One of the things I love most about reading is finding one of those books that immediately hooks me in. That consumes me as I read. One of those books that when I’m not reading it, I can’t stop thinking about the story, and I have so many scenarios running around in my mind when I have reluctantly had to put my Kindle down and resume everyday life. Dead Wrong is that book. In terms of pure addictiveness and brilliantly twisty storytelling, this is one of the best crime novels I have read in the past six months.

Noelle Holten has always been one of my favourite people when she has her blogging hat on over at Crime Book Junkie, not only as I used her website as a go-to source for must-read crime, but because she’s one of the biggest supporters of other bloggers out there. When I found out she was releasing a crime novel I couldn’t have been more excited. Dead Inside was that book and, the 3 star rating aside, I actually really enjoyed it. That’s the problem when you don’t review every book you read, a 3 star rating can mean different things to different people. Dead Inside was a solid start to what I knew would become a favourite series of mine and has a main character in Maggie Jamieson that I was immediately endeared to. Noelle also has a fantastic writing style and the short chapters I always love in crime fiction that always mean I just can’t stop reading after one more chapter. And so Dead Wrong confirms everything I knew when I finished Dead Inside, that this was going to become a must-read series for me.

Dead Wrong is a truly first class crime novel with one of my favourite antagonists I have read about for such a long time. Noelle has created a truly memorable character with Bill Raven, a man behind bars for murders that he confessed to committing. The only problem being, the women he is supposed to have killed have been showing up mutilated, forensic evidence showing they were killed while Bill was incarcerated. Maggie knows there’s more to the story, and is adamant that Bill Raven is still responsible despite being in prison. I often find it lazy and maybe a little insulting to compare authors but here the biggest compliment I can give Noelle is to say that Bill Raven is a character that could have came from the mind of Chris Carter, and anyone who has read one of his crime novels will know the sort of evil he writes about in his stories. Not only does Bill manage to get under Maggie’s skin, so too did he get under mine. The scenes where he is interviewed in prison had my blood boiling. How Maggie (mostly) kept her cool was beyond me. I don’t want to say too much about this character except he really is a fantastic creation and where Noelle took his story, and his backstory too made for an engrossing and perfect storyline for a crime novel.

Maggie is a wonderful creation, a brilliant character who I can’t wait to read about again. It’s hard to fully enjoy a book if you can’t love the main character and Maggie is a character I like a lot. I particularly like how she isn’t like any other fictional detective I have read about before which is so refreshing in this genre. I enjoyed reading about her personal life as much as I did her work life and I especially enjoyed the friendship between her and psychologist Kate Maloney. Theirs was an intriguing relationship not just personally but also professionally as they both work together to solve this case. It’s a good yin and yang to have Maggie looking at this procedurally and evidentially, whereas Kate looks at the psychological elements. This helps the reader to look at the case, and Bill Raven’s character, from many different angles. The psychological element I felt was really well done and was one of the standout parts of this entire book.

There’s a real mix of characters in the story and I enjoyed reading about each and every one of them. I especially liked Nathan and would love to see him have a larger role next time and to perhaps learn more about him. Kate Maloney was also an intriguing character to read about, and what stood out to me was her excellent ability to profile people for her job, but her struggle to work out her own personal life when some strange happenings begin occurring to her. The characters are not just what made me enjoy this story so much but the procedural element was also brilliantly done as well. Not bogged down too much with the boring stuff we know crime writers have to gloss over but actually what felt to me like a believable investigation; Maggie wanting to push ahead and get answers at any cost, and her superiors having to reel her in and make sure she doesn’t jeopardise the case. One other thing I liked as well was seeing some of the characters from previous stories, I hope that continues with the next one. In terms of the last third of the story and the ending itself, all I can say is bravo. An absolutely astonishing denouement to an excellently plotted story. I couldn’t take my eyes off my Kindle from around the 70% mark as I just had to finish the story. I didn’t quite finish it open-mouthed but I have to say I wasn’t far off. What an ending.

To summarise this essay dedicated to my love for Dead Wrong, I will say again that it is one of the best crime novels I have read in the past six months. Noelle Holten was a born crime writer and this book really is testament to that statement. I believe she is a name us crime fans will be seeing on the front cover of many more books and I for one cannot wait. One of my favourite things about being a blogger is seeing people that I ‘know’ do well. I quote know because while I don’t know Noelle personally she has been a huge supporter of my blog over the years and just generally been an all-round amazing person. When my mental health makes me retreat into my cocoon, it is the likes of Noelle and all of the other wonderful people in the blogging world that I miss. So it’s fantastic to see her having this success and I believe Dead Wrong will be well-received by all who read it. It truly is a first-rate crime novel and if I was to say it will be in my Top 5 Books of the Year, I think come December I’ll be able to prove myself dead right.

Review for 'Dead Wrong' by Noelle Holten

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Harper Collins publishing and One more chapter publishing

This is the first book that I have read by this author. I would be happy to read more, especially the next book in the sequel. This is the second book in the 'DC Maggie Jamieson' series. I read it as a standalone with no difficulty. There were a few references to previous cases but any explanations needed are given. I would recommend reading the first book before this one, even though its not necessary, just so you have more of an insight into the characters in this book.

It is written from several different characters perspectives which I enjoyed as you can 'see' more of what is going on as well as get a feel for those characters.

THE book itself is very well written and full of suspense, murder, mystery, crime, twists and turns. I would class this book as a psychological thriller.

The characters are all well defined and realistic and the descriptions are all very good which helps 'put' you on the book. I enjoyed the relationships between the characters and found them all very strong and likeable. Raven reminded me very much of Hannibal Lectors character especially towards the end.

THE book sucked me in at the beginning, then eased off a bit then I was dragged back in from the middle to the fantastic cliff hanger ending which I was not expecting. I also didn't guess who the killer was which gives the book bonus points as there's nothing worse than working it out a few pages into a crime novel.

I recommend this book to fans of crime, murder, psychological thrillers and mysteries.

Based in the UK which is always a bonus for me as I live here, plus it was based in Stafford which isn't that far from me.

Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads and Amazon (UK and. Com) and over 30 Facebook pages

£2.99 to purchase on kindle. I think this is an excellent price for this book.

432 pages

Feel free to add me on Goodreads for more reviews

#DeadWrong #NetGalley #NoelleHolten #BookReview #HarperCollins #OneMoreChapter

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This is the second book in the series featuring DC Maggie Jameson. I hadn’t read the first book but thought this one read well as a stand-alone, but as I got hooked on the character I will definitely be reading it now. We find an old case coming back to haunt Maggie. Three years previously she was responsible for convicting Bill Raven, who admitted to abducting and killing three girls. Their bodies were never found but when the body parts of one of them turn up, the evidence proves that she was killed recently. This puts into doubt that Raven could have killed her as he was still serving his life sentence in prison. He then claims that he was coerced into giving false evidence so everyone believes that Maggie could have convicted an innocent man. She and her team now have to find out the truth. This was a gripping read with likeable characters and I can’t wait to read book number three. A highly recommended read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I’d not read the book prior to Dead Wrong featuring DC Maggie Jamieson which didn’t seem to matter.

The central puzzle revolves around how Bill Raven appears to be committing crimes whilst in prison; crimes he confessed to a couple of years previously. The dialogue is mostly pedestrian and predictable which is a shame because the central story is a good one. Maggie’s brother could be an interesting character and the author tries to develop an intriguing relationship between Maggie and a profiler Kate but it’s all a bit two dimensional. Not sure I’m sufficiently hooked to be sure of reading the inevitable book three.


Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before reading ‘Dead Wrong’ I was well aware of the authors jet black mind and, if I’m being perfectly honest, I was in awe of how quickly her mind manages to conjure up situations that are so clever, and so well thought out.

Having now read ‘Dead Wrong’, I am even more impressed by this authors talent than I was at the beginning! Bill Raven is everyone’s worst nightmare, and there were many moments where i felt like reading through my fingers because of the discomfort and uncertainty which surrounded that particular character. He was such a chilling character to read about yet, as weird as this sounds, I think he gave the storyline THE edge.

