The Last Ride: A tense and atmospheric crime thriller

Detective Jan Talantire #2

by Nick Louth

What happened to the missing victim? On a midsummer’s night, a stolen car packed with teenagers crashes at high speed on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. DI Jan Talantire arrives at the scene to find the victims of the crash.

It appears to be a tragic accident until a worried mother turns up at the scene of the accident. Her daughter, Jade, a friend of the joyriders, hasn’t been seen since the previous night. The account dovetails with the statement of the householder who claimed to see a girl running near the crashed vehicle the moment he emerged.

Was Jade in the car with her friends when it crashed, and if she was, why did she flee? And where is she now?

A tense and gripping detective novel. Perfect for fans of Elly Griffiths and Sally Rigby

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, British Literature, Procedural, Thriller

336 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2024

About the author

Nick Louth is a freelance journalist and author, based in Lincolnshire UK.

Before beginning writing fiction, he was a foreign correspondent for Reuters news agency, and a regular contributor to the Financial Times, MSN, and many financial magazines.

Reviews

[Nancy Yager · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Last Ride" by Nick Louth is a gripping thriller telling the story of a joyride taken by teenagers. Jan Talantire happens to be in the vicinity of the car wreck and becomes the lead investigator.
During the investigation, parents report their daughter Jade is missing. Jade is friends with some of the teens in the accident. The chase is on for Jan who must find Jade because she has diabetes and cannot go without insulin for more than a day. This part of the storyline was exciting and kept me engaged.

Unfortunately, the storyline fell flat after Jade was found. The investigation became a series of unending characters whose personal lives seemed irrelevant to the case. Too much information.

Jan and her team used social media postings by the teens and DNA evidence to solve the case. All in a matter of days. Money was no object. Suspects civil rights not considered. All the women on the team were stellar and the men were stupid or sexual harassers.

If you are just an average mystery lover, this book is not for you. Young adults may find this book more interesting.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Ride is the second book in the DI Jan Talantire series, following up the brilliant “Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle” with another meticulously plotted mystery. I beta read this for the author back in April, then got the final ARC version from NetGalley - it’s deeply satisfying to both find my name in the credits and see the changes that I and the other betas had suggested put in place. This works fine as a standalone and there are no spoilers for the previous book either.

Devon & Cornwall detective Jan Talantire finds herself first on scene at a horrific car crash, where a group of teenage joyriders have lost control of a stolen Mercedes on a remote stretch of road along Bodmin moor. Then Jade, a friend of the accident victims, is reported missing by her worried mother and Jan cannot see how she could’ve walked away unhurt and just disappeared - or did she?

One of my favourite things about this author’s crime fiction is that the Why is usually more important than the Who - the crimes committed are for reasons that make sense at the reveal, rather than just featuring crazy serial killers. I enjoyed this even more the second time round, knowing who the guilty party was and seeing how clever the misdirection is. I really like Jan and her team, and there is an intriguing subplot about Jan’s past relationship with her predatory Commanding Officer which is set to play out over the next couple of books. I have a high bar for thrillers but this gets an easy 5 stars from me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for the advance review copy. The Last Ride is published on November 7th.

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Jan Talantire and her team are back investigating a case of a missing teen.

Jan is on leave when she hears of a nearby crash. She arrives to find an elderly man administering aid to one teen, and the rest in an overturned car, crashed next to the old man's home.

When the man is questioned about what he knows, he tells of the horrific noise of the crash, then the sight of a girl running away from the sight. He believed she possibly escaped from the crashed car.

When word gets out of the accident, worried parents turn up, wondering if it was one of their children crashed after a high speed jaunt on country roads. One of the parents tells Jan that her daughter Jade is missing, and needs medication for her epilepsy. Jan, thinking this is the girl the elderly man saw leaving the scene, asks her superior Wells to initiate the search. Wells thinks this is just a teen being a teen, and says to wait till the next day to begin the search if she hasn't turned up yet.

Frustrated with the lack of immediate police response, the girl's mother ropes in friends and neighbours from the hard luck neighbourhood she, her daughter and the injured teens and their families all live in, and begins posting on social media for help. Jan is frustrated, as she has a sense that it's critical they start the search immediately, but there is already a lot to do just tracking down all the information they need about the badly injured teens and the stolen car they were in.

Once Jan is finally in the clear to bring a police presence to the missing girl's case, she's told a former detective she used to work with will be heading up the investigation, which worries Jan immensely considering his tendency to manage people badly, and sleep with the women under his command, as had happened with Jan years earlier.

The case is twisty, and Jan and her team, particularly Primrose, go to terrific lengths to find the girl, then once she's discovered murdered, to find the killer. This leads Jan back to the owners of the stolen car, as well as back to the neighbourhood all the kids come from, all while working on little to no sleep and undercut by the lead detective on the case.

I could not put this book down once I started it. With the opening, horrific scene of the crash, to the mounting tension to find the missing Jade, then her killer, this book never let up its tension.

Jan is a protagonist I enjoy following; she's empathetic, driven, and respectful of the people who work on her team.

I liked how author Nick Louth dealt with themes of poverty and trauma by setting so many of his characters' lives in a neighbourhood suffering drug addiction, crime, abuse, and fractured families. All this, and the pacing was relentless.

I really enjoyed my second Jan Talantire story and second book by this author. "The Last Ride" is an excellent police procedural thriller, and I sure hope to see more Jan Talantire.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Canelo for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Rachel Marshall · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious detail

[Jackthedad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.

This was my first book by Nick Louth and I enjoyed it very much. It's a police procedure with down-to-earth likeable characters. What sets it apart from others in the genre is the more detailed analysis of the forensics. This is a good satisfying read. Now, where are Nick Louth's other books?

[J Kromrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Sent by Copilot:

The Last Ride by Nick Louth is a tense and atmospheric crime thriller that grips readers from the first page. Set against the haunting backdrop of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, this novel is the second in the Detective Jan Talantire series, following the success of “The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle.”

The story kicks off with a catastrophic car crash involving a group of teenage joyriders in a stolen Mercedes. DI Jan Talantire arrives at the scene to find a tragic accident, but the mystery deepens when a worried mother reports her daughter, Jade, missing. Jade was last seen with the joyriders, but her whereabouts remain unknown. As Talantire delves into the investigation, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that challenge her detective skills and her resolve.

Louth’s writing is compelling and evocative, capturing the eerie beauty of the moor and the tension that permeates the small town. The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing until the very end. One of the novel’s strengths is its focus on the “why” rather than just the “who,” exploring the motivations behind the crimes in a way that adds depth to the narrative.

DI Jan Talantire is a well-developed protagonist, whose determination and empathy make her a relatable and engaging character. I can't wait to read more of her adventures. Her interactions with her team and the townspeople add layers to the story, revealing the complexities of small-town dynamics and the personal stakes involved in the investigation.

The novel also touches on themes of justice, redemption, and the impact of past traumas, making it more than just a straightforward crime thriller. Louth’s ability to weave these elements into the story without slowing down the pace is impressive, ensuring that readers are entertained and moved.

The Last Ride is a standout addition to the crime thriller genre. Nick Louth’s masterful storytelling and keen eye for detail make this a must-read for fans of detective fiction. Whether you’re new to the series or a returning reader, this novel delivers a thrilling and satisfying experience.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Ride by Nick Louth is a highly recommended procedural and the second book in the DI Jan Talantire series set in Devon and Cornwall.

A stolen Mercedes packed with teenagers crashes at high speed on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. An elderly WWII veteran lives by the crash, reports it, and manages to pull one of the teens out of the wreckage. DI Jan Talantire happens to be nearby and is the first responder to arrive at the scene to see the crash and assess the victims. Soon others arrive and begin the task of trying to save the surviving teens in the wreckage.

While Talantire begins to look at the tire marks and the trajectory of the crash, a worried mother turns up at the scene of the accident. Her daughter, Jade, a friend of the joyriders, hasn’t been seen since the previous night. The elderly man said he briefly saw a glimpse of a girl running away from the crash when he came out of the house. Could this be more than a case of irresponsible teens?

This detailed, even-paced atmospheric mystery is a meticulously plotted procedural. The team work well together uncovering clues and information while carefully collecting forensic evidence to discover what happened. The pace and tension do pick up significantly as the novel heads toward the surprising final denouement.

DI Jan Talantire is a fully-realized, engaging character with depth and a personality. She works well with others and is not afraid to stand up for herself with a predatory superior. This is the second book in the series and although it seemed to work as a standalone, it might have been better to start with book one before this. It did feel like I was maybe missing some backstory, although there is a great deal of character development here.

Those who like detailed-oriented procedurals will enjoy The Last Ride. Thanks to Canelo Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
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[Andy Loftus · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Ride by Nick Louth is #2 in the DI Jan Talantire series and builds strongly on the first outing of his new character based in and around Devon & Cornwall.

The story starts with the scene of a traumatic car accident, where a stolen vehicle driven by a group of teens crashes spectacularly into a property, with the severely damaged vehicle landing upon its roof, badly crushed with a number of injured friends unconscious within.

The story unravels as DI Talantire is first on the scene and acts as crisis manager leading the team of first responders, including paramedics, fire services and local police to save the lives of those injured, whilst working to try and preserve evidence of what will surely be a scene were lives were lost.

When a distraught mother arrives at the scene, whose daughter Jade is missing and who is a friend of the joyriders, does it become clear that this is also now a missing persons case. Could Jade have been a passenger if the vehicle somehow miraculously fee of injury? Why has she fled the scene? Why hasn't she made her family aware of where she is?

The author has a clear knowledge of policing techniques involving road traffic accidents and the data collection available from modern vehicles and also mobile phones, but this isn't a dry police procedural story by any sense. The first half of the book reads like the script of television drama covering a traumatic scene of major incident management and the resulting forensic investigations. Then, once the evidence and data procured begin to produce leads for the investigation team to follow, the story becomes a more traditional whodunnit thriller with multiple creative twists and turns.

Overall, a surprisingly chilling account of the aftermath of the foolishness of youth and a cracking good story at the same time. Talantire is developing well as a character whose tenacity and quick-wittedness will surely provide further opportunities for this series to develop in the future. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me, and #3 of the series which is to be released later in 2025 is on the Wish List already!

[Robyn Balmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore Nick Louth’s books as he is a fantastic author. Because I loved them so much, I purchased all the books about DCI Craig Gillard’s “Death” series. His new hero, DI Jan Talantire, didn’t impress me much in the first book in the series, “The Two Deaths of Ruth Lyle”, but the second in the series, “The Last Ride” changed my mind. I loved this book, and it reflected Nick Louth’s extraordinary writing talents.
The story relates to a massive car crash that destroyed the lives of young teenagers, who had stolen a Mercedes and were joyriding. One teenager was dead, others were badly injured, and one teenager, Jade, was declared missing by her parents. Jan and her team must find the whereabouts of Jade and whether she was involved with the stolen car before her disappearance. The team pull together, brilliantly, to discover all the forensic evidence regarding phone calls, car movements and methods of hiding clues by the villain. The team members were DS Moran, DC Nuttall and Primrose Chen.
An addition to the story was the relationship with her commanding officer, Commander Brent West, who had bad sexual relations with her in the past, frequently slept with women under his command, and was appalling at managing people.
It was difficult to put this book down, as the tension was relenting. I would recommend this author and all his books if you like police mysteries and procedures. This book is the second in a series, but it is a standalone.

[Jamie Garwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having followed writers from up and down this land ranging from St. Andrews, Scotland to Manchester to the abundance of London set novels, this reader has now had the luxury of reading a new novel set in the vast countryside of Cornwall in the a new thriller by Nick Louth

The second in the Jan Talantire novel - this is a new sort of twist on the thriller. Having read female protagonists by female writers and male protagonists by male writers, here is a female protagonist by a male writer.

The story revolves around a joyriding incident that goes horribly wrong culminating in a chase and a crash that leads to a fatality and critical injuries to other youngsters in the car. Talantire comes in on the night shift and starts the investigation that much like the winding road on which the accident occurred, there are many twists you cannot see coming

As with other Canelo Crime strand releases, there is a plethora of obstacles for Talantire to overcome and most are the office politics at play culminating in decisions and repercussions for all. Another great addition is that you become quickly aware of the difficulty and vastness of the Cornwall landscape and how hard it is to police in that region

This was a thrilling read and one that has piqued my interest to this writer, with this reader looking forward to further releases

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A standalone crime thriller by Nick Louth author of the DCI Craig Gillard series that I enjoy. This is a well crafted thriller that held my attention from early on in the book.

The novel is set in Bodmin Moor in Cornwall and start with a , the novel opens with a catastrophic car crash involving a group of teenagers in a stolen car. The first indications are that it is a tragic accident but further investigations by DI Jan Talantire discover that one girl, Jade, is missing and may have fled the scene.

I found the novel quite atmospheric and found it easy to imagine the Cornish landscape as DI Talantire races against the clock to unravel the truth. Questions start to build, was Jade a victim or a witness and why did she not hang around after the accident. The story is well paced and along with the usual twists and turns kept me guessing.

DI Jan Talantire is an interesting character and is determined to solve the mystery using her sharp inquisitive mind. Many readers may not be familiar with this author but in my opinion is well worth a try if you are looking for entertaining well thought out crime novels.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's every parent's nightmare. Your child goes off with their friends and doesn't return. On the edge of Bodmin Moor, DI Jan Talantire is the first to arrive at the scene of a devastating crash where the home owner says he saw someone running from the scene. When a worried parent comes searching for her missing child, who isn't amongst the victims, the accident suddenly becomes so much more.

Trying to piece everything together Jan and her team are forced to work under an arrogant SIO with whom she has had a complex and negative relationship. As everything begins to become clearer can she prevent more heartache and make an arrest before more people die and her reputation is shattered forever?

Book one in Nick Louth's new series was excellent and this is an absolutely brilliant second outing for Jan Talantire. I love police procedural fiction but only one or two other writers can hold my attention in the way this author does. I was nowhere near guessing whodunit and loved all the behind the scenes disruption going on. More please.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Canelo, but the opinions expressed are my own. I loved this from beginning to end. One of my top reads of the year; gets 5 stars without a doubt. 

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Detective Jan Talantire story set in South West England is atmospheric and poignant. It begins with a veteran soldier realising something is wrong when he hears a devastating crash and screaming. DI Jan Talantire is holidaying with her mother. She is not enjoying her holiday, and when she cannot sleep in the middle of the night, she monitors the emergency frequency and responds to a likely fatal accident. The story that unfolds surrounds a missing teenager, thought to be at the scene of the accident, but was she in the car and where is she now? The poverty in some areas of Cornwall, in contrast to the culture of leisure and second homes, is highlighted through the lives of the car crash victims. The investigation proves complex with political considerations, tension with the families and conflict within the detective teams, which affects Jan personally and draws on her past experiences. I like the authenticity, easy-to-follow but complex investigation, relatable characters, and relationship dynamics.
It is a gritty and often emotional crime thriller with a driven but likeable lead detective.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was a catastrophic accident involving teenagers, drugs, and an immovable object. The first person on scene was a 98 year old WW2 hero who was directly responsible for saving one girl's life and providing information about the aftermath. Devon & Cornwall DI Jan Talantire was first officer on scene because she was staying nearby and heard the sounds indicating a need for her to grab her medical and photographic kits and call in all those needed. There were one dead and three more in critical condition. But there was one more who seemed to have vanished. Pressured by the missing girl's mother, the police finally got into the game, but the one in charge turned out to be the grandstander who was a bad personal experience in her in DI Talentire's past. The diligence and all of the personal rabbit trails made this another of the author's riveting crime novels.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected advance review copy from Canelo via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Nov 07, 2024





friendship, informants, murder, deceit, planning, cooperation

[Alyce Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers Canelo, and the author for the eARC of this book. This is the second in the DI Jan Talantire series set in Devon and Cornwall.

Jan and her team are called out to Bodmin Moor to the scene of a horrific crash. Joy riding teenagers have crashed a stolen Mercedes killing everybody but one young girl. She was pulled from the wreckage by an elderly homeowner and is clinging to life. The homeowner thought he saw someone running away but it's discounted as he was very shacken up by the scene and his heroics in rescuing the one girl. Then a missing person call comes in. A young girl, and friend of the accident victims, has been reported missing by her mother. It doesn't seem possible that she was in the car and walked away. But, if not in the car, why was she on the scene and where is she now.

It's a book about secrets and lies, and Jan's team must cut through them all to discover the truth. An excellent book. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series about the detective Jan Talentine, set in North Devon/Cornwall . I had read the first and preferred this one. As the book starts, a group of teenagers are involved in an accident during a joyriding trip on Bodmin Moor . Jan is staying nearby at her mothers so goes to the scene. One girl has disappeared, was she in the car or not? A lot happens in this book, the crash is complicated, Jan must work with an ex which adds further complications . There is a lot of reliance on navigation /tracking systems in cars in the investigation which is not that interesting to read about . On the whole a good read, which kept my interest. I liked Jan better in this book, there is more about her background which fleshed her character out more . The location was little more than placenames, so I suppose you do need a little knowledge of the area to build up a picture of the area.
I think this series is going to get better as it progresses, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jan Talentire has been enjoying some down time when she makes the mistake of glancing at her work phone & sees news about a bad car crash on Bodmin Moor. The stolen Mercedes has come off the road & crashed into someone's house & garden. The elderly owner is trying to help the victims. The car is full of teenagers who had obviously been enjoying a joyride. One is dead & the rest are badly injured. The house owner says he's sure he saw a young woman running away from the crash. When a mother gets in touch with the police saying her daughter is missing & hasn't been seen since the night of the crash the police are slow to react but Jan is determined to try & find her.

This was another great read in the series. The descriptions of the joy riders & the crash was very chilling. I like Jan & the way she works with her team & look forward to the next in the series. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Tom Reviews Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mystery bundle book, this is one that I opened with no preconceived notions about its content or quality. I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised, although overall I'm afraid to say I found it average and unremarkable.
Do you know how some books work their way into your mind, and you find yourself thinking about them days or even weeks later? That isn't this book.
The plot is solid, the pacing respectable, although in parts I found it predictable.
The story revolves around the investigation into a missing teenager that turns into murder. Billed as a thriller it never really reaches those heights, struggling to reach the tension, the edge of your seat needing to know what happens next feeling that is the mark of a true thriller. However having said that it is definitely worth a read if you like a bit of crime in your life, but unlike some books I doubt I will be picking it up again in a hurry.

[Sharon Valler: Live Love Read Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant follow up to the first book in this series, featuring DI Jan Ballantire.

When a group of teenaged joyriders crash on Bodmin Moor, Jan is straight on the scene. With one dead and others sustaining life changing injuries, it is initially thought to be a tragic accident. But when another girl, who is thought to have been in the car, is reported missing, the investigation ramps up.

I loved this tense and atmospheric mystery, Jan is a well developed character. Her determination and empathy make her very relatable and I enjoyed the sub plot around her personal life as well, one that looks to be continued into the next book.

The setting of Bodmin Moor is beautifully described and the plot is flawless, engrossing and very cleverly thought out with some brilliant twists.

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Nick Louth and Canelo for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Marco Merola · Rating 3 out of 5]

My sister got me a mystery book gift for my birthday and this was the book I received, so I went into The Last Ride with no expectations or bias.

I found it was quite a slow start but it did gradually become more gripping, especially as you are introduced to the various characters - or should I say suspects. I found the book was well written, easy to follow and the characters were for the most part well thought out.

That being said, I also found the book quite predictable, and I did not think the story line was the strongest. While it was an entertaining read, it was not the page turner I had hoped for/am used to with most murder mysteries.

Overall, I think 3/5 is fair. It was a good read, I stuck with it and do not regret it. However, would I recommend this to a friend? No, there are much better murder mystery books out there in my opinion.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Ride by Nick Louth was a tense mystery. I really like DI Jan Talantire and her team.

On a midsummer’s night, a stolen car packed with teenagers crashes at high speed on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. DI Jan Talantire arrives at the scene to find the crash victims.

It appears to be a tragic accident until a worried mother turns up at the accident scene. Her daughter, Jade, a friend of the joyriders, hasn’t been seen since the previous night. The account dovetails with the statement of the householder, who claimed to see a girl running near the crashed vehicle the moment he emerged.

I would recommend this book; solid mystery with solid writing and good characters.

#TheLastRide #NetGalley

[Christine Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Ride by Nick Louth is book 2 in the DI Jan Talantire police series. There was a tragic car accident, when a stolen car is driven at speed and crashes on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.
DI Jan Talantire is the first responder on the scene and is able to see the serious injuries of the very young passengers. Then a worried mother turns up and states that her teenage daughter is missing. This statement also dovetails with the sighting from the elderly householder, whose property the vehicle crashed into, of him seeing a teenage girl fleeing the scene.
There is a very tense and gripping story of who was in what car, when the vehicle crashed and where is the missing girl, Jade? Many twists and turns, lies and deaths before the truth is known.
Highly recommended

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Ride is the second in the Jan Talantire series by Nick Louth. I have not read the first yet, but enjoyed this so much I intend to go back and rectify that. And there were no problems with it working as a stand-alone. This is a well done, well thought out police procedural with an engaging main character.
The story begins with a car accident. A car filled with teenagers careens off the road at a high rate of speed. Four are trapped inside, one deceased and one girl flies out of the car. But was there another teenager there? An elderly witness saw a girl walking away from the scene. And a 17 year old girl has been reported missing by her mother.
Jan was an interesting character, dealing with a fraught family relationship, an incoming boss that she shares bad history with and a questionable reputation within the ranks (thanks to the same officer). As with the best police procedurals, the team was an important part of the story and definitely added to the depth of the story.
The story moved at a nice steady pace until ramping up the tension and pace at the end. Louth totally took me by surprise with the who and why. I appreciated that Jan’s revelation was only part of the ending. Finding concrete proof was the real issue.
My thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of this book.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 2 in a promising new series featuring DI Jan Tallantire, who is a very engaging character. The team dynamics were good and the book is packed with atmosphere and tension until the end. The Cornwall setting is beautifully described by the author, it was easy to imagine oneself being on the moor. The pacing was steady throughout, with a bit of a cliffhanger ending, in that Jan's boss has disappeared off the scene in dubious circumstances, which leads nicely into book 3 in the future. I really enjoyed the read and would recommend to lovers of police procedurals. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

[readingismy_happy_place · Rating 4 out of 5]

Police crime books are my favourite and DI Jan and her team have just joined my all time favourites
The crime was completely crazy with so many different routes of inquires trying to find all the pieces while working under a man who I wouldn’t want to share space with
Loved the team and can’t wait to see more of them
I’ve downloaded the first book so am already getting started can’t believe I missed it
Fab crime thriller brilliant character a well written crime with twists and red herrings fasted paced and hard to put down

[Heather McIndoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Jan Talantire is investigating a devastating car accident after a group of teenagers crash a Mercedes. She is also thrown a monkey wrench into the investigation when one of the teenagers is reported missing by her mother. The detail in the investigation is amazingly done. Where is Jade? What happened in this car before the crash? Detective Talantire is about to reveal a bunch of lies and secrets no one was ever supposed to know. This was my first Nick Louth book, but I will be looking for more. This was fantastically written and kept me hooked from the first page.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A stolen car. A group of teenage joyriders. An accident. And a missing girl.

Policewoman Jan Talantire must piece together a puzzle, when it seems as though she does not have all the pieces.

Why was a girl seen running from the scene of the crash? Why had she gone missing from her home the previous night? And where was she now?

These are just some of the questions that DI Talantire must answer, if she is to solve this case. A well written police procedural, this is an intriguing read.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series featuring DI Jan Talantire set in Devon. It is an excellent police procedural with the emphasis on the process of detection. After a slow start the character of Jan Talantire is growing on me. The plot is tightly controlled and full of twists and the book is very well-written. A very entertaining read.
I received a free review copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my honest and unedited review.

[Redmakesmyheartsing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this novel very atmospheric, it was easy to imagine the Cornish landscape as DI Talantire races against the clock to unravel the truth. Questions start to build, was Jade a victim or a witness and why did she not hang around after the accident? The story is well paced and there are lots of twists and turns which kept me guessing. I will definitely read more in this series and I'm pleased to have found a new author's work to binge read 😁

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the DI Jan Talantire. The story begins with a road traffic accident, where a car full of teenagers crash in a lonely spot on the edge of Bodmin Moor, Cornwall. I find the story compelling especially when the elderly homeowner insists he saw a girl running from the crash! The story is full of twists and turns with a few red herrings, which led to a dramatic ending.