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DCI Simms & Professor Fennimore #1
Schnittmuster
In Manchester tauchen die Leichen mehrerer Drogensüchtiger auf. Junkies, an irgendeiner Designerdroge gestorben – nichts Besonderes. DI Kate Simms’ Vorgesetze geben den Fall gerne an ihre nicht sonderlich geschätzte Mitarbeiterin weiter. Als aber eine Prominente am gleichen Stoff stirbt, werden die Medien aufmerksam. Dann wird eine weitere Frauenleiche gefunden: grausam zugerichtet, mit einem merkwürdigen Zickzackmuster auf dem Rücken. Simms braucht dringend Hilfe in diesem bizarren Fall. Und es gibt nur einem Menschen, dem sie blind vertraut: Forensik-Professor Nick Fennimore. Simms und Fennimore ermitteln – und ahnen nicht, dass sie selbst längst am Abgrund stehen...
542 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2013
28 people are currently reading
1863 people want to read
About the author
A.D. Garrett
3 books95 followersAD Garrett is the pseudonym for prize-winning novelist Margaret Murphy.
Margaret Murphy has published nine internationally acclaimed psychological thrillers under her own name – both stand-alone and police series. She is Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector for the Royal Literary Fund, a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), and founder of Murder Squad. A CWA Short Story Dagger winner, she has also been shortlisted for the First Blood critics’ award for crime fiction as well as the CWA Dagger in the Library.
In 2013, writing as A.D. Garrett, Margaret began a new forensic series, featuring Professor Nick Fennimore and DCI Kate Simms. Everyone Lies, which Ann Cleeves rated ‘thriller writing at its best’, was a bestseller, and both Everyone Lies and the sequel, Believe No One, garnered starred reviews from Publishers’ Weekly. Jeffery Deaver commented, ‘A.D. Garrett has done for Manchester what The Wire did for Baltimore. And Simms and Fennimore are complex, compelling, and just plain marvellous.’ Truth Will Out, the third in the series, is now available in all formats.
Website: www.adgarrett.com
Twitter: @ADGarrett1
Margaret will launch a new series in March 2018 as Ashley Dyer. Written in consultation with Forensics expert, Helen Pepper, this series went to multiple auctions across Europe and the United States, and will be a lead title for Blanvalet, Germany in 2018.
Website: www.ashley-dyer.com
Twitter: @ashleydyer2017
Margaret Murphy has published nine internationally acclaimed psychological thrillers under her own name – both stand-alone and police series. She is Writing Fellow and Reading Round Lector for the Royal Literary Fund, a past Chair of the Crime Writers Association (CWA), and founder of Murder Squad. A CWA Short Story Dagger winner, she has also been shortlisted for the First Blood critics’ award for crime fiction as well as the CWA Dagger in the Library.
In 2013, writing as A.D. Garrett, Margaret began a new forensic series, featuring Professor Nick Fennimore and DCI Kate Simms. Everyone Lies, which Ann Cleeves rated ‘thriller writing at its best’, was a bestseller, and both Everyone Lies and the sequel, Believe No One, garnered starred reviews from Publishers’ Weekly. Jeffery Deaver commented, ‘A.D. Garrett has done for Manchester what The Wire did for Baltimore. And Simms and Fennimore are complex, compelling, and just plain marvellous.’ Truth Will Out, the third in the series, is now available in all formats.
Website: www.adgarrett.com
Twitter: @ADGarrett1
Margaret will launch a new series in March 2018 as Ashley Dyer. Written in consultation with Forensics expert, Helen Pepper, this series went to multiple auctions across Europe and the United States, and will be a lead title for Blanvalet, Germany in 2018.
Website: www.ashley-dyer.com
Twitter: @ashleydyer2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
March 12, 2017
4 Stars
The first 50% I struggled with. Mainly between pages 150 to 300. There was lots of technical jargon, the plot was lagging slightly and the pace was quite slow that I almost gave up on this book but my mother had recently read Everyone Lies and really enjoyed it. So I carried on.
I'm very glad I did!
The second half was fast paced, action packed with lots of twists and turns. I had no idea who the murderer was till they were exposed.
The plot was very clever and I've learnt a lot about English policing.
Out of the two main protagonists I preferred Nick. I loved his brilliant mind and his tragic past was very intriguing. His story was quite dark. I hope we will find out what happened to his wife and daughter in books to come.
The first 50% I struggled with. Mainly between pages 150 to 300. There was lots of technical jargon, the plot was lagging slightly and the pace was quite slow that I almost gave up on this book but my mother had recently read Everyone Lies and really enjoyed it. So I carried on.
I'm very glad I did!
The second half was fast paced, action packed with lots of twists and turns. I had no idea who the murderer was till they were exposed.
The plot was very clever and I've learnt a lot about English policing.
Out of the two main protagonists I preferred Nick. I loved his brilliant mind and his tragic past was very intriguing. His story was quite dark. I hope we will find out what happened to his wife and daughter in books to come.
May 23, 2016
DCI Kate Simms has been battling for her job for five years. When drug addicts start turning up dead in record numbers, her supervisor is more than happy to turn the case over to her. Since most of the dead are prostitutes, this is seen as a throw-away case. But then a celebrity dies and it's a whole new ballgame.
Without any leads or suspects, Kate turns to Professor Nick Fennimore. He is now a forensics lecturer. He and Kate have a history ... one that caused her to be demoted and sent him into obscurity.
As his former apprentice at the National Crime Faculty, Kate was present at the time of the disappearance of Nick's wife and daughter. After his wife was found dead, Kate helped him to use NCF resources to try and find his daughter. This got both of them in hot water.
If you watch Forensic Files or any of the CSI programs or you just happen to like all things forensics in crime, you will really like this one.
Nick is a forensics nerd .... he seems to always be explaining one thing or another, which is actually quite interesting, even if he is a little wordy at times.
Kate is bound and determined to work her way up again, to be the detective she knows she is.
The two of them are having all kinds of barriers thrown up in trying to solve this case. There are budget cuts, staff cuts, and lot of politics. And then there are those in law enforcement who will do anything to keep her from succeeding.
I enjoyed the hunt for the killer and I liked the forensic side of things. The interaction between Kate and her team is somewhat contentious in the beginning, but improves 100% when her team realizes that Kate is very good at her job .. and she doesn't put up with anything less than the best they can do for the victims.
The backstory of Nick and Kate's relationship takes a long time to get .. it comes in dribbles here and there. I look forward to reading the next book in this series .. I'd like to see how their relationship changes.. if it does.
Without any leads or suspects, Kate turns to Professor Nick Fennimore. He is now a forensics lecturer. He and Kate have a history ... one that caused her to be demoted and sent him into obscurity.
As his former apprentice at the National Crime Faculty, Kate was present at the time of the disappearance of Nick's wife and daughter. After his wife was found dead, Kate helped him to use NCF resources to try and find his daughter. This got both of them in hot water.
If you watch Forensic Files or any of the CSI programs or you just happen to like all things forensics in crime, you will really like this one.
Nick is a forensics nerd .... he seems to always be explaining one thing or another, which is actually quite interesting, even if he is a little wordy at times.
Kate is bound and determined to work her way up again, to be the detective she knows she is.
The two of them are having all kinds of barriers thrown up in trying to solve this case. There are budget cuts, staff cuts, and lot of politics. And then there are those in law enforcement who will do anything to keep her from succeeding.
I enjoyed the hunt for the killer and I liked the forensic side of things. The interaction between Kate and her team is somewhat contentious in the beginning, but improves 100% when her team realizes that Kate is very good at her job .. and she doesn't put up with anything less than the best they can do for the victims.
The backstory of Nick and Kate's relationship takes a long time to get .. it comes in dribbles here and there. I look forward to reading the next book in this series .. I'd like to see how their relationship changes.. if it does.
July 14, 2013
It’s always a tricky proposition I imagine to undertake a crime, or indeed any kind of fiction novel with a dual writing partnership. In other books I have read with two authors there is usually a very noticeable distinction between their two styles causing me to favour one over the other, or the book falls down as one has obviously taken control over a certain facet of the story. Everyone Lies neatly bucked the trend for me and I was incredibly impressed by this debut collaboration between Margaret Murphy and Professor Dave Barclay, with this winning combination of established crime author and forensic scientist proving itself to be an altogether better combination than simply relying on meshing the talents of two authors.
Everyone Lies carefully combines the premise of a female police officer, DI Kate Simms, seeking to re-establish her formerly successful career derailed by one investigation, causing her to take a transfer to Manchester, and her complicated but necessary professional and personal relationship with forensics expert Professor Nick Fennimore. Add into the mix an intriguing investigation into a cluster of suspicious drug deaths, with all the attendant forensic detail and the narrow and small minded politics of the police department and this thriller more than proves its worth. The plot was well paced and compelling with enough surprises along the way to keep the reader hooked and all in all a well-judged depiction of the insidious nature of the drugs trade and its consequent victims. Breaking the story down into the fields of expertise of its authors, the forensic detail is perfectly layered into the story, providing points of interest to the reader, but not overwhelming them with unnecessary information, and for me the tormented Nick Fennimore, who labours under the grief of his wife and daughter disappearing some time previously, is the most interesting character of the piece. The mental conflicts this produces in him and the personal failings in his character, in addition to the insight and technical expertise his character brings to the book works exceptionally well throughout. It quickly becomes clear to the reader that there is some shared emotional baggage between himself and Kate which adds another dimension to his more fully formed character. I was not as engaged with Kate finding her a little bland, simply because she seemed an amalgamation of pretty much all of the female detectives I have read. Throughout the course of the book I could see aspects of her more famous counterparts in her character construction, but there is always room for development as I believe this book heralds the arrival of another series worth following in the future. Definitely worth a look if your tastes run to grittier British crime fiction, and a good Manchester based police procedural accurately portraying the more sordid and criminal aspects of inner city life.
Everyone Lies carefully combines the premise of a female police officer, DI Kate Simms, seeking to re-establish her formerly successful career derailed by one investigation, causing her to take a transfer to Manchester, and her complicated but necessary professional and personal relationship with forensics expert Professor Nick Fennimore. Add into the mix an intriguing investigation into a cluster of suspicious drug deaths, with all the attendant forensic detail and the narrow and small minded politics of the police department and this thriller more than proves its worth. The plot was well paced and compelling with enough surprises along the way to keep the reader hooked and all in all a well-judged depiction of the insidious nature of the drugs trade and its consequent victims. Breaking the story down into the fields of expertise of its authors, the forensic detail is perfectly layered into the story, providing points of interest to the reader, but not overwhelming them with unnecessary information, and for me the tormented Nick Fennimore, who labours under the grief of his wife and daughter disappearing some time previously, is the most interesting character of the piece. The mental conflicts this produces in him and the personal failings in his character, in addition to the insight and technical expertise his character brings to the book works exceptionally well throughout. It quickly becomes clear to the reader that there is some shared emotional baggage between himself and Kate which adds another dimension to his more fully formed character. I was not as engaged with Kate finding her a little bland, simply because she seemed an amalgamation of pretty much all of the female detectives I have read. Throughout the course of the book I could see aspects of her more famous counterparts in her character construction, but there is always room for development as I believe this book heralds the arrival of another series worth following in the future. Definitely worth a look if your tastes run to grittier British crime fiction, and a good Manchester based police procedural accurately portraying the more sordid and criminal aspects of inner city life.
February 19, 2014
The first in a series introducing DI Kate Simms and forensic lecturer, Professor Nick Fennimore, Everyone Lies is a collaboration between award winning author Margaret Murphy and renowned forensics expert Professor Dave Barclay.
After a professional misstep, Kate has worked hard to regain her footing in the force but when she is allocated to investigate a cluster of drug deaths in Manchester, she suspects it indicates a larger problem. Stonewalled by her colleagues, Kate turns to Nick Fennimore, once a respected crime analyst, for help, risking her career to expose a conspiracy of drug trafficking, corruption and murder.
There is a history between Kate and Nick that is slowly divulged over the course of the novel. Their relationship is a muddle of professional respect and mutual attraction complicated by guilt, resentment and shame, creating an interesting, layered dynamic. Nick is reluctant to become involved in Kate's case, but unable to resist her plea for help, as he feels responsible for her demotion. Kate doesn't want to put Nick in a difficult position but her passion for justice demands she does whatever is necessary.
In essence the plot doesn't offer anything new within the genre but it held my interest without effort. I particularly enjoyed the forensic focus of the investigation, which should appeal to CSI fans. I liked that Simms and Fennimore have to work hard for every lead, constrained by uncooperative criminals and colleagues, police budgets and politics.
Everyone Lies is a gritty police procedural and a promising start to an interesting new series.
July 14, 2018
Oct. 20, 2016:
Started Oct. 16, 2016, now decided to put it on hold for now. I'll be back soon. Promise.
07/08/18: second try, let's hope this time it works better, otherwise off to the DNF:)
Finished, in the end it was ok. It just didn't grab me, so I had to work to finish.
Started Oct. 16, 2016, now decided to put it on hold for now. I'll be back soon. Promise.
07/08/18: second try, let's hope this time it works better, otherwise off to the DNF:)
Finished, in the end it was ok. It just didn't grab me, so I had to work to finish.
October 2, 2019
An interesting story with some good, solid dependable characters. DCI Kate Simms was a credible police officer. But I think the book's real strength is with Professor Nick Fennimore and his forensics credentials. I loved all the detail and the thought processes that went into the forensic analysis of the crimes. I also enjoyed the short excerpt of lecture we heard, it really enhanced the story for me. The plot line was well thought out and well executed. All in all a solid police and forensic procedural that's well worth a listen.
December 2, 2013
This was a really good story although I did get a bit bogged down in places when they went too deeply into every forensic detail. Although the extra knowledge was useful, it did go on a bit too much !
I did notice this was another book set here in the UK using American spellings such as realized/apologize. I'm noticing this a lot with recent books I've read and it's very annoying.
There were some dropped words from sentences too like a/the/to which were aggravating. However, they DID explain abbreviations which was helpful as American authors sling them in willy-nilly with no explanations.
I liked Kate, our leading lady, although she did seem a little gullible to me as I was onto the killer a long time before she was. I wanted to know more about Fennimore's protege Josh, too, so I hope there's maybe a follow-up with the same people featured. I also want to know more about his hunt for Suzie.
I did notice this was another book set here in the UK using American spellings such as realized/apologize. I'm noticing this a lot with recent books I've read and it's very annoying.
There were some dropped words from sentences too like a/the/to which were aggravating. However, they DID explain abbreviations which was helpful as American authors sling them in willy-nilly with no explanations.
I liked Kate, our leading lady, although she did seem a little gullible to me as I was onto the killer a long time before she was. I wanted to know more about Fennimore's protege Josh, too, so I hope there's maybe a follow-up with the same people featured. I also want to know more about his hunt for Suzie.
August 10, 2016
Life is dangerous for girls in the vice game in Manchester and when one is found dead behind the Midland Hotel DCI Kate Simms is reluctantly given the case. Already under a shadow, made even darker by the appointment of her old boss to the ACC of GMP. Under pressure she contacts an old friend in forensics, Nick Fennimore, who has already been implicated in the illegal use of police resources which resulted in Kate's damaged prospects. Her bosses want the case to be solved, killer brought to justice and case closed quickly. However, Nick's findings point to this being a far more important and complicated case than was first realised, a case that would put her and her children in personal danger. A well written tale that brings the concept of costs being more important than justice, particularly when the victim is not considered 'high profile' enough. The hurdles that are put in Kate's way has the reader as frustrated yet determined as Kate and Nick are to bring justice to the fore.
April 13, 2016
I dithered and debated about this one between 4 and 5 stars. I decided on 5 because although I could see what was coming (who did it :) a mile off - it actually didn't detract in any way from my enjoyment.
Excellent writing, Terrific characters, well and convincingly drawn. The only thing I struggled with character-wise (very mild spoiler) .
Highly recommend it if you're in the mood for thriller, mystery type thing - very similar to Val McDermid's Tony Hill & Carol Jordan books - but just in my personal opinion both of the main characters in this series are a little less weird, more likeable and easier to relate to.
I listened to the audio - it was excellently done.
Excellent writing, Terrific characters, well and convincingly drawn. The only thing I struggled with character-wise (very mild spoiler) .
Highly recommend it if you're in the mood for thriller, mystery type thing - very similar to Val McDermid's Tony Hill & Carol Jordan books - but just in my personal opinion both of the main characters in this series are a little less weird, more likeable and easier to relate to.
I listened to the audio - it was excellently done.
March 20, 2017
I was really looking forward to reading this book but reality never matches up to expectation. I found most of the book boring up until about the last fifth when it was all resolved. I guessed whodunit and most of the plot early on as there was nothing new in it - two mavericks chase down a serial killer the police hierarchy doesn't believe exists. Crime thriller by numbers. The science was quite interesting but again nothing really new if you watch the documentary channels. The writing is good so I would consider another book by this author if the plotting was improved.
March 9, 2014
A brilliantly written crime fiction, police procedural novel. The forensic science in this book will keep all those interested in the behind the scenes work, extremely happy. The characters were believable and sympathetic, in fact, I really did feel for the protagonist Kate at some points during the story. It has a grim undercurrent to keep you hooked and guessing and I really could not work out who the bad guy was. An all round great book.
September 11, 2014
A reasonable read and will look for the next one.
May 9, 2015
A thoroughly gripping detective novel with an intriguing protagonist in DCI Kate Sims. I do like a complicated female lead. I will definitely read the next in the series.
July 1, 2016
Ich kann das Buch nicht beenden, da dieses Drogenthema einfach zu langweilig für mich ist.
Es zieht sich wie Kaugummi, wenn es einen nicht wirklich interessiert.
Es zieht sich wie Kaugummi, wenn es einen nicht wirklich interessiert.
December 27, 2016
Fast paced thriller. Forensic procedures along with great characters and a gritty story.
December 24, 2017
great points. too much fluff in my opinion though. Should've been 50%+ shorter.
some of the revelations are amazing. Shocking at least.
My notes:
- women think their husband is gay, but he's actually depressed
- women think their husband is a jerk, stupid, gay, idiot. etc.
- Women are MUCH more likely to cum with a woman than with a man.
- Women search for lesbian sex a LOT. #1 most searched.
- 2# most searches is violent sex, and big black dick, etc.
- women watch a LOT OF PORN. almost 40% of porn viewers are women!!!
- but women watch 14m vs men 6-7m, so overall they watch MORE PORN THAN MEN!!
- 25% of women search for straight porn are violent sex. some hummilation, extreme brutal gangbang, crying etc.
- bf are 2x as likely to not want to have sex as gf's are.
- men care about their dick size and how to last longer
- women don't care about their bf size and how long they last. In fact, they often want them to last less. They just want them to cum.
- don’t trust what people tell you; trust what they do.
- women on social media describe their husband: the best my best friend amazing the greatest so cute
- real searches on google describe husband: gay a jerk amazing annoying mean
some of the revelations are amazing. Shocking at least.
My notes:
- women think their husband is gay, but he's actually depressed
- women think their husband is a jerk, stupid, gay, idiot. etc.
- Women are MUCH more likely to cum with a woman than with a man.
- Women search for lesbian sex a LOT. #1 most searched.
- 2# most searches is violent sex, and big black dick, etc.
- women watch a LOT OF PORN. almost 40% of porn viewers are women!!!
- but women watch 14m vs men 6-7m, so overall they watch MORE PORN THAN MEN!!
- 25% of women search for straight porn are violent sex. some hummilation, extreme brutal gangbang, crying etc.
- bf are 2x as likely to not want to have sex as gf's are.
- men care about their dick size and how to last longer
- women don't care about their bf size and how long they last. In fact, they often want them to last less. They just want them to cum.
- don’t trust what people tell you; trust what they do.
- women on social media describe their husband: the best my best friend amazing the greatest so cute
- real searches on google describe husband: gay a jerk amazing annoying mean
March 30, 2020
I've no idea of what to say about this. Everyone lies was certainly different in many ways. Interesting, fascinating, disgusting even. Well, maybe not quite disgusting, but some slightly milder adjective that I can't currently think of.
The dynamics between Simms and Fennimore were certainly interesting, though I'm not quite sure if I like either of them. Which is why this book was so interesting. They worked well together, in all the ways, but neither of them was really likeable. And yet, each of them had enough redeeming moments throughout the story to keep me reading.
The actual police procedural wouldn't quite been as interesting without the underlying dynamics of Simms and Fennimore, but it was gritty and had some interesting tidbits on forensics. Though I've no idea how truthful said tidbits are.
3.5-4 stars.
The dynamics between Simms and Fennimore were certainly interesting, though I'm not quite sure if I like either of them. Which is why this book was so interesting. They worked well together, in all the ways, but neither of them was really likeable. And yet, each of them had enough redeeming moments throughout the story to keep me reading.
The actual police procedural wouldn't quite been as interesting without the underlying dynamics of Simms and Fennimore, but it was gritty and had some interesting tidbits on forensics. Though I've no idea how truthful said tidbits are.
3.5-4 stars.
July 26, 2018
Took me a while to remember this one. I thought I'd like it more than I did because all the ingredients are there: flawed duo, painful past, police bureaucracy,person who made mistake trying to make good,race against time, technical jargon etc.
There were too many ingredients that stood out as Ingredients, initially recalling a child trying to give all the answers in class, then the secondary school student who is about exam technique rather than passion. I feel mean writing that as the book does have a lot to it and chugs along, ticking the box marked Compelling on the way.
It just didn't do it for me.
There were too many ingredients that stood out as Ingredients, initially recalling a child trying to give all the answers in class, then the secondary school student who is about exam technique rather than passion. I feel mean writing that as the book does have a lot to it and chugs along, ticking the box marked Compelling on the way.
It just didn't do it for me.
March 2, 2019
Brilliant plotting, excellent and likeable characters, for all their faults. Believable dialogue, superb forensic details and plenty of room for series development. Sadly, I can’t wait for another book with the team of Simms, Fennimore, Josh and Mouse. I hope Josh and Mouse are in there because there was room for them to grow.
November 4, 2019
Hoped that this mystery/thriller placed in Manchester, England, would shed a little depth to my ancestors who lived there in the early to mid 1800's. Not especially. Always appreciate a female "lead", in this case Detective Chief Inspector Kate Simms. Apparently this was written by a "conglomerate" of folks. If they've written anything else, I'll give them another try.
December 30, 2017
An intriguing crime thriller and I particularly liked the character of Fennimore and how at the end of the novel, I was more interested in what will happen to him and his lost daughter than Kate Simms. Good technique I thought.
June 10, 2017
3.5 stars
August 19, 2017
I thought this book was brilliant. I was gripped from the very first page. I have read it a couple of times and I would say that it is one of my favourite thriller books.
February 13, 2018
I enjoyed this police procedural but I did find the forensic details overdone and unnecessary. A little graphic in places but overall good value for money, does what's expected.
April 27, 2018
Was an eye opener into the data that google has for deep diving into everyday questions Americans ask online.
September 28, 2018
Good start and ending but dragged in the middle.
October 12, 2018
Excellent and complex crime thriller with lots of forensic detail, perhaps slightly too much signposting. Also, note to author - there are women who can't smell cyanide.
August 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. Hard-nosed but realistic cop, slightly damaged professor, a past together, murder, mayhem and bureaucracy. Good stuff in these pages.
March 2, 2020
2.5 rounded up to 3.
May 30, 2020
Read this 2nd after reading book #2 first. Enjoyed #2 much more, but it was still a really exciting well-laid out thrill a minute read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews