It is my first read by Charlotte Philby and I am glad I discovered her.
Dirty money is set in London. It brings together Madeleine, a government operative, with Ramona, a former investigative journalist turned private detective. Madeleine is elegant and a bit stiff. Ramona is all the opposite. Both have great investigative talent. When their two investigations collide, it produces a spark of success and creates an unexpected but great partnership between two women who have been hurt by life and don't trust anyone, but have learned to trust each other.
The plot finds inspiration into headlines we are unfortunately all used to see in the press, and it makes the story vivid and realistic. The characters are sharp and interesting and the writing really brings all facets of London to life.
The story starts in a slow way, with many details being thrown in. Some readers may find it a little challenging to get into it, but I found it very realistic. Working on an investigation really does feel like that at the beginning. There are many facts, many leads, many different people and it takes time to work all these out into anything conclusive. For me, Charlotte Philby illustrated this perfectly at the start of the book and I could not tear myself away from it because the pace accelerates as the pages turn up to a shocking conclusion.
I was glad to find out this book is part of a series and I cannot wait to read more about who Madeleine and Ramona will go after in the next novel.

Thank you to Netgalley and John Murray Press, Baskerville, for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

Having hugely enjoyed Charlotte Philby’s earlier novels, I was delighted to be offered ‘Dirty Money’ as a free ARC by the publishers and NetGalley in return for the unbiased book review that now follows. This is clearly designed to be the first in a series of thrillers featuring an investigative journalist turned private eye by the name of Ramona Chang and an acclaimed government official, Detective Sergeant Madeleine Farrow. Each women is initially investigating her own thread – Ramona an escort agency, Madeleine a corruption case – until they realise, during a chance meeting, that there is a way for them to join forces. How these two unlikely allies – East End bedsit resident Ramona and affluent Madeleine who is twice her age – fare in contemporary London is well imagined and described on the page by Charlotte Philby. What emerges along with Ramona’s and Madeleine’s investigations is a searing, honest portrait of our capital city London, its wealth and its poverty its ethical highs and amoral lows. For me, Philby depicted contemporary London so well that it became a third principal characters alongside the two fearless women. A fantastic novel – read it if you can!

This is the first in a new crime thriller series featuring the detective duo of Madeleine Farrow and Ramona Chang. The characters in this book are relatable and engaging.

Due to health issues cannot not but will write a proper review at a later time
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Fast-paced and twisty.

Two storylines running side by side, and then they begin collide.

What follows is complicated and dangerous.

Cleverly plotted, despite the numerous characters, I found the story easy to follow and I hope to see more of the two main characters in another book.

First book in this series that I’ve read but think it would have helped to have read in order and to better understand back story

I quite enjoyed this book. It grabbed me from the start. I recognise some of the places mentioned and I could relate to them. It was a page turner.

A slow start but once you get to know the characters you're drawn into different worlds where 2 women look to support each other whilst solving different crimes.
The characters are likeable and although completely different are believable.
Enjoy reading!

Dirty Money is an enthralling and intelligent crime thriller that masterfully intertwines two gripping investigations led by two compelling female protagonists. Charlotte Philby crafts a layered and immersive narrative, exposing the murky intersections of power, corruption, and exploitation in modern London.

Ramona Chang, a former investigative journalist turned private investigator, is a woman on the fringes of society—living under an assumed identity, recovering from addiction, and determined to fight for the underdog. Her latest case—a disturbing encounter with a so-called "sugar daddy" service that preys on young women—pulls her back into dangerous territory. Meanwhile, Madeleine Farrow, a seasoned Detective Sergeant in the Serious Crimes Investigation Department (SCID), is tackling a high-stakes money laundering case involving an elite Kazakh family with deep political and financial ties. Though they come from vastly different worlds, their paths collide, forcing them into a tenuous but necessary partnership.

Philby excels in her portrayal of London as a city of stark contrasts—Madeleine’s world of high-pressure offices, political elites, and law enforcement secrecy is sharply juxtaposed with Ramona’s gritty existence among recovering addicts and the city’s underbelly. This dual setting enriches the story, highlighting the economic and moral disparities that shape both women’s investigations.

The dynamic between Ramona and Madeleine is one of the novel’s strongest elements. Their relationship is built on a mutual understanding of isolation and determination, despite their differences in age, privilege, and experience. They respect each other’s skills while navigating the uneasy waters of trust and self-preservation. Philby’s nuanced character development ensures that both women feel deeply human—flawed, resourceful, and driven by a sense of justice that often places them in peril.

Dirty Money is a slow-burn thriller that rewards patience, offering a richly detailed and socially conscious take on the crime genre. The narrative unfolds methodically, allowing for deep character exploration before ramping up into a tense and compelling climax. While the financial crime elements might feel dense at times, they add an authentic complexity to the story, making it all the more immersive.

For those who enjoy crime fiction that blends meticulous plotting with strong female leads and a sharp critique of institutional corruption, Dirty Money is a must-read. With its razor-sharp prose, atmospheric storytelling, and an electrifying duo at its core, this novel marks the beginning of what promises to be an exceptional new detective series. I eagerly await what’s next for Farrow and Chang.

Thank you NetGalley for the review copy! The book starts – and continues – with two stories, which do come together to some extent from the mid-point of the book. I found it irritating when I reached a point in one story to then switch into the other storyline – without any connection. I’m sorry to say that I didn’t find it gripping and had to push myself to complete the read to fulfil what I see as a commitment to review. There are some patches of enjoyable reading and description, but for me, it didn’t hang together enough to take me through enthusiastically to the end. I feel there is a good novel in here somewhere, but it needs a heathy edit/rewrite to make more compelling.

An interesting read. Ramona Chang, a former journalist, now private detective, teams up with DS Madeline Farrow to try and bring down an overlapping trafficking and escort agency.
The novel is pretty slow paced until almost the end. However, as this is the first in a series, it is important to get all the background stuff out of the way. That done, I'm sure Book 2 onwards will appeal more to the casual reader.

Too much of a very slow- burn for me, this book failed to maintain my interest. I could not connect with the characters unfortunately .
I understand that this is the first novel in a series, so maybe the next book will be stronger.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

Dirty Money is a fantastic female detective story with two contrasting characters who work to tease out the story amongst the bustling, smoggy backdrop of London.

Ramona Chang had echoes of a Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the dragon tattoo) character for me, she was a woman who was willing to dig to find out the truth, fight for injustices and the underdog at personal risk to herself as she skirted on the edge of society and interacting with it.

Setting is used as a great vehicle in the story, the bustling office with its high pressured environment of Madeleine Farrow's workplace as she mingles with political bigwigs and police and the darker streets and blurred boundaries of Ramona's London with group therapy meetings and recovering addicts.

I really warmed to both characters, which is unusual for me and I was eagerly following their storylines trying to work out just how they would find each other. It was nice that there was a hint of a backstory (not fully explained) but that added enough depth to their relationship that you knew they were looking out for each other whilst mutually using each other to their own benefit.

The central story themes are very topical, with exploitation, trafficking and abuse being explored. The most refreshing thing about this novel, it was drawn out, I loved that the tension built, that the characters were developed over several pages rather than the high romp thrillers you are often presented with, it felt more of a literary crime / thriller and I really immersed myself into that as a writing style.

A really refreshing take on the crime/thriller/detective genre, with two strong female narratives and excited to see what Chang and Farrow have in store next!

Ramona Chang is setting out as a PI in London after a traumatic end to her investigative journalism career. She's changed her name, home and appearance to keep herself safe from the organised crime gang she exposed. Madeleine Farrow is a DI who works on special crimes, often abroad. She's recently returned from a job where she exposed sex trafficking of very young boys. Taking time out to recharge, she's working on a case that ends up overlapping with Ramona's and they work together. Danger, jeopardy, worlds colliding. #netgalley #DirtyMoney

I've read a few Charlotte Philby books after being given one by secret Santa a few years ago.
I found this one to be different. It's the first book in a new series about two strong female characters, doing the right thing. One legally, in her job in SCID (serious crime investigations) and one undercover, as a former journalist.
It took me a while to get into it, and get to grips with it flicking from Ramona to Madeleine, but I enjoyed it. The characters have a solid story and it was nice to get to know them.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Money laundering and a dating agency - who would have thought they could have anything in common, however Ms Philby did and it makes for a good story. First book featuring Farrow and Chang who are two strong, tenacious females with their own ghosts at times but that doesn't stop them. Certainly a thriller from a different outlook and I look forward to the next in the series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC to review.

3 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for this Ebook ARC in return for an honest review.

This is my first book by Charlotte Philby, Dirty Money follows the POV of Ramona Chang, who was an investigative journalist, and Madeleine Farrow, who is a DI part of the SCID.

I usually like crime series but this one felt really slow and didn't really grap/pull me in, I didn't really care what happened to the main characters and/or if they caught the 'bad guys'

This is the first in this crime series, so maybe the next one will pull me in, but who knows. If you like crime series and you're new to that sort of book, it will make a good entry level, but I think there are others that hold your attention more.

Ramona Chang hides in plain sight. Her last case as an investigative journalist took down a crime syndicate but left her hunted. Reinventing herself as a private investigator, Ramona investigates a predatory website that targets students. What she uncovers means she needs help from someone with official contacts. Madeline Farrow is a security operative who works on high-profile crime investigations that often take her into the darkest areas of criminal activity. Returning from a successful but emotionally damaging case, she becomes involved in another operation that demands all her skills, but she needs the skills of an unorthodox investigator. I like the complex characters and authentic, compelling cases. The fast pacing and the dynamic between the two protagonists make this a riveting read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Newly back from Vietnam and a successful operation to expose a child exploitation ring, Madeleine Farrow realises that she is now 50. She is placed in charge of an operation involving money laundering and a prominent Kazakh family. Ramona Chang is in hiding, her last scoop exposed a crime gang and placed a target on her back. She lives off-line under an assumed name and is scraping together a living as a private detective. Both have worked together in the past and joining forces they try to solve their two cases.
I quite liked Philby's last book but I really liked this one! There's a great modern twist to this with international money laundering clashing against police corruption and the killing of those that get in the way. The two protagonists are different but both work well and the supporting cast is varied and well-defined. I hope there are more Farrow and Chang books as there is mileage in the duo.

Dirty Money is the first book in the Farrow & Chang series by Charlotte Philby.
In short, DS Madeleine Farrow and rookie Private Investigator, Ramona Chang are both working on personal cases but when their cases collide, the unlikely allies team up to get justice for the multiple victims of corruption and exposure.
This is the second book I’ve read and enjoyed by Charlotte. With ‘Dirty Money’ I did wonder where the connection was between these two very different characters as there were two different plot lines going on but when the strands eventually came together and the pace shifted up a gear the storyline came together in a satisfying ending. I look forward to reading more from this duo.
Big thanks to Charlotte Philby, John Murray Press and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.