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DS Allie Shenton #3
Only the Brave
When one of the notorious Johnson brothers is murdered and a bag of money goes missing, a deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.
DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but the suspects are double-crossing each other and Allie has little time to untangle the web of lies.
As she delves deeper into the case, things take a personal turn when Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead.
Set over forty-eight tension-filled hours, Only the Brave is the latest gut-churning book from acclaimed author Mel Sherratt.
342 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2015
290 people are currently reading
843 people want to read
About the author
Mel Sherratt
40 books533 followersI write police procedurals, psychological suspense and women's fiction with a punch - or grit-lit, as I call it.
I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and makes liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books.
You can find out more at my website www.melsherratt.co.uk or I'm on Twitter at @writermels
I also write women's fiction under the pen name of Marcie Steele.
I live in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, with my husband and terrier, Dexter (named after the TV serial killer) and makes liberal use of my hometown as a backdrop for some of my books.
You can find out more at my website www.melsherratt.co.uk or I'm on Twitter at @writermels
I also write women's fiction under the pen name of Marcie Steele.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 27, 2017
This was a disappointment compared to the prior two books in the series. A very blah book in my opinion.
May 16, 2015
4.5 stars
I want to thank Net Galley, Thomas & Mercer Publishing, and Ms. Mel Sherratt for an ARC of Only the Brave.
Ms. Mel Sherratt, aka Ms. Brit Grit Lit, does it again with the 3rd installment of the Allie Shenton series! In Only the Brave, Ms Sherratt weaves a complex tale of lies, double crosses, and disloyalties set in the gritty city of Stoke-on-Trent in England.
As the story opens, the scene is set and the characters are presented. We meet up again with several of the characters we were introduced to in the first two books of the series, Taunting the Dead and Follow the Leader. Certain persons are sure they have the perfect plan set up, and a crime is committed right off the bat. But my goodness, things go awry rather quickly, and off to the races we go! We are treated to all sorts of deception and intrigue as Allie and the team try to figure out what the hell happened and who is responsible. Not many of their suspects or witnesses are at all reliable, adding to the challenge. There is a huge element of "who can trust who dodginess" throughout the book, which also adds to the allure of the story. Twists and turns, which Ms. Sherratt specializes in, abound.
Why not 5 full stars? British slang is toned down a bit from Ms. Sherratt's last two novels; this actually disappointed me. Blimey, Mel!! Also, early on, when relationships are being established amongst the suspects, there are so many unlikeables dominating the scenes and slowing the story for me that I was begging for Allie to get in there and start kicking some rears. I do want to say these two issues reflect personal taste on my part, and I am sure many readers will not have a problem with them.
This book actually has a major subplot of high interest. This side issue, one that is very personal to Allie, starts in Taunting and continues into Leader. In Only the Brave, we get the continuation and conclusion of this heart-breaking counterplot. Ms. Sherratt, you didn't do the "expected" here, and for that I am very grateful.
I strongly recommend Only the Brave to all thriller/crime fiction fans. I also recommend that readers start with book #1 of the series, Taunting the Dead, and read in order to get maximal enjoyment from Ms. Sherratt's storytelling. Kudos to Ms. Sherratt, one of my very favorite authors, for another terrific novel. Next please!
I want to thank Net Galley, Thomas & Mercer Publishing, and Ms. Mel Sherratt for an ARC of Only the Brave.
Ms. Mel Sherratt, aka Ms. Brit Grit Lit, does it again with the 3rd installment of the Allie Shenton series! In Only the Brave, Ms Sherratt weaves a complex tale of lies, double crosses, and disloyalties set in the gritty city of Stoke-on-Trent in England.
As the story opens, the scene is set and the characters are presented. We meet up again with several of the characters we were introduced to in the first two books of the series, Taunting the Dead and Follow the Leader. Certain persons are sure they have the perfect plan set up, and a crime is committed right off the bat. But my goodness, things go awry rather quickly, and off to the races we go! We are treated to all sorts of deception and intrigue as Allie and the team try to figure out what the hell happened and who is responsible. Not many of their suspects or witnesses are at all reliable, adding to the challenge. There is a huge element of "who can trust who dodginess" throughout the book, which also adds to the allure of the story. Twists and turns, which Ms. Sherratt specializes in, abound.
Why not 5 full stars? British slang is toned down a bit from Ms. Sherratt's last two novels; this actually disappointed me. Blimey, Mel!! Also, early on, when relationships are being established amongst the suspects, there are so many unlikeables dominating the scenes and slowing the story for me that I was begging for Allie to get in there and start kicking some rears. I do want to say these two issues reflect personal taste on my part, and I am sure many readers will not have a problem with them.
This book actually has a major subplot of high interest. This side issue, one that is very personal to Allie, starts in Taunting and continues into Leader. In Only the Brave, we get the continuation and conclusion of this heart-breaking counterplot. Ms. Sherratt, you didn't do the "expected" here, and for that I am very grateful.
I strongly recommend Only the Brave to all thriller/crime fiction fans. I also recommend that readers start with book #1 of the series, Taunting the Dead, and read in order to get maximal enjoyment from Ms. Sherratt's storytelling. Kudos to Ms. Sherratt, one of my very favorite authors, for another terrific novel. Next please!
May 4, 2015
I wish to thank the author ~ Mel Sherratt and her publishers, Thomas and Mercer at Net Galley for supplying me with the ARC copy of "Only The Brave" in exchange for a honest review.
I have to say that I read the first two novels in the series," Taunting The Dead", and "Follow The Leader", which I enjoyed very much, and this one completes the DS Allie Shenton series to date. I would suggest that you read the previous books in order in the series, so that you have a greater depth to the characters returning in this novel.
This was a police procedural story, a fast-paced crime fiction, following a murder and the search for the killer. The book is set over 48 hours, with each chapter counting down the time, with time remaining. I felt like I was watching the TV show “48 hours”, in a race against time, to find the killer, all within a web of lies. The action and twists and turns keeps the reader totally focused on the status of the investigation.
“Police are looking into a suspicious death in Smallthorne. A man, believed to be in his early thirties, was found brutally attacked at the side of Harrison House, in the early hours of this morning.”
Then when one of the Johnson brothers dies and a large amount of money goes missing, DS Allie Shenton is assigned to find the killer and the cash. But no one is talking! And then Allie realizes she is being stalked by the same man who attacked and left her sister for dead 17 years ago.
The short chapter format briskly moves the story along, and the characters are well-written, engaging and very real.
I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend this novel to fans of crime fiction.
I have to say that I read the first two novels in the series," Taunting The Dead", and "Follow The Leader", which I enjoyed very much, and this one completes the DS Allie Shenton series to date. I would suggest that you read the previous books in order in the series, so that you have a greater depth to the characters returning in this novel.
This was a police procedural story, a fast-paced crime fiction, following a murder and the search for the killer. The book is set over 48 hours, with each chapter counting down the time, with time remaining. I felt like I was watching the TV show “48 hours”, in a race against time, to find the killer, all within a web of lies. The action and twists and turns keeps the reader totally focused on the status of the investigation.
“Police are looking into a suspicious death in Smallthorne. A man, believed to be in his early thirties, was found brutally attacked at the side of Harrison House, in the early hours of this morning.”
Then when one of the Johnson brothers dies and a large amount of money goes missing, DS Allie Shenton is assigned to find the killer and the cash. But no one is talking! And then Allie realizes she is being stalked by the same man who attacked and left her sister for dead 17 years ago.
