Member Review
Review by
Bridget E, Reviewer
I was taken by the interesting synopsis for this novel even though I hadn't heard of Howard Linksey, and was delighted to discover that Alice Teale is Missing is set in Collemby, a small fictional Northumbrian mining town. Alice Teale has vanished; she was spotted leaving the school grounds late one evening and she's never been seen since.
Enter Winter and Black ( I love the names!) - DC Beth Winter is a fast track police officer, on her first proper posting with DCI Everleigh's team. She's working with DS Lucas Black who has just taken over the investigation into the missing seventeen-year-old schoolgirl. Nobody wants to team up with DS Black about whom rumours are rife since he shot a man dead, whilst attending a call-out. Collemby is a run-down town, buzzing with gossip and a place where everyone knows everyone. The local Comprehensive is managed by new headteacher, John Morgan, who has turned it around from being a failing school.
In this atmospheric crime read, Howard Linskey's superb writing allowed me to get a real feel for the town of Collemby, although this wasn't difficult for me as it is my local area. Howard Linskey's characterisation was marvellous, from the complex Alice, and Beth Winter who felt she had something to prove, to the ex-military Lucas Black who was unforthcoming, reticent, and burdened by his past performance in the Force. Both of these detectives were part of an investigation that had ramifications for them, personally and professionally.
Alice Teale is Missing was a hugely gripping, entertaining and compelling read, with many twists and changes of direction. The horrifying truth is eventually revealed in an unexpected and fulfilling denouement. I would definitely recommend this novel to fans of crime fiction.
I have found myself another favourite author and I'm off to grab myself a copy of No Name Lane, another of Howard Linskey's novels that I'm now hoping to read.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Penguin Michael Joseph via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Enter Winter and Black ( I love the names!) - DC Beth Winter is a fast track police officer, on her first proper posting with DCI Everleigh's team. She's working with DS Lucas Black who has just taken over the investigation into the missing seventeen-year-old schoolgirl. Nobody wants to team up with DS Black about whom rumours are rife since he shot a man dead, whilst attending a call-out. Collemby is a run-down town, buzzing with gossip and a place where everyone knows everyone. The local Comprehensive is managed by new headteacher, John Morgan, who has turned it around from being a failing school.
In this atmospheric crime read, Howard Linskey's superb writing allowed me to get a real feel for the town of Collemby, although this wasn't difficult for me as it is my local area. Howard Linskey's characterisation was marvellous, from the complex Alice, and Beth Winter who felt she had something to prove, to the ex-military Lucas Black who was unforthcoming, reticent, and burdened by his past performance in the Force. Both of these detectives were part of an investigation that had ramifications for them, personally and professionally.
Alice Teale is Missing was a hugely gripping, entertaining and compelling read, with many twists and changes of direction. The horrifying truth is eventually revealed in an unexpected and fulfilling denouement. I would definitely recommend this novel to fans of crime fiction.
I have found myself another favourite author and I'm off to grab myself a copy of No Name Lane, another of Howard Linskey's novels that I'm now hoping to read.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Penguin Michael Joseph via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
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