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Calladine & Bayliss #2
Dead Silent
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead....
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to catch a vicious serial killer. The first two victims are American university students and both have livestock tags fixed to their earlobes. Who wanted them dead and what's the connection?
The detectives piece together the forensic evidence and track down the witnesses, to reach a shocking conclusion. If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will be gripped by this exciting new crime fiction writer. Dead Silent is book two of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine.
In this second book, Calladine faces personal tragedy and startling revelations, and Ruth's relationship with Jake Ireson develops. Tom Calladine is a single, 51-one-year-old detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of 21 has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-30s, plain-speaking but loyal. She wishes she had more time for the gym and a love life. She uses her demanding workload as an excuse not to try too hard with the men she meets.
Her hobby is birdwatching. The series is set in the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine's life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to catch a vicious serial killer. The first two victims are American university students and both have livestock tags fixed to their earlobes. Who wanted them dead and what's the connection?
The detectives piece together the forensic evidence and track down the witnesses, to reach a shocking conclusion. If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will be gripped by this exciting new crime fiction writer. Dead Silent is book two of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine.
In this second book, Calladine faces personal tragedy and startling revelations, and Ruth's relationship with Jake Ireson develops. Tom Calladine is a single, 51-one-year-old detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of 21 has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-30s, plain-speaking but loyal. She wishes she had more time for the gym and a love life. She uses her demanding workload as an excuse not to try too hard with the men she meets.
Her hobby is birdwatching. The series is set in the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine's life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
6 pages, Audible Audio
First published April 5, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
November 25, 2015
“Dead Silent” is the second book of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine. I started this immediately after finishing the first book which was called 'Dead Wrong”. In this second book, Calladine faces personal tragedy and startling revelations, and Ruth’s relationship with Jake Ireson develops.
In this novel, we get to appreciate the rapport between the two detectives Ballantine and Bayliss, one of dedication and respect for one another. Their work is their life. We also learn more about their personal lives.
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .
Female students are going missing but nobody’s noticed yet.
Someone is targeting students from the USA…A serial killer, a local, hunting students who look like a woman he calls “Vida”.
“They had a bloody nutter on the loose. This was a maniac who took young women and killed them in the most horrendous ways. He had to be stopped. Everything else would have to be put on hold until they did.”
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss must race to catch this monster…this serial killer. Their detective work involves analyzing forensic evidence and tracking down witnesses to solve the case.
I loved this police procedural/crime fiction novel and look forward to reading the third book in the series, “Dead List”.
In this novel, we get to appreciate the rapport between the two detectives Ballantine and Bayliss, one of dedication and respect for one another. Their work is their life. We also learn more about their personal lives.
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .
Female students are going missing but nobody’s noticed yet.
Someone is targeting students from the USA…A serial killer, a local, hunting students who look like a woman he calls “Vida”.
“They had a bloody nutter on the loose. This was a maniac who took young women and killed them in the most horrendous ways. He had to be stopped. Everything else would have to be put on hold until they did.”
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss must race to catch this monster…this serial killer. Their detective work involves analyzing forensic evidence and tracking down witnesses to solve the case.
I loved this police procedural/crime fiction novel and look forward to reading the third book in the series, “Dead List”.
November 15, 2015
I think I have set a record .. by reading every book in this series out of order. Thank goodness they make fairly good stand-alones.
Calladine and Bayliss have been called in to investigate a death. What they find is the body of a young woman, who has been brutally tortured, killed, and burned. What they eventually find is a link to American female students attending the British college.
There are a couple other situations happening at the same time ... the death of Calladine's mother, an old girlfriend reappears, Bayliss is having her own problems...mostly person with a man she's been dating who is having a real hard time being delegated to third place, after her job and her stress-relieving bird watching.
The book checks all the boxes for me ... good mystery, excellent police work, believable characters, the little personal nuances that make the characters come alive on the paper. This has been an exceptional series.
My thanks to the author / Joffe Books / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Calladine and Bayliss have been called in to investigate a death. What they find is the body of a young woman, who has been brutally tortured, killed, and burned. What they eventually find is a link to American female students attending the British college.
There are a couple other situations happening at the same time ... the death of Calladine's mother, an old girlfriend reappears, Bayliss is having her own problems...mostly person with a man she's been dating who is having a real hard time being delegated to third place, after her job and her stress-relieving bird watching.
The book checks all the boxes for me ... good mystery, excellent police work, believable characters, the little personal nuances that make the characters come alive on the paper. This has been an exceptional series.
My thanks to the author / Joffe Books / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
July 19, 2016
D.I. Tom Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss are at it again, both hemming and hawing about their love lives in Dead Silent. Oh, and by the way, they have a missing child and a serial killer case on their plates too.
Ms. Durrant’s sequel to Dead Wrong is just as grisly as its precursor. Female university students disappear and are scarcely missed until bodies start turning up. The young women have been tortured, mutilated, and marked with a livestock tag reading “Vida.” Who is Vida, and what significance does she have to the killer?
Then there is the missing child. Are the cases related? Some reviewers have said not, which puzzles me, because there is definitely a connection, but it’s not what you’d expect. That’s all I’ll say about that, except, among other things, it reveals something about Bayliss and Calladine’s relationship. Ruth is not afraid to speak her mind and say where she thinks their priorities should lie.
She is a good friend as well as a colleague, and she never hesitates to give her advice when it comes to Tom’s personal life. That is rather like the pot calling the kettle black, however, because her own dating life is in no better shape than Tom’s. It may be quite realistic; they are both married to the job, but it makes me want to shake them both! The relationship between Tom and his daughter is shaping up to be an interesting one, as we keep learning more about her. Oh, and there are other surprises as well. Tom seems able to roll with the punches, but he is definitely experiencing some revelations. The ongoing tug-of-war with his boss over his cousin, the thug, creates some great tension too.
Besides the repetitiveness of their romantic relationship struggles and the incompetence of their superior officer, I enjoyed the banter and working relationship between Bayliss and Calladine. Those are the positives about this book. I was able to figure out the identity of the killer quite early, and while that’s not a bad thing, I was disappointed when I learned his motive. It seemed to wrap up too quickly and was a letdown for me. He also seemed too much like the killer in the first book. Then there is the ending. It seemed predictable, and all too sudden. I suppose that at some point, I will be reading #3, Dead List, to see what happens next.
3.5 stars
Ms. Durrant’s sequel to Dead Wrong is just as grisly as its precursor. Female university students disappear and are scarcely missed until bodies start turning up. The young women have been tortured, mutilated, and marked with a livestock tag reading “Vida.” Who is Vida, and what significance does she have to the killer?
Then there is the missing child. Are the cases related? Some reviewers have said not, which puzzles me, because there is definitely a connection, but it’s not what you’d expect. That’s all I’ll say about that, except, among other things, it reveals something about Bayliss and Calladine’s relationship. Ruth is not afraid to speak her mind and say where she thinks their priorities should lie.
She is a good friend as well as a colleague, and she never hesitates to give her advice when it comes to Tom’s personal life. That is rather like the pot calling the kettle black, however, because her own dating life is in no better shape than Tom’s. It may be quite realistic; they are both married to the job, but it makes me want to shake them both! The relationship between Tom and his daughter is shaping up to be an interesting one, as we keep learning more about her. Oh, and there are other surprises as well. Tom seems able to roll with the punches, but he is definitely experiencing some revelations. The ongoing tug-of-war with his boss over his cousin, the thug, creates some great tension too.
Besides the repetitiveness of their romantic relationship struggles and the incompetence of their superior officer, I enjoyed the banter and working relationship between Bayliss and Calladine. Those are the positives about this book. I was able to figure out the identity of the killer quite early, and while that’s not a bad thing, I was disappointed when I learned his motive. It seemed to wrap up too quickly and was a letdown for me. He also seemed too much like the killer in the first book. Then there is the ending. It seemed predictable, and all too sudden. I suppose that at some point, I will be reading #3, Dead List, to see what happens next.
3.5 stars
October 8, 2016
3.5 stars
August 19, 2021
A 3.5 star grisly, graphic and gory crime/thriller read which is number two in the series.
Bayliss and Calladine are an interesting and at times intriguing pair. There are places where I felt their reactions didn’t quite match the positioning the author is creating for them. Nonetheless they are enjoyable and their banter adds to the story.
The missing child and the not really missed university students make a good plot. The link between the incidents seems tenuous but it comes together. The abrupt ending means you have to go on to book three. It packs a punch in a condensed and to the point read.
A good series which is becoming stronger!
Bayliss and Calladine are an interesting and at times intriguing pair. There are places where I felt their reactions didn’t quite match the positioning the author is creating for them. Nonetheless they are enjoyable and their banter adds to the story.
The missing child and the not really missed university students make a good plot. The link between the incidents seems tenuous but it comes together. The abrupt ending means you have to go on to book three. It packs a punch in a condensed and to the point read.
A good series which is becoming stronger!
January 5, 2016
I read the first book in this series a few months ago and liked DI Tom Calladine so I was looking forward to this second book. In the first book, Tom had a lot of problems. Most have not resolved in this book, but that's what makes him interesting. His love life hasn't changed, his boss is still a poor manager, and his mother has recently died.
As in every investigation, there are many things to check. Many times the reader is not privy to these, but this author directs her characters all over the place. I have no idea how she keeps track of who is where doing what, and I didn't try to keep track myself, but the story flowed really well. The chapters from the antagonist's POV were a little difficult to read.
A case that was solved early in the book seemed to have little impact and no mention of repercussions, so why was it included? Was it simply to make the team appear overwhelmed with cases? DS Ruth Bayliss was as close as ever to Calladine, but they are just best friends. She seemed to be more of a sounding board and a conscience telling him what to do in his personal life. Bayliss also has her own personal issues. Both were a bit repetitive.
While I enjoyed this book and I think it was not quite as strong as the first, it wasn't enough to deduct a star. There are some storylines left as cliffhangers. Hopefully, I'll find out their conclusions in the next book.
As in every investigation, there are many things to check. Many times the reader is not privy to these, but this author directs her characters all over the place. I have no idea how she keeps track of who is where doing what, and I didn't try to keep track myself, but the story flowed really well. The chapters from the antagonist's POV were a little difficult to read.
A case that was solved early in the book seemed to have little impact and no mention of repercussions, so why was it included? Was it simply to make the team appear overwhelmed with cases? DS Ruth Bayliss was as close as ever to Calladine, but they are just best friends. She seemed to be more of a sounding board and a conscience telling him what to do in his personal life. Bayliss also has her own personal issues. Both were a bit repetitive.
While I enjoyed this book and I think it was not quite as strong as the first, it wasn't enough to deduct a star. There are some storylines left as cliffhangers. Hopefully, I'll find out their conclusions in the next book.
September 18, 2015
Although this was a brilliant read, it started off [for me] a bit of a slow burner. I personally like to be 'grabbed' into a book in this genre rather than gradually being drawn into it. That being said, the story line was fast paced when it got going.
We have suspicious deaths, it starts with a woman's body being found in the back of a car after a road traffic accident involving a pile up, however, its not all straight forward and more deaths are revealed along the way.
Heen H Durrant is my new author to look out for as although the downside was my struggling for attention at the start, it did end up a very good and an all consuming read.
April 3, 2024
I'm slowly but surely becoming a big fan of that series. The first book I really liked but had a few reservations. With this one, they quickly disappeared. Helen Durrant wrote a gripping, well plotted story.
Calladine and Bayliss are a great duo. I like how they work together. Two different personalities yet working cohesively together. Also, I really appreciate that we get more of an insight into their personal lives. It really made them more compelling as characters.
Dead Silent is a gritty and brilliantly written detective thriller and I'm looking forward to reading more in that series.
Calladine and Bayliss are a great duo. I like how they work together. Two different personalities yet working cohesively together. Also, I really appreciate that we get more of an insight into their personal lives. It really made them more compelling as characters.
Dead Silent is a gritty and brilliantly written detective thriller and I'm looking forward to reading more in that series.
January 30, 2021
I enjoyed this read better than the first book the storyline was more intense reading,why not five stars for me to many storylines, one was cut short in my view. DI Tom Calladine his mother dies his cousin is not a good guy.Calladine works with DS Ruth Bayliss and the team catching a serial killer of women.and another story of a missing child.enjoyed the ending of this read.looking forward to book three in this series.
August 1, 2015
I received this book off Net Galley and Joffe Books in return for a honest review. I had read and enjoyed the previous book by this author featuring these detectives so I was looking forward to this novel. I have not marked it quite so high as the previous book 'Dead Wrong' but it was a very strong 3 star rating and could of easily have been a 4. Both the novels are fairly short but are full of action and suspense with good believable characters. Don't be put off by the fact that it is a series of books as it works perfectly as a stand alone thriller. A good solid read.
June 13, 2024
3.5+ The second book I have read (back to back) in the series and enjoyed it more than the first.. Good quick read and look forward to seeing where book three goes...
September 1, 2015
This is the first book I’ve read by Helen Durrant but after finishing this one, it won’t be my last. DI Calladine and DS Bayliss make a great team, working well together, the rapport between the two detectives is excellent. When the body of a young American student is found in the backseat of a car during a road accident it quickly becomes evident that was not how the young woman met her death. She had been murdered and tortured before the accident. Racing against time they must find the killer before he kidnaps and murders another unsuspecting victim. The author has some character-based twists and turns to kick things up a notch and keep readers guessing. It’s a quick read packed with plenty of action. This is the second in the series and it works perfectly well as a stand alone book.
October 29, 2016
I was about to put up the review for book 3 when I noticed I hadn't yet put up the review for book 2. So here goes.
Helen Durrant has really upped her game with this one, her second book. A bit more polish and some great pacing gives us a really excellent thriller/crime story. The characters of Calladine and Bayliss are further developed as they chase down a really nasty murderer. This one abducts students from Manchester University and keeps them for some time before he kills them. The details of what he does to them are a bit nasty. As another girl goes missing the race is on to catch him before she too is killed. This is developing into a really good series.
Helen Durrant has really upped her game with this one, her second book. A bit more polish and some great pacing gives us a really excellent thriller/crime story. The characters of Calladine and Bayliss are further developed as they chase down a really nasty murderer. This one abducts students from Manchester University and keeps them for some time before he kills them. The details of what he does to them are a bit nasty. As another girl goes missing the race is on to catch him before she too is killed. This is developing into a really good series.
August 20, 2019
Book 2
Book 2 in the Calladine and Bayliss series and another brilliant read.
Calladine is suffering. His mother has died and Lydia has gone the last person he needs to see at his Mother's funeral is Fallon, his wayward cousin. Then he is called away to a murder.
Someone is targeting American students and who is Vida? How can these young women go missing and nobody knows or cares? Except Alice, a student who has been doing a bit of amateur investigation.
This is a totally gripping twisty turny book with plenty going on: an abducted child, murder of a witness and the dead/missing young women. Given that Calladine is short a detective and his DCI is ineffectual the team have their work cut out trying to juggle everything so the last thing Calladine is expecting is to have Pandora's box delivered from the grave.
But this is Calladine and with Ruth Bayliss' help he will put the pieces together and get the bad guys, all of them.
The characters continue to develop and I felt I got to know Calladine a lot more. He is a realistic character with flaws and good points and his team all work together really well so it is no surprise that they start to untangle the web of lies and secrets and find the way forward to solve the cases.
Another brilliant read. I am loving this series.
Book 2 in the Calladine and Bayliss series and another brilliant read.
Calladine is suffering. His mother has died and Lydia has gone the last person he needs to see at his Mother's funeral is Fallon, his wayward cousin. Then he is called away to a murder.
Someone is targeting American students and who is Vida? How can these young women go missing and nobody knows or cares? Except Alice, a student who has been doing a bit of amateur investigation.
This is a totally gripping twisty turny book with plenty going on: an abducted child, murder of a witness and the dead/missing young women. Given that Calladine is short a detective and his DCI is ineffectual the team have their work cut out trying to juggle everything so the last thing Calladine is expecting is to have Pandora's box delivered from the grave.
But this is Calladine and with Ruth Bayliss' help he will put the pieces together and get the bad guys, all of them.
The characters continue to develop and I felt I got to know Calladine a lot more. He is a realistic character with flaws and good points and his team all work together really well so it is no surprise that they start to untangle the web of lies and secrets and find the way forward to solve the cases.
Another brilliant read. I am loving this series.
January 6, 2017
Another good read..
Alrighty then! Another whack-job for Calladine and Ruth to hunt down. There are small descriptions of what the killer did to his victims but I’m so glad the readers didn’t have to be a part of it.
At about 65% I thought OMG not her again. Just like the last book Tom Calladine was wondering if he had a chance with his ex-girlfriend, and should he call her. He was embarrassed that he went to bed with Lydia in the last book. But Lydia left and he was wondering AGAIN if he should call Monika, the ex-girlfriend. And then what happens? Lydia comes back. So, this is probably my last Calladine and Bayliss book. I love the murder mystery/serial killer story but I really hate man-whores.
I also hate cliffhangers! The first book wasn’t really a cliffhanger but this one definitely was. Good grief! I might HAVE to read the 3rd book to see what happened to the person that got shot.
There wasn’t too much swearing and the F-bomb was used only 3 times. There was NO sex. There were 2 fade-to-black kisses. I think that’s funny.
I do like the players in these books: Ruth, Imogen, Rocco. I don’t like Lydia or DCI Jones. Lydia is just slutty and Jones is a cheap-skate, too concerned with saving money than solving crimes.
As to the narration: Jonathan Keeble is what makes the book worth listening to. His voices are fantastic and his emotions are awesome.
Alrighty then! Another whack-job for Calladine and Ruth to hunt down. There are small descriptions of what the killer did to his victims but I’m so glad the readers didn’t have to be a part of it.
At about 65% I thought OMG not her again. Just like the last book Tom Calladine was wondering if he had a chance with his ex-girlfriend, and should he call her. He was embarrassed that he went to bed with Lydia in the last book. But Lydia left and he was wondering AGAIN if he should call Monika, the ex-girlfriend. And then what happens? Lydia comes back. So, this is probably my last Calladine and Bayliss book. I love the murder mystery/serial killer story but I really hate man-whores.
I also hate cliffhangers! The first book wasn’t really a cliffhanger but this one definitely was. Good grief! I might HAVE to read the 3rd book to see what happened to the person that got shot.
There wasn’t too much swearing and the F-bomb was used only 3 times. There was NO sex. There were 2 fade-to-black kisses. I think that’s funny.
I do like the players in these books: Ruth, Imogen, Rocco. I don’t like Lydia or DCI Jones. Lydia is just slutty and Jones is a cheap-skate, too concerned with saving money than solving crimes.
As to the narration: Jonathan Keeble is what makes the book worth listening to. His voices are fantastic and his emotions are awesome.
April 9, 2017
Dead Silent is the second novel in the Calladine and Bayliss series and is a very pleasant read. The detectives are hunting a serial killer, a missing child and trying to sort out their chaotic personal lives, where it's the old cliche of the job getting in the way of romance. The plot is fairly standard with the reader getting an insight into the killer's motivations the police don't have and Tom Calladine making intuitive leaps to move the investigation forward. Normally I don't go for this as I like to follow the investigation through the facts to its logical conclusion but it works well in Dead Silent so hats off to Ms Durrant for pulling it off.
I'm not too sure about the characters, Calladine and Bayliss, as they seem to spend more time talking about their love lives than the investigation so, yes, I get it that a police career does not go well with a relationship and can we move on? None of the other characters are particularly well drawn but they don't need to be because this is a plot driven novel.
Dead Silent is a good read and an easy way to pass a few hours. I don't think it will stay in my mind for long but I enjoyed the read and the cliffhanger at the end means I'll have to read the next one, Dead List, straightaway.
I'm not too sure about the characters, Calladine and Bayliss, as they seem to spend more time talking about their love lives than the investigation so, yes, I get it that a police career does not go well with a relationship and can we move on? None of the other characters are particularly well drawn but they don't need to be because this is a plot driven novel.
Dead Silent is a good read and an easy way to pass a few hours. I don't think it will stay in my mind for long but I enjoyed the read and the cliffhanger at the end means I'll have to read the next one, Dead List, straightaway.
March 26, 2024
Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is the second book in this brilliant detective thriller. I started this immediately after finishing the first book which was called 'Dead Wrong.
This is an excellent thriller and again quite gruesome in places. The rapport between the two detectives Ballantine and Bayliss is excellent. As the book progresses we learn more about their personal lives as well as their working one.
I loved this book and look forward to reading the third book in the series.
This is the second book in this brilliant detective thriller. I started this immediately after finishing the first book which was called 'Dead Wrong.
This is an excellent thriller and again quite gruesome in places. The rapport between the two detectives Ballantine and Bayliss is excellent. As the book progresses we learn more about their personal lives as well as their working one.
I loved this book and look forward to reading the third book in the series.
January 5, 2025
The second book in this series and we are off for some surprises. The setting is a little different and the team too, after what happened in book 1.
I was surprised to notice how fast some technologies have become part of our lives in the past ten years. This book is from 2015 and our main character is having to find out how to use Skype... On the other hand, how come he never heard of Queens? It's not that this part of New York is not very well known. And there are more of these little things that makes me wonder about his background.
More gruesome murders and more tension. A lot of it. There is also room to get to know the main character and his colleagues and family a little better.
Again, enjoyable, and just as the first book in the series, a very fast read.
I was surprised to notice how fast some technologies have become part of our lives in the past ten years. This book is from 2015 and our main character is having to find out how to use Skype... On the other hand, how come he never heard of Queens? It's not that this part of New York is not very well known. And there are more of these little things that makes me wonder about his background.
More gruesome murders and more tension. A lot of it. There is also room to get to know the main character and his colleagues and family a little better.
Again, enjoyable, and just as the first book in the series, a very fast read.
August 9, 2015
After reading the first in the series a few weeks back I was intrigued to check out the second in the Calladine and Bayliss series from Helen H Durrant.
This second book in the series again follows D.I Tom Calledine and his partner Ruth Bayliss, both are still struggling to maintain a decent work life balance, Ruth is dating a local teacher and the relationship is at a crucial stage that she can't seem to figure out whether to move on or try a little harder. D.I Calladine doesn't seem to have moved on in his romantic life either and is still trying to work through his issues with on again, off again partner Monika, but when an old flame arrives back he is thrown into turmoil again. I have to admit that as the series goes on the romantic lives of the two main characters are starting to annoy me slightly, I just wish they would both make a decision on where they want to go with their partners.
The investigation begins when the body of a young American student is found in the backseat of a car during a large road accident, but it quickly comes to light that this was not how the young woman met her death. In fact she had been murdered and horribly tortured. The fight to find her killer begins, but not before another body turns up. What is the connection? Why the livestock tags and who or what is Vida?
I managed to get a fair way into this book before I figured out who the killer was that they were searching for, although I did get to it before they did. I enjoyed the way the character of the killer was written as they were very much the dark, sadistic and obsessed kind who's feeling for all but their obsession was seemingly muted.
If you found the first book in the series a touch too gruesome for you I'm afraid this book isn't going to be any better for you if you've got a weak stomach, especially if you are afraid of the dentist! I do feel I should state here that there are some scenes of sexual violence that could be distressing for readers, if this is something that you feel could be upsetting for you this is maybe one to avoid.
Although this is the second in the series I would say it works perfectly well as a stand alone book and you wouldn't have needed to have read the first in the series Dead Wrong.
Overall this was decent crime novel, but for me it was weaker than the first in the series. I have to be honest that due to past experiences there were certain elements of the novel that I found a bit upsetting, although not enough to stop me reading the next in the series.
Please let D.I Calladine have finally made up his mind about Monika because I don't think I can take anymore of his dithering!
This second book in the series again follows D.I Tom Calledine and his partner Ruth Bayliss, both are still struggling to maintain a decent work life balance, Ruth is dating a local teacher and the relationship is at a crucial stage that she can't seem to figure out whether to move on or try a little harder. D.I Calladine doesn't seem to have moved on in his romantic life either and is still trying to work through his issues with on again, off again partner Monika, but when an old flame arrives back he is thrown into turmoil again. I have to admit that as the series goes on the romantic lives of the two main characters are starting to annoy me slightly, I just wish they would both make a decision on where they want to go with their partners.
The investigation begins when the body of a young American student is found in the backseat of a car during a large road accident, but it quickly comes to light that this was not how the young woman met her death. In fact she had been murdered and horribly tortured. The fight to find her killer begins, but not before another body turns up. What is the connection? Why the livestock tags and who or what is Vida?
I managed to get a fair way into this book before I figured out who the killer was that they were searching for, although I did get to it before they did. I enjoyed the way the character of the killer was written as they were very much the dark, sadistic and obsessed kind who's feeling for all but their obsession was seemingly muted.
If you found the first book in the series a touch too gruesome for you I'm afraid this book isn't going to be any better for you if you've got a weak stomach, especially if you are afraid of the dentist! I do feel I should state here that there are some scenes of sexual violence that could be distressing for readers, if this is something that you feel could be upsetting for you this is maybe one to avoid.
Although this is the second in the series I would say it works perfectly well as a stand alone book and you wouldn't have needed to have read the first in the series Dead Wrong.
Overall this was decent crime novel, but for me it was weaker than the first in the series. I have to be honest that due to past experiences there were certain elements of the novel that I found a bit upsetting, although not enough to stop me reading the next in the series.
Please let D.I Calladine have finally made up his mind about Monika because I don't think I can take anymore of his dithering!
December 23, 2015
I am all for series, especially police procedurals. Dead silent is the second outing for DI Tom Calladine & DS Ruth Bayliss. However, having read the first book I had hoped to see further development in this follow-up as the writer becomes comfortable with her characters.
While I do enjoy some of the exchanges between the detectives if is all a little too predictable and set in their roles. The plot doesn't quite hold together; the hunt for a serial killer only becomes an issue when bodies start turning up. Each holds a clue from the start and it is perhaps incompetant police work that fills the ensuing 200 pages.
Relationships seem stuck or forever repeated; a senior officer promoted beyond his ability is like a radio jingle: "watch your budgets, we can achieve more on less".
I found the story passable if not always plausible and I may read books 3 & 4 in due time. The only saving grace is then are shorter than the average novel but therein lies a further problem. Although the wtiting is taunt and there is urgency in the developing case I miss the time spent misleading the reader, entertaining the reader and using words to carry a more rounded story.
Longer isn't always better but in an extended format a book tends to have more than a passing interest.
Furthermore, this book loses a whole point, one less star, based on the abrupt ending which means it can not standalone and the reader is obliged to read on ...........
While I do enjoy some of the exchanges between the detectives if is all a little too predictable and set in their roles. The plot doesn't quite hold together; the hunt for a serial killer only becomes an issue when bodies start turning up. Each holds a clue from the start and it is perhaps incompetant police work that fills the ensuing 200 pages.
Relationships seem stuck or forever repeated; a senior officer promoted beyond his ability is like a radio jingle: "watch your budgets, we can achieve more on less".
I found the story passable if not always plausible and I may read books 3 & 4 in due time. The only saving grace is then are shorter than the average novel but therein lies a further problem. Although the wtiting is taunt and there is urgency in the developing case I miss the time spent misleading the reader, entertaining the reader and using words to carry a more rounded story.
Longer isn't always better but in an extended format a book tends to have more than a passing interest.
Furthermore, this book loses a whole point, one less star, based on the abrupt ending which means it can not standalone and the reader is obliged to read on ...........
November 16, 2019
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Dead Silent continues the story of Calladine and Bayliss through another gruesome case. As this series is shaping up to be a full series of rather short-but-enjoyable police procedurals, I couldn't help but wonder whether the focus was not a little too much on the personal lives of the main characters.
Both their personal lives are rather a mess, and Calladine has a lot of problems with his cousin also. The case was interested and kept me reading, but it never really stood out.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Dead Silent continues the story of Calladine and Bayliss through another gruesome case. As this series is shaping up to be a full series of rather short-but-enjoyable police procedurals, I couldn't help but wonder whether the focus was not a little too much on the personal lives of the main characters.
Both their personal lives are rather a mess, and Calladine has a lot of problems with his cousin also. The case was interested and kept me reading, but it never really stood out.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
December 18, 2023
This is brilliant
October 6, 2023
Easy listen on audible. Not the best, but decent background noise.
January 6, 2021
Calladine and Ruth go after a killer with a sick habit of pulling out teeth and sowing lips closed.
This book doesn't actually end, so the reader is roped into reading the next book immediately.
3 stars
This book doesn't actually end, so the reader is roped into reading the next book immediately.
3 stars
February 25, 2024
⭐️ 3.5 stars ⭐️
February 25, 2016
I have to confess I mistakenly read these out of order so I read book 3 (dead list) first before this one. I think this had some bearing on me only giving this four stars as I'd enjoyed the case in book 3 so much and there were parts of the characters stories I knew outcomes to already too.
If I'd read this book prior to book 3 I may have focused differently, that said I enjoyed it.
This starts with two cases the first a missing child and the second a body found at the scene of a road accident that forensics said was dead prior to crash.
I was a little disappointed by the missing child case that seemed too quickly solved and finished with though I could see why when time and effort was needed on the other case which expanded into a gruesome serial killer case. The character storylines progressed from book 1 (dead wrong) and although the cases could make these books stand alone novels readers would benefit more reading them in order for the character storylines.
Alongside the serial killer case we saw progression in the personal storyline of Calladine who has family issues with his cousin that are causing problems being that his cousin is a criminal that the police are finding hard to pin a crime to that will stick. When Calladine helps by providing forensics that could drop his cousin Fallon in it Fallon isn't happy and this adds extra storyline on and off through the book
We are left with quite an ending (or it would have been if I hadn't read the next book and been aware of the outcome) so if reading these in order I would have been wanting the next book to continue.
If I'd read this book prior to book 3 I may have focused differently, that said I enjoyed it.
This starts with two cases the first a missing child and the second a body found at the scene of a road accident that forensics said was dead prior to crash.
I was a little disappointed by the missing child case that seemed too quickly solved and finished with though I could see why when time and effort was needed on the other case which expanded into a gruesome serial killer case. The character storylines progressed from book 1 (dead wrong) and although the cases could make these books stand alone novels readers would benefit more reading them in order for the character storylines.
Alongside the serial killer case we saw progression in the personal storyline of Calladine who has family issues with his cousin that are causing problems being that his cousin is a criminal that the police are finding hard to pin a crime to that will stick. When Calladine helps by providing forensics that could drop his cousin Fallon in it Fallon isn't happy and this adds extra storyline on and off through the book
We are left with quite an ending (or it would have been if I hadn't read the next book and been aware of the outcome) so if reading these in order I would have been wanting the next book to continue.
January 3, 2022
*Emotionally Charged*
This series so far are reasonably quick reads, I got into this story and find that I am fast becoming a fan of DI Tom Callandine and DS Ruth Bayliss. He has a gruff manor and Ruth with her no nonsense attitude. They are both great detectives but their personal lives could do with some work.
Back to the case, this is about missing female students that have just disappeared without trace. The university seems to think that they have just left because they could not cope with their courses
The students have not been reported by the university until one student interested in profiling decides she wants to get involved. All the missing females have one thing in common they are all American and have a similar look.
Young women are turning up Dead in a heinous fashion and they all seem to be called Vida. What is the catalyst for the murders?
Tom is still reeling from a personal loss little does he know more changes are to come in his life. Sadly he has a dangerous criminal cousin that only a few people know about will the link be discovered?
This series so far are reasonably quick reads, I got into this story and find that I am fast becoming a fan of DI Tom Callandine and DS Ruth Bayliss. He has a gruff manor and Ruth with her no nonsense attitude. They are both great detectives but their personal lives could do with some work.
Back to the case, this is about missing female students that have just disappeared without trace. The university seems to think that they have just left because they could not cope with their courses
The students have not been reported by the university until one student interested in profiling decides she wants to get involved. All the missing females have one thing in common they are all American and have a similar look.
Young women are turning up Dead in a heinous fashion and they all seem to be called Vida. What is the catalyst for the murders?
Tom is still reeling from a personal loss little does he know more changes are to come in his life. Sadly he has a dangerous criminal cousin that only a few people know about will the link be discovered?
July 29, 2015
Having read and enjoyed the first Calladine & Bayliss novel, 'Dead Wrong' recently, I decided to try this new title.
Both are relatively short, but pack a lot in. As with the first book, there is a short and punchy prologue. We soon saw how that related to the story, but the discovery of how was rather harrowing in places.
It was good to read how the central characters developed in this book. However, it would certainly be a good read as a 'stand- alone' title.
I was confused by the preamble which had reference to the USA, but this all made sense as the novel progressed.
I enjoyed the police procedure aspects of this book, but the complex inter-relationships within the private lives of the detectives also provided an interesting background to the plot.
I think there are parallels with some of the Tim Weaver books.
What about the ending? Certainly some loose ends, but why?
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Joffe Books For this copy. I hope my review does it justice.
Both are relatively short, but pack a lot in. As with the first book, there is a short and punchy prologue. We soon saw how that related to the story, but the discovery of how was rather harrowing in places.
It was good to read how the central characters developed in this book. However, it would certainly be a good read as a 'stand- alone' title.
I was confused by the preamble which had reference to the USA, but this all made sense as the novel progressed.
I enjoyed the police procedure aspects of this book, but the complex inter-relationships within the private lives of the detectives also provided an interesting background to the plot.
I think there are parallels with some of the Tim Weaver books.
What about the ending? Certainly some loose ends, but why?
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Joffe Books For this copy. I hope my review does it justice.
August 5, 2015
This is the second book of the D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss series and i was not disappointed.
I loved the first book and this second book was just as good
After a woman's body was dumped in a bag of a car tht was involved in a pile up then set on fire by the murder to cover his tracks. More bodies found and all turn to be american women and they all look the same.
Tom and ruth go on the hunt to find the killer and why he seems to be picking these certain women.
Just seems to be one thing after another for Tom. His mum dies, he fids out some shocking news that you wouldnt expect. Then the problems with his cousin.
This book kept me going and i really hope there will be another. I have grown fond of Tom Calladine
I loved the first book and this second book was just as good
After a woman's body was dumped in a bag of a car tht was involved in a pile up then set on fire by the murder to cover his tracks. More bodies found and all turn to be american women and they all look the same.
Tom and ruth go on the hunt to find the killer and why he seems to be picking these certain women.
Just seems to be one thing after another for Tom. His mum dies, he fids out some shocking news that you wouldnt expect. Then the problems with his cousin.
This book kept me going and i really hope there will be another. I have grown fond of Tom Calladine
April 1, 2023
Better than the first and I'm liking Ruth more here though I hope her relationship with Jake gets resolved in the next book or it's going to get old very fast.
And for a smart man, when it comes to Lydia Calladine thinks purely with his dick. Sigh. The murder mystery was just okay and the eventual Big Reveal was a bit of a letdown.
And for a smart man, when it comes to Lydia Calladine thinks purely with his dick. Sigh. The murder mystery was just okay and the eventual Big Reveal was a bit of a letdown.
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