suspense, law-enforcement, gangs, England, murder-investigation, murder, unputdownable, lawyers, manipulation, secrets, lies, life-changes, relationships, relatives, office-politics, small-town, small-business, crime-thriller, friendship, friends, frustration, rural, procedural, threats*****

"Wedding Bells Are Breaking Up That Old Gang..."
This time I was more entranced by the personal problems of Hillary and her supporters. Probably because I sniffed out whodunit early in the game. Don't get me wrong, even though I was not clueless this time the due diligence and amazing twists were great. It's just that the threats to some of the team members were more engrossing and the impending marriages and transfers are signs of changes coming.
Gemma Dawson is the voice actor who really brings even more credibility to the story. ( )

Devout Christian and publisher of religious books, David Merchant, is found dead. Although not a liked man there really doesn't seem to be any motive for any one to want him dead.
Coupled with threats to herself and her team will DI Hillary Greene be able to bring a successful conclusion to the case.
Another good read from this crime series. The story draws you into the lives of the characters and I am wondering how their professional lives will develop.
( )

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I'm giving this 4*, despite the fact that the identity of the murderer (and their motive) was obvious to me from the first time they appeared in the investigation. I kept thinking there would be a twist and I would realize I had leapt to the wrong conclusion, but no...

There was a fair amount of the personal lives of the various police officers to fill out the novel: I'm glad we're seeing the back of the pathetic Keith and his evil lover. New detective Chang's gang-related dilemma was resolved rather easily, and he could do with a bit more of a personality. The final page, where Hillary decides she has become liability could have been led up to better - it's Janine who is the liability, if you ask me, but I see there are more instalments to come in this series, so Hillary can't retire just yet. ( )