NOT MY VALENTINE by TONY BASSETT.
Genre ... Crime fiction
Publication Date ... 18th March 2025
Estimated Page Count ... 275
Standalone 7th Book in the Detectives Roy and Roscoe series
Purchase Link ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F1YTLKNV/
Having returned from a date with her new boyfriend, Lydia is fatally attacked in her home. A burglary gone wrong or a planned assault?
Detectives from Heart of England Police investigate and try to find out more about the victim. She was much loved by family and colleagues. But maybe someone loved her too much.
Attention turns to Lydia’s boyfriend, Roman, when it transpires that he is the son of a local crime boss known to associate with the feared West Side Gang.
DS Sunita Roy believes he is hiding something, but will have to tread carefully – the criminals have connections in the force.
Despite having strong intuition, Roy is struggling. There is something missing from the picture and it could be a secret taken to the grave.
Having read books 1 and 5 {Murder On Oxford Lane and Heir To Murder}, a series I have dipped in and out of. Whilst there will of course always be those readers who prefer to read a series in order from the beginning, personally speaking, the fact that I haven't done so hasn't had any detrimental effect on my enjoyment of the books.
Faster paced than the previous books, the concept of a romantic meal on the most romantic night of the year turning into something of a murder mystery something that intrigued me.
DS Sunita Roy, a character who has come into her own throughout the books, never fails to impress, her intuition, tenacity and sheer determination making for exactly the strong, feisty female characters that I really enjoy.
Overall I thought Not My Valentine a strong addition to the series. The fact that between the main case there is also a cold case to be solved, well executed.
Tony Bassett is a former journalist who worked on regional and national newspapers in Britain for more than 40 years. He mainly reported on crime, show business, human interest and consumer topics. Now retired, he writes crime fiction.
Tony is best known for his series of novels set in the West Midlands featuring Detective Chief Inspector Gavin Roscoe, an experienced detective and family man, and his sergeant, law graduate and resourceful problem-solver Sunita Roy.
The latest novel (Book 7) concerns a glamorous blonde managing director’s secretary, Lydia Squires, who is planning to settle down with the man of her dreams after a whirlwind romance.
Tragically, her life is cut short on Valentine’s night by a brutal killer. Detectives Gavin Roscoe and Sunita Roy discover Lydia – also a part-time singer - was being stalked by an obsessed work colleague.
Could this man have slaughtered Lydia in a jealous rage or were other, more ruthless forces at work?
The fifth book in the series, Heir To Murder, was judged first in the Mystery and Suspense (Police Procedurals) category in the American Fiction Awards in June 2024.
The other titles in the collection (all published by The Book Folks) are: Murder On Oxford Lane, The Crossbow Stalker, Murder Of A Doctor, Out for Revenge and It Never Rains.
Tony has in addition written a stand-alone thriller Seat 97, about a man shot dead at a London concert hall, which was published by The Book Folks, while two further works (the crime novel Smile Of The Stowaway and the spy novel The Lazarus Charter) were published by The Conrad Press.
Tony first developed a love of writing at the age of nine when he produced a junior school magazine. A few years later, his local vicar in Tunbridge Wells, Kent staged his play about the Biblical story of Naboth's Vineyard.
At Hull University, Tony was judged Time-Life Magazine student journalist of the year in 1971.
Tony, who has five grown-up children, is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists. He lives in South-East London with his partner Lin.
With thanks to Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for organising a paper copy. One of several bloggers participating in the Blog Tour/Book Birthday Blitz of this book, agree or disagree with me, all opinions are my own; no financial compensation was asked for nor given; threats of violence towards my favourite teddy bear went unheeded as did promises of chocolate.
As well as on Pen and Paper this review {or links to it} has been shared on my personal FB page, other book sites on FB, Pinterest and GoodReads.
READ FOR THE 52 BOOK CLUB'S 2025 READING CHALLENGE.{Information here}Book 24/52. PROMPT 4: STARTS WITH AN 'N'.
Other Prompts It Might Have Been Used For ...Prompt 19: Has short chaptersPrompt 8: Set in winterPrompt 52: Published in 2025
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3 comments:
I'm glad you enjoyed this one! I'm one of those who really prefers to read a series from the beginning (except things like Agatha Christies), so I'd have to look up the first in this series.
Glad you enjoyed the book, Felicity, and thank you for your kind review. Best wishes, Tony Bassett
Felicity, Perhaps I would appreciate Sunita Roy. Though I am still not certain if I would appreciate this book. But as always thank you for your excellent review. Raven
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