From page one to its chilling end, this book takes you through a labyrinth of secrets that you’ll never believe, from start to finish it is breathtaking!

This book was so good! I had no trouble following although I haven't read the 1st book. I do think I will read that one now. I found the story to be a bit far fetched, but I don't typically read fiction mysteries for the realisticness of a story. I found the pacing to be great. It felt like I could stop for a break or read it in one sitting, which I did read it in one sitting as I typically do with mystery/thriler books. Great read

3.5 rounded up
Book 2 of series but worked all right as a stand-alone book. Good characters and story. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

A bloodstained coat. Three missing women. One dead body.

Detective Mary Hume reckons she’s seen it all. But she’s never seen anything like this.

It begins with the discovery of a broken body in a lift shaft in an old Victorian warehouse.

The post-mortem reveals the bloodstains on the dead man’s coat belong to three different people. DNA identifies one of them as Julie Cross, whose body was discovered six months earlier, covered in horrifying wounds.

Maverick ex-police officer Raine was hired to look for Julie. She didn’t find Julie in time. But she’s determined to find out who killed her.

So, who does the rest of the blood belong to?

Chalk-and-cheese detective duo Raine and Hume are in a race against time to uncover the truth before more young women die.

Now this was one helluva mystery ride. I was hooked from the beginning and I could not stop until the very end. The attention to detail was amazing. The twists and turns were phenomenal. Will recommend to others.

Stephen Williams takes us in a ride-a-long with Detectives Hume and Raine. Each detective races against the clock to solve separate horrific cases dealing with blood, torture, and trafficking of women. Are the cases linked, or are the players dipping into multiple rings?

This is the second novel in the Raine & Hume series. Even though it's 2nd in the series, I would still consider it standalone within the series. There are a few references to the first novel, but Stephen gives ample explanation while not giving away the story. You can go back to read it the first book if you so choose.

I loved the mystery and suspense. There were subtle clues dropped throughout, keeping you engrossed in the story. I'm incredibly familiar with the thriller genre. It's hard to have twists that I don't see coming. I picked up on a few things. But, the big twists, I did not see coming. Also, the end cliff hanger was subtle, just enough to make you come back for the 3rd book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe books for letting me read this for my honest review!
Wow, a 5 star read for me! I loved raine and Mary and the supporting characters.
I was enthralled from beginning to end although occasionally there is stuff that happens that probably wouldn’t in real life, I still loved the story! This was book 2 in the series and I really want to get my hands on book 1 as soon as possible.
Thanks also to Stephen Williams!

DI Mary Hume works with Raine, ex-detective, now Private Investigator, to solve an horrific and gory murder when a dead man is found at the bottom of a lift shaft. DNA from 3 women, all missing, is found on his body. Hume and her partner Echo are solid detectives, working with evidence; Raine is anything but, traumatised from the loss of her wife (Mary's daughter), she tends to act first think later. There is humour in the dialogue at times and that works well; the two main characters also work well together; There is a lot of action for Raine - think female James Bond on steroids - which is more than unbelievable, and to my mind detracts somewhat from the story. A good read nonetheless. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Started reading this yesterday and finished this dinnertime it was that good. It is the first book that I have read by this author and am looking forward to the following book.
When a body is found at the bottom of a lift shaft it is Detective Mary Hume's job to find out who did it. With the help of Raine who used to be a cop and is now a private investigator they soon find more than they bargained for. Can they help the others involved to escape before they are killed, either way they will have to act fast.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end.

This is book 2 in the Raine and Hume series and is an adrenaline pumping story that works well as stand alone but you will enjoy it all the more if you have the background from book 1.

Raine is ex-police a woman battered by life on a mission to take down the bad guys no matter what. She cares little for herself and is a one woman fighting machine. She has history with Hume a shared loss that links the women.

A man is found at the bottom of a lift shaft in an empty building. He has been horrifically tortured but who is he? Forensics reveal his coat has the blood of 3 other women one of which is a young lady, Julie, Raine has been trying to find. What is the connection between the unidentified man and Julie?

This is a very complex story with a lot of strands it takes the team quite a while to work out just what they are investigating and even when they think they have worked it out as they join up the dots they suddenly realise that the actual truth of what is going on is more horrific than any of them ever imagined.

An absolutely gripping story that I found difficult to put down. The suspense starts at the beginning and doesn't let go. The ending is totally mind blowing but I love how the author wraps everything up so completely leaving no unanswered questions.

Well written with unique characters that develop well and all different personalities that work well together to 'make' the story.

A brilliant read, thank you to Joffe Books and Netgalley for the advance digital copy of this book. This is my unbiased review.

I took a bit to really get into this book but once I did them wow! I was hooked! It's cleverly written and a bit on the dark side, but without being too gory. The book is cleverly written and the twists don't stop coming. It's kind of a police procedural but just a lot more interesting and exciting lol. I loved the characters, they're very well written to be complex and multifaceted people. I also loved that it's not purely police procedural, its got humor, friendship and more so really will appeal to many

A spectacular sequel for Stephen Williams. Ex-police, now PI Raine is back in fully rogue action when she enters a club she had a tip that was selling young girls as sex slaves. Back up arrives and Detective Mary Humes and DS Echo become involved in looking into the dark activities at this club. Meanwhile, a body of an unidentified male is found at the bottom of a lift shaft on the building site. When the blood on his coat is ran through the DNA database, they find three other sets of blood on coat. One belonging to a missing person Raine was investigating before her body was found. Rain e is determined to find out what happened to Julie and whose blood they also found.
A fast paced plot, with two likeable characters that are completely chalk and cheese. With a strong personal connection, Mary is always looking out for Raine and her unconventional methods. With lots of complex plots, this book comes together nicely with the obligatory twists. Another fantastic read and looking forward to the next instalment.

Thanks to NetGelley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I would like to give this one a 4.5. I really enjoyed it. I've never seen anything by this author before and it looks like this is the second book with the main characters (private detective Raine and police detective Mary Hume). I definitely plan to track down that first book and read it. I really liked the two main female characters, especially Raine and her acerbic wit and sarcasm. Well-written dialogue that came off with the intended levity. She's a tough-as-nails protagonist that you do not want to mess with. The case she's involved in with Detective Hume (and her fellow detective Echo) is a brutal one. The story involves missing, abducted women and the depraved abuses that they can be subjected to. Nothing is too graphic, but the severity is easily understood. The race is on for the most recently abducted woman named Louise. The chapters go from Raine's perspective, Mary Hume's perspective and also Louise's perspective. There are also some good secondary characters that help move the plot along. The ending was good because it hints that we're going to see more of Raine and Mary Hume in another book! Looking forward to it!

Raine and Hume Series Book 2

Detective Mary Hume reckons she's seen it all. But she's never seen anything like this. It begins with a broken body in a lift shaft in an old Victorian warehouse. The post-mortem reveals the bloodstains on the dead man's coat belonged to three different people. DNA identifies one of them as Julie Cross, whose body was discovered six months earlier, covered in horrifying wounds. Maverick ex=police officer Raine was hired to look for Julie. She didn't find Julie in time. But she's determined to find out who killed her.

This well written book has a well thought out plot with a little bit of humour thrown in throughout. The discovery of a man's body at the bottom of a lift shaft is linked to a case from six months ago. This turns into a bit of a gruesome read. DI Mary Hume of the Met and PI Raine are both investigating, they work well together. I don't want to say much more as I don't want to spoil it for potential readers. Although this is the second book in the series, it does read will as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #StephenWilliams for my ARC of #ABloodstainedCoat in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the copy of A Bloodstained Coat by Stephen Williams. This is the second book in the Raine and Hume series. I loved the first book so of course I read this one! I loved Raine and Hume’s relationship and how they help each other. Raine is a real kicka$$ main character and I can’t wait to see what she does next. The story is horrifying so if you are sensitive you should beware that it can be hard to take. Luckily, that’s a small part of the book and how Raine and Hume figure out what’s going on is intriguing.

A BLOODSTAINED COAT
by Stephen Williams

When I spotted this book I thought it sounded really interesting. On investigation I discovered that it's actually the 2nd book in a series. So off I went to good old Zon and got the first book. Which i read right before this one. I love when you can finish a book that you enjoy and then dive right in to the next one.
So this, the 2nd book in the series was a super read.
Another new author for me, i'm loving all these new authors i'm finding at the moment. Loving reading a new series and getting to know the characters. This series we are getting to know DI Mary Hume of the Met and Private Investigator Raine.
They work well together, and you know from early on that there is something that bonds these two character.
When the body of a man is found in the bottom of a lift shaft, it soon becomes quite an intricate and complicated case.
Great characters with believable and engrossing story line. Once started you will find this book difficult to put down.







Raine and Hume Series.

Book 1: THE SKIN CODE

Book 2: A BLOODSTAINED COAT

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of A Bloodstained Coat, the second novel to feature DI Mary Hume of the Met and PI Raine.

Mary is investigating the death of an unidentified man at the bottom of a lift shaft in an ongoing refurbishment project. The case is complicated when bloodstains belonging to three different women are found on his coat, especially when one is identified as belonging to Julie Cross, whose body was found six months ago with very unusual wounds. Finding Julie Cross after she went missing was one of Raine’s cases and she failed. She won’t fail again.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Bloodstained Coat, which is an engrossing tale of murder, cruelty and determination with a big twist. It is part police procedural and part lone wolf PI that works well, both as a contrast and as a cooperation. It should be noted that there is a fair amount of violence in the novel, after all, Raine can’t mess with violent criminals without reprisals.

So, the plot probably isn’t very likely, but who knows what the dark web gets up to, therefore I only say probably. It doesn’t actually matter, because the author has written a very readable book. Mary provides the evidence while Raine produces the intelligence and it works very well. Raine has unorthodox methods and contacts and has never met a risk she wasn’t prepared to take, which results in some physical damage, but at the same time she’s not daft and always arranges police backup. That’s the most unlikely scenario in the novel, the Met arriving within minutes of her phone call to do mop up. I wouldn’t call Mary risk averse, but she has a clearer sense of self preservation and mostly leaves the doing to her staff. Her lack of technical know how can be funny.

The plot is driven by these two women and moves forward relentlessly. There is never a dull moment with Mary and her team making new discoveries all the time with the evidence they have, while Raine is using her contacts to make other discoveries, mostly location, to create havoc and mess with the bad guys. She’s a mesmerising character. In between these two narratives the author also switches to Louise, who is being held captive somewhere for some unnamed reason. It all comes together in a Raine instigated final showdown, which is incredibly tense, but also quite exciting in terms of her audacity and cool.

A Bloodstained Coat is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

london, law-enforcement, private-investigators, procedural, witty, crime-thriller, torture, abuse, trafficking, drama, noir, grisly, grim, abduction, drugged, riveting, vendetta, suspense, action, cruelty, due-diligence

Grim. Too believable.
DI Mary Hume and former police officer PI Raine have differing lifestyles and modes of employment, but the same sense of justice. The publisher's blurb is excellent and so is the writing of this book. The settings are very clear, the characters very realistic, and the emotions of the victims and the main characters are spot on. Excellent procedural.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

Thanks to both Joffe Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review a copy of A Bloodstained Coat, by Stephen Williams.

Detective Inspector, Mary Hume, reckons she’s seen it all. But she’s never seen anything like this! It all starts with the discovery of a broken body in a lift shaft in an old Victorian warehouse, and from there becomes a breakneck ride! Hume is aided in the investigation by her partner, DS Echo. Hume's former daughter-in-law (and ex-police officer) Raine, is chasing the crime from a different direction. As I read more and more, the separation between the two lessened, leading to a crashing finale!

I didn't read the first book in the series, The Skin Code, but I feel A Bloodstained Coat works well as a standalone.

Bottom line: LOTS of suspense and intriguing characters ... but also violence and abuse.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It is the second in a series so I'd suggest you read the books in order to know the characters and their histories from the start.

One of the things I like about this series is that the author combines a police investigation alongside a private investigation and the two really gel together well, making this one cracking read. I love the main two characters Raine and Hume, and their shared history. Echo as a character is really growing on me and I'd love to see Jonas having more of a presence in the next book. The writing and the plot line is good, the story flowed so well and is all too believeable in todays world and I particularly liked the ending. There are themes of abuse which was dealt with very sensitively by the author without too much graphic detail.

In my opinion this author is very, very good and I was drawn into both books right from the start and they have just got better and better. I think this series is shaping up to be a very good one and I'll definitely be wanting to read the next book. If you like good police procedurals with a PI element I'd say you will likely enjoy these books and I'd recommend them.

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A Bloodstained Coat by Stephen Williams is a crime thriller with a surprising twist ending. A Bloodstained Coat is book 2 in the Detective Inspector Mary Hume and former police officer Raine series.

I loved the characters. I liked the interactions between Raine and Hume and the sarcastic banter that Raine exhibits. The partnership between Echo and Hume is also good. And I love Bitz. She is such a fun character, even though she only has a small part in the book.

The storyline and plot were well thought out and developed. The characters are all different and bring their own unique aspects to the story.

The story begins with the discovery of a broken body in a lift shaft in an old Victorian warehouse. The post-mortem reveals the bloodstains on the dead man’s coat belong to three different people. DNA identifies one of them as Julie Cross, whose body was discovered six months earlier, covered in horrifying wounds. Ex-police officer Raine was hired to look for Julie. She didn’t find Julie in time. But she’s determined to find out who killed her.

The duo Raine and Hume are in a race against time to uncover the truth before more young women die.

A very good mystery with a sensitive subject of torture and abuse. A gripping story from page 1 to the end. I would recommend this book. I cannot wait to read more. Five out of 5 stars.

#ABLOODSTAINEDCOAT #NetGalley @joffebooks