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hannah_marie5314's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
angrygreycatreads's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this book free from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.
I was happy to see this book on Netgalley. I had wanted to read it since it was the book of the month on Goodreads in the Kindle English Mystery Club under the title Locked In.
At the beginning, we meet recently promoted to Detective Sergeant, Jessica Daniel. By luck of the draw or the fact her colleagues were tied up on other cases, Jessica lands the murder case of a divorced woman, Yvonne Christensen. She was found locked in her home strangled to death. As Jess investigates, we meet others in her team, a smarmy defense lawyer, and a novice journalist hoping for the case to be his big break and a way out of his dead end job.
This police procedural starts off quickly and maintains the pace throughout, definitely a thriller! As more murders occur, DS Daniel and the journalist, Garry, look for connections, trying to unmask the killer. The stories of the victim’s families unfold showing the after effects of the brutal crimes. There is a strong sense of building tension that leads naturally to the exposure of previous crimes and the reveal of the killer.
Even though it is fast paced, we do get some background details of Jessica to flesh out her character and help the reader understand who she is as a person and a detective. There are subplots involving her retired ex-partner and her flatmate/best friend, which are important and add to the main plot line.
An exciting, fast paced, police procedural with an engaging new DS to follow. This is one I would definitely recommend!
I was happy to see this book on Netgalley. I had wanted to read it since it was the book of the month on Goodreads in the Kindle English Mystery Club under the title Locked In.
At the beginning, we meet recently promoted to Detective Sergeant, Jessica Daniel. By luck of the draw or the fact her colleagues were tied up on other cases, Jessica lands the murder case of a divorced woman, Yvonne Christensen. She was found locked in her home strangled to death. As Jess investigates, we meet others in her team, a smarmy defense lawyer, and a novice journalist hoping for the case to be his big break and a way out of his dead end job.
This police procedural starts off quickly and maintains the pace throughout, definitely a thriller! As more murders occur, DS Daniel and the journalist, Garry, look for connections, trying to unmask the killer. The stories of the victim’s families unfold showing the after effects of the brutal crimes. There is a strong sense of building tension that leads naturally to the exposure of previous crimes and the reveal of the killer.
Even though it is fast paced, we do get some background details of Jessica to flesh out her character and help the reader understand who she is as a person and a detective. There are subplots involving her retired ex-partner and her flatmate/best friend, which are important and add to the main plot line.
An exciting, fast paced, police procedural with an engaging new DS to follow. This is one I would definitely recommend!
avidreadergirl1's review against another edition
4.0
A nice start to a series.
Detective sergeant Jessica Daniels and her team investigate some strange murders that occurred in the victims houses and with all accesses locked and no clue to the perpetrator’s identity. The whole story is taking us through the ups and downs of the investigation and how the whole plot might be ending closer to home than expected.
Detective sergeant Jessica Daniels and her team investigate some strange murders that occurred in the victims houses and with all accesses locked and no clue to the perpetrator’s identity. The whole story is taking us through the ups and downs of the investigation and how the whole plot might be ending closer to home than expected.
petra_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Locked In had been sitting on my audible shelf for quite some time. I'm really glad I finally picked this up. It was an entertaining British crime procedural set in Manchester with a likeable protagonist, DS Jessica Daniel. It was easy to connect with Jessica. I liked her sarcasm. While perhaps a little predictable (the killer was relatively easy to guess), the plot was nevertheless really interesting and kept me absorbed. As the first book in a series, it certainly has great potential and I will definitely continue with the series.
The narration was a little flat and expressionless, but overall ok.
The narration was a little flat and expressionless, but overall ok.
annrawson's review against another edition
1.0
Spoilers (if that's possible)
Not quite sure why I didn't just fling the book across the room. It wasn't an easy read, but I carried on because I wanted to know how long it would be before the detective considered the most obvious suspect in a series of murders in which the victims are found all locked up in their houses. Not until around page 295.
D'oh.
I suppose it is an interesting story but some of the writing is sadly clunky. With a little more editing it could have been a much better novel, but as it is I feel no need to read the rest of the series.
Not quite sure why I didn't just fling the book across the room. It wasn't an easy read, but I carried on because I wanted to know how long it would be before the detective considered the most obvious suspect in a series of murders in which the victims are found all locked up in their houses. Not until around page 295.
D'oh.
I suppose it is an interesting story but some of the writing is sadly clunky. With a little more editing it could have been a much better novel, but as it is I feel no need to read the rest of the series.
raven88's review against another edition
4.0
I feel that I may have joined the Kerry Wilkinson party a little late, looking at the phenomenal success he has enjoyed from self publishing to major book deal, but better late than never! I fair raced through ‘Locked In’ the first DS Jessica Daniel investigation, an engaging police procedural set on the mean streets of Manchester and setting the scene for a series worthy of attention.
I think what I liked most about the book was the character of Jessica herself, as unlike many other crime authors, Wilkinson has made her wholly believable. She has no weird obsessions, no strange sexual attraction to her older boss, no addictive habits and apart from her, at times, hilarious angry outbursts as she doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and is portrayed as a decent, focused and determined, detective. Wilkinson seems to have a knack for identifying those elements of modern life that rankle the most, and through Jessica gets a chance to vent his spleen so to speak, through her blunt turn of phrase and tendency towards sarcasm. I really liked her interaction and sense of playfulness with her police colleague DC Dave Rowlands and nerdy reporter Garry Ashford (yes, the unconventional spelling and tweed jacket annoyed me as well!) and her steadfast refusal to conform to certain expectations of her in terms of wardrobe and updating her old and loved car, which is widely ridiculed amongst her colleagues. The characterisation of both Jessica and the other central players generally felt very natural, and the dialogue flowed easily throughout the book engaging us further with the characters.
The setting of inner city Manchester is well realised and the locations come across as authentic, highlighting the social and economic disparities of any large British city, rotating between the deprivation of some areas and the comfort of suburban communities. In terms of plot and narrative this was a steady enough police procedural, with the intriguing central premise of seemingly random murder victims discovered in completely locked abodes, leading to the utterly imaginative dubbing of the killer by the press as the ‘Houdini Srangler’. I thought that Wilkinson did as much as he could to conceal the killer’s identity for as long as physically possible given the natural revelations of the investigation, but for me alarm bells were ringing early and alas I was proved right with my Holmesian skills of detection- ha! But joking aside, if there was a slight blip in the plotting for me, I have in no way been deterred as I have since read the second book ‘Vigilante’ (which I also enjoyed) and am halfway through the third ‘The Woman In Black’ which is distinctly darker in tone, thus establishing the fact that I’m really quite keen on this series already. ‘Think of the Children’ is the latest addition and no doubt I will seek this one out as well. A good find, and a perfect series for those looking for a new take on the British police procedural.
I think what I liked most about the book was the character of Jessica herself, as unlike many other crime authors, Wilkinson has made her wholly believable. She has no weird obsessions, no strange sexual attraction to her older boss, no addictive habits and apart from her, at times, hilarious angry outbursts as she doesn’t suffer fools gladly, and is portrayed as a decent, focused and determined, detective. Wilkinson seems to have a knack for identifying those elements of modern life that rankle the most, and through Jessica gets a chance to vent his spleen so to speak, through her blunt turn of phrase and tendency towards sarcasm. I really liked her interaction and sense of playfulness with her police colleague DC Dave Rowlands and nerdy reporter Garry Ashford (yes, the unconventional spelling and tweed jacket annoyed me as well!) and her steadfast refusal to conform to certain expectations of her in terms of wardrobe and updating her old and loved car, which is widely ridiculed amongst her colleagues. The characterisation of both Jessica and the other central players generally felt very natural, and the dialogue flowed easily throughout the book engaging us further with the characters.
The setting of inner city Manchester is well realised and the locations come across as authentic, highlighting the social and economic disparities of any large British city, rotating between the deprivation of some areas and the comfort of suburban communities. In terms of plot and narrative this was a steady enough police procedural, with the intriguing central premise of seemingly random murder victims discovered in completely locked abodes, leading to the utterly imaginative dubbing of the killer by the press as the ‘Houdini Srangler’. I thought that Wilkinson did as much as he could to conceal the killer’s identity for as long as physically possible given the natural revelations of the investigation, but for me alarm bells were ringing early and alas I was proved right with my Holmesian skills of detection- ha! But joking aside, if there was a slight blip in the plotting for me, I have in no way been deterred as I have since read the second book ‘Vigilante’ (which I also enjoyed) and am halfway through the third ‘The Woman In Black’ which is distinctly darker in tone, thus establishing the fact that I’m really quite keen on this series already. ‘Think of the Children’ is the latest addition and no doubt I will seek this one out as well. A good find, and a perfect series for those looking for a new take on the British police procedural.
chloemc99's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first instalment in the Jessica Daniel's Series and i really enjoyed it and i will be continuing with the series. This is a murder case where all the door and windows are locked from the inside so how did the killer get in and out of the house? This book was written really good, it was easy to get through, Jessica's Character was written really good, she's tough but as a softer side to her and allows herself to feel compassion for the victims and their families.
Not many male authors can write from a females perspective that good but Kerry done a good job, and i can't wait to read more of his works.
Not many male authors can write from a females perspective that good but Kerry done a good job, and i can't wait to read more of his works.
nannybooks's review against another edition
5.0
Reseña en mi blog
Esta novela logra atrapar al lector desde el primer capítulo. No solo la historia principal es cautivante, sino también sus personajes que consiguen crear nudos argumentativos secundarios muy entretenidos, los cuales se unen en un final explosivo.
Perteneciendo al policial negro, la narración no solo nos llevará a los escenarios del crimen, sino también a la burocracia de la policía londinense y a la vida personal que llevan los uniformados. Tendremos tres puntos de vista diferentes durante la novela: la narración del asesino, escueta en el prólogo pero luego más explicativa; la narración de la sargento Daniel, que se lleva todo el protagonismo; y también la narración del periodista Garret, que aparece aquí y allí como una figura antagonista que luego se transforma en algo más.
Las descripciones de algunas escenas nunca resultan violentas, aunque no esperen nada demasiado suave. La resolución del crimen se irá dando de a poco y hasta las últimas páginas no sabremos quién es y dónde está el asesino.
El personaje Jessica Daniel es muy ameno, una mujer detective que hace bien su trabajo pero que se ve en un caso especialmente difícil. Ahora que ya no tiene a su tutor cerca, que su amiga la está dejando de lado y un molesto periodista logra sacarla de sus casillas, se da cuenta de que tal vez no está preparada para el ascenso que obtuvo. ¿Podrá resolver el crimen? La historia se vuelve muy rápida cuando conduce la narración Jessica, ya que resulta gruñona y maleducada, nada que ver a lo que se espera de un personaje femenino. Simplemente me encantó.
Por su parte, Garret también resulta interesante. Su labor como periodista lo lleva a encontrarse con reportajes jugosos que le dan un buen respaldo a su trabajo. Los insultos que Jessica le envía por teléfono no lo amedrantará y logrará transformarse en un gran centro de misterio debido a su fuente secreta.
Algunas características del caso juegan con las sutilezas del policial de enigma, por ejemplo la puerta cerrada con llave, lo cual es todo una delicia, pues refuerza el misterio y logra interesar al lector. Ese tipo de cosas suele olvidarse en los policiales modernos, en donde se cree que cuanto más sangre aparezca más bueno es el libro. Por suerte, Wilkinson logra encontrar un equilibrio y salir airoso.
Además del crimen, también serán protagonistas de la novela los roces entre las diferentes fuerzas de la policía, las disputas entre un abogado carroñero y algunos personajes, etc. El amor y la amistad también aparecerán como un condimento, pero no se le dará mucha vuelta al respecto.
Atrapante, ligera y entretenida, Encerrada se consagra como la mejor novela de policial negro que leí este año. La saga de Jessica Daniel tiene un increíble buen inicio con esta novela autoconclusiva y el escritor Kerry Wilkinson demuestra tener gran talento. Esperemos pronto encontrar más de este gran nuevo escritor londinense en las librerías argentinas.
Esta novela logra atrapar al lector desde el primer capítulo. No solo la historia principal es cautivante, sino también sus personajes que consiguen crear nudos argumentativos secundarios muy entretenidos, los cuales se unen en un final explosivo.
Perteneciendo al policial negro, la narración no solo nos llevará a los escenarios del crimen, sino también a la burocracia de la policía londinense y a la vida personal que llevan los uniformados. Tendremos tres puntos de vista diferentes durante la novela: la narración del asesino, escueta en el prólogo pero luego más explicativa; la narración de la sargento Daniel, que se lleva todo el protagonismo; y también la narración del periodista Garret, que aparece aquí y allí como una figura antagonista que luego se transforma en algo más.
Las descripciones de algunas escenas nunca resultan violentas, aunque no esperen nada demasiado suave. La resolución del crimen se irá dando de a poco y hasta las últimas páginas no sabremos quién es y dónde está el asesino.
El personaje Jessica Daniel es muy ameno, una mujer detective que hace bien su trabajo pero que se ve en un caso especialmente difícil. Ahora que ya no tiene a su tutor cerca, que su amiga la está dejando de lado y un molesto periodista logra sacarla de sus casillas, se da cuenta de que tal vez no está preparada para el ascenso que obtuvo. ¿Podrá resolver el crimen? La historia se vuelve muy rápida cuando conduce la narración Jessica, ya que resulta gruñona y maleducada, nada que ver a lo que se espera de un personaje femenino. Simplemente me encantó.
Por su parte, Garret también resulta interesante. Su labor como periodista lo lleva a encontrarse con reportajes jugosos que le dan un buen respaldo a su trabajo. Los insultos que Jessica le envía por teléfono no lo amedrantará y logrará transformarse en un gran centro de misterio debido a su fuente secreta.
Algunas características del caso juegan con las sutilezas del policial de enigma, por ejemplo la puerta cerrada con llave, lo cual es todo una delicia, pues refuerza el misterio y logra interesar al lector. Ese tipo de cosas suele olvidarse en los policiales modernos, en donde se cree que cuanto más sangre aparezca más bueno es el libro. Por suerte, Wilkinson logra encontrar un equilibrio y salir airoso.
Además del crimen, también serán protagonistas de la novela los roces entre las diferentes fuerzas de la policía, las disputas entre un abogado carroñero y algunos personajes, etc. El amor y la amistad también aparecerán como un condimento, pero no se le dará mucha vuelta al respecto.
Atrapante, ligera y entretenida, Encerrada se consagra como la mejor novela de policial negro que leí este año. La saga de Jessica Daniel tiene un increíble buen inicio con esta novela autoconclusiva y el escritor Kerry Wilkinson demuestra tener gran talento. Esperemos pronto encontrar más de este gran nuevo escritor londinense en las librerías argentinas.