What do you think?
Rate this book
Detective Rachel Hart #3
Why She Died
It was a person after all, but she was suspended in mid-air. Abi’s heart began to thump against her ribcage as the full horror of what she was seeing became apparent. Her shrill scream pierced the silence, startling birds into taking flight. ‘Help me!’ she cried. ‘Somebody please help!’
When beautiful and bright Hannah is late for their morning run, her best friend Abi thinks nothing of it. Hannah isn’t always that reliable – she’s probably just overslept.
But as Abi runs through the woods, following the same route she always does, she is greeted by a horrifying sight: Hannah’s body, swaying in the breeze.
Detective Rachel Hart is called to the scene. Something seems wrong from the start. Hannah’s friends and family insist that she had everything to live for, and no one has a bad word to say about her. But when murder is confirmed, and Rachel starts digging, she soon realises that there were plenty of people with reasons to want Hannah dead.
Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and everything Rachel thought is thrown into doubt. Is there a serial killer at work?
Rachel is determined to find answers before another life is lost – all the time unaware that the killer’s sights are focussed firmly on her.
Can Rachel unravel the deadly game before she walks into a trap?
A breathtakingly twisty thriller for fans of Rachel Abbott, Cara Hunter and Angela Marsons.
When beautiful and bright Hannah is late for their morning run, her best friend Abi thinks nothing of it. Hannah isn’t always that reliable – she’s probably just overslept.
But as Abi runs through the woods, following the same route she always does, she is greeted by a horrifying sight: Hannah’s body, swaying in the breeze.
Detective Rachel Hart is called to the scene. Something seems wrong from the start. Hannah’s friends and family insist that she had everything to live for, and no one has a bad word to say about her. But when murder is confirmed, and Rachel starts digging, she soon realises that there were plenty of people with reasons to want Hannah dead.
Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and everything Rachel thought is thrown into doubt. Is there a serial killer at work?
Rachel is determined to find answers before another life is lost – all the time unaware that the killer’s sights are focussed firmly on her.
Can Rachel unravel the deadly game before she walks into a trap?
A breathtakingly twisty thriller for fans of Rachel Abbott, Cara Hunter and Angela Marsons.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2020
149 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
May 15, 2020
I absolutely love British crime novels/mysteries. “ Why She Died” was a page turner that I absolutely could not put down. This was a fast pace thriller that kept me up half the night. The main heroine had her flaws which made her extremely relatable and someone worth rooting for. The the storyline had great twist and turns that left you guessing till the end. I look forward to reading more in the Detective Rachel Hart series.
Merged review:
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 29 May 2020
I absolutely love British crime novels/mysteries. “ Why She Died” was a page turner that I absolutely could not put down. This was a fast pace thriller that kept me up half the night. The main heroine had her flaws which made her extremely relatable and someone worth rooting for. The the storyline had great twist and turns that left you guessing till the end. I look forward to reading more in the Detective Rachel Hart series.
Merged review:
I received an advanced copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher in return for an honest review. The release date for this book is 29 May 2020
I absolutely love British crime novels/mysteries. “ Why She Died” was a page turner that I absolutely could not put down. This was a fast pace thriller that kept me up half the night. The main heroine had her flaws which made her extremely relatable and someone worth rooting for. The the storyline had great twist and turns that left you guessing till the end. I look forward to reading more in the Detective Rachel Hart series.
June 1, 2020
My Rating:
3.5
Favorite Quote:
Quicker than a heartbeat, Lucie grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back and had him pressed up against the wall. Phil was stunned into silence. ‘The first rule of combat, Phil, is to know your opponent. I might look like a fragile little Bible-thumper, but when I’m not singing in the choir or going to church services, I do martial arts so I can deal with idiots like you,’ she said, forcing his arm further up his back to press home her advantage.
My Review:
The premise and storylines were well-conceived, smartly paced, well-plotted, and twisty. The identities of the guilty parties were not at all ones I had suspected, and I love it when that happens. However, I had an issue with the variability of the writing which at times seemed as if written by two different people at dissimilar levels of skill development due to the quality being noticeably jagged and uneven in emotional depth and at the most crucial of times felt oddly flat and one-dimensional. Although, it may just be that I’ve recently been spoiled by an exceptionally superb lineup of extraordinary scribes that would make even Hemingway pale in comparison.
3.5
Favorite Quote:
Quicker than a heartbeat, Lucie grabbed his arm, twisted it behind his back and had him pressed up against the wall. Phil was stunned into silence. ‘The first rule of combat, Phil, is to know your opponent. I might look like a fragile little Bible-thumper, but when I’m not singing in the choir or going to church services, I do martial arts so I can deal with idiots like you,’ she said, forcing his arm further up his back to press home her advantage.
My Review:
The premise and storylines were well-conceived, smartly paced, well-plotted, and twisty. The identities of the guilty parties were not at all ones I had suspected, and I love it when that happens. However, I had an issue with the variability of the writing which at times seemed as if written by two different people at dissimilar levels of skill development due to the quality being noticeably jagged and uneven in emotional depth and at the most crucial of times felt oddly flat and one-dimensional. Although, it may just be that I’ve recently been spoiled by an exceptionally superb lineup of extraordinary scribes that would make even Hemingway pale in comparison.
May 28, 2020
Rachel Hart #3
A young woman has been found hanging from a tree and Rachel has been called in to investigate. It soon becomes clear that this is not a suicide but a murder investigation. 5his is Rachel's first case since her twin sister disappeared. When a second body is found, it looks like Rachel has a serial killer to track down before the body count rises any higher.
Rachel is still trying to find her twin sister, Ruth as she investigates the serial killer. This is a twist filled fast paced read. The suspect list keeps growing. Everytime a womans ody is found, Rachel dreads that is going to be her sister, Ruth. I had my suspicions to whom the killer was. This is a well written and cleverly crafted story. The tension builds with every turn of the page. This is a super series and this book is a great addition to it. I do recommend this series.
Merged review:
Rachel Hart #3
A young woman has been found hanging from a tree and Rachel has been called in to investigate. It soon becomes clear that this is ot a suicide but a murder investigation. This is Rachel's first case since returning back to worl after her twin sister disappeared. When a second body is found, it looks like Rachel has a serial killer to track down before the body count rises any higher.
Rachel is still trying to find her twin sister, Ruth as she investigates the serial killer. This is a twist filled fast paced read. The suspect list keeps growing. Everytime a womand bodybia found, Rachel dreads that it's going to be her sister, Ruth. I had my suspicions to whom the killer was. Theis is a well written and cleverly crafted story. The tension builds with every turn of the page. This is a super series this book is a great addition to it. I do recommend this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author J,G. Roberts for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A young woman has been found hanging from a tree and Rachel has been called in to investigate. It soon becomes clear that this is not a suicide but a murder investigation. 5his is Rachel's first case since her twin sister disappeared. When a second body is found, it looks like Rachel has a serial killer to track down before the body count rises any higher.
Rachel is still trying to find her twin sister, Ruth as she investigates the serial killer. This is a twist filled fast paced read. The suspect list keeps growing. Everytime a womans ody is found, Rachel dreads that is going to be her sister, Ruth. I had my suspicions to whom the killer was. This is a well written and cleverly crafted story. The tension builds with every turn of the page. This is a super series and this book is a great addition to it. I do recommend this series.
Merged review:
Rachel Hart #3
A young woman has been found hanging from a tree and Rachel has been called in to investigate. It soon becomes clear that this is ot a suicide but a murder investigation. This is Rachel's first case since returning back to worl after her twin sister disappeared. When a second body is found, it looks like Rachel has a serial killer to track down before the body count rises any higher.
