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DS Sara Hirst #1
Under Violent Skies
Set under the brooding skies of North Norfolk. Meet Sara Hirst as she searches for her lost father and finds that great beauty can conceal great violence.
Detective Sara Hirst has moved to Norfolk Police's Serious Crimes Unit, leaving behind her mother in London. Her mother won't tell Sara the truth about her father. Sara has come to Norfolk to find out why he abandoned her.
Her first call-out is a decomposing body discovered in a ditch on a local farm. How does the murder relate to a recent spate of farm thefts and who wanted the man dead?
Then the case grows very personal ...
Detective Sara Hirst has moved to Norfolk Police's Serious Crimes Unit, leaving behind her mother in London. Her mother won't tell Sara the truth about her father. Sara has come to Norfolk to find out why he abandoned her.
Her first call-out is a decomposing body discovered in a ditch on a local farm. How does the murder relate to a recent spate of farm thefts and who wanted the man dead?
Then the case grows very personal ...
281 pages, Paperback
First published September 22, 2020
About the author
Judi Daykin
14 books50 followersYorkshire born, Judi has lived, worked and made theatre in Norfolk for the last forty years. She completed her MA in Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) at the University of East Anglia (UEA), and her debut novel was shortlisted for the Little, Brown UEA writer's prize in 2019.
'I love the beautiful, vast skies and watery landscapes of Norfolk. Our home in a village on the north coast can feel wonderfully remote, even though the nearest town is only a few miles away. I can't imagine living anywhere better than this.'
Judi is also a working actor, and has been known to twiddle the knobs on the sound desk for the variety shows at Cromer Pier. She runs her own theatre company, Broad Horizons, specialising in commissioning new plays recovering and retelling women's stories.
'I love the beautiful, vast skies and watery landscapes of Norfolk. Our home in a village on the north coast can feel wonderfully remote, even though the nearest town is only a few miles away. I can't imagine living anywhere better than this.'
Judi is also a working actor, and has been known to twiddle the knobs on the sound desk for the variety shows at Cromer Pier. She runs her own theatre company, Broad Horizons, specialising in commissioning new plays recovering and retelling women's stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
November 7, 2020
Detective Sara Hirst left London and her mother to join the small Norfolk Police Station’s Serious Crimes Unit, hoping she would settle in well, and also have some success in finding the father who had deserted her when she was only two years old. Sara didn’t have a lot of information about her father, except an old box with letters inside.
Sara’s first day with her new unit was fraught with bitterness as the boss hadn’t bothered to mention her starting. The shock of the others, one of whom thought she would have Sara's job, made Sara uncomfortable – not a good start. When the team was called out to a body in a ditch, the subsequent investigation uncovered many secrets. It also unexpectedly connected to another case the police were investigating. What would be the outcome for Sara? Would this first week in her new job also be her last?
Under Violent Skies is author Judi Daykin’s debut novel, and it’s a fast paced, tension filled crime procedural which I enjoyed very much. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel, and I hope it’s the beginning of a series, as I’d be keen to read more about Sara and the team. There were a lot of characters, but it was easy to keep track of them all. I think my favourite is Agnes – tough, determined, and very switched on. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Sara’s first day with her new unit was fraught with bitterness as the boss hadn’t bothered to mention her starting. The shock of the others, one of whom thought she would have Sara's job, made Sara uncomfortable – not a good start. When the team was called out to a body in a ditch, the subsequent investigation uncovered many secrets. It also unexpectedly connected to another case the police were investigating. What would be the outcome for Sara? Would this first week in her new job also be her last?
Under Violent Skies is author Judi Daykin’s debut novel, and it’s a fast paced, tension filled crime procedural which I enjoyed very much. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut novel, and I hope it’s the beginning of a series, as I’d be keen to read more about Sara and the team. There were a lot of characters, but it was easy to keep track of them all. I think my favourite is Agnes – tough, determined, and very switched on. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2020
Detective Sara Hirst is starting her first day at the Serious Crimes unit, leaving behind the Met where she once worked, and her family.
On a personal note, Sara wanted to leave London in order to find her father who evidently left and never looked back. Her mother won't talk about it to anyone, and Sara wants to know why he abandoned her as an infant.
Meeting her colleagues on her first day doesn't exactly go the way she thought. The team members already resent her ... another of their team was supposed to get the job that she holds now. She is also Jamaican, meaning that she is brown-skinned .... bias does exist.
Her first case comes when a man's body is discovered in a ditch. There are been a number of farm thefts in the area .... did he see something he shouldn't have?
The biggest surprise is he is retired member of the police .... and Sara thinks this man is her father. If she tells her supervisor, he might pull her from the case. If she admits she took evidence for her own personal use, it could mean the end of her job.
This author's debut novel brings together an intricate plot with deftly drawn characters. I like how Sara's personal life blends with the professional. The ending was unexpected, and it was left open for a possible second book.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books 'n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
On a personal note, Sara wanted to leave London in order to find her father who evidently left and never looked back. Her mother won't talk about it to anyone, and Sara wants to know why he abandoned her as an infant.
Meeting her colleagues on her first day doesn't exactly go the way she thought. The team members already resent her ... another of their team was supposed to get the job that she holds now. She is also Jamaican, meaning that she is brown-skinned .... bias does exist.
Her first case comes when a man's body is discovered in a ditch. There are been a number of farm thefts in the area .... did he see something he shouldn't have?
The biggest surprise is he is retired member of the police .... and Sara thinks this man is her father. If she tells her supervisor, he might pull her from the case. If she admits she took evidence for her own personal use, it could mean the end of her job.
This author's debut novel brings together an intricate plot with deftly drawn characters. I like how Sara's personal life blends with the professional. The ending was unexpected, and it was left open for a possible second book.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books 'n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 12, 2020
This story captured and held my attention, from beginning to end. Suspense and tension sets the stage when a partially decomposed body of a man is found in a ditch on a local farm. A mystery emerges that needs to be solved that hits close to home, and later proves to be very personal to someone on the team. Meanwhile, the investigation will lead to a wave of farm thefts, other alarming discoveries, the real identity of the murder victim, and who wanted this man dead.
With good pace, some background drama, and decent character development, ”Under Violent Skies”, was an enjoyable reading debut. My thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
With good pace, some background drama, and decent character development, ”Under Violent Skies”, was an enjoyable reading debut. My thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 19, 2021
For me, the setting on the Norfolk coast was near perfect. A few years ago I had the good fortune to spend Holy Week visiting my brilliant niece Violet in Norwich, where she was a fellow at UEA, whilst staying at The Manor Hotel in Mundesley. Much of Under Violent Skies takes place within a few kilometres near Happisburgh, though I was annoyed by a reference to ‘Swaffham, wherever that was’ – the town features the beautiful parish church of St. Peter & St. Paul, that could easily pass for the setting of Dorothy Sayers’ The Nine Taylors. And I well recall the bridge at Wroxham, which recurs even steeper in my dreams. Sara Hirst is a London DS of mixed English and Jamaican parentage who has had herself assigned to Norwich in search of her father who disappeared from her life when she was young. We learn fairly early in the story that he is the murder victim in the case Sara is investigating. Naturally this creates a conflict of interest that could imperil the legal status of the result of the enquiry, which made me rather annoyed with Sara’s lack of professionalism. She regards the Norwich squad as racist provincials whilst they see her as a big-city interloper depriving them of deserved promotions. Besides the murder, we also have a nasty gang of agricultural workers from eastern Europe and a lot of missing Land Rover Defenders – these are the Land Rovers that actually work for a living, unlike the Chelsea Tractor Range Rovers. I found the subplot involving the crop picking gang unpleasantly nasty and too violent, involving abuse of women that seemed gratuitous to the story. Though this is the first of a series featuring Sara and set on the Norfolk coast, I’m not sure whether or not I’ll follow her adventures. The setting brings back so many good memories, but burning up someone alive – even though he thoroughly deserved it – seemed excessive. Still, I’d love to pass more time in East Anglia. At one point in this story, the Norwich officers find themselves in Ipswich being patronised as provincials by the Suffolk officers. I’m not sure which county to prefer: the balcony of the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club overlooking the harbour at Lowestoft the evening before the Harwich race or the stalls of Norwich Cathedral at choral evensong. Either would be heaven.
September 23, 2020
DS Sara Hirst has just begun a new job as a black woman in a mostly white environment. From the very start she is met with racism and sexism, even hazing from some at the police station from those who didn't think she deserved the job, so jealousy was also a factor. As Sara starts to work on her first case at the police station, she finds out that racism is behind the murder she is investigating.
The murder took place in a farming community and as things begin to unfold something is certainly not right. As a matter of fact, it is quite tragic. In a different narration, there are two women, one who is being held against her will and is continually being assaulted. Then there is an elderly woman whose land is at stake. Someone wants to buy it and will not take no for an answer.
But there is something more. Sara took that new job in Norwich because previously she found some information about the father she never knew. Her mother would not talk about her father but she found something that could be clues as to who he was.
This story does indeed have a lot going on. How do all these things tie together and to what extent do they affect Sara? This book pulls all these stories together in a way that begs the reader's attention. It was difficult to follow at times but it does all come together.
Under a Violent Skies is a promising debut novel by Judi Daykin. Not sure if this will eventually become part of a series, but if it does, Sara is someone easily able to relate to and it would be nice to see whether or not she manages to thrive in her work environment all while successfully managing difficult cases.
Many thanks to Joffe books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
The murder took place in a farming community and as things begin to unfold something is certainly not right. As a matter of fact, it is quite tragic. In a different narration, there are two women, one who is being held against her will and is continually being assaulted. Then there is an elderly woman whose land is at stake. Someone wants to buy it and will not take no for an answer.
But there is something more. Sara took that new job in Norwich because previously she found some information about the father she never knew. Her mother would not talk about her father but she found something that could be clues as to who he was.
This story does indeed have a lot going on. How do all these things tie together and to what extent do they affect Sara? This book pulls all these stories together in a way that begs the reader's attention. It was difficult to follow at times but it does all come together.
Under a Violent Skies is a promising debut novel by Judi Daykin. Not sure if this will eventually become part of a series, but if it does, Sara is someone easily able to relate to and it would be nice to see whether or not she manages to thrive in her work environment all while successfully managing difficult cases.
Many thanks to Joffe books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
July 18, 2022
This was offered on Amazon as free book, and I thought the Norfolk setting would appeal - as well as the emotional appeal of a young woman coming from London and hoping to find out more about the father she never knew. We soon learn the first murder she is called out on is this missing father, a retired policeman. The pieces of the plot sound appealing, but the writing is not refined and I have no interest in following this young woman through the next several books.
Free on Amazon or Kindle Unlimited
Free on Amazon or Kindle Unlimited
October 2, 2020
I have been looking forward to reading this debut by Judi Daykin and I wasn't disappointed.
Sara has moved to Norfolk to take up a new position in Norfolk's Serious Crimes Unit but she has an ulterior motive: to find her father. Her Mother was against the move so Sara is pretty much alone and being coloured means she is even more alone in an area that is largely White-British but she is determined to prove her worth in the new team and also to uncover the mystery of why her father has never been a part of her life.
She walks into her new office to an atmosphere of resentment. Elle applied and was expected to get Sara's job and the fact she was unsuccessful wasn't brought to the team's attention until Sara walked in.
Will Sara be able to hack her new life with so much against her?
This is a complex story with several strands to it which makes for a very gripping read as we learn how a simple mistake sets in motion a series of events that can only end badly. With shocks and revelations around every corner this story has more twists and turns than a roller coaster.
I did feel the characters were very complex and had difficulty getting into their heads but I am sure they will develop brilliantly over the course of the series.
A fantastic read. Thank you to the author and Joffe Books for the advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not biased in any way.
Sara has moved to Norfolk to take up a new position in Norfolk's Serious Crimes Unit but she has an ulterior motive: to find her father. Her Mother was against the move so Sara is pretty much alone and being coloured means she is even more alone in an area that is largely White-British but she is determined to prove her worth in the new team and also to uncover the mystery of why her father has never been a part of her life.
She walks into her new office to an atmosphere of resentment. Elle applied and was expected to get Sara's job and the fact she was unsuccessful wasn't brought to the team's attention until Sara walked in.
Will Sara be able to hack her new life with so much against her?
This is a complex story with several strands to it which makes for a very gripping read as we learn how a simple mistake sets in motion a series of events that can only end badly. With shocks and revelations around every corner this story has more twists and turns than a roller coaster.
I did feel the characters were very complex and had difficulty getting into their heads but I am sure they will develop brilliantly over the course of the series.
A fantastic read. Thank you to the author and Joffe Books for the advance digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not biased in any way.
June 9, 2023
Sara has left her job in London, and is now a DI in Norfolk. She hopes to find her father, who ostensibly abandoned her and her mother. She's the only Black officer on the force, and finds that there is a lot more racism, sexism, and hostility than she expected. A murder has the team wondering if it could be tied to a recent rash of thefts in the area. Could seasonal workers from Eastern Europe be involved? Trigger warning: there are some intense descriptions of trafficking and abuse if that is something you prefer to avoid.
November 15, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up
"Under Violent Skies" encompassed all of the attributes I admire in a police procedural. It had a good balance between an interesting crime plot and a personable and relatable protagonist. The setting was one of my favourites and complimented the story.
Neither fast or slow, yet perfectly paced for reading enjoyment. As well as Sara, whom I really became fond of, I also liked a few of the peripheral characters including the elderly farm woman Agnes, and the illegal Serbian woman, Lenka.
In addition to being a murder mystery, the novel spoke to themes of prejudice, illegal aliens, organized crime, people smuggling, and rural policing.
"Under Violent Skies" is the first novel in the DS Sara Hirst crime fiction series. I enjoyed it so much that I now have the next two in the series loaded on my Kindle.
"Under Violent Skies" encompassed all of the attributes I admire in a police procedural. It had a good balance between an interesting crime plot and a personable and relatable protagonist. The setting was one of my favourites and complimented the story.
Neither fast or slow, yet perfectly paced for reading enjoyment. As well as Sara, whom I really became fond of, I also liked a few of the peripheral characters including the elderly farm woman Agnes, and the illegal Serbian woman, Lenka.
In addition to being a murder mystery, the novel spoke to themes of prejudice, illegal aliens, organized crime, people smuggling, and rural policing.
"Under Violent Skies" is the first novel in the DS Sara Hirst crime fiction series. I enjoyed it so much that I now have the next two in the series loaded on my Kindle.
July 29, 2021
A good book for, I presume, a first novel. Set in Norfolk, which I always enjoy, DS Sara Hirst has taken a job in Norwich in the hope of finding out what happened to her father who left them years before. She's immediately plunged into a murder enquiry. I think this may be the first of a series, looking forward to book two
October 2, 2020
An outstanding debut! This year, several British crime novels have attempted to weave a thread of current events (Brexit, racism, nationalism) into their plots, but none of the others did it as well as Judi Daykin.
In Under Violent Skies, those issues weren't extraneous -- they were personal, integral parts of each character: the new Detective Sergeant, just arrived from London to a backwater in Norfolk; the aging farm widow with a strong will and good intentions; the Eastern European victims of human trafficking, smuggled in to Britain to pick crops and do whatever else they're forced to.
All these characters and more were fully drawn and portrayed with compassion and intelligent insight. I read fluidly though the book without any of those abrupt, pesky halts that make me question a given writer's premise and skill.
This is a great read, and I will look for more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance readers copy.
In Under Violent Skies, those issues weren't extraneous -- they were personal, integral parts of each character: the new Detective Sergeant, just arrived from London to a backwater in Norfolk; the aging farm widow with a strong will and good intentions; the Eastern European victims of human trafficking, smuggled in to Britain to pick crops and do whatever else they're forced to.
All these characters and more were fully drawn and portrayed with compassion and intelligent insight. I read fluidly though the book without any of those abrupt, pesky halts that make me question a given writer's premise and skill.
This is a great read, and I will look for more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance readers copy.
March 2, 2022
Picked this up because I liked the premise - a cop relocates from a busy city police station to a small county town to search for clues for the whereabouts of her long lost father. She becomes involved in a murder investigation that connects directly to her search and ties in with a string of agricultural robberies in the area.
This is well written and I liked the two subplots going on - one with Sara investigating the murder, the other from the POV of a human trafficking victim trying to escape her predicament. Both stories come together and I was curious to see how it turned out. Although this is Book 1, most of the story ties up neatly, with no annoying cliffhanger in sight. It's a UK book so I did have to look a lot of the phrasing up (when Sara claims she's "from the Met" for example) but it's no big deal. The author did add a glossary of UK terms, but when you put that at the end of the book it really doesn't help - I had no idea it was even there until I was done with the story.
My main gripe with this story is that when you advertise something as a crime thriller, that's what I want when I buy it. While this was an interesting crime/murder mystery book, that seems to take a backseat to the author's social commentary, and it definitely feels like this is written from a feminist POV. Only two out of the dozen or so male characters here seem like decent human beings. As a man, I grow tired of reading of how almost all the men here are either incompetent, arrogant, sexist, or racist - and these aren't even the villains of the story, who are rapists, thieves, and killers. There's also what nowadays feels like the prerequisite gay character who's scared of telling his mother he's gay, but of course she already knows and welcomes him with open arms. It's just not something I have any interest in reading about and has zero relevance to the story - why include it?
Anyway I don't want this to come over as all negative - it is a well written book and I did really enjoy the actual crime investigation part. As of writing this, the next in the series is on sale for 0.99 cents so I'm willing to try it and see if things improve.
This is well written and I liked the two subplots going on - one with Sara investigating the murder, the other from the POV of a human trafficking victim trying to escape her predicament. Both stories come together and I was curious to see how it turned out. Although this is Book 1, most of the story ties up neatly, with no annoying cliffhanger in sight. It's a UK book so I did have to look a lot of the phrasing up (when Sara claims she's "from the Met" for example) but it's no big deal. The author did add a glossary of UK terms, but when you put that at the end of the book it really doesn't help - I had no idea it was even there until I was done with the story.
My main gripe with this story is that when you advertise something as a crime thriller, that's what I want when I buy it. While this was an interesting crime/murder mystery book, that seems to take a backseat to the author's social commentary, and it definitely feels like this is written from a feminist POV. Only two out of the dozen or so male characters here seem like decent human beings. As a man, I grow tired of reading of how almost all the men here are either incompetent, arrogant, sexist, or racist - and these aren't even the villains of the story, who are rapists, thieves, and killers. There's also what nowadays feels like the prerequisite gay character who's scared of telling his mother he's gay, but of course she already knows and welcomes him with open arms. It's just not something I have any interest in reading about and has zero relevance to the story - why include it?
Anyway I don't want this to come over as all negative - it is a well written book and I did really enjoy the actual crime investigation part. As of writing this, the next in the series is on sale for 0.99 cents so I'm willing to try it and see if things improve.
September 29, 2024
A very tripping tale foe Book 1!
Perfect character development, good story, very good case. For the first book in a series, I was expecting it to be dull and drab on with mindless character development. This wss not the case, very nicely spread out.
Sara leaves London for a change of pace, moves to a very peaceful town, where she suspects her Father lives ( father she never met). However, her first case is a man beaten and strangled and left in a ditch near a farm.
She later finds out through a hazing event and DNA, that the dead man is her father.
Her new team is racist, sexist, and not exactly welcoming, but by the end she gains the trust and respect of her new team.
Under Violent Skies is a solid 5 Star read!
Perfect character development, good story, very good case. For the first book in a series, I was expecting it to be dull and drab on with mindless character development. This wss not the case, very nicely spread out.
Sara leaves London for a change of pace, moves to a very peaceful town, where she suspects her Father lives ( father she never met). However, her first case is a man beaten and strangled and left in a ditch near a farm.
She later finds out through a hazing event and DNA, that the dead man is her father.
Her new team is racist, sexist, and not exactly welcoming, but by the end she gains the trust and respect of her new team.
Under Violent Skies is a solid 5 Star read!
May 19, 2023
Sara Hirst is a police officer in London and applies for a promotion to Detective Sergeant in Norfolk, way out in the boonies, where half the locations are not even towns, just hamlets. She is joining the SCU, Serious Crimes Unit, in a town with little crime. Nobody is expecting her when she arrives and another officer had expected the promotion. Not a good start.
About 1/3 of the way into the book the story becomes personal for Sara.
There is a lot going on and it is fairly confusing, with lots of characters, a number of different plot lines. It reads fast and was an ok read.
About 1/3 of the way into the book the story becomes personal for Sara.
There is a lot going on and it is fairly confusing, with lots of characters, a number of different plot lines. It reads fast and was an ok read.
Want to read
July 11, 2022Author gift
September 12, 2020
281 pages
3 and 1 / 2 stars
DS Sara Hirst reports for the first day of her new assignment to a hostile work environment. Sara meets DC Bowen and DC Ellie. Not only are her new team mates decidedly not glad to have her join, some of the officers are sexist and hyper-critical. She meets her immediate boss, DI Edwards who doesn't seem such a bad sort. He just wanted the promotion to be internal, not for an outsider like Sara.
The story jumps right in when a decomposing body is found. It is murder. This is the first murder they have had in the quiet little village in perhaps a year. The team is excited to work it.
At the same time, a series of thefts are going on in the surrounding farming community.
A parallel story is also being told in the book. Two young women are being held against their will. One is a “cook,” and the other is used by the men for their “pleasure.” They are desperate to escape. The ever resourceful Lenka is the cook while the frightened Mouse is used and degraded. The bully boys who hold them prisoner are mean and ruthless, even to one another.
An elderly farming woman is being pressured to sell her land – for a much lower price than it is worth. She is trying mightily to resist the obnoxious neighbor whose name is Des Dixon.
Pour this all together and the reader is in for a treat. This is a very good debut novel and I am guessing that this is the first of a series featuring Sara and Edwards. It is well written and plotted. Some parts were a little weak, but overall it was a very good read, especially for a debut author. I liked Sara, but wondered at her moments of weakness. I would guess if a victim was my long lost father, I'd be upset too. I didn't feel that that whole scenario really added anything to the story though. Just a distraction.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
3 and 1 / 2 stars
DS Sara Hirst reports for the first day of her new assignment to a hostile work environment. Sara meets DC Bowen and DC Ellie. Not only are her new team mates decidedly not glad to have her join, some of the officers are sexist and hyper-critical. She meets her immediate boss, DI Edwards who doesn't seem such a bad sort. He just wanted the promotion to be internal, not for an outsider like Sara.
The story jumps right in when a decomposing body is found. It is murder. This is the first murder they have had in the quiet little village in perhaps a year. The team is excited to work it.
At the same time, a series of thefts are going on in the surrounding farming community.
A parallel story is also being told in the book. Two young women are being held against their will. One is a “cook,” and the other is used by the men for their “pleasure.” They are desperate to escape. The ever resourceful Lenka is the cook while the frightened Mouse is used and degraded. The bully boys who hold them prisoner are mean and ruthless, even to one another.
An elderly farming woman is being pressured to sell her land – for a much lower price than it is worth. She is trying mightily to resist the obnoxious neighbor whose name is Des Dixon.
Pour this all together and the reader is in for a treat. This is a very good debut novel and I am guessing that this is the first of a series featuring Sara and Edwards. It is well written and plotted. Some parts were a little weak, but overall it was a very good read, especially for a debut author. I liked Sara, but wondered at her moments of weakness. I would guess if a victim was my long lost father, I'd be upset too. I didn't feel that that whole scenario really added anything to the story though. Just a distraction.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very nice book for me to read, enjoy and review.
September 6, 2021
Under Violent Skies is a police procedural. It's set in 'Escape to the Country' territory, but there's nothing twee or cosy about life in the country here! Instead, it portrays a harsher reality of inequality and abuse, including racism, sexism, migrant workers and human trafficking - along with the other dirty crimes that take place.
To its credit, these themes are well threaded into the story, in a very realistic way, rather than tacked on to make a political point. There's no proselytising or grandstanding, no heroes or supreme villains. There are just some people who are shown to be cynically using other people for their own benefit, or turning a blind eye to it, and others showing common decency.
In many ways it's a fairly standard crime novel but the handling of these themes lifts it - I've found that it's still on my mind a couple of weeks after reading it, unlike similar books that tend to go in one eye and out the other. It's also well written and constructed.
I give this three stars rather than four because I didn't love it. While the themes are strong, the characters are less so, and the pace is rather sedate, mostly. I recommend this for anyone looking for a novel with gritty realism and a strong sense of place.
Like this review? Why not check out my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews?
To its credit, these themes are well threaded into the story, in a very realistic way, rather than tacked on to make a political point. There's no proselytising or grandstanding, no heroes or supreme villains. There are just some people who are shown to be cynically using other people for their own benefit, or turning a blind eye to it, and others showing common decency.
In many ways it's a fairly standard crime novel but the handling of these themes lifts it - I've found that it's still on my mind a couple of weeks after reading it, unlike similar books that tend to go in one eye and out the other. It's also well written and constructed.
I give this three stars rather than four because I didn't love it. While the themes are strong, the characters are less so, and the pace is rather sedate, mostly. I recommend this for anyone looking for a novel with gritty realism and a strong sense of place.
Like this review? Why not check out my book review site: BelEdit Book Reviews?
September 12, 2020
A new author for me from JOFFE Publishers and I must say it's a cracking read.
Sara moves into her new flat in central Norwich. meet's new neighbour Chris and he owns the coffee shop across the road, he seems nice but a bit keen, she has such a lot of unpacking to do after moving up from London to seek out who her real father is.
Sara is starting a new job at the police HQ in a small town in Wymondham, just a half hour away.
D.S. Sara Hirst sets off for her first day to meet the team and hope's they all get along, reports of farm thefts in the countryside of Norfolk, the character's I was soon drawn into them all as I read.
in this scenic quiet surrounding's a body in a ditch is found, and named Adam Crane is a retired Detective Sergeant it's murder and he sounds familiar to Sara only time will tell.
Wow under violent skies is a book that will shock you with a secret, that Sara needs answers too. A good first novel that I enjoyed right through to the end.
Sara moves into her new flat in central Norwich. meet's new neighbour Chris and he owns the coffee shop across the road, he seems nice but a bit keen, she has such a lot of unpacking to do after moving up from London to seek out who her real father is.
Sara is starting a new job at the police HQ in a small town in Wymondham, just a half hour away.
D.S. Sara Hirst sets off for her first day to meet the team and hope's they all get along, reports of farm thefts in the countryside of Norfolk, the character's I was soon drawn into them all as I read.
in this scenic quiet surrounding's a body in a ditch is found, and named Adam Crane is a retired Detective Sergeant it's murder and he sounds familiar to Sara only time will tell.
Wow under violent skies is a book that will shock you with a secret, that Sara needs answers too. A good first novel that I enjoyed right through to the end.
January 31, 2022
If there's a murder, it is expected that the readers will join the protagonist's journey of uncovering each layer of truth and get to the identity of the killer. However, though the protagonist doesn't know whodunit, the author makes no delay in telling the readers the identity of the Killer. So essentially you know who has done and it's just about how the protagonist finds it. I find this kind of storytelling very bland. There's absolutely no incentive to reach till the end because there was no suspense, which is very essential is a murder mystery. Or perhaps it wasn't supposed to be one. Then there were a plenty of social issue stuffed in which looked forced. Not sure if i ever return to the next book in the series.
September 9, 2020
UNDER VIOLENT SKIES opens with a covert approach under less than optimum conditions, then an attempt to escape unscathed. Does it happen...?
There's a whisper of a long held secret. Will that ever be revealed...?
Fierce conflict and tension with an unspoken undertone of threat starts to build suspense.
Something is discovered, but firey discord and volatile friction may hamper the ability to acquire important information
Shocking, grievous news regarding this inquiry increases the pressure ten fold.
The dangerous, threatening atmosphere continues to permeate throughout.
Break-neck action and menacing foreboding keep the pages flying by.
There's a whisper of a long held secret. Will that ever be revealed...?
Fierce conflict and tension with an unspoken undertone of threat starts to build suspense.
Something is discovered, but firey discord and volatile friction may hamper the ability to acquire important information
Shocking, grievous news regarding this inquiry increases the pressure ten fold.
The dangerous, threatening atmosphere continues to permeate throughout.
Break-neck action and menacing foreboding keep the pages flying by.
November 5, 2020
Detective Sara Hirst leaves her job in London and moves to Norfolk to join a Serious Crimes Unit. She is looking to advance her career but also to trace her father, who left the family many years earlier - she was unsure of the true reason why. She was hoping to meet up with him and find out..
On her first day at work a body is found, a local man violently murdered, a crime that shocks the normally staid and quiet rural community and police force.
There are undercurrents of other stories going on as well in the background: racial discrimination and human trafficking being just two of them, to add to the murder, and the mystery of her father.
An interesting and enjoyable read.
On her first day at work a body is found, a local man violently murdered, a crime that shocks the normally staid and quiet rural community and police force.
There are undercurrents of other stories going on as well in the background: racial discrimination and human trafficking being just two of them, to add to the murder, and the mystery of her father.
An interesting and enjoyable read.
September 9, 2020
Enjoyable start,to what I assume will be a series.
A good cast of characters both in the police station and outside of it.
There were a few things that struck me as a bit far fetched,but I'm sure by book 2 they will just be background.
Interested to see where it goes from here.
A good cast of characters both in the police station and outside of it.
There were a few things that struck me as a bit far fetched,but I'm sure by book 2 they will just be background.
Interested to see where it goes from here.
September 11, 2020
A solid first novel of a new series.
Interesting characters, contemporary social issues and a decent amount of drama.
Interesting characters, contemporary social issues and a decent amount of drama.
July 10, 2022
This is the first book in the series and the first I have read by this author. As far as firsts go, it's a very good read indeed.
Sara has moved to Norfolk for a fresh start in a smaller police team and also to try to find the father that she has never known. She is immediately drawn into an investigation into the discovery of a murdered man, which seems to have connections to an ongoing investigation into farm machinery robberies.
There is a fair bit going on here. We have murder, thefts and even human trafficking yet the threads are very well woven together and I found myself eager to keep reading. As characters go, I found Sara quite frustrating and naive but I liked the characters of Lenka and Agnes in particular. Now that the first investigation is out of the way and Sara has settled more into the team, I look forward to reading more in the series.
Sara has moved to Norfolk for a fresh start in a smaller police team and also to try to find the father that she has never known. She is immediately drawn into an investigation into the discovery of a murdered man, which seems to have connections to an ongoing investigation into farm machinery robberies.
There is a fair bit going on here. We have murder, thefts and even human trafficking yet the threads are very well woven together and I found myself eager to keep reading. As characters go, I found Sara quite frustrating and naive but I liked the characters of Lenka and Agnes in particular. Now that the first investigation is out of the way and Sara has settled more into the team, I look forward to reading more in the series.
October 21, 2020
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.
Detective Sergeant Sara Hirst left her job in London to join the Serious Crimes Unit of the Norfolk Police. In addition to looking for advancement, she wanted to try to track down her father, who had left the family years earlier.
On her first day in her new position, she is faced with issues of discrimination because she is an outsider, female, and multi-racial. On the same day, a murder victim is discovered in this ordinarily quiet community that has few Serious Crimes.
In addition to the mystery, the book deals with the very timely issues of illegal immigration and human trafficking.
I enjoyed this novel and hope it is the beginning of a series that follows Sara.
Detective Sergeant Sara Hirst left her job in London to join the Serious Crimes Unit of the Norfolk Police. In addition to looking for advancement, she wanted to try to track down her father, who had left the family years earlier.
On her first day in her new position, she is faced with issues of discrimination because she is an outsider, female, and multi-racial. On the same day, a murder victim is discovered in this ordinarily quiet community that has few Serious Crimes.
In addition to the mystery, the book deals with the very timely issues of illegal immigration and human trafficking.
I enjoyed this novel and hope it is the beginning of a series that follows Sara.
June 19, 2022
Loved this book. It’s an area I’m familiar with having had many family holidays here and books set in places I know with always have an extra appeal to me. I found this author as I received an ARC of the fourth book but wanted to read them in order - I was not disappointed.
Sara Hirst arrives at the Norfolk police ready to start a new job to find the team know nothing about her and a current team member thought the job was hers!
The reasons for her relocation become clear as the story progresses. She is faced with casual discrimination, hazing and dislike and wonders if she’s done the right thing.
The central characters are flawed but likeable and it’s well written and I’m looking forward to the next one and to see how the characters progress.
Sara Hirst arrives at the Norfolk police ready to start a new job to find the team know nothing about her and a current team member thought the job was hers!
The reasons for her relocation become clear as the story progresses. She is faced with casual discrimination, hazing and dislike and wonders if she’s done the right thing.
The central characters are flawed but likeable and it’s well written and I’m looking forward to the next one and to see how the characters progress.
June 6, 2023
Under Violent Skies sees DS Sara Hirst move from the Met to Norfolk - a difficult move for a young black woman. Faced with a team who wanted an internal candidate to get her job and an atmosphere of casual racism, she has a difficult start.
Hirst's colleagues don't know that her real reason for moving was to trace her father, who left during her childhood. There is a story, but her mother won't tell her. Meanwhile a murder and a series of farmyard thefts linked to a group of migrant workers keep her busy.
This is a decent novel and keeps the reader's interest. But there are too many one dimensional, stereotyped, characters and the plot relies on too many coincidences to be truly convinving.
Hirst's colleagues don't know that her real reason for moving was to trace her father, who left during her childhood. There is a story, but her mother won't tell her. Meanwhile a murder and a series of farmyard thefts linked to a group of migrant workers keep her busy.
This is a decent novel and keeps the reader's interest. But there are too many one dimensional, stereotyped, characters and the plot relies on too many coincidences to be truly convinving.
Read
July 15, 2024Unabridged audio e version read by Shiromi Arserio borrowed from Norfolk Libby App.
Recommended by a friend.
Don't get me wrong here, I enjoyed it. I liked Sara and listening to her search for her father colliding with her new job.
But it all felt a bit far fetched and stereotypical. As a Norfolk dweller for 26 years I felt as if all the stereotypes about the county were being squeezed in. Not a good depiction of a beautiful county where the majority of people are friendly and welcoming. Go pick on another county Daykin!
Sara gets away with far more than she should too - taking evidence from a crime scene.
Having just read Peter James I'm afraid this was pale in comparison. Won't be continuing with this series!
Recommended by a friend.
Don't get me wrong here, I enjoyed it. I liked Sara and listening to her search for her father colliding with her new job.
But it all felt a bit far fetched and stereotypical. As a Norfolk dweller for 26 years I felt as if all the stereotypes about the county were being squeezed in. Not a good depiction of a beautiful county where the majority of people are friendly and welcoming. Go pick on another county Daykin!
Sara gets away with far more than she should too - taking evidence from a crime scene.
Having just read Peter James I'm afraid this was pale in comparison. Won't be continuing with this series!
March 1, 2021
This was a really tight murder mystery with issues of sexism, racism, and anti-immigration issues. DI Sara Hirst has left London to work in Norfolk, a much smaller police station. She finds herself unexpected by her team and one of the only Black people on the force. A badly decomposed body is found and the team is quickly busy trying figure out what is going on. There are also issues with theft and perhaps human trafficking to deal with. It is a very busy week. Sara also has a personal issue, her father, who left when she was a baby lived in the area. She wants to find him.
The whole father issue -quitting your job and moving to a part of the country where you know no one because your father lived there 25 years ago seems strange, but it served as the reason to move. Personally, taking a week vacation seems more logical. I did enjoy the book and would like to see more of this character.
The whole father issue -quitting your job and moving to a part of the country where you know no one because your father lived there 25 years ago seems strange, but it served as the reason to move. Personally, taking a week vacation seems more logical. I did enjoy the book and would like to see more of this character.
March 26, 2021
Tightly woven story threads create a tense atmosphere
It took me a little while to engage with this book. I found the main protagonist, Sara Hirst, extremely irritating at times and, despite her personal quest, fairly unbelievable in her role as a DI recently joining her new police team. Despite this, I persevered and, in the end, became enmeshed in the different strands of storyline. I found myself afraid for Lena and Mouse, and even for Agnes and Frank, and frustrated by the slow process of the police investigations. Judy Daykin managed to weave these threads into a believable and satisfying denouement.
It took me a little while to engage with this book. I found the main protagonist, Sara Hirst, extremely irritating at times and, despite her personal quest, fairly unbelievable in her role as a DI recently joining her new police team. Despite this, I persevered and, in the end, became enmeshed in the different strands of storyline. I found myself afraid for Lena and Mouse, and even for Agnes and Frank, and frustrated by the slow process of the police investigations. Judy Daykin managed to weave these threads into a believable and satisfying denouement.
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