Hit & Run

Janine Lewis #2

by Cath Staincliffe

A corpse in the river; a child mown down; a fugitive slaughtered. Three untimely deaths means three murder investigations – unless, of course, they are all part of the same case… Life is tough as a cop at the top – and tougher still with a new baby at home – but when tragedy strikes, DCI Janine Lewis is used to bearing the brunt of the fallout and juggling her home life with the challenges of bringing killers to justice. Starting back at work after maternity leave, Janine finds herself in the thick of two major investigations. The badly battered body of a young woman is recovered from the Mersey River and a schoolgirl is killed in a hit and run. As Janine and her team fight to unravel the story behind each death, Janine struggles with an insomniac baby, a traumatized little boy, an errant ex-husband and a sardonic boss. Hit and Run, the second in the Blue Murder series blends the warmth of family life with the demands of a police investigation in a gripping new thriller from one of Britain’s best crime writers

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Procedural

288 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2006

About the author

Cath Staincliffe is a best-selling, award-winning novelist, radio playwright and the creator of ITV's hit series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath's books have been short-listed for the British Crime Writers Association best first novel award, for the Dagger in the Library and selected as Le Masque de l'Année. In 2012 Cath won the CWA Short Story Dagger for Laptop, sharing the prize with Margaret Murphy with her story The Message. Cath was shortlisted again with Night Nurse in 2014. Cath's Sal Kilkenny private eye series features a single-parent sleuth working the mean streets of Manchester. Trio, a stand-alone novel moved away from crime to explore adoption and growing up in the 1960s, inspired by Cath's own experience. Letters To My Daughter's Killer was selected for Specsavers Crime Thriller Book Club in 2014 and featured on ITV3s Crime Thriller Club. Cath also writes the Scott & Bailey novels based on the popular UK TV series. Cath's latest stand alone book, The Girl in the Green Dress, was inspired by her experience as the parent of a transgender child. It tells the story of a transphobic hate crime and asks the question: how far would you go to protect your child? Cath is one of the founding members of Murder Squad - a group of Northern crime writers who give readings, talks and signings around the country. Cath was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, UK and now lives in Manchester, Lancashire with her family. You can follow her on Twitter, @CathStaincliffe, which she does when she should be busy writing!

Reviews

[Rachel (not currently receiving notifications) Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first encountered the writing of Cath Staincliffe when I read a novel in her longer running Sal Kilkenny series and remember being hugely impressed. Stone Cold Red Hot brought Manchester to life and delivered a gripping story with characters that the reader could identify with. When I picked up this novel I knew it had been broadcast as one of the episodes of the Blue Murder television series but having never seen the programme I had no preconceived expectations.

DCI Janine Lewis is facing day two of her return to work following a period of maternity leave and is filled with apprehension, facing life as a single mother of four and a job running major enquiries in Manchester. Janine knows that a return to work on a part-time basis is out of the question if she wants to continue progressing in the force, and she certainly does. Having just delivered her seven-year old son to primary school and about to set off to attend a body being pulled out of the River Mersey, witnessing a hit and run brings other ideas. When the body in the Mersey is identified as that of a young Polish girl working in a local lap dancing club and the car involved in the hit and run is owned by this very same clubs manager it arouses Janine's suspicions and her team dig deeper.

Sarcastic boss DCS Leonard 'The Lemon' Hackett assigns both of these major enquiries to DCI Lewis and with her sidekick DI Richard Mayne she is back in the midst of a hectic career from the off. Venturing to the Topcat club brings the news that the girl was living in the UK illegally and the team attempt to track down the elusive Polish, Mr Konrad Sulikov. When the victim of the hit and run accident also dies this is too close to home for one of the team involved and threatens to derail the case as they become vulnerable. The team has a wonderful rapport, the banter feels natural and the element of sexual tension that flows between Janine and Richard keeps things lively.

I am a great admirer of how Staincliffe manages to mix domestic dramas and a family life with a career in the police and this adds an edge of realism and a gentle humour to her writing. Janine is a wonderfully flawed character, not a superman who is single handedly crime busting, but someone who has off days, loses her temper and muddles along. Despite this the domestic situations do not have the effect of derailing the plot and the investigation cracks along at a great pace. Underlying this solid novel is a real feeling of compassion, an understanding the sometimes things aren't simply black or white, notably with the leak in the department. Admirably Stancliffe also recognises that despite the risk of the Eastern European girls being trafficked and the life that could be facing them on arrival in the West they will always be willing to seek out an opportunity for a better life and takes time to recognise that the death of a child often leave a marriage beyond repair.

Hit & Run makes for an hugely satisfying police procedural with a refreshingly realistic cast and all in the space of 230 pages. This is a solid and engaging read and I intend to seek out further novels by this talented author.

[Jan Rice]

Janine super detective

Juggling 4 children as a police detective and a single mother Janine is a very believable character. An excellent read.

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Between 2 and 3 ⭐️

Single mum of 4 DCI Janine Lewis is the main character in this book, trying to juggle home life and a good career and some major inquiries as several crimes converge into one. It was an OK read and little more than that as the story flitted about somewhat and the reporting style put me off too. I didn’t feel much excitement from the story and there was a lot of superfluous detail which added little to the storyline. I really enjoyed the TV series Blue Murder and Caroline Quentin played the role of Janine really well so overall, I think the story translated much better to the small screen as actors could inject some life into their characters. I’m disappointed I didn’t feel invested in this story as I’ve read other Cath Staincliffe books that I’ve enjoyed much more.

[Christine Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hit and Run by Cath Staincliffe

Hit and Run by Cath Staincliffe is the second in the Detective Janine Lewis Mysteries. This time it is the story of trafficking of Polish women and a murder and then a hit and run where a child is killed.
Excellent storyline.
Recommended

[kenneth Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second novel I’ve read featuring dci Janine Lewis and her team , I have enjoyed the interaction between characters and the physical settings described in detail bringing the scenes to life in your mind . The plot is well developed with interesting diversions put in place to make us wonder “who Dunn it “
I recommend this book to crime and mystery addicts , a good read and look forward to more

[Vicki Mencarini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hit and Run ( Detective Janine Lewis Mystery Book2 )


I wasn't disappointed in her second book !! It was awesome !!! Great 👍👍👍👍😊 character development !!!! I was impressed by their thought process !!!! Great team work . They really made the characters seem real & human !!!! I can't wait for book 3 !!! 😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀😀👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋🙋❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ Enjoy .uk friends !!! Warning some foul language & being Lord's name in vain .

[Antigone Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery Bogged Down By Family

Could the murder of an exotic dancer be linked to the hit and run involving a child? It seems unlikely but Det. Janine Lewis and her team investigate. Determined to find justice for both victims they are at odds with a wily criminal.

This was well plotted. It is not especially fast paced but interesting. Could have lived without all the family angst. Who cares about her kids, child care , etc? Boring and slowed everything down. 2.5 stars

[Sebastian Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read Blue Murder and unable to review as it is the first book in the collection, I have to start here. It was a a steady introduction to Janine which led into a good novel. Different with a pregnant DCI, 3 children and husband who went off with the cleaner! But it worked.
This story covers a prostitution and people smuggling ring along with a hit and run that opens up a complex case especially when a young woman is found dead in a river. Janine now has baby Charlotte to contend with as well as juggling her job, her daytime child minder and her ex. But it does all work and makes a for a good read.

[Bud Mallar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed. Picked up this four book collection for free if I remember correctly.

Good whodunit. Some good side characters hanging about. Emphasis on the impact of police detective work on the home front. Our heroine has 4 kids, including a newborn and no hubby.

Had no idea whodunit, lots of false trails to wonder down. Good police procedural.

Think around two hundred pages, so short and quick.

Looking forward to #3.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good author, nice characters. I thought this book was better than the first one. Liked Richard more; the relationship between Janice and her ex husband, the interactions with the suspects and the information about the murders. Much better book. Will definitely read book 3 when it comes out.

[Lesley Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

A really gripping murder mystery, the characters are all believable. The story was quite sad in places and a bit twisty turny but the detectives sorted everything out . These books are a bit like Midsummer Murders.

[R.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read. It kept me engaged from the first page to the last. After two seemingly unrelated deaths, Janine Lewis discovers that the deaths were actually related and as she pursues the murderer, things get more puzzling.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good police procedural mystery with several different events that come together. DI Janine Lewis has to run her team and solve multiple crimes while balancing the needs of her 4 children, ex-husband, and nanny. She is a relatable character. Good series so far.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 Janine Lewis. A child is hit and killed. Another child’s body is found. Crimes connected.

[Judith Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hit and Run

Great stories from this author,watch the series too,such a wonderful relief to catch the killer,such sad situations,but he didn’t get away.

[Charles Browne W]

Good story , plenty of action and a few twists here and there. I like the characters and their back stories and the plot develops well. I was not bored!

[WR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good read, set in (somewhat familiar) Manchester.

[Marge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Read

This novel is really well written and plotted. My only complaint is that it’s too short. I’d like to have had another 50 pages to digest.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hit and run book 2, another good read, keeping the twists and turns coming right to the end. Fully enjoyed and recommend

[John Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really nice to back to the early 2000s. I loved this book. It had me gripped from start to finish! I felt it ended a little early and could of been extented. A great read though.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was okay, but it didn't hold my attention quite as well, and I felt a little disconnected from the characters and events.

[Julian Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great to see how Janine copes with trauma at work and difficulties at home. A great story, very well written, looking forward to the next one.
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

DCI Janine Lewis and crew investigate a hit and run case in Manchester which soon spirals out much further. A clear and effective police procedural. A good choice for a quick and easy read

[Geoff Hibberd]

"Goodread" from Cath, am going to continue reading her books in order.👍

[Dobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than the first one in the series.

[Michael Cordery · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know the book was written quite some time ago but enjoyed it thoroughly. I read UK crime books one after another and this is right up there with the best of them. Can't remember the TV show but I will assume it was shown in Australia given our love with UK drama generally but will look it up.

[David S Stofa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. I loved the suspense created though out the copy! Loved it.

[Trudi Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superbly written

Loved the whole thing, brilliant plot, excellent descriptions, fast but Easy to follow. I shall certainly look for more by this author.

[Mrs S Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in series: BRILLIANT!

This is second book in series and as title says, it really is brilliant!
Can’t recommend it highly enough, much better than first in series.
Looking for No.3 now!

[james bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

Great read. Read it in 1 day. Just the right amount of technical policing mixed with a good story. Definitely recommend.