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DI Joe Faraday #4
Deadlight
Newly appointed to the Major Crimes Team, DI Joe Faraday investigates the brutal murder of a local prison officer, Sean Coughlin—and begins to build a disturbing picture of the dead man’s life. With few friends and many enemies, Coughlin appears to have been a murder waiting to happen. Was the killer a recently released prisoner with a homicidal grudge? Or do the clues lead to Coughlin’s past? Deadlight forces Joe Faraday to step outside the investigative process and explore a wider violence—not just the darkness cast by an evil man, but the ever-deepening shadows of a half-forgotten war.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 17, 2003
21 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Graham Hurley
71 books152 followersGraham Hurley was born November, 1946 in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex. His seaside childhood was punctuated by football, swimming, afternoons on the dodgems, run-ins with the police, multiple raids on the local library - plus near-total immersion in English post-war movies.
Directed and produced documentaries for ITV through two decades, winning a number of national and international awards. Launched a writing career on the back of a six-part drama commission for ITV: "Rules of Engagement". Left TV and became full time writer in 1991.
Authored nine stand-alone thrillers plus "Airshow", a fly-on-the-wall novel-length piece of reportage, before accepting Orion invitation to become a crime writer. Drew gleefully on home-town Portsmouth (“Pompey”) as the basis for an on-going series featuring D/I Joe Faraday and D/C Paul Winter.
Contributed five years of personal columns to the Portsmouth News, penned a number of plays and dramatic monologues for local production (including the city’s millenium celebration, "Willoughby and Son"), then decamped to Devon for a more considered take on Pompey low-life.
The Faraday series came to an end after 12 books. Healthy sales at home and abroad, plus mega-successful French TV adaptations, tempted Orion to commission a spin-off series, set in the West Country, featuring D/S Jimmy Suttle.
Launch title - "Western Approaches" - published 2012. "Touching Distance" to hit the bookstores next month (21st November).
Has recently self-published a number of titles on Kindle including "Strictly No Flowers" (a dark take on crime fiction), "Estuary" (a deeply personal memoir) and "Backstory" (how and why he came to write the Faraday series).
Married to the delectable Lin. Three grown-up sons (Tom, Jack and Woody). Plus corking grandson Dylan.
You're very welcome to contact Graham through his website: www.grahamhurley.co.uk
Or direct on seasidepictures@btinternet.com.
Series:
* D.I. Joe Faraday
Directed and produced documentaries for ITV through two decades, winning a number of national and international awards. Launched a writing career on the back of a six-part drama commission for ITV: "Rules of Engagement". Left TV and became full time writer in 1991.
Authored nine stand-alone thrillers plus "Airshow", a fly-on-the-wall novel-length piece of reportage, before accepting Orion invitation to become a crime writer. Drew gleefully on home-town Portsmouth (“Pompey”) as the basis for an on-going series featuring D/I Joe Faraday and D/C Paul Winter.
Contributed five years of personal columns to the Portsmouth News, penned a number of plays and dramatic monologues for local production (including the city’s millenium celebration, "Willoughby and Son"), then decamped to Devon for a more considered take on Pompey low-life.
The Faraday series came to an end after 12 books. Healthy sales at home and abroad, plus mega-successful French TV adaptations, tempted Orion to commission a spin-off series, set in the West Country, featuring D/S Jimmy Suttle.
Launch title - "Western Approaches" - published 2012. "Touching Distance" to hit the bookstores next month (21st November).
Has recently self-published a number of titles on Kindle including "Strictly No Flowers" (a dark take on crime fiction), "Estuary" (a deeply personal memoir) and "Backstory" (how and why he came to write the Faraday series).
Married to the delectable Lin. Three grown-up sons (Tom, Jack and Woody). Plus corking grandson Dylan.
You're very welcome to contact Graham through his website: www.grahamhurley.co.uk
Or direct on seasidepictures@btinternet.com.
Series:
* D.I. Joe Faraday
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 1, 2019
I enjoyed this book for the most part. The solving of the murder was really interesting. But for me there was a bit too much information on the Falklands War and how battleships operated. I think it took away from the actual story. But other than that, a really good mystery.
January 6, 2019
A good easy read but lacked a gripping storyline for me personally.
February 13, 2019
Excellent thriller. Will keep one in a tight coil of investigatory steps and twists within a drama flawed police team. Just what a detective novel should be.
May 20, 2022
Lots going on. Intricate. Lots of plots. Long chapters
February 7, 2023
4.5. But worth rounding up.
October 8, 2025
Intriguing
Backdrop of the Falklands war brings this series of stories to life.
That blend of recent history coupled with detailed police work, makes it a fascinating read
Backdrop of the Falklands war brings this series of stories to life.
That blend of recent history coupled with detailed police work, makes it a fascinating read
November 27, 2009
DI Joe Faraday is now working Major Crimes, an important new assignment for a boss he respects, where he wants to do well. He is faced with investigating the brutal murder of a prison guard, Sean Coughlin. The problem is, as the investigation reveals, Coughlin was a terrible person who had gone through his life bullying and brutalizing people and making any number of enemies who would be glad to see him dead. So which one, or ones, acted on that impetus is the question.
There is a subplot here as there always is in these books. Actually, two subplots. One involves DC Paul Winter and the continual reckless abandon and disregard for rules that he displays in doing his job. The only thing that saves him from summary dismissal is the inconvenient fact that he actually gets results. This time he is dead set on bringing in the "little scrote" who was responsible for killing one of Winter's informants.
The other subplot also involves Winter. His partner Dawn Ellis has made a seriously bad decision in regard to male companionship. She has taken on a recent transfer from the Met named Corbett who turns out to have some very kinky practices for which Dawn is made to suffer. Winter sets out to right things for her. The way his does it - which benefits both him and Ellis - makes for an interesting read.
Hurley is a good writer and he has mastered the telling of the police procedural. He maintains interest by telling his story from the different perspectives of his different characters. In the end, it all adds up to a satisfying conclusion.
This is well-written and believable series. I look forward to reading more of it.
There is a subplot here as there always is in these books. Actually, two subplots. One involves DC Paul Winter and the continual reckless abandon and disregard for rules that he displays in doing his job. The only thing that saves him from summary dismissal is the inconvenient fact that he actually gets results. This time he is dead set on bringing in the "little scrote" who was responsible for killing one of Winter's informants.
The other subplot also involves Winter. His partner Dawn Ellis has made a seriously bad decision in regard to male companionship. She has taken on a recent transfer from the Met named Corbett who turns out to have some very kinky practices for which Dawn is made to suffer. Winter sets out to right things for her. The way his does it - which benefits both him and Ellis - makes for an interesting read.
Hurley is a good writer and he has mastered the telling of the police procedural. He maintains interest by telling his story from the different perspectives of his different characters. In the end, it all adds up to a satisfying conclusion.
This is well-written and believable series. I look forward to reading more of it.
September 6, 2014
This is one of my favorite British police procedural series. Faraday is a determined investigator who demands truth and justice. As a widower, he hasn't had an easy time of raising his deaf son by himself, but he's done a good job-- even though both his job and his son have had him hiking out to commune with the birds he loves so much. (Some detectives hit the bottle, others listen to jazz or opera, Faraday goes bird watching.) Joe's son is pretty much independent at this stage and even helps during the investigation. I've enjoyed watching him grow up during this series.
The case is an absolute beast of a maze. Coughlin went out of his way to be hated, and his decades of practice stood him in good stead. Faraday has his hands full weeding through all the suspects, and his efforts at piecing together the dead man's history are hampered by a brick wall called the Royal Navy. I found the entire plot thread of the Falklands war to be very interesting, and Hurley uses it to give readers a slight advantage that Faraday does not have. (It doesn't mean that we get to the resolution any quicker however.)
As usual, the Portsmouth setting is superb from its wildlife habitats to the mean city streets. Hurley seems to be a writer that's not all that well known outside of the UK. It's a pity because his books are excellent, but that lack of "world renown" also makes me feel as though I'm getting an insider's look at his patch of England. His books aren't polished up or toned down for international audiences. It's an insider's look that I appreciate and keep coming back to for more.
The case is an absolute beast of a maze. Coughlin went out of his way to be hated, and his decades of practice stood him in good stead. Faraday has his hands full weeding through all the suspects, and his efforts at piecing together the dead man's history are hampered by a brick wall called the Royal Navy. I found the entire plot thread of the Falklands war to be very interesting, and Hurley uses it to give readers a slight advantage that Faraday does not have. (It doesn't mean that we get to the resolution any quicker however.)
As usual, the Portsmouth setting is superb from its wildlife habitats to the mean city streets. Hurley seems to be a writer that's not all that well known outside of the UK. It's a pity because his books are excellent, but that lack of "world renown" also makes me feel as though I'm getting an insider's look at his patch of England. His books aren't polished up or toned down for international audiences. It's an insider's look that I appreciate and keep coming back to for more.
January 22, 2015
Another good read in the mystery series featuring Joe Faraday, recently transferred to the Major Crimes unit in Portsmouth. Surrounded by interesting supporting characters, this book deals with a murder that has its roots in the Falklands war, where the murdered man served aboard a ship that was sunk in the conflict with nineteen men lost. As Faraday and his team begin ruling out suspects with more recent involvement with the victim, they find a bit of an obstruction when it comes to getting cooperation with the Royal Navy.
Looking forward to the next in this series--there's always a good mix of police procedure and personal character development & storyline which makes them interesting.
Looking forward to the next in this series--there's always a good mix of police procedure and personal character development & storyline which makes them interesting.
September 1, 2014
The Portsmouth detective in this series is a well developed character with a deaf son. This book was not as enjoyable as the earlier ones. Just merely OK. The plot was not as interesting, about the murder of a man who was not the victim in an opening sequence set in the Falklands War. It took too long to close the circle
May 2, 2011
Another interesting story from Graham Hurley although Faraday is somewhat lugubrious, Winter is a much more compelling character. I can't wait to find out what has happened to Winter's career in the next instalment!
April 26, 2013
Actually I really like this - nearly made 4 stars. Bit of a soap opera now after reading several of the books but I do care about Winter and Dawn - still enjoy the deaf angle, still find the bird watching a bit of a cringe.
June 18, 2014
Very good series with strong characters and interesting plots. In this one a prison guard, universally disliked, is found beaten to death in his home. Suspicion initially falls on a recently released prisoner, but the answer reaches back to the Falklands war.
January 3, 2016
Graham Hurley is masterful in his ability to scatter police procedural information, local knowledge and the ornithological around the creation of Faraday and his surrounding detectives. His books rarely fail to entertain.
January 11, 2008
Another great installment from the Joe Faraday series. Hurley consistently creates a character-driven novel in this British police series; check out the rest!
August 15, 2009
A terrific, if somewhat gloomy, series.
January 10, 2010
DI Faraday has transferred to Major Crimes - story involves ex-servicemen, flash backs to the Falklands War, friendship, and payback.
October 12, 2012
Bleak, but rewarding.
February 12, 2013
Excellent book
September 28, 2015
3.5/5 stars.
December 16, 2015
3.5 stars. Generally ok although it drags more than a bit. While the main case is resolved at the end there are a number of other issues that aren't.
January 28, 2016
quite interesting, especially the psychological effects of the sinking of the Sheffield and other ships during the Falklands War. Very thorough in police procedures and stuff. Fluid style, too.
June 25, 2016
Again set in Portsmouth, but again too hard bitten
December 28, 2010
A very well constructed story and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews