Seven Bridges by LJ Ross

October 3, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Seven Bridges by LJ Ross
Publisher: Dark Skies Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Ryan’s most explosive case yet…

It’s been five months since a killer walked free and DCI Ryan is preparing to leave Newcastle to hunt him down – this time, for good.

But Ryan’s plans are scuppered when events take a dramatic turn and he is forced to stay and face his past one last time, or watch a friend suffer the consequences.

Amid the chaos, another killer is preparing to strike. When the Tyne Bridge explodes, Ryan’s team are faced with a frantic race to uncover a deadly foe who won’t stop until every bridge is burned, along with everybody on it…

Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunit set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.

Just as DCI Ryan is considering a sabbatical to hunt a killer that has got away, two very serious, new threats appear. One is a bomber terrorizing everyone by blowing up important bridges that keep everything connected, and the other is a danger far closer to home for Ryan and his team.

I enjoyed the somewhat faster pace of this story. With two strong plotlines interwoven together at times there was hardly a chance for Ryan and his team to catch their breath and I felt the author expressed this hurry-hurry-hurry mentality very well to the reader. I feel part of the faster, more action-oriented style of pacing was because the bombings occurred with short notice. Additionally, letters were given to the media first, which meant they were relayed out to everyone with the police left perpetually chasing afterwards. So while this wasn’t a traditional “who dun it” murder mystery it definitely fit the bill in other respects and was a solid police procedural style of book.

The other main plot which took up a good portion of the storyline was the death of Detective Chief Superintendent Jennifer Lucas. There isn’t a lot I can say without treading into spoilers but suffice to say I strongly feel this element of the story added a huge amount of emotions and turmoil – both from the present and the past – for the team as a whole. I was very pleased this plotline was given an almost equal share of time to the bomber plot. I could understand if some readers would feel this might make the murder feel a little drawn out or given too much exposure – but I really feel emotionally and for the characters in the team this plotline had a significant impact on everyone. To some degree – particularly a personal one for the team members – it might even have been more important than the bomber threatening everyone’s daily lives and sense of normalcy. Personally, I was pleased the author didn’t cut this aspect of the plot nor dim its impact down. For a few main characters this really was quite world-shattering and I was pleased it was given the attention and space it was.

In many respects I feel this book could absolutely stand alone. The bomber plotline was very self-contained and I don’t feel readers need any particular prior understanding to thoroughly enjoy it. Even the Superintendents death was very well explained and quite detailed. While I feel the strength of the impact and the fallout from it might be better enjoyed by readers who have read at least a few of the previous books and have an emotional attachment to the main police team and the characters – I feel anyone could pick up this story and easily follow along with what’s happening and help put the pieces together.

A strong book with a good, fast-paced action style of plot this is a great mystery. This is an author and series I’d definitely recommend.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

A Dark Sin by JM Dalgliesh

September 28, 2022 By Leave a Comment


A Dark Sin by JM Dalgliesh
Publisher: Hamilton Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

Our darkest secrets are best left buried…

When a local journalist is found dead in an isolated spot on Roydon Common, lying beneath a hangman’s noose on the anniversary of a teenager’s suicide, DI Tom Janssen is asked to take on the investigation as a favour to local colleagues and must unpick the deceased man’s life to discover how he came to be there.

The dead man was working on something, a story he was keeping close to his chest and even those closest to him, loved ones and colleagues, were kept in the dark. He had his own secrets, a side to his character that he rarely showed to others unless they were unlucky. But what did he know that was so damaging as to be worth killing for?

As the team delve into his life, past and present, the investigation pulls in successful business people, grieving family members, and a local celebrity with fascinating stories to tell. As the investigation develops it becomes clear that more than one person is harbouring a secret… but are they secrets that are worth a man’s life? As past sins threaten to be exposed, will someone be forced into killing again?

Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Norfolk, this fast-paced British detective novel is a dark murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed.

DI Tom Janssen is called out as a favour to look over the finding of a journalist’s body hanging in the Common. Only there are factors to the scene that don’t add up, so Janssen and his team begin to investigate the journalist’s life and work. Soon, a few small questions grow into something far larger, and it quickly becomes clear this was not a suicide but something far darker.

