Thanks for the opportunity to have read this entertaining novel. I have not read anything by Alex Clare before, so I honestly did not know what to expect. What I got was a thrilling read, full of suspense from beginning to end. On to the next one!
Recommended.

I really loved this book! Excellent story with brilliant main characters. I would recommend this book.

This is a fascinating and ground breaking police procedural set in Kent where the protagonist, DI Robyn Bailley, is a transitioning transgender woman. Being transgender is a difficult position to be anywhere in society, but I imagine that being one in the police force is a particularly difficult challenge, much of the issues surrounding this are outlined here, from colleagues who engage in 'banter' and those who struggle to accept her. Then there is the hot potato of dealing with the public, many of whom are less than understanding. Additionally, Robyn, who left his wife 17 years ago, has to deal with his bitter and violent wife, employed as a Women's Studies lecturer, who has kept his daughter, Becky, away from him. Gender issues play a focal point in the town of Meresbourne, where the Loveless festival is taking place with prominent feminist speakers such as Dr Felicity Bergmann, part of RAW (Real Adult Women), who do not accept that transgender women are women at all. To exacerbate matters, with the local police having the worst figures for assaults on women and the least effective responses, making them a target for women's protests.

19 year old Shazia Johar, a cousin of police officer Ravi, jumps from a hotel room, sustaining serious life threatening injuries during a mixed race wedding celebrations. Evidence suggests that Shazia has been violently sexually assaulted. Robyn finds herself having to manage a difficult and complex investigation. To make matters worse, Ravi wants to be on the team for the case, and given his personal involvement, Robyn has to delicately ensure he understands that he cannot be involved. Another team member is having to cope with a wife with terminal cancer, whilst the bubbly Lorraine wants to move up the career ladder, and Robyn mentors her for her next step of becoming a sergeant. The arrest of Jake Newman, a usher at the wedding sparks protests and riots which ends up with Julie, Robyn's ex-wife assaulting the police and denouncing Robyn publicly. Newman is attacked and later found dead in his van. Matters are complicated when the police team endeavour to gain sufficient evidence beyond a he said, she said scenario for a trial to take place. Shazia's family have concerns over reputation and honour, meaning they are not going to push for the perpetrator to be charged. As the police close in on the culprit, Robyn has to manage her poor relationship with Becky, who has come to stay with her.

This is the second book in the series, but the first I have read and it worked perfectly well as a standalone. I found it a compelling read with an interesting social and political commentary on policing, transgender issues, gender politics and race. I liked the fact that the diverse police team had its issues, but eventually ends up working together well under Robyn's exceptional leadership. I must admit to being shocked at how the book ends, and look forward to the next in the series with anticipation. This is a well written, engaging and entertaining read that I loved. Many thanks to Impress Books for an ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Impress Books for an advance copy of She's Fallen, the second police procedural to featuring transitioning DI Robyn Bailley of the Meresbourne, Kent police.

Robyn and her team are called in to investigate a suspicious fall. Shazia Johar has fallen from the balcony of the swankiest hotel in town where she was attending a wedding. Attempted murder or suicide? Shazia can't tell them because she's in a coma so they'll have to investigate.

She's Fallen is an interesting read because it has as much to say about gender politics and the problems of re-alignment as it is a procedural. I do feel, however, that sometimes the investigations, their original investigation leads to others, get lost in these other preoccupations. I found it difficult to differentiate between the two main suspects and had to continually check the details on which was which and who had done what as they were not well enough defined. Nevertheless I enjoyed the investigation and the practical steps they take to move it forward although I didn't like the resolution of Shazia's case, in fact I didn't even know it was possible. I also feel that there is a chapter missing at the end of the novel as it just seems to stop on a real cliffhanger.

Robyn's troubles as a transitioning woman are well explained from which toilet to use through the petty, everyday slights to the radical feminists seeing transgender women as a threat and not proper women. I must admit that I found the radical feminists in the novel tiresome and boring. Do these kind of thinkers really exist? Do I care?

She's Fallen is a good read overall.

This book let me down quite a bit.

I could not relate or like any of the characters, also it was hard to follow what was going on.

I felt that the book needed stripping back so that we can follow the characters better.


The book was confusing in places as well in the end I gave up sorry.