In this 2nd book in the (newly promoted) DCI Hanlon series, we learn a little more of Hanlon's backstory, but she's still a mystery to her team mates and this reading fan. Her investigative style has failed to bring her any friends but she's not changing anytime soon. This tough, no nonsense policewoman sets an excellent example, it's clear Alex Coombs had spent alot of time and research into making her character a survivor. He has blended the city of London deep into the story. I can see the streets and feel the city's distinctive character even though Ive never been there. The story continues to grow in depth and tension as Hanlon digs closer to the truth.

I was completely unfamiliar with the DI Hanlon series prior to being invited to review the books. Previously published under different titles, they are receiving new life this year with new names, new covers, and a new publisher. Even the author's name has changed, although it is the same author.

A rose by any other name....

DI Hanlon is not your typical cop. Female detectives in Scotland Yard are rare enough. Hanlon is a force of nature. All muscle, a competitive triathlete, an amateur boxer, she is formidable to her enemies. Some people make friends everywhere they go. Hanlon is the opposite. Most people automatically dislike her. A few, though, would be willing to die for her.

Her boss is one of them. Corrigan is physically huge, but his massive physique and earthy mannerisms belie a shrewd mind and keen instincts. He recognizes the incorruptibility of Hanlon and looks to her to handle delicate cases that might involve internal corruption.

Her former partner, Enver Demeril, is another. A former boxer turned cop, he has allowed his body to go to seed. His mind, though, is sharp and his fists still powerful.

Though he would not die for anyone, Hanlon has also won the respect of a former enemy. A gang leader, Dave "Jesus" Anderson once crucified a rival. Literally. Some people bemoaned his modern ways--he used a nail gun instead of doing it with a hammer. Most people just feared him. Hanlon does not. Although they are on opposite sides of the law, occasionally they find themselves with common enemies and can find mutual benefit from working in tandem.

The Innocent Girl finds Hanlon and Demeril looking into a series of sado-masochistic murders that seem to follow an Oxford professor. Hanlon is not convinced of his guilt despite the mounting evidence against him. However, her investigation takes her into some dark places and wins her the enmity of a Russian mobster and his enforcer. Solving the case only begins her problems.

The power of this series is really two-fold. DI Hanlon is an unusual, maybe unique, character. She is hard to like but impossible to ignore. She really does not care what anyone thinks about her. She is focused on upholding her own moral code, which doesn't always conform to the procedures of official policing. Whether it involves cooperating with gangsters, breaking and entering suspects' homes, or executing justice on her own terms, she manages to get the job done. Unfortunately, sometimes her friends suffer the collateral damage.

The other is the brilliant plotting and pacing of writer Alex Coombs. I read a lot of mysteries, enough that it is highly unusual for me to be surprised by certain types of twists. Coombs, though, managed to do that more than once. I will not offer spoilers, other than to say that these are not books to mentally sleep on in the middle. They are books, though, that will quite likely disrupt your sleep.

A brilliantly conceived protagonist. Clever, twisting, action-filled plots. Sharp writing. The DI Hanlon series by Alex Coombs brings the whole package to mystery readers. Get these books!

The Innocent Girl is the second book in the DI Hanlon series. I started this book straight after the first “The Stolen Child” and I was not disappointed. Hanlon has been promoted to DCI, however, this does not dampen her spirit, her tenacity, her feistiness, she does what she has to do in order to get the “bad guy”, after the murder of a college student, she goes undercover at the University to uncover the culprit.

Hanlon has a lot going on in her personal life and we see a softer side of her showing through when it comes to her friend Whiteside who is still in hospital in a coma. I love how the characters are evolving including her team Demiral and Huss and the dynamics between them all.

I am definitely hooked on this series and once I start a book, cannot put it down, I found myself racing through to get to the reveal, very well thought out and written. Cannot wait for No. 3, thoroughly enjoying this series.

When I read Alex Coombs first book, I was on the fence about whether I would like this author or not.
Having read this second book I have made up my mind, and I am happy that I gave this author another chance as I did prefer this book to the first and I am looking forward to what comes next

Another gritty, gruesome and gripping story by Alex Coomes. I love the character of Hanlon, she is tough and at the same time shows flashes of vulnerability. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and quickly skipped over the more gruesome bits (yes, I keep my eyes shut when watching a frightening part on TV). I liked the descriptions of places, especially Oxford, and recognised so many of the shortcuts e.g. the shortcut to Turl Street.

This was on a par with "The Stolen Child" and I am looking forward to the next in the series.I would thoroughly recommend The Innocent Girl and would like to thank Netgalley and Boldwood Books for allowing me to give my unbiased opinion.

i loved this book! pure action! of course the good won over evil as usual, good ending but predictable

Favorite Quotes:

Hanlon felt again a surge of almost homicidal rage… It wasn’t just the crime, it was the arrogance behind it. It was the way Hannah had been swatted out of existence like an insect. I’m like the Duracell bunny, she thought, except I’m powered by anger, not by a battery, and I’ll keep on going.

At first glance, Hanlon had mistaken the madam for a drag queen. It was an easy mistake to make. The woman in front of her was not conventionally feminine. Iris Campion –‘Like the flower, but not as pretty’– was at least six foot tall and burly with it. She had massive, flabby arms, revealed by the short-sleeved dressing gown, like a shot-putter gone to seed.

Maybe, she thought, he wasn’t meant to make old bones. Jann defined himself enormously through his physical attractiveness and that’s not a quality that lasts. Maybe an old Jann would have been dreadful to behold.

The policewoman had that rare gift of almost complete immobility that animals have, and humans rarely do.

I feel happy, she thought. It was a peculiar sensation, but she was sure that’s what it was… It wasn’t that she was an unhappy person; it was more like living with a defective sense of smell or colour. You knew that these senses existed, you knew everyone else appreciated them, but for you they simply weren’t there.


My Review:

I am continuing on with my adoration and infatuation with the enigmatic and taciturn DCI Hanlon. She has been promoted, which is quite shocking given that she is famously reviled, and by nearly everyone but a handful of co-workers. Book two was a more challenging read than the first although it was still outstanding in the quality of writing, cunningly crafted, shrewdly paced, and cast with dynamic and oddly compelling characters on both sides of the law.

The absorbing storylines were nothing less than gripping while also often startlingly gruesome with realistic and cringe-worthy brutality. I didn’t toss my cookies so it wasn’t sickening although the emotive nature of the scenes often squeezed my underused coronary muscle in a painful manner. The pace was nonstop with devious and conniving behaviors and required endurance of brainpower as well as physical demands on the beleaguered characters. Hanlon is once again predictably unpredictable and off the hook with her clever yet risky undertakings to prove her theories. I covet this woman’s self-possessed confidence, conditioning, and drive as much as I do this wily wordsmith’s stunning storytelling. I do believe I am hopelessly and irrevocably enamored.

Having started this straight after reading the first in the series, "The Stolen Child", I had a feeling I was in for a treat and I wasn't disappointed however, I don't think it's as good or as exciting as the first but it would have taken an absolute genius to better that. You don't have to have read the first but I think it really would help as otherwise you miss out on the back story and explanations around certain characters and their motivations.

Here we have another great story starring the tough and uncompromising Detective Hanlon who we find has been promoted to DCI but this hasn't curbed her gung-ho style as she goes undercover to try and find a killer. The story moves at a pretty good and steady pace; there is a lot of action and tension which ramps up towards the end. I wasn't surprised by the "twist" as I had already guessed who the killer was but I did enjoy how it got there.

Overall, an enjoyable read and I am all set to read the 3rd instalment, The Missing Husband.

Thanks once again to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

The second book in the Hanlon series has her going undercover after the murder of a university student. There are many strands to this plot, all of which interweave as the story progresses. The story is atmospheric and full of locational detail so the reader can visualise the setting.

Hanlon now an acting DCI works with Demeril in a world of trafficking and abuse. The themes are noir crime and disturbing. The characters are well defined, yet the lines of good and evil are often blurred.

Hanlon continues to be driven and unrepentant. Her feelings about her friend Whiteside lying in a coma shows her vulnerability. The believable team dynamics are why this series works so well.

This is an addictive edition of this absorbing series.

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

Excellent book, well written and thought out. I'm beginning to really enjoy the overly descriptive parts, really brings the story to life.

4 Stars from me

Awash with fabulous characters, this, the second book of the DCI Hanlon series, see Hanlon recovered from the injuries sustained in The Stolen Child.

Early on, Hanlon is sent to work undercover by her long suffering boss. She has been promoted to DCI and for some reason the boss seems to have a soft spot for her.

Her aim is to uncover the suspected murder of a university student and I found it quite enjoyable this this brilliant woman floundered a little in her attempts to keep up with the coursework - she is human after all!

The ongoing thread of Whiteside being in a coma runs through this book and this again indicates her softer side.

