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Detective Jane Phillips #1
Deadly Silence
Some sins can never be forgiven.
DI Jane Phillips was a star detective driven by a relentless quest for justice. But then she stepped outside the law.
Now, demoted and suffering with PTSD, she finds herself facing the deadliest threat of her career -- a serial killer who is preying on vulnerable women, murdering them in a shocking and bizarre ritual.
A master of deception, he selects his victims at random. Or so it seems. But as Phillips investigates, she begins to see a method in the killer's madness. Perhaps these victims aren't random at all...
As the pressure mounts, can Phillips find the link between these ritual murders before the killer strikes again -- or will her dogged determination to solve the case bring his deadly silence to her door?
Deadly Silence is a gripping mystery thriller that will keep you up all night as it races towards its shocking conclusion. Perfect for fans of Robert Bryndza, Angela Marsons and Peter James.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2019
1456 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
O.M.J. Ryan
15 books77 followersHailing from Yorkshire, OMJ Ryan worked in radio and entertainment for over twenty years, collaborating with household names and accumulating a host of international writing and radio awards. In 2018 he followed his passion to become a full-time novelist, writing stories for people who devour exciting, fast-paced thrillers by the pool, on their commute – or those rare moments of downtime before bed. Owen’s mission is to entertain from the first page to the last.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 24, 2019
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
DEADLY SILENCE: A gripping serial killer thriller (Detective Jane Phillips Book 1) by OMJ Ryan is the start of a new DCI/DI British police procedural thriller series now featuring DI Jane Phillips and the other detectives from the author’s first book, Deadly Secrets. This book can be easily read as a standalone without any confusion.
The consequences from previous decisions in the pursuit of justice have left DCI Jane Phillips just recuperated from a gunshot wound which almost took her life, demoted to DI, coping with PTSD and dealing with a DCI from her past in charge of her and her team.
A serial killer is preying on women in the quiet town of Cheadle. As Jane and her team investigate the similar gruesome ritual murders, they discover the women are not random, but connected through their Catholic Church.
As the pressure from their new DCI and superiors mount, Jane’s relentless pursuit of justice just may bring the killer to her own door.
I will be adding another engaging, intelligent, strong female British detective to follow on my reading list. I was very happy to see that Jane was given the main character role in this new series. I love her sense of right and wrong and her determination to discover the truth and not just solve a case. I will be looking forward to Mr. Ryan adding more backstory to Jane’s character in future books as well as the rest of her team. DCI Brown is the boss you “love to hate” and I enjoyed finding out why Jane and he are at such odds. The killer was sadistic in his method of murder, but you also felt a small amount of sympathy for him when his motive is revealed. I was not surprised by the killer or his motive for the murders, but the plot and characters are so engaging it did not matter.
This is a fast paced read with the perfect balance of thrills and chills vs. smart detective work. I highly recommend Deadly Silence and I am looking forward to many more books featuring DI Jane Phillips!
DEADLY SILENCE: A gripping serial killer thriller (Detective Jane Phillips Book 1) by OMJ Ryan is the start of a new DCI/DI British police procedural thriller series now featuring DI Jane Phillips and the other detectives from the author’s first book, Deadly Secrets. This book can be easily read as a standalone without any confusion.
The consequences from previous decisions in the pursuit of justice have left DCI Jane Phillips just recuperated from a gunshot wound which almost took her life, demoted to DI, coping with PTSD and dealing with a DCI from her past in charge of her and her team.
A serial killer is preying on women in the quiet town of Cheadle. As Jane and her team investigate the similar gruesome ritual murders, they discover the women are not random, but connected through their Catholic Church.
As the pressure from their new DCI and superiors mount, Jane’s relentless pursuit of justice just may bring the killer to her own door.
I will be adding another engaging, intelligent, strong female British detective to follow on my reading list. I was very happy to see that Jane was given the main character role in this new series. I love her sense of right and wrong and her determination to discover the truth and not just solve a case. I will be looking forward to Mr. Ryan adding more backstory to Jane’s character in future books as well as the rest of her team. DCI Brown is the boss you “love to hate” and I enjoyed finding out why Jane and he are at such odds. The killer was sadistic in his method of murder, but you also felt a small amount of sympathy for him when his motive is revealed. I was not surprised by the killer or his motive for the murders, but the plot and characters are so engaging it did not matter.
This is a fast paced read with the perfect balance of thrills and chills vs. smart detective work. I highly recommend Deadly Silence and I am looking forward to many more books featuring DI Jane Phillips!
October 24, 2019
Silence can be a weapon. Sharper than a knife, as unforgivable as a lie.
Police procedurals are a hit or miss for me. After reading so many of them, it only takes a few pages to decide whether a novel and I are going to hit it off… O.M.J Ryan made it even shorter!!! Within a few sentences, I was fully in. A sense of dread, words dancing in the light to create a threatening shadow, and my head was on red alert. I couldn’t stop thinking “Oh my God, why don’t we pay more attention?” But who knows what lurks in the dark? The author does! If I am (mostly) immune to grisly murders and scene-of-crime procedures, there is a thrill to Deadly Silence that had me checking my door twice and looking suspiciously at the windows. I love this kind of thrill, especially when you get the chance to see the world and its details through a killer’s eyes, at the same time detached and fully drawn. Mr Ryan has a knack for tugging at the seams of normal life, stretching them, before using the fabric to hurt you! My innocence is fully gone!
Police procedurals can’t work without a strong main protagonist, and Jane Phillips is a hell of a woman! Meeting her as she navigates troubled waters, having been demoted and struggling with PTSD, was both exciting and scary. Would I warm to her? Would she prove to be one of the good ones? What on earth had happened to her? Those questions were swimming in my head as we got to meet a dead corpse, a horrid boss, a newbie, and a close-knit team. You might think it’s a lot to take in, but the narrative blew me away with its outstanding balance of important details, small bites of the past, snippets of blood, but also grains of hilarity. Before I knew it, my head was everything but silent! I was on Team Phillips, hating on her lousy and overly-ambitious boss, hoping I could find such loyal colleagues… And tracking a really cruel murderer.
Plot? Did you say plot? Wow! To say that it was fast-paced and totally captivating would not even do it justice. Random kills with no apparent link, signs of rituals, and the press pressing for answers. As if they came as fast as hunger strikes when I’ve just baked a cake!!! But Phillips and her team soon discern a pattern… A silent and deadly pattern (see what I did there???)
The author didn’t choose an easy path, and I am in awe of the way he handled things. There is no fast-track epiphany, but a trail of crumbs that will ring a bell and resonate with you as a member of our society. I can’t say more without giving away important clues, and there is no way I can ruin the surprises Deadly Silence holds. Just know that it takes a clever pen and a strong mind to walk through the doors of crime fiction with such an intense and cracking novel. OMJ Ryan has thrown me into Phillips’ world in the middle of her life and a chilling case. He has offered me a new kick-ass woman to support and a strong addiction to a new series!
I know crime fiction shelves are overflowing, but you MUST make room for Deadly Silence!!!
Police procedurals are a hit or miss for me. After reading so many of them, it only takes a few pages to decide whether a novel and I are going to hit it off… O.M.J Ryan made it even shorter!!! Within a few sentences, I was fully in. A sense of dread, words dancing in the light to create a threatening shadow, and my head was on red alert. I couldn’t stop thinking “Oh my God, why don’t we pay more attention?” But who knows what lurks in the dark? The author does! If I am (mostly) immune to grisly murders and scene-of-crime procedures, there is a thrill to Deadly Silence that had me checking my door twice and looking suspiciously at the windows. I love this kind of thrill, especially when you get the chance to see the world and its details through a killer’s eyes, at the same time detached and fully drawn. Mr Ryan has a knack for tugging at the seams of normal life, stretching them, before using the fabric to hurt you! My innocence is fully gone!
Police procedurals can’t work without a strong main protagonist, and Jane Phillips is a hell of a woman! Meeting her as she navigates troubled waters, having been demoted and struggling with PTSD, was both exciting and scary. Would I warm to her? Would she prove to be one of the good ones? What on earth had happened to her? Those questions were swimming in my head as we got to meet a dead corpse, a horrid boss, a newbie, and a close-knit team. You might think it’s a lot to take in, but the narrative blew me away with its outstanding balance of important details, small bites of the past, snippets of blood, but also grains of hilarity. Before I knew it, my head was everything but silent! I was on Team Phillips, hating on her lousy and overly-ambitious boss, hoping I could find such loyal colleagues… And tracking a really cruel murderer.
Plot? Did you say plot? Wow! To say that it was fast-paced and totally captivating would not even do it justice. Random kills with no apparent link, signs of rituals, and the press pressing for answers. As if they came as fast as hunger strikes when I’ve just baked a cake!!! But Phillips and her team soon discern a pattern… A silent and deadly pattern (see what I did there???)
The author didn’t choose an easy path, and I am in awe of the way he handled things. There is no fast-track epiphany, but a trail of crumbs that will ring a bell and resonate with you as a member of our society. I can’t say more without giving away important clues, and there is no way I can ruin the surprises Deadly Silence holds. Just know that it takes a clever pen and a strong mind to walk through the doors of crime fiction with such an intense and cracking novel. OMJ Ryan has thrown me into Phillips’ world in the middle of her life and a chilling case. He has offered me a new kick-ass woman to support and a strong addiction to a new series!
I know crime fiction shelves are overflowing, but you MUST make room for Deadly Silence!!!
October 23, 2019
This book was freaking awesome. I loved the sarcastic, filled with bristling anger at the lousy boss, wise cracking but so damn intelligent DI Jane Phillips.
My first book by the author OMJ Ryan, I just want to say - OMG You are awesome. Now that I have gushed about the author, let me get to the story. A police procedural with murders and investigation. In this, the only thing widely different, other than the main character, was the murderer. I was most intrigued by him/her, could have been anybody. From the murder itself, I liked the anonymity of the way it was done. (Some murders are predominantly male).
This book gave me a slight inkling to the motive of the murderer, and my imagination ran wild. With flu affecting body and brain, I liked this diversion. The tug of war between the protagonist and antagonist was delightful, it soothed my thriller-y soul. I loved Janet's attitude, her brain, her way of leading her team and her straight shooting way of speech, basically everything.
Did I say I freaking loved the book? Fast paced, intelligent kick-ass heroine, wicked villain - what more could I ask for?
My first book by the author OMJ Ryan, I just want to say - OMG You are awesome. Now that I have gushed about the author, let me get to the story. A police procedural with murders and investigation. In this, the only thing widely different, other than the main character, was the murderer. I was most intrigued by him/her, could have been anybody. From the murder itself, I liked the anonymity of the way it was done. (Some murders are predominantly male).
This book gave me a slight inkling to the motive of the murderer, and my imagination ran wild. With flu affecting body and brain, I liked this diversion. The tug of war between the protagonist and antagonist was delightful, it soothed my thriller-y soul. I loved Janet's attitude, her brain, her way of leading her team and her straight shooting way of speech, basically everything.
Did I say I freaking loved the book? Fast paced, intelligent kick-ass heroine, wicked villain - what more could I ask for?
April 11, 2022
After the incredible read that Deadly Secrets featuring Detective Jane Phillips and Marty Michaels was, I knew I had to get my hand on Deadly Silence and it didn't disappoint. I was looking forward to a crazy suspenseful ride in this book, which was signed sealed and delivered. I found the book to be highly gripping and peppered with well-timed twists.
Someone is murdering seemingly innocent women in what appears to be a bizarre killing ritual. The killer never leaves anything behind. Try as hard she may DI Jane Phillips, recently demoted and out to prove herself must find this killer fast before more are killed. Being supervised by an incompetent and conceited superior who doesn't shy away from reprimanding her every chance he gets, doesn't help either. Soon Jane notices a pattern to the killing but is nowhere close to identifying the killer. As the pressure mounts, can Phillips find the link between these ritual murders before the killer strikes again -- or will her dogged determination to solve the case bring his deadly silence to her door?
I loved the plot of this one, it was nail-bitingly tense and suspenseful. Phillips with her team race against everything to bring the culprit to justice - if only they could identify him!! There were quite a few scenes that left me a cant-stop-turning-the-page syndrome despite the late hour. I enjoyed following all the characters and am happy that Marty wasn't forgotten in this one. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and hope there is more of Jane to read about.
Thank You, NetGalley, Inkubator Books and O.M.J Ryan for an arc!
Someone is murdering seemingly innocent women in what appears to be a bizarre killing ritual. The killer never leaves anything behind. Try as hard she may DI Jane Phillips, recently demoted and out to prove herself must find this killer fast before more are killed. Being supervised by an incompetent and conceited superior who doesn't shy away from reprimanding her every chance he gets, doesn't help either. Soon Jane notices a pattern to the killing but is nowhere close to identifying the killer. As the pressure mounts, can Phillips find the link between these ritual murders before the killer strikes again -- or will her dogged determination to solve the case bring his deadly silence to her door?
I loved the plot of this one, it was nail-bitingly tense and suspenseful. Phillips with her team race against everything to bring the culprit to justice - if only they could identify him!! There were quite a few scenes that left me a cant-stop-turning-the-page syndrome despite the late hour. I enjoyed following all the characters and am happy that Marty wasn't forgotten in this one. I enjoyed this book thoroughly and hope there is more of Jane to read about.
Thank You, NetGalley, Inkubator Books and O.M.J Ryan for an arc!
October 26, 2019
Finished reading: October 26th 2019
"We all feel like that, Guv. He has a very punch-able face. The trick is not to let it show."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Inkubator Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
February 14, 2025
The publisher's blurb was "deadly silent" about what "Deadly Silence" was really about.
Huh?
WHAT WAS THIS BOOK REALLY ABOUT?
Pedophiles in the Catholic church.
Although the book was well written and I enjoyed the police procedural, I had ZERO desire to listen to a book with explicit details about child abuse and pedophiles in the Catholic church.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Danielle Cohen, who did a superb job with the narration.
June 6, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
So I'm a sucker for a British police procedural. Throw in a female team lead and the format being an audiobook, and you have serious interest from me. Deadly Silence follows a serial killer case. The killer is fast-paced and brutal.
Our point of view is Jane Phillips who is leading her old team, but not technically in charge, after she was injured in the line of duty. She has been demoted and is suffering some PTSD. We learn a bit about her history and character. I liked her. She may be flawed, but she is smart and loyal to her team and she does stand for the victims and truth.
The blurb seems a bit inaccurate. The team puts the pieces together fairly quickly, on the right track, but they need evidence to pinpoint the perpetrator. They have a political hack as the actual team lead and a new geek rookie to handle. I enjoyed learning about the team and seeing its development.
In addition to the tracking down evidence and interviewing witnesses, there is some action. We do learn a bit about the victims and see the killer in process at times. I thought this was a great start to a new series and look forward to continuing it.
Narration:
I can't say I know the difference between different regional voices in the UK but I love to listen to them. I don't believe I have heard this narrator before but I was comfortable with all her voices. She handled the emotional infusion of fear and banter into the vocals well. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
So I'm a sucker for a British police procedural. Throw in a female team lead and the format being an audiobook, and you have serious interest from me. Deadly Silence follows a serial killer case. The killer is fast-paced and brutal.
Our point of view is Jane Phillips who is leading her old team, but not technically in charge, after she was injured in the line of duty. She has been demoted and is suffering some PTSD. We learn a bit about her history and character. I liked her. She may be flawed, but she is smart and loyal to her team and she does stand for the victims and truth.
The blurb seems a bit inaccurate. The team puts the pieces together fairly quickly, on the right track, but they need evidence to pinpoint the perpetrator. They have a political hack as the actual team lead and a new geek rookie to handle. I enjoyed learning about the team and seeing its development.
In addition to the tracking down evidence and interviewing witnesses, there is some action. We do learn a bit about the victims and see the killer in process at times. I thought this was a great start to a new series and look forward to continuing it.
Narration:
I can't say I know the difference between different regional voices in the UK but I love to listen to them. I don't believe I have heard this narrator before but I was comfortable with all her voices. She handled the emotional infusion of fear and banter into the vocals well. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
November 30, 2019
At the beginning of the story DI Jane Phillips has been demoted, is suffering from PTSD and is close to being an alcoholic. To make matters worse her boss is a self-centred, egotistical idiot. The book really looked promising.
Unfortunately her boss, DCI Brown is a bit of caricature. Many TV cop shows seem to have an incompetent, self-serving, PR obsessed superior officer who is more of a hindrance than a help in solving the case. It always makes me think, do authors think all the top police officers are idiots?
I really enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more about Jane and her team.
One minor annoying point that isn't to do with this story, is when I downloaded this from Amazon, I was under the impression it was Book 1 in the series. It isn't! Deadly Secrets is the first book and is the story of why Jane is demoted and is suffering from PTSD. I'm not sure why the author didn't label this book 1, but it does mean that I am one potential buyer that won't be getting this book.
Unfortunately her boss, DCI Brown is a bit of caricature. Many TV cop shows seem to have an incompetent, self-serving, PR obsessed superior officer who is more of a hindrance than a help in solving the case. It always makes me think, do authors think all the top police officers are idiots?
I really enjoyed the story and I look forward to reading more about Jane and her team.
One minor annoying point that isn't to do with this story, is when I downloaded this from Amazon, I was under the impression it was Book 1 in the series. It isn't! Deadly Secrets is the first book and is the story of why Jane is demoted and is suffering from PTSD. I'm not sure why the author didn't label this book 1, but it does mean that I am one potential buyer that won't be getting this book.
January 18, 2021
Bloody brilliant I eased right into this and was hooked can’t wait to read the next
August 18, 2021
Really good kept you guessing. Would definitely read another
January 4, 2020
Great story!!! Thumbs up
November 18, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of
Deadly Silence.
I'm always on the lookout for a mystery series featuring a strong female protagonist and Deadly Silence fit that bill.
DI Jane Phillips is back at work, unfortunately, in a demoted position after her actions in a previous case strayed outside the law.
Now, faced with an insufferable man as her supervisor and suffering from PTSD, Phillips must focus on a new case featuring a serial killer preying on individuals tied to a tragic and horrific past crime.
I liked Jane; she's tough, competent and smart, but I especially like her team. They remained loyal and steadfast despite her demotion and treated her with respect and deferred to her experience.
The murders are driven by revenge, my favorite type of motivation, and you can't help but feel sorry for the perpetrator when you understand why he is committing the crimes.
I had hoped for a mystery with more clues to piece together and an in depth look into the ritualistic elements but this was a good read with likable characters.
I look forward to reading more about DI Jane Phillips.
I'm always on the lookout for a mystery series featuring a strong female protagonist and Deadly Silence fit that bill.
DI Jane Phillips is back at work, unfortunately, in a demoted position after her actions in a previous case strayed outside the law.
Now, faced with an insufferable man as her supervisor and suffering from PTSD, Phillips must focus on a new case featuring a serial killer preying on individuals tied to a tragic and horrific past crime.
I liked Jane; she's tough, competent and smart, but I especially like her team. They remained loyal and steadfast despite her demotion and treated her with respect and deferred to her experience.
The murders are driven by revenge, my favorite type of motivation, and you can't help but feel sorry for the perpetrator when you understand why he is committing the crimes.
I had hoped for a mystery with more clues to piece together and an in depth look into the ritualistic elements but this was a good read with likable characters.
I look forward to reading more about DI Jane Phillips.
October 18, 2019
I will rate Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan a solid 4.5 stars. This is my second read by this author and once again, they did not disappoint me. This story was told from the viewpoint of DI Jane Phillips (Guv), the victims of a heinous murder crime and the murderer. This is quite a fast paced story, so please hold on to your seats as you're going to be traveling on one heck of a ride. DI Phillips is back after a six month hiatus from dealing with the fallout of a previous case in which she almost lost her life while attempting to save the life of celebrity Marty Michaels. She suffers from PTSD and her anxiety has skyrocketed. Due to her last big case, she lost her DCI title to a former coworker that she simply cannot stand, DCI Brown. While she and Marty survived their ordeal in the last book, this new case will send her world reeling. Someone is out to murder innocent residents of Cheadle and no one can figure out why. What do all of these murders have in common and who is the missing link and key to solving them? A childhood picture posted on the Twitter of one of the victims will turn out to be a key lead in solving the murder mystery of a lifetime in this small town.
What I Enjoyed About This Book:
It was fast paced and full of energy. The author kept me guessing as to who the murderer could actually be. I figured it out midway through the book as to one of the persons of interest gave themselves away easily.
I enjoyed reading what was going on from the murderer's point of view. That was awesome. I loved getting a glance of what was going on in their mind and how they came to the conclusion as to why they wanted to murder specific individuals.
I enjoyed DI Phillips relationship with her team: Jones, Bovalino and rookie Entwistle.
I enjoyed the theme of this book. It was different than any other story that I have ever read. It focused on the sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and how badly those parishioners of the church wanted to keep it a secret.
What I Did Not Enjoy About This Book:
Some scenes were a little too detailed and drawn out. While I did enjoy the story, some of the detective work behind the scenes of the crime were a little boring to read.
Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
What I Enjoyed About This Book:
It was fast paced and full of energy. The author kept me guessing as to who the murderer could actually be. I figured it out midway through the book as to one of the persons of interest gave themselves away easily.
I enjoyed reading what was going on from the murderer's point of view. That was awesome. I loved getting a glance of what was going on in their mind and how they came to the conclusion as to why they wanted to murder specific individuals.
I enjoyed DI Phillips relationship with her team: Jones, Bovalino and rookie Entwistle.
I enjoyed the theme of this book. It was different than any other story that I have ever read. It focused on the sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and how badly those parishioners of the church wanted to keep it a secret.
What I Did Not Enjoy About This Book:
Some scenes were a little too detailed and drawn out. While I did enjoy the story, some of the detective work behind the scenes of the crime were a little boring to read.
Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2019
Deadly Silence once again sees us in the company of Jane Phillips and her team and this time they are taking centre stage. We first met her in Deadly Secrets as she investigated Radio personality Marty Michaels and although this is billed as Detective Jane Phillips Book 1 it does follow on quite nicely from the authors first book. After the incidents during the case Jane has now been demoted to DI and is working under a DCI that she has had dealings with in the past and this causes quite a lot of friction along the way. Despite her demotion they still see her as the gov and will follow her lead over their new DCI every time.
This time round we get to learn a little bit more about Jane and her team and what makes them tick. She is suffering from PTSD, yet this doesn’t stop her from throwing herself full pelt into the case even if it once again puts her in the line of fire quite literally. I have to say I like her as a character and the fact that she is quite straightforward and determined to investigate every angle to ensure that they get the right person even when it means butting heads with her DCI (and at times I think she enjoys it a little too much). I think my favourite characters have to be Jonesy and Bovalino. They are constantly taking the mick out of both Jane and newbie to the team Entwistle but are professional when they need to be.
The team are struggling to find the connections between several murders that have taken place and their investigations are not helped by their DCI who is out to get a promotion and sees closing the case quickly as his way of achieving this. They are also hampered by the families of the victims lying repeatedly to hide other things that are going on. Once the connection is made however the hunt is then on to find the killer.
I will admit to having a little sympathy for the murderer as although you can’t condone what they are doing, I do understand why they felt they had no other option than to do what they did.
This is another great book by OMJ Ryan as it has enough pace to keep you reading to the very end and like the police you are left wondering who the killer is right to the end.
This time round we get to learn a little bit more about Jane and her team and what makes them tick. She is suffering from PTSD, yet this doesn’t stop her from throwing herself full pelt into the case even if it once again puts her in the line of fire quite literally. I have to say I like her as a character and the fact that she is quite straightforward and determined to investigate every angle to ensure that they get the right person even when it means butting heads with her DCI (and at times I think she enjoys it a little too much). I think my favourite characters have to be Jonesy and Bovalino. They are constantly taking the mick out of both Jane and newbie to the team Entwistle but are professional when they need to be.
The team are struggling to find the connections between several murders that have taken place and their investigations are not helped by their DCI who is out to get a promotion and sees closing the case quickly as his way of achieving this. They are also hampered by the families of the victims lying repeatedly to hide other things that are going on. Once the connection is made however the hunt is then on to find the killer.
I will admit to having a little sympathy for the murderer as although you can’t condone what they are doing, I do understand why they felt they had no other option than to do what they did.
This is another great book by OMJ Ryan as it has enough pace to keep you reading to the very end and like the police you are left wondering who the killer is right to the end.
October 2, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC.
DI Jane Phillips is suffering from PTSD after her last case and to make matters worse she was demoted and is now working under the boss from hell, DCI Brown. When a horrific murder occurs, soon followed by several others with the same MO, Jane and the team are constantly harangued by Brown for not not solving the case immediately. He's angling for a promotion and determined the case be closed and is looking for any suspect to hang the murders on.
Jane is, to me, more likeable in this second in the series, although she still hasn't overcome her habit of speaking her mind without thinking...although I understand where she's coming from...Brown deserves a few slaps!
It's a good mystery with a killer who's relentless in the quest for revenge, but one can also feel sorrow for the nightmarish childhood the child endured. A good story; recommended.
DI Jane Phillips is suffering from PTSD after her last case and to make matters worse she was demoted and is now working under the boss from hell, DCI Brown. When a horrific murder occurs, soon followed by several others with the same MO, Jane and the team are constantly harangued by Brown for not not solving the case immediately. He's angling for a promotion and determined the case be closed and is looking for any suspect to hang the murders on.
Jane is, to me, more likeable in this second in the series, although she still hasn't overcome her habit of speaking her mind without thinking...although I understand where she's coming from...Brown deserves a few slaps!
It's a good mystery with a killer who's relentless in the quest for revenge, but one can also feel sorrow for the nightmarish childhood the child endured. A good story; recommended.
October 9, 2019
Set in Manchester, DI Jane Phillips, recently demoted, is investigating a brutal series of murders where the victims are all linked to the Catholic Church. Her boss, DCI Brown, is constantly putting more pressure on the team to find the killer. Jane is a likeable character, suffering physically and mentally from PTSD. This is a very good read, with a killer determined to revenge his horrific childhood. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
October 28, 2019
This is the second of this author's books that I have the distinct pleasure of reading and reviewing. I loved his first book 'Deadly Secrets', which was released earlier this year. Without even reading the synopsis, I just knew that I would love 'Deadly Silence' because I have heard lots of great things about this book from other bloggers. I read the synopsis for 'Deadly Silence' and it certainly sounded like my kind of read- a police procedural type of story with a kick ass female lead character. I couldn't wait to get started and as soon as I could get hold of a copy, I dived straight in. Oh my word, 'Deadly Silence' is one hell of a read, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
Detective Inspector Jane Phillips is certainly an interesting lead character. She is a strong and determined female detective who has recently been demoted thanks to an incident that happened fairly recently. Fairly early on, we learn what led to Jane's demotion. I can't say that she has adapted well to her demotion, which isn't surprising given the annoying twerp that has been slotted into the Detective Chief Inspector role. The DCI makes my skin crawl and I certainly wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. Jane has a small team around her but each have the others' backs if that makes sense. They are incredibly loyal to each other and they don't take well to outsiders coming in trying to change things. What marks Jane out from other female detectives in the crime genre, is the fact that she suffers from mental health problems and she has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She doesn't advertise the fact she has PTSD but it helped her seem more real somehow. Jane is strong, tenacious, determined, stubborn, compassionate, kind, she is occasionally headstrong and at times she has a short fuse. I took to Jane from the start and by the time I got to the end of the story I felt as though she had become a close friend.
It took me next to no time to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that this was going to be one of those unputdownable page turners. I wasn't wrong either. I found it impossible to be parted from this book. It wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. The book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I was not willing to break. I felt that if I had to put the book down then I risked missing out on some vital clue or something important to the investigation. The pages turned quicker and quicker and at one point the pages were turning that quickly that the page numbers were a blur. All too soon, I reached the end of the book, which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that in a negative sense but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'Deadly Silence' is superbly written but then I wouldn't expect anything else from O. M. J. Ryan. He has one of those writing styles that is easy to get along with and easy to get used to. He certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and he keeps that attention throughout the book by keeping the characters realistic, by keeping the story interesting and by adding twists and turns to the story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. I was totally gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
Reading 'Deadly Silence' was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists along the way. There were a few times where I almost had to read through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next.
In short, O. M. J Ryan has done it again and written one hell of a fantastic book. I would definitely recommend this author to other readers. I can't wait to read further instalments in the Detective Inspector Jane Phillips series. Here's hoping that I don't have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
Detective Inspector Jane Phillips is certainly an interesting lead character. She is a strong and determined female detective who has recently been demoted thanks to an incident that happened fairly recently. Fairly early on, we learn what led to Jane's demotion. I can't say that she has adapted well to her demotion, which isn't surprising given the annoying twerp that has been slotted into the Detective Chief Inspector role. The DCI makes my skin crawl and I certainly wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him. Jane has a small team around her but each have the others' backs if that makes sense. They are incredibly loyal to each other and they don't take well to outsiders coming in trying to change things. What marks Jane out from other female detectives in the crime genre, is the fact that she suffers from mental health problems and she has Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She doesn't advertise the fact she has PTSD but it helped her seem more real somehow. Jane is strong, tenacious, determined, stubborn, compassionate, kind, she is occasionally headstrong and at times she has a short fuse. I took to Jane from the start and by the time I got to the end of the story I felt as though she had become a close friend.
It took me next to no time to get into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first page, I knew that this was going to be one of those unputdownable page turners. I wasn't wrong either. I found it impossible to be parted from this book. It wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. The book had developed a hold over me and it was a hold that I was not willing to break. I felt that if I had to put the book down then I risked missing out on some vital clue or something important to the investigation. The pages turned quicker and quicker and at one point the pages were turning that quickly that the page numbers were a blur. All too soon, I reached the end of the book, which I was disappointed about. I don't mean that in a negative sense but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue.
'Deadly Silence' is superbly written but then I wouldn't expect anything else from O. M. J. Ryan. He has one of those writing styles that is easy to get along with and easy to get used to. He certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and he keeps that attention throughout the book by keeping the characters realistic, by keeping the story interesting and by adding twists and turns to the story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. I was totally gripped by the story and on the edge of my seat throughout.
Reading 'Deadly Silence' was much like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists along the way. There were a few times where I almost had to read through my fingers as I feared what was going to happen next.
In short, O. M. J Ryan has done it again and written one hell of a fantastic book. I would definitely recommend this author to other readers. I can't wait to read further instalments in the Detective Inspector Jane Phillips series. Here's hoping that I don't have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
October 28, 2019
Thanks to Emma and Inkubator Books for my copy of the book and my spot on the blog tour. All thoughts are my own. I am delighted to share my review as part of the blog tour today.

TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual Abuse
This is the first book in a brand-new police procedural to sink your teeth into. It’s got everything that you need in your next page turner. It was with great excitement when I finally got around to reading this absolutely explosive start to what I assume to be a very successful series. I am completely in love with D.I Jane Phillip’s character. She portrayed the strong female character, but not without her flaws. She is a force to be reckoned with, an impeccable cop and she does things the right way, not the easy way. She’s respected by her colleagues and it’s been a hard fight for that standing in her department. I was transfixed until the very end, the feelings the team experienced, I felt. It was most definitely a win, but I was left hanging, I wanted MORE. I wanted know how Jane was going to deal with the fallout. Would she stick with the healthy course of action or would she stop like last time? OMJ Ryan is an extremely talented writer and his characters are full of depth, humanity and a strong sense of morality. This was a difficult theme to tackle, it was unsettling and emotional but the author more than did its justice. It was written in a tactful manner and it gave importance to the topic.
The first chapter was a doozy. It was hard hitting, it was a punch to the gut. It seriously set the tone to how the rest of the book was going to play out. The crime committed was brutal but carried out in such a cold and calculated way. This guy was meticulous. He knew his shit. What made it shocking was the victim. A lovely lady that couldn’t have hurt anyone. Unmarried and still a virgin at the age of 40. She was heavily involved in the church and would do anything for anyone. It’s the first time we get to see the murderer in action and you can tell that something quite serious has gone on in his past. Yes, what he is doing is incomprehensible, but he seems to have a plan he must carry out in order to go forward. He certainly has knowledge of forensics, scoping out a routine and planning the murder to the last dot. This is going to be a different man to catch.
As ever in the crime solving world, time is of the essence. Time clocks on and they have nothing to go on. As far as the killer is concerned he is a ghost. No-one knows who it could be, no-one has seen anything, and he leaves nothing behind. Jane Phillips is really up against it. Her team fully support her methods but her new DCI – Brown has it in for her. The backstory of these two is actually hilarious and the constant back and forth even in a serious situation such as this shows the fragility of the human condition; ego and justice come face to face, but which will win? The story propels forward from that first murder. The police deal with red herrings, shocks and twists and an explosive secret that will blow it all apart. Truth be told I haven’t read a whole lot of police procedurals, but this series has opened up a love of the genre and I will for sure be picking up any future novels in this series. I loved it every aspect of this book. The storytelling was captivating. The characters were deep and multi-dimensional, the realistic, human characters you would meet in everyday life. The character development was just completely relatable. The reader gained an insight into the depths and depravities the human condition will delve to when they have time to fester and mental health is left unchecked. This is a story that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the very end.

TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual Abuse
This is the first book in a brand-new police procedural to sink your teeth into. It’s got everything that you need in your next page turner. It was with great excitement when I finally got around to reading this absolutely explosive start to what I assume to be a very successful series. I am completely in love with D.I Jane Phillip’s character. She portrayed the strong female character, but not without her flaws. She is a force to be reckoned with, an impeccable cop and she does things the right way, not the easy way. She’s respected by her colleagues and it’s been a hard fight for that standing in her department. I was transfixed until the very end, the feelings the team experienced, I felt. It was most definitely a win, but I was left hanging, I wanted MORE. I wanted know how Jane was going to deal with the fallout. Would she stick with the healthy course of action or would she stop like last time? OMJ Ryan is an extremely talented writer and his characters are full of depth, humanity and a strong sense of morality. This was a difficult theme to tackle, it was unsettling and emotional but the author more than did its justice. It was written in a tactful manner and it gave importance to the topic.
The first chapter was a doozy. It was hard hitting, it was a punch to the gut. It seriously set the tone to how the rest of the book was going to play out. The crime committed was brutal but carried out in such a cold and calculated way. This guy was meticulous. He knew his shit. What made it shocking was the victim. A lovely lady that couldn’t have hurt anyone. Unmarried and still a virgin at the age of 40. She was heavily involved in the church and would do anything for anyone. It’s the first time we get to see the murderer in action and you can tell that something quite serious has gone on in his past. Yes, what he is doing is incomprehensible, but he seems to have a plan he must carry out in order to go forward. He certainly has knowledge of forensics, scoping out a routine and planning the murder to the last dot. This is going to be a different man to catch.
As ever in the crime solving world, time is of the essence. Time clocks on and they have nothing to go on. As far as the killer is concerned he is a ghost. No-one knows who it could be, no-one has seen anything, and he leaves nothing behind. Jane Phillips is really up against it. Her team fully support her methods but her new DCI – Brown has it in for her. The backstory of these two is actually hilarious and the constant back and forth even in a serious situation such as this shows the fragility of the human condition; ego and justice come face to face, but which will win? The story propels forward from that first murder. The police deal with red herrings, shocks and twists and an explosive secret that will blow it all apart. Truth be told I haven’t read a whole lot of police procedurals, but this series has opened up a love of the genre and I will for sure be picking up any future novels in this series. I loved it every aspect of this book. The storytelling was captivating. The characters were deep and multi-dimensional, the realistic, human characters you would meet in everyday life. The character development was just completely relatable. The reader gained an insight into the depths and depravities the human condition will delve to when they have time to fester and mental health is left unchecked. This is a story that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go until the very end.
October 29, 2019
3.5-4*
This is the last day of this amazing BlogTour for Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan and it’s been a pleasure to take part.
DI Jane Phillips was previously a DCI until her actions in her last big case went awry. Her new DCI – Brown -is a bit of a pain they don’t have the best of relationships. He’s not liked by the rest of the team either, they’re still loyal to Jane, and the two of them – Jones and Bovalino – are quite the double act. Nevertheless Phillips, Jones and Bovalino are always determined to get to the truth and apprehend the right person. Whereas DCI Brown seems to just want to take the easy, obvious route. The route that will bring him promotion the quickest.
Set in Manchester they have the best results in the GMP and they put it down to their thorough detective work and skills. They are going to need them as a killer, who leaves no clues behind, starts to wreak havoc on their patch. The murders start to mount up. Jane and her team struggle to find anything that can help them discover who the killer is. Then a piece of evidence is found – could this be the key?
As they piece things together the killer continues to give them the slip and carries on executing their deadly plan. Will Jane and her team get the killer before even more people are killed? As Jane and the team get closer will she come out alive?
This is a tense and gripping story. The reason for the killings will bring understanding and, to a degree, some sympathy for the murderer. Nevertheless there is ultimately and rightly no other choice than to catch the killer. Demonstrating that there is only one way, a much better way, to achieve justice than through murder. However, Jane and her team are also determined to get some justice for what has also been brought to light.
This is a story sprinkled with a little humour, what would it be like if there was none at all? Still it takes seriously the search for the killer and what during the investigation is brought to light and which Jane along with the team have to deal with. The author handles them well giving Jane and the team the appropriate empathy and the passion to bring everyone to justice however shocking that is.
What a terrific book with great characters and a well plotted storyline. Well written with pace this is the first in a series which I’m sure will become a firm favourite for many and is certainly well worth reading.
Thanks
With thanks to Inkubator Books for an eCopy of Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan and to Emma at #damppebblesblogtours for the invite to join the blog tour.
This is the last day of this amazing BlogTour for Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan and it’s been a pleasure to take part.
DI Jane Phillips was previously a DCI until her actions in her last big case went awry. Her new DCI – Brown -is a bit of a pain they don’t have the best of relationships. He’s not liked by the rest of the team either, they’re still loyal to Jane, and the two of them – Jones and Bovalino – are quite the double act. Nevertheless Phillips, Jones and Bovalino are always determined to get to the truth and apprehend the right person. Whereas DCI Brown seems to just want to take the easy, obvious route. The route that will bring him promotion the quickest.
Set in Manchester they have the best results in the GMP and they put it down to their thorough detective work and skills. They are going to need them as a killer, who leaves no clues behind, starts to wreak havoc on their patch. The murders start to mount up. Jane and her team struggle to find anything that can help them discover who the killer is. Then a piece of evidence is found – could this be the key?
As they piece things together the killer continues to give them the slip and carries on executing their deadly plan. Will Jane and her team get the killer before even more people are killed? As Jane and the team get closer will she come out alive?
This is a tense and gripping story. The reason for the killings will bring understanding and, to a degree, some sympathy for the murderer. Nevertheless there is ultimately and rightly no other choice than to catch the killer. Demonstrating that there is only one way, a much better way, to achieve justice than through murder. However, Jane and her team are also determined to get some justice for what has also been brought to light.
This is a story sprinkled with a little humour, what would it be like if there was none at all? Still it takes seriously the search for the killer and what during the investigation is brought to light and which Jane along with the team have to deal with. The author handles them well giving Jane and the team the appropriate empathy and the passion to bring everyone to justice however shocking that is.
What a terrific book with great characters and a well plotted storyline. Well written with pace this is the first in a series which I’m sure will become a firm favourite for many and is certainly well worth reading.
Thanks
With thanks to Inkubator Books for an eCopy of Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan and to Emma at #damppebblesblogtours for the invite to join the blog tour.
October 31, 2019
While I enjoy this type of book very much, I admit to being critical of them. It’s hard to get the right balance between being blatantly obvious about “whodunit” and “wtf where did that even come from?” Deadly Silence, however, gets it exactly right. The book is set in Manchester, England. DI Phillips has recently been demoted after a disastrous ending to a previous case and her work arch rival has taken her old job. She and her team must work with him to catch a serial killer.
This book was so hard to put down. The pacing flowed easily, and every time I was convinced I had figured it out that would change. The red herrings are quite effective as I usually do’n’t fall for them. The only complaint I have about this book is that it reads like the second book in a series, not the first. The case that resulted in the demotion of DI Phillips is referred to frequently with little details, as if we are supposed to know what happened already. One character that apparently featured in that case is referred to in passing and then makes an appearance out of nowhere, and the conversation isn’t that enlightening on who he is exactly. I was actually going to look for the book that contained that case then realized this was the first book and we aren’t getting the rest of the story. However, it isn’t enough to take away enjoyment of the book overall.
If you enjoy mysteries or police procedurals like the ones by James Patterson or Patricia Cornwell, you will enjoy this one as well.
This book was so hard to put down. The pacing flowed easily, and every time I was convinced I had figured it out that would change. The red herrings are quite effective as I usually do’n’t fall for them. The only complaint I have about this book is that it reads like the second book in a series, not the first. The case that resulted in the demotion of DI Phillips is referred to frequently with little details, as if we are supposed to know what happened already. One character that apparently featured in that case is referred to in passing and then makes an appearance out of nowhere, and the conversation isn’t that enlightening on who he is exactly. I was actually going to look for the book that contained that case then realized this was the first book and we aren’t getting the rest of the story. However, it isn’t enough to take away enjoyment of the book overall.
If you enjoy mysteries or police procedurals like the ones by James Patterson or Patricia Cornwell, you will enjoy this one as well.
October 27, 2019
Jane Philips is a DI, demoted as a result of events at a previous case. Her boss, Fraser Brown really hates her and makes it very clear, luckily for her the feeling is reciprocated.
Her team are investigating the murder of a woman, found suffocated by a plastic bag…..but when further murders are committed, all in the same way….they have a serial killer to find. Jane, committed to her job, puts the truth before anything else and ends up in danger, the killer is watching!
Jane is a likeable character, likeable and a strong woman with a sense of humour but takes no nonsense either. With a great team, even new recruit Entwistle soon settles in. The victims have links to each other and the local church, but who would want them dead ?
What follows is a race against time to stop the killer before anymore deaths….it has a dark and twisty plot which has you hooked from the very first page. It’s very clever writing that makes you feel empathy for a killer, yes the crimes were heinous but they had been a victim themselves too. I’ll never look at Winnie the Pooh pyjamas in the same way again……..Utterly compelling.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Her team are investigating the murder of a woman, found suffocated by a plastic bag…..but when further murders are committed, all in the same way….they have a serial killer to find. Jane, committed to her job, puts the truth before anything else and ends up in danger, the killer is watching!
Jane is a likeable character, likeable and a strong woman with a sense of humour but takes no nonsense either. With a great team, even new recruit Entwistle soon settles in. The victims have links to each other and the local church, but who would want them dead ?
What follows is a race against time to stop the killer before anymore deaths….it has a dark and twisty plot which has you hooked from the very first page. It’s very clever writing that makes you feel empathy for a killer, yes the crimes were heinous but they had been a victim themselves too. I’ll never look at Winnie the Pooh pyjamas in the same way again……..Utterly compelling.
Thank you to Damppebbles Blog Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.
October 27, 2019
Detective Jane Phillips is on the search for a brutal serial killer who preys on vulnerable lonely women. There doesn't appear to be any direct connection between them, so maybe the killer just gets a thrill out of tormenting the weak and vulnerable of society.
But the killer does have an agenda. An agenda caused by betrayal, inner torment and a lifetime of pain. Somebody has to pay for the pain. Will Phillips be able to find the killer before they get through their long list of vengeance?
The main character is a strong female lead, however Ryan has written Detective Jane Phillips in a very specific way. She is aggressive, belligerent and doesn't think the rules apply to her. It's very androcentric, which suggests women have to act like one of the boys to be accepted as one of the boys.
In a way I think it is supposed to portray her as a rebel with a cause. Instead she comes off as rude and insubordinate. It does mean she always follows the crime and the clues, as opposed to what her superior thinks she needs to follow though. Perhaps there is method to her madness?
It's a police procedural, a crime read and a psychological thriller at the same time. Ryan delivers memorable characters, a pithy plot and a series to follow.
*I received a courtesy copy*
But the killer does have an agenda. An agenda caused by betrayal, inner torment and a lifetime of pain. Somebody has to pay for the pain. Will Phillips be able to find the killer before they get through their long list of vengeance?
The main character is a strong female lead, however Ryan has written Detective Jane Phillips in a very specific way. She is aggressive, belligerent and doesn't think the rules apply to her. It's very androcentric, which suggests women have to act like one of the boys to be accepted as one of the boys.
In a way I think it is supposed to portray her as a rebel with a cause. Instead she comes off as rude and insubordinate. It does mean she always follows the crime and the clues, as opposed to what her superior thinks she needs to follow though. Perhaps there is method to her madness?
It's a police procedural, a crime read and a psychological thriller at the same time. Ryan delivers memorable characters, a pithy plot and a series to follow.
*I received a courtesy copy*
August 7, 2021
I purchased all five of these books in the new series after seeing a promotional offer from the publisher. From the description they sounded absolutely gripping and the first one certainly was. I loved every minute of it from the very start and found it hard to put down. All the characters were so real to me, especially DI Jane Phillips and her nemesis DCI Brown. As the story unfolds we are presented with scenes of torture and death which are quite frightening and it’s exciting how Jane and her team go to great lengths to catch the killer. The trail is far reaching and, in a lot of ways confusing, but it’s amusing how Brown wants to lock someone up without inconclusive evidence of their guilt, just to help with his promotion – something that Jane is having none of. The twists and turns and the fast paced ending make this one of the most impelling thrillers I have read for a long time and I am now about to start the next in the series. Another nice bonus is that, if you sign-up to the publishers mailing list, you get sent a free copy of the prequel which will give a great introduction to the main character and her demotion from DCI before this book begins.
April 24, 2020
I must say I did like this authors books, and he is a new one for me, which I happened on by chance. It is very nostalgic for me too, as I grew up in Levenshulme, and went to school in Burnage and Parr’s Wood, my best mate lived in Fallowfield, all places mentioned in this book, but I expect has changed considerably over the years.
You can tell from the outset which way this book is going, and while it’s still a crime, you can understand why the killer committed these heinous murders. All the cover ups and secrets over the years must have festered in their minds, and I’m sure revenge was the only way forward. As the bible says “an eye for an eye”......
I must say I despised Brown and Fox, they really got in my pip, but loved Jane and the others in the team. I hope the author continues with these characters and hopefully Brown will get his comeuppance!!
The book was a fast paced read, which did slow a bit in the middle, but finished with a cracking ending. Brilliant thoroughly enjoyed it. Onto the next one now.
You can tell from the outset which way this book is going, and while it’s still a crime, you can understand why the killer committed these heinous murders. All the cover ups and secrets over the years must have festered in their minds, and I’m sure revenge was the only way forward. As the bible says “an eye for an eye”......
I must say I despised Brown and Fox, they really got in my pip, but loved Jane and the others in the team. I hope the author continues with these characters and hopefully Brown will get his comeuppance!!
The book was a fast paced read, which did slow a bit in the middle, but finished with a cracking ending. Brilliant thoroughly enjoyed it. Onto the next one now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2023
Survivor's revenge.
Over twenty years later, it was with him every hour, every minute, No respite.
They knew, they did nothing. When challenged, they all gave the same excuse. HE threatened them, told them no one would believe them. He was the parish priest, he was a holy man. The children were liars, trying to blame him to cover a crime of there own.
One of his friends told his parents what was happening, they didn't believe him. They took him to see his tormentor, who blamed the boy for telling lues, and so it went on, if only one of those not abused had spoken up, but they didn't and now it was their time to pay - with their lives.
Jane Phillips was now DI having been demoted from DCI for not following procedure on her previous case, the fact she nearly died was nothing.
So now she is back, her old job given to her nemesis, Fraser Brown, how long could it last. She didn't know, but now she had to find the killer of a middle aged woman, who left no trace evidence.
Very good storyline, the presentation is realistic, as is the compulsion of the killer.
Over twenty years later, it was with him every hour, every minute, No respite.
They knew, they did nothing. When challenged, they all gave the same excuse. HE threatened them, told them no one would believe them. He was the parish priest, he was a holy man. The children were liars, trying to blame him to cover a crime of there own.
One of his friends told his parents what was happening, they didn't believe him. They took him to see his tormentor, who blamed the boy for telling lues, and so it went on, if only one of those not abused had spoken up, but they didn't and now it was their time to pay - with their lives.
Jane Phillips was now DI having been demoted from DCI for not following procedure on her previous case, the fact she nearly died was nothing.
So now she is back, her old job given to her nemesis, Fraser Brown, how long could it last. She didn't know, but now she had to find the killer of a middle aged woman, who left no trace evidence.
Very good storyline, the presentation is realistic, as is the compulsion of the killer.
December 27, 2019
This is the first in the series about DI Jane Phillips. She was demoted after a case that she solved. You don't really find out all the story behind it. But, on this one, she is with her two detectives that help her solve her cases.
In this one, she is fighting the man in charge, as all he is concerned about is solving a case and being promoted..Right now, he was the one that took her job when she was demoted.
This case is about a serial killer that breaks into a house and leaves a trail of death. Never leaves any evidence and they don't know how the victims are related. After the 3rd person is killed with the same clues, they know they do have a serial killer. He seems to be everywhere and is Jane is next victim.
I really enjoyed this one. I would definitely read the 2nd in the series!
In this one, she is fighting the man in charge, as all he is concerned about is solving a case and being promoted..Right now, he was the one that took her job when she was demoted.
This case is about a serial killer that breaks into a house and leaves a trail of death. Never leaves any evidence and they don't know how the victims are related. After the 3rd person is killed with the same clues, they know they do have a serial killer. He seems to be everywhere and is Jane is next victim.
I really enjoyed this one. I would definitely read the 2nd in the series!
August 7, 2021
My 1st experience of this series was with book 5, Deadly Obsession. I really enjoyed it so decided I would have to read all the earlier books in the series.
This is the 1st book. Even if I wasn't used to Jane and her team from the previous book I had read, the team dynamic and interactions would lead me to immediately warm to the detectives.
It starts immediately with the murder of Susan Gillespie and then follows 3 more murders so you're gripped right from the start. Along with trying to determine the motive and perpetrator, Jane also has to handle her aggressive DCI Brown and the ongoing conflict between the 2 of them.
This is a totally gripping book and one that you want to keep reading. I loved it and look forward to reading the next book in this excellent series.
This is the 1st book. Even if I wasn't used to Jane and her team from the previous book I had read, the team dynamic and interactions would lead me to immediately warm to the detectives.
It starts immediately with the murder of Susan Gillespie and then follows 3 more murders so you're gripped right from the start. Along with trying to determine the motive and perpetrator, Jane also has to handle her aggressive DCI Brown and the ongoing conflict between the 2 of them.
This is a totally gripping book and one that you want to keep reading. I loved it and look forward to reading the next book in this excellent series.
November 5, 2021
No way this is a debut release!
And if it is, WOW! I do know that there is Another book before this one, but it was not released to the public. So for all intents and purposes this is OMJ Ryan's debut novel! And it was amazing.. Fast paced and full of twists and turns, keeping one guessing throughout the book. Lots of movement going on throughout the book too, I read it in no time, and it kept me interested without wanting a break as many do. The only thing that got old was the constant flow using between the two upper officers, but I got the reasons for it. I am really looking forward to reader ing the rest of this series, because I can only see these books even getting better!
And if it is, WOW! I do know that there is Another book before this one, but it was not released to the public. So for all intents and purposes this is OMJ Ryan's debut novel! And it was amazing.. Fast paced and full of twists and turns, keeping one guessing throughout the book. Lots of movement going on throughout the book too, I read it in no time, and it kept me interested without wanting a break as many do. The only thing that got old was the constant flow using between the two upper officers, but I got the reasons for it. I am really looking forward to reader ing the rest of this series, because I can only see these books even getting better!
June 1, 2022
A pretty good police procedural featuring DI Jane Phillips of Greater Manchester police. Phillips was demoted from DCI in a traumatic case that has left her with PTSD. In fact, the back story is so crucial that this feels like book 2 in the series.
Phillips now works under the awful DCI Brown, a one dimensional caricature of a bad senior officer. With no leadership skills he is ambitious and self centred, with no redeeming features at all. Several of the characters feel a little under developed.
Deadly Silence revolves around the hunt for a serial killer with links to past abuse. The story behind the murders becomes increasingly obvious and the identity of the killer isn't difficult to work out.
The novel has flaws, but the series has definte promise,
Phillips now works under the awful DCI Brown, a one dimensional caricature of a bad senior officer. With no leadership skills he is ambitious and self centred, with no redeeming features at all. Several of the characters feel a little under developed.
Deadly Silence revolves around the hunt for a serial killer with links to past abuse. The story behind the murders becomes increasingly obvious and the identity of the killer isn't difficult to work out.
The novel has flaws, but the series has definte promise,
November 23, 2019
I very much enjoyed this crime thriller. I especially liked that the heroine was not entirely put together; her humanity made her more likable and relatable. I also thought that the members of her team were well-written, right through the obnoxious boss (we’ve all dealt with those). The plot itself was rolled out in a manner that allowed the reader to “work the case” with the team, which I appreciated. I would definitely recommend this book. For a complete review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. This review was written based on a digital ARC of the book, and all thoughts are my own.
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