Having enjoyed the previous ‘Revenge Pact’ title in the same series I was looking forward to ‘Deadly Reckoning’, and - to be sure - the same fast paced action and rising tension continue to be powerful features of Ms Mistry’s writing. For this reader, though, the continuing heavy reliance on DS Solanki’s complex family background makes it somehow less fresh. There is still plenty to like though and, certainly, Ms Mistry’s many fans will find much to enjoy, but from this perspective it would be good to see a move to more conventional crime fiction, whilst retaining some of the idiosyncrasies that make the lead character so real.

Deadly reckoning by Liz Mistry is another book in the DS Jazzy Solanki police series. Jazzy is taking a walk around her favourite area on her rare day off, which is interrupted when a body is discovered in her path. Jazzy doesn’t believe in coincidences and wonders if it has been dumped in her path by her stepsister as a revenge for the death of her brother, the two of them were responsible for the murders of a number of people before her brother died in jail and her step sister hold Jazzy responsible.
Then a child disappears in a seemingly random event but Jazzy believes that her step sister is responsible for the child’s disappearance. Tensions mount as her step sister is believed to make an appearance at her brother’s funeral, which Jazzy has had to make the arrangements for.
The whole team has to disappear because of the treats that have been made and they need to find the stepsister and the missing child before it is too late. Another tension packed thrilling ride by the author.
Highly recommended

Deadly Reckoning by Liz Mistry is a gripping contemporary crime novel. It is the third book in the Solanki & McQueen series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the books in order as there is a storyline running throughout the three books.
I enjoyed meeting up with familiar characters including the police team D headed up by the two leading ladies.
Once more the team sets out to solve fresh murders that have links to the past. The crime busting quartet are all different, with different skill sets but they all work well together.
Past crimes are having an effect on present day as the team once more are on the hunt for a murderous character.
Nature versus nurture rules its head as a theme. We cannot choose our family. Are some genes just pure evil?
Families are complicated affairs as we see, as we follow the families of some of the officers. Even upstanding members of the community can have troubled offspring.
A young teen is tormented by a past crime that he witnessed, as he ‘hears’ a familiar nursery rhyme in his head, the reader is also transported back to the crime. Every line of the rhyme has sinister connotations.
Liz Mistry has constructed a marvellous plotline, grabbing the reader’s attention from the start. We see the action from alternating points of view.
Dead Reckoning is a comprehensive read that will have you glued and guessing.
I received a free copy via Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

Good book but found it a bit heavy going at times..
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

It was so good to be back with the reluctantly named 'Jazz Queens' and the book opens with DS Jazzy Solanki relaxing on a day off with her family which rapidly descends into chaos as a body just happens to be found in the nearby brick kilns. I enjoyed seeing Jazzy switch straight into police mode as she took over the crime scene seeing that the two police officers who found the body were out of their depth.

Although the Jazz Queens have been taken off of the investigation into her serial killer sister, Mhairi, Jazzy has a gut feeling that her sister is involved. 

After another serious crime - involving a missing child - Jazzy is convinced that Mhairi is baiting her to get her attention... and it's working.

It soon becomes clear that there is a massive risk to Jazzy and everyone close to her, including the team: Queen, Haggis, Geordie and Elliott. But things take a dark turn when they underestimate how far reaching Mhairi's vendetta against Jazzy will go.

While it is evident that Mhairi is pure evil, this book shows a bit of Mhairi's POV and the pain that she is in. It was good to have more of an understanding of the reasons driving the intensity of the hatred and the connection between the siblings. Liz Mistry is good at showing the 'human' and flawed side of people, no matter what their professional role.

My thanks to the author, Netgalley and HQ Digital for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the humour of the Jazz Queens. With the first book, I wasn't sure I liked the new team, but it has definitely grown as me and this book cemented that. Jazzy is being taunted again by her half sister Mhairi who always seems to be one step ahead of the police teams searching for her. There are lots of insights in to how Jazzy is feeling and the impact it has on her and her relationships as Mhairi's crimes become more chilling. Jazzy has to deal with doubts of her trustworthiness by other professionals, and faces a fight to prove the crimes are connected to her. The ending is very emotional, wish I could say more without spoilers!

This is the third book in the Solanki and McQueen Crime series. I was so happy to be gifted the ebook from HQ because Liz is a sublime author, and this series just ticks every box!
I was straight back with Jazzy and Queenie as soon I opened the book. These characters feel like real people to me. They are so well developed, and both hold a special place in my heart.
Deadly Reckoning picks up after the events of book 2, which saw the Jazz Queens sidelined from the investigation into her half-sister. She is having a rare, quiet day with her mum and crumbles the dog, Ivor, and Benjy. They are having a walk in one of her mums favourite places when a body is discovered. She instinctively knows that it's connected to her. The police don't agree, but Jazz knows it's a message for her. The question is, how far is Mhairi prepared to go to get her message across?
Wow! What an emotional journey this book is! I have to say I cried, but I am not saying a word! Read the book! Liz Mistry just gets better and better as she releases more books. I raced through this too fast for my liking!
The story is told from multiple viewpoints, and I wondered how everything fitted together, and then the final reveal came. The penny dropped, and I was marvelling at how Liz Mistry does it.
There are plenty of twists, surprises, and even jaw-dropping moments inside these pages! It's well worth the couple of pounds to buy, believe me! I have read it now and have still pre-ordered! Yes, it's that good! I am now going to wait so patiently for book 4! It has to be here within the next 2 years, right?
In conclusion, I have to say this series and this book are superb. Mystery, tension, intrigue, and sadness at times. It's packed to the rafters, and I love it!!

DS Jazzy Solanki is enjoying a rare day out with family members, when a body is discovered in the location where they were all headed. Jazzy feels in her heart that it’s more than possible that her estranged half sister Mhairi is responsible.

Shortly after, a child goes missing, and again Jazzy believes there’s a connection to Mhairi too. You see the thing is that Mhairi is a serial killer and Jazzy just happens to be top of her revenge list, and these recent events could be Mhairi’s way of luring Jazzy in.

With the race on to discover the whereabouts of Mhairi (no easy task as she’s extremely devious and a master of disguise) it makes for a gripping storyline, full of tension and some seriously heart stopping moments, together with an unexpected incident towards the end! All this is alleviated somewhat by the great banter between the Jazz Queens, - Jazzy and Detective Annie McQueen and two younger detectives, DC’s Fenton Heggie and Geordie McBurnie!
No question, this is another winner for Liz Mistry and a great addition to the Tartan Noir genre.

Wow!!!
I thought the first & second book in this series was tantalising & exceptional but this one surpassed both of them, I loved Jasmine Solanki (Jazzy), The Jazz Queens - Queenie, Geordie McBurnie (Geordie) & Fenton Heggie (Haggis), & all the new characters. This book had twists & turns in it,as they all do but this one took it to another level, loads of murders and of those who shouldn’t & should have died. No spoilers but I loved the ending & hated it at the same time. I can’t wait for the next book, to see where the story takes us next.

Deadly Reckoning is a great addition to the authors Solanki and McQueen series and a read that really hit the mark with me. Here Jazzy and the team investigate a murder with links to one of Solankis historical cases and fear The Bitch is back for revenge. The story begins well and I was pulled in quickly. It is told over a short period of time and the author has ensured there is plenty of action, suspense and thrills to keep me entertained. I think the authors writing is very good, the story flows well and the pacing is perfect. The plot is multi layered with so many story threads that had me guessing what would come next. The tension leading to the ending is expertly done and had me enthralled. If you like good, solid police procedurals I'd recomend this book and series although if you're new to Liz Mistry as an author you really need to read the series in order to get to know the characters and their histories from the beginning.

4 stars

Part of a series featuring the Jazz queens an intriguing bunch of detectives. Set in Scotland this is a gritty and engrossing thriller.

Deadly Reckoning Liz Mistry


5 stars

The standard keeps getting better!

This is the third book in this series and they just keep getting better.
DS Jazzy Solanki is still recovering form the events of the last book where her half-brother Simon has committed suicide and she has been asked to arrange his funeral much to her disgust but Jazzy is still suffering from the awfulness of her childhood with her twin half-siblings and feels obliged to undertake Simon's dying wishes.

However her half-sister Mhair iis still at large and is out for revenge. Three seperate murders occur and Jazzy together with the indomitable 'Queenie' are convinced that they are all linked to Mhairi. Their job is hampered by Operation Birchtree which has been set up to find Mhairi but instead of using Jazzy and Queenie to help they just seem to try and undermine them and pour scorn on their endeavours.

The author has created a character in DS Jazzy Solanki that you feel really drawn to and are desperately hoping that she can gain some respite from all the torment of her early years. The story is told from different viewpoints which gives you an insight into their characters and the things that drive them. I absolutely loved this book and literally could not put it down. There is something about this author's writing style that I find so easy to read and I cannot wait for the next in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good thriller. It is brilliant.

Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

Deadly Reckoning is another rollercoaster of crime thriller in this series. The Jazz Queens have their work cut out for them desperate to stop evil serial killer and Jazzy’s step sister Mhairi’s trail of deadly destruction.
Sidelined from the investigation due to Jazzy being so personally involved it’s is obvious the senior police in charge are in above their heads not listening to any advice from Jazzy but think they are so much better than her and her team. Although frustrating the team continue to investigate with Annie being her irascible self and adding much to the humour and a real asset they make good inroads into discovering what Mhairi is planning.
As the tension and the body count ramps up and twists I didn’t see coming this is a terrific read with a heart in your mouth finale
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Oh my goodness Liz Mistry you've done it again! This is the 3rd in the Solanki and McQueen series and in my opinion it's the best one yet. From the get-go this brilliant thriller grabs your attention and does not let go. It's a heart stopping page turner as the Jazz Queens team race against the clock to stop Jazzy's half-sister Mhairi's killing spree. With tension and emotions rising, along with some humorous 'queenie-isms', the ending is so worth the wait. I highly recommend you put this 5 star book to the very top of your to be read pile - I promise you won't be disappointed. Thank you to the author, publisher and netGalley for an early e-copy.

**"Deadly Reckoning": The Solanki and McQueen Series Hits a New High!**

Attention, crime fiction enthusiasts! The much-anticipated third installment of the Solanki and McQueen series, "Deadly Reckoning," has finally landed, and it's a thrilling ride that will leave you breathless. If you've enjoyed the previous books, get ready for a gripping experience that truly takes the series to exhilarating new heights!

Detective Sergeant Jazzy Solanki is about to confront her darkest nightmare: her sister, the cunning serial killer Mhairi, has emerged from the shadows and is unleashing chaos across Scotland. From the lively avenues of Portobello to the gritty streets of Glasgow and the picturesque vistas of West Lothian, Mhairi's sinister influence seems to stretch everywhere. No place feels safe anymore.

The stakes have never been higher, and the tension in "Deadly Reckoning" is electric! Jazzy, along with her tenacious partner Annie McQueen, known as the unstoppable duo "jazzqueen," finds herself racing against the clock to apprehend Mhairi. Yet, their relentless pursuit is constantly hampered by bureaucratic roadblocks from their superiors, adding to the intensity and frustration of their mission. The author brilliantly weaves this internal struggle into the external chase, creating an engaging narrative filled with layers of drama and excitement.

This book is nothing short of a page-turner! The story picks up speed, drawing readers into the heart of the investigation as Solanki and McQueen tackle perilous twists and turns. Despite the obstacles they face from the top, the determination and skill of the "jazzqueen" team shine spectacularly, making them characters you can’t help but root for.

If you’re looking for a crime thriller that offers relentless action, a relatable protagonist grappling with heart-wrenching personal stakes, and a truly menacing antagonist, then "Deadly Reckoning" is an absolute must-read. Buckle up for a ride you won't want to miss!

The Jazz Queens team is back again in the third Solanki and McQueen book. The finding of a first body leads Jazzy to think that it might be connected to her serial killer half sister, Mhairi, but has problems convincing her seniors to follow this line of investigation. So her team set to work trying to link this murder with later ones and also with the disappearance of a teenage girl. It’s a gripping, well written read that is fast paced with lots of twists and turns and includes the usual humour from Queenie. I like the way each chapter is written from one of the main characters point of view as it gives a greater insight into why certain events are happening. This series just gets better and better.

Excellent. A really enjoyable read, with good characters and a nice humorous undercurrent at times that does not distract from the storyline. There were, however, odd parts that you could speed read, but not loose direction.

Book 3 in The Solanki and McQueen crime series and in my opinion the best in the series thus far, and that is no mean feat! DS Jazzy Solanki's serial killer sister, Mhairi, is back on the scene and increasing her death count. From Portobello in the east to Glasgow in the west and West Lothian in the middle there's nowhere safe from Mhairi. Jazzy and her team are desperate to catch her but are continually being usurped by her superiors, a matter which Solanki and her partner Annie McQueen are not shy at showing their disgust at.
The pace of this book is breathtaking and most certainly a page turner. The "jazzqueen" team of detectives are a great team who get results despite the efforts of senior management.
An absolute must read!

Poor Jazzy. She can't even have a rare day off in peace. Did she REALLY have to find a dead body??

All's not well on the home front either after the death of her brother.

I can't praise this wonderful series highly enough - sheer brilliance :)

The third in the Solanki and McQueen series sees Jazzy's serial killer sister return from her period of exile. After hiding on SKye, Mhairi heads back to West Lothian, but what does she have in store? And can Jazzy, Queenie and the rest of the team stop her before she can bring her plans to fruition?

Deadly Reckoning starts slowly. The use of multiple points of view gives in depth understanding of the characters as the pieces are put into place for the conclusion of the three book story arc. But it it worth waiting for the ending as the drama builds. And the finale has moments of tension, drama and tragedy.

While the story of Mhairi is concluded in this novel, we have to hope there is more to come from the Jazz Queens.