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Detectives King and Lane #4
A Promise to the Dead
The blur of shapes began to sharpen, forming a clear picture that stood out against the darkened background. For a moment he couldn’t move, his fear rendering him immobile. He needed help. He turned to run.
On a dark night, on a mountain road, a young couple, Matthew and Stacey, are on their way home from a night out. Their car breaks down and Matthew leaves to look for help. By the next morning, Stacey is found murdered in the car and Matthew is missing, presumed guilty of her murder.
Called to the scene, Detective Alex King and her team soon see some terrifying links – to another local young man who is missing, and to the discovery of a body from 30 years ago.
Alex knows that the missing and the dead have a story to tell her. But will she hear it in time to uncover the killer before they strike again?
A Promise to the Dead is a totally unputdownable crime thriller that will have you hooked. Readers of Angela Marsons, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni will love this.
On a dark night, on a mountain road, a young couple, Matthew and Stacey, are on their way home from a night out. Their car breaks down and Matthew leaves to look for help. By the next morning, Stacey is found murdered in the car and Matthew is missing, presumed guilty of her murder.
Called to the scene, Detective Alex King and her team soon see some terrifying links – to another local young man who is missing, and to the discovery of a body from 30 years ago.
Alex knows that the missing and the dead have a story to tell her. But will she hear it in time to uncover the killer before they strike again?
A Promise to the Dead is a totally unputdownable crime thriller that will have you hooked. Readers of Angela Marsons, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni will love this.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 21, 2019
412 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Jenkins
25 books346 followersVictoria Jenkins is a Welsh author who has made a name for herself writing the highly popular Detective King and Lane series of novels. The first novel in the series was “The Girls In The Water” that Jenkins first published in 2017, to much critical acclaim and popularity among crime fiction fans.
The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.
Jenkins lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.
The series of novels features Detective Constable Chloe Lane and Detective Inspector Alex King, who are the lead investigative characters that solve some mysterious murders in their hometown.
Jenkins lives with her husband and daughter in South Wales, where her series of crime novels featuring Detectives King and Lane is based.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 29, 2019
A Gripping Crime Story
Crouched to the ground, he felt himself enveloped by the darkness that surrounded him.. There was something not right about this, not at this time of the night.
A Promise to the Dead is the fourth novel in the DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane series but can also be read as a standalone mystery.
On a dark night, on a mountain road, a young couple, Matthew and Stacey, are on their way home from a night out. Their car breaks down and Matthew leaves to look for help. By the next morning, Stacey is found murdered in the car and Matthew is missing, presumed guilty of her murder. The police soon discover another local young man who is missing, and to the discovery of a body from 30 years ago. Are all the killings isolated cases or are they somehow connected? Will DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane be able to uncover the truth?
As a police procedural, A Promise to the Dead has the most realistic depiction of a police investigation. There are no easy clues or coincidences but several dead ends and missing links. You experience the thrill of finding a missing clue or the frustration of facing yet another dead end. The story seems complicated at first, with more than one criminal investigation but it gets exciting as the pieces start falling together, like a jigsaw puzzle.
This is probably the first detective series, which casts two women detectives as the main protagonists. Both detectives portrayed as intelligent and strong and capable of handling every challenge thrown at them, which added a new dimension to the story. The first half is comparatively slower but if you remain patient, you will be rewarded in the end. The story moves at a real brisk pace in the second half and has many twists which makes it a real page turner. The partnership between King & Lane is effective but there is lot more focus on the entire team. Also there is not much focus on the personal lives of the detective duo (baring some parts). You do miss the back-stories at times, especially of the main characters. But maybe it’s kept at the minimum because it’s the fourth book of the series. The other characters including the minor ones, were crafted well. I sincerely hope this is not the final book of the series (as hinted in the story)
Overall, A Promise to the Dead is an gripping crime thriller that will have you hooked till the end.
Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Victoria Jenkins and NetGalley for the ARC.
Crouched to the ground, he felt himself enveloped by the darkness that surrounded him.. There was something not right about this, not at this time of the night.
A Promise to the Dead is the fourth novel in the DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane series but can also be read as a standalone mystery.
On a dark night, on a mountain road, a young couple, Matthew and Stacey, are on their way home from a night out. Their car breaks down and Matthew leaves to look for help. By the next morning, Stacey is found murdered in the car and Matthew is missing, presumed guilty of her murder. The police soon discover another local young man who is missing, and to the discovery of a body from 30 years ago. Are all the killings isolated cases or are they somehow connected? Will DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane be able to uncover the truth?
As a police procedural, A Promise to the Dead has the most realistic depiction of a police investigation. There are no easy clues or coincidences but several dead ends and missing links. You experience the thrill of finding a missing clue or the frustration of facing yet another dead end. The story seems complicated at first, with more than one criminal investigation but it gets exciting as the pieces start falling together, like a jigsaw puzzle.
This is probably the first detective series, which casts two women detectives as the main protagonists. Both detectives portrayed as intelligent and strong and capable of handling every challenge thrown at them, which added a new dimension to the story. The first half is comparatively slower but if you remain patient, you will be rewarded in the end. The story moves at a real brisk pace in the second half and has many twists which makes it a real page turner. The partnership between King & Lane is effective but there is lot more focus on the entire team. Also there is not much focus on the personal lives of the detective duo (baring some parts). You do miss the back-stories at times, especially of the main characters. But maybe it’s kept at the minimum because it’s the fourth book of the series. The other characters including the minor ones, were crafted well. I sincerely hope this is not the final book of the series (as hinted in the story)
Overall, A Promise to the Dead is an gripping crime thriller that will have you hooked till the end.
Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Victoria Jenkins and NetGalley for the ARC.
January 23, 2019
It never rains but it pours…
Two young men missing, a woman murdered in cold blood, 30 year old human bones found buried under a patio.
Matthew and Stacey are returning home at night via a mountain road when they realize the car is out of gas. Matthew leaves Stacey in the car to get help. He never returns. The next day they find Stacey shot to death in the car.
Primarily the police assume halfheartedly that after an argument Matthew may have killed Stacey and run away. But with the reports of another young man missing, they are not so sure anymore.
Are the disappearances related to one another? Are there more men missing?
The detectives have their hands full as they embark on a journey which would take them 30 years back, right to the beginning, to the making of a murderer.
A promise to the Dead has a compelling and suspenseful plot, with well developed characters and unexpected twists and turns.
Thanks to the author, Bookouture and the NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Two young men missing, a woman murdered in cold blood, 30 year old human bones found buried under a patio.
Matthew and Stacey are returning home at night via a mountain road when they realize the car is out of gas. Matthew leaves Stacey in the car to get help. He never returns. The next day they find Stacey shot to death in the car.
Primarily the police assume halfheartedly that after an argument Matthew may have killed Stacey and run away. But with the reports of another young man missing, they are not so sure anymore.
Are the disappearances related to one another? Are there more men missing?
The detectives have their hands full as they embark on a journey which would take them 30 years back, right to the beginning, to the making of a murderer.
A promise to the Dead has a compelling and suspenseful plot, with well developed characters and unexpected twists and turns.
Thanks to the author, Bookouture and the NetGalley for an advanced copy.
May 28, 2019
In the middle of a dark night, taking a short cut to get home, Matthew and Stacey run out of gas. The next morning Stacey is found dead and Matthew is nowhere to be found.
Another young man has disappeared .. no sign of him anywhere. And then there's the body of yet another young man ... only he died and was buried under a concrete patio around 30 years ago.
Detectives Alex King and Chloe Lane certainly have their hands full. Families are worried sick, some are grieving, and some are angry that the police don't seem to be doing anything.
Alex knows that the missing and the dead have a story to tell her. But will she hear it in time to uncover the killer before they strike again?
This is the fourth ... and final ... book in this series. Although it is easily read as a stand alone, I highly recommend starting at the very beginning. The female detectives are solidly defined and there is a nice balance of professional and personal lives. The rest of the team lend credibility to the story telling.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this police procedural. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Another young man has disappeared .. no sign of him anywhere. And then there's the body of yet another young man ... only he died and was buried under a concrete patio around 30 years ago.
Detectives Alex King and Chloe Lane certainly have their hands full. Families are worried sick, some are grieving, and some are angry that the police don't seem to be doing anything.
Alex knows that the missing and the dead have a story to tell her. But will she hear it in time to uncover the killer before they strike again?
This is the fourth ... and final ... book in this series. Although it is easily read as a stand alone, I highly recommend starting at the very beginning. The female detectives are solidly defined and there is a nice balance of professional and personal lives. The rest of the team lend credibility to the story telling.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this police procedural. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 20, 2019
A Promise to the Dead is the fourth novel in the DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane series, based in Pontypridd, and it's another cracking read from Ms Jenkins. The plot has several different threads to it, all very interesting, and the characters are fascinating; you feel strong emotions for both the protagonists and antagonists, which is not an easy feat to achieve. The chapters from the killers perspective always intrigue me, and it was well executed here. The plot is realistic and believable as it appears to mimic the amount of leg work the police have to do to solve crime in real life. It's by no means one of those books where the answers are served to detectives on a silver platter.
This is a thrilling and endlessly compelling story that moves at a brisk pace and has some unexpected developments throughout which kept me on my toes. One of the aspects I like most about this series is that Jenkins casts two women as the main protagonists. And what women they are. Strong, feisty, tenacious, admirable are only some of the adjectives that describe them. Frequently in detective fiction, we see either two males in a police partnership or a man and a woman; in fact, I can't name a single other series that has two female leads. They are two completely different people, chalk and cheese if you will, but quite often those are the best and most effective partnerships.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
This is a thrilling and endlessly compelling story that moves at a brisk pace and has some unexpected developments throughout which kept me on my toes. One of the aspects I like most about this series is that Jenkins casts two women as the main protagonists. And what women they are. Strong, feisty, tenacious, admirable are only some of the adjectives that describe them. Frequently in detective fiction, we see either two males in a police partnership or a man and a woman; in fact, I can't name a single other series that has two female leads. They are two completely different people, chalk and cheese if you will, but quite often those are the best and most effective partnerships.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
December 31, 2018
Promise To The Dead by Aussie writer Victoria Jenkins is book 4 in the Detectives King and Lane series... and the best book so far. I have enjoyed all the books in this series but this one is my favourite so far. I I did not know that the author was an Aussie.. how good is that! If you are a fan of police procedurals I highly recommend this series.
The story begins with Matthew and Stacey taking the lng way home and running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. Matthew starts to walk to find help and sees something that he shouldn't. The next morning King and Lane are callled to the scene and Stacey has been murdered while Matthew is missing. They find links to another missing local man. Not long after bones are discovered buried in a local backyard. How are the 3 cases connected? The personal lives of the team also hold the readers interest, with them having to make some big decisions.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
The story begins with Matthew and Stacey taking the lng way home and running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere. Matthew starts to walk to find help and sees something that he shouldn't. The next morning King and Lane are callled to the scene and Stacey has been murdered while Matthew is missing. They find links to another missing local man. Not long after bones are discovered buried in a local backyard. How are the 3 cases connected? The personal lives of the team also hold the readers interest, with them having to make some big decisions.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
January 26, 2019
Matthew and his girlfriend Stacey are driving along a dark and quiet mountain road when their car breaks down. Matthew goes to find help, leaving Stacey alone in the car. But by the next morning, Stacey is dead and Matthew is nowhere to be found.
But that is not all and the team is overwhelmed with various cases landing on their desks all at once. Because on top of Stacey’s murder and Matthew’s disappearance, there is another missing person and the discovery of a body under a patio. There are few clues, a bit of frustration and lots of dead-ends. I too couldn’t see the forest for the trees and Victoria Jenkins managed to keep me guessing until the end, as always. As I’ve come to expect, there is some seriously heartbreaking stuff in this storyline, which left me with a massive lump in my throat. True to form, Victoria Jenkins manages to to make the reader sympathise with just about every character you meet, and that includes the ones who are committing a crime.
A Promise to the Dead had me hooked from the first page. It had me flipping the pages faster and faster, sitting on the edge of my seat with my heartbeat racing from the nail-biting tension. This is yet another insanely addictive page-turner with various layers and threads that have no problem whatsoever holding your attention throughout.
Back when I picked up the first book in the Detectives King & Lane series, The Girls in the Water, I just knew I was in for something special. There was something about Victoria Jenkins’ writing, the incredible plotting and the absolutely fantastic main female characters that got my pulse racing. Every book since then just got better and better and now here we are, at what looks like it might be the last one. For now, at least.
If this is to be the end, what a way to go. I’ll miss Alex and Chloë but this entire series has been the most incredible ride and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it from the very beginning. I absolutely love this series and no matter what Victoria Jenkins tackles next, I’ll be first in line!
But that is not all and the team is overwhelmed with various cases landing on their desks all at once. Because on top of Stacey’s murder and Matthew’s disappearance, there is another missing person and the discovery of a body under a patio. There are few clues, a bit of frustration and lots of dead-ends. I too couldn’t see the forest for the trees and Victoria Jenkins managed to keep me guessing until the end, as always. As I’ve come to expect, there is some seriously heartbreaking stuff in this storyline, which left me with a massive lump in my throat. True to form, Victoria Jenkins manages to to make the reader sympathise with just about every character you meet, and that includes the ones who are committing a crime.
A Promise to the Dead had me hooked from the first page. It had me flipping the pages faster and faster, sitting on the edge of my seat with my heartbeat racing from the nail-biting tension. This is yet another insanely addictive page-turner with various layers and threads that have no problem whatsoever holding your attention throughout.
Back when I picked up the first book in the Detectives King & Lane series, The Girls in the Water, I just knew I was in for something special. There was something about Victoria Jenkins’ writing, the incredible plotting and the absolutely fantastic main female characters that got my pulse racing. Every book since then just got better and better and now here we are, at what looks like it might be the last one. For now, at least.
If this is to be the end, what a way to go. I’ll miss Alex and Chloë but this entire series has been the most incredible ride and I’m thrilled to have been a part of it from the very beginning. I absolutely love this series and no matter what Victoria Jenkins tackles next, I’ll be first in line!
January 19, 2019
A Promise To The Dead by Victoria Jenkins is the 4th in the Detectives King and Lane series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Alex King and her protégé DC Chloe Lane have become close friends, while working some horrendous crime scenes. Both have been dealing with personal issues, but together, and apart, they are working through them. Other members of the team include DC Dan Mason, a solid and reliable detective, and DC Jake Sullivan who has been annoying his boss lately with his careless comments and arrogant attitude.
My Synopsis:
Kieran Robinson has been missing for days. His mom is already grieving, his sister is angry, and his father hasn’t even bothered to return from work. Something is off.
Matthew Lewis, his car found on a mountain road, and the body of his girlfriend in the back seat. She was shot. He is missing,
The body of a young man is found during a building renovation, they find he was buried 30 or 40 years ago. He had been strangled, and his ring finger is missing.
The team is working on the cases of all of these young men. It is surprising when they start to find links, or maybe they are just reaching.
Jake, as normal, is getting himself in trouble with Alex, but this time may be his last.
Meanwhile, Alex is seriously considering a career change.
My Opinions:
I found this to be a very slow moving book…until I hit about 50%. Then it really picked up, and got interesting. (It was a long time to wait).
The story is told by a few different characters, but mostly by Alex. There was also an unknown narrator who spoke through letters. That added another mystery to the plot. The plot was good, as was the writing.
I do think that some of the back-stories of the main characters should have been fleshed out. The author apparently thinks our memories are better than they are. For example, she repeatedly mentions the scars on Alex’s face, but not how she got them. I don’t remember. All that was needed was a line saying what happened. The same with what had happened to Chloe, although I remember some of that. I can’t imagine what a first-time reader would think…not everyone reads all the books in a series.….and many of us read a lot of other books in between.
Anyway, other than the above “misses”, the book was okay. I will read more in this series….if the author decides to continue.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Alex King and her protégé DC Chloe Lane have become close friends, while working some horrendous crime scenes. Both have been dealing with personal issues, but together, and apart, they are working through them. Other members of the team include DC Dan Mason, a solid and reliable detective, and DC Jake Sullivan who has been annoying his boss lately with his careless comments and arrogant attitude.
My Synopsis:
Kieran Robinson has been missing for days. His mom is already grieving, his sister is angry, and his father hasn’t even bothered to return from work. Something is off.
Matthew Lewis, his car found on a mountain road, and the body of his girlfriend in the back seat. She was shot. He is missing,
The body of a young man is found during a building renovation, they find he was buried 30 or 40 years ago. He had been strangled, and his ring finger is missing.
The team is working on the cases of all of these young men. It is surprising when they start to find links, or maybe they are just reaching.
Jake, as normal, is getting himself in trouble with Alex, but this time may be his last.
Meanwhile, Alex is seriously considering a career change.
My Opinions:
I found this to be a very slow moving book…until I hit about 50%. Then it really picked up, and got interesting. (It was a long time to wait).
The story is told by a few different characters, but mostly by Alex. There was also an unknown narrator who spoke through letters. That added another mystery to the plot. The plot was good, as was the writing.
I do think that some of the back-stories of the main characters should have been fleshed out. The author apparently thinks our memories are better than they are. For example, she repeatedly mentions the scars on Alex’s face, but not how she got them. I don’t remember. All that was needed was a line saying what happened. The same with what had happened to Chloe, although I remember some of that. I can’t imagine what a first-time reader would think…not everyone reads all the books in a series.….and many of us read a lot of other books in between.
Anyway, other than the above “misses”, the book was okay. I will read more in this series….if the author decides to continue.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
February 15, 2019
Two young people, Matthew and Stacey, are returning home one night along a rural road when their car runs out of petrol. Matthew goes off looking for help. He sees a light and walks towards it but soon realises that something is terribly wrong and turns to run back. In the morning Stacey's body is found shot dead in the car and Matthew is missing. Did he kill his girlfriend? Detectives King and Lane are called out to investigate.
Meanwhile another local man has gone missing. Then a call from a homeowner, they are extending the house and have uncovered a body on the ground. It has been dead for 30-40 years. Just what Alex and Chloe needed. Are any of these cases related? Or is it all just a coincidence? The pace really picks up as the story delves into the past and someone's guilty little secret starts to unravel.
Meanwhile another local man has gone missing. Then a call from a homeowner, they are extending the house and have uncovered a body on the ground. It has been dead for 30-40 years. Just what Alex and Chloe needed. Are any of these cases related? Or is it all just a coincidence? The pace really picks up as the story delves into the past and someone's guilty little secret starts to unravel.
January 18, 2019
I've come to expect good things from a Victoria Jenkins book. She writes fast paced police procedural mysteries that I tend to consume in one setting. Her King and Lane books have become one of my favorites to read each year. In this outing, we start with a bang with a couple that are driving on a lone street in the dead of night. (Only bad things could happen in this scenario....right?) Well, they do. This starts off an investigation that spans to that night to 30 years ago. This will keep you guessing to the very end, which is what I love about this series. We will also learn some personal things in the life of Alex King, which will beg the question: will there be a 5 th book? or did I just read the last book in this series? I hope it isn't the last I'll see of King and Lane.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2019
This is a real nail biter and will have you hooked after the first few chapters.
The body of a woman is found in a car on a country lane, but where is the driver?
The search begins for Matthew, and Alex and the team have to try and find the killer before they strike again.
There is another man missing under mysterious circumstances but Alex and Chloe can’t work out the link.
Alongside this a body is found buried on a property that is being renovated but the death dates back over thirty years.
This is a clever thriller which had me trying to work out who the killer was, but I got it wrong!
The final few chapters will have you on the edge of your seat so brace yourself.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The body of a woman is found in a car on a country lane, but where is the driver?
The search begins for Matthew, and Alex and the team have to try and find the killer before they strike again.
There is another man missing under mysterious circumstances but Alex and Chloe can’t work out the link.
Alongside this a body is found buried on a property that is being renovated but the death dates back over thirty years.
This is a clever thriller which had me trying to work out who the killer was, but I got it wrong!
The final few chapters will have you on the edge of your seat so brace yourself.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
January 8, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of A Promise to the Dead, the fourth novel to feature Pontypridd based detectives DI Alex King and DC Chloe Lane.
When the team are called out to a murder they find Stacey shot to death in her boyfriend Matthew’s car and no sign of Matthew. The mystery of what happened to Matthew, victim or perpetrator?, divides their attention as they are also investigating the disappearance of Kieran Robinson. When thirty year old bones are found buried under a patio their workload seems overwhelming.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Promise to the Dead which has a good plot and likeable characters. The novel is told mostly from Alex’s point of view with timely switches to other characters when required. Mostly this works well but the self justifying letters from the unnamed killer to someone called Elise are for me a total waste of space. I rarely find the thoughts of fictional killers interesting or useful but I’m sure that other readers will find that they add to their understanding of the perpetrator. The plot itself is well conceived and executed with information coming in dribs and drabs as I imagine it does in real life. There are some good surprises rather than twists in it so it held my attention throughout.
I like the characterisation in the novel. Chloe Lane has a rather quiet time being relegated to Alex’s support and cheerleader as she battles with a life changing decision. Instead DC Jake Sullivan takes a more prominent if negative role, starting with a gaffe. I think the portrayal of the grieving families is well done as they run a gamut of emotions.
A Promise to the Dead is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When the team are called out to a murder they find Stacey shot to death in her boyfriend Matthew’s car and no sign of Matthew. The mystery of what happened to Matthew, victim or perpetrator?, divides their attention as they are also investigating the disappearance of Kieran Robinson. When thirty year old bones are found buried under a patio their workload seems overwhelming.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Promise to the Dead which has a good plot and likeable characters. The novel is told mostly from Alex’s point of view with timely switches to other characters when required. Mostly this works well but the self justifying letters from the unnamed killer to someone called Elise are for me a total waste of space. I rarely find the thoughts of fictional killers interesting or useful but I’m sure that other readers will find that they add to their understanding of the perpetrator. The plot itself is well conceived and executed with information coming in dribs and drabs as I imagine it does in real life. There are some good surprises rather than twists in it so it held my attention throughout.
I like the characterisation in the novel. Chloe Lane has a rather quiet time being relegated to Alex’s support and cheerleader as she battles with a life changing decision. Instead DC Jake Sullivan takes a more prominent if negative role, starting with a gaffe. I think the portrayal of the grieving families is well done as they run a gamut of emotions.
A Promise to the Dead is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 26, 2019
What a sinister opening prologue followed quickly by a chilling first chapter. If those two didn't get my attention, I really don't know what would??! What ensues is a dark police procedural which definitely shocked me as it reached its climax.
After that first chapter, I really wanted to know what had happened to Matthew. Was he dead, had he been kidnapped, was he in a ditch somewhere!?! Had he killed Stacey!?! Ms Jenkins kept me on tenterhooks as to that little reveal! But another young man vanishes - I knew this had to be linked (rare is a coincidence) but it was the why and the how that really stumped me!
I really like the pairing of Alex and Chloe. Chloe knows her boss and when to question her intentions and thinking. Alex is a hard-nosed but caring detective. Between the two of them with the two sidekicks of Dan and Jake, they're a team to be reckoned with even if Jake still has a lot to prove in Alex's eyes!
When I read Nobody's Child (book 3 in the series) last year, I promised myself that I would go back to the beginning and read the first two books in the series. Reading A Promise To The Dead has made me more determined to read them!
January 21, 2019
Some authors follow one story line in their books, others choose a different path and throw two or even 3 in the mix. I like both styles. This story belongs in the latter category.
It goes without a doubt that more story lines equals more characters and you might think it would become confusing. Fear not, everything was crystal clear.
Well, let’s say the characters were not confusing but the story certainly was a brainteaser. You had so much coming to you that you did not know if your head was facing forwards or backwards. Every time you had a culprit in mind, something in the story changed and you could throw you theory out of the window.
When everything comes together in the end, the only thing you can say is jeez Louise …
A lot of police procedurals have an all male or a mixed duo playing the main parts. I find it very refreshing the author goes for a female twosome.
I hope we will soon be able to read part 5 … 4 stars.
Thank you, Victoria Jenkins, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
It goes without a doubt that more story lines equals more characters and you might think it would become confusing. Fear not, everything was crystal clear.
Well, let’s say the characters were not confusing but the story certainly was a brainteaser. You had so much coming to you that you did not know if your head was facing forwards or backwards. Every time you had a culprit in mind, something in the story changed and you could throw you theory out of the window.
When everything comes together in the end, the only thing you can say is jeez Louise …
A lot of police procedurals have an all male or a mixed duo playing the main parts. I find it very refreshing the author goes for a female twosome.
I hope we will soon be able to read part 5 … 4 stars.
Thank you, Victoria Jenkins, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
January 9, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
A young girl Stacey is found shot to death in her boyfriend's car. Where is Matthew her boyfriend? Another local man Kieran is also missing. Is there a connection?
Our two Detectives Alex and Chloe once again are tasked with trying to solve the mystery but a spanner is thrown in the works when 30 year old bones are discovered under a patio.
I like the relationship between the two detectives and it is refreshing to have two strong female officers who are not pitted against each other. Although Chloe is more of a background figure in this and we have the introduction of a new officer DC Jake who gets off on the wrong foot.
I have a feeling this is the last in this series and whilst I will be sorry there has been strong character development and subsequent emotional growth especially with Alex.
A young girl Stacey is found shot to death in her boyfriend's car. Where is Matthew her boyfriend? Another local man Kieran is also missing. Is there a connection?
Our two Detectives Alex and Chloe once again are tasked with trying to solve the mystery but a spanner is thrown in the works when 30 year old bones are discovered under a patio.
I like the relationship between the two detectives and it is refreshing to have two strong female officers who are not pitted against each other. Although Chloe is more of a background figure in this and we have the introduction of a new officer DC Jake who gets off on the wrong foot.
I have a feeling this is the last in this series and whilst I will be sorry there has been strong character development and subsequent emotional growth especially with Alex.
Read
January 14, 2019This 4th book in the Detectives King and Lane series features another complicated murder case that forces the team to delve into some nefarious activity that happened over 30 years ago.
On a dark night, Matthew and Stacey are coming home -- intoxicated -- and decided to take the long route home. Bad decision. Matthew runs out of gas and leaves Stacey behind in the car while he goes to get help. When the police are called to the scene the next day, Stacey is dead from a gunshot and Matthew is missing. Of course he becomes the prime suspect. Now all the team has to do is find him!
Meanwhile, a body has been found in the garden of a local house that's undergoing some renovation. And still there's more: a local man has gone missing after a night out around Cardiff Bay. After some investigation, it becomes obvious that there must be some sort of link between these cases, but DI King is having a hard time putting it all together. And one member of her team is keeping a secret...
NO SPOILERS
This was a bit slow going and hard to get into for me. Not sure if that was because I was reading this while suffering through a blizzard and power failure, but I couldn't really fall under the spell of the story. I also had a difficult time remembering the characters from the only other book in this series that I've read (#3) and many times when references were made to past events, I had no clue what that was about. I don't think this works as a standalone for that reason and I wish I would have had more detail about the characters and their history. The scars on Lane's face? Coudn't remember how she got them. The other issues in King's personal life -- no recall. So, though it was an interesting police procedural, I didn't find it as compelling as I usually do.
The clues are pieced together, painstakingly, and the case is solved but it seemed to take a long time to get to the reason for it all. I'm sure it's just my own fault having a bad memory of the previous book, but I found it hard to connect to the characters and to get fully invested in their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I know I really liked book #3 so I will definitely be eager to read the next in the series.
On a dark night, Matthew and Stacey are coming home -- intoxicated -- and decided to take the long route home. Bad decision. Matthew runs out of gas and leaves Stacey behind in the car while he goes to get help. When the police are called to the scene the next day, Stacey is dead from a gunshot and Matthew is missing. Of course he becomes the prime suspect. Now all the team has to do is find him!
Meanwhile, a body has been found in the garden of a local house that's undergoing some renovation. And still there's more: a local man has gone missing after a night out around Cardiff Bay. After some investigation, it becomes obvious that there must be some sort of link between these cases, but DI King is having a hard time putting it all together. And one member of her team is keeping a secret...
NO SPOILERS
This was a bit slow going and hard to get into for me. Not sure if that was because I was reading this while suffering through a blizzard and power failure, but I couldn't really fall under the spell of the story. I also had a difficult time remembering the characters from the only other book in this series that I've read (#3) and many times when references were made to past events, I had no clue what that was about. I don't think this works as a standalone for that reason and I wish I would have had more detail about the characters and their history. The scars on Lane's face? Coudn't remember how she got them. The other issues in King's personal life -- no recall. So, though it was an interesting police procedural, I didn't find it as compelling as I usually do.
The clues are pieced together, painstakingly, and the case is solved but it seemed to take a long time to get to the reason for it all. I'm sure it's just my own fault having a bad memory of the previous book, but I found it hard to connect to the characters and to get fully invested in their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I know I really liked book #3 so I will definitely be eager to read the next in the series.
Read
July 26, 2020This is my first King and Lane story and, although it was fine to read as a standalone, I'd recommend readers to start at book 1 as there is clearly a longer story arc for the two lead detectives.
The author made good use of the South Wales setting to create atmosphere.
It is a complex story that weaves together several crime threads so probably best read over a short space of time to keep track of the various storylines. I enjoyed it and would read another book by this author.
The author made good use of the South Wales setting to create atmosphere.
It is a complex story that weaves together several crime threads so probably best read over a short space of time to keep track of the various storylines. I enjoyed it and would read another book by this author.
January 8, 2019
This was a complex, thrilling book; the fourth in the series featuring Alex King and Chloe Lane.
It is unusual to have two female detectives as the main characters in a book but it really works for this series. These two work together very well, even though they are quite different as people. I also enjoyed the secondary characters.
There were a LOT of threads interwoven in this book and sometimes I got a little lost but this author is clearly an expert storyteller and it all came good in the end. I like that there were two cases running concurrently so there was a lot of information to deal with for the detectives, definitely kept them on their toes!
I enjoyed this book very much.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
It is unusual to have two female detectives as the main characters in a book but it really works for this series. These two work together very well, even though they are quite different as people. I also enjoyed the secondary characters.
There were a LOT of threads interwoven in this book and sometimes I got a little lost but this author is clearly an expert storyteller and it all came good in the end. I like that there were two cases running concurrently so there was a lot of information to deal with for the detectives, definitely kept them on their toes!
I enjoyed this book very much.
4.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
January 6, 2019
I have not read any of the other books in this series but loved this! If your looking for an amazing who did it with lots of twists And two great woman detectives than this is it! I will definitely be looking for the others in this series.
February 24, 2019
This is the fourth novel in the series of King and Lane and it is as good if not better than the others it is fast paced and exciting and kept me eagerly reading to the end, bring on the next please.
August 13, 2023
Really enjoyed this series! Will definitely check out more of this author's books!
February 1, 2019
GNABKo Netgalley introduced me to Victoria Jenkins in A Promise to the Dead, the 4th and probably last of the Detective King and Lane novels. I can't wait to read the first three, and know that Ms. Jenkins will be adding to her hefty stack of written prose, in whatever form, and I will need to read them, as well.
Detective Inspector Alex King is pushing twenty years on the job in South Wales and considering a break. Detective Constable Chloe Lane, her partner of several years duration, knows only that Alex is troubled but not yet willing to share her worries. Not that there is time for personal problems - their crew is faced with the case of a murdered young woman, the forty years buried corpse of a young man uncovered as a patio is removed to accommodate a housing extension, and the
disappearances of two young men in Cardiff, of course not within range of any CCTV. In less than a week. Missing Matthew Lewis either murdered his girlfriend Stacey Cooper and disappeared, or was himself kidnapped or killed and his body removed from the scene. Kieran Robinson's cell phone was found in Cardiff Bay after a night of partying, just out of range of the last CCTV. Did he stumble into the water, or was he abducted? Clues are spare on the ground, and the long interred corpse has haunting similarities to the cases involving young fellows who disappeared just yesterday. Added to all that DC Jake Sullivan has put his foot in his mouth - again - and cannot seem to follow procedure no matter how many chances he is given. With a complaint against him by Kieran Robinson's sister Hannah, Jake has to be removed from the already overworked team.
Can it get any more complicated? You bet! This is a novel I can heartily recommend to friends and family. Victoria Jenkins is an author I will follow.
I received a free electronic copy of this excellent Wales police procedural from Netgalley, Victoria Jenkins, and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Jan 21, 2019
Bookouture
Detective Inspector Alex King is pushing twenty years on the job in South Wales and considering a break. Detective Constable Chloe Lane, her partner of several years duration, knows only that Alex is troubled but not yet willing to share her worries. Not that there is time for personal problems - their crew is faced with the case of a murdered young woman, the forty years buried corpse of a young man uncovered as a patio is removed to accommodate a housing extension, and the
disappearances of two young men in Cardiff, of course not within range of any CCTV. In less than a week. Missing Matthew Lewis either murdered his girlfriend Stacey Cooper and disappeared, or was himself kidnapped or killed and his body removed from the scene. Kieran Robinson's cell phone was found in Cardiff Bay after a night of partying, just out of range of the last CCTV. Did he stumble into the water, or was he abducted? Clues are spare on the ground, and the long interred corpse has haunting similarities to the cases involving young fellows who disappeared just yesterday. Added to all that DC Jake Sullivan has put his foot in his mouth - again - and cannot seem to follow procedure no matter how many chances he is given. With a complaint against him by Kieran Robinson's sister Hannah, Jake has to be removed from the already overworked team.
Can it get any more complicated? You bet! This is a novel I can heartily recommend to friends and family. Victoria Jenkins is an author I will follow.
I received a free electronic copy of this excellent Wales police procedural from Netgalley, Victoria Jenkins, and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me.
pub date Jan 21, 2019
Bookouture
January 27, 2019
Victoria Jenkins.....You've done it again.............A Promise to the Dead is the fourth book in the Detectives King and Lane series and it was a cracker! and the best books out of this brilliant series.
This book had me gripped from the first few pages just like all her other books. You become apart of this series and its is gripping throughout and a roller coaster ride on what happens next.
***On a dark night, on a mountain road, a young couple, Matthew and Stacey, are on their way home from a night out. Their car breaks down and Matthew leaves to look for help. By the next morning, Stacey is found murdered in the car and Matthew is missing, presumed guilty of her murder. ***
Detective Alex King and her team are called to the scene to investigate.
Where is Matthew?
Did he murder Stacey?
Is he alive?
They then discover another body who was buried 30 years previous.
Are these murders linked?
I love the relationship between Detective King and Detective Lane they're just brilliant and great strong female characters in these books.
I highly recommend all Victoria Books However, this one was her Best so far. Just Brilliant x
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book.
This book had me gripped from the first few pages just like all her other books. You become apart of this series and its is gripping throughout and a roller coaster ride on what happens next.
***On a dark night, on a mountain road, a young couple, Matthew and Stacey, are on their way home from a night out. Their car breaks down and Matthew leaves to look for help. By the next morning, Stacey is found murdered in the car and Matthew is missing, presumed guilty of her murder. ***
Detective Alex King and her team are called to the scene to investigate.
Where is Matthew?
Did he murder Stacey?
Is he alive?
They then discover another body who was buried 30 years previous.
Are these murders linked?
I love the relationship between Detective King and Detective Lane they're just brilliant and great strong female characters in these books.
I highly recommend all Victoria Books However, this one was her Best so far. Just Brilliant x
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book.
January 15, 2019
Wow. Very intense. This is book 4 in this series. I have not read the other books but I was ok with that. You still got the feeling of the main characters and their relationships. I read this in 1 sitting as I could not put it down. A few dead bodies, a few missing people and someone is writing a letter to someone else but you don't know who they are. Matthew and Stacey were driving up a mountain when they run out of gas. Matthew goes to find help. Stacey ends up dead and Matthew is missing. If you like police crime books then you will need to read this.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy.
March 1, 2019
‘A Promise To The Dead’ is the fourth book in the series featuring Detectives King and Lane. I have read and loved each of the three previous books and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of ‘A Promise To The Dead’. Well I got my hands on a copy and wowzers what a fantastic read it is. I absolutely LOVED it but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that I love the detective pairing of King and Lane. Detective Inspector King is the more senior one of the two. King has been a police officer for quite a long time and the start of this book sees her looking forward to leaving the police, as she has had enough. King is also facing big changes in her personal life too as she has decided to go ahead with adopting a child although nothing is set in stone at the moment. King is definitely a team player and she wouldn’t ask anybody to do anything that she wouldn’t be willing to do herself. King is particularly close to her colleague Detective Lane and it was that Lane shared a house with King for a time. Both ladies are professional in manner, they are strong, determined and feisty. The detective pairing works really well and both bring different skills to the table as it were.
Oh my giddy aunt, ‘A Promise To The Dead’ is one seriously fantastically written belter of a read. The story starts with a bang and maintains the pace throughout. The author’s writing style is such that she entices you in and keeps your attention all the way through the book. I picked the book up only intending to read the opening couple of chapters but I became so caught up in the story and the police investigation, that I was still sat there reading over a dozen chapters later. I found ‘A Promise To The Dead’ to be simply unputdownable. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. I found every excuse I could to have a ‘duvet day’ which meant I didn’t have to leave the house and I could just read the book all day. This didn’t go down at all well with my diva Labradors. Oops. I seemed to race through the story but I didn’t notice the speed with which the time passed or the pages turned. I was gutted to get to the end of the book because I was enjoying the story, the characters and the author’s writing style so much that I just wanted the book to continue. Reading this book was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to the story than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. On more than one occasion I thought that I had worked out who was doing what and why only to realise that I had completely got the wrong end of the stick and it was somebody else entirely.
I have to say that for me, this is easily Victoria’s best book to date. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have to say that I love the detective pairing of King and Lane. Detective Inspector King is the more senior one of the two. King has been a police officer for quite a long time and the start of this book sees her looking forward to leaving the police, as she has had enough. King is also facing big changes in her personal life too as she has decided to go ahead with adopting a child although nothing is set in stone at the moment. King is definitely a team player and she wouldn’t ask anybody to do anything that she wouldn’t be willing to do herself. King is particularly close to her colleague Detective Lane and it was that Lane shared a house with King for a time. Both ladies are professional in manner, they are strong, determined and feisty. The detective pairing works really well and both bring different skills to the table as it were.
Oh my giddy aunt, ‘A Promise To The Dead’ is one seriously fantastically written belter of a read. The story starts with a bang and maintains the pace throughout. The author’s writing style is such that she entices you in and keeps your attention all the way through the book. I picked the book up only intending to read the opening couple of chapters but I became so caught up in the story and the police investigation, that I was still sat there reading over a dozen chapters later. I found ‘A Promise To The Dead’ to be simply unputdownable. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. I found every excuse I could to have a ‘duvet day’ which meant I didn’t have to leave the house and I could just read the book all day. This didn’t go down at all well with my diva Labradors. Oops. I seemed to race through the story but I didn’t notice the speed with which the time passed or the pages turned. I was gutted to get to the end of the book because I was enjoying the story, the characters and the author’s writing style so much that I just wanted the book to continue. Reading this book was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with more twists and turns to the story than you would find on a ‘Snakes & Ladders’ board. On more than one occasion I thought that I had worked out who was doing what and why only to realise that I had completely got the wrong end of the stick and it was somebody else entirely.
I have to say that for me, this is easily Victoria’s best book to date. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
January 22, 2019
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Holy cheeseballs - what a BELTER of a book!! 'A Promise to the Dead' had me hooked from the very beginning due to its highly gripping storyline thrilling teasers.
There isn't just one death in this book - there are multiple. It reminded me of the domino effect to be honest! If you were to just read the book and take the storyline at face value, it would be very easy to blame a character, or characters, who are right in front of you, for the demolition that has been caused. However, if you were to read between the lines after each eventuality occurred, would you still think the same? Would you still be confident that you had the correct person in the firing line?
My answer to that question, having read the book (obviously), is both yes and no. Why? Because one minute I was very confident by my own conclusion, yet the next minute thanks to the combination of red herrings and multiple uncertainties, I had absolutely no idea who to believe or what to think.
Victoria Jenkins has written a mind-blowing instalment in the 'Detective King and Lane' series, with 'A Promise to the Dead', in my opinion, being her best book yet.
I LOVED being on the thrilling ride of uncertainty, and I loved how intense every single part of the book was. I was NOT expecting the conclusion in the slightest, and I will definitely hold my hands up and say that I totally didn't see it coming!
The thrill of the chase and the elements of suspense is what made 'A Promise to the Dead' a true gem of a read - I flipping loved it and cannot WAIT to read more from Victoria Jenkins.
Holy cheeseballs - what a BELTER of a book!! 'A Promise to the Dead' had me hooked from the very beginning due to its highly gripping storyline thrilling teasers.
There isn't just one death in this book - there are multiple. It reminded me of the domino effect to be honest! If you were to just read the book and take the storyline at face value, it would be very easy to blame a character, or characters, who are right in front of you, for the demolition that has been caused. However, if you were to read between the lines after each eventuality occurred, would you still think the same? Would you still be confident that you had the correct person in the firing line?
My answer to that question, having read the book (obviously), is both yes and no. Why? Because one minute I was very confident by my own conclusion, yet the next minute thanks to the combination of red herrings and multiple uncertainties, I had absolutely no idea who to believe or what to think.
Victoria Jenkins has written a mind-blowing instalment in the 'Detective King and Lane' series, with 'A Promise to the Dead', in my opinion, being her best book yet.
I LOVED being on the thrilling ride of uncertainty, and I loved how intense every single part of the book was. I was NOT expecting the conclusion in the slightest, and I will definitely hold my hands up and say that I totally didn't see it coming!
The thrill of the chase and the elements of suspense is what made 'A Promise to the Dead' a true gem of a read - I flipping loved it and cannot WAIT to read more from Victoria Jenkins.
January 22, 2019
This is book #4 of the Detectives King and Lane series. It can be read as a standalone, but to understand the back story I would recommend that the books are read in order.
This is not the first book I’ve read by this author, so I came into this book knowing the characters. Saying that, it’s been a while since I read the previous book Nobody’s Child, so it took a few chapters for me to remember the characters. The book starts off with a heart-thumping beginning where a young couple, Matthew and Stacey break down on a dark isolated Welsh mountain road. They’ve been for a night out but have left early due to an argument between themselves. Matthew leaves Stacey with the car to go and look for help, but when the car is found the next morning, Stacey is found dead in the car and Matthew is nowhere to be found.
As the story moved on, I began to remember Detective Inspector Alex King from the previous books. She is a tricky character to work out – sometimes you really like her and other times you hold your head in your hands and think “what is she doing!!!” But saying that, that doesn’t make her an unlikeable character, far from it! I love her! She obviously has a lot of personal issues which she is still working through, and I love how her ‘personal’ storyline works out by the end. She is though, one tough cookie and certainly doesn’t suffer fools gladly, although sometimes this doesn’t always work out well for her as it proves in this book. I also love her friend and colleague, Detective Constable Chloe Lane, who wants to be there for her friend, but she just never quite opens up enough to let Chloe in!
The storyline is fast paced and gripping. I was instantly hooked from the first chapter and as I was reading I was trying to work out what was going on and who the killer was. I usually manage to have a good go at working it out, but I really struggled with this one! I had plenty of suspects but just couldn’t pin down any real reasons as to why I thought it was them!! The storyline twisted and turned so much it had me running round in circles trying to work it out! Needless to say, I didn’t get it until it was revealed, so I had been kept in suspense all the way through the book!
I’m really disappointed that this looks like it may be the end of what has been a great series, but am really hoping that at some point in the future, Detective Inspector Alex King will be back! Until then, I will have to be happy with the thought that the author will come up with another great series to match this one. This book was definitely the best of the series and I would highly recommend not just to read this book, but to read the previous books as well!
This is not the first book I’ve read by this author, so I came into this book knowing the characters. Saying that, it’s been a while since I read the previous book Nobody’s Child, so it took a few chapters for me to remember the characters. The book starts off with a heart-thumping beginning where a young couple, Matthew and Stacey break down on a dark isolated Welsh mountain road. They’ve been for a night out but have left early due to an argument between themselves. Matthew leaves Stacey with the car to go and look for help, but when the car is found the next morning, Stacey is found dead in the car and Matthew is nowhere to be found.
As the story moved on, I began to remember Detective Inspector Alex King from the previous books. She is a tricky character to work out – sometimes you really like her and other times you hold your head in your hands and think “what is she doing!!!” But saying that, that doesn’t make her an unlikeable character, far from it! I love her! She obviously has a lot of personal issues which she is still working through, and I love how her ‘personal’ storyline works out by the end. She is though, one tough cookie and certainly doesn’t suffer fools gladly, although sometimes this doesn’t always work out well for her as it proves in this book. I also love her friend and colleague, Detective Constable Chloe Lane, who wants to be there for her friend, but she just never quite opens up enough to let Chloe in!
The storyline is fast paced and gripping. I was instantly hooked from the first chapter and as I was reading I was trying to work out what was going on and who the killer was. I usually manage to have a good go at working it out, but I really struggled with this one! I had plenty of suspects but just couldn’t pin down any real reasons as to why I thought it was them!! The storyline twisted and turned so much it had me running round in circles trying to work it out! Needless to say, I didn’t get it until it was revealed, so I had been kept in suspense all the way through the book!
I’m really disappointed that this looks like it may be the end of what has been a great series, but am really hoping that at some point in the future, Detective Inspector Alex King will be back! Until then, I will have to be happy with the thought that the author will come up with another great series to match this one. This book was definitely the best of the series and I would highly recommend not just to read this book, but to read the previous books as well!
January 29, 2019
Reading the fourth book in the King and Lane series seemed somewhat bittersweet as I had a sinking feeling the series was coming to an end which would be a shame as I’ve enjoyed reading about these two characters.
Having said that, the crack duo and their team are once again chucked in at the deep end with a case, but with the latest development in Alex’s personal life, is her head in the right frame of mind to be fully focused on work? Chloe is kept in the dark for now with what’s happening, but the two friends always have each other’s backs, which is definitely a good thing when they don’t seem to be making any progress on the case then another man goes missing then a body is discovered under a patio.
There are so many characters and scenarios in this, there were brief moments when I was slightly confused, but then suddenly it all clicked together again.
Another feature of Victoria’s books I’ve enjoyed has been the setting, as it’s not often to have local areas and well known places appear in a story.
A Promise To The Dead really is an excellent book. Although it’s the last in the series, for now at least, it ended well, tying up loose ends but with a possibility of more to come.
Having said that, the crack duo and their team are once again chucked in at the deep end with a case, but with the latest development in Alex’s personal life, is her head in the right frame of mind to be fully focused on work? Chloe is kept in the dark for now with what’s happening, but the two friends always have each other’s backs, which is definitely a good thing when they don’t seem to be making any progress on the case then another man goes missing then a body is discovered under a patio.
There are so many characters and scenarios in this, there were brief moments when I was slightly confused, but then suddenly it all clicked together again.
Another feature of Victoria’s books I’ve enjoyed has been the setting, as it’s not often to have local areas and well known places appear in a story.
A Promise To The Dead really is an excellent book. Although it’s the last in the series, for now at least, it ended well, tying up loose ends but with a possibility of more to come.
February 28, 2019
A PROMISE TO THE DEAD is the fourth in the Detectives King and Lane series, and from what Victoria Jenkins said in her note at the end, it is the last (for now). She indicated that she may revisit the duo in the future. Hopefully the not too distant future because I love this series!
I have read the first book in this series - which I absolutely LOVED - and now the fourth, skipping the second and third which I WILL go back and read. When I read the first book I absolutely LOVED it and I loved how King and Lane interact and work well together. It was about time there was a series featuring a duo that worked well together, didn't bicker every five minutes and were not ball-breaking bitches which some leads are. I loved these two and I am sad to see their story come to an end...for now.
The story opens with a prologue set in 1981 with a nameless couple that make sense by the end of the book. It sets the scene and had me turning the pages to discover how this incident was linked to the present.
In the present day, Matthew and Stacey are returning home from a football match and gathering with friends. They spend much of the time arguing and loathe to heed his girlfriend's advice, Matthew takes the quiet mountain road to avoid the busy traffic, when their car runs out of fuel. I myself cannot see this happening. I mean who doesn't check their fuel gauge? I'm always checking mine, filling up when it reached half a tank! However, as the story goes, they run out of fuel. Matthew goes to find help leaving Stacey alone in the car. But something happens. Matthew sees something he shouldn't have. By the next morning Stacey is dead and Matthew is nowhere to be found.
DI King and DC Lane find themselves investigating and are soon overwhelmed by numerous other cases landing on their desks all at once.
It then becomes clear there are links to another local man, Keiran Robinson, who went missing just a few days prior. But interviewing his family is proving difficult as they stonewall the detectives with unhelpful remarks and jabs at their inadequate investigation. It also become clear they are hiding something. But what is it? And how does it relate to Keiran's disappearance? Or that of Matthew's or Stacey's murder?
Not long after, DI King gets the call that a body has been found in a backyard. Who could it be? Is it Matthew? Or is it Keiran? However once on the scene it becomes clear that the body is actually skeletal remains of someone who has been in the ground, under a patio, a lot longer than the other two men have been missing. So who is this latest body?
Then the killer reaches out to DI King, sending her first a finger and then an incriminating photo of one of the missing men and one of her team. Is someone on her team responsible for these killings?
A PROMISE TO THE DEAD is a thrilling, compelling and fast-paced read that promises and delivers a thrill-ride of exciting twists and turns throughout the story. The pace is brisk and the ending unexpected.
I love how the two lead detectives are female and firm fast friends. I love how they interact together and with other members of the team, as well as other characters.
I was a little puzzled as to the constant reference to DI King's scars, as having only read the first book and this one, I've no idea what has taken place beforehand to lead to such an injury to which they keep referring. I wish there was a slight reference to what actually caused the burns on her face as not everyone may remember what has taken place in previous books and some, like me, may read out of order or even stand alone. So just a small reminder would have sufficed for those who can't remember or have no idea.
Aside from that small flaw, I thoroughly enjoyed A PROMISE TO THE DEAD and I hope Victoria Jenkins revisits this pair of detectives again in the near future because they are by far the best duo I've come across.
Many thanks to #VictoriaJenkins, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #APromiseToTheDead in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I have read the first book in this series - which I absolutely LOVED - and now the fourth, skipping the second and third which I WILL go back and read. When I read the first book I absolutely LOVED it and I loved how King and Lane interact and work well together. It was about time there was a series featuring a duo that worked well together, didn't bicker every five minutes and were not ball-breaking bitches which some leads are. I loved these two and I am sad to see their story come to an end...for now.
The story opens with a prologue set in 1981 with a nameless couple that make sense by the end of the book. It sets the scene and had me turning the pages to discover how this incident was linked to the present.
In the present day, Matthew and Stacey are returning home from a football match and gathering with friends. They spend much of the time arguing and loathe to heed his girlfriend's advice, Matthew takes the quiet mountain road to avoid the busy traffic, when their car runs out of fuel. I myself cannot see this happening. I mean who doesn't check their fuel gauge? I'm always checking mine, filling up when it reached half a tank! However, as the story goes, they run out of fuel. Matthew goes to find help leaving Stacey alone in the car. But something happens. Matthew sees something he shouldn't have. By the next morning Stacey is dead and Matthew is nowhere to be found.
DI King and DC Lane find themselves investigating and are soon overwhelmed by numerous other cases landing on their desks all at once.
It then becomes clear there are links to another local man, Keiran Robinson, who went missing just a few days prior. But interviewing his family is proving difficult as they stonewall the detectives with unhelpful remarks and jabs at their inadequate investigation. It also become clear they are hiding something. But what is it? And how does it relate to Keiran's disappearance? Or that of Matthew's or Stacey's murder?
Not long after, DI King gets the call that a body has been found in a backyard. Who could it be? Is it Matthew? Or is it Keiran? However once on the scene it becomes clear that the body is actually skeletal remains of someone who has been in the ground, under a patio, a lot longer than the other two men have been missing. So who is this latest body?
Then the killer reaches out to DI King, sending her first a finger and then an incriminating photo of one of the missing men and one of her team. Is someone on her team responsible for these killings?
A PROMISE TO THE DEAD is a thrilling, compelling and fast-paced read that promises and delivers a thrill-ride of exciting twists and turns throughout the story. The pace is brisk and the ending unexpected.
I love how the two lead detectives are female and firm fast friends. I love how they interact together and with other members of the team, as well as other characters.
I was a little puzzled as to the constant reference to DI King's scars, as having only read the first book and this one, I've no idea what has taken place beforehand to lead to such an injury to which they keep referring. I wish there was a slight reference to what actually caused the burns on her face as not everyone may remember what has taken place in previous books and some, like me, may read out of order or even stand alone. So just a small reminder would have sufficed for those who can't remember or have no idea.
Aside from that small flaw, I thoroughly enjoyed A PROMISE TO THE DEAD and I hope Victoria Jenkins revisits this pair of detectives again in the near future because they are by far the best duo I've come across.
Many thanks to #VictoriaJenkins, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #APromiseToTheDead in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
February 11, 2019
In the minority here, but didn’t find this book particularly suspenseful. Vaguely remember some of the supporting characters from previous books but was utterly lost most of the time by the sheer number of characters in A Promise To The Dead.
Not a fan of DI Alex King. Especially did not like DI King’s assessment of the media:
“...the press were experts in disregarding the wishes of others, even when those others were in a position of authority. It was typical of a journalist to believe he was above the law.” This was offensive, most importantly because we are in a time of “fake news”. There was no journalist trying to circumvent the investigation. The dialogue quoted above is set during a media update and appeal. What’s the problem with a journalist asking a question?
DI King disparages many others: the forensic anthropologist, Hannah, the sister of a victim, DCI Thompson, the list goes on and on. DI King only seems to respect mini-me DC Chloe Lane and her team members that agree with her unequivocally.
This was a convoluted plot and hopefully the King & Lane series has concluded.
Not a fan of DI Alex King. Especially did not like DI King’s assessment of the media:
“...the press were experts in disregarding the wishes of others, even when those others were in a position of authority. It was typical of a journalist to believe he was above the law.” This was offensive, most importantly because we are in a time of “fake news”. There was no journalist trying to circumvent the investigation. The dialogue quoted above is set during a media update and appeal. What’s the problem with a journalist asking a question?
DI King disparages many others: the forensic anthropologist, Hannah, the sister of a victim, DCI Thompson, the list goes on and on. DI King only seems to respect mini-me DC Chloe Lane and her team members that agree with her unequivocally.
This was a convoluted plot and hopefully the King & Lane series has concluded.
January 21, 2019
This is the fourth book in the series of four. I think quite a few of us will miss this series as Detectives Alex King and Chloe Lane and their team have become characters we look forward to reading about. The story is mostly told from Alex’s point of view and begins with a young couple Matthew and Stacy breaking down on an isolated mountain road late at night. Matthew sets off to get help leaving Stacy in the car but next morning Stacy is found shot dead in the car and Matthew missing. King and Lane investigating got case find links to another missing man. When the bones of a third man are dug up, who went missing thirty years ago, they have to discover if these three cases are connected .
This is a compelling and gripping thriller and I was completely hooked from the first chapter. Fingers crossed there may be a fifth book in the series but if not I look forward to meeting new characters in a new series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book
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This is a compelling and gripping thriller and I was completely hooked from the first chapter. Fingers crossed there may be a fifth book in the series but if not I look forward to meeting new characters in a new series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book
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