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Martha Munro Crime Mysteries #1
The List: Detective Martha Munro Crime Mysteries, Book 1
It was just an ordinary Wednesday lunchtime when Detective Martha Munro's life changed forever.
Her sergeant is speaking, but she barely hears what he's telling her.
Your mother has been shot dead. Your four-year-old daughter has been taken.
There are no leads. Who would want to hurt her family?
Martha realizes it's time to ask herself some hard questions about her late father.
He led the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard. It's rumored he kept a list of everyone who worked for him, from coppers to criminals. And just being on the list was a sure-fire way to lower your life expectancy.
Her mother was killed by someone trying to get their hands on the list. Now time is running out for Martha to get her daughter back alive.
Family is EVERYTHING. And she will do ANYTHING to keep them safe.
Her sergeant is speaking, but she barely hears what he's telling her.
Your mother has been shot dead. Your four-year-old daughter has been taken.
There are no leads. Who would want to hurt her family?
Martha realizes it's time to ask herself some hard questions about her late father.
He led the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard. It's rumored he kept a list of everyone who worked for him, from coppers to criminals. And just being on the list was a sure-fire way to lower your life expectancy.
Her mother was killed by someone trying to get their hands on the list. Now time is running out for Martha to get her daughter back alive.
Family is EVERYTHING. And she will do ANYTHING to keep them safe.
Audible Audio
First published January 19, 2022
974 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Michael Leese
15 books96 followersMichael Leese was a senior news executive who had a ringside seat for the most extra-ordinary stories that happened during a twenty-five-year career as a British national newspaper journalist.
From the death of Princess Diana and two Gulf wars to the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11 he was leading the teams bringing the first news to a wider public. Most of his career was spent at the London Evening Standard. His time in journalism has left him with an indelible passion for news and current affairs and he tries to replicate that in his crime thriller series, Jonathan Roper investigates.
His son is profoundly autistic. It was thinking about him and how he fits into this complicated world was the inspiration for the Roper character. Who is highly intelligent, passionate, hard-working and autistic which can make him a bit hazy about social boundaries.
Leese reasoned that Roper gave him a great way to challenge perceptions, but also show some of the humour that can arise from the inevitable misunderstandings when someone on the autistic spectrum hits the world at full steam.
He was brought up in the West Midlands and can reveal a major celebrity connection, both he and Prince Williams are Aston Villa fans, although they have never met or discussed their personal affinity.
Growing up he had an ambition to be an elite athlete but gave that up by the age of nine on the grounds of having no talent. He often speculates that it is just as well as he enjoys creating characters for his books and probably wouldn’t have survived long in the corporate world.
He lives in Dorset with his wife Maria.
If you would like to contact Michael, you can either send him an email at hello@michael-leese.com or through his Facebook Page Jonathan Roper Investigates.
From the death of Princess Diana and two Gulf wars to the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11 he was leading the teams bringing the first news to a wider public. Most of his career was spent at the London Evening Standard. His time in journalism has left him with an indelible passion for news and current affairs and he tries to replicate that in his crime thriller series, Jonathan Roper investigates.
His son is profoundly autistic. It was thinking about him and how he fits into this complicated world was the inspiration for the Roper character. Who is highly intelligent, passionate, hard-working and autistic which can make him a bit hazy about social boundaries.
Leese reasoned that Roper gave him a great way to challenge perceptions, but also show some of the humour that can arise from the inevitable misunderstandings when someone on the autistic spectrum hits the world at full steam.
He was brought up in the West Midlands and can reveal a major celebrity connection, both he and Prince Williams are Aston Villa fans, although they have never met or discussed their personal affinity.
Growing up he had an ambition to be an elite athlete but gave that up by the age of nine on the grounds of having no talent. He often speculates that it is just as well as he enjoys creating characters for his books and probably wouldn’t have survived long in the corporate world.
He lives in Dorset with his wife Maria.
If you would like to contact Michael, you can either send him an email at hello@michael-leese.com or through his Facebook Page Jonathan Roper Investigates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
January 20, 2022
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
THE LIST (Martha Munroe Crime Mystery Book #1) by Michael Leese is the first book in a new British crime mystery series and it is constructed like no other I have read before. I was immediately intrigued and could not put it down.
Detective Martha Munroe is informed by her sergeant that her mother has been shot dead and her four-year-old daughter kidnapped.
With the help of longtime friend of the family, Harry the Hat, Martha begins to learn more about her late father who led the anti-corruption unit at The Met and is somehow tied to the forces working to destroy her. A powerful enemy believes Martha has the list belonging to her father that names all the criminals who were working as snitches for him and all the corrupt police on the force and he is willing to do anything to get it for himself.
When Martha and Harry find the list, they must work to decode it to find out who Martha can really trust and who is trying to make sure she ends up dead.
I enjoyed the unique way this story unfolded. Who would put their detective protagonist in such a position in the first book of a series? Well, Mr. Leese did, and I found it kept me turning the pages. Martha and Harry are wonderful characters that are very likeable and fully fleshed. The other characters always had me guessing whether they were good, bad, or varying shades of gray. The plot is full of twists and surprises with an ending that leaves the door open for more. I am looking forward to following Martha in future books in this series.
I recommend this start to a new British crime mystery series!
THE LIST (Martha Munroe Crime Mystery Book #1) by Michael Leese is the first book in a new British crime mystery series and it is constructed like no other I have read before. I was immediately intrigued and could not put it down.
Detective Martha Munroe is informed by her sergeant that her mother has been shot dead and her four-year-old daughter kidnapped.
With the help of longtime friend of the family, Harry the Hat, Martha begins to learn more about her late father who led the anti-corruption unit at The Met and is somehow tied to the forces working to destroy her. A powerful enemy believes Martha has the list belonging to her father that names all the criminals who were working as snitches for him and all the corrupt police on the force and he is willing to do anything to get it for himself.
When Martha and Harry find the list, they must work to decode it to find out who Martha can really trust and who is trying to make sure she ends up dead.
I enjoyed the unique way this story unfolded. Who would put their detective protagonist in such a position in the first book of a series? Well, Mr. Leese did, and I found it kept me turning the pages. Martha and Harry are wonderful characters that are very likeable and fully fleshed. The other characters always had me guessing whether they were good, bad, or varying shades of gray. The plot is full of twists and surprises with an ending that leaves the door open for more. I am looking forward to following Martha in future books in this series.
I recommend this start to a new British crime mystery series!
January 5, 2022
Martha Munro Crime Mysteries #1
It was just an ordinary lunchtime when Detective Martha Munro's life changed forever. Her sergeant is speaking, but she barely hears what he is telling her. Your mother has been shot dead. Your four year old daughter has been taken. There are no leads. Who would want to hurt her family? Martha realises it's time to ask herself some hard questions about her late father. He led the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard. It's rumoured that he kept a list of everyone who worked for him, from coppers to criminals.
This is quite an easy book to read but the pace is slow. This is a story about corruption in the police and government. The first half of the book is filled with information. The characters were well developed and believable. My favourite was Harry the hat who sounded like he was the spiv in St. Trinian's. There were some parts that were far fetched. Overall, this was n enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #MichaelLeese for my ARC of #TheList in exchange for an honest review.
It was just an ordinary lunchtime when Detective Martha Munro's life changed forever. Her sergeant is speaking, but she barely hears what he is telling her. Your mother has been shot dead. Your four year old daughter has been taken. There are no leads. Who would want to hurt her family? Martha realises it's time to ask herself some hard questions about her late father. He led the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard. It's rumoured that he kept a list of everyone who worked for him, from coppers to criminals.
This is quite an easy book to read but the pace is slow. This is a story about corruption in the police and government. The first half of the book is filled with information. The characters were well developed and believable. My favourite was Harry the hat who sounded like he was the spiv in St. Trinian's. There were some parts that were far fetched. Overall, this was n enjoyable read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #MichaelLeese for my ARC of #TheList in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2022
Well, this is certainly very different to any other crime mystery I have come across!
Martha Munro is a committed police officer who has recently made detective. When her sergeant imparts the information that her house has been targeted with her mother killed and her four-year-old daughter kidnapped, she is completely floored. Who would do such a thing – and why?
This is a cracking start to a new series! As a reader, I needed to hone my detecting skills to the max to follow everything that was going on and the revelations they led to. I have to say, there is one thing I intensely dislike and that is beginning a story with information from more than half-way through which means that, up until that point, I was always waiting to get to those events. I feel this spoils my enjoyment of a huge chunk of the book. However, that was soon forgotten as things got into gear! There is an awful lot going on in this one and, sadly, all of it entirely believable. A grand cast of characters and an extremely good storyline all add up to a very enticing read which made me want to search out the next one! Very exciting and fast-paced, this is a thrilling read! Definitely different, and one I’m happy to give 4.5*.
Martha Munro is a committed police officer who has recently made detective. When her sergeant imparts the information that her house has been targeted with her mother killed and her four-year-old daughter kidnapped, she is completely floored. Who would do such a thing – and why?
This is a cracking start to a new series! As a reader, I needed to hone my detecting skills to the max to follow everything that was going on and the revelations they led to. I have to say, there is one thing I intensely dislike and that is beginning a story with information from more than half-way through which means that, up until that point, I was always waiting to get to those events. I feel this spoils my enjoyment of a huge chunk of the book. However, that was soon forgotten as things got into gear! There is an awful lot going on in this one and, sadly, all of it entirely believable. A grand cast of characters and an extremely good storyline all add up to a very enticing read which made me want to search out the next one! Very exciting and fast-paced, this is a thrilling read! Definitely different, and one I’m happy to give 4.5*.
April 30, 2024
One of the worst books I have ever read. Absolute drivel with a plot that wasn’t a plot. Joke characters. An utterly disappointing read.
March 16, 2022
Her father's daughter
I loved this book because it had, murder, kidnapping, arson as well as a complex plot. This made for an enthralling read.
I loved this book because it had, murder, kidnapping, arson as well as a complex plot. This made for an enthralling read.
January 17, 2022
DC Martha Munro has a rough start as a detective and mother.
Her own mother is murdered and her four-year-old daughter is kidnapped. Who could do this in such a short time, and are these incidents connected in any way?
Because her late father was part of the police investigation that dismantled a large group of corrupts people, her thoughts go with all his targets and informants list.
From here onwards, we get to see her in action and the twists and thrilling turns don't take a break till the end.
There are a few unbelievable or unreliable things happening in the story overall but, I enjoyed it as a great suspenseful book and I’m looking forward to read more in the series as this was just the first instalment.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
Her own mother is murdered and her four-year-old daughter is kidnapped. Who could do this in such a short time, and are these incidents connected in any way?
Because her late father was part of the police investigation that dismantled a large group of corrupts people, her thoughts go with all his targets and informants list.
From here onwards, we get to see her in action and the twists and thrilling turns don't take a break till the end.
There are a few unbelievable or unreliable things happening in the story overall but, I enjoyed it as a great suspenseful book and I’m looking forward to read more in the series as this was just the first instalment.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley
Read
January 15, 2022this book for me started out very fast paced, I was interested to find out what was going to happen next and how it all connected. As I continued to read though I felt myself loosing interest and did not connect to any of the characters.
The premise of this book was very interesting but I’m afraid I will not continue this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an ARC for the List and an opportunity to read this and give an honest review!
The premise of this book was very interesting but I’m afraid I will not continue this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an ARC for the List and an opportunity to read this and give an honest review!
January 20, 2022
The List
Wow...hard to put down. Looking forward to reading more about Martha and her Team and the challenges ahead.
Really exciting read.
Wow...hard to put down. Looking forward to reading more about Martha and her Team and the challenges ahead.
Really exciting read.
March 25, 2024
Gripping
A great page turner with quite a few twists. An ending open to a sequel perhaps ??? I certainly hope so !! If love to hear more of Martha's time in the police force.
A great page turner with quite a few twists. An ending open to a sequel perhaps ??? I certainly hope so !! If love to hear more of Martha's time in the police force.
April 15, 2024
A bunch of characters that wouldn't look out of place in Mos Eisley Cantina
I really enjoyed this page turner.
Easy reading and flowed well.
The characters came across strong and developed well. The plot was great, had suspense, action and held you emotionally.
I really enjoyed this page turner.
Easy reading and flowed well.
The characters came across strong and developed well. The plot was great, had suspense, action and held you emotionally.
January 1, 2022
One stunner of a read. When her mother is killed and her daughter kidnapped, Detective Martha Munroe’s world starts falling apart- until a friend of her father offers help. As most mothers would possibly do she takes the most direct route to find her daughter and lands herself in trouble legally, being blamed for beating up two men thought to have taken her daughter. Her father John Munroe was head of anti-corruption at Scotland yard and had many enemies both inside and outside the force. His old brief and one of his close friends come to Martha to explain a little more about the father who sadly died before she herself joined the police. When Martha is charged it could mean a prison sentence. Someone is out to get her- but why?
OMG!! Wow!! I couldn't wait to turn each page, wanting to read ever faster. What a brilliant gripping book. Short chapters keep a very fast pace and a lead character that I liked and empathised with. As for Harry- I hope he lives until he is 100- I loved him. There's a tension, a charm, that certain something that almost put me on edge reading this- to me the skill of an author building the plot and apprehension of what's to come.
