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DCI Sophie Allen #8
Silent Crimes: DCI Sophie Allen, Book 8
An intricate mystery full of buried secrets.
Detective Sophie Allen's daughter discovers the body of a reclusive tramp in remote woodland in Dorset. He's been dead for a week.
Sophie and her team try to piece together something about his life, but progress is slow.
No one is quite what they seem.
Then a hidden package is discovered near his rudimentary shelter. The police also find out that someone has been in the area asking about the tramp recently. A picture begins to emerge. He was an important member of a commune that had a three-year existence on a farm on the Quantock Hills in Somerset more than decade earlier.
What happened in the commune, and why are people still dying because of it?
Discover the truth in this captivating crime mystery.
Detective Sophie Allen's daughter discovers the body of a reclusive tramp in remote woodland in Dorset. He's been dead for a week.
Sophie and her team try to piece together something about his life, but progress is slow.
No one is quite what they seem.
Then a hidden package is discovered near his rudimentary shelter. The police also find out that someone has been in the area asking about the tramp recently. A picture begins to emerge. He was an important member of a commune that had a three-year existence on a farm on the Quantock Hills in Somerset more than decade earlier.
What happened in the commune, and why are people still dying because of it?
Discover the truth in this captivating crime mystery.
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First published October 30, 2019
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October 31, 2019
Detective Sophie Allen #8
Detective Sophie Allen's daughter, Jade finds a body in the woods. The deceased was known to have been a member of a mysterious commune ten years ago. Jade had made friends with Paul Prentis, (the deceased) a few years ago. Then, another body is found with links to the commune. The Detectives need to find out what exactly went on at the farm where the commune resided.
I really like this series. The books are all well written and fast paced. I personally think this is the best book in the series so far. There are so many twists in this story that you don't know if your coming or going. I like all the main characters and it's good to learn their characters development as the series progresses. This book could be read as a standalone, but you'll be missing out on a really good series if you don't read them all from the beginning.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Michael Hambling for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Detective Sophie Allen's daughter, Jade finds a body in the woods. The deceased was known to have been a member of a mysterious commune ten years ago. Jade had made friends with Paul Prentis, (the deceased) a few years ago. Then, another body is found with links to the commune. The Detectives need to find out what exactly went on at the farm where the commune resided.
I really like this series. The books are all well written and fast paced. I personally think this is the best book in the series so far. There are so many twists in this story that you don't know if your coming or going. I like all the main characters and it's good to learn their characters development as the series progresses. This book could be read as a standalone, but you'll be missing out on a really good series if you don't read them all from the beginning.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Michael Hambling for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 30, 2019
Crime hits Detective Sophie Allen's house via her teenage daughter, who discovers the body of a man living off the grid. He has lived in the woods for a couple of years, and Jade had befriended him by bringing him food every so often, whatever he needed.
Sophie and her team are trying to identify the man, but nothing is ever easy. Jade remembers him telling her about a hiding place in a tree. The hidden package gives the team the first lead they've had.
What they discover is that he was a member of a commune... or cult ... more than a decade earlier.
Why was he off the grid? Was he running from something ...or someone? What happened to the commune .. and its members?
Although eighth in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I've enjoyed how the recurring characters have aged and changed over the years. Sophie is a terrific character ... she's edgy, tenacious, and like a mama bear where her family is concerned.
This is well written with twists and turns and secrets that have been hiding in the shadows for many years. The characters are finely drawn, warts and all. The story line is structured well and leads to an unexpected ending.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books 'n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Sophie and her team are trying to identify the man, but nothing is ever easy. Jade remembers him telling her about a hiding place in a tree. The hidden package gives the team the first lead they've had.
What they discover is that he was a member of a commune... or cult ... more than a decade earlier.
Why was he off the grid? Was he running from something ...or someone? What happened to the commune .. and its members?
Although eighth in the series, this is easily read as a stand alone. I've enjoyed how the recurring characters have aged and changed over the years. Sophie is a terrific character ... she's edgy, tenacious, and like a mama bear where her family is concerned.
This is well written with twists and turns and secrets that have been hiding in the shadows for many years. The characters are finely drawn, warts and all. The story line is structured well and leads to an unexpected ending.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books 'n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 22, 2019
Another instalment in this very good series. Michael Hambling has been extremely consistent in delivering well plotted and interesting crime thrillers with characters you can relate to and get comfortable with. This one was not a nail biter but a satisfying and tricky mystery.
November 4, 2019
This is book 8 in the bestselling Detective Sophie Allen series but does work well as stand alone.
Sophie's daughter, Jade, has been keeping an eye on a tramp and his dog. When she finds his dead body and injured dog she has plenty of questions to answer but also questions that she needs answering. Paul was a gentle amiable man so why would someone kill him? Also, why is he living as a tramp when he is wealthy? Not only does she need the answers but so does her mum and the rest of the team.
When the clues lead back to 12 years ago and a young woman who disappeared the team are travelling the country trying to track down members of a commune that disbanded all those years ago.
In addition there is Trent, convicted of murder and out on parole he is set to make the people who contributed to his being convicted to pay.
As the team unravell the clues they uncover a pandora's box of secrets and wrongdoings but there are even bigger shocks in store.
This is an intriguing read that keeps the pages turning as the reader follows the team in their quest to find the people responsible.
If you like detective books this is one you will really love as the story gets into the nitty gritty of detective work along with the false leads and lies that make their job so difficult.
Sophie's daughter, Jade, has been keeping an eye on a tramp and his dog. When she finds his dead body and injured dog she has plenty of questions to answer but also questions that she needs answering. Paul was a gentle amiable man so why would someone kill him? Also, why is he living as a tramp when he is wealthy? Not only does she need the answers but so does her mum and the rest of the team.
When the clues lead back to 12 years ago and a young woman who disappeared the team are travelling the country trying to track down members of a commune that disbanded all those years ago.
In addition there is Trent, convicted of murder and out on parole he is set to make the people who contributed to his being convicted to pay.
As the team unravell the clues they uncover a pandora's box of secrets and wrongdoings but there are even bigger shocks in store.
This is an intriguing read that keeps the pages turning as the reader follows the team in their quest to find the people responsible.
If you like detective books this is one you will really love as the story gets into the nitty gritty of detective work along with the false leads and lies that make their job so difficult.
November 5, 2019
This is the eighth book in a series with Detective Sophie Allen as the lead. I have read a couple of them and have found that it is perfectly possible to read and enjoy them if you haven't read the earlier books, although the full picture from having read them all would be good.
Sophie's daughter, Jade, has made friends with a tramp living in the woods, a man of education and some wealth who has chosen to live off the grid. She only knows him as Paul. She is devastated when she discovers his body but knows she has to hold it together to help the police in their search for the killer. It's only because Jade remembers that Paul used to hide his belongings in a tree that the police get their first clue and that's when the investigation opens out for them.
Paul was connected to a commune in the Quantock Hills many years previously and, as the police pick over the information from this, a situation of jealousy, crime and more murders come to light. There were very good reasons for Paul's disappearance but it takes a lot of hard work to uncover the truth.
A very enjoyable read which I would recommend to all lovers of detective fiction. I believe Mr Hambling's books get better and better and he should be on anyone's 'to read' list.
Sophie's daughter, Jade, has made friends with a tramp living in the woods, a man of education and some wealth who has chosen to live off the grid. She only knows him as Paul. She is devastated when she discovers his body but knows she has to hold it together to help the police in their search for the killer. It's only because Jade remembers that Paul used to hide his belongings in a tree that the police get their first clue and that's when the investigation opens out for them.
Paul was connected to a commune in the Quantock Hills many years previously and, as the police pick over the information from this, a situation of jealousy, crime and more murders come to light. There were very good reasons for Paul's disappearance but it takes a lot of hard work to uncover the truth.
A very enjoyable read which I would recommend to all lovers of detective fiction. I believe Mr Hambling's books get better and better and he should be on anyone's 'to read' list.
November 2, 2019
This is number eight in the series of books featuring DCI Sophie Allen and her team working in the Dorset Police Violent Crime Unit and was the first book I have read in the series. Unbeknown to Sophie, her younger teenage daughter Jade befriended a tramp a couple of years ago and has been keeping an eye out for him and his little dog ever since. She sometimes took him food and even found a old shelter in the woods for him to live in. Concerned that she hadn't seen him for a few days, Jade goes in search of him in the woods and finds him murdered. Sadly she can tell police very little about him apart from his first name. The man was clever and articulate, and clearly had a good reason for wanting to disappear off the main grid of life. But what was he running or hiding from? Together with DI Barry Marsh and DC Rae Gregson, Sophie has a difficult time ahead to identify the man and the motive for his killing. Eventually Jade remembers the man's hiding place, and some items are found which gives detectives a lead to a commune or cult in the neighbouring county of Somerset disbanded some years ago with a cloud hanging over it. Could past secrets from this strange band of residents finally be revealed and expose exactly what did happen all those years ago? I very much enjoyed this story. It was straight down to business with a murder in the first couple of pages which is always a good start for me! All the main detectives featured were pretty straightforward (even Rae who is trans), and none seemed to be dragging awful personal problems around, giving them lots of time to concentrate on the case. As the initial case opened up, the plot became quite involved and there is a lot of content in the story. The plot is clever and the suspects all have multiple sides to them. With lots of turns in the story it was hard to decide who was guilty and who was innocent almost right up to the exciting and surprising end. Although part of a series this book can very easily be read as a stand alone. Personally I have already bought books 1-3 and 4-6 which are available now in boxsets to catch up on the adventures of this enjoyable series, and I look forward to more. 5*
November 6, 2019
Silent Crimes is the eighth book in Michael Hambling's series, but the first book I read--after reading it, I picked up Dark Crimes, the first book. And yes, I'll be catching up on the other books when I can.
Silent Crimes works well as a stand-alone. Jade Allen, DCI Sophie Allen's daughter, has been keeping an eye on a homeless man and his dog. When the man doesn't show up for several days, she seeks him out in a wooded area where he sometimes camped--and finds his body.
