What do you think?
Rate this book
Jennifer Dorey Mystery #1
Devil's Claw
Jennifer Dorey thinks she is safe.
Following a traumatic incident in London, Jennifer has returned to her childhood home in Guernsey, taking a job as a reporter at the local newspaper.
After the discovery of a drowned woman on a beach, she uncovers a pattern of similar deaths that have taken place over the past fifty years.
Together with DCI Michael Gilbert, an officer on the verge of retirement, they follow a dark trail of island myths and folklore to 'Fritz', the illegitimate son of a Nazi soldier. His work, painstakingly executed, has so far gone undetected.
But with his identity about to be uncovered, the killer now has Jennifer in his sights.
And home is the last place she should be.
Following a traumatic incident in London, Jennifer has returned to her childhood home in Guernsey, taking a job as a reporter at the local newspaper.
After the discovery of a drowned woman on a beach, she uncovers a pattern of similar deaths that have taken place over the past fifty years.
Together with DCI Michael Gilbert, an officer on the verge of retirement, they follow a dark trail of island myths and folklore to 'Fritz', the illegitimate son of a Nazi soldier. His work, painstakingly executed, has so far gone undetected.
But with his identity about to be uncovered, the killer now has Jennifer in his sights.
And home is the last place she should be.
356 pages, Paperback
First published September 7, 2017
66 people are currently reading
2081 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
January 21, 2018
EXCERPT: Naked, her breasts and hips were heavier than he thought they would be and he wondered if he should feel disappointed, but he forced himself to concentrate on her slim waist and her skin. Her skin was perfect. White, like moonlight. He thought how wonderful they must look together, two beautiful people, happy and free, and how important this was, that he saved her. From the filth and the alcohol and the little people and the loathsome, repellent men, whose hands would never touch her again. She ran to the water. He followed. Their bodies clothed in darkness, their footsteps silent on the soft sand, their splashing obscured by the breaking of the waves, he pulled her towards him. Stroked her arms, from her wrists, over smooth skin, soft hairs tickling his fingers, to her elbows, which were bony and rough, and then up to her shoulders. She shook. Laughed. He pushed her under. She was smiling as her head dipped below the water, her hair fanning out on the surface, spun gold, like in a fairy tale, rippling and flowing, a life of its own. She didn't struggle, not at first. It took her a moment, he supposed to understand. And then he felt her, bucking and thrashing, her screams silent, carried away with the tide. Gently, but firmly, he held on. And then she was still. So, so still. He held her limp body against his in the water. Absorbed the heat as it left her. Stayed there for as long as he could, until he was sure he had taken as much of her warmth as he could.
THE BLURB: Jennifer Dorey thinks she is safe.
Following a traumatic incident in London, Jennifer has returned to her childhood home in Guernsey, taking a job as a reporter at the local newspaper.
After the discovery of a drowned woman on a beach, she uncovers a pattern of similar deaths that have taken place over the past fifty years.
Together with DCI Michael Gilbert, an officer on the verge of retirement, they follow a dark trail of island myths and folklore to 'Fritz', the illegitimate son of a Nazi soldier. His work, painstakingly executed, has so far gone undetected.
But with his identity about to be uncovered, the killer now has Jennifer in his sights.
And home is the last place she should be.
MY THOUGHTS: The Devil's Claw is a debut novel by Lara Dearman. And it is good. Amazingly good. I knew that after the first five minutes of reading. It just felt so right. Don't mind me, I have a book hangover. Hours after finishing, the plot and the characters are still buzzing around in my brain. Not even a trip to the supermarket for the weekly shop has dampened my enthusiasm.
I felt like I was there, in the novel, living alongside the characters, experiencing what they were. The story is mainly told from Jenny's point of view, and that of DCI Michael Gilbert, with occasional flashbacks from the unknown killer starting in 1959, and moving forward a decade with each kill.
I had three suspects in mind for the killer, and I am pleased to say was right with one of them, though he wasn't my first pick. Dearman has crafted an intricate plot, full of misleading clues, that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Along the way, we learn quite a bit about the history of Guernsey, its legends and folklore, all of which adds to the atmosphere Dearman has so cleverly created.
There was nothing I didn't like about The Devil's Claw. A very enthusiastic ☆☆☆☆☆ from me for this slow burning book that develops into a raging bonfire. I sincerely hope Lara is busy writing #2 in the series.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Devil's Claw by Lara Dearman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
THE BLURB: Jennifer Dorey thinks she is safe.
Following a traumatic incident in London, Jennifer has returned to her childhood home in Guernsey, taking a job as a reporter at the local newspaper.
After the discovery of a drowned woman on a beach, she uncovers a pattern of similar deaths that have taken place over the past fifty years.
Together with DCI Michael Gilbert, an officer on the verge of retirement, they follow a dark trail of island myths and folklore to 'Fritz', the illegitimate son of a Nazi soldier. His work, painstakingly executed, has so far gone undetected.
But with his identity about to be uncovered, the killer now has Jennifer in his sights.
And home is the last place she should be.
MY THOUGHTS: The Devil's Claw is a debut novel by Lara Dearman. And it is good. Amazingly good. I knew that after the first five minutes of reading. It just felt so right. Don't mind me, I have a book hangover. Hours after finishing, the plot and the characters are still buzzing around in my brain. Not even a trip to the supermarket for the weekly shop has dampened my enthusiasm.
I felt like I was there, in the novel, living alongside the characters, experiencing what they were. The story is mainly told from Jenny's point of view, and that of DCI Michael Gilbert, with occasional flashbacks from the unknown killer starting in 1959, and moving forward a decade with each kill.
I had three suspects in mind for the killer, and I am pleased to say was right with one of them, though he wasn't my first pick. Dearman has crafted an intricate plot, full of misleading clues, that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.
Along the way, we learn quite a bit about the history of Guernsey, its legends and folklore, all of which adds to the atmosphere Dearman has so cleverly created.
There was nothing I didn't like about The Devil's Claw. A very enthusiastic ☆☆☆☆☆ from me for this slow burning book that develops into a raging bonfire. I sincerely hope Lara is busy writing #2 in the series.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Devil's Claw by Lara Dearman for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 26, 2018
This is the first in the Jenny Dorey series set in the Channel Island of Guernsey. Jenny has returned home to Guernsey after a traumatic and scarring time in London. She was chasing a story on Eastern European cleaner Madalina, who disappeared, feared murdered by the guilt ridden Jenny. Threatened and violently assaulted by a gang, she is now living with her mother, Margaret, working as a reporter on the Guernsey News. She is still feeling the intense loss of her beloved father, Charlie, a local fisherman, who filled her childhood with the folklore and pagan history of the island, the horrors of which were mitigated by his child friendly spin on the stories. Her grieving mother has become isolated, reluctant to socialise, welcoming the return of her daughter. Jenny is at the scene of the drowned young woman, Amanda Guille, assumed to have committed suicide after a history of depression and self harm. In charge of the case is close to retirement DCI Michael Gilbert, who in the wake of the devastating death of his precious daughter, Ellen, and the consequent disintegration of his marriage, finds religious faith to anchor and stabilise his life.
Jenny is feeling vulnerable and stalked, receiving countless threatening emails and followed by a motorbiker. As she delves into the life of Amanda, and other drownings in recent history, Margaret regales her with the drowning of Elizabeth, her schoolfriend in the 1960s. Six dead young women and girls have similarities that has Jenny suspecting murder and the existence of a serial killer operating for at least fifty years, of which Amanda is the latest victim. Warned off by her boss, Jenny reveals her findings to Michael, who is harbouring concerns about Amanda, worried that the police have pre-emptively accepted it as suicide without looking deeper. The two join forces, although Michael has an uphill struggle as he is treated as a pariah in the force for being too honest and too diligent in his working of cases. The narrative is delivered through the perspective of Jenny, Michael and the serial killer. We learn of the Nazi occupation of the island during the war, and how the women who fraternised with the enemy were called jerry-bags, hounded and stigmatised, their illegitimate childre bullied mercilessly and forever tainted. Guernsey people view themselves as donkeys, proud of their stubborn nature.
The most iconic character in the novel is Guernsey itself, the sense of location so strong that it permeates throughout, the cold and dangerous seas, its changeable weather, its history, its culture, and the recent growth of the political anti-immigrant group. I particularly enjoyed the folklore, the stories of witches, the devil, and the superstitions. The mark of the Devil's Claw is a tale that Jenny is familiar with, thanks to her father, and is pivotal to the investigation. The serial killer is the result of a union between his mother and a Nazi officer, he finds his childhood is blighted as he is publicly spurned and scorned. A childhood that is instrumental in pushing him on the path to becoming a multiple killer. A highly engaging and entertaining beginning to this new series. I eagerly look forward to the next book.
Jenny is feeling vulnerable and stalked, receiving countless threatening emails and followed by a motorbiker. As she delves into the life of Amanda, and other drownings in recent history, Margaret regales her with the drowning of Elizabeth, her schoolfriend in the 1960s. Six dead young women and girls have similarities that has Jenny suspecting murder and the existence of a serial killer operating for at least fifty years, of which Amanda is the latest victim. Warned off by her boss, Jenny reveals her findings to Michael, who is harbouring concerns about Amanda, worried that the police have pre-emptively accepted it as suicide without looking deeper. The two join forces, although Michael has an uphill struggle as he is treated as a pariah in the force for being too honest and too diligent in his working of cases. The narrative is delivered through the perspective of Jenny, Michael and the serial killer. We learn of the Nazi occupation of the island during the war, and how the women who fraternised with the enemy were called jerry-bags, hounded and stigmatised, their illegitimate childre bullied mercilessly and forever tainted. Guernsey people view themselves as donkeys, proud of their stubborn nature.
The most iconic character in the novel is Guernsey itself, the sense of location so strong that it permeates throughout, the cold and dangerous seas, its changeable weather, its history, its culture, and the recent growth of the political anti-immigrant group. I particularly enjoyed the folklore, the stories of witches, the devil, and the superstitions. The mark of the Devil's Claw is a tale that Jenny is familiar with, thanks to her father, and is pivotal to the investigation. The serial killer is the result of a union between his mother and a Nazi officer, he finds his childhood is blighted as he is publicly spurned and scorned. A childhood that is instrumental in pushing him on the path to becoming a multiple killer. A highly engaging and entertaining beginning to this new series. I eagerly look forward to the next book.
April 17, 2018
Why This Book
I've built a good relationship with the publisher, Crooked Lane, who offered Lara Dearman's book, The Devil's Claw, the first in her Jennifer Dorey mystery series, as a thank you for all the other books I've chosen, read, and reviewed from them. I'm closing out all my commitments this month to publishers before I tackle some open ARCs, hence why this book wound up as my first choice in February.
Plot, Characters & Setting
Jennifer Dorey, a 30ish news reporter in contemporary times, returned from London to her hometown in Guernsey, a large island near France in the English Channel, after an attack over an article she had been writing on a scam over human trafficking services. When she arrives, she has memories of another attack when she was younger and the mysterious death of her father; however, that's nothing compared to when she discovers a body on a beach near a cliff. Working with the local detective, Michael, they discover a series of murders that occurred throughout the last 50 years all with the markings of the Devil's Claw. Jen and Michael investigate the past crimes, learning about improper police work, Nazi supporters, and a penchant for young blonde girls who hurt themselves. Everything collides when she stumbles upon the killer and is trapped in his/her menacing grip.
Approach & Style
I read a hardback version of this ~325 page novel in five hours over three days. It is broken into 45 chapters, each relatively short around 8 pages, and told in third person POV. Chapters alternate perspective from the killer, Michael, Jen and a few other supporting characters. The characters revisit history multiple times, so you have to focus on what's current and what's historical, but it's fairly easy to stay aware. It's written from a UK style with some details specific to police procedures and news reporting local to the area. It read well, but at times felt a bit too formal and stiff. It wasn't enough to cause any issues, but it could have been relaxed a tad more so build a better reader / story connection. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the personality of Jen; time will tell when we see book two.
Key Thoughts
I enjoyed the debut book in this series. It has a slow build, keeps you guessing and offers multiple suspects. There are several side stories that eventually interweave in the plot, and it includes a few supporting characters who will likely continue into future books in the series. No one stood out other than the primary two, but with focus, I'm sure the depth will provide characters we crave reading about in the future. I love the connection between the private citizens and the owner of the newspaper. I was glad to see the partnership between the police and the news outlet. It felt real in both senses of what they did and they didn't allow.
The plot was strong in terms of execution, red herrings, guesswork and inter-dependencies between all the characters and time periods. The ultimate reason for the murders isn't as clear as I would have liked it to be; that said, it is good and keeps you turning the pages. You may just have some open questions in the end as I did, in terms of the Nazi connections, the reason the killer chose the victims (s)he chose, and how much the Devil's Claw really had to do with it all. Nothing that threw me off, but I wanted it tied together more tightly.
Summary
Dearman weaves an eerie story with a fantastic background setting. Guernsey was a new locale for me, but one that peaks a lot of interest. I'm curious to find out how much of what was in the book is truth versus fiction. Kudos to her for creating a new series with lots of possibilities.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
I've built a good relationship with the publisher, Crooked Lane, who offered Lara Dearman's book, The Devil's Claw, the first in her Jennifer Dorey mystery series, as a thank you for all the other books I've chosen, read, and reviewed from them. I'm closing out all my commitments this month to publishers before I tackle some open ARCs, hence why this book wound up as my first choice in February.
Plot, Characters & Setting
Jennifer Dorey, a 30ish news reporter in contemporary times, returned from London to her hometown in Guernsey, a large island near France in the English Channel, after an attack over an article she had been writing on a scam over human trafficking services. When she arrives, she has memories of another attack when she was younger and the mysterious death of her father; however, that's nothing compared to when she discovers a body on a beach near a cliff. Working with the local detective, Michael, they discover a series of murders that occurred throughout the last 50 years all with the markings of the Devil's Claw. Jen and Michael investigate the past crimes, learning about improper police work, Nazi supporters, and a penchant for young blonde girls who hurt themselves. Everything collides when she stumbles upon the killer and is trapped in his/her menacing grip.
Approach & Style
I read a hardback version of this ~325 page novel in five hours over three days. It is broken into 45 chapters, each relatively short around 8 pages, and told in third person POV. Chapters alternate perspective from the killer, Michael, Jen and a few other supporting characters. The characters revisit history multiple times, so you have to focus on what's current and what's historical, but it's fairly easy to stay aware. It's written from a UK style with some details specific to police procedures and news reporting local to the area. It read well, but at times felt a bit too formal and stiff. It wasn't enough to cause any issues, but it could have been relaxed a tad more so build a better reader / story connection. I'm not sure if it was the writing or the personality of Jen; time will tell when we see book two.
Key Thoughts
I enjoyed the debut book in this series. It has a slow build, keeps you guessing and offers multiple suspects. There are several side stories that eventually interweave in the plot, and it includes a few supporting characters who will likely continue into future books in the series. No one stood out other than the primary two, but with focus, I'm sure the depth will provide characters we crave reading about in the future. I love the connection between the private citizens and the owner of the newspaper. I was glad to see the partnership between the police and the news outlet. It felt real in both senses of what they did and they didn't allow.
The plot was strong in terms of execution, red herrings, guesswork and inter-dependencies between all the characters and time periods. The ultimate reason for the murders isn't as clear as I would have liked it to be; that said, it is good and keeps you turning the pages. You may just have some open questions in the end as I did, in terms of the Nazi connections, the reason the killer chose the victims (s)he chose, and how much the Devil's Claw really had to do with it all. Nothing that threw me off, but I wanted it tied together more tightly.
Summary
Dearman weaves an eerie story with a fantastic background setting. Guernsey was a new locale for me, but one that peaks a lot of interest. I'm curious to find out how much of what was in the book is truth versus fiction. Kudos to her for creating a new series with lots of possibilities.
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I’m Jay, an author who lives in NYC. My debut novel, Watching Glass Shatter, can be purchased on Amazon. I write A LOT. I read A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll find the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge – words and humor. You can also find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
January 17, 2018
Jenny has returned home to Guernsey. A newspaper reporter, she had a story in London go wrong and she’s trying to escape the trauma of that situation. She’s no sooner home than she is one of the first to find the dead body of a teenage girl on the beach.
The story is told from multiple POV. You get the killer’s backstory, as well as Jenny’s along with the present day story. My favorite character is DCI Martin Gilbert. He lost his daughter to an accident, then his wife. Crawled into the bottle and then back out again with help from the Christian Friendship Society. He “partners” with Jenny to investigate the death. Dearman comes up with an intelligent reason for Jenny and Martin to work together. In fact, that’s what I liked about this book. It was intelligent. No far fetched ideas to stretch your beliefs.
This is a well told, well developed story. Guernsey is as much a character as any of the humans. “Because that was the thing about Guernsey: your past followed you, bumped into, you, waved hello. There was no running from it, no hiding. You had to smile at it pleasantly instead.” I’ve always been interested in the history of Guernsey having been occupied by the Germans during WWII. That history plays a part in this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be checking out future books by Ms. Dearman.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this novel.
The story is told from multiple POV. You get the killer’s backstory, as well as Jenny’s along with the present day story. My favorite character is DCI Martin Gilbert. He lost his daughter to an accident, then his wife. Crawled into the bottle and then back out again with help from the Christian Friendship Society. He “partners” with Jenny to investigate the death. Dearman comes up with an intelligent reason for Jenny and Martin to work together. In fact, that’s what I liked about this book. It was intelligent. No far fetched ideas to stretch your beliefs.
This is a well told, well developed story. Guernsey is as much a character as any of the humans. “Because that was the thing about Guernsey: your past followed you, bumped into, you, waved hello. There was no running from it, no hiding. You had to smile at it pleasantly instead.” I’ve always been interested in the history of Guernsey having been occupied by the Germans during WWII. That history plays a part in this story.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely be checking out future books by Ms. Dearman.
My thanks to Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of this novel.
January 16, 2018
ENTICING PROLOGUE.
THE DEVIL'S CLAW by Lara Dearman is a fine debut and a great start to her new series. It has a good storyline, good lead characters you can sink your teeth into and an atmospheric town with some intriguing dark folklore. A bit wordy, it did take me a long time to get through it.
The story is about a 30 year old journalist who leaves London....and a life threatening experience....to return to her home town of Guernsey where she often recalls loving memories of her father.
Living with her mother now and working for the local newspaper with pressure to produce more stories, a still cautious Jenny finally starts to get out more....then happens upon a dead body. Shaken and disturbed by the find, she finds herself being interviewed by Chief Inspector Michael Gilbert and involved in an investigation that brings back haunted memories of her past.
With a title like THE DEVIL'S CLAW, I was hoping for a bit more creep factor, but still enjoyed this multi-layered mystery.
Many thanks to CROOKED LANE BOOKS and NetGalley for the ARC NOW AVAILABLE in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2018
I’m not afraid of the darkness, only what it hides.
That super creepy tag line is extremely appropriate for this story! I found it to be a very promising serial killer thriller, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite for me.
My favorite part of this book was how much I learned about the history of Guernsey Island - I didn’t know much about the Nazi occupation in World War 2 - and I also enjoyed learning about the folklore of the area.
I had a few issues with the structure of the book, for me personally, it didn’t work pacing-wise. There were one too many things going on and the way the chapters were broken down by characters unfortunately pumped the breaks a bit for me personally.
However, I feel that this is a strong story, if you enjoy serial killer thrillers, this one may be for you!
Thank you so much to Crooked Lane books for providing me with an ARC!
That super creepy tag line is extremely appropriate for this story! I found it to be a very promising serial killer thriller, but unfortunately it wasn’t quite for me.
My favorite part of this book was how much I learned about the history of Guernsey Island - I didn’t know much about the Nazi occupation in World War 2 - and I also enjoyed learning about the folklore of the area.
I had a few issues with the structure of the book, for me personally, it didn’t work pacing-wise. There were one too many things going on and the way the chapters were broken down by characters unfortunately pumped the breaks a bit for me personally.
However, I feel that this is a strong story, if you enjoy serial killer thrillers, this one may be for you!
Thank you so much to Crooked Lane books for providing me with an ARC!
November 15, 2017
Jennifer Dorey needed to return to the quiet town of Guernsey after a traumatic experience on her job as a journalist in London. Taking a job at the local newspaper in the town Jenny never expected to find herself stumbling onto a big case involving a serial killer but that is just what she did when the body of a woman is found. Jenny started to dig into similar cases of drowned women and finds a pattern leading back fifty years.
DCI Michael Gilbert is a distant relative of Jenny's on the verge of retirement from his job when Jenny brings him what she has found with the case. Michael is not one to push her concerns to the side as he sees the pattern in the cases that Jenny has found and becomes determined to help her figure out if there has been a killer hiding in Guernsey for the last fifty years right under their noses.
The Devil's Claw by Lara Dearman is the first book in the new Jennifer Dorey mystery series. The story is told by switching the point of view between three characters, Jenny, the reporter, Michael, the detective, and an unknown voice of the killer. The chapters told from the point of view of the killer give the reader a look into his beginnings and his crimes over decades all without revealing just who he is until the very end.
For me the one thing I found with this book that had me a bit hesitant to really and truly enjoy the story was that I found it a bit odd to have Jenny be sort of a tormented and timid character but yet a journalist that goes out and digs into a story. The two sides describing her sort of clashed in my mind and it just felt a struggle to picture this as one character. In the end I felt this was just an OK read to me with not totally connecting to Jenny but the writing was good otherwise so I may try the next in the series regardless.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
DCI Michael Gilbert is a distant relative of Jenny's on the verge of retirement from his job when Jenny brings him what she has found with the case. Michael is not one to push her concerns to the side as he sees the pattern in the cases that Jenny has found and becomes determined to help her figure out if there has been a killer hiding in Guernsey for the last fifty years right under their noses.
The Devil's Claw by Lara Dearman is the first book in the new Jennifer Dorey mystery series. The story is told by switching the point of view between three characters, Jenny, the reporter, Michael, the detective, and an unknown voice of the killer. The chapters told from the point of view of the killer give the reader a look into his beginnings and his crimes over decades all without revealing just who he is until the very end.
For me the one thing I found with this book that had me a bit hesitant to really and truly enjoy the story was that I found it a bit odd to have Jenny be sort of a tormented and timid character but yet a journalist that goes out and digs into a story. The two sides describing her sort of clashed in my mind and it just felt a struggle to picture this as one character. In the end I felt this was just an OK read to me with not totally connecting to Jenny but the writing was good otherwise so I may try the next in the series regardless.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
October 9, 2018
I struggled pretty hard with this unfortunately. It really didn’t hold my attention and the plot was pretty bland. Womp womppppp.
February 9, 2018
Book Reviewed by Nia on www.whisperingstories.com
This book is the first in a series centred around Jennifer Dorey, a reporter returned home after a troubled stint in London. Her hope is to find some peace at home but discovers a pattern of deaths of teenage girls across five decades while researching an article for the local paper, she reports her findings to the police and helps them in their investigation to bring down a serial killer that nobody realised walked among them for so long.
This story weaves in local folklore and landmarks, which adds a layer of sinister authenticity to the killings. The landscape itself is a character in this book and you can almost hear the wind and sea while you read it.
The main character is constantly reminding us that everyone knows everyone else’s business when they live in a small community like Guernsey, but there’s not really anything to back this up as she doesn’t interact with very many people at all and those that she does don’t know who she is, and nobody has noticed the strange proportion of teenage deaths on the island. As this is central to the plot, I did find it frustrating.
The chapters flipped back and forth between the perspectives of Jennifer, DI Gibson and the memories of the murderer which gradually catch up with the current day. This isn’t a format that I’m fond of as I like to fully relate to one character and follow their journey through to the end.
DI Gibson was my favourite character of the bunch, a man who is doing everything he can to find a reason to keep on living after the death of his teenage daughter. Everything he does is tempered by his loss and he’s a better detective in some ways because of it.
In the end, I think this book was the wrong choice for me – I’m a fan of crime thrillers in general but this book felt like a cosy mystery plot-line in a dark thriller writing style, complete with very short sentences, that I couldn’t come to grips with.
This book is the first in a series centred around Jennifer Dorey, a reporter returned home after a troubled stint in London. Her hope is to find some peace at home but discovers a pattern of deaths of teenage girls across five decades while researching an article for the local paper, she reports her findings to the police and helps them in their investigation to bring down a serial killer that nobody realised walked among them for so long.
This story weaves in local folklore and landmarks, which adds a layer of sinister authenticity to the killings. The landscape itself is a character in this book and you can almost hear the wind and sea while you read it.
The main character is constantly reminding us that everyone knows everyone else’s business when they live in a small community like Guernsey, but there’s not really anything to back this up as she doesn’t interact with very many people at all and those that she does don’t know who she is, and nobody has noticed the strange proportion of teenage deaths on the island. As this is central to the plot, I did find it frustrating.
The chapters flipped back and forth between the perspectives of Jennifer, DI Gibson and the memories of the murderer which gradually catch up with the current day. This isn’t a format that I’m fond of as I like to fully relate to one character and follow their journey through to the end.
DI Gibson was my favourite character of the bunch, a man who is doing everything he can to find a reason to keep on living after the death of his teenage daughter. Everything he does is tempered by his loss and he’s a better detective in some ways because of it.
In the end, I think this book was the wrong choice for me – I’m a fan of crime thrillers in general but this book felt like a cosy mystery plot-line in a dark thriller writing style, complete with very short sentences, that I couldn’t come to grips with.
July 21, 2017
Journalist Jenny Dorey has left London, after an incident which has left her feeling threatened and traumatised, and returned to her childhood home in Guernsey. Moving back in with her widowed mother, Jenny takes a job at the local newspaper, “Guernsey News,” and tries to re-make her life. Jenny is mainly covering fairly boring stories and it is while visiting a fireworks display, in order to write about it for the paper, that she hears a scream and rushes to investigate. A young woman has been found, dead, on the beach. At first, it seems to be a suicide, but Jenny starts to dig around and discovers that there have been similar deaths, going back fifty years…
This is the first in what could easily become a series and it suffers from few ‘introductory novel’ issues. The author has to introduce us not only to her main character, but to the location the mystery is set in and the supporting cast of characters. We have Jenny’s mother, Margaret, her work colleagues and Detective Chief Inspector Michael Gilbert, who was easily the most interesting character in the book for me. Gilbert is a man who is unpopular at work, for reasons which become apparent as you read on, and who has personal demons in his past. Many of the characters do seem to be battling demons; including Jenny (who has suffered several traumas in her short life) and, of course, the murderer, whose past is revealed in his own words. However, Lara Dearman does introduce some nice, ‘normal’ characters to balance out the angst – such as Jenny’s childhood friend, Sarah, who offers common sense and kindness.
Jenny and Gilbert team up in order to investigate the possibility of a serial killer on Guernsey. This involves Jenny meeting resistance from work and facing up to her past. There are a number of possible suspects and, although this is not a particularly chilling crime novel, I enjoyed the setting and the characters enough that I would like to encounter them again. I thought the first novel showed a great deal of promise and this will appeal to readers who enjoy less graphic crime novels, with a greater sense of characterisation and place.
This is the first in what could easily become a series and it suffers from few ‘introductory novel’ issues. The author has to introduce us not only to her main character, but to the location the mystery is set in and the supporting cast of characters. We have Jenny’s mother, Margaret, her work colleagues and Detective Chief Inspector Michael Gilbert, who was easily the most interesting character in the book for me. Gilbert is a man who is unpopular at work, for reasons which become apparent as you read on, and who has personal demons in his past. Many of the characters do seem to be battling demons; including Jenny (who has suffered several traumas in her short life) and, of course, the murderer, whose past is revealed in his own words. However, Lara Dearman does introduce some nice, ‘normal’ characters to balance out the angst – such as Jenny’s childhood friend, Sarah, who offers common sense and kindness.
Jenny and Gilbert team up in order to investigate the possibility of a serial killer on Guernsey. This involves Jenny meeting resistance from work and facing up to her past. There are a number of possible suspects and, although this is not a particularly chilling crime novel, I enjoyed the setting and the characters enough that I would like to encounter them again. I thought the first novel showed a great deal of promise and this will appeal to readers who enjoy less graphic crime novels, with a greater sense of characterisation and place.
June 16, 2017
Another one sitting read for me from Trapeze. Really enjoyed it. Classically good writing from Lara Dearman and a lovely twisty tale with a haunting setting plus a heavy dose of unpredictability. What's not to love? By the halfway point I was devouring it as much as reading it and the end lived up to the rest which is a huge plus. Nothing flat here. Full review nearer publication. Look out for this one. Put on your bookish radar. Set a day aside when the time comes. Oh and TEA plus toffee popcorn is a must. Or perhaps that's just me.
Recommended. With a flourish.
Recommended. With a flourish.
January 11, 2018
In this author's debut novel, journalist Jennifer Dorey has moved to her home town. Her last article, written when she was in London, didn't end well. Jennifer decided to get away from dead bodies.
Unfortunately, for her, she discovers the body of a drowned woman. Writing it up for her paper, she discovers a long list of similar deaths over a period of 50 years.
Teaming up with DCI Michael Gilbert who is about to retire, they have to wade through myths and folklore to get at the secrets and lies that have been hidden for many years.
It turns into a cat and mouse chase ... but who's the cat and who's the mouse?
This is a bit of a historical fiction, drawing in elements of Nazi Germany during World War II. The book follows the killer from his birth to the present day, giving a glimpse of why he does the things he does. The book is populated with memorable characters and hopefully the will be returning in a continuing series.
I did not consider this a fast-paced thriller, but it is well written and like a glass of fine wine, goes down easily.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Unfortunately, for her, she discovers the body of a drowned woman. Writing it up for her paper, she discovers a long list of similar deaths over a period of 50 years.
Teaming up with DCI Michael Gilbert who is about to retire, they have to wade through myths and folklore to get at the secrets and lies that have been hidden for many years.
It turns into a cat and mouse chase ... but who's the cat and who's the mouse?
This is a bit of a historical fiction, drawing in elements of Nazi Germany during World War II. The book follows the killer from his birth to the present day, giving a glimpse of why he does the things he does. The book is populated with memorable characters and hopefully the will be returning in a continuing series.
I did not consider this a fast-paced thriller, but it is well written and like a glass of fine wine, goes down easily.
Many thanks to the author / Crooked Lane Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 29, 2017
Jennifer Dorey thinks she is safe.
Following a traumatic incident in London, Jennifer has returned to her childhood home in Guernsey, taking a job as a reporter at the local newspaper.
After the discovery of a drowned woman on a beach, she uncovers a pattern of similar deaths that have taken place over the past fifty years.
Together with DCI Michael Gilbert, an officer on the verge of retirement, they follow a dark trail of island myths and folklore to 'Fritz', the illegitimate son of a Nazi soldier. His work, painstakingly executed, has so far gone undetected.
But with his identity about to be uncovered, the killer now has Jennifer in his sights.
And home is the last place she should be.
--------------------------------------
The Devil's Claw by Lara Dearman is a new crime series based in Guernsey featuring DCI Michael Gilbert and Jennifer Dorey. I do hope this is, as it says, the first book in a fantastic new series and hope it remains as compelling and enthralling. I honestly cannot wait for book #2!
Jenny is a complex character - emotional and traumatised - she returns to Guernsey, the place she knows best to start the healing process. She is definitely an intriguing character who I look forward to learning more about in the next books. Her relationship with DCI Michael Gilbert shows how they are drawn to each other. Gilbert is also an interesting character with a problem with alcoholism, he turns to Christianity in order to try and turn his life around.
I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the book and how this relates to the killer. The myths and folklore. Dark and disturbing secrets. A hidden past. Haunting. Immersive. I don't want to say too much but the killer is the product of his mother's relationship with a German soldier when the Nazi's invaded the Channel Islands during the Second World War. We follow the killer through his life's journey learning along the way how much this has affected him and how he deals with it.
I have never been to Guernsey but I feel I know more about it now from the beautiful descriptions. The setting of the island is a key feature of this book and you can tell from the way she writes that Dearman has a deep love for Guernsey. There is the typical small town claustrophobia and the added delight that everyone knows everyone because of that. I completely understand those feelings living in a rural area/small town myself.
Dearman is a very capable writer - penning this incredible novel that has much more to it than most thrillers. Intelligent and captivating with lots of twists and turns. There is less gore than other crime novels, it chills you the most in psychological terms and you never quite know where it's heading which also has you on edge. Add together the amazing plot, historical aspects, location and the dark brooding undertone and what do you get? A superb read, that's what! You would be mad to miss this if you like your thrillers with a bit of substance!
Highly Recommended to all crime readers. A gripping and thought-provoking read.
Thank you to Trapeze and Lara Dearman for posting me a copy to read and review along with a chocolate Guernsey map. It was my pleasure to provide my honest, unbiased opinion.
Following a traumatic incident in London, Jennifer has returned to her childhood home in Guernsey, taking a job as a reporter at the local newspaper.
After the discovery of a drowned woman on a beach, she uncovers a pattern of similar deaths that have taken place over the past fifty years.
Together with DCI Michael Gilbert, an officer on the verge of retirement, they follow a dark trail of island myths and folklore to 'Fritz', the illegitimate son of a Nazi soldier. His work, painstakingly executed, has so far gone undetected.
But with his identity about to be uncovered, the killer now has Jennifer in his sights.
And home is the last place she should be.
--------------------------------------
The Devil's Claw by Lara Dearman is a new crime series based in Guernsey featuring DCI Michael Gilbert and Jennifer Dorey. I do hope this is, as it says, the first book in a fantastic new series and hope it remains as compelling and enthralling. I honestly cannot wait for book #2!
Jenny is a complex character - emotional and traumatised - she returns to Guernsey, the place she knows best to start the healing process. She is definitely an intriguing character who I look forward to learning more about in the next books. Her relationship with DCI Michael Gilbert shows how they are drawn to each other. Gilbert is also an interesting character with a problem with alcoholism, he turns to Christianity in order to try and turn his life around.
I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the book and how this relates to the killer. The myths and folklore. Dark and disturbing secrets. A hidden past. Haunting. Immersive. I don't want to say too much but the killer is the product of his mother's relationship with a German soldier when the Nazi's invaded the Channel Islands during the Second World War. We follow the killer through his life's journey learning along the way how much this has affected him and how he deals with it.
I have never been to Guernsey but I feel I know more about it now from the beautiful descriptions. The setting of the island is a key feature of this book and you can tell from the way she writes that Dearman has a deep love for Guernsey. There is the typical small town claustrophobia and the added delight that everyone knows everyone because of that. I completely understand those feelings living in a rural area/small town myself.
Dearman is a very capable writer - penning this incredible novel that has much more to it than most thrillers. Intelligent and captivating with lots of twists and turns. There is less gore than other crime novels, it chills you the most in psychological terms and you never quite know where it's heading which also has you on edge. Add together the amazing plot, historical aspects, location and the dark brooding undertone and what do you get? A superb read, that's what! You would be mad to miss this if you like your thrillers with a bit of substance!
Highly Recommended to all crime readers. A gripping and thought-provoking read.
Thank you to Trapeze and Lara Dearman for posting me a copy to read and review along with a chocolate Guernsey map. It was my pleasure to provide my honest, unbiased opinion.
January 8, 2018
The Devil's Claw is the first book in the Jennifer Dorey Mystery series and I read a sample of this book a while back and loved the intro of this book and couldn't wait to get the chance to read the whole book.
Now, I read a lot of mystery books and I especially love harsh island settings like in this one. Part of the charm of reading this book was just that the mystery takes place in Guernsey, an island that was occupied by Germany during WW2. Add this dark history seems to have a connection to the crimes that journalist Jennifer Dorey thinks has been committed for several decades. But, how to stop a killer if there is no proof that a murder has been committed?
The Devil's Claw is an interesting book. I loved the setting, the Nazi connection was intriguing. And I found Jennifer Dorey to be an is an interesting character whos return home from London occurred when her father died. But something happened in London that made her afraid to go back. DCI Michael Gilbert is also a great character with a tragic past that almost killed him a few years back. Now they, this odd duo starts to work together to solve a maybe crime. I wish I could say that the crime captivated me, but one some level I felt that I never really got truly invested in the criminal case. I wonder if it is because it was not hard to figure out who the baddie was. There are a couple characters introduced as the potential candidates and I nailed it quite easily. Sure, there were moments when I wondered if I was truly correct. But, in the end, I was right, so yay to me. But, I think that the main problem is that the case just did not really get suspenseful. The case moved too slowly forward.
Nevertheless, I quite liked the characters, and, despite the slowness of the case was it an interesting one to try to figure out the motive for and I would definitely read the sequel.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
Now, I read a lot of mystery books and I especially love harsh island settings like in this one. Part of the charm of reading this book was just that the mystery takes place in Guernsey, an island that was occupied by Germany during WW2. Add this dark history seems to have a connection to the crimes that journalist Jennifer Dorey thinks has been committed for several decades. But, how to stop a killer if there is no proof that a murder has been committed?
The Devil's Claw is an interesting book. I loved the setting, the Nazi connection was intriguing. And I found Jennifer Dorey to be an is an interesting character whos return home from London occurred when her father died. But something happened in London that made her afraid to go back. DCI Michael Gilbert is also a great character with a tragic past that almost killed him a few years back. Now they, this odd duo starts to work together to solve a maybe crime. I wish I could say that the crime captivated me, but one some level I felt that I never really got truly invested in the criminal case. I wonder if it is because it was not hard to figure out who the baddie was. There are a couple characters introduced as the potential candidates and I nailed it quite easily. Sure, there were moments when I wondered if I was truly correct. But, in the end, I was right, so yay to me. But, I think that the main problem is that the case just did not really get suspenseful. The case moved too slowly forward.
Nevertheless, I quite liked the characters, and, despite the slowness of the case was it an interesting one to try to figure out the motive for and I would definitely read the sequel.
I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review!
November 30, 2017
Well, this was a very pleasant surprise! I must start by saying though that do not judge an author by their “cover”! Lara Dearman looks to be such a sweet young mum of three but hiding behind that is a mind capable of creating some very dark and disturbing scenarios which make The Devil’s Claw, her debut novel, the start of a brilliant new crime series that I’m thrilled to have discovered.
I’ve never been to Guernsey but after reading The Devil’s Claw I feel like I know the island better than any holiday maker does! I have stood watching Jenny have her swim at the incredible outdoor seawater pool (Google it like I did! It’s amazing!), I have driven down the country lanes, I have wandered around the main town of St Peters Port, watching the locals go about their everyday business but, most importantly, I have experienced the sea which was brought to life almost like another character here right before my eyes. Lara Dearman knows Guernsey like the back of her hand and she has excelled herself in bringing it to life for her readers so that they could also have their senses awakened by this picturesque “rock”.
I loved the way it was a journalist who seemed to have more of an investigative eye here than the police themselves. Jenny was a born and bred local who had once escaped island life for the big city lights of London. But a terrifying experience whilst trying to help a victim of human trafficking lead to her return to her family. Her relationship with her mother was delicately crafted, building up slowly as we also discover more about her fathers death and how it has affected them both. Once DCI Michael Gilbert came along, I loved the chemistry between them and how they both gravitated towards each other realising what the other could bring, not only to their investigation but to their personal lives as well. Both characters were well drawn and likeable with subtle layers to their personalities that made for interesting reading, leaving me wanting to discover even more about them in the future.
Once you pick up The Devil’s Claw, be prepared for it to grab your very soul and not letting it go until the final heartstopping denouement! And don’t forget to breathe as the final few pages ramp up the tension and you find out exactly who the mysterious unknown narrator is and how they have managed to get away with their heinous crimes for decades. The folklore and myths surrounding the island were perfect to twist around this serial killer plot and added an unusual dimension to the rationality of the mind of a murderer. The “nature versus nurture” argument can always be called upon to try to identify what makes a psychopath and here there is definitely a fine line to be drawn between both sides of that debate.
I absolutely loved The Devil’s Claw! It’s darkly addictive from start to finish and so wonderfully descriptive I wanted to cry with sheer delight at the beauty of it all! I can’t wait to return to the Guernsey to see what’s next for Jenny and become part of the islands heart once again.
Highly recommended by me!
I’ve never been to Guernsey but after reading The Devil’s Claw I feel like I know the island better than any holiday maker does! I have stood watching Jenny have her swim at the incredible outdoor seawater pool (Google it like I did! It’s amazing!), I have driven down the country lanes, I have wandered around the main town of St Peters Port, watching the locals go about their everyday business but, most importantly, I have experienced the sea which was brought to life almost like another character here right before my eyes. Lara Dearman knows Guernsey like the back of her hand and she has excelled herself in bringing it to life for her readers so that they could also have their senses awakened by this picturesque “rock”.
I loved the way it was a journalist who seemed to have more of an investigative eye here than the police themselves. Jenny was a born and bred local who had once escaped island life for the big city lights of London. But a terrifying experience whilst trying to help a victim of human trafficking lead to her return to her family. Her relationship with her mother was delicately crafted, building up slowly as we also discover more about her fathers death and how it has affected them both. Once DCI Michael Gilbert came along, I loved the chemistry between them and how they both gravitated towards each other realising what the other could bring, not only to their investigation but to their personal lives as well. Both characters were well drawn and likeable with subtle layers to their personalities that made for interesting reading, leaving me wanting to discover even more about them in the future.
Once you pick up The Devil’s Claw, be prepared for it to grab your very soul and not letting it go until the final heartstopping denouement! And don’t forget to breathe as the final few pages ramp up the tension and you find out exactly who the mysterious unknown narrator is and how they have managed to get away with their heinous crimes for decades. The folklore and myths surrounding the island were perfect to twist around this serial killer plot and added an unusual dimension to the rationality of the mind of a murderer. The “nature versus nurture” argument can always be called upon to try to identify what makes a psychopath and here there is definitely a fine line to be drawn between both sides of that debate.
I absolutely loved The Devil’s Claw! It’s darkly addictive from start to finish and so wonderfully descriptive I wanted to cry with sheer delight at the beauty of it all! I can’t wait to return to the Guernsey to see what’s next for Jenny and become part of the islands heart once again.
Highly recommended by me!
June 1, 2017
I recently received the first 3 chapters of this book by Lara Dearman courtesy of Trapeze, Orion Publishing Group. Set in beautiful Guernsey, this little snippet definitely has more than enough to put its publication date on your radar. The locale is quickly established by descriptive passages that bring the island & its inhabitants to life.
MC Jenny Dorey came home about a year & a half ago to work at The Guernsey News. Something made her leave London. Her back story is not revealed yet but could it be related to the threatening emails she receives on a regular basis?
The cost of housing led to her moving back in with her widowed mother. One Saturday night, she is assigned to cover a community fireworks display & both women are enjoying the festivities until they hear a scream. After a short search, Jenny comes across a jogger who’s found a young woman on the beach. She’s very wet, very beautiful & very dead.
A separate passage flashes back to a young boy in post war Guernsey. Every day he suffers the taunts & attacks of school bullies. They’re only too happy to remind him he’s the product of his mother’s affair with a German soldier.
The blurb throws out a few intriguing hints of characters & events to come & I look forward to the book’s arrival in September.
MC Jenny Dorey came home about a year & a half ago to work at The Guernsey News. Something made her leave London. Her back story is not revealed yet but could it be related to the threatening emails she receives on a regular basis?
The cost of housing led to her moving back in with her widowed mother. One Saturday night, she is assigned to cover a community fireworks display & both women are enjoying the festivities until they hear a scream. After a short search, Jenny comes across a jogger who’s found a young woman on the beach. She’s very wet, very beautiful & very dead.
A separate passage flashes back to a young boy in post war Guernsey. Every day he suffers the taunts & attacks of school bullies. They’re only too happy to remind him he’s the product of his mother’s affair with a German soldier.
The blurb throws out a few intriguing hints of characters & events to come & I look forward to the book’s arrival in September.
September 23, 2024
3.5 stars
For a debut book I thought this was very good overall. I did not really figure out the murderer until I was told. I had a gut feeling but no real succinct clues. It is the first of a series, so I will pick up the second book and see how that goes.
I am finding that many debut authors seem to be better at ending stories than even well known authors do. A bad ending ruins a story. This book had a good ending, just a bit strung out and maybe a little overdone.
Not an over abundance of characters. It was written in 3 part - journalist, detective and murderer - which carried the story well. I actually think as this author gets stronger and better at her craft she will be a very good author.
For a debut book I thought this was very good overall. I did not really figure out the murderer until I was told. I had a gut feeling but no real succinct clues. It is the first of a series, so I will pick up the second book and see how that goes.
I am finding that many debut authors seem to be better at ending stories than even well known authors do. A bad ending ruins a story. This book had a good ending, just a bit strung out and maybe a little overdone.
Not an over abundance of characters. It was written in 3 part - journalist, detective and murderer - which carried the story well. I actually think as this author gets stronger and better at her craft she will be a very good author.
January 21, 2018
This is a good start to a new series. Set in Guernsey, Jenny is a journalist returned from London and working with her local newspaper. She finds the body of a young woman and despite the verdict of suicide, jenny is convinced it is a murder. She investigates other mysterious deaths and soon finds herself hunting for a killer. The book is told from three different perspectives and it didn't quite work for me. i would have liked to have seen more character development and I just felt that the book was a bit disjointed. Despite this, I would read the follow up. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.
August 13, 2017
This is an entertaining thriller set on the isle of Guernsey. Jenny, a journalist, returns to the island after living in London for several years. She's partly there because of the death of her father, but also because she's running from a dangerous situation involving people traffickers. Shes' also traumatised by an event that happened when she was a teenager. While working for the local paper, she is there when the body of a young woman is found on the beach. It's assumed to be a suicide, but Jenny suspects foul play and starts investigating.
Meanwhile, we also follow events from the point of view of Michael, a religious police officer who is still struggling with the death of his teenage daughter many years earlier. There are also chapters from the point of view of a serial killer, who grew up as the reviled illegitimate son of an unknown Nazi - the Nazis occupied the island during WWII - and who develops an interest in the occult. As a reader, you know that the killer is one of the characters - but which one? It's an intriguing mystery which keeps you reading to the end.
Meanwhile, we also follow events from the point of view of Michael, a religious police officer who is still struggling with the death of his teenage daughter many years earlier. There are also chapters from the point of view of a serial killer, who grew up as the reviled illegitimate son of an unknown Nazi - the Nazis occupied the island during WWII - and who develops an interest in the occult. As a reader, you know that the killer is one of the characters - but which one? It's an intriguing mystery which keeps you reading to the end.
December 18, 2017
3.5 stars--somewhere between liked and really liked.
If you enjoy smart suspense novels, give this one a try--the first Jennifery Dorey mystery was an enjoyable read for me. I liked Jenny's character, as well as the minor characters, but most of all I liked the Guernsey setting. I don't know a lot about the English Channel, so I enjoyed learning about it in a fictional setting (the author was born there, and her familiarity shows).
I'm always a sucker for creepy cults and "old ways" religions, so having elements of that in the mystery was an added bonus. I'll likely read the next book in the series.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
If you enjoy smart suspense novels, give this one a try--the first Jennifery Dorey mystery was an enjoyable read for me. I liked Jenny's character, as well as the minor characters, but most of all I liked the Guernsey setting. I don't know a lot about the English Channel, so I enjoyed learning about it in a fictional setting (the author was born there, and her familiarity shows).
I'm always a sucker for creepy cults and "old ways" religions, so having elements of that in the mystery was an added bonus. I'll likely read the next book in the series.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
September 6, 2017
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It was well written but didn't have the suspense factor that I was hoping for. The main character, Jenny Dorey was likeable enough as well as DCI Michael Gilbert that she was working with on the case of the drowned women.
Jenny has returned to her home on Guernsey with her widowed mother. Jenny was working in London but got herself into hot water over an immigrant worker who disappeared. She was then threatened by the gang the woman was kept by. Jenny took a job as a reporter on the local Guernsey paper, feeling safer until anonymous emails start arriving.
Then there is an incident that is big news on the Island when a girl is found on the beach drowned. The police have already written it off as suicide, but Jenny is suspicious and so is DCI Gilbert. Through some research on her own and some collaboration with Gilbert, Jenny starts to see similarities in other deaths that are stretching back as far as 50 years ago.
The book is set in the mindset of three people, Jenny, Michael and the unknown killer. I finished the book, but I don't know if I have a burning desire to carry on with the series, although I will wait and see how it all goes. There are still plenty of threads for the next novel.
Jenny has returned to her home on Guernsey with her widowed mother. Jenny was working in London but got herself into hot water over an immigrant worker who disappeared. She was then threatened by the gang the woman was kept by. Jenny took a job as a reporter on the local Guernsey paper, feeling safer until anonymous emails start arriving.
Then there is an incident that is big news on the Island when a girl is found on the beach drowned. The police have already written it off as suicide, but Jenny is suspicious and so is DCI Gilbert. Through some research on her own and some collaboration with Gilbert, Jenny starts to see similarities in other deaths that are stretching back as far as 50 years ago.
The book is set in the mindset of three people, Jenny, Michael and the unknown killer. I finished the book, but I don't know if I have a burning desire to carry on with the series, although I will wait and see how it all goes. There are still plenty of threads for the next novel.
September 7, 2017
This book was a really solid police procedural and I really liked the characters as well as the storyline.
The characters of Jennifer and Michael were well fleshed out and the secondary characters were great as well. I liked the interactions between the two main characters and I really hope this is just the start of a series, starring the pair of them? Or at least one of them? Just sayin' :) Hint, hint.
Guernsey is an island and everyone seems to know everyone else, which can be both a good and a bad thing.There are a series of killings on the island over an extended period of time and because of the gaps between them plus the meticulous care to make them look like suicide, the murderer has been flying under the radar for years. There is a big red herring in this book and it did its job with me! I love that I truly didn't have a clue until nearly at the end of the book :)
I highly recommend this book. 4.5 stars. Would love to read more from this author, for sure.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to Trapeze.
The characters of Jennifer and Michael were well fleshed out and the secondary characters were great as well. I liked the interactions between the two main characters and I really hope this is just the start of a series, starring the pair of them? Or at least one of them? Just sayin' :) Hint, hint.
Guernsey is an island and everyone seems to know everyone else, which can be both a good and a bad thing.There are a series of killings on the island over an extended period of time and because of the gaps between them plus the meticulous care to make them look like suicide, the murderer has been flying under the radar for years. There is a big red herring in this book and it did its job with me! I love that I truly didn't have a clue until nearly at the end of the book :)
I highly recommend this book. 4.5 stars. Would love to read more from this author, for sure.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to Trapeze.
February 17, 2018
Jennifer Dorey returns to her hometown of Guernsey as a reporter for the local newspaper. A drowned woman on a beach, a new alliance with DCI Michael Gilbert and a pattern that has emerged over years of deaths in this town, the determination to find this killer is fierce. How does someone who has been killing for this long actually get away with it?? As she gets closer to the truth, her life becomes more and more endangered.
A promising first in a series book that brings in the journalist side to crime solving along with a bit of police procedural. I found the characters to be compelling. Jennifer is extremely complex as a traumatized woman who comes home to try and start over. Michael is also a complex character dealing with alcoholism and religion. The author does a fantastic job of introducing these two and I did find their interactions probably the most enjoyable throughout the novel.
The unknown narrator was also deliciously creepy and the author allows us to freefall into his relationship with his mother and his past - giving us some empathy for this cold blooded killer.
The author certainly knows how to bring a story to a page. While the executions and storylines were fantastic, it lacked a certain edge I like in these types of book. While it kept my attention, it didn't keep me captivated. I think I will definitely be the minority opinion in this. I certainly think it will be a hit amongst most crime fiction lovers and am curious where the author will go in this series.
Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
A promising first in a series book that brings in the journalist side to crime solving along with a bit of police procedural. I found the characters to be compelling. Jennifer is extremely complex as a traumatized woman who comes home to try and start over. Michael is also a complex character dealing with alcoholism and religion. The author does a fantastic job of introducing these two and I did find their interactions probably the most enjoyable throughout the novel.
The unknown narrator was also deliciously creepy and the author allows us to freefall into his relationship with his mother and his past - giving us some empathy for this cold blooded killer.
The author certainly knows how to bring a story to a page. While the executions and storylines were fantastic, it lacked a certain edge I like in these types of book. While it kept my attention, it didn't keep me captivated. I think I will definitely be the minority opinion in this. I certainly think it will be a hit amongst most crime fiction lovers and am curious where the author will go in this series.
Thank you so much to Crooked Lane Books for this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
did-not-finish
September 19, 2025I listened to 12% and gave up. I didn't like any of the characters or care about anything that was happening in the story. It's a switching perspective story and the first perspective was all creepy and gross, from the victim's POV. Then it went to the reporter who was not at all interesting and just kept referring to her past. Then it was some street youth that just swore a lot, and finally it was a cop who seemed pretty drab.
I figure that at least 10% is a fair shake. This was one that was on my TBR from seven years ago. Glad to clear it off! Haha!
I figure that at least 10% is a fair shake. This was one that was on my TBR from seven years ago. Glad to clear it off! Haha!
March 24, 2018
where do I begin lol. I wish I could say give this novel a spin and give it a read, but at last I can not do that with so many other good novels out there. For a new writer she has some talent and maybe with a better editor and a better story???????/ This story was bland-too much filler and too much about another thing that happened to her in London. The detective and police force was sad to say the least. The ending was rushed and not that good. I am tired with novels that deal with this topic having sections where we read about what he bad guy is contemplating about-that is very old and stale. This one gets buy scoring a 2.o on the dot.
November 3, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a review copy of The Devil's Claw, the first novel in a projected series to feature Jennifer Dorey, a reporter based in Guernsey.
Jennifer has returned to Guernsey after some unexplained problem in London and is working at the local paper as a reporter when she stumbles across the recently deceased body of a young woman, Amanda Guille. The authorities suspect suicide but are prepared to record a verdict of misadventure, only DCI Michael Gilbert has misgivings but nothing firm enough to investigate. Jenny thinks it's murder but has to accept the findings until a chance remark by her mother leads her to 6 very similar looking women and deaths.
I was very excited to be offered this book to read and would have bought it anyway as the premise is so interesting, a location I'm unfamiliar with, an undiscovered serial killer and elements of my favourite genre, the police procedural but, unfortunately, the execution lets it down and it is only a so-so read.
Firstly I will say that the depiction of Guernsey is first class from the physical location and mindset of the inhabitants to the history and folklore and really gives me the urge to go and see it for myself. I loved this aspect of the novel.
The novel is told from 3 distinct perspectives, Michael, Jenny and the unnamed killer. The author doesn't have the flow quite right and it makes for a choppy read. Helpfully the chapters are labelled either Michael or Jenny and the killer's are italicised to leave no room for doubt. The plotting is interesting but rather perfunctory and seems to take a backseat to the characters' history which is lengthy and revealed in dribs and drabs over the course of the novel. The disjointed timeline of this again makes for a choppy read and takes the reader's attention away from the crime narrative. Jenny's time in London was cut short by a serious incident which while initially unexplained leads her to believe she is being followed and the source of abusive e-mails. Ms Dearman does not follow up on this plotline and one has to assume that it is a trailer for a future novel. It's a bit of a pointless inclusion in this novel. To my mind the whole novel is a bit disorganised and could have done with some clearer goals.
The characters of Michael and Jenny are pleasant enough but not particularly well developed. Both have past traumas in their lives which are slowly revealed over the course of the novel but you never get a sense of what makes them really tick and there are again loose ends about these lengthily explained traumas which will no doubt be picked up in future.
The Devil's Claw is an interesting début with some good ideas but lacks a little polish. I'll be interested to see where Ms Dearman takes the sequel.
Jennifer has returned to Guernsey after some unexplained problem in London and is working at the local paper as a reporter when she stumbles across the recently deceased body of a young woman, Amanda Guille. The authorities suspect suicide but are prepared to record a verdict of misadventure, only DCI Michael Gilbert has misgivings but nothing firm enough to investigate. Jenny thinks it's murder but has to accept the findings until a chance remark by her mother leads her to 6 very similar looking women and deaths.
I was very excited to be offered this book to read and would have bought it anyway as the premise is so interesting, a location I'm unfamiliar with, an undiscovered serial killer and elements of my favourite genre, the police procedural but, unfortunately, the execution lets it down and it is only a so-so read.
Firstly I will say that the depiction of Guernsey is first class from the physical location and mindset of the inhabitants to the history and folklore and really gives me the urge to go and see it for myself. I loved this aspect of the novel.
The novel is told from 3 distinct perspectives, Michael, Jenny and the unnamed killer. The author doesn't have the flow quite right and it makes for a choppy read. Helpfully the chapters are labelled either Michael or Jenny and the killer's are italicised to leave no room for doubt. The plotting is interesting but rather perfunctory and seems to take a backseat to the characters' history which is lengthy and revealed in dribs and drabs over the course of the novel. The disjointed timeline of this again makes for a choppy read and takes the reader's attention away from the crime narrative. Jenny's time in London was cut short by a serious incident which while initially unexplained leads her to believe she is being followed and the source of abusive e-mails. Ms Dearman does not follow up on this plotline and one has to assume that it is a trailer for a future novel. It's a bit of a pointless inclusion in this novel. To my mind the whole novel is a bit disorganised and could have done with some clearer goals.
The characters of Michael and Jenny are pleasant enough but not particularly well developed. Both have past traumas in their lives which are slowly revealed over the course of the novel but you never get a sense of what makes them really tick and there are again loose ends about these lengthily explained traumas which will no doubt be picked up in future.
The Devil's Claw is an interesting début with some good ideas but lacks a little polish. I'll be interested to see where Ms Dearman takes the sequel.
December 27, 2017
http://www.leslecturesdemylene.com/20...
16/20 - Un thriller à l'ambiance diablement bien faite, j'ai un peu moins adhéré aux personnages par contre
16/20 - Un thriller à l'ambiance diablement bien faite, j'ai un peu moins adhéré aux personnages par contre
January 22, 2018
I was excited to read this as the description led me to believe I was in for a really good creepy mystery full of myths and folklore. While this book did contain those elements it was missing the creep and the suspense in my opinion. I did think this was a very well plotted story and the writing was definitely on par, but for me it lacked the edge I was looking for and in the end I had figured out the killer pretty early on, which is unusual for me.
December 20, 2017
With a traumatic event in her recent past Jenny thinks returning to Guernsey will help her recover so peace and tranquility. She’s wrong!
Having worked in Jersey every six weeks or so for years I have a pretty good understanding of the claustrophobic and intimate nature of the Channels islands. Lara Dearman is pitch perfect in depicting EXACTLY what it’s like. There’s a shared history, especially of the recent past, and mysticism that threads through life that Lara Dearman understands and depicts in an almost visceral way. In The Devil’s Claw Guernsey isn’t a mere setting, but a character in its own right, lending depth, atmosphere and danger so that I could hardly breathe at times. The writing is so visual that I could picture every detail vividly. The Devil’s Claw drips with authenticity of Channel Island life.
The plot is wonderfully deft and totally believable. I think those who don’t know island life might find some of the events and relationships slightly incredible, but they would be wrong. I was so utterly convinced that I found myself googling some events and people just to see if they actually existed, because Lara Dearman weaves fact and fiction so perfectly. As the book raced towards it’s totally satisfying conclusion I was desperate to read on because I was so caught up in events.
I loved the characterisation too. Jenny has a vulnerability and a determination that make her a three dimensional figure. If I feel I’d like to know a character personally then they are a success and I’d love to meet Jenny. I’m thrilled that The Devil’s Claw is the start of a new series as I have been left wanting even more. Indeed, I feel I need to reread The Devil’s Claw to pick up even more clues about Jenny et al. There are some unresolved aspects that I don’t want to spoil for readers but they don’t detract from the read; rather they add to the mystery and future possibilities. Brilliant!
It took me absolutely ages to read The Devil’s Claw because life got in the way and I think it is testament to the outstanding quality of Lara Dearman’s plotting, writing and story telling that even with huge gaps between when I was able to read, the story didn’t miss a beat. I could remember everything going on and found the narrative and characters calling to me. This is a hugely assured and absorbing debut novel and I can’t wait to read more about Jenny – and Guernsey.
Having worked in Jersey every six weeks or so for years I have a pretty good understanding of the claustrophobic and intimate nature of the Channels islands. Lara Dearman is pitch perfect in depicting EXACTLY what it’s like. There’s a shared history, especially of the recent past, and mysticism that threads through life that Lara Dearman understands and depicts in an almost visceral way. In The Devil’s Claw Guernsey isn’t a mere setting, but a character in its own right, lending depth, atmosphere and danger so that I could hardly breathe at times. The writing is so visual that I could picture every detail vividly. The Devil’s Claw drips with authenticity of Channel Island life.
The plot is wonderfully deft and totally believable. I think those who don’t know island life might find some of the events and relationships slightly incredible, but they would be wrong. I was so utterly convinced that I found myself googling some events and people just to see if they actually existed, because Lara Dearman weaves fact and fiction so perfectly. As the book raced towards it’s totally satisfying conclusion I was desperate to read on because I was so caught up in events.
I loved the characterisation too. Jenny has a vulnerability and a determination that make her a three dimensional figure. If I feel I’d like to know a character personally then they are a success and I’d love to meet Jenny. I’m thrilled that The Devil’s Claw is the start of a new series as I have been left wanting even more. Indeed, I feel I need to reread The Devil’s Claw to pick up even more clues about Jenny et al. There are some unresolved aspects that I don’t want to spoil for readers but they don’t detract from the read; rather they add to the mystery and future possibilities. Brilliant!
It took me absolutely ages to read The Devil’s Claw because life got in the way and I think it is testament to the outstanding quality of Lara Dearman’s plotting, writing and story telling that even with huge gaps between when I was able to read, the story didn’t miss a beat. I could remember everything going on and found the narrative and characters calling to me. This is a hugely assured and absorbing debut novel and I can’t wait to read more about Jenny – and Guernsey.
June 10, 2017
The Devil's Claw Sampler. This will be one book that I shall be watching out for upon it's publication date! Although this is only a sampler and it's not always easy to rate as such, I read enough to know that this is going to be a must read.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for providing this sampler.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews