Tennison by Lynda La Plante
Today marks the start of another exciting project where I will be reading the whole of a series! This time it is the ‘Tennison’ series by Lynda La Plante. This was a ground breaking series when it first came out and I can't wait to dive in and experience it for the first time!
From the creator of the award-winning ITV series Prime Suspect, starring Helen Mirren, comes the fascinating back story of the iconic DCI Jane Tennison.
In 1973 Jane Tennison, aged 22, leaves the Metropolitan Police Training Academy to be placed on probationary exercise in Hackney where criminality thrives. We witness her struggle to cope in a male-dominated, chauvinistic environment, learning fast to deal with shocking situations with no help or sympathy from her superiors. Then comes her involvement in her first murder case.
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 latest 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.
Review
‘Tennison’ is a prequel book for the main series which takes place in the 1990’s. This book takes us back to when Jane Tennison is a probationer with the Metropolitan Police in 1973. She is at the beginning of her career, fresh out of police college and is based at the Hackney station in London.
I have to admit although I was aware of the TV series I never actually watched it! Therefore, I was coming to this character as a complete newbie, with no preconceptions of how the character should be etc. I loved dear Jane! She is intelligent, quick on the uptake, doesn't suffer fools easily and has a naivety that you just know is going to get quashed as she makes her way through her career.
The setting of 1970s London was brilliant, with references to the culture and music that made me head on over to Spotify and listen along with Jane! The misogynist aspects of the police force at the time were highlighted and were a reference to how women’s place in society was changing and those women who pushed against the boundaries found it a hard place to be. The pranks and and childish quips came across as very authentic and the sexual harassment was probably an everyday occurrence at this time.
I loved getting to meet Jane Tennison and I can't wait to find out more!
