Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Great thriller, could no put it down through all the twists and turns. Would highly recommend to fans of this genre.

The Blow Out - Bill Rogers

The author Bill Rogers is a new one for me and I will read more of his work.. I feel that I am missing a lot of background information on the main protagonist and other characters.

This is a well written crime novel based around Senior Investigator Jo Stuart of Manchester's NCA (National Crime Agency). The main protagonist appears to have a rather reckless side to her nature but she absolutely has a knack for seeing what others miss. I really don't want to do a synopsis of the book as their are plenty of them out there already.

I'll finish by advising that you begin this series from the beginning don't do as I did and jump in at the end.

Read for an honest review. Thank you Bill Rogers, Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK

Really enjoyed this. Well written with a gripping plot that kept me turning the pages.

Will have to read books 1-3 now :o)

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A very good police procedural with the main character on secondment. This is book 4 and I have read book 3 but must seek out the other two to get a deeper insight into the back story of the recurring characters. It is well written, with an unusual crime / method and I would recommend to others.

A gangster newly released from prison is murdered before the daughter of his main rival is kidnapped. Is she kidnapped for revenge? SI Jo Stuart is tasked with solving the crimes before a gang war breaks out.

The books in the series are all good police procedurals with interesting characters and plenty of red herrings.

I never really get into these kind of thrillers, but I was surprised it wasn’t that bad. It’s crisp, clean, and the plotgrabs you. I haven’t read his other books but it wasn’t hard to pick up where others have left off.

it seems a long time since I read Bill’s last book and I couldn’t really remember much about Jo Stuart. However, once I started it did come back to me and what a cracking read this is.

It starts off with a drug baron being shot and he dies from a poison pellet, then a rival drug dealers daughter is kidnapped and to all intents and purposes it looks like a gang war, until someone else is shot with a deadly chemical, and they are not related in any way.

It is a race against time for Jo and her team before anyone else is murdered.

My immediate thoughts, and also I see Bill thought the same, is the Russian poisonings that took place here in the UK this year. How strange, has Mr Rogers got foresight!!??

Well it certainly was a different sort of crime story, good solid police work and most enjoyable as always. Hope Bill’s next book will be almost no soon.

My thanks to Bill & Netgalley for the ARC.

Not my usual genre but this book had me gripped throughout. Will be looking out for more of the same!

Although I have read and totally enjoyed the other novels by Bill Rogers , I could not get into the storyline of this one, I found it very disappointing

Another nail biting instalment in this fast paced, gritty series in what is probably Joanne' s most complex case yet.

I received this book as a review copy from Netgalley, with this being the third book of the National Crime Agency series that I have now read. As with the previous books I was not disappointed. SI Jo Stuart and the team bound along at 100 miles an hour seemingly never taking a break. DC Whittle is a good addition to the team and she has quite humorous conversations with SI Stuart when they are alone. I won’t spoil anyone’s reading by dropping any spoilers just to say the book gives no real clues till about two thirds in. The author has an excellent support team as the issues regarding police procedures are referenced throughout.

I have read quite a few books by this author and this one didn't disappoint. It was bang up to date with the M.O. What was thought to be a simple wasp sting turns out to be much more. Joanne Stuart and her team certainly have their work cut out especially with the first victim being a gangland boss, the last thing they want is revenge killings especially since they themselves have no idea who the killer is and also little to go on. There are lots of different aspects to the book and I enjoyed reading it,

I highly recommend this thriller. People are being murdered with a deadly poison and the Manchester police are on high alert due to the method of killing. DI Jo Stuart is an extremely capable detective and has a great team to work with. There are so many suspects to be eliminated that it will definitely
keep you guessing until near the end of the story. A 12 year old girl has also been kidnapped and
this event has ties to the murder investigation. This is book 4 in the series which I was unaware of but
want to read the other ones now. Bill Rogers is a wonderful storyteller and I will be looking forward to
his future books. Thank you.

A good all round detective book, sorry I have not read the previous ones, I am sure that there is plenty I have missed. I would recommend that you start at book 1 to fully enjoy the series.

A well written crime thriller. It is about Senior Investigator Jo Stuart who needs to solve a crime. I will read more of Bill Rogers.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for this copy.

Amazing book. Loved it from beginning to end.
Well written which kept me captivated throughout.
I will definitely be reading other books by this author

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK / Thomas & # 38,Mercer for this arc.

I have read the 3rd book of this series, but not the first 2 and this one is the 4th of this series. I found the 3rd book to be a better story with weak characterization. SI Jo Stuart is growing on me with this read. There was a lot going on in this book and a lot of different agencies were involved with the 2 main plot lines. I found that a little confusing at the start But the action in this book never slowed down. While the police were easily able to determine the original crime to be a revenge killing (of a well-established gangster), the initial volume of potential suspects was mind-boggling. And the chase began. Then there's the second crime, the kidnapping of a young teenage girl -- a reaction to the first killing. The chase starts going in circles. But the killings continue.

A very complex plot. But again, I found the characters to be the weaker element of the story. SI Jo Stuart is depicted as some sort of superwoman with a truly messy personal life. I received interesting flashes of other of her team members, but none were more fully fleshed out in this book.

The Blow Out is the latest book in the SI Jo Stuart series which is based in Manchester.

The story starts with the death of a recently released Manchester Drug Dealer who had been shot a few days earlier without realising it.

As the bodies mount up Stuart and her colleagues come under serious pressure to find the perpetrator but what is the link between the victims?

The author has written a number of books based in the Manchester area and his local knowledge is well used to add authenticity

While this book can be read as a standalone I would recommend that you read the other books in he series for enjoyment as they are all very good

Recommended

This is the fourth in the series, I have read all of them and I have enjoyed each and everyone of them.
This book is a big 5 stars. A really good police procedural and an excellent crime thriller.
A young girl is missing and a silent killer is stalking the county. This book is full of tension and suspense and a list of subjects continually growing. Not forgetting the ingenious way the killer dispatches his victims.
If you have not found this author yet you can read this book as a stand alone, but I am sure you will want to search out the rest of his books. This author always brings something new to the table. Personally I think that this is his best book yet.
I would like to thank the author Bill Rogers, Amazon Publishing UK and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.