High Force by LJ Ross

High Force by L.J. Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the author, in return for an honest review.

This is the fifth part in the DCI Ryan series of books and I have to say, the plot just continues to thicken. The end of Angel (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #4) saw The Hacker make an elaborate break from prison, arriving at the door of an unsuspecting DI Denise MacKenzie. This left me so many unanswered questions which I needed answers to. Thankfully, Ross wasted no time in putting pen to paper and satisfying my ever growing curiosity.
Always one step ahead of the game The Hacker, aka Kier Edwards, does his best at keeping DCI Ryan running in circles. Little clues dropped, but nothing to give away his whereabouts or whatever transport he may be using. It takes a great deal of police manpower to piece together the clues and come up with a viable solution - each time leading them up a dead end street! Edwards is the master of games and loves playing with the emotions of Ryan, however maybe this time he's bitten off more than he can chew. For the first time, we get an insight into how Edwards was shaped from an early age into the dangerously calculated killer that he later became and we learn a little more about his childhood.
Overall, this is a very tense read which keeps you on the edge of your seat. Think you've got Edwards sussed? Think again because there's more twists and turns which will keep you guessing till the very end. Can Ryan and his colleagues save MacKenzie before it's too late? Does she have the strength to keep going or will she give up before her captor? Will everyone survive or are more victims on the cards? Will Edwards ever be caught? These were all questions running round my head whilst reading High Force and the answers surprised even me.
Brilliantly written and engaging. I am now desperate to see how all the loose ends tie up and, as usual, Ross left me with unanswered questions and the need to get my hands on her next book, Cragside - I can't wait!!

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Sycamore Gap by LJ Ross

I received this book free of charge from the author, in return for an honest review.

This is the second book from the DCI Ryan Mystery collection and I have to say that I was far from disappointed. The reader is introduced to a few new characters but there are also several who make a reappearance from the first book in the series, Holy Island, which is also well worth a read if you haven't already!

Once again, DCI Ryan is at the centre of a major investigation after a girls body is discovered hidden inside Hadrians wall ...but all is not as it seems. The finger seems to point towards an old adversary of Ryans, but there are a few pieces of the jigsaw that don't quite match up. Ryan is sent on a bit of a wild goose chase until he takes matters into his own hands and hatches an elaborate plan to catch the killer. With his loved ones at risk, will he be quick enough to save them or will he plunge them even further into danger?

Once I sat down to read Sycamore Gap, it was really difficult to put it down ...I was gripped! There are once again, many surprising twists and turns which keep you alert and intrigued. I was constantly guessing who the guilty party was and whether he would continue to evade capture right up until the last couple of chapters! Just when I though I had it sussed, Ross would throw another spanner in the works and have me guessing all over again! Exceptionally well written and with a great knowledge for the way in which police cases are handled. I can't wait for the next book!!

You can purchase this book via Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com so gop grab your copy now!
Also check out LJ's fab website for more info.

Holy Island by LJ Ross

I received a copy of Holy Island free of charge from the author, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Holy Island is set on the quiet Northumbrian island of Lindisfarne, where most of the inhabitants have lived there all their lives and know each other well. When the body of Lucy Mathieson is discovered on The Priory, the whole island is left stunned and speechless. No outsiders were able to access or leave the island during the time of death due to the tides, which meant that it had to be one of the locals ...but which one and why? Detective Chief Inspector Ryan has been taking some time out after a major case and found himself hiding away on Holy Island, putting himself in the perfect place to head the murder investigation. Lucys' death wreaks of some form of pagan ritual so Dr Anna Taylor is called in to help police with their inquiries. Anna was originally from the island but left years ago to free herself from her past, and indulge in a new beginning. Coming home brings back many bad memories for Anna which she has to overcome, including meeting up with the sister she never really got along with. There is an instant attraction between Anna & DCI Ryan but will they take things further during such an important investigation? I'll leave that for you to find out!

I'm always a bit dubious when I pick up a new crime novel, especially one which has be gifted to me for review, as it's one of my favourite genres and I have pretty high expectations. What I'd seen and heard about this book really piqued my interest, and I'm so glad it did! This isn't a book which had me gripped from the beginning as such, but it did spark a curiosity which meant that I needed to know more.
Ross has an excellent use of vocabulary and manages to give a deep insight into each character without giving too much away at the same time. As a reader, I was quite overcome with emotion at some points of the book and found myself pulling the odd face as descriptions of the murder were revealed ....even the odd shocked expression! Ross writes with great passion and I have to say that I loved every bit of this story and the clever way in which it all came together. I find that as I read, I tend to try and predict what the outcome will be but this had me guessing all the way through and each time I thought I had it sussed, another spanner was thrown in the works. I seriously loved the ending ....nothing could have prepared me for it which is one reason why I'd highly recommend this as a crime novel. It has everything ......love, murder, mystery, suspense, it's all there!
I can't wait for her second novel to be released and look forward to reading it.

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About the Author

Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, LJ Ross moved to London where she graduated from King's College London with undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Law. After working in the City as a regulatory lawyer for a number of years, she realised it was high time for a change. The catalyst was the birth of her son, which forced her to take a break from the legal world and find time for some of the detective stories which had been percolating for a while and finally demanded to be written. 

She lives with her husband and young son in the south of England, but will always be a northern girl at heart.

Her first book, "Holy Island", has consistently been listed as an Amazon bestseller since its release in January 2015 and hit the Amazon UK Kindle #1 position in May 2015. She is currently working on the next book in the DCI Ryan series, "Sycamore Gap", which is due to be released on 12th September 2015.