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Double Take
When what you saw was impossible, is honesty always the best option?
When Esther Butler sees a man with a gun following a woman in the dark city streets, she doesn’t hesitate to call the police.
Minutes later in an empty building site, the man is dead. The police fired the shot. But when the smoke clears, there’s no weapon to be found.
Esther knows what she saw. Yet as her story begins to unravel, she’s forced to question not just her memory, but her own safety.
DC Josie Kaminski – assigned to the police team with the worst reputation in Leicester – is put on the case. But the deeper they dig, the more they find evidence linking Esther to the dead man and compelling reasons why she would want him dead.
As truth and lies blur, the team must decide who to believe.
And Esther stands to lose more than she ever bargained for.
One shot. No gun. Everyone’s hiding something.
When Esther Butler sees a man with a gun following a woman in the dark city streets, she doesn’t hesitate to call the police.
Minutes later in an empty building site, the man is dead. The police fired the shot. But when the smoke clears, there’s no weapon to be found.
Esther knows what she saw. Yet as her story begins to unravel, she’s forced to question not just her memory, but her own safety.
DC Josie Kaminski – assigned to the police team with the worst reputation in Leicester – is put on the case. But the deeper they dig, the more they find evidence linking Esther to the dead man and compelling reasons why she would want him dead.
As truth and lies blur, the team must decide who to believe.
And Esther stands to lose more than she ever bargained for.
One shot. No gun. Everyone’s hiding something.
438 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 10, 2026
About the author
Beck Lewis
26 books6 followersNot seeing myself on TV, movies, or in books when I grew up, I wanted to create characters I could relate to. I want someone growing up and questioning everything about themselves to see someone like them in my stories. I hope these characters mean as much to you as they do to me.
I've recently discovered the world of BL - boys love dramas - mostly Asian, with my favorites coming from Thailand. Watching these dramas with 2 boys in love at the center of the stories is so refreshing to see. I would have love to seen this kind of representation when I was young!
I've recently discovered the world of BL - boys love dramas - mostly Asian, with my favorites coming from Thailand. Watching these dramas with 2 boys in love at the center of the stories is so refreshing to see. I would have love to seen this kind of representation when I was young!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
June 2, 2026
Esther has seen a man with a gun.
I’ll let you into a secret. I’m not a great fan of novels featuring police procedures, which just goes to illustrate how fantastic Double Take is as I thought it was brilliant. I’ll definitely be reading any future books in the series.
The writing is razor sharp with short punchy chapters that propel the reader through the narrative. As those chapters became shorter and faster towards the denouement of the story, so my heart rate increased because the excitement level just kept elevating. I thought the direct speech was so good, as it felt natural and the contrast between Esther’s first person account and the rest of the book gave an extra edge. Was Esther a reliable narrator, or was she lying as the police thought? You’ll need to read Double Take to find out.
As for the plot, it simply races along so that it’s impossible not to want to know what happens next. The strands of the story took me by surprise and I thought the way the narrative was constructed was sublime from start to finish. Indeed, the opening chapter made me so invested in Josie and so loathe Greg that I don’t think I’ve ever formed such strong opinions about character within four pages of a novel before.
I loved the characterisation. Esther intrigues and is the lynchpin of the narrative. She is a complex individual whose rashness is balanced by her intelligence. In addition, the police team is varied and wide ranging, with Beck Lewis exploring the hierarchy, rivalry and politics of policing as well as illustrating how investigations are conducted, so that as well as introducing individuals, there is a sense of another being – the whole team. This makes for fascinating reading and I loved the potential for future stories as I want to know more.
As well as captivating characters and a blisteringly good story, there are themes in Double Take that add layers and depth. I don’t want to spoil the story for others, but Beck Lewis weaves in such features as crime and justice, family, friends and relationships, the power of social media, domestic abuse, control, and PTSD. There are emotional and psychological aspects within the exciting story which give it extra impact so that this is intelligent as well as entertaining writing.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from Double Take, but what I got was a fantastic read, packed with action surrounding vivid and wide ranging characters. I was drawn in from the very first page and resented any interruption to my reading of the narrative. Double Take is an absolute belter of a thriller and one I recommend completely. I thought it was fantastic.
I’ll let you into a secret. I’m not a great fan of novels featuring police procedures, which just goes to illustrate how fantastic Double Take is as I thought it was brilliant. I’ll definitely be reading any future books in the series.
The writing is razor sharp with short punchy chapters that propel the reader through the narrative. As those chapters became shorter and faster towards the denouement of the story, so my heart rate increased because the excitement level just kept elevating. I thought the direct speech was so good, as it felt natural and the contrast between Esther’s first person account and the rest of the book gave an extra edge. Was Esther a reliable narrator, or was she lying as the police thought? You’ll need to read Double Take to find out.
As for the plot, it simply races along so that it’s impossible not to want to know what happens next. The strands of the story took me by surprise and I thought the way the narrative was constructed was sublime from start to finish. Indeed, the opening chapter made me so invested in Josie and so loathe Greg that I don’t think I’ve ever formed such strong opinions about character within four pages of a novel before.
I loved the characterisation. Esther intrigues and is the lynchpin of the narrative. She is a complex individual whose rashness is balanced by her intelligence. In addition, the police team is varied and wide ranging, with Beck Lewis exploring the hierarchy, rivalry and politics of policing as well as illustrating how investigations are conducted, so that as well as introducing individuals, there is a sense of another being – the whole team. This makes for fascinating reading and I loved the potential for future stories as I want to know more.
As well as captivating characters and a blisteringly good story, there are themes in Double Take that add layers and depth. I don’t want to spoil the story for others, but Beck Lewis weaves in such features as crime and justice, family, friends and relationships, the power of social media, domestic abuse, control, and PTSD. There are emotional and psychological aspects within the exciting story which give it extra impact so that this is intelligent as well as entertaining writing.
I’m not sure what I was expecting from Double Take, but what I got was a fantastic read, packed with action surrounding vivid and wide ranging characters. I was drawn in from the very first page and resented any interruption to my reading of the narrative. Double Take is an absolute belter of a thriller and one I recommend completely. I thought it was fantastic.
April 15, 2026
Double take is the first book in the series of a new series called Dead end. I really enjoyed this book it had a good story line and good characters .
A fast paced detective / thriller book that focuses on Esther who sees a man with a gun in an argument and results in a dead body .The story that unfolds is a good one. Looking forward to the next one.
A fast paced detective / thriller book that focuses on Esther who sees a man with a gun in an argument and results in a dead body .The story that unfolds is a good one. Looking forward to the next one.
March 27, 2026
I was chosen to be an ARC reviewer for this book and wow what a read! I wasn’t sure if I could get this read in time but this action-packed story held my interest from the 1st page and just kept dragging me in!
A new author to me, this story centres around Casino Manager, Esther Butler, who sees a man and woman arguing at the casino where she works. Concerned for the woman’s safety, after spotting a gun in the man’s waist, she follows them outside when they leave. As she follows them into an empty building site, she calls the police to let them know he is armed and where they are.
When the police arrive, a shot is fired and the man is pronounced dead at the scene. However the woman and the gun are nowhere to be found.
As the story unfolds, Esther finds herself the victim of blame - how her accusations caused an unarmed man’s death, how she is shaming an innocent man and she becomes the target on social media - causing her turmoil and upset. She saw what she saw but even she is struggling to accept that no weapon can be found and what happened to the woman?
The Detective who answered Esther’s call, Josie Kaminski, has fallen out with her boss, and finds herself relegated to the far side of the police building, alongside the ‘Duncans’ - the corner of the office where police offers are dead wood - they not invited to work on big cases, given little respect and generally treated as below the other officers.
Between Josie and her fellow ‘Duncan’ co-workers, Rob and Walker, they find that their tedious farm case might somehow be connected to this bigger case but why?!
As truth and lies blur, no one knows who to believe, what the motive is and why everyone is hiding something.
There was one shot but no gun - so what the hell happened exactly?!?
This book captured me from the first chapter - it was fast paced, featured likeable and interesting characters and had me wondering who were the good guys versus who were the bad guys.
I know the story isn’t done as nuggets are planted for the next book - but I love that you can look forward to reading individual stories on the other Duncans. I loved all the members of this club so am thoroughly looking forward to reading more from this author and learning more about the individual characters.
I also want to give a shout out to the physical book itself - the story was printed on soft quality paper and that and the story itself had me wanting to keep reading more.
There were still some questions need answering, but overall this is definitely worth the read and this journalist is going on my radar now so I can keep an eye out for his other books!
A new author to me, this story centres around Casino Manager, Esther Butler, who sees a man and woman arguing at the casino where she works. Concerned for the woman’s safety, after spotting a gun in the man’s waist, she follows them outside when they leave. As she follows them into an empty building site, she calls the police to let them know he is armed and where they are.
When the police arrive, a shot is fired and the man is pronounced dead at the scene. However the woman and the gun are nowhere to be found.
