Binary Witness

The Amy Lane Mysteries #1

by Rosie Claverton

Book one of The Amy Lane Mysteries

Police detectives rely on Amy Lane to track the digital debris of their most elusive criminals�when she's not in the throes of a panic attack. After two students disappear in Cardiff, Amy uncovers photographic evidence that they've been murdered. From the safety of her computer, she looks through the city's digital eyes to trace the steps of a killer.

Amy's investigation requires footwork, however, and the agoraphobic genius can't hack it alone. She turns to her newly-hired cleaner, ex-con Jason Carr. Jason is fascinated by both Amy and the work, and can't refuse even when she sends him into situations that risk returning him to prison.

The killer strikes again and again, and Amy and Jason are the only investigators closing in on him. But Amy's psyche is cracking under the strain, and Jason's past is catching up with him. To stop the next murder, they must hold their unconventional partnership together at any cost.

78,000 words

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Contemporary, Thriller, Suspense

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 5, 2014

About the author

Rosie Claverton grew up in Devon, daughter to a Sri Lankan father and a Norfolk mother, surrounded by folk mythology and surly sheep. She moved to Cardiff to study Medicine and adopted Wales as her home.

Her crime series The Amy Lane Mysteries debuted in 2014, about an agoraphobic hacker and streetwise ex-con who fight crime in Cardiff.

Between writing and medicine, she advocates for accurate and sensitive portrayals of people with mental health problems in fiction. She is a co-founder of the Welsh crime writing collective Crime Cymru.

Rosie lives with her journalist husband and her young daughters

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up when the series was offered free on Amazon. Thanks to whoever posted about it.

Claverton writes a woman who has issues but is strong quite well. She is a shut-in with a mysterious past. Jason is hired to clean her house.

It's really dirty.

But she has a couple friends, so while Jason is a bit different, he also isn't totally unique.

The book was quite a nice gripping read.

[Joanna Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binary witness is the start of a great new crime series that I’m excited to read more of.

Firstly I loved the partnership that develops between Amy and Jason.  They are a great team, each feeding off one another and complimenting each other.  It was great that both of them were able to help each other navigate through the new world they find themselves in, Jason who is finding his feet after being in prison and Amy who hasn’t been outside for years following a traumatic event.  It wasn’t a normal, stereotypical crime detective pairing which made the book more interesting to read about.  Their personality and quirks helped add a human element to the story which made you care more about them and what the outcome was.  I really wanted them to succeed and prove to others that they could do it.

Amy’s technical ability was very interesting to read about and has made me think twice about my passwords and the stuff I post on line.  The amount of information she was able to glean from the internet was shocking and made me realise how vulnerable we are to criminals stealing our information.

This was a fairly easy read in that the pace was quite fast, with lots of action and reveals which helped keep me interested.  The chapters are short which means it is an easy book to pick up and put down when you haven’t got long to read- great when you’re trying to grab five minutes peace from the kids! The reader is a witness to each victim’s last moments which is allows the reader to get to know each character so that they feel more empathy for them and what happens to them.

Binary Witness was the first book Rosie Claverton wrote and the first that I have read.  She has since written three more in the Amy Lane Mystery series and I really look forward to reading them.

Thanks to Anne Cater and Crime Scene books for my copy of this book the invitation to join the blog tour.

[LG (A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

[11/30/18 - Finished listening to the audiobook. Short review: The narrator's voice for Jason didn't always work for me, and she occasionally spoke too softly for me to easily hear. Still, I mostly liked this audiobook. It reminded me how much I like the Amy and Jason partnership.]

[11/25/18 - This is an old review I'm just now adding to Goodreads because I'm currently listening to the audiobook.]

I'm kicking myself for not reviewing this weeks ago, when my memories were fresher. Oh well, I'll do my best.

Back in 2011, Melinda Beasi wrote a post for Manga Bookshelf titled “Fanservice Friday: Intimacy porn.” In it, she writes about intimacy being a big draw for her, and includes a few examples. It took a few years of percolating, but I now think intimacy is what I look for too, in all kinds of stories. In my experience, intimacy tends to be easier to find in romance novels, but even in those it's not a sure thing. Binary Witness was a wonderful surprise – it's a mystery that doesn't have what most people would call a romantic subplot, and yet it's full of intimate moments.

The story is set in Cardiff. Jason is an ex-con who desperately wants to get a job so that he can get out of his mother's house a bit and do something useful. Amy is an agoraphobic hacker who helps the police by piecing together information she finds via social media, forums, CCTV, and more. Their paths cross when Jason gets a job as a housecleaner and is sent to clean Amy's place. She refuses to let him in, at first, but he's persistent, and it's not long before he's cleaning her kitchen and making her a cup of tea and something to eat. Amy is not very good about taking care of herself, by the way - things like personal hygiene and eating end up on the back burner a lot.

It's Amy who confirms that a couple missing young women are not only dead, but also probably killed by the same person. Jason starts off on the sidelines, but eventually becomes more involved in the investigation, helping Amy get whatever information the police can't give her and that she isn't able to track down with her beloved computer.

I have to admit, the weakest part of this book, for me, was the mystery. It wasn't that I figured out who the killer was too soon – I didn't know who he was until it was revealed late in the book. The problem was that the mystery felt...mundane? I'm not sure that's the right word. It felt like the sort of thing that might easily be solved in another series, more filler to give the characters some reason to interact with each other than anything else. At times, Amy seemed to have so much information at her fingertips that it was hard to believe that she hadn't managed to track down the killer yet, although I suppose it could be argued that she had too much data, making it harder to find the truly relevant stuff hidden in all the noise.

The story was told from quite a few POVs: the victims, the killer (who eventually adds rape to his list of crimes, FYI), Jason, Amy, and Bryn (Amy's most trusted police contact, who she viewed as a sort of father figure). The only POVs that actually interested me were Jason's, Amy's, and, to a certain extent, Bryn's.

It was lovely, seeing Jason and Amy become closer from both their perspectives. They fretted over each other - Jason worried about Amy taking care of herself, Amy worried about Jason getting hurt - and were curious about each other. Bryn's POV added a nice “outsider” perspective, as he compared what he was seeing in Jason and Amy's interactions to what he'd managed to accomplish with Amy up to that point. I'm still not quite sure why Amy let Jason so much further in that anyone else, even Bryn, but I enjoyed seeing it happen. Most of my bookmarked spots were lovely little moments between the two of them: Amy fussing over Jason and fixing him a cup of tea after he'd been badly hurt, Jason cooking Amy a real meal, the ongoing issue of Jason's password strength (who knew talk of passwords could be adorable?), and more.

I'm not sure if Claverton plans on turning Amy and Jason's relationship into a romance or not. It could go either way, I suppose. For instance, there was a moment when Jason's mother mentioned that Amy wasn't really his type:

“'Well, that explains why you were bothering so much with that Amy. She doesn't sound like your type of girl at all.'

For some reason, that statement stung him, though he had no idea why. True, Amy was nothing like the girls he chose to hang about with, but she wasn't bad and he thought maybe he would've liked to see her, even if he wasn't getting paid.” (146)

Amy tended to be hyper-aware of just about everything about Jason, mostly because it surprised her that she felt safe around him. All of these things could be nudges towards a future romantic relationship, or they could just be indications of closeness. Either way, these two charmed me. Part of me hopes that Claverton never adds a sexual component to their relationship. I keep thinking of the X-Files, when Mulder and Scully officially became a couple and it felt all wrong.

All in all, this book's biggest draw for me was its characters and their relationships. I'm looking forward to learning more about Amy in the next book, and seeing how everyone's relationships progress. I'm reminded a little of how I approach J.D. Robb's In Death books – I read and reread them not for the mysteries, which I didn't always care for or remember very well, but for my favorite moments between the characters. Amy and Jason got lots of great moments in Binary Witness, and I can't wait to see more.

(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)

[Hallie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed with this one, but found it wildly uneven, so the mid-rating is kind of a sum of highs and lows. The sections from Jason's POV read as so much more assured and solidly-characterised than those from Amy's that it almost felt like two different books at times. As it's "supposed" to be the Amy Lane Mysteries, I puzzled a bit over why her sections felt less fleshed-out. Possibly it's because the author went a bit too far (for my taste) in withholding back-story to dole it out in small doses, and kept much more info for the second book? Whatever the reason, Amy was an intriguing-sounding character who started to wear thin for me after a while. Both had their fair share of straining-credulity too far moments, but Jason himself was still utterly believable.

Jason is an ex-con with a very kind heart and a willingness to clean even the the most disgusting areas of Amy's squalid flat, and as Amy has (some-underexplained-how) got a kind of informal consulting job with the Cardiff police, Jason ends up working with them too. The two detectives we get to know are fine, but Bryn (the older copper) goes with very unlikely speed from the traditional "I know *your* type, son" threats towards Jason, to allowing him blag his way into crime scenes (yes, really), and thinking how he likes him. Admittedly, they're so out of their depth with a serial killer attacking young women in Cardiff that some kind of rule-relaxing for the sake of getting him stopped makes sense, but not the degree there actually is. There are also two very convenient coincidences, which are too spoilerish to describe, but the second of them is a whopper that really shouldn't have been there.

I didn't even notice how much more I liked the Jason POV scenes than the Amy ones until talking to Katie, but on thinking back on it, it seemed that the really effective portrayal of her agoraphobia came from Jason's reaction to it, rather than the inside-her-head bits. Seeing Jason helping Amy with her panic attacks and crippling anxiety was great. Amy, though, came off slightly by-the-numbers mental illness, somehow, and I'm not sure if it would have helped if we'd got the full story on how she'd ended up that way. She stole **five million quid** from her parents' bank account and never got caught? And that when she and her sister had just been abandoned, before she'd even started her career as a hacker??? That seemed almost a throw-off, "look at how brilliant Amy is" kind of line, which I didn't much care for, for several reasons.

There were multiple (generally fairly short) scenes from the perspective of the killer, which I usually dislike, and they did nothing to change my mind about that dislike. There was one short line, though, that made me hope nobody for whom it would be triggering would ever read this book. I have no particular reason to be triggered, but it was still deeply upsetting.

[Tracey Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This first book in the Amy Lane series kept my attention and kept me guessing throughout.
"Police detectives rely on Amy Lane to track the digital debris of their most elusive criminals—when she’s not in the throes of a panic attack...From the safety of her computer, she looks through the city’s digital eyes to trace the steps of a killer."
I thoroughly enjoyed Binary Witness and felt as though I'd known the characters for ages because they were so well described. I particularly appreciated that the police officers weren't portrayed as bungling idiots - they simply acknowledged and made use of Amy's skills, while getting on with the job.
Amy's way of working is reminiscent of the investigatory methods of Jeffery Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme, but whereas we know Rhyme's back story, Amy's past is shrouded in secrecy. The author gives us a few pieces of a tantalising jigsaw that will hopefully be revealed in future instalments.
I have just one small complaint (due to my pedantry). There were a few inconsistencies of time/place that spoilt my enjoyment slightly. However that doesn't stop me recommending Binary Witness as a breath of fresh air in the sometimes predictable world of crime fiction. I'm lucky enough to have an advance copy of the follow up, Code Runner, and look forward to reading it in a few books' time.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binary Witness is a crime thriller with a difference. There are two main protagonists. Jason Carr is an ex-con trying to make a new start. His employment prospects are fairly limited so he accepts a job with a cleaning company, which is how he meets Amy Lane. Amy is an agoraphobic grey-hat hacker at the mercy of fears, anxieties and bouts of depression, whose incredible computer skills brought her to the attention of the Cardiff police. She codes mostly for fun, sometimes for profit and has assisted the police previously. When two female students go missing Amy’s help is solicited again, relying on her help to track the digital footprints of an elusive killer, as well as his victims.

Jason finds himself becoming an unwitting assistant to Amy, doing any outside investigative work as well as keeping up with his housekeeping duties, while Amy continues doing what she does best—collating information online. She’s not the best at looking after herself, eating and cleaning are low on the agenda, so she’s more than happy to let Jason sort out that side of things.

Amy is an intriguing protagonist. What had happened to make her so anxious and afraid? Why was she and her sister abandoned by their parents and why has her sister emigrated to Australia? Lots of questions but no conclusive answers in this, the first book of the series, just hints. Amy and Jason do make an unusual and engaging pairing, and together with their involvement with the police, it’s a scenario that works well in the realms of crime fiction. It makes sense for the police to use all the resources that are available.

Jason’s story is quite realistic in that he paid the price for his transgressions and now he’s trying to make a new start. It’s not easy to regain the trust of his family and the opportunity to fall back into his old ways is always there, especially with his ex partners in crime always around.

I enjoyed the developing friendship between Amy and Jason, particularly the way he handles her agoraphobia and panic attacks, and the fact that neither of them are stereotypical. Their contrasting personalities and Amy’s expertise added interest. The story is told from multiple perspectives. As well as Jason and Amy, we have the points of view of the victims, police and the killer. The plot is fast paced with quite a lot of action and a well developed cast of secondary characters.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binary Witness is a different type of crime novel. Police officers do feature, and they are looking for a serial killer but the people they get the most help from are not the police. Amy is an agoraphobic computer whizz who lives in squalor and forgets to eat. Jason is an ex-convict who gets a job as her cleaner/ housekeeper/cook. She also uses him to do the stuff that she can’t,which is basically anything that involves being outside or having any contact with people she doesn’t know. They have a great relationship, no sign of any romantic entanglement but they understand each other and have each other’s best interests at heart. Although I do have the feeling that Jason gets unsettled by Amy knowing everything about him.
It is completely unbelievable but I found it to be very entertaining. The crime they are investigating is no different to other crime novels, women abducted and killed who have no apparent connection to each other. But the way in which Amy and Jason have so much input in the investigation is what makes it fun and refreshing.
It is the first in a series, the second book is also part of this blog tour, so I have plenty of opportunity to get to know Amy and Jason. Amy especially is a character I want to know more about. I want to know what happened in her past, most of the focus in this novel was on Jason.
It was a novel that I read after a more harrowing one so it was perfect timing for me. Great entertainment and quick to read. Recommended.

[Hannah (jellicoereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so let me introduce you to the underrated Amy Lane series by Rosie Claverton! It was a Kindle Deal a few months ago, and someone on my Twitter whose tastes I trust highly recommended it. I one-clicked, and was so glad I did.

The principle characters are an agoraphobic hacker, the aforementioned Amy, as well as Jason, a former convict, who is employed to clean Amy's house in his first post-jail job. Yeah, I like this rather unique set-up.

The author is a mental health professional, so I trust her to do right with her character's mental illness - indeed, Jason learns fast what to do and what not to do when it comes to Amy's agoraphobia.

The relationship between Jason and Amy is platonic and wonderful - it's great to see how they come to depend on and trust one another. It's also enjoyable to see how they both grow individually throughout the course of the book.⠀

"I hear she thought you were the murderer. I suppose it was because you lied to her and then took her to a place with dead bodies in the water. I think that's a turn-off."

Obviously you have to ignore a few plausibility issues when it comes to two decidedly non-law enforcement characters investigating a crime, but it didn't bother my enjoyment of the book.

In terms of the crime mystery itself - a murderer preying on young women at night on the streets of Cardiff - I appreciated that it wasn't overly gory, and I liked that it was solved by a combination of skills - Amy's hacking, Jason's street-smarts and their accompanying police allies. The victims were also humanised, as opposed to being convenient dead bodies to further the plot.

This series needs way more love, so get on it if you haven't already.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Binary Witness, Rosie Claverton teams up the severely anxious and agoraphobic Amy Lane with streetwise ex-convict Jason Carr, who work together to solve the mystery of a serial killer stalking the Cardiff streets.

First and foremost, Binary Witness is a crime novel, and bears all the hallmarks of such. Full of suspense and intrigue, it does not take long at all for this book to dig its claws into you and become utterly impossible to put down. And, whilst it is most definitely part of the crime genre, it is far from predictable; I tried hard, whilst reading, to predict the eventual killer, but failed miserably.

As well as being crime fiction, Binary Witness is a clear ode to Cardiff, and it is very apparent that Claverton is writing about a city she both knows and loves. With 1001 novels set in London and New York, it is refreshing to see the classic serial killer crime story told in a brand new setting, and one without the immediate facilities and resources that the big city dramas allow.

Alongside the thrilling plot and carefully-crafted setting, the characters also shine through. And whilst Amy and Jason, the two leads, do leave a lasting impression on the reader, for me it's the supporting cast that truly make this novel. Be it Jason's sister and mam, or the detectives Bryn and Owain - all are written as well-rounded individuals, with their own lives, stories and motivations.

Pick up this book, and I guarantee you will not put it back down until you've turned the final page. Nor will you ever look at a shower curtain in quite the same way, ever again.

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been laid up with a back injury, something that's doing wonders for my reading. This book wasn't perfect but it was good enough that I promptly downloaded and started reading the sequel.

The story has an interesting premise. Amy Lane, the heroine, is deeply agoraphobic and hasn't left home in 10 years. Her sidekick, Jason Carr, has recently come out of prison and has secured a job as a cleaner. His assignment to Amy's flat draws him into her unsettling world.

Even though Amy can't care for herself, she is a computer whiz and the local police consult with her on cases. This is one of those premises that doesn't exactly crackle with realism, but I liked the characters and I enjoyed the story enough to just roll with it.

In this tale, Amy is working on tracking down someone killing students in Cardiff. From the beginning, Jason starts finding himself drawn into the mystery. After all, the case has some ties to his home city and neighborhood, and unlike Amy, he can leave the flat and follow the trail of case through the streets of Cardiff. I felt like the author was far to slow in doling out tidbits of Amy's background and this made it hard to really get to know he in the book. Jason makes some boneheaded decisions throughout the book, but since we do get to know him a little better, his missteps feel plausible, more easily forgiven by the reader perhaps.

Claverton crafts an interesting mystery and I ended the book wanting to go deeper into her vision of Cardiff and wanting to know her characters better, so I'd still call this one a win.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book in 2014 after seeing a review on Tracey Book Lover's blog and it has been sat on my Kindle since (like a lot of stuff). I was looking for something gritty to read over the Christmas break and opened this up to have a look, before I realised I was about a third of the way through.

From the opening chapter we're straight into the action, no mincing about, which is great for a cat and mouse crime thriller.

I liked both Amy and Jason's characters and their developing professional relationship; neither are what would you expect or typical of investigators. I liked their characterisation and the unusual pairing of these two.

I only figured out who the killer was when I'd been practically spoon-fed all the clues, I should remember it's always someone you've been made aware of somewhere and pick up on the clues but I never do, I was just too immersed in the story.

One thing I find interesting is police detectives using 'outsider' help, you know how Inspector Lestrade has Sherlock; I would be interest to know does this actually happen? Does anyone know?

An interesting partnership which makes for addictive reading and reminded me of the tv show CSI:Cyber. I had a small issue with a time discrepancy very early on the story but other than that I really enjoyed the first in this series and will definitely be reading more.

[Lisbeth Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: Five stars and a new shelf called "Favourites"

If you loved the first series of Sherlock (the one with Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman) then you'll love this. Oh yes, it's that good.

I enjoyed this book from page 1; by page 3 I knew I'd have to buy book #2 and by page 10 I was completely hooked, a fan of however many in the series we're lucky enough to get from Rosie Claverton.

Why? Isn't it just another crime thriller? Well yes but what sets it apart I think is (a) the warmth between the characters (apart from the killer, obviously...); Amy and Jason, Jason's mam Gwen, even his sister (a bit like Smiffy and his sister in Gavin & Stacey) and (b) the unusualness of the characters. An agoraphobic hacker and an ex-con cleaner? It'll be interesting to see the casting when this gets made into a tv drama (as I'm sure it will be!).

I'm tempted to cancel all plans for the weekend to settle down with Amy Lane #2 but I rashly organised the grandsons to be here for a week of their summer vacation. Maybe I'll put them to bed by 5pm and read it overnight in one hugely enjoyable sitting again!

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Improbable plot, but enjoyed the Cardiff setting.

[Karen Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binary Witness introduces a new crime fighting partnership, one that is refreshingly different and I believe has the potential to form a long running series. Although the series takes just Amy Lane's name, Jason Carr is equally important to the drama. He is newly released from prison and realising that his job prospects are limited, accepts a position with a cleaning company. His new role introduces him to Amy, an agoraphobic hacker who lives in squalor and loses hours to the screen and keyboard. It soon transpires that her skills have come to the notice of the police and having already helped them with some minor cases, she is now called upon to assist with an investigation into two missing girls. Jason is stunned to discover that the police call on this vulnerable and strange young woman but swiftly realises just what she is capable of as her knowledge turns out to be invaluable what turns out to be a complex case.
As the missing person investigation quickly turns into hunt for a murderer, the relationship between Amy and Jason develops from mutual suspicion to a tender friendship. Although on paper very different - Amy is unable to leave her home, is crippled by her anxiety and bouts of a deeper depression while Jason is an act first, think later sort of person who misses the adrenaline of his old life but is determined to make a fresh start - they are both societal misfits who need to find their place in a world which looks on them with scorn or pity. Jason discovers he wants to nurture Amy and as she learns to trust him, so he begins to gain a sense of self-worth again.
The mystery itself is gripping and I really enjoyed the contemporary feel to the book, from Amy's use of the data trails most of us inadvertently leave behind us these days through to the clubbing culture of Cardiff's student population to the pop culture chapter titles which are often taken from songs, films and plays. However, although the hunt for the killer is tense and features some disturbing scenes written from the perspective of the murderer, it's really the two flawed protagonists who most engaged me and kept me wanting to know more. Amy's mental health is sensitively explored and her lapses into depression or her panic attacks are painfully realistic which means they never feel exploitative. Amy is dysfunctional according to society's rules and yet she is still portrayed as a strong young woman who has some impressive skills that prove vital in the race to discover who is targeting the young women of Cardiff. Meanwhile, Jason's story is only too believable; there's no whitewashing of his past misdemeanours here, he was guilty of the crime he went to prison for and now he has to fight for his fresh start but it seems like everybody - the police, his mum, people from his old life - are all waiting for him to fail. His story may seem the less sympathetic initially but as is gradually revealed these are two people who both have secrets in their lives and have perhaps both been trapped in different ways.
Binary Witness probably requires a little suspension of belief - I'm not really sure if the police would ask a clearly damaged young woman - and a known hacker - to assist with the hunt for a deranged serial killer and I'm certain that an ex-con wouldn't be given anywhere near the access Jason manages. However, the engrossing and enjoyable story with its intriguing plot, creepy antagonist, two genuinely interesting main characters and a well-developed secondary cast, means any cynicism should be put aside. I'm looking forward to discovering more about Amy and Jason's pasts, Rosie Claverton has clearly (and cleverly!) kept something back for future books and I'm fascinated to see how their relationship continues to develop over time. Binary Witness does exactly what the first book in a series should do - it has an exciting plot which means it's a satisfying read in its own right but it also introduces compelling characters you want to know more about. Tense, intelligent and empathic, Rosie Claverton's debut is a fresh and engaging thriller.

[Cheryl M-M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The relationship between Amy and Jason develops gradually, a mutual feeling of disinterest is taken over by a genuine emotional bond. Two people who don’t fit into the stereotypical boxes determined by society. Jason, the ex-con trying to stay out of prison, but finding it difficult to move on from his past and the pre-conceived notions people have about him. Then there is Amy, the agoraphobic grey-hat hacker, who is ruled by her fears and anxiety.

What starts out as a simple two hour a day cleaning job for Jason, soon becomes a a need to nurture Amy and keep her safe. One step at a time, day by day, and one small job at a time. Amy neglects herself and her home, so it comes as a huge surprise to Jason to find the police using her hacking skills on really complex cases.

When Amy is asked to help discover the identity of a potential serial killer, the new relationship between the two of them changes from client and cleaner to a crime busting duo. Amy takes care of all the online data gathering and snooping, and Jason becomes the feet on the ground external operative.

I think the premise has so much potential, and I enjoyed the way Claverton approaches mental health issues in such an open way. The majority of people will just tick Amy off as an outsider, the crazy person. There is a lack of understanding of mental health issues in general, and a lot of misconceptions about agoraphobia, anxiety and depression. Depression is just someone feeling a little sad sometimes, anxiety is merely someone being a wee bit hysterical and how can anyone be afraid to leave their home? Sounds insensitive doesn't it, and yet this is the way people who don’t comprehend these illnesses often speak about them. He or she is putting it on, they just want attention. Statements that couldn't be further from the truth.

Claverton has a created a crime fighting tag-team, who are in a sense dependent on each other. Amy needs the support and Jason needs to support. The Amy Lane Mysteries are a great combination of crime with a subtle portion of mental health awareness to go along with it. Both aspects of this series run comfortably beside each other without any attempt to be preachy or inform. It’s has a natural flow and ease to it, which is what makes the read and premise work so well. Claverton is definitely an author worth watching out for.
*I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.*

[Laura Rueckert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Binary Witness! I loved following Jason and Amy in their adventures and in getting to know and trust each other. I'd never read anything set in Cardiff before, so I also liked that. I know the author is a psychiatrist, and it was nice to be sure the portrayals of mental illness were sound. I also thought I'd figured out who the bad guy was toward the end...I was wrong! Based on this book, I can tell Amy has some more surprises in store, so I'm looking forward to the sequel.

[Gillian Heath · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not sure if I’ve read the same book as other reviewers but this was totally underwhelming. It’s so badly written I could hardly push myself to finish it. I found myself wanting to rewrite whole chunks of the book. I did read it as it was a book club read - improbable and just not readable. I won’t be looking to read any more titles. The redeeming factor was the Cardiff setting which I did enjoy due to personal knowledge of Cardiff and other Welsh settings and phrases.

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. Excellent narration, interesting characters and relationships, and a decent mystery plot (although I did figure out the killer before any of the characters did...). I'm curious to know more about Amy's backstory and her family, and presuming that will come in the next books in the series, which I'll definitely be picking up.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual team, both have a past,,his was behind bars, hers not going outside. Jason comes to clean, needs to be everyday, even what she wore, and hair was greasy. The young policemen who came the envelopes what does she do. Intriguing as though you are behind the crime scene of how she looks at pictures, giving them the answers. Good team, and the plot flowed

[Candy Denman · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in the Any Lane series set in Cardiff, this book introduces us to the hacker and her assistant, ex-con Jason. You will grow to love these characters in this book and want to know more about them, I certainly did. I was worried that the computer stuff would slow things down but it works really well and even I understood it!

[Citronelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the read but had to suspend disbelief at the skills of the hacker. I didn't enjoy that her background story is only doled out in small amounts, which screams "I'm saving some info for book 2"

[Saeida Rouass · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this...exactly what I need for a relaxed weekend. Kept me interested the whole time and the vulnerability of the main characters made them very likeable.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoomed right through this new (to me) author. The tone reminded me of the Cormoran Strike books, but a little breezier, and it definitely kept my attention.

[Angela Harding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great read. So different to the usual soft-crime I listen to you. Not gruesome but lots of depth and intellect behind it. Will be reading the next in the series!

[Bree T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jason is fresh out of jail and looking for work. There isn’t much around but they send him to do some cleaning and the first apartment, it takes him several minutes just to get in the door. The occupant is Amy Lane, an ‘eye in the sky’ who uses computer skills to help the local police solve crimes. There’s not much she can’t do but Amy hasn’t been outside in years and can barely take care of herself. Jason is appalled by the state of her apartment and gets stuck into not just cleaning but also helping take care of Amy. He makes her cups of tea and brings her biscuits and makes sure that she eats proper food. Amy has good days and bad days and it becomes almost Jason’s job to keep Amy on as much as an even keel as possible.

Just after Jason begins working for Amy, two local detectives turn up to ask Amy for help in the abduction and probable murder of two young local girls in separate incidents. From the safety of her apartment, Amy uses her computer skills to track the girl’s last known movements, their friends, the possible ins and outs of a crime taking place in such locations. She pieces together information for the police in a painstaking fashion, using the girls’ facebook and social media pages and building a profile of both. Before too long they’ve established a sinister motive for the kidnappings and uncovered the fact that there’s someone else out there who is very much in danger.

But there’s only so much that Amy can do from her apartment, manning her computers. Sometimes to get things done, you need to be out there in the field. And for that she comes to rely on Jason, sending him out to do dangerous things, even though it could get him into trouble and land him back in jail. But both of them know they have to catch this man, before he manages to strike again.

Binary Witness is the first book in the Amy Lane Mysteries and introduces us to Jason, a man who grew up in Cardiff, Wales and became affiliated with one of the gangs that roam around the area. Jason was busted for stealing cars, did time and has just been released to start over. He is trying to stay out of trouble, but it seems that there are a few people around the local area that are going out of their way to find him. Jason gets himself a job working for a cleaning company and it’s there he meets Amy Lane, a recluse and computer genius who uses her skills with technology to help the local police solve crimes.

Amy has a mysterious past barely hinted at to the reader and she suffers from severe agoraphobia and hasn’t left her apartment in a very long time. When she remembers, she gets groceries delivered however there are times she forgets to even bring them inside. She doesn’t sleep very well and she seems to forget other basic things like showering when she’s working on things. Jason and Amy develop a friendship of sorts, although it’s not exactly a traditional sort of friendship. Amy is basically a basketcase and I’d have liked to find out a little bit more of the why in this book. I’m assuming that more information will be dribbled out with the coming books but I’d have liked a bit more background here.

Whilst I enjoyed the rapport that Jason and Amy eventually build and the way that they look out for each other, I have to admit, I found the inclusion of Amy and in particular, Jason into the ins and outs of a criminal investigation a little bit difficult to really comprehend. I can understand Amy being used for her skills but sending Jason out to crime scenes to photograph dead bodies and stuff like that….I couldn’t imagine detectives or the forensic team being okay with that. Using someone to track movements on surveillance cameras is one thing, having them study photos of dead bodies and crime scenes, before it’s even announced to the press is quite another. Likewise the fact that Amy confirms that a picture of a victim shows that she’s dead and yet the two detectives didn’t notice that, is a little bit far-fetched.

Despite that quibble, I enjoyed the way in which the author built suspense and the way that Amy and Jason worked both together and separately to track down the killer and try and catch him. I’ve always wanted to be one of those recluses with the genius computer skills and I love reading stories about them. Amy is a little difficult to really get to know as a character, she’s obviously got a lot of issues and we haven’t even scratched the surface. Jason as the former gang criminal, fresh out of jail is an interesting balance of life experience and street smarts to balance out Amy’s slightly crazy technohead personality. I’ll definitely continue with the series to see where Amy and Jason find themselves next.

