The Black Mile

Soho Noir #1

by Mark Dawson

London, 1940: the beginning of the Blitz, an era defined in blacks and greys. Prostitution. Police corruption. Gangland intrigue. Henry Irving is a disgraced hack on a Fleet Street scandal rag. Detective sergeant Charlie Strange is a fresh face in the Met, hunting corrupt coppers but blinkered by ambition. Detective inspector Frank Murphy mourns his dead daughter with booze and gambling. When a serial killer preys on Soho prostitutes, the three men are caught in a spiral, a nightmare that tests loyalty and courage, offers no mercy, allows for no survivors.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Historical Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Historical, Ebooks

373 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 18, 2012

About the author

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http://eepurl.com/Cai5X

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

[Patrick Sherriff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been in a bit of a reading time warp recently, stuck in the 1930s and 40s, from the mean streets of Chandler's LA to the dread of approaching war in Alan Furst's Paris, and thought now was the best time to try The Black Mile, which Dawson offered as a freebie in one of his newsletters, set in the London blitz. If Chandler mastered attitude and Furst atmosphere, Dawson has nailed character-driven plot with two brothers who must conquer their differences to catch the Blackout Ripper. The pace is unrelenting, there are twists and more period detail than you could shake a ration book at, not to mention the odd bomb or two, to keep things interesting. Dawson is a leading light in the self-publishing movement and The Black Mile is lesson one in independent marketing: write a damn good series, make the first book free and stick links in the back of the book to more. It's a fair cop, Guv, I'll come quietly.

Download my starter library for free here - http://eepurl.com/bFkt0X - and receive my monthly newsletter with book recommendations galore for the Japanophile/crime fiction/English teacher in all of us.

[John Nicholl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is well worth reading if you enjoy dark fact based noir. It's a well written age turner that deserves to sell well.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #1, Soho Noir series

This is a good mystery that transports us back to the dark streets of London during the time Nazi were bombing the East End. For those not familiar with the lingo this story may be challenging “The Black Mile” uses a lot of period slang to add the feel of the time.

The story is told from three perspectives: police officers, brothers Frank and Charlie Murphy and newspaper reporter Henry Drake. All three are looking for “The Blackout Ripper” a serial killer murdering prostitutes in the seedy side of London. The setting during the Blitz is recreated very well as well as the atmosphere during that time: Freemason influence at the forefront, police corruption, brother’s feuds, ripper murders, journalists making up stories and the usual scandals. The plot moves quite fast with plenty of twists and turns to derail us and keep us interested. Seemed the real life Jack the Ripper was the inspiration behind this novel but Mr. Dawson did his thing and shown us he is a true master of suspense giving us just enough to pique out attention then leaving us hanging wanting to find out the next move. Although some parts are quite graphic it is nevertheless a gripping story with all the violence, sexual references, description of autopsies and many more gruesome descriptions we expect in such a mystery. “The Black Mile” is a roller-coaster ride of a novel and a page turner.

It may take a while the get a handle on the various characters but as the story moves on and we are able to place them we are into a story that flows smoothly and grabs all our attention. Unfortunately, by the end all threads do not tie down neatly leaving the door open for a sequence. Since this books was first out in 2012, of course by now there is one for us to grab…. Next on my TBR list: ”The Imposter”.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel, set in 1940 London, combines the story of the Black-Out Ripper with the beginning of the Blitz and police corruption. With London under attack night after night, people are jumpy enough without a serial killer on the loose. Yet someone is killing prostitutes under the cover of the black out and Detective Inspector Frank Murphy is told to find the culprit quickly. However, Frank is having other problems. Firstly, his fifteen year old daughter runs away, after he orders her to stop seeing a young man with a criminal background. Secondly, he is involved in assaulting Italians who have been interned and his brother, Charlie, gives evidence against men in his squad in order to get promoted. Charlie is eager to get out of uniform and join plain clothes – eager enough to court the displeasure of his fellow officers in doing so. In this excellent, and atmospheric novel, Frank and Charlie Murphy are both attempting to solve the murders, even though they cannot work together. There is also a reporter, Henry Drake, who wants to use the case to salvage his career. However, things are not as clear cut as they first appear and this case may end more careers, and lives, than it saves.

I really enjoyed the setting of this book. London during the beginning of the blitz is recreated very well, as is the atmosphere of the police department during this time. The police have their mentors pushing their career, covering each other’s backs and are as heavily involved in dubious activities as the criminals they are chasing. There is also the influence of the Freemasons on the police force, as Charlie is taken under the wing of Alf McCartney. Drake offers a different view of the situation; his profession allowing him to tackle events from a different angle. The book has a fast moving plot, which is nevertheless interesting to follow, with plenty of twists and turns and excellent characters. This is the first in a trilogy of Soho Noir books and I look forward to reading the next in the series.

[Dana Granville · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly decent mystery, though a little diluted at the end. I didn't get all of my questions answered about the book, which is frustrating.

[Douglas Hord · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific story. Quickly paced, but not too aggressively. Nice character development.

The entire piece is written in British police slang from the late 1930s. I found that to be a feature, not a flaw.

Very enjoyable.

[Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! One of the best I've read in a long time. London. 1940. German Blitzkreig. Ripper murders. Police corruption. Family feuds. I'm queing up Mark Dawson's other books on my Kindle. I'd give the book 6 stars if I could.

[Georgia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been following Mark Dawson for quite some time (no, not in that way…) by listening to The Self Publishing Show podcast he does with James Blatch, signing up for the Ads for Authors course (which I’m still trying to complete) and being on his newsletter. When I signed up to that I received a starter library of books, which was very generous of him, and I thought it was about time I got round to reading one of them. I think the ebook is exclusive to a newsletter sign up as only the paperback and audio book are still available on Amazon.

As anyone who visits this blog will know I read across all genres, particularly since I started writing, as I like to see what else is out there. All I ask for is a good story, well told, and some decent writing. I can’t remember when I last read a police procedural.

The Black Mile is the story of a family of policemen in the Met; the father, William Murphy, newly promoted to Chief Constable, and his sons; war hero, Frank Murphy and his younger brother, Charlie, who’s struggling to find his place in the force. And of a reporter for The Star, Henry Drake. It is set in 1940 and as bombs rain down on London, a killer strikes fear into the black mile of Soho as young women, all prostitutes, are murdered and, as the body count mounts, he is dubbed the Black-Out Ripper.

This is a dark and gritty novel which, as well as hunting down a killer, explores the relationships between brothers and work colleagues as different career paths are taken and loyalties tested.

I thought the characterisations were excellent, could almost taste the filth of the streets in the descriptions and enjoyed the pace as it never let up. It also ends satisfactorily whilst leaving plenty for the ongoing series.

Would I read one of Dawson’s books again? Absolutely. I can see why they’re so popular and I highly recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a darker tale.

[Siobian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though WWII is going on and Britain is being bombed nightly, London's criminal life doesn't let up. During the black-out, the city is plagued by a murderer dubbed the "Black Out Ripper" and the police are doing everything they can to find him and stop him. However, every lead on the case opens more doors and inquiries only lead to more questions. Henry Drake is a journalist who can smell the accolades he will receive by being the one to print the identity of the Black Out Ripper. Charlie Murphy has lived in his brother's shadow his entire life and knows that finding the murderer would lead to him being the brother on top. Meanwhile, Charlie's brother Frank just wants to find the man menacing his city before he kills again. Though they aren't working together, it will take these three men to find out who the madman is and stop him from committing more crimes.

Though I, and everyone else for that matter, am aware of Jack the Ripper, I had never heard of the Black Out Ripper. Through research (and by research I mean googling it) I learned a bit more about this killer and his spree. The real life killer was the basis for this novel, but this isn't a novel about the actual events. I will admit that it took me a while to get into the novel. The article snippets at the beginning confused me and it took a while to get a handle on the characters, but once I got past that I found that I couldn't put the book down. There were so many twists and turns that I was frantically clicking the "next page" button on my Kindle to find out what happened next. Dawson has shown himself to be a true master of suspense, leaving the reader hanging, wanting to find out what happens with one scene while following another character who, seemingly, has nothing to do with the other scene. There were some graphic parts so if you aren't into that, beware, but if you enjoy a good historical crime novel I would definitely recommend this one.

*Please note, I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Annette Gisby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The content of this book could have been taken straight from today's headlines: corruption in the police force, journalists making up sensationalist stories, scandals involving the great and the good of the realm, a murderer preying on prostitutes in the West End. But this story is based on a true killing spree that happened in the 1940s.

When I first started the book, I was a little bit wary, as there were quite a few newspaper reports and police reports rather than narrative. Was the whole book going to be like this? Thankfully, no, but there are a few other newspaper and police reports dotted throughout.

The story unfolds through the eyes of three characters: Frank Murphy, a Detective Inspector and his brother Charlie, also a policeman, who has always felt in Frank's shadow and a Fleet Street journalist, who was called Henry Drake in the book, not Irving, I think the blurb may have been wrong there.

As well as being a murder mystery, the story is also a character study of these three men and how the case affects each of them differently. Henry wants a great scoop so his bosses won't think of firing him, even if he has added some embellishments to his stories in the past. Frank is at loggerheads with his wife and daughter and his brother Charlie is determined to make a name for himself, even if that means going to internal affairs and chasing after his colleagues.

1940s London comes vividly to live, but at no time did you think you were reading a history book or attending a lecture. It's a story and Mr. Dawson is a great storyteller. The book is gripping, although I thought the pace flagged a little bit in the middle, but then got going again near the end. I don't want to give away the storyline entirely, but let's just say there is a twist and I didn't guess it, which is a lovely surprise for me. Usually I can guess a twist a mile off, having read so many mysteries.

An interesting crime thriller with a twist.

[Lyndon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery is set in London, 1940s WW2, and reads like a British crime noir of that era with newspaper articles, letters and memos opening the major sections of the book. It features 3 story lines that revolve around the murders of random (or so it seems) prostitutes committed by the 'Black-Out Ripper' who does his dirty deeds during the bombing black-outs. The real mystery is actually the discovery of corruption in the police force and how two brothers, who are on the force, resolve their jealousy of each other and work to solve the case.

The writing is slow and steady, fairly solid, a bit grisly, but the plotting is definitely on the long side for this kind of novel. The first 3/4 of the book could have been shortened by half; the last quarter was better as the action finally picked up and the loose threads began to resolve themselves (though the original mystery surrounding the murders is left untouched as well as a major subplot involving the missing daughter of one of the police brothers). Because the book meandered about with not a whole lot of action for hundreds of pages, it didn't have the tension necessary to propel the story forward, imo. The characterization was fine, and the setting was immersive, but the story lines just weren't that compelling for me.

Overall, it was just okay, 3 or 3 1/2 stars. However, if you like to reside awhile in a novel and experience world-building details, explore inter- and intra-personal conflict, and enjoy a very slow burn of a book, then The Black Mile might just be what you're after.

[Myrna Miller]

"The Black Mile" is a good mystery and if you like some history thrown in, it covered September 1940- May 1941 period too. The London Blitz was being reported over much of the world by radio (no televisions in those days). I couldn't help wondering about a couple of issues. The main characters were brothers -- both in law enforcement, and as was their father - at a higher level. Their last name sounds Irish as do many of the other names of the characters. Was it common for people with Irish backgrounds to be in that field at that time? Most of the English mysteries I have read have characters with pretty traditional English names. The resolution of the mystery came at the end of the story, which I prefer. I would have liked more information about what happened to Eve -- that issue was left hanging unresolved. The only problem I had with the book was the amount of English slang -- some of it could be defined by the context but the reader had to guess with some of the words. All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries and suspense. I got it through Bookbub (Kindle App-Amazon)some time ago.

[Scott Whitmore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set just before and during The London Blitz, when the German Luftwaffe tried to bomb Britain out of World War II, The Black Mile by Mark Dawson is a crime thriller told from three perspectives

Brothers Frank and Charlie Murphy are police officers, and Henry Drake is a newspaper reporter with more than a few secrets, but all three are looking for The Blackout Ripper, a serial killer murdering prostitutes in the seedy West End of London.

I'm a fan of the British TV series Foyle's War, which also involves the premise of the police "carrying on" and catching criminals against the backdrop of a world war. Like that excellent series, The Black Mile has plenty of atmospheric touches to keep the reader immersed as well as more than a few plotlines and red herrings along the way.

In what I think is a bold move, the author left several threads unresolved. I'm not sure if a sequel is planned, but I found the lack of closure to be realistic considering the circumstances.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written. I truly enjoyed reading this book. Set against the backdrop of WW II in England, it just keeps rolling along through bombings as a murder investigation takes place. The twists and turns, body counts, and suspense just keep building the whole time. Add to that a very troubled relationship between 2 brothers and their father, all of them cops and somehow intertwined in the same murder investigation. I enjoyed the plot and the twists and turns which keep you in suspense until the final chapters. My only complaint was the ending. I just hate endings that don't tie up all loose ends and give you sense of what happens to the characters. This one especially leaves you wondering about the fate of the daughter of one of the characters who runs away from home is constantly searched for by her father but you are given no inkling ads to what could have possibly happened to her??

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I simply cannot believe how engrossed I became with this authors work! I picked up he first John Milton book as a chance and didn't expect to like it, but fell in love with the character. I soon finished all 7 of those in he series and then went on to the Beatrix Rose series and finished all of them. Not one book out of the 11 was a stinker, I would rate them all a solid 4-5. Then I stepped way out of my genre to the so ho series and bam! Dawson did it again! This guy is my new go to author, do yourself a favor and give this author a shot, I promise you will not be disappointed. The only problem I foresee is that he can't write them fast enough for me! Great characters, back plot, scene setting and easy reads! I'm telling you this guy could make me read a phone book... Thank you Mr. Dawson for letting me escape reality and crawl up into your work..

[Prp · Rating 2 out of 5]

CONTRIVED
This book rings untrue (a bit like those period films where the wardrobe is sparkling new). The credibility is not helped by phrases like: "... Do propeller airplanes leave a trail?.
It is a fake L.A. Confidential. We found police corruption, war, family relationships... it bursts at the seams.
As for the writing, there are a lot of repetitions (" a dose of clap so bad it'd peel your jewels right off.)
I had read three books by Mark Dawson and this one seems to have been written by a different person. Where is his ususal pace in this neverending novel?
If this is the first Dawson book you have read, I recommend the Milton series.

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first by this author and a really good read.

At first I wasnt sure that I would enjoy the time period chosen but I was soon engrossed in the action and was back in London at the start of the Blitz.
I thought that the three separate narratives mingled together worked well and made for an exciting read. The use of one of the character names at the beginning of most sections, left the reader in no doubt where you were and who you were with.

A few loose threads were left at the end of the book and I shall be looking to see if there is a follow up.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

The vocabulary is fascinating. I can't believe the words I'm learning that are used to describe the London world of criminals and police. The setting is London in 1940 when the Nazi bombing has just begun.

[Jeffrey Bruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was a long read as the characters spoke with an London accent and i wasn't familiar with some of the terms if you don't mind the dialog this will be a good read

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

so hard to put down, a serial killer in London in the middle of the bombings, family rivalry,police hierarchy and add the Masons to the mix as well. A great read.

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

Could not get into it at all. Put it down and said why bother?

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Black Mile" the first in Mark Dawson's Soho Noir series of crime novels. It reminded me of James Ellroy"s" LA Confidential" because it involves police corruption, prostitution and porn.
Set in London of 1940-41 just as the Blitz by German bombers began to scour London, the Metropolitan police are stymied by a series of horrible slasher murders of young women prostitutes.
The circumstances give rise to the newspapers calling the killer The Black Out Killer. As with the famous Jack the Ripper murders of 50years before, the police have plenty of clues but can make no progress. Bodies continue to turn up in delapidated lodgings, in bomb shelters and in the rubble lots where bombed buildings once stood.
The cast of characters involves the Murphy family, especially Frank, a police veteran of the hard fisted, hard drinking school of "Old Bulls" and his brother, Charles. He is a beat cop who has higher aspirations: the detective force at Scotland Yard. Charles plans to get there using his wits and investigative skills, not to mention connections with higher ups, to achieve his goals. Frank despises both Charles' reluctance to get his hands dirty during rough interrogations and his cozying up to the bosses.
Charles gets his opportunity to shine when he is offered a investigation into some "bent" coppers. Naturally, when the corrupt officers are convicted and sent to jail. everyone else on the force avoids Charles, including Frank. But as the Ripper murders escalate, they must work together.
" The Black Mile" is engrossing. Mr. Dawson does a good job depicting London under the bombs. Not much of the stiff upper lip Brits here in the underside of London. Whores, pimps, thieves and lowlifes of all kinds manage to get on with their lives-except for those who wind up on the coroners" slab. His main characters, Frank and Charley are well defined, as are lesser characters. The depiction of London during the blackout, of bombed buildings and terrorized people is quite good.
I cannot say that you won't figure out the people behind the murders, but you will enjoy the story as it unfolds.
I would have given it five stars but for two reasons. First, some of the Soho slang was incomprehensible . Not terrible, but it did decrease from this reader's fully understanding possibly important conversations. Second, one of the plot lines involving the disappearance of Frank's daughter is never resolved, and it was an important motivation to the investigation. She was of the right age to become a Ripper victim. What happened to her? Who knows?
For those who might be offended please noet that the book contains sexual references , violence, and descriptions of autopsies and wounds. But this is a crime novel.
I recommend "The Black Mile" to fans of noir crime novels who enjoy a walk on the dark side of urban life with a bit of history added.

[David Berkowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read several titles by Mark Dawson. All of them were part of either the John Milton or Isabella Rose series. The Black Mile is quite different.

It's the first volume of Dawson's Soho Noir series. And Noir is a perfect description. It feels like it could have easily been the basis of a 1940s Noir film. Tough cops, tough criminals, a latter day Jack the Ripper killing prostitutes, powerful people who are protected by the system. And a few hardworking, honest guys trying to make sense of it all just as Hitler starts bombing London.

The text is full of language that, I assume, would have been current in 1941 but isn't in current use. It took me several chapters to get used to this. Some readers might find it off-putting. I just rolled with it.

Those who appreciate Noir will absolutely love this book. The characters are well drawn and driven by real concerns. None are perfect human beings. And several truly embody evil, though I'm sure they did not consider themselves so. The timeless plot moves along briskly.

At some point I will return to read more of this series.

Recommended for people who enjoy period pieces and those who are fans of film Noir.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great British crime writing.

Loved this book. Enthralling from the start and did not let go until the end. The story with its 1940's setting was a mix of police procedure, family conflict and corruption in high places all set to a background of the London Blitz.
There was a distinct nod to "LA Confidential" by James Ellroy but to Mr Dawson's credit it did not lose anything in the comparison. I was also intrigued by there being enough loose ends for a sequel or even sequels. Maybe a British version of the "American Tabloid" trilogy of James Ellroy!

[Carrie Garza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great story! It is set in London in the 1940's and that in and of itself is very interesting. Gas lights, outhouses, cobbled streets, and many other things that add to the time frame. The war is in progress and London is being bombed every night. And it is amazing how everyone is just going on with there lives, popping in and out of shelters while the sirens wail and the bombs drop. But you know they had to, the world didn't just stop.

There is a serial killer in London . The bombs certainly haven't stopped him. The police are having no luck stopping him.

[Jane Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Black Mile by Mark Dawson is bound to keep you guessing as to who is killing London prostitutes. Known as The Ripper, this elusive serial killer uses the Nazi bombing of London to his advantage. This first book in the Soho Noir Thrillers series combines suspense, mystery, conspiracies, well fleshed out characters, and language particular to the 1940s to create a realistic setting. At times, though, I wished that the book had been Americanized to help with the story flow. Never the less, the stylistic language would  not prevent me from reading the next book in the series.

[Michael Mardel · Rating 4 out of 5]

The black mile by Dawson. Reading some of the reviews I am confused - I thought the newspaperman was Drake. Be that as it may, he's not a savoury character who's only interested in a story and not the girl who ends up murdered. The conflict between the brothers could be tighter as I often lost track between Charlie and Frank. The Masons take a turn with a few policemen belonging but some are not innocent and resort to murder. So has the Blackout Ripper retired or are the last 3 girls his victims?
(I thought he was Charlie Murphy, not Strange).

[Sandy Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty 1940's Thriller

After reading all of Dawson's other books, I thought I'd give this series a try. I'm glad I did!
It took me a little while to get a handle on the various characters but as the story unfolded I began to enjoy it more and more. The writing incorporates the language of that era and some words and phrases were expertly introduced to the reader. I will be completing the series.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the early 1940 just as he Germans are starting to bomb London this is a tale of the search for a serial killer and slasher of women of the night, Two brothers in he police force who are at odds and a group of crooked cops. All this takes place in the gritty streets of London during blackouts and nightly bombing. Good description of place and time which made for an interesting read. This was book #1 so there is more to follow.

[Alison Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I was a bit apprehensive to buy this book but boy am I glad I did! Mark Dawson is my favourite author just now, but I was not sure about reading a detective story set during the 2nd WW. Right from the start I just loved it. The story of police corruption was fascinating and some surprises at the end made this book a winner. Many thanks Mark. Now going on to book 2 The Imposter.