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Kaz Phelps #2
The Mourner
If she can't get justice, will she settle for vengeance?
Kaz Phelps has escaped her brother and her criminal past to become an anonymous art student in Glasgow. But can life under the witness protection scheme ever give her the freedom she craves?
Banged up and brooding, Joey Phelps faces thirty years behind bars. Still, with cash and connections on the outside, can an overstretched prison system really contain him?
Helen Warner, once Kaz's lawyer and lover, is a rising star in Parliament. But has she made the kind of enemies who have no regard for the democratic process, or even the law?
Ousted from the police and paralysed by tragic personal loss, Nicci Armstrong is in danger of going under. Can a job she doesn't want with a private security firm help her to put her life back back on track?
A murder dressed up as suicide and corruption that goes to the heart of government unite ex-cop and ex-con in a deadly quest to learn the truth. What they discover proves what both have always known - villainy is rife on both sides of the law.
600 pages, Paperback
First published May 21, 2015
14 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Susan Wilkins
16 books136 followersI’m Susan Wilkins, a television writer turned novelist, and I write crime thrillers that dig deep into human psychology.
How do ordinary people end up on the wrong side of the law? That’s what I’m always asking. The characters are central to all my stories. The protagonists tend to be female, but not always, and I specialise in female detectives.
I grew up in Essex, studied Law, but spent twenty-five years writing television drama. I have over 130 broadcast credits to my name, including Casualty and Holby City, Heartbeat, Coronation Street and Eastenders, Footballers’ Wives, Dangerfield and Down to Earth, and I created the pioneering BBC detective drama South of the Border. This was the best education anyone could have in how to craft a gripping, page turning story.
I’ve moved around a lot in my life, within the UK and abroad. But now I’m settled in Devon. I walk by the sea every day and drink too much coffee.
If you’d like to find out more about my writing and keep in touch with my latest news, exclusive content and giveaways, visit susanwilkins.co.uk
How do ordinary people end up on the wrong side of the law? That’s what I’m always asking. The characters are central to all my stories. The protagonists tend to be female, but not always, and I specialise in female detectives.
I grew up in Essex, studied Law, but spent twenty-five years writing television drama. I have over 130 broadcast credits to my name, including Casualty and Holby City, Heartbeat, Coronation Street and Eastenders, Footballers’ Wives, Dangerfield and Down to Earth, and I created the pioneering BBC detective drama South of the Border. This was the best education anyone could have in how to craft a gripping, page turning story.
I’ve moved around a lot in my life, within the UK and abroad. But now I’m settled in Devon. I walk by the sea every day and drink too much coffee.
If you’d like to find out more about my writing and keep in touch with my latest news, exclusive content and giveaways, visit susanwilkins.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 21, 2015
5 Fantastic!!!! Stars
After reading Susan Wilkins first book The Informant I was impressed with her style of writing, so I was excited to find out that this second book was going to give us more of the same ...
Kaz is now living under the witness protection in Scotland. After giving evidence against her brother Joey.
Alone and penniless she suddenly hears of the death of someone close to her.
After hearing this news she decides to go back to London to find out more.
Joey the lovable, good looking...Oh yes by the way he is also now serving 30 years for the torture and murder of two undercover police officers.
He is still in control from prison and is waiting to find Kaz again.
Nicci Armstrong is an ex cop, now working for a security business alongside another ex cop Blake...... they have been hired to investigate a suspicious death that the police seem keen to have it as a open and shut case. But Nicci and Blake think there may be more to this than meets the eye.... Nicci is facing her own tragedy and is barely holding it together.
But Nicci is no pushover when she needs to be..
This murder brings all the parties together for an exciting story of lies, cover ups, twists and turns in this gritty thriller.
My thoughts...
This is a well thought out story
And the author has done just that. The characters are believable.The background to the story is even stronger this time around. I liked Nicci Armstrong she was my favourite, but you just felt for her situation..
Kaz and Joeys relationship is complicated, can she trust him or is he just out for revenge.
With each chapter leaving you wanting more, I almost didn't want it to finish but excited to get to the end...
Now I just want more..
The Informant
The Mourner
***ARC provided by Netgalley in return for an honest review***
After reading Susan Wilkins first book The Informant I was impressed with her style of writing, so I was excited to find out that this second book was going to give us more of the same ...
Kaz is now living under the witness protection in Scotland. After giving evidence against her brother Joey.
Alone and penniless she suddenly hears of the death of someone close to her.
After hearing this news she decides to go back to London to find out more.
Joey the lovable, good looking...Oh yes by the way he is also now serving 30 years for the torture and murder of two undercover police officers.
He is still in control from prison and is waiting to find Kaz again.
Nicci Armstrong is an ex cop, now working for a security business alongside another ex cop Blake...... they have been hired to investigate a suspicious death that the police seem keen to have it as a open and shut case. But Nicci and Blake think there may be more to this than meets the eye.... Nicci is facing her own tragedy and is barely holding it together.
But Nicci is no pushover when she needs to be..
This murder brings all the parties together for an exciting story of lies, cover ups, twists and turns in this gritty thriller.
My thoughts...
This is a well thought out story
And the author has done just that. The characters are believable.The background to the story is even stronger this time around. I liked Nicci Armstrong she was my favourite, but you just felt for her situation..
Kaz and Joeys relationship is complicated, can she trust him or is he just out for revenge.
With each chapter leaving you wanting more, I almost didn't want it to finish but excited to get to the end...
Now I just want more..
The Informant
The Mourner
***ARC provided by Netgalley in return for an honest review***
July 7, 2017
My first time reading this author and i was not disappointed..the story was fast-paced,thoughtful with very good character development..the plot got more engaging and suspenseful during the latter part of the book..enjoyed the relationship between the siblings..readers could not figure out whether it dislike or love that they had going on between them..then there was all this mean spitefulness thing that was going on with the husband and ex-wife in another part of the storyline plus all the other stuff that law enforcement had to deal with..good series and writing..recommended
May 31, 2015
The Mourner – A Brilliant Second Book
Susan Wilkins has followed up her brilliant 2014 debut thriller The Informant with a second book that is pure class, The Mourner. It could also be said that this ties up all the loose ends from the Informant, rounds out a few characters and looses none of its grit. The Mourner is even better than The Informant which was a knock out thriller! Susan Wilkins has brought all her skill as a screenwriter to write a slick fast paced thriller where you do not know what will happen over the 500 pages.
The Mourner picks up where The Informant left off; Kaz Phelps is in the witness protection scheme living up in Glasgow with a new identity and enjoying life as an art student. Her psychotic brother, Joey, is banged up in a Category A prison with no prospect of ever seeing the outside world again but still a major threat to those who have crossed him.
Helen Warner is now a Member of Parliament and very much the rising star of the Labour Party still with her partner Julia. Nicci Armstrong is now outside the Met and working for a private security firm, paralysed by drink and the recent tragic event of her life she is in danger of crashing. Her life restarts with the investigation that will take her in to the dark heart of corruption, the secret services and the Metropolitan Police.
When Kaz receives the news that her lawyer and sometime lover Helen Warner has committed suicide she rushes back to London as she does not believe that the truth is being told. At the same time Julia, Helen’s partner is advised to approach Simon Blake Associates to investigate the death further as the Police’s hands are tied.
All the characters that Wilkins has created jump right off the page and get under your skin as if they are human with all the traits, their successes and failures. You can identify the struggles of each character and she uses different chapters to put that perspective across something that she does brilliantly. So you are able to feel the ruthlessness of the criminals, the obsessive love that bubbles below the surface leaving the question of who is untouched by corruption.
The Mourner leaves you gasping for breath as all the loose ends get tied up and the questions the plot asks are answered decisively. It would be interesting to see if some of the characters can be developed any further or this was their swan song. What I am looking forward to is the continued writing of Susan Wilkins and I look forward to her next book but on current form The Mourner I cannot recommend highly enough, it is intoxicating.
Susan Wilkins has followed up her brilliant 2014 debut thriller The Informant with a second book that is pure class, The Mourner. It could also be said that this ties up all the loose ends from the Informant, rounds out a few characters and looses none of its grit. The Mourner is even better than The Informant which was a knock out thriller! Susan Wilkins has brought all her skill as a screenwriter to write a slick fast paced thriller where you do not know what will happen over the 500 pages.
The Mourner picks up where The Informant left off; Kaz Phelps is in the witness protection scheme living up in Glasgow with a new identity and enjoying life as an art student. Her psychotic brother, Joey, is banged up in a Category A prison with no prospect of ever seeing the outside world again but still a major threat to those who have crossed him.
Helen Warner is now a Member of Parliament and very much the rising star of the Labour Party still with her partner Julia. Nicci Armstrong is now outside the Met and working for a private security firm, paralysed by drink and the recent tragic event of her life she is in danger of crashing. Her life restarts with the investigation that will take her in to the dark heart of corruption, the secret services and the Metropolitan Police.
When Kaz receives the news that her lawyer and sometime lover Helen Warner has committed suicide she rushes back to London as she does not believe that the truth is being told. At the same time Julia, Helen’s partner is advised to approach Simon Blake Associates to investigate the death further as the Police’s hands are tied.
All the characters that Wilkins has created jump right off the page and get under your skin as if they are human with all the traits, their successes and failures. You can identify the struggles of each character and she uses different chapters to put that perspective across something that she does brilliantly. So you are able to feel the ruthlessness of the criminals, the obsessive love that bubbles below the surface leaving the question of who is untouched by corruption.
The Mourner leaves you gasping for breath as all the loose ends get tied up and the questions the plot asks are answered decisively. It would be interesting to see if some of the characters can be developed any further or this was their swan song. What I am looking forward to is the continued writing of Susan Wilkins and I look forward to her next book but on current form The Mourner I cannot recommend highly enough, it is intoxicating.
May 26, 2015
Susan Wilkins returns with The Mourner, the follow-up to probably one of the best debuts I read in 2014, The Informant. Second novel syndrome is not a term you can apply to Susan, as if anything The Mourner was even better than The Informant and it has left me extremely excited to read more from Susan who is reinventing the grit lit genre in a very exciting and intelligent way.
The Mourner packs a lot into its five hundred plus pages, and it is of course impossible to discuss in detail but it continues the story that left many a reader reeling when they turned the final page of The Informant. Karen Phelps is living in Glasgow under the witness protection scheme after delivering the testimony that saw her brother Joey receive a thirty year prison sentence. Joey has plans, which don't include remaining in prison for very long. Meanwhile, Kaz's ex-lover and ex-lawyer Helen Warner finds herself not in hot water, but the freezing cold waters of the River Thames, her body soon being discovered. Nicci Armstrong is an ex-police officer turned PI whose firm receives a not so subtle hint that the death of Helen Warner, deemed a suicide, is in fact anything but. You can see then why it's hard to summarise.
Susan Wilkins creates characters that immediately feel real, that come to life on the page. Susan doesn't just tell you how her characters feel, instead she has you experiencing those feelings yourself as you read. Her characters are believable, flawed, sometimes relateable yet often a complete world away yet you will be with them on every step of their journey. Kaz Phelps is perhaps my most favourite, but I did have a soft spot for the broken Nicci who plays a huge role in The Mourner as our two characters develop a fierce determination to find out what really happened to Helen Warner. This series has strong female characters in a genre that often portrays them in an atypical way, often making them appear superior to males but it coming across forced or alternatively making them a doormat for males. Instead Susan's characters are strong, but with real fears, insecurities and issues.
The Mourner uses the familiar writing style of each chapter following a different character before eventually the various threads begin to converge before resulting in a rather brilliant conclusion. I learnt reading this book not to even bother guessing where Susan was going to take the story, particularly in the twists that she delivers regarding our characters. In terms of the main story arc, the mystery surrounding the death of Helen Warner, what we have is a realistic tale, one that is all too believable and one that will leave many a reader quite angry. I do love it when an author can bring real emotion out of a reader. Susan bursts right into parliament with this story, shining a light on political cover-ups, shady politicians and long-buried secrets that are about to come tumbling out giving this story real depth and substance in a genre that usually tends to stick to one arena. A further highlight is the London setting, the city becoming a character in itself and it being a brilliant playing field for everything that happens over the course of the story.
Susan Wilkins truly is an exciting author, completely surpassing any bar that similar authors may have set before her and if anything, setting the bar for those authors to come along and try to beat. I hope she is writing more books for many years to come, and I have no trouble in very highly recommending The Mourner.
The Mourner packs a lot into its five hundred plus pages, and it is of course impossible to discuss in detail but it continues the story that left many a reader reeling when they turned the final page of The Informant. Karen Phelps is living in Glasgow under the witness protection scheme after delivering the testimony that saw her brother Joey receive a thirty year prison sentence. Joey has plans, which don't include remaining in prison for very long. Meanwhile, Kaz's ex-lover and ex-lawyer Helen Warner finds herself not in hot water, but the freezing cold waters of the River Thames, her body soon being discovered. Nicci Armstrong is an ex-police officer turned PI whose firm receives a not so subtle hint that the death of Helen Warner, deemed a suicide, is in fact anything but. You can see then why it's hard to summarise.