One stunning read and I can't wait to read the next one in the series.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
OMG!! Wow!! I couldn't wait to turn each page, wanting to read ever faster. What a brilliant gripping book. Short chapters keep a very fast pace and a lead character that I liked and empathised with. As for Harry- I hope he lives until he is 100- I loved him. There's a tension, a charm, that certain something that almost put me on edge reading this- to me the skill of an author building the plot and apprehension of what's to come.
One stunning read and I can't wait to read the next one in the series.
For more reviews please follow me on Twitter@nickisbookblog
January 17, 2022
This is a great book! Instead of a ‘standard’ police procedural - this book is a rollercoaster ride until the end, part police thriller and part legal/action thriller. A highly enjoyable read, and I loved it.
Martha, cop and daughter of John Munro, an ex- cop working for an anti-corruption unit at the Met - finds herself in troubled waters when some of her father’s ‘old friends’ seems to want her out of the way; they murder her mother and kidnapp her little girl.
Her father’s working method of taking down the big boys in the criminal circuit by having the petty thieves he arrested work for him as infiltrants later on, didn’t gain him any sympathy in the force. Certain criminal lords and bent cops are now looking for his notebook, and they are, in fact, sure that Martha has it. Martha’s life is in danger, and she even finds herself in prison!
Together with some friends of her father’s, Martha is trying to find out what her father kept secret for so long. And what are the codes in her father’s notebook refer to? And who can she trust?
This wonderful and exciting part legal, part police procedural kept me guessing until the end. Recommended!
** Thank you Netgalley & Michael Leese for this eARC - this opinion is my own. **
Martha, cop and daughter of John Munro, an ex- cop working for an anti-corruption unit at the Met - finds herself in troubled waters when some of her father’s ‘old friends’ seems to want her out of the way; they murder her mother and kidnapp her little girl.
Her father’s working method of taking down the big boys in the criminal circuit by having the petty thieves he arrested work for him as infiltrants later on, didn’t gain him any sympathy in the force. Certain criminal lords and bent cops are now looking for his notebook, and they are, in fact, sure that Martha has it. Martha’s life is in danger, and she even finds herself in prison!
Together with some friends of her father’s, Martha is trying to find out what her father kept secret for so long. And what are the codes in her father’s notebook refer to? And who can she trust?
This wonderful and exciting part legal, part police procedural kept me guessing until the end. Recommended!
** Thank you Netgalley & Michael Leese for this eARC - this opinion is my own. **
January 19, 2022
The list by Michael Leese.
Martha Munro Crime Mysteries Book 1.
It was just an ordinary Wednesday lunchtime when Detective Martha Munro’s life changed forever. Her sergeant is speaking, but she barely hears what he’s telling her. Your mother has been shot dead. Your four-year-old daughter has been taken.
There are no leads. Who would want to hurt her family? Martha realizes it’s time to ask herself some hard questions about her late father.
He led the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard. It’s rumoured he kept a list of everyone who worked for him, from coppers to criminals. And just being on the list was a sure-fire way to lower your life expectancy. Her mother was killed by someone trying to get their hands on the list. Now time is running out for Martha to get her daughter back alive.
Family is EVERYTHING. And she will do ANYTHING to keep them safe.
A good read with good characters. Likeable story. 3*
Martha Munro Crime Mysteries Book 1.
It was just an ordinary Wednesday lunchtime when Detective Martha Munro’s life changed forever. Her sergeant is speaking, but she barely hears what he’s telling her. Your mother has been shot dead. Your four-year-old daughter has been taken.
There are no leads. Who would want to hurt her family? Martha realizes it’s time to ask herself some hard questions about her late father.
He led the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard. It’s rumoured he kept a list of everyone who worked for him, from coppers to criminals. And just being on the list was a sure-fire way to lower your life expectancy. Her mother was killed by someone trying to get their hands on the list. Now time is running out for Martha to get her daughter back alive.
Family is EVERYTHING. And she will do ANYTHING to keep them safe.
A good read with good characters. Likeable story. 3*
January 5, 2022
Detective Martha Munroe is going about her duties when her life is changed forever, her mother has been murdered and her daughter abducted. There are no leads. As Martha and her trusted friend, Harry, set about trying to find her little girl Martha finds herself on the wrong side of the law. What is going on?
It soon becomes clear that her late father left behind secrets, very dangerous secrets. And now dangerous people are looking for them. People with powerful contacts.
I do love Michael Leese books. I am thoroughly enjoying the Roper and Hooley series so I was really looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed. A very intriguing and gripping story with so much going on I just kept on reading way into the night. Many twists and turns keep the adrenaline pumping all the way to the end. An absolutely brilliant read that I recommend to anyone who loves Crime Fiction.
