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Detective Kate Hamblin Mystery #11
Watcher on the Levels
The one time Detective Kate gets to take a holiday, she doesn’t come home with a tan. She comes back with a stalker.
Kate is sunning herself on the beach at an exclusive Mexican resort, feeling emboldened enough to shed her bikini top. Then she gets an anonymous text. Hi Kate, Are your detective skills as good as your boobs?
Later that night, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her belongings. Not only that, a woman plunges to her death from the balcony above.
Is it all connected? Kate is relieved to escape the unwelcome attention and return home. But back in Somerset, she reaches into her coat pocket and finds a scrawled message: See You Soon, Kate.
Has her stalker followed her home . . . ?
Kate is sunning herself on the beach at an exclusive Mexican resort, feeling emboldened enough to shed her bikini top. Then she gets an anonymous text. Hi Kate, Are your detective skills as good as your boobs?
Later that night, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her belongings. Not only that, a woman plunges to her death from the balcony above.
Is it all connected? Kate is relieved to escape the unwelcome attention and return home. But back in Somerset, she reaches into her coat pocket and finds a scrawled message: See You Soon, Kate.
Has her stalker followed her home . . . ?
- GenresFiction
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2023
248 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
David Hodges
24 books56 followersA former superintendent with Thames Valley Police, with thirty years experience in the force, David Hodges is a prolific crime writer and author of twenty crime novels plus an autobiography on his life in the police service. His debut crime novel received critical media acclaim and a welcome accolade from Inspector Morse’s creator, the late great Colin Dexter, and since then he has become the author of several successful stand-alone thrillers, including BLAST, TARGET and BURNOUT, published by Lume Books (formerly Endeavour Media).
In particular, his Somerset murder series, published by Joffe Books, which is set on the mist-shrouded Somerset Levels in England and features the exploits of feisty detective, Kate, and her easy-going partner, Hayden, has gone from strength to strength. It has attracted keen interest in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia as well as in Britain.
The first six previously published thrillers in the series are also available on Audible for sight challenged readers and those who prefer the spoken word. All David's novels are available on amazon in paperback and Kindle format.
David's latest novel in his Murder On The Levels series, SHADOWS ON THE LEVELS, was published by Joffe books on 1st January 2025, and he has now been invited to talk about his books and his 'life of crime' at the Words In Watchet Literary Festival in Somerset. This will take place at the Methodist Church, Harbour Road, Watchet, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm on Sunday 23rd February 2025 and readers and non-readers will all be very welcome. (https://www.wordsinwatchet.com)
David has two married daughters and four grandchildren and lives in the UK with his wife, Elizabeth, where he continues to indulge his passion for thriller writing and to pursue his keen interest in wild life and the countryside.
He is a member of the Society of Authors, The Crime Writers Association, The Crime Readers Association and International Thriller Writers Inc.
In particular, his Somerset murder series, published by Joffe Books, which is set on the mist-shrouded Somerset Levels in England and features the exploits of feisty detective, Kate, and her easy-going partner, Hayden, has gone from strength to strength. It has attracted keen interest in Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia as well as in Britain.
The first six previously published thrillers in the series are also available on Audible for sight challenged readers and those who prefer the spoken word. All David's novels are available on amazon in paperback and Kindle format.
David's latest novel in his Murder On The Levels series, SHADOWS ON THE LEVELS, was published by Joffe books on 1st January 2025, and he has now been invited to talk about his books and his 'life of crime' at the Words In Watchet Literary Festival in Somerset. This will take place at the Methodist Church, Harbour Road, Watchet, from 2.00 - 3.30 pm on Sunday 23rd February 2025 and readers and non-readers will all be very welcome. (https://www.wordsinwatchet.com)
David has two married daughters and four grandchildren and lives in the UK with his wife, Elizabeth, where he continues to indulge his passion for thriller writing and to pursue his keen interest in wild life and the countryside.
He is a member of the Society of Authors, The Crime Writers Association, The Crime Readers Association and International Thriller Writers Inc.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 14, 2023
Detective Kate Hamblin Book 11
Detective Kate Hamblin is sunning herself on the beach at an exclusive Mexican resort, feeling emboldened enough to shred her bikini top. Then she gets an anonymous text. Hi Kate, Are your detective skills as good as your boobs? Later that night, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her belongings. And a woman plunges to her death from the balcony above. Is it all connected?
Detective Kate Hamblin has a stalker. He's followed her home from Cancun and embarks on a killing spree. He keeps provoking Kate, telling her she won't be able to catch him. But the body count is rising. There's a lot going on in this book, but it doesn't make it confusing. It's told from Kate and the stalkers perspectives. The pace is fast, but there are parts that are a little far-fetched. This is a well written, gripping addition to a really good police procedural series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #DavidHodges for my ARC of #WatcherOnAllLevels in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Kate Hamblin is sunning herself on the beach at an exclusive Mexican resort, feeling emboldened enough to shred her bikini top. Then she gets an anonymous text. Hi Kate, Are your detective skills as good as your boobs? Later that night, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her belongings. And a woman plunges to her death from the balcony above. Is it all connected?
Detective Kate Hamblin has a stalker. He's followed her home from Cancun and embarks on a killing spree. He keeps provoking Kate, telling her she won't be able to catch him. But the body count is rising. There's a lot going on in this book, but it doesn't make it confusing. It's told from Kate and the stalkers perspectives. The pace is fast, but there are parts that are a little far-fetched. This is a well written, gripping addition to a really good police procedural series.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #DavidHodges for my ARC of #WatcherOnAllLevels in exchange for an honest review.
April 12, 2023
2* ADVANCED REVIEW COPY
New author to me, despite this being the 11th entry in his Detective Kate Hamblin series.
To be honest I struggled with this one; usually when you're quarter way into a book you're invested in either the characters or the plot - ideally both...but at that point I was not feeling the love for it at all.
Kate Hamblin, we are told as the story opens, is in Cancun on a post trauma break (I suppose she's been put through the ringer in her previous ten cases, though we don't get bogged down with too much detail so as a new reader I didn't feel left out or under informed). She's at a writer's retreat with a small number of like minded individuals as she has plans to become an author, developing crime stories based on her life's experience I'm sure
She receives anonymous texts which I'd have thought as an experienced police officer she'd have retained as potential evidence as they are clearly incident related and harassing...but she not only deletes them, she goes into her wastebin to fully delete them AFTER a body has been found in mysterious circumstances...the justifications for doing so were flimsy and didn't wash with me.
She then heads home BUT her mysterious harasser had not only booked onto the same flight specifically because she's on it but he's also managed to secure a short lease on a property near to her home and work so that he can continue his offensive against her because she's a powerful, successful, woman and he's got (Mummy) issues with that, and he was exceedingly offended that her written with was praised, whilst his own was treated with perceived contempt (not massive spoilers as all this is given up very early in the book).
The villain wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, modest roots, living with Mother, working as a librarian... How he could afford to fund his criminal lifestyle was beginning to rankle early doors...but that was nothing compared to the distraction of Kate's husband, a character (in a situation) so unbelievable I lost any empathy with him after just a couple of pages.
His dialogue, his life style, his attitudes were all at odds with how Kate's character was evolving - if you want to explore an "inappropriate" Officer inter-relationship look at how it's handled by Joy Ellis in her Nikki Galena series - by Chapter Three I was already switching off...given there were 21 Chapters and more to come I was not looking forward to picking up my Kindle again for reading, easily distracted to Words With Friends, Readly and The Times apps - never a good sign when trying to fulfill an ARC assignment.
In the end disciplined time had to be set aside, and the wet Easter weather played it's part in making that achievable...so forgive me but given the trouble I've gone to I think it fair that I list my woes as they came up...SPOILERS GOING FORWARD SO PLEASE SKIP IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK A GO...
Chapter 5 - a wincingly horrible London voice is given to one of the squad detective's - a pot bellied Phil Mitchell to my mind, though even he would skip the "it's me what done it", "I don't no more" and "the bloke what sent" which set my ears on edge
Chapter 6 - Kate receives a message scrawled in crayon or lipstick on her windscreen, mentioning a specific location where we know another murder has taken place...does she phone it in (despite having belatedly updated her senior officer on the previous experiences from Cancun to Coming Home)...does she buggery...drives in and asks someone to get SOCO to look at the screen, when she's told about the murder scene...again what professional police officer would have risked the writing being contaminated or obliterated on her drive to the station? This being the 11th outing for our heroine I suspect such incompetence can't have been in evidence throughout?
Despite being off the case she heads straight to the scene, only advising her superior, the woeful Woo (he's not fully briefed the DS brought in to cover the case on what's occurred to date with Kate explaining why she's out of bounds, which seems unlikely in the real world as that would surely be a decent investigating officers first question), after ignoring his admonishment and looking at the body that she'd received the message telling her to look at the farm - does he admonish her again for not phoning it in? Of course not...
Chapter 9 - another "Gordon Bennett" from Kate's husband Hayden...the man's vocabulary continues to grate...and then he comes up with a "...plainly, he has some sort of mysogonistic phobia and because you are a woman, he resents the fact that you are a successful police officer..." so I assume that he has read some of the foregoing novel because given two of the three victims have been men AND it's a woman journalist he's giving a heads up to I'd think it a stretch to make that call UNLESS you'd been party to the (still unnamed) villains back story from earlier in the book...
Chapter 11 - would a local newspaper really be this rude and libelous "incompetent", "calamity Kate"...as mentioned this is the 11th in a series so clearly she's had her share of successes in the past...poor editorial control on the Bridgewater Clarion (and not for the first time - I let the previous journalistic oversight go as being a relevant plot device, but on reflection it was another nail in my personal coffin for this tome).
Chapter 11/12 - so Kate foolishly followed a vagrant to a deserted factory without backup "yesterday" and got told off for it...why would she do the same thing again the next day without even informing the desk sargeant or leaving a note...because it's another irritating plot device I guess...and her getting information about the killer relating to a local property letting agent is something she chooses once again not to share with either her DCI or the one she's allegedly knows and respects that's been brought in to head up the investigation ...irritating and tiresome to me I'm afraid, especially, and inevitably in this unbelievable yarn she ends up finding more destruction and murder...and again her maverick actions are brushed off... we're even told that the DCI's were "surprisingly pragmatic" about her actions - typo there as that's not how you spell "unbelievably"
CONFESSION TIME - at this point I'm over halfway through the book, executive decision is that I've given it a reasonable chance to improve but the issues have continued to stack up so I'm going to speed read to the end and stop picking up my perceived failings as they're likely to echo what's gone before...I have not enjoyed this read and it's very unlikely that I will pick up previous examples of Mr Hodges work whilst I have so many Joffe Crime series and writers that I do enjoy.
New author to me, despite this being the 11th entry in his Detective Kate Hamblin series.
To be honest I struggled with this one; usually when you're quarter way into a book you're invested in either the characters or the plot - ideally both...but at that point I was not feeling the love for it at all.
Kate Hamblin, we are told as the story opens, is in Cancun on a post trauma break (I suppose she's been put through the ringer in her previous ten cases, though we don't get bogged down with too much detail so as a new reader I didn't feel left out or under informed). She's at a writer's retreat with a small number of like minded individuals as she has plans to become an author, developing crime stories based on her life's experience I'm sure
She receives anonymous texts which I'd have thought as an experienced police officer she'd have retained as potential evidence as they are clearly incident related and harassing...but she not only deletes them, she goes into her wastebin to fully delete them AFTER a body has been found in mysterious circumstances...the justifications for doing so were flimsy and didn't wash with me.
She then heads home BUT her mysterious harasser had not only booked onto the same flight specifically because she's on it but he's also managed to secure a short lease on a property near to her home and work so that he can continue his offensive against her because she's a powerful, successful, woman and he's got (Mummy) issues with that, and he was exceedingly offended that her written with was praised, whilst his own was treated with perceived contempt (not massive spoilers as all this is given up very early in the book).
The villain wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth, modest roots, living with Mother, working as a librarian... How he could afford to fund his criminal lifestyle was beginning to rankle early doors...but that was nothing compared to the distraction of Kate's husband, a character (in a situation) so unbelievable I lost any empathy with him after just a couple of pages.
His dialogue, his life style, his attitudes were all at odds with how Kate's character was evolving - if you want to explore an "inappropriate" Officer inter-relationship look at how it's handled by Joy Ellis in her Nikki Galena series - by Chapter Three I was already switching off...given there were 21 Chapters and more to come I was not looking forward to picking up my Kindle again for reading, easily distracted to Words With Friends, Readly and The Times apps - never a good sign when trying to fulfill an ARC assignment.
In the end disciplined time had to be set aside, and the wet Easter weather played it's part in making that achievable...so forgive me but given the trouble I've gone to I think it fair that I list my woes as they came up...SPOILERS GOING FORWARD SO PLEASE SKIP IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THIS BOOK A GO...
Chapter 5 - a wincingly horrible London voice is given to one of the squad detective's - a pot bellied Phil Mitchell to my mind, though even he would skip the "it's me what done it", "I don't no more" and "the bloke what sent" which set my ears on edge
Chapter 6 - Kate receives a message scrawled in crayon or lipstick on her windscreen, mentioning a specific location where we know another murder has taken place...does she phone it in (despite having belatedly updated her senior officer on the previous experiences from Cancun to Coming Home)...does she buggery...drives in and asks someone to get SOCO to look at the screen, when she's told about the murder scene...again what professional police officer would have risked the writing being contaminated or obliterated on her drive to the station? This being the 11th outing for our heroine I suspect such incompetence can't have been in evidence throughout?
Despite being off the case she heads straight to the scene, only advising her superior, the woeful Woo (he's not fully briefed the DS brought in to cover the case on what's occurred to date with Kate explaining why she's out of bounds, which seems unlikely in the real world as that would surely be a decent investigating officers first question), after ignoring his admonishment and looking at the body that she'd received the message telling her to look at the farm - does he admonish her again for not phoning it in? Of course not...
Chapter 9 - another "Gordon Bennett" from Kate's husband Hayden...the man's vocabulary continues to grate...and then he comes up with a "...plainly, he has some sort of mysogonistic phobia and because you are a woman, he resents the fact that you are a successful police officer..." so I assume that he has read some of the foregoing novel because given two of the three victims have been men AND it's a woman journalist he's giving a heads up to I'd think it a stretch to make that call UNLESS you'd been party to the (still unnamed) villains back story from earlier in the book...
Chapter 11 - would a local newspaper really be this rude and libelous "incompetent", "calamity Kate"...as mentioned this is the 11th in a series so clearly she's had her share of successes in the past...poor editorial control on the Bridgewater Clarion (and not for the first time - I let the previous journalistic oversight go as being a relevant plot device, but on reflection it was another nail in my personal coffin for this tome).
Chapter 11/12 - so Kate foolishly followed a vagrant to a deserted factory without backup "yesterday" and got told off for it...why would she do the same thing again the next day without even informing the desk sargeant or leaving a note...because it's another irritating plot device I guess...and her getting information about the killer relating to a local property letting agent is something she chooses once again not to share with either her DCI or the one she's allegedly knows and respects that's been brought in to head up the investigation ...irritating and tiresome to me I'm afraid, especially, and inevitably in this unbelievable yarn she ends up finding more destruction and murder...and again her maverick actions are brushed off... we're even told that the DCI's were "surprisingly pragmatic" about her actions - typo there as that's not how you spell "unbelievably"
CONFESSION TIME - at this point I'm over halfway through the book, executive decision is that I've given it a reasonable chance to improve but the issues have continued to stack up so I'm going to speed read to the end and stop picking up my perceived failings as they're likely to echo what's gone before...I have not enjoyed this read and it's very unlikely that I will pick up previous examples of Mr Hodges work whilst I have so many Joffe Crime series and writers that I do enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Watcher on the Levels, the eleventh novel to feature DS Kate Lewis of Avon and Somerset Police.
Recuperating from trauma Kate goes to a writers’ retreat in Cancun, only to be subjected to stalking type texts and a break in to her room. Then a woman falls from a balcony, just as her manuscript suggests. She glad to get home, but it seems as if her stalker has followed her and wants to involve her in some kind of game, starting with the murder of a local vicar.
I enjoyed Watcher on the Levels, which is a read with plenty of twists and turns and a high level of action. I have read one or two novels in the series, but it’s not a must read series for me as I don’t find the writing and plotting compulsive, more an easy way to pass a few hours.
The novel is told mainly from Kate and Mr Anonymous as she calls him’s points of view. I must admit that I didn’t find either of them particularly credible, but they serve the plot well. She might be effective if she thought before dashing off on impulse and he is not much different from other fictional psychopaths - driven by a mission that only makes sense to him and convinced of his own glory.
The plot consists of him running rings round the police and taunting Kate on a regular basis, both by phone and by winding up a local reporter with a grudge. Much of this is because they have no idea of his motive or how he chooses his victims. Obviously once they form a theory the game changes and takes an even more deadly direction. I felt that it took too long to get to this stage with several murders and a revenge attack in between. It got a bit repetitive and the novel is too long, shorter and sharper would have been better.
I didn’t warm to Kate Lewis. She’s impulsive and not overly bright - she leaves the thinking to her husband Hayden. Admittedly she has a sharp line in comebacks but it’s not enough to make her likeable.
Watcher on the Levels is a solid read.
Recuperating from trauma Kate goes to a writers’ retreat in Cancun, only to be subjected to stalking type texts and a break in to her room. Then a woman falls from a balcony, just as her manuscript suggests. She glad to get home, but it seems as if her stalker has followed her and wants to involve her in some kind of game, starting with the murder of a local vicar.
I enjoyed Watcher on the Levels, which is a read with plenty of twists and turns and a high level of action. I have read one or two novels in the series, but it’s not a must read series for me as I don’t find the writing and plotting compulsive, more an easy way to pass a few hours.
The novel is told mainly from Kate and Mr Anonymous as she calls him’s points of view. I must admit that I didn’t find either of them particularly credible, but they serve the plot well. She might be effective if she thought before dashing off on impulse and he is not much different from other fictional psychopaths - driven by a mission that only makes sense to him and convinced of his own glory.
The plot consists of him running rings round the police and taunting Kate on a regular basis, both by phone and by winding up a local reporter with a grudge. Much of this is because they have no idea of his motive or how he chooses his victims. Obviously once they form a theory the game changes and takes an even more deadly direction. I felt that it took too long to get to this stage with several murders and a revenge attack in between. It got a bit repetitive and the novel is too long, shorter and sharper would have been better.
I didn’t warm to Kate Lewis. She’s impulsive and not overly bright - she leaves the thinking to her husband Hayden. Admittedly she has a sharp line in comebacks but it’s not enough to make her likeable.
Watcher on the Levels is a solid read.
March 27, 2023
Synopsis (It's a fiction book, so it helps…from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
******************************************************************************
A twisted killer. A deadly game. A detective who must break the rules to win. Detective Kate is sunning herself on the beach at an exclusive Mexican resort, feeling emboldened enough to shed her bikini top. Then she gets an anonymous text. Hi Kate, Are your detective skills as good as your boobs? Later that night, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her belongings. And a woman plunges to her death from the balcony above.
Is it all connected? Kate is relieved to escape the unwelcome attention and return home. But back in Somerset, she reaches into her coat pocket and finds a scrawled message: See You Soon, Kate. Has her stalker followed her home?
Someone is watching Kate. They know where she lives, and where she works. They seem to know her every move. But what is it they want? Then the local vicar plunges to his death from the top of the bell tower. Just like the woman in Mexico. The next day, someone calls the local paper: “I killed him.” And Kate finds that she’s an unwilling participant in a deadly game. She must enter the mind of a twisted killer and stay one step ahead of him.
Because if he catches her up . . . she’s dead.
OOOOOOH what a twisty and dark book ... may the moral is to not doff your top? I thought that my stalker was obsessive and weird: this one takes the cake. The book was wonderfully crafted and I thoroughly enjoyed it - my only complaint was the ubiquitous woman walking away with her back to you on the cover: I am so tired of that over-used theme that is literally on thousands of books out there: I have even made a display of them at our library.
That foible aside, a great book that I will recommend to my clientele who are in search of a nice twisty mystery.
******************************************************************************
A twisted killer. A deadly game. A detective who must break the rules to win. Detective Kate is sunning herself on the beach at an exclusive Mexican resort, feeling emboldened enough to shed her bikini top. Then she gets an anonymous text. Hi Kate, Are your detective skills as good as your boobs? Later that night, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her belongings. And a woman plunges to her death from the balcony above.
Is it all connected? Kate is relieved to escape the unwelcome attention and return home. But back in Somerset, she reaches into her coat pocket and finds a scrawled message: See You Soon, Kate. Has her stalker followed her home?
Someone is watching Kate. They know where she lives, and where she works. They seem to know her every move. But what is it they want? Then the local vicar plunges to his death from the top of the bell tower. Just like the woman in Mexico. The next day, someone calls the local paper: “I killed him.” And Kate finds that she’s an unwilling participant in a deadly game. She must enter the mind of a twisted killer and stay one step ahead of him.
Because if he catches her up . . . she’s dead.
OOOOOOH what a twisty and dark book ... may the moral is to not doff your top? I thought that my stalker was obsessive and weird: this one takes the cake. The book was wonderfully crafted and I thoroughly enjoyed it - my only complaint was the ubiquitous woman walking away with her back to you on the cover: I am so tired of that over-used theme that is literally on thousands of books out there: I have even made a display of them at our library.
That foible aside, a great book that I will recommend to my clientele who are in search of a nice twisty mystery.
April 16, 2023
Detective Kate Hamblin has decided to take some time off for herself following her last case and try her hand at some creative writing . After all she is a detective and knows a lot about crime and criminals.
The course she opts for also allows her some time relaxing in the sun lying on the beach at Cancun.
One day whilst sunbathing topless she gets a text asking her how her detective skills compare to her boobs. Who is watching her?
When she returns to her room she has the feeling someone has been in there going through her things, then a woman falls to her death from the balcony above in her hotel.
As she is due to head home the question of whether she jumped or was pushed is not for her to solve.
Back home it seems her stalker from the hotel has followed her trying to involve her in some kind of deadly game.
The local vicar is found having fallen from the bell tower of his church, much like the woman in Mexico.
Its far too much of a coincidence not to be connected.
Kate finds herself playing catch-up in the twisted killers game, a game hes determined to win.
Kate is in a race to stop him before he kills again.
I enjoyed this latest addition to the Detective Kate Hamblin series.
The course she opts for also allows her some time relaxing in the sun lying on the beach at Cancun.
One day whilst sunbathing topless she gets a text asking her how her detective skills compare to her boobs. Who is watching her?
When she returns to her room she has the feeling someone has been in there going through her things, then a woman falls to her death from the balcony above in her hotel.
As she is due to head home the question of whether she jumped or was pushed is not for her to solve.
Back home it seems her stalker from the hotel has followed her trying to involve her in some kind of deadly game.
The local vicar is found having fallen from the bell tower of his church, much like the woman in Mexico.
Its far too much of a coincidence not to be connected.
Kate finds herself playing catch-up in the twisted killers game, a game hes determined to win.
Kate is in a race to stop him before he kills again.
I enjoyed this latest addition to the Detective Kate Hamblin series.
April 17, 2023
Another brilliant addition to the Kate Hamblin/Lewis series.
Kate is taking a break and is in Mexico on a creative writing course. She is sunbathing topless when a text message pops in: someone is watching. When a woman dies in the same way as she has written in her story alarm bells begin to ring, it looks like she has a stalker.
As she returns home it becomes clear the stalker is nearby. What does he want? Why her?
Then the murders start......
This is an adrenaline pumping story with well defined characters that fit the story perfectly. I love the way the author has created the suspect to be a damaged soul with revenge on his mind and murder in his heart he certainly brings the psychological aspect to the book. I also love how the usually bumbling Hayden takes a different role in this book and is instrumental in cracking a case that seemingly has no clues. The other characters old and new play their part in making this story work The suspense runs the whole way through the book keeping the reader totally hooked all the way through. Twists and turns are there in abundance and the ending is explosive. A brilliant read all the way through. Absolutely loved it.
Kate is taking a break and is in Mexico on a creative writing course. She is sunbathing topless when a text message pops in: someone is watching. When a woman dies in the same way as she has written in her story alarm bells begin to ring, it looks like she has a stalker.
As she returns home it becomes clear the stalker is nearby. What does he want? Why her?
Then the murders start......
This is an adrenaline pumping story with well defined characters that fit the story perfectly. I love the way the author has created the suspect to be a damaged soul with revenge on his mind and murder in his heart he certainly brings the psychological aspect to the book. I also love how the usually bumbling Hayden takes a different role in this book and is instrumental in cracking a case that seemingly has no clues. The other characters old and new play their part in making this story work The suspense runs the whole way through the book keeping the reader totally hooked all the way through. Twists and turns are there in abundance and the ending is explosive. A brilliant read all the way through. Absolutely loved it.
May 2, 2023
Kate is sunning herself in Mexico enjoying a writer's retreat, daring to shed her bikini top when she receives a text making comment on her 'assets' ! This stuns her a bit, but not as much as when someone drops from an upper floor balcony outside her room- did they jump, fall or be pushed? Her mysterious texter hints it is the last option! Another message arrives as she gets home. Someone is definitely messing with her & as the bodies mount up she is caught up in a game she never asked for.
I started to read this not knowing it was eleventh in a series. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have got to Book11. Kate annoyed me. She is supposed to be a seasoned detective so why does she destroy the text evidence? Her husband is an anachronism. As for the Irish detective- every possible 'Irish' comment apart from 'Begorrah & Jesus, Mary & Joseph' was thrown in- most of them being more at home South of the Border ! It was a dreadful caricature of an Irish person! All this being said, it was a book that I was engaged enough to read to the end, although I won't be looking for #12! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
I started to read this not knowing it was eleventh in a series. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have got to Book11. Kate annoyed me. She is supposed to be a seasoned detective so why does she destroy the text evidence? Her husband is an anachronism. As for the Irish detective- every possible 'Irish' comment apart from 'Begorrah & Jesus, Mary & Joseph' was thrown in- most of them being more at home South of the Border ! It was a dreadful caricature of an Irish person! All this being said, it was a book that I was engaged enough to read to the end, although I won't be looking for #12! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.
April 2, 2023
This is the #11 in the Detective Kate Hamblin series but can easily be read as a standalone.
Kate is on holiday in Mexico. She is sunbathing topless when she receives a text comparing her detective skills to her boobs and, later that evening, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her things. Kate’s feeling unsettled but then a woman falls to her death from a balcony in her hotel – did she jump or was she pushed?
When Kate gets back home to Somerset, she finds a note in her coat pocket, seemingly from the same person who texted her in Mexico. Then the local vicar falls to his death from the church bell tower, in exactly the same way as the woman in Mexico. Too much of a coincidence for the two events not to be connected.
Kate needs to find this killer before they strike again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
Kate is on holiday in Mexico. She is sunbathing topless when she receives a text comparing her detective skills to her boobs and, later that evening, someone breaks into her hotel room and rifles through her things. Kate’s feeling unsettled but then a woman falls to her death from a balcony in her hotel – did she jump or was she pushed?
When Kate gets back home to Somerset, she finds a note in her coat pocket, seemingly from the same person who texted her in Mexico. Then the local vicar falls to his death from the church bell tower, in exactly the same way as the woman in Mexico. Too much of a coincidence for the two events not to be connected.
Kate needs to find this killer before they strike again.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
May 2, 2023
This is the eleventh outing for Detective Sergeant Kate Hamblin and it starts with Kate on vacation. She's sunning herself on the beaches of Mexico and taking a writer's course at the resort. All goes well until she receives an a stalker message. It disturbs Kate but she's made of pretty tough stuff so brushes it off. Then a guest at the resort falls to her death. Kate's curious and not sure the Mexican police make the right call but she can't step on their toes. She heads back to her job in the UK only to find her stalker has followed her. The stalker begins a murder spree all the while taunting Kate. She needs to find him fast before more deaths follow.
It's an excellent book told from the perspective of both Kate and the stalker. David Hodges is a former Superintendent with the Thames Valley Police and I find his knowledge of the inner workings of UK policing make for a very enjoyable read. 4 starts for sure.
It's an excellent book told from the perspective of both Kate and the stalker. David Hodges is a former Superintendent with the Thames Valley Police and I find his knowledge of the inner workings of UK policing make for a very enjoyable read. 4 starts for sure.
April 10, 2023
Kate has a disturbing encounter at a writer's course in Cancun which sets the tone for the rest of the book. Somehow she has antagonised someone who has decided to now bring Kate into his disturbed game back in the UK.
The story is quite far-fetched but I still enjoyed it. It's told from the POV of the killer and also Kate, who is sidelined from the investigation. Despite this being book 11 in the series, Kate is still so naive and constantly ignores orders which gets her into more trouble. Her husband Hayden is really annoying and I found it quite difficult to continue reading with his old girl comments and old-fashioned attitudes and behaviour especially for someone who is young enough.
The story felt quite fast-paced and I did enjoy the cat and mouse theme throughout. My thanks to Joffe Books for a copy of this, and this is my honest review.
The story is quite far-fetched but I still enjoyed it. It's told from the POV of the killer and also Kate, who is sidelined from the investigation. Despite this being book 11 in the series, Kate is still so naive and constantly ignores orders which gets her into more trouble. Her husband Hayden is really annoying and I found it quite difficult to continue reading with his old girl comments and old-fashioned attitudes and behaviour especially for someone who is young enough.
The story felt quite fast-paced and I did enjoy the cat and mouse theme throughout. My thanks to Joffe Books for a copy of this, and this is my honest review.
April 12, 2023
This isn't my first Kate Hamblin mystery - I'm quite sure I've come across her before!
Finishing off her sick leave, Kate is in Cancun, Mexico. Not one to get a tan, she manages to come back with a stalker. Of course, things quickly go from bad to worse and the bodies start piling up. There's always one superior officer who would love the excuse to get rid of her but, luckily, others are on her side.
Kate Hamblin is a tough nut; a Detective Sergeant she is quite capable of looking after herself, but her husband isn't quite so convinced. They are quite a mis-match and, although they say that opposites attract, I'm not sure I could put up with his slovenly ways! There is plenty going on in this novel, lots to work out and although I felt some of it was quite obvious, I enjoyed the ride. A good series and this is one I'm happy to give four stars.
Finishing off her sick leave, Kate is in Cancun, Mexico. Not one to get a tan, she manages to come back with a stalker. Of course, things quickly go from bad to worse and the bodies start piling up. There's always one superior officer who would love the excuse to get rid of her but, luckily, others are on her side.
Kate Hamblin is a tough nut; a Detective Sergeant she is quite capable of looking after herself, but her husband isn't quite so convinced. They are quite a mis-match and, although they say that opposites attract, I'm not sure I could put up with his slovenly ways! There is plenty going on in this novel, lots to work out and although I felt some of it was quite obvious, I enjoyed the ride. A good series and this is one I'm happy to give four stars.
August 1, 2024
I confess to having been on the edge of my seat throughout yesterday and today by being engrossed in this novel. I have just finished it, almost a first for me because I am not a quick reader - in fact I am very slow. However, I just couldn't stop reading such cleverly thought out plot.
I would have given it 5 stars but for one fact that disturbed me concerning the first murder. The person who was murdered was a clergyman of a very old Church having been thrown off the tower of his church. You describe him as living in a Manse which, as far as I am aware, is where a Methodist Minister lives. Surely, if the Church is as old as is depicted he would have been an Anglican Priest who would have carried the title of either a Rector or Vicar?
Peter Hardcastle
I would have given it 5 stars but for one fact that disturbed me concerning the first murder. The person who was murdered was a clergyman of a very old Church having been thrown off the tower of his church. You describe him as living in a Manse which, as far as I am aware, is where a Methodist Minister lives. Surely, if the Church is as old as is depicted he would have been an Anglican Priest who would have carried the title of either a Rector or Vicar?
Peter Hardcastle
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2023
I enjoyed the latest instalment in the Levels crime novels but not as much as some of the earlier ones, hence four stars instead of five.
Kate picks up a stalker in Cancun on a Writers retreat and he follows her home, planning a game that will ensure he gets a book deal and shows Kate up as a poor detective.
The level of knowledge he has of Kate and an area he’s not familiar with probably make the story a bit far fetched but nonetheless enjoyable.
There are moments of what I guess are tongue-in-cheek humour as the writer used to be a police officer - they did make me smile.
I received an advance copy for free from Joffe Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Kate picks up a stalker in Cancun on a Writers retreat and he follows her home, planning a game that will ensure he gets a book deal and shows Kate up as a poor detective.
The level of knowledge he has of Kate and an area he’s not familiar with probably make the story a bit far fetched but nonetheless enjoyable.
There are moments of what I guess are tongue-in-cheek humour as the writer used to be a police officer - they did make me smile.
I received an advance copy for free from Joffe Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 13, 2023
This is one of those books you are captured into, from the beginning to the end, of this gripping thriller.
Although this is book 11 in the series of Detective Kate Hamblin Mysteries, it can be read as a standalone. More than likely, you will then want to read more of them.
It's a very well thought out plot and storyline, with a great set of characters, revelations, and many twists, which keep you guessing as you read.
I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Although this is book 11 in the series of Detective Kate Hamblin Mysteries, it can be read as a standalone. More than likely, you will then want to read more of them.
It's a very well thought out plot and storyline, with a great set of characters, revelations, and many twists, which keep you guessing as you read.
I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review.
April 26, 2023
Kate went alone to a writers' retreat in Mexico to try to get it all together again after a mind numbing experience on her last case. But instead of returning relaxed, she was being wound up tight by an unknown stalker both at home and at the station. For myself, I would have been happy enough following her aspect of things. However, there is also the matter of being inside the head of the person who is creating all the deaths that suddenly put her skills to the test. Not a restful book, but well written.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books. Thank you.
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books. Thank you.
January 12, 2025
I enjoyed this fast-paced British crime thriller, where Kate, unfortunately, attracts unwanted attention. On a break to heal past trauma, there's a death and a message...
Home again, Kate and her team are soon set to investigate another death. There is a tangled web to unravel.
Kate continues her independent behaviour, foolish in some instances, however, I think it's because she has to prove her worth in a male dominated world /career.
Disturbing yet engaging with intriguing psychological themes.
Recommended.
Home again, Kate and her team are soon set to investigate another death. There is a tangled web to unravel.
Kate continues her independent behaviour, foolish in some instances, however, I think it's because she has to prove her worth in a male dominated world /career.
Disturbing yet engaging with intriguing psychological themes.
Recommended.
March 21, 2023
A creepy story of a man stalking Kate Hamblin. She's just been to Cancun on a mystery writer's course and someone there has it in for her. He follows her home and sets about making her doubt herself. He pits his wits against hers - and is determined to win - at any cost. Usually the cost is paid by innocent people.
Loved it.
Thanks to the Publisher Joffe books I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
Loved it.
Thanks to the Publisher Joffe books I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.
April 4, 2023
Book 11 and I haven't read all the others however it reads well as a standalone too. We start in Mexico with Kate being on a recuperative holiday but not all is as it seems. Back to the UK and murder and mayhem follow her. She knows she is being targeted but it all seems via other people. The story goes along at a good rate with plenty going on to keep the reader guessing what will happen next.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
April 12, 2023
Gripping
Detective Kate Hamblin is taking a much needed break and attending a crime writing work shop at the same time but it seems someone is not impressed by her job or writing skills. On her return home to Somerset, her stalker follows and embarks on a killing spree, taunting Kate and the team that they will not be able to catch him. It becomes a race against time as the body tally grows. I found this an absorbing read and really enjoyed it.
Detective Kate Hamblin is taking a much needed break and attending a crime writing work shop at the same time but it seems someone is not impressed by her job or writing skills. On her return home to Somerset, her stalker follows and embarks on a killing spree, taunting Kate and the team that they will not be able to catch him. It becomes a race against time as the body tally grows. I found this an absorbing read and really enjoyed it.
March 21, 2023
I liked the characterisation of Sergeant Kate Lewis in this read, but her husband Hayden filled me with horror! The plot was good, if a bit unbelievable, the killer was twisted and the descriptions of Somerset kept me interested until the end. The pace was steady and overall, it's a good, steady read.
April 12, 2023
Whilst attending a writers’ retreat in Mexico Kate Lewis picks up a stalker who texts her that there will be a death following on the lines of the synopsis she has written for a neorealism. That night a woman plunges to her death from a balcony in the hotel.
Back in Somerset she receives more texts and then the murders happen. A good read, but rambles in bits. Overall worth reading.
Back in Somerset she receives more texts and then the murders happen. A good read, but rambles in bits. Overall worth reading.
April 22, 2023
This book continues the theme of maverick Kate and lumbering Hayden who sometimes comes up with a brainwave, as here. Very well written with plenty of wry humour in an otherwise quite disturbing narrative. Thoroughly enjoyed the denouement and am looking forward to number 12 in the series.
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
May 24, 2023
Another Excellent Story
Another excellent story by David Hodges in the Kate Hamblin series. All the usual characters and a very good strong storyline. The plot kept you gripped from start to finish wondering what was going to happen next. Also an exciting and intriguing ending.Looking forward to reading more.
Another excellent story by David Hodges in the Kate Hamblin series. All the usual characters and a very good strong storyline. The plot kept you gripped from start to finish wondering what was going to happen next. Also an exciting and intriguing ending.Looking forward to reading more.
April 22, 2023
Wow!!!
This might be the best in the series yet! Kate and team are after a serial killer who’s after Kate. It is very well written. It has twists and turns aplenty. I hope Kate’s DCI figures out that she is the best detective that he has!! I highly recommend this book.
This might be the best in the series yet! Kate and team are after a serial killer who’s after Kate. It is very well written. It has twists and turns aplenty. I hope Kate’s DCI figures out that she is the best detective that he has!! I highly recommend this book.
April 17, 2023
I really enjoy this David Hodges series, and Kate Lewis is certainly a feisty independent detective, quite the character, which we now see more deeply. Thoroughly recommended.
June 14, 2023
Quite a twist to the story
August 7, 2023
Excellent as Always
An exciting and thrilling read. Would recommend this book
as well as previous books in the series. Very enjoyable indeed.
An exciting and thrilling read. Would recommend this book
as well as previous books in the series. Very enjoyable indeed.
December 19, 2025
most enjoyable.
Thoroughly enjoying all of the Kate Hamblin stories, so well written and exciting, now looking for book twelve. Maybe Kate could treat her husband a bit better .
Thoroughly enjoying all of the Kate Hamblin stories, so well written and exciting, now looking for book twelve. Maybe Kate could treat her husband a bit better .
May 16, 2023
Kate Hamblin book 11
Kate at her best to understand that there is another side to the criminal mind. An interesting concept playing a mind game against Kate (the police).
Kate at her best to understand that there is another side to the criminal mind. An interesting concept playing a mind game against Kate (the police).
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