It’s all right here . . . mystery, romance, family. A very good way to spend an afternoon or two. A seemingly budding relationship takes a turn when actual truths threaten the people involved.

Why did Rachid Iqbal arrive in Enlgand via Turkey to attack TV historian Oliver Ford. Which DC Hazel Best mainly managed to stop. Hazel's friends - Gabriel Ash and Saturday - grow concerned about her relationship with Ford.
I have not read any of the previous books in the series which didn't present too much of a problem but I didn't really find the plot or characters interesting enough to want to read more.

I received this book from NetGalley and enjoyed reading it. I think this might be the first book I have ever read by this author. I enjoyed the writing and the flow of the story and felt that little threads that were left hanging early on (e.g. the suspected terrorist) were tied up neatly by the end of the story. I didn't think of the story as a true mystery but more psychological suspense watching a strong, independent woman being manipulated by a psychopath into something she isn't by nature. I don't normally like this kind of story, but it certainly kept me reading until the very end. Thank goodness she had friends like Saturday and Gabriel Ash in her corner.

Hazel Best, excuse me, Detective Best had just been reinstated to her post after a long hiatus due to an upheaval in the previous case that she worked on when we enter the story. Being placed on what should have been a simple job--guarding television personality and historian, Oliver Ford, from the adoring crowds during a ribbon cutting ceremony at a small museum opening. What should have been simple ends in terror when a young man attempts what initially is seen as an act of terror against English colonial imperialism... but is that really all that it was?

Why would the boy travel over a thousand miles to attack such an inconsequential museum in a small town? There has to be more motivation than that, right?

A relationship begins between Best and Ford-- which initially seems like the wonderful conclusion from a traumatic event, but as Best's friend Gabriel Ash begins to lose touch with Best and discovers more about Ford's past it seems like only a matter of time before the blooming relationship will implode.

Can Ash discover what really happened at the museum? Can he protect his friend?

You suspect from the onset that something is wrong with Ford, but after a while you begin to hope that your gut feeling of mistrust is just that you've misread the tone of the writing--Ford seems genuine and Best seems more aware and trained to simply walk into a dangerous situation.

But even the seemingly well prepared can unwittingly walk into anything--hopefully Best and Ash can extract themselves without getting burned.

Gabriel is getting used to being responsible for his two sons in this story. He has been out of it for a bit and is desperately trying to be a capable and good father to these two boys.

Along with Patience ( my favorite character ) he is gradually moving forward and now must add to his worry list his best friend Hazel. Hazel is just now coming back to police work after a forced leave. When she is assigned to guard a celebrity in town to film at the museum, Hazel gets in way over her head.

When a book starts with this quote ""Thou hast committed--"
"Fornication? But that was in another country; and
besides, the wench is dead."
--Christopher Marlowe
(1564-1593)

You just know it is going to be interesting. Underlying all of the interaction of the characters is a theme of abuse. Emotional, physical and sexual. And why it is not reported as much as it should be.

All of the characters have distinct personalities but they gel really well together in this mystery!

Not the usual British police procedural but an interesting read. More about Hazel Best and her relationships with people in her life than about police work. Very well written with great characters and a good plot, which was quite intense at times. I enjoyed this read and thank Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads.

When it comes to couples in abusive relationships, people often ask how they got involved and why did they stay. The answers are never straightforward, as can be clearly seen in Other Countries.

The newest Gabriel Ash mystery is not a traditional murder case. Instead, it focuses on his friend, DC Hazel Best’s whirlwind romance with a celebrity historian. Hazel saves Oliver Ford when a young Arab attempts to firebomb him at a museum opening. The assumption is that it was a political attack. The reality is much more sinister in nature. As Oliver romances Hazel, taking her from country to country, Gabriel becomes suspicious, particularly when the young Arab opens up and suggests that Hazel is in danger. In order to protect his friend, Gabriel starts calling in old favors, but little does he realize how much damage Oliver Ford can do.

Other Countries is a compelling, extremely well written novel that shows how easily a woman can be seduced into a dangerous relationship, even one as strong and capable as DC Hazel Best. Although it isn’t a traditional mystery by any means, I highly recommend Jo Bannister’s newest novel, Other Countries.

5 / 5

I received a copy of Other Countries from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

--Crittermom

4 and 1 / 2 stars

This is a very interesting book. It is not your usual police procedural.

Hazel Best is a police officer just returning from a four-month leave of absence when she gets an assignment to protect a celebrity television historian named Oliver Ford. When she rescues him from a fire attack by a young man named Rachid Iqbal, he becomes very grateful.

Meanwhile her friend Gabriel Ash is getting used to being a parent again with all the angst that engenders. He is found dealing with social services, nannies and a rebellious eight-year old.

Hazel’s friend and roommate, Saturday is concerned about Oliver Ford. Hazel has disappeared with him to an unknown location. He feels there is something not right about him.

The ending of the book is explosive and intense.

This book is more about Hazel and her relationships with her friends and the mysterious celebrity historian than it is about police work. Ultimately it is a story about friendship and the lengths some will go to help their friends. It is brilliantly written and plotted and I will most certainly look for more of Jo Bannister’s novels. I truly enjoyed this book.

I want to thank Netgalley and Severn House/Severn House Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful book to read.

I've read several, if not all, of Jo Bannister's Brodie Farrell series over the years, but Other Countries is the first I've read in this series which features Detective Constable Hazel Best and Gabriel Ash.

The epigraph provides an interesting and sinister beginning:
"Thou hast committed--"
"Fornication? But that was in another country; and
besides, the wench is dead."
--Christopher Marlowe
(1564-1593)
Chapter One follows a young Arab man traveling to Britain from Turkey, and right off the bat, it is apparent that his intentions are not good. The reason for his entry to Britain is, somewhat unexpectedly, not the typical terrorist agenda; it is intensely personal. Of course, you can't help but loop back to the epigraph.

DC Hazel Best is one of those people that trouble inevitably finds; in an attempt to keep Hazel free of trouble, her superintendent assigns her to protect a celebrity--the charismatic historian and television personality Oliver Ford. The best of intentions often go awry.

Saturday, Hazel's young lodger and former street kid, and her friend Gabriel Ash are increasingly uneasy about Hazel's connection to Ford. (and yes, I wanted to shake Hazel--frequently)

Hazel becomes more distant from her friends as her relationship with Ford grows, and the plot takes off in more than one direction. Why did young Rachid Iqbal try to murder Ford? Gabriel Ash, who has problems of his own, is puzzled about Hazel's delay in returning to work and the difficulty of getting in touch with her. Seventeen-year-old Saturday, Hazel's lodger, has taken an intense dislike to Oliver Ford, but is reluctant to reveal why.

I liked the characters (well, the recurring characters) and there were a number of interesting and sometimes unpleasant angles to the plot. The reader knows early on where the plot is going, the tension is in waiting for each step.

Read in Feb.; blog post scheduled for May 14, 2017.

NetGalley/Severn House

Mystery/Police Procedural. June 1, 2017. Print length: 224 pages.