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DCI Harry Grimm #19

Blood Fountain

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Caught up in a conflict over embracing the present or preserving the past, can this big-city cop get to the bottom of a deadly backwater grievance?

With a solid Investigative team at his back, and a much-anticipated engagement party to attend, Harry Grimm is relaxing into life in the country. But when a decapitated corpse is found lying on his favourite local pub’s quoit’s pitch, everything is thrown into chaos.

Then, when a second victim turns up at a world-famous waterfall, it soon becomes clear that tension between locals and sightseers has bubbled over into something fatal. Can Harry stop a secret serial killer before the rivers run red with blood?

Blood Fountain is the chilling nineteenth book in the DCI Harry Grimm Crime Thrillers series. If you like cunning killers, gruesome crimes, and beautifully written settings, then you’ll love David J. Gatward’s tense procedural.

Read Blood Fountain to chase the dark side of paradise today!

Blood Fountain is the nineteenth book in the DCI Harry Grimm crime thriller series, set in the Yorkshire Dales. Perfect for fans of L. J. Ross, J. D. Kirk, Adam Croft, Simon McCleave, Alex Smith, J. M. Dalgliesh, J. E. Mayhew, and J. R. Ellis.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2024

1881 people are currently reading
160 people want to read

About the author

David J. Gatward

36 books533 followers

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5 stars
2,691 (64%)
4 stars
1,148 (27%)
3 stars
300 (7%)
2 stars
42 (1%)
1 star
14 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
Profile Image for Jenny.
2,345 reviews73 followers
January 12, 2025
Blood Fountain is book nineteen of DCI Harry Grimm by David J. Gatward. With Gordy gone and another member of DCI Harry Grimm's team away on holiday, they did not need to catch a case of the murder of a man and a missing person on his buck night. However, when another body turned up, the team was stretched, and Superintendent Walker stepped in to help the team. DCI Harry Grimm started to worry they have a serial killer. The readers of Blood Fountain will continue to follow DCI Harry Grimm and his team's investigation to discover what happens.

I enjoy reading the DCI Harry Grimm series, and Blood Fountain is an excellent addition. It did not disappoint me. I appreciate how David J. Gatward allows me to engage with the characters and their families; I also like how David J. Gatward brings the Yorkshire Dales alive for me. I love David J. Gatward's portrayal of his characters. Blood Fountain is well-written and researched. I like David J. Gatward's description of the settings of Blood Fountain, which allowed me to imagine being part of the book's plot.

I recommend this book.
Profile Image for Jeff D..
115 reviews1 follower
November 16, 2024
Love the series but the books are becoming more hallmark movie type fare..how lovely the area is, the relationships between all the characters, life ponerings etc etc. Still good but books used to be 70/30 crime/fluff now starting to be 50/50.
331 reviews4 followers
November 2, 2024
It's like being with old friends and famiky

Nineteen books in, and despite my concern over the murder rate in and around Hawes, the series goes from strength to strength. These books are wonderful and easy to read even given the violent nature of the murders. A key strength are the main characters, led by Harry, but the ensemble cast are like old friends and family. Having read perhaps the first 15 books in a short timeframe and "caught up" with David J. Gatward's pen, I now wait several months between books to reconnect with family/friends and visit the Yorkshire Dales. I have yet to be disappointed in the people, the place, and the mystery.
348 reviews3 followers
November 2, 2024
With a solid Investigative team at his back, and a much-anticipated engagement party to attend, Harry Grimm is relaxing into life in the country. But when a decapitated corpse is found lying on his favourite local pub’s quoit’s pitch, everything is thrown into chaos.

I have always been a huge fan of Harry and his team but this left me a little disappointed. I feel the perpetrator of the crime should have been interviewed right at the beginning. Not a very exciting plot for Harry to get his teeth into. Also why decapitation? It's such a ferocious act and yet no reason was given for this. Especially when you find out the reasoning behind the killings. Didn't seem to warrant it but that's just my opinion. I do find the pages of descriptive scenery a bit wearing now as well. Seemed to be a lot more in this book. Not Mr Gatward's best I'm afraid.
14 reviews1 follower
November 2, 2024
It was okay but I felt it lacked the usual pace. What Beas the second victim targeted? It all felt a bit flat at the end. And unusually there were typographical errors.

Fingers crossed for the next instalment.
123 reviews2 followers
November 24, 2024
Brilliant crime thriller

Loved the story from beginning to end. I loved all the characters. I couldn't stop reading till the end, so gripping. Brilliant has always can't wait to read next in the series.
Profile Image for Donna Irwin.
812 reviews31 followers
November 16, 2024
Not my favourite Harry Grimm but well read by Aubrey as always
Profile Image for Nadia.
28 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2024
Still loved the book, the characters and the setting. It just felt a bit rushed, the killer was no surprise and there were a few typos in the kindle version. At some point early on it’s supposed to say Grace said, but instead referred to Gordy. A bit more flat than usual.
Profile Image for Hans.
359 reviews9 followers
January 13, 2025
Phew, I'm afraid this was neither here nor there. Despite a gruesome murder with a decapitated corpse and more murders down the line, it feels like nothing much really happens in Blood Fountain. Mostly, the novel consists of the author's typical swooning over the beauty of the Wensleydale region with Harry and his team spending a lot of time thinking about what tasty treat they might eat next.

This was quite charming in earlier novels but it's frankly getting a bit old by now, especially since the ratio of Northern Yorkshire worshipping to crime solving seems to have arrived at 70-30. At times, Blood Fountain reads more like an elaborate travel brochure than like a crime novel.

The murder investigation, if you can call it that, comes across as quite unhurried and seems to lead nowhere until Harry once again basically solves the murders by accident within the last couple of pages. What's even worse, the solution still isn't surprising at all, while the motive for the murders is incredibly silly and unbelievable. And really, why are people not more nervous about a smalltown murder case involving a decapitated corpse?

Honestly, I think David J. Gatward might be stretching himself a bit thin with his spin-off series about Gordy and his generally very hight output. Maybe he should slow down a bit, because the quality of his more recent novels hasn't been that great. On a more positive note, David J. Gatward seems to be done with the aggressive journalist bashing from previous novels for the moment, so there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Profile Image for Donna ~ The Romance Cover.
2,907 reviews323 followers
December 31, 2024
This series is one of my favourite finds of the year. To say that I am invested is a severe understatement. Harry Grimm is one of those characters that you cannot help but fall in love with. Despite his spiky, ornery demeanour, he is just misunderstood. He believes that he is Grimm by name and grim by nature, but that could not be further from the truth. An army veteran (medical discharge) he joins the force in Bristol, however, his maverick attitude and lack of rule abiding soon has him sent to "coventry" out of sight, out of mind. He is seconded to the Dales, as far from his comfort zone as possible. However, the Dales are magical, and Harry soon becomes to love it there, including the Wensleydale on fruit cake. Each book is fabulously written, the characters are amazing and you cannot help but fall in love with them and the Dales. One of my favourite series.
8 reviews
November 6, 2024
Disappointing. Having read all the others this seemed very lightweight with a very weak storyline a rushed end and loose ends. Really three decapitations just because someone doesn't like tourists!? I feel the descriptive passages of the Dales and how they change peoples lives all a bit much now and the characters also are lacking in realism now they seem a bit like caricatures. Lacking the grit and realism of the earlier books.
Profile Image for Michelle Nash.
732 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2025
Probably my least favorite of the series, it's really 3.5 but rounding up because I love the characters.

This story was good but honestly was a bit far-fetched. Like in other novels, the discovery and wrap up happen so very quickly.

Margaret was acting out of character towards the end, I really couldn't see her doing/saying what she did. Half the team only just mentions this time, no real inclusion in the story.
Profile Image for Julie Pryke.
Author 14 books36 followers
December 5, 2024
I have read all of David's books in the DCI Grimm series. They have strong criminal events surrounded by true teamwork and developing positive relationships between all his colleagues and him. Very human, funny, and a great insight into life in the Dales. I would really recommend it to any crime series devotee.
Profile Image for Christine Rennie.
2,969 reviews40 followers
November 1, 2024

Blood Fountain by David Gatward is book 19 in the DCI Harry Grimm crime thriller police series.
Yet again it is a pleasure to read, other than the three gruesome murders, the team are all on excellent form, as are the other characters that are part and parcel of Harry Grimm’s life now.
It still feels like meeting up with friends and catching up with what everyone has been doing and any future plans people have.
The police investigation was very thorough and very interesting particularly the how and the why of the crimes..
Highly recommended
Profile Image for David Ward.
Author 2 books17 followers
November 4, 2024
What a cracker of a book! David Gatward knows how to write a fine mystery filled with engaging characters. The whole series is great, and this is as good as any of them.

What happens when a stag night comes to Harry Grimm´s pub? Why would there be a grisly murder? Who's the killer? And who will keep Gandalf? You'll need to read the book to find out.

A fine story that'll keep you reading when you should be going to bed.

Thank you Dave.
1,181 reviews6 followers
December 10, 2024
Another Excellent Story

Another excellent story by David in the Harry Grimm series. Every bit as good if not better than those that preceded it. It could also be that they are so well written that you really feel that you know the characters personally. The only problem is a I along with all his other followers can read these books much faster than he can write them.Looking forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Grey853.
1,555 reviews61 followers
February 2, 2025
This is the nineteenth book in the series. There are headless corpses showing up around the area. What do the victims have in common?

The pacing on this isn't really up to the standards of other books. It also has one of the weakest motives for a killer that I've ever read. It's almost comical.

Still, the over all writing holds up as do the characters. I just wish the plot and climax had been stronger.
1,290 reviews
November 3, 2024
Love this wonderful series. The characters get under your skin and I am always keen to see what is happening in their lives as each new book comes out. A stag party is held in Hawes with tragic results. Who is the murderer? It sounds like a wonderful area, very scenic, and this comes across in the writing. Loved it.
69 reviews2 followers
November 6, 2024
A strange case indeed

Beautiful Wensleydale sees a rather bizarre series of events that will give DCI Harry Grimm and his depleted team a testing time to solve. As ever, David Gatward brings together the unadulterated beauty of the location with the contorted and ugly side of the dreadful crime. Darker than some previous outings, but no less gripping.
Profile Image for Shirley.
17 reviews
November 18, 2024
The Harry Grimm series of books is highly enjoyable & I recommend this series & author. Recommend reading the series from the beginning to understand the different characters’ backgrounds/ backstories. Good plots & entertaining characters. The most recent novel left some of the characters dangling, setting up a new/ existing plot line development.
Profile Image for Lee Brothers.
1,379 reviews14 followers
December 22, 2024
Twisted, so very twisted!! The author has a great sense of humor and it shows in the interaction with the characters in the book. I enjoy that so much!! When he describes the area I just want to pick up and go and visit and see and feel it for myself. I just don't know about cake and cheese... It's so exciting to have Gandalf now.
Profile Image for SkyGrey.
234 reviews
December 27, 2024
Fabulous!

I love this series so much! Taking a trip through the Dales is always such a picturesque experience. It is definitely a place I want to visit one day.

I’m going to say this now because I’ve felt it from the beginning…..I don’t think Grace is the one for Harry. There is another match for him and I know they already have that “connection”. I hope I’m right.
4 reviews
April 21, 2025
Superb Book and Series

I have read all the Harry Grimm up to this one. I read every day and can truthfully say they are a superb series. I have visited Hawes and it is truly lovely. I look forward to reading book 20 now. David J Gatward is an excellent writer and brings the characters so alive. Please keep writing the Grimm series.
1 review
June 15, 2025
Another winner

Gatward books are like a visit with old, dear friends—-who also happen to live in the beautiful rolling hills of the Yorkshire dells and are a well-oiled team of mystery -solving “coppers “. As a reader you can ‘t help but crawl into the pages and go along for the ride!



Profile Image for Vickie Wallace.
162 reviews
November 21, 2025
Another great story with all the amazing characters and geography. The Dales are part of the storyline and I love hearing about how beautiful that place is. All the characters are favorites but I do miss Gordie and wish that she would return. Her and Harry were great together.
Aubrey does a stellar job at narration.
286 reviews3 followers
January 5, 2026
Just finished reading Blood Fountain, book 19 in the DCI Harry Grimm series by David J Gatward, another excellent read, with all these books you feel like you are actually there with the characters, the details are amazing. I do hope we see Gandalf the Dog again, soon find out as about to start book 20 😊
2 reviews
October 31, 2024
Loving this series

Such a great read this series. Loving the back story of the main characters and how they solve the crime. Plus loving the description of the Yorkshire area. Definitely on my list of places to visit.
124 reviews
November 1, 2024
Great to read about Harry

Truly enjoyed the latest episode with Harry and his colleagues. Such a good mystery. Enjoy the descriptions of the countryside as well. Sounds like a great place to visit. Looking forward to the next episode in Harry’s life.
496 reviews2 followers
November 3, 2024
Excellent Thriller

There's a mystery here but there's also a lot of discussion of Harry's new home and his new life living with his girlfriend Grace. I enjoyed both very much. It made it really clear what a great place he lives in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews

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