It soon becomes clear that her late father left behind secrets, very dangerous secrets. And now dangerous people are looking for them. People with powerful contacts.
I do love Michael Leese books. I am thoroughly enjoying the Roper and Hooley series so I was really looking forward to this one and I wasn't disappointed. A very intriguing and gripping story with so much going on I just kept on reading way into the night. Many twists and turns keep the adrenaline pumping all the way to the end. An absolutely brilliant read that I recommend to anyone who loves Crime Fiction.
December 30, 2021
Having read the authors other books,I was thrilled to be offered this as an ARC, being the start of, hopefully, a brand new series.
There aren’t too many characters in the book to memorise, and the ones that are in it, are full of character and the story, as it unfolds, is a good one.
I just loved Harry and in fact all of them, it’s not a dark menacing book, but it’s all about corruption in the police, government and once again the judiciary. Having read true tales of corruption at higher levels, this did not surprise me, and the lengths that those involved will go to to cover their tracks.
I enjoyed it, and hopefully there will be others in the series, as the “door is left open”.
My thanks to the author, and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
There aren’t too many characters in the book to memorise, and the ones that are in it, are full of character and the story, as it unfolds, is a good one.
I just loved Harry and in fact all of them, it’s not a dark menacing book, but it’s all about corruption in the police, government and once again the judiciary. Having read true tales of corruption at higher levels, this did not surprise me, and the lengths that those involved will go to to cover their tracks.
I enjoyed it, and hopefully there will be others in the series, as the “door is left open”.
My thanks to the author, and Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
July 18, 2023
interesting characters
DC Martha Munro is at her station when she receives the devastating news that her daughter Betty has been kidnapped, and that her mother has been murdered in a home invasion. This starts a roller coaster of events that lead to Martha being accused of attacking the kidnappers and causing grievous bodily harm, along with getting an insider to murder a prisoner.
Not a bad story. Good paced and interesting. A little too much repetition being used as filler. Some great characters, especially Harry and Julie.
An easy, perfect for holidays, read.
DC Martha Munro is at her station when she receives the devastating news that her daughter Betty has been kidnapped, and that her mother has been murdered in a home invasion. This starts a roller coaster of events that lead to Martha being accused of attacking the kidnappers and causing grievous bodily harm, along with getting an insider to murder a prisoner.
Not a bad story. Good paced and interesting. A little too much repetition being used as filler. Some great characters, especially Harry and Julie.
An easy, perfect for holidays, read.
February 12, 2025
If I could give it zero l, I would have.
I cannot DNF a book, but with this one, I nearly made an exception.
The plot was long and drawn out, the conversations sounded like robots talking to each other, and the ending... just happened. The whole story wrapped up in less than 5 pages. I had to come back to this book 3 times because I couldn't stomach reading it.
I read this book for free on Prime reading and I still want a refund.
I cannot DNF a book, but with this one, I nearly made an exception.
The plot was long and drawn out, the conversations sounded like robots talking to each other, and the ending... just happened. The whole story wrapped up in less than 5 pages. I had to come back to this book 3 times because I couldn't stomach reading it.
I read this book for free on Prime reading and I still want a refund.
August 13, 2023
A good story, with reasonable believable people in it. It kept my interest fro start to finish. You can't be sure who the baddies are - or the goodies - until the end.
Loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
March 26, 2024
I found this book to be a quick read, but the plot was very slow going to the point where I just scan read quite a few chapters. There is chapter after chapter of not a lot going on except the main characters sat round talking about what to do etc. God knows how many times in the book the phrase "she's just like her father" or something similar got mentioned, I found that annoying.
December 24, 2021
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
When I saw all the good reviews for the author I decided to try this book, but was disappointed. The first part of the book with Martha in prison was intriguing, but after that I soon lost interest.
It didn't hold my interest. Sorry!
When I saw all the good reviews for the author I decided to try this book, but was disappointed. The first part of the book with Martha in prison was intriguing, but after that I soon lost interest.
It didn't hold my interest. Sorry!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2022
Totally implausible plot but a good enough story to keep me entertained. (Aside - I don't understand why the title needs to include "an absolutely gripping crime mystery with a massive twist." I didn't find any "massive twist" in the plot.)
Read
June 2, 2024I think I must have been delirious when I began reading this. Definitely not my usual genre, but for some insane reason I kept going. I kept expecting a twist or something clever to happen, but no.
Terrible writing.
Terrible writing.
March 14, 2024
sorry, just not a good book
The protagonist is simply stupid. We learn all about what a strong, clever feminist she is, but she just behaves stupidly every time.
The protagonist is simply stupid. We learn all about what a strong, clever feminist she is, but she just behaves stupidly every time.
January 28, 2022
It wasn’t until fairly recently that I discovered how flipping fantastic Michael’s work is. I haven’t read everything that he has written to date but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘The List’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of read I have come to expect from Michael – a fast paced, gritty and thrilling story. ‘The List’ is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Martha Munro. I couldn’t wait to start reading so without further ado, I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a cup of tea and settled down for what I hoped would be a fantastic read. I was sport on too because I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The List’ but more about that in a bit.
As with Michael’s other books, I was drawn into the story from the very first word on the very first page. After I had read the first couple of chapters I instinctively knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down until I had read the last word on the last page. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single word of the story. I found Martha to be a very intriguing character. On the one hand she is a career police officer following in her father’s footsteps but on the other hand she has friends that don’t exactly stay on the right side of the law. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen, so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘The List’. I found ‘The List’ to be a gripping, tense and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The List’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Michael. He certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘The List’ felt like being on an times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. I love the way in which Michael makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of all the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The List’ and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Michael’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
As with Michael’s other books, I was drawn into the story from the very first word on the very first page. After I had read the first couple of chapters I instinctively knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down until I had read the last word on the last page. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single word of the story. I found Martha to be a very intriguing character. On the one hand she is a career police officer following in her father’s footsteps but on the other hand she has friends that don’t exactly stay on the right side of the law. I had my own theories as to what was going to happen, so I had to keep reading to see if I was on the right track or if I had the wrong end of the stick entirely. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the story. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘The List’. I found ‘The List’ to be a gripping, tense and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘The List’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Michael. He certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one heck of a story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘The List’ felt like being on an times scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. I love the way in which Michael makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of all the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘The List’ and I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Michael’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
February 12, 2022
An action-packed police procedural with twists and turns galore, cancel all your plans and switch off your phone because once you start Michael Leese’s The List you simply won’t be able to put it down.
It was a typical Wednesday lunchtime for Detective Martha Munro – until her world came crashing down around her ears when she learned that her mother had been shot dead and that her four year old daughter had been abducted. Martha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Who would possibly want to harm her and her family? Why did they shoot her mother in cold blood and who has taken her daughter? Martha will do whatever it takes to find her child and to put who is behind this heinous crime behind bars for life, but with no leads to point her in the killer’s direction she is drawing blanks. Could her late father somehow be the key that will help her solve this case?
Martha’s father ran the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard and rumour has it that he kept a list of every single person he had ever worked with. From hardened criminals to high-ranking police officers and local bobbies, her father’s list was worth its weight in gold and somebody is determined to get their hands on it at all costs. With time not on her side, Martha is desperate to find her daughter and her mother’s killer, but with the odds stacked against her can she catch the evil murderer intent on ruining her family? Or will she end up being the killer’s next victim?
Michael Leese certainly knows how to keep his readers turning the pages and this adrenalin-infused crime thriller seamlessly blends nail-biting tension, heart-pounding suspense and jaw-dropping revelations in an action-packed police procedural that is a must-read for fans of Line of Duty.
Michael Leese’s The List is a shocking, gritty and gripping crime thriller that is certainly not for the faint of heart.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It was a typical Wednesday lunchtime for Detective Martha Munro – until her world came crashing down around her ears when she learned that her mother had been shot dead and that her four year old daughter had been abducted. Martha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Who would possibly want to harm her and her family? Why did they shoot her mother in cold blood and who has taken her daughter? Martha will do whatever it takes to find her child and to put who is behind this heinous crime behind bars for life, but with no leads to point her in the killer’s direction she is drawing blanks. Could her late father somehow be the key that will help her solve this case?
Martha’s father ran the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard and rumour has it that he kept a list of every single person he had ever worked with. From hardened criminals to high-ranking police officers and local bobbies, her father’s list was worth its weight in gold and somebody is determined to get their hands on it at all costs. With time not on her side, Martha is desperate to find her daughter and her mother’s killer, but with the odds stacked against her can she catch the evil murderer intent on ruining her family? Or will she end up being the killer’s next victim?
Michael Leese certainly knows how to keep his readers turning the pages and this adrenalin-infused crime thriller seamlessly blends nail-biting tension, heart-pounding suspense and jaw-dropping revelations in an action-packed police procedural that is a must-read for fans of Line of Duty.
Michael Leese’s The List is a shocking, gritty and gripping crime thriller that is certainly not for the faint of heart.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 28, 2022
Armed men break into a house, shooting dead a grandmother and kidnapping the 4-year-old granddaughter Betty in a van in an horrific attack. These are the family of DC Martha Munroe, whose father was a former senior commander in charge of anti-corruption. Even Harry the Hat, the retired and much feared enforcer pledged to look after the family, wasn’t fast enough to stop them without a gun in his hand. When she receives a video from the kidnappers, Martha immediately decides she’ll have more success defying Commander Shaw’s orders and takes off with Harry in hot pursuit. Harry still has a lot of contacts and the trail soon leads them to the two kidnappers, beaten and bloody by their employer, who direct her to Betty. As they rescue her daughter, the police charge in. Was it all a trap, some kind of set up? This seems likely as Martha is swiftly arrested. Her interviews seem to bear this out, and aided by her late father’s solicitor and Harry, she learns a lot of things about her father that she never knew. Could it be related to the supposed list kept by her father featuring people on both sides of the law? Her father had a lot of enemies but also friends. It’s those friends that Martha needs to rely on now, even if she’s not entirely sure who can be sure and who has their own agenda. John Munro spent his life trying to protect his family and now it’s Martha’s turn.
This is quite a different and original type of fictional plot, fast paced, gritty and thrilling from the intriguing prologue right to the very last page. I really liked Martha’s character as the normally straight up police detective found herself discovering more about her father and having to find alternative methods to get to the truth, and I absolutely loved Harry!! I am eager to see what book 2 brings. 5*
This is quite a different and original type of fictional plot, fast paced, gritty and thrilling from the intriguing prologue right to the very last page. I really liked Martha’s character as the normally straight up police detective found herself discovering more about her father and having to find alternative methods to get to the truth, and I absolutely loved Harry!! I am eager to see what book 2 brings. 5*
July 21, 2023
The first in the DC Martha Munro series, and we open with Martha finding out her Mother has been shot dead and her little girl kidnapped. It is an interesting opening, and sets us up for what has the potential to be a rollercoaster ride of why this has happened and what the outcome will be, but sadly it doesn’t quite hit the mark.
The story quickly takes a turn to east end london gangsters, vigilantes and rogue police, and within the opening chapters we are thrown a huge amount of information and a bit too much action too soon. Martha isn’t the easiest to warm to, and despite knowing what she has lost and her circumstances, her actions don’t seem to match how you would expect someone to react in these situations and so you don’t root for her to succeed. I didn’t find any of the secondary characters particularly likeable either, and often found myself rolling my eyes at their actions or dialogue.
The story seems a bit convoluted, and there’s no real reason explained for the events happening at the time they do. For example (and this doesn’t provide any spoiler) the safe deposit story just sounds preposterous and totally lost me at that point. I just couldn’t get into it as a believable, if far fetched, story. Whilst I appreciate the need to forget reality in a fiction story, I do feel when it is set in real life and police procedures, there does need to be an element of realism which this lacks. In terms of writing style, it’s easy and quick to read. I will give the second in the series a read as I already have a copy, but I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would have considering the description is something I usually love.
The story quickly takes a turn to east end london gangsters, vigilantes and rogue police, and within the opening chapters we are thrown a huge amount of information and a bit too much action too soon. Martha isn’t the easiest to warm to, and despite knowing what she has lost and her circumstances, her actions don’t seem to match how you would expect someone to react in these situations and so you don’t root for her to succeed. I didn’t find any of the secondary characters particularly likeable either, and often found myself rolling my eyes at their actions or dialogue.
The story seems a bit convoluted, and there’s no real reason explained for the events happening at the time they do. For example (and this doesn’t provide any spoiler) the safe deposit story just sounds preposterous and totally lost me at that point. I just couldn’t get into it as a believable, if far fetched, story. Whilst I appreciate the need to forget reality in a fiction story, I do feel when it is set in real life and police procedures, there does need to be an element of realism which this lacks. In terms of writing style, it’s easy and quick to read. I will give the second in the series a read as I already have a copy, but I didn’t enjoy this as much as I thought I would have considering the description is something I usually love.
January 24, 2022
A gripping story of deception, betrayal, loyalty, tragedy and many, many secrets within secrets.
Martha Munro is content in her life. She lives with mum and her four-year-old daughter. She just made detective and lives in the shadow of her father, John Munro, he ran the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard, and has many enemies. He may no longer be living, but his reputation and his secrets live on. Now Martha must figure out what his secrets were to save herself and her daughter from tragedy and betrayal. She’ll find allies in people she’s known her whole life as well as in unexpected places.
This story was so hard to put down. It was gripping and sucked me in from the beginning of the book. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the story, the secrets, the intrigue throughout. Martha is a tough woman living in her father’s shadow, but she finds herself making a name in the police department as well. Even if she didn’t intend for it to happen. She just wants to live her life, enjoy her daughter and her mum and her close friends, but someone else has other plans for her. This was my first read of a Michael Leese book, but it won’t be my last. I love the way he carried the story and kept the reader on the edge of their seat throughout. I give this book a 5-star review and I am looking forward to more stories with Martha and her crew.
Martha Munro is content in her life. She lives with mum and her four-year-old daughter. She just made detective and lives in the shadow of her father, John Munro, he ran the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard, and has many enemies. He may no longer be living, but his reputation and his secrets live on. Now Martha must figure out what his secrets were to save herself and her daughter from tragedy and betrayal. She’ll find allies in people she’s known her whole life as well as in unexpected places.
This story was so hard to put down. It was gripping and sucked me in from the beginning of the book. I loved everything about this book, the characters, the story, the secrets, the intrigue throughout. Martha is a tough woman living in her father’s shadow, but she finds herself making a name in the police department as well. Even if she didn’t intend for it to happen. She just wants to live her life, enjoy her daughter and her mum and her close friends, but someone else has other plans for her. This was my first read of a Michael Leese book, but it won’t be my last. I love the way he carried the story and kept the reader on the edge of their seat throughout. I give this book a 5-star review and I am looking forward to more stories with Martha and her crew.
January 16, 2022
This is the first book in a new series featuring Detective Martha Munro.
The story opens with Martha receiving a call at work informing her Betty, her four year old daughter has been abducted and her mother has been shot dead.
Though Martha cant be directly involved with the police investigation, she and Harry, a trusted family friend, that wont stop her using any means available to her to discover the whereabouts of Betty and who is behind her mothers death.
Martha`s father had lead the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard, he made enemies both inside and out of the force. Following his death it was widely accepted that he had kept a list of his informants, corrupt officers and names of people who worked with him.
A list that could be very valuable to a lot of people.
So valuable they`d kill to get their hands on it ?
An entertaining tale about corruption in the police, the judiciary and government.
Martha and Harry sift through the secrets and lies they uncover, yes she wants to find the list but more importantly she wants to bring Betty home.
This may be a little far fetched in parts but overall I enjoyed Marthas first outing and will be interested in whats next for her and Harry.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
The story opens with Martha receiving a call at work informing her Betty, her four year old daughter has been abducted and her mother has been shot dead.
Though Martha cant be directly involved with the police investigation, she and Harry, a trusted family friend, that wont stop her using any means available to her to discover the whereabouts of Betty and who is behind her mothers death.
Martha`s father had lead the anti-corruption squad at Scotland Yard, he made enemies both inside and out of the force. Following his death it was widely accepted that he had kept a list of his informants, corrupt officers and names of people who worked with him.
A list that could be very valuable to a lot of people.
So valuable they`d kill to get their hands on it ?
An entertaining tale about corruption in the police, the judiciary and government.
Martha and Harry sift through the secrets and lies they uncover, yes she wants to find the list but more importantly she wants to bring Betty home.
This may be a little far fetched in parts but overall I enjoyed Marthas first outing and will be interested in whats next for her and Harry.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
July 19, 2023
An excellent beginning to a new series. DC Martha Munro is the daughter of a legendary Scotland Yard anti-corruption commander. Her life is suddenly torn apart when her daughter is kidnapped and her mother killed.
It becomes clear that the shocking events are linked to some information that her now deceased father left. But Martha doesn't know what or where it is. Aided by a former ally of her father and a secretive support network that she's not certain of, Martha has to try to think like her father to solve the puzzle. But in the hunt she finds herself arrested ...
The List has several story arcs as past and present collide. Martha finds herself in an impossible position, on the wrong side of the law and not knowing who she can trust. It's a compelling tale told at pace and engaging from the start.
It becomes clear that the shocking events are linked to some information that her now deceased father left. But Martha doesn't know what or where it is. Aided by a former ally of her father and a secretive support network that she's not certain of, Martha has to try to think like her father to solve the puzzle. But in the hunt she finds herself arrested ...
The List has several story arcs as past and present collide. Martha finds herself in an impossible position, on the wrong side of the law and not knowing who she can trust. It's a compelling tale told at pace and engaging from the start.
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