Buried for Good by Alex Coombs

 

Description from Goodreads:

"ON A REMOTE ISLAND, EVERYONE IS A SUSPECT…

When Private Investigator Hanlon is hired to protect famous yoga instructor Camille Anderson on her Scottish island retreat, she thinks this may be her simplest job yet.

But when an attack on Camille’s life goes wrong, it soon becomes clear that there is a murderer on the island – and Hanlon will stop at nothing to track them down.

With only a small group of guests the suspects are clear, but as the body count rises Hanlon must step up to find out who the killer is before it’s too late…"

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Once again, a treat is in store with another thrilling read starring Hanlon where nothing is straight forward or easy.

This is the third instalment in the series where Hanlon is now a Private Investigator - I have to admit that I haven't read the previous two but have read the first four in the series when Hanlon was a serving Police Officer.  I don't think you have to have read the first two in this particular series but I would definitely recommend reading at least the very first novel (The Stolen Child) where Hanlon is introduced and you get a real sense of who she is.

What we have here is another fast paced and enthralling read with twists and turns aplenty and a fare smattering of red herrings that keep you guessing to the end.  Alex Coombs is able to put you right in the middle of the story with his excellent descriptions of the various locations and he creates interesting and compelling characters that have you hooked and reading way too late into the night.

An excellent addition to anyone's book shelf or eLibrary and I would definitely recommend any of Alex Coombs' books.

Many thanks go to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Alex Coombs I have read and reviewed:

The Stolen Child

The Innocent Girl

The Missing Husband

The Silent Victims

The Silent Victims (Hanlon Series #4) by Alex Coombs

 

Description from Boldwood Books:

"A controversial, right-wing German politician is due to speak at the Oxford Union. Following a series of murders linked to a violent anarchist group, the city is on high alert. DCI Hanlon has been partnered with DI Huss to ensure the speech goes smoothly and that there will be no more killing.

Meanwhile, as Hanlon traces the person behind the murders, she soon realises that the chilling truth has a terrible price. Is Hanlon willing to meet the cost?

The final gripping case for DCI Hanlon. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Mark Dawson.

This book was previously published as An Incidental Death by Alex Howard."

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Once again, I am not disappointed with this, the final book in the series featuring the unconventional DCI Hanlon.

I have now read all 4 books in this series and have enjoyed each and every one of them.  I rarely say this about a series but I really do think you need to have read at least the first one (The Stolen Child) if you want to understand the main characters in the book; if you don't, I really think you will be flailing a little with the relationships they have and their motivations and this will, I think, detract from the overall story.

Hanlon is a very strong female character and one tough cookie.  I admit that she is quite difficult to like but she has definitely grown on me over the series.  In this, we see the odd glimpse of the softer side to Hanlon which makes her more "human" but don't let these snippets fool you - she will stop at nothing and nothing will stand in her way.

With a cast of excellent characters wrapped up in an intriguing plot, lots of action, tension and violent scenes, this is a great story well written which is gripping and exciting and makes it difficult to stop reading.

Highly recommended series and my thanks go to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books in the series I have read and reviewed:

The Stolen Child (Hanlon Series #1)

The Innocent Girl (Hanlon Series #2)

The Missing Husband (Hanlon Series #3)

The Missing Husband (Hanlon Series #3) by Alex Coombs

 

Description from Goodreads:

"A security officer is assassinated.

A small child grieves for his father.

A psychopath commits their first crime...

A frightened Russian woman seeks DCI Hanlon's help in finding her missing husband. Hanlon's not keen on the case. Until she hears a name she recognises only too well. Arkady Belanov, sadistic owner of an exclusive brothel in Oxford is involved.

And when DCI Enver Demirel, her former partner and friend, disappears, Hanlon is determined to solve the case.

Forced into an uneasy alliance with the London underworld, the race to him from the blood-stained hands of the Russian mafia is underway...

Another gripping case for the unstoppable DCI Hanlon. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Lisa Regan and Mark Dawson.

This book was previously published as A Hard Woman To Kill by Alex Howard."

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I have read the first 2 books in the series featuring the unorthodox, tough and uncompromising DCI Hanlon and having thoroughly enjoyed them, didn't hesitate to choose the third and I wasn't disappointed although I have to admit that I struggled a little to get into this one and I think it's because there are quite a lot of characters and it was quite difficult to keep up however, that soon passed and I was, once again, totally immersed.

I do think that you need to have at least read the first book, The Stolen Child, otherwise you just won't get the full appreciation of the main characters particularly Hanlon and Demirel; having said that, if you haven't, don't let this pass you by as it still works okay as a standalone but you just won't get the whys and wherefores which, I think, makes this series so compelling.

What we have in this book is a plot that starts off seemingly innocuous - a woman comes in to report her missing husband - however, it soon becomes something much more intricate as the book develops.  The pace is almost relentless, there are a few points in the book that lets you take a breath from the action which is a welcome relief.  There are some pretty unsavoury characters doing equally unsavoury things and therefore, there is quite a bit of violence but nothing you wouldn't expect given the blurb and the subject matter.

As I said, the action is non-stop culminating in a heart-stopping finale in a remote farmhouse when some people definitely get what they deserve whereas others definitely do not and I look forward to finding out what happens next in the fourth instalment.

I would definitely recommend this book and the series to those who love a hard-hitting, no-holds-barred thriller.

Thank you once again to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an unbiased and unedited review.

Now for number 4!

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Other books in the series I have read and reviewed:

The Stolen Child (Hanlon Series #1)

The Innocent Girl (Hanlon Series #2)

The Innocent Girl (Hanlon Series #2) by Alex Coombs

 

Description from Goodreads:

"DCI Hanlon is going undercover.

Oxford Philosophy lecturer Dr Gideon Fuller is in the frame, but Hanlon is not convinced.

From the specialist brothels in Oxford and Soho, to the inner sanctum of a Russian people trafficker with a taste for hurting women, the trail leads Hanlon deeper and deeper into danger – until she herself becomes the killer's next target...

Can Hanlon track down the killer before it's too late?"

This book was previously published as Cold Revenge by Alex Howard.

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Having started this straight after reading the first in the series, "The Stolen Child", I had a feeling I was in for a treat and I wasn't disappointed however, I don't think it's as good or as exciting as the first but it would have taken an absolute genius to better that.  You don't have to have read the first but I think it really would help as otherwise you miss out on the back story and explanations around certain characters and their motivations.

Here we have another great story starring the tough and uncompromising Detective Hanlon who we find has been promoted to DCI but this hasn't curbed her gung-ho style as she goes undercover to try and find a killer.  The story moves at a pretty good and steady pace; there is a lot of action and tension which ramps up towards the end.  I wasn't surprised by the "twist" as I had already guessed who the killer was but I did enjoy how it got there.   

Overall, an enjoyable read and I am all set to read the 3rd instalment, The Missing Husband.

Thanks once again to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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Other books by Alex Coombs that I have read and reviewed:

The Stolen Child (Hanlon Series #1)

The Stolen Child by Alex Coombs (Hanlon Series #1)

 

Description from Goodreads:

"Meet DI Hanlon. A woman with a habit of breaking the rules and a fierce loyalty to the few people she respects.

Her boss, Corrigan. Looks like a street copper promoted above his ability. Underestimate him at your peril.

Enver Demirel. Known in the boxing ring as Iron Hand. Now soft and gone to seed. But he would do anything for Hanlon.

When the kidnap of a 12-year-old boy blows the case of some missing children wide apart, the finger is pointing at the heart of the Met.

Corrigan sends in the only cop in his team who is incorruptible enough to handle it - Hanlon.

And then he sends Demirel to spy on her..."

This book was previously published as Time To Die by Alex Howard.

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Well, crikey, that was a tough but exciting read that I wasn't able to put down despite the content.

I haven't read anything by this author before and missed this first time round when it was published under a different name but I'm so glad I didn't let it pass me by this time because what a treat it is, although it should come with a warning as there are some very unsavoury sections regarding child abuse that will upset people so be warned.

What we have here is a hard-hitting, gritty and dark story that starts at a fairly gentle pace whilst introducing the main characters but then, wow, it ramps up and doesn't stop until the end.  The characters are exceptional and so well described that I could clearly see them in my mind.  

The main character, DI Hanlon, is driven by her own form of justice and won't shy away from any situation even if it goes against the letter of the law - she will do what it takes to bring those responsible for despicable crimes to justice and she doesn't hold back.  She is one tough cookie and I doubt any miscreant out there would want to be on her bad side!

The sense of tension Mr Coombs developed was palpable and the emotions this book evoked were so strong that I actually felt my heart-rate climbing and experiencing real anger and hatred towards some of the characters - not many books do that which, to me, shows the ability of the author to really draw you in and develop people and situations that get under your skin.

Due to the subject matter and the level of violence contained, this won't appeal to everyone however I would certainly recommend it to those who enjoy a less than flowery police procedural that is likely to be more realistic than most other books in the genre.

Many thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review and for introducing me to yet another excellent British author.

I'm off to read the second in the series now - The Innocent Girl.

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