Death on the Lake

DCI Satterthwaite #5

by Jo Allen, Jo Allen

Three youngsters, out for a good time. Vodka and the wrong sort of Coke. What could possibly go wrong?

When a young woman, Summer Raine, is found drowned, apparently accidentally, after an afternoon spent drinking on a boat on Ullswater, DCI Jude Satterthwaite is deeply concerned — more so when his boss refuses to let him investigate the matter any further to avoid compromising a fraud case.

But a sinister shadow lingers over the dale and one accidental death is followed by another and then by a violent murder. Jude’s life is complicated enough but the latest series of murders are personal to him as they involve his former partner, Becca Reid, who has family connections in the area. His determination to uncover the killer brings him into direct conflict with his boss — and ultimately places both him and his colleague and girlfriend, Ashleigh O’Halloran, in danger…

Genres: Mystery, Family Drama, Procedural, British Literature

296 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 6, 2021

About the author

Jo Allen is the alter ego of Jennifer Young.

Jennifer Young is an Edinburgh-based author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Her books are rich in a sense of place -- visit Majorca for a romantic adventure, Italy for some new adult romance, or Edinburgh for dark deeds and romance in Scotland's capital.

https://www.facebook.com/JoAllenAuthor

https://www.facebook.com/jenniferyoun...

Reviews

[DJ Sakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

He’ll have persuaded himself that what he’s doing is somehow okay, just as those kids will have persuaded themselves there’s nothing really wrong with taking drugs. People are very quick to persuade themselves that something illegal really ought not to be and therefore it’s okay to do it. You must see it often. The illusion of victimless crime.

Miranda’s nerves tautened, as if they were the strings on a violin and a violinist was pulling then ever tighter, the pitch increasing. Any minute now and they’d start screeching, like the background music in Psycho.

No one went upstairs in his cottage. The dust would be as thick as March snow up there, and after he’d gone whoever came to clean up would be able to roll it up like a mat and throw it away.

Doing the right thing always did lose you friends. The more Jude saw it happen, the more he wondered why anyone bothered.


My Review:


I am relatively new to this genre so Jo Allen is a recent discovery and new favorite. I have enjoyed this smartly written and complex series and continue to look forward to the next. The characters' personal lives and personalities are as intriguing as the criminal cases they are laboring to solve. This case was another cleverly plotted head-scratcher laced with insightful observations and quirky secondary characters, and more of what I’ve come to expect from this crafty scribe.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a brilliant, contemporary, police procedural, murder mystery. It is set in the Lake District and DCI Jude Satterthwaite is the central character in this series.

A series of seemingly unrelated deaths . . . a seemingly accidental drowning . . . . an elderly gentleman having a stroke . . . . a violent murder. A feeling of unease, especially as his boss won’t let him investigate as he’d like, all add to complicate the matter, especially when it also involves the woman he loved and lost, Becca Reid, and her family.

Determined to bring the killer to justice, supported by his colleague and current girlfriend Ashleigh O’Halloran, their investigation could interfere with an undercover operation to bring a prominent business man to justice. However, his twin sons may be involved and their stepmother has secrets, too . . . .

What an intriguing read this is, a real page turner with great characters and plenty of surprise happenings to keep you enthralled! This is a great addition to this series and I’m looking forward to see how Jude’s relationships develop – and who with!

Thank you for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death on the Lake is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. I’d like to read the more by her, because this was a great read.

Jo Allen has an intriguing writing style. I was invested in this story from the beginning. The pacing was excellent. It never slowed, and it kept my attention the entire time.

I love when a book is part of a series, but the characters are still well developed. I got to know them, easily, in this story and didn’t feel like I was missing anything.

Overall, I enjoyed Death on the Lake, and would recommend checking it out.

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the review copy and the opportunity to honestly review this book on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Another cracking police procedural from Jo Allen!

Death on the Lake is the fifth in the DCI Jude Satterthwaite series, but I can confirm that these stories stand alone perfectly well. Personally, though, I think it is worth reading them in series order as there is a lot of character development and the relationships between the main characters form an important secondary plot thread.

In fact, in this story those relationships come to the fore more than ever before, as the issues between DCI Jude Satterthwaite and his ex, Becca, and Ashleigh O’Halloran and her ex, Scott, perfectly mirror and highlight the plot theme of being haunted by past mistakes and erroneous decisions. That said, the balance between personal and professional feels just right to keep the plot moving and the characters growing.

There are bodies aplenty in what starts as a missing person case, but the distinctions between natural causes, accident and murder are blurred and Ashleigh and Jude have to rely on their instincts and gut feelings that something just isn’t right at the lake. I was kept guessing right to the reveal as to what was going on and who was behind it – I do so love being led astray by a well-written mystery!

