Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Very good second outing for DC Beth Chamberlain!
Can be read as a standalone, but I definitely recommend reading the first book.
Can’t wait for book 3!

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. I really enjoyed the story and it was a quick paced thriller. I will be recommending it to family and friends and will be looking for more from this author in the future. Thanks again for the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to Netgalley for my book,

Book 2 for DC Beth Chamberlain a family liason officer.

A series of murders that are seemingly unconnected for the team to solve. This is another solid outing by this author, starts slow with a gradual build up to a galloping pace.

I liked how Gina the wife of the first murder victim was portrayed, horrified by the thought of her husband being a sexual predator but unwilling to just let the memory of the man she knew to be tainted. Found guilty in the public court by association is a real and worrying trend these days and it was well presented.

I have read several other books by Jane Issac. I prefer her “Will Jackman” series over the Beth Chamberlin series.

I read the first book in this series prior to reading this one. You do not need to read them in order but it is my preference. I found the first one more engaging. This one I struggled to stay interested in it. For me, the characters lost their appeal. In the first book, the back story on the character was much more enjoyable.

Overall it was a good mystery.

I received this galley from NetGalley.

FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE (DC BETH CHAMBERLAIN, BK 2 by JANE ISAAC
SAME BOOK -- DIFFERENT TITLE PRESUMED GUILTY

One man is a victim of a hit and run. Could have been an accident ... or not. When two more people are also murdered, it becomes apparent that there is a connection. But who is the killer?

DC Beth Chamberlain is a Family Liaison Officer charged with helping the victims' families ...but then it turns personal when Beth herself is targeted.

This is a well-written crime thriller ... lots of action, lots of suspects, and everyone has secrets... and everyone lies. It becomes a real challenge for Beth to have to muddle through the past to find a killer in the present.

Many thanks to the author / Aria Fiction / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

When I requested FOR BETTER FOR WORSE, I didn't realise it was second in a series but there was enough backstory and fleshing out of the characters that the reader doesn't miss anything from not reading the first book. However, while the premise had initially drawn me in, the story itself was average but not great. It was good enough to keep me reading till the end but it didn't make me want to revisit Beth Chamberlain in a hurry...although I might if the premise looks promising.

Having said that, the upcoming book in the series "Hush Little Baby" looks right up my alley and I do look forward to it.

Councillor Stuart Ingram is mowed down in the street in what turns out to be his own XJ Jaguar, killing him on impact. Already under a question mark, Ingram had at first been arrested for sexual harassment of one of his female colleagues, which was later dropped, and then for possession of child abuse material on his computer. His trial for the latter charge was in just two weeks' time. Police initially suspect his wife Gina, but she claims she believed him to be innocent and why would she kill him before he had the chance to prove that innocence? Now no one will ever know the truth and he will always be suspected of being perverted.

DC Beth Chamberlain is called in as Family Liaison Officer (FLO) but does a lot of investigating of her own as well. She has recently broken up with her sergeant Nick (his surname escapes me just now) but the two continue to work well together. An acting DI has been brought in from outside to take charge of the investigation with whom Beth has worked with previously and who is on the fast track to promotion. Solving this case will make this acting DI's career look even better, skyrocket-ting her into a permanent DI position.

Then another body is found. Richard Moss' body was found beaten and strangled in his home by a neighbour passing by and seeing his front door open, went to see if Richard was OK. Clearly he was not. The team try to piece together aspects of both men's lives looking for any connection. Then in a Skype interview with Moss' estranged son, they discover he had worked at a children's home in the 1990's. When Beth questions Gina Ingram again, she learns that the couple supported the same children's home by raising funds - also in the 1990's. Could this be the connection they need?

When the body of a convicted sex offender is then found in his home in the most vicious and premeditated attack, the team looks for something to link Harry to the children's home as well. Despite being unable to link the latest victim to the home, it does appear that the deaths are related to a suicide of a young girl on the eve of her sixteenth birthday who was a longtime resident of the home. So how is it all connected? And what do these men have to do with her death?

There are plenty of puzzles and twists along the way before arriving at the conclusion. The ending does provide a bit of a unexpected conclusion, leaving it open for a continuation either in the next book or further down the track. I don't usually like such up in the air endings, but this had an air of cleverness about it.

FOR BETTER FOR WORSE is hailed as domestic noir, but I wouldn't really classify it as that. It is definitely a police procedural crime thriller. I must say that I do love the short snappy chapters - always a favourite of mine to keep the pace moving swiftly.

I'm not sure what I thought about the book, except that it wasn't what I was expecting with a title like FOR BETTER FOR WORSE and "domestic noir" in it's description. I enjoyed it but not as much as I thought I would and was admittedly glad when I finished. However, there will be plenty who will thoroughly enjoy this book and it is for those I recommend it.

I would like to thank #JaneIsaac, #NetGalley and #AriaFiction for an ARC of #ForBetterForWorse in exchange for an honest review.

This was an easy to read thriller that kept my attention all the way through! Lots of twists and surprises I didn't see coming. Very good, would recommend! Great book from this author as always!

It took me a while to get through this book but I did end up enjoying it. It's a very how would you react if this happened to you.
Something to read when you're bored.

A big thank you to Aria books and NetGalley and Jane Isaac for the opportunity to read this ARC of For Better, For Worse.
I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. it's the first of Jane Isaac's books that I've read.
Many characters made up this twisting and turning suspense. Characters were well introduced with good descriptions and how they related to other characters in the story.
Beth is an investigator with the local police, there is a hit and run incident that turns out to be murder, an investigation starts and then two more murders happen, Gina is now a suspect for the murder of her husband Stuart and the subsequent murders that have happened. How are these murders related? Turns out to be many deceitful things going on within this story. A real page turner. I would read more of Jane's novels, I really enjoyed this novel and would like to read more of this author's books.

This book really had me asking myself what would I do. I think when books do that, you know they’re a great read! It’s a serious book, with real issues, and done in a manner that keeps you intrigued, but also something I can absolutely see happening! Chills. Thrills! Shocks! And much more are sure to come in this intense book!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms!

Sophie Hannah fans are going to want to add Jane Isaac and her DC Beth Chamberlain thrillers to the very top of their must-buy list. A brilliant blend of police procedural and psychological thriller, For Better, For Worse is a top-notch chiller that will keep readers glued to its pages.

Stuart Ingram had once been an absolute pillar of the community. An esteemed local councillor whose hard work and diligence had won him plaudits and respect, Stuart had been a person most people admired and respected, but all that had changed when the police had turned up on his doorstep and arrested him. Everyone was shocked at this unexpected turn of events, especially the woman who has stood by his side and been there for him through thick and thin: his wife, Gina. Regardless of whatever accusation the police threw at her husband, Gina was always there unable to believe that she has found herself trapped in a nightmare from which she simply cannot wake up from. Gina maintains that her husband is innocent – until the police turn up on her doorstep a second time and arrest Stuart for child abuse.

Gina’s life takes yet another devastating turn at this latest accusation levelled at her husband. Now treated like a pariah and abandoned by all of the people she would have called her closest and dearest friends, Gina now sits tights and awaits her husband’s trial and hopes that Stuart will be exonerated. However, his day in court is denied him when he dies. Unable to prove his innocence, Stuart died a guilty man with his legacy forever tainted by this accusation that had changed all of their lives forever. However, Gina simply cannot put this nightmare behind her once and for all and start anew, because she is now being accused of being involved in her husband’s death.

DC Beth Chamberlain is on the case trying to untangle this complex and twisted puzzle and in a race against time against the clock, every precious second counts especially when another body is found.

Jane Isaac’s For Better, For Worse is a clever, intricate and compelling thriller that is fast-paced, addictive and so densely plotted that putting it down is simply not an option. DC Beth Chamberlain is a wonderful character who is smart, intelligent and somebody not afraid to put her neck on the line to fight for what is right.

A dark and twisted tale of lies, secrets and trust, For Better, For Worse is a compulsively readable page-turner from Jane Isaac’s wonderfully chilling pen.

Many thanks to Aria and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. For Better or Worse was an engaging crime thriller that will keep you engaged until the last page. Detective Beth Chamberlain is investigating a series of murders with one thing in common, a closed down children's home. Someone is seeking revenge and she is racing against time to catch the killer. The main character is very likeable and book touches on her personal life. I will certainly look out for more books by this author.

What would you do if people turned their backs on you and your family, all because of an allegation? Would you stand by your husband like your had promised in your vows? Or would you side with the masses and presume him guilty?

The allegation against Gina’s husband, Stuart, was one that could break someone’s reputation whether they were guilty or not. The evidence was stacked against him, and even his own daughter wanted nothing to do with him. I could see why!!

Just like other books in this genre, the storyline is a slow burner which increases in tension gradually, and in such a way that kept me hooked. This book is the second book in the DC Beth Chamberlain series, something I wasnt actually aware of until after I had finished reading it! It can be read as a standalone, yet I probably would have gelled with Beth a little bit more if I had had a bit more insight to who she was. I couldnt take to her and I felt like something was missing. I’m not saying she was a bad character, because she was far from it. I just wish I had had more to go on where she was concerned, you know?

Despite that, the premise of the storyline and levels of intensity, I was really taken by the investigation and the uncertainty which surrounded the entire thing. I thought it was very cleverly done and kept me on my toes!

The star of the show, for me, was the psychological elements of the novel – I just loved how Jane Isaac went about them, incorporating well thought out red herrings and emotional blackmail into an already complex storyline.

All in all, ‘For Better, For Worse’ was a really enjoyable, suspenseful read that showcased Jane Isaac’s addictive story telling.

A series of murders occurred in a rural area and it gradually became apparent that they were somehow related and a serial killer was operating in the area, but why, and who? Each kill was becoming more gruesome and violent as the killer was becoming more confident and bloodthirsty. The gripping and absorbing storylines were tautly written, thrummed with tension, shrewdly paced, and were cast with uniquely etched characters that were as compelling as the intriguing narrative they inhabited while the case was worked, observations were made, and the clues were gathered and amassed. This was my first experience with the clever scribe known as Jane Isaac and I am a total wannabe to her well-crafted squad of hardworking and under-appreciated detectives.

In addition to assisting the police with their difficult case, I also gathered two new additions to my Brit Word and Phrases list with dog-ends – the unsmoked end of a cigarette, and nonce – slang for a pedophile.

When I read this book I was completely unaware that it was book two in a series, but as a standalone I found it excellent and did not that this was a disadvantage for me. I intend to read the first book in the series because I found ‘For Better, For Worse’ so entertaining.

I loved the pace of this thriller, and had a couple of ‘heart in my mouth’ moments when I was reading it. This was such a page turner because the pace was so full on from the start. It had so many twists and turns that one aspect of the storyline took me by complete surprise, which I loved because I had not been able to predict that part of the story.

I found the side story about Stuart Ingram and his family to be very moving, seeing how the family is destroyed by the allegations which lead to his upcoming trial, and the long term effects it had on Gina, because she chose to stand by him, for better for worse. This made it so much more than a police procedural story. However, I really enjoyed the police procedural aspect of the story, and found myself able to see the team as multi-dimensional, even though the primary focus was on Beth Chamberlain, and I really want to get to know the characters within the series.

This is the first Jane Isaac book that I have read, but I enjoyed it so much that I want to read more, much more!

This is the second book in the Beth Chamberlain series and the second book I have read from the author. The book has an interesting premise. With an upcoming trial for possession of images of children, Stuart Ingram is murdered and Chamberlain and her team have to find out what happened.

Two murders follow and they seem to be linked to a children's home in the 1990's and the suicide of a teenage girl who lived at the home. Some characters returned such as Chamberlain's team, her sister Eden and her sister's ex Kyle.

I found myself really disliking certain characters and with good reason as it turned out - with them being very involved in the whole messy business.

I will certainly be reading more in the series.

I'm really surprised that this is only the second outing for Beth Chamberlain - I feel I've known her for much longer than that!

Gina Ingram has had an awful time of it lately; with her husband accused of keeping child abuse images on his laptop they have been waiting impatiently for the forthcoming trial to clear his name. When Stuart Ingram is murdered, all hopes of her life returning to normal are lost, and Gina struggles to cope. Whilst DC Beth Chamberlain empathises with Gina, she is definitely a suspect in her husband's murder. Then a second body is found . . .

This is another excellently plotted crime thriller; whilst the crimes are new and stand-alone, Beth's story continues on from the first book in series and I look forward to the next one. Full of fabulously created characters, each with their own personalities and traits, everything melds together beautifully to draw the reader in and puzzle over what is happening and why. An intricate story, perfectly plausible, and one which I have found engrossing and very enjoyable. Jane Isaac has the knack of writing realistic and absorbing stories - the type I most definitely want to read, and I'm very happy to give this one 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley and to Vicky Joss for my spot in this tour; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

This is the story of businessman Stuart Ingram who is killed. He is murdered weeks before he is due to stand trial for child pornography cases.

The characterisation in this book was phenomenal especially of Stuart’s wife Gina. This book looks at the impact that Stuart’s crime has on the people closest to him.

This book is gripping but also disturbing. It is filled with detail and the pacing and writing are amazing. A great book for fans of police procedural and domestic thrillers.

The second book featuring DC Beth Chamberlain, as I hadn’t read the previous book I was going in blind. I didn’t know anything about who she was etc, but I don’t think it mattered that much really.

Disgraced ex-local councillor Stuart Ingram, is run over and murdered just before his case goes to trial. He was fighting to clear his name in child abuse allegations. The main suspect is his wife Gina, until another victim is discovered, and it is very clear someone more sinister is at work and needs stopping.
Admittedly I found it a little slow going at first – but I found once we got into the ‘action’ the pace picked up and I was fully on board.
I liked Beth’s character. She is hardworking, dedicated and genuine in her approach to apprehending the murderer although not always the one to ‘tow the line’, she is wanting the right result.
It’s an action packed read, I’m not necessarily one for police procedural type books but this one caught my attention. It is dramatic, has a few twists that leave us readers with a whole host of possible suspects that we must eliminate one by one as the story progresses.
There is a good balance between Baths having to solve these heinous crimes whilst also sorting out her own personal problems. I enjoyed getting to know this character and would welcome reading about her again in another book.
One to recommend for sure, with drama, crime and a host of complex characters, this is a brilliant book with realistic and understandable police investigation at its heart. With such fantastic writing by the author you will be hooked in and will not want to put it down until the case is solved.