Penshaw: DCI Ryan, Book 13

With a fantastic cast of characters, a beautiful setting and an undeniable sense of place, it is little wonder that time and time again these books, the DCI Ryan series from LJ Ross, head straight to the top of the charts within mere hours of their release. I was late to the series, but have made up for it since, and each time a new book is released I will ensure that I make time to read it, no matter what.This time around the area that Ms Ross draws our attention to is Penshaw, a small village that sits to the west of the Penshaw Monument, around halfway between Washington and Houghton le Spring. Now I have been to Washington more often than I care to remember and whilst I recall having seen it many, many times, I have never really given it much thought. I have now.The story opens in the midst of the Miners strike in the mid 1980's, a particularly dark time for the country, especially the heavily affected communities in the North East. Whilst the colliery in this book is fictional, the hate, the fighting and the emotional toil which is depicted in the story is not. This is only a back drop to what is yet to come, but has a heavy impact nonetheless. Whilst I don't really remember much of that period in history - I was only 9 when the strikes ended, on the verge of becoming an Aunty which was much more exciting to a young girl - many will have lived, and still do live, with the devastation that the pit closures caused.None more so, it turns out, than the book's first victim, Alan Watson, long thought to be the man who turned 'worm' betraying his village and his friends in the worst possible way. When Alan, and his wife Joan, are caught up in a house fire, DCI Ryan and Frank Phillips are sent to investigate, to determine if the fire was simply an accident or something far more sinister. With Alan having spent his life in hiding, slowing declining with each passing day, could his need to know the truth have been his last mistake, or did his fall from grace and sinking deeper into the bottle prove fatal?This is a perplexing case for Ryan co, nothing quite as it seems. The Watson family are completely fractured and the author has captured perfectly the differing fortunes of the parents and their children, even the two children themselves, one who turned to drugs, the other to politics. Add into the mix a whole mass of corruption, drug wars, and organised crime, as Ryan also has to head a multi task force operation to bring down a new up and coming crime syndicate, and you are left with a story which is equal parts tension, action and intrigue, one which kept me hooked from beginning to end.Speaking of ends ... Anyone who has read The Moor, book twelve in the series, will remember what a twist the author threw at readers right at the end there. Well ... no real spoilers to say that Samantha is back, and as bubbly and bright as ever. Her arrival in Phillips and MacKenzie's life has thrown them for a loop, leading to certain changes being needed, but it does give a real ray of light to the story and I'm loving seeing her stick about. And as for her unique way of handling the school bullies - love it. And then there is Jack. Jack, Jack Jack! His actions last time around will have repercussions for the whole team, leading to Ryan making some choices that go against everything he stands for, asking others to do things for him that he would never normally ask. You can feel the anguish over those choices, but, as is Ryan, as a reader you are thankful he has Anna to go home to.I love the way the author has built up this series, creating characters who are believable, relatable, determined but most of all fun. I love Phillips' humour, Ryan's stoicism and high sense of morality, also the way in which being with his friends and family, especially Anna, humanises him. Even if they are annoyingly perfect ;). A series which keeps going from strength to strength and I loved it.

Ryan and team do it again, getting to the bottom of crimes that are happening now and also during the Miners Strikes of the ‘80s.A brilliant tale that I read in one sitting whilst on holiday. Easy books to read, with likeable characters and good plots.

As usual a good story and didn’t want it to finish. Believable characters and storyline

Great book, good storyline, well written, I have read all the books (up to this one) and feel like the characters are “old friends”. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

So many twists and turns kept the pages turning. A great story with the usual believable characters. I look forward to the next book in the DCI Ryan Mysteries.

Opening with a prologue set during the Miner’s strike in 1984, the location is the village of Penshaw, in County Durham. A terrible time for the country which resulted in the closure of mines and collieries, deaths, imprisonment and long held grievances. The emotions, volatility of the situation, rising tide of feelings and knock on effect is captured perfectly. Thirty five years later Alan Watson, whose life went on a downward spiral after the mine closed, is killed in a house fire, his wife badly injured.Following straight on from the previous book, with only a couple of days between the two, Jack Lowerson once again finds himself in a dangerous situation he can’t control, with the preceding events gradually unfolding and the consequences of his actions affecting the team, particularly Ryan.Frank Phillips and Denise MacKenzie are adjusting to life as adoptive parents. Their interactions, and Sam’s experiences in school, and the unique way she deals with bullies, add humour and light-heartedness to an otherwise darker story.Ryan has been tasked to lead Operation Watchman, a new initiative targeting organised crime in the region, as well as investigating the fire at Alan Watson’s house with Phillips. To make matters worse, it seems someone is leaking information to the people they’re investigating, and he’s unable to discuss it with anyone, not even Phillips. Ryan is under pressure to expose the corruption before any more damage is done.I’m really enjoying following this series, and the development of the characters. LJ Ross has made them multi dimensional, believable and engaging, with distinct personalities and home lives that the reader can relate to. The stories are always set in an atmospheric (and real) location. The banter and strong sense of comradeship is very much in evidence again, which also adds to the realism.The plot flows well and is anything but straightforward. The two threads—the death of the former miner and the corruption investigation—twist and turn before merging together with some surprises. And, as always, the writing, dialogue and police procedural is convincing and compelling.

Seemed a strange start of a book, going back to those vicious times of the mjner's dispute of 1984. It then crackled into place after a slow start. The suspicion over Lowerson's actions, coupled with the mining family involvement and additional police corruption all made for a very good read in the end.

Absolutely back to her best with this one. Enjoyed it from start to finish and all the angles inbetween. Looking forward to the next installment

Encouraged by my Geordie relatives and friends I've now read all of the DCI Ryan stories. Of them all, I enjoyed " Penshaw" the best. I'm certainly familiar with the Penshaw monument though I never knew what it stood for apart from providing something for the" lambton worm" to wrap its tail around. I'm still none the wiser! I am, however, familiar with the miners strike in the 80's and scab labour on which the story is based. ( It is a characteristic of Louise's tales that she gives a brief picture of critical events, then takes up the consequences a decade or so later) I found the resulting story plausible and sad but a good read. A small comment, I know "bacon butties"are delicious but Frank does go on a bit.

This is another gem from LJ Ross. Starting with Holy Island, Ross’ books have opened up the world of Northern England that, as an American, i never knew existed. She manages to make Northern England another character in her well written police procedurals and prompted my husband and I to make 2, soon to be 3 trips to the area. Visits to Holy Island, Sycamore Gap, Durham Cathedral, Warkworth Castle, Hexham, and Corbridge, amoungst other places of beauty & historical significance, often have my husband and i to looking at each other and saying “we wish we were in The North!” All of Ross’ characters are well developed and its been a pleasure to see how they have progressed from her first novel. You can read any of her books as stand-alones, but i suggest reading them in order...they are all fantastic. As a last note, more and more authors these days are using their books, even fictional police procedurals, to make their views known on current political events. This of course is their right and many probably feel, their responsibility. However, whether I agree with them or not, i personally read books to get away from current events or political discussions. I appreciate that Ross does not take this approach. As with Penshaw, she doesn’t shy away such topics but writes about them in a factual unbiased way that allows readers to understand how those topics affects her characters, but doesn’t shove an opinion down the reader’s throat. I thank her greatly for this and suggest that if more fiction writers took this approach, they just might turn off fewer of their loyal readers and allow such readers who either don’t have an opinion or even disagree with them to see the other side of the conversation. It takes a lot more talent as a writer to go with this approach, rather than the “in your face’ style, and reinforces in my opinion, Ross’ credentials as an author.

The story is well written with the plot developing steadily until the finale. Strong characters and an interesting background with the history of the mining, the strike and what it did to some people.Highly recommended for all readers of good whodunnits

Once again, LJ Ross has written an excellent thriller from start till end. The background of the great strike of Miners in 1984 is very innovative. Rallye worthwhile reading

I loved this book as I have all the DCI Ryan mysteries. The characters are fascinating, human and solid and the stories/mysteries are totally gripping. If I haven't said it before, LJ Ross, you are responsible for many sleep-deprived hours and I begrudge not one single hour lost to your superbly-written and riveting books.