Other than his first name, Jade knows little about the man. There is no identification on him, and the police have a difficult time even finding his surname much less a motive for his murder. However, someone had been around asking about a tramp fitting his description before he disappeared. Who was he trying to avoid and why?
Piecing together the man's identity and background and why he left a profitable job to live off the grid is a slow process for Sophie Allen's team, but eventually a connection is made to a former commune and a missing woman.
My favorite kind of mystery is the gradual unraveling of information, and Michael Hambling does this well. While waiting for the next book, I can catch up on previous entries in the series.
NetGalley/Joffe Books
Police Procedural. Oct. 30, 2019. Print length: 229 pages.
Silent Crimes works well as a stand-alone. Jade Allen, DCI Sophie Allen's daughter, has been keeping an eye on a homeless man and his dog. When the man doesn't show up for several days, she seeks him out in a wooded area where he sometimes camped--and finds his body.
Other than his first name, Jade knows little about the man. There is no identification on him, and the police have a difficult time even finding his surname much less a motive for his murder. However, someone had been around asking about a tramp fitting his description before he disappeared. Who was he trying to avoid and why?
Piecing together the man's identity and background and why he left a profitable job to live off the grid is a slow process for Sophie Allen's team, but eventually a connection is made to a former commune and a missing woman.
My favorite kind of mystery is the gradual unraveling of information, and Michael Hambling does this well. While waiting for the next book, I can catch up on previous entries in the series.
NetGalley/Joffe Books
Police Procedural. Oct. 30, 2019. Print length: 229 pages.
October 28, 2019
SILENT CRIMES locks you into a sensory deprivation chamber with a cold hearted, unfathomable crime to solve.
As the door opens, progressively additional people, other factors, more locations, different aspects and alternative perspectives are added and you become embroiled in a treacherous, menacing multifaceted mystery so elusive it's like a treasure hunt within a massive maze and almost all dead ends.
Just when you find an exit, you realize you haven't collected all the treasure.
Multidirectional twists and turns will bewilder you and thwart all efforts to unravel this perplexing conundrum.
Then suddenly you'll be hit with a potentially explosive situation...
YOU WILL BE LOCKED IN TO SILENT CRIMES FROM START TO FINISH!!!
As the door opens, progressively additional people, other factors, more locations, different aspects and alternative perspectives are added and you become embroiled in a treacherous, menacing multifaceted mystery so elusive it's like a treasure hunt within a massive maze and almost all dead ends.
Just when you find an exit, you realize you haven't collected all the treasure.
Multidirectional twists and turns will bewilder you and thwart all efforts to unravel this perplexing conundrum.
Then suddenly you'll be hit with a potentially explosive situation...
YOU WILL BE LOCKED IN TO SILENT CRIMES FROM START TO FINISH!!!
February 24, 2021
Really liked this book and loved the entire series. So disappointed to have finished it! Highly recommended and well worth 99p for 8 books! I’d love to read more books in this series.
September 18, 2025
In »Silent Crimes« von Michael Hambling geht es mit Detective Sophie Allen und ihrem Team von der Bournemouth Police in Südengland in die Gefilde von Gloucestershire und Somerset. Der Kriminalroman entführt uns nach Bath und Bristol und in die Quantock Hills. Aber neben all dem wunderschönen Lokalkolorit ist er vor allem auch spannend uin d lässt die Leser rätseln.
Jade Allen, die Tochter von Sophie entdeckt einen toten Landstreicher. Er ist ungefähr eine Woche tot und es gibt erste Anzeichen, dass er nicht eines natürlichen Todes gestorben ist.
Bei den ersten Ermittlungen stellt sich heraus, dass der Landstreicher vor etwa zwölf Jahren zu einer Kommune gehörte, die sich auf einer Farm in den Quantocks niedergelassen hatte. Diese Kommune wurde von einer Treuhandgesellschaft aus vier Personen geführt. Der Landstreicher gehörte dazu. Ebenso Katie, die die Farm, die die Kommune bewirtschaftete, geerbt hatte und diese an die Mitglieder des Trusts überschieb. Doch Katie war irgendwann vor vielen Jahren einfach verschwunden.
Sie ist allerdings die zweite Leiche, von der jetzt nur noch die Gebeine aufgefunden wurden. Sophie Allen und ihr Team kommen nicht umhin, an einen Zusammenhang der beiden Toten zu denken, obwohl die Morde, falls auch der damalige einer war, mehr als zehn Jahre auseinanderliegen.
Der achte Fall von Sophie Allen in der Serie von mittlerweile dreizehn Krimis zeigt, wie der Autor sein Können steigert, indem er die gemütlichen Krimis in packende Thriller verwandelt. Spannung und komplexe Ermittlungen sind hier vorprogrammiert.
Des Weiteren werden die Handlungsstränge durch individuelle Probleme der Figuren bereichert. Ich schätze auch die persönlichen Aspekte um die Figuren herum, die kontinuierlich mit neuen Entwicklungen aufwarten, wie beispielsweise Sophies Beförderung und die Möglichkeit, in der Polizeihierarchie Südenglands eine andere Position anzustreben. Ebenso wird das kollektive Miteinander betont, wie die warme Aufnahme einer zuvor verletzten Kollegin, die nun zurückkehrt, um ihren Dienst wieder aufzunehmen.
Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass die Regionen in Südengland nicht nur für ihre malerischen Landschaften bekannt sind, sondern auch für ein bemerkenswertes Team, das unserer Protagonistin zur Seite steht. Die verdächtigen Charaktere, die sich unter den Studenten tummeln, bringen ihre eigenen psychischen Herausforderungen mit, was die Sache nur noch kniffliger macht. Oftmals gehen die Vermutungen in die falsche Richtung – wer hätte gedacht, dass … der Täter ist?
Die südenglischen Regionen sind berühmt für ihre malerischen Landschaften und das unterstützende Team unserer Hauptfigur. Die Verdächtigen aus der damaligen Kommune scheinen im Laufe der Handlung immer weniger ein eeingeschworene Gemeinschaft gewesen zu sein und die Zeugen sind alles andfere als glaubwürdig. Die Ermittlungen gestalten sich schwiertig und die Leser habe jede Menge zu tun, auf dem richtigen Pfad zu bleiben.
Der Roman war mir schon sehr vertraut und ich kann ihn wärmstens weiterempfehlen.
Teilt diesen Blogbeitrag auf Social Media, damit auch eure Freunde die spannenden Geschichten aus Südengland genießen können!
© Detlef Knut, Düsseldorf 2025
Jade Allen, die Tochter von Sophie entdeckt einen toten Landstreicher. Er ist ungefähr eine Woche tot und es gibt erste Anzeichen, dass er nicht eines natürlichen Todes gestorben ist.
Bei den ersten Ermittlungen stellt sich heraus, dass der Landstreicher vor etwa zwölf Jahren zu einer Kommune gehörte, die sich auf einer Farm in den Quantocks niedergelassen hatte. Diese Kommune wurde von einer Treuhandgesellschaft aus vier Personen geführt. Der Landstreicher gehörte dazu. Ebenso Katie, die die Farm, die die Kommune bewirtschaftete, geerbt hatte und diese an die Mitglieder des Trusts überschieb. Doch Katie war irgendwann vor vielen Jahren einfach verschwunden.
Sie ist allerdings die zweite Leiche, von der jetzt nur noch die Gebeine aufgefunden wurden. Sophie Allen und ihr Team kommen nicht umhin, an einen Zusammenhang der beiden Toten zu denken, obwohl die Morde, falls auch der damalige einer war, mehr als zehn Jahre auseinanderliegen.
Der achte Fall von Sophie Allen in der Serie von mittlerweile dreizehn Krimis zeigt, wie der Autor sein Können steigert, indem er die gemütlichen Krimis in packende Thriller verwandelt. Spannung und komplexe Ermittlungen sind hier vorprogrammiert.
Des Weiteren werden die Handlungsstränge durch individuelle Probleme der Figuren bereichert. Ich schätze auch die persönlichen Aspekte um die Figuren herum, die kontinuierlich mit neuen Entwicklungen aufwarten, wie beispielsweise Sophies Beförderung und die Möglichkeit, in der Polizeihierarchie Südenglands eine andere Position anzustreben. Ebenso wird das kollektive Miteinander betont, wie die warme Aufnahme einer zuvor verletzten Kollegin, die nun zurückkehrt, um ihren Dienst wieder aufzunehmen.
Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass die Regionen in Südengland nicht nur für ihre malerischen Landschaften bekannt sind, sondern auch für ein bemerkenswertes Team, das unserer Protagonistin zur Seite steht. Die verdächtigen Charaktere, die sich unter den Studenten tummeln, bringen ihre eigenen psychischen Herausforderungen mit, was die Sache nur noch kniffliger macht. Oftmals gehen die Vermutungen in die falsche Richtung – wer hätte gedacht, dass … der Täter ist?
Die südenglischen Regionen sind berühmt für ihre malerischen Landschaften und das unterstützende Team unserer Hauptfigur. Die Verdächtigen aus der damaligen Kommune scheinen im Laufe der Handlung immer weniger ein eeingeschworene Gemeinschaft gewesen zu sein und die Zeugen sind alles andfere als glaubwürdig. Die Ermittlungen gestalten sich schwiertig und die Leser habe jede Menge zu tun, auf dem richtigen Pfad zu bleiben.
Der Roman war mir schon sehr vertraut und ich kann ihn wärmstens weiterempfehlen.
Teilt diesen Blogbeitrag auf Social Media, damit auch eure Freunde die spannenden Geschichten aus Südengland genießen können!
© Detlef Knut, Düsseldorf 2025
November 17, 2019
I was provided this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is not the type of book I normally read, however, I absolutely loved this book. It was very interesting from start to finish,
I hadn't read any of the former books to this series and I didn't feel I needed to before reading this one as it works well as a standalone story.
I enjoyed reading about the Trans aspect of this book too as I thought it was a good and honest interpretation of what a Trans person may experience in day-to-day life.
I enjoyed the storyline of the homeless man and his whole back story although I do wish the author would have delved deeper into his want of turning to that lifestyle. I understand why he did it, but if someone had the money he had I highly doubt they would choose that life for themselves and would go down different routes e.g. body guards, private eyes etc. That is what made this story a little unrealistic for me, unfortunately.
I did enjoy the storyline though, it was interesting to guess who the murderer was throughout with each snippet of information provided. This is also one thing that didn't sit right with me though, I felt that the author only told us some of the information that was discovered then towards the end just blurted it all out in the interviews with the three suspects. I felt it was quite wasted as the story could have gone on far longer in my opinion. There was so much still to discover and I feel the authors thought process was something like I'm running out of word count now so let me just wrap it up for you.
The only bit of the story I wasn't fond of was the end, as is it right for me to interpret that the young lady (18ish years of age) who found the homeless man in the first place is now dating one of her mothers colleagues? I didn't really understand that at all, unless I've interpreted it completely wrong.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and it was lovely how I could just read one or two chapters quickly as they were quite short and I was short on time whilst reading this book so it fitted in perfectly for me.
I hadn't read any of the former books to this series and I didn't feel I needed to before reading this one as it works well as a standalone story.
I enjoyed reading about the Trans aspect of this book too as I thought it was a good and honest interpretation of what a Trans person may experience in day-to-day life.
I enjoyed the storyline of the homeless man and his whole back story although I do wish the author would have delved deeper into his want of turning to that lifestyle. I understand why he did it, but if someone had the money he had I highly doubt they would choose that life for themselves and would go down different routes e.g. body guards, private eyes etc. That is what made this story a little unrealistic for me, unfortunately.
I did enjoy the storyline though, it was interesting to guess who the murderer was throughout with each snippet of information provided. This is also one thing that didn't sit right with me though, I felt that the author only told us some of the information that was discovered then towards the end just blurted it all out in the interviews with the three suspects. I felt it was quite wasted as the story could have gone on far longer in my opinion. There was so much still to discover and I feel the authors thought process was something like I'm running out of word count now so let me just wrap it up for you.
The only bit of the story I wasn't fond of was the end, as is it right for me to interpret that the young lady (18ish years of age) who found the homeless man in the first place is now dating one of her mothers colleagues? I didn't really understand that at all, unless I've interpreted it completely wrong.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read and it was lovely how I could just read one or two chapters quickly as they were quite short and I was short on time whilst reading this book so it fitted in perfectly for me.
November 4, 2019
Silent Crimes by Michael Hambling was a gripping and well written read, with lots of twists and turns throughout. This is the eighth book in this Detective Sophie Allen and her team who are working in the Dorset Police Violent Crime Unit.
I did not realise it was the eighth book ...........I really enjoyed it, as it was the first book I had read.
Detective Sophie Allens's teenaged Daughter Jade, has befriended a guy called Paul Prentis a couple of years ago who lives in the woods by their home. He is a reclusive tramp and was living off the grid. She checks up on him regularly. She then discover's him dead. Then realises it her friend Paul.
As Detective Sophie Allen and her team investigates they find out he is an important member of a mysterious commune that had a three-year existence on a farm on the Quantock Hills in Somerset more than decade earlier.
Why was he living off the grid?
Where did the commune go?
Another body with links to the mysterious commune is discovered. Detective Sophie Allen and her team investigate deeper and discover what exactly went on at the farm all those years ago.
Why are people still dying because of this mysterious commune?
Who is killing them?
Will they catch the killer before they kill again?
I will be reading more of these books by Michael Hambling.
These are the books in this Detective Sophie Allen and her team series.
Book 1: Dark Crimes
Book 2: Deadly Crimes
Book 3: Secret Crimes
Book 4: Buried Crimes
Book 5: Twisted Crimes
Book 6: Evil Crimes
Book 7: Shadow Crimes
Book 8: Silent Crimes
Big Thank You to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Michael Hambling for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
I did not realise it was the eighth book ...........I really enjoyed it, as it was the first book I had read.
Detective Sophie Allens's teenaged Daughter Jade, has befriended a guy called Paul Prentis a couple of years ago who lives in the woods by their home. He is a reclusive tramp and was living off the grid. She checks up on him regularly. She then discover's him dead. Then realises it her friend Paul.
As Detective Sophie Allen and her team investigates they find out he is an important member of a mysterious commune that had a three-year existence on a farm on the Quantock Hills in Somerset more than decade earlier.
Why was he living off the grid?
Where did the commune go?
Another body with links to the mysterious commune is discovered. Detective Sophie Allen and her team investigate deeper and discover what exactly went on at the farm all those years ago.
Why are people still dying because of this mysterious commune?
Who is killing them?
Will they catch the killer before they kill again?
I will be reading more of these books by Michael Hambling.
These are the books in this Detective Sophie Allen and her team series.
Book 1: Dark Crimes
Book 2: Deadly Crimes
Book 3: Secret Crimes
Book 4: Buried Crimes
Book 5: Twisted Crimes
Book 6: Evil Crimes
Book 7: Shadow Crimes
Book 8: Silent Crimes
Big Thank You to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Michael Hambling for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
September 27, 2020
SPOILER ALERT
In this case DCI Sophie Allen and her team must contend with the members of a cult. Living on an isolated farm that is put in trust by the woman who inherited it, Katie Templar, it begins positively and relatively successfully. Then as weather and resources begin to dwindle, members begin to leave. It is reported that Katie left. Paul Prentice had been one of the trustees, but disappointed with the leader Timothy Brotherton, he leaves. He tells Katie he will come back for her. He has money but lives like a tramp. Jade Allen has been befriending him, taking him and his dog food. When he is found killed an investigation leads to the abandoned farm, and various suspects who had been there in the end. They find a body buried on the farm which proves to be Katie. Brotherton had lost control of the group, and the clauses in the trust didn't allow for drugs on the premises, which caused the property to revert back to Katie, and two signatures were required for new trustees which meant a couple of the suspects were not able to get control. But money is disappearing.
Catherine Templeton and Trent Baker and Andy Atkins colluded together to produce and sell drugs from the farm and to get control. They kill Katie, then go after Paul Prentice, who had been also looking into the farm. Depressing story.
In this case DCI Sophie Allen and her team must contend with the members of a cult. Living on an isolated farm that is put in trust by the woman who inherited it, Katie Templar, it begins positively and relatively successfully. Then as weather and resources begin to dwindle, members begin to leave. It is reported that Katie left. Paul Prentice had been one of the trustees, but disappointed with the leader Timothy Brotherton, he leaves. He tells Katie he will come back for her. He has money but lives like a tramp. Jade Allen has been befriending him, taking him and his dog food. When he is found killed an investigation leads to the abandoned farm, and various suspects who had been there in the end. They find a body buried on the farm which proves to be Katie. Brotherton had lost control of the group, and the clauses in the trust didn't allow for drugs on the premises, which caused the property to revert back to Katie, and two signatures were required for new trustees which meant a couple of the suspects were not able to get control. But money is disappearing.
Catherine Templeton and Trent Baker and Andy Atkins colluded together to produce and sell drugs from the farm and to get control. They kill Katie, then go after Paul Prentice, who had been also looking into the farm. Depressing story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2019
Unbeknown to Detective Sophie Allen her daughter Jade has been looking out for a tramp and his dog who are living in the woods near their home.
She has been regularly checking up on them for about two years.
When she discovers his body on one such visit her knowledge of the man and his secret hiding places is invaluable to Sophie and the team.
His name was Paul Prentice and it seems had been, in the past, a member of a commune living on a remote farm in the Quantock hills.
The commune folded some ten years ago. As the team dig further into the circumstances surrounding its closure the discovery of a skeleton buried nearby the farm adds to the pressure to find the other members.
Whatever happened is still affecting those involved who all seem to have something to hide.
There are certainly no shortage of suspects, the question is which one or more of them is guilty.
This is the eighth book in this series and I enjoyed it every bit as much as all the others.
Thanks to Joffe books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
She has been regularly checking up on them for about two years.
When she discovers his body on one such visit her knowledge of the man and his secret hiding places is invaluable to Sophie and the team.
His name was Paul Prentice and it seems had been, in the past, a member of a commune living on a remote farm in the Quantock hills.
The commune folded some ten years ago. As the team dig further into the circumstances surrounding its closure the discovery of a skeleton buried nearby the farm adds to the pressure to find the other members.
Whatever happened is still affecting those involved who all seem to have something to hide.
There are certainly no shortage of suspects, the question is which one or more of them is guilty.
This is the eighth book in this series and I enjoyed it every bit as much as all the others.
Thanks to Joffe books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
November 20, 2019
This book lived up to the standard I have come to expect from Michael Hambling. His storylines have just the right amount of suspense to keep the reader gripped without being too convoluted. It is a breath of fresh air to read about a main character who is respected by her superiors, loved by her team and has a happy home life. One of the detectives is a trans female and another is gay but although we get a bit of background about them the focus as always is on the crime, in this case the murder of a homeless man. It makes no difference to Sophie and her team that this was someone living on the fringes of society, they are as committed to the case as they would be if the victim had been a high court judge, a fact that is made clear to a junior officer early in the case. As always I finished this book looking forward to the next one.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book
July 31, 2021
The death of a homeless person in remote woodland proves difficult to investigate for DCI Sophie Allen and her team. It’s a bit of a slog until documents surface which reveal a connection to a community that once lived in the Quantock Hills of Somerset a decade earlier. The investigation comes to life as the main characters and relationships within that community become suspects.
Like all the previous books in the series, Sophie Allen and her team are engaging characters. The relationships, banter and humour lift the stories, providing a strong, positive counterpoint to the murders investigated.
While not as dramatic as some of the previous novels, it’s still an intriguing plot that shines a light on what can happen when people closet themselves away from mainstream society in pursuit of ideals.
While the novel can be read on its own, to get the full benefit of the characters and backstory, it’s worth starting with the first in the series.
Like all the previous books in the series, Sophie Allen and her team are engaging characters. The relationships, banter and humour lift the stories, providing a strong, positive counterpoint to the murders investigated.
While not as dramatic as some of the previous novels, it’s still an intriguing plot that shines a light on what can happen when people closet themselves away from mainstream society in pursuit of ideals.
While the novel can be read on its own, to get the full benefit of the characters and backstory, it’s worth starting with the first in the series.
November 4, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
DCI Sophie Allen's daughter Jade has been looking in on a tramp and his dog, bringing them food, when she realizes she hasn't seem them for a while. When she checks their hideaway in the woods, she finds him dead and his dog wounded.
Sophie and her team have difficulty finding out the identity of the man until they find a old commune, now disused. Interviewing old members slowly paints a picture of what went on a decade ago and they discover a skeleton not far from the commune. The case is a tricky one, finally solved by hard work and persistence.
This is the 8th in the series and another good one. I'm curious about the next one and hope it will focus even more on Jade; she's an interesting character I'd like to know better. Definitely recommended!
DCI Sophie Allen's daughter Jade has been looking in on a tramp and his dog, bringing them food, when she realizes she hasn't seem them for a while. When she checks their hideaway in the woods, she finds him dead and his dog wounded.
Sophie and her team have difficulty finding out the identity of the man until they find a old commune, now disused. Interviewing old members slowly paints a picture of what went on a decade ago and they discover a skeleton not far from the commune. The case is a tricky one, finally solved by hard work and persistence.
This is the 8th in the series and another good one. I'm curious about the next one and hope it will focus even more on Jade; she's an interesting character I'd like to know better. Definitely recommended!
February 18, 2023
A tramp befriended by Sophie Allen’s daughter is murdered. In solving the mystery, they find out who he is, and how he had been involved with the commune a decade before. All of the people in charge were questioned and a story of betrayal and an additional murder was uncovered. The owner of the commune, Katie, tried to make the place run like a business with a board of directors. When she discovered hard drugs on the property, she took back control and said she was going to the police. Sociopath, Brad Trent murdered her and with the help of Katherine Templeton, buried the body.
Years later the tramp, Paul Prescott, started asking questions about what happened to Katie. He loved her. Katherine killed him with the aid of another commune person.
Oddly, in the end, Sophie’s daughter, Jade, is having dinner with constable, George.
Years later the tramp, Paul Prescott, started asking questions about what happened to Katie. He loved her. Katherine killed him with the aid of another commune person.
Oddly, in the end, Sophie’s daughter, Jade, is having dinner with constable, George.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 28, 2019
SILENT CRIMES locks you into a sensory deprivation chamber with a cold hearted, unfathomable crime to solve.
As the door opens, progressively additional people, other factors, more locations, different aspects and alternative perspectives are added and you become embroiled in a treacherous, menacing multifaceted mystery so elusive it's like a treasure hunt within a massive maze and almost all dead ends.
Just when you find an exit, you realize you haven't collected all the treasure.
Multidirectional twists and turns will bewilder you and thwart all efforts to unravel this perplexing conundrum.
Then suddenly you'll be hit with a potentially explosive situation...
YOU WILL BE LOCKED IN TO SILENT CRIMES FROM START TO FINISH!!! DON'T BE LOCKED OUT!!!
As the door opens, progressively additional people, other factors, more locations, different aspects and alternative perspectives are added and you become embroiled in a treacherous, menacing multifaceted mystery so elusive it's like a treasure hunt within a massive maze and almost all dead ends.
Just when you find an exit, you realize you haven't collected all the treasure.
Multidirectional twists and turns will bewilder you and thwart all efforts to unravel this perplexing conundrum.
Then suddenly you'll be hit with a potentially explosive situation...
YOU WILL BE LOCKED IN TO SILENT CRIMES FROM START TO FINISH!!! DON'T BE LOCKED OUT!!!
March 12, 2025
Octava novela de la colección de la inspectora y ahora jefa de policía Sophie Allen. En esta ocasión el asesinato principal de la novela gira en torno a un vagabundo en el poblado de Dorset. La hija mejor de la inspectora es quien encuentra el cuerpo del hombre ya sin vida, con quien habia entablado una relación peculiar de amistad con el fin de ayudarle en su situación.
El asesinado resulta estar conectado con una antigua comuna que desarrollaba sus actividades en una granja de la zona. Antiguos miembros de la comuna comienza a estar sospechosamente implicados tanta en esta como en otra de las muertes que hace 10 años se dio en los alrededores del lugar. Ambos crímenes parecen tener una relación evidente y sospechosa…
Novela entretenida e interesante como las anteriores.
El asesinado resulta estar conectado con una antigua comuna que desarrollaba sus actividades en una granja de la zona. Antiguos miembros de la comuna comienza a estar sospechosamente implicados tanta en esta como en otra de las muertes que hace 10 años se dio en los alrededores del lugar. Ambos crímenes parecen tener una relación evidente y sospechosa…
Novela entretenida e interesante como las anteriores.
October 28, 2019
The body of a tramp is discovered by Jade, the eighteen year old daughter os Detective Sophie Allen. Jade had befriended Paul Prentis a couple of years ago. Investigations into Paul’s past lead detectives to a farm in the Quantock hills in Somerset that was home to a commune a decade or so ago. When another body with links to the commune is discovered the team dig deeper and find themselves trying to discover what exactly went on at the farm.
A really good read with plenty of twists and turns - really enjoy this series.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Michael Hambling for the ARC in return for an honest review.
A really good read with plenty of twists and turns - really enjoy this series.
Thanks to Joffe Books and Michael Hambling for the ARC in return for an honest review.
October 30, 2019
Detective Sophie Allen is busy juggling her role as a mother and her newly promoted role within the police force, when her daughter has to report that she has found the dead body of a local tramp whom she was looking out for. But by her daughter's own admission, he was no normal tramp and when the police dig a bit further into his background, they discover that he had been one of the main leaders in a local commune some years before. With each new lead, another two paths seem to appear.....but which one to take?
Good story line which keeps the reader wanting just a bit more and a great addition to the series.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
Good story line which keeps the reader wanting just a bit more and a great addition to the series.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.
January 23, 2020
This is the latest instalment in the D.C.I Spohie Allen series. In this book Sophie's daughter discovers the body of a tramp in some woods, obviously Sophie and her team are the ones teying to discover who the dead man is and all the questions surrounding his death. As the story unfolds questions are raised and items are found that leads them to a discovery that he was once an important part of a commune, the questions keep flowing the mystery deepens. A fabulous read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
January 18, 2021
I find it hard to finish a well-written series as I become friends with the protagonist and secondary characters. In my review of the first book in the series, I bemoaned the lack of character development, but have been glad to see the process of fleshing-out, especially those of Sophie and her family and close associates. If Michael Hambling should read this, I suggest another series tha "stars" Rose--I so enjoyed her quirky character and dry sense of humor. Cameos of the characters in the Sophie series would make be rewarding.
October 30, 2019
I really enjoy this series of books featuring Detective Sophie Allen. When her daughter, Jade, discovers the body of a tramp in woods, she is called to investigate. Sophie discovers that the tramp was a member of a mysterious commune some ten years earlier, she tries to find the killer and bring the case to a close. Full of diverse characters and well written, this is a good read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC
November 5, 2019
Jade Allen is a friend to a homeless guy that lives out in the woods. She finds him dead and reports the murder and her mother DCI Sophie Allen is shocked because she didn't know her daughter even knew the guy. They try to figure out why a homeless guy would be killed because he did not own anything of value. He had once been a senior member of a commune, was this why he was killed?
This mystery series is very well written and has lots of twists and turns.
This mystery series is very well written and has lots of twists and turns.
November 3, 2020
Sophie’s daughter Jade had befriended a homeless man for three years.
Unknown to others taking food to him, the last time was finding him murdered. Tracing and trying to find who he really was opened secrets from the past. People living in a commune and their lives and what went on before it folded. Set Sophie’s team to trying to locate the members and who was this homeless man. Enjoyed having Jade in some of the plot.
Unknown to others taking food to him, the last time was finding him murdered. Tracing and trying to find who he really was opened secrets from the past. People living in a commune and their lives and what went on before it folded. Set Sophie’s team to trying to locate the members and who was this homeless man. Enjoyed having Jade in some of the plot.
October 31, 2021
The good ol commune!
But I really liked this one! Almost every crime author I've read has had a go at the commune life, and the crazy person who runs it. This is the first time looking at the aftermath years later. I actually preferred this take. It was fast paced, I had no idea who did it, so I was surprised, and the ending? Well let's just say I was pleased there as well. Just a couple more to read, and they are better as each one goes along!
But I really liked this one! Almost every crime author I've read has had a go at the commune life, and the crazy person who runs it. This is the first time looking at the aftermath years later. I actually preferred this take. It was fast paced, I had no idea who did it, so I was surprised, and the ending? Well let's just say I was pleased there as well. Just a couple more to read, and they are better as each one goes along!
December 2, 2021
I was really enjoying the start of the book, but when the author started to include all the stories of the various witnesses and perpetrators, I thought the story became a bit bogged down and less interesting to read. Eventually the convoluted case begins to unravel and the story picks up again and has a strong ending with a couple of intriguing possibilities.
If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
If possible I would have given 3.5 stars.
August 27, 2023
This was the last story in the box set I have and it continues the exploits of Sophie Allen and her team who attempt to resolve yet another crime. The dead body of a tramp is found...
I like the way many of the characters are given the stage, not just Sophie, allowing for other points of view as well as another portion of the case. The writing style is fast-paced with a great sense of place.
Overall, a very good crime thriller.
I like the way many of the characters are given the stage, not just Sophie, allowing for other points of view as well as another portion of the case. The writing style is fast-paced with a great sense of place.
Overall, a very good crime thriller.
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