Action packed, take no prisoners, read!

Death at Dead Man's Stake (Jessica Raker Thriller #1) by Nick Oldham     

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow! A new series from Nick Oldman. Sergeant Jessica Raker, a member of the armed response team shoots dead a jewel thief a split second before he opens up on her. There’s an immediate grilling and inquiry from the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Her identity is protected during the court case. Jessica is cleared.

However word on the street is Jessica has had a hit taken out on her. Costigan, the Detective Chief Inspector who gives her the news is gunned down as they’re both returning from coffee. Was he the target or was Jessica?

Jessica refuses witness protection but takes a position at Clitheroe Police station, Lancashire, where she came from. It’s a promotion.

The constable who’s temporarily filled the position nose is out of joint. Jessica hopes he won’t be awkward but she’s not going to take any grief from him. Her misogynist governor is not pleased and despite calling in favors still can’t find out how Jessica obtained the position.

The patch she’s assigned to starts with a bang. An older man from the Pendleton Care Home has drowned. Jessica is suspicious! 

Then there’s Maggie Horsefield. They’d been together all school. Maggie now runs the family scrapyard business and it seems it might be linked to the drug trade.

Then everything breaks lose and Jessica finds herself fighting for her life.

Must admit to staying up reading this to the wee small hours of the morning.

Can’t wait to read the next Jessica Raker novel

A Severn House ARC via NetGalley.                                              

Many thanks to the author and publisher.