The second book featuring DC Beth Chamberlain, as I hadn’t read the previous book I was going in blind. I didn’t know anything about who she was etc, but I don’t think it mattered that much really.

Disgraced ex-local councillor Stuart Ingram, is run over and murdered just before his case goes to trial. He was fighting to clear his name in child abuse allegations. The main suspect is his wife Gina, until another victim is discovered, and it is very clear someone more sinister is at work and needs stopping.
Admittedly I found it a little slow going at first – but I found once we got into the ‘action’ the pace picked up and I was fully on board.
I liked Beth’s character. She is hardworking, dedicated and genuine in her approach to apprehending the murderer although not always the one to ‘tow the line’, she is wanting the right result.
It’s an action packed read, I’m not necessarily one for police procedural type books but this one caught my attention. It is dramatic, has a few twists that leave us readers with a whole host of possible suspects that we must eliminate one by one as the story progresses.
There is a good balance between Baths having to solve these heinous crimes whilst also sorting out her own personal problems. I enjoyed getting to know this character and would welcome reading about her again in another book.
One to recommend for sure, with drama, crime and a host of complex characters, this is a brilliant book with realistic and understandable police investigation at its heart. With such fantastic writing by the author you will be hooked in and will not want to put it down until the case is solved.

Yay - DC Beth Chamberlain is back for a second installment. A family liaison officer, Chamberlain assists the family doing a traumatic time and she could live with me and help me anytime. Isaac has a way of writing that keeps you firmly centered in the action and you discover the twists and turns when Beth does and puzzle along with her. Fast paced, good plots, a great detective - what more could you want - book three please.

Superb! My first book by the Author. Thank you Net Galley for the book.

A local councillor, Stuart Ingram, is killed in a hit and run. For Gina Ingram, the widow, its all happening too fast. She is estranged from her only daughter and is struggling to come to terms with all that is happening around her. Then two more murders take place in the same town. Are they somehow linked to Stuart's murder? As the cops try to piece together the reason behind these incidents which have a link to a suicide by a teenager in 1996, the killer is one step ahead of the game.

I loved the character of DC Beth Chamberlain and am going to read more books by Jane Isaac

This was a great read. DC Beth Chamberlain is a very likeable character.

Stuart Ingram has been murdered two weeks before his trial. His wife Gina stood by him while being accused of child pornography. So who killed him?

If you enjoy police procedural stories then I recommend this gem.

Top marks for a well written story that I didn’t want to put down.

*This novel was previously published as 'Presumed Guilty'*

For Better, For Worse is book two in the DC Beth Chamberlain series though it actually makes a great individual read. I was given a taster of what has gone before that tempted me to read the first book, After He's Gone, but not having done so did not hinder this story, for me anyhow.

In this instalment, Beth, who has received Family Liaison training, is assigned to a recently widowed woman whose husband has been killed in what appears to be a random hit and run. However, with the victim himself being the accused in another crime, Beth finds that she has a more of an investigative role than the usual support she generally delivers.

There is plenty of drama and I really enjoyed the well devised plot, with the concise chapters helping to keep up the pace and momentum. Beth herself is an easy person to relate to and I liked her caring, sympathetic nature. There is no obvious suspect though there are plenty of false leads, so I was kept guessing as to the identity of the perpetrator. As well as her Family Liaison Officer role, Beth is active in the investigation itself and as the body count rises, it’s obvious the team are dealing with more than a hit and run incident. Being party to the consequences on the victims’ families and the work of a FLO adds extra dimension to the story, as motives and grievances surface. With a stunning ending as the icing on the cake, I recommend For Better, For Worse with confidence. Jane Isaac is a new author to me, but it will not be the last time I pick up one of her books.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Aria via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

DC Beth Chamberlain has a new case to investigate, the murder of Stuart, a man who was waiting for trial. Who could want someone killed before the trial?
This is not my first case with DC Beth Chamberlain and I’ll admit that I really like her style and twisted cases, there are always surprises and interesting themes to think about, really worth the read.
This is not an easy case to read, what should you do when the law ignores the victim? It’s not an easy theme to talk, because I don’t think there’s a white or black solution. You can not take the law on your own hands, because this way you are acting far worse than the first “culprit” but, who can stay without doing anything and watching the society looking to the other side when someone you care has been brutalized? No, I don’t think there’s a correct answer of what to do, the police? the law? If everything fails the only answer is you?
As you can see this will not be an easy case, difficult to discover what has really happened, you will ask yourself how to look at the killer’s face without a little bit of shame. Beth will be brave as always to ask as many questions as possible to discover the truth, this time she will have the almost full support of her colleagues and chief. There will be some surprises on her personal life and her sister, Eden, will have a small part on it. As I said on the previous book, I don’t like her at all, maybe in the next story she will change? We’ll see…
I really liked this book, I finished it in just one night, easy to read, to be part of the investigation and to discover what has really happened. If you are looking for an interesting police procedural book, believe me, this is your book! Ready?

The title and the cover caught my eye and simply wouldn't let go. Jane Isaac had done it again, captured my interest from the first line to the end, briningong me slowly into the center of the plot where I could see everything unfolding.

A police procedural with DC Beth Chamberlain being part of the team which investigated murders happening around town.

Having read books by this author, I was super excited to read the next installment. Jane Isaac's stories had a unique feature to them. They not only told me the clues mad findings of the cops but also showed me the effects of a death on the family member. Beth was kind and gracious to the victims, at the same time, intelligent and dedicated to solving the murders.

The murders made the plot move fast, the cops were kept busy. The twists and the final reveal were thrilling. This book brought a sheen of tears at the emotions shown. There was something so beautiful when a cop goes out of the way to soothe the family members ravaged by the murder.

One of the best books read to escape the real world.

I have been a fan of Jane's work for a fair while now. I love the series featuring Detective Inspector Will Jackman and his beautiful black Labrador (I might be biased there since I have two yellow Labradors myself). Anyway back to the point. I eagerly grab a copy of each new book that Jane releases and hibernate until I have finished reading it. 'For Better, For Worse' is Jane's latest release and it features Detective Beth Chamberlain. 'For Better, For Worse' was released on 19th March 2020. (NB: 'For Better, For Worse' was previously released as 'Presumed Guilty'). It's another corker of a read from Jane Isaac, which I thoroughly enjoyed but more about that in a bit.
I took to the character of Detective Constable Beth Chamberlain from the start. She is a young police officer, who has recently returned to work. Beth is eager to learn and eager to do her bit. Beth has empathy with the victims of crime and resolves to do what she can to protect the innocent and punish the guilty. She often goes above and beyond what is expected of her. Beth was in a relationship with a colleague but they finished the relationship a little while ago. Things are still slightly awkward between them but they seem to be muddling through. Beth is kind, caring, compassionate, diligent, determined, occasionally stubborn and she is extremely hard working.
It didn't take me long at all to get into 'For Better, For Worse'. In fact by the time I got to the end of the synopsis, I was sold on the story and I just knew that I was going to be in for one hell of a fabulous read. To say that reading 'For Better, For Worse' became a serious addiction would have to be the understatement of the year. I made the fatal mistake of picking the book up shortly before I went to bed. Let's just say that bedtime was delayed and I had a lack of sleep hangover the following morning. I should have known better because the exact same thing has happened with every book that Jane has released. I had to force myself to put the book to one side. If I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book and I was looking forward to being able to pick the book up again. I seemed to charge through the story at a rate of knots, despite my intention to ration how much I read at once so I could prolong my enjoyment of the story. I finished the book in just under 24 hours which is pretty good going for me. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not when I pick up one of Jane's books.
'For Better, For Worse' is brilliantly written but then I think the same about all of Jane's books. She grabs your attention from the start and gradually draws you into the story. For me the story hit the ground running and maintained the pace throughout. I felt as though I was part of the story and part of the investigation myself and that is all thanks to Jane's very vivid and realistic storytelling. At times I thought that I had figured out who was doing what and why, only for Jane to throw me a curveball and send me down another path entirely. 'For Better, For Worse' is a gripping read, which kept me guessing and which also kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'For Better, For Worse' and I would definitely recommend it to other readers. I can say with absolutely certainty that I will be reading more of Jane's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

For Better, for Worse moves seamlessly between a police procedural and the story of a conflicted marriage. It begins as once respected former Councillor Stuart Ingram is deliberately killed in a hit and run accident. DC Beth Chamberlain, a family liaison officer, is assigned to the case and visits Ingram’s widow Gina. The parallel stories begin as the police work to solve this crime and the others that follow while Gina tries to understand what has happened to her family.

When Stuart Ingram was murdered, he was awaiting trial on charges of possessing child pornography. He lost his political appointment, his real estate career, his reputation and his daughter. Gina has believed him and stayed with him, losing all contact with her beloved daughter Phoebe and her two grandsons. Abandoned by her friends and subjected to abuse by strangers, she holds secret doubts about Stuart’s innocence.

Beth Chamberlain is dealing with a split with her partner Nick Geary. Now, as he helps her with this investigation, she regrets her decision to end the relationship. The tension between the two grows as an ambitious supervisor tries in insert herself into their work. Within days, they are desperately trying to find a link between three random killings.

These two stories become united in the satisfying conclusion that highlights just how much the smallest details of police work are important in the resolution of a case. 5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Aria and Jane Isaac for this ARC.

I absolutely adore this author and love this series. I haven’t been able to put this one down. I’d go as far as saying that this is better than book one.

Beth Chamberlain is a likeable, realistic character. Dedicated to her career, despite the problems in her personal life. As a family liaison officer, she needs great people skills and well-disguised investigative talent. She is uniquely placed to discover family tensions, and gain the trust of the victims' relatives and find out the true story.

A historical suicide, a deliberate hit and run, which results in a man's death. Emotions and suspense build, as the investigation proceeds. Further crimes, throw up more questions, than answers. The relentless investigation, finally finds the answers, leading to a devastating conclusion.

The story explores the concept of trial by social media, and the consequences, both personal and establishment, of this contemporary trend. The wife of the murdered man, who has stood by him, shows her strength of character in the face of public antagonism, against her late husband and her family.

The connection between the various crimes is cleverly interwoven. The police investigation is authentically portrayed. The domestic noir and suspense build gradually, giving the plot added depth and adding the ending's impact.

Dark crime, complex characters and relatable police investigation team, make this addictive reading. Looking forward to the next one.

I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was a pacey thriller that ramped up the tension page by page. The investigation felt realistic and it was enjoyable to see the way the investigation slowly unfolded.

A quality crime story, well written and perfectly paced. A great, action-packed story.
DC Beth Chamberlain is a Family Liaison Officer. Her role is to support the family – and investigate them. She is supporting the family of Stuart Ingram, a local councillor who is mown down by a car after picking up a takeaway on his way home from bowls club. He is about to face charges of child sexual exploitation which he strongly denies. Gina, his wife, is standing by him as he awaits the trial to clear his name.
When a second body is found in the area the police are looking for a link with Stuart’s murder.
I love the tensions within the families, how they dealt with the awful accusations.
I like Beth as a character and I like the way that her personal and family life is brought into the story.
Such an interesting case, with lots of twists and turns as the investigation progresses. The tension built perfectly and I just couldn’t put the book down.
Easy to read, I was engrossed. Thoroughly recommend this author and I look forward to more in the series.
Thanks to Aria Fiction and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

A book with a relevant plot to today’s crazy times. I’ve never read anything by this author so I’ve been missing out.

5 Stars from me

I am a long time fan of Jane Isaac and am therefore delighted that For Better, For Worse is just as excellent as her previous books.

Beautifully written and with a breathtaking start, For Better, For Worse will have you flipping through the pages in a bid to keep up.

Hats off to Gina Ingram, I can't imagine the horror of having the police accuse your husband of being a child abuser - the sheer world-altering, future-changing, past-destroying horror. But then to have the test to your relationship of him protesting his innocence - how could you really ever be sure?

A difficult subject is thought provokingly handled throughout the core of this book, with the main thrust of the crime thriller built around it. 

DC Beth Chamberlain is back and needs to use all of her liaison officer training to begin to unpick the tightly woven threads of the truth. She is a solid and likeable character throughout this book and I hope we get to read more about her in future stories.

Loved the book, couldn't put it down. Love following the life of Beth in her work.
The story kept me thinking how it was I didn't guess early on. Love the interaction with the charaters, and the way the story progressed, pace was great.

I’d like to thank Aria and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘For Better, For Worse’ by Jane Isaac in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Stuart Ingram dies just two weeks before his court appearance for having illegal images of children on his computer, run down on a crossing by a person driving Stuart’s own car. It’s up to DC Beth Chamberlain and her colleagues to identify if Ingram’s death is connected to his court case, but when more bodies are found Beth has to uncover the connection between them and identify the person who’s chosen to end their lives.

‘For Better, For Worse’ is the second in the DC Beth Chamberlain series and has an action-packed and well-thought-out plot, lots of excitement and drama, interesting suspects and twists and turns. It continues with Beth’s career as Family Liaison Officer and tells more of her closeness to sister Eden and her on-off relationship with Sergeant Nick Geary. This is an enjoyable police thriller with a startling conclusion that finishes with a cliffhanger which I’m hoping will be resolved. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel which I found compulsive reading and I’m happy to recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy. I read the first book in this series and I wasn’t a fan but decided to give the second book a try as it sounded very good. Just as with the first book it was so very slow and I unfortunately am just not a fan of this writing .

For Better, For Worse is the second book in this series. If you haven’t read the first one you probably should before picking this one up. I haven’t read the first book and think it would be helpful for background and callbacks since there was references I didn’t understand.

Now on to the actual story. Honestly this is fantastic. I forgot how gripping a classic murder mystery can be and I found myself racing through to the end!

Really strong story and highly recommended.

I enjoyed elements of this book and I really liked the ending - the suspense it brought for the protagonists next step.

There were a lot of individual but interrelated threads in this story that her neatly married up as the killer is revealed.

Overall reasonably enjoyable and I'll check the author for future books