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DC Constance Fairchild #1
No Time to Cry
Undercover ops are always dangerous, but DC Constance Fairchild never expected things to go this wrong.
Returning to their base of operations, an anonymous office in a shabby neighbourhood, she finds the bloodied body of her boss, and friend, DI Pete Copperthwaite. He's been executed - a single shot to the head.
In the aftermath, it seems someone in the Met is determined to make sure that blame for the wrecked operation falls squarely on Con's shoulders. She is cut loose and cast out, angry and alone with her grief... right until the moment someone also tries to put a bullet through her head.
There's no place to hide, and no time to cry.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2018
139 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
October 6, 2018
James Oswald has branched out into a new series after his wonderful Edinburgh DI McLean books. His new protagonist is 30 year old DC Constance Fairchild, always Con and never Connie. Set in London, it is narrated in the first person and it does not take long before I was completely immersed in and intrigued by Con, she is compelling, independent, feisty and has a determination and audacity she is going to need to survive. Working undercover to target criminals from an office in a shabby part of the city, Con's world falls apart when she returns to base only to discover her colleague and friend, DI Peter Copperthwaite, has been tortured and shot dead. Instead of being supported by her police colleagues, Con finds herself suspended and regarded as the prime suspect in the murder. Not a single voice is raised to challenge this narrative from the London Met as Professional Standards are called in. Con has no time to grieve, finding herself a target as she only just manages to escape being shot herself.
Con's background is of privilege and wealth that she has rejected and she has not been in touch with her family for a considerable number of years. She does get back in touch with Aunt Felicity in Newton Harston after life gets too dangerous in London. A childhood acquaintance, Charlotte de Villiers wants Con to find her younger sister, Isobel aka 'Izzy', who has disappeared. Threats and inducements are made by Roger de Villiers, an influential billionaire to dissuade Con from searching for his daughter, but this just makes Con redouble her efforts to find her. Con finds herself facing danger from every quarter leading to her making her way to Scotland to find some respite and regroup, taking with her the cat that took a bullet for her. As Con wonders why the obvious murder of a freelance journalist is being presented as a suicide, she is aware that she is going to have to be at the top of her game if she is to find Izzy and outwit the powerful and utterly ruthless forces aligned against her.
There are some connections here with the McLean series, such as the appearances of the transgender antiquarian bookseller, Rose, the cat, and the use of supernatural elements. In Con Fairchild, Oswald has created a character that is strong, essentially a loner, with qualities that make her memorable, you want to read more about her. This novel is well written with its complex plotting, great characters and I have no doubt that Oswald has another winning series on his hands. I found it gripping reading and I am already looking forward to the next in the series with avid anticipation. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
Con's background is of privilege and wealth that she has rejected and she has not been in touch with her family for a considerable number of years. She does get back in touch with Aunt Felicity in Newton Harston after life gets too dangerous in London. A childhood acquaintance, Charlotte de Villiers wants Con to find her younger sister, Isobel aka 'Izzy', who has disappeared. Threats and inducements are made by Roger de Villiers, an influential billionaire to dissuade Con from searching for his daughter, but this just makes Con redouble her efforts to find her. Con finds herself facing danger from every quarter leading to her making her way to Scotland to find some respite and regroup, taking with her the cat that took a bullet for her. As Con wonders why the obvious murder of a freelance journalist is being presented as a suicide, she is aware that she is going to have to be at the top of her game if she is to find Izzy and outwit the powerful and utterly ruthless forces aligned against her.
There are some connections here with the McLean series, such as the appearances of the transgender antiquarian bookseller, Rose, the cat, and the use of supernatural elements. In Con Fairchild, Oswald has created a character that is strong, essentially a loner, with qualities that make her memorable, you want to read more about her. This novel is well written with its complex plotting, great characters and I have no doubt that Oswald has another winning series on his hands. I found it gripping reading and I am already looking forward to the next in the series with avid anticipation. Highly recommended! Many thanks to Headline for an ARC.
September 25, 2018
This is the 1st book in the new series featuring DC Constance (Con) Fairchild by author James Oswald. I have read and enjoyed the popular Inspector McLean series by Oswald so was eagerly waiting to read this one and was not disappointed.
When undercover cop DC Constance Fairchild returns to their base she discovers the dead body of her boss and friend DI Pete Copperthwaite. He has been executed with a single shot to the head. Someone in the Met is determined to make sure that blame for the failed operation falls on Constance. Now under suspicion she is cast out and becomes a target herself. Fairchild is left alone, angry and scared but there no place to hide and 'No Time to cry'
This has all the markings of another excellent series, good strong interesting characters, well paced plots and full of suspense.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
When undercover cop DC Constance Fairchild returns to their base she discovers the dead body of her boss and friend DI Pete Copperthwaite. He has been executed with a single shot to the head. Someone in the Met is determined to make sure that blame for the failed operation falls on Constance. Now under suspicion she is cast out and becomes a target herself. Fairchild is left alone, angry and scared but there no place to hide and 'No Time to cry'
This has all the markings of another excellent series, good strong interesting characters, well paced plots and full of suspense.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Headline for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2018
No Time to Cry by James Oswald.
It is on extremely rare occasion that have more than one series by the same author that I become entranced with. This is one of those extremely rare occasions. I started this book with doubts about it matching up to the Tony McLean series. Put all your doubts aside. This new series does not have to equal that first series as it stands alone.
Constance Fairchild(DC) and her partner Pete Copperthwaite (DI) are working undercover on as dangerous a mission/surveillance as they've ever been on. One wrong move and...but it's too late for that now. Constance (Con) goes back to their hide away to find Pete tied to a chair tortured and executed, a gun shot through his forehead.
This surveillance takes on a new direction with Pete's murder as Con is soon under scrutiny for this wrecked operation and the murder of her own partner. This is just the beginning of the mystery as we, the reader, are taken into the private life of Constance Fairchild as well as those she's set as her target(s). Have no doubt...she aims well!
I can't say enough good things about this gifted author/story teller. He has made a name for himeself among the greats such as: Robert B. Parker, Michael Connelly, Lee Child or James Lee Burke.
It is on extremely rare occasion that have more than one series by the same author that I become entranced with. This is one of those extremely rare occasions. I started this book with doubts about it matching up to the Tony McLean series. Put all your doubts aside. This new series does not have to equal that first series as it stands alone.
Constance Fairchild(DC) and her partner Pete Copperthwaite (DI) are working undercover on as dangerous a mission/surveillance as they've ever been on. One wrong move and...but it's too late for that now. Constance (Con) goes back to their hide away to find Pete tied to a chair tortured and executed, a gun shot through his forehead.
This surveillance takes on a new direction with Pete's murder as Con is soon under scrutiny for this wrecked operation and the murder of her own partner. This is just the beginning of the mystery as we, the reader, are taken into the private life of Constance Fairchild as well as those she's set as her target(s). Have no doubt...she aims well!
I can't say enough good things about this gifted author/story teller. He has made a name for himeself among the greats such as: Robert B. Parker, Michael Connelly, Lee Child or James Lee Burke.
September 28, 2018
After eight books in his very good Inspector McLean series, Scottish author James Oswald takes crime readers in a new direction, with both a new series character and a new location: London instead of Edinburgh. There's no need for any trepidation from long-time fans, as Oswald demonstrates that he's a quality storyteller regardless of the hero or setting, not just an author wedded to a popular character.
We're dropped right into it straight away, as cop Constance (Con, never Connie) Fairchild goes to meet her boss at an office set up for an undercover operation, only to find him executed. Who compromised the operation, and how did their rather routine undercover sting turn so deadly?
Whatever the unanswered question, Con is quickly on the outs with her police colleagues who blame her. Unfairly so, it seems - immediately putting readers on-side with the embattled young detective. Isolated and seeming to be set up as the scapegoat, Con has to uncover just what went wrong and who is behind it all, as she deals with the death of her closest friend and confidante in the force.
There is a lot to like about the first in what will purportedly be a new series from Oswald. While the London setting could be Anywhere-City, UK and doesn't have such a strong sense of specific place as his Edinburgh-set novels, the various settings are still well-evoked. We feel the world in which Con operates, the people and places that make up her life.
There's a robust tension throughout, a strong narrative drive that pulls readers along and keeps the pages quickly flipping without feeling thin or underdone. From the beginning, you feel you're in the hands of a good storyteller, and readily surrender to the world Oswald has created without ever feeling 'pulled out of the story' by some of the flaws that can mar some other popular authors' work.
The jewel in the crown of NO TIME TO CRY, however, is undoubtedly Con Fairchild. She has the prerequisite past demons of so many crime fiction cops, and doesn't get on well with her bosses and colleagues, but still feel fresh rather than cliched or derivative. Much of that may be as much to do with Oswald's storytelling rather than any specific point-to differences in her resume or character. She's courageous, outspoken, and comes from a different background to most of her colleagues. She doesn't need to be a cop as a career, but has a very strong sense of justice that drives her. She's loyal but not a lapdog, fierce but also flawed and vulnerable at times. Just a very good, layered, character.
I look forward to seeing where Oswald takes us next.
For now, NO TIME TO CRY is a heck of a good series-starter and well worth a look.
We're dropped right into it straight away, as cop Constance (Con, never Connie) Fairchild goes to meet her boss at an office set up for an undercover operation, only to find him executed. Who compromised the operation, and how did their rather routine undercover sting turn so deadly?
Whatever the unanswered question, Con is quickly on the outs with her police colleagues who blame her. Unfairly so, it seems - immediately putting readers on-side with the embattled young detective. Isolated and seeming to be set up as the scapegoat, Con has to uncover just what went wrong and who is behind it all, as she deals with the death of her closest friend and confidante in the force.
There is a lot to like about the first in what will purportedly be a new series from Oswald. While the London setting could be Anywhere-City, UK and doesn't have such a strong sense of specific place as his Edinburgh-set novels, the various settings are still well-evoked. We feel the world in which Con operates, the people and places that make up her life.
There's a robust tension throughout, a strong narrative drive that pulls readers along and keeps the pages quickly flipping without feeling thin or underdone. From the beginning, you feel you're in the hands of a good storyteller, and readily surrender to the world Oswald has created without ever feeling 'pulled out of the story' by some of the flaws that can mar some other popular authors' work.
The jewel in the crown of NO TIME TO CRY, however, is undoubtedly Con Fairchild. She has the prerequisite past demons of so many crime fiction cops, and doesn't get on well with her bosses and colleagues, but still feel fresh rather than cliched or derivative. Much of that may be as much to do with Oswald's storytelling rather than any specific point-to differences in her resume or character. She's courageous, outspoken, and comes from a different background to most of her colleagues. She doesn't need to be a cop as a career, but has a very strong sense of justice that drives her. She's loyal but not a lapdog, fierce but also flawed and vulnerable at times. Just a very good, layered, character.
I look forward to seeing where Oswald takes us next.
For now, NO TIME TO CRY is a heck of a good series-starter and well worth a look.
July 25, 2018
Well... This is flippin' brilliant! It took me a few chapters to grow accustomed to DC Constance Fairchild and then, BOOM!, I realised I'd fallen for her very deeply. This is a beautifully written, complex and thoroughly rewarding crime novel, which also displays that certain something extra that you'd expect from the author of the fantastic Inspector McLean series. I suspect I will love this new series every bit as much. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
April 11, 2021
This new series was a slow grower on me but once I got past the first few chapters it really picked up a pace and I ended up sitting up late to finish it (read in one day in the end). Con's boss is executed on an undercover mission and she's been set up to take the blame but is also a target for the killers. She's also trying to track down her friend's missing sister. It could get complicated but it doesn't. It's easy to follow the twists and turns as Con flits between Yorkshire, Scotland and London. I'm intrigued by Con. She's not a typical female police officer; she's actually Lady Constance for a start. Don't think I've seen that one before outside any cosy crime and this is not cosy. It's very gritty and covers some dark subjects.
I'm still working my way through the authors other series but this one looks like it's going to be a great one like the rest.
I'm still working my way through the authors other series but this one looks like it's going to be a great one like the rest.
June 29, 2018
I admit to being a bit dubious about reading the new James Oswald - the king of police thrillers with supernatural overtones set in Edinburgh now writing about the undercover police in London? Well have no fear, as he jumps down to the England capital with ease. His London is a vague one - no real locations to speak off but a nice sense of the city and its chaotic streets, back room offices of the met and the struggles of tailing someone in a crowds of millions.
I did like the character of Constance ‘Con’ Fairchild - she’s got some balls this woman! Put in several tough spots, and tough situations, she plays and fights hard. Not sure if I’d like to work for the men in her office but her - for sure.
She’s the one who tells the story in her first person narration which added immediacy and style to the whole affair. There’s a very unusual hook to this affair which you really have to discover for yourself. This is more of a character driven novel than his other books but the book has plenty of character of its own.
I did like the character of Constance ‘Con’ Fairchild - she’s got some balls this woman! Put in several tough spots, and tough situations, she plays and fights hard. Not sure if I’d like to work for the men in her office but her - for sure.
She’s the one who tells the story in her first person narration which added immediacy and style to the whole affair. There’s a very unusual hook to this affair which you really have to discover for yourself. This is more of a character driven novel than his other books but the book has plenty of character of its own.
March 21, 2019
enjoyed this crime thriller which is the start of a new series and Oswald doesn't disappoint at all. this novel is mainly set in London which is a change from the other oswalds books but do like the change of scenery.
November 2, 2018
This is a great start to a new series.
The book begins with the discovery of a Detective’s body and Constance, or Con, is under suspicion as she was the one to find the body and worked closely with him.
Con is confused by everyone’s attitude towards her and when she is suspended, she is speechless.
Someone then tries to kill Con and she realises there’s more to Pete’s death than meets the eye.
Con is then approached by an old school friend who asks for her help to find her sister, who seems to have disappeared.
As her investigations get under way, her life is in danger yet again and she discovers information about her ex colleagues that she really didn’t want to know.
Family secrets are also revealed and soon Con is facing a race against time to stay alive.
This is a great read and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The book begins with the discovery of a Detective’s body and Constance, or Con, is under suspicion as she was the one to find the body and worked closely with him.
Con is confused by everyone’s attitude towards her and when she is suspended, she is speechless.
Someone then tries to kill Con and she realises there’s more to Pete’s death than meets the eye.
Con is then approached by an old school friend who asks for her help to find her sister, who seems to have disappeared.
As her investigations get under way, her life is in danger yet again and she discovers information about her ex colleagues that she really didn’t want to know.
Family secrets are also revealed and soon Con is facing a race against time to stay alive.
This is a great read and I can’t wait to read the next book.
Thanks to Wildfire and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
August 14, 2023
Unrealistic plot and an array of quirky and weird characters even the imaginary ones, oh yes there was one, combined to make this an interesting but at times frustrating read. Was this a tall tale, a caper or a fanciful mystery….probably all three combined?
At first I though Con was not mature enough then the Keystone cops arrived and could not understand how they got so angry and took action without the worry of some repercussions. It took me a while to connect all the dots because the author kept showing us some of the multiple plots all at once. Con is difficult to imagine, she is a very resourceful woman but at times immature.
A friendly ghost, a lovely transgender, a faithful cat and a bunch of angry hired guns makes this an interesting and at times funny read.
In conclusion, this book confused me a lot but the plot got interesting once I suspended all logic and reason. It was very well written and I will continue reading the next installment soon.
At first I though Con was not mature enough then the Keystone cops arrived and could not understand how they got so angry and took action without the worry of some repercussions. It took me a while to connect all the dots because the author kept showing us some of the multiple plots all at once. Con is difficult to imagine, she is a very resourceful woman but at times immature.
A friendly ghost, a lovely transgender, a faithful cat and a bunch of angry hired guns makes this an interesting and at times funny read.
In conclusion, this book confused me a lot but the plot got interesting once I suspended all logic and reason. It was very well written and I will continue reading the next installment soon.
August 17, 2018
DC Constance Fairchild is caught up and blamed for the death of her boss and mentor in a horrific tortured murder. She finds herself suspended from work and investigating the crime and the cover-up by herself.
This is a great police thriller and written very well. I have read some of this author before and this is less mystical than those ones, which is better in my opinion. (I didn't find that side of his writing very believable). This book however, is full of believable characters, fast pacy plotlines and a twisted ending. Very good.
This is a great police thriller and written very well. I have read some of this author before and this is less mystical than those ones, which is better in my opinion. (I didn't find that side of his writing very believable). This book however, is full of believable characters, fast pacy plotlines and a twisted ending. Very good.
November 18, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Gripping, complex, and interesting (and featuring a brilliant new detective), this looks like the start of what's set to be a brilliant new series by James Oswald. I haven't read his Inspector McLean series but have heard great things, so I'm glad this lived up to that as such an enjoyable read.
Main character Constance (DC Fairchild) is brilliant - fiesty, inependent but with a sensitive side too, she's a brilliant character to follow and, though she can be spiky and angry at times (and who could blame her), Constance is likable and smart. She made the novel for me.
The plot is interesting and offered up a great mix of characters (some far less likable than others!), and the setting is great - I always enjoy books set in London and, although there weren't any references to concrete locations, the London in No Time To Cry still felt very real. The slightly supernatural element (I won't give anything else away) was, luckily, very 'slight' so I had no problem with it. I'm not usually a fan of mixing crime with any sort-of-supernatural elements but, as this was only a very small part and the story was so well crafted, I didn't mind it at all.
I raced through this novel in no time and am looking forward to future releases!
* Many thanks to the Headline for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review. *
Gripping, complex, and interesting (and featuring a brilliant new detective), this looks like the start of what's set to be a brilliant new series by James Oswald. I haven't read his Inspector McLean series but have heard great things, so I'm glad this lived up to that as such an enjoyable read.
Main character Constance (DC Fairchild) is brilliant - fiesty, inependent but with a sensitive side too, she's a brilliant character to follow and, though she can be spiky and angry at times (and who could blame her), Constance is likable and smart. She made the novel for me.
The plot is interesting and offered up a great mix of characters (some far less likable than others!), and the setting is great - I always enjoy books set in London and, although there weren't any references to concrete locations, the London in No Time To Cry still felt very real. The slightly supernatural element (I won't give anything else away) was, luckily, very 'slight' so I had no problem with it. I'm not usually a fan of mixing crime with any sort-of-supernatural elements but, as this was only a very small part and the story was so well crafted, I didn't mind it at all.
I raced through this novel in no time and am looking forward to future releases!
* Many thanks to the Headline for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review. *
August 16, 2018
This is a new character for James, Constance Fairchild, so I was happy to get in at the beginning and I am looking forward to her next adventure. This was a good story with plenty going on and more than a few interesting characters.
August 17, 2018
A messed up story of blame culture with lots of crime going on. Good read but not amazing, a couple of nice twists in it
November 9, 2021
I have thoroughly enjoyed James Oswald's writing. having read more than half of his Inspector Mclean series. The quality of writing and the tension/suspense is just as good in this book, but for some reason, I couldn't find myself liking the character of Constance Fairchild.
I'll read the second book in the series to see if I can warm up to her. If not, the flaw must be in me and not in the writing.
I'll read the second book in the series to see if I can warm up to her. If not, the flaw must be in me and not in the writing.
April 18, 2019
Brilliant new series. I was already a big fan of James Oswald’s writing from his Tony McLean series which are all amazing books. This story really captured my attention in the first chapter. Con Fairchild is a great character, and she is certainly under pressure from everyone around her. I also enjoyed how many things were happening throughout the book, and I had no idea how the story was going to finish.
Detective Constable Constance ‘Con’ Fairchild wasn’t expecting to find her boss shot in the head, and she certainly didn’t expect the blame to be put on her. Detective Inspector Peter Copperthwaite was on an undercover operation that not many people knew about, and with Con being under suspicion for his death she is going to need to find out who really killed him. To complicate matters a girl she grew up with, Charlotte DeVilliers has asked Con to help locate her 16-year-old sister Isobel, who has gone missing. Con finds out very quickly from Isobel’s billionaire father Roger, that it’s best if she keeps her nose out of their family’s business, or she could find herself in a very dangerous situation. I’m really looking forward to book 2 in this series. If you enjoy murder mysteries, then this story is certainly worth a read. 5/5 Star rating.
Detective Constable Constance ‘Con’ Fairchild wasn’t expecting to find her boss shot in the head, and she certainly didn’t expect the blame to be put on her. Detective Inspector Peter Copperthwaite was on an undercover operation that not many people knew about, and with Con being under suspicion for his death she is going to need to find out who really killed him. To complicate matters a girl she grew up with, Charlotte DeVilliers has asked Con to help locate her 16-year-old sister Isobel, who has gone missing. Con finds out very quickly from Isobel’s billionaire father Roger, that it’s best if she keeps her nose out of their family’s business, or she could find herself in a very dangerous situation. I’m really looking forward to book 2 in this series. If you enjoy murder mysteries, then this story is certainly worth a read. 5/5 Star rating.
July 11, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of No Time to Cry, the first novel to feature DC Con(stance) Fairchild of the Met.
Con has been working on an undercover sting when she walks into the fake office and finds her boss, DI Pete Copperthwaite tied to a chair and shot dead. Con is immediately suspended pending an investigation but is bewildered as to why she is being scapegoated and even more so when someone tries to kill her.
I thoroughly enjoyed No Time to Cry which is an exciting read with a twisty plot. It is told in the first person by the feisty Con, never Constance or the dreaded Connie, and, while this is not my favourite format, it really suits the novel, giving it the immediacy and intimacy the plot deserves. The opening of the novel oozes atmosphere with the knives out for Con and her resultant anger, fear, distrust and impotence. It is so effective I was ready to take up the cudgels on her behalf and, as a result of being so invested, missed some of the undercurrents that become more apparent as the novel progresses. I like the way the novel starts as one thing, an undercover operation gone spectacularly wrong, morphs into something else and finally comes full circle to reconcile all the different parts, although the denouement is, in my opinion, the weakest part of an otherwise very strong novel. It is not a police procedural as Con is suspended and acting independently and reads more like a thriller with its cartoon like baddie and Con dodging more than one bullet. It's a thrilling, addictive read which had me hooked from start to finish.
I really like Con and would gladly read more about her. I'll leave it to the reader to find out about her unconventional background from hints in the novel although I think there is much more to come. She is smart, feisty and resourceful with an even smarter mouth, which I love. She talks to the dead Pete, using him as a sounding board for her ideas. This is not woo-woo territory, like the Inspector McLain novels, as she is fully aware that he is dead but a coping mechanism for her grief and fear. It adds a little light relief to a high octane, action packed read.
No Time to Cry is a great start to a new series which I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.
Con has been working on an undercover sting when she walks into the fake office and finds her boss, DI Pete Copperthwaite tied to a chair and shot dead. Con is immediately suspended pending an investigation but is bewildered as to why she is being scapegoated and even more so when someone tries to kill her.
I thoroughly enjoyed No Time to Cry which is an exciting read with a twisty plot. It is told in the first person by the feisty Con, never Constance or the dreaded Connie, and, while this is not my favourite format, it really suits the novel, giving it the immediacy and intimacy the plot deserves. The opening of the novel oozes atmosphere with the knives out for Con and her resultant anger, fear, distrust and impotence. It is so effective I was ready to take up the cudgels on her behalf and, as a result of being so invested, missed some of the undercurrents that become more apparent as the novel progresses. I like the way the novel starts as one thing, an undercover operation gone spectacularly wrong, morphs into something else and finally comes full circle to reconcile all the different parts, although the denouement is, in my opinion, the weakest part of an otherwise very strong novel. It is not a police procedural as Con is suspended and acting independently and reads more like a thriller with its cartoon like baddie and Con dodging more than one bullet. It's a thrilling, addictive read which had me hooked from start to finish.
I really like Con and would gladly read more about her. I'll leave it to the reader to find out about her unconventional background from hints in the novel although I think there is much more to come. She is smart, feisty and resourceful with an even smarter mouth, which I love. She talks to the dead Pete, using him as a sounding board for her ideas. This is not woo-woo territory, like the Inspector McLain novels, as she is fully aware that he is dead but a coping mechanism for her grief and fear. It adds a little light relief to a high octane, action packed read.
No Time to Cry is a great start to a new series which I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read.
November 17, 2018
Constance gets caught up in a mess; her boss is dead, the whole police department and internal affairs) are trying to blame it on her, and then there is the family friend begging her to find her missing sister... (And that's before she get's abducted) actually she has very few people on her side - mostly the ghost of her former boss.
It's a good start to a new series, the talking ghost keeps a low profile, so it's proper crime fiction, not veering off into fantasy or scifi (thank you!)
It's a good start to a new series, the talking ghost keeps a low profile, so it's proper crime fiction, not veering off into fantasy or scifi (thank you!)
May 30, 2019
No Time To Cry is a fantastic start to a new series by James Oswald, an author I’ve heard lots about but have never read until now.
The story starts straight away with one of the most hard hitting openings I’ve read. I felt immediately drawn into the story and the action, intrigued as to what happenned. What follows is a very action packed, dark novel which is quite gruesome in places. Oswald definitely knows how to set a scene and the graphic descriptions made the story seem very real. I definitely found myself holding my breath at times and not just because of the fascinating story line but sometimes to try and process what I was reading.
I loved the main character Constant Fairchild who seemed a very capable, strong police officer. I found I really admired the strength and determination she showed trying to find out what happened against all odds. I was on her side the whole way through the book hoping she would be successful and prove her superiors wrong.
This is the first book by this author I have read, which I seriously can’t believe as I thought the writing and story was superb! I’ve already ordered some more books from him and I’m so excited to read those too.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Jenni from Wildfire for my copy of this book. If you like fast paced, gritty crime novels then you’ll love this book!
The story starts straight away with one of the most hard hitting openings I’ve read. I felt immediately drawn into the story and the action, intrigued as to what happenned. What follows is a very action packed, dark novel which is quite gruesome in places. Oswald definitely knows how to set a scene and the graphic descriptions made the story seem very real. I definitely found myself holding my breath at times and not just because of the fascinating story line but sometimes to try and process what I was reading.
I loved the main character Constant Fairchild who seemed a very capable, strong police officer. I found I really admired the strength and determination she showed trying to find out what happened against all odds. I was on her side the whole way through the book hoping she would be successful and prove her superiors wrong.
This is the first book by this author I have read, which I seriously can’t believe as I thought the writing and story was superb! I’ve already ordered some more books from him and I’m so excited to read those too.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Jenni from Wildfire for my copy of this book. If you like fast paced, gritty crime novels then you’ll love this book!
November 16, 2018
My Rating ~ 4.5*
Undercover ops are always dangerous, but DC Constance Fairchild never expected things to go this wrong.
Constance Fairchild has worked for over five years in the police department. Now a Detective Constable working undercover, Constance’s choice of occupation has never pleased her family. Coming from wealth, Constance was private schooled and it was always thought by her father that she would marry within their circle and she would become a good wife. But this was never the life Constance wished for herself. Even her name frustrated her, preferring Con as a more suitable option.
When Con joined up with the Met she never looked back. She managed to find an affordable flat in London and set about establishing her career and making a new life for herself. She achieved a position within the undercover unit, working with her friend and now boss DI Pete Copperthwaite.
The pair were working closely together in an attempt to uncover a crime operation. Unexpectedly Con receives an unusual text from Pete and makes her way to the meeting point, only to make an horrendous discovery. Pete is dead. Pete has been very blatantly singled out and shot in the head, following what appears to be a torturous beating.
Con is understandably devastated but, instead of receiving the support of her fellow Met colleagues, there appears to be a finger of blame pointing in her direction. For whatever reason, Con is being made the scapegoat for Pete’s death.
But why???
Con is temporarily suspended, with her badge removed, pending an internal investigation by the Professional Standards committee. She is left frustrated and angry. Pete was the one person who really understood her and now he is dead. But who IS responsible for this and WHY is Con the target?
It soon becomes clear to Con that her own life is now in very serious danger and without any backup team to turn to, Con decides to set up her own investigation into Pete’s death. Why was he killed? What did he know? Why is there now a price on her head?
Con is a kick-ass, fearless individual. She takes no bull from anyone and has a strength of character that makes her a very dangerous enemy. But as Con peels away the layers, some very frightening truths appear.
Con is also approached by an old school acquaintance, Charlotte, a neighbour from her home village. Charlotte’s younger sister Izzy is gone missing and Charlotte is hopeful that Con can assist in discovering her whereabouts. As Con sets out to search for Izzy it is soon very clear that something rotten is at the core of her disappearance, something that soon gets a little too personal for Con.
Between looking for Izzy and uncovering the truth to Pete’s murder, Con finds herself in some very dangerous and life-threatening situations. What is the truth becomes paramount to her search but she is about to expose many individuals who would rather see her dead.
No Time to Cry is a fantastic beginning to a new crime fiction series. James Oswald takes the reader on a thrilling journey with a gripping storyline and some frighteningly believable characters. Constance Fairchild is exactly as James Oswald set out to create. In his own words – ‘her doggedness, her refusal to give up in the face of overwhelming odds, is her defining characteristic.’
Exciting. Frantic. Tense.
Undercover ops are always dangerous, but DC Constance Fairchild never expected things to go this wrong.
Constance Fairchild has worked for over five years in the police department. Now a Detective Constable working undercover, Constance’s choice of occupation has never pleased her family. Coming from wealth, Constance was private schooled and it was always thought by her father that she would marry within their circle and she would become a good wife. But this was never the life Constance wished for herself. Even her name frustrated her, preferring Con as a more suitable option.
When Con joined up with the Met she never looked back. She managed to find an affordable flat in London and set about establishing her career and making a new life for herself. She achieved a position within the undercover unit, working with her friend and now boss DI Pete Copperthwaite.
The pair were working closely together in an attempt to uncover a crime operation. Unexpectedly Con receives an unusual text from Pete and makes her way to the meeting point, only to make an horrendous discovery. Pete is dead. Pete has been very blatantly singled out and shot in the head, following what appears to be a torturous beating.
Con is understandably devastated but, instead of receiving the support of her fellow Met colleagues, there appears to be a finger of blame pointing in her direction. For whatever reason, Con is being made the scapegoat for Pete’s death.
But why???
Con is temporarily suspended, with her badge removed, pending an internal investigation by the Professional Standards committee. She is left frustrated and angry. Pete was the one person who really understood her and now he is dead. But who IS responsible for this and WHY is Con the target?
It soon becomes clear to Con that her own life is now in very serious danger and without any backup team to turn to, Con decides to set up her own investigation into Pete’s death. Why was he killed? What did he know? Why is there now a price on her head?
Con is a kick-ass, fearless individual. She takes no bull from anyone and has a strength of character that makes her a very dangerous enemy. But as Con peels away the layers, some very frightening truths appear.
Con is also approached by an old school acquaintance, Charlotte, a neighbour from her home village. Charlotte’s younger sister Izzy is gone missing and Charlotte is hopeful that Con can assist in discovering her whereabouts. As Con sets out to search for Izzy it is soon very clear that something rotten is at the core of her disappearance, something that soon gets a little too personal for Con.
Between looking for Izzy and uncovering the truth to Pete’s murder, Con finds herself in some very dangerous and life-threatening situations. What is the truth becomes paramount to her search but she is about to expose many individuals who would rather see her dead.
No Time to Cry is a fantastic beginning to a new crime fiction series. James Oswald takes the reader on a thrilling journey with a gripping storyline and some frighteningly believable characters. Constance Fairchild is exactly as James Oswald set out to create. In his own words – ‘her doggedness, her refusal to give up in the face of overwhelming odds, is her defining characteristic.’
Exciting. Frantic. Tense.
June 15, 2020
Oswald's best yet
I've been reading James Oswald's other series ,The Inspector McLean books, over the last month and thoroughly enjoyed them. This, the first in a new series, is next level stuff though.
When Con Fairchild is suspended after her boss is killed when an undercover op goes wrong things feel bad enough. No one in her department trusts her anymore. A chance meeting with an old friend leads Con to investigate the disappearance of her sister and things go from bad to worse - hitmen, corruption, paedophiles. It takes all Con has got and then a bit more to sort all this out.
And there's a crossover from the McLean books that made me smile a lot more than I expected.
I was going to give this a 4* rating as I'm expecting the next book to be even better but this is just so good it deserves, in my opinion, the whole 5
Highly recommended
I've been reading James Oswald's other series ,The Inspector McLean books, over the last month and thoroughly enjoyed them. This, the first in a new series, is next level stuff though.
When Con Fairchild is suspended after her boss is killed when an undercover op goes wrong things feel bad enough. No one in her department trusts her anymore. A chance meeting with an old friend leads Con to investigate the disappearance of her sister and things go from bad to worse - hitmen, corruption, paedophiles. It takes all Con has got and then a bit more to sort all this out.
And there's a crossover from the McLean books that made me smile a lot more than I expected.
I was going to give this a 4* rating as I'm expecting the next book to be even better but this is just so good it deserves, in my opinion, the whole 5
Highly recommended
November 9, 2018
Constance Fairchild’s life is turned upside down when she discovers the body of her boss in their undercover premises. She also has her suspicions confirmed that he was her only friend amongst the team that she works with. To make matters worse, she is also suspended, accused of being responsible for his death. With too much time on her hands she gets involved in the disappearance of somebody who she knows from home.
Con, she hates being called Connie, is a very strong character. You often read about female police officers having to prove themselves before they are accepted by the male officers in a team of detectives, but she has more of a battle on her hands with her family background and education. Even if she has no contact with them and her schooling wasn’t what it should have been. She is very much the black sheep in the family. There is only one of them she is close to, Aunt Felicity, who was one of my favourite characters.
There are some evil people in this book, the very worst that you see in society and the ones you would avoid if you could. There are some vivid descriptions in part, I have read a lot worse, but it’s also what remains unsaid that stays with you. It is not just the crimes, it’s also the ignorance and neglect by those who should love you most. A parent.
But there are also some wonderful characters, Felicity, Rose and Cat are amongst those who I hope to see again. And another who I am yet to decide if they are a ghost or an imaginary friend.
No Time To Cry is the first book in a new series. A new lead character and a different city could be a little intimidating for any author but there was no sign of any self-doubt or nerves that I picked up on. And I thought that the book was exceptional. I will be very surprised if I read one better this year.
Con, she hates being called Connie, is a very strong character. You often read about female police officers having to prove themselves before they are accepted by the male officers in a team of detectives, but she has more of a battle on her hands with her family background and education. Even if she has no contact with them and her schooling wasn’t what it should have been. She is very much the black sheep in the family. There is only one of them she is close to, Aunt Felicity, who was one of my favourite characters.
There are some evil people in this book, the very worst that you see in society and the ones you would avoid if you could. There are some vivid descriptions in part, I have read a lot worse, but it’s also what remains unsaid that stays with you. It is not just the crimes, it’s also the ignorance and neglect by those who should love you most. A parent.
But there are also some wonderful characters, Felicity, Rose and Cat are amongst those who I hope to see again. And another who I am yet to decide if they are a ghost or an imaginary friend.
No Time To Cry is the first book in a new series. A new lead character and a different city could be a little intimidating for any author but there was no sign of any self-doubt or nerves that I picked up on. And I thought that the book was exceptional. I will be very surprised if I read one better this year.
October 6, 2019
The reason the author takes pains to introduce his motivation behind the novel becomes increasingly significant the further you read. Retrospectively, the introduction reads as a preemptive apology and not one I'm happy to accept after several hours of enduring utter garbage. What James Oswald doesn't state is that in writing a novel around a female protagonist his true motivation was to construct the worst chick-lit that you are ever likely to read. If this is 'crime for girls' then Oswald's at least century too late - after all, Christie, Sayer, et al aren't called the Queens of Crime because they had balls (apart from metaphorical ones).
This book is so crammed with stereotypes it's as if it's written by a precocious child. The plot is poorly controlled; the events unfold merely by geographical inclination, it seems: "Where should she go next? Oh yeah, Scotland. No, London. No, actually, Northamptonshire...um, Birmingham?" The characters, which Oswald claims to be central to a narrative are one dimensional and as for the dialogue, well, it's laughable. One Scottish woman calls the protagonist, 'Mistress Constance' at one point - yes, really, that is actually in there. Had there been some bodice ripping in the story lines like that MIGHT be warranted but in a hard-bitten modern detective novel? I think not. Thematically, the attempts to bring weighty subjects to the fore really seem a desperate attempt to gain gravitas, that fails, too. It's just tawdry. However, the most pitiable element is the 'supernatural' - I mean, what's going on genre-wise? Whatever this 'novel' actually is there's one thing it's absolutely not. It's not good.
This book is so crammed with stereotypes it's as if it's written by a precocious child. The plot is poorly controlled; the events unfold merely by geographical inclination, it seems: "Where should she go next? Oh yeah, Scotland. No, London. No, actually, Northamptonshire...um, Birmingham?" The characters, which Oswald claims to be central to a narrative are one dimensional and as for the dialogue, well, it's laughable. One Scottish woman calls the protagonist, 'Mistress Constance' at one point - yes, really, that is actually in there. Had there been some bodice ripping in the story lines like that MIGHT be warranted but in a hard-bitten modern detective novel? I think not. Thematically, the attempts to bring weighty subjects to the fore really seem a desperate attempt to gain gravitas, that fails, too. It's just tawdry. However, the most pitiable element is the 'supernatural' - I mean, what's going on genre-wise? Whatever this 'novel' actually is there's one thing it's absolutely not. It's not good.
August 13, 2018
What an excellent start to a brand new series from James Oswald. He is a terrific writer and is up there with the likes of Anne Cleeves and Ian Rankin.
DC Constance Fairchild receives a text from her boss to go to the office, the office that is actually a front for a sting operation they are in the middle of. When Con arrives Pete, her boss is dead, shot through the head execution style. Con soon becomes the main suspect and is suspended from duty. When someone tries to kill her, Con decides she must try and solve the case if she is to survive.
DC Constance Fairchild receives a text from her boss to go to the office, the office that is actually a front for a sting operation they are in the middle of. When Con arrives Pete, her boss is dead, shot through the head execution style. Con soon becomes the main suspect and is suspended from duty. When someone tries to kill her, Con decides she must try and solve the case if she is to survive.
December 31, 2019
Not sure why this book has so many good ratings. It feels like the writer had a reasonably good idea for a short novel & an outline of an idea for another & just stitched the two together incredibly poorly to create a single disappointing novel.
July 30, 2019
Dire. I got to the, ‘Boarding school and being rich is such a bore,’ and decided to give up. I will finish the book, but I’d rather have root canal work done.
May 31, 2019
Let's get this out of the way: I think James Oswald could write a shopping list and it would be a four-to-five star read. The man's just that good. He can do characterisation, he can do plot, and he makes it look easy.
I shall now stop gushing and tell you what I didn't like about the book, since that's often more interesting.
Firstly, it was really easy to tell who the goodies and baddies were. This is because all the male characters (except the dead guy) were baddies (or at least a bit wet, so you couldn't like them), and all the female characters were goodies. No exceptions, no waffling.
Secondly, Constance Fairchild is not a woman I would want to spend any time with. She reminded me a lot of Jessica Mitford - at least, Jessica Mitford as she seemed after I read a collection of her letters. A spoiled little rich girl who thinks she's 'one of the people' just because she's actually got a job, but at the first sign of trouble, she trades on her family connections without a second thought.
She's also the sort of person who treats all her colleagues (except one, who is now dead) as though they're an unsavoury lower life form and then wonders why she's not very popular.
Thirdly, as soon as a teenage girl showed up in the narrative, I knew exactly what was going on with her, and I was absolutely right (I hoped Oswald was going to do something a bit more interesting/unexpected, but... no).
Fourthly, I would have liked to have had a bit more time with the police end of the plot rather than the other, even just to balance it out a bit. That all seemed to get shuffled off to one side a bit.
Fifthly, it was written in the present tense, and I loathe that. Usually, it's a reason for me to just avoid a book entirely because it throws me out of the story every time. It's a testament to how much I like Oswald's writing that I was willing to put up with a whole book of present tense narration.
Verdict
- Recommended. See above re shopping lists.
- I hope the next one in the series makes it a bit less obvious who the goodies and baddies are.
- I also hope that Constance Fairchild stops being such a whiny little rich girl.
Will I read further on in the series? Mmmm... maybe. Oswald's a brilliant author, but I loathe present tense narration to the extent that it's usually a deal-breaker for me. And since I'm not keen on Constance Fairchild either... we'll see.
I shall now stop gushing and tell you what I didn't like about the book, since that's often more interesting.
Firstly, it was really easy to tell who the goodies and baddies were. This is because all the male characters (except the dead guy) were baddies (or at least a bit wet, so you couldn't like them), and all the female characters were goodies. No exceptions, no waffling.
Secondly, Constance Fairchild is not a woman I would want to spend any time with. She reminded me a lot of Jessica Mitford - at least, Jessica Mitford as she seemed after I read a collection of her letters. A spoiled little rich girl who thinks she's 'one of the people' just because she's actually got a job, but at the first sign of trouble, she trades on her family connections without a second thought.
She's also the sort of person who treats all her colleagues (except one, who is now dead) as though they're an unsavoury lower life form and then wonders why she's not very popular.
Thirdly, as soon as a teenage girl showed up in the narrative, I knew exactly what was going on with her, and I was absolutely right (I hoped Oswald was going to do something a bit more interesting/unexpected, but... no).
Fourthly, I would have liked to have had a bit more time with the police end of the plot rather than the other, even just to balance it out a bit. That all seemed to get shuffled off to one side a bit.
Fifthly, it was written in the present tense, and I loathe that. Usually, it's a reason for me to just avoid a book entirely because it throws me out of the story every time. It's a testament to how much I like Oswald's writing that I was willing to put up with a whole book of present tense narration.
Verdict
- Recommended. See above re shopping lists.
- I hope the next one in the series makes it a bit less obvious who the goodies and baddies are.
- I also hope that Constance Fairchild stops being such a whiny little rich girl.
Will I read further on in the series? Mmmm... maybe. Oswald's a brilliant author, but I loathe present tense narration to the extent that it's usually a deal-breaker for me. And since I'm not keen on Constance Fairchild either... we'll see.
August 8, 2019
No Time To Cry is the first book in a new series by James Oswald and oh boy what a cracker it is. Set in London we’re introduced to the main character DC Constance ‘Con’ Fairchild as she finds the body of her boss DI Pete Copperthwaite, he’s not only her boss but a good friend as well, so as you can imagine she’s devastated. Before Con has a chance to find out what’s happening she’s suspended and under investigation.
Con comes from a privileged background but has worked hard to distance herself from that life. She doesn’t have any friends in the police force apart from Pete, so when he dies she finds herself alone and with no one to talk to and mull things over with but that doesn’t deter her and we see how determined and strong-minded she is.
Con is a fantastic character, from the very first meeting I was intrigued by her and after finishing the book I’m even more intrigued. Over the course of the book we find out a lot about Con but I’m really excited to see what else she has to tell us, to find out a bit more about this fantastic character.
No Time To Cry is one of those books that takes you on a journey along with the main character, it was easy to see it play out in my head like a film as I was reading which was particularly disturbing when the bad guys came along, serious shivers down the back with these guys, I warn you.
James Oswald has written a story that had me totally and utterly gripped and unable to put it down. From page one the tension had my blood pressure up and I don’t think it’s come down yet. With a few different threads through out I found it difficult to see how it was all going to come together but it does and it’s done spectacularly well.
There is nothing I can fault with this book apart from it came to an end. Even though it was a satisfactory ending I just wanted to keep on reading, I’d say that was the sign of a blooming good book, wouldn’t you? So roll on book two, I know I’ll definitely be buying it.
Con comes from a privileged background but has worked hard to distance herself from that life. She doesn’t have any friends in the police force apart from Pete, so when he dies she finds herself alone and with no one to talk to and mull things over with but that doesn’t deter her and we see how determined and strong-minded she is.
Con is a fantastic character, from the very first meeting I was intrigued by her and after finishing the book I’m even more intrigued. Over the course of the book we find out a lot about Con but I’m really excited to see what else she has to tell us, to find out a bit more about this fantastic character.
No Time To Cry is one of those books that takes you on a journey along with the main character, it was easy to see it play out in my head like a film as I was reading which was particularly disturbing when the bad guys came along, serious shivers down the back with these guys, I warn you.
James Oswald has written a story that had me totally and utterly gripped and unable to put it down. From page one the tension had my blood pressure up and I don’t think it’s come down yet. With a few different threads through out I found it difficult to see how it was all going to come together but it does and it’s done spectacularly well.
There is nothing I can fault with this book apart from it came to an end. Even though it was a satisfactory ending I just wanted to keep on reading, I’d say that was the sign of a blooming good book, wouldn’t you? So roll on book two, I know I’ll definitely be buying it.
December 30, 2018
I’ve always enjoyed reading the author’s series of books centered around Edinburgh-based DI Tony McLean. Even though this book features a new protagonist, the standard of writing is as high as ever.
Whilst they both are conducting an undercover operation, Detective Constable Constance “Con” Fairchild discovers the murdered body of her boss and best friend DI Pete Copperthwaite. To make matters even worse, Con is suspended from duty and subjected to an internal investigation, suggesting that, in some way, she could be responsible for Pete’s death.
Despite having spent many years trying to put her privileged, dysfunctional family background behind her, Con finds herself returning to her old private school and childhood home in an attempt to find the missing daughter of a wealthy banker, whom the banker himself, seemingly, doesn’t wish to be found.. It looks ever more likely that the girl’s disappearance is linked to Pete’s murder. Con’s investigations also take her briefly to the Scottish Highlands, where there is a cameo appearance from Madame Rose; a regular in the Tony McLean books. Also linking the two series are the semi-supernatural elements and, most importantly, an adopted cat.
In all, this is a high-action adventure (a sort of British road movie) with a very engaging central character and liberal doses of the author’s trademark humour and social conscience. I look forward to reading further books in the series.
Whilst they both are conducting an undercover operation, Detective Constable Constance “Con” Fairchild discovers the murdered body of her boss and best friend DI Pete Copperthwaite. To make matters even worse, Con is suspended from duty and subjected to an internal investigation, suggesting that, in some way, she could be responsible for Pete’s death.
Despite having spent many years trying to put her privileged, dysfunctional family background behind her, Con finds herself returning to her old private school and childhood home in an attempt to find the missing daughter of a wealthy banker, whom the banker himself, seemingly, doesn’t wish to be found.. It looks ever more likely that the girl’s disappearance is linked to Pete’s murder. Con’s investigations also take her briefly to the Scottish Highlands, where there is a cameo appearance from Madame Rose; a regular in the Tony McLean books. Also linking the two series are the semi-supernatural elements and, most importantly, an adopted cat.
In all, this is a high-action adventure (a sort of British road movie) with a very engaging central character and liberal doses of the author’s trademark humour and social conscience. I look forward to reading further books in the series.
February 9, 2019
This is a police procedural novel with a difference - the main character is Lady Constance Fairchild (although she keeps the 'Lady' bit a secret from her colleagues, for good reason. She is extremely tough, intuitive and quick thinking, and she can see and talk to the ghost of her dead boss and friend (Pete), while being fully aware that he is not real and is a projection of her subconscious mind.
On the first page Pete is murdered but we soon realise that there is more to his death than a case of an undercover operation gone wrong. We follow Constance (Con) as she investigates both Pete's murder and the case of a missing girl from her home village in rural Northamptonshire.
The book is gritty, sometimes violent and feels very real. There were a few things I didn't like - Con's colleagues were minor characters and could have done with a bit of fleshing out (I didn't get the motivations for some of their actions); also the introduction of a transvestite called Rose, although clearly an interesting character, was suddenly dropped without that plot-line going anywhere. Those are minor points though and did not detract from my enjoyment of this book. I will certainly be following Con's adventures in her new job.
On the first page Pete is murdered but we soon realise that there is more to his death than a case of an undercover operation gone wrong. We follow Constance (Con) as she investigates both Pete's murder and the case of a missing girl from her home village in rural Northamptonshire.
The book is gritty, sometimes violent and feels very real. There were a few things I didn't like - Con's colleagues were minor characters and could have done with a bit of fleshing out (I didn't get the motivations for some of their actions); also the introduction of a transvestite called Rose, although clearly an interesting character, was suddenly dropped without that plot-line going anywhere. Those are minor points though and did not detract from my enjoyment of this book. I will certainly be following Con's adventures in her new job.
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