The Depths of Solitude

Brodie Farrell ##4

by Jo Bannister

Brodie Farrell's life, on the surface, is unremarkable. A single mother to one daughter, five-year-old Paddy, in a small seaside town, she spends her days running a "finding agency"---helping clients locate items that have proved elusive by more conventional methods. She has a healthy relationship with Jack Deacon, a detective superintendent in the local police force, and a solid network of friends---except for one. Her most important ally, Daniel Hood, has been ignoring her since a bitter disagreement ripped their friendship apart at the seams. Now his house is up for sale, and Daniel has disappeared.

At first Brodie is just angry---angry that he would leave without telling her, without trying to sort things out. But when Daniel's family seems unconcerned that he has vanished into thin air, Brodie starts to get worried. Perhaps she was the only person to care about Daniel, and she cut him off. What if he does something stupid? Or what if he already has?

Unfortunately, even her advanced tracking skills can't locate her friend. Brodie's worrying intensifies when she seems to become the victim of a sustained hate campaign. First her car windshield is smashed, then the vehicle itself is set on fire. Her handbag is stolen, and she is terrorized in the local library after a call from Daniel imploring her to meet him there alone. The conclusion is obvious, but Brodie refuses to believe it. Until, that is, she is attacked again....

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, British Literature, Crime

272 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2004

About the author

Jo Bannister lives in Northern Ireland, where she worked as a journalist and editor on local newspapers. Since giving up the day job, her books have been shortlisted for a number of awards. Most of her spare time is spent with her horse and dog, or clambering over archaeological sites. She is currently working on a new series of psychological crime/thrillers.

Reviews

[Norah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I met the author on a cruise to Norway, and got chatting on a bus trip, to discover that she was a writer of crime novels and lived relatively close to us! She came to visit and gave me a copy of this book. Not being really into crime novels, I hesitatingly gave it a go, and yes, such a great story it was, and I really liked the characters. This may start me on a completely new genre! I certainly want to read more of this series!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is #4 in a series, and although I haven't read the previous 3, I didn't feel lost and was able to enjoy it on it's own, although there were certainly details I didn't know. There were clues as to "who dun it", and fairly easy to figure out the guilty party, but finding out the fate of the victim kept me interested till the end.

[Carolyn Crocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finder Brodie Farrell has lost her best friend Daniel Hood when a series of crimes target her and her life is in danger. On whose behalf is vengeance being extracted? A fairly quiet tale of frustration and heartache leads to a gripping final few chapters, as it moves Brodie's relationships forward in the series.

"..'I'd get justice for her.'
'By kidnapping me?' Brodie's voice soared.
'Yes.'
'Jesus!' she swore, 'it's the Christmas presents all over again. Men have no bloody idea what women want.'" p. 182

"Jack followed him; not exactly like a lamb, more like a wolf who has unnaccountably been mistaken for a lamb and is wondering whether he should eat very fast or try bleating." p. 209

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this book would have been better if I had read the previous books because there were so many allusions to something that had happened previously--but not elaborated on so that I was left in the dark--floundering as it were in waters too deep for comfort.

[Sharon Baker]

very on the edge of your seat!

[Bill Stiefel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, in my opinion, the best of the Brodie Farrell series thus far. Great read!!

[Mamatufy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one picks up where the last left off with Brodie & Daniel not talking or communicating. Daniel's gone & put his shack up for sale & left town. Brodie is at first not too concerned until she follows his trail to his hometown & his estranged family. At the same time, she's working for an agoraphobic man who's looking for a very specific type of mini machine. While working for him, a brick falls on her car & then it gets set on fire. After a few other bad things happen to Brodie, she begins o suspect someone's out to get her but the question is who? Unraveling the mystery surrounding her attacks is a job for Brodie & Deacon. Wonderful pacing & intrigue in this story.

[Sandy D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth book in a mystery series that is quite powerful in terms of suspense and psychology. Although I really liked this book and couldn't stop reading it, a lot of my appreciation of the story came from the previous books about the main character, Brodie Farrell. So go read "Echoes of Lies" if you haven't and you want some intense, skillfully written British mystery.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Several times I thought it was just another detective/stalker story. I was wrong. While it has elements of, it resolves everything in a unique manner and ends up taking things to new and interesting places.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid addition to the series.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jo Bannister. I get very involved in her books.
The endings are never quite happy, just done.

[Phyllis · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, solid mystery. I really enjoyed this quick read, and although it is part of a series, and I haven't read the earlier ones, I was able to read this book as a stand-alone.

[Toesnorth's mom]

English, pretty good

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Nicely plotted mystery with flawed, but likable characters. I'll definitely read another.

[Gary Van Cott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this might be the best of these books so far. Lots of action in the concluding episode.