The Night Thief: Jackman and Evans Book 8

This is the eighth book in the excellent and high successful series featuring DI Rowan Jackman and DS Marie Evans working in the Fenland Constabulary police. The very close and loyal team of DCs Robbie Melton, Charlie Button, Gary Pritchard, Max Cohen and Kevin Stoner are all present and correct, aided in this story by three great uniformed officers, PCs Stacey Smith, Jay Acharya and Simon Laker. A number of strange incidents are taking place in the area at night. Dr Laura Archer, Jackman’s partner and the force psychologist, has a patient driving his car in his sleep to deal with! This is a problem she shares with her old friend and mentor Professor Sam Page. The shadow of their old nemesis Alistair Ashcroft still hangs over them, despite the man serving a whole life sentence, but Sam is concerned that the killer is already trying to manipulate the system to his own advantage. The detectives have to deal with three break-ins where strangely the only thing taken is a child’s photograph but sadly the last case results in a death. Is there a child stalker on the loose or is he searching for something or someone else? Was the death an accident? As more photos are taken, they wonder if it is their resident and basically harmless long standing nocturnal intruder or is there is a second and more sinister night creeper? To quote their pathologist, the fabulous Professor Rory Wilkinson, “a portrait-pinching Spiderman”. Is he the same man that has been spied by parents hanging around the school gates but without a clear motive? Are these all random coincidences or are any events connected? Jackman and Evans certainly have their hands full with all these people roaming the quiet streets of Saltern-le-Fen and the surrounding villages. Helped by an enterprising group of women and a very special child, can they make sense of these crimes? The conclusion is certainly shocking, dynamic and tinged with a little sadness as all the mysteries are eventually solved by a very skilled group of detectives and a lot of hard work. This story has a host of brilliant characters that the reader can warm to immediately, such as Rory, Spike and Sam, together with all the detectives and their loved ones. I adore the humour and the camaraderie between them, and it’s nice to see them enjoying great home lives as well, making the story all the more rounded and enjoyable. The jam-packed plot is clever and superbly delivered, the characters wonderfully described, and the scenery and setting of these books is perfect for the story. This series just gets better and better! 5*

Very good. Well written

This is book 8 in the award winning Jackman and Evans series by the extremely talented Joy Ellis, one of my favourite authors. They do work perfectly as stand alone.The story is an unusual and intriguing one. There is more than one story running because in the background is a perplexing case that Laura is handling. This adds even more interest and brings the characters more to life as the reader is treated to an insight to the difficulties faced by people whose choice of career means they are unable to discuss their working day. The author expertly brings this into the story adding extra interest and realism.The story begins with a woman waking in the night to find a man at the foot of her bed staring at her. At first it appears that Ratty is up to his old tricks but when a photo is found to be missing Jackman and his team realise they have another much more dangerous intruder on the loose.As more women are left traumatised by the night time visitor the team are struggling to work out why the intruder is stealing photos of boys around 10 years of age.The team have their work cut out trying to sort the wheat from the chaff as other reports come in of events the police have been called out to that could have a bearing on the case.A very complicated and extremely gripping story. Is Laura's case linked to Jackman's? What, if anything, does the lone man at the school gates have to do with it? Most importantly though is the question 'What is this night time visitor's end game?As this list of night time visits and by default the number of boys on the list increases it becomes clear that the Police budget and resources make it impossible to protect them all. In the meantime Laura's sleepwalker case is ramping up .Wow what a fantastic book this is. I was totally gripped from the very first page. Adrenaline pumping suspense and more twists and turns than a big bowl of spaghetti I found myself guessing and changing my mind numerous times all the way through.The characters continue to gain depth and I love how Stacey and Jay are brought more into the limelight as it adds interest and depth to the story.An absolutely outstanding read and one that will stay with me for a long time.Definitely 5 golden stars from me.

Hard to put down. Very good read. Great plot. Like the detectives relationships. Have read Joy Ellis before and will again.

Loved it, just loved it! A multi-layered, intriguing, and complex storyline. A wonderfully created ending, which was more satisfying than I expected. The chapter that reflected on the keep police characters relationships sounded a tad 'end of series' to me, but I hope not?!A solid 4-star read!

There is a lot going on. Very good cases to solve . I would recommend you read this book. Few crimes are going on . And mental health problems.

I enjoy this series although a couple, that dealt with a super villain were not good.This one is more enjoys but wish we could hear the trials if these two bad guys.

What a horrible situation to find oneself in. Learning a man has been wandering around your home at night while you were sleeping. Even worse stealing a photo of your child -why?! Then to smell the man's scent or find other evidence that he had actually been in your bedroom while you slept is so frightening and disconcerting.Hearing that this has happened to others in a relatively small area Is very scary to all the victims. This killer is very cunning in this Fenland British procedural. The plot has to twists and unexpected turns. The main characters from the Saltern le Fen CID have great working relationships and are friends that truly care for one another. A little romance is in stark contrast to the violence and terror experienced by the victims.

Yet another gripping thriller featuring Jackman and Evans. Another one You won't want to put down until the very last page.

The Night Thief, like all the other books by Ellis, never fails to keep you involved, keep you intrigued. The pace accelerates in the last third of the book and the end is always satisfying. Another winner.

Not for me just could not wait to finish this book so I could start reading something that I would enjoy.