‘Force of Hate’ by Graham Bartlett

Published by Allison & Busby,
23 March 2023.
ISBN: 978-0-7490-2867-1 (HB)

And here comes the second in what I would imagine, all fans of the police procedural genre will be hoping is the start of a long series featuring Detective Superintendent Jo Howe.

In this one Howe has been visiting a resident in a care home and accidentally stumbles across a suspicious string of deaths.

Meanwhile as illegal immigration is rife in the town of Brighton, where the story is set, Jo Howe suspects the new council member, a very far right wing counsellor may well be making the most of the problem and feathering his own selfish nest.

Then a traveller’s camp is fire-bombed killing women and children.

When DSI Jo Howe decides to investigate further, she finds many walls blocking her way, including her own Chief Constable. He even goes as far as moving her to another position to stop her prying. However, Jo Howe is strong minded and now with the strong evidence she is collecting, she ignores all orders and goes off to get to the bottom of what this ruthless politician is doing. Her own life is put into mortal danger as she throws herself to the lions to save the lives of the vulnerable, but can she save a town full of people when the worst possible scenario is right in front of all their eyes.

This is an unputdownable read. I read it in one sitting. Another bonus, too, is that Bartlett is an ex-member of the police force so we know we are in safe hands with the way the police procedural works in this area. Added to that, Bartlett is a very talented writer, of course he knows his technicalities, but he is great with characterisation and knows how to build suspense. I very much look forward to his next Jo Howe outing. And if you are a police procedural fan, this one is not to be missed. An excellent read. Five very large stars from me.  
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Reviewer: Linda Regan
www.LindaReganonline.co.uk

Graham Bartlett was a police officer for thirty years, mainly policed the city of Brighton and Hove. He rose to become a Chief Superintendent and its police commander. He started writing when he left the police in 2013 and, almost by accident, became a police procedural and crime advisor, helping scores of authors and TV writers to achieve authenticity in their drama. Graham runs online crime writing workshops and courses with the Professional Writing Academy and deliver inputs to Masters programmes at the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia as well as at the Crime Writing Certificate programme at West Dean College. He I live in Sussex with his wife Julie. His debut crime novel, Bad for Good was published 23 June 2022.

Linda Regan is the author of nine crime novels. She is also an actor. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader and welcomes the chance to read new writers. 

  To read a review of Linda's most recent book, click on the title
 The Burning Question

www.lindareganonline.co.uk