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Dylan Scott Mystery #8
Dead Simple
Private investigator Dylan Scott is struggling to come to terms with the death of his wife. He has to cope for the sake of his two children, though it's easier to blame himself for her death and take comfort in a bottle of whisky.
When he hears that the man who helped him solve his first case has been killed in Dawson's Clough, Dylan finds a new purpose and vows to put all his energy into finding justice for him. Who would have a motive to kill a kind man like Simple Stevie? As it turns out, everyone.
Dylan's hunch is that Stevie must have snapped a photo of the wrong person, doing something they want erased, so he focuses his investigation on the town's residents. But Dylan's worst fears are realized when he again finds his own family in the crosshairs.
A Dylan Scott Mystery
90,000 words
When he hears that the man who helped him solve his first case has been killed in Dawson's Clough, Dylan finds a new purpose and vows to put all his energy into finding justice for him. Who would have a motive to kill a kind man like Simple Stevie? As it turns out, everyone.
Dylan's hunch is that Stevie must have snapped a photo of the wrong person, doing something they want erased, so he focuses his investigation on the town's residents. But Dylan's worst fears are realized when he again finds his own family in the crosshairs.
A Dylan Scott Mystery
90,000 words
- GenresCrime
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2015
5 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 20, 2019
Dylan Scott has really grown on me over the course of the books. I really enjoyed reading them. This one has a Columbo-like feel to it where nothing is as it seems. If you're looking for a mystery series to try, you may want to check this one out.
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March 16, 20173/16/17 $1.99 for Kindle.
January 20, 2015
Dead Simple is the last Dylan Scott Mystery, which saddens me greatly. So it is appropriate that for his final tale, Dylan heads back to Dawson’s Clough, where the series and his career as a private investigator began. He’s decided to find out who killed Stevie Greenwood, a simple-minded local who helped Dylan solve his first case. He’s doing this one out of personal motivation, driven to fill the huge void in his life left by the sudden death of his beloved wife, Bev.
Dylan is a different man than he was those few years ago. He’s aged, matured, and grown a bit wiser. This is reflected in how he views Dawson’s Clough; seeing changes in the town or noticing bits and pieces he hasn’t before. Ever the astute investigator, Dylan finds a way to get the information he needs to solve his case. And this time around, he’s even willing to break a few laws to give Stevie’s memory some justice (and work out his own demons).
As always, Ms. Wells creates a complex, fact-driven, detail-filled world that captivates me from the get go. Building the case from the first words on the page, she never shares extraneous information, but certainly can lead readers astray. And while it is Dylan’s tale, the story is told from multiple perspectives, which not only gives the reader a better sense of the grand picture, but creates more than one suspect and motive for the crimes.
While searching for the truth about poor Stevie’s demise, Dylan stumbles onto a couple other crimes in progress - ones that even the police don’t know about. I enjoyed the multiple storylines, especially how the author ties them together rather than forces each one to stand alone. And I love reading Dylan’s train of thought - how he puts together pieces of the puzzle so logically. It’s both thrilling and nerve-wracking to see where his ideas take him.
One of the best aspects in each Dylan Scott mystery is the intermixing of Dylan’s personal life with the overall story. Over the course of eight books, I’ve come to know Dylan and his family, his hopes and dreams, his fears and vices. In the previous book, Ms. Wells tossed a major curveball into Dylan’s life with the death of his wife. Left to raise his children and move on through his grief, Dylan realizes what is truly important in life. Ms. Wells handles this period with touching grace, giving life to Bev’s memories. I loved how little things would happen, reminding Dylan of Bev, and it’s all so real for someone who is grieving.
Overall, Dead Simple is a gripping mystery coupled with a heart-warming story of a man dealing with life. The excellent tale is full of twists and turns, with all the pieces fitting together without feeling contrived or rushed. The story is packed with tense moments and rugged emotions, creating an ideal mix. Ms. Wells’ superb storytelling is evident in each of the Dylan Scott stories, and I strongly encourage you to pick one up. Dylan has been a wonderful companion over these past few years, and I am grateful to Ms. Wells for sharing him with me.
My Rating: A, Loved It
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
Dylan is a different man than he was those few years ago. He’s aged, matured, and grown a bit wiser. This is reflected in how he views Dawson’s Clough; seeing changes in the town or noticing bits and pieces he hasn’t before. Ever the astute investigator, Dylan finds a way to get the information he needs to solve his case. And this time around, he’s even willing to break a few laws to give Stevie’s memory some justice (and work out his own demons).
As always, Ms. Wells creates a complex, fact-driven, detail-filled world that captivates me from the get go. Building the case from the first words on the page, she never shares extraneous information, but certainly can lead readers astray. And while it is Dylan’s tale, the story is told from multiple perspectives, which not only gives the reader a better sense of the grand picture, but creates more than one suspect and motive for the crimes.
While searching for the truth about poor Stevie’s demise, Dylan stumbles onto a couple other crimes in progress - ones that even the police don’t know about. I enjoyed the multiple storylines, especially how the author ties them together rather than forces each one to stand alone. And I love reading Dylan’s train of thought - how he puts together pieces of the puzzle so logically. It’s both thrilling and nerve-wracking to see where his ideas take him.
One of the best aspects in each Dylan Scott mystery is the intermixing of Dylan’s personal life with the overall story. Over the course of eight books, I’ve come to know Dylan and his family, his hopes and dreams, his fears and vices. In the previous book, Ms. Wells tossed a major curveball into Dylan’s life with the death of his wife. Left to raise his children and move on through his grief, Dylan realizes what is truly important in life. Ms. Wells handles this period with touching grace, giving life to Bev’s memories. I loved how little things would happen, reminding Dylan of Bev, and it’s all so real for someone who is grieving.
Overall, Dead Simple is a gripping mystery coupled with a heart-warming story of a man dealing with life. The excellent tale is full of twists and turns, with all the pieces fitting together without feeling contrived or rushed. The story is packed with tense moments and rugged emotions, creating an ideal mix. Ms. Wells’ superb storytelling is evident in each of the Dylan Scott stories, and I strongly encourage you to pick one up. Dylan has been a wonderful companion over these past few years, and I am grateful to Ms. Wells for sharing him with me.
My Rating: A, Loved It
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
Review copy provided by publisher
February 9, 2015
Reviewed for Read Your Writes Book Reviews
by Gemini
Dead Simple was a very good murder mystery. It flowed along nicely and the hero, Dylan Scott was a likeable and normal guy. There was nothing brooding about him. He has flaws and he even has children, and a mother that lives with him. Dylan is a private investigator with a checkered past. He was disgraced out of the police department. He drinks way too much and he knows it. He is also a very thorough and persuasive man.
Dylan is called to action when an informant who helped him solve a case and get his life back on track is murdered. Dylan doesn’t have any confidence that the police will put too many resources in solving the case so he takes it upon himself to get justice for Simple Stevie. Dylan’s investigation leads him into a seedy part of town and he encounters multiple undesirable characters along the way. He soon finds that some of the more elite characters that he comes across are hiding things. With his relentless search for the truth, he unearths far more secrets than he intends to. Consequently, there are several people that get brought to justice that have nothing to do with Simple Stevie.
It was a pleasure watching Dylan turn over all of the rocks and uncover crime after crime. Dylan was a refreshing hero who was able to get past his own demons to gain justice for someone that most people had little respect for. I hope to read more about Dylan Scott.
**Received a copy from Carina Press in exchange for an honest unbiased review.**
by Gemini
Dead Simple was a very good murder mystery. It flowed along nicely and the hero, Dylan Scott was a likeable and normal guy. There was nothing brooding about him. He has flaws and he even has children, and a mother that lives with him. Dylan is a private investigator with a checkered past. He was disgraced out of the police department. He drinks way too much and he knows it. He is also a very thorough and persuasive man.
Dylan is called to action when an informant who helped him solve a case and get his life back on track is murdered. Dylan doesn’t have any confidence that the police will put too many resources in solving the case so he takes it upon himself to get justice for Simple Stevie. Dylan’s investigation leads him into a seedy part of town and he encounters multiple undesirable characters along the way. He soon finds that some of the more elite characters that he comes across are hiding things. With his relentless search for the truth, he unearths far more secrets than he intends to. Consequently, there are several people that get brought to justice that have nothing to do with Simple Stevie.
It was a pleasure watching Dylan turn over all of the rocks and uncover crime after crime. Dylan was a refreshing hero who was able to get past his own demons to gain justice for someone that most people had little respect for. I hope to read more about Dylan Scott.
**Received a copy from Carina Press in exchange for an honest unbiased review.**
January 11, 2015
Dylan, still reeling from the death of his wife, is letting the investigation agency slide and drinking way too much. If it were not for his new assistant, the feisty Bobby, and his aging hippy mother his entire life would be in shambles. As much as he loves his kids he just doesn't seem to have the will to pick up the pieces. But when his former Met supervisor and friend, Frank, calls to tell him that someone has murdered Stevie "Simple Stevie" Greenwood, Dylan heads back north to Dawson's Clough to investigate. Stevie, injured as a small child in an auto accident and mentally impaired, could not possibly have or know anything that could get him killed. Stevie helped Dylan solve his first case as a PI and Dylan wants to find out who could possibly want him dead. It turns out that quite a few people could want Stevie dead and as usual things aren't what they seem in Dawson's Clough. By the time Dylan gets it all sorted out even his family is menaced by the case.
I am always happy when a new Dylan Scott mystery comes out. The series has become one of my favorites. Dylan is a flawed but thoroughly decent man who will do whatever it takes to solve the case. I would recommend the Dylan Scott series to any fan of British mysteries who enjoys good characterization and a well-plotted puzzle. I would also recommend Shirley Wells' earlier Jill and Max series, now available as eBooks.
RATING-4.5 stars
I am always happy when a new Dylan Scott mystery comes out. The series has become one of my favorites. Dylan is a flawed but thoroughly decent man who will do whatever it takes to solve the case. I would recommend the Dylan Scott series to any fan of British mysteries who enjoys good characterization and a well-plotted puzzle. I would also recommend Shirley Wells' earlier Jill and Max series, now available as eBooks.
RATING-4.5 stars
January 5, 2015
Review: DEAD SIMPLE by Shirley Wells
Dylan Scott has quite a history, and quite a checkered past. At only forty, he is a widower, father of a sixteen-year-old football-obsessed son and a two-year-old daughter. The three of them, and his mother, live in Dylan's house in London, where he is a private investigator--and sliding toward alcoholism. Not too many years ago, he was a police detective in Lancashire, in a small formerly cotton mill village called Dawson's Clough, married and a father. Then he was ex-police, with a stint in prison for which he had been framed, and following that, a private investigator.
Now Dylan Scott has returned to Dawson's Clough, on his own recognizance, to investigate the brutal and unseemly murder of a mentally-challenged man who was practically a saint, a person Dylan counted as a friend, who had helped him solve his first case. But this may not have been the first murder, but part of a series, by someone who will go to great lengths to keep his identity concealed.
Dylan Scott has quite a history, and quite a checkered past. At only forty, he is a widower, father of a sixteen-year-old football-obsessed son and a two-year-old daughter. The three of them, and his mother, live in Dylan's house in London, where he is a private investigator--and sliding toward alcoholism. Not too many years ago, he was a police detective in Lancashire, in a small formerly cotton mill village called Dawson's Clough, married and a father. Then he was ex-police, with a stint in prison for which he had been framed, and following that, a private investigator.
Now Dylan Scott has returned to Dawson's Clough, on his own recognizance, to investigate the brutal and unseemly murder of a mentally-challenged man who was practically a saint, a person Dylan counted as a friend, who had helped him solve his first case. But this may not have been the first murder, but part of a series, by someone who will go to great lengths to keep his identity concealed.
January 18, 2015
We have all read crime novels featuring a retired or disgraced policeman turned private investigator, well here is another one. Dylan Scott however was a disgraced policeman taking the blame for someone else. A informant / friend from his police days is found dead, murdered in his own flat, as Simple Stevie had no enemies, Dylan was determined to give some payback and find out who killed Stevie. Although slow to start the novel starts to pick up with Dylan compiling his list of suspects, little did he know his investigations would lead him into the world of football and politics in the same case. The story develops further with twists and turns but the clues are there. A very good murder mystery which could easily be turned into a good TV series.
March 21, 2015
First rate entertainment, as always. I love Dylan and the earthy portrait of the Lancashire town he does his sleuthing in that the author manages to create. Highly recommend this series.
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January 12, 2016Miniseries: A Dylan Scott Mystery
Category: Mystery
Category: Mystery
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews