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Porter & Styles #1
What Falls Between The Cracks
When a severed hand is found in an abandoned flat, Detective Jake Porter and his partner Nick Styles are able to DNA match the limb to the owner, Natasha Barclay, who has not been seen in decades. But why has no one been looking for her? It seems that Natasha's family are the people who can least be trusted. Delving into the details behind her disappearance and discovering links to another investigation, a tragic family history begins to take on a darker twist. Hampered by a widespread fear of a local heavy, as well as internal politics and possible corruption within the force, Porter and Styles are digging for answers, but will what they find ever see the light of day?
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First published April 19, 2018
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About the author
Robert Scragg
10 books43 followersRobert Scragg had a random mix of jobs before taking the dive into crime writing; he's been a bookseller, pizza deliverer, Karate instructor and Football coach. He lives in Tyne & Wear, is a founding member of the North East Noir crime writers group and is currently writing the second Porter and Styles novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
April 22, 2018
Here we are. A debut novel. I love debuts.
When a first book is as good as this you wonder how can they excel themselves in the next book they write.
But you know what? I really think this new author has found his niche in life. I read his bio just a minute ago and thought.....
You should have done this writing lark much sooner.
I’m not always into police investigations as some can bore me while others work the opposite and I feel part of the team.
I very much felt part of the team in this one.
DI Jake Porter and his sidekick Detective Sergeant Nick Styles are a fab duo. Not only do they do a good and thorough job but the wise remarks to each other sometimes made me chuckle.
We have a Maintenance man investigating a leak from an appartment only to discover a hand in the freezer with a finger missing.
An apartment that doesn’t look like it’s been lived in for years and everything is outdated.
They find out who should be living there.
Investigations start.
This is where it got interesting even further. When they hunt down her family there are some who don’t want to speak to the police.
So now you know something is amiss.
When Natasha Barkley whose flat it is has been missing for such a long time, why hasn’t anyone reported it?
She seems to have taken off around the same time her father committed suicide.
There is a lot more than meets the eye here.
The deeper you dig the more the soil clumps and it becomes a mass of uncovering what is below the surface.
This is book 1 the start of a series.
I, for one, can’t wait for book 2.
My thanks to the publishers for my copy AllisonandBusby.
April 1, 2018
WHAT FALLS BETWEEN THE CRACKS is a crime/police procedural debut novel from author Robert Scragg. This book is full of twists and turns and will reel you in slowly, to follow the investigation of a recent case.
A maintenance guy called into an apartment building to patch a leak in the building…when he discovered a female hand in the freezer missing a little finger.
In this debut novel we are first introduced to Detective Jake Porter and his Partner Nick Styles who have been assigned a case where a served hand has been found in an abandoned London flat. The flat is registered to Natasha Barclay who has been missing since 1983…but where is she? Why wasn’t she ever reported missing?
When a severed hand is found in an abandoned flat, Detective Jake Porter and his partner Nick Styles are able to DNA match the limb to the owner, Natasha Barclay, who has not been seen in decades. But why has no one been looking for her? It seems that Natasha’s family are the people who can least be trusted.
Delving into the details behind her disappearance and discovering links to another investigation, a tragic family history begins to take on a darker twist. Hampered by a widespread fear of a local heavy, as well as internal politics and possible corruption within the force, Porter and Styles are digging for answers, but will what they find ever see the light of day?
This is a well-developed book, from the clever title and front cover, to the ending. Characters come alive as you read each small detail unfolding. The imagery is vivid and enables you to sense the atmosphere of the various meeting places. The dialogue is natural and well written, you can imagine the voices. I love the subtleties between Jake and Nick. They really complement each other.
This is a cat and mouse game, with the author disclosing information/clues on a need-to-know basis, which served to increase the suspense level.
This is a new crime thriller series that shows a promising future for this new series.
Many thanks to Allison and Busby for providing me with a copy.
Publication day April 19th 2018.
A maintenance guy called into an apartment building to patch a leak in the building…when he discovered a female hand in the freezer missing a little finger.
In this debut novel we are first introduced to Detective Jake Porter and his Partner Nick Styles who have been assigned a case where a served hand has been found in an abandoned London flat. The flat is registered to Natasha Barclay who has been missing since 1983…but where is she? Why wasn’t she ever reported missing?
When a severed hand is found in an abandoned flat, Detective Jake Porter and his partner Nick Styles are able to DNA match the limb to the owner, Natasha Barclay, who has not been seen in decades. But why has no one been looking for her? It seems that Natasha’s family are the people who can least be trusted.
Delving into the details behind her disappearance and discovering links to another investigation, a tragic family history begins to take on a darker twist. Hampered by a widespread fear of a local heavy, as well as internal politics and possible corruption within the force, Porter and Styles are digging for answers, but will what they find ever see the light of day?
This is a well-developed book, from the clever title and front cover, to the ending. Characters come alive as you read each small detail unfolding. The imagery is vivid and enables you to sense the atmosphere of the various meeting places. The dialogue is natural and well written, you can imagine the voices. I love the subtleties between Jake and Nick. They really complement each other.
This is a cat and mouse game, with the author disclosing information/clues on a need-to-know basis, which served to increase the suspense level.
This is a new crime thriller series that shows a promising future for this new series.
Many thanks to Allison and Busby for providing me with a copy.
Publication day April 19th 2018.
April 2, 2018
Detectives Jake Porter and Nick Styles respond to a call from a maintenance man who discovered a severed hand while he was looking to patch a leak.
The detectives use DNA to match the hand to its owner, Natasha Barclay, a woman ho hasn't been seen in at least 30 years. But no one has ever reported her missing.
During their investigation they find some of her family who seem reluctant to discuss the missing woman. Evidently she disappeared shortly after her father killed himself.
What are her family not willing to talk about? What is/was her connection with a local thug? Why is there a suspicion of corrupt police? Who can the detectives trust?
This is a well written debut novel filled with suspense and mystery, colorful characters, and a great story line. I look forward to the next adventures of Porter and Styles.
Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Requests for the advanced digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The detectives use DNA to match the hand to its owner, Natasha Barclay, a woman ho hasn't been seen in at least 30 years. But no one has ever reported her missing.
During their investigation they find some of her family who seem reluctant to discuss the missing woman. Evidently she disappeared shortly after her father killed himself.
What are her family not willing to talk about? What is/was her connection with a local thug? Why is there a suspicion of corrupt police? Who can the detectives trust?
