I am binge reading RC Bridgestock's book, and really enjoyed the 3rd book in the Charley Mann series. Well written, and now I am starting book 4 in the series. Recommended.
TB

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.

At the local university, a young student wakes to see a man, sans clothing, standing next to her bed. Screaming, the man calmly puts his clothes back on and escapes through an open window .. on the 5th floor.

Meanwhile a corpse is discovered on the other side of town.

Even though local law enforcement don't see a connection between the two cases, DI Charley Mann suspects they are very much connected ... and there may well be other bodies found. Is she following a serial killer?

The evidence doesn't amount to much, but she follows what what can and finds a few suspects that bear questioning and following. But when it comes right down to it, Charley will stand alone....

This is a well-written police procedural, the plot is intriguing, the story line well-thought out. The characters are solidly drawn and work well amid a background of tension, angst, self-doubt. The ending is explosive and totally unexpected. Although 3rd in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I do recommend reading the books in order for some fine reading.

Many thanks to the author / Canelo / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Not a bad book. I have read another of the series which was also OK. Set in Yorkshire, Charlie is the detective in charge when a local woman is found dead. In the meantime a seemingly unrelated case involves a man appearing in the rooms of female students at the local college. These crimes progress to sexual assault and worse.
The writing is at times very stilted and at times repetetive. We know that Annie was educated by nuns,it is mentioned a lot in the book. I found the characters here two dimensional , even to some extent Charlie. The crime(s) are uite well thought out though. There seems to be little discussion, unfortunately, Charlie gets to do most, if not all of the thinking. Descriptions at times repetetive (for example about the Post mortems) . Charlie is hailed as a wonder woman shame she does not always appear to make use of the skills and experience of the rest of the team (it is mentioned, but not really acted upon in my opinion)
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4123615139

Lock your windows. Lock your door. And don’t look outside…

At the local university a series of incidents is raising alarm. Someone is breaking into students bedrooms through the windows.

But things get even more serious when a corpse is discovered on the outskirts of town. DI Charley Mann, dealing with her own problems, is drafted in to investigate. At first there doesn’t seem to be a connection, but Charley suspects otherwise.

Following the evidence draws Charley into a web of shady local characters struggling at the margins. It seems the break-ins are no random event. Worse, more lives are at stake.

On her own, and facing a stand off, Charley will have to find a way through. It’s either that, or more people will die…

Great writing, great characters and a great storyline

No Random Event…?
The third entry in the DI Charley Mann series and occurrences at the local university are a cause of consternation for the team, compounded when a body is discovered on the outskirts of the town. Is there a connection or is this simply a random act? A slow burn but with some nicely drawn characters and a good sense of place.

Having not read the previous books in this series I can say it works as a standalone novel.
A solid but not spectacular police procedural that is engaging and easy to read but lacks that something that makes it a pageturner.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the electronic copy.

I'm afraid I didn't really enjoy this book at all. Yes, it has a reasonably intriguing mystery surrounding female university students being visited in the night by a strange male who seems to be able to climb walls, but unfortunately I just couldn't get on with the writing style. Basically DI Charley Mann is supervising and teaching DC Annie Glover all she knows - unfortunately the writing conveys to me, the reader, that I'm the one being taught! One gets to see the DI's to-do lists; learns of her knowledge of policing procedures - almost like reading a dry training manual. There's lots of social commentary surrounding the circumstances of the case; lots of incongruous "official-speak" as if the writer is actually giving the reader a "report" on the investigations.

Not my cup of tea, Sorry.

I enjoyed parts of this book featuring DI Charley Mann, a complex character. Parts of the book were slow paced but the tension soon built. The writing was good and the characters were well developed, with some very good descriptive passages. I liked the contemporary university setting which was well researched. Overall, a good read but my interest did wane about halfway through. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This was the detailed police procedural I expect from this crime-writing duo, full of detail. I enjoyed it significantly more than the last one I read 'Condemned'. This was better written and the storyline was more captivating. I enjoyed the continuation of Charley Mann's backstory and nice to have DI Jack Dylan make an appearance too! Hoe the next one in this series is as good.