This is the eighth book in the Hidden Norfolk series, and I am really enjoying them all. I have found this – like all the previous books – to be a strong, police procedural style of murder mystery book. I thought the plot was decently plotted and complex enough to retain my interest from the opening pages, but with a slow enough pace I could really enjoy it and not feel like the action or characters were getting away from me. Set in Norfolk, I thought there was a good blend of large country town style of bustle but still with the slower pace and more “everyone knows everyone” type of connectivity. I enjoy this balance and find it really helped sell the book and storyline to me.

I also enjoyed how the characters of Tom’s team and the main characters – like Eric’s fiancée and Tom’s long-term girlfriend and young daughter – all were important in the story. This added an emotional depth to the police mystery style plot and helped me feel like this wasn’t only a murder story but also a part of a larger whole. I personally really enjoy this balance but also feel the author does a really good job of not having too much of the characters past cloud over what’s currently occurring. I feel this makes it really helpful for readers who have not read all the previous stories and helps this book stand far better on its own.

While I definitely feel readers will have a stronger emotional investment in the main characters and their happiness having read the previous books, I don’t feel it’s strictly necessary for readers to enjoy this particular story. The plot in particular is very self-contained inside this book and the characters are well introduced – so readers shouldn’t feel shy about picking this up and enjoying it regardless of whether they’ve read any of the previous books.

A well plotted murder mystery with excellent characters and a complicated but not overly convoluted plot, I really enjoyed this British story and am eager to read more by this author. Recommended.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Fall From Grace by John Carson

September 23, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Fall From Grace by John Carson
Publisher: Vellum
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

A mythical man known as Nightmare, haunted young children for years. Until he became real. DCI Harry McNeil knows the legend all too well. Growing up in the Highlands, Nightmare was on his and every other child’s mind as they went to sleep. Then, Nightmare claimed his first victim. A young girl, found dead in an abandoned cemetery with the words, I am Nightmare, carved into her chest. Two more victims, the same words carved into them. Then Nightmare disappears. Now, years later, there have been reports of graffiti being sprayed around Inverness and on graves in old cemeteries. Is Nightmare back? The question is on the lips of residents who are starting to feel uneasy. Initially dismissed as a prank, things start to get all too real. A Glasgow couple are talking to their adult daughter on Zoom. She is a reporter for an online magazine and is in the Highlands reporting on Nightmare. She is being chased through the woods. The couple don’t know if their daughter is spooked or if somebody is really chasing her. The call is cut and they call the police. The next morning, her body is found in a cemetery. I am Nightmare is carved into her chest. Harry McNeil is sent to the Highlands with a team from Glasgow. Their job is to hunt down a killer who once only existed in fevered minds. Once again, he’s all too real. I am Nightmare. Catch me if you can…

DCI Harry McNeil returns up to the Highlands when a sudden rush of murdered women appears in the cemetery with “I am Nightmare” carved into their chests. Has the old Boogeyman really returned or is something even more sinister afoot?

I have been reading this series for quite some time and still continue to enjoy the easy, smooth voice these stories have but also the banter and connection the group of characters have together. There is now a decent sized core group, both with Harry’s Edinburgh team and the equivalent Glasgow team so frequently joining in to work the cases together. The larger size of the main group of characters leads me to suggest that for a full appreciation of this (and the other) novels readers should have read at least a few prior books in this series. Absolutely read them all and from the start as each of these books are great, but with such a decent sized cast I feel readers won’t get a full appreciation of the storyline and importance of the case without at least some prior knowledge of the characters and the setup.

I also feel it important to note (without spoilers) that there is a major character death in this book. For the most part I feel this death was well handled and to some degree I could see it coming throughout the story. If I’m being really picky, I felt the final quarter or so of the book felt a little rushed to me – but that very likely could have been due to the fact a number of critical things happened in a short space of time and I read the last of the book all in one sitting. This might have made me feel everything was a bit rushed as there was quite a sense of urgency and the plot cumulating and no real fault of the author or story itself.

I admit I am very interested in how the next book (or next few books) progress, and how Harry deals with the major character death. I was surprised that a number of loose ends from the previous books were fairly neatly wrapped up and I definitely appreciated how the author handled the somewhat convoluted plotline and managed to draw a number of various parts together for this book. I also feel a re-read of the story will help a number of these parts to solidify well and I could see this being one of those books where a few re-reads give greater clarification and picking up of missed items.

