I do love this author’s books and I was very eager to get my hands on a copy of this one having enjoyed the first book in the series.

This is a well written, enjoyable story. I will be honest and say that it didn’t really grip me like her other books have done and I did find it almost a little bit more of a cosy crime at times than a fast paced action police procedural but it was a great story and I enjoyed reading it, and there is nothing wrong with a bit of cosy crime every now and again!

Having read this one I would say that you would be better reading the previous book as the lead character, DI Matt Brindle has a back story that carries through in to this book.

Four stars from me for this one – I really enjoyed it!

Helen H Durrant can always be relied upon to deliver a decent story and tell it well.

On this occasion, it's a complex tale with threads that only knit together in the final chapters, with perhaps a couple too many characters - I actually found myself flicking back on occasion to check if people were who I thought they were.

Regardless, it's a good read if you like a decent cop hero (none of the tortured alchoholic, thank goodness) and satisfyingly smug and horrible villains.

Major fan of Helen, great read and a welcome new series, can't wait for the next installment. Love the new characters

The Other Woman by Helen Durrant was an exceptional read. the book kept me engrossed with the story line keeping me enthralled. a must for your library.

Thanks to netgalley for a cooy of this book.
I thought the book started out really well. A prospective buyer comes for a second viewing of a property and finds the real estate agent stabbed to death. The story gets very convoluted with many characters and some hard to believe connections between the stories. For me the actions and dialog didn’t ring true with the DI and the rest of the police staff. I don’t think I’ll be reading others in the series.

I won't go into the plot as too many reviewers have done so. But essentially it's a crime drama, with quite a lot of suspects. The core story is fairly interesting but I believe there were too many unnecessary characters or side stories which didn't add anything (eg, the distractions of Matt's and Kate's family issues). The writing is fine, though a bit partial to British readers because of the slangs.

This book was an involved complex mystery involving an apparently motiveless murder, missing young girls, and low life criminals without any moral compass. The investigation involved three police officers going off in different directions with what appeared to be no cohesion or backup. The storyline included involvement by the mother of the senior detective (never exactly sure what it added to the story) meaning he was regularly distracted by home events. The experienced lady officer was frequently called to sort out an ailing mother and wayward brother. Again confused at minor distractions taking the officer from involving herself wholeheartedly in the investigation. The youngest officer seemed the least distracted, most efficient and only person getting to grips with the endless detail to resolve all aspects of the case. Too many irrelevant ideas and characters irritated and distracted from what was a good idea for a mystery with a successful outcome if somewhat implausible. ending. A trimming down of characters and irrelevant content with hard editing of this book would have resulted in a good story becoming a gripping thriller.

I have been busy catching up on reading all of Helen’s books (all of which I have loved by the way) but I must admit that I haven’t come across DI Matt Brindle before. Sorry Helen but fret no more because I have certainly come across him now.
DI Matt Brindle is different to a lot of policemen I have come across in crime fiction. Matt is rather posh to say the least and he doesn’t really need to be a policeman. By that I mean that he has a title and an estate. His mother certainly doesn’t want him to work for the police. That is perhaps understandable because Matt was left with physical and mental scars following events in a previous case. Matt feels enormously guilty too because he survived but his close work colleague didn’t. Against his mother’s wishes he goes back to work and he is soon thrust into the thick of things and he has to investigate the murder of Ronald Potter. Matt is a determined policeman, who investigates cases thoroughly and methodically. If something doesn’t seem right to him then it usually isn’t. Matt is like a dog with a bone in that respect. Matt works well as part of a team but he works equally well on his own. He sounds like an ideal type of boss in that he won’t ask anybody to do anything that he wouldn’t be willing to do himself. Will Matt solve the case? Will DI Matt Brindle stay in the police force or will he do as his mother wishes? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
Wowzers Helen H. Durrant has come up with the goods again and this is one hell of a read. The story hits the ground running and maintains the pace throughout. From the moment I picked the book up, I was hooked on the story. I binge read the book over the space of a few hours despite my intention not to read too much in one sitting. Whoops. For me, ‘The Other Victim’ really is a ‘CPID’ (can’t put it down) book. It wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it came everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to be parted from the book and if I had to be parted from it, then I was counting down the time until I could pick it up again. I usually have the attention span of a gnat but not in this case because I had to really concentrate on the book as there was so much going on. The pages turned over at speed and at one point the pages were turning that quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves. Before I knew what was happening I had finished reading the book, which I was so disappointed about. I was enjoying everything about the book and I just wanted it to continue. Reading this book was much like being on one hell of an unpredictable and at times rather scary rollercoaster ride. There were times where I almost had to read through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next. Silly me because I knew that I had to read on if I wanted to find out what happened in the story.
In my opinion ‘The Other Victim’ is superbly written and the book has a bit of everything. There’s drama, murder, danger and intrigue in spades. I would have no hesitation in recommending this author and her books to other readers. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board just has to be 5* out of 5*.

The Other Victim opens with Ronald Potter, an estate agent, being found stabbed to death in one of the properties he is trying to sell. With this already being a difficult task, it becomes harder when a discovery in the cellar adds more mystery to the case. Simultaneously, the team are searching for a missing girl to add stress to their caseload.

Although this was a good novel, it did not capture my attention as much as I hoped it would. I found myself struggling to get into the story and not wanting to pick it up as often as I would have liked. I skim read some of it and had to force myself just to finish, however I did enjoy the premise of the story.

Book two in the series, but my first by this author and I wasn’t lost. Matt Brindle is an interesting character with his estate and heritage (along with crazy mom). His new partner, Kate, also interesting and with her own set of problems.

There were twists and several suspects to choose from. The writing was good, things moved along. Ending was satisfying. I would recommend this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Joffe Books for a copy in exchange for a review

I have been a fan of Helen since I first became aware of her 'Dead' series, and this novel is also an exceptional read.
I found it to contain an ensemble of colourful characters, not all of them likeable but nevertheless intriguing, as they weaved their way through to the satisfying conclusion.
Although I suspected who the villain was from early on, there were a number of plot twists that made me believe that maybe I was wrong!
This is a cracking murder mystery and highly recommended.
Thanks to Helen H Durrant, Netgalley and the Publishers for an advance read of this novel.

This was a suspenseful murder mystery and despite it being the first book I have read from this author, I got the impression that it was part of a series. The story itself was quite good, however I did find the writing style a little generic and at one point thought I might not bother to finish as it began to annoy me.

I've recently finished book 1 in this series, and went straight onto this bad boy! Book 2 in the MATT BRINDLE Series.
I'm really getting to like the main character Matt Brindle, ( I also quite like his mother) I'm loving learning about him, his highs and lows, his attituded towards people, the team he works with. His home life is probably just as chaotic as his working life. Trying to balance his full time police career with running events in the grounds of his home to make much needed cash for the upkeep and renovations to his rather large home. It is all very cleverly set out, written brilliantly.
​ Matt and his team are joined this time around with DS Kate Baxter joining the team. Kate who seems to have quite a few issues in her personal life, has the making of another great character.
Dead bodies, Body parts, disappearances, If that hasn't got you interested then this isn't the book for you.
Once started, I read this book pretty much in 2 sittings. (while the little one's away) I think the tension, suspense and mystery in these pages are enough to keep any fan of this genre going. The twists really made this story stand out.
I will add as always with books that are part of a series, I really feel that it's best to read these in order. it will give you a better idea and a better understanding of who the characters are and their backgrounds.

​What you waiting for, click the links and treat yourself to two great books.

Absolutely stunning book I read this in super quick time as I couldn't put it down. It was fast paced, full of tension and twists and had me turning pages so fast mesmerised by the words on the paged. Loved this book, Helen just gets better and better with each book. I don't hesitate in giving this 5 stars I really enjoyed it.

ook 2 in the DI Matt Brindle series, I thoroughly enjoyed His Third Victim which is where Brindle is introduced and this one was no different.

DI Matt Brindle is still out on sick leave after a tragic end to his last case seeing the death of his DS Paula Wright and still suffering both physically and mentally as a result. Leave for Brindle is cut short when the body of an estate agent is found in a pool of blood at a house he was to view to perspective purchasers. Matt is launched back into it with this team and new DS Kate Baxter who has transferred from Manchester with her own personal issues including her unruly brother, Zane and her mother still in a nursing home in Manchester suffering from dementia.

At the scene of crime, Brindle & Baxter happen upon even more sinister things when they find the charred out remains/body parts of a young woman in the cellar of the house. Are these two deaths connected? Added to that a young woman, new mother, has been reported missing by her mother, how do these all come together if they even do?

Matt has a lot on his plate including the opening up of Brindle Hall to the public much to his mother’s disgust but they have to generate income to keep up the repairs on the place which I was delighted there was follow up in relation to this.

As always with Helen Durrant’s books, this is a very well thought out murder mystery with twists and turns along the way to keep you guessing, I started this book late last night and couldn’t wait for lunchtime in work to finish it off, its one of those that you just have to know WTF is going on and who did what and when and where…..

Encompassing sleazy pole dancing club, hench men, young girls being exploited, young girls in fear for their lives, criminal bosses, murder, missing persons….. what more could you ask for.

I have read all of Helen Durrant’s books including DI Greco and the Calladine & Bayliss series and I just love them. Will, not for the first time, be highly recommending this.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Joffe Books and of course Helen Durrant for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Second in the DI Matt Brindle series, THE OTHER VICTIM by Helen Durrant is an enjoyable police procedural. At times confusing with the introduction of so many characters and it took awhile, to sort out some of them out. An engaging mystery with leisurely twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. .

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This is the second book in the Matt Brindle series. I had not read the first book but other then a few references to him being hurt and his last partner being killed you can easily read this book as a stand-alone. It was a good crime thriller with lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it to book loving friends.

The Other Victim by Helen H. Durrant is described as a gripping crime thriller full of twists.

It is though not completely my cup of tea. This author is new to me. I enjoyed the book but was somewhat relieved when I had finished it. It ended with more of a whimper than a bang.

But I can see why she has fans. It is largely well-written; the pace is consistent; the plot is plausible; the characters well fleshed out and quite believable.

It is more cosy than realistic especially when it comes to much of the dialogue. I found many of the characters speaking in a way that is alien to me and I am not referring to the occasional use of northern English ‘owts’ and ‘nowts.’
There are characters from sink estates, some young hoodlums, hardened police officers and violent criminals. Not once does the author use one single expletive in dialogue with any of these tough characters. Now, that’s fine if that’s the sort of thing you like. I find it unrealistic. If a book is unrealistic, it doesn’t grab me or thrill me.

There were twists but not of the ‘OMG I didn’t see that coming’ type. It was more of a nod of the head and a ‘ah, ok,’ type of twist. In fact it was more of a fresh development than a twist and there were plenty of those.
I also found a little too much telling and not enough showing at times as if the author was rushing the plot along.

It was an okay book and I can see why she has her fans but I won’t be reading any more of this author’s books.

I thank the publisher and NetGalley for a free digital version of this book. I was not obliged to review it and all opinions expressed are my own.

Another cracker from Helen H Durrant.
I just love her books, I couldn't put it down, perfect holiday reading.
NEXT please

Book two in the Matt Brindle series and it opens with a murder of a local estate agent. Matt has a new member on his team, Kate, who brings her own set of problems. As the body count rises, they have to find out if they are linked. Good character development, plenty twists and well written. Fans of police procedurals will enjoy reading this book. My thanks to Net Galley for my copy. Another winner from the author. Reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and Facebook.