Deep Water

A gorgeous and well written book!

I really enjoyed reading this. The characters seemed to jump off the pages, I loved Bryony, a very well executed and strong character.

Another really good book by Amanda James. Loved the characters, was completely invested in the outcome of this book. This is the 2nd book I've read by her and I can honestly say I have found a new author. I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of Rip Current, a stand alone novel set in Sheffield and Cornwall.

DI Bryony Masters has been trying to catch local gangster, Kenny Ransom, for several years to no avail, so she is in a quandary when her childhood friend, Imogen, gets in touch and wants to meet, because Imogen is Kenny's daughter. Imogen, however, has recently learned the scope of her father's criminal enterprise and wants to put him in prison. Imprisoning Kenny is not, sadly, the end of the story for the women and Bryony escapes to her mother in Cornwall to rethink her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rip Current which is an exciting read, laced with some romance and family troubles. It is told from several viewpoints with Bryony's in the first person and, surprisingly, I did not find this approach as annoying and distracting as I normally do. I think this is due to the quality of the writing, both in pace and suspense, as the novel had me turning the pages to see what was coming next. It's not all entirely plausible but it's a good story well told and quite absorbing. The plot has several good twists to keep the reader hooked and, like all good storytellers, Ms James keeps the best till last.

It makes a change to read about a detective deciding to do something else in life so Bryony's take on life in the Force is interesting and offers a different slant from the norm. Obviously this marks her as strong willed and determined and there are many examples of this, unless of course she is in love and principles no longer exist. A bit of romance in a novel never goes amiss but I found it hard to reconcile this strong woman with the gooey mess she becomes. It is the least convincing part of the novel.

Rip Current is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I was sent an ecopy of this novel by Netgalley and am assuming that it will be receiving more proof reads before it is published as it had a number of annoying little mistakes.

The book started well but led me to believe it was going to be more of a crime drama than the family drama it eventually became. The characters were all, with the exception perhaps of Imogen, well rounded and believable unlike the plot at times.

The story rolled out at an acceptable pace and contained some crime, suspense and romance. A good book for reading at the side of the pool.

What do you do when your father is the worst kind of criminal he could be? Do you stand back and ignore it or do you tell your best friend who is a DI in the Police force?
What do you do when you fall for a man who you later find out was hired to kill you?
Another great book by Amanda James.

The start to this story is dark and tense. Kenny Ransom we quickly learn is a despicable excuse of a man who has no morals whatsoever. The fact that he is the father of Bryony's best friend makes it even more complicated. Luckily for Bryony, his daughter Imogen, agrees with her.

If you are a fan of this authors books, you will be used to the fabulous setting of her stories. Rip Current is no different. Whilst Cornwall is an idyllic setting, it also adds a coldness and threat to the characters which was believable and makes it even more gripping. 

Nathan was my stand out character in this book. I don't want to give to much away but I had kind of written him off at the beginning due to his back ground and life style but he ended up being my favourite character by the end of the story.

Rip Current for me is the authors darkest book yet. I reckon fans of her books are going to be pleasantly surprised. It certainly had me hooked and the suspense of how things were going to end was literally killing me as I couldn't turn those pages quick enough.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This one is less of a psychological thriller like her books and is more a straight police procedural. The characters were well flushed out in the plot was interesting, and unusual. I feel like I learned a bit about sex trafficking in the UK. Enjoyable

The more I read of Amanda James work, the more she has me in her thrall; such different novels, and all of them grabbing - and keeping - my full attention!

Bryony Masters is proud of her achievements, career-wise. She would love to put one of the local 'big' criminals behind bars, but he is a slippery character. When her childhood friend, Imogen, gets in touch Bryony is a bit apprehensive about Immy finding out that she is trying to send her father to prison. It turns out, however, that her friend is under no illusion about her father and his activities and wants to help Bryony's quest as much as she can. Putting her nemesis under arrest is one of the finest moments of her career, but when Kenny Ransom wants his revenge, perhaps it's time to do something she's been thinking about for some time and move on? Persuaded to take some leave, Bryony heads to Cornwall to spend some time with her mother and manages to save the life of a man caught up in a rip current. How could she know anything about him?

There is plenty going on in this book. I found myself drawn in to the story very quickly, and hooked to the last. It unfolds not in the way the beginning would lead you to believe - there are plenty of twists and turns. The writing is fluid and smooth, the characters beautifully created and completely believable. The location makes me yearn to relocate to the coast! Amanda James is, without a doubt, becoming one of the 'must-read' authors on my list; there is nothing formulaic about her novels, each one is individually crafted and extremely enjoyable.

My thanks to publishers Bloodhound Books for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Can I breathe yet? Seriously can I? I really feel that I have held my breath the whole time I read this book. Always wondering what was going to happen Bryony and Immi and the stranger on the beach! I was gripping the kindle so tightly as I was dragged rapidly down the rabbit hole wondering if I would ever find the light out!

DI Bryony Masters youngest DI, caught a huge break putting Kenny Ransom finally behind bars. Her best friend Immi is his daughter who helps Bryony. The story doesn’t end there...not when Kenny wants revenge

We shift from seeing Bryony in a strong position at work, taking the limelight she feels is underserved and has a crisis of faith in her job. She takes time off to rethink and travels to her mum in Cornwall. Here we meet the handsome stranger, sent to on a mission and ends up being on a completely mission. I found a small tear leave my eye (strange in this book) when Bryony and the stranger find their connection to each other, the common ground they have. Parallel to this is Immi story, how she is playing two people, one to her dad and the other to Bryony, and her own suffering and worries from the trial. I am being really vague because any detail given could ruin this book. 

I have not read anything by Amanda before but I’m so glad I got to take part in this tour and I have found another author who I love and need to read more of their books! (My TBR list is ridiculous!) At times this story was dark and gritty which I loved! It added to the suspense of the story, especially as the focus shifted from the crime drama to the romance, but never fully indulging it. We are constantly reminded of the danger that Bryony is in. You suspect everyone is working from Ransom, even the old boy in the pub having a quiet drink on a Sunday, he seems suspicious right?!

I could not press the button on my kindle to turn the pages quick enough to see the outcome! I can not recommend this book highly enough!!

If you're after a novel that is jam packed with drama, secrets and lies, you have come to the right place as 'RIP Current' ticks all of those boxes and more.

DI Bryony Marshall has her work cut out trying to put notorious bad boy, Kenny Ransom, in jail. After two years of coming close and falling at the last hurdle, Bryony knows thats he needs to nail him once and for all. Luckily his daughter, Imogen, doesn't think much of family loyalty as she ends up helping Bryony in more ways than one. Of course things would be a lot simpler if they went to plan, but Bryony knows full well that shizzle can hit the fan at any point, especially when Kenny Ransom has eyes and ears in the most unusual places.

'RIP Current' is a really tense read. There was so much gritty drama to sink my teeth into, I couldn't help but sit back and enjoy the rollercoaster ride I was about to embark on. Multiple times whilst reading this novel, I felt myself questioning every single characters motives, including Imogen's, as I felt unable to trust any of them except Bryony. If you can imagine a room full of people with red question marks over their heads, you'll see what constantly went around my head whilst reading 'RIP Current' - and no, that isn't a bad thing! It was as though I had targeted the characters with 'guilty until proven innocent'.

Even though I enjoyed the majority of this book, I couldn't help but feel that the pace was a little bit too slow at certain points. When the hustle bustle and gritty events happened, the pace was on fire, but when there wasn't much happening, I felt that the pace slowed right down, making me feel as though I was reading a completely different book.

However, one part in particular made my jaw drop in shock (no, I'm not telling which bit), and I thought that the author did a belter of a job dropping that bombshell when she did as it put the entire novel on a completely different level.

All in all, 'RIP Current' was an intense, jam packed novel which left me questioning the word 'trust' and everything it stood for. I am looking forward to reading more from this author, that's for sure!

4 Dark Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Rip Current: A strong current flowing outward; presenting a hazard....

This was a dark book with plenty of “currents” pulling people away from what is right... creating many hazards in both Bryony and Imagen’s lives... this was my first book by Amanda James and I was pleasantly surprised by this dark thriller with a nice dose of romance... was not expecting the romance... and I thought it added the perfect balance to this otherwise really dark story... always love the love....

Bryony is a police detective who isn’t quite sure if that is what she wants to do for the rest of her life... Hot on the trail of her childhood BFF Imagen’s father... a despicable man involved in all kinds of horrible things.... loved the complex relationship and situation between these two strong women.... how do you come to terms with your father being a terrible man? And once you do how do you deal with his need for revenge? Parts of this book were so tense and I was furiously turning the pages to figure out what was going to happen next....

Nathan was a bit of a bright spot in the darkness of this book.... Love how Bryony and he met, so appropriate.... A subtle romance that really added some smiles to this book.... please note my romance hating friends, this will not make you roll your eyes I promise! It’s very understated....

Recommend to fans of a dark thriller with a splash of romance💕

*** many thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy of this book ***

I am always excited to pick up a novel by Amanda James. Whether she is writing nail-biting crime thrillers or poignant relationship dramas, Amanda’s books should come with a warning: don’t start reading one of her books late at night, because you will still be reading it at dawn! Rip Current is a captivating, engrossing and seductive thriller laced with family drama, intrigue and romance you will find absolutely impossible to put down.

DI Bryony Marshall has spent the past two years trying to bring local criminal Kenny Ransom to justice. Kenny is a dangerous man who is involved in prostitution and trafficking, however, as all the evidence stacked against him is circumstantial, nothing has ever really stuck and Kenny is still running free, evading justice and getting mixed up in all manner of nefarious deals and heinous crimes. Bryony is determined to see Kenny locked up behind bars. She wants him to pay for all the suffering and damage he has inflicted on others. As if Bryony’s job is not difficult or complicated enough, she also has to contend with the fact that Kenny’s daughter is her best friend from childhood, Imogen. Torn between her duty as a police officer and her loyalty to her friend, Bryony feels like she is torn between a rock and a hard place – until Imogen unexpectedly turns on her father and decides to help the police put Kenny away in prison for a very long time.

When Kenny discovers that his daughter is collaborating with her best friend to have him put away in jail he is absolutely incandescent with rage. Kenny is not a man who takes kindly to being betrayed and double crossed, so he vows revenge upon Bryony – and a dangerous man like Kenny never surrenders until he has achieved his objective. Fearful of her life and sick and tired of being a police officer, Bryony is desperate to take some time to rest, recuperate and figure out what she is going to be doing next. A trip to Cornwall to visit her mother is just what the doctor ordered and the more sedate pace of life soon begins to suit her to the ground. Bryony wonders whether the next chapter in her life will see her abandon all the hustle and bustle of her job for a gentler kind of life in Cornwall. Could what she has been looking for all this time be on her mother’s doorstep?

As Bryony ponders what she is going to do next, she rescues a man who has been caught up in a rip current and is soon embroiled in a web of danger, secrecy and deception that has her wondering who is this man? Is he a link to a past she would rather forget? Can she trust him? And has Kenny given up his quest for revenge? Or is he forever lurking in the shadows waiting for the right time to strike and exact vengeance?

Master storyteller Amanda James has done it again! Rip Current is a dazzling tale of secrets, learning to trust and the ties that bind that will grab your attention from the very first page and keep you engrossed until the final full stop. An engaging, enjoyable and heart-pounding read that is simply ripe for adaptation on screen, Rip Current is a tense and taut read that delivers on all counts and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you find yourself completely riveted by this outstanding novel!

A compulsively readable tale that I highly recommend, Rip Current is the unmissable new novel from Amanda James’ gifted and immensely talented pen!

I loved the journey that I went on with Bryony as she tries to bring Kenny Ransom to justice. You will instantly be on her side and eager for her to finally get the evidence needed to put Kenny in prison. The story at times is dark especially as you discover exactly what Kenny Ransom gets up to. There is quite a tangled web within this story along with a few twists to keep things interesting.

The characters were developed well and I was constantly wondering what would happen to them as they were pulled deeper into unknown situations. I especially enjoyed the friendship between Bryony and Imogen as they try to look out for each other with danger around every corner. I know I'm being a little vague regarding the plot but I would hate to ruin anything. The story moved steadily but easily kept my interest throughout as the suspense and tension slowly but surely built up. This is the first book that I have read by Amanda James but it won't be the last.

Rip Current has a brilliant plot full of suspense, drama and crime!

Four stars from me!

With thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for my copy.

I discovered Amanda James when I read the amazing Summer in Tintagel a few years ago. Since then I have not hesitated to pick up more of her books as you are guaranteed a brilliant read with her suspenseful storylines set against a backdrop of dramatic and evocative Cornish scenery.

I wasn't sure where the story was going to go at first as we meet Anya who is being held against her will and forced to work as a prostitute. Enter DI Bryony Marshall who has been waiting years to take down Kenny Ransom, despite recently reconnecting with his daughter Imogen through Facebook. Bryony is shocked by what Imogen has to say but it makes her one step closer to putting Kenny Ransom away for good. The only trouble is, if Kenny finds out that Imogen has helped Bryony, both girls could be in danger as Kenny will be out for revenge.

I don't usually quote from books but I just have to share some of the exquisite prose from Rip Current. I absolutely adore the way that Amanda James has written about Bryony's concerns about meeting Imogen after so many years. We often look at our past through rose coloured spectacles and find that we have little in common with people from whom we were once inseparable. Just take a look at this magnificent sentence that says all of that using a weather analogy:
I worry that, once held to the light, scrutinised and poked, our sunny past will turn overcast, begin to rain, and I'll have no umbrella.
I did pick up a few other beautiful sentences but I know I will have missed some corkers as the pacing is so fast and the story so compelling that I found myself racing through the book.

I love how family features heavily in Amanda James' books, not always in a good way, of course...there are always some bad eggs. I couldn't help but draw a comparison between Bryony's father, a policeman who was killed on duty and Imogen's father, Kenny, who is cruel and ruthless. The stories of the two men appear separate at first but link very nicely as Amanda James has a few surprises up her sleeve.

Rip Current is as dark and disturbing as it is gripping and addictive. It's a non-stop enthralling thriller that turns the old proverb, 'blood is thicker than water', on its head.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Loved this book. It was fast paced with good characters and a wonderful setting . Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review it

Firstly thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read this new novel by Amanda James. I thoroughly enjoyed her last book "Another Mother" and was really looking to forward to reading this latest one. Another excellent read with a major twist at the end. It was a real page turner and should be on everyone's list for summer reading. A really enjoyable read.

4☆ A Pacy Thriller

Rip Current is a fabulous crime thriller.

When Imogen approaches childhood friend Bryony for help. It's Bryony duty to help.
Especially as she is a DI and Imogen's Dad is Kenny Ransom.... one of the local gangsters Bryony has been after for a while.

But can they really get away with locking him up with no repercussions?

I love Amanda's books she always delivers a thrilling read. Never the same always something a lil different.
I really like Bryony and Imogen, it couldn't have been easy to help lock up your dad.
Both are such strong women.

Rip Current is a pacy read that drew me.
With plenty of twists it makes for a suspenseful and thrilling read.
One not to be missed!

This dark and gritty crime novel was amazingly well written. This is the first book that I have read by this author, but I am definitely going to be seeking out more of her work in the future!

I would like to thank netgalley and Bloodhound Books for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted by the cover, we see Bryony watching the sea.

There is Bryony who is on the back of Kenny Ramson accused of being in prostitution and trafficking. Having tired of working in the police Bryony will recharge at Cornwell and she will save a man's life. She will ask questions about this man.

A book read almost in a row I loved the captivating and captivating story with endearing characters.

A great read strong characters at the heart of the story and it tells of love, betrayals and friendship which together make it a very enjoyable novel and should appeal to most readers particularly like that it's set in Cornwall and can visualize it perfectly a good book

With thanks to Netgalleyand the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a police story about Bryony who seeks to jail Ransom , the villain once and for all. Her childhood friend who is Ransom’s daughter meets up with her again and helps her to arrest him. The story moves on from there and goes from Sheffield, to Cornwall,later to France and the Highlands. It is an interesting read.
Recommended.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bloodhound Books and Amanda James for the opportunity to read a copy of Rip Current in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
I found the storyline to be well thought out and fast paced. The central characters were well developed and engaging. I loved the descriptive nature of the setting. It certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.
Definitely well worth a read for fans of the genre.