steph1rothwell's review against another edition
5.0
I was looking forward to reading the latest Hannah Robbins book, its always nice to return to a favourite character. Most of the team have returned, and there are a few additions. Like Hannah, I wasn’t entirely sure how to feel about Sally’s replacement but I think she will grow on me. She is gutsy, and determined to put her past behind her and be an important member of the team.
I think there is a lot of the author in these books. The grieving process that a team of officers goes through feels real and is not something I have read in other crime books and have it mean as much. The determination that they solve it on their own without the help or otherwise from professional standards. And there is the attention to detail, she shows that even the most mundane of jobs is important to an investigation.
There was a few times that I had a lump in my throat, none of which I can say much about because of spoilers but one of them shows that there will definitely be another book to look forward to in the future.
I think there is a lot of the author in these books. The grieving process that a team of officers goes through feels real and is not something I have read in other crime books and have it mean as much. The determination that they solve it on their own without the help or otherwise from professional standards. And there is the attention to detail, she shows that even the most mundane of jobs is important to an investigation.
There was a few times that I had a lump in my throat, none of which I can say much about because of spoilers but one of them shows that there will definitely be another book to look forward to in the future.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
4.0
Fighting Monsters is the third book in the DI Hannah Robbins crime series. I personally would advise reading the books in order to get the most out of the series as a lot of events that have happened in the previous books are mentioned in the others.
This has been a series so far where as soon as I've finished one book, I've very much been looking forward to the next one in the series. I really enjoy Hannah's character and how her and the team work together in solving the cases. It certainly isn't all plain sailing. Not when there's a new member for them to get used to.
The story certainly takes some surprising twists and turns and at times I found myself getting overly emotional. That's where this author excels for me, what is happening to the characters not only affects them, it affects the reader also. All the emotions flow from the pages directly onto the reader.
Fighting Monsters is yet another dark and compelling read in the series. It feels very much more authentic than some other crime books out there as you can tell that the author draws from her own background, making it a much more believable reading experience. As usual, I am left desperate for more and can't wait for the fourth book to come out.
This has been a series so far where as soon as I've finished one book, I've very much been looking forward to the next one in the series. I really enjoy Hannah's character and how her and the team work together in solving the cases. It certainly isn't all plain sailing. Not when there's a new member for them to get used to.
The story certainly takes some surprising twists and turns and at times I found myself getting overly emotional. That's where this author excels for me, what is happening to the characters not only affects them, it affects the reader also. All the emotions flow from the pages directly onto the reader.
Fighting Monsters is yet another dark and compelling read in the series. It feels very much more authentic than some other crime books out there as you can tell that the author draws from her own background, making it a much more believable reading experience. As usual, I am left desperate for more and can't wait for the fourth book to come out.
damppebbles's review against another edition
4.0
Fighting Monsters is the third book in the DI Hannah Robbins series written by former police detective, Rebecca Bradley. I have a confession to make, this is the first full novel from Bradley which I have read. I thoroughly enjoyed her prequel novella published in 2016, Three Weeks Dead but haven’t managed to fit Shallow Waters (book 1) or Made to be Broken (book 2) into my reading schedule as yet. Having recently finished Fighting Monsters I can assure you that that will indeed change in the near future, so look out for a review or two coming soon.
Change is afoot as the reader is introduced to new girl, Pasha, as she tries to desperately fit into a well-oiled and cohesive unit. Not easy when the shoes she has to fill are those of a recently deceased colleague and well-valued member of the team. Not helped by the arrival of a new DCI who doesn’t have the same work ethic as his predecessor. When Hannah and her team are instructed to investigate the murder of gang boss and suspected cop killer, Simon Talbot, all personal issues are put to one side (or so they should be anyway). With Simon’s grief-stricken brother at her heels, and with many of her colleagues firmly believing that whoever killed Simon Talbot did them all a favour, Robbins finds herself under a great deal of pressure. Not wanting to face the fact that the investigation may take them to places they don’t want to go and, ultimately, the possibility of arresting a fellow police officer…
Bradley’s characters really stood out for me. I enjoyed the working relationship between DI Robbins and her DS, Aaron. I got the feeling there is a lot of history between these two characters and I particularly enjoyed the scenes they shared. I was also interested in the relationship between Hannah and the new girl, Pasha, but this was a whole different dynamic. I felt quite sorry for Pasha. Trying to fit into a well-established team and despite trying your best, every time you open your mouth, reminding those around you exactly what they had lost. I will be interested to see how (and if) Pasha makes her mark in future books.
There were a number of unexpected emotional moments during the story. I really felt for Lee, one of the young PC’s seconded to the team, as we discover he looks after his elderly Nan who suffers from Alzheimer’s and, as a result, leads no life of his own. The reader gets to know Lee and his story, but more importantly, I found Lee fast becoming one of my favourite characters in the book. Other heartbreaking moments involve Simon Talbot’s neighbour and her young son. There is one particular scene where I was perched precariously on the very edge of my seat!
Would I recommend this book? I would. I read it as a standalone and I think it works perfectly well without having read the first two books in the series (I am planning on reading and reviewing both soon, though!). What you get from a Rebecca Bradley novel that you might not find elsewhere is realism. Bradley previously worked as a detective so she knows what she’s talking about and as a fan of the police procedural, I love that. Well worth checking out.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Fighting Monsters. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
Change is afoot as the reader is introduced to new girl, Pasha, as she tries to desperately fit into a well-oiled and cohesive unit. Not easy when the shoes she has to fill are those of a recently deceased colleague and well-valued member of the team. Not helped by the arrival of a new DCI who doesn’t have the same work ethic as his predecessor. When Hannah and her team are instructed to investigate the murder of gang boss and suspected cop killer, Simon Talbot, all personal issues are put to one side (or so they should be anyway). With Simon’s grief-stricken brother at her heels, and with many of her colleagues firmly believing that whoever killed Simon Talbot did them all a favour, Robbins finds herself under a great deal of pressure. Not wanting to face the fact that the investigation may take them to places they don’t want to go and, ultimately, the possibility of arresting a fellow police officer…
Bradley’s characters really stood out for me. I enjoyed the working relationship between DI Robbins and her DS, Aaron. I got the feeling there is a lot of history between these two characters and I particularly enjoyed the scenes they shared. I was also interested in the relationship between Hannah and the new girl, Pasha, but this was a whole different dynamic. I felt quite sorry for Pasha. Trying to fit into a well-established team and despite trying your best, every time you open your mouth, reminding those around you exactly what they had lost. I will be interested to see how (and if) Pasha makes her mark in future books.
There were a number of unexpected emotional moments during the story. I really felt for Lee, one of the young PC’s seconded to the team, as we discover he looks after his elderly Nan who suffers from Alzheimer’s and, as a result, leads no life of his own. The reader gets to know Lee and his story, but more importantly, I found Lee fast becoming one of my favourite characters in the book. Other heartbreaking moments involve Simon Talbot’s neighbour and her young son. There is one particular scene where I was perched precariously on the very edge of my seat!
Would I recommend this book? I would. I read it as a standalone and I think it works perfectly well without having read the first two books in the series (I am planning on reading and reviewing both soon, though!). What you get from a Rebecca Bradley novel that you might not find elsewhere is realism. Bradley previously worked as a detective so she knows what she’s talking about and as a fan of the police procedural, I love that. Well worth checking out.
Four out of five stars.
I chose to read and review an eARC of Fighting Monsters. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.
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