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DI Mike Lockyer #2
No Place to Die
Jane Bennett, senior Detective Sergeant for the murder squad at her London police precinct, is having a terrible day. Her boss, Detective Inspector Mike Lockyer, has just returned to work after two weeks on "leave," though Jane knows it was really more like a suspension. He's still shaken by the loss of a victim in their last murder case, and Jane is still stung that Lockyer didn't trust her enough to confide in her about the case before it was too late.
But neither of them has the luxury of time to dwell on past grievances. Jane has just received a phone call from a good friend saying that her husband Mark Leech, a retired policeman, has disappeared. When Jane finds dramatic blood splatters in the laundry room, she knows Mark is seriously injured at best, and they don't have any time to waste. And then the body of a young girl is discovered in a tomb under a London greenway, and police resources are stretched even thinner…until it starts to look like the two cases might be related.
No Place to Die is another spine-tingling mystery with complex, three-dimensional characters from suspense master Clare Donoghue.
But neither of them has the luxury of time to dwell on past grievances. Jane has just received a phone call from a good friend saying that her husband Mark Leech, a retired policeman, has disappeared. When Jane finds dramatic blood splatters in the laundry room, she knows Mark is seriously injured at best, and they don't have any time to waste. And then the body of a young girl is discovered in a tomb under a London greenway, and police resources are stretched even thinner…until it starts to look like the two cases might be related.
No Place to Die is another spine-tingling mystery with complex, three-dimensional characters from suspense master Clare Donoghue.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2015
33 people are currently reading
1263 people want to read
About the author
Clare Donoghue
8 books131 followersAfter ten years in London, working for a City law firm, Clare Donoghue moved back to her home town in Somerset to undertake an MA in creative writing at Bath Spa University. She was long-listed for the CWA Debut Dagger in 2011. Never Look Back is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
November 18, 2015
This is the second book in a series and picks up right after the end of the first. In the aftermath of the events in Book #1, DI Mike Lockyer is a wreck and receiving counseling. That puts his senior DS Jane Bennett front and center to investigate the current cases.
Jane is a single working mother of an autistic child. She relies heavily on her mother for childcare. Her characterization is authentic. I've been in that situation, although my child is not autistic, and can relate. There is a lot of stress and guilt.
Mike and Jane eventually sit down and talk about the problems and awkwardness that have developed between them. Mike then becomes more prominent in the story, which improved for me at that point.
The investigation of the murders involves a lot of interviews with the suspects and witnesses, just about all of whom lie. Right up to the end, the cops didn't know who to charge. The ending is not as shocking as Book #1, and I didn't receive the ending I was afraid I was going to get.
I've tried to find information about a third book by Donoghue without success, but I look forward to reading her future books.
11/18/15: I contacted the author and the next book, titled Trust No One, is due out March 2016. Prior to that, there is an e-short due out in February that is a prequel to Never Look Back. And she is working on Book 4!!
Jane is a single working mother of an autistic child. She relies heavily on her mother for childcare. Her characterization is authentic. I've been in that situation, although my child is not autistic, and can relate. There is a lot of stress and guilt.
Mike and Jane eventually sit down and talk about the problems and awkwardness that have developed between them. Mike then becomes more prominent in the story, which improved for me at that point.
The investigation of the murders involves a lot of interviews with the suspects and witnesses, just about all of whom lie. Right up to the end, the cops didn't know who to charge. The ending is not as shocking as Book #1, and I didn't receive the ending I was afraid I was going to get.
I've tried to find information about a third book by Donoghue without success, but I look forward to reading her future books.
11/18/15: I contacted the author and the next book, titled Trust No One, is due out March 2016. Prior to that, there is an e-short due out in February that is a prequel to Never Look Back. And she is working on Book 4!!
October 21, 2015
So, after finishing Never Look Back, Clare Donoghue's debut, and enjoying it so much I decided to move straight onto book two, No Place To Die.
Again, it's a police procedural with returning characters DI Mike Lockyer and DS Jane Bennett. Because of how things ended in the previous bood, Lockyer is not in a good place. Stressed, over tired and still traumatised by previous events, DS Bennett is placed in charge of a case when a body is found in Elmstead Woods. It's a distressing and shocking discovery because the victim had been interred in a tomb and watched via a small camera until she died. It makes for fearful reading as the reality of what it must feel like to be buried alive is captured from the victim's point of view, as slowly she feels her life ebbing away. What brings about the case is that an ex colleague, a former DCI no less, has gone missing. Blood spatter is found in his home and his shoe is discovered in the woods which in turn leads to the discovery of the tomb.
What we have here is a realistic, intelligently plotted and paced police procedural as each chapter moves further along in the case. Whilst taking the lead, DS Bennett is also struggling with her own domestic problems at home. Her parents doing much of the day to day care of her young autistic son highlighting the struggles faced by the over stressed mother/detective. Bennett very much takes the lead as a character in the book and it was good to see the development of her storyline. It felt differently paced from the previous book, not so much tension and excitement, more diary like form as the investigation moved from day to day. Still made for compelling reading.
Intricate plotting is so tightly woven that it became really hard to distinguish who the perpetrator could be. To the extent I didn't see the end coming and was almost blown away by the shocking reveal. No Place To Die is yet another great police procedural that had me gripped from beginning to end. Great storytelling, terrific characters, scary suspects and a brilliant ending. More please!! Recommended.
Thanks very much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Again, it's a police procedural with returning characters DI Mike Lockyer and DS Jane Bennett. Because of how things ended in the previous bood, Lockyer is not in a good place. Stressed, over tired and still traumatised by previous events, DS Bennett is placed in charge of a case when a body is found in Elmstead Woods. It's a distressing and shocking discovery because the victim had been interred in a tomb and watched via a small camera until she died. It makes for fearful reading as the reality of what it must feel like to be buried alive is captured from the victim's point of view, as slowly she feels her life ebbing away. What brings about the case is that an ex colleague, a former DCI no less, has gone missing. Blood spatter is found in his home and his shoe is discovered in the woods which in turn leads to the discovery of the tomb.
What we have here is a realistic, intelligently plotted and paced police procedural as each chapter moves further along in the case. Whilst taking the lead, DS Bennett is also struggling with her own domestic problems at home. Her parents doing much of the day to day care of her young autistic son highlighting the struggles faced by the over stressed mother/detective. Bennett very much takes the lead as a character in the book and it was good to see the development of her storyline. It felt differently paced from the previous book, not so much tension and excitement, more diary like form as the investigation moved from day to day. Still made for compelling reading.
Intricate plotting is so tightly woven that it became really hard to distinguish who the perpetrator could be. To the extent I didn't see the end coming and was almost blown away by the shocking reveal. No Place To Die is yet another great police procedural that had me gripped from beginning to end. Great storytelling, terrific characters, scary suspects and a brilliant ending. More please!! Recommended.
Thanks very much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
September 18, 2015
Firstly I have to admit that I have not read the book preceding this one, Never Look Back, which in hindsight would have been a good thing to do. However, having said that, I still thoroughly enjoyed No Place to Die. The writing is sharp, the characters fleshed out and interesting, the plot reasonably fast-paced, and it left me wanting to read more of this author.
Jane Bennett, senior Detective Sergeant for the murder squad at her London police precinct, is not having a good day. Her boss, Detective Inspector Mike Lockyer, has just returned to work after some down time, and all is not well with him, or with their working relationship.
She has just received a phone call from a good friend saying that her husband has disappeared. Then the body of a young girl is discovered in a tomb under a London park.
Her mother is taking care of Jane's autistic son while she works, and appears to be angry about her daughter's workload and the lack of time she has to spend with her son.
Under mounting pressure from all sides, Jane is struggling to keep her head above water, especially when she finds a tenuous link between the missing man, the dead body, and an unsolved crime from some years ago.
If you are contemplating reading No Place to Die, I would strongly recommend you read Never Look Back first......I will be guilty of reading them in reverse order, but after having a taste of Clare Donoghue's writing, I want more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and author Clare Donoghue for the gift of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jane Bennett, senior Detective Sergeant for the murder squad at her London police precinct, is not having a good day. Her boss, Detective Inspector Mike Lockyer, has just returned to work after some down time, and all is not well with him, or with their working relationship.
She has just received a phone call from a good friend saying that her husband has disappeared. Then the body of a young girl is discovered in a tomb under a London park.
Her mother is taking care of Jane's autistic son while she works, and appears to be angry about her daughter's workload and the lack of time she has to spend with her son.
