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Alice Teale is Missing
YOU HAD A SECRET. ALICE FOUND OUT.
Alice Teale walked out of school at the end of a bright spring day.
She's not been seen since.
Alice was popular and well-liked, and her boyfriend, friends and family are desperate to find her.
But soon it's clear that everyone in her life has something to hide.
Then the police receive a disturbing package.
Pages from Alice's precious diary.
Who could have sent them? And what have they done with Alice?
Alice Teale walked out of school at the end of a bright spring day.
She's not been seen since.
Alice was popular and well-liked, and her boyfriend, friends and family are desperate to find her.
But soon it's clear that everyone in her life has something to hide.
Then the police receive a disturbing package.
Pages from Alice's precious diary.
Who could have sent them? And what have they done with Alice?
416 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2019
39 people are currently reading
1753 people want to read
About the author
Howard Linskey
31 books251 followersABOUT ME
A bit about me and my books. I am an author with Canelo, currently writing a series of William Shakespeare mysteries. The first is 'A Serpent In The Garden' which sees Will forced to look into the mysterious death of a lady in Elizabethan London. .
I am also the author of a series of books set in the north east of England, featuring journalists Tom Carney & Helen Norton with detective Ian Bradshaw, who all appear in ‘The Chosen Ones’, ‘The Search’, 'Behind Dead Eyes’ and ‘No Name Lane' and the standalones, 'Alice Teale Is Missing', 'Don't Let Him In' and The Inheritance'.
My WW2 historical novels include ‘Hunting the Hangman’, which tells the true story of the assassination of Nazi General, Reinhard Heydrich, and ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’. The latter features SOE agents, Harry Walsh and Emma Stirling and OSS agent, Sam Cooper.
My earlier novels, the David Blake books, have been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. The Times newspaper voted 'The Drop' one of its Top Five Thrillers of the Year and 'The Damage' one of its Top Summer Reads. Both books broke into the top five Amazon Kindle chart.
I’m honoured to be the ghost writer of ‘Surviving Hell’ which tells the true story of former Para, Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, who were wrongfully imprisoned in India for years, having committed no crime, and 'Surviving Hell', the autobiography of Princess Diana's former bodyguard, Lee Sansum.
On a far lighter note, I am also the writer behind ‘The Little Book Of Pintfulness’ a mindfulness spoof, which comprehensively proves that life is just better with beer. Please read responsibly.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, I led a series of different lives with a number of jobs, including barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management roles. I can confirm that writing books definitely beats working for a living.
I started writing many moons ago and was first published in the Newcastle United football fanzine, 'The Mag'. I then became a journalist and wrote for regional newspapers. I have also written for magazines and web sites and was once the English Premier League football correspondent for a Malaysian magazine. I've stopped all of that nonsense now, preferring to make up stuff instead and call myself an author.
I'm originally from Ferryhill in County Durham but, like most of the people I grew up with, I left the north east in search of work and never quite made it back. I am now settled in Hertfordshire with my lovely wife Alison and wonderful daughter Erin.
I'm still a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and can only assume that Mike Ashley is a punishment inflicted upon us for all of the crimes we committed in our past lives.
I am represented by the best Literary Agent in the UK, Phil Patterson at Marjacq. Catherine Pellegrino looks after my foreign rights there. If you are Brad Pitt and you wish to play David Blake in a movie then Leah Middleton takes care of Film and TV rights:
Marjacq Scripts Ltd
The Space
235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE
+44 (0) 20 7935 9499
F +44 (0) 20 7935 9115
enquiries@marjacq.com
A bit about me and my books. I am an author with Canelo, currently writing a series of William Shakespeare mysteries. The first is 'A Serpent In The Garden' which sees Will forced to look into the mysterious death of a lady in Elizabethan London. .
I am also the author of a series of books set in the north east of England, featuring journalists Tom Carney & Helen Norton with detective Ian Bradshaw, who all appear in ‘The Chosen Ones’, ‘The Search’, 'Behind Dead Eyes’ and ‘No Name Lane' and the standalones, 'Alice Teale Is Missing', 'Don't Let Him In' and The Inheritance'.
My WW2 historical novels include ‘Hunting the Hangman’, which tells the true story of the assassination of Nazi General, Reinhard Heydrich, and ‘Ungentlemanly Warfare’. The latter features SOE agents, Harry Walsh and Emma Stirling and OSS agent, Sam Cooper.
My earlier novels, the David Blake books, have been optioned for TV by Harry Potter producer, David Barron. The Times newspaper voted 'The Drop' one of its Top Five Thrillers of the Year and 'The Damage' one of its Top Summer Reads. Both books broke into the top five Amazon Kindle chart.
I’m honoured to be the ghost writer of ‘Surviving Hell’ which tells the true story of former Para, Nick Dunn, one of the Chennai Six, who were wrongfully imprisoned in India for years, having committed no crime, and 'Surviving Hell', the autobiography of Princess Diana's former bodyguard, Lee Sansum.
On a far lighter note, I am also the writer behind ‘The Little Book Of Pintfulness’ a mindfulness spoof, which comprehensively proves that life is just better with beer. Please read responsibly.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, I led a series of different lives with a number of jobs, including barman, journalist, catering manager and marketing manager for a celebrity chef, as well as in a variety of sales and account management roles. I can confirm that writing books definitely beats working for a living.
I started writing many moons ago and was first published in the Newcastle United football fanzine, 'The Mag'. I then became a journalist and wrote for regional newspapers. I have also written for magazines and web sites and was once the English Premier League football correspondent for a Malaysian magazine. I've stopped all of that nonsense now, preferring to make up stuff instead and call myself an author.
I'm originally from Ferryhill in County Durham but, like most of the people I grew up with, I left the north east in search of work and never quite made it back. I am now settled in Hertfordshire with my lovely wife Alison and wonderful daughter Erin.
I'm still a long-suffering Newcastle United fan and can only assume that Mike Ashley is a punishment inflicted upon us for all of the crimes we committed in our past lives.
I am represented by the best Literary Agent in the UK, Phil Patterson at Marjacq. Catherine Pellegrino looks after my foreign rights there. If you are Brad Pitt and you wish to play David Blake in a movie then Leah Middleton takes care of Film and TV rights:
Marjacq Scripts Ltd
The Space
235 High Holborn
London WC1V 7LE
+44 (0) 20 7935 9499
F +44 (0) 20 7935 9115
enquiries@marjacq.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
October 12, 2019
Howard Linskey is just getting better and better as a crime fiction writer as he proves in this cracker of a book, in what I am hoping is the first of a new series set in Northumberland, in the ex-mining small town of Collemby. DC Beth Winter is a fast track police officer, who has been taken in her first proper posting on DCI Everleigh's team, working with DS Lucas Black who has just taken over the investigation into the missing 17 year old schoolgirl, Alice Teale, last sighted leaving school by a PE teacher, Jessica Pearse. Beth is apprehensive about working with Lucas, about whom rumours proliferate, and someone no-one wants to work with since he shot a man dead on the job. Collemby is a run down town, teeming with gossip and where everyone knows everyone. Collemby Comprehensive is being run by a super head, John Morgan, who has turned the place around from being a failing school.
Alice is beautiful, very bright, popular, a deputy headgirl, has a hectic life with a part time job and involved in numerous extra curricular activities, like drama. Lucas and Beth run down every lead they can follow, wanting to find Alice but time is running out, and they are afraid she is already dead. Their best hope that she has run away, Alice's family is dysfunctional, with her dad having an inbuilt dislike of her, although she is close to her brother, Daniel. The obvious suspect is her boyfriend, Christopher Mullery, but she has an ex-boyfriend who lost everything when she left him. There is a barman, Rick Madden, who was keen on her, rumours that it is common practice for male teachers to get involved with their young students, and her her best friends, Chloe and Kirstie are interviewed. The case takes a strange turn when torn out pages from Alice's journal find their way in dribs and drabs, delivered to the the police team. Lucas and Beth begin to form a close bond as the twisted case progresses, determined to find the truth of what happened to Alice in a town that is full of secrets.
This is an atmospheric crime read, you get a real feel for the economically impoverished North East in the Northumbrian town of Collemby. Linskey's characterisation is great, the complex Alice, Beth is the rookie out to prove herself and the ex-military Lucas is not the most talkative of men, grumpy, burdened by his past in the police force, both working a case that takes it toll on them, personally and professionally. It is fascinating watching their relationship develop under such intense pressure. This is a highly entertaining gripping and compulsive crime read, with many twists and turns until the horrifying truth comes to light. I would definitely recommend this to fans of crime fiction. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
Alice is beautiful, very bright, popular, a deputy headgirl, has a hectic life with a part time job and involved in numerous extra curricular activities, like drama. Lucas and Beth run down every lead they can follow, wanting to find Alice but time is running out, and they are afraid she is already dead. Their best hope that she has run away, Alice's family is dysfunctional, with her dad having an inbuilt dislike of her, although she is close to her brother, Daniel. The obvious suspect is her boyfriend, Christopher Mullery, but she has an ex-boyfriend who lost everything when she left him. There is a barman, Rick Madden, who was keen on her, rumours that it is common practice for male teachers to get involved with their young students, and her her best friends, Chloe and Kirstie are interviewed. The case takes a strange turn when torn out pages from Alice's journal find their way in dribs and drabs, delivered to the the police team. Lucas and Beth begin to form a close bond as the twisted case progresses, determined to find the truth of what happened to Alice in a town that is full of secrets.
This is an atmospheric crime read, you get a real feel for the economically impoverished North East in the Northumbrian town of Collemby. Linskey's characterisation is great, the complex Alice, Beth is the rookie out to prove herself and the ex-military Lucas is not the most talkative of men, grumpy, burdened by his past in the police force, both working a case that takes it toll on them, personally and professionally. It is fascinating watching their relationship develop under such intense pressure. This is a highly entertaining gripping and compulsive crime read, with many twists and turns until the horrifying truth comes to light. I would definitely recommend this to fans of crime fiction. Many thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
November 23, 2019
I’ve been wanting to read a Howard Linksey for a while so was very pleased to receive this ARC and I was not disappointed! The author writes well, the story was well paced and it was an enjoyable read. The story was set in Collemby, a small, run down town in Northumberland not too far from Newcastle.
I really liked the start of the book which was an extract from Alice Teale’s journal which I found intriguing and so I was hooked from the start! There were extracts from Alice's journal tantalising us throughout the book and little by little we learn about her and her concerns.. Alice was a bright, attractive and independent 17 year old who attended the local Collemby School and was studying A Levels with a view to university. She had a tangled home life with a difficult relationship with her volatile father. Alice was reported missing after leaving school late one evening with the PE teacher being the last person to see her. DC Beth Winter and DS Lucas Black investigated her disappearance and what followed was an intriguing tale with plenty of twists and turns to satisfy enthusiasts of the crime fiction genre.
The quality of the writing of the story was very good. For example, I found I could easily picture the town of Collemby in its fading, former ‘glory’ as it resembled many former pit towns. You could feel the tension between Alice’s parents and wince at the harsh, combative nature of her pint swilling father. He was truly an unpleasant soul who Alice tried to understandably avoid. All the characters were well captured, you could picture the teenage angst and the evasiveness of some of Alice’s teachers which made you wonder why anyone would employ them! The stand out characters were Alice, Beth and Lucas. Lucas had a reputation which led to Beth being wary of him but as the barriers broke down them the two became an excellent team and I will definitely want to see what happens next in their working and personal lives. There was real tension in the writing when Lucas told Beth his backstory and that was the point where significant trust developed between them.
Alice’s journal made us ‘see’ the real Alice. She was an interesting girl though very troubled, playing a role that people wanted her to play. She was clearly in pain but we don’t know why but assume it was because she was under pressure to be perfect. I thought the journal sections worked very well in the storytelling. My only negative was the end which I wasn’t entirely convinced by, hence 4 rather than 5 stars. Also, schools take registers electronically but I guess that wouldn’t have made the storytelling so interesting!!!!
Overall, a well crafted story with a few shocks, some tension which was relieved with some nice touches of dry humour especially from Lucas. There were secrets aplenty with characters who do things they most definitely shouldn’t. We had messed up, dysfunctional families and criminals who were hiding in plain sight and students who who were living in misery.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for this ARC.
I really liked the start of the book which was an extract from Alice Teale’s journal which I found intriguing and so I was hooked from the start! There were extracts from Alice's journal tantalising us throughout the book and little by little we learn about her and her concerns.. Alice was a bright, attractive and independent 17 year old who attended the local Collemby School and was studying A Levels with a view to university. She had a tangled home life with a difficult relationship with her volatile father. Alice was reported missing after leaving school late one evening with the PE teacher being the last person to see her. DC Beth Winter and DS Lucas Black investigated her disappearance and what followed was an intriguing tale with plenty of twists and turns to satisfy enthusiasts of the crime fiction genre.