As the story unfolds, Esther finds herself the victim of blame - how her accusations caused an unarmed man’s death, how she is shaming an innocent man and she becomes the target on social media - causing her turmoil and upset. She saw what she saw but even she is struggling to accept that no weapon can be found and what happened to the woman?
The Detective who answered Esther’s call, Josie Kaminski, has fallen out with her boss, and finds herself relegated to the far side of the police building, alongside the ‘Duncans’ - the corner of the office where police offers are dead wood - they not invited to work on big cases, given little respect and generally treated as below the other officers.
Between Josie and her fellow ‘Duncan’ co-workers, Rob and Walker, they find that their tedious farm case might somehow be connected to this bigger case but why?!
As truth and lies blur, no one knows who to believe, what the motive is and why everyone is hiding something.
There was one shot but no gun - so what the hell happened exactly?!?
This book captured me from the first chapter - it was fast paced, featured likeable and interesting characters and had me wondering who were the good guys versus who were the bad guys.
I know the story isn’t done as nuggets are planted for the next book - but I love that you can look forward to reading individual stories on the other Duncans. I loved all the members of this club so am thoroughly looking forward to reading more from this author and learning more about the individual characters.
I also want to give a shout out to the physical book itself - the story was printed on soft quality paper and that and the story itself had me wanting to keep reading more.
There were still some questions need answering, but overall this is definitely worth the read and this journalist is going on my radar now so I can keep an eye out for his other books!
Review of advance copy
I’d not previously read any books by Beck Lewis but after my first introduction to him and his work, Double Take, I am a total convert. Whilst many book reviews describe a story as fast paced, or character driven, or unpredictable with complex plots, Double Take had all these ingredients, and so much more.
When Esther Butler calls 999 to report a man with a gun behaving in a threatening manner to a woman, the police response act immediately. And from then on in, this most compelling crime thriller took hold of my reading focus and I was absolutely drawn in.
DC Josie Kaminski promising career has hit a dead end and she is forced to move into the team where prospects of advancement is negligible and cases that are believed to hold little difficulty or value are assigned. The Butler incident is one such case passed to the team.
However, as Josie’s relationship with her new colleagues, who she had previously mocked and looked down upon, grows, so does the realisation that the perhaps Esther Butler is not the innocent bystander she claims.
Highly recommend this excellent crime thriller. Here’s hoping Double Take kicks off a new series because book one sure proves this author has what it takes to get a reading audience hooked.
When Esther Butler calls 999 to report a man with a gun behaving in a threatening manner to a woman, the police response act immediately. And from then on in, this most compelling crime thriller took hold of my reading focus and I was absolutely drawn in.
DC Josie Kaminski promising career has hit a dead end and she is forced to move into the team where prospects of advancement is negligible and cases that are believed to hold little difficulty or value are assigned. The Butler incident is one such case passed to the team.
However, as Josie’s relationship with her new colleagues, who she had previously mocked and looked down upon, grows, so does the realisation that the perhaps Esther Butler is not the innocent bystander she claims.
Highly recommend this excellent crime thriller. Here’s hoping Double Take kicks off a new series because book one sure proves this author has what it takes to get a reading audience hooked.
April 10, 2026
Double Take is the first in the "Dead End" series following a team of sidelined police officers.
In this debut we follow Esther who having witnessed an argument between woman and a man who she realises has a gun. She tails the couple and on seeing the weapon calls the police. The man is shot, but there is no sign of either the woman or the gun.
Esther having thoight she had acted for good finds herself at the mercy of social media and assumptions that she lied and caused the death. As her life starts to crumble, she is determined to prove that her account of events was right. All without revealing the fact that she knew the dead man.
Don't be put off by the fact that this is a long book. The chapters are really short and I flew through it as a result. The story is gripping, and the characters are well rounded. I look forward to learning more about the Dead End Duncans in future books, and from blurbs have spotted recurring characters which is brilliant news.
There are decent twists throughout the story, and the final few chapters of the book are so fast paced that I almost got a papercut from turning the pages so fast.
All in all, a brilliant read, and can't wait to get stuck into the rest of the series.
In this debut we follow Esther who having witnessed an argument between woman and a man who she realises has a gun. She tails the couple and on seeing the weapon calls the police. The man is shot, but there is no sign of either the woman or the gun.
Esther having thoight she had acted for good finds herself at the mercy of social media and assumptions that she lied and caused the death. As her life starts to crumble, she is determined to prove that her account of events was right. All without revealing the fact that she knew the dead man.
Don't be put off by the fact that this is a long book. The chapters are really short and I flew through it as a result. The story is gripping, and the characters are well rounded. I look forward to learning more about the Dead End Duncans in future books, and from blurbs have spotted recurring characters which is brilliant news.
There are decent twists throughout the story, and the final few chapters of the book are so fast paced that I almost got a papercut from turning the pages so fast.
All in all, a brilliant read, and can't wait to get stuck into the rest of the series.
March 28, 2026
Both my friend & I, were very kindly sent a copy by the author to read and review, so a buddy read ensued - and our collated thoughts are below.
Double Take centres around Esther Butler, a local casino manager, who sees a man following a woman. Concerned for the woman’s safety, she follows them herself. After spotting what she believes to be a gun at the man’s waist, she immediately contacts the police.
When the police arrive on the scene, a shot is fired. The ‘suspect’ is dead. There is no weapon in the man’s possession, and the woman is nowhere to be seen.
What did Esther see? She knows what she saw… or does she?
The detective who answered her call, DC Josie Kaminski - newly assigned to the local police team (with the worst reputation in Leicester) and not at all happy about it - is originally on Esther’s case but is then taken off, and goes it alone.
As they dig deeper and Esther’s story begins to unravel, evidence builds and questions surface, blurring the lines between truth and lies. Who can be believed?
What really stood out while reading was the way the police team had Esther questioning her own memory. From the very beginning, they planted seeds of doubt, which was incredibly well done. Watching Esther begin to question herself, yet remain determined to prove her innocence, led to her taking matters into her own hands and conducting her own investigation.
That said, the POV shifts between first and third person. While this can work in some novels, we both felt that here it became confusing, and at times it was unclear whose perspective we were following. We often found ourselves going back to double-check. (It seemed to be intended as Josie’s POV, but we weren’t entirely sure.)
The only other critique we both had was the introduction of the secondary murder. Initially, it felt quite disconnected from the main narrative. Rather than prompting curiosity about how it would link in - as is typical in crime thrillers - it came across more as filler. While its relevance does become clear later, it didn’t fully achieve its intended impact early on.
This was quintessentially British. Having had the privilege of meeting the authors in person and seeing their particular brand of humour firsthand, it definitely shines through in the writing. It felt like the epitome of a British murder mystery - easy to imagine as an episode of Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) - murder with a thread of humour running throughout.
Double Take was an enjoyable, fast-paced read with strong flow and progression, and it clearly sets the scene for future books in the series, dropping subtle hints along the way.
Thank you to the authors for gifting us a copy.
Double Take centres around Esther Butler, a local casino manager, who sees a man following a woman. Concerned for the woman’s safety, she follows them herself. After spotting what she believes to be a gun at the man’s waist, she immediately contacts the police.
When the police arrive on the scene, a shot is fired. The ‘suspect’ is dead. There is no weapon in the man’s possession, and the woman is nowhere to be seen.
What did Esther see? She knows what she saw… or does she?
The detective who answered her call, DC Josie Kaminski - newly assigned to the local police team (with the worst reputation in Leicester) and not at all happy about it - is originally on Esther’s case but is then taken off, and goes it alone.
As they dig deeper and Esther’s story begins to unravel, evidence builds and questions surface, blurring the lines between truth and lies. Who can be believed?
What really stood out while reading was the way the police team had Esther questioning her own memory. From the very beginning, they planted seeds of doubt, which was incredibly well done. Watching Esther begin to question herself, yet remain determined to prove her innocence, led to her taking matters into her own hands and conducting her own investigation.
That said, the POV shifts between first and third person. While this can work in some novels, we both felt that here it became confusing, and at times it was unclear whose perspective we were following. We often found ourselves going back to double-check. (It seemed to be intended as Josie’s POV, but we weren’t entirely sure.)
The only other critique we both had was the introduction of the secondary murder. Initially, it felt quite disconnected from the main narrative. Rather than prompting curiosity about how it would link in - as is typical in crime thrillers - it came across more as filler. While its relevance does become clear later, it didn’t fully achieve its intended impact early on.
This was quintessentially British. Having had the privilege of meeting the authors in person and seeing their particular brand of humour firsthand, it definitely shines through in the writing. It felt like the epitome of a British murder mystery - easy to imagine as an episode of Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) - murder with a thread of humour running throughout.
Double Take was an enjoyable, fast-paced read with strong flow and progression, and it clearly sets the scene for future books in the series, dropping subtle hints along the way.
Thank you to the authors for gifting us a copy.
Review of advance copy
An enjoyable, fast-paced detective story/thriller that sets the scene for a strong series to come.
