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  • The Upper Hand

  • A DC O'Connell Crime Thriller, Book 1
  • By: A. L Fraine
  • Narrated by: Julia Eve
  • Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)

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The Upper Hand cover art

The Upper Hand

By: A. L Fraine
Narrated by: Julia Eve
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Summary

There's been a brutal murder in the Surrey countryside and it's DC Kate O'Connell's first case.

Will it also be her last?

Kate was driven to become a detective following the tragic murder of her aunt when she was a teenager. Memories of that unsolved case, and how she handled it, hang over her to this day.

But Kate is keen to prove herself to her superiors and fights to break through the lies that surround this new victim’s life. Meanwhile, the chilling nature of the murder dredges up those disturbing memories, and Kate begins to wonder if there's a link between the two cases.

While wrestling with the demons of her past, Kate learns that her partner has a few skeletons in his own closet. His reputation threatens to taint the investigation and ruin her career before it starts.

Kate must break the silence surrounding the victim to get to the truth before it’s too late, and the death toll rises.

Join Kate as she descends into a murky world of murder and conspiracy in the English Home Counties.

©2019 Andrew Dobell (P)2020 Andrew Dobell

Critic reviews

"An exciting new voice in British Crime fiction." (Best-seller J D Kirk)

What listeners say about The Upper Hand

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Listener received this title free

thriller

I enjoyed the narration of Julia Eve, brings the characters to life.

This is a great suspenseful thriller. It kept me hooked , it has a wicked sense of humour too! . Great crime story with occult setting. As well as tackling the current crime, both detectives are facing unresolved incidents from their pasts. Really enjoyed this book.

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worth a read

this book is worth a read or listen to
I really enjoyed it
very descriptive and a good story.
narrator was good too.

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Lots of twists and turns

Really did enjoy this and it is setting up for a great police procedural. It wasn't the normal police story, with a touch of suspense in there as well.

I did struggle sometimes with the narration but all in all look forward to the next installment

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Great listen.

I really enjoyed this book. Full of twists and excitement. Well written and well narrated. Would recommend if you like British crime books.

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Listener received this title free

A nice start to a new crime series.

Narrator tells the story well, using different voices for the characters. A good start to what will probably be a series. Has a few twists & turns for you to work out who the killer is.

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Great story

I really enjoyed the story line. However, the narrators voice for Kate was always changing which was a little annoying at times but definitely didn't put me off enjoying the listen.

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A Compelling Listen

Excellent Police Procedural with a hint of the Occult. The action moves from killer to police and back and keeps you guessing right till the end. The narrator kept a consistent sounding set of characters with recognisable voices, the soundscape of conversations were believable and engaging. Loved it!

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Listener received this title free

Some gruesome murders

an interesting story , had the feel of authentic police work. The mystery persists at the end. An exciting finish. The narrator gives an excellent performance with an authentic Irish accent for the lady detective.

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  • Jocelyne
  • 28-03-22

Excellent Thriller!

This is the first book in the DC O’Connell Crime Thriller series. Kate and Nathan’s investigation is heart-pounding and captivating. Kate's past is breathtakingly intense. She is strong, smart, and determined. Nathan definitely is an enigmatic character. The storyline is fast-paced and suspenseful, filled with danger, secrets, and twists and turns. The world building is intricate and enthralling. The secret society is highly intriguing. Some scenes are very intense. This series isn't for the faint of heart. This is an excellent thriller. Julia Eve did an outstanding job with the narration. Looking forward to listening to Idle Hands, the next book in the series.

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  • Nicole
  • 24-01-22

Great backstory for the series

Great backstory for this series but works well as a stand alone also. Great read! I received a free copy and left my honest review

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  • Jamie Kelley
  • 23-03-21
Listener received this title free

great story

this was a very great story i loved every minute cant wait for the next one!!!

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  • C P Heaney
  • 07-03-21

Bad narrator

I tried several times to listen to this but the narrator is so bad I couldn’t even begin to tell you what this novel is even about. Tried about half of it and gave up