I dont know what it is about DC Maggie Jamieson, but I still cannot seem to work her out. I struggled to gel with her in the first book, and again I found her to be a quite a two dimensional character. Maybe that is just her personality, after all you cant like every single character in a book!

Noelle Holten has hit the nail on the head in terms of suspense, and I thoroughly enjoyed the psychological elements of the story especially. Its evident that Holten knows the genre in depth due to her professional history, and shes certainly making the most of that knowledge with this riveting and dynamic read. Roll on book three!

Dead Inside was one of my favourite books of last year so I was thrilled to discover that Noelle Holten had a new book out this year. Dead Wrong is a brilliant follow-up book and I loved it!

Dead Wrong follows DC Maggie Jamieson as she’s thrown back into an old case – that of serial killer Bill Raven. Maggie worked the investigation that led to his conviction a couple of years previously but now the body of one of the missing women has been found and it seems she’s only been dead a few days so it throws the conviction into doubt. Maggie is sure she didn’t make a mistake but the evidence seems to be pointing in that direction.

The dynamic between Maggie and Raven was so tense to read, there is a real cat and mouse game going on – Raven is really toying with Maggie and wants her to crack. It’s edge of seat stuff to read and it had me racing through the book as I was desperate to find out how it would all end.

I loved that we get to know more of Maggie in this book, she’s such a great character and is easily becoming one of my favourite detectives! It was great to see more of her home life and her relationship with her brother who lives with her. I also loved seeing her growing closeness with Dr Moloney as the novel progresses.

This is fast becoming one of my favourite crime fiction series and I already can’t wait for the next book – I’ll be first in the queue to buy it when it’s published!

This is the second in a crime thriller series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.  It has been two years since twisted psychopath Bill Raven had been convinced for the kidnap and murder of three women.  He confessed to these murders and knew details that hadn't been realised to the public.  Seemed like an open and shut case.  Only it wasn't.  When another victim turns up there's no way Bill Raven could have been the murderer.  He had the tightest alibi you could get - he was behind bars when the murder occurred.  This new evidence gives Raven the opportunity to launch an appeal against his conviction and as each day passes it begins to look more and more likely he'll be released.  Suddenly DS Maggie Jamieson is thrown into the media spotlight and her competence to do her job being called into question.  Did she help to convict an innocent man?

I loved the combination of a classic police procedural and domestic suspense, there was a lot going on here however as soon as I read then first two chapters I was well and truly hooked.  The authors insight and experience into the criminal justice system was heavily apparent and heartbreakingly raw and honest.  It goes very dark and disturbing, just how I like my crime novels to be and it felt very authentic and truthful.

The writing is solid and I sunk easily into the flow that moved along at a moderate pace.  The characters were all well-developed and multi-layered, in fact they had so many layers they were like an onion, it took a lot of peeling to get to the mysterious heart of them.  Short punchy chapters held my attention and made the storyline engrossing and addictive.  Dead Wrong was one of those books that once I started I found hard to put down, and managed to read in one sitting.

Dead Wrong is Noelle Holten's second book, I read and reviewed her debut Dead Inside last year which I really enjoyed, but I have to say Dead Wrong is *so* much better.  An original, well constructed plotline with believable multi-dimensional characters moved Dead Wrong from a run-of-the-mill crime fiction to a literary novel that leaves you thinking long after finishing.

This was a cracker of a book - one which turns the idea of a case on its head. Normally it is crime, investigation, prosecution and jail. However, the crime has been committed and the person is in jail. But, then one of the victims turns up in a local library. WTF! This turns Maggie’s into someone with a score to settle. She knows that Raven is still behind it somehow and she is determined to prove it. A cat and mouse fight ends up taking place between Maggie and Raven.

The whole story had me gripped - no line or word was wasted, they all had a purpose and that was to drive you crazy! You just wanted and needed to find out what was going to happen! I devoured this book in one day as it was crazy good. Noelle is a superb writer and she has become someone that I really look forward to reading and this is only book two.

I was really impressed with how true Maggie stayed to the character which was developed in the first book and didn’t waver in her belief that Raven was the man behind it all, even when those whose trust she valued began to question her.

I think it is fair to say that I can’t wait for the next in the series!

This is book two in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, you can absolutely get away with reading this as a standalone however the first book is pretty awesome so go read it if you haven't already. Maggie is back with her team and absolutely raging. The notorious serial killer, Bill Raven, that Maggie and squad put away a few years back is now rearing his ugly head. Behind bars for the murder of at least three women, he confessed in graphic detail what he did to them. Now, a body has been found of his first named victim and they only died very recently, with Raven in jail he couldn't be the killer. Appealing his sentence and now his mental health condition is medicated and controlled Raven wants out and is happy to "help" the police. Maggie KNOWS he is guilty but can she convince her team.

Ooft poor Maggie, so book one made no mention of this bad guy so you can absolutely start with this book, we learn of Raven and his crimes through Maggie and the team going over past history. The guy is clever, manipulative and the higher up in the force want Maggie to tread carefully because if they have convicted an innocent guy - the press are having a field day and the real bad guy needs to be caught.

The book has a fair few dimensions, mental health, friendships, sexuality, family, addictions, murder and is hugely centred around police investigation. If you like police procedural you will love this as it goes in depth but flings you extras with relationships and the personal life of Maggie, friendships, who she is as a person, her family and her wee furbaby - Scrappy the cat, who doesn't love a cat!

I couldn't see where the book was going to go, how was the story going to round, answer my questions and most importantly solve the case. Kept guessing from the first few chapters and teased along to pretty much the very end. Holten needs to be penning book three already, I need to know what is coming next for these characters, 4/5 for me this time.

DC Maggie Jamieson is convinced that Bill Raven killed three women. Following a successful prosecution, he was convicted of their murders and sentenced to life imprisonment. However, one of the women’s body parts has now been found, but Bill is still in prison. How is this possible? Did Maggie play a part in convicting the wrong man? Can she get to the bottom of the murders before another person is killed?
This is the first of Noelle Holten’s books I have read, I realised after starting the book that it is the second in the series of books featuring DC Maggie Jamieson. This did not alter my enjoyment of the book and it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. I loved the characters and will read the first book, Dead Inside.
The book is so well paced and has so many unexpected twists. I highly recommend this book.
Thanks to NetGalley for a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Very good read and it does start with Bill Raven and solicitor hankering for a retrial as Mr. Raven decided he didn't do the murders he was sentenced for even though he confessed and now he has retracted his statement, the women that he was supposedly had killed were never found. While all this is going on body parts have started to turn up and after DNA results they just happen to be the first victim of Mr. Raven's alleged killing spree. the only problem with that is the body parts are reasonably fresh so it was impossible for Raven to have done it. DC Maggie Jamieson was on the team that convicted Raven the first time round that put him behind bars for life, and she is adamant that he has something to do with it, as it's all too convenient Maggie to my mine.is self-centred brash and no- it -all and still just a mere DC could not like her one bit which a shame it did put me off a bit, but the storyline was well worth the read. Quite gruesome in parts and was well thought out and did keep me on my toes and kept me interested throughout the novel but wish the author could have made Maggie more likable I have not heard of the author Noelle Holton and found her work well thought out and executed, and I must thank Harper Impulse & Killer Reads and Netgalley for a copy to review without that offer good authors will slip through the cracks..

This is such an exquisitely written book!

Maggie is a character with whom you can sympathise with, with whom you can be angry at, whose partner you want to be.

It was really great learning more about her, what are the things that she finds exciting, boring, her opinions on relationships as well as her softer side.

As a huge fan of procedural, crime shows this series is a great addition in my twisted mind. 😄

The thing I liked the best is how the author describes everything, every detail that goes into arresting and conviction and appeals and all the things around the crime work but you are never bored because it is explained that all people can manage to understand.

The main antagonist, Bill Raven, is someone that sends serious chills down your back when you get insights into his mind. His fascinations and killings are written in a way that I could see his 'logical reason' for them as well as despise him and hope he drops dead!

I love the fact that all things are written so you can see the whole process of police work and how hard and tiring it must be and not polished like in the shows.

I love the sibling twist 😃😃, and want to. Read more about what actually happened there.

And the ending? I knew something is going to happen to that person but never in a million years I would have imagined that horrible thing happening!!

I am so eagerly awaiting for book 3!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC version of this book.

Dead wrong # Netgallery OMG I can not believe it took me so long to get round to reading this book. I try to read them in order but somehow sometimes miss the odd one in order of publicstion wow what a read I literally have been awake all night to read this book I could not put it down I genuinely was gripped I just kept telling myself one more chapter then I must get to sleep I said it at the end of ever chapter so her I am finished it the twist and turns are extremely phenomenal such a powerful book with some twisted thoughts of a psychopath why is it these type of people think they are more intellectual than anyone else. I really can not praise this book enough..read it you will definitely not regret it awesome

A terrifying serial killer chiller fans of Angela Marsons and Rachel Abbott are going to lap up, fast rising star Noelle Holten is back with another electrifying page-turner featuring the intrepid and redoubtable DC Maggie Jamieson.

As a police officer, there are some criminals you can never forget and Maggie still finds herself shuddering whenever she thinks of evil serial killer Bill Raven. A drug-addicted and blood-thirsty murderer with a desperate yearning to be in the spotlight, Bill had confessed to the crimes of abducting and killing three women and had been put in jail for the rest of his life to atone for his crimes. Maggie had been absolutely instrumental in Bill’s imprisonment and she thought that he was going to be behind bars for good – until the past rears its twisted and disturbed head again when the dismembered body of one of the victims in found dumped in a bin bag in town. When forensics reveal that the victim was murdered merely two days ago, Bill Raven immediately launches an appeal for his release and begins to tell the world’s media that he was wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he did not commit.

Maggie is absolutely incredulous. She cannot believe this sudden turn of events and she was absolutely positive that Bill Raven had been the one who had committed those awful crimes all those years ago. With her good name in tatters and her professional reputation in jeopardy, Maggie will simply not rest until she gets to the bottom of this baffling mystery she has found herself entangled in yet again. Despite the fact that she is warned by her superiors to leave this case well alone, Maggie is not about to sit back while her name is thrashed by every single newspaper in the country.

With her job on the line, Maggie needs to tread carefully, however, that soon proves to be easier said than done. With time not being on her side, Maggie needs to uncover the twisted secrets of what truly happened to those three missing women – because the alternative does not bear thinking about. If Bill Raven is not the killer or the mastermind behind this heinous crime then there is another killer on the loose and if the other missing women are still alive, one thing is definitely certain: they do not have long to live and if Maggie does not get to them in time, they may be next…

Dark, gritty and twisted, lock your doors when reading Noelle Holten’s Dead Wrong because this book is so scary and terrifying you will be looking over your shoulder for weeks. A nail-biting page-turner that packs plenty of punch, Dead Wrong draws you into the story from the very first line and keeps you hooked and on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Maggie Jamieson is an engaging, brave and determined investigator who is in the same league as Kim Stone and Karen Pirie. Fearless, dedicated and honest, she is certainly destined to become a firm favourite with fans of the genre.

Noelle Holten’s Dead Wrong is a captivating crime thriller I simply couldn’t get enough of. Fast-paced, heart-pounding and absolutely brilliant, I cannot wait for Noelle Holten’s next book.

a fabulous follow on to her first book in this series, loved it. i will definitely be following this series to see what happens next in the life of Maggie

Dead wrong is a white-knuckle ride of epic proportions. Noelle Holton is a master weaver of societal and conscientious topics that will leave an imprint etched upon the brain which will leave us stagnated into constantly thinking about the story. It’s a story that opens up that never-ending conundrum of why people act and behave in the way that they do. It’s a rash that can never be satisfied, unfortunately it’s these types of moral questions that make the world go round and Noelle Holton makes it spin all that faster.

The second instalment in the DC Maggie Jamieson series, which can be read as a standalone but if you are able to, you should read Dead Inside. Both books are so raw and gritty and will give you the full immersive experience of Noelle’s writing. Maggie is a character that we all wish was us. Strong, competent and an extraordinaire at daily ass kicking’s in her job. Maggie is dealing with some prickly work colleagues but the undefinable will to do justice is her driving force. It’s truly admirable. I imagine second guessing is loud voice trying to make itself heard, but Maggie pushes it further back and is confident in her ability to do the best job possible.

In Dead Wrong we are centred around the story of Bill Raven. Previously convicted serial killer who quite obviously hungers for the limelight. He brags about his revolting exploits during confession. I can only imagine just how damaging that would potentially be for the families involved. Its an exceptional examination of how serial killers or psychopaths behave. Their absolute disregard of how to treat others in a socially acceptable society, how they have such utter disregard for other human beings’ feelings and it highlights just how dangerous they are to society. Things are about to go crap to the fan when Bill Raven decides to appeal his sentence citing a psychotic break and being under the influence of illicit substances. Was it an unlawful imprisonment or is he crazier than everyone thought? What implications is this going to have for DC Maggie Jamieson’s career?

Maggie ends up being vilified in the media for putting an innocent man behind bars…well why wouldn’t she? No bodies have been recovered and at best it seems like the investigation only coughed up circumstantial evidence. It did remind of a scene from silence of the lambs. He is a dead ringer for Hannibal lector with his creepy demeanour and leering attitude. Maggie is working against the clock to determine who the killer is. Noelle Holton pushes us down the rabbit hole, we try to grab a hold of something but nothing tangible manifests itself. We just have to keep pushing forward, grasping those clues and getting through the maze that is Dead Wrong.

Dead Wrong is bleeding in authenticity. It’s raw, gritty and utterly compulsive. It developed a life of its own, reached out and grabbed me by the throat – it didn’t let go until the very last page.

This is a really exciting read with quite a few red herrings. This is the first book I have read in the series but I was delighted to see that there is actually a previous book and a new one to come. I think Maggie is a great character, there is lots going on in her personal life as well as in her career. This book ends with a tantalising sentence that has me almost salivating for its release.

While this is the second book in a series, I think you can read it as a stand-alone, but I prefer reading in order! It’s another unputdownable, fast paced, dark and twisted book! Holten knows what people look for in this genre, and delivers it with efficiency, chills, thrills, and shocks! If you don’t like the darker themes in mystery/procedural books than this is not for you, but it like me and the darker and faster paced the better, than grab it immediately! It’s definitely not one you will easily set down and forget!
Will make sure to buzz it up on all the different platforms!

Another great book from the incredible Noelle. I was so pleased to get on this blog tour knowing how popular it was, and after reading Dead Inside her debut novel, and the first in the Maggie Jamieson series.

I was so excited to read this book and I wasn’t disappointed, Noelle has followed up her excellent debut novel with an equally good second book.

This book sees Maggie back with her team in Stafford, as body parts start to be found. The team think they have a new killer to hunt down, but when the body parts are identified they realise someone has already been found guilty of this woman’s murder.

Why would Bill Raven, the convicted murderer confess to killing a woman who wasn’t even dead. This is the question Maggie and the team have to answer. Maggie is responsible for putting Raven behind bars so did she make a mistake? Is the wrong man in prison?

An excellent read that I read in one go, I was so engrossed and worried for Maggie! The writing and plotting keep you turning the page as you root for Maggie to solve the puzzles she keeps facing.

I can’t wait for book three.

I loved Noelle Holten’s debut novel Dead Inside and was excited to see what was in store for Maggie Jamieson and her team this time around. This police procedural/ crime thriller is well-paced, cleverly written and utterly gripping.

Maggie thought that she had placed a notorious serial killer behind bars, but the murders are still happening. She faces criticism for catching the wrong man and is under pressure when Bill Raven starts an appeal. She knows the man better than most and doesn’t underestimate his ability to play games with the justice system. He uses his past drug use and mental health to give conflicting information and gets a buzz from sending the police on the wrong track. Maggie feels that the killer has to be involved in these new murders, but how? Should she rely on her gut instinct or is there a brand new killer on the loose?

The author’s previous work in the probation service gives the story genuine authenticity. She explains the system well and doesn’t litter with confusing abbreviations and jargon which is so often seen in police procedural crime thrillers. I loved the interaction between the team of police officers, you really feel that they have each other’s back. No stone is left unturned and we get to see more of Maggie’s character and personal life which adds depth to the story.

This is an absorbing read, recommended for all crime fiction lovers.