This is a really interesting read. Undercover police women goes to jail to seek out the murderer of her friend. This story gives you a eye opener to life in jail. I found this audiobooks enthralling, once started I could; not stop listening. Quite scary. Thank you for letting me listen to this book.it has made my love for audiobooks stronger.

The narration of this story was excellent and I enjoyed it mostly. However, I found the violent scenes far too graphic for me and was unprepared for them from the Netgalley information provided,. There were two early on in the audiobook, both involving knives, blood and vivid descriptions and I had to fast forward. Other than that, I was hooked by the characters, story-telling and narration. My gratitude to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this.

This is a fantastic thriller and I really enjoyed it. The book is about a police officer called Bailey who goes undercover in a prison to find out what happened to her colleague Alice who was killed in the prison while she was also undercover investigating a drugs ring. The story is scary and there is violence in the book, which makes for a tense and suspenseful read. I really liked Bailey and I was rooting for her, hoping that she would stay safe and not come to any harm. This is a great read which I highly recommend and I will be looking for more of this author's work. The narrator of the audiobook did a great job and was perfect for the role.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve said it before and I’ve got to say it again, Boldwood Books are producing some top quality work. If you like your crime fiction on the gritty side – with splashes of gangster glamour and the grit in the oyster of, often, quite extreme violence, Boldwood is for you.

This novel is a little strange for me as I come to it having reviewed Caro Savage’s (still the best name in crime fiction, eat your heart out Karin Slaughter!) sequel to this novel, ‘Villain’.

This debut instalment sees DC Bailey Morgan returning to undercover work by tracking the killer of a fellow officer in a dilapidated women’s prison.

Whilst the character of Morgan is well drawn by Savage – she is already dealing with her scars both mental and emotional – for me, ‘Villain’ is the superior novel. That shell-shocked lingering horror and consequences of violence which was such an important part of ‘Villain’ is only at its beginning here and so packs less of a punch.

What does not lack punch are the vibrantly written scenes of violence and the characters in the women exuding menace. Some of these are terrifying and some of them – Bailey’s cellmate, for instance – memorably irritating. Savage has an eye for the telling detail in her characterisation and we long for Bailey to make it out as safely as possible.

A very decent crime novel from a writer of crunching action, punchy dialogue and characters you want to investigate with. Make sure you follow her in her further adventures – it is well worth it.

Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy. Bailey Morgan is a ex under cover police woman. When a former colleague and friend is brutally murdered and scalped while under cover in a women's prison working on a drugs case. Bailey vows to find her killer. Under cover she has to infiltrate a dangerous gang to gain vital information. Absolutely brilliant action packed and beautifully read.

I was so pleased when I saw Jailbird by Caro Savage audio to be requested on Netgalley. OMG What a fantastic audio Jailbird was...........I love the story and was hooked within a few minutes. The narrator Genevieve Swallow was 10/10. I felt I was there in the cell with Bailey. Absolutely Brilliant, It was gritty, highly addictive, and I just had to stop everything to listen to it! Love it!

I highly recommend this audiobook. Big 5 stars!!!!

massive Thank you to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and Boldwood Books UK Audio via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Loved this book. A little bit far fetched but kept me gripped. Well written and would love to read the sequel.

Well, what a ride this one was.

It’s hard to describe how much I loved Jailbird, but since thats what this entire post is about, I’m going to at least give it a try.

Jailbird is a twisty, action packed thriller that fans of the genre will absolutely love. I listened to the audiobook and there were times when I legitimately stopped what I was doing because the scenes were so gripping and a little disturbing.

But in the best way.

For once, I didn’t predict all of the twists. Some of them, the little ones, I figured out, but for the most part, Caro Savage kept me guessing for the entire book. And the surprises weren’t just forced into the story for the sake of shock. The entire plot worked seamlessly, where even the side characters and subplots worked to propel the narrative.

If it sounds like I’m gushing, it’s because I basically am.

Conclusion
If you like mysterious thrillers with dark undertones, this one can’t be missed.

Detective Constable Bailey Morgan is just trying to make it to Friday, enjoy her jiu jitsu class and forget about her time as an undercover agent that left her with both physical and emotional scars.
But when her old friend, Alice, is found stabbed and scalped in the prison HMP Foxbrook where she was working undercover, Bailey decides she must go in undercover and find out exactly what got Alice (and others) killed.

I usually listen to audiobooks that aren’t much longer than 10 hours but this one was so action packed and had great twists and turns that the time flew by. I did listen to it at 1.25 speed (which was a first for me). The narration was also excellent which as we all can agree makes a difference in an audiobook.

The whole prison subculture was completely fascinating to me and I don’t know if some of this stuff really happens in prison or not but it makes for an riveting listen!

I will tell you one of my favorite parts of the book is when Bailey is getting her first gang tattoo by fellow prisoner gang member, Poppy. The description of how the needle and ink was crafted and just their dialogue really stuck out to me.

Not a usual book I would pick, but that’s the beauty of finding and experiencing new to you books and topic choices!

Jailbird is a different sort of crime novel from the usual ones I’ve read. DC Bailey Morgan finds herself going back into deep undercover when her good friend Alice is murdered while undercover at Her Majesty’s Prison Foxbrook. While she is ostensibly there to finish Alice’s investigation into the drug ring inside the prison, Bailey is truly there to find Alice’s killer. Sadly, Alice is only the first victim…

Caro Savage has written the most realistic convoluted labyrinthine story I’ve come across in years. Jailbird is told mostly through Bailey’s perspective, with brief interludes showing the prison officers and their interactions. Bailey’s investigation has the fits and starts of a muddled mess, her navigation of the complex society of the prison population anything but smooth. I enjoyed the fact that the false leads and red herrings make the story ring true. The vicious murders and the gang that deals drugs inside, are they tied together? Bailey has to struggle to keep her cover intact through gang initiation, a nosy blackmailing cellmate, prison tattoos and growing friendships with her fellow inmates. The big reveals, of both the depth of corruption in the prison officials and their involvement in the drug trade, as well as the killer’s identity are shocking, but make perfect sense in hindsight. I’ll be listening to Jailbird again, just to find the clues I missed the first time, the mark of a truly great mystery in my mind.

I have to give the book’s narrator, Genevieve Swallow full marks for a masterful performance! Jailbird is 13 hours long, and while I listened in 30-40 chapter sections, I hated having to pause or stop the book. Each character has their own voice, their own accent, and the incredible range of her performance is what really brings the book to life. Caro Savage and Genevieve Swallow have, between them, made an exceptional story and I very much hope to see these ladies again in another DI Bailey Morgan book!

Note: This novel covers a few sensitive topics

TW/CW: PTSD, torture, drug abuse, police corruption, graphic depiction of mutilation and murder, incest, racial slurs as character descriptors
Rating:4 ½/5

Title: Jailbird
Author: Caro Savage
Narrator: Genevieve Swallow
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Released: October 15th, 2019
Language: English
Format: Audiobook
Listening Time: 13 hrs and 6 mins

Much thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Caro Savage, and Boldwood Books for this opportunity.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary audiobook from the publisher in exchange for review. The opinions are my own.

Jailbird Audiobook Review
Author: Caro SAvage
Narrator: Genevieve Swallow

Book one and a debut for author Caro Savage this is a fast paced police procedural. But its not your normal police look for bad guy investigation. DC Bailey Morgan has been out of undercover since her last job went horribly bad, she is scarred in both body and mind. When a friend of hers (and fellow officer) is killed while undercover at a women's prison, Morgan has no choice but to get back undercover and find out what happened.

This is a gritty story filled with drug trafficking, prison gangs, and rampant corruption. It moved very quickly even for a 13 hour book and I found myself looking for time to be able to continue listening. The narrator does a great job with the different characters without going overboard. There is a second book was just released as well and I would like to see what Bailey is up to next.

I rate this 3.75 out of 5 and thank Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books, Boldwood Books UK Audio, and Netgalley for the audio review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you enjoy prison drama, suspense and menace, Jailbird is an exciting story to explore.

I first reviewed this as an eBook. The opportunity to review the audiobook gave the story another dimension, bringing the characters to life with professional narration. The narrator draws the reader into the setting and the mind of the main protagonist. It's easy to visualise what is happening with the author's use of sensory imagery and the narrator's differing cadence and voices.

Everything you would expect in a novel of this type is there. Bailey is a courageous, challenged protagonist, there to finish a job, her friend's violent death cut short. A corrupt prison ethos, where it is debatable who is in charge, and a culture of abuse, drugs and violence.

Well-written but graphic descriptions of the violence make this suitable for a mature adult audience. There is a varied cast of complex and realistically flawed characters. The prison setting demands, exceptional characters and most are. The plot twists keep you guessing, and there is good suspense building.

This is a gritty, graphic, and powerful story that makes you think.

I received a copy of this audiobook from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

OK, so I was drawn to this book by the cover, I hoped it would be in the same vein as Jacqui Rose or Kimberley Chambers, but the cover is where the similarities end (can't judge, eh?)

The overall story was good but the book was far too long, the actual relevant parts of the story could have been told in half of the time it took to finfish the book and most of the fillers were just that, they added no value to the storyline whatsoever, I don't need to know what the inmates are having for lunch to how the sun shines through the bars, total overkill.

To be honest , I stuck with the book in the hope it would get better, but was glad when it was finished. The plot was predictable, as was the ending, which I will not ruin for anyone who does want to read this, but clear your schedule and don't expect too much

Having already read book 2 – Villain – I jumped at the chance to hear Bailey’s backstory. With hindsight I think I would have slightly preferred to have read this book for myself as although the narrator had a lovely and well modulated voice once she adopted a character’s voice I found it quite dramatic for bedtime listening – the scalpings in particular kept me awake.

That said, as a thriller, this is both original and intense. The women’s prison makes for a perfect setting; you just know it’s not going to be an easy ride for Bailey. There were many times that I just wished Bailey hadn’t been so strong-minded and stubborn, and that she had just got out of there when she had the chance. But Bailey is made of grittier stuff, and when she’s on a job she doesn’t back down for anyone.

And when things go wrong, they go wrong big style. I felt very on edge at times and concerned for her well-being. The author has created a cast of characters that are very believable and their environment is what you would – unfortunately – expect, with a way of life that inevitably includes drugs and violence. Accordingly, the inmates have a very different value system to the outside world. It’s rough, tough and scary but not without kindness and compassion: you just have to be very wary of “Greeks (not literally) bearing gifts.”

The ending is powerful, though I did work out who was involved early on, but the matter of how and why the killer chose the victims and then killed them made for compelling listening.

The narrator – Genevieve Swallow – did a fantastic job and made it easy to follow the story even when the subject matter grew brutally intense. I’m glad to have had the chance to learn more about Bailey, and now that I do, I can’t wait for more.

Jailbird by Carol Savage.
This was an audiobook from netgalley.
A brilliant read. Great story. I was stumped. Had no clue who it was. I loved Bailey. How determined she was to catch the killer. 5*.

Wow, I never even suspected the villain.

Bailey goes undercover in prison after a colleague is murdered investigating how drugs are entering the prison.

It’s a well rounded story, telling of Bailey’s and some of the inmates' backgrounds mixed in with Bailey’s investigation. There are a lot of characters, but as diverse as the personalities were, I didn’t have any difficulty keeping them straight.

There was the tension of Bailey being undercover in jail with no backup and the suspense of who murdered her friend along with the investigation of the drugs. Are the two related or not? I also like the friendship that blossomed. It added humanity to the prison setting.

This reminded me a little of Wentworth and Orange is the New Black. It is fast paced and suspenseful.

I listened to the audio version of the book narrated by Genevieve Swallow. I haven’t listened to her narration before, but look forward to seeing what else she has narrated. She was a great narrator. She did all the highs and low points of the book well.

I recommend this for someone looking for a new thriller author with a good voice.

Detective Constable Bailey Morgan gave up undercover work for Detective Supt Frank Grinham after her infiltration of a car-stealing ring left her tortured and scarred for life. She still has nightmares and has vowed to track down the man responsible for her injuries. Out of the blue and with her sergeant’s exams coming up, she receives a phone call from Frank informing her about the death of her good friend Alice. She and Alice had trained in undercover work together and even shared a home at one point. Frank tells her how Alice was working in a women’s prison on the trail of a gang smuggling in drugs when she was murdered and gruesomely, her scalp is still missing. Bailey agrees to take Alice’s place, ostensibly to track down the traffickers but Bailey knows she will not rest till she finds Alice’s killer. She has only been there a few days when a junkie inmate, Poodle, gets killed in the same way and another scalp is taken. Bailey quickly manages to infiltrate the ABC gang who run the drugs inside. But are the murders connected to the drugs operation or do they stem from a far more sinister motive? Bailey is completely on her own, with none of the officers, not even the governor, knowing her true identity, so she’ll have to use all the skills she has learned and acquired to keep herself safe in a cruel and dangerous environment. Just whom can she trust? Whatever happens to her, one thing is sure – in such a dark and vicious world she absolutely cannot afford to blow her cover, whatever the cost.
This was a fast and exciting story from start to finish, with loads of action and some great believable characters. It is the first story in the series and I liked that the history behind Bailey’s injuries all gets explained to the reader. The audio version of this book has a superb narrator. Every word was clear and she switched effortlessly between the voices and accents of all the characters, bringing them all to life with ease. Book 2, Villain, is also excellent and I look forward to more Bailey Morgan stories in the future. 5*

Jailbird' by Caro Savage is the first book in the Detective Constable Bailey Morgan series. There are two books and the second is 'Villian'. I have to say now that I have read these books the wrong way around but even that didn't stop my enjoyment of them.
Today I am reviewing the audiobook of 'Jailbird'.
We meet DC Bailey Morgan a police officer who has previously worked undercover but that job left her full of inside and and out too. When a friend of hers, Alice, is killed while undercover in a womens prison Bailey makes the decision to go undercover in Alice's place, while making it her mission to also try to find out what happened to her. Bailey soon realises just how dangerous this job is, any mistake could cost Bailey her life. She soon finds out that her friends death was part of a spate of murders in the prison. Is Bailey able to finish her undercover role with the corruption, gangs and drugs and more that she has to unravel in order to discover what lies behind all this without losing her own life?
Caro Savage has again written a gritty and unpredictable story. In 'Villian' I thought Bailey was strong, fiesty and clever and in 'Jailbird' we see that she is no different. I also think she is a lot stronger than I am. Knowing her friend has been killed and she will be alone in the prison she doesn't think twice about going back undercover.
A book that is action packed, unpredictable and with quite a lot of suspense too. Bailey is a really likable young woman to the point that you are cringing when it gets a bit dodgy (as it does in a prison anyway). The audio book has been narrated really well also and I found the chapters flying by and I really loved how I could carry on listening even when I had to do other things. A very immersive and enjoyable read.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my audio copy of the book and my place on the tour today.

The opening of the book hooked me in straight away. In the first chapter, someone is attacked and left for dead. Caro has no qualms about delivering us the gritty, grizzly and shocking details of this, and this really sets the tone for the book. If you can’t handle this level of dark, then this book is not for you! However, thankfully, I can, and it completely reeled me in!

The novel is written in the third person throughout, which allows for an almost omniscient narrator in that she is able to delve into the lives, minds and thoughts of a number of characters, giving us multiple perspectives to look at the story from. There is an array of complex, intriguing and somewhat dark characters in the book. When she enters the jail, Bailey is warned: “Be careful who you get mixed up with in here. It’s a small world and it can be very unforgiving.” I have to say I was mostly interested in the perspectives of Alice, Amber and Bailey. I found Bailey to be a clever, brave and determined character who has her own demons that she needs to lay to rest. She constantly reminds us of her mission: to “Never. Break. Cover” and you can see that she aims to be professional but also get the job done.

Bailey is eventually given a strict deadline to complete her undercover task by, and this adds further tension to the story, increasing the pace towards an explosive and unexpected ending. Characters which we have come to trust, or assume to be trustworthy due to their character or position, crumble before our eyes and this was a particularly shocking and unexpected element for me.

This is quite a long book, but the style and language made it a quick, easy read for me. This was also helped along by the number of short chapters which provide cliff-hangers and small but significant details that encourage us to keep reading in order to discover the truth, and whether Bailey will be successful in her undercover mission. This is a book I definitely recommend to fans of gritty, dark crime thrillers and fans of Emma Tallon and Casey Kelleher.

Absolutely loved this book. I was gripped from page one. Bailey lost her sister she went missing never to be found again. After this tragedy Bailey grew up and decided to become a police officer. Bailey becomes an undercover officer which is very dangerous indeed. Having been viciously and brutally attacked she decides to give up the undercover work. After her friend Alice is murdered while undercover in prison Bailey decides to go back uncover to find her friend’s killer. There are so many twists and turns along the way make sure you’ve got lots of time to read as I guarantee you won’t want to put this book down.