Body Heat: 2 (Jocasta Hughes Mysteries)

I picked up Body Heat when I saw it was set in my adored Hastings - hoping GP / police doctor Jo Hughes would look after me through a story way out of my usual genre. She did.The book was a fascinating and well researched look into the life of a GP as well as a Forensic Medical Practitioner working with the police. Most importantly for me, Jo’s caring (but daring) nature was a foil to the gruesome car fire murders. I was particularly moved by her concern for a lad with learning difficulties who seemed to be being framed, and was routing for an upturn in her love life!Meanwhile, the narrow twittens, lively old pubs and nearby cliff walks and countryside of Hastings were a perfect setting for this story - and I look forward to joining Jo there again for the next in the series.

Another well written gripping book following Jocosta.I guessed who the killer was towards the middle of the book, but the turns in the story kept me doubting myself until the climax of the book. I enjoyed that for once I had managed to work it out before the big reveal!I felt the last few chapters where the drama reached its peaked were over a little fast, as I got nervous it was all over, but it was so well written I didn't mind.I can't wait to see what comes next in the series!

I love a book I can’t put down and this is one of them. I’m starting to feel I know the characters now too. When is the next one published? I can’t wait.

Loved reading this novel. a brilliant story great characters. so what you waiting for.

Body Heat definitely wasn’t what I was expecting but that isn’t a negative – just that it is a different type of crime read than I am used to. The pace is slower but still draws the reader into Dr. Jo Hughes’ life and her fascination with helping the police out in more than just her capacity as ForensicMedical Practitioner which results in her getting a little bit carried away at times.This is actually the second book in this series however, if like me you’ve not read Dead Pretty this doesn’t hamper the enjoyment Body Heat as it is easily read as a standalone and any references to the last book are covered to enough detail to bring new readers up to speed.Body Heat opens with the brutal death of a young woman at the hands of an arsonist which makes for a very disturbing scene for Jo to complete the formality of pronouncing the victim as dead. Jo partners her role with the police alongside her part time position as GP at the local surgery – when the suspicion points to one of Jo’s patients with a history of arson, things start to get a bit messy for her and lines start to blur.What I really enjoyed about this book was seeing the investigation from a different point of view and also, to see how the police doctor was brought in only at certain points and therefore her detail about the investigation is hazy and strictly on a need to know basis. What is a good by-product of this approach is that the reader almost becomes the investigator, pointing together the information that Jo is gleaning from people to try and guess who the killer is.The little snippets from the killers perspective were a brilliant addition dotted throughout the book. The killer is certainly a chilling, disturbing and nasty piece of work.Alongside the investigation and Jo’s role as a local GP, the author builds a brilliant network around Jo so we see different sides of her through her interactions with other characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship that she has with Kate and certainly intrigued by the obvious chemistry between Jo and DI Miller. It was also interesting to see Jo’s working relationship with colleagues at the surgery, most of which are desperate for Jo to leave her role with the police and take up a partnership full time – however Jo isn’t ready for that level of commitment and is too intrigued by the police work to walk away.I enjoyed this read and the slower pace of narrative – although this certainly ramps up towards the end into a brilliant conclusion!

What an opening! I was greeted with the horrific start of a serial killer’s spree. The killer’s MO is a ghastly and brutal one. And this totally sets the scene for what is to come!And then we meet Jocasta (Jo to everyone bar her mum) who is the police doctor as well as a full time GP. I really liked Jo as a character. She’s a down to earth woman who works hard, tenacious but caring. She’s got her family issues but who doesn’t! It was very different having a GP-cum-police doctor as the main character. The author gave the book have a different perspective of investigation and the police doctor’s role is something that is often brushed over. The book showed a little of the unglamorous side of being a doctor – the paperwork, the weekend working, the surgery politics. And there is the problem patients which Jo has an interesting time with.I loved the relationships that the author had crafted for Jo. Her friendship with Kate is the ideal girlie bestie relationship, sharing the day over a drink after work, nights in with a take-away. Oh the tension between Jo and Miller – Ms Denman has that chemistry perfect!! I was desperate to slap Jeffries around the face for his little digs and sarcastic comments – a character you love to hate!I had my suspicions on two suspects but I wasn’t convinced I was right or wrong until the end! I’m not going to tell you whether I was right or wrong…you’ll have to read Body Heat yourself and decide who you think it is….Candy Denman, you’ve got a new fan in me!!