The quality of the writing of the story was very good. For example, I found I could easily picture the town of Collemby in its fading, former ‘glory’ as it resembled many former pit towns. You could feel the tension between Alice’s parents and wince at the harsh, combative nature of her pint swilling father. He was truly an unpleasant soul who Alice tried to understandably avoid. All the characters were well captured, you could picture the teenage angst and the evasiveness of some of Alice’s teachers which made you wonder why anyone would employ them! The stand out characters were Alice, Beth and Lucas. Lucas had a reputation which led to Beth being wary of him but as the barriers broke down them the two became an excellent team and I will definitely want to see what happens next in their working and personal lives. There was real tension in the writing when Lucas told Beth his backstory and that was the point where significant trust developed between them.
Alice’s journal made us ‘see’ the real Alice. She was an interesting girl though very troubled, playing a role that people wanted her to play. She was clearly in pain but we don’t know why but assume it was because she was under pressure to be perfect. I thought the journal sections worked very well in the storytelling. My only negative was the end which I wasn’t entirely convinced by, hence 4 rather than 5 stars. Also, schools take registers electronically but I guess that wouldn’t have made the storytelling so interesting!!!!
Overall, a well crafted story with a few shocks, some tension which was relieved with some nice touches of dry humour especially from Lucas. There were secrets aplenty with characters who do things they most definitely shouldn’t. We had messed up, dysfunctional families and criminals who were hiding in plain sight and students who who were living in misery.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for this ARC.
August 31, 2019
Alice Teale Is Missing is definitely one of THE most addictive novels I’ve read this year – a read in record time for me I did not want to put it down.
For a start the police team of Black and Winter (who should definitely have their own tv show) were brilliantly engaging- a new relationship for them and for us – then add to that a really intriguing and unpredictable mystery for them to solve and you have a pitch perfect crime read.
The diary entries from the missing girl add a lot of flavour to proceedings as well as throwing up some little twists and turns. The suspect pool is cleverly layered so you really are not sure what’s going on and the ultimate resolution is emotionally charged.
Really thought this was excellent. Great set up for future stories too I will look forward to that with anticipation.
Recommended.
For a start the police team of Black and Winter (who should definitely have their own tv show) were brilliantly engaging- a new relationship for them and for us – then add to that a really intriguing and unpredictable mystery for them to solve and you have a pitch perfect crime read.
The diary entries from the missing girl add a lot of flavour to proceedings as well as throwing up some little twists and turns. The suspect pool is cleverly layered so you really are not sure what’s going on and the ultimate resolution is emotionally charged.
Really thought this was excellent. Great set up for future stories too I will look forward to that with anticipation.
Recommended.
September 8, 2025
Bye, bye book slump!
👏👏👏👏👏
Special thanks to author Howard Linskey for delivering a riveting police procedural that FINALLY ended my 2-star book slump.
Popular 17-year-old Alice Teale walked out of school at the end of a bright spring day and never came home.
What happened to Alice Teale?
DC Beth Winter and DS Lucas Black are the two superstar detectives investigating Alice's disappearance in this pacey, ultra-compelling. and intricately plotted police procedural.
This thriller was a 2019 release that somehow escaped my radar.
Sadly, future Howard Linskey releases do not feature these two brilliant detectives.
I listened to the audiobook, expertly narrated by Kirsty Dillon and Chelsea Halfpenny.
Both narrators gave outstanding performances.
4.5 stars
January 23, 2020
3.5 rounded up to 4
This story is about how seventeen year old Alice Teale disappeared on her way home from school. There are quite a few suspects. It's set in the Cambrain town of Collamby. A place where everyone knows everyone's business. DC Beth Winter and DS Lucas Black are sent to investigate Alice's disappearance.
The two detectives had not worked together before but they were put together to try and find Alice. They are likeable characters who work well together. The pace is fast at the start of the story but by the middle, it takes a dip. But thankfully it picks up again. No one has seen Alice for six days. Will they find her safe and well? There are plenty of red herrings to put you off the scent. I hope to read more about Winter and Balck in the future.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK- Michael Joseph and the author H.A. Lindley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is about how seventeen year old Alice Teale disappeared on her way home from school. There are quite a few suspects. It's set in the Cambrain town of Collamby. A place where everyone knows everyone's business. DC Beth Winter and DS Lucas Black are sent to investigate Alice's disappearance.
The two detectives had not worked together before but they were put together to try and find Alice. They are likeable characters who work well together. The pace is fast at the start of the story but by the middle, it takes a dip. But thankfully it picks up again. No one has seen Alice for six days. Will they find her safe and well? There are plenty of red herrings to put you off the scent. I hope to read more about Winter and Balck in the future.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Penguin UK- Michael Joseph and the author H.A. Lindley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2020
I really enjoyed this dark gripping read, which was the first thriller I’ve read from this talented author. I’m a huge fan of his historical books so I was very curious to see what his thrillers would be like.
This book drew me in from the start with its intriguing storyline and the lovely writing which made it very easy to read. The story is told from the point of view of the two detectives investigating Alice’s disappearance and I enjoyed following them on their investigations. I particularly liked that the story starts at the beginning of their investigation as it was fun to be involved from the start. The story is interspersed with extracts from Alice’s diary where we start to learn a little more about the real Alice which I thought was cleverly done, particularly as it was written in a different tone to the rest of the book. Some of the passages were quite revealing and made me think more was going on then I originally thought.
Interestingly I liked both the main characters, despite not being keen on Lucas Black at the beginning, he grew on me as the story progressed. I liked how he could show different faces to the world and be a gruff guy sometimes but be almost caring at others. Beth, as a new police officer, gives a fascinating insight into what being on an investigation means and how tricky it can be earning respect as a newbie. I liked how the author includes her real feelings into the story so she’s not just a professional cop but also a human being capable of getting frustrated and annoyed with people, though she tries her best to hide it. I thought they made a very good team and hope that they might appear in future books.
The tension and mystery in the book is slowly increased as the story goes on and I had many scenarios running through my head as to what might have happened. The pace isn’t overly fast to begin with as the author sets the scene but I found myself enjoying watching Beth and Lucas work together as well as learning about Alice so I didn’t mind this. The last quarter of the book is very gripping however and I found it very enjoyable to see everything unfold, with the ending being very satisfying.
Huge thanks to Sriya for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. I’ll definitely be reading more books from this author in the future!
This book drew me in from the start with its intriguing storyline and the lovely writing which made it very easy to read. The story is told from the point of view of the two detectives investigating Alice’s disappearance and I enjoyed following them on their investigations. I particularly liked that the story starts at the beginning of their investigation as it was fun to be involved from the start. The story is interspersed with extracts from Alice’s diary where we start to learn a little more about the real Alice which I thought was cleverly done, particularly as it was written in a different tone to the rest of the book. Some of the passages were quite revealing and made me think more was going on then I originally thought.
Interestingly I liked both the main characters, despite not being keen on Lucas Black at the beginning, he grew on me as the story progressed. I liked how he could show different faces to the world and be a gruff guy sometimes but be almost caring at others. Beth, as a new police officer, gives a fascinating insight into what being on an investigation means and how tricky it can be earning respect as a newbie. I liked how the author includes her real feelings into the story so she’s not just a professional cop but also a human being capable of getting frustrated and annoyed with people, though she tries her best to hide it. I thought they made a very good team and hope that they might appear in future books.
The tension and mystery in the book is slowly increased as the story goes on and I had many scenarios running through my head as to what might have happened. The pace isn’t overly fast to begin with as the author sets the scene but I found myself enjoying watching Beth and Lucas work together as well as learning about Alice so I didn’t mind this. The last quarter of the book is very gripping however and I found it very enjoyable to see everything unfold, with the ending being very satisfying.
Huge thanks to Sriya for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. I’ll definitely be reading more books from this author in the future!
July 29, 2019
I got this as an arc at Harrogate crime festival - and it’s a real treat of a read. I love the characters of black and winter and would avidly read anymore novels they featured in, even the background characters are rich and alive I cared about the diner opening for instance. Tied with that is a fantastic plot that unravels with a combined police procedure and extracts from the missing girls diaries. This is one of those cases where you wish you could give more than 5* to a book
June 11, 2022
I guess I'm in the minority here.
January 28, 2020
One evening in Spring, seventeen year old Alice Teale leaves the school grounds around 9pm and is never seen again. What happened to her and why? The investigation gets off to quite a slow start until DS Lucas Black takes over with the help from DS Beth Winter.
The small mining town of Collemby hides quite a few secrets. Did Alice stumble upon something she shouldn’t have? Or did she simply run away from a far-from-perfect family home? Quite a few theories floated through my brain at one point or another but I could never quite decide on one to stick with. When someone starts sending the detectives excerpts from Alice’s journal, seemingly taunting them with information, the whole thing became even more complicated in my head and I stopped trying to figure things out. Which was a good thing too because it all turned out a whole lot more dark and disturbing than I bargained for.
I didn’t particularly like Alice, which seemed wrong somehow, considering the fact that she went missing and might possibly be in quite a lot of trouble or worse. But that didn’t stop me from becoming completely invested in her life, wanting to know what happened to her and even hoping for a positive outcome to it all. Her journal entries work really well into giving the reader an insight into the kind of girl Alice is and at the same time they act like pieces of a puzzle to try and fit together.
I did however instantly like both Lucas and Beth. This is Beth’s first big case so obviously she wants to do a good job and impress the powers that be. But Lucas is … well, he’s Lucas. You’ll have to find out more about that yourself. There’s a bit of a dark cloud hanging around him and he’s not exactly popular. Yet somehow, this rather odd pairing works like a charm and while it doesn’t look like this book is the first in a series, I’m kind of hoping that it is because I’d absolutely love to read more stories involving Lucas and Beth.
The pace is spot-on throughout and the plot is full of intrigue, mystery and a red herring or two. Alice Teale Is Missing had me hook, line and sinker from the very first page and didn’t let go. Tense, suspenseful and engrossing, I have no doubt this will appeal to crime fiction fans everywhere. I hadn’t read a Howard Linskey book before, despite seeing the name pass by often enough, but I already know it won’t be my last.
The small mining town of Collemby hides quite a few secrets. Did Alice stumble upon something she shouldn’t have? Or did she simply run away from a far-from-perfect family home? Quite a few theories floated through my brain at one point or another but I could never quite decide on one to stick with. When someone starts sending the detectives excerpts from Alice’s journal, seemingly taunting them with information, the whole thing became even more complicated in my head and I stopped trying to figure things out. Which was a good thing too because it all turned out a whole lot more dark and disturbing than I bargained for.
I didn’t particularly like Alice, which seemed wrong somehow, considering the fact that she went missing and might possibly be in quite a lot of trouble or worse. But that didn’t stop me from becoming completely invested in her life, wanting to know what happened to her and even hoping for a positive outcome to it all. Her journal entries work really well into giving the reader an insight into the kind of girl Alice is and at the same time they act like pieces of a puzzle to try and fit together.
I did however instantly like both Lucas and Beth. This is Beth’s first big case so obviously she wants to do a good job and impress the powers that be. But Lucas is … well, he’s Lucas. You’ll have to find out more about that yourself. There’s a bit of a dark cloud hanging around him and he’s not exactly popular. Yet somehow, this rather odd pairing works like a charm and while it doesn’t look like this book is the first in a series, I’m kind of hoping that it is because I’d absolutely love to read more stories involving Lucas and Beth.
The pace is spot-on throughout and the plot is full of intrigue, mystery and a red herring or two. Alice Teale Is Missing had me hook, line and sinker from the very first page and didn’t let go. Tense, suspenseful and engrossing, I have no doubt this will appeal to crime fiction fans everywhere. I hadn’t read a Howard Linskey book before, despite seeing the name pass by often enough, but I already know it won’t be my last.
September 2, 2019
A well-written and enjoyable detective story although with some aspects of a familiar theme - child abuse. Unpleasant but not too graphic. A teenager goes missing after leaving school late one evening. The two main detectives put on this case - Lucas Black, somewhat ostracised following a previous case which went horribly wrong, and Beth Winter, straight from police college - are characters each with their own traumatic history and find it difficult to work together at first. Of course they gradually come round to acknowledging each other's strengths, he loosens up and she learns, and are starting to form a strong team by the time this story ends. The story involves trying to elicit the truth from teenagers, teachers, parents as to what happened to the missing girl of the title with plenty of twists and turns. Interwoven with the interviews and paper chasing there are pages from Alice's missing diary which keep turning up on Lucas' desk as clues. It is probably blindingly obvious but I'm still not sure who was sending these! Set in a run-down former mining town in the North East of England the descriptions have a strong sense of place and either the author knows the area well or has done some thorough research. The ending: whilst it's clear who the perpetrators were, proof versus a skilled lawyer, and people in high places, don't always play ball as our two protagonists discover but this leaves the way open for more stories. I look forward to these. .Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
February 7, 2020
I was taken by the interesting synopsis for this novel even though I hadn't heard of
Howard Linksey,
and was delighted to discover that Alice Teale is Missing is set in Collemby, a small fictional Northumbrian mining town. Alice Teale has vanished; she was spotted leaving the school grounds late one evening and she's never been seen since.
Enter Winter and Black ( I love the names!) - DC Beth Winter is a fast track police officer, on her first proper posting with DCI Everleigh's team. She's working with DS Lucas Black who has just taken over the investigation into the missing seventeen-year-old schoolgirl. Nobody wants to team up with DS Black about whom rumours are rife since he shot a man dead, whilst attending a call-out. Collemby is a run-down town, buzzing with gossip and a place where everyone knows everyone. The local Comprehensive is managed by new headteacher, John Morgan, who has turned it around from being a failing school.
In this atmospheric crime read, Howard Linskey's superb writing allowed me to get a real feel for the town of Collemby, although this wasn't difficult for me as it is my local area. Howard Linskey's characterisation was marvellous, from the complex Alice, and Beth Winter who felt she had something to prove, to the ex-military Lucas Black who was unforthcoming, reticent, and burdened by his past performance in the Force. Both of these detectives were part of an investigation that had ramifications for them, personally and professionally.
Alice Teale is Missing was a hugely gripping, entertaining and compelling read, with many twists and changes of direction. The horrifying truth is eventually revealed in an unexpected and fulfilling denouement. I would definitely recommend this novel to fans of crime fiction.
I have found myself another favourite author and I'm off to grab myself a copy of No Name Lane, another of Howard Linskey's novels that I'm now hoping to read.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Penguin Michael Joseph via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Enter Winter and Black ( I love the names!) - DC Beth Winter is a fast track police officer, on her first proper posting with DCI Everleigh's team. She's working with DS Lucas Black who has just taken over the investigation into the missing seventeen-year-old schoolgirl. Nobody wants to team up with DS Black about whom rumours are rife since he shot a man dead, whilst attending a call-out. Collemby is a run-down town, buzzing with gossip and a place where everyone knows everyone. The local Comprehensive is managed by new headteacher, John Morgan, who has turned it around from being a failing school.
In this atmospheric crime read, Howard Linskey's superb writing allowed me to get a real feel for the town of Collemby, although this wasn't difficult for me as it is my local area. Howard Linskey's characterisation was marvellous, from the complex Alice, and Beth Winter who felt she had something to prove, to the ex-military Lucas Black who was unforthcoming, reticent, and burdened by his past performance in the Force. Both of these detectives were part of an investigation that had ramifications for them, personally and professionally.
Alice Teale is Missing was a hugely gripping, entertaining and compelling read, with many twists and changes of direction. The horrifying truth is eventually revealed in an unexpected and fulfilling denouement. I would definitely recommend this novel to fans of crime fiction.
I have found myself another favourite author and I'm off to grab myself a copy of No Name Lane, another of Howard Linskey's novels that I'm now hoping to read.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Penguin Michael Joseph via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 15, 2020
With thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
Graduate trainee DC Beth Winter was excited when she gained a p!ace on DCI Eversleigh`s team. However she was warned that her boss would be DS Lucas Black who had gained notoriety for killing a man.
On her first day on the team Beth learnt they were on a missing person case. Six days earlier 17 year old Alice Teale was last seen leaving Collemby Comprehensive School, she had not been seen since.
At home Alice had a troubled relationship with her volatile father. Her boyfriend Christopher also attended Collemby Comprehensive. However when Christopher split up with Alice for a short period, She started going out with his best friend Tony. When Christopher made up with Alice he had a huge fight with Tony in the pub. After that Tony was ostracized from his friends at school and decided to leave. Ever since he had spent his time at home, getting increasing bitter.
As the investigation progressed Lucas was sent selected parts of Alice`s journal. The journal showed the real Alice and what she really thought of her friends and school.
I instantly warmed to Beth and I could understand why she was wary of Lucas. Lucas was an intriguing character and I can't wait to found out more about him. When he told the story of the killing I could feel his remorse. I especially liked his friends Adam and Gemma and loved the idea of an American diner in a railway carriage.
The plot was skilfully woven with twists and turns a plenty. I don't want to reveal any spoilers but the ending was shocking. If I had any criticism I don't understand why parts of Alice`s journal was sent to the police, it didn't make sense.
I thought Beth and Lucas made a great team and hope this will be the first book in a series. A big five
Graduate trainee DC Beth Winter was excited when she gained a p!ace on DCI Eversleigh`s team. However she was warned that her boss would be DS Lucas Black who had gained notoriety for killing a man.
On her first day on the team Beth learnt they were on a missing person case. Six days earlier 17 year old Alice Teale was last seen leaving Collemby Comprehensive School, she had not been seen since.
At home Alice had a troubled relationship with her volatile father. Her boyfriend Christopher also attended Collemby Comprehensive. However when Christopher split up with Alice for a short period, She started going out with his best friend Tony. When Christopher made up with Alice he had a huge fight with Tony in the pub. After that Tony was ostracized from his friends at school and decided to leave. Ever since he had spent his time at home, getting increasing bitter.
As the investigation progressed Lucas was sent selected parts of Alice`s journal. The journal showed the real Alice and what she really thought of her friends and school.
I instantly warmed to Beth and I could understand why she was wary of Lucas. Lucas was an intriguing character and I can't wait to found out more about him. When he told the story of the killing I could feel his remorse. I especially liked his friends Adam and Gemma and loved the idea of an American diner in a railway carriage.
The plot was skilfully woven with twists and turns a plenty. I don't want to reveal any spoilers but the ending was shocking. If I had any criticism I don't understand why parts of Alice`s journal was sent to the police, it didn't make sense.
I thought Beth and Lucas made a great team and hope this will be the first book in a series. A big five
July 2, 2020
Another brilliant novel by Howard Linskey. Immediately warmed to the detective duo. Kept me intrigued and guessing all the way to the end. Howard has a way to draw the reader in to relating to the characters from the start. I really hope this is the start of a series - please!
May 13, 2020
Well written, nice twisty plot and interesting main characters....all the features of a really good read. I haven’t read this author before, but will certainly seek out more.
February 5, 2020
Read my full review here: https://crimebookjunkie.co.uk/2020/02...
July 23, 2019
My 5* review of Howard Linskey "Alice Teale is Missing'
The author excels with this book, I read it within 24 hrs. Totally gripping from the very start. Love the characters Lucas Black old hand and Beth Winter a rookie. I do hope we see more of these two. A total winner for the author.
The author excels with this book, I read it within 24 hrs. Totally gripping from the very start. Love the characters Lucas Black old hand and Beth Winter a rookie. I do hope we see more of these two. A total winner for the author.
June 20, 2020
I was thrilled when I was approved to read Alice Teale is Missing on NetGalley and I’m so pleased to say that it more than lived up to my expectations!
Alice Teale is Missing is a novel that looks at the disappearance of teenager Alice – she is seen leaving school one afternoon but then is never seen again. Her disappearance is being investigated by detectives Lucas Black and Beth Winter, and interspersed with chapters following the investigation we get to read snippets of Alice’s diary.
I loved how this story was told – it was great to see who Alice was and how she was feeling in the period leading up to her disappearance. It made her feel like a real person and I felt really invested in whether she would be found.
I also adored Black and Winter together, they made for such an interesting team and I loved the way they were new to working together and so sizing each other up whilst also working on the investigation. Black is the more senior detective and Winter respects that but she’s also not afraid to put forward her views. I’m really hoping that this book is the first in a series and that we might get another book with Black and Winter because they are my new favourite detective duo.
The investigation into Alice’s disappearance grows increasingly complex as Black and Winter interview witnesses and potential suspects. There are some unsavoury people connected to the school and you don’t know if this is a lead or if it’s a red herring.
I devoured Alice Teale is Missing in one sitting as I was so engrossed in the novel, and the writing is brilliant. I simply had to know what had happened to Alice and where she was. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author, and I highly recommend this book!
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
Alice Teale is Missing is a novel that looks at the disappearance of teenager Alice – she is seen leaving school one afternoon but then is never seen again. Her disappearance is being investigated by detectives Lucas Black and Beth Winter, and interspersed with chapters following the investigation we get to read snippets of Alice’s diary.
I loved how this story was told – it was great to see who Alice was and how she was feeling in the period leading up to her disappearance. It made her feel like a real person and I felt really invested in whether she would be found.
I also adored Black and Winter together, they made for such an interesting team and I loved the way they were new to working together and so sizing each other up whilst also working on the investigation. Black is the more senior detective and Winter respects that but she’s also not afraid to put forward her views. I’m really hoping that this book is the first in a series and that we might get another book with Black and Winter because they are my new favourite detective duo.
The investigation into Alice’s disappearance grows increasingly complex as Black and Winter interview witnesses and potential suspects. There are some unsavoury people connected to the school and you don’t know if this is a lead or if it’s a red herring.
I devoured Alice Teale is Missing in one sitting as I was so engrossed in the novel, and the writing is brilliant. I simply had to know what had happened to Alice and where she was. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author, and I highly recommend this book!
This review was originally posted on my blog https://rathertoofondofbooks.com
August 9, 2019
My first by Mr Linskey but definitely not my last!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so nice to read a police procedural that wasn't bogged down by jargon or abbreviations. It was also good to read a gripping missing person novel that wasn't awash with gruesome bits. Now I don't mind a bit of gore but reading a novel that relies on the quality of the storytelling, rather than a shock factor, really does make a refreshing change.
The characters were all well developed and introduced. Although the back cover of this book states that this is a new stand alone novel, there is definitely scope for more from Black and Winter, and Mr Linskey may find himself having to develop a series for these two!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so nice to read a police procedural that wasn't bogged down by jargon or abbreviations. It was also good to read a gripping missing person novel that wasn't awash with gruesome bits. Now I don't mind a bit of gore but reading a novel that relies on the quality of the storytelling, rather than a shock factor, really does make a refreshing change.
The characters were all well developed and introduced. Although the back cover of this book states that this is a new stand alone novel, there is definitely scope for more from Black and Winter, and Mr Linskey may find himself having to develop a series for these two!
October 20, 2019
While Linskey writes fluently, the plot and premise of this book is very familiar: a teenager disappears prompting the uncovering of secrets and lies in a small town. With two detectives with their own emotional vulnerabilities forging a new partnership, plus lots of red herrings we don't make much progress for some time - and the on-trend denouement is pretty predictable. The slick writing compensates for the over-familiarity of the story - but if you're looking for originality and read regularly in the genre, this may feel very similar to lots of other books out there.
January 17, 2020
Another new author again but another great first read!!! Lucky me!!!
Absolutely tore through this book in two days and didn’t stop for breath, brilliant storyline and characters and loved the detectives who had their own baggage and life dramas going on in the background.
Thought it was fast paced though it kinda slowed in the middle but not too much, great ending too, left me wanting more.
Looking forward to more of the same....
Absolutely tore through this book in two days and didn’t stop for breath, brilliant storyline and characters and loved the detectives who had their own baggage and life dramas going on in the background.
Thought it was fast paced though it kinda slowed in the middle but not too much, great ending too, left me wanting more.
Looking forward to more of the same....
January 11, 2020
Absolutely awesome. A start of a new series by the incredible Howard Linskey? I hope so. I urge all British fiction crime fans to buy this immediately.
January 28, 2020
I have a soft spot for missing person cases. They tend to turn into giant and sticky spider webs with secrets at every corner, whether those secrets matter to the case or not. Well, I am talking about the good missing person cases. The plots which keep you hoping you will find the person alive. The book which makes you hear the ticking of the clock, each minute resonating like the slap of death. To be honest, I have not read many novels that managed to tick all the boxes.
Alice Teale Is Missing did.
What a book! Where do I begin? In a small town, a seemingly perfect teenager goes missing. Two important words here: teenager and missing. To the police, they often ring a bell. ‘Oh, she’s just run away’ We can’t blame them, it does happen. Except in this case, the reader knows there is more to it than a girl packing up to flee to London. And the first hours and days have been lost.
That prologue. I could feel goosebumps break out on my arms. I read it twice, getting each word into my mind, my instinct telling me it would all make sense in the end, and it would feel even more satisfying if I could connect this chilling opening to what I hoped would be a great ending.
If the beginning left me spooked, the first lines of Alice Teale’s diary got me hungry for answers to questions I had at the top of my tongue. Without context, it was hard to decipher Alice’s prose, but it is obvious that the diary is a key element in finding her, and discovering the truth. That’s why I don’t have a diary! Ha! If I die, no one will have a clue where to look.
So, two big things in a few pages. I considered myself lucky. Then I met Beth Winter. Again, a short chapter, just enough information to understand she is being shipped to a team to investigate Alice Teale’s disappearance. A team she might not want to stay with for too long…
Oh, were you hoping for only a few secrets, well-hidden and unraveled at a peak moment? Welcome to secrets land. Scarcely have I been given so many details and yet felt so confused by all the secrecy than with this book. And let me tell you, I loved every minute of it.
Beth is teamed up with Lucas Black, a senior detective with a dark past and a broody mood. Young and inexperienced when it comes to big cases, I loved how Beth assessed her position, her new bosses, and did her best to do what was expected of her, and more. Her resilience led me to admire her, and soon, I was on her side, if there was a side to choose. Lucas Black is a mystery (another one!) but the author doesn’t overplay this card, which made it easier for me to find a breach and understand him better. Winter and Black learn how to work together, and the reader learns how to follow them, not always in on their thoughts until necessary. It requires to trust the author, but don’t fear, as Howard Linksey masterfully directs his play, leaving nothing to chance, yet letting the toxic fog of lies wrap itself around the world he has created.
The plot itself is superb. Parts of Alice’s diary are sent to Lucas Black. Every person who is linked to the missing teenager has something to hide. Winter and Black are gold diggers in a muddy land. Well-crafted clues are discovered, but as in many investigations, not everything you learn leads you in the right direction. I couldn’t get enough of the police work, the talks to the family, boyfriend, friends. I relished the possibility to compare what others said of Alice to what her own words revealed of the young girl. Pages of her diary keep appearing, and with them the tension builds. Who is hiding what?
It is obvious Alice found out something, and I was in awe of the way the author had his main character retrace her steps, trying to figure out what she had heard or seen, and would have caused her to disappear. Could Winter and Black be clever enough to reach Alice’s big secret? The authentic feel of police work, with its frustrations and strains, the long hours and the cul-de-sacs, kept me hooked like a fish to a bait!
Alice Teale Is Missing is a nail-biting read filled with perfect dark secrets. One of my favourite missing person cases!
January 29, 2020
The opening is, to say the least, creepy and unsettling. The perfect introduction for what is to follow. When the seventeen-year-old girl left school she was seen by a teacher, Alice Teale didn’t reach home.
DC Beth Winter had been transferred to Collemby, a small town in Northumbria when she graduated training college to join DCI Everleigh’s team. When Alice Teale went missing she was assigned with DS Lucas Black to take over the case from a retiring officer. Black comes with a past that makes him like the leper no-one wants to partner and a pairing that Winter felt very uncomfortable about. Something that she would have to deal with if they are to solve the case of the missing teenager. Thing is he is such a lovely bloke.
The town has seen better days and the school had been failing until John Morgan had been brought in and turned it around with his radical ideas that worked. When Black and Winter dig into the school’s history there have been disturbing problems in the past. Alice Teale is a popular girl, very pretty and up for a laugh but her home life leaves a lot to be desired. The murky pool of suspects clouds even more when torn out pages of Alice’s journal begin to arrive at the police station to taunt Black and Winter.
I felt like I was chasing every chapter so desperate to find out what had happened to Alice in this run down town, with residents that completed the picture perfectly. Every relationship had its ugly side, friends, lovers and workmates. The journal pages were cryptic but I got that completely, no-one wants their secrets and inner thoughts being found and read by someone else. Alice is quite a character, that isn’t easy to forget and to be honest I really don’t want to forget her. Black and Winter turn into a team I need more of. A perfect pairing.
Howard Linskey has got himself a real winner with this book and although he has stated it is a standalone I really hope that he makes this into a series, it would be a belter.
I wish to thank the publisher for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
DC Beth Winter had been transferred to Collemby, a small town in Northumbria when she graduated training college to join DCI Everleigh’s team. When Alice Teale went missing she was assigned with DS Lucas Black to take over the case from a retiring officer. Black comes with a past that makes him like the leper no-one wants to partner and a pairing that Winter felt very uncomfortable about. Something that she would have to deal with if they are to solve the case of the missing teenager. Thing is he is such a lovely bloke.
The town has seen better days and the school had been failing until John Morgan had been brought in and turned it around with his radical ideas that worked. When Black and Winter dig into the school’s history there have been disturbing problems in the past. Alice Teale is a popular girl, very pretty and up for a laugh but her home life leaves a lot to be desired. The murky pool of suspects clouds even more when torn out pages of Alice’s journal begin to arrive at the police station to taunt Black and Winter.
I felt like I was chasing every chapter so desperate to find out what had happened to Alice in this run down town, with residents that completed the picture perfectly. Every relationship had its ugly side, friends, lovers and workmates. The journal pages were cryptic but I got that completely, no-one wants their secrets and inner thoughts being found and read by someone else. Alice is quite a character, that isn’t easy to forget and to be honest I really don’t want to forget her. Black and Winter turn into a team I need more of. A perfect pairing.
Howard Linskey has got himself a real winner with this book and although he has stated it is a standalone I really hope that he makes this into a series, it would be a belter.
I wish to thank the publisher for a copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.
October 26, 2019
Set in Northumberland, in the ex-mining small town of Collemby (which is fictional but very realistically evoked of such mining towns) Alice Teale has gone missing. Someone saw her leaving school grounds at 9pm and she's never been seen since.
It shouldn't be hard to find someone who knows something. These mining towns are close-knitted, small and everyone knows everyone to some degree .Very well evoked and the setting feels real, with real life characters and issues. It's a forgotten place where even the school was failing until the new head John Morgan turned it around.
The police in this case are perhaps even more interesting than the case itself - DC Beth Winter is a fast track police officer, who has been taken in her first proper posting on DCI Everleigh's team,. She's working with DS Lucas Black who has some rumours flying around him. He shot a man when on the job and he's been vilified ever since.
Has Alice run away? She hasn't got the best family and that 's saying something! Her dad is a bit creepy and her brother seems strange. Alice seemed popular and good. Hopefully the diary she wrote in the lead up to her disappearance will shed some light on where she could be. (That was particular strength of the novel these two narrative threads)
There seems a lot more to come with this police team and Alice Teale might have disappeared but I hope Winter and Black don't!
It shouldn't be hard to find someone who knows something. These mining towns are close-knitted, small and everyone knows everyone to some degree .Very well evoked and the setting feels real, with real life characters and issues. It's a forgotten place where even the school was failing until the new head John Morgan turned it around.
The police in this case are perhaps even more interesting than the case itself - DC Beth Winter is a fast track police officer, who has been taken in her first proper posting on DCI Everleigh's team,. She's working with DS Lucas Black who has some rumours flying around him. He shot a man when on the job and he's been vilified ever since.
Has Alice run away? She hasn't got the best family and that 's saying something! Her dad is a bit creepy and her brother seems strange. Alice seemed popular and good. Hopefully the diary she wrote in the lead up to her disappearance will shed some light on where she could be. (That was particular strength of the novel these two narrative threads)
There seems a lot more to come with this police team and Alice Teale might have disappeared but I hope Winter and Black don't!
January 19, 2020
Immensely enjoyable read set in Northumbria and featuring DS Lucas Black and fast track graduate detective Beth. An unlikely pairing and one Beth is unsure about herself as all the rumours and online information she has gleaned speak of an ex army man who as a firearms officer for the police killed a man...
However the two work well together and are fantastic characters with plenty of banter and dry humour in the conversations between them. So much so, I would love this to be the first book in a series of their police adventures and investigations.
There is a huge cast of suspicious candidates for the disappearance of Alice Teale and the book explores the investigation, the interviews, the smokescreens, the conflicting evidence and the lies people in the small community are telling. The duo are determined to uncover what happened the day Alice left school and we get to revisit the evidence through the perspectives of all the 'persons of interest' the police talk to as well as carefully selected entries from the journal that Alice kept but which has also gone missing.
Fast paced, tightly plotted and littered with suggestions of guilt in one camp, then another, then another, until there are so many possibilities the reader just has to get to the end to discover the truth. And when you do it is sadly a very believable and twisted tale indeed.
Fans of crime thrillers will not be disappointed.
However the two work well together and are fantastic characters with plenty of banter and dry humour in the conversations between them. So much so, I would love this to be the first book in a series of their police adventures and investigations.
There is a huge cast of suspicious candidates for the disappearance of Alice Teale and the book explores the investigation, the interviews, the smokescreens, the conflicting evidence and the lies people in the small community are telling. The duo are determined to uncover what happened the day Alice left school and we get to revisit the evidence through the perspectives of all the 'persons of interest' the police talk to as well as carefully selected entries from the journal that Alice kept but which has also gone missing.
Fast paced, tightly plotted and littered with suggestions of guilt in one camp, then another, then another, until there are so many possibilities the reader just has to get to the end to discover the truth. And when you do it is sadly a very believable and twisted tale indeed.
Fans of crime thrillers will not be disappointed.
September 2, 2019
Damn this was such a good book it was so addictive I just couldn’t put it down and flew through it mainly as I ignored other things I should do and just made time to read !!
I think what made this book stand apart from other police procedurals was the brilliant combination of the two main characters of Beth Winter and Lucas Black and well what can I say we surely need to see more of these two in future books because what a dream team they are, so well written making them both feel very “real.”
So Alice Teale is missing and this begins a story that is full of suspense, twists and wow some strange and secretive people with all of them seeming to have one heck of a lot to hide and I was gripped right from the start. The book progresses at a fair old pace getting more and more interesting and with a very satisfying conclusion making it a very enjoyable read.
So for me this is a definite 5 star novel and I can highly recommend it and let’s keep our fingers crossed to hear more from Black and Winter from the fabulous pen or fingers of Howard Linskey.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK-Michael Joseph for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I think what made this book stand apart from other police procedurals was the brilliant combination of the two main characters of Beth Winter and Lucas Black and well what can I say we surely need to see more of these two in future books because what a dream team they are, so well written making them both feel very “real.”
So Alice Teale is missing and this begins a story that is full of suspense, twists and wow some strange and secretive people with all of them seeming to have one heck of a lot to hide and I was gripped right from the start. The book progresses at a fair old pace getting more and more interesting and with a very satisfying conclusion making it a very enjoyable read.
So for me this is a definite 5 star novel and I can highly recommend it and let’s keep our fingers crossed to hear more from Black and Winter from the fabulous pen or fingers of Howard Linskey.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK-Michael Joseph for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 18, 2020
DC Beth Winter & DS Lucas Black have a case to solve. They have only just met in a bleak Northumbrian town and they are trying to establish a working relationship, or at least Beth is. The disappearance of a bright, popular 17-year-old doesn’t seem to be causing much concern amongst the other police officers. They think she has run away but Beth and DS Black believe she is either dead or in serious trouble. When pages from her secret journal start being delivered, they learn more but are they being led along the wrong path?
I very much enjoyed reading how Beth dealt with her unfriendly boss and how she gradually began to understand him. They both live alone but are from different generations and backgrounds. What they have in common is the desire to find Alice and solve the case. There are several suspects and an interesting setting in the small town surrounding a large comprehensive school. The concerns of the teenagers and the more selfish approach of some of the adults is typical of any town in Britain. The geography and location of their investigations are clearly described which is necessary for the plot and the events thrilling and unexpected. I shall certainly be looking out for other novels by this author.
I very much enjoyed reading how Beth dealt with her unfriendly boss and how she gradually began to understand him. They both live alone but are from different generations and backgrounds. What they have in common is the desire to find Alice and solve the case. There are several suspects and an interesting setting in the small town surrounding a large comprehensive school. The concerns of the teenagers and the more selfish approach of some of the adults is typical of any town in Britain. The geography and location of their investigations are clearly described which is necessary for the plot and the events thrilling and unexpected. I shall certainly be looking out for other novels by this author.
August 1, 2019
In this police procedural thriller, the eponymous teenager Alice Teale has gone missing in her small Northumbrian town. Attractive, bright and busy, she was last seen leaving school one evening. Young police officer DC Beth Winter is assigned to the case, reporting to DS Lucas Black, an ex-army officer who’s notorious for having once killed somebody. Finding Black grumpy and hard to deal with at first, Winter soon gets used to working with him and together they try to untangle Alice’s life, an investigation which is complicated when someone starts sending them extracts from her diary. With a boyfriend and an ex-boyfriend on the scene, more than one suspicious teacher at her school, a brother who she was close to and a father who she was not, there are many leads to follow up on. But what really happened to her? I enjoyed this novel, which is quite traditional in its police-based mystery, following the investigation step by step. The two main characters, Black and Winter, were realistic and relatable and I hope this is the first in a new series.
September 30, 2020
Lots of twists and turns, just as I like it. An interesting relationship between the two main detectives.
Would definitely recommend.
Would definitely recommend.
April 28, 2021
A sad story, which grew on me after the first quarter. I hope there are more books with Winter and Black. It was interesting watching their relationship develop.
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