The Denes Park Killings

DI Max Byrd & DI Orion Tanzy #2

by C.J. Grayson

Please note this is a completely revised edition of Never Came Home.

Darlington is a small Northern town where everyone knows everyone. But Detectives Orion Tanzy and Max Byrd know that small towns can harbour deadly killers . . .

Anna Greenwell is walking home through the park with her six-year-old son when they come across a body. As soon as she sees the trainers and tracksuit, she knows. Her eldest was wearing those same clothes last night — and he never came home.

At the post-mortem, Tanzy and Byrd see that Mark Greenwell’s back is covered in deep scars. Some have healed, but others are fresh and raw. Someone was punishing this boy with regular whippings.

Meanwhile, the new DCI is making things especially difficult for Tanzy, and Byrd is still grieving for his parents. But things get even worse when a nine-year-old boy disappears on his way to school.

Damien Spencer went missing from the alley by his house. Is his abduction connected to the murder of Mark Greenwell? Tanzy and Byrd must find out — before it’s too late.

Darlington used to be a nice town. Not any more.

Detectives Tanzy and Byrd must stop this depraved killer before the body count rises.

Genres: Fiction, Crime

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 3, 2020

Reviews

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense!

This is the author’s 3rd book.
I have read the other two.
I can’t believe this was written by the same person.
What an improvement!
He found the correct formula and raised the bar for himself.
There is more confidence in this one and less “f” words (well, there were less dialogues).
This is a different voice. His voice is stronger. This is the kind of voice that I like.
His narrative remains excellent.
And he is here to stay, no doubt about it.
The storyline was nicely developed and this book was a page turner for me.
There are some violent/gory scenes but not overly dramatic or overly descriptive.
I really couldn’t get enough.
The conclusion was good, although it felt rushed.
With that said, I’m looking forward to reading his next work.
Well done CJ!
I knew you had it in you.
But, as I said, you raised the bar. The challenge is on you. Bring it on!

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from the stand alone ‘Someones There’ and Book 1 in the series ‘That Night’ we now have ‘Never Cane Home’ Book 2 with DI’s Byrd and Tanzy (can be read fine as a stand alone)

Byrd and Tanzy are back and back with a capital B, this is a high octane police procedural thriller with many elements that make it a full on read.
Darlington ( and I have to say I used to live there from ages 4-9 ) is now brutal, it is awash with crime and criminals and some very unsettling and unsavoury things are occurring in this once sleepy Northern town.
The book starts with a tense scary scene where you think the perp is going to do one thing then does something so unexpected it jolts you and the book carries on in this vain all the way through
There is someone seeking revenge, drugs, murder a plenty, very nasty and yes evil characters doing evil deeds and its up to Byrd and Tanzy ( with the help of a good set of colleagues ) to try and work out why this is all happening and how they can stop it
There was one scene, and this rarely happens, where I was so invested in what was happening to a victim and I so wanted them to be ok I was shouting at my phone to make sure he was ok, very believable scenes, very emotive
Nicely plotted, with a big red herring that got me and a superb ending followed by an epilogue of mini endings for all the cast
Well written, well explained to the reader and non fussy in police procedural language and terms this is for me the authors best book and really look forward to Book 3

10/10
5 Stars

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a completely new edition of Never Come Home.

Darlington is a small Northern town where everyone knows everyone. But Detectives Orion Tanzy and Max Byrd know that small towns can harbour deadly killers. Anna Greenwell is walking through the park with her -year-old son when they come across a body. As soon as she sees the trainers and tracksuit, she knows. Her eldest was wearing those clothes last night - and he never came home. At the postmortem, Tanzy and Byrd see that Mark Greenwell's back is covered with deep scars. Some have healed, others are fresh and raw. Someone was punishing the boy with regular whippings.

Ther's quite a few characters in this book to keep track of that it confused me. The characters are a mixed bunch. It's filled with twists and its action packed. I was kept guessing throughout. I never saw the ending coming. I would read more from this author, but I hope it has less characters to deal with.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #JoffeBooks and the author #CJGrayson for my ARC of #TheDenesParkKillings im exchange for an honest review.

[Danielle-Gemma💜 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5* rounded down
I have no idea how to write these books because the certain sentence structures that are used throughout that really annoyed me but yet, I cannot stop reading them. Fast pacy chapters, twists and turns and a solid character base!
I already know I’ll read the third and fourth one in the series and I’ll be hoping for more!!!!

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Byrd, Tanzy and the team are back in the second book of the series.

Darlington is awash with crime and the team are under enormous pressure to catch the criminals and get on top of the town.

There are some really nasty characters in this book and some parts had me grimacing. I found the characters to be well written and some were really scary!

Overall, I found this book to have a great plot and I liked how the smaller details were all tied up at the end. I am looking forward to book 3 in this series.

[Mickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anna and her young son are walking through the park when they find a body. The body is her teenage son Mark. The police come and once again Byrd and Tanzy are on the case. They soon discover that Mark was involved with some bad people. Now the body count is rising and children are disappearing. Its their job to find out if and how this is connected, and who is behind it all.

The first book in this series was good, but there was just something about it that stopped it being great. This one was better. Its like the author really got into their rhythm this time around. The writing was better, the story was better and we got better insight into each of the characters. I'm really enjoying this series so far and looking forward to starting book three.

[Karen Shimmin-Munk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compulsive read!

When a teenager is found murdered and another is missing it quickly leads DI Max Byrd and DI Orion Tanzy to suspect gangland killings.

Then children start to disappear resulting in another murder and it becomes less clear as to whether these killings are all linked somehow.

Max is also struggling with the added pressure of a mother with dementia and trying to juggle his personal life with his work.

The characters in this book are fantastically well developed and the storyline is gripping, compulsive and throws you around like a rollercoaster. Definitely one to include on your reading list!

[Susan Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having just finished book one in Tanzy and Byrd series, I immediately started reading book two . What a gripping read this was. I had to take a few deep breaths while reading Never Came Home as some of the events and characters,integral to the plot were shocking. I don’t want to give to much away about the plot but there were a few surprises along the way. I’m now heading onto book 3 in the series.

[Kimberly Morehouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the second book as much as the first. Great characters, story and plot twists. The two MCs are very likable and relatable, other having real life personal struggles throughout. My only complaint, if you can call it that... Is the over use of "there was a scent of lavender..." Happy to be heading off to book 3!

[B.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What a roller-coaster ride. So full of twists and turns sometimes I wasn't sure which way was up. But it all came out to a satisfying ending.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book and thought it was an excellent follow on from That Night. The two main characters are so very likeable here. They investigate a murder and the disappearance of a young man known to Byrd and the events that follow on from that took my breath away at times. Tanzy, Byrd and their team have their work cut out investigating case(s) with added pressure from above to solve them quickly. I loved the ongoing story threads here, and thought this was one hell of an action packed, fast paced, gripping read which was hard to put down. It had a great plot line, was very well written and the author grabbed my attention right from the beginning and held it all the way through. A thoroughly engaging and absorbing read. Really looking forward to the next book.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second book after reading the first. Livingin the town where it's set helped me follow the story around and gave a sense of familiarity that I've not had before. This however is just an extra perk to add to the enjoyment of this book. The characters are engaging and easy to bond with in my imagination and the twists and turns are impressively done. The subject matter is relevant and and details are not held back which makes it all the more enjoyable. I can't wait for the third installment.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* 9/10
I knew I was going to love this book. Finished book one first 'That Night' and flew straight into this. It really does pull you in immediately. Great characters, Byrd and Tanzy are a very likable pair and they have a loyal and interesting team helping them with their investigations. Plenty of threads are weaved into the storyline keeping you on your toes and there is hardly any time to take a breath. Twisty and shocking with a bit violence but not too much gore. A big page turner. Roll on book three.

[Vikki Bradley]

Great follow up

Fantastic read, being from Darlington is an added bonus as knowing all the locations gives another dimension but even if you are not from there the book is a great story full of action and glorious twists and turns! Can not wait for the next instalment with the two detectives who are becoming my favourites.

[Mr Jonathan Roche · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superbly intriguing crime thriller

A well written modern crime thriller set in the North East of England with a believable plot. The central characters are immediately likeable and keep you hooked all the way through

[J.A.N. Carne-White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Book as good as the First

Loved this second book continuing with a lot of the same characters. Full of unexpected twists & fast moving. Hopefully Mr Grayson has Book 3 planned?

[Michelle Belcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great page turner. It feels weird reading about the town I live in but makes it all seem so much more real! I shall be avoiding The Denes for a while at least! 😂

[Gail Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced and enjoyable read. Thank you CJ.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of The Denes Park Killings, the second novel to feature DIs Orion Tanzy and Max Byrd, set in Darlington.

Anna Greenwell finds a teenager dead from a stabbing in Denes Park and she realises that it is her son Mark. The post mortem reveals welts on his back, then evidence suggests that another teen is missing from the park. To make matters worse a nine year old boy disappears on his way to school. Tanzy and Byrd have their hands full trying to clear up a crime wave in Darlington.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Denes Park Killings, which is a high octane read with more than one perpetrator and never a dull moment. It should be noted that this is a violent novel and may not suit some readers, but I lapped it up and I’m not quite sure what that says about me!

The novel is told from various points of view, so the reader gets a broad overview of events and the thinking behind some of the killings as well as how the investigation is proceeding. I’m not always a fan of seeing both sides but it works well here. The investigation is an open book with the reader knowing exactly what Tanzy and Byrd are thinking and most of their intended steps and the same goes for the gangland connection, they aren’t keeping their actions and motives secret. The unnamed killer’s operation is more opaque, but his identity and motive are not hard to guess. Still, even with all this reader knowledge the author manages to pull off some clever tricks and twists. I was impressed by this. The pace is fast with twists and developments in every chapter, so it kept me glued to the pages. It is not particularly profound, although it has its moments, but it is very entertaining.

I like Tanzy and Byrd. They are smart detectives with a close friendship and some light humour in their banter. It is always a pleasure when the detectives get on and there’s no ill feeling in the workplace. Of course, they don’t get on with their boss, but who does, so that doesn’t count.