Rachel is still trying to find her twin sister, Ruth as she investigates the serial killer. This is a twist filled fast paced read. The suspect list keeps growing. Everytime a womand bodybia found, Rachel dreads that it's going to be her sister, Ruth. I had my suspicions to whom the killer was. Theis is a well written and cleverly crafted story. The tension builds with every turn of the page. This is a super series this book is a great addition to it. I do recommend this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author J,G. Roberts for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 28, 2020
Why She Died is the third instalment in the Detective Chief Inspector Rachel Hart series and although preferable to have read the previous books this works perfectly well as a standalone as the author provides enough background to ensure new readers are not at a disadvantage. Hart and her team are called in to investigate when the body of a young woman is found hanging from a tree by her best friend Abi. They had arranged to meet at the local beauty spot to go for their usual morning run as the victim, Hannah, had been training to tackle Mount Everest but when Hannah didn't show Abi assumes she had already set off without her and so she begins running their regular route where she comes upon the body. The team initially feel all of the evidence points to suicide but soon come to the realisation that Hannah was brutally murdered. Who has the gall to kill a woman in a public place in broad daylight and hang her up like a decoration or trophy for all to see? As if she hasn't enough on her plate she discovers her sister Ruth has vanished from Mountview hospital’s psychiatric ward. And then a second body drops...
This is a captivating and exciting thriller with many twists, turns, red herrings and a number of possible suspects that could be responsible for the killings. I found this was the best instalment so far as this story is particularly well crafted. As police procedural's go this is a thoroughly enjoyable one; it has pace, is well written and full of surprises. It had me engrossed from the first couple of chapters and I thought the characters were as engaging as in previous instalments. I liked hearing more about our protagonist Rachel’s personal life and her relationship with her sister Ruth which appears to be a thread that'll run throughout the series. Rachel is also a very likeable person who strives to do her utmost to bring justice to the families of the victims. I wasn't expecting the conclusion and the ability of the author to keep the killer's identity under wraps until the very end was impressive and added to the drama and suspense. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
This is a captivating and exciting thriller with many twists, turns, red herrings and a number of possible suspects that could be responsible for the killings. I found this was the best instalment so far as this story is particularly well crafted. As police procedural's go this is a thoroughly enjoyable one; it has pace, is well written and full of surprises. It had me engrossed from the first couple of chapters and I thought the characters were as engaging as in previous instalments. I liked hearing more about our protagonist Rachel’s personal life and her relationship with her sister Ruth which appears to be a thread that'll run throughout the series. Rachel is also a very likeable person who strives to do her utmost to bring justice to the families of the victims. I wasn't expecting the conclusion and the ability of the author to keep the killer's identity under wraps until the very end was impressive and added to the drama and suspense. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
June 2, 2020
Hannah is found hanging from a tree in the woods along a running path. First thought to be a suicide, the medical examiner rules it a homicide. There are strangulation marks under the noose.
Detective Rachel Hart and her team are called to investigate. She has barely begun when another woman is found strangled in the same woods.
As the investigation centers around family, friends, co-workers, Hart is surprised at the number of people who did not like Hannah ... and most all have reasons to want her dead.
Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and everything Rachel thought is thrown into doubt. Is there a serial killer at work?
Third in this trilogy, it is easily read as a stand alone. It's well-written with a solid plot. There are many suspects / people of interest to watch. Characters are deftly drawn ... warts and all. I really enjoy the balance of professional and personal in Hart's life. There are twists and turns and the ending is stupendous ... never saw it coming!
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Detective Rachel Hart and her team are called to investigate. She has barely begun when another woman is found strangled in the same woods.
As the investigation centers around family, friends, co-workers, Hart is surprised at the number of people who did not like Hannah ... and most all have reasons to want her dead.
Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and everything Rachel thought is thrown into doubt. Is there a serial killer at work?
Third in this trilogy, it is easily read as a stand alone. It's well-written with a solid plot. There are many suspects / people of interest to watch. Characters are deftly drawn ... warts and all. I really enjoy the balance of professional and personal in Hart's life. There are twists and turns and the ending is stupendous ... never saw it coming!
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 2, 2020
“To stop the killer, you need to know…”
Okay! This is going to be one of those subjective reviews, which really are so difficult to write, as every person takes a different journey when reading a book, which is what makes the experience so wonderful. I do need to come clean and say that I haven’t read either of the first two books in this series, so I was hoping that Why She Died would work for me as a stand alone crime thriller. Whilst there was enough of the backstory included, so that I didn’t feel left out of anything, I do nonetheless believe that I would have benefited hugely by getting to know the characters a little better, before passing judgment on them and potentially being disingenuous with my observations and comments about them. But that’s just a personal perspective and for me, this definitely works fine as a self-contained story or a one-off peek into DCI Rachel Hart’s world.
It is clear from the vast volume of books I have read in this genre, that all fictional detectives appear to carry huge amounts of personal and emotional baggage, which they often struggle to keep separate from their investigations and in this series DCI Rachel Hart, is clearly no exception. Knowing some of the details of her emotional crisis and that she has only recently returned to work, it would seem to me that she is far from ready to take on the routine trauma which by default comes with her job, and she should maybe have taken more time to rest and recover her strength and focus. She is clearly running so highly on adrenaline, that all of her colleagues, although they have every sympathy with her situation, are struggling to cope with her tempestuous mood swings and the terse way she communicates with them. All of which doesn’t make for a team working cooperatively or cohesively well together and who are constantly treading on eggshells, rather than having the free flowing exchanges of ideas and information they would obviously benefit from.
My above observations meant that the narrative and dialogue between the detectives investigating the cases, wasn’t very consistent and sometimes seemed unnecessarily stilted and formal, compared to that which either appears in other such recent novels I have read, or which happens in many television adaptations. It would have been good to witness some spontaneous interaction between them, as they all seem to be searching for a sense of purpose and belonging, so it was very difficult to assess their individual personalities and to judge which amongst them could be developed in any future books in the series. At times it was almost akin in tone to reading a classic crime thriller from several decades ago.
As for the potential suspects and victims, there were a profusion of characters all vying for a piece of the action, non of whom were particularly agreeable or likeable, all with their own agendas and motives for committing murder. The storyline also had plenty of pace and at times there was almost too much happening and too many people in the frame, to be able to come to any conclusions about potential suspects and motives. It was great for keeping me on my toes, but also caused quite a lot of confusion, as my suspect list became longer and longer until almost everyone was on it somewhere, only to be removed or change places with someone else, as yet another twist and turn happened in the plot!
What began as one scene of crime, it soon became apparent, had developed into two separate cases, with completely independent motives, which whilst not intrinsically connected, became linked in the most terrible and inhumane of ways, by the one person who was missing from my list and whom no-one would have suspected, except for the person closest to them, who missed all the signs completely, but which were very obvious with hindsight. This only further reduced my ability to connect with her and my expectations of her professional capabilities drastically. One other person had worked out who this most troubled and abhorrent of suspects was, but they had mysteriously disappeared.
The murder I came close to solving, but that was not until quite a long way into the story and even then I wasn’t too certain, after all the mis-directions. Revenge however, is a much more tricky emotion to spot and unravel and I had to be confronted by the suspect and have things partially explained to me, until I reached that ‘lightbulb’ moment! The end game then took yet another unscheduled turn, as this is revenge with an unexpected twist, before reaching that long searched for satisfactory conclusion. Maybe now, Rachel and Ruth can look forward to a more positive future and Rachel in particular can concentrate on strengthening the bond with her team, ready for their next case.
My overall rating of the book is 4 out of 5, however that is based on my own personal enjoyment and intrigue value of the storyline, which did have me on the edge of my seat a couple of times, turning the pages faster and faster until the crimes were all uncovered and solved! I do feel that in the cold light of day, 3 out of 5 would probably be a fairer assessment, if I were to base my review solely on the quality of the character defining and storyline building.
