The Patient Man is the sixth book in the Detective Inspector Rowan Jackman and Detective Superintendent Marie Evans series set in the fictional place called Saltern-le-Fen. As with the majority of Joy's books it is possible to be read as a standalone but be prepared to start buying the back catalogue if you do as by the time you have read this you will want to know everything!
D.I Jackmans "favourite" serial killer Alistair Ashcroft returns in this particular instalment and soon starts wreaking vengeance by using the innocent villagers to taunt Jackman. Along side this there is also a number of thefts,and minor crimes that need to be dealt with. The strangest theft of all being a rifle. The question being what links it all together?
A skilfully written story, as always by Joy. That weaves a serial killer with a police procedural and makes for an action packed book that is thrilling enough to make me not want to put it down. With thanks to Joffe Books, netgalley and Joy Ellis for the copy of the book in order to take part in this brilliant blog tour.

This novel is number 6 by Joy Ellis with Detective's Roman Jackman and Marie Evans. Jackman's previous enemy Alistair Ashcroft, a serial killer is back and messing with Jackmans' and Evan's lives and work again.. Ashcroft sends a cryptic text to Marie to start the psychological games and while they try to figure out it's meaning all kinds of strange thefts are being completed in their small town. At the same time another man, Kenneth's home is broken into and the theft of guns is reported. Kenneth's daughter was killer recently by a drunk driver and Kenneth has still not come to terms with her death. Along with all this a sniper is on the lose and killing people who have a connection with Jackman. Can Marie and Jackman work together to outwit Ashcroft? Is there another person involved and does Ashcroft have an accomplice. A great race against time keeps you rapidly reading towards a satisfactory ending.

This sixth book in the excellent series featuring DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans starts with a bit of a nightmare scenario for the pair. And frankly, the two cases they quickly find themselves immersed in are really no nicer at all. Jackman is happy in his relationship with Laura Archer, the force psychologist, and is feeling more settled than in a long time. Marie is in love with her new motorbike. Of course, things don't stay quiet for long for the Fenland Constabulary police at Saltern-le-Fen. Even the local pathologist jokes that there is a body count competition between them and neighbouring Greenborough DI Nikki Galena from another hit series of books by this author. First Jackman and Evans are called to a theft of guns from the home of a local gun club owner, Kenneth Harcourt. His gun club had already been broken into that day and the poor man is still mourning the loss of his eleven year old daughter to a hit and run driver the previous year. There have been other recent and very strange petty crimes. Six pigs were stolen from a farm when many more were available, a prized stallion has disappeared from a stud farm and someone has made a complete botch up of stealing red diesel. Have they got some very inept criminals on their patch such as the Lorimer family, the Fens' answer to Shameless? Together with their very close and loyal team of DC Robbie Melton, DC Charlie Button, PC Gary Pritchard, DC Rosie Cohen and husband DC Max Cohen, they are still pondering these odd cases when Marie receives a sinister text message that throws the team into a panic. She receives a photo of herself and Jackson standing outside the police station, and the sender is none other than Alistair Ashcroft. The man's face is now known to every officer in the Fenland Constabulary after his previous murderous exploits where he made people pay a price for their sins in the name of justice. Now it appears he has been the patient man he professed to be, watching them and their collective blood runs cold as they wonder what he is coming back to do to them. No one will be safe until this man is caught and that's what they vow to do. However this is swiftly overtaken by a shooting in the town. First at the scene is PC Kevin Stoner, a very empathetic officer due to move to CID shortly. Identification of the victim soon reveals him to be one of the suspects in the death of young Kirstie Harcourt. It was a skilled piece of shooting. Could there be a link to the theft of the guns? The pace of the investigation rapidly speeds up as it looks like they have a sniper running loose around the town with Kevin in his sights in addition to the massive threat posed by the dangerous Ashcroft, both of whom are taking great delight in taunting the police whilst evading detection at every turn. And both need to be apprehended at any cost in an exciting and breathless race to the death. There are some brilliant characters in this series of books that the reader can warm to immediately, such as pathologist Professor Rory Wilkinson and his wonderfully named "Sorcerer's Apprentice" Spike. I love the humorous turns of phrase used by the author, such as "a pig in chiffon" and police dog Stan, the furry Exocet. This all serves to enhance the great feeling of caring and camaraderie within the team of detectives and makes the writing all the more enjoyable. The plot is clever and superbly delivered, the characters wonderfully described, and the scenery and setting of these books is perfect. More please!! 5*

This is a great addition to the Jackson and Evans series, as it is full of suspense and intrigue. The only complaint that I would have is that this isn't ideal as a standalone novel, as the action picks up where it left off in the previous book.

The Patient Man is the sixth instalment in the Detective Inspector Rowan Jackman and Detective Superintendent Marie Evans series set in the fictional small town of Saltern-le-Fen. I'd recommend reading the previous books beforehand as this is a direct continuation of events from those. There is probably just enough background given to allow those who can not stop themselves from wanting to dive in at book number five although you'll likely end up going back and reading from the beginning chronologically once you realise how much you enjoyed it.

Serial killer, terroriser and DI Jackman’s personal nemesis, Alistair Ashcroft, returns with nothing but vengeance on his murderous mind and so a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues between him and police dragging the ordinary peace-loving townsfolk into the melee in the process. Taunts and threats are the name of the game and if there had ever been any doubt that they were dealing with a full-blown and extremely dangerous psychopath then there certainly isn't now. As if this wasn't enough, there is also a spate of bizarre and baffling minor crimes having just begun in earnest in the immediate area. There is a string of strange thefts too: amongst the stolen items is a rifle which soon appears nursed in the arms of a ruthless and elusive sniper, but what, if anything, links the crime and/or the perpetrators?

This is a taut and tightly woven cross between a serial killer thriller and a police procedural with a plot that is high-octane, action-packed and rollicks along giving you barely a moment to catch a breath. With the whole of society at risk due to Ashcroft having a slate off, this makes for an intense and utterly riveting read from the BANG of the opening few pages, to the heart-pounding, nail-biting thrills of the closing few as the team pray to God he can't escape them, and justice, again. Some of Joy Ellis’s novels verge closer to cosy mysteries but this is one of the most thrilling and compulsive pull no punches ”full-bodied” thrillers I've picked up in ages. Unreservedly recommended. Enjoy the seemingly endless exciting and crazy ride! Palpitation-inducing in places. More, please. Many thanks to Joffe for an ARC.

What an intriguing read! The opening chapter took off like a runway train and intensified until the last page. The team having to deal and having the final show down with an insane sadists. The book was a roll coaster of ups, downs, twists and turns. Joy Ellis always delivers such intricate storytelling, you never want the story to end. It was a long awaited read, and I relishes every minute of it.
Hoping I new installment is all ready in the works!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley
#thepatientman

An excellent addition to the series. I really enjoyed getting to know a bit more about all the characters and I like the acknowledgement of the existence of the characters from Joy Ellis’ other series.

This works as a stand-alone book but treat yourself and read all the other books in the series. You won’t regret it.

The patient man by Joy Ellis.
This is DI Jackman and DS Evan's book 6. A brilliant read.
I love this series. I have read most of them and each one I loved. This one no different. Marie is my favourite. I hope there is more to come. 5*.

My thanks to Joffe, Joy Ellis and Netgalley.
I absolutely love Joy Ellis. And most of all, I have loved Jackman and Evan's. I love all her books, character's and Fens.
I was so frustrated by this book though. So much that I may have a slight clue about the ending. Only if I stop and think about it. What really annoyed me is the fact that although some people cussed, they didn't actually use cuss words.
If you say frig, because you don't want to say the F word? Don't say it at all. The word may be different, but when the intention is the same, then it's pointless.
I cuss! But, I know people who don't. Thing is that they don't substitute other words for a cuss word! I never really notice until I'm home and think to myself..huh! I cuss constantly in my reviews.. I like to think that if someone has read my profile page then they know I'm rude, crude and definitely profane!
I couldn't lose myself in the happenings in this book. I tried. I especially was looking forward to Evan's on her new bike!
Please, Ms. Ellis. Shit or get off the pot! I need true cuss words, or none at all.

One of the things I like about Joy Ellis books, is how her other series's leads are mentioned. As all her books are set on the fens her senior police officers, like DI Jackman in this one, is able to call upon DI Nikki Galena for background help. It makes it more believable, rather than a police force suddenly expanding.

Loved it, can't wait for the next Joy Ellis book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book for free. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

Alistair Ashcroft is back! He's been the most dangerous nemesis for a long, long time. He loves playing cat and mouse and this time around Detective Jackman and DC Marie Evans are just waiting to catch him in their trap.

Ashcroft is hiding, perhaps he's changed his appearance, and no one claims to have seen him, Yet he's there ....

Other cases must be investigated ... a house broken into and only two guns of many are taken. One of those guns has been linked to a previous killing, Six pigs are taken from another farm .. and a valuable thoroughbred is stolen from another. And oil from yet another. Investigation into these cases lead to a notorious local family.

A new man thisclose to his promotion is targeted by a sniper. Ashcroft has sworn to kill everyone around Jackman .... is he now taking aim at Jackman's team?

One thing for sure ... Ashcroft is roaming the streets and will not stop with one killing. And the game isn't over until Jackman and Evans are dead.

This one is well written, full of twists and turns that will keep the reader turning the pages until the very shocking, unexpected ending. Although 6th in the series, this can be read as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend starting at the very beginning. The characters are finely drawn. Set in the atmospheric Lincolnshire Fens whose towns and isolated villages hide many dark secrets.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books . Books 'n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Jackman and Marie always knew that one day their Nemisis would return. Jackman was chilled to the core when he had a horrific nightmare where his partner Marie was lying dead in front of him with blood soaking through her white uniform shirt. Alistair Ashcroft had threatened that he would be back to finish what he had started and he never broke a promise. Another brilliant read with lots of suspense.

Another compelling installment in Joy Ellis' DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans series. The Patient Man has the very patient killer Alistair Ashcroft back to finish his deadly game.

There are letters, texts, a bizarre wreathe and other taunts from Ashcroft. Strange thefts; the involvement of a sniper whose targets seem random...except that the same witness is chosen each time, causing the man psychological trauma; the unusual Lorimer family; and the general stress for all members of the team.

Ellis has the ability to bring her characters to life. From Jackman and Marie, to the members of the team, to the Lorimer family--each has the human, believable touch.

The exception is Alistair Ashcroft, who doesn't have that humanity. He is interesting, but as a psychopath, he remains out of that truly human realm. Ashcroft's background was in a previous novel--and while the circumstances of his childhood are horrific, the reality is that he is unable to genuinely connect with others, while his intelligence enables him to come across as charming when he chooses and to manipulate others in pursuance of his aims. A patient and very dangerous man.

Not my favorite in my series, but still a suspenseful and entertaining read because Joy Ellis can grab and keep my attention.

NetGalley/Joffe Books
Mystery/Thriller. June 18, 2020.

Joy Ellis is one of the best crime writers around. I absolutely love all her books, I'm particularly keen on her Fens series and the characters in them.
Joy has a knack of bringing characters to life and managing to engage you the reader into the story.
Joy has written some amazing edge of your seat reads,
The team have their hands full looking for a particularly nasty killer, the team know who thie killer is but cannot find him. Jackman and Evans are more than determined that this killer Is going to be caught.

Amazing story line and the plot drags you along so smoothly.

I love Joy Ellis books and find her style of writing engaging! This is the latest book of a series I haven’t read! This didn’t matter as the back stories of the characters made it easy to keep up and understand what had happened previously! Will now read the others in this series.

A great story line, brilliant follow up it seems Jackman and Evans arch nemesis is hopefully put to rest at last. Another great story from Joy Ellis Nikki Galena mentioned but not taking part in this investigation.

When DI Jackman and his team start getting messages from his nemesis Alistair Ashcroft it is worrying to know the murderer is back on their patch but added to this is farm thefts including a beautiful stud horse , it starts to get busy. Then a break in by someone who steals some guns and a sniper that kills apparently indiscriminately. Are these crimes entangled or is this the beginning of a crime wave. As the bodies mount up the team have more to solve until they realise they are being played.
I love the books by Joy Ellis and The Patient Man is no exception an excellent read with so many twists and turns .Well worth the read.

Another great read from Joy Ellis. The plot as always goes along at a great pace with great characters. The plots are always interesting and I can never work out how the plot will unravel. Look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and Joffre for the opportunity to review.

Salten-le-fen is being targeted .. random robberies, people being shot dead and now the team are being teased by a ruthless killer who they have failed to catch in the past

Another breathtaking read featuring Di Rowan Jackman

DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans are back in their most dangerous outing yet. While Saltern-Le-Fen is being plagued by a string of random (or not so random) robberies and PC Kevin Stoner keeps having people shot dead in front of him, Jackman and Evans are being taunted by their arch-nemesis, Alistair Ashcroft. Ashcroft is a psychotic and ruthless killer who has tangled with them before but they were unable to capture him. It seems that this time he is back to kill them. Of course the police are determined to arrest him before that can happen. But first they have to find him which is proving particularly difficult.

This was a great story. There was so much happening - so much danger and so many shootings and, and...it sounds great doesn’t it? But this time the writing just didn’t hold me captive. I have read most of Joy Ellis’s books and really recommend them. Unfortunately this one didn’t deliver enough drama and suspense for my liking. I didn’t get that bated breath and that slightly elevated pulse that normally accompany a Joy Ellis story.