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DI Sam Cobbs #16
To Deceive Them: A Lake District Thriller
From NY Times bestselling author M A Comley, author of the Justice series, who has sold almost five million copies worldwide comes yet another page-turning thriller set in the stunning Lake District. When Helen Flintoff, beloved wife and events manager, is found dead in a suspicious fire, Detective Inspector Samantha Cobbs uncovers a twisted web of secrets in the heart of the Lake District.
As DI Cobbs digs deeper, she realizes Helen’s life was far from perfect. Hidden affairs and dangerous betrayals come to light, leading Sam to a Bridal Fair where Helen’s final day unfolded in a tangled web of deception. With Helen’s husband and a close circle of acquaintances under scrutiny, the case spirals into a deadly game where love and loyalty are just illusions.
Can Sam uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?
Other books in this bestselling series
To Die For - which reached #40 in the UK Kindle chart.
To Silence Them
To Make Them Pay
To Prove Fatal
To Condemn Them
To Punish Them
To Entice Them
To Control Them
To Endanger Lives
To Hold Responsible
To Catch a Killer
To Believe The Truth
To Blame Them
To Judge Them
To Fear Him
To Deceive Them
To Hurt Them
To Hurt Them
The Truth Will Out
As DI Cobbs digs deeper, she realizes Helen’s life was far from perfect. Hidden affairs and dangerous betrayals come to light, leading Sam to a Bridal Fair where Helen’s final day unfolded in a tangled web of deception. With Helen’s husband and a close circle of acquaintances under scrutiny, the case spirals into a deadly game where love and loyalty are just illusions.
Can Sam uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?
Other books in this bestselling series
To Die For - which reached #40 in the UK Kindle chart.
To Silence Them
To Make Them Pay
To Prove Fatal
To Condemn Them
To Punish Them
To Entice Them
To Control Them
To Endanger Lives
To Hold Responsible
To Catch a Killer
To Believe The Truth
To Blame Them
To Judge Them
To Fear Him
To Deceive Them
To Hurt Them
To Hurt Them
The Truth Will Out
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2025
89 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Comley
176 books816 followersNew York Times, USA Today, Amazon Top 20 bestselling author, iBooks top 5 bestselling and #2 bestselling author on Barnes and Noble. Over one million copies sold world wide. I am a British author who moved to France in 2002, and that's when I turned my hobby into a career.
When I'm not writing crime novels I'm either reading them or going on long walks with my rescue Labrador, Dex.
I hope you enjoy reading my books, especially the Justice series, Cruel Justice, Impeding Justice, Final Justice, Foul Justice, Guaranteed Justice, Ultimate Justice, Virtual Justice, Hostile Justice, Tortured Justice, Rough Justice, Dubious Justice, Calculated Justice, Twisted Justice, Prime Justice. There are several novellas and short stories in the series too.
My other successful series are: The DI Sally Parker thriller series, which includes WRONG PLACE, NO HIDING PLACE and COLD CASE
The Hero series, TORN APART, END RESULT, IN PLAIN SIGHT and DOUBLE JEOPARDY(published by Bloodhound Books)
I have three books in the Intention series, Sole Intention, Grave Intention and Devious Intention.
I've also written a couple of standalone novels - EVIL IN DISGUISE and FOREVER WATCHING YOU.
As well as co-authoring The Caller with Tara Lyons.
And Clever Deception, Tragic Deception and Sinful Deception co-authored by fellow NY Times bestselling author Linda S Prather.
If you'd like to keep up to date with new releases you can find me on Facebook by following this link http://smarturl.it/sps7jh or sign up for my newsletter http://www.hyperurl.co/su1xnt
If you fancy a lighter read, why not try one of my romances: A Time to Heal, and A Time for Change--Based on a TRUE story. I also have a selection of short stories and novelettes available which I know you'll enjoy.
You can find out more about me at the following blogs.
http://melcomley.blogspot.com
http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com
When I'm not writing crime novels I'm either reading them or going on long walks with my rescue Labrador, Dex.
I hope you enjoy reading my books, especially the Justice series, Cruel Justice, Impeding Justice, Final Justice, Foul Justice, Guaranteed Justice, Ultimate Justice, Virtual Justice, Hostile Justice, Tortured Justice, Rough Justice, Dubious Justice, Calculated Justice, Twisted Justice, Prime Justice. There are several novellas and short stories in the series too.
My other successful series are: The DI Sally Parker thriller series, which includes WRONG PLACE, NO HIDING PLACE and COLD CASE
The Hero series, TORN APART, END RESULT, IN PLAIN SIGHT and DOUBLE JEOPARDY(published by Bloodhound Books)
I have three books in the Intention series, Sole Intention, Grave Intention and Devious Intention.
I've also written a couple of standalone novels - EVIL IN DISGUISE and FOREVER WATCHING YOU.
As well as co-authoring The Caller with Tara Lyons.
And Clever Deception, Tragic Deception and Sinful Deception co-authored by fellow NY Times bestselling author Linda S Prather.
If you'd like to keep up to date with new releases you can find me on Facebook by following this link http://smarturl.it/sps7jh or sign up for my newsletter http://www.hyperurl.co/su1xnt
If you fancy a lighter read, why not try one of my romances: A Time to Heal, and A Time for Change--Based on a TRUE story. I also have a selection of short stories and novelettes available which I know you'll enjoy.
You can find out more about me at the following blogs.
http://melcomley.blogspot.com
http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 6, 2025
Love, Deception and Intrigue - what more could you wish for.
Sam and Bob attend the scene where a body has been discovered after a house fire.
Bob is shocked to find the house belongs to a good friend of his and Sam discovers that the body is that of the person who organised the Bridal Fair she attended, at which her sister was on exhibior, and where she herself had met and chatted to the deceased.
Bob is understandably concerned about his friend and, as such, Sam is worried about Bob’s ability to remain objective.
In the midst of this investigation, Sam receives news that her estranged brother has been stabbed, while serving time in prison, and is now in hospital with critical injuries.
A tense and gripping triller which will have you turning the pages at breakneck speed to reach the shocking reveal at the end. But there is also some good news to come!
Highly Recommended
Sam and Bob attend the scene where a body has been discovered after a house fire.
Bob is shocked to find the house belongs to a good friend of his and Sam discovers that the body is that of the person who organised the Bridal Fair she attended, at which her sister was on exhibior, and where she herself had met and chatted to the deceased.
Bob is understandably concerned about his friend and, as such, Sam is worried about Bob’s ability to remain objective.
In the midst of this investigation, Sam receives news that her estranged brother has been stabbed, while serving time in prison, and is now in hospital with critical injuries.
A tense and gripping triller which will have you turning the pages at breakneck speed to reach the shocking reveal at the end. But there is also some good news to come!
Highly Recommended
February 24, 2025
To Deceive Them is a great addition to the series, book 16 featuring Sam and Bob, two fabulous characters who once again bring another fantastic book to light.
Once again, we are back in the Lake District where another case is taking off and our two favourite detectives are once again on the path to finding answers. A family is left devastated by an unexpected death, that of events manager Heather Flintoff, a woman Sam knew her personally and case that is testing the team to their limits.
Why has Helen been targeted and who stands to benefit from her death? There is also a personal connection for Bob in this case and as always in these situations’ emotions are high and objectiveness needs to be maintained. Also, for Sam, her brother has been injured in a prison attack, so there is a lot going on. Secrets, lies and betrayal, always an excellent mix to draw the reader in and have you racing through the book to find out answers to the questions that have plagued the pages.
Another excellent addition to the series which I highly recommend.
Once again, we are back in the Lake District where another case is taking off and our two favourite detectives are once again on the path to finding answers. A family is left devastated by an unexpected death, that of events manager Heather Flintoff, a woman Sam knew her personally and case that is testing the team to their limits.
Why has Helen been targeted and who stands to benefit from her death? There is also a personal connection for Bob in this case and as always in these situations’ emotions are high and objectiveness needs to be maintained. Also, for Sam, her brother has been injured in a prison attack, so there is a lot going on. Secrets, lies and betrayal, always an excellent mix to draw the reader in and have you racing through the book to find out answers to the questions that have plagued the pages.
Another excellent addition to the series which I highly recommend.
February 18, 2025
OK... so we'll take the usual spiel about series books as read shall we? Other than to say - wowsers - book 16 and still as fresh as the proverbial!
This time, we follow Sam as she and her team try to get to grips with the death of an events manager, Helen Flintoff, who was found dead in her home, also the scene of a fire which gutted the thatched property. She is known to Sam as she recently ran a wedding event Sam attended. But more worryingly, her husband, to whom the fingers initially point, is Sam's partner, Bob's best friend. Now, we all know that Bob shouldn't be anywhere near the case as it is so personal, and, at the very least, be taken straight off when he failed to remain impartial, but he isn't so... Anyway, that niggle aside, Sam, Bob, et al have their work cut out for them when they start to uncover all manner of shenanigans in the days leading up to her death... Meanwhile Sam has some family personal stuff to deal with which really doesn't help...
As with all the books I have read by this author, this one hit the ground running, sucking me from the off, holding me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end wholly satisfied. As usual, there is no superfluous waffle or padding, which means that the story gets on with itself very well. The story, as already mentioned, was gripping and, with twists and turns aplenty, had me, along with Sam, running round in circles chasing my tail until the whole truth was eventually uncovered.
All in all, a worthy addition to an already impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
This time, we follow Sam as she and her team try to get to grips with the death of an events manager, Helen Flintoff, who was found dead in her home, also the scene of a fire which gutted the thatched property. She is known to Sam as she recently ran a wedding event Sam attended. But more worryingly, her husband, to whom the fingers initially point, is Sam's partner, Bob's best friend. Now, we all know that Bob shouldn't be anywhere near the case as it is so personal, and, at the very least, be taken straight off when he failed to remain impartial, but he isn't so... Anyway, that niggle aside, Sam, Bob, et al have their work cut out for them when they start to uncover all manner of shenanigans in the days leading up to her death... Meanwhile Sam has some family personal stuff to deal with which really doesn't help...
As with all the books I have read by this author, this one hit the ground running, sucking me from the off, holding me captive throughout, spitting me out at the end wholly satisfied. As usual, there is no superfluous waffle or padding, which means that the story gets on with itself very well. The story, as already mentioned, was gripping and, with twists and turns aplenty, had me, along with Sam, running round in circles chasing my tail until the whole truth was eventually uncovered.
All in all, a worthy addition to an already impressive back catalogue. Roll on next time.
January 14, 2025
Sam and Bob are back and the case they are working on is a little close to home for some which has emotions running high. A suspicious death which leaves a family distraught but worse is yet to come. Sam also has her own issues to deal with which brings back unwanted memories and problems for her own family.
I love the back drop of the setting of the Lake District in this series. Whilst it is a beautiful place, sadly crime happens everywhere so Sam and her team are always kept busy. This case has everyone working around the clock to get it solved. So many questions are raised in who would want to kill the victim. It makes you think how well you truly know someone and there were many twists and turns as certain revelations come to light.
To Deceive Them was the perfect title for this novel. The investigation had me gripped as the team get closer to discovering the truth and have to say I was shocked by the outcome. With more than a few suspects to look at, it came as a huge surprise when the killer is finally revealed. A fast paced and thrilling story that had me hooked on every word!
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book.
I love the back drop of the setting of the Lake District in this series. Whilst it is a beautiful place, sadly crime happens everywhere so Sam and her team are always kept busy. This case has everyone working around the clock to get it solved. So many questions are raised in who would want to kill the victim. It makes you think how well you truly know someone and there were many twists and turns as certain revelations come to light.
To Deceive Them was the perfect title for this novel. The investigation had me gripped as the team get closer to discovering the truth and have to say I was shocked by the outcome. With more than a few suspects to look at, it came as a huge surprise when the killer is finally revealed. A fast paced and thrilling story that had me hooked on every word!
My thanks to the author for an advanced readers copy of this book.
February 2, 2025
Sam & Bob are back with a case to blow their minds. So much to sort yet with these 2 leading and their team they are in it head first.
It’s a fire and it’s bad, as you know there’s a body if these guys are involved. Bob knows the male owner of the house really well and his friendship and trust is tested big time.
Sam has family trauma and is pulled in all directions.
As always excellent book, one of my fave authors and series by her. Long may these go on, or MA Comley keeps giving us characters we love like these.
It’s a fire and it’s bad, as you know there’s a body if these guys are involved. Bob knows the male owner of the house really well and his friendship and trust is tested big time.
Sam has family trauma and is pulled in all directions.
As always excellent book, one of my fave authors and series by her. Long may these go on, or MA Comley keeps giving us characters we love like these.
February 4, 2025
This is book number 16 in the DI Sam Cobbs series and it’s the best yet!
When a local event planner is found dead in her burnt out house it becomes personal for Sam’s team, especially her side kick Bob. Sam is really up against it on this one and is having a tough time keeping Bob on track! The urgency increases when, after numerous attempts, they can’t contact the victims sister.
Full of twists and turns this one with Sam’s convict brother turning up too! Loved this storyline and never would have guessed the ending
January 14, 2025
This one had me confused from the start & I didn’t see who was the guilty party till they did, so yep I didn’t solve this one at all. Three twisted families & one too close to poor Sam, not giving any spoilers but you can’t pick your family, wish you could tho.
I enjoyed this & couldn’t put it down whilst not feeling well in bed.
Can’t wait for the next one in this series (Sam is starting to grow on me now, Mel)
I hope the next book has in it what I think it will.
I enjoyed this & couldn’t put it down whilst not feeling well in bed.
Can’t wait for the next one in this series (Sam is starting to grow on me now, Mel)
I hope the next book has in it what I think it will.
January 30, 2025
Sam and Bob attend the scene of a house fire, which turns into a murder scene after a body is found.
Sam has her suspicions on who the killer is, but Bob disagrees, and this case causes some strain in their working relationship.
Why would anyone want this lady dead? From everything Sam and Bob hear, she was lovely and had no enemies.
With problems arising from the past, Sam has a lot to deal with.
I found this to be a highly charged read, and I felt for both Sam and Bob in this story.
At times, I was on the edge of my seat, the story and characters sucked me in completely.
Sam has her suspicions on who the killer is, but Bob disagrees, and this case causes some strain in their working relationship.
Why would anyone want this lady dead? From everything Sam and Bob hear, she was lovely and had no enemies.
With problems arising from the past, Sam has a lot to deal with.
I found this to be a highly charged read, and I felt for both Sam and Bob in this story.
At times, I was on the edge of my seat, the story and characters sucked me in completely.
February 18, 2025
DI Sam Cobbs & her partner Bob are called out yet again to another crime scene. This time it’s a fire where an events manager that Sam has previously spoken to regarding her upcoming wedding is found to have died in the fire. Her family are heartbroken least of all her husband who was away that weekend on a conference. All fingers point to him until Sam’s team start to unravel the clues.
A fast paced book that I enjoyed reading & would never have guessed this unsuspected ending.
A fast paced book that I enjoyed reading & would never have guessed this unsuspected ending.
February 20, 2025
Family
Another great read from this author not such a loving family Helen had been brutally murdered then her home set on fire 🔥 then her sister was attacked and had temporary blindness but all isn't as it seems .Sam and her team had there work cut out with this investigation plus Sam also had personal problems to sort out but as always Sam and her team got things sorted a definite 5 STARS
Another great read from this author not such a loving family Helen had been brutally murdered then her home set on fire 🔥 then her sister was attacked and had temporary blindness but all isn't as it seems .Sam and her team had there work cut out with this investigation plus Sam also had personal problems to sort out but as always Sam and her team got things sorted a definite 5 STARS
February 3, 2025
Well this one really got me, didn’t have a clue until Sam worked it out herself.
Another great book with Sam, Bob and the team working on a murder case which involves a member of the team personally. Love reading and reading to try and work out who the murderer is. With Sam also having to deal with problems of her own, this is a tough case for her.
Loved it!
Another great book with Sam, Bob and the team working on a murder case which involves a member of the team personally. Love reading and reading to try and work out who the murderer is. With Sam also having to deal with problems of her own, this is a tough case for her.
Loved it!
February 8, 2025
When you have a fire and a body, and there are so many people who could be responsible you have a nice mystery. There are some obvious persons of interest but you just never know!
February 23, 2025
Another
Great read, read it in one sitting. Only thing I'm disappointed in is that I have to wait until May for the next instalment
Great read, read it in one sitting. Only thing I'm disappointed in is that I have to wait until May for the next instalment
February 24, 2025
Wow
What can I say another fab read from MA Comley. Read this book over two nights. Intrigued from page one
What can I say another fab read from MA Comley. Read this book over two nights. Intrigued from page one
March 6, 2025
To Deceive Them
Love this series always enjoy from start to finsh.Great storylines and the characters feel lime people I actually know.Hope not long to wait for book 17.
Love this series always enjoy from start to finsh.Great storylines and the characters feel lime people I actually know.Hope not long to wait for book 17.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews