Following on from Cambridge Blue (reviewed earlier this month) Alison Bruce is back with her second novel to feature Detective Constable Gary Goodhew, a young driven policeman with only one thing on his mind – to solve his latest case – Available from the Book Depository & Amazon.

The Siren by Alison Bruce

Kimberley Guyver is spooked by a news report on television – Nick’s car is slowly hauled out of the Mediterranean Sea by a winch. She’d last seen the car disappear without trace in the same stretch of water. The gruesome remains of Nicholas Lawton, a Cambridge man who had disappeared from Cartagena in Spain three years earlier, had also been identified.

Cambridge Blue (DC Goodhew 1) review can be found here.

Within minutes of the news item airing, Kimberley’s phone trills, she answers immediately and arranges to meet her friend outside. She gathers Riley, her two year old son, still half asleep, and makes her way to the cemetery that lies at the back of her property. Rachel Golinski offers to look after Riley while a terrified Kimberley makes plans to leave the area.

Although in the middle of a two week holiday, DC Goodhew is thrust into a new investigation when he notices a Gwydir Street house is on fire. We soon discover the house belongs to Rachel and her husband Stefan. Kimberley returns and is in a state of shock. Not only is her friend’s house in flames but her son is also missing. Was there anyone inside? Where is Rachel and Riley?

It soon becomes apparent this is no accident and a clear case of arson – it doesn’t stop there. What evolves is a clever and well thought out crime thriller.

The arrogant and self-assured DC Kincade is back and the war between him and Goodhew shows no signs of abating – I can see this running and running! With DI Marks in command and Mel offering administrative support the usual suspects introduced in Cambridge Blue are all there – along with Bryn O’Brien his ex-schoolmate and the solitary scene with his Grandmother (I loved her character and would like to see more!). New to the squad is Sue Gully, a young WPC who struggles to fit in – much like Goodhew.

Kincade continues his mind games and clear he will stop at nothing to tarnish Goodhew’s reputation and career – I do like this macho tussle! I thoroughly enjoyed “The Siren” – the pace never lets up and the narrative flows effortlessly. If there is a third book in the Goodhew series I would like to see DI Marks regain some of his commanding presence – for whatever reason he didn’t seem as powerful in this episode.

Although he still prefers to work alone I didn’t find Goodhew as maverick as he was in Cambridge Blue, Bruce appears to have toned the young detective down – is he starting to think like a team player?

The plot is well thought out with a few twists and turns along the way and although I would like to see a more in-depth police procedural in the next novel, the storyline was strong enough to survive this omission.

I finished the book in a couple of sittings and was thoroughly entertained until its powerful dénouement. More than enough to keep you guessing, I eagerly await the third Goodhew instalment – his character is far too promising to keep in the dark for long! An excellent follow up to Cambridge Blue.

Published by Constable & Robinson the book is available from the Book Depository & Amazon.