Under mounting pressure from all sides, Jane is struggling to keep her head above water, especially when she finds a tenuous link between the missing man, the dead body, and an unsolved crime from some years ago.
If you are contemplating reading No Place to Die, I would strongly recommend you read Never Look Back first......I will be guilty of reading them in reverse order, but after having a taste of Clare Donoghue's writing, I want more.
Thank you to NetGalley, Pan MacMillan and author Clare Donoghue for the gift of an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2018
No Place to Die is the second book in the Mike Lockyer series, but it's more focused on Jane Bennett's than Mike Lockyer since he is still recovering from the case in the previous book. I haven't read the first book, but it was easy to get into this book and the story was ok. What bothered me was that the ending didn't feel really complete. There was a suspect they were after and then they found out the real culprit, and then there was no mention at all about the previous suspect. I even searched for the person's name in the ebook to see if I missed reading it. But no.
So, I gave the book four stars at first, but after some reflections did I lower the rating to three stars instead. It was an ok read, I would like to read the first book and any book that comes after this one. But the ending just bothered me with the missing person. So I just can't give a higher rating.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
So, I gave the book four stars at first, but after some reflections did I lower the rating to three stars instead. It was an ok read, I would like to read the first book and any book that comes after this one. But the ending just bothered me with the missing person. So I just can't give a higher rating.
Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
June 13, 2018
I highly recommend you read book 1 first, this is going to make me double check when I read a book from now on I take note if its a series and read in order. It definitely is not a stand alone book because the main character has things happen and circumstances that the reader needs to call back on in memory whilst reading this.
Jane Bennett, senior Detective Sergeant for instance I need to go back to book 1 and get the references to what lead to this in her life.
We find Jane not having a good day at all, she is struggling, she has a son who has autism, her Boss returns to work after some time away and they don't have the best of an easy working relationship.
Her mother who is looking after her son is angry and annoyed at Jane because it seems to be work, work, work and takes upper hand more that her sons care [in her opinion]
On top of all that, shes trying to solve a crime.
Loved it, great read, well developed characters and the writing flowed well.
Thank you Pan Macmillan via Net Galley for my copy
March 22, 2016
All the promise in book 1 finds its fulfillment here; the difficult second book is no barrier to this author as she produces a terrific police procedural thriller in No place to die.
So many plot twists. The investigation is as confused as the reader hopeful that the quilty will be charged and the evidence be enough. It screams both the inadequacies of the criminal justice system and the responsibility of the police to find more evidence than "I know he did it" or "I saw it in his eyes". As in this story it must be frustrating when the suspect is both clever and seemingly one step ahead of the investigation.
The first book was good but left me annoyed that the experience DI could be so unprofessional. However, it gives Clare Donoghue a real chance to expand on her main characters, to examine their relationship and codependency. With Lockyer on 'cold cases' and a shell of his former character when a missing woman is found murdered the case falls to his number two and best DS, Jane Bennett.
I loved the changes in her reflected in the story, her doubts, her quilt as she is work consumed and neglects her family and realisation of what being a DI means. She is more than competant bur when Lockyer 'wakes up' and she can deploy his skills then she finally belives they can gey their man.
Brilliant writing. The reader does not feel cheated by the many twists and turns as the police team are equally set on the same path and the reveal when matters reach a desperate conclusion, is well fashioned and exquisitely told.
Drama and danger abound with an original idea about the impact student research could have on their abilities to continue to function as empathic human beings. Real insight into the lack of justice for families and police officer's frustrations when a case isn't resolved and no-one has their day in court.
There is also a theme of loyalty that runs through the novel in various domestic and proffessional guises. Some of the insights given by victims and observers show the range of this writer's skills in producing an enduring book and as such it demands to be read and spoken about.
So many plot twists. The investigation is as confused as the reader hopeful that the quilty will be charged and the evidence be enough. It screams both the inadequacies of the criminal justice system and the responsibility of the police to find more evidence than "I know he did it" or "I saw it in his eyes". As in this story it must be frustrating when the suspect is both clever and seemingly one step ahead of the investigation.
The first book was good but left me annoyed that the experience DI could be so unprofessional. However, it gives Clare Donoghue a real chance to expand on her main characters, to examine their relationship and codependency. With Lockyer on 'cold cases' and a shell of his former character when a missing woman is found murdered the case falls to his number two and best DS, Jane Bennett.
I loved the changes in her reflected in the story, her doubts, her quilt as she is work consumed and neglects her family and realisation of what being a DI means. She is more than competant bur when Lockyer 'wakes up' and she can deploy his skills then she finally belives they can gey their man.
Brilliant writing. The reader does not feel cheated by the many twists and turns as the police team are equally set on the same path and the reveal when matters reach a desperate conclusion, is well fashioned and exquisitely told.
Drama and danger abound with an original idea about the impact student research could have on their abilities to continue to function as empathic human beings. Real insight into the lack of justice for families and police officer's frustrations when a case isn't resolved and no-one has their day in court.
There is also a theme of loyalty that runs through the novel in various domestic and proffessional guises. Some of the insights given by victims and observers show the range of this writer's skills in producing an enduring book and as such it demands to be read and spoken about.
May 3, 2018
Heerlijke 'ouderwetse' thriller:
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https://samenlezenisleuker.wordpress....
March 3, 2015
*4.5 stars*
I was a big fan of the first in the “Lockyer” series, Never Look Back, mainly because it really did creep me out to the extent that I was CONVINCED I had a stalker all of my own and spent days looking over my shoulder. Anyway I figured “No Place to Die” would not do that, but heck it WAS super creepy in places – also an excellent police procedural come psychological thriller. Andof course twisty turny goodness which I always love.
So Jane is seriously worried about Mike Lockyer, for good reason it seems. But she has far more on her plate than just an emotionally absent boss – whilst hunting for a missing colleague, a body is discovered which sets off an ominous chain of events..
I love the characters, perfect for crime fiction, especially a series – enigmatic enough to keep you wanting more but realistic enough that you believe every word. The mystery element is very addictive, I was desperate to know what had happened to Mark whilst wondering if Mike would ever recover his sang froid. What with Jane chasing a killer and Mike haunting the corridors, this was an amazingly atmospheric read that gripped throughout.
It did haunt my dreams a little – mostly because of the vividly realistic descriptive prose when it came to some of the victim experience – I won’t say more, would not want to spoil it. But once again Clare Donoghue has taken as a central theme for her mystery something that people fear in the dark, the stuff of nightmares and turned it into a horrifying “reality” for her characters. It is a talent for sure to be able to create that kind of shiver in a reader.
Overall then a really really good tale and one I would highly recommend to fans of Crime fiction and Thrillers.
Happy Reading Folks!
I was a big fan of the first in the “Lockyer” series, Never Look Back, mainly because it really did creep me out to the extent that I was CONVINCED I had a stalker all of my own and spent days looking over my shoulder. Anyway I figured “No Place to Die” would not do that, but heck it WAS super creepy in places – also an excellent police procedural come psychological thriller. Andof course twisty turny goodness which I always love.
So Jane is seriously worried about Mike Lockyer, for good reason it seems. But she has far more on her plate than just an emotionally absent boss – whilst hunting for a missing colleague, a body is discovered which sets off an ominous chain of events..
I love the characters, perfect for crime fiction, especially a series – enigmatic enough to keep you wanting more but realistic enough that you believe every word. The mystery element is very addictive, I was desperate to know what had happened to Mark whilst wondering if Mike would ever recover his sang froid. What with Jane chasing a killer and Mike haunting the corridors, this was an amazingly atmospheric read that gripped throughout.
It did haunt my dreams a little – mostly because of the vividly realistic descriptive prose when it came to some of the victim experience – I won’t say more, would not want to spoil it. But once again Clare Donoghue has taken as a central theme for her mystery something that people fear in the dark, the stuff of nightmares and turned it into a horrifying “reality” for her characters. It is a talent for sure to be able to create that kind of shiver in a reader.
Overall then a really really good tale and one I would highly recommend to fans of Crime fiction and Thrillers.
Happy Reading Folks!
May 13, 2018
As DS Jane Bennett takes charge of South London's. Lewisham murder squad she finds herself with a very big hill to climb, to solve murder cases that come in.
DS Jane receives a phone call from her retired DI friend Sue Leech that her husband Mark who had been suffering anxiety attacks since his retirement from the force five years ago had gone missing. Jane discovered blood in the utility room, this makes DS Jane Bennett question that Mark's mental state could have been worse than she realized and could this be suicide that Jane was exploring.
