“The Last Thread puts the reader in the driving seat of a complex murder investigation with all the political and operational pressures that investigations engage.”
In addition to his paid supervisory role, DCI Doug Sterling works as an unpaid negotiator for the Worcester Police. Just when he is preparing for an important meeting, his morning is interrupted with a call to a bridge where a teenager is threatening to jump. The morning turns tragic when the teen falls and dies. A journalist, in the right place at exactly the right time, takes a photo just when Sterling loses his grip. As a result, an internal police investigation is started and Sterling is put on leave. The investigation is to be head by Chief Inspector John Ballard, a man who has an axe to grind with Sterling, which could result in his career being sabotaged.
A few weeks later, a brutal and vicious murder takes place. Low on manpower due to it being the Easter weekend, Sterling is called in to head the investigation. A complicated and costly murder inquiry that will last almost two weeks before being brought to a conclusion.
Luckily for Sterling, he is blessed with a team that he trusts and respects, who in turn trust and respect him. His second in command, DI Edwards always has his back. DS Heal, who manages the day-to-day of the investigation is hard-working and loyal to a fault.
The murder victim was a despicable, vile man whose sordid personal life ascertained that there is no shortage of viable suspects in his death.
In the meantime, Sterling is in a new relationship with a beautiful lawyer named Ayesha and is confronted with an old flame, a policewoman who has been called in to work the case on Sterling’s team.
This was the ‘real deal’ when it comes to police procedurals. Written by a former police detective, he writes realistically of his work experience and knowledge of police procedure.
The plot was complicated, though the various threads were joined eventually until the ‘last thread’ brought the various story-lines together.
This was quite a long novel, sometimes delving into the minutiae of police procedure. It was also a novel which realistically portrayed the plight of real-life police who in addition to working long hours on their cases, must factor in tight police budgets, endless paperwork, low manpower, complicated decision making, all the while having to be cognizant of police hierarchy despite incompetent, untrustworthy men in supervisory roles. Never mind their personal lives…
It took me a few chapters to become fully immersed in this story, but once I did the pages almost turned themselves. Neither fast nor slow paced, it moved along well. I could have done with a few less pages of the day to day procedure, but all in all it was a satisfying read.
I plan to read the next DCI Doug Sterling novel in due course. (A novel which hopefully will divulge his real name.) He was an interesting and complex protagonist whom I want to get to know better.
Recommended to those readers who enjoy realistic police procedural mysteries.
I purchased a digital copy of this novel from Amazon.ca after reading a review by Cleo Bannister on her blog. Since then, the author has gifted me his second novel, which I am anxious to read when time allows.
Publication date: October 2017
Publisher: Ray Britain
ISBN: 9781999812218 ASIN:B075CWW1J4 578 pages
As a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) Ray Britain led many specialist investigations. He was also a Hostage & Crisis Intervention Negotiator, a voluntary role, that saw him involved in hostage situations, many firearms operations and numerous suicide interventions, not all of which ended happily. In those specialist roles he supported national counter-terrorism capabilities, and traveled to the USA, India, Europe, Australia and elsewhere. He received several Commendations for his work.He also worked with the Serious Fraud Office and the Home Office, London, and the Economic Crime Directorate of the City of London Police. Ray’s real-world experience gives an authentic edge to his stories, immersing the reader in the grim realities, uncertainties and frustrations of crime investigation, and of human nature. If not writing Ray might be found mountain hiking, watching rugby, skiing, reading, sailing or in the gym.
“The Last Thread” is his debut novel. His second novel to feature DCI Doug Sterling is called “Forgotten Lives” and it was published January 2021.
Follow Ray Britain on Twitter @Ray_Britain or visit his website: https://raybritain.com/
I am a member of 
However, and yes I’m finally getting to the subject of my post…. How can a book that is not yet published, which has no ARCs in circulation, get a score? And how horrible for the author if that score is very low!
This is SO UNFAIR to the author. Words fail me. Why would anyone rate a book one star without reading it? Am I missing something?
Also, when someone likes one of my reviews on Goodreads, I am inordinately pleased if it is a review that I’ve taken pains to write. I’m chuffed to bits.
Now Frankie finds herself in Mattapan, an ethnic neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts. The area is the home to many residents of Haitian descent, and many new Haitian refugees who came to the U.S. after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010. This time, Frankie is searching for a Haitian teenager named Angelique Badeau. Eleven months ago the teenager went missing. Not your average missing teen, Angelique is fifteen years old, a top student, a loyal sister and friend, who was studying hard to get into medical school.
Frankie gets herself a job in Stoney’s Bar and rents a room above the bar which she shares with the sitting tenant, a feral and hostile cat named Piper.
Frankie Elkin is a one in a million character. So unique, so broken, and so very memorable. I loved her and was sad when I turned the last page on her story.
This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Cornerstone/Random House UK via 
I wonder what would be the overlying themes of your cover choices?
Rachel Krall, a successful podcast journalist travels to a small, conservative coastal town in North Carolina to cover a rape trial. Intelligent, curious, and a champion of justice, Rachel’s podcast signoff is “I’m Rachel Krall and this is Guilty or Not Guilty, the podcast that puts you in the jury box.”
The trial goes on for two weeks, with the victim being traumatized by her cross-examination on the stand.
This review was written voluntarily and my rating was in no way influenced by the fact that I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
Paweł Kuczyński is a Polish born political art satirist and philosopher who holds anti-war sentiments as one of many of the themes for his contemporary, surrealist art.
Following his law degree where he developed an interest in criminal law, Matt Brolly completed his Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University. He reads widely across all genres. He is the bestselling author of the DCI Lambert crime novels Dead Water, Dead Eyed, Dead Lucky, Dead Embers and Dead Time; the acclaimed near-future crime novel Zero; and the US-based thriller The Controller. Matt also writes children’s books as M. J. Brolly. Matt lives in London with his wife and their two young children. You can find more out about Matt at his website 
The plot was rife with red herrings, and this fact alone will attract many readers. In my personal opinion the story was rather too far-fetched and didn’t quite live up to the outstanding premise. The true villain, when revealed, came as a surprise to me, but I felt the ending was rushed and tied up a tad too neatly. My opinion seems to be in the minority as many others thoroughly enjoyed the read. I urge you to read it and decide for yourself.
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Neil Cunningham – a homeless man who lives on London’s streets. His life was not always this way, he was once married, a father, and a qualified school teacher. Now, he and his faithful dog, Buddy sleep rough and live day to day. When a kind person puts £4 in his cup, Neil decides to go to the caf
Mutesi Nkunda – a grandmother from Rwanda who now lives in London and works as a carer at a rest home. She is very loving, caring, and positive. She adores her grown son, daughter-in-law, and six-year-old grandson, Emmanuel. After working a night shift, Mutesi meets her daughter-in-law and grandson at the caf
Abi Garcia – a successful criminal barrister, is in her late twenties. She and her partner are trying for a baby via IVF and have had many disappointments. Her career is what keeps her sane. She is due in court for an important hearing, but decides to stop for a cappuccino on the way…
Sam Ballard – is a farmer from Sussex who is married and in his mid-twenties. He has a three-year-old daughter named Julia, who he adores. He has come to the caf
Charity Norman was born in Uganda and brought up in successive drafty vicarages in Yorkshire and Birmingham. After several years’ travel she became a barrister, specializing in crime and family law in the northeast of England. Also a mediator and telephone crisis line listener, she’s passionate about the power of communication to slice through the knots. In 2002, realizing that her three children had barely met her, she took a break from the law and moved with her family to New Zealand. Her first novel, Freeing Grace, was published in 2010. Second Chances (After the Fall) was a Richard and Judy Book Club choice and World Book Night title. See You in September, her last book, was shortlisted for Best Crime Novel in the 2018 Ngaio Marsh Awards for Crime Fiction. The Secrets of Strangers is her sixth book.
Emma Kavanagh was born in Wales in 1978 and currently lives in South Wales with her husband and their one year old son. She trained as a psychologist and after leaving university, started her own business as a psychology consultant, specialising in human performance in extreme situations. For seven years she provided training and consultation for police forces and NATO and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe.
