This book picks up after the events in the first book, Hold My Hand. You do not need to have read the first book,as enough info is given to allow you to have an idea of what occurred and why Josie is still haunted by them. I figured out who the suspect was about mid-book, BUT the writing was so good, that I had to stay with the book to see what happened next, and how the characters would solve the case, to a positive ending. I wasn't disappointed! This is a quick twisty read, and I highly recommend it!

When I requested this book I did not realise it was the second in a series and I love a good series of books so I ordered the first one on Amazon. Wow loved it. I am a big fan of this type of book and it had been hooked from the beginning. I devoured the first book and looked forward to starting the second which I did and not a lot got done at home. The character of Josie Masters was the type of person I would like to sit round a dinner table with when she has finished in the police force and listen to her chat about her life. She came across as one clever by the book lady with a streak of defiance especially when it came to her boss who is a sit on the fence guy. I loved the way the two books were interwoven and up until almost the last few chapters did not know where the story would go and who would be the "bad guy". A true testament to a great storyteller. Loved it and hope to have another Joe Masters story to read in the not too distant future - no pressure Mr Ford

This book was an amazing suspense thriller about a detective inspector caught in the middle of a morass of kidnappings of young teen girls. Josie Masters is a strong female who also shows her vulnerable side throughout the book. Her characterization made the book extremely readable and enjoyable. Josie had to figure out the puzzle about why the girls were being kidnapped before she could find out who and where they could be. I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though I had not read the first one in the series. That really didn’t matter since this could actually be a stand alone. This could also be described as a police procedural but I like my description of suspense thriller better. Those who enjoy either of those kinds of books will really like this one. It was a fast-paced read that kept me engrossed in the story. I wanted the girls to be found as much as Josie did. I was surprised at the identity of the villain, although if you follow the clues, you may be able to figure it out, although the clues are very subtle. I enjoy a good mystery in which I cannot figure it out and have to read to the end to find out “whodunit.” I look forward to more books from this author as this is one of my favorite books that I have read this year!

Thanks to netgalley for this great read. That is one thing I love about netgalley, I get introduced to authors I would not ordinarily try out, and when I do, I have another new favorite author!
This book is the second book in the DS Josie Masters series, and honestly, even though it reads nicely as a standalone, I would recommend you read the first book in the series before this one.
Josie has to investigate the disappearance of some young women from a local college. The investigation was gripping, and the help she got from her new colleague was extra special.... (no spoilers..!)
Highly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and Avon for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

Keep Her Close is the second book in the DS Josie Masters series.

Josie was still recovering after the murder of her ex fiancee Ben and the kidnapping of her nephew by The Clown Killer. Josie was now in a relationship with gardener Ben who she met in her last investigation.

Josie was called to Oriel College after student Anna Mullin reported her friend Makin Surgidsson missing. When Josie had checked Makin`s room they found blood and possible signs of a struggle. When Jodie and new colleague Jack Pryce investigated Malin`s background they found out she was seeing a married man and was also a drug user.

Then a body of a young woman was found frozen in a lake in a small village outside Oxford. Her name was Natalie Palmer and she was a cleaner at Jesus College. Natalie `s mum was a drug user but Natalie had kept away from drugs and was very sensible. It appeared she had been run over by a vehicle and badly injured, she fell in the lake.

Then to Josie`s dismay there are another two kidnappings. Rita Prakash a student at Sommervile College was abducted on her way to fitness training. Then school girl Sophie Okafor from Iffley Road Academy from hockey practice. After the public scandal following The Clown Killer Josie was desperate to regain her superiors confidence with the help of Pryce.

I enjoyed this book but not as much as the authors first book Hold My Hand. The story was fast paced with plenty of twists and turns. The plot was well crafted with interesting characters.

I like Josie, like DCI Jack Frost she keeps her bravery medal in her office draw. However I thought she was paranoid in this book and was just looking for a reason to distrust Ben. I did feel embarrassed for Josie though when a passer by filmed Josie and Ben having a row which ended up on social media. I was glad ex policeman Harry Ferman appeared in Keep Her Close and would love it if he appeared in the next book as an unofficial adviser.

I did guess the kidnapper half way through the book but it didn't ruin my enjoyment. The conclusion of the book was very descriptive and I could imagine the scenes in my mind. The epilogue was a nice twist and I can't wait to see what happens next for Josie.

Twists and turns and a real page turner. Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Looking forward more in this series.

This was quite a confusing story with lots of different threads interweaving. Many personality clashes and disagreements but eventually the story started to make sense. The conclusion was rather abrupt after all that went before but a feel good ending.

A good second instalment for Masters and Pryce combo. Plenty of intrigue along the way to keep me hooked. A good mix of work and personal life issues.. Look forward to her next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This is the second book in the DS Jo Masters series and I will be reading the first now as it was an addictive read. I love finding a new author and this one is exceptional.

Based in Oxford and its prestigious colleges we find young women going missing and one woman turns up dead. Initially there appears to be no connection between them and the abductor is choosing the victims randomly. When the link id finally discovered it is shocking and nasty.

Jo Masters is a well-developed character with many steely qualities and I find her attitude spot on.

The twists and turns keep coming throughout and the final reveal left me breathless and knowing I should have seen some of the signs.

Excellent read, highly recommended.

This is an excellent second book by M J Ford, Keep her Close is full of suspense and tension as women are being kidnapped. Josie Masters is again in the middle of the investigation and may be yet again the main target. The storyline is full of twists and turns and unexpected drama and keeps the reader entralled and engrossed until the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book, I really enjoyed reading it.
Highly recommended.

This is a new to me author but not anymore. I’ll certainly be reading more from him in the future.

This is book two in the series about D.S. Josie Masters. Although it can be read as a standalone I normally like to read books in order. Sadly I missed out on this. Having said that I really liked this book.

Quite a lot of time I can guess what is going to happen next but not with this one. This story kept me guessing throughout.

Still haunted from saving her nephew from the killer clown, DS Josie Masters has a new case when a young girl goes missing from college. Working alongside DS Pryce the plot thickens when more girls disappear.

A well written twisted story that had me guessing throughout. A good storyline with likeable characters.

I’ll definitely be going back and reading Hold My Hand by this author.

This is an ambitious and satisfying police thriller - deeply involving Jo Masters, a new detectivenot quite play-it-by-the-rules ... things happened in the past when she lost partner and baby, and it all happened in a high speed chase that killed another baby ... the repersuccions have lasted longer than she knows. The story is of a complicated kidnapping series of crimes, and as they track deeper into the crimes, it becomes clearer until a flash light effect - the last person you'd think was the killer. What I especially liked about this is its trueness to a woman's experience even as she is a tough cop with physical challenges almost up to death. Young women and children are involved. Really stunning and dark - excellent. It will be great to see more about this detective in future.

Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read this book. It was a fast paced tale with many twists and turns. I did feel that the setting in Oxford is always going to be in some way compared to the exploits of Morse who has probably been there, done that and used up all the locations but DS Josie Masters gave us naysayers a run for our money. I was kept guessing until then reveal and am looking forward to the next installment.

Because my TBR is list always wildly out of control, it’s pretty uncommon for me to discover a new author and immediately go looking for more books they’ve written. I think Loreth Anne White was the last one - and now M.J. Ford is another. Fortunately this is only the second book in the series about D.S. Josie Masters, so I’ve only got one more to go back and read!

With girls going missing from Oxford’s prestigious university colleges, Jo has to figure out the connection between them before yet more disappear. When a dead body is found, Jo knows they’re running out of time, and all the clues are pointing in a direction she can’t bring herself to believe, or accept. Because they’re pointing right back… at her.

Keep Her Close is chilling, thrilling and kept me wondering right up until the final stages just who the heck the villain could be. Even though barring a deus ex machina we had to already know, I just couldn’t wrap my head around who or how until the Big Reveal came.

Jo’s a fascinatingly complex character, smart as a whip but prone to making the occasional bad personal decision, she’s got a Past and a family with their own issues. In short, she’s realistic, and that makes her easy to root for. Events which obviously happened in the first book are referred to in this one, but honestly they were just enough to whet my appetite to read more, rather than to obstruct my understanding of this separate case.

Five stars for a brilliant read which both kept me guessing right to the end and whetted my appetite for more.

It took me a little while to get into this book, but this was mainly because I hadn’t read the first book in the series (which I’ve now bought!)
Once I’d got going however, this was gripping and had an excellent twist towards the end.
Jo Masters is on the case of a missing college student with a wealthy and influencial stepfather. More girls go missing and it becomes a race against time to save them and stop others from being kidnapped. Jo’s superiors don’t want her involved in these cases, but could she provide the vital link to help solve the case? I look forward to reading more about Josie and her team

A COMPULSIVE READ THAT SO TIGHTLY WRITTEN YOU WORRY ITS ALL GOING TO UNRAVEL INTO A JUMBLE OF WORDS, BUT THATS FAR FROM THE CASE WITH THIS BOOK. IT RAMPS UP THE TENSION AS THE CASE OF THE MISSING WOMEN UNFOLDS. THE MORE STORY UNFOLDS THE MORE IT SEEMS THAT JOSIE MASTERS IS IN THE CENTRE LIKE A FLY CAUGHT IN A WEB AND THAT THE PERPETRATOR IS WEAVING THEIR DEADLY WEB AROUND HER. TRAPPING HER IN AN ENDLESS MIRE OF SUSPECTS AND EVIDENCE, SEEMINGLY HELPLESS TO PREVENT FURTHER ANGUISH.LUCKY FOR HER AND US THE AUTHOR KEEPS THE STORY RACING ALONG. ADDING CLUES THAT TAKE US DOWN DEAD ENDS AND BLIND ALLEYS. ITS A STORY THAT KEEPS YOU GUESSING AND JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHO DID IT BANG ITS BACK TO SQUARE ONE.
I LOVED THE PACE OF THE BOOK, THE STORYLINE AND THE TWIST THAT HITS YOU FOR 6. THE TENSION JUST NEVER LETS UP IN THIS BOOK. A CRACKING GOOD READ AND A MUST FOR ALL CRIME LOVING READERS.

I'm new to this author so I was really excited to read this one. Anyone following my page will know how much I love finding new authors and shouting about them.
This is MJ Ford's second novel in the DS Josie Masters series.
I really enjoyed it I have to say....
I love nothing better than delving into a cracking good series...
I hadn't read his first book in the series "Hold My Hand" but I didn't feel I missed out in any way and I'll look forward to going back to catch up...
I took to his main character Josie immediately..
MJ created a really likeable character in her....
She's good at her job so when a young student goes missing, it's all hands on deck for her..
She's working with a new kid on the block Detective Jack Pryce.
When another student goes missing and the places start spelling out Josie's name, she begins to think that this might just be personal.
A cracking read with plenty of twists & turns that will keep you turning the pages long into the night.
Well worth checking out....

Six months on from the kidnap & rescue of her nephew, DS Jo Masters is struggling to get her life back together. She has not enjoyed having ro see a counsellor & she feels her superiors ar a bit wary of her. There is a new man in her life & nice as this is, she struggles to trust him completely.

When a girl goes missing from an Oxford college Jo finds herself butting heads with her superior who refuses to let her question the stepfather of the missing girl. When another girl goes missing, again connected to the university it looks like there is a serial abductor on the loose. Before long Jo comes to realise that this case is personal, but even she doesn't realise just how personal.

I found this a really engaging read. Jo is a flawed character. I often felt like yelling."What are you thinking woman??" But there is something likeable about her. I hope to read more of her cases.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I really struggled to get into this book. Though the pace did pick up after a slow start, I was never fully involved in the story. One problem I had was with the lead detective – Jo Masters. She had major trust issues, was paranoid, and – as the story continued – was rather a liability to the investigation. I know there were good (historical) reasons for her character flaws – just because you are paranoid does not mean that someone is not out to get you – but I found her very unsympathetic.
I thought the story-line was rather contrived, and at times clichéd (unhappy police detective with excessive flaws, cop in danger …). I prefer my police procedurals to be mainly focussed on the criminal(s) and crime(s) rather than on the police working the investigation. Some background about the police does give the tale more human interest, but there was just a bit too much of Jo and her personal life. I felt the end of the epilogue was unnecessary.
I am clearly in the minority when it come to not liking this book – most reviews that I have read are very complimentary. The writing is good, and it is a very readable crime novel – but not for me.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Perfect psychological thriller! It moved at a fast pace with twists and turns throughout! I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend!