Member Reviews

Detectives Gabe (Gabriella) Martin and Juliet Stern investigate when a young woman's body is found on the estate of a wealthy family, all of whom are suspects. This was really good, and I will read more in the series. 4 stars

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Suspects Aplenty..
The first outing in the Detectives Martin and Stern series finds Martin leading with her first murder case and determined to prove herself to Stern. As the case becomes more complex and suspects more numerous, the detective duo find themselves grappling with problems both professional and personal. A credible and compelling police procedural with a solid mystery at its very heart, deftly drawn characters and a pacy plot populated with twists aplenty. A promising start to a new series.

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Shot In The Dark is @brittonbookgeek’s debut novel and it is a fantastic crime fiction book. The story is told from DS Gabe Martin’s POV, but in between the chapters there are various communications such as texts, phone calls, or press releases, that fill in the story. I really enjoyed how this was written. I will warn that this book ends on a cliffhanger, but I’m hoping that means we get more investigations as a series.

I enjoyed the female investigators, DS Martin and her partner DI Juliet Stern. They are complete opposites which makes them a perfect team. The murder investigation that this book focuses on is a true head scratcher. Everyone seems to be lying and trying to hide numerous secrets. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to read more books by Anna in the future.

Thank you to @canelo_co and @netgalley for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

(This review was also left on the Barnes & Noble website)

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I really enjoyed this book & look forward to reading more from this author.

This police procedural/mystery is captivating. DS Gabe and DI Juliet Stern come from very different backgrounds and view points- and with that comes interesting baggage that make them more and more relatable.

Their case is one of many layers- deceit and twists at every turn. I felt like I could predict the ending towards the middle but was left shocked at the end. And a cliffhanger leaving you wanting more and wanting the next book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

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Shot in the Dark is book 1 in the Detectives Martin & Stern series by Anna Britton.
Woah, a new amazing police procedural debut that I totally got into.
I'm already ready for the second title.
This was a slower paced story which I thought added to suspense and kept me engaged throughout.
I enjoyed the story, character development, and dialogue. There were plenty of plot twists that I didn’t see coming and that added to the book’s mystique.
A gripping, couldn't put it down, and heart pounding thriller. I couldn't get to the ending quickly enough.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Canelo for the opportunity to read this ahead of its publication date in return for my honest review.

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3.5 -> rounded up to 4

A Shot in the Dark by Anna Britton is a slow paced police procedure thriller that follows the story of a detective duo as they attempts to solve a murder case. DS Gabe Martin and DI Juliet Stern takes on the task of determining who committed the crime and why.

Along the way, they uncover various clues and evidence that point them in the right direction, but they must carefully consider every possibility before coming to an answer. The story is well-constructed and the characters are developed and engaging. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end. Overall, this is a great read for anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a slow paced police procedure thriller.

As this is Britton's debut book, I must say it was really well written and planned.

I cannot wait for the second book?!

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I love a police procedural, for me there is something reassuring about methodically working through evidence to find out ‘whodunnit’ and Shot in the Dark did not disappoint. Anna Britton has clearly done her research on how a murder investigation is approached; I felt like I was working the case alongside Gabe and Juliet!

The book is written in a mixed media format, the narrative is interspersed with emails, text messages, call transcripts and reports. I really appreciated this feature, for me it allowed the book to flow and was an uncomplicated way of showing a different point of view or introducing a new element to the story.

Anna Britton also cleverly uses news headlines to offer commentary on how the interest of the general public differs depending on who the victim of a crime is and how the media rates some victims more newsworthy than others.

It was refreshing to see a female police duo, I felt their relationship was authentic and I really liked how they worked together. There were hints and suggestions that both Gabe and Juliet are haunted by secrets and events in their past. These were not expanded upon or resolved but as this book is advertised as the first in a series, I’m assuming the characters and their backstories will develop as the series progresses.

As for the crime investigation I thought it was really well done, the outcome was credible but the story kept you guessing. It genuinely could have been a number of suspects and I didn’t realise who it was until Gabe and Juliet did. The ending left you on a cliff hanger, which I am hoping means there will be a second outing for Gabe and Juliet, I am eager to find out what happens next!

I really enjoyed this one, a promising start to what will hopefully be a great police procedural series.

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A really thorough and realistic look into the inner workings of police procedure. It felt very much like you were investigating right there aling with the characters but for me, it was just a bit too slow paced and focused too much in the investigation and not on the plot. Really fascinating though

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A thorough police procedural dealing with the murder of a young 17 year old girl of colour with the body found in the grounds of a large estate. Owner of said estate, his two sons and the gamekeeper seem to be the main suspects. Lies, lies and more lies are told to DS Gabe Martin and her boss, DI Juliet Stern, the two lead detectives. It's Gabe's first case as Senior Investigating Officer. Both ladies have some sort of serious events in their backgrounds although we only these in bits and pieces over time, leaving a lot more to come I suspect. The different emails extracts, texts and so on offer the more personal details as well as the procedural side of the investigations although it took me some time to decide who was texting whom. Whilst Juliet was case-focussed to the extent of almost anything else, Gabe was very much of the listen to a witness, conclude they were guiltily, go all out for that, to then decide someone else was guilty and round again officer - perhaps because it is her first major case but she also seems a rather dithery character. There was a certain amount of repetition. That might be normal during daily de-briefs but the full details being repeated felt too much. Another murder case, that of a 7 year old girl was being investigated although very few details in the story other than the media frenzy shock horror. Perhaps that was the point - everyone gets hyped up about the death of a child, especially if parents are deemed to be involved, but that of a coloured teenager? Sad reflection on society. I did work out who the perpetrator was quite early on but the details of wondering why kept me going. It is a good first book for the author nonetheless although she'll need to work on the main characters to get me to like them, or really understand them. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

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Shot in the Dark begins with a nighttime chase through the woods, a teenage girl racing to escape a gunman. She doesn't make it and her body is found the next day. Detectives Martin and Stern are brought onto the case and we follow their attempts to solve it with very little to go on.

This is very much a police procedural, rich on detail and probably more realistic than many in that the case sometimes moves frustratingly slowly. Resource and attention is split with another high profile case with a young child who gathers far more press attention than the teenager whose death they are investigating. Many of those they come across are possible suspects but there isn't enough concrete evidence and it's interesting to see a discussion on how much gut instinct can be useful in police work. The story is split with emails, press reports and text messages which I liked as a way to develop the story of other characters without removing the focus from the detective pair at the heart.

The detectives are a female duo, with DS Gabe Martin leading her first case alongside DI Juliet Stern. Their characters are interesting and there is obviously a lot more to find out about them, as this is advertised as the first in a series. I do think perhaps not quite enough was shown though, as it was a little hard to really feel connected to them with so much held back.

It was a decent thriller and I would certainly read the next to find out more about them, but a little too slow in places and the main characters still feel a bit distant. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

#ShotintheDark #NetGalley

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A Shot In The Dark was the most accurate police procedural novel I’ve ever read. It was clear the author had a good understanding about how real investigations worked and I loved how she honoured that in her writing. I truly felt as though I was part of the investigation as I read about the victim’s autopsy, phone call transcripts between officers and/or with suspects, and so on.

With that being said, I found it difficult to get into the book. The plot felt slow-moving and there were times where there wasn’t enough going on to hold my attention.

The central characters were likeable and I enjoyed the camaraderie between Detective Sergeant Gabriella Martin and Detective Inspector Juliet Stern. However, I was left wishing I had learned more about them.

While I didn’t enjoy this novel as much as I would’ve liked, I would still be interested in reading future books within this series as there is great potential.

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From the get go this book had me hooked. My heart was pounding at the beginning as you're thrown straight into the horrific event that sets the scene for the book. There are multiple suspects to keep you guessing, and the author uses a mixture of writing, emails, texts and reports to tell the story, which I loved. Some good twists and one heck of an ending! I need the next one now please! Great debut from this author.

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A decent crime thriller. It leans more on the detective and police procedural side of things and wasn't really my cup of tea.

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After a moonlight hunt, gunshots ring out - and a young woman's body is discovered there the following day. Seventeen-year-old student Melanie Pirt is found dead, and with that, DS Gabe Martin not only has her first murder case, she also has the opportunity to impress her distant and workaholic senior officer, DI Juliet Stern.

And with the baggage Gabe carries from her own past, impressing Juliet is important to her, though that will be easier said than done. Because with five possible murderers, no alibis, and one dead teen, there are a plethora of suspects for Gabe to wade through before this mystery can be solved...

This is an good police procedural, with two strong female MCs, who make up an interesting crime-solving team. While the book offers an almost surprising level of detail into how police investigations are carried out, it also delivers a sensitive and nuanced examination of social issues that range from culture to generational deprivation.

The book uses a multimedia format, including emails and text messages, which may not appeal to everyone. As a big fan of Cara Hunter, I quite liked it. And I also liked the way suspense was maintained throughout, so that the reveal at the ending managed to pack a punch. All in all, a solid read and worthy of 3.5 stars.

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With many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

This is a good solid police procedural and a very good debut from Anna Britton. I loved the layout of this book with its text messages, emails and phone calls giving it some originality. Great characters in this and Juliet and Gabe complimented each other perfectly. A well written addictive read with everyone a suspect so keeps you guessing. Slightly unsure about the ending but that,hopefully, will lead onto a 2nd book. An impressive and enjoyable read

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Thank you NetGalley and Canelo publishing for the eARC in return for my review.

This is the first intsallment in Anna Britton's crime thriller series featuring DS Gabe Martin and DI Juliet Stern. A young woman is found shot and mutilated at the edge of a forest owned by a local entrepreneur. He and his two sons as well as his groundskeeper are the prime suspects. It's a story of secret lives and the lies we tell to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Interestingly the story is told from the perspective of the different characters, emails, text messages and witness statements. I wasn't enamoured of this storytelling to begin with but as I grasped the flow and got further into the book the more I enjoyed this unique method.

Overall it's a good first book in a series. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.

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Shot In The Dark is a decent police procedural, with an interesting character pairing for its lead detectives. It is perhaps a little overlong though, and could have done with more of a sharpening in the editing process.

DS Gabe Martin is invited to lead the case when a young woman is found shot to death on a large estate in Hampshire. Her DI, Juliet Stern, lets her run much of the investigation, but sometimes steps in. There is an uneasy dynamic between the two: Stern is cold and ultra professional, unwilling to let her difficult personal life interfere with her career. Martin is warmer, with a troubled past, and deep doubts about her own abilities.

A small suspect pool is quickly established: the family who own the estate, their groundskeeper and the dead woman's ex-boyfriend. All lie consistently, leaving a confused picture. Much of the novel sees the detectives going back and forth on which one is the killer, giving a rather slow pace at times. But it all comes together in the end.

Shot In The Dark is a good read, and leaves enough threads about both detectives' lives to be unwound in future novels.

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4.5 stars
"Shot In The Dark" by Anna Britton is a gripping debut novel that had me hooked from the very beginning. As someone who usually avoids book series until all the books are out, I found myself in that familiar predicament with this one, eagerly anticipating the next installment.

The story revolves around two female detectives, DS Gabriella "Gabe" Martin and DI Juliet Stern. The case is a complex one, involving a girl who is shot while running through the moonlit woods, later found on a wealthy family's estate, shot multiple times, and mauled by a dog. The case presents numerous suspects with unclear alibis, and it unfolds against the backdrop of another brutal murder, further stretching the resources of the police department.

One aspect that I want to address is some of the minor details that other readers have raised as concerns. For instance, when the detectives met with Melanie's grandma, they failed to provide her with a card or contact information, which struck me as odd given the circumstances. Additionally, the book mentions that minors can be questioned without parental consent in the UK, which was new to me as an Australian reader and prompted me to look it up (so interesting!). Gabe's sexual orientation is introduced later in the story without prior hints, and it could have been explored more thoroughly rather than being thrown in suddenly. However, I found that these minor issues didn't detract significantly from my overall enjoyment of the book.

Another point of discussion among readers is the inclusion of the little girl's murder, which may seem unrelated to Gabe's case. However, I believe it was added to contrast the public's reaction and resource allocation between the two cases, providing a thought-provoking social commentary. The stark difference in media attention and public outcry between the murder of a 7-year-old girl and the murder of a 17-year-old orphan from a Nigerian immigrant family highlights the disparities in our society. This inclusion also allowed the author to foreshadow some of the trauma Gabe might have experienced as a child and hinted at what might have happened to her brother, leaving readers curious and engaged.

One unique aspect of the book that I appreciated was the narrative structure, including text messages, emails, and phone calls. This approach added depth and complexity to the story without burdening the characters with excessive exposition. While it might not be everyone's preferred style, I found it refreshing and efficient, helping to keep the pacing engaging.

Overall, "Shot In The Dark" is a fantastic debut novel with well-developed characters, particularly Juliet, who I connected with deeply. The ending left me eager to pick up the next book in the series, and I was captivated by the intriguing hints about Gabe's past and her brother's mysterious fate. The book's cover is also worth mentioning, as it's visually appealing and draws you in.

I want to express my gratitude to the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I wholeheartedly recommend "Shot In The Dark" to readers who enjoy crime fiction with a touch of social commentary and a dash of mystery. This is a promising start to what looks to be an exciting series.

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4.5* rounded up to 5. Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for providing a DRC of "Shot In The Dark" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

In this compulsive and intriguing police procedural thriller debut, we are following the investigation into the murder of Melanie Pirt. We have five suspects, no solid alibis, and yet there is still a dead teenager who needs justice after being murdered on a large country estate.

I am not usually a big reader of traditional UK set police procedural thrillers. Too often, the same well-worn and cliché tropes are used, and we don't get anything new to offer a different perspective. That is not the case this time, thankfully.

With DI Juliet Stern and DS Gabe Martin, we have two interesting and complicated leads who are learning about each other as their working relationship develops at the same time as we are learning about them. These are not clichéd gruff old school coppers but women with personalities, flaws, and areas of excellence that complement each other. I feel that we got a much better feeling of Gabe in this book, and im hoping that for book 2, we get more about Juliet as she really is fascinating and has so much potential as a character.

The case itself is intriguing and keeps you guessing to the end. It's frustrating and sad, and at different points, you want all of the suspects to be guilty. These generally aren't flat, stereotypical 'villains' but flawed individuals with multiple layered motives and thought processes for the actions they all take. I particularly appreciated the look at trauma and abuse in the home and how that can impact individuals at a generational level to make some of these suspects even more rounded.

One of my favourite things about 2023's police thrillers has been how they've shaken up the format to give us new elements to get our teeth into (see also Jo Callaghan's In the Blink of An Eye), and this is no different. The use of mixed media, interspersed between Gabe's narrative chapters, broke the story up, giving us new things to think about, potential clues to the mystery, and also helped develop the characters further. For those used to the traditional narrative structure of these types of books, it may be a little jarring, but I enjoy the works of Janice Hallett, so I loved these elements.

Overall, I loved this debut work and look forward to hopefully more in the future from Stern and Martin, especially giving us more insight into Juliet's character and letting their partnership continue to grow and develop.

Highly recommend, especially if, like me, you want fresh and more nuanced and interesting police thrillers with more interesting characters outside of the traditional tropes.

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I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This is a police procedural featuring Gabe and Juliet, a DS and her Di, although they invited interviewees to use their first names, and seemed entirely oblivious their ranking within the police hierarchy. They investigated the shooting and then mutilation (by dog) of a teenager called Melanie. Juliet was focussed, disregarded the feelings of others and never saw her husband and children. Gabe was supposedly in charge of the case (although she and Juliet worked together in practice) and spent the entire book believing everything she was told and then having to believe something different the next minute, as all the suspects lied to her repeatedly. She then felt really bad about it. Obviously she had a tragic backstory.

There were reproductions of emails and reports and other documents, some of which didn't add much, and a colleague called Paul was dealing with the murder of a child and we heard bits about that although it had absolutely nothing to do with the murder of Melanie.

By the end I didn't really care who had done it - I just wanted Gabe to settle on some one. Disappointing.

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