Murder Among Friends by Janice Frost is the first book I have read by this author. This is the beginning of a new series featuring two leads – Jane and Stephanie. They both have a good backstory that makes them who they are. Their relationship is contentious, at best. I cannot wait to see how their relationship grows throughout the series. The plot is engrossing and fast paced with many twists and turns. I look forward to continuing to be immersed in this world created by Janice Frost.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my honest review. *****

I have been a fan of Janice’s work for a while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Murder Among Friends’, which is the start of a new series, and it certainly sounded like the kind of read I have come to expect from Janice Frost- an intriguing, fast paced, thrilling, page turner of a read. I couldn’t wait to start reading so without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for a darn good read. I absolutely loved reading ‘Murder Among Friends’ but more about that in a bit.
I loved the detective partnership that is Detective Steph Warwick and Special Constable Jane Bell. When they first meet they don’t exactly hit it off shall we say. Steph Warwick is a bit of a snob when we first meet her. She is an experienced detective who is sent to the scene of a sudden death. To say she is a tad rude to Jane Bell is an understatement. Steph seems to think that special constables are beneath her and they should know their place. Steph can be rather rude too. Special Constable Jane Bell is a woman, who is trying to do her best for the community in which she lives. She has a full time job but in her spare time she is a special constable. I get the impression that Jane would quite like to become a fully fledged police officer. Jane is far too eager for her own good at times and she tries to make herself indispensable. Jane is eager to please but at times she can come across as rather irritating.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into ‘Murder Among Friends’. In fact the synopsis was enough to draw me in and the story within the book’s covers sealed the deal as it were. I was drawn into the story from the start and it soon became clear that reading ‘Murder Among Friends’ would become a serious addiction. I was spot on too. I just couldn’t put the book down. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of the story. I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly the pages were turning. The first time I checked my reading progress, I was staggered to realise that I had read over 40% of the story in one go. I soon got to the end of the book and I had to bid farewell to Warwick and Bel.
‘Murder Among Friends’ is superbly written but then that is true of all of Janice’s books. She grabs your attention from the start and draws you into the story. Once Janice has your attention she won’t let you have it back until the moment you read the last word on the last page. For me, ‘Murder Among Friends’ was perfectly paced. The story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. This was one of those books that kept me guessing, kept me on my toes and kept my on the edge of my seat throughout. ‘Murder Among Friends’ is a tense, tightly plotted and gripping read, with several twists and turns to the story.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Murder Among Friends’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I look forward to reading more of Janice’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Jane Bell is on her first shift as a Special Police Constable where she discovers a murder scene. This is also her first encounter with DI Stephanie Warwick who doesn’t take to Jane or appreciate Jane’s rookie status. Jane is attacked then additional murders result in the pair coming into contact again. DI Warwick ends up getting Jane suspended from her duties. Jane cannot help but use her detective instinct and well connected friends network for further amateur sleuthing and reaching the same suspect conclusion as Warwick, and coming to the rescue.
An enjoyable read, Warwick is portrayed in a harsh light. Looking forward to seeing the future of these two ladies.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

After her husband dies, Jane Bell quits her job as a teacher to become a special constable. It's her first shift and she been called out to a murder. Detective Steph Warwick 4hinks that special constable's have no place in a murder investigation. The victim had run a group at the University, teaching men how to venture into a dark and dangerous world of online misogyny.

Set in Lincoln where we meet rookie SPO Jane Bell. She discovers a dead body on her first shift. DI Stephanie Warwick arrives on the scene and doesn't like that there's a rookie SPO on the case. Steph is not a nice character. She is haunted by her past. Jane likes to meddle a little bit too much. DS Elias Harper is also on the case. The pace is slow in this new police procedural series. I liked Jane but I wasn't keen on Steph. Hopefully she will grow on me the more the story progresses. The plotline was a bit predictable but I still enjoyed the book.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #JaniceFrost for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is first in a new series by Janice Frost.

Jane is very excited to begin work as a Special Police Officer but she certainly doesn't expect to come accross a dead body on her first shift. The detective that arrives is Steph and she obviously doesn't approve of SPOs and the pair are at loggerheads before they start. Jane is a dedicated person who puts 100% into everything and a very caring personality and she is eager to do some investigation and does so, an action that puts her in trouble with Steph.

Steph has baggage a traumatic past that has made her erect very tough walls around her, however, these walls are not big enough or strong enough to stop her being haunted by Cal.

Following the discovery of Mark's body it isn't too long before another body turns up and that turns out to be someone Jane has been talking to bringing the wrath of Steph down on her head closely followed by suspension.

As the police try to untangle the clues Jane does her own amateur investigating.

This is an intriguing mystery that keeps the pages turning with the clashes between the two women bringing a different aspect to the story making it all the more unique.

A very good read. Thank you to netgalley and Joffe Books for the advance digital copy. This is my unbiased review.

Jane Bell is a former school teacher who now does in-home tutoring. She also is now Special Constable with the police. She wears the uniform with pride. It's not really working with police solving crime .. it's more like walking the streets, keeping the peace.

On her very first shift, a friend calls her .... there's young man who is found dead. At first glance, it looks like he fell and struck his head .... but maybe it was much more than that.

It's not a promising meeting with Detective Steph Warwick shows up. She has little to no use of a Special Constable anywhere near a murder investigation. As far as she is concerned, Jane Bell is sticking her nose where it doesn't belong. Warwick has no problem telling the rookie exactly that.

And then another young man is murdered. The only connection to the first victim is that they were both university students ... and both were known to be less than gentlemen around women.

And Jane Bell keeps on showing up at murder scenes ... even going so far as to questioning suspects, much to Warwick's displeasure. It's not that Bell does it intentionally .. she just kind of falls into it accidentally.

It's the beginning of a new series, and Bell and Warwick are the stars. Their relationship is best described as contentious... and somehow, they're going to have to learn to work together. Warwick is not exactly a likeable character, but her backstory may have something to do with that. Bell is very likeable, and although a little on the quiet side, she comes through with flying colors when necessary.

The plot is entangled with several suspects ... and lots of investigative work. Suspense starts at the very beginning and doesn't stop until the unexpected conclusion. I'm looking forward to seeing how the relationship between Bell and Warwick develops over time .. and I'm expecting some great crime solving on their parts.

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

I was disappointed by this book, it was not as good as previous books by the author. I found the two lead characters to be really irritating and the pace was very slow. The story really dragged along and was very unbelievable. A very abrupt ending left me confused and I won't read any more of this series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I’d like to thank Joffe Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Murder Among Friends’ written by Janice Frost in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

The body of Mark Ripley is found on Greestone Stairs in Lincoln and is discovered by Special Police Constable Jane Bell on her way home following her first shift. DI Steph Warwick and DS Elias Harper are tasked with investigating but DI Warwick doesn’t like Special Constables getting involved in detectives’ work and is disdainful in her attitude towards Jane Bell, getting her suspended from her duties for becoming involved.
‘Murder Among Friends’ is the first in a new series and although the characters of DI Steph Warwick and DS Elias Harper are interesting, I found Warwick’s attitude cold and unlikeable and I was unable to warm to her. I hope as the series continues her character softens. I did wonder whether I’d missed the first novel in this series as the name ‘Cal’ was mentioned and I’d read half the book before Warwick’s past and her relationship with Cal was explained. Otherwise, as with all of this author’s thrillers, there’s a fast-paced plot, interesting characters, excitement, drama and twists and turns which kept me involved although not on the edge of my seat. It was nevertheless enjoyable and I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series to see how the characters develop.

First of what looks to be another promising series by Janice Frost ...

Set among the streets of Lincoln this has all you expect from an author who knows how to capture her readers from the opening chapter

Cannot recommend Murder Among Friends enough to give it the kudos it deserves

Murder Among Friends is the first instalment in the DI Steph Warwick and Special Police Constable (SPC) Jane Bell series and gets off to a promising start. On her first night on duty, when out on patrol, Jane is called to a crime scene where a young man has died at the top of Greestone Stairs, a footpath leading to the Minster Yard in Lincoln city centre. When DI Warwick attends the crime scene she almost instantly dismisses Jane with a harshness that is unbefitting of a detective as she believes Jane has ideas above her station and deems a possible murder to be outside the scope of an SPC’s responsibilities. The victim is a 23-year-old student named Mark Ripley who had been at the helm of a group teaching pick up artistry to men wanting tips on how to woo women. Having been warned off the case by Warwick, Jane continues to probe into the suspicious death on her own time and keeps stumbling on helpful information much to Warwick’s annoyance. When a young girl is later killed Jane can't resist partaking in some more amateur sleuthing but this time it ends in her being fired.

This is a riveting and intriguing read from the very start, and although Frost takes the necessary time to introduce us to the characters and set the scene, the pace soon picks up. Widow Jane had recently decided a change of career was in order and retires from her job as a teacher to become a volunteer SPC aged 45 although it will take her two years to complete her training. DI Stephanie Warwick is 35 years old and still trying to deal with the trauma of her ex Cal’s attempt on her life and the successful murder of her best friend over a decade ago. I was quickly gripped and didn't realise quite how immersed I was in the well-plotted and exciting story until I tried to put it down; needless to say, I was back devouring it within 5 minutes of placing it down. The relationship between Jane and Steph is fraught throughout adding another dimension to the plot. Focusing on the timely issues of toxic masculinity, misogyny, entitlement and the incel (involuntary celibate) community, this is a gripping and utterly compelling procedural. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.

Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book! This review is based on my complete honest opinion

Jane after her husband's death leaves behind her teaching job and joins the police force. And while working on a shift, she discovers a body of a man name Mark Ripley who was being attacked and is dead. Detectives Warwick and her partner Elias are investigating this case and finds that Mark along with Adam and Phil are involved in some sort of a group where they train men on how to lure women. And while working on the case, Stephanie Warwick and Jane doesn't seem to get along well...

The story was engaging and a bit fast paced though it was slow at first. I really like the character of Jane as she seems to be nice and friendly, getting along with everyone. However, to me, there was not much twists and turns you would expect in a thriller but otherwise, the story was OK and the ending was also OK. Not a bad thriller but a good one.

Overall, I would rate this book as four stars!

Interesting to have a special constable in the lead role instead of a detective. Great story, but both main female characters hard to feel for. I just wanted to bang their heads together. The stroppy detective and the irritatingly meddling special! A very different type of partnership. I definitely prefer Merry and Neal. This book is full of 'why would she do that' moments that totally detract from the story. My favourite character was Thea, who was very well written and I wanted to know more of her story. If this is a series, please make Jane just a bit less insufferable.

Worlds Apart...
The first in the Warwick and Bell series. Detective Warwick and newbie Bell seem worlds apart as they are assigned a murder investigation. Warwick is definitely not happy but can she bring herself to work with Bell? Well written but a slow burn and, for this reader, a lack of engagement between the protagonists which may, of course, pick up as the series progresses.

An interesting start to a new series featuring two female law enforcement officers- one a rookie and one experienced. The twist here is that Jane Bell, the SPC, is 45 and a widow while DI Steph Warwick, is 30 and the lead. Things don't start well between the two fo them when Jane discovers a body while she's out on patrol and seems, to Steph. to be overstepping her brief. They get worse when Jane does some poking around into the unlikable victim on her own and then when others are attacked. Sreph is an angry woman who seems to resent Jane so much that she can't figure out how to leverage the free labor. You know, though, that they will come to an accommodation. It's got some twists but the interesting thing is not the mystery but the relationship between these two. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Murder among Friends, the first novel to feature DI Steph Warwick and Special Police Constable Jane Bell.

On Jane’s first night on duty she is called to a crime scene where a young man has died at the top of a flight of stairs. Keen to do more although it’s outside the limited scope of her responsibilities Jane is summarily dismissed from the scene by the investigating detective, DI Steph Warwick. Despite this, information keeps coming her way and she keeps asking questions, much to Steph’s annoyance.

I enjoyed Murder among Friends which kept me interested throughout with its plot concentrated on what can only be described as toxic masculinity and the incel (involuntary celibacy) culture. Of course, as fiction and, by definition, entertainment the author doesn’t dive particularly deeply into that cesspit, just enough to give the reader a flavour of the thinking and a strong rebuttal.

The novel is told mostly from Jane and Steph’s points of view. Steph’s is the detail orientated, fact based narrative while Jane’s is more amateur, based on information and hunches. This is reflected in their personalities with Steph being hard, closed in and haunted by her past, a past with few details but ripe for further exploration, while Jane is warm and empathetic.

By the end of the novel I wasn’t overly impressed by the plot. It seems to fall into place rather easily and the antagonism between Steph and Jane seems manufactured. There are other points but I’m not issuing spoilers. On the other hand the journey to this conclusion, curiosity about Steph and Jane’s well intentioned meddling are eventful enough to hold the attention.

Murder among Friends is a good start to a new series and a good read.

A truly fascinating and intriguing storyline. Involving DI Steph Warwick who is undoubtedly suffering from problems in her past and special constable Jane Bell who has ambitions far above her experience. The pair are at loggerheads with each other throughout the investigation, but leads to a satisfactory conclusion.

Really enjoyed this book it was full of twists that kept me guessing and was a thrill ride. Had me hooked from page one and I read it in one sitting as I couldn’t put it down. Very good read, most enjoyable.

A good well written, fast paced thriller which held my interest throughout. For me personally it wasn't an edge of seat thriller but the characters were good and I will probably read more in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Jane Bell, a former teacher, is hired as a volunteer special police officer and on her first shift gets involved in the murder of a young man. He led a group who was teaching members the art of picking up women Detective Steph Warwick is not impressed with Jane, the rookie - she has no time for her and treats her coldly, without respect. Jane, after the shock of seeing the dead man, feels a bit responsible for him and tries to delve deeper into the case, much to Steph's disgust. When a young girl is also killed, Jane again does a bit of sleuthing, until Steph has her fired.
I really liked Jane, she has a kind heart, but Steph, haunted by her past, is not a likeable character. Her dislike of Jane is over the top. I also liked Thea, a pupil of Jane's who, at 16, has been left alone at the family home while her parents are on a world cruise. Jane becomes a surrogate mother, trying to make sure Thea is o.k.
It's a good mystery that I was fully immersed in and definitely recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.

MURDER AMING FRIENDS...Janice Frost
Jane is now a volunteer special constable having been a teacher. Will take her two years of training to complete, her children now grown, wonder why it wasn’t at a gift shop DI Step seems a little brisk with Jane, not having the knowledge, the others were not available. The man was a 23 year old student., death was suspicious. That was all the involvement she would have. Envious of the others like DI Step that would be working the case. Have read other works by Janice Frost, she has a unique ability to give us the setting that draws the readers in, A new series and looking for more. Given ARC my voluntary review and my honest review for Net Galley & Joffe