This is the second book in a series and I didn't feel that I missed out by not reading the first. Dr Jessie Flynn is trying to help a young army recruit and this sets in motion a whole load of events. Highly recommend

This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

Dr Jessie Flynn is back to work faced with a young army recruit who is experiencing difficulties. Captain Callan is working the case of another young recruit who has been murdered and Marilyn is investigating the disappearance of a man who left his baby at the hospital. Are these cases linked? This was such a gripping read and I devoured it. The characters are established from afire Damage and I can’t wait to read the next one. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

you know you’ve read a good book when you don’t want it to end! i absolutely loved this story and the characters. i look forward to reading more from this author.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Seemed a little slow and a plodding 3/43 star review in the offing.
However it is a complex plot that is wonderfully brought together with skill and ingenuity.
The story begins with Jessie returning to action after an overseas posting. Thereafter, three separate cases fill her first day. An abandon baby that DI Bobby Simmonds, ‘Marilyn’ requests Jessie’s psychological input. This re-unites her with part of the threesome that made the first novel so memorable. She then has an appointment with a young recruit whose commanding officer has concerns over. Then her path crosses Ben Callan’s once more as she is seconded to give her professional opinion on a horrible murder of another young army recruit.
The three strands weave around Jessie although she is not in every chapter it allows great advancement to the story around characters that are clear and from different perspectives to develop the plot.
There is tension between Jessie and Callan; a romance that was strangled before birth, guilt between Marilyn and Callan as one’s actions previously caused the other to be seriously wounded.
Finally Jessie feels conflicted in her involvement with Marilyn in a civil case. However, she feels drawn to those left minding the young child.
Added to the mix are the secrets Callan hides regarding his fitness for work. Jessie’s resentment of her Father, who tries to set up a meeting due to her own involvement in a family suicide.
With a wonderful set of supporting characters. Gold one of Callan’s team, a little too big for his boots and seemingly trying to undermine his boss. The love of her neighbour, who cares for her more than any father. And the attractive motherly doctor who knows Callan’s weakness but has a urge to protect him and wishes she were 30 years younger at times of distracted thoughts.
So a stunning 5 star novel that cements Kate Medina’s growing reputation and prepares one for her most recent offering Two Little Girls.
Think Deepcut Barracks and you realise that the army protects its own, is steeped in mystery and is a excellent backdrop to this series so far.
Parental abandonment and child abuse also touch the reader and the fire damage of book one shows deeper scars here as Jessie’s character and own demons are laid bare. A compulsive read in every sense and a wonderful novel to embrace.

This is the second book in the Jessie Flynn series, and this book is even better than the first! The book covers from the abandonment of a baby to a young army boy killing himself. Great read and highly entertaining!

A totally absorbing murder. mystery, based around a military background., with a psychological input. All the characters were totally believable and helped the story maintain its fast pace and varied situations. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

I'm always a little trepidatious about reading books where I haven't read the 1st one, but the joy in started at the 2nd one is that you don't have to wait to read anymore of this fantastic new character. Kate Medina has crafted a great new Heroine whose books I'll add to my ever growing must purchase in hard back list. Jessie Flynn is here to stay and is a must read for any fan of well plotted thrillers.

This is the second book in the Dr Jessica Flynn series but could easily be read standalone.

Baby Harry is abandoned outside a busy Accident and Emergency Department. The hunt is on to find his father who may be suicidal after his other son’s recent suicide on an army base some months earlier.

Meanwhile a 16 year old is found dead on an army base. Someone tried to save his life but they haven’t come forward .

Dr Jessica Flynn is called in as a consultant psychologist and when young soldier from the same army base is referred to her for counselling she fears he too may be suicidal.

The novel moves at a quick pace, with lots of scene changes. There are lots of red herrings and but a fast paced exciting read

A baby is abandoned in the middle of the night at Royal Surrey County Hospital. D.I. Bobby ‘Marilyn’ Simmons suspects the father is planning to take his own life following the violent suicide of his eldest son a year earlier. The race is on to find him.

Captain Ben Callan is investigating a suspicious death. Just sixteen years old, Stephen Foster has been stabbed in the neck with a screwdriver. Someone tried to save his life – but who? And why haven’t they come forward?

When psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn is called in to consult on both cases, she sees connections between the deaths of Danny and Stephen. And when she starts counselling a third traumatized young man, Jessie fears he faces the same fate…

The second book in an exciting new crime series featuring psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn – a brilliantly complex character who struggles with a dark past. Perfect for fans of Nicci French and Val McDermid. This was my first introduction to Jessie Flynn and Medina as an author and I thoroughly enjoyed the book, writing and characters - all of which could serve as protagonists in their own right. The plot was intricate and kept you guessing for a long time. I liked the intertwining of two key stories and how they unfolded. My only disappointment was what felt to me like a rushed story development at the end...purposefully cryptic so as not to spoil - but I was hoping this would play out over a longer period in the coming books (please say there will be more...). I am definitely going back to read the first.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Loved this book and really like Jessie Flynn. I shall definitely be looking out for more books from this author

I really enjoyed this book and it was a good to see the return of the main characters we were introduced to in the first book of the series. Lots going on and a fast paced story line - well worth a read.

The second in this military crime series, although there is enough back story to read as a standalone.

Two cases: an abandoned baby, and a young soldier stabbed to death in the neck. They appear to be totally unconnected until psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn starts investigating.

After a slow start this novel soon picks up the pace to a thrilling climax.

Thanks to Netgalley for sending me this ARC.

An abandoned baby; 16-year-old cadets and a psychologist - a recipe for murder.

Dr Jessie Flynn is a psychologist called in when a baby is abandoned in the local hospital. D I Bobby Simmonds suspects the father is going to take his own life.

Meanwhile Captain Ben Callen is investigating the suspicious death of a cadet. Jessie is having to deal with these cases as well as her counselling sessions and her own personal tragedy and mental instability.

This is the second Jessie Flynn book but this book reads as a stand-alone.

A good story in the genre of the tv detective series. I read it in a couple of days as it was so easy to keep turning those pages. The characters are excellent and the love interest gets to you and you want one of them to make the first move.

My only problem is Jessie’s OCD which she seems to turn off and on when it suited the story. Surely her boss would have had to have something to say about it?

An enjoyable story and I am looking forward to reading some more by Ms Medina.

Helen.

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a free preview copy in return for an honest review.
This is the second instalment in the Dr Jessica Flynn series, but it sits well as a stand-alone novel.

Baby Harry is abandoned outside a busy Accident and Emergency Department. The hunt is on to find his father who may be suicidal after his other son’s recent suicide on an army base. Meanwhile a 16 year old is found dead on an army base. Someone tried to save his life but whom?

Dr Jessica Flynn is called in as a consultant psychologist, when young soldier from the same army base is referred to her for counselling she fears he may be suicidal. Are the cases connected and if so how?
The novel moves on a quick pace, with the quick chapters and changes of scene. Then it hurtles at speed to the climax that comes from nowhere. Although when you reflect you realise that you, like Jessica and her colleague Ben Callan, have simply followed the red herrings set down by the author.

It’s an intriguing mystery that will keep you wondering until the end, and I am looking forward to reading the next in instalment in the Dr Jessica Flynn series.

Note: Amended to 4 stars as I really did enjoy this.

I loved Kate Medina's first Jessie Flynn book so I was delighted to see another one come along. Could it live up to the previous one? I would say that this one is even better. This book works well as a stand alone story although it is nice to flesh out Jessie's story and find out more about her.

A baby is abandoned outside a busy A & E department. A father refuses to believe his son killed himself. An army recruit is found dead having committed suicide in a particularly unusual way, another is found dead from a screwdriver through his throat.

Jessie finds herself being consulted on these events whilst trying to stop another young soldier from taking his life. Working with Callen, the damaged military policeman and 'Marilyn' the civilian detective they attempt to find the connection and stop further damage being done to young people,

I read this in a day ,It was a gripping story with great characters. I hope there will be more in this series. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this great book.

Detective Inspector Bobby “Marilyn” Simmons is searching for the father of a baby, found abandoned outside a hospital. The baby’s father eldest son committed suicide at a local army base a year earlier and Simmons is concerned that the father has similar intentions.
Stephen Foster, a trainee soldier, has been found in the woods near to the same army base, stabbed in the neck. Captain Ben Callan of the military police finds himself searching both for the killer and the person who tried to save Foster’s life. But why hasn’t the potential saviour come forward?
And Dr Jessie Flynn, consulting on both cases, is also asked to speak to a soldier from the base. His name has been put forward as a potential suicide risk. As links become apparent between the three cases, it seems that something is casting a sinister shadow over Blackdown Barracks and soon someone else’s life will be in danger…
I reviewed Fire Damage, the first Jessie Flynn book recently, and it was a pleasure to get the opportunity to take a look at the second book in this series. It’s a complex thriller that takes its time to generate real three dimensional characters in Flynn and Callan and also takes its time to look at some serious issues.
But K T Medina has also crafted a clever mystery tale, more than a whodunit, but more of a what-the-hell-is-going-on-and-who-did-what tale that keeps the reader turning the page throughout. Flynn and Callan may be damaged heroes, but they never fall into stereotype and there is clearly much more of their story to tell.
Plotwise, it does take a little too long for our heroes to even consider that the deaths might be related, but that’s not an uncommon complaint in crime fiction, but I did find myself waiting for the characters to start looking at the big picture. But the wait was worth it, as the overall story is deeply satisfying and moving.
A complex mystery and an emotional story – inspired perhaps by the Deepcut deaths? – and well worth your time. Highly Recommended.
Scared to Death was released on May 4th by Harper Collins.

I would like to thank HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Scared To Death’ by Kate Medina in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
This is the second book featuring Army Psychologist Dr Jessie Flynn who has just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and Military Officer Ben Callan who was injured whilst there, together with Detective Inspector Bobby ‘Marilyn’ Simmons.
Two sixteen-year-old soldiers have been found dead in suspicious circumstances. The father of one of them, Malcolm Lawson, has gone missing and his baby son found abandoned outside a hospital. It’s up to Jessie and Callan, with help from DI Simmons, to discover the truth before more bodies are found.
I read Kate Medina’s first novel ‘Fire Damage’ first which gave me background to the characters, but ‘Scared To Death’ gives enough information without the reader without feeling they’ve missed out on something.
Kate Medina is one of the best authors I’ve read for a long time. Her books are unique as the characters are in the Army rather than just the police force. I was totally engrossed and unable to put it down. I liked the characters and the strong storyline, and the gripping finale kept me guessing. I would recommend ‘Scared To Death’ to all readers who enjoy a nail-biting thriller. I can’t wait for book No. 3.

The second in the series of Dr.Jessie Flynn and Kate Medina surely hasn't disappointed in writing another cracking thriller.
The first three chapters sets up Scared to Death, continuing at a fast pace, with red herrings and plenty of moments to make you gasp.
Jessie is a military psychologist returning from a three month tour taking on the case of a young army recruit Ryan Jones who has some deep seated psychological issues. DI Bobby 'Marilyn' Simmons has a need for Jessie's help, a baby has been abandoned at the local A&E department and his father is missing. Callan is avoiding Jessie unwilling to ask for help with the death of a sixteen year old army cadet. Three cases are they related, and if so how.
Kate has elaborated more on the character of Jessie allowing you to better understand Jessie's emotional turbulence and habitual OCD, revealing more of the type of person Jessie is.

Sacred to Death could easily be read as a standalone, but I definitely think reading the first in the series Fire Damage would enhance your reading of Scared to Death.
With thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Kate Medina for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

This is the 2nd book in the Jessie Flynn series - I read the 1st one and although I like it there were times when I didnt feel connected to the story or the characters. I am so glad I gave Medina another chance as this book takes the foundations of characters in book 1 and really develops them and adds 'flesh' to them.... I also found teh story more interesting.

The format follows the same as book 1 - psychologist Jessie Flynn, Captain and military police Callan, and Detective Inspector Bobby Simmons all have 3 seperate cases to look into... but all end up drawn into the same heartbreaking, shocking crime.

The storyline has hints of real life events and is presented the reader in a detailed but not graphic way - definitely kept me guessing till the end with several red herrings on the way.

The main characters all likeable in their own way - although it can be quite draining on the reader when all 3 main characters have so mnay problems and issues!

Im looking forward to book 3!