The 4th and final book in this series and WOW what a way to close out a chapter. DCIs Hanlon and Huss are assigned protection duties for a politician that neither of them find agreeable. As the duty becomes more and more distasteful, they will find themselves in a war they did not volunteer for. The action leaps from the first chapter through the last with a surprise ending that will leave you wondering what the next step in Alex Coombs books will be.

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 Silent Victims has Hanlon and Demeril working together to protect a right wing extremist from those who would like to see him dead. But exactly which direction will the threat come from? And how is any of that related to a missing journalist wanted for murder?

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!

This is the final installment and I wish there were more. Alex Coombs has triumphed again. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Thank you Boldwood Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book and give my unbiased opinion

This book was previously published as An Incidental Death by Alex Howard.

Book Blurb: A controversial, right-wing German politician is due to speak at the Oxford Union. Following a series of murders linked to a violent anarchist group, the city is on high alert. DCI Hanlon has been partnered with DI Huss to ensure the speech goes smoothly ... and that there will be no more killing.

If only ......

It's another tough case for DCI Hanlon and her new partner, DI Huss. As they get closer to finding the killer, they learn there is much more to the frightening truth than once thought.

Fast-paced, with twists and turns that rival a roller coaster, and suspense that maintains a high intensity throughout, this is a page-turner you just don't won't to miss. As with all the previous books, the characters are deftly drawn.

Although 4th and final in this series, it is easily read as a stand alone. However, I do recommend starting at the beginning to pick up all those little nuggets that make this such a compelling series. Rating: 4 STARS for the book ... 5 STARS for the series.

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

The Silent Victims is the fourth and final instalment in the Detective Hanlon series. Alex Coombs does it again, this was another gripping read. Hanlon is assigned to the protective detail for a controversial foreign politician, Wolf Schneider, a babysitting job, a walk in the park right! If you have read the previous three books in this series, you will know that couldn’t be further from the truth. Another unpredictable rollercoaster of a read with some twists you won’t see coming, these books are fast paced action thrillers, I read all four one after the other, just couldn’t get enough!

Once again, I am not disappointed with this, the final book in the series featuring the unconventional DCI Hanlon.

I have now read all 4 books in this series and have enjoyed each and every one of them. I rarely say this about a series but I really do think you need to have read at least the first one (The Stolen Child) if you want to understand the main characters in the book; if you don't, I really think you will be flailing a little with the relationships they have and their motivations and this will, I think, detract from the overall story.

Hanlon is a very strong female character and one tough cookie. I admit that she is quite difficult to like but she has definitely grown on me over the series. In this, we see the odd glimpse of the softer side to Hanlon which makes her more "human" but don't let these snippets fool you - she will stop at nothing and nothing will stand in her way.

With a cast of excellent characters wrapped up in an intriguing plot, lots of action, tension and violent scenes, this is a great story well written which is gripping and exciting and makes it difficult to stop reading.

Highly recommended series and my thanks go to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

A good thriller, gripping and entertaining.
I appreciated the atmosphere that reflects the current situation, the good character and plot developement.
It kept me hooked and entertained.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Alex Coombs has gripped me again for this book.
Definitely now an author I would recommend. Each book gets better in my opinion, and the character of Hanlon intrigues me

Favorite Quotes:

As their eyes rested on him he felt a scrotum-tightening chill of fear descend over his body. No, not a job interview, more the professional evaluation of a couple of undertakers interested to see if he would fit the coffin.

It was huge, and massively muscled. It emanated a sinister, vast strength. It looked like a dog that pumped iron and ate steroids.

Hanlon glared at Morris Jones, her glance taking in his immaculately polished shoes, the razor-sharp creases in his suit. It suddenly occurred to her that when Jones dressed he was probably dressing for death, either his own or someone else’s.

Let’s see how fit you are, she thought grimly to herself… in trainers she could run a marathon in a respectable three hours... Grey Man looked like he’d have trouble on an escalator. She grinned wolfishly as she increased the pace of her stride.


My Review:

While well written and full of complex twists and oddly compelling characters, I struggled with this one as it had a slow start and complicated plot lines that aren’t my cup of Darjeeling. Extremist right-wing politicians are contemptible and I feel I’ve suffered more than enough of that vile nonsense from the previous occupant for the last four years, and toss in Islamic terrorist cells, well… the little pea in my brain was growing antsy and wanting to burn rubber.

But my biggest concern was where was my beloved Hanlon? She was scarce in this tale for quite a while, and I missed my favorite kickass chick. I covertly aspire to her level of indifference and would gladly become her faithful disciple, although that is definitely a situation the rogue lone wolf Hanlon would not appreciate nor enjoy.

If I were unaware of what this crafty author was capable of I most likely would have conceded with a DNF early on. I fear I have been spoiled and most likely ruined by the richness and absorbing quality of his previous offerings and this one just hadn’t grabbed me by the throat in the same manner as the three previous installments. But luckily, the agile and wily nature of Mr. Coombs's stellar writing kept me invested and once my revered idol joined in with significant contributions, all was right once again. Silly me, I was just too impatient. The clever Mr. Coombs continues to remain all snug and warm in a cozy spot on my favorites list.

The Silent Victims is the final book in the DCI Hanlon quartet and is really where Hanlon, Huss and Demirel come into their own. The plot is incredibly intricate, as most of Alex Coombs’s works are, but the bare bones is this: Wolf Schneider is a far-right wing politician who is vocally Anti-Muslim and Anti-Immigration from Germany. To avoid a possible assassination on English soil while he does various talks, Hanlon and Demirel are assigned to his protection detail. At the same time, one of DI Huss’s former flings, a freelance journalist named Marcus Hinds finds himself on the run for the information he’s uncovered while investigating an Anarchist group called Eleuthera. He manages to pass information to Huss using a local homeless woman before going into hiding, only for his name to come up as a murder suspect.

Huss and Hanlon, women who’ve usually been at odds; have to work separate angles on these linked cases to unravel what has to be one of the best political tangles I’ve read to date! This book manages to showcase the author’s varied life experiences, and in such a way that feels completely natural. The scenes with DS Demirel working in the high pressure atmosphere of a professional kitchen were amazingly realistic, as were the descriptions of Oxford and the Rosemont hotel.

The Silent Victims starts with a hook that grabs you right around the middle and drags the reader through the convoluted worlds of political ambition, ideological extremism, and protection details to a breathtaking climax. In some ways this book is bittersweet, it ends the days of DCI Jane Hanlon of the Metropolitan Police; while opening the way for the Jane Hanlon Private Investigator series. As always, Alex Coombs manages to write a story that plays like a film, and and both satisfies and leaves me desperate for more!

Note: Content Warning, this book contains several characters who are either violently racist or profess Anti-Islamic rhetoric. There are racial/sexist/religious slurs used.

The Silent Victims by Alex Coombs is the fourth book in the DCI Hanlon series. Yet another thrilling and fast-paced book to add to this thrilling series. No matter how many times I return to these books, they never get boring!
A right- wing German politician is due to speak at the Oxford Union. A violent anarchist group has been linked to a spate of murders so it is high alert. DCI Hanlon is partnered with DI Huss to make sure everything goes as it should. She discovers the person who is behind the murders and suddenly everything changes.
This time it is definitely personal for Hanlon and it makes the most exciting and tense book of them all. The story shifts between London, Oxford and Germany and with it the action. Alex Coombs has the skill to describe these places so clearly and as the book moved to each place I felt like I was there, even though I have never even been!
As I find with every instalment the pace of the action never stops, the pressure Hanlon is under is relentless and as always with her and the team they get into tight corners as they attempt to make sense of a fantastically created mystery before time runs out.
Thanks to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book for my review today.

Oxford, the City of Dreaming Spires, half a century ago the stomping ground of Inspector Morse and the rather genteel crimes he so masterfully solved. Now, crime is controlled by the Russian mafia and a new breed of terror has been born.
DCI Hanlon is on secondment as a protection officer for Wolf Schneider, a German right wing anarchist. Soon she is buried in a world of secrets and a world of lies. And as always her anger has no boundaries.
Gritty realism and graphic violence in a high octane thriller. Alex Coombs pulls out all the stops.

The final book in the DCI Hanlon series moves firmly into the realm of politics. Hanlon is on protection duty for a controversial foreign politician. Unsurprisingly this means danger for the enigmatic detective.

The settings are numerous and vividly brought to life. The characters are believable, and some the personification of evil. The story has many twists which make it addictive reading.

This is a topical urban thriller with a memorable detective team, a unique leader and provides a suitably exciting and poignant end to this series.

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

What an absolutely cracking read this was. It was clearly inspired by the recent political climate, it was a very intriguing read

Wow after reading 3 very good books I thought can we keep going and yes we certainly can.
I would say this is the best boom yet. You get drawn in from the very first chapter. You get to travel to different locations which are really descriptive.
All I can say is the ending is wow.

If you want a really good series to get your teeth into this could be for you.

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

Another book from this author that I couldn't put down. I read this in one season.
Another solid 4 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for the EArc.

This is my last review in the Alex Coombs book series as part of the mammoth blog tour being organised by Rachel from @rararesources.

I love books that feature a strong female lead and DCI Hanlon more than fits the bill, she really doesn't seem to shy away from anything! I strongly recommend reading the earlier books so that by the time you get to this one you understand Hanlon a bit better and know what makes her tick.

There are some brilliantly described scenes throughout this book - Elsa the homeless lady springs to mind, as does a scene where a character is restrained. These pages come vividly to life. Coombs' use of the English language and the dropping in of 'words of the day' are delightful.

This crime thriller takes a political route which was fast paced and complex. Lots to keep track of and certainly a book that will require your attention.

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.

The 4th in the DI Hanlon series and another one that doesn't disappoint. From the streets of London, Oxford and Stuttgart Hanlon searches for the truth. This time she pairs up with DI Huss to protect a right wing politician from Germany on a whistle-stop tour of London and Oxford.
Again Hanlon a renegade cop deals with the bad boys as only she can.
Received this book from Netgalley and publishers in exchange for an honest review