Overall, I found this to be a very well plotted, decently paced murder mystery. There is a good amount of character ribaldry and interaction which I really enjoyed and a solid and properly complex plot which both add great weight and enjoyment to the book in my opinion. While I don’t feel readers should start with this book the series overall is quite excellent and is well with the time and money investment. I am eager to see what happens next and will absolutely be continuing with the next in the series.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Operation: Syria by William Meikle

September 21, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Operation: Syria by William Meikle
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Contemporary, Action/Adventure, Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Fern

A trip to a war zone to rescue trapped archaeologists finds the S-Squad in a remote desert region of lost cities and temples. They quickly discover that they are not alone among the ruins.

First they find the bodies, then they find the webs, then they’re in real trouble when the spiders attack.

Big spiders.

Lots of them.

Captain Banks had been about to ask his commanding officer for some leave for their team after they had come through a number of bizarre missions in a very short timeframe. Instead, Captain Banks is told his team is needed to leave for Syria – immediately – to rescue a group of archaeologists who have issued an emergency call after being attacked by rebels. Banks and the S-Squad gear up, hoping this will be a quick in and out, but they quickly discover that the rebels are the least of their concerns.

I have read a number of these books and always find them a delightful romp of a tale. On the shorter side of a full-length novel, I’ve found they are always quick into the action with plenty of large-scale monsters, a bunch of energy, plenty of sweary Scottish squaddies and a dollop or two of fun and plot. They are easy to read, and I love the authors tone and pace – I’ve always found them quick and a delight to read. They’re an adventurous blast in so many ways I love them. If you’re a fan of B grade “monster” movies this is an excellent series to sink your teeth into.

There is always an interesting amount of character growth in these stories, but I have to be honest the characters are more the vessels for the plot and storyline – not the driving force. This time the monster-of-the-day is enormous spiders and I enjoyed how the author meshed this with the archaeologists and the dig they were working on. While the plot wasn’t overly convoluted, that wasn’t what I wanted or needed for this story and I absolutely felt that the balance between action, monsters and the characters (both the archaeologists and the S-Squad team) was really well handled.

Switch off your brain, grab a drink then relax and enjoy this fast paced, fun and light story. I absolutely loved it and can’t wait to dig into the next.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Mysterious Island by Greig Beck

September 16, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Mysterious Island – Lemuria by Greig Beck
Book 1
Publisher: Severed Press
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

On a desolate beach in far northern Scotland, the winter storms have been washing up all manner of things since time began. But buried in the center of one smaller iceberg is a shard of ancient Viking pottery telling a partial tale of a hidden mysterious island beyond the ice and mist, that was home to a great treasure and even greater horrors.

Thawing in the same block of ice was a rotting flap of skin that refused to be identified but had similar skin patterns to a creature not seen for 100 million years.

Now, Troy Strom and the enigmatic Elle Burgan race to find the mysterious island of legend, while staying ahead of a group of brutal killers who claim to be the rightful owners of the greatest prize of all – Odin’s heart.

Troy Strom met Elle Burgan when they were children, and both drawn to the larger than life displays of Viking history in the museum. As adults they reconnected again on the path to finding the mysterious hidden island of Lemuria – an ancient take they both believed truly existed. They quickly discover they’re not the only people on this trail, and the dangers lurking everywhere aren’t just from the adventure and hidden monsters – but from the other seekers as well.

I really enjoyed this full-length novel. While it’s only the first in a trilogy it has all the hallmarks of an exceptional adventure tale – a hidden location, dangerous monsters, secret treasure and riches and of course a huge cast of merciless killers determined to take it all for themselves. A fair bit of this story is “setting up” for the next two installments, but I was pleased the author still kept the tension high and the pace moving forward at a good clip.

There is a wide cast of characters, some just cameos with a defined purpose and others part of the various larger teams that will clearly be part of the reader’s journey through all three books. I feel some more action-orientated readers might feel the pace of this book, particularly in the beginning, is a little slow. There is quite a bit of foundation to lay – a lot of the history and Viking lore, a strong and realistic explanation of how the various puzzle pieces were discovered and helped lead our teams to finding the location of the mysterious island and also just the logistics of setting up such an expedition. Personally, I feel this was all done really well, and with enough movement, murder and mayhem to keep the pace moving right along and not lagging in the slightest. I also felt a lot of this history, background and knowledge was vital to help explain why the search for this island was so important and how it could have stayed hidden for so many centuries.

Even though this is the first book in a trilogy I feel the story is quite well contained within just this book and absolutely I feel it can be read by itself. There isn’t really a cliff-hanger style of ending which I was very grateful for, but equally it’s quite clear there is another book that will carry the story on as there are plot points left unfinished. This is an excellent first installment though and while I hope the remaining two books come soon – there is not that feeling of being left hanging to make me irritated and impatient with the wait.

Beck is a brilliant author when it comes to adventure, monsters and a rollicking good tale. He excels at blending history and monsters; danger and adventure and I feel this is a book where all those exceptional talents of his really shine. I feel many readers will love this book as much as I did, and I can’t wait for the next two in the series to be released.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Dark Skies by LJ Ross

September 15, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Dark Skies by LJ Ross
Publisher: Dark Skies Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Beware what lies beneath…

One fateful, starry night, three friends embark on a secret camping trip but only two return home. Thirty years later, the body of a teenage boy rises from the depths of England’s biggest reservoir and threatens to expose a killer who has lain dormant…until now.

Detective Chief Inspector Ryan returns from honeymoon to face danger from all sides. In the depths of Kielder Forest, a murderer has escaped justice before and will do anything to protect the secrets of the past. Meanwhile, back at Northumbria CID, an old foe has taken the helm as Superintendent and is determined to destroy Ryan at any cost.

Who will prevail in Ryan’s most dangerous case yet?

Murder and mystery are peppered with romance and humour in this fast-paced crime whodunit set amidst the spectacular Northumbrian landscape.

DCI Ryan has technically not even come back from his honeymoon when a private diving lesson over the weekend unearths a long-mummified corpse of a teenage boy in England’s biggest reservoir. The mummified corpse holds any number of secrets, but forces within DCI Ryan’s team threaten to tear the close-knit group apart and those close to Ryan are an even greater danger than that of a re-awakened murderer.

This book is in the DCI Ryan series, and I would strongly recommend readers have at least some experience with a few of the previous installments. While it’s not necessary to have read every book preceding this, a very large amount of the plot and conflict arise from inter-team changes and clashes, so I feel readers who pick this story up alone won’t have as good an experience without the emotional attachment and investment in the various main characters. That said, the story is absolutely easy to follow along with, the author has done a solid job of explaining everything and the murder mystery plot stands very well on its own. But with a twist in the mystery plot right at the end of the story and tensions in the characters’ relationships still extremely high at the end of the book I definitely feel at least some of the previous stories should be read and a number of readers might feel the somewhat cliffhanger ending – which very clearly leads directly into the next book – doesn’t lend this to be a story to be read purely on its own.

I understand a number of the characters actions and clashes and the reasoning behind it, but I strongly feel readers who prefer a more police procedural style of story – and less character driven drama – might not find this book as enjoyable as previous stories in this series. I struggled in a few places to feel some of the characters acted in an understandable way. While the main antagonist was suitably manipulative and dastardly, I was a little surprised how easily convinced and swayed one of Ryan’s team in particular was. There was a large amount of conflict in this story which I do feel will appeal to some readers, but equally I feel the splintering of the team might also be viewed by a number of readers as a bit over the top in relation to the conflict/drama of the story.

In some respects, the mystery was secondary to everything happening within the police team. I did enjoy how the murder which occurred thirty years in the past re-awakened a number of simmering issues and I thought the plot surrounding how the past and present interwove was very well done. For this particular book, however, I do feel the actual mystery took almost a back seat to all the politics and schisms within the team. I also strongly feel readers should be prepared to want to read the following book virtually immediately after finishing this story as it ends setting up for the next installment very much. I, personally, would have found it painful to wait. Thankfully I had the next book already on hand and would suggest readers who know themselves to be impatient at times shouldn’t crack this one open until they have the following book on hand.

A well written book this was somewhat different to others I’ve read in the series but was nevertheless a good read.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Against The Clock by John Carson

September 12, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Against The Clock by John Carson
Publisher: Vellum
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

The body of a teenager is found near Portobello Beach in Edinburgh, wrapped in plastic. She went missing five years ago but it’s obvious she only died recently. Inside the plastic is the dress she was wearing when reported missing. Where has she been kept and why has she been killed now?

The dead girl’s abduction mirrors that of two young girls who have gone missing in the past two weeks. DCI Harry McNeil is assigned the case with the help of two colleagues from Glasgow, who have discovered the body of a young girl in an abandoned leisure park. Now an eight-year-old girl is snatched from the beach. Is it connected to the other two older girls who have gone missing?

As the detectives follow the clues, they know they’re dealing with somebody who is not only a deranged killer but who will disappear with his victims. Just like he did five years ago. Harry and the others are pulling out all the stops to find the girls, but all of them know, they’re running against the clock…

When two teenaged girls are found dead – one in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow they are very quickly identified as two of three young girls who went missing within days of each other five years ago. DCI Harry McNeil and a number of his colleagues quickly work together to try and find both where the third girl might be but also re-investigate the original kidnappings.

This is a fast paced and enjoyable Scottish police procedural style of book. I have been enjoying this series and while the plot and mystery can definitely be read alone, I feel readers will gain far more enjoyment from the many characters if they have read at least a few of the previous books to understand the various interactions and relationships.

I was a little disappointed this time around to find Alex’s character pretty annoying. I fully understand her situation and that she’s not quite herself – but equally I feel the jealousy and slightly petty behavior she showed Harry in particular was a bit beneath her. While I feel some readers may think this makes Alex more relatable and human, I personally found it a bit annoying and was pleased when she reverted somewhat back to the character I’m used to.

There is a bunch of Scottish antics and swearing from the various characters – quite a decent sized cast of them too – so readers who are somewhat new to the series might find it a bit of a juggle to keep it all in hand. I admit I really enjoyed this part of the story – the ribald interactions and clear friendship and connections between the group of men. To my surprise, I actually even somewhat liked DSup Calvin Stewart, though I expect he was purposely written as a bit of a git and rude character. He was certainly memorable regardless of whether you liked him or not and while personally I enjoyed him – I’d understand if he’s not every reader’s cup of tea. He is certainly a different and unique kind of character.

With a solid mystery plot and a wide range of variable characters I found this to be a fun romp of a story with plenty of swearing and police work. I’m greatly enjoying the series and am eager for more.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Kill Them Cold by JM Dalgliesh

September 8, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Kill Them Cold by JM Dalgliesh
Publisher: Hamilton Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

One lie requires commitment… Multiple lies require dedication…

When the remains of a young woman are discovered near to Branodunum, a Roman archaeological site on the Norfolk coast, DI Tom Janssen and his team must work to discover who she was and how she came to be buried there.

The area is steeped in myth and folklore, a site excavated many times over the years. Just how long has she lain there… and who wishes she’d never been discovered? As the victim’s life comes into sharp focus, it appears there is far more to those who crossed her path than anyone previously realised.

Uncovering dark secrets at every turn, DI Janssen must unravel the web of deceit in order to unmask a killer; possibly the most cold blooded and dangerous murderer he has ever faced.
Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Norfolk, this fast-paced British detective novel is a dark murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed.

When a farmer is ploughing his field, he uncovers human bones. The police very soon realize this skeleton is not archaeological, but only from a decade or two ago. Can they piece together who wanted this young woman dead and why her remains were hidden away?

I’ve been really enjoying this Hidden Norfolk series. This book very much reads like it can stand on its own. While the police team are working very comfortably and well together – so it’s clear there are plenty of previous stories about this team – the plot and most of the interactions between the group all stand very well on their own with the author not needing to info-dump to the reader or catch everyone up on a lot of history.

Readers who enjoy a British style police procedural should find this an interesting and enjoyable read. I was pleased that – aside from the prologue – there were no flashbacks into the past or jumping back and forth in time. I was very happy for Tom and the team to dig into the archaeological site and piece together what happened via usual police investigation means – asking questions, talking to people who were involved and puzzling it all together. This made for an interesting and well-paced story to my mind, and I really enjoyed it.

Readers looking for a smaller and more country sort of setting and a modern police procedural type of story should find this really fits the bill. I’m enjoying this series and am eager to read more.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Life Extinct by John Carson

September 5, 2022 By Leave a Comment


Life Extinct by John Carson
Publisher: Vellum
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Doctor Angela Monroe is found dead at the foot of Salisbury Crags on Arthur’s Seat. An avid runner, it first appears that she fell to her death.

Until the pathologist deems it murder.

It’s the night of the summer solstice and people have been celebrating on the famous dormant volcano.

DCI Sean Bracken and his team are called in to lead the investigation.

Monroe was a well-respected professor, lecturing at a local university, who had no known enemies and was a private person who kept to herself.

Was this a random attack? As they dig deeper into her background, nothing makes sense. But somebody wanted her dead, and when the killer strikes again, it takes the team into a whole new direction.

Meantime, Bracken’s girlfriend is being stalked…by a dead man. Logic says it can’t be him, but who would want to harm her? She enlists the help of Bracken, who knows all too well that dead men don’t stalk…

DCI Sean Bracken is enjoying where he’s at with his life. His work and family relationships are all fairly stable and happy, his growing relationship with his girlfriend Chaz is moving steadily but well and he’s even comfortable still staying in the guest house with a retired detective as his landlord. Only an odd death draws Sean’s idyllic summer to a close on the solstice and Chaz appears to have a stalker – a man who she met a number of years ago through her work in the mortuary – a man who is very dead.

I’ve read a number of John Carson’s books and enjoy both his DCI Harry McNeil series as well as his DCI Sean Bracken series. While I have frequently found the Bracken series to be a bit grittier and harder than the McNeil series, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. I was very pleased that Bracken’s romantic relationship with Chaz is slowly gaining momentum and they each seem to be steadily getting more series about each other. I also enjoyed how the author spent a little more time showing us the reader more of Sean and Chaz together in their personal time and not glossing over the somewhat new relationship. This helped me see them both and understand that this isn’t some quick fling but has the potential to be long term and serious between them.

I was pleased with the balance between Sean’s work as a homicide detective and his looking into the more personal investigation of who was stalking Chaz. I enjoyed this extra layer into their private life and seeing them work together outside their professional career and I enjoyed this. I definitely feel that while readers who have been following along with this series will find a lot of satisfaction in seeing this extra layer to the characters we’ve read about for a while – this book can easily be picked up by itself and readers can thoroughly enjoy this story even if they haven’t read anything previously in this series.

A strong Scottish police procedural style of novel, this is a strong read and one I enjoyed. I thought there is a good amount of character growth and an easy and steady interaction between the main characters, but it’s also a very strong police investigation-based mystery and I feel this should appeal to a wide range of readers.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Dead Call by JM Dalgleish

August 31, 2022 By Leave a Comment


The Dead Call by JM Dalgleish
Publisher: Hamilton Press
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Fern

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time…

When a woman’s body is found in the sea at Blakeney Point with a single blow to the head, DI Tom Janssen and his team must work out who wanted her dead and why? What would drive someone to murder an elderly woman in such a savage and callous manner?

A formidable woman, a Watcher of the local nature reserve, who dedicated her life to preserving her natural surroundings has made many friends along the way… and even more dangerous enemies. A veteran campaigner – just how did she manage to succeed against all the odds when facing those with far greater resources than her own.

Meanwhile, a man is found murdered in his kitchen showing no signs of having put up a fight. This second case brings murder a little too close to home for the entire team. Tom finds himself questioning the motives of those closest to him and he must face the uncomfortable reality that you never truly know those around you.

The team must keep secrets from one another, straining their bonds of friendship in order to catch a ruthless killer before they are able to strike again…

Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Norfolk, this fast-paced British detective novel is a dark murder mystery with a little humour, one that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed.

DI Tom Janssen and his team are called to investigate the death of an elderly lady. But they quickly learn that despite her age, local wildlife activist had a number of people angry with her. Then another murder quickly divides the team as they grapple with this second case cutting very close to home.

I’ve been enjoying this series – the “Hidden Norfolk” series – and am finding it very well written with interesting characters and a tight plot. While there are a number of layers to the police team and the various characters within that I still feel the two main plotlines can be thoroughly enjoyed by readers who pick this book up by itself. I do feel that a deeper and more emotional connection with the characters and what’s happening will be felt by those who have read some or all of the previous stories, but I don’t feel it’s strictly necessary and certainly not to understand the plot.

This is mostly a police procedural style of story, though I really enjoyed the fact that as one of the murders hit close to home there are a number of emotional and conflicting aspects to what would ordinarily be a straightforward case and investigation. I have to admit that Tamara’s character annoys me at times, but equally I have to say that in this book I found my aggregation with her less than in the first few books of the series. I was also very interested in the character development between Tamara and Alice – and will be interested to see what (if anything) unfolds in the coming few books.

Readers who enjoy a British based mystery should find this book appeals. I can easily recommend the entire series and while I might not feel this is the strongest of all the books so far, it is an excellent addition, and I will certainly be eager for the next installment. I found the plots well-paced and well written. There is nothing too earth shattering in the unveiling of what occurred, but I do admit that while I guessed some of it there was still plenty I hadn’t foreseen, and I strongly feel even long-term mystery readers should find some freshness to this plotline.

A great British police procedural style of mystery and a series I am greatly enjoying.

Filed Under: Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »