First book I’ve read by this author but won’t be the last. Loved the writing style & would recommend this book to anyone.

Loved this book! I'm a huge fan of Mari Hannah and everyone of her books draws me further into the series. I just love her descriptions of the people and places and I find myself embroiled in the storyline trying to figure out the end. Can't wait for the next!

A young man is stabbed to death in Newcastle city centre. When D S Frankie Oliver arrives at the scene she's horrified to recognise the victim, Chris Adams; they grew up together. Chris was a journalist and it appears he was working on a story linked to a woman who disappeared over a year ago. The investigation leads to a high end nursing home and puts those close to Frankie and DI David Stone in danger. Another great read in this series from Mari Hannah.

Thanks to Netgalley, Orion and Mari Hannah for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley, Publisher and the author. So pleased have found a new author with a new series with David Stone and Frankie Oliver. Great read

I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of The Scandal, the third novel to feature Newcastle based detectives DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver.

When Frankie is called out to a murder scene she is horrified to recognise the victim as her childhood friend Chris Adams. Chris is now a journalist and while his death initially looks like a robbery gone wrong interviews with friends and family imply that he was working on a story big enough to make his name and reputation.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Scandal which is an excellent police procedural that held my attention from start to finish. The novel starts with a woman called Nancy fleeing in terror from someone following her. She has a secret but no details are given about it or her fate and with that I was hooked. I wanted to know these answers but mostly I was hooked by her terror which is so well described I found myself tensing in anticipation of what was coming, just as she did. It is not until much later in the novel that these questions are answered but she never left my mind after the powerful opening chapter. In the meantime Stone and Oliver are investigating the murder of Chris Adams. This is equally absorbing as they build a case from scratch, no witnesses, little in the way of forensics and no clear cut motive. Just the way I like my procedurals. The novel is well paced, reflecting the team’s doggedness and initial despondency as information is slow to materialise and building to a crescendo as everything comes together. There is never a dull moment.

The plotting is meticulous, tight and logical making for a good, realistic read but it is only half the story as the strong characterisation plays an equal part. The novel is mostly told from Frankie Oliver’s point of view and she has a distinctive voice. She is a dedicated detective with a big heart (which she mostly wears on her sleeve) and apparently no life outside her job. She is close to David Stone but they have some ding dong battles in this novel, neither afraid to say what they think. It makes for some tense scenes which I lived along with Frankie. She is that kind of character, easy to like and identify with. Stone serves as a foil.

The Scandal is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

A very enjoyable read! I was very interested in getting my hands on this one after I read the blurb and I am pleased to say that I was not let down.

The story is written very well and the characters are interesting and jump off the page. I would recommend this read!

Good cast of characters,excellent topical story.Lots of issues dealt with in this story and hopefully more of Stone and Oliver to come.

Mari Hannah creates vibrant and realistic characters and her books are hard to put down. Oliver and Stone are an indomitable team and I can’t wait to read the rest in the series. A really good read.

The third and hopefully not the last of the Stone and Oliver books! This one is more personal for Frankie and delves deep into her older friendships and acquaintances around the city. When someone who she knew in childhood dies, things get very personal and it's a tricky case for this reason from the start.

The setting is of course what makes this series stand out. It's where I grew up and so know each and everyplace mentioned very well indeed. I have to say that I haven't been to the many bars and restaurants in the book so that might be something I do in the future in the name of booktrailing of course. There's a;ways that little bit of history sprinkled into the plot to make it even more evocative. You can tell the author loves the region and researches it very well indeed.

The characters and the plot are very strong indeed. I got a much closer picture of Frankie especially in this book since the case is so close to home. Her relationship with David goes through the ringer here and it took their relationship to new levels of intrigue for me. I do hope they continue so I can find out more!

The case under investigation is interesting since the victim was a journalist and was suspected of working on something outside of work. Well that got me interested straight away. Talk about intrigue! This steps up and is hard hitting. Emotional too as the plight of the homeless come to light. The investigation is complex and sensitive but Mari handles it with care and just enough explanation to guide you along. You , the reader, are part of the investigation and her easy manner of explanation of procedure and investigation makes this a joy to read.

Another great read from Mari. Always excited to see what she comes up with next!

Third in the Stone and Oliver series. Frankie attends a murder scene in Newcastle, a man has been stabbed to death, unfortunately Frankie knows the victim since childhood. It looks like a robbery gone wrong, however when they discover the victim is a journalist and has uncovered a big story, Stone and Oliver suspect that there is more to this case.

Mari continues to go from strength to strength, there is so much more bubbling away in this great crime series set in and around Newcastle. If you are looking for a procedural crime series, characters that leap off the page, a sense of place and a plot that keeps you reading until the final page, then this is the series for you.

Firstly thank you to Orion Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of this book. I am a huge fan of Mari Hannah and each book published is well worth waiting for. This is the third in the series featuring DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver and is an absolute belter of a book. It is fast paced, full of twists and turns and I went through every emotion possible whilst reading this story. The team are tasked with investigating the death of a young crime journalist and it hits very close to home to one member of the team. Mari Hannah's books are an absolute joy to read and her attention to detail is second to none. You can just tell that everything is meticulously researched and she explains things regarding police procedure etc in such a way it is easy to follow. I have decided that all her books should come with a government health warning as you get so wrapped up in them, time flies by and you forget to eat and sleep saying one more chapter, one more chapter!!!!!
I sincerely hope we get to see Stone and Oliver in another book as they thoroughly deserve another outing. I have no hesitation in recommending this book. Top class all the way. I just wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Mari Hannah's Kate Daniels series was excellent but, if anything, this is even better. This is the third in her new series featuring David Stone and Frankie Oliver and this time it's personal! When a childhood friend of Frankie's is murdered, she finds it hard to keep it together, and her relationship with her DI is strained to the limit. Both Northumberland and the principal characters are beautifully drawn and the story grips from the very beginning. A real treat!