Nothing Else Remains by Robert Scragg
Published by Allison & Busby
Publication Date: 21st Match 2019 (hardback & ebook), 19th September 2019 (paperback)
Genre: Crime Fiction
320 pages
Porter and Styles Book 2
Book Description:
When Max Brennan’s estranged father and then his own girlfriend go missing in quick succession, he turns to his old friend Detective Jake Porter for help. As Max is then attacked in his own home, Porter and his partner Nick Styles waste no time in investigating. But when their main suspect turns up dead, alongside a list of other targets, it seems the case is much bigger than it first appeared. With events spiraling, can Porter and Styles catch the killer before another victim is claimed?
My Review:
Nothing Else Remains is the second book in the excellent Porter and Styles series the first of which, What Falls Between the Cracks, was released in April 2018 - link to my review
The second book begins with a man moving a large quantity of cash from one bank account from another, one Mr Gordon Jackson. Or is it? Something doesn't feel right about the situation. Meanwhile Max Brennan is waiting in a coffee shop to meet the father he has never known. He's angry when he's stood up, so decides to confront his father at his home address but is told by a well-meaning neighbour that the man moved out a few days ago. Why go to the extent of arranging a meeting if the man had no intention of being around? Max goes home to wife Jen and explains what has happened, clearly disappointed by the situation.
A few days later Max returns home from work to find Jen hasn't returned from work. She hasn't called to say she will be late for any reason which is most out of character. Max calls on his friend, detective Jake Porter for advice and it's not long before an official police missing persons case is opened. Who would want to harm Jen or was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Porter himself has his demons meaning he draws himself to the attention of his boss for all the wrong reasons. All he wants to do is get on with his job of policing the streets and keeping people safe but his boss is on his case, constantly waiting for him to make a mistake. Fortunately his colleague Nick Styles has his back - the banter between the two detectives is fantastic, some witty one-liners making me chuckle at various points through the book. But Styles isn't his usual self and Porter is on his guard.
There's an underlying feeling that the Gordon Jackson scenario is linked in some way to the disappearance of Brennan's wife. Without the vital clues it's hard for the reader to make the connection but bit by bit the author drip feeds us the facts until we are sure we are on the right track. It's a steady flow of information, set out with perfect timing to keep the reader on the hook. Then, just as with the first book, the climax of the story comes in an explosion of activity. Not at all how I expected the tale to conclude there are plenty of tantalising loose ends with which the series can continue but in a way that does not leave you feeling frustrated.
I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a good detective novel. The relationship between Porter and Styles is fun yet professional, a great balance of characters and it's certainly a series with plenty of potential to run from case to case. Plus there's a hint of more to come in Porter's personal life which could add another dimension to the books.
My sincere thanks to publisher Allison & Busby for the opportunity to read this series in return for my honest review. I'm champing for book 3 already!
Nothing Else Remains is the second book in the excellent Porter and Styles series the first of which, What Falls Between the Cracks, was released in April 2018 - link to my review
The second book begins with a man moving a large quantity of cash from one bank account from another, one Mr Gordon Jackson. Or is it? Something doesn't feel right about the situation. Meanwhile Max Brennan is waiting in a coffee shop to meet the father he has never known. He's angry when he's stood up, so decides to confront his father at his home address but is told by a well-meaning neighbour that the man moved out a few days ago. Why go to the extent of arranging a meeting if the man had no intention of being around? Max goes home to wife Jen and explains what has happened, clearly disappointed by the situation.
A few days later Max returns home from work to find Jen hasn't returned from work. She hasn't called to say she will be late for any reason which is most out of character. Max calls on his friend, detective Jake Porter for advice and it's not long before an official police missing persons case is opened. Who would want to harm Jen or was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Porter himself has his demons meaning he draws himself to the attention of his boss for all the wrong reasons. All he wants to do is get on with his job of policing the streets and keeping people safe but his boss is on his case, constantly waiting for him to make a mistake. Fortunately his colleague Nick Styles has his back - the banter between the two detectives is fantastic, some witty one-liners making me chuckle at various points through the book. But Styles isn't his usual self and Porter is on his guard.
There's an underlying feeling that the Gordon Jackson scenario is linked in some way to the disappearance of Brennan's wife. Without the vital clues it's hard for the reader to make the connection but bit by bit the author drip feeds us the facts until we are sure we are on the right track. It's a steady flow of information, set out with perfect timing to keep the reader on the hook. Then, just as with the first book, the climax of the story comes in an explosion of activity. Not at all how I expected the tale to conclude there are plenty of tantalising loose ends with which the series can continue but in a way that does not leave you feeling frustrated.
I definitely recommend this series to anyone who loves a good detective novel. The relationship between Porter and Styles is fun yet professional, a great balance of characters and it's certainly a series with plenty of potential to run from case to case. Plus there's a hint of more to come in Porter's personal life which could add another dimension to the books.
My sincere thanks to publisher Allison & Busby for the opportunity to read this series in return for my honest review. I'm champing for book 3 already!
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