In volume five of the series Jane is assigned to the Flying Squad otherwise known as the Sweeney (as in the famous 1970s TV series). As usual she faces sexism from colleagues, and a superior who undermines her and denies her credit for the good detection and leads she uncovers. An added complication is that she discovers she is there as an experiment to see if a woman can tone down the rampant behaviour exemplified by the unit's styling themselves as the characters from the blockbuster film, 'The Dirty Dozen '. So the stakes are high when she sets out to prove herself.

The team are dealing with a bank robbery as she arrives and the novel concerns the subsequent investigation. Jane's character is the most fully realised, and her empathy with members of the public, as well as her insights and intelligence are well portrayed. As before, she can occasionally make mistakes through her dogged determination to crack the case. The other characters are more one dimensional. Jane makes alliances with two of them - the forensic officer Dabs, with whom she has a natural affinity from her previous friendship with the expert Paul Lawrence, and the only black officer, Lloyd, another outsider who has had to fight for acceptance. However, there isn't an accurate portrayal of the racism such an officer would have had to deal with, unlike, for example, in the TV series 'Life on Mars' which did attempt to show the racism endemic in the 1970s as well as the sexism.

The book is a bit pedestrian compared to the previous volume. There is a lot of repetitive detail about interviews etc, some carried out by colleagues. It does pick up when Jane's immediate boss begins to value her contribution as opposed to trying to seduce her. I wasn't totally convinced by something which happens near the end, as the perpetrator was not a hardened bank robber but rather one of their associates, and I do find it lazy writing to kill off a character instead of dealing with the fallout from certain events. I can't be clearer without spoilers, but it is also not quite consistent that a certain person is able to give Jane key information if they really were studiously turning a blind eye to what their family were doing. It is also left unexplained why a certain key witness' testimony is ignored if the person who ignored it really doesn't merit Jane's suspicions. So for these reasons, I would rate the book at 3 stars. ( )

Another cracking story of Jane Tennison's rise through the ranks of the Met Police, this time thrown in at the deep end in 1980 as a Sergeant in the all-male Flying Squad and having to overcome deep prejudice about women officers. Interesting to read about a time when there were no mobile phones, few computers, no DNA or CCTV to assist at crime scenes and officers had to rely on their instincts. ( )

The Dirty Dozen – Can Tennison make it in the Sweeney?

Linda La Plante has brought back one of her most famous characters in a prequal, where we really see what made Jane Tennison the ballsy copper we all love. This is a trip back to the early 80s when men were men and did manly things. The police were rozzers, pubs shut in the afternoon and were more than a one room but had vaults!

Jane Tennison has become the first ever woman on the Met’s Flying Squad and when she turns up to report for duty, she has not even got through the door when she if off on a ‘shout’. An armed robbery that has gone wrong, one person shot, but sounds like they got a way with at least one cash box.

Jane is sent off with Dabs to a crash site and a shooting at the police in connection with the robbery. The lads club do not want a woman getting in the way. It does not help that when they get back to the ‘factory’ her new chief makes it clear he does not want a woman on the squad. She knows she is not only fighting crime but fighting the in-built sexism in the force too.

Can Jane Tennison prove to her colleagues that she can be an asset to the team, as well as crack open the case. Tennison has to go that extra mile to prove that she is a real copper and not there just to make the numbers up.

Lynda La Plante has managed to create classic Tennison and helps to understand her outlook and her toughness in her later career. This really is classic La Plante, and it is so good to have her back. ( )

THE DIRTY DOZEN is written by Lynda La Plante.
Ms. La Plante is a British author and screenwriter, best known for her character, Jane Tennison, in the Prime Suspect television crime series.
THE DIRTY DOZEN is Book #5 of her series about Jane Tennison’s early years on the police force.
In THE DIRTY DOZEN, Jane is assigned to the Met’s ‘Flying Squad’, known as ‘The Sweeney’. The Squad primarily investigates armed robberies. It is 1980 and Jane is the first woman squad member. (Get ready to read about some vicious sexism and prejudice.)
Jane is a terrific police woman; an accomplished detective with a very analytical mind and meticulous attention to detail.
This book (like the other titles in this series) is a top-notch crime drama and police procedural. Ms. La Plante’s attention to detail; her knowledge of internal police procedures and forensics makes her books very interesting and informative to read.
Her plots and characters and locations are perfect.
A great title in a great series. ***** ( )

This book was intense! I loved it. I really enjoy a story with a strong female character. I really liked the main character Jane in this book. I found the plot to be very interesting and I could not wait to pick the book back up. Great read. I received a copy of this book through Bookish First for an honest review. ( )