Death by Dangerous by Olly Jarvis

Review Date: 20 October 2015

Author: Olly Jarvis

Release Date: 24 June 2015

Publishers: Matador

ISBN –10: 1784623490

ISBN – 13: 978-1784623494

368pp

Available in Paperback and Kindle

The Last Word Review

Fast paced thriller from inside the court room, an outstanding debut crime novel

If like me you enjoy a great crime thriller that is set within the walls of the courtroom then Death by Dangerous is a book you that you should add to your reading list.

To say Death by Dangerous is gripping is an understatement. When I read the synopsis on the reverse of the book I was curious to see how the story would pan out. I just wish I had come to this book a lot sooner than I did. I was hooked.

The basis of the story centres on Barrister John Anderson who is accused of falling asleep at the when of his car, here the story really starts. John cannot recall anything.

I want you to imagine yourself in a position when it seems you have the world at your feet and then the fingers are pointed and the rug is well and truly pulled from under you. Just imagine the torment the anguish as you see friends shun you and then there is your family and how that is tested to its very limit. You start to question yourself. Why is this happening?

Olly Jarvis has not only the experience of being a barrister so that he tells it as it really is when you get to the courtroom. This is a an incredibly fast paced thriller that has so many twists and turns that it leaves you asking questions. How would you cope in this situation? At times it was frightening to read about the CJS and its inner workings let alone what Jon was going through. It is difficult not to feel some empathy here for the accused. Let us not beat around the bush here John is facing prison and he is fighting not only for his life he is fighting for his sanity we learn so much about his character, as at first he comes across as some may say arrogant is his own way, but the persona soon breaks down and there is more to John as you will discover. Some also say the higher you climb the harder the fall. But the same time when you hit the bottom there is only one to go from there you have to fight your way back up again.

Along with the twists and turns in Death by Dangerous there are a number of characters that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each one with some sort of a motive. The fact that this story goes to the very last page and keeps you wondering just adds to the tension. The perfect legal crime novel.

With the long dark winter nights ahead grab a copy of Death by Dangerous and discover the new writing talent of Olly Jarvis. I have a feeling we will be hearing great things of this brilliant new legal writer.

My thanks to both Matador and Olly Jarvis for a review copy.

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Meet the Author

Olly Jarvis

 Olly Jarvis is a writer and criminal defence barrister, originally from London but now working in Manchester. Drawing on his experiences, he writes both fiction and non-fiction with a particular understanding of the pressures and excitement of life in the courtroom. He wrote highly acclaimed Radio 4 drama Judgement, exploring a barrister’s thought processes whilst cross-examining a rape victim. Using his knowledge of the Indonesian language, he travelled to Sumatra where he wrote and presented a BBC documentary entitled Mum Knows Best. Son of actor/director Martin Jarvis OBE, Olly has two children and lives in Cheshire.