4 Dark Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Rip Current: A strong current flowing outward; presenting a hazard....

This was a dark book with plenty of “currents” pulling people away from what is right... creating many hazards in both Bryony and Imagen’s lives... this was my first book by Amanda James and I was pleasantly surprised by this dark thriller with a nice dose of romance... was not expecting the romance... and I thought it added the perfect balance to this otherwise really dark story... always love the love....

Bryony is a police detective who isn’t quite sure if that is what she wants to do for the rest of her life... Hot on the trail of her childhood BFF Imagen’s father... a despicable man involved in all kinds of horrible things.... loved the complex relationship and situation between these two strong women.... how do you come to terms with your father being a terrible man? And once you do how do you deal with his need for revenge? Parts of this book were so tense and I was furiously turning the pages to figure out what was going to happen next....

Nathan was a bit of a bright spot in the darkness of this book.... Love how Bryony and he met, so appropriate.... A subtle romance that really added some smiles to this book.... please note my romance hating friends, this will not make you roll your eyes I promise! It’s very understated....

Recommend to fans of a dark thriller with a splash of romance💕

*** many thanks to Bloodhound Books for my copy of this book ***

If you're after a novel that is jam packed with drama, secrets and lies, you have come to the right place as 'RIP Current' ticks all of those boxes and more.

DI Bryony Marshall has her work cut out trying to put notorious bad boy, Kenny Ransom, in jail. After two years of coming close and falling at the last hurdle, Bryony knows thats he needs to nail him once and for all. Luckily his daughter, Imogen, doesn't think much of family loyalty as she ends up helping Bryony in more ways than one. Of course things would be a lot simpler if they went to plan, but Bryony knows full well that shizzle can hit the fan at any point, especially when Kenny Ransom has eyes and ears in the most unusual places.

'RIP Current' is a really tense read. There was so much gritty drama to sink my teeth into, I couldn't help but sit back and enjoy the rollercoaster ride I was about to embark on. Multiple times whilst reading this novel, I felt myself questioning every single characters motives, including Imogen's, as I felt unable to trust any of them except Bryony. If you can imagine a room full of people with red question marks over their heads, you'll see what constantly went around my head whilst reading 'RIP Current' - and no, that isn't a bad thing! It was as though I had targeted the characters with 'guilty until proven innocent'.

Even though I enjoyed the majority of this book, I couldn't help but feel that the pace was a little bit too slow at certain points. When the hustle bustle and gritty events happened, the pace was on fire, but when there wasn't much happening, I felt that the pace slowed right down, making me feel as though I was reading a completely different book.

However, one part in particular made my jaw drop in shock (no, I'm not telling which bit), and I thought that the author did a belter of a job dropping that bombshell when she did as it put the entire novel on a completely different level.

All in all, 'RIP Current' was an intense, jam packed novel which left me questioning the word 'trust' and everything it stood for. I am looking forward to reading more from this author, that's for sure!

I found this to be an easy read. A little slow to start, but once into the story it pulled me in and I did not see the ending coming.

Can I breathe yet? Seriously can I? I really feel that I have held my breath the whole time I read this book. Always wondering what was going to happen Bryony and Immi and the stranger on the beach! I was gripping the kindle so tightly as I was dragged rapidly down the rabbit hole wondering if I would ever find the light out!

DI Bryony Masters youngest DI, caught a huge break putting Kenny Ransom finally behind bars. Her best friend Immi is his daughter who helps Bryony. The story doesn’t end there...not when Kenny wants revenge

We shift from seeing Bryony in a strong position at work, taking the limelight she feels is underserved and has a crisis of faith in her job. She takes time off to rethink and travels to her mum in Cornwall. Here we meet the handsome stranger, sent to on a mission and ends up being on a completely mission. I found a small tear leave my eye (strange in this book) when Bryony and the stranger find their connection to each other, the common ground they have. Parallel to this is Immi story, how she is playing two people, one to her dad and the other to Bryony, and her own suffering and worries from the trial. I am being really vague because any detail given could ruin this book. 

I have not read anything by Amanda before but I’m so glad I got to take part in this tour and I have found another author who I love and need to read more of their books! (My TBR list is ridiculous!) At times this story was dark and gritty which I loved! It added to the suspense of the story, especially as the focus shifted from the crime drama to the romance, but never fully indulging it. We are constantly reminded of the danger that Bryony is in. You suspect everyone is working from Ransom, even the old boy in the pub having a quiet drink on a Sunday, he seems suspicious right?!

I could not press the button on my kindle to turn the pages quick enough to see the outcome! I can not recommend this book highly enough!!

The more I read of Amanda James work, the more she has me in her thrall; such different novels, and all of them grabbing - and keeping - my full attention!

Bryony Masters is proud of her achievements, career-wise. She would love to put one of the local 'big' criminals behind bars, but he is a slippery character. When her childhood friend, Imogen, gets in touch Bryony is a bit apprehensive about Immy finding out that she is trying to send her father to prison. It turns out, however, that her friend is under no illusion about her father and his activities and wants to help Bryony's quest as much as she can. Putting her nemesis under arrest is one of the finest moments of her career, but when Kenny Ransom wants his revenge, perhaps it's time to do something she's been thinking about for some time and move on? Persuaded to take some leave, Bryony heads to Cornwall to spend some time with her mother and manages to save the life of a man caught up in a rip current. How could she know anything about him?

There is plenty going on in this book. I found myself drawn in to the story very quickly, and hooked to the last. It unfolds not in the way the beginning would lead you to believe - there are plenty of twists and turns. The writing is fluid and smooth, the characters beautifully created and completely believable. The location makes me yearn to relocate to the coast! Amanda James is, without a doubt, becoming one of the 'must-read' authors on my list; there is nothing formulaic about her novels, each one is individually crafted and extremely enjoyable.

My thanks to publishers Bloodhound Books for approving my request via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

I felt this was a “gentle” crime story as opposed to my first choice Nicci French Val McDermid etc and perhaps perfect as an introduction to this genre good storyline very human characters well written but maybe a little too cliche just not gritty enough for me but a perfect holiday read

I found this slow to start. But once it was going it took you on a ride. And finished with an ending I did not see coming! This book had a variety of characters - police, mobsters, kidnappings, romance, career choices, sex slaves. There were almost too many themes. Nothing could get fully developed.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This one is less of a psychological thriller like her books and is more a straight police procedural. The characters were well flushed out in the plot was interesting, and unusual. I feel like I learned a bit about sex trafficking in the UK. Enjoyable

The start to this story is dark and tense. Kenny Ransom we quickly learn is a despicable excuse of a man who has no morals whatsoever. The fact that he is the father of Bryony's best friend makes it even more complicated. Luckily for Bryony, his daughter Imogen, agrees with her.

If you are a fan of this authors books, you will be used to the fabulous setting of her stories. Rip Current is no different. Whilst Cornwall is an idyllic setting, it also adds a coldness and threat to the characters which was believable and makes it even more gripping. 

Nathan was my stand out character in this book. I don't want to give to much away but I had kind of written him off at the beginning due to his back ground and life style but he ended up being my favourite character by the end of the story.

Rip Current for me is the authors darkest book yet. I reckon fans of her books are going to be pleasantly surprised. It certainly had me hooked and the suspense of how things were going to end was literally killing me as I couldn't turn those pages quick enough.

What do you do when your father is the worst kind of criminal he could be? Do you stand back and ignore it or do you tell your best friend who is a DI in the Police force?
What do you do when you fall for a man who you later find out was hired to kill you?
Another great book by Amanda James.

I was sent an ecopy of this novel by Netgalley and am assuming that it will be receiving more proof reads before it is published as it had a number of annoying little mistakes.

The book started well but led me to believe it was going to be more of a crime drama than the family drama it eventually became. The characters were all, with the exception perhaps of Imogen, well rounded and believable unlike the plot at times.

The story rolled out at an acceptable pace and contained some crime, suspense and romance. A good book for reading at the side of the pool.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of Rip Current, a stand alone novel set in Sheffield and Cornwall.

DI Bryony Masters has been trying to catch local gangster, Kenny Ransom, for several years to no avail, so she is in a quandary when her childhood friend, Imogen, gets in touch and wants to meet, because Imogen is Kenny's daughter. Imogen, however, has recently learned the scope of her father's criminal enterprise and wants to put him in prison. Imprisoning Kenny is not, sadly, the end of the story for the women and Bryony escapes to her mother in Cornwall to rethink her life.

I thoroughly enjoyed Rip Current which is an exciting read, laced with some romance and family troubles. It is told from several viewpoints with Bryony's in the first person and, surprisingly, I did not find this approach as annoying and distracting as I normally do. I think this is due to the quality of the writing, both in pace and suspense, as the novel had me turning the pages to see what was coming next. It's not all entirely plausible but it's a good story well told and quite absorbing. The plot has several good twists to keep the reader hooked and, like all good storytellers, Ms James keeps the best till last.

It makes a change to read about a detective deciding to do something else in life so Bryony's take on life in the Force is interesting and offers a different slant from the norm. Obviously this marks her as strong willed and determined and there are many examples of this, unless of course she is in love and principles no longer exist. A bit of romance in a novel never goes amiss but I found it hard to reconcile this strong woman with the gooey mess she becomes. It is the least convincing part of the novel.

Rip Current is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Another really good book by Amanda James. Loved the characters, was completely invested in the outcome of this book. This is the 2nd book I've read by her and I can honestly say I have found a new author. I look forward to reading more by her in the future.

A gorgeous and well written book!

I really enjoyed reading this. The characters seemed to jump off the pages, I loved Bryony, a very well executed and strong character.