Retribution

DI Scott Baker #3

by Jay Nadal

They say that school's the happiest time of your life.

Perhaps not.

Edmunston-Hunt boarding school. An exclusive establishment for the elite. Steeped in history, shrouded in secrecy, bound by traditions and known for its discipline... it’s not your average school.

A series of suspicious deaths brings the school to the attention of Sussex Police and Detective Inspector Scott Baker who's thrown into the murky world of elite education and tradition.

A wall of silence hinders his investigations, his own force question his tactics and his team are put in danger.

Are cryptic clues left at each murder scene the killers tag or message?

As Scott is exposed to the brutal traditions of boarding school life, his own personal life takes an unexpected turn following a series of events which leave him questioning if someone's out to get him.

As he closes in on the killer, disaster strikes. Cara is in danger, his team are in danger, and Scott faces a life or death crisis.

Will they come out of this intact?

Yes, school is supposed to be the happiest time of your life, but the message hasn’t reached everyone at Edmunston-Hunt Boarding School for Boys.

Retribution is the third gritty police procedural in the DI Scott Baker Crime Series.

Retribution is a murder mystery thriller peppered with a sprinkling of romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set in the coastal town of Brighton on the south coast.

Genres: Mystery, Crime

372 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2017

About the author

Crime Never Pays… Well yes and no depending on what side of the fence you’re on!

I’ve always had a strong passion for whodunnits, crime series, and books. The more I immersed myself in it, the stronger the fascination grew.

In my spare time, you’ll find me in the gym, reading, binge watching Netflix or taking walks in the forest.

Oh, and I’m an avid people watcher, I just love to watch people, their mannerisms, and their way of expressing their thoughts… weird I know, but I could spend hours doing that. It's funny, because watching people often gives me insights and inspiration for describing human interaction in my books.

Fun fact: My favourite, bestest place ever on earth? Any of the Florida theme parks and the mad coasters out there. Add the food, shopping and weather, and you've got the best place on earth... especially when I see the joy on the faces of my family when we're out there :)

Weird fact: Spending an afternoon in a mortuary to bring my books to life. Oops! poor choice of words there :)

I hope you enjoy the stories I craft for you.

Reviews

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Deadly Lesson by Jay Nadal.
Scott Baker Series, Book 3.
Edmunston-Hunt boarding school. An exclusive establishment for the elite. Steeped in history, bound by traditions, known for discipline... and now for murder. Detective Inspector Scott Baker and his team are called in to investigate when a series of suspicious deaths are linked to the school. But the elite take care of their own and Scott is met with a wall of silence which makes this an exceptionally difficult case. Scott’s superiors, disappointed by his lack of progress, question his tactics and put him under relentless pressure.
And there is no respite when Scott finally begins to close in on the killer. Because they are hunting someone who is able and willing to strike back and Scott realises that he and his team may be in terrible danger.
I am really enjoying this series. Love Scott. 5*.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retribution is book three in the DI Scott Baker series by Jay Nadal. DI Scott Baker and his team caught a case at a local elite boarding school. At first, it looked like a suicide until they found a note and a white feather, and another body turned up with the same message and feather. The investigation turns dangerous for DI Scott Baker and his team. The readers of Retribution will continue to follow DI Scott Baker and his team investigation to find out what happens.

Wow, I am so pleased I found this series by Jay Nadal. I always engage with books by Jay Nadal, and Retribution did not disappoint. I went on a rollercoaster ride with the characters until the end of this book. I love Jay Nadal portrayal of his characters and the way they intertwine with each other throughout this book. Retribution is
well written and researched by Jay Nadal. I like Jay Nadal description of the settings of Retribution that allowed me to imagine being part of the plot of this book.

The readers of Retribution will learn about the devastation that bullying can have on a person. Also, the readers of Retribution will understand the issues for law enforcement officers when they lose the support of management.

I recommend this book.

[Sarah Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my foray into books by Jay Nadal. Overall, it was a good read, if a little predictable, with a hurried ending.

Delving into the depth of private education, stiff upper lip, bullying and cover-ups, the premise had all the hallmarks of an excellent crime thriller. Which it was for 70% of the book. After which, the conclusion felt a little rushed and obvious. No final interview to discover the pragmatism behind the cover-up and no follow-up on Matthew or the bullies. It felt like a lot of loose ends. The Cara storyline seemed pointless in many ways too, but that was just my humble opinion.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a bad book, but it just felt rushed and unfinished. I wanted some loose ends tied up better.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the right book hits at the right time—and sometimes you’re just stuck in a slump. After days of bouncing between books and genres with nothing grabbing me, I circled back to One Deadly Lesson by Jay Nadal a thriller I’d read a couple of weeks ago. It turned out to be just the reminder I needed of how powerful and personal storytelling can be.

Set in a boys’ boarding school, the novel dives deep into the dark underbelly of institutional bullying. The setting feels all too real—schools like these often carry a legacy of silence, hierarchy, and cruelty. In the present day, we follow a student tormented by his peers, trapped in a system that seems blind to his suffering. Simultaneously, teachers at the school are being targeted and murdered, and it becomes clear this isn’t random violence—it’s revenge.

As the mystery unravels, the killer’s motives come into focus. Whether they ignored past abuse or took part in it, the victims are tied to a shared guilt. And while murder isn’t justifiable, the book forces readers to confront uncomfortable questions: What happens when justice is never served? What happens when victims are silenced, and the system protects the wrong people?

For those who’ve experienced bullying or felt powerless, this story hits hard. I found myself empathizing with the killer’s pain—because sometimes fictional revenge is the only place where justice feels possible. Nadal taps into that emotional truth with sharp writing and a strong moral undercurrent.

One Deadly Lesson is gripping, emotionally raw, and surprisingly cathartic. It’s not just a murder mystery—it’s a gut punch to anyone who’s ever been dismissed, ignored, or broken by cruelty. And in a genre full of plot twists and suspense, Nadal stands out by grounding his thriller in real emotional stakes. If you've ever felt unseen or unheard, this book just might speak your language.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

My second read from the author. As previous book, One Deadly Lesson was started with strong scene and narration. The early premise was interesting and intriguing. This story take set at private school and bullying issues.

This one is enjoyable book. The writing okay and the story easy to understand.. The author make the investigation procedural and crime mystery part easy to follow even for newbie reader in the genre. My personal issues are the main characters. I cant feel any connection with this detective team. They feel streotipe and lack unique personality. Their convo little bit off and isnt feel like real banter. And the conclusion little bit rush and I lose the tension.
This was a promising book with alot potential.

Thank you Inkubator Books for provided me with this copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kim J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another compelling book that could be in the headlines!

So far, every book in this series has been about a serious social issue! In these times, some of these issues can be, and are, deadly! But they shouldn't be! They shouldn't even be an issue, but these days they are. And our children are in the center of it all. I have to take my hat off to Jay Nadal for tackling these horrific issues, and doing it very well! I couldn't pur my kindle down yet again, I don't know how I'm to get anything done while reading his books! I will say, I recommend this series very highly! And if you want to know which issues Jay Nadal is writing about, well, start with book one!

[Jaqueline Moreno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book!

This was a suspenseful journey through a boarding school (spooky setting!), themes of tradition and military (intimidating!), and what happens when people hurt the ones you love. Questions of loyalty also arise, and make you as a reader wonder how far you would go to avenge the innocent. Characters were flawed but likable, and the story was thrilling without being overly complicated. Such an incredible, suspenseful read!

[Emily Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

DI Scott Baker is called to a boarding school when a body is discovered, a PE teacher in nearby woods. There is a note and white feather. Soon another teacher is discovered in similar circumstances. The race is on for Baker and team to solve who is behind this series of attacks. The school is filled with secrets and dark corners.
This is the third book in the series, but a first for me. I didn’t feel like I have missed any background story but not reading the previous books, but will read them anyhow now as a truly enjoyed the plot and characters

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging crime thriller.

It's been a while since I read the previous books in this series and starting this was like starting over. I couldn't recall the background to the charachters or the previous story lines, however it wasn't long before I started to get the feel for it again.

I enjoyed this story, it captured my attention and held it. The charachters and plot are believable and engaging. I'm looking forward to finding out what's in store in the next in the series. X

[John Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just brilliant! This was a really well crafted book that had me totally gripped. I struggled to put it down at times. The ending was sad and it'll be interesting to see what happens in book 4 particularly after reading the blurb. I highly recommend this series for all crime fiction fans. DI Baker is such a likeable detective and I can promise you won't regret picking up this series!

[Kerry Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Scott Baker series. The stories are good, and I like the characters. However, I do find that the ending of the books are quite abrupt and could be finished off a bit cleaner. In this particular story, I would've liked to know what repercussions there were for the school, the head teacher, and the bullies.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. The build up was great, and I didn’t see it coming on who the killer was, but if felt anti-climactic once it was revealed, and I still had questions about a couple of the other characters.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sebastian Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

And another blinder from Jay Nadal. This author does not fail in my opinion. What connects a number of deaths at a high profile private school? This is the conundrum that besets DI Baker and his trusty team and puts them under pressure from on high.
Thriller, humour and sadness makes this a cracking read.

[janice robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retribution the Di Scott baker book 3

Five stars for this book the series just get better with every book started off with 1 not to certain but having read 1 2 3 4 have to say I recommend them all

[Julie A. Polinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

The book is better then I thought it might be. It keeps you wondering throughout. I never did figure out who the killer was. This is one of the best books I've read in a while. I highly recommend it.

[Lynn Vaughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lynnie

Another good one. So easy to read, you can’t put them down. When you finish one you have to start the next.

This one had a lot of twist and turns and sadness, not gonna tell who. Read and find out for yourself. 😊😢😊

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Di Scott Baker series and I'm Absolutely each and everyone of them. Just got the next book in the series book 4. I would definitely recommend to other avid readers like me.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the DI Scott series and I’m really enjoying this series. The characters are well written, I feel like we need to get to know some of the other characters better but I’m really liking the relationship between Scott and his partner Abby, and his new budding romance with Cara. A serial killer killing people from an old creepy boarding school. If you enjoy a good mystery with a creepy atmosphere and a splash of romance then I highly recommend this book, which can be read as a standalone but I would start at number 1.

[Pam Mc Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jay Nadal gets better with each book. Love the characters, especially Scott and Abby. Can't wait till the next book.

[cathy fuessel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing writer...kept me guessing and was hard to put down. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Margaret Lind · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. DI Scott Baker gets better all the time. I think this book was the best yet. Keep on writing Jay.

[Jo Hillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Getting a bit samey now. Need to up the ante!

[Susan Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, didn’t expect that! What will Scott do now? Cara is good for him, but will past experiences change them.
The book was brilliant, don’t like bullies, but there are ways to get justice!

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three of the DI Scott Baker series set in the Brighton area and it sees DI Baker and DS Abby Trent called to the grounds of an elite boarding school, Edmundson-Hunt, where a young student found a man hanging from a tree in the woods close by. The dead man turns out to be the assistant head of the school, but somehow the head, Mr Collier, doesn’t seem all that disturbed about the death. At first it is thought to probably be a suicide, but they have to treat it as if it could be a murder until they can rule out all possibilities. The young lad, Matthew Edrington, who found the body is left traumatised, but also facing the school bullies for losing his house the cross country run. He had taken a short cut to try and ensure he wasn’t last yet again, but it didn’t quite work out so well for him! The school has a long history of producing leaders for the country and the armed forces, with a strong sense of discipline and a heavy wall of silence, which even DI Baker will find hard to crack. When another death is linked to the school, it won’t be the last, as another soon follows, all with the same calling card! Matthew is facing his own torment, as his house prefects make it very clear to him that he doesn’t belong in the school and that he needs to improve and man up!
DI Baker’s love life is taking a positive turn with Cara, the department’s pathologist, yet he still feels guilty for not having saved his wife and young daughter from their accidental death. He is on a long road of finding his feet to a new and happier future, but there will be problems form the past dogging their happiness together. Scott soon comes under pressure from his superiors, when results are not immediate. It seems those in the school, present and past, have very long reaches and important roles in many places, putting pressure on this being handled, quickly and quietly, without any bad press for the school. There are shady meetings of a small group of people, who clearly know each other and what is going on, but you never know just who they are until too late. DI Baker, DS Trent and the rest of the small team have little to go on to find the killer and the silence from the school is clearly not helping. Your school days are supposed to bring back happy memories, but for some, it is their worst nightmares! They have to figure out what links each of the victims other than them working at the school, either presently or in the past. Someone is targeting them for a very specific reason and it has to be connected to the school and the head’s weird focus on discipline and manning up, certainly allows for a lot of bullying, hazing and more to go on. It is a lesson the school has perpetuated for decades and the current head sees no reason to abandon this approach, no matter how others wish to modernise the school and its teachings.
DI Baker come sunder a lot of flak and makes some judgement calls in the investigation that leads to a deadly outcome for one. The killer is willing to do anything they can to ensure their plan is carried through to the bitter end and no one escapes the vengeance they have prepared and waited decades to carry out! DI Baker has been called out before, for bending the rules a bit too far, but this time he has no choice if he is to put a stop to the killings once and for all. A shocking revelation in his private life has him piling guilt on himself again instead of thinking of others. This story has some truly shocking examples of bullying and abuse at the boarding school, as well as violence from an ex-partner and to a wife. So careful of any triggers, but a cracking investigation with little to go on, is finally solved and the killing comes to a violent end! Something from the past that they were all sworn to take to their graves and that some certainly did! I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Avid Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lost a star for the crowbarred pro-life stance towards the end. Posturing. Not plot relevant: needed editing out.

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The book opens with a murder in a boarding school, an act of revenge. Detective Scott Baker is called to investigate the murder. The case becomes more complicated as more professors and former professors are murdered. One thing is clear, someone is against the staff of the school. At the same time, Detective Baker must deal with someone terrorizing his girlfriend Cara.
The story is interesting the mystery was fun to work on. One issue I had was that the story went through four different points of view before it had passed 30 pages. There was a lot of jumping around between viewpoints when it was not really needed. It was easy and quick to read despite this. Even though this is part of a series, it is not necessary to read the others to understand or enjoy.
This is a good book for anyone who likes mysteries.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an advance copy of One Deadly Lesson, the third novel to feature DI Scott Baker set in Brighton and Hove.

The body of a teacher at the elite Edmunston-Hunt boarding school is found hanged, the first of a series of suspicious deaths among the teachers. Baker and his team find themselves blocked at every turn in their quest for information and their lack of results leads their superiors to question their abilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed One Deadly Lesson, which is a straightforward murder investigation with some unexpected twists and turns. It is designed to entertain with a fast moving plot and likeable characters and does so well. This means that it is not a profound read, but the plot is interesting and detailed enough to hold the reader’s attention throughout.

There are parts of the novel that the reader can guess in advance of the detectives and parts that the reader is told from the unnamed killer’s perspective, but neither spoiled my enjoyment of the twists or my overall journey to an unbelievable ending.

There are themes in the novel, notably bullying in its many shapes and forms, but it’s not a deep dive, more illustrative of a power play by certain characters. Still, it’s not pleasant reading.

One Deadly Lesson is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a really riveting read. It's set in a posh school for boys where incidents of bullying are rife and ignored. It starts with the murder of a teacher which initially looks like suicide but it soon becomes clear that thi was a murder. When other murders are committed, all roads lead to the school as a source for a motive.

This was so enjoyable. It was fast-paced and a real page-turner. We see more of Scott and Cara's relationship a bit more of a personal side to Abby. There are some twists and also some upsets, reminding us that life isn't straightforward. I would have liked to known the outcome for the school in the end. This series is getting better with each book and I'm looking forward to reading more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rachella · Rating 2 out of 5]

One Deadly Lesson had a natural progression and was (with a few exceptions), very clearly written, However, there were a few aspects of this book that were lacking (for me as a reader). For one, there is not much character development. The characters have one main aspect to them. There wasn't time to care about those being murdered. Also, the transition from one character being focused on to another part of the story is at times jarring.
I couldn't find anything to latch onto in this. Usually a thriller will, at some point, whether due to a character, the plot or the tension. I couldn't find anything that made me care.
It was an interesting premise, but I don't think that the book followed through.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Scott Baker and his team are called to investigate a death by hanging discovered by a pupil who is being horribly bullied at an exclusive boarding school. The deceased is a teacher at the school.
Not long afterwards, there are more deaths and they all have the same Latin phrase written on a piece of paper, and a white feather on them.
It seems that the bullying at the school has been an ongoing problem for many years, and revenge is being taken.

My second book that I have had the pleasure to read by Jay Nadal, I read the second in this series a while ago.

I enjoy the good police work, following clues, and the look into the personal lives of the main characters.

I recommend this police procedural, and would like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.