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DCI Rosen #2
What She Saw
The second DCI Rosen novel finds dark forces at work among the children of the estate—serial killer thriller meets occult thriller in a roller-coaster read
When a nine-year-old boy is left to die inside a burning car on a sink estate in Peckham, DCI David Rosen is drafted in to investigate. The young boy has been severely burned, and is now fighting for his life. As Rosen and his team begin to scour the crime scene for forensic evidence, they discover something chilling; a graffiti image of a sinister eye, drawn in exquisite detail above the site of the wreckage—and behind it, a series of mysterious markings, etched into the wall. Could the markings represent a secret code left by the killer—a code that will hold the key to the investigation? Eleven-year-old Macy Conner is the only witness to the arson attack. Macy is an unusual child, deeply observant and articulate. But the more Rosen examines her testimony, the more he starts to question her version of events. Soon, Rosen begins to see that Macy is not quite the innocent, lost little girl she appears to be. DCI Rosen must fight to get to the truth before another attack takes place, and another soul is taken.
When a nine-year-old boy is left to die inside a burning car on a sink estate in Peckham, DCI David Rosen is drafted in to investigate. The young boy has been severely burned, and is now fighting for his life. As Rosen and his team begin to scour the crime scene for forensic evidence, they discover something chilling; a graffiti image of a sinister eye, drawn in exquisite detail above the site of the wreckage—and behind it, a series of mysterious markings, etched into the wall. Could the markings represent a secret code left by the killer—a code that will hold the key to the investigation? Eleven-year-old Macy Conner is the only witness to the arson attack. Macy is an unusual child, deeply observant and articulate. But the more Rosen examines her testimony, the more he starts to question her version of events. Soon, Rosen begins to see that Macy is not quite the innocent, lost little girl she appears to be. DCI Rosen must fight to get to the truth before another attack takes place, and another soul is taken.
384 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2014
47 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Mark Roberts
122 books53 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Mark Roberts was born and raised in Liverpool and was educated at St. Francis Xavier's College. He was a teacher for twenty years and for the last thirteen years has worked with children with severe learning difficulties. He received a Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for best new play of the year. He is the author of What She Saw which was longlisted for a CWA Gold Dagger. Blood Mist, the first in his DCI Eve Clay series, went to number one in the Australian kindle chart.
Mark Roberts was born and raised in Liverpool and was educated at St. Francis Xavier's College. He was a teacher for twenty years and for the last thirteen years has worked with children with severe learning difficulties. He received a Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for best new play of the year. He is the author of What She Saw which was longlisted for a CWA Gold Dagger. Blood Mist, the first in his DCI Eve Clay series, went to number one in the Australian kindle chart.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
January 28, 2019
The story opens with a 9-year-old boy being burned alive in an abandoned car in Peckham, a district of south-east London. This is part of London that tourists never see - a housing estate with high levels of economic and social deprivation and a breeding ground for crime.
But this is no ordinary crime. The boy, who comes from a rich family, was abducted days before. When the police arrive, they find a graffiti image of a sinister eye and strange markings on the wall at the crime scene. An 11-year-old girl called Macy claims to have witnessed two men who may have set the car on fire, but she is not what she seems.
As the young boy fights for his life, another boy who rescued him from the blazing car is found dead - bludgeoned and then set on fire.
This book is a mix of straightforward police procedural and horror story. It's a highly disturbing read which concentrates on the psychological and physical abuse of children. Parts of the story verge on the surreal as police discover the painted eye and symbols were used by ancient Druids who had a history of burning people alive as sacrifices to their Gods.
The lead detective in the investigation, DCI David Rosen, begins to have doubts about Macy's evidence. More and more, he and his team find themselves investigating the parents and children living on this housing estate.
What seems like a kidnapping gone badly wrong takes a much darker turn and Rosen and his squad have to uncover the truth by the night of May 1st - the night of the Beltaine Fire - or more people will die.
This is a fast moving read that's definitely not for the squeamish. The descriptions of the suffering of the murder victims and senseless acts carried out by and against children are vivid in the extreme.
But this is no ordinary crime. The boy, who comes from a rich family, was abducted days before. When the police arrive, they find a graffiti image of a sinister eye and strange markings on the wall at the crime scene. An 11-year-old girl called Macy claims to have witnessed two men who may have set the car on fire, but she is not what she seems.
As the young boy fights for his life, another boy who rescued him from the blazing car is found dead - bludgeoned and then set on fire.
This book is a mix of straightforward police procedural and horror story. It's a highly disturbing read which concentrates on the psychological and physical abuse of children. Parts of the story verge on the surreal as police discover the painted eye and symbols were used by ancient Druids who had a history of burning people alive as sacrifices to their Gods.
The lead detective in the investigation, DCI David Rosen, begins to have doubts about Macy's evidence. More and more, he and his team find themselves investigating the parents and children living on this housing estate.
What seems like a kidnapping gone badly wrong takes a much darker turn and Rosen and his squad have to uncover the truth by the night of May 1st - the night of the Beltaine Fire - or more people will die.
This is a fast moving read that's definitely not for the squeamish. The descriptions of the suffering of the murder victims and senseless acts carried out by and against children are vivid in the extreme.
November 1, 2017
4.5 stars.
Phew that was visceral. Warning, this book contains some pretty gruesome content. But it wasn't even what was said (written), some of the horrificness was in what was unsaid, in what your own imagination provided.
A young boy, 10/11 years of age is brutally murdered, he is set on fire inside a vehicle. He manages to open the door and fall out of the car. A teenager comes to his aid and drags him away before the vehicle explodes. As they are waiting for an ambulance the lad manages to mutter "they will do it again." This is how the book kicks off.
DCI Rosen and his team have never seen anything like it but there is hope. As well as the teenager, they have another witness, 10 year old Macy says she saw a couple of young men running from the car. They spotted her and beat her up but she is a truthful child and is willing to help the police.
In this story, nothing is straightforward, nothing is as it seems. The sense of menace becomes almost overwhelming as it becomes clear that more children are missing and more people will die. This was a hard book to read but, with twists galore, it was utterly gripping. Not, however, for the faint of heart!
Phew that was visceral. Warning, this book contains some pretty gruesome content. But it wasn't even what was said (written), some of the horrificness was in what was unsaid, in what your own imagination provided.
A young boy, 10/11 years of age is brutally murdered, he is set on fire inside a vehicle. He manages to open the door and fall out of the car. A teenager comes to his aid and drags him away before the vehicle explodes. As they are waiting for an ambulance the lad manages to mutter "they will do it again." This is how the book kicks off.
DCI Rosen and his team have never seen anything like it but there is hope. As well as the teenager, they have another witness, 10 year old Macy says she saw a couple of young men running from the car. They spotted her and beat her up but she is a truthful child and is willing to help the police.
In this story, nothing is straightforward, nothing is as it seems. The sense of menace becomes almost overwhelming as it becomes clear that more children are missing and more people will die. This was a hard book to read but, with twists galore, it was utterly gripping. Not, however, for the faint of heart!
November 12, 2017
Wow, this was a total surprise. My first Mark Roberts book, but it won't be my last. Warning: it is somewhat graphic, so maybe not for the faint of heart. Very good police procedural, with strong believable characters and definitely a different plot line. After the first couple chapters I was totally hooked and couldn't put it down.
July 15, 2019
2nd book from mark Robert's that I have read and It was brilliant had me on the edge of my seat all the way through highly recommended to all crime fiction lovers.
August 2, 2015
Another good read by Mark Roberts
August 29, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. I haven't read anything by Mark Roberts before. This was a fast paced crime thriller. DCI Rosen leading his team to find the perpetrators of a horrendous crime. With twists and turns I was hooked and felt a bit like I was on a roller coaster. Roberts writing effortlessly brought the characters to life and showed Rosen not only as a solid detective but also as a husband and father. The storyline and characters take the reader on an emotional journey, into the depths of human suffering, trauma and anguish. As the tension builds and the storyline twists and turns the book becomes very intense and I could feel the fear, anguish, and tension that Rosen and his team were going through. The ending brought together the extremes of human pain, suffering, rage, and love into an explosive finale that shocked and surprised.
March 23, 2019
😮 When I figured out who the first class psychopath was, I could not read fast enough to see how this would end. Mind you, with a few victims of death by fire, this book is not for the faint of heart.
April 14, 2019
First book I've read of this series and it took me on a whiz-bang roller coaster ride.
I might get tired of the navel gazing of the protagonist if I read too many, but the plotting is seriously great.
I might get tired of the navel gazing of the protagonist if I read too many, but the plotting is seriously great.
September 16, 2017
Loved it!
I enjoy Mark Roberts books_! Great plot and characters! Thanks so much, keep it up, an avid reader! Good job
I enjoy Mark Roberts books_! Great plot and characters! Thanks so much, keep it up, an avid reader! Good job
October 23, 2017
Rather odd....
Very long story. Rather odd.....very convoluted. Writing was odd in some places. Needs some editing. I will not ready another book by this author.
Very long story. Rather odd.....very convoluted. Writing was odd in some places. Needs some editing. I will not ready another book by this author.
September 19, 2018
As good as the first....relentless......fast paced...riveting.....DCI Rosen is fast becoming one of my favourite characters....
July 14, 2019
Interesting. Surprising twist as the puzzles slowly come together.
April 8, 2021
This was a quick and intense read. Rosen was puzzled about the graffiti and the strange letter etched nearby. With dawning horror the truth became known. The conclusion was fast and action filled.
April 27, 2023
Suspenseful to the end. Will read more from Mark Roberts.
March 12, 2017
Another fantastic read 5 stars. DCI Rosen does it again
October 29, 2023
What She Saw is the best novel to date from Mark Roberts. Disturbing and engaging, with many damaged and broken characters. It is a difficult read in places, but a compelling one.
The case starts for DCI Rosen with a boy in a burning car. His investigation leads through numerous troubled children, self serving adults and a series of past incidents that may or may not be connected. The bodies begin to stack up and everywhere there are clues left in a secret language. He suspects a secret cult is involved. And at the centre of everything is a fiercely intelligent ten year old girl, wise beyond her years.
This is an excellent novel with brutal themes and scenes that will haunt you. Rosen has his own troubles, but is compelled to solve the case and to find the truth before more die.
The case starts for DCI Rosen with a boy in a burning car. His investigation leads through numerous troubled children, self serving adults and a series of past incidents that may or may not be connected. The bodies begin to stack up and everywhere there are clues left in a secret language. He suspects a secret cult is involved. And at the centre of everything is a fiercely intelligent ten year old girl, wise beyond her years.
This is an excellent novel with brutal themes and scenes that will haunt you. Rosen has his own troubles, but is compelled to solve the case and to find the truth before more die.
August 20, 2014
Grand guignol police procedural which reminded me a lot of ITV1’s Whitechapel (spectacular acts of violence in rundown urban settings.) This is one of the least plausible race-against-time thrillers that I’ve read : nevertheless, Mark Roberts’ James Patterson style micro chapters did hold my attention until the fiery finale. Not really my cup of tea, and another book awarded a place on the CWA Gold Daggers' longlist which I would have given to The Strangler Vine or Rustication.
January 2, 2015
I never start in the middle of an ongoing series, but got this to review, and had to break my routine.
I'm guessing I would have liked this a lot better if I had read the previous books, because the characters don't really "pop".
To me, it was just another police-novel, with a okay plot and acceptable characters. With more backstory (ie: I had read the previous books) I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more.
I'm guessing I would have liked this a lot better if I had read the previous books, because the characters don't really "pop".
To me, it was just another police-novel, with a okay plot and acceptable characters. With more backstory (ie: I had read the previous books) I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more.
February 8, 2016
This is a extremely dark novel dealing with murder, mental illness and a compelling storyline that twists and turns as it courses along. I never guessed at the twist and it was a surprise when it came about, it shows how well the story is written and how spectacular the conclusion is. Compelling from start to finish
June 1, 2014
A great, quick read as the action takes place over four days of a police investigation and presented in very short chapters. The story developed in an unexpected way, but finished too quickly. Will check out the first in the series
July 10, 2016
A 9 year old boy is found burning alive in a car on a rundown estate in London. DCI Rosen and his team investigate what has all the markings of a cult that burns people as sacrifices. This was a thrilling read, a real page turner. I did not see the twist coming at all.
January 23, 2016
Not quite as good as expected and the twist was a bit obvious.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews