Black River is the first book by Joss Stirling that I have read and whilst I enjoyed it to an extent I found it slightly strange. This was due to a quirky main character and an unusual writing style.

The storyline itself was an interesting one and I would read a further book in the series given the opportunity.

Again an amazing book by Joss Stirling!

At first I was a bit wary of the book because thrillers don't always sit well with me, but this storyline was just really interesting and captivating that in a blink of an eye I found myself at the last chapter of the book.

I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the continuation!

Black River manages to entwine crime solving, humour and thrills into one book without being overpowering, corny or cheesy. It also manages to brilliantly straddle multiple genres – mystery, crime, thriller and a bit of rom-com/chic-lit in there too (but not too much to make it unreadable for those who don’t like those genres).

From the very start of this book Stirling does an amazing job as keeping the readers engaged and wanting to turn that page, whether it’s because the last chapter was a cliff-hanger, it’s just getting juicy or it makes your veins thrill with adrenaline – it has it all. This book is one of the very few books I would say managed to ‘flip-flop’ between multiple characters POV’s proficiently without it becoming repetitive or mundane. And as someone who doesn’t like books which do that, I can honestly say this book did it perfectly. All of the characters are well fleshed out with interesting backstories which makes you empathise and feel for them. I also found the characters in this book very relatable which helped me to enjoy it more.

This book also manages to follow multiple storylines throughout and cleverly begins to join them together towards the end of the book. I kept trying to guess the outcome of the book and the ‘whodunnit’ aspect was definitely there for myself and I didn’t manage to guess correctly until a couple of pages until the big reveal.

A quick run down of the plot (without spoilers) is that it follows the life of PI Jess Bridges as her curiosity leads her into a spot of trouble of which she meets DI Leo George and becoming entangled in a Murder and later, serial killer, investigation. But this isn’t the only hiccup in her life as she soon also gains a stalker, bringing up certain ex-lovers, current lovers and maybe/maybe not lovers, a tragic backstory and lots and lots of ups-and-downs. Enter Jago Jackson, the well known author who’s book may have something to do with where and why the killer is doing this.

I would like to thank the author Joss Stirling, the publisher Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advanced pre-release copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I’m a bit on the fence about this book. I did enjoy it, although it didn’t wow me. I liked the main character and she slowly grew on me the more I read, I liked the authors writing style and that the book was told through the different characters. It was quite funny at times, and I would have liked DI George to have a bigger part. There were several different story threads, a few red herrings and an open ending that hints of book 2. Even though this didn’t wow me, I would like to read the next one to see how the characters develop. Overall, a nice, easy lighthearted mystery read. 3.5 stars

First book in a series finds Jess Bridges (finder of missing person, private investigator) “wild swimming” as her book club discusses a book about it. (I looked it up, it’s an actual thing!) While wild swimming a dog takes off with her clothes, and while looking to cover up she finds a body. Her ADHD thought process takes leaps and bounds, great story, page turning, and makes you laugh out loud. Looking forward to the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this book and give my review

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this advanced reader's copy of Black River by Joss Stirling.

What a great start to what I hope is a long series of books about my new favorite private eye/temp worker, Jess Bridges. This is the first book in the series, giving you an introduction to Jess and the major players in her life and love. Among them are Drew (a maybe ex), Cory (don't call her a landlord), and Michael (the one that let Jess get away). There are other characters as well but these are the three that I hope pop up again in future books.

In this installment Jess finds a dead body while illegally skinnydipping, beginning a series of scary encounters that could be happenstance or something more sinister. Along the way Jess meets a wild swimming enthusiast and a police inspector who is all business. Or is he? That is one of the many tantalizing questions that you will get to ask yourself while you read this book.

For fans of thrillers, mystery, and suspense novels, this one is right up your alley!

Jess Bridges is a quirky PI. She discovers a body while swimming. Great characters in this book. Lots of mystery and intrigue, as well as possible romantic entanglements. This is the first book in the series. I will be reading the next one, White Horse soon. This is my first book by this author and will be looking for more.

Thanks to netgalley, Joss Stirling and One More Chapter Books for the arc

What a wackalicious start to a new mystery series! I certainly cannot wait to read the next book. A quirky character (Forget sky, Jess is the new limit when it comes to going bonkers) who is a PI and ahem, torn between three men in her life (add one more as the story ends), and she ends up solving two mysteries at once - talk about two birds with one stone.
Wacky, quirky, crazy, funny, call it whatever you want, this story is wackalicious! Excellent storytelling and well-developed plot. Highly recommended!

Quick Moving Crime Yarn...
The first in the Jess Bridges series of mysteries. A spate of murders on the Thames brings together the lead detective in the case, Leo George, and private detective, Jess. A quick moving crime yarn, enjoyable and laced with humour with a likeable protagonist in Jess and a solid cast of supporting characters. Engaging reading.

The book follows Jess Bridges, once again. She's a wonderful character who is a little bit... scattered at times. This is actually explained in [book:Don’t Trust Me|37551974], which is kind of a prequel and it's own mystery.

I really enjoyed some of the aspects involving surrounding, and past/current lovers as I felt it tied it all together quite nicely, and the concern for others Jess has, if sometimes misplaced!

I wasn't sure about it when I read the first few pages as there are something it mentions about mothers talking about that (Jess) she didn't understand, but being 28 years old, not a mother (yet), I understood perfectly. Other than that it was an enjoyable read and I can't wait until the next one! Which I am now starting to read.

I would recommend reading Don't trust me first, as it explains an awful lot about Jess which I feel really helps flesh up her as a character in this book. You can start on Black river, but in my opinion I would read DTM first.

Another fabulous read from an absolutely incredible writer. Joss Stirling does not disappoint with her latest crime novel. Bored during this pandemic? Look no further! A new and exciting tale of twists, turns and murder await you in Black River...

Well written thriller, engaging, captivating from the start.

Well developed storyline, good characters. Interesting and good from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Well written entertaining a story that drew me in,.Inam looking forward to reading more in the series and more by this author,I enjoyed the way the book ended notnusual sewn up storyline.#netgalley #harpercollinsuj

Complex,thriller with some interesting and unusual characters.The storyline however did not hold my interest as it was too convoluted. Sub plot featuring a missing girl was what kept me reading.

Having read the second book in this series I then went back and read the first hoping to get more insight into the character of Leo, while that didn't happen I have realised that's because Jess is very much the main character.
Definitely more of a light hearted crime caper than a thriller the book is full of humour thanks mostly to the inner dialogue of Jess.
Were it not 2020 I'd say this is an ideal beach read. Instead I'll say a funny, if at times convoluted, easy read.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

There is a serial killer on the loose murdering people on the Thames ,The story’s main character is Jess a private eye with ADHD. This book has many flawed characters which makes for an entertaining if not often muddled read. 4 stars.

Joss Stirling's first in the Jess Bridges series is based in Oxford and features a flawed central protagonist in the 31 year old private investigator, specialising in finding the missing. She has a complicated personal life, her boyfriend, Drew Payne, has taken off to Austria to do a Yoga course, and she is unsure whether their relationship is over. She has mental health issues that have their origins in a childhood with her dysfunctional family, with an abusive father that led to her running away on several occasions. She suffers from ADHD, has seen a therapist who thinks she's on the route to recovery, but the truth is that she still struggles, has poor impulse control, with a tendency toward being scatty and often a source of annoyance to others, whilst simultaneously being an object of desire for many men.

After a book club meeting, Jess goes wild swimming, naked, in the river, only to have her clothes taken by a dog, when she comes across a murdered dead body in a punt. A passing jogger, who turns out to wild swimming author and expert, Jago Jackson, helps and waits until the police arrive on the scene, the victim turns out to be Dr Kenneth Kingston, an Oxford academic. An embarrassed Jess gives a statement to DI Leo George, tasked to lead the murder inquiry from Kidlington HQ, the victim turns out to be Dr Kenneth Kingston, an Oxford academic. Leo brings in forensic psychologist, Michael Harrison, onto the investigation as other murders with the same MO follow, a man Jess had previously been in a relationship with, and who is currently receiving threats and being trolled on social media, threats that appear to extend to Jess too.

Stirling writes a fun and entertaining crime thriller, that I am sure will appeal to many crime fiction and mystery readers. However, whilst I found this to be an okay and engaging read, it didn't grab me in the way that I had hoped it would. Jess, the central character, is not someone I really gelled with, although I can't quite put my finger on why that was so, although I admit to feeling the occasional smidgens of irritation with her and her hot mess of a persona. I did appreciate the location though, as Oxford is a city I know well. I have no doubt that there will be plenty of other readers who will love this crime novel, and the others in the series that follow it. Many thanks to HarperCollins and One More Chapter for an ARC.

The story starts out as something that looks to be a cosy mystery. After attending her book club that discusses a book on wild swimming by a local celebrity, Jess ends up skinny dipping in one of the spots described in the book. Not only does a dog run off with her clothes but she also meets the writer when she stumbles on a dead body. The tone is set when the investigating officer, DI Leo George turns out to be friendly, dark, tall, and handsome.
The story changes into more of a serious murder mystery when it becomes clear that this murder is just the 1st one in a series. All of them occur on places described in Jago’s book. A strange habit of the killer is that he dresses up in and acts out the life of his last victim.
There are other issues that play at the same time. Michael (profiler and ex-boyfriend of Jess) is being trolled on the internet and the threats extend to Jess who’s searching for a teenage girl that ran away with her stepdad.

Here we come across another woman who was told by her mother to wear your best underwear in case you’re run over by the proverbial bus. There are quite a few good one-liners in the book that are bound to put a smile on your face, although some references might be a bit obscure for non-Brits.
1 was seriously under the impression that this was number 2 or 3 in a series, but to my surprise, it turns out to be the first one. There is some serious backstory with acquaintances and relationships that intertwine. This complicates the story a bit as we’re not yet acquainted with the characters. I can only assume that this is a spin-off from another series. I just found out that the characters appear in a standalone ‘don’t trust me’ that I haven’t read. I’m sure that it all makes things easier if you have read that first but I managed just fine.
Jess, the main character is a bit of a mess. The relationship with her boyfriend is ‘on hiatus’ and she lives with her friend Cory and her children. She used to work in the funeral parlour of her boyfriend’s parents where she mucked up somehow and now she temps as an office clerk. Her main interest is her PI business that specialises in finding missing persons.
DI George is a relatively normal guy, for a book detective that is (he hasn’t got any murdered or missing relatives). He’s passionate and determined to catch the murderer and he just thinks about Jess a bit much; I’m sure that they’ll meet again in the next adventures.
As the book focuses on wild swimming, I must admit that I’ve been guilty of that myself (not nude though) and it is greatly enjoyable on hot summer days. Down here in Belgium it is illegal, but I don’t think that many fines are issued; usually, you get off with a warning. The reason for that is the danger of drowning in unsupervised lakes, rivers, or canals and there have been a few cases of that over the last 2 summers with extreme heatwaves. You don’t drown because you’re a bad swimmer but because of undercurrents, shock from sudden temperature change in the water. There’s an added danger for leptospirosis (I haven’t heard of any recent cases though) and botulism (seen warning signs but no cases). You’ve been warned. Enjoy swimming but be careful not to go alone or don’t dive into obviously polluted water, I’d say.
This was a fun book to read with several likeable characters. I’m not too fond of Jago though and Drew, well he’s an ass and doesn’t deserve to be with Jess. Di George is the man to go for if you ask me. So yes, there’s more than enough romance in the book as well but luckily it never gets soppy. There’s a meaty crime (or rather 3 of them) to explore where a lot of people are possible suspects.
I thank NetGalley and One More Chapter for the free ARC they provided; this is my honest, unbiased review of it.

I've read a couple of stand alone books by this author but this is the start of a new series and anyone who knows me knows that I do love my series books!
So... Jess Bridges... Oxford based PI with a dubious personal background... She's out wild (naked) swimming one evening and finds a body. It soon becomes obvious that there is more to this than just an accident and she's grilled by the DI tasked with investigating - one DI Leo George. Apparently it's not Jess's first rodeo in this matter and she becomes a bit of a suspect... But being a PI she is quite well placed to go off and start her own investigation - even though it kind of throws up more questions than answers and puts her in a bit of peril when she herself teams up with wild swimming expert, and author of her current book club read, Jago Jackson...
It all sounds a bit busy doesn't it... well... it is... and a bit convoluted too. Jess is so far removed from a typical PI that she is almost an anti-stereotype but it works. It really does. She's a bit ditzy though and her naivety does show though a bit at times. I did find myself yelling at her a tad along the way and she did annoy me at times. But I probably could grow to love her as a character. We'll see when I start book two...
All that said, the plot is intriguing and kept my attention nicely along the way. We also have a couple of side-stories going on and I felt they added to rather than distracted from the book as a whole. The author did a good job of building them up and then gradually peeling back the layers to expose the whole truth of the matter. Leaving me on the whole satisfied.
All in all, a good solid series opener which did leave me wanting more of the same. Happily I already have the next book queued up ready to go so I won't have to wait.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Jess Bridges, out with her reading group on the banks of the river Thames, decides to go skinny dipping after a bit too much to drink. Her clothes are taken by a dog, and her friend goes running after it, leaving Jess shivering in the bushes. She spies a boat, and thinking it may have a tarp or something else she can cover herself with, slips into the water and pulls it toward her. She doesn't find a tarp - she finds a dead man.

Thus begins Black River, which is listed as "Jess Bridges Mystery, #1". That would be remarkable for me, as I usually find myself landing in the midst of an ongoing series. However, it seems as if Jess has found a dead body previously - both she and DI Leo George mention "the West case", as if it's something the reader might know about. And the reader might know about it if there were a book about it prior to this one.

Jess is discovered on the bank by Jago Jackson, who had been jogging on the path. He happens to be the author of a book Jess' book club was reading, on wild swimming - that is, going to swim in places people usually don't go, or a hidden swimming hole, and things of hat nature. Of course he wants to ask her out, and does. DI George shows up, and begins his investigation, questioning Jess. Of course he wants to ask her out, but does not, as that would be unseemly.

The investigation itself is well written when it's DI George on the trail, moving from dot to dot to trace who the dead man is and what he would be doing there. Then, another two bodies are found, this time in a place Jackson has mentioned in his book, and where he had taken Jess to go swimming. Is someone targeting Jackson? Jess? The culprit does seem to be picking places Jackson has written around, so DI George calls in Michael Harrison to consult. He, of course, was involved with Jess years ago, and of course Harrison and Jackson have some animosity toward one another, it's said, but it doesn't appear all that much except for when Michael is handling the narrative.

We also get DI George taking his turn at the narrative reins (as does Jackson), but it's clear Jess is the primary character. I found I would rather have stayed with DI George throughout.

There is a subplot involving Jess and her breakup with her boyfriend, and her taking a case for her side job of finding missing persons. The missing person is not actually missing - she's just gone to her father's, and the father is threatening the mother about claims the girl has made. The girl, to me, seems to be a sociopath in the making. Jess' job is to find out what's true and what is not about the situation.

The main and the subplot dovetail in the end, as various adults, except Michael, fanning out to search for both the girl and her young brother. The culprit is revealed during the course of the search and captured, and the subplot's resolution explained to us all.

Overall, it wasn't a bad read. It isn't a five star read, though, and I have a hard time with female protagonists who attract virtually every man they come across, including some gay dudes. The opening coincidence between Jess and Jackson is something I know is required for the plot, and I'm feeling generous today, so I'll give it a pass. The theory of the murders is at least possible, although the first murder is never really fully explained in terms of what connection it has to Jackson's book on wild swimming.

I'll give it four out of five stars.

Thanks to One More Chapter/HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the review copy.