Fallen Angel

Detective Gaby Darin #3

by Jenny O'Brien

She looked like she’d drifted off to sleep, curled up in her white dress, blonde hair floating in the breeze. They called it the Angel Murder.

Eighteen-year-old Angelica Brock is found dead at a local beauty spot, dressed in a pure white nightgown, her white-blonde hair arranged around her. For years her death is a mystery, her killer the one who got away for a whole generation of police.

For DS Gaby Darin, it’s not just any cold case – the victim is intimately linked to someone close to her, and emotions are high. But just as the team finds a breakthrough clue on Angelica’s nightdress, another case crashes into the station. Could they be linked? After all this time, can Gaby finally discover what really happened to Angelica?

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Procedural

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 20, 2020

About the author

Hi and thanks for stopping by.

I took up writing about twenty years ago when I first came up with a plot for a book, and I haven't stopped since. When I’m not writing, I’m ferrying around 3 teenagers or working as a nurse. I’m also an all-year-round sea swimmer.
I write what I love to read, which is romance and thrillers.

My next release, out February, 2026, is The Resistance Knitting Club, a World War 2 historical novel set in Guernsey, the UK and France. I am currently working on my third WW2 novel.

If you like my writing please get in touch - my social media links are below (I’m rarely on Goodreads so it’s best not to drop me a message here). I also have a newsletter, which you can sign up to via my website.

Jenny O

Facebook: Jenny O'Brien Guernsey Writer
Twitter: scribblerjb
Instagram: scribblerjb

Reviews

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallen Angel is the third instalment in the Detective Sergeant Gabriella “Gaby” Darin series, set in Llandudno in Conwy County, North West Wales. It's a new day at St Aleph police station and not only has DC Darin recently been promoted to DS, but she has also been made the Acting DI while her boss and 30-year police veteran, DI Stewart Tipping, has reluctantly taken leave due to the cancer riddling his body to be cared for by his wife, Sheila. Gaby has only recently returned to work after 6 weeks on medical leave having been seriously injured in the line of duty so the lull in cases she and colleagues are experiencing right now is certainly welcome and allows her to focus on reviewing cold cases until something comes in. At the request of DC Owen Bates, she re-opens the old case of 18-year-old Angelica Brock who was murdered in 1995, almost 3 decades ago; she disappeared from her bedroom and was discovered dead the following day at the local beauty spot of Great Orme, and it would've been deemed an accident had she not been dressed in a strange lily-white, handmade nightdress.

With renewed vigour and forensic advancements now available, Gaby hopes she can uncover the murderer's identity and bring some closure to the Brock family. Then a new case comes in; a terminally ill woman has been killed in a devastating explosion whilst her daughter was shopping. But all is not what it seems and another death follows revealing the handiwork of a serial killer who has been biding their sweet time. This is a compulsive and engrossing police procedural and from the moment I turned the first few pages I was hooked. There are several great twists spaced throughout the narrative, and I found the single investigative perspective more immersive than if it had alternated. It allows you to feel as though you are part of the team and you see all of the action through their eyes. It's compelling, quick-paced and well written and has enough layers and plot threads to keep you invested. The taut, tight plotting packs a real punch and I enjoyed learning more about the team. Highly recommended.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detective Gaby Darin #3

Eighteen year old Angelica Brock is found dead at a local beauty spot, dressed in a pure white nightgown, her white-blonde hair arranged around her. Her death was a mystery for years, her killer had got away. For DS Gaby Darin, it's not just a cold case, the victim is intimately linked to someone close to her. Just as the team finds a clue on Angelica's nightdress, another case crashes into the station. Could the case be linked?

This is the first book that I've read in this series. The plotline is complex and I was pulled in from the beginning. The pace is fast and the twists come along thick and fast. Gaby is a most likeable character. The book can be read as a standalone but I would have liked to read the books in order. I will be looking out for this author in future.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HQ and the author #GabyDarin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mick Dubois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gabby Darin is still acting DI of North Wales MIT. When there’s a lull in serious crimes, they start looking at cold cases. One of those is the murder of Angelica Brook (18), the sister of DS Owen Bates’ wife. 25 years ago, the young woman disappeared from her 1st-floor bedroom and was later found dead on Great Orme (a limestone headland stretching into the Irish Sea). It was never established if she had a secret rendezvous or was abducted. The post-mortem revealed no other cause of death than that her heart stopped beating (that’s what pretty much kills everyone). The only strange element is that she was dressed in a Victorian nightdress. There were no leads, no witnesses, and no clues. DI Stewart Tipping, who’s at home suffering from cancer, lead a serious investigation but to no avail. Owen asks Gaby to reopen the investigation.

This is the 3rd book in this series and I read all of them, but if you join in now you won’t have any difficulties as all the elements of the background story are given where necessary. And in this story, there’s a lot of activity in the team’s private lives. Owen and Kate are expecting their second child and she’s unhappy with his long hours. Marie is separated from her husband and stuck in a miserable bedsit. And between Gaby and dr Rusty, there seems to be a never-ending rollercoaster between attraction and push backs.
The author has a beautiful way with words. On the first page, you find a gem like: “Yet here she was doing a cop’s version of twiddling her thumbs: flicking through the stack of cold cases they had lurking in the storage room in the bowels of the station.” And there are many more that are sometimes missed because of the high suspense level of the story. The story starts out a bit slow when all the elements and people are introduced but draws you in nevertheless. Then, when you think you have the picture, you discover that you and the team are chasing a red herring and that you have to start out from zero again. The story does gain momentum and eventually, everything starts happening at once and events race to the finale.
The ending was a bit unexpected and rather complicated. I suppose it could happen and I’ll buy it because of the story’s quality. Another promotion lurks at the horizon for Gaby and that’s a bit soon in my calculations. She’s only been acting DI for a short time, in my knowledge.
I thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for the free ARC they provided and this is my honest, unbiased review of it.

[M.A. Comley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say thank you to Jenny O'Brien in her timing releasing this book which came along during a reading slump. Once I started reading Fallen Angel I truly couldn't put it down until I had finished.
I've read the two previous books in this series so was really looking forward to getting stuck into the next Gaby Darin investigation.

This time Gaby is tasked with trying to solve a cold case from 1995, that of the murder of Angelica Brock. A teenager whose life ended at the hands of a brutal killer.

The investigation is full of complex twists and turns which made it a genuine page-turner. I'm loving the cast of characters who all played their part in this one.

Another stunning five star read from me.

[Tracy ann Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

i so love this series and the team are back .detective Owen bates asks DI Gabby Darin to look in to a cold case Angelica brock who was taken from her home and found in an old nightie dead. but it is personal to him as it was his wife sister and the reason why he joined the force . but i love how we see the other characters in this book .i love rusty lol the miserable bugger .but when the team start digging they find they got a serial killer on the loss that has got away with it for years i so recommended this series so can not wait for next one

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Fallen Angel, the third novel to feature Acting DI Gaby Darin of the North Wales Police.

Gaby’s return to work after serious injury is marked by a lull in cases, so she decides to look at some cold cases. Her attention is brought to the case of 18 year old Angelica Brock disappeared from her bedroom 25 years ago and was found dead the next day at a local beauty spot. If she hadn’t been found in a nightdress that didn’t belong to her, her death would have been deemed an accident.

I enjoyed Fallen Angel which has a compelling plot and a few twists to surprise the reader. It is told entirely from the investigative point of view, be it Gaby or the members of her team, so the reader can guess alongside them. I like this approach as it allows the reader to get immersed in the action and the thinking, both of which move along at a fast clip. It does require a certain suspension of disbelief at some of the leaps the team takes but fortuitously they mostly turn out to be correct. The same goes for the resolution which dis seem like a step too far, even if it is ingenious in its linking together of all the disparate threads in the novel.

The plot has enough threads and a fast enough pace to keep the reader occupied and reading, hence my 4* rating, but I think it is let down by sub par characterisation. There is much about the team’s personal lives in the novel, but many of them have old, stereotypical reactions to the situations they find themselves in. It’s a bit wearing and that’s before I tried to understand the motivation behind the death of Angelica.

Fallen Angel is an easy way to while away a few hours.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

This is the third book in this series which features Gaby Darin who has recently been promoted to Detective Sergeant in the Murder Investigation Team and a case centred around Llandudno, North Wales. After recovering from serious injuries, she has returned to work but all is quiet so is looking into cold cases. One case in particular is important to one member of her team, the one termed Operation Angel, as the victim was his now wife's older sister. As the team start to investigate can they determine what really happened to Angelica?

What an intriguing read this proved to be. The evidence from the past is re-investigated and the possibility of Angelica being the victim of a serial killer arises. Can they identify the killer before he strikes again?

This is a real page turner that makes the members of the team seem like people you know and relate to. It is different to most murder mysteries in that this is a re-investigation of an unsolved case but there are definite links to the present, too. There are family dramas, developing relationships, even a possible romance for Gaby as the story unfurls. I have no hesitation in highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers, police procedurals or murder mysteries.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great read. It’s the third book in the series but can easily be read as a stand-alone book.
DI Gaby Darin is on the hunt for a case to get stuck into so starts going through some cold cases and comes across one that is far from simple.
It’s the case of a murdered student, Angelica, who was found in a foetal position dressed in an old fashioned nightgown.
It comes to light that Owen is married to her sister so has a vested interest in finding the killer.
After more digging it seems this is not an isolated murder and Gaby and the team realise they have a serial killer on their patch.
I loved the dynamics in the team and as for Gaby and Rusty, well they just need to get together.
The book had a gripping ending and I was really pleased with the decision Owen made at the end as well.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Samantha Henthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. A gripping about a cold case that becomes a now case. Angelica Brock was found dead wearing a nightgown years ago. I say this every time I read a Jenny O'Brien book - you won't figure out whodunnit, I didn't. Clever title, brilliant characters, great setting. The interwoven lives of a group of people are pulled apart and then put back together again by Detective Gaby Darin and her team. She's so good at her job, you would want her on your side, definitely. Especially this time, as one of her colleagues is linked to the case.
Difficult to say much more without giving anything away, but I think the attention to detail is so realistic, maybe Jenny O'Brien is a secret agent?

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fallen Angel is the third book in the DS (now acting DI) Gaby Darin series. While it is not necessary to have read the first two books in this series, I think it would have helped immensely if I had. Although I did grok much of the backstory via the author dropping in some details here and there. Even with those details, it took awhile to get the feel of the room, as it were.

Acting DI Darin is assigned to the North Wales office, and since there isn't a lot going on as the story opens, Darin Goes through several cold cases, selecting a few to review for possible followup. One of her staff, DS Owen Bates, ifs ahead of her, and presents to her the case from 25 years earlier: the death of Angelica Brook, and 18 year old who seemed to have simply vanished from her room one night only to be found dead later, dying of hypothermia, her body staged. Angelica also happens to have been the sister of Bates' wife.

This is my first small quibble: involving family members in an investigation of this sort is a no-no, because they're emotionally involved and that could be a bonanza for a defense attorney. Since this is a sideways adjacent kind of situation, I let it go. The team reopens the case and starts running down all the clues and the scant evidence from that case - but now, of course, there is a lot more information available, better testing, and so on. Still, nothing seems to be coming to fruition for the team.

While this is going on, there's also the story of a local family, the Eustaces. A young woman and her husband take care of her mother who has dementia. One night, their house explodes in what looks to be a terrible accident. But things are definitely not what they seem.

I won't go further than that, as even though the plot is very complicated. revealing more would take some of the fun of unraveling the clues and teasing out the murderer(s). I will say that the internal thought of Di Darin annoyed me from time to time, as she seemed, to me, to be spending an awful lot of time thinking about two men in her orbit: what they thought of her, and if she would sleep with them.

The ending wrapped up a tad too neatly, but it did come together nicely.

Other than these minor things and Darin making moonfaces at some guys, it was a good read, and while I didn't get the exact relations between some people and families at the end, I did pick out the murderer(s).

Overall: 3.5 stars out of five, rounded down to 3 for the reasons above. Sitting inside while the snow flies and reading this wouldn't be a bad way to spend an afternoon.

Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the reading copy.

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I’ve not read either of the other books in the series, this worked perfectly well as a stand-alone. I’m grateful to NetGalley for letting me read an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Our main character, DS Gaby Darin, has clearly been through some tough experiences in the course of duty, but we see her here as she returns to work. With something of a lull in cases, they are tasked with trying to make headway into cold cases. Gaby is asked by one of her colleagues to look again into the murder of a young girl who was found on Great Orme dressed in a Victorian nightgown. What he only later tells Gaby is that Angelica was the older sister of his wife.
Initially, this seems a rather nondescript case...something she looks into but that isn’t likely to go anywhere. Then, before we know it, little details come out, others are tasked with reviewing info and making their own suggestions, and Darin and her team are after a potential serial killer.
Alongside the main investigation there’s other cases. As details come to light it seems their current workload is inextricably linked to the case in the past.
I enjoyed getting to see these characters as they went about their work. This struck a good balance between personal information and police procedural. Some lucky breaks, of course, but it swept me up and kept me entertained throughout.

[Fictionophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, the station finds themselves not as busy as usual. Gaby decides to investigate a cold case at the behest of DC Owen Bates. Twenty-five years earlier Owen's wife's older sister was murdered. She was found in a white nightdress, outdoors, curled in the fetal position. There was no evidence at all. Her heart just stopped. With her white-blond hair and the white Victorian nightdress, the case was called "Operation Angel".

When renewed investigations bring up other similar crimes, Gaby and her team fear there might be a serial murderer on the loose...

Just when they are fully immersed in this case, another one crops up. What they thought was a 'quiet' period ends up seeing them working all hours.

DC Gaby Darin is an interesting character. Bright, brash, overweight, lonely, and very good at her job. I enjoyed the first two books in the series very much, which made me eager to pursue this series. It's turning out to be a corker!

The Pembrokeshire setting added to the overall ambience of the book.

The characters were very well developed and I thoroughly enjoyed reading of their personal relationships and work exploits. As each book is written, the reader learns more and more about what makes these realistic characters tick. Reading how they interacted with one another was one of my favourite aspects of the novel.

The crimes were fascinating, and interesting. The plot was well paced and kept me engaged throughout the entire book. It was a compelling read that I finished in two days.

With themes of family and revenge this was a suspenseful story with a tension-filled ending that was very satisfactory.

I'm certain that anyone who enjoys a well-written, character-driven, police procedural will love this book, and this series. Highly recommended! Can't wait to read the next book in the Gaby Darin series.

4.5 stars rounded up

[melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review of, Fallen Angel by Jenny O'Brien.

I didn't realize this was book 3, however, I wasn't completely lost thanks to the author adding in details here and there.

This book was well written and kept me guessing throughout. I don't normally read crime thrillers, but I really enjoyed this one.

The setting was unique and the characters creatively written. Gaby Darin and her team keep you wanting more. This book was interesting as one of her team members is linked to the case.

[Skyesmum · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic, well plotted book.
I loved the fact the a cold case was being investigated and the fact that it was personal to the team
I gasped several times reading the book, which shows it had my full attention, not an easy thing lately.

I loved the team, and of course Gaby, we all need a Gaby in our lives to tell us as it is.

A fantastic ending, I did not see that at all.

First one of this author's, it won't be the last 👏

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.I. Gaby Darin.
St Asaph police station North Wales has been remodelled
D. Owen Bates has worked along side Gaby now for six months, Nothing fazed him and the nature of both their jobs he always broke the tension with inappropriate jokes.
looking through tattered newspapers Gaby reads Angelica Brock found dead after going missing from home twenty five years ago case unsolved, but why now? Owen Bates explains, and Gaby needs to talk to Stewart Tipping about Operation Angel, she wish Owen had said something sooner, this is not going to be easy, but if anyone can do it Gaby can.
Oh what can i say about book three?
Gripping right through, a few surprises are in store, such a dynamic story unfolds as we find out more. I just couldn't leave this book be reading chapter after chapter.
another hitting fantastic read from this author so let's bring on some more.

[Clare Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so great to be back with Gaby Darin and her team. I love the convincing set of characters Jenny O’Brien has created and feel I know them well now. The mystery had me on the edge of my seat and kept me guessing to the very end. I can’t wait for the next instalment – both for another enthralling case and to see what happens in Gaby’s personal life!

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallen Angel is the 3rd book in the Detective Gaby Darin series. Gaby was recently promoted to Detective Sergeant in the Murder Investigation Team after being seriously injured in her previous case. She has just returned to work and with no new investigations, she decides to look into a cold case that occurred in Llandudno, North Wales. This case is personal, as it was the death of the sister-in-law of one of the members of her team, DC Owen Bates. The case was called Operation Angel, when it was originally investigated, but it was abandoned when there were no clues. It was never closed, so Gaby and her team take up the investigation to see if they can find justice for Angelica. As they find similarities with other cases, the possibility of a serial killer comes to light, but her boss isn't convinced and refuses to give them more resources unless they can find more evidence.

I enjoyed this police procedural. The team had to pick the case apart and find any clues that might have been overlooked. That is hard to do without stepping on toes. As they get closer to finding answers, the tension ratcheted up and I was reading quickly to find out where the clues would take them next. While they are investigating the cold case, a new case comes in. A house explosion kills a terminally ill woman. This sounds like an accident, but her husband had died in an apparent suicide not long before that, and Gaby finds that a bit suspicious. I really liked how they were able to work on both cases and eventually see how they come together. This is a gripping police procedural and I was hooked from the beginning. There are several twists along the way, and following this investigation had me trying to solve it along with them. Fallen Angel is a well written and plotted story, that was fast paced and tense. It reminded that I had enjoyed the first two books in this series and was glad to get back to it. If you enjoy an interesting, twisty police procedural, then I recommend you pick this one up.

[Susan Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story, and an easy read. DS Gaby Darin is acting DI of the Major Investigation Team, working out of St Asaph police station. She is recently back to work after being injured in a previous case. They have a bit of a lull in major crime, so decide to review some cold cases. Detective Owen Bates suggests a murder that took place twenty-five years earlier. He later admits that the dead girl was his wife’s sister. Angelica Brock went missing from her home in Llandudno in the early hours and her body was found the next day on the Great Orme, wearing an old fashioned nightdress that didn’t belong to her. The killer left no clues.

The team re-examine what little information they have, and interview a few people who were spoken to at the time, to no avail. Gaby spends an evening with the local medical examiner, and they come up with a different way to look at the crime, and further conversation with an old friend who is a police profiler channels Gaby’s thoughts, and she runs a check on the police computer for specific crimes for which there was no evidence found, and is amazed to find there are pages and pages of them. So many, that she takes the paperwork home and spends many hours starting to pick out the most relevant cases. This provides new avenues of investigation, although not much in the way of results. Further deaths happen which they have to investigate, and inadvertently find a tiny connection between them and Angelica.

Gradually the tiny pieces start to piece together, and they realise they have a serial killer to find. Gaby is extremely good at getting the best out of her team, allowing them to play to their strengths, and they gradually claw their way to a conclusion, not without a lot of stress, and further actions from the killer. A well thought through story, many twists and turns, and a few red herrings before we discover the truth. Well worth reading.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

😊 Fallen Angel features DS Gabriella (Gaby) Darin who moved to Llandudno in Wales after the occurrence of difficult events and has been temporarily promoted to the role of Detective Inspector.

St Asaph police station is experiencing a quieter time so Gaby decides to focus on a cold case that has been brought to her attention by her trusty colleague DC Owen Bates. Eighteen-year-old Angelica Brock, found dead in 1995 at a local beauty spot, was dressed in a pure white Victorian nightgown. Dubbed 'Operation Angel' her death is still a mystery to the police.

With its fast pacing, there is always plenty going on and there is certainly never a dull moment! Jenny O'Brien knows how to write a story that is compelling and entertaining with characters that are not easy to love but fit with the story very well. I really enjoy Gaby's personality traits - particularly her brashness and astuteness.

The plot was brilliantly executed and I was desperate to find out what would be unearthed next. Written with clarity, Jenny O'Brien demonstrated a mastery of misdirection that certainly kept me invested! Complete with a fabulous ending, I am certain that Fallen Angel will be well-received by all who get a buzz from a well-written police procedural or thriller/ mystery. In a series that has become a firm favourite I look forward to the fourth instalment and seeing where Jenny O'Brien takes Gaby Darin next. A well-deserved five stars for a gripping and awesome book! 😊

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from HQ Digital via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Deborah J Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallen Angel is the third book in the DC Gaby Darin series, but it could easily be read as a standalone.

DC Darin has now been promoted to Detective Sergeant, and is acting up as Detective Inspector while her boss, DI Stewart Tipping, is off sick. She has only just returned to work herself after a period of sick leave following a serious injury as she wrapped up her last case.

Since her team is not busy, she re-opens an old case at the request of DC Owen Bates - the murder of eighteen-year-old Angelica Brock. New eyes on an old case, and with new forensic techniques available, they hope to uncover a new clue to the murder's identity.

A new case comes in; probably an accidental death; but all is not what it seems, and this enquiry questions the findings in another recently closed case. The team are now running two separate investigations, and one might involve a serial killer. Can they prevent another murder?

As with O'Brien's previous DC Darin stories, I was hooked almost immediately. There were a number of threads in the investigations to follow which kept me on my toes, and I enjoyed learning more about the main characters.

Fallen Angel is well-written, and the plot is intriguing. I was also invested in the personal lives of her team, and following on from Book Two, I wanted to know whether Gaby would entertain her colleague's affection or not.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed the previous two books in the Gaby Darin series by Jenny O'Brien, I expected to enjoy reading this book. It certainly didn't disappoint.
In this story set on North Wales, Gaby Darin is acting as DI. Jenny O'Brien has continued to develop the detective team very well in this fast moving police procedural crime thriller.

really liked the pace and style of writing in this book. The ending certainly leaves the door open for further cases to be explored by DI Gaby Darin and her team. I for one will be looking forward to future books in this series.

I will avoid saying too much about the plot out of fear about spoiling the story. It is based around an historic case, which may be linked to current events. What are occurrences and what are crimes?

I particularly like the use of geographical locations, this helps to anchor the story and give a sense of reality. I also like the short snappy chapters, each time, character and location stamped, this helps to build the tension as the novel draws to an exciting denouement.

My recommendation is that you try to read the books in the order in which they are written if you can. Each stand alone on their own merit, but the series is beginning to develop a sense of continuity.

I give my thanks to Netgalley and HQ Digital for a copy of this, the third book in the Gaby Darin series, in exchange for this review.

[Tina Culbertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The setting is northern Wales and our recovering detective Gaby Darin is back in the third installment of this series. Gaby is acting Detective Inspector while the the current DI is on sick leave trying to beat cancer.

As there seems to a lull in crime in Llandudno, DI Darin and her team look into old cold cases. Her right hand man and friend Owen Bates brings her the case about Angelica Brock. She was found in a remote area with her white blonde hair spread around her like a halo, dressed in an old white nightdress which was not her own and curled in a fetal position. There wasn't DNA to help then.

The case from over 20 years ago looked like a random killing but as the team goes over the old case notes connections appear with other unsolved murders, too many to be coincidence. There are good surprises woven into the storyline and I very much enjoyed the detectives' interaction with one another. I am especially fond of the medical examiner Rusty Mulholland.

Thank you to Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. This was published 20 November 2020 and is the third book in the Detective Gaby Darin series. I was not compensated for my review.
Genre is Mystery and Thrillers/Adult Fiction

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallen Angel by Jenny O’Brien is a marvellous contemporary crime thriller that draws the reader in from the start. It is the third book in the Detective Gaby Darin series but can be read as a stand-alone.
A quiet weekend ramps up as a cold case is investigated. At first it is believed to be an isolated incident without any evidence but it soon becomes clear that rapid crime solving is needed before other cases are added.
The reader becomes entangled in the story from the start as we want to know the truth and find out why it happened.
Law enforcement agencies run a tight ship. They function as a family looking after their own. The reader witnesses the cares and niggles that come with family life.
The action is set in North Wales in Llandudno which was great for me as I know the area well as I have holidayed there many times. The familiar locations enabled the book to really come alive for me.
The leading lady is realistic and likable. She is hard working and a team player.
I really enjoyed Fallen Angel. The book consumed my every waking moment – if I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about the case! It was a marvellous read. I hope to read much more by Jenny O’Brien.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

[Tracy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Angelica Brock was found dead on the Great Orme in 1995 it caused the loss of innocence for a generation of children in Llandudno and the end of life as they knew it for her family.

In 2020 DI Gabriella Darin and her team at St Asaph police station are enjoying a lull in their busy working lives. Having only returned to work four weeks earlier having been injured in the line of duty Gaby is still feeling her way back into things and glad of the chance to concentrate on some cold cases for a while. When a colleague suggests looking at the Brock cold case she finds it drawing her in, taking over her thoughts and is determined to find some closure for the family if she can.

This is an excellent book in a series which is getting better and better with each new instalment. The storyline is tightly worked and complex but never too complicated to follow and the ending was perfect. It was a book which grabbed your attention on page one and refused to let go. I loved it.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. I recommend it absolutely.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot that I really enjoyed about this novel – the setting was great, the main character was believable and interesting, the plot was intriguing and well-constructed.
The idea of a cold case, where the victim is personally connected to the team working on the murder, works very well, and adds a depth to the narrative. The pace is good, too, after a bit of a slow start, and everything moves along at a steady rate, keeping the reader interested and engaged.
That said, there were some aspects of the story that I didn’t enjoy quite so much. The pace was slow to begin with (although things did get better). This is the third book in the series, and while it can be read as a standalone, I feel I would have got more out of it if I had read the first two and had been more familiar with the characters’ backgrounds. And I was quite irritated by Bates’ wife Kate’s attitude to the investigation and the hours he puts in – in the circumstances, it seemed quite out of order and that did spoil things for me a bit.
So, overall, this was okay and there were definitely aspects of the story I enjoyed.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** 1/2

The third book in the series following the trials and tribulations of DS Gaby Darin. When a cold case resurfaces, can the team solve it before it also becomes a current case?

As with the previous stories you really get a good visualisation of the area in which this is set, having been to Llandudno many times I can see all the places in this story.
The author really develops the characters well and leaves areas where I can see them progressing in further stories.

For me, I felt this book was a little slow compared with the previous one, where there was twists and turns a plenty, keeping you guessing the whole way through. Although the story develops well, with plenty of detail it’s not until nearer the end that the main action occurs and you suddenly find yourself inundated with what’s going on!

I would definitely read more books that come out in this series, with the hope there is a little more action throughout.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Gaby Darin series and they just keep on getting better. Absolutely loved this one and really hope to see more in the series. There just has to be more as, apart from her detective skills, we need to be sure her relationship with Rusty goes well.

Briefly, Gaby and her team are investigating a cold case. 25 years ago the sister of her colleagues wife was found dead and there was no explanation for what caused her death. The only thing that couldn’t be explained was the white, old fashioned nightdress she was found in. The more the team look into this the more they become convinced Angelina may not be the only victim.

Jenny O’Brien writes so well. You are drawn into the book within a few pages and the storylines keep you gripped until the end. 5* read and thank you. I really enjoyed this.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75* gore score 🗡

A new author to me. Of course I haven’t read the books in order 😂Thanks to Netgalley for letting me read this arc.
DI Gaby Darin book 3 in the series. Set in North Wales investigating a cold case along side a current one.
Gaby is a very likeable character, and nice for her to have a love interest. It’s adds a bit of spice.
I like the dynamic between the team. I feel that the book concentrates on the characters as much as the plot so it’s well balanced. There’s lots going on within the plot.
Medium paced but well written so that it captured my interest straight away and kept it.
I felt that the plot became a little chaotic at the end as the tension was ramped up.
#netgalley. #fallenangel

[Jane Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Detective Gaby Darin series is an enticing mix of police procedural and psychological suspense.

A cold case with a personal connection for the investigation team draws her attention, and she hopes they can solve it with new investigative techniques and forensic advancements. When a new murder case lands on her desk, she sees parallels and a race to stop another killing begins.

The reader is part of the investigation team in this immersive story. A menacing ethos prevails as they try to solve the crime. A good balance of personal issues and authentic police investigation and a twisty plot that delivers a nail-biting ending keep the reader engaged.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy to read another story following D.I. Gabby Darin and the team. The story follows up on a cold case from 25 years ago, and takes you to London, Dublin and Germany.
The victim was 18 year old Angela Brock who seems to have been in her bedroom but just disappeared and was found dead, in a night dress that wasn't even hers, at a local beauty spot.
The story certainly grabs at you and has you hooked from the beginning to the end.
It's very enthralling, with twists and turns and is another fantastic story from this author.
Jenny O'Brien excelled in her storylines, with the creative imagination she has, to give the readers amazing stories to read.
Can highly recommend