This is a well written debut novel filled with suspense and mystery, colorful characters, and a great story line. I look forward to the next adventures of Porter and Styles.
Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Requests for the advanced digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
January 27, 2019
3.5 stars
Having seen Robert Scragg’s police procedural garnering positive reviews and attracted by the synopsis of a severed hand found in an abandoned London flat, I was intrigued enough to read this first novel in an intended series featuring DI Jake Porter and DS Nick Styles. Although the story and characters made a solid impression and the novel stands as a decent debut, I was expecting a livelier and grittier story with far more memorable lead characters.
Opening dramatically with the discovery of a hand that belongs to a young woman last seen in 1983 and never reported missing, I found much of the unfolding story over-explained and rather laboured. Consequently the story seemed to crawl along at a snail’s pace and hampered the fluidity, with an excess of colour on the personal lives of the lead detectives far exceeding the actual progression in the case throughout the first third. As Porter and Styles attempt to get to the bottom of the disappearance of the hands owner, Natasha Barclay, they also stumble upon her fathers suicide and the sale of his business to her stepfather and wealthy magnate, Alexander Locke, with the unlikely coincidence of all three events having taken place in 1983. But as the detectives attempt to uncover Natasha’s mysterious vanishing act and the significance of 1983, they antagonise Natasha’s stepfather who has close links to their superiors and nearly jeopardise a longstanding investigation into the suspected drugs empire at the heart of his businesses. Fraught with internal politics and suspected corruption within the force, Porter and Styles must tread carefully as they tackle the murky world that surrounds Alexander Locke, from the menacing thugs he employs to the top brass in the Met whom he smoozes!
Showcased from multiple perspectives, Robert Scragg’s story gives a voice to the many competing stories, priorities and perspectives. The story is very much familiar territory and sadly I found both lead detectives stereotypes, from cheeky joker DS Nick Styles to damaged DI Jake Porter, grieving for his wife and throwing himself into work. Fellow officers were a mix of the usual suspects, from desk jockey bosses who focus on meeting targets to the officer heading into retirement and the many well-intentioned officers who are similarly justice driven like Porter and Styles. Although the dialogue largely rings true and conjures a winning rapport between the lead detective combination and the multifaceted story is largely well written, it was also disappointingly forgettable. Neither the detectives or the sprawling plot felt like they added anything to the many police procedural series that I currently follow and I doubt I will return for a second encounter.
Having seen Robert Scragg’s police procedural garnering positive reviews and attracted by the synopsis of a severed hand found in an abandoned London flat, I was intrigued enough to read this first novel in an intended series featuring DI Jake Porter and DS Nick Styles. Although the story and characters made a solid impression and the novel stands as a decent debut, I was expecting a livelier and grittier story with far more memorable lead characters.
Opening dramatically with the discovery of a hand that belongs to a young woman last seen in 1983 and never reported missing, I found much of the unfolding story over-explained and rather laboured. Consequently the story seemed to crawl along at a snail’s pace and hampered the fluidity, with an excess of colour on the personal lives of the lead detectives far exceeding the actual progression in the case throughout the first third. As Porter and Styles attempt to get to the bottom of the disappearance of the hands owner, Natasha Barclay, they also stumble upon her fathers suicide and the sale of his business to her stepfather and wealthy magnate, Alexander Locke, with the unlikely coincidence of all three events having taken place in 1983. But as the detectives attempt to uncover Natasha’s mysterious vanishing act and the significance of 1983, they antagonise Natasha’s stepfather who has close links to their superiors and nearly jeopardise a longstanding investigation into the suspected drugs empire at the heart of his businesses. Fraught with internal politics and suspected corruption within the force, Porter and Styles must tread carefully as they tackle the murky world that surrounds Alexander Locke, from the menacing thugs he employs to the top brass in the Met whom he smoozes!
Showcased from multiple perspectives, Robert Scragg’s story gives a voice to the many competing stories, priorities and perspectives. The story is very much familiar territory and sadly I found both lead detectives stereotypes, from cheeky joker DS Nick Styles to damaged DI Jake Porter, grieving for his wife and throwing himself into work. Fellow officers were a mix of the usual suspects, from desk jockey bosses who focus on meeting targets to the officer heading into retirement and the many well-intentioned officers who are similarly justice driven like Porter and Styles. Although the dialogue largely rings true and conjures a winning rapport between the lead detective combination and the multifaceted story is largely well written, it was also disappointingly forgettable. Neither the detectives or the sprawling plot felt like they added anything to the many police procedural series that I currently follow and I doubt I will return for a second encounter.
July 1, 2018
Well OMG what a fantastic surprise this little gem of a debut is!
Set in London, the reader becomes entangled in a story where corruption, betrayal, secrets, loss, cover-ups, threats, fear, manipulation, control and a search for justice are some of the main themes that capture our interest.
BOOM! 💥 That prologue! I was immediately drawn in and wanted to know more! Told in third person POV you really get a feel for everything that’s happening. I enjoyed the complexity of the plot as it kept me on my toes and helped shaped the backstories which will inevitably come into further play in future novels of this series. The elements of mystery and police procedural gave it a fantastic atmosphere and added to the suspense.
Who do you trust…
Styles and Porter were a fantastic creation – each very different in personality but the banter has them bouncing of each other in a narrative that was engrossing, humorous and very real! This book was full of characters – and you really had to pay attention to them all because despite there being so many, each played a roll in driving the story forward. Well done, Mr Scragg!
We find out fairly early who the bad folk are in this book, however I was never really 100% sure I had the crime solved before that almighty twist that smacked me upside the head! I felt the pace was perfect, slowing down at times to build up the necessary suspense and then speeding up, causing me to race through the pages!
Would I recommend this book? Well hells bells, you bet I would! For a debut, this was an intriguing, intricate, edge-of-your-seat read and I can’t wait to see what is next for Styles and Porter! Congratulations, Robert Scragg – you have a new fan! Let the #AuthorStalking commence! 😂😉 Woohoo!
Set in London, the reader becomes entangled in a story where corruption, betrayal, secrets, loss, cover-ups, threats, fear, manipulation, control and a search for justice are some of the main themes that capture our interest.
BOOM! 💥 That prologue! I was immediately drawn in and wanted to know more! Told in third person POV you really get a feel for everything that’s happening. I enjoyed the complexity of the plot as it kept me on my toes and helped shaped the backstories which will inevitably come into further play in future novels of this series. The elements of mystery and police procedural gave it a fantastic atmosphere and added to the suspense.
Who do you trust…
Styles and Porter were a fantastic creation – each very different in personality but the banter has them bouncing of each other in a narrative that was engrossing, humorous and very real! This book was full of characters – and you really had to pay attention to them all because despite there being so many, each played a roll in driving the story forward. Well done, Mr Scragg!
We find out fairly early who the bad folk are in this book, however I was never really 100% sure I had the crime solved before that almighty twist that smacked me upside the head! I felt the pace was perfect, slowing down at times to build up the necessary suspense and then speeding up, causing me to race through the pages!
Would I recommend this book? Well hells bells, you bet I would! For a debut, this was an intriguing, intricate, edge-of-your-seat read and I can’t wait to see what is next for Styles and Porter! Congratulations, Robert Scragg – you have a new fan! Let the #AuthorStalking commence! 😂😉 Woohoo!
April 19, 2018
The maintenance man had had a complaint about water leaking from a flat and was checking it out.
When he got there no one was around the flat had a strange feel to it everything was stuck in the 80s. Looking around to find the cause of the leak leads him to the freezer upon opening it he discovers a severed hand which was grey.
Detectives Porter and Styles are the investigators when they start asking around the neighbours no one remembers seeing anyone either living or visiting the flat. The owner of the flat was Natasha Barclay and it seems she hadn’t been seen in decades.
They have to find out who the severed hand belongs to if it is Natasha then is she still alive? Can she be alive after losing her hand? They set out to check into her background and when they do they discover her father had killed himself there was a step mother and brother. The stepmother had remarried and her new husband owned a big haulier business when the detectives look into that they discover that things may not be as they should be. It looks like more than goods were being transported.
There is so much going on it was difficult at times to keep up the banter between the detectives I felt went a bit too far for me? I found myself shaking my head at some of the references and yeah in real life it may have worked but reading it I felt was just a bit too much. However I did enjoy the book and would recommend it 4 stars from me.
When he got there no one was around the flat had a strange feel to it everything was stuck in the 80s. Looking around to find the cause of the leak leads him to the freezer upon opening it he discovers a severed hand which was grey.
Detectives Porter and Styles are the investigators when they start asking around the neighbours no one remembers seeing anyone either living or visiting the flat. The owner of the flat was Natasha Barclay and it seems she hadn’t been seen in decades.
They have to find out who the severed hand belongs to if it is Natasha then is she still alive? Can she be alive after losing her hand? They set out to check into her background and when they do they discover her father had killed himself there was a step mother and brother. The stepmother had remarried and her new husband owned a big haulier business when the detectives look into that they discover that things may not be as they should be. It looks like more than goods were being transported.
There is so much going on it was difficult at times to keep up the banter between the detectives I felt went a bit too far for me? I found myself shaking my head at some of the references and yeah in real life it may have worked but reading it I felt was just a bit too much. However I did enjoy the book and would recommend it 4 stars from me.
June 24, 2024
I read this for Book Club and honestly if I didn't feel like I had to I'd have dnfd it 🫣
Just for me there were too many characters and it was obvious from the beginning who was involved in the crime.
Just for me there were too many characters and it was obvious from the beginning who was involved in the crime.
May 3, 2018
What Falls between the Crack is Robert Scraggs debut novel which comes out 19th April 2018.
Detective Jake Porter and his Partner Nick Styles have been called on to a case where a served hand has been found in an abandoned London flat. The DNA matches the Flats owner Natasha Barclay who hasn't been seen 1983. Why hasn't anyone been looking for her before, why hasn't her family reported her missing?
As Jake and Nick delve into the case, they realise that this dark family history has more than meets the eye. They have to deal with local heavies scaring off witness, and internal politics stopping them investigating certain leads. This won't stop them solving this case, but will the answers they find see the light of day?
What Falls between the Crack is a book full of twist, turns and a very clever story. I loved the dynamic between Jake and Nick, they have a great working relationship as well as friendship. The plot is brilliantly written and the way in which the book started and ended in a way that I didn't expect.
The book is a bit like cat and mouse we know who are the bad guys, but its all about building the case to prove it and the bad guys trying not to get caught. Although I was taken aback by some bad guys I did not expect to be a bad guys.
The story is interesting and slightly sad in the fact that no one reports Natasha missing for over 30 years. I would hate for no one to miss me.
I hope that this is not the last I hear from Jake Porter and Nick Styles.
I give this book 4 out of 5.
Thank you to Allison and Busby for sending me this book for a honest and fair review.
Detective Jake Porter and his Partner Nick Styles have been called on to a case where a served hand has been found in an abandoned London flat. The DNA matches the Flats owner Natasha Barclay who hasn't been seen 1983. Why hasn't anyone been looking for her before, why hasn't her family reported her missing?
As Jake and Nick delve into the case, they realise that this dark family history has more than meets the eye. They have to deal with local heavies scaring off witness, and internal politics stopping them investigating certain leads. This won't stop them solving this case, but will the answers they find see the light of day?
What Falls between the Crack is a book full of twist, turns and a very clever story. I loved the dynamic between Jake and Nick, they have a great working relationship as well as friendship. The plot is brilliantly written and the way in which the book started and ended in a way that I didn't expect.
The book is a bit like cat and mouse we know who are the bad guys, but its all about building the case to prove it and the bad guys trying not to get caught. Although I was taken aback by some bad guys I did not expect to be a bad guys.
The story is interesting and slightly sad in the fact that no one reports Natasha missing for over 30 years. I would hate for no one to miss me.
I hope that this is not the last I hear from Jake Porter and Nick Styles.
I give this book 4 out of 5.
Thank you to Allison and Busby for sending me this book for a honest and fair review.
March 28, 2018
I was very much looking forward to reading this book, as it's set in the area where I live. Now, I'm not saying this is the fault of the author, it's probably more down to the fact I'm not very bright, but I was so confused. There were so many people, I just couldn't keep track of who was who, who was related to whom, who were people or just the names of firms. I got myself in a right old pickle. I think the concept of the book was good, after all, who doesn't love a corrupt police officer? I simply could not get a handle of the who's, which impacted on my enjoyment of the why's and the how's. Too many characters introduced much too quickly for me. Sorry!
June 26, 2018
This is a fantastic debut novel from Robert Scragg. A police procedural book with plenty of crime and violence. This book deals with a missing person, violent criminals and rather shady police! There are a lot of loose ends as you read the book, but the majority are tied up by the end of the story. This book has been a great read and I would highly recommend it.
February 7, 2018
I loved this book. It's a real page-turner with compelling, engaging characters, and an intricate, clever plot. I cannot wait to read more Porter!
April 3, 2018
It starts with a crime scene that’s lain undiscovered for thirty years. Detective Jake Porter, and his partner, Nick Styles, find a severed hand in an abandoned flat. It belongs to a young girl, Natasha Barclay, who hasn’t been seen in decades, but who has never been reported missing, not even by her family or friends. Porter, who's still struggling to cope with the loss of his wife, is up against allegations of police corruption, and a criminal who's hidden in plain sight for decades, as he digs through thirty years of lies. A hidden family history begins to surface, but there are those who would rather the past stayed buried.
There is always an air of anticipation when I pick up a debut novel. Competition is fierce in the Crime genre with so many outstanding authors around it can be tough to break through but I think we have someone that could soon be up there with the best of them. I recently saw a quote on social media from another author saying this will be a contender for crime fiction debut of the year, so picked it up with high expectations, and pleased to say that it has my vote. Porter and Styles spark off each other in a way that drives the narrative forward at just the right speed, drawing you in as a member of their team, right in the thick of a complex investigation. Great plotting weaves in elements of organised crime, police corruption and family tragedy, shuttling between present day London, and the city of thirty years ago. You can’t help but want to have Porter’s back, after all he’s gone through with his wife’s death, and seems to be battling on all fronts to fight his way through to the truth of what happened to Natasha. Some great snappy dialogue throughout, and put me in mind at times of the T.V. series “The Wire”. All in all, this has the makings of a great series. Looking forward to seeing what Robert Scragg serves up next.
There is always an air of anticipation when I pick up a debut novel. Competition is fierce in the Crime genre with so many outstanding authors around it can be tough to break through but I think we have someone that could soon be up there with the best of them. I recently saw a quote on social media from another author saying this will be a contender for crime fiction debut of the year, so picked it up with high expectations, and pleased to say that it has my vote. Porter and Styles spark off each other in a way that drives the narrative forward at just the right speed, drawing you in as a member of their team, right in the thick of a complex investigation. Great plotting weaves in elements of organised crime, police corruption and family tragedy, shuttling between present day London, and the city of thirty years ago. You can’t help but want to have Porter’s back, after all he’s gone through with his wife’s death, and seems to be battling on all fronts to fight his way through to the truth of what happened to Natasha. Some great snappy dialogue throughout, and put me in mind at times of the T.V. series “The Wire”. All in all, this has the makings of a great series. Looking forward to seeing what Robert Scragg serves up next.
April 9, 2018
Oh, how I enjoy a solid police procedural! I fell in love a little with Detective Jake Porter and am really looking forward to the next in the series. The plot of this debut mystery is complex and the first bit was a little slow but then the story caught me and I was hooked reading to the end in one session! The policing of Porter and his partner Styles felt real, the corruption believable and the descriptions of London beautifully described. Many thanks to Robert Scagg and The Book Club (TBC) for an opportunity to review the book.
January 29, 2021
I'm delighted I found this (new to me) police procedural series. This book is the first in the series and a really solid start. The characters were sympathetically portrayed, with the right blend of likeability and determination to counteract the gritty and corrupt environment they operate in. I really wish I could explore the 1980s flat. The description certainly brought back memories.
April 5, 2018
This debut novel by Robert Scragg is a contemporary police procedural with an engaging couple of protagonists, DI Jake Porter and his partner DS Nick Styles. They are investigating a complex mystery, which starts with the case of a woman missing for over thirty years, and becomes mixed up with drug dealing, dodgy business practices and police office politics. It's a very interesting read, very well-written and I'm looking forward to seeing more books in the series.
April 2, 2018
It’s always good to come across a promising new author! I really enjoyed this book, the characters and plot are cleverly thought out and intriguing to follow, the book cover and title are also very intriguing, I don’t get that from a lot of crime books, this one made me want to read.
I hope to read more from Porter & Styles in the not to distant future, there relationship is brilliant, they really bounce off one and other :)
I hope to read more from Porter & Styles in the not to distant future, there relationship is brilliant, they really bounce off one and other :)
June 4, 2018
Excellent first book, with lots of loose ends for the next one!
January 2, 2019
This book, with a very promising start, progressed gradually into an overly messy story told from way too many perspectives, and end at a quite distasteful place.
May 9, 2018
I'm always interested when a new investigative duo make an appearance and Detective Inspector Jake Porter and Detective Sergeant Nick Styles have certainly got off to a promising start in this first book in a new crime series.
Picking up the missing pieces of a thirty year old crime is always going to be fraught with difficulty and Porter and Styles certainly have their work cut out in trying to bring those responsible to justice. The mystery at the heart of the novel is well done and the complex chains which bind the whole thing together succeed with a clever edginess which kept my attention throughout the story. The twists and turns kept me guessing and I enjoyed trying to work out just where the complicated plot was heading.
As with any new series there is a certain amount of getting to know the characters and this is done with a realistic edge. I especially enjoyed the insight into the detective's lives, particularly that of Jake Porter who seems to have had more than his share of heartache. The two detectives work well together as a team, and I enjoyed reading their lively banter and the way they each have the other's back is testament to the strength of their working relationship. The other characters who make their appearance in this gritty crime story add an interesting balance of light and shade, the villains and the good guys mix together with comparative ease. The final few chapters are quite lively with lots going on and I enjoyed watching all the loose strands finally coming together in a dramatic showdown.
What Falls Between The Cracks is a very good debut novel, and gets the series off to a really promising start. I'm already looking forward to reading book two in the series by this talented new crime author.
Picking up the missing pieces of a thirty year old crime is always going to be fraught with difficulty and Porter and Styles certainly have their work cut out in trying to bring those responsible to justice. The mystery at the heart of the novel is well done and the complex chains which bind the whole thing together succeed with a clever edginess which kept my attention throughout the story. The twists and turns kept me guessing and I enjoyed trying to work out just where the complicated plot was heading.
As with any new series there is a certain amount of getting to know the characters and this is done with a realistic edge. I especially enjoyed the insight into the detective's lives, particularly that of Jake Porter who seems to have had more than his share of heartache. The two detectives work well together as a team, and I enjoyed reading their lively banter and the way they each have the other's back is testament to the strength of their working relationship. The other characters who make their appearance in this gritty crime story add an interesting balance of light and shade, the villains and the good guys mix together with comparative ease. The final few chapters are quite lively with lots going on and I enjoyed watching all the loose strands finally coming together in a dramatic showdown.
What Falls Between The Cracks is a very good debut novel, and gets the series off to a really promising start. I'm already looking forward to reading book two in the series by this talented new crime author.
September 21, 2019
The book opens with the discovery of a severed hand in a flat that looks like it’s been abandoned for years. Further investigation shows it belongs to a young woman called Natasha Barclay but she hasn’t been seen since 1983. Detectives Porter and Styles are assigned to this baffling case.
What Falls Between The Cracks is a cleverly crafted and well written police procedural. It’s Robert Scragg’s debut novel and the first in the Porter and Styles series.
The two detectives were a bit of chalk and cheese. Porter is a damaged character, still grieving for his wife and refusing point blank to face anything to do with her death, throwing himself into his work. Then there’s Styles, a bit of a joker and happily married. I really enjoyed the banter between Porter and Styles throughout the novel, gave a bit of relief in all the intensity of the case.
While I appreciate we get to know Porter and Styles outside of the job, I did feel like I got a little distracted from what should have been the main story, especially by the death of Porter’s wife. Also the pace was a little off for me, sometimes fast, other times it dragged a little.
What Falls Between The Cracks is an intriguing and intense police procedural that is a good start to this series.
What Falls Between The Cracks is a cleverly crafted and well written police procedural. It’s Robert Scragg’s debut novel and the first in the Porter and Styles series.
The two detectives were a bit of chalk and cheese. Porter is a damaged character, still grieving for his wife and refusing point blank to face anything to do with her death, throwing himself into his work. Then there’s Styles, a bit of a joker and happily married. I really enjoyed the banter between Porter and Styles throughout the novel, gave a bit of relief in all the intensity of the case.
While I appreciate we get to know Porter and Styles outside of the job, I did feel like I got a little distracted from what should have been the main story, especially by the death of Porter’s wife. Also the pace was a little off for me, sometimes fast, other times it dragged a little.
What Falls Between The Cracks is an intriguing and intense police procedural that is a good start to this series.
June 16, 2019
I’m no fan of crime fiction or, as the sub-genre is now labelled, “police procedure” tales. The formula is predictable, the characters from a stock list and the ending usually disappointing.
I read this example because I met the author as part of his tour and liked him. He’s honest and down to earth and I wish him well. But this book is just another of the type, I’m afraid. Mostly told through the eyes of the detective who always knows what to do as his colleagues around him are either loyal sidekicks (many of whom end up dead) or disloyal “bent coppers”. The baddies too are two dimensional - Mr “brains behind it all but seemingly good citizen” with his psychotic beast of an enforcer.
The novel is written by a Geordie and set in London but contains Americanisms (“gotten”) and the locations could be any large city.
I guess, if you like crime fiction and reading similar books, then you will like this but it’s not for me. I gave it three stars because it’s clearly structured and I like the unusual chapters at the end from the point of view of other people.
I read this example because I met the author as part of his tour and liked him. He’s honest and down to earth and I wish him well. But this book is just another of the type, I’m afraid. Mostly told through the eyes of the detective who always knows what to do as his colleagues around him are either loyal sidekicks (many of whom end up dead) or disloyal “bent coppers”. The baddies too are two dimensional - Mr “brains behind it all but seemingly good citizen” with his psychotic beast of an enforcer.
The novel is written by a Geordie and set in London but contains Americanisms (“gotten”) and the locations could be any large city.
I guess, if you like crime fiction and reading similar books, then you will like this but it’s not for me. I gave it three stars because it’s clearly structured and I like the unusual chapters at the end from the point of view of other people.
March 30, 2020
Dnf. Got off to a great start. I was really intrigued by the flat suspended in time since 1983 and what might have happened to Natasha, it’s occupant.
Well, I still don’t know what happened to Natasha, someone please spoiler this, because I am just finding I can’t keep up with all these characters all referred to by their surnames and the book is kind of long... I don’t want to say it’s a bad book as such, I think it’s my frame of mind at the moment. Covid19 is not doing wonders for my attention span... take my review with a large grain of salt.
Well, I still don’t know what happened to Natasha, someone please spoiler this, because I am just finding I can’t keep up with all these characters all referred to by their surnames and the book is kind of long... I don’t want to say it’s a bad book as such, I think it’s my frame of mind at the moment. Covid19 is not doing wonders for my attention span... take my review with a large grain of salt.
June 3, 2019
Meh didn’t think much of this. It was fairly easy to figure out and there were so many random male characters thrown in Icouldn’t remember who were police and who were wrong ‘uns at the end. But I started so I had to finish.
July 28, 2020
A typical English police procedure with a pair of detectives that makes for an enjoyable enough reading. It's the first of three books written in the last couple of years and pleasant enough.
April 4, 2018
Well, this book started off really well. It also finished really well. But for me, it did lose its way a little in the middle. There are also a lot of characters that did take me a while to get to grips with. Possibly too many if I have to be honest as it meant that I had to really concentrate to remember who was who etc.
Ok, so, we start with a maintenance man being called to address a leak in a flat. On further inspection, he finds something really rather gruesome in the freezer; a severed hand. Enter detectives Nick Styles and Jake Porter, two refreshingly ordinarily named cops, to investigate. On looking round the flat it is obvious that no one had lived there in quite a while. Following the leads, they identify that the previous owner of the limb is the registered owner of the flat, one Natasha Barclay, who bizarrely hasn't been reported missing. And so begins a very convoluted game of cat and mouse fuelled by all the usual secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour you'd expect in a book of this genre, throwing in a bit of corruption along the way. Can Porter and Styles cut through the noise and work out what the heck is going on as they soon discover they have only uncovered the tip of a rather big and nasty iceberg.
There was an awful lot going on in this book and, as already mentioned, there were a lot of characters involved. With so much being done by so many, there is always the danger that it could get a wee bit out of control and I think at some point in the middle it did just that for me. When we did eventually get to the crux of the matter however, when all the baddies were exposed and mostly dealt with, I did have to sit back and admire the author for his plotting. It did all add up and make sense, although I still have that wilderness few chapters where I lost the thread a bit through all the noise but that may have been just me.
Porter and Styles do make a good team though and hopefully this will continue in further books. They complement each other well and some of the banter between them is sublime. They, and the majority of the rest of the cast, come across as real and, on the whole, well described characters; albeit a lot of them. All with their own motivation for their parts in things; all with their own secrets, lies and agendas. For the majority of the book, we know who the main baddies are but it isn't long before it becomes evident that the buck doesn't stop there and that there is more to certain people than first meets the eye. The fun of guess the baddie then begins, aided and abetted by some twists and turns and a bit of misdirection along the way.
To say I was absolutely knackered by the end of the book would be an understatement. Mostly, but not wholly in a good way, I hasten to add. Even when I had turned the last page, my head was still spinning from all that I had read. That said, I did enjoy the book, busy though it was, it was a good plot and the characters were real. I am led to believe that it is also the first book in a new series so I can understand and accept that there was the need to provide more foundations and I think that the author has managed to lay strong enough ones for me to be interested in what happens next to Porter and Styles.
Ok, so, we start with a maintenance man being called to address a leak in a flat. On further inspection, he finds something really rather gruesome in the freezer; a severed hand. Enter detectives Nick Styles and Jake Porter, two refreshingly ordinarily named cops, to investigate. On looking round the flat it is obvious that no one had lived there in quite a while. Following the leads, they identify that the previous owner of the limb is the registered owner of the flat, one Natasha Barclay, who bizarrely hasn't been reported missing. And so begins a very convoluted game of cat and mouse fuelled by all the usual secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour you'd expect in a book of this genre, throwing in a bit of corruption along the way. Can Porter and Styles cut through the noise and work out what the heck is going on as they soon discover they have only uncovered the tip of a rather big and nasty iceberg.
There was an awful lot going on in this book and, as already mentioned, there were a lot of characters involved. With so much being done by so many, there is always the danger that it could get a wee bit out of control and I think at some point in the middle it did just that for me. When we did eventually get to the crux of the matter however, when all the baddies were exposed and mostly dealt with, I did have to sit back and admire the author for his plotting. It did all add up and make sense, although I still have that wilderness few chapters where I lost the thread a bit through all the noise but that may have been just me.
Porter and Styles do make a good team though and hopefully this will continue in further books. They complement each other well and some of the banter between them is sublime. They, and the majority of the rest of the cast, come across as real and, on the whole, well described characters; albeit a lot of them. All with their own motivation for their parts in things; all with their own secrets, lies and agendas. For the majority of the book, we know who the main baddies are but it isn't long before it becomes evident that the buck doesn't stop there and that there is more to certain people than first meets the eye. The fun of guess the baddie then begins, aided and abetted by some twists and turns and a bit of misdirection along the way.
To say I was absolutely knackered by the end of the book would be an understatement. Mostly, but not wholly in a good way, I hasten to add. Even when I had turned the last page, my head was still spinning from all that I had read. That said, I did enjoy the book, busy though it was, it was a good plot and the characters were real. I am led to believe that it is also the first book in a new series so I can understand and accept that there was the need to provide more foundations and I think that the author has managed to lay strong enough ones for me to be interested in what happens next to Porter and Styles.
October 1, 2018
If there are two things this Ginger Book Geek likes, it is discovering new authors and discovering local authors based in the North East of England. With Robert Scragg, I have killed (not literally) two birds with one stone. I read the synopsis for ‘What Falls Between The Cracks’ and I was immediately intrigued. I just knew that this was one book I had to read as soon as possible. I couldn’t wait to get a copy and just dive in. I was not to be disappointed as I absolutely loved reading ‘What Falls Between The Cracks’ but more about that in a bit.
I both took to and loved the detective pairing of Detectives Porter and Styles from the moment I first met them. They are work colleagues but they are also firm friends. They have worked with each other for a while now and they know that they can rely on each other. This partnership certainly produces results. I loved the black sense of humour that they both shared. They use humour as their coping mechanism. Detective Porter has been through his own heartache as he lost his wife in an accident. I get the impression that this happened quite recently as he seems to be going through the early stages of grief. Naturally the loss of his wife still affects him greatly and it occasionally affects his work. Styles on the other hand seems settled, happily married and quite stable.
I had a lot of trouble believing that ‘What Falls Between The Cracks’ is a debut novel as the story is so polished, so well written and the author has the confidence of a more established author. The book starts with a bang and maintains the pace throughout. The story starts in a way that I am certainly not going to forget it. I was hooked on this book from the moment I picked the book up and began to read. The author grabs your attention from the first word and he doesn’t let it go until you have reached the end of the book. That was certainly the case for me. I became addicted to reading the book and if I had to put the book down then I would count down the time until I could pick it up again. It was as if I was under the book’s spell and in desperate need of my next fix. The story is so realistic that I felt as though I was a member of the investigating team. I even found myself beginning to interact with the book. Before anybody says anything, I know it’s a work of fiction but if I am convinced by the storyline and I am enjoying the book then I begin to ‘live’ the story. Reading ‘What Falls Beneath The Cracks’ was much like riding on an unpredictable and on occasion rather scary rollercoaster with lots of highs, lots of lows and moments that will leave you wanting to put your hands over your eyes to avoid seeing what awaits you on the page.
In conclusion, I found this to be an excellent debut novel that is fantastically written and a fabulous read. I would definitely recommend that you read this book. Robert Scragg is definitely a name to watch out for and he deserves huge success. I can’t wait to read what he comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I both took to and loved the detective pairing of Detectives Porter and Styles from the moment I first met them. They are work colleagues but they are also firm friends. They have worked with each other for a while now and they know that they can rely on each other. This partnership certainly produces results. I loved the black sense of humour that they both shared. They use humour as their coping mechanism. Detective Porter has been through his own heartache as he lost his wife in an accident. I get the impression that this happened quite recently as he seems to be going through the early stages of grief. Naturally the loss of his wife still affects him greatly and it occasionally affects his work. Styles on the other hand seems settled, happily married and quite stable.
I had a lot of trouble believing that ‘What Falls Between The Cracks’ is a debut novel as the story is so polished, so well written and the author has the confidence of a more established author. The book starts with a bang and maintains the pace throughout. The story starts in a way that I am certainly not going to forget it. I was hooked on this book from the moment I picked the book up and began to read. The author grabs your attention from the first word and he doesn’t let it go until you have reached the end of the book. That was certainly the case for me. I became addicted to reading the book and if I had to put the book down then I would count down the time until I could pick it up again. It was as if I was under the book’s spell and in desperate need of my next fix. The story is so realistic that I felt as though I was a member of the investigating team. I even found myself beginning to interact with the book. Before anybody says anything, I know it’s a work of fiction but if I am convinced by the storyline and I am enjoying the book then I begin to ‘live’ the story. Reading ‘What Falls Beneath The Cracks’ was much like riding on an unpredictable and on occasion rather scary rollercoaster with lots of highs, lots of lows and moments that will leave you wanting to put your hands over your eyes to avoid seeing what awaits you on the page.
In conclusion, I found this to be an excellent debut novel that is fantastically written and a fabulous read. I would definitely recommend that you read this book. Robert Scragg is definitely a name to watch out for and he deserves huge success. I can’t wait to read what he comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
October 2, 2018
The Plot
What Falls between the Cracks is a Crime fiction novel. It is the first book in the Porter and Styles series. The book revolves around a plot where a severed hand is found in an abandoned flat. Detective Jake Porter and his partner Nick Styles go on the hunt to find Natasha Barclay, whose DNA matches the hand. Natasha has been out of sight for decades, and no one has bothered to look for her all these years!
Detective Jake Porter indulges himself to find some answers to the questions regarding her disappearance. As the story unfolds, Porter and Styles and their team are taken on a journey to misadventures down the darker path.
Is Natasha's family behind her disappearance? What truths will this case uncover on its journey to find Natasha? Among the internal politics in the department and multiple questions surfing in their minds, will Porter and Styles ever find out what happened to Natasha?
The Review
What Falls between the Cracks is really special to me! It is a first Crime Fiction I have ever read, and I was hooked to what the book holds within.
Multiple stories are in a way linked together, and every story is given its special attention. With every page turned the expectations with the book increases and it doesn't disappoint. The mystery unveils and takes unexpected turns and everytime you think you know something, you don't!
You build up an understanding of the characters and come to levels with what they are feeling in every situation.
The story goes on a desirable pace and has a compelling plot, the characters are mettlesome and easy to connect to.
The chemistry between Porter and Styles is commendable and you will easily fall in love with Porter due to his devotion to his work and also appreciate Styles for being the kind of support system that he was throughout the investigation. Every turned page made a new revelation and every sub-plot along with the main plot was carefully curated to give the reader the edge in reading.
The book takes into account a lot of aspects and some untold truths of the police department. Your emotions will connect with Porter so easily that when he feels anxious and restless, you would too. You can't put the book down once you start reading it.
The author has carefully carved the crimes and the supporting information without plotholes (at least none that I could come across).
Conclusion
It is difficult to talk very highly about any book because then readers dive into a book with massive expectations. This book is an excellent read if you are into crime novels and I think it makes a perfect fit if you want to try crime novels! I started with this one, and I am eagerly waiting for the next one in the series.
I think I would love to see more of Porter and Styles and their quest for solving crimes.
The book opened a new window for me regarding book genres, and Crime Fiction is now my favorite!
What Falls between the Cracks is a Crime fiction novel. It is the first book in the Porter and Styles series. The book revolves around a plot where a severed hand is found in an abandoned flat. Detective Jake Porter and his partner Nick Styles go on the hunt to find Natasha Barclay, whose DNA matches the hand. Natasha has been out of sight for decades, and no one has bothered to look for her all these years!
Detective Jake Porter indulges himself to find some answers to the questions regarding her disappearance. As the story unfolds, Porter and Styles and their team are taken on a journey to misadventures down the darker path.
Is Natasha's family behind her disappearance? What truths will this case uncover on its journey to find Natasha? Among the internal politics in the department and multiple questions surfing in their minds, will Porter and Styles ever find out what happened to Natasha?
The Review
What Falls between the Cracks is really special to me! It is a first Crime Fiction I have ever read, and I was hooked to what the book holds within.
Multiple stories are in a way linked together, and every story is given its special attention. With every page turned the expectations with the book increases and it doesn't disappoint. The mystery unveils and takes unexpected turns and everytime you think you know something, you don't!
You build up an understanding of the characters and come to levels with what they are feeling in every situation.
The story goes on a desirable pace and has a compelling plot, the characters are mettlesome and easy to connect to.
The chemistry between Porter and Styles is commendable and you will easily fall in love with Porter due to his devotion to his work and also appreciate Styles for being the kind of support system that he was throughout the investigation. Every turned page made a new revelation and every sub-plot along with the main plot was carefully curated to give the reader the edge in reading.
The book takes into account a lot of aspects and some untold truths of the police department. Your emotions will connect with Porter so easily that when he feels anxious and restless, you would too. You can't put the book down once you start reading it.
The author has carefully carved the crimes and the supporting information without plotholes (at least none that I could come across).
Conclusion
It is difficult to talk very highly about any book because then readers dive into a book with massive expectations. This book is an excellent read if you are into crime novels and I think it makes a perfect fit if you want to try crime novels! I started with this one, and I am eagerly waiting for the next one in the series.
I think I would love to see more of Porter and Styles and their quest for solving crimes.
The book opened a new window for me regarding book genres, and Crime Fiction is now my favorite!
April 18, 2022
This year has definitely been the year for reading new authors… for that I mean they are authors I have never read before not necessarily that they are just publishing their first books. I have come across Robert Scragg a few times but for whatever reason it was not until I heard him talk about his books at Newcastle Noir inn 2021 that I bought What Falls Between the Cracks, the first in the Porter and Styles series.
Detectives Jake Porter and Nick Styles are called to a flat after the severed hand is found in the freezer of what appears to be an abandoned flat. All evidence points to the owner Natasha Barclay not having been either in residence or even seen since the early 80’s. When DNA proves the hand to belong to Natasha, it leaves Porter and Styles to wonder why no one had ever reported her missing, that is until investigations show that her only surviving relatives are a stepmother and half brother who never really got on with her and didn’t seem to want to talk about her at all. The further they dig the more off everything seems making Porter determined to get to the bottom of what happened even if it does mean causing trouble with his superiors.
Jake Porter is still struggling with the death of his wife which at times does make him a little shut off but his rapport with his partner Nick Styles shows that they are friends as well as work colleagues. At all times they have each other’s back and are not above ribbing each other to lighten the mood. Porter did at times seem to come across as a little bit of a loose cannon in the pursuit of the truth, just about staying within the lines his superiors had set for him, but he always managed to stay within the law. With the exception of his partner, you could sense that he tolerated some of his colleagues more from professional courtesy more than respect but as the book progressed I have to admit I could fully understand why.
This book was so much more than an investigation into what happened to Natasha Berkley and just as you think you know who actually was responsible for her disappearance, the actual perpetrator behind her death will surprise you… it certainly did me and the ending was not entirely as I expected it to go. This is a great start to the series and I can honestly see me buying the next 3 that are out there just to see how the relationship between Porter and Styles continues
Detectives Jake Porter and Nick Styles are called to a flat after the severed hand is found in the freezer of what appears to be an abandoned flat. All evidence points to the owner Natasha Barclay not having been either in residence or even seen since the early 80’s. When DNA proves the hand to belong to Natasha, it leaves Porter and Styles to wonder why no one had ever reported her missing, that is until investigations show that her only surviving relatives are a stepmother and half brother who never really got on with her and didn’t seem to want to talk about her at all. The further they dig the more off everything seems making Porter determined to get to the bottom of what happened even if it does mean causing trouble with his superiors.
Jake Porter is still struggling with the death of his wife which at times does make him a little shut off but his rapport with his partner Nick Styles shows that they are friends as well as work colleagues. At all times they have each other’s back and are not above ribbing each other to lighten the mood. Porter did at times seem to come across as a little bit of a loose cannon in the pursuit of the truth, just about staying within the lines his superiors had set for him, but he always managed to stay within the law. With the exception of his partner, you could sense that he tolerated some of his colleagues more from professional courtesy more than respect but as the book progressed I have to admit I could fully understand why.
This book was so much more than an investigation into what happened to Natasha Berkley and just as you think you know who actually was responsible for her disappearance, the actual perpetrator behind her death will surprise you… it certainly did me and the ending was not entirely as I expected it to go. This is a great start to the series and I can honestly see me buying the next 3 that are out there just to see how the relationship between Porter and Styles continues
January 28, 2020
Synopsis:
An investigation into a long-abandoned flat leads to the gruesome discovery of a severed hand. But where is the rest of the body and why did its owner have to die? Jake Porter, who has just lost his wife, makes it his personal mission to find the perpetrator and bring him behind bars."
How far would you go for justice?
This is one of the few crime novels that I've read that are authentic in the way that things don't magically fall into place, not everything works smoothly and there are many obstacles to overcome. In reality, sometimes even when you know who has committed the crime, there might be a lack of proof or "circumstantial evidence" as lawyers like to call it that might lead to a criminal not being convicted. This book will not try to sugarcoat anything. I personally felt the protagonist's frustration as he was tilting at windmills and suffered with him throughout the story.
Therefore, if you like a taste of realistic police work, some harsh truths and have a good tolerance for violence, this book is for you.
I'd like to see this book turned into a TV show and Jake Porter becoming a real character. He might be a little rough around the edges, but he is three-dimensional and one of the good guys, so people can sympathise with him while hating the villain(s). There are so many small details that add to the story, but despite this, the plot never becomes boring. The language used is varied and I especially loved the almost artful allegories.
With that being said, I was disappointed by the blatant fat-shaming the author displayed throughout the book, repeatedly referring to overweight characters as "pile of lard" and dehumanising/ridiculing them. To add to the stereotype, they were also - of course - lazy and evil. Such hateful language and depiction of fat people is problematic and adds to the already existing stigma that we experience. Such language justifies that we deserve to be viewed negatively and even worse, treated poorly.
To sum it up: I would have given it five stars because this book would turn seasoned crime authors green with envy, but other authors write great books without bashing a group of people, so this is something I will not condone and/or reward.
An investigation into a long-abandoned flat leads to the gruesome discovery of a severed hand. But where is the rest of the body and why did its owner have to die? Jake Porter, who has just lost his wife, makes it his personal mission to find the perpetrator and bring him behind bars."
How far would you go for justice?
This is one of the few crime novels that I've read that are authentic in the way that things don't magically fall into place, not everything works smoothly and there are many obstacles to overcome. In reality, sometimes even when you know who has committed the crime, there might be a lack of proof or "circumstantial evidence" as lawyers like to call it that might lead to a criminal not being convicted. This book will not try to sugarcoat anything. I personally felt the protagonist's frustration as he was tilting at windmills and suffered with him throughout the story.
Therefore, if you like a taste of realistic police work, some harsh truths and have a good tolerance for violence, this book is for you.
I'd like to see this book turned into a TV show and Jake Porter becoming a real character. He might be a little rough around the edges, but he is three-dimensional and one of the good guys, so people can sympathise with him while hating the villain(s). There are so many small details that add to the story, but despite this, the plot never becomes boring. The language used is varied and I especially loved the almost artful allegories.
With that being said, I was disappointed by the blatant fat-shaming the author displayed throughout the book, repeatedly referring to overweight characters as "pile of lard" and dehumanising/ridiculing them. To add to the stereotype, they were also - of course - lazy and evil. Such hateful language and depiction of fat people is problematic and adds to the already existing stigma that we experience. Such language justifies that we deserve to be viewed negatively and even worse, treated poorly.
To sum it up: I would have given it five stars because this book would turn seasoned crime authors green with envy, but other authors write great books without bashing a group of people, so this is something I will not condone and/or reward.
July 31, 2020
I don't know how I came upon this series, but I am glad that I did. Set in England this police procedural doesn't have an overwhelming amount of English styled speech. No Cockney rhyming slang or too many references to British personalities or TV shows. Made for an easy to read book. Now, I have to address the totally misleading line on the book jacket above the title "Did she slip, or was she pushed?". If anyone out there has read a number of my reviews, you know that I like the body to appear Early in the story. In this case we only begin with Natasha's hand and apart from the misleading question on the cover, are wondering if there is the slightest possibility she is still alive. Finally, the body is discovered on page 229! Also mentioned in many prior reviews is how I loathe flashbacks. And in this case the multiple persons who are the focus of the flashbacks was a bit annoying. They did however, cover ground that would have been impossible for the present day characters to reveal without implicating themselves. Porter and Styles are a likeable couple of detectives without the flaws of many of the cops portrayed in novels. I look forward to hearing more from these two. Perhaps, at some point a culprit in Porter's wife's hit and run will be located and brought to account. And, of course, Evie Simmons needs to return and the burgeoning relationship with Porter should be explored. Definitely looking forward to reading the second book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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