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Damen Brook #3
Deity
A brilliant new serial killer thriller from a hugely talented British author to rival the best from Mark Billingham, Peter James and Peter Robinson.
When four Derby College students are reported missing, few in Derby CID, least of all DI Damen Brook, pay much attention. But then a film on the internet is discovered purporting to show the students committing mass suicide. If it's real, why did they kill themselves when they had such bright futures ahead of them? If the suicides are faked, why the set up and where are the students? And if they're dead and have been murdered, who on earth could have planned such a bizarre and tragic end to their promising lives? Combining intricate forensics with meticulous detection and the warped psychology of a psychopath, DEITY is a serial killer thriller of the highest order to rival the very best of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Peter Robinson.
When four Derby College students are reported missing, few in Derby CID, least of all DI Damen Brook, pay much attention. But then a film on the internet is discovered purporting to show the students committing mass suicide. If it's real, why did they kill themselves when they had such bright futures ahead of them? If the suicides are faked, why the set up and where are the students? And if they're dead and have been murdered, who on earth could have planned such a bizarre and tragic end to their promising lives? Combining intricate forensics with meticulous detection and the warped psychology of a psychopath, DEITY is a serial killer thriller of the highest order to rival the very best of Mark Billingham, Peter James and Peter Robinson.
533 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
11 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Steven Dunne
21 books122 followers Steven left Rhodesway School in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1976 after taking A-levels. He graduated from Kent University in 1979 and, after taking a year’s Post Graduate Certificate in Education at St Mary’s College in Twickenham, he undertook a variety of jobs in London, including Public Relations Consultant, freelance Journalist and supply teacher.
He wrote occasional articles for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent while working on various writing projects including his own brief career in stand-up comedy. During this time he co-wrote a comedy pilot for Channel 4 entitled Not Enough Poodles but, unfortunately it fell at the final commissioning hurdle. He wrote the Book for the award-winning Latchmere Theatre Christmas pantomime of Hansel and Gretel in 1989.
In 1988, he began teaching English in Croydon before moving to Derby in 1996, where he began to think about writing a novel.
After being turned onto thrillers by Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, he realised that most thrillers failed to deliver their promised exitement, so in 2007, after spending two fruitless years marketing the novel to the publishing industry, Steven self-published Reaper, a thriller about a serial killer who strikes in Derby. It sold over 1500 copies in the East Midlands and in 2008, and received very encouraging reviews. Harper Collins bought the rights and The Reaper was released internationally in 2009. A sequel, The Disciple, was released in August 2010. Both books were critically acclaimed. He signed a publishing deal at Headline to release the next DI Brook thriller Deity, which will be released in June 2012.
You can also contact him on Facebook.
He wrote occasional articles for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent while working on various writing projects including his own brief career in stand-up comedy. During this time he co-wrote a comedy pilot for Channel 4 entitled Not Enough Poodles but, unfortunately it fell at the final commissioning hurdle. He wrote the Book for the award-winning Latchmere Theatre Christmas pantomime of Hansel and Gretel in 1989.
In 1988, he began teaching English in Croydon before moving to Derby in 1996, where he began to think about writing a novel.
After being turned onto thrillers by Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, he realised that most thrillers failed to deliver their promised exitement, so in 2007, after spending two fruitless years marketing the novel to the publishing industry, Steven self-published Reaper, a thriller about a serial killer who strikes in Derby. It sold over 1500 copies in the East Midlands and in 2008, and received very encouraging reviews. Harper Collins bought the rights and The Reaper was released internationally in 2009. A sequel, The Disciple, was released in August 2010. Both books were critically acclaimed. He signed a publishing deal at Headline to release the next DI Brook thriller Deity, which will be released in June 2012.
You can also contact him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
June 30, 2016
This is my third visit to Damen Brook and will definitely not be last. I mean this in a good way when I say picking up a book with Brook in it is like putting on one of your favourite coats. You know it's going to be comfortable, make you feel good and want to revisit again and again!
So, here we have our protagonist, DI Brook, having to tackle with two separate cases. One case is a particularly nasty one. Homeless men are being targeted, murdered but for what purpose is not obviously apparent. The second case is one of a group of teenagers that have disappeared. A group that had initially come together through their media studies. Does that bear a factor? What we do know is that Brook's load is heavy and the cases throw him and his trustee sidekick, Noble, into a complicated investigation of the two cases.
I especially enjoyed this particular read in the series. 'The Reaper' is featured heavily in books one and two so it was good to leave that behind for a while and watch Brook tackle something fresh. I loved that we got to see more of Brook's daughter and how the two interplay. Bringing forth more backstory and where they are now. And to watch Brook make more of an effort to be more sociable was both amusing and endearing. Not being a natural 'small talk' kind of a guy, Brook struggles to accept the social norms and consequently matters not a jot of the effect he frequently has on others.
The cases themselves were played out well and keep the reader intrigued until the end. And watching Brook being his usual inimitable self - well I wouldn't want him to change one bit!!
I have book four in the series, The Unquiet Grave, and will be pushing it nearer to the top of the mountainous reading pile of mine.
I highly recommend this series of police procedurals. Go read and see what you think!
So, here we have our protagonist, DI Brook, having to tackle with two separate cases. One case is a particularly nasty one. Homeless men are being targeted, murdered but for what purpose is not obviously apparent. The second case is one of a group of teenagers that have disappeared. A group that had initially come together through their media studies. Does that bear a factor? What we do know is that Brook's load is heavy and the cases throw him and his trustee sidekick, Noble, into a complicated investigation of the two cases.
I especially enjoyed this particular read in the series. 'The Reaper' is featured heavily in books one and two so it was good to leave that behind for a while and watch Brook tackle something fresh. I loved that we got to see more of Brook's daughter and how the two interplay. Bringing forth more backstory and where they are now. And to watch Brook make more of an effort to be more sociable was both amusing and endearing. Not being a natural 'small talk' kind of a guy, Brook struggles to accept the social norms and consequently matters not a jot of the effect he frequently has on others.
The cases themselves were played out well and keep the reader intrigued until the end. And watching Brook being his usual inimitable self - well I wouldn't want him to change one bit!!
I have book four in the series, The Unquiet Grave, and will be pushing it nearer to the top of the mountainous reading pile of mine.
I highly recommend this series of police procedurals. Go read and see what you think!
April 8, 2012
I have been absolutely gripped by Steven Dunne's third novel Diety for the past two days and even though I have not read the first two novels in this series featuring D I Damen Brook I was hooked from the opening paragraphs.
Deity will be published in hardback by Headline on 26 April 2012, the paperback is released on 21 June. Set in the city of Derby and featuring the dark and brooding Detective Inspector Damen Brook, this is number three of a series, the follow-up to The Reaper and The Disciple.
I'm really picky about crime novels, I want a clever plot with characters that are three-dimensional, realistic and intelligent, I want a plot that grips, that makes me lose track of time and that I don't work out for myself before the end. Deity delivers all of those things, and more, much much more. This is one of the cleverest, slickest and at times, terrifying stories that I've read for a long long time - a sick, twisted psychopathic serial killer matched by an intelligent, if somewhat flawed Detective. Damon Brook has a history which is referred to during the story, not having read the first two books in the series in no way spoils this one, the reader learns enough about Brook's past to understand his psyche, and to warm to him, and to forgive his straightforward, almost rude mannerisms.
Brook is investigating two cases which on the face of it appear quite separate - a couple of murdered 'tramps' who are missing some vital organs and the disappearance of four local college students. As Brooks and his team delve deeper into each case, it becomes clear that they are linked, it also becomes clear that there is a dangerous, warped and extremely clever person behind the horrific crimes.
With clever twists along the way, a couple of red herrings thrown in for good measure, some seriously scary detail and a cast of characters who jump from the page, this book ticks every ingredient for a perfect read.
My mission now is to get out and buy copies of the first two in the series.
Deity will be published in hardback by Headline on 26 April 2012, the paperback is released on 21 June. Set in the city of Derby and featuring the dark and brooding Detective Inspector Damen Brook, this is number three of a series, the follow-up to The Reaper and The Disciple.
I'm really picky about crime novels, I want a clever plot with characters that are three-dimensional, realistic and intelligent, I want a plot that grips, that makes me lose track of time and that I don't work out for myself before the end. Deity delivers all of those things, and more, much much more. This is one of the cleverest, slickest and at times, terrifying stories that I've read for a long long time - a sick, twisted psychopathic serial killer matched by an intelligent, if somewhat flawed Detective. Damon Brook has a history which is referred to during the story, not having read the first two books in the series in no way spoils this one, the reader learns enough about Brook's past to understand his psyche, and to warm to him, and to forgive his straightforward, almost rude mannerisms.
Brook is investigating two cases which on the face of it appear quite separate - a couple of murdered 'tramps' who are missing some vital organs and the disappearance of four local college students. As Brooks and his team delve deeper into each case, it becomes clear that they are linked, it also becomes clear that there is a dangerous, warped and extremely clever person behind the horrific crimes.
With clever twists along the way, a couple of red herrings thrown in for good measure, some seriously scary detail and a cast of characters who jump from the page, this book ticks every ingredient for a perfect read.
My mission now is to get out and buy copies of the first two in the series.
April 11, 2015
I finally finished Deity this morning and once again i was immersed in the storyline. I love Damen Brook's character and he has a great relationship with John Noble. I found the 2 cases being interlinked clever and easy to follow. Great book and i look forward to reading The Unquiet Grave, the 4th of Steven Dunne's books.
If you haven't done already i recommend you read The Reaper and The Disciple first.
If you haven't done already i recommend you read The Reaper and The Disciple first.
July 30, 2021
Setting: Derby, UK. This is the third book in the series featuring Detective Inspector Damen Brook. Still haunted by The Reaper case featuring in the first two books, Damen struggles to make connections with his colleagues - his D.S. has now become used to his ways and appreciates his detective skills but most find him hard-going and unfriendly, particularly as he seems to be unable to remember anyone's name.
When the body of a vagrant is found dumped in a local river, the pathologist says it isn't murder - but all the organs apart from the heart have been removed and Damen is convinced that the culprit should be hunted down, even though his superintendent is more concerned about budgets than a dead vagrant....until another body is found in similar circumstances and then more vagrants disappear.
At the same time four students from a Media Studies course at Derby College go missing - they appear to have left voluntarily as each has left their mobile phone and laptop behind together with a leaflet for a website called Deity, suggesting they are involved in some sort of suicide pact....
Another gripping tale with great characters and the added bonus of being set in my hometown so I am familiar with all the locations. A keeper for me as it was signed by the author when we invited him to one of our book group meetings! - 9/10.
When the body of a vagrant is found dumped in a local river, the pathologist says it isn't murder - but all the organs apart from the heart have been removed and Damen is convinced that the culprit should be hunted down, even though his superintendent is more concerned about budgets than a dead vagrant....until another body is found in similar circumstances and then more vagrants disappear.
At the same time four students from a Media Studies course at Derby College go missing - they appear to have left voluntarily as each has left their mobile phone and laptop behind together with a leaflet for a website called Deity, suggesting they are involved in some sort of suicide pact....
Another gripping tale with great characters and the added bonus of being set in my hometown so I am familiar with all the locations. A keeper for me as it was signed by the author when we invited him to one of our book group meetings! - 9/10.
March 7, 2014
One thing about a Steven Dunne novel is it is multi-layered, familiar (I live close to Derby)but complex. His plots are clever, clear and chilling. However, he appears to have more ideas than one book can hold, consequently, he always crashes through the buffers where other authors would pull gently into the railway station.
Deity has 2 terrific villains; a whole separate novel could focus on "The Embalmer" but Dunne cleverly weaves the whole thing together into a modern police procedural thriller.
Bumping off homeless guys, gives Dunne an opportunity to speak about an underclass, people no-one would miss and forgotten even before death finally eases their pain. Contrast this with a group of missing students, inspired by media idols and internet fame. Death seems a natural progression for the vulnerable within both groups but when someone appears to be manipulating it to the point of encouraging self harm and suicide the police under Brook have an investigation far more demanding than a missing persons case.
The thing I love about these novels is the richness of the text; demonstrating clear planning and competant research while engaging the reader fully. You are left with an incredible story you need to read to the end as quickly as possible. However the novel is so entertainingly set up that it draws you in and leaves you enthralled with characters you like to be around, victims you care about perpretrators who are a match for our bright inelligent detective.
Brook is a loner, a flawed person. An inadequate father and a driven copper who seeks justice but loves the hunt above all else, pitching his wits against the most evil of serial killers. Recent history demonstrates that he doesn't always get his man, or that his methods are not error strewn. This has dogged his career and prevents him finding peace. However, it is the trait of the author perhaps to torture his main protagonist; he will not let him rest or shuffle off into gentle retirement. No Dunne fires up Damen's demons and again this book toys with the idea that there is no closure, that no story can finish or if it did, the author would cease his creative process.
For the reader this leaves the need to find out more and await the next book in the life of DI Brook and happily having left reading this one I have the next installment already to go......read on.
Deity has 2 terrific villains; a whole separate novel could focus on "The Embalmer" but Dunne cleverly weaves the whole thing together into a modern police procedural thriller.
Bumping off homeless guys, gives Dunne an opportunity to speak about an underclass, people no-one would miss and forgotten even before death finally eases their pain. Contrast this with a group of missing students, inspired by media idols and internet fame. Death seems a natural progression for the vulnerable within both groups but when someone appears to be manipulating it to the point of encouraging self harm and suicide the police under Brook have an investigation far more demanding than a missing persons case.
The thing I love about these novels is the richness of the text; demonstrating clear planning and competant research while engaging the reader fully. You are left with an incredible story you need to read to the end as quickly as possible. However the novel is so entertainingly set up that it draws you in and leaves you enthralled with characters you like to be around, victims you care about perpretrators who are a match for our bright inelligent detective.
Brook is a loner, a flawed person. An inadequate father and a driven copper who seeks justice but loves the hunt above all else, pitching his wits against the most evil of serial killers. Recent history demonstrates that he doesn't always get his man, or that his methods are not error strewn. This has dogged his career and prevents him finding peace. However, it is the trait of the author perhaps to torture his main protagonist; he will not let him rest or shuffle off into gentle retirement. No Dunne fires up Damen's demons and again this book toys with the idea that there is no closure, that no story can finish or if it did, the author would cease his creative process.
For the reader this leaves the need to find out more and await the next book in the life of DI Brook and happily having left reading this one I have the next installment already to go......read on.
July 13, 2016
A totally engrossing, gripping and unsettling read !!
This is the third DI Damen Brook book and the third 5 star read from me -- what a fabulous series.
Once again the plot is really clever, the characters are realistic and intelligent and the writing is as always outstanding and in places graphic.
I loved the development of Brook's friendship with Noble and also liked that we were shown more of his relationship with his daughter.
I'm already waiting impatiently for the next one in the series
This is the third DI Damen Brook book and the third 5 star read from me -- what a fabulous series.
Once again the plot is really clever, the characters are realistic and intelligent and the writing is as always outstanding and in places graphic.
I loved the development of Brook's friendship with Noble and also liked that we were shown more of his relationship with his daughter.
I'm already waiting impatiently for the next one in the series
December 17, 2015
Steven Dunne Has Done it again!
He has high command of the English language, manages to tie all threads of the story together by the end of the book. Although it is a series again, it can be a stand alone.
This time there is no reaper, it has moved on to a double sided case, both cases working together at the same time.
Steven has a fantastic insight into what is current, with a very complex storyline your interest is held and again you are unsure where the story is going to take you.
Great! One of my favourite authors.
He has high command of the English language, manages to tie all threads of the story together by the end of the book. Although it is a series again, it can be a stand alone.
This time there is no reaper, it has moved on to a double sided case, both cases working together at the same time.
Steven has a fantastic insight into what is current, with a very complex storyline your interest is held and again you are unsure where the story is going to take you.
Great! One of my favourite authors.
December 10, 2012
A solid combination of British police procedural and serial killer thriller, ‘Deity’ is the third book from Steven Dunne featuring world-weary detective, DI Damen Brook. Focusing on the mysterious disappearance of four students and the discovery of seemingly unrelated bodies showing signs of Egyptian death rituals, Brook and his team find themselves immersed in two utterly mystifying cases that will test them, and Brook in particular, to their limit. With more than one or two red herrings and blind alleys along the way, Dunne has carefully crafted a clever hybrid of two crime sub-genres that will appeal to fans of the straightforward police procedural in the style of Peter Robinson or John Harvey and the darker psychological and visceral edge of Mo Hayder.
I think the main strength of this book throughout is the character of Brook himself, who has some personal issues of his own that colour and confuse his relationship with his colleagues and his estranged daughter Terri. Terri has suffered enormous personal tragedy and as she builds bridges with her father, Dunne captures their changing relationship beautifully. A point of humour in the book is Brook’s relationship with his work colleagues where he displays an off-handedness and lack of interest to the nth degree, and relies heavily on his police sidekick DS Noble to almost act as an interpreter for him when relating to people on a more personal level. Brook has a cynical, yet determined, mindset and does not suffer fools gladly, and in the slowly revealed back story has more than enough reason to conduct himself in the way he does having been involved in a notorious and unresolved serial killer case at serious personal cost. He displays the traits of a typical grumpy old man slightly at sea in the face of modern culture and technology, and who abhors the use of incorrect English and swearing, which again levitates the seriousness of the central plot with some nice comic touches. I think the strength of characterisation of Brook does carry the book, as I did find the plot a little langorous for my taste, and by the 400 page mark was feeling that it was slightly unnecessarily drawn out, although the conclusion was satisfying enough and left an interesting little teaser for the next in the series. None of the other characters resonated particularly strongly with me, but in the best traditions of crime writing, were all guilty of some of the nastier aspects of human nature and muddied the waters of detection well enough to test the reader’s own powers of deduction.
Overall a stronger police procedural than serial killer thriller, I would say, and an enjoyable read. I will certainly seek out the first two books, ‘The Reaper’ and ‘The Disciple’ on the strength of DI Brook’s character and to know more about the previous case that has had such a profound effect on him. All in all a good discovery, and another strong addition to the British crime stable.
I think the main strength of this book throughout is the character of Brook himself, who has some personal issues of his own that colour and confuse his relationship with his colleagues and his estranged daughter Terri. Terri has suffered enormous personal tragedy and as she builds bridges with her father, Dunne captures their changing relationship beautifully. A point of humour in the book is Brook’s relationship with his work colleagues where he displays an off-handedness and lack of interest to the nth degree, and relies heavily on his police sidekick DS Noble to almost act as an interpreter for him when relating to people on a more personal level. Brook has a cynical, yet determined, mindset and does not suffer fools gladly, and in the slowly revealed back story has more than enough reason to conduct himself in the way he does having been involved in a notorious and unresolved serial killer case at serious personal cost. He displays the traits of a typical grumpy old man slightly at sea in the face of modern culture and technology, and who abhors the use of incorrect English and swearing, which again levitates the seriousness of the central plot with some nice comic touches. I think the strength of characterisation of Brook does carry the book, as I did find the plot a little langorous for my taste, and by the 400 page mark was feeling that it was slightly unnecessarily drawn out, although the conclusion was satisfying enough and left an interesting little teaser for the next in the series. None of the other characters resonated particularly strongly with me, but in the best traditions of crime writing, were all guilty of some of the nastier aspects of human nature and muddied the waters of detection well enough to test the reader’s own powers of deduction.
Overall a stronger police procedural than serial killer thriller, I would say, and an enjoyable read. I will certainly seek out the first two books, ‘The Reaper’ and ‘The Disciple’ on the strength of DI Brook’s character and to know more about the previous case that has had such a profound effect on him. All in all a good discovery, and another strong addition to the British crime stable.
December 7, 2015
DI Damen Brook is up there with Roy Grace and DI Sean Corrigan and Callum Doyle for me personally. A complex character with deep emotional baggage battling his own personal demons and also some rather sick and twisted killers. Each time I read one of Steven Dunnes books I kick myself for not reading it sooner. Each book gets better and if you haven't read any of these books yet - start The Reaper today!
March 16, 2017
What a brilliant book! I found it very hard to put down and loved it so much I would love to read more books similar to this one! :)
May 31, 2015
Review to follow...
August 21, 2017
Es gibt Bücher, die passen zum Lesegefühl wie die Faust aufs Auge. Und es gibt Bücher, mit denen wird man nicht warm, obwohl man sich redlich Mühe gibt. "Abgott" von Steven Dunne gehört leider in die zweite Kategorie.
Der Thriller wird vom Verlag als der erste Band der DI-Damen-Brook-Reihe beworben. Dies entspricht nicht den Tatsachen. "Deity", wie das Buch im Original heißt, ist bereits der 3. Fall für Brook und seinen Partner. Dass dies nicht vom Verlag berücksichtigt wurde, empfinde ich als nachlässig, aber noch verschmerzbar.
Der Einstieg in die Geschichte ist Steve Dunne gut gelungen. Ich wurde neugierig und die ersten Seiten flogen nur so dahin. Bis die Polizei auf den Plan trat und der Autor zudem noch eine zweite, sehr komplexe Handlungsebene einbaute.
Die Detectives sind typisch englisch gehalten: Ruhig, sehr konzentriert und wortkarg. Für mich transportierten sie dadurch zu wenig Spannung, zu wenig Nervenkitzel und ich verlor schnell das Interesse an dem Fall.
Auch die zweite Handlungsebene, die sich mit den Strukturen einer Jugendclique befasst, konnte mich nicht in ihren Bann ziehen. Ich liebe komplexe Geflechte in Thrillern. Doch diese sollten immer nachvollziehbar sein. Das war hier leider nicht der Fall. Ich kam recht bald mit den Namen, Zusammenhängen und generellen Interessen durcheinander, wusste nicht mehr, wer wen wann wie nicht mag und auch der Sinn des Ganzen erschloss sich mir nicht. Steve Dunne lieferte mir hier einfach zu wenig im Gedächtnis bleibende Eigenheiten seiner Figuren. Echt schade!
Und so kam es, dass ich das Buch beiseite legen musste. Ich fand keine Anziehungspunkte in der Geschichte, die Ermittlungen, obwohl noch am Anfang, interessierten mich nicht und auch der Täter ließ mich kalt.
Fazit: Ich wollte es abgöttisch lieben. Daraus wurde nichts.
March 9, 2021
This is my first Steven Dunne novel but I didn't feel as if I'd missed out on anything by not reading the first two Damen Brook novels. I was also torn between a three and four star rating, so rounded up to four stars.
A mix of police procedural and crime drama, this novel unfolds like a British television murder mystery. We have a mix of suspects and other persons of interest, most with a skeleton or two they would prefer remain in their closets. There are a number of characters who've had an event cause suffering in their lives, which you also seem to find in many British police dramas. All in all, it's a fairly standard mix, even handing out a few red herrings and leading us up to brick walls.
There a times where I think the story was drawn out a little, but on the whole I think the pace is spot on. Some of the dialogue did annoy me, especially towards the conclusion, because it seemed to fall into a trap of villain over-explains all. I think that could have been handled a little better.
Would I read more of the Damen Brook series? Yes, but only after I've cleared more books from the shelves.
A mix of police procedural and crime drama, this novel unfolds like a British television murder mystery. We have a mix of suspects and other persons of interest, most with a skeleton or two they would prefer remain in their closets. There are a number of characters who've had an event cause suffering in their lives, which you also seem to find in many British police dramas. All in all, it's a fairly standard mix, even handing out a few red herrings and leading us up to brick walls.
There a times where I think the story was drawn out a little, but on the whole I think the pace is spot on. Some of the dialogue did annoy me, especially towards the conclusion, because it seemed to fall into a trap of villain over-explains all. I think that could have been handled a little better.
Would I read more of the Damen Brook series? Yes, but only after I've cleared more books from the shelves.
May 24, 2020
Disappearing teenagers, mutilated corpses & a website seemingly encouraging suicide weave together into a gripping & twisted tale. My first impression of Damen Brook was that of a stereotypical DI, you know the sort; flawed personality, misunderstood by his colleagues, workaholic, divorced, estranged from his daughter etc etc...yet I immediately took to him & loved the relationship & humour between him & DS Noble, who of course is his loyal sidekick.
All the characters were plausible enough &, although I enjoyed the plotline, it did get a bit convoluted towards the conclusion as despite it being entertaining it did stretch credibility a tad for me. However I did think the final page was a particularly nice touch.
This is book 3 in the series but that really doesn't matter as it works perfectly well as standalone. However, it has left me wondering how I've missed out on the first two....
All the characters were plausible enough &, although I enjoyed the plotline, it did get a bit convoluted towards the conclusion as despite it being entertaining it did stretch credibility a tad for me. However I did think the final page was a particularly nice touch.
This is book 3 in the series but that really doesn't matter as it works perfectly well as standalone. However, it has left me wondering how I've missed out on the first two....
November 20, 2016
I haven’t read any of the previous series. I bought this book from a charity shop and I had no idea there ever was a series! Even so I don’t think it impacted on my enjoyment of the book in any way. This was your basic, generic, crime thriller novel. All the standard cliches were there; your brilliant but damaged detective with no life to speak of and enough issues to make up a magazine subscription. His non existent love life and the friction with colleagues who don’t understand him. Superior officers on his case because they don’t get his brilliance. Then you have annoying victims and their tedious back stories along with the deliberately written bait character meant to make you think they’re the villain when actually… surprise villain ending. It wasn’t bad and if you like the genre, you’ll like this. Just don’t expected to be wowed by the originality of it is all I’m saying.
September 2, 2017
As good as the very best of the genre
The twists the turns, the frustrations of Daimen. The psychologically charged back stories. The human spirit and the human weaknesses. There is enough depth in these books for several different authors, yet it all hangs together with a fluidity and intensity which keeps you turning to the next page and the next. Steven Dunne should be the leading crime author of his time. Only the name is holding him back in my humble opinion.
The twists the turns, the frustrations of Daimen. The psychologically charged back stories. The human spirit and the human weaknesses. There is enough depth in these books for several different authors, yet it all hangs together with a fluidity and intensity which keeps you turning to the next page and the next. Steven Dunne should be the leading crime author of his time. Only the name is holding him back in my humble opinion.
September 5, 2023
Just awesome. The mystery and twists are amazing. The only small drawback is that I wish there was more about The Ribber. The previous book (The Disciple) finished on a rather massive cliff hanger, and I hoped the third book would continue this story. Instead its a time jump and no resolution to the ending of the The Disciple is given.
Damen Brook is shaping up to be the best and most interesting detective out there.
Damen Brook is shaping up to be the best and most interesting detective out there.
September 6, 2018
Really good story, kept me involved the whole way through. Plenty of surprises, letting you think you've sussed it then twisting it again. Good read on its own, though I wish I'd read the earlier books first as there were quite a few references to past events.
Want to read
May 14, 2020Can someone say me if Laura grant is there in the third book?
November 19, 2022
Was a really good read until the unnecessary crazy endings the predictable kidnapping and the additional plot line that seemed shoe horned in. Where was the editor?
February 14, 2023
Really enjoyed how to two strands of the story came together - kept me guessing - excellent!
June 14, 2025
one of the best thriller series ever!
May 24, 2024
DI Damen Brook and DS Noble investigate two seemingly unrelated cases. The first involves a "serial killer, "The Embalmer", who is targeting homeless men, leaving their bodies without internal organs except for the heart, typical of Egyptian death rituals. The second, 4 teenagers are reported missing after they watched the Australian film "Picnic at Hanging Rock" in their Media Studies course. Dunne gives us more development of the character Damen Brook, especially the relationship with his daughter Terri.
October 21, 2017
Another really good read in this series.
March 3, 2017
A very good crime story with twists and turns .
June 3, 2015
This is the third book in the DI Damen Brook series by Steven Dunne.
There are two seemingly unconnected cases which attract DI Brook's attention: Case One is the case of a body which is found but which is missing most of it's internal organs and Case Two is the disappearance of 4 students who appear to want to kill themselves according to their video postings on the internet. Brook has to put the pieces of a jigsaw together to establish if the cases are connected. He has to establish the who, where, what, how, why and when of both cases. However Brook makes a bit of a boo boo in that he allows his daughter to pretend to be a policewoman and to search somebody's bedroom. This ultimately gets Brook into bother and jeopardises part of the investigation. When Brook completes the jigsaw he (almost) sees the complete picture and he faces a race against time to apprehend the villains and rescue the captives. Brook's daughter is threatened and fearing for her life, Brook desperately tries to find her.
This book is full of twists and turns right until the very end. In fact it is comparable to a roller coaster ride as just when you think things have settled, off you go again. My stomach lurched on more than one occasion.
The descriptions are very detailed and graphic in that you can almost visualise yourself there in the room as an invisible onlooker. Some of the details were particularly gory and I wouldn't advise you to be eating anything when you read certain parts.
Brook is a very likeable character with his flaws but also with his strengths. He is loyal to those he trusts and he is protective of those he considers to be friends ie: his work colleague DS Noble. Brook dislikes authority figures . He unnerves and wrong foots his superiors and his enemies by being polite to them at all times, no matter what is thrown at him. This works most of the time. I also loved Brook's ability to psychologically analyse any situation or anybody. He sees clues where there are apparently none.
I have developed something of a soft spot for DI Damen Brook and as a result I feel very protective of him. I felt that an attack on him was an attack on me. As usual I became far too involved in the book.
This series of books, gets better and better with each subsequent book. At times you sort of want to hide behind your hands and stop reading as the tension is too much but at the same time you want to read more and not miss out on anything.
I think that this series is a television waiting to be made.
There are two seemingly unconnected cases which attract DI Brook's attention: Case One is the case of a body which is found but which is missing most of it's internal organs and Case Two is the disappearance of 4 students who appear to want to kill themselves according to their video postings on the internet. Brook has to put the pieces of a jigsaw together to establish if the cases are connected. He has to establish the who, where, what, how, why and when of both cases. However Brook makes a bit of a boo boo in that he allows his daughter to pretend to be a policewoman and to search somebody's bedroom. This ultimately gets Brook into bother and jeopardises part of the investigation. When Brook completes the jigsaw he (almost) sees the complete picture and he faces a race against time to apprehend the villains and rescue the captives. Brook's daughter is threatened and fearing for her life, Brook desperately tries to find her.
This book is full of twists and turns right until the very end. In fact it is comparable to a roller coaster ride as just when you think things have settled, off you go again. My stomach lurched on more than one occasion.
The descriptions are very detailed and graphic in that you can almost visualise yourself there in the room as an invisible onlooker. Some of the details were particularly gory and I wouldn't advise you to be eating anything when you read certain parts.
Brook is a very likeable character with his flaws but also with his strengths. He is loyal to those he trusts and he is protective of those he considers to be friends ie: his work colleague DS Noble. Brook dislikes authority figures . He unnerves and wrong foots his superiors and his enemies by being polite to them at all times, no matter what is thrown at him. This works most of the time. I also loved Brook's ability to psychologically analyse any situation or anybody. He sees clues where there are apparently none.
I have developed something of a soft spot for DI Damen Brook and as a result I feel very protective of him. I felt that an attack on him was an attack on me. As usual I became far too involved in the book.
This series of books, gets better and better with each subsequent book. At times you sort of want to hide behind your hands and stop reading as the tension is too much but at the same time you want to read more and not miss out on anything.
I think that this series is a television waiting to be made.
October 25, 2012
I hadn’t read the previous two books in this series but I didn’t feel disadvantaged. I was quickly drawn into the world of DI Damen Brook and his loyal sidekick DS Noble. Brooke is a flawed personality, he has a gruff manner, doesn’t remember his colleagues names or court friendship (his colleague DS Noble seems to be one of the few people that can connect with him) although as the story progresses, his human side does come to the surface. He seems to be very much affected by a previous case which is mentioned here (The Reaper) and which leads to some tension between him and his superiors. He is however an extremely good detective and as a result this book is a thrilling ride of tension and pace. There is a lull in the middle where the pace slows however the story picks up again and I couldn’t put it down until I had come to the end. There are enough twists and surprises to keep the reader’s interest and the two seemingly separate threads of the story are cleverly plotted. One of my favourite authors is Peter Robinson and his Inspector Banks series and this is certainly of a quality to rival those books. All the characters were well written and believable as was the dialogue.
I shall now be on the lookout for books one and two in order to read the back story of DI Brooke and Steven Dunne will be on my list of authors to read in future. If you like well plotted, police procedural stories that are also page turners then I’m sure you will enjoy this one.
I shall now be on the lookout for books one and two in order to read the back story of DI Brooke and Steven Dunne will be on my list of authors to read in future. If you like well plotted, police procedural stories that are also page turners then I’m sure you will enjoy this one.
June 25, 2015
This is the third book in the DI Damen Brook series and I was surprised not to be reading about the Reaper again. This book handles two themes: the deaths of tramps whose bodies are subsequently interfered with in an unusual way and the disappearance of four local college students. Brook has the task of trying to unravel what lies behind these two very different situations and he does it in his unique way - which generally means using his formidable mind to see what others fail to see while relying on his DS, John Noble, to smooth a path through the emotional minefield of engaging with his fellow human beings. I liked this development of the Brook character who has little understanding of how to deal emotionally with people but who is learning that he needs to improve his people skills. The plot itself, though multi-layered and interesting, I found a little hard to believe and I felt that the book lost its way somewhat in the middle. I also thought that the ending was contrived and rather disappointing. However, the characters were convincing and the depiction of modern life for some young people was very accurate and the plot with all of its twists and turns and occasional red herrings was definitely gripping - if unsettling at times. I would recommend Deity as a good read and am about to embark on Book 4 of the series, The Unquiet Grave.
July 29, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed this read, particularly the second half of the book where the tempo really picked up. I thought both, seemingly unrelated, cases were interesting and engaging and enjoyed the sections based on both.
I liked Damon brook although he didn't seem quite the same character I know from the reaper books- it was like time really had passed for his character.
Initially, I had a few concerns about how the plot was flowing as I found myself jumping around a bit and not feeling very connected to the stories, I can cope with multiplots usually so it wasn't that but then as the twists and turns were revealed by concerns were unfounded and I was able to really engage.
I loved 'ozzy Reece' and what the name represented, I enjoyed the idea of the sealed tomb but my only complaint was how long it took the police to make the Egyptian burial link!! I reach seven year olds and we cover this- I found myself spotting it and then thinking I had missed something when the police didn't- was there an obvious reason why I was wrong? Had they taken it for granted and made little mention? It felt like a loose end flapping around like a giant elephant in the room in some passages.
Can't wait to start the next damen brook !!
I liked Damon brook although he didn't seem quite the same character I know from the reaper books- it was like time really had passed for his character.
Initially, I had a few concerns about how the plot was flowing as I found myself jumping around a bit and not feeling very connected to the stories, I can cope with multiplots usually so it wasn't that but then as the twists and turns were revealed by concerns were unfounded and I was able to really engage.
I loved 'ozzy Reece' and what the name represented, I enjoyed the idea of the sealed tomb but my only complaint was how long it took the police to make the Egyptian burial link!! I reach seven year olds and we cover this- I found myself spotting it and then thinking I had missed something when the police didn't- was there an obvious reason why I was wrong? Had they taken it for granted and made little mention? It felt like a loose end flapping around like a giant elephant in the room in some passages.
Can't wait to start the next damen brook !!
August 24, 2020
Reread by mistake (thought it was the prequel to The Resurrection) and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had forgotten how much I appreciated Mr Dunne’s books and will continue on to read The Disciple before starting the third in the series.
Regrets? With hindsight, I wish I had started the trilogy all over again but I am now too impatient to read the new book. Never mind, The Reaper will be my next reread when I’m desperate for a predictably good read.
You remain one of my top ten authors, sir. Sorry I couldn’t add an extra Star.... if only.
23/03/15
Brooks is back! An intriguing plot with a secondary plot that is as bizarre as it is mysterious. These are not serial killers but serial enablers to Death. Bosses that are within the bounds of everyday obnoxiousness and police officers who know how to do their job - with only an acceptable amount of angst in their private life.
With one or two exceptions, the characters are sufficiently developed to pass for your everyday local yob and WAG wannabe. An extraordinary tale with twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the end. Steven Dunne continues to give value for money and leaves this reader desperate to start the next book. Now a committed fan, Brooks has become one of my all time favourite detectives.
Regrets? With hindsight, I wish I had started the trilogy all over again but I am now too impatient to read the new book. Never mind, The Reaper will be my next reread when I’m desperate for a predictably good read.
You remain one of my top ten authors, sir. Sorry I couldn’t add an extra Star.... if only.
23/03/15
Brooks is back! An intriguing plot with a secondary plot that is as bizarre as it is mysterious. These are not serial killers but serial enablers to Death. Bosses that are within the bounds of everyday obnoxiousness and police officers who know how to do their job - with only an acceptable amount of angst in their private life.
With one or two exceptions, the characters are sufficiently developed to pass for your everyday local yob and WAG wannabe. An extraordinary tale with twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the end. Steven Dunne continues to give value for money and leaves this reader desperate to start the next book. Now a committed fan, Brooks has become one of my all time favourite detectives.
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