Member Reviews
This book was good as far as holiday reads go, I was keen to keep reading to see what happened and how it turned out. However, Ally’s more and more outlandish behaviour to try and catch the killer frustrated me. To go from exemplary morals to committing crimes all over the place while her daughter was in a coma just seemed a stretch. Good characterisation of the killer as a grim and terrible man.
DNF'd at 36%. It's not bad, it just feels a bit unremarkable and I'm not excited to pick it up. I feel like there was a lot of characters too and I wasn't quite sure who was who - I was struggling to remember who fit in where (this is a me thing - cognition struggles at the mo and too many characters not working for me).
The main character is very likeable and well developed. I felt the pacing was completely off in the second half. The ending was unconvincing and unbelievable
This was a really interesting debut novel and the main character was very interesting and well written. I am looking forward to learning more about this character and her relationships.
I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.
A thrilling read that I found hard to put down. CSI Ally Diamond is not the most popular person amongst the police officers but she is certainly very good at her job. A gripping read with a great plot.
I enjoy a CSI led story, and Breakneck Point didn’t disappoint . CSI Ally Diamond is not the most popular person amongst the police officers., as you will discover why. But there’s no doubt she is good at her job. A tense read with a clever and intriguing plot.
A fast-paced thriller, the first in a brilliant new series featuring CSI Ally Dymond. I read this book after reading the 2nd in the series (oops) but enjoyed discovering the characters and their backstories.
Ally has experienced a troubled past, which she has survived and become stronger through. Her character consistently reflects traits, totally understandable to the reader, based on these, alongside her passion for being a good mother to Megan. She is a very skilful CSI and also, it seems, a workaholic/ perfectionist who may not always follow the traditional ways to get things done. Who could resist getting involved in such a tough case?
The ‘killer’ is eerily well-portrayed and at times, I could feel myself shudder at the situations arising. Brutal and disturbing crimes! Learning how a CSI pieces all the clues together is fascinating.
I loved this book, it has real passion and tension in it, a great pace and I felt I was alongside Ally, trying to put the clues together, even though as a reader, you know who the protagonist is! I found myself feeling as if I really knew Ally. Totally recommend, looking forward to more books in this series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fresh perspective on a well done and saturated genre. The view of a CSI is refreshing indeed.
Throw in some whisteblowing on colleagues and an out of the way setting and you have quite a combination to make an engaging thriller that makes you want to keep turning the pages.
I liked Ally and felt for her at times, trying to do the right thing, trying to do her job well, trying to mother a teenage daughter. All the time letting the science guide her. I will certainly be checking out more books by this author.
Compelling police procedural, well plotted with great characters.
The protagonist is Ally, a CSI, single mum and domestic violence survivor with a teenage daughter.
After refusing to keep quiet about the fabricated evidence of bent coppers, Ally finds herself removed from the Major Investigations Team, instead working in a quiet rural area in Devon and sent on dead end cases with no hope of retrieving evidence.
Shunned by resentful colleagues who ignore her expertise, Ally grows increasingly frustrated by the progress of the investigations and feels compelled to act, putting herself and her family in danger.
The first in a new crime series featuring single mum and CSI Ally Symons and it was a great read. Set in North Devon and written from the perspective of Ally and the killer, the narrative was well paced and kept my attention til the end.
I love it when I find a new author and a new character that I care about. T. Orr Munro is that author and CSI Ally Dymond is that character.
After being demoted because she refused to back up the testimony of bent police officers, Ally finds herself in the CSI wilderness that is taking fingerprints at burglaries and car thefts etc. then, because of staff shortages she is called back to major incidents. When she arrives at the scene of a murder is told in no uncertain terms that the case is cut and dried. It's clearly a domestic incident and they have the person responsible already. All Ally has to do is make sure that all the relevant samples are collected ready for the prosecution. But something's not sitting right with ally but because police officers are now in prison because of her, whose going to listen? When another murder occurs it's the same story, something isn't right but no one will listen. The police are more interested in closing the case than actually getting the right person. Then the real nightmare begins when Ally's fifteen year old daughter is beaten up and left for dead.
Told from the dual perspective of Ally and the killer this book had me gripped form the first sentence to the last. I should warn that some parts are difficult to read but all in all this was a very satisfying debut and I will look out for more from this author.
Many thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First publication for T Orr Munro and what I hope will become a series of books featuring the character Ally Dymond. Set in England's south west, this story reeled me in from the outset and I was intrigued to see how both the storyline and main character would develop as the book progressed.
Suffice to say, I wasn't disappointed and I very much look forward to reading more by Ms Munro a great new acquisition to my list of favourite authors
This is a great crime series it's a good start to a series. CSI Ally Dymond, who is tasked with policing North Devon's back alleys. It appears that she is being punished in some way for the moral stand she made against a city detective who attempted to use forensics to expedite a significant case. Ally was not having any of it, which beautifully positions her as a CSI with no patience for corruption.
This was an excellent crime novel from a new talent. There were twists and turns aplenty and I didn't see any of the reveals coming. It is also clear that the author has a background in crime investigation, which adds a real authenticity to the story.
I highly recommend and will look out for books by this author in the future.
This one wasn't really my cup of tea, I didn't love the characters and I wasn't engrossed. It had some good elements and might be perfect for someone....just not me :)
Six months ago CSI Ally Diamond spoke out in a court case that led to a police officer being jailed. As a result the local police force have side-lined her & she had been sent working on minor cases. When she attends the death of a young woman she is not convinced that her abusive partner is to blame., but she is not listened to. When another death is quickly 'explained' she becomes annoyed that her findings are being ignored. She is also struggling with her teenage daughter who has been upset by the reappearance of her abusive stepfather. Throughout the story the reader knows who the killer is, we just worry that Ally won't find out.
This was a really good read & I am hoping it is the start of a new series as I'd like to read more about Ally & her daughter. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
What an extremely exciting read!! Absolutely tremendous!!
A CSI, who is a mother of a teenage daughter, becomes a detective, aswell as a CSI, as the police are absolutely hopeless at noticing the culprit is who she eventually discovers, is the murderer of two other females, and her daughters attacker!!
She tries her hardest to convince them, but the 'attacker' is always one step ahead, which makes her look incompetent and paranoid!!
She's not the one who's incompetent, the police are, they just won't listen to her theories, so frustrating!! I found myself screaming at the idiots!! She finds she's losing support from her closest family and friends, except one person!! I just wish she had confided in him a little more!! Also having to deal with her 'X' at the same time is a nightmare!!
Then to top it all, I wasn't expecting that ending!!!!! Superb!!!!
This book will grip you from start to finish! And the ending is just chilling!
Ally is a CSI who refuses to support planting evidence. This makes her somewhat unpopular with her police colleagues. So when Ally is called back to major investigations she should tread carefully but is presented with several crime scenes which don’t add up.
Ally sticks to her principles but when the crimes start getting close to home these principles are tested to their limit….Will Ally ever feel it is ok to break the rules?
Great characters and distinct voices, this is a fast paced book that will have your heart in your mouth. Will the killer be caught? Will Ally break the rules?
CSI Ally Dymond’s was enjoying life on the MIT - major investigations team but after exposing corruption amongst her colleagues she ends up on the sleepy North Devon coast. An excellent start to the book with plenty of CSI work explained.
A couple of bodies later Ally uses her expert skills to help the lead detective but to no avail. She then fiinds herself having to manage and try and solve an attack on her only child, her 15 year old daughter - with mixed results until all is revealed. Yes, there is a race against time scenario and Ally has to deal with an ex husband, Sean and a rather sad mother, Bernadette.
As a debut author I really liked her style with plenty of humour, action and an obvious love of the North Devon coast. If there is a sequel, count me in!
Thanks to Net Galley and HQ for the chance to read and review.
CSI Ally Dymond’s commitment to justice has cost her a place on the major investigations team. After exposing corruption in the ranks, she’s stuck working petty crimes on the sleepy North Devon coast.
Then the body of nineteen-year-old Janie Warren turns up in the seaside town of Bidecombe, and Ally’s expert skills are suddenly back in demand.
But when the evidence she discovers contradicts the lead detective’s theory, nobody wants to listen to the CSI who landed their colleagues in prison.
Time is running out to catch a killer no one is looking for – no one except Ally. What she doesn’t know is that he’s watching, from her side of the crime scene tape, waiting for the moment to strike.
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.