I normally love Paul Finch’s work but this one wasn’t a massive hit for me. Part of it was because the constantly switching between past (a couple of weeks) and present was a bit confusing to start with. The other thing was I really didn’t like the main characters, well apart from Elliot and Harriet. I found Lynda really annoying and her husband was even worse. Then her partner and her boss were also pretty unlikable so it was difficult to connect to the story. The actual crime and the criminal underworld was interesting but the characters made it hard to enjoy.

Wow ! What a roller coaster of a read! It kept me gripped from the first page to the last ! I love this author as every book he writes has you wanting to read ‘one more chapter’ ! Told in the past and the present which comes together in one great finale !
Highly recommend this book 📚

A fast paced &:gripping read this is one book that will keep you at the edge of your seat. It grabs your attention from day one & the plot never gets boring or predictable. i look forward to more from this author.

I am a HUGE Paul Finch fan especially the Heck series and don’t mind admitting I was a little disappointed that this was a standalone, however I was positive it would still be a great book, and although I was correct….it IS a good book, it doesn’t (in my opinion) come close to either of his other series)!

DS Lynda Hagan was not somebody I gelled with immediately, but thankfully that changed after maybe ten chapters or so. Lynda is a copper and she works within the accident unit, not exactly themost exciting element of policing! However when a crash happens they realise the circumstances make it very interesting indeed. A man and a woman, no ID, fake plates and a lot of cash.

The story splits between Lynda investigating after the crash, and Elliot the main character telling his story in the lead up to the crash. This element of the story I enjoyed as it’s very puzzle like in its layout. However for some reason Lynda just irritated me…a lot!

The storyline certainly picks up the pace around the halfway mark, and in truth I couldn’t help thinking it would make a great movie. However, even though I enjoyed this book, I felt like it was slow in parts and I just didn’t care enough for the characters.This may seem like a harsh rating, but I cannot help but compare it to one of my favourite series and this makes my expectations way too high I think. Overall a good read, just not one of my favourites by Paul Finch

Another great read from this author
The plot and pace is good and it's well written with a fair few twists and a good ending. A solid read.

A good thriller and worth the read. Enjoyed finding out the back story. Would recommend to other people.

Loved this book couldn't wait to read it. Who'd have thought an ex racing driver Wade and his ex stripper wife Harriett would become embroiled with gangs but unfortunately they do and end up fighting for their lives. Would love a what happened next book as a follow up, are they left alone to live happily ever after?

One Eye Open certainly lives up to its billing in terms of action and adrenaline. The basic story involves London and Essex gangs; an armed robbery; blackmail; some murderous encounters between various gang members and between gang members and the police; and a steady determined pursuit of the truth by an Essex Traffic Police Sergeant. Strengths of the writing include descriptions of various car chases; a clever use of two timelines; and the steady escalating tension as the story developed. Less successful aspects, for this reader at least, related to the rather elastic stretching of plausibility perhaps a little too far here and there and some limited character development.
Notwithstanding these odd slightly critical comments this is a book that demands a swift read so that the reader keeps pace with the developing drama. It is unlikely to disappoint those readers looking for fast-paced action, especially if they like portions of heavy violence thrown in for good measure.

I really enjoyed reading this book!
The writing was impressive and the character development was superb.
This was a very intriguing crime procedural, I just wish it was not a stand alone. I would love to see a series with
DS Lynda Hagen, she is one tough detective. I was hooked by the very first page, the story just flowed through my finger tips. I am a sucker for a novel with a strong, flawed, no nonsense, female lead.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#oneeyeopen

I’ve read all the authors previous books and looked forward to this new standalone. It was an easy read and I enjoyed it.
The main protagonist is DI Lynda Hagen and she’s a traffic cop investigating collisions whereas her husband was a major crimes copper. Lynda comes across a case that allows her to challenge her abilities. The characters in this particularly the ‘bad guys’ were great. The story kept me entertained and I liked the eventual conclusion.
Thanks to Orion and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#OneEyeOpen #NetGalley

The action in this book starts right at the beginning and just builds from there. The story is well told and switches between 2 timelines building up a picture of what has happened. Good characters and a good plot which has some interesting turns.

This was the first time I have read any books by Paul Finch, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the experience!
The two main arms of the story take place in two different time frames before merging together, starting with the discovery by a dog walker of an apparent accidental car crash with unidentified victims and a lot of cash lying around.
The characters of DS Lynda Hagen and Elliott are both well developed, and you feel sympathy for both in different ways.
The planning of the heist was well written – I kept picturing Michael Caine hidden in there somewhere! The nerves and pressure felt by all of those involved was clear and the controlled nature of the criminal underworld made you feel admiration, desperation and disappointment for those who felt this ‘career’ was their best option.
Gradually the two strands of the story catch up with each other, and the move towards the ending sets off the thrills all over again.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would love to now read more by Paul Finch.
Many thanks to Orion, NetGalley and Paul Finch for the ARC in return for an unbiased review.

A roller coaster of a read that keeps the reader in suspense and make it difficult to put down. Not sure how in real life , crash investigation police would have been allowed as much leeway but police corruption is believable , sadly

With a By-line of “If The Lies Don’t Kill You. The Truth Will”. It already is attention grabbing.
One Eye Open is vivid and bold from the first word in this stand-alone book. No hanging around, the action begins within the first 4 sentences. It’s a fast-paced, immersive and gritty read. It shows that the lines can be blurred and nothing is as black and white as it may first seem.
It begins on Monday, 6th January. It is as far removed from any Monday I know. It isn’t a Monday anyone would wish to have at all. Blood isn’t what Alan anticipated when he started his day. All he wanted to do was set off with the dog he didn’t see too much. The opening chapter would get any reader sitting up and taking notice.

Lynda, is a police officer with Essex Police in CID, isn’t having the best Monday morning either, but better and more normal than Alan’s. Her children don’t want to start school again (let’s face it, staff don’t always want to either), for the spring term. It also isn’t good news on the traffic reports, which then gets her involved in a case with Detective Constable Clive Atkins, as Chief Superintendent Templeton looks on and applies the pressure to get traffic and the case moving alone from the mysterious incident, which leads onto a bigger crime scene than was anticipated and readers are plunged into a very gritty and gripping plot.

The book goes between January, with the case and December where readers meet Elliot Wade and the atmosphere feels darker as he is introduced to Ray Lonegon and some pretty fancy, expensive cars, which Elliot test drives. If you fancy burning some rubber in fast cars, these parts would definitely interest you. It isn’t all about posh cars though, there is the crime that and the family side in what unfolds to be very slick writing indeed, that takes readers also into quite the underworld. It is well-written, going between what the police are doing and the criminals. The tone also changes accordingly as everything builds up to create the bigger picture as it is a case of quite some magnitude that needs to be solved, which excites and intrigues as it takes you in deeper into this criminal world, which is masterfully written from beginning to end.

The domestic and work life are all intertwined to some extent, which works so well. It gives a deeper understanding of the characters. Don and Lynda have a stormy time in their marriage, over the effects of that work/life balance, something I am sure many people can understand. As the book unfolds, there is a realism to it all that does make it relatable. The way domestic and professional lives connect is done expertly, making it such a full dimensional story.

I highly recommend this book. It’s an incredibly good and impressively captivating and vivid stand-alone book.

I loved this. A fantastic police procedural. Narrated from two POV - DS Lynda Hagen and an ex racing driver Elliot Wade who definitely finds himself “in” too deep! Plenty tension, short chapters (late nights, just one more.....), great characters and all wraps up nicely in an action packed ending. I’ve read other Paul Finch novels and loved them too. I think this is currently a standalone book but I’m hoping it’s the start of a new series as I would like to know more about DS Hagen.

An excellent thriller, gripping and fast paced. I loved the plot full of twists and turns, the well thought and interesting characters, and the solid plot that kept me hooked.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
It's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

A great story with lots of drama and twists to keep you enthralled through out. Hard to put down and always wondering who is straight and who is corrupt

A dog walker finds the wreck of a car that has come off the road and careered down a bank, with two people inside. Thus begins an exciting and fast-paced story about organised crime, with villains everywhere.

DS Lynda Hagen picks up the case originally, as it fell to the Traffic Unit as a standard accident, but her police instincts are strong and she becomes more and more convinced there was more to this accident than first appeared. The trail soon leads her to the grimy underworld of crime.

Well written, pacy and a great read - I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This certainly was a roller coaster ride from beginning to end. We are immersed in the lives of the criminal fraternity as well as local Police. The pace never lets up. At various times I thought the book must be nearly finished, what more can happen in the last few chapters but new revelations appeared. It must have taken the author a very long time to work out the logistics of this complicated plot never mind creating numerous scenes in every camp with either Lynda, Don, Elliot and Harri, not to mention the Nabooths and Ray Lonnegan. I'm sure there are aspects of truth in the cut throat lives of the criminal unerworld explored here. .An excellent book, perhaps a mite too long but definitely a winner.

Really enjoyed this book with a strong female leader and plenty of twists and turns to want you to keep reading.to see what would happen next. Definitely recommend this.