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DI Joanna Piercy #14
Blood on the Rocks
Please note this book was previously published as Blood on the Rocks.
Detective Joanna Piercy is seven months pregnant and hating every second of it. Everyone wants to wrap her in cotton wool and her boss insists on sticking her with the ‘easy’ cases.
So she’s less than pleased to be tasked with finding a ninety-six-year-old man who went missing from a residential home in his slippers.
But things aren’t what they seem behind the gates of this old Victorian care home. Zachary would never go anywhere without his teddy . . . and a few days earlier, the bear suddenly disappeared. Detective Piercy knows Zachary can’t get far on his own. But there’s no sign of him. Who would abduct a frail old man?
As she desperately searches for Zachary, Joanna has no idea that someone from her past has come back to seek revenge on her — and her unborn child.
Detective Joanna Piercy is seven months pregnant and hating every second of it. Everyone wants to wrap her in cotton wool and her boss insists on sticking her with the ‘easy’ cases.
So she’s less than pleased to be tasked with finding a ninety-six-year-old man who went missing from a residential home in his slippers.
But things aren’t what they seem behind the gates of this old Victorian care home. Zachary would never go anywhere without his teddy . . . and a few days earlier, the bear suddenly disappeared. Detective Piercy knows Zachary can’t get far on his own. But there’s no sign of him. Who would abduct a frail old man?
As she desperately searches for Zachary, Joanna has no idea that someone from her past has come back to seek revenge on her — and her unborn child.
240 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2019
161 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
About the author
Priscilla Masters
63 books79 followersPriscilla Masters' writing career started in 1987 when she published Mr. Bateman's Garden, a children's book set in Biddulph Grange Gardens belonging to the National Trust. After that she created Inspector Joanna Piercy and has now also written a number of Medical Mysteries.
Priscilla Masters lives in Shropshire, England. She works part-time in Staffordshire as a practice nurse.
Priscilla Masters lives in Shropshire, England. She works part-time in Staffordshire as a practice nurse.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 11, 2019
3 and 1 / 2 stars
Mr. Zachary Foster aged ninety-six and suffering from dementia has wandered away from his care home. DI Joanna Piercy, heavily pregnant, is given the task of locating him, much to her irritation.
Joanna begins her investigation by visiting the care home and interviewing the staff and Zachary's roommate. The staff claims that all the doors were locked; they have a protocol. Meanwhile, it is bitterly cold outside and Zachary is presumably outside in his p.j.s.
I didn't find this book to be as good as Ms. Masters' previous novels. I had a hard time getting through it in sometimes. There was far too much time spent on interviewing and talking and not enough action. It was well written and Ms. Masters made her usual astute observations about her interviewees body language.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review.
Mr. Zachary Foster aged ninety-six and suffering from dementia has wandered away from his care home. DI Joanna Piercy, heavily pregnant, is given the task of locating him, much to her irritation.
Joanna begins her investigation by visiting the care home and interviewing the staff and Zachary's roommate. The staff claims that all the doors were locked; they have a protocol. Meanwhile, it is bitterly cold outside and Zachary is presumably outside in his p.j.s.
I didn't find this book to be as good as Ms. Masters' previous novels. I had a hard time getting through it in sometimes. There was far too much time spent on interviewing and talking and not enough action. It was well written and Ms. Masters made her usual astute observations about her interviewees body language.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishers for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read, enjoy and review.
July 22, 2019
My 5* review of Blood on the Rocks by Priscilla Masters
Take a 96 year old missing dementia patient and a teddy bear. This author conjures a fantastic mystery tale in a brilliant thought out plot, whilst being heavily pregnant at the time. Not the author being Pregnant the main character. This book keeps you on your toes and at the edge of your seat at the same time, if that's possible. Looking forward to more from this writer.
Take a 96 year old missing dementia patient and a teddy bear. This author conjures a fantastic mystery tale in a brilliant thought out plot, whilst being heavily pregnant at the time. Not the author being Pregnant the main character. This book keeps you on your toes and at the edge of your seat at the same time, if that's possible. Looking forward to more from this writer.
May 14, 2019
This is the 14th in the DI Joanna Piercy series. Not essential that you read any of the previous books, but I would recommend it in order to learn about Jo, Mike, her colleagues and her relationship with Matthew.
This book sees a heavily pregnant Joanna struggle with solving the mystery disappearance of an elderly man and his teddy bear.
I have read most of this series and really like Jo. My only criticism is that the story seemed to take a while to get into its stride.
I would give this story 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this story in exchange for my review.
This book sees a heavily pregnant Joanna struggle with solving the mystery disappearance of an elderly man and his teddy bear.
I have read most of this series and really like Jo. My only criticism is that the story seemed to take a while to get into its stride.
I would give this story 3.5 stars.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for giving me an arc of this story in exchange for my review.
April 11, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
DI Joanna Piercey is pregnant and not wholly happy about it. Her husband is trying to wrap her up in cotton and her caseload is tepid, to say the least. She's tasked with finding a 96-year old man who has mysteriously disappeared from his care home. Suffering from Alzheimer's, not too steady on his feet, with only pyjamas, slippers and a coat, he's in danger of freezing to death. But the police can't find him, there is no CCTV footage of him and nobody has seen him. Days pass and things look dire, there's no way he could survive, poor man. The only clue Joanna has is that the man's constant companion, his ancient teddy bear, went missing and heartbroken, he might have gone looking for it outside. But how could he have left the building, it was locked up tight...
This mystery was quite tense and seemingly impossible to solve. Joanna is anxious to solve it as she struggles to heft her growing belly around, irritated that she was handed the case in the first place. She's not a happy, glowing mum-to-be, afraid of birth and motherhood and to top it all, after a fall off her bicycle, she can't even cycle to work anymore...forbidden by the husband who's ecstatic about the the baby.
This was a very enjoyable read, my heart was speeding up more and more towards the end and I can't wait to see what the future will hold for Joanna, new mum still working!
DI Joanna Piercey is pregnant and not wholly happy about it. Her husband is trying to wrap her up in cotton and her caseload is tepid, to say the least. She's tasked with finding a 96-year old man who has mysteriously disappeared from his care home. Suffering from Alzheimer's, not too steady on his feet, with only pyjamas, slippers and a coat, he's in danger of freezing to death. But the police can't find him, there is no CCTV footage of him and nobody has seen him. Days pass and things look dire, there's no way he could survive, poor man. The only clue Joanna has is that the man's constant companion, his ancient teddy bear, went missing and heartbroken, he might have gone looking for it outside. But how could he have left the building, it was locked up tight...
This mystery was quite tense and seemingly impossible to solve. Joanna is anxious to solve it as she struggles to heft her growing belly around, irritated that she was handed the case in the first place. She's not a happy, glowing mum-to-be, afraid of birth and motherhood and to top it all, after a fall off her bicycle, she can't even cycle to work anymore...forbidden by the husband who's ecstatic about the the baby.
This was a very enjoyable read, my heart was speeding up more and more towards the end and I can't wait to see what the future will hold for Joanna, new mum still working!
April 11, 2019
#BloodOnTheRocks #NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for this ARC/eDoc of my first Priscilla Masters Mystery, Blood on the Rocks. DI Joanna Piercy, pregnant, was directed to find ninety-six year old Zachary Foster, suffering from dementia who had wandered out of a residential care home. Zachary was said to be looking for his teddy bear he had had for over 90 years- this was not the case.
Since this is my first DI Joanna experience, I was unaware of the particulars leading up to what seems like a lot of animosity between the DI and some of her peers. Perhaps things are less "rocky "normally in the Staffordshire Moorland and Joanna's life ( no pun intended).
Because of her zealousness as a law officer, she has some seriously wild and dangerous enemies on the street and also with a knowledge of moorland caves. I will tell you that all was well at the end of the story, for Joanna and Zachary- less so for others. I plan to try another in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for this ARC/eDoc of my first Priscilla Masters Mystery, Blood on the Rocks. DI Joanna Piercy, pregnant, was directed to find ninety-six year old Zachary Foster, suffering from dementia who had wandered out of a residential care home. Zachary was said to be looking for his teddy bear he had had for over 90 years- this was not the case.
Since this is my first DI Joanna experience, I was unaware of the particulars leading up to what seems like a lot of animosity between the DI and some of her peers. Perhaps things are less "rocky "normally in the Staffordshire Moorland and Joanna's life ( no pun intended).
Because of her zealousness as a law officer, she has some seriously wild and dangerous enemies on the street and also with a knowledge of moorland caves. I will tell you that all was well at the end of the story, for Joanna and Zachary- less so for others. I plan to try another in the series.
July 1, 2019
With not long to go before giving birth DI Joanna Piercy is given the supposedly easy case of the missing 96 year old dementia sufferer Zachary Foster. Who went missing overnight from a residential care on the outskirts of Leek, a care home locked up for the night.
Although the 14th in the series I felt that it could easily be read as a standalone story. Unfortunately I didn't really like any of the characters not even the main detective and her husband. I did find it surprising that it took so long for the police to determine the motive, I though it was fairly obvious.
A NetGalley Book
Although the 14th in the series I felt that it could easily be read as a standalone story. Unfortunately I didn't really like any of the characters not even the main detective and her husband. I did find it surprising that it took so long for the police to determine the motive, I though it was fairly obvious.
A NetGalley Book
July 27, 2019
Dementia patients are known to wander, especially at night, but Zachery Foster is 96 years old and in a locked care home. Until he wasn't. Joanna, who is a crack detective is given this a case- find him asap- because she's pregnant. This is not a fast moving procedural but Joanna's interviews in her effort are interesting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'd not read any of the previous installments I this long running series and was fine with starting here. It's a short read and one that will no doubt satisfy fans of Masters.
August 14, 2019
I have always enjoyed this series but was a bit more hesitant about this one. Our heroine is pregnant and definitely not enjoying the experience. The case is a seemingly simple one but through the fug of pregnancy our heroine solved the mystery. The plot was a bit dragged out. it was obvious that the bear was central. This aspect of the case should have been looked into with more rigour. Piercey's offsider was in the firing line again and an old case is part of the plot. Quite a good story but with loose ends.
November 9, 2024
This was number 14 in the box set I have of British crime thrillers - enjoyable but disturbing (as expected).
An old man is missing from a residential home...Jo is tasked with finding him.
This instalment sees Jo battling on numerous fronts, not least the attitudes towards pregnant women from colleagues and her husband - I really don't like him.
The case wasn't simple and I enjoyed the mystery, twists and turns. There was also a huge amount of tension and suspense.
Well-written and fast-paced - loved it.
Recommended.
An old man is missing from a residential home...Jo is tasked with finding him.
This instalment sees Jo battling on numerous fronts, not least the attitudes towards pregnant women from colleagues and her husband - I really don't like him.
The case wasn't simple and I enjoyed the mystery, twists and turns. There was also a huge amount of tension and suspense.
Well-written and fast-paced - loved it.
Recommended.
May 31, 2023
Final in the series
Read all of these books but glad they're finished. Becamie increasingly annoyed with Joanna and her belief that she was responsible for policing procedure out of her hands, and very unimpressed with her husband with his archaic attitude to women working and constant of harrassment ofJjoanna because she wanted to continue working. Also his insistence that the baby be a boy. How dare he call Joanna stupid.
Read all of these books but glad they're finished. Becamie increasingly annoyed with Joanna and her belief that she was responsible for policing procedure out of her hands, and very unimpressed with her husband with his archaic attitude to women working and constant of harrassment ofJjoanna because she wanted to continue working. Also his insistence that the baby be a boy. How dare he call Joanna stupid.
May 18, 2023
A real thriller.
Another fantastic book about Detective Joanna Piercy. It began with an old man with dementia who was missing from a care home.
A nice simple case, Joanna was sure that it would be solved quickly. I liked the way that little clues and twists increased the tension, and led to an almost impossible scenario. The characters were complicated, yet believable.
Another fantastic book about Detective Joanna Piercy. It began with an old man with dementia who was missing from a care home.
A nice simple case, Joanna was sure that it would be solved quickly. I liked the way that little clues and twists increased the tension, and led to an almost impossible scenario. The characters were complicated, yet believable.
April 25, 2019
Somewhat confusing at times but overall not too bad .
August 29, 2020
This was pretty tedious for the most part.
May 29, 2023
good tension
Even though I knew the ending would be ok- I’ve learned to trust the author - the tension was hard to bear. A real good read!
Even though I knew the ending would be ok- I’ve learned to trust the author - the tension was hard to bear. A real good read!
February 27, 2024
Interesting characters but the process of finding the old guy Zachary - but overall a good read
March 12, 2025
A Bit of a Dip in the series for Me . Our Selfish DI is Trying to solve a Problem at the Same time Her Pregnancy is well on the Way
August 13, 2019
A Joanna Piercy mystery
Detective Joanna Piercy has become Mrs Matthew Levin, is seven months pregnant and hating every second of it. Her husband wants to wrap her in cotton wool and have her stop working, but Joanna is having none of that and is still cycling to work. To top everything off, she is highly insulted when she is given a seemingly simple case to handle involving an old man gone missing from a residential home in the early hours of the morning in pyjamas, slippers and an overcoat. Zachary Foster, age ninety-six, suffering from dementia, dubbed 'Christopher Robin' by the nursing staff at the home because he drags a battered old teddy bear around; one he has had since he was a child. He suffered a stroke two years ago and is speech impaired so is hardly a flight risk, and Joanna is confident he will be found by the end of the day. The Victorian residential home is one of the last houses before the town gives way to the Staffordshire Moorlands. If he turned right at the gate, he would go to the rural town of Leek, turning left he would venture into the dangerous void that is the moorlands. Just how far can an old man go?
Usually at some point during an investigation, as facts are unearthed, some sense and order start to appear, but in this case, nothing makes sense – how can a senile old man vanish into thin air? The simple case that Joanna had been insulted to be handed is beginning to look a little less obvious and a little more devious.
An enjoyable read showing that police work is asking questions over and over again, examining what evidence there is over and over and making sure that you do not overlook the small things, the things that seem so insignificant that you are tempted to ignore them. A detective needs to be like a bulldog – get your teeth into a case and not let go until the case is solved.
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Detective Joanna Piercy has become Mrs Matthew Levin, is seven months pregnant and hating every second of it. Her husband wants to wrap her in cotton wool and have her stop working, but Joanna is having none of that and is still cycling to work. To top everything off, she is highly insulted when she is given a seemingly simple case to handle involving an old man gone missing from a residential home in the early hours of the morning in pyjamas, slippers and an overcoat. Zachary Foster, age ninety-six, suffering from dementia, dubbed 'Christopher Robin' by the nursing staff at the home because he drags a battered old teddy bear around; one he has had since he was a child. He suffered a stroke two years ago and is speech impaired so is hardly a flight risk, and Joanna is confident he will be found by the end of the day. The Victorian residential home is one of the last houses before the town gives way to the Staffordshire Moorlands. If he turned right at the gate, he would go to the rural town of Leek, turning left he would venture into the dangerous void that is the moorlands. Just how far can an old man go?
Usually at some point during an investigation, as facts are unearthed, some sense and order start to appear, but in this case, nothing makes sense – how can a senile old man vanish into thin air? The simple case that Joanna had been insulted to be handed is beginning to look a little less obvious and a little more devious.
An enjoyable read showing that police work is asking questions over and over again, examining what evidence there is over and over and making sure that you do not overlook the small things, the things that seem so insignificant that you are tempted to ignore them. A detective needs to be like a bulldog – get your teeth into a case and not let go until the case is solved.
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
May 20, 2019
I loved this mystery with DI Joanna Piercey. This was a good mystery book. I’ll read more from this author
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews