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The Dangerous Kind
You know who they are. But you don't know what they've done.
We all recognise them. Those who exist just on the fringes of society. Who send prickles up the back of our neck. The charmers. The liars. The manipulators. Those who have the potential to go that one step too far. And then take another step.
Jessamine Gooch makes a living from these people. Each week she broadcasts a radio show looking into the past lives of convicted killers; asking if there was more that could have been done to prevent their terrible crimes.
Then one day she is approached by a woman desperate to find her missing friend, Cassie, fearing her abusive husband may have taken that final deadly step. But as Jessamine delves into the months prior to Cassie's disappearance she fails to realise there is a dark figure closer to home, one that threatens the safety of her own family . . .
Set over a long, dark winter in London and perfect for fans of HE SAID/SHE SAID, THE DANGEROUS KIND is at once a gripping thriller and a stunning portrayal of the monsters that live among us.
We all recognise them. Those who exist just on the fringes of society. Who send prickles up the back of our neck. The charmers. The liars. The manipulators. Those who have the potential to go that one step too far. And then take another step.
Jessamine Gooch makes a living from these people. Each week she broadcasts a radio show looking into the past lives of convicted killers; asking if there was more that could have been done to prevent their terrible crimes.
Then one day she is approached by a woman desperate to find her missing friend, Cassie, fearing her abusive husband may have taken that final deadly step. But as Jessamine delves into the months prior to Cassie's disappearance she fails to realise there is a dark figure closer to home, one that threatens the safety of her own family . . .
Set over a long, dark winter in London and perfect for fans of HE SAID/SHE SAID, THE DANGEROUS KIND is at once a gripping thriller and a stunning portrayal of the monsters that live among us.
517 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
53 people are currently reading
1490 people want to read
About the author
Deborah O'Connor
7 books203 followersDeborah O'Connor is a writer and TV producer. Born and bred in the North-East of England, she lives there with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
April 26, 2019
Deborah O'Connor has written what is one of the stand out crime fiction reads of the year so far and that is absolutely no exaggeration. Set in London, it is melancholic, dripping with atmosphere, utilising some of the darkest aspects of our contemporary world, such as child abuse and grooming, paedophile rings, the abuse and exploitation of young vulnerable girls in care, desperate for any sign of love and affection, and the brutal horrors of domestic violence. A 52 year old menopausal Jessamine 'Jessie' Gooch presents a long running radio programme on Potentially Dangerous People (PDP), analysing people who have turned out to be dangerous in the past, analysing how they could have been identified, prior to committing their heinous crimes, probing their criminality and psychological profile with Professor Holly Humphries and ex-police officer, Charles O'Brien. Jessie is a single mother with an adopted daughter, Sarah, and volunteers on a Domestic Violence helpline.
Jessamine is accosted by a persistent Marnie Clark outside the BBC building, wanting her programme to investigate her recently missing friend, Cassie Scolari, with a abusive husband and young son. In 2002, 13 year old Rowena Garbutt is living in a local authority care home in Oxford, and despite warnings, has acquired a much older boyfriend, Sunny, whom she loves wholeheartedly, and who she will do anything for. Jitesh Ganguly is an academically bright young man, offered an unconditional place at Cambridge University, he is taking a gap year, working as an intern at the BBC as a sound engineer. He suffers from a stutter, haunted and afraid of the dangerous and manipulative Kishor Patel. Jitesh has acquired the skills of a hacker, and finds himself helping Jessie in her investigations into the disappearance of Cassie. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, a stubbornly determined Jessie finds herself in danger, eventually stumbling onto shocking and disturbing truths from the past and present.
O'Connor expertly draws the reader into the darkest corners that humans can inhabit, such as women murdered by their partners, to arrogant and dangerously manipulative young men, and the horrors visited on children and young girls. Her characterisation is done with skill, such as with the compelling Jessie and her difficulties in dating, and being a single mother, Jessie is struggling with a uncommunicative teenage Sarah, a girl with a worrying secretive life. This is not always a easy read but it is a riveting one, so beautifully constructed, with a host of diverse and disparate characters, and storylines that pack a metaphorical punch. This is an unmissable crime read, one that I suggest is simply a must read for crime aficionados. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.
Jessamine is accosted by a persistent Marnie Clark outside the BBC building, wanting her programme to investigate her recently missing friend, Cassie Scolari, with a abusive husband and young son. In 2002, 13 year old Rowena Garbutt is living in a local authority care home in Oxford, and despite warnings, has acquired a much older boyfriend, Sunny, whom she loves wholeheartedly, and who she will do anything for. Jitesh Ganguly is an academically bright young man, offered an unconditional place at Cambridge University, he is taking a gap year, working as an intern at the BBC as a sound engineer. He suffers from a stutter, haunted and afraid of the dangerous and manipulative Kishor Patel. Jitesh has acquired the skills of a hacker, and finds himself helping Jessie in her investigations into the disappearance of Cassie. In a narrative that goes back and forth in time, a stubbornly determined Jessie finds herself in danger, eventually stumbling onto shocking and disturbing truths from the past and present.
O'Connor expertly draws the reader into the darkest corners that humans can inhabit, such as women murdered by their partners, to arrogant and dangerously manipulative young men, and the horrors visited on children and young girls. Her characterisation is done with skill, such as with the compelling Jessie and her difficulties in dating, and being a single mother, Jessie is struggling with a uncommunicative teenage Sarah, a girl with a worrying secretive life. This is not always a easy read but it is a riveting one, so beautifully constructed, with a host of diverse and disparate characters, and storylines that pack a metaphorical punch. This is an unmissable crime read, one that I suggest is simply a must read for crime aficionados. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.
June 10, 2019
“The Dangerous Kind” written by Deborah O’Connor is billed as ‘The Thriller of the Year’ and I can certainly agree with that bold statement. Having just finished reading it and being thoroughly entertained, I can wholeheartedly say that this book really made an impact on me and is without doubt in contention for my thriller of the year!
It was a little confusing at the beginning as to who all the characters were, as each chapter is told either through present day Jessamine, Sarah and Jidesh or Rowena back in 2003. Thankfully it didn’t take too long to work out how everyone fitted together and soon I was utterly gripped by the story and found it addictively absorbing.
The plot subject matter is rather harrowing but thankfully the author managed to convey the horrifics of child sexual exploitation without going into unnecessary explicit detail. You could certainly sense the palpable atmosphere of fear and trepidation from Rowena when she attended the ‘parties’ and I thought the author covered the situation as a whole, sympathetically and with professionalism.
It was also quite frightening to learn how easy it is to be hacked if someone knows how to and realising how simple it is to give away answers to password questions, really made me question my own online security.
The characterisation was second to none and every character was brought to life in vivid detail. I could easily picture each one perfectly and I totally connected with Jessamine and loved her determination to uncover an horrific truth. The side plot between Jessamine and her adopted daughter Sarah was a cracking story in itself and one that caught me out in its denouement. I liked how everything tied together in the end and I was on the edge of my seat with the exciting climax.
This is a story not just about the ‘Dangerous Kind’ - monsters who hide in plain sight but (as the author describes them in her acknowledgements) as incredibly courageous people who stand up to them. Basing the story loosely on horrific true life historical cases like the Rotherham child exploitation and “Operation Yewtree’ was impeccably clever and created a book that for me was fantastically entertaining and utterly compelling.
Just recommending “The Dangerous Kind” doesn’t do the book enough justice, you really do NEED to read this, it’s stunning, excellently written and expertly plotted and is a one that I will remember for a very long time!
5 stars and then some!
It was a little confusing at the beginning as to who all the characters were, as each chapter is told either through present day Jessamine, Sarah and Jidesh or Rowena back in 2003. Thankfully it didn’t take too long to work out how everyone fitted together and soon I was utterly gripped by the story and found it addictively absorbing.
The plot subject matter is rather harrowing but thankfully the author managed to convey the horrifics of child sexual exploitation without going into unnecessary explicit detail. You could certainly sense the palpable atmosphere of fear and trepidation from Rowena when she attended the ‘parties’ and I thought the author covered the situation as a whole, sympathetically and with professionalism.
It was also quite frightening to learn how easy it is to be hacked if someone knows how to and realising how simple it is to give away answers to password questions, really made me question my own online security.
The characterisation was second to none and every character was brought to life in vivid detail. I could easily picture each one perfectly and I totally connected with Jessamine and loved her determination to uncover an horrific truth. The side plot between Jessamine and her adopted daughter Sarah was a cracking story in itself and one that caught me out in its denouement. I liked how everything tied together in the end and I was on the edge of my seat with the exciting climax.
This is a story not just about the ‘Dangerous Kind’ - monsters who hide in plain sight but (as the author describes them in her acknowledgements) as incredibly courageous people who stand up to them. Basing the story loosely on horrific true life historical cases like the Rotherham child exploitation and “Operation Yewtree’ was impeccably clever and created a book that for me was fantastically entertaining and utterly compelling.
Just recommending “The Dangerous Kind” doesn’t do the book enough justice, you really do NEED to read this, it’s stunning, excellently written and expertly plotted and is a one that I will remember for a very long time!
5 stars and then some!
February 1, 2020
Big Thanks to Miriam and Paromjit....as my inspirations in reading this book. Both Miriam and Paromiji were exceptionally enthusiastic about this book. I’m joining their choir....
......this crime thriller - set in London- is ‘cream-of-the-crop’, among a wide range of crime-thriller books to choose from.
I ordered the hard copy from the UK - as it’s not available as a kindle download.
The idea was simple.
A radio station, ‘Broadcasting House’, had been commission to run a six week series that would turn
‘Potentially Dangerous People’, on its head.
They would use the PDP diagnostic to study the past behavior of murderers, dissecting the historic signs and tendencies that all pointed to the fact that this person would kill one day.
Jessamine Gooch, had once been quite a talented newshound, but it had been more than a decade since she worked in a newsroom, let alone done any police investigation.
Jessamine was happy with her job at radio station. The steady salary and hours gave her the security she needed as a single mother to her daughter, Sara, who she adopted at age 2.
Jessamine didn’t go looking for drama - for trouble. It found her.
A stranger - Marnie - approached Jasmine on the street ... saying she watched her radio show each week.
The stranger pleated with Jasmine for her help....
.....her friend, Cassie Scolari had been missing for 18 days.
Jessamine, of course couldn’t make any promises - but she was willing to do some preliminary investigating.
It’s worth mentioning the crafting of this book ... it’s structure was pleasantly pleasing on the eye....chapters moved quickly....and the content was easy to follow....perfect styling for this detective thriller.
Example layout:
The heading chapters....
....Friday 11 November Present Day
....Monday 28 November Present Day
....Jessamine
....2002
....Rowena
....Tuesday 13 December Present Day
....Jessamine
....Wednesday 14 Present Day
....Sarah
....2002
....Rowena
....Wednesday 14 Present Day
....Jitesh
.... .... ....2003....Present Day...2003...Rowena/Cassie....Jessamine and Jitesh....etc.
So....the crafting makes reading this book easily assessable....but the topic itself is disturbing - fascinating - frightening - suspenseful - and thought provoking. It deals with sexual exploitation....of young children.
What was terrifying to think about were all the many people we pass - possibly people we interact with everyday, who have not -( yet) - committed a single crime - but evidence was pointing to the ‘very-strong’ possibility that they would one day cause serous physical or psychological harm.
Author, Deborah O’Conner is a very impressive writer.
She has created gripping atmosphere....and interesting circumstantial situations.
Small details in O’Conner’s prose would stop me - drive me crazy because I knew it ‘must’ be a ‘dropping-tip’ ....to something much bigger further into the story. And I couldn’t figure out what it was.
Small example of odd behavior:
A little boy wants a box of juice. He pulls it out of his mother’s purse. The child no longer wants it and puts it back in his mum’s purse. Grape juice has spilled everywhere.
A friend offers to switch handbags with the mother/friend. They switch bags - dumping all the contents from the juice-mess bag into her friends bag ..... WHO DOES THIS? Am I the only person who finds that odd behavior?
I’ll loan a book to a friend...but I’ve never emptied my own hand bag to hand over to a friend - switched - and taken hers. ( for any reason).
The characters are well drawn out and developed....(everyone hiding something)....
The themes....(domestic violence, child sexual exploitation, social & politically community concerns), were very realistic.
It was definitely an unsettling mystery thriller that had you second guessing everyone and everything.
Haunting.....wondrous....and spellbinding.
......this crime thriller - set in London- is ‘cream-of-the-crop’, among a wide range of crime-thriller books to choose from.
I ordered the hard copy from the UK - as it’s not available as a kindle download.
The idea was simple.
A radio station, ‘Broadcasting House’, had been commission to run a six week series that would turn
‘Potentially Dangerous People’, on its head.
They would use the PDP diagnostic to study the past behavior of murderers, dissecting the historic signs and tendencies that all pointed to the fact that this person would kill one day.
Jessamine Gooch, had once been quite a talented newshound, but it had been more than a decade since she worked in a newsroom, let alone done any police investigation.
Jessamine was happy with her job at radio station. The steady salary and hours gave her the security she needed as a single mother to her daughter, Sara, who she adopted at age 2.
Jessamine didn’t go looking for drama - for trouble. It found her.
A stranger - Marnie - approached Jasmine on the street ... saying she watched her radio show each week.
The stranger pleated with Jasmine for her help....
.....her friend, Cassie Scolari had been missing for 18 days.
Jessamine, of course couldn’t make any promises - but she was willing to do some preliminary investigating.
It’s worth mentioning the crafting of this book ... it’s structure was pleasantly pleasing on the eye....chapters moved quickly....and the content was easy to follow....perfect styling for this detective thriller.
Example layout:
The heading chapters....
....Friday 11 November Present Day
....Monday 28 November Present Day
....Jessamine
....2002
....Rowena
....Tuesday 13 December Present Day
....Jessamine
....Wednesday 14 Present Day
....Sarah
....2002
....Rowena
....Wednesday 14 Present Day
....Jitesh
.... .... ....2003....Present Day...2003...Rowena/Cassie....Jessamine and Jitesh....etc.
So....the crafting makes reading this book easily assessable....but the topic itself is disturbing - fascinating - frightening - suspenseful - and thought provoking. It deals with sexual exploitation....of young children.
What was terrifying to think about were all the many people we pass - possibly people we interact with everyday, who have not -( yet) - committed a single crime - but evidence was pointing to the ‘very-strong’ possibility that they would one day cause serous physical or psychological harm.
Author, Deborah O’Conner is a very impressive writer.
She has created gripping atmosphere....and interesting circumstantial situations.
Small details in O’Conner’s prose would stop me - drive me crazy because I knew it ‘must’ be a ‘dropping-tip’ ....to something much bigger further into the story. And I couldn’t figure out what it was.
Small example of odd behavior:
A little boy wants a box of juice. He pulls it out of his mother’s purse. The child no longer wants it and puts it back in his mum’s purse. Grape juice has spilled everywhere.
A friend offers to switch handbags with the mother/friend. They switch bags - dumping all the contents from the juice-mess bag into her friends bag ..... WHO DOES THIS? Am I the only person who finds that odd behavior?
I’ll loan a book to a friend...but I’ve never emptied my own hand bag to hand over to a friend - switched - and taken hers. ( for any reason).
The characters are well drawn out and developed....(everyone hiding something)....
The themes....(domestic violence, child sexual exploitation, social & politically community concerns), were very realistic.
It was definitely an unsettling mystery thriller that had you second guessing everyone and everything.
Haunting.....wondrous....and spellbinding.
September 16, 2019
Jessamine has everything she could ask for. A great career as a radio host, a loving daughter, and caring friends but that is about to change when she is approached by a young lady asking for help to find her missing friend.
Intrigued by the details Jessamine sets about finding the answers with the help of her listeners and colleagues. What she finds along the way is not what she is prepared for.
The Dangerous Kind focuses on two people, one from the past and one from the present. As the story develops you find yourself trying to figure out what links these two people together which to me, made the plot a lot more interesting.
The layout of the book made it very easy knowing which time-frame you were reading about, avoiding any unnecessary confusion, with the chapters very clearly marked.
The Dangerous Kind is a well-written story, I found myself drawn in every time I picked the book up and I enjoyed learning more about each of the characters and their lives as the book progressed.
Throughout the story, I tried to figure out where our missing person could be and who may have done what. I am usually quite good at figuring things out and although I guessed some parts correctly I did not figure out the full story making this book pleasantly unpredictable.
I often become frustrated if I finish a story and still have many unanswered questions, luckily that was not the case with this book as it was wrapped up nicely.
I believe the author has written another book previously, and after reading this one I will happily go out and buy it.
Intrigued by the details Jessamine sets about finding the answers with the help of her listeners and colleagues. What she finds along the way is not what she is prepared for.
The Dangerous Kind focuses on two people, one from the past and one from the present. As the story develops you find yourself trying to figure out what links these two people together which to me, made the plot a lot more interesting.
The layout of the book made it very easy knowing which time-frame you were reading about, avoiding any unnecessary confusion, with the chapters very clearly marked.
The Dangerous Kind is a well-written story, I found myself drawn in every time I picked the book up and I enjoyed learning more about each of the characters and their lives as the book progressed.
Throughout the story, I tried to figure out where our missing person could be and who may have done what. I am usually quite good at figuring things out and although I guessed some parts correctly I did not figure out the full story making this book pleasantly unpredictable.
I often become frustrated if I finish a story and still have many unanswered questions, luckily that was not the case with this book as it was wrapped up nicely.
I believe the author has written another book previously, and after reading this one I will happily go out and buy it.
January 11, 2019
The Dangerous Kind by Deborah O'Connor is a thriller that kept me engaged.
Jessamine is a reporter and a radio presenter who is approach by a woman asking her to look into the disappearance of her friend.
Cassie is a young girl living in care that gets in with the wrong sort of people.
A story of abuse, lies and manipulation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Jessamine is a reporter and a radio presenter who is approach by a woman asking her to look into the disappearance of her friend.
Cassie is a young girl living in care that gets in with the wrong sort of people.
A story of abuse, lies and manipulation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2019
The Dangerous Kind takes place over one stark winter and is a cautionary tale of our time. Wonderful plotting with a dark dark story, this is a slow burner of a literary delight that builds inexorably towards a brilliant conclusion.
A scarily realistic premise keeps you hooked throughout, Jessamy is a clever, intelligent protagonist and the layers of story concerning the hidden manipulators within our world are fascinatingly disturbing.
The Dangerous Kind is a different perspective on a psychological thriller, I loved it because it WAS different, also genuinely compelling and beautifully beautifully written.
Recommended.
A scarily realistic premise keeps you hooked throughout, Jessamy is a clever, intelligent protagonist and the layers of story concerning the hidden manipulators within our world are fascinatingly disturbing.
The Dangerous Kind is a different perspective on a psychological thriller, I loved it because it WAS different, also genuinely compelling and beautifully beautifully written.
Recommended.
May 23, 2019
Got to say first of all that the write up for the book and the title are only a minute part of the book!, the blurb promises a book on the ‘ 1 in a 100’ that the police/govt consider could carry out a serious crime but as yet haven’t, this to me was fascinating but unless I totally missed it after the first few chapters this is never mentioned again, which is odd, anyway...
The actual story is in fact very current and covers Jessamine Gooch ( yep ) a BBC radio journalist who uncovers, via various means, women who have been abused as youngsters via Asian grooming gangs, BBC employees and celebrities, emotive, hard going and it could have been distasteful, however there was nothing written in that way and in fact was upsetting/moving in the way it described the youngsters ‘meeting’ before one of these ‘parties’ and their communication with each other, it was tragic and insightful of the author, needed for the story BUT nothing else added that wasn’t ( hope that makes sense )
The story also has 2 major sub stories re Jessamines daughter who is adopted and a Cambridge student who sees something horrific, the consequences of which affect him drastically....it does all tie in, in a whirlwind of an ending where all makes sense...although may take you a few moments of pondering to join A to B and B to C ( it did me )
Somewhat apathetic characters but then you wouldn’t expect them to be gregarious after their pasts but Jessamine is robust and enthusiastic enough to keep it all moving on
Not a ‘feel good’ read but well written and covering very relevant issues that handled carefully have made a thriller of unsettling note!!
8/10 4 Stars
January 20, 2023
The Dangerous Kind is a dark and twisted thriller about a domestic violence radio presenter being pulled in to finding a missing woman but ends up unraveling shocking and horrendous crimes which spans over many years.
It also has a real life feel to it because I think many of us has read or heard something similar on the news at some point in time.
It's definitely the perfect read if you enjoy twists and turns and trying to piece the clues together 📚
It also has a real life feel to it because I think many of us has read or heard something similar on the news at some point in time.
It's definitely the perfect read if you enjoy twists and turns and trying to piece the clues together 📚
April 11, 2019
There is a flood of thrillers on the market at present but rarely do they have such a well constructed, compulsive story that is fused with allegory, which will make you question those around you; this does so with stunning precision and acute observation of humankind good and bad. Main character Jessamine is an observer of human behaviour and presenter of a radio series on Potentially Dangerous Persons which is a strategy that utilises hindsight to identify early signs of an individual's criminal behaviour and ability to perpetrate a crime. I found Jessamine very intriguing as she had an interest in the same things I do, so as a result, I found it impossible to stop reading despite wanting to savour such a superb novel.
It's a profound look at exploitation and sexual abuse which is deeply disturbing but done sensitively without sensationalising the story or monsters responsible and there are ample shocks and surprises to keep readers entertained. The Dangerous Kind makes for harrowing, hard-hitting and thought-provoking reading and will no doubt make you question more of the world around you. The characterisation is top-notch and the conclusion was satisfying and rather unexpected. Those with interest in thrilling stories, psychology, criminal behaviour and behaviour profiling will find much to enjoy here.
Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC.
It's a profound look at exploitation and sexual abuse which is deeply disturbing but done sensitively without sensationalising the story or monsters responsible and there are ample shocks and surprises to keep readers entertained. The Dangerous Kind makes for harrowing, hard-hitting and thought-provoking reading and will no doubt make you question more of the world around you. The characterisation is top-notch and the conclusion was satisfying and rather unexpected. Those with interest in thrilling stories, psychology, criminal behaviour and behaviour profiling will find much to enjoy here.
Many thanks to Zaffre for an ARC.
September 5, 2019
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The Dangerous Kind by Deborah O'Connor. (2019).
One in 100 of us is a 'potentially dangerous person' - someone likely to commit a violent crime who exhibits certain behaviours. Jessamine's job is presenting a radio show that uses this formula to retrospectively exam brutal crimes and ask if more could have been done to prevent the perpetrators. When she begins to investigate the disappearance of a young mother, she is draws into a web of danger that leads to the upper society as well as back to her own family.
The true crime podcasts/television shows/radio shows etc fascination is still going strong in society and this book taps into that demographic. As with a lot of novels in this genre, there are dark elements involved and in this particular story this centers around child sexual abuse and exploitation as well as domestic violence. There are a few different point of views going on which are: Jessamine, the early 50s radio and later podcast host; Sarah, Jessamine's teenage daughter; Jidesh, a young man who ends up assisting Jessamine with tech issues; and finally Rowena, who is 13 in 2002 and not in a good situation. All of these perspectives come together in the end for a big final dramatic climax. This novel explores a scary situation that is sadly experienced by too many young children.
Overall this is an engrossing and interesting thriller that I think fans of the genre would enjoy.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
The Dangerous Kind by Deborah O'Connor. (2019).
One in 100 of us is a 'potentially dangerous person' - someone likely to commit a violent crime who exhibits certain behaviours. Jessamine's job is presenting a radio show that uses this formula to retrospectively exam brutal crimes and ask if more could have been done to prevent the perpetrators. When she begins to investigate the disappearance of a young mother, she is draws into a web of danger that leads to the upper society as well as back to her own family.
The true crime podcasts/television shows/radio shows etc fascination is still going strong in society and this book taps into that demographic. As with a lot of novels in this genre, there are dark elements involved and in this particular story this centers around child sexual abuse and exploitation as well as domestic violence. There are a few different point of views going on which are: Jessamine, the early 50s radio and later podcast host; Sarah, Jessamine's teenage daughter; Jidesh, a young man who ends up assisting Jessamine with tech issues; and finally Rowena, who is 13 in 2002 and not in a good situation. All of these perspectives come together in the end for a big final dramatic climax. This novel explores a scary situation that is sadly experienced by too many young children.
Overall this is an engrossing and interesting thriller that I think fans of the genre would enjoy.
July 28, 2019
Timely, relevant and hard-hitting crime fiction expertly pulled together with a fantastic protagonist.
Brilliantly constructed and featuring an unusual protagonist in the form of a fifty-one-year-old menopausal female, The Dangerous Kind is Deborah O’Connor’s timely and realistic look at the most reprehensible of crimes and the predators who walk amongst us in society in plain sight. Pulling in a number of strands, the story is a hard-hitting exploration of child abuse, power and corruption in an era of social media and uncovers a host of issues that have captured the headlines in recent years. Deborah O’Connor pulls no punches with a novel that is not only compelling but profoundly thought-provoking. With each individual thread linking back to one principal protagonist who unites them all, the novel coalesces in a realistic denouement and although readers will probably see the ending coming, it proves nigh on impossible to put down.
Fifty-one-year-old Jessamine Gooch is a single mother to her adopted fourteen-year-old daughter, Sarah, and as a former journalist she now hosts a long-running series on Radio 4 that looks at the concept of Potentially Dangerous People (PDP) and whether, despite never having convicted of a crime, it could be possible to spot and stop the individuals who will one day go on to commit an offence causing serious harm. By analysing the backgrounds of a single perpetrator each week Jessamine and the guests look back at signs including domestic violence, petty theft and a chaotic employment history to highlight the moral and ethical questions at root. Suffering from hot flushes and emotionally wounded after the ending of an affair with her producer, Mick, Jessamine is on the internet dating scene and also volunteers at a domestic violence helpline.
Accosted by a young woman after her show one evening she pleads for Jessamine to take a look into the disappearance of her friend and young mother, Cassie Scolari. A cursory glance at the facts intrigues Jessamine and when a heated moment at work gives her the opportunity to investigate, she delves into the disappearance. When teenage daughter Sarah suggests a podcast to harness public interest Jessamine employs the help of an anxious intern at the BBC, Jitesh Ganguly, with his own dilemmas using his social engineering know-how to crack passwords for some surprising reasons. Refusing to be invisible as so many older women often become, Jessamine is intelligent and tenacious with a normal life outside of her work and is unafraid to confront the people responsible. Combining her questions, findings and lines of enquiry into a podcast entitled Went/Gone, the project gives her a new lease of life as missing Cassie’s shocking story is gradually uncovered.
Running parallel to Jessamine’s present day narrative is that of a thirteen-year-old Rowena Garbutt, resident in an Oxfordshire care home and beginning in 2002. With an older boyfriend who manipulates and plies Rowena with alcohol her story is that of a vulnerable youngster used and abused who falls prey to some powerful men and the ‘parties’ they host. Far from gratuitous, Rowena’s situation is harrowing but honest as it heads to a devastating juncture. Draw in Jessamine’s dating woes, Sarah’s worrying online behaviour and and Jitesh being bullied by a manipulative student getting his kicks from taking advantage of girls, and this is one busy and riveting novel.
Well-researched, emotive and with some notably skilful characterisation in principal protagonist, Jessamine, The Dangerous Kind builds to a mesmerising and extremely tense conclusion. It is only as each of the threads slots into place that the reader can appreciate how cleverly constructed the novel is and Jessamine is a character who I would like to see more of. An impressive and highly recommend novel that has real depth and is incredibly readable.
Brilliantly constructed and featuring an unusual protagonist in the form of a fifty-one-year-old menopausal female, The Dangerous Kind is Deborah O’Connor’s timely and realistic look at the most reprehensible of crimes and the predators who walk amongst us in society in plain sight. Pulling in a number of strands, the story is a hard-hitting exploration of child abuse, power and corruption in an era of social media and uncovers a host of issues that have captured the headlines in recent years. Deborah O’Connor pulls no punches with a novel that is not only compelling but profoundly thought-provoking. With each individual thread linking back to one principal protagonist who unites them all, the novel coalesces in a realistic denouement and although readers will probably see the ending coming, it proves nigh on impossible to put down.
Fifty-one-year-old Jessamine Gooch is a single mother to her adopted fourteen-year-old daughter, Sarah, and as a former journalist she now hosts a long-running series on Radio 4 that looks at the concept of Potentially Dangerous People (PDP) and whether, despite never having convicted of a crime, it could be possible to spot and stop the individuals who will one day go on to commit an offence causing serious harm. By analysing the backgrounds of a single perpetrator each week Jessamine and the guests look back at signs including domestic violence, petty theft and a chaotic employment history to highlight the moral and ethical questions at root. Suffering from hot flushes and emotionally wounded after the ending of an affair with her producer, Mick, Jessamine is on the internet dating scene and also volunteers at a domestic violence helpline.
Accosted by a young woman after her show one evening she pleads for Jessamine to take a look into the disappearance of her friend and young mother, Cassie Scolari. A cursory glance at the facts intrigues Jessamine and when a heated moment at work gives her the opportunity to investigate, she delves into the disappearance. When teenage daughter Sarah suggests a podcast to harness public interest Jessamine employs the help of an anxious intern at the BBC, Jitesh Ganguly, with his own dilemmas using his social engineering know-how to crack passwords for some surprising reasons. Refusing to be invisible as so many older women often become, Jessamine is intelligent and tenacious with a normal life outside of her work and is unafraid to confront the people responsible. Combining her questions, findings and lines of enquiry into a podcast entitled Went/Gone, the project gives her a new lease of life as missing Cassie’s shocking story is gradually uncovered.
Running parallel to Jessamine’s present day narrative is that of a thirteen-year-old Rowena Garbutt, resident in an Oxfordshire care home and beginning in 2002. With an older boyfriend who manipulates and plies Rowena with alcohol her story is that of a vulnerable youngster used and abused who falls prey to some powerful men and the ‘parties’ they host. Far from gratuitous, Rowena’s situation is harrowing but honest as it heads to a devastating juncture. Draw in Jessamine’s dating woes, Sarah’s worrying online behaviour and and Jitesh being bullied by a manipulative student getting his kicks from taking advantage of girls, and this is one busy and riveting novel.
Well-researched, emotive and with some notably skilful characterisation in principal protagonist, Jessamine, The Dangerous Kind builds to a mesmerising and extremely tense conclusion. It is only as each of the threads slots into place that the reader can appreciate how cleverly constructed the novel is and Jessamine is a character who I would like to see more of. An impressive and highly recommend novel that has real depth and is incredibly readable.
January 22, 2019
A good read!
I enjoyed this crime thriller, very kindly lent to me by netgalley.
A good storyline, likeable characters, and a satisfying conclusive ending.
Worthy of 4 stars.
I enjoyed this crime thriller, very kindly lent to me by netgalley.
A good storyline, likeable characters, and a satisfying conclusive ending.
Worthy of 4 stars.
March 31, 2019
This book is hard for me to review. As, it is a subject The Dangerous Mind by Deborah O’Connor is a great gripping read, with great characters and intriguing plot but with a difficult subject of child grooming and prostitution. But it is also current to what is happening out there now. I found this an easy read and enjoyed reading it, but I was disappointed with the ending as it the story build up so much to have it full flat at the end. 4 stars from me.
April 6, 2019
If I had to describe The Dangerous Kind in three words they would be harrowing, disturbing and frightening in more or less equal measures. It’s pretty much what I would expect from a thriller set in today’s modern society. But wow, what stunning, well-thought-out masterpiece!
After having read The Dangerous Kind, I feel that I am completely indebted to Deborah O’Connor! This book has all the components that make a really fantastic story: from the mood and undercurrents to the very clever writing and the experience of love and friendship, not forgetting the feelings of hope, the fear, the utter desperation and failure.
The title of the book is derived from a police classification of a ‘Potentially Dangerous Person’ (PDP) who is someone that has not been convicted of an offence but whose behaviour indicates that they are likely to commit one.
Set during the winter-time and spanning a period of ten-plus years, the book is told from different time periods and aspects, the first one being Jessamine Gooch, as well as Rowena and also Jitesh. Deborah O’Connor has drawn a great character in Jessamine, a former journalist now working at the BBC and hosting a long-running true crime radio series, ‘Potentially Dangerous People’. In addition, she volunteers at a helpline for victims of domestic violence and is the mother of her teenage daughter, all the while trying to cope with the various difficulties she has going on in her life.
Equally noteworthy is Deborah O’Connor’s portrayal of Rowena. Her heartbreaking story is told as sensitively as possible but her vulnerability and the level of her abuse she suffered, though implicit, is nevertheless exceptionally sorrowful to read and plays a central role to the unfolding drama.
Jitesh’s character has also been brilliantly drawn by the author, Deborah. A student who has been given an unconditional offer to join Cambridge University, he has decided to take a year out and work as an IT intern. However, even as a young adult, he has already suffered many of life’s difficulties, although he possesses a moral strength that left me no choice but to feel an enormous amount of empathy with him.
There were instances where this was a very difficult read for me and it was a little like being on a roller-coaster, with someone shouting “Do you want to go faster?” However, it was extremely worthwhile even though many of the subjects touched upon are so abhorrent.
Deborah O’Connor was very brave to write about such a disturbing and unsettling subject matter like child prostitution. She impressively managed to do so with great sensitivity, thus making the story a little more palatable than it could have been. The story-line was masterfully crafted and showed originality. The separate stories were so superbly interconnected, making the novel fantastically compelling, all culminating in a thrilling and fulfilling ending.
I cannot recommend this book enough and I feel so inspired enough by Deborah O’Connor’s writing ability to order another of her novels - ‘My Husband’s Son.’
Thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffire Publishing and the author, Deborah O’Connor, for my free ARC of The Dangerous Kind in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks also to Pigeonhole as I participated in their group read which was in stave format and was able to share my thoughts and comments with other readers.
#NetGalley #TheDangerousKind
After having read The Dangerous Kind, I feel that I am completely indebted to Deborah O’Connor! This book has all the components that make a really fantastic story: from the mood and undercurrents to the very clever writing and the experience of love and friendship, not forgetting the feelings of hope, the fear, the utter desperation and failure.
The title of the book is derived from a police classification of a ‘Potentially Dangerous Person’ (PDP) who is someone that has not been convicted of an offence but whose behaviour indicates that they are likely to commit one.
Set during the winter-time and spanning a period of ten-plus years, the book is told from different time periods and aspects, the first one being Jessamine Gooch, as well as Rowena and also Jitesh. Deborah O’Connor has drawn a great character in Jessamine, a former journalist now working at the BBC and hosting a long-running true crime radio series, ‘Potentially Dangerous People’. In addition, she volunteers at a helpline for victims of domestic violence and is the mother of her teenage daughter, all the while trying to cope with the various difficulties she has going on in her life.
Equally noteworthy is Deborah O’Connor’s portrayal of Rowena. Her heartbreaking story is told as sensitively as possible but her vulnerability and the level of her abuse she suffered, though implicit, is nevertheless exceptionally sorrowful to read and plays a central role to the unfolding drama.
Jitesh’s character has also been brilliantly drawn by the author, Deborah. A student who has been given an unconditional offer to join Cambridge University, he has decided to take a year out and work as an IT intern. However, even as a young adult, he has already suffered many of life’s difficulties, although he possesses a moral strength that left me no choice but to feel an enormous amount of empathy with him.
There were instances where this was a very difficult read for me and it was a little like being on a roller-coaster, with someone shouting “Do you want to go faster?” However, it was extremely worthwhile even though many of the subjects touched upon are so abhorrent.
Deborah O’Connor was very brave to write about such a disturbing and unsettling subject matter like child prostitution. She impressively managed to do so with great sensitivity, thus making the story a little more palatable than it could have been. The story-line was masterfully crafted and showed originality. The separate stories were so superbly interconnected, making the novel fantastically compelling, all culminating in a thrilling and fulfilling ending.
I cannot recommend this book enough and I feel so inspired enough by Deborah O’Connor’s writing ability to order another of her novels - ‘My Husband’s Son.’
Thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffire Publishing and the author, Deborah O’Connor, for my free ARC of The Dangerous Kind in exchange for an honest review.
My thanks also to Pigeonhole as I participated in their group read which was in stave format and was able to share my thoughts and comments with other readers.
#NetGalley #TheDangerousKind
February 14, 2019
The Dangerous Kind starts with an encounter that turns into something more dangerous and then splits into two different timelines. We follow broadcaster Jessamine who is asked to look into the disappearance of a young mother in the present day and then we are thrown back in time to a very dark and unsettling story of abuse. Quite how these two threads are connected takes a while to become clear and there are other twists and turns happening all the while to keep the reader on their toes. What follows is a disturbing but intensely intriguing storyline that covers topical subjects with a sympathetic narrative.
Jessamine (beautifully named!) was my favourite character here. Feisty and unafraid to pursue the truth whilst breaking the rules, Jessamine really stood out for me. The secrets she’s hiding from her daughter unfortunately mean that she’s typically unaware of those being kept from HER so expect some explosive emotions once the plot starts to come together. I had an idea where it was going but have to admit that the author completely pulled the wool over my eyes with certain aspects of the unraveling which made me gasp out loud at one point.
Deborah O’Conner has written a brooding and thought provoking thriller with a relevant storyline that could be very upsetting for some readers. The subject of domestic violence is covered plus childhood sexual exploitation but these are sympathetically explored with a depth of understanding and never with any gratuitous content. The investigative journey that Jessamine took became completely gripping as the full extent of the plot becomes revealed making this book unputdownable! Deborah O’Conner has really done her research here and it shows in the strength of her narrative and the brilliant ending.
Highly recommended by me!
Jessamine (beautifully named!) was my favourite character here. Feisty and unafraid to pursue the truth whilst breaking the rules, Jessamine really stood out for me. The secrets she’s hiding from her daughter unfortunately mean that she’s typically unaware of those being kept from HER so expect some explosive emotions once the plot starts to come together. I had an idea where it was going but have to admit that the author completely pulled the wool over my eyes with certain aspects of the unraveling which made me gasp out loud at one point.
Deborah O’Conner has written a brooding and thought provoking thriller with a relevant storyline that could be very upsetting for some readers. The subject of domestic violence is covered plus childhood sexual exploitation but these are sympathetically explored with a depth of understanding and never with any gratuitous content. The investigative journey that Jessamine took became completely gripping as the full extent of the plot becomes revealed making this book unputdownable! Deborah O’Conner has really done her research here and it shows in the strength of her narrative and the brilliant ending.
Highly recommended by me!
March 30, 2019
This has got to be one of my top reads of 2019 so far it’s an amazing read and turned out to be much more than just a thriller I was blown away by just how brilliantly written it was. Switching from two separate timelines and told from multiple points of view this is a read that deals with some extremely horrendous and topical subjects such as domestic abuse, child grooming and exploitation but it is done is a very sensitive way and doesn’t go into intricate descriptions where the child abuse is concerned so it makes a gripping story. There are various plot lines to be explored and these seem unconnected but OMG just wait !!! So this makes a compulsive read with a very strong main character in Jessamine making it impossible to put down and ends with a thrilling conclusion so let’s hope we hear more from the brilliant Deborah O’Connor as this book is going to be a massive hit and I have no hesitation in giving it 5 bit fat stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 7, 2019
The Dangerous Kind is a really well constructed, original and exciting thriller which I was immediately drawn into. The main character Jessamine was a breath of fresh air, a middle-age single mum, suffering with hot flushes, losing her job as a radio presenter and raising her moody teenage daughter whilst trying to investigate the disappearance of a young mother.
With two time lines The Dangerous Kind covers some tough and very uncomfortable topics (domestic violence, grooming and sexual exploitation), however this is dealt with sympathetically and whilst it is integral to the story line the scenes during the "trigger topics" are written with consideration and sensitivity
I thoroughly enjoyed this tough, thought-provoking thriller with incredibly plausible characters and an intelligent plot. I would definitely recommend this to psychological thriller fans.
With two time lines The Dangerous Kind covers some tough and very uncomfortable topics (domestic violence, grooming and sexual exploitation), however this is dealt with sympathetically and whilst it is integral to the story line the scenes during the "trigger topics" are written with consideration and sensitivity
I thoroughly enjoyed this tough, thought-provoking thriller with incredibly plausible characters and an intelligent plot. I would definitely recommend this to psychological thriller fans.
Read
July 29, 2018Well this was a vipers nest of discoveries!
There's some twists and then some more twists and then...oh that ending
Was quite dense in parts and uncomfortable too - some part of the plot very reminscient of the recent cases of Rochdale and elsewhere - girls being abused by groups of men
Not a booktrail one as it's vaguely set in London but that's it.
It's really set inside the human psyche and that's the scariest place of all.
There's some twists and then some more twists and then...oh that ending
Was quite dense in parts and uncomfortable too - some part of the plot very reminscient of the recent cases of Rochdale and elsewhere - girls being abused by groups of men
Not a booktrail one as it's vaguely set in London but that's it.
It's really set inside the human psyche and that's the scariest place of all.
August 6, 2021
Jessamine has a radio show looking into cases, seeing if more could be done to prevent the predators. A mysterious woman shows up outside the radio building and asks Jessamine for help to find her missing friend, thought to have been hurt by her husband. As Jessamine enters deeper into Cassie's world, she starts to realise Cassie's disappearance could lead her into more danger than she could ever imagine.
This story is dark, disturbing, brutal, twisty, absolutely thrilling. I felt so many emotions reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The chapters were short and every part was relevant, leading to the bigger picture. This book is one of a kind. A definite must read.
This story is dark, disturbing, brutal, twisty, absolutely thrilling. I felt so many emotions reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The chapters were short and every part was relevant, leading to the bigger picture. This book is one of a kind. A definite must read.
March 23, 2019
Firstly, This marvellous book covers the incredibly disturbing and horrific crimes of child sexual exploitation and prostitution and as such can be heartbreaking to read……but Deborah O’Connor’s writing is so compelling you have to keep reading right to it’s heart thumping end…..
So, the story is told in chapters by Jessamine, Rowena and Jitesh……these seem to be totally random and not linked in any way…….but oh my….just wait..!
Rowena is 13, (and in the care system) and her ‘boyfriend’ Sunny says he owes a gang money and she needs to attend ‘parties’ with older men, some she recognises as famous….to help him repay his debt. She soon realises this is a lie, but it’s too late…
Jitesh, is a young, troubled guy……a bit of a tech wizard but very shy with people. He is troubled when Meera gets involved with his old friend Kishor…..
He also works with Jessamine……..for her new podcast.
Jessamine, works for BBC radio, in a show about criminal behaviour and is it possible to identify potential violent crimes and their perpetrators. Due to a her recent outburst at the BBC, she is suspended and decides to do an independent podcast….when she is approached by a young woman, who asks her to look into the disappearance of her friend Cassie…..she is intrigued and starts her investigation…….
This leads to danger for her and her daughter…….is someone close to home responsible ?
As the stories progress, they link and all the pieces suddenly come together in such a way that made me gasp…..it feels so real, with the relatively recent revelations (alleged allegations)of child abuse by TV personalities and people in positions of power, heartbreaking too….poor Billy!…I can’t say much more for fear of spoiling the story……yes it’s a tough subject, but Deborah O’Connor has handled it with her creative, and emotion packed writing….brilliant! .
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the Deborah O’Connor for the opportunity to read this book for free and this is my honest and unbiased review.
So, the story is told in chapters by Jessamine, Rowena and Jitesh……these seem to be totally random and not linked in any way…….but oh my….just wait..!
Rowena is 13, (and in the care system) and her ‘boyfriend’ Sunny says he owes a gang money and she needs to attend ‘parties’ with older men, some she recognises as famous….to help him repay his debt. She soon realises this is a lie, but it’s too late…
Jitesh, is a young, troubled guy……a bit of a tech wizard but very shy with people. He is troubled when Meera gets involved with his old friend Kishor…..
He also works with Jessamine……..for her new podcast.
Jessamine, works for BBC radio, in a show about criminal behaviour and is it possible to identify potential violent crimes and their perpetrators. Due to a her recent outburst at the BBC, she is suspended and decides to do an independent podcast….when she is approached by a young woman, who asks her to look into the disappearance of her friend Cassie…..she is intrigued and starts her investigation…….
This leads to danger for her and her daughter…….is someone close to home responsible ?
As the stories progress, they link and all the pieces suddenly come together in such a way that made me gasp…..it feels so real, with the relatively recent revelations (alleged allegations)of child abuse by TV personalities and people in positions of power, heartbreaking too….poor Billy!…I can’t say much more for fear of spoiling the story……yes it’s a tough subject, but Deborah O’Connor has handled it with her creative, and emotion packed writing….brilliant! .
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the Deborah O’Connor for the opportunity to read this book for free and this is my honest and unbiased review.
July 16, 2019
Book reviews on www.snazzybooks.com
One of my favourite crime novels of the year so far (and I've read some great books already), The Dangerous Kind managed to be satisfyingly complex, twisty and surprising without letting it 'get too Scooby Doo' (something the author says agent Nicola Barr Warner her against, and which I think sums up what turns me off in a crime novel perfectly!). It has just the right number of 'wow' moments whilst stopping short of being too over the top or unbelievable.
Set in London, this novel's locations and settings feels very reminiscent of the capital and its darker undercurrents. I enjoyed reading about the parts of the city I live near and have visited many times, and the part that the BBC studios play in the novel is very topical thanks to the revelations of what we now know has taken place there. There are some truly disturbing parts that I felt very uncomfortable reading, but it all adds to the serious nature of the storyline and is unfortunately a reality. It made me so angry to read though; this part of the storyline really fired up an emotional response in me.
The characters in the novel are both bold and subtle; they cover such a cross-section of society and I really felt like I could know or have encountered someone like them in my personal life. It feels convincing and, although there are the usual coincidences that move the story along, it felt convincing - worryingly so. It took me a little while to properly get to grips with who each person is, as the book is told from multiple points of view, but it soon becomes clear. It's a clever plot and is for me a testament to Deborah O'Connor's brilliant writing.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time - it's one to completely lose yourself in (despite those hard to read scenes) and relish the clever twists and connections. An absolutely brilliant read!
Many thanks to Zaffre Books for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
One of my favourite crime novels of the year so far (and I've read some great books already), The Dangerous Kind managed to be satisfyingly complex, twisty and surprising without letting it 'get too Scooby Doo' (something the author says agent Nicola Barr Warner her against, and which I think sums up what turns me off in a crime novel perfectly!). It has just the right number of 'wow' moments whilst stopping short of being too over the top or unbelievable.
Set in London, this novel's locations and settings feels very reminiscent of the capital and its darker undercurrents. I enjoyed reading about the parts of the city I live near and have visited many times, and the part that the BBC studios play in the novel is very topical thanks to the revelations of what we now know has taken place there. There are some truly disturbing parts that I felt very uncomfortable reading, but it all adds to the serious nature of the storyline and is unfortunately a reality. It made me so angry to read though; this part of the storyline really fired up an emotional response in me.
The characters in the novel are both bold and subtle; they cover such a cross-section of society and I really felt like I could know or have encountered someone like them in my personal life. It feels convincing and, although there are the usual coincidences that move the story along, it felt convincing - worryingly so. It took me a little while to properly get to grips with who each person is, as the book is told from multiple points of view, but it soon becomes clear. It's a clever plot and is for me a testament to Deborah O'Connor's brilliant writing.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time - it's one to completely lose yourself in (despite those hard to read scenes) and relish the clever twists and connections. An absolutely brilliant read!
Many thanks to Zaffre Books for providing a copy of this book on which I chose to write an honest and unbiased review.
March 25, 2019
A very full on book. Not at all what I was expecting from the blurb. Not keen on some of the content, but, I appreciate that depravity occurs sadly .
There were lots of twists along the way and a few stories that run well together.
#TheDangerousKind
Thanks to Pigeonhole, Deborah O Connor and Bonnier Zaffre for the opportunity to read and review this book.
There were lots of twists along the way and a few stories that run well together.
#TheDangerousKind
Thanks to Pigeonhole, Deborah O Connor and Bonnier Zaffre for the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 30, 2018
A fantatic edge of your seat, exhilarating, tense mystery thriller. That has great characters at the heart of it and had me absolutely hooked all the way through. I really enjoyed this book.
June 2, 2019
I would like to thank Tracy Fenton for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
Are you looking for a light and comfortable read?
Better pick something else than The Dangerous Kind.
But if you are ready for a stunning, raw, and relevant tale of monsters living among us, you’ve come to the right place!
Get ready for a dark opening, the door to a haunted house and some of the vilest atrocities.
Jessamine Gooch is a middle-age single mom with a brilliant career as a reporter and a radio show running on its eleventh year. Jessamine is a real gem throughout the novel and a wonderfully crafted character. Hot flushes plague her, her job gets on the line, she navigates teenagerhood with love and protectiveness. Every single detail about her made the book more real, more grounded, and helped me face the darkest layers of The Dangerous Kind.
Jessamine’s show is topical and absolutely relevant. I should know, I love all things true crime! I wished I could listen to Potentially Dangerous People! On it, Jessamine and a team of experts dissect crimes and the lives of those involved to try and discern patterns which would allow us to recognize and stop criminally-inclined people before they act. Isn’t it thrilling?
When she gets accosted in the street by a stranger hoping she can take a look at a missing person case, Jessamine doesn’t know she is standing on the edge of a tipping point in her life. From here, and through different points of view — in the present with our reporter, her daughter Sarah, and a young man called Jitesh, and in the past with a girl named Rowena, the novel quickly turns into a free fall to hell! Heavy subjects such as domestic violence and child abuse are tackled with tact, the author doesn’t shy away from using her brilliant prose to put words on the kind of abominations we can barely imagine. A flawed system and the holes in which victims can fall into absolutely broke my heart, and I was happy to share the burden with Jessamine. I use the word burden, but in a good way. Why silence it? Because staying blind to it make it disappear? It doesn’t, and Deborah O’Connor has the strength and skills to bring us vivid images, not just for the chilling edge it brings to the story, but as a way to cause a ripple.
I was so engrossed in the lives of the protagonists that each painful or taut scene just brought me closer to them. Money, status, social media, there is no theme the author can’t nail and add to her plot to make it thicker, richer, and darker.
I became addicted to the jumps in POVs, searching for a connection, looking for rays of hope. Goosebumps broke out on my arms when it dawned on me that indeed, the most dangerous ones can be the closest to us!
The Dangerous Kind is a thought-provoking novel I enjoyed tremendously, although ‘enjoy’ might not be the right word!!! Fans of journalistic investigations with twists galore will adore following Jessamine on her path to the truth as much as I did!
April 11, 2019
We are initially told of a scene which occurs between two unknown individuals who appear to know one another, their meeting ends in the most shocking way. From that point the storyline had 100% of my attention, I couldn't wait to see where this psychological thriller was going to take me.
The first known character we are introduced is Jessamine, who is a bbc radio show presenter of a segment concerning retrospectively, called 'Potentially Dangerous People' that delves in to the lives of convicted murderers and with the help of an ex - police officer and a criminologist discuss how their behaviour could have been avoided or if identified early on, could it have potentially prevented the crime from occurring. Jessamine is approached by a big fan of her show, Marnie Clark, who is seeking help to find her friend Cassie Scolari, who has gone missing, possibly at the hands of her physically abusive husband.
The storyline is written in both past and present tense; present day and 2002, where the we follow the life of Rowanda, whom is put into an awful situation by her partner and the person that she loves more than anyone in the world. Reading about her life tugs so hard at the heart strings, the position she was put in and her experiences are shockingly sad.
This whole read is the embodiment of a truly fantastic thriller! Usually i'm asleep by 11pm, 2am for two nights in a row I stayed up to devour this raw read. How I've not read Deborah's 'My Husband's Son' I do not know but it's going straight into my basket and onto my TBR pile. I'd like to know how many hours, days, months of planning went into The Dangerous Kind because it is perfect and engaging.
The storyline was like a train crash (in the best way!) that you just could not look away from... or in this case put down. It's based on a subject that should be brought to societies attention I feel, it's something that has the potential to happen to anybody and I think that brings in the emotional rawness of the read. It's eye opening to say the least.
The primary underlining theme of the storyline is sexual abuse of minors, and the behaviour that goes into such crimes, such as grooming. At parts of the read you can feel yourself getting chilly due to the complete heartbreak that is endured, not just by fictional characters but by real people. A hard hitting storyline!
Great characters, the flicking from past to present, as well as little details, such as family life, helps build both an image of the character in your head but it also tension builds to an extent because you just aren't aware where the hell the story is going! The twists will have you being able to hear your pulse in your ears as well as having your heart pounding. In the words of Eleanor from The Good Place "holy forking shirt!'
The first known character we are introduced is Jessamine, who is a bbc radio show presenter of a segment concerning retrospectively, called 'Potentially Dangerous People' that delves in to the lives of convicted murderers and with the help of an ex - police officer and a criminologist discuss how their behaviour could have been avoided or if identified early on, could it have potentially prevented the crime from occurring. Jessamine is approached by a big fan of her show, Marnie Clark, who is seeking help to find her friend Cassie Scolari, who has gone missing, possibly at the hands of her physically abusive husband.
The storyline is written in both past and present tense; present day and 2002, where the we follow the life of Rowanda, whom is put into an awful situation by her partner and the person that she loves more than anyone in the world. Reading about her life tugs so hard at the heart strings, the position she was put in and her experiences are shockingly sad.
This whole read is the embodiment of a truly fantastic thriller! Usually i'm asleep by 11pm, 2am for two nights in a row I stayed up to devour this raw read. How I've not read Deborah's 'My Husband's Son' I do not know but it's going straight into my basket and onto my TBR pile. I'd like to know how many hours, days, months of planning went into The Dangerous Kind because it is perfect and engaging.
The storyline was like a train crash (in the best way!) that you just could not look away from... or in this case put down. It's based on a subject that should be brought to societies attention I feel, it's something that has the potential to happen to anybody and I think that brings in the emotional rawness of the read. It's eye opening to say the least.
The primary underlining theme of the storyline is sexual abuse of minors, and the behaviour that goes into such crimes, such as grooming. At parts of the read you can feel yourself getting chilly due to the complete heartbreak that is endured, not just by fictional characters but by real people. A hard hitting storyline!
Great characters, the flicking from past to present, as well as little details, such as family life, helps build both an image of the character in your head but it also tension builds to an extent because you just aren't aware where the hell the story is going! The twists will have you being able to hear your pulse in your ears as well as having your heart pounding. In the words of Eleanor from The Good Place "holy forking shirt!'
April 6, 2019
The Dangerous Kind tells the story of Jessamine and her daughter. Jessie is very inquisitive and she genuinely wants to help people. She works for the BBC as a radio show host, but she also volunteers at a helpline. Her drive to help people in need is so big that she goes above and beyond and even oversteps some boundaries. But trying to help strangers, and trying to figure out what happened to Cassie, she doesn’t notice what’s going on right under her nose with her own daughter. While the reader is privy to much more information than Jessie, what exactly is going on remains a mystery for quite a long time. I did figure it out, but it’s not obvious and it didn’t spoil the suspense in any way!
The Dangerous Kind tells the story of Jitesh. It’s clear from the start that he has issues, but why exactly remains hidden for the longest time. Jitesh is a hacker but he’s also a really sweet young man with his heart in the right place and he ends up helping Jessamine with her investigation. I loved the chemistry between these two (in a very platonic, non-sexual kind of way) and like many of the other pigeons, I would love to see them return for another adventure!
The Dangerous Kind tells the story of Rowena, a young girl lost in the system, used, abused. Easily the toughest storyline of them all. If you’re looking for a character to root for, here she is!
Finding out how these storylines tie together was one hell of a journey! Perhaps a bit of a slow burner at first, but when it takes off, boy, it takes off! I was on the edge of my seat, glued to my phone, cussing every time the stave ended. Although I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this via The Pigeonhole, this is a book to read in very few sittings. I loved Deborah’s debut, My Husband’s Son, but in all honesty, it does not compare to The Dangerous Kind.
In many ways this was a tough read: Deborah doesn’t shy away from very difficult subjects. The blurb hints at such things, but I was not prepared in any way for what came next. I can’t count the times my fellow pigeons and I were shook, shocked, speechless, tearful, and saying “poor *character’s name*”. A tough read, but well worth it.
Intricately woven, addictive, thrilling, shocking but not in a cheap way, highly recommended!
Massive thanks to The Pigeonhole, Bonnier Zaffre and Deborah O’Connor for the opportunity to read this before its pub date and free of charge.
The Dangerous Kind tells the story of Jitesh. It’s clear from the start that he has issues, but why exactly remains hidden for the longest time. Jitesh is a hacker but he’s also a really sweet young man with his heart in the right place and he ends up helping Jessamine with her investigation. I loved the chemistry between these two (in a very platonic, non-sexual kind of way) and like many of the other pigeons, I would love to see them return for another adventure!
The Dangerous Kind tells the story of Rowena, a young girl lost in the system, used, abused. Easily the toughest storyline of them all. If you’re looking for a character to root for, here she is!
Finding out how these storylines tie together was one hell of a journey! Perhaps a bit of a slow burner at first, but when it takes off, boy, it takes off! I was on the edge of my seat, glued to my phone, cussing every time the stave ended. Although I’m so grateful for the opportunity to read this via The Pigeonhole, this is a book to read in very few sittings. I loved Deborah’s debut, My Husband’s Son, but in all honesty, it does not compare to The Dangerous Kind.
In many ways this was a tough read: Deborah doesn’t shy away from very difficult subjects. The blurb hints at such things, but I was not prepared in any way for what came next. I can’t count the times my fellow pigeons and I were shook, shocked, speechless, tearful, and saying “poor *character’s name*”. A tough read, but well worth it.
Intricately woven, addictive, thrilling, shocking but not in a cheap way, highly recommended!
Massive thanks to The Pigeonhole, Bonnier Zaffre and Deborah O’Connor for the opportunity to read this before its pub date and free of charge.
March 23, 2019
What a book, what a story! Loved it from the very start.
If you want to play detective and discover what happened to the missing Cassie Scolari, you should definitely read this book because you’ll love it!
The story switches between events happening in 2002 and the present day. In 2002 we meet Rowena, a teenage girl, and learn what horrible things she has to go through. In the present day we meet Jessamine and Jitesh. Jessamine is a radio host of a long-standing show on people that haven’t commit a crime but who, according to the police, will commit a serious offence one day, causing physical or physiological harm. After one if her shows, she finds Marnie waiting for her. Marnie’s friend Cassie has gone missing a few weeks ago but the police aren’t looking for her very actively as they think Cassie has committed suicide. Jitesh is an intern at the radio station, taking a year before going to university. He doesn’t take much importance to privacy of people he meet, so he hacks them. At first I didn’t feel much for this boy, but throughout the book you learn why he hacks and bit by bit I started to warm up for him, until I really liked him.
Jitesh and Jessamine start to work together in the case of finding Cassie and unraveling all her secrets and what has happened to her. The two stories, Rowena’s 2002 and the one that is happening in the present day, unfold together until we find out how they are linked together.
While reading, you start making links between both stories and you try to find out what happened and who’s who. It’s such a sad story but one that has been written brilliantly.
If you want to play detective and discover what happened to the missing Cassie Scolari, you should definitely read this book because you’ll love it!
The story switches between events happening in 2002 and the present day. In 2002 we meet Rowena, a teenage girl, and learn what horrible things she has to go through. In the present day we meet Jessamine and Jitesh. Jessamine is a radio host of a long-standing show on people that haven’t commit a crime but who, according to the police, will commit a serious offence one day, causing physical or physiological harm. After one if her shows, she finds Marnie waiting for her. Marnie’s friend Cassie has gone missing a few weeks ago but the police aren’t looking for her very actively as they think Cassie has committed suicide. Jitesh is an intern at the radio station, taking a year before going to university. He doesn’t take much importance to privacy of people he meet, so he hacks them. At first I didn’t feel much for this boy, but throughout the book you learn why he hacks and bit by bit I started to warm up for him, until I really liked him.
Jitesh and Jessamine start to work together in the case of finding Cassie and unraveling all her secrets and what has happened to her. The two stories, Rowena’s 2002 and the one that is happening in the present day, unfold together until we find out how they are linked together.
While reading, you start making links between both stories and you try to find out what happened and who’s who. It’s such a sad story but one that has been written brilliantly.
May 15, 2019
I wanted to enjoy The Dangerous Kind so much, as I had previously enjoyed Deborah OcConnor's previous work. However, I struggled to get into the story and like any of the characters. Maybe I was having an off day when I was reading it, but it wasnt for me.
March 12, 2021
This one should come with a trigger warning for all those, like me, who don't like to read about grooming and pedophiles.
To be fair, the book was interesting, well written and I liked the descriptions of the main character's work with the BBC, but I wasn't left with a happy feeling after having finished it, more like a feeling of relief.
To be fair, the book was interesting, well written and I liked the descriptions of the main character's work with the BBC, but I wasn't left with a happy feeling after having finished it, more like a feeling of relief.
September 15, 2018
This is definitely a high concept novel and even hearing the promotional blurb surrounding O'Connor's novel is enough to send shivers down your spine. Did you know that 1 in 100 people fall into the category 'potentially dangerous'? And by 'potentially dangerous' they mean people very likely to commit a crime. Can you identify these people? Can you tell who, out of the people you surround yourself with and interact with daily, might be a potential danger to yourself or your family?
We all know them. Those who exist just on the fringes of society. Who send prickles up the back of our neck. The charmers. The liars. The manipulators. Those who have the potential to go that one step too far. And then take another step.
O'Connor's novel has several key characters, but the main protagonist is Jessamine Gooch, a journalist who broadcasts a radio show looking into the past lives of convicted killers. By investigating these killers past histories, she's trying to ascertain whether anything else could have been done to stop them from committing such terrible crimes - can we in fact tell who might be 'potentially dangerous' and can we stop them?
A woman gets in touch with Jessamine - a woman desperate to find her missing friend Cassie. She's worried that Cassie's abusive husband might be responsible for Cassie's disappearance and something unthinkable might have happened. As Jessamine starts to investigate, she realises that there is something far more darker and dangerous lurking much closer to home - and posing a much darker and dangerous threat to her own family...
This really is a gripping thriller and O'Connor's novel is both bold and brave. The Dangerous Kind tackles difficult, challenging topics which are controversial and timely but her writing is so assured, polished and engaging that it is handled perfectly and the reader is caught up in a story that is both a crime thriller and a gripping exploration of society. I also really enjoyed not only how topical the subject was, but also how much the novel captured the issues prevalent in society, and the way in which podcasting, true crime and journalism is changing, as are the crimes, criminals and the threats we face.
O'Connor clearly cares deeply about the issues she raises in this novel. The Dangerous Kind is carefully constructed which has to reflect how much research and thought must have gone into the planning and execution of this complex novel. The book incorporates a range of narratives which all help to create tension, suspense and obviously add further depth to the plot and also means it is both thoughtfully written and thought provoking. As well as different narrative voices there is also a dual timeline as we move between the past and the present, then days within the present day. This book is an impressive puzzle and each section, each revelation, each increment in pace, action, drama, perfectly managed.
This is a crime story, a mystery story, a race against time, controversial, topical, and also a great exploration of motherhood. The relationship between Jessamine and her daughter is full of nuance and expertly presented. The author uses the framework of the crime thriller to create a story which is more sophisticated, more superior and packed with clever insights and observations about human nature and the evil which lurks in society.
It's compelling (have I already said that too many times?!). It's haunting. It's unsettling and uncomfortable but I was hooked throughout and cared so deeply for Jessamine and her daughter. It's impossible not to when they are so three dimensional and so authentic. The writing is measured, it's incredibly effective and certainly achieves all O'Connor must have hoped for when writing. I'd love to hear more from the author about her writing process, inspirations, motivations and challenges with this novel. The planning process must have been such a tricky road to navigate but one safely and confidently done. It's such an ambitious novel and yet so accessible, fluid and readable.
I think one of the reasons Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan has seen so much success in 2018 is because it combines great storytelling with well crafted characters and a topical news issue. In 2019, it should be The Dangerous Kind that sees the same success and acknowledgment. This book has fantastic characters - flawed, troubled yet determined, a gripping storyline that has a heart pounding sense of urgency and a malevolent atmosphere which lingers threateningly over the pages. And a timely topic that will enthral and chill all readers.
Bold. Exciting. Outstanding.
We all know them. Those who exist just on the fringes of society. Who send prickles up the back of our neck. The charmers. The liars. The manipulators. Those who have the potential to go that one step too far. And then take another step.
O'Connor's novel has several key characters, but the main protagonist is Jessamine Gooch, a journalist who broadcasts a radio show looking into the past lives of convicted killers. By investigating these killers past histories, she's trying to ascertain whether anything else could have been done to stop them from committing such terrible crimes - can we in fact tell who might be 'potentially dangerous' and can we stop them?
A woman gets in touch with Jessamine - a woman desperate to find her missing friend Cassie. She's worried that Cassie's abusive husband might be responsible for Cassie's disappearance and something unthinkable might have happened. As Jessamine starts to investigate, she realises that there is something far more darker and dangerous lurking much closer to home - and posing a much darker and dangerous threat to her own family...
This really is a gripping thriller and O'Connor's novel is both bold and brave. The Dangerous Kind tackles difficult, challenging topics which are controversial and timely but her writing is so assured, polished and engaging that it is handled perfectly and the reader is caught up in a story that is both a crime thriller and a gripping exploration of society. I also really enjoyed not only how topical the subject was, but also how much the novel captured the issues prevalent in society, and the way in which podcasting, true crime and journalism is changing, as are the crimes, criminals and the threats we face.
O'Connor clearly cares deeply about the issues she raises in this novel. The Dangerous Kind is carefully constructed which has to reflect how much research and thought must have gone into the planning and execution of this complex novel. The book incorporates a range of narratives which all help to create tension, suspense and obviously add further depth to the plot and also means it is both thoughtfully written and thought provoking. As well as different narrative voices there is also a dual timeline as we move between the past and the present, then days within the present day. This book is an impressive puzzle and each section, each revelation, each increment in pace, action, drama, perfectly managed.
This is a crime story, a mystery story, a race against time, controversial, topical, and also a great exploration of motherhood. The relationship between Jessamine and her daughter is full of nuance and expertly presented. The author uses the framework of the crime thriller to create a story which is more sophisticated, more superior and packed with clever insights and observations about human nature and the evil which lurks in society.
It's compelling (have I already said that too many times?!). It's haunting. It's unsettling and uncomfortable but I was hooked throughout and cared so deeply for Jessamine and her daughter. It's impossible not to when they are so three dimensional and so authentic. The writing is measured, it's incredibly effective and certainly achieves all O'Connor must have hoped for when writing. I'd love to hear more from the author about her writing process, inspirations, motivations and challenges with this novel. The planning process must have been such a tricky road to navigate but one safely and confidently done. It's such an ambitious novel and yet so accessible, fluid and readable.
I think one of the reasons Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan has seen so much success in 2018 is because it combines great storytelling with well crafted characters and a topical news issue. In 2019, it should be The Dangerous Kind that sees the same success and acknowledgment. This book has fantastic characters - flawed, troubled yet determined, a gripping storyline that has a heart pounding sense of urgency and a malevolent atmosphere which lingers threateningly over the pages. And a timely topic that will enthral and chill all readers.
Bold. Exciting. Outstanding.
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