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Dr. Harrison Lane #2

Beautiful Remains

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Dawn creeps over the horizon, illuminating the body lying on the marshy ground. He looks peaceful, young, healthy. But there is no bloom of life in his cheeks, his eyes are cold and dead…

When Head of the Ritualistic Behavioural Crime Unit, Dr Harrison Lane, is called to desolate Wicken Fen to assist with a murder investigation, he can’t believe what he sees. Curved iron horseshoes hold down the body of a young, athletic man, and birch leaves rest delicately upon his torso, but it’s what lies above the leaves that interests Harrison…

A small bone hangs around the young man’s neck and Harrison immediately recognises it as a magical talisman, said to bring the wearer great powers. But it’s from an ancient sect which some believe has links to the devil.

The victim is soon identified as local jockey Paul Lester. Searching his home, Harrison discovers a thick white envelope containing horsehair and cryptic directions to a meeting place. With a sickening feeling, he suddenly understands why Paul was targeted; he was a member of another secret The Horsemen. Could that mean that other members are in danger?

But Harrison can’t get the detective in charge of the case to take his worries seriously. Then another victim is found dead, pinned down by horseshoes, and his worst fears are confirmed. Harrison knows the fastest way to stop this killer is to infiltrate the society, but can he discover their secrets and work out how the killer is tracking them before it’s too late?

Fans of Angela Marsons, LJ Ross and Rachel McLean won’t be able to stop reading this totally gripping crime thriller.

This book was previously published under the title The Horsemen by Gwyn GB.

What readers are saying about this

“This is the second book in this series that I have read and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I would love to meet Dr Harrison!!!” Online reviewer, 5 stars

I love LOVE Harrison Lane's stories.” Online reviewer, 5 stars

“Another unputdownable book in this series, very well-written, extremely good characterisation, intriguing and has made me eagerly want to read the next in this series.” Online reviewer, 5 stars

“Another fabulous book, I couldn't put this book down until I'd finished reading it. I was gripped.” Online reviewer, 5 stars

“Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Have read books 1 & 2, book 3 next on my list.” Online reviewer, 5 stars

I love these books and the author. They will make superb series for TV can’t wait to read the next one.” Online reviewer, 5 stars

244 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2023

111 people are currently reading
92 people want to read

About the author

Gwyn Bennett

15 books64 followers
Gwyn Bennett is a best-selling author who writes intriguing fast-paced character driven crime mysteries.

She's always been a writer, initially working as a broadcast journalist and newsreader for the BBC and ITN in London, before she was able to become a full-time fiction author. Gwyn undertakes a lot of research for her books, weaving fact in with the fiction in order to make them relatable to readers. Her favourite days are when she hears from people who have enjoyed her books and meeting the characters.

Gwyn was born in England, but has lots of Welsh and some Irish blood in her. She now lives in the tiny Channel Island of Jersey, where her husband was born, with her family, rescue dog, and geriatric goldfish. Apart from being chief dog slave and fish feeder, she enjoys walking, yoga and eating crisps, with a bit of gardening when the sun shines.

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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,064 reviews2,873 followers
September 4, 2023
Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Beautiful Remains by Gwyn Bennett

Beautiful Remains, the second installment in the Dr. Harrison Lane series by Gwyn Bennett, is a captivating and thrilling mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. With its strong writing, fast-paced narrative, and engaging plot, this book surpasses its predecessor and leaves readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.

The story begins as Dr. Harrison Lane, Head of the Ritualistic Behavioural Crime Unit, is called to assist with a murder investigation in the desolate Wicken Fen. The victim, Paul Lester, is a local jockey whose body is found with curved iron horseshoes holding him down and birch leaves delicately placed upon his torso. As Harrison examines the scene, he discovers a magical talisman hanging around Paul’s neck, believed to possess great powers but also associated with an ancient sect with supposed ties to the devil.

Determined to uncover the truth behind Paul’s murder, Harrison delves deeper into the case. He finds a thick white envelope in Paul’s home containing horsehair and cryptic directions to a meeting place. Realizing that Paul was a member of a secret society called The Horsemen, Harrison becomes concerned for the safety of other members. However, his worries fall on deaf ears as the detective in charge of the case fails to take him seriously.

As the body count rises, Harrison’s worst fears are confirmed. To stop this killer, he must infiltrate The Horsemen and unravel their secrets before more lives are lost. With time running out, Harrison faces a race against both the killer and his own doubts as he struggles to uncover the truth.

Bennett’s writing style is captivating and immersive, drawing readers into the world of Dr. Harrison Lane with vivid descriptions and meticulously crafted scenes. The narrative maintains a fast pace throughout, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, constantly keeping readers guessing and eager to unravel the mystery alongside Harrison.

One notable aspect of Beautiful Remains is the author’s skill in developing relationships between characters. The romance between Harrison and Tonya is not dragged out unnecessarily, allowing the focus to remain on the investigation. Additionally, the friendship between Harrison and Jack shows great potential for future partnerships and adds depth to the story.

My only disappointment lies in the fact that only the first two books in the series were available for review. This series has proven to be highly enjoyable, and readers will undoubtedly be left craving more after finishing Beautiful Remains.

In conclusion, Beautiful Remains by Gwyn Bennett is an enthralling mystery that surpasses its predecessor in both writing quality and plot development. With its engaging storyline, well-crafted characters, and skillful execution, this book is sure to appeal to fans of the genre. Readers will eagerly anticipate the next installment in the Dr. Harrison Lane series.

**ARC Via NetGalley**
Profile Image for Annie.
4,736 reviews89 followers
March 17, 2024
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Beautiful Remains is the second procedural psychological thriller/mystery featuring Dr. Harrison Lane by Gwyn Bennett. Originally published in 2021, this reformat and re-release 3rd May 2023 on Storm Publishing's indie press is 244 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free. The other books in the series are also currently available on KU.

This is an ongoing series (currently 8 books) with a fair bit of background continuity and an overarching plotline that moves across the volumes in the series. Titular protagonist Dr. Lane is a behaviorist working in a psychological (ritualistic) crimes unit. He has a difficult past, with murder trauma and memory loss. Much (most) of the crime and descriptions in the book are graphic and often scary and creepy (obviously, and for many readers this will be a feature, not a detraction).

Many of the descriptions are graphic and readers need to expect on-page violence, as well as atmospheric tension and ritualistic murder. There's a subplot in this volume with a stalker who is terrorizing his colleague (a forensic investigator) which is also moderately graphic.

The plotting is tightly constructed with lots of twists and surprises. The pacing is somewhat uneven, and the dialogue is patchy and occasionally stilted enough to drag readers out of their suspension of disbelief. It's written in third person, and the author does a lot more "telling" than "showing" by direct info dumping.

That being said, readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with ritual crime and creepy locations will find a lot to like here. Although the main crime here is self contained in this volume, the multi-book plotline about Lane's cold case trauma will be spoiled if they're read out of order.

Three stars (mostly for the clunky dialogue and flat descriptions). Recommended for fans of Angela Marsons and Robert Bryndza.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
3,216 reviews69 followers
May 22, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an advance copy of Beautiful Remains, the second novel to feature Dr Harrison Lane of the Met’s Ritualistic Behavioural Crime Unit.

Harrison is asked by Cambridgeshire Police to look at a body they have found on a lonely fen. The body is held down by horseshoes and covered in birch branches, but it is the bone hung on his neck that gives Harrison the idea that he is dealing with an old secret society. When the body is identified as rising jockey, Paul Lester, he is sure that he is dealing with The Horsemen.

I thoroughly enjoyed Beautiful Remains, which has an interesting subject matter and a plot that keeps the reader turning the pages. If that isn’t enough there are a couple of subplots and a hint of romance to add to the mix. It’s not a long novel and it packs a lot in, so there’s never a dull moment.

The novel is told mostly From Harrison’s point of view, which means that the reader can get immersed in the read without distractions. There is no word from the criminals and that gives Harrison’s assessments more weight when the reader tries to solve the case for themselves. I failed miserably at guessing ahead of time, but, to be fair, some of the pertinent information only came to light after the killer was identified. I was a bit disappointed in some of the conclusion as I thought it was a cop-out, but I can’t elaborate further without spoilers.

Harrison’s hunt for his mother’s killer continues in tiny steps with another small breakthrough thanks to the work of DS Jack Salter, former antagonist and now firm friend. I imagine that this thread will continue throughout the series if the author keeps up the same glacial pace. On a more positive note (I don’t get enthusiastic about ongoing threads) his interest in Dr Tanya Jones heats up when she asks him for help in a personal matter. Glad to see that the hunky Harrison has feelings and that his life isn’t all self control.

Beautiful Remains is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Profile Image for Sue.
835 reviews
May 19, 2023
Dr Harrison Lane is called to assist with a murder investigation.
A jockey has been murdered, his heart cut out, he is being held down by curved horseshoes around his arms, and there is a talisman around his neck.
This is the type of case Harrison has trained for. He has an uncanny ability to read a crime scene.

There is a second murder, and Harrison realises that the victim is a member of the same secret society as the jockey.
He has to identify the killer to protect the other members of the society.

Meanwhile, he has a personal interest in another case back home, and can't be in two places at the same time.

I am slowly falling for Harrison Lane! He is a complex character, and throws himself into his work, which he uses as an excuse not to have a relationship.
The characters in this series are developing, and getting to know Harrison, and the people he works with is keeping me invested in the series.

This is a fast paced book, a real page turner, you know the murders are macabre, but they aren't actually described in detail, which suits me. The author leaves those details to the reader's imagination.
It is tense, and kept me rapt to the very end.

Thanks to Storm Publishing for pre-approving me and to Netgalley for providing this book.
Profile Image for Carly Rushforth.
586 reviews28 followers
May 25, 2023
Thanks to Storm Publishing for auto approving me to read this fantastic book because I enjoyed the first one so much!.

I was excited to get back to Dr Harrison Lane and his investigations and the police team he works with.

Harrison is called into assist by the police and give his opinions on a new case, a body has been found and it’s not what it seems at all, it’s highly disturbing.

Harrison thinks it’s got the obvious signs of a secret society called the The Horsemen , if he’s right it means it’s very bad.

We also get more of the investigation into Harrison’s mothers murder that he’s doing himself along with help from a a couple of his friends.

The stalker Tanya (Harrison’s maybe love interest) has is escalating fast and I was unsure what what happen, I hoped it was nothing deadly.

This was another great read that I was engrossed in, the research the author did for this must have been immense.
The storyline kept me engaged all the way through and I’ll be reading the third book soon.
403 reviews13 followers
June 28, 2023
Dr Harrison Lane, head of the Ritualistic Behavioural Crime Unit is called in when the body of man is discovered in mysterious circumstances, pinned down by horseshoes and a bone necklace around his neck. Lane has his suspicions of who is behind this kill, which is confirmed when they find a white envelope containing horsehair in his possessions. The work of the secret organisation, The Horsemen is at blame. But being secret, Lane along with the detectives, need to work out who in the jockey world is behind these crimes.
Lane is also worried about colleague who is smitten with, who is being stalked. The stalking begins to escalates and really worried for Tanya’s safety.
Lane has a complicated past which makes him an intriguing character. Events take a turn with his and Tanya’s relationship which you are cheering him on. An enjoyable read and likeable characters and looking forward to reading more in the series.
Profile Image for chubbyholicreads.
342 reviews3 followers
October 25, 2023
Thank you, Storm Publishing, Netgalley, and the amazing Gwyn Bennet, for giving me this opportunity. 

Ever since I stumbled upon the first book of this series and devoured it, I knew that I'd get addicted. I want more, so bad! 

Beautiful Remains is the second book in the Dr. Harrison Lane series. It's a story about Paul Lester, who is a local jockey who was murdered because he was a member of a secret group, The Horsemen. 

This story has had me sitting at the edge of my seat since the first page. The whole story is just amazing and epic. It's fast-paced, but at the same time, it feels like there is so much going on inside the story that it doesn't feel fast-paced at all. 

I just love how Gwyn Bennet combined two of my favorite topics, crime and murders in secret societies.

The story is spine-chilling, hard to put down, and the twist... the twist just gave me goosebumps; it was freaking awesome!

I can't get enough of this series! I want more! 
Profile Image for Beth.
468 reviews10 followers
May 25, 2023
I'm really enjoying this series. The ritualistic element makes it a bit different to other crime thrillers I read. I also love seeing Harrisons take on the case and all the tiny clues he manages to piece together. He's such an intriguing character. We get to know a bit more about his past in this book and I look forward to finding out more about him. It was nice to see his friendship with Jack grown in this book considering how Jack felt about him at the start. It's also lovely to see a more human side to Harrison with more nice things going on in his personal life. With the case the superstitions and rituals were so interesting and I had no idea who the killer was. I was hooked all the way to the nail biting end. I can't wait to read more of this series.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Jacquelyn Dohoney.
338 reviews7 followers
June 23, 2023
I really like this series, It’s been a nice addition to my collection. This one did seem a little odd in the sense that it was almost like watching a tv series with the two separate stories and perspectives of both Harrison and Tanya go. Not in a bad way though. The two stories converged beautifully in the end, although they were slightly intertwined throughout the story as a whole. But it was definitely like watching a tv show. I could picture everything happening, and for some reason I have this vision of Harrison as Dave Bautista. No idea why! In any case, the story itself was awesome and well written. I’ll be diving into the next one next week!

Huge thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!
Profile Image for Sarah.
656 reviews
June 2, 2023
I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I had just recently read the first book on this series and enjoyed it so I was interested in starting this, the second in the series. This book picks up where we left off at the end of the first book, Harrison is still trying to find out what happened to his mom and he’s starting to assess his feelings for his co worker, Tanya. This time we follow him and Jake, who’s struggling with his family life to a small town where they try to find out what happened to a murdered horse jockey. An interesting read that kept my attention, interested to see where the rest of the series goes.
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews167 followers
May 27, 2023
I'm loving this series and this second instalment confirmed my opinions: a well plotted and gripping series featuring an intriguing main character and solid plotes.
I'm fascinated by the ritual killings as each of them is bound to myths and cults making these stories informative and entertaining.
There's some news on the romance side and there's something new in the subplots.
I can't wait to read the next story, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
1,287 reviews
December 7, 2024
Another great read in this series. Gripping stories and such attention to detail. So much research has gone into these books and it shows. Great characters, great pace and such fascinating storylines.
Profile Image for Jill Hallenbeck.
1,688 reviews
August 24, 2023
stunted dialog and thoughts that tell the story - ugh - not enjoyable at all. I really wanted this to be an awesome series.
1,046 reviews
November 17, 2023
Love this series the characters are awesome! On to the next one.
303 reviews
January 25, 2024
Egentligen inget särskilt bra språk eller väl underbyggd intrig, men jag gillar ändå serien om Harrison Lane. Högre betyg än en trea kan det dock inte bli.
45 reviews
October 28, 2024
Very well written, very relatable characters and situations. Don’t normally read this genre, but I loved it!
Profile Image for Angela.
3,394 reviews33 followers
September 12, 2025
An intriguing story

This was a complex story with many unexpected twists that will keep you guessing until the end.
I would definitely recommend this book, series, and author.
1,401 reviews14 followers
August 27, 2023
"When you find the killer you will find the heart."

Author Gwyn Bennett grabs your attention in her Dr. Harrison Lane series. In book 2, Beautiful Remains, our Dr. Lane head of the Ritualistic Behavioral Crime Unit, has to figure out why a jockey is left dead with horseshoes holding him down and a magical talisman around his neck symbolizing powers for the holder. Then there's the missing heart.

Soon there will be a secret society, mysterious envelopes and interesting developments in Dr. Lane's personal life. This book flows, it keeps you guessing and Harrison and I are now friends.

I received a free copy of this book from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews

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