Murder in Northumbria

DI Pen Darling #1

by Martyn Taylor

Previously published as In the Family

He built an empire on fear. Now his murder threatens to tear it apart.

Barry Dance is found dead in his remote farmhouse, a gun in his right hand. But former mob leader ‘The Dancer’ didn’t shoot himself — this was an execution.

Dance was a man people loved to hate. He might have turned his back on organised crime, but as the ruthless head of a property empire he still spread fear among business associates — and fuelled resentment among his own family.

Detective Pen Darling knows the murder bears all the hallmarks of a professional hit. Now she must return to Newcastle’s murky criminal underworld to catch the killer.

As she follows the trail from glittering city offices to the bleak moors, she uncovers secrets Barry Dance thought he had buried for good. Secrets someone is still willing to kill for.

Can she expose the truth before another life is taken?

Genres: Mystery, Crime

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2024

Reviews

[Barbara Birchall]

An OK book

Slow start, even with the murder. I question if DI's spend so much time out of the office. And as for her boss being able to drive without a seatbelt all the way to Heathrow, at a moment's notice?
Over all a good police procedural.

[Rosemary]

Gave up on it. I read a lot of murder books and other crime mysteries by a large number of authors and enjoy them but I don't enjoy the explicit details of sexual activity nor do I enjoy the disgusting language. I'm not so naive as to believe they don't go on but luckily it's not something I'm subject too and I don't want to read about it. This would have been quite a good story otherwise.

[Cidney]

this is the first book in the series by Martyn Taylor and I've read a few of them by now, and enjoyed each one! The "Dancer" Barry Dance, not a dancer at all but a gangster who has retired and divorced his wife. He is waiting in his remote house for a young woman, hired for his pleasure for the night, to arrive. However, he has trouble in getting in through his front door, the alarm should have gone off, he moves inside and then meets a man in black with a double barrelled shotgun who then blasts his face off.

The next morning Phil Cruddas, his business associate, has been trying to get hold of The Dancer urgently and then drove out to see him but he thought he could see his employer on the floor, he ransacked the garage for something to break through the front door and after several attempts he got in. Then rang the police. Initially the police thought they were looking at suicide until a very bright female copper, Pen Darling, pointed out that he couldn't have shot himself fully in the face with a double barrelled shotgun. Then begins the long route of trying to interview his sons and their wives and his ex-wife, who all seemed shocked by this and there was a feeling of revenge amongst some of them. This plot moved along at a far old pace and even I didn't see that end coming!! So the murderer of The Dancer was....!! I want to read more in the series now!

[Robin Price]

This is a gripping, utterly authentic new crime thriller that starts with the pace of a runaway train and doesn't stop.
The corrupt world of elderly gangsters is evoked with skill, and Tyneside is hewn from flesh and blood in all its stark contrasts.
The plot is very character driven and I can't wait to read more investigations undertaken by DI Penelope Darling. The other female characters - Ekaterina, Kitty and Mrs Bainbridge - are also drawn with razor-sharp precision, overshadowing the two sons of the murdered ex-gangster and the man who likes people to think he is ex-SAS.
This is really gritty stuff: no nonsense coppers in a hard Northern landscape. I definitely intend to follow this series.

[Pete]

not just another Murder book

This is my first time reading Martyn Taylor and I’m pleasantly surprised. In this book DI pen Darling investigates the murder of a local businessman and ex gangster, Barry Dance, along with DS Morton the trail leads to several family members and an ex policeman, with pressure from above to solve the case quickly Darling and her team are under pressure to perform.

[Linden]

DI Pen Darling is called to the scene of a grisly murder: a shady businessman has had his face blown off. Someone had to get past his security system so the question remains-- who knew the codes? Would his family have decided that it was time for him to step aside? Darling gets a tip from a former cop, and starts to investigate. The open door BDSM scene was unsettling.

[John Barberio]

Taut exciting British police thriller

I enjoyed this introduction to DI Pen Darling. A man brutally murdered in his country home. Who could have done it? We follow the work of detective inspector Darling with insights into the characters around the murder victim. The final conclusion shows the police work involved.

[Christine Richmond]

Well done Pen

This was a really good read with a strong female lead character which is always a pull for me. The people involved in the story were all believable and interesting, and the twists and turns with ex-coppers and villains were enjoyable. I am looking forward to the next instalment and learning more about Pen.

[Lee Bear]

This was a slow starter and didn’t really build up to a good finish. Things got revealed too early so I’d lost interest at the end and in the kindle version I came across quite a few typos. 1 or 2 you don’t mind but a lot is lazy and makes you wonder how they went unnoticed. Wouldn’t rush to read another as Darling wasn’t set up well enough in this first book to be interesting or invested.

[Pam Baddeley]

First in a police procedural series that, for a change, stars a female Detective Inspector. I wanted to like it more, but was put off by the gratuitous graphic rough sex descriptions of the antics of the two villains. I don't think I will be pursuing any more books by this author. Overall rating, an OK 2 stars.

[Mr Kenneth L Mullen]

Excellent First Story

This is the first book that I have read by Martyn but it will certainly not be the last. Great cast of characters and an excellent storyline. Being set in and around Newcastle makes it more enjoyable and real.Looking forward to reading more in the series.

[Julian Tremayne]

Martyn Taylor is a new author to me, but he is one who I will certainly follow. Gritty, realistic stories set in the Northeast which I know quite well. Pen Darling has been well trained by her boss Milburn and this first book promises good things to come.
Julian Tremayne, Cromer, Norfolk

[S.S. Saywack]

A very enjoyable detective drama with some marvellous characters. The death of Barry Dance sets off the investigation. While we know who did it quite early, the fun is seeing how that person is caught. Lovely first book in the series. I’ll be reading the others.

[Jackthedad]

This is my first Martyn Taylor novel and I liked it very much. If you want a synopsis, click on the book. The story is fast-paced and full of good characters. Being from the Newcastle area, I'm biased but I really enjoyed the setting and I look forward to more.

[David]

I found Pen Darling rather hard to like but she is a woman in a nabs world and has a long experience that has left a hard edge. The book and the plot were very good, no real twist or red herrings, just a straight police procedural.

[Goldine Nicholas]

Great book

I loved this book! liked the action and the suspense. many of the characters were not very likeable except for DI Darling and her colleagues
The murderer was
A cold hearted woman. I enjoyed this book and would read this author again.

[johnanimalantics.net, Margaret G Conlan]

not for me

Sadly, this story started out with swearing which is definitely unacceptable in my opinion spoiling a story I would have liked to pursue but now I’m not. I’m sure others will like it.

[Pam Kennedy]

Great read

Good storyline, believable character’s brought to colourful life. Plot with several twists thoroughly, with added humour too! Thanks Martyn, you are a great storyteller!

[The Book Folks]

A startlingly good start to a crime series set in Newcastle. Mobsters, wives, daughters, cops, all in the frame for the murder of a gangland boss.

[Tracey Carnell]

Great read

Really enjoyed this book
First book i've read by Martyn Taylor but will definitely be reading more.
Lived Loved the characters particularly darling
10/10

[Donna]

really good.

Brill! Really enjoyed it. All about near where I've from too and I do keep up with the shenanigans up there with the criminals and really spot on. Excellent read.

[donna hennebury]

A murder

Not a bad read .You get into the story very quickly and get to know the characters who play the main role early in the book.Worth a read.

[David G Donaldson]

I liked the writing style, characters, and pace. The plot kept my attention. I would probably read another book by the same author.

[Irene Howarth]

new author to me

Bit short 2 good characters but lacking in character depth and detail might read another maybe holiday type book easy to read

[Ernie Crofoot]

Not believable

Poor on the law, poor on character development, poor on dialog, poor on procedure, . . . just poor. Ever aspect of this tale lacks real life credibility.

[Jordan]

I found it neither good nor bad. The writing is okay at best. I found the ending rushed and just slapped together so it had an ending.

[Ola O]

Good read

[Dilys Guthrie]

Bit slow to start with, but definitely worth it in the end. Love reading about places where I live!