Throughout the book we are treated to Hanlon's enviable exercise regime and I must admin it makes me feel I should be doing less reading and more sit ups!

I am torn between loving her style and her zero qualms about facing down the biggest, meanest opponents and questioning how she could possibly square it with the powers that be and retain her job and rank. Even so, I find the action scenes to be superbly described - I can also hear bones crunching and smell the singing of hair...

Enver is a great character, DI Huss is shaping up nicely and I like the dynamic between all three.

The Innocent Girl is a deftly woven web of subtleties, subterfuge, feints, blocks and brutal punches - this series is a must read for renegade police fans and will leave you in desperate need for the next book in the series.  

My favourite character? The vulture, obviously.

I'm loving these books and the very strong female character. The plots are really good and the supporting characters are strong too.
Strong subjects are used in this book people trafficking and abuse.

Can not wait to get to talk to you about book 3 and 4. What a series so far.

*This series was previously published under another title and the author name Alex Howard*

This is book two in the DCI Hanson Series although it can be read as a standalone.
In this book, Hanlon has been promoted to DCI and is being assisted by DC Enver Demeril in her newest case. As with the first book, Hanlon’s cases deal with some tough subject material, and get pretty gritty. Hanlon is her usual rule pushing self in this story has she goes undercover to deal with Russian sex traffickers and a killer. We really get to see how her job is a major part of her life, as Hanlon seems lost when she isn’t working. This was another great fast paced story and a good continuation to the series.

I recommend this book and give it 4 of 5 stars.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and author Alex Coombs for the review copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

If you come back over the next two days I will be reviewing the rest of the series, at one book per day through January 23rd.

I have just finished reading The Innocent Girl. This is the second book in the series of DI Hanlon. She is now DCI after her promotion from the first book (The Stolen Child). Like the first book, which I have had the privilege of reading and reviewing, I loved this book. Without giving the plot away DCI Hanlon goes undercover to try to find information about a killer who has already struck a couple of times.

The book is once again action packed, believable and has a good story line.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Coombs (author) and the publisher for allowing me to read this book for a fair an honest review. I am looking forward to reading the third book in the series (The Missing Husband).

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book and understand it is a series about DCI Hanlon and his team, have read this out of order but it did not seem to matter. Can recommend

Solid 4 star read. I am really loving this series and this author. Can't wait to read more from this author.

The writing was amazing and I love the main character.



Thank you Netgalley for the EArc!!!!!

Fantastic read. I have been completely unable to put this one down. I cannot wait to read more by this author.
Full review to follow on blog tour.

In this second Hanlon book she has just been promoted to DCI. She is still the renegade detective who goes out on a limb (literally) to catch the bad guys. In this book she deals with a university lecturer with tendencies towards bdsm and Russian sex traffickers. Was good to see Demirel back, also with a promotion
This book was previously released by Alex Howard called Cold Revenge
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Now everyone that knows me, knows I love a good binge read ... sooooo ... binge read is exactly what I did. I was so captured by this series and the characters that I barely paused to eat.
Another cracking read. Hanlon is a fantastic character. Tough, brutal and verging on being out of control, she is a law unto herself and I love her for this. Hanlon has the ability to make you root for her despite her obvious faults and in Enver Demeril we have the balance she needs.
This looks into the sordid world of people trafficking, abuse and is so carefully plotted I defy you to work it out before the last few chapters. This is a raw and visceral read that pulls no punches, but highlights many issues.

I adore this series, and Hanlon. I love that fact that while each book can stand on its own, the work better when read is sequence. I will admit, one thing I cannot help but think about is how Hanlon would struggle during quarantine - in this story she is aimless and adrift when she isn't working. Work is her job, her hobby, her passion, her social life, her everything. Life for her is very functional - clothes are practical, training is survival, and food is fuel. She's not one for fiction, for music, for noise or distraction.

One thing in particular that I love about Hanlon is that she packs a punch - when a character describes the injuries of another, the internal thought process is 'this guy is huge, so the guy who did this to him must be even more of a brute'. I love it. To know that Hanlon did something so destructive it couldn't possibly be done by a woman makes me smile - it's not dismissive and devaluing, it's their own demise.

In The Stolen Child, (DCI Hanlon #1) it was more of an unraveling - it wasn't so much a guessing game, but when it was revealed it was the suspenseful finish - will she save the child in time? Will she make him pay? How many laws and bones will be broken in the process?

In The Innocent Girl, unfortunately it was more obvious and while exciting, engaging, and well written, much of the content was about filling in the details. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and have already started on the third in the series.