Number 5 in the Fenchurch series, the best one yet, in my opinion. A young teacher is murdered and the subsequent investigations uncover a plethora of social taboos that will have you wondering, what is happening to society. This extremely well written police procedural is beautifully contemporary with today's social problems.
All the usual characters are back, helping, hindering and just adding to the suspense of this murder mystery.

Wow! I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions with this book. I just love Ed’s writing style: fast paced, gritty and down to earth. As I don’t want to give any spoilers I won’t elaborate on the story, just that I think this is his best Fenchurch yet.

This is the fifth in the Fenchurch series by Ed James and the series just get better and better. 
Simon Fenchurch is a detective in London, and the main story line is his investigation of the murder of a teacher whose body has been found in a hotel room. The victim has recently been outed, accused of having an affair with a pupil.
As the parent of two - a daughter who was kidnapped as a child and recently reunited with her family and a new and much longed for baby, who has serious health issues – Fenchurch is torn between his job and his family. 
The book follows the twists and turns of the investigation and the various suspects and characters involved, and also the events in Simon’s own life. Nothing is straightforward and some initially unconnected crimes start to connect with the main plot.
Ed James deals well with the emotions involved with the major family issues and I found myself becoming involved with those as the main plot unfolded – but this was an enhancement rather than a distraction. Crimewise, in addition to the murder, a number of events are covered including acid attacks and drug use as well as teacher/pupil abuse. As you would imagine happens in real life, people lie to try to cover up either their own involvement or that of friend/relatives. Being alongside Simon, who is a likeable, human, main character, as he unravels all of this to get to what is really going on keeps the reader involved and intrigued.
I have read all of the Fenchurch books as well as Ed James’ Cullen series and can highly recommend them, I am now awaiting the next episode in the series. This book stands alone, but I would highly recommend reading the others in order which will give a more complete picture and understanding of some of the sub plots. 
I have to thank Ed for an advance reader copy of this book, to which I was delighted to award 5*.

A little difficult and confusing story as I have not read any of the previous Ed James novels featuring DI Simon Fenchurch however a thoroughly enjoyable read and look forward to catching up on DI Fenchurch earlier cases.

Book 5 in the DI Fenchurch series and it just keeps getting better with each book. A very intricate story line which keeps you engrossed to the last page. Fast paced, well written with plenty twists, makes this another winner for Ed James. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Reviews on Facebook and Goodreads with Amazon to follow.

This was something out of the ordinary. It was an okay read but unfortunately not
enough to keep me entertained.

I am disappointed to find out that this is a series as it wasn’t marked when I signed up for it. Having said that I enjoyed it for the most part but found that the break into each scene stopped the flow of the book flitting from one section to another made it difficult to follow.

Really enjoy this series. They get better and better. Becoming a go to author for me now.        .                          .

The latest book in the DI Fenchurch series and I read it in one sitting. 

Simon Fenchurch has a new unsympathetic Boss and a Son who's ill in hospital, with the resulting family turmoil.  Added to this he has the murder of a local school teacher to deal with who has been exposed in the tabloids for having an affair with a pupil. There are also a spate of acid attacks. 

Its a good police procedural with characters that you care about. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

Really enjoyed this rollercoaster ride of a book. Never read Ed James before so the bit of background helped. Great plot,  characters and ending all you need from a thriller.. Definitely would read his next novel and have no trouble at all recommending it. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review this great piece of writing.

Didn’t realize this was a series. I do not read books that are part of a series without reading the ones that come before.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for review copy. 
This is everything I like in a mystery.. It is a British mystery with a serial killer set in London with a engaging DCI. 
I loved these sort of books. And loved this one and will read more by this author.

Although now home, the Fenchurch's daughter, Chloe, had once been kidnapped. Now, DI Fenchurch and his wife, Abi, have a 10 month old son who has a heart that needs correction. 

DI Fenchurch also has multiple happenings at work. The latest case involves an English teacher Gayle, who had died in a hotel room. All eyes are turned on her husband, Steven. Also, there is some evidence that Gayle was having an affair with Elliot, one of her students. A potent drug - blockchains - has a part in this mystery as do acid "splashes". 

Many, many twists and turns brings this well- thought- out story to its' climax. 

And, as before, Ed James has proven that all of the suspects are scrutinized.. (Even some of those who may seem perfectly innocent). The questioning during the police interviews is fantastic, as is the character development.  An amazing story that truly captures the reader throughout the entire book.


A MUST read!


Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer as well as NetGalley for a great read from start to end!

This latest DI Fenchurch is very fast paced, I like the fact that there's always a few different things going on, recommend to anyone who loves police procedural and general crime books, very happy reader.

This is my first Ed James book and I quite enjoyed it. I realised while reading it that it’s actually part of a series which I was unaware of. I’m not sure if it was intended to read as a stand-alone book or not but I enjoyed it anyway. I will look to read the other books in the series. Overall a good book.

DI Fenchurch and family are trying to cope with health of young baby Al when an outbreak of acid attacks , bad drugs and a murder erupt in London. While trying to do his job finding the murderer, internal politics within the Department and being drawn into drug deaths he is trying keep focused. This is a really good read and as usual Ed James delivers this.

This is the fifth novel by this author.  D I Fenchurch has personal problems,  his baby Al needs a life changing operation . An illicit affair results in murder, a spate of acid attacks and a new killer drug is on the streets. Just a normal week for DI Fenchurch and his team and his boss has her own agenda.
This book is well written and fast paced. As usual there are lots of twists and the ending was definitely not what I was expecting. A really good read. 
I would like to thank the author Ed James, Amazon Publishing UK and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.

I gave up reading this after a few chapters, I couldn't get to grips with the characters, I just couldnt warm to them at all. This book really wasn't for me.

When a body is found in a seedy hotel Fenchurch knows he should recognize her but the name escapes him. Trying to juggle his time between the new case, his infant son in intensive care and a boss he has serious issues with means, as usual, his life is far from smooth.
Once again Ed James weaves many different strands together to form a satisfyingly intricate story that keeps you guessing. The regular characters are, as always, mixed in with a variety of people who hinder or help things along in a way which feels realistic and pertinent to their view of the case and place in it. 
The only problem I had, hence four stars, was the amount of time Fenchurch didn't spend with his son. Maybe it's me but he didn't fight that corner quite enough. 
This series has improved with each book and, apart from my slight gripe, I found this story to be complex and well thought out. I was delighted to have the chance to read an advanced copy thanks to Netgalley; it engaged me from page one and you can't ask for more than that.

I read this book not realizing it's part of a series.  I don't like that you don't know it's part of a series unless you look up the title online, it should be clearly marked.

Overall, this was a good book and I am planning on reading the other books.

The body of a young woman is found in a hotel room. She's been poisoned.  Nobody recognizes her until they realize she's a local teacher who has had an affair with a student. Who would want to kill her though?

Someone's going around town attacking people with acid and no one can figure out who's done it. It's a puzzle that the detective needs to figure out who is doing these acts.

Pretty good book.