Another great DI Helen Grace novel by M J Aldridge.

a great series of books this one is no exception its fast paced with lots of action.

Enjoyable

Some bookbloggers are better than others at getting through their TBR. I am not one of those bloggers. My attempts to prioritise the books I recieved for review means the books I want to read from my personal collection get dusty. The best example I have of this is from when I explained this dilemma to Mark Billingham who signed my purchase of his latest book with “To Gordon, Read This One”

Why is that relevant here? Well I read the early Helen Grace books from MJ Arlidge and really enjoyed them. Then the blog took over and I wasn’t reading anything which wasn’t a review copy. I do still have a nice wee collection of unread books by MJ Arlidge to read once the blog is stood down. I kept buying them knowing I WILL read them but just haven’t yet.

So here we are at the Truth or Dare blog tour. I got to read this one! I can also category confirm that you don’t need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy Truth or Dare, it most definitely can be read in isolation as any past events you need to know about are made known to the readers. I can also confirm that if you read Truth or Dare without reading the earlier books you would be adding those earlier books to your TBR – Truth or Dare was brilliant and will make you want to read more in this series.

DI Helen Grace is under pressure. Southampton is slipping out of her control as violent deaths are increasing, the conviction rate is falling and the local press are out to get her – placing full blame at Helens door for the increasing crime in the city. Within her own team there are also fractions forming as her former lover and her second in command, DS Hudson, is actively undermining her. He is leaking stories to the press to discredit Helen and is splitting loyalty within her squad. Everything will need to come to a head and Helen is isolated and vulnerable.

The real challenge Helen faces is a spate of unconnected murders which have been taking place. The victims are killed in different ways, in different locations and at different times of the day. The police are nowhere and the press know it. Then a lucky break gives Helen a line of enquiry to pursue and it opens up a can of worms. With resources stretched and half her team pulling in the wrong direction the challenge for Helen is to make a seemingly random coincidence tie in to the information she holds.

Truth or Dare is one of the best police procedurals I have read this year. The painstaking investigation is brilliantly laid out for readers to follow and there are more than a few shocks along the way. I was totally in the dark and yet entirely satisfied with where the story took me.

It would be greedy to wish for every book to grab my attention in the way Truth or Dare managed. When a book gets its claws into you it’s a wonderful feeling. Loved it.

Another fantastic instalment in the DI Helen Grace series. I never read the narrative to these books before starting them as you know you are always in for a great read.

A shocking number of serious crimes are being committed across Grace’s patch with little signs of slowing down or evidence to go on to bring the perpetrators to justice. Morale within the department is low and questions are being asked of Grace’s ability to lead her team causing a divide of loyalty amongst her colleagues.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so fast paced and full of action that I really couldn’t put it down. I just wanted to race through and find out who the culprit or culprits were. I really liked the short chapters as it added to the fast nature of the book and like I say, you just wanted to keep reading that little bit more.

I also really liked the way that the character perspective switched, and we got to see an insight into the killers’ actions. I think this made it more enjoyable as you almost get that behind the scenes type vibe.

Joseph Hudson was most definitely not my favourite character and I don’t think I’d trust him as far as I could throw him. It did slightly get to me that in previous books (this is book 10 in the Helen Grace series) that him and Helen were a couple as it just seemed so out of character.

I know really need to read some of the others in this series but I think I’ll have to start with book 1

The ending of this did actually disappoint me quite a bit as it felt a bit too rushed and I was expecting it to go on a bit more. When my kindle said 100% I have to admit I was a little bit confused.

There seems to be a crime wave going on in Southampton & DI Helen Grace is not sure which way to turn. With her right hand woman on maternity leave, struggling to ignore the fact she is being undermined by her ex-lover DS Hudson & dealing with leaks to a reporter with long term grudges against her. Then the murders start. The suspects that the clues point to appear to have no motive at all. Hudson is convinced he knows the way the case should go & pursues his own ideas as well as gaining a few allies along the way Poor Helen!

