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Jake Talbot Investigates #1
Visiting Lilly
Why should a man at a Surrey police station go ballistic because someone tries to visit Lilly, his elderly grandmother?
Detective Inspector Jake Talbot is intrigued, and this little puzzle might serve to distract him from sorrows of a Christmas past. Soon he is entangled with Frankie, an odd young man who claims to have met Lilly in her youth.
Talbot dismisses the notion of time travel, but then discovers the Ministry of Defence has been monitoring Frankie since his friend disappeared ten years previously.
Forced to work with the MOD, Talbot unearths family secrets and betrayals. The families act ruthlessly to prevent him from discovering the facts, colluding to ruin him.
If Frankie is innocent, Talbot won't let him be victimised. An uneasy understanding grows between them as they follow the evidence, for only the truth will allow Frankie to visit Lilly.
Detective Inspector Jake Talbot is intrigued, and this little puzzle might serve to distract him from sorrows of a Christmas past. Soon he is entangled with Frankie, an odd young man who claims to have met Lilly in her youth.
Talbot dismisses the notion of time travel, but then discovers the Ministry of Defence has been monitoring Frankie since his friend disappeared ten years previously.
Forced to work with the MOD, Talbot unearths family secrets and betrayals. The families act ruthlessly to prevent him from discovering the facts, colluding to ruin him.
If Frankie is innocent, Talbot won't let him be victimised. An uneasy understanding grows between them as they follow the evidence, for only the truth will allow Frankie to visit Lilly.
296 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
52 people are currently reading
600 people want to read
About the author
Toni Allen
10 books109 followersToni Allen is the author of the Jake Talbot Investigates mystery series, which began with Visiting Lilly (2014) and continues with Saving Anna (2015). She is currently working on the third book, Finding Louisa, due out in 2017.
As a photographer of note, a columnist, and an acclaimed tarot reader and astrologer, Toni draws on her extensive experience as a psychic to bring personal awareness of the paranormal, from both the believer and non-believer's point of view, to her Jake Talbot Investigates series.
Toni has had numerous non-fiction articles published, and won awards for short fiction and poetry, including a first prize awarded in a competition judged by noted mystery writer P D James.
She’s the author of two bestselling books on tarot, The System of Symbols: a New Way to Look at Tarot, which is now also published in Italian by Spazio Interiore; and Sex & Tarot.
She lives in Surrey, England, where she happily includes pink grasshoppers in her macro-photography.
Visit Toni’s website www.toniallenauthor.com
Connect with Toni at www.facebook.com/ToniAllenAuthor and Twitter: @Listansus and view her photos at http://toniallen.zenfolio.com/
She maintains a Pinterest board for her novel Saving Anna - https://uk.pinterest.com/listansus/sa...
For updates on new releases and other news, email Toni at jaketalbotinvestigates@outlook.com to join her newsletter.
As a photographer of note, a columnist, and an acclaimed tarot reader and astrologer, Toni draws on her extensive experience as a psychic to bring personal awareness of the paranormal, from both the believer and non-believer's point of view, to her Jake Talbot Investigates series.
Toni has had numerous non-fiction articles published, and won awards for short fiction and poetry, including a first prize awarded in a competition judged by noted mystery writer P D James.
She’s the author of two bestselling books on tarot, The System of Symbols: a New Way to Look at Tarot, which is now also published in Italian by Spazio Interiore; and Sex & Tarot.
She lives in Surrey, England, where she happily includes pink grasshoppers in her macro-photography.
Visit Toni’s website www.toniallenauthor.com
Connect with Toni at www.facebook.com/ToniAllenAuthor and Twitter: @Listansus and view her photos at http://toniallen.zenfolio.com/
She maintains a Pinterest board for her novel Saving Anna - https://uk.pinterest.com/listansus/sa...
For updates on new releases and other news, email Toni at jaketalbotinvestigates@outlook.com to join her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
April 12, 2018
EXCERPT: Frankie stood in the rain. It had started out mild, but a driving wind had kicked up, and nowhe was freezing cold. He stared at the building, looked up and across the windows, wondering which room she was in. He'd rehearsed what to say one hundred times over, but that had been in his head, in his imagination. The nursing home had been built in the sixties, straight lined, pebble dashed - no character. In the rain the building looked grim. The idea of going inside was daunting, and for the past hour his courage had failed him. He dug his hands into his pockets. He'd bought new clothes especially for the occasion, a pair of black jeans, a chestnut brown sweater, and some leather shoes, not trainers. He knew she'd like the shoes, polished and smart; but they didn't look smart any more. It was silly standing there getting wet with no umbrella and his waterproof left in the car. He was supposed to go straight in, only it wasn't happening as planned. His nerve had failed him.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Why should a man at a Surrey police station go ballistic because someone tries to visit Lilly, his elderly grandmother?
