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DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal #4
Their Fatal Secrets
Two students coming home from a drunken night out see something strange in the river. It is a young woman’s body.
Hours later, a second young woman’s body is discovered on another stretch of the same river.
DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal are assigned to both investigations. And they’re joined by a new detective, Tom Knight.
Soon a connection is found between the two dead women. A list of “victims” is discovered in one of their flats. Who will be next and what really happened to the women on this sinister list?
In a thrilling conclusion, Jim Neal fights for his life as the two detectives struggle to solve a complex case involving people with secrets that may prove fatal.
Hours later, a second young woman’s body is discovered on another stretch of the same river.
DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal are assigned to both investigations. And they’re joined by a new detective, Tom Knight.
Soon a connection is found between the two dead women. A list of “victims” is discovered in one of their flats. Who will be next and what really happened to the women on this sinister list?
In a thrilling conclusion, Jim Neal fights for his life as the two detectives struggle to solve a complex case involving people with secrets that may prove fatal.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2017
897 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Janice Frost
15 books158 followersJanice was born and grew up in West Lothian, Scotland. Her love of writing began when she was given a notebook by a primary school teacher and told to write ‘Just Imagine,’ on the cover. She enjoyed writing stories in the notebook so much that she decided she'd like to be an author. Due to life, work and children, It took a little longer than she imagined.
After a ten-year stint of working in London, Janice moved to Lincolnshire where she still lives. She now writes full-time. In her free time she enjoys walking, and reading in coffee shops.
Janice is the author of six books in the bestselling Merry & Neal series, four books in the Warwick & Bell series, and one standalone mystery, The Woman on the Cliff.
All of Janice’s books are published by Joffe Books.
The Merry & Neal series
1 Dead Secret
2 Dark Secret
3 Her Husband’s Secret
4. Fatal Secrets
5 Dirty Secrets
6 Murderous Secrets
Warwick & Bell series
1 Murder Among Friends
2 Murder Across The Lines
3 Murder Against The Odds
4 Murder On A Country Walk
Standalone novel
The Woman on the Cliff
After a ten-year stint of working in London, Janice moved to Lincolnshire where she still lives. She now writes full-time. In her free time she enjoys walking, and reading in coffee shops.
Janice is the author of six books in the bestselling Merry & Neal series, four books in the Warwick & Bell series, and one standalone mystery, The Woman on the Cliff.
All of Janice’s books are published by Joffe Books.
The Merry & Neal series
1 Dead Secret
2 Dark Secret
3 Her Husband’s Secret
4. Fatal Secrets
5 Dirty Secrets
6 Murderous Secrets
Warwick & Bell series
1 Murder Among Friends
2 Murder Across The Lines
3 Murder Against The Odds
4 Murder On A Country Walk
Standalone novel
The Woman on the Cliff
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
October 19, 2017
DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry are assigned to investigate the deaths of two women .. both bodies given up by the river.
One of the women has a list of five 'victims' in their home. Three of these are dead... by various accidents. What was she researching? What's the connection among these women?
Neal and Merry, along with a new detective, Tom Knight, must sort through a variety of suspects. All of them, it seems, have secrets. And one of them proves very deadly to Neal.
Although 4th in this series, this one does well as a stand alone. But as always, I recommend starting at the beginning.
The story premise is a good one, however, the pace of the action and suspense, is rather low key. The characters are what holds this story together. Neal is a single father, dedicated to his job, who is trying to balance the two halves of his life. Eva is a fairly new detective. She's known for her persistence, even stepping a bit over the line, to not only prove she's worthy of the position, but to bring justice to the victims. Tom Knight is new, not as fleshed out as the others. I look forward to seeing more of him, to see how he fits with the others.
Many thanks to the author / Joffee Books for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unsolicited, unbiased, and entirely my own.
One of the women has a list of five 'victims' in their home. Three of these are dead... by various accidents. What was she researching? What's the connection among these women?
Neal and Merry, along with a new detective, Tom Knight, must sort through a variety of suspects. All of them, it seems, have secrets. And one of them proves very deadly to Neal.
Although 4th in this series, this one does well as a stand alone. But as always, I recommend starting at the beginning.
The story premise is a good one, however, the pace of the action and suspense, is rather low key. The characters are what holds this story together. Neal is a single father, dedicated to his job, who is trying to balance the two halves of his life. Eva is a fairly new detective. She's known for her persistence, even stepping a bit over the line, to not only prove she's worthy of the position, but to bring justice to the victims. Tom Knight is new, not as fleshed out as the others. I look forward to seeing more of him, to see how he fits with the others.
Many thanks to the author / Joffee Books for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unsolicited, unbiased, and entirely my own.
October 25, 2017
blog tour review
Two students coming home from a drunken night out see something strange in the river. It is a young woman’s body.
Hours later, a second young woman’s body is discovered on another stretch of the same river.
DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal are assigned to both investigations.
Soon a connection is found between the two dead women. A list of “victims” is discovered in one of their flats. Who will be next and what really happened to the women on this sinister list?
In a thrilling conclusion, Jim Neal fights for his life as the two detectives struggle to solve a complex case involving people with secrets that may prove fatal.
As well as following DI Jim Neal and his team's investigation into Leanne Jackson's death,we also follow Jess Stokes who for her own personal reasons is also trying to find out why Leanne was murdered.I liked Jess,her chapters where my favourite parts of the story.Someone was terrorizing Jess and her neighbours Pam and Magdalena,I found these parts of the story where more intense and intreguing than the police investigation.I liked Jim Neal and his team,I loved their banter and camaraderie,they where a mixed bag of characters who worked well together.I liked Jim Neal,he was a kind,fair boss who encouraged his team members to share their thoughts on the case and listened to what they had to say.The characters in this book where well developed and believable,some likeable,some not so.Two of the characters where so sick and twisted they made my skin crawl.
I did enjoy this book,it had a few unexpected twists and the reason behind Leanne`s death was plausible.Although this is the fourth book in the series it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
Many thanks to Jill Burkinshaw and Jofee books for a arc of this book in exchange for a honest review
Two students coming home from a drunken night out see something strange in the river. It is a young woman’s body.
Hours later, a second young woman’s body is discovered on another stretch of the same river.
DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal are assigned to both investigations.
Soon a connection is found between the two dead women. A list of “victims” is discovered in one of their flats. Who will be next and what really happened to the women on this sinister list?
In a thrilling conclusion, Jim Neal fights for his life as the two detectives struggle to solve a complex case involving people with secrets that may prove fatal.
As well as following DI Jim Neal and his team's investigation into Leanne Jackson's death,we also follow Jess Stokes who for her own personal reasons is also trying to find out why Leanne was murdered.I liked Jess,her chapters where my favourite parts of the story.Someone was terrorizing Jess and her neighbours Pam and Magdalena,I found these parts of the story where more intense and intreguing than the police investigation.I liked Jim Neal and his team,I loved their banter and camaraderie,they where a mixed bag of characters who worked well together.I liked Jim Neal,he was a kind,fair boss who encouraged his team members to share their thoughts on the case and listened to what they had to say.The characters in this book where well developed and believable,some likeable,some not so.Two of the characters where so sick and twisted they made my skin crawl.
I did enjoy this book,it had a few unexpected twists and the reason behind Leanne`s death was plausible.Although this is the fourth book in the series it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
Many thanks to Jill Burkinshaw and Jofee books for a arc of this book in exchange for a honest review
October 28, 2017
5 out of 5 stars
This is Book 4 in the Neal & Merry series but the first one I have read (which is a situation I plan to rectify at the first opportunity). Although it is part of a series I can assure readers that it works perfectly as a stand-alone.
Some lads on their way home after an night out, a bit the worse for drink, notice a body in the canal. When another body turns up further down the same stretch of water Neil’s team pull out all the stops to find out what happened.
This book is planned out slightly differently to the norm so the murders are at the beginning and the reader is then brought deep into the investigation. It is a fast paced read with intrigue and suspense that make this a gripping, unputdownable read. We get to see life through the eyes of a damaged individual which make this a psychological thriller at its very best with an ‘edge of your seat’ ending you won’t see coming. There are many twists and turns as other crimes become tangled up and the team have to sort out the mess and work out what belongs where. It has enough personal and relationship content to make this a very realistic story.
The characters develop well as the book progresses. I love the team and look forward to reading the previous books to learn more about the events hinted at in this book. I especially like Jess, a strong character and a fighter who Ava Merry has a connection with which becomes relevant as the story unfolds.
Definitely worth the 5 stars. Thank you to Joffe Books for the advance copy.
This is Book 4 in the Neal & Merry series but the first one I have read (which is a situation I plan to rectify at the first opportunity). Although it is part of a series I can assure readers that it works perfectly as a stand-alone.
Some lads on their way home after an night out, a bit the worse for drink, notice a body in the canal. When another body turns up further down the same stretch of water Neil’s team pull out all the stops to find out what happened.
This book is planned out slightly differently to the norm so the murders are at the beginning and the reader is then brought deep into the investigation. It is a fast paced read with intrigue and suspense that make this a gripping, unputdownable read. We get to see life through the eyes of a damaged individual which make this a psychological thriller at its very best with an ‘edge of your seat’ ending you won’t see coming. There are many twists and turns as other crimes become tangled up and the team have to sort out the mess and work out what belongs where. It has enough personal and relationship content to make this a very realistic story.
The characters develop well as the book progresses. I love the team and look forward to reading the previous books to learn more about the events hinted at in this book. I especially like Jess, a strong character and a fighter who Ava Merry has a connection with which becomes relevant as the story unfolds.
Definitely worth the 5 stars. Thank you to Joffe Books for the advance copy.
October 25, 2017
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I though that this book was great and it really gripped me - I loved the pace and the plot was spot on, I loved the detail and the characters of Ava and Jim were brilliant - I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book and have given it 5 stars!
This is the first book that I have read by this author but I will be looking to read the first three books in the series ASAP. I read this one as a stand alone and I don't feel that I was missing out but I would like to read more about the other cases that they have solved to get a further understanding of the back stories for the characters - a fab read!
I though that this book was great and it really gripped me - I loved the pace and the plot was spot on, I loved the detail and the characters of Ava and Jim were brilliant - I thoroughly enjoyed the whole book and have given it 5 stars!
This is the first book that I have read by this author but I will be looking to read the first three books in the series ASAP. I read this one as a stand alone and I don't feel that I was missing out but I would like to read more about the other cases that they have solved to get a further understanding of the back stories for the characters - a fab read!
May 14, 2024
This is probably very good but before it, I read one of my favs: The Housewife's Secret (Detective Dan Riley #7), difficult to follow for me, but it doesn't mean it isn't good.
January 19, 2018
Their fatal secrets by janice frost.
Two students coming home from a drunken night out see something strange in the river. It is a young woman’s body.
A thriller of a read. I really did enjoy this book. 5*.
Two students coming home from a drunken night out see something strange in the river. It is a young woman’s body.
A thriller of a read. I really did enjoy this book. 5*.
July 21, 2018
Read in one sitting on a sleepless night.... A good story and better written than the previous book in this series. Easy to read and become involved with but I still believe that there is a depth missing to the investigating officers and I begin to question whether this is deliberate as the others became ‘real’ to me.
I like the style of writing when I’m in the mood for something easy and compelling. I get frustrated when the investigating team dominate a story but now find it is the same when they haven’t been created with enough depth for me to ‘care’ for them. Will move on to the next in the series in the near future.
I like the style of writing when I’m in the mood for something easy and compelling. I get frustrated when the investigating team dominate a story but now find it is the same when they haven’t been created with enough depth for me to ‘care’ for them. Will move on to the next in the series in the near future.
July 19, 2018
Started reading this by mistake. Realised it was part of a series so went to book one and then proceeded to read all the books.
Loved them. The team dynamics along with the will they /won't they between Neal and Merry, plus the knowledge of police workings and the geographical descriptions make for interesting reads.
Loved them. The team dynamics along with the will they /won't they between Neal and Merry, plus the knowledge of police workings and the geographical descriptions make for interesting reads.
March 27, 2018
Just binge read books 1-4 and I'm quite in love with this series! Feel like I discovered a great new show on Netflix with a fantastic cast and a solid storyline. Can't wait for the next book to be released!!
July 1, 2018
Good
Good story flowed quite well but I could not take to the characters, perhaps need a bit of polish. I would try another from this author but will need a clean break first then perhaps the characters stand a better chance to get to grips with.
Good story flowed quite well but I could not take to the characters, perhaps need a bit of polish. I would try another from this author but will need a clean break first then perhaps the characters stand a better chance to get to grips with.
August 17, 2018
Kept in suspense all the way through- highly recommended
Throughly enjoyed the second book by this wonderful author.
Kept in suspense all the way through, could not second guess.
So looking forward to third book
Throughly enjoyed the second book by this wonderful author.
Kept in suspense all the way through, could not second guess.
So looking forward to third book
October 16, 2017
DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal are involved in the investigation of the drowning of a young woman, Leanne. Leanne had been a troubled teen who turned her life around, working with mentally ill young teens. She had been severely beaten before she drowned. Shortly thereafter the body of a second young girl is found. A list of names of other 'victims' is found in Leanne's flat and the detectives immediately try to find the girls to interview them. A sinister scenerio of sex parties with underage
girls comes to light, involving at least 3 men. They obviously preyed on mentally ill girls and Leanne was contacting the girls to investigate and eventually bring the men to justice...which got her killed.
Ava and Jim have several suspects, one of whom is a vicious psychopath who loves to beat vulnerable girls to within an inch of their lives. He uses his mentally ill brother as a foil, taking loving care of him and using the care facility as a hunting ground for underage girls. Everyone loves him for the caring brother he seems to be...
Jess, a young woman who knew Leanne at school when she was bullied for her twisted spine (due to scoliosis), feels so guilty for ignoring Leanne when Leanne started getting into trouble, she promises to herself to find out what happened to the girl. Leanne was always protecting Jess from the bullies and Jess feels the least she can do is solve the reason for her friend's horrific end and get justice for her.
When she gets a threatening letter warning her off, ominous incidents make her life a misery: a bag of offal is found in her building, her friend's dog is killed, her car's tires are slashed and she is finally attacked in her apartment and kidnapped.
Jim and Ava conduct a desperate search for Jess, fearing she'll be the next victim.
This was a really good book, the police team is extremely likeable, although Jim will hopefully be less tightly wrapped as the series progresses...he needs to chill! The subject of vulnerable young people is sensitively handled and shines a light on the lack of proper care for them, a very topical subject.
I have read the whole series and am determined to read any and all next outings. They are getting better and better and I round this one up to 4.5. An excellent read!
Thank you Netgalley, Joffe Books and Janice Frost for the eARC.
girls comes to light, involving at least 3 men. They obviously preyed on mentally ill girls and Leanne was contacting the girls to investigate and eventually bring the men to justice...which got her killed.
Ava and Jim have several suspects, one of whom is a vicious psychopath who loves to beat vulnerable girls to within an inch of their lives. He uses his mentally ill brother as a foil, taking loving care of him and using the care facility as a hunting ground for underage girls. Everyone loves him for the caring brother he seems to be...
Jess, a young woman who knew Leanne at school when she was bullied for her twisted spine (due to scoliosis), feels so guilty for ignoring Leanne when Leanne started getting into trouble, she promises to herself to find out what happened to the girl. Leanne was always protecting Jess from the bullies and Jess feels the least she can do is solve the reason for her friend's horrific end and get justice for her.
When she gets a threatening letter warning her off, ominous incidents make her life a misery: a bag of offal is found in her building, her friend's dog is killed, her car's tires are slashed and she is finally attacked in her apartment and kidnapped.
Jim and Ava conduct a desperate search for Jess, fearing she'll be the next victim.
This was a really good book, the police team is extremely likeable, although Jim will hopefully be less tightly wrapped as the series progresses...he needs to chill! The subject of vulnerable young people is sensitively handled and shines a light on the lack of proper care for them, a very topical subject.
I have read the whole series and am determined to read any and all next outings. They are getting better and better and I round this one up to 4.5. An excellent read!
Thank you Netgalley, Joffe Books and Janice Frost for the eARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2017
Two drunk students find a body in the river as they walk home from a night out. DI Jim Neal, DS Ava Merry and the rest of their team investigate. It becomes clear that the victim had been looking into things that had happened in her past and was trying to contact other women she had known at the time. Then another body is found in the river and she was on the first victim's list of contacts. Jess knew the victim and decides she's going to try and find out who killed her. Then strange things start to happen - her car is vandalised, her friend's dog is killed - is this connected to her friend's death. I've only read one of the books from this series but it was very easy to read this one as a standalone. The story kept me interested from start to finish and I like the characters - look forward to finding out how the relationships in the team develop.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Janice Frost for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Janice Frost for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
October 24, 2017
This is the fourth book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. Two dead women, Leanne and Ruby, are found in the same river. DS Ava Merry and DJ Jim Neal are joined by a new detective, Tom Knight, to solve these murders. Jess, who was befriended by Leanne when she was being bullied, tries to discover who killed her and if there is a connection between the two murders. This is a nail biting read, full of intrigue, mystery and twists and turns. Well worth reading, keeps you wanting more. Looking forward to see how the relationship between Ava and Jim develops. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 16, 2017
Late one night two students discover a body in the canal, then another body is found. Is there a connection and what does the 'list of victims' refer to.
Not a lot of time spent on the characters of the police, as this is the fourth in the series, their characters and the dynamics between the characters might already be understood.
An interesting mystery which kept my interest and can be read as a stand-alone story. I will probably go back at some point and read the previous stories.
Received an Advanced Reader Copy
Not a lot of time spent on the characters of the police, as this is the fourth in the series, their characters and the dynamics between the characters might already be understood.
An interesting mystery which kept my interest and can be read as a stand-alone story. I will probably go back at some point and read the previous stories.
Received an Advanced Reader Copy
November 2, 2017
Great series!
Hope to read more of D.I. Neal and Ava. Ms Frost is able to keep the excitement humming along in this series, and great attention to detail. I love that I can hardly wait for another of Ms. Frost's books to be published. She is very able to keep one's attention, from the beginning till the end.
Hope to read more of D.I. Neal and Ava. Ms Frost is able to keep the excitement humming along in this series, and great attention to detail. I love that I can hardly wait for another of Ms. Frost's books to be published. She is very able to keep one's attention, from the beginning till the end.
October 31, 2017
3 stars
A young woman is found floating down the river. DI Jim Neal and DS Tom Knight respond to the call. She was badly beaten and thrown in the river while still alive. Her name was Leanne Jackson. A look at her apartment reveals a list of names. Some are familiar to the police.
Then more girls are murdered. The investigation steps up and the police are interviewing people who knew the women and their relatives.
The reader knows from the beginning the name of the murderer. The fun is in the police figuring it out and chasing them.
The book is fairly well written. (If a little juvenile.) The plotting is not too consistent. I liked DI Jim Neal, but didn’t care for DS Ava Merry. Going out and getting so drunk you can hardly stand is not my idea of a reliable or necessarily good person. This is my first Janice Frost novel, and I can’t say that this book has an awful lot to recommend reading another of her books.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.
A young woman is found floating down the river. DI Jim Neal and DS Tom Knight respond to the call. She was badly beaten and thrown in the river while still alive. Her name was Leanne Jackson. A look at her apartment reveals a list of names. Some are familiar to the police.
Then more girls are murdered. The investigation steps up and the police are interviewing people who knew the women and their relatives.
The reader knows from the beginning the name of the murderer. The fun is in the police figuring it out and chasing them.
The book is fairly well written. (If a little juvenile.) The plotting is not too consistent. I liked DI Jim Neal, but didn’t care for DS Ava Merry. Going out and getting so drunk you can hardly stand is not my idea of a reliable or necessarily good person. This is my first Janice Frost novel, and I can’t say that this book has an awful lot to recommend reading another of her books.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this book to read.
December 28, 2020
I'm enjoying this series and thanks to my insomnia I'm getting through it quickly!
July 3, 2019
Great
This book puts Ava and Neil at great risk capturing a murderer. A few surprises in who owns the boat and the psychopath who is the murderer.
This book puts Ava and Neil at great risk capturing a murderer. A few surprises in who owns the boat and the psychopath who is the murderer.
June 28, 2019
Brilliant
Read most of her books and never disappointed going to read her next one hopefully be a romance for Ava and Neil
Read most of her books and never disappointed going to read her next one hopefully be a romance for Ava and Neil
August 22, 2018
Good Reading
I enjoyed reading the four books in this series. The characters are likeable and well-developed. I gave these books 4 stars because a couple of them end leaving the reader feeling an incompleteness, almost feeling as though the author just quit. I do recommend this series for people who enjoy British police stories. I appreciate the author including a glossary of British terms.
I enjoyed reading the four books in this series. The characters are likeable and well-developed. I gave these books 4 stars because a couple of them end leaving the reader feeling an incompleteness, almost feeling as though the author just quit. I do recommend this series for people who enjoy British police stories. I appreciate the author including a glossary of British terms.
November 8, 2018
Awesome series
I love this series of books. Each book seems to be a little better than the last. If you are a fan of British Mysteries, these are the books for you . The books are well written and the characters are well defined. I can't wait for the next book.
I love this series of books. Each book seems to be a little better than the last. If you are a fan of British Mysteries, these are the books for you . The books are well written and the characters are well defined. I can't wait for the next book.
January 10, 2019
Another Great Story
I'm a fan of Janice Frosts books and the characters you get to know. As usual there are twists and turns which keep you guessing and I couldn't put the book down . Sometimes it's appropriate to have a concise story which is not too long to read .
I'm a fan of Janice Frosts books and the characters you get to know. As usual there are twists and turns which keep you guessing and I couldn't put the book down . Sometimes it's appropriate to have a concise story which is not too long to read .
May 5, 2019
Great Story
Another great story from Janice Frost with all the usual characters.Plenty of action and lots of twists and turns and easy to read. Read it in one sitting and looking forward to reading more.
Another great story from Janice Frost with all the usual characters.Plenty of action and lots of twists and turns and easy to read. Read it in one sitting and looking forward to reading more.
October 27, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for a review copy of Their Fatal Secrets, the fourth police procedural to feature DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry of the Stromford police.
When the badly beaten body of Leanne Jackson is pulled out the Strom the team is quick to start investigating. They find a list of women's names in her flat but no obvious connection and are unsure of its value but investigate anyway. In the meantime a school friend of Leanne, Jess Stokes, feeling guilty about her lack of contact with Leanne decides to do a little amateur sleuthing but hardly gets started when some strange things start happening to her and her house mates.
I thoroughly enjoyed Their Fatal Secrets which held my interest from start to finish. It has a suitably complicated plot with plenty of twists and turns and likeable protagonists. As is often the case nowadays the reader knows who the perpetrator is almost from the start although, fortunately, Ms Frost does not spend much time analysing his motives, preferring to concentrate on his actions. I think she does an excellent job of his mindset and thought patterns. The interest of the novel therefore rests in watching the team carry out their investigation as they try to identify a suspect and a motive and try to work out who is behind all the incidents at Jess's house - most of it is quite unexpected.
Neal and Merry are smart, dedicated detectives who are able to make sense of the information they accumulate. They are pleasant people although the hint of sexual attraction between them gets a bit wearing. Put up or shut up is my advice. They are ably assisted in their investigation by newbie PJ and recent transferee DS Tom Knight. I particularly liked the contrast in parenting skills and character of the parents of the girls on the list. It highlights the nature vs nurture conundrum and the woeful state of mental health care in the UK. It makes for distressing reading but unfortunately none of it is a shock.
Their Fatal Secrets is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When the badly beaten body of Leanne Jackson is pulled out the Strom the team is quick to start investigating. They find a list of women's names in her flat but no obvious connection and are unsure of its value but investigate anyway. In the meantime a school friend of Leanne, Jess Stokes, feeling guilty about her lack of contact with Leanne decides to do a little amateur sleuthing but hardly gets started when some strange things start happening to her and her house mates.
I thoroughly enjoyed Their Fatal Secrets which held my interest from start to finish. It has a suitably complicated plot with plenty of twists and turns and likeable protagonists. As is often the case nowadays the reader knows who the perpetrator is almost from the start although, fortunately, Ms Frost does not spend much time analysing his motives, preferring to concentrate on his actions. I think she does an excellent job of his mindset and thought patterns. The interest of the novel therefore rests in watching the team carry out their investigation as they try to identify a suspect and a motive and try to work out who is behind all the incidents at Jess's house - most of it is quite unexpected.
Neal and Merry are smart, dedicated detectives who are able to make sense of the information they accumulate. They are pleasant people although the hint of sexual attraction between them gets a bit wearing. Put up or shut up is my advice. They are ably assisted in their investigation by newbie PJ and recent transferee DS Tom Knight. I particularly liked the contrast in parenting skills and character of the parents of the girls on the list. It highlights the nature vs nurture conundrum and the woeful state of mental health care in the UK. It makes for distressing reading but unfortunately none of it is a shock.
Their Fatal Secrets is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 24, 2017
This is the fourth book in the DS Merry and DI Neal series and the first one I have read by this author, but it can be read as a stand alone.
Why did Leanne Jackson have to die? Her body is found by drunken students in the river Strom. DS Merry, DI Neal and their team are tasked with investigating her death then another body shows up.
Leanne’s old school friend Jess stumbles across the police crime scene. She desperately wants to help solve Leanne’s murder but bad things start happening to her and her friends. She’s in danger but from who?
For me this book was more about the motive of the killer rather than the mystery of a Whodunnit? The murderer is revealed near the beginning of the book, which I’m not usually a fan of, but the killer is interesting and complex that I ended up really enjoying it.
The characters really make this book, each one well thought out and imagined. The pace of this book is really good, not too slow ore too fast and for once I didn’t spot a single typo!
There are also some fantastic analogies in the book, that really stuck in my mind, like this one:
‘...their bodies streaked with purple-pink patches of lividity, giving them the appearance of of an unevenly cooked sausage.’ Although I will probably never eat a sausage again, it really conjured a vivid imagine in my mind.
Again my only complaint would be the coincidences, I keep coming across them a lot lately in crime fiction. One example in this book, is the fact Jess happens to go swimming at the same pool as DS Merry. They have a passing acquaintance and they happen to both have a connect to the same case...you see what I mean. There were a few more but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Overall this a book that will really stick with you after you’ve read it.
Why did Leanne Jackson have to die? Her body is found by drunken students in the river Strom. DS Merry, DI Neal and their team are tasked with investigating her death then another body shows up.
Leanne’s old school friend Jess stumbles across the police crime scene. She desperately wants to help solve Leanne’s murder but bad things start happening to her and her friends. She’s in danger but from who?
For me this book was more about the motive of the killer rather than the mystery of a Whodunnit? The murderer is revealed near the beginning of the book, which I’m not usually a fan of, but the killer is interesting and complex that I ended up really enjoying it.
The characters really make this book, each one well thought out and imagined. The pace of this book is really good, not too slow ore too fast and for once I didn’t spot a single typo!
There are also some fantastic analogies in the book, that really stuck in my mind, like this one:
‘...their bodies streaked with purple-pink patches of lividity, giving them the appearance of of an unevenly cooked sausage.’ Although I will probably never eat a sausage again, it really conjured a vivid imagine in my mind.
Again my only complaint would be the coincidences, I keep coming across them a lot lately in crime fiction. One example in this book, is the fact Jess happens to go swimming at the same pool as DS Merry. They have a passing acquaintance and they happen to both have a connect to the same case...you see what I mean. There were a few more but I don’t want to give away any spoilers.
Overall this a book that will really stick with you after you’ve read it.
October 23, 2017
Two drunk students find a womens body n the river. Soon, another body is found in the river and it’s up to DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry to find out if they are linked.
One of the women has a list of victims in her house. 3 of them are now dead. It soon becomes clear that the victim was looking into things that happened to people she knew in the past.
Jess, one of the characters in the book, knows one of the victims and she tries to find out what happened to her. But then really strange and awful things start happening to her and people she knows. Her tyres are slashed, her friends dog is killed and she comes across a note telling her to stop looking into things or people close to her will get hurt.
So, the race is on for DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry to find out who is responsible before he claims more victims.
I love this book! It was an easy page turner with an amazing plot.
I particularly liked the character of the villain. I won't go into too much detail as I don't want to ruin it for others, but I'm still sat here a few days after I've finished the book wondering if I was manipulated into feeling sympathy for him or whether he was being sincere at some points. I just don't know. It's a strange feeling because I have never felt sympathy towards the bad guy before. Janice Frost has done an excellent job of creating a complex character!
A full review can be found on my blog: http://thegirlwithallthebooks.com
One of the women has a list of victims in her house. 3 of them are now dead. It soon becomes clear that the victim was looking into things that happened to people she knew in the past.
Jess, one of the characters in the book, knows one of the victims and she tries to find out what happened to her. But then really strange and awful things start happening to her and people she knows. Her tyres are slashed, her friends dog is killed and she comes across a note telling her to stop looking into things or people close to her will get hurt.
So, the race is on for DI Jim Neal and DS Ava Merry to find out who is responsible before he claims more victims.
I love this book! It was an easy page turner with an amazing plot.
I particularly liked the character of the villain. I won't go into too much detail as I don't want to ruin it for others, but I'm still sat here a few days after I've finished the book wondering if I was manipulated into feeling sympathy for him or whether he was being sincere at some points. I just don't know. It's a strange feeling because I have never felt sympathy towards the bad guy before. Janice Frost has done an excellent job of creating a complex character!
A full review can be found on my blog: http://thegirlwithallthebooks.com
October 20, 2017
This is the fourth book in the DS Merry and DI Neal series and in this one we meet another detective Tom Knight who joins their team.
It opens with the discovery of a girls body found in the river by two students returning from a night out. Merry and Neal are given the case to investigate. On closer examination the girl has been badly beaten.
A young woman, Jess, in the crowd of onlookers realises she recognises the girl, Leanne Jackson from school. Though never friends, Leanne had stood up to the school bullies when they had targeted Jess years ago.
Jess decides to try and discover why and who committed the murder as the police seem to her to have hit a dead end.
When another girl turns up in the river, the police uncover a connection between the two.
While the police carry on the official investigation strange things start to happen to Jess and her friend, are they connected to Leannes murder?
This book holds your interest throughout, many twists and turns, a good plot and excellent characters. This could be read a standalone but Merry and Neal are such a good combination its worth reading the whole series.
Thanks to Joffe books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
It opens with the discovery of a girls body found in the river by two students returning from a night out. Merry and Neal are given the case to investigate. On closer examination the girl has been badly beaten.
A young woman, Jess, in the crowd of onlookers realises she recognises the girl, Leanne Jackson from school. Though never friends, Leanne had stood up to the school bullies when they had targeted Jess years ago.
Jess decides to try and discover why and who committed the murder as the police seem to her to have hit a dead end.
When another girl turns up in the river, the police uncover a connection between the two.
While the police carry on the official investigation strange things start to happen to Jess and her friend, are they connected to Leannes murder?
This book holds your interest throughout, many twists and turns, a good plot and excellent characters. This could be read a standalone but Merry and Neal are such a good combination its worth reading the whole series.
Thanks to Joffe books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
October 21, 2017
Their Fatal Secrets by Janice Frost is the 4th in the DS Merry/DI Neal series. I haven't read the previous books, but this one works fine as a stand-alone.
From the blurb: "Two students coming home from a drunken night out see something strange in the river. It is a young woman’s body.
Hours later, a second young woman’s body is discovered on another stretch of the same river."
DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal are assigned to both investigations. And they’re joined by a new detective, Tom Knight. There is an interesting premise in this novel involving the backstory behind the murders. The villain (the standard woman-hating lover of violence for this kind of novel) is revealed almost immediately--and although a frightening character, he is both despicable and strangely uninteresting.
The main characters are not especially developed, but since this is the third entry in the series, for regular readers this probably isn't necessary. The connection between the women makes the plot interesting and persuaded me to finish it.
NetGalley/Joffe Books
Crime/Police Procedural. Oct. 21, 2017.
From the blurb: "Two students coming home from a drunken night out see something strange in the river. It is a young woman’s body.
Hours later, a second young woman’s body is discovered on another stretch of the same river."
DS Ava Merry and DI Jim Neal are assigned to both investigations. And they’re joined by a new detective, Tom Knight. There is an interesting premise in this novel involving the backstory behind the murders. The villain (the standard woman-hating lover of violence for this kind of novel) is revealed almost immediately--and although a frightening character, he is both despicable and strangely uninteresting.
The main characters are not especially developed, but since this is the third entry in the series, for regular readers this probably isn't necessary. The connection between the women makes the plot interesting and persuaded me to finish it.
NetGalley/Joffe Books
Crime/Police Procedural. Oct. 21, 2017.
October 22, 2017
I have never read any of the previous Janice Frost Neal and Merry thrillers before, so was a little worried when Joffe Books sent me a free copy to review as I thought I would find it hard to get into. This is book 4 in the series but despite that I had no problems what-so-ever getting to know the characters and was plunged directly into the crimes of one of the most deadly killers you could bear to imagine.
The novel itself was very well written and all the characters came to life very nicely. Indeed, it was refreshing to have more than just the main detectives playing their part in the investigation and ultimate capture of this vicious criminal. There were plenty of twists and a few red-herrings thrown in to keep the reader on their toes, but the outcome of the story was both satisfying and rewarding.
I would certainly recommend this author and happily give the book 5 stars.
The novel itself was very well written and all the characters came to life very nicely. Indeed, it was refreshing to have more than just the main detectives playing their part in the investigation and ultimate capture of this vicious criminal. There were plenty of twists and a few red-herrings thrown in to keep the reader on their toes, but the outcome of the story was both satisfying and rewarding.
I would certainly recommend this author and happily give the book 5 stars.
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