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DC Mel Cotton Crime Series #3
Fatal Dose: The third gripping novel in a brand new British detective thriller series
'BRIAN PRICE IS A VERY CLEVER AND PROMISING CRIME WRITER.' PETER JAMES
‘Superb!’ Graham Bartlett
‘Another highly intelligent cop thriller from Price. Written with huge authority and deeply compelling.’ Paul Finch
WINNER OF A 2023 CHILL WITH A BOOK PREMIER READERS' AWARD!
Death stalks Mexton
When a spate of poisonings hits the town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and her colleagues are left perplexed. All the deaths seem to be ingeniously planned and the police cannot see anything obvious to connect the victims.
Is a vigilante at work?
Jenny Pike, reporter for the Mexton Messenger, seems to think there’s a link and she’s not afraid to publish her controversial theories. All the victims seem to have got away with harming people in some way. Is that the connection?
Fear from the East
Already stretched to the limit, Mel and her colleagues also face another huge challenge. A ruthless Albanian gang has launched a crime wave in the area and someone has murdered a notorious blackmailer.
How will the team cope? With a serial poisoner at large, is anyone safe?
Fatal Dose is the thrilling sequel to the critically-acclaimed Fatal Trade and Fatal Hate by the brilliant Brian Price
‘Superb!’ Graham Bartlett
‘Another highly intelligent cop thriller from Price. Written with huge authority and deeply compelling.’ Paul Finch
WINNER OF A 2023 CHILL WITH A BOOK PREMIER READERS' AWARD!
Death stalks Mexton
When a spate of poisonings hits the town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and her colleagues are left perplexed. All the deaths seem to be ingeniously planned and the police cannot see anything obvious to connect the victims.
Is a vigilante at work?
Jenny Pike, reporter for the Mexton Messenger, seems to think there’s a link and she’s not afraid to publish her controversial theories. All the victims seem to have got away with harming people in some way. Is that the connection?
Fear from the East
Already stretched to the limit, Mel and her colleagues also face another huge challenge. A ruthless Albanian gang has launched a crime wave in the area and someone has murdered a notorious blackmailer.
How will the team cope? With a serial poisoner at large, is anyone safe?
Fatal Dose is the thrilling sequel to the critically-acclaimed Fatal Trade and Fatal Hate by the brilliant Brian Price
412 pages, Paperback
Published January 31, 2023
4 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Brian Price
96 books12 followersLibrarian Note: There are more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
I am a chemist and biologist. I worked for many years in the environmental field and as an Open University tutor. I am also an avid crime reader.
I turned from science to crime when I attended Crimefest in Bristol, in 2016. I found the crime writing community open and friendly so I resolved to use my knowledge of science to help authors get scientific details correct. I have advised a number of leading crime writers on scientific topics. In 2019 my website www.crimewriterscience.co.uk metamorphosed into the book Crime Writing: How to Write the Science.
In the same year, I won a competition, run by the Facebook group Crime Fiction Coach, to find the best opening line for a crime novel. I then had no option but to write the book to go with that line! The result was Fatal Trade, published on 14th September 2021 by Hobeck Books. Fatal Beginnings, a free novella introducing some of the characters, is available at www.hobeck.net
Fatal Hate followed in April 2022 and Fatal Dose in January 2023.
Several of my short stories are published in the Writers in Stone anthologies Cuckoo, Lock and Key and Seventy Three. One of my stories appears in The Dark Side of Christmas, a charity anthology produced by Hobeck Books, and another in the Crime Writers Association anthology Music of the Night. I also contributed a recipe and short story to the Hobeck 2022 charity collection Cooking the Books
I am a chemist and biologist. I worked for many years in the environmental field and as an Open University tutor. I am also an avid crime reader.
I turned from science to crime when I attended Crimefest in Bristol, in 2016. I found the crime writing community open and friendly so I resolved to use my knowledge of science to help authors get scientific details correct. I have advised a number of leading crime writers on scientific topics. In 2019 my website www.crimewriterscience.co.uk metamorphosed into the book Crime Writing: How to Write the Science.
In the same year, I won a competition, run by the Facebook group Crime Fiction Coach, to find the best opening line for a crime novel. I then had no option but to write the book to go with that line! The result was Fatal Trade, published on 14th September 2021 by Hobeck Books. Fatal Beginnings, a free novella introducing some of the characters, is available at www.hobeck.net
Fatal Hate followed in April 2022 and Fatal Dose in January 2023.
Several of my short stories are published in the Writers in Stone anthologies Cuckoo, Lock and Key and Seventy Three. One of my stories appears in The Dark Side of Christmas, a charity anthology produced by Hobeck Books, and another in the Crime Writers Association anthology Music of the Night. I also contributed a recipe and short story to the Hobeck 2022 charity collection Cooking the Books
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 6, 2023
FATAL DOSE - BRIAN PRICE
Blurb:
Death stalks Mexton.
When a spate of poisonings hits the town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and her colleagues are left perplexed. All the deaths seem to be ingeniously planned and the police cannot see anything obvious to connect the victims.
Is a vigilante at work?
Jenny Pike, reporter for the Mexton Messenger, seems to think there’s a link and she’s not afraid to publish her controversial theories. All the victims seem to have got away with harming people in some way. Is that the connection?
Fear from the East.
Already stretched to the limit, Mel and her colleagues also face another huge challenge. A ruthless Albanian gang has launched a crime wave in the area and someone has murdered a notorious blackmailer.
How will the team cope? With a serial poisoner at large, is anyone safe?
My thoughts:
Brian Price’s “Fatal Dose” is the third book in the ‘DC Mel Cotton’ series of police procedurals and although this follows on immediately from book two, this can very easily be read as a standalone. I’ve been following Mel Cotton since the first outing and can report that these books have gone from strength to strength.
Make sure you don’t blink when reading this book. With the deaths coming thick and fast you honestly could miss one if you even just stop for a cuppa! It scares me just how much the author knows about death by poisoning, I certainly wouldn’t like to be joining him for a meal anytime soon and together with his complex mind of criminal activities, Mr Price makes a formidable force to be reckoned with.
I love all the characters in this series, there isn’t one I haven’t endeared to. Even the interminable journalist, Jenny Pike soon grows on you and even though Mel is the main protagonist the screen time is shared quite generously with the whole team.
Very cleverly plotted, impressively executed and with superb characterisation, “Fatal Dose”should be high on any crime lovers to-read list and should anyone be left standing in Mexton for the police to investigate, then I can’t wait for the next book and especially to see how the cliff hanger ending, regarding two of the characters progress.
#FatalDose - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Rebecca at Hobeck Books for inviting me on this tour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Title - Fatal Dose
Author - Brian Price
Publisher - Hobeck Books
Publish Date - 31st January 2023
Page Count - 412
Genre - Crime
Blurb:
Death stalks Mexton.
When a spate of poisonings hits the town of Mexton, DC Mel Cotton and her colleagues are left perplexed. All the deaths seem to be ingeniously planned and the police cannot see anything obvious to connect the victims.
Is a vigilante at work?
Jenny Pike, reporter for the Mexton Messenger, seems to think there’s a link and she’s not afraid to publish her controversial theories. All the victims seem to have got away with harming people in some way. Is that the connection?
Fear from the East.
Already stretched to the limit, Mel and her colleagues also face another huge challenge. A ruthless Albanian gang has launched a crime wave in the area and someone has murdered a notorious blackmailer.
How will the team cope? With a serial poisoner at large, is anyone safe?
My thoughts:
Brian Price’s “Fatal Dose” is the third book in the ‘DC Mel Cotton’ series of police procedurals and although this follows on immediately from book two, this can very easily be read as a standalone. I’ve been following Mel Cotton since the first outing and can report that these books have gone from strength to strength.
Make sure you don’t blink when reading this book. With the deaths coming thick and fast you honestly could miss one if you even just stop for a cuppa! It scares me just how much the author knows about death by poisoning, I certainly wouldn’t like to be joining him for a meal anytime soon and together with his complex mind of criminal activities, Mr Price makes a formidable force to be reckoned with.
I love all the characters in this series, there isn’t one I haven’t endeared to. Even the interminable journalist, Jenny Pike soon grows on you and even though Mel is the main protagonist the screen time is shared quite generously with the whole team.
Very cleverly plotted, impressively executed and with superb characterisation, “Fatal Dose”should be high on any crime lovers to-read list and should anyone be left standing in Mexton for the police to investigate, then I can’t wait for the next book and especially to see how the cliff hanger ending, regarding two of the characters progress.
#FatalDose - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Rebecca at Hobeck Books for inviting me on this tour and for my copy of the book in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Title - Fatal Dose
Author - Brian Price
Publisher - Hobeck Books
Publish Date - 31st January 2023
Page Count - 412
Genre - Crime
January 28, 2023
4.5 star review rounded up.
Brian Price takes the reader on an exciting journey in his latest tense, nail-biting thriller.
In the prologue, the killer’s fascination with poisons is explained – he began a degree in pharmacy, but had to quit because of a drug theft allegation. This made me immediately think of someone who is resentful and out for revenge.
Soon, bodies begin to ‘pop up’ around Mexton. At the beginning, the police treat it as unrelated crimes, however, the postmortems reveal that all victims were poisoned. There is strychnine, foxglove, atropa belladona, cyanide – name the poison, it’s bound to be in the book. I was in my element, almost whooping with joy as each poison was revealed.
Jenny Pike, a reporter from the Mexton Messenger, is the first person to connect the dots, however, the way she deals with the matter isn’t very subtle nor tactful. Her articles are full of contempt and dislike when describing the the local police force. As I was reading I was thinking that it would be very apt if she became the killer’s next victim (I won’t tell you if she does, you have to read it for yourself!).
Mel Cotton and her team have their hands full with the poisonings. Then, they discover that an Albanian gang have been threatening the local area, plus a body of a notorious blackmailer is discovered.
Who is responsible for these attacks? Can Mel and her team uncover the truth?
I really enjoyed this crime thriller. The author’s knowledge of chemistry shines on each page – I might be biased, but I love a good poisoning! It stems from my love of all things Agatha Christie – she adored her poisons.
The multilayered plot is a huge strength in this book. I enjoyed returning to the characters and discovering what they were up to and how they developed.
Having read Price’s previous books, I can confirm that this one is his best yet.
Brian Price takes the reader on an exciting journey in his latest tense, nail-biting thriller.
In the prologue, the killer’s fascination with poisons is explained – he began a degree in pharmacy, but had to quit because of a drug theft allegation. This made me immediately think of someone who is resentful and out for revenge.
Soon, bodies begin to ‘pop up’ around Mexton. At the beginning, the police treat it as unrelated crimes, however, the postmortems reveal that all victims were poisoned. There is strychnine, foxglove, atropa belladona, cyanide – name the poison, it’s bound to be in the book. I was in my element, almost whooping with joy as each poison was revealed.
Jenny Pike, a reporter from the Mexton Messenger, is the first person to connect the dots, however, the way she deals with the matter isn’t very subtle nor tactful. Her articles are full of contempt and dislike when describing the the local police force. As I was reading I was thinking that it would be very apt if she became the killer’s next victim (I won’t tell you if she does, you have to read it for yourself!).
Mel Cotton and her team have their hands full with the poisonings. Then, they discover that an Albanian gang have been threatening the local area, plus a body of a notorious blackmailer is discovered.
Who is responsible for these attacks? Can Mel and her team uncover the truth?
I really enjoyed this crime thriller. The author’s knowledge of chemistry shines on each page – I might be biased, but I love a good poisoning! It stems from my love of all things Agatha Christie – she adored her poisons.
The multilayered plot is a huge strength in this book. I enjoyed returning to the characters and discovering what they were up to and how they developed.
Having read Price’s previous books, I can confirm that this one is his best yet.
April 11, 2023
The material within Fatal Dose would provide some authors with two novels possibly even three but Mr. Price manages to slot it all in telling a cogent story in his distinctive rapid-fire style. The action starts with an abduction which immediately grabs the reader’s attention and from then on it becomes a relentless page turner.
There are three strands to the plot which is intricate rather than complex and the strands cross and mingle but are described with great clarity.
The first strand is a serial poisoner at large in Mexton and here the author is in his element, displaying his great knowledge of the subject and despatching the victims with some wit. They come early in the novel with some rapidity and variety that I met them with some glee, oh great another one bites the dust. A cold and calculated way of killing and now with modern forensics much rarer.
The second strand involves a blackmailer whose murder puts several people under the spotlight of suspicion. An underhand and controlling crime, the essence of which is well captured and allows for something from the past to be unearthed. All fully exploited by the author.
So, to counterbalance the old-style murder methods above, the third strand is thoroughly up to date as an Albanian crime game is muscling in on the action in sleepy Mexton where there is no organised crime. Organised crime gangs in London are nothing new, as well as home grown there have been concerns on Maltese and Greek Cypriots, with the Albanians being the current problem. The novelty here is a move away from the big cities, but with the County Lines distribution routes this could we be seen as a natural progression. These are brutal, savage men which gives the author a chance to include some darkness and violence to the story but without being too visceral with the descriptions.
This is a Mel Cotton novel and she once again is at the core of the action and jeopardy, but it’s not like her character hogs all the limelight. Indeed, DI Emma Thorpe is very much front and centre of the investigation and a number of interesting colleagues flit in and out of the story. This is all deftly done but being essentially a plot driven crime thriller there isn’t much space for great depth of character studies. We get glimpses of Mel’s home life, how her and Tom cope with the scrapes she gets in and their need for greater space for Tom’s parrots.
Fatal Dose is a frantic page turner of a crime thriller jam packed with incident and jeopardy.
There are three strands to the plot which is intricate rather than complex and the strands cross and mingle but are described with great clarity.
The first strand is a serial poisoner at large in Mexton and here the author is in his element, displaying his great knowledge of the subject and despatching the victims with some wit. They come early in the novel with some rapidity and variety that I met them with some glee, oh great another one bites the dust. A cold and calculated way of killing and now with modern forensics much rarer.
The second strand involves a blackmailer whose murder puts several people under the spotlight of suspicion. An underhand and controlling crime, the essence of which is well captured and allows for something from the past to be unearthed. All fully exploited by the author.
So, to counterbalance the old-style murder methods above, the third strand is thoroughly up to date as an Albanian crime game is muscling in on the action in sleepy Mexton where there is no organised crime. Organised crime gangs in London are nothing new, as well as home grown there have been concerns on Maltese and Greek Cypriots, with the Albanians being the current problem. The novelty here is a move away from the big cities, but with the County Lines distribution routes this could we be seen as a natural progression. These are brutal, savage men which gives the author a chance to include some darkness and violence to the story but without being too visceral with the descriptions.
This is a Mel Cotton novel and she once again is at the core of the action and jeopardy, but it’s not like her character hogs all the limelight. Indeed, DI Emma Thorpe is very much front and centre of the investigation and a number of interesting colleagues flit in and out of the story. This is all deftly done but being essentially a plot driven crime thriller there isn’t much space for great depth of character studies. We get glimpses of Mel’s home life, how her and Tom cope with the scrapes she gets in and their need for greater space for Tom’s parrots.
Fatal Dose is a frantic page turner of a crime thriller jam packed with incident and jeopardy.
February 11, 2023
A body turned up outside a school gates, only its head and feet touching the ground, the rest of the body contorted into a horrible shape, no one had seen before. The pathologist thought it might have been a poisoning death, an uneasy one at that. Some tests would confirm which poison for sure. A few days later, another body was found by a postman as he was delivering his post round. He saw the victim through his front room window and called the police. This victim died whilst exercising at home on his exercise bike, it looked suspicious to the paramedic and he said so to DS Jack Vaughn and DC Mel Cotton when they arrived. When they were looking around the place, they found some plant leaves in a bag so they bagged them up for evidence and taped the area off as a crime scene. Little do the police know this is just the beginning of the poisoner’s plan.
Jenny Pike, the police arch nemesis at The Messenger paper was having a field day putting the police down over their handling of the poisonings and offering her theories of the murders instead. That it was a simple case of someone harming people but later it was to be found that she was being poisoned by mercury. Then she needed the help of the police!
Also, the police are having to try and find the killer of a female blackmailer. Could it be a police officer?
Then there is the Albanian gangs in the area who are causing trouble with the prostitution, trafficking, their scrapyards and the theft of catalytic converters which is big business. The police are working hard to put them out of business as the Albanians seem to always have more in their arsenal as a backup plan.
Will the police be able to find the poisoner and how he selects his target? Will they be able to stop the Albanian gangs who seem to have such a grip on the town of Mexton?
This book hooked me from the start and had me up all night as I didn’t want to put it down! It is just so good and it is a fast paced book with so much going on, it’s great. The author has a descriptive writing style so you feel like you are living the scene as well as reading it. It is a riveting read and I can recommend it.
Jenny Pike, the police arch nemesis at The Messenger paper was having a field day putting the police down over their handling of the poisonings and offering her theories of the murders instead. That it was a simple case of someone harming people but later it was to be found that she was being poisoned by mercury. Then she needed the help of the police!
Also, the police are having to try and find the killer of a female blackmailer. Could it be a police officer?
Then there is the Albanian gangs in the area who are causing trouble with the prostitution, trafficking, their scrapyards and the theft of catalytic converters which is big business. The police are working hard to put them out of business as the Albanians seem to always have more in their arsenal as a backup plan.
Will the police be able to find the poisoner and how he selects his target? Will they be able to stop the Albanian gangs who seem to have such a grip on the town of Mexton?
This book hooked me from the start and had me up all night as I didn’t want to put it down! It is just so good and it is a fast paced book with so much going on, it’s great. The author has a descriptive writing style so you feel like you are living the scene as well as reading it. It is a riveting read and I can recommend it.
February 4, 2023
Book 3 in the DC Mel Cotton Series and whilst there is a carry over from the previous book this can still be read as a stand alone thriller. Fatal dose in the title refers to poison but this is not an Arsenic and Old Lace type story but something much more deadly. A well written and researched police procedural, with a number of threads and with a great prologue introducing the killer and explaining his obsession with poisons.
Briefly, Mexton would appear to be a serious crime centre and this time there is a prolific poisoner at large who is operating as a vigilante. Bodies are turning up with different means of poisoning for each one. The MIT are completely baffled as they have no suspects and none of the victims are connected. Meanwhile the local paper are giving them grief for the lack of progress. On top of this there is a serious Albanian Gang looking to state their claim on the town.
Definitely not a cosy read as there are bodies aplenty and even the police team and Cotton herself are not immune to the vicious attacks. There are suspects everywhere and plenty of red herrings and it is clear the story does not finish with the final page! Cannot wait for the next episode but meanwhile think I will add Mexton to the towns I don’t think I want to visit anytime soon! A really good, exciting read and I’m guessing this authors search history wouldn’t bear scrutiny.
Briefly, Mexton would appear to be a serious crime centre and this time there is a prolific poisoner at large who is operating as a vigilante. Bodies are turning up with different means of poisoning for each one. The MIT are completely baffled as they have no suspects and none of the victims are connected. Meanwhile the local paper are giving them grief for the lack of progress. On top of this there is a serious Albanian Gang looking to state their claim on the town.
Definitely not a cosy read as there are bodies aplenty and even the police team and Cotton herself are not immune to the vicious attacks. There are suspects everywhere and plenty of red herrings and it is clear the story does not finish with the final page! Cannot wait for the next episode but meanwhile think I will add Mexton to the towns I don’t think I want to visit anytime soon! A really good, exciting read and I’m guessing this authors search history wouldn’t bear scrutiny.
February 5, 2023
I am already a hug fan of Brian's writing, and knowing his history in science I was really looking forward to a book about poisoning.
However if I was to say that's all it was, that would be doing it a huge disservice.
This is so much more than that. Albanian gangs, torture, cyber crime, sex trafficking, torture, blackmail, corruption, jealousy, ambition, and more besides.
The main story is a serial poisoner in the town of Mexton. Mel and her team are hitting a brick wall trying to track them down as the scenes are left clean. I different poison is used each time, so they know they are dealing with a clever opponent.
A previous adversary of Mel returns to the town and decides to pick up where she left off, blackmailing prominent figures.
An Albanian gang is trying to set up a new criminal hub and have decided Mexton is the place.
Very cleverly, every single one of these storyline, whist running independently, also interact with each other to perfection.
Brian is the master of the short chapter, and you fly through the book at a rate of knots. The actual poisonings are told in a way that is gratuitous or gruesome, a little off the cuff dismissal of the seriousness came across. I loved it.
Another wonderful wonderful book by this incredible writer. Personal storylines developing and changing in amongst the action and a brilliant story well told. Can't ask for more.
However if I was to say that's all it was, that would be doing it a huge disservice.
This is so much more than that. Albanian gangs, torture, cyber crime, sex trafficking, torture, blackmail, corruption, jealousy, ambition, and more besides.
The main story is a serial poisoner in the town of Mexton. Mel and her team are hitting a brick wall trying to track them down as the scenes are left clean. I different poison is used each time, so they know they are dealing with a clever opponent.
A previous adversary of Mel returns to the town and decides to pick up where she left off, blackmailing prominent figures.
An Albanian gang is trying to set up a new criminal hub and have decided Mexton is the place.
Very cleverly, every single one of these storyline, whist running independently, also interact with each other to perfection.
Brian is the master of the short chapter, and you fly through the book at a rate of knots. The actual poisonings are told in a way that is gratuitous or gruesome, a little off the cuff dismissal of the seriousness came across. I loved it.
Another wonderful wonderful book by this incredible writer. Personal storylines developing and changing in amongst the action and a brilliant story well told. Can't ask for more.
February 3, 2023
Book 3 in the Mel Cotton series.
When a spate of poisonings hit the town of Mexton the police struggle to find any link between the victims. The press soon pick up the story and put the pressure on. Is there a serial killer on the loose?
Elsewhere a gang are stealing catalytic converters and they seem to be getting more vicious. Can they be stopped before someone gets seriously hurt?
This is the first book I've read from this author but it certainly won't be the last. I loved it.
I'd like to thank Hobert Books for my ARC in return for an honest review.
When a spate of poisonings hit the town of Mexton the police struggle to find any link between the victims. The press soon pick up the story and put the pressure on. Is there a serial killer on the loose?
Elsewhere a gang are stealing catalytic converters and they seem to be getting more vicious. Can they be stopped before someone gets seriously hurt?
This is the first book I've read from this author but it certainly won't be the last. I loved it.
I'd like to thank Hobert Books for my ARC in return for an honest review.
February 4, 2024
In this elegant police procedural story, we meet the leading lights of Mexton CID as they struggle with a local crime wave. They're contending with the murder of a blackmailer, a brutal Albanian crime gang and a serial killer dispensing rough justice with home-grown poisons. Then there's the local paper, whose bickering crime reporters are less than supportive of the police. Even when the cases are cracked (along with a few ribs for good measure), Brian Price cleverly leaves clues for the next book in the series. I can't wait!
June 6, 2023
Fatal Dose by Brian Price has received a Chill with a Book Readers' PREMIER Award
www.chillwithabook.com
www.chillwithabook.com
February 12, 2024
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was. An underestimated writer (by me anyway) Brian has produced an excellent piece of work. I really enjoyed it and will look out for more.
January 31, 2023
I received an E-ARC with a request for my honest review.
This thrilling crime book is the third in the DC Mel Cotton series, set in the town of Mexton.
Suddenly there is a spurt on murder cases involving poisoning causing the police to be on alert, as although they are unable to find the missing link, they start to believe they may have a serial killer in their town.
Meanwhile, thefts of catalytic converters in the area becomes another case DC Cotton’s team oversees, but as their search becomes more terrifying, they realise there maybe a powerful gang at work.
Is there a serial killer? Can the gang be stopped?
This crime thriller was certainly a whirlwind of a story, it never seemed to stop and kept me gripped throughout. With the different poisonings occurring and the gang related incidents Mel’s team never had a chance to stop.
The murderers’ ways of killing people were certainly different and inventive, and it will certainly make me think twice before eating or drinking anything left outside a door or gifted to me.
I liked the relationship between the colleagues in the Police team, as they seem to be looking out for each other whilst trying to solve the case.
Overall, a gripping and whirlwind crime thriller, where a serial killer and a gang may be on the rampage in Mexton.
This thrilling crime book is the third in the DC Mel Cotton series, set in the town of Mexton.
Suddenly there is a spurt on murder cases involving poisoning causing the police to be on alert, as although they are unable to find the missing link, they start to believe they may have a serial killer in their town.
Meanwhile, thefts of catalytic converters in the area becomes another case DC Cotton’s team oversees, but as their search becomes more terrifying, they realise there maybe a powerful gang at work.
Is there a serial killer? Can the gang be stopped?
This crime thriller was certainly a whirlwind of a story, it never seemed to stop and kept me gripped throughout. With the different poisonings occurring and the gang related incidents Mel’s team never had a chance to stop.
The murderers’ ways of killing people were certainly different and inventive, and it will certainly make me think twice before eating or drinking anything left outside a door or gifted to me.
I liked the relationship between the colleagues in the Police team, as they seem to be looking out for each other whilst trying to solve the case.
Overall, a gripping and whirlwind crime thriller, where a serial killer and a gang may be on the rampage in Mexton.
February 7, 2023
This is the third in the DC Mel Cotton crime series but reads well as a standalone. You can tell by the cover what Fatal Dose refers to &, it has to be said, I relished reading about the various poisons used. I think it’s time for poisoning to have a resurgence - in fiction of course!
A fabulous prologue introduces the killer & their predilection for poisons. This gives the MIT a huge headache; bodies are turning up at a rate of knots seemingly with no connection & all dying from different poisons. The local paper is on their back over the lack of progress & an Albanian gang appear to be taking advantage of them being preoccupied.
A brilliant police procedural read with an in depth knowledge of poisons more than apparent. Not a gorefest but there are plenty of bodies & red herrings to keep readers happy. I, for one, cannot wait for the next instalment.
A fabulous prologue introduces the killer & their predilection for poisons. This gives the MIT a huge headache; bodies are turning up at a rate of knots seemingly with no connection & all dying from different poisons. The local paper is on their back over the lack of progress & an Albanian gang appear to be taking advantage of them being preoccupied.
A brilliant police procedural read with an in depth knowledge of poisons more than apparent. Not a gorefest but there are plenty of bodies & red herrings to keep readers happy. I, for one, cannot wait for the next instalment.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews