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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Bells On Her Toes in Books

Nov 8, 2019

When a body is discovered in a burnt-out barn, DCI Peter Hatherall and DI Fiona Williams are assigned to investigate. The barn is owned by a racehorse trainer and the two detectives struggle to penetrate the closed and secretive world of horse racing to uncover who the body is and why they were murdered. As the body count rises Hatharall's personal life starts to impact on his professional judgement putting not only the investigation but lives at risk.

The police procedural has a long and distinguished history and Febry does an excellent job in following the formula and adding enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. Everything is told from a personal point of view (mostly Williams') and the author does a great job in conveying personality through how events are described. One of the key suspects also provides some of their thoughts between chapters and this very effectively cranks the tension up.

The cast of characters is very convincing. The detective with personal problems has very much become a cliche but Hatherall is drawn in a very realistic and human light and is clearly struggling. Williams has her own relationship issues and their interaction has a ring of authenticity. The cast of suspects is wide and a number of them could easily be guily. What is certain is that it will take time for all the secrets to be uncovered.

The plot has many twists and plenty of red herrings for both the reader and the detectives to fall foul of. The stakes are constantly raised until the final confrontation.

When reading this book I was reminded of one of my favourite detective thriller novelists, Reginald Hill. The characterisation, the plot twists and some of the way Febry plays with the reader's expectations reminded so much of a Dalziel and Pascoe novel. I think that's a very fair comparison and although Peter Hathersall is not at all like Andy Dalziel he is still a detective who works with both facts and instinct

This books is part of a series (and indeed one of the other books in the series is mentioned in passing) and if this novel is anything to go by the series is one to read as soon as possible. Anyone who likes a good detective novel with interesting characters and plenty of twists will like this. A lot.

Kudos

Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated Touch in Books

Apr 9, 2019

Touch

Mark Sennen | 2019

5.0

(1 Ratings)

Book Rating

Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage is investigating rape cases where the women were drugged and then dumped. When one of those victims, a student, who was supposed to be headed back home, is found dead, the case starts to change. When a second body turns up much like the first, DI Savage is none too happy. Now another girl has been reported as missing. Can Savage find her before it's too late.

I read Touch because the author was doing a Q&A with our group here A Good Thriller. I usually enjoy these types of books, but there was something about this book that just made it not as good as I was expecting. I enjoyed the story line, but there were a lot of characters and that detracted from the story. I think I counted at least eight different detectives or police officers involved, not to mention crime scene investigators and coroners. Then there were the different suspects in the case and the person who did the crime. He gave each of his victims another name. So it was all a little confusing.

Kudos

Katarzyna Krasuska (81 KP) rated Stalkers in Books

Aug 10, 2018

Stalkers

Paul Finch | 2013 | Fiction & Poetry

8.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

One of my favourite detectives (0 more)

Nothing bad (0 more)

Scary, scary stuff

So here it is: A serial killer story that (for me) tops them all...so far, of course.
Just reading the back of the book gives you a chill and immediately you want to know more...
The story is very dark, very unnerving. Over thirty successful and happy women goes missing without any trace. One minute they're living their lives as usual, going on about their business, then 'click' and they're gone!
Detective Heck's search for criminals & victims is so intense, that my heart was at full speed non-stop. The organisation he's dealing with is way beyond evil. I mean Jack the Ripper, Al-Qaeda & Charles Manson all in one. Although even they seem like bunny rabbits next to this lot.
Everything you read feels so real, that for a moment I was worried that if I continue on reading...they will come for me! And I'm not being funny but only a well written book can give you this kind of experience.
And finally, to top it all, it has a ''Chuck Norris moment'' in it, which I seriously did not expect.
A definite must read.

Kudos

Kate (493 KP) rated The Forgotten Girls in Books

Mar 21, 2020

If you like Big Little Lies, you'll love this (0 more)

I enjoyed this book as it was about the lives of the people as well as the solving of the crime.
It is definitely a book I would normally read. I love crime books.
I couldn't put the book down. I was hooked although it did take me a few chapters to get into it.
When the characters were 'speaking' especially the girls I could hear that voice. This is down to how the author described them.
Once the detectives started putting some of the pieces it place they quickly fell into place in my mind so I figured it out before it was fully revealed.
The characters and location of the book reminded me of Big Little Lies - the TV show. The story was different but the characters and location were definitely similar.
The book would be best for people who like a crime book - but I would say females in their late 20's to 40's.
It definitely exceeded my expectations from the blurb.
I would 100% read the next book if there was one.