Cover Image: Blunt Force

Blunt Force

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Member Reviews

Another great Lynda LaPlante police procedural. Follows Jane Tennison in her younger days with the police. I was a little put off by the sexist way she was treated but it did not take away from the story and was a sign of the times. I did enjoy the story line. I am a great LaPlante fan.

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This is a police procedural, the 6th book in a series. I felt like it could be read as a stand alone. I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. The plot was good but the pace was way too slow for me, I had trouble finishing it. The ending was also a problem. It was very abrupt and left some unanswered questions. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

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This is the second book in the Jane Tennison. I read the one right before this when she was with the Flying Squad.
This one is particularly good. Jane is in a mundane police station and nothing seems to ever happen. Then comes a big case which she and her old friend Spencer try to solve.
I really enjoyed the way the book is written. The slow beginning, Janes life outside of work. The second thread where she is approached by an old friend to join a shooting club.
There are so many people who would kill the victim, it was interesting to watch them sift through them and find the motive and killer.

I have a few of her earlier books in this series which I plan to read. Thank you, Net Galley, for an advance copy for an honest review

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This was an excellent book! I am a fan of the Prime Suspect series, starring Helen Miren, who portrayed the protagonist detective of this book, Detective Jane Tennison on Masterpiece Theater . In this book, we see a younger 30 year old Jane and her fellow detectives call to the scene of the gruesome murder of theatrical agent, Charles Foxley, beaten with a cricket bat and tortured. The investigation takes them into the world of drugs, solicitation of minors, and a dominatrix. There is a side story at the same time of a previous case Jane was involved in. This story is well written, deep, dark, intricate , characters with many layers , and a strong woman surviving in a man s world. #Blunt force

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This book is a slow burn with a long build that doesn't quite lead to any original plot twists or turns. Possibly a good book for fans of the author's previous works or those who enjoy police procedure detail. I am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

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If you are a murder mystery fan, there is no group of writers that can match the Brits. LaPlante is one of the gems. Her recurring character Jane Tennison is one of my favorites. So, this I guess when I began reading, I was going to love the novel. I did. The cast of characters LaPlante creates are so vivid and interesting. The plot is so detailed driven and keeps you hanging on for the final denouement. It is surprising and revealing at times to realize how difficult the unsolved cases were without cell phones and computers. It is sheer grinding legwork and diligence that solves the case. Another wonderful addition to the police procedural dramas ... read it and enjoy.

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Things can't get much worse for detective Jane Tennison. Unceremoniously kicked off the adrenaline-fuelled Flying Squad, she now plies her trade in Gerald Road, a small and sleepy police station in the heart of London's affluent Knightsbridge. It has been far too long between stories and Jane finds herself in an uninteresting place in her life but not for long. You can always count on one or two grisly murders when Jane is around. This is really typical La Plante style. Starts out slow and builds quite nicely. Loved this book, this character and can't wait for more. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

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I am going to be very honest and not try to sugar-coat this review. When I started the book I did not know what to expect. I did not know the author and style of writing to have a formed opinion before hand.

At the beginning the pace was a bit slow until you get an understanding of people and their backgrounds but this gives you a profile and a heads up in the story. The plot itself is a very good detective story and felt so realistic for me from the small details and descriptions that I felt part of the story, like I was in the same place while action happened. The story with its turns and surprises is a great story to my opinion and I had no difficulty connecting with the characters.

However, the big disadvantage of the book is the ending. All pages are building up for the end, the justice to the murder, the answers, the happy ending… at least that is what you normally expect. Unfortunately, this is not what you get. The ending is abrupt and leaves you with a lot unanswered questions. You do not learn what becomes of the characters, just that the murderer is caught. That left me really unsatisfied and kind of angry, if I can say that, as I really liked the whole book and got such a disappointment at the end...

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I am not the biggest fan of Lynda La Plante's writing style - it's a bit blunt for me - (no pun intended) - I am more lyrical waxing and poetic prose, but boy can she write a cracking good story. Not for the fainthearted, Blunt Force is chock full of dodgy characters, murder, drugs, prostitution and screaming ex-wives.

Just when Jane Tennison was getting bored in wealthy Knightsbridge, the brutal killing of Theatrical Agent Charles Foxley takes place right on her patch. This is my first Jane Tennison book (not my first La Plante) and I have never seen Prime Suspect, but it didn't take me long to find out about her previous job (with the Sweeney), why she left and who her friends were. 

The story rattles along - there's also a side story going on related to her time with the Sweeney - and all sorts of interesting minor characters  - Elliott, and Mandy Pilkington to name but two, and plenty of red herrings. I was hoping for a bit of romance and humour. More of the latter than the former - even some of the darker characters have their moments of fun.

We were left hanging with one part at the end, but then I have the feeling that Jane has opened a nest of vipers and we will see them in the next book.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This is a totally serviceable, ably written police procedural that you will probably enjoy if more traditional police procedurals are your favorite. The level of detail on police practice and procedure is clearly very well-researched and feels accurate. But I’ve been spoiled lately by a lot of great psychological thrillers, and more psychologically oriented, darker police procedurals like the Harry Bosch books. This one to me was traditional to the point of feeling slightly old-fashioned, with more focus on the procedure and police and less focus and perspective on what was motivating the killer. I find the procedural aspects less interesting to read about and am more into motive and psychology and characters so this was less interesting to me.

This is a book that I might have rather picked up in person and read a few pages of, or have read a chapter sampler first, because I could see from the start that the slower pace and higher level of detail on policing was not going to capture my interest. But again, for anyone who loves that kind of book, this one was well written. If you’re into a more traditional police story, Jane Tennison is a likable and smart protagonist. But if, like me, you like a faster pace and more psychological thrills, this one may not be as fun for you.

Thanks to Lynda La Plante, NetGalley and Zaffre Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Jane Tennison is in her thirties juggling her career which is in a down spiral and her personal life which is stagnant. A grisly murder is the case and the plotting is methodical and detailed as a police procedural. The younger Tennison stories are good but I enjoyed the older more mature character and all of her problems. A solid series.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

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Thank you Netgalley and Zaffre for the eARC of this book for free. This review is my honest opinion and strictly voluntary.

I was excited to read Blunt Force as this was my first Lynda La Plante book. Not being familiar with the author I found the book a bit long and thought things could have evolved at a quicker pace.

While I found Blunt Force to be a straightforward “who done it” murder mystery of an entertainment exec with a lot of possible suspects. The storylines slowness with other minor storylines weaved throughout was all over the place for me.

While I liked the main characters Jane and Spencer for the most part. Jane at times was missing the mark for me. The other characters or “suspects” had a wide range of characteristics which was amusing.

I would definitely give another La Plante book a read maybe just not the sixth in a series.

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This was my first time reading a Jane Tennison story and I spent some time filling in the gaps. For me the plot unfolded at a pedestrian pace and failed to intrigue me, by the culmination I was indifferent to ‘who done it’. Of merit is the setting in the 1980’s and the author’s portrayal of a male dominated workforce where women fetched the tea and sandwiches. This was subtly expressed but was powerful in its message and the strongest feature of the book. Overall Blunt Force lacked the action and calamity of Widows but thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

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My first read by this author. I found it quite long and anticlimactic when the murderer was finally revealed. However, I could not stop reading this suspense novel with its great mix of characters.

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Jane Tennison is a very engaging character and this book delves into a change in roles.

I love Lynda LaPlante, but I was disappointed in this.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

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Excellent book by Lunda La Plante, first book I have read by this author and will certainly not be the last. Enjoyed this thriller enormously and would recommend it to friends and family. It stars Jane Tennison who starred in the Prime Suspect series, who was dismissed from the Flying Squad to work in a small police station in Knightsbridge and investigates the death of theatrical agent Charlie Foxley. Could not put this book down!

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Another exciting tense thriller by Lynda La Plante.I devoured this book in the series as Inalways do with her books.Highly recommend grab this chilling read.#netgalley#bonniezaffire

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This was my first introduction to the Tennison series, although I’ve viewed the television series and also read one of Lynda La Plante’s Anna Travis novels. Even though this is the sixth book, it was easy to understand the dynamics between the characters and to sense that Jane was troubled, and in trouble, after having been demoted from the Flying Squad in the previous book. The story of the murder of a theatrical agent, Charles Foxley, is intertwined with Jane’s work on an undercover case, which picks up speed and detail as the reader approaches the end of the book; the first part focuses mainly on the world of actresses and agents and exes surrounding Foxley. All might have a motive to kill him.
Blunt Force is a straightforward police procedural, well-written and thorough in its detail of the inner workings of a murder squad, and I liked that traditional approach in this age of psychological thrillers. Although there is some interest in motive, the author doesn’t dwell on the psychological underpinnings of the crime. The resolution of both storylines comes from good police work. I would definitely read another book in this series, and may go back and start at the beginning.

I am grateful to have received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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I had to keep going back in time in order to realise what a display Blunt Force provides. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides would have been shocked, as the women fight their corners. It's a book which connects with other horrors. To be read with a pencil that keeps things on track.

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This is the 6th book in the Tennison series by author Lynda La Plante. I was a big fan of the television series 'Prime Suspect' and have subsequently read many of the Tennison series with the image of Helen Mirren in my mind while doing so. In fact I think that helps me get instantly into the books. Tennison is a tough, determined woman battling to succeed in what has always been a mans world.

In this book Jane Tennison has been moved off the flying squad after committing an unforgivable error and now working in a police station in Knightsbridge, London. A life more subdued than the adrenaline pumped flying squad, Jane is aware her career rise is stalling dealing with petty crime on a daily basis. But police life get more interesting when the brutal murder of Charlie Foxley is discovered, viciously beaten with a cricket bat, dismembered and disembowelled.

Charlie Foxley was a theatrical agent with a lot of powerful friends but unfortunately for him many enemies. Tennison works with her old friend DS Spencer Gibbs to attempt to thwart the killer before he strikes again.

One of the things I enjoy about Lynda La Plante's writing is that she doesn't rush the plot, so you get a good background of the characters. Probably why her books tend to be 450 pages or so rather than 300, a turn off for some readers maybe, but not for me. The story starts fairly slowly but it is worth the build up for the finish. Well plotted, good established characters and lots of sub plots that I feel improve the enjoyment of these books.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Zaffre for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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