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Payback #1
Payback
Detective Constable Kate Wolfe is sent to a Cheshire backwater after falling foul of a disciplinary hearing in London. But before she even has a chance to settle in, Kate finds herself in a situation there’s no coming back from. She’s reported as a troublemaker to her new boss, Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor, a no-nonsense veteran who once had an esteemed, high-profile career.
The pair investigate a spate of arson attacks, a dead body found in a burnt out building, and a missing architect while fighting their growing attraction for each other. The discovery of a dumped vehicle in a quarry lake sparks a series of events that will change their lives forever.
A thrilling lesbian mystery about trying to right a past wrong…despite the consequences.
The pair investigate a spate of arson attacks, a dead body found in a burnt out building, and a missing architect while fighting their growing attraction for each other. The discovery of a dumped vehicle in a quarry lake sparks a series of events that will change their lives forever.
A thrilling lesbian mystery about trying to right a past wrong…despite the consequences.
Paperback
First published February 4, 2019
44 people are currently reading
885 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Mills
22 books86 followersI guess I would describe myself as a southerner even though I have lived in the north of England for some years now, I work hard to keep my accent intact. After having several careers in the arts, conservation and education where writing or using my imagination has always been in the background I finally took the plunge with self publishing in 2014.
In 2017 I was awarded a Gold Medal for the Fiction - Gay/Lesbian/LGBT category in the Global Ebook Awards for my double novel Out of The Blue - Latent memories.
My first book to be published with Ylva in 2019 was Payback, it was made a finalist in the 2019 Lesfic Bard Awards.
My latest book - Sub-Rosa is set in the south of England and revolves around corruption in a small town and an undercover police officer desperate to find the truth.
In 2017 I was awarded a Gold Medal for the Fiction - Gay/Lesbian/LGBT category in the Global Ebook Awards for my double novel Out of The Blue - Latent memories.
My first book to be published with Ylva in 2019 was Payback, it was made a finalist in the 2019 Lesfic Bard Awards.
My latest book - Sub-Rosa is set in the south of England and revolves around corruption in a small town and an undercover police officer desperate to find the truth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
January 25, 2019
4.5 Stars. This was really good. I’m finally on a small but good streak of books and this was one of the better lesfic mystery books I’ve read in a while. I have never read Mills before and I am really impressed.
The best way to describe this would be mystery-romance. What I really enjoyed was not only was the mystery great but the romance was just as good. Sometimes romance will take a backset to the mystery in these types of books, but not here. Mills writes really well. Everything is nice and descriptive and you feel like you are watching a movie right in front of your eyes. This book had a great pace and I was hooked from beginning to end.
The romance was great. The main characters had a good amount of chemistry so it was absolutely believable. The sex scenes were good to. The book had a nice does of steam which I was not expecting in a mystery.
The mystery was also really well done. Without giving too much away there was more than one case going on so there was plenty for me as a reader to keep interested in. Usually there is only one big mystery so I really liked this difference. There are also some compelling twists and turns. I must say I did figure one out, but I sure didn’t figure everything out and I love when a mystery author can surprise me.
This is book is now the best I have read in 2019. I absolutely recommend it to mystery or just romance fans. I don’t think you have to be a mystery fan to enjoy this. If you like detective characters and a really good romance, I think you would like this.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA for a honest review.
The best way to describe this would be mystery-romance. What I really enjoyed was not only was the mystery great but the romance was just as good. Sometimes romance will take a backset to the mystery in these types of books, but not here. Mills writes really well. Everything is nice and descriptive and you feel like you are watching a movie right in front of your eyes. This book had a great pace and I was hooked from beginning to end.
The romance was great. The main characters had a good amount of chemistry so it was absolutely believable. The sex scenes were good to. The book had a nice does of steam which I was not expecting in a mystery.
The mystery was also really well done. Without giving too much away there was more than one case going on so there was plenty for me as a reader to keep interested in. Usually there is only one big mystery so I really liked this difference. There are also some compelling twists and turns. I must say I did figure one out, but I sure didn’t figure everything out and I love when a mystery author can surprise me.
This is book is now the best I have read in 2019. I absolutely recommend it to mystery or just romance fans. I don’t think you have to be a mystery fan to enjoy this. If you like detective characters and a really good romance, I think you would like this.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA for a honest review.
January 23, 2019
'ARC provided by Ylva-Publishing in exchange for a honest review'
**'The creative process is a process of surrender not control.Both mystery and suspense are at the heart of creativity.That, and being surprise...Think of the storyline in terms of discovery..'
Captivating read!
'PAYBACK' is a gritty then at times romantic and suspenseful police procedural with a unique twist. This storyline has all the ingredients to be a first-rate mystery: with brutal murders and sadistic crimes of the sexual assaulting of minors -- will make readers have the awareness that innocent victims do have their lives destroyed by some of these senseless assaults that this storyline might not always be able to explain or justified but try anyway.
Readers are introduce to both leading ladies (Kate & Helen) doing their duties as police officers searching for any solutions towards these brutal crimes while balancing the daily problems of their personal lives combine with a mutual attractions and also trying to battle all the bureaucratic issues found throughout law enforcement. Kate is a beautiful DCI with an extraordinary talent in computer hacking which allows her to assist in solving the unsolvable but with this talent lies a great burden. Unlike her boss,CI Helen Taylor who oftentimes leads with her instincts and good investigative skills at merely putting every piece of any crime together then seeking the correct verdict -- while confronting the difficult task of succeeding in a male-dominated profession. Also at wit's end in her efforts to solving these murders,she enlists the aid of a few other officers while at night both herself and Kate's paths converge for many sessions of passionate love making that will keep few readers awake,turning page after page as they rush to the finale of this fine mystery.
For me any quality police mystery must have criminals whose actions strikes fear in not only the fictional world of the author but in fictional world created for certain readers as well. Additionally, 'PAYBACK' might be a notable maiden effort for Charlotte Mills because she shares lots of background and knowledge of police work in a small town in the UK. Another thing is that many of her characters appears realistic and believable which leads to good storytelling and writing. Exciting mysterious storylines often requires the willing suspension of disbelief. So readers willing to accept the fact that in fiction plot twists often trumps many truths.
A highly recommended book!
**'The creative process is a process of surrender not control.Both mystery and suspense are at the heart of creativity.That, and being surprise...Think of the storyline in terms of discovery..'
Captivating read!
'PAYBACK' is a gritty then at times romantic and suspenseful police procedural with a unique twist. This storyline has all the ingredients to be a first-rate mystery: with brutal murders and sadistic crimes of the sexual assaulting of minors -- will make readers have the awareness that innocent victims do have their lives destroyed by some of these senseless assaults that this storyline might not always be able to explain or justified but try anyway.
Readers are introduce to both leading ladies (Kate & Helen) doing their duties as police officers searching for any solutions towards these brutal crimes while balancing the daily problems of their personal lives combine with a mutual attractions and also trying to battle all the bureaucratic issues found throughout law enforcement. Kate is a beautiful DCI with an extraordinary talent in computer hacking which allows her to assist in solving the unsolvable but with this talent lies a great burden. Unlike her boss,CI Helen Taylor who oftentimes leads with her instincts and good investigative skills at merely putting every piece of any crime together then seeking the correct verdict -- while confronting the difficult task of succeeding in a male-dominated profession. Also at wit's end in her efforts to solving these murders,she enlists the aid of a few other officers while at night both herself and Kate's paths converge for many sessions of passionate love making that will keep few readers awake,turning page after page as they rush to the finale of this fine mystery.
For me any quality police mystery must have criminals whose actions strikes fear in not only the fictional world of the author but in fictional world created for certain readers as well. Additionally, 'PAYBACK' might be a notable maiden effort for Charlotte Mills because she shares lots of background and knowledge of police work in a small town in the UK. Another thing is that many of her characters appears realistic and believable which leads to good storytelling and writing. Exciting mysterious storylines often requires the willing suspension of disbelief. So readers willing to accept the fact that in fiction plot twists often trumps many truths.
A highly recommended book!
May 16, 2024
The plot of Payback makes for a stunning mystery novel. I have read mystery novels well over fifty years being weened on Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie and P.D. James yet Charlotte Mills' book caught me off guard and thoroughly surprised me. It is the kind of novel that when finished and the cover is closed it lingers on your mind. You start tying together the threads that in hindsight cast the novel in a completely different light. You then realize what a genius Ms Mills is in giving you the ordinary overlay and only revealing the extraordinary underlay at the end of her story.
DC Kate Wolfe is set to start a six month disciplinary work term in the middle of Warner miles from her London posting. She is dragged right into an arson case with a dead body found in the ruins.
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor is a much respected high profile veteran who once was on the rise within the ranks however due to a family issue stepped back and returned home.
The two women team up to try to solve a series of arsons, the murder of a homeless man and a disappearance of an architect. The attraction is there from the beginning however the short term placement of Kate under Helen's authority keeps the lid on the romance, for awhile at least.
My only complaint is that I found the writing did not hit its stride until midway into the book. At this point it found its rhythm and flowed easily. Even with this minor complaint the book is well worth a read. Any mystery junkie will be thrilled to read Payback by Charlotte Mills.
5 ⭐️
DC Kate Wolfe is set to start a six month disciplinary work term in the middle of Warner miles from her London posting. She is dragged right into an arson case with a dead body found in the ruins.
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor is a much respected high profile veteran who once was on the rise within the ranks however due to a family issue stepped back and returned home.
The two women team up to try to solve a series of arsons, the murder of a homeless man and a disappearance of an architect. The attraction is there from the beginning however the short term placement of Kate under Helen's authority keeps the lid on the romance, for awhile at least.
My only complaint is that I found the writing did not hit its stride until midway into the book. At this point it found its rhythm and flowed easily. Even with this minor complaint the book is well worth a read. Any mystery junkie will be thrilled to read Payback by Charlotte Mills.
5 ⭐️
March 12, 2019
I love it when, with mysteries, I can honestly say "I didn't see this coming". Charlotte Mills does a great job of taking the reader somewhere, very logically, but when you get there, it's another place than you thought you were being taken too, yet it's still as coherent. Very well done.
March 18, 2019
Please leave Margarethe and Cari Hunter out of this, they had nothing to do with all the negative feelings that I have for Payback.
What didn't work
The Connection
I couldn't connect with the story especially with the characters. They were juvenile - often while on the clock. I couldn't feel their chemistry - if they started as ONS then FwB, maybe something can be developed from that like what EJ Noyes did in Turbulence...but nope.
The Nickname
In one of the sex scenes that happened in one of my bucket list - as steamy as a couple of boiling kettles, drool - worthy and suddenly a bucket of ice cold water with ice blocks specially imported from the North Pole poured all over me when Kate ended the session with a Good night, Guv.. Guv? Guv? You both had your fingers into each others' figure it out yourself where, rode into Nirvana together + extra kick from dangers of getting caught and you ended it with calling her Guv? I promised, I will never bitch about the overusage of the word Dear as long as the hs in Lesfic don't call her partner / lover Guv ever again.
The thriller / mystery
Interesting plot twist but a few questionable facts / scenes as they didn't make sense.. Especially during the night when almost everyone had murder on their minds and the perpetrator's motif to stay on after, not convincing enough.
Disappointed and still suffering from the effects of the ice water.
What didn't work
The Connection
I couldn't connect with the story especially with the characters. They were juvenile - often while on the clock. I couldn't feel their chemistry - if they started as ONS then FwB, maybe something can be developed from that like what EJ Noyes did in Turbulence...but nope.
The Nickname
In one of the sex scenes that happened in one of my bucket list - as steamy as a couple of boiling kettles, drool - worthy and suddenly a bucket of ice cold water with ice blocks specially imported from the North Pole poured all over me when Kate ended the session with a Good night, Guv.. Guv? Guv? You both had your fingers into each others' figure it out yourself where, rode into Nirvana together + extra kick from dangers of getting caught and you ended it with calling her Guv? I promised, I will never bitch about the overusage of the word Dear as long as the hs in Lesfic don't call her partner / lover Guv ever again.
The thriller / mystery
Interesting plot twist but a few questionable facts / scenes as they didn't make sense.. Especially during the night when almost everyone had murder on their minds and the perpetrator's motif to stay on after, not convincing enough.
Disappointed and still suffering from the effects of the ice water.
January 30, 2019
Brilliant! I love stories that don’t do what I expect them to. Kate Wolfe is seconded from London to a small town as a disciplinary measure. DCI Helen Taylor has years of experience and knows she’ll have trouble with Kate before she even gets to the door if her behaviour on her first crime scene is anything to go by.
The way Kate and Helen interact is entertaining and different from most of what I’ve read. The mystery initially seemed a little slow but it was beautifully balanced out by Kate and Helen’s antics. There was also something niggling in the back of my mind throughout the novel that kept me wanting to know how the pieces fitted together.
I think Mills worked the balance between mystery, tension and relationship perfectly. Highly recommended.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
The way Kate and Helen interact is entertaining and different from most of what I’ve read. The mystery initially seemed a little slow but it was beautifully balanced out by Kate and Helen’s antics. There was also something niggling in the back of my mind throughout the novel that kept me wanting to know how the pieces fitted together.
I think Mills worked the balance between mystery, tension and relationship perfectly. Highly recommended.
Book received from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
January 30, 2019
I didn’t know this author before, but I sure will be reading more of her. This book was a brilliant mystery-romance.
Helen Taylor, Detective Chief Inspector, has to find an arsonist, to solve a murder case and on top of it, she has to deal with DS Kate Wolfe, who has been sent from London to her small town as a disciplinary action.
I very much liked the combination of romance and mystery, both with a strong plot. The mystery was getting more complex, the more they found out. Mills created a very strong storyline with surprising revelations near the end. I love when a story takes twist and turns I didn’t suspect. I knew there was something indefinable, but I couldn’t put the finger on it. Fantastic.
The romance was very enjoyable and strong too, and this isn’t always the case in a mystery. The two women had great chemistry, the attraction was palpable and the sex was hot. I very much liked how the women are interacting and talking with each other. And how they dealt with the incident which was threatening their relationship was just great.
I highly recommend this book to all mystery and romance lovers
My rating 5 stars
Thanks to Ylva Publishing for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
Helen Taylor, Detective Chief Inspector, has to find an arsonist, to solve a murder case and on top of it, she has to deal with DS Kate Wolfe, who has been sent from London to her small town as a disciplinary action.
I very much liked the combination of romance and mystery, both with a strong plot. The mystery was getting more complex, the more they found out. Mills created a very strong storyline with surprising revelations near the end. I love when a story takes twist and turns I didn’t suspect. I knew there was something indefinable, but I couldn’t put the finger on it. Fantastic.
The romance was very enjoyable and strong too, and this isn’t always the case in a mystery. The two women had great chemistry, the attraction was palpable and the sex was hot. I very much liked how the women are interacting and talking with each other. And how they dealt with the incident which was threatening their relationship was just great.
I highly recommend this book to all mystery and romance lovers
My rating 5 stars
Thanks to Ylva Publishing for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
March 1, 2019
This was very good. Very very good. One of the best lesfic books I’ve read in a long while. I was skeptical through the first few chapters and I don’t even want to say why because it all comes together at the end. Oh and some good sexy times. Very very good. So as you can see...a lot of very very good with this book.
Thanks to my Goodreads friends on this recommendation.
Thanks to my Goodreads friends on this recommendation.
August 29, 2025
WOW, fantastic story. Nice surprise at the end. Didn’t see that coming.
Had a difficult time with the narrator at first with her accents but got used to her different voices later on.
Had a difficult time with the narrator at first with her accents but got used to her different voices later on.
February 4, 2019
Clever, clever.
Payback is a first-rate crime drama with the added bonus of a lesbian romance involving the investigating officers DS Kate Wolfe and her boss DCI Helen Taylor.
I was impressed with the authentic feel to the investigation and the way Helen and Kate went about unravelling the few clues available to solve these cases. The mystery surrounding Kate’s questionable past infraction in London along with her unorthodox police work makes the reader as curious as Helen to understand what drives this woman to be all business, all the time. It was refreshing to see the playful side of Helen when dealing with a subordinate on the edge of insubordination. If we all could have such bosses we’d probably fall in love with them too.
Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns the story takes making this author one to watch and a terrific addition to a growing genre of lesbian crime thrillers.
ARC received with thanks from publisher for review
Payback is a first-rate crime drama with the added bonus of a lesbian romance involving the investigating officers DS Kate Wolfe and her boss DCI Helen Taylor.
I was impressed with the authentic feel to the investigation and the way Helen and Kate went about unravelling the few clues available to solve these cases. The mystery surrounding Kate’s questionable past infraction in London along with her unorthodox police work makes the reader as curious as Helen to understand what drives this woman to be all business, all the time. It was refreshing to see the playful side of Helen when dealing with a subordinate on the edge of insubordination. If we all could have such bosses we’d probably fall in love with them too.
Thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns the story takes making this author one to watch and a terrific addition to a growing genre of lesbian crime thrillers.
ARC received with thanks from publisher for review
April 3, 2019
Received from Ylva . . . I forget how this part is worded, for a fair review?
There are many types of mysteries, but I’ll not get into that other than to say that this one might fall into police procedural with elements of other genres. There are many kinds of romance subgenres/plot/theme/etc. And I will touch on that, specifically involving romance mixed with mysteries. I have tended to read three different mixtures of romance/mystery: the kind wherein mystery is the main plot and some mention of a wife or girlfriend or boyfriend might be mentioned in passing (might even be seen, if a series, sometimes with them taking a much larger role than normal) but, again, the main plot line follows the mystery (this is basically: no romance or romance-lite); then there’s the middle ground wherein the mystery and the romance are kind of the same plot line – this mostly consists of romantic suspense/thrillers though there are ways to be in this middle ground without it being a romantic suspense thriller (like if someone in the police is investigating a murder, and ‘for reasons’ either starts dating one of the suspects, or it turns out the person they are already dating is a suspect); and then, finally (and recall, this is from personal experience), we have the kind of book wherein the main plot line is some form of romance that just happens to involve people whose job involves something normally seen in a mystery (police, private investigator, defense attorney, etc). The first kind is the kind wherein you, the reader, might actually forget a significant other actually exists; and the third one is the kind wherein you can easily forget that one of the people involved in the romance is a police officer (or like).
So, what’s this book here? Well, I entered it expecting a mystery. Then the newly arrived ‘temporary’ police officer (Kate), sent to the small town named Warner because of disciplinary reasons, starts eyeballing her boss (Helen) – who is also eyeballing her underling. Helen appeared more concerned about Kate’s temporary nature (it is a six month temporary rotation to the small town) than to the fact that she’s several levels above Kate in rank (though one of the first things Helen did, this is pre-eyeballing, is make Kate an acting DS – detective Sergeant, which puts her, I think, one level below Helen). That annoyed me for several reasons – I wanted to read a mystery and I had this vague recollection I’d read a review that seemed to imply that there was a romance but that it was ‘minor’ or something (that review might actually have been for a different book, or I misread it). But I can live with a romance theme/plot-line in a mystery. Wasn’t what I was looking for, but I can live with it. It was the part where it was boss/employee that started to get to me – especially as some of the icky vibes were there, more icky if the people involved acted differently (there’s one time when, after the first time the two leads ‘got together in a sexual physical way’ wherein Helen made a comment like ‘next time …’ to which Kate’s eyes grew huge; later Helen said ‘there will be a next time’. This could have been read as an overbearing boss ordering her underling around, but for the way the two were acting before, during, and after the conversation. Whereupon it became more of one lover assuring the other that they’d fuck again at some point.
I mixed several things together there in that paragraph. The one where I was supposed to be noting ‘what kind’ of mystery/romance this book turned out to be. Reasons for that: 1) I ramble a lot; 2) this one doesn’t actually fall within the normal three types of books I’ve read before mentioned above. Both the mystery and the romance plot lines were important, and this wasn’t a book wherein the people dating just happen to be police officers; nor was it a romantic suspense type of thing throwing two people together. Technically I have read this type before, in series, just not as a stand-alone (if this is a stand-alone).
Right, so. For disciplinary reasons Kate Wolfe, a London based DC (Detective Constable), has been sent to a tiny little town for six months. She is awoken about a week before she was supposed to start and told to report to a crime scene. Kate’s pissed but obeys. Gets into a run-in with the fire inspector there, and her morning continued to not be good. Eventually she meet the other main character in the series DCI Helen Taylor (Detective Chief Inspector).
Helen, because she can, immediately begins calling Kate ‘Virginia’, while at the same time temporarily promoting her to acting DS (Detective Sergeant) under the theory that Kate is ‘replacing’ her former DS so…
Helen and Kate investigate: 1) an arsonist (that’s what got Kate out of the bed that first meeting); 2) a murder (there was a dead body in the most recent place hit by the arsonist (with injuries indicating that they didn’t die there and was actually hit by a car – no, not the one from the beginning of the book (I’m not ‘spoiling’ anything with that revelation, the person killed by car at the beginning of the book was a woman; the killed by car and found in the burned house was a man); 3) and a missing person case (a mother has lost contact with her adult son. Helen and Kate look into it). What they do not investigate is: 1) the dead female jogger from the prologue. Meanwhile: they flirt, then have a fling together while doing certain things that seem quite unprofessional (beyond having a fling together, I mean), like locking one or the other inside cars with handcuffs and stuff (there were several things that occurred that made me question both of them as police officers: Helen kept doing inappropriate things; Kate seems way too angry to function).
And then we reach: everything is way too twisted together, with a huge not-seen-by-me (which is actually pretty rare for me) massive plot twist, to be able to say anything beyond vague words about how everything turned out. Whether the mystery was satisfying. Whether the romance was good. Etc. etc.
*taps fingers, attempting to think of things to write*
Right, so. Interesting book. Different from the norm. Liked the two main characters, and, oddly, the romance thread, or I should say the boss dating the underling worked out better than normal for me. The mystery threads were well done. I do not recall anything that’d be considered an unanswered thread, and/or plot holes.
Rating: 4.32
April 3 2019
There are many types of mysteries, but I’ll not get into that other than to say that this one might fall into police procedural with elements of other genres. There are many kinds of romance subgenres/plot/theme/etc. And I will touch on that, specifically involving romance mixed with mysteries. I have tended to read three different mixtures of romance/mystery: the kind wherein mystery is the main plot and some mention of a wife or girlfriend or boyfriend might be mentioned in passing (might even be seen, if a series, sometimes with them taking a much larger role than normal) but, again, the main plot line follows the mystery (this is basically: no romance or romance-lite); then there’s the middle ground wherein the mystery and the romance are kind of the same plot line – this mostly consists of romantic suspense/thrillers though there are ways to be in this middle ground without it being a romantic suspense thriller (like if someone in the police is investigating a murder, and ‘for reasons’ either starts dating one of the suspects, or it turns out the person they are already dating is a suspect); and then, finally (and recall, this is from personal experience), we have the kind of book wherein the main plot line is some form of romance that just happens to involve people whose job involves something normally seen in a mystery (police, private investigator, defense attorney, etc). The first kind is the kind wherein you, the reader, might actually forget a significant other actually exists; and the third one is the kind wherein you can easily forget that one of the people involved in the romance is a police officer (or like).
So, what’s this book here? Well, I entered it expecting a mystery. Then the newly arrived ‘temporary’ police officer (Kate), sent to the small town named Warner because of disciplinary reasons, starts eyeballing her boss (Helen) – who is also eyeballing her underling. Helen appeared more concerned about Kate’s temporary nature (it is a six month temporary rotation to the small town) than to the fact that she’s several levels above Kate in rank (though one of the first things Helen did, this is pre-eyeballing, is make Kate an acting DS – detective Sergeant, which puts her, I think, one level below Helen). That annoyed me for several reasons – I wanted to read a mystery and I had this vague recollection I’d read a review that seemed to imply that there was a romance but that it was ‘minor’ or something (that review might actually have been for a different book, or I misread it). But I can live with a romance theme/plot-line in a mystery. Wasn’t what I was looking for, but I can live with it. It was the part where it was boss/employee that started to get to me – especially as some of the icky vibes were there, more icky if the people involved acted differently (there’s one time when, after the first time the two leads ‘got together in a sexual physical way’ wherein Helen made a comment like ‘next time …’ to which Kate’s eyes grew huge; later Helen said ‘there will be a next time’. This could have been read as an overbearing boss ordering her underling around, but for the way the two were acting before, during, and after the conversation. Whereupon it became more of one lover assuring the other that they’d fuck again at some point.
I mixed several things together there in that paragraph. The one where I was supposed to be noting ‘what kind’ of mystery/romance this book turned out to be. Reasons for that: 1) I ramble a lot; 2) this one doesn’t actually fall within the normal three types of books I’ve read before mentioned above. Both the mystery and the romance plot lines were important, and this wasn’t a book wherein the people dating just happen to be police officers; nor was it a romantic suspense type of thing throwing two people together. Technically I have read this type before, in series, just not as a stand-alone (if this is a stand-alone).
Right, so. For disciplinary reasons Kate Wolfe, a London based DC (Detective Constable), has been sent to a tiny little town for six months. She is awoken about a week before she was supposed to start and told to report to a crime scene. Kate’s pissed but obeys. Gets into a run-in with the fire inspector there, and her morning continued to not be good. Eventually she meet the other main character in the series DCI Helen Taylor (Detective Chief Inspector).
Helen, because she can, immediately begins calling Kate ‘Virginia’, while at the same time temporarily promoting her to acting DS (Detective Sergeant) under the theory that Kate is ‘replacing’ her former DS so…
Helen and Kate investigate: 1) an arsonist (that’s what got Kate out of the bed that first meeting); 2) a murder (there was a dead body in the most recent place hit by the arsonist (with injuries indicating that they didn’t die there and was actually hit by a car – no, not the one from the beginning of the book (I’m not ‘spoiling’ anything with that revelation, the person killed by car at the beginning of the book was a woman; the killed by car and found in the burned house was a man); 3) and a missing person case (a mother has lost contact with her adult son. Helen and Kate look into it). What they do not investigate is: 1) the dead female jogger from the prologue. Meanwhile: they flirt, then have a fling together while doing certain things that seem quite unprofessional (beyond having a fling together, I mean), like locking one or the other inside cars with handcuffs and stuff (there were several things that occurred that made me question both of them as police officers: Helen kept doing inappropriate things; Kate seems way too angry to function).
And then we reach: everything is way too twisted together, with a huge not-seen-by-me (which is actually pretty rare for me) massive plot twist, to be able to say anything beyond vague words about how everything turned out. Whether the mystery was satisfying. Whether the romance was good. Etc. etc.
*taps fingers, attempting to think of things to write*
Right, so. Interesting book. Different from the norm. Liked the two main characters, and, oddly, the romance thread, or I should say the boss dating the underling worked out better than normal for me. The mystery threads were well done. I do not recall anything that’d be considered an unanswered thread, and/or plot holes.
Rating: 4.32
April 3 2019
August 25, 2019
Hands down, one of the best mystery books I've read... really unprepared for that ending. Really didn't see it coming.
April 13, 2019
With Payback, Charlotte Mills has written a very capable crime thriller with plenty of room for a spicy romance on the side.
Set in the Cheshire countryside, the sleepy little town of Warner suddenly sees an increase in crime along with the arrival of London transplant DC Kate Wolfe. DCI Helen Taylor suddenly has her hands full with both Kate and the discovery of a dead vagrant, a series of arsons and a missing person.
The plot is interesting and we get plenty to sink our teeth in. I thought the romantic side of the story was somewhat less of a success.
I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but the very explicit scenes between Kate and Helen felt a bit much and maybe too soon in the story as well. The author dwelled a lot on the wrongness of it all, that Kate was only going to be here for a short time and that feelings would get hurt. But after the ubiquitous “we mustn’t” and “we oughtn’t” they got over themselves pretty quick and the dirty was done everywhere (the door, the office, the floor, the kitchen, the bedroom, outside (almost). I thought the attraction was hurried and therefore lust ruled but I didn’t believe the Iove.
With chapter 22 comes an odd switch in pace when we get introduced to the mother of all plot twists and I really had to scramble to keep up let alone trying to get my brain around the revelations. I also thought Kate’s letter was too long.
Tip: When you’re done go back and read the prologue again. It makes much more sense now ;-)
f/f explicit
Themes: a dead tramp, arson, Virginia, dementia, a missing person’s case, Kate is a bit of a loose canon, two lusty coppers, the last part of the story was just… uhm… really?
4 stars
Set in the Cheshire countryside, the sleepy little town of Warner suddenly sees an increase in crime along with the arrival of London transplant DC Kate Wolfe. DCI Helen Taylor suddenly has her hands full with both Kate and the discovery of a dead vagrant, a series of arsons and a missing person.
The plot is interesting and we get plenty to sink our teeth in. I thought the romantic side of the story was somewhat less of a success.
I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but the very explicit scenes between Kate and Helen felt a bit much and maybe too soon in the story as well. The author dwelled a lot on the wrongness of it all, that Kate was only going to be here for a short time and that feelings would get hurt. But after the ubiquitous “we mustn’t” and “we oughtn’t” they got over themselves pretty quick and the dirty was done everywhere (the door, the office, the floor, the kitchen, the bedroom, outside (almost). I thought the attraction was hurried and therefore lust ruled but I didn’t believe the Iove.
With chapter 22 comes an odd switch in pace when we get introduced to the mother of all plot twists and I really had to scramble to keep up let alone trying to get my brain around the revelations. I also thought Kate’s letter was too long.
Tip: When you’re done go back and read the prologue again. It makes much more sense now ;-)
f/f explicit
Themes: a dead tramp, arson, Virginia, dementia, a missing person’s case, Kate is a bit of a loose canon, two lusty coppers, the last part of the story was just… uhm… really?
4 stars
January 6, 2020
Quite extraordinary- WTF with brass knobs on it. Really enjoyed the majority, then Kerbang! I'm still reeling at the gall of it all.
February 1, 2019
This was a solid whodunit copper novel. I never would have guessed how the story revealed itself in the end.
DCI, Helen Taylor, has to figure out why there are a sudden rash of fires in their little town of Warren. She has to work with a new transfer,Kate Wolfe, who has a mind of her own when it comes to the job. Their partnership proves beneficial as they continuously uncover information that will eventually lead them to resolution.
This is one of those stories that is hard to comment on without giving away major plot points.
While the attraction and chemistry between the two leads were immediate, the author gave them lots of scenes and situations together to develop a believable deeper connection over time.
There were a lot of intimate scenes. Once they started, they just kept going. For me, it was a little too much.
The mystery was written well. There were so many things going on and they all fit and made sense in the end.
There was a large reveal that was quite unexpected and surprising. I really liked what was revealed but I was not super impressed in the way that it was executed. And while I was OK with how the book ends, I wish that there would have been something more grand.
Overall, this is a decent mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. I recommend for those who like whodunit, f/f romance, cops, fire, and handcuffs.
An ARC was provided by YLVA publishing for an honest review.
DCI, Helen Taylor, has to figure out why there are a sudden rash of fires in their little town of Warren. She has to work with a new transfer,Kate Wolfe, who has a mind of her own when it comes to the job. Their partnership proves beneficial as they continuously uncover information that will eventually lead them to resolution.
This is one of those stories that is hard to comment on without giving away major plot points.
While the attraction and chemistry between the two leads were immediate, the author gave them lots of scenes and situations together to develop a believable deeper connection over time.
There were a lot of intimate scenes. Once they started, they just kept going. For me, it was a little too much.
The mystery was written well. There were so many things going on and they all fit and made sense in the end.
There was a large reveal that was quite unexpected and surprising. I really liked what was revealed but I was not super impressed in the way that it was executed. And while I was OK with how the book ends, I wish that there would have been something more grand.
Overall, this is a decent mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. I recommend for those who like whodunit, f/f romance, cops, fire, and handcuffs.
An ARC was provided by YLVA publishing for an honest review.
March 6, 2019
UPDATE 6/3/19: Guess what? Charlotte Mills just revealed that she’s working on the SEQUEL to “Payback” entitled “Fair Game!!!” Whaaaa?!?! So bloody chuffed!!!
**Sometimes a book cover sets up the mood, tells the story or raises the level of curiosity and intrigue. THIS cover satisfies all. The contrast. Beauty and ugliness. Calm and chaos. In the midst of beauty and calm illuminating the dark forest lies chaos. Its name is Spade and its mission? "Payback." Can you feel it?**
MESMERISING.
If you haven't read Charlotte Mills' latest, "Payback," her first Ylva-published novel, and you're a fan of crime/mystery (with a compelling romance, to boot!), you really ought to, imo!
Craftily original. Insidiously unassuming. Slyly-weaved web. Pure FUN.
And the twist? *slow clap*
Anyway...
This book, I have to say, was one of the few anticipated books I had planned to explore in 2019 despite not knowing anything about the author when this ominously aesthetic cover caught me undivided attention when Ylva first revealed it on SM some time ago. Long story short, three previous books of hers later (prep for what was to come, in style and story execution, in this one), here I was, finally swiping the pages of "Payback" (thanks to the very kind author who, out of the blue, sprang a delightful surprise on me the other day, no obligation! Lucky me!), filled with anticipation, but not before getting a good, long look at the incredible cover again, for real, only this time, with its accompanying story! As I'd really enjoyed Mills' convincing voice, tone and rhythm of her word flow writing craft in all her previous stories, I knew going in, "Payback" would surely provide me with an engaging and compelling story that I'd be fully invested in.
Needless to say, Mills delivered...and then some, in this latest outing! The overall style, the flow, the tone, her angle approaches, the entangled web she weaved... Naturally, I practically devoured it in no time at all and do I have much to comment about this utterly original and creative crime/mystery story!
Full commentary here.. In Bugs' Own Words
**Sometimes a book cover sets up the mood, tells the story or raises the level of curiosity and intrigue. THIS cover satisfies all. The contrast. Beauty and ugliness. Calm and chaos. In the midst of beauty and calm illuminating the dark forest lies chaos. Its name is Spade and its mission? "Payback." Can you feel it?**
MESMERISING.
If you haven't read Charlotte Mills' latest, "Payback," her first Ylva-published novel, and you're a fan of crime/mystery (with a compelling romance, to boot!), you really ought to, imo!
Craftily original. Insidiously unassuming. Slyly-weaved web. Pure FUN.
And the twist? *slow clap*
Anyway...
This book, I have to say, was one of the few anticipated books I had planned to explore in 2019 despite not knowing anything about the author when this ominously aesthetic cover caught me undivided attention when Ylva first revealed it on SM some time ago. Long story short, three previous books of hers later (prep for what was to come, in style and story execution, in this one), here I was, finally swiping the pages of "Payback" (thanks to the very kind author who, out of the blue, sprang a delightful surprise on me the other day, no obligation! Lucky me!), filled with anticipation, but not before getting a good, long look at the incredible cover again, for real, only this time, with its accompanying story! As I'd really enjoyed Mills' convincing voice, tone and rhythm of her word flow writing craft in all her previous stories, I knew going in, "Payback" would surely provide me with an engaging and compelling story that I'd be fully invested in.
Needless to say, Mills delivered...and then some, in this latest outing! The overall style, the flow, the tone, her angle approaches, the entangled web she weaved... Naturally, I practically devoured it in no time at all and do I have much to comment about this utterly original and creative crime/mystery story!
Full commentary here.. In Bugs' Own Words
February 16, 2019
Oh wowzers! Payback is a solid whodunit with smart twists and turns that keep you turning the page. You are working just as hard as the detectives to keep up with this one. Charlotte Mills has written a delightful police drama filled with romance, banter, and suspense. Did I mention this book was smart?
Detective Constable Kate Wolfe has been sent to Warner, a small rural town as punishment for a screw-up. We don’t know what Kate did but it must have big enough for the brass to send her away far away from London. She super sullen about being sent away and her attitude towards everyone speaks volumes about her level of pissed off. Kate's arrival just happens to coincide with an unexpected rash of crimes. So she might be mad but she's also busy.
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor had her time in a big city. For years she worked in Manchester but decided to leave the urban epicenter for the laid back life of Warner. While Kate is sullen and prickly, Helen is cheeky and fun-loving. She knows Kate is mad and she prods her with humor and sass until she finally chips away at the walls of the new detective. From the moment these two formidable ladies meet there is heat and attraction. How Mills writes the interactions between Kate and Helen is skillful and dynamic. It keeps you on your toes much as the crimes everyone is trying to figure out.
You really feel like you are in the investigative process of two highly skilled detectives juggling multiple cases. Often times in crime based novel the romance is a lesser part of the whole story. Not this one! Charlotte Mills does a fantastic job of balancing both the romance and crime aspects and weaving them together to make an excellent story. Not to mention there is a monster holy moly guacamole moment. Damn, I never saw it coming and that was awesome. This is a great book you will not regret picking up.
Detective Constable Kate Wolfe has been sent to Warner, a small rural town as punishment for a screw-up. We don’t know what Kate did but it must have big enough for the brass to send her away far away from London. She super sullen about being sent away and her attitude towards everyone speaks volumes about her level of pissed off. Kate's arrival just happens to coincide with an unexpected rash of crimes. So she might be mad but she's also busy.
Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor had her time in a big city. For years she worked in Manchester but decided to leave the urban epicenter for the laid back life of Warner. While Kate is sullen and prickly, Helen is cheeky and fun-loving. She knows Kate is mad and she prods her with humor and sass until she finally chips away at the walls of the new detective. From the moment these two formidable ladies meet there is heat and attraction. How Mills writes the interactions between Kate and Helen is skillful and dynamic. It keeps you on your toes much as the crimes everyone is trying to figure out.
You really feel like you are in the investigative process of two highly skilled detectives juggling multiple cases. Often times in crime based novel the romance is a lesser part of the whole story. Not this one! Charlotte Mills does a fantastic job of balancing both the romance and crime aspects and weaving them together to make an excellent story. Not to mention there is a monster holy moly guacamole moment. Damn, I never saw it coming and that was awesome. This is a great book you will not regret picking up.
February 20, 2019
Detective Constable Kate Wolfe is sent as a disciplinary measure from London to a small town in Cheshire, England. There she meets Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor, a seasoned police officer who left a promising career in London due to personal issues. In a deceptive quiet town, they both have to investigate a series of arson attacks, a murder and a missing person while, at the same time, dealing with their mutual attraction.
Despite its title and cover, 'Payback' is a mystery as much as a romance. The prologue starts the thriller part in style, hitting the reader like a bucket of cold water. In the romance department, Kate and Helen's chemistry takes a bit longer to take shape. At the beginning the author seemed to be telling more than showing their mutual attraction, but once the characters spent more time together in the investigations, their connection felt realistic and their intimate scenes hot.
Written in third person from the point of view of both main characters, the leads are well-rounded and multilayered as well as the secondary ones. Set in England, the story has a definite British feel. The plot is smartly woven to keep the reader turning pages and there's a massive twist in the end that I didn't see coming. I understand that the author is woking on a sequel. However, this book's conflicts are completely solved. If you are a fan of Cari Hunter's books, you might like this one too. Highly recommended.
Overall, a page-turner thriller and an enjoyable romance for fans of both genres alike. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
Despite its title and cover, 'Payback' is a mystery as much as a romance. The prologue starts the thriller part in style, hitting the reader like a bucket of cold water. In the romance department, Kate and Helen's chemistry takes a bit longer to take shape. At the beginning the author seemed to be telling more than showing their mutual attraction, but once the characters spent more time together in the investigations, their connection felt realistic and their intimate scenes hot.
Written in third person from the point of view of both main characters, the leads are well-rounded and multilayered as well as the secondary ones. Set in England, the story has a definite British feel. The plot is smartly woven to keep the reader turning pages and there's a massive twist in the end that I didn't see coming. I understand that the author is woking on a sequel. However, this book's conflicts are completely solved. If you are a fan of Cari Hunter's books, you might like this one too. Highly recommended.
Overall, a page-turner thriller and an enjoyable romance for fans of both genres alike. 4.5 stars.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com
December 1, 2020
This book surprised me so much, I loved it. It has some editing issue here and there, could have done with an extra check spelling, but no one's perfect.
The book starts with an epilogue, a crime is being committed and witnessed. Fast forward to a couple of days later and Detective Constable Kate Wolfe is at her first scene at a Cheshire backwater after a disciplinary hearing in London. Making trouble on her first day earns her point for her troublemaker reputation. Being reported to her new, and temporary boss, Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor isn't the way she'd hoped to start her 6-month exile. Helen takes a liking to Kate, respecting her fresh approach to the cases they are working. And they have chemistry, funny banter and jokes, it's all there. They have a growing attraction that they both don't want to act on. When divers discover a vehicle in a lake sets in motion all sorts of events no one expected.
Usually with mysteries, thrillers, crime stories I figure it all out pretty quickly, but I didn't really see this one coming. I had some suspicions, but this one threw me a bit. I liked it, it had some editing issues, as mentioned before, but aside from that I really enjoyed this book. Both mains are interesting and well written. The story is pretty great, develops well, some twists and turns at the right places.
The book starts with an epilogue, a crime is being committed and witnessed. Fast forward to a couple of days later and Detective Constable Kate Wolfe is at her first scene at a Cheshire backwater after a disciplinary hearing in London. Making trouble on her first day earns her point for her troublemaker reputation. Being reported to her new, and temporary boss, Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor isn't the way she'd hoped to start her 6-month exile. Helen takes a liking to Kate, respecting her fresh approach to the cases they are working. And they have chemistry, funny banter and jokes, it's all there. They have a growing attraction that they both don't want to act on. When divers discover a vehicle in a lake sets in motion all sorts of events no one expected.
Usually with mysteries, thrillers, crime stories I figure it all out pretty quickly, but I didn't really see this one coming. I had some suspicions, but this one threw me a bit. I liked it, it had some editing issues, as mentioned before, but aside from that I really enjoyed this book. Both mains are interesting and well written. The story is pretty great, develops well, some twists and turns at the right places.
March 19, 2019
🤯
Wow! I have to give a double thumb up for prologue and the last 20% of the book. 👍👍
I couldn’t say it out because it will be a spoiler. And I don’t want to write in spoiler bracket either. Because it will be ruin the story. I really enjoyed all cases that happened in this book. I even tried to predict along which is quite not possible at all. If there was something that havent been explain, everything will come together at the end. The truth was quite shocking to me, to be honest.
And romance is good too. I’m not sure about the first half of the book because I was kind of in denial mood. I kind of denied anything that cross my face and eyes. At least I managed to calm down at second half of the book and started to enjoyed their romance while solving mystery. But the mysteries still captured my interest while I was in denial mood. I have to give another thumb up for that. 👍
All in all, I truly enjoyed this book. Especially at the last 20% of the book.
P.S i really dont like their nickname, especially “Guv”. I mean really? Whenever Kate said “Guv” i just want to pull my hair out!! >_> it really ruin the mood to be honest.
Wow! I have to give a double thumb up for prologue and the last 20% of the book. 👍👍
I couldn’t say it out because it will be a spoiler. And I don’t want to write in spoiler bracket either. Because it will be ruin the story. I really enjoyed all cases that happened in this book. I even tried to predict along which is quite not possible at all. If there was something that havent been explain, everything will come together at the end. The truth was quite shocking to me, to be honest.
And romance is good too. I’m not sure about the first half of the book because I was kind of in denial mood. I kind of denied anything that cross my face and eyes. At least I managed to calm down at second half of the book and started to enjoyed their romance while solving mystery. But the mysteries still captured my interest while I was in denial mood. I have to give another thumb up for that. 👍
All in all, I truly enjoyed this book. Especially at the last 20% of the book.
P.S i really dont like their nickname, especially “Guv”. I mean really? Whenever Kate said “Guv” i just want to pull my hair out!! >_> it really ruin the mood to be honest.
August 23, 2020
Content warnings: off-page arson, murder, suicides, pedophilia, rape, deaths of family members, sexual harassment; blood, cancer
I did not expect the story to escalate like this.
Dead body. Arson. Missing person. Throughout most of the story, I had trouble getting into the plot, connecting with detective Kate Wolf (34) and her boss Helen Taylor, as well as understanding their attraction. A lot of things did not add up for me, so it took me a very long time to get past the first few chapters and keep reading. Even as I was close to finishing, I couldn't understand why everyone loved it so much. Until I did.
This is difficult to review without spoilers, but if you start off feeling ambivalent about the story like me, please stick around until the end. The last 10% is definitely the game changer. I love how Mills dropped little hints here and there and each plot line completes one another. Some seemingly throwaway comments also make appearances again later. Though many of these deliberate choices are minor to the plot, I love the attention Mills put into wordings. I skim read the book again after finishing it for the first time and picked up on even more subtleties. Everything makes sense. Everything. I finally see all the ironies and truths that shine through the story after getting the bigger picture.
It was incredibly difficult to warm up to Kate, even with her geekiness so relatable for me. I couldn't understand why she can never keep calm and liked the more professional Helen better. But after finishing the whole book, I sat in shock and was in an emotional mess. Now, I adore them both and cannot wait to devour its sequel Fair Game .
Payback is a puzzle. Only upon finishing will you realize its beautiful picture. This mystery novel has the best moral grayness depiction I have read in a long time. If you love an anti-hero, Payback is for you. Highly recommend a reread as well.
I received an electronic review copy from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I did not expect the story to escalate like this.
Dead body. Arson. Missing person. Throughout most of the story, I had trouble getting into the plot, connecting with detective Kate Wolf (34) and her boss Helen Taylor, as well as understanding their attraction. A lot of things did not add up for me, so it took me a very long time to get past the first few chapters and keep reading. Even as I was close to finishing, I couldn't understand why everyone loved it so much. Until I did.
This is difficult to review without spoilers, but if you start off feeling ambivalent about the story like me, please stick around until the end. The last 10% is definitely the game changer. I love how Mills dropped little hints here and there and each plot line completes one another. Some seemingly throwaway comments also make appearances again later. Though many of these deliberate choices are minor to the plot, I love the attention Mills put into wordings. I skim read the book again after finishing it for the first time and picked up on even more subtleties. Everything makes sense. Everything. I finally see all the ironies and truths that shine through the story after getting the bigger picture.
Everyone's good when they've gone missing. Everyone. [...] Suddenly a missing person becomes a saint. All their annoying and destructive character flaws are overlooked. Happens every time.
It was incredibly difficult to warm up to Kate, even with her geekiness so relatable for me. I couldn't understand why she can never keep calm and liked the more professional Helen better. But after finishing the whole book, I sat in shock and was in an emotional mess. Now, I adore them both and cannot wait to devour its sequel Fair Game .
Payback is a puzzle. Only upon finishing will you realize its beautiful picture. This mystery novel has the best moral grayness depiction I have read in a long time. If you love an anti-hero, Payback is for you. Highly recommend a reread as well.
I received an electronic review copy from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2019
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢👮♀️👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « Payback ». So, here it is !!
1st of all : Thank you so much Ylva Publishing for providing me this book, I really appreciated my trip in the UK … )
That’s the first time I read something written by this author and what I have to say is : ❤️❤️❤️ WOW !!! ❤️❤️❤️ Attagirl Charlotte Mills !! 👍👍 That’s an AMAZING novel you offered us… As a matter of fact, « Payback » is one of the best lesfic mystery books I’ve ever read & 🏅🏆 officially on the top 3 of my favourite lesfic novels ever !!! 💜💙💚💛🧡❤️ So, I really hope the rumors I’ve heard about a sequel are true …
My rating : 4.5 stars
The story takes place in Warner, a Cheshire backwater (Cheshire is county in North West England for those you wonder where it’s located), and focuses on Detective Constable Kate Wolfe (sent over there after falling foul of a disciplinary hearing in London.) & Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor. While fighting their growing attraction for each other they investigate a recent spate of arson attacks, a dead body found in a burnt out building, and a missing architect. Their lives will change forever because of a series of events sparked by the discovery of a dumped vehicle in a quarry lake …
The pros :
° the title … « Payback » is just perfect but to know why people, you’ll have to read the novel 😉
° the change of scenery since I don’t often read novels located in the UK.
° the amazing intrigue and suspence.
° the wording & style are very good … Seriously, most of the time the story is so well narrated that there’s no problem to picture the scenes and, in my mind’s eye, it was like watching one of these great cops (mixed with CSI) TV series… Trust me, it’s not often that I have such clarity in my visualisation (even if it’s usually very good)
° the funny banter between the MCs (there’s a great chemistery between them) and all the other numerous great touches of humour … That’s just excellent and helpful to relieve the tension due to the intrigue. I giggled & laughed out loud very often !! (It’s confirmed : my cats and dogs are convinced that I’m crazy, LOL 😂🤣)
° the erotism of the flirting, being even more intense when it comes to the lovemaking scenes between K & H …
and
° the best (that I kept for the end) : THE TWIST (last part of the book) => 😱😱😱 Oh my God !!!! That’s just awesomely brilliant !!! Aside the author, of course, I think that not a lot of people could have seen this coming … 👍 😍👍 😍👍 😍👍 😍
The cons :
° from time to time the sentences beginning by « She » instead of a first name of the character when both the MCs are present during some scenes can be quite confusing and, sadly, it breaks the rhythm of the reading the time we process the information to figure out who « She » is …
° the not always very clear/ quite confused elements which « appears » from time to time refering to the timeline … Some events which seem to have took place several weeks ago are suddenly described as if they had happened the week before…
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review it’d be something like this :
Did I enjoy this book? => Hell .. Yes !!! More than a lot… For me it’s A MUST READ, really captivating (I was pissed off each time I had to stop my reading : guess I should have cut off my phones … LOL) …
Did I find the characters believable? => Yes …
Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes, definitely …
Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes … ASAP … I really want to have it on my bookshelves (what’s a shame is that it won’t be a signed copy ☹ 😞 )
Would I read another book by this author? => Oh yeah !
Would I recommend this book => Yes, mainly to all fans of cops/ crime/mystery stories but, of course, everyone can give it a try …
Hey guys and gals, you know that now it’s your turn … So … Grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢👮♀️👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
That’s in exchange of an honest review that I received an ARC of « Payback ». So, here it is !!
1st of all : Thank you so much Ylva Publishing for providing me this book, I really appreciated my trip in the UK … )
That’s the first time I read something written by this author and what I have to say is : ❤️❤️❤️ WOW !!! ❤️❤️❤️ Attagirl Charlotte Mills !! 👍👍 That’s an AMAZING novel you offered us… As a matter of fact, « Payback » is one of the best lesfic mystery books I’ve ever read & 🏅🏆 officially on the top 3 of my favourite lesfic novels ever !!! 💜💙💚💛🧡❤️ So, I really hope the rumors I’ve heard about a sequel are true …
My rating : 4.5 stars
The story takes place in Warner, a Cheshire backwater (Cheshire is county in North West England for those you wonder where it’s located), and focuses on Detective Constable Kate Wolfe (sent over there after falling foul of a disciplinary hearing in London.) & Detective Chief Inspector Helen Taylor. While fighting their growing attraction for each other they investigate a recent spate of arson attacks, a dead body found in a burnt out building, and a missing architect. Their lives will change forever because of a series of events sparked by the discovery of a dumped vehicle in a quarry lake …
The pros :
° the title … « Payback » is just perfect but to know why people, you’ll have to read the novel 😉
° the change of scenery since I don’t often read novels located in the UK.
° the amazing intrigue and suspence.
° the wording & style are very good … Seriously, most of the time the story is so well narrated that there’s no problem to picture the scenes and, in my mind’s eye, it was like watching one of these great cops (mixed with CSI) TV series… Trust me, it’s not often that I have such clarity in my visualisation (even if it’s usually very good)
° the funny banter between the MCs (there’s a great chemistery between them) and all the other numerous great touches of humour … That’s just excellent and helpful to relieve the tension due to the intrigue. I giggled & laughed out loud very often !! (It’s confirmed : my cats and dogs are convinced that I’m crazy, LOL 😂🤣)
° the erotism of the flirting, being even more intense when it comes to the lovemaking scenes between K & H …
and
° the best (that I kept for the end) : THE TWIST (last part of the book) => 😱😱😱 Oh my God !!!! That’s just awesomely brilliant !!! Aside the author, of course, I think that not a lot of people could have seen this coming … 👍 😍👍 😍👍 😍👍 😍
The cons :
° from time to time the sentences beginning by « She » instead of a first name of the character when both the MCs are present during some scenes can be quite confusing and, sadly, it breaks the rhythm of the reading the time we process the information to figure out who « She » is …
° the not always very clear/ quite confused elements which « appears » from time to time refering to the timeline … Some events which seem to have took place several weeks ago are suddenly described as if they had happened the week before…
If I had to make a very short and quite different version of my review it’d be something like this :
Did I enjoy this book? => Hell .. Yes !!! More than a lot… For me it’s A MUST READ, really captivating (I was pissed off each time I had to stop my reading : guess I should have cut off my phones … LOL) …
Did I find the characters believable? => Yes …
Is this book now included in my « must be re-read »-list? => Yes, definitely …
Will I purchase the paperback? => Yes … ASAP … I really want to have it on my bookshelves (what’s a shame is that it won’t be a signed copy ☹ 😞 )
Would I read another book by this author? => Oh yeah !
Would I recommend this book => Yes, mainly to all fans of cops/ crime/mystery stories but, of course, everyone can give it a try …
Hey guys and gals, you know that now it’s your turn … So … Grab your own copy and make your own opinion …
Enjoy (or not) your reading …
🏳️🌈👩❤️👩📚⚢👮♀️👩❤️💋👩📖👭🏳️🌈
August 28, 2020
Why oh why did I not read this earlier? This is one of those books that leave you silent for a while after finishing it, mentally going over all the details to see if it all matches up, and it does!
When I started the book it didn’t immediately make an impression. I didn’t really like Kate and the mystery seemed to be a general crime story. Further in the book it still seemed to be this general crime story, but there is this niggling feeling that something is off…… And then just everything falls into place and you realize the puzzle is far bigger than anticipated. It is really beautifully done.
As I said, I didn’t really like Kate all that much in the beginning, Helen on the other hand is fantastic being levelheaded but playful. There were several things about Kate that threw me off in the beginning, however, she grew on me and at the end of the story I was a fan! They have amazing chemistry and there are some good sex scenes as well. What was surprising to me is the role of the romance in this book. Often in crime novels the romance is secondary to the crime story, in this book it is not, they are equally balanced, which is not easy to pull off.
Whether you’re looking for a crime book or romance, this is one to read. I look forward to reading the sequel “Fair Game”.
Ow, and a tip/spoiler alert, do NOT read the synopsis for “Fair Game” before reading Payback!
When I started the book it didn’t immediately make an impression. I didn’t really like Kate and the mystery seemed to be a general crime story. Further in the book it still seemed to be this general crime story, but there is this niggling feeling that something is off…… And then just everything falls into place and you realize the puzzle is far bigger than anticipated. It is really beautifully done.
As I said, I didn’t really like Kate all that much in the beginning, Helen on the other hand is fantastic being levelheaded but playful. There were several things about Kate that threw me off in the beginning, however, she grew on me and at the end of the story I was a fan! They have amazing chemistry and there are some good sex scenes as well. What was surprising to me is the role of the romance in this book. Often in crime novels the romance is secondary to the crime story, in this book it is not, they are equally balanced, which is not easy to pull off.
Whether you’re looking for a crime book or romance, this is one to read. I look forward to reading the sequel “Fair Game”.
Ow, and a tip/spoiler alert, do NOT read the synopsis for “Fair Game” before reading Payback!
July 2, 2024
4 stars
Well, that was something. I can safely say, that I did not expect the twist in the end, even if it did make perfect sense in hindsight.
Great job.
Other then that, the book was definitely an above average crime investigation story, with interesting characters, but I don't think I'll return to it again.
Well, that was something. I can safely say, that I did not expect the twist in the end, even if it did make perfect sense in hindsight.
Great job.
Other then that, the book was definitely an above average crime investigation story, with interesting characters, but I don't think I'll return to it again.
February 18, 2019
Payback by Charlotte Mills is a mystery/romance novel that I must say is one of the most intriguing books I’ve ever read. The mystery begins in the Prologue with the reader seeing what looks like two murders. Starting in the first chapter we meet the main characters, Detective Constable Kate Wolfe and her superior officer Detective Chief Investigator Helen Taylor. The rest of the story which includes at least three somewhat related crimes and the romance between the two main characters are told through their eyes.
I have to tell you that I didn’t like the story through most of the first half of the book. The beginning (Prologue) was great. Then we see the two main characters teasing and playing tricks on each other as they try to figure out the crimes that are happening. This may be a cultural issue for me since the story is set in a small town in England, but honestly, if I had been Kate, I would have been reporting Helen to HR and probably would have been unemployed after a while. It also kept me from seeing the connection forming between the two. I almost stopped reading the book, but a fellow reviewer encouraged me to keep going, and boy am I glad I did. The mystery picked up steam in the second half with all kinds of evidence pointing to different suspects and sudden unexpected twists and turns. The sparks between Kate and Helen also burst into flame, and wow, were those flames hot. The end of the book is what turned my review from what I thought would be at best a three star review into five stars. I never saw that ending coming. Ms. Mills has created a brilliant and totally surprising ending. I am very glad I read this whole book.
If you love an excellent mystery filled with lots of twists and turns coupled with some very steamy romance, you must read this book. Just keep reading!
I received this book as an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
I have to tell you that I didn’t like the story through most of the first half of the book. The beginning (Prologue) was great. Then we see the two main characters teasing and playing tricks on each other as they try to figure out the crimes that are happening. This may be a cultural issue for me since the story is set in a small town in England, but honestly, if I had been Kate, I would have been reporting Helen to HR and probably would have been unemployed after a while. It also kept me from seeing the connection forming between the two. I almost stopped reading the book, but a fellow reviewer encouraged me to keep going, and boy am I glad I did. The mystery picked up steam in the second half with all kinds of evidence pointing to different suspects and sudden unexpected twists and turns. The sparks between Kate and Helen also burst into flame, and wow, were those flames hot. The end of the book is what turned my review from what I thought would be at best a three star review into five stars. I never saw that ending coming. Ms. Mills has created a brilliant and totally surprising ending. I am very glad I read this whole book.
If you love an excellent mystery filled with lots of twists and turns coupled with some very steamy romance, you must read this book. Just keep reading!
I received this book as an ARC from Ylva Publishing for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
February 22, 2021
I NEVER SAW IT COMING. Great twist, great characters, and some steamy scenes to round it all off. This is an easy 4.5 stars for me. I haven’t read a cop drama/mystery/romance for so long and didn’t realize I missed it so much!
I don’t think I’ve read anything in the romance category with such a big twist at the end, either. I literally sputtered “what the h…” when I was reading it at 1am and there was no way I wasn’t going to finish the book before going to bed. It was funny though, because at one point I was thinking, “ok, I’m 80% into the book, where’s my angst!?” … and then, BAM! At least the title of the book made sense after that.
I really loved the characters. Helen and Kate are made for each other with their witty banter, who-pays-for-lunch games, and their obvious affection for one another. At first, I thought Helen, being Kate’s superior officer, didn’t really battle with the whole boss/subordinate dilemma enough… but I guess there was a whole lot going on in the book with the who dunnit storyline that adding more drama to the workplace romance would’ve been a LOT.
I hadn’t read any Charlotte Mills before this, but now I can’t wait to read the sequel!
I don’t think I’ve read anything in the romance category with such a big twist at the end, either. I literally sputtered “what the h…” when I was reading it at 1am and there was no way I wasn’t going to finish the book before going to bed. It was funny though, because at one point I was thinking, “ok, I’m 80% into the book, where’s my angst!?” … and then, BAM! At least the title of the book made sense after that.
I really loved the characters. Helen and Kate are made for each other with their witty banter, who-pays-for-lunch games, and their obvious affection for one another. At first, I thought Helen, being Kate’s superior officer, didn’t really battle with the whole boss/subordinate dilemma enough… but I guess there was a whole lot going on in the book with the who dunnit storyline that adding more drama to the workplace romance would’ve been a LOT.
I hadn’t read any Charlotte Mills before this, but now I can’t wait to read the sequel!
March 18, 2022
I didn't read reviews before I read this book, so I have no clue of the twist and totally didn't see it coming. Mystery thriller are my things these days but I realized plot twist is really something. I was like "Whutttt?" and quickly decide this is a good book haha.
Btw until 80% of my reading, I was in the fog. The mystery part are really mystery I can't even think why it happened and does it actually related? I simply couldn't figure it out. So I have to say the author are so good with not letting you know where are we going with this book, ha! and I like it.
Highly recommended to fan of mystery and plot twist.
Btw until 80% of my reading, I was in the fog. The mystery part are really mystery I can't even think why it happened and does it actually related? I simply couldn't figure it out. So I have to say the author are so good with not letting you know where are we going with this book, ha! and I like it.
Highly recommended to fan of mystery and plot twist.
August 20, 2023
I keep an audiobook on hand for my dog walks and this one caught my eye on Hoopla. Then I saw all the good reviews on GR and borrowed it. Essentially, Payback is a small town mystery that keeps unraveling into more and more complexity. Think of it like tugging a thread on a sweater which slowly becomes an anxious mess.
DCI Helen Taylor left a big time position in Manchester to be in charge of a small town’s police force to be close to her ill foster mother. Warner is usually a quiet place but there is suddenly a wave of foul play, bodies, and missing people popping up in the town. Meanwhile, DC Kate Wolfe is temporarily sent from London to assist and she is not happy about being sent to this “two-bit dump” to help out Warner’s police.
Payback kept surprising me. I think I pigeonholed it as a typical abc mystery where the two mains fall for each other. While that’s true here, there are plenty of twists, turns, vehicle is ditched then more surprises which kept me listening long after my walks were over. Sienna Frances is a marvelous narrator btw. I had a good time listening to the book and the two detectives are great as partners on the cases. But also, their chemistry is fun to watch as it evolves into a real connection. I can’t say much more because finding out is the best part. 4.5 stars rounded up.
DCI Helen Taylor left a big time position in Manchester to be in charge of a small town’s police force to be close to her ill foster mother. Warner is usually a quiet place but there is suddenly a wave of foul play, bodies, and missing people popping up in the town. Meanwhile, DC Kate Wolfe is temporarily sent from London to assist and she is not happy about being sent to this “two-bit dump” to help out Warner’s police.
Payback kept surprising me. I think I pigeonholed it as a typical abc mystery where the two mains fall for each other. While that’s true here, there are plenty of twists, turns, vehicle is ditched then more surprises which kept me listening long after my walks were over. Sienna Frances is a marvelous narrator btw. I had a good time listening to the book and the two detectives are great as partners on the cases. But also, their chemistry is fun to watch as it evolves into a real connection. I can’t say much more because finding out is the best part. 4.5 stars rounded up.
dnf
July 2, 2024Unfortunately, this one just lost my attention shortly after the first few chapters. I think I just failed to connect with the two MCs, mostly.
August 18, 2020
4.75* This is a wonderful mystery/ police procedural/ workplace romance by a new-to-me author. London detective Kate Wolfe is sent to small-town Warner as punishment. There, she finds herself working DCI Helen Taylor investigating an arson and possible murder. They work well together and gradually discover their mutual attraction. I've always love small-town police procedural mysteries, esp. when it's populated with likable characters. The chemistry between Kate and Helen sizzles and the romance gets very, very hot. But, oh my goodness, the plot twist near the end! Don't want to say much more than that. Definitely highly recommend!
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