It’s my first book from Cari Hunter. The story is mainly centered around the investigation and I wasn’t bored for a minute. I was hooked by all the twists. Listening to the audiobook was a bit of a struggle for me because english is not my native language, the english slang and accent threw me off because I am more used to american accent. Luckily I had the ebook version to help me and I even think I got better to understand the accent. What was a struggle for me will probably be a really immersive experience for others. There is a second chance trope between Ilsa and Jo but it’s really in the background and I wish there was a bit more depth, or even some flashbacks because I didn’t really felt chemistry between them and didn’t really get attached to them.
It’s a serie and look forward to know how the investigation will turn and how Isla and Jo’s relationship will evolve.

A calculated risk - Cari Hunter

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Detective Jo Shaw has her life neatly compartmentalized: a successful career, a circle of friends, and a preference for the single life. She thrives on simplicity, avoiding complications at all costs. But when an emergency call leads her to a stabbing victim, her well-ordered world takes a sharp turn.

The trauma surgeon who rushes to save the victim’s life is none other than Isla Munro—the one person Jo never expected to see again. Fifteen years ago, Isla walked out on Jo, leaving behind a void that time couldn’t fill. Now, fate has thrown them back together, and Jo must confront her past while navigating a high-stakes investigation.

As Jo digs deeper into the case, she discovers that the victim’s children are missing, and the husband is the prime suspect. But the tight-knit community where the crime occurred remains tight-lipped, shrouded in fear. Jo’s determination to uncover the truth puts her career and even her life on the line.

Cari Hunter weaves a gripping tale of suspense, love, and redemption. Her vivid descriptions transport readers to the heart of the investigation, where danger lurks around every corner. The chemistry between Jo and Isla crackles with intensity, rekindling old flames and igniting new ones.

The pacing is relentless, pulling readers into a web of secrets, lies, and hidden motives. Hunter’s writing is sharp, her characters flawed yet relatable. Jo Shaw is a refreshing protagonist—strong, compassionate, and unafraid to risk it all for justice.

A Calculated Risk is a rollercoaster ride through tangled emotions, unexpected alliances, and heart-pounding action. Hunter’s skillful storytelling keeps you guessing until the final page. Whether you’re a fan of crime fiction, romance, or both, this book delivers a thrilling experience that will leave you hungry for more.

Detective Jody (Jo) Shaw kicks off the story with a high-stakes scenario where Jo swiftly decides to save a woman from a stabbing incident. This crisis reunites her with Isla Munro, her first love who is now a respected surgeon. From here on, we follow the story of what instigated the stabbing, as well as the fracture in Isla and Jo's relationship.

This is my first read from Cari Hunter and she demonstrates her skill in captivating her audience right from the start. However, the narrative momentum noticeably dips in the middle, and I struggled to keep engaged with the story due to the slow pace. For me, the mystery at the heart of the story meanders, lacking the urgency and grip typically found in crime novels.

I found the limited backstory provided for Jo and Isla's past relationship frustrating. While it adds an element of intrigue, it simultaneously restricts the readers’ ability to fully connect with the characters, rendering them somewhat two-dimensional. Their lack of chemistry and romance led me to hope that Jo would end up romantically entangled with her superior, DSU Maslin.

The novel shines in its witty dialogue, which helps buoy the slower sections and adds a lightness to the narrative. Despite its uneven pacing and a mystery that could have been more compelling, A Calculated Risk offers an enjoyable read, particularly for those who appreciate realism and sharp banter in their stories.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for a copy of this novel. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I have only read one other book by Carrie Hunter, but know she is a popular choice for readers wanting suspense and action, and sometimes it’s nice to read something in which the romance
comes in second to the main arc.

A Calculated Risk is the story of Jo, a detective who is great at her job and is content with her life. When she is called to a house where a woman has been stabbed, she performs a life-saving move,
which compromises her job and brings up questions about a past she refused to talk about.

Running into the first and only woman she had ever loved throws even more fireworks into her complicated night. Isla is a trauma surgeon, and seeing Jo brings back the pain she has never healed
from. Still, she vouches for the detectives’ abilities when it comes to the risky surgery Jo performed to save the victim, and it isn’t long before Jo and Isla are thrust into a case more complicated than
they initially believed it to be.

As far as police procedural stories go, this is up there as one of my favourites. I enjoyed the fast-paced suspense but didn’t particularly like the cryptically slow roll out of Jo and Isla’s past mistakes.
The depth and authenticity of these two MCs more than made up for this, though, with their
romance being gently interwoven behind the mystery of the investigation.

The great news is that this is only the first book in what appears to be a new series. I can’t wait to see what
comes next.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for my honest review.

One of my favorites of the year! It kept me up all night. I love reading anything by Cari Hunter! I loved the character development and the twists and turns in this story. It was definitely a page turner!

When sitting down with a Cari Hunter book, you can guarantee you're going to read a good thriller or suspense story. Like most of her novels ‘A Calculated Risk’ keeps you gripped to the end, continually keeps you guessing, although I did find it a little darker than her other novels.
I ‘took’ to the characters, and I always enjoy how she gives plenty of descriptions, whether it's the characters, the local setting or the biscuits and sweets!

I've given A calculated risk a 4 out of 5

This was a really good book. The main characters were very well written and the supporting characters were well developed too. Jo is a detective working on a case that involves an attempted murder of a woman and child kidnapping, while working the case with her partner Tully, they run into Jo's childhood ex girlfriend, who's a doctor at the hospital after 15 years of not seeing or speaking to each it's very awkward for both, but this is where the mystery and drama begins. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and I look forward to the next book in this series.

I am a hard sell for second chance romances. But I just read two in a row that won me over.

Jo is a veteran detective who is right at home at her job, tackling cases with her partner and best friend, Tully. Fifteen years ago, Jo left behind a career in medicine and more heartbreaking, the love of her life, Isla.

My first thoughts about the book is that A Calculated Risk is grittier than Hunter’s previous books. Dark Peak series may have more graphic images but this book presents more realistic settings. I felt like I was in a musty old room listening in on a law enforcement huddle. The surveillance they performed on the street, the antagonism between the police and diverse populations. Even the pleasure of sharing food during these long stretches of investigation and no sleep. Same with the medical and surgical procedures done by Isla and her colleagues. I personally enjoy a book so much more when the author has done the research.

Jo and Isla have an intense connection. Had things gone a different way in the past, they probably would still have been together 15 years later. This story is more of a slow dance simmering. They have to trust each other again. I am here for the series and I am looking forward to reading how life will treat Jo and Isla in the future.

As always, I love Cari Hunter’s details of specific food, language, and the communities. Details are what give color and vibrancy to the background so I get a kick out of it.

I am a Cari Hunter fan. This is a wonderful as well as intense read. The story is well set for what is next. Detective Inspector Jody Shaw and her partner Tully are well matched and know how to look after each other. The other person in the read is trauma surgeon Isla Munro. Isla is Jody's real true love. Obviously, there was some issue that caused them to go their broken heart separate way.

Jody and Tully are pushed to the limit to find the victim's missing children. The explanation to understand the connection between Jody and Isla was really well done, medical school. It is easy to like all three characters and easy to root for them as they encounter one challenge after another. The EMT information was awesome and detailed.

There is a need to provide more background information on the characters. I think/hope what will come in the next book in the series.

I enjoyed the book and loved the characters. Its a well written crime mystery and very compelling. The characters were interesting, and I just couldn't put it down. I recommend this book if you're looking for a good mystery with great characters.



Thank you, Bold Strokes Books, and NetGalley for this ARC.

So, turns out that I couldn’t wait to get approved on NetGalley and when I realized this title was already available for purchased I bought it on the same day. I love Cari Hunter’s books and I was so excited to get my hands on this new release!

Jo Shaw and her partner are the lead detectives on a case involving attempted murder and missing children. During their investigation, Jo ends up at the hospital and crosses paths with her ex-girlfriend now surgeon Isla Munro. Their reunion doesn’t start out great, but slowly they rekindle their friendship, and they get closer and closer as Jo works the case and Isla is somehow pulled into it as well.

Hunter’s books aren’t what I would characterize as romance novels so if that’s all you’re looking for, this might not be for you. The focus of the story is center around the mystery, so most of the interactions between the two main leads are around the case. If you’re a sucker for the hurt/comfort trope, this book will be right up your alley!

The characters are very likeable and feel like real people. The case is well constructed, and little details are revealed just at the right time, seamlessly.

Getting a new story from Hunter always feel like such a treat! I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next, and hopefully we’ll get to revisit Jo and Isla sooner than later!

Really enjoyed this book, I love a good lesbian detective book and this is a cracking story full of twists and turns. The characters are great, especially Detective Jo to Isla to Tully to Adina, they have different ways of speaking and dialects which the author captures really well. You also get a good sense of place, set in and around the Moors to the north of Manchester, the landscape mirrors the bleakness of the lives people are living and there is of course, plenty of weather! Could not put this down, except when I really had to get some sleep. Fantastic storytelling and an extra half star (4.5) for being set in the UK.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A superb book. The writing is top rate. Gripping as well as compelling and funny. Every character is nuanced and interesting. The plot is complicated and engrossing and made me want to read more from both this author and from this plot. The romance is so believable and you’ve either been like this yourself or your friend has. I really, really want to see all of this as a TV drama series. It would be so good. Easy to picture the police, the hospital personnel, the frightened community. Hoping the next book appears soon because this is now one of my favourite authors. More than 5 stars.

Detective Jo Shaw has a good job, tons of friends, and she likes being single. She doesn't want any complications in her life, but after an emergency call has her bringing a stabbing victim in to the ER, she runs into her one and only true love. The trauma surgeon is the woman who walked away from Jo fifteen years ago. With an investigation on the line, Jo and Isla put aside their differences to work together on the case. Can they work together to reconcile their differences?

Fast-paced from the beginning, a wonderful British police procedural. I feel like there was more to Jo and Isla's history that we didn't see. It was nice to see them reconcile their relationship, but I wanted more romance! Hopefully we'll get a sequel. 🙂

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗦: ꜱᴀᴘᴘʜɪᴄ. ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ. ᴅᴇᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ/ꜱᴜʀɢᴇᴏɴ.

I didn't understand a lot of things that happened in this book. That was some different vocabulary. Even I couldn't understand the medical part, I guess I will not moving anytime soon to wherever Isla and Jo are staying because wow. What I understood though, Isla's mom was no joke because the way she was so un-motherly was really sickening.

The friendship between Isla and Jo was really good. Yes, I will call it friendship because it didn't feel like it was more than that. I hope they be friends forever because they seemed to understand one another quite well. Isla's mom can just sod off.


𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙫𝙞𝙖 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙫𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.

Detective Jo Shaw and Trauma Surgeon Isla Munro have known each other for years but it’s been fifteen years since they had seen each other. Young and madly in love they thought they would have a future together. Both were studying to become a doctor but when they parted ways Jo found herself drawn to police work. They didn’t part on the best of terms but now they had no choice but to navigate where they were now.
What brings them together now is a shop owner Omar Nadir who left the scene where his wife had been stabbed. Omar is now missing along with his son Dahee and his daughter Lubena. Now it’s up to Jo and the police to find them all, before anything else happens, they need to bring them home.
When I first saw Cari Hunter had added a new book ‘A Calculated Risk’ to her impressive catalog of probably the best mysteries I’ve had the pleasure to read. If you have already read some of Ms Hunter’s books you are in for another treat with this book. Very, very enjoyable read
ARC via NetGalley/Bold Stroke Books

The book started off great, with an adrenaline packed medical rescue, but unfortunately the pacing slowed through the middle section and there was too much slang at times. Still, an overall enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to what Cari Hunter releases with next.

I am not sure if A Calculated Risk explains the decision Detective Jody (Jo) Shaw makes to save a woman’s life or the decisions Cari Hunter makes in her storytelling.

Jo arrives at the scene of a stabbing and must make a life or death decision in order to save the female victim. She arrives at the hospital to check on her charge and runs into her first love, Isla Munro. Now fifteen years older and a much respected surgeon, Isla saves the victim’s life. Jo and Isla work on understanding their personal history as the mystery unfolds.

Hunter knows how to grab her readers from the very first page. She drops us into an adrenaline rush medical rescue as the means of introducing Isla. Unfortunately, the excitement falls off quickly through the middle section of the story only to return at the resolution of the mystery. This is very unexpected from a writer of Hunter’s calibre. The uneven pacing is quite noticeable as the mystery is somewhat lacklustre. It meanders with no sense of urgency which is so unlike any of her other books.

The calculated risk of giving us limited historical information on Jo and Isla’s past relationship hinders our connection to the two mains. The depth of each character is missing making them more like shadows than being three dimensional. The other risk taken is the choice of ending for the novel. I enjoyed the ending and admire this choice. It adds realism and speculation which is rarely seen in this genre.

I enjoyed parts of the story especially the glib dialogue. It floats the sections which sagged. Overall though, the novel is a disappointing 2.5 rounded up to 3 out of five stars.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley.  I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Cari Hunter is one of those authors whose books I can not wait to get my hands on. Her writing is so unique and her characters so perfectly imperfect that when the book ends, I start it all over again just to spend more time immersed in their world. With A Calculated Risk, she brings us yet another unforgettable character in Detective Inspector Jo Shaw and a stressful, yet thrilling case.
Detective Jo Shaw, who we met in Unbreakable, finds herself running into her lost love, trauma surgeon, Isla Munro, fifteen years after Isla left her, leaving her brokenhearted. She tries to deal with the emotions that the reunion brings up while trying to solve the case of a young mother who is stabbed and her children taken, presumably by their father.
I love a good police procedural and Hunter does them better than anyone writing sapphic fiction today. Her books always draw me in and teach me some fab new phrases that I use to impress my American friends. "Bloody Nora" from the Dark Peak series is still one of my favorite phrases. They are never heavy on romance but her couples are some of the most romantic and well suited for each other that you will find in the genre. She has such a wonderful way of bringing people together who have such a deep, emotional attachment.
I look forward to seeing more Jo and Isla as this is the start of another series that will undoubtedly become one of my favorites.

An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

Another great Cari Hunter mystery. DI Jo Shaw has a history with the new trauma doctor in town and hasn't seen Isla Munro for years when they get thrown together by a new case Jo is investigating. I really enjoyed this mystery, what starts out as a predictable case escalates into something else, leaving you guessing and hoping for the best. Jo follows many leads but the twists here keep you guessing. I really liked the case here and the police efforts to solve it really kept me entertained, Hunter has just enough detail mixed with just enough mystery to keep you reading, I didn't want to put it down.
The relationship between Jo and Isla was also very well done and didn't take away from the mystery, just added a new dimension to this story. I liked their chemistry together and how their relationship slowly bloomed. Jo's partner Tully and the other members of the investigative team really added to this as well, I loved their interactions and the fun relationships amongst the team here. Tully and his family were great support to Jo. Hunter has a knack for these police procedurals and I'll continue reading them as I have not been disappointed yet.