Sophie Kent works for the London Herald; she's covered her share of crime scenes. Not the nicest job. We see her life in the first book of the Sophie Kent series BREAKING DEAD. She's returning to work after dealing with a family tragedy, and her chief editor thinks she's lost her touch. Her likely source to name a habitual rapist in the London fashion industry is too scared of losing her job to talk.

Author Corrie Jackson is a journalist who has worked in London and California. In today's world of e-news which she describes, it seems archaic that Sophie was handed the metal plate of her first front page, from the printing plant. Yes, news still comes out that way. But we see the papers are competing hard on shrinking margins, and are increasingly computerised. Jobs are at risk and stress levels run high. Sophie is having a fling with a married editor, which is not making her happy, making me think it's easier for her than putting the effort in to find a better partner. In the past Sophie has been helpful to the police so when she gets a tip-off about a dead body in a hotel, she arrives fast and talks to the officers at the scene. Sophie realises that she knew the dead woman, and this is again related to Fashion Week.

We meet a fashion agent who seems abnormally talkative about a dead model to someone she's never met. Sophie has sneaked in and doesn't even show her press card; she could be anyone. By this means we learn that agencies look at a model's social media profile before hiring them, and models are contractually obliged to tweet. Sounds unreasonable when someone is hired for her looks and poise, but it's all about spreading publicity. We also see that living in the glare of gossip can wreck lives and relationships. So can revealing their age - they may be underage, or approaching twenty-five. Some models can owe the agency thousands for visas, air fare and photo shoots before getting a job. Actually, all kinds of people talk busily to this random press reporter, regardless of whether it will land them in trouble - and it probably will.

I like the way that more serious stories float past as Sophie works the newsroom; a downed plane, a major investigation. As this is not a police procedural story, Sophie uses underhand methods of getting information, proving herself resourceful. And what a packed handbag she carries. She's also still grieving her brother and wondering if she might have done more to save him from addiction. This makes Sophie a deeper person, though she doesn't do herself many favours in this tale. I am certain she would have known what the deep web was; she's a crime journalist. BREAKING DEAD by Corrie Jackson is well written as an adult crime story with a hard look at the glitz, gossip and grit of fashion.