Next up is my review for Amanda James and ‘RIP Current’! Thank you to BloodHoundBooks for the blog blitz invite, as well as the ARC of the book.
DI Bryony Marshall has been on the tail of Kenny Ransom for two years. He’s involved in prostitution and trafficking, but there’s never been any real proof. To complicate matters further, Bryony’s best friend from childhood is his daughter Imogen.
Bryony worries about admitting the fact that she is trying to put Imogen’s dad away, but unexpectedly, Imogen turns on her father and helps the police. Kenny finds out and swears he’ll get his revenge.
Sick of being in the police force, Bryony visits her mother in Cornwall and considers starting a new life.
While in Cornwall, Bryony saves the life of a man caught up in a rip current in the sea.
But who is this stranger? And is Kenny really bent on revenge?
Rip Current explores the relationships between families and friends and asks who can you ever really trust.
What does TWG think?
If you’re after a novel that is jam packed with drama, secrets and lies, you have come to the right place as ‘RIP Current’ ticks all of those boxes and more.
DI Bryony Marshall has her work cut out trying to put notorious bad boy, Kenny Ransom, in jail. After two years of coming close and falling at the last hurdle, Bryony knows thats he needs to nail him once and for all. Luckily his daughter, Imogen, doesn’t think much of family loyalty as she ends up helping Bryony in more ways than one. Of course things would be a lot simpler if they went to plan, but Bryony knows full well that shizzle can hit the fan at any point, especially when Kenny Ransom has eyes and ears in the most unusual places.
‘RIP Current’ is a really tense read. There was so much gritty drama to sink my teeth into, I couldn’t help but sit back and enjoy the rollercoaster ride I was about to embark on. Multiple times whilst reading this novel, I felt myself questioning every single characters motives, including Imogen’s, as I felt unable to trust any of them except Bryony. If you can imagine a room full of people with red question marks over their heads, you’ll see what constantly went around my head whilst reading ‘RIP Current’ – and no, that isn’t a bad thing! It was as though I had targeted the characters with ‘guilty until proven innocent’.
Even though I enjoyed the majority of this book, I couldn’t help but feel that the pace was a little bit too slow at certain points. When the hustle bustle and gritty events happened, the pace was on fire, but when there wasn’t much happening, I felt that the pace slowed right down, making me feel as though I was reading a completely different book.
However, one part in particular made my jaw drop in shock (no, I’m not telling which bit), and I thought that the author did a belter of a job dropping that bombshell when she did as it put the entire novel on a completely different level.
All in all, ‘RIP Current’ was an intense, jam packed novel which left me questioning the word ‘trust’ and everything it stood for. I am looking forward to reading more from this author, that’s for sure!
About the author.
Amanda has written since she was a child, but never imagined that her words would be published, given that she left school with no real qualifications of note apart from an A* in how to be a nuisance in class. Nevertheless, she returned to education when her daughter was five and eventually became a history teacher. Then in 2010, after many twists and turns, the dream of becoming a writer came true when her first short story was published. Amanda has written many short stories and has six novels currently published.
Amanda grew up in Sheffield but now has realised her lifelong dream of living in Cornwall and her writing is inspired every day by the dramatic coastline near her home. She has sketched out many stories in her head while walking the cliff paths. Three of her mystery/suspense novels are set there, Somewhere Beyond the Sea, Summer in Tintagel and the Behind the Lie. Rip Current is also set in Cornwall and will be published by Bloodhound Books in April 2018.
Amanda, known to many as Mandy, spends far more time than is good for her on social media and has turned procrastination to a fine art. She can also usually be found playing on the beach with her family, or walking the cliff paths planning her next book.
Amanda‘s blog – http://mandykjameswrites.blogspot.com/
Twitter – @akjames61
Facebook mandy.james.33
The Writing Garnet 