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Jess Bridges Mystery #1
Black River
The River Thames always gives up its dead…
There’s a killer picking off victims from the wild swimming spots on the upper reaches of the Thames. The case takes Detective Inspector Leo George into the path of Jess Bridges, a private investigator who lives life close to the edge.
Their enquiries lead them to author, Jago Jackson, whose book on secret wild swimming spots has turned him into a social media celebrity. Is Jago’s book the blueprint that the murderer is following? If so, does that make Jago a target or the killer himself? Either way, the duo find themselves swimming in some very dangerous waters …
There’s a killer picking off victims from the wild swimming spots on the upper reaches of the Thames. The case takes Detective Inspector Leo George into the path of Jess Bridges, a private investigator who lives life close to the edge.
Their enquiries lead them to author, Jago Jackson, whose book on secret wild swimming spots has turned him into a social media celebrity. Is Jago’s book the blueprint that the murderer is following? If so, does that make Jago a target or the killer himself? Either way, the duo find themselves swimming in some very dangerous waters …
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 30, 2020
79 people are currently reading
214 people want to read
About the author
Joss Stirling
39 books2,520 followersJoss Stirling is a British novelist. Her first novel under this name was the internationally successful, Finding Sky, which is followed by five others in the same series entering into the savant world of young people with special powers. Central to the story are the Benedict Brothers, seven talented guys from Colorado.
In a second series, Struck, Joss begins a new world of detective romance. The first three parts are: Struck (#1) and Stung (#2), and Shaken (#3) and Scorched (#4). Joss introduces readers to four new heroes - Kieran Storm, Nathan Hunter, Joe Masters and Damien Castle, who all attention the Young Detective Agency. The first part, Struck, won the Romantic Novel of the Year 2015 in the UK.
Her new series, PERIL, a paranormal love story set in the near future, is out 13 July 2017.
Joss lives in Oxford, England. She is married with three children.
Stirling also publishes under two pen names: Julia Golding and Eve Edwards.
In a second series, Struck, Joss begins a new world of detective romance. The first three parts are: Struck (#1) and Stung (#2), and Shaken (#3) and Scorched (#4). Joss introduces readers to four new heroes - Kieran Storm, Nathan Hunter, Joe Masters and Damien Castle, who all attention the Young Detective Agency. The first part, Struck, won the Romantic Novel of the Year 2015 in the UK.
Her new series, PERIL, a paranormal love story set in the near future, is out 13 July 2017.
Joss lives in Oxford, England. She is married with three children.
Stirling also publishes under two pen names: Julia Golding and Eve Edwards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
September 24, 2020
Joss Stirling's first in the Jess Bridges series is based in Oxford and features a flawed central protagonist in the 31 year old private investigator, specialising in finding the missing. She has a complicated personal life, her boyfriend, Drew Payne, has taken off to Austria to do a Yoga course, and she is unsure whether their relationship is over. She has mental health issues that have their origins in a childhood with her dysfunctional family, with an abusive father that led to her running away on several occasions. She suffers from ADHD, has seen a therapist who thinks she's on the route to recovery, but the truth is that she still struggles, has poor impulse control, with a tendency toward being scatty and often a source of annoyance to others, whilst simultaneously being an object of desire for many men.
After a book club meeting, Jess goes wild swimming, naked, in the river, only to have her clothes taken by a dog, when she comes across a murdered dead body in a punt. A passing jogger, who turns out to wild swimming author and expert, Jago Jackson, helps and waits until the police arrive on the scene, the victim turns out to be Dr Kenneth Kingston, an Oxford academic. An embarrassed Jess gives a statement to DI Leo George, tasked to lead the murder inquiry from Kidlington HQ, the victim turns out to be Dr Kenneth Kingston, an Oxford academic. Leo brings in forensic psychologist, Michael Harrison, onto the investigation as other murders with the same MO follow, a man Jess had previously been in a relationship with, and who is currently receiving threats and being trolled on social media, threats that appear to extend to Jess too.
Stirling writes a fun and entertaining crime thriller, that I am sure will appeal to many crime fiction and mystery readers. However, whilst I found this to be an okay and engaging read, it didn't grab me in the way that I had hoped it would. Jess, the central character, is not someone I really gelled with, although I can't quite put my finger on why that was so, although I admit to feeling the occasional smidgens of irritation with her and her hot mess of a persona. I did appreciate the location though, as Oxford is a city I know well. I have no doubt that there will be plenty of other readers who will love this crime novel, and the others in the series that follow it. Many thanks to HarperCollins and One More Chapter for an ARC.
After a book club meeting, Jess goes wild swimming, naked, in the river, only to have her clothes taken by a dog, when she comes across a murdered dead body in a punt. A passing jogger, who turns out to wild swimming author and expert, Jago Jackson, helps and waits until the police arrive on the scene, the victim turns out to be Dr Kenneth Kingston, an Oxford academic. An embarrassed Jess gives a statement to DI Leo George, tasked to lead the murder inquiry from Kidlington HQ, the victim turns out to be Dr Kenneth Kingston, an Oxford academic. Leo brings in forensic psychologist, Michael Harrison, onto the investigation as other murders with the same MO follow, a man Jess had previously been in a relationship with, and who is currently receiving threats and being trolled on social media, threats that appear to extend to Jess too.
Stirling writes a fun and entertaining crime thriller, that I am sure will appeal to many crime fiction and mystery readers. However, whilst I found this to be an okay and engaging read, it didn't grab me in the way that I had hoped it would. Jess, the central character, is not someone I really gelled with, although I can't quite put my finger on why that was so, although I admit to feeling the occasional smidgens of irritation with her and her hot mess of a persona. I did appreciate the location though, as Oxford is a city I know well. I have no doubt that there will be plenty of other readers who will love this crime novel, and the others in the series that follow it. Many thanks to HarperCollins and One More Chapter for an ARC.
November 13, 2020
This is the first book in the new series by author Joss Stirling. Not sure why but I read the second one first and loved it so much instantly pre ordered the other three books in the series.
This is a quirky little series with plenty of humour mixed in amongst the crime stories. Although there are several regular characters the main one is Jess, She is quirky, funny, unpredictable and reckless. She gets herself into trouble by working as a private investigator who specialises in finding missing people. In this novel she gets into trouble when having had too much to drink decides to go skinny dipping in the Thames. In typical Jess fashion her clothes get taken by a dog and she is alone and naked. While stumbling around looking for cover she discovers a dead body in a boat. The victim was murdered and it is not long before Jess is trying to explain to the police how she finds herself naked with a dead body. Life is never straight forward in Jess' world and more fun and games follow as a series of murders occur around her.
This is another fun adventure in Jess world, entertaining, action-packed and well written mystery with interesting characters and atmospheric setting. Looking forward to the next book shortly to be released.
This is a quirky little series with plenty of humour mixed in amongst the crime stories. Although there are several regular characters the main one is Jess, She is quirky, funny, unpredictable and reckless. She gets herself into trouble by working as a private investigator who specialises in finding missing people. In this novel she gets into trouble when having had too much to drink decides to go skinny dipping in the Thames. In typical Jess fashion her clothes get taken by a dog and she is alone and naked. While stumbling around looking for cover she discovers a dead body in a boat. The victim was murdered and it is not long before Jess is trying to explain to the police how she finds herself naked with a dead body. Life is never straight forward in Jess' world and more fun and games follow as a series of murders occur around her.
This is another fun adventure in Jess world, entertaining, action-packed and well written mystery with interesting characters and atmospheric setting. Looking forward to the next book shortly to be released.
October 30, 2020
Black River is the first instalment in the Oxford-based Private Investigator (PI) Jess Bridges Mystery series. Thirty-one-year-old PI and flawed protagonist Jess specialises in locating missing people. After a reading group meeting with her book club and a little too much to drink, Jess decides to takes inspiration from the book she's reading and goes wild swimming, or skinny dipping, stark naked, in the Thames but gets into a spot of bother when a mischievous dog takes off with her clothing and she stumbles across a murdered body in a boat. Author and wild swimming expert, Jago Jackson, who had been on a run, remains with her until the police arrive and she provides a statement to DI Leo George, appointed lead investigator on the case by Kidlington Police HQ. The victim is soon identified as Dr Kenneth Kingston an academic at Oxford University. When more killings with the same MO start happening, forensic psychologist Michael Harrison becomes part of the team. He and Jess have history together and it doesn't take long before they both begin to receive threats online but from who?
This is an action-packed, exciting and gripping read in which PI Jess joins forces with the local police department, reuniting her with some old friends, and flames, in the process. There is a lot of romantic trysts hinted at and there is some interesting sexual tension between Jess and several ex-partners throughout the story. It's much more lighthearted and fun than I had imagined and is a genuinely rollicking ride with a lot of attention given over to elements I hadn't anticipated were going to be as prominent; for instance, there's wit, humour and sarcasm in hefty supply and this punctuates the darker side of the investigation providing some light relief. Jess is an interesting protagonist in that she's quite troubled and has led an interesting life thus far. We get to learn plenty about her work life, personal relationships and her struggles to control her ADHD. A lot is going on, so much so that you barely get a chance to breathe, and I'm excited at the prospect of this developing into an unmissable series. Many thanks to One More Chapter for an ARC.
This is an action-packed, exciting and gripping read in which PI Jess joins forces with the local police department, reuniting her with some old friends, and flames, in the process. There is a lot of romantic trysts hinted at and there is some interesting sexual tension between Jess and several ex-partners throughout the story. It's much more lighthearted and fun than I had imagined and is a genuinely rollicking ride with a lot of attention given over to elements I hadn't anticipated were going to be as prominent; for instance, there's wit, humour and sarcasm in hefty supply and this punctuates the darker side of the investigation providing some light relief. Jess is an interesting protagonist in that she's quite troubled and has led an interesting life thus far. We get to learn plenty about her work life, personal relationships and her struggles to control her ADHD. A lot is going on, so much so that you barely get a chance to breathe, and I'm excited at the prospect of this developing into an unmissable series. Many thanks to One More Chapter for an ARC.
February 23, 2023
Briefly - Kinda chic-lit but entertaining!
In full
Jess Bridges goes for a naked swim late in the evening on the Thames near Oxford. While in the water she finds a body in a boat and a dog steals her clothes. So the book starts! Jess is a private investigator among her other talents. There is a local author who has written a book on wild swimming spots in the area. Is someone using the book to find deserted places to murder people? I really liked the opening paragraph - it grabbed me, always a good start.
The book follows Jess, somewhat chaotic, and DI Leo George, in charge of the case and not chaotic. Jess is without doubt the main character. However other characters do roam the pages of this book - generally to good effect. There are twists and turns and some of them may be a little obvious. The writing is sharp/crisp and makes for very easy reading. The pace here is good. There is definitely humour here - I did smile from time to time.
Other threads are woven into this story. Jess's private life (some times not so) is "interesting". Her family relationships are a little fraught. A stalker of an ex of hers provides another aspect to the story. Throw in the fact that Jess is working a case of her own and there is plenty to got involved with here.
This is a slightly odd book for me. It is kinda chic lit which I would not normally bother with. However it is also a halfway decent murder mystery story as well. In addition I found Jess an entirely likeable and mostly convincing character. Slightly frustratingly there was mention of a previous case however I can't find a book about it. That is a pity in my view as I would happily read more about Jess. If I wasn't blown away by the book I did find it entertaining and enjoyable.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
Jess Bridges goes for a naked swim late in the evening on the Thames near Oxford. While in the water she finds a body in a boat and a dog steals her clothes. So the book starts! Jess is a private investigator among her other talents. There is a local author who has written a book on wild swimming spots in the area. Is someone using the book to find deserted places to murder people? I really liked the opening paragraph - it grabbed me, always a good start.
The book follows Jess, somewhat chaotic, and DI Leo George, in charge of the case and not chaotic. Jess is without doubt the main character. However other characters do roam the pages of this book - generally to good effect. There are twists and turns and some of them may be a little obvious. The writing is sharp/crisp and makes for very easy reading. The pace here is good. There is definitely humour here - I did smile from time to time.
Other threads are woven into this story. Jess's private life (some times not so) is "interesting". Her family relationships are a little fraught. A stalker of an ex of hers provides another aspect to the story. Throw in the fact that Jess is working a case of her own and there is plenty to got involved with here.
This is a slightly odd book for me. It is kinda chic lit which I would not normally bother with. However it is also a halfway decent murder mystery story as well. In addition I found Jess an entirely likeable and mostly convincing character. Slightly frustratingly there was mention of a previous case however I can't find a book about it. That is a pity in my view as I would happily read more about Jess. If I wasn't blown away by the book I did find it entertaining and enjoyable.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
February 3, 2021
Jess Bridges, out with her reading group, decides to go skinny dipping after just a tad too much to drink. They've been discussing a book on Wild Swimming and she thinks skinny dipping is a good idea. Her clothes are taken by a dog and her friend goes running after the dog, leaving Jess naked, shivering, and hiding in the bushes.
Spying a boat and thinking it should have a tarp .. or something .. to cover herself with, she gets back in the water and tries pulling it to shore. But she doesn't find a tarp .. she finds a man's body.
So begins this new series featuring a woman who is no stranger to dead bodies. She's been in this position before ... but never while being naked. She's a part time private investigator with a specialty in finding missing persons. She does part time work as an office assistant. She's also had some experience in working in a funeral home.
Now enters two men .... neither known to Jess. One is an author ... actually, the man who wrote the book on Wild Swimming that the reading group had been discussing. And then there's DI Leo George who fears there is a serial killer in his patch ... especially when another body is soon found.
It's fast-paced, with a few twists and turns, chock full of action ... and a lot of humor. The characters are finely drawn and I really enjoyed the backstories of the main characters. I look forward to reading the next 3 books in this series ... already available.
Many thanks to the author / Harper Collins - One More Chapter / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Spying a boat and thinking it should have a tarp .. or something .. to cover herself with, she gets back in the water and tries pulling it to shore. But she doesn't find a tarp .. she finds a man's body.
So begins this new series featuring a woman who is no stranger to dead bodies. She's been in this position before ... but never while being naked. She's a part time private investigator with a specialty in finding missing persons. She does part time work as an office assistant. She's also had some experience in working in a funeral home.
Now enters two men .... neither known to Jess. One is an author ... actually, the man who wrote the book on Wild Swimming that the reading group had been discussing. And then there's DI Leo George who fears there is a serial killer in his patch ... especially when another body is soon found.
It's fast-paced, with a few twists and turns, chock full of action ... and a lot of humor. The characters are finely drawn and I really enjoyed the backstories of the main characters. I look forward to reading the next 3 books in this series ... already available.
Many thanks to the author / Harper Collins - One More Chapter / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
October 29, 2020
Jess Bridges #1lThames.DI Leo George crosses paths with Private Investigator Jess Bridges. Their enquiries lead them to author Jago Jackson whose book on wild swimming spots turned him into a social media celebrity. Is Jago's book the blueprint that the murderer is following?
A thrilling fast paced whodunit. Private Investigator Jess Bridges has three different cases to deal with. She ends up at the bank of the river near Oxford where there's a movie set at the University. I wasn't sure about Jess at first but she grew on me the more I read. The story is told from multiple points of view. Jess has ADHD Ne we learn of how it effects her behaviour. This is certainly a different kind of read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #JossStirling for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A thrilling fast paced whodunit. Private Investigator Jess Bridges has three different cases to deal with. She ends up at the bank of the river near Oxford where there's a movie set at the University. I wasn't sure about Jess at first but she grew on me the more I read. The story is told from multiple points of view. Jess has ADHD Ne we learn of how it effects her behaviour. This is certainly a different kind of read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #JossStirling for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2020
I liked this book- I really did- but I did have a couple issues. Firstly, the book was long, well over 400 pages, and had some unnecessary detail (and possibly even a couple unnecessary characters). Secondly, it's the first book in a series, but alluded to a previous case/situation without providing more info, which made it feel like I had missed a previous book. The story centers primarily around Jess, who is a private investigator (though you get the idea that she doesn't work as much as she could) who stumbles across a dead body when skinny-dipping in the river one night. There are also some chapters told from the POV of the detective, Leo, and a couple other tertiary characters tied to Jess in some way.
Jess was really likeable- a mix of confident and self-deprecating, I got the idea that she was authentic and didn't take herself too seriously. It did feel like everyone she came across was attracted to her, and that got to be a little much, but then it again it showed her likeability. The storyline was clever, with the mystery based around a recent book that was published about swimming spots- was someone using the books to plan the killings, or was the author himself, who Jessica gets to know, the actual killer? There were plenty of twists and turns and I changed my mind multiple times about who I thought the villain was. There were also a couple side stories going on that intertwined well with the primary narrative.
Definitely an interesting premise and an interesting story if you can prepare yourself for the length- I think I finished the book in 6 days when I normally finish a book in 1-2. I would be interested in reading more about Jess, though, and plan on picking up the next installment. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jess was really likeable- a mix of confident and self-deprecating, I got the idea that she was authentic and didn't take herself too seriously. It did feel like everyone she came across was attracted to her, and that got to be a little much, but then it again it showed her likeability. The storyline was clever, with the mystery based around a recent book that was published about swimming spots- was someone using the books to plan the killings, or was the author himself, who Jessica gets to know, the actual killer? There were plenty of twists and turns and I changed my mind multiple times about who I thought the villain was. There were also a couple side stories going on that intertwined well with the primary narrative.
Definitely an interesting premise and an interesting story if you can prepare yourself for the length- I think I finished the book in 6 days when I normally finish a book in 1-2. I would be interested in reading more about Jess, though, and plan on picking up the next installment. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 6, 2020
*** Note: I received e-copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley as a part of readalong. Many thanks to Claire @One More Chapter. ***
Black River was light and hardboiled opening book of Jess Bridges Mystery series that revolved around the murder cases in Oxford’s wild swimming spots and main characters Jess and Leo involved with the cases. It was about difficult family relationship, abusive childhood, friendship, online trolling and abuse, ADHD, manipulation, and obsessive disorder.
Jess’ voice refreshing and brought book to life. Her fun, sassy and lively nature gave this murder mystery a cozy feel which was surprising. I was expecting a serious mystery/thriller but it turned out fun and entertaining making me smile and laugh often.
Jess’ relationships were complicated and yet I could see something happening between Jess and Leo. I can’t wait to see how their relationship will progresses in next books.
All twist and turns were amazing. It was action packed and hardly gave time to predict anything. Climax was tense. It was amazing to see all three cases coming together and the way they were wrapped up. End was perfect and lovely.
Overall, Black River was fun, entertaining, action-packed and well written mystery with interesting characters and atmospheric setting.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link-
https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
Black River was light and hardboiled opening book of Jess Bridges Mystery series that revolved around the murder cases in Oxford’s wild swimming spots and main characters Jess and Leo involved with the cases. It was about difficult family relationship, abusive childhood, friendship, online trolling and abuse, ADHD, manipulation, and obsessive disorder.
Jess’ voice refreshing and brought book to life. Her fun, sassy and lively nature gave this murder mystery a cozy feel which was surprising. I was expecting a serious mystery/thriller but it turned out fun and entertaining making me smile and laugh often.
Jess’ relationships were complicated and yet I could see something happening between Jess and Leo. I can’t wait to see how their relationship will progresses in next books.
All twist and turns were amazing. It was action packed and hardly gave time to predict anything. Climax was tense. It was amazing to see all three cases coming together and the way they were wrapped up. End was perfect and lovely.
Overall, Black River was fun, entertaining, action-packed and well written mystery with interesting characters and atmospheric setting.
Read full review on my book blog by following this link-
https://booksteacupnreviews.com/2020/...
September 5, 2020
I would like to thank Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an advance copy of Black River, the first novel to feature Oxford based PI Jess Bridges.
Jess finds a murdered body while swimming in the river and DI Leo George is tasked with investigating. Then there is another murder and it seems that the killer is picking wild swimming spots, places Jess and her friend, wild swimming expert Jago Jackson have visited.
I found Black River to be a mixed bag with an interesting murder plot and a couple of equally interesting subplots which got caught up in a kind of chick lit floss. The novel has 3 main narrative voices, Jess Bridges, DI Leo George and forensic psychologist Michael Harrison. Jess’s narrative is in the first person so the reader gets up close and personal with her. Jess is a bubbly, fun character with what seems a contradictory dedication to her job. She will appeal to many readers but I found her tiresome and some of the situations she gets into very contrived. I think my sense of humour must be narrow as this simply didn’t make me laugh or even snigger and I found it silly rather than entertaining. Did I mention she’s a sex goddess with just about every man she comes into contact with falling for her? Precisely.
I liked the murder plot and the subplots. I thought they were well done with gradual reveals and a logical build up to the denouements. I’m not a killjoy but I feel that this novel was trying to straddle different genres. For some it will work, for me not so much.
Jess finds a murdered body while swimming in the river and DI Leo George is tasked with investigating. Then there is another murder and it seems that the killer is picking wild swimming spots, places Jess and her friend, wild swimming expert Jago Jackson have visited.
I found Black River to be a mixed bag with an interesting murder plot and a couple of equally interesting subplots which got caught up in a kind of chick lit floss. The novel has 3 main narrative voices, Jess Bridges, DI Leo George and forensic psychologist Michael Harrison. Jess’s narrative is in the first person so the reader gets up close and personal with her. Jess is a bubbly, fun character with what seems a contradictory dedication to her job. She will appeal to many readers but I found her tiresome and some of the situations she gets into very contrived. I think my sense of humour must be narrow as this simply didn’t make me laugh or even snigger and I found it silly rather than entertaining. Did I mention she’s a sex goddess with just about every man she comes into contact with falling for her? Precisely.
I liked the murder plot and the subplots. I thought they were well done with gradual reveals and a logical build up to the denouements. I’m not a killjoy but I feel that this novel was trying to straddle different genres. For some it will work, for me not so much.
January 19, 2021
Jess Bridges decides to go skinny dipping in the Thames at Oxford after a boozy book club meeting. When a dog runs off with her clothes she swims over to a boat to try & find something to protect her modesty, instead she finds a dead body. Jess is a private detective specialising in missing persons. She is also somewhat erratic, her ADHD leading her to act impetuously. Bodies mount up. They seem to be connected with Jago- s college don who is something of a media star having written a book about wild swimming. Confused? Well that was a bit of a feature about this book! This is the first in the series but there are an awful lot of references to something that happened before this which I found irritating. There was a lot to like about this book & it passed a pleasant few hours. However, I'm not sure I'll be looking to read the next one. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
October 24, 2020
Black River is a departure for OMC in terms of publishing a crime novel and having thoroughly enjoyed many novels by authors signed to this publishing house I was excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC, not quite knowing what I was letting myself in for.
Meet Jess Bridges, part time PI plus part time temporary worker with any establishment that will have her! Currently lodging with Cory and her two children in Oxford, Black River opens with a book club meeting that ends in nudity and the discovery of a dead body. Following a discussion on the merits of Jago Jackson’s book celebrating the delights of wild swimming, Jess decides to take the plunge, immersing herself in the River Cherwell. What she doesn’t bargain for is a retriever hightailing it with her clothes! Spotting a punt on the nearby riverbank Jess hopes to find something within to cover up her modesty whilst Cory returns with her clothes but instead, to her horror, finds a naked dead man. With the help of passing jogger, who just so happens to be THE Jago Jackson, the police are called and this crime thriller is truly set in motion.
Set around Oxford and Linton college it is DI Leo George heading the investigation, believed to be a safe pair of hands, although there are frustratingly no leads as to why the man identified as college bursar, Dr Kingston has been murdered. When another murder quickly follows Leo calls in the help of criminal profiler Michael Harrison, ex boyfriend of Jess, concerned that there is a cold bloodied killer on the loose who may very well strike again. Somehow, thanks to these handful of coincidences and connections Jess finds herself caught up in the investigation, insinuating herself into the very heart of this drama. Together with a couple of subplots that keep you guessing as to their possible connection to the main event, the strength of this crime thriller (although I prefer drama) lies in the quirky nature of Jess and her relationships with the men in her life, boyfriend Drew, ex boyfriend Michael, Jago and of course DI George. I had no idea where this police investigation was going to lead but enjoyed this tale of murder with a sprinkling of mayhem and madness.
I would have relished the opportunity to get to know DI Leo George far better than this storyline allowed. This first instalment doesn’t give the reader enough insight into his character so I felt he lacked depth in contrast to Jess Bridges who steals the limelight. I suppose that could well be the author’s intentions for future books with Jess in the driving seat and Leo taking a backseat but I guess I’ll have to wait and see. It is the quirky Jess, a rather chaotic,haphazard character known for her lack of impulse control thanks to her ADHD condition that kept me entertained. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more unlikely but loveable PI as Jess and she makes a fantastic lead character. She has a good heart, at times a wicked sense of humour and has an air of unpredictability about her that is refreshing and keeps you wondering what kind of mess she’s going to find herself in next. Jess is most certainly a hit with the men which in this storyline sees her negotiating a hiatus in her relationship with boyfriend turned yogi Drew, reacquainting herself with ex boyfriend and TV criminologist Michael as well as falling for the charms of author Jago Jackson. Our heroine is a whirlwind of energy so that I could imagine there would never be a dull moment whilst she’s around! The frisson of attraction that exists between her and our detective means that theirs could be more than just a professional relationship in the future.
There’s a lightheartedness to this crime novel that I welcomed. However I think there is some confusion, in terms of the writing style, as to what genre this book actually falls into. It seems to be straddling more than one genre, neither a tense, suspenseful crime drama but equally not a cozy crime series either. I also wouldn’t describe it as a thriller. I love both genres and am mindful that not all novels can be easily pigeonholed, although for reviewing purposes it helps in directing fellow readers towards fiction you hope they will enjoy. Perhaps the best piece of advice is if you enjoy crime novels but also love a quirky character then Black River may be just the read you’re looking for.
I was expecting more humour in the storyline since the hilarious beginning suggested this would be the case but as the storyline progresses the writing loses some of this initial wit and reads more along the lines of your average crime drama. I think I wanted more madcap mayhem! I would add that whilst all strands of the storyline are neatly wrapped up I think this is done so rather hurriedly but at least my curiosity as to how these subplots are relevant or not to the pursuit of a killer was satisfied. I’m not entirely sure the pairing of Leo George and Jess Bridges works as well as I’d have liked but I was intrigued enough to want to commit to reading more in this series. I feel it’s a series that deserves a second chance as I liked it but am in need of further convincing hence my rating of 3.5 stars. My thanks as always to the publisher One More Chapter and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Meet Jess Bridges, part time PI plus part time temporary worker with any establishment that will have her! Currently lodging with Cory and her two children in Oxford, Black River opens with a book club meeting that ends in nudity and the discovery of a dead body. Following a discussion on the merits of Jago Jackson’s book celebrating the delights of wild swimming, Jess decides to take the plunge, immersing herself in the River Cherwell. What she doesn’t bargain for is a retriever hightailing it with her clothes! Spotting a punt on the nearby riverbank Jess hopes to find something within to cover up her modesty whilst Cory returns with her clothes but instead, to her horror, finds a naked dead man. With the help of passing jogger, who just so happens to be THE Jago Jackson, the police are called and this crime thriller is truly set in motion.
Set around Oxford and Linton college it is DI Leo George heading the investigation, believed to be a safe pair of hands, although there are frustratingly no leads as to why the man identified as college bursar, Dr Kingston has been murdered. When another murder quickly follows Leo calls in the help of criminal profiler Michael Harrison, ex boyfriend of Jess, concerned that there is a cold bloodied killer on the loose who may very well strike again. Somehow, thanks to these handful of coincidences and connections Jess finds herself caught up in the investigation, insinuating herself into the very heart of this drama. Together with a couple of subplots that keep you guessing as to their possible connection to the main event, the strength of this crime thriller (although I prefer drama) lies in the quirky nature of Jess and her relationships with the men in her life, boyfriend Drew, ex boyfriend Michael, Jago and of course DI George. I had no idea where this police investigation was going to lead but enjoyed this tale of murder with a sprinkling of mayhem and madness.
I would have relished the opportunity to get to know DI Leo George far better than this storyline allowed. This first instalment doesn’t give the reader enough insight into his character so I felt he lacked depth in contrast to Jess Bridges who steals the limelight. I suppose that could well be the author’s intentions for future books with Jess in the driving seat and Leo taking a backseat but I guess I’ll have to wait and see. It is the quirky Jess, a rather chaotic,haphazard character known for her lack of impulse control thanks to her ADHD condition that kept me entertained. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more unlikely but loveable PI as Jess and she makes a fantastic lead character. She has a good heart, at times a wicked sense of humour and has an air of unpredictability about her that is refreshing and keeps you wondering what kind of mess she’s going to find herself in next. Jess is most certainly a hit with the men which in this storyline sees her negotiating a hiatus in her relationship with boyfriend turned yogi Drew, reacquainting herself with ex boyfriend and TV criminologist Michael as well as falling for the charms of author Jago Jackson. Our heroine is a whirlwind of energy so that I could imagine there would never be a dull moment whilst she’s around! The frisson of attraction that exists between her and our detective means that theirs could be more than just a professional relationship in the future.
There’s a lightheartedness to this crime novel that I welcomed. However I think there is some confusion, in terms of the writing style, as to what genre this book actually falls into. It seems to be straddling more than one genre, neither a tense, suspenseful crime drama but equally not a cozy crime series either. I also wouldn’t describe it as a thriller. I love both genres and am mindful that not all novels can be easily pigeonholed, although for reviewing purposes it helps in directing fellow readers towards fiction you hope they will enjoy. Perhaps the best piece of advice is if you enjoy crime novels but also love a quirky character then Black River may be just the read you’re looking for.
I was expecting more humour in the storyline since the hilarious beginning suggested this would be the case but as the storyline progresses the writing loses some of this initial wit and reads more along the lines of your average crime drama. I think I wanted more madcap mayhem! I would add that whilst all strands of the storyline are neatly wrapped up I think this is done so rather hurriedly but at least my curiosity as to how these subplots are relevant or not to the pursuit of a killer was satisfied. I’m not entirely sure the pairing of Leo George and Jess Bridges works as well as I’d have liked but I was intrigued enough to want to commit to reading more in this series. I feel it’s a series that deserves a second chance as I liked it but am in need of further convincing hence my rating of 3.5 stars. My thanks as always to the publisher One More Chapter and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2020
This is a great start to a new series, and one that I will definitely be following.
Jess finds the dead body of a man while out swimming in the Thames, following a discussion about wild swimming with some friends.
She meets Jago at the crime scene as he’s out jogging and he helps her keep her modesty as she’d been swimming naked.
Jess has a great sense of humour and I loved her character in this book.
Another body is soon found and it’s at a place where Jess and Jago have been swimming so DI George warns them to be careful.
Strange packages are also being left for Jess and her ex Michael but what do they mean?
Jess is trying to get her private detective business off the ground so helps a woman try to get her daughter back, but the two cases cross over and soon lives are in danger.
This is a refreshing change to police procedurals as it has plenty of humour running through it and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
Jess finds the dead body of a man while out swimming in the Thames, following a discussion about wild swimming with some friends.
She meets Jago at the crime scene as he’s out jogging and he helps her keep her modesty as she’d been swimming naked.
Jess has a great sense of humour and I loved her character in this book.
Another body is soon found and it’s at a place where Jess and Jago have been swimming so DI George warns them to be careful.
Strange packages are also being left for Jess and her ex Michael but what do they mean?
Jess is trying to get her private detective business off the ground so helps a woman try to get her daughter back, but the two cases cross over and soon lives are in danger.
This is a refreshing change to police procedurals as it has plenty of humour running through it and I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
October 24, 2020
Love discovering the first in any new series with a feisty, funny and fierce private investigator. Here, Jess Bridges is our new protagonist and she and various other characters are introduced while solving a murder and a disappearance. Some characters seem to be from previous Stirling novels and this first Bridges outing sets a great pace for a really successful series. Part mystery/part chick lit it was a satisfying read, some good fraught scenes, snappy Jess dialogue and depth of background stories to make you want to read book two immediately!
September 18, 2020
Jess Bridges, out with her reading group on the banks of the river Thames, decides to go skinny dipping after a bit too much to drink. Her clothes are taken by a dog, and her friend goes running after it, leaving Jess shivering in the bushes. She spies a boat, and thinking it may have a tarp or something else she can cover herself with, slips into the water and pulls it toward her. She doesn't find a tarp - she finds a dead man.
Thus begins Black River, which is listed as "Jess Bridges Mystery, #1". That would be remarkable for me, as I usually find myself landing in the midst of an ongoing series. However, it seems as if Jess has found a dead body previously - both she and DI Leo George mention "the West case", as if it's something the reader might know about. And the reader might know about it if there were a book about it prior to this one.
Jess is discovered on the bank by Jago Jackson, who had been jogging on the path. He happens to be the author of a book Jess' book club was reading, on wild swimming - that is, going to swim in places people usually don't go, or a hidden swimming hole, and things of hat nature. Of course he wants to ask her out, and does. DI George shows up, and begins his investigation, questioning Jess. Of course he wants to ask her out, but does not, as that would be unseemly.
The investigation itself is well written when it's DI George on the trail, moving from dot to dot to trace who the dead man is and what he would be doing there. Then, another two bodies are found, this time in a place Jackson has mentioned in his book, and where he had taken Jess to go swimming. Is someone targeting Jackson? Jess? The culprit does seem to be picking places Jackson has written around, so DI George calls in Michael Harrison to consult. He, of course, was involved with Jess years ago, and of course Harrison and Jackson have some animosity toward one another, it's said, but it doesn't appear all that much except for when Michael is handling the narrative.
We also get DI George taking his turn at the narrative reins (as does Jackson), but it's clear Jess is the primary character. I found I would rather have stayed with DI George throughout.
There is a subplot involving Jess and her breakup with her boyfriend, and her taking a case for her side job of finding missing persons. The missing person is not actually missing - she's just gone to her father's, and the father is threatening the mother about claims the girl has made. The girl, to me, seems to be a sociopath in the making. Jess' job is to find out what's true and what is not about the situation.
The main and the subplot dovetail in the end, as various adults, except Michael, fanning out to search for both the girl and her young brother. The culprit is revealed during the course of the search and captured, and the subplot's resolution explained to us all.
Overall, it wasn't a bad read. It isn't a five star read, though, and I have a hard time with female protagonists who attract virtually every man they come across, including some gay dudes. The opening coincidence between Jess and Jackson is something I know is required for the plot, and I'm feeling generous today, so I'll give it a pass. The theory of the murders is at least possible, although the first murder is never really fully explained in terms of what connection it has to Jackson's book on wild swimming.
I'll give it four out of five stars.
Thanks to One More Chapter/HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the review copy.
Thus begins Black River, which is listed as "Jess Bridges Mystery, #1". That would be remarkable for me, as I usually find myself landing in the midst of an ongoing series. However, it seems as if Jess has found a dead body previously - both she and DI Leo George mention "the West case", as if it's something the reader might know about. And the reader might know about it if there were a book about it prior to this one.
Jess is discovered on the bank by Jago Jackson, who had been jogging on the path. He happens to be the author of a book Jess' book club was reading, on wild swimming - that is, going to swim in places people usually don't go, or a hidden swimming hole, and things of hat nature. Of course he wants to ask her out, and does. DI George shows up, and begins his investigation, questioning Jess. Of course he wants to ask her out, but does not, as that would be unseemly.
The investigation itself is well written when it's DI George on the trail, moving from dot to dot to trace who the dead man is and what he would be doing there. Then, another two bodies are found, this time in a place Jackson has mentioned in his book, and where he had taken Jess to go swimming. Is someone targeting Jackson? Jess? The culprit does seem to be picking places Jackson has written around, so DI George calls in Michael Harrison to consult. He, of course, was involved with Jess years ago, and of course Harrison and Jackson have some animosity toward one another, it's said, but it doesn't appear all that much except for when Michael is handling the narrative.
We also get DI George taking his turn at the narrative reins (as does Jackson), but it's clear Jess is the primary character. I found I would rather have stayed with DI George throughout.
There is a subplot involving Jess and her breakup with her boyfriend, and her taking a case for her side job of finding missing persons. The missing person is not actually missing - she's just gone to her father's, and the father is threatening the mother about claims the girl has made. The girl, to me, seems to be a sociopath in the making. Jess' job is to find out what's true and what is not about the situation.
The main and the subplot dovetail in the end, as various adults, except Michael, fanning out to search for both the girl and her young brother. The culprit is revealed during the course of the search and captured, and the subplot's resolution explained to us all.
Overall, it wasn't a bad read. It isn't a five star read, though, and I have a hard time with female protagonists who attract virtually every man they come across, including some gay dudes. The opening coincidence between Jess and Jackson is something I know is required for the plot, and I'm feeling generous today, so I'll give it a pass. The theory of the murders is at least possible, although the first murder is never really fully explained in terms of what connection it has to Jackson's book on wild swimming.
I'll give it four out of five stars.
Thanks to One More Chapter/HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the review copy.
October 27, 2020
Black River by Joss Sterling is a light, hard-boiled mystery with lots of action and suspense as well as a fun dash of humor that all come together into an enjoyable, fast-paced read.
What I Loved
Most of all, I adored the primary characters. Jessica Bridges is a fledgling PI who does temp work on the side. When we meet her, she is staying with a woman and her two children somewhat illegally. She has not declared her residence, insisting that Cory is a friend (even though they did not start the arrangement that way). I'm not familiar with the English law that makes this an issue, but it is referred to multiple times. She describes herself as recklessly impulsive, and this is where the fun begins. She has a penchant for getting herself into laugh out loud situations that are delightfully fun to read while building the suspense that makes the book hard to put down.
Her two sidekicks are DCI Leo George and psychologist Michael Harrison. They together lead the official investigation while helping Jess solve her case, which gets mixed into it. Leo is a straight-laced cop who does everything by the book and is highly respected within the police community. He loves gardening and has named a "pet" carp who lives in a small pond in his garden, Goldemort, showing us a lighter, funnier side to this policeman. He is an excellent foil for Jess, who is his opposite in so many ways.
Michael Harrison is a psychology professor at a local college and was Jess's live-in boyfriend for five years. They have long since parted ways but remain good friends. Michael gives the reader insight into the inner workings of many characters' minds throughout the story. All three perspectives work so well together to create an account that is fast-paced, full of action and suspense, and brings the reader a good dose of fun to offset the wickedness and evil that is being investigated.
I loved that the point of view used with Jess's chapters are in first-person narration while Leo's and Michael's are in third person limited narration. I've seen this technique used once before, and I love how it provides multiple perspectives while avoiding the confusion that often comes with multiple narrators.
Three mysteries are going on at one time, and I loved how that keeps the pace speeding along. The puzzles are loosely connected but still managed to stay very distinct as the story progressed, never once creating the confusion that can come when you have potentially too much of a good thing going on in a story.
To Read or Not to Read
This incredible new series for people who enjoy a lighter hard-boiled mystery will grab on to and never look back.
What I Loved
Most of all, I adored the primary characters. Jessica Bridges is a fledgling PI who does temp work on the side. When we meet her, she is staying with a woman and her two children somewhat illegally. She has not declared her residence, insisting that Cory is a friend (even though they did not start the arrangement that way). I'm not familiar with the English law that makes this an issue, but it is referred to multiple times. She describes herself as recklessly impulsive, and this is where the fun begins. She has a penchant for getting herself into laugh out loud situations that are delightfully fun to read while building the suspense that makes the book hard to put down.
Her two sidekicks are DCI Leo George and psychologist Michael Harrison. They together lead the official investigation while helping Jess solve her case, which gets mixed into it. Leo is a straight-laced cop who does everything by the book and is highly respected within the police community. He loves gardening and has named a "pet" carp who lives in a small pond in his garden, Goldemort, showing us a lighter, funnier side to this policeman. He is an excellent foil for Jess, who is his opposite in so many ways.
Michael Harrison is a psychology professor at a local college and was Jess's live-in boyfriend for five years. They have long since parted ways but remain good friends. Michael gives the reader insight into the inner workings of many characters' minds throughout the story. All three perspectives work so well together to create an account that is fast-paced, full of action and suspense, and brings the reader a good dose of fun to offset the wickedness and evil that is being investigated.
I loved that the point of view used with Jess's chapters are in first-person narration while Leo's and Michael's are in third person limited narration. I've seen this technique used once before, and I love how it provides multiple perspectives while avoiding the confusion that often comes with multiple narrators.
Three mysteries are going on at one time, and I loved how that keeps the pace speeding along. The puzzles are loosely connected but still managed to stay very distinct as the story progressed, never once creating the confusion that can come when you have potentially too much of a good thing going on in a story.
To Read or Not to Read
This incredible new series for people who enjoy a lighter hard-boiled mystery will grab on to and never look back.
November 30, 2020
Jess Bridges is a sort-of-private detective specializing in missing persons cases. She is one of those people that seems to always be flitting from one thing to another, one living situation to another, one relationship to another. She has ADHD, a clack of impulse control, a predilection for addiction and a host of other mental health issues. She somehow has also fooled her therapist into thinking that she is mostly better and making strides to control herself.
After her landlady and member of the local moms group book club talks Jess into joining them for a book club meeting, Jess’s lack of impulse control has her skinny dipping and, in the process, stumbling across a dead body. Who should find her and wait with her until the police arrive but the author of the book that sparked the skinny dip in the first place, Jago Jackson. When there is another murder, it looks like the murderer may be following a course that Jago himself laid out.
Jess finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, a missing person’s case, a stalking and a tangle of once and future boyfriends.
Jess Bridges is a bit of a hot mess and while her problems and foibles makes her a more believable character, it made it difficult for me to like her at times.
Overall, this was a good opener for a new series, lays lot of good groundwork and gives enough back story to keep the reader interested.
After her landlady and member of the local moms group book club talks Jess into joining them for a book club meeting, Jess’s lack of impulse control has her skinny dipping and, in the process, stumbling across a dead body. Who should find her and wait with her until the police arrive but the author of the book that sparked the skinny dip in the first place, Jago Jackson. When there is another murder, it looks like the murderer may be following a course that Jago himself laid out.
Jess finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation, a missing person’s case, a stalking and a tangle of once and future boyfriends.
Jess Bridges is a bit of a hot mess and while her problems and foibles makes her a more believable character, it made it difficult for me to like her at times.
Overall, this was a good opener for a new series, lays lot of good groundwork and gives enough back story to keep the reader interested.
June 30, 2021
This was my first Joss Stirling book but it won't be my last; and I'm thrilled it's the start of a new series as well! Jess is a private investigator who gets caught up in a series of murders when she happens to be "swimming wild" and discovers a dead body. Unlike many murder mysteries, her character is sassy and snarky and I found myself laughing out loud many times. Old boyfriends, new boyfriends...she has ADHD so believes her life is a mess, but she's smart and compassionate. Several plot lines weave through the book and I liked all the characters (well, the "good guys") I'll definitely be reading more of this series!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
October 9, 2020
Jess Bridges is a quirky PI. She finds a body while swimming. Great characters in this book. Lots of mystery and intrigue, as well as possible romantic entanglements. This is the first book in a series and I will be reading the next one, White Horse soon. This is my first book by this author and I will be looking for more.
Thnaks to netgalley, Joss Stirling and One More Chapter Books for the arc
Thnaks to netgalley, Joss Stirling and One More Chapter Books for the arc
December 3, 2020
This is the first in a bright new whodunnit series that combines police procedural with suspense and humour.
It features three viewpoints:
Jess Bridges – a missing persons investigator whose chaotic private life gets her into trouble. An impulsive personality with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, she is like no other fictional sleuth I’ve read. The story kicks off with Jess managing to stumble across a murder victim while skinny dipping in the River Thames (like you do) and then becoming romantically entangled with the chief suspect, a potential serial killer.
Dr Michael Harrison – a leading psychologist and one of Jess’s many exes. At times I thought I must be reading the second in the series because there’s clearly important history regarding a dramatic case the previous year that involved them both and left Michael in a wheelchair. He is called in by police to consult on the serial killer case, but needs their help on a situation of his own. An online troll is threatening both him and an unnamed female close to him. Could Jess be in danger on this front too?
Detective Inspector Leo George – who calls in Michael’s help and is attracted to Jess despite her being a witness in the serial killer case. The detective takes a back seat in this opening story but will no doubt come to the fore in the next one.
As the body count rises, Jess becomes more embroiled with not only that serial killer case, but also an undercover assignment connected with her missing persons work.
I guessed the solution to Jess’s private assignment early on and clocked the troll at the midpoint, but I didn’t guess the serial killer despite some cleverly laid clues that I spotted in hindsight.
I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful caper and have already bought the next two books in the series.
It features three viewpoints:
Jess Bridges – a missing persons investigator whose chaotic private life gets her into trouble. An impulsive personality with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, she is like no other fictional sleuth I’ve read. The story kicks off with Jess managing to stumble across a murder victim while skinny dipping in the River Thames (like you do) and then becoming romantically entangled with the chief suspect, a potential serial killer.
Dr Michael Harrison – a leading psychologist and one of Jess’s many exes. At times I thought I must be reading the second in the series because there’s clearly important history regarding a dramatic case the previous year that involved them both and left Michael in a wheelchair. He is called in by police to consult on the serial killer case, but needs their help on a situation of his own. An online troll is threatening both him and an unnamed female close to him. Could Jess be in danger on this front too?
Detective Inspector Leo George – who calls in Michael’s help and is attracted to Jess despite her being a witness in the serial killer case. The detective takes a back seat in this opening story but will no doubt come to the fore in the next one.
As the body count rises, Jess becomes more embroiled with not only that serial killer case, but also an undercover assignment connected with her missing persons work.
I guessed the solution to Jess’s private assignment early on and clocked the troll at the midpoint, but I didn’t guess the serial killer despite some cleverly laid clues that I spotted in hindsight.
I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful caper and have already bought the next two books in the series.
November 23, 2021
Such a fun read! If you can say that about a murder/stalker/runaway novel! All of the characters were so well crafted, with lovable quirks outside to accompany the dark urges within … and the many various plots were twisted together so tightly at the end with an ironic wink to the beginning of the story … I would highly recommend this book!
November 13, 2020
"I don't know what your book club is like, but mine is the sort that ends up with me stranded naked in the river with a dead man and a murderer on the loose”.
What a hilarious and unexpected opening to this captivating thriller Black River by Joss Sterling (this is literally the first sentence of Chapter One). I went into this read completely neutral and unsure of what to expect. If you asked me which genre of fiction, I would say it’s a character-driven crime thriller, however, it doesn’t neatly fit in the crime thriller box, there’s something extra in there. Almost like a Bridget Jones, Columbo, No1 Ladies Detective Agency mashup which is extremely refreshing.
It moves from lighter funnier moments, to chilling so jaw-droppingly quickly at points, it will make you do a double take. It scared me a few times as well which again, I wasn’t expecting. Suffice to say I’m not inclined to go wild swimming anytime soon!
The setting of Oxford works really well and is accurately portrayed – the author Jess Stirling lives there, and you can tell. If you’ve visited Oxford, you’ll really feel it pouring out from the pages and that just adds yet another great surprise to the overall atmosphere because you’re thinking what, in Oxford?
I’m a huge fan of a multi-perspective plot and this one does not disappoint. We hear from Jess, Michael, Leo, and there are many other characters, learning quite a lot about them in a short space of time.
Let’s talk about our main protagonist Jess Bridges. She’s gutsy yet at times vulnerable, sharp, funny/sarcastic, impulsive, and a magnet for unusual situations. Weirdly very relatable. Given this is the first time we meet Jess I felt we really get to know her in this book, there’s more to come but you get a really good sense of who she is and what’s going on in her life. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book had some strong female characters in a non-cliched or forced way – Jess is good at what she does and thinking on her feet, she’s not just sitting around waiting to be rescued.
There are strong characters here regardless of gender which was also great – many different layers and examples of power struggles come into play, familial, in various professional settings, on set, in the force, between old colleagues. And considering there are so many things going on all the strands of the subplots are woven together well.
This is a tense and gripping whodunit of a tale, that had me suspicious of everyone at one point! I worked who the murderer was [no I’m not going to spoil it] but it wasn’t predictable and did make sense which is very satisfying.
I definitely want to continue with the next books in the series and can’t wait to see where Jess finds herself next…
What a hilarious and unexpected opening to this captivating thriller Black River by Joss Sterling (this is literally the first sentence of Chapter One). I went into this read completely neutral and unsure of what to expect. If you asked me which genre of fiction, I would say it’s a character-driven crime thriller, however, it doesn’t neatly fit in the crime thriller box, there’s something extra in there. Almost like a Bridget Jones, Columbo, No1 Ladies Detective Agency mashup which is extremely refreshing.
It moves from lighter funnier moments, to chilling so jaw-droppingly quickly at points, it will make you do a double take. It scared me a few times as well which again, I wasn’t expecting. Suffice to say I’m not inclined to go wild swimming anytime soon!
The setting of Oxford works really well and is accurately portrayed – the author Jess Stirling lives there, and you can tell. If you’ve visited Oxford, you’ll really feel it pouring out from the pages and that just adds yet another great surprise to the overall atmosphere because you’re thinking what, in Oxford?
I’m a huge fan of a multi-perspective plot and this one does not disappoint. We hear from Jess, Michael, Leo, and there are many other characters, learning quite a lot about them in a short space of time.
Let’s talk about our main protagonist Jess Bridges. She’s gutsy yet at times vulnerable, sharp, funny/sarcastic, impulsive, and a magnet for unusual situations. Weirdly very relatable. Given this is the first time we meet Jess I felt we really get to know her in this book, there’s more to come but you get a really good sense of who she is and what’s going on in her life. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book had some strong female characters in a non-cliched or forced way – Jess is good at what she does and thinking on her feet, she’s not just sitting around waiting to be rescued.
There are strong characters here regardless of gender which was also great – many different layers and examples of power struggles come into play, familial, in various professional settings, on set, in the force, between old colleagues. And considering there are so many things going on all the strands of the subplots are woven together well.
This is a tense and gripping whodunit of a tale, that had me suspicious of everyone at one point! I worked who the murderer was [no I’m not going to spoil it] but it wasn’t predictable and did make sense which is very satisfying.
I definitely want to continue with the next books in the series and can’t wait to see where Jess finds herself next…
October 19, 2020
Black River manages to entwine crime solving, humour and thrills into one book without being overpowering, corny or cheesy. It also manages to brilliantly straddle multiple genres – mystery, crime, thriller and a bit of rom-com/chic-lit in there too (but not too much to make it unreadable for those who don’t like those genres).
From the very start of this book Stirling does an amazing job as keeping the readers engaged and wanting to turn that page, whether it’s because the last chapter was a cliff-hanger, it’s just getting juicy or it makes your veins thrill with adrenaline – it has it all. This book is one of the very few books I would say managed to ‘flip-flop’ between multiple characters POV’s proficiently without it becoming repetitive or mundane. And as someone who doesn’t like books which do that, I can honestly say this book did it perfectly. All of the characters are well fleshed out with interesting backstories which makes you empathise and feel for them. I also found the characters in this book very relatable which helped me to enjoy it more. This book also manages to follow multiple storylines throughout and cleverly begins to join them together towards the end of the book. I kept trying to guess the outcome of the book and the ‘whodunnit’ aspect was definitely there for myself and I didn’t manage to guess correctly until a couple of pages until the big reveal.