It begins when casino worker Esther thinks she's spotted a man with a gun, and becomes convinced he's about to murder someone. She calls the police with her concerns, and the man ends up shot dead. No weapon is found. And blame starts heading her way... Everyone thinks she lied, but she didn't, did she?
DC Josie Kaminski is fed up when she's put on the case and forced to work with the team with the worst reputation on her force. But she's a hard worker and puts the effort in. The more they investigate, the more links they find between Esther and the dead man. Surely she can't be trusted...
But the truth is murky and there's more digging to be done. What if Esther was telling the truth after all?
Esther and Josie are very different but both sympathetic characters. The team Josie is working with is clearly Team Underdog and I can see them getting into really interesting cases in future books. The chapters are short and snappy, with the story dashing along at a good pace.
I'll definitely be back for more!
It begins when casino worker Esther thinks she's spotted a man with a gun, and becomes convinced he's about to murder someone. She calls the police with her concerns, and the man ends up shot dead. No weapon is found. And blame starts heading her way... Everyone thinks she lied, but she didn't, did she?
DC Josie Kaminski is fed up when she's put on the case and forced to work with the team with the worst reputation on her force. But she's a hard worker and puts the effort in. The more they investigate, the more links they find between Esther and the dead man. Surely she can't be trusted...
But the truth is murky and there's more digging to be done. What if Esther was telling the truth after all?
Esther and Josie are very different but both sympathetic characters. The team Josie is working with is clearly Team Underdog and I can see them getting into really interesting cases in future books. The chapters are short and snappy, with the story dashing along at a good pace.
I'll definitely be back for more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Double Take is a very engaging page-turner with a well thought out, clever Leicester-based plot involving murders, insane volumes of cocaine, organised crime, missing guns and, stuck in the middle, a casino manager who tries to be an active bystander and protect someone vulnerable. I definitely didn't see some of it coming and I liked the characters very much, especially Walker, whose in-depth back story I'd love to hear. I did get frustrated with Esther's sometimes frankly dumb*ss behaviour but I suppose it was necessary for plot development.
I now have every intention of reading more of Beck's books, and that's the biggest compliment I can give.
Full disclosure...it didn't start too well, but mainly for practicalities rather than plot reasons. Beck - get a better editor, and a proof reader! There were multiple missing words, and how many times do I need reminding that Joel is Jeety's husband?!
One last thing: The police procedural elements were mostly credible but there's no way on earth Josie would've been just given that extra data otherwise PSD would be up in arms!
I now have every intention of reading more of Beck's books, and that's the biggest compliment I can give.
Full disclosure...it didn't start too well, but mainly for practicalities rather than plot reasons. Beck - get a better editor, and a proof reader! There were multiple missing words, and how many times do I need reminding that Joel is Jeety's husband?!
One last thing: The police procedural elements were mostly credible but there's no way on earth Josie would've been just given that extra data otherwise PSD would be up in arms!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2026
I got an ARC (paperback) of this book. This is my honest opinion. The story follows Esther Butler, a casino manager who witnesses what looks like a dangerous confrontation between a man and a woman. When she spots a gun, she calls the police — but when they arrive, the situation doesn’t add up. The woman is missing, no gun is found, yet a man ends up dead. From that point on, things spiral in unexpected ways.
I really liked the dual focus between Esther and DC Josie Kaminski. Josie, in particular, stood out to me — she’s flawed, relatable, and dealing with her own messy personal decisions while trying to do her job. Being pushed onto the “dead ends” team only made me root for her more.
The twists kept coming, and I genuinely didn’t see them all coming, which is always a win for me in a police procedural. There’s a strong sense of tension throughout, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how everything would come together.
This is a brilliant start to a series, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where it goes next.
I really liked the dual focus between Esther and DC Josie Kaminski. Josie, in particular, stood out to me — she’s flawed, relatable, and dealing with her own messy personal decisions while trying to do her job. Being pushed onto the “dead ends” team only made me root for her more.
The twists kept coming, and I genuinely didn’t see them all coming, which is always a win for me in a police procedural. There’s a strong sense of tension throughout, and I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how everything would come together.
This is a brilliant start to a series, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where it goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Checking my blog I can see that the last time I gave a book 5 stars was 3 years ago (a Wes Markin book). Well, as you can tell, I really enjoyed this book. The style is a bit "Raymond Chandler". Short sentences, short chapters (each a sensible scene), crisp dialogue. Good grammar too. Not that there aren't any mistakes - mainly missing words, but a couple of plot holes. This was an advanced review copy, so hopefully these errors will be ironed out by actual publication.
So why 5 stars? The style as mentioned above is certainly part of the reason. Also, this book has a pair of "main" protagonists. The two entwined stories work well together. It is a very clever construction. The characters are excellently drawn, such that you quickly care about them (well the ones you're supposed to care about anyway).
I had never heard of Beck Lewis before reading this book. I shall definitely be searching out more of his books.
So why 5 stars? The style as mentioned above is certainly part of the reason. Also, this book has a pair of "main" protagonists. The two entwined stories work well together. It is a very clever construction. The characters are excellently drawn, such that you quickly care about them (well the ones you're supposed to care about anyway).
I had never heard of Beck Lewis before reading this book. I shall definitely be searching out more of his books.
May 30, 2026
Double Take was my first book by Beck Lewis, and it definitely won’t be my last. From the very first chapter I was completely pulled in and found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what was really going on.
The story moves at a great pace and does a brilliant job of keeping you guessing. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist would appear and make me question everything again. I especially enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded, with plenty of tension and enough surprises to keep me invested throughout.
The characters felt believable, and I quickly became interested in what would happen to them. The balance between the investigation and the personal side of the story worked really well for me, and I never felt my attention drifting.
For a first experience with this author, I was really impressed and I’ll definitely be reading more from Beck Lewis.
Thank you to The Book Club Reviewer Group for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
The story moves at a great pace and does a brilliant job of keeping you guessing. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist would appear and make me question everything again. I especially enjoyed the way the mystery unfolded, with plenty of tension and enough surprises to keep me invested throughout.
The characters felt believable, and I quickly became interested in what would happen to them. The balance between the investigation and the personal side of the story worked really well for me, and I never felt my attention drifting.
For a first experience with this author, I was really impressed and I’ll definitely be reading more from Beck Lewis.
Thank you to The Book Club Reviewer Group for the advance copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
Double Take by Beck Lewis was absolutely brilliant. I devoured it in two days and genuinely could not put it down.
From the very first chapter I was completely gripped. The story is fast-paced, tense and full of intrigue, that keeps you hooked all the way through.
Esther Butler is a fantastic main character. I found myself rooting for her more than I have for a character in a long time. She is strong, compelling and written with real depth. I also loved DC Josie Kaminski, who was another standout character.
It has everything you want in a thriller: grit, suspense, brilliant pacing and characters you genuinely care about.
If this is the first book in a series, I genuinely cannot wait to read the next one !
A solid five stars from me. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy through the The Book Reviewer Club in exchange for an honest review.
From the very first chapter I was completely gripped. The story is fast-paced, tense and full of intrigue, that keeps you hooked all the way through.
Esther Butler is a fantastic main character. I found myself rooting for her more than I have for a character in a long time. She is strong, compelling and written with real depth. I also loved DC Josie Kaminski, who was another standout character.
It has everything you want in a thriller: grit, suspense, brilliant pacing and characters you genuinely care about.
If this is the first book in a series, I genuinely cannot wait to read the next one !
A solid five stars from me. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy through the The Book Reviewer Club in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2026
Double Take hooked me from the opening pages. The central premise - a witness whose account unravels the more she insists on it - is brilliantly executed, and Beck Lewis builds tension steadily without ever tipping into melodrama. Esther is a compelling protagonist, and the Leicester setting feels lived-in and real having spent some time there. DC Kaminski is a great addition to the cast and I’d happily follow her through a whole series. The plot takes some genuinely surprising turns and the pacing is sharp throughout.
Knocking off one star for a slow-burn opening and a couple of moments where the plotting strains credibility, but those are minor niggles in what is otherwise a very assured thriller. Solid start to what promises to be a great series and I’m already looking forward to book two.
Knocking off one star for a slow-burn opening and a couple of moments where the plotting strains credibility, but those are minor niggles in what is otherwise a very assured thriller. Solid start to what promises to be a great series and I’m already looking forward to book two.
Review of advance copy
Double Take by Beck Lewis
⭐️⭐️⭐️🌙 3.5/ 5
I enjoyed this police procedural thriller and looking forward to seeing how the characters develop within the series. Couple of good twists along the way. It is interesting to see how doubt starts to creep in even with loved ones and close friends.
It's out on 10th April and I was kindly given an arc via THE book club reviewer group.
"When what you saw was impossible, is honesty always the best option?
Esther knows what she saw. Yet as her story begins to unravel, she’s forced to question not just her memory, but her own safety.
As truth and lies blur, the team must decide who to believe.
