‘Beneath The Ashes’ by Jane Isaac

The floor felt hard beneath her face. Nancy opened her eyes. Blinked several times. A pain seared through her head. She could feel fluid. No. She was lying in fluid.

When a body is discovered in a burnt-out barn in the Warwickshire countryside, DI Will Jackman is called to investigate.

Nancy Faraday wakes up on the kitchen floor. The house has been broken into and her boyfriend is missing. As the case unravels, DI Jackman realises that nothing is quite as it appears and everyone, it seems, has a secret.

Can he discover the truth behind the body in the fire, and track down the killer before Nancy becomes the next victim?

This is the second novel in the series featuring DI Will Jackman.  The first novel in the series is called ‘Before It’s Too Late’ and it became a best seller when it was published last year.  I loved ‘Before It’s Too Late’ and I just knew that I would love this one too.  I was not to be disappointed.

When you pick up a book by Jane Isaac, you are guaranteed a fantastic read with an attention to detail that is second to none.  So it is with this book.  The author has clearly got an interest in the intricacies of police procedure and this really does shine through.  The author certainly knows how to draw you into the story, as I was hooked from the very first word on the very first page and I wasn’t ‘released’ until the very last word on the very last page.  I almost felt as though I was an invisible member of the investigating team and I was ‘right there with them’ so to speak.

Characterwise, again I love the character of DI Will Jackman.  When he works on a case, you just know that he is going to do his best to solve it, get to the truth and also he will do his utmost to seek justice for the family of the victims.  He is dedicated to his work but he is also dedicated to his family.  He has his work/ life balance just right.  I don’t want to say too much as I don’t want to spoil the book for anyone but there has been a tragedy within his personal life that has deeply affected him.  Added to that, Will is also a dog lover and he has a black Labrador himself, which certainly endeared him to me, as I have two beautiful yellow Labradors myself.

I really did enjoy reading ‘Beneath The Ashes’ and I found that reading this book was just like going on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and stomach churning moments.  Just when you think that you can have a rest and catch your breath, then off you go again.  I thought that I had worked out who the murderer is but no I was wrong and I was sent down another path altogether.  This fantastic book certainly kept me guessing.  I found that it was a real ‘CPID’ (can’t put it down) book and it was almost as if the pages were turning themselves.  Before I knew it I had finished the book.  I can’t wait to read the next book in the DI Will Jackman series, but thankfully I don’t have long to wait as the next book is called ‘The Lies Within’ and is due to be released on the 2nd May 2017.

I would definitely recommend this book to others and I give it a solid 5 stars.