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DS Aector McAvoy #3
Sorrow Bound
Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy returns for another darkly enthralling case in Sorrow Bound, the third installment of David Mark’s internationally acclaimed and bestselling series.
It’s a sweltering summer in Hull, Yorkshire—gray storm clouds gather ominously over this small English town, yet refuse to break. DS Aector McAvoy and the rest of the Serious and Organized Crime Unit are being pushed to the brink by the local drug trade as a sadistic new boss takes over and violent crime escalates. But it’s not long before McAvoy and Detective Superintendent Trish Pharoah are distracted by something deadlier—a serial murderer on the loose. McAvoy suspects these are copycat murders committed in revenge for mishandled crimes committed years ago. But when one of McAvoy’s fellow police officers gets blackmailed by the local drug kingpin, McAvoy’s life—and that of his wife, Roisin, and two young children—is suddenly in fearful jeopardy. Sorrow Bound easily stands alone even as it brings us deeper into the dark, suspenseful world of Aector McAvoy—the stoic, endearing hero at the center of this endlessly entertaining series.
It’s a sweltering summer in Hull, Yorkshire—gray storm clouds gather ominously over this small English town, yet refuse to break. DS Aector McAvoy and the rest of the Serious and Organized Crime Unit are being pushed to the brink by the local drug trade as a sadistic new boss takes over and violent crime escalates. But it’s not long before McAvoy and Detective Superintendent Trish Pharoah are distracted by something deadlier—a serial murderer on the loose. McAvoy suspects these are copycat murders committed in revenge for mishandled crimes committed years ago. But when one of McAvoy’s fellow police officers gets blackmailed by the local drug kingpin, McAvoy’s life—and that of his wife, Roisin, and two young children—is suddenly in fearful jeopardy. Sorrow Bound easily stands alone even as it brings us deeper into the dark, suspenseful world of Aector McAvoy—the stoic, endearing hero at the center of this endlessly entertaining series.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 29, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
November 18, 2017
It appears my diagnosis of “second-book-itis” for Original Skin was correct, because this third book is so much better! I’m glad I didn’t give up on the series.
Aector and Roisin: I began to think that Aector was sacrificing too much to keep Roisin happy, but the author turned the table to show she was aware and protecting him, too. Then Roisin does something really, really stupid. And as it turns out, dangerous. And then she did something else equally stupid.
Trish Pharaoh and Helen Tremberg: Trish is prominent early on in the book. Helen gets her own storyline. I like both of these characters. There will probably be repercussions in the future, though, for Helen.
The Plot: The author has put together much more cogent storylines in this book than in the second. Some good people are gruesomely murdered. Consequences of some people's actions are steep. There is no cliffhanger, but I wish I had the next book on hand!
Aector and Roisin: I began to think that Aector was sacrificing too much to keep Roisin happy, but the author turned the table to show she was aware and protecting him, too. Then Roisin does something really, really stupid. And as it turns out, dangerous. And then she did something else equally stupid.
Trish Pharaoh and Helen Tremberg: Trish is prominent early on in the book. Helen gets her own storyline. I like both of these characters. There will probably be repercussions in the future, though, for Helen.
The Plot: The author has put together much more cogent storylines in this book than in the second. Some good people are gruesomely murdered. Consequences of some people's actions are steep. There is no cliffhanger, but I wish I had the next book on hand!
September 26, 2021
In this 3rd book in the 'DS Aector McAvoy' series, the detective investigates what looks like revenge killings while his wife interferes with a gangbanger - causing trouble for herself. The book can be read as a standalone.
*****
Several recent gruesome murders in Hull are linked to serial rapist Sebastien Hoyer-Wood, who has been grievously disabled and institutionalized for many years.
Detective Aector McAvoy, a large, capable, well-respected detective, takes the case.
During his investigation McAvoy interviews a series of witnesses and uncovers what may have been scandalous medical and legal malpractice as well as an incident long ago when several people - not knowing who he was - helped save the rapist's life. It seems all this has somehow driven someone to murder.
Meanwhile, McAvoy's colleague Helen Tremberg - who is helping investigate drug gangs in Hull - inadvertently gets involved with a gang member, jeopardizing the drug investigation.
And McAvoy's wife Roisin foils drug gang member Adam Downey when he attempts to retrieve his hidden cocaine from her friend's business, which seriously pisses off Downey and sets him on Roisin's trail.
The serial murderer and drug gang story lines are skillfully written and mesh together well; both are compelling and the revelation of the murderer is a believable twist. The author, David Mark, also does an excellent job with character development, and all the people - detectives, doctors, nurses, gang members, and so on - are well-drawn and believable.
Mark also masterfully describes the almost unbearable hot, muggy weather during the police investigations; the reader can almost feel the fog and heat coming off the page.
My one quibble with the story is McAvoy's almost cloying adoration of his wife Roisin. I'm all in favor of affection between spouses but McAvoy's "obsession" with his wife made me uncomfortable.
All in all this is an excellent mystery book, very highly recommended.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
December 3, 2014
This book was received free thru the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program. I gave this book 4 stars for believable characters, and a well constructed plot. I am an American and appreciate that local idioms(i.e. "spatchcocked chicken", p.19) are explained. This book is a very dark, depressing book with no humor. The crimes depicted are horrific. The criminals are truly evil. However, it is no darker than some books that I have read by James Patterson and Ian Rankin. I found that I could only read 10-12 pages at a time, putting it down to sort thru the characters and how they related to each other and to the events in the book. I read it in 5 days. Perhaps if I had read books 1 and 2 of the series first I would have read it faster. But it read ok as a stand alone.
I have added books 1 and 2, Dark Winter and Original Sin to my want to read category.
This is my first Goodreads giveaway book review. I hope that it helps others on deciding if the book is a worthwhile read.
I have added books 1 and 2, Dark Winter and Original Sin to my want to read category.
This is my first Goodreads giveaway book review. I hope that it helps others on deciding if the book is a worthwhile read.
December 30, 2017
Sorrow Bound is a brilliant read. I really enjoyed the way the author fleshed out some of the main characters like Aector, Roisin and Helen incrementally as the plot unfolded. But it all came crashing to the end a bit too quickly for me. Yikes!
June 12, 2015
Having never read the other two books in this series, I was very hesitant to pick up the third fearing I would be lost and confused. I'm so happy to say that that wasn't the case at all. Instead, we are thrown right into the story with hints and reminders about previous events and characters along the way, that immediately make us feel like they are ones we have already experienced and read about before.
Thrown into a mystery that is every bit as dark as it is mesmerizing. With non stop action from murder, black mail, to a a drug lord terrorizing those opposing him and wanting to own the city, there is very little that won't keep you on the edge of your seat and interested from the moment the pages are opened.
This truly was an engaging read where the hero was every bit as lovable as the mystery entertaining.
This book took me by surprise with how easy it was to get into, like, and enjoy, dark parts and all.
And although the serial killer aspect was solved, there is an ongoing arc to the story that left one heck of a cliffy, and I truly look forward to diving right into the next book and learning more.
Thrown into a mystery that is every bit as dark as it is mesmerizing. With non stop action from murder, black mail, to a a drug lord terrorizing those opposing him and wanting to own the city, there is very little that won't keep you on the edge of your seat and interested from the moment the pages are opened.
This truly was an engaging read where the hero was every bit as lovable as the mystery entertaining.
This book took me by surprise with how easy it was to get into, like, and enjoy, dark parts and all.
And although the serial killer aspect was solved, there is an ongoing arc to the story that left one heck of a cliffy, and I truly look forward to diving right into the next book and learning more.
March 10, 2017
I am trying to clean up my old netgalley account - this one has been languishing there for 3 years (yes, I am suitably embarrassed by this fact). I remember requesting it because I loved the cover. I read it quickly - I have about fifteen books that I had downloaded before the archived that I need to get through & I am trying to do two a week. This was the first one I chose.
I really like this genre of book - gritty, realistic police procedurals set in the UK or the Nordic countries. This had many of the strengths and many of the weaknesses of those books. I liked the main character a lot. However, one of my major complaints about this genre in general is the involvement of families & loved ones as targets of criminals. This is highly unrealistic, frankly, happening a lot more frequently in books than it does in real life, and it bothers me a lot, as it is a cheap drama generator. I also dislike books where all of the police officers engage in such poor (i.e., criminal) decision making that they become targets of blackmail/corruption.
The mystery itself was interesting. The background story involving the all powerful criminal syndicate annoyed me. I'm not sure if I will continue reading the series or not.
I really like this genre of book - gritty, realistic police procedurals set in the UK or the Nordic countries. This had many of the strengths and many of the weaknesses of those books. I liked the main character a lot. However, one of my major complaints about this genre in general is the involvement of families & loved ones as targets of criminals. This is highly unrealistic, frankly, happening a lot more frequently in books than it does in real life, and it bothers me a lot, as it is a cheap drama generator. I also dislike books where all of the police officers engage in such poor (i.e., criminal) decision making that they become targets of blackmail/corruption.
The mystery itself was interesting. The background story involving the all powerful criminal syndicate annoyed me. I'm not sure if I will continue reading the series or not.
June 21, 2022
I'd had this on my wishlist for a long time, waiting for the small format paperback. Ordered it, as one of Amazon's 3 for £10 and made sure to read it first. And was a bit disappointed. I think it was because the violence seemed a bit OTT, the nastiness just a little too self-indulgent. And just a few too many folk fell off the rails. Even though the description of all this was well-written.
Re-read this 2022 and found it densely-packed with action as well as, as mentioned above, not a little extreme gruesomeness. But no denying the tension, amidst the darkness of Hull and its weather and the effects of threat on McEvoy's mood.
The damage to whom, at the end of this, insists I now move straight onto book #4 which, fortuitously, I already have on my shelf.
Re-read this 2022 and found it densely-packed with action as well as, as mentioned above, not a little extreme gruesomeness. But no denying the tension, amidst the darkness of Hull and its weather and the effects of threat on McEvoy's mood.
The damage to whom, at the end of this, insists I now move straight onto book #4 which, fortuitously, I already have on my shelf.
May 10, 2021
David Mark writes his complicated and dark books not for everybody. Either you love his books or you find them too complicated and too dark.
I'm from the first category. Although I'm the first who likes humor, even in a dark book, the fact that the humor in this story isn't very obvious makes it even better for me.
So where to start? A middle-aged lady is found dead with her chest caved in. It looks like a hit-and-run but it isn't. Another person is being stabbed to death, but not in an obvious place.
And in the mean time Aector is still trying to get used to his new boss, Trish Pharaoh, who looks like a biker chick, has a very sharp mind and treats him sometimes as her younger brother. On top of that Aector gets little sleep because of baby Lilah and the stress of moving house.
You'll read about horrible crimes in this book - but not always in graphic detail. It's not the deed that counts, its what the killer is feeling when he does it. You also read about people who are really born bad, but not necessary killers. And most of all, you read about the people who are giving a big part of their life to prevent horrible crimes or find the killers afterwards. People like Aector, Trish and a bunch of their colleagues. Your read about love and sacrifice and how both can alter your life forever.
The book is the third in this series and although you can read it as a stand alone, it would be best to start with the first book.
I'm from the first category. Although I'm the first who likes humor, even in a dark book, the fact that the humor in this story isn't very obvious makes it even better for me.
So where to start? A middle-aged lady is found dead with her chest caved in. It looks like a hit-and-run but it isn't. Another person is being stabbed to death, but not in an obvious place.
And in the mean time Aector is still trying to get used to his new boss, Trish Pharaoh, who looks like a biker chick, has a very sharp mind and treats him sometimes as her younger brother. On top of that Aector gets little sleep because of baby Lilah and the stress of moving house.
You'll read about horrible crimes in this book - but not always in graphic detail. It's not the deed that counts, its what the killer is feeling when he does it. You also read about people who are really born bad, but not necessary killers. And most of all, you read about the people who are giving a big part of their life to prevent horrible crimes or find the killers afterwards. People like Aector, Trish and a bunch of their colleagues. Your read about love and sacrifice and how both can alter your life forever.
The book is the third in this series and although you can read it as a stand alone, it would be best to start with the first book.
November 5, 2021
Un poco lento, aunque engancha, y el personaje de Trish Pharaoh es genial.
April 21, 2023
Many reviews peg this series as dark and gritty and there is no denying that to be accurate. But being a reader who has survived the Logan McRae Series by Stuart MacBride this series is a walk in the park by comparison. For me the cases are intriguing and complicated with character development progressing in each successive book. At this point I can't wait to see how McAvoy will handle the catastrophic event that happened in the final chapter of this book. Well as they say in TV lingo: TO BE CONTINUED . . . One thing is for certain is that poor McAvoy is certainly going to be abounded with sorrow. Boy! what an ending. 😢
May 24, 2014
This is the third of a series featuring DS Aector McAvoy of the Hull police department. The prologue wastes no time grabbing your attention as we're dropped into the story of a badly burned man running for his life from an ugly mob.
In the present, McAvoy is suffering through another mandatory chat with a police psychologist. So when he's paged by his boss Trish Pharaoh, he flees with relief though it's short lived once he gets an eyeful at a fresh murder scene. The victim is an older woman. She was a popular member of her community & has been horribly mutilated. She won't be the last.
Meanwhile, the cops are dealing with infighting among various criminal gangs. There's a new wave of drug lord, highly organized & more corporate in nature. Through blackmail, they've cultivated sources on every level of society including the police force. When a package of coke is accidentally left at her friend's store, Aector's wife Roisin makes an impulsive decision & the repercussions will be brutal.
These are the two main story lines but there are several subplots featuring returning characters that are interconnected. DC Helen Tromberg has to deal with the fallout from dating the "perfect" man, DC Colin Ray is taunted by one of the crime bosses & DI Shaz Archer continues to work full-time at being her usual bitchy ambitious self.
But the main focus is on Aector. As the body count rises, he & his team scramble to find a common thread concocting the victims, a seemingly disparate group. On the home front, he & Roisin are moving to a new house. Between getting up with the new baby & worrying about their finances, Aector is exhausted & slowly losing his grip. His colleagues see him as "Mr. Clean", a by the book type of guy but when his family is threatened his famous self control begins to crack, revealing a much darker more violent side. This is a man who never really relaxes & shows his true self to anyone, even his wife. They have a complicated history & he enables her childlike behaviour by shielding her from reality.
The plots are complex & following how Aector & Co. connect the victims makes for an engrossing read. A couple of the characters (Archer & Ray) are stereotypical but most are well rounded & believable. In particular, Helen stands out as a sympathetic & likeable young woman backed into an ethical corner. Trish comes across as a ballsy, slightly inappropriate career cop juggling the demands of her job with a stressful home life. Roisin's character is an odd mixture of street smarts & naiveté & it was frustrating to watch her make dumb decisions that not only added to Aector's problems but put her family at risk. As for Aector, he's a guy with the weigh of the world on his shoulders. As the pressures mount, it feels like just a matter of time 'til he cracks completely & it's not going to be pretty.
This is not a nice, tidy police procedural. The murders are graphic & as in real life, not everyone gets what they karmically deserve. The end leaves unanswered questions & Aector's future in particular is left in limbo. No doubt fans of this series will be waiting impatiently to snap up the next instalment to see how it all shakes out. All in all, a smart & satisfying read.
In the present, McAvoy is suffering through another mandatory chat with a police psychologist. So when he's paged by his boss Trish Pharaoh, he flees with relief though it's short lived once he gets an eyeful at a fresh murder scene. The victim is an older woman. She was a popular member of her community & has been horribly mutilated. She won't be the last.
Meanwhile, the cops are dealing with infighting among various criminal gangs. There's a new wave of drug lord, highly organized & more corporate in nature. Through blackmail, they've cultivated sources on every level of society including the police force. When a package of coke is accidentally left at her friend's store, Aector's wife Roisin makes an impulsive decision & the repercussions will be brutal.
These are the two main story lines but there are several subplots featuring returning characters that are interconnected. DC Helen Tromberg has to deal with the fallout from dating the "perfect" man, DC Colin Ray is taunted by one of the crime bosses & DI Shaz Archer continues to work full-time at being her usual bitchy ambitious self.
But the main focus is on Aector. As the body count rises, he & his team scramble to find a common thread concocting the victims, a seemingly disparate group. On the home front, he & Roisin are moving to a new house. Between getting up with the new baby & worrying about their finances, Aector is exhausted & slowly losing his grip. His colleagues see him as "Mr. Clean", a by the book type of guy but when his family is threatened his famous self control begins to crack, revealing a much darker more violent side. This is a man who never really relaxes & shows his true self to anyone, even his wife. They have a complicated history & he enables her childlike behaviour by shielding her from reality.
The plots are complex & following how Aector & Co. connect the victims makes for an engrossing read. A couple of the characters (Archer & Ray) are stereotypical but most are well rounded & believable. In particular, Helen stands out as a sympathetic & likeable young woman backed into an ethical corner. Trish comes across as a ballsy, slightly inappropriate career cop juggling the demands of her job with a stressful home life. Roisin's character is an odd mixture of street smarts & naiveté & it was frustrating to watch her make dumb decisions that not only added to Aector's problems but put her family at risk. As for Aector, he's a guy with the weigh of the world on his shoulders. As the pressures mount, it feels like just a matter of time 'til he cracks completely & it's not going to be pretty.
This is not a nice, tidy police procedural. The murders are graphic & as in real life, not everyone gets what they karmically deserve. The end leaves unanswered questions & Aector's future in particular is left in limbo. No doubt fans of this series will be waiting impatiently to snap up the next instalment to see how it all shakes out. All in all, a smart & satisfying read.
July 13, 2014
DS Aector McAvoy and his boss, Detective Superintendant Trish Pharaoh are back for a third adventure. In my review for the previous book in this series, Original Skin, I said: "It appears that David Mark will continue to dig deeper into his characters lives as they work together." And the author does tell us more and more about his characters, their history and their foibles. That is one of the more positive aspects of this book, although some of it is told in more detail than I want.
There are two plot lines going simultaneously in Sorrow Bound. McAvoy and Pharaoh are investigating several deaths which appear to be related. The Serious and Organized Crime Unit that Pharoah heads is in flux; they take on this case although it isn't strictly under their purview. A high profile case related to drug gangs has been shifted to other detectives in the same department, but ends up involving Roisin, McAvoy's wife.
