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D.I. Hannah Robbins #1
Shallow Waters
When catching a killer isn’t enough…
When the naked, battered body of an unidentified teenager is found dumped in an alleyway, post-mortem finds evidence of a harrowing series of events.
Another teenage death with the same MO pushes DI Hannah Robbins and her team on the Nottingham City division Major Crimes Unit, to their limits, and across county borders. In a race against the clock they attempt to unpick a thick web of lies and deceit to uncover the truth behind the deaths.
But it doesn’t stop there. Just how far are the team willing to push themselves to save the next girl?
When the naked, battered body of an unidentified teenager is found dumped in an alleyway, post-mortem finds evidence of a harrowing series of events.
Another teenage death with the same MO pushes DI Hannah Robbins and her team on the Nottingham City division Major Crimes Unit, to their limits, and across county borders. In a race against the clock they attempt to unpick a thick web of lies and deceit to uncover the truth behind the deaths.
But it doesn’t stop there. Just how far are the team willing to push themselves to save the next girl?
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2014
About the author
Rebecca Bradley
19 books258 followersRebecca Bradley is a retired police detective who lives in the UK with her family and her two cockapoo's Alfie and Lola. They keep her company while she writes. Rebecca needs to drink copious amounts of tea to function throughout the day and if she could, she would survive on a diet of tea and cake while committing murder on a regular basis, in her writing of course.
To download a FREE novella of THREE WEEKS DEAD visit her website at rebeccabradleycrime.com
You can always chat with her on Twitter where she can be found spending far too much of her time at @RebeccaJBradley
To download a FREE novella of THREE WEEKS DEAD visit her website at rebeccabradleycrime.com
You can always chat with her on Twitter where she can be found spending far too much of her time at @RebeccaJBradley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
May 6, 2017
This novel, first in the DI Hannah Robbins series written by Rebecca Bradley, has been sitting on my kindle for quite a while calling for me. I finally decided to pick it up and liked it enough to immediately download book #2.
Shallow Waters is a British police procedural addressing a very complex child abuse situation. Kudos to Ms. Bradley for her sensitivity in avoiding unnecessary detail of the crimes. Granted, this is a grim tale, not unexpected considering the topic, but I did not find it at all difficult to read. Props as well to the author for the very realistic portrayal of the crime investigation by the Nottingham police. I understand Ms. Bradley is a retired police detective; therefore, she is clearly qualified to paint a true-to-life account of the methodical search for victims and perps.
Our protagonist, DI Hannah Robbins, has her issues, but we only get a glimpse of their sources. This leaves a lot of potential in follow up installments for exploration into her psychological makeup. Despite this lack of background, I developed a real affection for her. DI Robbins is driven to seek justice. Though she has a short fuse, she performs her job in a professional manner and is well respected by her team. She in turn is very respectful of them. So far the team members remain fairly vanilla, and I hope to see them further fleshed out in subsequent books. A couple of the auxiliary players though have already begun to endear themselves to me--Detective Superintendent Catherine Walker and intel researcher Evie who also happens to be Hannah’s best friend. I have to admit I wasn’t feeling the relationship between Hannah and Ethan. What is the attraction there? I also wanted more background on Tom and Sally. It turns out there is a prequel focusing on them, which was actually written after Shallow Waters. In retrospect, because of my passion for characterization, I wish I had read the prequel first so I could have felt more involved with them in this story.
I really liked Ms. Bradley’s writing style. She often breaks out of the mold of simple direct language often seen in police procedurals with a few sentences or a paragraph that enriches the narrative. For example, these are some of Hannah’s thoughts while attending a stressful postmortem:
“I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself, quell the emotion building inside me. Somehow it was possible to work with the dead and hear their stories through the eyes of a pathologist, but being so close to the emotional pain of the family was something different entirely. It latched onto me, worked at my throat and pushed up from the inside out. I had to breathe through this. This was their pain, not mine. I had to breathe.” Good stuff.
The start seemed a little slow and routine for me, but the story begins firing on all cylinders about a quarter of the way through. Short crisp chapters add pace. The tension continues to mount as time begins running out on a victim who cannot be located. The final scenes are real nail biters. The main plot is nicely resolved, but there are some subplot-related loose ends remaining at the finish. Though I usually dislike this type of ending, it didn’t bother me this time as I had already planned to pick up book #2, which is published and ready to go.
All in all, I found Shallow Waters to be a very enjoyable read. I am hoping the author plans to continue the series past book #2. I will also be interested in anything else she may write in the future. I highly recommend Shallow Waters for all crime fiction and thriller fans
Shallow Waters is a British police procedural addressing a very complex child abuse situation. Kudos to Ms. Bradley for her sensitivity in avoiding unnecessary detail of the crimes. Granted, this is a grim tale, not unexpected considering the topic, but I did not find it at all difficult to read. Props as well to the author for the very realistic portrayal of the crime investigation by the Nottingham police. I understand Ms. Bradley is a retired police detective; therefore, she is clearly qualified to paint a true-to-life account of the methodical search for victims and perps.
Our protagonist, DI Hannah Robbins, has her issues, but we only get a glimpse of their sources. This leaves a lot of potential in follow up installments for exploration into her psychological makeup. Despite this lack of background, I developed a real affection for her. DI Robbins is driven to seek justice. Though she has a short fuse, she performs her job in a professional manner and is well respected by her team. She in turn is very respectful of them. So far the team members remain fairly vanilla, and I hope to see them further fleshed out in subsequent books. A couple of the auxiliary players though have already begun to endear themselves to me--Detective Superintendent Catherine Walker and intel researcher Evie who also happens to be Hannah’s best friend. I have to admit I wasn’t feeling the relationship between Hannah and Ethan. What is the attraction there? I also wanted more background on Tom and Sally. It turns out there is a prequel focusing on them, which was actually written after Shallow Waters. In retrospect, because of my passion for characterization, I wish I had read the prequel first so I could have felt more involved with them in this story.
I really liked Ms. Bradley’s writing style. She often breaks out of the mold of simple direct language often seen in police procedurals with a few sentences or a paragraph that enriches the narrative. For example, these are some of Hannah’s thoughts while attending a stressful postmortem:
“I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself, quell the emotion building inside me. Somehow it was possible to work with the dead and hear their stories through the eyes of a pathologist, but being so close to the emotional pain of the family was something different entirely. It latched onto me, worked at my throat and pushed up from the inside out. I had to breathe through this. This was their pain, not mine. I had to breathe.” Good stuff.
The start seemed a little slow and routine for me, but the story begins firing on all cylinders about a quarter of the way through. Short crisp chapters add pace. The tension continues to mount as time begins running out on a victim who cannot be located. The final scenes are real nail biters. The main plot is nicely resolved, but there are some subplot-related loose ends remaining at the finish. Though I usually dislike this type of ending, it didn’t bother me this time as I had already planned to pick up book #2, which is published and ready to go.
All in all, I found Shallow Waters to be a very enjoyable read. I am hoping the author plans to continue the series past book #2. I will also be interested in anything else she may write in the future. I highly recommend Shallow Waters for all crime fiction and thriller fans
February 11, 2015
Well, I love a good thriller me. I loved the fast pace of this, the realism of all the characters, the smell of death permeating from the pages. My vivid imagination came into play most definitely with this book and I just lived every sentence of this wonderful first book in this series.
Rebecca Bradley is new to me as an author, and most definitely "up there" with the crime writers. I was gripped from beginning to end.
There was suspense in this story.
One body turning up in a dirty alleyway is one thing, a younger girl, quite something else, the cause of death and the leading up to her death, something else yet again......
DI Hannah Robbins and her team are pushed to find out who this girl was. Where she came from. They need to find the killer.
Except.....
another body of another girl turns up, the urgency is on. If the public, the media get hold of this, how is it going to look? No advancements have been made.
DI Hannah Robbins and her team are pushed to the bitter limits to pursue the killer. Just who is responsible and why?
DI Hannah Robbins is a real person, real emotions of her own, confused love life, tied to her job. Rebecca Bradley did a superb job in making the reader stay tuned with the DI, to see her as human, to connect with her. I know I certainly did.
Excellently written.
Rebecca Bradley is new to me as an author, and most definitely "up there" with the crime writers. I was gripped from beginning to end.
There was suspense in this story.
One body turning up in a dirty alleyway is one thing, a younger girl, quite something else, the cause of death and the leading up to her death, something else yet again......
DI Hannah Robbins and her team are pushed to find out who this girl was. Where she came from. They need to find the killer.
Except.....
another body of another girl turns up, the urgency is on. If the public, the media get hold of this, how is it going to look? No advancements have been made.
DI Hannah Robbins and her team are pushed to the bitter limits to pursue the killer. Just who is responsible and why?
DI Hannah Robbins is a real person, real emotions of her own, confused love life, tied to her job. Rebecca Bradley did a superb job in making the reader stay tuned with the DI, to see her as human, to connect with her. I know I certainly did.
Excellently written.
May 12, 2016
Shallow Waters is a debut from the pen of Rebecca Bradley that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Young girls are going missing and then turning up dead in horrific circumstances. DI Hannah Robbins is tasked with leading the team on this particular case. Set in my old hometown of Nottingham I was especially keen to read this to see how much of the city would play a part in the book. Quite disconcerting it is to read familiar road names and place settings. On the one hand I'm thinking it's exciting.... on the other thinking noooo, not on my patch!!
As Ms Bradley is an ex detective herself we're treated to a very realistic police procedural that I thought played out really well. There were no over the top decisions made or sequences that questioned plausibility. It was written with what I should imagine is a realistic approach to how cases are tackled in everyday life.
The subject matter is always going to be a difficult one where children are involved but I thought it was handled with great deftness and a lightness of touch that fitted such darkness. Yes, there are some shocking moments, but 'real life' is shocking and to give an insight into this particular case I thought those moments were required and handled very well. I thoroughly enjoyed being in places I knew and then taken to other parts of the country. It made it feel all the more plausible. The main protagonist, DI Hannah, is shaping up to be quite an interesting character; not much is given away here giving room for development further down the line.
The book was suitably plotted as befitting a procedural and then we get to the ending. I have to say at this point had I had a physical copy of the book I would of been tearing at the last few pages in my eagerness to get to the end. In no way did I see any of it coming and it was left with an ending that means I'm just going to have to read the next one.
Shallow Waters is a really good debut from a new author on the crime fiction scene. One to be watched I'm sure! Recommended.
Young girls are going missing and then turning up dead in horrific circumstances. DI Hannah Robbins is tasked with leading the team on this particular case. Set in my old hometown of Nottingham I was especially keen to read this to see how much of the city would play a part in the book. Quite disconcerting it is to read familiar road names and place settings. On the one hand I'm thinking it's exciting.... on the other thinking noooo, not on my patch!!
As Ms Bradley is an ex detective herself we're treated to a very realistic police procedural that I thought played out really well. There were no over the top decisions made or sequences that questioned plausibility. It was written with what I should imagine is a realistic approach to how cases are tackled in everyday life.
The subject matter is always going to be a difficult one where children are involved but I thought it was handled with great deftness and a lightness of touch that fitted such darkness. Yes, there are some shocking moments, but 'real life' is shocking and to give an insight into this particular case I thought those moments were required and handled very well. I thoroughly enjoyed being in places I knew and then taken to other parts of the country. It made it feel all the more plausible. The main protagonist, DI Hannah, is shaping up to be quite an interesting character; not much is given away here giving room for development further down the line.
The book was suitably plotted as befitting a procedural and then we get to the ending. I have to say at this point had I had a physical copy of the book I would of been tearing at the last few pages in my eagerness to get to the end. In no way did I see any of it coming and it was left with an ending that means I'm just going to have to read the next one.
Shallow Waters is a really good debut from a new author on the crime fiction scene. One to be watched I'm sure! Recommended.
January 19, 2015
A really excellent crime debut, dark, clever and immensely readable, Shallow Waters is a gritty and addictive read that will grip you from the outset.
Hannah Robbins is an excellent main protagonist, emotionally resonant and with just enough secrets to embed you into the series – she is driven and very authentic, you will get right behind her. I liked the relationship she had with her reporter boyfriend, it gives an intriguing twist to proceedings and the rest of the cast are well rounded, as an introduction to a new ongoing series this worked perfectly.
It is violent – possibly not for the faint hearted, the mystery element is emotive and very well drawn and will keep you turning those pages to discover the outcome. The police procedural portions of the tale are well rounded and realistic, the pressure and the horror of tracking a killer comes across beautifully. There is a terrific depth to the plotting, especially in relation to allowing the reader to get to know the victim, therefore ensuring that we are as desperate as the police are to catch the villain.
Overall then a really really great read and one that I highly recommend for fans of Crime Fiction. Can’t wait to find out what is next for Hannah and Co.
Hannah Robbins is an excellent main protagonist, emotionally resonant and with just enough secrets to embed you into the series – she is driven and very authentic, you will get right behind her. I liked the relationship she had with her reporter boyfriend, it gives an intriguing twist to proceedings and the rest of the cast are well rounded, as an introduction to a new ongoing series this worked perfectly.
It is violent – possibly not for the faint hearted, the mystery element is emotive and very well drawn and will keep you turning those pages to discover the outcome. The police procedural portions of the tale are well rounded and realistic, the pressure and the horror of tracking a killer comes across beautifully. There is a terrific depth to the plotting, especially in relation to allowing the reader to get to know the victim, therefore ensuring that we are as desperate as the police are to catch the villain.
Overall then a really really great read and one that I highly recommend for fans of Crime Fiction. Can’t wait to find out what is next for Hannah and Co.
June 25, 2018
Shallow Waters is the first book in the DI Hannah Robbins series.
The story mainly focuses on the case that Hannah and her team find themselves working on. We do get brief glimpses of her personal life though through a certain reporter of which a relationship between a reporter and an officer is always going to be asking for trouble. We also get some glimpses into her own family life which left me intrigued to find out more. I like how the author hasn’t revealed everything as yet which ensures you will be coming back for more.
The case they are working on is quite a harrowing one and it is affecting the team in different ways. It always seems more personal when it is someone young that is murdered. You can feel the tension mounting as the team try to get a break in the case in identifying who is behind it.
Sally was a character that stood out to me for various reasons. Her love of her job and her need to get justice for the victims comes first in her life. She is someone who I think readers will have some empathy for and by the end it makes for some emotional reading.
Shallow Waters is a good and solid start into a new series for me. The shortish chapters ensure you keep reading ‘just one more’ and before you know it you are near the end. A gripping and emotive read of which I look forward to reading more in the series.
The story mainly focuses on the case that Hannah and her team find themselves working on. We do get brief glimpses of her personal life though through a certain reporter of which a relationship between a reporter and an officer is always going to be asking for trouble. We also get some glimpses into her own family life which left me intrigued to find out more. I like how the author hasn’t revealed everything as yet which ensures you will be coming back for more.
The case they are working on is quite a harrowing one and it is affecting the team in different ways. It always seems more personal when it is someone young that is murdered. You can feel the tension mounting as the team try to get a break in the case in identifying who is behind it.
Sally was a character that stood out to me for various reasons. Her love of her job and her need to get justice for the victims comes first in her life. She is someone who I think readers will have some empathy for and by the end it makes for some emotional reading.
Shallow Waters is a good and solid start into a new series for me. The shortish chapters ensure you keep reading ‘just one more’ and before you know it you are near the end. A gripping and emotive read of which I look forward to reading more in the series.
March 1, 2015
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and would like to than THE Book Club for allowing me to read a review copy. This was a police procedural, full of suspense and a great twist.
I could tell the author did her homework in terms of developing the characters in this book, having come from a Criminal Justice background myself, the processes and procedures described throughout were accurate and for me, this was key to getting across the story.
D.I Robbins was a great character and I look forward to seeing her in more books. A tough cookie with a soft side but she did not let that affect her dedication to finding the killer(s) or crossing the line when it came to her reporter "boyfriend" Ethan. I will be intrigued to see how THAT relationship develops.
The reason I gave this 4* and not 5* was personal in relation to how the book ended. I appreciate that it will clearly be a series of books but thought the ending could have tied up a few more things. This will not, however, stop me from picking up the next book from Rebecca Bradley as overall I was thoroughly impressed and look forward to what case D.I Robbins will find herself on.
I could tell the author did her homework in terms of developing the characters in this book, having come from a Criminal Justice background myself, the processes and procedures described throughout were accurate and for me, this was key to getting across the story.
D.I Robbins was a great character and I look forward to seeing her in more books. A tough cookie with a soft side but she did not let that affect her dedication to finding the killer(s) or crossing the line when it came to her reporter "boyfriend" Ethan. I will be intrigued to see how THAT relationship develops.
The reason I gave this 4* and not 5* was personal in relation to how the book ended. I appreciate that it will clearly be a series of books but thought the ending could have tied up a few more things. This will not, however, stop me from picking up the next book from Rebecca Bradley as overall I was thoroughly impressed and look forward to what case D.I Robbins will find herself on.
December 30, 2014
Rebecca Bradley’s new creation DI Hannah Robbins isn’t for the faint-hearted (just look at that cover), this novel covers some particularly grim subjects but fortunately without subjecting the reader to endless scenes of violence. That said I found it quite a creepy read, with the descriptions of a girl shut in the cage playing on my mind long after I closed the book, something that doesn’t happen too often, and that I can only put down to the writing which snuck underneath the hard skin of this reader.
DI Hannah Robbins is a little bit of a mystery and I have to say her relationship with a journalist is surely not the wisest of pairings, which suggests that, when she’s not doing the day job, she leads with her heart and not her head. But there is little time for romance because as this story opens there is a killer to find, a young girl has been found naked and battered in a dirty alleyway, and most affecting of all, unknown. The race is on to find out who she is and what had happened to her and DI Hannah Robbins is soon on the trail when another young girl is found dead.
Rebecca Bradley doesn’t spare the details of the pressure the Police are under to find the killer before the media turn on the investigation, making those higher up the force so keen for a quick result that the investigation takes on a nightmarish quality with Hannah only stopping to gulp a glass of wine and a quick sleep before desperately looking for the links which will lead to the killer. Unlike in many books of this genre the victims are also given a personality, albeit seen through the eyes of their friends and family. This book is well researched which has the advantage that anyone who doesn’t read quite as many ‘gripping police thrillers’ as is eased into the jargon and acronyms.
Unusually for me I managed to have a lucky guess at the perpetrator although that didn’t lessen my enjoyment, in fact I was punching the air with delight when Hannah had her quarry in sight. Shallow Waters is a complete novel but one that leaves you wanting to find out more, especially about Hannah which means that I will definitely be watching out for the next in the series.
I’d like to thank the author for allowing me to read a proof copy of this thrilling read.
DI Hannah Robbins is a little bit of a mystery and I have to say her relationship with a journalist is surely not the wisest of pairings, which suggests that, when she’s not doing the day job, she leads with her heart and not her head. But there is little time for romance because as this story opens there is a killer to find, a young girl has been found naked and battered in a dirty alleyway, and most affecting of all, unknown. The race is on to find out who she is and what had happened to her and DI Hannah Robbins is soon on the trail when another young girl is found dead.
Rebecca Bradley doesn’t spare the details of the pressure the Police are under to find the killer before the media turn on the investigation, making those higher up the force so keen for a quick result that the investigation takes on a nightmarish quality with Hannah only stopping to gulp a glass of wine and a quick sleep before desperately looking for the links which will lead to the killer. Unlike in many books of this genre the victims are also given a personality, albeit seen through the eyes of their friends and family. This book is well researched which has the advantage that anyone who doesn’t read quite as many ‘gripping police thrillers’ as is eased into the jargon and acronyms.
Unusually for me I managed to have a lucky guess at the perpetrator although that didn’t lessen my enjoyment, in fact I was punching the air with delight when Hannah had her quarry in sight. Shallow Waters is a complete novel but one that leaves you wanting to find out more, especially about Hannah which means that I will definitely be watching out for the next in the series.
I’d like to thank the author for allowing me to read a proof copy of this thrilling read.
July 26, 2017
Fantastic read! I have nearly finished this and I am hooked. I have now downloaded the second series book to this!
March 5, 2015
I would like to thank THE Book Club on facebook for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.
In this disturbing police procedural, teenage girls are being raped, beaten and murdered. Their bodies dumped in dark alleyways. Is this the work of a serial killer? What monster is capable of such a vile act? A full scale investigation headed by DI Hannah Robbins of Nottingham City Major Crimes Unit is launched to track down the killer.
Hannah, the main character, is quite interesting. Hot-headed, she has frequent bouts of anger and frustrations which are very realistically described. While having good management skills and strong character at work, in her personal life she's very weak, preferring to avoid discussions rather than confronting people. Being in a precarious relationship, she has issues in trusting people.
In my opinion, this book is far too serious. The atmosphere too grim. Okay it deals with the worst kind of crimes and has some pretty nasty scenes but I think these should have been balanced with some lighter ones. Hannah has no sense of humour at all and there's none of the friendly banter we usually read about between colleagues. There's no warmth between the team members.
To tell the truth, I found it difficult to rate this book. Reading the first half I had no more than a 3* rating in mind. The prose was not as flowy as I would have liked. Certain dialogue was awkward and some quotes far too long. But then in the second half, the story rapidly gained momentum and held my interest. I began to enjoy it much more. This, together with the short chapter style and the fact that I really liked the heart-pounding albeit sad ending made me raise my rating to 4*.
In this disturbing police procedural, teenage girls are being raped, beaten and murdered. Their bodies dumped in dark alleyways. Is this the work of a serial killer? What monster is capable of such a vile act? A full scale investigation headed by DI Hannah Robbins of Nottingham City Major Crimes Unit is launched to track down the killer.
Hannah, the main character, is quite interesting. Hot-headed, she has frequent bouts of anger and frustrations which are very realistically described. While having good management skills and strong character at work, in her personal life she's very weak, preferring to avoid discussions rather than confronting people. Being in a precarious relationship, she has issues in trusting people.
In my opinion, this book is far too serious. The atmosphere too grim. Okay it deals with the worst kind of crimes and has some pretty nasty scenes but I think these should have been balanced with some lighter ones. Hannah has no sense of humour at all and there's none of the friendly banter we usually read about between colleagues. There's no warmth between the team members.
To tell the truth, I found it difficult to rate this book. Reading the first half I had no more than a 3* rating in mind. The prose was not as flowy as I would have liked. Certain dialogue was awkward and some quotes far too long. But then in the second half, the story rapidly gained momentum and held my interest. I began to enjoy it much more. This, together with the short chapter style and the fact that I really liked the heart-pounding albeit sad ending made me raise my rating to 4*.
December 29, 2014
I'm always a little nervous when I read books by friends - what if I don't like it? Will it destroy our friendship? Dare I be honest? But, luckily, there was no need to worry about that with this book!
This is a solid police procedural, with an engaging female lead, Hannah (and the author skilfully hints at quite a back story there, but doesn't let that overwhelm the investigation). The investigation revolves around kidnapping, abuse and murder of young girls, so it becomes almost unbearably grim in places. But we get to see how this affects everyone on the police team as well.
Also, an unusual first person POV for the main detective, which allows her to show her thought processes, fears, anxieties and disgust in an immediate way we don't often find in crime fiction.
This is a solid police procedural, with an engaging female lead, Hannah (and the author skilfully hints at quite a back story there, but doesn't let that overwhelm the investigation). The investigation revolves around kidnapping, abuse and murder of young girls, so it becomes almost unbearably grim in places. But we get to see how this affects everyone on the police team as well.
Also, an unusual first person POV for the main detective, which allows her to show her thought processes, fears, anxieties and disgust in an immediate way we don't often find in crime fiction.
January 12, 2015
A strong debut...
Since Rebecca is an online friend of mine it will be hard for me to avoid being biased. Nonetheless I'll attempt to be as honest as I can...
We first meet DI Hannah Robbins when she is called to attend a crime scene. The body of a teenage girl has been found – naked, bruised and battered. The girl has been sexually abused and then strangled. The pressure is already on Hannah and her team to solve the case quickly, but when a second body is found it becomes a race to find the perpetrator before any more murders are committed...
First off, this is a darker tale than I am generally comfortable with. When telling a story of sexual abuse and torture, particularly of children, it has to be handled with a good deal of sensitivity to avoid becoming unpleasantly gruesome and even voyeuristic. Fortunately Rebecca has avoided this pitfall on the whole – although it is made clear what has happened to the girls, she doesn't dwell too much on the details. The emphasis is much more on Hannah and the investigation, with only small sections devoted to describing the abuse of the victims, and even then Rebecca steers clear of being overly graphic.
Hannah's character is developed well – she is a dedicated and professional officer, and while she likes her red wine a bit too much, she's certainly not a stereotypical drunken maverick. When we meet her, she is in a fairly new relationship with Ethan, a crime journalist with the Nottingham Reporter, and we see her struggling to maintain her professional discretion while needing to have someone she can talk to so she can wind down at the end of the day. Ethan's character is a bit ambiguous – we're never quite sure if he's only involved with Hannah to see if he can get any inside information out of her. The other members of Hannah's team are interesting, and leave plenty of room for further development in future books. I enjoyed that the whole team were shown as professionals – although there is a little bit of departmental politics, it's clear everyone is trying to do their best to achieve the same end. I felt, however, that the overall tone of the characterisation was perhaps a bit bleak – I'd have liked to have seen a bit of humour to break up the darkness occasionally. Sometimes I felt we got too much information about Hannah’s feelings about the crimes - some of the work could have been left up to the reader.
The plotting is strong and well-paced, and builds up to an unexpected and dramatic climax. I didn't work out whodunit (I had my suspicions, but was completely wrong) but when it was revealed and I looked back, I felt Rebecca had given us the clues quite fairly, and had managed effectively to misdirect.
Overall the book is well written, and the second half particularly swept me along. There are a few grammatical errors, and the occasional use of regional colloquialisms in the main body of the text jarred me out of the flow from time to time – both common faults with self-published books. The book is written mainly in the first person from Hannah's viewpoint, but there are occasional sections in the third person – when we switch to the victims, which works well, and occasionally when we go to the viewpoint of another police officer, which in my view didn't work nearly as well, though I could see why it was done that way. Again it had the effect of breaking the flow a bit. Written in the past tense (hurrah!), the book very occasionally slips into the present tense for the briefest of periods in mid-flow, and I couldn't quite see the reason for this. But once I had become fully absorbed in the plot, these small problems were easily overlooked and I found myself well and truly hooked.
A strong debut, and I genuinely look forward to seeing how Hannah – and Rebecca – develop in future books. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Since Rebecca is an online friend of mine it will be hard for me to avoid being biased. Nonetheless I'll attempt to be as honest as I can...
We first meet DI Hannah Robbins when she is called to attend a crime scene. The body of a teenage girl has been found – naked, bruised and battered. The girl has been sexually abused and then strangled. The pressure is already on Hannah and her team to solve the case quickly, but when a second body is found it becomes a race to find the perpetrator before any more murders are committed...
First off, this is a darker tale than I am generally comfortable with. When telling a story of sexual abuse and torture, particularly of children, it has to be handled with a good deal of sensitivity to avoid becoming unpleasantly gruesome and even voyeuristic. Fortunately Rebecca has avoided this pitfall on the whole – although it is made clear what has happened to the girls, she doesn't dwell too much on the details. The emphasis is much more on Hannah and the investigation, with only small sections devoted to describing the abuse of the victims, and even then Rebecca steers clear of being overly graphic.
Hannah's character is developed well – she is a dedicated and professional officer, and while she likes her red wine a bit too much, she's certainly not a stereotypical drunken maverick. When we meet her, she is in a fairly new relationship with Ethan, a crime journalist with the Nottingham Reporter, and we see her struggling to maintain her professional discretion while needing to have someone she can talk to so she can wind down at the end of the day. Ethan's character is a bit ambiguous – we're never quite sure if he's only involved with Hannah to see if he can get any inside information out of her. The other members of Hannah's team are interesting, and leave plenty of room for further development in future books. I enjoyed that the whole team were shown as professionals – although there is a little bit of departmental politics, it's clear everyone is trying to do their best to achieve the same end. I felt, however, that the overall tone of the characterisation was perhaps a bit bleak – I'd have liked to have seen a bit of humour to break up the darkness occasionally. Sometimes I felt we got too much information about Hannah’s feelings about the crimes - some of the work could have been left up to the reader.
The plotting is strong and well-paced, and builds up to an unexpected and dramatic climax. I didn't work out whodunit (I had my suspicions, but was completely wrong) but when it was revealed and I looked back, I felt Rebecca had given us the clues quite fairly, and had managed effectively to misdirect.
Overall the book is well written, and the second half particularly swept me along. There are a few grammatical errors, and the occasional use of regional colloquialisms in the main body of the text jarred me out of the flow from time to time – both common faults with self-published books. The book is written mainly in the first person from Hannah's viewpoint, but there are occasional sections in the third person – when we switch to the victims, which works well, and occasionally when we go to the viewpoint of another police officer, which in my view didn't work nearly as well, though I could see why it was done that way. Again it had the effect of breaking the flow a bit. Written in the past tense (hurrah!), the book very occasionally slips into the present tense for the briefest of periods in mid-flow, and I couldn't quite see the reason for this. But once I had become fully absorbed in the plot, these small problems were easily overlooked and I found myself well and truly hooked.
A strong debut, and I genuinely look forward to seeing how Hannah – and Rebecca – develop in future books. 3½ stars for me, so rounded up.
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January 2, 2015
A gritty and realistic police procedural debut.
"When the naked, battered body of an unidentified teenager is found dumped in an alleyway, post-mortem finds evidence of a harrowing series of events.
Another teenage death with the same MO pushes DI Hannah Robbins and her team on the Nottingham City division Major Crimes Unit, to their limits, and across county borders. In a race against the clock they attempt to unpick a thick web of lies and deceit to uncover the truth behind the deaths."
I love discovering new favourite crime authors and Rebecca Bradley is now amongst them. DI Hannah Robbins is a character with hidden depths that I hope to learn more about in many future instalments.
Some of the events in this book are truly horrifying and not easy to read, but this serves to focus attention on the unenviable job of today's police force.
I would recommend this book to all crime fiction fans especially if you enjoy Leigh Russell's Geraldine Steel series which has a similar hard-hitting style.
My copy was purchased from Amazon Kindle Store.
"When the naked, battered body of an unidentified teenager is found dumped in an alleyway, post-mortem finds evidence of a harrowing series of events.
Another teenage death with the same MO pushes DI Hannah Robbins and her team on the Nottingham City division Major Crimes Unit, to their limits, and across county borders. In a race against the clock they attempt to unpick a thick web of lies and deceit to uncover the truth behind the deaths."
I love discovering new favourite crime authors and Rebecca Bradley is now amongst them. DI Hannah Robbins is a character with hidden depths that I hope to learn more about in many future instalments.
Some of the events in this book are truly horrifying and not easy to read, but this serves to focus attention on the unenviable job of today's police force.
I would recommend this book to all crime fiction fans especially if you enjoy Leigh Russell's Geraldine Steel series which has a similar hard-hitting style.
My copy was purchased from Amazon Kindle Store.
February 1, 2015
I really enjoyed this gritty police procedural. Normally I steer clear of anything involving child abuse, but I heard such great things about this book I had to delve in.
The first thing that struck me was the attention to detail. If you like police procedurals then you’ll love this book. I had to email the author to congratulate her as I felt like I’d worked a shift after reading it! The story itself can be harrowing, and the scenes with the young girl in the cage will stay in your mind after you have finished reading the book. However it’s well handled and written in such a way that it’s not gratuitous or upsetting. This is written from both third and first person viewpoints.
I liked the characters and would certainly follow them into further books should a series be on the cards. The story is a real page-turner and becomes climatic near the end as DI Robbins races to discover the killer and save the life of another young girl trapped in a cage. The ending came as a surprise to me, but I thought it was very well written and I enjoyed this book immensely.
The first thing that struck me was the attention to detail. If you like police procedurals then you’ll love this book. I had to email the author to congratulate her as I felt like I’d worked a shift after reading it! The story itself can be harrowing, and the scenes with the young girl in the cage will stay in your mind after you have finished reading the book. However it’s well handled and written in such a way that it’s not gratuitous or upsetting. This is written from both third and first person viewpoints.
I liked the characters and would certainly follow them into further books should a series be on the cards. The story is a real page-turner and becomes climatic near the end as DI Robbins races to discover the killer and save the life of another young girl trapped in a cage. The ending came as a surprise to me, but I thought it was very well written and I enjoyed this book immensely.
December 28, 2014
Shallow Waters is a debut novel that I can recommend to anybody who likes the crime fiction genre. I really liked Hannah the lead police officer and there were times that I felt close to tears when she had to do certain parts of her job. I have been reading crime fiction for years and this is the first time it has ever upset me. She has a past that is barely touched upon, I hope that we get to find out more about her past in the future novels.
I had absolutely no idea who the culprit was and the ending was a heart breaking cliff hanger.
I have read many debut novels this year and I am really looking forward to the follow up in this series.
Thanks to Rebecca for the copy sent.
I had absolutely no idea who the culprit was and the ending was a heart breaking cliff hanger.
I have read many debut novels this year and I am really looking forward to the follow up in this series.
Thanks to Rebecca for the copy sent.
May 28, 2017
Great read,like a good crime book.want to read her next book.
March 18, 2017
It's hard to believe Shallow Waters is a debut novel as it is very accomplished and polished. The body of a teenager who has been beaten, raped and killed is found in a dark alley in Nottingham. Then a second body is found soon after the first body has been identified. Hannah Robbins runs a brisk, no-nonsense, seemingly unemotional investigation and soon identifies a perpetrator. This is only half the story as Hannah is a woman of two halves. She runs her investigation professionally, not letting her disgust or revulsion show but she craves affection from her boyfriend Ethan, a journalist (a risky relationship for a police officer), whom she keeps at arm's length (work that one out) and she drinks too much. There are also hints of a troubled family life which I hope will be explained in future books. I am in awe of Ms Bradley's achievement in this novel as it seems to have it all - it's detailed on procedure but not mind numbingly so, the characters are interesting and well enough developed that they draw you in to the novel, the plot is believable and well thought out and the pace is brisk, keeping you turning the pages. I think this is an excellent read although the subject matter, paedophilia, may be a bit strong for some readers.
October 23, 2017
This crime novel by retired police detective Rebecca Bradley is a seriously gripping read. Set in Nottingham as the body of a teenage girl is discovered in an alleyway, Shallow Waters follows DI Hannah Robbins as she attempts to locate the killer and perhaps uncover truths even more sinister.
I thought this book was brilliantly written, never sensationalising its seriously dark subject matter and presenting the reader with a host of believable characters dealing with exceptionally difficult circumstances. I learned so much about police procedure whist reading SW, and, as a former resident, I thought Nottingham was portrayed just right. In fact, the description on a whole is exquisite; this is a book filled with very clever writing! The ending was also a huge shock and something I never saw coming.
I enjoyed the character of Hannah Robbins thoroughly and will certainly be reading the second book in the series!
I thought this book was brilliantly written, never sensationalising its seriously dark subject matter and presenting the reader with a host of believable characters dealing with exceptionally difficult circumstances. I learned so much about police procedure whist reading SW, and, as a former resident, I thought Nottingham was portrayed just right. In fact, the description on a whole is exquisite; this is a book filled with very clever writing! The ending was also a huge shock and something I never saw coming.
I enjoyed the character of Hannah Robbins thoroughly and will certainly be reading the second book in the series!
August 24, 2024
Loved this read! My first from Rebecca Bradley, I'm now listening to another of hers! The storyline just kept you hooked and so many twists along the way 👌🏻 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 11, 2019
This was a great read.
The protagonist is someone to whom I can relate and for whom I have great respect.
DI Hannah Robbins is tough, passionate, human, and dogged. Best of all, she holds her own in the field and works as part of a team rather than from behind the safety of her big, strong male colleagues.
Something else I found refreshing was the conspicuous absence of the "poor, picked on female in a male dominated profession" trope so common in police procedurals featuring female protagonists; Hannah commands the respect of male and female colleagues alike, and there are absolutely none of the boring pissing contests or passive aggressive, sexist moves to be seen.
I do get the impression that she isn't the warm and cuddly type, but that actually works for me. Walking through the blood of murdered children must necessarily involvesome coldness and distance, as does ensuring that everyone on the team brings their A game to the investigation.
That said, this isn't quite afive star read because of the superfluity of some of the subplots and the abstract nature of the victim's pov jumps.
For example, I'm not quite sure about how Sally's life fit into the arc of the story, and the scenes featuring the nameless, faceless victims could have been more detailed.
I suppose Sally's role in the over-arching story will become more apparent in the next installment (this is waiting in my audible library asI type), and I'm assuming that Bradly wanted to avoid graphic torture scenes because teen victims.
overall, Shallow Waters was everything I hoped it would be.
Four stars.
The protagonist is someone to whom I can relate and for whom I have great respect.
DI Hannah Robbins is tough, passionate, human, and dogged. Best of all, she holds her own in the field and works as part of a team rather than from behind the safety of her big, strong male colleagues.
Something else I found refreshing was the conspicuous absence of the "poor, picked on female in a male dominated profession" trope so common in police procedurals featuring female protagonists; Hannah commands the respect of male and female colleagues alike, and there are absolutely none of the boring pissing contests or passive aggressive, sexist moves to be seen.
I do get the impression that she isn't the warm and cuddly type, but that actually works for me. Walking through the blood of murdered children must necessarily involvesome coldness and distance, as does ensuring that everyone on the team brings their A game to the investigation.
That said, this isn't quite afive star read because of the superfluity of some of the subplots and the abstract nature of the victim's pov jumps.
For example, I'm not quite sure about how Sally's life fit into the arc of the story, and the scenes featuring the nameless, faceless victims could have been more detailed.
I suppose Sally's role in the over-arching story will become more apparent in the next installment (this is waiting in my audible library asI type), and I'm assuming that Bradly wanted to avoid graphic torture scenes because teen victims.
overall, Shallow Waters was everything I hoped it would be.
Four stars.
June 18, 2016
Bravo
Congratulations Rebecca on a cracker of a debut.
On average I read a book a day/night (chronic insomnia and other health issues providing the time).
Crime/psychological thrillers are my genre addiction and I have read more books than I could possibly remember. What I do remember however, are the books I allocate my precious 5 stars to and Shallow Waters deserves them all.
Detective Hannah Robbins and her supporting cast manage to pull you in from the start. Relatable and believable characterisation in a fast paced and often disturbing story. Rebecca has taken us on a journey with her creation of a powerful female Detective (Hannah) and the depths of depravity her investigation leads her following the discovery of a young girls body.
Hannah's personal and professional life are in conflict as the investigation develops, turning into the most important, horrific and complex of her carear.
The story is well written and fast paced. The reader can't help becoming invested in the characters and willing them to succeed in their race to apprehend the monster and solve the case.
Fantastic first novel from an author who is defiantly 1 to watch. have already pre-ordered book 2, Made To Be Broken and wait with anticipation of its delivery to my kindle on 30th June.
Congratulations Rebecca on a cracker of a debut.
On average I read a book a day/night (chronic insomnia and other health issues providing the time).
Crime/psychological thrillers are my genre addiction and I have read more books than I could possibly remember. What I do remember however, are the books I allocate my precious 5 stars to and Shallow Waters deserves them all.
Detective Hannah Robbins and her supporting cast manage to pull you in from the start. Relatable and believable characterisation in a fast paced and often disturbing story. Rebecca has taken us on a journey with her creation of a powerful female Detective (Hannah) and the depths of depravity her investigation leads her following the discovery of a young girls body.
Hannah's personal and professional life are in conflict as the investigation develops, turning into the most important, horrific and complex of her carear.
The story is well written and fast paced. The reader can't help becoming invested in the characters and willing them to succeed in their race to apprehend the monster and solve the case.
Fantastic first novel from an author who is defiantly 1 to watch. have already pre-ordered book 2, Made To Be Broken and wait with anticipation of its delivery to my kindle on 30th June.
June 21, 2015
This is the worst book I have read in some time. There are many things wrong with it. It is written mostly in the first person which often lead to too much introspective information which is certainly the case here. The police characters are not very interesting either personally or professional and the main character lacks any motivation for actions in her personal life. The plot is lackluster, the motive of the ultimate perpetrators is never established, and the ending is abrupt.
In addition, this book does not appear to have been proofread, let alone edited. There are a number of examples of word misuse and the hackneyed phrase "at this point in time" appears at least three times.
In addition, this book does not appear to have been proofread, let alone edited. There are a number of examples of word misuse and the hackneyed phrase "at this point in time" appears at least three times.
March 16, 2016
From the moment I started this book I felt I was in safe hands. The writing’s professional and hard-hitting. The subject matter’s upsetting, but not in a gratuitous way, in a way that makes you think. There were some fascinating details on police procedure I hadn’t known before, which I guess were down to the author’s professional experience. These details added to the story instead of holding it up. I was gripped throughout, but the final section was incredibly tense. (It’s the first time I’ve ever read my Kindle in the bath…!)
August 11, 2015
An excellent debut novel from this author, hopefully the start of a series. I really enjoyed it. It was quite dark but well written, fast-paced and quite a page-tyrner. I must say I guessed something was up with the baddy's family but not what finally transpired. I would have liked more background on Hannah Robbins (the chief protagonist) but hopefully this will be provided in later books. I liked that the ending was not neat and tidy though. It is worth keeping an eye on this author.
November 17, 2022
2.5 stars
The police procedural aspect was quite interesting. This was an upsetting topic centring on murder, rape and torture of children, however the author did not describe gruesome detail but focused on the police methods. The thread with the police investigator, Sally, was very heavy handed and tedious and I almost dnf because of this. Not a series I will be continuing.
The police procedural aspect was quite interesting. This was an upsetting topic centring on murder, rape and torture of children, however the author did not describe gruesome detail but focused on the police methods. The thread with the police investigator, Sally, was very heavy handed and tedious and I almost dnf because of this. Not a series I will be continuing.
February 4, 2022
Someone should inform D. I. Me Myself and I Hannah that she is an alcoholic.
Ok storyline but extremely basic writing and non existent editing work.
Ok storyline but extremely basic writing and non existent editing work.
July 10, 2022
Dark, gritty, and disturbing. Rape and child abuse. 3.5 stars rounded up but this series isn’t for me.
October 12, 2016
Review first published on my blog 21/06/2016 at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Shallow Waters is the debut novel from Rebecca Bradley and was published back in 2015, I’m a huge fan of crime and police procedure novels and I can’t believe I’ve only just found this very talented authors gripping first novel. Shallow Waters is a hard hitting gritty read with a darkly disturbing plot. A word of warning this isn’t one for the faint hearted, if I’m honest at times I found it an uncomfortable read, this book focuses on the abduction of young girls, torture, sexual abuse and murder. To be fair to Rebecca Bradley she has handled the subject sensitively, she doesn’t dwell or sensationalise on the detail, the emphasis is more on the investigation and getting justice for the young and innocent victims.
This book is written mostly in the first person and much of the focus is on DI Hannah Robbins, as Hannah begins her investigation I felt all of her emotions anger, pity, frustration and empathy as she struggles to find the killer. Hannah comes across as a fairly “normal” protagonist, unlike some female detectives, she seems well grounded, tenacious and doesn’t seem to have many vices, apart from her crime reporter boyfriend Ethan who she has a very precarious relationship with, especially when their working worlds collide. Hannah’s team also have well developed characters, and they come across as a very credible team. The fact that Rebecca Bradley is a retired Detective in the police is very evident and the wealth of knowledge comes across clearly in making the story and plot lines believable, at the same time as giving the characters real depth.
Shallow Waters also gives an insight into the deviant Paedophile and how they justify what they do, again I found this uncomfortable reading at times,but it does add authenticity to the plot, and it is something that is explored but not lingered on just to sensationalise the plot. From the opening chapter my heart was pounding, as the investigation intensified I found I couldn’t put this book down. Shallow Waters is gripping from the first page until the last. Unsettling and disturbing, the investigation leads to a devastating and tense climax, one which left me stunned. Rebecca Bradley is a fresh innovative and powerful new voice in crime fiction and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series Made To Be Broken which is out on the 30th June. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone
Shallow Waters is the debut novel from Rebecca Bradley and was published back in 2015, I’m a huge fan of crime and police procedure novels and I can’t believe I’ve only just found this very talented authors gripping first novel. Shallow Waters is a hard hitting gritty read with a darkly disturbing plot. A word of warning this isn’t one for the faint hearted, if I’m honest at times I found it an uncomfortable read, this book focuses on the abduction of young girls, torture, sexual abuse and murder. To be fair to Rebecca Bradley she has handled the subject sensitively, she doesn’t dwell or sensationalise on the detail, the emphasis is more on the investigation and getting justice for the young and innocent victims.
This book is written mostly in the first person and much of the focus is on DI Hannah Robbins, as Hannah begins her investigation I felt all of her emotions anger, pity, frustration and empathy as she struggles to find the killer. Hannah comes across as a fairly “normal” protagonist, unlike some female detectives, she seems well grounded, tenacious and doesn’t seem to have many vices, apart from her crime reporter boyfriend Ethan who she has a very precarious relationship with, especially when their working worlds collide. Hannah’s team also have well developed characters, and they come across as a very credible team. The fact that Rebecca Bradley is a retired Detective in the police is very evident and the wealth of knowledge comes across clearly in making the story and plot lines believable, at the same time as giving the characters real depth.
Shallow Waters also gives an insight into the deviant Paedophile and how they justify what they do, again I found this uncomfortable reading at times,but it does add authenticity to the plot, and it is something that is explored but not lingered on just to sensationalise the plot. From the opening chapter my heart was pounding, as the investigation intensified I found I couldn’t put this book down. Shallow Waters is gripping from the first page until the last. Unsettling and disturbing, the investigation leads to a devastating and tense climax, one which left me stunned. Rebecca Bradley is a fresh innovative and powerful new voice in crime fiction and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series Made To Be Broken which is out on the 30th June. I would highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone
February 25, 2015
Crime isn’t really my genre (I like cozy mysteries, not so much the gritty stuff), but since I follow Rebecca Bradley on wordpress, I was interested in reading what she’d written and decided to pick up her book. Shallow Waters sucked me right into the cold and gritty world of British police procedurals, and I was surprised at how quickly my reading experience turned from a ‘just out of curiosity’ to ‘I have to know what happens next!’ The atmosphere and the characters were done so well, and the crime was so compelling: there was so little information at the start, then it seemed to be an open-and-shut case before it spiralled into something much darker and sinister. I really enjoyed getting to know the Detective-Inspector and her world. There was just the right amount of personal drama and drive, and the ending was suitably tragic.
I’ve become attached to DI Hannah Robbins, so I’m looking forward to where this series goes. Even though crime isn’t really my thing, I found a lot to enjoy here. Has it changed my attitude to the whole genre? No, not really, but I ‘get’ it now, and I find police-procedurals more appealing than I did before.
Recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in crime.
I’ve become attached to DI Hannah Robbins, so I’m looking forward to where this series goes. Even though crime isn’t really my thing, I found a lot to enjoy here. Has it changed my attitude to the whole genre? No, not really, but I ‘get’ it now, and I find police-procedurals more appealing than I did before.
Recommended for anyone with even a passing interest in crime.
February 4, 2015
This is a compelling mystery/crime read. The plot is interesting - teens abducted with a detective working hard to figure out who is taking them and can they figure it out in time to stop the next murder. It's one of those stories that you have an inkling of something coming and you will try to figure it out. It wasn't what I thought it was, I was surprised - but to me that's a good author. As you read, the story becomes thicker with threat and mystery that will keep you flipping pages. The characters are well crafted and are either likeable or dislikeable and some you just know are making a bad decision. I enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.
March 3, 2016
This is a sad and harsh novel. Is about death by murder and trafficking in humanity. Parts of it were so disgusting it was difficult to read,but my love of mystery novels kept me going. the detectives were likable and determined in their search for he killer or killers. Personal life is rare in police work as so much time is involved in detecting and ,of course, the danger. The adrenaline flow kept me going to end. Will be looking forward to another novel with this particular DI but hope the storyline will take a different turn. Thanks to Goodreads.
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