This was a little bit different to my usual mysteries. There were a lot of different threads and it was interesting to see how they came together. I found the pace a little slow.

I must thank NetGalley for allowing me to read a prepublication copy of this book and apologise for not finishing it before its actual publication date. I cannot compare it to any of Rachel's other books as I have not read any, but it is referenced by other reviewers as a standalone, which at the moment it is, but if other enjoy it as much as me then it will be the first of many.
Helen is a MP, a military police officer not a Politician, she is also not Jack Reacher or John Puller, so I am not going to compare Rachel to Child or Baldacci as this is more of a slow burner of a political thriller rather than a crash bang whallop that you will experience with the others.
The plot moves from Paris to Lyon and back with trips to North Africa and Marseilles in between, revolving around the kidnapping of the son of a prominent business man as a summit is due to be held at The Palace of Versailles in Paris.
The story is more reminiscent of MacLean or Deighton than the more modern writers and is all the more refreshing for that.
As I alluded to before I would not be surprised if this does not remain as a standalone.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot (plenty of reviews like that out there already if that's what you are looking for).

This is a great new standalone novel from the creator of the "Kelly Porter" series, introducing a new character - Major Helen Scott.

Initially a bit of a slow-burner for me (takes a while to get to know a new character!) but I was drawn in and really enjoyed this novel.

The book draws together threads of international smuggling, politics, and terrorism, and the lead character has an interesting back story.

Although billed as a standalone, I'd happily read more novels featuring Major Helen Scott - I feel her character has more stories to tell..

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Not my normal genre as my preference is for crime thrillers, but certainly thoroughly enjoyed this action packed thriller from Rachel Lynch and her character Major Helen Scott. Will certainly look out for more from Rachel Lynch and her character Helen Scott.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of The Rift, a stand-alone thriller set in France and North Africa.

Major Helen Scott of the Royal Military Police is in Paris overseeing the security arrangements for a NATO-Afghan summit when the British Ambassador asks her to go to Lyon to liaise on the kidnapping of Algerian magnate Khalil Said al-Rashid ibn Dalmani’s eldest son, because the main suspect is Fawaz bin Nabil, a well known arms and drug smuggler, whom the ambassador suspects of plotting to endanger his summit.

I am a fan of the DI Kelly Porter series so I was interested to see what Ms Lynch could do out with her comfort zone. It must be said that France, North Africa and terrorism are a far cry from the Lake District and yet she handles it with aplomb, dexterity and detailed knowledge. I will admit that this praise stems from later in the novel because the first quarter did not hold my attention at all and I put it down frequently, loath to pick it up again. There is a lot of necessary scene setting that flits between characters and scenarios, but it gives the reader nothing of substance to grab hold of because it doesn’t stay long enough with any one character and only hints at motivation in a loose way.

Once, however, Helen moves to Lyon and her investigation gets going the pace picks up and my interest level rose accordingly. The plotting is tight and the powers available to the police under the guise of counterterrorism activity eye opening. I really liked the neat efficiency of it all. Needless to say, the final blaze of glory action scene is a cracker, unusual and clever, although I was slightly disappointed that the twist I was expecting didn’t happen, but then this isn’t really a novel with twists. Yes, there are surprises, but no real twists, rather it is a fast moving investigation with one development leading to the next.

I’m not quite sure what to think about Major Helen Scott. She is definitely very likeable by the end of the novel when her secrets and sorrows have been revealed and she has proved herself to be more than competent in her field. I liked the small bit of reality when her educated surmises were not taken seriously by her male colleagues. I didn’t find her romance quite as realistic.

After a slow start The Rift becomes a very readable thriller.

The Rift is a standalone crime thriller from the bestselling author of the brilliant DI Kelly Porter series, and although this is different to her usual fare, it is every bit as scintillating and nerve-shredding. As a high-ranking woman in the Royal Military Police, Major Helen Scott gets the job done – no matter the task. So when she is pulled in to lead a NATO summit security team in Paris, it barely causes a ripple. Yet within hours, she’s dispatched to Lyon on a new mission. One with a complex problem at its heart. Kahlil Dalmani and Fawaz bin Nabil were close in childhood, growing up in the hubbub of Algiers. As men, they are both wildly successful. Yet their paths to fortune have caused a rift. Fawaz’s empire is built on illegal trade, and when his estranged friend refuses to grant a favour he seeks to change Kahlil’s mind the best way he knows how: kidnapping his son, Hakim. Working out of the Interpol headquarters, Helen must unpick a web of deceit that spreads across borders and dates back years.

Only by trusting those from her own painful past can she hope to return Hakim to his family. But with her focus on saving one life, she risks overlooking a plan that puts many others in grave danger. She’s determined to save a stolen son. But will that mean justice? This is an explosive and enthralling read from start to finish and the type of book you race through, have palpitations over and are sad about when you turn the final page. It's a gritty and gripping tale from an author I feel I can always trust to bring that rare mix of excitement, setting and characterisation, which makes for a riveting, fully rounded reading experience. Moving at a blisteringly quick pace, The Rift is full of everything needed for a satisfying and exhilarating thriller - wily action, wicked twists, red herrings, gasp-worthy reveals, intense drama and, last but by no means least, characters you come to care about as the narrative progresses. A must-read for fans of Lynch; this will no doubt satiate current fans and new ones alike. Highly recommended.

Set in France and North Africa, it features Major Helen Scott, a Royal Military Police officer. Helen, on first acquaintance, appears to be a career officer but this more by design than intention after a personal tragedy. The story is multi-viewpoint, and several sub-plots successfully dovetail into a climactic conclusion.

The contemporary plot is authentic and multilayered with a good balance of action and introspection. The detailed and vivid writing style makes the action and settings easy to visualise.

The reader gets to know the main characters and what motivates them well. Helen Scott has emotional strength and human flaws making her believable. The cast of characters are diverse and add to the story’s authenticity and depth of interest.

In conclusion, this is an exciting international political crime thriller.

I received a copy of this book from Canelo Crime via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

“The Rift” is a crime thriller by Rachel Lynch. The plot has a political and military focus, with the main character trying to ensure the safety of a NATO gathering in Paris, France. The plot is a slow burn at first but is very worth it. The author perfectly leads up to the culminating climax at the end of the novel. I loved how the author intricately weaves together characters through a variety of locales, creating a complex but not overly technical plot.

With the plot being such a slow burn, it does lag in a few spots, and can feel somewhat repetitive. I only wish that some of the major plot twists had not been revealed so early in the novel, as this could have helped with the pacing issues. Overall, I enjoyed the book, and will be checking out more from the author.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book on NetGalley and have provided an honest review.*

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Rift’ by Rachel Lynch in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The son of wealthy Khalil Dalmani is abducted on his arrival in Paris and Major Helen Scott of the Royal Military Police who’s responsible for security at a NATO Summit due to take place at Versailles in Paris is instructed to find him. Helen liaises with Grant Tennyson, Khalil Dalmani’s security officer and with whom she had a previous relationship, and together they work to find the boy.

‘The Rift’ features Major Helen Scott, a high-ranking woman in the Military who thrives on the excitement of the job. It’s a gripping story with a lot of action that took me out of my comfort zone but didn’t hold my interest quite as much as those I’ve enjoyed previously with DI Kelly Porter and the beauty of the Lake District. I like Helen’s character and look forward to reading more of her but I found this story overly and unnecessarily descriptive which bogged me down somewhat and I got a bit confused with the many characters’ names. I congratulate the author on the massive amount of research that’s gone into the writing of this book and recommend it for the hard work involved in producing a realistic and explosive thriller.

The Rift by Rachel Lynch is a book that I jumped at the chance to read and review on the blog tour. I have previously read books by Rachel Lynch and know how good she is at her craft.
Royal Military Police Major Helen Scott is overseeing the security arrangements for a summit in Paris. While she is there Kahlil Dalmani's, eldest son is kidnapped. Dalmani is an extremely wealthy and powerful man. Helen is put on the case to liaise with interpol to find Dalmani's son. Grant Tennyson is head of security for Dalmani and his business interests. He has been tasked to find Dalmani's son. Grant ends up working with Interpol, something he isn't overly enthusiastic about. Helen and Grant work on their own leads until a piece of information comes to light that changes the direction of the investigation.
Rachel Lynch has again written a story that is an explosive and gripping crime thriller introducing us to characters that are well-crafted and interesting. The plot was a tense one with a mystery to be solved and a race against time, making it an interesting read too. Rachel Lynch must have researched forever to get this story perfect as we all expect. The richness of the descriptions of the countries within this book has the power to make you almost feel the heat as if you are there!
This duo of Helen and Grant would be great in another book, would be excellent to hear from this unusual pair again, soon!.
Thanks to Emma from Damp Pebbles Blog tours, Canelo and NetGalley for the copy of the book and my place on the tour.

A book of two halves ..The first 100 or so pages sets the scene , set in France and North Africa it is about two business men based in Morocco and Algeria and a military police woman ,Helen . The son of one of the men is kidnapped and we follow the investigation . This is complicated by a security man working for the father of the boy being the ex of Helen .
Now for the first of the halves - the first chapters were confusing, language somewhat clumsy and sometimes long winded explanations seem irrelevant, though these do make more sense later on. I started to get bogged down and nearly gave up on the book. I read a couple of reviews and their positivity spurred me on to finish the book . As some reviews mention, there are lots of characters, but I did not find this problematic and their role became clear as the book progressed.
The second half of the book was more exciting and the story and writing improved, by the end it was a real page turner,lots of interest, evidence and reasonably well thought out plot. It took me a while to get to know the characters and to form an opinion about them. I am still not sure about some of the background stories, but by the end I wished most of them well. I would read more of the series.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A change from the DI Kelly Porter series but a strong female lead nonetheless. This time she's Royal Military Police leading a security detail in Paris for a NATO meeting. This morphs to Lyon with Algerians, drugs, kidnappers and generally illegal activities. Can she save the kidnapped child, prevent mayhem at the NATO meeting and catch the drug dealers? A thriller indeed. Fast paced, well-written, good characterisation and good contextual detail. Thanks to NetGalley and Canelo for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publishers. I have not read anything from this author before but I shall certainly be changing that. A terrific thriller, fantastic storyline and I absolutely loved it. Roll on Book No.2

Major Helen Scott has been tasked with checking the security at Versailles for a NATO Summit. When a kidnapping situation develops she is dispatched to Interpol Headquarters in Lyon to rescue the hostage and to check for any connection.
When her ex Grant Tennyson turns up with more intel things develop very quickly.
#Netgalley #The Rift #Rachel Lynch

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

oh were to start...a stand alone novel from this author and hopefully not the last after reading this one...

normally middle eastern books with politics involved doesnt interest me and this had it by the spades...but the actual storyline gripped me

a young man is kidnapped, his father is one of the riches men in the world and he is about to be blackmailed...

wow this book had me hooked right from the beginning...though i struggled with certain names and places the actually kidnapping and blackmail caught my attention and gripped me right to the end...

brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed it
cant wait for the next book off this author

Rachel Lynch is one of my favourite crime authors, so I jump at the chance to read any of her novels. The Rift is a million miles away from her usual sleepy Lake District setting and the police procedurals of DI Kelly Porter. In fact it's a few thousand miles away location wise, flitting between the suburbs of Paris and the hubbub of Morocco.

I really enjoyed The Rift, It took a while to settle in as the story and characters develop, but once you're in, you're hooked. There is so much depth to the main character, Helen Scott, but also the other characters too.

What's great is that Rachel Lynch continues her excellent writing style in The Rift and isn't afraid to pull any punches. Like with previous novels, there are scenes and descriptions that really make you think and will stay with you for a long time.

Here's hoping that this is the first in a new series!

This was a conspiracy thriller which was mostly exciting and entertaining. Helen Scott is a member of the military police and she is assigned to look in to the security of a summit of world leaders taking place in Versailles. As part of this assignment she is asked to investigate the kidnapping of university student, Hakim, son of a millionaire Algerian businessman, Khalil. In the course of her search for Hakim she uncovers a link to Fawaz, a wealthy drug and arms smuggler and there is then a rush to find Hakim alive and stop a plot that Fawaz has instigated. Why has Fawaz kidnapped Khalil’s son and what has this got to do with the world summit?
Although the book was generally a good thriller, it contained a lot of extraneous information from different characters points of view and so many characters that I found it quite difficult to work out who everyone was. At one point I was skim reading the extra descriptive sections which were complicated and went on for far too long. This movement between these different view points definitely slowed down the narrative for me and I think a bit of judicial editing would improve the flow of the story. The last section of the novel definitely picked up and by this stage I was thoroughly invested in the plot.
I really liked the bits about Helen Scott, herself including her back story and previous relationship with the head of Khalil’s security.
I can see this book being part of a series and would be happy to read the next episode in Helen Scott’s career.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Rachel Lynch’s DI Kelly Porter series. So, I was intrigued when I received a copy of The Rift and pleasantly surprised too. The Rift is a completely different style to the authors usual writing style. But, different in a good way.
Helen Scott is a Major in the Royal Military Police when she is given an assignment to oversee the security at a NATO conference in Paris. But she pulled from that assignment when the kidnap of Hakim the son of a influential and wealthy Algerian businessman Kalil Dalmani. Hakim studies in Paris and has his own training if something were to happen to himself. He would have some idea on that to do, He has also got his own bodyguard Jean Luc.
So, Helen is asked to liaise with Interpol as she has had similar experience and expertise in this field. Whilst she is there, she meets her old flame Grant Tennyson that brings back old memories of their time together.
The main suspect of the kidnapping is Fawaz bin Nabil another influential and powerful businessman but build his empire mostly illegally, who seems to want to get revenge against Kalil Dalmani.
The Rift is a fast paced, high octane thriller/spy story with lots of twists and turns and two influential people seeking revenge from one another through the streets and houses of France. By kidnapping his son. This had an engaging plot that drew me in from the start

Something very different from Rachel Lynch.
It’s always a surprise (shock) when you see that and author has written a book that isn’t part of their long running series, how dare they! I’m happy to report that I think the change was a good one and while it’s billed as a standalone novel I’m hoping it might be the first of a new series. Major Helen Scott we are told ‘gets the job done’ and yes she absolutely does. There was a lot of setting up here and I felt I was a quarter way through before it really got going and then I was hooked. Even at its most shocking this never felt far fetched. Helen is a great character and I’d love to see her return (preferably with Grant Tennyson). A change of direction for Rachel Lynch but I think she nailed it.

This was a real page turner and I was glued to it. Good story that unfolds without too many twists and characters that reveal their back story over time. Thanks for the ARC - looking forward to the next one in the series