I’ll readily admit that the world of domestic abuse and brutal murder is one where I rarely venture. But I do enjoy a well crafted story that makes me want to keep turning the pages while keeping me a few steps behind the pace in terms of outcome – and when a book is this very well written, the reading can only be a pleasure.

Dead Inside is the first book in a new series, and takes us inside the Staffordshire DAHU (Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit): it’s a new unit, and the story features the early days of DC Maggie Jamieson who will be the focus for the ongoing series. She doesn’t really draw your eye in this first book though – and I’m sure that will change as the series builds – but that’s mainly because of the proliferation of other strongly drawn characters who eclipse her a little.

Perhaps the most fascinating and engaging is Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood – her professional front, dealing daily with angry clients and ever present danger, is in stark contrast with her home life, where she’s entirely cowed by the intimidating and aggressive Patrick, hiding his repeated violent attacks from young daughter Siobhan. The author handles that dichotomy exceptionally well – her own background brings a real authenticity to the workings of the Probation Service, and the terror she experiences in the home setting is palpable.

Maggie’s involvement turns from a single murder case to the investigation of a serial killer – the victims all known to Lucy, professionally or otherwise, and that accusing finger begins to point.

Other than Maggie and Lucy, there are few characters in this book that you will like – and it’s difficult to build much sympathy with the murder victims, however gruesome their ends. But every single character, however despicable, is superbly drawn. In many cases you might actually prefer not to get under their skin – it’s not a very pleasant place to be – but you have very little choice. I was struck by how authentic these dreadful characters were – while your sympathy might be lacking, along with your understanding of their behaviours, they’re never less than 100% real, and that’s quite an achievement.

The plot is real edge-of-the-seat stuff, as you’d expect it to be – with all the blind alleys and false trails that only add to the tension. I’m useless at predicting endings, although I did with this one – but only because it had to be one of the half dozen people I’d put in the frame, just in case I’d got it wrong.

I might not return for the rest of the series – I don’t think my nerves will take it – but I must say that I thought it was a really exceptional first novel. I suspect that future outings for Maggie and her team will be compulsory reading for the many fans of the genre – an excellent read, and a writer with real talent.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

This is a gritty portrayal of domestic abuse, the author drawing on her years of experience in the Probation Service. To anyone who thinks domestic abuse doesn't happen to educated, employed women holding down challenging jobs then this book shows it can and does happen to anyone from all walks of life. Lucy Sherwood is the last person you would think of as a victim yet she has her own reasons for not leaving her husband. The pace is just right, allowing us to empathise and then in the next chapter wonder if she is actually a murderer. This is a well-written psychological thriller that a seasoned author would be proud of - hard to believe this is a debut novel.

I had been looking forward to reading this debut from Noelle for so long, and so was hugely excited when it arrived. But a little anxious for her too. What if it wasn't very good? What if I didn't like it? Of course, I needn't have worried. It's fab.

Maggie Jamieson has just transferred to the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit (DAHU) and is immediately pulled into the murder investigation of a known domestic abuser. Two other killings quickly follow and the victims are again known abusers. All three have links to Lucy Sherwood, a probation officer, whose husband becomes the fourth victim.

Although this is the first in a series featuring Maggie Jamieson, I felt this was very much Lucy's story. I really liked Lucy. She's focused, composed, good at her job and liked by colleagues and her liaison within the police. But at home, behind closed doors, she's the victim of abuse at the hands of her husband Patrick. I found some of these scenes hard to read. I am lucky never to have experienced anything like this, but it seemed very real. I know that sadly the author does have personal experience and I think that knowledge is evident in the writing. It also goes some way towards answering the question "Why doesn't she just leave?" . The answer is because it's never that simple, and this comes across clearly in the book. Work is an escape for Lucy, an opportunity for her to be the confident version of herself, where she doesn't even use her married name. I can't remember another book that talks about the probation service in any great detail, and here the author's experience as a probation officer shines through.

There are a lot of characters featured in the story, particularly early on, and I did struggle a bit with that. Made me smile, though, seeing names I recognised! Characters, other than Lucy, who stood out for me were Patrick, simply because he was so detestable, Rory, who broke my heart a little bit and Mark, a man with strong opinions but kind intentions. I loved his sweet friendship with Lucy, and hope to read more about that in the future.

Although there is a lot of detail given about the characters, I definitely feel I still need to get to know Maggie Jamieson better. There was so much going on in the story, a lot of which is centred around Lucy, that I feel there is still much to learn about Maggie. I'm sure that will change in future books.

As I mentioned earlier, Maggie is thrown straight into the murder investigation, and from there, things never really let up. There is plenty of action, and the story is fast paced throughout. The descriptions given about the murders are detailed enough, but never over the top. We follow the police investigation and Lucy is soon a suspect, but Maggie just has a feeling that she didn't do it. I saw some of the ending coming, but definitely didn't guess all of it, and it made for emotional reading.

This is a strong debut, and a great beginning to a new series. Noelle's experience shines through in her writing, and she has delivered a story that feels authentic. I can't wait to see what happens next!

As a debut novel, Noelle Holten did a pretty good job. Dead Inside is about domestic abuse and murder.

This is a whodunnit story with lots of suspects and is quite graphic in detail which can be disturbing at times.

The story itself was very well written, but sometimes I did get confused with who was who as there are a lot of characters within the book, However, I do recommend you read Dead Inside as this author has a lot of promise with her future books.

I enjoyed this book and characters but I guessed early on who the culprit was which dropped this to a 4 star review. It was a good premise of nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. I would definitely read her next novel and recommend this one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

To an onlooker, Lucy’s life is perfect. A family she adores at home, loving husband, sweet step-daughter. A job she navigates everyday with patience and care. But this is just an illusion. A pretty picture. As a probation officer, every day she works with vile criminals and sees the horrendous abuse they are responsible for. Lives that are ruptured and ruined within mere moments. Lasting effects that make simple living impossible to bare. She knows this not only from a professional point of view, but a personal one too. When she leaves work, she doesn’t leave the monsters behind. Any love or respect drained out of her relationship a long time ago. And now she lives in fear of what Patrick will do next.

DC Maggie Jamieson and her team are investigating a spate of disappearances. As the tension ratchets up, so does the tally. When the next man goes missing, all eyes will be looking at Lucy. But who is telling the truth? Who is responsible? And can Maggie find them?

The prologue gives the reader a taste of what can be expected from the rest of the book: a dark, gritty, powerful read that is compelling, gripping and unforgettable. I was awash with emotion all the way through it. The author depicts her characters feelings with such searing intensity, it’s tangible to the reader. This is a very dark book that examines themes of abuse but it is handled with honesty and care throughout. The author writes with exquisite tension and kept me on my toes until the very end. Goodness me!!! Without a doubt one of my absolute favourite reads of the year!!

This is the first in the DC Maggie Jamieson series and, based on this book, I can only imagine how far this series is going to FLY!! A brilliant introduction! Can’t wait to read more!! I loved seeing so many familiar names in the book (if you’re a part of the blogging community, you’ll know who I mean!) it put a big cheesy grin on my face!! Dead Inside is a first-rate, top-notch thriller! Way to go, Noelle!!

Emotional. Tense. Spectacular.

Lucy Sherwood is a Probation Officer who works with domestic abusers on their release from prison. She and others in her team work closely with the police unit DAHU (Domestic Abuse & Homicide Unit). DC Maggie Jamieson is seconded to the team and her first case is three murders which seem to be connected and they are all Lucy's clients. The author has drawn on her own experience, as an ex probation officer and the story is very true to life and gritty (it reminds me of earlier Mel Sherratt books).

Lucy is trying to keep her family together and not let her work find out about the abuse she's suffering under the hand of her husband, Patrick. Siobhan, his daughter spends a lot of time with them and Lucy tries to shield her from the worst of his rages. Rory, his son is tentatively getting to know his dad again too...

Could Lucy be the killer? When the situation takes another turn things look very bleak for her indeed...

It's a twisty fast paced read with interesting characters I'm looking forward to meeting again (well some of them!) in book 2.. Would recommend.

I don’t suppose there would be too many people shedding a tear when a domestic abuser is found murdered however in this debut thriller, DC Maggie Jamieson has a mammoth task on her hands when the body count keeps rising from a killer who covers their tracks extremely well.

Interwoven with the police investigation is the story of Lucy, a probation officer, and because of her job, is well known to the members of the police investigation team. Dealing with offenders, including these domestic abusers, gives Lucy a clear connection with the murder victims. Outwardly Lucy would seem to be the last person that might be a suspect however she has a secret of her own which she is desperately trying to hide from her colleagues.

Being a former probation officer, the author clearly had this story nailed. There was enough detail of procedure for authenticity without being overwhelming but more importantly, the story was interesting, with just the right amount of intrigue and pace and left you finishing each chapter keen to know what happened next. I did have a few suspects in mind and there were some really nasty characters who I was hoping would come to a sticky end.

There are a lot of characters to get to grips with fairly quickly at the beginning of the story, and it took me a little while to remember who was working in which area. I did think at one stage that the story seemed to be mainly about Lucy and I wondered when Maggie was going to feature more but once she did, she certainly made her mark. She was the ‘newbie’ in the DAHU (Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit – a newly created team which is having to prove itself), having been transferred from another police unit and it didn’t take her long to find her feet. I thought she was a great character, she was tactful but decisive in handling difficult colleagues, and I would certainly like to see her feature in future stories. She clearly has a backstory with a previous case which is teasingly referred to – I can’t wait to read more about this!

Domestic abuse is a very difficult subject to write about, especially the effect it has on the victims, but the author has carried this off with sensitivity. There is some violence in the story, there has to be for the story to work, but it is not gratuitous and never over the top.

Dead Inside is a very strong debut which deserves great success. I look forward to reading more from this very talented author.

Debut novel from Holten and it was a mixed bag for me. It's a story of vicious domestic abuse where 3 of the abusers are murdered, and all 3 of them are known to Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood, who is also being terribly abused, both physically and emotionally, by her dead end husband. A whodunnit with LOTS of suspects but be warned as the author doesn't pull any punches in describing the domestic abuse in graphic detail. The story itself was actually very well written but I struggled with the high number of characters in the book as I found it hard at times to keep them all straight.

Thanks to net galley, Harper Collins, and Noelle Holden for this ARC . As much is I wanted to like this book because I think it was meant to be a dark thriller, I totally got lost pretty much from beginning to almost the end. I was confused as the author would name her characters by titles and last names, and then she would go on to give first names for the same people , that’s where I got confused. I had to keep going back-and-forth to see who is who. All in all, I enjoyed the premise and I think if it could’ve been condensed a little bit, and made a little bit more precise with certain people and in certain areas, it might have worked better for me .

Nothing makes me more excited than reading a debut and when it’s an exciting, dark and incredibly well written debut? Then I’m over the moon! Dead Inside surely fit the bill and although I had been eagerly awaiting this book for what feels like forever, it was well worth the wait in the end.

I love a book with a large ensemble cast and although this is the first in a new series following Maggie, it was truly Lucy’s story at it’s core. I loved the combination of a classic police procedural and domestic suspense, there was a lot going on here and although it took me a few chapters to settle in once I did I was well and truly hooked. Lucy is a probation officer and the authors insight and experience in this profession was heavily apparent and heartbreakingly raw and honest. It goes very dark and disturbing, just how I like my crime novels to be and it felt very authentic and truthful.

Overall this was a very compelling read and was sometimes a bit hard to read due to the subject matter, it’s hard hitting and bold. But again, I like my crime fiction dark and thought it was extremely well done and I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

Dead Inside in three words: Dark, Disturbing and Bold.

I would have liked have to known more about the interactions between Lucy and Patrick. It never really was made clear just how bad the abuse was. There are only glances aside from the last big fight Lucy and Patrick have. I liked the story and it surely wasn’t bad but I think it would be more interesting if there would be more insight into the mind of the abuser.

This is a well written and interesting book about men who hate and abuse women and how each woman handles it differently. It's told from multiple POV - almost too many at first. It's told from a few abusive men's POV, a few police and criminal pathologist POV and quite a few victim POV. You go through days of drinking and sex and meandering through life and abusing everyone around them (or trying to hold them back). It's an abnormally small amount of people and they all feel connected.

I didn't feel like the 'who done it wasn't a huge surprise as the author had done a good job of dropping hints and info along the way but the violence and the awful hate for women was pretty rough to read. It was a pretty good but tough read.

So this is Noelle Holten debut novel, and wow, Dead Inside is some hard hitting stuff! A little warning before you read this book the main focus of the story is domestic abuse from the beatings to the more sinister psychological torment that victims endure but I felt it was handled with honesty and sensitivity.

I feel like this book is part police procedural, part psychological thriller, which are my two favourite genres. It is a multiple POV story, the main viewpoints are from DC Maggie Jamieson and probation officer Lucy.

Lucy is one of those characters who seems strong on the outside but on the inside she’s struggling. Her husband Patrick is abusive but she can’t bring herself to leave him. The irony of it is that she deals with men like him on a daily basis as part of her job as a probation officer.

Maggie has started a new job in the DAHU which stands for the domestic abuse and homicide unit it after being transferred. She’s dumped in at the deep end when a body shows up, tortured, that was on the police’s watch list as an abuser.

What I like is I feel there is room for Maggie’s character to grow and I look forward to getting to know her better as this series goes along.

My main issue was I felt the book was more focused on the domestic abuse aspect, which is admirable, I feel like it needs to be talked about and victims not stigmatised but as a woman it makes it no easier to read about other women suffering such horrible things.

Dead Inside is an insightful debut, that is faces some thorny issues head on and will send you on a rollercoaster of emotions throughout. The ending has left it open for a sequel which I’m looking forward to.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten is the first book in the DC Maggie Jamieson series and it had me hooked right from the first page!

Maggie is newly appointed to the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit after a particularly disturbing case in the murder investigation unit. Maggie is about to hit the ground running in the DAHU when three domestic abuse offenders are found murdered. All points in the investigation lead back to Lucy, a probation officer who knew all three victims. But, Lucy is hiding her own secrets regarding her own marriage to her husband Patrick. Is Lucy behind the murders or is there someone else handing out justice?

This story is so intense and so dark. Noelle Holten really shines a light on victims of domestic abuse as well as the perpetrators. I love how Holten shows both sides of domestic abuse from both the victim and the perpetrator. I found myself getting angry at the abuse portrayed in this story to the point where I was glad the abusers were dead. I always have a hard time understand why women stay with men who are physically and emotionally abusive, but Holten really sheds light on the realities and mindset of women who are abused by the men they love and also gets into the psychology of why some women stay. It is definitely a hard read at times, but also quite eye opening as well.

There are a lot of characters in this story, but there is one thing that Holten exceeds at and that is working new characters slowly into the story and giving the reader a background into the character which I found to be really helpful for me in remembering who everyone is. I often have trouble with this especially if I am bombarded with a ton of names within the first 50 pages of a book and always find myself scrolling back a few pages having to reread to get all the characters straight in my head. With that being said, I actually enjoyed the multiple storylines running through this story and how Holten tied all of the stories together so easily.

While a good part of the story is about Lucy, I feel that we only scratched the very tip of Maggie’s story. Maggie is still reeling from a previous case that often still gives her nightmares. We also get the chance to delve a bit into her personal life briefly. I am really looking forward to learning more about maggie as the series progresses.

The murder mystery is really done so brilliantly. With so many characters having a motive, it was very hard for me to determine who the killer really was. There were a few characters I went back and forth on but Holten throws in a lot of red herrings meant to confuse the reader and keep you guessing. When the reveal finally came I was well and truly shocked.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten takes on a harrowing look at domestic violence that will evoke strong emotions that is chilling right to the bone. Darkly written and full of twists, this story will stay with you after the last page is read. What a fantastic debut and I definitely cannot wait to read more!

This story is a slow burner, I struggled a little with the beginning, there are many characters to meet, and the reader is thrown straight into episodes of domestic abuse, which is always difficult to read. The style is gritty, and no holds barred and takes a little getting used to. The characters are well written and evoke strong emotion, either empathy or hate, and you quickly become invested in their lives and what happens to them matters.

The setting is notably authentic, well researched and believable. The plot raises contemporary issues and has clever twists, which explore the moral dilemmas, in addition to the crimes committed.

By the middle, I was hooked and kept turning the pages, One of the protagonists, both exasperates and amazes the reader. Her circumstances are horrific and you want her to dig deep and escape, but you have to imagine what years of systematic abuse can do, to understand her motivations and reactions.

I did guess the outcome, but that is part of the enjoyment for me. I like the gritty realism of the writing style and the focus it shines on a major contemporary problem. The questions raised, at the end of the story, concerning DC Maggie Jamieson, intrigue, and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

Dead Inside was one of my most anticipated books for 2019 and I’m so happy to say that it more than lived up to my expectations. The novel is about domestic abuse. Three wife beaters are found dead and police believe there is a connection between the deaths. We see a newly formed unit, the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit investigating the crimes and looking into the backgrounds of the men and the people connected to them. The novel follows quite a few characters and this allows us to see the story from multiple points of view and gives such a real insight into domestic abuse.

I was gripped by Dead Inside from the opening few pages and I read it in just two sittings. I loved Noelle Holten’s writing style, it’s incredibly readable. And the cast of characters all made me want to keep reading just one more chapter (and one more, and one more etc!).

I loved how there was real depth to this novel, the characters are all rounded and feel real and it shows how domestic abuse happens. The way it creeps into a relationship and catches a person off-guard, how initially you make excuses for the abuse and then you find you’re tiptoeing around the home to try not to trigger another assault. The main character, Lucy, that we follow in this novel is one such woman. She has a good career, she has good friends and yet her husband is beating her. It’s not just the physical violence, it’s the psychological abuse – the being watched, the lack of freedom and autonomy, that Patrick has done to Lucy. I very much appreciated the way this was shown because this is how it often is in real life. A person is trapped in the situation slowly and then it seems there is no way out. It’s not as easy as just leaving, it’s incredibly complex and difficult. Noelle Holten shows this so astutely.

Dead Inside is the first book in the DCI Maggie Jameson police procedural series and I already can’t wait for the next one. I found it interesting how Maggie isn’t the central focus of Dead Inside, although she is a prominent character, so there is still so much to learn about her in future books. I also liked that followed all sides of a story, it made for such an interesting novel.

This book kept me guessing all the way to the end. The reveal of the killer was a surprise to me, but it did all make sense. It’s not often that I don’t work out whodunnit so kudos to this book for keeping me on my toes!

This is a really gripping, fast-paced book that will keep you turning the pages long into the night. There is a real sensitivity to the story but at the same time Noelle never shies away from the reality of domestic abuse. It’s a really accomplished debut and I’m so looking forward to reading more by Noelle Holten!

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC, I have really enjoyed reading this book.
This is a debut book by author Noelle Holten, Dead Inside was an extremely accomplished first novel and I look forward to reading more books in the future by this author.
The storyline of domestic violence was portrayed in a sensitive and informative manner and the main characters were all involved in dealing with the effects of domestic violence, either in their jobs or as victims. The story was totalling engrossing and whilst you had worked out who you assumed was the killer, it didn’t make the deaths or the impact of the killings any easier to read about. An extremely accomplished first novel.
Highly recommended

This debut novel has me looking forward to the next in the series. Maggie Jamieson is a strong, smart, and capable DC who just started with the collaborative task force who is dealing with domestic violence as well as the homicides of some of those domestic abusers. Lucy is a probation officer who is stuck in a situation that even she feels she shouldn't be in given her background. Well-written characters and a mystery that takes you for a ride equals success for Ms. Holten.

My thanks to Harper Impulse Killer Reads for an eARC via NetGalley of Noelle Holten’s debut, ‘Dead Inside’, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first in a planned series of police procedurals featuring D.C. Maggie Jamieson. At the start of this novel Maggie has been seconded to Staffordshire’s Domestic Abuse Homicide Unit. It’s made clear that this transfer has occurred due Maggie’s link to a difficult case. Holten doesn’t say much though it’s indicated that it will feature in future books.

The main plot involves a series of murders where men known to the police as domestic abuse perpetrators are found beaten to death. One link between them is Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood, making her a person of interest.

Despite being an intelligent, capable woman whose work as a probation officer means that she has contact with violent offenders on a daily basis, Lucy herself is in an abusive relationship. She keeps this a secret from her colleagues.

There is certainly a great sense of authenticity in this novel. I wasn’t previously aware of Holten’s background but she includes an end note stating that she had been a senior/probation officer for eighteen years. She has endeavoured (and in my opinion succeeded) in portraying domestic abuse realistically.

Certainly a well written novel that was very gripping throughout. The subject matter doesn’t make for easy reading but it’s an important social issue and I felt it was handled with sensitivity.

‘Dead Inside’ was a powerful debut that bodes well for the series, which I look forward to reading in due course.