I have read two books in this series now and both were well-written and tightly plotted. I would definitely recommend this series to any fans of British detectives and police procedural mysteries and will be looking out for the next one to find out what is going to happen next for Jude and Ashleigh, Doddsy, Becca… the whole team. Oh, and to try to solve the murder before them if I can!


'Jude flicked through the rest of the sheet. Summer had been wearing jeans and a light top, carrying a small leather backpack and wearing sandals — definitely not the right clothing for anything more challenging than the road, or possibly the marked route along the lake. ‘There’s no previous history of going missing? No vulnerabilities?’
‘Nothing.’
‘And nothing special about Summer herself? No reason why anyone might want to abduct her?’
‘Not that I’m aware of.’
‘Then what’s so special about the case?’'

– Jo Allen, Death on the Lake

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Tasha Mahoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this complex tale that drew me in straight away and kept me on my toes throughout.
When a young woman is found drowned after a night of drinking alcohol and taking drugs, DCI Satterthwaite is suspicious. When the order from on high prevent the DCI from opening an investigation due to its possible impact on another investigation something feels off.

The bodies start piling up and it gets personal.

Jo Allen has a nice writing style that despite the complexities of this plot, kept things clear. Her writing had a great flow and I enjoyed the pace.

Being new to this series did not affect my enjoyment of this addition. The characters feel very well developed and the Death on The Lake was a great read.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Death On The Lake’ is the fifth book in the bestselling series featuring Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Jude Satterthwaite. I have loved each and every book in the series to date and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of ‘Death On The Lake’. So as soon as I was able, I grabbed a copy of the book and settled down for what proved to be a fantastic read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Death On The Lake’ but more about that in a bit.
I love the character of DCI Jude Satterthwaite and I have developed something of a soft spot for him. He is an experienced detective, who has steadily risen up the ranks. He leads from the front and he wouldn’t ask anybody to do anything that he wouldn’t be willing to do himself. He seems to have a good relationship with his superiors although this can become a bit strained at times. Jude’s personal life is a bit messy to say the least. He is currently seeing somebody who is a member of his team. In the past, his girlfriend went out with his immediate superior officer so there is a bit of tension there. I did have a bit of an issue with Jude working and dating somebody in the same team as himself and who is a rank or two below him.
Oh my flipping word, ‘Death On The Lake’ is one hell of a story and then some. As soon as I started to read, I knew that there would be no point in me planning to do anything else for the rest of the day, other than reading. I was spot on too. Once I picked ‘Death On The Lake’ up that was it and I didn’t put the book down again until I read the very last word on the very last page. The book wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn’t bear to miss a single second of this fantastic story. Whilst I was reading ‘Death On The Lake’ I became so wrapped up in the story that I lost all track of time and just how quickly I was getting through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Death On The Lake’ and I had to say farewell to Jude and his team. I found ‘Death On The Lake’ to be a gripping and unputdownable page turner of a read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Death On The Lake’ is superbly written and that is certainly true for the other books in the series too. Jo certainly knows how to grab the reader’s attention and she reels the reader in just as a fisherman reels in a catch. For me, the story started with a bang and from then it maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Death On The Lake’ felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I find that Jo always makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action, which is all down to her very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of ‘Death On The Lake’ and I would definitely recommend this book and this series to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jo’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

The usual team is back in book 5 of this great series, these being DCI Jude Satterthwaite, DS Ashleigh O’Hallaoran (now Jude's girlfriend), recently promoted DS Chris Marshall, and Jude’s close friend and colleague DI Chris Dodd (Doddsy) who is now in a relationship with young PC Tyrone Garner. His mother, CSI Tammy Garner, is still not taking the news well. Ashleigh’s ex-lover Supt Faye Scanlon is still in charge of the team based in Cumbria's Eden Valley. Life is ever complicated for Jude as his ex girlfriend Becca is now in a relationship with his old friend Adam who he fell out with when Jude was forced to shop his much younger brother Mikey to the police over drugs and landed Adam a term in jail. Adam most definitely has not forgiven Jude and seems set on making his life very difficult indeed.
The story begins with entitled eighteen year old twins Ollie and Will Neilson waking up on the family boat having partied hard with a girl called Summer, a student who comes to the area to teach sailing and surfboarding in her holidays. Summer is nowhere to be found although her clothes still remain on board and it doesn’t take long to see she lies dead in the water. Panicking before their stepmother returns home, the boys move her body and possessions. Her body is discovered soon afterwards and the neatly folded pile of clothes doesn’t sit right with Jude. The boys confess to having spent time with Summer but a higher force investigating a huge fraud case prevents Faye Scanlon letting him question their father Robert. Robert's wife Miranda has a secret from her past that still haunts her and current events are making her very feel edgy. Niggling doubts about the scene of the first death, combined with a second accidental death mean that when a third body is found, most definitely murdered, the detectives are left in no doubt that there is a very dangerous killer at loose. Can Jude and his team prevent any further deaths with one hand tied behind their backs?
This is a good solid police procedural, with a complex and twisty plot and plenty of red herrings to lead the reader first one way and then another right up to the explosive ending. It has a very likeable small team of detectives although unlike in book four, there is much less about the other members of the team and their personal lives, concentrating more this time on Jude and Ashleigh and the case itself. Highly recommended and I look forward to more. 5*

[Samantha Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Jude Satterthwaite is back on book five of this incredible series by Jo Allen. I read the previous book (Death at Rainbow Cottage) a few months ago WITHOUT having read the previous three. I have noticed that Allen’s flow of writing and style means that you actually can read the series as stand alone books, which I actually really appreciate and love! I wanted to read the previous books but moving house, studying, new contracts etc meant I literally had no time to go off plan sadly.

So, Death on the Lake- what’s it about? Well it starts with two twins who hail from a wealthy family waking up on their family boat minus their party-going friend who spent the night with them. However soon they get themselves together enough to notice she’s floating face down in the water totally naked. It seems they quickly think up of a plan to move her body so they’re in the clear. After all Summer Raine (yes that is her name!) had a reputation as a summer worker, didn’t she?

Moving the case aside, we get to see our main character, Jude Satterthwaite making his way through his personal relationship with work partner DS Ashleigh O’Halloaran while ex girlfriend Becca tries to pull away from her new relationship with Jude’s old friend (who was known to be supplying drugs). Sounds a little bit like one of those morning daytime TV shows BUT I promise you it’s nowhere near as cringeworthy as that and makes for some very interesting reading!

Over all, Death on the Lake is a crime thriller that I have simply adored reading! And I honestly cannot wait to finally sit still for a weekend so I can enjoy the previous titles!

Allen’s work just files so well and the narrative used just fits nicely. The characters are interesting and the places (based on real locations but names changed) are described so beautifully that I can’t help but want to visit them myself despite the deaths!

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Raine parties with drink, drugs and the Neilson twins on their boat but is found dead a little while later. The police assume it is a tragic accident but the case is compromised by a fraud investigation into the Neilsons' father. Meanwhile, there is a further complication for lead detective Jude Satterthwaite when his ex may have a connection with drugs due to her boyfriend.
Death on the Lake is the fifth book to feature DCI Jude Satterthwaite but is the first that I have read. Being new to the series, I am unsure how much of Jude's personal life has been covered in previous books.
There are complex relationships between him and his ex Becca, her new boyfriend and Jude's brother and then a separate entanglement between Jude's new love Ashleigh and their superior officer. I enjoyed the relationship nuances and also the blurring of the lines between personal and professional boundaries.
The case itself is tangled so we don't get a quick solution and things get more complicated as the book progresses. The Neilson twins' stepmother is hiding secrets from her past and the fraud case against her husband impinges on Jude's progress. More death follows but again it is not straightforward and obvious murder.
The narrative is in the third person throughout so we see the viewpoints of all characters. The police characters and suspects all felt very human and emotionally complicated. I loved the setting in the Lake District which was easy to visualise thanks to the decriptions and imagery.
Death on the Lake is an enjoyable police procedural with a strong lead detective who has a complicated personal life.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young woman, Summer Raine, is found drowned in a lake, having earlier been drinking and doing drugs with two young men on their boat, it doesn't look like something that should need the direct attention of DCI Jude Satterthwaite. Yet something is definitely off, when his boss, Detective Superintendent Faye Scanlon, tells him to keep an eye on the case--but not investigate too energetically, so as not to disrupt a fraud investigation going on in the area.

That fraud investigation apparently involves the father of the two young men the woman had been partying with.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Jude's former lover has family ties in the are a and her aged Great-Uncle George lives in the only house that has a good view of the area where the dead woman seemingly went into the water and drowned. His current lover, and colleague, Ashleigh O'Halloran, was briefly the lover of his boss, DSI Faye Scanlon. Oh, and Ashleigh's ex-husband is now back in the area again, applying for Summer Raine's job as a water sports trainer.

When more murders happen, and Jude is still being prevented from conducting a full investigation, including searching the home of someone who seems very, very connected, tensions rise. And did I mention that Jude's former lover, Becca, is now involved with the man who got Jude's younger brother involved in drug use?

There's an excellent, twisty mystery here, and also a lovely, convoluted set of interpersonal relations further complicating everything. That could mix badly, but Jo Allen blends them together into a rich, interesting story.

Recommended.

I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher, and am reviewing it voluntarily.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging story with complex relationship dynamics and a Cumbrian setting. The police procedural is well-plotted with twists, misinformation and scenarios that cross the personal, professional divide. The relationships are complex but believable, with characters that give this traditional crime mystery its twenty-first-century edge.

The authentic Cumbrian setting demonstrates rural communities are as vulnerable to crime as their urban counterparts. Jude Satterthwaite is a well-developed character whose personal life often impinges on his professional life, making him enemies in the criminal world. The close-knit rural communities are well described, and the rugged beauty of the hills and lakes an added attraction for devotees of the area.

If you are looking for a new crime series with relatable characters and absorbing criminal investigations, this series is worth reading, and this book is the best one so far.

I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.

[Sophie Narey (Bookreview- aholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this is the 5th book in the DCI Satterthwaite series ,it definitely works as a stand alone, it didn't feel like I had missed out on anything by not reading the others first.

This book drags you straight into the action, the pace of the book was quiet it didn't feel like it just ambled along, it got stuck straight and kept too the storyline without drifting on anything that was unnecessary to the book. I liked the style of DCI Satterthwaite , I thought he was a great detective to write about and to read about the way they went through everything to found out whodunit and what had happened . The boom features twists and turns that take you on journey, who is going to be next? Who is doing the murders? And how are they going go catch them...

Great book for anyone who enjoys reading murder mystery books then are quick paced. This book doesn't take long yo devour and I will certainly be reading the other books in this series!

Big thanks to rachelsrandom resources and Jo Allen for the chance to read and review this book !

[Nicola Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the fifth in its series although I read it as a standalone. There's obviously some back story from the main characters which would be good to read but isn't necessary to enjoy the book as a standalone. I loved the setting of the story, the beautiful Lake District! Jo brings it to life and I can conjure up good images as it's a place I've been to many times. The story begins with entitled twin boys, Ollie and Will, waking after a drinking fuelled night on a boat. You think the story will centre around these boys , but more characters with secrets, another accidental death and we are starting to wonder what is going on in Ullswater. When a third body is discovered, that most definitely looks like murder, DCI Jude has to find out if and how all the deaths are linked!

The chapters are short and snappy and the story is gripping. I thoroughly enjoyed this police procedural story!

[Caroline Venables · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has created a great series with Jude Satterthwaite and his colleagues. I was really looking forward to reading this after reading and reviewing Death at Rainbow Cottage.

The book starts with twins who having partied a bit too hard, find themselves with a dead body. It isn’t long before the girl is missed and a missing person case is started. The police are told to keep a wide berth of this investigation due to the twins father already under suspicion for another crime.

However Jude’s instinct tells him something is off and continues investigating, when more bodies start turning up he knows his gut is right. However has he put everyone he cares about in danger?

This is a great read and I am thoroughly enjoying the series, each book can be read as a standalone but I advise everyone to read the whole thing and indulge yourselves. You will not be disappointed.

[Grace J Reviewerlady · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fifth FANTASTIC addition to this gripping series!

When the body of a young woman is found floating in Ullswater, the case lands on Jude Satterthwaite’s desk and he wants to get to the bottom of things, but he’s investigating this one with one hand tied behind his back as his boss won’t let him dig deeper. It seems there is a fraud case which takes precedence. When more deaths follow, Jude’s life doesn’t get any easier especially when one of the bodies is a relative of his former partner, Becca Reid. Hunting down the truth lands both Jude and Ashleigh in grave danger.

I’ve been a fan of this series from the very first; the setting, the characters and the diverse storylines all make for riveting reading. This time round, it all seems so simple and I was convinced I knew exactly what was going on but, really, I should have known better. With layers upon layers and twists and turns of extreme angles this is a novel which kept me on my toes. Along with the cases for investigating, the personal lives of the team are neatly interwoven and there are some surprises along the way. A wonderful series, cleverly plotted and beautifully written as always; this is a fabulous addition and one which I completely recommend and easily give all five shiny stars.

[Kayleigh Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed each of the books in this series - they’re nice quick reads, that aren’t really that complex of a story, but also not boringly obvious. I felt that this book, the fifth in the series, had more twists and surprises than the others in the series and has gone to the top of the list in the series for me.

[Syl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all five so far and the next two are downloaded and ready to go. I love this series, I have my own ideas on how I want things to end but will have to wait and see won’t I. Excellent storyline, I love the way each death is linked to another in some way. The twists at the end are very well thought out too.

[Sian · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review of Death o on the Lake is on my blog.

https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Book

This was one twisty book! I enjoyed it very much. The ending was a total surprise. I highly recommend this book!

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this one had me going because I did not figure it out and I was pretty shocked!!! This author writes a fabulous story, I am so glad I found her!! Onto the next book!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Raine goes missing after spending time on a lake. Accident of murder. DCI Satterthwaite and his team investigate
An enjoyable mystery