An enjoyable and gripping read.
Hooked from page one to the very last page.

This is the 2nd book to feature Dr Harry Kent and like the first book it gets my Must read, seal of approval.
​I enjoyed this just as much as the first book, if not more. It was fantastic being back with Harry and his wreckage of a life.
​Harry is asked to attend a suicide of a whistleblowing doctor. But for Harry it soon seems that things are not so straight forward. Then when it turns out to be murder, Harry must dig deeper to uncover the truth.
​And dig is what Harry does, ending up teamed up with his ex girl friend DCI Frankie Noble. Things are not great between the two of them so working together certainly isn't going to be an easy ride.
​One of the things I really enjoy with these books is the mix of Medical and Crime, it makes for a much more interesting read. The authors medical background is very clear thought out the book, and just adds to the story brilliantly.
​I also find the fact that the main character Harry, having some serious issues really adds to the intensity of the story. You know somewhere along the line things have got to reach a head, and his addiction to prescription drugs is only going to cause problems if and when he is found out.
​Another first class read, and I fear if I say anymore I will give far to much away. This book however is certainly must read, and I will say personally I really think reading book one first would be the best move.

​I cant wait for more.

Apologies - lost access to this book when my kindle died and I had to get a new one . Thank you for the opportunity.

Harry Kent is an A&E doctor who also has a role as a Force Medical Officer for the local police. Called out one evening to a suspected suicide Harry discovers that the body is that of a fellow doctor, one notorious for being a whistleblower, and that the investigating officer is his ex. When the death is identified as murder Harry's expertise is needed as the victim had been suspended from work over accusations of malpractice in a big profile paediatric cardiac unit and Harry is needed to provide medical knowledge for the team. However Harry has his own problems, guilt over the death of friend, overwork and a rocky relationship all fuelled by an addiction to amphetamine.

This is the first Dr Harry Kent book that I have read and I did like the idea of looking at what should be a standard police procedural from a different perspective, that of a doctor who works alongside the police. The information about the life of a doctor in the NHS seemed fairly accurate and I enjoyed the complexities of Harry's life. However I found the plot a little convoluted and with lots of excessively detailed medical information, and the ending was a little unsatisfying. It was a perfectly readable book but nothing out of the ordinary.

I was the BIGGEST fan of book one in this series (more details below if you missed it) and with “A Handful of Ashes” I can honestly say this has moved up to favourite series status on my bookish wishlist – one of a handful I’m going to be hotly anticipating every year for as long as they continue. Long may that be…

I’m a sucker for a good medical drama and an even bigger one for a good crime drama – with the Harry Kent series Rob McCarthy brings the two together in a fast, addictive, well considered thriller that just had me blasting through it with little thought to anything else around me. Don’t you love those ones?

In this story we have a suspicious “suicide”, a possible hospital cover up, grieving parents, danger lurking around every corner and our (anti) hero Dr Kent slowly falling apart at the seams whilst trying to help our (anti) heroine Frankie Noble solve the conundrum. She’s not exactly the most grounded police officer ever but both of them are superbly engaging, inevitably flawed but so beautifully described in sheer force of personality that you just get pulled along with them. The plot is thoroughly twisted, highly charged emotionally and has an ending that had me on the floor. I loved it.

I’d like to give a nod to at least one beautifully written thrilling scene in this involving a fight to save a life – as I came to the end of that chapter I found myself quite literally sitting on the edge of my seat (not that easy in a giant swivel chair) I had to sit and have a nice cup of tea before continuing on. That is not the only genuinely immersive bit of scene setting in A Handful of Ashes but it’s probably the one that will stay with me – What is great about it is that these moments are interspersed with quieter more considered moments and the author digs deep into the multiple layers that make up his characters, insightful writing that means you really feel for everything they go through.

Both the medical and the procedural elements that make up the story feel highly authentic, I am definitely one for the tortured souls in fiction therefore Harry Kent holds my attention (I may be a little in fictional love) and overall this is terrific writing, terrific plotting and well, just plain terrific.

Highly Recommended.