Janice Frost's Blog
March 6, 2016
Order of books in Ava Merry, Jim Neal series
One reviewer pointed out that s/he'd read Dark Secret and Dead Secret in the wrong order. I love to discover a new series and follow the books in the right order, so in case anyone's wondering Dead Secret is the first book in the series and Dark Secret is the second.
List of characters in Neal & Merry series
Ava Merry
Ava Merry is a young police officer recently promoted to detective sergeant. She is a fitness enthusiast and trained in martial arts. Ava is inclined to be impulsive, even reckless in her approach to her work and personal life. She is passionate about her Job and the people she cares about. She tends to play down her good looks but is not averse to using them to her advantage when the situation calls for it. Ava is gutsy and ambitious. She likes to think for herself and sometimes finds it hard to work within the constraints of her rank.
Ava lives in a secluded cottage a few miles from Stromford with her younger brother, Ollie who is studying for his A levels.
There is a hint in ‘Dark Secret’ that Ava dropped out of university because of some kind of traumatic event, but she has never told anyone about it.
Jim Neal .
Detective Inspector Jim Neal is a single dad who juggles his devotion to his job with caring for his son, Archie. Intellectual, Neal once considered studying law at university but chose to become a police officer instead when he became a father unexpectedly at only nineteen.
Neal’s seriousness, his sense of responsibility and his logical, considered approach means that he is often perceived as ‘dour’ by his colleagues. His new partner, Ava Merry has observed that he is empathetic towards the victims of crime he encounters, and that he has good people skills.
Though he lives and works in Stromford, Neal is originally from Scotland and he returns there whenever he can to go ‘Munro bagging’ (The Munros are mountains in Scotland over 3000 ft.) with his childhood friend, Jock Dodds.
Neal is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to his past. He does not talk about Archie’s mother, now a successful opera singer. He is reputed to be left wing. Colleagues nickname him ‘Red Jim,’ behind his back but, as with his personal life, Neal is reticent about his political affiliations.
Polly Jenkins (PJ)
A young police constable who often works with Ava and Neal. She is studying to become a detective constable. PJ had a crush on Jim Neal but is now dating another colleague.
George Lowe
Detective Chief Inspector. Neal and Merry’s superior. He is results-driven. He regards Jim Neal as a good police officer but is less convinced of Ava’s suitability for the job, particularly after her conduct with a suspect in ‘Dark Secret.’
Dr Ashley Hunt
Pathologist
Dan Cardew
Shy and unconfident young CSI officer who has a crush on Ava Merry.
Maggie Neal
Jim Neal’s younger sister who is living with Neal and Archie temporarily after a relationship break up. She helps look after Archie.
Archie Neal
Jim Neal’s ten-year-old son.
Ava Merry is a young police officer recently promoted to detective sergeant. She is a fitness enthusiast and trained in martial arts. Ava is inclined to be impulsive, even reckless in her approach to her work and personal life. She is passionate about her Job and the people she cares about. She tends to play down her good looks but is not averse to using them to her advantage when the situation calls for it. Ava is gutsy and ambitious. She likes to think for herself and sometimes finds it hard to work within the constraints of her rank.
Ava lives in a secluded cottage a few miles from Stromford with her younger brother, Ollie who is studying for his A levels.
There is a hint in ‘Dark Secret’ that Ava dropped out of university because of some kind of traumatic event, but she has never told anyone about it.
Jim Neal .
Detective Inspector Jim Neal is a single dad who juggles his devotion to his job with caring for his son, Archie. Intellectual, Neal once considered studying law at university but chose to become a police officer instead when he became a father unexpectedly at only nineteen.
Neal’s seriousness, his sense of responsibility and his logical, considered approach means that he is often perceived as ‘dour’ by his colleagues. His new partner, Ava Merry has observed that he is empathetic towards the victims of crime he encounters, and that he has good people skills.
Though he lives and works in Stromford, Neal is originally from Scotland and he returns there whenever he can to go ‘Munro bagging’ (The Munros are mountains in Scotland over 3000 ft.) with his childhood friend, Jock Dodds.
Neal is a bit of a dark horse when it comes to his past. He does not talk about Archie’s mother, now a successful opera singer. He is reputed to be left wing. Colleagues nickname him ‘Red Jim,’ behind his back but, as with his personal life, Neal is reticent about his political affiliations.
Polly Jenkins (PJ)
A young police constable who often works with Ava and Neal. She is studying to become a detective constable. PJ had a crush on Jim Neal but is now dating another colleague.
George Lowe
Detective Chief Inspector. Neal and Merry’s superior. He is results-driven. He regards Jim Neal as a good police officer but is less convinced of Ava’s suitability for the job, particularly after her conduct with a suspect in ‘Dark Secret.’
Dr Ashley Hunt
Pathologist
Dan Cardew
Shy and unconfident young CSI officer who has a crush on Ava Merry.
Maggie Neal
Jim Neal’s younger sister who is living with Neal and Archie temporarily after a relationship break up. She helps look after Archie.
Archie Neal
Jim Neal’s ten-year-old son.
