Murder Mile

Tennison #4

by Lynda La Plante

Prime Suspect meets Ashes to Ashes as we see Jane Tennison starting out on her police career . . .

The fourth in the bestselling Jane Tennison thrillers, MURDER MILE is set at the height of the 'Winter of Discontent'.

Can Jane Tennison uncover a serial killer? February, 1979, 'The Winter of Discontent'. Economic chaos has led to widespread strikes across Britain. Jane Tennison, now a Detective Sergeant, has been posted to Peckham Criminal Investigation Department, one of London's toughest areas.

As the rubbish on the streets begins to pile up, so does the murder count: two bodies in as many days. There are no suspects and the manner of death is different in each case. The only link between the two victims is the location of the bodies, found within a short distance of each other near Rye Lane in Peckham. Three days later another murder occurs in the same area. Press headlines scream that a serial killer is loose on 'Murder Mile' and that police incompetence is hampering the investigation.

Jane is under immense pressure to catch the killer before they strike again. Working long hours with little sleep, what she uncovers leaves her doubting her own mind.

Genres: Crime, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Thriller, Procedural, Mystery Thriller

416 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2018

About the author

Lynda La Plante, CBE (born Lynda Titchmarsh) is a British author, screenwriter, and erstwhile actress (her performances in Rentaghost and other programmes were under her stage name of Lynda Marchal), best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series.

Her first TV series as a scriptwriter was the six part robbery series Widows, in 1983, in which the widows of four armed robbers carry out a heist planned by their deceased husbands.

In 1991 ITV released Prime Suspect which has now run to seven series and stars Helen Mirren as DCI Jane Tennison. (In the United States Prime Suspect airs on PBS as part of the anthology program Mystery!) In 1993 La Plante won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for her work on the series. In 1992 she wrote at TV movie called Seekers, starring Brenda Fricker and Josette Simon, produced by Sarah Lawson.

She formed her own television production company, La Plante Productions, in 1994 and as La Plante Productions she wrote and produced the sequel to Widows, the equally gutsy She's Out (ITV, 1995). The name "La Plante" comes from her marriage to writer Richard La Plante, author of the book Mantis and Hog Fever. La Plante divorced Lynda in the early 1990s.

Her output continued with The Governor (ITV 1995-96), a series focusing on the female governor of a high security prison, and was followed by a string of ratings pulling miniseries: the psycho killer nightmare events of Trial & Retribution (ITV 1997-), the widows' revenge of the murders of their husbands & children Bella Mafia (1997) (starring Vanessa Redgrave), the undercover police unit operations of Supply and Demand (ITV 1998), videogame/internet murder mystery Killer Net (Channel 4 1998) and the female criminal profiler cases of Mind Games (ITV 2001).

Two additions to the Trial and Retribution miniseries were broadcast during 2006.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was 1979 and the mounting piles of rubbish had to be seen to be believed. As the strike continued, DS Jane Tennison knew it would only get worse. Jane, along with Edwards out of Peckham CID had been called to Rye Street in the early hours of the morning. A man about to set up his stall for the morning market had discovered a body on the ground and called it in. That poor, unfortunate victim was the beginning of a baffling and horrific case which saw three murders in only a matter of days.

Jane, along with Gibbs and Edwards, under the orders of DCI Moran was working around the clock. The frustration they all felt, and the leads they followed – which didn’t lead where they wanted them to – struck an emotional chord for Jane. But it was when she felt the first flutter of excitement that she wondered if her gut feelings were right. With the press calling it the Murder Mile killings, the force knew time wasn’t on their side. Would Jane be instrumental in catching this brutal killer? Or was she in more danger than she knew?

Murder Mile is the 4th in the Tennison series by Lynda La Plante, and another gritty, intense and thrilling police procedural which I thoroughly enjoyed. With plenty of twists and gruesome murders littering this one, the author knows how to keep her readers’ attention. Another great addition to the series, and I’ll be keen to read #5 when it’s released.

With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It's been awhile since I've read a police detective mystery and this was certainly a solid read. This was actually my first introduction to Jane Tennison although the character has been around for decades. Helen Mirren starred as Jane Tennison in the series Prime Suspect. This book is the fourth in the Tennison series and is considered a prequel to the television series.

The year is 1979 and Detective Sergeant Jane Tennison works for the Peckham Criminal Investigation Department. It looks like a serial killer is on the loose when bodies keep turning up in the same area. Under intense pressure, Jane must catch the killer before the person strikes again.

This was just one of those good, old-fashioned police detective mysteries. There weren't any extreme plot twists, but that wasn't necessary because the plot and the main character kept you interested throughout the book. I loved how this took place in the 1970s and how it showed the challenges Jane faced because she was a woman working in a male-dominated field. Would love to go back and read the previous books in the series and check out the tv series as well.

I won a free copy of this book from BookishFirst. I was under no obligation to post a review here and all views expressed are my honest opinion.

[Jess☺️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Mile by Lynda la Plante is the 4th book in the Tennison series and I'm going to use the description from the front cover of this being her darkest thriller yet my god it so true (oh and a word of warning be careful of the dentist 😉).
As soon as you start it kicks off from the first page you are not left dissatisfied untill you turn the last page with wanting more from this police team , Maybe we could get rid of DCI Moran (Moron! sorry but not really) You get the feeling that he finds Jane Tennison is more of an hindrance one he can use as an easy scapegoat, and also for being woman doing a better job than he is, apart from that man 😒 the characters grow with each book and become more lovable.
This book is gory without all the blood but with the help of your imagination a little dark, It's also nail biting , Pulse pounding and oh my god what!!! Kind of thriller with an ending you would never of seen coming. I would highly recommend this book and this series which you can read as stand-alones but are even better as a series.

[Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
3.5 stars
Murder Mile is award winning British crime novelist Lynda La Plante’s fourth prequel in the popular Jane Tennison series. I very much enjoyed my second outing with Lynda La Plante. I am a latecomer to this supreme of crime fiction, after I was introduced to La Plante’s work via Good Friday last year, another volume in the Jane Tennison chronicles. This time around, La Plante expertly transports the reader to the year 1979, in Peckham, London. The scene is quickly established by master storyteller Lynda La Plante. As Britain deals with many challenges in the form of economic and political pressures, further turmoil surmounts as ‘The Winter of Discontent’ and strikes occur. Then a dead body is found, closely followed by another and before long, the body count is set at four. Detective sergeant Jane Tennison is placed on the case. La Plante shows us just what detective sergeant Jane Tennison is made of in this latest chapter of the series. There is less emphasis on forensics and technology, due to the period in which this book is set, so Jane and her team must use their instincts and good old fashioned policing skills to solve this set of crimes. With no leads or suspects, along with the pressure from the intruding media and the need to stop a potential serial killer, this proves to be a hard case to crack. At the same time, we witness Jane’s inner turmoil, her personal problems on the family and home front, along with her career struggles in gaining recognition as a female detective in a male dominated world. Murder Mile is a book that delivers; it covers all fronts, delivering a thrilling read that connects drama, mystery, murder, crime, police tactics and plenty of action. It has a clever but not too complex plot, a nostalgic setting, solid characterisation and it is set to great pace that propels towards a stimulating close of events. Murder Mile reminds us why the Jane Tennison series is so well received and enduring. I’m confident Murder Mile will draw in new readers to the series, along with loyal fans. For me, as a relative newcomer to this series, I was again prompted to explore Lynda La Plante’s extensive back catalogue.

*I wish to thank Allen & Unwin for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Murder Mile' is Queen of Crime, Lynda La Plante's fourth book in the Jane Tennison series, and what a cracker it is! I have read every one of her books and can tell you this is executed in Lynda's inimitable style. A classic crime novel that is truly timeless!

Jane is just as busy getting herself into trouble as she was in the first three installments. Her superiors refuse to let her go along with her gut instincts leading her to disobeying their orders and carrying out unofficial business without the backing of those in charge. I thought her writing was effortless and flowed extremely well. I also happened to appreciate the short chapter structure as it tempted me to read on and on. As with all of her titles, Lynda has infused the story with multiple suspects, plenty of drama and action and lots of misdirection. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, but I was a little disappointed at the denouement, as it didn't fully ring true to me.

It appears that you can always rely on Lynda to produce a thrilling, immersive story. I got through this one pretty damn quickly as it was difficult to put it down, and when you do you find you are still thinking about what would end up happening. A nostalgic trip back to the 1970s!

Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have watched nearly all of Linda La Plante’s series on television but I am shocked to say that I have never read any of her books!!

Jane Tennison has been promoted to Sergeant, it’s 1979 and the police force is a different place from today. DNA evidence not being discovered until 1986!!

When a woman’s body is found in Peckham Market and another body a short distance away, this case becomes a race agains time as more victims are discovered. There is a link to all of the victims but it’s up to Helen and her team to discover it. Even if at times Helen struggles against the male dominance of the force. Loved how they had to do real police work gathering forensic evidence.

Even though I haven’t read the others in this series, I was riveted and loved how it all came together at the end. Enjoyed seeing how the evidence comes together like a giant jigsaw puzzle to get the conclusion at the end.

Will look out for her other books!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series just gets better and better! This was an enthralling and often dark police procedural with some grisliness.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book in the excellent Jane Tennison series by author Lynda La Plante.

Set in February 1979, Jane Tennison is now a Detective Sergeant, has been posted to Peckham Criminal Investigation Department, one of London’s toughest areas. Two dead bodies are discovered, there are no suspects and no modus operandi. The only link between the two victims is the location of the bodies, found within a short distance of each other near Rye Lane in Peckham. Three days later another murder occurs in the same area. Press headlines scream that a serial killer is loose on ‘Murder Mile’ and that police incompetence is hampering the investigation.

Tennison is under severe pressure to catch the killer before they strike again.

This is another great read, lots of action and full of suspense, Lynda La Plante delivers again.

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although Murder Mile is the fourth novel in the Jane Tennison prequels series and Lynda La Plante’s twenty-seventh full length novel, I am ashamed to admit that it is my very first experience with reading her work despite being a long-time crime fiction fan. Given La Plante’s extensive back catalogue and legendary reputation I came to the book with high expectations and so it is fair to say that I was more than a little underwhelmed by this offering.

Murder Mile picks up Jane Tennison’s story in February 1979 after her recent promotion to sergeant and her transfer to the busy station of Peckham, South London and one of the most deprived areas of London with a reputation for violent crime and muggings. Nearing the end of a week of night shifts, WDS Jane Tennison and her partner are called to attend to an unconscious woman that a local market trader has struggled to rouse. Passing alongside a festering pile of bin bags twenty foot long, Jane quickly discovers that the woman, in her late twenties, has in fact been strangled and possibly sexually assaulted. Although the lack of abrasive injuries to the woman’s prone corpse indicate that she was murdered elsewhere and dumped in the alley later, missing persons reports and fingerprinting fail to shed light on the woman’s identity and Jane’s bad-tempered new boss, DCI Nick Moran, vents his fury. House-to-house enquiries in the neighbouring streets eventually leads to a second female victim, mid-sixties Sybil Hastings, being discovered in the locked boot of a top of the range and seemingly abandoned car. Despite the two females vastly different ages and the differing modus operandi of the killer with the second victim frenziedly stabbed, nobody in Peckham CID thinks that the proximity of the bodies is a coincidence, especially given they were murdered during the same time frame.

As the team struggle to link the two victims and the media vociferously attack the police for their lack of progress the area is quickly dubbed ‘Murder Mile” by the tabloids. With the team under immense pressure to not only apprehend the culprit but to ensure that no more women fall prey to a depraved killer, tempers soon fray. Yet before the week is out a third body is discovered and Jane’s suggestion that the team continue investigating every aspect of the victim’s lives in search of a connection falls on the deaf ears of her sexist and blinkered colleagues and superiors. When Jane turns up some unlikely discoveries, DCI Moran is eventually forced to consider her theories and hard evidence as Peckham’s new female sergeant’s persistent probing manages to incite the wrath of a killer whose sights soon hone in on her..

Aside from the characterisation of the young WDS Jane Tennison who is still finding her feet as a detective sergeant and a much more naive and uncertain figure than her steely later day TV version, the characterisation falls back on stereotypical and simplistic. All of the characters except Jane and her forensic colleague DS Paul Lawrence lack nuance but thankfully La Plante fleshes out Jane in a superior manner and conveys her apprehension at making mistakes and how she lambasts herself when she recognises her errors. Clearly tenacious, Jane appreciates how much she still has to learn and although admirably eager she is undoubtedly guilty of making impulsive leaps of logic without sufficient evidence and not always informing the wider team of the results of her enquiries, only to be shot down by her superiors when she voices her opinion. The rest of her colleagues are a slew of one-dimensional and bigoted caricatures who fall back on out-dated jokes and subscribe to theory that being homosexual goes hand in hand with being a child abuser. Clearly this is supposed to illustrate how broad-minded Jane Tennison is but it feels contrived and La Plante fails to offer an understanding of the emotions or what makes Jane tick. The insight into Jane’s private life (or lack of!) and her dedication to her career is made evident and together with the pressure of her overbearing but well-intentioned mother urging her to put her family before the needs of the police force she cuts a lonely figure putting in arduous hours.

Workmanlike and uninspired at best, the plot is utterly unconvincing and relies on the most unlikely series of circumstance with the prose unimaginative and bland. In terms of continuity the plot reads like a series of set pieces ready made for filming and feels like it has been written with one eye on a screen adaptation. More to the point, these set pieces feel carved out to showcase Jane’s strengths, attributes, integrity and admirable zeal. The style of writing and use of language is rather basic to the point of reading like a series of factual occurrences and mundane descriptions which do nothing to ignite the reader’s imagination. None of these factors are conducive to building and sustaining tension or suspense and the dialogue is clunky and does not ring true to the how people realistically express themselves.

I was disappointed at the lack of authentic era colour and aside from La Plante repeatedly mentioning that the bin men were on strike I never really felt got a sense of the political turbulence or public opinion during The Winter of Discontent. Apart from the obvious lack of mobile phones and computers and aside from a few innovative forensic techniques and the newly created victims support network the period detail is haphazard and I questioned its accuracy on numerous occasions. This is also true for the procedural detail and not having read Lynda La Plante’s work previously I was unable to tell if some of the amateur mistakes were simply due to being set in an era when detectives were less informed and more slapdash.

I was also totally unconvinced by the identity of the killer, the flaky motivation for a series of unlikely crimes and the elaborate attempt made at setting up a fall guy. Likewise the links between the three victims are peripheral at best and they are so tangentially connected that Murder Mile all feels rather far-fetched. Overall however this is a solid and fairly predictable read with the action and investigation continually moving along at a brisk pace but precious little subtlety to the actions of the police or the criminals. Whilst I would read another in the series I am in certainly in no rush to do so with it being towards the more basic end of the police procedural fiction market and certainly not a gripping read.

With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Pam Baddeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In volume 4 of the series, Jane Tennison has been recently promoted to Detective Sergeant and is working in CID in Peckham, south London. She and a colleague are called to a scene where a woman has been found collapsed among piles of rubbish - this being the 1979 Winter of Discontent when the bin men were on strike for weeks - and they discover the woman has been strangled. Soon afterwards, another woman's body is found although her social status and age are very different from the first victim and the cause of death is also different. Only the proximity of the bodies leads the detectives to link the two cases, but then a third victim turns up and a certain missing man is implicated. Only Jane doubts his guilt, being less hampered by the stereotyped views and prejudice of most of her male colleagues.

I enjoyed this volume more than the previous book. Jane was more confident and more instrumental in solving the crimes, though she still has to cope with outrageous 1970s male chauvinism as well as her own tendency to be a bit gung-ho and stubborn about following up leads discounted by her so-called superiors. Her sympathy to women and a child affected by the crimes is well drawn. I also liked her colleague Paul Lawrence, a superb forensic officer who would also suffer from extreme prejudice if his sexual orientation were known to his male colleagues. The other police characters are all one dimensional.

The story is a little predictable in terms of who the real culprit is and the ending, but there was far less clunky writing than in the previous volume and only one actual anachronism that stood out and jarred - the use of "Listen up". I googled it after finishing the book and it seems that it was actually used in the 1970s but in the USA military, so it would not have been current in 1970s Britain. But overall, I would rate this at 4 stars.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember watching Prime Suspect about Jane Tennison, now a Detective Sergeant and loving every episode and was disappointed when the show was done. That said, I was excited to read Murder Mile by Lynda LaPlante.

No garbage is being picked up due to a strike. Two bodies are found, one tossed out as if she were rubbish, the other one, an affluent woman found in the boot of her car. No links between the two and no suspects either. Three days later there is another body found. Is there a serial killer? The press seems to think so along with saying that the police are incompetent.

Jane and her fellow detectives are running on virtually no sleep and working long hours and are pressured to find the killer. This is 1979 and Jane often feels that her coworkers don't take her seriously so she needs to prove that she can solve the case.

I totally enjoyed this book, depicting Jane Tennison' earlier career. If you love a good mystery and enjoy a great British novel, then this is for you!

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting police procedural set in Peckham, UK. Young Jane Tennison (of Prime Suspect fame) has made Detective Sergeant in spite of the male chauvinism in the police force of 1979. Detective Chief Inspector Moran, senior officer, struggles with sleep deprivation from his newborn son and the myriad calls from his wife Fiona pleading for help. His hair trigger temper lashes out quite often in Jane's direction. Detective Inspector Gibbs, a former colleague of Jane's, projects a "rock n' roll" vibe with his clothing choices and irreverent attitude. Paul Lawrence with the forensic lab is incredibly gifted at his craft. These characters pull together to solve several murders on the "Murder Mile."

[Natalie M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another brilliant Lynda La Plante addition to the Jane Tennison series. Murder Mile (#4) is an incredibly clever crime/thriller, with a cracking pace, strong female characterisation (particularly pertinent to the time period of the plot) and a plausible, highly engaging crime. The ease with which you move through a complex plot is remarkable, all the while being clearly positioned as a reader in the setting, with an investment in both the victims and the officers investigating. A true page-turner with a fantastic set of twists. Highly recommend!

[Tex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Apt telling of an early Tennison experience, but there is something stilted about the dialogue. It feels stiff and unnatural, unlike other LaPlante stories.
In this one, Tennison is early in her career. There are a series of murders, first seemingly unrelated, then tied together via a small boy and his mother.
Will still read more LaPlante, as I think this one might be an anomaly

[kimberley (thearieslibrary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two murder victims. No suspects. MO is different. Location is the only link. Then another murder happens and the press claim a serial killer is on the loose and the police’s incompetence is hindering the investigation. Jane is feeling the pressure, working long hours with little sleep that she begins to question her own mind…

I definitely think that this book in this series is my favourite one so far, in terms of character development, the plot and seeing returning characters and their relationships develop further. Jane is definitely one of my favourite characters and I love to see her progression throughout this series - she’s had the biggest transformation out of any of the characters. I found this murder case to be so interesting but it was a lot more gruesome than I was expecting compared to the previous instalments of this series.

As always with this series, I hope that as we get to the more recent releases that the derogatory language used throughout will disappear. Another issue that I had was it seemed to skip over Jane’s move to CID from the Dip Squad (where she worked in the previous instalment) and felt the little explanation that we did get to be underwhelming. I can’t wait to read the next book to see what happens next!

⚠️ CWs: alcohol use, murder, cheating, derogatory language, bigotry, homophobia, drug use, sexual assault, dismemberment, death by suicide, child abuse; mentions homophobic slur, classism, sexual harassment, oral sex, prostitution, post natal depression ⚠️

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Murder Mile” is the fourth in Lynda La Plante’s ‘Jane Tennison’ series, as we continue to see her in the early stages of her career before the popular ‘Prime Suspect’ series of late.

Set in London 1979 during the ‘winter of discontent’, which I myself remember well, sets the scene for a city littered with uncollected refuse waste and as a consequence, an increase in rat population. Jane has now been promoted to Detective Sergeant and not before time but she’s still fighting male chauvinism within the police force, although as her career has progressed, she is being more respected among those she directly works with.

Being grittier, darker and more graphic, the murders were right up my street and I was very invested in the storyline and to how Jane and her colleagues were to apprehend the culprit. Progressing nicely as a DS, Jane continues to use her intuition and gut feelings, often getting her into official trouble but she has a dogged determination and will stop at nothing to bring justice for the victims.

Lynda’s books just go from strength to strength, if that’s even possible. “Murder Mile” is my favourite in the series so far, although I’ve thoroughly enjoyed all the books, they are ridiculously addictive and written in such a way you can’t help but endear to the characters instantly. If you’re a regular Tennison fan you’re gonna love this book and if you’re not, what are you waiting for? Get started! You won’t be disappointed.

#MurderMile - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane Tennison has made it to a Detective Sergeant by the time Murder Mile begins, although being 1979 she is known as WDS just in case anybody should be any doubt that she is female. The widespread strikes that occurred in the ‘Winter of Discontent’ mean that rubbish is piling up in the streets and the rats are becoming brave. All is quiet on the night shift though until an unidentified woman is found dead, amidst the rubbish on the streets of Peckham, a less than desirable area of London.

I love this series which takes us back to Jane Tennison’s earliest years. The fairly well-to-do young woman who defied her mother to become a policewoman instead of making a desirable marriage always had the spark of the woman we know she became (through the TV series Prime Suspect) but she is raw, prone to thinking and talking far too much for her junior rank, and most crucially being female in what was very much a man’s world.

By 1979 she has been promoted and is fairly established, now the sexism is less overt, but not by any means eliminated but although these elements are not only present, but absolutely fascinating, fortunately the author has remembered that readers of crime fiction want a solid mystery to solve as well as enlightenment about the (relatively) recent social history.
So we have one dead body which despite some elementary mistakes made during securing the crime scene, is quickly promoted to a murder. With Jane forgoing sleep to secure herself a place on the investigation team she follows a lead. Where it takes her has trouble written all over it in very large letters. Alluding to interference from the Masons many of whom she knows to be in the police force, has Jane learnt how to hold her tongue at the right time.

There have recently been a few debates on crime fiction series in the book blogger world, and here we have an acclaimed writer making the most of the form by using it to develop her character. This character development is all the more believable because we know the finished article so to speak.

Having started with a fairly meek young woman, by this, book four in the series we have a far more firm and decisive woman, one who is no longer so easily put off her stride by her peers and is learning that no matter how brilliant her deductive skills, policework depends on an entire team. That tightrope is now being walked a little more carefully by the young detective.

Great characters can only take us so far in crime fiction though and of course in the hands of such an assured writer as Lynda La Plante the reader is guaranteed a solid plot, fairly told with enough red herrings to keep those brain cells ticking over and evaluating the facts while the clues unfold at a pace that feels natural to the background investigation. In fact, everything I look for in my crime fiction.

This is not a book to be missed for those who enjoy a trip back to the past alongside good quality crime fiction.

[Lisa]

**I received a copy from BookishFirst **

I cannot get enough of Jane Tennison. Before I read the first book about her I had mentioned it to my husband. He told me about the show on PBS he used to watch about her. This intrigued me all the more. My hubby was a cop for years and only watches crime shows that are authentic. This has all my favorite things wrapped into one story! I love how it’s set in the 1970s and the author gets everything correct about that time. I felt like I was back in time. The murders that happen in the book are written so well. Everything about them and the police procedures is so smooth and done so well. What I like most about these books is that they keep me guessing right up to the end. You can also read them in any order and will know what’s going on. Instead of a series, it’s more like stories set in a certain world with the same characters.

[Cheryl Bellingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how she does it but every time I pick up a book by Lynda I know I am in for a real treat. Another brilliantly written murder investigation with Jane tennison as part of the investigative team. This book has a beautifully woven plot that will keep you engaged loved it

[Andy Plonka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too difficult to figure out the bd guy, but an exciting read nevertheless.

[Lainy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time taken to read - 2 days

Pages - 419

Publisher - Zaffre

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

Prime Suspect meets Ashes to Ashes as we see Jane Tennison starting out on her police career . . .

The fourth in the Sunday Times bestselling Jane Tennison thrillers, MURDER MILE is set at the height of the 'Winter of Discontent'. Can Jane Tennison uncover a serial killer?

February, 1979, 'The Winter of Discontent'. Economic chaos has led to widespread strikes across Britain.

Jane Tennison, now a Detective Sergeant, has been posted to Peckham CID, one of London's toughest areas. As the rubbish on the streets begins to pile up, so does the murder count: two bodies in as many days.

There are no suspects and the manner of death is different in each case. The only link between the two victims is the location of the bodies, found within a short distance of each other near Rye Lane in Peckham. Three days later another murder occurs in the same area. Press headlines scream that a serial killer is loose on 'Murder Mile' and that police incompetence is hampering the investigation.

Jane is under immense pressure to catch the killer before they strike again. Working long hours with little sleep, what she uncovers leaves her doubting her own mind.


My Review

This is book four in the Tennison series, you can get away with reading this as a standalone but you would be missing great books so I would read the others first. Jane is working her way up the ranks, slowly albeit faster than any female really in the 1970s! Keep in mind the attitudes of males especially in places like the police force and despite Jane being a higher rank she faces misogyny, derogatory and discriminatory behaviours/attitudes from some of her colleagues. Jane is a detective now and this book is investigating a dead body found amongst the gathering rubbish in the streets - there is a strike ongoing. Not long after another body is found and the pressure on Jane and the team is mounting, many eyes are watching and trying to manipulate from all corners!

By book four we are well versed with some of the shocking attitudes of Jane's colleagues, sexism is alive and well and she ends up on the biting end often. We see Jane contemplating her personal life issues as well as huge pressure/stress at work. I like the balance between personal Jane and work Jane because she has to be different with the way work is. I love the authentic feel you get for the time period, from what they wear, the music, even the "mundane" everyday things. If you are of a certain age you appreciate these things and how much it strengthens the world/timeline created.

We also get throwbacks/mentions/nods to things that had happened in previous books and I love how Tennison gets overlooked or put down and she shines through and shows her metal and intelligence over and over. I don't mean I like how bad she is treated because it rips my knittin but that the way they put her in a box or mistreat/belittle her and it just pushes her through.

I have the next couple of books lined up and can't wait to see what is next for our team especially in light of what happened in this one. Pacey, shocking and more than a few oh no they didn't moments, 4/5 from me for this one!

[Elite Group]

The murders keep stacking up!

Jane Tennison is now a Detective Sergeant in the Met where, it being 1979, misogyny is rife. Life for a female DS is at best irritating, and at worst humiliating, as this was a time before political correctness, where women were expected to accept being called ‘love’ and generally patronised.

Still, Tennison has grit and determination, and in this case, she really needs it. She and DC Edwards are called out in the early hours of the morning to an alley in Peckham where a market trader has stumbled upon the body of a woman. She has been strangled and appears to have sexually assaulted; there is nothing to identify her.

A round of door to door queries raises no useful information, and the victim doesn’t match up to any reported missing persons. With nothing to go on the police can do little but go through normal procedures and hope for a lead. Then they find another body, this time in the boot of the victim’s own car which is parked just around the corner from Bussey Alley where the first victim was found. This woman is clearly well-to-do, and, in this case, she has been stabbed to death.

Jane has an ally in DS Paul Lawrence, a forensics officer, and she needs all the friends she can get as DCI Moran is not a fan, and, suffering from sleep deprivation he has little confidence in Jane. As the case progresses, he pulls no punches in dressing her down both privately and in front of the full team.

Lynda La Plante’s writing is sharp and punchy, and this is a real page-turner. As the bodies mount, so does the suspense, and it keeps on rising. Some of the detail is quite graphic and not for those of a delicate disposition, but isn’t this what we expect from La Plante?

The character of Jane Tennison is complex as she must balance her off-duty self as a young attractive woman, against the resilient and driven, not to mention ambitious detective. Somehow, she carries it off, but at some cost to herself.

As one would expect from this author, this is a compelling and convincing crime thriller which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Pashtpaws

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books set in Tennison's past. I especially love the author's attention to detail with respect to the way things were in those days. She definitely doesn't pull her punches with the way she describes the values and prejudices of the era. Some of the things included are indeed quite hard to read about in this day and age of inclusion and equality, but that's just how it was then and it definitely gives the reader a greater feel for the time in which the story is set.
Tennison has hit the dizzy heights of DS and is now working from Peckham CID. Set in the late 70s, this book includes a lot of what was really happening in England at that time, especially the political changes that were brewing, and it even incorporates the winter of discontent, with all the rubbish piling up; the author skilfully weaving all of this into her narrative.
In the midst of all this going on around her, Jane is called to an incident. A young woman's body has been found in an alleyway. Just as the police are starting to work on this investigation, another body is found and the press get hold of the story and start to run it, spinning it along the lines of police incompetence. It then begins a race against time to nail the perp and bring them to justice.
Even though Jane has made DS, she is still not wholly trusted in the force. Well, she is after all still only a woman, but she is stronger and wiser now and is not afraid to voice her opinions, to speak her mind, even when it still gets her into trouble.
As we are set in the 70s, there is more of the grunt work investigation to be found in this book. Access to information is not at fingertips, no one has a mobile phone, so the detectives have to rely on the basics to get anywhere. Even just connecting victims proves to be hard; no quick internet searches in this book! Here Jane is starting to come into her own as she has good instincts and, on the whole, pieces things together very well, albeit sometimes only eventually. Even if sometimes what she thinks and feels doesn't sit well with the rest of the squad and she is dismissed with a flea in her ear, she doesn't give up. She has learned from her past mistakes and it's a complete joy to see her develop further in this book, even if she has to try twice as hard just to keep up with the boys! Yes, she's a grafter but she still has a lot of room for improvement, she has a long way to go to get to the character we all know she is going to be, but it's been a pleasure and a joy being with her on her journey thus far and I can't wait to see what happens to her next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of Prime Suspect, Lynda La Plante continues her series covering the early years of Jane Tennison’s career. It is 1979 and Jane has now been promoted to detective sergeant. As her shift is about to end she is called to an alley where the body of a young woman has been found. Assigned to co-ordinate door-to-door interviews in the area, a second body is found the next day in an abandoned car. Other than their proximity, there seems to be no connection between the two murders, but a third murder provides forensic evidence that ties the murders together and leads to a suspect.

This is the fourth book in this series and Tennison has gone from fetching coffee and Manning a desk to actively investigating crimes and interviewing suspects. She is often led by her intuition rather than following the active investigation and despite the violence that she has experienced she has not become hardened by what she has seen.

La Plante’s novel is one of twists and turns. Just when evidence comes together to point to the killer, new possibilities are introduced. While the victims did not know each other there is a common denominator that emerges slowly and points the investigation in a totally different direction. La Plante is a master of her craft and Murder Mile proves that.

I would like to thank BookishFirst for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder Mile is the second Jane Tennison novel I've read. Jane is growing into her own. It's difficult to read what some of her colleagues and superiors actually think of women in the work force. Sometimes, we forget how much progress has been made in equity for women in the work force, even as we are reminded of how far we have still to go.

The this latest volume of the series, Jane solves the connected murders of three women and one man. In addition to investigating the crimes, Jane must also negotiate the lack of empathy and understanding of her mother and the office politics of many of the "boys" she works with. Some of these colleagues both admire and attempt to undermine her.

Through it all, Jane keeps her wits about her as she solves the crimes and fights for her right to do the job she loves.

[Hannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 4 in Lynda La Plante’s Tennison series and is the first one with a really central thriller focus, and less of a focus on the procedural part of these books.

Jane has climbed the ranks again and is now Detective Sergeant and it seems that the crimes are ranking up as well! This was fast paced and got you wondering who the killer was, I had my suspicions of a few people throughout as you het handed a few red herrings along the way.

As with the previous books in this series this gets you hooked and involved in the lives of all the characters meaning that you keep wanting to go back for more.

I really enjoyed this one and it’s more intense thriller feeling, it’s left me really excited to see what’s in store for Jane and the crew next!

[James F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

LyndaLa Plante has delivered a entertaining and well written novel. Story takes place during the 1970’s whenJane Tennison has been made a detective sergeant. She is called out early morning to an alley in Peckham where a market trader has discovered a body of a woman. She has been strangled and sexually assaulted. Another woman’s body is discovered in the boot of a car the only clue is the location found within a short distance to one another. Three days later another murder occurs. I liked the story, the characters and the twist at the end. I recommend to all who like a good mystery.

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book four and I’m addicted! Jane Tennison is coming in to her own despite the continuing disparaging and sexist behaviour of most of her male colleagues but I love the way La Plante doesn’t shy away from being quite brutal describing the issues that hampered police women at the time. Jane has a quiet strength that is slowly winning respect from key people and each story is fascinating in its own right.

[Crystal]

This murder mystery is an excellent murder mystery. This author wrote a very good nail biting, suspenseful mystery.
This author is a very good mystery writer and hope to read more of this authors books.It is quite obvious this writer is very good and should be very proud of that.
I look forward to more writings.
Thanks for a very good mystery.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane finds herself involved in four murders in this book, all in the rundown neighbourhood of Peckham, dubbed by the press at the Murder Mile. Some rather graphic killings here, but she gets all the info before anyone else, as usual. I have now read all the Tennison novels.