Today I am reviewing Death On The Crags by the wonderfully talented Jo Allen. Big thanks to Jo for providing me with a copy of the book for review, and to Rachel of Rachels Random Resources for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.
Blurb
Everybody loves Thomas Davies. Don’t they?
When policeman Thomas Davies falls from a crag on a visit to the Lake District in full view of his partner, Mia, it looks for all the world like a terrible but unfortunate accident — until a second witness comes forward with a different story.
Alerted to the incident, DCI Jude Satterthwaite is inclined to take it seriously — not least because of Mia’s reluctance to speak to the police about the incident. As Jude and his colleagues, including his on-off partner DS Ashleigh O’Halloran, tackle the case, they’re astonished by how many people seem to have a reason to want all-round good guy Thomas out of the way.
With the arrival of one of Thomas’s colleagues to assist the local force, the investigation intensifies. As the team unpick the complicated lives of those who claim to care for Thomas but have good reasons to want him dead, they find themselves digging deeper and deeper into a web of blackmail and cruelty … and investigating a second death.
A traditional British police procedural mystery set in Cumbria.
Review
This is the third book I’ve read in this series (I know, I have some catching up to do!) and I have an ever-growing love for DCI Jude Satterthwaite and co. As I’ve come to expect form Jo Allens writing, this story was full of twists and turns, intrigue, and lots of guessing of ‘whodunnit’ from myself (All wrong. Always wrong!). The bonus fact of our victim being a fellow police officer makes this case particularly personal for Jude and his team, giving them further determination to solve this case, and quickly. There’s also the usual myriad of beautiful descriptions of the Lake District countryside; this is an area of the UK I adore, and the scene setting scattered throughout this book transports me straight there.
Along with our usual colourful characters within the police force, this story has brought in the great addition of Thomas’ partner Mia, and her family, consisting of her Father, stepmother and stepbrother. They’re an interesting bunch, with all the internal turmoil and niggles that you’d expect from a blended family, and then some. The depth that Allen gives to her characters brings a very realistic reading experience, and you truly become emotionally invested in their stories. My soft spot for Ashleigh O’Halloran continues to grow, too. If I was ever needing a visit from the police for some reason, it would be her I would want knocking on my door! She shows great interpersonal skills in her job, and always manages to bring a friendly and calming presence.
This book was a total page turner, filled with suspense and drama, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I cannot wait until I can set aside the time to catch up on the full series (Hopefully before any more are released, or I’ll fall even further behind!)
Purchase Links
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BB33T34Y
US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BB33T34Y
About The Author
Jo Allen was born in Wolverhampton and is a graduate of Edinburgh, Strathclyde and the Open University, with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in geography and Earth science. She’s been writing for pleasure and publication for as long as she can remember. After a career in economic consultancy she took up writing and was first published under the name Jennifer Young, in genres of short stories, romance and romantic suspense. She wrote online articles on travel and on her favourite academic subject, Earth science. In 2017 she took the plunge and began writing the genre she most likes to read — crime.
Jo lives in the English Lakes, where the DCI Satterthwaite series is set. In common with all her favourite characters, she loves football (she’s a season ticket holder with her beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers) and cats.
Social Media Links –
https://www.facebook.com/JoAllenAuthor
K T Robson 