Deviance, Brooke & Daniel Crime Thriller #3

The story follows Jamie Brooke, now working as a private investigator, as she investigates the murder of a priest found in the ruins of Winchester Palace. His body is marked with disturbing details: tattooed arms flayed and feathers stuffed in his mouth. Jamie teams up with Blake Daniel, a museum researcher haunted by visions of a terrifying past, to hunt down the elusive "skin collector."
As violence escalates and more bodies are discovered, Jamie and Blake must unravel the mystery before those they care about are caught in the chaos. The book blends psychological thriller elements with a touch of the supernatural, set against the backdrop of modern-day London.

Deviance is the third and last book in this London Crime series featuring Jamie Brooke and Blake Daniel. This time in the borough of Southwark in south London a man is murdered and his skin flayed removing a tattoo. Jamie hears the screams and runs to help. I enjoyed reading Deviance and found it on a par with the previous novel Delirium. More of the same with tonnes of research making this an intelligent adult read. I liked how the sense of community was explored and how the characters, some from the previous novels, were fully developed. It was lovely how this book highlights the diversity of the population within London and how people on the fringes of society were included. It is far better that you read this series in the order they were published otherwise your possible enjoyment would be ruined. I do not feel this book would work as a stand-alone as although there is back story, this works as a refresher for existing readers and not for newbies. I think Deviance is a GOOD 4 star read and I can’t give it a higher score because of the supernatural elements woven into the tale. Ravens responding like that? Get real as this should be a realistic adult book and not indulge in childish fantasies. Of course once you read something, it can’t be unread and this quote from Deviance is very hard to forget! She shuffled through them so Blake could read the texts: Maiden Lane, Love Lane, Codpiece Lane, Gropecunt Lane. He put a hand up to stop her, laughing a little. “I think that last one would bring in a raft of complaints,” he said. “It became Grape Street and then Grub Street over time,” Catherine said. “But I quite like the original name. At least you knew what you were going to get there.”

An interesting premise, but without the historical detail and emotional punch of the previous books.

The Masquerade Ball and all it entailed was the best part of the book. The end, with all the climbing, reminded me a bit of the film “Annie” where she climbed the train rails pursued by Tim Curry – all the fear included.

A bit more about Blake and his job and how the current museum exhibition correlated with where Jamie now lived and worked and what that loon Cameron wanted would have added a bit more colour. There was room to mirror Jack the Ripper and the modern-day skin stealer along with others who persecuted prostitutes and those with tattoos; could have added that zing of secret societies and sanctioned torture the previous books had. I think it goes back to my initial assessment.

Still, a thrilling tale. I’d like to know more about Blake’s family…

This book stands in its own right, but is also the finial book of this trilogy. A page turner from the start to the finish, with with well developed characters and story line. I only happened on this series by chance and enjoyed it immensely. Will definitely explore more of J.F.Penn's books, I like her style of writing with the the historical facts integral to the story.

After reading the first two books in this series, I wondered what would be next for protagonist Jamie Brooke. She is now a private detective after leaving the police force, and begins investigating murders in central London. The murder victims seem to be targets of building developers who will stop at nothing to get areas of the city clear of the homeless and sex workers. This installment of the series is just as well written, researched and edited as Desecration and Delirium. It isn't as dark in nature as the previous books, but there are some parts of it that may be uncomfortable reading for some. Parts of it made me angry. Angry on behalf of some of the characters who are doing nothing worse than trying to survive, whilst being treated as though they are worthless. Often, my mind compared events in this book to the current political situation in the UK, and I have to say, it's PM. The books antagonist, Dale Cameron "was used to getting everything he wanted, destroying lives in the shadows while he stood squeaky clean in public." I couldn't help seeing the similarities! This is a fantastic book, very emotive and using subject areas that not a lot of other authors do. I highly recommend all the books in the series.

Penn's writing continues to get better and better! This story combines so much research, real-life geography, culture, sub-culture, passion, and on and on! There is something about her stories that are so intriguing that I am a confirmed fan. The darkness of the setting of this story is offset by the depth of human care and kindness that many of the characters share. The depth of depravity of the main antagonist is offset by the strength of the community to which he directs his evil actions. I really recommend this book and J. F. Penn!

This is the third book by J.F.Penn in the series that I have read.I had a hard time putting it. Down but was sure glad that Cameron met his maker in good fashion.

I got to know more about the characters in this series. They're diverse and colorful. I really enjoyed this book. The places were very interesting. Good read don't miss out!

This was the first book from this author that I have read, but I understand that it is the end of a trilogy. However, the characters developed in a way that I could easily pick up the story without having read the previous books.However, this is definitely not in my normal reading genre. The author does a good job of describing the dark side of London. I received an Audible version of this book and it was narrated by a woman with a British accent which seemed quite fitting for this book. As Jamie Brooke, ex-cop and now a private investigator looks to find missing persons and learns of the deviant heroes in the book, whose backgrounds may have brought about the life-style others so frown upon and the upstanding, perhaps self righteous person, may also not be what they appear to be. This book caters to a different audience then myself so in trying to be objective, I will say that the book was well written, shows life in a world that many of us do not see and can hold an audience if mystery and violence are your reading styles. Disclaimer: This book has violence, language and reference to sex. I received an Audible version of this book from the author for my honest review which I have given.

This author keeps getting better and this series keeps evolving. If you have not read anything by this author do yourself a big favour and get all her books and lock yourself in for a great ride.

Deviance is another great book from J. F. Penn. My only complaint is they are too short. She is a great story writer and I love the way she weaves suspense and the supernatural/paranormal into her stories. They are well researched and well written. In Deviance, her latest book, her main character, Jamie Brooke, former policewoman turned PI, has moved into Southwark, a colorful, but what some would call shady area of town. The people here are a eclectic bunch made up of sex trade workers, homeless, and people getting by. As she sets out to become a part of her new community, she finds herself drawn into a series of brutal murders and disappearances. The common denominator is that each of these people have elaborate tattoos, and the skin containing the ones on the known murder victims has been carefully removed during the murders. She sets out to find that murderer and help keep her community as it is. She is helped by friend, Blake Daniel, who can read the history of an object by touching it. Another thing I like about Ms. Penn's books is the education regarding various subjects such as history of places or groups of people in and around London. Although I still think her books are way too short, she manages to get a lot into a small space and keep the thrills coming. I would highly recommend this as well as her other books. Those opposed to blood and violence in a novel might find it offensive, however, there is much more to her books than that.

Joanna Penn creates stories like Picaso or Michael Angelo fashioned their paintings. Her words are vibrant, each word a brush stroke in creating the characters. Her characters are unique, imperfect masterpieces. It's impossible to judge them socially. They're so full of compassion, understanding and they live each day to it's fullest. The bad guys are minor really. Not enough to get a huff over. But the story is about people who live on the fringes of society with hearts and minds to be respected and commended. I couldn't feel sorry for any of them. I felt bad at what was done to them but to pity them would be a discervice to their proud steps in life.

Third book in the London Psychic series and the most intense and thought-provoking. Joanna loves to do research and posts her finding on Pinterest for her readers to visualize places and objects that spark her stories which I find as a reader gives me an exciting way to follow along. She developes characters in her stories that by the end of the book the reader feels as if you had a personal relationship with, one you can't wait for the next book to come out. In this book Jamie has struck out on her own, putting her Detective skills to good use as a Private Investigator in a poorer section of London, in which Jamie has taken residence in. The people that live in her neighborhood are societies outcasts ... Homeless, drug users, prostitutes, and the thread that Joanna draws through them is through the use of tattoos. Joanna shows the reader that tattoos are expressions that the wearer presents to the world, through artistic impression, a vision of themselves that may not be evident ordinarily. Jamie is on a search for a killer with the help from Blake, who Joanna introduced the reader to in the previous books, and whom has an underlying connection to that each are trying to determine whether to deepen their relationship or to deny it. Joanna takes the investigation down some dark, disturbing avenues of the human condition and has the reader examining their own views of the society. Love this author's writing and look forward to further books from her.

Deviance is book three in the London psychic trilogy. This is a stand alone novel. The primary character Jamie Brooke is now a private investigator. She resigned from her prior job as a detective in the homicide bureau of the Metro Police department in London. Jamie has the tenacity of a modern day Sherlock Holmes. She has strong powers of deductive reasoning, but she establishes strong emotional bonds with friends. She strongly relies on instinct and will quickly act on these impulses. Her close friend Blake is a psychic researcher. Both characters have deeply wounded psychs. This is a extremely well written book, steeped with touches of the supernatural. A sadistic murderer is on the loose. J.F. Penn is blessed with the gift of the golden pen. You actually feel like you are right there in the middle of all the action!! Her background research of all locations is extensive, this is one of her many trademarks. Deviance is extremely fast paced, full of intrigue, deception, suspense and spectacular twists and turns to the very end. I can't recommend this book enough!! It's a spectacular read!! I would strongly suggest reading books one and two as well as all of Penn's books!! I enjoyed them all tremendously!!!

I didn't think it was possible, but J.F. Penn has outdone herself with Deviance, the third installment of the London Psychic series. The book is one of the most sensual books I've yet read, but it never once dips into the lewd or even depict graphic sex. The book smolders on the embers of darkness and sensuality. Jamie Brooke, once Detective Sergeant Jamie Brooke, is now on her own after resigning from the police force at the end of the previous book. Her daughter Polly's death and the phantasmagoria she's endured on her last few cases have been too much. She walked away and into the dull world of keeping tabs on cheating husbands as a private detective. But perhaps her biggest case is solving who she is, where she belongs, which people she feels the greatest connection to and what she values most. Her journey begins as she weaves her way through a celebration of London's deviants at the Cross Bones Cemetery in honor of the Outcast Dead, where she recognizes a waif of a young woman named O, her body beneath her clothing extensive covered in body art of an octopus erotically cloaking her body. Jamie meets an urban shaman named Magda Raven (Morgan Le Fey? Mary Magdalene?), witnesses the sex trade that built London, and the evil others can bring down on those who dare live outside the strict boundaries of polite London society. The villains in this book are the bright side of the penny with charisma, standing on the moral high ground; the heroes are those labeled deviants who feed the hungry, protect the vulnerable, and have released their pain in the beauty of body art. Look twice. Those we shun because they're not like us may not have buried their secrets of truly deviant childhoods to fester and boil over into greed and gore and the torture of others. Look yet again. The upstanding citizens may not be who they seem. Blake is here, too, his gloved hands protecting him from his gift as he works his safe and predictable job, walking a slender thread of losing his safety and a freefall into the that which he fears most--himself. There is a bond between Blake and Jamie that pulls him further out of his isolation and towards acceptance of himself. With his help, Jamie is able to risk it all and bring down, for the moment, the evil that threatens the destruction of London's history and macabre beauty. Throbbing beneath this story is the author's love of London. I've been to London several times and done quite a bit of wandering (OK, I was lost, but it still counts as wandering), only to find myself in places I couldn't understand and was tempted not to fear. But I ran, asked for directions, and retreated to the facade that felt safe but robbed me, and other tourists, of the depths the city holds. Now I want to go back. And when I do, my eyes will be to the skies in search of swarming ravens. And I will follow.