Good Friday by Lynda La Plante Book Tour

Good Friday by Lynda La Plante
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 400

Publisher - Zaffre

Source - Review copy

Blurb from Goodreads

BEFORE PRIME SUSPECT THERE WAS TENNISON.

Every legend has a beginning . . .

During 1974 and 1975 the IRA subjected London to a terrifying bombing campaign. In one day alone, they planted seven bombs at locations across central London. Some were defused - some were not.

Jane Tennison is now a fully-fledged detective. On the way to court one morning, Jane passes through Covent Garden Underground station and is caught up in a bomb blast that leaves several people dead, and many horribly injured. Jane is a key witness, but is adamant that she can't identify the bomber. When a photograph appears in the newspapers, showing Jane assisting the injured at the scene, it puts her and her family at risk from IRA retaliation.

'Good Friday' is the eagerly awaited date of the annual formal CID dinner, due to take place at St Ermin's Hotel. Hundreds of detectives and their wives will be there. It's the perfect target. As Jane arrives for the evening, she realises that she recognises the parking attendant as the bomber from Covent Garden. Can she convince her senior officers in time, or will another bomb destroy London's entire detective force?


My Review

Book three of the Tennison series and we see Jane growing a wee bit more - professionally and personally. Getting her own place, moving into the CID and still having to deal with the all the male chauvinistic style attitudes. The timeline in 1974/75 the book is very much terrorist/bombs/IRA and as one of our mains get caught right in the heart of it at the start so it is very graphic, breath taking and heart stopping. La Plante is so good at creating the situations/atmospheres that even me, not a visual reader was absolutely enfolded in the scene/emotions/terror. and that is just the start!

I think what I like about these books is that you have the police side, investigation, crime, murder(s) whatever the book is taking you to. You also get the feel of the times, the vile attitudes/prejudices/stereotypes/racisms et al of that era but also down to tv shows & things that will take you back. The family dynamics, the personal side of Jane whilst striving to be the best she can be at the job despite so much stacked against her and relationships in her life.

Tennison can be so relatable because she isn't perfect but she is a good person, she makes mistakes but never from a bad place, she is good people and for me, characters like that are a breath of fresh air. The pace is bang on, hooked as usually quickly, blend of characters to like, dislike, hate and I can't wait to hit the next one, 4/5.

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