Darkness Visible

Lambert and Hook #22

by J.M. Gregson

When Darren Chivers, a small-time drug dealer, narrowly escapes a drug arrest, he begins to develop a different sort of criminal activity. Blackmail proves lucartive, but ultimately dangerous. When Chivers is murdered, Chief Superintendent Lambert, DS Hook and the rest of the team uncover a variety of suspects in the murky world where Chivers operated. As the dead man's contacts are interviewed, it emerges that a verger in Gloucester cathedral, a senior telecoms executive, an upmarket clothes boutique owner, an ex-policeman and even a vicar's wife all had reasons to want the blackmailer out of their lives. Secrets tumble out as the investigation progresses. The solution to the puzzle is as startling as it is shocking...

Genres: Mystery

7 pages, Audio CD

First published November 1, 2009

About the author

James Michael Gregson taught for twenty-seven years in schools, colleges and universities before concentrating on full-time writing. He has written books on subjects as diverse as golf and Shakespeare.

Reviews

[Damaskcat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darren Chivers narrowly escapes arrest in a police drugs raid on a pub. He decides it would be better not to deal at the moment while the police are watching him and he turns to his sideline to make him enough money to live on. Blackmail may be lucrative but it can also be more dangerous than drug dealing and Darren soon winds up dead.

Lambert and hook have to pick their way through Darren's shady life to try and find the most likely suspect amongst his victims. The book focusses as much on Darren's life and that of his victims as it does on Lambert and Hook's investigation and I like the way the author creates the characters in short scenes which make them come alive.

I felt for the blackmail victims and I had considerably less sympathy for Darren himself because he is a thoroughly unpleasant character and quite frankly deserved what he got. This is an interesting read and I completely failed to pick out the murderer from the various suspects. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel as can all the others in the series.

[Reggie Billingsworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gregson's chosen title competes with a good number of other works similarly entitled which either demonstrates both the mere popularity of the allusion and/or an enjoyable juxtaposition. A reassessment of the title in the light of the plot's outcome however, it proves to be a particularly apt choice.

More through my own fault, I am not familiar with Gregson's work and found this one truly not difficult to grasp however the suggested history of the standard characters was hinted at. His relentless drive to the denouement was steady and some might even say at a slow pace. That sort of reader might find this a serious enough criticism in this age of jolts-per-second thriller prose, but I do not.

Admittedly I found myself a tad impatient initially with what seemed like a dirge-like tempo, and felt at times the number of suspects a little overwhelming but then decided to just relax and let the author's obvious expertise, deft style and character insights take me along so that I was more than satisfied with the finale.

Satisfied enough that I will definitely return to this clearly reliable and capable author and explore the other titles in his backlist.

[Steven Wilkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read by this author. It won't be the last. It had a feel of the Unforgotten tv plots. 4-5 suspects and cycles the plot forward by rotating through them. Also a hint of Michael Connelly in the relentlessly logical progression of the investigation.
Additional interest in the Gloucester setting. All in all, a book which held my interest from the start, did not waste my time with outlandish plot twists and unlikely heroics, and developed characters very well for a 200- page book.

[Lise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have found a new author. Just in time, since many of the authors I read are dying or letting me down (Could my tastes be changing?)

This is number 12 in the series featuring Chief Superintendent Lambert and Detective Sargent Hook and the whole team from the Gloucester (UK) Police Department. The setting is very clearly defined, especially the 13th century Cathedral.

The story moves at a much slower pace than modern American mysteries, developing characters who turn into suspects once is a crime committed, finally about 100 pages in. Working from a list found in the dead drug dealer's pocket, our heroes need to find a murderer.

All in all, this is a very satisfactory read which seems like it is set more in the pre-World War time. There is no troubling local slang and the locale is easily checked in Google. Although Gloucester is a small town by our standards (about 125,000) the surrounding locale which is used extensively in the story, adds another 10-12,000.

Library Journal and Booklist give laudatory reviews.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darren Chivers is a small time drug dealer, but that's a dangerous business. Maybe finding out information about people and then asking them for money might be more profitable. But among the people we meet--each with a secret--is one who isn't going to be receptive to Darren's approach. The police have an eye on Darren, too, but maybe they are not watching him closely enough.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mistakenly listened to this as I was supposed to read another "Darkness Visible" for a class. I think this is the first murder mystery I've read since the Boxcar Children and The Westing Game in elementary school. It was engaging enough to make me consider listening to more in this genre in the future. Narration by Jonathan Keeble was excellent.

[Violet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading all of this author's books that are in our local library. There is a murder in each one and all of the suspects are described with such intensity into their backgrounds that it is hard to determine the culprit. As usual, the one that really got my sympathy is the one that did it. However, the ending does have a redeeming twist to it this time. A great read.

[SusanE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but not his best in my opinion.

[LaDawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely superb insight to the illnes of depression. Made me cry the whole time.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant read.

Better than the others in this series I've read so far. Some truly interesting characters in this one.