An excellent and compelling read, with many twists and turns. I particularly liked Con, the female lead character, and there were several other good characters - including the baddies and a rather sweet cat.

As the story unfolds, the plot moves between locations several times, and as Con is pursued by dark forces, I found myself feeling hunted too - good, atmospheric writing.

I haven't read anything by this author before - I understand he's written a series of rather successful crime novels with a different lead character, and will now be seeking out those books! Looking forward to the next in this series too.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for my honest review.

#NoTimeToCry #NetGalley This is the first book that I have read by James Oswald - not having read any of the McLean series - and not sure if this was a good or a bad thing but at least I came into this with an open mind! I love being in at the beginning of a new Detective series and on first introduction I really warmed to DC Constance Fairchild. The book is fast paced with two storylines going on that are inevitably interlinked. I enjoyed the fact that it was not entirely set in London but wished there could have been more time spent in Scotland. A great read that kept me page turning late into the night. What stops me giving a full five stars is that, for me at least, the links between the evil Roger De V and the corrupt higher echelons of the Met seemed at times unbelievable - but maybe that's me being naïve!! I also didn't care for the supernatural element although Con was quick to acknowledge it as her grief talking. I found the brief insert of Madam Rose a little unclear and felt that maybe more should have been made of this character - she appeared to know what was going on but there was nothing to wrap up the connection at the end of the book. Regardless, I shall look forward to reading more books in this series.

This is a brilliant read. Loads of action and suspense and a good complicated plot. I was gripped from the start. James Oswald definitely knows how to write a really good thriller. I hope there are more books about Con to come.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A tense and fast paced thriller that keeps you reading long into the night. ‘No Time to Cry’ is the first in a brand new series that introduces DC Constance Fairchild, who is a fascinating character that I couldn’t help but warm to right from the very start.

With a strong cast of characters and a storyline with many twists and turns along the way, this book sweeps you along on an exhilarating rollercoaster of a journey that makes your heart race and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final page has been turned.

‘No Time to Cry’ is very different to James Oswald’s DI Tony McLean series, but is every bit as enjoyable. I’m looking forward to seeing where this new series will take us in the future and can’t wait to see more of DC Con Fairchild.

A thrilling and heart pounding 5 stars.

This review will also be posted on my blog closer to publication date.

Whatever the time, whatever you are doing, you have to read just another page.

James Oswald is perhaps best known for his Inspector McLean series for which he has received many plaudits. “No Time To Cry” is the first in a new series featuring DC Constance Fairchild. If this crime thriller is anything to go by, he has another success on his hands.

Detective Inspector Peter (Pete) Copperthwaite is working undercover. He and Con have worked very closely together for several years, and Con is his first point of contact should things go wrong. Fairchild has received a text from him which takes her to their undercover site to meet up with him. What she finds there will change her life and open a can of worms which will endanger both her and her family.

The action in the book revolves around London although forays to Northamptonshire and Scotland add interest and variety to the landscape - a contrast to the dirt and grime, both actual and metaphorical, to be found in the Smoke. The strength of the female characters shines through, and it is only on reflection that I realise that most of the male characters are “baddies”, and most of the “good guys” are female. Yet the author has managed to do this without a single nod to either women’s lib or any kind of political correctness - quite a feat.

The author really knows his stuff, and it’s clear that his craft has been honed in his earlier books. If this novel is anything to go by, this will be a great series and one to look out for in future.

mr zorg

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

Great new series from this author. Completely different from the other series, but just as good. Looking forward to more in this series.
Would highly recommend this book 5 stars

Book Review: James Oswald's No Time To Cry (First in his brand new series with the protagonist Constance Fairchild)
The Blurb
Undercover ops are always dangerous, but DC Constance Fairchild never expected things to go this wrong.
Returning to their base of operations, an anonymous office in a shabby neighbourhood, she finds the bloodied body of her boss, and friend, DI Pete Copperthwaite. He's been executed - a single shot to the head.
In the aftermath, it seems someone in the Met is determined to make sure that blame for the wrecked operation falls squarely on Con's shoulders. She is cut loose and cast out, angry and alone with her grief... right until the moment someone also tries to put a bullet through her head.
There's no place to hide, and no time to cry.

So let me introduce you to James Oswald's new lead character. Her name is Constance (Con to her friends but never Connie) Fairchild and she has a raft of demons from her own past to come to terms with but the murder of her firend Pete has left her bereft. The biggest issue at the moment is the fact that she has just discovered her boss and mentor murdered in an undercover operation gone badly wrong. Constance is immediately under suspicion and the entire team turn against her. From a monied background, Connie is estranged from her parents, dismissive of her brother and has only one true ally - her aunt. Con is gutsy, outspoken and brave. She has an innate sense of justice that is not sugary sweet or piously annoying. Her vulnerability makes her stronger (although she may not admit it), her personal experiences make her empathetic and her ability to divorce her loyalties from the 'job' make her interesting. I think Oswald has done a cracking job in creating this new character. After so many McLean books, it must be hard to swing a new character past your existing readers but I think he's pulled it off with bells on.

The plot was deliciously twisty with Con facing enemies from within and outwith the police. As the story progresses we find out more and more about Con and as this impacts on her investigation into her mentor's death we see her tenacity, loyalty and vulnerability.The plot is fast paced and takes us the length and breadth of the country, which again appeals to me. nothing like a bit of Scotland in a novel to bring out the homesickness ... and the bagpipes - (only joking about that last bit). Th gradual unraveling of the storylines had me gripped. The combination of Con's grief, past occurrences and the immediacy of having to react instantaneously were compelling.

So what did I like most about No Time To Cry?

Con herself was a massive draw for me. Oswald employed just the right amount of brush strokes throughout the novel to keep us invested in finding out more about her. He wasn't scared to show her vulnerability which made her all the more authentic. Through her interactions with subsidiary characters we were privy to insights into her character.

I also loved the fact that Oswald included a smidgen of 'supernatural' throughout the book. I loved that about the McLean books and although it is less obvious in No Time To Cry, the addition of 'sixth sense' stuff is skillfully inserted. By the way, if you're a McLean fan then you're in for a treat as one of my favourite characters from the series makes a wee appearance in No Time To Cry.

So - toddle off an buy it (the link is above) you'll love it!

Loved this book couldn’t put it down. Detective story that has a different slant on it. I’m not usually someone who enjoys stories with “ghosts” involved, however this is written so well that an odd visit by a ghost works. Feel this book is really well written, a complex story but easy to follow. The differing perspectives of the characters is interesting and leaves the reader guessing about who did what. Great read thank you.

I'm completely ashamed to say that this is my first book by this author. Quite how I haven't crossed paths with such an accomplished crime writer before eludes me!

DC Constance Fairchild - Con to her friends - is a behind the scenes support on an undercover operation. When she follows up a message to go to the office set up for this purpose, she finds the body of her boss, Pete. What follows next is astonishing, amazing and quite different to anything I've come across before!

According to the extra details provided by the author, he usually writes crime series (and you can be sure I'll be going looking) and this is a new venture. I'm full of hope that this will turn into another series as Con is a very brave and charismatic character who I really took to. I'd love to know what she does next. She's savvy, capable and has a very enquiring mind. The characters are skilfully created and true to life. The writing in this novel is terrific, drawing in the reader until you realise you've been racing through the pages and getting in deeper and deeper all the time. Not an obvious outcome by any means, but certainly a very satisfactory one with no loose ends to annoy. A superb read, and one I recommend wholeheartedly.

My thanks to publishers Wildfire for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Va Va Voom! There's a new kid in town and her name is DC Constance Fairchild and I can see her shoot right up the ladder of #TopFemaleDetectives after reading this belter of a novel from James Oswald. This is a new series for this author and he certainly starts this one with a bang! Undercover Detective Con finds her DI brutally murdered at the site of an undercover investigation they were leading. She is devasted but it seems like there are a whole host of officials pointing the blame firmly at her door. Suspended from duty and with nobody to back her up Con soon finds herself at the centre of an investigation of her own. Will Con be able to find out what really happened or is she destined to go the same way as her DI?

This was one of those reads that I struggled to put down to deal with the "adulting" that non reading life demands! I was hooked, engrossed and totally immersed in the read right from the start. James Oswald created a host of characters so believable and intriguing that I found myself completely caught up in Con's life. She is not the usual hard bitten Met Detective, her background is a little bit different than most and it earned her few friends on the job. She was a real multi-dimensional character who demanded my attention and intrigue and she got it in buckets!

Con is, of course, the main protagonist of the novel but she is supported with a cast of fascinating characters, the good guys and the bad guys! Too many to mention but the father of an old school friend De Villiers is one that I will save my venom for in this review. What a wonderful talent the author has to develop and bring to life the bad guys in such a way that you are on the edge of your seat the whole time you are reading. Watching this plot unfold was like watching something magical happen in front of me. While I don't want to say anything about it #NoSpoilers it was sheer genius that married up each little storyline and bringing them together to create a heart-racing read like this one!

Oswald provides the reader with a distinctive #killerhook in No Time to Cry and it really does work and it works well! Am I going to tell you what it is, not a chance, you will just have to read it and find out for yourself! Just take heed of my warning: once you pick up this book abandon all plans for the rest of the day as it is going to be firmly glued to your fingers until you are done!

this will be on my blog nearer publication date

Couldnt seem to get into this book, for no particular reason, and gave up reading it after a few chapters.

I have to say that having read the Inspector McLean series I went into this new series with a new lead character with slight trepidation but need not have worried as a good author is always a good author.

This book is about a female undercover officer in the met, DC Constance (Con) Fairchild. It follows her story and is read in the first person through her. It starts with her undercover op going awry as her boss on the op is killed and she finds him. Pulled from the case and now under suspicion of possibly being bent and involved with her bosses death she gets drawn into her friends missing sister case to fill her time. Eventually we all come back to the original op.

This is undoubtedly a well written book that has you feeling for some characters and hating others as Oswald makes his characters loom large in front of you. You follow Con on what is a roller coaster of a ride through her disbelief in being suspended, through helping her friend while trying to pull together in her mind and then actions, that she needs to sort out her bosses death.

It is a really good read and keeps you enthralled throughout and in Con Fairchild we now have another great character to read and follow. I also loved the little shout out to his McLean novels when Rose turns up at the highland cottage of DC Fairchild's Aunt.

This was the first book I had read by Jane’s Oswald, and it won’t be the last. I enjoyed the story, though it was at times a little far fetched, and the slightly supernatural element was unexpected. It did seem unlikely that a lowly DC could crack the tight ring of high level criminality and corruption that she found herself enmeshed in, with only the ghost of her murdered colleague to help her. The characterisation was excellent, and I liked the central character Con, although I didn’t get a sense of her being a ‘posh copper’ except when she was referred to thus in the storyline.
The story moved along at a great pace, kept me turning pages, and I was intrigued to find out how it would all be resolved. I will read more by this author, and will look forward to renewing my acquaintance with DC Con.

I never really got into this book but persevered until the end. The idea is good, so I don’t know why it didn’t do it for me.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this at first, but the story progressed with excellent characterisation and I found myself relating to Con and her predicament. The link between the corruption in the police and the evil Roger DeVillers seemed a bit tenuous but the two threads of separate stories added to the interest.

Didn’t enjoy this book as it borrows far too heavily on already-published Inspector MacLean books for plots, themes and (in the case of Madam Rose in particular), characters. Surely the higher echelons of all police forces can’t be corrupt? The attempt to emulate Randall and Hopkirk (deceased) with Pete’s ghost is not believable. Oswald also needs to research technology more - locations of mobile phones are tracked using GPS not triangulation (which was fine for World War 2) but times have moved on. More original thought and research is needed if future books are to succeed.

A fantastic read. Thoroughly enjoyed this and it is not something I would usually pick up. Will look for more from this author in future.

Brilliant book. Well written, good characters. I am looking forward to the next in the series.
This is the first book I have read by James Oswald but shall be reading other books he has written.

I wasn't really sure what to make of this book,I liked the main character,Con,but thought quite a lot of the book was unrealistic.I wanted to be more drawn into it than I was and felt as I was extremely dubious about some of the events it spoiled it some what for me.I am glad I liked the main character so much as that kept me reading but still have doubts about some of the events.I read all sorts of books but expect a book like this to be more factual , although as a reader I am aware I need to have an open mind so I am struggling some what here.I will give the book 4 stars as I did still enjoy it and think it is worth a read.thanks to the Publisher and netgalley for an ARC.

Big fan of Inspector McLean books by this author and have to admit I was a little apprehensive about his ability to write as well about a totally different main character and location setting (this one is set in London as opposed to Edinburgh). Overall whilst maybe not quite hitting the heights of the McLean series this was nonetheless an enjoyable read and sets the scene nicely for future publications featuring the main character.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for ARC to read in return for impartial review.