Solanki and McQueen Crime Series Book 3

A DEADLY DISCOVERY

Enjoying a rare day off, DS Jazzy Solanki's peaceful spring walk is interrupted when a body is discovered along the path. Instinct tells her it's not a coincidence.

A HIDDEN THREAT

Could Jazzy's estranged estranged, vengeful stepsister - consumed by grief over her brothers death - be sending her a dedly message?

A RACE AGAINST TIME

Then a child goes missing. The crimes appear unrelated, but Jazzy's gut insists there's a sinister connection, one that points straight at her. With time running out, Jazzy and her team must uncover the truth before the killer finds them.

DS Jazzy Solanki is still recovering from events that took place in the last book. Her brother had committed suicide. Her sister, Mhair, is still out there, somewhere, plotting her revenge. We have three separate murders, and Jazzy and Quenie are convinced they are all linked to Mhair.

This gripping read held my attention throughout. The murders have links to the past. The story starts off slowly. the tension rises, and the story is multi-layered. I was kept guessing .

Published 3rd July 202

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQStories and the author #LizMistry for my ARc of #DeadlyReckoning in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love this series and I was looking forward to catching up with DS Jazzy Solanki and DC Annie McQueen. It felt like a while since I had done so, but straight away I was pulled into their investigation, which picks up where the previous novel ended. I do recommend that you read the series in order, but Liz Mistry gets the reader up to speed really well.

Deadly Reckoning is the third instalment of the series and it's my favourite so far. Jazzy and Queenie now feel like close friends to me, and once again, I love the dynamic between them. In this novel, each chapter is written from the perspective of a different character (including the perpetrator) and this gives us more insight into how they operate and how they respond to different situations. This also brings Fenton and Geordie further into the story and I enjoyed getting to know them better. Liz Mistry's characterisation is wonderful, particularly where there is tension between the characters. There are a few characters who made my skin crawl.

In Deadly Reckoning, we know who the perpetrator is fairly quickly, which means that the novel is not a whodunnit, but a cat and mouse chase, which is full of adrenaline and tension. This kept me on my toes the whole way through as I really wanted to know how it would be concluded.

There are still some strands of the story which I would like to explore further, so I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series!

Third instalment in the Solanki and McQueen series. Another cracking read, the jazz queens are recovering from the tragic events the previous book the revenge pact brought. A rare quiet day out for Jazzy, one which is soon to be disrupted with the discovery of a body. Is there a new killer in town, what about the elusive sister of jazzy who is still at large. Will all those nearest and dearest to Jazzy survive another round of racing to catch a killer.

I’d like to thank H.Q and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Deadly Reckoning’, book 3 in the Solanki and McQueen series written by Liz Mistry, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

When DS Jazzy Solanki is out walking with her family she comes across a murder when the body of a man left in a kiln is found to be holding an envelope with her name on it. Jazz is removed from the investigation as the person suspected of being involved is none other than her killer step-sister Mhairi, but Mhairi is a master of disguises and manages to get close to Jazzy without being seen. The need to identify the man’s body and find his killer is extra-important before Mhairi carries out her promise to destroy Jazzy and her family.

‘Deadly Reckoning’ is the third instalment with DS Jazzy Solanki, DC Annie McQueen and their compatriots DCs Fenton Heggie and Geordie McBurnie otherwise known as ‘The Jazz Queens’. The plot has been skilfully written with cleverly portrayed characters and although Annie McQueen is described as small, rotund, feisty and foul-mouthed, I do like her as she brings a smile to my face. There’s plenty of suspense, intrigue, as well as unexpected twists and turns, and it’s a great novel for those who enjoy Scottish crime with characters who aren’t your usual run-of-the-mill police officers.

Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the previous books in this series last year and really enjoyed it, this picks up the same story of Jazzy’s serial killer sister being on the run and taunting the team. The action starts almost straight away with a body being discovered and clues left making them think it was her doing. But other departments, mainly the task force set up to catch her don’t agree.

Jazzy and her team, including the really unlikeable Queenie (I wasn’t a fan of hers in the last book and found her just as annoying in this one), have the murder to look into but everything keeps sending them her sisters way.

I was hoping the storyline would get tied up, it felt like it had run its course and really liked how the story progressed. I enjoyed this one and found it fast paced and well written, easy to follow with a sprinkle of humour just when it was needed. I’m keeping my eyes open for the next one to see how this pans out.

Another great case for the Jazzqueens. Love this series and to see what they get up to next. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense to keep me hooked. Well rounded characters. Great writing style. Didn’t guess the culprit’s last hurrah which was a big plus for me. Eagerly awaiting the next adventure. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

This is the third book of the series, affectionately known as “the Jazz Queens” with Jazzy Solanki at the helm. Jazzy and Annie McQueen have their work cut out to catch the serial killer, who is also Jazzy’s step sister Mhairi before she strikes again. However, it’s not that easy, as the powers that be upstairs are not happy at the jazz queens investigating due to the familial relationship, which is brought to light again in this book. Even a high ranking police officer is connected to Jazzy which I’d actually forgotten about.

What follows is a game of cat and mouse trying to find Mhairi before she kills again. Despite the team being excellent detectives, Mhairi is the master of disguise. She watches and waits and strikes. I think even if you knew her, you’d pass her in the street, she’s that clever.

This is one very cleverly crafted and written book and will keep the reader guessing until the end. Saying that I’m trying to write this without giving too much away, but the ending isn’t what you’d expect even in your wildest dreams, can’t say anymore, you’ll have to read it to find out!

My thanks to Liz, and the publishers for the ARC and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Welcome back to the Jazz Queens - DS Jazzy Solanki, DC's Annie (Queenie) McQueen, Fenton Heggie, and Geordie McBurnie. I love the chemistry between them all! Jazzy is out for a family day with her Mum, guide dog, Crumble and her two young friends, Ivor and Benjy, when she spots something odd. Jazzy goes away to investigate, which leads to dangerous game with her sister, Mhairi. Is it revenge? Then a young girl disappears, which Jazzy and her team to wonder how they are connected. It was full of twists and turns, grippy, gritty, highly charged and unputdownable. And that ending, I was not prepared for that!

Deadly reckoning is the 3rd book featuring Jazzy Solanki. I've read all 3 of them and this one was absolutely top notch.
Great plot with very well written characters.
5 stars!

While on a day off, Jazzy is out with her family and they come across local police who have found a body. It doesn’t take long for Jazzy to believe that her half sister is back, and will be gunning for Jazzy.

And that is all I’m going to say about the plot, you need to read this book yourself.

This is an author whose books I never want to miss out on. Her characters come to life and there is something special about The Jazz Queens.

The story is dark and gritty, with the addition of subplots, this makes for an intriguing read.

Thanks to the added humorous antics of McQueen, the story manages to not be all doom and gloom.

I do hope that there will be more stories to come from this fabulous team.

My thanks to HQ and the author for a copy of Deadly Reckoning.

I absolutely love this series of books, the third in the series featuring Solanki and Mc Queen. From Queenie to Elliot, with all their flaws and quirks, they feel utterly believable. Jazzy is a complex character, consumed by guilt and her past but I just love her! I love the character descriptions from the author, they are brought vividly to life and the humour throughout, especially from Queenie. The pacing and the story flow really well in the multi-layered plot, due to the skillful writing from the author who is one of my favourites in the crime fiction genre. I highly recommend reading the first two in the series for background information. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Deadly Reckoning by Liz Mistry is book 3 in the Solanki and McQueen series. It is published on 3 July. I was so looking forward to reading this, as I love this series. But then I love all the author’s books. Thank you to HQ Digital, Netgalley and the author for the advance copy to read and review. Jazzy is sure the nightmare with her sister, Mhairi, is starting again. Mhairi is pure evil. Jazzy is planning her brother, Simon’s, funeral and it is hoped this might lure Mhairi back. She may already be back though as a body Jazzy is familiar with, is found in the old Bottle Kilns in Portobello. Mhairi stays in the shadows and is great at disguises as she controls the investigation. I love Liz’s descriptive writing. Her description of Queenie – ‘one small, rotund, feisty, foul-mouthed woman in her mid-forties’ – had Queenie standing right in front of me, as clear as day. Her writing is superb and very powerful. It draws me right in to the story. Queenie, together with Jazzy, DCs Fenton Heggie and Geordie McBurnie are known as the Jazz Queens. Together they form a tight-knit group and watch out for each other. The partnership of Queenie and Jazzy is just perfect and the four of them together provide so much entertainment. Such a fabulous read and series.

The Jazz Queens just get better and better.

"Deadly Reckoning" opens a short while after the events of "The Revenge Pact". Everyone is still reeling from the events of that book - Jazzy is at an all time low, in the aftermath of her personal losses, while Queenie is trying to be supportive despite her own troubles. The Jazz Queens as a whole are side-lined on any further investigations into Jazzy's sister - a new team has been handed that responsibility, leaving the Queens to carry out the menial work. However when Jazzy is in Portobello with Ivor and Benjy and they uncover a murder, events are set in motion which will cause further grief for the team.

When a second body is discovered, similar in nature to the first, Jazzy and Queenie push to have their colleagues investigate links to Mairi. When this fails, it falls to them to take up the case. As they move forward, their higher-ups recognise the implications and that the team might be in danger.

As the story unfolds, the Jazz Queens come up against enemies, new and old and old friendships are renewed. Fans of the series will enjoy their forays into and across the Lothians, Threads begun in the previous book are nicely developed, and we learn more about Jazzy's childhood. Benjy's mental health continues to worsen and we get deep insights into the horrors of depression. That said, there is still the humour that fans enjoy in the books. And the ending will have everyone gasping in disbelief.

Liz Mistry has scored another win, with this latest story about people linked by family, friendship and loss.

Heartily recommended.

Another episode of Jazzie/Queenie scots police drama. Jazz is preparing for her brother's funeral, and full precautions are being taken in case her serial killer sister decides to attend in some way.. A body is found in an old pottery kiln and there are subtle clues that Mhari (serial killer sister) is involved. the hunt for Mhari has been handed to a specialist ubit, headed by two of the most obnoxious senior officers - who don;'t want Jazz anywhere near it. More bodies pile up, all with some link to Mhari and Jazz's family and the stage is set for a bloody endgame. fortunately the Jazz Queens continue to be able to get away with dissing the seniors and also pull up the ideas and the answers.. Gripping.

I always like Liz Mistry's writing and have recently been enjoying the company of the Jazz Queens, but I must admit the continuing exploits of Jazzy's dysfunctional family are really pushing the bounds of plausibility and I hope the author's next book will concentrate on a different team of officers.
Thank you to netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of this book

Great sequel in series.****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

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