Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

DCI Warren Jones is one of those characters I just can't get enough of. I love the way he investigates the cases, and the reader is made part of the process throughout. I really can't wait to dive into the next one! Highly recommended.

A difficult read at times given the subject matters that are handled - extreme racism for starters. Very few of the characters are at all likeable but I suspect that was the author's intention. There is lots of tension throughout and quite a few twists and turns. The ending was very surprising! This is my first introduction to Paul Gitsham but I'd be interested in reading more books involving the same team.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is mainly about extreme views on racism and people being very vocal about their extremist views. They have a particular look that they favour, shaven heads and tattoos depicting Swastika emblems. So when the leader of the group is murdered the police still have to find the killer. When the local mosque is fire bombed and a grandmother dies again those responsible need to be found.
It isn’t an easy book to read because not all of the victims or families are easy to like or feel sorry for and the racist undertones are not easy to read or think about. However it is an extremely clever, well written and informative book.
Highly recommended.

Book 1 in the DCI Warren Jones series How do you catch a man's killer when everyone wanted him dead? In Middlesbury, a rally is being held by the British Allegiance Party - a far-right group protesting against the opening of a new Mosque. When the crowd disperses, a body is found in an alleyway. Tommy Meegan, the loud-mouthed leader of the group, has been stabbed through the heart. Across town, a Muslim community centre catches fire in a clear act of arson, leaving a small child in a critical condition. And the tension which has been building in the town for years boils over.DCI Warren Jones knows he can't afford to take sides - and must solve both cases before further acts of violent revenge take place. But, in a town at war with itself, and investigating the brutal killing of one of the country's most-hated men, where does he begin? Don't miss Paul Gitsham's ingenious new DCI Warren Jones novel.

I’m a big fan of this author, and love his books, but I appear to have missed out some along the way to this one, his latest. I must go back and read the ones I’ve missed, as I am behind with various topics raised in this one.

Another excellent book, very harrowing at times, and handled very well by the author. I really didn’t see the ending coming at all.

My thanks to Paul, the Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

An enthralling story line a most unusual subject for a crime thriller, delving into the dark side of the racially provocation of the far right groups. An unexpected climax to the end.

A hard hitting story covering a topic that is very front of the news , some very unlikeable characters in this novel and with a story that flows the ending is very shocking indeed. Highly recommended and a book that you will struggle to put down

A well written, timely novel with the return of several characters and a fast paced storyline that keeps the reader guessing.
A more detailed introduction to the characters would be helpful to readers who are new to the series, I imagine it would be quite difficult to navigate as a stand-alone novel.
Also, whilst aware that this is a draft ARC the countless spelling errors and seemingly jumbled paragraphs detract from the plot significantly, hopefully they will be rectified prior to publication.

I do love this series and, yes I do recommend you start from the beginning and read in order as per usual. What I love most about this and the previous book is that they are what I call proper Police Procedurals. Obviously they twist and turn to get to the end but, to date, the emphasis has been on solving an intricately plotted crime rather than throwing in curve ball after curve ball out of left field purely designed to dupe the reader. Yes I admit to thinking about one of those whilst I was reading (I'm a bit conditioned into looking for them too much these days) but I was so far wide of the mark it was a bit embarrassing at the end for me!
So there's a rally being held in Middlesbury. A far right group is dead against the opening of a new big Mosque. The police are doing their best to keep things under control but they drop the ball and not only is there a fire in a community centre but also the leader of the far right group is found dead. Stabbed in an alleyway. Obviously the death is welcomed by some as he was somewhat a hated character, but the crime must still be investigated and the perpetrator caught and punished. With hackles up and the community divided, can DCI Warren Jones and his team cut through all the noise and not only solve the crimes but also restore calm and unity to his city?
The topics discussed in this book are much more prevalent and big news these days, both in the media and indeed in fiction. In the latter, it has to be handled right, with due care and attention and here, the author does just that. It also highlighted the fact that sometimes the Police have to solve the crimes against the bad boys as well as the innocent victims but that they have to put prejudice aside and tackle the investigations the same. But, as Jones and his team find out, there are many suspects and they have their hands full trying to find out exactly what happened, especially as the people they need to speak to, to get valuable information, aren't those who trust or indeed like or respect authority. Throw in a bit of personal stuff going on for Jones and his wife and he finds it a bit heavy going trying to work out what exactly happened that day. But he plods on, goes back to basics and I found his methods of investigation very satisfying indeed as I tried to second guess things with him along the way. He interviews, he talks to people, he has a good team who work well together, it's all played out linearly and slowly, chipping away the irrelevant and uncovering the truth one step at a time by employing what I call proper police methods. Yes it has its twists and turns and the odd red herring but nothing more than you would expect from any investigation. Refreshing to say the least. The action ramps up quite steeply towards the end until we get our final showdown.
And when we do get to the end, when the whole truth came out, I was stunned. I was so far wide of what I though was going to happen that I had to sit back and applaud the author for a job well done. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

The Common Enemy is the latest book in the DCI Warren Jones series by Paul Gitsham and it is a very good read.

Jones is a well formed character as are his supporting cast and this helps the story move along and feel authentic.

The author also deals with the topic of racism in society with a steady hand and has obviously researched well

The challenges facing the police are realistic and used to keep the story moving along

Whilst I hadn't read any of the previous books in the drive this did not prevent me from fully understanding and enjoying the book. In fact the hints about previous cases made me want to read the other books.

Recommended

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for an advance copy of The Common Enemy, the fourth novel set in the fictional town of Middlesbury to feature DCI Warren Jones of the Hertfordshire police.

It's all go in Middlesbury one Saturday in July when a demonstration by the right wing British Allegiance Party ends in a riot and while the police are dealing with that a mosque is set on fire leaving two people in a critical condition. It's only later in the day that the body of Tommy Meegan, leader of BAP, is found stabbed in an alley. The potential fallout from these two incidents is huge and leads to much pressure to solve them.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Common Enemy which has a good mystery and some unexpected twists. It also gives the reader some insights into far right thinking. I have been reading this series from the beginning so I knew what to expect, an absorbing read with an unexpected conclusion. I like the mixture of procedure, forensics and good old fashioned interviews and I think Mr Gitsham has the balance just right as the novel flows nicely with discoveries in every chapter, some obviously more important and relevant than others but they all move the novel on and keep the reader's attention.

It is interesting that the author has chosen to tackle racism at this time, although with reference to Mrs May as the Home Secretary and no mention of Brexit, the number one topic in the right wing agenda it was obviously written some time ago. Instead he chooses to concentrate on Islamophobia and how it plays out in the wider arena. I found it fascinating reading.

Warren Jones is conscious of the pressure from above to solve the case quickly but with some personal problems he is torn between these priorities at times. Fortunately he has a very understanding wife! He is just the kind of detective I like, smart and good at putting the pieces together but unflashy and with no major quirks, in other words a quiet man going about his business professionally.

The Common Enemy is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.