‘A nail-biting chiller that is gritty, action-packed and so compulsively readable putting it down is simply not an option…’ 5* Reader ReviewCan she catch the killer before someone else is silenced for good…?
Detective Hanlon is addicted to violence. She likes the rush, the danger, the losing control…When Hanlon is suspended from the force for assaulting a suspect, she escapes to the remote … the force for assaulting a suspect, she escapes to the remote Scottish island of Jura, home to the mysterious Corryvreckan whirlpool.
But wherever Hanlon goes, violence is sure to follow.
As soon as she checks into The Mackinnon Arms, Hanlon senses something isn’t quite right about the staff at her home for the week.
Sure enough, within days of arriving, the body of a member of staff is found floating in the sea. While police believe she was claimed by the local whirlpool, Hanlon isn’t so sure.
As she pieces together the evidence, dark secrets begin to unravel. Can Hanlon work out what is going on before another floating body is found…?
Discover an addictive new crime series, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza and Lisa Regan.
What readers are saying about Silenced For Good:
‘Pacy, tense and heart-pounding, Alex Coombs’ Silenced for Good is not to be missed.’
‘This is such a good read that pulls you in from the first page.’
‘This is an excellent read that had me hooked from the beginning.’
‘Very well written and thrilling from beginning to end. Recommended.’
‘An unsettling, claustrophobic and terrifying thriller that will send many a chill scuttling down readers’ spines.’
‘A dark, twisted and satisfying crime novel that is deliciously addictive.’
‘A page-turning crime thriller full of twists readers will not see coming.’
‘Prepare yourself for a well thought out story complete with all the ups and downs associated with an intriguing plot, several characters to get your teeth into and enough going on to keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.’
‘It would be a fantastic book for any body who is a lover of the crime genre.’
‘You are kept guessing and thrown on different tracks with twists and turns.’
‘One seriously gripping read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.’
‘This is one heck of a twisty ride, guys!’
‘A highly enjoyable read set in beautiful scenery.’
‘A tough no nonsense lead character and a plot that has its twists and turns along the way.’
‘A gripping mystery which had me anxiously swiping the page to see what would happen next.’
‘This is a strong start to a new crime series, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The writing keeps the pace flying forward. I would definitely recommend it.’
‘Extremely well written. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and much like a fisherman or fisherwoman landing a catch, he reels you in.’more
You don’t have to like a character to empathize with them, and that was my experience with this book. The story was compelling and kept my interest. I can’t say I was surprised by the twists, but that didn’t stop the enjoyment of the story. She was a superhero, which was fun.
Disappointed at ending
I recommend Hanlon for those who are looking for a new type of protagonist -She’s unique and not the norm She has the talent and ability to handle herself in dangerous situations -yet she also questions her motives-
Is she a woman with a compulsive need to live on the edge-???? addicted to the rush ???? Does this make her unscrupulous -and unreliable as a police officer??- unable to follow protocols and rules??
Enjoy-
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Suspended from the police force for assaulting a suspect, Detective Hanlon is told to take a vacation while the powers that be figure out what to do with her. She decides to visit the Scottish Island of Jura, where an old friend is now living.
One of the last things she was told … do NOT go looking for trouble. But wherever Hanlon goes, violence and death are sure to follow.
Staying in a rather rundown inn, one of their staff is found floating face down in the sea. Local police want to call it an accident, Hanlon has other ideas.
As usual, Hanlon decides to investigate on her own.
Addicted to the violence of her chosen profession, she enjoys the rush, the danger that losing control allows her. She’s been at this for a really long time and her gut tells her when something isn’t quite right.
In this newest adventure, the something not quite right extends to a possible crooked cop, a bartender who has spent time in jail, a chef who’s wanting the owner of the inn where she’s staying to see out to him, and various other possible suspects who randomly roam these pages. Several twists and turns keep the action non-stop until the very last explosive page.
Author Alex Coombs has written more of this series under the name of Alex Howard. This is the 5th in the series and reads well as a stand alone.
Many thanks to the author/ Boldwood Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Detective Hanlon is the kind of person who would have been incredible as a sheriff in a Wild West town. Unfortunately, her style of policing really isn’t suitable for a modern cop in the Met, and her methods have landed her in trouble with the higher-ups. On mandatory leave, she heads for the remote Western Isles of Scotland to try and get her head together… and finds herself neck-deep in trouble without even trying.
As Hanlon investigates, she finds evidence of money laundering, drug dealing, at least one police officer mixed up in things up to their neck… and a mounting body count. Constitutionally incapable of walking away, Hanlon is determined to find the killer, but the killer might have found her first!
It wasn’t until late in the book that I finally figured out what was going on, despite the author leaving a decent trail of breadcrumbs. Almost the entire book is told from Hanlon’s PoV, with just a couple of chapters here and there in others, and to be honest I think those could have been dispensed with as they were mainly used to give the impressions other characters had of Hanlon, and we just didn’t need it. We’re in Hanlon’s mind, we know her heart. We don’t need to know that certain characters find her attractive, or intimidating, or both.
I liked Hanlon and her no-nonsense approach, I liked the beautiful setting on the remote Scottish island of Jura and the other characters introduced, and I thought the plot was intriguing. Nevertheless, I can’t quite give this five stars because of the issues I had with the unnecessary PoV switches; a good editor should have told the author to cut those and stay with Hanlon, a reliable narrator if ever there was one. Four stars for a solid story which just needed a few more tweaks.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Thank you NetGalley, Alex Coombs and Boldwood for allowing me to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion I am sharing.
First off I would like to read more with DS Catriona Hanlon as main character. She is a good person and very tough, a little too tough according to the London police she works for, and she is bold. Rough but struggling with trying to hold back her temper.
Being ordered to “take a break” while they investigate the excessive force charges Hanlon goes to the peninsula of Kintyre Scotland to get her head together during her suspension. Right from the beginning she runs into interesting happenings. As she arrives they were just pulling the body of a young girl out of the Atlantic. Of course the police in her wanted to know more but she just went on to the Inn she booked. Everything from then on is disturbing. The Inn – that looked good on the brochure – was a run down almost empty huge monstrosity. Hanlon sees things she isn’t supposed to. The parking lot is full but there are no guests, she is drugged and it all goes downhill from there. It’ll take all of her training to stay alive as she gets deeply involved. She will find the truth it is intrinsic in her.
This book was a little hard to read at first until I got familiar with the dialect. The happenings get real interesting and keeps you reading. I would like to see the next book come out as it would be very interesting to see how things go from the ending of this one. I give it a four as it does give you dimensional characters, you can visualize the happenings and you guess but not accurately as to the ending.
Favorite Quotes:
She wasn’t exactly friendless in the Metropolitan Police, but it surely felt that way. She was like a wounded lioness in a pack; the others had smelled her weakness and were moving away from her. Hyenas were circling in the distance.
About twenty or so people were sitting, in various stages of undress, watching a widescreen TV with rapt attention. There was a lot of wrinkled flesh on offer. The baby boomers were not going gentle into that good night. She stared at what was going on in horrified disgust… The Mackinnon Arms hotel was obviously the centre for some sort of ageing island swingers group.
It stood on a street corner as a tired old prostitute might, soliciting trade, and not doing very well. Its sign was peeling; a chalkboard advertised ‘Exotic Dancers’ on Saturday afternoons. A poster said, ‘Food available’. In the Rob Roy that sounded more like a warning than a promise.
She watched his face redden; it happened from the base of his neck upwards like mercury rising in a thermometer. His normally pale face was flushed and she didn’t think it was from exertion.
The flat was sparsely furnished with cheap furniture. As well as the smell of the cannabis, there was a strong smell of poverty. The carpet was threadbare, the sofa had been fixed with duct tape. The armchairs were of the sort that old people were sometimes discovered dead in.
My Review:
This crafty wordsmith is flawless. I am totally enamored with and ensnared by his impressive word voodoo. The man has mad skills! His use of metaphors and descriptions was cleverly creative, vivid, and easily pulled keen visuals to mind. Plus, I cannot get enough of his complex and enigmatic kickass chick character of DCI Hanlon. I know it was mentioned in an earlier book but I honestly don’t recall her first name, everyone just calls her Hanlon, as does she when she introduces herself. She is deeply flawed and tough as steel-toed boots, yet still human and able to feel the occasional prickles of unease at how others relish her misfortunes and are enjoying her downfall, although she is surprisingly comfortable in her own skin. I will most likely always be striving for her level of self-acceptance. I adore her but wouldn’t want to have her laser focus honing in on me.
Guess I’m too old-fashioned, but the girl-on-girl part didn’t appeal to me that much, and I felt like the rest of the book was going to be fairly predictable. Quit halfway thru.