Sometimes you find a book that completely consumes you; everything about it just blows you away and you can’t stop thinking about it. For me Bye Bye Baby by Fiona McIntosh is definitely one of these books. To say I was gripped by this emotionally charged crime thriller is an understatement.
Set in and around Brighton, as well as London in 2003, this is the first book in the DCI Jack Hawksworth crime series. It was originally published in 2007 in Australia and New Zealand, and soon became a massive bestseller. And now I am happy to report that the Scotland Yard detective series has finally been released in the UK for the first time. As a massive fan of police crime dramas, I found Bye Bye Baby to be a stunning, all-consuming read!
Bye Bye Baby is a fast paced, character driven story full of emotional depth as Jack and his team work to hunt down a serial killer. The murders are calculated, gruesome and full of meaning.
Good looking and unassuming DCI Jack Hawksworth is viewed by many in the police force as the golden boy of Scotland Yard. Hence he is chosen to head up the high-profile murder case. Yet his career history is somewhat blemished. Although he was exonerated of any wrongdoing, there are still some within the force that resent his swift rise up the career ranks. Jack is also pointedly advised by his Superintendent to avoid any romantic liaisons with any colleagues.
As the body count rises and more pressure is put on Jack, he begins to realise that Kate, a key member of his team has another agenda which could threaten the case. The team also discover that the murders are targeted, and find themselves in a race against the killer to save the next victim.
Mainly told from the point of view of Jack and Kate, the narrative is also told from the point of view of the killer. I have to be honest, I did suspect who the murderer was, but I think this was the author’s intention. In no way did this dampen the dramatic plot for me; in fact in a way I feel it enhanced it.
I am so excited to read more books from the crime series as this first novel is stunning. I’m also really excited as it appears Jack and his team will be coming to our screens too! The Scotland Yard detective series has been optioned for TV, with release in the UK due sometime in 2025. I can’t wait!
Thank you Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me to the blog tour of Bye Bye Baby, which was published in the UK by No Exit Press on 16 January 2025. So if your wanting a gripping read, grab your copy now!
