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Dylan Scott Mystery #7
Dead End
"Dylan Scott? It's payback time. You're going to die."Somebody is making threatening calls to private investigator Dylan Scott. This is one case with plenty of suspects-a lot of dangerous people would love to see Dylan with a bullet between the eyes. The twisted trail brings Dylan face-to-face with old foes and a few new ones-and they're all keeping deadly secrets…But as he chases leads across London, his adversary is hunting down victims and is drawing ever closer to his ultimate Dylan. Someone from Dylan's past is on a killing spree, and if he doesn't connect the dots in time, the dead end will be his.A Dylan Scott Mystery91,000 words
379 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 19, 2019
I was glad to see this pick up where the last book ended. However, it wasn't my favorite of the series. Dylan Scott is a solid character so I'll still be reading the next book. These are good mysteries, and this one did have a brutal killer.
July 10, 2014
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by NetGalley
Dead End picks up right after the conclusion of the previous book, Deadly Shadows, when we found out that Dylan is receiving death threats and his wife, Bev, has cancer. Dylan, together with his former co-worker, Detective Sergeant Pike (Pikey) and former boss, Frank, try to figure out who is at the other end of the mysterious, menacing phone calls. The group manages to come up with two likely suspects, and Dylan spends every waking moment, when he’s not worrying about Bev, using his investigative skills to track the suspects and stop the threats.
Dead End is another wonderful addition to Ms. Wells’ gripping Dylan Scott series. Like the previous books in the series, Dead End weaves an engrossing mystery, which keeps readers guessing whodunit until the very end. However, unlike prior stories, instead of Dylan being hired by someone unknown to track down a murderer, this mystery is personal for Dylan. This gives Dead End a much different - more urgent - feel when compared to the other books.
In addition to being a more personal story, Dead End is also much darker than any of the preceding books. Not only is there more than one murder, there is also a rape scene. Although the scenes are not graphically detailed, they are gruesome. This, together with the personal nature of the story, makes Dead End an emotionally gripping tale with some dire moments.
As I have said over and over in my reviews of the series, one of the best things about the Dylan Scott mysteries is the secondary storylines and alternate character perspectives. Ms. Wells does a wonderful job chronicling Dylan’s personal life without letting it overwhelm the mystery. This time around, it’s Bev who shines. I’m not going to lie… there are some tough moments, both honest and real. Her frank discussions with Dylan over her fears about the future are raw and pack a punch.
All in all, Dead End is wonderful, engrossing mystery coupled with an emotionally personal tale. Although it can be read as a stand alone story, knowing Dylan’s history as shared throughout the previous books makes the personal nature of the story more meaningful. By the end of the book, I was a bit drained, yet I cannot wait to read the next one!
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by NetGalley
Dead End picks up right after the conclusion of the previous book, Deadly Shadows, when we found out that Dylan is receiving death threats and his wife, Bev, has cancer. Dylan, together with his former co-worker, Detective Sergeant Pike (Pikey) and former boss, Frank, try to figure out who is at the other end of the mysterious, menacing phone calls. The group manages to come up with two likely suspects, and Dylan spends every waking moment, when he’s not worrying about Bev, using his investigative skills to track the suspects and stop the threats.
Dead End is another wonderful addition to Ms. Wells’ gripping Dylan Scott series. Like the previous books in the series, Dead End weaves an engrossing mystery, which keeps readers guessing whodunit until the very end. However, unlike prior stories, instead of Dylan being hired by someone unknown to track down a murderer, this mystery is personal for Dylan. This gives Dead End a much different - more urgent - feel when compared to the other books.
In addition to being a more personal story, Dead End is also much darker than any of the preceding books. Not only is there more than one murder, there is also a rape scene. Although the scenes are not graphically detailed, they are gruesome. This, together with the personal nature of the story, makes Dead End an emotionally gripping tale with some dire moments.
As I have said over and over in my reviews of the series, one of the best things about the Dylan Scott mysteries is the secondary storylines and alternate character perspectives. Ms. Wells does a wonderful job chronicling Dylan’s personal life without letting it overwhelm the mystery. This time around, it’s Bev who shines. I’m not going to lie… there are some tough moments, both honest and real. Her frank discussions with Dylan over her fears about the future are raw and pack a punch.
All in all, Dead End is wonderful, engrossing mystery coupled with an emotionally personal tale. Although it can be read as a stand alone story, knowing Dylan’s history as shared throughout the previous books makes the personal nature of the story more meaningful. By the end of the book, I was a bit drained, yet I cannot wait to read the next one!
July 23, 2014
Things are not going well for the Scott family even though the PI business is finally off the ground and paying the bills (mostly). Dylan's wife, Bev, is undergoing treatment for cancer and Dylan has been receiving threatening phone calls. Dylan is very worried, as he has made plenty of enemies both from his days on the force and as a PI. Dylan's old colleague "Pikey" is less concerned because everyone knows that people who really want to kill you just do it; not make threats. Retired Inspector Frank Willoughby is of a different opinion however. He is concerned enough to offer to come down from the North and watch over Bev, the kids and Dylan's aging hippie mother under the cover of a visit.
Dylan narrows the suspects down to a group that he and "Pikey" sent away on a huge drug bust. Rumor has it that the bust was a set-up and the group is out for revenge. Meanwhile, a series of kidnappings and wholesale slaughter of families is happening in London. We get a chilling glimpse into the mind of the very sick individual responsible. Can this be connected? Dylan is running hard to find out who is threatening his family; without letting Bev know what is going on.
Dead End is high action and convoluted, taking a much darker tone than earlier books in the series. Shirley Wells paints such an accomplished portrait of the Scott family that it is impossible not to be emotionally invested. Bev's worries and concerns about her future and Dylan's fear for his family makes a very stressful combination. It all comes to an explosive conclusion that I really did not see coming, and changes everything for Dylan. I am looking forward as always to the next book in the series. I highly recommend the series, as well as her earlier "Jill and Max" series to lovers of very British mysteries.
RATING- 4.5 Stars
Dylan narrows the suspects down to a group that he and "Pikey" sent away on a huge drug bust. Rumor has it that the bust was a set-up and the group is out for revenge. Meanwhile, a series of kidnappings and wholesale slaughter of families is happening in London. We get a chilling glimpse into the mind of the very sick individual responsible. Can this be connected? Dylan is running hard to find out who is threatening his family; without letting Bev know what is going on.
Dead End is high action and convoluted, taking a much darker tone than earlier books in the series. Shirley Wells paints such an accomplished portrait of the Scott family that it is impossible not to be emotionally invested. Bev's worries and concerns about her future and Dylan's fear for his family makes a very stressful combination. It all comes to an explosive conclusion that I really did not see coming, and changes everything for Dylan. I am looking forward as always to the next book in the series. I highly recommend the series, as well as her earlier "Jill and Max" series to lovers of very British mysteries.
RATING- 4.5 Stars
September 1, 2015
Great characterisation, and red herrings. The subplots kept me intrigued as I tried to rationalise them with each other and the main strand. Well defined mental disintegration mirrored between the perp and Dylan Scott. Enough gore to keep any Crime reader happy [– er... is that a good thing??]
This is the first of the author’s series I’ve tried. My only disappointment? That I didn’t start from No1.
This is the first of the author’s series I’ve tried. My only disappointment? That I didn’t start from No1.
January 6, 2017
I did not enjoy this as much as other books in the series - I can't tell if it's due to a change in the writing or if I'm judging more harshly now than I was two years ago when I read the previous book. The dialog was cheesy, the situations seemed silly, and the characters weren't especially compelling.
The book was not helped by the audiobook narrator who performed women's voices like a 14 year old mimicking his sister.
The book was not helped by the audiobook narrator who performed women's voices like a 14 year old mimicking his sister.
December 30, 2016
Horrible things happen. There is no happy ending. There (in this book, not the series) seemed to be a bit of a rush to wrap lose ends up.
And yet...I found the book relaxing. While not the strongest of the Dylan Scott series so far (and I'm delighted there are more for me to enjoy) I still enjoyed reading it.
And yet...I found the book relaxing. While not the strongest of the Dylan Scott series so far (and I'm delighted there are more for me to enjoy) I still enjoyed reading it.
August 3, 2014
Another well-written page-turner in this excellent British-based series. Emotive and down to earth. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews