Opening with a killer premise, and dragging me along for a thrilling ride - this is a cracking read and a brilliant start to a new series with a kick-ass female protagonist.

This highly anticipated debut "Thin Air" from Scottish author Lisa Gray, tempted me in with an intriguing synopsis and it didn't fail on delivery. Thin Air is an outstanding debut and Lisa Gray is a name that you should be looking out for!

Well, when you are delivered a killer hook prologue like this one,  you know that you are in for an exhilarating experience. And I was not wrong. The prologue is quickly followed up by an opening chapter that sets the scene for the protagonist, private investigator Jessica Shaw. Jessica is feeling lost in her life, after the death of her father, Tony.  We meet Jessica scouring the missing person's pages online, trying desperately to find some work to keep herself afloat. There is a real sense that she is running from something in her life and that she is very much adrift with no family or friends to help her keep grounded.

Along with Jessica, I was sucker punched when she received an email that is about to blow her whole world apart. Jessica is not who she thinks she is. Jessica has spent her life hunting the missing. Now, Jessica discovers she is missing! And #BOOM we are off! What follows is a nail-biting, cleverly crafted novel that will keep you reading way after bedtime!

The whole concept of this book was superb, imagine discovering you are not who you think you are and that your whole life has been a lie. Jessica is determined to uncover the truth behind her life and in doing so uncovers lie after lie.  Her past and present collide as she finds herself getting closer to the truth, but is Jessica going to regret getting in this highly charged investigation into her own disappearance? I am stunned that this is a debut novel, without giving away any spoilers this plot was dynamite! Perfectly paced, totally twisted along with well-rounded characters and an excellent sense of place.

I had wondered why a Scottish author decided to move to the sunnier climes of LA but I have to say that she got it down to a T! She created a realistic picture with just the right level of detail opening up the highways and downtown LA Hollywood across the pages. I have never been to LA, so I have no idea if the description is accurate but what Lisa Gray did achieve was to bring the location to life for me. The sights, sounds and smells all seemed so real that it felt like I was there!

The author marries up her own background in journalism with an engaging and compelling plot resulting in a read that I just could not put down. If it hadn't been for real life interrupting I could have easily read this in one sitting!

The characters were believable and I was intrigued from the outset as to how they all connected and this is brilliantly uncovered as you fall deeper into the story. Jessica Shaw was a refreshing change as a protagonist, tough and feisty without becoming a caricature, it was impossible not to be on her side. Her relationships with those she met on her journey were carefully built on leaving me with a desperate need for the next instalment in the Jessica Shaw journey!

I do hope that Jason Pryce features again in future novels featuring Jessica Shaw. Although his role in this novel was tied to Jessica's story, there was enough depth to him that left me wanting more!

As the plot unfolds the tension rises and I found myself suspecting almost everyone that Jessica came across. Clever twists and turns kept me guessing all the way to the very end!

Thin Air ticked all my boxes, characters, plot and sense of place all married together to provide an outstanding debut novel. The writing flows effortlessly, the storyline is unique and refreshing and you will be transported to LA, what's not to like!  Don't miss it!

This will be posted on my blog Chapterinmylife shortly