I instantly clicked with the main character. She is interesting and definitely kept me reading.

I particularly enjoyed the dynamics of all of the characters and the killer being who he was.

The book is very pleasingly written and I will definitely keep an eye out for further titles by the author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for gifting me this arc in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Breakneck Point is a great debut and has got me wanting more. I enjoyed the setting and the characters and the storyline kept me gripped throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for my ARC.

A great debut and hopefully the start of a new series !!

CSI Ally Dymond has lost her place in the major investigations team, after not going along with her colleagues corruption. She is now stuck working on petty crimes and losing the love for her job.

But all that changes when Ally is called to a body found on the beach. The lead detective has a theory and prime suspect but Ally doesn’t agree with him. Despite her reservations no one wants to listen and soon the case is all tied up.

Suddenly Ally finds herself investigating an attack closer to home but can she find the truth when no one else wants to listen or believe her !! Can Ally find justice ?

This is a great debut novel and I really loved Ally Dymond !! Am definitely hoping for more from Ally and hope this is the beginning of a new series.

Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

Guys this is such a great read! Our badass CSI Ally Dymond is a straight cut truth telling investigator who missed out on a placement within the major investigations team because she refused to perjure herself in court for one of the lead detectives in the team, why you might ask (other than potentially going to prison if she was found out to have lied), it’s because she’s committed to ensuring justice is properly served to those who need it. Unfortunately, the team have shunned her since then and she’s given work on all the petty jobs away from the team, that is until one day she’s asked to examine a murder scene where she knows the victim. Ally founds evidence at the scene that contradicts the lead detective’s theory but who wants to listen to her when she had their colleagues sent to prison? Ally wants to solve this crime quickly before the killer strikes again, but could it be that she already knows who the killer is? He’s been there the whole time watching her.

This is a fantastic debut that keeps you gripped from the start, heck I was gripped from reading the synopsis. The tension just mounts up as your reading this one until the final action scene unfolds. We find out early on in the book who the killer is, which as a personal preference I would have preferred not to have known, but I feel like it didn’t take way too much of the suspense as Ally didn’t know who it was and I was reading the book and watching the story unfold through her eyes.

Thank you to HQ for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I can’t wait to read more from this author and see how this series unfolds.

Sadly this book did not rate any enthusiasm in me. I found the characters to be, in the main, unbelievable. The 'cat and mouse' element of the story might appeal to many readers and although not for me I can see it appealing to others. Therefore I am not dismissing this thriller out of hand but saying 'give it a go'.

When we first meet CSI Ally Dymond she is giving evidence in a court case which will not go well for some of her police colleagues. With this scandal forever following her, Ally, although a talented and meticulous crime scene investigator, is relegated to mediocre cases which do nothing to test her expertise. However, when a the body of a young woman is found in the seaside town of Bidecombe, Ally happens to be the first CSI on the scene and therein lies the rest of this fascinating crime thriller.

The story is unusual as we get to know very early on who is responsible for a spate of murders which are taking this sleepy area of Devon by surprise but what the author does so cleverly is to give us a ring side seat as we observe just how cleverly the perpetrator plays cat and mouse, not just with the police, but also with Ally for whom the search for justice gets very personal.

I raced through Breakneck Point, fascinated both at the way the story was unfolding and also eager to discover more about Ally Dymond. She is a fascinating multi-layered character who I am sure we will get to know more about as the series progresses. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.

Fantastic debut novel a must read author for 2022!! Ally is a CSI and has been demoted from major crimes because she wasn't prepared to lie to send someone to prison and turned on her corrupt colleagues instead! She is trying to juggle her job whilst being mum to a teenage girl, hard considering she's in her own after running from an abusive husband!!
The problem is she now in a sleepy North Devon town where not much happens.... That's before a woman turns up murdered and the evidence all points to her boyfriend, but Ally isn't convinced she's seen something else which suggests someone else was there but the investigating officer isn't having it and wants a tidy case. Then another woman turns up dead, the evidence pointing to her being a drunk and having dropped a cigarette causing a fire, Ally knew this woman and the fact that she had stopped smoking and was calling instead!! Again Holt the investigating officer doesnt believe her and won't look any further than what the e evidence seems to suggest.
The book itself tells the story from the point of view of Ally and the killer you can't help but shout "listen to her!!!" Loved it such a fabulous read and would love it to be part of a series, let's find out more about Ally and her daughter. Will be recommending to friends and family. Would give more than 5 stars if I could. Many thanks for letting me read this novel.

I really enjoy crime fiction/police procedural/thrillers - I like the puzzle element, the tension and I like to scare myself a little but too much. I find this genre one of the best distractions. But mainly I really love a great detective/police lead and the kind of setting which provides the perfect backdrop to crime. Breakneck Point ticked all those boxes!

CSI Ally Drummond is a great cop, hardworking, uncompromising and honest. Unfortunately honesty doesn’t pay when the team are looking for quick results and want to pin crimes on criminals who deserve to go down..Ally is rapidly demoted and sent to solve small town crimes on the North Devon coast. And then a young woman dies…and another…and Ally is not at all happy with the investigations.

This had me hooked from page one. Ally is a great character partly because of the integrity of her methods, her incredible intuition and deduction and because she has a well-rounded back story. Ally was the victim of domestic abuse, she has a teenage daughter and surfs at the weekend…Ally’s backstory adds its own tension as she tries to be a ‘good’ mother whilst responding to the stresses and strains of a job which is never going to be 9-5. And when the investigation becomes personal the tensions implode..

I loved the setting. North Devon is an area I have visited on holiday many times and the setting not only becomes something of a character but its beauty throw the darkness of the crimes into relief..

The story moves between Ally and the killer. I absolutely loved this dynamic. Knowing who is doing the killing adds such a frisson to the read. There are moments when both are together and you have that pantomime desire to shout out, ‘He’s behind you!’ Or is it she?! You are just desperate for Ally to see what you can see!

This was a book I wasn’t happy to put down. The ending took me completely by surprise and I am still mulling it over …it happened so quickly and so unexpectedly. I really look forward to more by this author.

Reading the author bio definitely influenced my decision to read this book. With a career spanning teaching, crime journalism and a job as a CSI I thought she would be perfectly placed to write such a novel.

With many thanks to HQ stories and to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book .

A good debut, gripping and highly entertaining. Ally is an interesting character and the solid mystery kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

CSI Ally Dymond’s commitment to justice has cost her a place on the major investigations team. Now six months after exposing corruption in the ranks, she’s stuck working petty crimes on the sleepy North Devon coast. Then the body of nineteen-year-old Janie Warren turns up in the seaside town of Bidecombe, and Ally’s expert skills are suddenly back in demand but when the evidence she discovers contradicts the lead detective’s theory, nobody wants to listen to the CSI who landed their colleagues in prison. Time is running out to catch a killer no one is looking for, no one except Ally.
A debut novel & a very good one at that. I liked Ally who was like a terrier with a bone, she knew her job, didn’t take the easy route & was totally focused on her job when her focus should have been on Megan. I did find the ending a revelation & didn't fit with their character but it was clever & justice was served. The villain was revealed early in the book & parts of the book were from his point of view & gradually his backstory emerged. I found the book to be well written & quite a page turner even though it was an uncomfortable read at times. I did enjoy the book & look forward to more in thee series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I enjoyed the setting for this crime thriller as it is atmospheric and relatable. Ally, a CSI whose quest for truth defines her, is relegated to routine jobs when she refuses to back up a colleague's falsification of evidence. Called to a murder scene because of her forensic skills, she is still at odds with her colleagues, and an intensely political game ensues as she tries to expose the killer.

It's a character-driven story that has serial potential. Ally is streetwise and driven and someone you would want on your side. This engaging dual viewpoint story gives the reader an omnipotent view of events with believable characters and a twisty plot.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

3.5 stars rounded up.
Ally Dymond's stellar career as a CSI got scuppered when she was blindsided and refused to lie in court when giving evidence in a trial. An incident that blew the force up, culminating in the exposure of a lot of corruption. Facing the blame for this, unjustly, she has been sidelined to the sleepy Devon coast. I say sleepy. It might have been sleepy but for a body turning up in the seaside town of Bidecombe. Ally is duly, and reluctantly, called in to provide her expert skills. Reluctantly as she is still tarred. Whoda thunk the Police would side with the corrupt cops...!? Close ranks much!
Anyway, she soon finds that being a pariah is not limited to her personal side. Her professional side is also called into question, especially when she refuses to tow the party line abut what the cops "believe"happened and when they refuse to listen to her concerns and theory. Especially when time is running out to bring the perpetrator to justice?
Although we as a reader already know what happened, who doneit. It's not about that... It's more about the battle between Ally and the Powers that be. And that does get a bit broken record at times. And also with NO ONE on her side. Surely the cops aren't all bad? And then she started to get on my nerves as a maverick.
But that aside it was a bit of a ride... which is why I rounded up to 4 stars. It has potential to run as a series, which I think it is destined to be as the author has done a lot of setting up. Hopefully in the next book we will see more of Ally's skill rather than all this politics...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

As a result of her refusal to perjury herself in court, CSI Ally Dymond finds herself off of major crimes and attending rural crime scenes in North Devon.
Six months later when she is called to a death she suspects that it isn't an accident, but her suspicions are ignored by the officer in charge. When she is called to another death, again she has suspicions, but again is overruled. When someone close to her is attacked she is horrified to see who they have arrested for the crime, as it is not possible that it is that person.
Written from both the point of view of Ally and the killer, we see both become increasing desperate to get to the truth.
Well written and enjoyable.

An enjoyable read about a CSI working on the North Devon coast. It takes a bit of time to get used to the portmanteau place names and placing some of the references. I would certainly read another by this author. Hopefully in the future there will be a better balance between the procedural side and the private life of the main character, I read crime novels for the action and not the kitchen sink drama element. The method chosen by the author whereby you know how the story is proceeding from both the perpetrator's side and the investigation is interesting to follow. Overall a good read.

📖BOOK REVIEW📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow this book is the best new author discovery of 2022! This was written and plotted by such an expert hand I’m still in shock that this is the authors first book!

I found the plot to be twisty and contemporary; I enjoyed the story playing out from a csi prospective instead of the police - it gave it a fresh and new feel.

I loved main character Ally from the beginning and felt able to relate and connect to her and her story. The plot kept up a cracking pace, is cleverly written and I loved every minute of it! And so happy to be a series 🤞

Thanks to the author, @netgalley and @hqstories for allowing us to read this one early!

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

I love a crime debut and this one was particularly good. It's all about asleepy seaside town and a CSI slant to proceedings and it makes for a strong plot with strong characters. That cover really attracted me as it felt so atmospheric before I had opened the first page.
Recommended and i will be very happy to read what follows this one.

An excellent premise for a murder story, someone you’d expect to be the saviour is actually a really good cover for evil and sadly this is occasionally true so believable. I have a degree in forensics so the fact the the main character that we follow is a csi also resonated with me and I loved her characterisation and backstory. The plot is cleverly constructed and executed (pun intended) with a slight touch of cosy rather than gory and a good dose of humour and larger than life characters so it was a real pleasure to read. It was definitely compelling to read as I was curious how the murderer would slip up and what would cause his downfall. I was also invested so much in the characters I’d love to know what happens to them next. This was a new author to me but I’m very grateful for the chance I had to read this book and would definitely like to read more.

I enjoyed this book, it was written from a different angle.
I liked the tenacity of Ally the CSI, but I also liked the cleverness of the killer.
A fast paced book that had me reading far too late into the night.

The debut book by this author and a great read.

A gripping thriller which introduces CSI Ally Dymond.

A fast paced book and a great character I can’t wait to find out more about her

This is a good read.
Ally is a CSI and worked with the major investigations team until she refused to lie in court for a lead Detective. She is then shunned by his colleagues and given all the tedious jobs away from major crimes.
She’s surprised when she’s asked to attend a murder and examine the scene. She feels good to be back dealing with something meaningful but when her findings go against the lead Detective, she feels pushed aside again.
Ally has a teenage daughter who constantly tells her she works too much and she seeks attention elsewhere.
When her daughter is found badly beaten and close to death, Ally is determined to find the attacker.
We also have chapters from the person carrying out the murders and attacks which I found a little distracting from the main story.
Overall this is a good read that I really enjoyed.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.