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Dive
Dive into London's most dangerous crime scene — the River Thames.
A police diver whose obsession with the job has made his home life implode.
A high-flying detective recently thrown out of the CID.
A case that could get them both killed.
Police diver David Cade lives by a simple rule: pull out the bodies and move on. Naomi can't abide that. Her whole career, she's wanted to fight the good fight. But circumstances have sent Naomi to the Marine Police.
Then they discover a dead girl, bloated and broken on the surface of the Thames. And then another.
Each time David pulls a new body out of the water, he fears it's his estranged fifteen-year-old daughter Lex. She's gone missing after they had a fierce argument and hasn't been in touch since.
The dead girls all have the same nightclub stamp on the backs of their hands — the same one David's daughter had the day she disappeared.
A briefcase is discovered in the same stretch of water, and suddenly the higher-ups at CID, including Naomi's rival, Detective Chief Inspector Shannon Baines, start showing an interest.
Clearly something big is happening.
David and Naomi must work together if they're going to solve the dead girls' murders and find Lex. Then they uncover something that will threaten to blow the case apart — if it doesn't get them killed first . . .
A police diver whose obsession with the job has made his home life implode.
A high-flying detective recently thrown out of the CID.
A case that could get them both killed.
Police diver David Cade lives by a simple rule: pull out the bodies and move on. Naomi can't abide that. Her whole career, she's wanted to fight the good fight. But circumstances have sent Naomi to the Marine Police.
Then they discover a dead girl, bloated and broken on the surface of the Thames. And then another.
Each time David pulls a new body out of the water, he fears it's his estranged fifteen-year-old daughter Lex. She's gone missing after they had a fierce argument and hasn't been in touch since.
The dead girls all have the same nightclub stamp on the backs of their hands — the same one David's daughter had the day she disappeared.
A briefcase is discovered in the same stretch of water, and suddenly the higher-ups at CID, including Naomi's rival, Detective Chief Inspector Shannon Baines, start showing an interest.
Clearly something big is happening.
David and Naomi must work together if they're going to solve the dead girls' murders and find Lex. Then they uncover something that will threaten to blow the case apart — if it doesn't get them killed first . . .
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2023
81 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Jon Barton
1 book3 followersJon Barton is a London-based stage and screenwriter. His theatre work has been performed at major venues across the UK including The Old Vic, Almeida, Lyric Hammersmith, HOME Manchester and Birmingham MAC.
He has written for the BBC, and is a member of BAFTA. He edits for The Literary Consultancy, and tutors writers at City Academy, Iconic Steps, The Princes Trust, Lambeth Adult Learning, and City Lit.
Dive is his first novel.
He has written for the BBC, and is a member of BAFTA. He edits for The Literary Consultancy, and tutors writers at City Academy, Iconic Steps, The Princes Trust, Lambeth Adult Learning, and City Lit.
Dive is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 26, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up
Police diver Daniel Cade lives by a simple rule: pulled out the bodies and move on. Naomi Can't abide that. Her whole career, she's wanted to fight the good fight. But circumstances have sent Naomi to the Marine Police. Then they discover a dead girl, bloated and broken on the surface of the Thames. And then another. Each time David pulls a body out of the water, he fears it's his fifteen-year-old daughter, Lex. She'd gone missing after they'd had a fierce argument and hasn't been in touch since. The dead girls all have the same nightclub stamp on the backs of their hands - the same one David's daughter had the day she disappeared.
This book has it all - complex characters, a missing daughter, flawed characters and a compelling storyline. I was pulled into this story from the first page. It's not always an easy read, but it's so well written it makes you realise that being a police diver is an even tougher job than you could ever imagine. I really like David and Naomi who are strong characters. There are some individual threads to this story which are neatly tied up as the story progressed. The pace is perfectly set. I hope this is the start of a new series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #JonBarton for my ARC of #Dive in exchange for an honest review.
Police diver Daniel Cade lives by a simple rule: pulled out the bodies and move on. Naomi Can't abide that. Her whole career, she's wanted to fight the good fight. But circumstances have sent Naomi to the Marine Police. Then they discover a dead girl, bloated and broken on the surface of the Thames. And then another. Each time David pulls a body out of the water, he fears it's his fifteen-year-old daughter, Lex. She'd gone missing after they'd had a fierce argument and hasn't been in touch since. The dead girls all have the same nightclub stamp on the backs of their hands - the same one David's daughter had the day she disappeared.
This book has it all - complex characters, a missing daughter, flawed characters and a compelling storyline. I was pulled into this story from the first page. It's not always an easy read, but it's so well written it makes you realise that being a police diver is an even tougher job than you could ever imagine. I really like David and Naomi who are strong characters. There are some individual threads to this story which are neatly tied up as the story progressed. The pace is perfectly set. I hope this is the start of a new series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #JonBarton for my ARC of #Dive in exchange for an honest review.
January 19, 2023
Jon Barton is a new author to me so I was unsure what to expect from DIVE. However, I certainly wasn't disappointed.
David Cade an ex marine now working as a Police Diver. The rules are simple bring up the bodies, hand them over and move on. But suddenly it becomes personal and David is afraid the next body that is brought up could be his daughter.
Naomi has been thrown out of CID under a dark cloud as she finds herself being held responsible for the death of her colleagues. She finds herself joining the Police Diving team. She is told the rules but once a detective.... Naomi finds she is unable to bring up dead teenager after dead teenager and just move on. She starts questioning everything but not getting any answers isn't going to stop her.
I was pulled into the story from the first page and gripped all the way to the end. Unique characters complete with flaws and personalities that fit the story perfectly. A very different story that pulls the reader into the dark and murky world of Police Divers working in the Thames.
A brilliant read that i highly recommend.
David Cade an ex marine now working as a Police Diver. The rules are simple bring up the bodies, hand them over and move on. But suddenly it becomes personal and David is afraid the next body that is brought up could be his daughter.
Naomi has been thrown out of CID under a dark cloud as she finds herself being held responsible for the death of her colleagues. She finds herself joining the Police Diving team. She is told the rules but once a detective.... Naomi finds she is unable to bring up dead teenager after dead teenager and just move on. She starts questioning everything but not getting any answers isn't going to stop her.
I was pulled into the story from the first page and gripped all the way to the end. Unique characters complete with flaws and personalities that fit the story perfectly. A very different story that pulls the reader into the dark and murky world of Police Divers working in the Thames.
A brilliant read that i highly recommend.
March 23, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.
Diver David collects bodies from the Thames. DI Naomi is demoted following a tragic incident. Young girls bodies start turning up but something doesn't add up. What is the connection between them and the sudden disappearance of David's daughter. Lots of info about tides on the Thames and hidden connections. Recommend for fans of police procedural books.
Diver David collects bodies from the Thames. DI Naomi is demoted following a tragic incident. Young girls bodies start turning up but something doesn't add up. What is the connection between them and the sudden disappearance of David's daughter. Lots of info about tides on the Thames and hidden connections. Recommend for fans of police procedural books.
December 10, 2022
Brilliantly written novel … suspenseful, intriguing and unsettling story filled with police drama and fractured family relationships. Well-developed twists that keep you captivated and lead to a climatic ending. Well worthy of five stars.
January 17, 2023
Sergeant David Cade, ex Royal Navy Marines and Military Police, now works as a diver in the Met’s Marine Policing Unit on the River Thames and prefers to lose himself in his work since his divorce and split from his family. DI Naomi Harding is under investigation and has been side-lined to the unit after a drugs bust went badly wrong and three officers were killed on her watch. Their job is simply to pull the bodies out of the water and pass them on but Naomi badly misses being a detective. On the Monday Cade is called to a blockage which turns out to be a suitcase of drugs, just like the deadly ones that surfaced in Naomi’s old case. Later that day Cade’s estranged fifteen-year-old daughter Alexis visits him at work and says she is in trouble. He never sees her again and lies to his ex-wife who is panicking about a club the girl was planning to visit. On the Tuesday a young woman is pulled from the water at Blackfriars and to Cade it looks like an overdose. Another similar girl is found the next day. But something’s not right. DCI Shannon Baines visits the unit and commandeers both the bodies and the drugs but when the cases are hidden from the system, Naomi wonders what exactly is going on and just who she can trust. She is determined to find out how and why the girls died and gets help from an unknown deep throat caller and also an old colleague, whilst Cade is running his own investigation into his missing daughter, leading him to a dodgy boyfriend and a nightclub that the two victims have visited. When they team up together, both may well be risking not only their careers but also their lives in their quest for the truth.
This was illuminating, although I did have to google a bit to get an idea of the layout of the Thames and the police marine unit, not knowing the area concerned at all. I had previously thought the frogmen were simply police who had an additional skill and donned a wetsuit when required, and had no idea it was a separate unit who go looking for bodies all the time and who also undertake no form of investigative work which seems a complete waste of police training. It’s a good thrilling story, a little slow to get off the ground but which really picks up speed when Cade and Naomi pair up, but I’m not convinced about the likelihood of having two lone wolves ending up together in the same small department, both ignoring orders and protocol and breaking the law into the bargain. I didn’t like the US terminology in places such as using the word “stoop” for porch and describing detectives in their office as “squaddies in the bullpen” which made me wonder where the author is based. The plot is revealed slowly which maintains the suspense and keeps the reader questioning the various characters’ motives right up to the end. A promising debut. 4*
This was illuminating, although I did have to google a bit to get an idea of the layout of the Thames and the police marine unit, not knowing the area concerned at all. I had previously thought the frogmen were simply police who had an additional skill and donned a wetsuit when required, and had no idea it was a separate unit who go looking for bodies all the time and who also undertake no form of investigative work which seems a complete waste of police training. It’s a good thrilling story, a little slow to get off the ground but which really picks up speed when Cade and Naomi pair up, but I’m not convinced about the likelihood of having two lone wolves ending up together in the same small department, both ignoring orders and protocol and breaking the law into the bargain. I didn’t like the US terminology in places such as using the word “stoop” for porch and describing detectives in their office as “squaddies in the bullpen” which made me wonder where the author is based. The plot is revealed slowly which maintains the suspense and keeps the reader questioning the various characters’ motives right up to the end. A promising debut. 4*
December 30, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Dive, a police procedural featuring Met DI Naomi Harding and Marine Police Sergeant David Cade.
Naomi has been demoted to the Marine Police from CID after an operation she was leading went badly wrong. There she works with David Cade rescuing dead bodies from the Thames and passing then on. Recently they have been finding dead young women with the same nightclub stamp on their hand. Naomi wants justice for them, David dreads that one of them is his missing teenage daughter, Lex. When they rescue a briefcase suddenly the hierarchy and especially DCI Shannon Baines, is interested.
After a slow start I enjoyed Dive, which is an exciting read with a bit of a mysterious plot in that I found it difficult to discern some of the characters’ motives. It is told from various points of view, mostly Naomi and David with others contributing as and when necessary. These other contributions flesh out some details about events and motive, but throw up even more questions. It is obviously designed to keep the reader wanting more information and it worked for me.
The novel is more character driven than many in the category. Both Naomi and David carry a lot of baggage and have buried much of it in an obsession with their jobs. It can be heavy going at times trying to keep up with their thoughts, but it has an interesting take on why they both get involved in trying to find out what happened to the girls, safe to say that justice and altruism don’t figure.
As I said I found the novel slow to start. Yes, bodies are found but there is no real hook until later on when Naomi and David start working together. Instead it starts with scene setting and a lot of suspicion/mistrust that didn’t really appeal to me as I’m all about forward momentum. Once the partnership starts the novel gets interesting, tense and exciting in parts with all the forward momentum I could ask for.
Dive is a good read that I can recommend.
Naomi has been demoted to the Marine Police from CID after an operation she was leading went badly wrong. There she works with David Cade rescuing dead bodies from the Thames and passing then on. Recently they have been finding dead young women with the same nightclub stamp on their hand. Naomi wants justice for them, David dreads that one of them is his missing teenage daughter, Lex. When they rescue a briefcase suddenly the hierarchy and especially DCI Shannon Baines, is interested.
After a slow start I enjoyed Dive, which is an exciting read with a bit of a mysterious plot in that I found it difficult to discern some of the characters’ motives. It is told from various points of view, mostly Naomi and David with others contributing as and when necessary. These other contributions flesh out some details about events and motive, but throw up even more questions. It is obviously designed to keep the reader wanting more information and it worked for me.
The novel is more character driven than many in the category. Both Naomi and David carry a lot of baggage and have buried much of it in an obsession with their jobs. It can be heavy going at times trying to keep up with their thoughts, but it has an interesting take on why they both get involved in trying to find out what happened to the girls, safe to say that justice and altruism don’t figure.
As I said I found the novel slow to start. Yes, bodies are found but there is no real hook until later on when Naomi and David start working together. Instead it starts with scene setting and a lot of suspicion/mistrust that didn’t really appeal to me as I’m all about forward momentum. Once the partnership starts the novel gets interesting, tense and exciting in parts with all the forward momentum I could ask for.
Dive is a good read that I can recommend.
February 10, 2023
DIVE by Jon Barton was an excellent book, especially as Jon was a new author to me and I love finding and reading from new authors, Dive was full of great twists and turns from start to finish and its a new police procedural book set in London's most dangerous crime scene — the River Thames. This features two main characters - Met DI Naomi Harding and Marine Police Sergeant David Cade.
Marine Police diver David Cade lives by a simple rule........Pull out the bodies from the Thames and move on. But, he is hiding a secret, every time he pulls a body out of the Thames, he fears its his estranged fifteen year old daughter Lex. Who has gone missing after they had a fierce argument and hasn't been in touch since.
Met DI Naomi Harding can't abide that. Her whole career, she's wanted to fight and a good fight. She was a high-flying Detective and recently thrown out of the CID. Now she working for the Marine Police. She has to buckle down and get on with it.
They both discover a dead girl, bloated and broken on the surface of the Thames. And then another.
All the dead girls have the same thing in common, they all have a nightclub stamp on the backs of their hands. This is the same one David's daughter Lex had the day she disappeared.
Then, a briefcase is discovered in the same stretch of water, and suddenly the higher-ups at CID, including Naomi's rival, Detective Chief Inspector Shannon Baines, start showing an interest.
Clearly something big is happening.
David and Naomi must work together if they're going to solve the dead girls' murders and find Lex. Then they uncover something that will threaten to blow the case apart
They have to tread very carefully and watch each others backs. as this could get them both killed.
WoW. This book is so good and I am looking forward to read more by this new author.
Big thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Dive exchange for a review.
Marine Police diver David Cade lives by a simple rule........Pull out the bodies from the Thames and move on. But, he is hiding a secret, every time he pulls a body out of the Thames, he fears its his estranged fifteen year old daughter Lex. Who has gone missing after they had a fierce argument and hasn't been in touch since.
Met DI Naomi Harding can't abide that. Her whole career, she's wanted to fight and a good fight. She was a high-flying Detective and recently thrown out of the CID. Now she working for the Marine Police. She has to buckle down and get on with it.
They both discover a dead girl, bloated and broken on the surface of the Thames. And then another.
All the dead girls have the same thing in common, they all have a nightclub stamp on the backs of their hands. This is the same one David's daughter Lex had the day she disappeared.
Then, a briefcase is discovered in the same stretch of water, and suddenly the higher-ups at CID, including Naomi's rival, Detective Chief Inspector Shannon Baines, start showing an interest.
Clearly something big is happening.
David and Naomi must work together if they're going to solve the dead girls' murders and find Lex. Then they uncover something that will threaten to blow the case apart
They have to tread very carefully and watch each others backs. as this could get them both killed.
WoW. This book is so good and I am looking forward to read more by this new author.
Big thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Dive exchange for a review.
June 7, 2023
Line of Duty fans looking for a heart-jolting police procedural to get their teeth into will be gripped by Jon Barton’s thriller, Dive.
Police diver David Cade knows that the only way he can do his job is by pulling out the bodies from the Thames and moving on. However, with his daughter having disappeared without a trace, doing his job has become increasingly difficult. Every time David pulls a body out of the river, he is wracked with worry that it will be his estranged fifteen year old Lexi and when he fishes out the body of a girl with the same nightclub stamp on the back of her hand as his daughter, he wonders whether somebody is sending him a message. When another girl with the same stamp is found, David’s alarm and trepidation intensifies. Is Lexi going to be next body to be found floating in the river?
Detective Naomi Harding had made a mistake that had almost ruined her career. Determined to do whatever it takes to get back on top, she is willing to move mountains to solve this case – even if it means clashing with David, who is her polar opposite. The discovery of a briefcase discovered in the same stretch of water has the higher-ups at CID worried. Just what is going on here? What have David and Naomi stumbled onto? Will this briefcase lead them to Lexi? Or are they getting so close to the truth that the next bodies to be fished out of the river might end up being theirs?
Fast-paced, unpredictable and packed with twists and turns readers simply won’t see coming, Dive is a first-rate thriller that will keep readers turning the pages until sunrise. Jon Barton knows how to grab his readers for page one and keep them on the edge of their seat desperate to find out what is going to happen next and with Dive he has written a superb page-turner that firmly cements his position as a writer to watch out for.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Police diver David Cade knows that the only way he can do his job is by pulling out the bodies from the Thames and moving on. However, with his daughter having disappeared without a trace, doing his job has become increasingly difficult. Every time David pulls a body out of the river, he is wracked with worry that it will be his estranged fifteen year old Lexi and when he fishes out the body of a girl with the same nightclub stamp on the back of her hand as his daughter, he wonders whether somebody is sending him a message. When another girl with the same stamp is found, David’s alarm and trepidation intensifies. Is Lexi going to be next body to be found floating in the river?
Detective Naomi Harding had made a mistake that had almost ruined her career. Determined to do whatever it takes to get back on top, she is willing to move mountains to solve this case – even if it means clashing with David, who is her polar opposite. The discovery of a briefcase discovered in the same stretch of water has the higher-ups at CID worried. Just what is going on here? What have David and Naomi stumbled onto? Will this briefcase lead them to Lexi? Or are they getting so close to the truth that the next bodies to be fished out of the river might end up being theirs?
Fast-paced, unpredictable and packed with twists and turns readers simply won’t see coming, Dive is a first-rate thriller that will keep readers turning the pages until sunrise. Jon Barton knows how to grab his readers for page one and keep them on the edge of their seat desperate to find out what is going to happen next and with Dive he has written a superb page-turner that firmly cements his position as a writer to watch out for.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 3, 2023
Drugs and female corpses are found in the River Thames by the marine police. Frogman David Cade usually passes the bodies on but his new colleague Naomi Harding wants to pursue the deaths. He is convinced to listen to her when his own daughter goes missing...
Dive is a murder mystery and detective novel set in London.
Naomi Harding has been sidelined from her usual work following a disasterous case. Now she is attempting to rescue her career with a drugs case that may also link to murder. David Cade is a hardened frogman but his personal involvement in the case lead him to work with Naomi. His daughter has gone missing and every time a body is found, he panics that it is Lex.
There is a lot of technical detail and jargon about the marine police which added an authenticity but went over my head a bit. I focussed on the main threads which for me was a dad searching for his teenaged daughter and a woman fighting for her career. The personal side to the case delivers a powerful emotional impact.
The book is written in the third person throughout so we see the police perspectives as well as the criminals. This raises the tension as we fear for Lex's safety and understand the danger she could be facing. Naomi and David are unsure of who to trust and senior officers are acting suspiciously. This inspires them to work together and break the rules.
Dive is a fast paced and tense detective novel which creates an emotional hold on the reader.
Dive is a murder mystery and detective novel set in London.
Naomi Harding has been sidelined from her usual work following a disasterous case. Now she is attempting to rescue her career with a drugs case that may also link to murder. David Cade is a hardened frogman but his personal involvement in the case lead him to work with Naomi. His daughter has gone missing and every time a body is found, he panics that it is Lex.
There is a lot of technical detail and jargon about the marine police which added an authenticity but went over my head a bit. I focussed on the main threads which for me was a dad searching for his teenaged daughter and a woman fighting for her career. The personal side to the case delivers a powerful emotional impact.
The book is written in the third person throughout so we see the police perspectives as well as the criminals. This raises the tension as we fear for Lex's safety and understand the danger she could be facing. Naomi and David are unsure of who to trust and senior officers are acting suspiciously. This inspires them to work together and break the rules.
Dive is a fast paced and tense detective novel which creates an emotional hold on the reader.
December 8, 2022
This is a great book to read and I loved the suspense, intrigue and mystery here. David Cade works for Marine Police and finds himself working alongside Naomi who has been sidelined from her normal job after being blamed for the death of three colleagues. I really liked the two main characters here, they are both flawed with good histories. When bodies are found in the river and Met Police show interest David and Naomi realise all is not what it seems. I found this to be a very well written and engaging read which I've got through in under a day, it was that good. I loved the individual story threads and the twists in the plot and I liked the author's writing style which certainly grabbed and held my attention from start to finish. I thought the pacing was just right and liked that the story was told through the different characters, and as the book progressed this definitely became the kind of read that was hard to put down. I'd recommend this if you like crime books and I enjoyed that the story focused on the Marine Police side and found this a refreshing change. I'd definitely want to read another book featuring Cade and hope for more to come in the future
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 27, 2022
Advance Reader Copy Review
What a cracking tale this was - the cover blurb promised a "breathlessly twisty crime mystery" and it didn't do a bad job in delivering one.
I'll be honest (as always) and admit that the first two or three chapters felt like slow progress - whether that was my problem as I was battling the onset of seasonal lurgy, or the author's style in describing experiences that were
totally new to me (go on, admit it, you've never considered life as a Thames River diver before either) I couldn't say as I picked up the pace and jumped from one twist to the next well described scenario heading toward a satisfying
and rounded outcome.
The main characters are David Cade, former Marine now well established "loner" diver with family issues, and Naomi Harding, disgraced Met Officer in a last chance saloon trying to prove herself in the water, with family issues of her own.
We get perverse, nasty villains, bent coppers, more bodies than we might hope for, subtle twists, red herrings and action - everything you want in a decent crime read.
Thoroughly recommend this one.
There's potential for more involving the surviving cast - hope to find out where they're going sometime 🙂
What a cracking tale this was - the cover blurb promised a "breathlessly twisty crime mystery" and it didn't do a bad job in delivering one.
I'll be honest (as always) and admit that the first two or three chapters felt like slow progress - whether that was my problem as I was battling the onset of seasonal lurgy, or the author's style in describing experiences that were
totally new to me (go on, admit it, you've never considered life as a Thames River diver before either) I couldn't say as I picked up the pace and jumped from one twist to the next well described scenario heading toward a satisfying
and rounded outcome.
The main characters are David Cade, former Marine now well established "loner" diver with family issues, and Naomi Harding, disgraced Met Officer in a last chance saloon trying to prove herself in the water, with family issues of her own.
We get perverse, nasty villains, bent coppers, more bodies than we might hope for, subtle twists, red herrings and action - everything you want in a decent crime read.
Thoroughly recommend this one.
There's potential for more involving the surviving cast - hope to find out where they're going sometime 🙂
December 31, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this. A new author to me, this was a great read. David is a diver with the marine police and appears quite callous in nature when dealing with the discovery of several young women's bodies from the river. A no-big-deal kind of approach. Naomi is a DI who has been moved to the diving unit as punishment due to an investigation into her bungling of a drugs raid which left several police officers dead.
When David's daughtes goes missing, and with Naomi determined to figure out who is dumping the bodies and why, this mismatched pair end up working together. I found the descriptions of the diving quite intense and very interesting. The danger involved was quite palpable. The story is well-written with very little padding and I was gripped throughout. It feels right now as a standalone book but the seeds are there for a possible series and I would be delighted to read more if this turns out to be the case.
My thanks to Joffe Books for an advance copy of this, and this is my honest review.
When David's daughtes goes missing, and with Naomi determined to figure out who is dumping the bodies and why, this mismatched pair end up working together. I found the descriptions of the diving quite intense and very interesting. The danger involved was quite palpable. The story is well-written with very little padding and I was gripped throughout. It feels right now as a standalone book but the seeds are there for a possible series and I would be delighted to read more if this turns out to be the case.
My thanks to Joffe Books for an advance copy of this, and this is my honest review.
March 10, 2023
I interviewed the writer about his book, you can read it here: https://www.sarahtinsley.com/post/gri...
Dive centres around the narrative of David, a disgraced officer who is shunted down to 'wet' duty, dredging the river for unpleasant things. He also has an ex-wife and a difficult teenage daughter to deal with. Refreshingly, we also see the story through the eyes of Naomi, a highly skilled officer who is new to the job. The two form an unlikely partnership in uncovering a particularly nasty case involving drowned girls and drugs.
What made this book really come alive for me was the characters. They were well-rounded and nuanced, and didn't easily fall into the stereotypical 'cop' characters that often populate this kind of fiction. Perhaps because of Jon's work as a screenwriter, the visual details and scene setup were excellent, really enticing me into the story. A tense and interesting thriller, I genuinely enjoyed the twists and turns in this well-executed novel.
Dive centres around the narrative of David, a disgraced officer who is shunted down to 'wet' duty, dredging the river for unpleasant things. He also has an ex-wife and a difficult teenage daughter to deal with. Refreshingly, we also see the story through the eyes of Naomi, a highly skilled officer who is new to the job. The two form an unlikely partnership in uncovering a particularly nasty case involving drowned girls and drugs.
What made this book really come alive for me was the characters. They were well-rounded and nuanced, and didn't easily fall into the stereotypical 'cop' characters that often populate this kind of fiction. Perhaps because of Jon's work as a screenwriter, the visual details and scene setup were excellent, really enticing me into the story. A tense and interesting thriller, I genuinely enjoyed the twists and turns in this well-executed novel.
December 21, 2022
This is an excellent, well written and researched thriller by the author, and I really hope the start of a new crime series. The plotting is brilliant, based around the divers of the Marine Police unit and the difficult job they have to do. I loved David Cade and Naomi, the main characters, both strong and flawed but the characterisation is beautifully portrayed and the reader is drawn right into their emotions. Once I started reading, I was engaged and hooked to the end, drama, suspense and a superb ending means an easy 5* from me. I really recommend this book to lovers of thrillers and crime novels. One of my best reads this year! Thanks to Joffe Books and Net Galley for my ARC.
January 6, 2023
Gritty writing for this one, no superfluous descriptions or information. Set in a police diving team for the Thames in London, it took a couple of chapters for the crimes to become apparent. But then it grabbed my attention and I could not put the book down. Told from different viewpoints, they only start to come together later in the book . You do come to get to know the main characters and I did come to like them as the book progressed.
The crimes seem believable and are interesting and there are a couple of twists along the way.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The crimes seem believable and are interesting and there are a couple of twists along the way.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2023
It's hard to find a new spin on the crime genre. But Jon Barton has managed it by focussing on the Met's police diving team. I can only assume the author spent time with divers from this unit because the book was packed full with what feels like authentic detail. A good plot which drives forward to its conclusion.
A number of the traditional tropes are there: moody, loner investigator David Cade; female sidekick with domestic problems. But the characters are well drawn.
If you want your crime to explore the muckier side of London, this is one's for you. Mud, sewage, e-coli. It's all there.
A number of the traditional tropes are there: moody, loner investigator David Cade; female sidekick with domestic problems. But the characters are well drawn.
If you want your crime to explore the muckier side of London, this is one's for you. Mud, sewage, e-coli. It's all there.
December 5, 2022
Police diver David Cade of the Thames River Police is a mess. His job is to bring up bodies from the muck of the polluted river and go no further with the investigation. And his daughter is missing.
The publisher's blurb is good, so there is no need to repeat it. This is a really good tale that brings out the toughest jobs in the police service and makes the people real. It's a difficult read, but very worth reading.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
The publisher's blurb is good, so there is no need to repeat it. This is a really good tale that brings out the toughest jobs in the police service and makes the people real. It's a difficult read, but very worth reading.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
January 4, 2023
This is a book I thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end. It's one of those books once you start reading, you just need to know more.
This is not only a new author, to me but also a totally new area of policing.
The storyline and plot are well thought out. with great descriptive, characters and some nice twists, bringing it to a satisfying conclusion.
I look forward to more books from the author. I don't think I will ever think of the river Thames the same .
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy, this is my honest unbiased review.
This is not only a new author, to me but also a totally new area of policing.
The storyline and plot are well thought out. with great descriptive, characters and some nice twists, bringing it to a satisfying conclusion.
I look forward to more books from the author. I don't think I will ever think of the river Thames the same .
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy, this is my honest unbiased review.
January 15, 2023
Naomi Harding has been assigned to the MET's marine police after an operation she was leading in CID led to the death of three armed officers.
David Cade is one of the seasoned divers in the marine police, he recovers a case from the Thames, when he opens it Naomi's investigative instincts are aroused - it looks like it contains identical drugs to the ones from her last operation; and these were killer drugs.
A fast paced story following David and Naomi as they try to find the killer of girls found in the Thames and also find David's 15 year old daughter. Very good read.
David Cade is one of the seasoned divers in the marine police, he recovers a case from the Thames, when he opens it Naomi's investigative instincts are aroused - it looks like it contains identical drugs to the ones from her last operation; and these were killer drugs.
A fast paced story following David and Naomi as they try to find the killer of girls found in the Thames and also find David's 15 year old daughter. Very good read.
March 26, 2023
Dive is by Jon Barton. The Dive Squad is crewed by outcasts, but what great characters. David Cade and Naomi Harding are 2 of them, Naomi being the only woman. David's daughter, Lex, has disappeared and as they start pulling teenage girls' bodies from the Thames, he is scared his daughter will be one of them. The tension grips you as the story progresses, with drugs poisoning imported girls and coppers on the take, as well as trouble between a Dad and his daughter. I found this hard to put down and look forward to more in the series, which hopefully will happen.
January 12, 2023
A different view of policing. The divers who work on the River Thames recovering the bodies usually just pick them up and pack them off, but a sudden influx of overdoses - when one of the divers' daughters could be involved changes that.
Really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Really enjoyed it.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
January 29, 2023
Brilliant debut novel.
A breath taking (pardon the pun) book featuring diving in The Thames. At first there is stressed interaction between the two main characters, who each have load of baggage, but who eventually work together to bring a corrupt senior police officer to book. The pace is relentless. I felt we might well be able to read more of either of the two in the future, separately or perhaps together.
A breath taking (pardon the pun) book featuring diving in The Thames. At first there is stressed interaction between the two main characters, who each have load of baggage, but who eventually work together to bring a corrupt senior police officer to book. The pace is relentless. I felt we might well be able to read more of either of the two in the future, separately or perhaps together.
January 7, 2023
Dive it's not one of those books that starts with a bang, it slowly build the scene and then you are hooked.
A gritty and dark story, gripping and well plotted.
I liked the characters and couldn't guess the twists. The final part is adrenaline fuelled.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
A gritty and dark story, gripping and well plotted.
I liked the characters and couldn't guess the twists. The final part is adrenaline fuelled.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
January 23, 2023
Good one.
I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to more. It seems like the start of a good series. As it says this is a part of police work that I haven't read about before.
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I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to more. It seems like the start of a good series. As it says this is a part of police work that I haven't read about before.
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February 6, 2023
This was an incredible police procedural set in London, especially considering that this was the author's first novel. Fast paced with suspense building at each new twist, this book was hard for me to set aside for things like eating and sleeping. The characters were well drawn and the dialog flowed. I hope this is the beginning of a new series.
December 5, 2022
Was lucky enough to read an early copy and I loved it. Everything you'd expect from a police crime mystery and more - bodies, murder, flawed detectives and the dark underworld of diving the Thames. Will be watching out for more from this author!
January 12, 2023
A very interesting debut novel with a different plot set around the river Police on the Thames, and a gripping story. I found the overly descriptive language a little off-putting, but enjoyed the book and look forward to how the characters develop.
January 12, 2023
DIVE by Jon Barton.
A police diver whose obsession with the job has made his home life implode.
A high-flying detective recently thrown out of the CID.
A case that could get them both killed.
Really enjoyable read. Great story and characters. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
A police diver whose obsession with the job has made his home life implode.
A high-flying detective recently thrown out of the CID.
A case that could get them both killed.
Really enjoyable read. Great story and characters. I do hope there is more to come. 5*.
January 19, 2023
I loved this book, it was an ARC from Joffe books and I am very grateful. David is an unlikely hero, who battles bureaucracy along the way whilst searching for his missing daughter. The ending was a pure surprise!
January 24, 2023
A well written addictive read
The main heroin this book is a character from a section of he police force which usually takes a part. A well written story with lots of twists and turns. Hope this isn't the last we hear of the main character s.
The main heroin this book is a character from a section of he police force which usually takes a part. A well written story with lots of twists and turns. Hope this isn't the last we hear of the main character s.
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