Susan Wilkins creates characters that immediately feel real, that come to life on the page. Susan doesn't just tell you how her characters feel, instead she has you experiencing those feelings yourself as you read. Her characters are believable, flawed, sometimes relateable yet often a complete world away yet you will be with them on every step of their journey. Kaz Phelps is perhaps my most favourite, but I did have a soft spot for the broken Nicci who plays a huge role in The Mourner as our two characters develop a fierce determination to find out what really happened to Helen Warner. This series has strong female characters in a genre that often portrays them in an atypical way, often making them appear superior to males but it coming across forced or alternatively making them a doormat for males. Instead Susan's characters are strong, but with real fears, insecurities and issues.
The Mourner uses the familiar writing style of each chapter following a different character before eventually the various threads begin to converge before resulting in a rather brilliant conclusion. I learnt reading this book not to even bother guessing where Susan was going to take the story, particularly in the twists that she delivers regarding our characters. In terms of the main story arc, the mystery surrounding the death of Helen Warner, what we have is a realistic tale, one that is all too believable and one that will leave many a reader quite angry. I do love it when an author can bring real emotion out of a reader. Susan bursts right into parliament with this story, shining a light on political cover-ups, shady politicians and long-buried secrets that are about to come tumbling out giving this story real depth and substance in a genre that usually tends to stick to one arena. A further highlight is the London setting, the city becoming a character in itself and it being a brilliant playing field for everything that happens over the course of the story.
Susan Wilkins truly is an exciting author, completely surpassing any bar that similar authors may have set before her and if anything, setting the bar for those authors to come along and try to beat. I hope she is writing more books for many years to come, and I have no trouble in very highly recommending The Mourner.
November 7, 2015
After reading The Informant I didn't think The Mourner could be any better. How wrong, from the first page it just got better and better.
The characters and settings seem so realistic that you can picture the places and people in your mind as you are reading.
I read this book over a couple of nights as I could not put down. Absolutely recommend this author to anyone who enjoys no nonsense gritty novels. Loved it, can't wait for book 3.
The characters and settings seem so realistic that you can picture the places and people in your mind as you are reading.
I read this book over a couple of nights as I could not put down. Absolutely recommend this author to anyone who enjoys no nonsense gritty novels. Loved it, can't wait for book 3.
May 21, 2015
This is a fast paced story, you can get into it right away, this author is one of the best for doing that.
Nicci was forced out of the Police and now working in a Detective Agency. She has an interesting case on her hands that leads her to many different places and avenues.
The thing is, has Nicci bitten off more than she can handle with this case?
You will find out.
I would like to thank Pan Macmillan via Net Galley for my copy to review.
September 5, 2015
Published by: Pan Macmillan (21st May 2015)
ISBN: 978-1447241447
Source: Publisher provided review copy
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
If she can't get justice, will she settle for vengeance?
Kaz Phelps has escaped her brother and her criminal past to become an anonymous art student in Glasgow. But can life under the witness protection scheme ever give her the freedom she craves?
Banged up and brooding, Joey Phelps faces thirty years behind bars. Still, with cash and connections on the outside, can an overstretched prison system really contain him?
Helen Warner, once Kaz's lawyer and lover, is a rising star in Parliament. But has she made the kind of enemies who have no regard for the democratic process, or even the law?
Ousted from the police and paralysed by tragic personal loss, Nicci Armstrong is in danger of going under. Can a job she doesn't want with a private security firm help her to put her life back back on track?
A murder dressed up as suicide and corruption that goes to the heart of government unite ex-cop and ex-con in a deadly quest to learn the truth. What they discover proves what both have always known - villainy is rife on both sides of the law.
Review:
I was really looking forward to reading the follow-up to Wilkins' debut, The Informant, after reading it last year. Kaz is a fascinating, complex character to read, so I was intrigued to discover the next part of her story.
The main characters - Kaz, Nicci and Joey - are supported by some great personalities who add to the absorbing sub-plots that surround the predominant case. It's through interaction with these people that more about Kaz, Nicci and Joey is gradually revealed.
That Wilkins is a screenwriter is evident in her writing; the attention to detail and wonderfully descriptive prose meant the book played out like a film in my head. All the sights, sounds and smells leapt to life from the pages - something not many authors can accomplish. I know I'd be a huge fan of a tv series adapted from this series of books.
Susan Wilkins is a fantastic thriller writer who stands out in the overcrowded market; she's a brilliant storyteller and certainly one to watch.
ISBN: 978-1447241447
Source: Publisher provided review copy
Rating: 4.5*
Synopsis:
If she can't get justice, will she settle for vengeance?
Kaz Phelps has escaped her brother and her criminal past to become an anonymous art student in Glasgow. But can life under the witness protection scheme ever give her the freedom she craves?
Banged up and brooding, Joey Phelps faces thirty years behind bars. Still, with cash and connections on the outside, can an overstretched prison system really contain him?
Helen Warner, once Kaz's lawyer and lover, is a rising star in Parliament. But has she made the kind of enemies who have no regard for the democratic process, or even the law?
Ousted from the police and paralysed by tragic personal loss, Nicci Armstrong is in danger of going under. Can a job she doesn't want with a private security firm help her to put her life back back on track?
A murder dressed up as suicide and corruption that goes to the heart of government unite ex-cop and ex-con in a deadly quest to learn the truth. What they discover proves what both have always known - villainy is rife on both sides of the law.
Review:
I was really looking forward to reading the follow-up to Wilkins' debut, The Informant, after reading it last year. Kaz is a fascinating, complex character to read, so I was intrigued to discover the next part of her story.
The main characters - Kaz, Nicci and Joey - are supported by some great personalities who add to the absorbing sub-plots that surround the predominant case. It's through interaction with these people that more about Kaz, Nicci and Joey is gradually revealed.
That Wilkins is a screenwriter is evident in her writing; the attention to detail and wonderfully descriptive prose meant the book played out like a film in my head. All the sights, sounds and smells leapt to life from the pages - something not many authors can accomplish. I know I'd be a huge fan of a tv series adapted from this series of books.
Susan Wilkins is a fantastic thriller writer who stands out in the overcrowded market; she's a brilliant storyteller and certainly one to watch.
April 14, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Having never read a Susan Wilkins book before, I found the story very easy to pick up.
Nicci is an interesting character with many issues. Forced out by the police and now working in a Detective Agency for Blake, she finds herself dealing with the mysterious death of MP Helen Warner, the ex solicitor of Kaz Phelps.
Both Kaz and Helen's partner Julia find it difficult to believe the Police investigations conclusion that Helen committed suicide.
As Nicci, Blake and the team begin to investigate, you can't help but wonder if they've bitten off more than they can chew.
This is one of my books of the year with an ending I fully appreciated.
Having never read a Susan Wilkins book before, I found the story very easy to pick up.
Nicci is an interesting character with many issues. Forced out by the police and now working in a Detective Agency for Blake, she finds herself dealing with the mysterious death of MP Helen Warner, the ex solicitor of Kaz Phelps.
Both Kaz and Helen's partner Julia find it difficult to believe the Police investigations conclusion that Helen committed suicide.
As Nicci, Blake and the team begin to investigate, you can't help but wonder if they've bitten off more than they can chew.
This is one of my books of the year with an ending I fully appreciated.
August 4, 2017
Amazing and suspenseful, I am really enjoying this trilogy, not going to say any more because I do not want to give anything important away, I highly recommend this series, looking forward to reading the last book.
March 6, 2017
The Mourner is the second book in the trilogy that started with The Informant. It’s a different type of crime series for me, with much of the focus being on Kaz. She isn’t a police officer, but a member of a notorious crime family. She has spent time in prison but since the events in the first book is living in witness protection in Glasgow. After the death of her former lover she leaves her safe but lonely existence behind and goes to London to get some answers.
I like Kaz a lot. She has had a hard life along with her brother Joey but she has managed to some degree to walk away from her criminal family. She is very much the black sheep and finds it difficult to trust most people but the ones she does she is very loyal to. Nikki is a former police officer who also featured in The Informant. Her life fell apart with the death of her daughter and the affect it had on her career.
It is a novel that doesn’t hold back. There is plenty of violence, much of which involves drugs and prostitution. There are gangs of different nationalities and untrustworthy politicians. But there is also bravery, loyalty and a determination to get justice. Some of the people who feature don’t always show true colours. A few who I expected to be ruthless were not as bad as I thought they would be. And of course, the ones who I expected to be genuine were not as they appeared.
A shocking ending that still had plenty of unanswered questions. I’m looking forward to catching up with the characters in The Killer that is published in a few weeks’ time. This is a series that needs to be read in order. It is probably the most closely linked one that I have read.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
I like Kaz a lot. She has had a hard life along with her brother Joey but she has managed to some degree to walk away from her criminal family. She is very much the black sheep and finds it difficult to trust most people but the ones she does she is very loyal to. Nikki is a former police officer who also featured in The Informant. Her life fell apart with the death of her daughter and the affect it had on her career.
It is a novel that doesn’t hold back. There is plenty of violence, much of which involves drugs and prostitution. There are gangs of different nationalities and untrustworthy politicians. But there is also bravery, loyalty and a determination to get justice. Some of the people who feature don’t always show true colours. A few who I expected to be ruthless were not as bad as I thought they would be. And of course, the ones who I expected to be genuine were not as they appeared.
A shocking ending that still had plenty of unanswered questions. I’m looking forward to catching up with the characters in The Killer that is published in a few weeks’ time. This is a series that needs to be read in order. It is probably the most closely linked one that I have read.
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
July 7, 2015
Whew, now I’ve finished reading I can catch my breath. Having opened with a death and the reader knowing the circumstances, the book takes flight at quite a pace with a wide cast of characters and several subplots and the investigation of the initial death at the centre.
Ms Wilkins states in her acknowledgements that a second novel is notoriously difficult to get right but there is no doubt she manages it here. The story is complex and real and the voices of the characters are different enough for the reader to keep them all sorted. There are Scots and English accents in the dialogue to get a flavour of the diverse people and it is easy to like most of them (not the villains obviously!) and to respect Nicci especially, as she struggles with her personal demons. There are some really unlikeable and well-drawn nasty characters and Ms Wilkins makes sure we take sides and root for the strange duo of Nicci and Karen.
The snappy dialogue barely gives you a chance to pause and the short chapters are an excellent way of moving the story along as it’s easy to think “just one more”.
Having read this absorbing and emotionally draining mystery, I will be looking out for Ms Wilkins first novel The Informant.
Recommended if you like fast action mysteries and stories of redemption but no glossy, tidy endings. Can vengeance be a substitute for justice? Is it ever? I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.
July 9, 2015
Really enjoyed this second novel in the Kaz (Karen) Phelps series. A cracking read this will appeal to those who like thrillers. It's pace is very good and it tells a story in a very practical fashion. Kaz is a very likeable character despite the fact she seems to be on the wrong end of the law for most of The Informant and now The Mourner. I related to her well, she seems to want to overcome her past but it keeps finding her and involving her in the murkier side of life. At the start of the story her brother Joey is in prison and she is in witness protection when she finds out her lover Helen Warner may have been murdered. This plot runs throughout the novel as Kaz and investigater Nikki try to find out what really happened to Helen. I hope this series continues. Great read - thanks Susan!
May 1, 2015
review to follow
July 26, 2015
a good conclusion to the story. This being part two, although a stand alone book.
December 18, 2022
If she can't get justice, will she settle for vengeance?
Kaz Phelps has escaped her brother and her criminal past to become an anonymous art student in Glasgow. But can life under the witness protection scheme ever give her the freedom she craves?
Banged up and brooding, Joey Phelps faces thirty years behind bars. Still, with cash and connections on the outside, can an overstretched prison system really contain him?
Helen Warner, once Kaz's lawyer and lover, is a rising star in Parliament. But has she made the kind of enemies who have no regard for the democratic process, or even the law?
Ousted from the police and paralysed by tragic personal loss, Nicci Armstrong is in danger of going under. Can a job she doesn't want with a private security firm help her to put her life back back on track?
A murder dressed up as suicide and corruption that goes to the heart of government unite ex-cop and ex-con in a deadly quest to learn the truth. What they discover proves what both have always known - villainy is rife on both sides of the law
ohhhh to say I was buzzing when I received an ARC via Netgalley is an understatement.
I enjoyed the first book so much I couldn't wait to start this one.
Susan Wilkins Debut The Informant was just fantastic, so before I started this one, I was hoping for much of the same. This book is just as good, if not better for me.
I enjoyed it from picking it up right through to the end.
I can just see these books turning into a massive Hit with readers, and think it could be an amazing series of books.
For those of you that read the first book, you'll love getting stuck into this one, If you have not yet read The Informant (click here for my review). Then can I suggest you read that first so you have a better idea and feel for the back story.
In the acknowledgements it says, “2nd novels are difficult to get right”. But I certainly think That Susan Wilkins got this book right.
This book is fantastically written and put together so well.
I loved the journey Kaz Phelps went on in book one, and it was brilliant to follow along with her again in this book. She’s a brilliant character. Although we start this book pretty much where the last one left off, so Kaz is no longer Kaz Phelps, but Clare O Keefe. As she has now entered the witness protection scheme after testifying against her brother Joey. I think Joey is one of the very few people who Kaz is wary of. Will he be able to get to her from behind bars. Kaz is devastated when she hears her ex lover has committed suicide. And is drawn back to London to try to find answers.
Another strong female character in this book is Nicci Armstrong. Who in book one was the officer who investigated Kaz and Joey. She is no longer with the police, and is now in private security. I really liked Nicci and her character made me really feel for her at times. And it was great following her story. And just goes to show how your life can change so much.
I found this to be one of those books, that you can’t wait to finish so you can find out just what is going on and what is happening next, but as you get towards the end you don’t want it to finish.
This book gets a big 5/5 from me, and I am eager to read more from this author. I really do like her style of writing.
I was thinking to myself, it must be so difficult now with so many authors writing great books, to find something that is different and will get readers hooked, but I think this book certainly does get you hooked.
Kaz Phelps has escaped her brother and her criminal past to become an anonymous art student in Glasgow. But can life under the witness protection scheme ever give her the freedom she craves?
Banged up and brooding, Joey Phelps faces thirty years behind bars. Still, with cash and connections on the outside, can an overstretched prison system really contain him?
Helen Warner, once Kaz's lawyer and lover, is a rising star in Parliament. But has she made the kind of enemies who have no regard for the democratic process, or even the law?
Ousted from the police and paralysed by tragic personal loss, Nicci Armstrong is in danger of going under. Can a job she doesn't want with a private security firm help her to put her life back back on track?
A murder dressed up as suicide and corruption that goes to the heart of government unite ex-cop and ex-con in a deadly quest to learn the truth. What they discover proves what both have always known - villainy is rife on both sides of the law
ohhhh to say I was buzzing when I received an ARC via Netgalley is an understatement.
I enjoyed the first book so much I couldn't wait to start this one.
Susan Wilkins Debut The Informant was just fantastic, so before I started this one, I was hoping for much of the same. This book is just as good, if not better for me.
I enjoyed it from picking it up right through to the end.
I can just see these books turning into a massive Hit with readers, and think it could be an amazing series of books.
For those of you that read the first book, you'll love getting stuck into this one, If you have not yet read The Informant (click here for my review). Then can I suggest you read that first so you have a better idea and feel for the back story.
In the acknowledgements it says, “2nd novels are difficult to get right”. But I certainly think That Susan Wilkins got this book right.
This book is fantastically written and put together so well.
I loved the journey Kaz Phelps went on in book one, and it was brilliant to follow along with her again in this book. She’s a brilliant character. Although we start this book pretty much where the last one left off, so Kaz is no longer Kaz Phelps, but Clare O Keefe. As she has now entered the witness protection scheme after testifying against her brother Joey. I think Joey is one of the very few people who Kaz is wary of. Will he be able to get to her from behind bars. Kaz is devastated when she hears her ex lover has committed suicide. And is drawn back to London to try to find answers.
Another strong female character in this book is Nicci Armstrong. Who in book one was the officer who investigated Kaz and Joey. She is no longer with the police, and is now in private security. I really liked Nicci and her character made me really feel for her at times. And it was great following her story. And just goes to show how your life can change so much.
I found this to be one of those books, that you can’t wait to finish so you can find out just what is going on and what is happening next, but as you get towards the end you don’t want it to finish.
This book gets a big 5/5 from me, and I am eager to read more from this author. I really do like her style of writing.
I was thinking to myself, it must be so difficult now with so many authors writing great books, to find something that is different and will get readers hooked, but I think this book certainly does get you hooked.
January 16, 2023
2nd book in the series which are best read in order as it will refer back to what has happened in book 1 frequently.
When Kaz put her villain brother behind bars by giving evidence she was put into witness protection for her safety to pursue a new life.
She comes back to London keeping herself hidden when the Lawyer who helped her during the court process is found dead. Police say suicide and Kaz disagrees (so do others).
What a whirlwind thrilltastic page turner this was. It will leave you on the edge of your seat. Thee are more twists and turns than a Maze and you will be gripped by the characters, storyline and “the need to know the truth”!
Prepare for a few curveball surprises and hold on!
Ends on a cliffhanger and I guarantee it will have you racing to the Amazon/audible shop to get the next book!
100% gripping and will leave you on a cliffhanger ohmyword!
When Kaz put her villain brother behind bars by giving evidence she was put into witness protection for her safety to pursue a new life.
She comes back to London keeping herself hidden when the Lawyer who helped her during the court process is found dead. Police say suicide and Kaz disagrees (so do others).
What a whirlwind thrilltastic page turner this was. It will leave you on the edge of your seat. Thee are more twists and turns than a Maze and you will be gripped by the characters, storyline and “the need to know the truth”!
Prepare for a few curveball surprises and hold on!
Ends on a cliffhanger and I guarantee it will have you racing to the Amazon/audible shop to get the next book!
100% gripping and will leave you on a cliffhanger ohmyword!
October 11, 2017
Audio version of this book , excellent follow up to the first book in the series hope there's a third. Narration excellent
April 12, 2018
Struggled with the reading this onedidn't find it as enjoyable as the first book
June 11, 2025
Another good read by this author .
June 21, 2015
I was given and ARC from netgalley in return for an honest review
I have never read any books by Susan Wilkins before but after having read the blurb I was looking forward to reading this. I was not disappointed. It is a fast paced, well written thriller with strong characters and lots of interesting storylines.
Each of the main characters have their own flaws which makes them interesting but also more believable by the reader. Kaz, an ex-criminal now in witness protection, but because of the death of her ex-lover has come out of hiding and is drawn back into mixing with her previous criminal associates. Nicci an ex-policewoman who is trying to cope with the death of her daughter but also trying to get her life back on track and do the thing she loves, detecting.
These two women are drawn together to find out what happened to Helen Warner, was it suicide or was it murder? Not only do they work to find out the truth they are also dealing with ghosts from their past.
This is a great story because not only does it have a main plot of discovering what happened to Helen Warner but there are also various sub-plots which weave together to add to the drama and interest of the story. These all kept the reader interested and glued to the pages to find out what happens next. Not all sub-plots are solved and sets the scene for a follow up novel. Can't wait!
I loved this book and would certainly recommend it to anyone. I now have to go and read the first book by Susan Wilkins and await the next one so that I can find out the next instalment in the lives of Kaz and Nicci and all the other characters in the novel.
I have never read any books by Susan Wilkins before but after having read the blurb I was looking forward to reading this. I was not disappointed. It is a fast paced, well written thriller with strong characters and lots of interesting storylines.
Each of the main characters have their own flaws which makes them interesting but also more believable by the reader. Kaz, an ex-criminal now in witness protection, but because of the death of her ex-lover has come out of hiding and is drawn back into mixing with her previous criminal associates. Nicci an ex-policewoman who is trying to cope with the death of her daughter but also trying to get her life back on track and do the thing she loves, detecting.
These two women are drawn together to find out what happened to Helen Warner, was it suicide or was it murder? Not only do they work to find out the truth they are also dealing with ghosts from their past.
This is a great story because not only does it have a main plot of discovering what happened to Helen Warner but there are also various sub-plots which weave together to add to the drama and interest of the story. These all kept the reader interested and glued to the pages to find out what happens next. Not all sub-plots are solved and sets the scene for a follow up novel. Can't wait!
I loved this book and would certainly recommend it to anyone. I now have to go and read the first book by Susan Wilkins and await the next one so that I can find out the next instalment in the lives of Kaz and Nicci and all the other characters in the novel.
October 16, 2016
'THE MOURNER' is the follow up to Wilkins' first novel; 'THE INFORMANT' and I would recommend at this stage to read this first as much of the plot for 'THE MOURNER' won't make sense.
Since I finished 'THE INFORMANT' I was keen to read more about the leading characters and what was next for them. This book did not disappoint.
This books has it all... crooked politicians, Russian heavies for hire, UK Police force, privatised security firms, troubled characters, characters with too much ego (Joey Phelps being the main suspect!) and a gripping conspiracy which ties all of these elements together.
This is one of those books I was happy to read at 6am in order to finish!!
Since I finished 'THE INFORMANT' I was keen to read more about the leading characters and what was next for them. This book did not disappoint.
This books has it all... crooked politicians, Russian heavies for hire, UK Police force, privatised security firms, troubled characters, characters with too much ego (Joey Phelps being the main suspect!) and a gripping conspiracy which ties all of these elements together.
This is one of those books I was happy to read at 6am in order to finish!!
January 15, 2016
I couldn't put this book down. Another brilliant book by Susan Wilkins. I had read the first book in the series and really enjoyed it and i wasn't sure what to expect of the second one but it didn't disappoint. The story was fast paced, brilliantly written and the characters were as captivating as the first time around. This a book i would recommend
I would like to thank Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this
I would like to thank Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this
October 28, 2015
Gritty and fast paced read. The action thunders along at a furious pace. I do like book with short chapters they are so much easier to read. Constantly looking at the next chapter and seeing it's only three or four pages long decide to just read one more chapter, and so it goes on...
June 20, 2015
excellent read of kat the follow up to the informant brilliant
August 4, 2015
Excellent characters, well written easy to read. 2nd book in series read the informant first
August 16, 2015
really enjoyed the mourner 2nd book to the informant looking forward to susan wilkins next book
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