Detective Inspector Jake Talbot is intrigued, and this little puzzle might serve to distract him from sorrows of a Christmas past. Soon he is entangled with Frankie, an odd young man who claims to have met Lilly in her youth. Talbot dismisses the notion of time travel, but then discovers the Ministry of Defence has been monitoring Frankie since his friend disappeared ten years previously. Forced to work with the MOD, Talbot unearths family secrets and betrayals. The families act ruthlessly to prevent him from discovering the facts, colluding to ruin him.
If Frankie is innocent, Talbot won’t let him be victimised. An uneasy understanding grows between them as they follow the evidence, for only the truth will allow Frankie to visit Lilly.
MY THOUGHTS: Can I write a review that does this outstanding book justice? I hope so.
This is a carefully and delicately layered book that delivers so much more than you first expect.
What starts out as a simple police procedural, and one where no real crime has been committed, soon turns into something far more sinister.
Detective Inspector Jake Talbot wonders why a man at a Surrey police station would go ballistic because someone tries to visit Lilly, his elderly grandmother? He asks to follow up the complaint, mainly as a distraction from the ghosts of Christmases past which come to haunt him at this time each year.
He is soon intrigued, even more so after he has met the man in question, Frankie Hayward, who claims to have met Lilly in her youth. Perhaps the authorities, who variously describe Frankie as a nutter, schizophrenic, genius, murderer, stalker and fanatic, may be right.
But in spite of all this, he forms an oddly protective friendship with Frankie, who is traumatised by the disappearance of his only friend, Keith MacKenzie, ten years earlier.
There are lots of secrets and lies, and people acting ruthlessly to prevent Frankie from seeing Lilly. The big question is "Why"?
This is a truly intriguing read. At times I wondered if there had been a book prior to this one, but there hasn't, and all becomes clear by the end.
Toni Allen has done a wonderful job of this book and I am looking forward to her next book, Saving Anna, which is due out later this year.
Thank you to gejohnsonmedia, Kay Vreeland at Booktrope and author Toni Allen for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Why should a man at a Surrey police station go ballistic because someone tries to visit Lilly, his elderly grandmother?
Detective Inspector Jake Talbot is intrigued, and this little puzzle might serve to distract him from sorrows of a Christmas past. Soon he is entangled with Frankie, an odd young man who claims to have met Lilly in her youth. Talbot dismisses the notion of time travel, but then discovers the Ministry of Defence has been monitoring Frankie since his friend disappeared ten years previously. Forced to work with the MOD, Talbot unearths family secrets and betrayals. The families act ruthlessly to prevent him from discovering the facts, colluding to ruin him.
If Frankie is innocent, Talbot won’t let him be victimised. An uneasy understanding grows between them as they follow the evidence, for only the truth will allow Frankie to visit Lilly.
MY THOUGHTS: Can I write a review that does this outstanding book justice? I hope so.
This is a carefully and delicately layered book that delivers so much more than you first expect.
What starts out as a simple police procedural, and one where no real crime has been committed, soon turns into something far more sinister.
Detective Inspector Jake Talbot wonders why a man at a Surrey police station would go ballistic because someone tries to visit Lilly, his elderly grandmother? He asks to follow up the complaint, mainly as a distraction from the ghosts of Christmases past which come to haunt him at this time each year.
He is soon intrigued, even more so after he has met the man in question, Frankie Hayward, who claims to have met Lilly in her youth. Perhaps the authorities, who variously describe Frankie as a nutter, schizophrenic, genius, murderer, stalker and fanatic, may be right.
But in spite of all this, he forms an oddly protective friendship with Frankie, who is traumatised by the disappearance of his only friend, Keith MacKenzie, ten years earlier.
There are lots of secrets and lies, and people acting ruthlessly to prevent Frankie from seeing Lilly. The big question is "Why"?
This is a truly intriguing read. At times I wondered if there had been a book prior to this one, but there hasn't, and all becomes clear by the end.
Toni Allen has done a wonderful job of this book and I am looking forward to her next book, Saving Anna, which is due out later this year.
Thank you to gejohnsonmedia, Kay Vreeland at Booktrope and author Toni Allen for the gift of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
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December 1, 2014As editor of this book (with a royalty share), I can only say that Toni is a pleasure to work with; I'm looking forward to her next venture!
April 27, 2017
This book was not my normal style but decided to go for and and I was glad I did.
I have not read anything else from this author, but could well be looking into her in the future.
This is a book full of secrets, never quite believing either side but wanting to at the same time. There are many layers to the story and as they unfold I was captivated and could not wait to find the truth at the end. This is where everything has been explained.
The characters in this book are not only believable but also realistic. The writing style was easy to read and although there were teasers, the flow of the book worked well.
A great read that I would recommend to friends Well done to the author
I have not read anything else from this author, but could well be looking into her in the future.
This is a book full of secrets, never quite believing either side but wanting to at the same time. There are many layers to the story and as they unfold I was captivated and could not wait to find the truth at the end. This is where everything has been explained.
The characters in this book are not only believable but also realistic. The writing style was easy to read and although there were teasers, the flow of the book worked well.
A great read that I would recommend to friends Well done to the author
January 20, 2015
What's the expression? You had me from hello? The front cover drew me in almost subliminally but this book had me from its teaser pages & it did not disappoint. Beautifully crafted & well-written with a plausible, intelligent, original plot & naturally flowing dialogue from real people - the author's characters are alive & all too human - i devoured page after page, swept along with complex unpredictable scenarios, all clearly, satisfyingly & credibly resolved. Highly recommended. I'm really looking forward to the sequel!
February 4, 2018
This was a very different but fascinating story.....not my usual sort of thing and I'm not sure now how I spotted it. It was a free download so probably via a helpful Bookbub email, I expect. I'm going to definitely buy the next one in the series as I see it not only features Jake but Frankie, too, so that's a clear bonus for me as I liked their relationship so much. I could've done with less of Frankie crying and weeping quite as much as he does but aside from that, they're two nice guys and quite the unlikely pairing. I did despise Trudy, though. You need to suspend belief a tad but only a tad. If it had been too fantastical I'd not have bothered finishing it, trust me. There were some very funny lines in it and one part made me very sniffy as well. One thing I kept wondering about were people's ages. Unless I breezed past without taking it in I was unaware of how old they both are or the age-gap, if any......
There were some mistakes in it, one in particular making me wince when she wrote brought and not bought !! Ouch....bigtime. That little gem pretty much cost her the 5th star in my review along with the fact I seemed to take a long time to read it and got bogged down just a bit with it. I think it was with the families.....trying to keep up with who was related to who and whose brother this one was, etc....I kept getting them mixed up and had to keep flicking back 'n' forth to remind myself.....
There were the obligatory e-book apostrophe errors, course was used when I'm pretty sure it should've been coarse, complimented and not complemented and a repeated error was writing forwards and not forward-not something I've spotted anyone else do.
She does this thing, too, where she keeps writing words with spaces in that don't need them, or need to be hyphenated-like dead lock, time saving, time line, air bag, window sill and foot well !!!
I'd recommend the story, though. It was nice to escape into something a little bit "out there" for a change and I look FORWARD to encountering Jake and Frankie again.
There were some mistakes in it, one in particular making me wince when she wrote brought and not bought !! Ouch....bigtime. That little gem pretty much cost her the 5th star in my review along with the fact I seemed to take a long time to read it and got bogged down just a bit with it. I think it was with the families.....trying to keep up with who was related to who and whose brother this one was, etc....I kept getting them mixed up and had to keep flicking back 'n' forth to remind myself.....
There were the obligatory e-book apostrophe errors, course was used when I'm pretty sure it should've been coarse, complimented and not complemented and a repeated error was writing forwards and not forward-not something I've spotted anyone else do.
She does this thing, too, where she keeps writing words with spaces in that don't need them, or need to be hyphenated-like dead lock, time saving, time line, air bag, window sill and foot well !!!
I'd recommend the story, though. It was nice to escape into something a little bit "out there" for a change and I look FORWARD to encountering Jake and Frankie again.
September 5, 2014
Detective Inspector Jake Talbot has been having a bad year. He's spent most of it investigating a truly horrendous crime. It's finally resolved, but during it, his significant other, Claire, got tired of it and him and moved out, taking not just all her own things, but gifts she'd given him. It's now nearly Christmas, always a bad time of year for him because of a past family tragedy--but worse than ever this year, because of the Lassiter case and Claire's departure.
Not wanting to take his boss's advice and take time off, Jake focuses instead on what seems to be a minor case, easily resolved: A young man unrelated to the family has been attempting to visit Lillian Charteris in her care home, over the objections of her grandchildren, Peter and Melanie Charteris.
Yet the young man, Frankie Hayward, seems quite harmless, and Peter's reaction, in particular, seems out of all proportion and entirely too personal.
And the more questions Jake asks, the stranger things become. Hayward is smart, gentle, and definitely a little odd. The Charteris siblings are strangely unwilling to supply any real answers to what the connection between their family and Hayward may be. When Jake takes the rather elementary step of looking for more information on some of the people most directly involved, he discovers they have sealed files, courtesy of the Ministry of Defense.
He's stumbled onto something far more involved, confusing, and dangerous than he ever expected.
I want to say that I really liked this book, a lot more than I expected to. There are elements of both paranormal and time travel romance involved, and they're important, and they are both things that normally try my patience. Allen has handled them with skill and grace, and they added to the story, rather than being elements I just had to cope with.
Beyond that, the characters are interesting and complex. Several seem to be pretty obvious and straightforward, and prove to be far more than they initially appear. The pacing is very well done, and overall I just didn't want to stop reading. This book just did not want to be put down.
Highly recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher.
Not wanting to take his boss's advice and take time off, Jake focuses instead on what seems to be a minor case, easily resolved: A young man unrelated to the family has been attempting to visit Lillian Charteris in her care home, over the objections of her grandchildren, Peter and Melanie Charteris.
Yet the young man, Frankie Hayward, seems quite harmless, and Peter's reaction, in particular, seems out of all proportion and entirely too personal.
And the more questions Jake asks, the stranger things become. Hayward is smart, gentle, and definitely a little odd. The Charteris siblings are strangely unwilling to supply any real answers to what the connection between their family and Hayward may be. When Jake takes the rather elementary step of looking for more information on some of the people most directly involved, he discovers they have sealed files, courtesy of the Ministry of Defense.
He's stumbled onto something far more involved, confusing, and dangerous than he ever expected.
I want to say that I really liked this book, a lot more than I expected to. There are elements of both paranormal and time travel romance involved, and they're important, and they are both things that normally try my patience. Allen has handled them with skill and grace, and they added to the story, rather than being elements I just had to cope with.
Beyond that, the characters are interesting and complex. Several seem to be pretty obvious and straightforward, and prove to be far more than they initially appear. The pacing is very well done, and overall I just didn't want to stop reading. This book just did not want to be put down.
Highly recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher.
December 2, 2015
A romantic film noir style detective story with a modern twist!
Recommendation: Noir buffs and mystery readers alike will find something to enjoy in Visiting Lilly. ROmance readers may find they enjoy the more abstract romantic aspect, and paranormal readers will eat it up. A great read with tons of character and a wealth of keep you guessing moments.
Jake Talbot is a lonely, depressed cop with little to live for except his precious antiques and his job as an investigator. When the complaints of a rich man are brought to his attention, Jake is drawn into a feud that spans lifetimes. Frankie Hayward just wants to see the love of his life, Lilly, only hitch is… he’s never met the elderly woman and he’s a young man. Intrigued by the rich man’s quick anger and Frankie’s seemingly innocent love for a stranger, Talbot dives into the case for better or worse.
Both men, Jake and Frankie, are beautifully written. Each have flaws that bring their lofty storyline back firmly into reality while still enticing the reader to continue reading. Each man has his own unique dialogue and is written distinctly different from each other yet they are both masterfully woven together. The story has a handful of support characters, each with just enough history to them to prove their point but not to overburden the reader with superfluous details.
Just like in a typical Noir film or book, Jake is moody, brooding, smokes and drinks far too much, but somehow still seems to have the right amount of heart. Frankie is the silly sidekick all the way, his… quirks lend him to the comic and emotional relief needed throughout the story. Finding the damsel in distress in Visiting Lilly will prove a little more challenging. None of the women truly fall into that category, and as a champion of strong women, I was glad for the lack of weak ones, they weren’t needed anyway.
The story had a slow start for me, a typical cop novel, protocols, and little to no mystery, but once I read a bit further in I was hooked. The paranormal aspects were real, and I was relieved to see how they were handled later in the story’s end. Every time I thought I knew something, another detail was thrown at me and I found myself smiling and reading faster. Truly a gem.
Recommendation: Noir buffs and mystery readers alike will find something to enjoy in Visiting Lilly. ROmance readers may find they enjoy the more abstract romantic aspect, and paranormal readers will eat it up. A great read with tons of character and a wealth of keep you guessing moments.
Jake Talbot is a lonely, depressed cop with little to live for except his precious antiques and his job as an investigator. When the complaints of a rich man are brought to his attention, Jake is drawn into a feud that spans lifetimes. Frankie Hayward just wants to see the love of his life, Lilly, only hitch is… he’s never met the elderly woman and he’s a young man. Intrigued by the rich man’s quick anger and Frankie’s seemingly innocent love for a stranger, Talbot dives into the case for better or worse.
Both men, Jake and Frankie, are beautifully written. Each have flaws that bring their lofty storyline back firmly into reality while still enticing the reader to continue reading. Each man has his own unique dialogue and is written distinctly different from each other yet they are both masterfully woven together. The story has a handful of support characters, each with just enough history to them to prove their point but not to overburden the reader with superfluous details.
Just like in a typical Noir film or book, Jake is moody, brooding, smokes and drinks far too much, but somehow still seems to have the right amount of heart. Frankie is the silly sidekick all the way, his… quirks lend him to the comic and emotional relief needed throughout the story. Finding the damsel in distress in Visiting Lilly will prove a little more challenging. None of the women truly fall into that category, and as a champion of strong women, I was glad for the lack of weak ones, they weren’t needed anyway.
The story had a slow start for me, a typical cop novel, protocols, and little to no mystery, but once I read a bit further in I was hooked. The paranormal aspects were real, and I was relieved to see how they were handled later in the story’s end. Every time I thought I knew something, another detail was thrown at me and I found myself smiling and reading faster. Truly a gem.
May 30, 2017
Visiting Lilly
Time travel in a whole different light than most time travel novels. But that is the basic premise of this story. Throw in a missing person, possibly a murder victim or maybe trapped in another time. Someone has to unravel the mysteries and this author has presented the story in such a way that the reader feels involved, feels like actually being a part of the story and trying to solve the crime. Keeps the reader on the edge of your seat all the way to the end of the last page.
Time travel in a whole different light than most time travel novels. But that is the basic premise of this story. Throw in a missing person, possibly a murder victim or maybe trapped in another time. Someone has to unravel the mysteries and this author has presented the story in such a way that the reader feels involved, feels like actually being a part of the story and trying to solve the crime. Keeps the reader on the edge of your seat all the way to the end of the last page.
December 17, 2017
I LOVED IT! It has been such a long while since I have been so invested in a proper mystery book, and this book had an amazing paranormal twist. I mean seriously I can't stop gushing. I need more in this series!!
When I think about it, it has been a while since I loved a Paranormal book as much as I loved this one.
Great book, absolutely loved it!
When I think about it, it has been a while since I loved a Paranormal book as much as I loved this one.
Great book, absolutely loved it!
May 16, 2018
Visiting Lilly is not your average whodunit, which is to be expected when there is no body and the person accused of murder dabbles in astral travel.
So, is there a murder? While some people are deeply convinced there is, DI Jake Talbot starts snooping around and soon bumps into restrictions. Not one to be told off, he only digs harder. And what he uncovers is a plot bordering on the supernatural.
Rarely have I met a character in a book who gave me so much food for thought. He is not easily placed, this Jake Talbot. Highly sensitive to every mood around him, he snaps at people quite out of proportion with the situation. It made me wonder if he suffers from some male form of PMS. And then again he is empathic and patient when one would expect him to blow up. No, he is not a straight character, but full of contradictions resulting from his own personal pain. It’s what makes him vulnerable as well as likeable as he manoeuvres through the pits and traps twisting the plot every which way.
The touch of the supernatural lends this story a fascinating depth, making the reader wonder if such things as ghosts are what we believe them to be and if travelling outside of your body is really possible.
Toni Allen kept me turning the pages, unwilling to put the book aside. When I had to, my thoughts were chewing on the puzzles like a dog on a bone, making me hurry through my chores to get back to the story.
So, is there a murder? While some people are deeply convinced there is, DI Jake Talbot starts snooping around and soon bumps into restrictions. Not one to be told off, he only digs harder. And what he uncovers is a plot bordering on the supernatural.
Rarely have I met a character in a book who gave me so much food for thought. He is not easily placed, this Jake Talbot. Highly sensitive to every mood around him, he snaps at people quite out of proportion with the situation. It made me wonder if he suffers from some male form of PMS. And then again he is empathic and patient when one would expect him to blow up. No, he is not a straight character, but full of contradictions resulting from his own personal pain. It’s what makes him vulnerable as well as likeable as he manoeuvres through the pits and traps twisting the plot every which way.
The touch of the supernatural lends this story a fascinating depth, making the reader wonder if such things as ghosts are what we believe them to be and if travelling outside of your body is really possible.
Toni Allen kept me turning the pages, unwilling to put the book aside. When I had to, my thoughts were chewing on the puzzles like a dog on a bone, making me hurry through my chores to get back to the story.
July 24, 2020
Truth or fiction
I enjoyed the story of finding lily, the goal appeared to be the actual visit. But what I enjoyed more was the building of the relationship between the 2 main characters. The tension between them, the fractures in the budding relationship were portrayed so realistically as realistic as the loving friendship that followed, beneficial to both. I wanted the book to go on and felt ambivalent over the ending. I have always toyed with the idea of time travel and this book didnt .disappoint .
I enjoyed the story of finding lily, the goal appeared to be the actual visit. But what I enjoyed more was the building of the relationship between the 2 main characters. The tension between them, the fractures in the budding relationship were portrayed so realistically as realistic as the loving friendship that followed, beneficial to both. I wanted the book to go on and felt ambivalent over the ending. I have always toyed with the idea of time travel and this book didnt .disappoint .
April 23, 2017
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book, but wow, I was sucked in right away. I couldn't put it down, I had to find out what happened. This was definitely a book worth reading. I voluntarily reviewed a copy via Quirky Blind Date with a Book.
May 2, 2017
This book hooked me right from the get go! I loved that I would think I knew what was going on, just to be stumped again!!! Great book about life, love, mystery, and drama!!!
March 15, 2018
Fantastic
Fantastic story. I had a devil of a time putting it down each time I had to stop reading. It grabs you from the start and marks you believe anything is possible.
Fantastic story. I had a devil of a time putting it down each time I had to stop reading. It grabs you from the start and marks you believe anything is possible.
February 11, 2019
A very good Story
I couldn’t put this down it’s not the sort of books I usually read but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will wait for further books by Author
I couldn’t put this down it’s not the sort of books I usually read but I thoroughly enjoyed it and will wait for further books by Author
October 31, 2019
Unique ,suspenseful, lovable characters
Just had to finish this book. Such a great and original premise. Lives up to its potential! I loved Frankie and Detective Talbott.
Just had to finish this book. Such a great and original premise. Lives up to its potential! I loved Frankie and Detective Talbott.
May 28, 2018
Fascinating storyline
This book really drew me into the story. Very well thought out it gives you good for thought. Talbot comes across as an old school type, always the best.
This book really drew me into the story. Very well thought out it gives you good for thought. Talbot comes across as an old school type, always the best.
January 17, 2015
Disclaimer: I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Let me start with this ... I have always been a fan of Ms. Allen's writing. She is an amazing story teller, and Visiting Lilly is no exception. Kudos on the spectacular work Ms. Allen.
Visiting Lilly is the story of Detective Inspector Jake Talbot and Francis "Frankie" Hayward--a man that claims he's traveled through time, but more than that, during his time travel he met and fell in love with a woman by the name of Lilly.
The dilemma is that in current time, whenever Frankie attempts to visit Lilly who is an elderly woman in an Old Folks Home, her grandson goes insane, accusing Frankie of being a pervert.
Things eventually get super interesting when D.I. Talbot decides that he want to know more about this case and what is really going on. While Talbot is batting with his own inner demons, he can't seem to lose interest in the goings on of this case.
I'll try not to ruin the story too much for you all--I don't want to give any spoilers.
So I will give you my thoughts of the overall presentation of this story in the form of Pros and Cons.
Cons:
There aren't any!
I can't even being to tell you how wonderful it is to read a book and say with all certainty that there are NO CONS WHATSOEVER. It's a beautiful thing indeed!
Pros:
1. The story has a certain edge of the genres Hard-boiled and Noir Fiction. When reading it, I felt as though I was being taken to the time of Dick Tracy, with a modern twist.
2. All of the characters were extraordinarily written and highly believable. Every single one--from the main character to all of the supporting characters, no matter how small their part.
3. The dialogue was believable. Never cliche, never questionable. One could imagine people actually speaking the way that the characters spoke.
4. The chapters were of even'ish length, not too long, and divided in all the right places.
5. The story keeps the reader invested. There isn't a moment when you think to yourself, "Hmm. I'm not that interested in what's going on next." As the matter of fact, it's quite the opposite. You WANT to know.
6. Being that I am a Special Needs parent, I ALWAYS ADMIRE when a story interweave the reality of struggling with Special Needs in a way that truly bring that struggle to the forefront. Visiting Lilly does that marvelously. More than that, it give the readers a real look into the life of a Special Needs person.
All in all, Visiting Lilly is a phenomenal read and I recommend it highly.
Let me start with this ... I have always been a fan of Ms. Allen's writing. She is an amazing story teller, and Visiting Lilly is no exception. Kudos on the spectacular work Ms. Allen.
Visiting Lilly is the story of Detective Inspector Jake Talbot and Francis "Frankie" Hayward--a man that claims he's traveled through time, but more than that, during his time travel he met and fell in love with a woman by the name of Lilly.
The dilemma is that in current time, whenever Frankie attempts to visit Lilly who is an elderly woman in an Old Folks Home, her grandson goes insane, accusing Frankie of being a pervert.
Things eventually get super interesting when D.I. Talbot decides that he want to know more about this case and what is really going on. While Talbot is batting with his own inner demons, he can't seem to lose interest in the goings on of this case.
I'll try not to ruin the story too much for you all--I don't want to give any spoilers.
So I will give you my thoughts of the overall presentation of this story in the form of Pros and Cons.
Cons:
There aren't any!
I can't even being to tell you how wonderful it is to read a book and say with all certainty that there are NO CONS WHATSOEVER. It's a beautiful thing indeed!
Pros:
1. The story has a certain edge of the genres Hard-boiled and Noir Fiction. When reading it, I felt as though I was being taken to the time of Dick Tracy, with a modern twist.
2. All of the characters were extraordinarily written and highly believable. Every single one--from the main character to all of the supporting characters, no matter how small their part.
3. The dialogue was believable. Never cliche, never questionable. One could imagine people actually speaking the way that the characters spoke.
4. The chapters were of even'ish length, not too long, and divided in all the right places.
5. The story keeps the reader invested. There isn't a moment when you think to yourself, "Hmm. I'm not that interested in what's going on next." As the matter of fact, it's quite the opposite. You WANT to know.
6. Being that I am a Special Needs parent, I ALWAYS ADMIRE when a story interweave the reality of struggling with Special Needs in a way that truly bring that struggle to the forefront. Visiting Lilly does that marvelously. More than that, it give the readers a real look into the life of a Special Needs person.
All in all, Visiting Lilly is a phenomenal read and I recommend it highly.
November 29, 2014
The story is set in London. If you like Inspector Morse, I think you will like this novel by Toni Allen also. There are some superficial similarities. Morse loves beer and music. Talbot drinks a lot of tea and likes art and antiques. But what most struck me was how both of these men dislike a wrong being covered up by politics or by what club one belongs to (academic or financial). Talbot believes in fairness.
He has some tragedy in his life that causes some around him to discount him. He becomes involved in a small altercation. A young man, Francis Hayward, wishes to visit a woman in a nursing home. That woman’s grandson, Peter Charteris, goes ballistic and wants Hayward jailed. Talbot realizes there has to be more going on. This smart detective gathers facts, lays a course, and tests his theories.
There were just enough characters to round out the motives and inter- connectedness of the mystery. I liked how the author let you know more and more about Hayward and Talbot as the story went along. Talbot is certain something is afoul around Hayward and the Charteris family. He has to unravel if Hayward’s claims of seeing Lilly on an astral visit are true. Or if just the proclamations of it are enough to put Hayward in danger. It’s always difficult to review a book, but mysteries especially because it is a challenge to describe if the puzzle is resolved well without giving away any important events. This novel picks up speed and the story is less about wondering if Hayward is crazy and more about folks with their own wicked agenda. I thought the ending of this work was especially strong and proved that Talbot is more than capable of catching those that do evil.
I was given a free book to read and write an honest review.
He has some tragedy in his life that causes some around him to discount him. He becomes involved in a small altercation. A young man, Francis Hayward, wishes to visit a woman in a nursing home. That woman’s grandson, Peter Charteris, goes ballistic and wants Hayward jailed. Talbot realizes there has to be more going on. This smart detective gathers facts, lays a course, and tests his theories.
There were just enough characters to round out the motives and inter- connectedness of the mystery. I liked how the author let you know more and more about Hayward and Talbot as the story went along. Talbot is certain something is afoul around Hayward and the Charteris family. He has to unravel if Hayward’s claims of seeing Lilly on an astral visit are true. Or if just the proclamations of it are enough to put Hayward in danger. It’s always difficult to review a book, but mysteries especially because it is a challenge to describe if the puzzle is resolved well without giving away any important events. This novel picks up speed and the story is less about wondering if Hayward is crazy and more about folks with their own wicked agenda. I thought the ending of this work was especially strong and proved that Talbot is more than capable of catching those that do evil.
I was given a free book to read and write an honest review.
February 17, 2017
A kindle freebie crime fiction with a time travel /paranormal twist.
August 5, 2016
When DI Jake Talbot learns there’s a complaint against a young man for simply attempting to visit an elderly nursing home resident, he’s intrigued. Why would Peter Charteris be so opposed to allowing Frankie Hayward to visit his elderly grandmother, Lilly? Jake Talbot soon finds there’s much more to the story than what appears on the surface. He’s thrust into the middle of a case that involves secrets, betrayal and quite possibly murder. Can he get to the bottom of it all before it’s too late for Lilly?
This book reminds me a little of some of the BBC detective shows I like so much. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Jake Talbot is likable and charming, with the right amount of faults and weaknesses to make him believable and appealing.
I’m not sure what to think about the astral time travel aspects of this book. They certainly were intriguing, yet not to the point where I was able to believe it could be possible. There’s plenty of suspense, twists and turns to keep readers involved and reading until the end. I enjoyed the author’s writing style. It’s engaging, descriptive and intelligent. I’d definitely read more of her work.
5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, http://ebookreviewgal.com
This book reminds me a little of some of the BBC detective shows I like so much. I enjoyed the story and the characters. Jake Talbot is likable and charming, with the right amount of faults and weaknesses to make him believable and appealing.
I’m not sure what to think about the astral time travel aspects of this book. They certainly were intriguing, yet not to the point where I was able to believe it could be possible. There’s plenty of suspense, twists and turns to keep readers involved and reading until the end. I enjoyed the author’s writing style. It’s engaging, descriptive and intelligent. I’d definitely read more of her work.
5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton, http://ebookreviewgal.com
March 28, 2015
I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.
I went into this book with no expectations and I was a little intrigued by the blurb. The story is set in the leafy suburbs of Surrey. The author's love of the area and local knowledge is apparent throughout the book.
The book is mostly a police story centring on Detective Inspector Jake Talbot. There is an important element in the book that is to do with astral projection which is something I have studied in the past and the author has expanded on the idea in an unexpected way.
I enjoyed the book from start to finish and although I feel the ending was a little flat it did put the pieces of the story together well. I would recommend it to those that like police drama, psychic elements to a book and those who want to read something a little bit different. I would read further works by the same author.
One final note is one of the main characters might have been written to be on the autistic spectrum (as I am) and if so the author's interpretation of it is good and sympathetic without being mentioned or being part of the story.
I went into this book with no expectations and I was a little intrigued by the blurb. The story is set in the leafy suburbs of Surrey. The author's love of the area and local knowledge is apparent throughout the book.
The book is mostly a police story centring on Detective Inspector Jake Talbot. There is an important element in the book that is to do with astral projection which is something I have studied in the past and the author has expanded on the idea in an unexpected way.
I enjoyed the book from start to finish and although I feel the ending was a little flat it did put the pieces of the story together well. I would recommend it to those that like police drama, psychic elements to a book and those who want to read something a little bit different. I would read further works by the same author.
One final note is one of the main characters might have been written to be on the autistic spectrum (as I am) and if so the author's interpretation of it is good and sympathetic without being mentioned or being part of the story.
November 9, 2014
Good debut for a crime story.
July 25, 2020
Profanity and obscenity
If there had been a warning, or review mentioning this, I wouldn’t have started the book. There are multiple cases of both profanity and obscenity. I’m sure some others would want to know that the book takes the Lord’s name in vain and there are instances of anti Christian sentiment. Unfortunately, I was already caught up in the story. It was very well written and I would like to read more about Frankie and Jake, but I won’t due to offensive language.
If there had been a warning, or review mentioning this, I wouldn’t have started the book. There are multiple cases of both profanity and obscenity. I’m sure some others would want to know that the book takes the Lord’s name in vain and there are instances of anti Christian sentiment. Unfortunately, I was already caught up in the story. It was very well written and I would like to read more about Frankie and Jake, but I won’t due to offensive language.
February 1, 2018
2.5-3 stars. Started off enjoying it but then it just started to irritate me. Too fantastical and I felt I was going to drown in the amount of sobbing & tears flowing. Whilst I appreciate it's fiction, I found it hard to suspend belief and just go with it. I won't be reading any more by this author if they're in the same vein as this one.
May 31, 2020
Different from the books that I normally read, but still good.
November 5, 2020
A fun, quirky detective story that I thoroughly enjoyed. Detective Jake Talbot is an art and antique loving man who drinks a lot of tea. When he's asked to keep a young man from visiting a woman, Lilly in a nursing home he is put in the middle on why the man, Francis Hayward shouldn't be visiting Lilly and why Lilly's grandson, Peter Charteris is so set against Frankie visiting his grandmother.
There are a lot of fun side characters in this story and I can't wait to read more cases where Jake investigates.
There are a lot of fun side characters in this story and I can't wait to read more cases where Jake investigates.
February 16, 2016
I really enjoyed the character, plot and style of writing of this new author for me. However, several times during reading Visiting Lilly by Toni Allen I felt confused about a character or their relation to other characters or the plot. Cannot really put my finger on it but this does not usually happen. Regardless, it does not greatly change my rating. I am definitely going to read another book by this author.
April 9, 2017
A strange combination of police procedural and paranormal phenomenon, this book was definitely a different reading experience, but one I did enjoy. I did feel however that it somehow fell slightly between two stools, as the paranormal time travel side of the story could have done with some expansion.
April 11, 2017
I had a hard time deciding on a star rating for this book. I loved the idea and I loved some of the execution, but their were parts that I felt dragged on that just should not of. I also had a hard time with some of the language, though I am not sure if this was because I am from the US and this took place in the UK. I have read other books that were in the UK and didn't struggle with the words as much as I did this one.
I really loved the story and how I was surprised of the twists in the book. My thoughts of the guilty parties were completely different from who actually was involved, and this surprised me as I am normally one to figure it out pretty quickly. I liked that not only was this a crime drama, but it had astral travel.
I felt like the beginning of the book just dragged. I had a hard time getting into this book, but by the end I was very involved and wanted to keep reading. Between this and the difficulty I had with some of the words I gave this 4, though closer to 3.5, instead of 5 stars. During the beginning of the book I felt like their was no character development and that they all seemed 1 dimensional, but I will admit this was needed to help with the story and by the end they were well developed and 3 dimensional.
I am not sure how much I like Jake in this story, but I did fall in love with Frankie and just wanted to know if he would ever get the chance to visit with Lilly. I loved watching the relationship between Jake and Frankie change, and that in the end they seemed to be a great friendship. I would of like to of seen more of Kate.
I really loved the story and how I was surprised of the twists in the book. My thoughts of the guilty parties were completely different from who actually was involved, and this surprised me as I am normally one to figure it out pretty quickly. I liked that not only was this a crime drama, but it had astral travel.
I felt like the beginning of the book just dragged. I had a hard time getting into this book, but by the end I was very involved and wanted to keep reading. Between this and the difficulty I had with some of the words I gave this 4, though closer to 3.5, instead of 5 stars. During the beginning of the book I felt like their was no character development and that they all seemed 1 dimensional, but I will admit this was needed to help with the story and by the end they were well developed and 3 dimensional.
I am not sure how much I like Jake in this story, but I did fall in love with Frankie and just wanted to know if he would ever get the chance to visit with Lilly. I loved watching the relationship between Jake and Frankie change, and that in the end they seemed to be a great friendship. I would of like to of seen more of Kate.
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