A great atmospheric crime novel
Tho is such a well written book with a good plot.
The characterisation is so strong.

This book is set in Cambridge. At first I thought this was going to be another entitled novel taking place at the university. But it far from that
This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I really enjoyed the authors writing style.
The book is full of tension and I liked the way that the author developed the novel
The book was an easy read and full of twists and turns

Had been looking forward to reading this book. Sadly it wasn’t for me. It just lacked a good plot to get you excited and wanting more. It was very slow paced and never picked up

Alison Bruce is a bright and engaging person but I had forgotten she is also a wonderful writer and storyteller since the DC Goodhew series ended. This is the best thing yet from her pen and captivated me from start to finish.

The Moment Before Impact, is an original crime murder mystery which is brilliantly conceived, meticulous plotted and thoroughly researched. As a stand alone thriller nothing is known, characters are hazy impressions. The author has to start literally with a blank page; hard work lies ahead; ideas may work or need to be set aside and discarded. The saving grace though for Alison is the rich background of Cambridge; a place close to her heart and described with warmth, proximity and belonging.

This is an important ingredient for this novel as it rests and resonates from close childhood friendships and later student associations. Holding the piece together is the role of Celia Henry who has known the major players in this drama for many years. A former investigatory journalist with close links to the local police, her contacts enable her to take a leading role in what becomes a race against time.

The defining moment in the book is the aftermath of a fatal drink driving accident. Celia attended everyday of the trail and is around when Nicci returns ‘home’ after being released from prison. Nicci is left broken and everyone continues to blame her for the crash. The problem is she accepts this new reality. Disowned by her family and not welcome in her old neighbourhood she is content to do little and feel guilty despite her sentence being served.

Then another moment changes her focus. Remembering little of the impact and the medical intervention that saved her life she has a distinct memory of someone seeking to punish her at the ‘crash site’.

Befriended by Celia, who believes her hidden memories are real they embark on a fresh look at the circumstances surrounding the events leading up to the car leaving the road.

The book unfolds in a back to front fashion to throw light on what actually happened that fateful night. This makes for a tension filled journey with suspicion about everyone and little sympathy initially for Nicci the driver who caused the crash.

What writing a novel is like I cannot say, but I recognise a good book and the hard work that went into making it special. It is no surprise to me the name on the stunning cover; indeed that is why I bought it in the first place.

This is a book that makes reading so enjoyable and easy to recommend this title to others.

I'd read some excellent reviews about this novel so was excited to be given the opportunity to read and review. This is the first novel I've read by the author and I found it improved as it progressed. I found the beginning slow and difficult to connect with or establish where the plot was heading. However, once it gets going it is a well paced and gripping thriller following Nicci's search to discover the truth about an accident she was involved in and convicted for her part in. Recommended and I look forward to reading more from the author.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review a digital ARC.

A great read. When Nicci and Celia decide to try and get to the truth of a tragic car crash years before, it opens up so many more questions, but should the past stay in the past? Because someone doesn't want it all dragged up again.

I loved this book! it was amazing, right up to the end i didnt suspect the murder, as planned we suspected an innocent victim, couldn't put it down- must read more by the author!

Five young students go to watch a music festival but the evening ends in tragedy as their car crashes and two are left dead. Nicci was the driver and she serves time in prison for this however, on release, she tries to rebuild her life. A chance encounter makes her suddenly have flashbacks and they seem to contradict the official report of the accident. As Nicci and her neighbour Celia start to look into the past they discover a link with a series of crimes more recent - but have they got the right suspect?
I have to be honest and say that I found the first part of the book, before the accident, irritating in the extreme and I nearly gave up but I'm glad I didn't as the story bursts into life. It ends up as a very entertaining and addictive read with a great twist.

Although we were thrown right into the story, it took me a while to get my head around what was happening. There was a lot of scene setting (which was very important to the story) however, it just took me time to settle into. 

I also wasn’t entirely sure straight away who the protagonist was, again probably because of the scene setting. And although we met them early on, it was hard for me to fully connect to the story immediately. There were a lot of characters involved in before and after, and it was hard to know who everyone was and their roles aren’t made clear straight away. 

Even once I’d settled in, I still found it a little hard to follow so I wasn’t as absorbed as I could have been. 

It was still a fast-paced, gripping thriller and despite some issues I enjoyed the book and the ending was fabulous!

Thanks to Netgalley et all for the chance to read this book It was brilliant From the first chapter I was gripped & the story got better and better .A great book.

WOW! Loved this, written really well and at a compelling, engaging and sympathetic pace. It is a considered plot and the intriguing character development is great.

This is the first I’ve read of @alisonbruce and it most definitely will not be the last.

I must admit it was a tad complicated for me to begin with, establishing who was who before the impact and after. I’m not sure why, what I missed, but thought that Jack Bailey was Charlie’s father doh! However, once I got a grip of the characters who, as I mention above, are well developed I couldn’t put this book down.

As you can surmise, there’s a car accident and two of the friends die in the crash, Charlie Jack’s brother and Ellie.

Nicci Waldock served her time, as she was driving, however there’s more to it than it seems. She was convicted without a thorough investigation carried out by the police and when Nicci pleaded guilty it was a slam dunk.

When she gets out she struggles to begin with, until Celia, who I loved, a reporter who would make a great detective, took her under her wing and helped her settle.

Jack Bailey comes back home too. He’s had it hard and is wrestling with his past and relationship breakdown. It gets quite interesting when Nicci and Jack meet.

Celia, who is tenacious, knows something isn’t quite right when Nicci has a flashback, you’ll have to read the book to find out what this was, so they start to investigate to find out what really happened that day.

Set in and around Cambridge, nothing is quite as it seems.

Bruce gently introduces kidnapping and murder into the plot too.

Plausible plot. Highly recommend.

Thank you Little, Brown Book Group Ltd, Constable Books, NetGalley and Alison Bruce for this ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review.

A car accident which killed two people and sent Nicci to jail
Nicci is helped by Celia a journalist .They think that something else happened in the accident that night.
They decide to try and find out what really happened
Plenty to get you hooked in this book
A brilliant book
Thanks NetGalley

Thanks for an advanced copy of this book.

The main question in this book is was the accident just that or was it murder!!!

This is my first novel by Alison Bruce and I can not understand why I have not read more of her books. A great plot in The Moment Before Impact which wanted me to read well into the night. I will be checking out other Alison Bruce novels.

We follow Nicci who survived, I really enjoyed reading about Nicci as a character, she was thought provoking and I loved the details that Alison Bruce puts into her book. Nicci has her suspicions about the accident so sets out on a journey to uncover the truth about what happened that terrible night.

If you like a good paced, stay up all night, thrilling read then this is for you.

Thanks for an advance copy of this book.

The Moment Before Impact - Alison Bruce

This is the first book I've read by this author so can't compare it to her others. I know a lot of people lived thus one, but I'm sorry to say I struggled with it.

I found the writing style to strangely non-descriptive, both around the characters and the locations. Combine this with an opening involving multiple characters mentioned briefly and I struggled to get involved. I hate not getting into a book so went back to the beginning to re-read the opening chapters hoping it would click...

There is quite a lot of conversation, and both while I was reading, and on reflection afterwards I felt like sections felt almost like reading a script.

The first half is very much setting up and looking back st the first big event. The plot really picks up in the second half but I didn't really feel involved with any of the characters except Celia, the determined ex-journalist who thrives on the buzz of having a cause to investigate.

Thanks to Netgalley

What Really Happened That Night...?
An horrific event, but what really happened that night? The night that culminated in tragic deaths. Protagonist, Nicci, sets out to uncover the truth - but who can she trust? Immersive and engaging suspense with a compelling storyline and a credible cast of characters.

After loving Alison Bruce's DC Gary Goodhew series, its a delight to see her return with another atmospheric Cambridge crime novel, one which I dearly hope is the beginning of a new series. This is a intelligently plotted story of twists and turns that revolves around a car accident that tragically resulted in the deaths of Charlie and Ellie. A young forensic student, Nicci Waldock, the driver, is convicted, on what appears to be overwhelming forensic evidence and interviews, and spends 3 years on prison. Upon release, she returns home and the Mill Road community, which includes the black Celia Henry, a former reporter, now a part time lecturer. Celia attends the court trial to bear witness, she had known all those involved in the case. A haunted and traumatised Nicci struggles to fit back in, until she allows Celia to help her, and she finds comfort in setting up a business removing tattoos.

When Nicci's troubling memories begin to resurface and challenge the official versions of the accident, Celia decides to investigate the accident with Nicci, bringing in an old friend, DI Briggs, who gives them the old police files to look at. Jack Bailey, an architect, returns to his old home after the collapse of his marriage to Sadie, and the devastating information about his daughter, Maya. Jack had lost his younger brother, Charlie, and has never forgiven Nicci. We learn of the drinking at a pub that ended in the accident, the strange currents and conflict between Ellie, siblings Rob and Gemma Hayward, Callum, Nicci and Charlie. The story sees Celia and Nicci's investigation begins to slowly throw light on an accident that starts to move in completely unexpected directions. As Jack begins to harbour doubts about what occurred, he joins Celia and Nicci in their inquiries in a case that begins to look a lot less like an accident and more like murder.

Alison expertly weaves an enthralling and compulsive narrative with plenty of tension and suspense, where the location, the streets of Cambridge, emerges as a central character in itself. A particular highlight for me are the skilful characterisations, such as a Nicci determined not to make any assumptions, a woman who it turns out has been let down, lied about, used and abused, she is no longer the naive and trusting person she used to be. Celia is a rock solid presence, she is dogged in her determination and drive, her abilities and contacts are pivotal in ensuring the success of what turns out to be a dangerous investigation. This is a great crime read, dark, entertaining and engaging, which I recommend to crime and mystery readers. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.

Thank you to netgalley and publisher for the arc of The Moment Before Impact.

4 stars- This is set around Cambridge, the streets and the place seems all to real when Jack Bailey went through deaths, divorce and even an disapperance... not saying anymore, just go read this you wont be disappointed this is a gripping, hooking and page turning

Recommend
4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A mysterious and shocking accident is the epicenter of this excellent thriller. Who is lying and who is telling the truth? I literally flew through the pages.

4-5 stars

I’ve never read a book by Alison Bruce before and now I’m wondering why not?! This is one of those books that once you start it has you firmly in its grip, questioning, wondering and pondering throughout. It starts in one place and takes you in a most unexpected direction and I love that. Eight years ago Jack Baileys much loved younger brother along with friend Ellie are killed in a car crash for which Nicci Waldock served a three year prison sentence. However, a disturbing memory comes back to Nicci which along with other inconsistencies leads Celia, a former journalist of the original case to investigate to try to resolve. Celia appeals to DI Briggs for help. What they discover sends shivers down the spine and becomes increasingly dark and very intense.

This is such a well written novel with a clear and well delivered plot with nothing superfluous. It’s so clever as the conclusion is totally unexpected but believable. The starting point with the friends before the crash reveals intriguing dynamics and some animosity which is mysterious as you can’t divine it’s source but you understand that the group is fracturing and dissolving. As Celia and Nicci delve deeper there’s so much tension at times you scarcely dare breathe. It’s exciting and full of suspense taking the reader through a whole range of emotions. There’s devastation, desperation, addressing the pain of loss and living with it as well as the shame and guilt. Jack has been in pain a long time and has received other personal blows. Nicci has also suffered greatly too. Celia is a fantastic character, she’s loyal, solidly reliable, intelligent and tenacious in the pursuit of the truth as is DI Briggs. What we learn is distortion, that the story is way bigger than the car crash and a shocking narrative has been created to suit a manipulator.

Overall, this is a clearly constructed, believable and well written plot that unravels intriguing well. The characterisation is very strong and it would be marvellous to read about some of them again especially Celia and DI Briggs. What a team!

With thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.

I was sad, although I understood, when this author decided to end her DC Gary Goodhew series but I had faith that she would return with a new series which would be just as quality. This book is the opener to that. Well... I hope it's a series opener as I feel certain characters have more of a journey to take and I want to be there with them. Time will tell I guess...
Jack has been through a bit of a time with his marriage breakdown and has returned to his childhood home for a fresh start. But it's not really the fresh start he craves as memories of what happened to his brother start to rear their ugly heads. There was a crash and Nicci, a student at the time, was punished but when she also returns home her memories start to come back too, spelling out a different set of events leading up to and following the impact. Determined to get to the truth - at all costs - Nicci teams up with Celia, a former reporter and student landlady - but have they bitten off more than they can chew when they start to scratch the surface and a whole can of worms rises to the top...?
Well, this author knows how to pack a punch. How to suck a reader in and deliver emotional shock after shock all the way through a book. How to keep a reader hanging on every word.
How to completely ruin me at the end of my journey with her characters!
And what a well plotted and executed storyline. Had me fooled for the majority. As it took me through the (familiar for those who know) streets of Cambridge. All delivered at a pace with no superfluous waffle or padding.
All in all a cracking book that I thoroughly enjoyed and which kept me engaged throughout, leaving me wholly satisfied at the end. Hopefully I can reconnect with certain characters in the future. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.