In this gritty, gripping Scottish crime thriller, DCI Hanlon is driven and on the edge, as she battles addictive anger issues. An enforced break on the Isle of Jura, one of the Western Isles, finds her embroiled in a series of grisly crimes.

Hanlon and politically correct are at opposite ends of the spectrum, She's arrogant and hard. Character traits that get her in trouble with her bosses at the Met. Told predominately from her point of view, this story is insightful. The plot is simple, with enough possible suspects and twists to keep it interesting. I did guess the major twist, but it's a good story, with a memorable detective, with scope for more cases.

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

Silenced For Good is the newest instalment in an intriguing exciting crime thriller series by author Alex Coombs although he has written more of this DI Hanlon series under the name Alex Howard. It took a little more time than I am usually used to in order to be completely gripped but you should give it a little extra time to become addictive as it's worth having patience. I feel the reason that it took more time than most to be engrossed was because Coombs was busy not only setting up the cast of characters and plot for this opening instalment but also the rest of the series which is unavoidable really.

It pulls no punches in that it’s really quite brutal, profane and, at times, graphic so is by no means suitable for those who enjoy their thrillers tame as it’s not for the faint-hearted. This is a series that certainly shows promise and I indeed hope that Ms Coombs continues it and that it continues to progress and go from strength to strength. I look forward to the next instalment being even better. Many thanks to Boldwood Books for an ARC

Detective Hanlon is addicted to violence. She likes the rush, the danger, the losing control...

When Hanlon is suspended from the force for assaulting a suspect, she escapes to the remote Scottish island of Jura, home to the mysterious Corryvreckan whirlpool.

But wherever Hanlon goes, violence is sure to follow.

As soon as she checks into The Mackinnon Arms, Hanlon senses something isn't quite right about the staff at her home for the week.

Sure enough, within days of arriving, the body of a member of staff is found floating in the sea. While police believe she was claimed by the local whirlpool, Hanlon isn't so sure.

As she pieces together the evidence, dark secrets begin to unravel. Can Hanlon work out what is going on before another floating body is found...?

Reading this blurb I knew I had to read this book. I love thrillers. I love crime thrillers even more and this had all the ingredients to make it to the top of my reading list for sure.

So I liked the story but did not love it. The plot is a good one and I loved the setting but somehow the characters did not resonate with me. I was not invested enough in them to feel for them. Having said that I must add that this is still a good solid read. These were just reservations which I had but I still liked the story and will read more of the series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Hanlon is the kind of person who would have been incredible as a sheriff in a Wild West town. Unfortunately, her style of policing really isn’t suitable for a modern cop in the Met, and her methods have landed her in trouble with the higher-ups. On mandatory leave, she heads for the remote Western Isles of Scotland to try and get her head together… and finds herself neck-deep in trouble without even trying.

As Hanlon investigates, she finds evidence of money laundering, drug dealing, at least one police officer mixed up in things up to their neck… and a mounting body count. Constitutionally incapable of walking away, Hanlon is determined to find the killer, but the killer might have found her first!

It wasn’t until late in the book that I finally figured out what was going on, despite the author leaving a decent trail of breadcrumbs. Almost the entire book is told from Hanlon’s PoV, with just a couple of chapters here and there in others, and to be honest I think those could have been dispensed with as they were mainly used to give the impressions other characters had of Hanlon, and we just didn’t need it. We’re in Hanlon’s mind, we know her heart. We don’t need to know that certain characters find her attractive, or intimidating, or both.

I liked Hanlon and her no-nonsense approach, I liked the beautiful setting on the remote Scottish island of Jura and the other characters introduced, and I thought the plot was intriguing. Nevertheless, I can’t quite give this five stars because of the issues I had with the unnecessary PoV switches; a good editor should have told the author to cut those and stay with Hanlon, a reliable narrator if ever there was one. Four stars for a solid story which just needed a few more tweaks.

I didn’t realise until I was putting this post together that there are other books from this author that feature DI Hanlon, luckily though you definitely don’t need to have read them to get stuck into this one, it can stand on its own and be well understood.

With the opening chapter you really get a feel for Hanlon, on the outs with the service and facing an investigation for using excessive force, I knew that she maybe wasn’t going to be the most likeable character but could be very compelling given the right storyline. Her character attributes, aggressive tendencies and a willingness to skirt the law, I would say are generally seen more in male characters within this genre so it was quite refreshing to get that angle and I did actually come to appreciate her frank nature and determination.

On the whole the story was engaging, I have to say I was drawn to it because of its setting, rural Scotland has so many qualities that when used properly can only enhance the suspense in a book, and it did lend itself here. I did find on a few occasions reading this book that there was a lot of extra information that I didn’t really feel was needed, I only mention it because at these points the pace started to suffer and I did find myself wanting to flick ahead to the next relevant part.

However, the storyline kept my interest I was eager to find out what was going on and who was behind it. There was a very eclectic cast of characters and most of them were a bit shady, I will admit to having a few of my suspicions turn out to be correct but there were parts that I would definitely have not predicted, it certainly made for some entertaining reading as Hanlon has to decide who on the island she can trust.

Don't judge a book by it's cover. Isn't that what they say. Well I do, I know I shouldn't but heyho….. This cover when I saw it really reminded me of a book I've previously read and I loved that book, so decided I needed to also read this one.
It's a great read, interesting and will keep your attention while reading. This is a new author for me and as always I really enjoy finding out what is on offer.
Detective Hanlon is addicted to violence. She likes the rush, the danger, the losing control...
Fancy that a cop with issues, a cop who likes violence, well I was a little suprised as Detective Hanlon is introduced to us, just how much she does like violence.
Hanlon has been suspended from duty on the force for her violent behaviour. So having no work to attend then the best thing is to get away. Somewhere nice and quiet to relax, where she can't get into trouble.
NO, thats not on the cards either. She does get away, somewhere nice, somewhere that sounds very nice, a small island in Scotland. It soon becomes clear that trouble follows Hanlon about because obviously she doesn't go looking for it...
There really are a number of odd characters through this book, but it was fun getting to know some of them. Hanlong becomes involved in the case of a girl who has been found dead, she can't help herself but get involved in the investigation. There is so much more going on in this book, I really don't want to be giving anything away, but it's worth a read, it's a very easy read at less that 300 pages it didn't seem to take long. I read this over a couple of days.
The plot is interesting, you are kept guessing at the who and why, it would be a great read for any armchair detective.

Silenced For Good by Alex Coombs is a crime thriller which has a Detective with a serious tendency to love the rush of violence. We meet Detective Hanlon as she has been suspended from her job and decides to get away from everything in the Scottish Isles. As she arrives she sees police vehicles at the hotel and discovers that one of the staff is dead. Well, Hanlon being Hanlon isn't overly keen on the explanation of the death, so decides to find out more... Only Hanlon can uncover drug smuggling and certain members of the local police being involved (unofficially off course!). To top it off there is another death so this definitely put Hanlon into work mode!
I enjoyed this story and the setting was beautifully captured, although I doubt I will be visiting! The twists and turns that Hanlon came up against kept me reading as I really needed to know how the story went. Thank you to Rachels Random Resources for asking me to be a part of this blog tour and also Netgalley for allowing me an advanced copy.

“Detective Hanlon is addicted to violence. She likes the rush, the danger, the losing control…”
Detective Hanlon, having been hauled over the coals yet again, has made her way to the islands of Scotland for a holiday to try and sort herself out. She is being investigated by the IOPC and it could be the end of her career. On arrival she sees police vehicles indicating that there has been an incident. She soon discovers that it is the death of one of the staff at the hotel where she is staying. She becomes aware of drug smuggling , possible police involvement in an unofficial capacity, and when there is another body she finds herself on the investigation trail, albeit unofficial herself. Old habits die hard. I enjoyed this, it was that little bit different from normal crime books or an outsider doing the investigating. There are some wonderful descriptions and being a runner, the scenes of endless hills and forest tracks sounded idyllic. A tough no nonsense lead character and a plot that has its twists and turns along the way. A highly enjoyable read set in beautiful scenery.
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(amazon done- misfits farm)

After reading the blurb I was looking forward to reading this.

Unfortunately I just didn't enjoy it. The main character was just not likable and the plot didn't grab my attention. I carried on reading hoping it would get better but for me it didn't.

Other's may enjoy it but sorry it wasn't my thing at all.

⭐⭐⭐1/2.

"I think that you're addicted to violence. I think you like the adrenaline rush, the danger. I think you like losing control."

With these words ringing in her ears Hamlon decides to take a break and go to Jura, a sparsely populated Scottish island. Surely she cannot get in trouble there......or can she.
Dead bodies start turning up and the owner of the hotel she is staying in is 1 bad dude. Will she be able to figure out what is going on and will her instincts be right.

A good solid read. Here and there I found some phrases a bit repetitive but that's a minor thing that will not bother most people. The ending has a good twist that most people won't see coming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Who doesn't love a good crime book where you have to try and work out who did it? I've literally had many suspicions of different characters throughout this one.
I have flown through the pages of this one, it really did grip me from the start and I found it really easy to switch off and lose myself in this book.
This is definitely a great read which I highly recommend. This is my first read by this author but it definitely won't be the last. I haven't been able to put this one down.

Full review to follow on blog tour.

A gripping mystery which had me anxiously swiping the page to see what would happen next. It's really well written and I really enjoyed the setting. The characters are complex and compelling and I would love to read more from the author.

Plot


Detective Hanlon has been suspended from the force due to her violent behaviour. She takes a long holiday to the Island of Jura in Scotland evidently to stay away from crime and to have a much-needed break
But Jura seems to be as contorted with a crime as back home.


Characters


Detective Hanlon is a distinct character, She is most definitely powerful, Stubborn and a force to be reckoned with, and a contentious character. Violence seems to follow Hanlon around and at first, she seems to be a character you want to loathe from the beginning but she grows on you throughout.


Pacing


Alex Coombs has done thoughtful pacing in this book and it grabs you and doesn't let you go.


Writing


Alex has a promising writing style. He's created a character which is unique from the norm. And I am excited to find out more about Detective Hanlon. I thought this was the first book in a new series but actually, it is the 5th under a different authors name ( Alex Howard). But it can definitely be read from this book or as a standalone.


Cover
I love this, it is eye-catching and appropriate to the story inside.


Overall thoughts


An interesting plot with a beautifully described setting although after reading this book you may want to avoid it. A distinctive force to be reckoned with character. Satisfactory writing style. A series and author to watch out for.

When DCI Hanlon is suspended from duty after violently assaulting a suspect she travels to the Scottish island of Jura for some R&R. However trouble seems to follow Hanlon, and she soon finds it at the Mackinnon Arms, the hotel where she's staying. Owned by drunken lecher Big Jim, and staffed by a curious assortment of characters, there is something decidedly off about the place. When a girl turns up dead soon after she arrives Hanlon has no choice but to investigate, but as her true nature asserts itself, she finds she may be next on the killer's list.

I did have some reservations about this book, while the Scottish island setting is magnificent, the idea of the hotel is implausible. In reality it would have been shut down and out of business quickly, not let to go on like it has. And while the plot is quite a good one all of the characters, especially Hanlon herself, are odious. So why I did quite enjoy reading this book I don't know that I would read any of the series that is going to follow.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Detective Hanlon is addicted to violence. She likes the rush, the danger, the losing control...

When Hanlon is suspended from the force for assaulting a suspect, she escapes to the remote Scottish island of Jura, home to the mysterious Corryvreckan whirlpool.

But wherever Hanlon goes, violence is sure to follow.

As soon as she checks into The Mackinnon Arms, Hanlon senses something isn't quite right about the staff at her home for the week.

Sure enough, within days of arriving, the body of a member of staff is found floating in the sea. While police believe she was claimed by the local whirlpool, Hanlon isn't so sure.

As she pieces together the evidence, dark secrets begin to unravel. Can Hanlon work out what is going on before another floating body is found...?

The start of a gripping new crime series, perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza and Lisa Regan."

A remote Scottish island where death follows? YAS!

I was attracted to the cover first and then the summary of the novel which I had hoped it would be as intense. However it has actually turned out to be the opposite.

I didn't enjoy it as much especially with the way it was written. It did feels like the author was trying very hard to impress the readers with the beautiful landscape of the story. It makes the novel more overbearing with words which became quite a handful to read at times. At one point, it was unrealistic for a first timer not to be hooked on drugs but I could be wrong since I've not had any before.

Thankfully the actual gist of the story was interesting and I did want to know the ending especially with so many suspects. It did some twist and turns which had me guessing who did it and eventually leading me to think it has to be her but I never expected them! When the story proceeded towards the end, it gets so much better with more intensity. I am satisfied with that ending but I would think there would be a sequel. I'm sure there will be more of Hanlon as an over-stressed has-been ex-cop.

Detective Henlon is takes some time away from work as a cop because she has been using too much violence in her work. She goes on vacation to a quiet place, yet ends up in an investigation when she feels something is amiss. Henlon has a tendency to violence. I didn't feel any connection to her and some parts felt repetitive. Which is why this was only a 3 star rate for me. There is a lot of action and the plot was interesting enough.

This one really wasn't that great for me. They do have a lot of great story a d character but I did have some troubles with getting into the meat of the story

I would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy of Silenced for Good, the fifth novel to feature DCI Hanlon of the Met. The four previous novels were written under the name Alex Howard.

Hanlon is suspended from the Met for one violent arrest too many. On the advice of her therapist she takes a holiday to the island of Jura with the intention of no crime, plenty of triathlon training. Until she gets to the hotel where she senses that something is amiss, notably the drowning of a staff member that very day. Deciding to investigate she soon finds herself knee deep in trouble.

I enjoyed Silenced For Good which is an action packed yarn with a hard nosed, violent protagonist. I read the first novel in the series years ago but didn’t take to Hanlon so never tried the rest. I probably wouldn’t have read this one but I didn’t realise from the synopsis that it was the same series. I was tempted by the Scottish location, even if I don’t know Jura.

Hanlon cuts a lonely figure in this novel. She doesn’t have many friends and with few interpersonal skills she’s not one for casual conversation or for trusting new acquaintances. She doesn’t read or watch TV so apart from her physical training it’s hard to see how she entertains herself. All she has left is her job and that seems to be slipping away. She spends much of her time mulling over her addiction to violence and a growing need for love. It’s a bit repetitive at times but interesting enough as she becomes self aware. Obviously a Hanlon novel wouldn’t exist without a few fight scenes but I think it’s dialled down a bit in favour of self reflection. There is only so far an author can take a violence for the sake of it character without becoming a bit boring, even if it’s an attempt at stereotype busting by making her female.

The plot is fair enough with twists, action and more nefarious business than could reasonably be expected on a small Scottish island. Hanlon is too quick to jump to conclusions and make the facts fit her narrative which can be annoying at times but, I guess, it makes the story more exciting and the twists more vivid. I must admit that I guessed a few of them before the reveals but others were more of a surprise.

Silenced for Good is an interesting start to a new chapter in Hanlon’s life. I’ll be looking out for the sequel to see where the author takes her character.

Thank you NetGalley, Alex Coombs and Boldwood for allowing me to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion I am sharing. First off I would like to read more with DS Catriona Hanlon as main character. She is a good person and very tough, a little too tough according to the London police she works for, and she is bold. Rough but struggling with trying to hold back her temper.

Being ordered to "take a break" while they investigate the excessive force charges Hanlon goes to the peninsula of Kintyre Scotland to get her head together during her suspension. Right from the beginning she runs into interesting happenings. As she arrives they were just pulling the body of a young girl out of the Atlantic. Of course the police in her wanted to know more but she just went on to the Inn she booked. Everything from then on is disturbing. The Inn - that looked good on the brochure - was a run down almost empty huge monstrosity. Hanlon sees things she isn't supposed to. The parking lot is full but there are no guests, she is drugged and it all goes downhill from there. It'll take all of her training to stay alive as she gets deeply involved. She will find the truth it is intrinsic in her.
This book was a little hard to read at first until I got familiar with the dialect. The happenings get real interesting and keeps you reading. I would like to see the next book come out as it would be very interesting to see how things go from the ending of this one. I give it a four as it does give you dimensional characters, you can visualize the happenings and you guess but not accurately as to the ending.