This was a good crime novel and what appears to be the start of a new series.
It was well written and fast paced, though the final third was a bit dragged out and would have benefitted from editing.

*** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher ***

Shot in the Dark is a police procedural mystery novel set in the New Forest which follows detectives Gabe Martin and Juliet Stern as they try to solve the case of the murder of Melanie Pirt who is found shot dead. The murder occurs on the Dunlow's estate so immediately this entire family is implicated and they all have secrets they'd rather keep hidden.

I really enjoyed this book! It was so fast paced and I loved that each chapter ended with a mini reveal so it was impossible to put the book down. Some of the chapters were mixed media e.g. texts and emails which was a fun touch and a great way of maintaining the rapid pace of the book. The two detectives are interesting characters and I loved that we follow two female detectives as this is extremely rare in crime fiction. The dynamic between the detectives and the way they bounced ideas off of each other was fascinating to read and made this book stand out.

The book did lose a bit of momentum between the 70% mark and the 90% mark however the ending more than made up for this. This book ended on a huge cliffhanger so I am desperate to read the next book in this series as soon as physically possible!

Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in crime fiction. I will be reading anything this author writes in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Shot in the Dark" by Anna Britton is a riveting entry into the crime fiction genre, marking the debut of a promising new series featuring Detectives Martin & Stern. Britton weaves a tale as dark and intricate as the ancestral Dunlow estate where the story unfolds.

The novel opens with a scene that sets the tone for the entire book: a young woman's desperate flight through the woods, her fear palpable as gunshots shatter the night. The discovery of seventeen-year-old Melanie Pirt's body the following morning launches us into a mystery that is as much about the detectives solving the crime as it is about the crime itself.

Detective Sergeant Gabe Martin, eager to prove herself in her first murder case, is a character that readers will find themselves rooting for. Her determination to succeed is matched only by the enigmatic presence of DI Juliet Stern, whose cold exterior hides a sharp mind and a complex history. Their dynamic is the heart of the book, providing a fresh take on the detective partnership trope.

Britton's writing is crisp and evocative, capturing the urgency of the hunt for the killer. The suspects are many, each with secrets that muddy the waters of the investigation. The narrative is cleverly structured, revealing just enough to keep the reader guessing, but never too much too soon.

What stands out in "Shot in the Dark" is the authenticity of the police procedural details, which speak to Britton's meticulous research. The pacing is relentless, driving towards a conclusion that is as unexpected as it is satisfying.

For fans of Cara Hunter and Gytha Lodge, "Shot in the Dark" is a must-read. It promises to be the first of many cases for Detectives Martin & Stern, and if this first outing is anything to go by, readers can eagerly anticipate more gripping tales from Anna Britton's pen.

In summary, "Shot in the Dark" is a compelling blend of mystery, character study, and police work that marks the arrival of a new voice in crime fiction. It's a book that will keep you up at night, both reading and pondering the dark corners of human nature.

I liked the way this book was written with the text messages and emails etc.. Gabe , one of the main characters relayed most of the storyline, and how she investigated the case with her boss Juliet . The storyline was a little slow in places but wow what an ending !

Imagine a moonlit night at the Dunlow estate, ancestral and shrouded in trees. Now, picture a young woman desperately running for her life, the tranquility shattered by gunshots.

The sun rises, revealing the lifeless body of seventeen-year-old Melanie Pirt. This tragic event catapults DS Gabe Martin into her first murder case. Eager to prove herself to the cold and mysterious DI Juliet Stern, Gabe knows she can't afford distractions. But life has other plans, as haunting memories resurface, disrupting her nights.

In this crime tale, Gabe and Juliet face a challenging investigation with few leads and a surplus of suspects. The air is thick with lies, and everyone seems to be hiding something. The question is, who can they trust?

The narrative unfolds with a tension that keeps you on edge. The author expertly blends the urgency of solving a murder case with Gabe's personal struggles. Gabe is a determined protagonist, eager to prove her capabilities in a demanding.

I just reviewed Shot in the Dark by Anna Britton. #ShotintheDark #NetGalley

Unfortunately, I was unable to download this book before it was archived and so am leaving this as a review/explanation as I didn't know what else to do after finding a few books I had managed to miss in a section of my account entitled Not Active: Archived, Not Downloaded; so I thought it best to clear it up. I have already bought a copy and will leave a review on places like Amazon, Goodreads, Waterstones, etc, once I've completed it and formed my thoughts on it. Apologies for any inconvenience and thank you for the opportunity.

This was a good story which kept me turning the pages throughout the night. Great mystery, writing and plotting will recommend to all my friends who love this genre.

"Shot in the Dark" begins with a tense scene as a young woman is pursued through the woods, setting the stage for a compelling crime novel. The following morning, a body is discovered, marking the entrance of DS Gabe Martin and DI Juliet Stern, an all-female detective partnership. As Gabe takes charge of her first investigation, she is determined to prove herself. However, her haunting nightmares from the past threaten not only her judgment but also the progress of the case itself.

The novel unfolds as a gripping crime story, adopting a procedural style while injecting a sense of freshness with the dynamic duo of Gabe and Juliet leading the investigation. Juliet exudes confidence and directness, commanding respect and perhaps a hint of intimidation from the rest of the team. On the other hand, Gabe brings a more approachable demeanour, acting as a bridge between Juliet and their colleagues. Both characters boast intriguing backgrounds that prevent them from being one-dimensional, infusing a sense of humanity into their personas.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Shot in the Dark opens with a young woman being chased through woodland. The next morning, a body is found. Enter DS Gabe Martin and DI Juliet Stern, an all female detective partnership. Gabe is itching to prove herself on this case, her first in charge of an investigation. However, nightmares of her past threaten to affect her judgment and the case itself…

A gripping crime novel, procedural in style and yet it feels fresh with Gabe and Juliet at the helm. Juliet is confident and forthright, and is more than a little intimidating to the rest of the team. Gabe is a little more approachable, often bridging the gap between Juliet and others. They both have interesting backgrounds, preventing them from being one-dimensional and adding humanity to their character.

The story itself is well paced and enticing. It seems all possible suspects are lying, meaning Martin and Stern have their work cut out for them…

The investigation twists and turns throughout the novel, and is deftly woven with tidbits from both lead characters’ personal lives, adding a more human interest side to the narrative and making the reader want to know and understand them better.

I hope we haven’t seen the last of Martin and Stern, as they make a brilliant team. I am in desperate need for a sequel, if only to put my mind at rest following that shockingly brilliant cliffhanger at the very end of the novel…

With this striking debut, Anna Britton has asserted herself as one to watch. Thanks to Canelo for the early access via NetGalley.

Shot in the Dark by Anna Britton
Detectives Martin & Stern #1

The opening had me thinking of a movie I saw with my father, Open Season, and what a rollercoaster ride that movie was. My next thought was that it was like a few television shows with two female detectives working together to solve murder cases. And then, for some reason, I didn’t engage with Gabe or Juliet and even like them much. Some of the police procedural aspects of the story were interesting, the writing was clean and crisp, and the story did flow but soon into the story I found myself reading the ending, a bit more in the middle, going back to the last bookmark and then jumping around again. I eventually decided that I knew enough of the story to know I would not read the book word for word. I believe this book will appeal to many and that the author will do well as she continues writing this series. The ending has a huge cliffhanger that I am wondering about though with the series title have a feeling I know what might happen in book two of the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canelo Crime for the ARC – This is my honest review.

Rating:
2 for my interest in the story
4 for it being worthy of being published
3 for the average

This book grabbed my interest more or less from the first page and kept me glued to the plot throughout. Set in the New Forest, Gabe is a detective who recently moved from London . She has a past and her senior officer is also some one with a past and from snippets throughout the book, both have a complicated personal life. I loved their interaction and conversations which are realistic . I also liked the logical way of working and looking at the evidence.
The plot is twisty and runs alongside another case which has triggers for Gabe because of her own history. The book is composed of differnt viewpoints as well as digital communication, texts & transcripts of telephone calls. At first, it took a little while to get used to, but it worked very well. I thought the characterizations were excellant, without too many words, you got a good picture of the people.
Thanks to Net Galley, Canelo & the author for a great read. I hope that this is the first of more in the series

I really enjoyed this mystery/thriller! It really got me out of a reading slump. It contains short chapters to help move the story forward, but it also uses excerpts of text messages, media posts, and call transcripts which was really interesting and fun to read! Kind of breaks up the monotony of chapter after chapter.

One of the MOST annoying tropes for me is the incompetent detectives/officers, and I was SO relieved to see that this book did not do that at all. Juliet and Gabe really covered all their bases and went over everything possible in order to solve this case. I absolutely loved our two main characters and thought that they complimented each other nicely with their differing personalities.

Even when the person is confirmed to have committed the crime, I was STILL convinced someone else could have possibly done it. I think that makes for a really good thriller to continue doubting yourself and the information even when it is right in front of your face.

The ending was really really good, but HOLY CLIFFHANGER! I need so much more of Gabe and Juliet.

For a debut crime novel, this was stellar. WELL DONE Anna Britton. Please write so much more of Gabe and Juliet. I will be reading all of their mystery solving adventures!

A good start for a new series: well plotted, solid mystery, a cast of fleshed out characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

For a new detective series, this has been one of the better ones i’ve stumbled upon.
This was an enjoyable whodunit detective novel, with a small amount of personal life sprinkled in (though I think I would’ve enjoyed a little more). Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, some new evidence is discovered that makes you (and the lead detectives) question your judgement.
I know this book was published recently, but I’m already SO ready for the next one because WTH WITH THAT ENDING?! Totally not right! Like I said, I am so ready for the next one in the series, and learning more about Gabe and Juliet!

Thank you, Netgalley, for getting this one to me early (though I did read this one after the pub date.

When a teenager is found dead on the estate of a wealthy family, the family are immediately suspects. DS Gabe Martin and DI Juliet Stern investigate.

I liked the format of this with the different evidence and what not between chapters. However, I found the actual main investigation chapters to be a little tedious at times. I also thought the whodunit was ultimately unsatisfying, especially the reasoning behind it. I am curious to see if this has a sequel as goodreads says book 1 in a series but if so, it leaves on a huge cliffhanger.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An exciting police procedural that had many twists and red herrings. The story was presented in an interesting format as news reports, text messages and phone calls were interspersed throughout the story. But I am not sure why the secondary crime was included since it did not add anything to the primary investigation. Both main characters, Detectives Juliet and Gabriella, were fallible humans that I am not certain I liked. Juliet was a driven workaholic to the detriment of her family life. However, as a member of the public, I would want that dedication if someone had to investigate my murder. Gabe was a rookie detective that seemed to need constant reassurance. There is not much given about their background which might have made me more empathetic. Still, a gripping story that had me turning the pages.

When a teenager is discovered shot & mutilated by a dog in the grounds of a country estate detectives DS Gabe Martin & DI Juliet Stern are called to the scene. This will be a chance for Gabe to shine as she takes the lead for the first time. The victim was a student & it transpired that she had been with the estate owner's son. There does not seem to be a great deal of willingness to help the police & Gabe struggles to solve the mystery.

The book was told through a normal narrative, plus witness statements, & text messages. I don't know if that put me off or whether it was the feeling I never got to grips with the characters. This is the start of a new series & I wish it luck, but I don't think I'll be following it. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This needed about 80 pages trimmed. The recaps every time there was a new clue got old. It would have certainly been entertaining without the second (almost invisible) investigation which would have helped with the length.

Thank you Canelo for the ARC. I am still reading this one. I apologize for not finishing it before pub day. Very well-written and interesting premise. Definitely interested in continuing on with the series.

I found myself engrossed in this story from the VERY beginning. I love how the author wasted NO time getting to the crime.

The character development for the main characters was excellent. The two main detectives (Martin and Stern) had very different personalities that worked well together, and the Dunlow men also had VERY different personalities. I loved that I could envision each character as well as the Dunlow estate. Although this book was nearly 500 pages, I felt Britton’s writing was concise and I FLEW through this book. —I was dedicated to finding Melanie’s killer (just call me Gabe).

✨My favorite crime/thriller books are ones where I did not guess the ending/perpetrator. This was definitely one of those—I had a few theories, but I didn’t actually feel confident with any of them. Out of the five suspects, I could see so many motives and possibilities. Throughout the story there were so many curveballs as we learned new information.

I am thankful that this is only book #1 in the Detectives Martin & Stern series. Can’t wait to see what Britton has in store next for this dynamic FEMALE detective duo!!