Michael Hambling

Exmoor, thriller, law-enforcement, procedural, due-diligence, cooperation, friendship, unputdownable, multiple-murder, murder-investigation, small-town, rural, theft, suspense, coastal, teamwork, series, artist*****

The first body had been in the water for a time, had no form of ID, turned out to be that of a loner/artist. Time to call in more experienced law enforcement.
Chief Superintendent Sophie Allen of the Wessex Serious Crime Unit (Wescu) has a law degree and a master's in psychology but is dedicated to police work. She is less prominent and more the organizer in this investigation with local librarian/ Special Constable (Volunteer) Jackie Spring as the unobtrusive one who reports to DS Rae Gregson for the probe into the situations.
This one is more plot driven than the others I've read in series. It's always a pleasure to read a good procedural!
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mer)

mysteries, thriller, law-enforcement, procedural, abuse, abusive-spouse, psychopath, psychological, cooperation, multiple-murder, murder-investigation, framed, friendship, false-information, family-dynamics, family, due-diligence, duplicity, predators, England

DCI Sophie Allen has a law degree and a master's in psychology but is dedicated to police work. Her husband has charge of the maths department and they have two daughters. The first victim will have no chances for those things. Nor will her mother or the next victim. It's a hard slog for the joined departments to sort it all out and find the right killer.
I read #11 in series yesterday morning and then started this as audio in the afternoon!
Great story, inappropriate narrator (wrong accents).… (mer)

mystery, thriller, law-enforcement, procedural, cooperation, multiple-murder, murder-investigation, abduction, small-town, unputdownable, friendship, due-diligence, predators, England*****

Riveting!
DCI Sophie Allen has been promoted and heads up a combined group of varied Crime specialties in the Western Counties. The first body is found in a shallow grave a few days after being murdered. That investigation is ongoing while they try to locate the victim's son at university. But then he turns up dead as well. Sophie works with several people she has worked with before and the tension keeps ratcheting up until a new and horrible aspect to the cases is uncovered. Extremely well done. This is the first in series that I've read but that made absolutely no difference except that now I want to binge read the previous ones!
I requested and received a free e-book copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (mer)