Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

DI Mike Nash #16

Guilty as Sin

Rate this book
Detective Mike Nash thought that moving back to Yorkshire from London would give him a quieter life. Little did he know . . .

Sixteen years ago.

Expectant mother Demetra Sinclair goes missing in Layton Woods, high in the Yorkshire Dales.

Her body is never found, and the man thought to be her lover is also killed in a brutal attack. Demetra’s husband Nick is convicted of both murders, but maintains his innocence.

Now.

Mike Nash returns from his holiday in the warm Spanish sun only to be called out to the cold, remote Layton Woods. The remains of a woman have been unearthed. Has Demetra finally been found?

Then three more skeletons — two women and a man — are discovered nearby.

But Demetra was pregnant when she went missing. So where’s the baby?

As the bodies pile up, Detective Mike Nash and his team are in a race against time — and the elements — to catch a killer from the past.

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 25, 2023

639 people are currently reading
69 people want to read

About the author

Bill Kitson

57 books143 followers

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
1,561 (66%)
4 stars
598 (25%)
3 stars
158 (6%)
2 stars
37 (1%)
1 star
10 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny.
2,349 reviews73 followers
September 21, 2024

Guilty as Sin is book sixteen in the DI Mike Nash series by Bill Kitson. On my first day back at work after a holiday in Spain, I caught a cold case about sixteen years ago when buried bodies were found in Layton Woods in the Yorks Dales. Ex-Superintendent Tom Pratt told DI Mike Nash about a murder case of Demetra Sinclair, a woman who disappeared sixteen years ago, and her husband, Nicholas Sinclair, charged with her murder. DI Mike Nash believed Nicholas Sinclair was innocent and started investigating to find the truth. The readers of Guilty as Sin will continue to follow DI Mike Nash's investigation to discover what happens.

Guilty as Sin is another fantastic addition to this excellent series by
Bill Kitson. I enjoy Bill Kitson's writing style, stories, and characters, which always ensure my engagement with his books. I love Bill Kitson's portrayal of his characters and their interaction with each other. Guilty as Sin is well-written and researched. I like Bill Kitson's description of the settings of Guilty as Sin, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

The readers of Guilty as Sin will understand the consequences of greed and jealousy on a person with an undiagnosed mental illness and childhood trauma.

I recommend this book.
568 reviews2 followers
March 23, 2024
Saved the best 'til last.

This really is a work of art, sorry Alondra. There are so many twists and turns to prove a man jailed for 16 years did not commit the crimes. And there is no way anyone reading this would be able to predict who the actual murderer was.
Mike along with his team do have a very hard job to achieve this. We also see just how much they all knuckle down to their work interspersed with wonderful touches of humour.
I do hope there will be more in this series as it has been a fantastic ride from the start. Being with them through the good and the bad not only in work but in personal life as well. And in the end there was far more good!
Profile Image for Robert Crouch.
Author 14 books17 followers
November 5, 2023
Another baffling and complex investigation awaits Mike Nash and the team when skeletal remains are discovered by accident in a remote location in the Yorkshire Dales. When another body is discovered close by, Nash wants the whole area scanned for more remains.

When more bodies are discovered, it looks like there’s a serial killer on the loose.

Attention falls on Demetra Sinclair, who went missing 16 years ago. Has her body been found? Her husband, Nicholas is serving life for her murder, and that of her alleged lover, but protests his innocence. It also looks like he could have killed the others until tests reveal some of the remains were buried while Sinclair was in prison.

As a slow and challenging investigation follows, Nash begins to doubt if Sinclair’s a killer. But can he find out one way or the other?

It’s another twisting, big scale investigation for the small but tight team as they slowly put the pieces together. Nash has always been a charismatic lead, who often takes an unorthodox approach to murder investigations. The characters and their relationships lift the whole story, which has moments of great emotion alongside the investigation.

It can be read as a standalone, but if you want to fully appreciate the characters and relationships, it’s best to follow them from the start of this engaging and consistent series.
Profile Image for Soma Kar.
Author 1 book68 followers
September 3, 2023
Guilty As Sin by Bill Kitson is an excellent mystery. Though low on action, this is addictive.

Mike Nash, a highly talented police detective, and his team investigate a body buried in the remote, Layton Woods thought to be the expectant mother named Demetra Sinclair, the dead wife of a man, Nick. Demetra was killed sixteen years ago along with her lover. Nick was convicted of the murders of Demetra and her lover. A long and detailed investigation follows with three more skeletons adding to the numbers, two women and a man. All these skeletons were discovered nearby. A race against time starts to catch a killer from the past.

This is a slow-paced mystery yet steady enough to hook me until the end. A great read.
97 reviews
April 11, 2025
I started to read the first book in this series and thoroughly enjoyed it. I then got the books sets through kindle unlimited which I read one after the other and each one gets better for me. Set up North and centres around murder cases which are always straight forward. A lot of detail and the interaction between the main character Mike Nash and his team in solving these cases are a pleasure to read. They may not appeal to others but certainly worth a read especially if you like well written and entertaining stories of bad guyss being brought to just by the hard work of the good guys and gals.
Profile Image for Raymond Lovell.
4 reviews
September 3, 2025
a good plot spoiled by character interactions.

While the plot of this book makes it worth reading I almost stopped on so many occasions. Why has he suddenly made all of Nash’s colleagues so dumb, including his superiors?

They were constantly ‘amazed’ at very basic questions and ideas Nash’s put forward and displayed very little idea of what an investigation would involve, simply asking Nash’s what they should do next.

Also, the ‘banter’ between Nash’s and his team was so cheesy it wasn’t true.

I’ve made it this far in the Nash’s series and I’ll probably try another one but it displays the same traits I may not get to the end of it.
Profile Image for Kathleen .
138 reviews1 follower
August 30, 2023
I was getting rather impatient with this story, as there were times when nothing was moving on. It seemed sometimes long and drawn out.
However towards the last third of the story it did pick up and became more interesting. So I was keen then to get on and finish, as things were moving on. It did seem to be so many characters to keep track of.
I did enjoy it, and would recommend it. I just thought it was a bit long .
129 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2023
I enjoy DI Mike Nash books and this one was no exception. Anyone who has read my reviews would know I get easily tired of the very poor relationships with the other members of the CID team especially with senior officers but DI Nash has no such problem and is the only officer who can call the Chief Constable by her first name (in private of course). He is simply a nice guy.

Bill Kitson's procedurals are very good and this one solves murders from a serial killer from 16 years ago. Having said that DI Nash does have some luck on the way and it's not his amazing sleuthing all the time. That is what seems to happen in a lot of the books I read these days. You wonder how the crime will be solved 75% into the book then suddenly somebody pops up with helpful hints.

A good read from a good author.
Profile Image for Sheila Knight.
77 reviews
August 2, 2023
Brilliant well worth reading.

Another outstanding book in this series. If you are looking for a book.that will.have you up all night, this is it. Excellent storyline, believable characters and writing that leaves you want to know what happens next. I didn't want it to finish I felt I was living the story. Well done Bill Kitson. Can't wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Pam.
838 reviews7 followers
November 6, 2023
This has been an amazing series, and I have thoroughly enjoyed every page of every book, and having read everyone of the 16 books in this series I can honestly say I enjoyed "Guilty as Sin" the best as a short winner by a head, I shall miss Inspector Mike Nash, Clara Mironova, Viv Pearce, and Lisa Andrews, very much they are such amazing characters.
Profile Image for Janet C. Simpson.
20 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2024
I do like this author and will continue reading his books. There are some annoying characters such as his sergeant whose childish banter and disrespect for her superior makes me grit my teeth at times. However I do like the way the author gets into the story and doesn’t create the usual on the job infighting that so many police detective authors create which in my mind take away from the story.
1,903 reviews18 followers
July 26, 2023
Wow!

Excellent police investigation of an case 16 years old with a current situation. Very intricate, fantastic story with our usual.terrific team, led by Mike Nash! Read in one day, enjoying every word!
315 reviews2 followers
July 30, 2023
This series keeps getting better and better. Bill Kitson manages to combine an intricate storyline whilst developing the relationships in the team - with some very dry humour! Can't wait for no. 17 in this absorbing series.
Julian Tremayne, Pocklington, East Yorkshire
16 reviews1 follower
August 6, 2023
Twisting at every turn

Another awesome murder investigation by Mike Nash. Keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the book, never knowing where the next turn will take you.
Cannot wait the next murder book in this series from Bill Kitson.
21 reviews
November 3, 2023
Loved them….

I have enjoyed all of DCI Mike Nash books . I’ve been enthralled with the stories the crimes and the murders, also the humour in these books. I’m hoping there will be more stories to read in the future, as l’ve loved every book so far ….
Profile Image for M R B Davis.
713 reviews5 followers
February 16, 2024
Riviting

Nash is involved in a cold case for which someone was unjustly imprisoned. Apparent murders, weren't. A serial killer is eventually found through some torturous bits of evidence. A good tale.
264 reviews3 followers
April 4, 2024
Guilty As Sin

Absolutely Brilliant! As always from Bill Kitson. Fastest book I’ve read this year. 2 days! I can’t really say anything further. If you want to find out more, read it. You won’t regret it.
45 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2024
Great read

Another page turner where you just get swept along with the storyline and before you know it you've went past your sleep time .Thoroughly recommend this whole series of books
1 review
October 11, 2024
Up to the usual standard

An enjoyable read in which the author delights in building the suspense but as usual he gets to the point eventually. The rating was my usual rating for a good read, 4 out of 5, it stops them becoming complacent.
73 reviews1 follower
August 1, 2023
What a story.

I read this book in one session, unable to put it down. Great characters and a twist at the end which only a first class author can engineer.
2 reviews
August 10, 2023
engaging

The plot was intriguing and the characters pursued the culprit with good instinct and good humor. Recommended for a fun read
Profile Image for Sandie Baldry.
Author 31 books4 followers
August 11, 2023
A thrilling page turner

A book full of twist that kept me guessing and turning the pages with a surprise ending that I didn’t see coming.
10 reviews
August 23, 2023
Mistaken identity

Well thought out plot, makes you think and pay attention, involving many avenues to follow. Always kept you on your toes and thinking.
22 reviews
September 7, 2023
Good book

First book I have read by this author,found it very enjoyable and interesting right up to the end .I will certainly be reading next book .Characters are good .
21 reviews
December 26, 2023
Another readable mystery

Moving along nicely with the evidence
revealed in the last quarter.

Probably not his best work but keeps you interested.
5 reviews
December 29, 2023
Outstanding

Another great book by Bill Kitson, keeps you on your toes through the whole book. Can't wait to read his next one.
8 reviews
February 19, 2024
Twists and turns

An interesting storyline with many different potential outcomes. An enjoyble read, first time I have read anything by this author but will certainly read more
Profile Image for Brenda Funk.
432 reviews32 followers
February 24, 2024
Not sure what other readers found in this book, I couldn't even finish. Poorly written and researched, mostly sensational, unbelievable story line. Too elementary. No depth.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.