What a start to a series!

Lucy Sherwood, a probation officer, works alongside the (DAHU)Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit, dealing with the aftermath of spousal abuse.
This is something she is also dealing with on a personal level with her partner Patrick.
Known abusers start turning up dead. They have been brutally beaten to death, though they show no sign of defending themselves against the attacks.
Who is killing them?
DC Maggie Jamieson who has just joined the DAHU finds herself thrown into the investigation. Evidence that all three have links to Lucy is discovered. Then Lucys own partner Patrick becomes a victim.
Lucys personal life comes under scrutiny, did she finally decide to put a stop to his abuse by killing him ?
It is a harrowing tale of the effects domestic violence has on people and the terrible isolation its victims find themselves in, ruining lives and sometimes ending them.
Absolutely compulsive reading, I could not put it down, fast paced, strong characters, cant wait to read more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Killer reads for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

The first instalment in a new crime series is always exciting.
Fab debut and a refreshingly different angle for a crime book.
I just couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this. As a book blogger at Crime Book Junkie, Noelle Holten writes a fantastic blog. She obviously knows the secrets of a good story. Being a former probation officer the author has real life knowledge.
The familiarity of character names was unnerving at first, if you’re a blogger you’ll know what I mean, but I soon got used to them as fictional characters.
The depth of the characters jumps out of the page.
Some of the scenes are very gritty, so well described that I was cowering away.
There are lots of twists and turns in the plot, lots of suspicions, making it a real page-turner.
I loved it and I look forward to the rest of the series.

Congratulations to Noelle Holten on her debut novel.
I enjoyed this book though felt there were quite a few characters to keep track of.
It didn’t quite captivate me however I’m hoping there’s a sequel to find out more about the storyline alluded to at the end.

3.5 stars

This is a good debut that shows promise to the start of a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson

This debut focuses more on Lucy Sherwood as the main character. Lucy is a probation officer with the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit, and it all hits a little close to home as she is a victim herself at the hands of her husband.

Men with a history of violence and domestic abuse are being murdered. Men that all just happen to have the same probation officer, Lucy. When Lucy’s husband becomes the fourth victim, all focus turns to her.

This was a quick read that I enjoyed. I found Lucy to be a weak character though and was hoping to see her become stronger as the book progressed. There were also a lot of characters in this book that left me a little confused at first. I am interested in reading more from this author and getting to know DC Maggie Jamieson more closely in the next installment to this series.

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book! 4/5 stars.

Thank you to Killer Reads and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Although this was a quick read, as the chapters were very short, I found it difficult. There were way too many characters, and too much going on on various fronts - lots of detail, but not enough coherence or drive forward, and the characterization felt flat and extremely predictable.

The topic of domestic abuse is at the center of the plot, but with so much going on it seemed unclear what the book wanted to be: a pyschological thriller, a police procedural, a classic murder mystery...

I realize I'm the odd one out here, a lot of people really liked it. The author obviously did her research and knew what she was talking about in terms of police and probation procedure. I wish the book had been longer, to give the narrative a chance to develop, or had been more stringently edited to cut some of the many characters and make it more focused.

This is a great debut novel about domestic abuse. It's marketed as the first book in the Maggie Jamieson series but it really focuses on the story of Lucy, a probation officer whose husband is abusing her.

I knew quite early on some of what was going to come out but the ending took me by surprise and I really loved it. I have rated it 4 because to me, it felt like the story pottered along and I didn't feel a chase.

It's obvious that the author has a background as a probation officer as everything is explained really well. I am excited for the next book!

A good, solid debut from someone I think is going to be a fabulous author.

The characters are strong, interesting and have lots of potential.

The plot was harrowing and gave a real insight into DV and how it affects people.

A great book that I will have no qualms in recommending to everyone.

Looking forward to the next one.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten is an astonishing debut that I simply devoured. I am so pleased to learn that DC Maggie Jamieson will return, as the author continues to develop the character in a series. I cannot wait to see what the talented Ms Holten offers up next.

Lucy Sherwood is a probation officer with the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit, and the work hits far closer to home than anyone can imagine. Lucy herself is the victim of domestic abuse at the hands of her partner, Patrick. When several known abusers in the area turn up dead, DC Maggie Jamieson leads the investigation, and is tasked with bringing a potential vigilante to justice. Is Patrick himself a possible target as a perpetrator of domestic abuse?

This is a fast-paced and addictive read that pulled me in immediately, and I was completely invested in the welfare of Lucy Sherwood. The author has done a commendable job of presenting a picture of the cycle of domestic abuse that is often unseen and inescapable. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for this ARC.

Noelle Holten's debut crime fiction certainly packs an emotionally intense punch as she takes us into the world of domestic violence, abusive relationships, dysfunctional families, and damaged individuals. Holten takes us into the lives and interior worlds of both perpetrators and victims, outlining why victims might find it so hard to leave their horrifying relationships, even when they should know better. Whilst this series is billed as the DC Maggie Jamieson series, in this book the central character really is probation officer, Lucy Sherwood, as unusually we are given an authentic picture of the probation service and its role in managing dangerous abusers. The reason why the portrayal of the probation service is so realistic is that the author has extensive experience of working within it.

Maggie has just joined the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit (DAHU) in Staffordshire, after the effects of a previous case involving Bill Raven under DI Abigail Rutherford. DAHU takes a multi-agency teamwork approach to the problematic issues surrounding abuse, and is led by DI Joseph Calleja and DS Jim Hooper. The unit includes PC Mark Fielding who liaises with and built a strong relationship with Lucy, PC Kat Everett and the new addition of criminal psychologist, Dr Kate Moloney. Apart from working with the probation office, on the team is Sharon Bairden, a advocate for victims. The police unit finds itself under overwhelming pressure as someone is murdering men with a history of abusing women, killing them in particularly gruesome and brutal ways, is there a vigilante on the loose? The only connection that emerges is that they were all being supervised Lucy, could she possibly be involved?

The narrative gives us the perspectives of a wide range of individuals, including Shell, a woman who runs a cleaning company, and Lucy's volatile, controlling and manipulative husband. Patrick Quinn. Holten's writing is skilful in creating a claustrophobic intense atmosphere, achieved primarily with the characters that she creates. She has us feeling for and rooting for Lucy working in a tough environment in trying to keep a handle on many of her terrifying clientele. The scary and menacing mind set of the abusers gives us a picture of what abusers can be like and their dangerous personalities, and just how far they will go. DAHU has teething problems in trying to make the multi-agency approach work, whilst at the same time trying to get to the bottom of who is killing abusers. This is a dark and unsettling debut, as might be expected from the subject matter, but it is never less than compulsive reading. Many thanks to Harper Impulse and Killer Reads for an ARC.

Very Impressive debut Noelle certainly knows her stuff and is shown throughout the story. One hell of an addictive and gripping read ........................................Full review to follow on Blog Tour..............cant wait!

This novel really built up the suspense, and despite there being lots of characters to keep track of, they were all written brilliantly. From the genuinely creepy Mick O’Dowd, to the strong-minded Shell Baker, and the trustworthy DC Maggie Jamieson, they were all perfectly written and interacted with each other wonderfully.

There were a lot of different types of relationships to include in this book, which Holten has written with nuance and emotion. Lucy and her husband Patrick were a fascinating but heartbreaking pair, and seeing Lucy’s pain was really hard to read in places. In places it was genuinely upsetting to read, but this is credit to the brilliant and emotive writing. Lucy’s reasoning with herself regarding Patrick’s behaviour and why she stayed was equally hard to read considering her job as Probation Officer, and the logic and determination she showed in that role. She was a perfect main character, with just enough focus on her to show the struggle she was going through, but still with enough focus on the crimes themselves.

The police officers themselves were great. PC Kat Everett was hilarious at times with her swearing, and offered a few light-hearted moments in an otherwise hard-to-read book. Her wild emotions and intense anger were also relatable, as was her colleague Mark’s disgust with the domestic abuse offenders they came across. It was interesting seeing how the officers balanced their personal feelings with their professional duties, and I felt their emotions were portrayed really believably.

Moving on to the actual crimes themselves, it was one of those mysteries that genuinely had me stumped as to who was committing them. I had some theories throughout the book, but it was so cleverly written that I almost didn’t have time to spend being too suspicious of anyone or working it out. There was so much going on, and it was nicely fast-paced, that I honestly didn’t think about who was responsible for the murders at all. Although I wouldn’t say I was totally shocked by who did it, I didn’t feel that this was a negative at all, as it felt like it was more about why they did it, the long-lasting effects that abuse has on people, and the person’s relationship with their past.

I also liked that the ending was sort of split in two (I’m trying not to give too much away…), and it wasn’t a clear wrapping up of all the deaths in one go. Lucy’s fragile state towards the end was devastating, but there was a real sense that her inner strength was still there, and she was definitely a survivor.

This book was brilliantly nuanced and emotive, the crimes themselves were fascinating, but the real depth is in the characters themselves. The writing is so clever, so emotional and just genuinely touching. I loved this, it’s a 5 star read, and I’d definitely recommend it.

Dead Inside is the fabulous debut crime thriller from Noelle Holten. It’s the first in the series of the DC Maggie Jamieson books and based on the first book, I can’t wait to read more.

This book drew me in from the prologue. Three domestic abuse offenders are found beaten to death and Maggie and her team are on a mission to discover the killer. It appears that probation officer Lucy Sherwood has a connection to all three victims but she’s also hiding secrets of her own. This book is well written and moves at a good pace. The chapters are fairly short which I personally prefer.

It’s certainly a book to get your teeth into and one I can highly recommend. I’d rate this book 4.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Impulse Killer Reads and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper impulse for the opportunity to read this brilliant debut by Noelle Holden. It made an uncomfortable and thought provoking read about the impact of domestic violence and the cycle of abuse in society. The story is told from different perspectives and shows the psychological downward spiral on victims. DC Maggie James and Dr Kate Moloney look like a new partnership in the crime detecting world and I am looking forward to the next instalment! At times this novel struck me as being almost autobiographical , it is heart breaking to think how cycles of domestic abuse ruin lives and have a horrible knock on effect. It was cleverly portrayed by Noelle Holden in this entertaining and past paced novel. A great new writer to look out for.

Dead Inside by Noelle Holten is her debut novel and the first in the DC Maggie Jamieson series and what a brilliant read it is.
Three men are murdered, and they all have something in common, they both have history of domestic violence and they are all connected to Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood. Lucy deals with domestic violence and is good at her job, but we learn that when she goes home, she suffers the same fate in the hands of her husband Patrick.
It’s DC Maggie Jamieson first case with the DAHU and she is investigating three men going missing only to find them ending up dead, with no sign of a struggle and a fourth one goes missing turns out to be Lucy’s husband Patrick.
Wow what a debut novel this is. You wouldn’t have guessed this is a debut. This is quality writing and is very realistic police procedural. It has a great plot with strong characters and very grim in parts. I devoured every minute of it. I love and this book and if I thought this was good, I can’t wait for the what’s instore in the next instalment. Well done Miss Holten you are going to go far.
Thank you NetGalley and Killer reads for a copy of this book.

Brilliant read, kept you guessing until the very end. Couldn't put it down! Best crime book I've read in a while, liked that its was done from different people's perspectives throughout and not just the detectives like most others. Made it feel like you were getting the whole story. Would definitely recommend.

A heartfelt telling of stories which Holten clearly knows from the inside, as her past life as a probation officer shows. I wasn't in love with the book - there were too many characters and not enough of a narrative drive - but it's clearly a book that many readers love. All best to it, and many thanks for the chance to read.

DC Maggie Jamieson investigates when three men, who abused their wives, are killed in a most gruesome way. Maggie knows that she has a killer delivering their own brand of justice. Probation Officer Lucy Sherwood works with abusers who have been placed on probation, while not dealing with her own abusive situation at home. She fears her husband, Patrick, but tries to keep the knowledge of his abuse from her family and others. She knows he was a victim of abuse and stays with him as a way to protect and care for his daughter, Siobhan, whom she loves. The police determine that the three men were all connected to Lucy…is she delivering payback to other abusive husbands? When her own husband becomes a victim, did she finally snap and kill him? A very heartbreaking and absorbing novel dealing with domestic abuse and those that are trapped in the cycle of abuse. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

I’d like to thank Harper Impulse & Killer Reads and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Dead Inside’ by Noelle Holten in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DC Maggie Jamieson’s first case with the Domestic Abuse and Homicide Unit is to discover who’s responsible for the murder of three men, all known for attacking their partners. Lucy Sherwood is a probation officer and a victim of domestic abuse from her husband Patrick, but when Patrick is also found dead Maggie needs to interview Lucy as she knew all four men.

‘Dead Inside’ is a gripping and fast-paced thriller that had me hooked from page one, through each twist and turn, trying to guess the killer from a number of suspects but unable to, until the climax which is staggering and completely unexpected. Noelle Holten uses her personal knowledge of the probation service to write a disturbing but realistic novel that feels based more on fact than fiction and it’s very hard to believe that a novel of this quality is her debut to writing. It’s an excellent story, dramatic and thought-provoking, and I was unable to put it down. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Great first novel.
The story is about domestic abuse which is a difficult subject to read about and cover and all too common in this world.
Noelle shows that she knows what she is talking about and covers the topic very well. The characters are believable and I’m looking forward to learning more about them in the next books.
There were a lot of characters introduced quite quickly at the beginning and I had to check again a couple of times who I was reading about .
I loved the short chapters that kept the book moving quickly.
Gripping, gritty and fast paced.
Great read can’t wait for the next one

'Behind closed doors you can get away with murder'

Dead Inside is the debut novel from Noelle Holten. Due for publication with Killer Reads on 31st May, it is described as ‘a dark and gripping debut crime novel – the first in a stunning new series – from a huge new talent.’ Many of you will be familiar with Noelle Holten as her alter ego, the award-winning blogger Crime Book Junkie, but now Noelle has written her first novel, the first book in this new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.

Having worked as a Probation Officer for many years, Noelle brings her experiences to her debut, clearly writing about what she knows. Although the main character of this new series is DC Maggie Jamieson, it’s Probation Officer, Lucy Sherwood, who was very much centre stage for me. Working daily with the perpetrators of one of the most heinous of crimes, domestic abuse, Lucy uses all her wits to maintain a tough exterior. One of the many aspects of her job is to liaise with the police, especially if anything suspicious arises, but Lucy is harbouring her own terrible secret, one that she keeps very close to herself at all times.

A new team has been established within the police force, the DAHU, with their sole concentration focused on domestic abuse and homicide cases. DC Maggie Jamieson is now a member of this team, along with lots of other ‘familiar’ names. (If you are a book blogger you may recognise a few! I will admit that I did find the over-familiarity of these characters names a little distracting as I was visualising these bloggers in their ‘new roles’, but that is very much my own issue.) The chapters are very short, introducing lots of new faces who will obviously all play a role in this series going forward, so I would suggest you focus on who’s who. But, as a result of this style, the novel moves at a breakneck speed.

Noelle Holten doesn’t shy away from the subject matter in hand. Domestic violence is horrific with both the emotional and physical abuse extremely traumatic for the women involved but also for their families. It can be hard to watch a loved one being subjected to this abuse, but what would you do? How far would you be willing to go to make it stop?

Dead Inside is an excellent title describing the enormity of the impact domestic abuse has on a woman.

‘Once silky, her hair was now a greasy mess – always pulled back in a bun or ponytail. Eyes that previously held a mischievous sparkle, were dull and puffy. Looking herself up and down, she saw an overweight, frumpy woman who chose oversized jumpers and cheap trousers to hide her body and make herself less attractive’>

That paragraph carries so much pain as we see a woman who is now a shadow of her former self…a woman living in fear.

Dead Inside is a tense and fast-paced tale. As the death count increases Maggie and her team are faced with a tough challenge. They need to find out who is carrying out these crimes, and fast, before hysteria breaks out that a possible serial killer is at large. Is it the work of a vigilante or someone with a more personal vendetta who is carrying out these murderous crimes?

As a reader we are present at more than one of these violent scenes and we get an insight into the thoughts of the victim, the abuser, as their life slips away – an interesting angle. Noelle Holten creates very real characters, with their language at times very blunt, very rough and, frequently, very derogatory, all adding to the authenticity of the story.

Noelle Holten is one to watch folks. Her passion for books across all genre, but in particular crime, is evident and she is a great advocate for the literary world. Dead Inside is an impressive debut with some shocking scenes and, unfortunately, some very believable characters. It’s a great launch pad for DC Maggie Jamieson and the DAHU unit. Dead Wrong, Book 2, in the series is due for release in November 2019, so you just might want to be part of the action now!