A gritty case appears when a Maggie Hungerford a university student goes missing and her body is found buried in Elmstead Woods. With another big hill to climb for DS Jane Bennett two men are questioned at the station who claimed to of both of had a sexual relationship with Maggie before she died, but both of the men deny murdering Maggie. With both men denying that they murdered Maggie this leaves Jane with a high mountain of tension trying to work out who killed Maggie.
No Place To Die is an excellent page-turning crime story with very interesting police characters that have their own problems and themes running wild with a chilling discovery and a twisted crime.
I loved reading No place To Die with the references to Blackheath, Bromley, Catford, Greenwhich, Lewisham bringing back all my childhood memories with times I spent with my relatives in all of theses parts of South - East London.
I look forward to another crime novel by Clare Donoghue.
November 5, 2018
A police procedural and thriller combined make this a top-notch plot with plenty of forward movement. Protagonists Mike Lockyer and Jane Bennett are an interesting pair to follow, their working relationship and friendship is both simple and complex.
This story is not for the faint of heart; the grisly means of murder speaks to fears many of us harbor. As if the means is not enough to bring the reader anxious feelings, the victim is given voice to explain the experience. It was bone-chilling to me.
This series by Clare Donoghue is truly a serial, with one episode following the next and references to previous titles and what happened there referred to with little to inform the reader of the current title of the back story. The plot of each book is independent of the others, but character development and relationships change and grow, which is why I recommend reading this series in order.
This story is not for the faint of heart; the grisly means of murder speaks to fears many of us harbor. As if the means is not enough to bring the reader anxious feelings, the victim is given voice to explain the experience. It was bone-chilling to me.
This series by Clare Donoghue is truly a serial, with one episode following the next and references to previous titles and what happened there referred to with little to inform the reader of the current title of the back story. The plot of each book is independent of the others, but character development and relationships change and grow, which is why I recommend reading this series in order.
March 28, 2015
Never Look Back – Brilliant Follow Up Crime Thriller
No Place To Die is the excellent follow up to Clare Donoghue’s excellent debut thriller Never Look Back, where she introduced us to the Lewisham murder squad headed up by DI Mike Lockyer and DS Jane Bennett. Once again Clare Donoghue will hook the reader with the Prologue and once snared you will want to know how this stunning thriller ends.
No Place To Die picks up a couple of months after the previous Steven’s case has finished and Lockyer is not the same man especially as he is desk bound and depressed at his current situation. While her boss is brooding Jane Bennett is juggling quite a few cases making sure than none drop while Lockyer is in another world.
A former colleague goes missing and there is blood all over his kitchen and Jane has managed to get a search of a nearby wood to be searched after finding a bloodied training shoe is found in Emstead Woods. Here they discover a buried missing student dead in a coffin that has air and a camera rigged up to it. Jane is heading up the investigation and could really do with Lockyer’s help but he has his head up his backside, she is getting lots of questions, no evidence and no answers.
The breadcrumbs that Jane and the team discover lead back to a previous murder case that was unsolved and to Greenwich University and the Psychology Department. Here they find out more about their victim Maggie Rutherford and that she was dating a doctorial student and also a relationship with a lecturer. With the pressure on Jane seems to be heading nowhere fast and it is not until Lockyer gets involved that things crank in to action and the answers slowly come even when the odd curve ball is thrown in.
The pace picks up as the thriller progresses and the urgency could be a matter of life and death, not just for potential victims but for Jane Bennett. Even though the crime at the heart of this novel is extreme and dark the police procedure is clear and it is easy and enjoyable to follow the gathering of evidence and suspects, analyse and arrest. There is also a lot of sympathy in the way that Jane Bennett has to handle her autistic son Peter, her mother who is caring for him while she works and her father who has had a stroke. You can feel the strain Jane is under especially while Lockyer is going through a funk and needs him back in the game.
No Place To Die will keep you guessing all the way through to the end of the book and it is a thrilling read from an exciting new crime writer, Clare Donoghue certainly enjoys the twisted crime and the mundane of procedure to write a fun and exciting read. Clare Donoghue is yet another excellent female crime writer that hits all the spots the reader wants from a thriller, who is getting better with her second book.
No Place to Die is a gripping read with plenty of atmosphere the right amount of pace and a wonderfully twisted crime and an even more twisted criminal. Mike Lockyer and Jane Bennett are great coppers who we see developing as the series continues and Clare Donoghue’s writing goes from strength to strength.
No Place To Die is the excellent follow up to Clare Donoghue’s excellent debut thriller Never Look Back, where she introduced us to the Lewisham murder squad headed up by DI Mike Lockyer and DS Jane Bennett. Once again Clare Donoghue will hook the reader with the Prologue and once snared you will want to know how this stunning thriller ends.
No Place To Die picks up a couple of months after the previous Steven’s case has finished and Lockyer is not the same man especially as he is desk bound and depressed at his current situation. While her boss is brooding Jane Bennett is juggling quite a few cases making sure than none drop while Lockyer is in another world.
A former colleague goes missing and there is blood all over his kitchen and Jane has managed to get a search of a nearby wood to be searched after finding a bloodied training shoe is found in Emstead Woods. Here they discover a buried missing student dead in a coffin that has air and a camera rigged up to it. Jane is heading up the investigation and could really do with Lockyer’s help but he has his head up his backside, she is getting lots of questions, no evidence and no answers.
The breadcrumbs that Jane and the team discover lead back to a previous murder case that was unsolved and to Greenwich University and the Psychology Department. Here they find out more about their victim Maggie Rutherford and that she was dating a doctorial student and also a relationship with a lecturer. With the pressure on Jane seems to be heading nowhere fast and it is not until Lockyer gets involved that things crank in to action and the answers slowly come even when the odd curve ball is thrown in.
The pace picks up as the thriller progresses and the urgency could be a matter of life and death, not just for potential victims but for Jane Bennett. Even though the crime at the heart of this novel is extreme and dark the police procedure is clear and it is easy and enjoyable to follow the gathering of evidence and suspects, analyse and arrest. There is also a lot of sympathy in the way that Jane Bennett has to handle her autistic son Peter, her mother who is caring for him while she works and her father who has had a stroke. You can feel the strain Jane is under especially while Lockyer is going through a funk and needs him back in the game.
No Place To Die will keep you guessing all the way through to the end of the book and it is a thrilling read from an exciting new crime writer, Clare Donoghue certainly enjoys the twisted crime and the mundane of procedure to write a fun and exciting read. Clare Donoghue is yet another excellent female crime writer that hits all the spots the reader wants from a thriller, who is getting better with her second book.
No Place to Die is a gripping read with plenty of atmosphere the right amount of pace and a wonderfully twisted crime and an even more twisted criminal. Mike Lockyer and Jane Bennett are great coppers who we see developing as the series continues and Clare Donoghue’s writing goes from strength to strength.
March 31, 2015
4.0 out of 5 stars -- This second book in the Lockyer and Bennett series is a police procedural suspense thriller that grabs attention right away and doesn't let up until the chilling end.
As the story opens, DS Jane Bennett is on point as her former boss, DI Lockyer, has to deal with the aftermath from his mistakes in the previous Stevens case. He's basically declared unfit to work and his supervisor has him looking at cold cases and attending mandatory counseling to help get his act together. Jane, missing her partner's leadership, is running the latest case -- a dead girl has been found in a man-made tomb. Just as that investigation is getting underway and the police begin to search for a suspect, an ex-cop and friend of Bennett and Lockyer, Mark Leech, goes missing from his home. They suspect foul play because of blood spatters -- but who would want to kidnap a retired cop? So, torn between the search for the tomb girl's killer and finding Mark, Jane has her hands full with a new team until she can get Lockyer back into fit form.
The investigation takes the police to a local university where two very odd psychology majors seem far too interested in the dead girl -- in fact, did one of them abduct her and take her to that final grave? Lots of interviews and details start to put the case together, and then another body is found in yet another, older tomb. What is this? Meanwhile, the team can't find Mark and his wife, Sue, is falling apart.
This was a very addicting read that kept me glued to the pages as the information started to come together. I really like the partnership of Jane and Mike as well as the details of their personal lives. I think it best if you read the first in the series before this one just so you understand how Mike got to his current mental and emotional status. I am looking forward to another in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-book ARC to review.
As the story opens, DS Jane Bennett is on point as her former boss, DI Lockyer, has to deal with the aftermath from his mistakes in the previous Stevens case. He's basically declared unfit to work and his supervisor has him looking at cold cases and attending mandatory counseling to help get his act together. Jane, missing her partner's leadership, is running the latest case -- a dead girl has been found in a man-made tomb. Just as that investigation is getting underway and the police begin to search for a suspect, an ex-cop and friend of Bennett and Lockyer, Mark Leech, goes missing from his home. They suspect foul play because of blood spatters -- but who would want to kidnap a retired cop? So, torn between the search for the tomb girl's killer and finding Mark, Jane has her hands full with a new team until she can get Lockyer back into fit form.
The investigation takes the police to a local university where two very odd psychology majors seem far too interested in the dead girl -- in fact, did one of them abduct her and take her to that final grave? Lots of interviews and details start to put the case together, and then another body is found in yet another, older tomb. What is this? Meanwhile, the team can't find Mark and his wife, Sue, is falling apart.
This was a very addicting read that kept me glued to the pages as the information started to come together. I really like the partnership of Jane and Mike as well as the details of their personal lives. I think it best if you read the first in the series before this one just so you understand how Mike got to his current mental and emotional status. I am looking forward to another in this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the e-book ARC to review.
April 1, 2015
The Hook - Without a reveal let’s just say the premise of fears and phobias drew me to in.
The Line – ”Most people believe fears and phobias are the same thing when, in fact, they are anything but.”
The Sinker – If ever a book creeped me out, this detective vs. serial killer thriller did just that. Be prepared to rethink your thoughts on fears and phobia as DS Jane Bennet races to apprehend a madman before another woman dies at his hands. Looking forward to the next case up before Bennet and her boss, DI Mike Lockyer. They make quite a team.
The Line – ”Most people believe fears and phobias are the same thing when, in fact, they are anything but.”
The Sinker – If ever a book creeped me out, this detective vs. serial killer thriller did just that. Be prepared to rethink your thoughts on fears and phobia as DS Jane Bennet races to apprehend a madman before another woman dies at his hands. Looking forward to the next case up before Bennet and her boss, DI Mike Lockyer. They make quite a team.
September 21, 2018
This is the 2nd book in this series and I have to say I liked it just as much as the first. If you like mystery, crime, police procedure type books- you should enjoy this series...( I would suggest starting off with the first book . )
There are so many detail reviews of this book , so I really can't add anything more other than I enjoyed the read and looking forward to book #3
There are so many detail reviews of this book , so I really can't add anything more other than I enjoyed the read and looking forward to book #3
March 25, 2020
I was a big fan of the first book in this series and have been eagerly awaiting book 2. And here it is. And it is just as good as I'd hoped. If you are a fan of British police procedurals then this series is bound to satisfy you.
This is uncomfortable right from the start. A young woman is in a tomb, buried alive with no memory of how she got there but with clear certainty that this is not somewhere she is going to get out of. Her suffering is intense and uncomfortable and we return to her often while her demise is pending throughout the first part of the story. We are also reading the story of Jane Bennett, a detective who is running the case for a series of missing people. One of these is a retired police officer and the husband of her friend and colleague, this is a horrible situation to be in. Jane's boss, Mike Lockier, he is not himself, Jane is concerned about him. Their relationship has become difficult and fraught but Jane doesn't know what is wrong with him. It makes her life very difficult, a big case which keeps changing, a boss who appears to be absent even though he is in the room.
I like these so much because of the relationships, I like how we are inside both Jane and Mike's minds, as the case twists and turns and the stakes rise and rise, it is fantastic to see their relationship also change. This is a great, intense crime and I really loved it. Well written crime novels are so immersive and such a good mental break. In times of trouble, I always take to crime and this seems to be a time when that is likely to happen.
This is uncomfortable right from the start. A young woman is in a tomb, buried alive with no memory of how she got there but with clear certainty that this is not somewhere she is going to get out of. Her suffering is intense and uncomfortable and we return to her often while her demise is pending throughout the first part of the story. We are also reading the story of Jane Bennett, a detective who is running the case for a series of missing people. One of these is a retired police officer and the husband of her friend and colleague, this is a horrible situation to be in. Jane's boss, Mike Lockier, he is not himself, Jane is concerned about him. Their relationship has become difficult and fraught but Jane doesn't know what is wrong with him. It makes her life very difficult, a big case which keeps changing, a boss who appears to be absent even though he is in the room.
I like these so much because of the relationships, I like how we are inside both Jane and Mike's minds, as the case twists and turns and the stakes rise and rise, it is fantastic to see their relationship also change. This is a great, intense crime and I really loved it. Well written crime novels are so immersive and such a good mental break. In times of trouble, I always take to crime and this seems to be a time when that is likely to happen.
March 10, 2015
2014 was an exciting year for crime fiction, debuts especially, and one that stood out for me more than most was Clare Donoghue's Never Look Back. I left my copy of it on the London Underground as part of Books on the Underground so hopefully somebody else got as much enjoyment out of it as me. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of No Place to Die and I am pleased to report that it didn't disappoint.
One of the strengths of this series is in its characters. This time around DS Jane Bennett was the star of the show for me, I loved her as a character, flaws and all. What I particularly enjoy is Clare has created characters that feel real, having genuine emotions and fears. Characters who make mistakes both in their professional and personal life. This time around things are a little bit tense between Jane and her boss DI Mike Lockyer because of the events of Never Look Back. Jane is forced to make some difficult decisions, which could impact on her friendship and her working relationship with Lockyer.
The storyline in this book was gripping, with two threads that had me wondering just when or even if they would be connected. I'm sure all of us have a fear of being buried alive, and that is sort of what happens here but worse when the body of a young student is found interred inside a tomb, left to die a horrible death. Despite the rather extreme crime, the actual investigation is somewhat normal and again this was a highlight of the novel for me, the book does read almost like a TV show would play out, and I really enjoy crime novels which are written like that. A proper police procedural as I call it, following the police gathering evidence, conducting interviews etc and then those scenes of normality, Jane at home with her young son, struggling to achieve that work/life balance that I don't think I've ever seen a fictional police detective achieve. It doesn't take long before suspects crop up, and the fear for the police is whether more bodies are about to be discovered...
This is certainly a book that kept me guessing, with more than enough twists and turns to throw most readers off the scent, and so I imagine there won't just be me who was left guessing until the very end. It's a book I didn't want to put down (cliche but so true. Sleep won out in the end, but the following night reading won)! The twist I felt I perhaps should have been coming, but really, I was too engrossed in the book and did find myself caught off guard. This is a series that excites me very much, and with another book on the way I hope that it's going to be a long running series, it certainly has the potential to do so and Clare Donoghue is not an author to miss. Comparisons are lazy but I would recommend this book for fans of Mark Billingham and Lynda La Plante, whilst this is definitely a book (and series) that can stand on its own merits, I was reminded of those two authors (two of my favourites) whilst reading No Place to Die, more so than other books which proclaim similarities to those authors which never materialise. This is not a series to miss if you can help it.
One of the strengths of this series is in its characters. This time around DS Jane Bennett was the star of the show for me, I loved her as a character, flaws and all. What I particularly enjoy is Clare has created characters that feel real, having genuine emotions and fears. Characters who make mistakes both in their professional and personal life. This time around things are a little bit tense between Jane and her boss DI Mike Lockyer because of the events of Never Look Back. Jane is forced to make some difficult decisions, which could impact on her friendship and her working relationship with Lockyer.
The storyline in this book was gripping, with two threads that had me wondering just when or even if they would be connected. I'm sure all of us have a fear of being buried alive, and that is sort of what happens here but worse when the body of a young student is found interred inside a tomb, left to die a horrible death. Despite the rather extreme crime, the actual investigation is somewhat normal and again this was a highlight of the novel for me, the book does read almost like a TV show would play out, and I really enjoy crime novels which are written like that. A proper police procedural as I call it, following the police gathering evidence, conducting interviews etc and then those scenes of normality, Jane at home with her young son, struggling to achieve that work/life balance that I don't think I've ever seen a fictional police detective achieve. It doesn't take long before suspects crop up, and the fear for the police is whether more bodies are about to be discovered...
This is certainly a book that kept me guessing, with more than enough twists and turns to throw most readers off the scent, and so I imagine there won't just be me who was left guessing until the very end. It's a book I didn't want to put down (cliche but so true. Sleep won out in the end, but the following night reading won)! The twist I felt I perhaps should have been coming, but really, I was too engrossed in the book and did find myself caught off guard. This is a series that excites me very much, and with another book on the way I hope that it's going to be a long running series, it certainly has the potential to do so and Clare Donoghue is not an author to miss. Comparisons are lazy but I would recommend this book for fans of Mark Billingham and Lynda La Plante, whilst this is definitely a book (and series) that can stand on its own merits, I was reminded of those two authors (two of my favourites) whilst reading No Place to Die, more so than other books which proclaim similarities to those authors which never materialise. This is not a series to miss if you can help it.
