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Jessica Daniel #9
Scarred for Life
DI Jessica Daniel is not having a good week. Her wallet's been nicked, the refurbished incident room is already falling apart, and a new football-mad constable is driving her crazy.
She also has bigger things on her mind. A student's body has been dumped in a wheelie bin at the back of a university building, with a vague link to an Olympic medallist and a theory that it could have been an induction which went wrong.
There's the tattooed shop raider who has her team stumped; someone attacking lone women; a chief inspector who seems to have a problem with her; and someone putting letters through her front door insisting that she's caught 'the wrong man'.
Worlds are colliding for Jessica - and, if she's not careful, someone close to her might not make it out in one piece.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
199 people are currently reading
567 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
67 books1,076 followersRecent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
February 7, 2018
Kerry Wilkinson is quickly becoming my go to author for when I need a fast paced, fun mystery. I really look forward to his works and am glad there seem to be more books written that have yet to be published in the U.S.
This book doesn’t disappoint. You gotta love a book that starts off with Jessica on undercover duty to catch a pickpocket being the one to get her wallet knicked.
The book’s release seems perfectly timed with several university students’ deaths here in the States attributable to alcohol poisoning related to hazings.
One of the things I like about Wilkinson’s books is he doesn’t pretend detectives have the luxury of dealing with a single case at a time. At least not in a city the size of Manchester.
I love Jessica’s powers of observation and her descriptive tone. And Archie Davey is a great addition to the team. “He was like a little pitbull she could let off leash as and when she chose.”
For fear of spoilers, I won’t say anything about the plot or ending except to say this is a worthy addition to the series.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
This book doesn’t disappoint. You gotta love a book that starts off with Jessica on undercover duty to catch a pickpocket being the one to get her wallet knicked.
The book’s release seems perfectly timed with several university students’ deaths here in the States attributable to alcohol poisoning related to hazings.
One of the things I like about Wilkinson’s books is he doesn’t pretend detectives have the luxury of dealing with a single case at a time. At least not in a city the size of Manchester.
I love Jessica’s powers of observation and her descriptive tone. And Archie Davey is a great addition to the team. “He was like a little pitbull she could let off leash as and when she chose.”
For fear of spoilers, I won’t say anything about the plot or ending except to say this is a worthy addition to the series.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
September 3, 2019
An over all good follow on.
But a few things annoyed me in this book.
A reference to a cookie, quickly was referred to a biscuit.
There were some other things to which kept me scratching my head.
No the best book in this series IMHO
But a few things annoyed me in this book.
A reference to a cookie, quickly was referred to a biscuit.
There were some other things to which kept me scratching my head.
No the best book in this series IMHO
February 13, 2018
The story in this latest series entry is interesting and well thought out. The execution? Not so much.
Even if I don't mention the mother of all cliffhanger endings - never a way to win my heart - I kept running into "what the heck?" references I didn't quite understand simply because I've read only one of the previous books. For that reason, I can't recommend this as a standalone; to get the most out of this series, my advice is to start from the beginning.
Along the way, other issues bothered me as well. The book is set in Manchester, England - and having a wonderful, very British daughter-in-law, I'm fairly comfortable with most words, phrases and spellings that somehow were transformed when they [we] crossed the Pond (some for better, some for worse, IMHO). But in this instance, more than once something left me scratching my head and sending her an email or turning to Google for an explanation. Other times, the author seemed confused as well, such as when central character Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel reaches for a "cookie" and a couple of sentences later is eating a "biscuit." But when she popped a single broken "crisp" into her mouth (in the States, folks, that's a lone potato chip) and immediately had trouble talking because she had a "mouth full," I pretty much lost it.
As for the plot, Jessica has dragged her live-in fiance to Piccadilly Station in hopes of catching a pickpocket who's been targeting couples like them (why she has to explain the reason they're there when Adam complains is a bit of a mystery - surely she would have told him ahead of time). But just as she realizes her own purse has been victimized, Jessica gets a call that a body has been found in a waste bin. That turns out to be Damon Potter, a 19-year-old student and college rowing team member. Meantime, Jessica and her partner, Archie Davey, have been working on another major theft case that involves a robber with a so-far unidentifiable tattoo (although this, too, turns out to be such a well-known design that I couldn't believe no one in the entire Manchester police department had ever seen it before).
The initial investigation of the rower's death reveals a possibility that hazing may have been the cause, but it's suspicious enough for Jessica to lean toward murder. Although the student president of the rowing society, Holden Wyatt, is deemed a person of interest, Jessica is gobsmacked to learn that an unknown someone or someones way above her job level are determined that Wyatt must be prosecuted whether or not he's guilty. That, plus her immediate supervisor's sudden and inexplicable cold shoulder toward her, make her wonder if her career is in jeopardy. When yet another body turns up, it matters not to the powers-that-be; that's a case of a different color, and Wyatt remains expected to go down for Potter's murder no matter what Jessica thinks.
As I said at the beginning, the basic story is of sufficient interest to keep me reading (and I do thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review). But given all the inconsistencies, I'm sorry to say this one just didn't do it for me.
Even if I don't mention the mother of all cliffhanger endings - never a way to win my heart - I kept running into "what the heck?" references I didn't quite understand simply because I've read only one of the previous books. For that reason, I can't recommend this as a standalone; to get the most out of this series, my advice is to start from the beginning.
Along the way, other issues bothered me as well. The book is set in Manchester, England - and having a wonderful, very British daughter-in-law, I'm fairly comfortable with most words, phrases and spellings that somehow were transformed when they [we] crossed the Pond (some for better, some for worse, IMHO). But in this instance, more than once something left me scratching my head and sending her an email or turning to Google for an explanation. Other times, the author seemed confused as well, such as when central character Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel reaches for a "cookie" and a couple of sentences later is eating a "biscuit." But when she popped a single broken "crisp" into her mouth (in the States, folks, that's a lone potato chip) and immediately had trouble talking because she had a "mouth full," I pretty much lost it.
As for the plot, Jessica has dragged her live-in fiance to Piccadilly Station in hopes of catching a pickpocket who's been targeting couples like them (why she has to explain the reason they're there when Adam complains is a bit of a mystery - surely she would have told him ahead of time). But just as she realizes her own purse has been victimized, Jessica gets a call that a body has been found in a waste bin. That turns out to be Damon Potter, a 19-year-old student and college rowing team member. Meantime, Jessica and her partner, Archie Davey, have been working on another major theft case that involves a robber with a so-far unidentifiable tattoo (although this, too, turns out to be such a well-known design that I couldn't believe no one in the entire Manchester police department had ever seen it before).
The initial investigation of the rower's death reveals a possibility that hazing may have been the cause, but it's suspicious enough for Jessica to lean toward murder. Although the student president of the rowing society, Holden Wyatt, is deemed a person of interest, Jessica is gobsmacked to learn that an unknown someone or someones way above her job level are determined that Wyatt must be prosecuted whether or not he's guilty. That, plus her immediate supervisor's sudden and inexplicable cold shoulder toward her, make her wonder if her career is in jeopardy. When yet another body turns up, it matters not to the powers-that-be; that's a case of a different color, and Wyatt remains expected to go down for Potter's murder no matter what Jessica thinks.
As I said at the beginning, the basic story is of sufficient interest to keep me reading (and I do thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review). But given all the inconsistencies, I'm sorry to say this one just didn't do it for me.
January 26, 2020
This is the 9th book in the Jessica Daniel series by author Kerry Wilkinson. I have followed this series in an hap hazard way rather than in strict order which is usually my way. I do enjoy this series and the characters and reading the books out of order has only been a slight issue.
A students body is found dead and dumped in a rubbish container behind a rowing clubhouse. The man had recently joined a rowing club and had been to a party with other new members on the night of his death. Jessica Daniel and her team are assigned the case and quickly discover that there is a reluctance from the dead mans friends to help the police with their investigations.
The attraction to me with book series is that you get more of a feel for the characters and their personalities grow over the course, this series is no different and I really enjoy the Jessica Daniel character.
The book possesses all the ingredients of a good crime novel, good characters, interesting plot and well written making it another excellent read.
A students body is found dead and dumped in a rubbish container behind a rowing clubhouse. The man had recently joined a rowing club and had been to a party with other new members on the night of his death. Jessica Daniel and her team are assigned the case and quickly discover that there is a reluctance from the dead mans friends to help the police with their investigations.
The attraction to me with book series is that you get more of a feel for the characters and their personalities grow over the course, this series is no different and I really enjoy the Jessica Daniel character.
The book possesses all the ingredients of a good crime novel, good characters, interesting plot and well written making it another excellent read.
Read
February 23, 2018GOBSMACKED. That's my takeaway. No spoilers...
What is this 9th in the DI Jessica Daniel Series about? The blurb gives a decent overview as there are a lot of cases that Jessica and her team are juggling in this outing. I've read the previous ones, in order, so following along with the changes wasn't difficult as I'm familiar with the backstory. I'd urge anyone interested in this series to do the same as they don't work well as standalones.
Character development, especially of Jessica, is ongoing and, though she still can't sit still for a minute and is ridiculously headstrong, she's matured a bit since the beginning of her career. She works for the Manchester Metropolitan CID, based at Longsight, and her supervisor is DCI Jack Cole. Fortunately, she's not as messed up emotionally as a lot of other female protagonists in many of the books I read in this genre. That said, I'm not sure about her future.
Not sure that I will go on with the series though I've loved and enjoyed it to this point. It's too bad as I always looked forward to another JD episode.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
What is this 9th in the DI Jessica Daniel Series about? The blurb gives a decent overview as there are a lot of cases that Jessica and her team are juggling in this outing. I've read the previous ones, in order, so following along with the changes wasn't difficult as I'm familiar with the backstory. I'd urge anyone interested in this series to do the same as they don't work well as standalones.
Character development, especially of Jessica, is ongoing and, though she still can't sit still for a minute and is ridiculously headstrong, she's matured a bit since the beginning of her career. She works for the Manchester Metropolitan CID, based at Longsight, and her supervisor is DCI Jack Cole. Fortunately, she's not as messed up emotionally as a lot of other female protagonists in many of the books I read in this genre. That said, I'm not sure about her future.
Not sure that I will go on with the series though I've loved and enjoyed it to this point. It's too bad as I always looked forward to another JD episode.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
April 28, 2024
Setting: Manchester, England; modern day.
In this ninth book in the series featuring D.I. Jessica Daniel, Jessica is involved in several cases: a serial pickpocket targeting couples at Manchester Piccadilly station; a knifeman robbing from off licences; the body of a young university student found dumped in a wheelie bin behind his rowing club and a young woman found dead, having been severely beaten. As Jessica addresses all these cases, she feels increasingly sidelined by her boss, who doesn't seem to be offering the support he used to do. There also seems to be some pressure from more senior officers, who don't appear to appreciate her somewhat maverick investigative techniques!
I was surprised to find that it had been six years since I'd read the previous one in this series but I soon settled back in with the characters, together with some new ones being introduced. Great storylines and a totally shocking ending made this another very good read in the series - 9/10.
In this ninth book in the series featuring D.I. Jessica Daniel, Jessica is involved in several cases: a serial pickpocket targeting couples at Manchester Piccadilly station; a knifeman robbing from off licences; the body of a young university student found dumped in a wheelie bin behind his rowing club and a young woman found dead, having been severely beaten. As Jessica addresses all these cases, she feels increasingly sidelined by her boss, who doesn't seem to be offering the support he used to do. There also seems to be some pressure from more senior officers, who don't appear to appreciate her somewhat maverick investigative techniques!
I was surprised to find that it had been six years since I'd read the previous one in this series but I soon settled back in with the characters, together with some new ones being introduced. Great storylines and a totally shocking ending made this another very good read in the series - 9/10.
February 9, 2020
This book was much more to my taste than the one that came right before it. I liked the way that Jessica took Bex in and bonded with her. I was affronted on Jessica's behalf when it seemed that her supervisory inspector, Cole, was against her. It was nice to see Jessica interacting with Izzy, Dave, and Archie in her normal manner in this book. This one does end on a real doozy of a cliffhanger.
March 7, 2018
This is by far one of the best series I have ever read! While reading this story I had planned on telling you how fast paced this book was, how Jessica was her usual bad ass self getting things done as only she can and then I got to the end and OMG!!!!! I can say no more but You Have Got To Read This! I need the next one now! I thank Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this great book!
February 13, 2015
Review of Jessica Daniel book - received in exchange for an honest review.
WOW WASN'T EXPECTING THAT!!!!
Book starts with Jessica and Adam going undercover to catch a pickpocket that's around Manchester Piccadilly station only to get pick pocketed herself.
Then goes on to receiving a phone call to go to the river Irwell where a body is discovered. As the book progresses the old characters arrive back in Izzy whose now Acting DS and investigating another case at the time.
Detective Constable Archie Davey a new recruit born and bred in South manchester with a thick Manc accent, who seems to have an eye for detail.
DC Dave Rowlands is also back along with Garry (the journalist) and the other usual suspects.
Cases are started and solved but in the background DCI Cole is up to something and is trying to keep Jessica out of the way, puts her on nights, moves colleagues to different cases (or is he?)
Then bang Kerry gives you the ending you don't want/weren't expecting and had me gasping in shock and shouting you can't do that!!
What happened I hear you ask ..... Well the best answer I can give you for that is pick the book up and read it.
The pace is fast and held my interest that much I don't want the free time I've found to read to end.
Thanks for letting me read this advance copy Kerry and now I'm waiting in anticipation for book 10.
WOW WASN'T EXPECTING THAT!!!!
Book starts with Jessica and Adam going undercover to catch a pickpocket that's around Manchester Piccadilly station only to get pick pocketed herself.
Then goes on to receiving a phone call to go to the river Irwell where a body is discovered. As the book progresses the old characters arrive back in Izzy whose now Acting DS and investigating another case at the time.
Detective Constable Archie Davey a new recruit born and bred in South manchester with a thick Manc accent, who seems to have an eye for detail.
DC Dave Rowlands is also back along with Garry (the journalist) and the other usual suspects.
Cases are started and solved but in the background DCI Cole is up to something and is trying to keep Jessica out of the way, puts her on nights, moves colleagues to different cases (or is he?)
Then bang Kerry gives you the ending you don't want/weren't expecting and had me gasping in shock and shouting you can't do that!!
What happened I hear you ask ..... Well the best answer I can give you for that is pick the book up and read it.
The pace is fast and held my interest that much I don't want the free time I've found to read to end.
Thanks for letting me read this advance copy Kerry and now I'm waiting in anticipation for book 10.
February 13, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for a review copy of Scarred for Life, the ninth novel to feature Manchester DI Jessica Daniel.
Work life is busy for Jessica as she has a pickpocket and an armed raider to find and then she is called out to a dead body. Student Damon Potter has been found dead in a rubbish bin behind the university rowing clubhouse and if that isn't enough a dog walker stumbles over the mutilated corpse of a young woman.
I thoroughly enjoyed Scarred for Life. It is a while since I spent time with Jessica so I had forgotten how gung-ho she is, constantly needing to be doing something. The novel reflects her hyperactivity as it speeds along at a fairly frenetic pace, trying to keep up with all these cases and a dose of justifiable paranoia. Jessica feels she is being sidelined and squeezed out of her own investigations. I was underwhelmed with the reasons for this because the main one mostly seems unlikely and secondly because I have not yet read the two previous novels the reason for her boss's changed attitude towards her passed me by. I should point out that this novel too ends in a cliffhanger so I would really recommend reading the novels in order.
I like the fact that the novel accurately reflects the nature of modern day policing whereby there is more than one case on the go at any one time. Necessarily this means that not all the cases in the novel get the same attention and are solved rather perfunctorily but overall the novel is a compulsive read.
The characterisation in the novel is good. I like the humorous banter between Jessica and her fellow detectives as it adds a little light relief to proceedings. The new guy Archie looks promising with his smart mouth hiding some good instincts and character reading. Jessica seems to be maturing as she sometimes thinks before she acts (but not always!). They all seem natural and realistic. I wish, however, Mr Wilkinson would give his running commentary on the weather a break - it rains in Manchester. So what? It rains frequently in the rest of country as well and we don't need reminded.
Scarred for Life is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Work life is busy for Jessica as she has a pickpocket and an armed raider to find and then she is called out to a dead body. Student Damon Potter has been found dead in a rubbish bin behind the university rowing clubhouse and if that isn't enough a dog walker stumbles over the mutilated corpse of a young woman.
I thoroughly enjoyed Scarred for Life. It is a while since I spent time with Jessica so I had forgotten how gung-ho she is, constantly needing to be doing something. The novel reflects her hyperactivity as it speeds along at a fairly frenetic pace, trying to keep up with all these cases and a dose of justifiable paranoia. Jessica feels she is being sidelined and squeezed out of her own investigations. I was underwhelmed with the reasons for this because the main one mostly seems unlikely and secondly because I have not yet read the two previous novels the reason for her boss's changed attitude towards her passed me by. I should point out that this novel too ends in a cliffhanger so I would really recommend reading the novels in order.
I like the fact that the novel accurately reflects the nature of modern day policing whereby there is more than one case on the go at any one time. Necessarily this means that not all the cases in the novel get the same attention and are solved rather perfunctorily but overall the novel is a compulsive read.
The characterisation in the novel is good. I like the humorous banter between Jessica and her fellow detectives as it adds a little light relief to proceedings. The new guy Archie looks promising with his smart mouth hiding some good instincts and character reading. Jessica seems to be maturing as she sometimes thinks before she acts (but not always!). They all seem natural and realistic. I wish, however, Mr Wilkinson would give his running commentary on the weather a break - it rains in Manchester. So what? It rains frequently in the rest of country as well and we don't need reminded.
Scarred for Life is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 24, 2018
Scarred for Life by author Kerry Wilkinson is the ninth in this series and delivers another suspense with the witty attitude of DI Jessica Daniel. I won’t post spoilers, but there is a lot going on Jessica’s life and it does not help that she feels some conflict with DCI Cole. Jessica is working a pickpocket case on the streets and is also involved in trying to solve the mysterious death of a student whose body was found in a rubbish bin. Before she can find answers in the investigation of the student, Damon Potter, the body of a young woman is found brutally beaten and stabbed then left in a wooded area where road construction had been ongoing.
Jessica Is finding more depth to the new guy, Archie, as the story moves along. He has a different approach for getting more information from the people they question in the different cases.
Also the pickpocket responds to a message from Jessica and we meet Bex. A runaway living on the streets and in hostels. Jessica feels an unfamiliar bond with the teenager who seems so undernourished. I think we will be reading more about Bex.
As another young woman is murdered, the pressure is on Jessica from DCI Cole to solve the cases, but he also has interfered with her working the investigation of Damon Potter. Jessica knows something political is coming down through the ranks of the department. She is being targeted for how she is responding to her cases.
The ending was shocking! That is all I will post, but if you are a fan of DI Jessica Daniel then you have to read Scarred for Life and then you will not miss the follow-up book to come!
Jessica Is finding more depth to the new guy, Archie, as the story moves along. He has a different approach for getting more information from the people they question in the different cases.
Also the pickpocket responds to a message from Jessica and we meet Bex. A runaway living on the streets and in hostels. Jessica feels an unfamiliar bond with the teenager who seems so undernourished. I think we will be reading more about Bex.
As another young woman is murdered, the pressure is on Jessica from DCI Cole to solve the cases, but he also has interfered with her working the investigation of Damon Potter. Jessica knows something political is coming down through the ranks of the department. She is being targeted for how she is responding to her cases.
The ending was shocking! That is all I will post, but if you are a fan of DI Jessica Daniel then you have to read Scarred for Life and then you will not miss the follow-up book to come!
January 27, 2018
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
DI Jessica Daniel juggles the death of a student, whose body is found at his rowing clubhouse, the vicious murders of two women and a spate of pickpocketing. This is the ninth in a series and I have not read any of the previous eight, but this stood well on its own, apart from a scene towards the end involving a pair of Jessica's glasses, which meant nothing to me.
In many ways this is the sort of crime novel I always claim I am looking for: a straight procedural with a reasonably well adjusted main character and not too great an emphasis on his or her personal life. For some reason, this (while perfectly competent and meeting those criteria) was just a little run of the mill somehow. I suspect it might have been a richer read had I read the previous instalments; the other police officers were likeable characters and there was humour in Archie and Jessica's joint interrogations.
The ending was a bit of a shocker - are they always like that?
I would be interested in other novels by this author.
DI Jessica Daniel juggles the death of a student, whose body is found at his rowing clubhouse, the vicious murders of two women and a spate of pickpocketing. This is the ninth in a series and I have not read any of the previous eight, but this stood well on its own, apart from a scene towards the end involving a pair of Jessica's glasses, which meant nothing to me.
In many ways this is the sort of crime novel I always claim I am looking for: a straight procedural with a reasonably well adjusted main character and not too great an emphasis on his or her personal life. For some reason, this (while perfectly competent and meeting those criteria) was just a little run of the mill somehow. I suspect it might have been a richer read had I read the previous instalments; the other police officers were likeable characters and there was humour in Archie and Jessica's joint interrogations.
The ending was a bit of a shocker - are they always like that?
I would be interested in other novels by this author.
June 21, 2019
A 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ INTRIGUING STORY!!
What can I say about "Scarred for Life"? It's a brilliant and intriguing story! I was hooked from the beginning to the end; it's an intense and page-turning read! I could not put it down!
Jessica is working on several cases with her team but she's being treated unfairly by the "higher-ups" in the department. As she's trying to put the pieces together in the Potter murder, she's taken off the case.
What happens in the end is tragic. Just as Jessica and Adam make a life decision...
This is Book 9 of the Detective Jessica Daniel series. Kerry continues to write riveting and engaging stories! His attention to detail is vivid and dramatic. His main characters are people you care about.
I can't wait to read what happens next in Book 10!!
What can I say about "Scarred for Life"? It's a brilliant and intriguing story! I was hooked from the beginning to the end; it's an intense and page-turning read! I could not put it down!
Jessica is working on several cases with her team but she's being treated unfairly by the "higher-ups" in the department. As she's trying to put the pieces together in the Potter murder, she's taken off the case.
What happens in the end is tragic. Just as Jessica and Adam make a life decision...
This is Book 9 of the Detective Jessica Daniel series. Kerry continues to write riveting and engaging stories! His attention to detail is vivid and dramatic. His main characters are people you care about.
I can't wait to read what happens next in Book 10!!
December 12, 2025
HORRIFIED, DISTRAUGHT AND BROKEN HEARTED WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ENDING?!?!?!
I want to think oh it couldn’t have actually have been Adam because why the fuck would our darling Kerry Wilkinson do that to us but then u read the acknowledgements and I think it really was Adam???
Any how on to the rest of the book, I was scared for this book after the cliffhanger the last one left us on and I just hate Jess being in trouble although sometimes it’s warranted but I just have grown so attached to her.
I was happy that dci Cole wasn’t as bad as I had expected the entire book and he still had Jessica’s best interest at heart
I want to think oh it couldn’t have actually have been Adam because why the fuck would our darling Kerry Wilkinson do that to us but then u read the acknowledgements and I think it really was Adam???
Any how on to the rest of the book, I was scared for this book after the cliffhanger the last one left us on and I just hate Jess being in trouble although sometimes it’s warranted but I just have grown so attached to her.
I was happy that dci Cole wasn’t as bad as I had expected the entire book and he still had Jessica’s best interest at heart
May 29, 2023
This was a really good Jessica Daniel book! Several different storylines. One involved DI Jessica Daniel investigating pickpocketing undercover and letting her wallet get stolen to do it. In another, there is a body found and there may be a connection with student hazing and the local university rowing team. I thought the police procedural aspect was well balanced with scenes from Jessica’s personal life. I always like seeing scenes with her and Adam, who is one of my favorite characters. I liked new character Archie as well. 4/5 stars.
January 28, 2018
Excellent book. Jessica and new character Archie work well together. From tricking a pickpocket to looking for murderers and a conspiracy at the police department, this book will have you turning the pages. The ending was a shock with a capital "s". Look forward to reading the next book in the series. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.
February 28, 2018
I just love Kerry Wilkinson's books. His books just get better and better. Scarred for Life is another instalment of DI Jessica Daniel series. This book was just excellent throughout. I feel I know her personally now. Can't wait for his next book. Excellent author.
If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.
If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would.
December 30, 2019
Another great Jessica novel with a twist at the end.
Another great Jessica novel with a twist at the end. Jessica got everything throw at her, even from Cole, but she coped until.... Kerry explains why he ended the book the way he did but I wasn’t happy with him, I’ll have to read next book to find out what happens to Jessica. Recommend this book to everyone
Another great Jessica novel with a twist at the end. Jessica got everything throw at her, even from Cole, but she coped until.... Kerry explains why he ended the book the way he did but I wasn’t happy with him, I’ll have to read next book to find out what happens to Jessica. Recommend this book to everyone
March 18, 2021
The story itself is not that interesting in my opinion, but the tough-as-nails detective Jessica and the dark humour is! Also I have enjoyed Jessica's compassion and relationship with the homeless teenager.
The ending is a real cliffhanger and it has very much picked my interest in the next installment in this British noir series.
The ending is a real cliffhanger and it has very much picked my interest in the next installment in this British noir series.
August 5, 2025
British police story set in Manchester. There is a rowing club involved at a university, but otherwise many of the characters met are Asian or East European. Yet again we get violence against random young women. The DI is female but might as well be a man, the staff include a football fan. Much strong language and death.
I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review.
I read a paperback. This is an unbiased review.
June 22, 2018
The last two Jessica Daniel books I've read I've kind of got through, then gone OMG at the end. Unfortunately then on starting the next one it doesn't follow the ending that well. Fortunately he'd toned down the 'jokes' a little since the last one.
July 8, 2019
Another awesome, gripping read. It's got a wicked ending with Adam being blown up in Jessica's car, that's so sad. Jessica and Adam made a great couple. Why did you have too be so cruel and blow him up?. Apart from the sad ending it's a great book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2019
I somehow missed this one in the series. Several important things happened that now make the subsequent books make sense.
One thing I really enjoyed in this one was the humour.
Still loving the series.
One thing I really enjoyed in this one was the humour.
Still loving the series.
January 3, 2020
Things just got interesting....sad about Adam, hut liking thchoice of taking the series in a new directione brave
Things just got interesting....sad about Adam, hut liking thE choice of taking the series in a new directione, it's good to have a shock in a long running series.
Things just got interesting....sad about Adam, hut liking thE choice of taking the series in a new directione, it's good to have a shock in a long running series.
November 9, 2020
Another great reas
These characters are so enthralling. You have to know what is going on next for sure. You can feel the emotions as you read what is going on. Never a dull moment with this series !!
These characters are so enthralling. You have to know what is going on next for sure. You can feel the emotions as you read what is going on. Never a dull moment with this series !!
January 12, 2021
Another good read from this author .I didn't feel like the storyline were as interesting as some in previous books but still made me want to keep reading .
I like Jessie's down to earth character and banter between colleagues. Wasn't expecting the ending !
I like Jessie's down to earth character and banter between colleagues. Wasn't expecting the ending !
May 21, 2025
9th in the Jessica Daniels series and they just keep getting better. Great characters and storyline and the i did see the twist at the end coming, which has made me wa t to read the next in the series straight away.
August 13, 2017
Another gripping tale
Excellent as always. Can't wait for the next one! I love this series and feel like I know Jessica personally,
Excellent as always. Can't wait for the next one! I love this series and feel like I know Jessica personally,
April 11, 2018
Doesn't disappoint
Love the Jessica Daniel series. I always look forward to the next installment. Well written, suspenseful, twist at the end. Worth the read.
Love the Jessica Daniel series. I always look forward to the next installment. Well written, suspenseful, twist at the end. Worth the read.
October 16, 2018
This is another tremendously enjoyable story in the Jessica Daniel series with a shocking ending. I particularly enjoyed DC Archie Davey, a really good addition to the cast of familiar characters.
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