I love a good police procedural novel and this one does not fail to give you exactly that. Grace is coming more to life in this second novel and also the relationship with Simon.
Full of twists and left with not really having any idea who could be targeting the girls until the final few chapters.
Looking forward to reading the next one in this series

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 that kept me turning the pages, a great story with intriguing characters that kept me guessing. Highly recommend to others!

After reading book one in this new series I was keen to move straight on so I can catch up. I absolutely loved the first book and had all the basics of our main characters. What I would say is that if you haven’t read book one and plan on doing so maybe don’t continue on with this review as it will inevitably contain spoilers.

So Grace is settling down in her role as DS back in her the town she grew up in. Sadly for her and the team the discovery of a young girl dead jsut outside school grounds is the start of a new case. I particularly like that her colleagues are now very accepting of Grace and we get to see a little more of them as they work the case. Before long a second woman is found dead and the team are desperately trying to see if there are any connections. Her relationship with reporter Simon is most definitely tested both professionally and personally and I loved seeing more of this element of Grace as it gives you insight into her a lot more with this book. After the drama of book 1, I wondered how much we would see of her estranged Family, and although we get fleeting glances it was nothing too heavy. I was kind of grateful for that because book one was so full on and this way there is room for a lot more happening there in future books.

I read this in two sittings and loved it just as much as the first. I made myself read a different genre after this just to give myself a break but the next book will most definitely be book 3 in this series and I can’t wait. A fabulous read which I loved!

Mel Sharratt is such a good writer. This gritty police procedural kept me up late reading - she gets better with each book.

The 2nd book in the series and as anticipated it did not disappoint.

Thoroughly enjoyed the ongoing storyline of Grace & her team. This had me hooked and I devoured the book in just one day.

Already looking forward to more by this author.

4.5 stars

A fantastic read that kept me gripped. I really enjoy the writing style of the author and the books are well paced, with plenty of twists and turns. Grace is an interesting character and I like her more with each book. Can't wait for the next one!

Tick Tock is book 2 in the DS Grace Allendale story and after really enjoying Hush Hush, I was looking forward to this!
This time we find Grace still settling back into her old hometown, with a high-pressure job, in a new relationship and let's not forget her estranged family always in the background somewhere!
Her current case involves trying to solve the horrific murder of a teenage girl while on a cross-country run with her school PE lesson. When a second woman is kidnapped and murdered a few days later in a similar way, Grace has the makings of a serial killer on her hands and her work cut out to catch them before the bodies mount up.
Along with this being a brilliant story, I really liked the way the characters and their relationships are developing. I am looking forward to reading more.
While it could be read as a standalone as not too much from book 1 is referred to, I highly recommend reading the first so the background is clearer and because it is also very good!

Interesting read ! The murder and investigation were otherwise pretty boring, but the entry of the serial killer and his manipulations made the rest of the read interesting. Though the book starts with back to back murders, the investigation or thrill levels were pretty low. You do have quite a few characters that can be added to the 'possible perpetrators' list, which kept me involved in the plot.

It's only in the second half that the plot catches up. Mostly because the serial killer angle gives me a rush. The end was pretty gnarly and grand as far as crazy psychopaths go.

The investigation and the cop-feel, in general, was a let down for me. While Grace, the flashbacks of her past, the online application that was a link between the victims did provide a little high, but I am someone who loves to read about the pieces sequentially falling together to make the picture clearer. And that effect was missing.

But otherwise, it's a pretty good read.

I absolutely loved the first book from this author so couldn’t wait for more of her work.
I wasn’t disappointed this book grabs a hold of you and won’t let you put it down until you’ve finished.
Fantastic stuff.

This book is a great way to carry on the story. I love Mel's wriring style and her character development is among the best I've ever seen. I'm always drawn into a world so completely, I find myself getting lost in the pages.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
A very good read and one I can highly recommend to others.
I could not put this down.
Thoroughly enjoyable with an amazing cast of characters that you cannot help but engage with.

The plot twist of this story is superb. I was excited and worried for the characters because who will die next!

The mind of the killers were sick! I have hunched and I guessed the other murderer half the way. I felt I was like DS Grace every step of the investigation. I love it!

I can't wait for the next story. Thank you Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the ARC!

I’m really enjoying the Grace Allendale series, this time Grace has to investigate the suspicious death of a school girl, murdered while out running with her class mates. She turns out to be a friend of Grace’s partner Simon’s daughter and attends the same school.
Grace is desperate to find leads and solve the crime, but sadly another young woman is strangled, it looks like there is a link between the two but can she find out what it is and why the killer is doing this?
Also running through this story is the ongoing family saga between Grace and her estranged family, the Steeles.
Looking forward to the next one.

I just absolutely loved this book. Its the second one in the series, the first being Hush Hush and even though this one reads nicely as a standalone, I would recommend you read the first one before this one.
Grace and her team have to investigate the death of a young school girl, and the killer seems to have picked up his pace., and soon there is another death to investigate. The book was very well written, gripping and thrilling from beginning to end, and I honestly did not see the ending coming! Recommended!

Bodies are mounting before a pattern starts to emerge and time is running out for D S Grace Allendale and her team to stop the murders. Grace has her own problems plus her partner is a reporter - not an ideal combination for her line of work. Easy to read and follow, enough action and police procedure without one overwhelming the other. Some red herrings, a few twists and turns and before you realise it, it’s the end, perpetrator caught - next case please! Another gripping tale from Ms Sherratt!

An exciting and gripping page turner, that kept me up reading late into the night.

Would recommend.

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

Mel Sheratt has done it again. A powerful novel that just has so much to offer. Characters who are very well written and a story that I didnt want to see the end of

DS Grace Allendale from Stoke on Trent returns for this second book in Mel Sherratt’s excellent series.
A schoolgirl out on a cross country run with classmates becomes separated from them for a few moments and in that time is strangled by an unknown assailant. The murdered girl is a friend of Teagen, the daughter of Grace’s journalist boyfriend, Simon. A young mother is kidnapped and murdered in a similar way two days later and when a third girl is attacked, Grace suspects there will be more and knows that she and her team are racing against time to catch the culprit.

The story increases in pace and was full of tension and twists, especially towards the end. It had me holding my breath at times. As I read, I tried and failed to work out who was behind the brutal murders, thinking it one of the characters and then someone else.

The characters are excellent and I especially liked the interaction between the teenagers and Grace’s relationship with Simon.

This is another brilliantly plotted case from Mel Sherratt and I look forward to reading what she brings out next.
Thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for my ARC copy.

This is the second Mel Sherratt book about DS Grace Allendale from Stoke on Trent and is a great read. A young girl on a cross country run is strangled and left for dead, only a few yards from her school,. This was followed in quick succession with a young mother abducted on her way home from her job. There are no clues or obvious links to the two murders yet DS Grace is sure they are the same person and then they strike again and another young girl is attacked and left for dead. Everything becomes a little personal as the teenage girls are all friends of Teagen, Grace’s partner Simon’s daughter. Who will be next ?

Yet another wonderful read by this excellent writer and a great follow on to Hush Hush , Although the second in the series this works as a standalone. This is a fabulous thriller with a fast pace and excellent characters and I look forward to reading what comes next for DS Grace