Member Reviews

Jane Philips is a DI, demoted as a result of events at a previous case. Her boss, Fraser Brown really hates her and makes it very clear, luckily for her the feeling is reciprocated.

Her team are investigating the murder of a woman, found suffocated by a plastic bag…..but when further murders are committed, all in the same way….they have a serial killer to find. Jane, committed to her job, puts the truth before anything else and ends up in danger, the killer is watching!

Jane is a likeable character, likeable and a strong woman with a sense of humour but takes no nonsense either. With a great team, even new recruit Entwistle soon settles in. The victims have links to each other and the local church, but who would want them dead ?

What follows is a race against time to stop the killer before anymore deaths….it has a dark and twisty plot which has you hooked from the very first page. It’s very clever writing that makes you feel empathy for a killer, yes the crimes were heinous but they had been a victim themselves too. I’ll never look at Winnie the Pooh pyjamas in the same way again……..Utterly compelling.

Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

I think it has become pretty obvious I have a weak spot for a good serial killer thriller... It turns out I was craving another dose without even knowing so, because when I read Meggy's review of Deadly Silence I immediately caved in and somehow a copy of this new detective series ended up hanging out on my kindle. My current read wasn't really working for me, so I decided to put that on hold and start reading Deadly Silence instead. Best decision ever! Meggy always makes the best recommendations, and this new series is without doubt fabulous and right up my alley!

There is a lot to love in Deadly Silence, but let's just start with the fact that this first installment of a new detective series is so damn readable! I found myself hooked from the very first chapter and flying through those pages like there was no tomorrow... The only reason I didn't finish it in one sitting is that I started it too late in the evening to do so, because this story definitely makes you want to keep reading. Engaging, well written, suspenseful, shocking and even a dash of dark humor here and there... The writing was definitely everything I could have wished for and more. The plot itself was without doubt well developed as well. The case Jane and her team have to investigate is a tricky one, and as key information has been hidden for you, you won't be able to form a proper idea about the motive behind the killings straight away. Instead, plot twists and secrets are used to misguide you... Quite successfully as well, although I do have to admit I guessed who was behind it quite early on. Somehow I didn't mind too much though, as the story itself was engaging enough to keep me focused and make me want to discover if I was right all along.

As for the characters... Jane Phillips without doubt makes for a very intriguing main character. Things can be said about her being the typical damaged detective lead, but I personally liked her sass and attitude towards the investigation and life in general. The other members of her team were easy to like as well, with the big exception of Brown of course. He is truly exasperating and will make you want to hit things sooner than later... Also, I don't get how he could actually function as a DCI, but I guess he does make for the perfect 'enemy' to be pitted against our main character Jane. The character development in Deadly Silence in general is solid and I really liked the message behind the motive of the killer and the story. Keeping silent and doing nothing can be just as damaging... Silence can be deadly, especially if the silence lasts for a long time.

As you might have guessed, I really enjoyed my time with Deadly Silence and I will be looking forward to the next book. If you are, like me, a serial killer and detective thriller fan, you should add definitely add this title to your wishlist!

Was this review helpful?

A great read, very absorbing and fast paced. Although I knew who did it early on, it didn’t detract from the story and the enjoyment of the book. Would love to read more from this author, and the characters next case.

Was this review helpful?

The story is very well written, and the plot is much better than in the last book. The characters are also very good, but I don't believe two top ranking police officers can be that stupid, and that gives me a bad taste.

Was this review helpful?

I will rate Deadly Silence by OMJ Ryan a solid 4.5 stars. This is my second read by this author and once again, they did not disappoint me. This story was told from the viewpoint of DI Jane Phillips (Guv), the victims of a heinous murder crime and the murderer. This is quite a fast paced story, so please hold on to your seats as you're going to be traveling on one heck of a ride. DI Phillips is back after a six month hiatus from dealing with the fallout of a previous case in which she almost lost her life while attempting to save the life of celebrity Marty Michaels. She suffers from PTSD and her anxiety has skyrocketed. Due to her last big case, she lost her DCI title to a former coworker that she simply cannot stand, DCI Brown. While she and Marty survived their ordeal in the last book, this new case will send her world reeling. Someone is out to murder innocent residents of Cheadle and no one can figure out why. What do all of these murders have in common and who is the missing link and key to solving them? A childhood picture posted on the Twitter of one of the victims will turn out to be a key lead in solving the murder mystery of a lifetime in this small town.

What I Enjoyed About This Book:
It was fast paced and full of energy. The author kept me guessing as to who the murderer could actually be. I figured it out midway through the book as to one of the persons of interest gave themselves away easily.
I enjoyed reading what was going on from the murderer's point of view. That was awesome. I loved getting a glance of what was going on in their mind and how they came to the conclusion as to why they wanted to murder specific individuals.
I enjoyed DI Phillips relationship with her team: Jones, Bovalino and rookie Entwistle.
I enjoyed the theme of this book. It was different than any other story that I have ever read. It focused on the sexual abuse within the Catholic Church and how badly those parishioners of the church wanted to keep it a secret.

What I Did Not Enjoy About This Book:
Some scenes were a little too detailed and drawn out. While I did enjoy the story, some of the detective work behind the scenes of the crime were a little boring to read.
Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was fast paced. Hard to put down. It flowed well and it was very well written. It caught hold of me and had me hooked from the start . I was literally on the edge of my seat reading this book.

Was this review helpful?

Incredibly strong second book from a relatively new author. Gripping from the first chapter, this twist and turn thriller manages to successfully keep building the tension until the very last page. Character development from the first novel is great, cant wait for the next in the series.

Was this review helpful?

Revenge of a wronged child drives this plot. A killer is taking vengeance on those who knew he was being abused - and did nothing. DI Phillips is back after a tough case resulting in a serious injury and PTSD. Together her team tries to solve the case - will time run out?

Was this review helpful?

I loved this author’s books, I have read them all and this one did not disappoint. Highly recommended. Five stars from me

Many thanks to Netgalley and OMJ Ryan for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Recently demoted Di Jane Phillips must find the link to the brutal murders of members of a Catholic Church and as usual as her boss heaping pressure

A very good read from a very good author

Was this review helpful?

Wow! This book was so good. Really enjoyed it. Will be trying this author again. Will recommend to others 5***

Was this review helpful?

This definitely kept the twists and turns coming. It kept me reading on. I enjoyed the way the investigation seemed really realistic. There's quite a lot of characters so I did have to concentrate a little to keep track but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book!

Was this review helpful?

Set in Manchester, DI Jane Phillips, recently demoted, is investigating a brutal series of murders where the victims are all linked to the Catholic Church. Her boss, DCI Brown, is constantly putting more pressure on the team to find the killer. Jane is a likeable character, suffering physically and mentally from PTSD. This is a very good read, with a killer determined to revenge his horrific childhood. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book.I couldn't put this one down, just wanted to know what was going to happen next. Full of twists and turns, a gripping narrative and characters who keep you guessing all the way through. An excellent read.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC.
DI Jane Phillips is suffering from PTSD after her last case and to make matters worse she has also been demoted. Her new boss is an awful man, all he wants is results and he is relentless, giving Jane and her small team nothing but grief. When a horrific murder is perpetrated, with several others soon thereafter, Jane is constantly harshly berated for not immediately finding the murderer.
After a gruelling time they finally nab the killer and of course the boss claims the kudos and gets promoted.
This second in the series was a good read, very intense and I liked Jane better than in the first book, she is definitely growing on me. Her only problem is that she can't help herself, speaking her mind when she'd be better off keeping her temper under control. But with a boss like hers it's understandable, he needed a good slap at times!
A good mystery for lovers of Brit noir, I recommend this book.

Was this review helpful?

DI Jane Phillips returns from her LOA a bit wary. She has been demoted from DCI and her nemesis, DCI Brown, is now her boss. Jane returns to her team of Jones and Bov. Brown adds in DC Entwhistle to Phillips' team. (He is especially good with computers).

We have a serial killer who leaves his victims (and kills his victims) in the same way each time. We find that a trip to France visiting Our Lady Of Lourdes may be key in that a picture from 1992 depicts each of the victims - but not all of them, YET.

Avoiding Brown's need to tie up the case quickly in order to get a promotion, Phillips and crew want to be right, first, about who the suspect is.

An intriguing, interesting and fast read that book lovers of all genres will certainly devour! HIGHLY recommend!!!

Many Thanks, as always to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for an excellent read!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of Deadly Silence.

I'm always on the lookout for a mystery series featuring a strong female protagonist and Deadly Silence fit that bill.

DI Jane Phillips is back at work, unfortunately, in a demoted position after her actions in a previous case strayed outside the law. Now, faced with an insufferable man as her supervisor and suffering from PTSD, Phillips must focus on a new case featuring a serial killer preying on individuals tied to a tragic and horrific past crime.

I liked Jane; she's tough, competent and smart, but I especially like her team. They remained loyal and steadfast despite her demotion and treated her with respect and deferred to her experience.

The murders are driven by revenge, my favorite type of motivation, and you can't help but feel sorry for the perpetrator when you understand why he is committing the crimes.

I had hoped for a mystery with more clues to piece together and an in depth look into the ritualistic elements but this was a good read with likable characters.

I look forward to reading more about DI Jane Phillips.

Was this review helpful?