‘Before It’s Too Late’ by Jane Isaac

Published by Legend Press,
1 July 2015.
ISBN: 978-1-9103946-1-8

Following an argument with her boyfriend, Chinese student Min Li leaves the pub alone in high dudgeon. But Min Li does not reach home. She awakes in suffocating darkness and gradually becomes aware that she is alone in a deep pit.

Although currently dealing with a murder case, Detective Inspector Will Jackman is assigned to the case which is classed as ‘high profile’. Superintendent Alison Janus doesn’t want the press suggesting a serial killer is stalking the streets of picturesque Stratford-upon-Avon.

The background of the story is told in first person narrative by Min Li as she lies trapped in the darkness, with little food and growing ever weaker.  The narration of her plight is interspersed with the ongoing investigation as Will Jackman and his team try to locate the missing girl.  Contact with her family in Hong Kong proves difficult, because of language and cultural problems. Chinese do not like dealing with the police preferring to handle matters themselves, which greatly complicates Will’s efforts to find Min Li.

Will’s situation is shadowed by a personal tragedy which has put a question mark in the minds of his superiors as to his ability to do his job well, which both frustrates and hampers his investigation.  When a second student is abducted the pressure mounts to find the kidnapper.

With good characterisation, the story moves a cracking pace as time runs out to find both students alive. And like all good detective stories there is an unexpected twist at the end. Highly recommended.

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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

Jane Isaac lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire, UK. Her debut novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, was nominated as best mystery in the 'eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013.' The Truth Will Out was nominated as 'Thriller of the Month - April 2014' by E-thriller.com and winner of 'Noveltunity book club selection - May 2014'. Jane's latest title, Before It's Too Late, will be published by Legend Press on the 1st of June 2015.
Jane loves to hear from readers and writers. Visit her website at www.janeisaac.co.uk , where you can email her through the contacts page or peruse her blog, 'Caffeine's Not a Crime'.

www.janeisaac.co.uk