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Jane Halifax #1
Halifax: Transgression
Based on the hugely successful Channel 9 drama series featuring forensic psychologist Dr Jane Halifax, whose criminal profiling, twenty years later, might be the only way to track down Australia’s most dangerous serial killer yet.
The first murder is brazen, violent and ritualistic. Committed in the victim’s home, the killer leaves few clues as to their motive or their identity. All the police know is that the perpetrator entered the house and impaled the art collector on one of his own priceless sculptures before melting away into the night.
Inspector Eric Ringer is desperate for Dr Jane Halifax to profile the killer, but Jane is cautious. She and Eric have a past … plus, she hates these kinds of cases; a psychopath is a psychopath, any way you slice it.
But there’s something about this killer that intrigues Jane. And as the bodies pile up, Jane must use all her knowledge and intuition to enter the mind of the murderer before they strike again.
Join Jane Halifax as she embarks on the most challenging – and chilling – case of her career.
The first murder is brazen, violent and ritualistic. Committed in the victim’s home, the killer leaves few clues as to their motive or their identity. All the police know is that the perpetrator entered the house and impaled the art collector on one of his own priceless sculptures before melting away into the night.
Inspector Eric Ringer is desperate for Dr Jane Halifax to profile the killer, but Jane is cautious. She and Eric have a past … plus, she hates these kinds of cases; a psychopath is a psychopath, any way you slice it.
But there’s something about this killer that intrigues Jane. And as the bodies pile up, Jane must use all her knowledge and intuition to enter the mind of the murderer before they strike again.
Join Jane Halifax as she embarks on the most challenging – and chilling – case of her career.
400 pages, Paperback
Published October 5, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
June 13, 2023
I am conflicted here! I thought the genre suited me really well and was excited to receive an early copy from Better Reading Magazine. Thank you BR and the publisher for my physical copy.
It is very possible I have missed a level of connection with Dr Jane Halifax as I had not watched the Australian television show, also written by the author. The only connection I had was the cover, and the image of Rebecca Gibney, the lauded actress playing the forensic psychiatrist whose task it was to profile a killer performing abhorrent crimes. With her edgy blonde bob it’s a great cover, and I see the strong woman that she portrays. Nearing fifty years of age; a mature female lead is always refreshing. Relying on no one and pulling no punches, desperately trying to solve this complicated case.
I smiled as she pushed back with ease against those higher up the bureaucratic chain as the case was ending. She is confident and self assured. It would be nice to see her really want some happiness after the death of her husband, not only the constant rumination.
She was fallible, her notes and whiteboard spread around her house, she tried to tidy this up to relieve the chaos but wasn’t successful, the house reverting to the semi office it had always been. This case was baffling and they were not progressing. The killer always one step ahead.
I wasn’t sure about her offering to counsel to a character who was very close to a victim, then fast forward a little saying this wasn’t appropriate. Small change, but again, as is my want, I always notice the little things.
My failure to form a kinship with any of the characters was a stumbling block but I enjoyed when things were going well with Jane and Eric, perhaps I’m just a softy. I would have liked to see a little from Zoe, Jane’s stepdaughter, as her thoughts on this were quite frequent but did not lead to anything substantial. I was sad to realise I found Jane to be bland and insubstantial, which was most unexpected and disappointing.
I am an outlier on this one, it seems everyone loved this more than I. This was a well written book; and I can’t help but be curious about the process from screen writing to creating a novel.
Celebrate the dawn, wonder at the night and try to and achieve three things every day: something in the morning, something in the afternoon - and something for yourself before bed. I liked this, which was advice from Jane's father.
And this was excellent I was there on exchange for a year and barely got through the six months of dark. Scandinoir isn't a crime genre, it's the reason the Swedish are so miserable. People murder to ward of the cold. How good is that; a bit cheeky!
An addendum 25/10, I found my notes that I misplaced on writing this review.
2.5* rated up, this was a case of wanting to like a book more!
It is very possible I have missed a level of connection with Dr Jane Halifax as I had not watched the Australian television show, also written by the author. The only connection I had was the cover, and the image of Rebecca Gibney, the lauded actress playing the forensic psychiatrist whose task it was to profile a killer performing abhorrent crimes. With her edgy blonde bob it’s a great cover, and I see the strong woman that she portrays. Nearing fifty years of age; a mature female lead is always refreshing. Relying on no one and pulling no punches, desperately trying to solve this complicated case.
I smiled as she pushed back with ease against those higher up the bureaucratic chain as the case was ending. She is confident and self assured. It would be nice to see her really want some happiness after the death of her husband, not only the constant rumination.
She was fallible, her notes and whiteboard spread around her house, she tried to tidy this up to relieve the chaos but wasn’t successful, the house reverting to the semi office it had always been. This case was baffling and they were not progressing. The killer always one step ahead.
I wasn’t sure about her offering to counsel to a character who was very close to a victim, then fast forward a little saying this wasn’t appropriate. Small change, but again, as is my want, I always notice the little things.
My failure to form a kinship with any of the characters was a stumbling block but I enjoyed when things were going well with Jane and Eric, perhaps I’m just a softy. I would have liked to see a little from Zoe, Jane’s stepdaughter, as her thoughts on this were quite frequent but did not lead to anything substantial. I was sad to realise I found Jane to be bland and insubstantial, which was most unexpected and disappointing.
I am an outlier on this one, it seems everyone loved this more than I. This was a well written book; and I can’t help but be curious about the process from screen writing to creating a novel.
Celebrate the dawn, wonder at the night and try to and achieve three things every day: something in the morning, something in the afternoon - and something for yourself before bed. I liked this, which was advice from Jane's father.
And this was excellent I was there on exchange for a year and barely got through the six months of dark. Scandinoir isn't a crime genre, it's the reason the Swedish are so miserable. People murder to ward of the cold. How good is that; a bit cheeky!
An addendum 25/10, I found my notes that I misplaced on writing this review.
2.5* rated up, this was a case of wanting to like a book more!
September 27, 2022
Halifax FP (forensic psychologist) was a series of Australian Tele movies featuring Dr Jane Halifax that ran for about 7 seasons. Strangely I had never watched a single episode. They are now available on streaming services and I am keen to check them out. Roger Simpson wrote the screenplays for these and other shows but this is his first novel.
What an explosive story it was! Not for the squeamish however as there are some brutal depictions of torture. But the story had some subtlety as Jane, acting as a consultant to the police, always thought there was more to the perpetrator’s motives than sheer sadism. And so it was. It was a gruelling investigation that took a toll on all involved. The man they were chasing was a talented actor and chameleon who was almost impossible to pin down.
Meanwhile Jane is not ruling out anything and goes down some rabbit holes that also eventually bear fruit and are tangentially related to the main investigation. In a way it was all rather sad in the end. Although the killer did some terrible things, Jane still had some empathy for him and wondered if he could have been helped had he not succumbed to the thrall of a manipulative narcissist.
The characters were, love them or hate them, all brilliantly portrayed and the plot was very tense with a impending sense of doom throughout. This was a masterful pice of work! Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster, Australia, for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
What an explosive story it was! Not for the squeamish however as there are some brutal depictions of torture. But the story had some subtlety as Jane, acting as a consultant to the police, always thought there was more to the perpetrator’s motives than sheer sadism. And so it was. It was a gruelling investigation that took a toll on all involved. The man they were chasing was a talented actor and chameleon who was almost impossible to pin down.
Meanwhile Jane is not ruling out anything and goes down some rabbit holes that also eventually bear fruit and are tangentially related to the main investigation. In a way it was all rather sad in the end. Although the killer did some terrible things, Jane still had some empathy for him and wondered if he could have been helped had he not succumbed to the thrall of a manipulative narcissist.
The characters were, love them or hate them, all brilliantly portrayed and the plot was very tense with a impending sense of doom throughout. This was a masterful pice of work! Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster, Australia, for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
August 8, 2024
Jane Halifax is a forensic psychiatrist working with the Victorian police department. She’s called in to help with what looks like the ritualistic murder of a local billionaire businessman. It turns out this particular murder would only be the first in an investigation that would head for the bizarre end of the spectrum in spectacular fashion.
The lead detective is Inspector Eric Ringer, a man with whom Jane has shared a brief relationship many years earlier. While he’s an extremely competent detective, she’s not quite comfortable with the prospect of working closely with him and she chooses to maintain a strictly professional manner whenever they’re together. At first.
As well as providing her criminal profiling input, a science she admits is treated more as witchcraft, she also provides a sensible voice of reason to just about every conversation. More often than not she has the ability to connect with suspects, witnesses and even ornery commissioners intent on ripping police staff a new one after things don’t go well.
Medieval torture methods are used in each of the murders indicating quite a bit of planning before being carried out. The descriptions of each of these deaths are not for the squeamish with some, shall we say, imaginative techniques employed to ensure death was slow and painful.
Interestingly, we learn the name of the murderer quite early on in the piece. He’s an ex-prisoner who has jumped his parole conditions and disappeared. The story then becomes a frantic hunt for the killer who, it turns out, has an innate talent for acting and has the ability to take on any persona he chooses to. Through his tendency to transform himself he can move undetected around the city, picking off more victims as he goes.
But there are numerous aspects about their suspect that don’t make sense to Jane and this nags at her constantly as the case drags on. The victims he’s targeting, the link to the Catholic church, the way he’s carrying out the murders all just seem wrong to her. All of this adds even greater interest to the story and drives the narrative at a solid clip.
The strong point of the book is the police work, in conjunction with Jane’s input, that demonstrates solid deductive reasoning. You’ve got the usual technical expert who digs up important info online, there’s the jovial prankster who revels in his political incorrectness but comes up with some keen insights to progress the investigation and you’ve got a driven team leader who’s prepared to let his team run with their intuition.
It all adds up to a fast moving thriller that quickly ramps up the tension before busting loose in a blaze of terrifying glory. The twists and turns are nicely camouflaged and deftly dealt with to provide maximum impact.
Whereas the usual progression is for books to be adapted to the screen, this bucks the trend with the successful Australian TV series Halifax fp (with Roger Simpson writing the screenplay) coming first. I confess I’ve never watched an episode of the show but, if Transgression is anything to go by, I can understand its popularity at the time. This was thoroughly absorbing and Halifax herself is an extremely interesting principal character.
The lead detective is Inspector Eric Ringer, a man with whom Jane has shared a brief relationship many years earlier. While he’s an extremely competent detective, she’s not quite comfortable with the prospect of working closely with him and she chooses to maintain a strictly professional manner whenever they’re together. At first.
As well as providing her criminal profiling input, a science she admits is treated more as witchcraft, she also provides a sensible voice of reason to just about every conversation. More often than not she has the ability to connect with suspects, witnesses and even ornery commissioners intent on ripping police staff a new one after things don’t go well.
Medieval torture methods are used in each of the murders indicating quite a bit of planning before being carried out. The descriptions of each of these deaths are not for the squeamish with some, shall we say, imaginative techniques employed to ensure death was slow and painful.
Interestingly, we learn the name of the murderer quite early on in the piece. He’s an ex-prisoner who has jumped his parole conditions and disappeared. The story then becomes a frantic hunt for the killer who, it turns out, has an innate talent for acting and has the ability to take on any persona he chooses to. Through his tendency to transform himself he can move undetected around the city, picking off more victims as he goes.
But there are numerous aspects about their suspect that don’t make sense to Jane and this nags at her constantly as the case drags on. The victims he’s targeting, the link to the Catholic church, the way he’s carrying out the murders all just seem wrong to her. All of this adds even greater interest to the story and drives the narrative at a solid clip.
The strong point of the book is the police work, in conjunction with Jane’s input, that demonstrates solid deductive reasoning. You’ve got the usual technical expert who digs up important info online, there’s the jovial prankster who revels in his political incorrectness but comes up with some keen insights to progress the investigation and you’ve got a driven team leader who’s prepared to let his team run with their intuition.
It all adds up to a fast moving thriller that quickly ramps up the tension before busting loose in a blaze of terrifying glory. The twists and turns are nicely camouflaged and deftly dealt with to provide maximum impact.
Whereas the usual progression is for books to be adapted to the screen, this bucks the trend with the successful Australian TV series Halifax fp (with Roger Simpson writing the screenplay) coming first. I confess I’ve never watched an episode of the show but, if Transgression is anything to go by, I can understand its popularity at the time. This was thoroughly absorbing and Halifax herself is an extremely interesting principal character.
September 30, 2022
‘Hello Jane. It’s Eric Ringer.’
A man is found murdered in his home: impaled on one of the art sculptures he has collected. A bizarre, gruesome and well-planned murder. Inspector Eric Ringer rings forensic psychiatrist Dr Jane Halifax seeking her help to profile the murderer. While Jane is initially reluctant, she agrees and, as the body count grows, becomes caught up in trying to anticipate and prevent further murders.
While Mr Simpson wrote the screenplays for the Halifax FP television series, this is his first novel. I have seen a couple of the television shows and could easily envisage Jane Halifax negotiating her way through both this case and some life challenges of her own. This is not a book for the squeamish (it involves some quite graphic description) and there is plenty of tension. The police may know who they are chasing but finding him is difficult. How many more people will be killed in the meantime? And why? This novel held my attention from beginning to end: some terrific characters and explosive action!
My thanks to Better Reading Preview for an advance reading copy.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A man is found murdered in his home: impaled on one of the art sculptures he has collected. A bizarre, gruesome and well-planned murder. Inspector Eric Ringer rings forensic psychiatrist Dr Jane Halifax seeking her help to profile the murderer. While Jane is initially reluctant, she agrees and, as the body count grows, becomes caught up in trying to anticipate and prevent further murders.
While Mr Simpson wrote the screenplays for the Halifax FP television series, this is his first novel. I have seen a couple of the television shows and could easily envisage Jane Halifax negotiating her way through both this case and some life challenges of her own. This is not a book for the squeamish (it involves some quite graphic description) and there is plenty of tension. The police may know who they are chasing but finding him is difficult. How many more people will be killed in the meantime? And why? This novel held my attention from beginning to end: some terrific characters and explosive action!
My thanks to Better Reading Preview for an advance reading copy.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
August 11, 2022
I received an ARC of this book.
So wonderful to see Halifax again. Even better, to see the criminal world through her eyes and mind in a way that can’t be seen on TV.
You can tell Roger writes for the screen in the way he details the brutal killings to set the scene we don’t see visually. Well played sir.
I enjoyed hearing Jane’s thoughts and seeing her doubts, a delightful insight into something that just can’t be conveyed through TV.
A brave step for Roger but one that I wholeheartedly love and can’t wait for the sequel (with the sneak peek at the end of Transgressions I am already worried about Jane).
I think this has opened up a whole new world for Halifax. It will bring a new legion of fans to books but on the flip side, a new following for Halifax from our crime readers. Win win!
So wonderful to see Halifax again. Even better, to see the criminal world through her eyes and mind in a way that can’t be seen on TV.
You can tell Roger writes for the screen in the way he details the brutal killings to set the scene we don’t see visually. Well played sir.
I enjoyed hearing Jane’s thoughts and seeing her doubts, a delightful insight into something that just can’t be conveyed through TV.
A brave step for Roger but one that I wholeheartedly love and can’t wait for the sequel (with the sneak peek at the end of Transgressions I am already worried about Jane).
I think this has opened up a whole new world for Halifax. It will bring a new legion of fans to books but on the flip side, a new following for Halifax from our crime readers. Win win!
July 31, 2023
Review to come.
September 18, 2022
We're very much accustomed to books being adapted for television but the opposite - books appearing as a result of popular television shows or movies - is less common. Though we did have the pleasure last year of a Ms Fisher's Modern Murder Mystery (in print) following the success of that TV series. And more recently the book Heat 2 has been released, complementing the popular 1995 film (Heat). Here, well-known television producer and screenwriter Roger Simpson has adapted his iconic series Halifax fp, from the small screen onto the page.
Simpson's obviously a talented writer and he has the screenwriting awards to prove it and - from the opening - his writing is really engaging. It's hard to describe but it has an easy no-nonsense approach and felt real. I guess he'd be comfortable with dialogue in particular but he's an economical writer and we're very much focussed on the unfolding plot.
Even though I'd not seen the TV show on which this is based for many years there's a familiarity here. Not only with Simpson's prose, but he obviously knows his characters and content. The latter is a little macabre and some of the murders (and accompanying torture) not for the faint-hearted.... or those who are particularly visual (which thankfully I'm not).
I was surprised that I found Jane a little dull or bland here and wonder if I eventually stopped watching the TV show for that reason. I suspect that’s why so many authors give our lead characters flaws or foibles. Of course here – it has to be said – that the macabre nature of the murders almost certainly balances that out.
3.5 stars
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
Simpson's obviously a talented writer and he has the screenwriting awards to prove it and - from the opening - his writing is really engaging. It's hard to describe but it has an easy no-nonsense approach and felt real. I guess he'd be comfortable with dialogue in particular but he's an economical writer and we're very much focussed on the unfolding plot.
Even though I'd not seen the TV show on which this is based for many years there's a familiarity here. Not only with Simpson's prose, but he obviously knows his characters and content. The latter is a little macabre and some of the murders (and accompanying torture) not for the faint-hearted.... or those who are particularly visual (which thankfully I'm not).
I was surprised that I found Jane a little dull or bland here and wonder if I eventually stopped watching the TV show for that reason. I suspect that’s why so many authors give our lead characters flaws or foibles. Of course here – it has to be said – that the macabre nature of the murders almost certainly balances that out.
3.5 stars
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...
October 1, 2022
Sometimes you’re lucky enough to discover a book which grabs you from the very first page and that’s certainly the case with Halifax: Transgression.
Author Roger Simpson has woven a gripping opening chapter in which an art collector is impaled on one of his own priceless sculptures and forensic psychiatrist Dr Jane Halifax is called in to join the hunt for the killer.
Halifax was, of course, the star of the much-loved TV series Halifax f.p. which was watched by millions of viewers during its nine-year run.
Simpson created the show and although he has won numerous awards for writing and producing 17 series for TV, this is his first novel. We knew he was a born storyteller, but here he shows he’s also unmatched in his skills as a writer.
Halifax’s past dalliance with the head of the homicide squad returns to haunt her, as do memories of the murder of her husband by his ex-wife. But the killer has snared her as the bodies mount up.
Yet even as the gruesome details emerge, Simpson deftly keeps a light touch.
This is the first of three Halifax novels and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Author Roger Simpson has woven a gripping opening chapter in which an art collector is impaled on one of his own priceless sculptures and forensic psychiatrist Dr Jane Halifax is called in to join the hunt for the killer.
Halifax was, of course, the star of the much-loved TV series Halifax f.p. which was watched by millions of viewers during its nine-year run.
Simpson created the show and although he has won numerous awards for writing and producing 17 series for TV, this is his first novel. We knew he was a born storyteller, but here he shows he’s also unmatched in his skills as a writer.
Halifax’s past dalliance with the head of the homicide squad returns to haunt her, as do memories of the murder of her husband by his ex-wife. But the killer has snared her as the bodies mount up.
Yet even as the gruesome details emerge, Simpson deftly keeps a light touch.
This is the first of three Halifax novels and I can’t wait to read the next one.
October 11, 2022
I started reading this book with no particular expectations, as I had not previously viewed the Halifax TV series.
The beautiful thing is, you do not NEED to have Jane Halifax’s background - the author cleverly sets the stage and draws you in from page 1 - you just need to strap yourself in and hang on!
I really enjoyed this book- a debauched, twisted thrill killer with a preference for medieval style torture of his all seemingly unconnected victims, was both macabre yet strangely voyeuristic and fascinating.
Watching the murders evolve with the main players was an edge of your seat experience and I confess to chanting “Just one more chapter” over and over until the nail-biting climax.
The byplay between Jane and Inspector Eric Ringer as they work to solve the murders kept alluding to a deeper relationship that never quite gets there- Jane’s professional aloofness between most of the people she interacts with provides a protective shield, attributing to her loneliness. Yes, she loves her work-although it is cold comfort for warmth and interaction at the end of her working day when she needs it most.
I am now firmly Team Jane. Bring on the next one!
The beautiful thing is, you do not NEED to have Jane Halifax’s background - the author cleverly sets the stage and draws you in from page 1 - you just need to strap yourself in and hang on!
I really enjoyed this book- a debauched, twisted thrill killer with a preference for medieval style torture of his all seemingly unconnected victims, was both macabre yet strangely voyeuristic and fascinating.
Watching the murders evolve with the main players was an edge of your seat experience and I confess to chanting “Just one more chapter” over and over until the nail-biting climax.
The byplay between Jane and Inspector Eric Ringer as they work to solve the murders kept alluding to a deeper relationship that never quite gets there- Jane’s professional aloofness between most of the people she interacts with provides a protective shield, attributing to her loneliness. Yes, she loves her work-although it is cold comfort for warmth and interaction at the end of her working day when she needs it most.
I am now firmly Team Jane. Bring on the next one!
December 27, 2023
I delved into 'Halifax: Transgression' by Roger Simpson, an intense thriller that catapults the renowned criminal profiler Dr. Jane Halifax into a twisted pursuit of a chilling serial killer. The story kicks off with gruesome, ritualistic murders that are both violent and stomach-churning. The narrative is woven around Jane's intricate profiling of a psychopathic killer, interwoven with a historical connection to Inspector Eric Ringer, adding layers of complexity.
While the macabre nature of the killings made me uncomfortable, the book's strength lies in its relentless suspense and meticulous investigation. Despite my reservations about the predictability of some internal dialogues and a somewhat subdued portrayal of Jane compared to the TV series, the story effectively keeps you on the edge of your seat.
As the plot unfolds and connections between victims surface, the intensity escalates, revealing the evasive nature of the culprit and the resilience of the investigative team. Ultimately, the resolution offers closure, yet leaves lingering questions about the motives and the true identity of the antagonist. In conclusion, 'Halifax: Transgression' is a compelling and intriguing read for those who relish psychological thrillers with an appetite for the darker side of human nature.
While the macabre nature of the killings made me uncomfortable, the book's strength lies in its relentless suspense and meticulous investigation. Despite my reservations about the predictability of some internal dialogues and a somewhat subdued portrayal of Jane compared to the TV series, the story effectively keeps you on the edge of your seat.
As the plot unfolds and connections between victims surface, the intensity escalates, revealing the evasive nature of the culprit and the resilience of the investigative team. Ultimately, the resolution offers closure, yet leaves lingering questions about the motives and the true identity of the antagonist. In conclusion, 'Halifax: Transgression' is a compelling and intriguing read for those who relish psychological thrillers with an appetite for the darker side of human nature.
September 23, 2022
Halifax Trangression by Roger Simpson is based on the TV series starring Rebecca Gibney as Dr Jane Halifax who is a forensic psychologist and profiler. I absolutely loved the series and this story is a wonderful continuation. This is a psychological crime thriller which had me on the edge of my chair having to keep reading despite needing to other things - but what the heck it was a great story with lots of twists.
The relationship between Jane and Inspector Eric Ringer also adds an interesting dimension to the plot as well as the inclusion of their families.
Once again the location of Melbourne is something I absolutely love and I enjoy reading about places I have been and know.
At the end of Halifax Trangression the reader is informed that this is book 1 in a series and is given a sneak peek into book 2 of the series, Resurrection, which sounds fascinating and very dramatic. I’m really looking forward to reading that as well when it is released.
Highly recommended read.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Simon & Schuster (Australia) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The relationship between Jane and Inspector Eric Ringer also adds an interesting dimension to the plot as well as the inclusion of their families.
Once again the location of Melbourne is something I absolutely love and I enjoy reading about places I have been and know.
At the end of Halifax Trangression the reader is informed that this is book 1 in a series and is given a sneak peek into book 2 of the series, Resurrection, which sounds fascinating and very dramatic. I’m really looking forward to reading that as well when it is released.
Highly recommended read.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from Simon & Schuster (Australia) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 19, 2022
This is such a great book. It is Interesting and intriguing and takes you into the world of Jane Halifax.
A good story if not conveyed to the readers in a correct manner the readers will lose all their interest to read it.
But I can assure you that Roger Simpson has done such a great job in conveying the story in such way that keeps you interested and intrigued until the very last page.
Definitely 5/5.
A good story if not conveyed to the readers in a correct manner the readers will lose all their interest to read it.
But I can assure you that Roger Simpson has done such a great job in conveying the story in such way that keeps you interested and intrigued until the very last page.
Definitely 5/5.
September 25, 2022
Halifax Transgression – Roger Simpson
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in order to write an honest review.
Roger Simpson is the creator of the Australian TV series “Halifax FP” starring Rebecca Gibney. After Simpson pulled the plug on that series, he has revived his character of Dr Jane Halifax in this story “Halifax Transgression”.
Dr Jane Halifax is a forensic psychologist and it's been many years since she has worked with her old flame, Inspector Eric Ringer. Yet when a brutal and sadistic murder is discovered, Eric knew Jane was the only one for the job.
The first murder was of Nigel Woods, a billionaire who left behind a wife and children. His house had an extensive art collection, one particular sculpture was what the murdered had used to torture him and display his body. It was a scene that wasn’t easy on the eye or the stomach. But for all the gruesomeness on display, there wasn’t a shred of evidence or a single clue left behind that could help identify the killer.
Even more frustrating for the Ringer and Jane, there didn’t seem to be any obvious motive or suspect that could explain why Nigel Woods was targeted.
And the killer has now struck again. In total there would be 5 bodies before the killer was finally found and brought to justice. But just because they found their killer, that didn’t mean they had the true motive or the brains behind the whole bizarre ordeal. There was someone pulling the strings of a sadistic person, someone was using them as a scape goat to exact their revenge in a completely sadistic way, employing means of medieval torture.
“Halifax Transgression” is a gripping and fast paced crime thriller that shows just how cruel and manipulative some people can really be. How what some innocent person can experience in their younger years truly affects them and can turn them into an adult with some serious issues with sick and twisted views of revenge and a perverse sense of reality. It also gives a glimpse into the horrors that are faced by the people whose job it is to discover who, when, where and why. This story has a captivating and page turning read that I couldn’t put down. As horrific as some of the crimes where and the reasons why, as a reader I just couldn’t look away. I really hope there is more to read of Dr Jane Halifax and I will definitely be looking up the TV series. Simpson is a talented author and his books are going on my TBR list!
I was provided with a copy of this book by the publisher in order to write an honest review.
Roger Simpson is the creator of the Australian TV series “Halifax FP” starring Rebecca Gibney. After Simpson pulled the plug on that series, he has revived his character of Dr Jane Halifax in this story “Halifax Transgression”.
Dr Jane Halifax is a forensic psychologist and it's been many years since she has worked with her old flame, Inspector Eric Ringer. Yet when a brutal and sadistic murder is discovered, Eric knew Jane was the only one for the job.
The first murder was of Nigel Woods, a billionaire who left behind a wife and children. His house had an extensive art collection, one particular sculpture was what the murdered had used to torture him and display his body. It was a scene that wasn’t easy on the eye or the stomach. But for all the gruesomeness on display, there wasn’t a shred of evidence or a single clue left behind that could help identify the killer.
Even more frustrating for the Ringer and Jane, there didn’t seem to be any obvious motive or suspect that could explain why Nigel Woods was targeted.
And the killer has now struck again. In total there would be 5 bodies before the killer was finally found and brought to justice. But just because they found their killer, that didn’t mean they had the true motive or the brains behind the whole bizarre ordeal. There was someone pulling the strings of a sadistic person, someone was using them as a scape goat to exact their revenge in a completely sadistic way, employing means of medieval torture.
“Halifax Transgression” is a gripping and fast paced crime thriller that shows just how cruel and manipulative some people can really be. How what some innocent person can experience in their younger years truly affects them and can turn them into an adult with some serious issues with sick and twisted views of revenge and a perverse sense of reality. It also gives a glimpse into the horrors that are faced by the people whose job it is to discover who, when, where and why. This story has a captivating and page turning read that I couldn’t put down. As horrific as some of the crimes where and the reasons why, as a reader I just couldn’t look away. I really hope there is more to read of Dr Jane Halifax and I will definitely be looking up the TV series. Simpson is a talented author and his books are going on my TBR list!
September 28, 2022
There has been a brutal murder in the victim’s home in Melbourne, and Inspector Eric Ringer calls on forensic psychologist Jane Halifax to assist in profiling the killer. As she starts to investigate, she knows the victim’s widow is hiding something but can’t quite put her finger on it.
Then the killer strikes again, and she struggles to make a connection between the two murders - her only link is a bit too tenuous. Not only that, she and Eric have a past and Jane is torn between her attraction to him and having recently being widowed.
It’s a race against time to identify and catch the killer before he strikes again, but how can they when he seems to disappear without a trace, fooling humans and technology alike!
I had not heard of Jane Halifax before, but after reading this I think I need to get with the program! Based on a popular drama series, it immediately drew me in and while there was obviously some back story to Jane that I didn’t understand, it didn’t spoil the reading of this book.
It was gripping, tense and thought-provoking. It kept me guessing right up to the last minute, even once I knew who the killer was!! I enjoyed Jane’s tenacity and her honesty around not everything being clear cut - she leaves room for the grey areas and being human.
There was a section when they had identified the killer but couldn’t find him where I felt the pace slowed down a bit and I became frustrated with the storyline., but overall it was a fast-paced read that kept me hooked, and which I read over just 2 days. I look forward to reading book 2!!
Thanks to Better Reading Au for the preview copy!
Then the killer strikes again, and she struggles to make a connection between the two murders - her only link is a bit too tenuous. Not only that, she and Eric have a past and Jane is torn between her attraction to him and having recently being widowed.
It’s a race against time to identify and catch the killer before he strikes again, but how can they when he seems to disappear without a trace, fooling humans and technology alike!
I had not heard of Jane Halifax before, but after reading this I think I need to get with the program! Based on a popular drama series, it immediately drew me in and while there was obviously some back story to Jane that I didn’t understand, it didn’t spoil the reading of this book.
It was gripping, tense and thought-provoking. It kept me guessing right up to the last minute, even once I knew who the killer was!! I enjoyed Jane’s tenacity and her honesty around not everything being clear cut - she leaves room for the grey areas and being human.
There was a section when they had identified the killer but couldn’t find him where I felt the pace slowed down a bit and I became frustrated with the storyline., but overall it was a fast-paced read that kept me hooked, and which I read over just 2 days. I look forward to reading book 2!!
Thanks to Better Reading Au for the preview copy!
October 6, 2022
After page 31, I had to stop and ask myself if I could keep going. This book wastes no time in getting down to business – and that business involves the murders of innocent people by torture. The scenes are detailed, gruesome and truly disturbing. The descriptions left me feeling physically ill, particularly as they were inspired by medieval torture techniques that real people suffered once upon a time. But after repeating a mantra of 'it's just a book, it's just a book', I pushed on. And I'm glad I did.
This is an intriguing psychological thriller about four grisly murders, a killer with no motive and a forensic psychiatrist's desperate bid to crack the case before the pile of bodies grows higher.
We're used to seeing books adapted to screen, but with Halifax Transgression it's the other way around. Dr Jane Halifax is based on the lead character from the successful Australian TV series Halifax. I've never watched it, but am curious to check it out now, especially as this book is the first instalment of a new series.
If you enjoy crime thrillers that keep you guessing and are dark and twisted, give this one a go. But be warned. If, like me, you're easily unnerved, you just might need to play a happy song between reading it and falling asleep!
This is an intriguing psychological thriller about four grisly murders, a killer with no motive and a forensic psychiatrist's desperate bid to crack the case before the pile of bodies grows higher.
We're used to seeing books adapted to screen, but with Halifax Transgression it's the other way around. Dr Jane Halifax is based on the lead character from the successful Australian TV series Halifax. I've never watched it, but am curious to check it out now, especially as this book is the first instalment of a new series.
If you enjoy crime thrillers that keep you guessing and are dark and twisted, give this one a go. But be warned. If, like me, you're easily unnerved, you just might need to play a happy song between reading it and falling asleep!
October 19, 2022
Firstly, I would like to thank Better Reading for the advanced copy, one of the things I love about getting advanced copies of books is that I often receive one I normally wouldn't choose to read, which was the case here, I don't often read murder mysteries, but I am so glad I got to read this one. Although the murders were quite gruesome as there was unimaginable torture involved, I couldn't wait to pick up where I left off each time to see where the story would go. I thought the characters were solid and easy to like, I have watched some Halifax on TV but it was never high on my list, I will definitely watch next time though as I really liked how Jane Halifax worked with the police, a different perspective to view the clues and observations of the crimes. I found in this book some similarities in style to The DaVinci code which I also loved. I thought the interaction between the characters was solid and believable, most were easy to like and kept my interest to see where the different relationships would go. I recommend this book, even it if may not be your usual genre, but be warned the subject matter can be a bit hard to read at times, so maybe not for the faint hearted.
October 18, 2022
Thank you, Roger Simpson! Having been a long-time fan of the many Jane Halifax TV miniseries (being hooked from episode 1) I was delighted to discover that Mr Simpson had taken the next step and elevated Jane to the higher levels of literature. With Mr Simpson’s skillful writing, Jane’s character easily adapts to the pages of a book, and we follow her and empathise with her as she continues to deal with the loss of her husband, Ben, while at the same time being drawn in by her previous colleagues in the Victorian Police Force, to investigate initially one, then several more horrific murders.
While rather ghoulish at times as we are confronted with the gruesome details of each crime scene, we can’t help but be in awe of the author’s ability to paint pictures with his prose, making you feel as though you are standing alongside Jane as she takes in each intricate detail of the horrific crime scene.
A fantastic book debut – I can’t wait until next year for the second instalment. Sorry, no spoilers here, you’ll just have to read it yourself! I recommend that you do.
Thank you to Better Reading for the privilege of reading and reviewing and advanced copy.
While rather ghoulish at times as we are confronted with the gruesome details of each crime scene, we can’t help but be in awe of the author’s ability to paint pictures with his prose, making you feel as though you are standing alongside Jane as she takes in each intricate detail of the horrific crime scene.
A fantastic book debut – I can’t wait until next year for the second instalment. Sorry, no spoilers here, you’ll just have to read it yourself! I recommend that you do.
Thank you to Better Reading for the privilege of reading and reviewing and advanced copy.
October 9, 2022
I’d never watched the Halifax TV series but this book fills in a lot of the gaps and a quick scan of Wikipedia did the rest, I felt like I was up to speed and never felt like I was lost or missing something. Roger Simpson wrote for the original show and a great many others though this is his first novel. I think it was noticeable in terms of description and scene setting as, on multiple occasions, I found myself needing to flip back to find a single line that had described something rather key. Not something that would have been a problem on screen when the camera would have lingered on the image and given the viewer time to absorb it. Simpson’s dialogue, however, was top-notch and very naturalistic, making it very easy to determine who was saying what, never feeling interchangeable.
In terms of a murder mystery, this is more of a thriller in that working out whodunnit isn’t as much the point as letting the story unravel interestingly. I was excited to see a sequel is planned (teased with a *very* dramatic excerpt in the back of this book!) and I’m already checking out the show.
In terms of a murder mystery, this is more of a thriller in that working out whodunnit isn’t as much the point as letting the story unravel interestingly. I was excited to see a sequel is planned (teased with a *very* dramatic excerpt in the back of this book!) and I’m already checking out the show.
October 21, 2022
Thank you Better Reading for my copy of Halifax Transgression by Roger Simpson. Wow! I could not put this down and read it in one day. This book was incredibly addictive, such a page turner. I loved that it kept me on my toes and I had no idea how it was going to end. From the first page I was completely engaged and the characters were brilliant. This book was written in so much detail and so well I felt like I was Jane’s partner! Such an amazing ending! I cannot wait for the second book now. #BRPreview
January 2, 2023
This is my first completed book for 2023 and I found it very engaging. Having watched several Halifax FP movies starring Rebecca Gibney, I felt very connected to Jane Halifax and thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery.
Apparently it is Roger Simpson’s first book about this forensic psychiatrist and profiler after writing many TV screenplays based around her character.
I look forward to the next book entitled Halifax- Ressurection - for which there is a tantalising opening preview at the end of this novel. Great reading start to 2023.
Apparently it is Roger Simpson’s first book about this forensic psychiatrist and profiler after writing many TV screenplays based around her character.
I look forward to the next book entitled Halifax- Ressurection - for which there is a tantalising opening preview at the end of this novel. Great reading start to 2023.
October 3, 2022
This was a fast paced, lots of action thriller that kept me on the edge of the seat right to the end.
It was brutal at times, but very gripping and an entertaining read.
It’s based on a television series but I have never seen the show, but now I may need to watch it.
I loved the main character, who doesn’t love a strong, powerful female lead.
If you are into thrillers and dramatic reads based in Australia then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Better Reading for a copy.
It was brutal at times, but very gripping and an entertaining read.
It’s based on a television series but I have never seen the show, but now I may need to watch it.
I loved the main character, who doesn’t love a strong, powerful female lead.
If you are into thrillers and dramatic reads based in Australia then I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Better Reading for a copy.
October 3, 2022
Once started couldn’t put it down. Kept me guessing to the end. More Halifax books please.
April 18, 2024
I am a fan of the Halifax Tv Series, and Rebecca Gibney brings her to life in an amazing way. This book picks up where the last TV show finished. Jane is navigating a new life without her husband Ben, her step daughter Zoe has moved to the US to chase her dreams. Her family home has been sold and she moved into a new apartment in the city of Melbourne.
A murder has been committed. Not just any murder, the crime scene is something manny of the seasoned police and inspectors who have to solve the case, have never seen anything like it before. this is where Jane Halifax is called in. Her expertise is needed to understand the psychology behind such a confronting and inhuman murder.
Before long, there is a second murder… its nature as chilling and grotesque as the last. Yes, a serial killer is in the loose.
There is a wonderful blend of police, crime, and the interactions between the characters. What I love is the softer side of Jane Halifax that is exposed in his book. It certainly balances out the harshness of the crimes.
You are swept along with this book, turning pages wanting to know what the next clue is. Then as you think it is all solved there is another wonderful twist.
But best of all, I got to the end of the book and was given a snippet of the next book to follow. I will look forward to its arrival on the shelves.
A murder has been committed. Not just any murder, the crime scene is something manny of the seasoned police and inspectors who have to solve the case, have never seen anything like it before. this is where Jane Halifax is called in. Her expertise is needed to understand the psychology behind such a confronting and inhuman murder.
Before long, there is a second murder… its nature as chilling and grotesque as the last. Yes, a serial killer is in the loose.
There is a wonderful blend of police, crime, and the interactions between the characters. What I love is the softer side of Jane Halifax that is exposed in his book. It certainly balances out the harshness of the crimes.
You are swept along with this book, turning pages wanting to know what the next clue is. Then as you think it is all solved there is another wonderful twist.
But best of all, I got to the end of the book and was given a snippet of the next book to follow. I will look forward to its arrival on the shelves.
December 20, 2022
Having been a fan of the Halifax TV Series, starring Rebecca Gibney as Dr Jane Halifax, this book was greeted with considerable excitement. The author, Roger Simpson, is an award-winning screen writer, creating both the telemovie series of Halifax f.p. (which ran from 1994 to 2001) and its sequel, Halifax: Retribution in 2020. For those Australians watching, they might also have heard of some of his other TV work - Stingers, Something in the Air, Silver Sun and Satisfaction.
Needless to say, if anybody knows Dr Jane Halifax it's author Roger Simpson. The question that remained was therefore how would he go moving a TV creation to the printed word. In order to do that transition he's created a plot that's based around a madder than mad serial killer, with a twist in the motivation that's revealed later in the book.
The murders here are gruesome - no other word for it. The first victim involves a very wealthy man, a very well known (and pointy) statue and a harness. Violent, ritualistic, brazen and more than a bit stomach churning. The second victim is killed in an equally "biblical" manner in a factory building late at night, with a third succumbing to some particularly nasty business in a backyard. The heart of the motivation and patterns for these killings seems to be religious, the methodology vicious and extremely calculated, the killer invisible. Inspector Eric Ringer is desperate for Dr Jane Halifax to profile the killer, but she's cautious, as a complication there's history between the two of them (and a lot of gossip), and anyway you slice it, she hates these kinds of cases, a psychopath is a psychopath after all (paraphrased from the blurb).
I think I'm on record as saying I'm more than a bit allergic to psychopathic serial killer storylines, and I will admit to struggling with the gory nature of these killings - mostly because it all seemed so inevitable. There was also something slightly bland about Jane which I don't remember from the TV series, contrasting rather jarringly with the anything but crime scenes. There's a lot of internal rumination from Jane as well - regret over her widow status and her relationship with a now absent step-daughter, her past with Ringer (and is there a future?) and it all seemed a bit predictable, and angst for the sake of angst - maybe that sort of internal dialogue works better visually, than on the page where it just seemed to go on and on.
On the investigation side, the identification of a potential suspect brings with it some of his contacts, and some slightly odd professional behaviour from Jane, whilst the police team is working hard to find somebody who is a particularly gifted actor and able to evade CCTV and modern surveillance techniques. Eventually though, some sketchy connections between the victims start to appear, and a potential motivation, all of which ultimately lead to injuries and damage in the investigation team, and resolution to the killing spree, but no real complete answer to the why. Or the who.
I don't quite know what I think about this novel in so many ways. Love this character, wasn't convinced by this invocation though. Well and truly unconvinced by the mad bad serial killer thing, and the resolution here sort of felt all a bit "and in the next episode". Having said all of that I'd not be at all surprised to find myself on the losing side of an argument about this one - it's a book that's going to work for many many readers.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
Needless to say, if anybody knows Dr Jane Halifax it's author Roger Simpson. The question that remained was therefore how would he go moving a TV creation to the printed word. In order to do that transition he's created a plot that's based around a madder than mad serial killer, with a twist in the motivation that's revealed later in the book.
The murders here are gruesome - no other word for it. The first victim involves a very wealthy man, a very well known (and pointy) statue and a harness. Violent, ritualistic, brazen and more than a bit stomach churning. The second victim is killed in an equally "biblical" manner in a factory building late at night, with a third succumbing to some particularly nasty business in a backyard. The heart of the motivation and patterns for these killings seems to be religious, the methodology vicious and extremely calculated, the killer invisible. Inspector Eric Ringer is desperate for Dr Jane Halifax to profile the killer, but she's cautious, as a complication there's history between the two of them (and a lot of gossip), and anyway you slice it, she hates these kinds of cases, a psychopath is a psychopath after all (paraphrased from the blurb).
I think I'm on record as saying I'm more than a bit allergic to psychopathic serial killer storylines, and I will admit to struggling with the gory nature of these killings - mostly because it all seemed so inevitable. There was also something slightly bland about Jane which I don't remember from the TV series, contrasting rather jarringly with the anything but crime scenes. There's a lot of internal rumination from Jane as well - regret over her widow status and her relationship with a now absent step-daughter, her past with Ringer (and is there a future?) and it all seemed a bit predictable, and angst for the sake of angst - maybe that sort of internal dialogue works better visually, than on the page where it just seemed to go on and on.
On the investigation side, the identification of a potential suspect brings with it some of his contacts, and some slightly odd professional behaviour from Jane, whilst the police team is working hard to find somebody who is a particularly gifted actor and able to evade CCTV and modern surveillance techniques. Eventually though, some sketchy connections between the victims start to appear, and a potential motivation, all of which ultimately lead to injuries and damage in the investigation team, and resolution to the killing spree, but no real complete answer to the why. Or the who.
I don't quite know what I think about this novel in so many ways. Love this character, wasn't convinced by this invocation though. Well and truly unconvinced by the mad bad serial killer thing, and the resolution here sort of felt all a bit "and in the next episode". Having said all of that I'd not be at all surprised to find myself on the losing side of an argument about this one - it's a book that's going to work for many many readers.
https://www.austcrimefiction.org/revi...
October 6, 2022
Thanks to Better Reading for an advance copy of Halifax: Transgression in return for an honest review.
I was always guaranteed to enjoy this one, Melbourne based psychological crime fiction is right up my alley. Being able to picture the locations used in the story made it great fun.
Based on the author's TV series of the same name from the 1990s, Dr Jane Halifax is a forensic psychiatrist consulting for the police on a series of gruesome murders. This is Roger Simpson's first novel (as opposed to screenplays of the same character) and I liked that it felt a bit like watching a TV show. The writing is matter of fact and the locations clearly described. It is fast moving and I finished the whole thing in a day, a definite page turner.
I was sure I had fallen for some red herrings early on but no, my instincts were right. Although I did work it out well before the end the resolution was still very satisfying and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way.
This is a fantastic holiday, lazy weekend or (for me) stuck in isolation read.
I was always guaranteed to enjoy this one, Melbourne based psychological crime fiction is right up my alley. Being able to picture the locations used in the story made it great fun.
Based on the author's TV series of the same name from the 1990s, Dr Jane Halifax is a forensic psychiatrist consulting for the police on a series of gruesome murders. This is Roger Simpson's first novel (as opposed to screenplays of the same character) and I liked that it felt a bit like watching a TV show. The writing is matter of fact and the locations clearly described. It is fast moving and I finished the whole thing in a day, a definite page turner.
I was sure I had fallen for some red herrings early on but no, my instincts were right. Although I did work it out well before the end the resolution was still very satisfying and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way.
This is a fantastic holiday, lazy weekend or (for me) stuck in isolation read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2022
Halifax Transgression was chilling and thrilling - a detective story that was not exactly for the fainthearted. The story takes us into the world of billionaires, serial killers and torture. It is very much from the investigator and police side of the crime. Jane Halifax is a good character, a psychiatrist who sees into the twisted mind of such a deviant character, however there are some good secondary characters in the book such as her co-workers Showbag and Eric Ringer. The book is based on a TV show (which I haven’t seen) and I could hear this in the text which was good for the pace and the action, however sometimes could be lacking if you wanted to dwell on atmosphere, description and the deeper musings of the characters. The language is kept fairly sparse. While it is about some fairly gruesome topics, I didn’t find it overly gratuitous/horrific in description. I enjoyed watching Jane at work.
October 7, 2022
Before turning the first page of Transgression I couldn’t help but picture Rebecca Gibney as Dr Jane Halifax even though I haven’t watched the series the novel is based on. Dr Halifax is a Forensic Psychologist who assists police on their more extreme cases and she joins with Inspector Eric Ringer to help profile a serial killer that must be stopped. The crimes committed are heinous in nature and the descriptions graphic and not for the faint hearted.
Transgression is fast paced from the get go with readers thrust into the life of a homicide cop trying to balance work, family life and a woman he has history with, Jane Halifax.
I thoroughly enjoyed the reference to Melbourne landmarks, my home city, together with the inner turmoil Jane feels, not only towards Eric Ringer but also the killer at large. She has an inherent need to help those suffering which at times can be dangerous.
If you love crime and suspense you won’t be disappointed.
Transgression is fast paced from the get go with readers thrust into the life of a homicide cop trying to balance work, family life and a woman he has history with, Jane Halifax.
I thoroughly enjoyed the reference to Melbourne landmarks, my home city, together with the inner turmoil Jane feels, not only towards Eric Ringer but also the killer at large. She has an inherent need to help those suffering which at times can be dangerous.
If you love crime and suspense you won’t be disappointed.
June 21, 2023
Thank you to libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook. I am offering my honest opinion voluntarily.
I gather that this was a big phenomenon in Australia, but I came across this audiobook with no knowledge of the show at all. So I went into this with no preconceived notion of what to expect.
Simpson knows how to grab a reader, with the first crime occurring rather quickly and both intriguing and horrifying me. Reader beware: there's graphic descriptions of gore throughout the story. I was fascinated as Jane and Co. worked to put the pieces of the puzzle together in time to prevent any more crimes.
However, I was distinctly underwhelmed by the characters themselves. They seemed so flat that it made it really hard to connect with them. In fact, I struggled to even identify who was who amongst the side characters for a good portion of the novel.
Overall, this wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't an exceptional one either.
I gather that this was a big phenomenon in Australia, but I came across this audiobook with no knowledge of the show at all. So I went into this with no preconceived notion of what to expect.
Simpson knows how to grab a reader, with the first crime occurring rather quickly and both intriguing and horrifying me. Reader beware: there's graphic descriptions of gore throughout the story. I was fascinated as Jane and Co. worked to put the pieces of the puzzle together in time to prevent any more crimes.
However, I was distinctly underwhelmed by the characters themselves. They seemed so flat that it made it really hard to connect with them. In fact, I struggled to even identify who was who amongst the side characters for a good portion of the novel.
Overall, this wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't an exceptional one either.
September 1, 2025
První příběh s ikonickou soudní psychiatričkou Jane Halifaxovou se otevírá slibně: brutální vražda naaranžovaná na drahocenné soše působí mrazivě a okamžitě vtáhne do děje. Simpson má cit pro vizuálně silné scény a postava Jane, vtažená do vyšetřování bývalým kolegou a milencem, působí komplexně a lidsky.
Po úvodním napětí ale tempo zpomalí. Vyšetřování se zaměřuje spíše na psychologickou stránku než na akci, což sice přináší zajímavý vhled do práce soudní psychiatričky, ale čtenáři očekávající dynamický thriller mohou být lehce zklamaní. Ve srovnání se seriálem působí kniha méně napínavě a chybí jí gradace, na kterou jsem se těšila.
Celkově jde o solidní začátek série, který ocení spíše ti, kdo mají rádi analytický pohled na zločin a propracované postavy, než akční děj plný zvratů. Atmosféra i hrdinka mají potenciál, jen by to chtělo více napětí. Já osobně jsem čekala o něco víc – žádné velké „wow“ se nekonalo.
Po úvodním napětí ale tempo zpomalí. Vyšetřování se zaměřuje spíše na psychologickou stránku než na akci, což sice přináší zajímavý vhled do práce soudní psychiatričky, ale čtenáři očekávající dynamický thriller mohou být lehce zklamaní. Ve srovnání se seriálem působí kniha méně napínavě a chybí jí gradace, na kterou jsem se těšila.
Celkově jde o solidní začátek série, který ocení spíše ti, kdo mají rádi analytický pohled na zločin a propracované postavy, než akční děj plný zvratů. Atmosféra i hrdinka mají potenciál, jen by to chtělo více napětí. Já osobně jsem čekala o něco víc – žádné velké „wow“ se nekonalo.
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