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D.I. Hannah Robbins #0.5
Three Weeks Dead
How far would you go if someone took your wife?
Especially, if you buried her a week ago.
When Jason Wells is faced with this scenario, he is confronted with the prospect of committing a crime that will have far-reaching consequences.
Can young DC Sally Poynter get through to him before he crosses that line, or does a desperate husband prove to be the case she won’t ever forget?
This is a DC Sally Poynter novella, and the prequel to Shallow Waters, the first in the DI Hannah Robbins series.
Especially, if you buried her a week ago.
When Jason Wells is faced with this scenario, he is confronted with the prospect of committing a crime that will have far-reaching consequences.
Can young DC Sally Poynter get through to him before he crosses that line, or does a desperate husband prove to be the case she won’t ever forget?
This is a DC Sally Poynter novella, and the prequel to Shallow Waters, the first in the DI Hannah Robbins series.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2016
39 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Bradley
19 books263 followersRebecca Bradley is a retired police detective who lives in the UK with her family and her two cockapoo's Alfie and Lola. They keep her company while she writes. Rebecca needs to drink copious amounts of tea to function throughout the day and if she could, she would survive on a diet of tea and cake while committing murder on a regular basis, in her writing of course.
To download a FREE novella of THREE WEEKS DEAD visit her website at rebeccabradleycrime.com
You can always chat with her on Twitter where she can be found spending far too much of her time at @RebeccaJBradley
To download a FREE novella of THREE WEEKS DEAD visit her website at rebeccabradleycrime.com
You can always chat with her on Twitter where she can be found spending far too much of her time at @RebeccaJBradley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 17, 2021
DC Sally Poynter, along with her colleagues, were interviewing Jason Wells after he’d been discovered stealing information from his place of work, which would create havoc throughout the banking world. It was after they’d found Jason’s wife, Lisa’s body was missing from her coffin where she’d been buried after a dreadful car accident, three weeks earlier. What Sally heard shocked her – none of the police ever remembered a case such as this one. Would they find who had ‘robbed the grave’ and why?
Three Weeks Dead is a D.I. Hannah Robbins #0.5 novella by Rebecca Bradley, prequel to the first in the series, Shallow Waters. I really enjoyed this one – the pacing was electric, the twists crucial to the plot, and the plot imaginative and intriguing! I’ll definitely be looking into more of this series. Highly recommended.
Three Weeks Dead is a D.I. Hannah Robbins #0.5 novella by Rebecca Bradley, prequel to the first in the series, Shallow Waters. I really enjoyed this one – the pacing was electric, the twists crucial to the plot, and the plot imaginative and intriguing! I’ll definitely be looking into more of this series. Highly recommended.
July 7, 2017
This is my first read of a Rebecca Bradley book and a good introduction to the DI Hannah Robbins series. This novella was a good, quick entertaining read that not only gave me an insight into the authors style but convinced me to read more of this series.
The novella has an unusual plot where a dead wife is kidnapped and her husband Jason Wells is prepared to go to great lengths to retrieve her body. Good strong characters, unusual plot but maybe a little too short for my taste.
The novella has an unusual plot where a dead wife is kidnapped and her husband Jason Wells is prepared to go to great lengths to retrieve her body. Good strong characters, unusual plot but maybe a little too short for my taste.
September 19, 2017
I was lucky to get this short novella from the author to read. I have not read Shallow Waters the first book in the series and that Three Weeks Dead is a prequel to. But, I found no problems getting into the story.
In Three Weeks Dead, we get two POV. We have Jason Wells the husband to the kidnapped dead wife and then we have DC Sally Poynter, a young and inexperienced policewoman. Both are faced with troubles of them own, Jason with the moral dilemma of doing the right thing, not giving in to the kidnappers, but still wanting the body of his wife back. And, Sally is young, trying to balance marriage life with being a police and at the same time hoping to not doing anything wrong with the case.
For me was Three Weeks Dead an interesting book because I don't think I have ever read a book where the dead body is used as a bargaining chip. It was quite interesting to follow Jason as he wrestles with himself about not giving in to the kidnapper's demand. I mean it's easy to sit here and judge telling Jason mentally that she's just a dead body, she's not there anymore. But, for him, that's still his wife's body, a woman she loved. As for Sally, I have to admit that here newbie attitude was a bit grating for me, but I do like that Sally towards the end started to feel a bit more mature. However, here problems with a fellow male colleague in the book annoyed me, sure I can understand that some clashes occur, but it's not a long story, and I felt sometimes that it took a bit too large part of the story. It's not especially new in police books to have a male police hating a female police so it could be that I was just tired of an old cliché. It will be interesting to read Shallow Waters to see how I will feel about the situations.
Also, as much as I enjoyed the story was it pretty short and I often feel that short stories are like a synopsis of a book. Give it more flesh, more story, and you will have a great book. I felt it reading this one, the idea was great, and I would have loved reading a full-length book. As a novella was it not bad, but you only scratch the surface when it comes to the characters. I always want more!
I want to thank the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
In Three Weeks Dead, we get two POV. We have Jason Wells the husband to the kidnapped dead wife and then we have DC Sally Poynter, a young and inexperienced policewoman. Both are faced with troubles of them own, Jason with the moral dilemma of doing the right thing, not giving in to the kidnappers, but still wanting the body of his wife back. And, Sally is young, trying to balance marriage life with being a police and at the same time hoping to not doing anything wrong with the case.
For me was Three Weeks Dead an interesting book because I don't think I have ever read a book where the dead body is used as a bargaining chip. It was quite interesting to follow Jason as he wrestles with himself about not giving in to the kidnapper's demand. I mean it's easy to sit here and judge telling Jason mentally that she's just a dead body, she's not there anymore. But, for him, that's still his wife's body, a woman she loved. As for Sally, I have to admit that here newbie attitude was a bit grating for me, but I do like that Sally towards the end started to feel a bit more mature. However, here problems with a fellow male colleague in the book annoyed me, sure I can understand that some clashes occur, but it's not a long story, and I felt sometimes that it took a bit too large part of the story. It's not especially new in police books to have a male police hating a female police so it could be that I was just tired of an old cliché. It will be interesting to read Shallow Waters to see how I will feel about the situations.
Also, as much as I enjoyed the story was it pretty short and I often feel that short stories are like a synopsis of a book. Give it more flesh, more story, and you will have a great book. I felt it reading this one, the idea was great, and I would have loved reading a full-length book. As a novella was it not bad, but you only scratch the surface when it comes to the characters. I always want more!
I want to thank the author for providing me with a free copy for an honest review!
October 15, 2016
Jason Wells is a grieving man. Someone has taken his wife and is threatening to
let dogs eat her. Even though she was buried 3 weeks ago, the thought of that
gives him chest pains. He wants her back where she belongs .. in the cemetery.
"They" say that they will return her .. BUT... they want something first. It
all has to do with his work ... and if caught taking the information out of the
work place, he can and will be not only out of a job, but he will be sent to
prison.
The question is ... how much is he willing to do to get his wife's body back?
Very well-done novella starring DI Sally Poynter. There's a lot of substance
that sometimes get lost or overlooked when writing short stories .. but this
author has meticulously defined the characters and woven a suspenseful story.
This is a quick, easy read .. and very entertaining.
Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest,
unbiased review.
let dogs eat her. Even though she was buried 3 weeks ago, the thought of that
gives him chest pains. He wants her back where she belongs .. in the cemetery.
"They" say that they will return her .. BUT... they want something first. It
all has to do with his work ... and if caught taking the information out of the
work place, he can and will be not only out of a job, but he will be sent to
prison.
The question is ... how much is he willing to do to get his wife's body back?
Very well-done novella starring DI Sally Poynter. There's a lot of substance
that sometimes get lost or overlooked when writing short stories .. but this
author has meticulously defined the characters and woven a suspenseful story.
This is a quick, easy read .. and very entertaining.
Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy in exchange for an honest,
unbiased review.
February 3, 2018
We join the protagonist DC Sally Poynter as she has just been recruited to the Major Crime Unit of the Nottingham Police. Still insecure and feeling her way, she is attempting to settle in with the team. Most are welcoming, including her DI Hannah Robbins. There is one who is not so welcoming, in fact he is absolutely antagonistic, and that is the arrogant and misogynistic DC Gordon Slater.
Sally's first big case involves a grave robbery. Young Lisa Wells, dead as the result of a traffic accident, has only been dead three weeks. Her young husband, Jason Wells, is still grieving and bereft when he gets a phone call saying
"We have your wife."
Jason works for a software company that has created an invaluable security software for banks. It turns out that the caller wants him to go to work and steal the highly prized software. If Jason does not comply with their demands, his beloved Lisa's body will be fed to dogs. Although it against everything he stands for, he does steal the software, but is caught in the company's state of the art security while leaving the premises. He is arrested. At the police station Jason tells his morbid tale.
Noticing that Sally has formed a rapport with Jason, DI Hannah Robbins suggests that she be the liaison between Jason and the police.
When the case escalates, and Jason escapes police surveillance, the team go into high alert.
The ending of this prequel novella contained some plot twists, and a realistic and satisfying ending. Thus, paving the way well for future novels in the series.
I enjoyed the way that DC Sally Poynter's character was fully fleshed out. The way that both her work life and her home life were described. The team dynamic was realistic. The author is a retired policewoman herself, and her first-hand knowledge is evident.
I downloaded this prequel novella for free, via the author's website. I have purchased the first novel in this series, "Shallow waters" and it is loaded on my Kindle for future enjoyment.
4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.
Sally's first big case involves a grave robbery. Young Lisa Wells, dead as the result of a traffic accident, has only been dead three weeks. Her young husband, Jason Wells, is still grieving and bereft when he gets a phone call saying
"We have your wife."
Jason works for a software company that has created an invaluable security software for banks. It turns out that the caller wants him to go to work and steal the highly prized software. If Jason does not comply with their demands, his beloved Lisa's body will be fed to dogs. Although it against everything he stands for, he does steal the software, but is caught in the company's state of the art security while leaving the premises. He is arrested. At the police station Jason tells his morbid tale.
Noticing that Sally has formed a rapport with Jason, DI Hannah Robbins suggests that she be the liaison between Jason and the police.
When the case escalates, and Jason escapes police surveillance, the team go into high alert.
The ending of this prequel novella contained some plot twists, and a realistic and satisfying ending. Thus, paving the way well for future novels in the series.
I enjoyed the way that DC Sally Poynter's character was fully fleshed out. The way that both her work life and her home life were described. The team dynamic was realistic. The author is a retired policewoman herself, and her first-hand knowledge is evident.
I downloaded this prequel novella for free, via the author's website. I have purchased the first novel in this series, "Shallow waters" and it is loaded on my Kindle for future enjoyment.
4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.
October 25, 2016
I have read both books in the Detective Hannah Robbins series by Rebecca Bradley, and I found them both to be gripping reads, so there was no way I was going to miss the chance to read Three Weeks Dead, even though its prequel novella. If I’m honest I’m not a huge fan of novella’s as I feel they are to short to get a feel for the characters and the plot is usually rushed, but I’m pleased to report that Three Weeks Dead isn’t like that at all.
It’s certainly an original plot a wife is kidnapped, what’s original about that? I can hear you thinking! what is unusual is the fact the person kidnapped is in fact dead, it’s then a race against time for the husband Jason Wells to get his wife’s body back, a race that will see him take desperate measures to retrieve his wife’s body.
Rebecca Bradley takes a bold step with this novella, as it features DC Sally Poynter rather than the main protagonist from the series Hannah Robbins, but it works and it was intriguing to see how much Sally’s character has evolved in the series. In Three Weeks Dead she is trying to find her niche within the team, there’s one obnoxious character who makes life difficult for Sally, and I did feel she should have stood up for herself more. The author gives you an credible picture of the young Sally, nervous in her new role and eager to do well you can’t help being drawn to her.
The plot is fast paced and doesn’t feel rushed in a way, which I feel sometimes happens as authors try to cram so much into a short read. The author manages to add enough detail to police procedures to make it feel like an authentic read, and I feel this is down to the authors own background in policing. This maybe a short read but mark my words when I say it certainly packs a punch, it’s gripping and very well told. If you haven’t read any of the authors book Three Weeks Dead is an brilliant introduction to Sally and the rest of the team, and then I would highly recommend you buy both books in the series, especially if you are a fan of gritty crime/police procedures with more than a touch of authenticity.
It’s certainly an original plot a wife is kidnapped, what’s original about that? I can hear you thinking! what is unusual is the fact the person kidnapped is in fact dead, it’s then a race against time for the husband Jason Wells to get his wife’s body back, a race that will see him take desperate measures to retrieve his wife’s body.
Rebecca Bradley takes a bold step with this novella, as it features DC Sally Poynter rather than the main protagonist from the series Hannah Robbins, but it works and it was intriguing to see how much Sally’s character has evolved in the series. In Three Weeks Dead she is trying to find her niche within the team, there’s one obnoxious character who makes life difficult for Sally, and I did feel she should have stood up for herself more. The author gives you an credible picture of the young Sally, nervous in her new role and eager to do well you can’t help being drawn to her.
The plot is fast paced and doesn’t feel rushed in a way, which I feel sometimes happens as authors try to cram so much into a short read. The author manages to add enough detail to police procedures to make it feel like an authentic read, and I feel this is down to the authors own background in policing. This maybe a short read but mark my words when I say it certainly packs a punch, it’s gripping and very well told. If you haven’t read any of the authors book Three Weeks Dead is an brilliant introduction to Sally and the rest of the team, and then I would highly recommend you buy both books in the series, especially if you are a fan of gritty crime/police procedures with more than a touch of authenticity.
April 30, 2018
Software genius Jason Wells recently lost his beloved wife Lisa to a car accident. Now he's contacted by criminals who've removed her body from its grave and promise to feed it, piece by piece, to dogs unless he steals from his employers a copy of a new code designed to thwart ATM thieves. As far as Jason sees it, he has no choice.
DC Sally Poynter, a newbie in the department headed by Bradley's series hero DI Hannah Robbins, is tasked with, among other things, being the cops' primary liaison with Jason. Can she persuade him not to hand the code over to the bad guys? Failing that, can the team nab said bad guys before they've had a chance to do anything with the stolen code?
The narrative flows pleasingly except in a few places where non sequiturs and unparsable sentences suggested to me that the text could have done with a final read-through after the completion of editing. I'd say this represented a peril of self-publishing except that, more and more, I find examples in professionally published books as well.
Despite those glitches, and despite a few plot implausibilities that it's best not to dwell on while reading (they only really began to hit me after I'd finished the book), this is a pretty solid police procedural, and bodes well for the rest of Bradley's series.
DC Sally Poynter, a newbie in the department headed by Bradley's series hero DI Hannah Robbins, is tasked with, among other things, being the cops' primary liaison with Jason. Can she persuade him not to hand the code over to the bad guys? Failing that, can the team nab said bad guys before they've had a chance to do anything with the stolen code?
The narrative flows pleasingly except in a few places where non sequiturs and unparsable sentences suggested to me that the text could have done with a final read-through after the completion of editing. I'd say this represented a peril of self-publishing except that, more and more, I find examples in professionally published books as well.
Despite those glitches, and despite a few plot implausibilities that it's best not to dwell on while reading (they only really began to hit me after I'd finished the book), this is a pretty solid police procedural, and bodes well for the rest of Bradley's series.
October 15, 2016
I have never read a Rebecca Bradley book before, but that did not affect me reading this as it is a prequel to her DI Hannah Robbins series. I actually think this is a great jumping in point if you've never read her books before to get a feel for the characters. After reading this I will definitely be moving on to read her other published work in the series.
The story follows new recruit DC Sally Poynter as she gets involved with her first case on the major incidents team and as she tries to find her place within that team. I instantly took a liking to Sally as she felt so very human, she was nervous and unsure and you could sense her feeling of wanting to fit in. She was also hard working and just needed to find her footing to gain confidence in herself. She was very relatable to me.
I also really liked the small bits of DI Hannah Robbins that we got to see, it was a nice introduction to her from a viewpoint of a team member. She seems very good at her job, both with the investigating side as well as managing her team.
The story itself is fast paced but yet feels like a full story rather than a novella. There is just enough going on without it feeling crammed or without losing sight of the main story. The idea of kidnapping a dead body to manipulate was a new concept and I though it was done really well. The police procedure side of things was done to perfection, just enough to be realistic, but not enough for it to slow down the story.
I think overall this was an absolutely excellent story and I'm incredibly glad that I had the chance to read it and discover a new to me crime writer.
The story follows new recruit DC Sally Poynter as she gets involved with her first case on the major incidents team and as she tries to find her place within that team. I instantly took a liking to Sally as she felt so very human, she was nervous and unsure and you could sense her feeling of wanting to fit in. She was also hard working and just needed to find her footing to gain confidence in herself. She was very relatable to me.
I also really liked the small bits of DI Hannah Robbins that we got to see, it was a nice introduction to her from a viewpoint of a team member. She seems very good at her job, both with the investigating side as well as managing her team.
The story itself is fast paced but yet feels like a full story rather than a novella. There is just enough going on without it feeling crammed or without losing sight of the main story. The idea of kidnapping a dead body to manipulate was a new concept and I though it was done really well. The police procedure side of things was done to perfection, just enough to be realistic, but not enough for it to slow down the story.
I think overall this was an absolutely excellent story and I'm incredibly glad that I had the chance to read it and discover a new to me crime writer.
April 17, 2019
DC Sally Poynter (Nottingham’s MCU), & DI Hannah Robbins had attend Lisa Wells open casket funeral.
Jason Wells (32, widower, SHIRO computer software development co.) had received an anonymous phone call.
Lisa was alive. But the party wanted something else in return.
Major Incident Room. DC Poynter, DI Robbins, DS Aaron Stone, DCI Anthony Grey, DC Gordon Slater, & DC Martin Thacker were all in attendance.
Detective Superintendent Catherine Walker started the meeting.
Will Lisa be found?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookFunnel; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
Jason Wells (32, widower, SHIRO computer software development co.) had received an anonymous phone call.
Lisa was alive. But the party wanted something else in return.
Major Incident Room. DC Poynter, DI Robbins, DS Aaron Stone, DCI Anthony Grey, DC Gordon Slater, & DC Martin Thacker were all in attendance.
Detective Superintendent Catherine Walker started the meeting.
Will Lisa be found?
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. It was just OK for me so I will only rate it at 4/5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; BookFunnel; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
October 14, 2016
I was given this novella from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Shallow Waters by Rebecca Bradley, so when given the opportunity to read and review this prequel novella…well I bloody jumped at the chance!
Set in Nottingham, we see questions being asked – what would YOU do?; grief; relationships and ethics all being examined in the pages of this story.
For a novella, this story was fast-paced and full of twists with a great opening chapter that really delivered the #KillerHook! OMFG #bookjunkies – I seriously could not put this book down and managed to finish the story in under two hours! I did not even feel like I was missing anything either – I know novellas are not everyone’s favourite thing, but I personally love them and this was no exception!
DC Sally Poynter is new to the scene and has joined DI Hannah Robbins Major Crimes Unit. Both these females are lead characters (for each of the series) and really compliment each other. I enjoyed how the author introduced the whole team, without being overly descriptive. And what an awesome team it is! Rebecca Bradley’s background in policing also shines through in the detail she includes in this police procedural. Jason Wells has an interesting role to play in this story too! Without giving away spoilers, there were times when my heart went out to him and other times when I thought that he needed a reality check! Everything is not black & white and you find yourself questioning whether or not you would do the same if you were in the same position. LOVED IT!
This wee story gets a massive HELL YEAH recommendation from me! It was gripping, twisted, clever and kept me hooked until the end. Lucky for you, it’s published today ...so #BuyTheBook!
I really enjoyed Shallow Waters by Rebecca Bradley, so when given the opportunity to read and review this prequel novella…well I bloody jumped at the chance!
Set in Nottingham, we see questions being asked – what would YOU do?; grief; relationships and ethics all being examined in the pages of this story.
For a novella, this story was fast-paced and full of twists with a great opening chapter that really delivered the #KillerHook! OMFG #bookjunkies – I seriously could not put this book down and managed to finish the story in under two hours! I did not even feel like I was missing anything either – I know novellas are not everyone’s favourite thing, but I personally love them and this was no exception!
DC Sally Poynter is new to the scene and has joined DI Hannah Robbins Major Crimes Unit. Both these females are lead characters (for each of the series) and really compliment each other. I enjoyed how the author introduced the whole team, without being overly descriptive. And what an awesome team it is! Rebecca Bradley’s background in policing also shines through in the detail she includes in this police procedural. Jason Wells has an interesting role to play in this story too! Without giving away spoilers, there were times when my heart went out to him and other times when I thought that he needed a reality check! Everything is not black & white and you find yourself questioning whether or not you would do the same if you were in the same position. LOVED IT!
This wee story gets a massive HELL YEAH recommendation from me! It was gripping, twisted, clever and kept me hooked until the end. Lucky for you, it’s published today ...so #BuyTheBook!
October 9, 2016
I would like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest and open review.
I have read Shallow Waters and Made To Be Broken so I jumped at the chance to read this prequel. Although it is a novella it has the feel of a novel.
This introduces new detective Sally Poynter and portrays how it must feel to try and fit in with an established team.
I could feel Jason's emotions as he struggled to come to terms with the death of his wife. At times I had tears in my eyes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading many more books by Ms Bradley.
I have read Shallow Waters and Made To Be Broken so I jumped at the chance to read this prequel. Although it is a novella it has the feel of a novel.
This introduces new detective Sally Poynter and portrays how it must feel to try and fit in with an established team.
I could feel Jason's emotions as he struggled to come to terms with the death of his wife. At times I had tears in my eyes.
I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to reading many more books by Ms Bradley.
January 16, 2018
Short review, because this novella was only 81 pages long.
But in those 81 pages, a lot happened! It definitely didn't feel like a short story. Three Weeks Dead was well thought-through, what also came back in the acknowledgments. Rebecca Bradley is a retired police detective and she asked a doctor for advice on the medical parts of the story. Lisa, Jason's wife, didn't just die [not a spoiler] in a car accident, but a couple of days after because of medical issues. All of this made the short story so much fuller and not boring at all!
I'm now definitely looking forward to read the rest of the DI Hannah Robbins series. This first book, she didn't really played a big role other than being the DI of course. The main character, besides Jason Wells, was DC Sally. So, I'm eager to get to know more about Hannah Robbins!
* I got a free ecopy of this novella through Instafreebie *
But in those 81 pages, a lot happened! It definitely didn't feel like a short story. Three Weeks Dead was well thought-through, what also came back in the acknowledgments. Rebecca Bradley is a retired police detective and she asked a doctor for advice on the medical parts of the story. Lisa, Jason's wife, didn't just die [not a spoiler] in a car accident, but a couple of days after because of medical issues. All of this made the short story so much fuller and not boring at all!
I'm now definitely looking forward to read the rest of the DI Hannah Robbins series. This first book, she didn't really played a big role other than being the DI of course. The main character, besides Jason Wells, was DC Sally. So, I'm eager to get to know more about Hannah Robbins!
* I got a free ecopy of this novella through Instafreebie *
November 26, 2021
This is my first read from author Rebecca Bradley. It was sent to me as a free download and I must say I am hooked. I am not the fastest reader but to my surprise I finished the book in one read, just could not stop reading.
Rebecca's account of police procedure is spot on, as should be expected from a retired detective. I can vouch for that. No I don't have a criminal record.
I am already half way through the next book in the series and this has put Rebecca in my favourites list.
Rebecca's account of police procedure is spot on, as should be expected from a retired detective. I can vouch for that. No I don't have a criminal record.
I am already half way through the next book in the series and this has put Rebecca in my favourites list.
December 27, 2017
"Three Weeks Dead" is a thriller of a very different kind. Who knew that Jason Wells would one day wake up to the horrible phone call, "We have your wife"? It was bad enough that his poor wife had been kidnapped, but Jason had buried her a week before the call. She was dead. The caller had dug her up and was holding her body for ransom...the payoff, a new computer program that his company had designed.
This book was a fast read and a totally different book than what I am used to. I would highly suggest it!
This book was a fast read and a totally different book than what I am used to. I would highly suggest it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2016
Are you looking for a quick read that packs one heck of a punch? Well congratulations lovely reader, you’ve just found it. I cannot recommend this novella enough – it’s a stonking read that grabs you by the scruff of the neck and doesn’t let go until the very end. Particularly with that absolutely brilliant opening chapter!
Jason Wells receives a message telling him his wife has been kidnapped. Jason Wells’ wife died three weeks ago. (Yes, you read that right…Jason’s wife died three weeks previously!) Jason Wells is faced with a decision. Commit a crime which will have devastating consequences the world over or, his wife becomes Fido’s breakfast. DC Sally Poynter is on the case, with DI Hannah Robbins overseeing her junior colleague. Robbins is trusting the young detective to make some sort of connection with the distraught widow. But can Sally work out who the blackmailer is in time to save both Jason and his wife…?
This is my first Rebecca Bradley read but it certainly won’t be my last. I loved Rebecca’s style. Her characters are brilliantly written and I want to find out more about DC Poynter and DI Robbins (happily I have Shallow Waters on the #terrifyingTBR so look out for a review coming your way soon).
I became completely absorbed in the plot which was exciting and twisty. I certainly hadn’t worked out ‘whodunit’ before the reveal, and it was one of those reveals that made me gasp.
Would I recommend this book? I would. I absolutely loved this short but chock full of content read. I enjoyed everything about it, I just wished it was a full length novel!
Four and a half stars out of five.
Many thanks to Rebecca Bradley for providing me with a copy of Three Weeks Dead in exchange for an honest review.
Jason Wells receives a message telling him his wife has been kidnapped. Jason Wells’ wife died three weeks ago. (Yes, you read that right…Jason’s wife died three weeks previously!) Jason Wells is faced with a decision. Commit a crime which will have devastating consequences the world over or, his wife becomes Fido’s breakfast. DC Sally Poynter is on the case, with DI Hannah Robbins overseeing her junior colleague. Robbins is trusting the young detective to make some sort of connection with the distraught widow. But can Sally work out who the blackmailer is in time to save both Jason and his wife…?
This is my first Rebecca Bradley read but it certainly won’t be my last. I loved Rebecca’s style. Her characters are brilliantly written and I want to find out more about DC Poynter and DI Robbins (happily I have Shallow Waters on the #terrifyingTBR so look out for a review coming your way soon).
I became completely absorbed in the plot which was exciting and twisty. I certainly hadn’t worked out ‘whodunit’ before the reveal, and it was one of those reveals that made me gasp.
Would I recommend this book? I would. I absolutely loved this short but chock full of content read. I enjoyed everything about it, I just wished it was a full length novel!
Four and a half stars out of five.
Many thanks to Rebecca Bradley for providing me with a copy of Three Weeks Dead in exchange for an honest review.
October 22, 2016
I received this book in return for an honest review and would like to thank the author, Rebecca Bradley, for giving me the opportunity to review an advance copy of this, her latest novella.
This is a novella rather than a novel, so it is very short. I do not know the rules surrounding how long a novella should be but I did wonder if the author was restricted in her word count or whether the short, sharp sentances are just her style. Either way, they do work in this format, though I did find them a little frustrating at first. As an old git I also get wound up by the lack of correct tenses in modern fiction that has migrated from everyday speech, so I wince every time I read things like, ‘she was sat…’; no, she wasn’t, she was sitting or she sat, make your mind up.
Enough of the negative; I liked the story and the characters, even though they were sketches more than studies, inevitably. The baddies were bad and the goodies were good so there were not too many surprises, but I liked some of the unusual aspects to it.
I found the plot highly original and gripping. Despite its short length I read it in two sittings, so I did have to stop at one point but I didn’t want to. I wanted to know how the main protagonist, Sally Poynter, got on and I was willing her to do well, even though I was in little doubt that she would in the end, given that she is the subject of a series.
It must be very difficult to say all that you would like to say in a novella and I feel that Rebecca Bradley has more to offer, so I will read some more of her work in the future; if only to see how Sally gets on!
Four stars.
This is a novella rather than a novel, so it is very short. I do not know the rules surrounding how long a novella should be but I did wonder if the author was restricted in her word count or whether the short, sharp sentances are just her style. Either way, they do work in this format, though I did find them a little frustrating at first. As an old git I also get wound up by the lack of correct tenses in modern fiction that has migrated from everyday speech, so I wince every time I read things like, ‘she was sat…’; no, she wasn’t, she was sitting or she sat, make your mind up.
Enough of the negative; I liked the story and the characters, even though they were sketches more than studies, inevitably. The baddies were bad and the goodies were good so there were not too many surprises, but I liked some of the unusual aspects to it.
I found the plot highly original and gripping. Despite its short length I read it in two sittings, so I did have to stop at one point but I didn’t want to. I wanted to know how the main protagonist, Sally Poynter, got on and I was willing her to do well, even though I was in little doubt that she would in the end, given that she is the subject of a series.
It must be very difficult to say all that you would like to say in a novella and I feel that Rebecca Bradley has more to offer, so I will read some more of her work in the future; if only to see how Sally gets on!
Four stars.
October 14, 2016
This was a great read from Rebecca Bradley. Although this is linked to her DI Hannah Robbins series, this book is a prequel and focuses on DC Sally Poynter.
Sally is fairly new to the team and is struggling to find her place in it, she is also struggling to juggle the work life balance, with pressure from her husband to spend less time working. Although, this is a prequel, and if you've read the other books in the Hannah Robbins series, you do know what is going to happen, it doesn't really detract from the story.
The mystery element itself is quite unusual, while still being believable, something that I would suggest is becoming a bit of a hallmark of this series. This time, the body of a woman has been snatched from her grave, in order to make her devastated husband steal some software from his company.
Like her other books, this is a fast moving story, with the short chapters keeping the speed going throughout. As it is novella length, you can get through this pretty quickly and I didn't really want to put it down once I'd started. I didn't guess who was behind it all, until just before all was revealed, although I had a few ideas that were heading in the right direction.
This was a great read and I highly recommend it, whether you've already read the other two titles, or if you haven't, then this would be a good one to start with.
I reviewed a copy of this book that I was given by the author.
Sally is fairly new to the team and is struggling to find her place in it, she is also struggling to juggle the work life balance, with pressure from her husband to spend less time working. Although, this is a prequel, and if you've read the other books in the Hannah Robbins series, you do know what is going to happen, it doesn't really detract from the story.
The mystery element itself is quite unusual, while still being believable, something that I would suggest is becoming a bit of a hallmark of this series. This time, the body of a woman has been snatched from her grave, in order to make her devastated husband steal some software from his company.
Like her other books, this is a fast moving story, with the short chapters keeping the speed going throughout. As it is novella length, you can get through this pretty quickly and I didn't really want to put it down once I'd started. I didn't guess who was behind it all, until just before all was revealed, although I had a few ideas that were heading in the right direction.
This was a great read and I highly recommend it, whether you've already read the other two titles, or if you haven't, then this would be a good one to start with.
I reviewed a copy of this book that I was given by the author.
October 12, 2016
Having read and enjoyed the first two books in the Hannah Robbins series I was pleased that Rebecca Bradley had published a novella that was also a prequel to the other books. I have read prequels to an established series before but from memory this is the first that focuses on a different character. In this case it was Sally a junior member of the team.
The case that they ae investigating is kidnap, not unusual in itself but the victim is recently deceased and her bereaved husband will do anything to get her back. Sally connects to him and becomes his ally, the one person he will open up to. She is determined that this will be the case where she could prove herself as a valuable member of the team.
Rebecca does a great job of demonstrating how nervous and eager Sally felt about wanting to get her first result and show the established team that she was good enough to be part of them. Most were helpful to her although there was one obnoxious character. It made good reading how she handled him.
I imagine most who read this will have read at least one of the other books in the series so will approach this with similar emotions to myself. For those who haven’t it is a good introduction to a great little series. I have enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Sally and the rest of the close knit team.
With thanks to Rebecca for the copy received for review.
The case that they ae investigating is kidnap, not unusual in itself but the victim is recently deceased and her bereaved husband will do anything to get her back. Sally connects to him and becomes his ally, the one person he will open up to. She is determined that this will be the case where she could prove herself as a valuable member of the team.
Rebecca does a great job of demonstrating how nervous and eager Sally felt about wanting to get her first result and show the established team that she was good enough to be part of them. Most were helpful to her although there was one obnoxious character. It made good reading how she handled him.
I imagine most who read this will have read at least one of the other books in the series so will approach this with similar emotions to myself. For those who haven’t it is a good introduction to a great little series. I have enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Sally and the rest of the close knit team.
With thanks to Rebecca for the copy received for review.
October 9, 2016
I received this book from Rebecca in return for an honest review
I really enjoyed "Three weeks dead" by Rebecca Bradley, having read her two other books Shallow Water and Made to be Broken I was REALLY looking forward to this one.
It was nice to learn more about DS Sally Poynter, with her playing such a large role in "Shallow Waters" the book also dealt with some of the sexism that the police force are often labelled with.
It was nice to be able to read a book in a matter of hours as I traveled on the train to Birmingham for the weekend.
It was also nice to learn about Sally's and Jason's POV. Without also getting involved in all the police procedures as they solve the crime.
I hope Rebecca writes more books, like this so we can learn about the other backgrounds of DI Hannah Robinson team.
A must read for fans of Rebeca and her books and also those who are new to this author.
I really enjoyed "Three weeks dead" by Rebecca Bradley, having read her two other books Shallow Water and Made to be Broken I was REALLY looking forward to this one.
It was nice to learn more about DS Sally Poynter, with her playing such a large role in "Shallow Waters" the book also dealt with some of the sexism that the police force are often labelled with.
It was nice to be able to read a book in a matter of hours as I traveled on the train to Birmingham for the weekend.
It was also nice to learn about Sally's and Jason's POV. Without also getting involved in all the police procedures as they solve the crime.
I hope Rebecca writes more books, like this so we can learn about the other backgrounds of DI Hannah Robinson team.
A must read for fans of Rebeca and her books and also those who are new to this author.
October 29, 2016
A prequel to Shallow Waters and Made To Be Broken, but intriguingly it doesn't focus on the main character of those two books.
"How far would you go if someone took your wife?
Especially if you buried her a week ago."
When I read the blurb I expected to find the plot too far fetched but the author has the knack of making the characters' actions believable. The story is fast paced and, being a novella, this is a quick read.
I enjoyed finding out more about Sally and relating it to her actions in the later books. I think Rebecca Bradley has hit on a winning idea by writing a prequel for different characters.
This was a gripping and satisfying read with elements of whodunnit and why. I'd be interested to see what this author can do with a psychological thriller rather than a police procedural.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy e-book to review.
"How far would you go if someone took your wife?
Especially if you buried her a week ago."
When I read the blurb I expected to find the plot too far fetched but the author has the knack of making the characters' actions believable. The story is fast paced and, being a novella, this is a quick read.
I enjoyed finding out more about Sally and relating it to her actions in the later books. I think Rebecca Bradley has hit on a winning idea by writing a prequel for different characters.
This was a gripping and satisfying read with elements of whodunnit and why. I'd be interested to see what this author can do with a psychological thriller rather than a police procedural.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy e-book to review.
October 8, 2016
This is a novella sized prequel to Shallow Waters and Made to be Broken. Once again Rebecca has written a very readable, well told story, the characters are 'human', believable and have really come to life. I really liked the insights to how it would feel to be a new member on the team, especially for a young woman. It's a great introduction to the rest of the characters in the other books. I don't think it's necessary to read this first so if you have already read the other two books, it won't matter so much but if you're new to this author I would read this one first. Can't wait for a new one now!
With thanks to Rebecca Bradley for my copy.
With thanks to Rebecca Bradley for my copy.
April 8, 2017
This novella is an amazing stepping stone to the author's DI Hannah Robbins series, being a prequel. It is one of those rare novellas that doesn't read as such, with its rich prose and plotline, and with main characters that are well on the way to being fully fleshed.
I won't rehash the synopsis except to say it had one of the weirdest and heartbreaking crime scenarios I've read and a thrilling climax that left you breathless.
The author earned bonus points from me for the epilogue. If there's one thing I love it's a nasty little shit getting his comeuppance.
I can't wait to read more in this series.
I won't rehash the synopsis except to say it had one of the weirdest and heartbreaking crime scenarios I've read and a thrilling climax that left you breathless.
The author earned bonus points from me for the epilogue. If there's one thing I love it's a nasty little shit getting his comeuppance.
I can't wait to read more in this series.
December 1, 2016
A novella 'prequel' introducing the character of DC Sally Poynter from the full novels in the DI Hannah Robins series. Although I have bought the two full books, this was my first introduction to Rebecca Bradley's writing and I really enjoyed it. Although it didn't take much more than an hour to read, it didn't have that 'cut short' feel that short series often have and the main characters were well developed. I'm now looking forward to delving into the Hannah Robins books.
February 28, 2024
Intrigue
The book rating upped from 3.5*
A new person on the team, a colleague causing grief in the middle of the investigation, equals unique plot. The way the plot unfolded although unexpected was good
The book rating upped from 3.5*
A new person on the team, a colleague causing grief in the middle of the investigation, equals unique plot. The way the plot unfolded although unexpected was good
December 8, 2022
This was such an amazing read and I will definetely be finishing the series.
December 5, 2017
I am always looking for a good detective story or, better still, a good series. I chose this novella as an introduction to DI Hannah Robbins who features in the Detective Hannah Robbins Crime Series. (Shallow Waters and Made to be Broken)
I don’t read other reviews (except for scanning the ratings) before selecting/agreeing to a book for review. I did not realise that this story, although a prequal to the series, is about DC Sally Poynter not DI Hannah Robbins. Initially, this was a disappointment to me. After drafting up my review then reading other reviews, I realised that Sally Poynter, as a member of Robbins team, is a character in the two books of the series. Yes, I need to pay more attention in the future.
Having said that, while I didn’t get a strong impression of the main character of the series, I did get an insight into the quality of Ms Bradley’s writing and very much liked what I read. She certainly has imagination and her experience as a police officer brings reality to her story.
The story starts immediately with an unusual crime and moves smoothly and consistently; essential for a novella. It is an absorbing and interesting story line, well-paced, with short chapters and building tension at the end.
The characters are well developed and demonstrate not only good detecting skills but very much life as a police officer.
DC Sally Poynter is the newest team member and wants to show she can do a good job. She has the support of her boss and the other team members with one exception who is a misogynistic bully. She is capable but insecure with a willingness to try hard and learn while trying to balance her marriage.
I felt for Jason Wells, the young man who has recently lost his wife and now finds her body has been stolen. To get her back he has to commit a crime.
My heart went out to Lewis, who was Jason’s wife devoted dog. He is a totally loveable, if four-legged, character in the story. I kept hoping nothing would happen to him. One point that amused me was when Jason explained to Sally why he was named Lewis. He was named after the offsider of Morse from the television series. Sally explains that she doesn’t watch police crime shows because they are not realistic “they never do any paperwork.” It made me smile and wonder if this was a personal view of Ms Bradley’s
My rating 3*. I will certainly be getting copies of the other two book in the series.
I don’t read other reviews (except for scanning the ratings) before selecting/agreeing to a book for review. I did not realise that this story, although a prequal to the series, is about DC Sally Poynter not DI Hannah Robbins. Initially, this was a disappointment to me. After drafting up my review then reading other reviews, I realised that Sally Poynter, as a member of Robbins team, is a character in the two books of the series. Yes, I need to pay more attention in the future.
Having said that, while I didn’t get a strong impression of the main character of the series, I did get an insight into the quality of Ms Bradley’s writing and very much liked what I read. She certainly has imagination and her experience as a police officer brings reality to her story.
The story starts immediately with an unusual crime and moves smoothly and consistently; essential for a novella. It is an absorbing and interesting story line, well-paced, with short chapters and building tension at the end.
The characters are well developed and demonstrate not only good detecting skills but very much life as a police officer.
DC Sally Poynter is the newest team member and wants to show she can do a good job. She has the support of her boss and the other team members with one exception who is a misogynistic bully. She is capable but insecure with a willingness to try hard and learn while trying to balance her marriage.
I felt for Jason Wells, the young man who has recently lost his wife and now finds her body has been stolen. To get her back he has to commit a crime.
My heart went out to Lewis, who was Jason’s wife devoted dog. He is a totally loveable, if four-legged, character in the story. I kept hoping nothing would happen to him. One point that amused me was when Jason explained to Sally why he was named Lewis. He was named after the offsider of Morse from the television series. Sally explains that she doesn’t watch police crime shows because they are not realistic “they never do any paperwork.” It made me smile and wonder if this was a personal view of Ms Bradley’s
My rating 3*. I will certainly be getting copies of the other two book in the series.
May 6, 2020
3.5-4*
This is a prequel to the DI Hannah Robbins series, which I have not read - yet. I received an eCopy of this novella when I signed up to the authors newsletter via her website.
A body has been stolen from a grave - it’s only been a few weeks since Jason’s wife was buried.
The story is told from both Jason and DC Sally Poynter’s point of view (POV). Sally is a fairly new policewoman.
As DI Hannah Robbins team investigates we learn about what has happened, find out why and who took Jason’s wife.
It’s a pretty well rounded novella, with an interesting premise that is well written and well paced. I enjoyed reading it and would gladly read more from Rebecca Bradley and this series.
This is a prequel to the DI Hannah Robbins series, which I have not read - yet. I received an eCopy of this novella when I signed up to the authors newsletter via her website.
A body has been stolen from a grave - it’s only been a few weeks since Jason’s wife was buried.
The story is told from both Jason and DC Sally Poynter’s point of view (POV). Sally is a fairly new policewoman.
As DI Hannah Robbins team investigates we learn about what has happened, find out why and who took Jason’s wife.
It’s a pretty well rounded novella, with an interesting premise that is well written and well paced. I enjoyed reading it and would gladly read more from Rebecca Bradley and this series.
June 20, 2018
Hmmmmm, I don't usually go for short stories or novellas, but really enjoyed Made To Be Broken by this author so thought I would give Three Weeks Dead a try. Nice surprise - good plot development, realistic dialogue for the most part, and certainly a different twist on the blackmail scheme\crime. Good police procedural, left me wanting to read more Rebecca Bradley books.
February 1, 2019
A company that a man worked for wanted him to steal some valuable information from the computer where he worked at or they were going to do something with his wife. Oops his wife was already dead but he didn't want them to dig her body up and do more to her. He did what they wanted by now was afraid they were going to kill him now.
November 24, 2022
I enjoyed this novella, which had an intriguing concept. Someone takes the body of a recently buried wife in order to blackmail her husband, a software developer.
The characters are memorable, the investigation credible and the tension builds steadily towards an exciting climax.
As an introduction to a series, it promises a great deal.
The characters are memorable, the investigation credible and the tension builds steadily towards an exciting climax.
As an introduction to a series, it promises a great deal.
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