Showing posts with label DI Will Jackman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DI Will Jackman. Show all posts

Thursday, 4 May 2017

The Lies Within by Jane Isaac

I am delighted to be today's stop on the blog tour for The Lies Within by Jane Isaac. The Lies Within was published by Legend Press on 2 May 2017. 

Read on for my review ...

The Lies Within
By Jane Isaac
Published by Legend Press (2 May 2017)





Publisher's description
Be under no illusions by her kind face and eloquent manner… This woman is guilty of murder.
Grace Daniels is distraught after her daughter's body is found in a Leicestershire country lane. With her family falling apart and the investigation going nowhere, Grace's only solace is the re-emergence of Faye, an old friend who seems to understand her loss.
DI Will Jackman delves into the case, until a family tragedy and a figure from his past threaten to derail him.

When the police discover another victim, the spotlight falls on Grace. Can Jackman find the killer, before she is convicted of a crime she didn't commit?

My verdict
This is the latest book in Jane Isaac's DI Will Jackman series but could easily be read as a standalone.

The book follows the story of Grace Daniels. After her daughter is found dead, Grace's life begins to fall apart. Fortunately an old school friend, Faye, is there to help her pick up the pieces and come to terms with her loss. But then Grace becomes the main suspect in the investigation.

The Lies Within is part police procedural, part psychological thriller and part emotional family drama - a perfect combination. You know from the prologue that Grace ends up on trial for murder, but most of the book takes place 10 months earlier, when DI Jackman is on a mission to find the real killer before Grace gets convicted. Rather than concentrating solely on Jackman's investigation, the book focuses on Grace's point of view as well, which provides the psychological thriller element.

The writing is beautiful and compelling, as are all of Jane Isaac's books. The characters are believable and realistic (I love Jackman in particular!) and the plot is intense, complex and gripping. There are lots of twists, turns and surprises to keep the reader in suspense, and the tension builds up until the final reveal.

Jackman isn't your usual crime fiction detective - he has a tragic past but this doesn't detract from the plot at all. Instead, it turns him into a highly likeable well-rounded character with plenty of heart, loyalty and determination.

Jane Isaac has become one of my favourite crime fiction authors over the last couple of years, and The Lies Within proves what a versatile writer she is. I believe this is her best book yet. Can't wait to see what's next!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

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Tuesday, 1 November 2016

Beneath the Ashes by Jane Isaac

Beneath the Ashes
By Jane Isaac
Published by Legend Press (1 November 2016)
ISBN: 978-1785079474



Publisher's description
The floor felt hard beneath her face. Nancy opened her eyes. Blinked several times. A pain seared through her head. She could feel fluid. No. She was lying in fluid.
When a body is discovered in a burnt-out barn in the Warwickshire countryside, DI Will Jackman is called to investigate.
Nancy Faraday wakes up on the kitchen floor. The house has been broken into and her boyfriend is missing. As the case unravels, DI Jackman realises that nothing is quite as it appears and everyone, it seems, has a secret.

Can he discover the truth behind the body in the fire, and track down the killer before Nancy becomes the next victim?

My verdict 
Beneath the Ashes is beautifully written crime fiction. It's well-plotted and gripping, with a lot of emotion at its core.

Jane Isaac is a talented writer and has created an authentic police procedural thriller with a fascinating background. The vivid descriptions put me right into the heart of the Warwickshire setting  - and the well-researched intelligent plot kept me engrossed from beginning to end.

DI Will Jackman is a brilliant & very realistic character - certainly someone I have taken a shine to (and I'm sure many other readers have too). He cares about the victims and is determined to get to the truth - possibly due to his own tragic family circumstances, which weigh heavily on his mind.

This is the second in Jane Isaac's DI Jackson series, but I am sure this could easily be read as a standalone. Looking forward to her next book!

I received an Advance Reader Copy.