Thread by @janelesley

TWITTER REVIEW (THREAD)

Dirty Little Secret (Jonathan Peace)

Only The Dead Stay Silent

#DirtyLittleSecret @JPwritescrime is the first novel in what is going to be an excellent police thriller series featuring WDC Louise Miller.

WDC Louise Miller has returned to her home town #Ossett #WestYorkshire having served on the police force in Manchester for the past four years. The day before she officially starts her new job, she finds the body of a young girl in a 'phone box.

The discovery is shocking, especially in a small parochial town, where the most challenging/exciting events are the annual flower shows/ fayres/Sunday football matches. WDC Miller also has to fit in to a new police unit who is unprepared/unwilling to welcome female detectives

Together with WPC Hines and her new, world weary boss, DI Bill Manby, they try to uncover the dark truths hidden behind closed doors and uncover what really happened to the victim.
Then, another girl goes missing, and the hunt is on to find the killer before they murder again...

...set in #WestYorkshire in the late 1980s, #DirtyLittleSecret is a fantastic crime novel. @JPwritescrime exposes the attitudes/procedures of the time in the force, exposing the misogyny/sexism encountered by female police officers of all ranks during this time.

The author cleverly and expertly balences the nuances of the stark, often shocking plotline, with the atmospheric tone/feel of small town living. Despite the geographical link, experiences in The Shop (police station) is a world apart from Last of the Summer Wine life.

@JPwritescrime has the talent/wisdom to share enough information/description, re: the dark themes in the novel, with realistic use of language/exploration of social/personal attutudes, taking the reader deep into storylines/lives of the characters without alienating anyone.

The characters are fascinating: some instantly lovable, some frankly horrible. Readers will have their own favourites to cheer on (and boo)! As a Wessie (living in West Yorkshire), the familiar landscapes instantly drew me in, but you don't have to know the area to love the book.

There's some great cultural/social 80s references (anyone else remember Walkmans?) alongside the frustration of sexism/misogyny that prevailed at the time. Importantly, the reader instantly cares what happens to WDC Miller and WPC Hines as they race to find the truth.

#DirtyLittleSecret is a fabulous, scary, absorbing, read. I was held by every page I turned. This first novel already holds it own alongside excellent #Yorkshire based thrillers (think Dalziel and Pascoe, DCI Frost) and I very much hope WDC Miller is on our TV screens soon.

#DirtyLittleSecret is brilliant and I look forward to next book in the series! TY @HobeckBooks @JPwritescrime for my review copy. Available in PB: £9.99 What are you waiting for, Bookbirds, buy it now! 🙂📖📚👍