The Atticus Priest Mysteries: Books 1-3

Atticus Priest #1-3

by Mark Dawson

The first three books in the thrilling Atticus Priest series from the multi-million selling Mark Dawson.THE HOUSE IN THE WOODSIt’s Christmas Eve and DCI Mackenzie Jones is called to a murder at a remote farmhouse. Ralph Mallender believes his father lies dead inside. When three more bodies are discovered, it’s clear a festive family gathering has turned into a gruesome crime. At first it seems like an open and shut a murder suicide committed by Ralph’s volatile brother Cameron. Then new evidence makes Mack suspect the man who reported the crime is in fact the perpetrator. But Mack isn’t the only one with a stake in the case. Private investigator Atticus Priest has been hired to get Ralph acquitted. That means unearthing any weaknesses in Mack’s evidence. Irascible, impatient, and unpredictable, Atticus has weaknesses of his own. Mack knows all about them because they share a past - both professionally and personally. This time round, however, they aren’t on the same side. And as Atticus picks at the loose ends of the case, everything starts to unravel in a way neither of them could ever have predicted...A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERSA dog walker finds a human bone on lonely Salisbury Plain. DCI Mackenzie Jones investigates the grisly discovery but cannot explain how it ended up there. She contacts disgraced ex-detective Atticus Priest and the two of them trace the bone to a graveyard in the nearby village of Imber. But the village was abandoned after it was purchased by the Ministry of Defence to train the army, so why have bodies been buried in the graveyard since the church was closed?At the same time, Atticus is approached by a single dad who needs his help to track down his missing daughter. Atticus takes on the case and finds himself battling a London gang who are selling their drugs in Salisbury and a host of witnesses who don’t seem to be telling him the truth. Atticus and Mack deal with the fiendishly complex case and unpick a conspiracy that cuts to the heart of the English establishment - while dealing with their own feelings for one another. A breathtaking, twisty adventure, A Place to Bury Strangers is the second Atticus Priest mystery and one that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve turned the final page.THE RED ROOMPrivate investigator Atticus Priest is asked to investigate after a man falls to his death from the tower of Salisbury Cathedral. But when a video is sent to the local newspaper showing the deceased man engaging in a compromising act with a minor, Atticus realises that there’s much more to this case than he initially thought. Is it blackmail? Suicide? Or murder?Two more bodies are found and two more videos are sent to the press. Atticus and his former colleague, detective chief inspector Mackenzie Jones, race against time to identify the culprit before he can strike again. With each new discovery, Atticus and Mack are forced to confront their own demons and navigate their own complicated feelings for one another. As the investigation intensifies and the stakes become higher, Atticus and Mack race to unravel the mystery behind the macabre deaths. The question will they be able to apprehend the perpetrator before it’s too late? Get ready for a heart-stopping, suspenseful novel that will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

1320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2023

About the author

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Mark Dawson was born in Lowestoft and grew up in Manchester and Chicago. He has worked as a lawyer and currently works in the London film industry. His first books, "The Art of Falling Apart" and "Subpoena Colada" have been published in multiple languages.

He is currently writing two series. Soho Noir is set in the West End of London between 1940 and 1970. The first book in the series, "The Black Mile", deals with the (real life but little known) serial killer who operated in the area during the Blitz. "The Imposter" traces the journey of a criminal family (think The Sopranos in austerity London and you'd be on the right track).

The John Milton series features a disgruntled special agent who aims to help people to make amends for the terrible things that he has done. Mark, as a child of the 80s, will freely admit that he watched a lot of The Equalizer in his youth.

Mark lives in Wiltshire with his family.

You can find him at www.markjdawson.com or www.facebook.com/markdawsonauthor.

Reviews

[Maya at Von Reuth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm in my Agents & Detectives era at the moment, only this time I'm on the British side of the crime-fighting, sleuthing, and deducing world.

I won't get into plot points because I'll probably spoil all three books: a lot happens and the plot-lines are adequately complicated for straightforward Whodunits. There is, inevitably, the much-too-clever-for-his-own-good PI who habitually annoys law enforcement, save a few die-hard fans within the department. The personal / private touches are nice and give the story arcs a real-world feel that few can pull off without getting corny, so that's a plus.

If you enjoy crime fiction that walks you through procedures within the British criminal and legal system and doesn't break the improbability curve, the Atticus Priest series is an entertaining read / listen. I listened to all three audiobooks while going about my business / doing chores, and though a few things were predictable from the get-go, I still wanted to find out who the culprit was, which is commendable.

Finally, there's the main character, Atticus Priest, who guaranteed will do something dangerous and stupid and never call back-up, as in ever, and if he does, DCI Jones forgets to listen to her messages because of course she does. AP's refusal to call back-up wasn't irksome at first, but by book 3 I was rolling my eyes it became too tropey, à la "daring PI goes out on a limb because no one will listen." It's been done way too many times to come across as sensible, let alone smart, given Atticus is supposed to be so clever and self-aware. He's sadly not obsessive enough to be that hare-brained on a regular basis... Some may consider AP's character derivative, but he's scruffy and depressed enough to be largely his own person, and since he actually does make connections everyone else misses without coming off as a deus-ex-machina stand-in, he's forgiven for getting a little Sherlock-y every now and then.

3.5 because the 3-book series is entertaining.

[Celia Manansala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atticus on the spectrum

So that’s why he’s taking Ritalin and cannot abide incompetence!

Very interesting character who is so intrepid and wouldn’t let go his suspicions until he’s proven right to the consternation of Mack Jones. Hahaha!

[Miss Amanda K Hender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down.

Fast paced and exciting with some unseen twists to the plot. Doesn't do the police any favours as a P I doesn't have to follow the same rules, very enjoyable though.

[catherine ann green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder City

I rate it 5 because it was really excellent read. The story line drew you in . But I am disappointed that I have to wait for the finale.

[Jan Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reads

A very different set of stories. Each well told, and very readable!
Atticus Priest a very likeable character, despite his idiosyncrasies...

[shirley sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

[MRS J · Rating 5 out of 5]

couldn’t put it down

The tension never slows and having to put these books down to live life is so irritating… can’t wait for the next