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Alicia Friend Investigation #1
His First His Second
A unique female detective. A serial killer who has abducted another victim. A ruthless father who will stop at nothing to find his daughter.
Meet Detective Sergeant Alicia Friend. She’s nice. Too nice to be a police officer if she’s honest. And maybe—if pushed—she might admit she keeps her quirky personality front and centre to keep the darkness of her job at bay. But when a third girl is taken amid a killer’s sick murder spree, she has to face this dark world head-on.
Alicia has less than a week to get her new colleagues to trust her, chip away the secrets of a high-society family, and uncover the killer’s real objective.
But Richard—the father of the latest victim—believes the police are not moving quickly enough, so launches a parallel investigation, utilising skills honed in a dark past that is about to catch up with him.
As Richard’s secret actions hinder the police, the clock is ticking until another innocent person dies, and Alicia will be forced into choices that will impact the rest of her life.
If you like British crime thrillers with unique female protagonists, buy His First His Second, the first in A. D. Davies's compelling Alicia Friend Investigations series, today.
This edition of His First His Second has been reformatted to be more accessible to people with dyslexia. It has larger print, more space between lines of text, and a dyslexia friendly font. The content is the same as all other editions.
˃˃˃ Reviews
“An intriguing mix of police procedural and serial killer thriller, that will tease, involve and unnerve you. An entertaining and intriguing debut.”
Undercover Book “Want a book with twists and turns? This is the one. It will not disappoint.”
Alicia Friend Books in Order:
His First His Second
In Black In White
With Courage With Fear
A Friend in Spirit
To Hide To Seek
A Flood of Bones
To Begin the End
574 pages, Unknown Binding
2551 people are currently reading
2213 people want to read
About the author
A.D. Davies
35 books74 followersA.D. Davies grew up in Leeds, West Yorkshire. In high school his ambition was to be a writer of horror novels, although in adult life he became an avid fan of crime fiction. He also dabbles in action-adventure.
After a long stint in an unsatisfying job, he attended the University of Leeds where he attained a degree in creative writing.
He is well-travelled, his favourite destinations being New Zealand and Vietnam, which have influenced his writing immensely, especially obvious in his Adam Park novel.
For now, however, globe-trotting is taking a back-seat to raising his two children and writing, although he hopes to one day combine all three.
He now resides in Staffordshire, UK, with his wife and two children.
Connect in the following ways:
Twitter: @authoraddavies
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoraddavies
Website: www.addavies.com (including email list sign-up)
Do say hi.
After a long stint in an unsatisfying job, he attended the University of Leeds where he attained a degree in creative writing.
He is well-travelled, his favourite destinations being New Zealand and Vietnam, which have influenced his writing immensely, especially obvious in his Adam Park novel.
For now, however, globe-trotting is taking a back-seat to raising his two children and writing, although he hopes to one day combine all three.
He now resides in Staffordshire, UK, with his wife and two children.
Connect in the following ways:
Twitter: @authoraddavies
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authoraddavies
Website: www.addavies.com (including email list sign-up)
Do say hi.
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
November 21, 2014
~Received For An Honest Review~
Holy crap! You want a book that will keep you on edge? A book that will keep you guessing? A book with some twist and turns? This is the one. It's well written and extremely good. It will not disappoint! You will keep turning the pages and sitting on the edge as each page gets closer and closer of telling the final part! Don't miss out on this great book! A.S Davies killed it!
Holy crap! You want a book that will keep you on edge? A book that will keep you guessing? A book with some twist and turns? This is the one. It's well written and extremely good. It will not disappoint! You will keep turning the pages and sitting on the edge as each page gets closer and closer of telling the final part! Don't miss out on this great book! A.S Davies killed it!
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October 26, 2017FREE on Amazon today (10/26/2017)!
January 12, 2015
His First His Second is the self-published debut crime novel from AD Davies. Set in and around the Yorkshire city of Leeds, the book is an intriguing mix of police procedural and serial killer thriller, that will tease, involve and unnerve you.
The story opens in chilling fashion as young woman Katie orientates herself in sinister surroundings after being abducted, and discovers she is not the sole prisoner of the anonymous captor. She comes face to face with another girl, who resembles her completely – a girl who refuses to acknowledge her presence.
We then cut to a murder scene where a young woman’s body is discovered at the edge of a lake, and DI Donald Murphy and the kooky DS Alicia Friend are introduced. As the links between this discovery and the disappearance of Katie emerge, Murphy and Friend become totally immersed personally and professionally in the hunt for a kidnapping murderer. This is where it all gets rather interesting as Friend embarks on a less than professional entanglement with Katie’s father, Richard, who is not all he appears to be. The introduction of ex-FBI agent Alfie Khee – who has focused in on a killer operating in England, one he believes responsible for the murder of his wife – adds a further dimension to the plot. There are also rum goings-on among the upper classes, with the disappearance of a poor little rich girl from a family that will make your toes curl.
Yes, the plot is dense and attention must be paid to these almost conflicting storylines as the book progresses, but it enriches the reading experience as your attention is pulled hither and thither. At certain points early on a small leap of faith is required for the more outlandish plot turns to work, but it all adds to the fun. With a host of interweaving and engaging plot strands there is a playful feel at times as Davies attempts to wrong foot and challenge us, which works very well indeed.
However, the real strength of the book lies in his two police protagonists, who seem tailor made to carry on into further stories. The tactful and slightly careworn demeanour of DI Murphy is beautifully counterbalanced by the earnest, slightly weird and flirtatious Alicia Friend. On secondment to Murphy’s team from the Serious Crime Agency, her natural intelligence and intuition, masked by her outwardly scatty behaviour, proves a perfect foil to her more dour boss. She is instantly likeable and the her quirky character traits and all too human fallibility make her enjoyable to read. She’s like a cat torturing a mouse when dealing with the slower members of the murder team, but this is tempered throughout by moments of weakness and indecision that arouse empathy.
Davies uses Friend’s perceptive reading of the criminal mind as a conduit to involve us intimately in the less than appealing psychological aspects of the serial killer. Here is an author who has done his homework on not only the psyche of a killer, but also the day to day running of a British criminal investigation, and the inner workings of the FBI. It’s fascinating stuff and Davies’ research blends in seamlessly with the overall plot.
His First His Second is an entertaining and intriguing debut. Though the denouement is slightly weird, the closely controlled plotlines and the delicious character of Alicia Friend make for a highly enjoyable read. What we can say about Davies is that his first was good, and I am more than keen to see his second…
The story opens in chilling fashion as young woman Katie orientates herself in sinister surroundings after being abducted, and discovers she is not the sole prisoner of the anonymous captor. She comes face to face with another girl, who resembles her completely – a girl who refuses to acknowledge her presence.
We then cut to a murder scene where a young woman’s body is discovered at the edge of a lake, and DI Donald Murphy and the kooky DS Alicia Friend are introduced. As the links between this discovery and the disappearance of Katie emerge, Murphy and Friend become totally immersed personally and professionally in the hunt for a kidnapping murderer. This is where it all gets rather interesting as Friend embarks on a less than professional entanglement with Katie’s father, Richard, who is not all he appears to be. The introduction of ex-FBI agent Alfie Khee – who has focused in on a killer operating in England, one he believes responsible for the murder of his wife – adds a further dimension to the plot. There are also rum goings-on among the upper classes, with the disappearance of a poor little rich girl from a family that will make your toes curl.
Yes, the plot is dense and attention must be paid to these almost conflicting storylines as the book progresses, but it enriches the reading experience as your attention is pulled hither and thither. At certain points early on a small leap of faith is required for the more outlandish plot turns to work, but it all adds to the fun. With a host of interweaving and engaging plot strands there is a playful feel at times as Davies attempts to wrong foot and challenge us, which works very well indeed.
However, the real strength of the book lies in his two police protagonists, who seem tailor made to carry on into further stories. The tactful and slightly careworn demeanour of DI Murphy is beautifully counterbalanced by the earnest, slightly weird and flirtatious Alicia Friend. On secondment to Murphy’s team from the Serious Crime Agency, her natural intelligence and intuition, masked by her outwardly scatty behaviour, proves a perfect foil to her more dour boss. She is instantly likeable and the her quirky character traits and all too human fallibility make her enjoyable to read. She’s like a cat torturing a mouse when dealing with the slower members of the murder team, but this is tempered throughout by moments of weakness and indecision that arouse empathy.
Davies uses Friend’s perceptive reading of the criminal mind as a conduit to involve us intimately in the less than appealing psychological aspects of the serial killer. Here is an author who has done his homework on not only the psyche of a killer, but also the day to day running of a British criminal investigation, and the inner workings of the FBI. It’s fascinating stuff and Davies’ research blends in seamlessly with the overall plot.
His First His Second is an entertaining and intriguing debut. Though the denouement is slightly weird, the closely controlled plotlines and the delicious character of Alicia Friend make for a highly enjoyable read. What we can say about Davies is that his first was good, and I am more than keen to see his second…
June 11, 2017
This was an impulse buy on Amazon as I don’t often find thrillers set in my home county.
The start of the book felt very disjointed, I actually found it hard work to read. Part of the problem was there are too many different plots and characters introduced too quickly. Then there is Alicia, I wanted to like her but we didn’t learn enough about her at the start of the book, so she didn’t really grab me and when she started to make poor decisions I just became irritated with her.
I think the author was just trying too hard, he has just tried to pack in too much and as a result hasn’t really done any of it well.
I would have preferred him to have spent more time developing some of the characters and introducing the second sociopathic serial killer further into the novel after we have had chance to get to know some of the main individuals.
In the end I did finish the book but it was a struggle.
The start of the book felt very disjointed, I actually found it hard work to read. Part of the problem was there are too many different plots and characters introduced too quickly. Then there is Alicia, I wanted to like her but we didn’t learn enough about her at the start of the book, so she didn’t really grab me and when she started to make poor decisions I just became irritated with her.
I think the author was just trying too hard, he has just tried to pack in too much and as a result hasn’t really done any of it well.
I would have preferred him to have spent more time developing some of the characters and introducing the second sociopathic serial killer further into the novel after we have had chance to get to know some of the main individuals.
In the end I did finish the book but it was a struggle.
August 29, 2018
This started really well but by the time I'd reached 20% I was really bored with it and it was suddenly really dragging. Alicia was just my sort of person, I liked her, but just got bogged down with the storytelling itself. Plus I found Richard's character a little farfetched as well.
This line clearly lost something,"Heck, Alicia's body language suggested he could attract a woman some fifteen"....Absence was written and not absent, speechmarks were dropped and words left out of sentences so presentation was a bit lacking.
Maybe I'll revisit it one day and see if I find it any easier to get on with.
This line clearly lost something,"Heck, Alicia's body language suggested he could attract a woman some fifteen"....Absence was written and not absent, speechmarks were dropped and words left out of sentences so presentation was a bit lacking.
Maybe I'll revisit it one day and see if I find it any easier to get on with.
April 1, 2020
This was a real struggle to get through. Although I feel that there were too many characters introduced too quickly, this was not the biggest issue for me. The main problem was the writing--both the plot progression as well as the author's use of the language.
There were way too many typos and incorrect forms/tenses of words than is acceptable from a published work of fiction. But more importantly, the way the story progressed, the way it was written, was... shabby. So much so that on multiple occasions, trying to interpret what a sentence or paragraph meant became very taxing and frustrating. There were even a couple of times when I yelled my exasperation out loud, which is a first for me. It made the story less appealing altogether.
As much as I wanted to like her or at least accept her, Alicia Friend was annoying throughout. Not to mention her "mistake", which was utterly stupid. Moreover, I felt that there were a few things which could have been expanded on at the end, like , but I guess some of the loose ends are followed up on in the next book.
In conclusion, it was a bad read for me, probably my first 1-star rating, but I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series. Just... not now.
There were way too many typos and incorrect forms/tenses of words than is acceptable from a published work of fiction. But more importantly, the way the story progressed, the way it was written, was... shabby. So much so that on multiple occasions, trying to interpret what a sentence or paragraph meant became very taxing and frustrating. There were even a couple of times when I yelled my exasperation out loud, which is a first for me. It made the story less appealing altogether.
As much as I wanted to like her or at least accept her, Alicia Friend was annoying throughout. Not to mention her "mistake", which was utterly stupid. Moreover, I felt that there were a few things which could have been expanded on at the end, like , but I guess some of the loose ends are followed up on in the next book.
In conclusion, it was a bad read for me, probably my first 1-star rating, but I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series. Just... not now.
April 8, 2017
I give this 4.5 stars.
This was one of those novels that held you spellbound from the first page till the last. Extremely well written & paced with tons of twist and turns, it has one of the funniest female protagonists in a police procedural I have read.
I love Alicia's quirkiness, constant banter with her partner to get relieve him of his grumpiness and her razor sharp intelligence that stuns everyone. Her only fault is that her taste buds seem to be lodged firmly in her bum where men are concerned.
This novel did seem long at times but you certainly got more bang for your buck with what is essentially two separate plots becoming intricately intwined resulting in a stunning conclusion. Just when you thought you had it all worked out you were left blindsided with the reveal of the killer at the end!
Highly highly recommended.
This was one of those novels that held you spellbound from the first page till the last. Extremely well written & paced with tons of twist and turns, it has one of the funniest female protagonists in a police procedural I have read.
