I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of One Eye Open, a stand-alone thriller featuring DS Lynda Hagen of the Essex Police.

Lynda is called out to a high speed car crash where the occupants are clinging to life. They have no identification on them, the car has fake number plates and there is a large amount of cash. She isn’t sure what to think but she’s definitely going to investigate.

I thoroughly enjoyed One Eye Open which is a high octane thriller with plenty of twists and turns. It starts with the crash and Lynda’s investigation then jumps back 23 days to the start of the driver’s story. These two narratives alternate until they come together at the end of the novel. I’m not always a fan of this approach, but after a bit of a slow start and some accustomisation on my part both narratives become compulsive. It’s all go go go in terms of action and developments. In fact there’s so much double crossing going on I found it hard to keep up with all the motives and agendas, not that it’s hard to follow, just complicated. I think the plotting is clever with an exciting storyline, enough twists to keep the reader involved and slightly unsure and a mystery that has a lovely, ironic conclusion. It’s exhilarating entertainment.

I’m sad that this is billed as a stand-alone as I really like DS Lynda Hagen who is a woman for our times. She’s smart and effective but stuck in a 9-5 job in Traffic so that she still has time with her kids. She is continually underrated both by her husband, a former Major Crimes detective and her boss but she showed them here what she can do. You go girl.

One Eye Open is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

This is a rich police thriller from an author who always gives a great insight to the world of criminals and the police who go after them. One Eye Open refreshingly has a strong female lead who manages to carry the story with an assortment of supporting players. 

A tale of gangs, informers, ex racing drivers, involved cops and a time hopping narrative never gets slow and the story has enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing on how it is all going to end.

a love this authors work and yet again a story done well so recommend this author he always writes a very gripping book

Exciting, fast paced, gripping from start to finish. Loved it! 

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review honestly.

I have just finished reading this book and feel I can now breath.......
Very fast paced but with a good detective storyline that keeps you guessing until the end.

It’s always a great sign when I agree with “ 2020’s must-read standalone from the Sunday Times bestseller!”. 

This really is a must-read! One Eye Open is the first book I’ve read by Paul Finch but I promise it won’t be the last! Breathtaking, shocking and dark! All the things I love most from the fiction world! I won’t give too much away about the plot but if you don’t read One Eye Open then you’re really missing out!

I have tried to avoid any spoilers in this review, which is my first on NetGalley. Apologies if this is not up to the standard of more experienced reviewers on this platform.

This is not the first of Paul Finch's books that I have read, and it definitely won't be the last. 

I have to confess I was expecting an addition to either the Heck or Lucy Clayburn range, but One Eye Open introduces a new lead character in DS Lynda Hagen following her marriage to a fellow police officer (now no longer in the job). Lynda's career has not perhaps been as stellar as she might have liked, and her husband could be more supportive.

An armed robbery and its aftermath offer Lynda an unexpected opportunity to get her teeth into a much meatier case than her role in the Traffic division normally allows her when a car leaves the road in suspicious circumstances. 

Elliott Wade is a former Formula One driver whose life has taken a difficult path over the past few years, during which he has made some poor life choices, however he very much loves his wife. 

I enjoyed this book - the author's writing seems to improve with each new publication. There is some violence which would not be unexpected to Paul Finch's readers, but within the context of the plot it all makes sense - if you're reading this type of book, you will presumably be expecting it anyway. 

On the negative side, there are one or two minor plot holes and loose ends which could do with tying up, but nothing that is likely to spoil the reader's enjoyment.

The book is either a stand-alone novel or, I hope,  the first of a new series. As such, it would be a great introduction to Paul Finch if you've not read anything by him previously, but also equally enjoyable for his existing readers.

Personally, I would like to read more about Lynda Hagen and her husband - and find out what, if anything, happens with regard to his new career - albeit not at the expense of losing Heck or Lucy Clayburn. There is definitely scope for a series here.

Overall, I am happy to give a whole-hearted recommendation of this book and pleased that my first NetGalley review is deserving of a five-star rating - not something I often give in my Amazon reviews.

I have made it no secret that I am a fan of Paul Finch ... how could you not be with characters from his previous books like DS Mark "Heck" Heckenburg and PC Lucy Clayborn?  Well here we have another memorable character ... DS Lynda Hagan.

This is a stand-alone book which follows the investigation into a seemingly straight forward car crash involving an ex-Formula 1 driver (Wade) and his wife Harriet (Harri) but it is anything but and we are soon taken on a non-stop ride full of action, suspense and intrigue involving gangs, grasses/snitches and one relentless and determined copper.

Told from Lynda's perspective in the present and Wade's timeline from the weeks leading up to the crash, with a great plot and a break-neck pace with twists and breath-holding moments, this is a great crime thriller.  I wonder if there are going to more books featuring DS Hagan, I would quite like to get to know her a bit more because I think we only scratched the surface in this and I think there is more to her than meets the eye!  If so, I will be the first in the queue.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group via NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

One Eye Open is a well plotted, action packed thriller by Paul Finch.

Starting off with a car crash this quickly escalates in something much much more and ends up with a brilliant finale.

The main characters are well drawn an easily identifiable which helps to keep the pages turning

Definitely recommended

Having read all Paul’s crime books over the years, this I have to say is exceptional.   It is everything a crime novel should be, gripping, nail biting and scary.  Once again, you really don’t know who to trust. 

When Lynda is called out to an RTA nothing is as it appears, two passengers, injured, with no names and no ID, no registration details for the car, it’s as if the people and the car don’t exist. 

What follows is one of the exciting thrillers I’ve ever read.  

I’m not sure if I was that keen on Lynda and her husband, but I quite liked Elliot and Harri and you could see they weren’t really rotten crims, but fate had dealt them a tough blow.  They’d got mixed up in the underworld if heinous criminals and there seemed to be no escape. 

Lynda was like a dog with a bone, I had to admire her tenacity, she never gave up, despite the odds being against her.  She was like a one man band, oblivious to rank or seniority, she kept going until she got to the truth. Her husband was a little too self absorbed for me, he should have pulled his finger out and got on with his life.   

I was reading this until the early hours, I just had to find out the ending, and as always there was a nice twist.  It is fast paced and heart thumping thriller, and yes, if I was Elliot and Harri I would keep on eye open, I’d be sleeping in shifts.  You never know who’s watching!  

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

3+

A totalled car with cloned plates found in woodland off the A12 near Colchester with two seriously injured passengers and a large amount of cash sparks what leads to a dangerous investigation for DS Lynda Hagen of the Serious Crimes Collision Unit. The crash victims are Jill Brooks and husband ex racing driver Elliot Wade. What events led up to the crash and why are they in an expertly chopped stolen car? The story is told from the perspective of Lynda in the present and backtracks to Elliot about three weeks before the crash. 

This is what I’d describe as a visual thriller, in fact, I think it would make a better movie than a book. There’s a lot of car chasing, shootings, gang violence, double dealing and general mayhem and it’s certainly high octane. For me, there is too much going on, there’s barely a pause for breath but it can’t be denied it’s exciting. The gritty plot has plenty of twists and turns which at times makes it hard to keep up with the pace. The backtracking is confusing initially but as the two timelines catch up with each other it becomes easier to follow. I can’t say I especially warmed to Lynda Hagen but she’s certainly dogged and persistent. Some of the dialogue doesn’t ring quite true and made me wince from time to time. 

Overall, however, it is a hundred mile an hour thriller with barely a pause between incidents and if that’s how you like your thrillers then this one is for you. The ending is good and is a fitting end to the dramatic events. 

With thanks to NetGalley and Orion for the ARC

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher.   Paul Finch is one of my favourite thriller writers and this was an absolutely roller coaster of a read.   Great storyline, great twist and really liked the characters.

This is my first book by Paul Finch and what a fabulous read it was a fast paced, well crafted read I thoroughly enjoyed. The character of DS Lynda Hagen was excellent as she was both totally annoying and likeable at the same time which really gave this book an edge. We start with the discovery of a wrecked car with two passengers barely alive found by a dog walker, the occupants have no ID, the car has false number plates and a large amount of cash is also found and this starts a thrill a minute ride with gangsters, connections to the underworld it’s all going on and its a page turner of a read to discover what has happened.  
The story is told from two different points of view and timelines and this really adds to the excitement of the story, it’s a well thought out plot that has some good twists, a book that kept me reading as I was keen to know the outcome. 
A read I can recommend as I found it different with a very good ending and I shall read more from Paul Finch in the future.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was my first time reading a book by Paul Finch and I wasn't sure what to expect. It turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable read, full of fast paced action. 

I admit though that for the first half of the book, I wasn't too keen on the heroine in this story, who goes by the name DS Lynda Hagen. Her personality seemed a bit drab to me, but it tells you what I know when, by the end, I'd changed my mind!

I loved the way you heard the story unfold from both the Detective's point of view and from Elliot's perspective too and how the two were bought together at the end! 

Thank you to NetGalley, Paul Finch and Orion for the chance to read this book.

This book had me on edge throughout!  Paul Finch takes a thriller up to the next level as always. Constantly moving and making you guess, I just couldn't put this one down. You won't be disappointed adding this one to your reading list.

Dare I say this is the first Paul Finch book I have read....yes but it certainly will not be the last and has made me yearn to look into his previous novels. 
One Eye Open is a clever mix of gangland crime, mystery and thriller. This book is full of twists making sure you are always left guessing what is coming next. The characters are strong, I really liked DS Lynda Hagan and felt myself torn between loving and hating a lot of  the other characters. The fact I felt so strongly about them all shows how well written they are. 
Considering I know nothing about cars or F1 I found that extra theme added a really different aspect to the book, I would assume if you are into these things the book will appeal to you on another level too. 
A fantastic read which I’m sure will be a huge success.

Was worried as it was a stand-alone & my all time favourite Heck wasn’t in it, I definitely shouldn’t have been.  Paul’s writing yet again catapults you straight into the book.  My adrenaline was pumping and heart racing at some of the scenes. I couldn’t read it quick enough to find out what was happening.  I was lucky enough to get this as a kindle download from Net Galley but I will be buying it when released to give a copy to my Dad.  If you like high octane police/crime fiction you will love this.

Paul Finch has done brilliantly with this excellent thriller with great characters,i can highly recommend this book well worth 5*

This was an excellent thriller that literally took my breath away. The characters were realistic and well depicted. Highly recommended!

Finch does it again!
Tightly plotted, well written and pacy as hell
Is this the start of a new series? Hopefully!