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Harry likes pretty things. He likes to look at them. Sometimes that isn't enough. He wants to get closer. Naughty Harry.
DI Savage and her team in Plymouth have a string of horrific rapes on young women to investigate, but no leads whatsoever. The women are being drugged, abducted, gang raped and then dumped in the middle of nowhere. When the body of one of the rape victims is found on a beach, after being dumped out at sea, it becomes a murder case. When another body is discovered with a seemingly different MO but a photo of the first victim close by, Savage is faced with the prospect of a serial killer. A killer who is careful, meticulous, but fuelled by the most extreme and twisted passions.
The case builds into a tense life-or-death chase, and a hostage situation so close to home that Savage could lose everything she loves.
DI Savage and her team in Plymouth have a string of horrific rapes on young women to investigate, but no leads whatsoever. The women are being drugged, abducted, gang raped and then dumped in the middle of nowhere. When the body of one of the rape victims is found on a beach, after being dumped out at sea, it becomes a murder case. When another body is discovered with a seemingly different MO but a photo of the first victim close by, Savage is faced with the prospect of a serial killer. A killer who is careful, meticulous, but fuelled by the most extreme and twisted passions.
The case builds into a tense life-or-death chase, and a hostage situation so close to home that Savage could lose everything she loves.
400 pages, Paperback
First published July 20, 2011
90 people are currently reading
962 people want to read
About the author
Mark Sennen
17 books118 followersMark Sennen was born in Surrey, but spent his formative years in rural Shropshire where he learnt to drive tractors and worm sheep. He has been a reluctant farmer, an average drummer, a failed Ph.D. student and a pretty good programmer. He lives, with his wife and two children beside a muddy creek in deepest South Devon where there hasn't been a murder in years. He is the author of the best selling DI Charlotte Savage series: Touch, Bad Blood, Cut Dead, Tell Tale, Two Evils, The Boneyard, and Puppet; the Holm and da Silva series: The Sanction, and Rogue Target; plus the standalone thrillers: Three and The Sum Of All Sins.
The DI Charlotte Savage series is published by HarperCollins.
The Holm and da Silva series is published by Canelo.
The DI Charlotte Savage series is published by HarperCollins.
The Holm and da Silva series is published by Canelo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews
November 10, 2014
Maybe I wasn't in the mood for it or maybe I didn't give it a chance. After 20% I abandoned the book. I found the characters to be flat and the prose to be difficult and not at all crisp. As my wife's grandfather always said, "I'm too old to read a book I don't like".
April 30, 2014
I loved this book. I found it highly engrossing after just a bit of a slow start. While reading the second half of the book I had a hard time putting it down. It is told from the perspective of both Detective Charlotte Savage (a strong, competent, very likable protagonist) and the main perpetrator, though we are not totally sure who the latter is till close to the end. There are a lot of characters so the reader has to be on his toes to keep everyone straight; personally, I didn't find that to be a problem and enjoyed the various interactions. There was a big "creep" factor in this book that I liked--the darker and more deranged the better! I plan to finish reading this series (I understand there will eventually be a total of 6 books) and look forward to anything else Mr. Sennen puts out there in the future.
December 14, 2013
WOW!
It has been a long time since I have randomly picked up a book and was left happy knowing that I made the right choice not putting it back on the shelf.
I had never heard of Mr. Sennen, but saw this book on the shelf in the shop and thought why not.
His writing style is refeshing and the storyline is gritty and there is a character for everyone.
A great read!
I recommend to all.
It has been a long time since I have randomly picked up a book and was left happy knowing that I made the right choice not putting it back on the shelf.
I had never heard of Mr. Sennen, but saw this book on the shelf in the shop and thought why not.
His writing style is refeshing and the storyline is gritty and there is a character for everyone.
A great read!
I recommend to all.
May 2, 2014
**2.5 stars**
Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage is investigating rape cases where the women were drugged and then dumped. When one of those victims, a student, who was supposed to be headed back home, is found dead, the case starts to change. When a second body turns up much like the first, DI Savage is none too happy. Now another girl has been reported as missing. Can Savage find her before it's too late.
I read Touch because the author was doing a Q&A with our group here A Good Thriller. I usually enjoy these types of books, but there was something about this book that just made it not as good as I was expecting. I enjoyed the story line, but there were a lot of characters and that detracted from the story. I think I counted at least eight different detectives or police officers involved, not to mention crime scene investigators and coroners. Then there were the different suspects in the case and the person who did the crime. He gave each of his victims another name. So it was all a little confusing.
At this time there are two other books in this series,
and
. According to the author there will be at least three more in the series. I'm not sure if I'll read the others or not.
Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage is investigating rape cases where the women were drugged and then dumped. When one of those victims, a student, who was supposed to be headed back home, is found dead, the case starts to change. When a second body turns up much like the first, DI Savage is none too happy. Now another girl has been reported as missing. Can Savage find her before it's too late.
I read Touch because the author was doing a Q&A with our group here A Good Thriller. I usually enjoy these types of books, but there was something about this book that just made it not as good as I was expecting. I enjoyed the story line, but there were a lot of characters and that detracted from the story. I think I counted at least eight different detectives or police officers involved, not to mention crime scene investigators and coroners. Then there were the different suspects in the case and the person who did the crime. He gave each of his victims another name. So it was all a little confusing.
At this time there are two other books in this series,
and
. According to the author there will be at least three more in the series. I'm not sure if I'll read the others or not. 
June 25, 2022
2.5 stars
Not the best thriller, mystery or detective story I've listened to. Neither was it the worst.
Except maybe on one point: The time spent in the serial killer's mind was ... depraved.
It gave me nothing but disgust and that felt like a very empty experience I mostly wanted to fast-forward because it was just useless, gory, perverted details.
I didn't really like that the book sometimes seemed to focus more on grovelling in the gruesome and sick twists and turns of the serial killer's mind, and his crimes, than actually hunting him down and solving the case.
The main character, Charlotte Savage, somehow didn't get enough time to actually become established as the figure head of a series, but... That leaves room to grow, I guess.
I ended up liking the book as a whole well enough in the end. I think I'll give book two a chance.
(A.k.a. I'm saving Arcane Casebook 8 for a rainy day instead of throwing myself at it.) 😇
Not the best thriller, mystery or detective story I've listened to. Neither was it the worst.
Except maybe on one point: The time spent in the serial killer's mind was ... depraved.
It gave me nothing but disgust and that felt like a very empty experience I mostly wanted to fast-forward because it was just useless, gory, perverted details.
I didn't really like that the book sometimes seemed to focus more on grovelling in the gruesome and sick twists and turns of the serial killer's mind, and his crimes, than actually hunting him down and solving the case.
The main character, Charlotte Savage, somehow didn't get enough time to actually become established as the figure head of a series, but... That leaves room to grow, I guess.
I ended up liking the book as a whole well enough in the end. I think I'll give book two a chance.
(A.k.a. I'm saving Arcane Casebook 8 for a rainy day instead of throwing myself at it.) 😇
October 23, 2024
Setting: Plymouth, Devon (mostly); modern day.
This is the first book in a series featuring Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage and fortuitously set in three of my favourite West Country destinations - Plymouth and Dartmouth in Devon and St Ives in Cornwall.
Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating what rapidly becomes a series of vicious gang-rapes on young women abducted from night clubs and then left in isolated locations. But when a young woman's body is found dumped at sea, the murder team led by Charlotte Savage soon discovers possible links between the murder and the rapes - and start hunting for a serial killer who is meticulous but also totally unfeeling and vicious....
This was an excellent first novel in a series but is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Loved the setting and the introduction to the characters so looking forward to reading further books in the series - 9/10.
This is the first book in a series featuring Detective Inspector Charlotte Savage and fortuitously set in three of my favourite West Country destinations - Plymouth and Dartmouth in Devon and St Ives in Cornwall.
Devon and Cornwall Police are investigating what rapidly becomes a series of vicious gang-rapes on young women abducted from night clubs and then left in isolated locations. But when a young woman's body is found dumped at sea, the murder team led by Charlotte Savage soon discovers possible links between the murder and the rapes - and start hunting for a serial killer who is meticulous but also totally unfeeling and vicious....
This was an excellent first novel in a series but is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Loved the setting and the introduction to the characters so looking forward to reading further books in the series - 9/10.
February 11, 2025
Great book 📖 👌
February 9, 2015
It is good to be pointed to a new author and then find you like his work.
This is a bright and interesting book, a polce procedural set in Devon & Cornwall focusing on DI Charlotte Savage. I liked the fact two cases spilled over into one another, I liked the story of Savage and her desire to work hard but not dishonest enough not to think of throwing a sickie.
The plot was well consructed and revealed and the reasons for the crimes and subsequent actions believable and possible in the scale of things.
I found the ending tense but the final outworking of the story not quite tenable in my mind; more the protagonists methods and knowledge as against the actions of Savage herself. She however remains a credible person to me and I look forward to encountering her in future stories.
We should applaud debut authors, value their work and support their development as readers and lovers of books. Mark Sennen deserves praise and a wider audience as he has talent and a worthy participant in crime genre.
This is a bright and interesting book, a polce procedural set in Devon & Cornwall focusing on DI Charlotte Savage. I liked the fact two cases spilled over into one another, I liked the story of Savage and her desire to work hard but not dishonest enough not to think of throwing a sickie.
The plot was well consructed and revealed and the reasons for the crimes and subsequent actions believable and possible in the scale of things.
I found the ending tense but the final outworking of the story not quite tenable in my mind; more the protagonists methods and knowledge as against the actions of Savage herself. She however remains a credible person to me and I look forward to encountering her in future stories.
We should applaud debut authors, value their work and support their development as readers and lovers of books. Mark Sennen deserves praise and a wider audience as he has talent and a worthy participant in crime genre.
June 16, 2015
i read this as it was set in the city I live in - Plymouth - and I really enjoyed that the author knows the city and surrounds well. Places I know and places I love were well described and may the book seem oh so real. we lived in a flat on Grand Parade in West Hoe! Habing said that, the subject matter of the book was gruesome and sick and I juat disn't enjoy it. There were chunks of the book where I thought - we just don't need to know the sickwning details. It didn't add to the plot or suspense - it just felt voyeuristic. Despite loving the setting, I wouldn't read another book like this.
December 21, 2014
In this book you get to understand the different perspectives of those involved, which in turn gives the story a little more credence. Personally I found Touch to be neither good nor bad. It didn't take long to read and didn't require much imagination, but I haven't given up on Mark Sennen yet and will try Bad Blood (the next in the DI Savage series) in the near future.
September 26, 2024
For the first time in a long time I found myself unable to finish reading a book. Overall, I found this story too detailed, too analytic of the horrors of helpless captivity, the perverse self-justification of the criminally insane, the gruesome realities of violent death and the personal and emotional flaws of almost every character in its challengingly complex and tightly interwoven plot. It tries too hard, it succeeds too well, in creating distress and distaste in (this) reader's mind, with even its lighter moments and personal interactions flawed by often having cynical objectives or disappointing outcomes for the characters involved. I eventually skipped forward to the epilogue where at least a glimmer of relief and joyfulness dawns... Or does it?
Not to my taste I'm afraid.
Not to my taste I'm afraid.
March 7, 2022
A number of women have been taken and a number of rapes have occurred around the same time. So two teams are trying to work out who their perpetrator’s are. Then the detectives figure out the cases are linked and they are looking for a perpetrator who is escalating. Can they find him before he finds another victim?
This book was a lucky dip from my library and I really enjoyed it. I would have liked the author to spell out the acronyms and the police procedure a bit more but you could figure out the gist most of the time. A really dark story, dark crimes and a traumatic backstory made this an unexpectedly good read.
This book was a lucky dip from my library and I really enjoyed it. I would have liked the author to spell out the acronyms and the police procedure a bit more but you could figure out the gist most of the time. A really dark story, dark crimes and a traumatic backstory made this an unexpectedly good read.
September 27, 2020
Tried very hard to read this book the characters are so wooden and stupid,the villian is so off his trolley its unbelieveable, the police are definitely souless and dull(no character).One prime example of this book is a farmer who find a body of a young girl dead in his field and forgets all the csi procedures and has an erection and kisses the dead girl.At that point i gave up its so stupid and souless, i have the next two in the series but will be giving them a big miss,so do,not go out and BUY this book.
March 19, 2021
This is the first Mark Sennen book I have read, I enjoyed it, and I will definitely read the rest in the series.
There’s have been a number of attacks on young girls, DI Savage and her team are tracking this monster.
Everything steps up a notch when a young girl is found on the beach, they have to find this nut job before he strikes again.
Harry is a very sick individual, very disturbed and he likes pretty young girls...
There’s have been a number of attacks on young girls, DI Savage and her team are tracking this monster.
Everything steps up a notch when a young girl is found on the beach, they have to find this nut job before he strikes again.
Harry is a very sick individual, very disturbed and he likes pretty young girls...
February 24, 2018
This book received 4 stars for the following reasons. 1) No where in the story was there an indication of the killer obtaining an address relating to the ending.
2) Because of this omission the end was very predictable and weak.
For the most part the story was good, but could have been better had slightly more attention been paid to the notes above.
2) Because of this omission the end was very predictable and weak.
For the most part the story was good, but could have been better had slightly more attention been paid to the notes above.
June 23, 2020
Definitely a good read. Very brutal sexual sadism set in sleepy Devon. Involved plot and a lot of characters which took some remembering at times as they were all new to me. I hope the characters get another outing and get developed in subsequent books. Not quite 5 stars but pretty close. Twists right to the end.
September 24, 2020
New author to me. Picked 1st & 2nd books up in a charity shop cos . I've ordered the 3rd today off eBay 👍Really enjoyed them. Similar genre/style to Mark Billingham, I enjoy the insight you get into how the Police do what they do.. it's dark in places, sad in places, exciting, the recurring characters are growing on me.. Read it. Its good 👍
March 4, 2021
This was a disappointing read. I found the story to be very boring. Just another crazy killer.
The author tried to get to draw you into the main character by giving her a sad background story but I just didn't feel like there was any more to her than that.
I also couldn't get behind all the police characters being called by their surnames.
The author tried to get to draw you into the main character by giving her a sad background story but I just didn't feel like there was any more to her than that.
I also couldn't get behind all the police characters being called by their surnames.
December 16, 2024
Started and finished date - 13.11.25 to 16.12.24.
My rating - Two Stars
Overall this book was fine but it feel bit flat. the writing and paced of plot was okay also the atmosphere was fine and the ending of the book was okay. The cover of book was okay. The characters was fine but I feel at the characters needed flash out bit.
My rating - Two Stars
Overall this book was fine but it feel bit flat. the writing and paced of plot was okay also the atmosphere was fine and the ending of the book was okay. The cover of book was okay. The characters was fine but I feel at the characters needed flash out bit.
June 27, 2017
Quite enjoyed this, read it almost in one sitting. Great storyline undermined slightly by the sheer number of characters and the use of dual names which made it a little tricky to follow at times. I will read the others now that the characters have been established.
March 13, 2018
A very savage story
Excellent police procedural, plot was good and moved at pace. This is not my first Charlotte savage novel I found this one very much more exciting the story, seemed more complex. Buy it it is a good choice.
Excellent police procedural, plot was good and moved at pace. This is not my first Charlotte savage novel I found this one very much more exciting the story, seemed more complex. Buy it it is a good choice.
November 9, 2021
Good stuff
Good solid police procedural with well thought out characters. Very interesting perpetrators. Rollercoaster ending. Enjoy it a lot when the pieces come together like this. Well written too.
Good solid police procedural with well thought out characters. Very interesting perpetrators. Rollercoaster ending. Enjoy it a lot when the pieces come together like this. Well written too.
June 20, 2022
Not a bad book but nothing to make it stand out. The killer is known from early on and it's just a question of how long it takes the police to figure it out. The usual red herrings are thrown in to make you think that the killer may go by more than one name but it doesn't really work.
July 25, 2023
Books I've read and provided detailed reviews over the years but all data is lost after accidental deletion and GD refuse to restore it back.
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
Adding books back to my library for my own reference and tracking purposes
August 11, 2023
The book was very good but very disturbing .how the people we meet or see in the streets can lead horrific lives privately. It was horrific. I read the book in German under the tittle Der Frauensammler. Which was good for my German practice.
September 19, 2023
A good first book in the series. A nice intro. A few too many characters for me. All the police seemed to be the same and I didn’t know them well enough to remember who was who.
Did like Savage tho. A kick main character. Always love it being a women.
Did like Savage tho. A kick main character. Always love it being a women.
October 8, 2017
Great read
Brilliant written, this book will stay with me for a long time, scary at times, would defiantly recommend this book as a must read x 😊
Brilliant written, this book will stay with me for a long time, scary at times, would defiantly recommend this book as a must read x 😊
February 15, 2018
linda bobby777@Gmail.com
it was very gripping and did not expect the ending to end has good has it did looking forward to
it was very gripping and did not expect the ending to end has good has it did looking forward to
March 22, 2018
can't wait to read book 2
April 2, 2018
Excellent - looking forward to the next five in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 109 reviews