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The Fighting Detective Series Books 4-6: The Jack Lisbon Australian Crime Thriller Box Sets
Looking for an action-packed crime fiction series, with a cast of unforgettable characters, each novel featuring a mind-blowing twist?
Meet Jack Lisbon, an ex-boxer detective from the corrupt underbelly of South London. A man who stops at nothing to uncover the truth. He’s got a closet full of dark and painful secrets, but that doesn’t stop him using every means at his disposal – not all of them “by the book” – to catch the criminals. All while adjusting to life in a new and strange land.
GET **THREE** INTRIGUING CRIME MYSTERIES IN ONE GREAT-VALUE BOX SET.
What are readers saying about the Fighting Detective series?
"Jack Lisbon is the sort of cop you don’t want to get on the wrong side of and he’s smart as a whip."
"He’s baaaack…DEFINITELY want to read more in this series."
"Kept me on the edge of my seat."
"Simply splendid."
SHOT TO THE HEART
A missing daughter
A desperate father
A kidnapper with no identity
After a five-year absence from his South London patch, former boxer and Metropolitan Police detective Jack Lisbon flies back from Australia to be reunited with his daughter. Just three days into his holiday, the child is snatched from her father’s side in broad daylight.
The message from the kidnapper is clear – if Jack alerts the police or fails to pay the ransom, the girl dies.
With the clock ticking, Lisbon assembles a ragtag team of amateur fighters and ex-colleagues in a desperate effort to find the kidnappers. Checking off a long list of suspects, they must race across the length and breadth of England and Scotland before it’s too late.
DROP SHOT
Game. Set. Murder.
Temperamental tennis player Roderick McAdam stands on the threshold of claiming the world number one ranking. But days before McAdam is due to arrive in Melbourne for the Australian Open, his trussed-up body is found in a seedy hotel room.
Why had the victim accepted an invitation to play in a one-off competition in far North Queensland? And why was he murdered in such a bizarre way? With the public and tennis officials demanding answers, Detective Jack Lisbon and his team must peel back the layers of lies, violence and deception to uncover the shocking truth.
POINT BLANK
A relaxing round of golf at the country club wasn’t supposed to turn into a bloodbath.
When barking gunfire shatters the tranquillity of a sunny morning, off-duty Detective Sergeant Jack Lisbon races to the source of the blasts. A man lies dead on the fairway, two neat bullet holes in his forehead; a second is bleeding to death; a woman unleashes piercing screams.
It’s quickly determined the shots came from a remotely fired handgun mounted on a drone. The only physical evidence at the crime scene – scattered shell casings and bullets lodged in the ground, the trees and the victims.
Can DS Lisbon find the killer among a long list of suspects? And does a tangled love triangle among the victims hold the key to the mystery? With a family emergency demanding Jack’s return to London, this case must be wrapped up fast.
Meet Jack Lisbon, an ex-boxer detective from the corrupt underbelly of South London. A man who stops at nothing to uncover the truth. He’s got a closet full of dark and painful secrets, but that doesn’t stop him using every means at his disposal – not all of them “by the book” – to catch the criminals. All while adjusting to life in a new and strange land.
GET **THREE** INTRIGUING CRIME MYSTERIES IN ONE GREAT-VALUE BOX SET.
What are readers saying about the Fighting Detective series?
"Jack Lisbon is the sort of cop you don’t want to get on the wrong side of and he’s smart as a whip."
"He’s baaaack…DEFINITELY want to read more in this series."
"Kept me on the edge of my seat."
"Simply splendid."
SHOT TO THE HEART
A missing daughter
A desperate father
A kidnapper with no identity
After a five-year absence from his South London patch, former boxer and Metropolitan Police detective Jack Lisbon flies back from Australia to be reunited with his daughter. Just three days into his holiday, the child is snatched from her father’s side in broad daylight.
The message from the kidnapper is clear – if Jack alerts the police or fails to pay the ransom, the girl dies.
With the clock ticking, Lisbon assembles a ragtag team of amateur fighters and ex-colleagues in a desperate effort to find the kidnappers. Checking off a long list of suspects, they must race across the length and breadth of England and Scotland before it’s too late.
DROP SHOT
Game. Set. Murder.
Temperamental tennis player Roderick McAdam stands on the threshold of claiming the world number one ranking. But days before McAdam is due to arrive in Melbourne for the Australian Open, his trussed-up body is found in a seedy hotel room.
Why had the victim accepted an invitation to play in a one-off competition in far North Queensland? And why was he murdered in such a bizarre way? With the public and tennis officials demanding answers, Detective Jack Lisbon and his team must peel back the layers of lies, violence and deception to uncover the shocking truth.
POINT BLANK
A relaxing round of golf at the country club wasn’t supposed to turn into a bloodbath.
When barking gunfire shatters the tranquillity of a sunny morning, off-duty Detective Sergeant Jack Lisbon races to the source of the blasts. A man lies dead on the fairway, two neat bullet holes in his forehead; a second is bleeding to death; a woman unleashes piercing screams.
It’s quickly determined the shots came from a remotely fired handgun mounted on a drone. The only physical evidence at the crime scene – scattered shell casings and bullets lodged in the ground, the trees and the victims.
Can DS Lisbon find the killer among a long list of suspects? And does a tangled love triangle among the victims hold the key to the mystery? With a family emergency demanding Jack’s return to London, this case must be wrapped up fast.
- GenresMystery
758 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 31, 2023
307 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Blair Denholm
23 books225 followersBlair Denholm is a freelance writer and translator who has lived in Moscow, New York, Munich, Abu Dhabi and Australia. He has written content for commercial websites and done corporate voice-over work in English and Russian.
His first novel in the Gary Braswell series, SOLD, was released by Clan Destine Press in November 2017 and is getting rave reviews. He is also working on a murder mystery based on a real event that occurred in Moscow in the late 1980s.
Blair interpreted for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Moscow, translated for the Sochi Winter Olympics and voted in a foreign election despite having no eligibility to do so. He was also almost lost at sea on a dilapidated Russian fishing boat sailing from Hobart to New Zealand. He currently resides in the beautiful Southern Downs district in Queensland with his partner Sandra and two crazy canines.
His first novel in the Gary Braswell series, SOLD, was released by Clan Destine Press in November 2017 and is getting rave reviews. He is also working on a murder mystery based on a real event that occurred in Moscow in the late 1980s.
Blair interpreted for the Reagan-Gorbachev summit in Moscow, translated for the Sochi Winter Olympics and voted in a foreign election despite having no eligibility to do so. He was also almost lost at sea on a dilapidated Russian fishing boat sailing from Hobart to New Zealand. He currently resides in the beautiful Southern Downs district in Queensland with his partner Sandra and two crazy canines.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 12, 2023
Read the whole series in about 2 weeks, very thankful for the Kindle. Have to patiently wait for No. 7 now.
I am not a follower of sport yet really enjoyed the sport theme in this series. The pressures and the realisation that some people will just succeed and leave the competition behind. As deeply flawed as he is, Jack Lisbon really grows as a person as you follow his detective work. He also knows when DC Claudia Taylor does better and finds a way to break an impasse. What a wonderful cast of characters.
I hope Blair Denholm they bring together a TV series for the Fighting Detective. As good as any of the many other crime series I have watched.
I am not a follower of sport yet really enjoyed the sport theme in this series. The pressures and the realisation that some people will just succeed and leave the competition behind. As deeply flawed as he is, Jack Lisbon really grows as a person as you follow his detective work. He also knows when DC Claudia Taylor does better and finds a way to break an impasse. What a wonderful cast of characters.
I hope Blair Denholm they bring together a TV series for the Fighting Detective. As good as any of the many other crime series I have watched.
January 31, 2023
This box set consists of three books from the Jack Lisbon Fighting Detective series that I had previously read separately and are being presented to the reading public as a group as the protagonist, Jack Lisbon, attempts to solve a series of murders that happen in Yorktown, Australia that is tied together by a theme of sports.
Shot to the Heart
This was another exciting book that I had received from the author in return for a review and an opportunity to edit this exciting sequel.
This book starts with the protagonist traveling back to England to spend time with his daughter, and while out with his daughter she is kidnapped by one of his enemies from his past. The story concludes with partnering with the British version of the SWAT.
This was another exciting chapter in the continuing saga of the fighting cop. After reading a few of these books, I would easily rate this book a solid four stars out of five for staying true to the character.
Drop Shot
Another exciting murder mystery in the style of a police procedural that I received from the author for being part of his ARC team.
This story takes place in small town Australia, Yorktown to be precise (I say small town because the author states that the town has only two detectives) where a local promoter is holding a pro-am tennis tournament where the local homegrown tennis professional is playing against other local unranked tennis players (players who never quite made it to the international tennis circuit). After a hard-fought match against one of these tennis players, the tennis pro is found strangled with a pair of women's stockings in a seedy trick hotel in Yorktown, Australia.
As the local detective, Jack Lisbon, and his team do a battle of wits with the perpetrator and the other involved parties to uncover the truth behind the crime.
This novel would be a definite favorite of any police procedural aficionado and would easily score four and a quarter stars out of five.
This book was provided to me by the author and the fine folks at storyoriginapp.com in return for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
POINT BLANK is the sixth installment in his series – the Jack Lisbon The Fighting Detective Crime Thriller – centered on a tough, cynical, ex-boxer London cop, who has become a terrific character to follow.
Having previously established a strong character in Jack Lisbon, this new foray into the criminal investigation in North Queensland opens this chapter with the following: ‘The lie of the golf ball was perfect for the next shot. Never mind it took seven strokes to get here from the tee. Detective Sergeant Jack Lisbon of the Yorkville police Central Investigation Bureau was sure he could put all the preceding muffed shots behind him and nail this next one. He was as rusty as an old barbed-wire fence when it came to golf, but at least he was doing better than his partner…’
For those new to this series, the image of Lisbon is clear, but that perception changes rapidly as the condensed plot shares: ‘A relaxing round of golf at the country club wasn’t supposed to turn into a bloodbath. When barking gunfire shatters the tranquility of a sunny morning, off-duty Detective Sergeant Jack Lisbon races to the source of the blasts. A man lies dead on the fairway, two neat bullet holes in his forehead; a second is bleeding to death; a woman unleashes piercing screams. It’s quickly determined the shots came from a remotely fired handgun mounted on a drone. The only physical evidence at the crime scene – scattered shell casings and bullets lodged in the ground, the trees and the victims. Can DS Lisbon find the killer among a long list of suspects? And does a tangled love triangle among the victims hold the key to the mystery? With a family emergency demanding Jack’s return to London, this case must be wrapped up fast.’
This novel is bound to be a strong hit with fans of police procedurals and those who enjoy vivid storytelling (Denholm's ability to paint a mental picture is unsurpassed). The only issue that I had (and arguably continue to have) was some of the Australian vernacular and slang (which should not be surprising as I live in North America...lol) but as the book goes along, is something easily able to get used to.
As far as reviews go, this book is worthy of a solid four stars out of five and is a great binge-read.
Shot to the Heart
This was another exciting book that I had received from the author in return for a review and an opportunity to edit this exciting sequel.
This book starts with the protagonist traveling back to England to spend time with his daughter, and while out with his daughter she is kidnapped by one of his enemies from his past. The story concludes with partnering with the British version of the SWAT.
This was another exciting chapter in the continuing saga of the fighting cop. After reading a few of these books, I would easily rate this book a solid four stars out of five for staying true to the character.
Drop Shot
Another exciting murder mystery in the style of a police procedural that I received from the author for being part of his ARC team.
This story takes place in small town Australia, Yorktown to be precise (I say small town because the author states that the town has only two detectives) where a local promoter is holding a pro-am tennis tournament where the local homegrown tennis professional is playing against other local unranked tennis players (players who never quite made it to the international tennis circuit). After a hard-fought match against one of these tennis players, the tennis pro is found strangled with a pair of women's stockings in a seedy trick hotel in Yorktown, Australia.
As the local detective, Jack Lisbon, and his team do a battle of wits with the perpetrator and the other involved parties to uncover the truth behind the crime.
This novel would be a definite favorite of any police procedural aficionado and would easily score four and a quarter stars out of five.
This book was provided to me by the author and the fine folks at storyoriginapp.com in return for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
POINT BLANK is the sixth installment in his series – the Jack Lisbon The Fighting Detective Crime Thriller – centered on a tough, cynical, ex-boxer London cop, who has become a terrific character to follow.
Having previously established a strong character in Jack Lisbon, this new foray into the criminal investigation in North Queensland opens this chapter with the following: ‘The lie of the golf ball was perfect for the next shot. Never mind it took seven strokes to get here from the tee. Detective Sergeant Jack Lisbon of the Yorkville police Central Investigation Bureau was sure he could put all the preceding muffed shots behind him and nail this next one. He was as rusty as an old barbed-wire fence when it came to golf, but at least he was doing better than his partner…’
For those new to this series, the image of Lisbon is clear, but that perception changes rapidly as the condensed plot shares: ‘A relaxing round of golf at the country club wasn’t supposed to turn into a bloodbath. When barking gunfire shatters the tranquility of a sunny morning, off-duty Detective Sergeant Jack Lisbon races to the source of the blasts. A man lies dead on the fairway, two neat bullet holes in his forehead; a second is bleeding to death; a woman unleashes piercing screams. It’s quickly determined the shots came from a remotely fired handgun mounted on a drone. The only physical evidence at the crime scene – scattered shell casings and bullets lodged in the ground, the trees and the victims. Can DS Lisbon find the killer among a long list of suspects? And does a tangled love triangle among the victims hold the key to the mystery? With a family emergency demanding Jack’s return to London, this case must be wrapped up fast.’
This novel is bound to be a strong hit with fans of police procedurals and those who enjoy vivid storytelling (Denholm's ability to paint a mental picture is unsurpassed). The only issue that I had (and arguably continue to have) was some of the Australian vernacular and slang (which should not be surprising as I live in North America...lol) but as the book goes along, is something easily able to get used to.
As far as reviews go, this book is worthy of a solid four stars out of five and is a great binge-read.
February 3, 2023
REVIEW Shot to the Heart
Daddy’s little girl
An outing with the wee lass to your old stomping grounds during a long overdue custodial visit. What could go wrong, hey? Well… a lot actually. Skye’s innocent and unshakable faith in her father’s ability as a detective is probably what’ll keep her relatively sane. Plus, her mother’s insistence that she attend long-term therapy.
Chasing down his daughter’s kidnappers was so realistic – especially when using Google Maps to follow along. I spent a little bit of time “surfing” Scotland to get a better feel for the story.
Fave quotes:
‘As I live and breathe’
‘The tide on a bottle of Jack Daniels bourbon was about a third of the way out to sea’ This one kinda reminds me of “Two Piña Coladas line ‘Let's set sail with Captain Morgan and never leave dry land’.
And of course, this wouldn’t be a Jack Lisbon book without some punk. Music, not young degenerates. This go around, readers are treated to some Crazy Town, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Billy Idol, and Sex Pistols.
IRL lesson: be careful what you say and around whom. One never knows who is listening and what goes in the ears just as easily goes out the mouth. Let’s keep our kids safe.
See my reviews for books 2 & 3. Will we see some Cult in #7?
REVIEW Drop Shot
The author includes some more modern-day IRL stuff like Annie Lennox (just HAD to play some Sweet Dreams a few times), Turkish Delight, Monty Python, The Eagles (which means another trip to YouTube).
He’s baaaack…
And bringing his sarcasm and love of puns with him:
‘You getting a video for Facebook?’
‘No. Evidence. In case it gets really nasty and someone gets hurt.’
‘There’s TV cameras everywhere getting it all on tape. The hired muscle seem to have it under control.’
‘Actually, you were right,’ she grinned, caught out on her little fib. ‘Almost. It’s for Instagram. Facebook is so yesterday.’
‘Is it now?’ Jack’s relationship with social media was like the one he had with his ex-wife. Infrequent and troublesome.
‘Have you been reading the great philosophers?’
‘Yeah, I have ‘n all.’
‘Which ones?’
‘Ah…Rembrandt I think it was.’
I mean, he’s not wrong…
‘There’s files going back all week, see? My bad, it’s for the month. But seeing it’s only the seventh of January today, a month’s as good as a week to a blind bat, eh?’
‘Your humour defies all logic, Lisbon.’
Even learned something new:
‘A team of Dutch scientists recently conducted a study and found that measuring potassium in the eye and analysing proteins in tissue can give a much more accurate result than standard temperature, rigor mortis and lividity parameters.’
I can use this line to explain to people why I wanted to become a coroner when I was 13. I still kinda do – I find the mystery-solving process absolutely fascinating.
I found this little side nugget regarding the region (Wiki):
Cairns is a base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which operates clinics and provides emergency evacuations in remote communities throughout the region.
REVIEW Point Blank
Family affairs are always so complex
Lisbon’s my new BFF and soulmate when it comes to tailgaters and the chance at some fisticuffs:
‘The closer they get, the slower I go.’
‘A murder case was a big deal, but a chance to knock a few hooligans’ heads together with the constables was a spot of fun he’d hate to miss.’
Daddy’s little girl
An outing with the wee lass to your old stomping grounds during a long overdue custodial visit. What could go wrong, hey? Well… a lot actually. Skye’s innocent and unshakable faith in her father’s ability as a detective is probably what’ll keep her relatively sane. Plus, her mother’s insistence that she attend long-term therapy.
Chasing down his daughter’s kidnappers was so realistic – especially when using Google Maps to follow along. I spent a little bit of time “surfing” Scotland to get a better feel for the story.
Fave quotes:
‘As I live and breathe’
‘The tide on a bottle of Jack Daniels bourbon was about a third of the way out to sea’ This one kinda reminds me of “Two Piña Coladas line ‘Let's set sail with Captain Morgan and never leave dry land’.
And of course, this wouldn’t be a Jack Lisbon book without some punk. Music, not young degenerates. This go around, readers are treated to some Crazy Town, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Billy Idol, and Sex Pistols.
IRL lesson: be careful what you say and around whom. One never knows who is listening and what goes in the ears just as easily goes out the mouth. Let’s keep our kids safe.
See my reviews for books 2 & 3. Will we see some Cult in #7?
REVIEW Drop Shot
The author includes some more modern-day IRL stuff like Annie Lennox (just HAD to play some Sweet Dreams a few times), Turkish Delight, Monty Python, The Eagles (which means another trip to YouTube).
He’s baaaack…
And bringing his sarcasm and love of puns with him:
‘You getting a video for Facebook?’
‘No. Evidence. In case it gets really nasty and someone gets hurt.’
‘There’s TV cameras everywhere getting it all on tape. The hired muscle seem to have it under control.’
‘Actually, you were right,’ she grinned, caught out on her little fib. ‘Almost. It’s for Instagram. Facebook is so yesterday.’
‘Is it now?’ Jack’s relationship with social media was like the one he had with his ex-wife. Infrequent and troublesome.
‘Have you been reading the great philosophers?’
‘Yeah, I have ‘n all.’
‘Which ones?’
‘Ah…Rembrandt I think it was.’
I mean, he’s not wrong…
‘There’s files going back all week, see? My bad, it’s for the month. But seeing it’s only the seventh of January today, a month’s as good as a week to a blind bat, eh?’
‘Your humour defies all logic, Lisbon.’
Even learned something new:
‘A team of Dutch scientists recently conducted a study and found that measuring potassium in the eye and analysing proteins in tissue can give a much more accurate result than standard temperature, rigor mortis and lividity parameters.’
I can use this line to explain to people why I wanted to become a coroner when I was 13. I still kinda do – I find the mystery-solving process absolutely fascinating.
I found this little side nugget regarding the region (Wiki):
Cairns is a base for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which operates clinics and provides emergency evacuations in remote communities throughout the region.
REVIEW Point Blank
Family affairs are always so complex
Lisbon’s my new BFF and soulmate when it comes to tailgaters and the chance at some fisticuffs:
‘The closer they get, the slower I go.’
‘A murder case was a big deal, but a chance to knock a few hooligans’ heads together with the constables was a spot of fun he’d hate to miss.’
April 14, 2023
Shot to the Heart, #4 - Story begins five years after Jack leaves London for AU and picks up where Trick Shot ends. Vacation in England is not what he expected when the past comes after him. 4*
Drop Shot, #5 - Interesting crime and after all that work, a simple solve. Takes place about a year after Shot to the Heart ends. Bit of move made on Taylor by Lisbon. 4*
Point Blank, #6 - Interesting but the crime was solved by confession; not the best story of the six. Bad news hits Jack's family. 3*
Fighting Dirty - An interesting introduction to a new series describes how the life of an ex-fighter turned police detective is involuntarily uprooted from the UK to the Queensland Police Service in AU. 4*
Take Down - Takes place about six months after Fighting Dirty ends. Jack is in the wrong place at the wrong time. 4*
Kill Shot, #1 - Interesting but a bit wordy. The coppers are an interesting group of characters. Good story lines kept me immersed until the end. The story picks up four years after Take Down ends. Would highly recommend reading Fighting Dirty and Take Down first. 4*
Shot Clock, #2 - Another interesting read that picks up about a year after Fighting Dirty ends. Good blending of old and new story lines along with an interesting variety of characters made this a fast paced read. Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Him, Blair. 4*
Trick Shot, #3 - Interesting read, although a bit wordy. Good story lines with a couple of bad characters, one of them, a top law enforcement officer. Jack is being himself, both the Limey and Aussie versions working together trying to solve the murder and get home to his daughter. Some humor here and there. 4*
Drop Shot, #5 - Interesting crime and after all that work, a simple solve. Takes place about a year after Shot to the Heart ends. Bit of move made on Taylor by Lisbon. 4*
Point Blank, #6 - Interesting but the crime was solved by confession; not the best story of the six. Bad news hits Jack's family. 3*
Fighting Dirty - An interesting introduction to a new series describes how the life of an ex-fighter turned police detective is involuntarily uprooted from the UK to the Queensland Police Service in AU. 4*
Take Down - Takes place about six months after Fighting Dirty ends. Jack is in the wrong place at the wrong time. 4*
Kill Shot, #1 - Interesting but a bit wordy. The coppers are an interesting group of characters. Good story lines kept me immersed until the end. The story picks up four years after Take Down ends. Would highly recommend reading Fighting Dirty and Take Down first. 4*
Shot Clock, #2 - Another interesting read that picks up about a year after Fighting Dirty ends. Good blending of old and new story lines along with an interesting variety of characters made this a fast paced read. Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Him, Blair. 4*
Trick Shot, #3 - Interesting read, although a bit wordy. Good story lines with a couple of bad characters, one of them, a top law enforcement officer. Jack is being himself, both the Limey and Aussie versions working together trying to solve the murder and get home to his daughter. Some humor here and there. 4*
March 9, 2023
Blair Denholm brings us all the tough-talking hardboiled detective action in one place with The Fighting Detective Series Books 4-6! As someone who has read the Jack Lisbon series for years, it’s really fun to see Denholm gather the later volumes into one place. Jack Lisbon is a great character, at times the gruff and tough detective, and at others a very heartfelt and deep character. Each mystery is packed with great twists and also a fun mix of sports that keeps each plot dynamic, intriguing, and wonderfully unpredictable! If you love your detectives tough but deep, your mysteries twisting, and the intrigue on max, definitely come ask ‘what’s in the box’ with this latest Jack Lisbon box set!
Read
February 1, 2023Shot to the Heart: An action-packed noir crime thriller (The Fighting Detective Book 4) , my seventh read from author Blair Denholm. When Jack returns to England to visit his daughter all hell breaks loose.“ The best Jack Lisbon yet!
Drop Shot: A gripping international mystery (The Fighting Detective Book 5)
Point Blank: An Australian Crime Thriller (The Fighting Detective Book 6), my fourth read from author Blair Denholm, Outstanding police/detective fiction set in Australia that I read in a single setting, well-written with characters & a plot you can buy into with unexpected twists & turns. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." So good I went out & purchased a copy. The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
Drop Shot: A gripping international mystery (The Fighting Detective Book 5)
Point Blank: An Australian Crime Thriller (The Fighting Detective Book 6), my fourth read from author Blair Denholm, Outstanding police/detective fiction set in Australia that I read in a single setting, well-written with characters & a plot you can buy into with unexpected twists & turns. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." So good I went out & purchased a copy. The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
May 27, 2024
Couldn't stop reading
All three books had my attention from the first chapter.
Enjoy the sports references without dominating the story
Written in his fast paced style with short chapters that always seem to leave you hanging so you think I'll just read one more, which of course isnt where it stops.
Enjoy the characters development throughout the series and the relationships you see develop
And definitely love the scenes where Jack is interviewing witnesses especially when they are being less than truthful
All three books had my attention from the first chapter.
Enjoy the sports references without dominating the story
Written in his fast paced style with short chapters that always seem to leave you hanging so you think I'll just read one more, which of course isnt where it stops.
Enjoy the characters development throughout the series and the relationships you see develop
And definitely love the scenes where Jack is interviewing witnesses especially when they are being less than truthful
March 29, 2024
Riveting action
A further series of action drama books in the Fighting Detective series. Ex boxed, ex London Metropolitan police officer, now located in Queensland the northern state of Australia, Jack Lisbon, continues on his action packed adventures in to the criminal cases in a small area of north Queensland. With his rugged down to earth and explosive style of detection he, with his fellow officers, track down some of the more intriguing, and sordid, crimes of his career.
A further series of action drama books in the Fighting Detective series. Ex boxed, ex London Metropolitan police officer, now located in Queensland the northern state of Australia, Jack Lisbon, continues on his action packed adventures in to the criminal cases in a small area of north Queensland. With his rugged down to earth and explosive style of detection he, with his fellow officers, track down some of the more intriguing, and sordid, crimes of his career.
January 26, 2024
terrific murder mysteries
Down to earth characters, engaging main story and sub-stories with relationship issues and interests thrown in.
Three excellent books with vastly different and innovative murders to solve.
Love that it is set in North Queensland, Australia.
Top writing.
Down to earth characters, engaging main story and sub-stories with relationship issues and interests thrown in.
Three excellent books with vastly different and innovative murders to solve.
Love that it is set in North Queensland, Australia.
Top writing.
October 9, 2024
Good stories, well told. Just a couple of gripes knock off a star:
'Innit": It grates every time I read that used in a way that no "Cockney" ever would. Somebody raised in India, maybe; somebody raised in East London, only at the end of an actual question.
Editing: So many annoying wrong words and spelling errors.
Overall, enjoyable and I'll be back for more by this author.
'Innit": It grates every time I read that used in a way that no "Cockney" ever would. Somebody raised in India, maybe; somebody raised in East London, only at the end of an actual question.
Editing: So many annoying wrong words and spelling errors.
Overall, enjoyable and I'll be back for more by this author.
January 31, 2023
If you like Virgil Flowers by John Sandford, you will love Jack Lisbon. Just like Virgil,
Jack Lisbon and his team are amazing at catching the criminals. Each book revolves around a different sport too. This series gets better and better.
Jack Lisbon and his team are amazing at catching the criminals. Each book revolves around a different sport too. This series gets better and better.
January 31, 2023
Jack Lisbon is an Australian detective with a less-than-stellar past in England. These books are easily readable procedural detective novels. The characters are well drawn and easy for the reader to believe. It is an excellent read.
April 8, 2023
Jack Lisbon strikes again!
The fighting detective has been presented in three crime thrillers in this box set.Blair Denholm writes in a way that makes Jack Lisbon a detailed character that is fun and a fighting detective.
The fighting detective has been presented in three crime thrillers in this box set.Blair Denholm writes in a way that makes Jack Lisbon a detailed character that is fun and a fighting detective.
June 3, 2023
Pretty Good Read
I’ve read these first 6 works and while I enjoyed this one, it just didn’t keep my interest as much as the others. It just seemed rather dull and slow moving with nothing to grab my attention.
I’ve read these first 6 works and while I enjoyed this one, it just didn’t keep my interest as much as the others. It just seemed rather dull and slow moving with nothing to grab my attention.
March 20, 2024
was looking forward to reading these, but…
As in the heading, I was very intrigued by the blurb and was looking forward to reading these books, they sounded like a decent story.
Unfortunately I soon found blasphemy and the f bomb, so that is that.
As in the heading, I was very intrigued by the blurb and was looking forward to reading these books, they sounded like a decent story.
Unfortunately I soon found blasphemy and the f bomb, so that is that.
April 17, 2024
Thrilling
Jack goes back to London to see his daughter and old enemies try to act revenge . All the while ghosts of his pst keep popping up. Upon return to Australia he becomes involved in the death of a disliked tennis pro. All three books are action packed and full of twists.
Jack goes back to London to see his daughter and old enemies try to act revenge . All the while ghosts of his pst keep popping up. Upon return to Australia he becomes involved in the death of a disliked tennis pro. All three books are action packed and full of twists.
May 14, 2024
Three wonderfully told and placed in both halves of the world.
Jack Lisbon is portrayed as genuine e human faults and all. Each book is quite different as are the cases he and his team's resolve. I highly recommend these to you.
Jack Lisbon is portrayed as genuine e human faults and all. Each book is quite different as are the cases he and his team's resolve. I highly recommend these to you.
February 21, 2025
As always, I just loved these Blair Denholms books! All his stories are so true to real life, easy to read, and hard to put down once you've started reading. Thanks, Blair, I can’t wait for the next one! I'm for sure a superfan.
October 14, 2025
Gripping
Story pulls you in skowly, lots of characters come to life , strange quirks of individuals unfolding each chapter you read. Many options of who the perpetrator could be until the final clue is worked out.
Story pulls you in skowly, lots of characters come to life , strange quirks of individuals unfolding each chapter you read. Many options of who the perpetrator could be until the final clue is worked out.
March 15, 2024
Please see individual stories for review.
October 7, 2024
Books 4-6
The Series is good clean reading. Each book has a good plot and keeps you engaged in your reading. Keep up the good work.
The Series is good clean reading. Each book has a good plot and keeps you engaged in your reading. Keep up the good work.
January 1, 2025
A good read
If you like police detective stories then here are three good ones for you. The plots are fine and the endings a little weak but enjoyable all the same.
If you like police detective stories then here are three good ones for you. The plots are fine and the endings a little weak but enjoyable all the same.
May 24, 2025
An interesting reads on Australian police procedures.
October 3, 2024
Jack's got their number!
Excellent series with great cases, plenty of suspects and a lot of action. Emotions run wild on occasion and personalities clash at times but the cases get solved.
Excellent series with great cases, plenty of suspects and a lot of action. Emotions run wild on occasion and personalities clash at times but the cases get solved.
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