I love Alicia's quirkiness, constant banter with her partner to get relieve him of his grumpiness and her razor sharp intelligence that stuns everyone. Her only fault is that her taste buds seem to be lodged firmly in her bum where men are concerned.
This novel did seem long at times but you certainly got more bang for your buck with what is essentially two separate plots becoming intricately intwined resulting in a stunning conclusion. Just when you thought you had it all worked out you were left blindsided with the reveal of the killer at the end!
Highly highly recommended.
May 30, 2015
I liked and disliked this novel the entire way through. Overall a very interesting mystery with some surprising revelations. You can read my full review on my blog here: http://courtneysreads.blogspot.com/20...
January 3, 2020
Couldn’t finish it. Alicia is not cute imho. If a man acted toward his female peers the way she does toward her male peers, he would be pilloried. She had sex with a person of interest. One can lust but one still has control of one’s actions.
November 28, 2014
I won this in a goodreads giveaway and I'm so glad I entered it.
Alicia Friend is a profiler who has been brought in to work with a police force in Leeds on a group of serial killings as another young girl Katie Hague has gone missing. Alicia is very bubbly and her initial collisions with the male culture of the police force are amusing as they assume that she is a ditzy young woman but she shocks them by her intelligence. She also manages to make them a better team by lightening them up a bit.
The investigation is full of setbacks as Katie Hague's dad Richard starts to do his own detective work instead of leaving it to the police and there are other people who are taking too close an interest...
Without giving any spoilers this has to be one of the best crime novels I've read for a while. I loved the fact there is a female detective in the mix as other than Val McDermid novels they don't tend to feature much. A.D Davies writes beautifully and seamlessly changes protagonist throughout the novel which means you get a deeper understanding of most of the characters. He also manages to make a huge cast of characters real and each playing a key part in the novel. I enjoyed seeing how Donald Murphy gradually thawed and stopped being irritated by his new colleage Alicia. I thought the relationships between all the characters were well judged and realisitic. And the solution was not what I was expecting...
A brilliant read which I would have raced through if I hadn't been so busy with work. If you love crime fiction then you should definitely read this.
Alicia Friend is a profiler who has been brought in to work with a police force in Leeds on a group of serial killings as another young girl Katie Hague has gone missing. Alicia is very bubbly and her initial collisions with the male culture of the police force are amusing as they assume that she is a ditzy young woman but she shocks them by her intelligence. She also manages to make them a better team by lightening them up a bit.
The investigation is full of setbacks as Katie Hague's dad Richard starts to do his own detective work instead of leaving it to the police and there are other people who are taking too close an interest...
Without giving any spoilers this has to be one of the best crime novels I've read for a while. I loved the fact there is a female detective in the mix as other than Val McDermid novels they don't tend to feature much. A.D Davies writes beautifully and seamlessly changes protagonist throughout the novel which means you get a deeper understanding of most of the characters. He also manages to make a huge cast of characters real and each playing a key part in the novel. I enjoyed seeing how Donald Murphy gradually thawed and stopped being irritated by his new colleage Alicia. I thought the relationships between all the characters were well judged and realisitic. And the solution was not what I was expecting...
A brilliant read which I would have raced through if I hadn't been so busy with work. If you love crime fiction then you should definitely read this.
November 22, 2014
★★★★★
Ooh what a wonderful twisted mind this author has.
A body has been found after a young woman had been reported missing. Murphy has been assigned the case, and a new partner to go with it. Murphy is a middle aged fuddy duddy, also a good cop. Alicia is a young highly intelligent detective. She uses her bubbly personality to keep some people from realizing just how clever she is.
Murphy and Alicia soon find out that this is a huge case, stretching back at least 18 months. They must have a serial killer to find.
This book is full of very dangerous people. Some you will be very shocked to find yourself rooting for. The relationships that develop are intense and surprising. I could not guess who the person they were hunting was. The climax of the story is very violent, it needed to be. The ending leaves us hoping for more.
This was the first book from this author for me. I will definitely look for more.
Ooh what a wonderful twisted mind this author has.
A body has been found after a young woman had been reported missing. Murphy has been assigned the case, and a new partner to go with it. Murphy is a middle aged fuddy duddy, also a good cop. Alicia is a young highly intelligent detective. She uses her bubbly personality to keep some people from realizing just how clever she is.
Murphy and Alicia soon find out that this is a huge case, stretching back at least 18 months. They must have a serial killer to find.
This book is full of very dangerous people. Some you will be very shocked to find yourself rooting for. The relationships that develop are intense and surprising. I could not guess who the person they were hunting was. The climax of the story is very violent, it needed to be. The ending leaves us hoping for more.
This was the first book from this author for me. I will definitely look for more.
February 24, 2016
Review: HIS FIRST, HIS SECOND by A. D. Davies
I love this super mystery-suspense-thriller-British crime-police procedural-FBI-overseas crime-family drama! I love the dual, triple, more plotlines; the multiple killers, unknown to each other; the "class war" aspects; British police procedural vs. rogue ex-FBI; nearly-manic Detective Sergeant Friendly contraposed with glum middle-aged Detective Chief Inspector Murphy... The entire novel was a roller-coaster, "I can't stop reading" page turner adventure. Definitely one of the top crime novels of the year.
I love this super mystery-suspense-thriller-British crime-police procedural-FBI-overseas crime-family drama! I love the dual, triple, more plotlines; the multiple killers, unknown to each other; the "class war" aspects; British police procedural vs. rogue ex-FBI; nearly-manic Detective Sergeant Friendly contraposed with glum middle-aged Detective Chief Inspector Murphy... The entire novel was a roller-coaster, "I can't stop reading" page turner adventure. Definitely one of the top crime novels of the year.
April 16, 2018
This was very confusing at time with multiple serial killers criss crossing paths. This was one of the most gory books I have read, with no purpose for the extreme details. The author seemed too interested in the different knives, bone saws & cutting instruments, with extreme details on blood loss. Rather than solving the crimes. Left me sick to my stomach. Could not read much at one time. I kept hoping the extreme details would turn to a more forensic and active case mode. It didn't.
July 30, 2018
I was not impressed. The story itself was ok. But all these different characters (splinter storylines) were added without a lot of preamble and I found myself confused a lot. I thought the writing was choppy and not that great. I found the main character a bit annoying actually. I liked the older, experienced Murphy more than her. There are more books in the series but I had absolutely no desire to continue the series when I finished book one.
January 3, 2019
This was a complicated if not convoluted story. There were many characters to get to know but with the help of the author, I managed to follow each of them.
Whoever would have thought there would be two serial killers in a Yorkshire town in the middle of a very cold winter? DS Alicia Friend, a profiler and police officer is seconded to DI Murphy's team in the hunt for a kidnapper and murderer of young women. The relationship is off to a rocky start. But when another murdered girl turns up they quickly realise that they are dealing with a serial killer and have to work together to solve the case.
And then another girl is kidnapped. She is very similar to the two murdered girls and they fear that she too will be murdered.
Meantime, the father of the third girl thinks that the police are not doing enough to find her. He sets out to find her himself., using some skills that he had put aside years ago. And when he meets Alicia a quick frisson is ignited between them and even though she knows better, a relationship begins to develop.
We are given much detail about police procedure and also the awful things that happen to the young women before they are killed. The ending was a real surprise - I never imagined that the person responsible for these dreadful deeds was in fact......
To finish that sentence, grab a copy of the book- I am sure you will be glad you did.
This is the first in a series featuring Alicia Friend - there are five more in the series so far.
Whoever would have thought there would be two serial killers in a Yorkshire town in the middle of a very cold winter? DS Alicia Friend, a profiler and police officer is seconded to DI Murphy's team in the hunt for a kidnapper and murderer of young women. The relationship is off to a rocky start. But when another murdered girl turns up they quickly realise that they are dealing with a serial killer and have to work together to solve the case.
And then another girl is kidnapped. She is very similar to the two murdered girls and they fear that she too will be murdered.
Meantime, the father of the third girl thinks that the police are not doing enough to find her. He sets out to find her himself., using some skills that he had put aside years ago. And when he meets Alicia a quick frisson is ignited between them and even though she knows better, a relationship begins to develop.
We are given much detail about police procedure and also the awful things that happen to the young women before they are killed. The ending was a real surprise - I never imagined that the person responsible for these dreadful deeds was in fact......
To finish that sentence, grab a copy of the book- I am sure you will be glad you did.
This is the first in a series featuring Alicia Friend - there are five more in the series so far.
December 31, 2017
What line would you be willing to cross? Someone is kidnapped young woman and keeping them before killing & dumping them. Do they have a serial killer or just a lunatic having some fun? DI Murphy has just been partnered with a young DS. Alicia is nothing like she seems, she is very clever and know far too much and will they help them or hinder them in their search for the killer? The latest missing girl's father has a secret of his own and he will do anything to bring his daughter Katie home even if it means taking out the killer. But Alicia doesn't see the darkness that is hiding in plain sight and when she does it is almost too late.
The girl that has been found had been missing foe eighteen months she just disappeared during a large party. Where did she go and what does she have to do with this case? The more the team digs the strange the case becomes. What do all the girls have in common and why does the killer keep them before killing them? The truth will come out and all the secrets will be revealed and so many lives will be destroyed. How will Alicia deal with the fall out of this case and will she ever be able to go back to the job she wasn't so clever after all. A great read. Had me hooked from the beginning.
The girl that has been found had been missing foe eighteen months she just disappeared during a large party. Where did she go and what does she have to do with this case? The more the team digs the strange the case becomes. What do all the girls have in common and why does the killer keep them before killing them? The truth will come out and all the secrets will be revealed and so many lives will be destroyed. How will Alicia deal with the fall out of this case and will she ever be able to go back to the job she wasn't so clever after all. A great read. Had me hooked from the beginning.
June 22, 2018
Detective Sergeant Alicia Friend is just too perky and irreverent to be a cop. And, in the bleakness of winter in the north of Britain, Detective Inspector Donald Murphy would rather have someone a bit more serious, even though he has to admit that Alicia is a cracker jack detective. Then, the bodies of young women start appearing, and Murphy realizes that they have a serial killer on the loose. When the father of a kidnap victim begins his own investigation that threatens to interfere with what the police are doing, it’s up to Alicia and her perky personality to keep things on track. Unfortunately, the killer begins to focus on her, and that’s when the tension really mounts.
His First His Second by A. D. Davies is a chilling tale, filled with dark secrets and obscure motivations that are so intertwined you’ll need Google Maps to sort them out. Kept me interested from start to finish.
His First His Second by A. D. Davies is a chilling tale, filled with dark secrets and obscure motivations that are so intertwined you’ll need Google Maps to sort them out. Kept me interested from start to finish.
November 4, 2018
I was very impressed by His First His Second. This is not your typical crime novel as Davies integrates so many interesting and morally grey characters. At first, I thought Alicia was a little too ditzy for me, but she really grew on me and I enjoyed her banter with Murphy. One of my favorite characters turned out to be Richard as he gave me quite a surprise the first time I was alone with him. The characters are all well developed and Davies keeps you turning the pages with his right action.
His writing is clear and he does a great job describing the different settings and keep you guessing who the kidnapper may be. At times, I did feel a little disoriented jumping heads in the middle of chapters. Also there was a relationship that I felt happened too fast for the time frame, but I withheld my disbelief because it felt natural. The ending was a bit over the top, but I enjoyed this book immensely and plan on reading more of this series.
His writing is clear and he does a great job describing the different settings and keep you guessing who the kidnapper may be. At times, I did feel a little disoriented jumping heads in the middle of chapters. Also there was a relationship that I felt happened too fast for the time frame, but I withheld my disbelief because it felt natural. The ending was a bit over the top, but I enjoyed this book immensely and plan on reading more of this series.
September 17, 2018
This one came across my inbox, and it was sufficiently intriguing that I decided to try it.
It's quite a complex detective novel, with various plots going on at once, and has quite a few interesting characters. It does have some violent scenes, so you should be aware of that.
It's set in the Leeds, Yorkshire area, and I thought the settings were quite well done.
One of the plots amounts to a whodunit, while the others are more "how do these get resolved?". The book is quite intricate, and the main character, Alicia Friend, is different -- not what you might expect as a detective.
Unfortunately, the text could have done with more careful copy-editing (does anyone do that any more?), but I understand that it was self-published which might explain that lapse.
I enjoyed this one, and will look for others from this author.
It's quite a complex detective novel, with various plots going on at once, and has quite a few interesting characters. It does have some violent scenes, so you should be aware of that.
It's set in the Leeds, Yorkshire area, and I thought the settings were quite well done.
One of the plots amounts to a whodunit, while the others are more "how do these get resolved?". The book is quite intricate, and the main character, Alicia Friend, is different -- not what you might expect as a detective.
Unfortunately, the text could have done with more careful copy-editing (does anyone do that any more?), but I understand that it was self-published which might explain that lapse.
I enjoyed this one, and will look for others from this author.
September 2, 2022
The playful Alicia is over the top for the usual stodgy police, as some have mentioned, but I found that interesting and not out of the realm of possible. The various story lines were nicely intertwined up to about the 80% point of the book. Then the story hinged on stupid things happening, Alicia forgetting most of her intelligence and training, turning into a silly kid - maybe the dumb evil twin? OK, that was bad, but the total reverse of her personality was pretty bad just so there could be some crescendo ending. And an extremely murderous psychopath suddenly being a goody two shoes nice guy? Uh, nope. Tiger stripes don't change that much. Some other things were too much, but if you are happy with what I've said, I won't spoil those bits for you.
I would have like more time spent on a better developed last 20%.
I would have like more time spent on a better developed last 20%.
July 19, 2020
Good read with one caveat
This was a good read. I enjoyed the storyline and twists and turns. The only thing that lost it a star was the "bubbly, perky, cuteness" of Alicia. I understand that that is the thing the author wanted to use to set her apart. For myself, it's totally unnecessary and grates on my nerves. I read a lot of books with a strong woman lead. (Kay Scarpetta) That and the fact that I was in the Navy and if I acted like that... well, I wouldn't have been taken seriously. It's kind of insulting to see women act that way, like it's expected and God forbid you come across as serious and intelligent. But that's me. I will read the next book and see if she is more believable. To me at least. The story is excellent.
This was a good read. I enjoyed the storyline and twists and turns. The only thing that lost it a star was the "bubbly, perky, cuteness" of Alicia. I understand that that is the thing the author wanted to use to set her apart. For myself, it's totally unnecessary and grates on my nerves. I read a lot of books with a strong woman lead. (Kay Scarpetta) That and the fact that I was in the Navy and if I acted like that... well, I wouldn't have been taken seriously. It's kind of insulting to see women act that way, like it's expected and God forbid you come across as serious and intelligent. But that's me. I will read the next book and see if she is more believable. To me at least. The story is excellent.
May 31, 2021
Well done! The plot was great and I loved the twists and turns and the convergence and divergence of the character's stories. I thought the plot was very well thought out.
However, as a person more familiar with guns, I found one or two of the references to fall short. In fact, there were two issues in one sentence: "All guns are different. He’d handled a Magnum, a Baretta, an SA80 machine-gun, but never a Ruger." 1) A magnum is not a brand or a caliber, it refers to the ability of a gun to fire a bullet at higher power than the normal caliber would suggest. 2) The spelling of Beretta, the Italian handgun manufacturer only has one "a". Most readers should be able to get over that. It only bothered me for a few seconds and it didn't take away from the movement of the story.
However, as a person more familiar with guns, I found one or two of the references to fall short. In fact, there were two issues in one sentence: "All guns are different. He’d handled a Magnum, a Baretta, an SA80 machine-gun, but never a Ruger." 1) A magnum is not a brand or a caliber, it refers to the ability of a gun to fire a bullet at higher power than the normal caliber would suggest. 2) The spelling of Beretta, the Italian handgun manufacturer only has one "a". Most readers should be able to get over that. It only bothered me for a few seconds and it didn't take away from the movement of the story.
July 30, 2021
After reading the first two books in the Alicia Friend Investigation series, I’ve become a big fan. I usually see the ending of most books coming from a mile away, I was surprised by the twists and turns and didn’t even come close to predicting anything. The heroine, Alicia Friend is so unlike other heroines. She is perky, unpredictable and funny. At the end of reading the first two books, I felt like the author had been juggling many different aspects of the story, albeit rather successfully. Each character introduced has a roll to play, and I felt very satisfied at the end, as one should when they read a good book. I will continue reading the whole series, then will most likely investigate Mr. Davies other books and series.
October 9, 2018
I really like how Alicia is a new kind of female lead investigator. Not the typical "I must prove myself because I'm a woman in a world full of men". She's more of a cheery girl who's also smart and doesn't need to fight hard for respect. She just does her job and is very good at it.
And as happy she is, it's a minor change to her personality to be a fighter, to become more serious, more... grim. Interesting to read.
The story itself had a reasonable - and enjoyable - amount of twists and surprises. I liked that almost none of the characters were a typical stereotype. Interesting I say, I'll probably buy the next volume.
And as happy she is, it's a minor change to her personality to be a fighter, to become more serious, more... grim. Interesting to read.
The story itself had a reasonable - and enjoyable - amount of twists and surprises. I liked that almost none of the characters were a typical stereotype. Interesting I say, I'll probably buy the next volume.
June 6, 2021
Interesting read...it was cruising along building the characters and BOOM a few more were added along the way. So many connections across some timelines and countries and you have yourself a complicated twist of lies, murders, and heartache.
Alicia Friend is the best in her field for solving crimes and sorely underestimated by her colleagues when brought in on a case. She gets the job done....she gets in the criminal's head. She also makes a grave error in judgement that takes her on a path she should have known better to take. But..she's only human after all.
I like the way things were left...so much more of her story to tell and I cannot wait.
Alicia Friend is the best in her field for solving crimes and sorely underestimated by her colleagues when brought in on a case. She gets the job done....she gets in the criminal's head. She also makes a grave error in judgement that takes her on a path she should have known better to take. But..she's only human after all.
I like the way things were left...so much more of her story to tell and I cannot wait.
May 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this mystery thriller even though it took a long time before this case was finally put to rest. Detective Sergeant Alicia Friend and her side kick DI Murphy are involved in following leads which in turn which will solve the abductions of girls by a serial killer in Yorkshire.
Richard is the father of one of the girl's who has been abducted and Alicia ends up having a close relationship which ends in disaster for them both.
There is someone who is likened to a cameleon and there are more than one psychopath on the loose. There are plenty of twists and turns and bloodshed along the way.
Richard is the father of one of the girl's who has been abducted and Alicia ends up having a close relationship which ends in disaster for them both.
There is someone who is likened to a cameleon and there are more than one psychopath on the loose. There are plenty of twists and turns and bloodshed along the way.
January 27, 2023
A gritty northern crime drama, without the gritty northern detective. Alicia Friend is a refreshing take on the crinimal investigator, overflowing with smiles and positively.
Whether she can stay above the mire that she wades through each day, to remain her vibrant self, is as critical to the story as the investigation itself. An investigation that finishes in a surprising yet satisfactory conclusion.
The only downfall I found was that some of the supplementary characters lacked dimension, edging into the boundaries of cliché. Many were fatally flawed, I guess to highlight the good of Friend, but it did mean it was hard to empathise with many of them.
Whether she can stay above the mire that she wades through each day, to remain her vibrant self, is as critical to the story as the investigation itself. An investigation that finishes in a surprising yet satisfactory conclusion.
The only downfall I found was that some of the supplementary characters lacked dimension, edging into the boundaries of cliché. Many were fatally flawed, I guess to highlight the good of Friend, but it did mean it was hard to empathise with many of them.
April 30, 2023
I think this book showed up as a promotion on Goodreads. The blurb sounded interesting so I went for it. I don't think I'll bother with another...
The lead character seems able to dive directly to the particular from the most general of circumstantial stuff - just the sort of device that makes me avoid American TV shows featuring "profilers". Add to that the general fluffiness of the lead character, the overall lack of substantial police procedural activity and I got - a decent idea for a story spoiled by a lack of actual procedure.
Now I'm posting a review here where I can see the author's overview, I'm surprised the author seems to be male. I really thought this was a bit of chick-lit.
The lead character seems able to dive directly to the particular from the most general of circumstantial stuff - just the sort of device that makes me avoid American TV shows featuring "profilers". Add to that the general fluffiness of the lead character, the overall lack of substantial police procedural activity and I got - a decent idea for a story spoiled by a lack of actual procedure.
Now I'm posting a review here where I can see the author's overview, I'm surprised the author seems to be male. I really thought this was a bit of chick-lit.
October 30, 2024
A really complicated plot with a lot of victims, POV of killer , and police procedural. It is a challenge to keep track of it over 560+ pages. But it moves quickly and I was engrossed by the story.
Alicia Friend, however, is a woman lead character written by a man. She is cute but capable, confident and self- doubting. Not really consistent. She screws up majorly it seems only because the author wanted the plot to go that way. The story also fails the Bechdel test.
There are other unrealistic elements especially at the end of the book.
So I gave the story 4 stars but I don’t know that I want to read more about Alicia.
Alicia Friend, however, is a woman lead character written by a man. She is cute but capable, confident and self- doubting. Not really consistent. She screws up majorly it seems only because the author wanted the plot to go that way. The story also fails the Bechdel test.
There are other unrealistic elements especially at the end of the book.
So I gave the story 4 stars but I don’t know that I want to read more about Alicia.
October 22, 2018
Who is Who
First novel of AD Davies I have read but thoroughly enjoyed it. Good thriller, well written and no looking forward to reading the next Alicia Friend instalment. With DI Murphy being given Alicia as his SCA contact we begin to learn about her and the way she projects herself. Murphy’s investigation into a “disappearance “ become a tale of never ending false starts as leads begin to unravel. Eventually via an illicit liaison Alicia starts to unravel the tale and solve a number of cases.
First novel of AD Davies I have read but thoroughly enjoyed it. Good thriller, well written and no looking forward to reading the next Alicia Friend instalment. With DI Murphy being given Alicia as his SCA contact we begin to learn about her and the way she projects herself. Murphy’s investigation into a “disappearance “ become a tale of never ending false starts as leads begin to unravel. Eventually via an illicit liaison Alicia starts to unravel the tale and solve a number of cases.
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