| Title | : | Sycamore Gap (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 304 |
| Publication | : | First published September 9, 2015 |
Enquiry lines cross and merge as Ryan is forced to face his own demons and enter into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who seems unstoppable.
Murder and mystery are peppered with a sprinkling of romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular scenery of Hadrian's Wall country in Northumberland.
Sycamore Gap (DCI Ryan Mysteries, #2) Reviews
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SYCAMORE GAP by L.J.Ross is a DCI Ryan Mystery, the SEQUEL TO BESTSELLER HOLY ISLAND, which I just finished reading. I would suggest reading these books in order to gain the full effect of the character development. I enjoyed this dark mystery even more than Holy Island.
The past never stays buried for long...
“Detective Chief Inspector Ryan believes he has put his turbulent history behind him. Then, in the early hours of the summer solstice, the skeleton of a young woman is found inside the Roman Wall at Sycamore Gap. She has lain undiscovered for ten years and it is Ryan's job to piece together her past.
Enquiry lines cross and merge as Ryan is forced to face his own demons and enter into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who seems unstoppable.
Murder and mystery are peppered with a sprinkling of romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular scenery of Hadrian's Wall country in Northumberland.”
The romance between DCI Ryan and Anna is heating up and more genuine. But their relationship has to be put on the backburner when Ryan and his colleague, Frank Phillips, are assigned two murder cases. The skeleton of a young girl is found inside the Roman Wall at Sycamore Gap. It has been there for ten years. Then another woman’s body is found in the same location. Could these crimes be related?
I found the plot relating to The Circle was a bit far-fetched to be believable, but I accept how it was linked to Ryan's former assignment before Holy Island. The author allows for the characters of Ryan and Anna, Phillips, and Denise MacKenzie to be more fleshed out, and the humor between the characters was uplifting.
A very satisfying read.
I wish to thank the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity for providing me with a digital copy of this novel. -
4.5★
A body stuffed in a gap ten years ago points Ryan to his sister’s killer, but how? He’s in prison.
LJ Ross has given us another in her excellent series about the handsome, troubled detective who is driven to find the killer who butchered his sister in front of his eyes.
DCI Ryan and his now girlfriend, Anna, were introduced to us in
Holy Island: A DCI Ryan Mystery. Both books are self-contained mysteries (in case you stumble on the second one first), but it’s satisfying to watch the characters develop as the stories progress.
The author skilfully incorporates foggy evenings, eerie isolated parks, and interesting settings – the gap is in Hadrian’s Wall, a World Heritage site built by the Romans 2000 years ago.
This body belongs to a girl murdered 10 years earlier, around June 21, the time of the Summer Solstice. We met some members of The Circle when a girl was murdered on Holy Island in December, during the Winter Solstice. This secret pagan cult is run by some highly respected community figures, including professional people involved with the investigations.
The Holy Island mystery was cleared up, and The Circle was thought to have disbanded, but no, they lived to fight another day, and by golly, they’re a nasty lot. There’s minimal discussion of cult ceremonies – it’s not that sort of book – but just enough to know the High Priest wields enormous power and influence with his satanic practices. And there's deadly competition within the cult. There’s not a lot of blood and gore, just enough to be cringe-worthy.
We know who a few of Ryan’s deadly foes are, and we have strong suspicions about some others, but the author is so clever with her clues that Ryan figured it out before I did.
Ryan is ably assisted by friend and trust-worthy veteran DS Frank Phillips, senior to him in age but not in rank, which would be awkward if they weren’t so close. A scene when they are reminded of Ryan’s sister’s murder:
‘Son,’ Phillips’ gravelly voice gentle, designed to soothe. ‘I know what’s going on inside your head.’ . . . [Ryan protests.]
‘I never told you I was proud.’
Ryan looked down at his feet, eyes burning.
‘I was proud that you stopped.’
The breath shuddered out of his body, as memories flooded in.
Ryan, covered in his sister’s blood and his own, using his fists on the man who had killed her.
‘I wanted to end the man who ended her.’
‘I know,’ Phillips agreed, looking out across the car park at the people coming and going. ‘But you didn’t.’
‘It was you who stopped me.’
Phillips shook his head. ‘There isn’t a person alive who could have stopped you, unless you’d wanted to.’
Ryan looked up again.
‘Never thought of that, did you? You stopped yourself. You brought him in, even though everything inside you wanted to finish him, to take your revenge or whatever you want to call it. You did the right thing.’
The crusty Phillips has also managed to gain the affections of luscious, copper-tressed, Irish DI, Denise MacKenzie, who is later used as believable bait in a honey-trap. Good stuff!
I recommend it highly and thank Booklover Catlady Publicity and the author for my preview copy. This is even better than
Holy Island: A DCI Ryan Mystery, which I rated 4.5★.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Now I’m looking forward to #3, please. It's going to take a long time to clean up this cult. :) -
Although it's not quite my type of story, I did enjoy the way it was built up.
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Sycamore Gap is the second book in the DCI Ryan Mysteries
The first book “ Holy Land”, set the tone for the series and was a book I enjoyed, while this second one really captured my interest
The main character Detective Chief Inspector Ryan, is interesting, and with this second installment we get to know him more in-depth
“Murder and mystery are peppered with a sprinkling of romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular scenery of Hadrian's Wall country in Northumberland”
The whole Hadrian’s wall/ World Heritage component blended with crime and mystery make for a page turner of a read -
5 Words: Crime, murder, cult, history, trust.
I'm definitely addicted. Addicted to DCI Ryan.
I loved the twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat as I read. I also loved that this book had me researching various little titbits of local history (about three hours I think? Whoops!).
There is a dark mixture of crime, obsession and history, with a creepy old cult of the rich and powerful thrown in for good measure. And it's a fantastic cocktail, the perfect recipe, because I just can't get enough.
You get to learn more about Ryan's past, about what made him who he is, about the skeletons lurking in his mind, about the man who devastated him, and the result at the end is a far deeper character and a better understanding of what drives him.
This is a very tense thriller, and I felt that it was just that little bit darker than the first book. It was a fantastic follow up and has left me desperate for the next one.
You can definitely read Sycamore Gap as a standalone but I would absolutely recommend reading them in order.
A copy of this was provided by Booklover Catlady Publicity for review.
ETA: Three months on and I already want to reread it! -
Šias nuobodžias karantino dienas bandau paįvairinti geru detektyvu. Tai antroji knyga iš serijos apie detektyvą Rajeną. Pirmoji, "Šventoji sala" taip pat labai patiko.
Detektyvas Rajenas - tai įžvalgaus proto detektyvas, kuriam tenka narplioti serijinių žudikų atliktas žmogžudystes. Jis inteligentiškas, profesionalus, nors dažnai žmogžudystės liečia jį asmeniškai. Šioje knygoje detektyvas aiškinasi prieš 10 m. dingusios jaunos merginos, kurios palaikai atrasti tik dabar, mirties aplinkybes. Netrukus rasta dar viena nužudyta mergina. Besikapstydamas jis prieina prie tokios informacijos, kurios saugiau nežinoti. Vis dėl to išlaiko šaltą protą ir prisikasa iki žudiko. Tik ar tas žudikas vienintelis kaltininkas?
Rašytoja vedžioja bylos labirintais po truputėlį pažerdama faktus. Taip pat visus įvykius susieja su Rajeno praeities bylom, tiek serijinio žmogžudžio Edvardso, tiek Šventosios salos istorja. Veiksmas vyksta gana greitai, todėl skaityti visad įdomu. O dar kur ta mistika ir visa Rato istorija, kuriam priklauso ne viena svarbi asmenybė. Ratas stengias, kad Rajenas iki jų neprisikastų, deja jiems jis alsuoja į nugarą.
Detektyvinė istorija labai patiko. Užteko ir veiksmo, ir pati atomazga buvo netikėta. Man taip pat patinka ir pačio detektyvo Rajeno asmenybė. Nors ir psichologiškai kiek palūžęs, jis stentgiasi iš paskutiniųjų elgtis profesionaliai. Labai pagirtina. Taip pat jo komandos partneriai spalvingos asmenybės: tiek teismo ekspertas, tiek patologas, tiek detektyvų komanda. Rašytoja rašo paprastai, neįmantriai, įpina istorinių faktų, gamtos bei aplinkos vaizdų, kurie yra visiškai realūs ir tikri.
Džiugu, kad į lietuvių kalbą išverstos dar 2 detektyvo Rajeno serijos, kurias būtinai perskaitysiu netolimoje ateityje. Labai smalsu, ar Rajenas prisikas iki Rato svarbiausių asmenų. -
DCI Ryan is back and just when he thinks everything has returned to normal and he can concentrate more on his relationship with Anna, a man stumbles across a skeleton.
It belongs to a young girl who disappeared 10 years earlier and was hidden inside the Roman Wall at Sycamore Gap. Ryan is going to have to face his own past to discover who killed her and more importantly, why.
As much as I enjoyed the first book, I think I like this one even better. Maybe it's because the characters were so well written, they feel like family now. I really enjoy Ryan and Anna's relationship .. lots of love, lots of humor. And she can read him like a book ..so there's no more hiding from her.
The story line is defined so well, her descriptions could be for a land centuries ago ..or happening in today's world. Since I have never been one to travel, I thoroughly enjoy these jaunts in / to places I've never heard of, let alone visited.
It's a fast paced mystery with clues sprinkled here and there. There is a bit of suspense left at the end ..which I believe denotes there may be another book coming ..soon, I hope.
My thanks to the author and to Booklover Catlady Publicity who furnished the digital copy in exchange for an honest. unbiased review. -
This is the second book in the DCI Ryan series and another corker of a read.
This has to be one of the best settings for a crime series. There is so much history as well as stunning views and even though there are plenty of murders that occur, that certainly didn't put me off wanting to move there. If anything I thought that at least house prices would be cheap with such a high death rate!
Ryan is just starting to move on with his life with a little help from the lovely Anna. Unfortunately when a woman's remains are found, Ryan is having to face things he was hoping to put behind him. The case if anything starts to get quite personal for Ryan and I think to a certain extent he is struggling with how to deal with it.
I loved how the author blends events from the first book in the series into the second one and the whole story flows really well. I think it would certainly help readers to have read Holy Island prior to reading Sycamore Gap with it pretty much following on from where that one ends and it will give them a better understanding to the case that Ryan is working on.
Sycamore Gap is a thrilling and gripping read. The wonderful descriptions instantly draws you into the fabulous surroundings and I felt very much that I was there with Ryan and his team. The author certainly knows how to leave the readers wanting more and I can't wait to read the third in the series. -
Well, the story (and the maneuvering of the Circle) continues...
I didn't for a moment thought that the crimes that seemed solved in Holy Island were really solved! LOL
So, we read here how Ryan and his companions are dragged more and more into the conspiracy!
We also know how's doing the maneuvering, but I liked that too.
At the end I was not shocked by how the things turned: I was expecting something like that! ;-)
On to the next and hopefully we'll get the Circle to its deserved end! -
The DCI Ryan #2 is a great follow up story to the first, entitled Holy Island. I think LJ Ross is a talented writer who creates well rounded characters, both good and bad and plenty of tension in her stories. I am not usually drawn to Detective series, but I confess that as I grew up in the North East of England my heart still resides there, and this series transports me back to so many familiar locations. As a teenager I enjoyed many school hiking trips around the area of Hadrian's Wall, and feel it is time I had a trip back there before too long !
I read somewhere that this novel could be read as a stand alone, however in my view it is better to read Holy Island first, otherwise all the references found in this one, Sycamore Gap would be puzzling to the reader. This book is fast paced with lots of elements to keep the reader guessing, I know I will certainly be reading the next one. -
This was a great second book in the DCI Ryan series, although a little slow to start to the second half made up for it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Will be reading the next one.
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What do the centuries old Hadrian’s Wall, Circle of Satanic worshipers, a serial killer, and DCI Maxwell Ryan have in common? Much more than one might think. LJ Ross has woven another dark, intense mystery involving Ryan and his colleague, Frank Phillips, as they attempt to unravel the interlocking puzzles of two murders: The skeleton of a young woman is found hidden within the old Roman wall; apparently it has been interred there for ten years. Soon thereafter, another young woman’s body is found in the same spot. The crimes seem to be related, but can they possibly be work of the same man?
It is the Summer Solstice. The Circle that was responsible for the deaths on Holy Island, Ryan’s previous case, has been disbanded, according to police officials. What Ryan and his team are seeing now has them wondering. My brain screamed, “Not again!” I enjoyed Holy Island a great deal, but I felt that a second book filled with secret members and sacrificial victims would be over the top. Much to my relief, most of the plot focused on other characters with motives even more malevolent, if that is possible. Ms. Ross has once again conjured up some wicked people; some are bad to the bone, while several others are quite skilled at masking their true selves, and they appear to function as normal human beings. One, in particular, had me completely fooled.
The good guys are more balanced in their personalities. They have genuine feelings, they have relationships, and they work hard, not for power and prestige, but because they want to make the world better and safer. As in Holy Island, Ryan and Anna continue their romance; Phillips, too, has been bitten by the love bug, and I couldn’t help rooting for him. There are some smatterings of humor along the way also.
It was easy to become immersed in this second book. I think I liked it even better than the first. Is everything resolved in the end? Regrettably, no. Questions are left unanswered and some crimes go unpunished. This leaves the door open for a third novel. I am not sure that I can handle more than three books in this vein, since for me, it really pushes the bounds of believability. Three and out for the Circle would be my preference. However, I do enjoy Ryan and Anna, Phillips, and Denise MacKenzie. I would like to see them investigating other sorts of crimes not related to the occult. Ms. Ross writes a suspense-filled plot and likable, as well as loath-able, characters, so I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
I wish to thank the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in exchange for my unbiased review.
4 stars -
This follows on from the events in
Holy Island, the first DCI Ryan mystery. Ideally, they should be read in order. I enjoyed this one even more than Holy Island. For starters, the romantic relationship between Ryan and Anna is handled so much better. It's become a lot more realistic. The plot relating to The Circle pushes the bounds of credibility a bit though, but I enjoyed how it was linked to Ryan's previous case before Holy Island. It added another layer. The characters of Phillips and MacKenzie are more fleshed out in this one. I love the humour that is added via the interactions between Phillips, MacKenzie and Ryan. There are some great characters in this, and while the cult theme isn't something I would usually keep reading, this storyline is exciting, suspenseful and interesting enough that I will pick up book 3,
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And then, of course, they are all narrated by Jonathan Keeble, so that's reason enough. -
Clever! A little bit dark, a little bit twisted and just the right amount of who really dunnit!
A really good sequel to 'Holy Island,' (I would recommend reading #1) and the author has produced a rather creepy follow-on. About six months after the initial case DCI Ryan & Dr Anna Taylor return. The novel begins when a girl's body is found encased in a part of Hadrian's Wall called Sycamore Gap. A series of deaths then become increasingly entwined with the last two of DCI Ryan's cases - The Hacker & The Circle.
Not everyone is who they profess to be and there is a rather tangled web of depravity and evil (without being gory and unnecessarily graphic). Ryan & his colleagues are faced with colliding events that I didn't foresee.
I really enjoyed all the red herrings and the unexpected cliffhanger. Excellent narrator (audiobook) added to my enjoyment of this book; I now have number three on my waitlist! -
Another fantastic book
Love the way bits of information about characters in the circle are fed to you, but then something else happens to disprove your thoughts. Book 3 very soon. -
Prieš daugiau nei pusmetį skaičiau pirmąją šios serijos dalį - "Šventoji sala". Kaip ji man patiko! Įdomi byla, fainas tyrėjas, mistiška salos atmosfera. Ir dar pabaiga tokia, po kurios norisi iš kart imti sekančią dalį į rankas. Norėjau, bet nepaėmiau, nors reikėjo.⠀
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Po ilgesnės pauzės buvo sunku tęsti seriją, nes veiksmas ten sukosi kaip seriale. Šalutiniai veikėjai ir pirmosios knygos detalės užsimiršo, todėl buvo sunku susigaudyti, kas yra kas. Bet su laiku įsivažiavau ir susiskaitė greitai ir įdomiai, kaip ir pirmoji.⠀
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Šį kartą inspektorius Rajanas tiria dviejų merginų nužudymo bylas. Abiejų kūnai rasti Jovaro įduboje, tačiau viena nužudyta prieš dešimtmetį, kita visai neseniai. Surinkta informacija sufleruoja galimą žudiką, tačiau jis šiuo metu kalėjime. Jei taip, kas nužudė antrąją merginą?⠀
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Autorės sprendimas sujungti pirmosios knygos detales ir senesnes Rajano bylas, man patiko. Abi knygos, o ir įtariu, kad visa serija, parašytos labai pagauliai, įvykiai rutuliojasi greitai, todėl skaityti nenuobodu. Savotiško žavesio prideda ir mistiškos, istorinės vietos, kuriose vyksta veiksmas. ⠀
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Džiugino ir tai, kad šioje dalyje mažiau Rajano, kaip žmogaus, vyro ar tyrėjo aukštinimo. Pirmoje jis pavaizduotas, kaip super protingas, super gražus ir visaip kitaip tobulas. Šį kart pasirodė daug žmogiškesnis ir natūralesnis. Ir meilių-seilių mažiau. Labai gerai.⠀
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Nors autorė vėl paliko daug palaidų galų, šios dalies pabaiga taip nenustebino. ⠀
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Tikiuosi, kad trečioji dalis pateiks daugiau atsakymų, nei naujų klausimų. 👌⠀
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Rekomenduoju ieškantiems naujos, įtraukiančios detektyvinių knygų serijos, primenančios serialus, kuriuos vienija bendras tyrimas, besitęsiantis kelis sezonus, tačiau tuo pačiu tiriantis ir kitas, pavienes bylas. Tik skaitykit iš eilės, kad nesusigadintumėt sau skaitymo malonumo.⠀ -
Antroji serijos dalis apie detektyvą Rajeną mane nustebino ne ką mažiau, nei pirmoji! Šioje dalyje vietovėje, kuri vadinama Jovaro įduba, aptinkami nežinomos merginos palaikai. Ir tai tik viena istorijos linija, nes Rajenas yra katės ir pelės žaidime su priešu, kurio niekas neįstengia sustabdyti.
Aš visada labai ieškojau detektyvų serijos, kurios tam tikra siužeto linija truktų kelias knygas ir būtent tai šioje serijoje radau ir tai mane taip labai žavi! Taip pat, šioje, kaip ir pirmojoje, didelis dėmesys skiriamas ritualinėms žmogžudystėms. Man tai yra pakankamai naujas atradimas detektyvuose, nes tokių tikrai daug nesu skaičiusi.
L. J. Ross didelį dėmesį skiria taip pat ir svarbioms istorinėms vietoms, nes būtent tokiose vietose Rajenui ir tenka darbuotis. Kalbant apie patį detektyvą Rajeną, tai, tenka pasikartoti, nes ir antrojoje dalyje man nenatūraliai pavaizduotas tiek detektyvas, tiek jo asmeniniai romantiški santykiai. Tačiau labai įdomu buvo sužinoti apie jo asmeninius įvykius, kurie vyko dar prieš “Šventąją salą”.
Taigi, manau, kad pradėjau skaityti tikrai įdomią ir įtraukiančią seriją, kurioje vietoj žiaurumų yra įtraukiančios ritualinės žmogžudystės, aukojimai ir istorinis gamtos grožis, o knygos skaitosi itin lengvai ir greitai! Kartais būtent to ir reikia, tiesa? Tačiau rekomenduoju šią seriją pradėti nuo pirmos dalies, pavadinimu “Šventoji sala”, kurioje ir prasideda pagrindinis veiksmas.💪🏼 -
I listened to this on audible and I really enjoyed it, I liked the fast pace of the book, I found myself stopping what I was doing in readiness of the next bit.
A great story, I do have a couple of others on audio that I was gifted, then I think I will read the others.
Highly recommend -
Antroji knygų serijos dalis su detektyvu vyresniuoju inspektorium (DVI) Rajenu perskaityta. Nekantrauju čiupti ir trečiąją dalį.
Ši dalis nepaliko tokio didelio įspūdžio ir nuostabos, kaip pirmoji, bet tikrai ne daug mažiau verta dėmesio.
Kaip ir pirmoje, taip ir antroje dalyje autorė mus supažindina su įvairiomis paslaptingomis vietovėmis. Šį kartą istorijos centre - Jovaro įduba. O DVI Rajenas turi išspręsti dešimties metų senumo mįslę. Ankstyvos saulėgrįžos valandomis, Jovaro įduboje, Adriano sienoje, kuri stūkso tarp Nortumbrijos kalvų, randami dešimtį metų išgulėję merginos palaikai.
Istorijoje daug nenumatytų vingių ir posūkių, painių ir intriguojančių detalių, mažiau saldžios meilės, kas tikrai buvo gerai.
Labai lengvai skaitosi, knyga tikras page turner'is.
Šioje dalyje man pritrūko gilesnio ritualinių žmogžudysčių vaizdo ir jų reikšmių. Norėjosi nerti dar giliau į kulto "reikalus" ir tradicijas. O taip pat dar labiau norisi išlukštenti pagrindinį knygų serijos personažą - Rajeną. Viliuosi, jog dar yra ką lukštenti ir galėsime susidaryti platesnį vaizdą.
Kas mane labiausiai žavi šioje knygų serijoje?
Jog serijos dalis sieja ne tik pagrindinis knygos veikėjas, bet ir daug kitų detalių kurių tarpe ir kiti knygos veikėjai.
Tai pirma tokio tipo knygų serija, kurią skaitau ir man tai labai patinka. Kaip geras mini serialas.
Jog patirtumėt didžiausią malonumą skaitant šią knygų seriją, rekomenduoju pradėti nuo pirmosios dalies. Joje atskleidžiami svarbūs siužeto vingiai. -
Daca primul volum mi-a adus aminte de seria Shetland scrisa de Ann Cleeves, acest al doilea volum a fost cat se poate de departe, dar mi-a dat mai multe indicii in privinta seriei. In primul rand volumele sunt foarte legate intre ele, chiar nu ar trebui citite separat. Daca v-a placut ideea de baza a serialului Mentalistul, aceea a unei organizatii secrete, inflitrata prin toate mediile sociale, cu puteri nebanuite, o sa va placa si seria. Doar ca aceasta organizatie veche de mai bine de o suta de ani are si anumite tente religioase.
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Labai įtraukiantis inspektoriaus Rajeno detektyvas👏☺️
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Sycamore Gap by LJ Ross
Many thanks to the author and Maxine at Booklover Catlady Publicity Services for my review copy of Sycamore Gap.
I was super excited to get a copy of this book, as I had read Louise's previous book in the series, Holy Island and loved it. You can read my review for Holy Island here.
About the book: (via Goodreads)
The past never stays buried for long...
Detective Chief Inspector Ryan believes he has put his turbulent history behind him. Then, in the early hours of the summer solstice, the skeleton of a young woman is found inside the Roman Wall at Sycamore Gap. She has lain undiscovered for ten years and it is Ryan's job to piece together her past.
Enquiry lines cross and merge as Ryan is forced to face his own demons and enter into a deadly game of cat and mouse with a killer who seems unstoppable.
Murder and mystery are peppered with a sprinkling of romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunnit set amidst the spectacular scenery of Hadrian's Wall country in Northumberland.
My thoughts:
Sycamore Gap follows on from the events in Holy Island. DCI Ryan is tasked with a murder investigation following the discovery of skeletal remains in Hadrian's Wall. As past and previous cases collide, the investigations have sever implications for everyone involved.
I loved the pace of this book. Having read (and loved) Holy Island, I was keen to see how the events in this book would play out so I read it as fast as possible.
DCI Max Ryan is a great character! He has been through a lot but he still manages to keep a strong exterior, while he's fighting his inner demons. Anna is also back in this book. I really like her character, she's feisty and well able to handle Ryan.
Sycamore Gap is a completely thrilling read. The fact that it merges past and previous investigations is fantastic. You get more background on The Hacker case along with tying in with the ritualistic murders that took place on Holy Island in the previous book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even more than I did Holy Island, so much so that I gave it 5 ⭐️ on Goodreads after finishing it last night.
My thanks again to Louise and Maxine for my review copy.
Happy reading -
Another brilliant piece of writing from LJ Ross. A body found after many years by chance or is it? Is it the same killer as before, or a copycat or someone as yet undiscovered? Unknown they maybe but they know about Ryan and his life, girlfriend and contacts. Is "the circle" still active or is this completely different? Police are not always what they seem- or are they? Somethings are left undiscovered which is where the next book , I hope, will clarify things even more.
A standalone book although follows on from Holy Island and best read as a sequel. Again scenarios and characters are very real and I can also picture this as a TV film/drama. 9.5/10 from me only because it leads into the next book and although an ending it's not quite (if that makes sense- and the next book hasn't been published yet!) Still unputdownable and can't wait for the next one!
I was given a free copy of this book for an open and honest review. -
*Victims and Coverups*
DCI Ryan is facing another tough case and there is a personal undertone as he comes face to face with the man responsible for a horrific crime that personally touched his family. Ryan has to muster up his strength as the latest kills are a copycat? Or are they? Whilst this is going Ryan is not only fighting criminals from outside but he is slowly picking away at leaks within the force. Now are there other forces at play? If so how far reaching does it go? Who can he trust and who is hellbent at trying to hide their true identity? Are they hiding in plain sight? This was a great ride and I cannot wait to see what happens next…… -
Well, it was a bit better than the first one, which I suppose is a good thing. It carried on many of the less plausible features of the plot of the first one, which sadly are still not resolved by the end. The book has pace, but not much else - the characters are still weak, and the 'hero' is terribly inconsistent. The setting was unconvincing, and I had serious trouble in remembering where I was most of the time. I shan't be reading another one - I only read this one because I'd bought it at the same time as the first one and I don't like leaving books unread.
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I abandoned ship after 5 chapters, when the high priest of some ruthless secret society of bigwigs was introduced. This is just not for me: it is a police procedural novel that's 80% about procedure, like wading in thick mud. Not getting anywhere quickly.
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Autorė ir vėl nenuvylė. Kaip ir pirmoji mano skaityta knyga “Šventoji sala”, taip ir ši užkabino nuo pat pirmųjų puslapių. Jau noriu pradėti skaityti ir trečiąją serijos apie detektyvą Rajaną dalį. Jovaro įduba suintrigavo ir nepaleido iki paskutinių puslapių.
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In the second book in the DCI Ryan series, we join our eponymous hero some six months after the events on Holy Island which put his girlfriend Anna in mortal danger. Their relationship has grown immensely and while it may have seemed new and awkward in the first book, when we meet them again, it has become more rounded and comfortable. And while it is far from being the main focus of the novel, Ryan's fears for Anna do form a key part of the overall plot, informing his actions and making him take a few more calculated risks than might normally be tolerated.
Where the first book was heavy in imagery of the occult and paganism, Sycamore Gap marks a small departure from this, wandering more pointedly through the mind and actions of a true psychopath. That's not to say that the book is completely removed from the first story, that the mysterious 'Circle' is completely forgotten, there are clear and obvious links to the original story littered throughout, the presence and influence still being felt, but the killer in this story is acting more to satisfy the perverse thrill of the kill. The opening is as tense as the first book, watching as a young girl is murdered. From here on in, as her body is discovered some many years later, the story begins to build, the tension increasing with every turn of the page. As another body is discovered, and as it becomes clear that these two women may not be the killers only victims, you are taken on a real journey, Ryan, Philips, McKenzie and the team trying hard to find out who has managed to kill without detection for some ten years.
I loved the development of character in this book. We learn so much more about Ryan, about the killer he caught a little over a year ago, The Hacker, a merciless man whose actions changed Ryan's life forever. The story seems to humanise the Detective who otherwise still seems aloof and abrupt. There is more evidence of Ryan's overwhelming empathy for the family of the victims, but also his uncompromising nature when it comes to the chase. He acts instinctively, he loves without compromise, even though this still takes him by surprise. He is a man you can absolutely root for, more so here than ever before. He has a reserved, upper-middle class humour, very dry, but when partnered with Frank Phillips, it just seems to work.
As for Phillips - well I think I'm starting to love that old DS. He is the exact opposite of Ryan but together they just work. The way he looks out for the younger DCI, the respect he has for him, is brilliant to watch in action, and his relationship with DI MacKenzie, shouldn't work and yet it just does. LJ Ross has created such an enjoyable character that I want to read on as much to see what Frank will do as I do Ryan. And I know this is going to sound a little weird, but I really love The Hacker too. He is a serial killer as disturbed as they come and yet so clinical and intelligent. He is the perfect antagonist for Ryan, knows how to push his buttons, and there is a sense of him having his own agenda, one which he has yet to fulfil. The more you learn of him, of his links to Ryan's current case, the more dangerous and intriguing he seems. I loved it. I mean who doesn't love a damned good psychopath?
Once again, the murders are brutal while not overly gratuitous. There is clear evil in terms of the killers actions, but it is not represented as madness. In terms of suspects Ross creates enough diversion and misdirection that you truly believe it could be one of a number of people. My only warning is to any one who listens to the audio book. I did, and the way in which certain characters were read made it fairly clear who had done what. Had I been reading it I don't believe I would have guessed so readily as Ross was deft in creating many possibilities, but it is always one of those risks when creating a book rich in regional accents. Unless you change accents of a character mid text, which would be irritating and feel a little like a cheat, then it can be too easy to understand the path of the story.
It didn't make me enjoy the book any less. I loved the plot, the setting, as beautifully depicted as it was in the first book, the pacing is pitch perfect, and the characters are superb. When I read the final few chapters, despite all I thought I knew, I was still second guessing myself and the tension at the end was such that I felt like my heart was in my mouth. The number of characters put in true peril throughout... Well, it's just plain mean Ms Ross.
As I said before, I love this series and I have raced through the first three books so quickly - my review of Heavenfield will follow very shortly - that I need to pace myself for books four and five. It is a strange feeling. I want to read on. I want to know what happens. But I am oh so scared of reaching the end too. They're really that good. -
I bought and read ‘Holy Island’ the debut novel by an exciting new author - L J Ross. I was fascinated by this first truly spell-binding story and deeply impressed by the quality of style and content. As I live in the area and know Holy Island well this also drew me to the book.
When ‘Sycamore Gap’ her second novel came onto the scene I wanted it immediately. I was kindly given a free copy to read by a fellow Goodreads author who had admired the first in the DCI RYAN series in return for a review. I am more than happy to do so after being as equally gripped by this brilliant next book in the series.
Sometimes a second novel can be perhaps a little hard to follow when your debut novel has been so successful, rising to number one in the Kindle charts; but not in this case.
She has set this stunning and fast paced second novel in the Durham area, again a place I am familiar with, so this is an added attraction for me as I was born and brought up in the North East of England and my family came from the Durham area.
Back to the book however - which if anything is even better and more complex in its twists and turns than in the first of the series.
In this second darker, terrifying and haunting novel, DCI Ryan’s strength of character is much more intimately drawn, as we follow his tortuous ongoing battle with his moral dedication to his job; while at the same time, he has to cope with his personal intimate and emotional traumas, whilst in search for this macabre serial killer. It soon becomes apparent that there are parallels here with his personal tragedy described in the first book.
Characters from her previous book and added new ones increase the reader’s interest in this compelling novel packed with ongoing developments.
The dialogue in both her new and old characters is natural without resorting to the over-use of local accents. The more personal relationships in DCI Ryan’s life both professional and private are detailed and more deeply drawn. They are eminently believable and beautifully described, with love, humour and trust clearly shown between himself and Anna and also the close interaction with Phillips, his second in command. I was brought close to tears on more than one occasion.
There are obviously some references to the bizarre rituals andevents in her first novel so it would perhaps help to have read the excellent ‘Holy Island’ first; though I feel it can still be read on its own and enjoyed on its own merits.
This book deals too with some shocking revelations re some of the characters. I do not like too many spoilers so will not say anything further on that subject.
The evil antagonists are equally well drawn; all of them so different in their personalities; as the author delves into the inner workings of twisted minds. I was mesmerised by each one, not knowing for sure who the killer was among them, or if there will be more than one killer. There are clues here and there throughout the book which may well lead discerning readers to work out the hidden “baddies”
Also there are unanswered questions left hanging as the book ends. This means there will be at least one more book, which has left me frustrated in a sense but excited at looking forward to the next one.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Buy it! You will not be disappointed.
