Joy Ellis has a knack for grabbing the reader's attention in the first chapter and keeping it until the end. That being said I found this book to be brilliant. The characters are well developed and likable and the mystery is written extremely well. I look forward to more books by this author.

The return of DI Jackman's nemesis Alistair Ashcroft makes for an exciting thriller. Ashcroft is determined that this time he will take out both Jackman and DS Marie Evans but he may have bitten off more than he can chew when he gets in toe with the lawless Lorimer family. Along with psychologists Laura Archer and Sam Page the entire Fenland police force are searching for the killer but Ashcroft is a master of disguise and has foiled the police more than once. Can they pin him down this time or will he evade them once again.

Brilliant as usual. I love her characters. They come to life through her and I wanna be there with them.

Jackman & Evans back again and an old adversary is back on the hunt. Great plot with lots of tension, lovely cross overs from both the Nikki Galena and Matt Ballard series, and all set in the Fens.
I love this author’s writing, it always grips me and keeps me interested from the first page to the last. .
Believe characters and some nice development in their stories and the sub plots too

I really enjoyed this book and will give it a huge thumbs up.  With a great story line and excellent main characters - I would highly recommend this book.

Well crafted characters and an exciting storyline. This is my ideal British thriller! I really enjoyed this book and would thoroughly recommend it..Thank you Joy Ellis, Joffe Books and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to give my unbiased opinion.

This series just gets better and better. The author let's us further into the personal lives of the characters with each book slowly filling in the character. Although they are stand alone read this book is best read as a follow on to the previous one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book. You will not be disappointed, I guarantee

Well that was an interesting way to end the Alistair Ashcroft standoff. Both Jackman and Evans want to move on with their lives but Alistair doesn't make that easy. We follow a twisted path of a serial killer that is a sniper. At the same time we have to wonder what Alistair is doing. He does make it hard for Jackman and Evans to catch him. It is interesting to watch the cat and mouse game but as with all things I am glad that it is over. If you have enjoyed the other books in this series you will also enjoy this book. One last thing, I still find it bizarre after reading over 20 books with the British Cop Procedural in the last 3 weeks that they don't were guns. As an American it is natural for the police to have guns as most of our society carries them. It is just weird to me that the British don't.

*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

A new author to me. 
The first page grabbed my interest. But I felt that the book didn’t maintain that initial pace. It’s a steady pace with plenty going on for interest. 
Likeable enough characters who care about each other in the team. They seem comparatively well rounded individuals, and treat suspects with care and compassion. 
Crime novels come on a scale from cosy to full on grit and gore. This sits on the cosy side, giving an easy going comfort read. 
Generally my preference would be for the middle to far end of the scale. 
I found it a stretch to believe that the first the detectives would know about a stolen hand gun from the sniper experience day is when they went to speak to the organiser about Identifying the killer.

This is a humdinger of an addition to Joy Ellis's series featuring DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans of the Fenland Constabulary with the return of serial killer Alastair Ashcroft targeting both Evans and Jackman as the police hunt for him.  Prepare yourself for a thrilling crime ride with the police team having to lead with a spate of everyday crimes, including the taking of a rifle, along with the theft of pigs and a horse, could the infamous local Lorimer family headed by Rachel Lorimer be behind this?  And to top it all there is a sniper on the loose, shooting dead a suspect thought to be behind a hit and run in a car park, a sniper who has no intention of stopping there.  This is an engaging and intense crime read, packed with drama, and plenty of suspense and tension.  A well plotted read with great characters and protagonists that you cannot help but root for!  Recommended.  Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.

law-enforcement, British, murder, suspense, horror, theft

Although this is the first book in this series that I have read, I did not feel left behind even though the real villain is resurfacing after having gotten away some time ago. This time he continues to target their entire department but especially toying with DI Jackman and DS Evans. At the same time the department is dealing with several poorly done thefts and an alarming sniper whose targets are somewhat unconnected except that a police colleague who has just been promoted is right next to each of the victims. There are other families involved and a bit of backstory on the major detectives in the piece. Very tight suspense in a very good story with some incredible details on firearms.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley and then purchased an audio copy because I wanted to reread it again sometime.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I enjoyed reading.
The Patient Man by Joy Ellis is another entertaining reading in  the DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans police  series. They meet again an old protagonist, who once again leaves a trail of dead bodies. This is one of my favourite police thriller series and they are always well written and extremely interesting and entertaining.
Highly recommended

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuousluy.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher.  This is my own honest voluntary review.

This was my first Joy Ellis book, and I will be reading more. The characters were likeable, the plot was believable, and the suspense gradually increased to a thrilling ending. I enjoyed the little phrases and descriptions of the Fens of England. It didn't matter that I had not read the previous books in the series, I could easily keep up. Lots of plot twists and mystery. Great book!

I really enjoy Joy Ellis's books which have lots of suspense and action.  This is the first book I've read in this series, but I will go back to the earlier ones!  At the beginning of this book, DI Rowan Jackman dreams that his partner, DS Marie Evans is shot, and he recognizes Alistair Ashcroft, a man he's had dealings with before.   He wakes and realizes it's a dream.  However, he gets several strange crimes to work on.  First, there is an attempted break in at the Fenside Gun Club, and then at the home of the owner, Kenneth Harcourt, where two guns are stolen.  Then, six pigs are stolen from a pig farm, red diesel was stolen and the diesel continued to pollute the ground,  and finally,  a beautiful breeding horse is stolen.   Then they find that Ashcroft is back in town, and a sniper is killing folks from a distance, first a suspect in a hit and run case, then Arthur Barnes, a man who worked at the Gun Club.  

When Jackman finds that Ashcroft has been in the office of his girlfriend, Laura, a police psycologist, he becomes very upset.   Evans finally realizes the petty thieving may be the job of Rachel Lorimer's family, and they go to talk with them.  It turns out that Rachel's cousin who is visiting has suggested to Rachel's children that they might steal pigs, fuel, and a horse to help out the family.  The police talk with the cousin, and don't realize that he is actually Ashcroft.  

The suspense grows as the sniper continues, and Ashcroft becomes anxious to finish off Jackman and Evans.  He involves Paul, Rachel's elder son, to make phone calls for him.  Paul is smarter than anyone thought when he pretends to join with Ashcroft.  Jackman and Evans race against time to catch Ashcroft, while he is figuring it's time to kill them.  There is a very exciting ending.  

I thank Joffe books and Netgalley for giving me this book to read and write an honest review.

A Team that's getting better. Nasty serial killer is back to get Jackman and Evans in this taut thriller set in the bleakness of the Fens. The description says it all snipers, guns, burglary, the local 'bad lads' on top of the hunt for the serial killer. Jackman and Evans are strong characters and work well together, each to their strengths. Well written and believable. Whilst this story takes off soon after the previous one that isn't an issue and it can easily be read as a standalone - you won't to though. go get the rest. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review..

I have been a fan of Joy's work for a while now.  I have read and loved everything that she has written.  I have a particular fondness for the series featuring Detective Inspector Rowan Jackman and Detective Sergeant Marie Evans.  When I heard that Joy was to release another book in the series, I just knew that I had to read the book as soon as possible.  I settled down to read with a cup of tea in one hand and my Kindle in the other hand.  Oh blooming heck 'The Patient Man' was a flipping fantastic read and then some.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Patient Man' but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about DI Jackman and DS Evans?  Well apart from the fact that they are one of my favourite detective pairings.  Jackman is a hard working and dedicated police officer.  He works well as part of a team but equally he works well on his own too.  He is caring, kind and compassionate and he feels particularly protective of his team.  When Jackman is handed a case, you can rest assured that he and his team will investigate the matter fully and he will not rest until he has solved the case.  Jackman has an arch nemesis in the form of Alistair Ashcroft, who is a serial killer.  I must admit that when I think of DI Jackman, I picture Richard Armitage in the role.  DS Evans comes across as a dedicated and hardworking police officer too.  'The Patient Man' sees DS Evans feeling a bit more vulnerable than in earlier cases.  Ashcroft appears to be targeting DS Evans, which as you can imagine really gets under Jackman's skin and makes him even more determined to catch and deal with Ashcroft.  What happens?  Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Oh my flipping word, 'The Patient Man' is another amazing read from the exceedingly talented Joy Ellis.  I was drawn into the story from the first word onwards.  It didn't take me long to feel as though I had reunited with old friends in the form of Jackman and Evans.  'The Patient Man' is one of those books that you pick up only intending to read a couple of chapters but you immerse yourself so deeply into the story that you end up reading a lot more than a couple of chapters because you have a desperation to know what happens next.  That's how I felt at any rate.  For me, 'The Patient Man' was an unputdownable page turner of an addictive read.  I soon got to the end of 'The Patient Man' and I had to say farewell to Detectives Jackman and Evans.
'The Patient Man' is superbly written but then I think that to be true of all of Joy's books.  She grabs your attention from the start and she won't let you have your attention back until the moment you have read the last word on the last page.  Joy certainly knows how to create a tense and dramatic atmosphere and to increase that level of tension to the point where you have genuine fears for the welfare of Jackman and Evans, your heartbeat races and you hold your breath.  That's how I felt anyway.  I was so convinced by the story and enjoying the book so much that I even tried to interact with the book.  By that I mean that I was talking to the characters as if they could hear me.  I even wanted to jump inside the pages of the book to sort out Ashcroft for myself.  I felt as though I was part of the story and that's thanks to Joy's very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'The Patient Man' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.  I will be reading more of Joy's work in the future.  The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This is the first book i read in this series and I found it entertaining and engrossing.
Even if it was a bit hard to get into the plot, it starts where the previous book ended, once I was hooked I couldn't put it down.
The characters are fleshed out and interesting, the mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I want to read the other books in this series and can't wait for the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

The Patient Man is the sixth book in the Detective Inspector Rowan Jackman and Detective Superintendent Marie Evans series set in the fictional place called Saltern-le-Fen. As with the majority of Joy's books it is possible to be read as a standalone but be prepared to start buying the back catalogue if you do as by the time you have read this you will want to know everything!
D.I Jackmans "favourite" serial killer Alistair Ashcroft returns in this particular instalment and soon starts wreaking vengeance by using the innocent villagers to taunt Jackman. Along side this there is also a number of thefts,and minor crimes that need to be dealt with. The strangest theft of all being a rifle. The question being what links it all together?
A skilfully written story, as always by Joy. That weaves a serial killer with a police procedural and makes for an action packed book that is thrilling enough to make me not want to put it down. With thanks to Joffe Books, netgalley and Joy Ellis for the copy of the book in order to take part in this brilliant blog tour.

This novel is number 6  by Joy Ellis with Detective's Roman Jackman and Marie Evans. Jackman's previous enemy Alistair Ashcroft, a serial killer is back and messing with Jackmans' and Evan's lives and work again.. Ashcroft sends a cryptic text to Marie to start the psychological games and while they try to figure out it's meaning all kinds of strange thefts are being completed in their small town. At the same time another man, Kenneth's home is broken into and the theft of guns is reported. Kenneth's daughter was killer recently by a drunk driver and Kenneth has still not come to terms with her death. Along with all this a sniper is on the lose and killing people who have a connection with Jackman. Can Marie and Jackman work together to outwit Ashcroft? Is there another person involved and does Ashcroft have an accomplice. A great race against time keeps you rapidly reading towards a satisfactory ending.