#BecauseSheLookedAway #NetGalley This is the first in a new police procedural series featuring D'S Ronnie Blake. It starts off slow whilst the characters and plot are being established. Once it gets going there is plenty of action, twists and turns and the odd red herring. Easy to read and kept my interest. I look forward to reading more in this series . A great start to the series.

Because She Looked Away is the first book in the new Ronnie Blake series by Alison Bruce.
In short, after the death of her sister DS Ronnie Blake relocates to Cambridge to help her brother Alex raise their sister’s young son. Ronnie joins a small team of detectives known as the DEAD team to investigate a possible link between a convicted fraudster, a dead academic…and Ronnie’s sister Jodie! And there begins the unraveling of a dark and twisty, emotional investigation.
This is the first book I’ve read by Alison Bruce and I look forward to reading more from her, especially this new series.
Because She Looked Away is a clever, taut & twisty plot page turner…a gripping tale of murder and mystery and a cracking start to a new series. I particularly liked the connection between Ronnie & Malachi and look forward to see how their characters develop through future cases.
Big thanks to Alison Bruce, Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for this eARC which I chose to read in return for my honest review.

After the death of her sister, DI Ronnie Blake has relocated from London to work in Cambridge and share custody of her nephew with her brother. However, on her first Day Ronnie is surprised to be called in to an interview with a specialist team who believe her sister's death is linked to a blackmail scam. As Ronnie digs down, she joins the team and finds that sometimes the most obvious isn't the truth.
I found myself voraciously rushing through this book as it is an exciting read. That surprised me as I found the plot wildly complex and one that didn't really hang together. The main thing though is that this is a terrific police procedural and introduces some interesting characters who I look forward to reading about in the next instalment.

I really enjoyed this book. I like a good detective story and this one did not disappoint. The characters were all really good and the story was well written and held my interest all the way through. I definitely recommend it.

This is the 1st in a new series from Alison Bruce, some of you may be familiar with her DC Gary Goodhew series, her new protagonist is DS Ronnie (Veronica) Blake, a woman with a troubling background. To add to her burdens, she is there when her sister, Jodie, commits suicide, driving her decision to leave the Met and relocate to Cambridge, to help look after Jodie's young son, Noah, with her brother, Alex. Her arrival at Parkside Police Station does not go to plan, Ronnie is reminded of her reputation for working alone, guarding her caseload, not helping others and them not helping her. To her consternation, she finds herself being interviewed by the DEAD team (Special Investigations Team for the Eastern Region), headed by DI John Fenton.

Fenton's team is working on Operation Byron, struggling until an anonymous tip off comes in linking Jodie's name with 2 others comes in, this surprises Ronnie and arouses her curiosity, a bright Jodie had won a scholarship to St Eldith's college, but had left the city under some disturbing and dark circumstances early in her time there. Having such a close relationship with someone being looked into places Ronnie in a rather awkward position, but this does not dissuade her search for answers. In a chilling and murky narrative, which has deeply personal implications for Ronnie, she works closely with the team's Malachi Henry, there are numerous shocking twists and turns, the team joins with a separate DCI Beeton inquiry, taking in murder, horrifying assaults, and victims of an extortion racket.

The experienced and talented Bruce weaves a superbly multilayered and complex mystery that had me completely gripped and immersed, biting my nails at the increasing levels of suspense and tension, right up to the thrilling conclusions. Her plotting is stellar, and I am delighted that she has returned us to the mean streets of an atmospheric and ancient Cambridge, a city where so much simmers beneath the surface. Ronnie is an instant winner with her complicated character and traumatic background, and I cannot wait for the next in this promising new series. Highly recommended. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Because She Looked Away is the first in a promising new series featuring DS Ronnie (never Veronica) Blake. The former Met detective relocates to Cambridge following the suicide of her sister to look after her nephew. Her family history is full of tragedy; this the latest installment.

Ronnie finds herself sidelined by her new boss but establishes a link to her sister's death and a hint that there may have been something more than the obvious. And when she finds out that several other cases have been linked by a special team, she wants in. Of course, conflict of interest means she can't investigate directly, but there are creative ways around that.

The case becomes more and more complex, and as new facts are discovered they seem to cloud rather than resolve the situation. Ronnie and her new team attempt to figure it out, while Ronnie wonders who she can trust and how far.

The novel starts slowly and feels a little confusing before the investigation proper starts, when to becomes a compelling read. Ronnie Blake is a strong lead, with personal motivations and professional pride driving her. The conclusion is a fitting ending to a good novel.

Because She Looked Away is the first book in a new series by Alison Bruce featuring DS Ronnie Blake and it is a hugely enjoyable police procedural thriller with a number of twists and turns along with the odd red herring.

This feels like a series that I already want to read more about so roll on book number 2.

Definitely recommended.

This is the first in a very promising new series, set in Cambridge and featuring DS Detective Veronica Blake. I really liked the characters and could empathise with Veronica as she gets caught up investigating the death of her sister. It's full of twists and excellent characterisation, as well as being fast paced with a well thought out ending. looking forward to more in this series. thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I am a big fan of this author's Gary Goodhew series so it was a no brainer that I would jump on this book as soon as I saw it available. And I wasn't disappointed!
In this, the series opener, we meet Ronnie Blake. She is a detective who has relocated from the Met to Cambridge for personal reasons. On her first day back however, she is called into the office of her superior and told that she is to remain on leave for occupational health reasons. But that she is needed to give evidence as a witness to an ongoing case - the aforementioned personal reasons she was signed off for! Long story short but the suicide of her sister might actually be more than meets the eye and her help is needed to investigate. It's part of a way bigger series of incidents. She then manages to inveigle herself into the team investigating, the wonderfully nicknamed DEAD team...
And so begins a rather twisty turny interconnected investigation which kept me on my toes throughout, spitting me out at the end exhausted from chasing my tail.
I really did have to have my wits about me every step of the way! Plot wise, not character wise I hasten to add, that was the easy part! The characters were all well drawn and all played their parts well, major and minor alike.
And with no unnecessary waffle or padding, the story gets on with itself very well indeed, pace matching action all the way through. Ramping up to the rather satisfying ending.
All in all, a cracking series opener, leaving me intrigued as to what is next for Ronnie. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.