Very interesting read with lots of twists. I need to go back and read the rest of the series to get more enjoyment out of this book. A very interesting case which was intriguing from the start. Some very interesting characters as well.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Excellent story line which was gripping from start to finish. Great characters. I would highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
The 5th Hazel Best and Gabriel Ash in the series starts with the attempted kidnapping of Gabriel's sons, or was it? It turns out that was a false assumption. The truth takes us back to a case quite a few years ago and Hazel, after just a short time as a DS and having ruffled feathers in her previous case, is determined to risk the wrath of her fellow officers, no matter if it cements her reputation as a troublemaker. She needs to find and protect the intended kidnap victim, whether or not the big brass want to keep the past from being brought into the light. It's the right thing to do.
I had read 2 of the previous books in the series and enjoyed them, so I had enough of a back story. My favorite character is Patience, Gabriel's dog who he has conversations with. In his mind, she answers him and I really got a kick out of those chapters.
This is a good series. There is a comforting British slant to the books, not quite cozy, but very satisfying. This is the kind of book I like to turn to after reading darker noir books that can get depressing after a while. A definite must read for fans of British crime that's gripping, but not too graphic.

This is the first book in this series that I have read, and it would have been helpful to read earlier entries in the series first. It took a while to understand who the characters were, and their common backgrounds. In the end, it was a good read, and certainly left room for more adventures with Gabriel Ash & Hazel Best. The talking dog came across as a bit strange, but also a valuable character in the story.

This book was engaging and full of twists and turns. The story moved along at a good pace and was darker than I anticipated. I do wish I had read the other books first, not having realized this was the fifth in the series, but I might go back and read them now that I've had a chance to meet Hazel Best and Gabriel Ash.

This book had well developed characters that I felt invested in. And between estranged spouses, nannies, best friends and co-workers they all had distinct personalities. Many twists in the book.

Gripping and full of twists! This was a good read but it did not fully capture me the way I like it. I would recommend this to my friends but I don't think I will read it again

I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishing for an advance copy of Kindred Spirits, the fifth novel to feature PC Hazel Best and ex Intelligence analyst Gabriel Ash.

Gabriel is horrified when Hazel foils a kidnap attempt on his two young sons and their nanny. He suspects his fugitive estranged wife is behind it but that isn't the whole story and as Hazel and DI Gorman investigate they find links to a 17 year old crime and a police cover up.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kindred Spirits which is a cosy, fun read. I have not read this series or any of Ms Bannister's work before so I wasn't sure what to expect but it has a good mystery at its heart, even if some of the extraneous details are not really my cup of tea. Despite two of the main characters being police officers this is not a procedural, more like amateur hour with a badge with Hazel and DI Gorman conducting their own investigation based mostly on instinct and guesswork. It can be frustrating for the reader to see them ignoring so many alternative options as they follow their blinkered reasoning but it's also fun to see how much information their stumbling about produces.

Hazel Best is a crusading woman with a need to help those in trouble. This, apparently, is how she met her best friend Gabriel Ash. He is raising his sons and running a bookshop, content with his life after so much upheaval and unwilling to join Hazel in her crusade. He has so much backstory that I feel it would have been helpful to read the series in order to have a bigger picture of it rather than passing references. It is no secret that he spent time in a mental health facility so that might explain the conversations he has with his lurcher, Patience, and yes she answers back but only he can hear her.

Kindred Spirits is a light read and an easy way to pass a few hours so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.