4.5⭐️
A debut crime thriller which a psychological element. Tina Orr Munro is a UK author.

A crime thriller with a CSI as the main character. Ally Dymond the protagonist is working in North Devon. She has been transferred from the MI unit as she blew the whistle on police corruption during a murder trial.

The story is told from 2 pov the Killers and Ally’s.

I like Ally’s no nonsense and to the point attitude. We know straight away who the killer is, he is generally malicious and unpleasant.

It has a good pace throughout.
I had 2 issues with plot reliability, I know it’s fiction and that the way it is presented ensured the plot worked.
Also I had a few issues with some of Ally’s actions and choices, they were bad! Because of this I didn’t engage with her as much as I would have liked.

I really liked the ending which is all I can say, but there was still a minor niggle with it.

I really enjoyed this book with its different approach to a crime case and look forward to reading more by this author.

T. Orr Munro delivers an investigation and a commitment to justice in Breakneck Point , the first book in the CSI Ally Dymond series. Ally is a crime scene investigator who worked with the major investigations team. However, after exposing internal corruption, the remaining officers refused to work with her so she is sent to North Devon working petty crime scenes. When a body is found in a seaside town, Ally’s help is requested. However, when evidence she turns up contradicts the lead detective’s instincts, no one will listen to her. Who is right? Will the real killer be caught?

Ally is a single mom with a fifteen-year-old daughter and faces balancing her work and family life and all of the turmoil and guilt that entails. Her commitment to justice is admirable, but the way she goes about it tends to jeopardize her relationships with nearly everyone. Additionally, she has a hard time controlling her anger. Surely someone will listen to her, won’t they? While Ally’s character has depth, I failed to see any character growth. The other characters are a mix of likeable, objectionable, obnoxious, and disturbing individuals.

This is a debut novel for the author and it certainly makes an impact. It is well-written and fluid which makes the story flow well. An intricate plot creates tension and uneasiness as the story unfolds. There’s a strong sense of place that easily transports readers to the seaside town of Bidecombe with its cliffs, trails, woods, and beach. Having a CSI as a main character provides a different perspective to an investigation.

The story is part investigation and part character analysis. The conflict is seen from different angles as readers get insight from both Ally and the antagonist. It has a terrifying realism to it and makes for very uncomfortable reading at times. The final action scenes are riveting and disturbingly memorable, but felt unrealistic and out of character.

My biggest quibble relates to how early readers learn the identity of the killer. This took away a lot of the mystery that could have added to the suspense. Themes include murder, violence, domestic violence, police corruption, family relationships, friendship, treatment of whistleblowers, and much more.
Overall, this was suspenseful, unsettling, and with unique characters that kept me turning the pages. With a heart-rending plot and fascinating story, readers of psychological thrillers will likely enjoy it. This is a good start to a series and I’m looking forward to reading more about Ally, her future assignments, and her relationships.

HQ, an imprint of HarperCollins UK and T. Orr Munro provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for April 14, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I didn't know what to make of this book. I don't feel it was for me because it felt a bit implausible in places which pulled me out of the story. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

3.5 rounded down

Six months ago CSI for Devon M.I.U Ally Dymond is called to give evidence at a trial at Exeter Crown Court. It does not go the way she expects but she tells the truth which has major repercussions not least because she’s pushed out of Major Incidents. When a body washes up at Bidecombe Quay Ally is not happy with the conclusions DI Bob Holt draws. Thus begins a quest that has Ally at loggerheads with the police and a killer who strikes very close to home.

I think the start of this is really strong and I like the CSI angle which makes unwelcome change from the usual crime novels which are police enquiry driven. Ali is mostly very likeable with a difficult background that has made her tough. In this section of the book you get some excellent darkly humorous thoughts and comments, usually from Ally! However, the deeper into the enquiry we go her risk-taking, impetuousness and on occasion bullheadedness, begins to wear on me.

Interspersed with Ally’s perspective is the killers ‘voice’ which makes for chilling reading. Somehow, knowing who the killer is makes the situation feel worse, you are personally involved and so want them caught. It becomes a sort of battle not just of wills between the perpetrator and Ally which is really good and despite reservations about her you do encourage her on!!

In my opinion, the book loses its way in the second half, it begins to feel too long and loses its freshness as it’s just more of the same kind of thing with Ally protesting and DI Holt deflecting . Several things don’t ring true, such as a couple of scenes that take place in hospital. I’m not too convinced by the ending, it feels like justice but by the same token it’s a stretch and too neat.

Finally, despite my reservations this is a very promising debut , the author can definitely write well and I’d like to read more about Ally that’s for sure.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Breakneck Point is a crime thriller by T Orr Munro and set in North Devon.
CSI Ally Dymond is not popular amongst her colleagues after having revealed planted police evidence in a trial, leading to former colleagues being prosecuted. Ally finds herself cold-shouldered and the victim of pranks by disgruntled colleagues. A young girl is found dead on a local pier ,Ally thinks evidence is being ignored and the wrong person has been arrested but partly due to her pariah status she's ignored and seen as rocking the boat. Ally clashes with the police again when there's another death and a serious assault and they accuse her of overstepping the line.

I'm afraid I didn't find this book very convincing,Ally Dymond constantly throws tantrums and behaves in ways no-one in any way involved with the police would even think of. Much of the other characters' behaviour is also very inconsistent and irrational and the ending is quite farcical. The police are depicted in a way that makes Inspector Clouseau look like Sherlock Holmes and supposedly professional CSI Ally shouts and screams at everyone, indulges in a bit of burglary, evidence tampering and deception while ignoring orders to keep away from the investigations. If Ally's behaviour had been toned down a bit,actually quite a bit,the whole thing would have been more believable.
There is a good story in here but too often the writing screams "new author" and it's a bit of a wasted opportunity..

Ally is a CSI in North Devon. She is divorced and lives with her teenage daughter Megan. Ally used to be a member of the major incident team of the Devon constabulary but after bringing evidence of police corruption to light during a murder trial she is now ostracised by her colleagues. When Ally is called to assist with a murder scene on a local pier she is convinced that the victim was killed by a stranger. However, the detective in charge has already charged her partner and disregards her theories. The same happens when Ally is called to a house fire - she knew the victim and is sure the fire was started deliberately. Then her own daughter is viciously attacked and left for dead Ally is distraught. When police charge a local man with learning disabilities she is convinced that they've got it wrong and starts her own investigation.

An enjoyable read although I wasn't keen on the ending.

Thanks to Netgalley, HQ and T Orr Munro for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of Breakneck Point, the first novel to feature CSI Ally Dymond, set in Devon.

Ally has been banished from Major Investigations after exposing corruption in the department. That changes when Janie Warren is murdered and they need her skills, but it doesn’t last when the evidence contradicts DI Bob Holt’s theories.

I like the premise of Breakneck Point, which offers plenty of food for thought, but I didn’t particularly enjoy the read. Firstly, Janie Warren’s killer is revealed within the first ten percent of the novel, so there’s no mystery, no working out whodunnit and thus no racing through the novel to get to the solution. Instead it is a novel of cat and mouse, conflict and pointlessness for me. I like the puzzle of identifying the killer, not the psychology involved. Secondly I didn’t take to Ally. Yes, she is understandably angry at her treatment but her temper seems to flare constantly and she comes across as self righteous and inflexible, until she totally changes her character. Thirdly, the killer gets way too much airtime, reading about a nasty individual who amuses himself with murder and cruel words is not my idea of entertainment. Lastly, and I’m in no position to judge police culture, surely there are plenty of officers who would not condemn her for exposing corruption, not subject her to the full scale shunning and petty vindictiveness she suffers? It didn’t ring true to me.

Breakneck Point is not for me, content wise, but I think readers who like a psychological thriller will enjoy it, because it’s well written and develops its characters, however unappealing they may be.

This is a good debut novel. Slightly different from other crime novels as main protagonist is a CSI officer. It was well written and good plot, although to be fair there were a couple of discrepancies in the plot, which can be glanced over as it is fiction after all. I found it difficult to warm to some of the characters. However overall it was an enjoyable read and I will look forward to others from T. Orr Munro.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

I really enjoyed this book and thought it a fantastic debut novel.

It was a real page turner and I felt just as frustrated with the police as the heroine Ally felt haha
Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book

Ally is a SCI with few work friends. After revealing inconsistencies in an earlier case, she has become a pariah in the force. Despite this, she still makes her opinion known when she investigates crime scenes, even though these views are not shared by those in charge. After being called to two separate incidents and not being convinced of the leading officer’s opinion, she takes her findings to a superior officer who gives her short shrift. When another incident occurs, this time much closer to home, Ally is driven to find the culprit and bring them to justice.

This book is captivating from the very start. We know who the perpetrator is, as the chapters are led by the main characters. However, the route that Ally takes on revealing the perpetrator is too out of character from what we have been told about her. She is the person who single handled brought down a MIT because she was too honest, loyal and professional to let them get away with corruption. Now we are expected that she will do the same, or even worse as the ending shows? I appreciate the “a mother will do anything to protect her child” stance, but this is a stretch too far, especially as she eventually had the proof that would commit the culprit.

Great start to a story, well written, ending far too far fetched.

Thank you NetGalley.

If I’m brutally honest, I’m not sure about this book. I didn’t think it rang true to be honest. I’m sure even with Ally’s past events, I felt sure that the police would have taken more notice if a forensic expert than they did, and the ending, I thought, was quite unbelievable.

I know that the events took place in a backwater, I live not far away, and it’s not maybe as well policed as it could be.

I have read other books written by crime scene investigators, but I’m not sure about this one at all. As they say, the jury is out!

My thanks to the author and the publishers for the ARC.

Ally Dymond is a CSI working in North Devon for the police. She enjoys her job and is good at it, until she finds that a detective has been manipulating results to bolster his crime solving rate. Ally then finds the sympathy of most police lay with the detective and she is ostracized for standing up for right. Thus she finds herself in a position of not being taken seriously when a woman is murdered on the seafront. Instead of listening to Ally, the police arrest the man's partner and charge him with her murder. Ally's opinion on this murder and another death are ignored as the police seek easy solutions, but when the crime involves Ally's own daughter she will no longer remain silent and sets out to find the killer herself.
The technical details in this book and the descriptions of the area are compelling and really help make the story work. I liked the character of Ally, but I found her mother less believable. Overall it was a dark and twisty read, that kept me turning the pages. I'd be happy to read more from this author.
With thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins Uk and T. Orr Munro for an arc.

CSI Ally Dymond was working on a major investigation team when she spoke up in court and landed a senior police officer in prison. Although she knows that she did the right thing she is now working on petty crimes and her opinion is never given credibility but she refuses to toe the line when her discoveries don't agree with what the leading detective thinks. I found this an excellent well-written book with a good plot, and well developed characters.

BREAKNECK POINT by T Orr Munro
Publish Date - 14 April 2022
DEBUT BOOK

I was interested in this debut book from page one, then suddenly, the storyline was very up and down.
I found the book well plotted, written and uncomfortable reading in parts. The main character, CSI Ally Dymond, is honest, feisty and determined and try as I might, I could not like her. I found the other characters much the same. I did enjoy the story.

I give a 4 star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.

Well, I have to admit this is an exceptionally good book to read. I'm not one of those readers/reviewers who can read a book in a single session, or maybe two. Breakneck Point took me 5 or 6 days to read, mostly at breakfast and later at night.
The title made me think it was an American book but no, it is set in the good old UK. I don't know whether the author has a fixation about police incompetence or whether it is simply for this book but I have never read a (serial) murder/mystery where every police officer is portrayed as lacking sufficient brainpower to do the job properly,
Ally is an excellent heroine/hero in the book and you are able to get right behind her when she tries to find the attacker or her daughter.
The author cleverly makes use of chapter ending 'cliff-hangers' which fortunately for me are explained/resolved mostly in the next chapter.
After about 80% of the book you wonder how on earth Ally can sort this out and unmask the culprit. The final couple of chapters explain exactly how she managed to do it and leaves you with a very satisfied feeling that this is the perfect ending to a superb book.
Don't miss it!

I enjoyed this book but it stretched my patience a little as there was a scene in a ward that I’m not sure would ever happen. It was good.

A thriller set in North Devon, featuring a CSI called Ally Dymond. Having refused to compromise on the truth, Ally has been removed from the serious crime team and has made many enemies amongst her police colleagues. Her opinions on the latest murders are largely ignored in favour of an easier solution. When events take a personal turn, Ally feels duty bound to get to the truth.
The story is told via two parallel narratives, the first person narrative of Ally herself and the third person narrative of the killer who is revealed early on in the story. As the identity of the killer is known, this is very much a thriller rather than a mystery story.
For me the story was slow to take off, it did pick up pace in the second half. The thriller element was exciting and there were some surprises along the way.
I found the character of Ally to be rather irritating and arrogant, so I never felt any bond with her. In addition, the ending was contrived and not very convincing.
Overall it was a reasonably entertaining read but nothing special.

Ally Dymond is asked to lie on the stand at a trial, in her capacity as CSI. When she refuses, the Force turns against her and she is banished to the backwaters of North Devon

She is called to the scene of a strangulation - one with a clear perpetrator and motive, but something doesn't sit right with Ally. She suspects someone else could be behind it - someone else who is operating in the shadows, and will do anything to stay unnoticed.

This is a fantastic book, especially for a debut novel. Ally is a great heroine and the characters' motivations all feel true to the characters themselves. The storyline rattles along at a pace and the conclusion feels natural.

A thriller with two heroines and several villains

I am giving a five-star recommendation to a novel which I found difficult to read at times. Why? Well, because it gives an insight into a criminal justice system which has evolved to an unscientific state where it is normally only capable of detecting and convicting stupid people. Now, criminologists patiently tell us that most criminals are amazingly stupid. The trouble with that little factoid is that huge numbers of completely innocent persons are also a bit stupid at times, which means that they are all too easily convicted by a system which, by and large, does not believe in clever criminals, let alone scientifically-minded ones, and whose own concept of “forensic science” revolves around a determination to introduce “single particle evidence” to increase, rather than improve, the conviction rate, ignoring that it’s an axiom of science that a single particle proves nothing. A conviction rate bolstered by wrongful convictions can only be improved by being reduced.

This novel is difficult to read at times because the primary villain is a clever and calculating necrophiliac murderer who lies, skilfully and also sadistically in pretty well every conversation he joins and the minor villains are senior police officers who apply Lardarse’s Razor to every conundrum, whereby the conclusion that leads to the path of least thought and effort is always reached. The tension in the plot, and there’s a lot of it, derives from the way the clever necrophiliac interacts with institutionally-irrational senior police officers to constantly ratchet up the scale of the disaster afflicting the primary heroine and several other innocents. And this strikes a chord with me, as it will with many other readers, because you cannot live in the modern world and not know, or know about, policemen like this. There is also a well-drawn secondary villain whose most devastating tactic against those victims he seeks to destroy is to marry them. He, too, will strike a chord with many readers. It’s the grains of truth which make this novel both compelling and uncomfortable.

The author knows her stuff and she knows the Devon landscape the story is set in. She knows terrifying truths about teenage girls and isn’t afraid to tell them. The story is well-told but not gently told. The solution is as shocking as it is surprising, but it is well crafted around the limitations of the senior investigating officer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s slightly different as it’s a murder story but the lead protagonist is a Crimes Scene Officer and I liked the detail that was involved with that. However, she ends up working like a detective, so the author might as well have made her a detective but included a character who was a CSI to give us the interesting detail. Just a thought.

I’ve only given four stars for two reasons:
1. The only nurse on the ITU, leaves the unit to go collect results from Pathology - firstly there’s never only one nurse on ITU and secondly, you’d never leave a ward, any ward unattended. The path lab worker would deliver them before that would happen and I imagine it’s all electronically delivered these days too.
2. It became slightly far fetched in the end. I won’t say anymore for fear of spoilers.

However, that having said, I loved the writing and it certainly had me turning the pages.

My thanks go to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for an advanced e.reader copy. The review, however, is entirely my honest opinion.