I found this to be a good, engaging read. There was a lot going on that took a while to unpack, but that is the beauty of books like this!

Alana Mack is an unusual police officer, in that she spends her days in a wheelchair but this wasn't always her reality and I like that this story talks a little about the world of a serving police officer who is not able to police the way that she used to.

I really liked Alana and her entire team, actually. They have each other's back in an emotional and physical sense and they are real people doing a difficult job. Sometimes, their personal and professional lives collide though.

No spoilers!

I think I would have liked to have learned a little more about the killer's rationale behind the staging of some of the crime scenes, a bit more depth, perhaps? However, it was a very solidly written book and I enjoyed it.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Book 2 in the Detective Alana Mack series. An enjoyable read that had you gripped. My only criticism is that the main character Alana, isn’t a very likeable character, it would be nice to see her character grow a little warmer and not as serious.

TERRIFIC story line with more detailed aspects concerning the main character, Alana Mack. Lots of suspense throughout ending with a satisfying conclusion. RECOMMEND this author although I prefer her other series featuring Gaby Darin. Thanks to #NetGalley / #Storm Publishing for #Roses for the dead in return for my honest review.

It's a regular day on the train until it runs over a body and a passenger disappears. A killer is running wild, having already claimed two other women whose homes are staged with white sheets on the beds along with a single rose. While investigating the crimes Detective Alana Mack and her team aren't sure if this last murder is the same or a copy cat. It's not until someone realizes that the roses of the first two victims are not the same as the last one. The team have their hands full with these cases.
I love the characters and the storyline, both are entertaining and keep you on your toes. Because of the length of the book I found some parts repetitive. I can't wait to read more from this author. Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for and advanced copy. Thanks also to the author for writing such an suspenseful read.

Are you ready for twists and turns a plenty?!
Jenny O’Brien doesn’t disappoint with this police procedural which keeps you guessing all the way though.
The story is engaging and fast paced and really does draw you in!
It’s good to feel the progression of the regular characters throughout the book and learn more about their lives.
All in all another good read from this author.

A police procedural book that came alive and jumped off the pages to grip me. Alana is back to solve another mysterious crime. The new characters highlight the plot. The plot progressed at a fast set pace.

Wow, what a rush. I just finished this book and I had to read the last couple of chapters twice because I couldn't believe what I was reading. The motive for the recent murders was a shock but the identity of the killer left me reeling. The fall out from this case is going to affect the team of detectives for a long time to come. Definitely a 5 star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Book two in the Alana Mack series, Alana is thrown into a frustrating case one which is met with dead ends and no justice for the victims. Who'd have thought it would be all about the rose Alana is a determined tenacious character in terms of her pursuit to find justice.

Still no hint to the back story of Alana and her accident which I think would enhance and develop her as a character.

This is Book 2 of the Detective Alana Mack series. I loved it; the scenario is Dublin. It's a book that you can't stop reading. Fantastic...

This was a complicated murder mystery which unravelled in a compelling way. Appealing characters and interesting police procedures. Great tidy conclusion.

This book was a really good read. It keeps you guessing right till the end to who the murderer is . Well worth a read .

A chilling series of murders and a plethora of suspects. Alan Mack has her work cut out with this one! A great storyline with excellent characters, highly recommended.

I enjoyed this one twisty, and very addictive. A new author for me and the start of a new series. Brilliant. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is a book that keeps the reader engaged all the way through. The characters are well drawn and believable and I liked how their personal lives were woven into the story.
An enjoyable read that doesn’t let you down on any counts - we have police procedures, the killer’s thoughts and back story (but not who they are); suspects and clues and even work place issues.
This is the second book in the series but not having read the first one didn’t affect my enjoyment, it tells you all you need to know. I will be reading the next one though!
I’ve grown weary of reading books with detectives with a problem (drink, depression etc) that hangs over them like a cloud. How refreshing to read about a detective with a physical disability that just gets on with the job.

This was an amazing book. I highly recommend it to everyone. Great characters and a great plot. I will be looking for more books by this author. The book is superbly written. Lots of twists, turns and shocking turns of events. Quickly becoming a go to author for me!!!! If you love to read a book and be shocked by the ending then check out this author for sure. You will love this book and this author

J'ai bien aimé ce roman, même si je l'ai oublié pendant un bon trois semaines. J'ai aimé l'enquête et le reveal!

Je le recommande à ceux et celles qui aime les romans policiers, MAIS surtout à ceux et celles qui ont lu le premier 🤦🏻‍♀️

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for my copy of Roses For The Dead by Jenny O’Brien.
This is the second book in the Alana Mack series and the regular characters are starting to get some shape.
Alana is a detective, but she’s also a woman in a wheelchair and it is interesting how she makes it all work.
It is definitely a series I will be continuing.

4 Stars
One Liner: Better than book one despite the slow pace

Detective Alana Mack is worried when a woman goes missing from the same train where another one has died. It appears that a killer is targeting women and leaving their bodies along Dublin’s Dart train line. As bodies pile up, Alana knows she has to solve the case as soon as possible.
Things get even more complex when she receives a threatening message. Can Alana use the clues to find the killer and prevent more deaths?
The story comes in third-person POVs from Alana (more), Paddy, Lorrie, and the killer.

My Thoughts:
The second book in the series reads well as a standalone. It is also better than the first book in many ways. The POV jumps are not random but are limited to four characters and come in different chapters. There’s no excessive dwelling on the past except for a couple of references for new readers.
Multiple cases soon converge into a single/ dual track. The circumstances are such that the police are trying hard for a breakthrough. This means they go through the same information a few times. However, something new turns up each time to prevent monotony.
Alana is also better in this one. Yeah, she is still abrupt and a touch rude. But it doesn’t put the reader off. We can see her stress and the calculated risks she has to take. Moreover, her thoughts and emotions are centered on the cases most of the time, so it is easier to empathize with her. Her disability is seamlessly woven into the plotline to keep it real and is aligned with her arc.
We get the killer’s POV quite early, which means it is easy to guess who it is. I did guess who it was in the first third itself, but that didn’t make the story any less intriguing. There are a couple of twists, though nothing major. Yet, the plotline keeps you hooked to see if you’re right.
The pacing is slow, as I assumed. This will be a slowish series, and that’s okay. The story doesn’t drag. Moreover, things take time when the police and forensics are involved.
Alana and Paddy make a great team. The non-romantic relationship between them is a great plus. Paddy has a side track, which adds a layer to his character. They are both complex people, so the series should be interesting as we proceed.
The Dublin setting doesn’t come alive in this one, but there’s enough to follow the case. The setting has changed from book one to two (it was a seaside place last time), so that could also be the reason.
The ending has a touch of hope for Alana’s personal track, though she and I are in no hurry to take the leap. Let’s go slow and steady.

To summarize, Roses for the Dead is a compact police procedural with some intriguing characters and an absorbing plot. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

When a woman's body is found on the railway track and investigations begin it seems that this is either a copycat or the reappearance of a killer that murdered two women in an almost identical fashion a couple of years ago. Detective Alana Mack has never let the fact she is confined to a wheelchair hold her back and this case is no exception- even when her new boss seems intent on undermining her. However, she has a good team around her who won't stop till they have answers.

This is the second book in the series. I really enjoyed the first & this was equally as good. I love Alana's attitude, the team are also very likeable & interesting. The inclusion of their lives makes it more rounded without interrupting the flow of the main story. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

Roses for the Dead
by Jenny O'Brien
Pub Date: 14 Feb 2024

"Roses for the Dead" is Book 2 of Detective Alana Mack series. Although I didn't read the first book, "The Puppet Maker" I didn't find it difficult to catch on. It can be read as a standalone. After reading book 2 in the series I definitely plan on reading the first book.

I felt this was an easy read, suspenseful, tense at times. A well written book with a good storyline.

Many thanks to #RosesfortheDead #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this book.