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Daniel Whelan #2
(No Holds Barred (Daniel Whelan)) [By: Stacey, Lyndon] [Nov, 2011]
The second in the exciting new mystery series featuring ex-police dog handler Daniel Whelan -
When ex-police dog handler Daniel Whelan is asked by his former boss to help a friend who is struggling to run her husband’s haulage company while he is recovering from a vicious attack, he and his German shepherd, Taz, rapidly find themselves attracting the wrong sort of attention. Daniel investigates, and soon finds evidence of some very nasty business indeed – but after several violent warnings, he begins to wonder . . . has he bitten off more than he can chew?
Hardcover
First published March 1, 2012
23 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Lyndon Stacey
18 books24 followersLyndon Stacey lives in a quiet village in the Blackmore Vale in Dorset, with three assorted dogs and a cat, and her books are set in the surrounding counties.
Although she started writing fiction as a very young child, she worked in many and varied jobs after leaving school, alongside which she gained a very good reputation as an animal portrait artist. Writing was always her first love, however, and when she hit on the winning combination of everyday (if tough) heroes and a rural background abounding with dogs and horses, her first publishing deal was not far behind.
Her many interests include reading (unsurprisingly!) horse riding, Canicross, animal psychology, gardening, music & dance, genealogy and motorcycling, but her overriding passion is for dogs, their training, and all kinds of dog sports.
Although she started writing fiction as a very young child, she worked in many and varied jobs after leaving school, alongside which she gained a very good reputation as an animal portrait artist. Writing was always her first love, however, and when she hit on the winning combination of everyday (if tough) heroes and a rural background abounding with dogs and horses, her first publishing deal was not far behind.
Her many interests include reading (unsurprisingly!) horse riding, Canicross, animal psychology, gardening, music & dance, genealogy and motorcycling, but her overriding passion is for dogs, their training, and all kinds of dog sports.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 30, 2020
SPOILER ALERT
The revolting pursuit of dog fighting is the focus of this story. Daniel Whelan, former police dog handler and his German Shepherd Taz are recruited by Fred Bowden to go undercover to help Jenny Summers at Maidstone Farm and Summer Haulage. Jenny was married to Colin Barton who was killed in a farming accident. She is now married to Gavin Summers. She has been having various troubles, including her husband's attack resulting in his being in a coma, high fuel usage and disappearing stock and scrap metal. Daniel goes in as a new driver, given the Forester's Cottage for residence. He is stopped on the way by Ricky Boyd and friend warning him off; the cottage is vandalized with creosote poured over furniture and floors, then later he and Taz are attacked outside the cottage. Somebody wants him gone. But to complicate matters, Amanda his wife whom is divorcing him, brings his son Drew to stay while she goes on vacation. The subdued boy begins to perk up as he meets Jenny's kids, gets to go riding, and explores the surrounding forest and barns for owls.
As Daniel reads about the multiple missing pets, and then finds a pit with dead rats in a barn on the farm, he starts to see possible dog fighting. Taylor Boyd has taken over the head of the Haulage, and is disrespectful and intimidating of Jenny and the other drives. Daniel sees him with Ricky taking scrap metal from a building on the farm. Furthermore, Boyd's nighttime excursions are not being logged, while he is using Summer Haulage fuel and skimming money. Several of the prior drivers have left. When he looks them up, Dean Stevens and Mal Fletcher, to determine why they left he uncovers intimidation and fear of reprisals if they talk. The couple who had been in the cottage were compelled to leave, their cat mutilated. Daniel believes that the cottage is on the road to the barns where dog fighting could take place, and the Boyds want strangers out. Then fire bombs are thrown into the cottage and Daniel, Drew and Taz barely get out with their lives.
Daniel meets William Faulkner of the Ditton Valley Gazette, who wants to help. Daniel places a camera in the scrapyard hoping to get footage of illegal activities, and he attends a dog fight organized by Ricky and gets pictures. Then Fletcher sends him a cell phone that he had taken from Taylor with a picture of Liam Sellyoak, the footballer who lives in nearby Great Ditton Manor, and is trying to get Jenny to sell the farm to him, attending a dogfight. He is apparently the money behind the setup. Additionally the local vet was seen with the Boyds, compelled into supplying medical supplies for the dogs.
It all comes to a head when the camera is discovered and Daniel goes to the aid of Dek Edwards who is being blamed. They barely escape with Dek badly hurt. When police investigate DNA is obtained in the kennels in the scrapyard, but no dogs to compare it. Then Drew and Harry head to the Manor for autographs. Jenny, Daniel, Dek and Inspector Danvers for the RSPCA realize the kids are in danger as the dogs are probably hidden there. Daniel rides to the rescue, where the Boyds with Sellyoak have kidnapped the boys who have seen too much. In the ensuing scuffle, Taz attacks and Drew rides Piper through the crowd to save the day just ahead of the police.
A very fast plotted and exciting story.
The revolting pursuit of dog fighting is the focus of this story. Daniel Whelan, former police dog handler and his German Shepherd Taz are recruited by Fred Bowden to go undercover to help Jenny Summers at Maidstone Farm and Summer Haulage. Jenny was married to Colin Barton who was killed in a farming accident. She is now married to Gavin Summers. She has been having various troubles, including her husband's attack resulting in his being in a coma, high fuel usage and disappearing stock and scrap metal. Daniel goes in as a new driver, given the Forester's Cottage for residence. He is stopped on the way by Ricky Boyd and friend warning him off; the cottage is vandalized with creosote poured over furniture and floors, then later he and Taz are attacked outside the cottage. Somebody wants him gone. But to complicate matters, Amanda his wife whom is divorcing him, brings his son Drew to stay while she goes on vacation. The subdued boy begins to perk up as he meets Jenny's kids, gets to go riding, and explores the surrounding forest and barns for owls.
As Daniel reads about the multiple missing pets, and then finds a pit with dead rats in a barn on the farm, he starts to see possible dog fighting. Taylor Boyd has taken over the head of the Haulage, and is disrespectful and intimidating of Jenny and the other drives. Daniel sees him with Ricky taking scrap metal from a building on the farm. Furthermore, Boyd's nighttime excursions are not being logged, while he is using Summer Haulage fuel and skimming money. Several of the prior drivers have left. When he looks them up, Dean Stevens and Mal Fletcher, to determine why they left he uncovers intimidation and fear of reprisals if they talk. The couple who had been in the cottage were compelled to leave, their cat mutilated. Daniel believes that the cottage is on the road to the barns where dog fighting could take place, and the Boyds want strangers out. Then fire bombs are thrown into the cottage and Daniel, Drew and Taz barely get out with their lives.
Daniel meets William Faulkner of the Ditton Valley Gazette, who wants to help. Daniel places a camera in the scrapyard hoping to get footage of illegal activities, and he attends a dog fight organized by Ricky and gets pictures. Then Fletcher sends him a cell phone that he had taken from Taylor with a picture of Liam Sellyoak, the footballer who lives in nearby Great Ditton Manor, and is trying to get Jenny to sell the farm to him, attending a dogfight. He is apparently the money behind the setup. Additionally the local vet was seen with the Boyds, compelled into supplying medical supplies for the dogs.
It all comes to a head when the camera is discovered and Daniel goes to the aid of Dek Edwards who is being blamed. They barely escape with Dek badly hurt. When police investigate DNA is obtained in the kennels in the scrapyard, but no dogs to compare it. Then Drew and Harry head to the Manor for autographs. Jenny, Daniel, Dek and Inspector Danvers for the RSPCA realize the kids are in danger as the dogs are probably hidden there. Daniel rides to the rescue, where the Boyds with Sellyoak have kidnapped the boys who have seen too much. In the ensuing scuffle, Taz attacks and Drew rides Piper through the crowd to save the day just ahead of the police.
A very fast plotted and exciting story.
May 20, 2019
This book I think is really about dogs. There are a lot of dogs and everyone loves them, except those engaged in dog fighting. Daniel is a former policeman who had to leave his job, which is never explained in this book, maybe you have to read the first one. Daniel has a dog, named Taz, who was a K9 before. A friend asks Daniel to help another friend, Jenny, who runs Maidstone Farm, which boards and trains horses and also does a trucking business. Her husband is in a coma, and she is having a hard time running the trucking business, with some shady folks. Daniel has to figure out what is going on, and get evidence on the Boyds who are running dog fights. There is not much plotting, Daniel just has to run it down, while being attacked. There are some nice moments with his son, Drew, horse riding, and a gnarly hermit, named Woodsmoke. But Jenny is a wimp, and you can predict what is going to happen.
October 26, 2024
Second book in this short series but very enjoyable. Daniel Whelan and his faithful dog, Taz, help a woman whose husband was found unconscious and her business is being run by unscrupulous men who are running a secret dog fighting business. The Boyd family run the little town and will stop at nothing to retain power and further their lucrative dog fighting business. Daniel gets beaten, threatened and his cottage is set on fire endangering his life as well as his son and the dog. Daniel is determined to find out what the Boyds are up to and put a stop to their evil deeds. Wonderful characters and a very suspenseful story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2021
I thought this was the 1st in the series from a blurb on the cover that didn't make much sense. I was wrong. Anyway, good characters and fast moving plot. Didn't like the subject matter (dog fighting) and was hoping for all the bad people to be killed. No such luck.
November 19, 2017
Very good
This was very good, well written, highly recommend this book. Lots of action, a definite page turner, hard to put down
This was very good, well written, highly recommend this book. Lots of action, a definite page turner, hard to put down
January 22, 2020
Not really enjoying these as much as hoped. Will try one more
June 13, 2020
Good dog lover book
Good characters. Plot good. Ending wonderful. I Enjoyed reading this book. Subject material not for too young a reader. Good summer read.
Good characters. Plot good. Ending wonderful. I Enjoyed reading this book. Subject material not for too young a reader. Good summer read.
February 27, 2013
The first book by this author that I have read and it certainly will not be the last. Lyndon Stacey has crafted an excellent story of deception, intrigue and mystery set in the beautiful Devon country side. His descriptions of the country around Jenny Summers farm is so vivid and real that I feel I know the area well.
Daniel Whelan, ex policeman and recently separated, has his own problems to work through but despite this he is recommended to Jenny Summers as someone who may be able to help her through a tragic series of events. With an injured husband, three young children and a devious business manager, Jenny needs all the help she can get.
A local family of villains is set on developing illegal dog fighting in the area and Daniel is faced with some tough decisions. How he handles this makes for a strong and clever story with lots of twists and turns along the way.
Well developed characters lead the reader to an exciting and tense conclusion.
An excellent British mystery with a Tingling finale.
Daniel Whelan, ex policeman and recently separated, has his own problems to work through but despite this he is recommended to Jenny Summers as someone who may be able to help her through a tragic series of events. With an injured husband, three young children and a devious business manager, Jenny needs all the help she can get.
A local family of villains is set on developing illegal dog fighting in the area and Daniel is faced with some tough decisions. How he handles this makes for a strong and clever story with lots of twists and turns along the way.
Well developed characters lead the reader to an exciting and tense conclusion.
An excellent British mystery with a Tingling finale.
June 28, 2013
Another fast-paced, intriguing, emotive story with Daniel and Taz - a talking book read, and it was so good that I almost cancelled a social engagement so that I could listen to the final disc! A very good read - I just hope there are more Daniel & Taz books on the way.
Read
June 13, 2013great
December 4, 2014
Interesting story on Dog Fighting.
December 19, 2014
Another good book
October 1, 2015
Now I've read all three and am eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews