Book title: A rock and a hard place
Author: JD Kirk
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book in a sentence: An intriguing police procedural mystery set in the wild beauty of the Scottish highlands.
The back of the book says:
When washed-up 80s rock legend Johnny Freestone is found dead in a cave off Scotland’s North Coast 500 tourist route, it looks like a tragic accident – another celebrity lost to a reckless lifestyle.
But Police Scotland detective – and secret Freestone fan – Jack Logan isn’t convinced that the star’s death was an accident. As Logan delves into Johnny’s final days, he uncovers a trail of bitter rivalries, broken promises, and a comeback tour that wasn’t quite what it seemed.
With the Highlands’ rugged backdrop as the stage, Logan must unravel a web of secrets and lies that entangles everyone from music studios to old flames, and find out who wanted the self-styled ‘voice of a generation’ silenced for good.
Somewhere between a rock and a hard place, the truth waits to be unearthed…
A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE is the 21st book in the multi-million selling DCI Jack Logan series, and the perfect jumping on point for new readers wanting to find out what all the fuss is about.
My thoughts: Despite this being the 21st book in the DCI Jack Logan series, it was my first time picking one up. Despite the blurb promising me that it was the perfect jumping on point, I’d have to disagree.
I really enjoyed the storyline and it wasn’t difficult to follow the plot without knowing reading the previous books. However, I did feel disconnected to the characters, without their backstories, I felt like something was missing and I just couldn’t fully invest in them.
The crime element of the book was excellent and I thought the plot was cleverly written – I didn’t guess the killer until right at the last minute and there were plenty of red herrings to keep me connected to the story.
I think I’ll pick up more in this series, but will start at the beginning so I can really get to know the returning characters.
What I liked…
The plot: As I said, the actual police procedural element of the story was really well done and I enjoyed the story. The setting of the book, based in the wilds of Scotland added to the mysterious tension of the book.
What I didn’t like…
Not a stand-alone: Although I could read this book on its own and understand the story without needing to read all previous 20 books in the series, it didn’t feel like a standalone book. This meant that I felt like I was missing out on the characters histories and relationships and I couldn’t fully connect to them.
I think you’d like this book if…
You’ve previously read books in the DCI Jack Logan series. You like a cleverly plotted police procedural with a few good twists and you don’t mind jumping in mid-way through a series.
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