LONG SHOT (A Detective Joe Stone Novel Book 2) by Jack Steele

Published: July 29th 2017

Read Date: December 12th 2017

Pages: 403

Stars: 5/5

Detective Joe Stone and his team investigate a major terrorist attack on one of London’s most iconic buildings. They soon draw up a list of suspects who are highly respected members of the community and government. When most of his team is attacked, it soon develops into a war of nerves and a race against time before a deadly weapon is unleashed with horrific consequences.

As title says it was a long shot finding a person responsible for attack on St. Paul’s Cathedral and targeting the member of SIU team. Long Shot was gripping suspenseful whodunnit mystery in which protagonist is detective.

It’s second book of ‘A Detective Joe Stone series’. It started right after the investigation in the first book of series, Loose Cannon ended.

In this book SIU team is dealing with the investigation that Chief of SIU was warned and was attending meeting regarding terrorist threat on London. Main Character Joe Stone gets call from his lost girlfriend and learns her whereabouts, he gets to experience of being in command, the pressure of solving the case as full in charge, and catch the person responsible or else it could endanger the whole world.

The lesser you know about the book the better it will be. This is a book you can go blind and won’t regret for it.

Joe was more in charge in this book because of triggered situation in the book and I loved his style of handling case. He was such determined and through with work in hand, his accurate gut feeling was admirable. His loyalty and dedication was more seen in this book than the first one.

Carl was such nice gentle person. I loved his witty remark and sense of humor. I could see why Joe loved to work with this guy. I wish I could see this guy more in fierce and in action in next book of the series.

All other member of the team were amazing in the book specially Stella and Graham. Along with Joe, I also wondered what’s up with Jasper and why he was so important to Stern. I had a doubt on this guy in first book but sadly it wasn’t solved or lifted in this book. Hopefully, next books can lift the veil over this character.

This book cannot be read standalone, even though some characters and events were briefed in this book as well. I liked little description from the previous books as it helped to recall the events that happened in first one.  While the first book helped to know the thoughts of main character and it was like introduction to SIU team and their working style, in this book we get to know more about Commander Stern and his history. Also we get to know how Joe and Carl were recruited in SIU and more on the hint from first book about Stern’s respectable relation with Carl’s mother. I must say Stern was total surprise and little different than the way he appeared at work.

I loved this book more than first one because of Suspense. I couldn’t guess or doubt a single person who has given tough time to SIU and endangered life of innocent people until it was revealed. And when it was done, unbelievable!

Series of events happened from very start of the book, from terrorist attack on St. Paul’s Cathedral, to catching a most important person involved in attack, protecting that person from terrorists and then attacks on SIU team members directly or indirectly, deadly weapon was stolen by terrorists that could wipe out most of the population of the world. Phew! That was lot of things in one book ( there was more but I don’t want be spoiler) that kept my nerves high and were enough to build tension and rise adrenaline throughout the book.

The investigation procedures, specifically in first half, was brilliantly written, it felt like coming from a professional well experienced detective. Places of London mentioned in the book were well described specifically St. Paul Cathedral, first time I googled it and wow what a place it is, and I can count bridges of London on fingertip after reading this book. Those who are living there would definitely love to read this series.

Like first book this one also had more than 100 chapters but it didn’t bother me like first book. They were short, gripping, ended with cliffhanger, narrated mostly by protagonist and rest were from POV of victims. All events felt realistic and plausible.

There were still few mystery remained to solve for the next books of series. Like Gemma, Jasper, and Mafia. Ooh and the ending was even more interesting, there was another case waiting for Joe to solve.

There was nothing I could point out that didn’t like.

Overall, it was fabulous, interesting, thrilling and gripping mystery that I would recommend to all mystery lovers.

Author: Jack Steele

Buy Here: Amazon.in / Amazon.com

*** Note: I received ARC of this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. I am glad I got a chance to read this book. ***

What do you think about the book and review? Have you read this book already or first  book of series? Share your thought in the comment- box below.

Happy Reading! 🙂