[Star · Rating 4 out of 5]

BINARY WITNESS is the first book in the Amy Lane mystery series. Amy is an agoraphobe and a hacker genius who assists the police in Cardiff, England with their tough cases. Jason Carr is an ex-con who has found a job at a cleaning service. This is how he meets Amy as her sister has hired the cleaning service on her behalf. Amy’s investigating a serial murder case for the police - Detectives Bryn and Owain, who have used Amy’s talents many times before. Jason is intrigued by Amy’s work, but Amy is hesitant at first. However, Jason’s persistence and his viewpoint get through to Amy and she starts using him to do the things she can’t leave the house to do on the case. Amy’s fragility and Jason’s past are factors which will strain them both to near the breaking point as the killer closes in on the next victim. Together they must fight for the solution and to keep their partnership intact.

BINARY WITNESS is a solid mystery with characters who I was instantly drawn to and with whom I empathized. I was glad the author didn’t try and force a romance between Amy and Jason because I think it would have taken away from both of their characters and the story itself. I definitely preferred their partnership and growing friendship. BINARY WITNESS’ suspenseful mystery and cleverly crafted characters will drag you into the mystery easily and keep your attention until the twisted end. I especially relished the fact I wasn’t able to figure out the mystery until Amy and Jason did. Being able to keep the readers guessing is the hallmark of a shrewd author. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

[Kanoko · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Amy wasn't interested in anything unless it had committed a crime or had a keyboard.

Amusing. But that slowly changed when ex-con Jason, wearing a lilac (not pink) shirt, turned up at her door, unknowingly about to face the appalling state of Amy's domain and become her manservant. :)) The cleaner-turned-keeper Jason was charming and grounded; the recluse hacker Amy was insightful but a mystery. I didn't know where the affection came from, but I thought it was endearing how they learned to care for each other a lot, enough to brave fears and cross lines.

The story didn't blow me away, but it was well-paced and quietly fascinating. More backgrounder would've helped a lot—Amy's agoraphobia and relationship with her family, how she somehow got the consultant gig with Cardiff's finest, Bryn's sudden turnaround regarding Jason, Rob's and Amy's antagonism toward each other… There were bite-sized references to tickle, not satisfy. Unless you dove into the series fully intending to stick it out, you'd probably think the book, by itself, was lacking. (Fwiw, I'll be reading the next [few] books.)

I didn't find how Jason managed to embed himself in the investigation persuasive. And the police might be relying on Amy's supercomputer abilities too much if they couldn't even catch deets that Amy's eyes could. A little too off the wall for me. The criminal, though? I didn't see it coming, which was great. This was a competently written, enjoyable mystery with a fair amount of intrigue and thrill.

(The "principle suspect" and "principle witness" drove me up the wall. That's one typo of the same word too many. EGADS.)

[Socalgal5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Binary Witness is a breathe of fresh air for me. I have been in a cycle of just OK books. This one had me on go from the first chapters. Both main characters, Amy and Jason, are complex, flawed, engaging and damaged. The story is told from the POV from different characters in the book: Amy, Jason, Bryn (police detective), the victims, and the killer. I really liked this. This gave us insight to each character. The reader is able to get into the head of each character and see different details that the main characters don't see. I hope the author continues to utilize this format.

The story was beautifully intertwined. We learned about Amy and Jason separately and then together. They come to learn about each other in these small steps. The trust that builds between Amy and Jason is like a slow trickle of water increasing with each raindrop. There is no typical romance between Amy and Jason but their relationship is a thing of beauty to read. The small gestures between these two are what got me. Each moment felt authentic and hard-won.

Binary Witness utilizes British slang that I did not always know the meaning of but it did not detract from the story at all. In fact, I believe it enhanced it many ways.

I loved this story and the main characters. I am looking forward to the the other books in the series. Binary Witness is not just a recommend; it is a MUST READ. :)

[KarenF · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up when Carina Press was having a sale on some of their mysteries and I'm very glad I did. There were very interesting main characters & mystery. I'm looking forward to the next one. I loved that the smart but troubled character is a woman this time. That's usually the domain of House & Holmes or other men. Jason strikes me as a realistic ex-con. A young man with too much time and no real future who makes bad decisions. He's neither wrongly accused nor a violent person with no redeeming values. He was a street kid who stole a car but he loves his mom and is now looking forward to earning his way with a cleaning job when he meets Amy and becomes her assistant. I'm dying to know Amy's back story and want to know what happens with their fragile friendship (romance?).

[Mella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this. It wasn't what I was expecting but it was good. The mystery was really good and I didn't see that ending coming at all. I enjoyed how Amy and Jason work together. I did find though that their relationship was a bit flat at times - mainly because they don't really talk. They don't really know anything about each other - that was a bit annoying. I kind of wanted them to sit down and discuss something, anything, just talk. Still, it was riveting and I can't wait to read more of the series. 3.5 stars.