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A DCI Pilgrim Thriller #1
Axe to Grind: A British Crime Thriller
A murdered woman, a haunted detective, and a killer with an axe to grind.
A woman is slaughtered in vicious attack, and left in an abandoned building, handcuffed to a chair.
Invited by a former colleague to join a new team in the South of England, DCI Jon Pilgrim takes on the case of the murdered young woman. Partnered with the captivating DS Kate O’Connell, they hunt for the killer.
The victims links to the local gangs seems to lead to an open and shut case, but Jon isn’t convinced. The killer seems to be sending a message. But what is it?
Just as things seem to be making sense, another body is found in a similar state.
This victim seems unrelated to the first, but it’s clearly the same killer.
Jon must deal with gang bosses, jealous partners, and come to terms with his own tragic past to find the killer before the death toll rises.
But as things escalate, Jon fears the past is about to repeat itself, and tear him apart.
Axe to Grind is a pulse-pounding new thriller from author A L Fraine. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, JD Kirk, JM Dalgliesh, and Ian Rankin.
A woman is slaughtered in vicious attack, and left in an abandoned building, handcuffed to a chair.
Invited by a former colleague to join a new team in the South of England, DCI Jon Pilgrim takes on the case of the murdered young woman. Partnered with the captivating DS Kate O’Connell, they hunt for the killer.
The victims links to the local gangs seems to lead to an open and shut case, but Jon isn’t convinced. The killer seems to be sending a message. But what is it?
Just as things seem to be making sense, another body is found in a similar state.
This victim seems unrelated to the first, but it’s clearly the same killer.
Jon must deal with gang bosses, jealous partners, and come to terms with his own tragic past to find the killer before the death toll rises.
But as things escalate, Jon fears the past is about to repeat itself, and tear him apart.
Axe to Grind is a pulse-pounding new thriller from author A L Fraine. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, JD Kirk, JM Dalgliesh, and Ian Rankin.
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Published April 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 4, 2021
Promising new series!
Although a little slow to start, with characters that felt a little flat and formal, it soon loosened up so that the characters were as engaging as the plot. Twisting and turning, I couldn't predict the outcome and really enjoyed a fast paced finale. I'll read more, and it's great to learn there's already another series with DS Kate to enjoy as well.
Although a little slow to start, with characters that felt a little flat and formal, it soon loosened up so that the characters were as engaging as the plot. Twisting and turning, I couldn't predict the outcome and really enjoyed a fast paced finale. I'll read more, and it's great to learn there's already another series with DS Kate to enjoy as well.
November 18, 2022
This was an easy and quick read. It's a good start to a series and sees Pilgrim relocating to Surrey from Nottingham. After meeting his new team, they are immediately thrown into an investigation with the discovery of a young woman with 2 fingers missing.
I flew through this and look forward to reading further in the series. It looks very promising.
I flew through this and look forward to reading further in the series. It looks very promising.
March 26, 2023
What a load of rubbish. Dreadful dialogue, wooden characters and given the author is allegedly from the north (of England) riddled with American idiom. Fine and dandy if the police force is a U.S one, puzzling and irritating when the story is set in Surrey. Finished the book as a courtesy to the author, but will not be reading anything else by him
January 31, 2021
Thoroughly enjoyed the book, ist one I've read by this author. Good story, a little intricate but once got into it all made sense. Looking forward to reading more by him. Definitely kept me guessing until the end.
February 6, 2021
This was a good read. Took a while to get into the flow of the story but will be looking to see what transpires next for Jon and Kate. If I have any criticism it’s that the storyline padding needs to be better thought out, as currently it feels like it’s been done as an afterthought
January 5, 2025
There's a reason that audible bundled this book into a 'complete' series, and honestly, I should have known better. When you get a whole series for the price of one book, it tells you something ;)
This book is absolute junk. It's like a high schooler read a few other similar series and came up with this.
Cop moves to new patch. Meets new team. Brings along mysterious baggage from the past, which is slowly revealed. Becomes involved with a team member, who's later... Honestly, how many times is this same story going to be the plot?
It wouldn't be so bad if it was decent writing, or decent narration, but it is neither. The reader sounds like an AI voice, and the writing is atrocious. One of his characters thinks about calling someone on bad grammer, which is a bit rich for an author who uses 'gotten' and 'he was sat', and 'they were stood'. Terrible terrible book. No more for me.
This book is absolute junk. It's like a high schooler read a few other similar series and came up with this.
Cop moves to new patch. Meets new team. Brings along mysterious baggage from the past, which is slowly revealed. Becomes involved with a team member, who's later... Honestly, how many times is this same story going to be the plot?
