A Fighting Chance is the second in the Jane Renwick Thrillers series by Val Penny. DS Jane Renwick started as a character in her DI Hunter Wilson Crime Thrillers,which is set in Edinburgh, Scotland. But Val felt she deserved her own series. Having read every book she’s written, I agree.
As part of the Major Incident Team, Jane travels to Stirling, a city in central Scotland, due to a turf war between two drug cartels. Two incidents spark the interest of police: Connor O’Grady returns under an alias to Scotland because his rival, Peggy Cheney, is being released from prison.
Things heat up when Jane encounters two murders connected to the cartels — a young man and a pregnant teenage girl, who are suspected to have had an intimate relationship. People connected to the case are likewise targeted. Once again, I found myself rooting for Jane to get the bad guys.
This book has many characters, but Jane is definitely the standout. She is a smart, dependable detective who doesn’t take crap from anyone. That includes people who might not recognize her authority when she is first on the scene or anyone who might express a bias about gay women. (Her wife, Rachael Anderson, is also a member of the Major Incident Team as a victim support officer. Their interaction adds another dimension to this story.) This book can certainly be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the first in the series to get a complete picture of the character.
Jane also has a keen sense of humor. Her exchanges with DC Brian Harris, when they pose as a married couple to spy on O’Grady, were laugh-worthy. Here’s a scene at a restaurant early in the book.
They chose a table where Jane was facing O’Grady but was slightly behind a booth so she could watch him without being too obvious. After a quiet chat over the varied menu, Jane opted for a superfood salad and a sparkling mineral water.
“Really?” Brian screwed up his face. “That sounds boring. I’ll go with the chicken curry, extra chips and a pint.”
“No surprise there, dear.”
“I’ll go and order.” Brian stood up and kissed Jane lightly on the cheek before walking over to the bar.
It took all Jane’s willpower not to screw up her face and wipe the sign of affection away. After all, they were meant to be a couple: a loving couple
.She sat and glanced about the bar, taking in O’Grady’s table. Coffee? She thought. There must be something going on if O’Grady wasn’t downing a pint of Guinness or one of his beloved malt whiskies.
When Brian came back with the drinks, she took his hand and pulled him closer across the table. “They’re drinking coffee. They must be up to something.”
Brian gazed back at her. “We know they’re up to something. That’s why we’re here!”
Val, who is originally from the U.S., portrays the seedy part of Scotland and what goes on inside a police station in such detail I would think she had been a police officer herself. But that wasn’t the case although she has had many occupations. These days, she writes poetry, short stories,
By the way, this review is part of the Reading Between the Lines Only Book Tour.
LINKS TO BUY
PAPERBACK
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Chance-Jane-Renwick-Book/dp/1917611161
US: https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Chance-Jane-Renwick-Book/dp/1917611161
EBOOK
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Chance-Jane-Renwick-Book-ebook/dp/B0FHQ49SVJ
US: https://www.amazon.com/Fighting-Chance-Jane-Renwick-Book-ebook/dp/B0FHQ49SVJ
WEBSITE AND SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
Website: https://www.valpenny.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Val-Penny/e/B07C4725TK
Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739
Author Twitter Page @valeriepenny
Author Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/valerieepenny/