The short chapter format briskly moves the story along, and the characters are well-written, engaging and very real.
I really enjoyed this novel and highly recommend this novel to fans of crime fiction.
November 27, 2015
Mel Sherratt, an author well known to my group " A Good Thriller" on goodreads, well loved and respected, and many fans within the group. Mel Sherratt also kindly did a Q & A's for us earlier in the year.
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and Mel Sherratt for an advanced copy of this book for a honest review, How could I say no to one of my new favourites authors.
This is the third book where we have met DS Allie Shenton, having previously read 'Taunting The Dead' and 'Follow The Leader'
The whole story takes place over 48 hours, but believe me there is a lot of twists, turns, double crossing, shocks, in this action paced great read.
Also we get to know DS Allie Shenton personality she seemed somehow more vulnerable, as she battles through a existing case involving her sister Karen, and the ever evolving of characters in her new case.
The book is filled with characters from previous books, new villains, new rather nasty bad guys and lot of colourful residents of a block of flats.
A great read, highly recommended. An easy for stars
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and Mel Sherratt for an advanced copy of this book for a honest review, How could I say no to one of my new favourites authors.
This is the third book where we have met DS Allie Shenton, having previously read 'Taunting The Dead' and 'Follow The Leader'
The whole story takes place over 48 hours, but believe me there is a lot of twists, turns, double crossing, shocks, in this action paced great read.
Also we get to know DS Allie Shenton personality she seemed somehow more vulnerable, as she battles through a existing case involving her sister Karen, and the ever evolving of characters in her new case.
The book is filled with characters from previous books, new villains, new rather nasty bad guys and lot of colourful residents of a block of flats.
A great read, highly recommended. An easy for stars
May 23, 2015
We are back with DS Allie again solving her cases as only she knows how. I just love this series!
Mel Sherratt has a way of writing that really gets me involved with everything that is going on within the chapters.
When this guy gets killed outside a block of flats [for whatever reason, I am not telling] you will have to read the story to find out. If that wasn't bad enough, the bag that was hidden underneath the tree and was found by an innocent person who lived in the block was a great adventure because I was wondering what would happen if that bag was discovered missing, as it had a huge amount of money in it.
Well, several things were happening within the chapters of this book that ran parallel so it was a bit like fixing a jigsaw puzzle for me to make the complete picture.
We also go to DS Allie's personal life too.
If you have read the previous books in this series you will know that her sisters attacker was never found and her sister in this book is very grimly ill.
All is all this was a great book for me to be lost in and join DS Allie and her team on the discoveries that were made.
Yet another crime solved with me on the team :) woooo hooo
I would love to thank Mel Sherratt for her awesome imagination and skill in writing such awesome books for us readers to get our teeth into and for Amazon Publishing in allowing me access prior to publication to read and leave a review.
My review blog is found
http://sueandherbooks.blogspot.co.uk/
June 15, 2015
So where to start and how to do justice to this book without giving anything away? Okay, here goes. I have devoured the other two books in the series but this one grabbed me by the throat and would not let go. I made the mistake of reading the first page before I had finished something I was working on. Well, it never got done. The story started with a bang and I immediately felt the warm familiarity of being back in the company of old friends.
Mel Sherratt excels at uncovering incredibly realistic characters while blending an intriguing plotline with characters that she knows like the back of her hand. Both serve to move the story on at breakneck pace. Assisted by the clever, pacey timeline that swept me along.
I am not going to reveal any plotlines but suffice to say that there is more than one surprise in store, not least the uncovering of the person who has had such an impact on the lives of Allie and her sister, Karen. The chapters from Allie's stalker's point of view I found particularly compelling and eerily scary.
There is a scene in the book that is so utterly powerful that it affected me greatly and was still on my mind this morning
So, to sum up the trademarks of this author are all very much in evidence: tight storytelling, a compelling plot, colourful and believable characters and then some but for me this one held just a little something extra as well.
I like Allie more and more with every book and I for one hope there is much more to come.
Mel Sherratt excels at uncovering incredibly realistic characters while blending an intriguing plotline with characters that she knows like the back of her hand. Both serve to move the story on at breakneck pace. Assisted by the clever, pacey timeline that swept me along.
I am not going to reveal any plotlines but suffice to say that there is more than one surprise in store, not least the uncovering of the person who has had such an impact on the lives of Allie and her sister, Karen. The chapters from Allie's stalker's point of view I found particularly compelling and eerily scary.
There is a scene in the book that is so utterly powerful that it affected me greatly and was still on my mind this morning
So, to sum up the trademarks of this author are all very much in evidence: tight storytelling, a compelling plot, colourful and believable characters and then some but for me this one held just a little something extra as well.
I like Allie more and more with every book and I for one hope there is much more to come.
May 19, 2015
Double crossing, lies and betrayal are the order of the day in the latest DS Allie Shenton outing as she is caught up in the investigation to find out who murdered local nightclub owner Jordan Johnson and why. It seems that everyone is telling lies but can she unravel a very tangled web and find out what is going on? At the same time she is painfully aware that she is being watched by the person responsible for the attack on her sister Karen 17 years ago but needs to work, to put her sister’s plight out of her mind until she has to face it for the final time.
It is a cracking read with lots of action and with a host of characters who are extremely readable. I loved reading about the very colourful tenants of the flats where Jordan’s body was found and trying to figure out where each one came in the grand scheme of things, and wondering just how far each would go to further their own ends.
The story was extremely well paced with short, punchy chapters progressing the action, which takes place over 48 hours, at a cracking speed. It really kept my interest throughout. I did however think that the last two or three chapters which tied up the Karen storyline felt a little rushed in relation to the rest of the story, and not quite as well thought out, more like an add-on. Having said that, it is a really enjoyable read. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
It is a cracking read with lots of action and with a host of characters who are extremely readable. I loved reading about the very colourful tenants of the flats where Jordan’s body was found and trying to figure out where each one came in the grand scheme of things, and wondering just how far each would go to further their own ends.
The story was extremely well paced with short, punchy chapters progressing the action, which takes place over 48 hours, at a cracking speed. It really kept my interest throughout. I did however think that the last two or three chapters which tied up the Karen storyline felt a little rushed in relation to the rest of the story, and not quite as well thought out, more like an add-on. Having said that, it is a really enjoyable read. Thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
May 26, 2015
Well as I said before, Mel Sherratt you have done it again! Just when I think your books cannot get any better you come out with something like this! The multitude of emotions I felt when reading this book was incredible...I did not know whether to laugh, cry or scream in frustration as we, the readers, go through each and every step of DS Allie Shenton's journey to catch her sister's attacker.
What I particularly love about Mel Sherratt is how she grips the reader from the get-go. No fluff, no chaos...just pure literary genius in my view. The
characters are believable--they could be your next door neighbour! And each story-line leaves you wanting more.
Taunting the Dead was one of my all time favourite books and I wondered if Mel could capture the essence of that story through the DS Allie Shenton series. I need not have worried as Follow The Leader (Book 2) was great but Only The Brave is definitely the shining star in this series...for me any way!
I love the Stoke/Staffordshire references and how Mel's descriptions leave me visualising each and every place. I also loved the ending as no doubt we have not seen the last of DS Allie Shenton and for that I am grateful. I look forward to reading what is next for Allie Shenton in this series as I have no doubt Mel has a few surprises up her sleeve!
What I particularly love about Mel Sherratt is how she grips the reader from the get-go. No fluff, no chaos...just pure literary genius in my view. The
characters are believable--they could be your next door neighbour! And each story-line leaves you wanting more.
Taunting the Dead was one of my all time favourite books and I wondered if Mel could capture the essence of that story through the DS Allie Shenton series. I need not have worried as Follow The Leader (Book 2) was great but Only The Brave is definitely the shining star in this series...for me any way!
I love the Stoke/Staffordshire references and how Mel's descriptions leave me visualising each and every place. I also loved the ending as no doubt we have not seen the last of DS Allie Shenton and for that I am grateful. I look forward to reading what is next for Allie Shenton in this series as I have no doubt Mel has a few surprises up her sleeve!
May 14, 2015
Thanks to the publisher, author and NetGalley for a copy of the book.
I was really excited to read the third book of the DS Allie Shenton series after reading the first two. And I was not disappointed. This is a pacy police procedural that is set over a timeframe of 48 hours. Most chapters being every 15 minutes or so which I really liked. It gave the story a realistic feel and made it even more pacy I felt. What I like is that Ms Sherratt always seems to be coming up with new ideas in her settings and timeframes, trying to keep things fresh, it definitely works for me.
Only The Brave revolves around primarly the murder of a young nightclub owner on his way to see his secret girlfriend. What unfolds is a twisty turny story comprising of characters of old from previous books and new folks, all beautifully brought to life in the author's inimitable way. Characters that are very easy to picture, follow and understand to the extent you become totally ingratiated in their stories.
We also have a continuation of a running theme comprising Allie herself and her sister. This for me is where the 'real' story was and where I wanted some answers ....... and I'm happy to say we got them. To say more would be to give spoilers but suffice to say I did guess and was made up when I got it right!! I know, sad!! Again, beautifully told and made perfect sense. Allie came across as realistic, a woman under immense pressure given the circumstances and I thought the whole thing was done well. I'd be interested to see how Allie's story continues and really hope that it does.
To say much more would be to give plot spoilers away so I'm going to leave it there and say I came away a very happy customer. I'm really pleased to see how the writing has come on with each progressive book and I'm err ready for the next one ...... whenever you are Ms Sherratt. ;)
I highly recommend. It can be read as a standalone but I would recommend starting with book one in the series. Some characters continue throughout.
Happy reading!
I was really excited to read the third book of the DS Allie Shenton series after reading the first two. And I was not disappointed. This is a pacy police procedural that is set over a timeframe of 48 hours. Most chapters being every 15 minutes or so which I really liked. It gave the story a realistic feel and made it even more pacy I felt. What I like is that Ms Sherratt always seems to be coming up with new ideas in her settings and timeframes, trying to keep things fresh, it definitely works for me.
Only The Brave revolves around primarly the murder of a young nightclub owner on his way to see his secret girlfriend. What unfolds is a twisty turny story comprising of characters of old from previous books and new folks, all beautifully brought to life in the author's inimitable way. Characters that are very easy to picture, follow and understand to the extent you become totally ingratiated in their stories.
We also have a continuation of a running theme comprising Allie herself and her sister. This for me is where the 'real' story was and where I wanted some answers ....... and I'm happy to say we got them. To say more would be to give spoilers but suffice to say I did guess and was made up when I got it right!! I know, sad!! Again, beautifully told and made perfect sense. Allie came across as realistic, a woman under immense pressure given the circumstances and I thought the whole thing was done well. I'd be interested to see how Allie's story continues and really hope that it does.
To say much more would be to give plot spoilers away so I'm going to leave it there and say I came away a very happy customer. I'm really pleased to see how the writing has come on with each progressive book and I'm err ready for the next one ...... whenever you are Ms Sherratt. ;)
I highly recommend. It can be read as a standalone but I would recommend starting with book one in the series. Some characters continue throughout.
Happy reading!
June 26, 2015
Set over a period of 48 hours
When local nightclub owner Jordan Johnson is found attacked and murdered carrying a large sum of money, DS Allie Shenton and her team are sent to investigate.
The residences from a local housing estate may know more than they are letting on to the police and one girl in particular wishes she had never come across a man lying attacked in the park.
Who is telling the truth Jordan's girlfriend, his brother or his lover...
Lie after lie is told.
Meanwhile in the background is Allie's sister Karen attacker, who has been stalking her too.
After receiving another red rose, a symbol that he is still watching her,
Allie must be more alert than ever to catch the man responsible for putting her sister in a coma.
This is a story of betrayal, greed and control and obsession.
My thoughts
Another excellent story by Mel Sherratt.
The first part of the story really explained how the characters were connected to Jordon Johnson and although the story seemed slow to take off when it did I was like....
It was another exciting, suspenseful and kept me hooked to the end story..
Nice twist at the end...
This is part of the Allie Shenton Series
Taunting The Dead
Follow My Leader
May 7, 2015
I was so excited to get an early copy of the new Mel Sherratt, and especially pleased that it was another ‘Allie Shenton’ book. Taunting The Dead and Follow My Leader are books 1 and 2 respectively and I would strongly recommend you read the books in order. Allie is back and facing the worst possible scenario in her personal life. Her sister was attached 17 years prior and life has never been the same for her since. It seems that now, the person who attacked her sister is now targeting Allie. In addition to this the body of Jordan Johnson is found and typically it seems he has links to Terry Ryder (featured in previous book).
The big difference in this latest book is Allie herself. She seemed somehow more vulnerable than usual and maybe not as strong as in previous books. On the other side of the fence we meet all the neighbours living in the flats where Jordan’s body was found. It seems before long that there are numerous candidates and it seems there is more double-crossing going on than you can shake a stick at. The other difference with this book is that is set over 24 hours so the chapters are started with the relevant time frame. I’m not that much of a fan of short time span books but this one worked well and had loads of pace and momentum.
Overall this was pretty much packed with all sorts of goings on and kept my interest right the way through. There are two storylines running throughout and for once this book finishes on something of a complete note. Hopefully this means that Allie will return fighting fit for another book and another new case. There is only one small thing that I consider a negative in this and previous books and that is Allie’s husband Mark. He doesn’t seem that prominent and to be honest would prefer that she got rid of him. I haven’t really felt like I connected with him as a character and he seems far too boring for her. The danger element of a man (such as in the last book) worked like a charm in my eyes. This is just a personal opinion but one that bugs me. Aside from the extremely boring husband another cracker for Mel Sherratt!
The big difference in this latest book is Allie herself. She seemed somehow more vulnerable than usual and maybe not as strong as in previous books. On the other side of the fence we meet all the neighbours living in the flats where Jordan’s body was found. It seems before long that there are numerous candidates and it seems there is more double-crossing going on than you can shake a stick at. The other difference with this book is that is set over 24 hours so the chapters are started with the relevant time frame. I’m not that much of a fan of short time span books but this one worked well and had loads of pace and momentum.
Overall this was pretty much packed with all sorts of goings on and kept my interest right the way through. There are two storylines running throughout and for once this book finishes on something of a complete note. Hopefully this means that Allie will return fighting fit for another book and another new case. There is only one small thing that I consider a negative in this and previous books and that is Allie’s husband Mark. He doesn’t seem that prominent and to be honest would prefer that she got rid of him. I haven’t really felt like I connected with him as a character and he seems far too boring for her. The danger element of a man (such as in the last book) worked like a charm in my eyes. This is just a personal opinion but one that bugs me. Aside from the extremely boring husband another cracker for Mel Sherratt!
February 12, 2019
When a notorious Johnson brother is found murdered DS Allie Shenton and her team are on the case. Crossing paths with the Ryder's once again, dark memories are brought to the forefront as it seems Ryder still has his hands in many pies despite being in prison. This is a tough one for Allie and one that pushes her to the brink and with her sister in a precarious state her attention is scattered.
This book felt a little different from its predecessors but none the less, I was still addicted and couldn't wait to finish. With the Ryder offspring heavily involved I was once again assaulted by Steph Ryder reincarnated, still as shallow and self-centered.
This is the last book in the series and ties up all the loose ends while still delivering a plot with twists and turns. Once again the narrator did a great job and I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.
This book felt a little different from its predecessors but none the less, I was still addicted and couldn't wait to finish. With the Ryder offspring heavily involved I was once again assaulted by Steph Ryder reincarnated, still as shallow and self-centered.
This is the last book in the series and ties up all the loose ends while still delivering a plot with twists and turns. Once again the narrator did a great job and I cannot wait to see what comes next from this author.
May 25, 2018
This book combines a great cast of dark characters with a wonderfully paced thriller. There are webs of deceit to unravel and crimes to solve. It is full of suspense - keeping you turning the pages, desperate to know what is going to happen next.
May 7, 2015
When one of the notorious Johnson brothers is murdered and a bag of money goes missing, a deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.
DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but the suspects are double-crossing each other and Allie has little time to untangle the web of lies.
As she delves deeper into the case, things take a personal turn when Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead.
Set over forty-eight tension-filled hours, Only the Brave is the latest gut-churning book from acclaimed author Mel Sherratt.
5/5
Book 3 to feature DS Allie Shenton. I'm really enjoying this series. And was Buzzing when I got an early review copy. i couldn't wait to get started.
I just loved this book, I can't put into words just how much I really did enjoy it. And well towards the end I thought I was going to have heart failure, lol. I was so involved in this book, I had to have a word with myself to relax and breathe.
It had everything for me, and I really did enjoy it.
I'm loving this Allie Shenton series, And I am hoping there is going to be a lot more of it to come.
I like the character of Allie, I think she has had a lot to deal with, what with her sister being in hospital long term, her battle against guilt, and knowing from her last case someone is out to trouble her.
The thing is, how strong can Allie be, and can she ever come out the other end.
We meet a great mix of characters from the flats (not the estate) in this book, One or two I wanted to give a good slap to, and maybe one, I wanted everything to work out ok for. After all you can't help who you fall in love with. The Ryder family were featured again in this book so Allie had a few demons to face here too. Overall I felt the characters were strong and believable, I could almost feel like i was there with them.
overall I think this book was really well written, fantastically put together, and really bloody enjoyable.
A fantastically gripping read.
I would urge you to read the other two books in this series before starting this one, as I personally think It will make the reading experience so much better for you if you have the history of the characters as you go along.
Mel has certainly worked hard with this book, and every book I read by this author just get's better and better.
DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but the suspects are double-crossing each other and Allie has little time to untangle the web of lies.
As she delves deeper into the case, things take a personal turn when Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead.
Set over forty-eight tension-filled hours, Only the Brave is the latest gut-churning book from acclaimed author Mel Sherratt.
5/5
Book 3 to feature DS Allie Shenton. I'm really enjoying this series. And was Buzzing when I got an early review copy. i couldn't wait to get started.
I just loved this book, I can't put into words just how much I really did enjoy it. And well towards the end I thought I was going to have heart failure, lol. I was so involved in this book, I had to have a word with myself to relax and breathe.
It had everything for me, and I really did enjoy it.
I'm loving this Allie Shenton series, And I am hoping there is going to be a lot more of it to come.
I like the character of Allie, I think she has had a lot to deal with, what with her sister being in hospital long term, her battle against guilt, and knowing from her last case someone is out to trouble her.
The thing is, how strong can Allie be, and can she ever come out the other end.
We meet a great mix of characters from the flats (not the estate) in this book, One or two I wanted to give a good slap to, and maybe one, I wanted everything to work out ok for. After all you can't help who you fall in love with. The Ryder family were featured again in this book so Allie had a few demons to face here too. Overall I felt the characters were strong and believable, I could almost feel like i was there with them.
overall I think this book was really well written, fantastically put together, and really bloody enjoyable.
A fantastically gripping read.
I would urge you to read the other two books in this series before starting this one, as I personally think It will make the reading experience so much better for you if you have the history of the characters as you go along.
Mel has certainly worked hard with this book, and every book I read by this author just get's better and better.
May 13, 2015
In Only The Brave we meet DS Allie Shenton for the third time. If you haven't already read Taunting The Dead (DS Allie Shenton #1) and Follow The Leader (DS Allie Shenton #2) then I would recommend you do so as some of the previous characters are re-visited in this book. However, it could be enjoyed as a standalone novel.
Having already read all of Mel Sherratt's previous books I was very much looking forward to reading this and I haven't been disappointed!
It starts with Allie's Sister, Karen, in critical condition in hospital having suffered another brain haemorrhage. Karen had been raped and left for dead years before. Her attacker had never been found. He is, however, taunting Allie. She knows he's watching her, but she has no idea who he is. Throughout the book we get a real feel for the guilt Allie suffers having never solved Karen's case. Also for getting on with her job and her life whilst Karen lies in a hospital bed. She knows Karen doesn't have long left and her emotion is evident. This makes her a really likeable and believable character. She may have an important job, but she is still also someone's sister and a wife. Her relationship with her husband, Mark, is very real. He worries about her, grumbles about her long working hours and the danger she potentially faces daily, but is obviously very proud of her.
The murder of Jordan Johnson is Allie's next case, when he is found beaten and stabbed just outside Harrison House. He had been living with Kirstie Ryder since her Father, Terry, had been sent down. Jordan's brother, Ryan, also lives with them. We follow Allie as they work through the evidence. With Jordan having some dodgy friends it was hard to know if this was a random attack or something pre-meditated.
When Karen takes another turn for the worse and Allie makes her way to the hospital to face what she had always dreaded, we find out who her attacker was all those years ago! I don't want to give too much away to those who haven't read this yet so I won't say anything else other than I never saw it coming! Brilliant! I can't wait for the next instalment!
I would recommend this to anyone who loves gritty crime fiction with a fast paced story and characters you will care about.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance Kindle copy.
Having already read all of Mel Sherratt's previous books I was very much looking forward to reading this and I haven't been disappointed!
It starts with Allie's Sister, Karen, in critical condition in hospital having suffered another brain haemorrhage. Karen had been raped and left for dead years before. Her attacker had never been found. He is, however, taunting Allie. She knows he's watching her, but she has no idea who he is. Throughout the book we get a real feel for the guilt Allie suffers having never solved Karen's case. Also for getting on with her job and her life whilst Karen lies in a hospital bed. She knows Karen doesn't have long left and her emotion is evident. This makes her a really likeable and believable character. She may have an important job, but she is still also someone's sister and a wife. Her relationship with her husband, Mark, is very real. He worries about her, grumbles about her long working hours and the danger she potentially faces daily, but is obviously very proud of her.
The murder of Jordan Johnson is Allie's next case, when he is found beaten and stabbed just outside Harrison House. He had been living with Kirstie Ryder since her Father, Terry, had been sent down. Jordan's brother, Ryan, also lives with them. We follow Allie as they work through the evidence. With Jordan having some dodgy friends it was hard to know if this was a random attack or something pre-meditated.
When Karen takes another turn for the worse and Allie makes her way to the hospital to face what she had always dreaded, we find out who her attacker was all those years ago! I don't want to give too much away to those who haven't read this yet so I won't say anything else other than I never saw it coming! Brilliant! I can't wait for the next instalment!
I would recommend this to anyone who loves gritty crime fiction with a fast paced story and characters you will care about.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance Kindle copy.
July 9, 2015
A welcome and reasonably quick return to DS Allie Shenton after her recent outing in Follow the Leader. While Only the Brave can be read as a stand alone, I recommend you read the previous novels first as not only does this continue some of the themes, it also means you'd not be missing out on great reads.
The basic criminal plot evolves around the murder of one of the notorious Johnson brothers and a bag of missing money. It resurrects characters from previous titles and is set in the locale of Stoke on Trent. The plot is made the more interesting as we follow the case over the course of 48 hours so the investigation is quite intense. Running parallel to this is the ongoing need to discover the individual who is stalking Allie, made all the more sinister as it is believed to be the same person who attacked her sister 17 years ago. I intend saying no more about the plot as not only would it spoil this novel, but it also impinges on story lines that have gone before.
I love Mel's writing style her characters are always believable and her plots are fast paced with twists and turns that keep you engaged. Allie in particular is a great character, a mix of efficiency and vulnerability that makes her likeable and plausable.
I would also like to congratulate Mel for taking the brave decision to bring particular ongoing themes to a satisfactory conclusion in this book. As she has already said this is not the last we have seen of DS Allie it would have been easy to let particular strands carry on. However I can think of one mainstream crime writer who insists on maintaining a running theme through his books which has gone on for far too long and has now become an unbelievable distraction. So thank you for not taking the easy route, but giving us the promise of an unencumbered Allie to look forward to.
If you like gritty police procedurals with realistic plots and believable characters then this is for you.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
The basic criminal plot evolves around the murder of one of the notorious Johnson brothers and a bag of missing money. It resurrects characters from previous titles and is set in the locale of Stoke on Trent. The plot is made the more interesting as we follow the case over the course of 48 hours so the investigation is quite intense. Running parallel to this is the ongoing need to discover the individual who is stalking Allie, made all the more sinister as it is believed to be the same person who attacked her sister 17 years ago. I intend saying no more about the plot as not only would it spoil this novel, but it also impinges on story lines that have gone before.
I love Mel's writing style her characters are always believable and her plots are fast paced with twists and turns that keep you engaged. Allie in particular is a great character, a mix of efficiency and vulnerability that makes her likeable and plausable.
I would also like to congratulate Mel for taking the brave decision to bring particular ongoing themes to a satisfactory conclusion in this book. As she has already said this is not the last we have seen of DS Allie it would have been easy to let particular strands carry on. However I can think of one mainstream crime writer who insists on maintaining a running theme through his books which has gone on for far too long and has now become an unbelievable distraction. So thank you for not taking the easy route, but giving us the promise of an unencumbered Allie to look forward to.
If you like gritty police procedurals with realistic plots and believable characters then this is for you.
I received an ARC in return for an honest review.
October 26, 2015
Publication Date: 26th May 2015
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 978-1477830628
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
When one of the notorious Johnson brothers is murdered and a bag of money goes missing, a deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.
DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but the suspects are double-crossing each other and Allie has little time to untangle the web of lies.
As she delves deeper into the case, things take a personal turn when Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead.
Set over forty-eight tension-filled hours, Only the Brave is the latest gut-churning book from acclaimed author Mel Sherratt.
My Review:
I'm beginning to fall in love with DS Allie Shenton. She's such a complex and intelligently written character, it's impossible not to adore her. Gutsy, with such innate skills of detection, Allie attacks her latest case with gusto.
The cleverly interwoven plot with Allie's stalker is chilling. I could hardly turn the pages fast enough as I devoured this brilliantly compelling novel. I found it utterly enthralling, unputdownable.
If you're looking for a police procedural with a difference, you need to discover Allie Shenton!
*I received a free copy ,via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion, for which I'd like to thank the publishing team*
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
ISBN: 978-1477830628
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 5*
Synopsis:
When one of the notorious Johnson brothers is murdered and a bag of money goes missing, a deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.
DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but the suspects are double-crossing each other and Allie has little time to untangle the web of lies.
As she delves deeper into the case, things take a personal turn when Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead.
Set over forty-eight tension-filled hours, Only the Brave is the latest gut-churning book from acclaimed author Mel Sherratt.
My Review:
I'm beginning to fall in love with DS Allie Shenton. She's such a complex and intelligently written character, it's impossible not to adore her. Gutsy, with such innate skills of detection, Allie attacks her latest case with gusto.
The cleverly interwoven plot with Allie's stalker is chilling. I could hardly turn the pages fast enough as I devoured this brilliantly compelling novel. I found it utterly enthralling, unputdownable.
If you're looking for a police procedural with a difference, you need to discover Allie Shenton!
*I received a free copy ,via NetGalley, in return for my honest opinion, for which I'd like to thank the publishing team*
July 21, 2015
I would like to thank Net Galley, Amazon Publishing and author Mel Sherratt for this advanced copy in exchange for a honest review. This is the second book I have read by the author featuring the character DS Allie Shenton and the 3 star rating does not really do the book full credit. Due to the insufficient number of rating choices I opted to go for a three star although in fairness it is close to a four star rating but not quite. Like the previous book I read the book is full of action and many twists and turns that keep the pages turning at a fair speed.
The book is set over 48 hours and this emphasises the pace of the story. The main character DS Allie Shenton is a much troubled woman and I feel that there is plenty of scope to develop this character. I will certainly be following this author and in particular this series.
The book is set over 48 hours and this emphasises the pace of the story. The main character DS Allie Shenton is a much troubled woman and I feel that there is plenty of scope to develop this character. I will certainly be following this author and in particular this series.
July 18, 2022
This book followed on from the previous one. So the mystery was cleared up at the end of this book, as well as solving another murder.
May 26, 2015
Only the Brave was another book I have been highly anticipating from one of my new favourite authors, Mel Sherratt, who has been a great supporter of my blog over the past twelve months. Only the Brave is the third book in the DS Allie Shenton series, and returning readers will be more than ready for the events of Taunting the Dead and Follow the Leader to come to a head in Only the Brave. New readers should definitely read those two books first before picking up Only the Brave.
I've said it before but what sets Mel's crime writing apart from a lot of others is that she writes about real people, people we can easily imagine and puts them into situations that are all too believable. Particularly for those of us who grew up and/or live in areas not dissimilar to the Stoke setting in this series. DS Allie Shenton is our main character, and she is really pushed to her limits in Only the Brave having to contend with not only the hunting of another killer but also the fact that she is being stalked by the same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago, leaving her for dead. The sister that Allie is forced to make some heartrending decisions about in this installment.
It is of course difficult to discuss the plot in any great detail except to say that I really enjoyed the way the series continues to include characters from previous stories. This time around sees the return of Terry Ryder, his daughter, and the various other criminals they associate with. One associate being Jordan Johnson, who is found murdered, opening up a can of worms for Allie and her team, and a race against time to find the killer in a tale where nobody can be trusted. Told over a 48-hour timeline, the plot is fast-paced, barely giving you time to pause for breath and this works brilliantly. By this point in the series I do have a soft spot for Allie, and once she realises she is being stalked and her life may be in danger, I felt genuine fear at how things would play out as the book progressed.
Slight spoilers but for me that killer showdown can make or break a story, it doesn't matter how good everything that came before it was, but that culmination that an author has spent numerous books building up to has got to be spot on and I'm so glad to say that Only the Brave does not disappoint. I think perhaps what hit me most was, in keeping with the realism and grittiness of her stories, Mel's bad guys are often believable, those normal people that you pass on the street everyday, and I think that's the genuinely scary thing about her stories. The fast-paced nature of the 48-hour narrative allows Mel to really go full throttle near the end delivering a fantastic conclusion which, whilst I thought there could have been one or two unexpected twists, it was an exciting and thrilling finale. Returning readers will not be disappointed with book three, and new readers have a series of books to read that I wish I could read for the first time again.
I've said it before but what sets Mel's crime writing apart from a lot of others is that she writes about real people, people we can easily imagine and puts them into situations that are all too believable. Particularly for those of us who grew up and/or live in areas not dissimilar to the Stoke setting in this series. DS Allie Shenton is our main character, and she is really pushed to her limits in Only the Brave having to contend with not only the hunting of another killer but also the fact that she is being stalked by the same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago, leaving her for dead. The sister that Allie is forced to make some heartrending decisions about in this installment.
It is of course difficult to discuss the plot in any great detail except to say that I really enjoyed the way the series continues to include characters from previous stories. This time around sees the return of Terry Ryder, his daughter, and the various other criminals they associate with. One associate being Jordan Johnson, who is found murdered, opening up a can of worms for Allie and her team, and a race against time to find the killer in a tale where nobody can be trusted. Told over a 48-hour timeline, the plot is fast-paced, barely giving you time to pause for breath and this works brilliantly. By this point in the series I do have a soft spot for Allie, and once she realises she is being stalked and her life may be in danger, I felt genuine fear at how things would play out as the book progressed.
Slight spoilers but for me that killer showdown can make or break a story, it doesn't matter how good everything that came before it was, but that culmination that an author has spent numerous books building up to has got to be spot on and I'm so glad to say that Only the Brave does not disappoint. I think perhaps what hit me most was, in keeping with the realism and grittiness of her stories, Mel's bad guys are often believable, those normal people that you pass on the street everyday, and I think that's the genuinely scary thing about her stories. The fast-paced nature of the 48-hour narrative allows Mel to really go full throttle near the end delivering a fantastic conclusion which, whilst I thought there could have been one or two unexpected twists, it was an exciting and thrilling finale. Returning readers will not be disappointed with book three, and new readers have a series of books to read that I wish I could read for the first time again.
June 6, 2015
This is the third book in the enthralling and frankly scary Allie Shenton series and in my opinion this is a series that needs to be read in order to get the full Allie Shenton experience.
Set in Stoke-on-Trent the plot of Only The Brave starts with the murder of a man in the early hours of the morning. A woman stumbling home in the early hours of the morning literally falls over the body of the dead man but leaves him lying there. When the body is found later by an elderly dog-walker (you have to wonder would the crime levels fall if dog-walkers didn’t exist) Allie and the team kick into action, the only problem is the estate where the body was found is famous for keeping information to itself. Finding out who did it isn’t likely to be an easy task.
The local criminals are also twitch as a substantial amount of money has gone missing causing all the local brutes to flex their muscles, and worse, to expedite its return. This only causes more suspects to be drawn to Allie’s attention.
Alongside all of this Allie is worried she is being watched and a gift delivered to the hospital where her older sister Karen is being treated only seems to confirm her view. Karen was brutally attacked seventeen years previously and one of Allie’s goals is to arrest the man who ruined her life. Having read the first two in this series I feel almost as invested in finding out who attacked Karen as Allie.
I enjoy this series because Allie is a real woman, and a decent one at that. She can have maverick tendencies but these are mainly kept under control and she gets on well with her fellow officers who are all watching her back. Her home life while containing the daily reminder of the devastation crime can cause is on the whole happy with her husband being supportive for the most part.
This book is told over a mere forty-eight hours with each chapter clearly marked with the time as the detectives follow leads and mis-leads. We also get to see behind the scenes at the estate with the residents playing their own games – as the reader we know who is telling which part of the truth and willing Allie to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The tension is maintained because although we have more details than the detective we don’t have the answer either although I had my suspicions!
Once again the denouement is simply terrifying, and my heart was in my mouth and my fingers crossed for a good outcome which made turning those pages very difficult. An exceptional finish which was satisfying and even better it looks like we haven’t heard the last of Allie Shenton!
I’d like to thank the author Mel Sherratt for giving me a copy of this book for review purposes. Only The Brave is due to be published on 26 May 2015 so if you haven’t already done so I suggest you pick up the first two in the series.
Set in Stoke-on-Trent the plot of Only The Brave starts with the murder of a man in the early hours of the morning. A woman stumbling home in the early hours of the morning literally falls over the body of the dead man but leaves him lying there. When the body is found later by an elderly dog-walker (you have to wonder would the crime levels fall if dog-walkers didn’t exist) Allie and the team kick into action, the only problem is the estate where the body was found is famous for keeping information to itself. Finding out who did it isn’t likely to be an easy task.
The local criminals are also twitch as a substantial amount of money has gone missing causing all the local brutes to flex their muscles, and worse, to expedite its return. This only causes more suspects to be drawn to Allie’s attention.
Alongside all of this Allie is worried she is being watched and a gift delivered to the hospital where her older sister Karen is being treated only seems to confirm her view. Karen was brutally attacked seventeen years previously and one of Allie’s goals is to arrest the man who ruined her life. Having read the first two in this series I feel almost as invested in finding out who attacked Karen as Allie.
I enjoy this series because Allie is a real woman, and a decent one at that. She can have maverick tendencies but these are mainly kept under control and she gets on well with her fellow officers who are all watching her back. Her home life while containing the daily reminder of the devastation crime can cause is on the whole happy with her husband being supportive for the most part.
This book is told over a mere forty-eight hours with each chapter clearly marked with the time as the detectives follow leads and mis-leads. We also get to see behind the scenes at the estate with the residents playing their own games – as the reader we know who is telling which part of the truth and willing Allie to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The tension is maintained because although we have more details than the detective we don’t have the answer either although I had my suspicions!
Once again the denouement is simply terrifying, and my heart was in my mouth and my fingers crossed for a good outcome which made turning those pages very difficult. An exceptional finish which was satisfying and even better it looks like we haven’t heard the last of Allie Shenton!
I’d like to thank the author Mel Sherratt for giving me a copy of this book for review purposes. Only The Brave is due to be published on 26 May 2015 so if you haven’t already done so I suggest you pick up the first two in the series.
April 28, 2015
Only the Brave is the third book in the DS Allie Shenton series and the description on Goodreads says that it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story but I am going to disagree. I highly recommend reading the first two books, Taunting the Dead and Follow the Leader. One of the biggest problems I had with this book was that I couldn’t connect with Allie and a few of the other characters. There were a lot of references to past events that I felt left out of the loop on and left me feeling like I was missing out; sort of like in gym class when you didn’t get picked to be on the dodge ball team or that time you didn’t get invited to the years most note-worthy party.
So my advice: read book one and two before this one.
With that being said, there were a lot of things I really loved about this book. The story takes place over 48 hours with the chapter headings ticking away at the clock. This was great and gave me a sense of urgency not only with what the police were up against, but the circle of suspects as well. And let me just tell you that the circle of suspects are quite a cast of morally conflicted individuals.
One of these suspects is Kirstie Ryder and she is nasty little piece of work. You meet her and her father (who is in prison) in the previous books, so this is where I’m talking about missing out on some of the juicy details. Allie and Kirstie hate each other because of events that occurred before and Kirstie isn’t to happy about having Allie nosing around again. I kept waiting for the spitting and hair pulling. Awesome.
Behind the scenes, Allie is dealing with a lot of personal drama. Her sister is dying, the man behind her sisters attack is watching her, and her husband is tired of playing second fiddle to the job.
I highly enjoyed Mel Sherratt’s writing style and I can’t wait to check out more. I only wished I had read the first two before I read this one which is why I rated it the way I did. So if you’re a fan of gritty, fast-paced crime fiction then you must read this book! You have plenty of time to catch up on the series before the release date.
So my advice: read book one and two before this one.
With that being said, there were a lot of things I really loved about this book. The story takes place over 48 hours with the chapter headings ticking away at the clock. This was great and gave me a sense of urgency not only with what the police were up against, but the circle of suspects as well. And let me just tell you that the circle of suspects are quite a cast of morally conflicted individuals.
One of these suspects is Kirstie Ryder and she is nasty little piece of work. You meet her and her father (who is in prison) in the previous books, so this is where I’m talking about missing out on some of the juicy details. Allie and Kirstie hate each other because of events that occurred before and Kirstie isn’t to happy about having Allie nosing around again. I kept waiting for the spitting and hair pulling. Awesome.
Behind the scenes, Allie is dealing with a lot of personal drama. Her sister is dying, the man behind her sisters attack is watching her, and her husband is tired of playing second fiddle to the job.
I highly enjoyed Mel Sherratt’s writing style and I can’t wait to check out more. I only wished I had read the first two before I read this one which is why I rated it the way I did. So if you’re a fan of gritty, fast-paced crime fiction then you must read this book! You have plenty of time to catch up on the series before the release date.
July 11, 2015
Booktrail the locations of the novel here Only the Brave Booktrail
48 hours in Stoke on Trent. Now this is not the kind of agenda you’d want to follow in real life but in a fictional setting, it’s more than an adventure weekend!
With the case of double dealing growing by the day, Allie Shenton is back but at her most vulnerable, not surprising as she is being stalked. As she continues to investigate the murder of Jordan Johnson, she gets further and further embroiled in the web of deceit that seems to cover much of the city of Stoke. One character is described thus –
Growing up with two older brothers on one of the meanest streets in Stoke on Trent….
The community in and around the flats where the body is found is a cold, dubious and insular place to be. Most have alibis of where they were on the night it happened but the threads of truth seemed to be frayed and barely holding the various stories together.
Enter Allie Shenton trying to pick her way through this jungle of lies and it’s a hard, gritty path she treads. Smell the fear and the anticipation as one thing leads to another, the tension of the stalker emphasising one woman’s fight to carry on regardless. Police work is a series of tough calls, with the team sacrificing everything apart from the next potential lead.
He parked on Ford Green Road noticing a few more neighbours’ cars nearby…
The 48 Hours in Stoke is a gritty and very realistic ride. The sense of a closed and insular community reveals a disparate bunch of people, each with their own set of values, reasons for telling the story they tell, and the overall effect on this crime in the wider community.
Over a small amount of time, a puzzle is set and the clock is set ticking. Whether the pieces will be blown to smithereens before the time runs out is the exhilarating journey Mel Sherratt takes you on..
48 hours in Stoke on Trent. Now this is not the kind of agenda you’d want to follow in real life but in a fictional setting, it’s more than an adventure weekend!
With the case of double dealing growing by the day, Allie Shenton is back but at her most vulnerable, not surprising as she is being stalked. As she continues to investigate the murder of Jordan Johnson, she gets further and further embroiled in the web of deceit that seems to cover much of the city of Stoke. One character is described thus –
Growing up with two older brothers on one of the meanest streets in Stoke on Trent….
The community in and around the flats where the body is found is a cold, dubious and insular place to be. Most have alibis of where they were on the night it happened but the threads of truth seemed to be frayed and barely holding the various stories together.
Enter Allie Shenton trying to pick her way through this jungle of lies and it’s a hard, gritty path she treads. Smell the fear and the anticipation as one thing leads to another, the tension of the stalker emphasising one woman’s fight to carry on regardless. Police work is a series of tough calls, with the team sacrificing everything apart from the next potential lead.
He parked on Ford Green Road noticing a few more neighbours’ cars nearby…
The 48 Hours in Stoke is a gritty and very realistic ride. The sense of a closed and insular community reveals a disparate bunch of people, each with their own set of values, reasons for telling the story they tell, and the overall effect on this crime in the wider community.
Over a small amount of time, a puzzle is set and the clock is set ticking. Whether the pieces will be blown to smithereens before the time runs out is the exhilarating journey Mel Sherratt takes you on..
June 8, 2015
Only the Brave starts off with Allie's sister, Karen who is seriously ill and has been transferred from the residential care home to hospital. During a visit Allie receives another delivery from the mystery sender who she believes is Karen's attacker. Is this Allie's chance to finally to get justice for Karen?
But first there is a murder, one Jordan Johnson, who turns out to be the boyfriend of Kirstie Ryder.
Kirstie returns after her supporting role in Taunting The Dead to be a more high profile character and she's developed her mother attributes. But what has she learnt from her dad Terry, Allie's nemesis from her first literary outing.
Allie uses this murder to distract her from Karen's condition to varying degrees of success as the story progresses. Will Allie find Jordan's killer and more importantly Karen's attacker? Only time will tell!
Mel has managed to drag me to Stoke on Trent (well my own little imaginary version of the city). With Taunting the Dead still fresh in my mind, I could imagine the Ryder residence and Stoke police station along with the new location of Harrogate Towers from the descriptions in the book.
Needless to say you're best off reading Taunting the Dead before you read Only the Brave. There are also references to Follow The Leader.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for this ebook in return for my honest opinion and thanks to Mel for yet another great Allie Shenton book.
But first there is a murder, one Jordan Johnson, who turns out to be the boyfriend of Kirstie Ryder.
Kirstie returns after her supporting role in Taunting The Dead to be a more high profile character and she's developed her mother attributes. But what has she learnt from her dad Terry, Allie's nemesis from her first literary outing.
Allie uses this murder to distract her from Karen's condition to varying degrees of success as the story progresses. Will Allie find Jordan's killer and more importantly Karen's attacker? Only time will tell!
Mel has managed to drag me to Stoke on Trent (well my own little imaginary version of the city). With Taunting the Dead still fresh in my mind, I could imagine the Ryder residence and Stoke police station along with the new location of Harrogate Towers from the descriptions in the book.
Needless to say you're best off reading Taunting the Dead before you read Only the Brave. There are also references to Follow The Leader.
Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for this ebook in return for my honest opinion and thanks to Mel for yet another great Allie Shenton book.
April 26, 2015
A tense and gripping third instalment in the DS Allie Shenton series.
"When one of the notorious Johnson brothers is murdered and a bag of money goes missing, a deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.
DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but...as she delves deeper into the case, things take a personal turn when Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead."
This has quickly become one of my favourite crime series, and Mel Sherratt one of my favourite authors. A fabulous story with real down to earth characters is guaranteed with each of her books.
Only The Brave is set over 48 hours with the chapter headings tracking the time. I enjoyed this format and it gave a sense of what the police are up against in the first hours investigating a case.
Allie's personal life came into focus throughout the book and especially towards the end, reminding me how well the author engages readers. I admit I shed a tear or two along the way.
Highly recommended for fans of gritty crime fiction, but I urge you to read the previous books in the series (Taunting The Dead & Follow The Leader) or you'll be missing out - a lot of characters recur in Only The Brave.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy e-book.
"When one of the notorious Johnson brothers is murdered and a bag of money goes missing, a deadly game of cat and mouse is set in motion.
DS Allie Shenton and her team are called in to catch the killer, but...as she delves deeper into the case, things take a personal turn when Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead."
This has quickly become one of my favourite crime series, and Mel Sherratt one of my favourite authors. A fabulous story with real down to earth characters is guaranteed with each of her books.
Only The Brave is set over 48 hours with the chapter headings tracking the time. I enjoyed this format and it gave a sense of what the police are up against in the first hours investigating a case.
Allie's personal life came into focus throughout the book and especially towards the end, reminding me how well the author engages readers. I admit I shed a tear or two along the way.
Highly recommended for fans of gritty crime fiction, but I urge you to read the previous books in the series (Taunting The Dead & Follow The Leader) or you'll be missing out - a lot of characters recur in Only The Brave.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy e-book.
May 5, 2015
Tight knit communities, secrets, and a fast paced crime that takes places over two days in the life of DS Allie Shenton. There are loads going on in the police procedural novel, the third in the series. I have previous read the second, Follow the Leader, but not the first having missed that when it first came out, You can read this as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading them in the correct order as there are some references to her past and that of her sister which will help with the enjoyment of the book.
Allie is just getting back into the swing of things after some stressful weeks at her sister´s bedside (here are the references to previous novels) and her team must find the person who committed murder and on one side and on the other side there is a bunch of missing money, well, not missing for the reader as we know exactly where it is, but for the person wanting his money back. This add to the mystery and suspense. The personal problems that Allie goes through gives her a very human side and I enjoy that part. I particularly like Mark´s character, Allie´s husband, even though he only has a sideline part, he is integral and clearly care for his wife and her safety.
Looking forward to more from Mel Sherratt and Allie Shenton.
Allie is just getting back into the swing of things after some stressful weeks at her sister´s bedside (here are the references to previous novels) and her team must find the person who committed murder and on one side and on the other side there is a bunch of missing money, well, not missing for the reader as we know exactly where it is, but for the person wanting his money back. This add to the mystery and suspense. The personal problems that Allie goes through gives her a very human side and I enjoy that part. I particularly like Mark´s character, Allie´s husband, even though he only has a sideline part, he is integral and clearly care for his wife and her safety.
Looking forward to more from Mel Sherratt and Allie Shenton.
December 13, 2015
3.5*
I have not read the two earlier books in this series, but in the end I don't think it made all that much difference.
Only the Brave is a book that grew on me as I read it.
To begin with I found the characters mostly unlikeable - but then I usually avoid books about organised crime.
There are two story threads running through this book - one of the Johnson brothers is murdered, and this is where the organised crime side of the plot comes in. All his associates are double-crossing each other, and as I said previously, none of them are particularly likeable.
The interesting part, for me, is the second thread in the story where Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead. Allie is also trying to come to terms with the fact that her sister, who has been in a coma since the attack, is now dying.
And it is this second thread that will send me back to start the series from the beginning.
Thank you to author Mel Sherratt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I have not read the two earlier books in this series, but in the end I don't think it made all that much difference.
Only the Brave is a book that grew on me as I read it.
To begin with I found the characters mostly unlikeable - but then I usually avoid books about organised crime.
There are two story threads running through this book - one of the Johnson brothers is murdered, and this is where the organised crime side of the plot comes in. All his associates are double-crossing each other, and as I said previously, none of them are particularly likeable.
The interesting part, for me, is the second thread in the story where Allie realises she is being stalked by the very same person who attacked her sister seventeen years ago and left her for dead. Allie is also trying to come to terms with the fact that her sister, who has been in a coma since the attack, is now dying.
And it is this second thread that will send me back to start the series from the beginning.
Thank you to author Mel Sherratt and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2015
Only The Brave is the third in the DS Allie Shenton series and in my opinion the best so far. I have loved all the books in this series but Only The Brave pushed through the 5 stars and if i could award it more I would do.
Set over a couple of days, Only The Brave is fast paced and had my attention right from the off. For me this story had plenty of thrills and chills and a couple of twists to keep you on the edge right up until the end.
I found the storyline in Only The Brave to be more darker than the previous two books. There are some recurring characters from the previous books which I love as the author doesn't have to spend to much time going into each characters background as we already know them.
I can't really go into the storyline as will ruin it for any new readers but will be interested to see what the future holds for Allie after certain events in this book. All I will say is that I had one hell of a big lump in my throat and tears in my eyes at the end of this book and if you want to know why then you will have to read it for yourself.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Set over a couple of days, Only The Brave is fast paced and had my attention right from the off. For me this story had plenty of thrills and chills and a couple of twists to keep you on the edge right up until the end.
I found the storyline in Only The Brave to be more darker than the previous two books. There are some recurring characters from the previous books which I love as the author doesn't have to spend to much time going into each characters background as we already know them.
I can't really go into the storyline as will ruin it for any new readers but will be interested to see what the future holds for Allie after certain events in this book. All I will say is that I had one hell of a big lump in my throat and tears in my eyes at the end of this book and if you want to know why then you will have to read it for yourself.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2015
Only The Brave is the long awaited third book in the DS Allie Shenton series. I love Allie Shenton. As a serving police officer myself, I often find crime books lacking in authenticity. Not so with the DS Shenton series. Mel Sherratt's writing is so authentic, I often feel as if I've worked a shift alongside her. Known for her 'grit lit' Mel's writing is tight, fast paced and well written.
This book can read as a stand alone, but I would recommend buying all three and starting from the first in the series, to enable you to follow DS Shenton on her journey to find her sister's attacker. I have a real affinity for DS Shenton and her co workers. This also offers an insight into the life of the notorious Johnson brothers and the people around them. With a great twist at the end, this book really has everything you would want in a crime novel. A cleverly written, fast paced read.
This book can read as a stand alone, but I would recommend buying all three and starting from the first in the series, to enable you to follow DS Shenton on her journey to find her sister's attacker. I have a real affinity for DS Shenton and her co workers. This also offers an insight into the life of the notorious Johnson brothers and the people around them. With a great twist at the end, this book really has everything you would want in a crime novel. A cleverly written, fast paced read.
November 7, 2015
Once again Mel Sherratt has come up with a fantastic story with a brilliant set of characters, this is book 3 in the Allie Shenton series and I can safely say I'm hooked.
Only the Brave is an exciting, gritty and very absorbing read. I enjoyed every moment. If you want to read a great crime series then this is it, I can imagine this series being made into a gripping TV drama in the future.
On a side note, I would love Mel Sherratt to write another psychological thriller as 'Watching Over You' is my favourite of her books to date. Thank you for allowing me to read this latest book.
Only the Brave is an exciting, gritty and very absorbing read. I enjoyed every moment. If you want to read a great crime series then this is it, I can imagine this series being made into a gripping TV drama in the future.
On a side note, I would love Mel Sherratt to write another psychological thriller as 'Watching Over You' is my favourite of her books to date. Thank you for allowing me to read this latest book.
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