Vengeance Street by Louise Sharland
A disgraced probation officer’s clients are falling victim to a vicious killer—but will anyone believe what she has to say?
Grace Midwinter is at breaking point. Following a dreadful mistake at work, her career as a probation officer is hanging by a thread. Then her clients start dying in grotesque and premeditated ways. When one ex-offender is beaten and dumped in the harbour, and another grisly corpse is discovered soon afterwards, Grace can’t help but dredge up her recent past.
Rumours swirl about conspiracies and vendettas, some involve Grace and her colleagues. Grace discovers that the deaths have been made to look like the sordid results of a gangland turf war but are hiding something else. Can she persuade the people in power that her suspicions could be correct?
Grace knows she’s in trouble. She just doesn’t realise how deep. If only she could tell her friends from her enemies . . .
“A fresh new talent.” —Phoebe Morgan, author of The Babysitter on The Lake
Review
‘Vengeance Street’ is a tense novel that tantalises from the get-go right up till the end! This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be last, especially if this turns into a series. It was a refreshing change to see a crime book from the viewpoint of a probation officer and since I enjoy Noelle Holten’s books so much, I was eager to pick this one up. Spoiler alert - it was a cracking read!
Grace is a probation officer with a heart. She really does care about her clients and their rehabilitation prospects. Yes, they have committed crimes but she wants to make a difference. Grace is floundering though after a mistake leads to horrible consequences and the death of a young girl. She feels responsible and is also battling with her teenage daughter constantly! When two clients from her probation centre are found dead she begins to wonder if the cases are related and starts to investigate their backgrounds. What she finds out may rock her whole world?!
Grace is a brilliant protagonist - she is still hoping her job makes a difference and her personal life makes her come across as realistic and relatable. I liked her reluctance to be involved with the church her daughter is involved with and how that issue was explored. This does touch on some dark issues but is done with a light touch and it doesn't overwhelm the reading experience. I flew through this in one day and I am looking forward to see what this author is doing next.
Let me know if you pick this one up!