I found the second book in the series to contain too much explicit violence for me. I don't avoid all books with violence; I find that my tolerance for violence varies from book to book. In Sorrow Bound, the violence continued to be a problem for me. As the positive review at Publisher's Weekly says: "Readers should be prepared for graphic descriptions of gruesome crimes."
However, I was very impressed with the plot development. David Mark includes more elements of the personal lives of his characters in his novels than I am usually comfortable with. This time the family and personal issues of just about all the policemen was very evident, but I felt the story line allowed for that and that element was handled well. I also felt like this could work very well as a standalone book, until I got to the end.
I was not pleased at all with the end of this book. There is a cliffhanger ending and it is a doozy. I can accept plot lines that continue throughout a series, even though I would prefer closure. But this one was too much for me. I don't plan to read any more books in this series.
This book gets rave reviews; there are very few negative reviews. Several reviewers whose opinion I respect were very positive about this book. I agree that the plotting and the character development are great. I don't like stories told in the present tense, but that is a minor point. So, if you think this story might appeal to you, seek out some other reviews or give it a try. You will probably like it.
There are two plot lines going simultaneously in Sorrow Bound. McAvoy and Pharaoh are investigating several deaths which appear to be related. The Serious and Organized Crime Unit that Pharoah heads is in flux; they take on this case although it isn't strictly under their purview. A high profile case related to drug gangs has been shifted to other detectives in the same department, but ends up involving Roisin, McAvoy's wife.
I found the second book in the series to contain too much explicit violence for me. I don't avoid all books with violence; I find that my tolerance for violence varies from book to book. In Sorrow Bound, the violence continued to be a problem for me. As the positive review at Publisher's Weekly says: "Readers should be prepared for graphic descriptions of gruesome crimes."
However, I was very impressed with the plot development. David Mark includes more elements of the personal lives of his characters in his novels than I am usually comfortable with. This time the family and personal issues of just about all the policemen was very evident, but I felt the story line allowed for that and that element was handled well. I also felt like this could work very well as a standalone book, until I got to the end.
I was not pleased at all with the end of this book. There is a cliffhanger ending and it is a doozy. I can accept plot lines that continue throughout a series, even though I would prefer closure. But this one was too much for me. I don't plan to read any more books in this series.
This book gets rave reviews; there are very few negative reviews. Several reviewers whose opinion I respect were very positive about this book. I agree that the plotting and the character development are great. I don't like stories told in the present tense, but that is a minor point. So, if you think this story might appeal to you, seek out some other reviews or give it a try. You will probably like it.
March 29, 2014
This is the third in the Aector MacAvoy series and although I haven’t read the previous books it worked well for me as a stand-alone read. As in all the best novels in this genre there are a number of strands to the story, not least Aector’s struggles to get back to his previous self after whatever incident had injured him in his previous outing. To help him integrate back into his role he has to see the Police psychologist to get a clean bill of health. Aector isn’t really terribly enamoured with spilling his secrets to Sabine Keane and is relieved when he has a murder to investigate along with his superior Trish Pharaoh.
Aector comes across as a really likeable man who has a strong grip on what’s right and what is wrong. There is no falling out with either his superiors or the most junior members of his team but when it becomes apparent there is a sadistic serial killer menacing the good citizens of Hull, Aector is determined to find the culprit, and of course to catch him there he has to understand the motive.
A crime committed long ago, a drug dealer who wants to own the city and blackmail of another police officer are all put into the mix which meant that there was no time to sit back and relax for a moment during Aector’s race against time to stop any more murders.
This is not one for the faint hearted, this killer is brutal and David Mark doesn’t spare the reader any of the horrifying detail with more than a dash of violence in many an encounter. However, I think the subject matter is given a little lift by the observations such as walls being described as the colour of Elastoplast, the musing over whether his psychologist had been saddled with a rhyming name from birth and one action scene in a laundrette made me smile whilst simultaneously wincing, an art indeed!
Although the serial murder plot is neatly tied up with only a slight rising of my eyebrows as to motive the ongoing issue of the drugs plot that wove its way through the book is left to be continued in the next book where Aector may have to face the consequences of a long kept secret.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher’s Quercus ahead of the publication date 3 April 2014 in return for my review.
Aector comes across as a really likeable man who has a strong grip on what’s right and what is wrong. There is no falling out with either his superiors or the most junior members of his team but when it becomes apparent there is a sadistic serial killer menacing the good citizens of Hull, Aector is determined to find the culprit, and of course to catch him there he has to understand the motive.
A crime committed long ago, a drug dealer who wants to own the city and blackmail of another police officer are all put into the mix which meant that there was no time to sit back and relax for a moment during Aector’s race against time to stop any more murders.
This is not one for the faint hearted, this killer is brutal and David Mark doesn’t spare the reader any of the horrifying detail with more than a dash of violence in many an encounter. However, I think the subject matter is given a little lift by the observations such as walls being described as the colour of Elastoplast, the musing over whether his psychologist had been saddled with a rhyming name from birth and one action scene in a laundrette made me smile whilst simultaneously wincing, an art indeed!
Although the serial murder plot is neatly tied up with only a slight rising of my eyebrows as to motive the ongoing issue of the drugs plot that wove its way through the book is left to be continued in the next book where Aector may have to face the consequences of a long kept secret.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher’s Quercus ahead of the publication date 3 April 2014 in return for my review.
March 25, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. The series is getting better and better. In this one the team are still battling the new drugs gang and searching for a serial killer who is killing good samaritans. I know, it doesn't seem much but the plotting, writing and characterisation are compulsive. There are new twists in every chapter which made me want to read more to find out what was coming next and the writing style made it easy to do so but it is the characterisation where Mr Mark excels. McAvoy and Pharoah are becoming a great double act and are a joy to read. McAvoy may be a little to good to be true but he's a lovely man and a great protagonist. I don't want to give too much away but it is the psychology of the characters and how they react to certain situations which is at the heart of this book and which engenders much of the action. I found myself saying "I wouldn't have reacted that way" then mulling it over and thinking maybe I would have. This is a great read, maybe not very plausible, but I heartily recommend it.
July 14, 2018
Sorrow Bound was a dark and gripping read with an original central character in DS McAvoy ; he's not addicted to anything, loves his wife and children and has a strong moral code.
Excellently written ,stylish, descriptive and full of a brooding ,oppressive atmosphere, David Mark also brings the city of Hull vividly to life.
Although the third in the series, this was my first DS McAvoy novel and I feel that Sorrow Bound can be read as a standalone. There were hints of back story but nothing that spoilt the overall story.
An excellent and compelling novel which I can heartily recommend. I'll certainly be looking out for more DS McAvoy books !
Excellently written ,stylish, descriptive and full of a brooding ,oppressive atmosphere, David Mark also brings the city of Hull vividly to life.
Although the third in the series, this was my first DS McAvoy novel and I feel that Sorrow Bound can be read as a standalone. There were hints of back story but nothing that spoilt the overall story.
An excellent and compelling novel which I can heartily recommend. I'll certainly be looking out for more DS McAvoy books !
July 23, 2019
Had this not had such a slow start, had it sparked in to life a little earlier than ~100 pages in, had it not up to that point felt a little too generic (a little too ‘take one part Stuart MacBride, one part Mark Billingham, stir in some Peter Robinson northern-ness’) I wouldn’t have hesitated to give this four stars. As it was, though it improved during the second half into an interesting and complex police procedural, I’m reserving judgement on David Mark till I have read more of his oeuvre.
There are a series of unusual murders in Humberside, and the big ginger hero police detective McAvoy is tasked to solve them in his unique (..in relation to his colleagues, but slightly ‘typical’ in terms of how many quirky cop protagonists in this type of novel seem to career from drama to fight to insight to cliffhanger to resolution..) style. There are some interesting supporting characters, at times over-described like the author tends to do with the description of setting. It’s not problematic, it’s just noticeable. Had the plot not been so compelling I might’ve found the style a little formulaic in places.
There are a series of unusual murders in Humberside, and the big ginger hero police detective McAvoy is tasked to solve them in his unique (..in relation to his colleagues, but slightly ‘typical’ in terms of how many quirky cop protagonists in this type of novel seem to career from drama to fight to insight to cliffhanger to resolution..) style. There are some interesting supporting characters, at times over-described like the author tends to do with the description of setting. It’s not problematic, it’s just noticeable. Had the plot not been so compelling I might’ve found the style a little formulaic in places.
January 29, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this engrossing police procedural set in Hull, UK.
Eager to read the fourth novel in this series.
Eager to read the fourth novel in this series.
December 21, 2022
As always, I loved the torn character of Aector McAvoy, pulled between worlds. I enjoyed the story, the building tension, but the outcome left several important elements unresolved, ultimately leaving me unsatisfied. I'll no doubt read the next some time soon.
August 13, 2016
like a 3.85 rounded up
I have a lengthy review on the crime page of my reading journal, so if you want the longie, click here. Otherwise, read on.
As Sorrow Bound opens, DS Aector McAvoy in Hull, East Yorkshire, is called to a horrific murder scene which might be gang related - McAvoy's boss tells him that the murdered woman had recently spoken out publicly against street dealers wrecking the neighborhood. When another woman is murdered, the police make a discovery that throws the gang-related theory right out the window. However, while Aector is busy with the police-mandated shrink, moving his family into a new home and trying to function in this investigation with very little sleep, a drug runner makes a serious error that will bring a cocky, self-styled "prince of the city" drug dealer with a lot of serious, well-placed protection behind him crashing into the life of one of McAvoy's colleagues and into the lives of McAvoy's family.
David Mark's third entry in this series featuring DS Aector McAvoy is the best he's written and also the darkest of all three books. For some people the dark tone of the novel may be a drawback, but for me, it's a definite plus. He ratchets up both the tension and the darkness, and there's nothing at all formulaic to complain about in this series of police procedurals. Once I picked it up, I didn't want to stop reading it.
So here's the big niggle (which is really hard to scoot around since I don't really want to give anything away): one of the main recurring characters does something that is so totally out of character and so completely unexpected that it absolutely threw me into "WTF?" mode. Then not long afterward, the same person, who you'd think would be so frightened as to listen to advice at this point, does something so foolishly stupid as to be just plain dumb, also very much out of character. I suspect that the repercussions that may follow for the last scene in this novel will lead to a major game changer for what's next in the series, and to an even bigger angst-fest than I've seen in any of the McAvoy novels so far. And since I'm a big fan of both McAvoy and of David Mark, I will be waiting right here to see it all unfold.
While you most certainly can read this book as a standalone, I'm a true series purist so my advice is to start with The Dark Winter and continue with Original Skin before reading Sorrow Bound. I found that by now I have a better feel for the very angst-laden DS McAvoy and what drives him. Just a heads up: this is no cutesy little cozy.
My thanks again to Blue Rider Press for the lovely copy they sent me to read.
I have a lengthy review on the crime page of my reading journal, so if you want the longie, click here. Otherwise, read on.
As Sorrow Bound opens, DS Aector McAvoy in Hull, East Yorkshire, is called to a horrific murder scene which might be gang related - McAvoy's boss tells him that the murdered woman had recently spoken out publicly against street dealers wrecking the neighborhood. When another woman is murdered, the police make a discovery that throws the gang-related theory right out the window. However, while Aector is busy with the police-mandated shrink, moving his family into a new home and trying to function in this investigation with very little sleep, a drug runner makes a serious error that will bring a cocky, self-styled "prince of the city" drug dealer with a lot of serious, well-placed protection behind him crashing into the life of one of McAvoy's colleagues and into the lives of McAvoy's family.
David Mark's third entry in this series featuring DS Aector McAvoy is the best he's written and also the darkest of all three books. For some people the dark tone of the novel may be a drawback, but for me, it's a definite plus. He ratchets up both the tension and the darkness, and there's nothing at all formulaic to complain about in this series of police procedurals. Once I picked it up, I didn't want to stop reading it.
So here's the big niggle (which is really hard to scoot around since I don't really want to give anything away): one of the main recurring characters does something that is so totally out of character and so completely unexpected that it absolutely threw me into "WTF?" mode. Then not long afterward, the same person, who you'd think would be so frightened as to listen to advice at this point, does something so foolishly stupid as to be just plain dumb, also very much out of character. I suspect that the repercussions that may follow for the last scene in this novel will lead to a major game changer for what's next in the series, and to an even bigger angst-fest than I've seen in any of the McAvoy novels so far. And since I'm a big fan of both McAvoy and of David Mark, I will be waiting right here to see it all unfold.
While you most certainly can read this book as a standalone, I'm a true series purist so my advice is to start with The Dark Winter and continue with Original Skin before reading Sorrow Bound. I found that by now I have a better feel for the very angst-laden DS McAvoy and what drives him. Just a heads up: this is no cutesy little cozy.
My thanks again to Blue Rider Press for the lovely copy they sent me to read.
April 1, 2014
Before Sorrow Bound I hadn't read a David Mark book before but knew that this was part of a series. Whilst I think it's best to have read previous books first, I did really enjoy this book and I will definitely be rectifying the mistake of not having read this author before in the very near future! Just after reading the book's Prologue I knew I would love this book. In the first chapter we are introduced to Aector McEvoy. Straightaway I was intrigued. McEvoy is talking to a psychiatrist (not by choice) and immediately I wanted to know why. What's happened in the past to get him to this point? Clearly this is a man with demons and a past, I can't wait to read previous books. Aector is a very, very intriguing character. David Mark has definitely created a very unique character here. The book also has a fantastic cast of characters, especially Aector's superior Trish Pharaoh.
David Mark does not hold back with this book. Me personally I like my crime fiction to be as gruesome as possible. However I have read reviews of other books which are particularly gruesome where people say they didn't like it. That certainly isn't the case for me. The descriptions used and the ways in which characters are killed definitely isn't for the faint hearted, very, very brutal. In a crime fiction book I ask for brutal deaths, non-stop action and a storyline which makes you want to keep reading until you reach the end. I got that with this book, and then some! We learn that there is a long running drug storyline carrying on from books one and two and I can't wait to go back and read more about that. The book was definitely gripping from start to finish. Murder, blackmail, mystery, intrigue and a bit of humour thrown into the mix. What more can you want?
I also enjoyed the setting. A lot of the crime fiction I have read recently has been either set in America or London and so it was a nice change to read one set in Hull. I don't know much about Hull other than it is going to be the City of Culture and it's where this book is set. It is clear however from reading the book that the author has captured it incredibly well. I always want the place(s) that books are set to play as much a role in the book as the actual characters and Hull definitely came alive (and died) within this book's pages.
I will definitely be purchasing books 1 and 2 very soon and will be eagerly awaiting book number 4!
David Mark does not hold back with this book. Me personally I like my crime fiction to be as gruesome as possible. However I have read reviews of other books which are particularly gruesome where people say they didn't like it. That certainly isn't the case for me. The descriptions used and the ways in which characters are killed definitely isn't for the faint hearted, very, very brutal. In a crime fiction book I ask for brutal deaths, non-stop action and a storyline which makes you want to keep reading until you reach the end. I got that with this book, and then some! We learn that there is a long running drug storyline carrying on from books one and two and I can't wait to go back and read more about that. The book was definitely gripping from start to finish. Murder, blackmail, mystery, intrigue and a bit of humour thrown into the mix. What more can you want?
I also enjoyed the setting. A lot of the crime fiction I have read recently has been either set in America or London and so it was a nice change to read one set in Hull. I don't know much about Hull other than it is going to be the City of Culture and it's where this book is set. It is clear however from reading the book that the author has captured it incredibly well. I always want the place(s) that books are set to play as much a role in the book as the actual characters and Hull definitely came alive (and died) within this book's pages.
I will definitely be purchasing books 1 and 2 very soon and will be eagerly awaiting book number 4!
August 4, 2014
This is the third outing for Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy of the Serious and Organized Crime Unit of Hull, Yorkshire. As the novel opens, McAvoy is in a mandatory therapy session with a psychologist, a great way to introduce series newcomers to the big, conflicted Scotsman. He’s a nice guy in an ugly job, a gentle giant given to violent outbursts under threatening circumstances, a private man who works for the public, a devoted husband and father who has an overtly sexual boss. It’s impossible not to like McAvoy as he pushes forward, overcoming his generally uncomfortable nature as he pursues his suspects.
Mark shows an attention for detail that gives readers both a sense of place and sharp insights into the complex, layered characters of the story. It’s oppressively muggy in Hull in East Yorkshire; in the sweltering heat, even veteran police officers are shocked by the level of violence involved in the murder of a woman who had been outspoken about drugs in her neighborhood. It’s easy to assume drug dealers wanted to shut her up, but as more bodies appear with unusual causes of death, it becomes clear there’s something deeper going on.
This main mystery, linked to a gruesome crime of the past, is an effective and complicated story with some good twists and turns, and it reaches an exciting conclusion. A subplot involving McAvoy’s personal life is a bit uneven, however. It’s related to changes in the illegal drug trade established in “Original Sin,” the previous McAvoy novel, and raises the stakes as McAvoy’s wife, Roisin, ends up in the crosshairs of a violent dealer. Unfortunately, its development relies on a couple of hard-to-believe decisions by McAvoy and Roisin and ends with a cliffhanger that will challenge the patience of readers forced to wait for the next book to find out exactly what happened.
That said, “Sorrow Bound” is an engrossing read sure to draw in both series fans and newcomers alike (but be prepared to shout “Oh, no, you didn’t,” at the author in the final pages).
Reviewed by Scott Pearson, author of “Star Trek: The More Things Change” and cohost of the Generations Geek podcast
Mark shows an attention for detail that gives readers both a sense of place and sharp insights into the complex, layered characters of the story. It’s oppressively muggy in Hull in East Yorkshire; in the sweltering heat, even veteran police officers are shocked by the level of violence involved in the murder of a woman who had been outspoken about drugs in her neighborhood. It’s easy to assume drug dealers wanted to shut her up, but as more bodies appear with unusual causes of death, it becomes clear there’s something deeper going on.
This main mystery, linked to a gruesome crime of the past, is an effective and complicated story with some good twists and turns, and it reaches an exciting conclusion. A subplot involving McAvoy’s personal life is a bit uneven, however. It’s related to changes in the illegal drug trade established in “Original Sin,” the previous McAvoy novel, and raises the stakes as McAvoy’s wife, Roisin, ends up in the crosshairs of a violent dealer. Unfortunately, its development relies on a couple of hard-to-believe decisions by McAvoy and Roisin and ends with a cliffhanger that will challenge the patience of readers forced to wait for the next book to find out exactly what happened.
That said, “Sorrow Bound” is an engrossing read sure to draw in both series fans and newcomers alike (but be prepared to shout “Oh, no, you didn’t,” at the author in the final pages).
Reviewed by Scott Pearson, author of “Star Trek: The More Things Change” and cohost of the Generations Geek podcast
June 29, 2014
I won a copy of Sorrow Bound through a GoodReads give-away in exchange for my unbiased review.
I had read David Mark's 1st Aector McAvoy book and realy enjoyed it. As soon as I finished Sorrow Bound, I downloaded his second book to my Kindle (and read and enjoyed it before writing this review).
I like dark and gritty. David Mark's books are dark and gritty. But there is also a very human element as well. Love the developing relationship between Aector and his boss Trish. Reminds me of Stuart MacBride's McRae & Steel. Aector is less self-confident in his personal life than in his professional life....where the "rules" are clearer. He's uncomfortable with "tactful ambiguity", but somehow manages to live with it (although not peacefully). He seems to have an unlimited capacity for compassion and forgiveness. I keep waiting for him to "harden", but so far he hasn't. In that respect he reminds me of Louise Penny's Gamache.....very human and humane.
Sorrow Bound is a police procedural / serial killer hunt...with roots way in the past. An old and closed crime has to be reinvestigated in order to get a grip on the current killings. The plot is twisty enough that it is not predictable. But it is the characters that make Sorrow Bound shine. Did hate the cliff-hanger ending (always do).
I had read David Mark's 1st Aector McAvoy book and realy enjoyed it. As soon as I finished Sorrow Bound, I downloaded his second book to my Kindle (and read and enjoyed it before writing this review).
I like dark and gritty. David Mark's books are dark and gritty. But there is also a very human element as well. Love the developing relationship between Aector and his boss Trish. Reminds me of Stuart MacBride's McRae & Steel. Aector is less self-confident in his personal life than in his professional life....where the "rules" are clearer. He's uncomfortable with "tactful ambiguity", but somehow manages to live with it (although not peacefully). He seems to have an unlimited capacity for compassion and forgiveness. I keep waiting for him to "harden", but so far he hasn't. In that respect he reminds me of Louise Penny's Gamache.....very human and humane.
Sorrow Bound is a police procedural / serial killer hunt...with roots way in the past. An old and closed crime has to be reinvestigated in order to get a grip on the current killings. The plot is twisty enough that it is not predictable. But it is the characters that make Sorrow Bound shine. Did hate the cliff-hanger ending (always do).
June 3, 2020
The end of the story left me wanting more, as there are too many unanswered questions. At one point, there is a scene of major violence, but we don't know if the people concerned (fairly important, central characters) survive or lose their lives. I'm sure these characters will be followed up in the next novel, but I would have preferred to find out what happened in this book.
Full review available on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
Full review available on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
May 10, 2021
This series featuring Aector McAvoy continues to delight. The characters are realistically drawn and continue to grow both in strengths and weaknesses. Looking forward to the next in the series.
July 23, 2022
I highly recommend this offbeat police procedural (vaguely) series set in Hull, Yorkshire, and featuring transplanted highlander Sgt. Aector McAvoy. His boss, Trish Pharoah, is a great (and hilarious) character, and the books are written with more humor than one might expect from a detective series.
February 15, 2021
Aector McEvoy is a great character, chasing a murderer who quickly kills a second victim, while his wife gets caught up with drug dealers. Both plots have a tumultuous ending.
January 19, 2015
This is the third entry in the series featuring Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy, and is every bit as terrific as the first two. McAvoy is with the Yorkshire Serious and Organized Crime Unit, in the small English city of Hull, still working on a series of crimes committed by a vicious group seeking to take over the drug trade previously run by Vietnamese, something they had not been able to do in “Original Skin,” the predecessor novel. England has been going through a prolonged and oppressive hot spell, although the sky holds promise of a saturating rain storm at any moment.
The Scottish McAvoy, described as “a humble, shy giant of a man” at 6’ 5”, passionately in love with his much younger Romany wife, his young son and baby daughter and preparing to move into their new home, has been directed to attend sessions with a police-approved counselor because of perceived emotional problems. In a separate plot line, McAvoy is assigned the investigation into two killings which take place within 24 hours. McAvoy is second-guessing himself, and his career choice: “He has done this too many times. Sat in too many rooms with too much grief; felt too many eyes upon him as he made his promises to the dead . . . insists that he does his job as a police officer before he allows himself to become a human being.” Despite being written mostly with a light touch, the murders are quite sadistic, and it is speculated that a serial, probably deranged, killer is on the loose. The only connection between the victims seems to relate to events almost 15 years in the past, an even more horrific series of crimes perpetrated by a man who was incarcerated but sentenced to treatment in a psychiatric facility, and is now mostly incapacitated by a stroke.
The supporting cast of characters/police colleagues is very well-drawn, as usual: D.S. Trish Pharoah (with “four kids and a crippled husband” and a drinking problem, DIs Helen Tremberg and Shaz Archer et al, and McAvoy’s wife, Roisin. The novel is wonderfully well written, and gradually the suspense mounts until, with less than a hundred pages to go, I became actually fearful of reading further, not wanting to find out what is about to happen next, as I nonetheless started turning pages more and more quickly. The only certain thing about the plot is that one must expect the unexpected.
Highly recommended.
The Scottish McAvoy, described as “a humble, shy giant of a man” at 6’ 5”, passionately in love with his much younger Romany wife, his young son and baby daughter and preparing to move into their new home, has been directed to attend sessions with a police-approved counselor because of perceived emotional problems. In a separate plot line, McAvoy is assigned the investigation into two killings which take place within 24 hours. McAvoy is second-guessing himself, and his career choice: “He has done this too many times. Sat in too many rooms with too much grief; felt too many eyes upon him as he made his promises to the dead . . . insists that he does his job as a police officer before he allows himself to become a human being.” Despite being written mostly with a light touch, the murders are quite sadistic, and it is speculated that a serial, probably deranged, killer is on the loose. The only connection between the victims seems to relate to events almost 15 years in the past, an even more horrific series of crimes perpetrated by a man who was incarcerated but sentenced to treatment in a psychiatric facility, and is now mostly incapacitated by a stroke.
The supporting cast of characters/police colleagues is very well-drawn, as usual: D.S. Trish Pharoah (with “four kids and a crippled husband” and a drinking problem, DIs Helen Tremberg and Shaz Archer et al, and McAvoy’s wife, Roisin. The novel is wonderfully well written, and gradually the suspense mounts until, with less than a hundred pages to go, I became actually fearful of reading further, not wanting to find out what is about to happen next, as I nonetheless started turning pages more and more quickly. The only certain thing about the plot is that one must expect the unexpected.
Highly recommended.
August 8, 2014
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While Sorrow Bound by David Mark is the third book in a series, it certainly proves itself as a standalone book. This story had me hooked right from the get-go, with palpable characters, frantic plot, and marvelous storytelling.
The story follows Detective Aector McAvoy as he discovers the slain bodies of some young women. Originally attributing the killings to drug dealers, the police department quickly changes their minds as more details of the killings (and more killings) shed new light on the case. McAvoy sets out to stop the killer, all the while dealing with his own problems at home.
The characters in this book are absolutely tangible. I felt as if I was living right there with them, throughout the pages of the book. The love and loyalty that the characters expressed for each other was easily identifiable throughout the story. I felt as if the characters were all real people, people that I knew in real life. Throughout the story I enjoyed reading more about the lives of the characters because of how real they felt.
The plot of Sorrow Bound was fantastic. Fast moving and deep, the plot carried me away like a swift river, not letting me go until the final pages. There are plenty of plot twists throughout the book and many parts that will leave you guessing, glued to the pages until you find out what happened. This book definitely contains a masterfully woven plot.
Mark certainly understands how to write a good police procedural or thriller. There wasn't a part of the story where I was confused or unsure as to what was going on as Mark smoothly conveyed information to the reader in a clear manner. I will definitely be looking for more works written by David Mark.
I would highly recommend this book for those looking for a good police procedural or thriller. I wouldn't go with this book if you're squeamish about dark and depressing topics, although it's a highly good read.
While Sorrow Bound by David Mark is the third book in a series, it certainly proves itself as a standalone book. This story had me hooked right from the get-go, with palpable characters, frantic plot, and marvelous storytelling.
The story follows Detective Aector McAvoy as he discovers the slain bodies of some young women. Originally attributing the killings to drug dealers, the police department quickly changes their minds as more details of the killings (and more killings) shed new light on the case. McAvoy sets out to stop the killer, all the while dealing with his own problems at home.
The characters in this book are absolutely tangible. I felt as if I was living right there with them, throughout the pages of the book. The love and loyalty that the characters expressed for each other was easily identifiable throughout the story. I felt as if the characters were all real people, people that I knew in real life. Throughout the story I enjoyed reading more about the lives of the characters because of how real they felt.
The plot of Sorrow Bound was fantastic. Fast moving and deep, the plot carried me away like a swift river, not letting me go until the final pages. There are plenty of plot twists throughout the book and many parts that will leave you guessing, glued to the pages until you find out what happened. This book definitely contains a masterfully woven plot.
Mark certainly understands how to write a good police procedural or thriller. There wasn't a part of the story where I was confused or unsure as to what was going on as Mark smoothly conveyed information to the reader in a clear manner. I will definitely be looking for more works written by David Mark.
I would highly recommend this book for those looking for a good police procedural or thriller. I wouldn't go with this book if you're squeamish about dark and depressing topics, although it's a highly good read.
June 30, 2014
I can't get enough of Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy. In Sorrow Bound, we see the same confused, compassionate human just trying to do his job, which is catching serial killers.
In case you are unfamiliar, McAvoy is a Scottish detective, working in Hull, England. The plots of these books are never predictable. Yes, there are murders, but whenever you think, "ah, they've solved it!" well, I wouldn't count on it.
Some of the good luck Aector experiences, as well as the bad luck, is a bit over the top, but I love the character and I find the books hard to put down.
I usually don't quote books, and this is from an ARC, so may change, but I just thought this described Aector's character to a tee:
"He wants to know who did it. Why. Wants to stop it happening again. Wants to ensure that whoever loved this woman is at least given a face to hate. He wishes the bloody psychologist were here, now. It would be the only way she could ever understand what makes him do a job he hates. Wants to tell her that this is what he is. What he forces himself to be. Here, at the place between sorrow and good-bye."
All of the main characters continue to grow and develop. Aector's wife and his boss in particular. They are true to form and add much to the character of the stories.
Oh, the end. Well, I won't say too much but to say -- Why????
You can read Sorrow Bound as a stand-alone, but you should really read the others in the series also. Here are my reviews of The Dark Winter and Original Skin.
In case you are unfamiliar, McAvoy is a Scottish detective, working in Hull, England. The plots of these books are never predictable. Yes, there are murders, but whenever you think, "ah, they've solved it!" well, I wouldn't count on it.
Some of the good luck Aector experiences, as well as the bad luck, is a bit over the top, but I love the character and I find the books hard to put down.
I usually don't quote books, and this is from an ARC, so may change, but I just thought this described Aector's character to a tee:
"He wants to know who did it. Why. Wants to stop it happening again. Wants to ensure that whoever loved this woman is at least given a face to hate. He wishes the bloody psychologist were here, now. It would be the only way she could ever understand what makes him do a job he hates. Wants to tell her that this is what he is. What he forces himself to be. Here, at the place between sorrow and good-bye."
All of the main characters continue to grow and develop. Aector's wife and his boss in particular. They are true to form and add much to the character of the stories.
Oh, the end. Well, I won't say too much but to say -- Why????
You can read Sorrow Bound as a stand-alone, but you should really read the others in the series also. Here are my reviews of The Dark Winter and Original Skin.
February 3, 2015
David Mark just keeps getting better with every book. Although the details of the murders are not for the faint of heart, DS Aector McAvoy is a gentle giant who will tug at your heart strings with his profound love for his family. Highly recommended.
Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to Penguin and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
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