But Hey! after all, my enjoyment of the reading experience is all that really matters, so 4 it is!
Okay! This is going to be one of those subjective reviews, which really are so difficult to write, as every person takes a different journey when reading a book, which is what makes the experience so wonderful. I do need to come clean and say that I haven’t read either of the first two books in this series, so I was hoping that Why She Died would work for me as a stand alone crime thriller. Whilst there was enough of the backstory included, so that I didn’t feel left out of anything, I do nonetheless believe that I would have benefited hugely by getting to know the characters a little better, before passing judgment on them and potentially being disingenuous with my observations and comments about them. But that’s just a personal perspective and for me, this definitely works fine as a self-contained story or a one-off peek into DCI Rachel Hart’s world.
It is clear from the vast volume of books I have read in this genre, that all fictional detectives appear to carry huge amounts of personal and emotional baggage, which they often struggle to keep separate from their investigations and in this series DCI Rachel Hart, is clearly no exception. Knowing some of the details of her emotional crisis and that she has only recently returned to work, it would seem to me that she is far from ready to take on the routine trauma which by default comes with her job, and she should maybe have taken more time to rest and recover her strength and focus. She is clearly running so highly on adrenaline, that all of her colleagues, although they have every sympathy with her situation, are struggling to cope with her tempestuous mood swings and the terse way she communicates with them. All of which doesn’t make for a team working cooperatively or cohesively well together and who are constantly treading on eggshells, rather than having the free flowing exchanges of ideas and information they would obviously benefit from.
My above observations meant that the narrative and dialogue between the detectives investigating the cases, wasn’t very consistent and sometimes seemed unnecessarily stilted and formal, compared to that which either appears in other such recent novels I have read, or which happens in many television adaptations. It would have been good to witness some spontaneous interaction between them, as they all seem to be searching for a sense of purpose and belonging, so it was very difficult to assess their individual personalities and to judge which amongst them could be developed in any future books in the series. At times it was almost akin in tone to reading a classic crime thriller from several decades ago.
As for the potential suspects and victims, there were a profusion of characters all vying for a piece of the action, non of whom were particularly agreeable or likeable, all with their own agendas and motives for committing murder. The storyline also had plenty of pace and at times there was almost too much happening and too many people in the frame, to be able to come to any conclusions about potential suspects and motives. It was great for keeping me on my toes, but also caused quite a lot of confusion, as my suspect list became longer and longer until almost everyone was on it somewhere, only to be removed or change places with someone else, as yet another twist and turn happened in the plot!
What began as one scene of crime, it soon became apparent, had developed into two separate cases, with completely independent motives, which whilst not intrinsically connected, became linked in the most terrible and inhumane of ways, by the one person who was missing from my list and whom no-one would have suspected, except for the person closest to them, who missed all the signs completely, but which were very obvious with hindsight. This only further reduced my ability to connect with her and my expectations of her professional capabilities drastically. One other person had worked out who this most troubled and abhorrent of suspects was, but they had mysteriously disappeared.
The murder I came close to solving, but that was not until quite a long way into the story and even then I wasn’t too certain, after all the mis-directions. Revenge however, is a much more tricky emotion to spot and unravel and I had to be confronted by the suspect and have things partially explained to me, until I reached that ‘lightbulb’ moment! The end game then took yet another unscheduled turn, as this is revenge with an unexpected twist, before reaching that long searched for satisfactory conclusion. Maybe now, Rachel and Ruth can look forward to a more positive future and Rachel in particular can concentrate on strengthening the bond with her team, ready for their next case.
My overall rating of the book is 4 out of 5, however that is based on my own personal enjoyment and intrigue value of the storyline, which did have me on the edge of my seat a couple of times, turning the pages faster and faster until the crimes were all uncovered and solved! I do feel that in the cold light of day, 3 out of 5 would probably be a fairer assessment, if I were to base my review solely on the quality of the character defining and storyline building.
But Hey! after all, my enjoyment of the reading experience is all that really matters, so 4 it is!
May 30, 2020
Hannah wakes up late for her morning run with her best friend Abi. As she starts to get ready, she asks herself why she even bothers. But, friends are friends, and Abi is training for a mountain climb, and Hannah as agreed to help her. When Abi doesn't answer Hannah's knock on her door, Hannah decides to head out anyway, figuring she'd run into Abi somewhere along their regular path in the woods. What Hannah finds is the most shocking, the most devastating thing she can imagine - Abi hanging from a tree.
Detective Rachel Hart is assigned the case and it takes her very little time to realize that the crime scene is more than a bit off. As Rachel begins her investigation, she interviews all of the students that are sharing the same house while at university. Once the cause of death is officially ruled a murder, Rachel really hones in on her investigation, and soon realizes that she has the scope of her investigate.
Meanwhile, Rachel is finally happy in her relationship with lawyer Tim. She had a tragic past and lost her twin sister when they were very young, so it took her quite some time to come close to trusting and opening her heart. The story shifts from time to time to Tim, especially when he visits someone at a prison. Her relationship with Tim and his actions make me appreciate having read the first two books in this series, Little Girl Missing and What He Did, as I was able to feel a connection to Rachel as a person, as well as a cop.
Why She Died is a gripping story that weaves tension and drama in at breaknet speed that garnered my attention from beginning to end. I love that the book left readers wondering what is next for Rachel. Kudos to J. G. Roberts for writing another thrilling book.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
Detective Rachel Hart is assigned the case and it takes her very little time to realize that the crime scene is more than a bit off. As Rachel begins her investigation, she interviews all of the students that are sharing the same house while at university. Once the cause of death is officially ruled a murder, Rachel really hones in on her investigation, and soon realizes that she has the scope of her investigate.
Meanwhile, Rachel is finally happy in her relationship with lawyer Tim. She had a tragic past and lost her twin sister when they were very young, so it took her quite some time to come close to trusting and opening her heart. The story shifts from time to time to Tim, especially when he visits someone at a prison. Her relationship with Tim and his actions make me appreciate having read the first two books in this series, Little Girl Missing and What He Did, as I was able to feel a connection to Rachel as a person, as well as a cop.
Why She Died is a gripping story that weaves tension and drama in at breaknet speed that garnered my attention from beginning to end. I love that the book left readers wondering what is next for Rachel. Kudos to J. G. Roberts for writing another thrilling book.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
June 20, 2020
The Det. Rachel Hart's series is growing to be one of my absolute favorites. Why She Died is the third book in the series that see's Rachel solve yet another difficult case while dealing with emotional memories. Despite the obvious heartache, Rachel displays a balance in professionalism & her personal life. When things get too difficult, she shows very realistic & natural emotions & responses to events. I loved this the most about this book.
When beautiful and bright Hannah is late for their morning run, her best friend Abi thinks nothing of it. Hannah isn’t always that reliable – she’s probably just overslept. But as Abi runs through the woods, following the same route she always does, she is greeted by a horrifying sight: Hannah’s body, swaying in the breeze. Detective Rachel Hart is called to the scene. Hannah’s friends and family insist that she had everything to live for, and no one has a bad word to say about her. Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and everything Rachel thought is thrown into doubt. Is there a serial killer at work? Rachel is determined to find answers before another life is lost – all the time unaware that the killer’s sights are focussed firmly on her. Can Rachel unravel the deadly game before she walks into a trap?
Rachel is one of the best cops in my fantasy cop list. I like the way she investigates & solves a crime. The tension in this book is definitely amped up compared to that last book & that makes this one absolutely unputdownable. As the main plot progresses, a second & more deadly sub-plot starts developing. Soon lines between the active case & another case close to Rachels' heart start disappearing. The book is twisty with suspenseful elements that make it so very compelling! I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture & J. G. Roberts for an arc!
When beautiful and bright Hannah is late for their morning run, her best friend Abi thinks nothing of it. Hannah isn’t always that reliable – she’s probably just overslept. But as Abi runs through the woods, following the same route she always does, she is greeted by a horrifying sight: Hannah’s body, swaying in the breeze. Detective Rachel Hart is called to the scene. Hannah’s friends and family insist that she had everything to live for, and no one has a bad word to say about her. Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and everything Rachel thought is thrown into doubt. Is there a serial killer at work? Rachel is determined to find answers before another life is lost – all the time unaware that the killer’s sights are focussed firmly on her. Can Rachel unravel the deadly game before she walks into a trap?
Rachel is one of the best cops in my fantasy cop list. I like the way she investigates & solves a crime. The tension in this book is definitely amped up compared to that last book & that makes this one absolutely unputdownable. As the main plot progresses, a second & more deadly sub-plot starts developing. Soon lines between the active case & another case close to Rachels' heart start disappearing. The book is twisty with suspenseful elements that make it so very compelling! I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Thank You, NetGalley, Bookouture & J. G. Roberts for an arc!
April 26, 2020
i so enjoyed this book very gripping .detective Rachel hart is called to the scene on a young girl hanging from a tree who she finds out is Hannah .how the story unfolds is just brilliant and when a next one is found she thinks its her twin sister who ran away .how it all folds together is brilliant secrets lies and revenge
Merged review:
i so enjoyed this book very gripping .detective Rachel hart is called to the scene on a young girl hanging from a tree who she finds out is Hannah .how the story unfolds is just brilliant and when a next one is found she thinks its her twin sister who ran away .how it all folds together is brilliant secrets lies and revenge
Merged review:
i so enjoyed this book very gripping .detective Rachel hart is called to the scene on a young girl hanging from a tree who she finds out is Hannah .how the story unfolds is just brilliant and when a next one is found she thinks its her twin sister who ran away .how it all folds together is brilliant secrets lies and revenge
June 7, 2020
And she's back having read the whole series so far i was eager to catch up with DI Hart and as suspected book three is another smashing edition to an already super series!
Rachel is a great character and it's great to see the world in terms of her personal and professional life.
The book is filled with secrets revenge and tensions aplenty has you hooked from beginning to end another great read.
Rachel is a great character and it's great to see the world in terms of her personal and professional life.
The book is filled with secrets revenge and tensions aplenty has you hooked from beginning to end another great read.
June 22, 2020
This gripping thriller was voiced from the perspectives of DCI Rachel Hart, DI Graham Wilson, Hannah's best friend Abi and had the odd chapter that was voiced from the perspective of Rachel's boyfriend Tim. I really liked how, in a world were there are numerous detectives with their own personal issues and backstories, the author had given Rachel a backstory that was unique and not one that I remember being used before. I thought Rachel was a really likeable character,she was a good boss,who treated her team members fairly and with respect, she often struggled with her decisions when it came to giving tasks to her team especially Graham Wilson, someone who I also thought was a very likeable character. I actually liked all the team members, they each had their unique personality traits,I liked how the story of their investigation into the murders wasn't bogged down by interdepartmental politics,backstabbing and interfering top ranked officers who constantly tried to undermine Rachel. As well as leading a murder investigation, Rachel was also having to deal with her worries and fears about the whereabouts of her missing twin sister Ruth, worries that were only intensified after the discovery of the second body.Due to the case,she was also struggling to spend quality time with her boyfriend Tim, something that I was quite pleased about. Maybe I read far too many thrillers but from the moment that I encountered him in the story, there was just something about him that I didn't like. Was he the nice guy that he appeared to be or was he hiding his true nature behind a cleverly constructed mask? There was various suspects for Hannah's murder,some likeable,some not so likeable but who did kill her and why?
Despite this being the third book in the series,it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. It was wonderfully written, the characters were realistic and the story was packed full of twists and turns,built in intensity and held my attention throughout. The story kept the reader guessing and frantically turning the pages. I enjoyed this book so much that I am definitely going to have to get my hands on the previous two titles in this series and I look forward to reading more of Rachel Hart's investigations in the future.
Despite this being the third book in the series,it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. It was wonderfully written, the characters were realistic and the story was packed full of twists and turns,built in intensity and held my attention throughout. The story kept the reader guessing and frantically turning the pages. I enjoyed this book so much that I am definitely going to have to get my hands on the previous two titles in this series and I look forward to reading more of Rachel Hart's investigations in the future.
May 24, 2020
When the body of a young woman is found by her best friend, hanging from a tree on their daily running route, DCI Rachel Hart's first impressions are attempted suicide. Although, the young victim story says otherwise. Turns out she was a bright ambitious woman with plans to climb the Everest one day! With boyfriend problems, living in uni dorms, could this be a silly fight between the girls? Detective Rachel Hart is about to find out.
Although, Rachel has her own issues with a twin sister who's missing and she's waiting any minute now for a bad news that her dead body is found. She's slowly coming in terms to trust her new lawyer boyfriend Tim with whom she's trying to set amends. Her DI is very efficient along with a brilliant squad, she is quick to put two and two together in time to catch the killer. Although, this time might be a bit difficult.
Wow what an entertainer! Kept me hooked and guessing till the end. Just when I thought I had finally got it - the whodonnit and then I realise there's a good 1 hour left on the book. Highly recommended crime thriller from Bookouture.
Although, Rachel has her own issues with a twin sister who's missing and she's waiting any minute now for a bad news that her dead body is found. She's slowly coming in terms to trust her new lawyer boyfriend Tim with whom she's trying to set amends. Her DI is very efficient along with a brilliant squad, she is quick to put two and two together in time to catch the killer. Although, this time might be a bit difficult.
Wow what an entertainer! Kept me hooked and guessing till the end. Just when I thought I had finally got it - the whodonnit and then I realise there's a good 1 hour left on the book. Highly recommended crime thriller from Bookouture.
May 5, 2020
What a fantastic book this was, love the series and Rachel Hart, so well written by this author, a fast paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns.
All the characters were good and it held my interest throughout and what a great and original ending I just can't speak highly enough of this book and a very worthy five stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I look forward to number 4.
All the characters were good and it held my interest throughout and what a great and original ending I just can't speak highly enough of this book and a very worthy five stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book and I look forward to number 4.
May 31, 2020
Detective Rachel Hart was back with a twisty delectable murder where red herrings and suspects kept her in the fog of mystery. My third book by author Julia Roberts, and the stories kept getting better and better. The author’s writing narrated this police procedural with conviction and confidence. She and Rachel had indeed traveled far.
Abi went for a run and saw a body hanging from the trees, it was her best friend Hannah. DCI Rachel Hart and her team were called to investigate.
Having read all the earlier works of this author, I was eager to get into this one. Rachel was real, like us, with strengths and vulnerabilities especially where her sister was concerned. She was strong while digging into the alibi of the suspects, but gentle while talking to the family of victims. Her methods were focused, her brain sharp, yet she never let go of the humane factor.
All was not as they presumed, that was the theme of this story. The author layered their story with subplots. I liked the winding lanes of a thorough investigation, the twists that changed the course of the book, and the final reveal.
A fast paced police procedural with a humane cop at the helm made this an entertaining read.
Abi went for a run and saw a body hanging from the trees, it was her best friend Hannah. DCI Rachel Hart and her team were called to investigate.
Having read all the earlier works of this author, I was eager to get into this one. Rachel was real, like us, with strengths and vulnerabilities especially where her sister was concerned. She was strong while digging into the alibi of the suspects, but gentle while talking to the family of victims. Her methods were focused, her brain sharp, yet she never let go of the humane factor.
All was not as they presumed, that was the theme of this story. The author layered their story with subplots. I liked the winding lanes of a thorough investigation, the twists that changed the course of the book, and the final reveal.
A fast paced police procedural with a humane cop at the helm made this an entertaining read.
April 24, 2020
Why She Died by J.G. Roberts is the third installment of a series focused on Detective Rachel Hart, and it is, quite possibly, the best yet. I would suggest that this can be easily read as a standalone, as much background information is provided throughout the narrative to bring you up to speed.
DI Rachel Hart is called to investigate when a young woman is found hanging from a tree the morning following her shift working as a shot girl at a local nightclub. While the investigators initially assume suicide, it quickly becomes apparent that the young woman has met with foul play. As DI Hart and her team question those who knew the victim best, the DI is also suffering with the knowledge that her twin sister, Ruth, has gone missing from her care home without a trace, making her burden twofold. And then the team discovers the body of a second woman...
This is a pacey police procedural that will keep the reader emotionally engaged and invested in the mindset of an empathetic and genuinely likable protagonist. The story of DI Hart is far from over, and I cannot wait to see where it will lead next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
DI Rachel Hart is called to investigate when a young woman is found hanging from a tree the morning following her shift working as a shot girl at a local nightclub. While the investigators initially assume suicide, it quickly becomes apparent that the young woman has met with foul play. As DI Hart and her team question those who knew the victim best, the DI is also suffering with the knowledge that her twin sister, Ruth, has gone missing from her care home without a trace, making her burden twofold. And then the team discovers the body of a second woman...
This is a pacey police procedural that will keep the reader emotionally engaged and invested in the mindset of an empathetic and genuinely likable protagonist. The story of DI Hart is far from over, and I cannot wait to see where it will lead next.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
May 12, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this book. This was my first Detective Rachel Hart book, but it definitely won't be my last!
When Hannah is late for their morning run, her best friend Abi feels that she might have just overslept. She never in her wildest dreams expects to find Hannah's body hanging from a tree in the woods along their routine route..
Detective Rachel is called to the scene and as she investigates she discovers that it was a murder rather than suicide. Rachel starts investigating and the list of suspects seem long. But when a second woman's body is found in the same woods, she begins to wonder if there a serial killer at play or if there is another angle which she is missing.
All the characters are good and it keeps you guessing till the end with lots of twists. Would certainly recommend this book to anyone who likes detective stories.
When Hannah is late for their morning run, her best friend Abi feels that she might have just overslept. She never in her wildest dreams expects to find Hannah's body hanging from a tree in the woods along their routine route..
Detective Rachel is called to the scene and as she investigates she discovers that it was a murder rather than suicide. Rachel starts investigating and the list of suspects seem long. But when a second woman's body is found in the same woods, she begins to wonder if there a serial killer at play or if there is another angle which she is missing.
All the characters are good and it keeps you guessing till the end with lots of twists. Would certainly recommend this book to anyone who likes detective stories.
April 24, 2020
This series just gets better and better! I have to give credit to J. G. Roberts. Many possible suspects arise in this story. The reader continues to change their mind the as to who is guilty with each page...
DCI Hart is brilliantly portrayed and digs in to get to the bottom of a crime involving a student, Hannah, who has an ambitious nature... Abi, Hannah's best friend, helps in whatever way possible to find justice for Hannah.
A great mystery with plenty of possibilities.. I have read the first two books, also, but this can definitely be read as a standalone.
An awesome read - Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a fast, exciting read!
DCI Hart is brilliantly portrayed and digs in to get to the bottom of a crime involving a student, Hannah, who has an ambitious nature... Abi, Hannah's best friend, helps in whatever way possible to find justice for Hannah.
A great mystery with plenty of possibilities.. I have read the first two books, also, but this can definitely be read as a standalone.
An awesome read - Many Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a fast, exciting read!
December 17, 2020
I have yet to read the first book in this series but my TBR piles keeps growing! lol I simply LOVED
"What He Did"
and as it was so long since I'd read the book, I had to refresh my memory by re-reading the last chapter as my review vaguely insinuated a few unanswered questions that lead me to wonder if my instincts are correct. After doing so, my instincts were refreshed.
And were they correct? That, I cannot say...except that you'll have to read the book to find out for yourself.
As the third outing for DCI Rachel Hart, WHY SHE DIED can easily be read as a standalone as there is enough background information included so as to not confuse the reader. But it would be remiss of me not to advise you to start from the beginning, even though I came in on the second book, which precedes this latest book nicely. You do get to know Rachel and her team a bit better by starting from the beginning.
After discovering her twin sister Ruth has absconded from the mental health facility in which she resides, DCI Rachel Hart took some personal leave until sitting at home drove her stir crazy. But upon returning to work, she took on some more menial tasks before jumping into the deep end. Then early one Saturday morning she got the call. A body has been found hanging in the woods.
Rachel's first thought being that it was Ruth...
University student Abi Wyett had to drag herself out of bed to accompany best friend Hannah on her daily morning runs, though she would much rather stay in bed. But she made a committment to support Hannah in her quest to become the youngest British woman to scale Mount Everest...but time was running out for her to grab that title as she was fast approaching her 21st birthday in twelve months' time. So Abi ran with her each morning, worked out with her and even worked at the Velvet nightclub as a shot girl alongside her...all in her support for her best friend.
So when Hannah didn't come knocking that morning or answered Abi's knock ten minutes later, Abi assumed she was annoyed with her for calling off work the night before and went without her. So Abi decided to catch her up as she couldn't be that much further in front. But when Abi ran into the dense woods as part as their normal route she was shocked to discover Hannah's body hanging lifelessly from a tree.
Enter DCI Rachel Hart and her team.
At first it was believed to be a suicide but everyone who knew Hannah knew she wouldn't take her own life, for she thought it to be a selfish weakness. And the more Rachel and her team dug, the more she was inclined to agree. It doesn't take long for forensic pathologist to confirm that Hannah died from manual strangulation and not hanging...though that did indeed break her neck but by that time Hannah was already dead.
Then a second body is found strangled in the woods, badly decomposed, putting death roughly around four to six weeks ago. Around the same time that Ruth disappeared. Rachel cannot help but draw parallels and fear that this second body may well be that of her sister. Determined to find answers before another life is lost, Rachel questions all of Hannah's friends, colleagues and her boyfriend. And yet she feels there is something she's missing...all the time completely unaware that the killer's sights are focused firmly on her. Can Rachel unravel the deadly mystery before she walks into a trap?
I have to say I love Rachel although I am not generally a fan of overtly strong women leads. Rachel is strong and determined but not a bitch. She is completely likable as is her trusty team. Her camaraderie with her DI as well as the rest of her team makes her one of my favourite female leads.
Rachel hasn't always had it easy. As a child, both her and her twin sister Ruth were kidnapped and sexually abused by a neighbour which has had adverse repercussions on both women's lives. Ruth's manifested in a suicide attempt leading her to be housed in a mental health facility which was a calm and safe environment for her. Which is why Rachel can't understand why she absconded. For Rachel, her childhood experience left her emotionally scarred and unable to commit or trust men. She's slowly learning to trust her lawyer boyfriend Tim who clearly adores Rachel and is beginning to see a future together. His love and patience is a rarity for which Rachel is eternally grateful.
A fast-paced procedural, WHY SHE DIED is multi-layered with subplots and red herrings. The mystery itself is cleverly plotted with plenty of possibilities to keep the reader guessing. The twist, when it comes, throws a light on everything Rachel thought she knew, changing the course of the book towards the final reveal.
WHY SHE DIED is an entertaining read from start to finish, making Rachel Hart one of my favourite series. Recommended for fans of crime fiction, police procedurals and female leads with heart.
I would like to thank #JuliaRoberts, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhySheDied in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
And were they correct? That, I cannot say...except that you'll have to read the book to find out for yourself.
As the third outing for DCI Rachel Hart, WHY SHE DIED can easily be read as a standalone as there is enough background information included so as to not confuse the reader. But it would be remiss of me not to advise you to start from the beginning, even though I came in on the second book, which precedes this latest book nicely. You do get to know Rachel and her team a bit better by starting from the beginning.
After discovering her twin sister Ruth has absconded from the mental health facility in which she resides, DCI Rachel Hart took some personal leave until sitting at home drove her stir crazy. But upon returning to work, she took on some more menial tasks before jumping into the deep end. Then early one Saturday morning she got the call. A body has been found hanging in the woods.
Rachel's first thought being that it was Ruth...
University student Abi Wyett had to drag herself out of bed to accompany best friend Hannah on her daily morning runs, though she would much rather stay in bed. But she made a committment to support Hannah in her quest to become the youngest British woman to scale Mount Everest...but time was running out for her to grab that title as she was fast approaching her 21st birthday in twelve months' time. So Abi ran with her each morning, worked out with her and even worked at the Velvet nightclub as a shot girl alongside her...all in her support for her best friend.
So when Hannah didn't come knocking that morning or answered Abi's knock ten minutes later, Abi assumed she was annoyed with her for calling off work the night before and went without her. So Abi decided to catch her up as she couldn't be that much further in front. But when Abi ran into the dense woods as part as their normal route she was shocked to discover Hannah's body hanging lifelessly from a tree.
Enter DCI Rachel Hart and her team.
At first it was believed to be a suicide but everyone who knew Hannah knew she wouldn't take her own life, for she thought it to be a selfish weakness. And the more Rachel and her team dug, the more she was inclined to agree. It doesn't take long for forensic pathologist to confirm that Hannah died from manual strangulation and not hanging...though that did indeed break her neck but by that time Hannah was already dead.
Then a second body is found strangled in the woods, badly decomposed, putting death roughly around four to six weeks ago. Around the same time that Ruth disappeared. Rachel cannot help but draw parallels and fear that this second body may well be that of her sister. Determined to find answers before another life is lost, Rachel questions all of Hannah's friends, colleagues and her boyfriend. And yet she feels there is something she's missing...all the time completely unaware that the killer's sights are focused firmly on her. Can Rachel unravel the deadly mystery before she walks into a trap?
I have to say I love Rachel although I am not generally a fan of overtly strong women leads. Rachel is strong and determined but not a bitch. She is completely likable as is her trusty team. Her camaraderie with her DI as well as the rest of her team makes her one of my favourite female leads.
Rachel hasn't always had it easy. As a child, both her and her twin sister Ruth were kidnapped and sexually abused by a neighbour which has had adverse repercussions on both women's lives. Ruth's manifested in a suicide attempt leading her to be housed in a mental health facility which was a calm and safe environment for her. Which is why Rachel can't understand why she absconded. For Rachel, her childhood experience left her emotionally scarred and unable to commit or trust men. She's slowly learning to trust her lawyer boyfriend Tim who clearly adores Rachel and is beginning to see a future together. His love and patience is a rarity for which Rachel is eternally grateful.
A fast-paced procedural, WHY SHE DIED is multi-layered with subplots and red herrings. The mystery itself is cleverly plotted with plenty of possibilities to keep the reader guessing. The twist, when it comes, throws a light on everything Rachel thought she knew, changing the course of the book towards the final reveal.
WHY SHE DIED is an entertaining read from start to finish, making Rachel Hart one of my favourite series. Recommended for fans of crime fiction, police procedurals and female leads with heart.
I would like to thank #JuliaRoberts, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #WhySheDied in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 29, 2020
A fantastic, thrilling, fast-paced story by J.G. Roberts.
In this third book of the series DCI Rachel Hart investigates when Abi Wyett goes for her morning run. But when Abi's friend Hannah, doesn't turn up to their allotted meeting place on time, Abi sets out on her own. As she runs through the wood following their usual route, she is greeted by an appalling sight: Hannah’s body, hanging from a tree. Hannah’s friends and family insist that she had everything to live for, but when murder is confirmed, Rachel starts to realise that there were plenty of people with reasons to want Hannah dead. Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and Rachel starts to wonder if there is a serial killer on the loose.
Even if I had not read any of the other books in this series, I would still have been happy to jump straight in and read this as a standalone story. The author, J.G. Roberts provided enough background information on the characters and setting so new readers should not feel at a disadvantage. Rachel Hart is a caring, determined detective with plenty of inner reserve and I would have gladly had her on my team.
This novel was a fantastic, electrifying and solid police procedural and I really warmed to Rachel from the outset. Well-balanced with many twists, red herrings and a number of possible suspects that could be responsible for the killings, it had me glued to the pages as I was desperate to know the outcome of the story. The attention-grabbing plot was very cleverly written, being gripping and suspenseful but not unbelievable. Each individual had a defined role in the story and I found myself really rooting for Rachel to succeed in capturing the murderer(s). All of the time the tension was being ratcheted up a notch as the author's writing flowed effortlessly while Why She Died delved into a world of secrets, revenge and menace.
All in all, a brilliant, breathtaking and highly recommended crime-thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
In this third book of the series DCI Rachel Hart investigates when Abi Wyett goes for her morning run. But when Abi's friend Hannah, doesn't turn up to their allotted meeting place on time, Abi sets out on her own. As she runs through the wood following their usual route, she is greeted by an appalling sight: Hannah’s body, hanging from a tree. Hannah’s friends and family insist that she had everything to live for, but when murder is confirmed, Rachel starts to realise that there were plenty of people with reasons to want Hannah dead. Then a second woman is found strangled in the same woods, and Rachel starts to wonder if there is a serial killer on the loose.
Even if I had not read any of the other books in this series, I would still have been happy to jump straight in and read this as a standalone story. The author, J.G. Roberts provided enough background information on the characters and setting so new readers should not feel at a disadvantage. Rachel Hart is a caring, determined detective with plenty of inner reserve and I would have gladly had her on my team.
This novel was a fantastic, electrifying and solid police procedural and I really warmed to Rachel from the outset. Well-balanced with many twists, red herrings and a number of possible suspects that could be responsible for the killings, it had me glued to the pages as I was desperate to know the outcome of the story. The attention-grabbing plot was very cleverly written, being gripping and suspenseful but not unbelievable. Each individual had a defined role in the story and I found myself really rooting for Rachel to succeed in capturing the murderer(s). All of the time the tension was being ratcheted up a notch as the author's writing flowed effortlessly while Why She Died delved into a world of secrets, revenge and menace.
All in all, a brilliant, breathtaking and highly recommended crime-thriller.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
May 31, 2020
Why She Died by J.G. Roberts
Detective Rachel Hart #3
Murders happen
Killers kill
Why do they kill
And
How do they choose their prey?
Policemen follow clues
Look for reasons
Killers kill
Hoping to stop
Another murder
Coming into a series after t he main character and her team have had two books to settle into their roles is not always easy. I did have enough tidbits of information to realize that Rachel was in charge, had been off duty a bit due to a family situation, had suffered a bad situation with her twin during childhood and that her twin was missing. Rachel seemed a bit fragile but willing to do her job. Her team were there to follow the clues and determine who the murderer was from a whole lot of contenders.
Most of the characters in this book are friends from college, the people they are dating or work with and a few are family. There are also policemen and women and the people they encounter and live with or date. There are some twists, turns and surprises before the book is wrapped up at the end. The police procedural aspects flowed, and it was easy to follow the reasoning of those working the case.
I felt there were many threads to the story as it was not just limited to the murder case but also a couple of side stories that eventually tied into the overall story. I am wondering if I had read the first two books I would feel I knew Rachel and understand her reasoning and actions better in this book. That said, it was able to be read as a standalone and will appeal to those that like British police procedurals.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Detective Rachel Hart #3
Murders happen
Killers kill
Why do they kill
And
How do they choose their prey?
Policemen follow clues
Look for reasons
Killers kill
Hoping to stop
Another murder
Coming into a series after t he main character and her team have had two books to settle into their roles is not always easy. I did have enough tidbits of information to realize that Rachel was in charge, had been off duty a bit due to a family situation, had suffered a bad situation with her twin during childhood and that her twin was missing. Rachel seemed a bit fragile but willing to do her job. Her team were there to follow the clues and determine who the murderer was from a whole lot of contenders.
Most of the characters in this book are friends from college, the people they are dating or work with and a few are family. There are also policemen and women and the people they encounter and live with or date. There are some twists, turns and surprises before the book is wrapped up at the end. The police procedural aspects flowed, and it was easy to follow the reasoning of those working the case.
I felt there were many threads to the story as it was not just limited to the murder case but also a couple of side stories that eventually tied into the overall story. I am wondering if I had read the first two books I would feel I knew Rachel and understand her reasoning and actions better in this book. That said, it was able to be read as a standalone and will appeal to those that like British police procedurals.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
June 1, 2020
This review was originally posted on Star Crossed Reviews I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour and for letting me take part in this tour. I really enjoyed the two previous books in this series so I was very excited to see what happens next. While this is the third in the series you can read them as standalones. I would, however, recommend reading the whole series as they are such good stories and each one gets better and better.
This story is twofold. We have the case oh Hannah Longcross as well as the more personal story of DCI Hart. The case of Hannah Longcross is a rather twisty one. There were lots of red herrings in this case. I thought I had the case all figured out and then it turned out I was completely wrong! The personal story is very interesting but I won't say much on this one as I don't want to spoil it but it is a very good story.
Julia did an excellent job of weaving the two stories together. The pace was good and flicked between the two stories in a way that kept you hooked and wanting to know what happens with both stories. If you love a book full of twists, turns, lies and revenge then this is a book for you.
This story is twofold. We have the case oh Hannah Longcross as well as the more personal story of DCI Hart. The case of Hannah Longcross is a rather twisty one. There were lots of red herrings in this case. I thought I had the case all figured out and then it turned out I was completely wrong! The personal story is very interesting but I won't say much on this one as I don't want to spoil it but it is a very good story.
Julia did an excellent job of weaving the two stories together. The pace was good and flicked between the two stories in a way that kept you hooked and wanting to know what happens with both stories. If you love a book full of twists, turns, lies and revenge then this is a book for you.
May 27, 2020
What starts as a seemingly simple case suddenly takes a turn for what can only be described as “OMG, what the heck just happened?!?” I thought the author did a terrific job of laying the groundwork of the investigation for Rachel and her team. The investigation is straightforward…for the most part. I did think the author spent a little bit more time than expected on Rachel’s obsession with her missing twin sister, but by the end of the book, it is crystal clear why she did that. It all worked within the story, and certainly left my jaw hanging open in shock a few times. Read the other books in the series first, just for the backstory, but don’t miss this one. For a complete review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of this book.
June 24, 2020
This is the third book in the series featuring Detective Rachel Hart and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I couldn’t wait to read it after enjoying the first two books in the series. We meet up again with Rachel as she is struggling to cope, as six weeks previously her twin sister Ruth had run away from the psychiatric hospital she was staying in and Rachel imagines the worse any time a dead body turns up. She is called on to investigate the discovery of a body of a young woman Hannah. Hannah’s friend Abi went to look for her and found her body hanging from a tree. Suicide is the first thought but Rachel soon realises that she has been murdered. When a second body of a woman is found stabbed in the woods she fears that it could be her sister and that there may be a serial killer on the loose. Can Rachel track down the killer before he strikes again and will she find Ruth alive? This is a book that I couldn’t put down with so many twists and turns, red herrings and a completely mind blowing ending. This is a highly recommended series of books, don’t miss reading them.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 11, 2020
As I have just read this one back to back with the second book, I have to say it’s the me of the best books I’ve read.
It follows on nicely after book 2, but can be read as a stand-alone novel if you wish. However, if you do read them in order, you get to know more about Rachel and her team and the background to it all.
It starts off with Abi going for her morning run and finding her best friend hanging from a tree. The story rapidly moves on and there are loads of surprises in store, but I’m not going to add any spoilers.
Just remember not is all what it seems!!
I think Julia has written three brilliant books in a short space of time, they are well written, the characters are likeable and the stories gripping. I just wondered why Rachel doesn’t seem to have “a boss upstairs” who gives her grief like most of these police stories.
Thank you to Julia, the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.
Merged review:
As I have just read this one back to back with the second book, I have to say it’s one of the best books I’ve read.
It follows on nicely after book 2, but can be read as a stand-alone novel if you wish. However, if you do read them in order, you get to know more about Rachel and her team and the background to it all.
It starts off with Abi going for her morning run and finding her best friend hanging from a tree. The story rapidly moves on and there are loads of surprises in store, but I’m not going to add any spoilers.
Just remember not is all what it seems!!
I think Julia has written three brilliant books in a short space of time, they are well written, the characters are likeable and the stories gripping. I just wondered why Rachel doesn’t seem to have “a boss upstairs” who gives her grief like most of these police stories.
Thank you to Julia, the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.
It follows on nicely after book 2, but can be read as a stand-alone novel if you wish. However, if you do read them in order, you get to know more about Rachel and her team and the background to it all.
It starts off with Abi going for her morning run and finding her best friend hanging from a tree. The story rapidly moves on and there are loads of surprises in store, but I’m not going to add any spoilers.
Just remember not is all what it seems!!
I think Julia has written three brilliant books in a short space of time, they are well written, the characters are likeable and the stories gripping. I just wondered why Rachel doesn’t seem to have “a boss upstairs” who gives her grief like most of these police stories.
Thank you to Julia, the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.
Merged review:
As I have just read this one back to back with the second book, I have to say it’s one of the best books I’ve read.
It follows on nicely after book 2, but can be read as a stand-alone novel if you wish. However, if you do read them in order, you get to know more about Rachel and her team and the background to it all.
It starts off with Abi going for her morning run and finding her best friend hanging from a tree. The story rapidly moves on and there are loads of surprises in store, but I’m not going to add any spoilers.
Just remember not is all what it seems!!
I think Julia has written three brilliant books in a short space of time, they are well written, the characters are likeable and the stories gripping. I just wondered why Rachel doesn’t seem to have “a boss upstairs” who gives her grief like most of these police stories.
Thank you to Julia, the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.
June 13, 2020
I thought this was a really good read. It starts off quickly with college student Abi finding the body of her friend Hannah while running in the woods. The rest of the book focuses on figuring out what happened and also how it ties to other murders. This is a police procedural, with the investigation being led by Rachel Hart, and the reader gets some good information about Rachel's backstory as well. This is the 3rd book in the series but I don't recall having read the others and it works as a standalone.
While there was a lot going on in this book and a lot of different characters, I got enough information to keep all the storylines straight and felt that the book moved at a fast pace. I often find that the personal stories of the detectives detract from the primary mystery, but I liked the Rachel backstory and didn't find it distracting. There are a few times where I had to suspend my disbelief a bit, or I wish I had a little more background info to understand where Rachel was coming from, but those were few and far between.
The best part of the book for me was the twist when you figure out who the villain is. I finally got there a little bit before it was exposed, but had been going in an entirely different direction (and actually vacillating between a multiple different ideas) before that. I usually am able to sniff out the culprit pretty early but this surprised me, and gave me enough information that I understood the person's motives instead of feeling like it had come completely from left field.
Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it for readers of the mystery and police procedural genres. I may go back and pick up the earlier books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While there was a lot going on in this book and a lot of different characters, I got enough information to keep all the storylines straight and felt that the book moved at a fast pace. I often find that the personal stories of the detectives detract from the primary mystery, but I liked the Rachel backstory and didn't find it distracting. There are a few times where I had to suspend my disbelief a bit, or I wish I had a little more background info to understand where Rachel was coming from, but those were few and far between.
The best part of the book for me was the twist when you figure out who the villain is. I finally got there a little bit before it was exposed, but had been going in an entirely different direction (and actually vacillating between a multiple different ideas) before that. I usually am able to sniff out the culprit pretty early but this surprised me, and gave me enough information that I understood the person's motives instead of feeling like it had come completely from left field.
Overall, I liked this book and would recommend it for readers of the mystery and police procedural genres. I may go back and pick up the earlier books in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2020
Why She Died by J.G Roberts is the third instalment of the D.C.I Rachel Hart series. It is always better to have read the other books but it also works on it's own as there is enough background within the book so the reader doesn't feel lost.
A young girl Hannah, is discovered hanging from a tree in the local woods by her best friend, Abi. They had planned an early morning run together and Hannah did'nt show up so Abi set of alone.Rachel is called in to investigate when what they thought was a suicide turns out to be foul play. Rachel has just returned to work after time out, but still has the worry of her sister going missing from Mountview hospital's Psychiatric ward in her mind. Then another body is found,Rachel's mind goes into overdrive thinking it could be her sister.
I thought the characters where very believable and I loved Rachel. I empathised with her from the start, the strain of her sister being missing, the feelings of guilt she carries, I was with her all the way!
A captivating and fantastically crafted and well paced police procedural with plenty of red herrings, twists and turns that kept me reading and guessing too! I shall be reading the first two books I enjoyed it that that much. With thanks to Bookouture-Books-On-Tour for my blog stop on this blog Tour and Netgalley for my copy of the book
A young girl Hannah, is discovered hanging from a tree in the local woods by her best friend, Abi. They had planned an early morning run together and Hannah did'nt show up so Abi set of alone.Rachel is called in to investigate when what they thought was a suicide turns out to be foul play. Rachel has just returned to work after time out, but still has the worry of her sister going missing from Mountview hospital's Psychiatric ward in her mind. Then another body is found,Rachel's mind goes into overdrive thinking it could be her sister.
I thought the characters where very believable and I loved Rachel. I empathised with her from the start, the strain of her sister being missing, the feelings of guilt she carries, I was with her all the way!
A captivating and fantastically crafted and well paced police procedural with plenty of red herrings, twists and turns that kept me reading and guessing too! I shall be reading the first two books I enjoyed it that that much. With thanks to Bookouture-Books-On-Tour for my blog stop on this blog Tour and Netgalley for my copy of the book
April 23, 2020
This was my first Detective Rachel Hart book, but it won't be my last! Normally I like to try to read detective series books in order, but it's not necessary with this book - it is a really good standalone book.
This is more of a traditional detective story/mystery than a psychological thriller and that suits me just fine. Ultimately and most importantly the book delivers on the title and has a good explanation for "why she died" (and isn't that why we read all these books, anyway!?) which I won't spoil here. Rachel is a smart and accessible heroine. If you liked Nancy Drew you'll also like Detective Rachel Hart. The tone reminds me somewhat of Nancy Drew and I was just waiting for a description of a "titian haired beauty" or Ned Nickerson. I love British police procedurals (both TV shows and books) and this author does a good job of combining procedural elements with women's fiction elements. Overall a book right up my alley. :)
Thanks to Bookouture, J.G. Roberts and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I'll be checking out the first Detective Rachel Hart book next.
This is more of a traditional detective story/mystery than a psychological thriller and that suits me just fine. Ultimately and most importantly the book delivers on the title and has a good explanation for "why she died" (and isn't that why we read all these books, anyway!?) which I won't spoil here. Rachel is a smart and accessible heroine. If you liked Nancy Drew you'll also like Detective Rachel Hart. The tone reminds me somewhat of Nancy Drew and I was just waiting for a description of a "titian haired beauty" or Ned Nickerson. I love British police procedurals (both TV shows and books) and this author does a good job of combining procedural elements with women's fiction elements. Overall a book right up my alley. :)
Thanks to Bookouture, J.G. Roberts and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I'll be checking out the first Detective Rachel Hart book next.
April 23, 2020
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Detective Rachel is called to a scene in the woods when Abi who usually runs with her best friend Hannah is found and Abi is shock because Hannah has everything to live for.
The building tension in each chapter as Rachel dives into Hannah life and who would want to kill her and there plenty of people who have it in her but when another young woman is found she wonder if there a serial killer at play or is someone trying to throw her off into another direction.
Detective Rachel is a flawed character who is determined to solve the case as she struggles with trying to find her missing sister and fearing that every time she called to a scene prays it’s isn’t her sister.
Good mystery
Detective Rachel is called to a scene in the woods when Abi who usually runs with her best friend Hannah is found and Abi is shock because Hannah has everything to live for.
The building tension in each chapter as Rachel dives into Hannah life and who would want to kill her and there plenty of people who have it in her but when another young woman is found she wonder if there a serial killer at play or is someone trying to throw her off into another direction.
Detective Rachel is a flawed character who is determined to solve the case as she struggles with trying to find her missing sister and fearing that every time she called to a scene prays it’s isn’t her sister.
Good mystery
May 27, 2020
Another great read from J.G. Roberts.
Rachel is called out to a body found in the woods and at first assumes it’s a suicide but is then told the girl had been murdered.
The girl’s friends are shocked at her death and her boyfriend is upset but knows about some secrets Hannah was hiding.
Alongside the murder, Rachel is desparately looking for her sister who ran away from a health facility. When another body is found Rachel panics and assumes it’s her sister.
This is a clever crime thriller as it leads you up one path and then later in the book it turns out you are completely wrong! (Well I was anyway)
I really enjoyed this addition to the Rachel Harte series and look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Rachel is called out to a body found in the woods and at first assumes it’s a suicide but is then told the girl had been murdered.
The girl’s friends are shocked at her death and her boyfriend is upset but knows about some secrets Hannah was hiding.
Alongside the murder, Rachel is desparately looking for her sister who ran away from a health facility. When another body is found Rachel panics and assumes it’s her sister.
This is a clever crime thriller as it leads you up one path and then later in the book it turns out you are completely wrong! (Well I was anyway)
I really enjoyed this addition to the Rachel Harte series and look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
June 14, 2020
This is the third in the Rachel Hart series.I had not read the first two and this one did stand on its own. I really enjoyed this book. The mystery was great and Rachel has an interesting back story. I look forward to going back and reading the first two books in the series.
I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Merged review:
This is the third in the Rachel Hart series.I had not read the first two and this one did stand on its own. I really enjoyed this book. The mystery was great and Rachel has an interesting back story. I look forward to going back and reading the first two books in the series.
I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Merged review:
This is the third in the Rachel Hart series.I had not read the first two and this one did stand on its own. I really enjoyed this book. The mystery was great and Rachel has an interesting back story. I look forward to going back and reading the first two books in the series.
I was given a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews