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Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent #1
Silent Fall
The woman lay on her back, her large, intelligent eyes fixed on the ceiling above, her pale hair fanned out beneath her like a halo. Around her, the room was peaceful and clean, with morning light dappling the cream carpet. She might have been merely resting… but Ana Marlova’s heart would never beat again.
When the body of a beautiful and wealthy doctor is discovered in her high-rise apartment – all alone with the doors locked from the inside – nobody can understand how or why her life has been so brutally cut short. Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent may have never worked a murder case before, but that’s not going to stop her trying.
It seems Ana’s murderer may have scaled the ten-story building to get in – and Jack should know. As an elite climber herself, it’s a set of skills that only a handful of people have. This can’t be the killer’s first innocent victim, and if Jack doesn’t act fast, it won’t be their last.
Jack throws herself into the investigation, determined to beat the twisted climber at their own game. But the crime scene prompts harrowing memories for Jack, who’s still haunted by the death of her best friend Hannah, killed on a mountain only months before. Jack lived that day while Hannah died beside her. Night after night, she relives her friend’s final moments in her dreams.
When the body of another victim is found, it’s clear that someone evil is trying to get Jack’s attention. Could the killer be one of her own close circle of friends from childhood?
As the lines between her personal and professional life blur, Jack must confront the demons of her own past to stop a cold-blooded killer from striking again.
Detective Jack Kent is a heroine who grabs you and doesn’t let go. The first in an unputdownable new crime thriller series, perfect for readers who adore Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean and Sally Rigby.
When the body of a beautiful and wealthy doctor is discovered in her high-rise apartment – all alone with the doors locked from the inside – nobody can understand how or why her life has been so brutally cut short. Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent may have never worked a murder case before, but that’s not going to stop her trying.
It seems Ana’s murderer may have scaled the ten-story building to get in – and Jack should know. As an elite climber herself, it’s a set of skills that only a handful of people have. This can’t be the killer’s first innocent victim, and if Jack doesn’t act fast, it won’t be their last.
Jack throws herself into the investigation, determined to beat the twisted climber at their own game. But the crime scene prompts harrowing memories for Jack, who’s still haunted by the death of her best friend Hannah, killed on a mountain only months before. Jack lived that day while Hannah died beside her. Night after night, she relives her friend’s final moments in her dreams.
When the body of another victim is found, it’s clear that someone evil is trying to get Jack’s attention. Could the killer be one of her own close circle of friends from childhood?
As the lines between her personal and professional life blur, Jack must confront the demons of her own past to stop a cold-blooded killer from striking again.
Detective Jack Kent is a heroine who grabs you and doesn’t let go. The first in an unputdownable new crime thriller series, perfect for readers who adore Angela Marsons, Rachel McLean and Sally Rigby.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2023
42 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Nicky Downes
11 books34 followersI’m a lover of extremes. I own a narrowboat and you’ll often find me cruising the Oxford and Coventry canals. I, also, own a Harley Davidson. I learnt to ride at 50. Best thing I’ve ever done.
I’ve loved reading crime fiction since I was a child. I devoured Nancy Drew, then Agatha Christie, then Dorothy L. Sayers.
My current favourite authors are: Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Fiona Cummins, Angela Clarke and Angela Marsons.
My debut novel, Bat Girl, is now available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.
I’m currently writing a police procedural series featuring DI Amelia Barton of the National Crime Agency.
I’ve loved reading crime fiction since I was a child. I devoured Nancy Drew, then Agatha Christie, then Dorothy L. Sayers.
My current favourite authors are: Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Fiona Cummins, Angela Clarke and Angela Marsons.
My debut novel, Bat Girl, is now available on Amazon Kindle and paperback.
I’m currently writing a police procedural series featuring DI Amelia Barton of the National Crime Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
September 5, 2023
Detective Jack Kent was recovering from a terrible climbing accident where her best friend died. Hannah continued to live in her dreams while Jack didn't forgive herself for living while Hannah died. A specialist climber, Jack and her team were working a rape case, bringing all the evidence together to arrest the rapist. When they were notified of a series of high-rise break and enters, Jack was the best person to lead the team as it looked like the culprit entered after scaling the walls. But it was when the body of a doctor was discovered that had Jack deep into investigation mode. Was it all connected? Would Jack discover who was tormenting her before someone else lost their life?
Silent Fall is the 1st in the Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent series by Nicky Downes and we see a woman who is a mountaineer as well as a detective, who has plenty of baggage which goes back to her childhood, when she followed in her father's footsteps, learning the art of climbing from him. Set in Birmingham, UK, the plot was twisty and a little convoluted; it didn't grab me as I expected it would. Nicky was a hard character to like, and I'm hoping the 2nd in the series will bring more clarity.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Silent Fall is the 1st in the Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent series by Nicky Downes and we see a woman who is a mountaineer as well as a detective, who has plenty of baggage which goes back to her childhood, when she followed in her father's footsteps, learning the art of climbing from him. Set in Birmingham, UK, the plot was twisty and a little convoluted; it didn't grab me as I expected it would. Nicky was a hard character to like, and I'm hoping the 2nd in the series will bring more clarity.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2024
*Suspicions*
**3.5 Stars**
This book introduces DI
Jacqueline aka Jack Kent. She is an accomplished climber and a decorated one at that. She manages her work and her hobby quite well. Jack is does not take any prisoners and is her own person no matter who she deals with.
When a case merges her climbing and work together things get interesting. When a body is found but all the doors are locked from the inside that becomes a big question mark as the apartment is in a high rise building.
This has all the hallmarks of a climber but who? Suspicions grow and she begins to suspect some of her circle of climbers some of which she has known since childhood.
Jack is desperate to catch this person as they seem to be killing to impress her.
All is all not a bad start to a series, I notice the synopsis mentions that this is a tense read, I did not find that but it built up to a climax at the end.
**3.5 Stars**
This book introduces DI
Jacqueline aka Jack Kent. She is an accomplished climber and a decorated one at that. She manages her work and her hobby quite well. Jack is does not take any prisoners and is her own person no matter who she deals with.
When a case merges her climbing and work together things get interesting. When a body is found but all the doors are locked from the inside that becomes a big question mark as the apartment is in a high rise building.
This has all the hallmarks of a climber but who? Suspicions grow and she begins to suspect some of her circle of climbers some of which she has known since childhood.
Jack is desperate to catch this person as they seem to be killing to impress her.
All is all not a bad start to a series, I notice the synopsis mentions that this is a tense read, I did not find that but it built up to a climax at the end.
September 10, 2023
Detective Jack never work a murder case before but she is now when her boss assigned her and her team to investigate how a women was murder when there no signs of force entry and she lives in high rise. While investigating she realizes the killer maybe a professional climber because it’s the only way someone could get into a place without being disturb. Jack is also dealing with still mourning her best friend who she was in love with she feels as though her father accident that there more to it while dealing with that she also helping one of her team member with being blackmail because of something that happened to her when she was young that could disgrace her family all the while trying to find a killer who maybe trying to get her attention.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
September 29, 2023
UPDATED BELOW:
A big thank you to the author, Nicky Downes, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for this well-done audiobook ARC, which is narrated by Emma Wilkes. I stayed up way late one night because I just couldn't put this one down!
This exciting book, set in England, features a new female detective by the name of Jack Kent, who happens to be one of the top professional 🧗♂️ mountain climbers. Jack has just been put in charger of her first case and she wants this so much, which tells you everything about what a strong, competent, intelligent woman she is and that Jack has been waiting for this promotion and opportunity. What a massive combination of skills this woman has coping with her own personal problems and responsibilities, while working in a new, high-powered position that causes her some flashbacks and pain of recent and past personal tragedies.
This crime-thriller is well done and full of twists and turns. It's at least two stories in one as we learn about Jack's personal life, including the recent death of her beloved partner, with Jack currently working on back-to-back cases. One is a rape case involving a local politician, while the other case is an odd and mysterious "burglary turned murder" that is super twisty. The burglary case is set in a high-rise that hasn't been broken into in an obvious way since all of the doors are locked. Jack begins to wonder if a professional climber could have done it, which then leads to memories and flashbacks about her recently deceased partner, as well as her father, an expert, professional climber, who trained and mentored Jack, and died in a freak climbing accident.
Finally, I enjoyed and appreciated that Nicky Downes created a diverse and interesting group of characters who are presented with numerous conflicts between female/male police, deal with gender, feminism, race, religion, sexual preference, and don't forget....really unscrupulous people.
Best news: This book is #1 in this new jack Kent series. I'm ready for #2.
A big thank you to the author, Nicky Downes, Storm Publishing, and NetGalley for this well-done audiobook ARC, which is narrated by Emma Wilkes. I stayed up way late one night because I just couldn't put this one down!
This exciting book, set in England, features a new female detective by the name of Jack Kent, who happens to be one of the top professional 🧗♂️ mountain climbers. Jack has just been put in charger of her first case and she wants this so much, which tells you everything about what a strong, competent, intelligent woman she is and that Jack has been waiting for this promotion and opportunity. What a massive combination of skills this woman has coping with her own personal problems and responsibilities, while working in a new, high-powered position that causes her some flashbacks and pain of recent and past personal tragedies.
This crime-thriller is well done and full of twists and turns. It's at least two stories in one as we learn about Jack's personal life, including the recent death of her beloved partner, with Jack currently working on back-to-back cases. One is a rape case involving a local politician, while the other case is an odd and mysterious "burglary turned murder" that is super twisty. The burglary case is set in a high-rise that hasn't been broken into in an obvious way since all of the doors are locked. Jack begins to wonder if a professional climber could have done it, which then leads to memories and flashbacks about her recently deceased partner, as well as her father, an expert, professional climber, who trained and mentored Jack, and died in a freak climbing accident.
Finally, I enjoyed and appreciated that Nicky Downes created a diverse and interesting group of characters who are presented with numerous conflicts between female/male police, deal with gender, feminism, race, religion, sexual preference, and don't forget....really unscrupulous people.
Best news: This book is #1 in this new jack Kent series. I'm ready for #2.
October 20, 2023
I love a good crime novel and was intrigued by the premise of Silent Fall. Detective Jack Kent is an elite mountaineer as well as a police officer, and has the opportunity to use her mountaineering skills to solve the investigation of peculiar burglaries where the perpetrator is entering the apartments by scaling several stories and entering via balconies. One burglary seems to go array, where a woman is found dead, which leads to Jack unravelling
The narrative alternates between Jack's third-person perspective and the burglar-turned-killer's first-person account, a structure that lends depth to the plot, spanning events from 1993 to the present. While the story establishes the crime before its motive, giving it a procedural feel, it's the engaging and complex characterisation that truly stands out. As the inaugural installment of a series, we're introduced to various characters and dynamics, notably Jack's tumultuous relationship with her superior – a trope that takes an unexpected twist in this tale. DS Nadia Begum, Jack's partner, also carries mysteries of her own, which promise to further develop in sequels. Jack's dual life as a mountaineer and a detective might raise eyebrows in terms of realism, but it serves as an avenue for vivid climbing descriptions and a poignant backstory involving a tragic climbing accident.
Overall, it's an intriguing crime novel. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Emma Wilkes. I thoroughly recommend a listen.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative alternates between Jack's third-person perspective and the burglar-turned-killer's first-person account, a structure that lends depth to the plot, spanning events from 1993 to the present. While the story establishes the crime before its motive, giving it a procedural feel, it's the engaging and complex characterisation that truly stands out. As the inaugural installment of a series, we're introduced to various characters and dynamics, notably Jack's tumultuous relationship with her superior – a trope that takes an unexpected twist in this tale. DS Nadia Begum, Jack's partner, also carries mysteries of her own, which promise to further develop in sequels. Jack's dual life as a mountaineer and a detective might raise eyebrows in terms of realism, but it serves as an avenue for vivid climbing descriptions and a poignant backstory involving a tragic climbing accident.
Overall, it's an intriguing crime novel. I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Emma Wilkes. I thoroughly recommend a listen.
Many thanks to Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this audiobook. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2023
Jack has her battles. Still, it takes a strong woman to live the life of a mountaineer and cop. Since I' am afraid of height, my hat goes off to her. Still, I am not catching that reading flow feeling that makes me love reading. Thanks to Nicky Downes for choosing a strong woman to inspire those of us who need that encouragement. Thanks to Storm.
July 12, 2025
There was no storyline to follow, struggled to comprehend it. DNF
Read
October 19, 2023DNF. I think I wasn't the right target. I was waiting to get into the murders but 25% and the story still didn't kicked into that part..
Sorry I DNF. I hate that because I always feel guilty
Sorry I DNF. I hate that because I always feel guilty
September 4, 2023
This is well plotted and intriguing crime thriller that features a real locked room mystery as there's a locked room with a corpse inside.
Jake is a strong character with a huge baggage but she's also an excellent investigator
A well plotted, gripping and twisty novel that kept me guessing and entertained
Can't wait to read another story
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Jake is a strong character with a huge baggage but she's also an excellent investigator
A well plotted, gripping and twisty novel that kept me guessing and entertained
Can't wait to read another story
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
September 6, 2023
Detective Jack Kent is a mountaineeer and a detective. She has successfully closed a rape case, the perpetrator being the son of a prominent politician, and is assigned to a burglary case.
She is not happy about what she considers a demotion, but the thief robbed apartments that were in tall buildings, and accessed them by climbing.
She is also mourning the death of her lover, who was killed by an avalanche, and battling to cope with the grief she is experiencing, but is refusing to see a therapist. She is also struggling to come to terms with the death of her father, who was killed in a solo climb. She feels that his death is suspicious, but it was ruled as accidental.
The thief kills the resident of an apartment that he robs, and Jack is now investigating a homicide, not realising that the thief is trying to get her attention, and is hiding in plain sight.
This is the first in a new series for this author. I am a lover of a strong female lead in a Police Procedural, but Jack falls short for me.
It is a police/mystery, and has pages and pages of mountaineering.
For fans of climbing, it is probably very interesting, but it bored me to tears. I skipped those pages eventually, concentrating on the investigation instead.
The thief turned murderer has a POV as well, ranging from their childhood in 1993 to the present. The death of the woman in the apartment was clearly not the first caused by this person.
Yes, these characters have a life and a passion away from their work, but their hobbies and interests are not described in minute detail.
Just my personal opinion.
The characters in the book, like the team Jack has, have not been developed at all. The relationship between the team members and their boss also seems to be lacking.
OK, this may be developed in subsequent books, but it makes the characters very real for me. The only character that had a personal development in this book was Nadine.
I am not sure that I will read any more of this series. It didn't grab me in the least.
There was something 'off' about the writing as well.
Perhaps I should read Nicky Downes DI Amelia Barton series before I make a decision not to read this authors future works? I will do so soon.
Sorry, this was a washout for me, and I can only award two stars.
Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
August 4, 2023
I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I don't normally read crime novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed this character-driven police procedural which introduces us to a compelling addition to the pantheon of great female detectives: DI 'Jack' Kent.
Jack is a brilliant creation, at once both conflicted but also deeply sympathetic. Like all great cops, she has a messy personal life that constantly threatens to intrude into her ability to solve the crime she been tasking with solving. But she also has a great back story - she's an expert climber in her spare time. This is particularly relevant in this first book in a planned series of Jack Kent novels. When there are a spate of external break-ins in high-rise tower blocks, Jack is drafted in to bring her climbing skills to bear on solving the crime. Nicky Downs brilliantly steers us towards various suspects, but the solution to the crime (which, when it comes, is neatly handled and certainly caught me off-guard) is only part of what keeps us reading. At the heart of the novel is a brilliantly-conceived and crafted network of relationships between Jack, her team, her fellow climbers and her exasperating mother and sister. What we learn is that Jack is trying to function whilst still grieving the loss of her lover on a mountainside a year before. And whilst still trying to work out why her father died in a climbing accident many years before. At the end of the novel, we're almost as anxious that Jack resolves these personal traumas as we are that she solves the crime.
So if you're looking for a skilfully-crafted character-driven crime novel that keeps you guessing but which also makes you care deeply about the central character and their dilemmas, then Jack Kent is the series that you're looking for. I would want you though, that the marketing blurb doesn't really sell the book on that basis. If you're looking for thrill-a-minute murder mystery with the pace of a thriller then (despite what the blurb suggests) this book may not be for you. For the rest of us, though, Silent Fall is a compelling read at the start of what promises to be a great series.
Jack is a brilliant creation, at once both conflicted but also deeply sympathetic. Like all great cops, she has a messy personal life that constantly threatens to intrude into her ability to solve the crime she been tasking with solving. But she also has a great back story - she's an expert climber in her spare time. This is particularly relevant in this first book in a planned series of Jack Kent novels. When there are a spate of external break-ins in high-rise tower blocks, Jack is drafted in to bring her climbing skills to bear on solving the crime. Nicky Downs brilliantly steers us towards various suspects, but the solution to the crime (which, when it comes, is neatly handled and certainly caught me off-guard) is only part of what keeps us reading. At the heart of the novel is a brilliantly-conceived and crafted network of relationships between Jack, her team, her fellow climbers and her exasperating mother and sister. What we learn is that Jack is trying to function whilst still grieving the loss of her lover on a mountainside a year before. And whilst still trying to work out why her father died in a climbing accident many years before. At the end of the novel, we're almost as anxious that Jack resolves these personal traumas as we are that she solves the crime.
So if you're looking for a skilfully-crafted character-driven crime novel that keeps you guessing but which also makes you care deeply about the central character and their dilemmas, then Jack Kent is the series that you're looking for. I would want you though, that the marketing blurb doesn't really sell the book on that basis. If you're looking for thrill-a-minute murder mystery with the pace of a thriller then (despite what the blurb suggests) this book may not be for you. For the rest of us, though, Silent Fall is a compelling read at the start of what promises to be a great series.
September 4, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of Silent Fall, the first novel to feature DI Jack Kent, set In Birmingham.
When a woman is found dead in her luxury apartment Jack thinks it might be linked to a series of strange burglaries she is investigating. The burglar is climbing multiple storeys to get in to the flat and that is a skill few people have and Jack should know as she’s an elite mountaineer herself.
I enjoyed Silent Fall, which is a relatively straightforward police procedural with an interesting protagonist and a well concealed perpetrator. It is told from bother points of view, Jack in the third person and the burglar turned murderer in the first, which makes sense as this narrative ranges in timeline from 1993 to the present day. I didn’t find it particularly convincing or logical and it seems to me that the author defined the crime then went looking for a motive. That’s not necessarily a bad thing in a procedural where the emphasis is usually on the investigation and finding the perpetrator, rather than the why of it all. In that it works well.
As this is the first novel in a projected series there is quite a bit of scene setting and character introduction. It’s no surprise that the independent minded Jack doesn’t get on particularly well with her boss as that’s almost a staple in the genre, but what happens after that is quite shocking on so many levels. Her no. 2, DS Nadia Begum, also has secrets and the fallout from them has a big impact, which I hope will be followed up in the next novel. Jack is an interesting character. Can she actually be one of the world’s top mountaineers and hold down a job as a detective? It doesn’t sound likely to me, but it allows the author to over share descriptions of climbing and give her a unique burden - her best friend and love of her life died on a climb with Jack in the Himalayas.
The novel has a lively style and plenty of incidents, so there is never a dull moment. It invites the reader in and holds their attention from start to finish. Therefore I can recommend Silent Fall as a good read.
When a woman is found dead in her luxury apartment Jack thinks it might be linked to a series of strange burglaries she is investigating. The burglar is climbing multiple storeys to get in to the flat and that is a skill few people have and Jack should know as she’s an elite mountaineer herself.
I enjoyed Silent Fall, which is a relatively straightforward police procedural with an interesting protagonist and a well concealed perpetrator. It is told from bother points of view, Jack in the third person and the burglar turned murderer in the first, which makes sense as this narrative ranges in timeline from 1993 to the present day. I didn’t find it particularly convincing or logical and it seems to me that the author defined the crime then went looking for a motive. That’s not necessarily a bad thing in a procedural where the emphasis is usually on the investigation and finding the perpetrator, rather than the why of it all. In that it works well.
As this is the first novel in a projected series there is quite a bit of scene setting and character introduction. It’s no surprise that the independent minded Jack doesn’t get on particularly well with her boss as that’s almost a staple in the genre, but what happens after that is quite shocking on so many levels. Her no. 2, DS Nadia Begum, also has secrets and the fallout from them has a big impact, which I hope will be followed up in the next novel. Jack is an interesting character. Can she actually be one of the world’s top mountaineers and hold down a job as a detective? It doesn’t sound likely to me, but it allows the author to over share descriptions of climbing and give her a unique burden - her best friend and love of her life died on a climb with Jack in the Himalayas.
The novel has a lively style and plenty of incidents, so there is never a dull moment. It invites the reader in and holds their attention from start to finish. Therefore I can recommend Silent Fall as a good read.
September 29, 2023
This was my first Nicky Downes book and I enjoyed it. I like to tie in of the climbing community.
The woman lay on her back, her large, intelligent eyes fixed on the ceiling above, her pale hair fanned out beneath her like a halo. Around her, the room was peaceful and clean, with morning light dappling the cream carpet. She might have been merely resting… but Ana Marlova’s heart would never beat again. When the body of a beautiful and wealthy doctor is discovered in her high-rise apartment – all alone with the doors locked from the inside – nobody can understand how or why her life has been so brutally cut short. Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent may have never worked a murder case before, but that’s not going to stop her trying. It seems Ana’s murderer may have scaled the ten-story building to get in – and Jack should know. As an elite climber herself, it’s a set of skills that only a handful of people have. This can’t be the killer’s first innocent victim, and if Jack doesn’t act fast, it won’t be their last. Jack throws herself into the investigation, determined to beat the twisted climber at their own game. But the crime scene prompts harrowing memories for Jack, who’s still haunted by the death of her best friend Hannah, killed on a mountain only months before. Jack lived that day while Hannah died beside her. Night after night, she relives her friend’s final moments in her dreams. When the body of another victim is found, it’s clear that someone evil is trying to get Jack’s attention. Could the killer be one of her own close circle of friends from childhood? As the lines between her personal and professional life blur, Jack must confront the demons of her own past to stop a cold-blooded killer from striking again. Detective Jack Kent is a heroine who grabs you and doesn’t let go.
The woman lay on her back, her large, intelligent eyes fixed on the ceiling above, her pale hair fanned out beneath her like a halo. Around her, the room was peaceful and clean, with morning light dappling the cream carpet. She might have been merely resting… but Ana Marlova’s heart would never beat again. When the body of a beautiful and wealthy doctor is discovered in her high-rise apartment – all alone with the doors locked from the inside – nobody can understand how or why her life has been so brutally cut short. Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent may have never worked a murder case before, but that’s not going to stop her trying. It seems Ana’s murderer may have scaled the ten-story building to get in – and Jack should know. As an elite climber herself, it’s a set of skills that only a handful of people have. This can’t be the killer’s first innocent victim, and if Jack doesn’t act fast, it won’t be their last. Jack throws herself into the investigation, determined to beat the twisted climber at their own game. But the crime scene prompts harrowing memories for Jack, who’s still haunted by the death of her best friend Hannah, killed on a mountain only months before. Jack lived that day while Hannah died beside her. Night after night, she relives her friend’s final moments in her dreams. When the body of another victim is found, it’s clear that someone evil is trying to get Jack’s attention. Could the killer be one of her own close circle of friends from childhood? As the lines between her personal and professional life blur, Jack must confront the demons of her own past to stop a cold-blooded killer from striking again. Detective Jack Kent is a heroine who grabs you and doesn’t let go.
October 26, 2023
I love a good mystery, and a British mystery even more.
This was indeed a good mystery.
Silent Falls follows Jack Kent, a detective and a world renowned climber, has landed her first murder case. She realizes quickly that a rash of break-ins and this murder are connected and a fellow climber has to be involved.
Jack also has her own demons that she's dealing with as she tries to fit the pieces of this puzzle together. The crime scene prompts harrowing memories for Jack, who’s still haunted by the death of her best friend Hannah, someone she secretly loved,killed on a mountain only months before. Jack lived that day while Hannah died beside her. Night after night, she relives her friend’s final moments in her dreams.
Her father fell to his death on his one and only solo climb, her Sargent is acting odd and goes M.I.A., her family is less than supporting of her sexuality, or her life in general.
Jack Kent is a force to be reconned with. Yes she is an LGBTQ character but that is as important to the story as it would be if she were straight. She just is, and that's how I personally like it.
As a protagonist she is also someone you come to care about. Someone you want 5o know more about because you know there is more to tell.
She grabbed me right away and I cheered for her to win from the first moment.
I can't wait for the Author, Nicky Downes to write the next book, I what promises to be a stellar series.
This will grip you and dig in until you find out who the killer is.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to @netgalley for the change to listen to the watch of this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
This was indeed a good mystery.
Silent Falls follows Jack Kent, a detective and a world renowned climber, has landed her first murder case. She realizes quickly that a rash of break-ins and this murder are connected and a fellow climber has to be involved.
Jack also has her own demons that she's dealing with as she tries to fit the pieces of this puzzle together. The crime scene prompts harrowing memories for Jack, who’s still haunted by the death of her best friend Hannah, someone she secretly loved,killed on a mountain only months before. Jack lived that day while Hannah died beside her. Night after night, she relives her friend’s final moments in her dreams.
Her father fell to his death on his one and only solo climb, her Sargent is acting odd and goes M.I.A., her family is less than supporting of her sexuality, or her life in general.
Jack Kent is a force to be reconned with. Yes she is an LGBTQ character but that is as important to the story as it would be if she were straight. She just is, and that's how I personally like it.
As a protagonist she is also someone you come to care about. Someone you want 5o know more about because you know there is more to tell.
She grabbed me right away and I cheered for her to win from the first moment.
I can't wait for the Author, Nicky Downes to write the next book, I what promises to be a stellar series.
This will grip you and dig in until you find out who the killer is.
Highly recommend.
Thanks to @netgalley for the change to listen to the watch of this audiobook in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
August 11, 2023
Possibly the best thing about this interesting book is the character of police officer Jacqueline (aka Jack) Kent. Since this is supposed to be the first in a series about Jack, that's just as well!
In this book, Jack is investigating her first murder, which is an intriguing locked room mystery. A well-regarded doctor is found dead in her apartment with all the doors secured from the inside. So how did the killer get in?
The answer seems to lie in a series of break-ins in apartments located in high-rise buildings. This finding dovetails nicely with Jack's unusual skill set. Her family has a history of mountaineering activities - albeit not without serious mishaps.
