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James Hardy #3

Hard Truth

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FROM THE UK BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF KNIFE & DEATH

"Hard Truth is the best DCI Hardy book so far! The series gets better and better." Enjoy the series described by the readers as "A book you must read!" and "A breath of fresh air."

DCI James Hardy’s new-found peace is rocked when Kelly Lyle ‘the Mentor’ returns.

During Lyle's campaign of murder, she rips apart the detective’s new life and reveals a secret that shatters everything Hardy believed to be true about his wife’s death.

James Hardy has walked away from his career as a Scotland Yard homicide detective. He has found love again, and, together with his two young daughters, he’s making a fresh start in a small seaside town.

With his new career as a consultant taking off and the demons of the past behind him, Hardy’s life couldn’t be better.

But the peace is about to be shattered.

When a series of shocking murders take place in the seaside town, Hardy is contacted by local detective inspector Emma Cotton for advice. Hardy learns the disturbing crimes have all the hallmarks of a serial killer linked to his past.

Hardy baulks at being forced out of early retirement, but whether he likes it or not, the killer appears determined to draw him back into a world he wants to leave behind.

Knowing it will take something monumental to catch his attention, the killer raises the stakes and abducts someone Hardy loves more than life itself.

Is Hardy about to lose everything he’s fought so hard to keep?

Hardy’s only choice is to work with DI Emma Cotton to discover the hard truth behind the killer’s motives. If they play the killer’s game, they might be in time to stop a tragedy beyond comprehension.

Buy Hard Truth today, and discover the secret that should have stayed buried.

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2019

90 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

About the author

Jay Gill

17 books44 followers
Let's start this off with an invitation to get a FREE story.

In this 1920s whodunnit, private detective Henry Fleming goes to Paris to unravel the mystery surrounding The Theft of the Kingsley Ruby.

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Jay Gill was born in Poole, Dorset, United Kingdom. At aged 18, Jay moved to London where he worked in the printing industry, specialising in pharmaceutical leaflets and packaging. After years of commuting and working in this fast-paced environment, Jay moved back to Dorset with his family to enjoy the slower pace of life on the south coast. It was at this point that he carved out time to develop the detective thrillers that had been rattling around inside his head.

He lives with his wife and two daughters on the south coast of England, and though he loved the twenty-something years he spent in and around London, and the home counties, he feels settled and at peace in his native Dorset.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
147 (54%)
4 stars
83 (30%)
3 stars
34 (12%)
2 stars
3 (1%)
1 star
1 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
14 reviews
May 13, 2019
Brilliant! !!

Read one a night fir 3 nights, where the 4th!!!!,dont know how long i can wait 😀😀😀,counting the days so please be quick
Profile Image for Pauline Margaret Dean.
155 reviews
March 29, 2019
Hard Truth

Absolutely brilliant keeps on getting better and better.So many twists and turns had me hooked from start to finish,think I need a break to recover.Would highly recommend.
116 reviews5 followers
December 18, 2020
A new author recommended via the FB crime book club. I very much enjoyed this series of books and am racing through them. The main characters and their back story are as good as the story itself. onwards to the next one.
553 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2024
I had to check my Goodreads reviews to be sure but I’ve read and enjoyed several Hardy books by Jay Gill, giving 3 or 4 stars. Was I insane or is “Hard Truth” truly exceptional in how bad it is compared to others in the series? Or maybe I missed something because I didn’t read them in order. Anyway, I can't think of a time when I was so disappointed and disgusted with a book. I almost marked it DNF -- but I checked my previous reviews and listened on, hoping it might improve. It didn’t.

The gaping hole in the novel’s quality is Kelly Lyle, the evil genius who keeps the plot plodding on and on. I don’t think I’ve ever read about a ‘bad guy’ as silly as this one. Her back story is so slender it’s emaciated yet she manages to evade the police and rip apart Hardy’s new-found peace and stump everyone at Scotland Yard. Of course, Hardy is tempted to leave his new life in order to return to risking his life to chase down the ‘baddies’.

Cliches cascade throughout the narrative. It’s hard to find anything good to say about this book., whether it’s the dedication and intelligence of the new DI, or the kidnapping of Hardy’s child, or the fate of Kelly Lyle; is she dead or did she survive the big blast?

“Hard Truth” is a hard read unless you’re a dedicated fan or you sleepwalk through your novels. If this had been my first book by Jay Gill, I would never have considered another. Since I seem to have enjoyed others in this series, I might try one again but not any time soon.
434 reviews
October 2, 2021
This is the fourth book in the series and it doesn't disappoint. In fact prepare to keep putting it down to gather yourself as the tension mounts. The good thing is that you know James will survive because there are more in the series, but who may not. I loved this and so on to the next
Profile Image for Helen Day.
3 reviews
August 27, 2019
So many twists and turns. A great read I couldn't put down. Can't wait for the next one
Profile Image for Lesley.
291 reviews1 follower
December 28, 2019
Loving James hardy

Starting to like this genre, characters are strong, the plots are interesting, need to get Inferno very soon, well done Jay
226 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2021
Great book looking forward to another by Jay Gill especially if there is another in the series of James Hardy.
Profile Image for SUE.
173 reviews10 followers
October 10, 2019
omg I so want to put spoilers in but wont ... another great read from Jay and am about to start 5 when hopefully it will be resolved and that's all I can say !!! Jay you are a great Author and I really like James Hardy xxx
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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