Black River is a brilliant first book in the new Jess Bridges Mystery Series featuring private detective Jess Bridges and Detective Inspector Leo George.
Although this is billed as the first in the series, we first meet Jess (and her ex Michael) in the brilliant book, Don’t Trust Me, which I would also highly recommend (it fills in the backstory of Jess and Michael which is mentioned in this book, explaining in more details why Michael and Jess are no longer together and how Michael sustained his injuries).
Set in and around Oxford, this excellent novel promises to be a very successful series.
Jess is trying to develop her private detective business to make a full time living out of it, as she currently has to supplement her income with various temporary jobs. She meets the very handsome DI Leo George when she is in a somewhat compromising position, having been wild swimming whilst naked... This book is clever, well plotted, intriguing and in parts very funny.
I enjoyed the book so much that as soon as I had finished reading it, I had to immediately read the second book in the series, White Horse, which is also a very gripping book.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The last thing Jess expected when she went skinny dipping in the Thames was that she would find a corpse. Oh, and that a dog would steal her clothes so she would have to deal with the police and others while nude. Or that more bodies would be found in spots identified by Jago Jackson in a book about wild swimming. Told by Jess in the first person and in the third person by DI Leo George and psychologist Michael Harrison, this is an interesting, and at times amusing, mystery. Regular readers (and watchers) of British procedurals know that Oxford is fodder for this sort of thing (even though the murder is actually quite rare there). Stirling has used the area to good effect, especially given that the first victim, Dr. Kenneth Kingston, is an academic. Jess is a classic tortured private detective- her life is more or less a mess with an unhappy family background, a romantic relationship in limbo, and adhd. She's also only 31 so she's got room to grow. I liked Leo and Michael as well. No spoilers from me on how this works out. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

A thrilling new whodunnit series, fast-paced and funny, featuring a detective as sharp as his suits and a heroine who’s trouble.
The River Thames always gives up its dead…

There’s a killer picking off victims from the wild swimming spots on the upper reaches of the Thames. The case takes Detective Inspector Leo George into the path of Jess Bridges, a private investigator who lives life close to the edge.

Their enquiries lead them to author, Jago Jackson, whose book on secret wild swimming spots has turned him into a social media celebrity. Is Jago’s book the blueprint that the murderer is following? If so, does that make Jago a target or the killer himself? Either way, the duo find themselves swimming in some very dangerous waters …

This was a good read. Quirky and fun that made me laugh out loud a few times.
The characters were well developed and likeable.
I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.

You can’t beat a good book. This is a well written story with fab characters. It will certainly keep you turning the pages.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in return for an honest review

Black River is the first instalment in the Oxford-based Private Investigator (PI) Jess Bridges Mystery series. Thirty-one-year-old PI and flawed protagonist Jess specialises in locating missing people. After a reading group meeting with her book club and a little too much to drink, Jess decides to takes inspiration from the book she's reading and goes wild swimming, or skinny dipping, stark naked, in the Thames but gets into a spot of bother when a mischievous dog takes off with her clothing and she stumbles across a murdered body in a boat. Author and wild swimming expert, Jago Jackson, who had been on a run, remains with her until the police arrive and she provides a statement to DI Leo George, appointed lead investigator on the case by Kidlington Police HQ. The victim is soon identified as Dr Kenneth Kingston an academic at Oxford University. When more killings with the same MO start happening, forensic psychologist Michael Harrison becomes part of the team. He and Jess have history together and it doesn't take long before they both begin to receive threats online but from who?

This is an action-packed, exciting and gripping read in which PI Jess joins forces with the local police department, reuniting her with some old friends, and flames, in the process. There is a lot of romantic trysts hinted at and there is some interesting sexual tension between Jess and several ex-partners throughout the story. It's much more lighthearted and fun than I had imagined and is a genuinely rollicking ride with a lot of attention given over to elements I hadn't anticipated were going to be as prominent; for instance, there's wit, humour and sarcasm in hefty supply and this punctuates the darker side of the investigation providing some light relief. Jess is an interesting protagonist in that she's quite troubled and has led an interesting life thus far. We get to learn plenty about her work life, personal relationships and her struggles to control her ADHD. A lot is going on, so much so that you barely get a chance to breathe, and I'm excited at the prospect of this developing into an unmissable series. Many thanks to One More Chapter for an ARC.

Jess Bridges
There's a killer picking off victims from the swimming spots on the upper reaches of the Thames. DI Leo George crosses paths with Private Investigator jess Bridges. Their enquiries lead them to author Jago Jackson whose book on wild swimming spots turned him into a social media celebrity. Is Jago's book a blueprint that the murderer is following?

A thrilling fast paced whodunit. Private Investigator Jess Bridges has three different cases to deal with. She ends up at the banks of the river near Oxford where there's a movie set at the University. I wasn't sure about Jess at first but she grew on me the more I read. The story is told by multiple points of view. Jess has ADHD and we learn how it effects her behaviour. This is certainly a different kind of read.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #HarperCollinsUK #One More Chspter and the author #JossStirling for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hello Jess Bridges! A new crime heroine is born! Black River had me gripped from start to finish and introduced me to one of the most exciting female characters I’ve met this year - the inimitable Jess Bridges. I love thrillers/crime fiction and for me it has a lot to do with the character of the detective/sleuth and I’m always looking out for a new one. In Black River the first dead body is found in the river and discovered by the naked Jess Bridges while she is skinny dipping. This is only the first body and they seem to turn up around Jess..Jess is a part time private investigator searching for a missing girl; she has adhd and has a therapist; she had a dysfunctional childhood and a toxic father; her relationships with partners have broken down and she has the most wonderful sense of humour. The story has many threads - a killer on the loose; a stalker who is sending weird presents; a missing girl with a strange father..gradually and wonderfully these threads are drawn together to a nail biting climax. For once I guessed the killer - I think this is brilliant when it happens as it means the author has laid a careful trail. There are so many things I loved about this book - some fascinating new characters including Leo George the detective with brown twinkling eyes, a keen sense of humour and a back story only alluded to; Jago a writer and wild water swimmer with a big ego. I loved how one minute I felt utterly terrified and the next I was laughing at the sharp humour that peppers the story in abundance. And most of all I just love Jess - ‘she was relentless in her sunshine’. This book gets five stars for Jess! I absolutely cannot wait for the adventure to continue. With thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for a digital copy of this book.

Took awhile to come together & questions remain🤔

3.5-4🌟stars
I am a big fan of murder mysteries set in the British Isles and this one takes place in the Thames Valley near Oxford and Windsor. The murder mystery and the subplots involving former lover Michael and Jess's search for teen Angelica were good and kept me guessing but I had some issues with the structure of this story and what it left out.

This is the first book in a new series but it reads like a follow-on book with much of the backstory provided in incomplete dribs and drabs. I was initially confused but after waiting for explanations that never surfaced (like why and how Michael was injured, why Michael and Jess broke up and what case they were involved in the previous year with DI Leo George), I was miffed by the little hints and allusions that never answered my questions about their joint history.

Add to that that main character Jess was borderline likable for me. She's into foolish, risky behavior. She's got a string of men interested in her and seems quite content not having to choose. In fact, a good part of the story focuses on her love life rather than the cases. As for her investigative abilities, it seems mostly a case of luck rather than real work or intuition. And, in general, the story does not spend much time on the details of the police investigation.

Now that I am familiar with Jess and the main people in her life, especially Michael and Leo, I do want to read the next story in the series. But I feel Black River leaves plenty of holes in their recent past that still need to be filled.

Thanks to publishers Harper Collins/One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

This is the first book in Jess Bridges’ series.
Jess is the main character of this book and she is quite complex with some mental health issues as well as a difficult past.

The book is well written and it has an entertaining plot but I have struggled to engage with it. I don’t know if because Jess was quite a complex character I struggled to relate to her completely or if there was something else but I just didn’t fully engage with the story.

The plot was interesting though and I loved the descriptions of the city of Oxford and how the plot developed. I would definitely read further books to see if I will warm up to the main character.

Overall, it was an entertaining read and I believe fans of mystery and crime books would enjoy this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley, HarperCollins and One More Chapter for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A mystery like no other! Jess Bridges is your inimitable leading lady: feisty, impulsive and with a huge heart.

Be prepared to be on the edge of your seat in heart-racing suspense as Jess takes you on a wild adventure from the waters of Oxford across the English countryside. Meet her very own gorgeous trio: the ever-reserved DI George (and his pet Goldemort!), mysterious Michael and the sophisticated, suave Jago Jackson as this book delivers action, romance and intrigue wrapped up in Jess’ unique witty charm.

I enjoyed the intricate sub-plots, the richly developed characters, and the delightful dark humour that made for a read that was anything but predictable. Joss Stirling has outdone herself yet again in this excellent first book of what is sure to be a show-stopping series.

Now I’m going to sound really boring now I know but I don’t do quirky and this heroine certainly is that so the book just was never going to be a hit with me. I like my thrillers to thrill me and my comedies to make me laugh and I’m afraid Black River did neither for me.
Saying that I think this original book will be a great hit as I know I’m the odd one out ( I hated Killing Eve and look how everyone loved that)

Black River by Joss Sterling is a light, hard-boiled mystery with lots of action and suspense as well as a fun dash of humor that all come together into an enjoyable, fast-paced read.

What I Loved

Most of all, I adored the primary characters. Jessica Bridges is a fledgling PI who does temp work on the side. When we meet her, she is staying with a woman and her two children somewhat illegally. She has not declared her residence, insisting that Cory is a friend (even though they did not start the arrangement that way). I'm not familiar with the English law that makes this an issue, but it is referred to multiple times. She describes herself as recklessly impulsive, and this is where the fun begins. She has a penchant for getting herself into laugh out loud situations that are delightfully fun to read while building the suspense that makes the book hard to put down.

Her two sidekicks are DCI Leo George and psychologist Michael Harrison. They together lead the official investigation while helping Jess solve her case, which gets mixed into it. Leo is a straight-laced cop who does everything by the book and is highly respected within the police community. He loves gardening and has named a "pet" carp who lives in a small pond in his garden, Goldemort, showing us a lighter, funnier side to this policeman. He is an excellent foil for Jess, who is his opposite in so many ways.

Michael Harrison is a psychology professor at a local college and was Jess's live-in boyfriend for five years. They have long since parted ways but remain good friends. Michael gives the reader insight into the inner workings of many characters' minds throughout the story. All three perspectives work so well together to create an account that is fast-paced, full of action and suspense, and brings the reader a good dose of fun to offset the wickedness and evil that is being investigated.

I loved that the point of view used with Jess's chapters are in first-person narration while Leo's and Michael's are in third person limited narration. I've seen this technique used once before, and I love how it provides multiple perspectives while avoiding the confusion that often comes with multiple narrators.

Three mysteries are going on at one time, and I loved how that keeps the pace speeding along. The puzzles are loosely connected but still managed to stay very distinct as the story progressed, never once creating the confusion that can come when you have potentially too much of a good thing going on in a story.

To Read or Not to Read

This incredible new series for people who enjoy a lighter hard-boiled mystery will grab on to and never look back.

You can sometimes tell from the first chapter what a book is going to be like and this was nothing what I expected. It's hilarious!! I had judged the book to be quite serious from the cover!! NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER.

Where to begin? Hilarious, who knew going to a book club would end up so funny! I was meant to read this over a week for the readalong but I ended up reading it in one sitting. The story is so ridiculous but totally believable.

The characters were so incredibly likeable and the plotline was just brilliant! It was told from several points of view and I liked how they intertwined with each other. The story does take on a thrilling side as it delves into the backgrounds of potential suspects. I really enjoyed this light-hearted murder/mystery.

Black River is the first book in the Jess Bridges Mystery Series. It seems to take place sometime after the events in Don’t Trust Me where Jess was first introduced. The story is narrated by multiple characters and it follows the journey of Jess who is a PI that is great at finding missing people.

I thought that the characters were interesting but my favourite is DI George because I found to be very charismatic. I want to see DI George evolve more as a character so I’d love to see him get his own series.

I would describe this book as a fun and entertaining whodunnit mystery. There are lots of twists and turns throughout the story which will keep you guessing. I thought I knew how it was going to end but it turns out that I was wrong. I’m excited to read the next book so I can see what comes next.

I recieved an advanced copy for free, and this is my honest opinion.

Actual rating 3.5stars.

Black River is a departure for OMC in terms of publishing a crime novel and having thoroughly enjoyed many novels by authors signed to this publishing house I was excited to have the opportunity to read an ARC, not quite knowing what I was letting myself in for.

Meet Jess Bridges, part time PI plus part time temporary worker with any establishment that will have her! Currently lodging with Cory and her two children in Oxford, Black River opens with a book club meeting that ends in nudity and the discovery of a dead body. Following a discussion on the merits of Jago Jackson’s book celebrating the delights of wild swimming, Jess decides to take the plunge, immersing herself in the River Cherwell. What she doesn’t bargain for is a retriever hightailing it with her clothes! Spotting a punt on the nearby riverbank Jess hopes to find something within to cover up her modesty whilst Cory returns with her clothes but instead, to her horror, finds a naked dead man. With the help of passing jogger, who just so happens to be THE Jago Jackson, the police are called and this crime thriller is truly set in motion.

Set around Oxford and Linton college it is DI Leo George heading the investigation, believed to be a safe pair of hands, although there are frustratingly no leads as to why the man identified as college bursar, Dr Kingston has been murdered. When another murder quickly follows Leo calls in the help of criminal profiler Michael Harrison, ex boyfriend of Jess, concerned that there is a cold bloodied killer on the loose who may very well strike again. Somehow, thanks to these handful of coincidences and connections Jess finds herself caught up in the investigation, insinuating herself into the very heart of this drama. Together with a couple of subplots that keep you guessing as to their possible connection to the main event, the strength of this crime thriller (although I prefer drama) lies in the quirky nature of Jess and her relationships with the men in her life, boyfriend Drew, ex boyfriend Michael, Jago and of course DI George. I had no idea where this police investigation was going to lead but enjoyed this tale of murder with a sprinkling of mayhem and madness.

I would have relished the opportunity to get to know DI Leo George far better than this storyline allowed. This first instalment doesn’t give the reader enough insight into his character so I felt he lacked depth in contrast to Jess Bridges who steals the limelight. I suppose that could well be the author’s intentions for future books with Jess in the driving seat and Leo taking a backseat but I guess I’ll have to wait and see. It is the quirky Jess, a rather chaotic,haphazard character known for her lack of impulse control thanks to her ADHD condition that kept me entertained. I don’t think I’ve ever met a more unlikely but loveable PI as Jess and she makes a fantastic lead character. She has a good heart, at times a wicked sense of humour and has an air of unpredictability about her that is refreshing and keeps you wondering what kind of mess she’s going to find herself in next. Jess is most certainly a hit with the men which in this storyline sees her negotiating a hiatus in her relationship with boyfriend turned yogi Drew, reacquainting herself with ex boyfriend and TV criminologist Michael as well as falling for the charms of author Jago Jackson. Our heroine is a whirlwind of energy so that I could imagine there would never be a dull moment whilst she’s around! The frisson of attraction that exists between her and our detective means that theirs could be more than just a professional relationship in the future.

There’s a lightheartedness to this crime novel that I welcomed. However I think there is some confusion, in terms of the writing style, as to what genre this book actually falls into. It seems to be straddling more than one genre, neither a tense, suspenseful crime drama but equally not a cozy crime series either. I also wouldn’t describe it as a thriller. I love both genres and am mindful that not all novels can be easily pigeonholed, although for reviewing purposes it helps in directing fellow readers towards fiction you hope they will enjoy. Perhaps the best piece of advice is if you enjoy crime novels but also love a quirky character then Black River may be just the read you’re looking for.

I was expecting more humour in the storyline since the hilarious beginning suggested this would be the case but as the storyline progresses the writing loses some of this initial wit and reads more along the lines of your average crime drama. I think I wanted more madcap mayhem! I would add that whilst all strands of the storyline are neatly wrapped up I think this is done so rather hurriedly but at least my curiosity as to how these subplots are relevant or not to the pursuit of a killer was satisfied. I’m not entirely sure the pairing of Leo George and Jess Bridges works as well as I’d have liked but I was intrigued enough to want to commit to reading more in this series. I feel it’s a series that deserves a second chance as I liked it but am in need of further convincing hence my rating of 3.5 stars. My thanks as always to the publisher One More Chapter and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Love discovering the first in any new series with a feisty, funny and fierce private investigator. Here, Jess Bridges is our new protagonist and she and various other characters are introduced while solving a murder and a disappearance. Some characters seem to be from previous Stirling novels and this first Bridges outing sets a great pace for a really successful series. Part mystery/part chick lit it was a satisfying read, some good fraught scenes, snappy Jess dialogue and depth of background stories to make you want to read book two immediately!

I had trouble getting into this book and really not my cup of tea
This is what I would call a quirky mystery, a light read with a reasonable plot. P.I. Jess Bridges who finds a dead body whilst having a skinny dip in the Thames decides to investigate the case as she and the police believe the murders are being copied from author Jago Jackson’s book. Ok characters but missing that urge to keep reading. 2.5 stars from me.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

I really enjoyed this book all the way through. It had a really good plot, great main characters and really keeps you hooked on the plot. I would highly recommend this book.

Black River is the first book by Joss Stirling that I have read and whilst I enjoyed it to an extent I found it slightly strange. This was due to a quirky main character and an unusual writing style.

The storyline itself was an interesting one and I would read a further book in the series given the opportunity.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

I’m a bit on the fence about this book. I did enjoy it, although it didn’t wow me. I liked the main character and she slowly grew on me the more I read, I liked the authors writing style and that the book was told through the different characters. It was quite funny at times, and I would have liked DI George to have a bigger part. There were several different story threads, a few red herrings and an open ending that hints of book 2. Even though this didn’t wow me, I would like to read the next one to see how the characters develop. Overall, a nice, easy lighthearted mystery read. 3.5 stars