I must firstly apologise for the amount of time it has taken me to provide a review of this book, my health was rather bad for quite some time, something that had me in hospital on numerous occasions and simply didnt leave me with the time I once had to do what I love most.

Unfortunately that does mean I have missed the archive date for many of these books, so It would feel unjust throwing any review together without being able to pay attention to each novel properly.

However, I am now back to reading as before and look forward to sharing my honest reviews as always going forward. I thank you f0r the patience and understanding throughout x

The second in a crime thriller series featuring an impulsive, free spirited Jess, a missing persons investigator and the enigmatic police detective Leo. This time the pair by chance join forces when the body of a young woman is found on the Downs near Oxford. Great characters and story.

This was a dnf for me, I am not getting into the storyline, I will try come back to this book at a later stage.

White Horse was amazing sequel of Black River that revolved around another missing case Jess was looking into that again got tangled with Leo’s murder case. The story was about impulsive young girl and its worst consequences, cult, power greed, mental health, manipulation, human nature, and friendship.

Writing was captivating, engaging, entertaining and fast paced. I had hard time putting down this book. I finished this in just two sitting. It was written in alternative perspective of Leo and Jess and there was Michael’s POV in between. I liked how two different cases worked with dual perspective and merged seamlessly with the same setting of Uffington, Oxfordshire.

It started with Leo reaching at 3000 years old prehistoric site where body was laid on carved a White Horse on the Downs near Uffington Castle like ceremonial killing. From appearance he suspected victim was member of secretive cult Children of White Horse residing in manor at Kingston Beauchamp. But all commune members didn’t recognize her and were less than cooperative.

At the same time when Jess attended book fair in Frankfurt as plus one of Michael, she was asked to find wayward young woman, Lissette, daughter of one of the authors at this book fair. Coincidentally, Lisette joined the Children of White Horse cult a year and client asked Jess to join this cult undercover, find Lissette and persuade her to leave the cult.

It was interesting to find out who was the girl that died, why she was murdered, what happened to Lisette, if Jess could find her or not, and what she would discover on joining this cult that rumoured to have secret ceremonial rites that also involved orgy.

Jess was amazing. Her knack to get in trouble was still as great as previous book. Only she would join a cult with so much enthusiasm knowing they engaged in orgy. She was lively, crazy, fun, kind, empathetic, and goodhearted person but oh so reckless and impulsive. Her monologues were entertaining and I was really amazed reading how her mind works. But she was no perfect badass heroine. She too had her flaws and was hiding her vulnerability behind humour and sarcasm. Her ADHD was well presented. I so much laughed when she tried to meditate and admired her for making friends in this dangerous place where everyone might be a suspect. I could see the story becoming dark and serious if Jess didn’t give it light humorous touch.

DI Leo George was interesting. His broody and serious nature made him mysterious. We know him a little more than previous book. His passion for garden and field work of his job was admirable. He still was struggling with his team and Harry who never backed from giving him hard time but we also get to know why his boss put him with Harry, his flaws and a bit more about his family. His growing feelings for Jess was lovely to read. They are now on first name bases. It’s clear there was going to be something between him and Jess and how they both felt different in each other’s company but alas, that romantic department still hasn’t progressed much. Maybe in next book!

Michael, like first book, was side character and fast becoming Jess’ best friend. If you don’t know let me tell you he was well known psychologist and Jess’ ex, had accident and have to use wheel chair. He came at Jess’ rescue often and took care of her. It’s clear he still had feelings for her but Jess now only see him as friend. Corry and her kids were my next favourite. I also liked other secondary characters.

Mystery was perfectly written. Like first book I couldn’t guess a thing or see the twist and turns coming. I thought I knew in just first few chapters who the victim was and who might have killed her but this simple looking case was so complicated and I was wrong about everything I guessed until things were revealed. There were so many big and small thought-provoking things hidden under this light-hearted mystery.

I liked the theme of cult and its belief, what makes leader of cult convince people to follow something or even hand over everything they have, even life, that leader might or not follow themselves and how darker it can get. I would like read that article Michael was thinking to write in this book based on this topic. It made me think a lot around this topic as it happens a lot in India.

Another layer I liked was how everyone cope with their life problem differently, some turn to violence, some like Jess wear the armour of humour to hide their real pain, while some like Leo turn off those emotion and are good at compartmentalising.

Finding biological father who was sperm donor was another topic that made me ponder over why is it so important and why mothers can’t be enough for being bother father and mother or vice versa.

Climax was exciting and adrenaline filled with right amount of tension, action, and surprise. I liked how things unfolded after this point and I was quite shocked at reading why the victim was murdered. I can’t believe the reason culprit gave. Such a waste of life for the matter that could be handled differently and easily. End was great with a little surprise. I can’t wait to start next book.

Overall, White Horse was engaging, entertaining and brilliantly written whodunit crime fiction. If you love murder mysteries with layers, interesting characters, and right balance between dark and humorous, plot and characters, I highly recommend this book. But note that it should be read in order.

Second book in this well written series.I was drawn right into the story the characters a page turner for me.I’m looking forward to the next in the series.#netgalley #harpercollinsuj

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I enjoyed this book considering I don't really like books about cults, they have been done and done again in my opinion, but this is a quick action book so very little heavy information to avoid.
I do like the main characters in this series and am pleased that the author hasn't fallen down the 'need for sex' rabbit hole, yet.
I didn't see the end coming, so that's always a surprise especially when you read a fair amount of this kind of book.
All in all a great book, looking forward to reading the next one.

White Horse is an excellent second book within an outstanding series. Picking up this book after having read Black River, Red House and Grey Stones, brought a fresh perspective. White Horse is unequivocally exciting to read even as a stand-alone. Joss Stirling takes us into the hive of a cult. Within this well-crafted plot, the macabre is treated with respect and the living with levity. The characters develop very naturally from our introduction to them in Black River.

This is a book about friendships and is a reminder that they can be found in unexpected places and people. The setting lies in the rugged countryside of Oxfordshire, the pace of the story is brisk and the conclusion, unexpected.

More Jess Bridges Mysteries please!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I really enjoyed this book and I like the main characters of Leo and Jess. I look forward to reading more of this series.

The second book in the series. This one is much darker than the first book and is more serious. I actually preferred this book. It turns into quite the page turner and I devoured it in one sitting. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

An excellent addition to this series, it's even better than the first one and highly entertaining.
I read it as fast as I could and the plot is gripping, fast paced and full of twists and turns.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This second installment in the Jess Bridge series of books is even better than the first! Our flawed heroine, Jess, once again gets herself into all sorts of bizarre situations; dragging her ex-boyfriend-come-friend Michael, local policeman and love interest Leo, and her friend Cory along with her.

This time round, Jess goes undercover in a commune to try and find the missing daughter of a client. Just before she entered the commune, Leo was called to investigate the mysterious death of a young woman on the neighbouring prehistoric white horse figure on a hill. He believes this is linked to the commune and so Jess and Leo's paths cross once more.

I absolutely love Jess - she is wacky, charming, full of energy and a really vibrant character. She is offset by the somewhat reticent Leo and the cautious Michael.

Once again, Joss Stirling throws in some real surprises. I read a lot of crime/mystery/thriller and often guess where the plot is going but this is the second Joss Stirling book I have read and I never know what Jess Bridges is going to uncover!

Thanks to Netgally and One More Chapter for access to this title.

I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An action packed thriller, not for the giant hearted.
A good read.

This gripped me from the start. I found the characters likeable, and there was plenty going on to hold my interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this second part of the Jess Bridges series, it took me a bit to get into it, but once I did I was hooked again and it kept me entertained for a few hours.
Leo is still my favourite and I look forward to finding out more about him, especially with how this book ended
I did feel a bit sorry for him and Michael having to deal with Jess who is so reckless and can be a bit silly at times.
I also like the character of Iona.
I enjoyed the commune setting and the twists and turns kept me guessing right until the end.
I look forward to reading what happens next.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

Raised in the South of England, I loved seeing the mysterious white horses a d other designs in the countryside. Now here’s a novel featuring the chalk carvings and a great duo of Investigator Jess Bridges and detective Leo George in the second installment of a series I hope will go into double digits as I love their pairing and interactions. The story itself is fascinating, full of action, twists and semi surprises. It gets a five star rating as I want to read more and get to know them better.

It is always satisfying the enjoy a book only to find out it is one of a series. I really enjoyed this - great characters, unusual plot and really stunning, well depicted scenery. The tension of the undercover situation had me on the edge of my seat.

First published in Great Britain in 2020; published digitally by HarperCollins on October 30, 2020

Jessica Bridges is a private detective who specializes in finding missing people. While attending a writers’ award ceremony with her friend Michael, Jess meets Tanglewood White. Tanglewood hires Jess to locate her daughter Lisette. To accomplish that task, Jess joins the Children of the White Horse, a commune to which Lisette apparently belonged. Jess thinks Lisette might still be there and laying low, or at least that other commune members might be in touch with her. She’s not really into the commune lifestyle although she’s attracted to the leader, Father Oak, and hopes to find the opportunity to shag him.

Jess’ investigation merges with a murder investigation conducted by Detective Inspector Leo George when the naked body of a woman who was stabbed to death is discovered draped over the statue of a white horse. Near the woman are a robe and sandals that commune members wear. Initially unidentified, she meets the general description of Lisette. People who look at her photo do a doubletake, perhaps because she resembles the local vicar. She is soon identified as an American FBI agent who was in England for reasons of her own.

Leo relies on Jess to pass along any connection she can find between the murdered woman and the commune. Leo develops an attraction to Jess that she reciprocates, although Jess seems to be attracted to most men. Leo’s obvious interest in Jess causes a problem after a member of the commune dies in an apparent fall from a cliff during one of the commune’s starlight ceremonies. Since Jess was in the general vicinity of two death victims, she joins the list of suspects in what may be a double homicide. Leo’s objectivity is questioned when he discounts Jess’ likely involvement.

The plot is improbable but no more so than is common in modern mystery novels. It’s difficult to believe the FBI didn’t take a greater interest in the murder since the victim was one of their own. One might expect an FBI liaison to light a fire under the local police, who seem rather unhurried in their pursuit of justice.

The commune is, of course, a cult. Crime fiction writers seem to be attracted to cults, as they are to serial killers and human trafficking, all of which are more common in novels than they are in the real world. This story calls attention to the intersection between mental illness and cult membership, an issue that isn’t often discussed in cult-centric fiction, most of which go no deeper than “cults are bad.”

The novel is low-key. It’s a whodunit rather than a thriller, its blurbs notwithstanding. Joss Stirling does treat the reader to a bit of action when Jess breaks into a building that the commune has declared off limits, but even that scene seems a bit reserved. This isn’t a pulse pounding book but mysteries don’t need to be. White Horse offers multiple mysteries to readers who must ponder the relationship between Lisette and the murder victim on the road to solving one or two homicides. The mysteries are entertaining and the solutions are surprising if not particularly credible.

Chapters are narrated from the alternating perspectives of Jess and Leo. Both are good characters, although quite different from each other. Leo is buttoned up in a traditionally British fashion. Jess is more adventurous. Leo is naturally protective, creating a bit of spark between the two characters that appears destined to carry into the next installment in the series. This is the kind of book that might hook readers into the series, if only to see how the chemistry between Jess and Leo plays out. Those who are more interested in mystery than romance will need to hope that the next book avoids the much traveled path of cults, serial killers, or human traffickers.

RECOMMENDED

White Horse picks up just shortly after the events of Black River, and see Jess heading to a village next to the Uffington White Horse and Wayland’s Smithy, two places I have always wanted to visit – by the end of this series, I can see that I will have quite the road trip planned.

Although I had expected Leo George to appear in this book, I was pleased to see Michael making a return as well. I love his and Jess’s dynamic, and seeing their interactions in this book really made me smile. Watching Jess and Leo’s friendship develop over the course of the book was really lovely too, and I can’t wait for what I suspect is to come.

White Horse is focused around commune living at the foot of the eponymous white horse, and I found the dynamics within this group fascinating. It was obvious that there was more to them than met the eye, but I will confess that it took me a long time to work out what that was. As a former Religious Studies student, I can quite understand Michael’s desire to study them and other communes and cults of a similar nature.

When a series starts with a book as good as Black River, there is always the concern that the rest of the series won’t live up to expectations, but that certainly isn’t the case with White Horse. Come back tomorrow when I will be talking about Red House, the third book in the series.

White Horse is the 2nd in a series featuring Jess Bridges, Private Detective and Finder of Missing people and DI Leo George.

After a naked body is found at the White Horse near Uffington, the investigation quickly turns to the cult that rents a property nearby. As luck would have it, a search for a missing person leads Jess there as well but to gain entry, she must go under cover and join the cult. As DI George’s investigation leads him back to the cult, he and Jess find themselves working together again.

This series plays off of the two main characters’ quirky sides and humorous banter. Jess’s impulse control and naughty nature seem to balance perfectly with DI George’s much more reserved leanings.
An entertaining read with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.