I really enjoyed 'The Darkness Around Her' by Neil White, the second book in the Dan Grant and Jayne Brett series. This can read nicely as a standalone, but I'd recommend reading the first book in the series, because - why not?
Dan Grant is a lawyer and he uses an old client as his investigator. Jayne makes for a good investigator and together they have a great team that solves cases. In this book a young woman is found murdered, and Dan has to defend her killer. Nothing is as it seems in this book and it keeps the reader gripped until the end! Recommended.

I had literally finished reading “From The Shadows” and just wanted a sneaky look at the first chapter of this book, but before I knew it I had finished it!!

Defence Lawyer Dan Grant is representing Peter Box who has been accused of murdering Lizzie Barnsley on the canal towpath. All the evidence looks like Peter is guilty and by keeping quiet he is not helping to prove his innocence. What is he not telling his lawyers?

Dan Grant is being helped by Private Detective Jayne Brent. During their investigation they discover there have been many deaths along the canal. Could there be a serial killer out there and could this help prove Peter’s innocence.

Loved how you get to see how the police gather their evidence and then how that evidence is used in court.

Love this duo, they work so well together and I look forward to seeing how their relationship progresses.

Have to say this is the best courtroom drama book I have ever read and I was completely hooked!This fast paced thriller had me biting my finger nails as it reached its explosive ending, I could not turn the pages quick enough I was so engrossed!!!

Definitely worth more than 5 stars!!

Excuse me while I look for the next book in this amazing series!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I really like the characters in this trilogy so when I realised book 3 had come out I decided to play catch up with book 2. Even though this is a trilogy I think it can be read as a standalone but I prefer some background when reading a series like this. Dan Grant takes the lead and his job as a lawyer forms the basis for the series. IN book one we met Jayne Brett who was initially a client but is someone who is now a friend and a PI who he uses when needed on a case.

Lizzie Barnsley has been murdered alongside a canal and Peter Box is arrested for her murder. As his lawyer Dan tries and fails to get his client to talk, he soon realises there may be links to a murder that took place 10 years earlier. The victim was 14 year old Rosie Smith, and at the time her step-father was arrested and subsequently acquitted. However, Dan then discovers that ten years ago Peter Box had gone into a police station to confess to that crime but was ignored.

The story line is pretty intriguing I have to say and although it wasn’t my favourite of Neil White’s it was still pretty engaging. What I absolutely loved was seeing two characters that I really liked both Dan and Jayne. The story has plenty of action and as per usual Dan is thrown into the deep end with the addition of some sad news from his boss which will change his future path. One thing I didn’t see coming was the twist towards the end which I loved. Another solid read from this author and I am going to make sure I read book 3 ASAP!

A dark and gripping legal thriller, that keeps you on your toes throughout.
With a shocking and stunning ending that makes an enjoyable and engaging read.

An excellent story set in the North which is always nice to see (from Yorkshire myself). Interesting and different to many crime thrillers although I must admit it took me longer than normal to get through. I would however be happy to read more from Dan and Jayne.

Wow! Neil White packs a punch with this novel. Dan Grant, a defence lawyer, is defending Peter Box who is accused of murder. This is an exciting read, full of twists with a brilliant plot. It is a compelling read with excellent characterisation and well written. A fast paced legal thriller which kept me interested until the last page. A sure fire winner for Neil White. Thanks to Net Galley for my copy. reviews on Goodreads, Amazon and Facebook.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and Neil White for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Darkness Around Her.
I thought the storyline was well thought out and written. The central characters were well developed and engaging. It keeps you guessing.
Well worth a read.

The plot of this book was brilliant. I loved the characters of Dan and Jayne and thought they made a great team. I had not read the first book in the series, but felt there was enough of a background given, without being overly repetitive, that it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
Unfortunately, what I was disappointed with is that there are now a number of lawyers, or non-practising lawyers, who write so very well in this genre that I felt Neil White’s book did not quite reach the same standard. In my opinion his writing was not on the same level as some of the other authors. For this reason, although I loved the plot and characters Neil writing style and lack of finesse, lessened my enjoyment of this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Neil White built a great foundation for Dan Grant and Jayne Brett in From The Shadows, and that's paid off in the second book.

The dynamics between Dan & Jayne, and Dan and his boss, were already there to be expanded on, and used to push forward a combination of new, evolving case and an unsolved cold case - and perhaps more.

Great characters, great tension and excellent writing - can't wait to hear more about Dan & Jayne.

This is the first book by this author i have read so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was very pleasantly surprised! Loved the main characters of Lawyer Dan and Investigator Jayne. The story was fast paced and the short chapters really hold your attention and draw you in. Look forward to reading more of these two. Highly recommended.

Move over, John Grisham! I’ve found myself a new favourite legal crime thriller author and his name is Neil White. After thoroughly enjoying the first book in the Dan Grant series, From the Shadows, I couldn’t wait to get stuck into its follow-up.

In The Darkness Around Her, Dan Grant is facing the difficult task of defending an alleged killer, Peter Box, in a murder trial. Peter has been accused of the murder of Lizzie Barnsley, who was found along a canal path. But Peter is making things increasingly tough by refusing to talk to the police and to his lawyer. Did he really kill Lizzie or is someone else responsible? After all, Lizzie wasn’t the first victim along this stretch of the canal.

Jayne and Dan have to dig deep to get to the truth, uncovering a whole trail of missing and murdered women along the way. Is Peter Box responsible for all of them? Meanwhile, Dan is also forced to face a future without his boss, Pat, who is considering retirement. As if being solely in charge of a murder defence wasn’t enough to deal with.

One of the things I really enjoy about this series is that it combines the best of two worlds for me. I love legal thrillers and the drama that is played out in a court setting, which is obviously where Dan comes in. But I also get the investigation into a crime with Detective Murdoch but even more so, with private investigator Jayne. I really enjoy the dynamics between Dan and Jayne, even though that will-they/won’t-they thing continues. But just like the characters, I’m struggling to decide if it would be a good thing or not for them to become involved.

The Darkness Around Her is intensely gripping, with intriguing and complex characters. The pace and the action builds up to almost unbearable levels. Neil White kept me guessing for ages as to what was really going on and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough to see what the outcome would be. This is a cleverly plotted, brilliantly executed, enthralling and insanely addictive thriller. An incredibly tense ride with a few surprises along the way that I found hard to put down and absolutely fantastic addition to the series! I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Having never read this authors work before ai was u sure what to expect...
I loved it!!! Was hooked from page 1, a very clever well researched and believable story
Enjoyed it being set ‘Up North’
Will defintely read more by this author

'The Darkness Around Her' is the second book to feature defence lawyer Dan Grant and private detective Jayne Brett from bestselling author and criminal lawyer Neil White, set in the fictional town of Highford, Greater Manchester.

Dan Grant has been appointed to represent defendant Peter Box who stands accused of killing Lizzie Barnsley down on the canal towpath. Unfortunately, Box is unwilling to provide Grant with anything to use in his defence, and the case against him is almost watertight. If Dan is to help his client it appears he will have to gather the evidence himself in order to prove his innocence. He discovers that there have been many murders and strange disappearances down by the canal in the recent past. Can this information bring enough doubt to the case against Box or will he be convicted of Lizzie's murder? Is there a reason why Box refused to talk to anyone about the case including his own lawyer?

This really appealed to me being a law graduate and northern girl. This series is so damn realistic which sets it apart from most other courtroom dramas, and the whole book feels very authentic. You can always rely on Neil White to provide a thrilling and intriguing storyline. The twists and turns are plentiful, and there are lots of unexpected surprises throughout the book. The story ends with a spectacular courtroom resolution and the denouement was ultimately satisfying. I read quite a lot of courtroom related stories, but this truly is as real as it gets without it actually being a genuine case. I can't help but wonder if some of his stories are based upon the authors real experiences courtesy of his day job.

I love the dynamic between Dan and Jayne, they are both excellent characters - I look forward to learning more about them as individuals as well as watching their relationship evolve as the series progresses. Dan is a real good guy with an affable and likeable personality. He is tenacious, admirable and determined in his job to provide his clients with exactly what they need. I feel that there is a certain romantic chemistry between Dan and Jayne and can't wait to see if anything actually happens between them.

You will not find a better courtroom drama than this - compelling, original and beautifully written, this is a book not to be missed. I truly loved it! It deserves more than the five-stars I am able to give it.

Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I have read like mad to get my review in before the deadline but it certainly wasn't a chore because this is a brilliant legal crime thriller, It's the second book that I have read by this author so I feel I have a lot of catching up to do. I love his style of writing, there's so much going on in this book but it flows well and is easy to follow. Everything that happens leads to the last few chapters which are mind-blowing and I found myself holding my breath as the conclusion to the story unfolded. I hope that there are more books in this series as I'm sure there's a lot more that the author can do with the characters

This is a really good book which will have you hooked from the first few pages.
It’s a clever thriller which keeps you on your toes throughout the story, as you’re trying to work out who is guilty and who is innocent.
Peter Box’s blood was found at the crime scene so the prosecutor feels it’s a done deal that he’s guilty.
Dan is his lawyer but his job is made very difficult as Peter wants to remain silent and not explain himself. This frustrates Dan as he’s literally got nothing to work with.
As more information comes to light about other victims Dan and Jayne, a private investigator, realise someone else is involved in the murders, but can they prove it?
Some of this book is set in the court room but most of it is the investigation into who is the killer and it’s a great thriller.
Thanks to Zaffre and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This was an intriguing book covering the murder of a young female out on new years eve, a man was arrested for her murder but he refused to talk. Dan Grant is called to represent him and it will be his first murder trial. He hires himself an investigator after Dan's boss talks to him and then it;s like a whole bed of snakes and the accused is still staying quiet.

This is a well written story that has been researched and planned as it involves court procedures as well. Totally gripping as the story develops like a spider spins a web. Excellent

This is a definite 5 star book for me.I don't think I have read any of this author's books before and after reading this book, that is my loss.I thought this was a really captivating and clever book .You can tell the writer is a lawyer the courtroom scenes seemed to be very realistic and well written to me.I loved the main characters and the story was a cracker,I really enjoyed reading it.Thanks so much to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC.

Excellent story. Wonderful characters and plot line. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book.

I haven't ready anything before by Neil White however after reading The Darkness Around Her I can understand why he is a popular author of legal thrillers.

This book is well plotted and moves along at a decent pace. The two main characters are well sketched out and engaging. The supporting cast are all easily identifiable as well.

The story centres around why a seemingly innocent person is admitting to a murder and how this is linked to another murder where a person was wrongly convicted albeit subsequently exonerated.

The court seems, as you would expect given the author's background, are well written but not so technical that you can't follow them as a lay person.

Overall an excellent read. Thoroughly recommended.

This author is brilliant, I'm a northern girl and love how realistic the books are to the areas
This book had me engaged from page one , the relationship between dan and Jayne is love hate but there is feelings between them
They I investigate when Lizzie is found dead , she was trying to escape but it didn't end well for her
Totally recommend this book
Thanks netgalley for allowing me to read another book from one of my favourite authors