This Ends Now is the 2nd instalment in the Detective Sheridan Holler series by T M Payne. You could read this as a standalone but Id highly recommend reading the first book, Long Time Dead.

This series follows Sheridan Holler, a detective who investigates local murders. What I love about this series is the characters and how they have developed through the first book and on to the second. I love hove how the characters interact, the friendships built, the banter and the occasional squabbling. They feel real and human so Ive bonded with them all.

The plot line and the pace of the book is spot on for me, Straight in with the nitty gritty and just keeps unfolding as new information/evidence comes up. I am so looking forward to the 3rd book in this series !

Heather Bleasdale narrates this book and I loved her voice. She has the right pacing, emotion and emphasis which makes for an enjoyable listen

Thank you Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio and Netgalley for this audio Arc of This Ends Now

5 stars

Every once and a while I start craving some good crime/procedural fiction. This is the second book in a series so of course I had to go back and listen to book 1. These have satisfied the craving perfectly. Sheridan is an engaging lead, but I love that we get to be in the heads of other characters as well. The books have an engaging and larger A Story that ties up nicely by the end, and a few B Stories that carry throughout--the continuation of these stories will keep me coming back for more.

My only dislike is I have almost 6 months to wait for the next installment.

Heather Bleasdale did a phenomenal job with the narration and captured the voices of the characters in a way that brought them fully alive.

There are some graphic descriptions and some sensitive topics in this book--readers with triggers should proceed with caution.

After receiving this audio-book as an ARC, I discovered there was a previous book in the series. I made it a priority to read the first one, and I'm so glad I did! However, you can definitely enjoy this one on as a stand-alone. I'm really enjoying this series and eagerly looking forward to book #3. Just a heads-up: be sure to check the trigger warnings for this book/audio-book, as it addresses sensitive topics.
As for the narrator, I generally listen to audiobooks at 2x speed, and must say I really enjoyed the narrator's voice and her ability to switch it up for different characters.
Overall, it's a very enjoyable and entertaining read that I highly recommend!

Thank You Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

This was a really enjoyable police procedural with interesting characters and a reliable storyline. There are murders, drama, and a sprinkle of interpersonal relationships that keep you wanting to read more.

The narrator was delightful to listen to and was able to keep my attention throughout.

Definitely add this to your TBR list!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Brilliance Publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this audiobook early in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first book in this series and can say that book 2 can work as a standalone but you get the backstory on Sheridan and Sam’s relationship. It’s not really fundamental to this story so I would say this book can be read without reading book 1. I liked this audiobook a lot better than book 1. Narrator was the same but there were a lot less people to keep track of and less subplots to distract.

Be warned that this book should come with some trigger warnings and I won’t share that because it will give away some of the plot but just know if you have possible triggers to check this out. Not for the faint of heart.

The story centers around a case that gets reopened after the father is acquitted of murdering his son.
***the Chief inspector suspects the father actually did it and wants them to dig for more evidence so they can charge him again. My question is… I didn’t know how United Kingdom’s justice system works but in America he wouldn’t be able to be retried if found not guilty versus hung jury or a mistrial. I’d love to know the logistics of this part of the story.

My complaint about the first story was a lot of repeating and meandering in the story but this story was a lot more concise. I think another plus in this story is the female detectives that are competent but not the only members of the police force who are capable. Often times police dramas have that one stereotypical asshat dude that is put in place to give the “main” characters some sandpaper to rub against to create drama. There is a side story that looks like it will continue with one of the detectives. There is also a cold case in the main characters life that barely got any movement within this story so I’m guessing there will be other books to follow. Second book has made me a fan.

This is probably one of the best thrillers I have read in a while. After the shockingly explosive prologue, I was riveted by the constant flow of information that changed the river entirely. The ending is a sad triumph. I am hoping for more books like this in the series which I would love to read.
Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and the author for my copy of this audiobook.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

T. M. Payne’s This Ends Now is a riveting addition to the Detective Sheridan Holler series, and the audiobook, narrated by Heather Bleasdale, elevates the experience to a whole new level.

This second installment in the series plunges listeners into a complex web of murder, mystery, and family secrets that will keep them hooked from start to finish.

The story begins with a series of chilling events: a woman inexplicably leaps to her death, and the next morning, two bodies are discovered on Crosby Beach—one tied to a statue and another buried up to his neck. DI Sheridan Holler is thrust into a high-stakes investigation that reopens a nine-month-old murder case with shocking family connections. As Holler delves deeper, she uncovers a sinister plot that threatens to destroy the Parks family, and she must race against time to prevent the killer from striking again.

Heather Bleasdale’s narration is spectacular. Her ability to bring each character to life with distinct voices and emotional depth adds a rich layer to the storytelling. Bleasdale’s pacing is impeccable, maintaining the tension and suspense throughout the audiobook. Her portrayal of DI Holler is particularly noteworthy, capturing the detective’s determination and vulnerability with nuance and authenticity.

Payne’s writing is sharp and evocative, with a plot that twists and turns in unexpected ways. The intricate connections between the characters and the unfolding mystery are expertly handled. The atmospheric descriptions of Liverpool and its surroundings add to the immersive experience, making the setting feel almost palpable.

This Ends Now explores of themes such as justice, revenge, and the impact of past traumas on the present. Payne delves into the psychological complexities of her characters, making their motivations and actions believable and compelling. The moral ambiguities faced by DI Holler and the other characters add depth to the narrative, prompting listeners to question their own assumptions and judgments.

This Ends Now is a gripping and well-crafted thriller that is further enhanced by Heather Bleasdale’s exceptional narration. T. M. Payne has delivered a story that is thrilling and thought-provoking, with characters that linger in your mind.

For fans of crime fiction and audiobooks, this is a must-listen.

What a thriller, a psychological thriller with some real bite! Just when you think you've figured it out, boom you're wrong. An amazing British police procedural with quite the cast of characters. This book challenges you on all sides. It examines some very dark social content. I was hooked from the first couple of pages. For an American, it took some getting used to British terminology. This book is full of some mind boggling revelations and twists galore. I truly hope there are more books with Detective Holler.

Book 2 in Detective Sheridan Holler series

Somehow I missed that this was book 2 in a series. The good news- I didn't realize it until after I finished reading it. Meaning, I guess this works as a stand alone. I did know that I was missing some pieces of characters' backstories, but I assume it was being set up for a series and would be revealed later. I just had it backwards.

As for the story- this one has lots of dead bodies. We start off with a suicide and a double murder, the double murder is connected to a murder from a few years ago. As Sheridan works to solve the double murder, a very twisted tale emerges. Seriously, lots of triggers in this one.

I did enjoy this and would read other books in the series. I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more had I read book one first. I did often feel like I was missing something. Anyway, I did enjoy this. I also appreciate the fact that there is a large female presence in the police force!

The audiobook is narrated by Heather Bleasdale. While her narration is fine, the audiobook felt unpolished. Long pauses at the ends of chapters, where you can hear papers shuffling, the narrator swallow and other things, etc... Despite listening to literal thousands of audiobooks, this is the first time I've ever thought this- wow- it feels unfinished.

I did have an advance copy- maybe it'll be cleaned up prior to the release.