I love this series & have followed it from the beginning. It has been great to see the character of Helen develop as it goes along, although at times you wish that she get a break! This was a complex plots seen through many perspectives. I know I don't often get 'whodunnit' but with this one I don't think I had a cat in hell's chance!! As for the ending...... enough said! Altogether a brilliant read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

M J Arlidge is one of my favourite authors. I absolutely have to read everything he has written. Truth or Dare is the 10th book in the Helen Grace series and it is every bit as good as the others, a true page turner that I loved from start to finish. Definitely one to read. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The latest book in the DI Grace series sees the enigmatic detective battling a crimewave whilst trying to save her career. I have enjoyed everyone of these novels and this was a thrilling addition to the series. Thanks to the publisher and the author for the arc.

DI Helen Grace returns once again and is trying, with the help of her team, to uncover the reason for the sudden spate of murders that are sweeping through Southampton, with no apparent link it is proving difficult for the team to solve, but Helen knows that they must exhaust every possible lead to bring the killer (or killers) to justice before another life is taken, this would be a lot easier without the issue of growing unrest within her team, but Helen is determined to crack the case and keep her job at the same time.

Matthew Arlidge is back with his 10th in the series and this one hits the ground running, Helen Grace is her usual insubordinate self, fighting crime and members of her team that appear to be turning against her, I really felt for Helen this time and despised the disrespect shown by members of her team and her nemesis, Emilia Garanita. Truth or Dare is a fast paced, tense and action packed read, with lots of very shady characters, that had me racing through the pages at top speed and kept me guessing throughout. This one, like the others, can be read as a standalone, but if you want to understand the backgrounds and relationships of the characters then I suggest you start at the beginning of the series. Another brilliant instalment which I highly recommend.

I'd like to thank Orion and Netgalley for the auto approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Truth or Dare is the tenth instalment in the Detective (Chief) Inspector Helen Grace series set in Southampton. A trail of devastation has been left behind by a brutal, violent crime spree seemingly sweeping the southern city giving Helen and her team a real headache. There are several incidents of arson, carjackings, stabbings and murders with no apparent motives or connections binding them together. Unfortunately, to get ahead and on top of the unrest and alarm being caused, the police force needs to be all on the same page, but they are far from it. They are discordant and suffer from inner conflict leading to poor morale and the leaking of non-public information. DS Joseph Hudson, who once supported Helen before she dumped him during their relationship, being at the helm may be part of the problem with his immature and divisive mindset and his deep-seated contempt for Helen who he hopes he will eventually drive out by his pathetic, targeted behaviour. His behaviour is given credence by reporter Emilia Garanita to whom he had struck up a mutually beneficial friendship: she receives false or damaging news stories from him to print in the media as exclusives and he has an outlet to post his poisonous, insidious mistruths and slander. His aim is to destroy his team from the inside out.

The fact that Helen’s best friend and esteemed colleague DS Charlie Brooks is currently on maternity leave means Helen feels more alone than usual, has difficulty knowing who she can trust and those with a dangerously cruel, sadistic streak exploit her newfound exposure and harass and intimidate her; and of course, she also feels a tonne of pressure to stop the crime across the city from repeating. But as soon as she manages to put her good foot forward someone undoes her hard work. Just how much more can Helen take before reaching breaking point? This is a compelling and twisty read full of intrigue and unusual, explosive surprises. It is a very different type of story from its predecessors as it focuses almost solely on the police team, the insidious bullying present within it and Helen feeling rather alone. The concept serves to highlight how the shambles of a team cannot manage to get a handle on the erupting crime rate due to the infighting and toxic behaviours of its team members. There's exciting drama, rampant toxicity, secrets, lies, betrayal and deceit that never lets up in this dark, palpably tense procedural and it moves at a rapid-fire pace in which you truly feel sympathy for Helen and her predicament but it does lead to some fascinating character development as she pushes through it.

Fantastic thriller that you won’t want to put down.

Detective Helen Grace not only needs to solve the spate of crimes hitting her patch but also find out who is undermining her authority within her team.

Fabulous, fast paced and full of tension

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing for this ARC in exchange for a honest review!

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A crimewave sweeps through the city and no-one is safe. An arson at the docks. A carjacking gone wrong. A murder in a country park. What connects all these crimes without causes, which leave no clues?

Detective Inspector Helen Grace faces the rising tide of cases which threatens to drown the city. But each crime is just a piece of a puzzle which is falling into place.

And when it becomes clear just how twisted and ingenious this web of crime is, D.I. Grace will realise that it may be impossible to stop it.

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When I first received this book, I didn’t realise it was part of a series. However, it’s amazingly written so that you don’t need to worry about it. DI Grace and her team are all introduced perfectly and while there was only character development in a few of these, there was plenty more going on throughout this book to keep me on my toes. DI Grace is someone who I really enjoyed reading about, her strong will and determination contrasted with moments of vulnerability made her an instantly loveable character.

The premise of this book is a bit of a minefield to get your head around but that’s what makes it so good. The whole point is that you’re confused, unsure of what’s going on and more importantly, keeping on top of everything happening within the book. It gives you a greater depth to how the characters feel, which I enjoyed. I did have a few issues with the formatting of this copy so therefore, it may have been more confusing than necessary, but once I was into the book, it didn’t matter.

The unraveling of the storyline left me shocked. The dark, twisted events were ones I never saw coming. However, I would have liked to see more development on that with more perspective from the criminals being manipulated.

I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhangers, but this one I felt worked well. It summed up the book and the storyline whilst also teasing the reader for the next book in the series, of which I can’t wait for.

D.I. Helen Grace is back - Southampton is inundated with murders which are unexplained and very worrying and DI Grace is under pressure. Not only does there seem no rhyme or reason for the crimes and no leads but DS Hudson is constantly a thorn in her side, undermining her leadership and causing division in the team. The characters are well developed and the plot is fast and furious.
Many thanks to Netgalley/M.J. Arlidge/Orion Publishing for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

As a huge fan of MJ Arlidge’s Helen Grace books I jumped at the chance to organise the blog tour for book number 10 in this addictive series and obviously had to open the tour as well.

This is the latest book featuring DCI Helen Grace and follows on shortly after All Fall Down. If you haven’t read these books yet, I would strongly recommend starting with Book 1 as whilst they can be read as standalone, there is so much history and back story to this series it would be a shame to miss out. I’ve listed all 10 books at the bottom of this page.

In Truth or Dare a spate of violent, seemingly unrelated murders are taking place all over Southampton but DCI Helen Grace and her team are struggling to find the connections, motives or killers. With an alarmingly growing list of victims being killed, her team are beginning to feel the pressure which starts to affect Helen’s personal decisions and the morale of the team.

In this book Helen’s personal and professional life are exposed which appears to undermine her authority within her team and without her trusted friend and co-worker Charlie (who is on maternity leave) she appears lost and vulnerable, showing the reader another side to Helen’s complex life.

Once again the author writes in short, pacey chapters which keeps the reader gripped and turning those pages eager to learn more. Whilst the crimes are shocking and there are lots of twists and turns, it’s the focus on Helen’s internal turmoil and her determination to catch the killers, even putting herself in danger, that give Truth or Dare that little bit extra for me. I was literally rooting for Helen throughout – willing her to catch the killer(s) and prove everyone wrong about her.

If you are a fan of fast-paced, gripping police procedural thrillers than I highly recommend this series.

I have really enjoyed the Helen Grace series, so was very excited to read this latest one. It certainly didn't disappoint! A wave of crime is sweeping across the city and the police are struggling to find leads. When it becomes evident that there is a link between them the race is on to find the connection. In the meantime, Helen's deputy and former lover is determined to bring her down and will stop at nothing to discredit her. This is a real page turner that will keep you guessing to the end and beyond! Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Truth or Dare is yet another total humdinger in the DI Helen Grace series. Grace seems to be under fire from all sides as an inexplicable and highly sinister crime wave hits Southampton. Something is badly wrong, and it leads the police into a twisted game of truth or dare. Not only are Grace and her team getting nowhere, but several people—from her ex to an ambitious journalist— seem out to destroy her. She faces one major blow after another. She’s surrounded by office politics of the most dangerous kind and faces mutiny in the ranks.
I really enjoy strong women characters and Grace definitely fits this bill. She manages to overcome challenges, no matter their enormity. Admittedly, she often does so in ways that antagonise those higher up the police chain, but this makes for exciting reading. I was really invested in this story—rooting for Grace as she is targeted by one villain after another. I may even have given the odd victory punch when she comes out on top, particularly as there are times when it seems that even strong, spirited Grace may just capitulate. She fights back every time, however, and doesn’t take any political manoeuvrings lying down.
I hated the despicable DS Joseph Hudson, and couldn’t believe that in the previous book in the series I’d wanted his liaison with Grace to turn into a romance. I also wanted to strangle the short-sighted, odious Chief Superintendent Alan Peters.
Truth and Dare features an array of interesting and larger-than-life characters. Unfortunately, however, most of them end up dead. This is an M.J. Arlidge book after all.
I felt a range of emotions, including great sadness at one point. I also felt intense anger, stomach-clenching anticipation, nerve-racking suspense, disbelief and horror – just what I want from a crime thriller. The story is cleverly plotted and unfolds seamlessly, making this a compulsive, fast read. As always, the author ramps up the tension as you race to the end of this book, throwing in a fantastically suspenseful bike chase and several of Grace’s theatrical heroics.
Truth and Dare is the tenth in the DI Helen Grace series, but can be read as a standalone.

Another brilliant book from M J Arlidge. I love the Helen Grace series and this is one of the best.
With crime becoming out of control Helen and the team have their hands full trying to find out who is behind an arson attack and two other murders.
Hudson is out to get Helen and desperately wants her job. He’s definitely not on a good path in this book and Helen is surprised by how low he will go.
With tensions running high in the team Helen desparately misses Charlie who is on maternity leave.
This is a gripping crime thriller with a few surprises in store.
If you’ve not read this series yet, then I’d highly recommend starting at book one as you’ll love it.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Wow! It is the tenth on the series and yet, there is no sign of either Helen or her creator slowing down in tackling, headlong, all the challenges which come their way.

In 'Truth Or Dare', Helen, who has made her name as the lead on high profile, seemingly insurmountable cases, is faced with the consequences of Covid on her crime stats. The murder board is full of seemingly disparate cases that have no linking factor.

Economic straits and boiling over tensions have led to a spike in domestic violence, attacks and burglaries.

But the more that she stares at the wall, the more the seemingly inconsequential details point to a bigger, almost inconceivable plot.

This is where Helen is so good and where she comes into her own-with pressure on her from high to prove herself in the audit/statistic states and working in the wreckage of an ill advised work relationship, she is attacked from without, and within, the profession.

Somehow, local reporter Emilia who sees Helen as a nemesis, is there at crime scenes before her, able to access information which should not be in the public domain, and takes less than flattering pictures which hint that Helen is not in control. Driving public faith in the police to its knees, Helen needs a result, and not just one promoted by one of her team who is convinced he is on the right track.

Battling both internal politics, and trying to balance the scales of justice ? Restoring public trust in the police? Being a representative of a high ranking female police officer?

If anyone can do it, D.I Helen Grace can....

What I loved about this story is that it never lets up. The sense of plotting has been razor sharp in each of Helen's cases, you say 'just one more chapter' to yourself but you know it's a lie, you are going to read until your Kindle runs out of batteries or the book falls from your limp, sleep exhausted fingers.

She is not perfect, she is the first to admit that, but she instils fear into criminals and shoddy police officers alike. The plot twists and turns round some hairpin bends and it feels like you are riding pillion with Helen on her Kawasaki. The books all have a catchy title, playing on themes of fairy tales and nursery rhymes, and it feels to me like it is a race, both against time to catch a killer, but also a race to justice and retribution by the letter of the law. It's a pursuit of the truth for in each tale there is a moral imperative, the fairy elements or rhymes were just the method of getting this to stick in your mind. In 'Truth Or Dare', some pretty big secrets are on the table and as, the case gets more and more complex, it takes someone of Helen's step back and see the emerging pattern. She sees the truth inside the lie.

Matthew Arlidge likes to make sure that Helen Grace never, ever gets comfortable. That poor woman has been put through so many wringers, it’s surprising she has any juice left.

Helen and her team are struggling: Southampton is facing an upsurge of violent crime, some of it apparently motiveless – all of it brutal. Charlie Brookes, Helen’s second in command is still on maternity leave and the team are short-handed.

Not only that, but worst of all, the poisonous DS Joseph Hudson has never got over being dumped by Helen and is now hell-bent on bringing her down. To achieve that, he is deploying a range of tactics, from spreading dissent within the team to fuelling discontent from the public by feeding Helen’s nemesis; reporter Emily Garanita.

As Helen struggles to find a causal link between the crimes, she finds herself without allies, being sniped at from all sides and even her team are beginning to look wobbly over their support for her. Helen’s losing confidence, but she always been a bit of a lone operator, and backing her into a corner just makes her all the more determined to come out fighting.

Now I read way too much crime, so I did work out the basis of this plot, though not who was behind it, but that in no way prevented me from enjoying this fast and furious tension filled read. Car crashes, murders, arson and more, populate these pages and brutal, bloody killings are making the pages of the Southampton paper on a daily basis.

With pressure from above and her team fragmenting, Helen feels isolated but is still prepared to back her own judgement in the face of concerted pressure to do otherwise.

Arlidge’s short, snappy chapters aid the build-up of tension and excitement. The internal strife will concern Helen’s fans and Arlidge plays on that as he leads the reader a merry dance, throwing red-herrings in our path and introducing us to a plethora of unsavoury characters.

You’re left with the feeling that Helen surely can’t take much more, even as she fights back with everything she has.

But this time she is up against a nasty and slippery adversary. And while she may be able to get to the root of these cases, Helen will find that doing so has long term implications for her own well-being.

Verdict: A must read addition to this fine series. Fans of Helen Grace will not be disappointed.

Having read most of the Helen Grace series I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read the latest book and I wasn't disappointed .Taking up from the last book All Fall Down, this is a fast paced thriller set in Southhampton .Suddenly there is a spate of unexplained murders all over the city and Helen Grace and her team set out to find the killer but are the murders connected ?This is a very clever story which I thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to reading the next book in the series .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

I have a few of M.J. Arlidge‘s Helen Grace books sitting on my shelf, so of course I decided to start with the tenth book in the series… I’ve just heard so many great things about his books that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to read his latest. And now I can’t wait to go back to Book #1 and do this properly!

Truth or Dare is a sharp, suspenseful and gripping crime thriller that follows an intricate crime with a fascinating twist. Brilliantly written and nail-bitingly tense, it’s obvious that Arlidge is a talented crime writer.

Although I’ve started this series at the end, I got to know all of the characters well and didn’t feel like I had missed out on anything. I do think I would have had Helen’s back more if I had spent nine books getting to know her beforehand, but I still think that she’s a great character and I can’t wait to get to know her more in-depth. I’m looking forward to seeing the start of her relationship with Hudson, too, although my opinion on him has most definitely already been made.

If you’re a fan of police procedural fiction, then this is definitely a book worth checking out, although I do think that I would have loved it even more if I had read the other books in the series first.