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.