WOW! What a brilliant read this book was. It is the first book in the DI Jonah Pennance series and what an opener it is.
When Pennance is dragged away from a crime scene in London to go to Anglesey, he isn't expecting to find that he is a connection, not that he is connected to others. I have to be really careful here, it would be so easy to make a slip up in this review and reveal details!!!
Pennance, well he is mystified and so was I. I mean how could he be connected to two bodies, one a suicide in Wales and a murder in London. He works for the Sapphire Unit of the MET, it's the department that deals with sex crimes, so it becomes more and more intriguing.
Pennance is a bit of a closed book, the only person who he seems to really get on with is a work colleague, Smithson. The relationship between them is friendly and supportive and I am glad it is a friendship rather than a relationship as it means that Pennance has someone to turn to. Why would he need someone to turn to I hear you ask, well the more you learn about him the more you realise the complexities of his character. Yeah, I know, vague!
The author has created a wonderfully intense and twisted police procedural that has some really dark scenes, it is twisted around one main plot, but it isn't straightforward. It also has subplots that keep you on your toes and makes for very addictive reading.
Pennance is a character that comes across as cold, so having a sidekick as such makes a good balance. You do get to learn more about him and his past and I think there is possibly more to come out, I definitely think there are more layers to him for the author to tease out, there is definitely the potential from this reader's opinion.
This is a crime thriller, it has a very mysterious feel to it and it kept me reading. It feels wrong to call a book exciting when it deals with murders and crime, but exciting it is as it is the start of a new series, and I think it is going to be a very good one. I will be keeping my eye out for more.
Ideal for those looking for something new in police procedurals. It's got plenty of twists, some unexpected turns and all in all a fab read. It is one I would definitely recommend.