Whole Life Sentence by Lynda La Plante

Whole Life Sentence

 by Lynda La Plante


Whole Life Sentence by Lynda La Plante
 was published by Zaffre Books on 4th July  2024.

My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Compulsive Readers for inviting me to be part of #Teamtennison




IT ENDS WHERE IT ALL BEGAN . . .


THE FINAL DETECTIVE JANE TENNISON THRILLER - AND THE PREQUEL TO TV HIT PRIME SUSPECT -

DETECTIVE JANE TENNISON'S POLICE CAREER HANGS IN THE BALANCE: A SINGLE STEP FROM GLORY - OR RUIN.

While she has elbowed her way into an elite team investigating non-domestic murders, there is nothing elite about her first assignments: a missing teenager cold case and an apparent suicide Tennison suspects is, in fact, murder.

But as she uncovers explosive evidence, Tennison's new colleagues watch like vultures circling prey. And, one by one, the cases no one else wanted are taken from her - and the glory along with them.

Now Tennison has had enough: of the rampant sexism, snide remarks and undermining. It's time to take what is rightfully hers from those who have held her back.

She just has to do what she does best: find her prime suspect . . .




My Review

And so finally, with Whole Life Sentence, we get to the point where the Tennison series finishes in readiness for Prime Suspect and the amazing Dame Helen Mirren taking  Tennison forwards to the next chapter in her life and career.

We have seen Jane excel in her police career and her dedication to the job despite the hindrances of male chauvinism and the resentment of her as a female in a male dominated , and at times corrupted, police force. Whole Life Sentence is no exception in regard to this and also in how it plants in the readers minds exactly what life would have been like for a career woman in the force.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book from cover to cover . Jane has matured beyond measure from the first book in the series and knows how to bide her time to achieve what she wants, biting her tongue rather than always “Flying off the handle” and using her skills, and cunning, to get there.  By the time the story finishes we are left with the formidable DCI that Helen Mirren will then portray for us in Prime Suspect.

Love interest wise Jane moves on again and keeps the reader interested in the “romantic” side of her  life and fingers crossed she gets it right this time, if only to keep her Mum and sister off her back !

The Tennison series has been a collection of books that at the beginning I didn’t think I was going to enjoy, however, if I ignored certain aspects of her character , the way she solves the murders and mysteries are excellent . The way La Plante changes the direction in which you believe the story to be heading is skilful and these developments have got more intriguing as I have progressed through the books. 

I also have to admit to being a convert to the books as previously I have never picked up any of the Tennison or Prime Suspect books to read and now I have the latter on my TBR pile . Yes Jane Tennison still irritates the hell out of me at times as you will have picked up if you have read my reviews of the earlier books, however, the skill in the solving of the cases is gripping and at times very emotive and thought provoking .

So to summarise Whole Life Sentence  concludes the development of Jane’s early career and will leave you with a smile on your face at the end as to how she has the ammunition she needs, if she ever needs to use it, to move into the next stage. Over to you Dame Helen.


About the Author




Lynda La Plante was born in Liverpool. She trained for the stage at RADA and worked with the National Theatre and RDC before becoming a television actress. She then turned to writing - and made her breakthrough with the phenomenally successful TV series WIDOWS.

Her novels have all been international bestsellers. Her original script for the much-acclaimed PRIME SUSPECT won awards from BAFTA, Emmys, British Broadcasting and Royal Television Society as well as the 1993 Edgar Allan Poe Writer's Award.

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