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D.C.I. Claire Winters #1
For All Our Sins (DCI Claire Winters, Book 1) by T.M.E. Walsh
ars ago there was a silent witness to an act of evil. Now, a twisted killer is on the loose fuelled by revenge.Called to the brutal murder of a priest, it is immediately clear to DCI Claire Winters that the victims death was prolonged, agonising…and motivated by a lust for revenge.The killer has been clever, there are no clues, no leads. But Claire Winters has never let a killer remain on the streets. Looking for an answer at any cost Claire begins to get closer to the victim’s family, but what it reveals turns her murder case into something far more sinister…When one body becomes two, and then three, Claire finds herself in a race against time to connect the dots between a host of devastating secrets, before the killer strikes again.
Paperback
First published February 1, 2011
179 people are currently reading
368 people want to read
About the author
T.M.E. Walsh
6 books64 followersTania (T. M. E.) Walsh began writing full time after becoming a casualty to the recession in late 2008.
She successfully self-published the first two novels in the DCI Claire Winters series before being picked up by HQ - a division of HarperCollins - in 2015.
Tania is currently working on a new standalone thriller, and a fourth book in the DCI Claire Winters series.
In 2011 Tania was the winner of the Wannabe a Writer Blurb competition sponsored by Writing Magazine and judged by Matt Bates, the Fiction buyer for WHSmith Travel.
Tania has previously produced digital artwork that was published on a DVD-ROM for ImagineFX magazine's FXPosé section twice in the early and latter part of 2007, which has been published worldwide.
Tania lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and young daughter.
She successfully self-published the first two novels in the DCI Claire Winters series before being picked up by HQ - a division of HarperCollins - in 2015.
Tania is currently working on a new standalone thriller, and a fourth book in the DCI Claire Winters series.
In 2011 Tania was the winner of the Wannabe a Writer Blurb competition sponsored by Writing Magazine and judged by Matt Bates, the Fiction buyer for WHSmith Travel.
Tania has previously produced digital artwork that was published on a DVD-ROM for ImagineFX magazine's FXPosé section twice in the early and latter part of 2007, which has been published worldwide.
Tania lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and young daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
October 29, 2016
What a fantastic kick-off to a great new crime series featuring a strong and likeable female protaganist known as DCI Claire Winters. I am really eager for book two in this series and not all first books inspire me in the same way and you know I read a lot of crime and love it.
DCI Claire Winters has her work cut out for her after finding a priest murdered and realising that this was no quick death, that the killer had chosen to prolong death with long and agonising torture. What on earth was she up against? The killer and Claire play a game of cat and mouse. The bodies are piling up and the more she digs into the case the more secrets get thrown up!
The plot is great, characters are interesting and there is really nothing not to like. I was happily coming back to the book to read more, eager to find out what the grand finale was going to be. Overall this is a great new series that really impressed. 4.0-4.5 stars from me for this one. I already have book two read to read.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy to read and review via NetGalley.
For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, and author Q&A events come to: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
DCI Claire Winters has her work cut out for her after finding a priest murdered and realising that this was no quick death, that the killer had chosen to prolong death with long and agonising torture. What on earth was she up against? The killer and Claire play a game of cat and mouse. The bodies are piling up and the more she digs into the case the more secrets get thrown up!
The plot is great, characters are interesting and there is really nothing not to like. I was happily coming back to the book to read more, eager to find out what the grand finale was going to be. Overall this is a great new series that really impressed. 4.0-4.5 stars from me for this one. I already have book two read to read.
Thanks so much to the publisher for my copy to read and review via NetGalley.
For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, and author Q&A events come to: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
September 27, 2015
DCI Claire Winters is called upon to investigate the horrendous murder of a priest. With a rosary buried in his throat and his chest cut open, it's clearly someone with a lot of rage. But is the rage directed at the priest .. or at the church?
The reader learns early on the WHO .. the WHY is explained via flashbacks.
As other bodies are discovered, obviously killed by the same person, and the closer Claire gets to the truth, she finds herself straight in the line of danger. It's a race to connect the dots to reach the inevitable conclusion.
Being as this is the first of a series, I find myself really looking forward to the other books that follow ... THE PRINCIPLE OF EVIL and SKIN DEEP.
Claire is the kind of character I truly enjoy ... she's been strong enough and smart enough to work up to leading her own team of detectives. She's got a prickly outer shell, but yet on the inside, she's as soft as any woman. She comes with baggage ... a detective who works under her is an ex-lover ... but feelings on both sides still exist. She also has an aging father with whom she has a love/hate relationship.
The plot is tightly woven and knowing who the antagonist is early on does not detract from the story. It's the backstory that holds your attention.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and CARINA UK Publishers who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
4.5 Stars
The reader learns early on the WHO .. the WHY is explained via flashbacks.
As other bodies are discovered, obviously killed by the same person, and the closer Claire gets to the truth, she finds herself straight in the line of danger. It's a race to connect the dots to reach the inevitable conclusion.
Being as this is the first of a series, I find myself really looking forward to the other books that follow ... THE PRINCIPLE OF EVIL and SKIN DEEP.