A quick run down of the plot (without spoilers) is that it follows the life of PI Jess Bridges as her curiosity leads her into a spot of trouble of which she meets DI Leo George and becoming entangled in a Murder and later, serial killer, investigation. But this isn’t the only hiccup in her life as she soon also gains a stalker, bringing up certain ex-lovers, current lovers and maybe/maybe not lovers, a tragic backstory and lots and lots of ups-and-downs. Enter Jago Jackson, the well known author who’s book may have something to do with where and why the killer is doing this.
I would like to thank the author Joss Stirling, the publisher Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advanced pre-release copy of the book in return for an honest review.
From the very start of this book Stirling does an amazing job as keeping the readers engaged and wanting to turn that page, whether it’s because the last chapter was a cliff-hanger, it’s just getting juicy or it makes your veins thrill with adrenaline – it has it all. This book is one of the very few books I would say managed to ‘flip-flop’ between multiple characters POV’s proficiently without it becoming repetitive or mundane. And as someone who doesn’t like books which do that, I can honestly say this book did it perfectly. All of the characters are well fleshed out with interesting backstories which makes you empathise and feel for them. I also found the characters in this book very relatable which helped me to enjoy it more. This book also manages to follow multiple storylines throughout and cleverly begins to join them together towards the end of the book. I kept trying to guess the outcome of the book and the ‘whodunnit’ aspect was definitely there for myself and I didn’t manage to guess correctly until a couple of pages until the big reveal.
A quick run down of the plot (without spoilers) is that it follows the life of PI Jess Bridges as her curiosity leads her into a spot of trouble of which she meets DI Leo George and becoming entangled in a Murder and later, serial killer, investigation. But this isn’t the only hiccup in her life as she soon also gains a stalker, bringing up certain ex-lovers, current lovers and maybe/maybe not lovers, a tragic backstory and lots and lots of ups-and-downs. Enter Jago Jackson, the well known author who’s book may have something to do with where and why the killer is doing this.
I would like to thank the author Joss Stirling, the publisher Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advanced pre-release copy of the book in return for an honest review.
November 10, 2020
In University Park, Oxford, a book club of mum’s drinking wine, catching up with each other and pulling to pieces a book by Jago Jackson called Wild Swim, were sitting. The book included some lovely spots for swimming and had Parson’s Pleasure, where they were. Jess decided she was going for a swim, naked. The others left, so it was her and Cory. Jess entered the icy water and swam out, it was invigorating. She saw Cory chasing a dog that had stolen her clothes. Jess got out on the other riverbank where there was a punt tied up. She was looking for something to cover herself with but found a dead body instead!
Then, as the bushes rustled, a man appeared, coming her way. She screamed, loudly.
The police arrived and started investigating. Her saviour was Jago Jackson and the dead man was Kenneth Kingston, bursar at Linton College. SOCO were going over the punt and boathouse. DI Leo George was questioning Jess Bridges. She was working for a temping agency but, also, trying to build up her personal investigation business as well.
Ruby Lonsdale was out on her training run but she was running late. She’d arranged to meet her boyfriend, Danny, at the Perch. When she reached it, Danny wasn’t there. She checked Find Friends, he was close but not in sight. She rang him and could hear a vibration close by. She found his phone on the verge. A man said he may have seen a jogger further down the road, Ruby sets off.
DI George was called to the scene after Ruby and Danny had been found by a dog walker.
Ruby was naked and Danny was fully clothed but had been slung in the water. The killer had hit them on the head.
What were his motives for killing the victims? How did he pick his targets? Why the change to the method of killing? Was Jess Bridges or Jago Jackson linked to this?
I really enjoyed reading this book which is the start of a new series by Joss Stirling. Jess Bridges seems a very lively character and seems to have a lot to offer along with DI Leo George. I found it quite easy to read and it’s set in Oxford so it has a good setting.
Then, as the bushes rustled, a man appeared, coming her way. She screamed, loudly.
The police arrived and started investigating. Her saviour was Jago Jackson and the dead man was Kenneth Kingston, bursar at Linton College. SOCO were going over the punt and boathouse. DI Leo George was questioning Jess Bridges. She was working for a temping agency but, also, trying to build up her personal investigation business as well.
Ruby Lonsdale was out on her training run but she was running late. She’d arranged to meet her boyfriend, Danny, at the Perch. When she reached it, Danny wasn’t there. She checked Find Friends, he was close but not in sight. She rang him and could hear a vibration close by. She found his phone on the verge. A man said he may have seen a jogger further down the road, Ruby sets off.
DI George was called to the scene after Ruby and Danny had been found by a dog walker.
Ruby was naked and Danny was fully clothed but had been slung in the water. The killer had hit them on the head.
What were his motives for killing the victims? How did he pick his targets? Why the change to the method of killing? Was Jess Bridges or Jago Jackson linked to this?
I really enjoyed reading this book which is the start of a new series by Joss Stirling. Jess Bridges seems a very lively character and seems to have a lot to offer along with DI Leo George. I found it quite easy to read and it’s set in Oxford so it has a good setting.
September 21, 2020
I've read a couple of stand alone books by this author but this is the start of a new series and anyone who knows me knows that I do love my series books!
So... Jess Bridges... Oxford based PI with a dubious personal background... She's out wild (naked) swimming one evening and finds a body. It soon becomes obvious that there is more to this than just an accident and she's grilled by the DI tasked with investigating - one DI Leo George. Apparently it's not Jess's first rodeo in this matter and she becomes a bit of a suspect... But being a PI she is quite well placed to go off and start her own investigation - even though it kind of throws up more questions than answers and puts her in a bit of peril when she herself teams up with wild swimming expert, and author of her current book club read, Jago Jackson...
It all sounds a bit busy doesn't it... well... it is... and a bit convoluted too. Jess is so far removed from a typical PI that she is almost an anti-stereotype but it works. It really does. She's a bit ditzy though and her naivety does show though a bit at times. I did find myself yelling at her a tad along the way and she did annoy me at times. But I probably could grow to love her as a character. We'll see when I start book two...
All that said, the plot is intriguing and kept my attention nicely along the way. We also have a couple of side-stories going on and I felt they added to rather than distracted from the book as a whole. The author did a good job of building them up and then gradually peeling back the layers to expose the whole truth of the matter. Leaving me on the whole satisfied.
All in all, a good solid series opener which did leave me wanting more of the same. Happily I already have the next book queued up ready to go so I won't have to wait.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So... Jess Bridges... Oxford based PI with a dubious personal background... She's out wild (naked) swimming one evening and finds a body. It soon becomes obvious that there is more to this than just an accident and she's grilled by the DI tasked with investigating - one DI Leo George. Apparently it's not Jess's first rodeo in this matter and she becomes a bit of a suspect... But being a PI she is quite well placed to go off and start her own investigation - even though it kind of throws up more questions than answers and puts her in a bit of peril when she herself teams up with wild swimming expert, and author of her current book club read, Jago Jackson...
It all sounds a bit busy doesn't it... well... it is... and a bit convoluted too. Jess is so far removed from a typical PI that she is almost an anti-stereotype but it works. It really does. She's a bit ditzy though and her naivety does show though a bit at times. I did find myself yelling at her a tad along the way and she did annoy me at times. But I probably could grow to love her as a character. We'll see when I start book two...
All that said, the plot is intriguing and kept my attention nicely along the way. We also have a couple of side-stories going on and I felt they added to rather than distracted from the book as a whole. The author did a good job of building them up and then gradually peeling back the layers to expose the whole truth of the matter. Leaving me on the whole satisfied.
All in all, a good solid series opener which did leave me wanting more of the same. Happily I already have the next book queued up ready to go so I won't have to wait.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 29, 2020
Hello Jess Bridges! A new crime heroine is born! Black River had me gripped from start to finish and introduced me to one of the most exciting female characters I’ve met this year - the inimitable Jess Bridges. I love thrillers/crime fiction and for me it has a lot to do with the character of the detective/sleuth and I’m always looking out for a new one. In Black River the first dead body is found in the river and discovered by the naked Jess Bridges while she is skinny dipping. This is only the first body and they seem to turn up around Jess..Jess is a part time private investigator searching for a missing girl; she has adhd and has a therapist; she had a dysfunctional childhood and a toxic father; her relationships with partners have broken down and she has the most wonderful sense of humour. The story has many threads - a killer on the loose; a stalker who is sending weird presents; a missing girl with a strange father..gradually and wonderfully these threads are drawn together to a nail biting climax. For once I guessed the killer - I think this is brilliant when it happens as it means the author has laid a careful trail. There are so many things I loved about this book - some fascinating new characters including Leo George the detective with brown twinkling eyes, a keen sense of humour and a back story only alluded to; Jago a writer and wild water swimmer with a big ego. I loved how one minute I felt utterly terrified and the next I was laughing at the sharp humour that peppers the story in abundance. And most of all I just love Jess - ‘she was relentless in her sunshine’. This book gets five stars for Jess! I absolutely cannot wait for the adventure to continue. With thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for a digital copy of this book.
December 30, 2020
Promising start to new series set in Oxford
‘Black River’ is listed as the first in Joss Stirling’s Jessica Bridges mysteries. I recently read the second, ‘White Horse’, and have the third, ‘Red House’ awaiting on my Kindle. Set in Oxford these mysteries combine a police procedural with the lighter aspects of a cosy mystery via the involvement of Jessica Bridges as one of its narrative voices.
Detective Inspector Leo George’s new case involves the body of a man found in a punt on the River Thames. The body was discovered by Jessica Stirling, a private investigator specialising in missing persons. However, Jess wasn’t on a case at the time but enjoying a spot of wild swimming when a dog ran off with her clothes, leaving her in an embarrassing situation.
The novel is split between various points of view, including the stolid Leo and the effervescent Jess, who I already knew was a delight from ‘White Horse’.
Still reading it I felt that I had missed something along the way as there were references to a previous situation that had put Jess on the path to becoming a private investigator, plus her rather chaotic relationship background. A little digging revealed that Jessica had been introduced in Stirling’s first book in the crime/psychological thriller genre, ‘Don’t Trust Me’. I have now bought this and look forward to discovering more of Jess’ past.
‘Black River’ proved an engaging mystery that kept me guessing whodunnit. Jess and Leo are appealing leads and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series in the near future.
‘Black River’ is listed as the first in Joss Stirling’s Jessica Bridges mysteries. I recently read the second, ‘White Horse’, and have the third, ‘Red House’ awaiting on my Kindle. Set in Oxford these mysteries combine a police procedural with the lighter aspects of a cosy mystery via the involvement of Jessica Bridges as one of its narrative voices.
Detective Inspector Leo George’s new case involves the body of a man found in a punt on the River Thames. The body was discovered by Jessica Stirling, a private investigator specialising in missing persons. However, Jess wasn’t on a case at the time but enjoying a spot of wild swimming when a dog ran off with her clothes, leaving her in an embarrassing situation.
The novel is split between various points of view, including the stolid Leo and the effervescent Jess, who I already knew was a delight from ‘White Horse’.
Still reading it I felt that I had missed something along the way as there were references to a previous situation that had put Jess on the path to becoming a private investigator, plus her rather chaotic relationship background. A little digging revealed that Jessica had been introduced in Stirling’s first book in the crime/psychological thriller genre, ‘Don’t Trust Me’. I have now bought this and look forward to discovering more of Jess’ past.
‘Black River’ proved an engaging mystery that kept me guessing whodunnit. Jess and Leo are appealing leads and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series in the near future.
November 11, 2020
Black River is the first in a series of Jess Bridges mystery novels written by Joss Stirling. The main character Jess, is good fun, she is a private investigator floating along with life not taking anything too seriously. Within minutes she has not only been skinny dipping, but her clothes have been stolen and she uncovers a dead body! Her erratic relationships with the other characters carry the plots very well;
Jago, the author of her book club read which, initiated the skinny dipping; Leo the detective who comes to her rescue with a jacket to cover her modesty and Michael her ex boyfriend who is at the receiving end of an internet troll and becomes a expert adviser for the police.
The plot of the book is fast paced, involving 3 main story lines, the criminal investigation into the murder on the river, the PI gig Jess is working on and Michael's mysterious stalker. With plenty of twists and red herrings it a good mystery, with the excellent characters it makes for a really good read.
It is written with a lot of humour, I really like Jess, envy her carefree attitude towards life. Her landlady is hilarious, constantly looking for excitement from Jess's life. I would recommend to those who like mysteries with a little humour.
Looking forward to the next in the series! Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and OMC read along for the ARC.
Jago, the author of her book club read which, initiated the skinny dipping; Leo the detective who comes to her rescue with a jacket to cover her modesty and Michael her ex boyfriend who is at the receiving end of an internet troll and becomes a expert adviser for the police.
The plot of the book is fast paced, involving 3 main story lines, the criminal investigation into the murder on the river, the PI gig Jess is working on and Michael's mysterious stalker. With plenty of twists and red herrings it a good mystery, with the excellent characters it makes for a really good read.
It is written with a lot of humour, I really like Jess, envy her carefree attitude towards life. Her landlady is hilarious, constantly looking for excitement from Jess's life. I would recommend to those who like mysteries with a little humour.
Looking forward to the next in the series! Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and OMC read along for the ARC.
December 12, 2020
Black River
is the first instalment in Joss Stirling's new series set in Oxford featuring thirty-one-year old PI Jess Bridges. I always love to read any crime series from the first book and this one has definitely started with a bang.
When Jess decides to go wild swimming in the Thames she gets herself into a pickle. Her clothes are stolen by a dog and then she comes across the dead body of an Oxford academic - Dr Kenneth Kingston. Following this, she is grilled by the detective in charge of the investigation, DI Leo George, and it's obvious that Dr Kingston's death wasn't an accident.
This was an absorbing, witty and riveting read with a plot that gripped me. The pacing was swift even as characters were introduced, and I was racing along to find out what would be occurring next. Joss Stirling has rewarded the reader with her chaotic, fun and reckless main character and I was rooting for Jess all the way. An action-packed, rousing and atmospheric story with a surprising, clever ending, I can't wait to see what treats will be in store when book two, White Horse is released. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Jess evolve and mature. Very highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author, Joss Stirling for the complimentary advanced copy. This is my honest and totally voluntary review.
When Jess decides to go wild swimming in the Thames she gets herself into a pickle. Her clothes are stolen by a dog and then she comes across the dead body of an Oxford academic - Dr Kenneth Kingston. Following this, she is grilled by the detective in charge of the investigation, DI Leo George, and it's obvious that Dr Kingston's death wasn't an accident.
This was an absorbing, witty and riveting read with a plot that gripped me. The pacing was swift even as characters were introduced, and I was racing along to find out what would be occurring next. Joss Stirling has rewarded the reader with her chaotic, fun and reckless main character and I was rooting for Jess all the way. An action-packed, rousing and atmospheric story with a surprising, clever ending, I can't wait to see what treats will be in store when book two, White Horse is released. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Jess evolve and mature. Very highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley, One More Chapter and the author, Joss Stirling for the complimentary advanced copy. This is my honest and totally voluntary review.
October 6, 2020
The book follows Jess Bridges, once again. She's a wonderful character who is a little bit... scattered at times. This is actually explained in Don’t Trust Me, which is kind of a prequel and it's own mystery.
I really enjoyed some of the aspects involving surrounding, and past/current lovers as I felt it tied it all together quite nicely, and the concern for others Jess has, if sometimes misplaced!
I wasn't sure about it when I read the first few pages as there are something it mentions about mothers talking about that (Jess) she didn't understand, but being 28 years old, not a mother (yet), I understood perfectly. Other than that it was an enjoyable read and I can't wait until the next one! Which I am now starting to read.
I would recommend reading Don't trust me first, as it explains an awful lot about Jess which I feel really helps flesh up her as a character in this book. You can start on Black river, but in my opinion I would read DTM first.
I really enjoyed some of the aspects involving surrounding, and past/current lovers as I felt it tied it all together quite nicely, and the concern for others Jess has, if sometimes misplaced!
I wasn't sure about it when I read the first few pages as there are something it mentions about mothers talking about that (Jess) she didn't understand, but being 28 years old, not a mother (yet), I understood perfectly. Other than that it was an enjoyable read and I can't wait until the next one! Which I am now starting to read.
I would recommend reading Don't trust me first, as it explains an awful lot about Jess which I feel really helps flesh up her as a character in this book. You can start on Black river, but in my opinion I would read DTM first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2020
The last thing Jess expected when she went skinny dipping in the Thames was that she would find a corpse. Oh, and that a dog would steal her clothes so she would have to deal with the police and others while nude. Or that more bodies would be found in spots identified by Jago Jackson in a book about wild swimming. Told by Jess in the first person and in the third person by DI Leo George and psychologist Michael Harrison, this is an interesting, and at times amusing, mystery. Regular readers (and watchers) of British procedurals know that Oxford is fodder for this sort of thing (even though the murder is actually quite rare there). Stirling has used the area to good effect, especially given that the first victim, Dr. Kenneth Kingston, is an academic. Jess is a classic tortured private detective- her life is more or less a mess with an unhappy family background, a romantic relationship in limbo, and adhd. She's also only 31 so she's got room to grow. I liked Leo and Michael as well. No spoilers from me on how this works out. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.
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