‘Good Friday’ is the third tense and compelling episode of young WDC Jane Tennison’s (Prime Suspect fame) early ambitions to join the flying squad. From being a relative novice thrown in at the deep end with predominately male colleagues calling all the shots, not only are there the usual dangers of the job to contend with, but the prejudice her gender automatically attracts and her parents obsessive concern for her safety.
Almost immediately a spotlight that she didn’t ask for shines right on her for reasons she hadn’t anticipated. I found myself hanging on every written word to see how this developed, as she appeared to be a serial offender of making matters worse! As time ticked on, naïve errors, imminent terrorist threats from the IRA and a steep learning curve later, the entire ordeal walks the fine line of not only making or breaking her future career prospects, but loosing or earning respect from her experienced colleagues.
I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s completely suspenseful and engaging throughout. The insight into the fear facing surveillance officers, bomb disposal and even unsuspecting members of the public felt genuinely alarming. That aside, Jane Tennison has to live her private life outside the force with all the drama that creates too. As the two frequently overlap, I became really taken by her character for the tenacity and vulnerabilities she displayed.
What was also interesting was the era, as the communication and investigative differences between 1970s policing and now showed how old-fashioned instinct and legwork were all these characters could rely on to catch a killer – no digital technology or mobile phones to exchange or chase up details, it’s face to face contact or borrow a land line, which only enhances the frustration when urgent developments arise.
“Good Friday” is a well-written and thoroughly engaging read. I’ll admit I’m keen to read more about Tennison’s early life and will keep my eyes peeled for future additions in this series. For now I’m happy to recommend this one as a standalone – I’ve not read the previous two books and it didn’t hinder my enjoyment in any way.
Almost immediately a spotlight that she didn’t ask for shines right on her for reasons she hadn’t anticipated. I found myself hanging on every written word to see how this developed, as she appeared to be a serial offender of making matters worse! As time ticked on, naïve errors, imminent terrorist threats from the IRA and a steep learning curve later, the entire ordeal walks the fine line of not only making or breaking her future career prospects, but loosing or earning respect from her experienced colleagues.
I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s completely suspenseful and engaging throughout. The insight into the fear facing surveillance officers, bomb disposal and even unsuspecting members of the public felt genuinely alarming. That aside, Jane Tennison has to live her private life outside the force with all the drama that creates too. As the two frequently overlap, I became really taken by her character for the tenacity and vulnerabilities she displayed.
What was also interesting was the era, as the communication and investigative differences between 1970s policing and now showed how old-fashioned instinct and legwork were all these characters could rely on to catch a killer – no digital technology or mobile phones to exchange or chase up details, it’s face to face contact or borrow a land line, which only enhances the frustration when urgent developments arise.
“Good Friday” is a well-written and thoroughly engaging read. I’ll admit I’m keen to read more about Tennison’s early life and will keep my eyes peeled for future additions in this series. For now I’m happy to recommend this one as a standalone – I’ve not read the previous two books and it didn’t hinder my enjoyment in any way.