The Broken Afternoon (DI Wilkins Mysteries Book 2)

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Halfway through the book the story gains momentum, and it's like being on a rollercoaster, one clue after another follows, and as a reader you are regularly caught off guard, and when you think the culprit has finally been caught, another twist follows… A truly, phenomenal thriller, I stayed up late to finish the story. Really good writing, (I am familiar with his children’s books), this thriller comes highly recommended! Historic Oxford, on a sunny warm afternoon, a day when the lives of Poppy Clarke's parents will never be the same again, because their sweet, loveable little Poppy, dressed up as a pirate with ribbons in her hair, waiting for her mother, suddenly disappears. As the two men investigate the cases there appears to be a link but if Ryan continues to look into his friend’s murder he runs the risk that his reinstatement will be denied. The author hits the nail on the head with his statement: 'we are thoughtless about what is the most precious to us...' [red]

The search for four year-old Poppy Clarke is urgent, driven as much by the clamours of the media as the tearful anguish of Poppy’s mother. Ray is painfully aware of the adage about “the first forty eight hours”, but clues are scant, and he has exhausted the other convention of “close family member” The story is told at a fast pace, with short chapters, a staccato writing style, with lots of slang, irony, and informal language use.

Meanwhile Ray is searching for a lost child who has been snatched from her nursery. However he is distracted as his wife is expecting twins and is in a terrible state with her pregnancy. Many thanks to @ReadingAgency and Riverrun Books for providing the library with free copies to read and review. Ryan Wilkins, one of the youngest ever Detective Inspectors in the Thames Valley force, dishonourably discharged three months ago, watches his former partner DI Ray Wilkins deliver a press conference, confirming a lead.

He looked at himself in the mirror. Narrow face, grease-smear of scar tissue, big bony nose, all as familiar to him as his own smell.”Move over Morse. Simon Mason Oxford crime novel breathes fresh life into the police procedural’ Val McDermid Despite their differences Ray and Ryan have an understanding and Ray let’s Ryan help him with the case, particularly as he keeps running into difficulties. Ray begins to delve deeper, unearthing an underground network of criminal forces in the local area. But while Ray's investigation stalls Ryan brings his unique talents to unofficial and quite illegal inquiries which will bring him into a confrontation with the very officials who have thrown him out of the force. The characters made this novel for me – I liked the chalk and cheese relationship between the two Wilkinses who are investigating the crime and how they are friends of a kind”

When an old friend of his appears in an agitated state whilst he is on guard duty, Ryan decides to investigate. With thanks to the author, publishers Quercus, and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this work in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. The plot digs into paedophilia and child abuse without getting too dark or disturbing. There is some examination of the reason for their actions and attempts to rehabilitate offenders but in the end, there is an acceptance that many can’t be. There is also the influence of money and power both to reform and to corrupt, often these gangs are protected by individuals of influence. We also see the problems of a failing care system, where individuals can be damaged from an early age with little chance of redemption in the eyes of some. Many of the faults with Ryan’s attitude being down to his time in the care system. While Ray's investigation grinds to a halt, Ray is busy behind the scenes putting the pieces of more than one puzzle together, despite the risk this poses to his second chance... and trouble is brewing.I really liked Ryan- he is an endearing character despite his difficult behaviour. His relationship with his young son is lovely and shows the redeeming and caring side of his nature. The novel begins with a harrowing crime, child abduction. Poppy Clark goes missing from her nursery school whilst wearing a pirate costume. So immediately we have a highly sensitive, emotive crime to deal with and a real race against time.