It wouldn't be so bad if it was decent writing, or decent narration, but it is neither. The reader sounds like an AI voice, and the writing is atrocious. One of his characters thinks about calling someone on bad grammer, which is a bit rich for an author who uses 'gotten' and 'he was sat', and 'they were stood'. Terrible terrible book. No more for me.
August 10, 2022
Axe to Grind: A British Crime Thriller (A DCI Pilgrim Thriller Book 1), my thirtieth read from author Andrew Dobell and my fourth read under his A.L. Fraine mystery name. I can't imagine reading this without having first read The Doll Killer. Takes off from the opening and grabbed me and kept me reading until I finished it in one sitting. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author and in what looks to be an excellent series. Now I have to go get A Tangled Web: A British Crime Thriller (A DCI Pilgrim Thriller Book 2). (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
November 19, 2021
What an enjoyable book this is.
Set in Surrey (my home county) it brings DCI Pilgrim into the County police. The team he joins is friendly, dedicated and has a sense of humour, as well as its own set of nicknames.
A.L.Fraine writes in an easy style, and while there is police procedure included it never takes over and becomes boring. The characterisations are strong and there's the beginnings of a romance (maybe) as well.
The story continues at a good pace, finishing with the sort of final chapters that cannot be put down.
Thank you A.L.Fraine, I'll be looking to buy the next DCI Pilgrim thriller soon.
Set in Surrey (my home county) it brings DCI Pilgrim into the County police. The team he joins is friendly, dedicated and has a sense of humour, as well as its own set of nicknames.
A.L.Fraine writes in an easy style, and while there is police procedure included it never takes over and becomes boring. The characterisations are strong and there's the beginnings of a romance (maybe) as well.
The story continues at a good pace, finishing with the sort of final chapters that cannot be put down.
Thank you A.L.Fraine, I'll be looking to buy the next DCI Pilgrim thriller soon.
November 25, 2021
A good Police procedural. A fast paced story generally well written. I found some of the dialogue felt a little off. But apart from that this was a enjoyable listen, it quickly finds its pace, has an interesting premise, good characters there is more to learn about in future stories. and an excellent climax. I liked the narration, the voice was easy to listen to and clear, the accents were generally good although they slip a little now and again. I found this an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. I received a complimentary copy from the narrator and am leaving a honest voluntary review.
April 9, 2022
Mildly entertaining.
All right but nothing special. Can't make up its mind if it's a thriller or a mawkish romance, ending up being a bit of both, and pretty bland. The " banter " is juvenile, tedious and annoying and does nothing for the book or the characters. I would never consider Nottingham to be in the North, North Midlands, perhaps. I'm always put off by British writers who use American idiom like
" gotten ". There is no place for it in British literature. On the whole, inoffensive but I won't read any more of the series., I can't be bothered circumnavigating great chunks of stifled jokey dialogue.
All right but nothing special. Can't make up its mind if it's a thriller or a mawkish romance, ending up being a bit of both, and pretty bland. The " banter " is juvenile, tedious and annoying and does nothing for the book or the characters. I would never consider Nottingham to be in the North, North Midlands, perhaps. I'm always put off by British writers who use American idiom like
" gotten ". There is no place for it in British literature. On the whole, inoffensive but I won't read any more of the series., I can't be bothered circumnavigating great chunks of stifled jokey dialogue.
July 30, 2021
A promising start
You can't beat series. I did however start to look for repetition, expected, given the genre has parallels.
This has begun well with the main characters standing out, their personalities developing. I had trouble with the submersive aspect that I enjoy, but I think that's to do with my tech.
Looking forward to the next book.
You can't beat series. I did however start to look for repetition, expected, given the genre has parallels.
This has begun well with the main characters standing out, their personalities developing. I had trouble with the submersive aspect that I enjoy, but I think that's to do with my tech.
Looking forward to the next book.
August 6, 2021
Really enjoyed this first book in a series. Although this book is fairly short it packed in plenty of action. The story was entertaing with a thrilling finale. The main characters are likeable and realistic, and there was a bit of romance thrown into the mix. Looking forward to listening to book 2.
December 18, 2021
Sets the scene of relationships past/present and world building. Personalities of the main characters are interesting enough to want to continue the series to find out more about their lives.
3 star read, audio was good narration fits the book.
Gifted audio in exchange for an honest review ⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 star read, audio was good narration fits the book.
Gifted audio in exchange for an honest review ⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 10, 2021
It's been a few days since I listen to this audiobook and I can't say I remember much. The characters were nice, the mystery developed ok, but that was it. Nothing to let me in "awe".
The narration was the best part though, I would defiantly listen to this narrator once again.
The narration was the best part though, I would defiantly listen to this narrator once again.
May 16, 2021
Jon and Kate!
The cases Kate has been involved continue. This time the perpetrators family get involved and Pilgrim, new to the job, yes with the team and they solve the crimes. But not without a few loose ends floating and possibly cropping up in future instalments!
The cases Kate has been involved continue. This time the perpetrators family get involved and Pilgrim, new to the job, yes with the team and they solve the crimes. But not without a few loose ends floating and possibly cropping up in future instalments!
May 29, 2021
Excellent Book
I will never look at bolt cutters the same way again! This book kept me guessing right up to the end. It’s one of those books where I want to read it fast to get to the end, but I don’t want it to end. IT’S THAT GOOD!!
I will never look at bolt cutters the same way again! This book kept me guessing right up to the end. It’s one of those books where I want to read it fast to get to the end, but I don’t want it to end. IT’S THAT GOOD!!
July 28, 2021
First time from this author and narrator.
I listened to this and got really involved with the story. The narration really added to the story. The background also added to the story and set it up for the next book in the series.
Fully recommend
I listened to this and got really involved with the story. The narration really added to the story. The background also added to the story and set it up for the next book in the series.
Fully recommend
July 31, 2021
A enjoyable read. I will certainly read the next book. I felt the ending was rather rushed and the start a bit slow but this is the first in the series. I liked the team. I look forward to their next outing.
August 9, 2021
An upbeat crime thriller, sounds impossible..but thoroughly enjoyed it
Great characterisation, fun banter despite the horrific murders. Gripping and cleverly designed to keep the pages turning. Looking forward to the next one
Great characterisation, fun banter despite the horrific murders. Gripping and cleverly designed to keep the pages turning. Looking forward to the next one
August 16, 2021
A good read, but could have been better
Enjoyed the storyline and the characters are promising. However, I found some of the grammatical errors a bit off-putting, and some tighter editing would have improved the book. Still, it was a decent read.
Enjoyed the storyline and the characters are promising. However, I found some of the grammatical errors a bit off-putting, and some tighter editing would have improved the book. Still, it was a decent read.
September 1, 2021
Axe to grind⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the first book of a series & as firsts go I liked it,the team seem nice & the storyline was good too. I would give it a go & I think you'll enjoy it.A L Fraine writes a good police drama & hopefully it will keep getting better⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the first book of a series & as firsts go I liked it,the team seem nice & the storyline was good too. I would give it a go & I think you'll enjoy it.A L Fraine writes a good police drama & hopefully it will keep getting better⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 27, 2021
Interesting
Well got through the trilogy and found stories interesting feel things move little too fast still and bringing out the characters has taken a major backseat but will continue to read for some interesting stories
Well got through the trilogy and found stories interesting feel things move little too fast still and bringing out the characters has taken a major backseat but will continue to read for some interesting stories
June 8, 2025
This will be noted down as mediocre due to the fact that there is not much to enjoy, unfortunately. It was a quick read, just not very gripping.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
February 13, 2021
An excellent debut! Looking forward to more of the same
November 3, 2021
Could have been better
Seemed a little formulaic the characters didn't quite come to life for me. Not a bad story and I will read the next in the series but not yet convinced.
Seemed a little formulaic the characters didn't quite come to life for me. Not a bad story and I will read the next in the series but not yet convinced.
December 1, 2021
Great follow on
This is an excellent follow on to the O’Connell series, and brings some things together. Another well written novel, with a good balance of crime and positivity.
This is an excellent follow on to the O’Connell series, and brings some things together. Another well written novel, with a good balance of crime and positivity.
March 30, 2022
Great book, thoroughly enjoyed it
June 29, 2022
The axe was ground
Four stars I don't often give five, the plot raced along nicely but I could have done with more background but that's just me. Recommended as light holiday/bedtime reading.
Four stars I don't often give five, the plot raced along nicely but I could have done with more background but that's just me. Recommended as light holiday/bedtime reading.
October 18, 2022
Good
Seemed to pack a lot in. Introduced to some interesting characters. Will download the next in the series. Here we go....
Seemed to pack a lot in. Introduced to some interesting characters. Will download the next in the series. Here we go....
December 9, 2022
Another brilliant book which once I started reading it I could not put it down. I Absolutely loved reading this book and would definitely recommend to other avid readers like me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews