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Oxford’s reputation as a setting for compelling fictional crime continues with Diagnosis or Death, the second book in the Janna Rose Mysteries series by married authors Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick. Published by Next Chapter, this contemporary mystery follows psychotherapist and amateur sleuth Janna Rose as she is drawn into a disturbing case involving a colleague’s suspicious death, allegations of benefit fraud, deepfake technology, and the dangerous ways trust can be manipulated.

Set against the richly atmospheric backdrop of Oxford, Diagnosis or Death begins when Janna Rose, who works from a home office off Botley Road, is shaken by the death of a fellow practitioner. Although police dismiss the death as suicide, Janna is unconvinced. Driven by a deep sense of justice and guided by her insight into human motivation, she begins to uncover a darker truth hidden beneath professional rivalries, institutional pressures, and modern digital deception.

As the investigation unfolds, pieces of the puzzle begin to slot into place when Janna attends a public meeting at St Barnabas’ Church in Jericho, a location featured on the book’s cover. Media reports surrounding the case raise questions about attempted benefit fraud, while a conspiracy emerges from the shadows. Deepfake videos created through Artificial Intelligence are used to intimidate and manipulate, forcing Janna to confront not only a murder mystery, but also the unsettling realities of technology, vulnerability, and power.

Diagnosis or Death follows Mind Over Murder, the first Janna Rose mystery, in which a body appears amid political controversy over development plans for a new bridge and opposition from conservationists. Together, the novels establish Janna Rose as a distinctive new presence in British crime fiction. She is a former news reporter turned psychotherapist, and the first mystery protagonist to specialise in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, known as EMDR.

EMDR is a groundbreaking trauma therapy that gained wider public attention after Prince Harry credited it with helping him process the loss of his mother, Princess Diana. In Diagnosis or Death, the therapy material is woven into the mystery through Janna’s practical, skeptical, and compassionate voice, bringing emotional depth and real-world relevance to the story.

Readers can purchase Diagnosis or Death by Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Literary Titan praised Diagnosis or Death as a character-led mystery with a topical edge, noting that Janna Rose is “sharp, funny, nosy, principled, and occasionally messy in ways that made me believe in her.” The review highlighted the novel’s blend of murder mystery, disability benefits, psychotherapy, AI fakery, local politics, and social care, calling it especially suited to “fans of amateur sleuth stories, British social mysteries, and crime novels where the investigation is tangled up with institutions, ethics, and ordinary life.”

Authors Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick bring their own remarkable backgrounds to the series. Both trained as journalists at the BBC and first met as regional reporters for ITV. Annabel later transitioned from journalism to psychotherapy and is now an accredited EMDR consultant, training clinicians worldwide. Jake went on to work as a political correspondent for Sky News, Sydney correspondent for The Independent, and a news anchor for BBC World TV News.

“The idea for the novels came from our relationship and shared passions,” said Lynch. “Janna’s name is a blend of ours, Jake and Annabel, and like us she’s a former news reporter.”

Their commitment to justice and ethical storytelling extends beyond fiction. Lynch and McGoldrick are pioneers of Peace Journalism and were jointly awarded the prestigious Luxembourg Peace Prize in 2017 by the Schengen Peace Foundation for their contributions to the field.

Oxford’s crime fiction tradition owes much to Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse mysteries, made famous by the long-running ITV series starring John Thaw. More recently, Mick Herron’s Down Cemetery Road was adapted by Apple TV. With Diagnosis or Death, Oxford’s celebrated crime fiction landscape gains a fresh and original voice. Janna Rose is taking her place among the city’s memorable fictional detectives.

To learn more about Jake Lynch’s books, journalism, poetry, and creative work, visit the author’s official website at jakelynch.co.uk. Explore his latest releases, discover more about his writing career, and follow his ongoing contributions to fiction, media, and literature.

About the Authors

Jake Lynch and Annabel McGoldrick are the co-authors of the Janna Rose Mysteries series, published by Next Chapter. The couple met in 1992 when they were both appointed as district reporters for Yorkshire TV and married the following year.

Both authors built distinguished careers in journalism before expanding into new fields. Jake Lynch became a foreign correspondent, Political Correspondent at Westminster, Sydney correspondent for The Independent, a political correspondent for Sky News, and a BBC TV newsreader. He later forged an academic career and is now an Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney. His previous Oxford-based crime novel, Blood on the Stone, was praised by the Oxford Mail as “absorbing” and “compelling.”

Annabel McGoldrick transitioned from journalism into psychotherapy and now specialises in Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. She is an accredited EMDR consultant who trains clinicians worldwide. Together, Lynch and McGoldrick are internationally recognised pioneers of Peace Journalism and were jointly awarded the Luxembourg Peace Prize in 2017 by the Schengen Peace Foundation.

They divide their time between Oxford and Australia and collaborate on the Janna Rose mysteries, bringing together their shared experience in journalism, psychotherapy, social justice, and storytelling.

Media Contact
Company Name: Literary Titan
Contact Person: Jake Lynch
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Country: United Kingdom
Website: https://www.jakelynch.co.uk/