Excellent series! I have purchased these books for several friends who love mysteries as gifts. Great mystery story with excellent characters. A must read for any mystery enthusiast…

Brilliant crime novel that I could not put down. Highly recommend to others!! Fabulous author as always.

This was a great police procedural story, and it was entertaining to see a case from start to finish. The blend of this and the family and character dramas was a great addition.

Thank you to NetGalley and The Borough Press for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

DS Manon Bradshaw, along with her sister Ellie, nephew Solly, and adopted son Fly has moved out of London back to her old stomping grounds of Cambridgeshire in hopes that Fly will have a better experience there than in London. But the transition isn't going well and Manon's decision to get pregnant only alienates Fly even more from her. Manon is sitting at a cold case desk but longing for some action so when a man is found dead in a park she's hoping she can at least hover on the fringes of the investigation. Except the dead man ends up being intimately connected to Manon's sister so she isn't allowed anywhere near the case. Then her son is accused of the crime and everything becomes really personal for Manon. Putting her investigative skills to work, Manon conducts her own investigation to clear Fly's name. And while the truth sets some free, it exposes others.

Steiner's DS Manon Bradshaw is a great character. She's very unassuming, not overly superhero-ish, and super smart. In fact, Steiner writes great characters - she does a great job of developing a character quickly and thoroughly. And she writes an engaging mystery to solve. I enjoyed this one so much that I immediately downloaded book 3 from the library and read it as soon as this one was finished.

The second in the series, this book picks up a few months after the first book. DS Manon has moved from London to Cambridgeshire to give her adopted 12 year old son a new start. She's also 5 months pregnant, and has changed from working active cases to cold cases. However, all that changes when a man is murdered and her son is a suspect. The mystery is engaging, and the characters are complex making this one of my favorite series. A great read.

The writing is incredibly descriptive and well done, on occasion actually haunting.
Manon is leading a very different life than she did last book. She's pregnant, living with her sister and her nephew, and mothering a twelve year old she connected with in the first book and later adopted. Adopting an older child never goes easily. When a man known by her sister is found murdered, Manon is stunned when Fly is accused. To clear her son, Manon is on a mission to prove his innocence by finding out who actually killed the victim, who turns out to be a prominent businessman. Reading as it all unfolds takes a little bit of patience, but it's worth it. I'm hoping this series continues.

I really enjoyed this second installment of Detective Manon . Bradshaw mysteries. A murder narrative filled with multiple perspectives to eventually uncover the truth, it made the reader think and predict. So many imperfect but memorable characters filled the story. I recommend it to readers and customers who enjoy multifaceted mystery with some domestic drama.

Susie Steiner’s Persons Unknown is a pretty straightforward mystery focusing on the murder of Jon-Oliver Ross, a rich investment banker who was stabbed while on his way to visit his son. The main suspect is Detective Inspector Manon Bradshaw’s adopted son, Fly, a black 12 year old. Though there’s a complicated, contentious (at least on one end) relationship between Jon-Oliver and Fly, Manon doesn’t believe Fly did it. But who did, and why does the police department—made up of her colleagues—seem so determined to pin this on her son?

Steiner tackles a lot of big topics in her book including ambivalent, complicated feelings regarding pregnancy and newborn mom life; racism against Fly, black males in general, and immigrants and how it relates to the justice system; prostitution and how some young women see it as the best available option. I appreciated how she shows how nuanced even loving relationships are, and how there’s no easy wrap-up to a situation that devastates and disillusions her main characters.

But I did have some problems connecting to the story. At times the characters are kind, but they’re often internally derisive and negative observations and/or descriptions of body size are especially prevalent. The backstories and internal monologues sometimes slow down the pacing of the mystery and the transitions between chapters often feel abrupt.

I enjoyed this mystery but, while it was a quick read, (with the exception of Fly) I didn’t feel totally invested in the characters.

Thanks to Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

I really enjoyed this novel by Susie Steiner, despite not having read the first book (although I most definitely will go back and read it!). The story does take a while to get going but at a certain point there’s a shift and things take off. The tragedy of racial profiling is dealt with well by thte author as is the breakdown of family relationships and just what defines a family, AS a police procedural it was flawed, sloppy police work, easy jumps to false conclusions, and again racial undertones affected the the story. Manon is definitely a flawed character and I did have issues on the whole - adopt a son then moan about wanting a baby of your own element to the stroyline but overall I really enjoyed the book.

In this sequel to Missing, Presumed, Detective Manon Bradshaw is busy raising her adopted son, Fly, and pregnant. She is now working cold cases but she is happy to have some time to adjust to her new life. The move to Cambridgeshire has not been easy for Fly, he’s twelve years old and is probably finding it hard to adjust to new surroundings and the upcoming new family member.

However when Jon-Oliver, a prominent businessman, is found stabbed, Manon finds herself deep in the investigation as some of the leads point to those she loves. Jon-Oliver is connected to her sister and nephew and then when CC TV footage reveals that Fly may also have a connection Manon can’t help but be involved.

Manon is told to keep her distance because she is closely-related but she can’t in all good conscience do that especially when she is good at her job. She is determined especially to help her son after he’s had such a hard time being away from his friends and dealing with all the changes.

I found the start of this book so disjoined from the first book. How is it that Manon is now five months pregnant and doesn’t think that would have an impact on Fly who she just recently adopted. It almost felt like I was missing a book in between. In addition, I thought Manon made some serious errors in judgement during the investigation and of course it’s all because she’s doing it for those she loves but it drove me crazy.

I really loved the first book because Manon is depicted as an intelligent woman who is still young and trying to figure out life. So yes, she makes mistakes and is vulnerable but it was more relatable. Needless to say I had high expectations and unfortunately this book did not meet those.

I've honestly had Persons Unknown on my kindle for two years, and just now got around to reading it (I really dislike ebooks, I'm telling you). I enjoyed the first in the series, Missing Presumed, well enough. It definitely held my interest, but there were definitely some problematic issues in the story. I didn't enjoy the way the first book wrapped up, but I felt like the second book took such a ridiculous turn.

The book continues to follow DS Manon Bradshaw, about a year after Missing Presumed ends. She's now pregnant, has adopted Fly (from the first novel), and is running cold cases. A man is found stabbed to death in a park near Manon's home and after following a few short leads, Fly (a 12 year-old Black boy) is arrested for the crime. Simultaneously, a prostitute is hiding from someone which seems to be connected with the murder in the park.

I am all for stories that discuss race issues and bring to light societal and systemic race issues, but I felt it was done in a really juvenile way, and very ineffectively. It was centered in the story, while also being a side note somehow. Compared to Missing Presumed, the storyline was messy, the dialogue was confusing, and so much of the story seemed to just end without being wrapped up.

Everything was just so sloppy, and the entire story was so dang slow. I figured it out incredibly quickly, so I felt there was absolutely no twist, though perhaps it was supposed to be quite shocking. This story pretends to be about systemic racism, but there are no efforts to dispel the issues being brought up. So, again the white folks just continue living their lives with no problems truly disrupting their lives.

I certainly wouldn't recommend this novel, or even the first novel at this point, and I definitely won't be reading anymore about Manon Bradshaw.

I'm not really sure why I requested this because I didn't love Missing, Presumed, and I felt the same way about Persons Unknown. It wasn't my favorite detective novel, but I didn't dislike it.

DS Manon Bradshaw is complicated. She loves deeply, but is terrified and distrustful of commitment. When her adopted son is arrested by fellow officers on the flimsiest of evidence, she is willing to break any professional rule to protect and defend him. This novel, torn from today’s headlines, is fast-moving and sadly relevant.

Thoroughly enjoyed this literary mystery detective story. The characters are vivid and rich and the plot was compelling and thoughtful. A series I’ll be following for sure.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

DS Manon is back in this second book of the series. Pregnant with her adopted son suspected of murder, she investigates on her own to discover what happened. High end banking and high class escorts are just some of the themes. At times gritty and other times charming. A real treat!

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

A heart-stopping crime novel that will keep you guessing. Fans of Missing, Presumed will snatch this up and wait eagerly for the next adventure featuring the fiercely capable Manon Bradshaw.

I like this series. Maron is a strong female lead and a good detective - the mysteries are solid and the writing is good.

In the summer of 2016 I read a fantastic novel called "Missing, presumed". WOW! What a series debut! The characterization was nothing short of stellar. Here is a brief quote from my review of "Missing, presumed":
"And the police… I LOVED the police in this one! Central to the story is single, thirty-nine year old Manon Bradshaw. I loved the bones of her. So human, so flawed, yet all the more likable because of it."
Well folks, it has been my absolute JOY this week to read the second novel in the Manon Bradshaw series. And, no surprise, it was just as wonderful - if not more so!
"Persons unknown" will, without a doubt, be included in my favorites list for 2018. And Manon Bradshaw? Well, she may very well be my favourite character, EVER!
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Manon Bradshaw, a Detective Inspector with the Cambridgeshire Police, is now in her early forties. She shares a house with her adopted twelve year-old son, Fly, and her sister Ellie, who is a nurse and has a three-year-old toddler, Solly. Also, Manon is five months pregnant. Her biological clock ticked so loudly that she resorted to IVF and was successful.

Manon quite enjoys her work on cold cases. She rattles along okay with Ellie and she adores Solly. She loves her adopted son Fly - though she is riddled with guilt about uprooting him from his school and his friends in London only to replant him in Cambridgeshire. Fly is obviously unhappy and is having some difficulty settling in. He is the only black student at his new school. Fly is a wonderful boy. He is bigger in stature than his twelve years would suggest. He usually has his nose in a book, and he is great with Manon's nephew Solly.

"This is the wonder of parenting: behind every new low is a lower low, to which you thought you'd never stoop."

Manon, at just over five months pregnant is soooooo tired. She could fall asleep anytime, during just about any activity. It is now just a few weeks before Christmas...

A man is stabbed in a nearby park. A private banker from a prestigious wealth management firm in London, his name was Jon-Oliver Ross. When Manon is shown the victim's photo she realizes that the dead man is Ellie's ex, and Solly's dad. He was probably in town to visit Solly.

Davy Walker, once Manon's sergeant, now outranks her. He is put in charge of the stabbing case. Privately he feels out of his depth. He feels like his latest promotion was undeserved. He misses Manon's guidance, her instincts, and her knowledge. The pressure is on him to solve this case quickly as evidence and memory erode over time. Davy is single and when not at work, he feels adrift.

Evidence is brought forward that links Manon's son, Fly Dent, to the stabbing. It is Davy that arrests Fly. Manon refuses to believe that her beloved son could have anything to do with the murder, yet part of her knows that her co-workers would not have arrested him without evidence, something strong...

"Her son contains mysteries, corners into which she cannot shine a light.
He is a closed, separate person."

Davy himself feels horrible about this turn of events. He, who has spent countless hours volunteering at youth centers. His deep affection and respect for Manon are directly at odds with what he feels he must do for his career.

Due to her personal involvement with the suspect, Manon is denied access to the case. She hires a good lawyer to represent her son. Mark Talbot works tirelessly on Fly's case. He works all hours, at Manon's kitchen table. Manon is not sure if it is just pregnancy hormones, but she feels an overwhelmed attraction to Mark. She knows that she is not at her most attractive, and cannot believe that Mark would fancy her at all. The tension of Fly's case coupled with her pregnancy make Manon exhausted and she drops off during one of their work sessions.

"You certainly know how to snore". Yeah right. I wasn't even asleep." "Must've been the boiler," he says. "You didn't fart either." He is jimmying off her shoes, which seem to have become wedged onto her swollen feet. Why does pregnancy make everything swell up?

Meanwhile, the reader is introduced to another excellent character. Birdie (Bernadette) Fielding, is a fifty-something storekeeper. Her shop, "Payless Food & Wine" is located on Kilburn High Road, in London. Overweight and unfit, Birdie lives alone, above the shop - which has a wide array of snack-food laden on its shelves. Birdie lives alone.

"I love my lounge: it's the perfect place to sit in front of the television and pop things in your gob."

Birdie's isolated and singular life is changed when a young woman is knocked down by a car in front of her shop. She is not too badly injured, and Birdie takes her into her shop/flat to recover. The two become unlikely friends. The young woman who calls herself 'Angel' acts furtively and obviously holds many secrets. The communal living is not what Birdie is used to, and many times it annoys her. That being said, she feels bereft when she is not there. Little does she know, but her new lodger is connected to the man who was stabbed to death in Cambridgeshire. Eventually she confides in Birdie and says, "They're going to kill me as well.".

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The police case involves corrupt businessmen, prostitution, and police ethics. But, as good as it was, it is by far overshadowed by the wonderful characters in this novel. Manon is a brilliant policewoman trying to attain the always illusive home/work balance. She loves her children like a fierce 'Mamma Bear'. Fly is a wonderful boy who is thrown under the bus. He is an outcast, so therefore a scapegoat. He hasn't been a part of Manon's world for very long, so he is ridden with personal uncertainties beyond that of just being an adolescent. Birdie is a colourful and compellingly likable character. I only hope that the author will find a way to bring her back in another novel.

Mostly though, this novel is about normal people just trying to get by in a world that often feels adversarial. It is about parenting, and the love of family in all its permutations. A skillfully written novel that contains empathy, pathos and humour. In short, I loved this book. I'm already yearning for another glimpse into Manon's world.

I wish everyone could read this fantastic series. Highly, highly recommended!

Great mystery, just the right amount of twists and turns, my second Susie Sterner book. Not to disappoint!