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Robin Lyons #2
Risk of Harm
The gripping new crime thriller from the bestselling author of Before We Met and Critical Incidents
Robin Lyons is back in her hometown of Birmingham and now a DCI with Force Homicide, working directly under Samir, the man who broke her heart almost twenty years ago.
When a woman is found stabbed to death in a derelict factory and no one comes forward to identify the body, Robin and her team must not only hunt for the murderer, but also solve the mystery of who their victim might be.
As Robin and Samir come under pressure from their superiors, from the media and from far-right nationalists with a dangerous agenda, tensions in Robin's own family threaten to reach breaking point. And when a cold case from decades ago begins to smoulder and another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, rumours of a serial killer begin to spread.
In order to get to the truth Robin will need to discover where loyalty ends and duty begins. But before she can trust, she is going to have to forgive – and that means grappling with some painful home truths.
Robin Lyons is back in her hometown of Birmingham and now a DCI with Force Homicide, working directly under Samir, the man who broke her heart almost twenty years ago.
When a woman is found stabbed to death in a derelict factory and no one comes forward to identify the body, Robin and her team must not only hunt for the murderer, but also solve the mystery of who their victim might be.
As Robin and Samir come under pressure from their superiors, from the media and from far-right nationalists with a dangerous agenda, tensions in Robin's own family threaten to reach breaking point. And when a cold case from decades ago begins to smoulder and another woman is found dead in similar circumstances, rumours of a serial killer begin to spread.
In order to get to the truth Robin will need to discover where loyalty ends and duty begins. But before she can trust, she is going to have to forgive – and that means grappling with some painful home truths.
432 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2021
37 people are currently reading
288 people want to read
About the author
Lucie Whitehouse
16 books394 followersLucie Whitehouse was born in the Cotswolds in 1975 and grew up in Warwickshire. She studied Classics at Oxford University and then began a career in publishing while spending evenings, weekends and holidays working on the book that would eventually become THE HOUSE AT MIDNIGHT.
Having married in 2011, she now divides her time between the UK and Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband. She writes full time and has contributed features to the Times, the Sunday Times, the Independent, Elle and Red Magazine.
Having married in 2011, she now divides her time between the UK and Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband. She writes full time and has contributed features to the Times, the Sunday Times, the Independent, Elle and Red Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
May 17, 2021
Lucie Whitehouse's crime thriller is a engaging and exciting read, set in Birmingham and featuring DCI Robin Lyons, a transplant from the London Met, returning to her home town, with a complicated professional and personal life. Her boss is DCS Samir Jafferi, the love of her teenage years, a love affair that ended traumatically, which she now understands the reasons for, and responsible for recruiting her to Force Homicide. A single mother to daughter Lennie, her best friend Corinna was murdered, and she feels on the outside of her family circle, her brother Luke is at the centre, in her eyes her parents favourite, especially her mother. Luke has unpalatable political views, is a all round nasty piece of work, emanating pure hatred towards Robin, and feels no compunction in betraying her and trying to destroy her police career, and is exhibiting mental health issues after marital pressures.
There has been a spate of knife killings that have put pressure on the police, the latest is a young white woman found stabbed to death in a derelict factory. There is no identification on the body, and all efforts to find out who she is result in nothing, even national inquiries bring no answers, how is it possible that no-one anywhere recognises her? In the meantime, a sickening febrile climate begins to build in the multicultural city, exacerbated by the likes of the confident and self assured Ben Tyrell, espousing far right views, anti-immigrant, gathering an increasing number of dangerous supporters, just waiting to ignite community tensions with his politically skewed viewpoints, problematic conclusions, and undermining of the police. Then another woman is found killed with a similar MO and not far from where the first victim was discovered. Are the cases linked? With the media frenzy and tabloid interest in Robin's personal life, the pressures of family issues, and a despairing tragedy, Robin feels the heat as she tries to get to the truth of the murders.
Whitehouse's central protagonist, Robin is a flawed character, guilty of not paying enough attention to Lennie, who dislikes having to stay home alone, although Lennie has been building a close circle of friends. It is Lennie who hits too close to the bone in her analysis of Robin's behaviour when it comes to her personal relationships that appear doomed from the beginning, sparking a greater self awareness of what motivates her in her personal life. Personally, I don't know how Robin puts up with Luke, although her insecurities when it comes her family probably do not help, and her mother's iron hold on family members is made transparent as she directs events from her hospital bed. I found this a wonderfully intense, complex and thrilling crime read that I didn't want to end, with plenty of suspense, and I am hoping there is a sequel soon. Many thanks to HarperCollins 4th Estate for an ARC.
There has been a spate of knife killings that have put pressure on the police, the latest is a young white woman found stabbed to death in a derelict factory. There is no identification on the body, and all efforts to find out who she is result in nothing, even national inquiries bring no answers, how is it possible that no-one anywhere recognises her? In the meantime, a sickening febrile climate begins to build in the multicultural city, exacerbated by the likes of the confident and self assured Ben Tyrell, espousing far right views, anti-immigrant, gathering an increasing number of dangerous supporters, just waiting to ignite community tensions with his politically skewed viewpoints, problematic conclusions, and undermining of the police. Then another woman is found killed with a similar MO and not far from where the first victim was discovered. Are the cases linked? With the media frenzy and tabloid interest in Robin's personal life, the pressures of family issues, and a despairing tragedy, Robin feels the heat as she tries to get to the truth of the murders.
Whitehouse's central protagonist, Robin is a flawed character, guilty of not paying enough attention to Lennie, who dislikes having to stay home alone, although Lennie has been building a close circle of friends. It is Lennie who hits too close to the bone in her analysis of Robin's behaviour when it comes to her personal relationships that appear doomed from the beginning, sparking a greater self awareness of what motivates her in her personal life. Personally, I don't know how Robin puts up with Luke, although her insecurities when it comes her family probably do not help, and her mother's iron hold on family members is made transparent as she directs events from her hospital bed. I found this a wonderfully intense, complex and thrilling crime read that I didn't want to end, with plenty of suspense, and I am hoping there is a sequel soon. Many thanks to HarperCollins 4th Estate for an ARC.
May 16, 2021
DCI Robin Lyons is back in her home town of Birmingham working with Force Homicide, her boss is DCS Samir Jafferi with whom she has history. A body of a young woman found stabbed to death in a derelict industrial building challenges the force considerably especially to establish her identity. The case is not solve fast enough for their superiors, one of which is definitely not on Robin’s side.
The novel starts very slowly indeed and although it’s true to say that Robin has a dark back story and certainly has her demons this is overplayed in my opinion and overwhelms the really interesting mystery of the dead girl. If you add in her strained relationship with her family in particular her brother Luke plus an awful lot of time given over to mother/daughter chats which results in the plot getting bogged down and my head ends up spinning.
There are however some good themes beneath the personal stuff , there’s a racism angle with some fist curling, teeth gritting rants from a far right group which leads to some tense scenes and puts more pressure on the Birmingham force I’m several ways. The mystery girl storyline is an interesting one which deepens and deepens as evidence is pieced together and results in an exploitation link and spreading the investigation far and wide. This is the best part of the novel and I really enjoy this section of the plot.
Overall, there is a good story in here but you have to wade through a lot of over detail to get to it.
With thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for the arc in return for an honest review.
The novel starts very slowly indeed and although it’s true to say that Robin has a dark back story and certainly has her demons this is overplayed in my opinion and overwhelms the really interesting mystery of the dead girl. If you add in her strained relationship with her family in particular her brother Luke plus an awful lot of time given over to mother/daughter chats which results in the plot getting bogged down and my head ends up spinning.
There are however some good themes beneath the personal stuff , there’s a racism angle with some fist curling, teeth gritting rants from a far right group which leads to some tense scenes and puts more pressure on the Birmingham force I’m several ways. The mystery girl storyline is an interesting one which deepens and deepens as evidence is pieced together and results in an exploitation link and spreading the investigation far and wide. This is the best part of the novel and I really enjoy this section of the plot.
Overall, there is a good story in here but you have to wade through a lot of over detail to get to it.
With thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for the arc in return for an honest review.
May 7, 2021
I’m afraid I got very fed up with Risk Of Harm and gave up.
A young woman is found murdered in a derelict factory in Birmingham. DCI Robin Lyons and her team investigate but have great difficulty in identifying her. And, for a long time, that’s the story, except for the usual tropes about The Press Being All Over This and so on. The rest is all about Robin’s Involved Personal Life and Personal Demons. In the first four, shortish chapters we get: a terrible recent trauma in which her daughter was nearly murdered and which may threaten her objectivity on this case; an immediate boss who is an old flame; a pantomimically useless and sexist Deputy Chief Constable who hates her and insists that she gets a “nice quick solve”; and a difficult relationship with a DI whose case she solved previously and whom she has now beaten to the post of DCI. I was already wondering how much more of this was going to be trowelled on, when – surprise, surprise – there’s her racist brother who has hated her since she was born and is making life very difficult with her family.
I’m afraid this was the point at which I began to crack. Good writers can give us detectives whose personal lives are interesting and believable but which don’t dominate the story with endless, overblown “issues.” (John Rebus, for example, or Manon Bradshaw, to name but two). This sort of heavy-handed stuff just annoys me, I’m afraid. It drowns out the plot with implausible conflicts and pressures everywhere and takes the place of real insight into the human problems which crime causes.
It’s possible that I’m being too harsh and that I have missed a classic piece of crime fiction in the later parts, but I doubt it. I do know that plenty of people will enjoy this and my irritation is a matter of personal taste. Nonetheless, I really couldn’t be doing with Risk Of Harm and personally I can’t recommend it.
(My thanks to 4th Estate for an ARC via NetGalley.)
A young woman is found murdered in a derelict factory in Birmingham. DCI Robin Lyons and her team investigate but have great difficulty in identifying her. And, for a long time, that’s the story, except for the usual tropes about The Press Being All Over This and so on. The rest is all about Robin’s Involved Personal Life and Personal Demons. In the first four, shortish chapters we get: a terrible recent trauma in which her daughter was nearly murdered and which may threaten her objectivity on this case; an immediate boss who is an old flame; a pantomimically useless and sexist Deputy Chief Constable who hates her and insists that she gets a “nice quick solve”; and a difficult relationship with a DI whose case she solved previously and whom she has now beaten to the post of DCI. I was already wondering how much more of this was going to be trowelled on, when – surprise, surprise – there’s her racist brother who has hated her since she was born and is making life very difficult with her family.
I’m afraid this was the point at which I began to crack. Good writers can give us detectives whose personal lives are interesting and believable but which don’t dominate the story with endless, overblown “issues.” (John Rebus, for example, or Manon Bradshaw, to name but two). This sort of heavy-handed stuff just annoys me, I’m afraid. It drowns out the plot with implausible conflicts and pressures everywhere and takes the place of real insight into the human problems which crime causes.
It’s possible that I’m being too harsh and that I have missed a classic piece of crime fiction in the later parts, but I doubt it. I do know that plenty of people will enjoy this and my irritation is a matter of personal taste. Nonetheless, I really couldn’t be doing with Risk Of Harm and personally I can’t recommend it.
(My thanks to 4th Estate for an ARC via NetGalley.)
June 20, 2021
3.5 stars rounded down to 3
Robin Lyons is back in her hometown of Birmingham and is now a DCI with Force Homicide, working under Samir, the man who broke her heart nearly twenty years ago. When a woman is stabbed to death in a derelict factory and no one comes forward to identify the body, Robin and her team must not only hunt for the murderer, but also solve the mystery of who their victim might be. Robin and Samir come under pressure from their superiors, the media and from far-right nationalists with a dangerous agenda. Then a cold case begins to smoulder and another woman is found dead in similar circumstances.
The pace is slow and I did not know that this book was part of a series when I requested the book. Robin's personal life is complex, her backstory and her strained relationship with her family kind of overshadow the investigation into the murders. The characters are well developed and believable.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #4thEstate and the author #LucieWhitehouse for my ARC of #RiskOfHarm in exchange for a honest review.
Robin Lyons is back in her hometown of Birmingham and is now a DCI with Force Homicide, working under Samir, the man who broke her heart nearly twenty years ago. When a woman is stabbed to death in a derelict factory and no one comes forward to identify the body, Robin and her team must not only hunt for the murderer, but also solve the mystery of who their victim might be. Robin and Samir come under pressure from their superiors, the media and from far-right nationalists with a dangerous agenda. Then a cold case begins to smoulder and another woman is found dead in similar circumstances.
The pace is slow and I did not know that this book was part of a series when I requested the book. Robin's personal life is complex, her backstory and her strained relationship with her family kind of overshadow the investigation into the murders. The characters are well developed and believable.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #4thEstate and the author #LucieWhitehouse for my ARC of #RiskOfHarm in exchange for a honest review.
November 2, 2021
A question of identity…
After leaving the Met and returning to her home territory of Birmingham, Robin has joined the local force as number two in Force Homicide, working under her long ago first love, Samir. So when the body of a young girl is found dead in a deserted factory she is tasked with the case. Straight away they hit a problem – there is nothing on the body to identify the girl, and despite public requests no one has come forward to identify her. And then another young woman is found killed, with many similarities in the method. Robin must discover if the two deaths are related and if she is seeking one murderer or two…
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, Critical Incidents, although in my usual way with contemporary crime I had a few reservations: namely, far too much swearing, faux suspense created by that overused trope of something having happened in the past about which the reader is kept in the dark, the equally overused trope of the detective being personally involved in the case and the fact that the book was too long for its content. I’m delighted to say that this one completely avoids two of these issues – the swearing has been toned down to a level where it’s acceptable even to my increasingly prissy taste, and there is no “that day” syndrome in this one.
Unfortunately, the other two issues remain. Robin has a complex personal life (what modern detective hasn’t?) and the book gets so bogged down at points in her personal relationships with her parents, brother, daughter, current and past lovers that the main plot gets lost for lengthy periods. All this personal stuff also makes the book about a hundred pages longer than it needed to be, and if most of it had been cut, this would have been a tighter, tenser, better book. Whitehouse writes very well and her characterisation is great for the most part (the exception being Robin’s teenage daughter who is so cloyingly perfect she ceases to be either likeable or believable). I find Robin’s rather strained but loving relationship with her parents particularly credible and Whitehouse is doing an excellent job of showing Robin and her mother beginning to mend some of the fences between them now that Robin is back in Birmingham. So for the majority of the book all these digressions were no more than mild irritations that I could easily skim through, but in the latter stages once again Robin’s family members become embroiled in her work, and her latent feelings for Samir begin to surface giving us all the usual tedium of sexual tension in the workplace, and my patience wore very thin indeed.
Despite these criticisms, I still think this is shaping up to be one of the best of the current police procedural series. The plot in this one is very good – the story behind the mystery of the murdered girl’s identity is interesting and credible, and the detection element is excellent, showing the painstaking work that goes into proving or disproving each possible theory. Birmingham is one of Britain’s most racially diverse cities with a large, long-established Asian community, and Whitehouse shows it believably as a place where most people rub along fine together, enjoying the cultural mix, but with a minority of vocal and occasionally violent racist groups. This story touches more on race issues than the last one, and Whitehouse comes perilously close to the white bad/everyone else good narrative that is currently fashionable, but she manages not to go too far over the line. I’ve seen quite a few reviews saying Robin isn’t likeable, but I like her so clearly she is! She can be irritatingly blind sometimes about the feelings of the people around her, but that simply makes her normal, and she has a strong sense of justice and of her responsibility to the victims in her cases.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the series develops. If Whitehouse can get a better balance – less personal angst, more focus on the crimes – then I foresee a long and successful career for Robin and I shall be happy to follow along. This works as a standalone in terms of plot, but I’d really recommend reading them in order, starting with Critical Incidents, to get a better understanding of the histories of the recurring characters.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
After leaving the Met and returning to her home territory of Birmingham, Robin has joined the local force as number two in Force Homicide, working under her long ago first love, Samir. So when the body of a young girl is found dead in a deserted factory she is tasked with the case. Straight away they hit a problem – there is nothing on the body to identify the girl, and despite public requests no one has come forward to identify her. And then another young woman is found killed, with many similarities in the method. Robin must discover if the two deaths are related and if she is seeking one murderer or two…
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series, Critical Incidents, although in my usual way with contemporary crime I had a few reservations: namely, far too much swearing, faux suspense created by that overused trope of something having happened in the past about which the reader is kept in the dark, the equally overused trope of the detective being personally involved in the case and the fact that the book was too long for its content. I’m delighted to say that this one completely avoids two of these issues – the swearing has been toned down to a level where it’s acceptable even to my increasingly prissy taste, and there is no “that day” syndrome in this one.
Unfortunately, the other two issues remain. Robin has a complex personal life (what modern detective hasn’t?) and the book gets so bogged down at points in her personal relationships with her parents, brother, daughter, current and past lovers that the main plot gets lost for lengthy periods. All this personal stuff also makes the book about a hundred pages longer than it needed to be, and if most of it had been cut, this would have been a tighter, tenser, better book. Whitehouse writes very well and her characterisation is great for the most part (the exception being Robin’s teenage daughter who is so cloyingly perfect she ceases to be either likeable or believable). I find Robin’s rather strained but loving relationship with her parents particularly credible and Whitehouse is doing an excellent job of showing Robin and her mother beginning to mend some of the fences between them now that Robin is back in Birmingham. So for the majority of the book all these digressions were no more than mild irritations that I could easily skim through, but in the latter stages once again Robin’s family members become embroiled in her work, and her latent feelings for Samir begin to surface giving us all the usual tedium of sexual tension in the workplace, and my patience wore very thin indeed.
Despite these criticisms, I still think this is shaping up to be one of the best of the current police procedural series. The plot in this one is very good – the story behind the mystery of the murdered girl’s identity is interesting and credible, and the detection element is excellent, showing the painstaking work that goes into proving or disproving each possible theory. Birmingham is one of Britain’s most racially diverse cities with a large, long-established Asian community, and Whitehouse shows it believably as a place where most people rub along fine together, enjoying the cultural mix, but with a minority of vocal and occasionally violent racist groups. This story touches more on race issues than the last one, and Whitehouse comes perilously close to the white bad/everyone else good narrative that is currently fashionable, but she manages not to go too far over the line. I’ve seen quite a few reviews saying Robin isn’t likeable, but I like her so clearly she is! She can be irritatingly blind sometimes about the feelings of the people around her, but that simply makes her normal, and she has a strong sense of justice and of her responsibility to the victims in her cases.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the series develops. If Whitehouse can get a better balance – less personal angst, more focus on the crimes – then I foresee a long and successful career for Robin and I shall be happy to follow along. This works as a standalone in terms of plot, but I’d really recommend reading them in order, starting with Critical Incidents, to get a better understanding of the histories of the recurring characters.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
March 11, 2024
My thoughts:
Risk Of Harm is the 2nd book in the series by Lucie Whitehouse featuring Robin Lyons, a disgraced police officer who had to return to her childhood home of Birmingham following her very public dismissal by the Met.
If you follow my blog and reviews then you will know that I am reading all 3 books in this series as part of a “blogathon” with 25 other bloggers and hopefully introducing new readers to this brilliant series.
Risk of Harm follows on about a year after Critical Incidents ended and Robin is now working as a DCI in Force Homicide in Birmingham under Samir Jafferi, the love of her life and the man who broke her heart over 10 years ago.
When a young girl is found brutally murdered in a disused building wrapped in a carpet with no ID, Robin is tasked with finding out who she is, why she died and who killed her. However, within a matter of days, a second body is discovered in almost identical circumstances and there is every possibility they are dealing with a serial killer.
As well as dealing with these vicious murders, Robin is still trying to juggle parenthood with her teenage daughter and fractured relationships with her brother Luke and her parents put her under more pressure.
This is so much more than a police procedural story and the reader follows Robin as she struggles to navigate her way through her complicated life. We learn more about her difficult and often dangerous relationship with her brother Luke who seems to be determined to destroy Robin through misplaced jealousy and his racist opinions.
Lucie Whitehouse tackles some very uncomfortable but important topics in Risk of Harm, including racism, grooming and knife crimes, but I felt these were all dealt with sensitivity and respect.
I eagerly look forward to reading the next book in this series Last Witness which is being published in April 2024.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Risk Of Harm is the 2nd book in the series by Lucie Whitehouse featuring Robin Lyons, a disgraced police officer who had to return to her childhood home of Birmingham following her very public dismissal by the Met.
If you follow my blog and reviews then you will know that I am reading all 3 books in this series as part of a “blogathon” with 25 other bloggers and hopefully introducing new readers to this brilliant series.
Risk of Harm follows on about a year after Critical Incidents ended and Robin is now working as a DCI in Force Homicide in Birmingham under Samir Jafferi, the love of her life and the man who broke her heart over 10 years ago.
When a young girl is found brutally murdered in a disused building wrapped in a carpet with no ID, Robin is tasked with finding out who she is, why she died and who killed her. However, within a matter of days, a second body is discovered in almost identical circumstances and there is every possibility they are dealing with a serial killer.
As well as dealing with these vicious murders, Robin is still trying to juggle parenthood with her teenage daughter and fractured relationships with her brother Luke and her parents put her under more pressure.
This is so much more than a police procedural story and the reader follows Robin as she struggles to navigate her way through her complicated life. We learn more about her difficult and often dangerous relationship with her brother Luke who seems to be determined to destroy Robin through misplaced jealousy and his racist opinions.
Lucie Whitehouse tackles some very uncomfortable but important topics in Risk of Harm, including racism, grooming and knife crimes, but I felt these were all dealt with sensitivity and respect.
I eagerly look forward to reading the next book in this series Last Witness which is being published in April 2024.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 30, 2021
I would like to thank Netgalley and 4th Estate and William Collins for an advance copy of Risk of Harm, the second novel to feature DCI Robin Lyons of the Birmingham Police.
When the body of a young woman stabbed to death is found in a derelict building Robin and the team are given the investigation. They are hampered in their efforts by a lack of identity for the victim and no forensics and it gets worse when a second body is found in similar conditions and the press starts speculating.
I thoroughly enjoyed Risk of Harm which is an engrossing read with an unusual plot. I have not read the previous novel in the series so I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m impressed. It is a substantial novel with a plot that deviates from the norm of link the murders and find the killer. I found it absorbing and surprising in some of the turns it takes, so it kept me on my toes. The plotting is well done with a surprising motive and an international flavour, although I’m not too sure how likely it is as certain potential difficulties were glossed over and there was one glaring coincidence that certainly doesn’t bear close scrutiny. These are minor points, however, in a well conceived and executed procedural.
The investigation is only half the story in this novel as the there is also the drama surrounding Robin’s personal life, which is also of great interest to the tabloids. Her boss, DCS Samir Jafferi, was her schooldays boyfriend, her latest boyfriend is another old school friend, her daughter is a teenager (enough said) and her poor relationship with her brother is deteriorating further. It’s all go, but none of it seems forced, unbelievable or outrageous and it adds another dimension to Robin’s character.
The author does a great job of highlighting the simmering undercurrent of violent racism and white nationalism that exists in Britain today and does try to explain the rationale behind it. No, it didn’t convert me but I like that she tried and I liked even better the way she nailed the mindset and the danger of it.
Risk of Harm is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
When the body of a young woman stabbed to death is found in a derelict building Robin and the team are given the investigation. They are hampered in their efforts by a lack of identity for the victim and no forensics and it gets worse when a second body is found in similar conditions and the press starts speculating.
I thoroughly enjoyed Risk of Harm which is an engrossing read with an unusual plot. I have not read the previous novel in the series so I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m impressed. It is a substantial novel with a plot that deviates from the norm of link the murders and find the killer. I found it absorbing and surprising in some of the turns it takes, so it kept me on my toes. The plotting is well done with a surprising motive and an international flavour, although I’m not too sure how likely it is as certain potential difficulties were glossed over and there was one glaring coincidence that certainly doesn’t bear close scrutiny. These are minor points, however, in a well conceived and executed procedural.
The investigation is only half the story in this novel as the there is also the drama surrounding Robin’s personal life, which is also of great interest to the tabloids. Her boss, DCS Samir Jafferi, was her schooldays boyfriend, her latest boyfriend is another old school friend, her daughter is a teenager (enough said) and her poor relationship with her brother is deteriorating further. It’s all go, but none of it seems forced, unbelievable or outrageous and it adds another dimension to Robin’s character.
The author does a great job of highlighting the simmering undercurrent of violent racism and white nationalism that exists in Britain today and does try to explain the rationale behind it. No, it didn’t convert me but I like that she tried and I liked even better the way she nailed the mindset and the danger of it.
Risk of Harm is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
July 15, 2021
A young woman is found in a derelict building having been stabbed to death. DCI Robin Lyons is given the case and she and her team are immensely challenged as they try to work out her identity. Her boss is DCS Samir Jafferi and Robin and Samir have history. When a second body is found dead with a similar MO the press speculation escalates.
Robin, the main protagonist was a fascinating character, expertly drawn by Lucie Whitehouse. She doesn't give her teenage daughter Lennie enough attention and Robin has a fractious and strained relationship with members of her family, including her brother, Luke and to a lesser extent, her mum, Christine. A complex and thrilling crime novel that is definitely worth a look.
I read Risk of Harm in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group. A special thank you to Fourth Estate, Lucie Whitehouse, NetGalley and The Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.
Robin, the main protagonist was a fascinating character, expertly drawn by Lucie Whitehouse. She doesn't give her teenage daughter Lennie enough attention and Robin has a fractious and strained relationship with members of her family, including her brother, Luke and to a lesser extent, her mum, Christine. A complex and thrilling crime novel that is definitely worth a look.
I read Risk of Harm in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group. A special thank you to Fourth Estate, Lucie Whitehouse, NetGalley and The Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.
July 9, 2021
Risk of Harm is a gripping psychological thriller that I enjoyed immensely! It has an intriguing and brilliantly worked plot that I did not not figure out, it kept me guessing.right until the very last page. The characters are well written and believability flawed.and realistic. I look forward to reading more by this author in the future. .
March 3, 2023
Wonderful
November 21, 2021
Risk of Harm is a highly engaging crime thriller by Lucie Whitehouse. It’s the second book in her DCI Robin Lyons series although it can easily be read as a standalone. Robin has relocated to her hometown of Birmingham after spending some time at the Met in London and she is facing another complex investigation. The body of a young woman has been found but no one has come forward to confirm her identity or to report her missing. And on top of that Robin has to face a lot of personal issues with her family in this book. She certainly isn’t given an easy ride.
The investigation which Robin is leading is a really intriguing one. She can’t understand why no one has reported the woman who has been found dead missing. Why can’t they identify her? It makes for a really intriguing set up and I wanted to find out what had happened to the woman and why she had been killed.
Robin is also going through a lot of personal issues in this book as well with her family. I thought this was a really intriguing side to Robin’s character. I wanted to see how this would develop and I’m curious to know where Lucie Whitehouse will take this part of the story next. Robin’s feelings towards her family came through very strongly in this book. It made her character feel very real and it made her even more interesting.
Lucie Whitehouse does also tackle some sensitive topics in her latest book as she explores far right wing movements and issues that tackle racism. This part of the book hits very close to home for Robin; I thought Lucie Whitehouse explored this well.
The plot develops really well and I thought it was so cleverly put together. I thought the revelations that came were very satisfactory. I highly recommend Risk of Harm if you enjoy reading gripping police procedurals. I’m looking forward to reading the next chapter in Robin’s story.
The investigation which Robin is leading is a really intriguing one. She can’t understand why no one has reported the woman who has been found dead missing. Why can’t they identify her? It makes for a really intriguing set up and I wanted to find out what had happened to the woman and why she had been killed.
Robin is also going through a lot of personal issues in this book as well with her family. I thought this was a really intriguing side to Robin’s character. I wanted to see how this would develop and I’m curious to know where Lucie Whitehouse will take this part of the story next. Robin’s feelings towards her family came through very strongly in this book. It made her character feel very real and it made her even more interesting.
Lucie Whitehouse does also tackle some sensitive topics in her latest book as she explores far right wing movements and issues that tackle racism. This part of the book hits very close to home for Robin; I thought Lucie Whitehouse explored this well.
The plot develops really well and I thought it was so cleverly put together. I thought the revelations that came were very satisfactory. I highly recommend Risk of Harm if you enjoy reading gripping police procedurals. I’m looking forward to reading the next chapter in Robin’s story.
March 7, 2024
The lifeless body of a young woman is discovered, brutally stabbed, in an abandoned building. DCI Robin Lyons is tasked with the case and faces immense challenges as she and her team try to uncover her identity. Speculation from the press increases as a second body is found dead in a similar manner.
"Risk of Harm" is an engaging book with a unique plot that I really enjoyed. The novel is noteworthy for its unique deviation from the traditional murder investigation narrative. I was constantly on my toes, captivated by the unexpected twists. The plotting is cleverly done, incorporating a surprising motive and an international twist. However, some potential difficulties were disregarded and there is one coincidence that doesn't hold up under scrutiny. These points may seem small, but they play a significant role in a thoughtfully designed and implemented procedure.
The author brings forth characters that are like old friends, making us feel comfortable and familiar, as they take us through their dysfunctional family moments, moral dilemmas, and brutal murders. It's a thrilling story.
Many thanks to @LWhitehouse5 @4thEstateBooks & @Tr4cyF3nt0n for the chance to read it.
"Risk of Harm" is an engaging book with a unique plot that I really enjoyed. The novel is noteworthy for its unique deviation from the traditional murder investigation narrative. I was constantly on my toes, captivated by the unexpected twists. The plotting is cleverly done, incorporating a surprising motive and an international twist. However, some potential difficulties were disregarded and there is one coincidence that doesn't hold up under scrutiny. These points may seem small, but they play a significant role in a thoughtfully designed and implemented procedure.
The author brings forth characters that are like old friends, making us feel comfortable and familiar, as they take us through their dysfunctional family moments, moral dilemmas, and brutal murders. It's a thrilling story.
Many thanks to @LWhitehouse5 @4thEstateBooks & @Tr4cyF3nt0n for the chance to read it.
May 1, 2021
I really enjoyed this! There is enough depth of character with our detective, Robin, and her background that you completely engage with her; couple this with a meaty and tense plot and this is definitely a winner! I loved it.
There are some important underlying themes relating to black lives matter and exploitation running alongside a compelling murder enquiry ; there is family drama, a love interest and some twists and turns to keep you completely engrossed.This novel would make a great drama and having read it, I am now going to have to backtrack and read Critical Incidents, which I was unaware of, and I will be certainly be front of the queue if there is another book with this great character.
There are some important underlying themes relating to black lives matter and exploitation running alongside a compelling murder enquiry ; there is family drama, a love interest and some twists and turns to keep you completely engrossed.This novel would make a great drama and having read it, I am now going to have to backtrack and read Critical Incidents, which I was unaware of, and I will be certainly be front of the queue if there is another book with this great character.
July 3, 2021
I am relatively new to police procedurals but, of the few I've now read, this one is right up there. I had already read the first in the series and so was familiar with the main protagonist, Robin Lyons, a detective with a checkered past (of course) and (equally of course) a dysfunctional family that inevitably get in the way of her duties. Pretty much everything in the novel is enjoyable: from the evocation of a gritty underbelly of Birmingham complete with soup kitchens, carpet-wrapped bodies and raging neo-Nazis; to a plot that moves fast without being dizzying; to characters who are complex, almost always believable, and, in the case of Robin and her long-suffering teenage daughter, extraordinarily easy to warm to. If there is anything that did not please, for this reader at least, it was the action-packed finale - too full of coincidence, half the family in the same demonstration but on different sides, each throwing the near-fatal blow for their team, and then - completely unbelievably - the hitherto nastiest of them all taking a metaphorical bullet for the other side, having apparently, unexplainably seen the light. But that's not to detract from what is a solid, satisfying, and sometimes moving read.
July 9, 2021
Just from reading the first chapter you know it is going to be good. I haven't read many of Lucie's books before but I certainly will be catching up on them. This book was brilliant, you never really knew what was going to happen in the next chapter. The characters were great and engaging. There are some very clever twists and turns that make the story even more dramatic. I felt as though I was on a rollercoaster and didn't want to get off, it was just too good. Robin works for the police and is back in her hometown, unfortunately now she has to work under her ex who broke her heart a long time ago. There is a lot going on with a number of interesting cases but can Robin work it all out before it is too late? What will happen? you will just have to read the book to find out.
January 27, 2024
Wow. Ok how was this one even better than the first !! Right I really enjoyed meeting Robins new team in this one and can’t wait to see more of them.
I also love the insight into Robins family life it’s makes her seem more real and impressive with all that is going on.
I really enjoyed this it had so much going on so much information and even a riot!
The crimes were shocking but the background into them was absolutely crazy and not something I seen coming.
This is yet another brilliant mystery thriller that I couldn’t put down I don’t think I was breathing during some chapters!
I’m so excited for book 3.
If your looking for a crime thriller would good detective a murder like no other and a crazy ride this is the book for you
I also love the insight into Robins family life it’s makes her seem more real and impressive with all that is going on.
I really enjoyed this it had so much going on so much information and even a riot!
The crimes were shocking but the background into them was absolutely crazy and not something I seen coming.
This is yet another brilliant mystery thriller that I couldn’t put down I don’t think I was breathing during some chapters!
I’m so excited for book 3.
If your looking for a crime thriller would good detective a murder like no other and a crazy ride this is the book for you
July 22, 2021
This is the first book I have read by Lucie Whitehouse and it certainly will not be my last!!
The book has a strong plot, realistic characters and a strong sense of setting.
DCI Robin Lyons is a stubborn yet sympathetic lead protagonist, whose personal life features just as equally as her professional life. I liked this balance of finding out about the woman behind the detective persona.
The pace was great, as there were multiple crimes/plotlines running concurrently, and we were constantly finding out new bits of information for each of them. The final section was so fast paced and surprising that I barely had time to try to predict what was coming next.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole, Lucie Whitehouse and her publishers for access to this book across ten daily installments.
The book has a strong plot, realistic characters and a strong sense of setting.
DCI Robin Lyons is a stubborn yet sympathetic lead protagonist, whose personal life features just as equally as her professional life. I liked this balance of finding out about the woman behind the detective persona.
The pace was great, as there were multiple crimes/plotlines running concurrently, and we were constantly finding out new bits of information for each of them. The final section was so fast paced and surprising that I barely had time to try to predict what was coming next.
Thanks to The Pigeonhole, Lucie Whitehouse and her publishers for access to this book across ten daily installments.
July 11, 2021
Great thriller from Lucie Whitehouse. The book starts with one murder, and another swiftly follows. It’s the job of our slightly battered heroine to try to find out if they are connected murders and work out what is going on.
In addition to trying to solve a couple of murders Robin also has to deal with a lot of stuff going on in her home life. Working with her teenage boyfriend, issues with her brother and her mum’s health and looking after her teenage daughter. It’s a lot!
I really enjoyed this. Fast-paced, a good mystery and characters you can care about.
Read with The Pigeonhole
In addition to trying to solve a couple of murders Robin also has to deal with a lot of stuff going on in her home life. Working with her teenage boyfriend, issues with her brother and her mum’s health and looking after her teenage daughter. It’s a lot!
I really enjoyed this. Fast-paced, a good mystery and characters you can care about.
Read with The Pigeonhole
March 31, 2023
4.5 stars? I think I enjoyed this more than any other police procedural/detective novel I've ever read? It was just really satisfying! The characterisation is great! There was this one character whom I found heartbreaking! I really like Robin's new team and appreciate that they were introduced under different circumstances in the first book! I'm really invested in the family stuff! I would have read this a lot quicker except my knitting mojo came back and it's hard to balance a slim paperback at the same time.
September 9, 2021
A good read
A good read with well rounded characters and lots of intrigue. A whodunnit British police drama that I would definitely recommend.
A good read with well rounded characters and lots of intrigue. A whodunnit British police drama that I would definitely recommend.
August 12, 2025
Love this series
Waiting for the next one to arrive in the library👍
Waiting for the next one to arrive in the library👍
August 20, 2025
Audio version of this book 📕- Really struggled with this one . So slow and just didn’t hold my attention at all
July 15, 2021
This was a fantastic read.
Aside from having to solve two murders on the work front, Robin our heroine had drama on the home/family front to deal with too, which only added an additional dimension to this story.
It was fast paced and really well written and I know that if I'd had the whole book in front of me, rather than reading it in staves on the Pigeonhole app, I would have read it in one go.
It also helped that Robin was a likeable character who you found yourself rooting for.
Having read this one without having read the first book in the series, I'm definitely going to go back and read the first one.
Thank you to PH and Lucie for the chance to read this book.
I definitely recommend it, although you should probably read the first book in the series before this one, unlike me!
Aside from having to solve two murders on the work front, Robin our heroine had drama on the home/family front to deal with too, which only added an additional dimension to this story.
It was fast paced and really well written and I know that if I'd had the whole book in front of me, rather than reading it in staves on the Pigeonhole app, I would have read it in one go.
It also helped that Robin was a likeable character who you found yourself rooting for.
Having read this one without having read the first book in the series, I'm definitely going to go back and read the first one.
Thank you to PH and Lucie for the chance to read this book.
I definitely recommend it, although you should probably read the first book in the series before this one, unlike me!
July 22, 2021
Robin has to file away her own feelings of anxiety when the body of a young woman is discovered. It brings back unpleasant memories of what she nearly lost herself. When a second body is found soon after she realises they might be dealing with something more than a one-of.
Simultaneously Robin has to deal with the fractious relationships she has within her own family, especially as those problems seep into her day job and threaten to undermine her position.
It’s a multi-faceted crime read. It has layers of a domestic thriller with a brutally honest Kodak snapshot of crime in certain areas of the UK. Then to add the cherry on top the political tension, due to the rising far right and racist sentiments, gives the read a sharp current angle.
Whitehouse delivers characters who seem comfortable and familiar to the readers – a bit like old friends inviting us in for their dysfunctional family moments, the moral quandaries and murder most wicked. It’s a riveting read.
Simultaneously Robin has to deal with the fractious relationships she has within her own family, especially as those problems seep into her day job and threaten to undermine her position.
It’s a multi-faceted crime read. It has layers of a domestic thriller with a brutally honest Kodak snapshot of crime in certain areas of the UK. Then to add the cherry on top the political tension, due to the rising far right and racist sentiments, gives the read a sharp current angle.
Whitehouse delivers characters who seem comfortable and familiar to the readers – a bit like old friends inviting us in for their dysfunctional family moments, the moral quandaries and murder most wicked. It’s a riveting read.
September 15, 2021
This is the second installment of the DCI Robin Lyons series. I haven't read the first instalment but it was really easy to get to grips with the team and catch up on the first book.
I was fully gripped by this one, I honestly couldn't put it down.
The storyline was original, well executed and the character development was fantastic.
The twists and turns keep on coming the whole way through and will leave you guessing right up until the very end.
DCI Lyons is one of those characters that you fall in love with. Shes human, she has faults, her personal life is chaotic and messy and she wants to be loved... shes real!
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and am already waiting on tenderhooks for the next installment.
Huge thanks to netgalley and 4th Estate for the ARC.
I was fully gripped by this one, I honestly couldn't put it down.
The storyline was original, well executed and the character development was fantastic.
The twists and turns keep on coming the whole way through and will leave you guessing right up until the very end.
DCI Lyons is one of those characters that you fall in love with. Shes human, she has faults, her personal life is chaotic and messy and she wants to be loved... shes real!
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and am already waiting on tenderhooks for the next installment.
Huge thanks to netgalley and 4th Estate for the ARC.
June 11, 2021
We meet Robin, a DCI who has just transferred to a police force in Birmingham, as two girls are found murdered just days apart. We then follow Robin as she tries to determine whether the cases are linked, who the victims are, and how she can catch whoever killed the girls.
There was so much backstory to this – Robin’s daughter having recently survived something traumatic, previous relationships with colleagues, some dark event in her recent career history, her tempestuous relationship with her horrible, racist brother, an adolescent friendship with her current romantic interest, a strained relationship with her mother, previous cases of missing women, the recent death of her best friend – that it felt like a second or third instalment in a series of books rather than a standalone novel. These past events and associations are referred to so often that I kept feeling as though I had missed something, but think it was actually just the author trying to give her protagonist more depth. However, I found that they, and the numerous other subplots that the author adds in, distracted from the actual plot of murders to be solved.
The ending also wasn’t what I expected and was all a little “convenient” for my taste, although I’m sure others would enjoy the various twists. I did, however, like the author’s style of writing so would be interested to see what comes next.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
There was so much backstory to this – Robin’s daughter having recently survived something traumatic, previous relationships with colleagues, some dark event in her recent career history, her tempestuous relationship with her horrible, racist brother, an adolescent friendship with her current romantic interest, a strained relationship with her mother, previous cases of missing women, the recent death of her best friend – that it felt like a second or third instalment in a series of books rather than a standalone novel. These past events and associations are referred to so often that I kept feeling as though I had missed something, but think it was actually just the author trying to give her protagonist more depth. However, I found that they, and the numerous other subplots that the author adds in, distracted from the actual plot of murders to be solved.
The ending also wasn’t what I expected and was all a little “convenient” for my taste, although I’m sure others would enjoy the various twists. I did, however, like the author’s style of writing so would be interested to see what comes next.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.
January 18, 2024
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
I really enjoyed the first in the Robin Lyons series, Critical Incidents, so I had high hopes for this - the second release. I’m glad to say I wasn’t disappointed!
Risk of Harm combines an engaging, emotive plot with the same great cast and deeper character development as we get to know Robin, daughter Lennie and Robin’s colleagues a little better…
Some of this novel I found upsetting to read, as it deals with racism in a frank (but sensitive) way. I don’t want to give too much away, but I really liked how various elements of this novel came together as the book went on. The plot is intriguing and engaging and I wanted to know ‘who did it’, but I also really enjoyed getting to know Robin as a character better, as well as her family.
Robin definitely has her flaws, and this is clear from her risky decisions, as was also evident in book one, but she’s still likeable – she’s just a human being at the end of the day, torn between family and her work. It’s a complex novel, with lots of characters and plot developments, but it’s still easy enough to follow and kept me wanting to read on. I’m already looking forward to book three!
Many thanks to 4th Estate, who provided a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
I really enjoyed the first in the Robin Lyons series, Critical Incidents, so I had high hopes for this - the second release. I’m glad to say I wasn’t disappointed!
Risk of Harm combines an engaging, emotive plot with the same great cast and deeper character development as we get to know Robin, daughter Lennie and Robin’s colleagues a little better…
Some of this novel I found upsetting to read, as it deals with racism in a frank (but sensitive) way. I don’t want to give too much away, but I really liked how various elements of this novel came together as the book went on. The plot is intriguing and engaging and I wanted to know ‘who did it’, but I also really enjoyed getting to know Robin as a character better, as well as her family.
Robin definitely has her flaws, and this is clear from her risky decisions, as was also evident in book one, but she’s still likeable – she’s just a human being at the end of the day, torn between family and her work. It’s a complex novel, with lots of characters and plot developments, but it’s still easy enough to follow and kept me wanting to read on. I’m already looking forward to book three!
Many thanks to 4th Estate, who provided a copy of this novel on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
August 7, 2021
Some plot, lots of family stuff. Slower than a slow thing going slowly.
June 27, 2021
Risk of Harm is a police procedural featuring DCI Robin Lyons and the West Midlands homicide team, the second in a three part series. Set on the streets of Birmingham amid a knife crime epidemic, rising tension among far right extremists and dwindling police numbers, Lyons, under the leadership of Samir Jafferi and the watchful and unforgiving eye of ACC Kilmartin is investigating the murder of a young woman whose body is found in a derelict factory. Whilst trying unsuccessfully to identify this Jane Doe their investigation is interrupted by the discovery of a second dead woman within close proximity to the first and concern grows around the theory there is a serial killer at large.
The pace is relatively slow to begin with but the author introduces a number of elements for the reader to ruminate over besides the hunt for a presumed serial killer. Lurking in the shadows is the disappearance of a local girl five years ago whose whereabouts are still unknown, a case which may or may not be connected to this current double murder investigation. But that’s not the only cold case that possibly has relevance to these latest crimes and with the usual pressure from the media and from those higher up in the chain of command Lyons and her team are feeling the strain. As the mystery surrounding the murders deepens, and leads are few and far between mistakes are inevitably made before the investigation takes Robin further afield, branching off in unexpected directions. I was left feeling intrigued and mystified by this case that appears to be notoriously hard to crack which is just what you want from a piece of crime fiction. Lucie Whitehouse sets this investigation amid a volatile political climate where tensions are running high within certain sections of the community towards the alleged suspect and general lack of police progress. It’s an element she executes well, this feeling that Robin and Samir are trying to keep the lid on a potentially explosive situation whilst others are keen to hamper them every step of the way. Those intent on inciting racial hatred and violence detracts Lyons from her main job of catching a killer and it’s surprising who these leaders manage to recruit to their cause, not least of all to Robin herself. Loyalties and professionalism become confused and controversial decisions are made as my attention swivelled in all directions not quite sure who or what to concentrate my thoughts on.
In terms of characterisation the author follows the usual trope of overworked, married to the job, in conflict with superiors lead detective which is pretty much standard in this genre. In my opinion it doesn’t matter if you’ve not read the first book in the series (I haven’t) because the author provides ample background details relating to Robin’s personal life to the extent that it threatens to overwhelm and drown out the crime element. I’m all for a well developed backstory. How else can you possibly grow to like/dislike a character if you can’t imagine them as a real life flawed person with problems of their own? Robin is certainly carrying a lot of baggage but there’s too much focus on her and I almost forgot there were murders to solve. As a single mother to 15 year old daughter Lennie she has a strained relationship with her mother and her relationship with brother Luke borders on downright hostile, antagonistic and destructive. Further complicating matters is Robin’s personal history with her now boss Samir and despite his loyalty and support she’s failing miserably to win the approval of Kilmartin. I couldn’t decide if I felt sorry for this woman spinning so many plates in the air or whether I wished she’d get a grip on her personal life and prioritise poor latchkey kid Lennie instead.
Although I’d have preferred less emphasis on Robin and all her troubles and strife they are in context with the rest of the narrative, turning this into a multi layered storyline. It’s well written too, elaborately plotted but I think there’s just too much going on and midway through it loses focus and direction. By the time the author picks up the threads of the main plot again I was beyond eager to discover the identity of the culprit, having reached my own conclusions. I just wanted the author to confirm whether my stab in the dark was correct or whether I needed to go back to the drawing board! On this occasion my lucky guess paid off but the finer details eluded me.
Despite my criticisms I’m keen to revisit this city and catch up with Robin and her team again. Lucie Whitehouse tantalisingly leaves her readers guessing as to what the future holds(on a personal level) for our maverick detective and I for one won’t want to miss out on any future drama.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is relatively slow to begin with but the author introduces a number of elements for the reader to ruminate over besides the hunt for a presumed serial killer. Lurking in the shadows is the disappearance of a local girl five years ago whose whereabouts are still unknown, a case which may or may not be connected to this current double murder investigation. But that’s not the only cold case that possibly has relevance to these latest crimes and with the usual pressure from the media and from those higher up in the chain of command Lyons and her team are feeling the strain. As the mystery surrounding the murders deepens, and leads are few and far between mistakes are inevitably made before the investigation takes Robin further afield, branching off in unexpected directions. I was left feeling intrigued and mystified by this case that appears to be notoriously hard to crack which is just what you want from a piece of crime fiction. Lucie Whitehouse sets this investigation amid a volatile political climate where tensions are running high within certain sections of the community towards the alleged suspect and general lack of police progress. It’s an element she executes well, this feeling that Robin and Samir are trying to keep the lid on a potentially explosive situation whilst others are keen to hamper them every step of the way. Those intent on inciting racial hatred and violence detracts Lyons from her main job of catching a killer and it’s surprising who these leaders manage to recruit to their cause, not least of all to Robin herself. Loyalties and professionalism become confused and controversial decisions are made as my attention swivelled in all directions not quite sure who or what to concentrate my thoughts on.
In terms of characterisation the author follows the usual trope of overworked, married to the job, in conflict with superiors lead detective which is pretty much standard in this genre. In my opinion it doesn’t matter if you’ve not read the first book in the series (I haven’t) because the author provides ample background details relating to Robin’s personal life to the extent that it threatens to overwhelm and drown out the crime element. I’m all for a well developed backstory. How else can you possibly grow to like/dislike a character if you can’t imagine them as a real life flawed person with problems of their own? Robin is certainly carrying a lot of baggage but there’s too much focus on her and I almost forgot there were murders to solve. As a single mother to 15 year old daughter Lennie she has a strained relationship with her mother and her relationship with brother Luke borders on downright hostile, antagonistic and destructive. Further complicating matters is Robin’s personal history with her now boss Samir and despite his loyalty and support she’s failing miserably to win the approval of Kilmartin. I couldn’t decide if I felt sorry for this woman spinning so many plates in the air or whether I wished she’d get a grip on her personal life and prioritise poor latchkey kid Lennie instead.
Although I’d have preferred less emphasis on Robin and all her troubles and strife they are in context with the rest of the narrative, turning this into a multi layered storyline. It’s well written too, elaborately plotted but I think there’s just too much going on and midway through it loses focus and direction. By the time the author picks up the threads of the main plot again I was beyond eager to discover the identity of the culprit, having reached my own conclusions. I just wanted the author to confirm whether my stab in the dark was correct or whether I needed to go back to the drawing board! On this occasion my lucky guess paid off but the finer details eluded me.
Despite my criticisms I’m keen to revisit this city and catch up with Robin and her team again. Lucie Whitehouse tantalisingly leaves her readers guessing as to what the future holds(on a personal level) for our maverick detective and I for one won’t want to miss out on any future drama.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 30, 2022
In what is perhaps the most indirect way ever, I have my neighbours to thank for my coming across this book. Last weekend, they were good enough to warn us that they would be having a party on Saturday night and that they "might be a bit loud".
My wife and I decided to leave them to it and treat ourselves to a quiet night in the caravan. When we found a campsite with late availability in the Peak District, I was thinking only of R&R - that's relaxation and reading - and maybe some cycling on one of the local trails in the area. I had absolutely no idea that a few miles out of Buxton, on the road to Ashbourne lies the High Peak Bookstore. Of the many recent titles on sale at less than half their retail price, I couldn't help but come away with three. And of these, the first book that I opened was 'Risk of Harm' by Lucie Whitehouse.
I had never previously heard of this author, but was drawn to the book on account of its being set in Birmingham, which is a city I know well. This means that I had expected, and indeed hoped to recognise some of the landmarks featured in the story. But I hadn't expected to have worked on the redevelopment of what might just be the same warehouse in Digbeth that is used as the first murder scene. If it wasn't the very same building, it was another in the same street that had a similar internal layout. I admit that this is an unusual opening hook. But it worked perfectly for me.
I liked the main character too. DCI Robin Lyons is ... human. Not perfect by any means, and perhaps not even the best police officer out there, but intelligent and compassionate. She can't - won't - forget that the unidentified murder victim is a person. She has a name. Someone must be missing her. But who is she, and where are they?
The thing is though that there's really not much more to the plot than that. It's a case that needs to be solved slowly by means of good police team work. Which meant that whilst it felt realistic, it lacked a sense of drama. And while I didn't mind this too much, my problem was that I felt that the main story often threatened to be overshadowed by Robin's personal life. Her working for a boss that she used to be in love with. Her need to maintain the impossible balance between her career and being a single parent to a fifteen-year-old daughter. Her uneasy relationship with her parents and her brother.
My other problem is that two of the other main characters are superbly portrayed. Robin's boss, DCI Samir Jafferi, has moved on and is happily married, but his old feelings for her remain buried beneath the surface. And the depiction of her daughter Lennie, who is wise beyond her years in so many ways and yet still a child in so many others, is just wonderful. However, the same unfortunately cannot be said for some of the minor characters. The police Assistant Chief Constable is egotistic, chauvinistic and cares for nothing but his own personal glory. Robin's brother Luke is simply a nasty piece of work. And we're very much led to believe that a homeless Hindi immigrant is a fundamentally decent man, but that a far-right nationalist is anything but.
I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but I couldn't help but be reminded of 'Remain Silent' by Susie Steiner, which explores similar issues in so much more depth. 'Risk of Harm' felt rather simplistic by comparison.
None of these are major points, and they did nothing to stop me enjoying the book as a stand-alone read. It's for this reason that the book gets four stars. But I understand that it's the second instalment in a planned series, and I can't help but wonder that other books featuring the same characters will be able to maintain my attention in the same way. I guess there's only one way to find out ...
But before that, I need to find a way of thanking my neighbours. No, I can't give them the book, that's going to stay on my already groaning shelf for a while yet. Maybe I could pay for them to have another party ...?
My wife and I decided to leave them to it and treat ourselves to a quiet night in the caravan. When we found a campsite with late availability in the Peak District, I was thinking only of R&R - that's relaxation and reading - and maybe some cycling on one of the local trails in the area. I had absolutely no idea that a few miles out of Buxton, on the road to Ashbourne lies the High Peak Bookstore. Of the many recent titles on sale at less than half their retail price, I couldn't help but come away with three. And of these, the first book that I opened was 'Risk of Harm' by Lucie Whitehouse.
I had never previously heard of this author, but was drawn to the book on account of its being set in Birmingham, which is a city I know well. This means that I had expected, and indeed hoped to recognise some of the landmarks featured in the story. But I hadn't expected to have worked on the redevelopment of what might just be the same warehouse in Digbeth that is used as the first murder scene. If it wasn't the very same building, it was another in the same street that had a similar internal layout. I admit that this is an unusual opening hook. But it worked perfectly for me.
I liked the main character too. DCI Robin Lyons is ... human. Not perfect by any means, and perhaps not even the best police officer out there, but intelligent and compassionate. She can't - won't - forget that the unidentified murder victim is a person. She has a name. Someone must be missing her. But who is she, and where are they?
The thing is though that there's really not much more to the plot than that. It's a case that needs to be solved slowly by means of good police team work. Which meant that whilst it felt realistic, it lacked a sense of drama. And while I didn't mind this too much, my problem was that I felt that the main story often threatened to be overshadowed by Robin's personal life. Her working for a boss that she used to be in love with. Her need to maintain the impossible balance between her career and being a single parent to a fifteen-year-old daughter. Her uneasy relationship with her parents and her brother.
My other problem is that two of the other main characters are superbly portrayed. Robin's boss, DCI Samir Jafferi, has moved on and is happily married, but his old feelings for her remain buried beneath the surface. And the depiction of her daughter Lennie, who is wise beyond her years in so many ways and yet still a child in so many others, is just wonderful. However, the same unfortunately cannot be said for some of the minor characters. The police Assistant Chief Constable is egotistic, chauvinistic and cares for nothing but his own personal glory. Robin's brother Luke is simply a nasty piece of work. And we're very much led to believe that a homeless Hindi immigrant is a fundamentally decent man, but that a far-right nationalist is anything but.
I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but I couldn't help but be reminded of 'Remain Silent' by Susie Steiner, which explores similar issues in so much more depth. 'Risk of Harm' felt rather simplistic by comparison.
None of these are major points, and they did nothing to stop me enjoying the book as a stand-alone read. It's for this reason that the book gets four stars. But I understand that it's the second instalment in a planned series, and I can't help but wonder that other books featuring the same characters will be able to maintain my attention in the same way. I guess there's only one way to find out ...
But before that, I need to find a way of thanking my neighbours. No, I can't give them the book, that's going to stay on my already groaning shelf for a while yet. Maybe I could pay for them to have another party ...?
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