Helen and her erstwhile lover, Bailey, a senior police officer, work together on a case involving Bailey's protege, Detective Sergeant Ryan of the Rape Unit, who has been accused of rape himself. Several sub-plots evolve, including the accuser of Ryan and her "real" story. Through these sub-plots, more and more is revealed of the real rapist/killer and his motives.

Each chapter is highlighted by the reading of the law about rape, including the term "with or without consent"; hence the title. Helen becomes involved with women who report stories about the most humiliating rapes – rapes that are almost not considered rape, because there is no actual penetration by the culprit, other than with other instruments.

The stories of these victims intermingle with Bailey's struggles accepting that the police officer he has so painstakingly trained could actually have committed this foul deed.

The characters of Helen and Bailey are uniquely independent of each other, yet find themselves dependent, also. Meanwhile, because of Ryan's position as an investigator into rape cases, the circle draws ever wider to the rapist/murderer who is really at the heart of the crime. The writer tersely involves all the women in the story to different forms of rape – of the body and of the mind. In a sense, even Helen is involved. The question becomes: where does consent begin and end?

Helen and Bailey race to the solution, both from different angles, arriving approximately at the same time. Fyfield really knows how to portray the professionals and involves the reader in caring about them. That is the ultimate goal – these are all likeable characters, quirks and all. The solution is not a surprise, but cleverly revealed. Without Consent is a very good British procedural, intelligently written.

--Kay Black