More back story of Jane Tennison's move from uniform to detective in London during 1974. She decides to do some unauthorised checking on two cases, her last in uniform and first as detective. The period detail and police procedures have clearly been the result of extensive research and add authenticity, as do the various characters who come across as authentic and of their period. ( )

This book is the second in a series that Lynda La Plante wrote from 2015.
1. Tennison (2015)
2. Hidden Killers (2016)
3. Good Friday (2017)
4. Murder Mile (2018)
5. The Dirty Dozen (2019)

In the first book in the series, TENNISON, in the aftermath of an explosion in the bank vault, the police operation descends into pandemonium and panic. Police officers search the rubble for survivors and find Gibbs and a badly-injured. This incident and its impact on Tennison and colleagues is often referred to in HIDDEN KILLERS.

Actually though the background to this series needs mentioning. The televised series that resulted from the original PRIME SUSPECT books, featuring Helen Mirren as Jane Tennison, was immensely popular.
1. Prime Suspect (1991)
2. A Face in the Crowd (1992)
3. Silent Victims (1993)

Following on from the success of Prime Suspect, the author and ITV launched a new series, Prime Suspect 1973, a prequel to Prime Suspect. Set in London in the 1970's, this series, followed the early career of the formidable DCI Jane Tennison, the role that established Dame Helen Mirren as a household name. However La Plante walked away from the collaboration when she felt they were trying to change it too much. ITV scrapped the series but La Plante went on to write 4 more novels beginning with HIDDEN KILLERS.

This book is really a collection of the cases that Detective Constable Jane Tennison becomes involved in beginning with a case where she is used as a decoy for a rapist. ( )

Rookie London Detective Constable makes a big splash, as she investigates a couple cases that don’t quite add up. This is an enjoyable tale, despite showing mankind’s seamy and bloodthirsty side. I found myself surprised at several junctures, where I thought the conclusion was obvious. I look forward to reading more of this series. ( )

HIDDEN KILLERS: A JANE TENNISON THRILLER (Book 2) by Lynda LaPlante.
“Before Prime Suspect there was Tennison - this is her story.”

HIDDEN KILLERS is an excellent British police procedural. It is dramatic and gripping with very complex and detailed characters.
Jane’s probationary period is over and she wants to be in CID - the Criminal Investigation Department. (Thank you Ms. LaPlante for your very helpful glossary.) She applies for a detective ‘spot’ and is assigned to Bow Street Station - yet another gritty, male-dominated, sexist outfit.
[The 1970s era is excellently depicted by the author with its constant change and constant societal and cultural disruptions.]
Jane’s intelligence, intuition and attention to detail make her an excellent detective, although she receives little recognition for her talents.
HIDDEN KILLERS is an excellent read and I would heartily recommend it. ( )

A fairly well written police procedural featuring young detective Jane Tennison who is struggling to get ahead in the 1970's, fighting the male chauvinism that some women encountered during that time. This book was my first read by this author and while it was a little on the predictable side, I will give another of her works a try. ( )