A fictional tale set in Kosovo, The Price of Justice by Tasmin Turner is the second book in her Crime Scene series. Kit Chase is a New Zealand lawyer who works for an International Law firm operating in the post-conflict Balkans. It’s a tale of international banking, money laundering and high-level corruption as Kit will need all her knowledge of cryptocurrency and use of covert tactics to win the day. She also has to deal with her personal life being unsettled when an old friend turns up. It's an enjoyable enough international thriller, if a somewhat jumpy narrative that lacks a build of tension but makes for a three stars read rating. With thanks to Wish Books and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

“The Price of Justice: Crime Scene Kosovo Book 2” by Tasmin Turner is a riveting sequel that plunges readers into the murky depths of international crime and the complexities of love and revenge. Turner’s protagonist, Kit Chase, is an international lawyer whose expertise in cryptocurrency and covert tactics is put to the test as she navigates a labyrinth of deceit stretching from Kosovo to Albania and Slovenia.

Turner’s narrative is a masterful blend of suspense and legal drama, set against the backdrop of the Balkans’ haunting landscapes. The author’s intimate knowledge of the region’s political climate and her legal acumen shine through, providing a rich, authentic backdrop to the story. Kit’s journey is fraught with danger, as she uncovers a massive money laundering scheme that threatens to engulf the highest levels of power. The stakes are high, and the legal system she has always trusted proves inadequate against the forces arrayed against her.

The novel’s strength lies in its character development and the intricate plot that keeps readers guessing. Kit is a compelling character, her determination and vulnerability making her both relatable and admirable. The rekindling of an old flame adds a personal dimension to the narrative, offering a counterpoint to the tension of the main storyline.

Turner’s writing is crisp and engaging, with natural dialogue and strong characters that draw the reader into the story. The book’s pacing is relentless, making it a page-turner that’s hard to put down. The author’s ability to weave together threads of romance, legal intrigue, and action is commendable, and the result is a story that is entertaining and thought-provoking.

In summary, “The Price of Justice” is a must-read for fans of international thrillers and legal dramas. It’s a story of courage and resilience in the face of overwhelming odds, and a testament to the enduring quest for justice. Turner has delivered a compelling tale that resonates.

If you like fast-paced, action-adventure books with a little bit of mystery, then this is for you. It is the second book in the series and while I have not read the first I did not feel like I was lost by not reading them in order. The plot is a little different as the main character, Kit, is trying to unravel a money laundering scheme and it involves so many people across several different countries.

The characters are interesting from the start and the pace is fast the whole time, which I love. I would highly recommend this book. I am off to read the first in the series to see if it was just as good.

Loved this book! I read it in a day. It's one of those books that keeps you turning the pages long past when you should have gone to bed. While I do agree with another review that says there is a bit of repetition in some aspects, that wasn't enough to sour me on the book. This was great and I would read more from this author.

Thank you to Wish Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I was immediately intrigued by the setting of the Crime Scene Kosovo series -- Having spent 6 weeks in the Balkans a few years ago, I loved reading about Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia and Serbia. In the United States I don't see much representation from the Balkans in main stream literature, and the place and time of the series (early 2000s) are a very intense and interesting time to be writing about the area. Having an international agency dealing with the politics of the region at the time is a fascinating backdrop.

You can also tell Turner has established a plot capable of a variety of international implications, danger, and suspense, and her experience living in Kosovo and working for an international organization and being a lawyer shines through. In terms of writing what you know, Turner has that solidly down.

Unfortunately, I don't think this series is a good fit for me. My struggles with the book come in three spots, and the plot and the intensity above weren't able to mitigate them:
- The book would benefit from an editor cutting all repeated information (sometimes 4 or 5 times in a chapter - or, why do we need to again specify what the name of the K-9 is in both the beginning and the end?) I think 40-50 pages could be cut if this was done and it would tighten the whole story significantly. Also, there is one small part where an American is wearing "Texas boots" instead of "cowboy boots" - and I could spot a few other similar descriptors that weren't exactly right and made it hard to understand.
- The dialogue can be really stilted, and some of the conversations people have are fragments or formal or odd in their wording.
- Eva as a character. For someone who is engaged she spends a lot of time having emotional affairs, contemplating being with others/coworkers, seeming generally unbothered that her fiancé is probably seeing someone else + her job is confidential, she's been burned badly before, but she's still telling her therapist about it (I'm pretty sure that's a no-no) + the ending is kind of crazy in terms of what she gains and who she is meeting with + for a lawyer she's doing an awful lot of spy work which she seems woefully unprepared for. It's hard to be on her side in any parts of the story because she flip flops constantly on her thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Loved it! Every time I turned the page I wanted to know what was going to happen next I don’t but the book down