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Stone & Oliver #4
Black Fell
The truth can be hidden . . . but secrets always surface
The peace of Kielder Water is shattered when tourists open a barrel they found floating in the reservoir at dawn. Detectives Stone and Oliver are called to examine the skeletal remains inside.
The tourists are eliminated from the investigation, but that same day a second body is discovered - this one with skin. Have the police let the killer leave the scene?
While Stone investigates the remains, Oliver travels to Iceland to gather evidence and track down the tourists who have fled. Someone will do anything to protect the secrets of the past...
The peace of Kielder Water is shattered when tourists open a barrel they found floating in the reservoir at dawn. Detectives Stone and Oliver are called to examine the skeletal remains inside.
The tourists are eliminated from the investigation, but that same day a second body is discovered - this one with skin. Have the police let the killer leave the scene?
While Stone investigates the remains, Oliver travels to Iceland to gather evidence and track down the tourists who have fled. Someone will do anything to protect the secrets of the past...
416 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2023
About the author
Mari Hannah
25 books370 followersWhen an injury on duty ended my career as Probation Officer, I began writing. I am the author of the Kate Daniels and Ryan & O’Neil series published by Pan Macmillan and the Stone & Oliver series published by Orion. My debut, The Murder Wall, was written as a TV pilot for a BBC Drama Development Scheme - before the adaption. The novel won the Polari First Book Prize. Before becoming an author, I fell in love with scriptwriting and submitted speculative original dramas to the BBC Writersroom. I've also written a romantic comedy feature film that I hope will find a producer one day. In 2010, I won the Northern Writers' Award for my second novel, Settled Blood. And in 2017, I won the Dagger in the Library for my body of work. I'm represented by AM Heath literary agent, Oli Munson, and live in Northumberland with my partner, a former murder detective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
May 24, 2023
4+
DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver #4
5 am call from Stone wakes Frankie, as a body floating in a barrel has been found in Kielder water, Northumberland. This is a gruesome discovery for an Icelandic visitor, Kristján Kristjánsson, skinny-dipping at dawn. A call later in the day reveals a second body. Are the victims connected?
This has a cracking start and I very much enjoy this latest addition to the series. The police procedure feel so authentic you could be a fly on the wall observing the team. They are all interesting, all well fleshed out, you feel the frustration of a difficult case and the competitive spirit between them which comes across in both dialogue and in actions. The standout characterisations are of Stone and Oliver both are complex and baggage is being carried. They are very intriguing and I love the way their relationship fluctuates rollercoaster style and this time that comes under attack. It’s a very good partnership and I like the way this ends as I’m keen to know what happens next for these two!
The settings for this novel are excellent and both the Kielder area and Iceland are used effectively in the storytelling providing some strong atmosphere to support a well thought out plot. The cases are perplexing, and complicated for the team to unpick the many strands. In Iceland DCI Anna Jonsdottir provides support, adding to the investigation. It’s exciting and gripping in several places, there is one very tense movie worthy scene towards the end which has you on the edge of your seat. The pace is fast and I like how the plot constantly changes direction and is unpredictable as suspicious actions, secrets and lies have to be disentangled.
Overall, if you like a police procedural with interesting central protagonists, these North East England based novels are highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Kielder water is a large reservoir in Northumberland near the Scottish border. It’s surrounded by Kielder forest, one of the largest man-made woodlands. Kielder Observatory at Black Fell is one of the most remarkable places in the United Kingdom for stargazing. It’s a stunning area to set a very good novel.
DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver #4
5 am call from Stone wakes Frankie, as a body floating in a barrel has been found in Kielder water, Northumberland. This is a gruesome discovery for an Icelandic visitor, Kristján Kristjánsson, skinny-dipping at dawn. A call later in the day reveals a second body. Are the victims connected?
This has a cracking start and I very much enjoy this latest addition to the series. The police procedure feel so authentic you could be a fly on the wall observing the team. They are all interesting, all well fleshed out, you feel the frustration of a difficult case and the competitive spirit between them which comes across in both dialogue and in actions. The standout characterisations are of Stone and Oliver both are complex and baggage is being carried. They are very intriguing and I love the way their relationship fluctuates rollercoaster style and this time that comes under attack. It’s a very good partnership and I like the way this ends as I’m keen to know what happens next for these two!
The settings for this novel are excellent and both the Kielder area and Iceland are used effectively in the storytelling providing some strong atmosphere to support a well thought out plot. The cases are perplexing, and complicated for the team to unpick the many strands. In Iceland DCI Anna Jonsdottir provides support, adding to the investigation. It’s exciting and gripping in several places, there is one very tense movie worthy scene towards the end which has you on the edge of your seat. The pace is fast and I like how the plot constantly changes direction and is unpredictable as suspicious actions, secrets and lies have to be disentangled.
Overall, if you like a police procedural with interesting central protagonists, these North East England based novels are highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Kielder water is a large reservoir in Northumberland near the Scottish border. It’s surrounded by Kielder forest, one of the largest man-made woodlands. Kielder Observatory at Black Fell is one of the most remarkable places in the United Kingdom for stargazing. It’s a stunning area to set a very good novel.
July 30, 2023
4 / 5
Solid book I must say. First book I’ve read of DCI David stone and DS Frankie Oliver, this book is good. It has everything you need from heavy detail place procedure to a wild chase. This book would be even better had I read the previous 3 other books. Nevertheless, as you read you start picking up on the team morale, and internal relationships between the team.
The book follows a 5 am call out to Kielder water, where a body (bones & skeleton) inside a barrel is found floating, a several metres away from the site another body is located near the body, but this time the body is fresh and recently dumped. A group of local tourists from Iceland are camping near the area who realised the alarm on the body in the barrel. It’s up to Stone and Oliver to figure out who is responsible and if the events are linked to one another.
I must admit, I liked this book. It’s not got your bog standard characters who are all perfect, instead each characters has their flaws. You see them overcome and face adversity which adds a different element to one another. Sometimes, it’s hard to engage with the characters and the plot when they are too superficial and unrelated-able. The plot is fast, and hardly
plateaus. For me personally one aspect I liked the most is Oliver dealing with imposter syndrome, understanding the effects of taking in more responsibility which I can personally relate to. In a field which is a male dominated industry it’s always daunting leading the team. Overall I enjoyed this book, definitely going to be keeping up with the series.
Solid book I must say. First book I’ve read of DCI David stone and DS Frankie Oliver, this book is good. It has everything you need from heavy detail place procedure to a wild chase. This book would be even better had I read the previous 3 other books. Nevertheless, as you read you start picking up on the team morale, and internal relationships between the team.
The book follows a 5 am call out to Kielder water, where a body (bones & skeleton) inside a barrel is found floating, a several metres away from the site another body is located near the body, but this time the body is fresh and recently dumped. A group of local tourists from Iceland are camping near the area who realised the alarm on the body in the barrel. It’s up to Stone and Oliver to figure out who is responsible and if the events are linked to one another.
I must admit, I liked this book. It’s not got your bog standard characters who are all perfect, instead each characters has their flaws. You see them overcome and face adversity which adds a different element to one another. Sometimes, it’s hard to engage with the characters and the plot when they are too superficial and unrelated-able. The plot is fast, and hardly
plateaus. For me personally one aspect I liked the most is Oliver dealing with imposter syndrome, understanding the effects of taking in more responsibility which I can personally relate to. In a field which is a male dominated industry it’s always daunting leading the team. Overall I enjoyed this book, definitely going to be keeping up with the series.
August 16, 2023
Black Fell is the latest in Mari Hannah’s series featuring DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver ( The Lost, The Insider, The Scandal) a series which is going from strength to strength with every new addition to it, securing Hannah’s place as one of the most accomplished British crime writers of high-calibre police procedurals.
Not only has Hannah written a well constructed crime thriller, which takes us seamlessly from the beautiful surrounds of Kielder Water, the scene of two murder cases, and also to Iceland as the investigation widens, and cooperation is sought from Oliver and Stone’s Icelandic counterparts. The haunting beauty of Kielder is used to full effect, where the vastness and ethereal quality of the forest, provides a perfect backdrop for the nefarious deeds and dark secrets that are slowly revealed as the plot develops. Equally, by sending one of the detectives to Iceland to follow up on suspects and witnesses, Hannah uses the opportunity to convey to us the impressions that Oliver has of the country, drawing the reader in through her eyes. It also allows Oliver to develop a working relationship with the Icelandic detectives, and for us to observe their different, and by the same token, similar investigative practices, which adds a vibe and energy to the plot overall.
The plotting is as tight and compelling as one would expect, and the counterbalance of the contemporary and the historic crimes is perfectly weighted during the course of the book. Hannah, once again balances the more mundane procedures of police work, with those sudden breakthroughs and flashes of inspiration, that all police officers experience in the course of a murder investigation, which gives an added authenticity to her writing. It also serves to really enfold the reader in the plot as we get equally infuriated when the cases seem to be stalling, and also waiting for those crucial truths to reveal themselves as we play-a-long detective too.
I love the way that with each book, Hannah is adding a new frisson to the dynamic of the relationship, both professional and personal, between Stone and Oliver. DCI Stone is the typical fairly taciturn, troubled superior officer, helping to mould Oliver into the consummate detective. Oliver, as a third generation police officer, is ambitious, intelligent but charmingly self-doubting. There naturally exists between them a difference in rank and experience, but even though their investigative methods are similar, Oliver has a more youthful compulsion to act on her instincts, which for the most part serve her well- there are some nice little in-references to DCI Kate Daniels when Oliver’s methods and demeanour are questioned by her superior officers too. There is also the added tension of Oliver awaiting her inspector exam results and how this will affect this very effective working partnership. There is a level of jocularity between them, but also moments of intense emotion, as each of them know how much they rely on each other professionally, but the personal relationship is still full of mixed messages, moments of conflict and procrastination, as well as sulking and glorious toys-out-of-pram moments. More so than any other of the books to date, the dynamic between them becomes a source of great interest to someone else too, who has their own personal axe to grind about DCI David Stone…
I am most definitely a confirmed fan of this series, with the added joy that any reader can dip into the series at any point and be fully on board with what has happened before so can equally be read as solid standalones. There is a natural ease and fluidity to Hannah’s writing (probably not for her when fleshing out and writing her books!) that bolstered by meticulous plotting, and great character development, keep me coming back for more. Black Fell is no exception. Highly recommended.
Not only has Hannah written a well constructed crime thriller, which takes us seamlessly from the beautiful surrounds of Kielder Water, the scene of two murder cases, and also to Iceland as the investigation widens, and cooperation is sought from Oliver and Stone’s Icelandic counterparts. The haunting beauty of Kielder is used to full effect, where the vastness and ethereal quality of the forest, provides a perfect backdrop for the nefarious deeds and dark secrets that are slowly revealed as the plot develops. Equally, by sending one of the detectives to Iceland to follow up on suspects and witnesses, Hannah uses the opportunity to convey to us the impressions that Oliver has of the country, drawing the reader in through her eyes. It also allows Oliver to develop a working relationship with the Icelandic detectives, and for us to observe their different, and by the same token, similar investigative practices, which adds a vibe and energy to the plot overall.
The plotting is as tight and compelling as one would expect, and the counterbalance of the contemporary and the historic crimes is perfectly weighted during the course of the book. Hannah, once again balances the more mundane procedures of police work, with those sudden breakthroughs and flashes of inspiration, that all police officers experience in the course of a murder investigation, which gives an added authenticity to her writing. It also serves to really enfold the reader in the plot as we get equally infuriated when the cases seem to be stalling, and also waiting for those crucial truths to reveal themselves as we play-a-long detective too.
I love the way that with each book, Hannah is adding a new frisson to the dynamic of the relationship, both professional and personal, between Stone and Oliver. DCI Stone is the typical fairly taciturn, troubled superior officer, helping to mould Oliver into the consummate detective. Oliver, as a third generation police officer, is ambitious, intelligent but charmingly self-doubting. There naturally exists between them a difference in rank and experience, but even though their investigative methods are similar, Oliver has a more youthful compulsion to act on her instincts, which for the most part serve her well- there are some nice little in-references to DCI Kate Daniels when Oliver’s methods and demeanour are questioned by her superior officers too. There is also the added tension of Oliver awaiting her inspector exam results and how this will affect this very effective working partnership. There is a level of jocularity between them, but also moments of intense emotion, as each of them know how much they rely on each other professionally, but the personal relationship is still full of mixed messages, moments of conflict and procrastination, as well as sulking and glorious toys-out-of-pram moments. More so than any other of the books to date, the dynamic between them becomes a source of great interest to someone else too, who has their own personal axe to grind about DCI David Stone…
I am most definitely a confirmed fan of this series, with the added joy that any reader can dip into the series at any point and be fully on board with what has happened before so can equally be read as solid standalones. There is a natural ease and fluidity to Hannah’s writing (probably not for her when fleshing out and writing her books!) that bolstered by meticulous plotting, and great character development, keep me coming back for more. Black Fell is no exception. Highly recommended.
Read
March 18, 2025I hated this book practically from the word “go”. Can't remember why I picked it up in the first place. Must've seen the cover on a local bookstore shelf and thought it looked interesting. Should've just put it down again after the first few pages.
Practically every interpersonal interaction is portrayed with artificial, piano-wire tension. These characters have never enjoyed any downtime in their life, because their profession demands it of them. They're going to ruin their lives, their hearts, their relationships for... something. It's not clear what they're doing it for. It certainly isn't justice. Professional satisfaction, maybe? Anyway, when each and every conversation is the most critical, emotionally-charged exchange of each participant's life, it all starts to become a bit numbing.
I'm not going to get into the author's uncritical enthusiasm for the thin blue line, I'm just going to point out that it's there. It's possible to write a book about cops without worshipping the ground their feet fall on; this ain't it.
For a book that relies so heavily on vehicle identification, the author would do well to learn that an “SUV” is not interchangeable with “small pickup truck”, and that a usual pickup truck bed is strictly distinct from a “flatbed”.
The book namedrops local geography like the author's getting paid for each one by Visit Nothumberland. Like so many other things in the book, the setting feels very forced.
Go read something else.
Practically every interpersonal interaction is portrayed with artificial, piano-wire tension. These characters have never enjoyed any downtime in their life, because their profession demands it of them. They're going to ruin their lives, their hearts, their relationships for... something. It's not clear what they're doing it for. It certainly isn't justice. Professional satisfaction, maybe? Anyway, when each and every conversation is the most critical, emotionally-charged exchange of each participant's life, it all starts to become a bit numbing.
I'm not going to get into the author's uncritical enthusiasm for the thin blue line, I'm just going to point out that it's there. It's possible to write a book about cops without worshipping the ground their feet fall on; this ain't it.
For a book that relies so heavily on vehicle identification, the author would do well to learn that an “SUV” is not interchangeable with “small pickup truck”, and that a usual pickup truck bed is strictly distinct from a “flatbed”.
The book namedrops local geography like the author's getting paid for each one by Visit Nothumberland. Like so many other things in the book, the setting feels very forced.
Go read something else.
June 19, 2023
So I've noticed a difference in style in this Stone and Oliver novel. Firstly shorter chapters and I feel like there's more detail around the procedural. I don't usually like short chapters however this kept me turning the page and it didn't detract from the story. I really enjoyed this although Frankie sometimes is irritating too perfect.
September 20, 2023
Was in a massive reading slump for the first half and then made myself read more and got really into it. i really liked the plot and it was at a good pace too so i didn’t get bored much. the ending was good but it didn’t have like a huge reveal or anything which was a bit of a shame but not that bad. AND the ending left it on a cliffhanger so i have to waitttt
March 4, 2024
This book really really ‘meh’ for me - I just couldn’t relate to the characters and I just plodded along with the plot. I really liked Her Last Request so thought this would be similar, but sadly, I feel like I have wasted time on this book. I definitely won’t be looking to read about Stone and Oliver again!
January 26, 2025
This was a long book, but somehow it didn't feel it! All the different strands in the plot came together cleverly to make this novel really great to read. The narrative was great, the writing and chapter lengths were pacy and the characters are really good. I enjoyed it very much and the backgrounds of the main characters help with understanding them and their actions.
July 18, 2023
A tense and well plotted police procedural that made me discover an interesting couple of detectives.
A solid plot that kept me guessing, fast paced and entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
A solid plot that kept me guessing, fast paced and entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
December 22, 2024
A tough read. I struggled to get into it but persevered. I felt like it was a waste of my time! A lot of faff and could have been shortened!
August 14, 2023
Excellent, that's the set completed, can't wait for the next one to come out
June 6, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Orion Publishing Group for an advance copy of Black Fell, the fourth novel to feature DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver of Northumbria Police.
Tourists wild camping at Kielder Water open a barrel floating in the water and find a skeleton. Stone and Oliver are sent to investigate and quickly clear the Icelandic tourists, only to doubt themselves when later that day a more recently deceased body is found nearby. Stone investigates the body in the barrel while Oliver conducts interviews in Iceland about the second body.
I thoroughly enjoyed Black Fell, which is an absorbing police procedural with a complex storyline and several twists. It is a wide ranging investigation with some roots in the past and a lot of lying.
The novel is told mostly from the investigative point of view. There are several voices, depending on which part of the investigation is the focus, but all add to the reader’s store of information and inclination to speculate. I like the constancy of a one sided narrative as it allows the reader to concentrate without distraction.
The plot is interesting as Oliver tries to wade through all the lies and omissions from the Icelandic tourists. What are they hiding and why? It’s a story as old as the hills, but, to be honest, it didn’t feel realistic to me. Still, it’s great reading as she tries to cut through it all to get to the truth. The body in the barrel turns out to be a much wilder story with forensics, tech and anthropology all playing their part. I was impressed with the author’s imagination to come up with such a story.
What I like about this novel is that it’s not just about the investigation. It has strong characterisation and plenty of driven personalities. There are bust ups, disagreements and some out of character behaviour from all of them. It keeps the novel real.
Black Fell is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Tourists wild camping at Kielder Water open a barrel floating in the water and find a skeleton. Stone and Oliver are sent to investigate and quickly clear the Icelandic tourists, only to doubt themselves when later that day a more recently deceased body is found nearby. Stone investigates the body in the barrel while Oliver conducts interviews in Iceland about the second body.
I thoroughly enjoyed Black Fell, which is an absorbing police procedural with a complex storyline and several twists. It is a wide ranging investigation with some roots in the past and a lot of lying.
The novel is told mostly from the investigative point of view. There are several voices, depending on which part of the investigation is the focus, but all add to the reader’s store of information and inclination to speculate. I like the constancy of a one sided narrative as it allows the reader to concentrate without distraction.
The plot is interesting as Oliver tries to wade through all the lies and omissions from the Icelandic tourists. What are they hiding and why? It’s a story as old as the hills, but, to be honest, it didn’t feel realistic to me. Still, it’s great reading as she tries to cut through it all to get to the truth. The body in the barrel turns out to be a much wilder story with forensics, tech and anthropology all playing their part. I was impressed with the author’s imagination to come up with such a story.
What I like about this novel is that it’s not just about the investigation. It has strong characterisation and plenty of driven personalities. There are bust ups, disagreements and some out of character behaviour from all of them. It keeps the novel real.
Black Fell is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
March 28, 2025
This is the 4th book in the Stone and Oliver crime series set in Northumberland, I loved the first book which was a bit different to other police procedurals but now the series seems to have settled into a more conventional example of the crime genre. Frankie Oliver is a 3rd generation officer, following in the footsteps of her father and grandfather, and is one of 3 sisters, one of whom was murdered in her teens, and whose killer has never been caught. David Stone, her boss, has come up to Northumberland following the murder of his partner on the Metropolitan Police Force, and both of these tragedies lie heavily with the officers, and gives them a common bond, plus a reluctance to get involved with anyone, although there are definite stirrings of attraction in this book. To distract them they have 2 cases to work on, one new and one cold, literally as a body which has been dead for about 20 years is retrieved from the popular tourist spot of Kielder Water, stuffed into a barrel, but bizarrely, almost on the same day, an Icelandic tourist is found murdered in the same body of water. There does seem to be a link between the cases, especially as a group of young tourists from Iceland were camping nearby, so once again it looks like the answers are hidden in the past, and it turns out to be a very murky past indeed. Then a journalist with a grudge against Stone enters the fray, and the police force finds itself under pressure to solve the crimes, and also with a PR disaster on it's hands as they try to stop the tabloid journalist from printing wild claims about the detective team. This wasn't a bad read, though the plot was very convoluted but well- written, though I have to say that Frankie has started to annoy me a bit ,with her constant whining and hesitancy as she grapples with her own demons, and seemingly everyone else's too, as well as her promotion. Not a bad series though, and the characters are well-drawn. 7/10
July 30, 2023
Where to begin? With every book I read by Mari Hannah I find myself thinking that they just get better and better and Black Fell is a point in case. This is the fourth in the Stone and Oliver series. It’s been a little while since the third but we readers have been kept busy reading the wonderful DCI Kate Daniels series by the author.
Anyway, back to Oliver and Stone. In Black Fell we have DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver being called out to a body found at the lakes edge in Kielder Water & Forest Park. Tourists from Iceland discovered a barrel in the water pulled it to shore. On opening it they found remains and call the police.
After taking witness statements from the tourists they are allowed to leave. Then another body is discovered by the police during an ongoing search of the area!
Oliver leads on the barrel body, Stone on the recent death. They have only geographical location to link them so they are being treated as separate but worked in parallel in case they become connected.
Whilst the body in the barrel is skeletal and possibly old it’s obviously a suspicious death. Has it risen from the depths of Kielder Water or been dumped there? The second body is very recently deceased is it an accidental death, suicide or another murder victim? Whichever it is there’s a link to Iceland on the body!
The detectives want to re-interview the tourists from Iceland but they have left, disappeared! They had tickets to an event at Kielder Observatory an astronomical observatory located in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, England. It is situated upon Black Fell overlooking Kielder Water near the Scottish border. They don’t attend! Where have they gone? Is there a killer amongst them?
We follow Oliver and Stone’s investigations into both cases it takes them to Iceland where they are assisted by Detective Chief Inspector Anna Jónsdóttir of the Major Crimes Unit.
From Northumberland to Iceland and back Stone and Oliver along with the team follow up on information, re-interview witnesses and make decisions on how to proceed. Two of the witnesses, who are keeping back information, are tracked down. Is one of them the killer? But when Jónsdóttir and backup leave Frankie to attend an emergency she is left in a tricky and dangerous situation. Still from what she discovers whilst in Iceland she has other ideas as to what happened. Oliver is expected to make an arrest in Iceland but it doesn’t sit right with her. Can she persuade Stone she’s right? What if she’s wrong and returns to England without the suspect?
Stone meanwhile has been dealing with the fallout of mainstream Press attention after a video posted of the barrel went viral. Various stories surrounding the flooding of the reservoir over properties have become legendary in the area. Added to which one of the journalists who is covering the barrel death has a personal agenda and is hellbent on discrediting him. Through all of this Stone has missed the support of his 2nd in command but is perplexed when she returns without having made an arrest. However, it is their colleague DS Dick Abbott who seems more annoyed by Frankie not making an arrest. Is he right to be or just frustrated over how his career is going?
When the stories surrounding what has really happened to both bodies are uncovered it’s tragic and heartbreaking for those involved.
This fascinating story is brilliantly plotted. It’s great to be in Stone and Oliver’s world again with an interesting crossover nicely slipped into the final chapters. It’s set in some beautiful places. I loved catching up with David and Frankie’s lives along with their colleagues and family. Terrific characters and secondary plots make this a very well rounded and human story without ever losing the main investigative storyline.
The ending leaves you wondering what is going to happen next and I’m already looking forward to more from Oliver and Stone to see how the changes in the characters circumstances develop.
It’s a terrific series and Black Fell was a great read, one I’d certainly recommend.
Previously read: Stone and Oliver books 1-3. | Without A Trace (Kate Daniels series #7). | Her Last Request (Kate Daniels series #8)
Thanks
When Orion contacted me and offered a copy of the latest Mari Hannah book Black Fell (4th in the Stone & Oliver series) to read and review I was absolutely delighted at such a wonderful offer and snapped it up. So, many thanks to @orionbooks for this great opportunity.
Anyway, back to Oliver and Stone. In Black Fell we have DCI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver being called out to a body found at the lakes edge in Kielder Water & Forest Park. Tourists from Iceland discovered a barrel in the water pulled it to shore. On opening it they found remains and call the police.
After taking witness statements from the tourists they are allowed to leave. Then another body is discovered by the police during an ongoing search of the area!
Oliver leads on the barrel body, Stone on the recent death. They have only geographical location to link them so they are being treated as separate but worked in parallel in case they become connected.
Whilst the body in the barrel is skeletal and possibly old it’s obviously a suspicious death. Has it risen from the depths of Kielder Water or been dumped there? The second body is very recently deceased is it an accidental death, suicide or another murder victim? Whichever it is there’s a link to Iceland on the body!
The detectives want to re-interview the tourists from Iceland but they have left, disappeared! They had tickets to an event at Kielder Observatory an astronomical observatory located in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, England. It is situated upon Black Fell overlooking Kielder Water near the Scottish border. They don’t attend! Where have they gone? Is there a killer amongst them?
We follow Oliver and Stone’s investigations into both cases it takes them to Iceland where they are assisted by Detective Chief Inspector Anna Jónsdóttir of the Major Crimes Unit.
From Northumberland to Iceland and back Stone and Oliver along with the team follow up on information, re-interview witnesses and make decisions on how to proceed. Two of the witnesses, who are keeping back information, are tracked down. Is one of them the killer? But when Jónsdóttir and backup leave Frankie to attend an emergency she is left in a tricky and dangerous situation. Still from what she discovers whilst in Iceland she has other ideas as to what happened. Oliver is expected to make an arrest in Iceland but it doesn’t sit right with her. Can she persuade Stone she’s right? What if she’s wrong and returns to England without the suspect?
Stone meanwhile has been dealing with the fallout of mainstream Press attention after a video posted of the barrel went viral. Various stories surrounding the flooding of the reservoir over properties have become legendary in the area. Added to which one of the journalists who is covering the barrel death has a personal agenda and is hellbent on discrediting him. Through all of this Stone has missed the support of his 2nd in command but is perplexed when she returns without having made an arrest. However, it is their colleague DS Dick Abbott who seems more annoyed by Frankie not making an arrest. Is he right to be or just frustrated over how his career is going?
When the stories surrounding what has really happened to both bodies are uncovered it’s tragic and heartbreaking for those involved.
This fascinating story is brilliantly plotted. It’s great to be in Stone and Oliver’s world again with an interesting crossover nicely slipped into the final chapters. It’s set in some beautiful places. I loved catching up with David and Frankie’s lives along with their colleagues and family. Terrific characters and secondary plots make this a very well rounded and human story without ever losing the main investigative storyline.
The ending leaves you wondering what is going to happen next and I’m already looking forward to more from Oliver and Stone to see how the changes in the characters circumstances develop.
It’s a terrific series and Black Fell was a great read, one I’d certainly recommend.
Previously read: Stone and Oliver books 1-3. | Without A Trace (Kate Daniels series #7). | Her Last Request (Kate Daniels series #8)
Thanks
When Orion contacted me and offered a copy of the latest Mari Hannah book Black Fell (4th in the Stone & Oliver series) to read and review I was absolutely delighted at such a wonderful offer and snapped it up. So, many thanks to @orionbooks for this great opportunity.
September 15, 2023
Run and I will find you. It will not end well.
Detectives David Stone and Frankie Oliver are assigned to two murder cases in which the bodies were found in the same location but in seemingly unrelated events. The first sees the skeletal remains of a man who was tied up and put in a barrel washing up near a lake and discovered by an Icelandic tourist. The second is a young Icelandic man who was killed while the Icelandic tourist and his friends were camping nearby. The question is: did they have anything to do with either case?
At first, the one tourist seems shifty, but after questioning, the tourists are let go. They immediately leave the country, which makes it seem as if they have something to hide. So David and Frankie leg it to Iceland, to discover the truth.
What is most enjoyable about this book (my first by this author) is the banter between the two main characters, although Frankie's persistent oversensitivity does get a little much at times. I had fun trying to help the two detectives work out what happened to the victims but was hoping for more of a twist. A fun and not too challenging read.
May 20, 2024
This is the first really hardcore police procedural book that I've read. I thought it was good, Stone and Oliver are interesting characters and most of the supporting cast and the suspects are well drawn and interesting as well. The exhaustive detail about the procedures, how exactly everything happens, was a bit more than I needed. At one point one of the characters searches AutoTrader to look for trucks for sale that fit a description they've received, and a paragraph or two of exposition follows describing how to open a web browser and bring up the AutoTrader website and enter the search criteria. Like, I don't need that. And everything was like that. I think after the novelty wore off, maybe 100 pages in, I just wanted more plot and less micro-detail.
Anyway, it was very well written, the pacing is quick, the chapters are very short and scenes frequently bounce between Stone and Oliver's points of view in a stocatto-like rhythm. But I don't think it's for me, I wouldn't read another Hannah book.
Anyway, it was very well written, the pacing is quick, the chapters are very short and scenes frequently bounce between Stone and Oliver's points of view in a stocatto-like rhythm. But I don't think it's for me, I wouldn't read another Hannah book.
July 24, 2023
Wow wow wow, what an amazing read. I am never disappointed when I pick up a Mari Hannah book and this , the 4th in the Stone and Oliver series, is right up there with her previous books. You are literally transported into the pages of this story, the descriptions are so vivid. You can feel the atmosphere of Kielder water around you as it comes alive through Mari’s words. I have experienced every emotion whilst reading this story and it was great to get an insight into Frankie. The story hurtles along and you are left clinging on for dear life as you get to the end. It comes shining through that Mari is totally invested in her characters and you can’t help feeling the same. A bloody great read and I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. Get stuck into the Stone and Oliver series , you won’t be disappointed.
August 6, 2023
A body is found floating in Kielder Water, but when police go to retrieve it they discover another more recent death nearby. For Oliver and Stone this is a final case together as Frankie has received a promotion and is about to leave the team. However there is chance for a trip to Iceland to investigate one death and a scandal brewing from a nasty media campaign.
Hannah writes excellent police procedurals set in the beautiful and wild areas of Northumberland. This is no exception and weaves together a couple of plots about a revenge and also prejudice really well. I loved the fact that the historic murder was linked to the building of Kielder Dam and was completely believable. I found the Icelandic plot a little more far-fetched and not completely resolved in terms of actions. However it's still a great book.
Hannah writes excellent police procedurals set in the beautiful and wild areas of Northumberland. This is no exception and weaves together a couple of plots about a revenge and also prejudice really well. I loved the fact that the historic murder was linked to the building of Kielder Dam and was completely believable. I found the Icelandic plot a little more far-fetched and not completely resolved in terms of actions. However it's still a great book.
December 28, 2024
The author is British and the book was given to me by my Scottish friend. A body was found in a wooden barrel fished out of a lake. The body was very decomposed and determined to have died in the 1970's. Subsequently another body is dredged out of the same lake, near the same spot. This time the body is contemporary. A group of kids from Iceland were camping near the site where both bodies were found. They were interviewed and returned to Iceland ahead of schedule, bringing more suspicion of guilt onto them. DS Frankie Oliver and DCI David Stone travel to Iceland to interview the kids again. There is an attraction between Stone and Oliver which neither of them act on. Oliver gets promoted out of Stone's unit and at the end of the book, they have a moment. I'd like to read the next in the series to see if they act on their attraction.
June 8, 2023
This book kicks off woth a bang and had me drawn in immediately. I loved the dual settings and the vivid description gave such a clear image of each location. This is mainly a police procedural and while they do portray it in a very realistic way, it also isn't bogged down with being too technical or dragged out and it also isnt like the magic TV shows where crimes are solved in an hr from one tiny piece of evidence. It felt very realistic but still engaging if that makes sense? The characters themselves are well written and original. They also have complex personal lives and are written in a way that really makes you care what happens to them. This is a must read for anyone who likes police procedurals
June 12, 2023
#BlackFell #NetGalley
Awesome.
Kielder Water is shattered when tourists open a barrel they found floating in the reservoir at dawn. Detectives Stone and Oliver are called to examine the skeletal remains inside. The tourists are eliminated from the investigation, but that same day a second body is discovered - this one with skin. Have the police let the killer leave the scene? While Stone investigates the remains, Oliver travels to Iceland to gather evidence and track down the tourists who have fled. Someone will do anything to protect the secrets of the past...
Loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me an advance copy.
Awesome.
Kielder Water is shattered when tourists open a barrel they found floating in the reservoir at dawn. Detectives Stone and Oliver are called to examine the skeletal remains inside. The tourists are eliminated from the investigation, but that same day a second body is discovered - this one with skin. Have the police let the killer leave the scene? While Stone investigates the remains, Oliver travels to Iceland to gather evidence and track down the tourists who have fled. Someone will do anything to protect the secrets of the past...
Loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me an advance copy.
June 24, 2023
It's no secret I am a massive Mari Hannah fan. Black Fell delivers on so many levels. Frankie and David are two of my all time favourite Crime Fiction characters, largely due to the way Mari writes. They pop off the page as though you could walk past them in the street.
This is a blistering book, the tension and pace throughout had me telling myself "just one more chapter". I loved the international plot line and seeing how Mari handled both the British and Icelandic aspects of it, which she has done brilliantly.
I'd give it 10 stars if I could.
This is a blistering book, the tension and pace throughout had me telling myself "just one more chapter". I loved the international plot line and seeing how Mari handled both the British and Icelandic aspects of it, which she has done brilliantly.
I'd give it 10 stars if I could.
July 30, 2023
I have been a fan of Mari Hannahs writing since The Murder Wall was first published and every book always manages to surprise and delight me, each book feels fresh and relevant. Black Fell is no different…
This is not your typical Police procedural, it is so much more, a read where both plot and character shine, the characters are allowed to develop in doing so it allows the story line to grow, it is as much about relationships, respect and friendship as about murder.
There are two crime scenes to investigate, is there any link to two?, I liked the way that the investigations were separated with Stone leading one and Oliver the other, for me you see a different side to Oliver as she takes the lead and the challenges that entails
Character plays a vital role within the book and you come away with the feeling that the author captures the areas inhabitants and brings this to the fore so that you get a sense of who each are, there are some wonderful scenes between the interplay with those within the police force, these are explored in a way that your never quite sure what the outcome will be, tough calls have to be made and loyalties tested. There are some strong personalities in play and this gives the book a different dynamic and somewhat sets the tone
You get real feeling and depth to the characters you see can see their personalities and their human quality
It is interesting to see the way that Stone and Oliver play off each other, there is a chemistery and professional respect
Location places a vital part in the book and Mari Hannah certainly portrays these that you get a real sense of place and a feel for both Northumberland and Iceland, there is a wildness and ruggedness and to some degree a sense of isolation to both which befit the crimes, you get a somewhat dark and foreboding feel, giving an atmospheric feel to the book
The plot is wonderfully thought out and constructed in a way to keep the story moving along without letting the drama and suspense drop, I am pleased to say that I never saw the reveal coming and that is down to the quality of the writing, it is though a dramatic ride, there are plenty of layers to unravel
Is it possible to have sympathy for the guilty, the writing certainly gives a degree of empathy, you can feel the pain and anguish etched in their every word
One thing that interests me is the way that circumstance, fate and to some degree blind trust in others can quickly unravel and the consequences that follow can be life changing
Overall this is a read which had me intrigued from the outset between the two different crimes it was interesting to see how they would play out, however, it is an enthralling and absorbing read, you get that feeling that you are seeing an investigation play out in real time, just with the added dimension of the characters having real depth, you come away with the knowledge and satisfaction that you have read a novel with a total air of authenticity
I liked the little nod at the end to another beloved character
5* I can’t recommend Mari Hannah’s books enough, the real deal in building character and slick intricate plots
Mari Hannah is one of todays foremost crime authors and with Black Fell so you can see why.
This is not your typical Police procedural, it is so much more, a read where both plot and character shine, the characters are allowed to develop in doing so it allows the story line to grow, it is as much about relationships, respect and friendship as about murder.
There are two crime scenes to investigate, is there any link to two?, I liked the way that the investigations were separated with Stone leading one and Oliver the other, for me you see a different side to Oliver as she takes the lead and the challenges that entails
Character plays a vital role within the book and you come away with the feeling that the author captures the areas inhabitants and brings this to the fore so that you get a sense of who each are, there are some wonderful scenes between the interplay with those within the police force, these are explored in a way that your never quite sure what the outcome will be, tough calls have to be made and loyalties tested. There are some strong personalities in play and this gives the book a different dynamic and somewhat sets the tone
You get real feeling and depth to the characters you see can see their personalities and their human quality
It is interesting to see the way that Stone and Oliver play off each other, there is a chemistery and professional respect
Location places a vital part in the book and Mari Hannah certainly portrays these that you get a real sense of place and a feel for both Northumberland and Iceland, there is a wildness and ruggedness and to some degree a sense of isolation to both which befit the crimes, you get a somewhat dark and foreboding feel, giving an atmospheric feel to the book
The plot is wonderfully thought out and constructed in a way to keep the story moving along without letting the drama and suspense drop, I am pleased to say that I never saw the reveal coming and that is down to the quality of the writing, it is though a dramatic ride, there are plenty of layers to unravel
Is it possible to have sympathy for the guilty, the writing certainly gives a degree of empathy, you can feel the pain and anguish etched in their every word
One thing that interests me is the way that circumstance, fate and to some degree blind trust in others can quickly unravel and the consequences that follow can be life changing
Overall this is a read which had me intrigued from the outset between the two different crimes it was interesting to see how they would play out, however, it is an enthralling and absorbing read, you get that feeling that you are seeing an investigation play out in real time, just with the added dimension of the characters having real depth, you come away with the knowledge and satisfaction that you have read a novel with a total air of authenticity
I liked the little nod at the end to another beloved character
5* I can’t recommend Mari Hannah’s books enough, the real deal in building character and slick intricate plots
Mari Hannah is one of todays foremost crime authors and with Black Fell so you can see why.
February 9, 2024
This is my 5th. Mari Hannah novel and my 3rd. Stone and Oliver.
I normally read books in sequence but this, book 4 of Stone and Oliver, was available on the shelf at the library so it seemed silly not to.
Very enjoyable.
I do like the little extras that are part of the story.
For example there is a small scene involving a personal number plate that includes details of the registration plate including the sizes of the numbers and letters on the plate.
I also found it very interesting about the history of Kielder Water.
Very well researched and thank you Mari.
I normally read books in sequence but this, book 4 of Stone and Oliver, was available on the shelf at the library so it seemed silly not to.
Very enjoyable.
I do like the little extras that are part of the story.
For example there is a small scene involving a personal number plate that includes details of the registration plate including the sizes of the numbers and letters on the plate.
I also found it very interesting about the history of Kielder Water.
Very well researched and thank you Mari.
April 2, 2024
I normally enjoy a crime novel but not this one. One thing I dislike is when the author decides to refer to characters by both their first and last name separately, it makes it so much harder to keep up with who’s who. As well as that 2 of the main characters first names started with the same letter. When the big ‘ah ha’ moment happened I was so confused by all the characters it didn’t have a big impact as I think it was supposed to. There was also way too much description, this book could’ve easily been 100 pages shorter if every little tiny detail hadn’t been written down.
June 2, 2023
Black Fell by Mari Hannah
The 4th in the series and great character / working relationship duo Stone and Oliver.
This one is set in Northumberland and Iceland and I enjoyed reading about both places , so different but essential for the story .
A few twists to keep me wanting to turn another page and suddenly realised I've got through a fair bit of the book and was disappointed that it came to the end as I could have kept reading !
A fab book and look forward to the next one.
The 4th in the series and great character / working relationship duo Stone and Oliver.
This one is set in Northumberland and Iceland and I enjoyed reading about both places , so different but essential for the story .
A few twists to keep me wanting to turn another page and suddenly realised I've got through a fair bit of the book and was disappointed that it came to the end as I could have kept reading !
A fab book and look forward to the next one.
June 22, 2023
“The peace of Kielder water is shattered when tourists open a barrel they found floating”
A fast paced, well plotted crime thriller.
Fourth novel in the Stone & Oliver series.
Set between north east England and Iceland, with a complex cast of characters.
Found it very real and authentic especially in the way the police carried out their investigation.
Perfect crime thriller kept you second guessing right till the very end.
Thanks @mariwritesinsta @orionbooks & @netgalley for the eARC
A fast paced, well plotted crime thriller.
Fourth novel in the Stone & Oliver series.
Set between north east England and Iceland, with a complex cast of characters.
Found it very real and authentic especially in the way the police carried out their investigation.
Perfect crime thriller kept you second guessing right till the very end.
Thanks @mariwritesinsta @orionbooks & @netgalley for the eARC
June 28, 2023
Thanks to netgalley for this arc.. I really enjoyed this book, oliver and Stone make a great partnership, but will that change when frankie has to leave the team for a while, on passing her promotion exam???? Lots going on in this book, stone is sio on one case and frankie the other, the case leads them overseas. I couldn't turn the pages quick enough to find out what happened next..... highley recommend
January 4, 2024
I love everything this author writes. Frankie and David are back when a barrel containing skeletal remains is discovered by some Icelandic tourists who were camping nearby. The next day a newer body is discovered in the area.
I enjoyed the short chapters here and the involvement of the Icelandic police added to the overall enjoyment. The various subplots all had me hooked. The ending leaves me wondering what is next for this duo. Can't wait to find out.
I enjoyed the short chapters here and the involvement of the Icelandic police added to the overall enjoyment. The various subplots all had me hooked. The ending leaves me wondering what is next for this duo. Can't wait to find out.
March 29, 2026
Good crime story with couple of murders to solve and plenty of potential culprits and red herrings. Nice that some of the people involved came from Iceland which added a scandi noir element. Liked the good twisty ending however got bored with all the police relationships which seemed more important than the actual murder at times. Will probably try more from this author as liked the story and maybe as first ive read would be better if had read more and got to know the detectives.
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