Black Notice

Jackman & Evans, Book 11

By: Joy Ellis

Narrated by: Richard Armitage

A Black Notice means one thing: unidentified human remains. This time, five skeletons buried deep in the fenland soil.

Rowan Jackman and Marie Evans are the detectives who take on the toughest cases on the Lincolnshire fens. This time trouble comes in threes.

6 a.m. on a dark autumn morning. Retired detective Bob Ruston is about to feed the dog when the doorbell rings. The man on the doorstep has blood running down his cheek and a look of terror on his face. 'Please! Let me in! They're going to kill me!'

Bob sees a handcuff dangling from the man's lacerated wrist.

Later that day, a stylishly dressed woman marches into Saltern-le-Fen police station demanding to see Detective Marie Evans. 'I want you to find my husband.'

Then a homeowner clearing undergrowth in his back garden makes a horrifying discovery. The decomposing remains of five bodies huddled in an old World War 2 pillbox.

Detective Jackman asks Interpol to issue a Black Notice. But little is he prepared for the shocking results that come in . . .

©2025 Joy Ellis (P)2025 Audible Ltd.

Excellent plot, and the same great cast of characters

I enjoyed the complexity of this plot. I could sew parts of it together before the end, but not all of it. It’s quite a web!

I’ve enjoyed all of Joy Ellis’ novels set in the Fens. She brings the area vividly to life, from its fogs to its wildlife.

As usual, the dialect acting is superbly done. Each character is uniquely voiced.

This was an excellent continuation of an excellent series.

Well told and creepy story

Excellent story with some interesting subterfuge. Well thought out plot and interesting characters. Read it for yourself as I’m not giving away the plot just to meet the word minimum for a review.

My fave detectives

Another great plot and good listen. Richard Armitage is so good in this narrative and I really enjoyed it.

Outstanding complex novel

Wow, just wow. This was my first Joy Ellis novel, and now I cannot get enough. The likeable and yet believable MCs… the complex interwoven plots… the fascinating twists… it’s so well done. And of course, RA as narrator is the cherry on top. Savor this one!

I love this series

I love the Jackman and Evans series. The narration is great too. I hope they keep coming!!