"The Ash Doll" is the second in the brilliant Charlie Priest series written by author James Hazel and I was very excited to be reading this and had very high hopes for it. Ex D.I. turned London lawyer Charlie Priest - who suffers from dissociative disorder -
is a great main character and wholly original.
Although I've read (and adored) "The Mayfly" the first in the series, I didn't feel I needed to read it first as the only connection between them were the characters who soon developed into another completely different story anyway.
I love James Hazel's writing, he captivates me as a reader and once again, straight away I was pulled into the story within a couple of pages. However, once I reached the court case facts I'm not sure if initially I just didn't understand fully what was going on with it or whether it just didn't pique my interest but I struggled to get into the whole court scenario. Thankfully, I did finally get my head around it and once I did everything fell into place nicely and the story began in earnest for me after one of the star witnesses in the case is murdered.
Very gritty and explicit in places, which is what I like (though some readers may find some of the child abuse parts distressing), this author isn't frightened to broach subjects that need to be heard and as the story progresses I really enjoyed the intriguing plot line.
My favourite character this time was Georgie Someday, Priest's down to earth sidekick, she was the star of the book in my opinion and her professional relationship with Charlie Priest was brilliant to read. I also liked Priest's serial killing brother, who is incarcerated for his crimes playing endless games of 'Risk' and has an air about him that reminds me of Sherlock Holme's Moriarty. The use of 'Lionfish' in the plot too was ingenious and not one I've read about before.
I wouldn't say this book hit the dizzying heights "The Mayfly" did for me, following a smash hit of a debut novel can be difficult but having said that, this was still a highly entertaining and enjoyable book and I wholeheartedly look forward to book number three in the series when published.
4 stars
is a great main character and wholly original.
Although I've read (and adored) "The Mayfly" the first in the series, I didn't feel I needed to read it first as the only connection between them were the characters who soon developed into another completely different story anyway.
I love James Hazel's writing, he captivates me as a reader and once again, straight away I was pulled into the story within a couple of pages. However, once I reached the court case facts I'm not sure if initially I just didn't understand fully what was going on with it or whether it just didn't pique my interest but I struggled to get into the whole court scenario. Thankfully, I did finally get my head around it and once I did everything fell into place nicely and the story began in earnest for me after one of the star witnesses in the case is murdered.
Very gritty and explicit in places, which is what I like (though some readers may find some of the child abuse parts distressing), this author isn't frightened to broach subjects that need to be heard and as the story progresses I really enjoyed the intriguing plot line.
My favourite character this time was Georgie Someday, Priest's down to earth sidekick, she was the star of the book in my opinion and her professional relationship with Charlie Priest was brilliant to read. I also liked Priest's serial killing brother, who is incarcerated for his crimes playing endless games of 'Risk' and has an air about him that reminds me of Sherlock Holme's Moriarty. The use of 'Lionfish' in the plot too was ingenious and not one I've read about before.
I wouldn't say this book hit the dizzying heights "The Mayfly" did for me, following a smash hit of a debut novel can be difficult but having said that, this was still a highly entertaining and enjoyable book and I wholeheartedly look forward to book number three in the series when published.
4 stars