June 28, 2015
NO PLACE TO DIE (Mike Lockyer #2) by Clare Donoghue, a complex, spine-tingling crime thriller, with a dynamic duo delving into chilling phobias and fears, for an intense cop procedural leaving you glued to this gripping suspense page-turner. 4.5 Stars - Nice cover.
Following Never Look Back (Mike Lockyer #1) where we met South East London Detective Mike Lockyer and his partner Detective Sergeant Jane Bennett, leaving Mike still shaken by the loss of a victim in their last murder case, while working on cold cases and attending mandatory counseling. With this installment, Jane takes the limelight.
Jane is heavily immersed in trying to juggle a number of cases, without her partner’s assistance in the beginning. A dead girl, Maggie from the university has been found in a tomb, under a London Greenway.
Then there is a retired ex-cop, and friend, Mark Leech who goes missing and a wife which is frantic and he may be injured. Could the two cases be related?
The parallel investigation into Mark’s disappearance uncovers details about his last unsolved murder case. Before retiring, he was obsessed with solving the murder of Amelia Reynolds, daughter of a close family friend. A connection is discovered to the same professor who is prime suspect in their current case.
An addictive read, with excellent character development, filled with emotion, graphic and vivid settings, and descriptions. The relationship between the Jane and Mike is fun, and tension-filled, as she does not need any distractions from her work and son, Peter. The thought of approaching forty is alarming and she feels guilt having less time to spend with her son. What really adds icing to the cake is Jane’s personal life, making her relatable, as a single mom balancing work and personal lives. Jane has an autistic son, and Mike has an autistic brother which bonds the two.
The audiobook was well done delivered by Imogen Church for a pleasant listening experience.
Was so intrigued with the crime thriller, had to go back and purchase the first audiobook, Never Look Back (Mike Lockyer #1) currently reading; narrated by Karl Prekopp and Imogen Church. Recommend reading both.
A detective thriller with interesting forensics, and a twisted mysterious killer, with a psychological twist; keeping you in suspense with twists and turns, to the end. A must read series, for mystery, crime, cop and detective thriller fans. A new strong female crime writer- one to follow!.
Following Never Look Back (Mike Lockyer #1) where we met South East London Detective Mike Lockyer and his partner Detective Sergeant Jane Bennett, leaving Mike still shaken by the loss of a victim in their last murder case, while working on cold cases and attending mandatory counseling. With this installment, Jane takes the limelight.
Jane is heavily immersed in trying to juggle a number of cases, without her partner’s assistance in the beginning. A dead girl, Maggie from the university has been found in a tomb, under a London Greenway.
Then there is a retired ex-cop, and friend, Mark Leech who goes missing and a wife which is frantic and he may be injured. Could the two cases be related?
The parallel investigation into Mark’s disappearance uncovers details about his last unsolved murder case. Before retiring, he was obsessed with solving the murder of Amelia Reynolds, daughter of a close family friend. A connection is discovered to the same professor who is prime suspect in their current case.
An addictive read, with excellent character development, filled with emotion, graphic and vivid settings, and descriptions. The relationship between the Jane and Mike is fun, and tension-filled, as she does not need any distractions from her work and son, Peter. The thought of approaching forty is alarming and she feels guilt having less time to spend with her son. What really adds icing to the cake is Jane’s personal life, making her relatable, as a single mom balancing work and personal lives. Jane has an autistic son, and Mike has an autistic brother which bonds the two.
The audiobook was well done delivered by Imogen Church for a pleasant listening experience.
Was so intrigued with the crime thriller, had to go back and purchase the first audiobook, Never Look Back (Mike Lockyer #1) currently reading; narrated by Karl Prekopp and Imogen Church. Recommend reading both.
A detective thriller with interesting forensics, and a twisted mysterious killer, with a psychological twist; keeping you in suspense with twists and turns, to the end. A must read series, for mystery, crime, cop and detective thriller fans. A new strong female crime writer- one to follow!.
January 27, 2016
I read the first in the series entitled Never Look Back and only rated in 3/5. The majority of this surrounded how I felt about one of the main characters Mike Lockyer. Mike Lockyer is a DI and along with his colleague DS Jane Bennett, he certainly didn’t shine in the first book, and I would even go as far as to say he was a little dull. Having read the second book in the series a couple of things have slotted into place for me. Sometimes when you read about a lead character in a series they are somehow damaged, or have major issues over something that may have happened in the past. With Mike Lockyer, we didn’t have that as a basis to start with. What we did have was a reason in book 1 for him to become a damaged man. Looking back after reading book 2 I feel completely differently now and feel like as a reader we have seen him go through the worst experience, and instead of seeing him just bounce back like a miracle (as many characters seemingly do), we see him in all his damaged glory trying to rebuild himself and get back into work.
At the start of book 2, Mike has been instructed to take a back seat and Jane Bennett is now leading the team. The story itself surrounds Lewisham Murder Squad investigating the discovery of a body in an underground tomb. If you are claustrophobic, it doesn’t make for pleasant reading! In addition to this murder, the disappearance of a retired police officer also rears its head and we see Jane under an immense amount of pressure. We see both Jane and Mike at their best and worst and as a reader it makes you feel far more attached to them as characters and in turn the series. The multiple plot threads were cleverly done and keep you guessing.
This second book was a huge improvement on Book 1, and I can also see why Clare Donoghue felt the need for the story in Book 1 as it lays some groundwork and history on the two characters. This series has taking a brilliant upward turn with book 2, so much so that I may well have to change my order of books to read next and plough straight on to book 3. Book 3 entitled Trust No One is due for release 10 March 2016.
At the start of book 2, Mike has been instructed to take a back seat and Jane Bennett is now leading the team. The story itself surrounds Lewisham Murder Squad investigating the discovery of a body in an underground tomb. If you are claustrophobic, it doesn’t make for pleasant reading! In addition to this murder, the disappearance of a retired police officer also rears its head and we see Jane under an immense amount of pressure. We see both Jane and Mike at their best and worst and as a reader it makes you feel far more attached to them as characters and in turn the series. The multiple plot threads were cleverly done and keep you guessing.
This second book was a huge improvement on Book 1, and I can also see why Clare Donoghue felt the need for the story in Book 1 as it lays some groundwork and history on the two characters. This series has taking a brilliant upward turn with book 2, so much so that I may well have to change my order of books to read next and plough straight on to book 3. Book 3 entitled Trust No One is due for release 10 March 2016.
March 25, 2015
There are some places that are definitely no place to die and Clare Donoghue insists on taking you to some of them in this story. I get the impression from reading this that she really doesn’t care and actually quite enjoys it….
It’ll grip you from the start and some of the short victim chapters are some of the most chilling I’ve read. It has a few twists and surprises and I didn’t know what was going to happen till the end. If you love a good crime thriller then this is for you.
This is the second in the series of DI Mike Lockyer. I haven’t read the first one yet, but it made no difference to the enjoyment of this book. Here Mike Lockyer is on desk duties after problems with his last case and the likeable DS Jane Bennett is the star of the show. The story is driven by police procedure and its fascinating see how it’s all gradually pulled together. The tensions and friendship between Mike and Jane add to the fun.
Jane is put in charge of this high profile case and the author makes her real and believable. She struggles balancing home and work life like many of us do and we follow her closely as she hunts down the criminals. The story from Jane’s perspective is really well done as the facts are tantalisingly revealed. Those chilling bits are slipped into the story every so often to encourage us to cheer Jane on to resolve the case as quickly as possible. It makes this a real page turner that’s hard to put down.
Well worth a read and I would happily recommend this book.
It’ll grip you from the start and some of the short victim chapters are some of the most chilling I’ve read. It has a few twists and surprises and I didn’t know what was going to happen till the end. If you love a good crime thriller then this is for you.
This is the second in the series of DI Mike Lockyer. I haven’t read the first one yet, but it made no difference to the enjoyment of this book. Here Mike Lockyer is on desk duties after problems with his last case and the likeable DS Jane Bennett is the star of the show. The story is driven by police procedure and its fascinating see how it’s all gradually pulled together. The tensions and friendship between Mike and Jane add to the fun.
