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DCI Jansen #2
The Scorched Earth
Who really killed Leo Fenton?
Two years ago, Ben Fenton went camping with his brother Leo. It was the last time they ever saw each other. By the end of that fateful trip, Leo had disappeared, and Ben had been arrested for his murder.
Ben's girlfriend Ana Seabrook has always protested his innocence. Now, on the hottest day of 2018's sweltering heat wave, she receives a phone call from the police. Leo's body has been found, in a freshly dug grave in her own local churchyard. How did it get there? Who really killed him?
St Albans police, led by DCI Jansen, are soon unpicking a web of lies that shimmers beneath the surface of Ana's well-kept village. But as tensions mount, and the tight-knit community begins to unravel, Ana realises that if she wants to absolve her husband, she must unearth the truth alone.
Two years ago, Ben Fenton went camping with his brother Leo. It was the last time they ever saw each other. By the end of that fateful trip, Leo had disappeared, and Ben had been arrested for his murder.
Ben's girlfriend Ana Seabrook has always protested his innocence. Now, on the hottest day of 2018's sweltering heat wave, she receives a phone call from the police. Leo's body has been found, in a freshly dug grave in her own local churchyard. How did it get there? Who really killed him?
St Albans police, led by DCI Jansen, are soon unpicking a web of lies that shimmers beneath the surface of Ana's well-kept village. But as tensions mount, and the tight-knit community begins to unravel, Ana realises that if she wants to absolve her husband, she must unearth the truth alone.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2019
42 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
November 11, 2019
This book had an intriguing start. Two years ago brothers Ben and Leo went camping. In the morning there was no sign of Leo and Ben was covered in his brother's blood. Now Ana, Ben's girlfriend, hears that a freshly buried body has been found in her local graveyard - can there possibly be a connection? And did Ben really kill his brother - he is currently in prison for that offence.
The book explores this story in a "then and now" format looking at the time Ben went camping on the one hand and the things that are happening to Ana now. The local police led by DCI Jansen are investigating the case. There are twists and turns and maybe the odd red herring or two just to keep us guessing. The big question is, if Ben didn't kill Leo, who did?
At times the book was atmospheric but it is not without flaws for me. The character of Ana comes over reasonably well. However a number of other characters lacked depth for me and in some cases were not that good. I found some of the writing rather over hyped at times in a way that felt engineered. For example I often found the last sentence in a chapter seemed overly planned.
On one level I enjoyed this story - the actual story kept me reading - other aspects of this left me tutting at times. Certainly one aspect of this I found quite literally incredible. I'm not a fan of spoilers so I'll let others make up there own minds. In some senses this really isn't a bad read but for me the story was good and the book could have been better.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
https://viewson.org.uk/police/scorche...
The book explores this story in a "then and now" format looking at the time Ben went camping on the one hand and the things that are happening to Ana now. The local police led by DCI Jansen are investigating the case. There are twists and turns and maybe the odd red herring or two just to keep us guessing. The big question is, if Ben didn't kill Leo, who did?
At times the book was atmospheric but it is not without flaws for me. The character of Ana comes over reasonably well. However a number of other characters lacked depth for me and in some cases were not that good. I found some of the writing rather over hyped at times in a way that felt engineered. For example I often found the last sentence in a chapter seemed overly planned.
On one level I enjoyed this story - the actual story kept me reading - other aspects of this left me tutting at times. Certainly one aspect of this I found quite literally incredible. I'm not a fan of spoilers so I'll let others make up there own minds. In some senses this really isn't a bad read but for me the story was good and the book could have been better.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
https://viewson.org.uk/police/scorche...
October 30, 2019
“Jess knows. The village knows. Everyone knows.”
A dead body shows up, and this quote is the resulting inner thought in the opening chapter of the character whose world we are being introduced to. This instantly hooked me, and I knew this was a book for me.
I didn’t realise that this was the second book in a series, and luckily it turns out that it works perfectly as a standalone book. I will, however, be adding the prequel to my TBR list!
The Scorched Earth is a deliciously meaty crime thriller that drops so many feasible suspects along the way that as a reader your guesses at solving the mystery are likely to change with almost every chapter. There are lots of subtly dropped hints that could implicate almost any character who crosses the reader’s path, and – although, sure, a certain amount of suspension of disbelief needs to be in place to justify the vast number of consequences that occur – the pace at which the path twists and turns is perfect and by the end I was completely unable to put the book down!
There is a claustrophobic atmosphere built up from a combination of a suffocating heatwave occurring in the country at the time, along with a growing paranoia and fear that Ana, one of the main characters, is experiencing throughout the story. Many of her fears felt like a very relatable aspect of womanhood, sadly, however they were amplified by specific instances in her life. The use of a heatwave as a trope for tension is a cliche one, but a cliche for a reason – it works!
The two main characters that the reader sees the world via are Ana, and DCI Maarten Jansen, are both hugely sympathetic characters, and I warmed to them both very quickly. Other chapters are seen through the eyes of Leo in flashbacks, and his brother Ben, who is serving time in jail for his brother’s murder.
I ended up suspecting the person behind the mystery fairly early on, however I soon lost that suspicion due to the number of convincing red herrings along the way. In fact, by the time that his part was fully revealed, I’d kind of forgotten that I’d ever suspected him!
There was a final reveal in the epilogue which had been hiding in plain sight for several chapters by this point, and yet still took me completely by surprise – to the extent that I actually vocalised my shock and sadness. That was a testament to how well the book had been crafted.
On a personal note, as someone who knows the area that the book is set in extremely well as I grew up there, I really loved being able to picture the settings so perfectly.
Rating: 4/5
A dead body shows up, and this quote is the resulting inner thought in the opening chapter of the character whose world we are being introduced to. This instantly hooked me, and I knew this was a book for me.
I didn’t realise that this was the second book in a series, and luckily it turns out that it works perfectly as a standalone book. I will, however, be adding the prequel to my TBR list!
The Scorched Earth is a deliciously meaty crime thriller that drops so many feasible suspects along the way that as a reader your guesses at solving the mystery are likely to change with almost every chapter. There are lots of subtly dropped hints that could implicate almost any character who crosses the reader’s path, and – although, sure, a certain amount of suspension of disbelief needs to be in place to justify the vast number of consequences that occur – the pace at which the path twists and turns is perfect and by the end I was completely unable to put the book down!
There is a claustrophobic atmosphere built up from a combination of a suffocating heatwave occurring in the country at the time, along with a growing paranoia and fear that Ana, one of the main characters, is experiencing throughout the story. Many of her fears felt like a very relatable aspect of womanhood, sadly, however they were amplified by specific instances in her life. The use of a heatwave as a trope for tension is a cliche one, but a cliche for a reason – it works!
The two main characters that the reader sees the world via are Ana, and DCI Maarten Jansen, are both hugely sympathetic characters, and I warmed to them both very quickly. Other chapters are seen through the eyes of Leo in flashbacks, and his brother Ben, who is serving time in jail for his brother’s murder.
I ended up suspecting the person behind the mystery fairly early on, however I soon lost that suspicion due to the number of convincing red herrings along the way. In fact, by the time that his part was fully revealed, I’d kind of forgotten that I’d ever suspected him!
There was a final reveal in the epilogue which had been hiding in plain sight for several chapters by this point, and yet still took me completely by surprise – to the extent that I actually vocalised my shock and sadness. That was a testament to how well the book had been crafted.
On a personal note, as someone who knows the area that the book is set in extremely well as I grew up there, I really loved being able to picture the settings so perfectly.
Rating: 4/5
November 21, 2019
The Scorched Earth is the second book in the DCI Maarten Jansen police procedural series. The story begins when Ben Fenton wakes up covered in blood in a camping trip with his brother Leo. Leo’s body was never found, but Ben was convicted for his murder. Ana Seabrook, Ben’s girlfriend always believed his innocence.
Present day 2018, one of the hottest days on record, bones are found in the Hertfordshire Village of Ayot, close to Ana’s house, in a local churchyard. Ana seems to know so much more than she is letting on, and the police is on her to solve this case.
The story is told between two different timelines, present-day and the night Leo disappeared, and also between various perspectives, mainly those of DCI Jansen, Ana and Ben. I loved the seamlessness of the stories and how it added to the tension it created for the storyline.
I enjoyed reading this book for its characters and the story telling. The pacing was fabulous and had me so intrigued with the different POVs on how the story was told, that I was so engrossed with what is to come next.
The slow reveal of the story line was masterfully told, and is Rachael Blok’s enigmatic ability to tell this story full of all the suspense and thrill that I was craving for.
Present day 2018, one of the hottest days on record, bones are found in the Hertfordshire Village of Ayot, close to Ana’s house, in a local churchyard. Ana seems to know so much more than she is letting on, and the police is on her to solve this case.
The story is told between two different timelines, present-day and the night Leo disappeared, and also between various perspectives, mainly those of DCI Jansen, Ana and Ben. I loved the seamlessness of the stories and how it added to the tension it created for the storyline.
I enjoyed reading this book for its characters and the story telling. The pacing was fabulous and had me so intrigued with the different POVs on how the story was told, that I was so engrossed with what is to come next.
The slow reveal of the story line was masterfully told, and is Rachael Blok’s enigmatic ability to tell this story full of all the suspense and thrill that I was craving for.
November 14, 2019
The Scorched Earth is the second police procedural in the DCI Maarten Jansen series and is perfect for those long, drawn-in nights with a cup of hot chocolate curled up in front of the fire. Having read the first book, Under the Ice, I can say that I felt it was necessary to gauge Jansen's personality but if you don't have an issue with going in not privy to that information the story in itself is a self-contained one. It revolves around two brothers, Leo and Ben Fenton, who took a camping trip to view the stunning scenery in Norfolk. However, Ben awoke terrifyingly covered in blood and with no sign whatsoever of Leo; he was never to be seen again. For good reason, people believe he was killed by brother Ben as what are the chances of heading into the wilds of wanney and encountering a kidnapper or, worse still, a murderer? Ben is convicted of the crime but Ana, his wife, believes him to be innocent. Then a body is uncovered, predicted to be Leo's, in the Hertfordshire chocolate-box village of Ayot...
This is an exciting and fascinating read which feverishly keeps you turning the pages; Ms Blok knows how to grip you in the very beginning and understands how to keep the reveals coming to ensure you are completely under her spell. I couldn't put it down and so long as you can dismiss some of the less than realistic detail - there are quite a few instances in which the story required suspension of disbelief but I feel it is an accomplished enough book in the thrills department to be worth doing so. It switches between two different timelines, present-day and the night Leo disappeared, and also between various perspectives, mainly those of Maarten, Ana and Ben. The switches are seamless and allow for a deeper sense of immersion into the case; I also feel seeing things from different points of view makes it much more intriguing. The mystery is so, so compulsive and with twists around every corner, the suspense is ratcheted up aggressively. Soon secrets will come tumbling out. Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC.
This is an exciting and fascinating read which feverishly keeps you turning the pages; Ms Blok knows how to grip you in the very beginning and understands how to keep the reveals coming to ensure you are completely under her spell. I couldn't put it down and so long as you can dismiss some of the less than realistic detail - there are quite a few instances in which the story required suspension of disbelief but I feel it is an accomplished enough book in the thrills department to be worth doing so. It switches between two different timelines, present-day and the night Leo disappeared, and also between various perspectives, mainly those of Maarten, Ana and Ben. The switches are seamless and allow for a deeper sense of immersion into the case; I also feel seeing things from different points of view makes it much more intriguing. The mystery is so, so compulsive and with twists around every corner, the suspense is ratcheted up aggressively. Soon secrets will come tumbling out. Many thanks to Head of Zeus for an ARC.
November 16, 2019
This was a slow start to a police procedural where a grave found led to the case of a missing man probably murdered with brother incarcerated.
Ben and Leo went camping. The next morning, Leo went missing. Ben was soaked in his blood. Traces of it found at the cliff edge led to murder charges. But Ben's partner Ana was convinced he was innocent.
My first book by author Rachael Blok, the first section laid the foundation of the police team along with showing me the details of Ben's term in prison and Ana's personal life. Then as the investigation proceeded, slow and steady, doubts started appearing in the known theories. And the story picked up pace.
The second half was very interesting as the scenes were linked well. The team under the helm of DCI Maarten Jansen worked cohesively in finding out the clues. The writing style was quite different, atmospheric at some places, and red herrings led to a few dead ends. The story with its decicious finish and wrenching epilogue made my morning extremely entertaining.
A fun read!!
Ben and Leo went camping. The next morning, Leo went missing. Ben was soaked in his blood. Traces of it found at the cliff edge led to murder charges. But Ben's partner Ana was convinced he was innocent.
My first book by author Rachael Blok, the first section laid the foundation of the police team along with showing me the details of Ben's term in prison and Ana's personal life. Then as the investigation proceeded, slow and steady, doubts started appearing in the known theories. And the story picked up pace.
The second half was very interesting as the scenes were linked well. The team under the helm of DCI Maarten Jansen worked cohesively in finding out the clues. The writing style was quite different, atmospheric at some places, and red herrings led to a few dead ends. The story with its decicious finish and wrenching epilogue made my morning extremely entertaining.
A fun read!!
October 27, 2019
Two years ago, brother Ben Fenton and brother Leo decided to go camping in a remote area of Blakeney Norfolk. The next morning Ben Fenton woke up drenched in blood and Leo Fenton feared dead but, his body was never found. Ben was accused of his murder, but always claiming he was innocent. Present day, a body was found in a freshly dug grave. The body believed to be Leo’s is found near to were Ben’s girlfriend lives.
I liked the premise of the Scorched Earth. It had it usual twists and turns and kept you guessing throughout. But I am afraid I didn’t like or cared for any of the characters in this story and the description went of far too long, which let me skimmed read towards the end. Three stars from me.
I liked the premise of the Scorched Earth. It had it usual twists and turns and kept you guessing throughout. But I am afraid I didn’t like or cared for any of the characters in this story and the description went of far too long, which let me skimmed read towards the end. Three stars from me.
November 18, 2019
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.
A twisted tale of secrets and lies, THE SCORCHED EARTH by Rachael Blok is a solid story with solid characters.
Two years ago Ben's life was changed forever when he went camping with his brother and awoke to find him missing, and blood everywhere. Tried and found guilty of his murder, Ben is now in prison where he desperately tries to survive and come to grips with the fact that there is no hope for him. Until a body is discovered in the village where Ana, his girlfriend, lives. When it appears that the body is that of Leo's it brings the case back to life but there is something strange about the whole case that has DCI Jansen very suspicious. Just what the hell happened that night? And what is Ana hiding?
Moving from past to present, and watching the plot unfold from different characters' points of view, worked well for me as I never felt the plot slow down and it kept the tension on high alert at all times. I didn't realise that this story is actually the second book in a series but it can easily be read as a standalone. The drama, the atmosphere, and the setting all work well together and I found myself invested in uncovering the truth.
THE SCORCHED EARTH by Rachael Blok is a story of surprises, and while it doesn't read like a traditional police procedural, it has a little bit of everything for those who enjoy crime fiction, suspense, and psychological thrillers.
A twisted tale of secrets and lies, THE SCORCHED EARTH by Rachael Blok is a solid story with solid characters.
Two years ago Ben's life was changed forever when he went camping with his brother and awoke to find him missing, and blood everywhere. Tried and found guilty of his murder, Ben is now in prison where he desperately tries to survive and come to grips with the fact that there is no hope for him. Until a body is discovered in the village where Ana, his girlfriend, lives. When it appears that the body is that of Leo's it brings the case back to life but there is something strange about the whole case that has DCI Jansen very suspicious. Just what the hell happened that night? And what is Ana hiding?
Moving from past to present, and watching the plot unfold from different characters' points of view, worked well for me as I never felt the plot slow down and it kept the tension on high alert at all times. I didn't realise that this story is actually the second book in a series but it can easily be read as a standalone. The drama, the atmosphere, and the setting all work well together and I found myself invested in uncovering the truth.
THE SCORCHED EARTH by Rachael Blok is a story of surprises, and while it doesn't read like a traditional police procedural, it has a little bit of everything for those who enjoy crime fiction, suspense, and psychological thrillers.
November 26, 2019
I gobbled this up! I loved Under the Ice and The Scorched Earth is every bit as good - very atmospheric, excellent story telling and a a fascinating story. I love our team of detectives led by the sensitive DCI Jansen. In the last novel, cold weather played its part. Now it's the turn of the heatwave of 2018 and it works very well indeed. review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
PS This has 409 pages and not 304.
PS This has 409 pages and not 304.
November 9, 2020
Atmospheric
November 19, 2019
If there's one thing I like to do, it's to discover new authors. Rachael Blok is definitely a new author for me but having enjoyed reading 'The Scorched Earth' as much as I did, I can guarantee that I will read more of her work in the future. As soon as I have finished typing this review I am going to scoot off and buy a copy of Rachael's first book 'Under The Ice'. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Scorched Earth' but more about that in a bit.
I can't say that I took to any of the characters in this book but I don't mean that to sound negative because I really don't mean it that way. I am a bit of a paranoid person by nature and I tend to believe nobody and suspect everybody. I must have read too much crime fiction. I just got the impression that the main characters were holding something back and that things weren't as they appeared to be if you get my drift. What is the truth? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out because I am not going to tell you.
I must admit that it took me a little while to get into this story. This was partly due to the fact that I was tired and finding it difficult to concentrate and partly because the book is written in a different sort of style than I am used to. However, once I got into this story that was it. Reading 'The Scorched Earth' became an addiction and I found any excuse I could to get back to reading this book. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I became so absorbed by the story that I read over half a dozen chapters in one go. That was pretty much the pattern for the rest of the book. I seemed to race my way through to the end because I was so desperate to find out what the real truth actually was.
'The Scorched Earth' is written in a different sort of style to what I am used to. It took me a while to get used to the author's writing style but after I got used to it, I really enjoyed it. The different chapters are written from the points of view of the different characters and shows how the story developed from their perspective. I did wonder if that way of writing may lead to the story seeming a bit disjointed but I needn't have worried because the way of telling the story worked really well and the story flowed seamlessly. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into the story. Once Rachael had my attention, she would not let it go until I finihsed the last word on the last page.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Scorched Earth' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Rachel's work in the future. In fact as soon as I finish typing this review I will be off to purchase a copy of her first book 'Under The Ice' and I will be reading it just as soon as I can. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I can't say that I took to any of the characters in this book but I don't mean that to sound negative because I really don't mean it that way. I am a bit of a paranoid person by nature and I tend to believe nobody and suspect everybody. I must have read too much crime fiction. I just got the impression that the main characters were holding something back and that things weren't as they appeared to be if you get my drift. What is the truth? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out because I am not going to tell you.
I must admit that it took me a little while to get into this story. This was partly due to the fact that I was tired and finding it difficult to concentrate and partly because the book is written in a different sort of style than I am used to. However, once I got into this story that was it. Reading 'The Scorched Earth' became an addiction and I found any excuse I could to get back to reading this book. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I became so absorbed by the story that I read over half a dozen chapters in one go. That was pretty much the pattern for the rest of the book. I seemed to race my way through to the end because I was so desperate to find out what the real truth actually was.
'The Scorched Earth' is written in a different sort of style to what I am used to. It took me a while to get used to the author's writing style but after I got used to it, I really enjoyed it. The different chapters are written from the points of view of the different characters and shows how the story developed from their perspective. I did wonder if that way of writing may lead to the story seeming a bit disjointed but I needn't have worried because the way of telling the story worked really well and the story flowed seamlessly. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into the story. Once Rachael had my attention, she would not let it go until I finihsed the last word on the last page.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Scorched Earth' and I would recommend it to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Rachel's work in the future. In fact as soon as I finish typing this review I will be off to purchase a copy of her first book 'Under The Ice' and I will be reading it just as soon as I can. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
November 7, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Heads of Zeus for an advance copy of The Scorched Earth, the second novel to feature DCI Maarten Jansen of the Hertfordshire Police.
Two years ago brothers Ben and Leo Fenton went camping in Norfolk. Ben woke up covered in blood and Leo went missing. Ben was convicted of Leo’s murder but his wife Ana is sure he is innocent. Now bones have been discovered reburied in the graveyard in the Hertfordshire village of Ayot, just yards from Ana’s house. Ana is hiding something but Jansen and the team aren’t sure what, could it be her helping Ben?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Scorched Earth which has a compelling storyline if the reader is prepared to take it at face value. My first thought was that with modern forensics, notably blood spatter, Ben would never have been convicted but he is so I just went with it. The novel is told from various points of view, mostly Maarten, Ana and Ben, and switches in timeline between now and the night Leo disappeared. This and the obvious secrets being withheld make the start of the novel bitty and disjointed with the reader never actually sure what is going on. Personally I soon got used to the approach and was soon hooked on the mystery of what happened to Leo and who was behind it. I also liked the way all Ana’s secrets were gradually exposed. There are twists galore (and certain improbable coincidences) but the sense of fear from Ana and the tension as the investigation ramps up more than make up for any shortcomings.
I didn’t realise when I read this novel that there was a previous one and perhaps this is why I didn’t get a good sense of Maarten Jansen’s personality. He is preoccupied with his wife’s car accident and this tends to overshadow the rest of his personality in the novel. Also the novel centres, in terms of characterisation, on Ana Fenton. She’s a high powered lawyer but seems to act on poor decision making rather than logic. Her backstory seems to confirm this. Put it this way, I wouldn’t go out of my way to befriend her.
The Scorched Earth is a good read.
Two years ago brothers Ben and Leo Fenton went camping in Norfolk. Ben woke up covered in blood and Leo went missing. Ben was convicted of Leo’s murder but his wife Ana is sure he is innocent. Now bones have been discovered reburied in the graveyard in the Hertfordshire village of Ayot, just yards from Ana’s house. Ana is hiding something but Jansen and the team aren’t sure what, could it be her helping Ben?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Scorched Earth which has a compelling storyline if the reader is prepared to take it at face value. My first thought was that with modern forensics, notably blood spatter, Ben would never have been convicted but he is so I just went with it. The novel is told from various points of view, mostly Maarten, Ana and Ben, and switches in timeline between now and the night Leo disappeared. This and the obvious secrets being withheld make the start of the novel bitty and disjointed with the reader never actually sure what is going on. Personally I soon got used to the approach and was soon hooked on the mystery of what happened to Leo and who was behind it. I also liked the way all Ana’s secrets were gradually exposed. There are twists galore (and certain improbable coincidences) but the sense of fear from Ana and the tension as the investigation ramps up more than make up for any shortcomings.
I didn’t realise when I read this novel that there was a previous one and perhaps this is why I didn’t get a good sense of Maarten Jansen’s personality. He is preoccupied with his wife’s car accident and this tends to overshadow the rest of his personality in the novel. Also the novel centres, in terms of characterisation, on Ana Fenton. She’s a high powered lawyer but seems to act on poor decision making rather than logic. Her backstory seems to confirm this. Put it this way, I wouldn’t go out of my way to befriend her.
The Scorched Earth is a good read.
November 27, 2019
The second book featuring Dutch detective DCI Jansen, who finds himself mystified by the close-knit English village community. It seems no one believes in plain-speaking, preferring closing ranks, and relying on innuendos.
The story is a sad one. Two brothers take a camping trip two years earlier. One is presumed dead, the other convicted of murder, but is it that simple. Ana, the accused brother’s partner. believes not. She has no chance of proving this until the missing brother’s body is found buried in the village. Now, his brother can’t be the murderer. DCI Jansen has to find the real killer, but although gossip is rife in the village, there is nothing of substance, and everyone is keeping secrets.
DCI Jansen suffers a personal tragedy, which he has to conquer, to stop his emotional state having a detrimental effect on the case. Ana wants to help her partner but doesn’t want to reveal what she knows. She feels threatened, and the suspense and menacing ethos surrounding her are well-written.
There is a strong psychological element to this story, particularly from Ana’s perspective, as events from her past invade her present situation. Events are revealed, from Leo’s point of view, in the past, and Ana, Ben and DCI Jansen’s points of view, in the present. The two timelines create dramatic irony, the reader knowing things the characters don’t at that time.
Scene setting and character dynamics form the first part of the book, this slows the pace, but the short chapters and active voice, keep the story moving satisfactorily, ensuring reader engagement. There are several viable suspects, and even though you may guess who did it, early on in the story, there are plenty of smoke and mirrors. to make you doubt it.
Clever twists and a final reveal, make this a good story, with its solid police procedural theme tempered with psychological suspense.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The story is a sad one. Two brothers take a camping trip two years earlier. One is presumed dead, the other convicted of murder, but is it that simple. Ana, the accused brother’s partner. believes not. She has no chance of proving this until the missing brother’s body is found buried in the village. Now, his brother can’t be the murderer. DCI Jansen has to find the real killer, but although gossip is rife in the village, there is nothing of substance, and everyone is keeping secrets.
DCI Jansen suffers a personal tragedy, which he has to conquer, to stop his emotional state having a detrimental effect on the case. Ana wants to help her partner but doesn’t want to reveal what she knows. She feels threatened, and the suspense and menacing ethos surrounding her are well-written.
There is a strong psychological element to this story, particularly from Ana’s perspective, as events from her past invade her present situation. Events are revealed, from Leo’s point of view, in the past, and Ana, Ben and DCI Jansen’s points of view, in the present. The two timelines create dramatic irony, the reader knowing things the characters don’t at that time.
Scene setting and character dynamics form the first part of the book, this slows the pace, but the short chapters and active voice, keep the story moving satisfactorily, ensuring reader engagement. There are several viable suspects, and even though you may guess who did it, early on in the story, there are plenty of smoke and mirrors. to make you doubt it.
Clever twists and a final reveal, make this a good story, with its solid police procedural theme tempered with psychological suspense.
I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
January 16, 2021
A police procedural that also follows a number of the non-police characters.
In a village in Hertfordshire, in the middle of the heatwave of 2018, skeleton remains are found freshly buried in the local churchyard. Suspicions are quickly raised that it is the body finally of Leo Fenton, whose brother Ben is behind bars for his murder. Ben’s partner Ana lives in the village with her family, and much of the book follows her as she tries to assist police with their enquiries while keeping on top of her job as a lawyer in London.
The plot is engaging, and the description of the weather is particularly convincing, making this a good choice to read in January! I liked the characters of the DCI Maarten Jansen, and his team, especially Harper Carroll, and Ana’s sister Maisie was a pleasure to read about.
On the other hand, Ana herself felt half sketched, and I didn’t get a sense of the kind of person that she was - or maybe what we were shown of her contradicted what we were told about her. I also thought that there were a few things that just didn’t ring true, especially about Ana’s ease commuting to and from a London office, but also just too many co-incidences in the plot. I’m not going to rule out reading another book by this author, but I’m not rushing out to get everything she has written, either.
In a village in Hertfordshire, in the middle of the heatwave of 2018, skeleton remains are found freshly buried in the local churchyard. Suspicions are quickly raised that it is the body finally of Leo Fenton, whose brother Ben is behind bars for his murder. Ben’s partner Ana lives in the village with her family, and much of the book follows her as she tries to assist police with their enquiries while keeping on top of her job as a lawyer in London.
The plot is engaging, and the description of the weather is particularly convincing, making this a good choice to read in January! I liked the characters of the DCI Maarten Jansen, and his team, especially Harper Carroll, and Ana’s sister Maisie was a pleasure to read about.
On the other hand, Ana herself felt half sketched, and I didn’t get a sense of the kind of person that she was - or maybe what we were shown of her contradicted what we were told about her. I also thought that there were a few things that just didn’t ring true, especially about Ana’s ease commuting to and from a London office, but also just too many co-incidences in the plot. I’m not going to rule out reading another book by this author, but I’m not rushing out to get everything she has written, either.
October 13, 2019
Who did kill Leo Fenton? He went missing whilst on a camping trip with his brother Ben, who was subsequently arrested and charged with his murder. Ben's wife Ana, has always protested his innocence but when a body is found in the local churchyard, she begins to doubt herself. DCI Jansen, of St Alban's police is the investigating officer. Tensions mount and secrets start to unravel in the sleepy village. The book is well written and I liked the setting and lead character but some parts left me a bit confused. Overall, a very good mystery. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
November 6, 2023
There's a lot happening to Ana Seabrook. Her life has been a series of bad choices, grief and fear throughout her life and now she is an adult.. things have yet to improve.
Her boyfriend, Ben is in jail for murdering his own brother, Leo, who also happens to be Ana's best friend.
And then there's the creepy ex boyfriend who likes to stalk her and try to convince her into a trap of control and intimidation.
But atleast she has work. She thrives in wok because she keeps her personal life separate from her work life.
Only now things are starting to bleed together and whereas there seems to be multiple sources it eventually all comes down to one.
One person who's mind was poisoned by grief.
Amazing writing. LOVED THIS TWISTY STORY.
Her boyfriend, Ben is in jail for murdering his own brother, Leo, who also happens to be Ana's best friend.
And then there's the creepy ex boyfriend who likes to stalk her and try to convince her into a trap of control and intimidation.
But atleast she has work. She thrives in wok because she keeps her personal life separate from her work life.
Only now things are starting to bleed together and whereas there seems to be multiple sources it eventually all comes down to one.
One person who's mind was poisoned by grief.
Amazing writing. LOVED THIS TWISTY STORY.
October 12, 2021
An engrossing and superbly well written thriller, well worth a 5* rating.
The police have reopened a case of a murder committed two years ago, the suspect, the victim's brother, was tried, found guilty and is serving a long prison sentence. Yet there are now signs that the victim is not dead.
The more information is revealed, the more it seems there's been a miscarriage of justice.
A tense and engrossing plot, full of twists and turns, with some particularly grizzly scenes, all building to a climatic end.
This is a book worthy of a reader’s full attention, but probably not wise to read late at night.
The police have reopened a case of a murder committed two years ago, the suspect, the victim's brother, was tried, found guilty and is serving a long prison sentence. Yet there are now signs that the victim is not dead.
The more information is revealed, the more it seems there's been a miscarriage of justice.
A tense and engrossing plot, full of twists and turns, with some particularly grizzly scenes, all building to a climatic end.
This is a book worthy of a reader’s full attention, but probably not wise to read late at night.
May 30, 2024
Okay OKAY I get it.. the weather is REALLY hot! (As the name suggests). Does the author need to tell me literally every page that it’s hot weather outside..? No. Does it contribute to the story in any way..? No.
I think the author tried to loop the story together with the different characters that were introduced in the earlier chapters, but I just felt it was a bit too confusing and convenient.
I didn’t even really find much relevance with the wife of the Popo 👮♂️ who was in the car crash at the start..was that just to try and loop in Aggie who was the demented ?mother of the girl who killed herself? 🤔
~ Read physical book ~
I think the author tried to loop the story together with the different characters that were introduced in the earlier chapters, but I just felt it was a bit too confusing and convenient.
I didn’t even really find much relevance with the wife of the Popo 👮♂️ who was in the car crash at the start..was that just to try and loop in Aggie who was the demented ?mother of the girl who killed herself? 🤔
~ Read physical book ~
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2020
I’ve just finished The Scorched Earth by Rachael Blok. It’s brilliant, had me hooked. I stayed up really late last night reading the last 40%! If you love thrillers you’ll love it. A twisted tale of revenge, there are tit bits through out that have you guessing but without revealing the end. I sort of guessed killer but was still desperate to find out the details and it wasn’t what I expected. Characters are relatable and it’s really well written. I’ve just downloaded another of Rachael’s books and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
May 7, 2021
Well, I confess I was gripped but the ending was so implausible that I was left disappointed and frustrated. The old trope about people not being recognizable with just a change of hair colour and contact lenses has been done to death (no pun intended) and should be laid permanently to rest. Normally I would immediately seek out books by the same author and I see this was the second in the DCI Jansen series but have no plans to read the first one. - for a good while at least. Plausible characters, an intriguing situation but a lame ending.
May 1, 2020
Very atmospheric mystery and my first introduction to this series. Initially I couldn't place the setting and thought it must be in Australia with all the references to drought and oppressive heat. Gobsmacked when I found it was set in green old England. 28 degrees C is a nice day where I come from. I guess the English just aren't used to warm weather. Anyway apart from that it was a really riveting and intriguing read that I found hard to put down.
April 22, 2022
This is the second book I’ve read in the series (without realising the same detective appears in all of them). I love the author’s style – quite punchy and fast paced. The characters are all believable and I didn’t guess the end, despite the numerous clues I didn’t realise had been planted throughout. Minus one star only because I found the timeline a bit disjointed until I got into the story. Very atmospheric.
September 19, 2023
A typical, fairly enjoyable murder mystery thriller.
The pacing was good, plenty of titbits to keep you thinking. Every single thing wrapped up neatly by the end.
The actual ’who dunnit’ was not entirely surprising. Although I don’t think a person’s appearance really changes that much.
I did not like Ana. Her personality was insipid and the whole situation around her past ‘event’ was just insulting.
The pacing was good, plenty of titbits to keep you thinking. Every single thing wrapped up neatly by the end.
The actual ’who dunnit’ was not entirely surprising. Although I don’t think a person’s appearance really changes that much.
I did not like Ana. Her personality was insipid and the whole situation around her past ‘event’ was just insulting.
June 12, 2020
Set in a near future, where global warming has made the south of England unbearably hot, this is a pretty good murder mystery. It's one of those where Amazon were selling on example in a series to entice you to buy the others. I enjoyed it, but not so much that I'd be tempted to pay full price for the others.
May 13, 2023
it seemed quite promising to start with but unfortunately if a dog has to be hurt or killed as part of the storyline (and so heavily referred to further in) the enjoyment of the book is lost for me - i did finish it, as i can’t leave a book unfinished and like to give it a chance to redeem itself but this was not the case for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2020
Meh. OK storyline. I didn't click with any of the characters at all. I found the end to each chapter incredibly annoying. One sentence, like it was supposed to be deeply profound. "And the night was dark." "It falls like a flood."
November 19, 2020
I've read a lot of crime thrillers and often find myself working out the "whodunnit" long before the author intends-however this book kept me guessing right to the very end! The pace was excellent, varied and interesting and I really engaged with the story and the characters.
June 23, 2022
I enjoyed this book a lot. The storyline was excellent, there was enough suspense until the end. The characters were good.
At first I found the description of the heatwave a bit annoying but in the end it was quite fitting.
This is definitely better than some of the blockbuster crime novels.
At first I found the description of the heatwave a bit annoying but in the end it was quite fitting.
This is definitely better than some of the blockbuster crime novels.
October 8, 2023
DNF. I gave this two chapters and abandoned it. I thought the writing was dreadful. Disjointed, no cohesion, and inarticulate. Like wading through treacle, and the thought of another 74 chapters was just too much.
May 6, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down, very cleverly written. I felt the characters were solid and the storyline is gripping
May 6, 2020
I enjoyed this, but some aspects made me roll my eyes so hard they practically fell out of my head, and that coloured my whole experience. Disappointing.
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