My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Joffe Books for the ARC.

Well, author Judi Daykin - you are definitely on my watchlist! what an astonishing debut crime novel. Extremely well-written, with good characters you get a real feel for - good or bad, and believable dialogue.

Set in Norfolk where newly appointed DS Sara Hirst joins the Serious Crimes Unit, transferring from London, and based at Norfolk's Police Headquarters in Wymondham. From the start though she is resented by: DI Edwards who wanted an internal candidate to be appointed, and DC Ellie James, who thought she would get the job. She has to rise above sexism and racism to prove she can be part of the team. The most serious of crimes the team are investigating are thefts of farm equipment and vehicles, but Sara has her own motives for moving to Norfolk - she wants to find her father - who left her mother when she was a baby - who himself transferred from the Met to Norfolk.
Then a decomposed body is discovered in a ditch at the edge of farmland and the farm thefts are temporarily forgotten, until connections start to be made. Sara starts to make her own connections too, putting her short career in jeopardy.

The author interweaves the poignancy of Sara's background with a fast-paced and twisty murder investigation which takes the reader into the realms of people trafficking, sexual abuse and seasonal farm workers.

Such a well-rounded conclusion. Can't wait to read more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book. Hard to believe that this is the first book by a new author! Well written with a great cast of characters whose lives you become part of. Good story too. Although a bit distressing it shows how immigrants can be exploited. One of the few books that wraps up the story of its characters at the end. Looking forward to more from this author

A new author for me from JOFFE Publishers and I must say it's a cracki
Sara moves into her new flat in central Norwich. meet's new neighbour Chris and he owns the coffee shop across the road, he seems nice but a bit keen, she has such a lot of unpacking to do after moving up from London to seek out who her real father is.
Sara is starting a new job at the police HQ in a small town in Wymondham, just a half hour away.
D.S. Sara Hirst sets off for her first day to meet the team and hope's they all get along, reports of farm thefts in the countryside of Norfolk, the character's I was soon drawn into them all as I read.
in this scenic quiet surrounding's a body in a ditch is found, and named Adam Crane is a retired Detective Sergeant it's murder and he sounds familiar to Sara only time will tell.
Wow under violent skies is a book that will shock you with a secret, that Sara needs answers too. A good first novel that I enjoyed right through to the end.

This story captured and held my attention, from beginning to end. Suspense and tension sets the stage when a partially decomposed body of a man is found in a ditch on a local farm. A mystery emerges that needs to be solved that hits close to home, and later proves to be very personal to someone on the team. Meanwhile, the investigation will lead to a wave of farm thefts, other alarming discoveries, the real identity of the murder victim, and who wanted this man dead.

With good pace, some background drama, and decent character development, ”Under Violent Skies”, was an enjoyable reading debut. My thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

281 pages

3 and 1 / 2 stars

DS Sara Hirst reports for the first day of her new assignment to a hostile work environment. Sara meets DC Bowen and DC Ellie. Not only are her new team mates decidedly not glad to have her join, some of the officers are sexist and hyper-critical. She meets her immediate boss, DI Edwards who doesn't seem such a bad sort. He just wanted the promotion to be internal, not for an outsider like Sara.

The story jumps right in when a decomposing body is found. It is murder. This is the first murder they have had in the quiet little village in perhaps a year. The team is excited to work it.

At the same time, a series of thefts are going on in the surrounding farming community.

A parallel story is also being told in the book. Two young women are being held against their will. One is a “cook,” and the other is used by the men for their “pleasure.” They are desperate to escape. The ever resourceful Lenka is the cook while the frightened Mouse is used and degraded. The bully boys who hold them prisoner are mean and ruthless, even to one another.

An elderly farming woman is being pressured to sell her land – for a much lower price than it is worth. She is trying mightily to resist the obnoxious neighbor whose name is Des Dixon.

Pour this all together and the reader is in for a treat. This is a very good debut novel and I am guessing that this is the first of a series featuring Sara and Edwards. It is well written and plotted. Some parts were a little weak, but overall it was a very good read, especially for a debut author. I liked Sara, but wondered at her moments of weakness. I would guess if a victim was my long lost father, I'd be upset too. I didn't feel that that whole scenario really added anything to the story though. Just a distraction.

I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.

A solid first novel of a new series.
Interesting characters, contemporary social issues and a decent amount of drama.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
Sara Hirst has moved from London to North Norfolk to join the police force. Her mother is angry and not speaking to her, but Sara wants to find her father, who left when she was two and her mother refused to discuss him.
It's difficult for her, her team is not exactly welcoming and when they investigate a murder and a series of serious farm robberies, Sara has a big shock coming.
I liked Sara and empathized with her and also felt very sorry for her father. There is a nasty gang of Eastern European farm workers who keep two girls imprisoned and those chapters are very tense and exciting.
I'm assuming this is the start of a series and will definitely be reading the next book. Recommended!

Enjoyable start,to what I assume will be a series.
A good cast of characters both in the police station and outside of it.
There were a few things that struck me as a bit far fetched,but I'm sure by book 2 they will just be background.
Interested to see where it goes from here.