The Innocent Ones

Great book will be reading other books by this author.
Will also recommend this book to others.
Great read! 5***

What a tangled web we weave ... and this is a very tangled web indeed but written in such a way that it is easy to follow each twist, turn and bump as Dan Grant and Jayne Brett try to save their client from a murder charge.

The investigative process is expertly written by Neil White, as should be expected from a criminal lawyer who has worked on both sides of the UK legal system, and as each new clue or revelation is discovered the delight or confusion of the main protagonists is clear to see. The flashbacks contain just enough detail to move the present day scenes in the right direction and nothing felt contrived or unrealistic.

I liked Dan and Jayne and their relationship whilst not a main storyline showed why they worked well together. They made big steps forward, and backwards, throughout and several times I wondered how the remaining chapters would work if everything was coming together or falling apart but I was never disappointed and the climax was well worked and shockingly good.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who has read the previous two books in this trilogy or enjoys good British crime novels with the power to surprise.

Title: The Innocent Ones

Author: Neil White

Length: 377 Pages

Publisher: Hera Books

Publishing Date: April 24, 2019

Genre: Crime, Investigation, Mystery, Thriller

My rating: 5/5

Summary:

The story starts with a murder of Robert Mark. Lawyer Dan is appointed to fight a case for the accused of the murder who was wondering at the place of murder, stole the wallet of the victim and rushes home. Dan and his friend Jayne work on solving the case wherein the murderer is somehow linked to another crime that took place miles away.

My Take:

Would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher to provide the ARC for reading in exchange for an Honest review.

I’ve always been a fan of Crime and Thriller novels and this one just got me to read it. The title absolutely justifies the storyline and one can connect to it as well. The book is divided in 80 chapters which are medium length.

The story is medium paced with places where it’s stretched with too much detailing of the surroundings. The characterization is amazing. One can actually visualise Jayne and Dan. The chemistry between both the protagonists is superb and will definitely make one fall in love with them. At the end I realised that this is the last book in the Jayne and Dan series. Would definitely be buying the previous 2 books now.

This book has 2 stories of crime. The main crime which is being investigated and the other which is linked to the main crime, a crime which took place 20 years back. I won’t deny that upon introduction of the main culprit, I was able to identify the murderer. However, there is a big surprise element in the end which makes your jaw drop.

Climax is good and apt. I would have loved to see some action being taken on Jayne’s pervert boss which is at the beginning of the book. It was a great book and am already missing Jayne and Dan. A book which would make for a great web series or even a movie.

Another cracking read from Neil. It’s so good to have Dan and Jayne working back together, they are such a well matched team.

This time there’s a journalist Mark Roberts who gets murdered in a sleepy seaside town and no-one knows why, who’s he upset? There’s no clues, but then Dan is representing a client Nick Connor, who has been accused of his murder, but something is not right the pieces don’t fit. Coupled with the fact that Mark’s mother doesn’t think Nick is the killer, but the evidence says otherwise.

Mark, it appears was writing a true life crime book about two murders that took place in this area twenty years ago, and whoever the culprit was, they will do anything to keep their secret. The small seaside town is keeping some very dark secrets and it’s up to Dan and Jayne to find out what.

As usual Neil draws on his vast experience as a criminal lawyer to keep the book as authentic as possible and in all the books I’ve read, never once has he failed to surprise me with the twists at the end. I thought I knew what was coming, but this was such a shock I had to go back and re-read it!

It is a great pity, that this was only a trilogy as there is plenty of room for more stories with this fantastic couple.

My thanks to Neil, the Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Hera Books for an advance copy of The Innocent Ones, the third and last novel, if the author is to be believed, to feature northern lawyer Dan Grant and his investigator Jayne Brett.

When investigative journalist Mark Roberts is brutally murdered in a deserted park in the fictional town of Highford the police are quick to arrest a suspect, petty thief Nick Connor. The evidence against him looks damning and Dan is struggling to find a defence until an unexpected source suggests following Mark’s footsteps to uncover a different motive.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Innocent Ones which is an engrossing thriller with several good twists, particularly in the tail. The novel has two strands which intermingle throughout the first half of the novel until they merge in the second half where the action ramps up and the twists come thick and fast. One strand concentrates on Dan and Jayne’s tentative efforts to find out what Mark was investigating while the other concentrates firstly on DCI Andrew Porter’s 1997 murder investigation in the seaside town of Brampton then on his present day feelings towards the re-investigation. Throughout it all Mr White keeps the intrigue going, making the novel moreish as the reader’s curiosity is aroused, and then slams the reader with a series of twists, each one more jaw dropping than the previous one. It is good, well paced fiction with my only niggle being that by the end I didn’t find all the characters’ actions believable. It is, however, fiction and the journey to the end is great, compulsive and very readable.

Dan and Jayne haven’t worked together for a year as she has moved to Manchester to start afresh but when the chips are down he reaches out and she responds. The attraction between them is still simmering but it’s all about the case so they work hard and smart. It’s Jayne who works out the breakthrough but it’s Dan who makes it work practically. They are a good team.

The Innocent Ones is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

I went into this one completely blind. While the blurb about long forgotten cold cases played a part in my decision to pick this one up, it was the fact that the plot is based on children was what swayed me in the end. Thrillers with child victims are generally brutal and every time even a fictional kid is harmed distresses me. (I find it puzzling why I'm still drawn to this genre). The Innocent Ones is a gripping, twisted thriller that left me unsettled. Dan and Jayne find themselves bang right in the middle of a mystery when Dan chooses to represent Nick Connors. Nick is a petty thief accused of murdering a journalist Mark Roberts whose current project leads them to a town Yorkshire where two children were viciously murdered over two decades ago.
This is one of the few legal thrillers I've enjoyed. The plot was good - a slow buildup of the thrill and suspense but the offender revealed at the end was not really surprising. It was a bit predictable in a sense. However, I love the main characters Dan and Jayne, I love their chemistry and I'm definitely going back in the series to read and hopefully learn more about them.
Thank you to NetGalley, Neil White & Hera Books for an arc!

Neil White is an author who has real-life experience as a defender and prosecutor, whose books are are both gripping and enjoyable, based on the Northern small-town criminal world he knows. This book is the third of the Dan Grant trilogy, but is written in a way that it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone novel.

Dan Grant is a defence lawyer used to dealing with shady local characters. This time, he finds himself defending a man accused of murder, and being accosted by the victim’s mother who insists the defendant is innocent and implores Dan to prove it.

Determined and tenacious, Dan enlists the help of his investigator Jayne, a lady with a dark secret in her past, to delve further into the crime and try to find the truth.

With twists and turns along the way, Dan and Jayne encounter unexpected events and find themselves in perilous situations. The twists at the end will leave you wondering about the futures of the two main characters.

This book is well written and I recommend fans of thrillers and crime fiction read this. If you haven’t already done so, I also implore you to read all of White’s previous novels.

I have bags under my eyes from the mere four hours of sleep I got last night. I. Could. Not. Stop. Reading. I won’t give any spoilers, but thank you so much to Netgalley for this ARC. Wow!

I just broke a vow my eight year old self made. I vowed when I grew up, I would always read books in order and start with number one. I was half way through this one before I realized it was the third in a trilogy. But that really didn't seem to damper my enjoyment of the book. It was fast paced and well written. Now I am sorry to see that it is the last book because I know I would have enjoyed more in the series.

Dan Grant and Jayne Brett return in The Innocent Ones which is the third book in a series by Neil White.

Grant is a defence lawyer and Brett his investigator and this time they face a very challenging case which has its roots in the murders of 2 children twenty years ago.

The story is excellent with great pacing and many twists and turns towards a brilliant conclusion. The pages keep turning (or clicking) very quickly!

This book can be easily read as a standalone and is definitely recommended

What a fine series this is and what a great shame that it ends with this third instalment. Neil White is a fine writer who brings his vast experience of the legal profession to bear in the Dan Grant trilogy. Grant is here reunited with Jayne, a former client whom he employs as his investigator, and their personal lives are almost as intriguing as the plot, which is full of surprises as the case they are working on takes them in unexpected directions, and the denouement is explosive! I looked forward to the next direction in this writer's career.

Unravelling the complex case means finding the connection between Mark’s death and a series of child murders in Yorkshire over twenty years ago. Father of two, Rodney Walker, has spent years in prison after being convicted of killing of 6-year-old William and 7-year-old Ruby back in 1997.

But when Mark Roberts gets on the trail of the story, convinced that Walker is innocent, he exposed secrets that have long been buried. Secrets so dark, someone will kill to keep them hidden. Dan and Jayne are in a race against time to uncover the truth – before a killer silences them forever.

A tense and exciting crime thriller, that was a strong end to a series. Very interesting and complex, it kept my attention with intriguing action and a thrilling ending.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheInnocentOnes
Pub Date: 24 Apr 2019

First off how can this book have been archived when it is not due to be published until 24th April?
Now to the review, what a page turner, reading it in one sitting and finishing this book in the wee hours.
A twisted story which got my heart racing, gasping for breath and tapping my kindle faster and faster. The climax was shocking but SO GOOD. I have read quite a few books from this author and I have never been disappointed. This read is another easy five stars and so Highly Recommended.
I would like to thank the author, Her a Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A new author for me, Neil white , this is the 3rd book is his Dan Grant and Jayne Brett Legal series.

Legal Thrillers are not something I usually read but looking to broaden my reading , this looked a perfect and interesting one to go with.

The book opens with the violent murder of journalist, Mark Roberts , a London lad out in the sticks looking to meet someone, to help him with a story he is writing, he is fatally assaulted.

Nick Conner a petty thief is found red handed; or footed in this case as his bloody footprints are found at the scene of the murder.

Criminal defence lawyer Dan Grant takes his case. What looks an open and shut case is soon made more interesting when intriguingly the victim’s mother approaches Dan saying she doesn’t believe they have the right killer and there is more than meets the eye.

Jayne Brett, Dan’s investigator and longtime friend, is now in Manchester, working away at a new life, a job in a supermarket with a leach of a boss and behind on her rent. She is asked back by Dan and soon agrees to pick up her old job.

As Jayne sets about finding out what Mark was looking into, she becomes embroiled in a small town that doesn’t want to be upset.

The book is told in alternative chapters, describing the present and in 1997, detailing now retired Detective Inspector Andrew Porter’s investigation.

Telling the story of the murder of 2 children. It’s soon apparent that Mark was looking into these murders and planning to write a book on the subject.

Soon this becomes a tale of intrigue and lies and Murder, small village culture and cover ups.

The finale is fast paced and never stops twisting and turning until it’s frantic end.

The book grabs you from the outset , it’s a clever idea, with a different and interesting start and I quickly shot through the first few chapters and thought, yes, I’ve got a good book on my hands here. The legal parts of the book are very well written and explained expertly.

With Characters that are easy to like, there is a nice spark between the main protagonists and it’s interesting to read their relationship as it’s grows. Dan, the lawyer doing his best and Jayne, hints of a person who’s been in bad places. They are very easy to relate to. The backing cast are well written and believable.

The locations are well described, and the scenes are set very well, from the seaside town to the courtroom.

Writing is easy accessible, it’s a pick up and read and enjoy. It’s a genuinely well written legal thriller, and I’ll be first to read more by this Author

It’s a cracking read.

4 ⭐️

This is the first book I have read from Neil White (though it is the third in this series). A well written murder mystery featuring a defense attorney and his investigator, set in England. Part detective, part legal-thriller, this novel stands alone and keeps a great pace that is a quick and interesting read. Great emotional character development, the author tells a story of child murders that had occurred many years ago, and a current murder of a reporter who was digging in to the old case. This won't be the last book I read from this author, I enjoyed the novel thoroughly.

The Innocent Ones by Neil White is a highly recommended investigative legal thriller.

Dan Grant, a criminal defense lawyer, and Jayne Brett, a private investigator, are teaming up to look into the murder of London journalist Mark Roberts. Dan is representing Nick Connor, a petty thief who has been charged with Roberts' murder. When the victim's mother comes to Dan and claims that Connor is likely innocent because her son would have been investigating a previous criminal case and the real killer would be associated with whatever Mark was investigating.

Trying to find out what Mark was investigating will allow Dan to find the real perpetrator and get his client off the hook, so he calls in Jayne to help uncover what Mark Roberts was looking for, who he was talking to and, most importantly, why. The case leads back to a series of child murders in Yorkshire over twenty years ago and the man who is in prison for them. Apparently Roberts has uncovered some secrets that have led him to believe the convicted man was innocent. The real trouble is that exposing some secrets can be deadly.

This is a very well written legal thriller with plenty of twists, turns, danger, secrets, and surprises. At the start there are two story lines, both of which are compelling. These merge in the second half of the narrative and the tension rises along with the intrigue. This is the third and final book in the series featuring Dan Grant and Jayne Brett. I haven't read the previous two in the series, From the Shadows and The Darkness Around Her, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of The Innocent Ones.

The characters are well developed, especially as this is the third book featuring them. I didn't feel like I was missing much jumping into book three. The two work well together and have a nice chemistry between them. The action starts slowly at first, but there is plenty of back story being shared and inside information given to the reader. There is evil afoot and it becomes more and more palpable as the investigation and story unfold. Then the narrative and action take off with the twists and discoveries.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Hera Books.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/04/the-innocent-ones.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2802003622
https://www.librarything.com/work/23185992/book/168243581
https://twitter.com/SheTreadsSoftly/status/1122552235936964608

This is the 3rd and final book in the Dan Grant trilogy.

I have loved this series and have really enjoyed getting to know Dan and Jayne.

The book grabbed me from the first chapter and it kept me hooked until the last brilliant twist.

Highly recommend this book if you love a fast paced page turner.

The last in the Dan Grant/Jane Brett trilogy, I found myself racing through the pages to get to the finale of this twisty, gripping story. Neil White has a talent for bringing the most incredible characters to life, and when you add that to his excellently crafted plotlines, you're on to a winner. It's a shame this book marks the end of the trilogy, (does it though, Neil? Does it have to be a trilogy? Surely Liz B can persuade you otherwise...) as I would love to see more of these two.

I have read books by Neil White before but The Innocent Ones, book three of a trilogy is the first that I have read in this series. Not knowing the characters didn’t impact on my enjoyment of the book and I will be reading the books I have missed as soon as possible.

In Dan’s latest case he is defending a local criminal who has been charged with murder. But the victim’s mother isn’t convinced that they have the right man and convinces Dan to find the answers in a cold case that her son was writing about. He gets back in touch with Jayne, a woman he defended in the past and who had done investigative work for him. In doing so he places both of them in danger.

It is a quite a while since I read a book that left me on edge so much. I became totally mesmerised by the cold case. At times, I forgot that there was also a current case that was being investigated. As the truth was revealed I was horrified, appalled and unable to stop reading. When the two cases overlapped and you saw exactly what evil they were facing I was numbed into silence, devastated by the tragic events.

Sometimes a book like this is unbelievable but the storyline is handled so well I was convinced by every reveal and twist. I was also convinced by the location. I have lived in Lancashire most my life and spent sometime trying to work out which town Highford was based on. In the author’s notes at the end my suspicions were correct. They were the only thing I did get right in this book.

The Innocent Ones is the third and apparently final book in the Dan Grant (lawyer) and Jayne Brett (investigator) series, and it's the most explosive to date. They do say to write what you know and that is exactly what Mr White has done with considerable aplomb here. White is a lawyer and important cog in the justice wheel by day, crime writer by night; it's his expertise when it comes to the law that makes this series both authentic and unmissable and having been in the profession myself I can attest it's realism. Something that is all but missing from books such as these.

There are two distinct threads to the plot which flirt with one another for the majority of the novel before merging into one. It's from that point onwards that the twists, turns and red herrings come at you one after the other. This is a well written and thoroughly gripping legal thriller where the tension is seriously ratcheted up in the second half and the shocks and surprises had me gobsmacked. There is so much intrigue and thrilling action throughout that I devoured it in a single afternoon.

Dan and Jayne are a dynamic, formidable team but it's apparent that the sexual tension between them still exists. They do, however, manage to keep things professional and platonic. This is an eminently readable, addictive and highly entertaining thriller. Many thanks to Hera Books for an ARC.

The Innocent Ones was published by Hera Books on 24th April and is the third book in the Dan Grant and Jayne Brett series written by Neil White. This, however, is the first book in this particular series that I have read (not the first book I've read by this author, mind you) and it works perfectly well as a standalone. I was given an eARC of The Innocent Ones but this has in no way influenced my review.

When I first agreed to take part in this blog tour there were two things I wasn't aware of. Number one; it's the third book in the series but as I mentioned up there ⬆️⬆️, that really wasn't a problem and I enjoyed it as a standalone.  The second thing; I wasn't aware it was a legal-esque type thriller. Which is daft really as I know author Neil White is a qualified lawyer and it goes to prove that I don't always read the blurb too carefully (plus I've read other books by White and they've been more along the lines of a police procedural).  Again, not a problem for me as I LOVE a legal thriller.

I guess what I'm saying is apart from having read and enjoyed a few other books by White many moons ago, I started The Innocent Ones with no preconceived ideas (just my usual high expectations, lol!).  And I thoroughly enjoyed it.  It's was surprising, gripping and beautifully dark.  According to the author's notes at the end of the novel this is the third and final book in the series, which is a shame.  At least I can console myself by reading the first two books in the trilogy.

Defence lawyer, Dan Grant, is tasked with defending low-life local scum, Nick Connor.  But instead of Connor's usual petty misdemeanours, this time the charge is murder.  Journalist Mark Roberts was found bludgeoned to death in the local park and left to die in a congealing pool of blood.  Despite some pretty damning evidence to the contrary, Nick claims he's innocent.  It's a big step though, from theft to murder, and Dan is convinced Connor didn't do it.  Helped by the fact Dan is approached by the mother of the victim who says she believes the wrong man is on trial and she wants Dan and his investigator, Jayne, to find the real killer.  It's not long before Dan and Jayne are digging up a cold case from 20 years ago, upsetting the residents of a small Yorkshire town and discovering that not everything is as it first seems...

I loved Dan and Jayne.  What a team!  There's obviously a fair bit of backstory behind Jayne's past which is one of the reasons I want to read the first two books in this trilogy.  Not knowing the ins and outs didn't hamper my enjoyment though - the author provides new readers with a good overview.  I loved the setting too.  I love small town American mysteries and sometimes find their British counterparts can't really compare.  That's not the case with The Innocent Ones.  I loved the claustrophobia of the two towns, the secrets hidden within the small communities.

Would I recommend this book? I most certainly would.  When I was doing 'real life' I was thinking about the plot and characters, wanting to get back to the story and find out what was going to happen next.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Dan and Jayne and I look forward to making a start on the first book in the trilogy soon.

I chose to read and review an eARC of The Innocent Ones.  The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

A legal thriller combined with some courtroom action and an investigation into an old case? Holy cow, where do I sign up? Right here, that’s where! The Dan Grant trilogy has all that awesomeness and then some. This is one of those series that got me incredibly excited right from the start.

I think you could probably get away with treating The Innocent Ones as a stand-alone but quite frankly, I don’t know why you’d want to. Dan and Jayne are such brilliant characters and I really enjoyed going on this journey with them, watching their characters and relationship develop along the way.

In The Innocent Ones, Dan finds himself defending a client of the murder of journalist/writer Nick Roberts. But when Nick’s mother shows up and claims Dan’s client is innocent, the whole case is thrown into turmoil. Dan calls in the help of his former investigator, Jayne, and they soon discover a trail leading to the murders of two young children way back in 1997. But what is the connection? And why is someone trying to stop them from finding out the truth?

Once again, Neil White comes up with the most intricate and intense plot. Danger lurks around every corner and while every step Dan and Jayne take brings them closer to the truth, someone is trying to stop them at every turn. With quite a few twists and turns, I found it impossible to figure out what was what and Neil White kept me guessing until the end. If for one second I thought I would be able to pick up on clues in the chapters set in 1997, I was quickly proven wrong. But they do turn into quite the dark and disturbing storyline.

There’s so much to love about The Innocent Ones and this series in general : the brilliant pace, the fantastic writing, the intriguing characters, the wonderful setting and the delightful combination between lawyer and detective work, which quite frankly is just the best of two worlds for me.

This third and final instalment in the Dan Grant series is as tense, compelling and gripping as its predecessors. Of course I am sad to see this series come to an end, yet the ending also feels extremely fitting. This entire trilogy has been the most fantastic and thrilling ride and I very much look forward to what’s in store next from Neil White.

I hadn’t realised that it is the third novel in a trilogy, but that didn’t at all dent my enthusiasm as it reads perfectly well as a stand-alone. It’s certainly a very good read.

Our protagonists are lawyer Dan Grant and investigator Jayne Brett. When Mark Roberts, a journalist, is brutally murdered in Highford, petty criminal Nick Connor is arrested pretty quickly. There’s a ton of evidence against him and though he protests his innocence, Dan is having a hard time finding a convincing defence.

But when a surprise visitor to his office casts doubt on Connor’s guilt, Dan is intrigued enough to look into Mark Roberts in more detail and to try and find out what he was working on.

In The Innocent Ones, two plot strands dance around each other until they finally intersect and begin to show a more complete picture. Over two time periods, 1977 and the present day, Dan must make the connection between two child murders, for which a man is serving a jail sentence and the bludgeoning to death of our investigative journalist.

Detective Inspector Andrew Porter, now retired, was the policeman who conducted the original investigation into the child killings and he’s doing all he can to make sure everyone understands that they caught the right man.

There is plenty of action and a lot to admire in this tense legal thriller that beautifully deploys a host of writerly tricks to mislead, deceive and misdirect the reader along a serious of seriously twisty paths.

The Innocent Ones is a book that kept catching me by surprise and held my attention well throughout. Dan and Jayne make for well-drawn, believable characters, and their relationship is another nicely played aspect which adds to the authenticity of the book.

Pacy and with well described locations offering a distinct sense of place, this dark and twisty legal thriller has fairly ramps up the tension to give you all you need for a compelling murder mystery.

Verdict: Twisty, dark and surprising, this is a tense legal thriller to keep you guessing.

This had some great surprises!

I’m new to this series but it works as a stand alone. I like the dynamic between Dan and Jayne. The writing is solid and the transition between timelines was handled deftly.

The story takes its time laying down the groundwork and playing around with two plot points. Then things start moving with some red herrings, surprises and things start to line up. This made for an exciting read! And the conclusion? I didn’t see that one coming and it was different which was great fun!

I like this story and would read more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Hera Books for a copy in exchange for a review.

This is my first read from Neil White and I started with the last installment of three. ugh!! I was enjoying it so much I almost stopped to purchase the first in the series. Decided I couldn’t wait and finished this one today. Actually was the best choice I could have made as I now have two more to read! Solid procedural with believable characters you root for.

A very interesting read . Twists and turns to keep you engrossed. Wondering which way the author is going to take it. Nice and easy to read. Flows well. Enjoyable to read

Another brilliant book by Neil White. I have read a lot of his books and have never been disappointed. Mark a journalist is killed in a park . The police think they have arrested the right person but have they ? Mark’s mum comes to see Dan to tell him that she doesn’t think Nick is the killer and Mark was writing something big which got him killed . Dan and his investigator Jayne start to look into the case. Plenty of twists and turns right up to the end. A must read

A really well written legal thriller. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and the tips of your toes eager to find out what's coming next. Just when I had it all figured out another incident is thrown into the mix so expect many twists and turns. It's elements like this that make this a thumping good read.

What a fantastic conclusion to Jayne and Dan's story.

A collision between a new murder and a cold case, with some great detecting, some nail-biting scenes, some juicy shenanigans, plenty of wit and some excellent legal knowledge thrown in.

I loved every twisty turny page of it!

I have read the other two books in the trilogy and was keen to get this final part. Jayne and Dan are a perfectly matched duo and I was keen to see where the story took them in this final instalment. It starts with the murder of Mark Roberts who was a journalist and Dan Grant is called in to represent a petty thief accused of the murder.

Meanwhile Jayne is living in a new area and is thoroughly miserable, so when Dan calls her for some help she jumps at the chance. This storyline was my favourite of the bunch and has numerous threads all working to one goal which was to correctly identify the killer. What at first seemed a little muddled ended up being extremely complex with many twists and was highly enjoyable.

Pair that up with two cracking characters and you have a fantastic ending to this brilliant trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed this and although a little sad to read the last part of it, it was finished well and it just makes me want to read more of this authors books.

Thrilling story, great plot and characters that keep you guessing right til the end. Great for fans of this genre. Really enjoyable.

A great read. A reporter found murdered. A cut and dry perpetrator. The defence tram gave no chance. Or do they? Absolutely brilliant read. Well written with good characters. Keeps you guessing.
4/5 on goodreads and Amazon

My thanks to Hera Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Innocent Ones’ by Neil White in exchange for an honest review. My apologies for the late feedback.

This is the third and final in his series of legal thrillers featuring criminal defence lawyer Dan Grant and investigator Jayne Brett.

When London journalist, Mark Roberts, is found battered to death in a park in the northern town of Highford, the police quickly arrest Nick Connor, a petty thief. His bloody footprints and a stolen wallet link him to the scene though he claims that he found the body and stole the wallet.

Dan Grant is representing Conner, though it appears to be unlikely given the evidence that he will win this case. Then the victim’s mother approaches him saying that Conner is innocent and begging Dan to find the real killer. Dan calls on Jayne, who returns from Manchester, to assist him.

This proves to be a complex case as Mark was working on a book about a series of child murders in Yorkshire in 1997. A man is serving life for these murders, yet something said during an interview set Mark on a path that led to his own murder.

Neil White is himself a solicitor, specialising in criminal law, and brings his legal
expertise to this novel. It is intelligent, fast paced, and tightly written. I found it very difficult to put down and enjoyed it a great deal.

I hope to read the first two in the series and also will look out for future projects by White.