The Denes Park Killings is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first book in this series and was not impressed so I started this with some trepidation. My fears were totally unfounded and I enjoyed reading this book. A lot happens in this book and there a lot of characters and crimes to keep track of . The main detectives are Orion and Max , there is less about their personal lives in this book , but I gathered that Max has had a time out and has just returned to work. Descriptions about Orion's life felt a bit added on and did not flow with the rest of the plot for me.
The descriptions of the crimes are quite graphic but realistic and all the different strands do come together as the book progresses. The action is fairly fast paced throughout and the book is a real pageturner in the last couple of chapters.
A great read, I am glad I gave this author another chance, thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book.

[Aileen (Ailz) Grist · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of the book seems out of step once the story gets underway - but all will become clear. We have drug barons giving out punishments to their dealers who step out of line and an unknown murdering drug dealers. Then, of course, there's the fact that drugs are killing people too. Very mixed up. Tanzy and Byrd are dong their best to sort out who is doing what to who - and why, but it keeps getting more complicated. Then everything escalates quickly.

Loved it - a wild ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE DENES PARK KILLINGS by C.J. Grayson was a super book and the second book in the brilliant DI Max Byrd & DI Orion Tanzy series.

The two DI in this book were excellent fitted well within the storyline, which was gripping, fast pace, that will throws you around like a rollercoaster. But Hold on to your seat as it doesn't stop there!!! There are more twists and turns throughout this book which made it an excellent read for start to finish! I loved it

I highly recommend you read the first book first. I was lucky to have the second book to get my teeth into........Straight after the first book.

[Daisy Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book from CJ Grayson, his second in the DI Tanzy and DI Byrd crime series. As with the other books you are drawn into the story from the first page. It is fast paced, leading you down a succession of blind allies, with two stories playing out side by side, but are they linked? His descriptions are such you re-live every emotion that the characters go through, allowing you to feel everything they do. Even the sub-plots are carefully woven into the story, making it impossible for you to second guess anything that happens. An amazing read, and one not to be missed.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'There's never a dull day in this town, is there?'"

#thedenesparkkillings by cjgrayson_writer is excellent! expertly plotted with multiple threads, i was riveted. had a little trouble keeping all the DIs and DCIs straight but no matter, Tanzy and Byrd are the ones to watch. Seriously, there is so much action and twists and turns, I was totally invested. An excellent police procedural, I can't wait to check out Book 1. HIGHLY, highly recommend!

P.S. thanks to #netgalley and @joffebooks for the ARC.

[Roxanne Rampage · Rating 3 out of 5]

It would be mean to give this book fewer than 3 stars, as it is exciting! However, once again, as in the first book, names are mixed up and changed! As there are a LOT of characters, it makes it even more confusing!

I'm not sure what the precise description of people's clothes add to it.

There are SO many murders in this book that it's just rather implausible. And the fight with Bryd and Tanzy.... no way would that happen! A bit ridiculous.

Please get a proofreader and at least get the names correct! It's a fast-paced read but does have rather a lot of flaws!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW yet another roller coaster of events by C J Grayson. A teenager is murdered which escalates into a drug dealer mafia gang who not only deal in drugs but something more sinister.

In another part of Darlington children are being abducted from the streets and Byrd and Tanzy have their hands full in solving both incidents which include a serial killer who is bent on revenge and even Byrd is framed by a ruthless gang leader and becomes a suspect.

C J Grayson's books are so well written that the reader would be led to believe these events really did take place in real time.

This is book 2 which followed That Night book 1 which I thoroughly enjoyed too. C J Grayson's books would be fantastic if they were made into a television series.

[Alison Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

A promising story line

I am reading all of Charlie Grayson’s books on Amazon. They are easy to read & I don’t have to think much, which is ideal for unwinding.

Trouble is they are almost too simplistic. I knew exactly who was doing the murders and why at 26% in (I checked Kindle). He rushes his endings, almost as though bored. Having said that, the riding to this one was much better than his previous book, which was ludicrous!

[Lianne Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by this author. Thoroughly enjoyed reading. The only negative being that it had to end. Being from Darlington made it all the more enjoyable. Knowing the places that are mentioned makes it difficult to separate reality from fantasy. The author has a great way of pulling you in. I’ve got everyone in the family reading it.

[Tove R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is quite a lot going on in this book. It is a good thing, mostly, because it is action packed, very intense, and personal. The only things is that there are so many people in this book that at times I had a hard time keeping track of all of them.

The story has it all - what a Detective/crime story need. Good guys, bad guys, innocent victims, less innocent victims, horrible crimes, but a team determined to catch the bad guys. It was hard to put the book down for breaks, because it got me hooked from the beginning, and I just needed to find out how it'll end. Some of the twists I did not see coming. If you enjoy fast-paced action Detective series set in England, you should try this one!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever watched off road vehicle races? That's what reading Tanzy and Byrd is like. Hair raising twists and devastating red herrings on the Job and at home. An amazing read!
I requested and received an EARC from Joffe Books via NetGalley. Thank you!