BOOK BLURB
During 1974 and 1975 the IRA subjected London to a terrifying bombing campaign. In one day alone, they planted seven bombs at locations across central London. Some were defused – some were not.
Jane Tennison is now a fully-fledged detective. On the way to court one morning, Jane passes through Covent Garden Underground station and is caught up in a bomb blast that leaves several people dead, and many horribly injured. Jane is a key witness, but is adamant that she can’t identify the bomber. When a photograph appears in the newspapers, showing Jane assisting the injured at the scene, it puts her and her family at risk from IRA retaliation.
‘Good Friday’ is the eagerly awaited date of the annual formal CID dinner, due to take place at St Ermin’s Hotel. Hundreds of detectives and their wives will be there. It’s the perfect target. As Jane arrives for the evening, she realises that she recognises the parking attendant as the bomber from Covent Garden. Can she convince her senior officers in time, or will another bomb destroy London’s entire detective force?
BOOK REVIEW
Sometimes being in the wrong place at the right time can be seen as a blessing. For Jane being there when a bomb goes off in Covent Garden will be a blessing as she survives the explosion, but it’s also the start of an investigation into the deadly crimes committed by the IRA. The IRA have been running a campaign of terror by planting bombs around London and setting them off. Caught up in the blast along with Jane is an elderly woman who saw the bombers face and who can identify them. Given a police guard the woman is in a critical condition so it’s up to Jane to try to remember what she saw that day. As the investigation takes hold Jane’s personal life is also moving on, she buys her own place , she reconciled with an old friend and starts dating. Yet all is not what it seems and Jane must again face a deadly game of cat and mouse as the race to find the bombers gains ground.
It’s been a great journey so far reading about the life and times of Jane Tennison, as someone who loved the TV series it’s been insightful to learn how Jane’s mind works. Jane is now out on her own with regard her living in her own flat, and more and more she is becoming more confident of her talents. With every book she is morphing more into the hard, strong, opinionated woman that Helen Mirren portrayed so brilliantly on screen. It’s also clear that the author is getting more into her stride with the flow and content of the books. Lynda is showing the readers how her skill set has evolved and will evolve to make her the queen of the screen with her work. It’s a fast paced thriller with twists and turns aplenty, with a sprinkle of romance and new friendships formed. Lynda is able to transport the reader back in time to an era filled with fear, terror, male dominated work places and a way of policing that will seem almost medieval to some. Yet that was true to the life and times of a female in the early 70’s trying to forge a career against all odds.
My thanks to Tracy Fenton and Zaffre books for my chance to read and review the Tennison books. As always they are my own thoughts and opinions on the book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She trained for the stage at RADA and worked with the National Theatre and RDC before becoming a television actress. She then turned to writing – and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series WIDOWS.
Her novels have all been international bestsellers. Her original script for the much-acclaimed PRIME SUSPECT won awards from BAFTA, Emmys, British Broadcasting and Royal Television Society as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Writer’s Award.
Since 1993 Lynda has spearheaded La Plante Productions. In that time the company has produced a stunning slate of innovative dramas with proven success and enduring international appeal.
Based on Lynda’s best selling series of Anna Travis novels, Above Suspicion, Silent Scream, Deadly Intent and Silent Scream have all adapted into TV scripts and received impressive viewing figures.
Lynda has been made honorary fellow of the British Film Institute and was awarded the BAFTA Dennis Potter Writer’s Award 2000.
On 14th June 2008 Lynda was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List (Writer and Producer for services to Literature, Drama and to Charity).
On 3rd October 2009, Lynda was honoured at the Cologne Conference International Film and Television Festival with the prestigious TV Spielfilm Award for her television adaptation of her novel, Above Suspicion.
Books penned by Lynda La Plante include: The Legacy, The Talisman, Bella Mafia, Entwined, Cold Shoulder, Cold Blood, Cold Heart, Sleeping Cruelty, Royal Flush, Above Suspicion, The Red Dahlia, Clean Cut, Deadly Intent and Silent Scream, Blind Fury (this entered the UK Sunday Times Bestsellers List at number 1 having sold 9,500 copies in its first two weeks), Blood Line, Backlash, Wrongful Death, and Twisted, which have all been international best-sellers.
In Feb 2012 Lynda’s chilling tale of THE LITTLE ONE was published in conjunction with Quick Reads through Simon & Schuster UK.
Lynda’s book Tennison, was published on 24th September 2015 and is the prequel the highly acclaimed Prime Suspect. The story charts Jane Tennison’s entry into the police force as a 22 year old Probationary Officer at Hackney Police Station in 1973.
Lynda La Plante is published in the UK by Simon & Schuster.
Lynda La Plante is published in the US by HarperCollins Publishers.
booksbehindthetitle 