This is the 4th book in the Charley Mann series, and I sincerely hope there will be some more. I've binged all 4 books in the series over this weekend, and I am disappointed that it took me so long to get around to them! Recommended for anyone who loves a good solid read that keeps you entertained through all 4 books.
TB

On a beautiful summer afternoon, Stacey Sullivan is getting married to Mark James. But then screams smother the laughter, police sirens drown out the church bells. Out of nowhere, a drug-fuelled gunman opens fire on the wedding party. Wow what an opener, tension is built so effectively and you really do have no idea where the storyline is going or what the outcome is going to be! It has the twist, turns and surprises that you'd expect and the plot is constantly moving forward which I loved!

I mostly like R.C. Bridgestock's books, but find the writing style irritating at times. Here too, there were moments when it felt wooden and did not really flow. Lots of information in places too much (I found the police oath written out too much information, as one example) . All in all a good read though.
I have met Charley before and like her, other characters more shallowly described. The plot is OK and gathering the evidence comprehensively described step by step.
Thanks to net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5041953582

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot...

This is a fast-moving police procedural murder mystery novel set in Yorkshire. I didn't realise that it is part of a series, but it worked just fine as a standalone read.

The unusual plot is well thought out and has a number of twists and turns to keep the interest going.

The author is in fact two people - a husband and wife team, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in the Police force, so their writing comes with added first-hand knowledge!

I'd happily read more in this series.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

A great police procedural that makes you feel you're actually in the room with the detectives. It feels so authentic and it's obvious the author's have a police background.

This is book 4 in the DI Charley Mann series. This is the first book I've read from this duo but it won't be the last.

A cracking plot that takes you from a sleepy churchyard to the drug filled feuding of Manchester. I was hooked from the start and flew through it in two sittings.

Review:

Having read books in this series before, it was good to be back with Charley and the team.

This time they are investigating a shooting at a wedding. What follows is an excellent piece of detection, which leads across the Pennines to Manchester, where some notorious criminals are involved. Although Charley and her team are acting as fast as they can, there’s pressure to catch those at the top, before it’s too late.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, good police procedural and unusually Charley was able to get in with her job without too much interference from above!

My thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Absolutely love stories like this, and I could not put it down. Recommended to family and friends and will read more by this author!

Just finished reading this book and have to say I really enjoyed it.
Pulled me in from the start, a huge plus, and the storyline never faltered as the pages turned.
Authors to be added to to the list for future reading.
Recommend.

I’d like to thank Canelo and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Vengeance’, book 4 in the DC Charley Mann Crime Thriller Series written by R C Bridgestock, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Shopkeeper Bob Sullivan’s daughter Stacey is getting married to Mark James at St Cuthberts, Slaithwaite, when a man with a handgun appears and shoots Bob and his nephew Ralph Bateman. As the shooter is arrested the two victims are taken to hospital but don’t survive their injuries, and it soon becomes clear that the handgun isn’t the only weapon that’s been fired. DI Charley Mann and her team need to discover whether this is a random attack on two innocent individuals who are in the wrong place at the wrong time, or whether there’s a more sinister reason behind it.

‘Vengeance’ is an exciting police procedural thriller with a great deal of drama, suspense and twists and turns, and although this is the first book I’ve read in the series I don’t feel that I’ve missed out on any of the background history. Charley is my ideal police character, hardworking, efficient, methodical, expecting the best from her team and getting it. The further the investigation proceeds the more suspects and questions arise so at times I’ve become confused with the names of the suspects who aren’t always who they said they are. But otherwise this is an excellent thriller that’s been well-written and is informative with regard to how the police work at retrieving information and interviewing suspects. It’s so enjoyable that it’s kept me reading until late at night and I’m now going to be looking for the previous three books in the series.

Bride's father is shot as they are leaving the church after the wedding. DH Mann and her team investigate. Although the shooter is in custody the plot thickens when bullets retrieved from the body are shown to have come from two separate guns. Enter Manchester drug cartels and the plots thicken. Another story heavy on the police procedural, seems popular at the moment, but it does show the hard slog, tedium and frustration in pulling together little lines of evidence that eventually, hopefully, will provide enough for a successful conclusion in the courts. Book4 with the main characters but easily read as a stand alone. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

A solid mystery, gripping and entertaining. It kept me hooked and the solution surprised.
Good character and plot development. I like the storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The fourth book in a police procedural series featuring DI Charley Mann written by the husband and wife team of Bob and Carole Bridgestock. A shooting at a wedding is the crime under investigation in this book and we follow DI Mann and her team as they gather evidence to discover the perpetrators.
This is the first book I have read by this couple. They both have years of police experience and so are well-placed to give a faithful portrayal of police procedure. Unfortunately, I found the focus on the procedure to be over-emphasised. Every action was explained, and the style of writing ended up detracting from the story.
In addition, the characters were underdeveloped and very wooden. I got no sense of any personalities coming through. The plot itself was reasonably entertaining but nothing special.
In my opinion, there are numerous police procedural books out there that are much better than this.

Interesting crime/police procedural. A double murder takes place at a wedding and DI Charley Mann and her team set out to solve it. It wasn't overly exciting, or intricately plotted and I found it quite slow at times; the characters a bit cliched. Worst part by far for me was the wooden dialogue between the detectives - they stated the obvious to each other, to enable us (the reader) to follow the story/procedure - which if duplicated in a television setting, would sound ridiculous and unnatural. This did detract from the story for me but it was still enjoyable.

Interesting story. Taking place in the small town of Slaithwaite- known as Slawit to the locals - a double murder, at a wedding. The police in Marsden have the shooter and weapon in custody. A straightforward case, that gradually gets more and more twisted.

Really enjoyed it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

I love when I read a book where I'm kept guessing to the end and this book did not disappoint!!!
First time I've heard of this author and after reading this I am going to start book 1.

** This book is dedicated to those who died from Covid-19 and to people whose life is shortened due to life-threatening illnesses.** (preface).


'If an injury has to be done to a man, it should be so severe that his vengeance should not be feared.' (Niccolo Machiavelli)

What an utterly exciting police thriller, with a twist that I didn't see coming, and without doubt one of the best police procedurals I have read recently!
This title is the fourth in a series, I haven't read the previous books in the series; Vengeance (#4) can be read as a stand- alone.

The story starts right in Herriot Country: what should have been the most beautiful day of their lives turns into a nightmare when a gunman appears at their wedding. The father of the bride is killed during the shooting, another guest later dies of a heart attack, probably caused by the stress of the attack. Initially, the father of the bride appears to be the intended target. but the evidence shows that there must have been more than one shooter, and the case also appears to be linked to Manchester drug gangs.

The story leans heavily on police procedures and uses a lot of law enforcement jargon. Besides the fact that I found it an incredibly exciting story, I also learned a few things, because it's a misconception that once a criminal is arrested, the work is over.

The reader also gains insight in policework: the incredibly long hours, the tough jokes to cope with the heaviness of the job, the quick bite at the desk, MOPS, and more.

An very good police procedural, involving a case that at first glance showed an obvious culprit, but then quickly took a completely different turn. Captivating from start to finish!

Quotes from The Prince (Niccolo Machiavelli) & to Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee) have been included in the story.

For me, definitely one of the best police procedurals I have read recently. I certainly hope to read more from this author. A very good story indeed, highly recommended. ***** (5 stars)

Date of publication: 29 September 2022

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this arc. I leave my review voluntarily.

Vengeance by RC Bridgestock

On a beautiful summer afternoon, Stacey Sullivan is getting married to Mark James. But then screams smother the laughter, police sirens drown out the church bells. Out of nowhere, a drug-fuelled gunman opens fire on the wedding party.

The shooter is beaten, disarmed and detained by the guests. No one knows who the gunman is… or if they do, they’re not admitting it. The job of solving the two murders is laid solely at the feet of DI Charley Mann.

The 4th in the Di Charley Mann series but you can equally enjoy it as a standalone book.
As with the other 3 it's a great story and DI Charley Mann is now my favourite police procedural novels out there..

I love DI Charley Mann series! She’s a smart, independent, strong woman. She has a brilliant career and lives her life as she decides. Definitely one of my favourite characters.

Weddings should be happy events which doesn’t seem possible when a double murder is committed on the day. The case from an obvious one with the shooter caught immediately becomes pretty complex. Lots of twists, new leads to follow and people to catch.

Great police procedural, as always top notch writing. I love seeing names of people I know (including my own!) which gives me additional joy when reading.

Definitely series that can’t be missed!

The fourth in the Charles Mann series, it could be read as a stand alone but I enjoy reading the books in order. It is another fantastic police procedural/ Crime Thriller, set in Yorkshire is the icing on the cake for me. A wedding in a small village is the scene of a shooting where the brides father is shot dead and another guest gravelly injured.The man with the gun is wrestled to the ground and held until the police arrive, he is know to the police but mainly for petty crime and drug use. This is the start of the enquiry which leads them over the border into Lancashire, they know on the face of it the shooter acted alone but they aren't convinced that others arent involved. I thoroughly enjoyed this fast paced read, with plenty of surprises on the way. Highly Recommended

A solid four star read. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next novel. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.