The Longest Goodbye

DCI Kate Daniels # 9

4.5 stars

2018. Three years ago Kate’s day is the usual (i.e. not that great), but when she hears there is an officer down, inevitably, that’s a major concern. However, when that officer proves to be someone you work with and is a really good friend, then it takes your breath away and breaks your heart. This murder, that of Georgina Ioannu haunts Kate, especially as her killer or killers are never brought to justice.

2021. Three years on, the prime suspects return to Newcastle and are shot dead hours later. This is way too coincidental, so is someone taking the law into their own hands? As things spin out of control you wonder if this is Newcastle or the Wild West. What can Kate and the team do to contain the situation? Kate is forced to confront past mistakes in order to get to the truth.

This is another cracking read as Mari
Hannah knocks it right out of St James’s Park*. It ticks all the boxes for what I look for in a mystery/thriller police procedural. It is thoughtful and well written with a good pace throughout, the plot moves fast and constantly changes direction keeping you immersed. There are multiple twists and turns that spin things on their head ensuring you keep turning pages as it builds to a surprising but very good conclusion. It’s chock full of suspense and tension, both within the police team and between officers and suspects as well as with Georgina’s family. It tugs on the emotions especially the extent of the loss.

The characterisation is excellent. Kate is a terrific central character, she’s not always easy, just ask her partner Jo Soulsby, but she’s gritty, determined and dogged. Through her, you feel all the emotion of the loss of Georgina and her shame and guilt at the inept first investigation. All the characters in the team feel authentic and real as does the dialogue between them. In addition, there are villains to loathe and a killer whose identity keeps me guessing until the end. Although it’s a dark tale there is some occasional welcome humour to lighten the bleakness.

Finally, a big shout out for the excellent setting in and around the fantastic city of Newcastle. I can almost hear those lovely Geordie accents.

If you like books in this genre, check out this series as they’re belters. Highly recommended.

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

*St James Park is home to Premier League Club Newcastle United aka The Toon.

Now this was a page turner! A breath of fresh air with such an original plot that I didn't know if I was coming or going. It had me absolutely hooked, the writing style flowed naturally and the story kept up a good pace. Such a good installment in a fantastic series

Mari Hannah is simply the best!

Kate Daniels and her team are back, and this novel does not disappoint. Could not put it down!

Mistakes were made in the past, and it was now time to put things right for her best friend.

Fantastic read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.

The 9th book in the fantastic DCI Kate Daniels series begins with a bang and several murders....and as always continues that way. There are so many twists and turns my neck aches from trying to keep up with them! A brilliant book and one that I cannot even start to explain without revealing something I shouldn't. Read it as soon as possible is my only recommendation!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

When policer officer Georgina Ioannau was killed, an inept SIO ensured that the prime suspects for her murder were allowed to flee from justice. Now 3 years later the Bradshaw brothers have resurfaced and been shot dead before the police even knew they were back in the country.
It’s left to DI Kate Daniels and her team to find who killed the brothers and to finally close the case on Georgina’s murder.
Were the Bradshaws killed because of Georgina or is there another reason someone wanted them dead.
Kate will need to dig deep into Georgina’s past if she is to find the answers but what if they aren’t the answers she wants.
If you like a well written, well plotted, crime novel with more twists and turns than a fairground ride this is for you. Once you start you won’t want to put it down.

Hooked, right from the off! Love this series and it's good to have Kate Daniels and the team back after, what feels like, forever away!
Highly recommend, I just didn't want it to end!!

I requested the opportunity to review and read this novel having read some of the novels in Mari Hannah’s other detective series. In both those series I was thoroughly absorbed in the storyline, not wanting the story to end. I’m happy to say that this continued that tradition.

Although this is the first novel I’ve read in the Kate Daniels series, it read well as a stand-alone novel whilst teasing you into wanting to know more about Kate. I will definitely read more in the near future.

This novel is fast paced and consuming with lots of twists and turns. As the story goes you are left wondering who killed Kate’s friend Georgina? Who killed the Bradshaw boys? What happened to Richard Fitzsimmons along who kidnapped Ella the witness and other revelations.

This is a chunky novel you realise when you get to the end and diagnose all that happened but at no point in reading it did I feel disengaged or that it was a chore, in fact, I just didn’t actually want it to end!

As you can guess, I’d heartily recommend. - write more soon please!

Thanks Netgalley and my favourite Publisher. I have loved everything this author has written and this was no exception and probably one of the best. Great storyline and great characters . Would recommend.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have devoured every book that this author has written and this was up there with the best so far. A fast paced page turner.

Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannau was murdered, her killers never brought to justice.
Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK.
Has someone finally taken the law into their own hands?

It was great to catch up with Kate and her team again,
Wow Mari Hannah has done it again, a fab book which i raced through. I cant wait for the next one!

4 stars