Niche Reading for Crime Fiction Fans
When our local independent bookshop (Forum Books in Corbridge) recommended this book, it seemed like the perfect match for our book group. We were easily wooed by signed copies, an acclaimed local author and the promise of a gripping thriller set in our own region.
The story follows DS Matthew Ryan and DS Eloise O’Neil as they investigate a series of murders revealed by video footage.
Perhaps our expectations were set too high, but the actual read was an anti-climax. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t as good as we’d hoped. The thriller element was more limp than tense and dominated by police procedural. The writing had very faint echoes of Ian Rankin’s style and the specialist crime unit lacked authenticity.
Fans of this genre will be familiar with Rankin’s characters - John Rebus, Siobhan Clarke, and “Big Ger” Cafferty. Somehow, Hannah’s characters are more faint, less compelling, and harder to picture or care about.
Interestingly, our enthusiasm for, and our familiarity with, the regional setting turned out to be an unhelpful complication. When the action featured local landmarks like North Shields quayside, we found it harder to stay on the page because our attention jumped to previous associations with the place.
Some readers might find these observations unfair and hypercritical. There is plenty of support for Hannah’s books on Amazon and she clearly has a strong following. The truth is that members of this book group are just not interested in police procedurals.
We reviewed this over a pub meal at The Robin Hood Inn - large portions of pub grub in the shadow of Hadrians Wall.
Our next book involves yet another crime - hopefully not too much procedure though!!