Claire is the kind of character I truly enjoy ... she's been strong enough and smart enough to work up to leading her own team of detectives. She's got a prickly outer shell, but yet on the inside, she's as soft as any woman. She comes with baggage ... a detective who works under her is an ex-lover ... but feelings on both sides still exist. She also has an aging father with whom she has a love/hate relationship.
The plot is tightly woven and knowing who the antagonist is early on does not detract from the story. It's the backstory that holds your attention.
My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and CARINA UK Publishers who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.
4.5 Stars
February 2, 2025
“For All Our Sins”, (DCI Claire Winters Crime Series 1), by T.M.E. Walsh
TW: child abuse; gory
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my second book by this author (after “Pretty Little Things”, which I read last December).
Once again I thought that the writing was excellent and the storyline was interesting. I even learned did a new expression: “ripping the piss”.
The development was very gory, with bodies piling up, and there were some heartbreaking scenes. The timeline structure was well placed and clear.
I thought the characters were strong and their personal dramas very believable, especially the unprofessional relationship between Claire and Michael, which in my opinion gave Claire a very human quality, as she is not very likeable when we first meet her.
The pacing was up and down, but it was able to hold my interest.
There was just this little thing that took me a bit understand: the author started calling one character as “The Guardian” and even tried to hide the gender as referring to The Guardian as “they”. But we know from the beginning who that is. But later the “they” was explained (and I thought it was the author’s lapse of memory).
Up to 77% I rated it 4 stars, but there are a couple of twists that did not impress me.
Also, I don’t appreciate when a character’s personality changes completely and no clues were given.
Regardless, this was an interesting story around revenge and religious characters, but not that suspenseful or flawless. However I’m looking forward to reading the second book.
e-book (Kobo): 431 pages (default), 117k words, 97 chapters (!!)
TW: child abuse; gory
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was my second book by this author (after “Pretty Little Things”, which I read last December).
Once again I thought that the writing was excellent and the storyline was interesting. I even learned did a new expression: “ripping the piss”.
The development was very gory, with bodies piling up, and there were some heartbreaking scenes. The timeline structure was well placed and clear.
I thought the characters were strong and their personal dramas very believable, especially the unprofessional relationship between Claire and Michael, which in my opinion gave Claire a very human quality, as she is not very likeable when we first meet her.
The pacing was up and down, but it was able to hold my interest.
There was just this little thing that took me a bit understand: the author started calling one character as “The Guardian” and even tried to hide the gender as referring to The Guardian as “they”. But we know from the beginning who that is. But later the “they” was explained (and I thought it was the author’s lapse of memory).
Up to 77% I rated it 4 stars, but there are a couple of twists that did not impress me.
Also, I don’t appreciate when a character’s personality changes completely and no clues were given.
Regardless, this was an interesting story around revenge and religious characters, but not that suspenseful or flawless. However I’m looking forward to reading the second book.
e-book (Kobo): 431 pages (default), 117k words, 97 chapters (!!)
May 4, 2016
Having been asked to help moderate a group may entail shortening one’s DNF list, if only to avoid letting down the members of the group who voted the book in as a group read. Like Jane Casey’s The Burning, this was one of those stories where I found the principal villain much more attractive than the detective. In the case of For All Our Sins, tho’, it was unnecessary to finish to gain the artistic, spiritual & moral benefits it offered. Unfortunately, most of these bennies were examples of what not to do.
Some caveats: Don’t introduce a character & then pretend that the narrators not only doesn’t know said character’s name, but keep referring to said character as ‘they’ to avoid indicating whether ‘they’ are (is?) a man or a woman - especially when the character is obviously acting alone. The reader will not only feel annoyed, but linguistically @ a loss. In this story T. M. E. Walsh is following the recent practice of having two villains, a (very attractive) villain known from the start, & a hidden bad-hat to be revealed later. In this case, both the sex & the identity of villain no. 2 are very easy to spot & revealed long before the end, but not before the reader feels treated like an illiterate & a toady.
In the case of the principal detective, Claire, we also learn that if you are the SIO it is not a good idea of have had an affair with a junior colleague, especially if it’s someone you didn’t even like (for good reasons). Creates bad morale on the team (including punch-ups). Add divorced parents who hate each other - esp. a non-compliant & querulous dad who is going to find out @ a care home either to become the most cheerful & compliant patient he can be or how debility & dependence can be absolute hell & a mum who ought to remember that it was she who chose to marry him. Of course Claire could reflect as well that she owes her existence to them. In favour of the villains we can say that all their victims deserve killing, tho’ to have not just one but three paedophile abusive priests as victims seemed a trifle OTT. (For good measure, couple of thugs, a nasty rental agent, & a vicious dog also get what they deserve.)
In short, this story is thoroughly unpleasant & tho’ cheap to buy, the time spent reading it can never be recovered. If you’ve read Erin Kelly or Angela Marsons, you’ve done a lot better. If like me, you are an aspiring fiction writer, you will also be encouraged to persist with your efforts. You can probably write @ least as good a story as this.
Some caveats: Don’t introduce a character & then pretend that the narrators not only doesn’t know said character’s name, but keep referring to said character as ‘they’ to avoid indicating whether ‘they’ are (is?) a man or a woman - especially when the character is obviously acting alone. The reader will not only feel annoyed, but linguistically @ a loss. In this story T. M. E. Walsh is following the recent practice of having two villains, a (very attractive) villain known from the start, & a hidden bad-hat to be revealed later. In this case, both the sex & the identity of villain no. 2 are very easy to spot & revealed long before the end, but not before the reader feels treated like an illiterate & a toady.
In the case of the principal detective, Claire, we also learn that if you are the SIO it is not a good idea of have had an affair with a junior colleague, especially if it’s someone you didn’t even like (for good reasons). Creates bad morale on the team (including punch-ups). Add divorced parents who hate each other - esp. a non-compliant & querulous dad who is going to find out @ a care home either to become the most cheerful & compliant patient he can be or how debility & dependence can be absolute hell & a mum who ought to remember that it was she who chose to marry him. Of course Claire could reflect as well that she owes her existence to them. In favour of the villains we can say that all their victims deserve killing, tho’ to have not just one but three paedophile abusive priests as victims seemed a trifle OTT. (For good measure, couple of thugs, a nasty rental agent, & a vicious dog also get what they deserve.)
In short, this story is thoroughly unpleasant & tho’ cheap to buy, the time spent reading it can never be recovered. If you’ve read Erin Kelly or Angela Marsons, you’ve done a lot better. If like me, you are an aspiring fiction writer, you will also be encouraged to persist with your efforts. You can probably write @ least as good a story as this.
September 15, 2016
Called to the brutal murder of a priest, it is immediately clear to DCI Claire Winters that the victim’s death was prolonged, agonising…and motivated by a lust for revenge.
The killer has been clever, there are no clues, no leads. But Claire Winters has never let a killer remain on the streets. Looking for an answer at any cost Claire begins to get closer to the victim’s family, but what it reveals turns her murder case into something far more sinister…
When one body becomes two, and then three, Claire finds herself in a race against time to connect the dots between a host of devastating secrets, before the killer strikes again.
WOW!! This book had me completely gripped after the first chapter. An exceptional piece of crime fiction and police procedural writing.
The plot, dialogue and the whole essence of the storyline, keeps you tingling with anticipation until the final pages. Very, very gruesome in parts, but all very in context with the whole dimension of the story.
Just a brilliant and shocking read - I can't recommend it enough!
5*
The killer has been clever, there are no clues, no leads. But Claire Winters has never let a killer remain on the streets. Looking for an answer at any cost Claire begins to get closer to the victim’s family, but what it reveals turns her murder case into something far more sinister…
When one body becomes two, and then three, Claire finds herself in a race against time to connect the dots between a host of devastating secrets, before the killer strikes again.
WOW!! This book had me completely gripped after the first chapter. An exceptional piece of crime fiction and police procedural writing.
The plot, dialogue and the whole essence of the storyline, keeps you tingling with anticipation until the final pages. Very, very gruesome in parts, but all very in context with the whole dimension of the story.
Just a brilliant and shocking read - I can't recommend it enough!
5*
September 30, 2015
This is the first book in a British crime series which introduces DCI Claire Winters who is investigating the rather gruesome murder of a priest, which is only the first of a number of grisly deaths that are occurring. Claire is an interesting character who is dealing with some relationship issues.
It is clear from fairly early on who is behind the murders, but the reasons behind them are slowly revealed through flashbacks. It wasn't so much the police procedural part of the story, but the background and history of all the characters involved and the relationships between them that were holding my attention. There is a really unexpected (well, to me it was) twist towards the end, which was great. Overall, this was a nicely paced, well written and suspenseful book. I'm certainly looking forward to reading The Principle of Evil, the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
It is clear from fairly early on who is behind the murders, but the reasons behind them are slowly revealed through flashbacks. It wasn't so much the police procedural part of the story, but the background and history of all the characters involved and the relationships between them that were holding my attention. There is a really unexpected (well, to me it was) twist towards the end, which was great. Overall, this was a nicely paced, well written and suspenseful book. I'm certainly looking forward to reading The Principle of Evil, the next book in the series.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
May 25, 2019
I had to abandon ship at about 50%, after a fourth blood-thirsty attack. As I remarked before, this novel contains unnecessarily explicit violence, which just got worse. Am I lily-livered? I don't think so, but this was just too gory for my taste.
I fail to understand why the author found it necessary - none of the hundreds of crime novels I have enjoyed reading up till now needed such gruesome brutality to be entertaining.
The main protagonist, DCI Claire Winters, never gained my sympathy, and lacked a sense of humour which would make up for some of her annoying traits. Very disappointing. But I'd be interested to hear what my GoodRead friends think...
I fail to understand why the author found it necessary - none of the hundreds of crime novels I have enjoyed reading up till now needed such gruesome brutality to be entertaining.
The main protagonist, DCI Claire Winters, never gained my sympathy, and lacked a sense of humour which would make up for some of her annoying traits. Very disappointing. But I'd be interested to hear what my GoodRead friends think...
November 7, 2016
This book opens with the horrific murder of a priest who is then left discarded in the church. Enter DCI Claire Winters who is juggling a somewhat unruly team, not helped by the fact she has mixed business with pleasure with her junior Sergeant Michael Diego.
I’ll be honest, it took me a little while to get into the swing of this book. I’m not a fan of explicit violence and Father Wainwright’s murder which occurred early on, didn’t help. As is the norm with police procedurals there was a whole cast of characters with the police eagerly questioning those who were known to see the priest on his last day. The man identified as being the last to meet the priest was one of his close friends, Mark Jenkins who was also involved in Shrovesbury Manor, a retreat for spiritual enlightenment, where Father Wainwright worked as well as being a regular at his church.
Alongside the police procedural we had flashbacks from the murderer as well as the mysterious Guardian whose identity is shrouded in mystery. The change in viewpoints can be quite brief which can be a little disconcerting, especially early on in the novel. With the team of detectives on the case being well-represented, with banter and egos cropping up in equal measure adding another layer of credibility to the novel. I liked Claire Winters who was strong without ever becoming overbearing and I felt a far more realistic portrayal of a woman in her role than other books in this genre. With the glimpses of her personal life leaking into her time at work was a great, and realistic way of giving the detective character without making the book more about her than the murders.
Despite putting the hours into the investigation it isn’t too long before another murder is committed! This time the victim is as far removed from a priest as is possible and the police struggle to find any commonality, except method, to link the two. As the police pick away at the few clues they have, they are left probing at half-truths and outright lies, with a few manipulative tears thrown in for good measure. With some of those they want to question are not willing to oblige, I felt we got a realistic view of a typical murder enquiry and the author handled this aspect really well, I felt involved rather than bored by the investigation because I was busy putting the same clues together, albeit with a bit of extra information.
Often when the identity of the murderer is half-revealed at the start, as in this novel, it is hard to keep the mystery element alive and kicking. After all we know the motive for the murders early on and we also know who is next on the hit-list but despite the author making life unnecessarily hard for herself, there was plenty still to discover and by the time I was a third of the way through I was busily turning the pages at a rate of knots to find out the missing parts of the puzzle. And I can reveal the ending… was terrific!
I’d like to thank Carina who sent me a copy of For All Our Sins which was published in paperback format on 6 October 2016.
I’ll be honest, it took me a little while to get into the swing of this book. I’m not a fan of explicit violence and Father Wainwright’s murder which occurred early on, didn’t help. As is the norm with police procedurals there was a whole cast of characters with the police eagerly questioning those who were known to see the priest on his last day. The man identified as being the last to meet the priest was one of his close friends, Mark Jenkins who was also involved in Shrovesbury Manor, a retreat for spiritual enlightenment, where Father Wainwright worked as well as being a regular at his church.
Alongside the police procedural we had flashbacks from the murderer as well as the mysterious Guardian whose identity is shrouded in mystery. The change in viewpoints can be quite brief which can be a little disconcerting, especially early on in the novel. With the team of detectives on the case being well-represented, with banter and egos cropping up in equal measure adding another layer of credibility to the novel. I liked Claire Winters who was strong without ever becoming overbearing and I felt a far more realistic portrayal of a woman in her role than other books in this genre. With the glimpses of her personal life leaking into her time at work was a great, and realistic way of giving the detective character without making the book more about her than the murders.
Despite putting the hours into the investigation it isn’t too long before another murder is committed! This time the victim is as far removed from a priest as is possible and the police struggle to find any commonality, except method, to link the two. As the police pick away at the few clues they have, they are left probing at half-truths and outright lies, with a few manipulative tears thrown in for good measure. With some of those they want to question are not willing to oblige, I felt we got a realistic view of a typical murder enquiry and the author handled this aspect really well, I felt involved rather than bored by the investigation because I was busy putting the same clues together, albeit with a bit of extra information.
Often when the identity of the murderer is half-revealed at the start, as in this novel, it is hard to keep the mystery element alive and kicking. After all we know the motive for the murders early on and we also know who is next on the hit-list but despite the author making life unnecessarily hard for herself, there was plenty still to discover and by the time I was a third of the way through I was busily turning the pages at a rate of knots to find out the missing parts of the puzzle. And I can reveal the ending… was terrific!
I’d like to thank Carina who sent me a copy of For All Our Sins which was published in paperback format on 6 October 2016.
June 8, 2018
A very violent series of murders - I hesitate to call it a police procedural as credible procedure seemed to be missing. Allied with poor character development, this book was a real disappointment, partially redeemed by a fast-paced end phase from 80% onwards. Not decided yet whether to read the second in this series
April 4, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley for this advance copy in exchange for an open and honest review. DCI Claire Winters and Sgt Michael Diego are called to the murder of Father Wainwright. He was found murdered in his own church, suffocated on a chain of rosery beads and then slashed from his throat to his abdomen.
The last person who saw Father Wainwright alive was good friend Mark Jenkins who attended his church. Father Wainwright worked at a home called Shrovesbury Manor, a retreat for spiritual enlightenment. Jenkins daughter Chloe and foster children Amelia and Stevie attended The Manor along with children from the church. The Manor was destroyed by fire some years ago and had to be rebuilt.
When Winters and Diego speak to Chloe she explains that she, Amelia and Michael were physically abused by the priests there. Amelia in particular was singled out for the worst of the abuse. She explained that the owner, Father Manuella was a disgusting man and that Father Wainwright spent a lot of time at the manor.
When the body of local drug dealer Ashe Miller is found murdered in his flat. Winters and Diego interview all the residents of the building. They interview a girl in her twenties called Amelia who lives two doors down from Miller. When Winters and Diego question Amelia, Amelia claims she barely knew Miller and kept out of his way. Amelia then started to cry, Winters became suspicious and suspects it is just an act.
When Winters starts investigating she finds out that Amelia is Chloe Jenkins foster sister. Although Winters suspects the murders have been committed by the same person, she cannot find anything to link the victims.
When Hawthorn, an ex priest who also worked at Shrovesbury Manor with Wainwright and Manuella is found murdered in his hotel room. Winters realises that The Manor is the link and that Father Manuella might be next.
After Amelia saw her best friend Rebecca murdered by the priests she decides to take revenge. Amelia is helped by the Guardian, but is the Guardian a man or women?
I really enjoyed this book and I did not guess the identity of the Guardian until I had read 80% of the book. I will definitely read more from T M E Walsh in the future.
The last person who saw Father Wainwright alive was good friend Mark Jenkins who attended his church. Father Wainwright worked at a home called Shrovesbury Manor, a retreat for spiritual enlightenment. Jenkins daughter Chloe and foster children Amelia and Stevie attended The Manor along with children from the church. The Manor was destroyed by fire some years ago and had to be rebuilt.
When Winters and Diego speak to Chloe she explains that she, Amelia and Michael were physically abused by the priests there. Amelia in particular was singled out for the worst of the abuse. She explained that the owner, Father Manuella was a disgusting man and that Father Wainwright spent a lot of time at the manor.
When the body of local drug dealer Ashe Miller is found murdered in his flat. Winters and Diego interview all the residents of the building. They interview a girl in her twenties called Amelia who lives two doors down from Miller. When Winters and Diego question Amelia, Amelia claims she barely knew Miller and kept out of his way. Amelia then started to cry, Winters became suspicious and suspects it is just an act.
When Winters starts investigating she finds out that Amelia is Chloe Jenkins foster sister. Although Winters suspects the murders have been committed by the same person, she cannot find anything to link the victims.
When Hawthorn, an ex priest who also worked at Shrovesbury Manor with Wainwright and Manuella is found murdered in his hotel room. Winters realises that The Manor is the link and that Father Manuella might be next.
After Amelia saw her best friend Rebecca murdered by the priests she decides to take revenge. Amelia is helped by the Guardian, but is the Guardian a man or women?
I really enjoyed this book and I did not guess the identity of the Guardian until I had read 80% of the book. I will definitely read more from T M E Walsh in the future.
December 13, 2016
A grisly string of murders and lots of twists!
Open your crime thriller with the gruesome murder and mutilation of a priest and you’re onto a winner, as far as I’m concerned. There followed a well-paced, and rather grisly string of murders with plenty of twists to keep me reading until I turned the final page.
The first in Walsh’s series, For All Our Sins follows DCI Winters and her team as they track down this disturbed serial killer. A witness to an appalling crime years earlier, the murderer is on the hunt for revenge, and they’re not alone. With help from ‘The Guardian’, they seem to be able to evade the police and leave no clues or forensics in their crime scenes.
A likeable lead, DCI Winters is a strong woman with a creditable home-life and there’s just enough depth to each of her colleagues to spark interest without distracting from the story. I will be interested to see how the team develops across the series.
The story was strong and well written, although as with most crime thrillers, it’s best to take everything with a pinch of salt. Disbelief suspended, I followed with morbid delight as the murders escalated in violence to their terrible conclusion, willing Winters and her colleagues along all the way.
One of my favourite books of the year and if you enjoy a good (fictional) flogging of the clergy as much as the next man (provided the next man is me) then this is definitely one not to miss.
Anouk
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Open your crime thriller with the gruesome murder and mutilation of a priest and you’re onto a winner, as far as I’m concerned. There followed a well-paced, and rather grisly string of murders with plenty of twists to keep me reading until I turned the final page.
The first in Walsh’s series, For All Our Sins follows DCI Winters and her team as they track down this disturbed serial killer. A witness to an appalling crime years earlier, the murderer is on the hunt for revenge, and they’re not alone. With help from ‘The Guardian’, they seem to be able to evade the police and leave no clues or forensics in their crime scenes.
A likeable lead, DCI Winters is a strong woman with a creditable home-life and there’s just enough depth to each of her colleagues to spark interest without distracting from the story. I will be interested to see how the team develops across the series.
The story was strong and well written, although as with most crime thrillers, it’s best to take everything with a pinch of salt. Disbelief suspended, I followed with morbid delight as the murders escalated in violence to their terrible conclusion, willing Winters and her colleagues along all the way.
One of my favourite books of the year and if you enjoy a good (fictional) flogging of the clergy as much as the next man (provided the next man is me) then this is definitely one not to miss.
Anouk
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
April 24, 2016
3.5 stars rounded to 3
I find it difficult to rate this book.
The idea behind the storyline was good, if not totally believable but that's usually not an issue with thrillers.
I don't mind being taken back and forth between past and present. But most of the incursions in the past were trying to dab into psychological issues which I thought the author was not handling very well. Generally speaking whenever the author was trying to hint at something rather than just telling it all, it was usually poorly done, which ended up making the "plot twist" predictable.
I don't mind multiple POVs either. But sometimes the POV was changing for a few paragraphs only and I felt it was not helping the overall story development.
This aside, the overall pace of the book was good, with mostly short chapters, until the story reached its "peak" and ... everything seemed to slow down. The plot seemed to drag burdened with two many details and (again) poor psychological babble.
So the book was good, the plot idea was good although the rendition sometimes lacked, I liked DCI Claire Winters although I found her quite complex (shrewd detective yet not always acting on her great deductions, tough and yet so weak a woman ...).
I will be reading the next book because of Claire Winters' character, to see what becomes of her.
I find it difficult to rate this book.
The idea behind the storyline was good, if not totally believable but that's usually not an issue with thrillers.
I don't mind being taken back and forth between past and present. But most of the incursions in the past were trying to dab into psychological issues which I thought the author was not handling very well. Generally speaking whenever the author was trying to hint at something rather than just telling it all, it was usually poorly done, which ended up making the "plot twist" predictable.
I don't mind multiple POVs either. But sometimes the POV was changing for a few paragraphs only and I felt it was not helping the overall story development.
This aside, the overall pace of the book was good, with mostly short chapters, until the story reached its "peak" and ... everything seemed to slow down. The plot seemed to drag burdened with two many details and (again) poor psychological babble.
So the book was good, the plot idea was good although the rendition sometimes lacked, I liked DCI Claire Winters although I found her quite complex (shrewd detective yet not always acting on her great deductions, tough and yet so weak a woman ...).
I will be reading the next book because of Claire Winters' character, to see what becomes of her.
September 29, 2016
This book was a riveting read with a strong female lead character in DCI Claire Winters. Winters and her team are tasked with solving the grisly murder of a priest, there is a ritualistic element to the murder. A couple of days later a drug dealer is murdered and displayed with the same mutilations. There doesn't appear to be any connection between the two men.
As Claire interviews the last known person to see the priest alive (before the killer) she feels that something is a bit fishy with him. She goes to see his estranged daughter and the story she tells just confirms her suspicions. Jenkins knows something, but she can't imagine what it might be. Winters continues to track down seemingly unconnected leads and, although she can't see the whole picture, some shape is starting to emerge. Meanwhile, the reader becomes aware (well before the police) that the priest's murder at least is revenge for something that happened years ago.
Added to the mix is an on-going attraction between Winters and her sergeant who had a brief affair a few months ago. Is it distracting her from the case and making her unreasonable? More murders are committed and then a shocking revelation. A shocking end to a most enjoyable book. I'll be keeping and eye out for the next one.
As Claire interviews the last known person to see the priest alive (before the killer) she feels that something is a bit fishy with him. She goes to see his estranged daughter and the story she tells just confirms her suspicions. Jenkins knows something, but she can't imagine what it might be. Winters continues to track down seemingly unconnected leads and, although she can't see the whole picture, some shape is starting to emerge. Meanwhile, the reader becomes aware (well before the police) that the priest's murder at least is revenge for something that happened years ago.
Added to the mix is an on-going attraction between Winters and her sergeant who had a brief affair a few months ago. Is it distracting her from the case and making her unreasonable? More murders are committed and then a shocking revelation. A shocking end to a most enjoyable book. I'll be keeping and eye out for the next one.
January 25, 2016
I was looking forward to For All Our Sins but unfortunately I found it not to my taste. It starts with the murder of a priest and the mutilation of his body and as the bodies pile up DCI Claire Winters and DS Michael Diego investigate.
I'm not sure where to start. It is an extremely choppy read as it switches from one viewpoint to another so just as you think you're settling down and getting a grasp on the narrative it switches again. You also know from the start that the killer is Amelia Williams so you get flashbacks to her past interrupting the flow of the present day investigation. I don't like this kind of novel as I really can't be bothered with the sob stories of abuse and cod psychology behind it all - as a frequent watcher of true crime documentaries it very rarely rings true and certainly doesn't in this novel. Lastly I would say the Claire Winters is an extremely unpleasant character so it is difficult to identify with her or root for her.
I like reading and am well able to suspend my disbelief when engrossed in a novel but I never felt engaged in For All Our Sins so I have to rate it at 2 stars - I didn't like it.
I'm not sure where to start. It is an extremely choppy read as it switches from one viewpoint to another so just as you think you're settling down and getting a grasp on the narrative it switches again. You also know from the start that the killer is Amelia Williams so you get flashbacks to her past interrupting the flow of the present day investigation. I don't like this kind of novel as I really can't be bothered with the sob stories of abuse and cod psychology behind it all - as a frequent watcher of true crime documentaries it very rarely rings true and certainly doesn't in this novel. Lastly I would say the Claire Winters is an extremely unpleasant character so it is difficult to identify with her or root for her.
I like reading and am well able to suspend my disbelief when engrossed in a novel but I never felt engaged in For All Our Sins so I have to rate it at 2 stars - I didn't like it.
October 5, 2015
I was given an ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This book opened with a bang and certainly caught my interest. If you like a book with gruesome murders, a high body count and a clever twist or two well you certainly won't be disappointed. You are made aware of the murderer almost from the beginning but the Guardian remains hidden until the nail biting end, a complete surprise to me but looking back there may have been a clue or two cleverly intertwined into the story. The plot slowly unravels with flashbacks, which eventually show that the victims weren't such innocents themselves. Whether you believe they deserve the punishment metered out to them is up to you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cleverly written with lots of blood and gore and a maniacal murderer to satisfy any hardened serial killer crime thriller reader. I believe this is the first book in a new series and I look forward to reading more from T M E Walsh.
A book I would gladly recommend.
This book opened with a bang and certainly caught my interest. If you like a book with gruesome murders, a high body count and a clever twist or two well you certainly won't be disappointed. You are made aware of the murderer almost from the beginning but the Guardian remains hidden until the nail biting end, a complete surprise to me but looking back there may have been a clue or two cleverly intertwined into the story. The plot slowly unravels with flashbacks, which eventually show that the victims weren't such innocents themselves. Whether you believe they deserve the punishment metered out to them is up to you.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Cleverly written with lots of blood and gore and a maniacal murderer to satisfy any hardened serial killer crime thriller reader. I believe this is the first book in a new series and I look forward to reading more from T M E Walsh.
A book I would gladly recommend.
October 6, 2015
I requested a copy of this book as it was likened to be similar to two other authors that I really like so I was delighted to be able to read a review copy. The characters in the book are strong and the book built up steadily, about three quarters of the way through the author really ramped it up and I couldn't wait to turn the next page - brilliant and what an amazing twist! I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2016
I read this book after reading the 2nd in the series (which I loved) but found this one harder to get into. I liked the characters as they intrigued me, the plot was good as it was pretty gruesome - but I just found it a little drawn out in places - however it was certainly full of twists and intrigue and I'm glad I read the 2nd one first as I may have been put off if I'd read this one first!
Would recommend the author to others
Would recommend the author to others
December 8, 2017
I found this book annoying. DCi Winters was not a sympathetic character. She seems determined to screw up her life. She's angry or upset without giving the reader a clear understanding of why which starts to veer into the "hysterical female" danger zone for me. I have no patience for hysterical female characters. There were other gender issues I had with this book but I don't want to put in spoilers.
June 23, 2016
Really good book
This book ticks all the boxes for me. Good story, serial killer, plenty of blood, loads of intrigue and good strong caricatures. A twist at the end. I would recommend this book
This book ticks all the boxes for me. Good story, serial killer, plenty of blood, loads of intrigue and good strong caricatures. A twist at the end. I would recommend this book
January 28, 2017
Good book
I enjoyed this book but it broke my heart. So much sadness and pain. The author wrote in such a way I cared about the characters even one of the bad ones. The crimes are brutal but so are crimes in real life. I would recommend this book.
I enjoyed this book but it broke my heart. So much sadness and pain. The author wrote in such a way I cared about the characters even one of the bad ones. The crimes are brutal but so are crimes in real life. I would recommend this book.
June 26, 2017
This took me quite a while to get into it (about halfway) but after that I quite liked it.
June 18, 2016
Excellent
Kept me interested all the way through. Especially toward the end with the twist. Would definitely recommend this book. Great read
Kept me interested all the way through. Especially toward the end with the twist. Would definitely recommend this book. Great read
April 1, 2019
I'm on chapter nineteen of this train-wreck, almost one third through… and I just had to shelve it at this point.
I don't know if the author intended this story to be 'Young Adult' fiction, but based on the childness of the main characters, and other dysfunctional relations within this police office, I just can not take it anymore.
The snippet below of exchange between the team lead Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Claire Winters and her subordinate Detective Sargent (DS) Michael Diego is a typical one for these two… its petty, vindictive, antagonistic, its like watching spoiled children… we are introduced to these characters in this state, and it isn't getting any better. There appears to be no adult in this police station. Detective Inspector (DI) David Matthew outwardly gloats over having a current case reassigned from DS Diego like a child being given another child's toy.
I'm one third into this soap opera and I feel I've given it a fair shot. It opens with a young woman killing a priest with her switchblade and that opening chapter closes out with a line of such promise "The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to so so for them." And I thought the chapter well done. But then… we meet DCI Claire Winters smack in the middle of some 'mysterious' undefined sub-plot and being called into work because of the homicide. Then we meet more of the cast and the characters come onstage antagonistic and unnaturally confrontational right from the start.
Then we get to interviewing a person of interest, and following up on their dysfunctional family life with runaway daughter and 'mysterious' foster children… there is the questioning of the daughter, and then thrown into this mix is an aside… a chapter with an inmate escaping from a local asylum for the criminally insane… and since that scene has none of the main characters in it… it stands as a well written chapter, much like the promising first chapter, but right after that, its back to the juvenile detectives.
So, being that there is so little time and so many more reading options, I've shelved this book in favor of starting the third DCI Erika Foster novel…
[ " She called Michael to her office.
She stared at him as he sat in front of her desk, his hair messy and his face unshaven. He had dark circles under his normally clear eyes and his shirt didn't look like it'd seen an iron in a long time.
'Nice weekend?' she asked. 'Or should I say, eventful?' She eyed him up and down. He shot her a sleepy look but ignored her question. 'Judging by the look of you shirt, I'd say eventful.'
He stared down at his notepad, vacant expression on his face. Claire grew annoyed.
Leaning forward she clicked her fingers in front of his face. 'Are you even fit to be in work, Diego? I've called a team briefing in twenty minutes and you're looking fucked.'
'Sorry,' he managed. 'I guess I overdid it.'
She stared hard at him and felt the slight twinge of jealousy.
She remembered that look of his. It hadn't been that long ago that she'd been on the receiving end of his wild nights out. It was obvious to her that this weekend he'd been showing someone else a good time, and she hated the thought of it. "]
I don't know if the author intended this story to be 'Young Adult' fiction, but based on the childness of the main characters, and other dysfunctional relations within this police office, I just can not take it anymore.
The snippet below of exchange between the team lead Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Claire Winters and her subordinate Detective Sargent (DS) Michael Diego is a typical one for these two… its petty, vindictive, antagonistic, its like watching spoiled children… we are introduced to these characters in this state, and it isn't getting any better. There appears to be no adult in this police station. Detective Inspector (DI) David Matthew outwardly gloats over having a current case reassigned from DS Diego like a child being given another child's toy.
I'm one third into this soap opera and I feel I've given it a fair shot. It opens with a young woman killing a priest with her switchblade and that opening chapter closes out with a line of such promise "The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to so so for them." And I thought the chapter well done. But then… we meet DCI Claire Winters smack in the middle of some 'mysterious' undefined sub-plot and being called into work because of the homicide. Then we meet more of the cast and the characters come onstage antagonistic and unnaturally confrontational right from the start.
Then we get to interviewing a person of interest, and following up on their dysfunctional family life with runaway daughter and 'mysterious' foster children… there is the questioning of the daughter, and then thrown into this mix is an aside… a chapter with an inmate escaping from a local asylum for the criminally insane… and since that scene has none of the main characters in it… it stands as a well written chapter, much like the promising first chapter, but right after that, its back to the juvenile detectives.
So, being that there is so little time and so many more reading options, I've shelved this book in favor of starting the third DCI Erika Foster novel…
[ " She called Michael to her office.
She stared at him as he sat in front of her desk, his hair messy and his face unshaven. He had dark circles under his normally clear eyes and his shirt didn't look like it'd seen an iron in a long time.
'Nice weekend?' she asked. 'Or should I say, eventful?' She eyed him up and down. He shot her a sleepy look but ignored her question. 'Judging by the look of you shirt, I'd say eventful.'
He stared down at his notepad, vacant expression on his face. Claire grew annoyed.
Leaning forward she clicked her fingers in front of his face. 'Are you even fit to be in work, Diego? I've called a team briefing in twenty minutes and you're looking fucked.'
'Sorry,' he managed. 'I guess I overdid it.'
She stared hard at him and felt the slight twinge of jealousy.
She remembered that look of his. It hadn't been that long ago that she'd been on the receiving end of his wild nights out. It was obvious to her that this weekend he'd been showing someone else a good time, and she hated the thought of it. "]
October 12, 2017
Cannot say I enjoyed this book at all. I read it on a recommendation, but having read all Robert Bryndza and Angela Marsons's police/crime novels, this falls far below their standard.
I had to remind myself who the DCI was supposed to be, because her actions and the attitude of her subordinates towards her were borderline ridiculous. So many inconsistencies in the behaviour of characters overall, let alone within an individual scene. Lost count of the number of 'hard stares', and not sure how someone would appear nervous and scowl with contempt at the same time.
I raced to finish the book, simply because I just wanted it to end.
I had to remind myself who the DCI was supposed to be, because her actions and the attitude of her subordinates towards her were borderline ridiculous. So many inconsistencies in the behaviour of characters overall, let alone within an individual scene. Lost count of the number of 'hard stares', and not sure how someone would appear nervous and scowl with contempt at the same time.
I raced to finish the book, simply because I just wanted it to end.
July 6, 2017
A decent enough story with a MEGA plot twist but not a story that blew me away. Quite a bit of it was quite predictable and apart from the aforementioned twist, it all played out pretty much as I was expecting it to. Not informing the sex of The Guardian was interesting but not for the reason I thought it would be. As I said, an interesting story that will not tax anyone.
January 13, 2019
I loved the book. So suspenseful and with a crazy twist just like I like it. But I hated Clair Winters. As a person. Actually that's part of what made me like the book. She was such a well written character and I genuinely didn't like her as a person. Especially at the end...but I will let you see that for yourself.
May 29, 2017
Book started off so slow. Last 60-70 pages held all the action. It was a good storyline but not great writing.
November 5, 2017
Disappointing at best.
November 30, 2018
I enjoyed finding a new British author's book. The story was a quick and suspenseful read. I hope to read more by this author.
February 7, 2019
Good read
I enjoyed this book the story line was interesting and would definitely read the next book in DCI Claire Winters series
I enjoyed this book the story line was interesting and would definitely read the next book in DCI Claire Winters series
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