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steph1rothwell's review
5.0
Having read and enjoyed the first two books in the Hannah Robbins series I was pleased that Rebecca Bradley had published a novella that was also a prequel to the other books. I have read prequels to an established series before but from memory this is the first that focuses on a different character. In this case it was Sally a junior member of the team.
The case that they ae investigating is kidnap, not unusual in itself but the victim is recently deceased and her bereaved husband will do anything to get her back. Sally connects to him and becomes his ally, the one person he will open up to. She is determined that this will be the case where she could prove herself as a valuable member of the team.
Rebecca does a great job of demonstrating how nervous and eager Sally felt about wanting to get her first result and show the established team that she was good enough to be part of them. Most were helpful to her although there was one obnoxious character. It made good reading how she handled him.
I imagine most who read this will have read at least one of the other books in the series so will approach this with similar emotions to myself. For those who haven’t it is a good introduction to a great little series. I have enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Sally and the rest of the close knit team.
With thanks to Rebecca for the copy received for review.
The case that they ae investigating is kidnap, not unusual in itself but the victim is recently deceased and her bereaved husband will do anything to get her back. Sally connects to him and becomes his ally, the one person he will open up to. She is determined that this will be the case where she could prove herself as a valuable member of the team.
Rebecca does a great job of demonstrating how nervous and eager Sally felt about wanting to get her first result and show the established team that she was good enough to be part of them. Most were helpful to her although there was one obnoxious character. It made good reading how she handled him.
I imagine most who read this will have read at least one of the other books in the series so will approach this with similar emotions to myself. For those who haven’t it is a good introduction to a great little series. I have enjoyed getting to know Hannah, Sally and the rest of the close knit team.
With thanks to Rebecca for the copy received for review.
j_lbrbsblogs's review
4.0
3.5-4*
This is a prequel to the DI Hannah Robbins series, which I have not read - yet. I received an eCopy of this novella when I signed up to the authors newsletter via her website.
A body has been stolen from a grave - it’s only been a few weeks since Jason’s wife was buried.
The story is told from both Jason and DC Sally Poynter’s point of view (POV). Sally is a fairly new policewoman.
As DI Hannah Robbins team investigates we learn about what has happened, find out why and who took Jason’s wife.
It’s a pretty well rounded novella, with an interesting premise that is well written and well paced. I enjoyed reading it and would gladly read more from Rebecca Bradley and this series.
This is a prequel to the DI Hannah Robbins series, which I have not read - yet. I received an eCopy of this novella when I signed up to the authors newsletter via her website.
A body has been stolen from a grave - it’s only been a few weeks since Jason’s wife was buried.
The story is told from both Jason and DC Sally Poynter’s point of view (POV). Sally is a fairly new policewoman.
As DI Hannah Robbins team investigates we learn about what has happened, find out why and who took Jason’s wife.
It’s a pretty well rounded novella, with an interesting premise that is well written and well paced. I enjoyed reading it and would gladly read more from Rebecca Bradley and this series.
fictionophile's review
5.0
We join the protagonist DC Sally Poynter as she has just been recruited to the Major Crime Unit of the Nottingham Police. Still insecure and feeling her way, she is attempting to settle in with the team. Most are welcoming, including her DI Hannah Robbins. There is one who is not so welcoming, in fact he is absolutely antagonistic, and that is the arrogant and misogynistic DC Gordon Slater.
Sally's first big case involves a grave robbery. Young Lisa Wells, dead as the result of a traffic accident, has only been dead three weeks. Her young husband, Jason Wells, is still grieving and bereft when he gets a phone call saying
"We have your wife."
Jason works for a software company that has created an invaluable security software for banks. It turns out that the caller wants him to go to work and steal the highly prized software. If Jason does not comply with their demands, his beloved Lisa's body will be fed to dogs. Although it against everything he stands for, he does steal the software, but is caught in the company's state of the art security while leaving the premises. He is arrested. At the police station Jason tells his morbid tale.
Noticing that Sally has formed a rapport with Jason, DI Hannah Robbins suggests that she be the liaison between Jason and the police.
When the case escalates, and Jason escapes police surveillance, the team go into high alert.
The ending of this prequel novella contained some plot twists, and a realistic and satisfying ending. Thus, paving the way well for future novels in the series.
I enjoyed the way that DC Sally Poynter's character was fully fleshed out. The way that both her work life and her home life were described. The team dynamic was realistic. The author is a retired policewoman herself, and her first-hand knowledge is evident.
I downloaded this prequel novella for free, via the author's website. I have purchased the first novel in this series, "Shallow waters" and it is loaded on my Kindle for future enjoyment.
4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.
Sally's first big case involves a grave robbery. Young Lisa Wells, dead as the result of a traffic accident, has only been dead three weeks. Her young husband, Jason Wells, is still grieving and bereft when he gets a phone call saying
"We have your wife."
Jason works for a software company that has created an invaluable security software for banks. It turns out that the caller wants him to go to work and steal the highly prized software. If Jason does not comply with their demands, his beloved Lisa's body will be fed to dogs. Although it against everything he stands for, he does steal the software, but is caught in the company's state of the art security while leaving the premises. He is arrested. At the police station Jason tells his morbid tale.
Noticing that Sally has formed a rapport with Jason, DI Hannah Robbins suggests that she be the liaison between Jason and the police.
When the case escalates, and Jason escapes police surveillance, the team go into high alert.
The ending of this prequel novella contained some plot twists, and a realistic and satisfying ending. Thus, paving the way well for future novels in the series.
I enjoyed the way that DC Sally Poynter's character was fully fleshed out. The way that both her work life and her home life were described. The team dynamic was realistic. The author is a retired policewoman herself, and her first-hand knowledge is evident.
I downloaded this prequel novella for free, via the author's website. I have purchased the first novel in this series, "Shallow waters" and it is loaded on my Kindle for future enjoyment.
4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads.
keeperofpages's review
4.0
Although this is a prequel to the DI Hannah Robbins series, the main protagonist is DC Sally Poynter, so in this one we get a small introduction to Hannah but Sally is the main focus and I’m interested to learn more about both ladies in book one – Shallow Waters.
Sally is new to the Major Crimes Unit, working her first kidnapping case – is it still kidnapping when the person that’s been kidnapped is dead? This is the first novella I’ve read that is a police procedural and I was worried that there would be too few pages for the story to be fully developed – a needless worry. Told in alternating points of view, between Sally and Jason, allows us a double insight into the case, Sally trying to solve it and Jason doing what he feels is necessary to get his wife’s body back, making this case interesting with enough suspense to keep you entertained.
As for the characters, Bradley has developed them enough, that even though, this is a short story, you really get a feel for the characters. Sally is likeable, finding her feet in the new team and eager to prove herself. There’s the supportive colleagues and the colleague we all love to hate, the one who goes out of his way to make Sally’s job difficult.
Three Weeks Dead is a novella that leaves you wanting more, in a good way! The case is resolved but Bradley’s given me a taste of what she can deliver and I’m excited to read her full-length novels, to discover more about the characters (and their backstories) and see how they fare in the next case they are tasked with solving.
Sally is new to the Major Crimes Unit, working her first kidnapping case – is it still kidnapping when the person that’s been kidnapped is dead? This is the first novella I’ve read that is a police procedural and I was worried that there would be too few pages for the story to be fully developed – a needless worry. Told in alternating points of view, between Sally and Jason, allows us a double insight into the case, Sally trying to solve it and Jason doing what he feels is necessary to get his wife’s body back, making this case interesting with enough suspense to keep you entertained.
As for the characters, Bradley has developed them enough, that even though, this is a short story, you really get a feel for the characters. Sally is likeable, finding her feet in the new team and eager to prove herself. There’s the supportive colleagues and the colleague we all love to hate, the one who goes out of his way to make Sally’s job difficult.
Three Weeks Dead is a novella that leaves you wanting more, in a good way! The case is resolved but Bradley’s given me a taste of what she can deliver and I’m excited to read her full-length novels, to discover more about the characters (and their backstories) and see how they fare in the next case they are tasked with solving.
romireads's review
5.0
Short review, because this novella was only 81 pages long.
But in those 81 pages, a lot happened! It definitely didn't feel like a short story. Three Weeks Dead was well thought-through, what also came back in the acknowledgments. Rebecca Bradley is a retired police detective and she asked a doctor for advice on the medical parts of the story. Lisa, Jason's wife, didn't just die [not a spoiler] in a car accident, but a couple of days after because of medical issues. All of this made the short story so much fuller and not boring at all!
I'm now definitely looking forward to read the rest of the DI Hannah Robbins series. This first book, she didn't really played a big role other than being the DI of course. The main character, besides Jason Wells, was DC Sally. So, I'm eager to get to know more about Hannah Robbins!
* I got a free ecopy of this novella through Instafreebie *
But in those 81 pages, a lot happened! It definitely didn't feel like a short story. Three Weeks Dead was well thought-through, what also came back in the acknowledgments. Rebecca Bradley is a retired police detective and she asked a doctor for advice on the medical parts of the story. Lisa, Jason's wife, didn't just die [not a spoiler] in a car accident, but a couple of days after because of medical issues. All of this made the short story so much fuller and not boring at all!
I'm now definitely looking forward to read the rest of the DI Hannah Robbins series. This first book, she didn't really played a big role other than being the DI of course. The main character, besides Jason Wells, was DC Sally. So, I'm eager to get to know more about Hannah Robbins!
* I got a free ecopy of this novella through Instafreebie *
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