Jane is put in charge of this high profile case and the author makes her real and believable. She struggles balancing home and work life like many of us do and we follow her closely as she hunts down the criminals. The story from Jane’s perspective is really well done as the facts are tantalisingly revealed. Those chilling bits are slipped into the story every so often to encourage us to cheer Jane on to resolve the case as quickly as possible. It makes this a real page turner that’s hard to put down.
Well worth a read and I would happily recommend this book.
March 31, 2015
Detective Sergeant Jane Bennett finds herself dealing with a murder investigation and the disappearance of a retired former colleague and a boss who seems as though he is only there in body and not in spirit. In addition she is relying heavily on her mother to look after her autistic son, Peter. There are several suspects for the murder and Jane is fast coming to the conclusion that she needs to treat Mark's disappearance as a potential murder.
I found Jane's boss, Mike Lockyer, a rather annoying character and that to a certain extent spoiled my enjoyment of the story. It seemed he was suffering from the after effects of the previous case he had investigated and I think I probably should have read the first book in this series before reading this one and then I would have had a better understanding of his problems.
The author builds up the tension really well throughout the book and there is a nail biting finish. I did feel a little cheated by the revelation of the murderer. It read to me as though the author had changed her mind at the last minute about who and why but this could be just my perception. I did like the writing and I liked Jane as a character. Lockyer did improve during the book and I could probably get to like him. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
I found Jane's boss, Mike Lockyer, a rather annoying character and that to a certain extent spoiled my enjoyment of the story. It seemed he was suffering from the after effects of the previous case he had investigated and I think I probably should have read the first book in this series before reading this one and then I would have had a better understanding of his problems.
The author builds up the tension really well throughout the book and there is a nail biting finish. I did feel a little cheated by the revelation of the murderer. It read to me as though the author had changed her mind at the last minute about who and why but this could be just my perception. I did like the writing and I liked Jane as a character. Lockyer did improve during the book and I could probably get to like him. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
October 13, 2018
Mist spanning en een plot. Voornamelijk zijn er verhoren in het politiebureau, gemixt met een moeizame relatie tussen baas en ondergeschikte Jane, en de bezwarende gevoelens van Jane (omdat ze het zo druk heeft) tegenover haar zoontje Peter. Jane komt erg jong en naiëf over, tegen het kinderlijke af. Niet wat je van een ervaren brigadier en moeder mag verwachten. Schrijfstijl is erg simpel, bijna YA. Op iedere blz. lees k dat Jane haar pony opzij schuift. dat begon mij te irriteren. Dit deel is niet te lezen zonder eerst deel 1 gelezen te hebben en dat is een manco, omdat er veel verwijzingen zijn zonder dat de schrijfster zaken verteld of verklaard. Het einde, de uiteindelijke dader(s), vond ik echt belachelijk en lachwekkend.
September 3, 2017
This was my second novel by the author and have to say it was extremely good. Although I not read in order its easy to pick up the gyst of previous ones and I love Jane and Lockyer. The crimes are gritty without being too gory and you are definately kept in suspense with twists and turns until the end. Thoroughly recommend.
December 27, 2019
Review to come.
March 10, 2015
Originally published at Crime Fiction Lover
DCI Jane Bennett has her hands full. Ever since the Southeast London murder squad’s last big case, her boss DC Mike Lockyer has not been the same. His career may even be threatened by his handling of the now infamous Stevens case, which formed the basis of Donoghue’s last book Never Look Back. The shell-shocked Lockyer is being investigated for misconduct and is on desk duty, going to mandatory counseling sessions. Lockyer couldn’t have picked a worse time to be off his game. Jane is put in charge for the first time in her career and she’s been handed a case that is far too close to home: mutual friend and former cop Mark Leech has disappeared, and his kitchen is covered in blood.
Without the help of Mike, who maintains his bubble of apathy, Jane must sort the facts while comforting Mark’s wife, who is their friend. To add to her dismay, a very nasty murder case is handed over to her. The corpse of a young college student named Maggie Hungerford has been found deeply interred in a precisely-cut tomb. Not only does it appear she was buried alive, but it seems her final agony was recorded via a camera wire worked into the ready-made grave. As Jane picks up the slack in Mike’s absence, she struggles with personal problems and professional self-doubt. But she also shows what she’s made of, and makes the best of her good rapport with the support staff.
Suddenly, the attention shifts away from Jane’s ordeals and we are immersed into the nightmare of a victim who finds herself buried alive. It might be a flashback of Maggie, or a new unidentified victim. We return intermittently to the helpless soul as her life slowly ebbs away in her claustrophobic trap, her suffering poignantly described by Donoghue.
While Jane waits for Lockyer to snap out of his funk, she must deal with Phil, the creepy forensic examiner who questions her new found authority and who is a little too enthusiastic about the gruesome details of being buried alive. The immediate persons of interest for the investigation are Maggie’s university professor Victor Lebowski, who is a charming family man, and his teaching assistant Terry Mort, a slimy narcissistic prig. Both men had intimate relationships with victim Maggie, and both engage in controversial psychological experiments. By the time Jane interviews them Lockyer is coming around and serves as a dependable consultant on the case. When another entombed body is found, it is obviously the work of the same perpetrator, but there are differences that throw the case into a tailspin.
The parallel investigation into Mark Leech’s disappearance uncovers details about his last unsolved murder case. Before retiring, he was obsessed with solving the murder of Amelia Reynolds, daughter of a close family friend. A connection is discovered to the same professor who is prime suspect in their current case. Did Mark get too close to Lebowski and was he murdered?
No Place to Die is a superb balance of thrills, forensics, and deep feeling. Starting at a steady procedural clip, events and emotions begin to accelerate until the book is impossible to put down. As Jane and Mike bear down on the truth, we are kept guessing all the way until the heart-stopping finale.
Forensic geeks will be pleased by rich procedural detail, but we also see the unglamourous grunt work involved in police investigations. Donoghue is a quick study on police procedure but also devotes a great deal to building realistic characters and relationships. The crime scene banter between cops who need to gird themselves for the horrific work ahead, and especially the pathos of victims, all give this book its beating heart. One noteworthy scene that portrays the awful intimacy of police work has Jane and her colleague informing the family of the murder victim.
Graphic, suspenseful, and disturbing as this book is, it never feels gratuitous. I look forward to more of Clare Donoghue’s unique brand of procedurals with heart.
DCI Jane Bennett has her hands full. Ever since the Southeast London murder squad’s last big case, her boss DC Mike Lockyer has not been the same. His career may even be threatened by his handling of the now infamous Stevens case, which formed the basis of Donoghue’s last book Never Look Back. The shell-shocked Lockyer is being investigated for misconduct and is on desk duty, going to mandatory counseling sessions. Lockyer couldn’t have picked a worse time to be off his game. Jane is put in charge for the first time in her career and she’s been handed a case that is far too close to home: mutual friend and former cop Mark Leech has disappeared, and his kitchen is covered in blood.
Without the help of Mike, who maintains his bubble of apathy, Jane must sort the facts while comforting Mark’s wife, who is their friend. To add to her dismay, a very nasty murder case is handed over to her. The corpse of a young college student named Maggie Hungerford has been found deeply interred in a precisely-cut tomb. Not only does it appear she was buried alive, but it seems her final agony was recorded via a camera wire worked into the ready-made grave. As Jane picks up the slack in Mike’s absence, she struggles with personal problems and professional self-doubt. But she also shows what she’s made of, and makes the best of her good rapport with the support staff.
Suddenly, the attention shifts away from Jane’s ordeals and we are immersed into the nightmare of a victim who finds herself buried alive. It might be a flashback of Maggie, or a new unidentified victim. We return intermittently to the helpless soul as her life slowly ebbs away in her claustrophobic trap, her suffering poignantly described by Donoghue.
While Jane waits for Lockyer to snap out of his funk, she must deal with Phil, the creepy forensic examiner who questions her new found authority and who is a little too enthusiastic about the gruesome details of being buried alive. The immediate persons of interest for the investigation are Maggie’s university professor Victor Lebowski, who is a charming family man, and his teaching assistant Terry Mort, a slimy narcissistic prig. Both men had intimate relationships with victim Maggie, and both engage in controversial psychological experiments. By the time Jane interviews them Lockyer is coming around and serves as a dependable consultant on the case. When another entombed body is found, it is obviously the work of the same perpetrator, but there are differences that throw the case into a tailspin.
The parallel investigation into Mark Leech’s disappearance uncovers details about his last unsolved murder case. Before retiring, he was obsessed with solving the murder of Amelia Reynolds, daughter of a close family friend. A connection is discovered to the same professor who is prime suspect in their current case. Did Mark get too close to Lebowski and was he murdered?
No Place to Die is a superb balance of thrills, forensics, and deep feeling. Starting at a steady procedural clip, events and emotions begin to accelerate until the book is impossible to put down. As Jane and Mike bear down on the truth, we are kept guessing all the way until the heart-stopping finale.
Forensic geeks will be pleased by rich procedural detail, but we also see the unglamourous grunt work involved in police investigations. Donoghue is a quick study on police procedure but also devotes a great deal to building realistic characters and relationships. The crime scene banter between cops who need to gird themselves for the horrific work ahead, and especially the pathos of victims, all give this book its beating heart. One noteworthy scene that portrays the awful intimacy of police work has Jane and her colleague informing the family of the murder victim.
Graphic, suspenseful, and disturbing as this book is, it never feels gratuitous. I look forward to more of Clare Donoghue’s unique brand of procedurals with heart.
April 14, 2015
I was lucky enough to receive a copy of No Place to Die on NetGalley and I must admit I thought it was brilliant!
From the first chapter, I had serious goosebumps and my arm hairs were standing on end. It was extremely chilling and at times graphic which did make me feel extremely uncomfortable as the reader. But for the author to inflict such a powerful response and set of emotions just shows how well written this novel is! It wasn’t particularly pleasant to read about the experience of being buried alive but the depiction of what the victim must be thinking and feeling felt extremely accurate. Since being buried alive is one of those absolutely horrific fears of mine, I was terrified from the get go and any noise going on in the background of my life made me jump as I was so on edge (sorry to my husband, who accidentally made me jump several times and got snapped at for doing so!!).
Despite this novel forming the second in the DI Mike Lockyer Series, Lockyer only really entered the story as a key figure half way through the book. Prior to this and going forward with the story, the novel was mainly centred around his partner, DS Jane Bennett. I really liked her being the central character of this book. She felt genuine, she wasn’t 100% perfect shown by her making some normal human errors and she had her own lifelike problems which all added to making her very likeable.
The plot was highly addictive featuring some fantastic and unexpected twists and turns along the way which really caught me by surprise and kept me on my toes! I hadn’t read the first novel in the series, Never Look Back, so I really didn’t know what to expect but as previously touched upon I was hooked. Having missed the first part of the series, I wasn’t sure how this would impact upon my reading of this second instalment. However, I didn’t feel as though I was missing huge chunks of the story at all. Perhaps a bit of background detail was lost on me such as the history of Lockyer and Jane’s relationship and references to the Stevens case. But it didn’t in any way detract from the plot of this novel for me. Having said that, I’m definitely going to now go back and read the first novel as I was so impressed with this one. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who usually enjoys crime fiction / police stories and, personally, I am really looking forward to more from this author and this series!
No Place to Die is available to buy from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Die-...
https://sarakettleborough.wordpress.c...
From the first chapter, I had serious goosebumps and my arm hairs were standing on end. It was extremely chilling and at times graphic which did make me feel extremely uncomfortable as the reader. But for the author to inflict such a powerful response and set of emotions just shows how well written this novel is! It wasn’t particularly pleasant to read about the experience of being buried alive but the depiction of what the victim must be thinking and feeling felt extremely accurate. Since being buried alive is one of those absolutely horrific fears of mine, I was terrified from the get go and any noise going on in the background of my life made me jump as I was so on edge (sorry to my husband, who accidentally made me jump several times and got snapped at for doing so!!).
Despite this novel forming the second in the DI Mike Lockyer Series, Lockyer only really entered the story as a key figure half way through the book. Prior to this and going forward with the story, the novel was mainly centred around his partner, DS Jane Bennett. I really liked her being the central character of this book. She felt genuine, she wasn’t 100% perfect shown by her making some normal human errors and she had her own lifelike problems which all added to making her very likeable.
The plot was highly addictive featuring some fantastic and unexpected twists and turns along the way which really caught me by surprise and kept me on my toes! I hadn’t read the first novel in the series, Never Look Back, so I really didn’t know what to expect but as previously touched upon I was hooked. Having missed the first part of the series, I wasn’t sure how this would impact upon my reading of this second instalment. However, I didn’t feel as though I was missing huge chunks of the story at all. Perhaps a bit of background detail was lost on me such as the history of Lockyer and Jane’s relationship and references to the Stevens case. But it didn’t in any way detract from the plot of this novel for me. Having said that, I’m definitely going to now go back and read the first novel as I was so impressed with this one. I would definitely recommend this read to anyone who usually enjoys crime fiction / police stories and, personally, I am really looking forward to more from this author and this series!
No Place to Die is available to buy from Amazon here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/No-Place-Die-...
https://sarakettleborough.wordpress.c...
March 14, 2015
*Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Last year, I won on a giveaway the debut book of Clare Donoghue, Never Look Back. And I was hooked. Now, when the second books is published, I couldn't wait until I put my hands on it. This time, the author has written even more gripping and dark story that made my worse nightmares come true.
What are you afraid of? Is it the dark? Or the tight space? Or the lack of air?
What if you wake up in a tight space under the ground with air enough for couple of hours?
Can you scream? Who can hear you?
Can you panic? Who will notice?
Can you escape? The lack of air makes you drowsy and sleepy.
Can you be saved? No one knows.
Creepy enough, exactly this happens to Maggie, college student. One day she goes on a date, and next thing she remembers is that is in a tight space, it is hard to move, no light, no fresh air. What the hell happened?
D.S. Jane Bennett receives a phone call from a family friend telling her that her husband is missing. Mark is a former policeman, now retired, and his wife has found blood stains in the kitchen. Jane finds out that Mark hasn't recovered after his last case when a young woman went missing. When another body shows up, buried alive in an underground shallow case and left to die with no air, Jane and her partner Mike find similarities between this creepy murder and the last case of missing Mark. Are there any connections? Is Mark another victim of the same killer? Who kills so cruelly?
Clare Donoghue writes so gripping stories that will make your hair stand on end. It happened to me. First, she did it with Never Look Back, now with No Place To Die. Her writing gets better and better with every next book. This one is far more better than the previous one. She tells the story also from Maggie's point of view, she made me feel the fear to be trapped inside the case and not being able to escape. To balance the creepiness of the story, she shows the softer side of the detectives. Jane has an autistic son, and Mike has an autistic brother. The author also shows the everyday problems that families with autistis members are coping with. Back to the mystery part, the end literally blew me away. I never expected that. So many turn-overs, so many gripping edges, and BAM! Totally blown away!
Must-read for 2015!
Last year, I won on a giveaway the debut book of Clare Donoghue, Never Look Back. And I was hooked. Now, when the second books is published, I couldn't wait until I put my hands on it. This time, the author has written even more gripping and dark story that made my worse nightmares come true.
What are you afraid of? Is it the dark? Or the tight space? Or the lack of air?
What if you wake up in a tight space under the ground with air enough for couple of hours?
Can you scream? Who can hear you?
Can you panic? Who will notice?
Can you escape? The lack of air makes you drowsy and sleepy.
Can you be saved? No one knows.
Creepy enough, exactly this happens to Maggie, college student. One day she goes on a date, and next thing she remembers is that is in a tight space, it is hard to move, no light, no fresh air. What the hell happened?
D.S. Jane Bennett receives a phone call from a family friend telling her that her husband is missing. Mark is a former policeman, now retired, and his wife has found blood stains in the kitchen. Jane finds out that Mark hasn't recovered after his last case when a young woman went missing. When another body shows up, buried alive in an underground shallow case and left to die with no air, Jane and her partner Mike find similarities between this creepy murder and the last case of missing Mark. Are there any connections? Is Mark another victim of the same killer? Who kills so cruelly?
Clare Donoghue writes so gripping stories that will make your hair stand on end. It happened to me. First, she did it with Never Look Back, now with No Place To Die. Her writing gets better and better with every next book. This one is far more better than the previous one. She tells the story also from Maggie's point of view, she made me feel the fear to be trapped inside the case and not being able to escape. To balance the creepiness of the story, she shows the softer side of the detectives. Jane has an autistic son, and Mike has an autistic brother. The author also shows the everyday problems that families with autistis members are coping with. Back to the mystery part, the end literally blew me away. I never expected that. So many turn-overs, so many gripping edges, and BAM! Totally blown away!
Must-read for 2015!
March 13, 2015
The fast pace grabbed my attention from the first page, knocked me sideways and then back again.
The story opens with a victim coming to terms with their new surroundings; a cold, dark underground space with no one to answer their screams. As an investigation is launched into their disappearance, the tomb is revisited in the form of a monologue from the victim and mournfully portrays the sheer desperation of their grim situation.
There’s such a human story behind the all of the characters, but particularly DS Jane Bennett, who is also a single mother trying to balance her demanding career with her home life.
Since her boss, D I Lockyer, has been suffering as a result of a previous disastrous investigation, Bennett is now lead detective in charge of finding the missing victim. She is more than capable, if a little inexperienced in her new role, but motherly-guilt is a constant distraction when she has to leave her autistic son in the care of his grandmother.
In addition to the current caseload, where the suspects are enough to make your skin crawl, a retired colleague goes missing. Bennett has to determine whether it’s suicide, or if something more sinister has occurred. In the process, the risk dividing her-self into smaller pieces and achieving nothing is ever present – then another body is discovered…
I not a huge fan of police 'procedural' thrillers, as some are written like a stilted to-do list without feeling, but the everyday workings of this case were perfectly blended into the story.
With its exceptional dialogue, the little nuances between each of the characters made this investigation credible. Although, I’m not entirely convinced that any culprit could get away with their kind of antics completely undetected (hence 4 stars, and not 5).
Even though I wasn’t aware that this was the 2nd outing for team DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer, I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything crucial by not reading the first in the series. But this was filled with such tension and suspicion, I’d certainly be interested in reading the next...
The story opens with a victim coming to terms with their new surroundings; a cold, dark underground space with no one to answer their screams. As an investigation is launched into their disappearance, the tomb is revisited in the form of a monologue from the victim and mournfully portrays the sheer desperation of their grim situation.
There’s such a human story behind the all of the characters, but particularly DS Jane Bennett, who is also a single mother trying to balance her demanding career with her home life.
Since her boss, D I Lockyer, has been suffering as a result of a previous disastrous investigation, Bennett is now lead detective in charge of finding the missing victim. She is more than capable, if a little inexperienced in her new role, but motherly-guilt is a constant distraction when she has to leave her autistic son in the care of his grandmother.
In addition to the current caseload, where the suspects are enough to make your skin crawl, a retired colleague goes missing. Bennett has to determine whether it’s suicide, or if something more sinister has occurred. In the process, the risk dividing her-self into smaller pieces and achieving nothing is ever present – then another body is discovered…
I not a huge fan of police 'procedural' thrillers, as some are written like a stilted to-do list without feeling, but the everyday workings of this case were perfectly blended into the story.
With its exceptional dialogue, the little nuances between each of the characters made this investigation credible. Although, I’m not entirely convinced that any culprit could get away with their kind of antics completely undetected (hence 4 stars, and not 5).
Even though I wasn’t aware that this was the 2nd outing for team DS Jane Bennett and DI Mike Lockyer, I don’t feel like I’ve missed anything crucial by not reading the first in the series. But this was filled with such tension and suspicion, I’d certainly be interested in reading the next...
May 26, 2015
For the literary locations in this book please take a look at See Lewisham on the booktrail
The Lewisham murder squad is a dark place and the whole ambiance of the police station and the crimes it investigates create a dark and claustrophobic world which feeds your fears.
DI Jane Bennett has an interesting backstory and her life in Lewisham alongside her hight profile job is not an easy one. The intricacies of the police work and the pressures are clear to see. Just how do you solve a crime where victims are being buried alive and their final moment recorded for ever?
Emstead Woods ( fictional)
The murders which take place in this novel are perhaps one of the most chilling crimes and settings for a crime we’ve come across in a long while. What can be more claustrophobic and chilling that being buried alive? Entombed in a ready made prison filled with damp earth and absolute blackness.
Terror and the thought of the final moments of that victim are too horrific to think about but it’s the sense of it being the very idea that this is no place to die that chills you to the core.
The overall setting and atmosphere is the stuff of nightmares – chilling dark nightmares and the dark matter that lies at the back of your imagination.
Bookish musings
I really shouldn’t read books like this at night. I do like to travel to new settings via books but this just took me to the stuff of nightmares! A gripping thriller mind and a real insight into the police work involved in such a complicated and unique case.
Jane is an interesting figure – isolated in many ways both professionally and privately, this adds to her backstory as a character and makes her very rounded. She and Mike make an interesting team and I was intrigued to see this relationship develop. I wanted to know more so I immediately read the first novel with this team Don’t look Back.
Good intriguing and unusual crime – just don’t read it in the dark
The Lewisham murder squad is a dark place and the whole ambiance of the police station and the crimes it investigates create a dark and claustrophobic world which feeds your fears.
DI Jane Bennett has an interesting backstory and her life in Lewisham alongside her hight profile job is not an easy one. The intricacies of the police work and the pressures are clear to see. Just how do you solve a crime where victims are being buried alive and their final moment recorded for ever?
Emstead Woods ( fictional)
The murders which take place in this novel are perhaps one of the most chilling crimes and settings for a crime we’ve come across in a long while. What can be more claustrophobic and chilling that being buried alive? Entombed in a ready made prison filled with damp earth and absolute blackness.
Terror and the thought of the final moments of that victim are too horrific to think about but it’s the sense of it being the very idea that this is no place to die that chills you to the core.
The overall setting and atmosphere is the stuff of nightmares – chilling dark nightmares and the dark matter that lies at the back of your imagination.
Bookish musings
I really shouldn’t read books like this at night. I do like to travel to new settings via books but this just took me to the stuff of nightmares! A gripping thriller mind and a real insight into the police work involved in such a complicated and unique case.
Jane is an interesting figure – isolated in many ways both professionally and privately, this adds to her backstory as a character and makes her very rounded. She and Mike make an interesting team and I was intrigued to see this relationship develop. I wanted to know more so I immediately read the first novel with this team Don’t look Back.
Good intriguing and unusual crime – just don’t read it in the dark
March 1, 2015
No place to die is a novel with disturbing crimes at its heart. I've read enough crime novels to not feel too shocked at the idea of the murder victims being buried alive in a tomb whilst being observed dying by their murderer.
DS Jane Bennett is a character that I warmed too immediately. You can feel her nervous anticipation as she is led to the underground tombs with forensic officers in two, the fact that we get to know her family a little I think also warmed me to her. She wasn't the cold hard detective that you see in so many crime novels.
Her superior, Mike Lockyer is quite obviously a troubled character and I feel like I needed to have read the previous novel with him in to understand him a little better, but for this particular novel, the fact that I didn't know him all that well, helped me to understand how DS Bennett was feeling towards him at the beginning of the novel.
Without giving too much away, No place to die centers around the discovery of missing university student, Maggie Hungerford's body and the disappearance of retired police detective Mark Leech.
At first there is little to link the two events and DS Bennett is certain that she has her man (or men-she is largely undecided if they are both involved) in the form of a Universty lecturer and a PHD student, Maggie's former lover, but as the investigation deepens, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.
Sadly I guessed the murderer within the first few chapters, but I don't think it is obvious at all, I think I have just read far too many (if there is such a thing...) novels of this genre. If I hadn't I think I would've been very surprised by the ending of the novel.
No place to die is a well written story with a great twist, and if I wasn't such an avid crime reader I probably would've given it 5 stars.
DS Jane Bennett is a character that I warmed too immediately. You can feel her nervous anticipation as she is led to the underground tombs with forensic officers in two, the fact that we get to know her family a little I think also warmed me to her. She wasn't the cold hard detective that you see in so many crime novels.
Her superior, Mike Lockyer is quite obviously a troubled character and I feel like I needed to have read the previous novel with him in to understand him a little better, but for this particular novel, the fact that I didn't know him all that well, helped me to understand how DS Bennett was feeling towards him at the beginning of the novel.
Without giving too much away, No place to die centers around the discovery of missing university student, Maggie Hungerford's body and the disappearance of retired police detective Mark Leech.
At first there is little to link the two events and DS Bennett is certain that she has her man (or men-she is largely undecided if they are both involved) in the form of a Universty lecturer and a PHD student, Maggie's former lover, but as the investigation deepens, it becomes clear that all is not as it seems.
Sadly I guessed the murderer within the first few chapters, but I don't think it is obvious at all, I think I have just read far too many (if there is such a thing...) novels of this genre. If I hadn't I think I would've been very surprised by the ending of the novel.
No place to die is a well written story with a great twist, and if I wasn't such an avid crime reader I probably would've given it 5 stars.
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