Book 8 in the series already and Sukey has made her dream come true. She is no longer an Soco, but fans of the series know which is her profession now, because they know what she was dreaming about.

If you remember my review about the previous book, you know I was not a big fan of Jim, Sukey's 'boyfriend'. Well, that has not changed at all. Did Sukey see the light too or is she still under his spell? 

Once again Sukey finds herself in the eye of the storm even though sometimes she tries to redirect people's attention to someone else, people do tend to want to talk to her and turn to her for help. Sukey being Sukey she finds it hard to say no and let people down. So she follows her heart, but not everybody seems to appreciate that.

A story filled with manipulations and some baddies doing everything they can to achieve their goals. That might have worked out perfectly if Sukey would not have been there... Unfortunately for them she always kept her eye on the ball and helped put them where they belong before they committed even more crimes.

Another enjoyable story. 5 stars.

Thank you

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

Sukey Reynolds is a brand new police constable in this entry in the series, and she's teamed with someone who consistently treats her as just any other brand new constable (which Sukey doesn't say but her actions and thoughts clearly reveal how much she dislikes this treatment). And she makes some rookie mistakes you'd think a former scene of the crime officer would not. Some of these she gets called out for, but others slip by and for me, anyway, colored my reading of the story--for instance, Sukey allowed the nurse to collect the syringe from Gasspar's hospital room instead of collecting the evidence herself. Naturally my suspicious mind thought "What if the nurse is in cahoots with the killer? Will she turn over the real syringe or substitute another one?" Sukey didn't even go in with her to observe the nurse collecting the evidence for an assault or attempted murder. Very amateur hour for both Sukey and the author. I like this series despite blunders like this. Sukey is usually relatable, her life story and the secondary characters who surround her are believable, and the writing is general is good. If you're looking for a new police procedural (bear above amateurish mistakes in mind) or a series with a fairly strong feminine lead, or just a modern English almost-cozy series, you will like Sukey. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sukey show up as an ITV series someday. Recommended

The more I read of this series the more I enjoy them, simple, quick and enjoyable reads. In this book sukie has now joined the CID and is still as thoughtless as ever

In this book Sukey has changed her job and become a detective, something she has always wanted. However this doesn’t mean she is going to be sticking to the rules. We once again find her branching out on her own and following her instincts in pursuit of the truth.

Another great addition to the series.

I enjoyed this story. I have not yet read the other books in this series, but had no problem following this story, so this one works well as a stand alone . I will be looking for previous books in this series, as well as looking for future books by this author.

This series is new to me and i had a bit of catching uo to understand some of the relationships between the characters. I enjoyed the books plotline, but think the book is best read as a part of the series and not as a stand alone.

Sukey is back in book 8 of the Sukey Reynolds series. She is one of my favorite British crime solvers. An older single parent , she has moved to smaller living quarters since her son has left for college. Sukey is now a full fledged detective moving her career forward from crime scene photographer to her first murder. This book can be read as a stand alone but you'll want to read the previous books just for the fun of it. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I really like this series about a woman who, after years of raising her son, becomes first a CSI investigator and then finally, in this book, becomes a detective inspector. She's moved to a new city and begins her new career investigating a murder of an archaeologist at a local hotel. Sukey is making all sorts of adjustments, including to a new partner who tends to be condescending. The personal interactions in this series are realistic and rich with detail. And, the mystery is a challenging one that keeps you turning the pages. I highly recommend this book and this series!

In book 8, we finally start to see Sukey on her own. Gus is away at university and Jim was left behind when Sukey moves to train and become a detective constable. Now instead of reading about her cooking non-stop for the inept men in her life, we get to read about her frozen meals and actual work! She even starts to have a social life of her own! This is a well needed fresh start to the series.

Sukey Reynolds joined the long list of first rate fictional crime solving experts 7 volumes ago. She is no longer an amateur as she's worked hard and finally made her way onto the police force. How will this change Sukey's investigations? It's a real change for her working within police procedural, but she WILL solve the crimes in her Sukey Reynolds' manner that we all love. Another great chapter in Sukey's life and times.

I have certainly enjoyed this series. Sukey is now a “real” investigator and must solve a murder at a luxurious hotel. I miss her relationship with Jim and hope that changes. I also miss Fergus and her discussions with him. We will have to see what the future holds for both. Sukey does some fine investigating in this installment and I enjoyed the setting.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I could not love this series more ! I wish it would never end its that good. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity to review . My opinion is my own. I have read several in the series and highly recommend the entire series. This is the 8th book in series.

In this next in series our protagonist Sukey Reynolds is now thrilled to be a full-fledged DC (detective) with Bristol CID. She has moved to Bristol and passed all the qualifications for her dream of being a detective. She does have a habit of being a amateur detective and now she has finally landed her dream job.

Her son, Fergus, is busy at university so he is not in this book . I like their relationship and hope as he extends his studies he will be featured in the following books. . Her romance takes a back seat to her work in this book as it should as she begins life as a real detective.

Her first murder case is at the elegant Mariners Hotel. Dr Whistler, a archaeology professor has been murdered after a mysterious visitor. Sukey does her sleuthing by talking to a wide variety of employees and townspeople and soon she is on the track of the killer. She finds many underlying secrets about the victim as she digs deeper to solve her first case and prove herself as a detective after all. She is soon on the right trail and may be in danger herself. Will she solve her first case?

I adore this series and now that Sukey is a detective I cannot wait to read the remaining in the series . This is pleasing to read to conclusion as all her books are and has a surprising ending. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. Excellent work to the author !

This was a entertaining read. Sukey Reynolds has just finished six months of training and is a new detective constable. She has moved from Gloucester to Bristol. Her first assignment is to investigate the murder of an archaeologist who was stabbed to death in his room at the Mariners Hotel. Her immediate boss, DS Rathbone, treats her suggestions about the case dismissively. Of course, Sukey's ideas have merit and she takes makes her own investigations. Eventually she taken off this case and put on the drowning of a teenage girl. But when the young girl's death and the hotel murder have similarities, Sukey gets involved again.

I enjoyed this book much better than the previous one. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy.

🔎 Sukey's back on the👮 Force: excellent!🤗
👍👍 Lots of thrills in this Sukey Reynolds whodunnit, what with purloined Greek artifacts, academics endangered, villains and victims right and left, and strong indications of a massive criminal enterprise involved. 😲

I have read several books on this series and like the fact that the author does not let her characters stagnate. Heroine Sukey has moved towns, re-entered the Police Force after a long hiatus as a stay-at-home mom and then a Crime Scene Photographer, and her romantic relationship with DI Jim Castle has cooled since her transition. She's got new colleagues and neighbors to deal with and it seems that the male officers are leery of her unorthodox methods, having learned of her crime-solving forays as a civilian Scene of Crime photographer.

Author Betty Rowlands continues to emphasize Sukey's sympathetic connection with potential witnesses and her male colleagues' reluctance to take her hunches seriously. It's still a male-dominated world in the Bristol Police Force, but eventually new Detective Constable Sukey Reynolds gets the respect she deserves!

This mystery is easy to read and well-written, with plenty of excitement as Sukey tumbles into intrigue and danger to catch her culprit. 🤕 I really enjoyed this one! 🤗

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

Much better than the last one in the series, with an excellent plot and some real sleuthing, although there are still a lot of helpful coincidences. Well written story with good characters.

At the stately Mariners Hotel, a breathless man rushes into the lobby and dashes upstairs to see a guest. Moments later he returns saying his friend isn’t answering his door. The manager & his PA enter the room to find Dr Whistler laying prone on the floor.
When Sukey Reynolds receives news of a death at the elegant Mariners Hotel, she is intrigued. Who could possibly have wanted to hurt Dr Whistler, a shy and retiring archaeology professor? The dusty documents he was carrying couldn’t possibly be of value, could they?
Sukey’s superiors are convinced that Dr Whistler’s visitor is his killer, but she isn’t so sure and decides to do a little side-sleuthing. A mysterious phone call leads Sukey to the truth, but as the rookie in the team, will anyone believe she has what it takes to solve this baffling mystery?
This is the eighth book in the series & things have moved on in the time since the last book, Sukey has been fast tracked in the police force & is now a fully fledged detective. She’s also sold her house & moved to a flat in Bristol, unfortunately her romance with Jim seems to have stalled & I was so sorry to read this as I really thought they would have made a real go of it. Fergus is still at university & only plays a minor role, I miss them discussing the cases over a meal & Fergus’ input was always astute. However I was soon gripped in yet another well written book from the author. Sukey may now be a detective but she still happens to be at the right or wrong place at the right or wrong moment. There were new characters most of whom I liked, I’m reserving judgement on DS Rathbone at the moment but I did like how his relationship with ‘the new girl’ developed. Another page turning read that I thoroughly enjoyed
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book has moved forward in time to where Sukey Reynolds is no longer a SOCO but rather DC Sukey Reynolds. She has moved from Gloucester to Bristol where she is teamed with cranky DS Greg Rathbone who doesn't seem to like her or appreciate her ideas. He considers her a "loose canon". Sukey does manage to get herself into another tight spot and finds herself in great danger.

In this book is appears that the relationship between DI Jim Castle has cooled off since she has moved away. Sukey's son Fergus is not a major player in this book as he has been in previous books. An absolutely wonderful read which well deserves more than 5 stars.

Another hit in the Sukey Reynolds mysteries. This is number 8, and although it helps to read the others (I've read them in order) it could easily be read alone as well. This one has Sukey working now as a police officer instead of just recording the crime scenes as she did in the other books. The beginning had a gap in time though, that threw me a bit, as she is no longer in the same village, same house, and with her same boyfriend. Not sure if they broke up, or are just separated by space, but was sad not to see Jim as much in this one, nor her son Fergus, who is away at college. While a good story, this one was not my favorite. When a man is found fatally wounded at the Mariners Hotel, it becomes a murder investigation when he dies at later at the hospital. A colleague is under the attention of Sukey's partner, and while not a nice guy it is obviously a red herring. Good thing Sukey is there. Would recommend, as overall a good story, but like some of her other ones better. Still though, especially if you are reading them in order you shouldn't miss this one.

Short, quick and entertaining mystery as Sukey Reynolds, now a full-fledged DC with Bristol CID, gets involved with antiquities theft and murder. This is the 8th book in series and I feel that it's best to read them, from the beginning, in order.

Sukey has left Gloucester and her previous job as a scene of crime investigator to pursue her original dream of being a detective. She's moved to Bristol and just starting out in her new job after getting the necessary qualifications. Her social life and romance with DI Jim Castle has taken a huge step back and her son, Fergus, is busy at university so she doesn't see him often. I really missed that aspect of the book -- Sukey's interactions with her son and Jim -- and hope that is resumed in the next book. I do like the character of Sukey and hope that she can settle down and perform her job well since she's now a real member of the police and doesn't have to do her amateur sleuthing any longer. Her SOCO experience has helped make her a good observer and she has a very companionate nature which assists greatly in her ability to get information from others. I like the writing style and the descriptions of the setting and will continue on with this series.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the e-book ARC to read and review.