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Jenny Cooper #7
A Life to Kill
If they're hiding something, we've got a right to know. We've got a right to know what Kenny died for...
The day they've all been waiting for is at hand. The last British combat soldiers in Helmand are counting the minutes until their departure for home. For their excited families in Highcliffe, it spells the end of an agonizing six month wait.
But in the final hours, disaster strikes. Nineteen-year-old Private Pete 'Skippy' Lyons is abducted and the patrol sent out to locate him is ambushed. One killed, two injured. One still missing in action . . .
Their loved ones are left desperate for answers the Army won't provide. How could Private Lyons have been snatched from a heavily fortified command post? And why are officers trying to disguise what happened during the mission to save him?
Their only hope lies with Coroner Jenny Cooper, who must take on the full might of the military to stop the truth being buried along with the boy soldiers. But in a town filled with secrets and rumours, it's not only the Army that has something to hide.
A Life to Kill is the seventh installment in the Coroner Jenny Cooper series.
The day they've all been waiting for is at hand. The last British combat soldiers in Helmand are counting the minutes until their departure for home. For their excited families in Highcliffe, it spells the end of an agonizing six month wait.
But in the final hours, disaster strikes. Nineteen-year-old Private Pete 'Skippy' Lyons is abducted and the patrol sent out to locate him is ambushed. One killed, two injured. One still missing in action . . .
Their loved ones are left desperate for answers the Army won't provide. How could Private Lyons have been snatched from a heavily fortified command post? And why are officers trying to disguise what happened during the mission to save him?
Their only hope lies with Coroner Jenny Cooper, who must take on the full might of the military to stop the truth being buried along with the boy soldiers. But in a town filled with secrets and rumours, it's not only the Army that has something to hide.
A Life to Kill is the seventh installment in the Coroner Jenny Cooper series.
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
April 5, 2018
This is the latest and seventh in this superb series featuring Coroner Jenny Cooper by MR Hall. This is a stellar addition, with Jenny taking on the might of the British Army as she sets up an office at the garrison town of Highcliff. This is a story that resonates with a number of contemporary British issues, covering recent history with military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, using vulnerable teenage boy soldiers who have no idea what they are fighting for and whose lives are deemed expendable, given they come from impoverished working class backgrounds. In this book, Colonel Hastings, in his efforts to defend military actions and army secrecy, gives an impassioned version of the need for national security given by Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men, to avoid any semblance of accountability for the military. Jenny is in the best place she has ever been, managing her mental health issues, and her relationship with Michael, an ex-RAF man, is good. Out of the blue, she is given the role of coroner, by Simon Moreton, for a military death, that of Private Kenny Green, a member of C company, in a firefight in Helmand in an effort to rescue abducted Private Pete 'Skippy' Lyons on the last day of British involvement in Afghanistan. This is a nightmare of an inquest, with the army determined to keep their secrets and they are not the only ones.
Jenny feels the intense pressure of the inquest, as it's suggested that she has been chosen to play the role of a heat seeking missile aimed directly at army high command by the political establishment in its efforts to implement huge budget cuts on the armed forces and cutting its personnel in the face of intransigent opposition to these measures from the Generals. Jenny's partner, Michael, is being targeted in an effort to ensure she toes the line the military expect of her and does not delve too deeply or widely in her inquiries. The abduction of Pete Lyons, from a heavily fortified base makes no sense, and the explanations from the soldiers of C company sing from the same hymn sheet, as they hold on to their culture of loyalty and trust in each other and their superior officers. There are missing items from Pete Lyons kit, and missing or tampered with notebooks. All efforts to question Major Christopher Norton's ill fated decision to try and rescue Lyons meets with the army's mythology that the army doesn't make mistakes, in a culture where everything runs on trust. Jenny is further faced with lawyers looking to make their name and money from representing families of soldiers killed or injured in war. Such lawyers want to knock out the doctrine of combat immunity, making every decision and life taken on the battlefield one with a potential price tag attached to it.
Hall writes intelligent, complex, intricately and impressively plotted novels that are deeply engaging and enthralling. He has done his research on the topic of the military and its deployments in Iraq and in Afghanistan, sent there by a political establishment for the most dubious of reasons in their efforts to act above their weight on the global stage. This highly political decisionmaking, even when proven to be based on false intelligence, has yet to be acknowledged or apologised for by the relevant political figures. The most damning feature of these colossal errors in judgements are the huge numbers of lives it cost, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and within the British Armed Forces. The author focuses a spotlight on the micro level cost of those wars, in the army culture, the national shame of use of young boy soldiers on the frontline, and the deaths of these soldiers, and their injuries, both physical and especially on their mental health. All this leaves us asking Why? Why did this have to happen and what good has realistically been achieved? A brilliant and thought provoking novel which I cannot recommend highly enough.
Jenny feels the intense pressure of the inquest, as it's suggested that she has been chosen to play the role of a heat seeking missile aimed directly at army high command by the political establishment in its efforts to implement huge budget cuts on the armed forces and cutting its personnel in the face of intransigent opposition to these measures from the Generals. Jenny's partner, Michael, is being targeted in an effort to ensure she toes the line the military expect of her and does not delve too deeply or widely in her inquiries. The abduction of Pete Lyons, from a heavily fortified base makes no sense, and the explanations from the soldiers of C company sing from the same hymn sheet, as they hold on to their culture of loyalty and trust in each other and their superior officers. There are missing items from Pete Lyons kit, and missing or tampered with notebooks. All efforts to question Major Christopher Norton's ill fated decision to try and rescue Lyons meets with the army's mythology that the army doesn't make mistakes, in a culture where everything runs on trust. Jenny is further faced with lawyers looking to make their name and money from representing families of soldiers killed or injured in war. Such lawyers want to knock out the doctrine of combat immunity, making every decision and life taken on the battlefield one with a potential price tag attached to it.
Hall writes intelligent, complex, intricately and impressively plotted novels that are deeply engaging and enthralling. He has done his research on the topic of the military and its deployments in Iraq and in Afghanistan, sent there by a political establishment for the most dubious of reasons in their efforts to act above their weight on the global stage. This highly political decisionmaking, even when proven to be based on false intelligence, has yet to be acknowledged or apologised for by the relevant political figures. The most damning feature of these colossal errors in judgements are the huge numbers of lives it cost, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and within the British Armed Forces. The author focuses a spotlight on the micro level cost of those wars, in the army culture, the national shame of use of young boy soldiers on the frontline, and the deaths of these soldiers, and their injuries, both physical and especially on their mental health. All this leaves us asking Why? Why did this have to happen and what good has realistically been achieved? A brilliant and thought provoking novel which I cannot recommend highly enough.
February 7, 2019
Compulsive, astute, and timely!
In this latest novel in the Coroner Jenny Cooper series, A Life to Kill, Hall immerses us in a complicated, emotional case involving a missing Private, a dead soldier, two critically injured, and a military that seems determined to keep their skeletons in the closet.
The writing is tight and crisp. The characters are flawed, secretive, and loyal. And the plot is an intricate, exceptionally-paced mystery full of twists, turns, revelations, deception, corruption, allegiances, power, combat, violence, the ins and outs of military life, and murder.
A Life to Kill is a without a doubt an intelligent, masterfully plotted, absorbing page-turner that had me hooked from the very first page. It’s fascinating, shocking, at times even disturbing, and definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
In this latest novel in the Coroner Jenny Cooper series, A Life to Kill, Hall immerses us in a complicated, emotional case involving a missing Private, a dead soldier, two critically injured, and a military that seems determined to keep their skeletons in the closet.
The writing is tight and crisp. The characters are flawed, secretive, and loyal. And the plot is an intricate, exceptionally-paced mystery full of twists, turns, revelations, deception, corruption, allegiances, power, combat, violence, the ins and outs of military life, and murder.
A Life to Kill is a without a doubt an intelligent, masterfully plotted, absorbing page-turner that had me hooked from the very first page. It’s fascinating, shocking, at times even disturbing, and definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2017
Best book in his series so far
From start to finish this book was a real page turner. The difficulties the Matthew portrayed about the army procedures when an investigation is underway from outside sources are conducted, could well be made to make you think of real time events. His empathy towards the comrades of the soldiers involved made you imagine that you could actually see it all unfolding before your eyes. Love all his books but this one for me is outstanding. Brilliant xxx
From start to finish this book was a real page turner. The difficulties the Matthew portrayed about the army procedures when an investigation is underway from outside sources are conducted, could well be made to make you think of real time events. His empathy towards the comrades of the soldiers involved made you imagine that you could actually see it all unfolding before your eyes. Love all his books but this one for me is outstanding. Brilliant xxx
January 14, 2017
The 7th book following the career and life of Coroner Jenny Cooper. I thoroughly enjoyed this although at times it was harrowing reading. Mrs Cooper has been engaged to conduct a coroner's inquest into the death(s) of two soldiers who lost their lives in Helmund province 24 hours before they were due to go home, their tour of duty completed. A fascinating insight into military procedures and civilian procedures covering the same thing. Very involved and detailed and an excellent read. True to form though, Mrs Cooper still has doubts about her abilities although these have improved over the series.
March 22, 2020
So the end of the series came and now I'm left wanting more for Jenny. I always feel like this when I have really warmed to a character. I feel there is so much left for her to achieve, especially with how this book ended.
Jenny is given a tough case in this book, the Coroner vs the Army, where coverups are rife and everyone is determined to keep her away from the truth. From the previous books in this series, we know that she is like a dog with a bone and won't stop until she uncovers the truth and the army is a worthy adversary, but Jenny is even better.
I can't wait for more from this author and this series, I must admit I did message the author and apparently he does intend to write more, so I'll sit here patiently waiting.
Jenny is given a tough case in this book, the Coroner vs the Army, where coverups are rife and everyone is determined to keep her away from the truth. From the previous books in this series, we know that she is like a dog with a bone and won't stop until she uncovers the truth and the army is a worthy adversary, but Jenny is even better.
I can't wait for more from this author and this series, I must admit I did message the author and apparently he does intend to write more, so I'll sit here patiently waiting.
March 2, 2021
This series has got better and better, and it was hard to put this one down as the plot thickened. The coroner, Jenny Cooper, is a very attractive and sympathetic character, who always goes the extra mile to uncover the complex cases she becomes involved with. This book centres around a military inquest, trying to get to the truth about how and why two young soldiers died in Helmand province in Afghanistan. As the author himself notes, one of the key facts you take away from this book is just how young and inexperienced in life many of the soldiers on the front line are, both the troops and their immediate leaders are often under twenty one, and the psychological pressures often overwhelming. The book shone a revealing light for me on an area of life that I knew little about.
March 15, 2017
This was my second Mathew hall book and thought it was excellent again.
Well worth a read.
Well worth a read.
May 27, 2017
Very good, and worth the wait! I read this straight through. The inquest which Jenny is asked to conduct is on a soldier killed at Helmand at the end of the British involvement in the 13 year long excursionary war. This handles a difficult topic and achieves something which is hard to do: showing the futility of the exercise while at the same time putting the argument in favour of what was happening and linking it to national security; showing the supportive nature of the military family while also showing its faults; exposing some serious issues with recruitment and with soldiers' mental health while also conveying the sense of purpose and the reasons why men (still mainly men) are driven to serve. There is also, as there often is in this series, an uncomfortable background of strings being pulled and pressure being brought to bear on officials. Jenny's relationship and the slightly sinister Simon's career are both in jeopardy as the official version of what happened in Helmand unravels, with help from a surprising quarter (the new breed of lawyers who take up no-fee cases in the hope of a % of large amounts of compensation). There are some subtle contrasts here of the widening social gulf in British society, too: the monitoring of the middle-aged woman working on the till at the supermarket, whose hands are beginning to slow her down, and the chilling farmyard metaphor, reminds us without banging any political drum that life can be pretty hard for poor people of this age who struggle to find employment and that the audit culture is not on their side, while at the other end of the spectrum a senior civil servant living a very luxurious lifestyle can be manipulated and threatened by the system too. Jenny has become a more sympathetic character over the series.
March 15, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The plot of this book was really weak and it didn’t feel like a mystery book but rather as a tragedy book. Because every chapter was from someone else’s perspective and every single chapter had million bad things happening in it. Which really pissed me off because it totally drained my energy.
The plot was really weak and not engaging at all. It just felt like the author wanted to write something to get some money from the sell of it and nothing more than that.
The writing style was pretty good but of course the plot of it made it hundred times worse and the writing style just couldn’t make it better because there were so many things bad with this book.
The characters in this book were super bad as well and it felt like the author just didn’t bother to make characters which the readers would care about. All of the characters in this book were like “this character is named so and so and lets move on to the other characters because this character doesn’t have anything special with it and the character is just the same as the rest of the characters in this book”.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The plot of this book was really weak and it didn’t feel like a mystery book but rather as a tragedy book. Because every chapter was from someone else’s perspective and every single chapter had million bad things happening in it. Which really pissed me off because it totally drained my energy.
The plot was really weak and not engaging at all. It just felt like the author wanted to write something to get some money from the sell of it and nothing more than that.
The writing style was pretty good but of course the plot of it made it hundred times worse and the writing style just couldn’t make it better because there were so many things bad with this book.
The characters in this book were super bad as well and it felt like the author just didn’t bother to make characters which the readers would care about. All of the characters in this book were like “this character is named so and so and lets move on to the other characters because this character doesn’t have anything special with it and the character is just the same as the rest of the characters in this book”.
July 21, 2017
This is the best book I've read this year. I'm already a big fan of Matthew Hall's 'Jenny Cooper' crime series, but in this one he's pulled out all the stops and in my opinion deserves to actually win an award rather than simply be shortlisted.
You can read all about the story from others on 'Goodreads' or from the cover description. My job is simply to attempt to convey the power of the story to enthrall, move and above all leave the reader shaken and thinking about it for a long time afterwards. I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended, five full-blown stars, huge admiration for the author and... my final question always, would I read it again? Undoubtedly. Thank you, Matthew Hall.
You can read all about the story from others on 'Goodreads' or from the cover description. My job is simply to attempt to convey the power of the story to enthrall, move and above all leave the reader shaken and thinking about it for a long time afterwards. I couldn't put it down.
Highly recommended, five full-blown stars, huge admiration for the author and... my final question always, would I read it again? Undoubtedly. Thank you, Matthew Hall.
October 4, 2021
Interesting, well written, ie this narrative flows and despite the numbers of characters they do not become confused or overwhelming. An account of army expectations, tours of duty and the role of civilian coroners and jury when faced with determining causes of death in the line of duty when the forensic facts and verbal accounts do not exactly 'fit'.
nb
I was surprised on coming to do this review to realise the author was a 'Matthew Hall' whom I take to be a male writer...the characterisations are such that I imagined, even to the acknowledgements that the author was female.
No big deal naturally, but I do wonder.....lol.
nb
I was surprised on coming to do this review to realise the author was a 'Matthew Hall' whom I take to be a male writer...the characterisations are such that I imagined, even to the acknowledgements that the author was female.
No big deal naturally, but I do wonder.....lol.
September 30, 2022
Jenny Cooper is such a quietly strong woman and with her now strange officer Alison, they make a fantastic team who everyone underestimates. The book is teaming with great characters from the soldiers to the wives left behind and everyone has their own agenda. I had no idea before reading this series of the work of a coroner, realising that they have far more power than I had imagined. The whole series is brilliant and even though book 6 is the out standing one for me, this was still a great read.
September 19, 2017
Another perfect book
I love Jenny Cooper. I found it hard to believe after reading the very first book that it had been written by a man. Every description of her inner turmoil, her challenges and hopes, seemed so accurate, I couldn't imagine how anyone other than a woman could have such insight. And that's never changed. I devour every book too quickly and then have to wait too long for the next. Without doubt, Matthew Hall is one of my favourite authors.
I love Jenny Cooper. I found it hard to believe after reading the very first book that it had been written by a man. Every description of her inner turmoil, her challenges and hopes, seemed so accurate, I couldn't imagine how anyone other than a woman could have such insight. And that's never changed. I devour every book too quickly and then have to wait too long for the next. Without doubt, Matthew Hall is one of my favourite authors.
February 15, 2019
When I originally requested A Life To Kill on NetGalley, I somehow missed that it was the seventh book in a series. It was hard to follow the story at times but it didn't really take out of me enjoying the book in the end. The book handles a difficult subject but succeeds in showing the issues with recruiting, soldier's mental health as well as the sense of purpose that drives men to want to serve.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 25, 2017
A great read. I wasn't sure about a book on the British in Afghanistan but through the eyes of the Coroner, Jenny Cooper, "Whatever the truth, It's better than not knowing" rang true.
This novel and Tony Jones' The Twentieth Man, may yet convince me to read ore fiction. Current or recent political events as background to a crime make for compelling reading.
This novel and Tony Jones' The Twentieth Man, may yet convince me to read ore fiction. Current or recent political events as background to a crime make for compelling reading.
July 8, 2018
An interesting read based on a conversation the author had about British boy soldiers and how they struggled when on tour eg in Helmand province against the Taliban. Most of the story is about a coroners court case that gradually reveals the truth of one disastrous mission. It’s the first of Matt Halls books that I have read but I shall definitely read some more.
February 6, 2021
Well written, thoughtful addition to this excellent series, but the darkest novel so far. Only four stars because it tended to lack pace. I would have preferred 4.5. The star rating system is a bit of a blunt tool. It's worth reading the acknowledgements at the end of the book to learn the author's inspiration for the book.
March 19, 2021
This is the third book I have read by Matthew Hall.
Set in army camp, Afghanistan and Somerset army camp. They story is about 2 young army men who died in Afghanistan and there bodies are brought back. Jenny Cooper the coroner researches to find what happened to them.
This book is well researched and written well.
Set in army camp, Afghanistan and Somerset army camp. They story is about 2 young army men who died in Afghanistan and there bodies are brought back. Jenny Cooper the coroner researches to find what happened to them.
This book is well researched and written well.
April 1, 2024
Absolutely excellent sums this book up for me. It had everything suspense, political intrigue, adventure all playing out in a courtroom and on an army tour of Helmand Province.
Well written with through detail throughout
Having found this author, l am heading for the library to clear the shelf of his other novels.
Well written with through detail throughout
Having found this author, l am heading for the library to clear the shelf of his other novels.
April 22, 2019
This is an absolutely brilliant series, every book opens your eyes to the work of coroner’s courts in a new way.
This book is really written, well plotted and the characters have become so much more rounded and ‘likeable’’.
I’ve no hesitation in recommending this book unreservedly.
This book is really written, well plotted and the characters have become so much more rounded and ‘likeable’’.
I’ve no hesitation in recommending this book unreservedly.
June 13, 2021
A bit muddled
Slow start, a muddled middle and an abrupt end. Not the best in the series, but worth the read. Didn't understand Simon's story in all of this, seemed much like an afterthought. So now Jenny is alone, no personal love life and no Simon. What next?
Slow start, a muddled middle and an abrupt end. Not the best in the series, but worth the read. Didn't understand Simon's story in all of this, seemed much like an afterthought. So now Jenny is alone, no personal love life and no Simon. What next?
December 2, 2021
After The Burning, I had started to sorta write off this series as having run its course, but then this installment comes along.. a negotiation in Afghanistan gone wrong, secrets and lies, our heroine doing what she does best. It's Jenny Cooper at her best and I enjoyed it emensely.
May 3, 2023
wow! wow! wow!
This is an extremely good read. It ticks all the boxes. Believable plot, excellent characterisation, lots of twists and turns with surprise twist at the end. Thoroughly recommended.
This is an extremely good read. It ticks all the boxes. Believable plot, excellent characterisation, lots of twists and turns with surprise twist at the end. Thoroughly recommended.
February 28, 2026
The final book in the Jenny Cooper series was a very good one. There is a twist at the end that almost ends up being a Hail Mary, but there were enough clues early on that I'll give it a pass. Characters were well drawn, great story telling - a thoroughly enjoyable read.
March 16, 2026
En spennende og tankevekkende bok som viser hva krig kan gjøre med både soldater og familiene deres. Jeg likte spesielt godt det psykologiske fokuset og hvordan den tar opp skyld, sannhet og vanskelige valg. En historie som føles realistisk og som gir leseren noe å tenke på 📖
June 20, 2017
Wonderfully researched addition to The Coroner series. Excellent quality writing and a perfect 'page turner'.
June 23, 2017
Stunning
This is the seventh book in the series I have read and I can not wait for the next brilliant Tom Waters
This is the seventh book in the series I have read and I can not wait for the next brilliant Tom Waters
July 5, 2017
Excellent read. Love this series of books and this one was no exception. Interesting military background. Couldn't put it down. Highly recommended.
December 27, 2017
An excellent book. V emotional and thought provoking.
More please Mr Hall!
More please Mr Hall!
January 30, 2018
Another excellent addition to the Coroner Jenny Cooper series. A range of characters, well drawn. A suspenseful plot with tension kept up to the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews