Mari Hannah: Stone and Oliver Series (Books 1 – 3)

‘Brand new series. Same top-notch writing.’ Eva Dolan

Book blurb

The Lost

‘He was her child. The only one she’d ever have. It would kill her to learn that he was missing.’

Alex arrives home from holiday to find that her ten-year-old son Daniel has disappeared.

It’s the first case together for Northumbria CID officers David Stone and Frankie Oliver.

Stone has returned to his roots with fifteen years’ experience in the Met, whereas Oliver is local, a third generation copper with a lot to prove, and a secret that’s holding her back.

But as the investigation unfolds, they realise the family’s betrayal goes deeper than anyone suspected. This isn’t just a missing persons case. Stone and Oliver are hunting a killer.

My thoughts 

The opening book of the Stone and Oliver Series and what a find! Mari Hannah has the gift of writing a police procedural, if you will, which is gripping and and excellently portrayed. The characters are enjoyable and well drawn. DS Frankie Oliver is 3rd generation police it’s in her DNA and it’s her life. DI David Stone has taken a demotion to move back to his roots. They both have demons but it only drives them to be better at what they do and they are good. The storyline is fascinating and will keep you gripped. Set in the North East Mari Hannah’s obvious knowledge – and love – of the area shines throughout and brings it to life further enhancing what is already a terrific book.

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The Insider

‘It was the news they had all been dreading, confirmation of a fourth victim.’

When the body of a young woman is found by a Northumberland railway line, it’s a baptism of fire for the Murder Investigation Team’s newest detective duo: DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver.

The case is tough by anyone’s standards, but Stone is convinced that there’s a leak in his team – someone is giving the killer a head start on the investigation. Until he finds out who, Stone can only trust his partner.

But Frankie is struggling with her own past. And she isn’t the only one being driven by a personal vendetta. The killer is targeting these women for a reason. And his next target is close to home…

My thoughts 

The second Oliver and Stone book and it continues in the same excellent style drawing you in immediately and keeping you gripped throughout. This is a tense storyline were we continue to get to know Frankie and David and become further invested in their characters and lives. I really enjoy how Mari Hannah writes stories that are well detailed in police procedure whilst still delivering a terrific, pacy tale which keeps you turning the pages and guessing until the very end.

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The Scandal

‘Some fear is real, some imagined.’

When an young man is found stabbed to death in a side street in Newcastle city centre in the run up to Christmas, it looks like a botched robbery to DCI David Stone. But when DS Frankie Oliver arrives at the crime scene, she gets more than she bargained for.

She IDs the victim as Herald court reporter, thirty-two-year old Chris Adams she’s known since they were kids. With no eyewitnesses, the MIT are stumped. They discover that when Adams went out, never to return, he was working on a scoop that would make his name. But what was the story he was investigating? And who was trying to cover it up?

As detectives battle to solve the case, they uncover a link to a missing woman that turns the investigation on its head. The exposé has put more than Adams’ life in danger. And it’s not over yet.

My thoughts 

Each Oliver and Stone book gets better and here, in the third, we are thrown straight into a tense scene with Nancy desperately trying to get away before her absence is spotted but she soon realises someone is following her.

Then a body is found in a Newcastle side street, a young man stabbed to death. Oliver and Stone are on the case but it’s a bit personal for Frankie because this is a childhood friend and neighbour – Chris Adams.

In this a beautifully woven story we follow the investigation as it leads to what Chris was writing an expose on and brings into danger someone very close to the two officers.

The cast of supporting characters are being brought more into this story which makes for a more interesting storyline as we can veer, at times, away from the strict police procedural to add layers and depth to the story.

Another wonderful and well written book which will keep you gripped and and leave you wanting more of these terrific books.

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My thoughts

In case you’re not sure I really like these books. The characters are realistic, well, portrayed and likeable.

The plotting is really good and remains believable whilst keeping you guessing and offering some unexpected results. They are well paced and I found it fascinating to follow the workings of the main protagonists minds and how they have to work within police policy and procedures. Mari Hannah does this without her stories becoming pedestrian but, rather, maintains the tension and keeps you gripped.

This is a terrific series, each book gets better – although how that can be when the first book was soo good I’m not sure – and which I certainly recommend and look forward to reading more of.

 

Cocktail Time!

One of the characters in this series enjoys the odd cocktail so, just for a bit of fun, here are recipes for two mentioned in the books.

Here’s a recipe for an Icelandic ice tea cocktail, shown here in a hurricane glass

Or, here’s one for a Strawberry Daiquiri

And for those who prefer or are ‘on duty’ here are 10 non-alcoholic drinks 🥛  Enjoy! 🍸 🍹  🍸

 

Thanks

I would like to thank Orion Publishing via NetGalley for eCopies of The Insider and The Scandal. All thoughts are my own, I have not received any payment for the review of these books.

I purchased an eCopy of The Lost and look forward to buying and reading the new Stone and Oliver books …..

“And now to the BIG news. I have just signed a new contract for three more books with Orion and can finally tell you that the first to be published – THE DESCENT – is a KATE DANIELS title. Yes, Kate is coming in March 2020 and then two more in the Stone and Oliver series.” Mari Hannah

Information

The Lost         On Sale: 22nd March 2018      ISBN-13: 9781409174066

The Insider    On Sale: 1st November 2018   ISBN-13: 9781409174080

The Scandal   On Sale: 7th March 2019         ISBN-13: 9781409174103

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The Author

Mari Hannah is a multi-award-winning author whose authentic voice is no happy accident. A former probation officer, she lives in rural Northumberland with her partner, an ex-murder detective. Mari turned to script-writing when her career was cut short following an assault on duty. Her debut, The Murder Wall (adapted from a script she developed with the BBC) won her the Polari First Book Prize. Its follow-up, Settled Blood, picked up a Northern Writers’ Award. Her Kate Daniels series is in development with Stephen Fry’s production company, Sprout Pictures. She is currently Reader in Residence for Harrogate International Crime Writing Festival. Mari’s body of work won her the CWA Dagger in the Library 2017, an incredible honour to receive so early on in her career.

Mari Hannah, has taken over the mantle of Programming Chair from Lee Child for the 2019 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

This year, @MariWriter has been shortlisted for the #DIVAAwards19 Wordsmith of the year award! 😀 divaawards.co.uk

Find out more by following Mari on Twitter @mariwriter or visiting her website www.marihannah.com

 

Also by Mari Hannah

Stone and Oliver series

The Lost

The Insider (Stone and Oliver 2)

The Scandal (Stone and Oliver 3)

Mari Hannah has signed with Orion for a further two books in this series – coming soon!

Kate Daniels series

The Murder Wall

Settled Blood

Deadly Deceit

Monument to Murder (aka Fatal Games)

Killing for Keeps

Gallows Drop

The Descent is due out in 2020

Ryan & O’Neil series

The Silent Room

The Death Messenger