I love this authors Dr Harrison Lane series but I don't think this one is for me. This is the second book and I just can't gel with Saskia. I really struggle with her actions regarding her brother, David. Her protection of him seems both naive and stupid considering her education and job.

This book is also slow going with not much happening. There's a lot of information thrown at us with no real tension. There's definitely more tell than show. I didn't know who the killer was but I also didn't really care. There are also a lot of characters/suspects to keep straight.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Having visited Jersey and seen some of the war tunnels (now a museum) it was easy to be transported to the grim and derelict setting the body is found in.
Saskia is a great lead character, helping steer the investigation from a psychological standpoint. With bodies mounting up the intricate web connecting the victims and suspects is well woven, if a little confusing at times.

The title and cover drew me to this novel. I found it slow to get into...so many characters to keep track off and slightly wordy! But the story picked up and was quite enjoyable. Especially the twists and turns.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review!

Having read book one of this series, I know a little about the main characters, but this could be read as standalone. Several suspects, several deaths, but are they connected? I'm not saying!! Grudges, affairs, so I didn't immediately guess who was responsible. The characters were well written and the settings described well, so I'm now awaiting book 3.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of Secrets in the Blood, the second novel to feature forensic psychologist Saskia Monet, set on Jersey.

DI Winter Labey asks Saskia to consult when the body of a prominent local man is found shot in a disused Nazi bunker. As they dig into the victim’s background they find enough secrets and animosity to make them concentrate on their family and close friends. Things come to a head when one of their suspects is killed in a similar manner.

I quite enjoyed Secrets in the Blood, which has a well conceived plot that considers all the suspects and leaves the reader guessing until the last minute. Unfortunately there is little tension in the novel so it reads like a recounting of the investigation rather than getting the reader involved.

The novel is fairly standard for the genre with a cast of suspects, many of whom don’t do much to lessen suspicion, that gets whittled down as more information becomes available. It takes a smart piece of thinking from Labey to engineer the final showdown and identify the killer.

In the meantime Saskia is still dealing with her brother, David the psychopath. I don’t get it at all. She should turn him in for his actions, but she’s bent on protecting him, including breaking the law herself. Who does that help, certainly not the general public? I struggle to find the situation credible and it looks like the next novel will be more of the same, so that’s it for me with Saskia.

Secrets in the Blood is a solid read.

A local politician is found murdered the morning after he is elected. DI Winter cannot find a motive for the killing. With the help of Saskia Monet, he works his way through the suspects. When the man's brother is also murdered, he knows it's nothing to do with politics, but something else.
An interesting tale set in Jersey.

For me a satisfying murder/crime thriller, with one flaw. The two main characters are entertaining, and the plot has enough twists to keep you guessing. This is the second in the series; I haven’t read book one. There, possibly, lies my major gripe with Saskia’s brother, David, just being thrown into the story with no preamble or introduction, but more an unrealistic expectation that he will get away with his actions. I just didn’t find it believable. Otherwise 4 stars. Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

This is book 2 in the Saskia Monet series, set in Jersey. Saskia is a fearless, forensic prison psychologist hiding her own secret regarding her brother David. The pacing was a bit slow, although the characterisation is good. I liked Winter, the detective investigating the murder of a local politician. It never really gripped me as much as the first book but it's a good follow up and I would like to see some character development with David. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What a page turner and gripping book. Definitely a fast paced murder mystery crime story which I enjoyed. Great characters and a good read.

Body has been found in an abandoned bunker, shot in the head from behind. DI Labey and Forensic Psychologist, Saskia Monet act as a duo on solving the case.

Highly recommended

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing

I was so excited to read the second book in the Saskia Monet series. The first in the series hooked me from beginning to end with the brilliant twists and great characters. Saskia's brother David is a psychopath who keeps up the pace in a different angle too between the nail-biting suspense of the murder enquiries. I thoroughly enjoyed both books and cannot wait for the third.
DI Winter and Saskia Monet the prison forensic psychologist have a heartwarming connection. This book has it all and will keep you hooked right up until the very last page. Based on the beautiful Island of Jersey just added to the ambiance for me. Fantastic read from a brilliant author!

I downloaded my free advanced copy of Secrets in the Blood release date 12th December 2023, please see my honest review below

I certainly wasn’t disappointed in this the 2nd of Gwyn’s Saskia Monet series, excellent read.

From start to end I was thoroughly immersed in the storyline, which living in Jersey myself, the history and locations mentioned bought the island to life.

As with The Stolen Ones, the 1st in the series it continues to peek your interest in both Saskia’s working & possible personal relationship with DI Winter Labey as well as her ongoing issues with her physcotic brother David

Keep them coming Gwyn, love all your books 👍

This is the second book in the Winter/Saskia series, having not read book one, I feel I have missed out on some poignant character intros and relationship building. The author does allude to book one in places, but I do feel I have missed out somewhat, and will be looking to rectify that! I found the authors writing style to be engaging, the characters well-written, believable and, for the most point, likable. The addition of Saskia’s disturbing brother, David is very clever, and I am keen to see where the cliff-hanger is going to take us in the next instalment! The plot flows at a steady pace, and whilst I didn’t find the twist particularly exciting, it was well written and provided a neat conclusion. All in all, this is an easy to read and well-planned tale.

Another great story by Gwyn Bennett! I am so happy that Saskia was more involved in this story. The first one she didn’t seem to be involved as much, so it left me wanting a bit. In this one, the characters have already been fleshed out, so we get more of them. We also got to see more of the relationship forming between them. I do think it’s odd that it’s a series named only after her though, when the story is mostly about her AND Winter. I do love all the perspectives though. I’m interested to see how she handles David in the next one and where her and Winter’s relationship will go from here!

Huge thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Another thrilling Saskia Monet book. I enjoyed untangling the clues to find the killer. The book is well written. I really like the main characters. They both have a lot of depth. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This series is as good as the Harrison Lane one by the same author, and that is saying something. Looking forward to David getting his just desserts in the next book, as there is plenty to interest the reader without him. Admittedly it is a novel idea to have a psychopath as the protagonist’s brother, but I don’t want this to be the main thrust of the ‘will they won’t they’ storyline. It just wouldn’t make sense for Saskatoon to continue protecting him now she is convinced of his guilt; it would go against everything her character stands for. Love Winter, he is a prince amongst fictional policemen. Very much enjoying the Jersey history in these books too.

This book continues with the working relationship between prison forensic psychologist Saskia Monet and DI Winter Labey on the island of Jersey.

Once again the DI calls on Saskia to assist in the profiling of a murderer after the discovery of the body of a recently elected official, Paul Cabot, in an old wartime bunker.

As in the first book, there are darker forces at play than the obvious murder, with Saskia’s brother David very much a disturbing character.

I really enjoyed the first book and was hopeful that a series would be in the offing. The author did not disappoint, and this is the second book. Not quite as gripping as the first, there were a lot of characters that needed sorting out to make the plot flow, but nevertheless a good read. Not sure the back story of David and Saskia will stand the test of a series, would like more meat on the bone as far as David’s character goes, but so far so good.

Well worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley.

An interesting read, set on Jersey, with the history of its part in WWII brought to the fore when a body is found in an old German bunker. This is an enjoyable police procedural, with plenty of action, suspects and a second thread running through the whole story. I like both DI Winter Labey and Forensic Psychologist Saskia Monet and the tension between the two, with Saskias’ background providing a perfect sounding board for Winter during the investigation. I didn’t like Winters’ DCI, who came across a bit like a caricature, but this is only a small niggle. A really intriguing read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Forensic psychologist Saskia Monet and Detective Inspector Winter Labey team up again to investigate another brutal murder on the island of Jersey. This time it is a newly elected politician and member of an old Jersey family that has been found executed in a WW2 bunker. Whilst investigating the murder, Winter struggles against the prejudices of his DCI and Saskia continues to provide damage control for the behaviour of her psychopathic brother David. To complicate things another body is thrown into the mix. The chauffeur of David's partner is found in the sea. The pathologist informs Winter this is not suicide as suspected but a clever murder. Saskia fears David may have lost control. If all this isn't complicated enough the two are trying to deny their growing feelings for each other. Another excellent book from Gwyn Bennett. Looking forward to more in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this, the second installment of the Saskia Monet series set on the Isle of Jersey. This isn't an action-packed book: it's more cerebral, more of an old-school whodunit in a fascinating setting. I do appreciate the author adding more of Jersey's history in this book. It really added another level of interst for me. The three main characters are all quite interesting, and the interplay between Saskia and Winter feels realistic. The character of David hasn't been as fully fleshed out -- my hope is that will happen in the next novel.

I really liked this, and am already looking forward to the next story!

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being given freely.

Saskia Monet #2 Forensic psychologist at La Moye Prison, Jersey
DI Winter Labey

Two American tourists explore the German World War 2 fortifications installed during the Nazi occupation of the island. To their shock and horror they discover the body of a dead man inside a bunker, who proves to be a prominent local figure - Paul Cabot. DI Winter Labey invites Saskia to input her expertise into the case and give her thoughts on the victim and potential suspects.

This is another really good addition to the series and yet again the author leaves me wanting more, especially after that ending! Fearless Saskia is a fascinating central protagonist, her qualifications and knowledge adds something extra to the storytelling. Her personal background, of which Winter is ignorant, provides a chilling strand to the plot line via her brother David. The Saskia/David storyline is a very strong element in both novels and sends shivers down the spine. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Winter Labey is also a terrific character and he’s so likeable. He’s an excellent and intuitive detective and the vibes between him and Saskia are delicious. The tension between Winter and his ..... (fill in your word of choice) ....of a boss, DCI Chris Sharpe (who is actually not that sharp), leaps off the pages. To say they don’t see eye to eye is an understatement but Winter is as ever, coolly polite, or should that be wintery polite?!

As well as the David storyline, the remaining plot is all about the victimology. The emerging background and personality of Paul Cabot is really intriguing. The deeper the Jersey force digs, it becomes all about an old established Jersey family, their background and history during the war and a story of inheritance. The Cabot family dynamics are interesting and the more time goes on the suspect pool grows wider and deeper. The twisty plot contains guilt, a multitude of secrets and accompanying lies and it’s an intriguing puzzle working out who exactly is hiding what.

As ever, the beautiful island of Jersey is used very effectively throughout the book and I enjoy the focus on the wartime occupation years. This is a story of a chain reaction, one action that has a snowball effect which leads to tragedy in the present day.

Overall, another enjoyable read with a good ending. I’m looking forward to the next instalment!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.