What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Birch #4
A Matter of Time
At 8am the first shots are fired.
At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage.
By 5pm, a siege is underway.
At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks, alone and unarmed, into an abandoned Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.
One day. One woman. One chance to get everyone out alive.
The outstanding new novel from the highly acclaimed author of All the Hidden Truths and What You Pay For - both shortlisted for the CWA Golden Dagger.
At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage.
By 5pm, a siege is underway.
At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks, alone and unarmed, into an abandoned Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.
One day. One woman. One chance to get everyone out alive.
The outstanding new novel from the highly acclaimed author of All the Hidden Truths and What You Pay For - both shortlisted for the CWA Golden Dagger.
320 pages, Paperback
First published September 2, 2021
16 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Claire Askew
28 books123 followersClaire Askew is a poet, novelist and the current Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh. Her debut novel, All the Hidden Truths, was the winner of the 2016 Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize, and longlisted for the 2014 Peggy Chapman-Andrews (Bridport) Novel Award. Claire holds a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh and has won a variety of accolades for her work, including the Jessie Kesson Fellowship and a Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award.
Her debut poetry collection, This changes things, was published by Bloodaxe in 2016 and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and a Saltire First Book Award. In 2016 Claire was selected as a Scottish Book Trust Reading Champion, and she works as the Scotland tutor for women's writing initiatives Write Like A Grrrl! and #GrrrlCon.
Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The Guardian, Poetry Scotland, PANK, Edinburgh Review and Be The First To Like This: New Scottish Poetry (Vagabond Voices, 2014), and have been selected twice for the Scottish Poetry Library's Best Scottish Poems of the Year. In 2013 she won the International Salt Prize for Poetry, and in 2014 was runner-up for the inaugural Edwin Morgan Poetry Award for Scottish poets under 30. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
Her debut poetry collection, This changes things, was published by Bloodaxe in 2016 and shortlisted for the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award and a Saltire First Book Award. In 2016 Claire was selected as a Scottish Book Trust Reading Champion, and she works as the Scotland tutor for women's writing initiatives Write Like A Grrrl! and #GrrrlCon.
Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. Her poems have appeared in numerous publications, including The Guardian, Poetry Scotland, PANK, Edinburgh Review and Be The First To Like This: New Scottish Poetry (Vagabond Voices, 2014), and have been selected twice for the Scottish Poetry Library's Best Scottish Poems of the Year. In 2013 she won the International Salt Prize for Poetry, and in 2014 was runner-up for the inaugural Edwin Morgan Poetry Award for Scottish poets under 30. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 4, 2021
Claire Askew wrote the latest in her Edinburgh based crime series featuring DI Helen Birch during the pandemic lockdown. It is a tense and tightly structured book with action that takes place over a period of 24 hours. Birch wakes up to a beautifully sunny morning, she is planning to see her brother Charlie, a prison inmate at HMP Low Moss, arranging to meet lawyer Anjan Chaudry, the man she is in a relationship with, for dinner in the evening. She is willing it to be a good day, a wish that begins to crack on her drive to see Charlie when she hears on the radio about a shooter running amok, a worrying scenario developing at the annual Border Union Show, just outside Kelso. There is a possible identification, Gerald Hodgson, a man sentenced to 5 years in 2001, time he spent in the same prison as Charlie.
Edinburgh police are supporting their Border colleagues by trying to find out as much they can about the suspect, an exercise that brings tragic news that has resulted in him acquired a 3 year old hostage, Elise. This raises the stakes considerably, and, out of the blue, the police receive a phone call from Hodgson, he is demanding to speak to Birch, making it clear that he will talk to no-one else but her. Puzzled as to why she has been chosen, Helen makes her way to Seefew, in the Bowman Valley, in the Scottish Borders, meeting the armed officer in charge, Jamal Leigh, and the trained crisis hostage negotiator, Rena Brooks, who tries to drum key points into her when negotiating, such as speaking with, rather that talking to, and humanising the hostage to Hodgson. Whilst Birch does her best, she is a police officer, in a desperate situation trying to ensure everyone comes out alive.
Askew creates a sympathetic character in Gerald Hodgson, harshly treated by the justice system during the traumatising and devastating Foot and Mouth disease, with the shell shocked communities having to endure the mass slaughter of all animals, an emotional nightmare, livelihoods threatening to go down the pan. Hodgson’s situation has Birch seeing her father, Jamieson, and Charlie in a more compassionate way as she begins to understand how he came to be where he now is. Suffering PTSD in 2001, Hodgson's mental health issues remained untreated in prison, and this remained the case in the years after his release, in which he faced a world that had turned its back on him. This is a thought provoking crime read, that describes the true horrors of foot and mouth in 2001, the repercussions of which still ripple within shattered communities, with Hodgson an unfortunate victim struggling to comprehend how he comes to be where he is. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Edinburgh police are supporting their Border colleagues by trying to find out as much they can about the suspect, an exercise that brings tragic news that has resulted in him acquired a 3 year old hostage, Elise. This raises the stakes considerably, and, out of the blue, the police receive a phone call from Hodgson, he is demanding to speak to Birch, making it clear that he will talk to no-one else but her. Puzzled as to why she has been chosen, Helen makes her way to Seefew, in the Bowman Valley, in the Scottish Borders, meeting the armed officer in charge, Jamal Leigh, and the trained crisis hostage negotiator, Rena Brooks, who tries to drum key points into her when negotiating, such as speaking with, rather that talking to, and humanising the hostage to Hodgson. Whilst Birch does her best, she is a police officer, in a desperate situation trying to ensure everyone comes out alive.
Askew creates a sympathetic character in Gerald Hodgson, harshly treated by the justice system during the traumatising and devastating Foot and Mouth disease, with the shell shocked communities having to endure the mass slaughter of all animals, an emotional nightmare, livelihoods threatening to go down the pan. Hodgson’s situation has Birch seeing her father, Jamieson, and Charlie in a more compassionate way as she begins to understand how he came to be where he now is. Suffering PTSD in 2001, Hodgson's mental health issues remained untreated in prison, and this remained the case in the years after his release, in which he faced a world that had turned its back on him. This is a thought provoking crime read, that describes the true horrors of foot and mouth in 2001, the repercussions of which still ripple within shattered communities, with Hodgson an unfortunate victim struggling to comprehend how he comes to be where he is. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
April 2, 2022
EXCERPT: On the screen, footage of a grounded Mountain Rescue helicopter, it's blades rotating slowly. The ticker scrolled endlessly below it: POLICE URGE LOCAL RESIDENTS: STAY INDOORS. A thought struck her.
'He's just running now, right?' she said. She could hear a spike of panic in her own voice. 'We think he's just running - he's not going off to target anyone? Another gathering?'
Amy shrugged.
'Honestly, marm,' she said, 'we don't know much.'
Birch closed her eyes. This, she thought, was supposed to be a good day.
'Only that he's armed,' she said, opening her eyes again, 'and - well, something. Crazy, angry, vengeful. Maybe all three.'
'Yep,' Amy said, her voice grim. 'And we have absolutely no idea where he is.'
ABOUT 'A MATTER OF TIME': At 8am the first shots are fired.
At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage.
By 5pm, a siege is underway.
At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks, alone and unarmed, into an abandoned Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.
One day. One woman. One chance to get everyone out alive
MY THOUGHTS: Gripping from the first page to the last.
As the story unfolds, there is a tense standoff in the Scottish Borders region where a man is holding a small child at gunpoint. And that is all you are getting. I recommend that you go into A Matter of Time with no more knowledge than that. There is a wonderful background story that is centred around the catastrophic Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001, which certainly made me pause in thought. We see these things from afar, and we think, 'Oh, how terrible!', but in reality, we have no idea of the extent of the damage, nor to whom the damage is being done.
I loved Helen's character. She's not all gung-ho and ride in rough shod. She's kind and thoughtful, and a little insecure when it comes to her own abilities. She has good instincts, but sometimes her temper gets the better of her. She believes herself to be operating well out of her depth with this case. But the hostage taker will not speak with anyone else. He has his reasons.
I had very ambivalent feelings about Gerry, the hostage taker. I felt a huge sympathy for him over what had happened in his past, and a great anger at the health and justice systems which failed him so badly. He is a man who has slipped through the cracks and the result is devastating. But, having said that, he has to be responsible for his actions.
The author creates an ongoing air of tension and suspense. I found myself holding my breath, my nails digging into my palms in several places.
I'm glad there are only three books in the series before this. It's doable to read them before #5 is published. And I will be taking a close look at this author's other work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#AMatterofTime #NetGalley
I: @one.night.stanzas @hodderbooks
T: @OneNightStanzas @HodderBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #mentalhealth #policeprocedural #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Claire Askew is a poet, novelist and the current Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh. Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Matter of Time by Claire Askew for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
'He's just running now, right?' she said. She could hear a spike of panic in her own voice. 'We think he's just running - he's not going off to target anyone? Another gathering?'
Amy shrugged.
'Honestly, marm,' she said, 'we don't know much.'
Birch closed her eyes. This, she thought, was supposed to be a good day.
'Only that he's armed,' she said, opening her eyes again, 'and - well, something. Crazy, angry, vengeful. Maybe all three.'
'Yep,' Amy said, her voice grim. 'And we have absolutely no idea where he is.'
ABOUT 'A MATTER OF TIME': At 8am the first shots are fired.
At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage.
By 5pm, a siege is underway.
At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks, alone and unarmed, into an abandoned Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.
One day. One woman. One chance to get everyone out alive
MY THOUGHTS: Gripping from the first page to the last.
As the story unfolds, there is a tense standoff in the Scottish Borders region where a man is holding a small child at gunpoint. And that is all you are getting. I recommend that you go into A Matter of Time with no more knowledge than that. There is a wonderful background story that is centred around the catastrophic Foot and Mouth outbreak of 2001, which certainly made me pause in thought. We see these things from afar, and we think, 'Oh, how terrible!', but in reality, we have no idea of the extent of the damage, nor to whom the damage is being done.
I loved Helen's character. She's not all gung-ho and ride in rough shod. She's kind and thoughtful, and a little insecure when it comes to her own abilities. She has good instincts, but sometimes her temper gets the better of her. She believes herself to be operating well out of her depth with this case. But the hostage taker will not speak with anyone else. He has his reasons.
I had very ambivalent feelings about Gerry, the hostage taker. I felt a huge sympathy for him over what had happened in his past, and a great anger at the health and justice systems which failed him so badly. He is a man who has slipped through the cracks and the result is devastating. But, having said that, he has to be responsible for his actions.
The author creates an ongoing air of tension and suspense. I found myself holding my breath, my nails digging into my palms in several places.
I'm glad there are only three books in the series before this. It's doable to read them before #5 is published. And I will be taking a close look at this author's other work.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
#AMatterofTime #NetGalley
I: @one.night.stanzas @hodderbooks
T: @OneNightStanzas @HodderBooks
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #mentalhealth #policeprocedural #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: Claire Askew is a poet, novelist and the current Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh. Claire Askew was born in 1986 and grew up in the Scottish Borders. She has lived in Edinburgh since 2004. She runs the One Night Stanza blog, and collects old typewriters (she currently has around 30).
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of A Matter of Time by Claire Askew for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review is also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
July 12, 2021
4+
DI Helen Birch prepares for the day telling herself it’s going to be a good one. She visits brother Charlie where she hears the news of a mass shooting just outside Kelso in the Scottish Borders. What unfolds is far, far away from the good day she envisages. The story is told in hourly narratives which works really well and principally from Helen’s perspective, there are some social media messages and news bulletins which add an extra layer to the story.
This is another good addition to this series and contains several layers in the storytelling. First of all, we have the unfolding drama and tense stand-off in the Borders which becomes a complex situation and this beautiful area is described so well you can picture it and is also used extremely effectively in the plot. The emerging backstory here involves the Armageddon of the devastating foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001 which the author uses really well making this personal and pulling on your heartstrings. The scenario escalates and you feel the tension as the mystery and intrigue of why this has happened builds. It becomes very intense with your nerves and that of those involved crackling with tension. Secondly, this story digs deep into emotions. You feel unexpected sympathy for the perpetrator as his backstory emerges as you grow in understanding of the tragedy yet conversely you also feel the opposite at the danger, threat and fear that is caused. I think the perpetrators portrayal is very good as the author delves into the psychology of how someone loses themselves when suffering a severe psychotic break. It’s also good on relationships especially the complex one between Helen and her father Jamieson which is quite moving at times and the growing one between her and lawyer Anjan. The ending is extremely tense with the drama going backwards and forwards. I like the short staccato sentences the author uses that matches the chaotic action.
Overall, this is an action packed, tense, emotional plot although I do think it’s probably unlikely that Helen would be as involved as she turns out to be but it sure makes good fiction!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
DI Helen Birch prepares for the day telling herself it’s going to be a good one. She visits brother Charlie where she hears the news of a mass shooting just outside Kelso in the Scottish Borders. What unfolds is far, far away from the good day she envisages. The story is told in hourly narratives which works really well and principally from Helen’s perspective, there are some social media messages and news bulletins which add an extra layer to the story.
This is another good addition to this series and contains several layers in the storytelling. First of all, we have the unfolding drama and tense stand-off in the Borders which becomes a complex situation and this beautiful area is described so well you can picture it and is also used extremely effectively in the plot. The emerging backstory here involves the Armageddon of the devastating foot and mouth disease outbreak in 2001 which the author uses really well making this personal and pulling on your heartstrings. The scenario escalates and you feel the tension as the mystery and intrigue of why this has happened builds. It becomes very intense with your nerves and that of those involved crackling with tension. Secondly, this story digs deep into emotions. You feel unexpected sympathy for the perpetrator as his backstory emerges as you grow in understanding of the tragedy yet conversely you also feel the opposite at the danger, threat and fear that is caused. I think the perpetrators portrayal is very good as the author delves into the psychology of how someone loses themselves when suffering a severe psychotic break. It’s also good on relationships especially the complex one between Helen and her father Jamieson which is quite moving at times and the growing one between her and lawyer Anjan. The ending is extremely tense with the drama going backwards and forwards. I like the short staccato sentences the author uses that matches the chaotic action.
Overall, this is an action packed, tense, emotional plot although I do think it’s probably unlikely that Helen would be as involved as she turns out to be but it sure makes good fiction!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 17, 2021
DI Helen Birch #4
At 8am the first shots were fired. At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage. By 5pm, a siege is underway. At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks alone and unarmed into a Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.
This story is set over 24 hours. It also centres around the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001 and the devastation it left in it's trail. There's also a gunman who has a hostage. Each chapter has the time shown, making the reader aware of where they've read up to as the clock is ticking down in hourly chapters. This is a tense and atmospheric read that I can't say too much about as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. This book held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderSoughton and the author #ClaireAskew for my ARC of #AMatterOfTime in exchange for an honest review.
At 8am the first shots were fired. At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage. By 5pm, a siege is underway. At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks alone and unarmed into a Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.
This story is set over 24 hours. It also centres around the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001 and the devastation it left in it's trail. There's also a gunman who has a hostage. Each chapter has the time shown, making the reader aware of where they've read up to as the clock is ticking down in hourly chapters. This is a tense and atmospheric read that I can't say too much about as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. This book held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #HodderSoughton and the author #ClaireAskew for my ARC of #AMatterOfTime in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2023
4 / 5
Wow. That was a intense, nail biting plot that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole plot from start to finish.
This is such a easy read, short under 300 pages which added to the whole reading experience. I truly have not read a book like this in a while, and honestly it felt like I was watching a movie. The descriptions, dialogue everything was perfect, although the location is situated right at the Scottish border with heavy Scottish accents (I can see a few folks struggling to understand). Everything was smooth like butter, no over doing it with the suspense build up which was pretty consistent. Although I do think this book cannot be read as a standalone, there are suggestions to the other previous books. There are references to characters which would make more sense if I had read the first three books prior.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book. Everything was perfect, the only down side is that the book felt a bit short, felt like abit of an abrupt ending, wish the ending was longer. I highly recommend the book if you like police procedures, heavy suspense build up, strong plot and characters.
Wow. That was a intense, nail biting plot that had me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole plot from start to finish.
This is such a easy read, short under 300 pages which added to the whole reading experience. I truly have not read a book like this in a while, and honestly it felt like I was watching a movie. The descriptions, dialogue everything was perfect, although the location is situated right at the Scottish border with heavy Scottish accents (I can see a few folks struggling to understand). Everything was smooth like butter, no over doing it with the suspense build up which was pretty consistent. Although I do think this book cannot be read as a standalone, there are suggestions to the other previous books. There are references to characters which would make more sense if I had read the first three books prior.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book. Everything was perfect, the only down side is that the book felt a bit short, felt like abit of an abrupt ending, wish the ending was longer. I highly recommend the book if you like police procedures, heavy suspense build up, strong plot and characters.
August 3, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an advance copy of A Matter of Time, the fourth novel to feature DI Helen Birch of the Edinburgh police.
A gunman goes on the rampage in the Scottish Borders and then takes a hostage. A standoff ensues and he refuses to talk to anyone but Helen, so she finds herself unarmed and alone in a derelict cottage with an armed gunman.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Matter of Time, which tells a compelling tale of misunderstood motives and tragedy. I’m not always a fan of psychological thrillers, but this seems to be the essence of the genre with a one on one conversation to try and get to the root of why they are where they are now. I found it fascinating and compulsive.
There isn’t much I can say about the content of the novel without issuing spoilers, but I liked the duel and the author does a good job of portraying both sides. On the one side there is the gunman and his pain and on the other Helen with her untrained efforts at an empathy she doesn’t always feel, occasional impatience and always with her mind on the main prize, an injury free resolution. That’s just the conversation as the novel cuts away to operational discussions, press reports and the effect on her loved ones. It is an effective telling from all sides. And the author still manages a final, unexpected twist.
The novel is a tense affair with each chapter having a time stamp, to let the reader know how far along things are, never mind Helen’s discomfort at being in a situation she isn’t trained for and feeling out of her depth. One wrong word and it could all go spectacularly wrong. The tension oozes out the pages.
I read the previous novel in the series and thought it okay but not much more. A Matter of Time is intense and packs an emotional punch. I found it riveting and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
A gunman goes on the rampage in the Scottish Borders and then takes a hostage. A standoff ensues and he refuses to talk to anyone but Helen, so she finds herself unarmed and alone in a derelict cottage with an armed gunman.
I thoroughly enjoyed A Matter of Time, which tells a compelling tale of misunderstood motives and tragedy. I’m not always a fan of psychological thrillers, but this seems to be the essence of the genre with a one on one conversation to try and get to the root of why they are where they are now. I found it fascinating and compulsive.
There isn’t much I can say about the content of the novel without issuing spoilers, but I liked the duel and the author does a good job of portraying both sides. On the one side there is the gunman and his pain and on the other Helen with her untrained efforts at an empathy she doesn’t always feel, occasional impatience and always with her mind on the main prize, an injury free resolution. That’s just the conversation as the novel cuts away to operational discussions, press reports and the effect on her loved ones. It is an effective telling from all sides. And the author still manages a final, unexpected twist.
The novel is a tense affair with each chapter having a time stamp, to let the reader know how far along things are, never mind Helen’s discomfort at being in a situation she isn’t trained for and feeling out of her depth. One wrong word and it could all go spectacularly wrong. The tension oozes out the pages.
I read the previous novel in the series and thought it okay but not much more. A Matter of Time is intense and packs an emotional punch. I found it riveting and have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
June 21, 2022
An intriguing prologue precedes a tense story that spans twenty four hours, told in hourly chapters. DI Helen Birch begins the day on a positive note. She had the morning off, it was a warm sunny day and she planned to visit her brother who was serving time in HMP Low Moss. To add to that she had a date with her lawyer partner, Anjan Chaudry that evening.
In the car park at Low Moss, she hears a breaking news item on the radio. The Scottish Borders Police have received reports of an incident just outside Kelso. Shots have been fired at a show ground where an annual show is being held. The man has been identified as Gerald Hodgson who also did time at Low Moss.
The unfolding incident in the Scottish borders escalates with several people injured and others hospitalised, the gunman still at large. Helen is drawn into the resulting desperate hostage situation as the Edinburgh police are called in for support. And as Hodgson’s back story becomes apparent he garners a measure of sympathy for what he went through, the treatment he received in and after prison and how it still affects him.
Because the story takes place in a short space of time, and the fact that Helen has no hostage negotiator training, means the tension and sense of urgency is ongoing. She realizes that the wrong word at the wrong time could have terrible repercussions. Witnessing the situation from the perspective of the police and family members also adds to the drama.
A Matter of Time is an emotional and multi layered story, the underlying thread concerning the devastating foot and mouth epidemic of 2001. It’s difficult to imagine the horror and long lasting effects such a traumatic time had on the communities and individuals involved. Claire Askew has cleverly woven that fact into the story, which is extremely thought provoking and emotive. Being in the situation she finds herself helps Helen to be more tolerant of her father, with whom she has a complex relationship. There were several ways this could have played out but I didn’t expect the final outcome.
In the car park at Low Moss, she hears a breaking news item on the radio. The Scottish Borders Police have received reports of an incident just outside Kelso. Shots have been fired at a show ground where an annual show is being held. The man has been identified as Gerald Hodgson who also did time at Low Moss.
The unfolding incident in the Scottish borders escalates with several people injured and others hospitalised, the gunman still at large. Helen is drawn into the resulting desperate hostage situation as the Edinburgh police are called in for support. And as Hodgson’s back story becomes apparent he garners a measure of sympathy for what he went through, the treatment he received in and after prison and how it still affects him.
Because the story takes place in a short space of time, and the fact that Helen has no hostage negotiator training, means the tension and sense of urgency is ongoing. She realizes that the wrong word at the wrong time could have terrible repercussions. Witnessing the situation from the perspective of the police and family members also adds to the drama.
A Matter of Time is an emotional and multi layered story, the underlying thread concerning the devastating foot and mouth epidemic of 2001. It’s difficult to imagine the horror and long lasting effects such a traumatic time had on the communities and individuals involved. Claire Askew has cleverly woven that fact into the story, which is extremely thought provoking and emotive. Being in the situation she finds herself helps Helen to be more tolerant of her father, with whom she has a complex relationship. There were several ways this could have played out but I didn’t expect the final outcome.
March 24, 2022
Well my goodness this was a gripping and tense read! DI Helen Birch is not on her usual turf in this book which sees her called in to deal with a hostage situation in a remote Borders farmhouse. She has no experience of negotiating but the gunman has specifically asked for her. Why, she has no idea. As her boss DCI McLeod says though, “Helen I have complete and utter faith in your abilities. You’re a damn fine officer and, if I may say so, highly adept at getting just about anything you want. I can’t think of a better person to send in and talk to raving madman.“.
At the heart of the matter are the continuing reverberations from the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. I can distinctly remember driving to a holiday in Cumbria that Autumn and seeing the plumes of smokes from the pyres of cattle which had been slaughtered. At a time when we are living with another feared disease, it is easy to understand the devastating impact this had and the trauma caused, particularly for the farming community at the time.
We follow Helen hour by hour throughout the day and there are a few chapters showing the mainstream media and social media coverage too. This builds up a feeling of tension and gives a sense of just how long those hours would feel to Helen. She has put herself willingly in real danger and it’s heart-in-mouth stuff.
And then, suddenly, Claire Askew takes her story hurtling towards its conclusion in a nail biting few pages! A Matter of Time is tense, compelling and surprisingly emotional at times, particularly in scenes involving Helen’s partner Anjan and her dad, Jamieson. It ends on quite the cliffhanger and I do hope we don’t have to wait too long for book 5!
At the heart of the matter are the continuing reverberations from the foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. I can distinctly remember driving to a holiday in Cumbria that Autumn and seeing the plumes of smokes from the pyres of cattle which had been slaughtered. At a time when we are living with another feared disease, it is easy to understand the devastating impact this had and the trauma caused, particularly for the farming community at the time.
We follow Helen hour by hour throughout the day and there are a few chapters showing the mainstream media and social media coverage too. This builds up a feeling of tension and gives a sense of just how long those hours would feel to Helen. She has put herself willingly in real danger and it’s heart-in-mouth stuff.
And then, suddenly, Claire Askew takes her story hurtling towards its conclusion in a nail biting few pages! A Matter of Time is tense, compelling and surprisingly emotional at times, particularly in scenes involving Helen’s partner Anjan and her dad, Jamieson. It ends on quite the cliffhanger and I do hope we don’t have to wait too long for book 5!
April 18, 2022
An emotional rollercoaster of a story with messages about the impact of foot and mouth on Scottish farmers in 2001 and how the police view criminals with mental health issues.
August 30, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Helen Birch is back, and finds herself in another impossible situation. This time round, there is a gunman on the loose in Scotland at a show ground. He then goes to a house and continues carrying out his devastating attack. The gunman finds himself at some ruins and the only person he will speak to is Birch. She finds herself in a hostage situation and has to try and get a good outcome for all parties.
I really like this series of books, and Birch really makes the series. She is such a great character to read about, she is a strong detective, who is obviously brave, but she is vulnerable and she shows that side of her. This storyline was quite hard hitting, but gave the opportunity to see both sides of the coin, from the detectives side and from the gunman’s side, which was really important in this book. We see that everything is not as it seems. Another great, page turning read from this author. I can’t wait to see what Birch has to face next.
Helen Birch is back, and finds herself in another impossible situation. This time round, there is a gunman on the loose in Scotland at a show ground. He then goes to a house and continues carrying out his devastating attack. The gunman finds himself at some ruins and the only person he will speak to is Birch. She finds herself in a hostage situation and has to try and get a good outcome for all parties.
I really like this series of books, and Birch really makes the series. She is such a great character to read about, she is a strong detective, who is obviously brave, but she is vulnerable and she shows that side of her. This storyline was quite hard hitting, but gave the opportunity to see both sides of the coin, from the detectives side and from the gunman’s side, which was really important in this book. We see that everything is not as it seems. Another great, page turning read from this author. I can’t wait to see what Birch has to face next.
March 10, 2022
I have been a fan of Claire’s work for a little while now. I read and loved the first three books in the series featuring Detective Inspector Helen Birch. So when I heard that Claire was due to release another book in the series, I knew that I had to read it as soon as I could. Well ladies and gents the wait is over because the fourth book in the series is called ‘A Matter Of Time’ and it was released in both e-book format and hardback on the 10th March 2022. It’s another corker of a read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Matter Of Time’ but more about that in a bit.
It took me minutes to get into ‘A Matter Of Time’. I read the introduction to the story and let’s just say I found it slightly chilling. I was intrigued by the character with the shotgun and I had to keep reading to see if he managed to carry out his threats or whether or not D.I Birch would be able to bring the case to a safe conclusion. I couldn’t turn the pages of the book quickly enough as I made my way through the story. It’s safe to say that I found this book to be extremely addictive and I became just a little bit obsessed by the story. If I wasn’t reading the book then I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book down for any reason, then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘A Matter Of Time’ and I had to say goodbye to DI Birch and her team. I found ‘A Matter Of Time’ to be a tense, gripping and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘A Matter Of Time’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Claire Askew. Claire certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. This book is written in a slightly different way to Claire’s other books, in that the story takes place over the course of 24 hours with each chapter illustrating what happened over the course of that particular hour. I hope that makes sense. Reading ‘A Matter Of Time’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I got a real sense of the urgency to find the gunman and the increasing level of tension as the hours ticked by. I love the way in which Claire makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Matter Of Time’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Claire’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
It took me minutes to get into ‘A Matter Of Time’. I read the introduction to the story and let’s just say I found it slightly chilling. I was intrigued by the character with the shotgun and I had to keep reading to see if he managed to carry out his threats or whether or not D.I Birch would be able to bring the case to a safe conclusion. I couldn’t turn the pages of the book quickly enough as I made my way through the story. It’s safe to say that I found this book to be extremely addictive and I became just a little bit obsessed by the story. If I wasn’t reading the book then I was thinking about it. If I had to put the book down for any reason, then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘A Matter Of Time’ and I had to say goodbye to DI Birch and her team. I found ‘A Matter Of Time’ to be a tense, gripping and dramatic read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘A Matter Of Time’ is superbly written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Claire Askew. Claire certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be one hell of a story. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. This book is written in a slightly different way to Claire’s other books, in that the story takes place over the course of 24 hours with each chapter illustrating what happened over the course of that particular hour. I hope that makes sense. Reading ‘A Matter Of Time’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I got a real sense of the urgency to find the gunman and the increasing level of tension as the hours ticked by. I love the way in which Claire makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Matter Of Time’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Claire’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
March 20, 2022
As soon as I started reading this book I was hooked. It is a novel where the first character you meet is the one who was the threat and you could see what his thoughts were before you met the lead character. In this novel that character was DI Helen Birch who had no idea that her day was going to be nothing like the one she planned.
The novel covers the whole day, from when there is little information to the moment when the various police teams descend onto the remote area and from there to the negotiation and outcome. One of the reasons I like this novel is that whilst there is an obvious sense of emergency there is no rush. The author shows the strength of feeling in the local area with regards to the suspect and what led to his prison sentence. Helen is surprised by how much sympathy there is for him but her understanding grows as she starts to gain his trust and he opens up.
There is a lot of emotion and guilt in this novel. The impact of foot and mouth disease on the area was devastating, especially for Gerald, the gunman. A distant memory for many, including myself, but from which some would never recover. The determination to keep a young girl safe, and the way she was handled was another. And alongside this was the respect, frustration and occasional humour that was building amongst those who were there in the background. All of them trying to support Helen with little idea of how well she was managing. Unarmed and alone with a desperate armed man with nothing to lose.
I sometimes find it difficult to read a book that is part of a series I haven’t read before, but despite this being book four I managed to get straight into it. There was mention of an earlier case that had an impact on Helen but there were no spoilers so I can read and enjoy them just as much as I did this one
The novel covers the whole day, from when there is little information to the moment when the various police teams descend onto the remote area and from there to the negotiation and outcome. One of the reasons I like this novel is that whilst there is an obvious sense of emergency there is no rush. The author shows the strength of feeling in the local area with regards to the suspect and what led to his prison sentence. Helen is surprised by how much sympathy there is for him but her understanding grows as she starts to gain his trust and he opens up.
There is a lot of emotion and guilt in this novel. The impact of foot and mouth disease on the area was devastating, especially for Gerald, the gunman. A distant memory for many, including myself, but from which some would never recover. The determination to keep a young girl safe, and the way she was handled was another. And alongside this was the respect, frustration and occasional humour that was building amongst those who were there in the background. All of them trying to support Helen with little idea of how well she was managing. Unarmed and alone with a desperate armed man with nothing to lose.
I sometimes find it difficult to read a book that is part of a series I haven’t read before, but despite this being book four I managed to get straight into it. There was mention of an earlier case that had an impact on Helen but there were no spoilers so I can read and enjoy them just as much as I did this one
January 3, 2023
Always amazed at the similarities between these lead detectives in murder thrillers - their troubled past, poor housekeeping (never any food in the fridge), going solo into extreme situations, getting badly beaten on verge of death ... repeatedly! On saying that I have enjoyed Helen's evolving relationships.
March 5, 2022
DI Helen Birch is an Edinburgh based police officer, haunted by the Three Rivers case during which she had broken rules and had to face a disciplinary committee. Her family history is also fraught with problems, brother in prison, estranged alcoholic father, mother a suicide. When word comes through of a random shooter at a fair in the Scottish Borders this is not a particular concern to her – it isn’t her area, after all. The shooter, then identified as a killer after a woman is found shot dead, is on the run, taking with him the dead woman’s three year old daughter. He becomes Helen’s problem when, trapped out on the moors and surrounded, the shooter says he will only talk with her. Untrained as a negotiator, she nevertheless has to enter the ruined bothy where he is holding the little girl and try to talk him into surrendering. During her time with him, certain aspects of her own life and problems are subjected to analysis, particularly her relationship with her father. It also becomes clear that the roots of the depression and anxiety which have driven him to commit the shootings lie in the past, specifically the foot and mouth epidemic of 2001.
The story unfolds over 24 hours and each chapter is headed by the actual time and the elapsed time. This gives a sense of urgency and tension to the story, which is useful as a plot device since the whole thing is otherwise a bit slow. The amount of action that occurs in each ‘hour’ is quite variable and some feel more like fifteen minute rather than sixty. I’m not particularly convinced about the psychological aspects, neither of the killer nor of the police officer, partly because the dialogue doesn’t sell it. This is the fourth in a series of police procedurals, although there is not a lot of procedure evident, but works as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
The story unfolds over 24 hours and each chapter is headed by the actual time and the elapsed time. This gives a sense of urgency and tension to the story, which is useful as a plot device since the whole thing is otherwise a bit slow. The amount of action that occurs in each ‘hour’ is quite variable and some feel more like fifteen minute rather than sixty. I’m not particularly convinced about the psychological aspects, neither of the killer nor of the police officer, partly because the dialogue doesn’t sell it. This is the fourth in a series of police procedurals, although there is not a lot of procedure evident, but works as a standalone.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.
August 17, 2023
Another good one from Claire Askew. Loved the way the book fitted in a 24 hours time frame, which made it tense.
March 9, 2022
DI Helen Birch is determined to have a good day. She plans to visit her brother in prison and then meet her partner for a pleasant dinner. Naturally, things don't work out how she hoped. She finds herself acting as a police negotiator in an incredibly stressful stand-off with a gunman and a small girl. The story takes place over twenty four hours with each chapter containing one hour. This is a smart device which creates a very satisfying read.
Central to the plot is the devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. You gradually begin to see how this event had a terrible impact on the life of the gunman and develop a sympathy for him, despite his actions.
This is a well written, tense and thought provoking read. The author pulls no punches about how awful foot and mouth was and the dreadful consequences it had for rural communities. It is also a great police procedural with interesting characters and complex relationships.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Central to the plot is the devastating outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2001. You gradually begin to see how this event had a terrible impact on the life of the gunman and develop a sympathy for him, despite his actions.
This is a well written, tense and thought provoking read. The author pulls no punches about how awful foot and mouth was and the dreadful consequences it had for rural communities. It is also a great police procedural with interesting characters and complex relationships.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2022
Another excellent read from Claire askew. Not a mystery as the "bad" guy was identified in the first few pages but a gripping story that kept me reading until the small hours to see how it would turn out
March 13, 2022
Another cracker
I absolutely gobbled down this book, Luke I had the three before it. Eager to find out what happens. Drawn in by the characters, human and place, that Claire described so compellingly. Can't wait for book 5.
I absolutely gobbled down this book, Luke I had the three before it. Eager to find out what happens. Drawn in by the characters, human and place, that Claire described so compellingly. Can't wait for book 5.
March 10, 2022
This is my first book by Claire askew but it won’t be the last.
A matter of time is a fast paced book set over 24 hours. It follows the story of police officer Helen Birch as she finds herself embroiled in a shooting.
Looking not only at how the situation escalated and resolves, it also looks at Helen’s familial relationships.
This book will have your heart pounding as it is drawn to a terrifying climax.
A matter of time is a fast paced book set over 24 hours. It follows the story of police officer Helen Birch as she finds herself embroiled in a shooting.
Looking not only at how the situation escalated and resolves, it also looks at Helen’s familial relationships.
This book will have your heart pounding as it is drawn to a terrifying climax.
March 10, 2022
The fourth book in the DI Birch series is just as riveting as the first three. The tension is seriously ratcheted up in this instalment, though, and I ends with a nail-biting cliff hanger. If you like extremely well written characters and excellent researched police based drama then this series is definitely for you. Can’t wait for the next one!
March 6, 2022
A Matter of Time is fast paced and easy to read. I was drawn to the fact it is set in the Scottish borders as it is an area I know and love. It is set over a 24 hour period which I enjoyed and I read it all in one sitting. This is the fourth book in the DI Birch series but the first one I have read. I don't think it mattered that I had not read the previous books but as I loved this one so much I intend to read the previous books in order.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my ARC.
March 24, 2022
A Matter of Time takes place over a period of 24 hours and even though I read it in rather less than a day, I think I felt every one of those hours. This is the first book I've read by Claire Askew and so DI Helen Birch is a new character to me. I'm happy to say that it can definitely be read as a standalone with enough of her back story explained here to understand how her past continues to influence both her professional and personal life. However, I'm still very much looking forward to reading the previous books to learn more.
After a short, foreboding prologue, each chapter of A Matter of Time takes place over an hour, taking us from the time when Helen first hears news of a shooting through to the nail-biting conclusion. Having not yet read All the Hidden Truths meant I was unfamiliar with the Three Rivers college shooting which saw Helen as the newly promoted DI in charge of the case but throughout the novel, it's always obvious how that investigation continues to shape her. However, it's not just the distressing memory of that particular case which defines Helen and I was really impressed that with such a taut storyline, I was still able to gain a clear impression of the woman, especially when it comes to her (self) doubts and fears.
The compelling, clock-ticking structure of the book ensures there isn't room for much in the way of subplots and while there are moments which evidently develop long-standing plotlines a little further, this is really a breathtakingly suspenseful thriller where each hour that passes is a rollercoaster of emotions - for the reader as much as the characters. As Helen tries to figure out a way of de-escalating the terrifying situation she is given little choice but to walk into, Claire Askew sensitively explores a number of thought-provoking themes and although A Matter of Time is undoubtedly a thriller, it never feels sensationalised. The agitated gunman is empathically humanised without his actions being excused and the ramifications of split-second and more considered decisions by individuals and authorities are examined with nuanced understanding of the complexities involved. The inclusion of hostage negotiator Rena Brooks' character is especially clever and I really admired the tense conversations she has with Helen's boss, DCI McLeod. It's fair to say that they approach the situation very differently but it was refreshing to note that despite being more inclined to sympathise with her point of view, he is never made out to be the bad guy and indeed, his concerns for his officer are as genuine as her hopes for a peaceful conclusion to the siege.
The outcome of the siege is never obvious and there are moments of pulse-raising high drama and poignant emotion before the eventual denouement. The remote Borders setting of the novel lends a real sense of chilling claustrophobia to proceedings, particularly as many of the knife-edge scenes take place at night. It also allows for a harrowing, compassionate look at how the foot and mouth crisis devastated the farming community in the area, recognising the traumatic legacy left by such a profound experience.
Dark, intensely gripping and ultimately deeply moving, A Matter of Time is a cracking thriller and one that I highly recommend!
After a short, foreboding prologue, each chapter of A Matter of Time takes place over an hour, taking us from the time when Helen first hears news of a shooting through to the nail-biting conclusion. Having not yet read All the Hidden Truths meant I was unfamiliar with the Three Rivers college shooting which saw Helen as the newly promoted DI in charge of the case but throughout the novel, it's always obvious how that investigation continues to shape her. However, it's not just the distressing memory of that particular case which defines Helen and I was really impressed that with such a taut storyline, I was still able to gain a clear impression of the woman, especially when it comes to her (self) doubts and fears.
The compelling, clock-ticking structure of the book ensures there isn't room for much in the way of subplots and while there are moments which evidently develop long-standing plotlines a little further, this is really a breathtakingly suspenseful thriller where each hour that passes is a rollercoaster of emotions - for the reader as much as the characters. As Helen tries to figure out a way of de-escalating the terrifying situation she is given little choice but to walk into, Claire Askew sensitively explores a number of thought-provoking themes and although A Matter of Time is undoubtedly a thriller, it never feels sensationalised. The agitated gunman is empathically humanised without his actions being excused and the ramifications of split-second and more considered decisions by individuals and authorities are examined with nuanced understanding of the complexities involved. The inclusion of hostage negotiator Rena Brooks' character is especially clever and I really admired the tense conversations she has with Helen's boss, DCI McLeod. It's fair to say that they approach the situation very differently but it was refreshing to note that despite being more inclined to sympathise with her point of view, he is never made out to be the bad guy and indeed, his concerns for his officer are as genuine as her hopes for a peaceful conclusion to the siege.
The outcome of the siege is never obvious and there are moments of pulse-raising high drama and poignant emotion before the eventual denouement. The remote Borders setting of the novel lends a real sense of chilling claustrophobia to proceedings, particularly as many of the knife-edge scenes take place at night. It also allows for a harrowing, compassionate look at how the foot and mouth crisis devastated the farming community in the area, recognising the traumatic legacy left by such a profound experience.
Dark, intensely gripping and ultimately deeply moving, A Matter of Time is a cracking thriller and one that I highly recommend!
October 18, 2021
DI Helen Birch is part of a task force investigating a murder, shootings and kidnapping of a young girl. The suspect becomes obvious pretty quickly and eventually she goes in to try and talk the kidnapper Gerry Hodgson into releasing Elise and giving himself up.
More a psychological thriller than a crime thriller as much of it takes place in conversation between Gerry and Helen as he explains how he went to jail during U.K. foot and mouth outbreak and how he came to shoot his ex girlfriend and her partner.
Interesting storyline and backstory, including Helen’s personal life.
Found it a bit slow at times but enjoyable read.
3.5 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.
More a psychological thriller than a crime thriller as much of it takes place in conversation between Gerry and Helen as he explains how he went to jail during U.K. foot and mouth outbreak and how he came to shoot his ex girlfriend and her partner.
Interesting storyline and backstory, including Helen’s personal life.
Found it a bit slow at times but enjoyable read.
3.5 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.
January 19, 2022
I was so looking forward to reading this novel A MATTER OF TIME by Claire Askew. Unfortunately, from page one, I did not connect with the story or the characters. The prologue did not whet my appetite, as did the following chapters. It maybe that at this present time, the book is not for me. I was disappointed in the plot. The story is written over a 24 hour period and I did not get the feeling of ''tension'' in the writing. The gunman's character did nothing to excite! Detective Inspector Helen Birch, the main character was alien to me. The storyline did not ''speak' to me.
I give a 2 star rating because the book was not for me
I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
I give a 2 star rating because the book was not for me
I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
August 24, 2021
A fun easy read, a nice pacy thriller for an airplane ride (remember them?) Perhaps requires a little more knowledge about the early 2000's Foot and Mouth crisis in the UK but otherwise well written and the story moves along nicely.
Askew does a good job of humanising the antagonist and given us moments to understand and empathise with him.
A lot of unanswered questions, not just around the last few pages but the antagonist's relationships never get delved into. This good be the point as after all nothing does justify his actions but it felt like it was dangled a lot and then left hanging.
Still, enjoyable over all.
Askew does a good job of humanising the antagonist and given us moments to understand and empathise with him.
A lot of unanswered questions, not just around the last few pages but the antagonist's relationships never get delved into. This good be the point as after all nothing does justify his actions but it felt like it was dangled a lot and then left hanging.
Still, enjoyable over all.
August 27, 2021
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
a tense thriller
a man goes on the rampage with a shotgun, numerous casualties and suspected dead but the welfare of a child is the utmost importance
D.I birch is requested by the gunman and with the welfare of the child in everyones mind with de-escalation being the main objective birch with no formal training in talking to the perp goes into the situation unarmed with only her wits about her
interesting read that will keep you up late into the night
a tense thriller
a man goes on the rampage with a shotgun, numerous casualties and suspected dead but the welfare of a child is the utmost importance
D.I birch is requested by the gunman and with the welfare of the child in everyones mind with de-escalation being the main objective birch with no formal training in talking to the perp goes into the situation unarmed with only her wits about her
interesting read that will keep you up late into the night
July 30, 2021
This is book four in the Helen Birch series and is the best yet. It's tense. well written and has excellent characterisation. As the story emerges, it centres round the outbreak of foot and mouth disease and the devastating effect it had on so many lives. I like the writing style, the emotion portrayed and the unexpected ending. I would recommend the read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
June 26, 2021
Set over just 24 hours this is an easy, lazy Saturday read in one sitting book.
Definitely an absorbing read but I feel there are a lot of holes in the plot and lots of unanswered questions.
Having said that I would read the next book in the series due to the cliff hanger conclusion.
Definitely an absorbing read but I feel there are a lot of holes in the plot and lots of unanswered questions.
Having said that I would read the next book in the series due to the cliff hanger conclusion.
March 22, 2023
DI Helen Birch is looking forward to a good day, but events take over.
A man is reported shooting at a showground in the Scottish Borders and it soon becomes clear he has taken a hostage, a 3-year-old girl, after shooting his former fiancee and her husband.
The gunman is Gerry Hodgson, imprisoned after his actions during the foot and mouth epidemic in 2001. Hodgson has never recovered from the emotional and mental strain events took on him. He insists that Helen Birch is the only police officer he will speak to, even though she isn't trained in hostage negotiation. A trained negotiator gives Helen some advice before she goes in but she is effectively on her own thereafter.
A tense standoff ensues, with Helen attempting to gain Hodgson's trust and talk him down from shooting the little girl. This doesn't prove easy but Helen perseveres, even thinking she has got through at one stage until events ratchet up into a startling denouement.
This was a gripping and believable police drama, with Helen's own relationships well-drawn. Her partner, Anjan, is a solicitor and her father, Jamieson Birch, hasn't always been there for her whilst Charlie, Helen's brother, is in prison because of wrong choices he has made.
The way the investigation proceeded did make you suspend disbelief a little as I found it hard to conceive a situation where an untrained police officer would be sent in to negotiate with a clearly unstable individual; however, the way Claire Askew evinced understanding and even sympathy for what had happened to Gerry Hodgson made you more invested in the outcome.
As Hodgson reveals more of himself, the more we see how he has lost the thread of his life to the point that he acts in a way completely detached from reality. Whilst not excusing his behaviour, we can see how he finds himself more and more isolated and eventually cracks under the pressure.
Claire Askew's resolution of events is realistic and not honey-coated, making the ending sad and yet more truthful. Life doesn't always deliver the outcomes we would like.
I also liked the concentrated narrative, with events taking place over a single 24-hour period.
It would be useful to have read the three previous investigations to have more of Helen's back story, but this can be read as a standalone novel. I will certainly read more by Claire Askew.
I was sent a digital ARC of this book by Hodder & Stoughton, in return for an honest appraisal.
A man is reported shooting at a showground in the Scottish Borders and it soon becomes clear he has taken a hostage, a 3-year-old girl, after shooting his former fiancee and her husband.
The gunman is Gerry Hodgson, imprisoned after his actions during the foot and mouth epidemic in 2001. Hodgson has never recovered from the emotional and mental strain events took on him. He insists that Helen Birch is the only police officer he will speak to, even though she isn't trained in hostage negotiation. A trained negotiator gives Helen some advice before she goes in but she is effectively on her own thereafter.
A tense standoff ensues, with Helen attempting to gain Hodgson's trust and talk him down from shooting the little girl. This doesn't prove easy but Helen perseveres, even thinking she has got through at one stage until events ratchet up into a startling denouement.
This was a gripping and believable police drama, with Helen's own relationships well-drawn. Her partner, Anjan, is a solicitor and her father, Jamieson Birch, hasn't always been there for her whilst Charlie, Helen's brother, is in prison because of wrong choices he has made.
The way the investigation proceeded did make you suspend disbelief a little as I found it hard to conceive a situation where an untrained police officer would be sent in to negotiate with a clearly unstable individual; however, the way Claire Askew evinced understanding and even sympathy for what had happened to Gerry Hodgson made you more invested in the outcome.
As Hodgson reveals more of himself, the more we see how he has lost the thread of his life to the point that he acts in a way completely detached from reality. Whilst not excusing his behaviour, we can see how he finds himself more and more isolated and eventually cracks under the pressure.
Claire Askew's resolution of events is realistic and not honey-coated, making the ending sad and yet more truthful. Life doesn't always deliver the outcomes we would like.
I also liked the concentrated narrative, with events taking place over a single 24-hour period.
It would be useful to have read the three previous investigations to have more of Helen's back story, but this can be read as a standalone novel. I will certainly read more by Claire Askew.
I was sent a digital ARC of this book by Hodder & Stoughton, in return for an honest appraisal.
March 9, 2022
This is book 4 in the series and, as per usual, I am going to recommend you start from book one and read in order. Although the main story is self-contained herein, it does refer back to things that happened in previous books. There is enough catch-up to make it all make sense, but imo not really enough to get proper on board with what happens here.
So... Helen is looking forward to a decent day. With the morning off to visit her incarcerated brother Charlie, a splosh of work, followed by dinner with her partner Anjan. But, it'd make for a very boring, and short, book if all that were to transpire as expected. Instead, Helen hears on the radio that there's been an incident. A man loose with a gun at the annual show. A man with a connection, albeit a bit loose, with her brother!
Long story short, Helen is drafted in as a negotiator. Can she delve into all her experience and personality to get the favourable outcome? She's scant training to go on after all...
Oh my! This book sucked me in, tugged at my emotions, and spat me out at the end, completely spent. For a lot of people who shared the devastation that Gerald did, I really feel for them. As I did him during this book. "There but for the grace" was something I thought about several times throughout this book. I'd love to wax lyrical more on this "creating a monster" things but I fear it would spoil things if I divulged too much. Suffice to say that things could have been a whole lot better for Gerald had circumstances not happened to and around him. I felt for him in that respect.
And Helen, boy did she step up. Into the abyss, outside her comfort zone. And not just cos she had to. Kudos for her in that regard. Not 100% sure it would have really played out like that in real life but happy to swallow any misgivings in the name of fiction. And well plotted and executed fiction this most definitely is. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So... Helen is looking forward to a decent day. With the morning off to visit her incarcerated brother Charlie, a splosh of work, followed by dinner with her partner Anjan. But, it'd make for a very boring, and short, book if all that were to transpire as expected. Instead, Helen hears on the radio that there's been an incident. A man loose with a gun at the annual show. A man with a connection, albeit a bit loose, with her brother!
Long story short, Helen is drafted in as a negotiator. Can she delve into all her experience and personality to get the favourable outcome? She's scant training to go on after all...
Oh my! This book sucked me in, tugged at my emotions, and spat me out at the end, completely spent. For a lot of people who shared the devastation that Gerald did, I really feel for them. As I did him during this book. "There but for the grace" was something I thought about several times throughout this book. I'd love to wax lyrical more on this "creating a monster" things but I fear it would spoil things if I divulged too much. Suffice to say that things could have been a whole lot better for Gerald had circumstances not happened to and around him. I felt for him in that respect.
And Helen, boy did she step up. Into the abyss, outside her comfort zone. And not just cos she had to. Kudos for her in that regard. Not 100% sure it would have really played out like that in real life but happy to swallow any misgivings in the name of fiction. And well plotted and executed fiction this most definitely is. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews