Tag Archives: Police Procedural

The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing The Stone Veil by Keith Nixon.

Here’s the blurb

A body entombed in concrete, a missing cop, a bizarre death. Three investigations, one chilling mystery.

When a man’s body is found amidst the wreckage of a crashed car abandoned on a back road, Detective Inspector Solomon Gray initially believes the death to be the result of a tragic accident, the aftermath of a collision with a driver who then fled the scene. But Gray soon unravels a chilling truth: the man died before the collision.

Meanwhile, one of Gray’s colleagues, the usually dependable Desk Sergeant Dai Morgan, has disappeared. Morgan had apparently been on the brink of unraveling a decades-old cold case – the identity of a recently discovered corpse that had been buried under the concrete foundations of a farm building over twenty years ago, a case Gray had a personal connection to.

As Gray delves deeper he finds these mysteries are in fact intertwined and, amidst the darkness, one truth remains clear: someone is determined to keep the past buried at any cost.

Review

The Stone Veil is book 11 in the Solomon Gray series by Keith Nixon. Lets get the tough question out of the way first.. can you read this book as a standalone or do you need to have read the rest of the series… Such a great question. Honestly Keith Nixon is a very conscious writer, each tale is written so well with little bits of info planted not only to help new readers understand the characters and motivations but also to remind fans of the series of pivotal events.. each bit of information takes the reader back and reminds us of what Sol has been through… and he’s not going to get any peace just yet. Personally I’d say read the rest of the series.. well because it’s bloody good but it will also just help you get that little bit more invested in Sol and his life.

Plot wise I felt this one worked beautifully.. there’s a current case that’s landed but not only that but one of Sol’s colleagues is missing… the further we dig further in the past we go…and there’s links to one of Sol’s biggest enemies.. Frank McGavin! Sol can never seem to shake the man no matter what he does.

The dual timeline story worked exactly the way you’d want it..the flow from past to present is flawless for the development, nothing ever needed forced .. it’s hard to explain but as a reader i like to feel like I’m learning something rather than simply being told something.. and it’s that style of storytelling Nixon does best.. he weaves the tale, directing you without you feeling any change in focus.. the development is natural and steady.. oh Mr Nixon you do know how to hook your readers in!

The backstory really sheds light on McGavin and Sol.. it explains more of the history between the two and shows you what kind of guy Sol really is.. we always knew it but to finally have this piece of the story.. wow! I think this was the first time I really loved McGavin.. he’s always been a love/hate kind of person but this time… oh my.. loved him!

Sol has other worries more closer to home during this one and has a knock on affect in his work as much as he doesn’t want to admit it… he tries to just carry on but we soon learn what pieces of the puzzle have been missed..and wowza.. what a storyline.

I really can’t spoil it as it wouldn’t do the series justice but this was a very fitting and fulfilling tale packed with emotion. The plot is clever and gripping…rich in detail but it’s sometimes the words unspoken that speak more in The Stone Veil, you feel the guilt and pain pouring off Sol as he battles his demons.

Character wise this was a clever offering.. not only do we see growth in Sol, we also see more of Mackintosh who showed up in a pervious case.. the issue is him and Sol don’t mix too well yet.. Mackintosh is a very cool character.. but a bit too much for Sol.

My gut tells me it can only get worse for Sol.. the influx of new faces within his life brings freshness to the storyline which is great for the reader but if we’ve learned anything about Sol so far is that he’s not really a people pleaser.

Then there’s Dai Morgan..Dai while missing during this story is probably the one I’d say developed the most. He’s flawed like Sol and it’s kind of like looking at what might have befallen Sol should he have taken a different path…

The Stone Veil has a darker tone from the very first page which you’ll very much understand after reading the author’s note! word of warning.. if you are prone to tears get a tissue ready, it’s a very moving piece. The events in the authors personal life clearly had an effect but he was able to channel that emotion into the tale.. you can feel the pain and as much as I hate to say it…it really added something extra to the tale.. we see Solomon struggle.. and I mean really struggle.. you might be lucky and have never felt this way but I can almost guarantee you at some point you will feel this powerless..

An emotional 5*…While doing my review I read the authors note again and it’s still hits hard!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon!

Who’s Next? (Detectives Lockhart and Green Book 2) by Chris Merritt – REVIEW

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Today I’m reviewing Who’s Next? (Detectives Lockhart and Green Book 2) by Chris Merritt.

Here’s the blurb

Stumbling to the ground, he claws at the earth around him, trying to stabilise himself, but his attacker is on him in seconds. As he stares at the lights of the bustling streets on the other side of the park gates, he doesn’t even have time to shout for help before everything goes black.

When the body of wealthy businessman Charles Stott is found dead on Wimbledon Common, covered in bruises just feet away from his luxury home, Detective Dan Lockhart is called to investigate the shocking scene. Examining the sickeningly disfigured body before him, Lockhart knows he’s dealing with a brutal killer. Looking more closely, he notices something on the victim’s neck: a small, crudely drawn symbol in black ink. It seems the murderer has marked his victim, but why? Dan needs to get inside the perpetrator’s mind, so he contacts psychologist Dr Lexi Green.

As the ensuing media circus puts pressure on Dan and Lexi’s investigation, another victim is found and the headlines are quick to report a serial killer is on the loose. The body of a successful lawyer has been discovered in a park with the same bruising and hand-drawn symbol on his neck. Dan fears that more victims will follow.

As the case intensifies, Dan uncovers a new lead on his missing wife, Jess, who disappeared eleven years ago. Determined to follow it up, he must choose between tracking down a serial murderer and finding Jess. Can he make the impossible decision before the killer strikes once more?

Review

After reading the first instalment in the series I was eager for more. Luckily for me being late to the party meant the next in the series has been out somewhile so I was able to get stuck in straightaway.

So we are back with Detective Dan Lockhart and his team. It’s been a while since he and Dr Lexi Green last spoke, but after the events of the previous book can you blame them? It was a stressful time but add to that the connection they seem to share.. things are just a bit awkward.

When a gruesome beating occurs leaving the victim dead Lockhart again needs the support of Green to help profile the killer before they strike again.

A strange symbol is found on the victim but what does it mean?

Lockhart’s team are stretched though, and in the mist of everything there’s also another case to solve.. both cases clash a little and the teams need to go against orders at times to get the job done… better to ask forgiveness than permission..

More beatings take place but can Lockhart and Green put the pieces of the puzzle pieces together in time?

Amongst this Lockhart also needs to confront his own past.. the disappearance of his wife. The events get more complex and juicy for the reader.

Plot wise I was over the moon! Yes Lockhart and Green don’t see eye to eye again at times.. Lockhart is too impulsive and Green, well she just doesn’t see her own worth at times. Both do their best to put the case to bed and they end up risking it all. I particularly loved Green going rogue..

The relationship between them Is complex as neither seems to want to address the connection they have.. but at the same time it’s understandable.. wrong place wrong time but the tension is palpable and believable.

I honestly didn’t think the author could top the previous story with such a spectacular killer and backstory.. but you know what.. Chris Merritt knocks it out of the park delivering another..even better killer.. the motivation behind them..wow..the detail added really just made them come to life and as weird as it is to say.. I kind of like this one..is that bad that I didn’t want to see them caught ha ha.

The main characters develop well, especially Green who is still dealing with the death of her friend after the last time she helped Lockhart. There’s also an awesome new addition and development of the ensemble cast which flowed well but also allowed the reader a break from Lockhart and Green.. I mean I don’t think I could ever get sick of them but the breaks allow you a breather and show the authors talent for development, each ensemble member has their part to play and you look forward to seeing them and what they can do as a team when it matters the most.

I’m quickly becoming a big fan of the authors style and I love the time and effort that must have went into making such a earthshaking plot.. and that ending…talk about edge of your seat!

A resounding 5*

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

A Deadly Truth: A Solomon Gray Thriller by Keith Nixon – Review

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Today I’m reviewing A Deadly Truth, book 10 in the Solomon Gray series by Keith Nixon!

Here’s the blurb

Has Solomon Gray’s son returned with secrets that could tear their family apart?

Detective Inspector Solomon Gray’s long-awaited reunion with his son, Tom, has been marked by an unexpected chilliness. Tom’s return from Edinburgh raises questions for Gray, who senses there’s more to his son’s homecoming than meets the eye.

Amidst this strained family dynamic, Gray finds himself immersed in an undercover operation, patrolling aboard a Trojan bus in search of troublemakers following a string of anti-social incidents. His vigilance pays off when he intervenes in a violent altercation, leaving notorious thief Mumble Swann hospitalised after a brutal assault. Surprisingly, the perpetrator is revealed to be fifteen-year-old Zoe Doneglan, but she remains tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding the fight.

As Gray delves deeper into the incident, he receives an unexpected call from DCI Mackintosh of the Organised Crime Division of Police Scotland. Unbeknownst to Gray, Police Scotland is operating within his jurisdiction, tracking the movements of Callum Strachan, a well-connected businessman with mysterious ties to Thanet. Mackintosh enlists Gray’s help when one of his undercover officers disappears under suspicious circumstances.

The discovery of an unidentified John Doe, barely clinging to life on a nearby beach, adds another layer of intrigue to Gray’s already complex investigation.

In this tense and multifaceted novel, Detective Inspector Solomon Gray navigates the complexities of family strife and clandestine operations, racing against time to untangle a web of deception that threatens to engulf them all

Review

We are back with Solomon Gray and this time I think things are even more complicated for Sol than they have ever been.. if that’s even possible. Fan’s of the series will know the background behind Sol but let’s just say, he’s been through it.

One big change in Sol’s life is Tom.. Tom is Sol’s son who went missing many years ago, after some very chilling events Sol discovered the truth. It was a frosty kind of reunion.. they are more alike than they know.. but things were looking up when last Christmas Tom turned up on Sol’s doorstep.

Things haven’t really moved on much..Tom is living with Sol but they are passing ships in the night and neither are big talkers but Sol senses there’s something else going on.. but what?

There’s another big distraction in Sol’s life too, in the form of Linnet Roach. Roach got her claws into Sol in the last book and she’s not about to give him up any time soon. The great thing about Roach is she knows what she wants and she makes things abundantly clear with Gray but it’s tough for Sol to concentrate on Roach when Tom is playing on his mind… not to mention a new case hits his desk.

Mumble Swann, who is well known to the police, witnesses a crime but before anything can really come of it he’s brutally assaulted.. by a girl named Zoe Doneglan. Zoe’s had a tough start in life.

Gray doesn’t have much time to think about her though when a visit to the hospital reveals two men were brought in last night.. Mumble.. and a John Doe…

Little does Sol know at the time what links the men and the reader barely knows more.. but it teases what’s to come..you can just tell with the setup how good this will be.

Sol tries to take his mind of things and enjoys a night out with Roach but by happenstance ends up meeting an interesting character in the form of Callum Strachan..Sol’s gut tells him something is up.. or is he just being a grumpy old man again? Time will tell.

I don’t want to spoil the plot and development but what we get as a reader is a well thought out and complicated plot effortlessly weaved together in a style I’ve come to expect and love from the author.

What I really enjoyed with this novel and the last is the fresh blood added.. new characters and development of the current ensemble.. Sol’s a brilliant character but now Tom is found the focus has shifted and it’s great to see the supporting cast come into their own for the benefit of not only the plot but they also aid to Gray’s own development too. There’s a few characters that stand out, such as Mackintosh..he’s only small part, but leaves a big impression which no doubt the author can build on.

A Deadly Truth has some amazing twists, its complex but executed perfectly giving the reader the wow factor.. that OMG moment.. the adrenaline rush.. it’s intense.

One thing I’ve always loved about this series is the sheer number of events playing out, and how they connect.. sometimes in small ways.. sometimes big.. but the main thing is there’s no plot holes.. everything has a place and every motivation expanded just when you need it.. some in some jaw dropping scenes.

Being the tenth book in the series you’d be thinking we’ve seen it all… but no.. the author still has things up his sleeve..and if anything I can just see even more chances to keep the development going, new directions.. it’s exciting.

Resounding 5*

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

Betray Them All (Detective Solomon Gray #7) by Keith Nixon – Review

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Today I’m reviewing Betray Them All (Detective Solomon Gray #7) by Keith Nixon

Here is the blurb –

Genre – Police Procedural Thriller

It’s 3am on a wet, dreary morning in the south of England. Detective Inspector Solomon Gray raids an ordinary-looking house, but inside he finds the exception: an illegal cannabis farm run by a sixteen-year-old held against his will.

Within minutes Gray rushes to another nearby incident. A homeowner has stabbed and seriously wounded a burglar. Semi-retired Charles Sowerby, claims self-defence against the intruder – a traveller by the name of Aidan Jupp, a man with a violent history of targeting society’s most vulnerable.

The stabbing heightens local tensions, inflamed by far-right anti-immigrant activists and the Press. Jupp’s family swear revenge on Sowerby. Then Gray discovers Jupp wasn’t acting alone, so who’s his partner?

Somehow the cannabis farm and the stabbing are connected. Can Gray figure everything out before local tensions boil over?

Set in the once-grand town of Margate, the now-broken and depressed seaside resort becomes its own character in this dark detective thriller, perfect for fans of Ian Rankin, Stuart MacBride, and Peter James. Betray Them All is the seventh book in this best-selling series featuring Detective Inspector Solomon Gray.

Review

We are back with our favourite detective Solomon Gray, or Sol to those who know him well.

From the outset things look juicy. There’s a raid on a house, a cannabis farm is located but the boy found there is unwilling to talk.

There’s no time for Gray to do much more as he is called away to a burglary gone wrong. It seems clear cut at first. Intruder gets what’s coming to him as the homeowner defends himself, there are just a couple facts that don’t add up.

Tensions rise quickly. The burglar is part of a group of travellers. The locals do not like them and it’s only a matter of time before things come to a head and someone else gets hurt.

This is an extreme headache for Sol as there is little he can do, although he does manage to form an agreement of sorts with the travellers. They seem to like his style and approach to things, and they trust him though there is only so much they can control too. Sol must work fast.

As the blurb for the book suggests the cases are linked and I won’t spoil how but as always, the author manages to weave a wonderful complex tale. Nixon really is adept at this kind of story, effortlessly putting you there with Sol. Things click into place and there is that magical moment when all becomes clear.

As a fan of series it was great to see a recurring character pop up and for us to learn of his part in recent events. Again I cannot spoil it, but this ongoing situation of Sol’s is brilliant, and I do wonder how long it will be before Sol takes a fall.

Sol has the added stress of a baby on the way, it wasn’t planned and it’s even more complicated since she is a colleague, and no one knows about them. It’s this personal stress that really makes the character likeable. We all go through difficult events we would rather not, but to give him that human side enamours you to him.

As important as character development and plot are, I also have high demands when it comes to writing style, how the tale is paced, how language is used. Nixon just knows exactly what I need as a reader. The flow is perfect, chapter length spot on allowing you to really enjoy the tale. The only downside is I now must wait for the next book to be released!

Nixon is a master of the police procedural thriller and I eagerly await more 😊

5/5 Stars!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon.

 

David’s Book Blurg’s Top Choices for 2019

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Ok.. so there’s still time for some last minute gifts so I want to share my top picks! These are just some of the books I’ve read/listened to this year! Click the pictures to head to Amazon to have a look in detail!

  1. Are you an audiobook fan? If so you’ve got to get Lucia by Steven A McKay. It’s a gut wrenching slaves tale set in Roman times.51cHfw39UnL._SX342_
  2. Fancy a delicious new mystery novel? then look no further than No Stone Unturned by Pam Lecky. (Currently at the bargain price of £0.99 on Kindle!)46203408._SY475_
  3. Do you like a police procedural kind of novel and like flawed leads? Well The Silent Dead by Keith Nixon is the book for you.47969376._SY475_
  4. Enjoy a bit of Science Fiction without the word count? Take a look at The Bastard Cadre by Lee Carlon!415GhUysFtL
  5. Like a bit of a historical read.. ever heard of the Hittites? look no further than Empires of Bronze by Gordon Doherty.51Odsq2iUkL
  6. Not quite sure what you are after? Fancy more than one book? Well why not get a boxset of goodness? Check out forged in Fire, a set which includes books by authors Prue Batten, Simon Turney and Gordon Doherty 5168XFNxseL

 

There’s so many good books out there.. these are just a few of the hundreds i’d happily recommend so do check out my reviews and see if anything takes your fancy.

Do get in touch and let me know what book gifts you give and receive this year 🙂

Pity The Dead (Detective Solomon Gray #5) By Keith Nixon – Review

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Next up on David’s Book Blurg I’m reviewing Pity The Dead by Keith Nixon!

Here’s the blurb..

Genre – Thriller/Police Procedural

“Don’t waste your time, he’s just another dead junkie.”

That’s what Detective Inspector Solomon Gray is told when the body of a young man is found. But Gray recognises him – an old school friend of his daughter’s. His death is suspicious, but junkies are the underclass – who cares about them? Investigations are brief, the deaths ruled accidental, the people soon forgotten, and life moves on.

There’s a brutal a new drug gang in town. Run by the vicious Leka Krisniqi, an Albanian who rules by fear and intimidation. Gray just can’t break it. And anyone suspected of working with the police ends up dead – their drugs spiked with a powerful toxin.

An old foe calls. Sylvia – former PA to Gray’s old boss and an expert in side-eye and snide remark – swallows her pride to ask for Gray’s help. Her husband is missing. One morning he upped and left with just the clothes on his back and hasn’t been seen since. To Gray it hardly seems important compared to a spate of murders, but there’s more to it than he thinks.

Gray gets a break that just might bust Krisniqi’s gang – a street dealer called E who could help. But she’s afraid for her own life and that of her family. Before she can risk it, Gray must first do something for her…

Can Gray bring down the dealers before more people die?

Review

Keith Nixon knows what his readers want and boy does he deliver!

We are back with Detective Inspector Solomon Gray.. past events are still playing heavy on his mind but there’s no time to dwell.. Junkies are dying.. you could easily pass this off as expected but things just aren’t right..the death rate is higher than the norm.. and where are they even getting the drugs? Wasn’t the major drug stream closed down?

Thanks to some great additions to Gray’s police team light starts to be shed on the issue but with junkies reluctant to help the police, the price of talking too high,  the case stalls.. Sol’s not one to give up easily.

As the case develops a visit from an unexpected visitor occurs that throws a spanner in the works.. Sylvia who has a history with Sol asks for his help with the disappearance of her husband.. At first Sol half heartedly looks into things..with good reason.. is a domestic right? he’ll turn up… but after a bit of digging we see the bigger picture become clear.

We get twists and turns along the way and the authors normal style of sucking you in repeats past tales as you follow Sol and his team as they follow the clues to solve the mystery..utterly engrossing from start to finish.

I loved the personal development with this one. Sol has a lot of bad history behind him and we start to see current life events take precedence, is this a fresh start for Sol? I doubt it.. there’s too much in his past but it seems like this could be a turning point for Sol.

Keith Nixon once again ticks all the boxes, Sol is flawed, he’s real. Real life affects his work , nothing is clear cut..there’s frustrations, it’s messy, not everyone is nice… that’s real life. It’s the perfect mix of character development vs plot and I couldn’t have been happier as a reader.

5/5 Stars for me.

To find out more head to Amazon or Goodreads.