So could it be that somebody is actually climbing the buildings in order to break in? It seems extreme, and the necessary experience required to do this would be limited to a relatively small group of people. It could even be someone that Jack knows...
In between juggling the demands of the investigation, Jack must also deal with her complicated family relationships, especially those with her mother and sister.
There are some flaws in the forensic examinations described in the story, but that problem could be addressed with more attention to such details in the next book. With this first offering, Downes has created a fascinating but flawed character who many readers may find relatable. Bring on the rest of the series!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
In this book, Jack is investigating her first murder, which is an intriguing locked room mystery. A well-regarded doctor is found dead in her apartment with all the doors secured from the inside. So how did the killer get in?
The answer seems to lie in a series of break-ins in apartments located in high-rise buildings. This finding dovetails nicely with Jack's unusual skill set. Her family has a history of mountaineering activities - albeit not without serious mishaps.
So could it be that somebody is actually climbing the buildings in order to break in? It seems extreme, and the necessary experience required to do this would be limited to a relatively small group of people. It could even be someone that Jack knows...
In between juggling the demands of the investigation, Jack must also deal with her complicated family relationships, especially those with her mother and sister.
There are some flaws in the forensic examinations described in the story, but that problem could be addressed with more attention to such details in the next book. With this first offering, Downes has created a fascinating but flawed character who many readers may find relatable. Bring on the rest of the series!
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review
August 13, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy. This is my honest review.
When I read the synopsis for the story, I was very intrigued. As I started reading it, I will openly admit, I became confused quickly. I’m not for sure how informing us that a detective that’s never investigated murders before and her little misfit crew get put on such a high profile murder case.
Also, I had a few questions/issues with some of the forensics. I am not a forensics expert, and I do not pretend to be that being said, I’m pretty sure fingerprint dust is does not blow away.
I found the struggles of Jack, having lost her partner, her best friend, her lover, in an avalanche sad. I would’ve liked to of seen more development into this issue. Other than just stating that she hadn’t planned on climbing another mountain anytime soon due to the loss of Hannah.
I really think with a little bit more finesse, some more research into forensic and mountain, climbing, and how the police system works in the UK the story could really be something interesting. Not to mention maybe a few more passes from an editor.
I did like the story concept, and I think, given time in a few more passes this has the potential to be a good series.
When I read the synopsis for the story, I was very intrigued. As I started reading it, I will openly admit, I became confused quickly. I’m not for sure how informing us that a detective that’s never investigated murders before and her little misfit crew get put on such a high profile murder case.
Also, I had a few questions/issues with some of the forensics. I am not a forensics expert, and I do not pretend to be that being said, I’m pretty sure fingerprint dust is does not blow away.
I found the struggles of Jack, having lost her partner, her best friend, her lover, in an avalanche sad. I would’ve liked to of seen more development into this issue. Other than just stating that she hadn’t planned on climbing another mountain anytime soon due to the loss of Hannah.
I really think with a little bit more finesse, some more research into forensic and mountain, climbing, and how the police system works in the UK the story could really be something interesting. Not to mention maybe a few more passes from an editor.
I did like the story concept, and I think, given time in a few more passes this has the potential to be a good series.
September 17, 2023
Detective Jack Kent & her team are just about finished with a tricky rape case where the accused is the son of a prominent politician when she gets handed a burglary case- something she thought of as a demotion. However it seems that she has been assigned to this because of her reputation as a celebrated climber. The only way the thief could have got in was from the balcony- even if it was many floors up! When a rich doctor's body is found after a robbery & a carabiner is found clipped to the balcony rail Jack believes someone is playing with them. Especially as the ill gotten gains seem to be ending up with worthy causes.
Jack is a complex character. She is still mourning & racked with guilt after the death of her lover & climbing partner,( she still believes she should have been able to save her!) She does not get on with her family & still misses her climbing mad father. But she still manages to deal with her team with sympathy & consideration. She is a character I really warmed to & look forward to meeting her again. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I hope the next one comes along soon!
Jack is a complex character. She is still mourning & racked with guilt after the death of her lover & climbing partner,( she still believes she should have been able to save her!) She does not get on with her family & still misses her climbing mad father. But she still manages to deal with her team with sympathy & consideration. She is a character I really warmed to & look forward to meeting her again. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book. I hope the next one comes along soon!
September 24, 2023
Book 1 in a new series
This is a short book with a lot of random things going on. I feel like if the focus had been narrower, it would have been a better story.
The book opens with DI Jack Kent closing a rape case, one committed by the mayor-elect's son. This case remains relevant throughout the book.
Then she gets a robbery case- one where the perpetrator breaks in by climbing the exterior. Jack happens to be a rock climber. So, we honestly get more random rock climbing scenes than ones about the crime.
Plus, on top of all that, Jack is dealing with a traumatic event that is only alluded to until the end.
Oh, yeah, plus the death of her father years ago is all of a sudden suspicious.
So, in this relatively short book, you basically have several major storylines. This is a series, and multiple storylines would work in a later book, when characters and events are established and known. But as a first book? No. I mean, it wasn't terrible. But it also never focused enough on anything for me to be truly invested.
The audiobook is narrated by Emma Wilkes. No complaints on that front.
I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a short book with a lot of random things going on. I feel like if the focus had been narrower, it would have been a better story.
The book opens with DI Jack Kent closing a rape case, one committed by the mayor-elect's son. This case remains relevant throughout the book.
Then she gets a robbery case- one where the perpetrator breaks in by climbing the exterior. Jack happens to be a rock climber. So, we honestly get more random rock climbing scenes than ones about the crime.
Plus, on top of all that, Jack is dealing with a traumatic event that is only alluded to until the end.
Oh, yeah, plus the death of her father years ago is all of a sudden suspicious.
So, in this relatively short book, you basically have several major storylines. This is a series, and multiple storylines would work in a later book, when characters and events are established and known. But as a first book? No. I mean, it wasn't terrible. But it also never focused enough on anything for me to be truly invested.
The audiobook is narrated by Emma Wilkes. No complaints on that front.
I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2025
This is the first book I have read by this author. Jack Kent whilst being a Detective is also a famous mountaineer. She has never dealt with a murder case and is given a case that is baffling, someone is robbing apartments which appear not to have been broken into. Jack soon realises that access is being gained by someone scaling the outside and entering via the balcony. On one robbery the resident is at home and is found dead. Was it an accident or intended. Jack finally has her first murder case.
This book is very well researched, I thought the author must be a climber herself but apparently not. The characters were all well written and the book was written in a style I like. The chapters were long but there are breaks so you can pick it up and put it down when you only have a few spare moments to read. Very enjoyable and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
This book is very well researched, I thought the author must be a climber herself but apparently not. The characters were all well written and the book was written in a style I like. The chapters were long but there are breaks so you can pick it up and put it down when you only have a few spare moments to read. Very enjoyable and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
September 8, 2023
Jack has certainly had her ups and downs in life but Nicky Downes did give us a strong women to keep the spirts of the book alive.
I was certainly a cat and mouse game in getting the killer. The story was something different compared to a lot of other crime books which I enjoyed.
Nicky is a very talented writer and I found it easy to read the book from start to finish without getting frustrated. In regards to the story as much as I enjoyed it I only rated it 4 star because there was little things in the book that contradicted its self or wasn't needed. Like Jack going on about her fitness maybe due to the athleticism of climbing compared to being at the gym could of been dealt with a bit better.
The front cover is beautiful and well suited
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an arc copy of this book
I was certainly a cat and mouse game in getting the killer. The story was something different compared to a lot of other crime books which I enjoyed.
Nicky is a very talented writer and I found it easy to read the book from start to finish without getting frustrated. In regards to the story as much as I enjoyed it I only rated it 4 star because there was little things in the book that contradicted its self or wasn't needed. Like Jack going on about her fitness maybe due to the athleticism of climbing compared to being at the gym could of been dealt with a bit better.
The front cover is beautiful and well suited
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an arc copy of this book
September 10, 2023
✨ My Thoughts✨
Jack has just finished up a rape case after some push back from her boss, she’s still dealing with trauma that shes keeping to herself never letting it get in the way of being a great Detective, they out of the blue she gets her very first Murder Case.
Oh and Jack is also a World Class Mountaineer.
This is an amazing series starter, we got little bits of Jacks childhood and the last few years and about her family etc which I loved and definitely want to hear more about.
The case was really intriguing but I’ll be honest and say that I almost lost interest a quarter of the way through but then wow it really kicked up a notch and the story really came together and then I was hooked!
I really can’t wait to read more of this series, it had so many other great characters I’d love to hear more about too.
Jack has just finished up a rape case after some push back from her boss, she’s still dealing with trauma that shes keeping to herself never letting it get in the way of being a great Detective, they out of the blue she gets her very first Murder Case.
Oh and Jack is also a World Class Mountaineer.
This is an amazing series starter, we got little bits of Jacks childhood and the last few years and about her family etc which I loved and definitely want to hear more about.
The case was really intriguing but I’ll be honest and say that I almost lost interest a quarter of the way through but then wow it really kicked up a notch and the story really came together and then I was hooked!
I really can’t wait to read more of this series, it had so many other great characters I’d love to hear more about too.
July 31, 2023
Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent may have never worked a murder case before, but that’s not going to stop her trying. It seems Ana’s murderer may have scaled the ten-story building to get in. This can’t be the killer’s first innocent victim, and if Jack doesn’t act fast, it won’t be their last.
Silent Fall by Nicky Downes has some strong female characters. I enjoyed learning about the climbing world.
However, the story was a slow burn and took quite a while for me to get into. The culprit, once revealed, seemed to come out of left field, and I'm still deciding if that was good or bad because it was such a shock.
Overall, the story was just okay for me. I would try more books by this author to see if I could connect to any characters.
#SilentFall #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co
Silent Fall by Nicky Downes has some strong female characters. I enjoyed learning about the climbing world.
However, the story was a slow burn and took quite a while for me to get into. The culprit, once revealed, seemed to come out of left field, and I'm still deciding if that was good or bad because it was such a shock.
Overall, the story was just okay for me. I would try more books by this author to see if I could connect to any characters.
#SilentFall #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co
September 9, 2023
It is a police procedural thriller with a climbing theme and a complex female detective. As the first book in the Detective Jack Kent series, there are the necessary links to the main protagonist's backstory, which defines her. The relationship between Jack and her team is a work in progress. However, there is an original storyline and well-researched climbing details. The urban setting is atmospheric, and the cast of characters is interesting. With insight into the antagonist's past and motive, this thriller draws the reader into its dark world—an engaging mix of poignancy and suspense. I like the originality, the female detective and the clever mystery.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
August 31, 2023
Member Review
Silent Fall
by Nicky Downes
Pub Date: 5 Sep 2023
Review by
michelle f, Reviewer
Last updated on 20 Aug 2023
My Recommendation
Detective Jack kent Book 1
Another new author for me. I enjoyed reading this book. Jack is a mountaneer as well as a detective, whilst on a climb jack, loses her partner, hannah. She carries the guilt that she couldn't save her.. when a case lands on her desk, is it possible it could be personal? A climber? Jack has to fight to keep the case her male superiors are not happy...... As they piece the puzzle together, can the team solve the case? I was drawn into the books' characters and their stories. Great police procedural. Hope there is a follow-up
Silent Fall
by Nicky Downes
Pub Date: 5 Sep 2023
Review by
michelle f, Reviewer
Last updated on 20 Aug 2023
My Recommendation
Detective Jack kent Book 1
Another new author for me. I enjoyed reading this book. Jack is a mountaneer as well as a detective, whilst on a climb jack, loses her partner, hannah. She carries the guilt that she couldn't save her.. when a case lands on her desk, is it possible it could be personal? A climber? Jack has to fight to keep the case her male superiors are not happy...... As they piece the puzzle together, can the team solve the case? I was drawn into the books' characters and their stories. Great police procedural. Hope there is a follow-up
September 10, 2023
Having previously read Bat Girl and the Amelia Barton series of books, I was so happy that Nicky Downes was taken up by a publishing company. I've literally just started the book, but it is already a page turner with me asking myself loads of questions, that I hope get answered as I continue reading. Nicky's writing is an easy read, covering not easy subjects. I love she has strong 'ballsy' main female characters, but are also not afraid to show their vulnerability. I also love they are set in and around places I am familiar with, and can also visualise the characters there. (it would make a great TV series!)
Looking forward to continuing the book and the further books in the series.
Looking forward to continuing the book and the further books in the series.
Read
September 12, 2023A gripping story (no pun intended) right from the start, even though the murder that the reader learnt about in the first couple of lines wasn’t discovered until a third of the way through the book.
I loved the local settings that I recognised as a former Midlands city dweller and the characters too, from all sections of society and so accurately portrayed. I particularly liked the scene where a concerned Jack visits the parents of a missing colleague and is welcomed into the house and presented with “samosas that were hot and tasty, fresh from the oven” - an author who clearly knows how it goes when you visit an Asian family’s home.
I loved the local settings that I recognised as a former Midlands city dweller and the characters too, from all sections of society and so accurately portrayed. I particularly liked the scene where a concerned Jack visits the parents of a missing colleague and is welcomed into the house and presented with “samosas that were hot and tasty, fresh from the oven” - an author who clearly knows how it goes when you visit an Asian family’s home.
September 23, 2023
I was very pleased to be provided by this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed the characters and it really reminded me of old school Val McDermid books. I loved the LGBTQ+ representation and relationships between Jack and her colleagues and friends were well formed and believable.
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The crime parts of the book I loved but the climbing sections and explanations I found boring and would have liked to skip over them. Also it felt like the narrator kept name dropping mountain ranges which I found a bit odd, but I am not a climber. I am excited to see how subsequent books progress if there is not another climbing killer.
Characters ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed the characters and it really reminded me of old school Val McDermid books. I loved the LGBTQ+ representation and relationships between Jack and her colleagues and friends were well formed and believable.
Plot ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The crime parts of the book I loved but the climbing sections and explanations I found boring and would have liked to skip over them. Also it felt like the narrator kept name dropping mountain ranges which I found a bit odd, but I am not a climber. I am excited to see how subsequent books progress if there is not another climbing killer.
October 19, 2023
Detective Jack Kent is recovering from a terrible climbing accident where her best friend died. She struggles not only with her physical but also pychical recovery!
Eitherway she gets called to help investigate a series of high-rise break and enters because who if not she could find out how the culprits got in??
Silent Fall is the 1st in the Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent series by Nicky Downes and we get to know a strong woman who tries to get back on track after this tragedy!
There is still a lot left to find out about her, so I am looking forward to more books to come in this series!
Thank you #NetGalley #Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing for this audiobook
Eitherway she gets called to help investigate a series of high-rise break and enters because who if not she could find out how the culprits got in??
Silent Fall is the 1st in the Detective Jacqueline “Jack” Kent series by Nicky Downes and we get to know a strong woman who tries to get back on track after this tragedy!
There is still a lot left to find out about her, so I am looking forward to more books to come in this series!
Thank you #NetGalley #Dreamscape Select, Storm Publishing for this audiobook
August 27, 2023
Detective Jack Kent is a professional mountain climber as well as her police job. A case lands on her desk about killings connected to a climber who doesn't go in the usual way of doors and climbs high rise block of flats instead. Jack does everything in her power to find the killer but she gets suspended along the way because of politics in the area. Finding her strength in climbing and takes a few days away from her work, comes back to find the killer. Great twists in this book. I didn't even have the person who killed, down as the suspect! Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing
September 30, 2023
A totally gripping read that left me guessing to the end! Jack Kent is a strong main character, who represents all the doubts and concerns that strong women have, whilst still being a caring, capable detective. Easily liked and as a reader you want her to succeed. I especially liked the mixing in of first person of the other main character, showing a horrible backstory that leads to them feeling fully-justified to murder.
As a reader throughout I was plagued with the idea: I want to just keep reading and reading, but if I do, the book will have ended! I definitely need book number 2 now!
As a reader throughout I was plagued with the idea: I want to just keep reading and reading, but if I do, the book will have ended! I definitely need book number 2 now!
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