A good, solid debut from someone I think is going to be a fabulous author.

The characters are strong, interesting and have lots of potential.

The plot was harrowing and gave a real insight into DV and how it affects people.

A great book that I will have no qualms in recommending to everyone.

Looking forward to the next one.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten is an astonishing debut that I simply devoured. I am so pleased to learn that DC Maggie Jamieson will return, as the author continues to develop the character in a series. I cannot wait to see what the talented Ms Holten offers up next.

Lucy Sherwood is a probation officer with the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit, and the work hits far closer to home than anyone can imagine. Lucy herself is the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her partner, Patrick. When several known abusers in the area turn up dead, DC Maggie Jamieson leads the investigation, and is tasked with bringing a potential vigilante to justice. Is Patrick himself a possible target as a perpetrator of domestic abuse?

This is a fast-paced and addictive read that pulled me in immediately, and I was completely invested in the welfare of Lucy Sherwood. The author has done a commendable job of presenting a picture of the cycle of domestic abuse that is often unseen and inescapable. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for this ARC.

Noelle Holten's debut crime fiction certainly packs an emotionally intense punch as she takes us into the world of domestic violence, abusive relationships, dysfunctional families, and damaged individuals. Holten takes us into the lives and interior worlds of both perpetrators and victims, outlining why victims might find it so hard to leave their horrifying relationships, even when they should know better. Whilst this series is billed as the DC Maggie Jamieson series, in this book the central character really is probation officer, Lucy Sherwood, as unusually we are given an authentic picture of the probation service and its role in managing dangerous abusers. The reason why the portrayal of the probation service is so realistic is that the author has extensive experience of working within it.

Maggie has just joined the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit (DAHU) in Staffordshire, after the effects of a previous case involving Bill Raven under DI Abigail Rutherford. DAHU takes a multi-agency teamwork approach to the problematic issues surrounding abuse, and is led by DI Joseph Calleja and DS Jim Hooper. The unit includes PC Mark Fielding who liaises with and built a strong relationship with Lucy, PC Kat Everett and the new addition of criminal psychologist, Dr Kate Moloney. Apart from working with the probation office, on the team is Sharon Bairden, a advocate for victims. The police unit finds itself under overwhelming pressure as someone is murdering men with a history of abusing women, killing them in particularly gruesome and brutal ways, is there a vigilante on the loose? The only connection that emerges is that they were all being supervised Lucy, could she possibly be involved?

The narrative gives us the perspectives of a wide range of individuals, including Shell, a woman who runs a cleaning company, and Lucy's volatile, controlling and manipulative husband. Patrick Quinn. Holten's writing is skilful in creating a claustrophobic intense atmosphere, achieved primarily with the characters that she creates. She has us feeling for and rooting for Lucy working in a tough environment in trying to keep a handle on many of her terrifying clientele. The scary and menacing mind set of the abusers gives us a picture of what abusers can be like and their dangerous personalities, and just how far they will go. DAHU has teething problems in trying to make the multi-agency approach work, whilst at the same time trying to get to the bottom of who is killing abusers. This is a dark and unsettling debut, as might be expected from the subject matter, but it is never less than compulsive reading. Many thanks to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for an ARC.

Very Impressive debut Noelle certainly knows her stuff and is shown throughout the story. One hell of an addictive and gripping read ........................................Full review to follow on Blog Tour..............cant wait!

Dead Inside is the fabulous debut crime thriller from Noelle Holten. It’s the first in the series of the DC Maggie Jamieson books and based on the first book, I can’t wait to read more.

This book drew me in from the prologue. Three domestic abuse offenders are found beaten to death and Maggie and her team are on a mission to discover the killer. It appears that probation officer Lucy Sherwood has a connection to all three victims but she’s also hiding secrets of her own. This book is well written and moves at a good pace. The chapters are fairly short which I personally prefer.

It’s certainly a book to get your teeth into and one I can highly recommend. I’d rate this book 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Impulse Killer Reads and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper impulse for the opportunity to read this brilliant debut by Noelle Holden. It made an uncomfortable and thought provoking read about the impact of domestic violence and the cycle of abuse in society. The story is told from different perspectives and shows the psychological downward spiral on victims. DC Maggie James and Dr Kate Moloney look like a new partnership in the crime detecting world and I am looking forward to the next instalment! At times this novel struck me as being almost autobiographical , it is heart breaking to think how cycles of domestic abuse ruin lives and have a horrible knock on effect. It was cleverly portrayed by Noelle Holden in this entertaining and past paced novel. A great new writer to look out for.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten is her debut novel and the first in the DC Maggie Jamieson series and what a brilliant read it is.
Three men are murdered, and they all have something in common, they both have history of domestic violence and they are all connected to Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood. Lucy deals with domestic violence and is good at her job, but we learn that when she goes home, she suffers the same fate in the hands of her husband Patrick.
It’s DC Maggie Jamieson first case with the DAHU and she is investigating three men going missing only to find them ending up dead, with no sign of a struggle and a fourth one goes missing turns out to be Lucy’s husband Patrick.
Wow what a debut novel this is. You wouldn’t have guessed this is a debut. This is quality writing and is very realistic police procedural. It has a great plot with strong characters and very grim in parts. I devoured every minute of it. I love and this book and if I thought this was good, I can’t wait for the what’s instore in the next instalment. Well done Miss Holten you are going to go far.
Thank you NetGalley and Killer reads for a copy of this book.

Brilliant read, kept you guessing until the very end. Couldn't put it down! Best crime book I've read in a while, liked that its was done from different people's perspectives throughout and not just the detectives like most others. Made it feel like you were getting the whole story. Would definitely recommend.

A heartfelt telling of stories which Holten clearly knows from the inside, as her past life as a probation officer shows. I wasn't in love with the book - there were too many characters and not enough of a narrative drive - but it's clearly a book that many readers love. All best to it, and many thanks for the chance to read.

DC Maggie Jamieson investigates when three men, who abused their wives, are killed in a most gruesome way. Maggie knows that she has a killer delivering their own brand of justice. Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood works with abusers who have been placed on probation, while not dealing with her own abusive situation at home. She fears her husband, Patrick, but tries to keep the knowledge of his abuse from her family and others. She knows he was a victim of abuse and stays with him as a way to protect and care for his daughter, Siobhan, whom she loves. The police determine that the three men were all connected to Lucy…is she delivering payback to other abusive husbands? When her own husband becomes a victim, did she finally snap and kill him? A very heartbreaking and absorbing novel dealing with domestic abuse and those that are trapped in the cycle of abuse. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I’d like to thank Harper Impulse & Killer Reads and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dead Inside’ by Noelle Holten in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DC Maggie Jamieson’s first case with the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit is to discover who’s responsible for the murder of three men, all known for attacking their partners. Lucy Sherwood is a probation officer and a victim of domestic abuse from her husband Patrick, but when Patrick is also found dead Maggie needs to interview Lucy as she knew all four men.

‘Dead Inside’ is a gripping and fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from page one, through each twist and turn, trying to guess the killer from a number of suspects but unable to, until the climax which is staggering and completely unexpected. Noelle Holten uses her personal knowledge of the probation service to write a disturbing but realistic novel that feels based more on fact than fiction and it’s very hard to believe that a novel of this quality is her debut to writing. It’s an excellent story, dramatic and thought-provoking, and I was unable to put it down. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Great first novel.
The story is about domestic abuse which is a difficult subject to read about and cover and all too common in this world.
Noelle shows that she knows what she is talking about and covers the topic very well. The characters are believable and I’m looking forward to learning more about them in the next books.
There were a lot of characters introduced quite quickly at the beginning and I had to check again a couple of times who I was reading about .
I loved the short chapters that kept the book moving quickly.
Gripping, gritty and fast paced.
Great read can’t wait for the next one

'Behind closed doors you can get away with murder'

Dead Inside is the debut novel from Noelle Holten. Due for publication with Killer Reads on 31st May, it is described as ‘a dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.’ Many of you will be familiar with Noelle Holten as her alter ego, the award-winning blogger Crime Book Junkie, but now Noelle has written her first novel, the first book in this new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

Having worked as a Probation Officer for many years, Noelle brings her experiences to her debut, clearly writing about what she knows. Although the main character of this new series is DC Maggie Jamieson, it’s Probation Officer, Lucy Sherwood, who was very much centre stage for me. Working daily with the perpetrators of one of the most heinous of crimes, domestic abuse, Lucy uses all her wits to maintain a tough exterior. One of the many aspects of her job is to liaise with the police, especially if anything suspicious arises, but Lucy is harbouring her own terrible secret, one that she keeps very close to herself at all times.

A new team has been established within the police force, the DAHU, with their sole concentration focused on domestic abuse and homicide cases. DC Maggie Jamieson is now a member of this team, along with lots of other ‘familiar’ names. (If you are a book blogger you may recognise a few! I will admit that I did find the over-familiarity of these characters names a little distracting as I was visualising these bloggers in their ‘new roles’, but that is very much my own issue.) The chapters are very short, introducing lots of new faces who will obviously all play a role in this series going forward, so I would suggest you focus on who’s who. But, as a result of this style, the novel moves at a breakneck speed.

Noelle Holten doesn’t shy away from the subject matter in hand. Domestic violence is horrific with both the emotional and physical abuse extremely traumatic for the women involved but also for their families. It can be hard to watch a loved one being subjected to this abuse, but what would you do? How far would you be willing to go to make it stop?

Dead Inside is an excellent title describing the enormity of the impact domestic abuse has on a woman.

‘Once silky, her hair was now a greasy mess – always pulled back in a bun or ponytail. Eyes that previously held a mischievous sparkle, were dull and puffy. Looking herself up and down, she saw an overweight, frumpy woman who chose oversized jumpers and cheap trousers to hide her body and make herself less attractive’>

That paragraph carries so much pain as we see a woman who is now a shadow of her former self…a woman living in fear.

Dead Inside is a tense and fast-paced tale. As the death count increases Maggie and her team are faced with a tough challenge. They need to find out who is carrying out these crimes, and fast, before hysteria breaks out that a possible serial killer is at large. Is it the work of a vigilante or someone with a more personal vendetta who is carrying out these murderous crimes?

As a reader we are present at more than one of these violent scenes and we get an insight into the thoughts of the victim, the abuser, as their life slips away – an interesting angle. Noelle Holten creates very real characters, with their language at times very blunt, very rough and, frequently, very derogatory, all adding to the authenticity of the story.

Noelle Holten is one to watch folks. Her passion for books across all genre, but in particular crime, is evident and she is a great advocate for the literary world. Dead Inside is an impressive debut with some shocking scenes and, unfortunately, some very believable characters. It’s a great launch pad for DC Maggie Jamieson and the DAHU unit. Dead Wrong, Book 2, in the series is due for release in November 2019, so you just might want to be part of the action now!

Fantastic debut from Noelle Holten. This is one of those very special books that comes along when you least expect it and completely blows you away. Wow! It really is amazing. It is fast paced, with lots going on, but it all fits together perfectly. The characters are strong and believable, especially Lucy who I can personally relate to. I tend to stay away from domestic violence themes, but Noelle hasn’t used it for shock value. It’s written beautifully in a way that really understands D.V. victims and the perpetrators. D.C. Maggie Jamieson is very impressive and I can’t wait to see her character develop. I thought I knew who the murderer was around half way through but, of course I was completely wrong!
Dead Inside is a breath of fresh air in the world of crime fiction. I can’t fault it in any way. Well done FIVE STARS from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Noelle Holten

While the characters were well-written, credible, and emotively-charged as in victim/abuser/police/probation officer roles, I'm afraid that I guessed very early on in the book who the killer was, and the ending was of no surprise to me.

Having said that, it's a novel that covers a very sensitive subject, and well done to the author for being confident enough to do that, particularly in her debut. As someone who was a 'cover the bruises with make-up' artist for a friend and workmate who was being used as a punch bag and raped almost on a daily basis, the mindsets of the victims and abusers rang so true to me. It actually brought back very bad memories.

It's clear that the author's work experience and research were used in full. The moral of the story? You can never tell what's going on behind closed doors, however if you have proof, do something about it.

My thanks to the author, the publishers, and NetGalley for the chance to read an ARC. I chose this book from a selection at NetGalley. I voluntarily read and honestly reviewed it, and all opinions are my own.

This novel is the first in the Maggie Jamieson Crime Thriller series and it is the stunning debut novel of Noelle Holten, better known to the blogging community as Crime Book Junkie, a well-respected reviewer with a preference for the Crime Thriller genre. Once a long-serving Probation Officer, Noelle brings talent and authenticity to her writing and uses short snappy sentences and chapters to express the urgent nature of a Police Procedural Crime Novel. Oozing with talent, and with fabulous writing skills, Noelle introduces us to her two main characters.
DC Maggie Jamieson leads a specialist team of police detectives in a new and prestigious unit. She is hunting down a prolific serial killer who has chosen the first three victims, all with criminal histories of terrifying, demeaning and violent domestic abuse. They have more than that in common though. They are all in the care of Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood, who specialises in handling and monitoring domestic violence perpetrators who offend within their personal relationships; violence usually carried out against their vulnerable partners. They are manipulative liars who can be charming, but soon show their leopard-like spots. Lucy is the second main character in this intriguing story. Her partner is Patrick, who has brought his two children into their family, both of whom have already witnessed domestic violence and Lucy cherishes them, knowing that Patrick is looking for a loving and nurturing home for his adored but traumatised children.
The fast-paced story continues with a frantic and exhausting police investigation. The team must crack this case, and quickly. The murderer is keeping a few steps ahead of them and the crimes are carefully planned and meticulously executed, with few clues to chase up. When a fourth murder is committed, with startling differences to the first three, it begins to look as though Lucy may be under suspicion. Maggie must work with even more urgency because she cannot believe Lucy would do such a thing and she doesn’t want to send her innocent colleague to gaol. But could it be that Maggie is wrong and her suspect is standing in clear view? Only time and talent separates these two scenarios.
This gripping and accomplished novel has it all; thrills and spills-a-plenty, fabulous storyline, multiple characters all with different agendas, and includes graphic scenes of abuse, dark secrets, fear, rape, adultery verses loyalty and evil, odious, unforgiving, manipulation. I cannot wait until the second novel called ‘The Other Killer’ is published, but I do know that it is available to pre-order already. It’s a definite addition for my wish list! So a blogger becomes an authoritative author and I’m so glad that I was accepted to review this debut novel, received through NetGalley and from publisher Killer Reads. Thank you very much for my copy sent in return for a well-considered review. There is no doubt at all in my mind that this will be a massive literary hit when it is published on 31st May. It’s a well-earned 4.5* review from me. Welcome to the club Noelle.

So. This is interesting. A book I have been looking forward to reading from a long time from an author I know relatively well and someone whose journey from blogger to published author I have been following. It makes it both a great and also scary prospect when you sit down to read as it becomes a question of what happens if you don't enjoy the story and, if I do, will people even believe what I have to say about the book anyway? I could lie and say I've never heard of Noelle's blog, but blogging is a very small world, made smaller by the power of social media, and to say we've never met would be a lie as the photographic evidence is there all over the tinterweb.

Well - thankfully I don't have to worry about the first half of that question as this is a book that had me hooked from the start, a book that I literally tore through finishing in a few hours. With Dead Inside, Noelle Holten has created a world which brings together the many facets of a police investigation, and all of the agencies who are integral to solving crimes. Many of them are typically overlooked in favour of the common or garden Police Detective, the lads and lasses with the warrant cards etc who do the digging, the plodding and the arresting and make life generally difficult for the bad guys. There inclusion in Dead Inside adds a new and interesting perspective to the book, giving it a sense of authenticity which is then backed up by an entertaining and engrossing plot.

The basic premise is clear from the blurb, so I don't need to go far into the plot itself. Whilst this is billed as a Maggie Jamieson story, and Maggie, the main Detective in this novel, will join us throughout the series, this is really Lucy's story. Lucy is a probation officer, one who has ties, sometimes tenuous, to domestic abusers and sex offenders, some of whom find themselves on the receiving end of some pretty rough, and ultimately deadly, justice. Needless to say that despite her job and her links to the police, the commonality between the deceased and Lucy as their PO is just too obvious to be ignored. But is Lucy a murderer or a victim?

Well, you're going to have to read the book to find out. I really liked the way in which the author set up the characters in the book, particularly in creating the complex domestic situation which Lucy found herself in. She has captured that feeling of isolation and resignation that defines so many victims of abuse, and the way in which an abuser can turn on a dime. Charming to friends one minute, wielding his fists or his tongue the next to his spouse or partner. You could feel the helplessness, the sense of defeat which Lucy experienced, but also the ultimate strength she had within her to face these types of people every day in her job and not crumble. This is where the author's own experience as a Probation Officer shines through as the scenes between Lucy and her assigned offenders, and also between Lucy and her colleagues, including the police, felt very real and believable. And Lucy is a very human character, with all the typical flaws and attributes that we can recognise, including an overwhelming sense of protection for her husband's children. Very noble, very sincere, very likely to be the cause of her undoing.

There are a lot of characters to get to know in this book, many of them we will no doubt meet again in other investigations. They were all diverse, capturing the true nature of people from all walks of life. Some were easy to like, Maggie and Lucy being chief amongst them. Psychologist Kate Moloney was an interesting introduction to the team, but we're really only just getting to know her in book one so I'm intrigued to see how the character is developed in the following books. Now there may be some very familiar names amongst the characters for some readers, but many are placed in very unfamiliar settings and situations so while it will likely make some people smile, there may be a few surprises in store for you too.

As for the killer - well, their identity is cleverly woven into the story and if you keep your wits about you there are enough clues for it to become apparent before the end, but also enough red herrings to keep even the most intrepid Miss Marple/Hercule Poirot on their toes. What I can say is that this book kept me turning pages all afternoon - I only stopped reading for a quick bite to eat - and in a year where I am struggling to focus on reading for more than a few minutes at a time, that is no small feat.

For me the author pitched this book just right. this isn't a book which trivialises abuse, and the victims of the abusers are portrayed in a very sensitive way, contrasting against the increasingly aggressive manner in which the abusers meet their ends. The author's love for all things crime fiction shines through in a compelling narrative, and I'm sure that it's just the first in what will be a very popular and successful series. And if you want to get ahead of the curve then book two, Dead Wrong, is already available for pre-order. I personally can't wait to see what Maggie and co get up to next as the ending of this book promised something very exciting to come.

A compelling, wonderfully layered, entertaining and occasionally quite emotive story that crime fiction lovers are going to eat up. Nice one Noelle. More please.

The first of what is to be a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson, this focuses more on another character, Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood who works with domestic abusers. When three abusers with whom she has had contact are brutally murdered, questions arise. When a fourth, who happens to be her husband, is killed, Lucy is arrested.

A debut novel, this is well written and gives disturbing insight into the savage world of abusers and their victims. Although the outcome is somewhat predictable, the story is engrossing and well paced.

The story concludes with a hint of what is to come in the next in the series. While Lucy and many of the other characters are well developed, Maggie is not. I hope this will be addressed in Book #2.

I find it hard to believe this is a debut novel. I know Noelle and a charming lady she is. How can this charming lady have such a twisted mind? I heard her read the prologue at an event in Edinburgh, Knew she had and that I would need to read this book! A great read that blurs the lines and shows Noelle to be an author to watch out for in the future. I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

An excellent debut thriller, fast paced, a gripping read and an exciting page turner which is very well written with descriptive characters.

Well done Noelle, I look forward to reading more from you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Impulse Killer Reads for giving me the opportunity to read this book.