5*, book review, novella

Review: No Way Back by M.J. Arlidge

no way back
No Way Back by M.J. Arlidge

My 5* Review:

I am a big fan of M.J. Arlidge’s Helen Grace series so I was looking forward to reading this Novella and finding more about Grace’s past.

Thankfully No Way Back didn’t disappoint and I enjoyed finding out how Grace came to be like she is and what drives her.

I think that this will appeal to anyone who has read any of the Helen Grace series, or those about to start. It is very short, it took me no time at all to read it, but as usual for Arlidge the writing is solid.

No Way Back is a great novella, if you like Helen Grace then you will like this.

No Way Back is available now from Amazon UK and on audible from Amazon US.

Blurb:

A treat for fans of DI Helen Grace: an ebook short story from Top Ten Sunday Timesbestselling author M. J. Arlidge.

Jodie’s arriving at her third children’s home. She’s only fifteen.
Maybe this time will be different. She’ll be safe. Looked after.

But the truth is Jodie has no one left to protect her.
She must defend herself. She must change.

4*, book review, novella

Review: Matching The Evidence by Graham Smith.

matching the evidence
Matching The Evidence by Graham Smith

My 4* review:

Matching the Evidence is, I think, the first novella that I have read. I’m really not sure that it has converted me but I did enjoy it.

Evans is a cop who does things his way, before he is forced into retirement Evans and his team are facing the consequences of his unconventional ways in their previous case. Snatched From Home is the first book in the Harry Evans series and I believe this book follows straight on from that. As punishment Evans and his team are given the job of policing a football match where there is predicted to be a lot of trouble between the home team fans and the away team, Millwall.

Of course all is not as it seems, but Evans sniffs out the problem and once again ignores protocol to ensure that the baddies get caught.

Matching The Evidence is well written and can be read as a standalone book although I’m sure that it would be better being read after Snatched From Home. I would happily read the other books in the series as I’d like to find out more about the characters and the author is clearly a good writer. My only gripe about Matching The Evidence is that it felt like Smith had tried to pack too much into it, one strain of the story seemed pretty irrelevant in the end and could easily have been removed without losing anything from the book. It also ended pretty suddenly and I wanted to know what was going to happen next, but I guess that is probably done on purpose so that I’ll read the next Harry Evans book.

I received a copy of Matching The Evidence in exchange for an honest review.

Matching The Evidence will be released on 8th September 2016 and is available for pre-order now from Amazon UK and Amazon US.

Blurb:

Carlisle United are playing Millwall and the Major Crimes Team are assigned to crowd control as punishment for their renegade ways. Typically, DI Harry Evans has other ideas and tries to thwart the local firm’s plans to teach Millwall’s notorious Bushwhackers an unforgettable lesson.
Meanwhile an undercover cop is travelling north with some of the Millwall contingent. His mission is to identify the ringleaders and gather evidence against them.
Three illegal immigrants have been transported to Carlisle and are about to meet their new employers.
Nothing is as it seems for Evans and his Major Crimes Team as they battle to avoid a bloodbath while also uncovering a far more heinous crime.