Sharp, fresh, relevant and pacy. A gripping race through the glamour and grit of London with the smart female detective duo we’ve all been waiting for. A smashing start to a brilliant new series. More, please, and soon.

Unfortunately I just couldn't get on board with this book. I read about the first five chapters and felt like it was still very much set up and that I hadn't been hooked enough to keep reading. It's a shame because I absolutely loved Charlotte Philby's, The End of Summer, but this had a completely different feel and just wasn't for me.

Dirty Money by Charlotte Philby is a gripping and fast-paced thriller that delves into the dark, complex world of financial crime and corruption. Philby crafts a story filled with tension, betrayal, and moral ambiguity, following characters caught up in dangerous schemes that blur the lines between right and wrong. The novel explores themes of power, greed, and trust, keeping readers on edge as the plot unfolds with unexpected twists and turns. With its intricate plotting and well-drawn characters, Dirty Money offers a suspenseful and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of crime fiction and thrillers. It’s a compelling look at how far people will go for wealth and the secrets that come with it.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 13th Feb 2025. This was the first book I’ve read from this author and I can’t wait to read more!

This book was gripping, fast- paced and intense! I liked the characters they were well written. Ramona Chang and Detective Sergeant Madeleine Farrow were a great duo!

Looking forward to the next instalment of this duo!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars

Hooked by the synopsis alone. Well written thriller with cunning twists featuring a new duo of female leads to engage you. This is first of a series and after reading this I will be looking for the next instalment

Charlotte Philby has made the right move from journalism and editing into being a novelist. She has a real flair for writing and I’ve been totally gripped by this detective thriller. Two main central characters are female, flawed but work so well together. One, a woman of some fifty years is an experienced police officer, the other a young private investigator who’s been in hiding. The first part f the story sets the scene with these two characters until they end up working together. They’re impeccable together with unique insights and it’s clear that Charlotte has used her personal experiences as an investigative journalist to add authenticity to the plot. Her writing is fresh and fast paced. You want to keep reading and as most of the action centres in London, this feels very real and up to the minute. Clever and careful plotting keep the story moving and I absolutely loved this.

I loved this book. Madeleine works for the police and is assigned to an international money-laundering case, but finds that her investigation gets blocked by her superiors. She engages Ramona, a former journalist, now private detective, to help her. The two women had previously worked together, and have experienced corruption and violence, but they trust one another despite their different backgrounds. The plot is fast-paced and exciting, but the highlight of the book are these two main characters.
I haven't read Charlotte Philby's books before so am very pleased at this introduction.
Reommended

The first of a series featuring this crime fighting duo. I think it is a good combo that augurs well for the rest of the series.
D.S. Madeleine Farrow comes from rather a privileged background but forms a good sort of investigative team with Romana a feisty journalist from the opposite end of the social spectrum who was forced to quit her job and change name after helping to convict someone very nasty.
The first third of the book has the two characters each doing their own investigations into dodgy Russian money and a possible sex scam respectively.
Then their investigations overlap and they help each other out.
Ramona also has to battle previous alcohol addiction but Madeleine had an affluent but unloving upbringing so that they are both uncomfortable in their skins.
Loved the character of Madeleine’s brother who reminds me of Boris Johnson and is nothing but trouble for her sister.
There was not too much detail about financial trickery so that it was an easy read although things seemed to get sorted out quite suddenly at the end. A bit too quick perhaps. But it was very enjoyable and I look forward to the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the ARC.

A really enjoyable detective thriller. Very glad that this is the first of a series - I look forward to hearing more from these characters.

In this gritty North London thriller, a former investigative journalist turned PI, Ramona Chang, teams up with seasoned Detective Inspector Madeleine Farrow. Ramona’s latest case has hit a dead end, and Madeleine is fresh off a major trafficking investigation. Despite their differences, they realize they can help each other—Ramona working undercover on the fringes, and Madeleine operating within the law. Together, they seek justice for those betrayed by the system. The writing is sharp, the characters compelling, and this series promises to deliver.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A really good read. I particularly liked the characters. The pairing of the two women, if they are to be the heroines of further books shows a lot of promise for the future. The story is fast paced and thoroughly enjoyable.

I usually love a first in a series but this was not for me. I found the start good but soon found myself distracted and wavering in concentration and eventually giving up after having read 25%. Dnf

Two seemingly unlikely heroes team up in the form of former investigative journalist turned private eye, Ramona Chang and experienced cop Detective Sergeant Madeleine Farrow. Together they seek to do justice in their own inimitable manners in this gritty North London based thriller which really thrills.

The writing is terse and the characters well drawn and the series really has legs.

A good start by an excellent writer.