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Charlie Priest #2
Dřevěná panenka
Úspěšný advokát Charlie Priest od samého začátku věděl, že kvůli tomu případu riskuje svou těžce vydobytou pověst, nebo možná dokonce celou kariéru. A přece do toho šel: rozhodl se obhajovat internetový časopis, který zveřejnil článek o korupci ve velké charitativní organizaci zaměřené na pomoc dětem.
Ráno před započetím procesu ale kdosi zavraždil korunního svědka, a od této chvíle se Priestovi začalo všechno rozpadat pod rukama. Mrtvol přibývá a Priest zjišťuje, že se zapletl do temné sítě podvodů a korupce, jejímž rozplétáním ohrožuje nejen sebe, ale také další lidi, na kterých mu záleží.
Už to samo o sobě by stačilo, ale Priest bojuje ještě s vlastním démonem:
disociativní poruchou, kvůli které občas přestává rozlišovat, co ještě skutečné je, a co už není. Dokáže i s touto indispozicí odhalit pravdu dřív, než bude pozdě?
Ráno před započetím procesu ale kdosi zavraždil korunního svědka, a od této chvíle se Priestovi začalo všechno rozpadat pod rukama. Mrtvol přibývá a Priest zjišťuje, že se zapletl do temné sítě podvodů a korupce, jejímž rozplétáním ohrožuje nejen sebe, ale také další lidi, na kterých mu záleží.
Už to samo o sobě by stačilo, ale Priest bojuje ještě s vlastním démonem:
disociativní poruchou, kvůli které občas přestává rozlišovat, co ještě skutečné je, a co už není. Dokáže i s touto indispozicí odhalit pravdu dřív, než bude pozdě?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 6, 2018
6 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
James Hazel
7 books109 followersBefore turning his hand to writing, James Hazel was a lawyer in private practice specialising in corporate and commercial litigation and employment law.
He was an equity partner in a regional law firm and held a number of different department headships until he quit legal practice to pursue his dream of becoming an author.
He has a keen interest in criminology and a passion for crime thrillers, indie music and all things retro.
James lives on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds with his wife and three children.
He was an equity partner in a regional law firm and held a number of different department headships until he quit legal practice to pursue his dream of becoming an author.
He has a keen interest in criminology and a passion for crime thrillers, indie music and all things retro.
James lives on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds with his wife and three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
September 18, 2018
"The Ash Doll" is the second in the brilliant Charlie Priest series written by author James Hazel and I was very excited to be reading this and had very high hopes for it. Ex D.I. turned London lawyer Charlie Priest - who suffers from dissociative disorder - is a great main character and wholly original.
Although I've read (and adored) "The Mayfly" the first in the series, I didn't feel I needed to read it first as the only connection between them were the characters who soon developed into another completely different story anyway.
I love James Hazel's writing, he captivates me as a reader and once again, straight away I was pulled into the story within a couple of pages. However, once I reached the court case facts I'm not sure if initially I just didn't understand fully what was going on with it or whether it just didn't pique my interest but I struggled to get into the whole court scenario. Thankfully, I did finally get my head around it and once I did everything fell into place nicely and the story began in earnest for me after one of the star witnesses in the case is murdered.
Very gritty and explicit in places, which is what I like (though some readers may find some of the child abuse parts distressing), this author isn't frightened to broach subjects that need to be heard and as the story progresses I really enjoyed the intriguing plot line.
My favourite character this time was Georgie Someday, Priest's down to earth sidekick, she was the star of the book in my opinion and her professional relationship with Charlie Priest was brilliant to read. I also liked Priest's serial killing brother, who is incarcerated for his crimes playing endless games of 'Risk' and has an air about him that reminds me of Sherlock Holme's Moriarty. The use of 'Lionfish' in the plot too was ingenious and not one I've read about before.
I wouldn't say this book hit the dizzying heights "The Mayfly" did for me, following a smash hit of a debut novel can be difficult but having said that, this was still a highly entertaining and enjoyable book and I wholeheartedly look forward to book number three in the series when published.
4 stars
Although I've read (and adored) "The Mayfly" the first in the series, I didn't feel I needed to read it first as the only connection between them were the characters who soon developed into another completely different story anyway.
I love James Hazel's writing, he captivates me as a reader and once again, straight away I was pulled into the story within a couple of pages. However, once I reached the court case facts I'm not sure if initially I just didn't understand fully what was going on with it or whether it just didn't pique my interest but I struggled to get into the whole court scenario. Thankfully, I did finally get my head around it and once I did everything fell into place nicely and the story began in earnest for me after one of the star witnesses in the case is murdered.
Very gritty and explicit in places, which is what I like (though some readers may find some of the child abuse parts distressing), this author isn't frightened to broach subjects that need to be heard and as the story progresses I really enjoyed the intriguing plot line.
My favourite character this time was Georgie Someday, Priest's down to earth sidekick, she was the star of the book in my opinion and her professional relationship with Charlie Priest was brilliant to read. I also liked Priest's serial killing brother, who is incarcerated for his crimes playing endless games of 'Risk' and has an air about him that reminds me of Sherlock Holme's Moriarty. The use of 'Lionfish' in the plot too was ingenious and not one I've read about before.
I wouldn't say this book hit the dizzying heights "The Mayfly" did for me, following a smash hit of a debut novel can be difficult but having said that, this was still a highly entertaining and enjoyable book and I wholeheartedly look forward to book number three in the series when published.
4 stars
January 22, 2021
DNF. This book was, oh my god, such a nightmare, I’m sorry, I appreciate a lot of time and love goes into writing a book but I just COULDN’T with this one. I don't tend to write scathing reviews but this book perpetuated archaic and damaging ideologies on how a woman should be and that's too gross not to complain about.
With all the women in this book, it’s made sure that we know that they’re skinny. Two of the characters are apparently the “perfect woman”, model bodies and beautiful beyond all reasoning. The level headed, actually likeable female character, who is basically just the main (males) bag carrier, unfortunately, wears cardigans, so despite the fact she has the “body of a gymnast”, she’s not worthy of being called sexy because her fashion sense isn’t skin-tight dresses and pink bras.
The main character, Charlie Priest, is fucking terrible at his job but it’s okay because he’s big, strong and sexy. He's also a scumbag when it comes to how treats his love interests but it's okay because he's so irresistible that they'll just give up all their moral qualms to sleep with him anyway, because how could a woman resist such a burly handsome man? A woman he invites to his place on a date walks in on Priest with his hands all over another woman, so understandably she leaves. But later in the book, he breaks into her office to apologise, good start, and she ends up throwing herself on him in a fit of passion anyway. This idea that Priest can get whatever / whoever he wants just because he's good-looking is gross.
And while I'm complaining, I may as well continue... Like I mentioned earlier, Priest has absolutely no idea what he's doing. He just decides to show up unannounced and uninvited to places that always happen to hold the next clue to solving the case. But Priest doesn't actually do any of the work himself, he's always got to have someone solve the clue for him. At one point he literally trys to put a key in a lock upside down, and when it doesn’t fit he is DUMBFOUNDED. Damn, case over, we’ll never get to the bottom of these murders! Not to worry though, his companion (the *ugly cardigan wearer*) shows Priest how to turn his hand and huzzah, the key fits! That's not a joke, by the way, that actually happens...
The last thing I'll mention is the actual plot itself... it's a crime / mystery novel with an all but nonexistent storyline because all Priest can think about is having sex or regretting having sex, so there’s not even any point in trying to see where the story is going because Priest’s, undoubtedly big & girthy, boner keeps getting in the way.
I read the first Priest book back in 2017 and I loved it. Either my tastes have entirely changed or the writing in this one is completely different to the first book. I think I've found my least favourite book of 2021 already.
With all the women in this book, it’s made sure that we know that they’re skinny. Two of the characters are apparently the “perfect woman”, model bodies and beautiful beyond all reasoning. The level headed, actually likeable female character, who is basically just the main (males) bag carrier, unfortunately, wears cardigans, so despite the fact she has the “body of a gymnast”, she’s not worthy of being called sexy because her fashion sense isn’t skin-tight dresses and pink bras.
The main character, Charlie Priest, is fucking terrible at his job but it’s okay because he’s big, strong and sexy. He's also a scumbag when it comes to how treats his love interests but it's okay because he's so irresistible that they'll just give up all their moral qualms to sleep with him anyway, because how could a woman resist such a burly handsome man? A woman he invites to his place on a date walks in on Priest with his hands all over another woman, so understandably she leaves. But later in the book, he breaks into her office to apologise, good start, and she ends up throwing herself on him in a fit of passion anyway. This idea that Priest can get whatever / whoever he wants just because he's good-looking is gross.
And while I'm complaining, I may as well continue... Like I mentioned earlier, Priest has absolutely no idea what he's doing. He just decides to show up unannounced and uninvited to places that always happen to hold the next clue to solving the case. But Priest doesn't actually do any of the work himself, he's always got to have someone solve the clue for him. At one point he literally trys to put a key in a lock upside down, and when it doesn’t fit he is DUMBFOUNDED. Damn, case over, we’ll never get to the bottom of these murders! Not to worry though, his companion (the *ugly cardigan wearer*) shows Priest how to turn his hand and huzzah, the key fits! That's not a joke, by the way, that actually happens...
The last thing I'll mention is the actual plot itself... it's a crime / mystery novel with an all but nonexistent storyline because all Priest can think about is having sex or regretting having sex, so there’s not even any point in trying to see where the story is going because Priest’s, undoubtedly big & girthy, boner keeps getting in the way.
I read the first Priest book back in 2017 and I loved it. Either my tastes have entirely changed or the writing in this one is completely different to the first book. I think I've found my least favourite book of 2021 already.
December 9, 2019
Charlie Priest and his team are getting ready to go to court to defend the magazine “ The Real Byte” on a libel charge. The charity have been accused of taking money. Alexia Elias the C.E.O is suing the magazine. When their star witness Simeon Ali fails to turn up to court and is later found dead it looks like the court case is in jeopardy, but when another body is discovered connected to the case Charlie and his team are soon looking into their murders.
There are some great characters in this story, loved the partnership between Charlie and Georgie who twist the rules when need be.
Although this is the second book in the series and I have not read the first, I was able to read this as there are hints about Charlie’s life, which means you can keep up with the story.
I was gripped by this book and it’s many twists and surprises. I came away wanting to read more of James Hazel’s works.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.
There are some great characters in this story, loved the partnership between Charlie and Georgie who twist the rules when need be.
Although this is the second book in the series and I have not read the first, I was able to read this as there are hints about Charlie’s life, which means you can keep up with the story.
I was gripped by this book and it’s many twists and surprises. I came away wanting to read more of James Hazel’s works.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review.
July 7, 2018
other brilliant Charlie Priest novel from James Hazel. Such an engaging compelling main character and group dynamic. Loved it. Creepy too and quite emotional.
It’s quite a dark book in a lot of ways but offset that with the lighter moments mostly involving the indomitable Georgie Someday, as well as Charlie’s sister and we must not forget the fish, means we have an absolutely compelling and intricately woven story that is highly addictive.
Charlie and his particular issues are utterly engaging and unusual enough to stand out within the genre. The mystery elements are dark and unsettling with a huge dose of unpredictability that keeps you turning those pages until the final resolution.
I loved The Mayfly and I also loved this, it’s just the type of crime fiction that keeps me hooked on the books. Beautifully written, indelibly fascinating, bring on more Charlie Priest novels is what I say.
Highly recommended.
It’s quite a dark book in a lot of ways but offset that with the lighter moments mostly involving the indomitable Georgie Someday, as well as Charlie’s sister and we must not forget the fish, means we have an absolutely compelling and intricately woven story that is highly addictive.
Charlie and his particular issues are utterly engaging and unusual enough to stand out within the genre. The mystery elements are dark and unsettling with a huge dose of unpredictability that keeps you turning those pages until the final resolution.
I loved The Mayfly and I also loved this, it’s just the type of crime fiction that keeps me hooked on the books. Beautifully written, indelibly fascinating, bring on more Charlie Priest novels is what I say.
Highly recommended.
April 19, 2020
The sad-face of a second instalment let-down.
I loved The Mayfly and I happily and confidentially recommended it to psychological-thriller lovers. The characters, witty, quick dialogue, and enthralling plot had me hooked in Book #1.
The second book in the series did not leave me with the same sense of urgency to complete. I missed the clever dialogue and oh-so-flawed but unique character traits (Charlie Priest particularly). Same protagonist but not as memorable or likeable this time. I just could not get into this one (and no need to read book one - except it is far superior to number two).
I have book three on loan from the library so hopefully this is just a hiccup in the James Hazel series.
I loved The Mayfly and I happily and confidentially recommended it to psychological-thriller lovers. The characters, witty, quick dialogue, and enthralling plot had me hooked in Book #1.
The second book in the series did not leave me with the same sense of urgency to complete. I missed the clever dialogue and oh-so-flawed but unique character traits (Charlie Priest particularly). Same protagonist but not as memorable or likeable this time. I just could not get into this one (and no need to read book one - except it is far superior to number two).
I have book three on loan from the library so hopefully this is just a hiccup in the James Hazel series.
October 22, 2018
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
Having really enjoyed The Mayfly, I was looking forward to being thrown back into the dark (and, at times, rather bizarre) world of lawyer Charlie Priest and his colleague Georgie Someday. The characters are what makes this novel so enjoyable; the subject matter in this novel is a lot darker, and at times was quite difficult to read, but both Charlie and Georgie are great to read about and made me want to keep reading on. The fact that they're not detectives or part of the police, but instead lawyers, allows them to break the rules sometimes in ways that the police can't, and this adds to the fun.
The plot has twists and turns, and requires some concentration to keep track of what exactly is going on, whilst there's a definitely sense of unease and the unknown which created a pretty unsettling atmosphere, which (though it sounds weird) I did enjoy!
I didn't find this quite as much of an addictive read as The Mayfly but it's still a great read.
[Rating: 3.5/5]
Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
Having really enjoyed The Mayfly, I was looking forward to being thrown back into the dark (and, at times, rather bizarre) world of lawyer Charlie Priest and his colleague Georgie Someday. The characters are what makes this novel so enjoyable; the subject matter in this novel is a lot darker, and at times was quite difficult to read, but both Charlie and Georgie are great to read about and made me want to keep reading on. The fact that they're not detectives or part of the police, but instead lawyers, allows them to break the rules sometimes in ways that the police can't, and this adds to the fun.
The plot has twists and turns, and requires some concentration to keep track of what exactly is going on, whilst there's a definitely sense of unease and the unknown which created a pretty unsettling atmosphere, which (though it sounds weird) I did enjoy!
I didn't find this quite as much of an addictive read as The Mayfly but it's still a great read.
[Rating: 3.5/5]
Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
September 22, 2018
A barnstorming thriller and tightly plotted second outing for Charlie Priest with a droll sense of humour! Brilliant stuff!
Consolidating on the success of his phenomenal debut, The Mayfly, James Hazel is back with a follow-up novel that despite being completely different in subject matter and scope once again blends his unique formula of remarkable characters, a fiendishly clever motive, some very brutal deaths and tops it off with an irreverent sense of humour that knits it all together perfectly. The Ash Doll is the second novel to feature the irrepressible Charlie Priest, an ex-CID officer with the Met, now turned successful fraud lawyer and a lovable and very savvy rogue who is characterised by his social ineptness (particularly with the opposite sex) and bouts of dissociative personality disorder and derealisation which cause breakdowns in his perception of reality.
Day one of the due to commence trial of Elias v. The Real Byte Limited and Charlie Priest and his team are defending the small independent online magazine on libel charges brought by the founder and CEO of the Elias Children’s Foundation, Alexia Elias, following a defamatory article published in 2014. Despite its limited media influence the allegations that Alexia was complicit and received significant bribes when a group of staff at the now closed Turkish office were found guilty of funnelling charity funds to a national terrorist cell has gained traction and left a trace of doubt as to her involvement. Charlie, his assistant, Georgie Someday, and in-house counsel, Vincent Okoro await the arrival in court of Simeon Ali, their star witness and whistleblower who formerly worked for the Turkish branch of the charity. When Simeon fails to show the opposing team try to capitalise on the defence’s misfortune but for Charlie and the magazine’s executive editor, Tomas Jansen, Simeon’s claims of being followed and in fear of his life are enough to grant an adjournment to the case. As Charlie flies across London to the rental property that he and his sister own and which Simeon was renting as a safe house he is presented with a property in disarray, the thermostat cranked up to the highest setting but no obvious signs of abandonment. Already suspicious of the scene he is met with it is no surprise to Charlie when Simeon soon turns up murdered and with the Eliases being the obvious suspects and having the most to gain it sends Charlie and intrepid assistant, Georgie, into investigative overdrive.
When this is just the first of several murders Charlie Priest is drawn deeper into a matter far more complex than he ever imagined and his intuition and knack for spotting discrepancies leads him into a web of deceit that puts him and Georgie in jeopardy. Their quest for the truth is hampered by independent journalist, Elinor Fox, a mischievous siren with her own vendetta against the Eliases. As Charlie’s hunch that there was more to Simeon’s claims than meets the eye leads him and Georgie on a trail of crumbs they follow a series of obscure clues which takes them from London to the former house of the Eliases on the Norfolk coast and stumble upon a conspiracy theory regarding the disappearance of a young girl from the cliff face of nearby Devil’s Point. As Charlie separates the truth from a cloud of suspicion and lies it leads him to uncover something far darker and forces him to unite with his former best man, DCI Tiff Rowlinson, to clear up the resulting mess and draw a line under a sickening series of crimes and abuse.
Despite his obvious issues lead protagonist Charlie Priest is impossible not to warm to and vie for with his disarming charm, irreverent banter and the ability to attract just about every woman except the one he wants to! He is a humorous and beleaguered central character in the world of crime fiction that offers something new with a very shrewd mind and an alternative angle to navigating the obstacles he encounters. London based Priest & Co. are similarly staffed by an endearing assortment of quirky oddballs, from eager associate Georgie Someday, with her remarkable processing capacity to OCD encumbered accountant, Solly. The Ash Doll builds on the characterisation of Georgie in The Mayfly and gives more insight into her past. The characters who proliferate Priest’s time away from the office are also equally memorable, from his PhD serial killer and criminally insane brother, fellow dissociative disorder sufferer and unofficial advisor on cases, William, through to his ever forgiving sister, Sarah, and a vindictive ex-wife who is the Assistant Commissioner of the Met!
Brilliantly researched, with very obvious attention to detail the background information that is conveyed is enormous, but it never feels for a minute like an overload or information dump and much of it is relayed in the course of general conversation meaning that The Ash Doll is ridiculously easy to become thoroughly and wholeheartedly involved with. As fast, furious and every bit as fresh as the first book in the series, The Ash Doll, is a gripping thriller packed full of unexpected surprises with plenty of lighter moments thanks to the witty dialogue and cast of quirky oddballs. James Hazel injects a brilliant sense of scathing humour into his narrative and despite Priest’s investigation delving into an unpalatable subject matter it never verges on becoming gratuitous. Once again Hazel delivers a tightly knotted plot with no obvious loose ends or lingering questions that aside from some suspension of disbelief proves gloriously irresistible reading matter!
Two books into the Charlie Priest series with no signs of the second book slump or abatement in the breakneck pace make this series a must-read with author, James Hazel, proving one of the most accomplished new writers in the crime fiction domain! Highly recommended and slickly plotted! Brilliant stuff from start to finish!
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Consolidating on the success of his phenomenal debut, The Mayfly, James Hazel is back with a follow-up novel that despite being completely different in subject matter and scope once again blends his unique formula of remarkable characters, a fiendishly clever motive, some very brutal deaths and tops it off with an irreverent sense of humour that knits it all together perfectly. The Ash Doll is the second novel to feature the irrepressible Charlie Priest, an ex-CID officer with the Met, now turned successful fraud lawyer and a lovable and very savvy rogue who is characterised by his social ineptness (particularly with the opposite sex) and bouts of dissociative personality disorder and derealisation which cause breakdowns in his perception of reality.
Day one of the due to commence trial of Elias v. The Real Byte Limited and Charlie Priest and his team are defending the small independent online magazine on libel charges brought by the founder and CEO of the Elias Children’s Foundation, Alexia Elias, following a defamatory article published in 2014. Despite its limited media influence the allegations that Alexia was complicit and received significant bribes when a group of staff at the now closed Turkish office were found guilty of funnelling charity funds to a national terrorist cell has gained traction and left a trace of doubt as to her involvement. Charlie, his assistant, Georgie Someday, and in-house counsel, Vincent Okoro await the arrival in court of Simeon Ali, their star witness and whistleblower who formerly worked for the Turkish branch of the charity. When Simeon fails to show the opposing team try to capitalise on the defence’s misfortune but for Charlie and the magazine’s executive editor, Tomas Jansen, Simeon’s claims of being followed and in fear of his life are enough to grant an adjournment to the case. As Charlie flies across London to the rental property that he and his sister own and which Simeon was renting as a safe house he is presented with a property in disarray, the thermostat cranked up to the highest setting but no obvious signs of abandonment. Already suspicious of the scene he is met with it is no surprise to Charlie when Simeon soon turns up murdered and with the Eliases being the obvious suspects and having the most to gain it sends Charlie and intrepid assistant, Georgie, into investigative overdrive.
When this is just the first of several murders Charlie Priest is drawn deeper into a matter far more complex than he ever imagined and his intuition and knack for spotting discrepancies leads him into a web of deceit that puts him and Georgie in jeopardy. Their quest for the truth is hampered by independent journalist, Elinor Fox, a mischievous siren with her own vendetta against the Eliases. As Charlie’s hunch that there was more to Simeon’s claims than meets the eye leads him and Georgie on a trail of crumbs they follow a series of obscure clues which takes them from London to the former house of the Eliases on the Norfolk coast and stumble upon a conspiracy theory regarding the disappearance of a young girl from the cliff face of nearby Devil’s Point. As Charlie separates the truth from a cloud of suspicion and lies it leads him to uncover something far darker and forces him to unite with his former best man, DCI Tiff Rowlinson, to clear up the resulting mess and draw a line under a sickening series of crimes and abuse.
Despite his obvious issues lead protagonist Charlie Priest is impossible not to warm to and vie for with his disarming charm, irreverent banter and the ability to attract just about every woman except the one he wants to! He is a humorous and beleaguered central character in the world of crime fiction that offers something new with a very shrewd mind and an alternative angle to navigating the obstacles he encounters. London based Priest & Co. are similarly staffed by an endearing assortment of quirky oddballs, from eager associate Georgie Someday, with her remarkable processing capacity to OCD encumbered accountant, Solly. The Ash Doll builds on the characterisation of Georgie in The Mayfly and gives more insight into her past. The characters who proliferate Priest’s time away from the office are also equally memorable, from his PhD serial killer and criminally insane brother, fellow dissociative disorder sufferer and unofficial advisor on cases, William, through to his ever forgiving sister, Sarah, and a vindictive ex-wife who is the Assistant Commissioner of the Met!
Brilliantly researched, with very obvious attention to detail the background information that is conveyed is enormous, but it never feels for a minute like an overload or information dump and much of it is relayed in the course of general conversation meaning that The Ash Doll is ridiculously easy to become thoroughly and wholeheartedly involved with. As fast, furious and every bit as fresh as the first book in the series, The Ash Doll, is a gripping thriller packed full of unexpected surprises with plenty of lighter moments thanks to the witty dialogue and cast of quirky oddballs. James Hazel injects a brilliant sense of scathing humour into his narrative and despite Priest’s investigation delving into an unpalatable subject matter it never verges on becoming gratuitous. Once again Hazel delivers a tightly knotted plot with no obvious loose ends or lingering questions that aside from some suspension of disbelief proves gloriously irresistible reading matter!
Two books into the Charlie Priest series with no signs of the second book slump or abatement in the breakneck pace make this series a must-read with author, James Hazel, proving one of the most accomplished new writers in the crime fiction domain! Highly recommended and slickly plotted! Brilliant stuff from start to finish!
With thanks to Readers First who provided me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 16, 2020
The Ash Doll by James Hazel is book 2 in the Charlie Priest series, this series is definitely getting better and I can't wait for more.
It's a great cat and mouse guessing game thriller which is going to keep you wanting more with each chapter you read.
I definitely recommend this series so far 📖
It's a great cat and mouse guessing game thriller which is going to keep you wanting more with each chapter you read.
I definitely recommend this series so far 📖
March 25, 2020
Uff, das war ein Kampf. Kennt ihr das Problem, wenn ein Buch halt einfach furchtbar mittelmäßig ist? Nicht schlecht genug, um es sofort wieder wegzulegen, aber auch nicht gut genug, um dich richtig zu fesseln? Ja, das war mein Problem mit diesem Buch. Ich hab mich dann aber doch dazu entschlossen, abzubrechen. Ich hab so viele Bücher auf meinem Stapel der Schande - warum sollte ich mich dann mit einem Buch wie diesem herumschlagen?
Die Hauptperson ist Charlie Priest, oder auch nur Priest, wie er meistens genannt wird. Wisst ihr was eine Mary-Sue ist? Das ist eine weibliche Hauptfigur, die einfach alles kann, kaum Charakter hat und oft als eine perfekte Version des/der Autoren/Autorin verstanden wird. Tja, hier haben wir das männliche Äquivalent dazu. Priest war mir einfach nur super unsympathisch und ging mir schon nach hundert Seiten einfach nur noch auf den Geist. Er ist ein Anwalt, der noch nie einen Fall verloren zu haben scheint, dem alles in den Schoß fällt, der immer zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort ist und dem nichts Probleme bereiten zu scheint. Außerdem will jede Frau ins Bett mit ihm, aber das habt ihr euch sicher schon gedacht, oder? Immerhin ist er ja perfekt - welche Frau will denn keinen perfekten Mann? Ufff! Ich weiß gar nicht, was ich dazu sagen soll! Priests Perspektive war einfach nur furchtbar unangenehm. Mehr gibt es dazu nicht zu sagen, denke ich. Es war einfach nur unangenehm.
Die Geschichte zog sich total und nahm bis Seite 337, wo ich dann abgebrochen habe, nie so richtig an Fahrt auf. Klar, man fand eine Leiche und dann hundert Seiten später noch eine (kein Spoiler, wird auch schon im Klappentext erwähnt) und Priest ermittelt halbherzig mit einer heißen und total nervigen Journalistin und seiner zumindest sehr gut aussehenden Assistentin. Zwischendurch trifft er seinen Bruder, der ein Serienmörder ist und manchmal kommen ein paar Kapitel aus einer Art Tagebuch, in denen ein kleines Mädchen in einem Keller eingesperrt ist und gequält hin. All das kann super spannend sein, doch hier brachte es mich nur dazu, immer wieder mal kräftig mit den Augen zu rollen. Irgendwann interessierte es mich einfach gar nicht mehr, was denn jetzt passiert.
Auch der Schreibstil konnte da nichts mehr retten. Der war zwar nicht wirklich schlecht, aber leider halt auch nur mittelmäßig, wenn überhaupt. Dann waren da auch noch ein paar kleinere Rechtschreibfehler. Die würde ich bei einem guten Buch verzeihen und mit einem Schulterzucken abtun. Hier aber leider nicht.
Mein Fazit? Hat mir überhaupt nicht gefallen. Schade, da hab ich mehr erwartet.
Die Hauptperson ist Charlie Priest, oder auch nur Priest, wie er meistens genannt wird. Wisst ihr was eine Mary-Sue ist? Das ist eine weibliche Hauptfigur, die einfach alles kann, kaum Charakter hat und oft als eine perfekte Version des/der Autoren/Autorin verstanden wird. Tja, hier haben wir das männliche Äquivalent dazu. Priest war mir einfach nur super unsympathisch und ging mir schon nach hundert Seiten einfach nur noch auf den Geist. Er ist ein Anwalt, der noch nie einen Fall verloren zu haben scheint, dem alles in den Schoß fällt, der immer zur richtigen Zeit am richtigen Ort ist und dem nichts Probleme bereiten zu scheint. Außerdem will jede Frau ins Bett mit ihm, aber das habt ihr euch sicher schon gedacht, oder? Immerhin ist er ja perfekt - welche Frau will denn keinen perfekten Mann? Ufff! Ich weiß gar nicht, was ich dazu sagen soll! Priests Perspektive war einfach nur furchtbar unangenehm. Mehr gibt es dazu nicht zu sagen, denke ich. Es war einfach nur unangenehm.
Die Geschichte zog sich total und nahm bis Seite 337, wo ich dann abgebrochen habe, nie so richtig an Fahrt auf. Klar, man fand eine Leiche und dann hundert Seiten später noch eine (kein Spoiler, wird auch schon im Klappentext erwähnt) und Priest ermittelt halbherzig mit einer heißen und total nervigen Journalistin und seiner zumindest sehr gut aussehenden Assistentin. Zwischendurch trifft er seinen Bruder, der ein Serienmörder ist und manchmal kommen ein paar Kapitel aus einer Art Tagebuch, in denen ein kleines Mädchen in einem Keller eingesperrt ist und gequält hin. All das kann super spannend sein, doch hier brachte es mich nur dazu, immer wieder mal kräftig mit den Augen zu rollen. Irgendwann interessierte es mich einfach gar nicht mehr, was denn jetzt passiert.
Auch der Schreibstil konnte da nichts mehr retten. Der war zwar nicht wirklich schlecht, aber leider halt auch nur mittelmäßig, wenn überhaupt. Dann waren da auch noch ein paar kleinere Rechtschreibfehler. Die würde ich bei einem guten Buch verzeihen und mit einem Schulterzucken abtun. Hier aber leider nicht.
Mein Fazit? Hat mir überhaupt nicht gefallen. Schade, da hab ich mehr erwartet.
June 20, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bonnier Zaffre for an advance copy of The Ash Doll, the second novel to feature defence lawyer Charlie Priest.
Charlie and his team are in court to start defending small, independent magazine, The Real Byte, on a libel charge. The magazine had alleged that not only was one of the largest charities in the world funnelling money to a terrorist group but that founder and CEO Alexia Elias knew all about it, based on information supplied by ex charity worker, Simeon Ali. When Ali fails to turn up in court and is found murdered a short while later Charlie starts investigating.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Ash Doll and Mr Hazel is fast becoming one of my favourite authors due to the verve he injects into his novels. Murder and child abuse are perhaps not the lightest of subjects but the author makes the novel a fun read as there is a sense that his tongue is firmly in his cheek. It is not a novel of gritty realism or any kind of realism really but it's exciting, cleverly done and chock full of twists and turns, most of which are totally unexpected. It's great entertainment and held me enthralled from start to finish, unable to put it down.
Charlie Priest is an extremely likeable protagonist despite his past of CID detective turned defence lawyer. He has standard, almost prerequisite quirks, serial killer brother currently residing in a facility for the criminally insane who helps his investigations and a dissociative disorder which blurs his reality. Nevertheless he is a smart operator with more angles than is immediately obvious and yet he is charmingly inept when it comes to relationships.
I re-read the opening chapters of the novel to make sure I had the details correct and was struck by Mr Hazel's skill in introducing all the necessary information seamlessly into the narrative without making it seem like an information dump. It's a great start to an enjoyable read.
The Ash Doll is a worthy follow up to The Mayfly so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Charlie and his team are in court to start defending small, independent magazine, The Real Byte, on a libel charge. The magazine had alleged that not only was one of the largest charities in the world funnelling money to a terrorist group but that founder and CEO Alexia Elias knew all about it, based on information supplied by ex charity worker, Simeon Ali. When Ali fails to turn up in court and is found murdered a short while later Charlie starts investigating.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Ash Doll and Mr Hazel is fast becoming one of my favourite authors due to the verve he injects into his novels. Murder and child abuse are perhaps not the lightest of subjects but the author makes the novel a fun read as there is a sense that his tongue is firmly in his cheek. It is not a novel of gritty realism or any kind of realism really but it's exciting, cleverly done and chock full of twists and turns, most of which are totally unexpected. It's great entertainment and held me enthralled from start to finish, unable to put it down.
Charlie Priest is an extremely likeable protagonist despite his past of CID detective turned defence lawyer. He has standard, almost prerequisite quirks, serial killer brother currently residing in a facility for the criminally insane who helps his investigations and a dissociative disorder which blurs his reality. Nevertheless he is a smart operator with more angles than is immediately obvious and yet he is charmingly inept when it comes to relationships.
I re-read the opening chapters of the novel to make sure I had the details correct and was struck by Mr Hazel's skill in introducing all the necessary information seamlessly into the narrative without making it seem like an information dump. It's a great start to an enjoyable read.
The Ash Doll is a worthy follow up to The Mayfly so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
October 22, 2018
The book is told in short snappy chapters which keep the book moving and make it very easy to say ‘just one more chapter…’. The book does make reference to the authors previous book ‘The Mayfly’ which also features Charlie Priest. I wouldn’t classify this book as a continuation in a series as such, it’s very much capable of being read as a standalone, but it’s one of those series where the main protagonist features in multiple books.
September 14, 2024
While I did like this book just fine - it's intricate, twisty, and turny with a nice payoff towards the end - but I won't deny that I wanted to get through it mostly so I could press play on Charlie Priest book number 3.
The characters in this series are good, but there is somehow some sort of disconnect between them and me. Jessica is so hard to like. She's hot. She's cold. She's stone. One never knows which when she enters a scene and I sort of mourn the budding relationship Priest had with her in book 1.
The problem I have is that I feel somewhat "safely removed" from Priest as the main character, too. I sometimes wonder if the author has made a contentious choice to write Priest this way because of Priest's dissociative disorder, or if it's just the way the author writes. Having read/listen to no other books by the author at this point, I can't possibly know which it is, but I do wonder.
Anyway! I have my fingers crossed for book 3.
The characters in this series are good, but there is somehow some sort of disconnect between them and me. Jessica is so hard to like. She's hot. She's cold. She's stone. One never knows which when she enters a scene and I sort of mourn the budding relationship Priest had with her in book 1.
The problem I have is that I feel somewhat "safely removed" from Priest as the main character, too. I sometimes wonder if the author has made a contentious choice to write Priest this way because of Priest's dissociative disorder, or if it's just the way the author writes. Having read/listen to no other books by the author at this point, I can't possibly know which it is, but I do wonder.
Anyway! I have my fingers crossed for book 3.
September 27, 2018
I love Charlie Priest and Georgie Someday - what an unusual and original pair they are - and it's so good to see them again. We're taken into darker territory here than I'm normally comfortable with but, nevertheless, this is a pacey, wonderfully written crime thriller. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series. Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
August 12, 2018
I loved The Mayfly and jumped at the chance to get my hands on The Ash Doll. I must admit that unfortunately I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much, as everything I liked about the first book was missing in the second. What happened to the gripping plot, witty dialogue and realistic characters? I was bored by the first 25 percent and it hasn’t improved as story lines got more far fetched and ridiculous. I only finished it out of love for Charlie Priest. This one wasn’t for me, I am afraid.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Zaffre Publishing for the ARC.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Zaffre Publishing for the ARC.
January 15, 2019
I’ve read just over half of this book & am not wasting any more of my time - I stuck with it so long as the legal side of things seemed interesting, but the way he writes his female characters is nauseating! I feel like I’m back in the 70’s with the typical cliches - the busty blonde femme fatale type, the pretty girl that doesn’t see how pretty she is, the over-protective sister. Puke. So disappointed
December 7, 2018
This is second book in Charlie Priest series. I thought book 1 The Mayfly was excellent and was looking forward to more of the same.
The gripping thrilling plot of book one was nowhere to be seen I forced myself to finish it. I hope the author improves with the next book. Could not recommend this one.
The gripping thrilling plot of book one was nowhere to be seen I forced myself to finish it. I hope the author improves with the next book. Could not recommend this one.
October 1, 2018
Although I have James’ first book called ‘The Mayfly’ on my ever growing ‘To Be Read’ mountain, I haven’t actually got around to reading it yet. Big mistake…. I now realise just what it is I have been missing and I can guarantee that ‘The Mayfly’ won’t be on the ‘TBR’ mountain for much longer. I absolutely loved ‘The Ash Doll’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to admit that I took to Charlie Priest practically from the moment I first came across him. He is a former police officer and he is now a hotshot fraud lawyer. Priest also has his issues. He isn’t very good at socialising and he does have dissociative personality disorder. I found Charlie Priest to be a loveable rogue, who is very savvy in certain areas and not somebody you would like to come up against.
‘The Ash Doll’ has to be one of the most original, creepy and graphic thrillers that I have had the pleasure of reading in 2018. There were certain parts of the book which sent a shiver down my spine. I guess I am one of those people who just loves to be scared and I like to be kept on my toes. I found it very easy to get into reading ‘The Ash Doll’ as it is brilliantly written. The author certainly knows how to get your attention from the start, he draws you in to the story and before you know it you are addicted to the book. That’s what happened to me at any rate. For me The Ash Doll’ hits the ground running and maintains the pace throughout. I found it near impossible to put the book down. By that I don’t mean that the book was glued to my hand but it might as well have been because the book came everywhere with me. Over the page lay surprise after surprise and shock after shock. I felt a compulsion to keep turning those pages. The more I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages turned over. At one point the pages were turning so quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves. It seemed to take next to no time at all (but in reality was probably only a matter of hours) for me to plough through the book. I was so into the story and characters that I didn’t notice how quickly the time was passing. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat but not in this case. The book had enough to keep my interest and I was able to concentrate. I loved all the court stuff but then I am a ‘Law & Order’ addict and I love anything like that. Reading this book was much like being on a very scary and very unpredictable rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns, shocks and surprises around every corner. This is one book guaranteed to get your heart rate pumping, your blood pressure rising and will give you one hell of an adrenaline rush.
To conclude, I absolutely loved, no make that adored, reading ‘The Ash Doll’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. ‘The Ash Doll’ can be read as a standalone but because I am a bit OCD, I like reading things in order and I have a soft spot for Charlie Priest, I fully intend to read ‘The Mayfly’ first and then re-read ‘The Ash Doll’. I can’t wait to see what James Hazel comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have to admit that I took to Charlie Priest practically from the moment I first came across him. He is a former police officer and he is now a hotshot fraud lawyer. Priest also has his issues. He isn’t very good at socialising and he does have dissociative personality disorder. I found Charlie Priest to be a loveable rogue, who is very savvy in certain areas and not somebody you would like to come up against.
‘The Ash Doll’ has to be one of the most original, creepy and graphic thrillers that I have had the pleasure of reading in 2018. There were certain parts of the book which sent a shiver down my spine. I guess I am one of those people who just loves to be scared and I like to be kept on my toes. I found it very easy to get into reading ‘The Ash Doll’ as it is brilliantly written. The author certainly knows how to get your attention from the start, he draws you in to the story and before you know it you are addicted to the book. That’s what happened to me at any rate. For me The Ash Doll’ hits the ground running and maintains the pace throughout. I found it near impossible to put the book down. By that I don’t mean that the book was glued to my hand but it might as well have been because the book came everywhere with me. Over the page lay surprise after surprise and shock after shock. I felt a compulsion to keep turning those pages. The more I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages turned over. At one point the pages were turning so quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves. It seemed to take next to no time at all (but in reality was probably only a matter of hours) for me to plough through the book. I was so into the story and characters that I didn’t notice how quickly the time was passing. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat but not in this case. The book had enough to keep my interest and I was able to concentrate. I loved all the court stuff but then I am a ‘Law & Order’ addict and I love anything like that. Reading this book was much like being on a very scary and very unpredictable rollercoaster ride with lots of twists and turns, shocks and surprises around every corner. This is one book guaranteed to get your heart rate pumping, your blood pressure rising and will give you one hell of an adrenaline rush.
To conclude, I absolutely loved, no make that adored, reading ‘The Ash Doll’ and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. ‘The Ash Doll’ can be read as a standalone but because I am a bit OCD, I like reading things in order and I have a soft spot for Charlie Priest, I fully intend to read ‘The Mayfly’ first and then re-read ‘The Ash Doll’. I can’t wait to see what James Hazel comes up with next. Here’s hoping that we don’t have too long to wait. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
September 3, 2018
Actually 4.5 stars.
This is the second outing for lawyer Charlie Priest and, as he is a bit complex with a convoluted backstory, although the main story is self contained in this book, I would recommend you read The Mayfly first.
So, Charlie is in court just starting to defend his latest client, a small independent magazine. They are up on a libel charge as they had previously published an article about a charity being embroiled in terrorist dealings. There's a main key witness and, as we start the action on day one of the trial, he has failed to turn up. The reason for his no-show is evident when he is found dead. But has his death anything to do with the trial? Bit coincidental if not!? But Charlie and his team are on the case to figure out what happened and it soon becomes evident that they are dealing with much more than just a libel charge.
As already mentioned, Charlie is a bit complex. He suffers from the same dissociative disorder as his currently incarcerated serial killer brother but, on the whole, he manages this condition quite well. His main sidekick work wise is the brilliantly named Georgie Someday who I thought came into her own very well in this book. I connected with both characters very early on in book one and that connection remained string throughout this sequel.
The story told in this book was very different to that in The Mayfly but, in itself, was just as compelling and kept me rapt throughout. It's fast paced and gritty all the way through with a heart-stopping ending that near blew me away!
As with The Mayfly, it was an immensely readable book. Both books deal with some really quite awful topics but they manage to do so in a very clever way, introducing some quite witty humour throughout, ensuring that things do not take too dark a path and remain balanced. There are twists and turns aplenty, scattered throughout the narrative which also kept me on my toes right until the end. And with a conclusion that left me completely satisfied.
Whilst I can't say that it quite managed to reach the heady heights The Mayfly did for me, it is definitely a very worthy follow-up book. Roll on book three, I can't wait to reconnect with Charlie and see what the author has in store for him next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
This is the second outing for lawyer Charlie Priest and, as he is a bit complex with a convoluted backstory, although the main story is self contained in this book, I would recommend you read The Mayfly first.
So, Charlie is in court just starting to defend his latest client, a small independent magazine. They are up on a libel charge as they had previously published an article about a charity being embroiled in terrorist dealings. There's a main key witness and, as we start the action on day one of the trial, he has failed to turn up. The reason for his no-show is evident when he is found dead. But has his death anything to do with the trial? Bit coincidental if not!? But Charlie and his team are on the case to figure out what happened and it soon becomes evident that they are dealing with much more than just a libel charge.
As already mentioned, Charlie is a bit complex. He suffers from the same dissociative disorder as his currently incarcerated serial killer brother but, on the whole, he manages this condition quite well. His main sidekick work wise is the brilliantly named Georgie Someday who I thought came into her own very well in this book. I connected with both characters very early on in book one and that connection remained string throughout this sequel.
The story told in this book was very different to that in The Mayfly but, in itself, was just as compelling and kept me rapt throughout. It's fast paced and gritty all the way through with a heart-stopping ending that near blew me away!
As with The Mayfly, it was an immensely readable book. Both books deal with some really quite awful topics but they manage to do so in a very clever way, introducing some quite witty humour throughout, ensuring that things do not take too dark a path and remain balanced. There are twists and turns aplenty, scattered throughout the narrative which also kept me on my toes right until the end. And with a conclusion that left me completely satisfied.
Whilst I can't say that it quite managed to reach the heady heights The Mayfly did for me, it is definitely a very worthy follow-up book. Roll on book three, I can't wait to reconnect with Charlie and see what the author has in store for him next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
September 14, 2018
Second in the Charlie Priest series.
James Hazel was a lawyer before turning his talents to crime writing – and it shows. This is his second novel, and I bought his first (The Mayfly) when only 20% into The Ash Doll and hoped that reading them out of sequence would not spoil my enjoyment of either. Time will tell.
Charlie Priest is a high-profile, if slightly eccentric lawyer, who has never lost a case. He has taken on the defence of a small publication, being sued for libel by a children's charity established and run by two seemingly upright members of society who are major and well-known benefactors. On the morning of the first day of the trial, his star witness fails to appear and so the fun starts.
Someone is pulling everyone's strings, and the plot takes us from London to the Norfolk coast and back again. At times it's a race against time, and at others, it is an opportunity to catch one's breath and reflect on developments and what is known. The change in pace adds variety and interest. The characterisation is excellent and the plot brilliant. There are of course twists, some of which can be seen coming and others which come as a complete surprise. You can almost smell the atmosphere, but in the final analysis, it's the complete package which was of such huge appeal, and I have already started The Mayfly.
James Hazel has been compared to the likes of Jeffery Deaver and Thomas Harris which is in one sense a compliment, but the comparisons don't do him justice as he writes in a style which satisfies me more than either of those more established authors. His writing is tight with more than a touch of dry humour which comes through in spades, particularly in the dialogue between Charlie Priest and sidekick, Georgie Someday. It feels very real and down to earth. These feel like actual people you could have a beer with. It's also easy to recognise the different character types but in no sense are they stereotypes – each is unique.
New authors can very often produce an excellent first novel, but the trick is to follow up with an equally good second and third etc. Despite having not yet read his first offering, James Hazel has managed to produce a riveting second and deserves all the recognition he receives. If you enjoy this genre, you will love this book.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
James Hazel was a lawyer before turning his talents to crime writing – and it shows. This is his second novel, and I bought his first (The Mayfly) when only 20% into The Ash Doll and hoped that reading them out of sequence would not spoil my enjoyment of either. Time will tell.
Charlie Priest is a high-profile, if slightly eccentric lawyer, who has never lost a case. He has taken on the defence of a small publication, being sued for libel by a children's charity established and run by two seemingly upright members of society who are major and well-known benefactors. On the morning of the first day of the trial, his star witness fails to appear and so the fun starts.
Someone is pulling everyone's strings, and the plot takes us from London to the Norfolk coast and back again. At times it's a race against time, and at others, it is an opportunity to catch one's breath and reflect on developments and what is known. The change in pace adds variety and interest. The characterisation is excellent and the plot brilliant. There are of course twists, some of which can be seen coming and others which come as a complete surprise. You can almost smell the atmosphere, but in the final analysis, it's the complete package which was of such huge appeal, and I have already started The Mayfly.
James Hazel has been compared to the likes of Jeffery Deaver and Thomas Harris which is in one sense a compliment, but the comparisons don't do him justice as he writes in a style which satisfies me more than either of those more established authors. His writing is tight with more than a touch of dry humour which comes through in spades, particularly in the dialogue between Charlie Priest and sidekick, Georgie Someday. It feels very real and down to earth. These feel like actual people you could have a beer with. It's also easy to recognise the different character types but in no sense are they stereotypes – each is unique.
New authors can very often produce an excellent first novel, but the trick is to follow up with an equally good second and third etc. Despite having not yet read his first offering, James Hazel has managed to produce a riveting second and deserves all the recognition he receives. If you enjoy this genre, you will love this book.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
February 4, 2019
Brilliant, I loved it. I’d already become a big fan of James Hazel after reading his first book in this series called ‘The Mayfly’, which is also a magnificent story. Charlie Priest is such a great character, and he is well backed up by his two co-workers Vincent and Georgie. Georgie gets herself into all sorts of situations, which really adds a great element to the plot. I also like a story where I can’t guess the ending.
It would have been a lot easier if Simeon had turned up to court and testified for him. However, it’s a bit hard to do when you’re scared to death and know that you have a huge target on your back. After all Simeon was testifying against Alexia Elias who was quite well off and had connections of some very powerful and wealthy people. Alexia had a lot to lose if the allegations against her were proven to be true. So, Charlie is a little bit suspicious of Alexia, and he’s now wondering if she had a hand in Simeon’s downfall. I think everyone would enjoy this book, it really is that good. 5/5 Star Rating.
Verified Purchase Amazon Australia
It would have been a lot easier if Simeon had turned up to court and testified for him. However, it’s a bit hard to do when you’re scared to death and know that you have a huge target on your back. After all Simeon was testifying against Alexia Elias who was quite well off and had connections of some very powerful and wealthy people. Alexia had a lot to lose if the allegations against her were proven to be true. So, Charlie is a little bit suspicious of Alexia, and he’s now wondering if she had a hand in Simeon’s downfall. I think everyone would enjoy this book, it really is that good. 5/5 Star Rating.
Verified Purchase Amazon Australia
June 10, 2021
Great to read the follow up and see how Charlie Priest is.
This follows him as he defends a libel case but the defendants are dropping dead but why
Also picks up the romance with Jessica and he still has Georgie as his assistant
This follows him as he defends a libel case but the defendants are dropping dead but why
Also picks up the romance with Jessica and he still has Georgie as his assistant
January 23, 2022
Víc než průměr to není. Bavil mě až úplný konec, zbytek byl dost rozvláčný a nezajímavý.
Dvě a půl hvězdy.
Dvě a půl hvězdy.
July 1, 2018
In The Ash Doll, the second of James Hazel's novels to feature ex-detective-turned-lawyer Charlie Priest, Priest and his team are tasked with defending The Real Byte, a small magazine charged with libel. Based on information supplied by ex-charity worker Simeon Ali, the magazine claims the Elias Children's Foundation, one of the largest charities in the UK established for the benefit of young victims of war, domestic violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, has been funnelling money to an organisation known as the Free People's Army, a terrorist cell operating in northern Turkey. Not only that, the article alleges that the charity's founder and CEO, Alexia Elias, was fully aware of what was taking place and accepted bribes from the terrorists to keep quiet; a claim she denies.
When Ali fails to appear in court to give evidence, the case is adjourned while the witness is located and it isn't long before Priest discovers his whistleblower has been murdered. As the body count begins to rise, it soon becomes apparent that what appeared on the surface to be a straight-forward case of libel, is anything but.
As a character, Priest is extremely likeable and has so many layers, it's hard to know where to begin. That he has the same dissociative disorder as his brother, a convicted serial killer currently incarcerated in a facility for the criminally insane, makes for intriguing reading, particularly when Priest visits his brother, asking for assistance with his investigation. Priest's billiance at his work is offset by his inepitude at his on/off relationship with Jessica Ellinder, who he met while investigating the murder of her brother, Miles, in the Mayfly, the first book in the Charlie Priest series.
Solly, the firm's obsessive-compulsive accountant and Georgie, the introverted but brave young associate make a welcome return as well and I enjoyed seeing Georgie come out of her shell a bit more in this follow-up.
With his fast-paced and gritty narrative, James Hazel's writing style keeps the reader engaged throughout. I highly recommend The Ash Doll and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Note: Many thanks to the author, Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
When Ali fails to appear in court to give evidence, the case is adjourned while the witness is located and it isn't long before Priest discovers his whistleblower has been murdered. As the body count begins to rise, it soon becomes apparent that what appeared on the surface to be a straight-forward case of libel, is anything but.
As a character, Priest is extremely likeable and has so many layers, it's hard to know where to begin. That he has the same dissociative disorder as his brother, a convicted serial killer currently incarcerated in a facility for the criminally insane, makes for intriguing reading, particularly when Priest visits his brother, asking for assistance with his investigation. Priest's billiance at his work is offset by his inepitude at his on/off relationship with Jessica Ellinder, who he met while investigating the murder of her brother, Miles, in the Mayfly, the first book in the Charlie Priest series.
Solly, the firm's obsessive-compulsive accountant and Georgie, the introverted but brave young associate make a welcome return as well and I enjoyed seeing Georgie come out of her shell a bit more in this follow-up.
With his fast-paced and gritty narrative, James Hazel's writing style keeps the reader engaged throughout. I highly recommend The Ash Doll and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Note: Many thanks to the author, Bonnier Zaffre and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this title in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2018
Thankyou to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and James Hazel for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Ash Doll.
This is the second book in a series, though I didn't realise it until after I had read the novel. Having said that, I had no trouble getting into the storyline or the back stories of the central characters.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and fast paced. It had me hooked right from the start.
Would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a face-paced thriller. Can't wait to read more from this author in the future. ( and I have just purchased the first book in the series. )
This is the second book in a series, though I didn't realise it until after I had read the novel. Having said that, I had no trouble getting into the storyline or the back stories of the central characters.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and fast paced. It had me hooked right from the start.
Would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a face-paced thriller. Can't wait to read more from this author in the future. ( and I have just purchased the first book in the series. )
September 19, 2018
Ex-detective Charlie Priest left the Met ten years ago, retrained as a lawyer and now has his own small, specialist law firm, employing three trusted colleagues. As the story starts he and his team are in court to defend a libel case against The Real Byte, a small magazine which claims to have evidence, based on information given by Simeon Ali, an ex-employee of the charity, that the Elias Children’s Foundation, set up to help children affected by war, domestic violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, has been diverting funds to a terrorist cell in northern Turkey. The magazine article also claims that Alexia Elias, the founder and CEO, was complicit in the diversion of funds, accepting bribes from the terrorist group, an accusation she vigorously denies. However, when Ali fails to turn up in court on the day the trial starts, and is subsequently found murdered, it becomes clear that with the star witness dead, the future of the trial is in jeopardy. Convinced by the accusations, and keen to ensure that justice is done, Charlie and his team must work quickly to investigate and try to ensure that the case isn’t thrown out of court. However, a second death means that their investigations expose something which is much bigger than the original investigation into the charity’s fraudulent activity.
Although this is the second book starring Charlie Priest as the main character (the first was “Mayfly”) I found that there were enough clues about his history to make this easy to read as a stand-alone novel. However, as he is such a complex character, with a complicated family history, there were moments when I did find myself wishing that I had read “Mayfly” first. His brother is a convicted serial killer, currently serving his sentence in a hospital facility for the criminally insane. He suffers from dissociative disorder, a condition Charlie also struggles with; it is one which exposes him to random, unpredictable episodes when he feels that neither he nor the world around him is real, when he suffers from terrifying hallucinations and out-of-body experiences. However, he feels that he is luckier than some other sufferers because, most of the time, he is still able to function and, frightening though the episodes are, they seldom last more than a few hours.
Although Charlie is the eminently likeable, main protagonist in this story, much of my enjoyment came from his interactions and relationships with colleagues and friends. There’s Georgie Someday, a newish addition to the team but, with her quick intelligence, she is already proving herself an invaluable member; obsessional Simon Solomon, brilliant as a forensic accountant but hopeless at the everyday niceties of social interactions; Vincent Okoro, a great bear of a man with a brilliant legal brain; friend and ex-colleague DCI Tiff Rowlinson, called upon to provide information and to share details about the police investigation; his on/off relationship with Jessica Ellinder, a woman he met when investigating the murder of her brother; Elinor Fox, a persistently determined reporter; his long-suffering sister Sarah; Tilly, his niece; his ex-wife, a senior police officer and last, but by no means least, his collection of lionfish – you’ll need to read the book to discover their significance! I loved the fact that each one of these characters (apart from Tilly and the fish!) is in some way flawed and yet their interactions are central to the compelling dynamics of the story.
The plotting is convoluted, it is sometimes hard to know who can be trusted and, although at times it does require a degree of suspension of disbelief, it is very well-paced, alternating between some high-octane action and periods of calmer reflection. With murder, torture and child abuse as central themes, there are times when the story-telling is very dark, but the author did manage to inject some wonderful moments of lightness and humour – something I very much appreciated! The theme of fraud and other misconduct in well-established charities felt particularly pertinent in view of recent scandals! Part of the story is set in coastal Norfolk and I enjoyed the way in which the author used the atmospheric nature of that part of the world to enhance the tension in the story.
I think this is a series it is going to be very easy to become addicted to – I have already ordered a copy of “The Mayfly”!
My thanks to Zaffre and Readers First for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2018
This is the second in the Charlie Priest series, but I have to say that it's so well written that it's not necessary to have read the first book in the series, 'The Mayfly' to enjoy this. Suffice to say, I got three chapters in to this book and immediately bought the first book. I can see Charlie Priest becoming my new book obsession!
We're thrown right in to the action on the first page with a small girl, who appears to be on the verge of throwing herself off a cliff in front of a group of hikers. No one knows who she is or where she has come from.
We then flash forward to the present day, and the court case that Charlie Priest and his colleagues are involved with - a libel case between a charity and a magazine. Believe me, I couldn't see how there could possibly be any kind of connection between the two.
The start of the book isn't particularly pleasant (trigger warnings here for anyone that doesn't like reading about child abuse!), but it really drew me in: who is the child? What has happened to her? Ho what she come to be imprisoned and abused? Yes, there's some pretty graphic content, both with regards to her treatment and the murders.
Charlie and his sidekick, Georgie Someday, are so likeable, and Charlie's medical condition adds an interesting layer to the story.
I would highly recommend this, especially if you like dark, well written thrillers.
Many thanks to Readers First, NetGalley and the publisher Bonnier Zaffre for sending me a copy to read.
We're thrown right in to the action on the first page with a small girl, who appears to be on the verge of throwing herself off a cliff in front of a group of hikers. No one knows who she is or where she has come from.
We then flash forward to the present day, and the court case that Charlie Priest and his colleagues are involved with - a libel case between a charity and a magazine. Believe me, I couldn't see how there could possibly be any kind of connection between the two.
The start of the book isn't particularly pleasant (trigger warnings here for anyone that doesn't like reading about child abuse!), but it really drew me in: who is the child? What has happened to her? Ho what she come to be imprisoned and abused? Yes, there's some pretty graphic content, both with regards to her treatment and the murders.
Charlie and his sidekick, Georgie Someday, are so likeable, and Charlie's medical condition adds an interesting layer to the story.
I would highly recommend this, especially if you like dark, well written thrillers.
Many thanks to Readers First, NetGalley and the publisher Bonnier Zaffre for sending me a copy to read.
July 30, 2023
Well, well, well, here we go again! After diving headfirst into The Mayfly and loving it, I was itching to join lawyer Charlie Priest and his trusty colleague, Georgie Someday, on another dark and, let's be honest, kinda bizarre adventure. These characters are like a bag of chips - once you start, you just can't stop!
Now, fair warning, this time the subject matter takes a darker turn, and boy, oh boy, it wasn't always easy to read. But you know what? Charlie and Georgie are so darn entertaining that they kept me hooked, like a fish on a line! And the best part? They're not your typical detectives or police types. Nope, they're lawyers, breaking rules left and right in ways the police can only dream of. Now, that's what I call fun!
The plot is like a twisty rollercoaster ride, and you've gotta keep your wits about you to follow along. But that unease and the unknown? Oh, it creates an atmosphere that's downright unsettling. And believe it or not, I kinda enjoyed that spine-tingling feeling!
I'll admit, this one didn't grab me quite as tight as The Mayfly, but hey, it's still a heck of a read! It's like a bag of tasty snacks - you can't stop at just one. So, while it didn't have me going bonkers with addiction, it's still a solid, great read that's worth a go. If you're up for a dark and intriguing ride, this book's got your name written all over it! Three stars, no doubt about it!
Now, fair warning, this time the subject matter takes a darker turn, and boy, oh boy, it wasn't always easy to read. But you know what? Charlie and Georgie are so darn entertaining that they kept me hooked, like a fish on a line! And the best part? They're not your typical detectives or police types. Nope, they're lawyers, breaking rules left and right in ways the police can only dream of. Now, that's what I call fun!
The plot is like a twisty rollercoaster ride, and you've gotta keep your wits about you to follow along. But that unease and the unknown? Oh, it creates an atmosphere that's downright unsettling. And believe it or not, I kinda enjoyed that spine-tingling feeling!
I'll admit, this one didn't grab me quite as tight as The Mayfly, but hey, it's still a heck of a read! It's like a bag of tasty snacks - you can't stop at just one. So, while it didn't have me going bonkers with addiction, it's still a solid, great read that's worth a go. If you're up for a dark and intriguing ride, this book's got your name written all over it! Three stars, no doubt about it!
October 6, 2018
I found this story intriguing from the start, with a gripping plot to uncover how lawyer Charlie Priest's crucial witness on a libel trial is found murdered on the first day of the trial! The events that spiralled after this were very clever and I definitely felt everything was resolved at the perfect moment throughout. The plot unfolds at a really great pace with unexpected twists and turns along the way! I enjoyed Priest's friendship with his colleague Georgie Someday and the way in which they worked together to uncover the various clues. The last sentence was also fantastic! I have a feeling what is said in this sentence will definitely be explored further in future novels for Charlie Priest.
The use of the scene from 1989 in chapter 1 regarding a young girl found in a distressed state at the top of a cliff was also particularly effective. I instantly wanted to know how/if it was connected to the present case in any way as I started reading the first few chapters. The related diary style entries about that time interspersed throughout the book worked well too.
I have really enjoyed my first foray in to the life of James Hazel's prolific lawyer character Charlie Priest. He has so many interesting elements to his personality and I would definitely like to see what case he works on next (and the case he worked on within James' debut novel)!
The use of the scene from 1989 in chapter 1 regarding a young girl found in a distressed state at the top of a cliff was also particularly effective. I instantly wanted to know how/if it was connected to the present case in any way as I started reading the first few chapters. The related diary style entries about that time interspersed throughout the book worked well too.
I have really enjoyed my first foray in to the life of James Hazel's prolific lawyer character Charlie Priest. He has so many interesting elements to his personality and I would definitely like to see what case he works on next (and the case he worked on within James' debut novel)!
December 30, 2018
Thank you to @bonnierzaffre for including me on their Blog Tour for The Ash Doll by James Hazel!
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I’m so pleased I got to read & review this one!
A thriller/mystery with many layers! Including some gory scenes and a fantastic plot & characters. This is more than the normal ‘who done it’ novel.
We follow a very likeable policeman turned Lawyer called Charlie Priest on a path to find a killer/killeres. He’s not your normal up together organised lawyer and I love the way Hazel has given so much depth to the main character. He’s clever and very funny at times but he suffers from a dissociative disorder and throughout the story we get to understand him better and see how he struggles with life whilst suffering from this disorder.
His side kick is a young girl named Georgie who i found to be a very likeable character. But Georgie has demons of her own to deal with...
I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that this was a fast paced perfectly detailed thriller that kept you guessing throughout. I really enjoyed Hazels writing and how smoothly it all came together at the end.
The first Charlie Priest novel is called Mayfly ..which I’ve not read yet but you really don’t need to read that first to enjoy this one! Even so..I’m going straight to Amazon to order it!
Can’t wait for more from this author! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Available now!
.
I’m so pleased I got to read & review this one!
A thriller/mystery with many layers! Including some gory scenes and a fantastic plot & characters. This is more than the normal ‘who done it’ novel.
We follow a very likeable policeman turned Lawyer called Charlie Priest on a path to find a killer/killeres. He’s not your normal up together organised lawyer and I love the way Hazel has given so much depth to the main character. He’s clever and very funny at times but he suffers from a dissociative disorder and throughout the story we get to understand him better and see how he struggles with life whilst suffering from this disorder.
His side kick is a young girl named Georgie who i found to be a very likeable character. But Georgie has demons of her own to deal with...
I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that this was a fast paced perfectly detailed thriller that kept you guessing throughout. I really enjoyed Hazels writing and how smoothly it all came together at the end.
The first Charlie Priest novel is called Mayfly ..which I’ve not read yet but you really don’t need to read that first to enjoy this one! Even so..I’m going straight to Amazon to order it!
Can’t wait for more from this author! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Available now!
September 25, 2018
This is the second great book from this promising new author. The storyline grabbed me from the outset with an intriguing opening chapter giving the reader a hint at a disturbing plot line to follow, but then the author cleverly feeds us a few red herrings along the way to keep us guessing as to how the plot is going to develop. To add to the tension there are several cliff-hanging moments which meant that I just had to keep on reading, until the whole comes together in a clever and sensational ending. The character of Charlie Priest just gets better and better; - one minute the smart, witty (some great one-liners) accomplished lawyer, the next a mess of emotions as he battles with his own personal demons. His relationships with his team (Georgie particularly), the on/off pairing with Jessica, and his loyalty towards his serial-killing brother William add a piquancy to the book but without detracting from the plotline. I loved the author's first book The Mayfly, a fantastic read it itself, and can thoroughly recommend The Ash Doll as a worthy successor.
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