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DS Aector McAvoy #11
Flesh and Blood
DS Aector McAvoy is on a well-deserved family holiday when the news reaches him that he's been attacked and left for dead on one of Hull's most well-to-do streets.
It comes as something of a shock. But not as much as the discovery of who's really been attacked - and his growing realization it's no coincidence he's far from home, in an isolated, rural campsite, on today of all days.
McAvoy's superior officer - and best friend - DS Trish Pharaoh has been keeping secrets. Secrets that are catching up with her.
Secrets that could kill them all . . .
It comes as something of a shock. But not as much as the discovery of who's really been attacked - and his growing realization it's no coincidence he's far from home, in an isolated, rural campsite, on today of all days.
McAvoy's superior officer - and best friend - DS Trish Pharaoh has been keeping secrets. Secrets that are catching up with her.
Secrets that could kill them all . . .
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2023
18 people are currently reading
66 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 14, 2023
Detective Aector McAvoy is off the grid on a rural campsite with his wife Roisin and their two children - it’s a well earned break away from the trauma of his everyday work on the brutal streets of Hull in the North of England.
That is until he receives a frantic call from a colleague, who believed that Aector had been savagely attacked and left for dead. It turns out that the victim is Aector’s double, and at the time of the attack the doppelgänger was staying at the home of Aector’s boss and friend DS Trish Pharaoh.
It turns out Trish has been keeping secrets from Aector and everyone else, and it’s going to bring a whole lot of trouble, not to mention threat to life for both herself and Aector!
This is a difficult one for me to review, I’ll try and explain why - the storyline was complex, but also extremely clever at times, but then other parts felt as if the author was trying too hard for sensationalism with grossly exaggerated characters and extreme gore. That said, this is a very successful series and I trust that the next instalment will be back to its original form.
*Thank you to Severn House for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
That is until he receives a frantic call from a colleague, who believed that Aector had been savagely attacked and left for dead. It turns out that the victim is Aector’s double, and at the time of the attack the doppelgänger was staying at the home of Aector’s boss and friend DS Trish Pharaoh.
It turns out Trish has been keeping secrets from Aector and everyone else, and it’s going to bring a whole lot of trouble, not to mention threat to life for both herself and Aector!
This is a difficult one for me to review, I’ll try and explain why - the storyline was complex, but also extremely clever at times, but then other parts felt as if the author was trying too hard for sensationalism with grossly exaggerated characters and extreme gore. That said, this is a very successful series and I trust that the next instalment will be back to its original form.
*Thank you to Severn House for my ARC in exchange for an honest unbiased review *
June 7, 2023
EXCERPT: Aector Fucking McAvoy is feeling unusually good about life when the news reaches him that he's been attacked and left for dead on one of Hull's most well-to-do streets. It comes as a shock and causes a familiar flush of disappointment with himself. Getting killed is just the sort of thing he'd expect from the over-achieving simpleton he knows himself to be. He had believed himself to be enjoying a break with his family, their borrowed bow-top wagon pitched in this green velvet fold of the Eden Valley: this soft pause in the craggy landscape between the Lake District and the Pennines. He had thought himself comfortable by the fire, the echo of poetry upon his tongue and fire-fairies dancing upon the cold dark air. Had thought he was listening to the snap and chomp of the kindling giving itself up to the flame, smiling to himself in response to the occasional ghostly hoot from the owl that stares out with wide, paranoid, you-weren't-there eyes in the oak overhead. Had believed himself to be alive and vital: sitting outside the darkened hump of the bow-top vardo, his clothes damp with dew and sweat and the soft rain that hangs like mist in the air.
ABOUT 'FLESH AND BLOOD': DS Aector McAvoy is on a well-deserved family holiday when the news reaches him that he's been attacked and left for dead on one of Hull's most well-to-do streets.
It comes as something of a shock. But not as much as the discovery of who's really been attacked - and his growing realization it's no coincidence he's far from home, in an isolated, rural campsite, on today of all days.
McAvoy's superior officer - and best friend - DS Trish Pharaoh has been keeping secrets. Secrets that are catching up with her.
Secrets that could kill them all . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Unusually for this series, I struggled with Flesh and Blood. It had little to do with the violence, the gore, which - face it - are par for the course. It just felt rather disjointed. The plot felt overly complicated and - this has NEVER happened before - my attention wandered!
There is some beautiful writing, the excerpt above being a case in point, but there were several places where I felt plain confused.
This is definitely NOT my favourite in the series. In fact, I will go on record saying that this is my least favourite of the series. I understand that the author may have felt a need to do something a little different, but my advice is 'if it's not broken, don't fix it.'
I love Aector McAvoy's character. I love his devotion to Roisin and to his boss, Trish. I love the way Roisin and Trish tolerate one another for his sake, with a kind of grudging respect, but they definitely don't 'like' each other. But Aector and Trish have caught a lot of bad people together, locked up serial killers and corrupt police and politicians, and saved one another's lives. Their ties are strong and deep. And, let's be straight up about this, Trish has a bit of a 'thing' for Aector, not that she would ever admit it to anyone, but in her bones, Roisin knows and will never trust Trish in that way. She trusts her husband, but not Trish. Definitely not Trish.
For his part, Aector needs both women to be safe. While Roisin is the love of his life, as essential as the air he breathes, Trish is the one who has shown him that it is possible to be a good copper and a good person at the same time. He's no longer the classically shy introvert who used to tie himself in knots trying to follow the letter of the law. He tries to uphold the law but now he knows that the letter of the law isn't always the best solution. He thinks that without Trish's guidance, he wouldn't be able to be a police officer, and what else could he do?
Actually, I'm in total accord with both Roisin and Trish. I, too, love Aector and am looking forward to our next meeting.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#FleshandBlood #NetGalley
I: @davidmarkwriter @severnhouseimprint
T: @DavidMarkWriter @severnhouse
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural #psychologicalthriller #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: David spent more than 15 years as a journalist, including seven years as a crime reporter with The Yorkshire Post – walking the Hull streets that would later become the setting for the internationally bestselling Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy novels.
His writing is heavily influenced by the court cases he covered: the defeatist and jaded police officers; the inertia of the justice system and the sheer raw grief of those touched by savagery and tragedy.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Flesh and Blood by David Mark for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
ABOUT 'FLESH AND BLOOD': DS Aector McAvoy is on a well-deserved family holiday when the news reaches him that he's been attacked and left for dead on one of Hull's most well-to-do streets.
It comes as something of a shock. But not as much as the discovery of who's really been attacked - and his growing realization it's no coincidence he's far from home, in an isolated, rural campsite, on today of all days.
McAvoy's superior officer - and best friend - DS Trish Pharaoh has been keeping secrets. Secrets that are catching up with her.
Secrets that could kill them all . . .
MY THOUGHTS: Unusually for this series, I struggled with Flesh and Blood. It had little to do with the violence, the gore, which - face it - are par for the course. It just felt rather disjointed. The plot felt overly complicated and - this has NEVER happened before - my attention wandered!
There is some beautiful writing, the excerpt above being a case in point, but there were several places where I felt plain confused.
This is definitely NOT my favourite in the series. In fact, I will go on record saying that this is my least favourite of the series. I understand that the author may have felt a need to do something a little different, but my advice is 'if it's not broken, don't fix it.'
I love Aector McAvoy's character. I love his devotion to Roisin and to his boss, Trish. I love the way Roisin and Trish tolerate one another for his sake, with a kind of grudging respect, but they definitely don't 'like' each other. But Aector and Trish have caught a lot of bad people together, locked up serial killers and corrupt police and politicians, and saved one another's lives. Their ties are strong and deep. And, let's be straight up about this, Trish has a bit of a 'thing' for Aector, not that she would ever admit it to anyone, but in her bones, Roisin knows and will never trust Trish in that way. She trusts her husband, but not Trish. Definitely not Trish.
For his part, Aector needs both women to be safe. While Roisin is the love of his life, as essential as the air he breathes, Trish is the one who has shown him that it is possible to be a good copper and a good person at the same time. He's no longer the classically shy introvert who used to tie himself in knots trying to follow the letter of the law. He tries to uphold the law but now he knows that the letter of the law isn't always the best solution. He thinks that without Trish's guidance, he wouldn't be able to be a police officer, and what else could he do?
Actually, I'm in total accord with both Roisin and Trish. I, too, love Aector and am looking forward to our next meeting.
⭐⭐⭐.5
#FleshandBlood #NetGalley
I: @davidmarkwriter @severnhouseimprint
T: @DavidMarkWriter @severnhouse
#contemporaryfiction #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural #psychologicalthriller #suspense #thriller
THE AUTHOR: David spent more than 15 years as a journalist, including seven years as a crime reporter with The Yorkshire Post – walking the Hull streets that would later become the setting for the internationally bestselling Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy novels.
His writing is heavily influenced by the court cases he covered: the defeatist and jaded police officers; the inertia of the justice system and the sheer raw grief of those touched by savagery and tragedy.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Severn House via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Flesh and Blood by David Mark for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
May 20, 2023
David Mark has become one of my favourite writers of crime thrillers. I have read and enjoyed six books in the DS Aector McAvoy series and some of his outstanding stand-alones. I regret I did not enjoy Flesh and Blood. It seemed different in tone and mood from the previous books. It contained sensational passages with dark, gruesome descriptions within a complex, twisted and tangled plot. It was a complicated story of secrets, revenge and retribution, psychological and physical suffering, deceit, and manipulation. This was not a police procedural but an examination of ways that long-held pain, trauma, and rage can have future consequences. McAvoy is questioning his worth as a policeman, a husband and father and is concerned that he may not be a good man. I could barely recognize Trish Pharoah, who had many secrets withheld from others and not even revealed to McAvoy. Her friendship and work relationship with McAvoy is in doubt.
McAvoy is enjoying a well-deserved vacation with his family. They have travelled by caravan to a campsite in the wilderness. He receives word that he has been brutally killed. Trish was having an affair with an Icelander, who was McAvoy's double. The man suffered severe injuries outside Trish's home. He was at first mistaken for McAvoy due to their similar appearance. Was an unknown assailant targeting McAvoy, and why? This affair was the least of undisclosed and mysterious events from her past. Many culprits could be hoping to expose Trish, ruin her career, and destroy her life. There are more deaths. McAvoy and Trish undergo torture in their separate locations, and the descriptions are nerve-wracking and intense.
This book was a shocking departure from previous books. I hope the next one will return to the more typical police procedures, with Trish Pharoah and Aector McAvoy recovering from their ordeals and continuing working together. Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC in return for an honest review. The date of publication is June 6.
McAvoy is enjoying a well-deserved vacation with his family. They have travelled by caravan to a campsite in the wilderness. He receives word that he has been brutally killed. Trish was having an affair with an Icelander, who was McAvoy's double. The man suffered severe injuries outside Trish's home. He was at first mistaken for McAvoy due to their similar appearance. Was an unknown assailant targeting McAvoy, and why? This affair was the least of undisclosed and mysterious events from her past. Many culprits could be hoping to expose Trish, ruin her career, and destroy her life. There are more deaths. McAvoy and Trish undergo torture in their separate locations, and the descriptions are nerve-wracking and intense.
This book was a shocking departure from previous books. I hope the next one will return to the more typical police procedures, with Trish Pharoah and Aector McAvoy recovering from their ordeals and continuing working together. Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the ARC in return for an honest review. The date of publication is June 6.
April 8, 2023
Why give five stars to such an absolutely gruesome story, in which not even Trish Pharaoh and Aector MacAvoy seem to be the characters fans of this series could relate to?
Maybe it's me, but underneath all murders, secrets, pain and fear its clear that this story shows us more of the backgrounds of our two main characters.
Who could have thought that Trish kept such secrets all the time she worked so closely with Aector, especially when her biggest secret is something that she's not even aware of?
Needless to say that the police force, faced with finding out who is behind the vicious attacks on Trish and Aector, are not really very useful this time. Luckily, they are useful when it comes to actually help out when armed forces are needed.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series, maybe more than ever, because Flesh and Blood marks a turning point in the ongoing story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for this review copy.
Maybe it's me, but underneath all murders, secrets, pain and fear its clear that this story shows us more of the backgrounds of our two main characters.
Who could have thought that Trish kept such secrets all the time she worked so closely with Aector, especially when her biggest secret is something that she's not even aware of?
Needless to say that the police force, faced with finding out who is behind the vicious attacks on Trish and Aector, are not really very useful this time. Luckily, they are useful when it comes to actually help out when armed forces are needed.
I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series, maybe more than ever, because Flesh and Blood marks a turning point in the ongoing story.
Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for this review copy.
May 31, 2023
Humberside detective DS Aector McAvoy is on holiday in a remote location when news reaches him that he has been left for dead. This comes as something of a surprise to him. As more information emerges, it becomes clear that there has been a vicious assault back in Hull, and that the victim is connected to his boss and close friend, Det Supt Trish Pharoah.
Pharoah is a forthright, abrasive character with a difficult history who is much admired by her team (who are constantly raving about how brilliant she is, although I felt there was more telling than showing of this quality in Flesh and Blood). McAvoy is a thoughtful family man who likes poetry. They complement each other brilliantly, although in this instalment, they are mostly working separately.
As a witness, Pharoah is told not to leave the scene, but she slips away from her colleagues and pursues a number of leads that place her further in jeopardy. Meanwhile McAvoy becomes embroiled in adventures of his own at his supposedly isolated hideaway and is inevitably drawn into the investigation. Flesh and Blood also features a charismatic serial killer and a true-crime podcast. The many strands are cleverly woven to make for a satisfying and complex story.
David Mark is a new name to me (in fact it was a NetGalley marketing email that introduced me to his work). However I did read Past Life, another in this series, immediately before reading Flesh and Blood, and it also had a plot which involved the personal lives of the detectives – in that case McAvoy and his wife, Roisin. Perhaps that’s unfortunate because I felt like the two books together turned too far inwards on the protagonists, their backstories, and their relationships. A glance at the blurbs of the other books in the series suggests this isn’t always the case.
However, I did enjoy Flesh and Blood on its own terms. There’s a lot to appreciate in Mark’s writing. The prose and the characterisation are brilliant, and the world he creates is distinctive. There’s a dark theatricality to the storytelling which reminds me of Stuart MacBride – both writers are able to take you beyond realism and immerse you in their unique twisted vision. I will certainly read more in this series, but will perhaps choose a novel that goes beyond the psychodramas of the protagonists.
*
I received a copy of Flesh and Blood from the publisher via NetGalley.
Pharoah is a forthright, abrasive character with a difficult history who is much admired by her team (who are constantly raving about how brilliant she is, although I felt there was more telling than showing of this quality in Flesh and Blood). McAvoy is a thoughtful family man who likes poetry. They complement each other brilliantly, although in this instalment, they are mostly working separately.
As a witness, Pharoah is told not to leave the scene, but she slips away from her colleagues and pursues a number of leads that place her further in jeopardy. Meanwhile McAvoy becomes embroiled in adventures of his own at his supposedly isolated hideaway and is inevitably drawn into the investigation. Flesh and Blood also features a charismatic serial killer and a true-crime podcast. The many strands are cleverly woven to make for a satisfying and complex story.
David Mark is a new name to me (in fact it was a NetGalley marketing email that introduced me to his work). However I did read Past Life, another in this series, immediately before reading Flesh and Blood, and it also had a plot which involved the personal lives of the detectives – in that case McAvoy and his wife, Roisin. Perhaps that’s unfortunate because I felt like the two books together turned too far inwards on the protagonists, their backstories, and their relationships. A glance at the blurbs of the other books in the series suggests this isn’t always the case.
However, I did enjoy Flesh and Blood on its own terms. There’s a lot to appreciate in Mark’s writing. The prose and the characterisation are brilliant, and the world he creates is distinctive. There’s a dark theatricality to the storytelling which reminds me of Stuart MacBride – both writers are able to take you beyond realism and immerse you in their unique twisted vision. I will certainly read more in this series, but will perhaps choose a novel that goes beyond the psychodramas of the protagonists.
*
I received a copy of Flesh and Blood from the publisher via NetGalley.
July 25, 2023
'It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near, and their doom rushes upon them.’
The book "Flesh and Blood" consists of three parts. The first half of the book was boring for me. The second half was more interesting. I had an emotional shock because I did not expect this turn of events. I can say that I liked the atmosphere of this book. I met a serial killer here who preyed on naughty men who hurt women. Would you like to have such an avenging angel by your side? Of course, I wouldn't want anything to do with such a person. He's a very toxic character. If it wasn't for the boring beginning, I'd say it was a fantastic read. But when you add the first half and the second half together, you just get a good novel. Still, I'd love to read other stories by David Mark.
I met both good and bad characters in this book. I met, among others, Detective Inspector Aector McAvoy, Tom Spink and Trish Pharaoh. I was very afraid for their lives. I enjoyed the dangerous work of our detective. Will his family holiday be successful? What is Trish hiding from Acetor? Pandora's Box will be opened. What will come of it? Hidden secrets can kill everyone. What happened in the past that now our heroes' lives are in danger?
Knowing the ending of the whole story makes me understand the whole boring beginning better.
"Flesh and Blood" is a very dark thriller. I was very scared in places. The ending is a veritable Armageddon of emotions.
If you like thrillers where there are corpses and blood, you've come to the right place. It's a chilling story.
The book "Flesh and Blood" consists of three parts. The first half of the book was boring for me. The second half was more interesting. I had an emotional shock because I did not expect this turn of events. I can say that I liked the atmosphere of this book. I met a serial killer here who preyed on naughty men who hurt women. Would you like to have such an avenging angel by your side? Of course, I wouldn't want anything to do with such a person. He's a very toxic character. If it wasn't for the boring beginning, I'd say it was a fantastic read. But when you add the first half and the second half together, you just get a good novel. Still, I'd love to read other stories by David Mark.
I met both good and bad characters in this book. I met, among others, Detective Inspector Aector McAvoy, Tom Spink and Trish Pharaoh. I was very afraid for their lives. I enjoyed the dangerous work of our detective. Will his family holiday be successful? What is Trish hiding from Acetor? Pandora's Box will be opened. What will come of it? Hidden secrets can kill everyone. What happened in the past that now our heroes' lives are in danger?
Knowing the ending of the whole story makes me understand the whole boring beginning better.
"Flesh and Blood" is a very dark thriller. I was very scared in places. The ending is a veritable Armageddon of emotions.
If you like thrillers where there are corpses and blood, you've come to the right place. It's a chilling story.
June 17, 2023
2.5⭐
May 19, 2023
Flesh and Blood David Mark
4 stars
A DS McAvoy special
I have only read the first book in this series but this was fine as a stand-alone although I think it would have been more enjoyable to know more about the background of the two main protagonists, DS Aector McAvoy and DS Trish Pharaoh. There is obviously a lot of history between these two characters and this book in particular fills us in on DS Pharaoh’s chequered life.
DS McAvoy is enjoying a well-earned holiday in a remote part of The Lake District with his wife Roisin and their two children, when he discovers that he has been attacked with an axe and left for dead outside DS Pharaoh’s house. The victim is, in fact, an Icelandic detective who is the image of DS McAvoy and Pharaoh’s lover. It is obvious that Trish has been in love with McAvoy over many years but why would the killer want him dead.
The main suspect is Reuben Hollow who is in HMP Warcop serving six life sentences for murder, having been caught by DS McAvoy. However he is besotted with Trish and it would seem unlikely that he would want to upset Trish by murdering her best friend.
As the story progresses we find out more about Trish and her terrible life with her abusive husband before he died. Her four daughters have all been affected in different ways and Trish feels she is on her own trying to deal with the aftermath of her husband’s death.
Various suspects are investigated by DS McAvoy and there are many red herrings before we find out the truth.
I enjoyed this book but felt it would have been better had I read the earlier ones in the series to better understand the dynamics between the main characters.
Karen Deborah
Net Galley
4 stars
A DS McAvoy special
I have only read the first book in this series but this was fine as a stand-alone although I think it would have been more enjoyable to know more about the background of the two main protagonists, DS Aector McAvoy and DS Trish Pharaoh. There is obviously a lot of history between these two characters and this book in particular fills us in on DS Pharaoh’s chequered life.
DS McAvoy is enjoying a well-earned holiday in a remote part of The Lake District with his wife Roisin and their two children, when he discovers that he has been attacked with an axe and left for dead outside DS Pharaoh’s house. The victim is, in fact, an Icelandic detective who is the image of DS McAvoy and Pharaoh’s lover. It is obvious that Trish has been in love with McAvoy over many years but why would the killer want him dead.
The main suspect is Reuben Hollow who is in HMP Warcop serving six life sentences for murder, having been caught by DS McAvoy. However he is besotted with Trish and it would seem unlikely that he would want to upset Trish by murdering her best friend.
As the story progresses we find out more about Trish and her terrible life with her abusive husband before he died. Her four daughters have all been affected in different ways and Trish feels she is on her own trying to deal with the aftermath of her husband’s death.
Various suspects are investigated by DS McAvoy and there are many red herrings before we find out the truth.
I enjoyed this book but felt it would have been better had I read the earlier ones in the series to better understand the dynamics between the main characters.
Karen Deborah
Net Galley
May 11, 2024
Not unlike the contemporary TV series that are getting more and more explicitly violent and degrading so, too, is this police procedural series. In each case McAvoy and his family is put at excessive risk. This installment begins with a brutal and gory killing of an old man in a church cemetery; it describes the murder in violent detail, and we are hearing the thoughts of the victim as he experiences the attack and he dies. We then are then listening to the podcast of "Good Murders, Bad Deaths, produced by two women, Clementine Lippman and Fenella Warnock, who proceed to describe, jubilently, in creative terms with plenty of swearing, their imagined event that ended in the killing of a woman. Enough for me. What I'm sure the author intended as a motivation to turn the page and continue the narrative had the opposite effect on me and I closed the book. I like the characters of McAvoy, a compassionate and kindly man deeply in love with his traveller wife and his children. I found the first books compelling and fascinating. But they have become depraved and with little redeeming values. So, I am now quitting the series.
June 11, 2023
FABheader
This is book number eleven in the series, so a quick heads-up for new readers.
Time: the present
Place: Humberside
Main characters: Detective Inspector (recently promoted from DS) Aector McAvoy. He is a Scot, huge and bear-like, a gentle soul but a formidable copper. His wife Roisin; she is of Irish Gypsy stock, romantic but fiercely protective of Aector and their children – Fin and Lilah. Detective Superintendent Patricia ‘Trish’ Pharoah, thirty years in the force, and as tough as nails. Trish and Aector worship each other, but it is a purely platonic relationship. McAvoy is on holiday with his family in the Lake District, living in a traditional Romany Vardo.
In this book: Reuben Hollow, a serial killer, serving several life sentences for murdering people he judged as having escaped justice. He was captured by McAvoy. Detective Chief Superintendent George Earl. Promoted because Trish Pharoah turned down the job. Earl is the very model of a modern media friendly senior police officer:
Trish is not immune to the pleasures of the flesh, and she is in bed with an Icelandic copper she met on a course. Their post coital bliss is disturbed by Trish’s car alarm going off, and Thor Ingolfsson runs downstairs to investigate. He is attacked with an adze and left for dead. Thor happens to be a dead ringer for Aector, and when the local police arrive to find the man face down in the road, they put two and two together, and make seventeen. Aector is very much alive and well, however and, despite being told to stay well away by Earl, he is determined to find out what is going on. David Mark’s description of Earl will ring horribly true to anyone who has experienced senior management in corporate services in recent years:
“George Earl is a tall, slim, straight-backed careerist who exudes the gentle earnestness and Anglican-priest sincerity of a Tony Blair. He has a habit of clasping his hands together when he talks, and makes a great show of telling his staff that his door is always open, and there’s no such thing as a stupid question.”
David Mark spent years as a crime reporter for a regional newspaper, and so he is well aware of the depths of villainy which are regularly plumbed by apparently ordinary and innocuous men and women. He also knows that – despite graduate entry – some of the people who are accepted as police officers are not “the brightest and best of the sons of the morning.” (Activists – please feel free to substitute the gender of your choice)
“The three uniformed constables milling around at the rear….he’s noticed that none of them seem to be able to breathe through their nose. All in their twenties and look as though they would be more comfortable working in a phone shop or flogging gloriously chavtastic trainers in a sports shop.”
What follows is pure mayhem. A former police colleague of Trish Pharoah meets an elaborate death by wood-carving chisels, McAvoy narrowly escapes death by hanging, in an execution house probably last used by Albert Pierrepoint, the chaos of Trish Pharoah’s previous life is laid bare to the world, and our man emerges – not unscathed – but able to fight another day.
Flesh and Blood veers violently between the darkest noir imaginable and a simple – but affecting – poetry. It is published by Severn House and will be available on 6th June. The final sentence sums up this brilliant series:
“And inside McAvoy’s head, another voice joins the chorus of the dead.”
This is book number eleven in the series, so a quick heads-up for new readers.
Time: the present
Place: Humberside
Main characters: Detective Inspector (recently promoted from DS) Aector McAvoy. He is a Scot, huge and bear-like, a gentle soul but a formidable copper. His wife Roisin; she is of Irish Gypsy stock, romantic but fiercely protective of Aector and their children – Fin and Lilah. Detective Superintendent Patricia ‘Trish’ Pharoah, thirty years in the force, and as tough as nails. Trish and Aector worship each other, but it is a purely platonic relationship. McAvoy is on holiday with his family in the Lake District, living in a traditional Romany Vardo.
In this book: Reuben Hollow, a serial killer, serving several life sentences for murdering people he judged as having escaped justice. He was captured by McAvoy. Detective Chief Superintendent George Earl. Promoted because Trish Pharoah turned down the job. Earl is the very model of a modern media friendly senior police officer:
Trish is not immune to the pleasures of the flesh, and she is in bed with an Icelandic copper she met on a course. Their post coital bliss is disturbed by Trish’s car alarm going off, and Thor Ingolfsson runs downstairs to investigate. He is attacked with an adze and left for dead. Thor happens to be a dead ringer for Aector, and when the local police arrive to find the man face down in the road, they put two and two together, and make seventeen. Aector is very much alive and well, however and, despite being told to stay well away by Earl, he is determined to find out what is going on. David Mark’s description of Earl will ring horribly true to anyone who has experienced senior management in corporate services in recent years:
“George Earl is a tall, slim, straight-backed careerist who exudes the gentle earnestness and Anglican-priest sincerity of a Tony Blair. He has a habit of clasping his hands together when he talks, and makes a great show of telling his staff that his door is always open, and there’s no such thing as a stupid question.”
David Mark spent years as a crime reporter for a regional newspaper, and so he is well aware of the depths of villainy which are regularly plumbed by apparently ordinary and innocuous men and women. He also knows that – despite graduate entry – some of the people who are accepted as police officers are not “the brightest and best of the sons of the morning.” (Activists – please feel free to substitute the gender of your choice)
“The three uniformed constables milling around at the rear….he’s noticed that none of them seem to be able to breathe through their nose. All in their twenties and look as though they would be more comfortable working in a phone shop or flogging gloriously chavtastic trainers in a sports shop.”
What follows is pure mayhem. A former police colleague of Trish Pharoah meets an elaborate death by wood-carving chisels, McAvoy narrowly escapes death by hanging, in an execution house probably last used by Albert Pierrepoint, the chaos of Trish Pharoah’s previous life is laid bare to the world, and our man emerges – not unscathed – but able to fight another day.
Flesh and Blood veers violently between the darkest noir imaginable and a simple – but affecting – poetry. It is published by Severn House and will be available on 6th June. The final sentence sums up this brilliant series:
“And inside McAvoy’s head, another voice joins the chorus of the dead.”
June 5, 2023
Regular readers will know that I am a fan of David Mark’s writing and though I was late to his police procedural series with Aector McAvoy and Trish Pharaoh as the crime fighting duo, I honestly think it is one of my favourites.
Flesh and Blood is less of a police procedural and more of a serial killer on a revenge trail. I recently read Lars Kepler’s The Spider and this has the same vibe, but I enjoyed this more. In part that’s the allegiance to these characters and in part due to the wonderful quality of the writing which veers from dark and intense to blissfully poetic with flashes of terrific humour running through the narrative.
Aector is a big, red headed bear of a man (albeit going a little grey now). He adores his wife Roisin and their two kids and he pretty much idolises his boss, Trish Pharaoh. He has the soul of a poet, while Trish is a busty 5’0 and smart as a whip. She’s turned down the top job, preferring to say in charge of her unit. But in doing so, she has left a path free for the corporate mannequin, Detective Chief Superintendent George Earl. He’s the kind of policeman who always looks perfectly groomed and is constantly concerned with managing upwards. Jargon flows from him like a waterfall into a pool and he is a misogynist with a penchant for coercive control. Trish is a thorn on his flesh because he was second choice to a woman and her very presence rubs that in his face every day.
In Flesh and Blood Trish is in bed with her Icelandic policeman lover, Thor – a man who bears rather an uncanny physical appearance to Aector – when her car alarm goes off. Thor gallantly goes to investigate only to be struck down viciously in the street.
Aector is on leave, staying off grid in a Romany Vardo with Roisin and his kids when he’s called to hear about his own death. Thor was at first mistaken for Aector and not only that, but Trish has fled the scene.
Flesh and Blood is a fast paced read that is genuinely edge of the seat. I loved the return of serial killer Reuben Hollow whom we first met in Dead Pretty (#5). He is a clever, deeply charismatic man whom Aector caught. A true crime podcast is currently looking at the life and convictions of Reuben Hollow who still has many women writing to him.
As Trish’s former mentor is also brutally murdered, she is frantically trying to piece together the clues from what she knows – but one thing is clear – her secrets are coming back to haunt her.
With both Trish and inevitably Aector in very real danger, David Mark cleverly brings together the threads of this gruesome spider’s web and in the process some very bad people will be unmasked.
It’s beautifully done and I really enjoyed it. Great characters, fantastic writing and a plot that held me gripped for hours. A five star read for me.
Flesh and Blood is less of a police procedural and more of a serial killer on a revenge trail. I recently read Lars Kepler’s The Spider and this has the same vibe, but I enjoyed this more. In part that’s the allegiance to these characters and in part due to the wonderful quality of the writing which veers from dark and intense to blissfully poetic with flashes of terrific humour running through the narrative.
Aector is a big, red headed bear of a man (albeit going a little grey now). He adores his wife Roisin and their two kids and he pretty much idolises his boss, Trish Pharaoh. He has the soul of a poet, while Trish is a busty 5’0 and smart as a whip. She’s turned down the top job, preferring to say in charge of her unit. But in doing so, she has left a path free for the corporate mannequin, Detective Chief Superintendent George Earl. He’s the kind of policeman who always looks perfectly groomed and is constantly concerned with managing upwards. Jargon flows from him like a waterfall into a pool and he is a misogynist with a penchant for coercive control. Trish is a thorn on his flesh because he was second choice to a woman and her very presence rubs that in his face every day.
In Flesh and Blood Trish is in bed with her Icelandic policeman lover, Thor – a man who bears rather an uncanny physical appearance to Aector – when her car alarm goes off. Thor gallantly goes to investigate only to be struck down viciously in the street.
Aector is on leave, staying off grid in a Romany Vardo with Roisin and his kids when he’s called to hear about his own death. Thor was at first mistaken for Aector and not only that, but Trish has fled the scene.
Flesh and Blood is a fast paced read that is genuinely edge of the seat. I loved the return of serial killer Reuben Hollow whom we first met in Dead Pretty (#5). He is a clever, deeply charismatic man whom Aector caught. A true crime podcast is currently looking at the life and convictions of Reuben Hollow who still has many women writing to him.
As Trish’s former mentor is also brutally murdered, she is frantically trying to piece together the clues from what she knows – but one thing is clear – her secrets are coming back to haunt her.
With both Trish and inevitably Aector in very real danger, David Mark cleverly brings together the threads of this gruesome spider’s web and in the process some very bad people will be unmasked.
It’s beautifully done and I really enjoyed it. Great characters, fantastic writing and a plot that held me gripped for hours. A five star read for me.
May 16, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House Publishers for an advance copy of Flesh and Blood, the eleventh novel to feature DI Aector McAvoy of Humberside Police.
Aector is on holiday with his family when he learns that he has been attacked and left for dead. It’s not him, but he is shocked when he realises who it is and who else is involved. DSupt Trish Pharaoh and her secrets are at the heart of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Flesh and Blood, which is a well told tale of revenge and manipulation with a few twists to keep it interesting. Seriously, it doesn’t need the twists to be interesting because the plot is suitably complex to keep the reader turning the pages, but it is also extremely violent, more so than usual, and I found myself squirming at times, not just at the physical but at the psychological cruelty that accompanies it.
The novel is told from various points of view and that makes it a choppy read, but it also makes it intriguing. Where do all the characters fit in? Why is Trish Pharaoh being targeted? Who is behind it all? The answers lie in her past and someone’s appropriation of it for their own ends. It’s bewildering at first, not just for the reader, but for Aector as well, stuck as he is away from the action in Derbyshire. It’s well done.
This is not a police procedural like the previous novels. Aector and Trish are more the hunted than the hunters, so it’s not always a pleasant read if you’re like me and identify with the characters. I had to put the book down a few times when the tension and stress got to me, which I take as a sign of good writing that I got so invested. This investment was slightly dented, however, by the end of the novel. Everything is explained, but not everything is resolved. I chuckled at one resolution, gnashed my teeth at another and dropped my jaw at Trish’s perspicacity and many secrets.
Flesh and Blood is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Aector is on holiday with his family when he learns that he has been attacked and left for dead. It’s not him, but he is shocked when he realises who it is and who else is involved. DSupt Trish Pharaoh and her secrets are at the heart of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed Flesh and Blood, which is a well told tale of revenge and manipulation with a few twists to keep it interesting. Seriously, it doesn’t need the twists to be interesting because the plot is suitably complex to keep the reader turning the pages, but it is also extremely violent, more so than usual, and I found myself squirming at times, not just at the physical but at the psychological cruelty that accompanies it.
The novel is told from various points of view and that makes it a choppy read, but it also makes it intriguing. Where do all the characters fit in? Why is Trish Pharaoh being targeted? Who is behind it all? The answers lie in her past and someone’s appropriation of it for their own ends. It’s bewildering at first, not just for the reader, but for Aector as well, stuck as he is away from the action in Derbyshire. It’s well done.
This is not a police procedural like the previous novels. Aector and Trish are more the hunted than the hunters, so it’s not always a pleasant read if you’re like me and identify with the characters. I had to put the book down a few times when the tension and stress got to me, which I take as a sign of good writing that I got so invested. This investment was slightly dented, however, by the end of the novel. Everything is explained, but not everything is resolved. I chuckled at one resolution, gnashed my teeth at another and dropped my jaw at Trish’s perspicacity and many secrets.
Flesh and Blood is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
June 4, 2023
‘The figure who stands above him is familiar.’
DS Aector McAvoy is on a family holiday in a remote location within the UK. He is contacted when colleagues fear that he was attacked and left for dead in Hull. Was the man who was attacked thought to be McAvoy? They were similar in build. And just to complicate matters, the man was attacked outside DS Trish Pharaoh’s home. There are plenty of questions, and few answers. Detective Chief Superintendent George Earl, promoted after Trish Pharaoh turned down promotion, is very keen to find out what has happened and why.
Reuben Hollow, a serial killer arrested by McAvoy and serving multiple life sentences for murders of those he believed somehow escaped justice, may have some of the answers. Pharaoh has some very deep secrets and both she and McAvoy are in danger.
This is the 11th book in the McAvoy series, and Mr Mark has delivered a complex, twisted story of revenge and retribution. While I struggled at times to believe that Pharaoh had so many secrets and had kept them so well, the story held my attention from beginning to end. And of course, the sharks are circling. There are several people who would like to destroy Pharaoh and who don’t much care of there is any collateral damage. Dark, gruesome and full of twists.
‘But McAvoy can’t help but feel there’s always hell to pay – it’s just a question of which creditor is most to fear.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
DS Aector McAvoy is on a family holiday in a remote location within the UK. He is contacted when colleagues fear that he was attacked and left for dead in Hull. Was the man who was attacked thought to be McAvoy? They were similar in build. And just to complicate matters, the man was attacked outside DS Trish Pharaoh’s home. There are plenty of questions, and few answers. Detective Chief Superintendent George Earl, promoted after Trish Pharaoh turned down promotion, is very keen to find out what has happened and why.
Reuben Hollow, a serial killer arrested by McAvoy and serving multiple life sentences for murders of those he believed somehow escaped justice, may have some of the answers. Pharaoh has some very deep secrets and both she and McAvoy are in danger.
This is the 11th book in the McAvoy series, and Mr Mark has delivered a complex, twisted story of revenge and retribution. While I struggled at times to believe that Pharaoh had so many secrets and had kept them so well, the story held my attention from beginning to end. And of course, the sharks are circling. There are several people who would like to destroy Pharaoh and who don’t much care of there is any collateral damage. Dark, gruesome and full of twists.
‘But McAvoy can’t help but feel there’s always hell to pay – it’s just a question of which creditor is most to fear.’
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
April 18, 2023
I hadn’t read any of this author’s work before and was intrigued by the set-up initially. There are unconventional cops, some of whom would fit into a post-punk band and a Hannibal Lecter-like serial killer in prison.
It started off with a mysterious brutal murder then things get really messy It took me a while to get to grips with what was going on as there’s a lot of referencing to past events.
There’s a tangled web of relationships and several coincidences, some very nasty characters and quite a bit of violence and torture.
The quality of the writing is good with different points of view showing us what’s inside the heads of the main characters, especially Trish and Aector, who are very offbeat cops, to say the least.
Plot-wise it’s not over-complicated and
I did think that there could have been a bit more of a plot and the ending seemed rather contrived.
However, I can see that the author is trying to do something different from the conventional police procedural which is a good thing.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
It started off with a mysterious brutal murder then things get really messy It took me a while to get to grips with what was going on as there’s a lot of referencing to past events.
There’s a tangled web of relationships and several coincidences, some very nasty characters and quite a bit of violence and torture.
The quality of the writing is good with different points of view showing us what’s inside the heads of the main characters, especially Trish and Aector, who are very offbeat cops, to say the least.
Plot-wise it’s not over-complicated and
I did think that there could have been a bit more of a plot and the ending seemed rather contrived.
However, I can see that the author is trying to do something different from the conventional police procedural which is a good thing.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.
March 27, 2023
256 pages
2 stars
This is one messed up book.
Newly promoted DI Aector McAvoy is vacationing with his family and other loved ones. He gets a near-hysterical phone call from one of his colleagues. He was attacked and left for dead outside of his boss’ apartment.
Of course, Aector must return to the force.
Okay, good start. This is where the book goes off the rails. There is much violence and gore in this book. While I can handle some A few disturbing scenes don’t bother me, but the antagonist is over the top.
I got the sense of the desperation of the police officers alright. The story became so confused that I could see the officers running all over like a Keystone Cops show.
I was so disappointed in this book. I’ve read David Mark before and enjoyed the novels. However, this one was a complete let down. I cannot recall ever being disappointed in a Severn House book before.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions cited in this review are solely my own.
2 stars
This is one messed up book.
Newly promoted DI Aector McAvoy is vacationing with his family and other loved ones. He gets a near-hysterical phone call from one of his colleagues. He was attacked and left for dead outside of his boss’ apartment.
Of course, Aector must return to the force.
Okay, good start. This is where the book goes off the rails. There is much violence and gore in this book. While I can handle some A few disturbing scenes don’t bother me, but the antagonist is over the top.
I got the sense of the desperation of the police officers alright. The story became so confused that I could see the officers running all over like a Keystone Cops show.
I was so disappointed in this book. I’ve read David Mark before and enjoyed the novels. However, this one was a complete let down. I cannot recall ever being disappointed in a Severn House book before.
I want to thank NetGalley and Severn House for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions cited in this review are solely my own.
May 16, 2023
Book 11/12 in the Aector McAvoy series by the supremely talented David Mark is possibly one of the most macabre and darkest in the series yet, I’m a reader of the full series and this just feels different from the rest. Is David Mark trying something new?
It feels like a book that you really need to have read the rest, to appreciate the significance of Trish Pharoah and her relationship with Aector.
It’s grim, gruesome, somewhat slow moving and as ever, it’s beautifully written. It’s by no means my favourite. I’m not sure how many books are left for poor suffering Aector, it feels like he needs a rest.
David Mark is a unique writer with a similarly unique protagonist, both he’ and Aector are very different from the rest of the crowded crime thriller market which makes me return again and again.
Intense, gritty, darkly powerful writing, it’s not for the feint of heart but it is very good.
It feels like a book that you really need to have read the rest, to appreciate the significance of Trish Pharoah and her relationship with Aector.
It’s grim, gruesome, somewhat slow moving and as ever, it’s beautifully written. It’s by no means my favourite. I’m not sure how many books are left for poor suffering Aector, it feels like he needs a rest.
David Mark is a unique writer with a similarly unique protagonist, both he’ and Aector are very different from the rest of the crowded crime thriller market which makes me return again and again.
Intense, gritty, darkly powerful writing, it’s not for the feint of heart but it is very good.
May 19, 2023
Flesh and Blood, a dark, gritty police procedural, begins with a horrific scene. A woman is in bed with her lover when a car alarm disturbs them. He dresses hurriedly, runs out to confront the would-be thief and is tased and hacked to near death with an ax. The woman is DI Trish Pharoah and her lover, an Icelandic policeman, is a double to DI Aector McAvoy. So who was the intended victim? And why? There are many answers here, all involving inner secrets, some hidden pasts and some not so hidden. The mystery is told in different voices, alternating between past and present.
David Mark is a skillful writer, his characters are realistic but the plot is complicated. I did not know that this is the eleventh in a series. That made it difficult for me, a first time reader, to understand background. Thank you to reviewer David P. For providing a helpful heads up for new readers. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House and David Mark for this ARC.
David Mark is a skillful writer, his characters are realistic but the plot is complicated. I did not know that this is the eleventh in a series. That made it difficult for me, a first time reader, to understand background. Thank you to reviewer David P. For providing a helpful heads up for new readers. 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House and David Mark for this ARC.
May 26, 2023
It took me a while to get into this book. The plot is complicated and although this is an established series (book 11) , it is the first one I have read so it took me a while to get to know the characters. The crimes are bloody and violent and different voices tell the story which added an extra layer of complication to the plot. That all sounds negative, but actually the plot started to come together and make more sense as the book progressed and the book read well as a stand alone.
The location is Humberside, an area close to my own home town so I was able to picture the scenes. I presume there is history between the two main detectives but beyond a deep friendship, that is irrelevant to the plot. Most loose ends are tied up, but not all . I didn't particularly enjoy the first part of the book, but now I have finished, I did like it as a whole, worth perservering with.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
The location is Humberside, an area close to my own home town so I was able to picture the scenes. I presume there is history between the two main detectives but beyond a deep friendship, that is irrelevant to the plot. Most loose ends are tied up, but not all . I didn't particularly enjoy the first part of the book, but now I have finished, I did like it as a whole, worth perservering with.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
May 26, 2023
A detective is enjoying a well deserved holiday with his family away from his usual patch when he becomes embroiled in a gruesome case including the horrific murder of a doppelgänger of himself.
Some of the descriptions in this book are sublime and there are some real pockets of brilliance. The gore element is pitched just right for me, enough shock factor but now to the point of having to peek between your fingers or hide behind the sofa. The characters are pretty strong and there are good themes of retributions and past secrets. Secrets as ever come back to bite the holder and those that are close, causing major peril and suspense.
I overall loved the writing style but I lost my way a few times and drifted off a bit from being compelled by the storyline. Definitely an author I’ll try again though.
Some of the descriptions in this book are sublime and there are some real pockets of brilliance. The gore element is pitched just right for me, enough shock factor but now to the point of having to peek between your fingers or hide behind the sofa. The characters are pretty strong and there are good themes of retributions and past secrets. Secrets as ever come back to bite the holder and those that are close, causing major peril and suspense.
I overall loved the writing style but I lost my way a few times and drifted off a bit from being compelled by the storyline. Definitely an author I’ll try again though.
April 19, 2023
A strong story with some grizzly bit.
At first I was getting a bit disenchanted with this book, not quite sure where it was going, and put off b some exceedingly long paragraphs ( a pet had of mine). Then it all started to come together for me, and I couldn't wait to turn the pages.
The main characters almost all have a dark side and the conflicts they have to deal with are explored by the the author in detail. It's a tale of revenge and retribution, with people being called to account for real and perceived sins of the past. .
The book reaches a thunderous climax.
Sensitive readers should be aware that there is some gratuitous violence and explicit sexual scenes.
Overall, a very good book..
At first I was getting a bit disenchanted with this book, not quite sure where it was going, and put off b some exceedingly long paragraphs ( a pet had of mine). Then it all started to come together for me, and I couldn't wait to turn the pages.
The main characters almost all have a dark side and the conflicts they have to deal with are explored by the the author in detail. It's a tale of revenge and retribution, with people being called to account for real and perceived sins of the past. .
The book reaches a thunderous climax.
Sensitive readers should be aware that there is some gratuitous violence and explicit sexual scenes.
Overall, a very good book..
May 29, 2023
DS McAvoy is on holiday in an isolated rural location with his family. Trish has made him take a break, even booked the holiday for him.
Meanwhile back home, his double is attacked leaving Trish's house. So starts a long and complex tale of revenge and petty gripes. Not all is what it seems, but it all appears to come back to the murderer Rueben Hollow.
When Trish disappears after the attack, it appears that the powers that be don't want to look for her too hard.
There are so many agendas at stake, you do wonder how the police force actually investigates crimes at times.
I hadn't read any of this series before, but really enjoyed it and will read more.
Meanwhile back home, his double is attacked leaving Trish's house. So starts a long and complex tale of revenge and petty gripes. Not all is what it seems, but it all appears to come back to the murderer Rueben Hollow.
When Trish disappears after the attack, it appears that the powers that be don't want to look for her too hard.
There are so many agendas at stake, you do wonder how the police force actually investigates crimes at times.
I hadn't read any of this series before, but really enjoyed it and will read more.
August 24, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, and there has evidently been a lead up to the current events. However, if I had read the first it's unlikely I would have read any more. The book is set around Hull but consistently uses American spellings. Descriptions are gory, beware. I strongly disliked the language used and the characters who seem unlikely police officers due to their beliefs and behaviours.
This style of writing is not for me and I gave up after the first third.
I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, and there has evidently been a lead up to the current events. However, if I had read the first it's unlikely I would have read any more. The book is set around Hull but consistently uses American spellings. Descriptions are gory, beware. I strongly disliked the language used and the characters who seem unlikely police officers due to their beliefs and behaviours.
This style of writing is not for me and I gave up after the first third.
May 28, 2023
Thanks to Netgalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.
I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series and this one had me feeling as though I was an outsider. It was like I'd been invited to a party where everyone else knew each other and I knew no one. I thought the plot was over-complicated and a bit unrealistic. However, having said all that, the book was easy to read and I liked it. I suspect those who've read previous books in the series will enjoy it more.
I hadn't read any of the previous books in the series and this one had me feeling as though I was an outsider. It was like I'd been invited to a party where everyone else knew each other and I knew no one. I thought the plot was over-complicated and a bit unrealistic. However, having said all that, the book was easy to read and I liked it. I suspect those who've read previous books in the series will enjoy it more.
August 25, 2023
Boy, I love the Aector McAvoy series, but this one just didn't do it for me. David Mark's books always have a very intricate plot that comes together at the end, but this one just seemed TOO complicated, to the point where I was having trouble keeping track of all the characters. Add in several editing issues, like an extra or missing word, as well as an important character was called (correctly) DI Cross on one page and DI Ross on the next. This won't keep me from looking forward to the next one in this series though.
October 15, 2023
Although this is book 11 in a series the only other one I have previously read was book 1. This book would appear to be a continuation of the storyline from one or more earlier books and therefore took time to understand. That being said I did enjoy the book and it it should appeal to readers of British crime and especially serial killer novels.. David Mark writes in true modern style of crime with little regard to correct police procedure but produces novels that are very readable and somewhat violent. I would happily read more of this author
April 18, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the electronic copy, but it was hard work getting to the end of this book! I love a good murder and can cope with gore and violence but the plot here was far too complex for me and completely over the top. Half the time I couldn’t understand what was going on. If I’d read any of the previous books in this series it may have been different as I might have had a clue about some of the characters. Well-written, yes – enjoyable, no.
May 11, 2023
Present day murder mystery with the atmosphere of a gothic horror; a tangled story encompassing domestic abuse by both adults and children; the mental scarring and the far reaching consequences meeting with actual, pure evil. Two detectives, partners but also close friends become unwittingly embroiled in the plan of a narcissistic murderer. Factor in career driven mysogeny within the force and there is a recipe for murder and mayhem.
May 14, 2023
I had not realised that this book was the latest in a long series and not having read the previous books it took a little while to become acquainted with the various characters.
The title is very apt as there is plenty of blood and gore at times and it was quite a dark read, not for the faint hearted.
This book is well written with a complex plot and plenty of action and suspense. A good example of this genre.
The title is very apt as there is plenty of blood and gore at times and it was quite a dark read, not for the faint hearted.
This book is well written with a complex plot and plenty of action and suspense. A good example of this genre.
June 8, 2023
This is the first of David's books I've had the pleasure of reading. My only regret is that it took me so long to find such a talented author. The writing is really descriptive and., at times quite gory and disturbing. I loved Pharaoh and McAvoy. At times, the references to past events meant I would have benefitted from reading earlier books first but this still works well as a stand-alone novel. I'm now going to go back and read more of David's work. Highly recommended.
July 3, 2023
Flesh and Blood, David Mark
I struggled to get into this book initially. I wonder if this is because it is the first I have read involving Trish Pharaoh and Aector MacAvoy and I understand that there are quite a number of previous books which will enable you to get a feel for the relationship dynamics.
However, I soon became engrossed and enjoyed the storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for a copy of this book, I rate it 4 stars.
I struggled to get into this book initially. I wonder if this is because it is the first I have read involving Trish Pharaoh and Aector MacAvoy and I understand that there are quite a number of previous books which will enable you to get a feel for the relationship dynamics.
However, I soon became engrossed and enjoyed the storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House for a copy of this book, I rate it 4 stars.
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