 3, 2025
Audiobook review- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lynda La Plante is back with a brand new character and hopefully series. So interesting and LLP at her best.
Gemma Whelan is a wonderful narrator
Lynda La Plante is back with a brand new character and hopefully series. So interesting and LLP at her best.
Gemma Whelan is a wonderful narrator
Read
October 5, 2025DNF'd halfway through. Just really boring and not invested in characters or story.
September 12, 2025
Not as good as her other series, but that might be because I’m less interested in the forensic side of investigations. Also felt like a bit of an information dump at times. Easy read, but not as gripping as her other books.
August 28, 2025
I have always loved Linda La Plante books but I have to say this book I found to be really weak and dare I say unbelievable. It’s almost like the author couldn’t decide if Jessica was a scientist,detective ,admin wonder woman ….., the lines were blurred from the start and the characters were unrelatable . I don’t think I’ve read a book where all the characters remain distant anyway definitely a series I will not be following.
September 30, 2025
A mix of the old and the new in this book, I wonder sometimes whether Jessica Russell crosses the line between scene of crime investigator and detective? But, not being well versed in these things couldn’t possibly say a certain it just felt a bit outside the box sometimes! Love the budding relationship potential between her and Mike, and the relationship she has with her team Diane, guy and Stephen! Looking forward to more books in this series. I felt, the ending was a bit rushed, but nothing stopped me turning the pages, so glad I read this. Turning the pages isn’t quite true, because I listened to it on audible which brings me to the narrator absolutely excellent, and can’t wait to read more books or rather, listen to more books that she narrates.
October 23, 2025
Did not enjoy this book. I learnt a lot of police and forensics procedural stuff, but I felt the style of writing was laboured (eg dialogue was overdone and unconvincing) and the outcome disappointing and unsatisfying.
October 28, 2025
I could not finish this book. Terrible narrative writing and, to my amazement, multiple spelling errors! I felt like I was being gaslit the whole time. One of the strangest reading experiences I’ve ever had.
September 18, 2025
This has been a very different story for Lynda La Plante to write as a thriller, and she has introduced a new character in CSI Jessica Russell.
The plot of the book is that the husband of a prominent and famous barrister is found in horrific condition after a robbery and a brutal assault and is now in a coma. A major investigation is launched using the new formed and experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit .
The new unit is run by Jessica Russell, and experienced CSI specialising in criminology, psychology and behavioural analysis. A new team which has dealt with every kind of murder & major crime scene. - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis,, digital forensics and beyond.
Though I've enjoyed this novel at times, I have found that I felt like I need to go back to reread a couple of pages just to double check what I've read. The crime is quite complex because it is a brutal incident that happened to the main character Johan, however I feel that the story only concentrates on him more towards the end and it concentrates more on his wife Michelle who is a barrister who is pregnant and very close to giving birth . I have found her quite a hard character , not only in the way that she treats her husband after he wakes up from a coma and questions him to get the truth but also in the way she composing herself when she's dealing with the police officers and especially CSI Jessica Russell.. I feel like she's a step ahead of them at all times with her legal knowledge and lack of proof and I found that a little bit frustrating to be honest.
I like Jessica as a character, she's like a terrier who digs her teeth a bone , when she is trying to find out the truth and is so close to the answer but the charging of the wife Michelle for the murder of her husband is thrown out of court later on for no proof and that makes you like want to dislike Michelle's character even more.
I think also that having DCI John Anderson as the Senior Investigating officer on the Barking Homicide team has also been restrictive as he challenges Jessica's authority since he was on the interview panel and in her new role as leader of the unit. This added a suspenseful working environment which added so much to the story.
I liked the behavioural science and the use of a forensic scientist & fingerprint expert as part of the team . I find that side of the forensic science in the novel ythat the author had researched it well.
I also liked the return of a previous character Anna Travis from the Trial & Retribution series. There was a nice familiarity to those sections of the story and helped the main character grow confidence in her new role.
The ending of the story surprised me , though it felt a little rushed as the wife Michelle got released with a ruling of no evidence worth prosecution.
I would like her to continue the new series of novels and we learn more about jrsdica and her team professionally and privately
The plot of the book is that the husband of a prominent and famous barrister is found in horrific condition after a robbery and a brutal assault and is now in a coma. A major investigation is launched using the new formed and experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit .
The new unit is run by Jessica Russell, and experienced CSI specialising in criminology, psychology and behavioural analysis. A new team which has dealt with every kind of murder & major crime scene. - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis,, digital forensics and beyond.
Though I've enjoyed this novel at times, I have found that I felt like I need to go back to reread a couple of pages just to double check what I've read. The crime is quite complex because it is a brutal incident that happened to the main character Johan, however I feel that the story only concentrates on him more towards the end and it concentrates more on his wife Michelle who is a barrister who is pregnant and very close to giving birth . I have found her quite a hard character , not only in the way that she treats her husband after he wakes up from a coma and questions him to get the truth but also in the way she composing herself when she's dealing with the police officers and especially CSI Jessica Russell.. I feel like she's a step ahead of them at all times with her legal knowledge and lack of proof and I found that a little bit frustrating to be honest.
I like Jessica as a character, she's like a terrier who digs her teeth a bone , when she is trying to find out the truth and is so close to the answer but the charging of the wife Michelle for the murder of her husband is thrown out of court later on for no proof and that makes you like want to dislike Michelle's character even more.
I think also that having DCI John Anderson as the Senior Investigating officer on the Barking Homicide team has also been restrictive as he challenges Jessica's authority since he was on the interview panel and in her new role as leader of the unit. This added a suspenseful working environment which added so much to the story.
I liked the behavioural science and the use of a forensic scientist & fingerprint expert as part of the team . I find that side of the forensic science in the novel ythat the author had researched it well.
I also liked the return of a previous character Anna Travis from the Trial & Retribution series. There was a nice familiarity to those sections of the story and helped the main character grow confidence in her new role.
The ending of the story surprised me , though it felt a little rushed as the wife Michelle got released with a ruling of no evidence worth prosecution.
I would like her to continue the new series of novels and we learn more about jrsdica and her team professionally and privately
September 7, 2025
I have read both the Jack Warr and Tennison series so when I heard that Lynda La Plante was starting a new series featuring CSI Jessica Russell I couldn’t wait to get my hands the book. We first meet Jessica as she is about to attend an interview to be the team leader of a newly formed Murder and Serious Crime Analysis Team (MSCAN). It’s clear from the start that one of the senior officers conducting the interview is neither a fan of this new initiative nor of Jessica herself, so when she finds that he is the lead detective on her first case she knows she is not going to be in for an easy ride. Thankfully her new team and one of the other detectives have her back and are very much on board with making this a success.
The team certainly have their work cut out for them with their first case, especially as the victim is the husband of a very well-known barrister and she wants answers as to who could do such a thing and why. As they dig deeper into the forensic evidence and potential suspects are identified, Jessica must deal with her past and a connection to one of the detectives that she had buried deep in her memories that could throw the investigation up in the air.
This is quite a long book but thanks to the pacing and the twists and turns of the investigation. There is quite a lot of detail in the book regarding the forensics and how things work but its not overpowering in any way, it only enhances the investigation and its quite a nice change to see things from the perspective of the CSI team as the part they play in any case is usually brushed over.
As with all new series you have to work at the connection with the main characters so the glimpse into Jessica’s past whilst it doesn’t dominate the story, does go some way to help the reader understand some of her traits that even she acknowledges can be a bit hard to get past. What is clear though is that she has a good connection with her team and they are good at what they do, sometimes going above and beyond to get the results needed. Even the addition to the close group does not upset the dynamic and I am looking forward to getting to know them all better over time.
Whilst I liked Jessica and her team I will admit I was not so keen on the victim and his wife, whilst I should have been sympathetic to their situation there was just something that grated on me about them right from the start. Even though you kind of expect the ending that you get, and I know that every investigation does not end up with the result the police would necessarily want I was left feeling that it couldn’t be the end. That being said I am looking forward to what comes next for Jessica Russell as I am sure there will be more challenges heading her way.
The team certainly have their work cut out for them with their first case, especially as the victim is the husband of a very well-known barrister and she wants answers as to who could do such a thing and why. As they dig deeper into the forensic evidence and potential suspects are identified, Jessica must deal with her past and a connection to one of the detectives that she had buried deep in her memories that could throw the investigation up in the air.
This is quite a long book but thanks to the pacing and the twists and turns of the investigation. There is quite a lot of detail in the book regarding the forensics and how things work but its not overpowering in any way, it only enhances the investigation and its quite a nice change to see things from the perspective of the CSI team as the part they play in any case is usually brushed over.
As with all new series you have to work at the connection with the main characters so the glimpse into Jessica’s past whilst it doesn’t dominate the story, does go some way to help the reader understand some of her traits that even she acknowledges can be a bit hard to get past. What is clear though is that she has a good connection with her team and they are good at what they do, sometimes going above and beyond to get the results needed. Even the addition to the close group does not upset the dynamic and I am looking forward to getting to know them all better over time.
Whilst I liked Jessica and her team I will admit I was not so keen on the victim and his wife, whilst I should have been sympathetic to their situation there was just something that grated on me about them right from the start. Even though you kind of expect the ending that you get, and I know that every investigation does not end up with the result the police would necessarily want I was left feeling that it couldn’t be the end. That being said I am looking forward to what comes next for Jessica Russell as I am sure there will be more challenges heading her way.
July 27, 2025
The husband of a prominent & infamously ruthless barrister is found in horrific condition after a robbery & brutal assault. Now in a coma, a major investigation is launched using the newly formed, experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit. Jessica Russell is an experienced CSI with degrees in psychology & criminology bur Jessica's first job as team leader of MSCAN is entirely new to her: to bring together a team of three trusted officers. Between them, the team has dealt with every kind of murder & major crime scene - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis, digital forensics & beyond. Now they must piece together the complex puzzle at the heart of this brutal crime. If it was a robbery gone horrifically wrong, what was so important to have been stolen?
I am ashamed to say that this is the first book I’ve read by Lynda La Plante, despite being a fan of the Prime Suspect series. After this book it is safe to say I will have a lot to catch up on!
This book was just brilliant, it had me gripped throughout and I was completely enthralled by all the expertise that were brought to the table to solve the crime. As the first in a new series the scene was set by the introductions of all major players, an instant reader connection formed with Jessica especially. The group’s bond is already forming and the insights into their personal lives, adjacent to the job, delves into further secret that will evolve as the series progresses further.
I absolutely loved the writing style of this author, all of the technical and forensic terminology explained in layman’s terms where necessary, embedded within character discussion, made this a very clever, and informative read I thoroughly enjoyed.
I can definitely foresee this being a very successful series, I for one am already counting down to see what happens next.
I am ashamed to say that this is the first book I’ve read by Lynda La Plante, despite being a fan of the Prime Suspect series. After this book it is safe to say I will have a lot to catch up on!
This book was just brilliant, it had me gripped throughout and I was completely enthralled by all the expertise that were brought to the table to solve the crime. As the first in a new series the scene was set by the introductions of all major players, an instant reader connection formed with Jessica especially. The group’s bond is already forming and the insights into their personal lives, adjacent to the job, delves into further secret that will evolve as the series progresses further.
I absolutely loved the writing style of this author, all of the technical and forensic terminology explained in layman’s terms where necessary, embedded within character discussion, made this a very clever, and informative read I thoroughly enjoyed.
I can definitely foresee this being a very successful series, I for one am already counting down to see what happens next.
July 30, 2025
4.5 stars
I’ll say it quietly, but I’ve never read anything by Lynda La Plante before but boy do I know now what I’ve been missing. The Scene of the Crime is amazing and a great introduction to her writing. It’s fast-paced and gripping and this new series featuring CSI Jessica Russell is off to a great start.
The investigation is an interesting one - so many characters potentially involved, the team have their work cut out for sure. The forensic investigations are fascinating and
I really enjoyed seeing the team come together and work with the detectives on the case. Detailed but not over technical, Lynda La Plante gets the balance between needing to know and overdoing it just right and the technical know how of the characters is brilliant.
The flow of the story interspersed with the technical events worked brilliantly and I was unsure of who was involved til the very end.
Jessica’s backstory added such a lot to her character and I look forward to hearing more of her story in future instalments of the series.
I’ll say it quietly, but I’ve never read anything by Lynda La Plante before but boy do I know now what I’ve been missing. The Scene of the Crime is amazing and a great introduction to her writing. It’s fast-paced and gripping and this new series featuring CSI Jessica Russell is off to a great start.
The investigation is an interesting one - so many characters potentially involved, the team have their work cut out for sure. The forensic investigations are fascinating and
I really enjoyed seeing the team come together and work with the detectives on the case. Detailed but not over technical, Lynda La Plante gets the balance between needing to know and overdoing it just right and the technical know how of the characters is brilliant.
The flow of the story interspersed with the technical events worked brilliantly and I was unsure of who was involved til the very end.
Jessica’s backstory added such a lot to her character and I look forward to hearing more of her story in future instalments of the series.
August 9, 2025
I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys crime fiction with depth and detail.
This first book in a new forensic crime series is a chunky read at just under 500 pages. The story is really interesting with many layers. There is incredible detail around the forensic science aspects of police work and clearly an incredible amount of research has been undertaken for this book. I found it really interesting, insightful and learned a lot!
There are quite a lot of characters in here and given the amount of detail around crime scene and analysis, you do have to pay attention to what is described. The main character is likeable but also complex. I found it really interesting that aspects of psychology are also brought in and how this is woven into solving crimes.
It’s maybe a little dry in parts and some of the conversations felt overly formal, however I really enjoyed this one this book and there is much to love about it. I’m looking forward to the next instalment and would have highly recommend.
This first book in a new forensic crime series is a chunky read at just under 500 pages. The story is really interesting with many layers. There is incredible detail around the forensic science aspects of police work and clearly an incredible amount of research has been undertaken for this book. I found it really interesting, insightful and learned a lot!
There are quite a lot of characters in here and given the amount of detail around crime scene and analysis, you do have to pay attention to what is described. The main character is likeable but also complex. I found it really interesting that aspects of psychology are also brought in and how this is woven into solving crimes.
It’s maybe a little dry in parts and some of the conversations felt overly formal, however I really enjoyed this one this book and there is much to love about it. I’m looking forward to the next instalment and would have highly recommend.
October 6, 2025
This is the first book in a new crime series for 2025 from Lynda La Plante.
The husband of a prominent and infamously ruthless barrister is found in a horrific condition after a robbery and brutal assault. Now in a coma, a major investigation is launched using the newly formed, experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit (MSCAN).
Jessica Russell is an experienced CSI with degrees in psychology and criminology with an exceptional masters in Investigative psychology and behaviour analysis. But Jessica's first job as a team leader of MSCAN is entirely new to her: to bring together a team of three trusted officers.
Between them, the team has dealt with every kind of murder and crime scene - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis, digital forensics and beyond.
Now they must piece together the complex puzzle at the heart of this brutal crime. If it was a robbery gone horrifically wrong, what was so important to have been stolen?
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The husband of a prominent and infamously ruthless barrister is found in a horrific condition after a robbery and brutal assault. Now in a coma, a major investigation is launched using the newly formed, experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit (MSCAN).
Jessica Russell is an experienced CSI with degrees in psychology and criminology with an exceptional masters in Investigative psychology and behaviour analysis. But Jessica's first job as a team leader of MSCAN is entirely new to her: to bring together a team of three trusted officers.
Between them, the team has dealt with every kind of murder and crime scene - their expertise ranges from forensic DNA to blood splatter analysis, digital forensics and beyond.
Now they must piece together the complex puzzle at the heart of this brutal crime. If it was a robbery gone horrifically wrong, what was so important to have been stolen?
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January 2, 2026
I usually like anything I’ve read from Lynda La Plante but this was disappointing. I felt a disconnect from the new lead character Jessica Russell-for her first introduction, it felt formulaic in terms of setting out some background to her, and she lacks any depth or qualities that would have you invested in seeing her story or character progress. The storyline was a bit far-fetched and I felt there was too much artistic licence in the role Jessica was permitted to play in it all.
What annoyed me even more was the proliferation of errors that ought to have been rooted out by a proof reader in advance-so many basic mistakes of naming the wrong character in an exchange of dialogue, or a word missing or extra in sentences. It’s not something that I usually get exercised about-I know a couple can always slip through the net and my mind will correct it while I’m reading and move on….but these were too frequent and glaring, and really jarred when reading this.
What annoyed me even more was the proliferation of errors that ought to have been rooted out by a proof reader in advance-so many basic mistakes of naming the wrong character in an exchange of dialogue, or a word missing or extra in sentences. It’s not something that I usually get exercised about-I know a couple can always slip through the net and my mind will correct it while I’m reading and move on….but these were too frequent and glaring, and really jarred when reading this.
August 21, 2025
Experimental Metropolitan Police Serious Crime Analysis Unit, is the scene for La Plant to introduce us to a new ongoing character in Jessica Russell. A tenacious and smart lead who excels at piecing together complex crime scenes.
This was a very intriguing and detailed story that allows La Plante to excel, creating insightful and meaningful connections between crime and the real world, establishing absorbing and complex characters.
It does struggle with some of the traits of new series, there’s a lot of ground to cover and as a result the ending felt very rushed, I think it needed a couple of extra chapters to do justice to what had been a fascinating story up to that point.
Probably closer to a 5 than a 4 and really wish we could do half marks but as such I’d rather round down than up!
This was a very intriguing and detailed story that allows La Plante to excel, creating insightful and meaningful connections between crime and the real world, establishing absorbing and complex characters.
It does struggle with some of the traits of new series, there’s a lot of ground to cover and as a result the ending felt very rushed, I think it needed a couple of extra chapters to do justice to what had been a fascinating story up to that point.
Probably closer to a 5 than a 4 and really wish we could do half marks but as such I’d rather round down than up!
September 21, 2025
We all know of Lynda La Plante through TV series and her books, and she usually writes a rollicking good book. However, this one is different. But it's just what it says it is. This is not a detective or crime book, the main character is an experienced CSI specialising in criminology, psychology and behavioural analysis. It is a deep dive into forensics and their place in solving crimes.
It's not a gripping thriller but a slow uncovering of the crime scene and how politics in the force can slow down an investigation. If you don't want to learn about forensics and get a taste for how the force really works, go read one of her other books. This is not a thriller, it is a new form of crime series. It feels like a book which reveals the depth of research that Lynda La Plant does before every book.
It's not a gripping thriller but a slow uncovering of the crime scene and how politics in the force can slow down an investigation. If you don't want to learn about forensics and get a taste for how the force really works, go read one of her other books. This is not a thriller, it is a new form of crime series. It feels like a book which reveals the depth of research that Lynda La Plant does before every book.
September 5, 2025
Despite her extensive library of works, this is actually the first Lynda La Plante book I have read. And it is excellent !
Detailed police procedurals are a genre I love and we have a new character - CSI Jessica Russell - employed in a new division of the force. The MSCAN team - Murder and Serious Crime Analysis - are engaged to work alongside the detective team, with the latest forensic equipment, in order to improve success of catching the guilty.
A detailed case that starts with the attack of a wine importer, the forensic team find links to other individuals and the case spins off into a far wider universe.
You feel like you're looking over the shoulder of Jessica and her team throughout the entire investigation. Excellent plot and a riveting read.
Detailed police procedurals are a genre I love and we have a new character - CSI Jessica Russell - employed in a new division of the force. The MSCAN team - Murder and Serious Crime Analysis - are engaged to work alongside the detective team, with the latest forensic equipment, in order to improve success of catching the guilty.
A detailed case that starts with the attack of a wine importer, the forensic team find links to other individuals and the case spins off into a far wider universe.
You feel like you're looking over the shoulder of Jessica and her team throughout the entire investigation. Excellent plot and a riveting read.
December 4, 2025
Fantastic new female CSI protagonist from La Plante!
Positives: outstanding plot weaving and characterisation. There were enough characters to keep me thoroughly engaged, but not so many I needed to go back. The crime/s are true to the authors usual style, as is her expert knowledge/research. A true master police procedural novel and I cannot wait for Book Two.
Negatives: the need to wait for Book Two :) I really wanted a more satisfying ending, but can see the value in terms of development of the series. The only other issue I had was the length. Again, to pack in the detail and depth it is somewhat required.
Having said goodbye to Jane Tennison, I am very excited to say hello to Jessica Russell.
Positives: outstanding plot weaving and characterisation. There were enough characters to keep me thoroughly engaged, but not so many I needed to go back. The crime/s are true to the authors usual style, as is her expert knowledge/research. A true master police procedural novel and I cannot wait for Book Two.
Negatives: the need to wait for Book Two :) I really wanted a more satisfying ending, but can see the value in terms of development of the series. The only other issue I had was the length. Again, to pack in the detail and depth it is somewhat required.
Having said goodbye to Jane Tennison, I am very excited to say hello to Jessica Russell.
January 9, 2026
I had to put this away. The main protagonist is meant to be educated in behavioural sciences and psychology. She then refers to ADHD as a condition in a suspect, as a result of head trauma experienced from child abuse. She pities the suspect, who had also sexually assaulted her, and so decides to drop the rape charges, as he couldn’t really help himself. Then, later on in the text, ADHD ‘sufferers’ are characterised as impulsive, obsessive thinkers who often fall into criminality because of these deficiencies. The book casually passes these prejudiced falsehoods! as expert analysis by a CSI specialist. I’m genuinely shocked that this is was written by an author as respected as La Plante, in 2025…
July 31, 2025
There is a reason why Lynda la Plante is one of the greatest crime writers, always guaranteed a compellingly gritty read which always hits home
An author that always deliver, deep, thoughtful and incisive crime novels, here we have the start of a new series featuring CSI Jessica Russell and if this book is anything to go by it is going to be one highly entertaining and engaging series.
Right of the bat I was drawn straight in to the story, twhat followed was a joy to read. The way the story started and how that then unfolds into the character development shows how the little details unfold into the bigger picture. The attention to detail within this book is one of its many strengths
For me this was a read which took you to the heart of the police investigation, it takes you through the finer details of the investigation and the work of the CSIs however, it does so in such and engaging way that you feel as though you are following each step of the process, it has such a strong sense and feeling of reading as the investigation happens in real time, that ability not to bog the reader down in technical details but given that sense of realism shows why Lynda la Plante is one of the foremost crime writers. I love that sense of interaction you get between the police and the CSIs ultimatey all working towards one goal.
The book is teeming with characters who shout out at you on the page, down to earth richly drawn out, Jessica Russell come across as a strongly independant person but one who knows the value of team work and how to get the best out of her team, throughout the book you get a sense of a sea change with certain of the characters, it was an interesting dynamic to see how the desire to see justice brought to bear played out in the characters none more so than in DCI Anderson.
This is a read which is packed full of heart and human emotion especially between Jessica and her brother, it added a wonderful side story one which you feel there is more to explore if future books
The plotting of the book is meticoulous, deeply layered it allowed the invesigation to take different turns, which kept me second guessing myself. its like reading a slice of every day life
The narrative is crisp, the way the author kept things moving, it is a read not without its moments of pure tension and suspense. The way that the author creates that intense level of realism throughout the book
As the book builds up the suspense and tension, and as the truth slowly starts to unfold, again it shows the authors skill in drawing each strand out whilst leaving you still working things out, the way the book subtly twists and turns
The ending is quite interesting, not one I was wholly expecting but it shows how not everything has to have an overiding conclusion, there are deep and clever minds at play
From first to last you get a deeply compelling and engaging read, a book which I found hard to put down, there is a delicious ark news to the crimes which added to atmosphere
This will definetly be one of the standout reads of the year, cannot recomend highly enough
An author that always deliver, deep, thoughtful and incisive crime novels, here we have the start of a new series featuring CSI Jessica Russell and if this book is anything to go by it is going to be one highly entertaining and engaging series.
Right of the bat I was drawn straight in to the story, twhat followed was a joy to read. The way the story started and how that then unfolds into the character development shows how the little details unfold into the bigger picture. The attention to detail within this book is one of its many strengths
For me this was a read which took you to the heart of the police investigation, it takes you through the finer details of the investigation and the work of the CSIs however, it does so in such and engaging way that you feel as though you are following each step of the process, it has such a strong sense and feeling of reading as the investigation happens in real time, that ability not to bog the reader down in technical details but given that sense of realism shows why Lynda la Plante is one of the foremost crime writers. I love that sense of interaction you get between the police and the CSIs ultimatey all working towards one goal.
The book is teeming with characters who shout out at you on the page, down to earth richly drawn out, Jessica Russell come across as a strongly independant person but one who knows the value of team work and how to get the best out of her team, throughout the book you get a sense of a sea change with certain of the characters, it was an interesting dynamic to see how the desire to see justice brought to bear played out in the characters none more so than in DCI Anderson.
This is a read which is packed full of heart and human emotion especially between Jessica and her brother, it added a wonderful side story one which you feel there is more to explore if future books
The plotting of the book is meticoulous, deeply layered it allowed the invesigation to take different turns, which kept me second guessing myself. its like reading a slice of every day life
The narrative is crisp, the way the author kept things moving, it is a read not without its moments of pure tension and suspense. The way that the author creates that intense level of realism throughout the book
As the book builds up the suspense and tension, and as the truth slowly starts to unfold, again it shows the authors skill in drawing each strand out whilst leaving you still working things out, the way the book subtly twists and turns
The ending is quite interesting, not one I was wholly expecting but it shows how not everything has to have an overiding conclusion, there are deep and clever minds at play
From first to last you get a deeply compelling and engaging read, a book which I found hard to put down, there is a delicious ark news to the crimes which added to atmosphere
This will definetly be one of the standout reads of the year, cannot recomend highly enough
August 15, 2025
Finished - I absolutely loved this !! I generally love anything by Lynda la plante but this was the start of a new series she’s doing. It’s all about a newly formed part of the CSI group. The main character is very likeable and it’s very well written. There’s a lot of technical jargon but it’s all very explained and it works. The relationships forming between the CSI group and the police department is great to follow and I can’t wait to see where it goes next. There’s also a mention to a character from another series she written ( Anna travis ) which was a great touch. I love the connection between the novels. Can’t wait for the next !
September 28, 2025
An enjoyable start to hopefully a new series.
I thought Jessica was an interesting character and it was a bit different that she was a CSI and not a police officer. The MSCAN team and their police colleagues made a group of interesting characters, each bringing their individual quirks to the story. I liked how we didn't get things just from Jessica's point of view, we got it from other team members, police and the criminals.
I loved all the twists and turns as the investigation unravelled.
I also liked the sub plot with Jessica's homelife and her brother.
looking forward to the next book in the series, highly recommended reading.
I thought Jessica was an interesting character and it was a bit different that she was a CSI and not a police officer. The MSCAN team and their police colleagues made a group of interesting characters, each bringing their individual quirks to the story. I liked how we didn't get things just from Jessica's point of view, we got it from other team members, police and the criminals.
I loved all the twists and turns as the investigation unravelled.
I also liked the sub plot with Jessica's homelife and her brother.
looking forward to the next book in the series, highly recommended reading.
October 1, 2025
Another great read from Lynda la Plante. The first in a new series focused on Jessica Russell a forensics expert. Also nice having a cameo from la Plante's Anna Travis character. Travis's novel series is what first introduced me to la Plante and was disappointed when she stopped the series a decade ago.
Nice breezy read. some good news characters and relationships being established.
Novel features a Barrister whose husband is attacked in his home in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong. But things get more interesting and complicated as you would expect from la Plante.
la Plante fans will love this new novel and series. Looking forward to the next one!
Nice breezy read. some good news characters and relationships being established.
Novel features a Barrister whose husband is attacked in his home in what appears to be a robbery gone wrong. But things get more interesting and complicated as you would expect from la Plante.
la Plante fans will love this new novel and series. Looking forward to the next one!
October 25, 2025
I’ve never read anything of Lynda LaPlante before, but being a massive fan of the CSI franchise and having an interest in criminology and forensics, I thought I would give it a go!
And I throughly enjoyed it! I was gripped from the beginning, and as it really delved into the criminal investigation I was hooked! It’s obvious that a lot of research has gone into the book and writing as everything, even the more complex aspects of forensics was described authentically. I would have liked to have had more emphasis of the behavioural profiling aspect of MSCAN to be included - hopefully there will be in future books in the series!
And I throughly enjoyed it! I was gripped from the beginning, and as it really delved into the criminal investigation I was hooked! It’s obvious that a lot of research has gone into the book and writing as everything, even the more complex aspects of forensics was described authentically. I would have liked to have had more emphasis of the behavioural profiling aspect of MSCAN to be included - hopefully there will be in future books in the series!
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