One shot. No gun. Everyone’s hiding something."
#reading #books #bookreview
⭐️⭐️⭐️🌙 3.5/ 5
I enjoyed this police procedural thriller and looking forward to seeing how the characters develop within the series. Couple of good twists along the way. It is interesting to see how doubt starts to creep in even with loved ones and close friends.
It's out on 10th April and I was kindly given an arc via THE book club reviewer group.
"When what you saw was impossible, is honesty always the best option?
Esther knows what she saw. Yet as her story begins to unravel, she’s forced to question not just her memory, but her own safety.
As truth and lies blur, the team must decide who to believe.
One shot. No gun. Everyone’s hiding something."
#reading #books #bookreview
April 5, 2026
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review so thank you to Beck and TBC RR
Esther is a manager at a local casino, and when she sees a worried looking woman with a man who has a gun she has to follow her to make sure she’s ok. Calling the police once she follows them both into an empty building site, Esther worries for the woman’s life.
Afterwards, questions are being asked, Esther’s story doesn’t seem to match up with the evidence provided, can her story really be trusted?
Instantly I fell in love with this book for having short chapters, why does that seem to make you read for longer sittings? I really enjoyed Becks writing style and this book kept me griped throughout, looking forward to reading more of her work.
Esther is a manager at a local casino, and when she sees a worried looking woman with a man who has a gun she has to follow her to make sure she’s ok. Calling the police once she follows them both into an empty building site, Esther worries for the woman’s life.
Afterwards, questions are being asked, Esther’s story doesn’t seem to match up with the evidence provided, can her story really be trusted?
Instantly I fell in love with this book for having short chapters, why does that seem to make you read for longer sittings? I really enjoyed Becks writing style and this book kept me griped throughout, looking forward to reading more of her work.
April 17, 2026
A gripping police thriller that follows the story of character Esther Butler who witnesses a man follow a lady with a gun . Esther calls the police and consequently the man is shot despite being supposedly unarmed . Despite doing what she thought was the right thing Esther’s motives are scrutinised and readers have to work out if there is more to Esther than meets the eye. DS Kaminski is assigned to the case whose reputation isn’t favourable within the force. As the case unravels , all involved realised there is more to this story than they bargained for . Short chapters help to hook the reader with twists and turns along the way , the characters are likeable and the settings intriguing. It is a great book that keeps you interested throughout.
Review of advance copy
This was a fantastic read - a great plot, loads of twists and turns and some fantastic characters - I loved it!
The book is told from the point of view of Esther Walker who sees a man with a gun and worries about the woman with him so follows them to check. No spoilers but the man meets an untimely end and the story is told from the point of view of Jodie Kaminsky who is the police officer investigating.
I just loved this - Jodie and Esther are great characters - and strong women. Then there’s the Duncans - Jodie’s colleagues - more great characters.
The story keeps you guessing until the end - 5 stars from me - can’t wait for the next one!!!
The book is told from the point of view of Esther Walker who sees a man with a gun and worries about the woman with him so follows them to check. No spoilers but the man meets an untimely end and the story is told from the point of view of Jodie Kaminsky who is the police officer investigating.
I just loved this - Jodie and Esther are great characters - and strong women. Then there’s the Duncans - Jodie’s colleagues - more great characters.
The story keeps you guessing until the end - 5 stars from me - can’t wait for the next one!!!
Review of advance copy
Two protagonists in this book. Esther Butler is a floor manager in a casino and one night spots a guy with a gun arguing with a female. She calls the police as she is worried
Josie Kaminski is a police officer who has a quick fumble with her boss whom she believes is unattached. When she finds out he is definitely attached he relocates her to the ‘dead end Duncans’
The story is told from the perspective of both these women and there are links.
I loved this book. It is written in a style I like. It’s fast paced, short chapters and all the characters are well defined. Will read more by this author.
Josie Kaminski is a police officer who has a quick fumble with her boss whom she believes is unattached. When she finds out he is definitely attached he relocates her to the ‘dead end Duncans’
The story is told from the perspective of both these women and there are links.
I loved this book. It is written in a style I like. It’s fast paced, short chapters and all the characters are well defined. Will read more by this author.
Review of advance copy
Becky Lewis is new to me, Double Take is my first read and my goodness it won't be my last.
I could nit stop reading!
The characters are likeable, well the ones I'm supposed to like, some I really dislike.
Becky's writing style pulled me into the pages, one minute I thought I had it all figured out. Then I would carry on with my day, reading more...thrown into a completely different direction and can not stop reading again!
It's a great story line, the complexities of the story line had me audibly gasping and my family questioning me!
An excellent read and very well written, I'm off to search out more Becky Lewis!
I could nit stop reading!
The characters are likeable, well the ones I'm supposed to like, some I really dislike.
Becky's writing style pulled me into the pages, one minute I thought I had it all figured out. Then I would carry on with my day, reading more...thrown into a completely different direction and can not stop reading again!
It's a great story line, the complexities of the story line had me audibly gasping and my family questioning me!
An excellent read and very well written, I'm off to search out more Becky Lewis!
Review of advance copy
It took me a few chapters to get properly drawn in but then I read the book in 2 days. It's an interesting style of writing, swapping between the main character and everyone else. The characters are well written, some endearing, some likeable, genuine, some.... definitely not! You find yourself rooting for that main character as well as occasionally asking 'why'?! Read the book you'll understand. Lots of twists and turns. I'll look forward to reading the sequels.
The Book club review group provided this copy for a fair review.
The Book club review group provided this copy for a fair review.
April 15, 2026
Esther is a Casino floor manager who witnesses an argument that involves a gun - except the gun mysteriously disappears after police shoot the man. Esther tries to prove her innocence, while increasingly questioning what really happened. There is a dual tale here, as we also get the perspective of DC Josie Kaminski, who has been reassigned to the "dead end Duncans", where she is frustrated at every turn trying to do actual police work. There are a few less than believable moments of coincidence, but overall this is a well written police procedural.
April 13, 2026
This was a good read and a promise of an interesting series. When Esther sees a man with a gun, she calls the police. But when the police have shot the man, no gun is to be found. It was fascinating to follow the story - who do we believe? Who tells a credible story? Who can we trust?
There were several layers to the story, and as they become revealed the story twists and turns, making a very satisfying read.
There were several layers to the story, and as they become revealed the story twists and turns, making a very satisfying read.
May 6, 2026
Brilliant!!
What would you do if no-one, not even your husband, believe that you saw what you saw? What about all the dominoes falling because you spoke to the police?
What would you do if you were with the Duncans? To be honest, I would rather be with them than pathetic little napoleons.
This starts as one thing and draws in many other bleak and dangerous tales.
Excellent read, I was a Beck Lewis virgin, cherry now well and truly popped. Onto the next one straight away.
What would you do if no-one, not even your husband, believe that you saw what you saw? What about all the dominoes falling because you spoke to the police?
What would you do if you were with the Duncans? To be honest, I would rather be with them than pathetic little napoleons.
This starts as one thing and draws in many other bleak and dangerous tales.
Excellent read, I was a Beck Lewis virgin, cherry now well and truly popped. Onto the next one straight away.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Esther a floor manager at a casino sees a man with a gun arguing with a woman and decides to follow them to make sure that the woman is safe. What happens next is a complex story about police corruption, drugs and robbery. Esther is dragged into it all will she survive? Loved this story a new author for me but this is book one of three and really looking forward to reading the next two.
Review of advance copy
This is a fast past paced story which holds intrigue and having read many books of this genre can fully concur it gripped me from the first few pages the female lead character is strong and you are drawn in by her .. a definite recommendation given for this and look forward to reading more by this same author as promise to also keep my interest sometimes difficult to do lol
April 27, 2026
A new author for me and a good place to start with the first book in a new series. The book had a good pace and despite being a lengthy book had easy to read short chapters which kept me interested. On the whole I enjoyed this book and found the character of Josie interesting although I found myself mildly irritated by the other main character Esther. Look forward to reading the next book
Review of advance copy received from Author
For me, although a good read, this book was just too long. It seemed to wander around not getting anywhere for far too long then the ending was a good one which is why I have given it 4*s rather than the 3* I was going to give it.
March 30, 2026
This was an advanced reader copy and what a great book. It hooked me from the first page. Plenty of great twists and turns. Highly recommend for those who love thrillers. I look forward to reading more by this author
Review of advance copy
I was given an advanced copy of this book to read as part of an online book club. I really enjoyed this book and all the twists and turns, it certainly kept me guessing! This was the first book I’ve read by this author and looking forward to reading the next ones in the series.
April 11, 2026
Double Take
Beck Lewis.
What an engrossing book. A real page turner. Fast paced with many twists and turns, this book ticks all the boxes. It has well drawn characters with red herrings everywhere. I shall read more.
Beck Lewis.
What an engrossing book. A real page turner. Fast paced with many twists and turns, this book ticks all the boxes. It has well drawn characters with red herrings everywhere. I shall read more.
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