La Fosse d'Exécution: Les Thrillers de Jake Pettman, Tome 1

Jake Pettman #1

by Wes Markin, Peter Fletcher (Translator)

Wes Markin signe une nouvelle série captivante !

Un ancien détective brisé, un chef de la police corrompu, un baron de la drogue impitoyable... et un enfant disparu.

Fuyant un monde qui le veut mort, l'ancien sergent-détective Jake Pettman se réfugie dans la ville isolée de Blue Falls, dans le Maine, fief de ses ancêtres meurtriers tristement célèbres.

Mais Jake peine à échapper à sa vraie nature, et lorsqu'un enfant disparaît, il se retrouve entraîné dans une enquête qui dépasse tout ce qu'il a connu auparavant.

Entravé par un chef de la police rongé par ses propres secrets, Jake se bat pour la vérité. Jusqu'à ce qu'il atteigne la porte de Jotham MacLeoid, un mégalomane insidieux qui précipite ses victimes dans une fosse meurtrière.

Et les terrifiants secrets qu'elle renferme.

Un thriller psychologique haletant qui explore les abysses de l'âme humaine.

De l'auteur de la série à succès Les Victimes Oubliées de Whitby.

Dans la lignée de Franck Thilliez, Michel Bussi, James Patterson et Maxime Chattam.

« Un démarrage explosif ! Wes Markin nous plonge dans une intrigue glaçante où chaque page révèle une nouvelle horreur. Captivant et terrifiant ! ★★★★★ » – TG Reid

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 30, 2021

About the author

Be sure to follow Wes on BookBub for the latest on sales: bit.ly/3tFWIHL

Wes Markin lives in Harrogate and is the bestselling author of the DCI Yorke crime novels set in Salisbury. He is also the author of the Jake Pettman series set in New England.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are taken on a dark and twisty journey has we follow Jake who is drawn into an investigation when a child disappears. I haven't read any this author's other books but from other reviews I see that some of the characters in this new series have been taken from some of the authors other books from other series. Be aware that this is a fast paced, terrifying story that will either have you on the edge of your seat or have you running away in terror. Markin has introduced an element of horror so thick you can almost taste it. If this is not your "thing" then I wouldn’t recommend this to you, but if you enjoy being scared...go for it. I gave the book 4- stars because it was almost too much for me who regularly reads this type of books.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep in the woods lies a pit ... a killing pit, if you will. There's something more than dead bodies in the pit. why are there dead people in the pit, you might ask.

x-DS Jake Pettman is running and hiding. Fleeing from the UK he finds himself in a small town in Maine. If any of the locals will talk, he would hear horrifying stories of evil, secrets, unexplained disappearances.

A young girl has disappeared. Pettman is asked to take a look, and teams up with the one member of the police department who may not be corrupt or covering for someone who is. But can he trust her?

WARNING: Child Abuse , Illegal Dog Fighting may be triggers for some. Graphic descriptions.

THE KILLING PIT is crime fiction filled with with unique characters. There's not a lot of suspense in finding out the 'who' and the 'why'.. that's obvious from the start. Pettman is hiding from an organization that wants him dead. I'm expecting that to be examined more closely with the addition of another book to the series. I like how relationships were developed.

Many thanks to the author for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Tam · Rating 5 out of 5]

MARKIN NEVER DISAPPOINTS!

After the first few pages, I knew this was a book I wasn’t going to be able to put down, until I got to The End. If you like absolutely unpredictable, twisted suspense as much as I do, you can't go wrong with this book!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

He Killing Pit is book one in the Jake Pettman series by Wes Markin. Ex-detective Sergeant Jake Pettman hid from people who wanted him dead in Blue Falls, Maine. However, Jake Pettman could not continue hiding when the child disappeared in Blue Falls, so he joined the law enforcement investigation. The readers of The Killing Pit will continue to follow Jake Pettmen to find out what happens.

I love previous books by Wes Markin, and I am not sure about this series, and I will read another book in this series before making a final discussion on this series. It took me a while to engage with this book, but I did finish reading it. I enjoy the way Wes Markin portrayed his characters and their interaction with each other throughout this book and his written style, and his research on historical information included in the book. I like Wes Markin's description of the settings of The Killing Pit that complemented the book's plot.

The readers of The Killing Pit will learn about a mental illness called megalomaniac and the consequence for suffering and everyone around them. Also, the readers will learn about living in a small community in Maine, USA.

I recommend this book.

[Terry Rudge · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent opener for the Jake Pettman series. The atmosphere was suitably dark and gritty, which worked well for the story, but I didn’t love the dog-fighting subplot at all. I missed some of the stronger police procedural details that I really enjoyed in the Yorke books and this one leaned more into action thriller territory.

That said, Pettman is an interesting character and the pace was solid. The whole thing had a bit of a Jack Reacher vibe, the lone-wolf hero, taking on the bad guys, plenty of tension. Not a bad start, but I’ll be hoping for a bit more depth in the next instalment.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a read. Full of twists. Started the 2nd already. Jake Pettman is my new leading man 👍

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

5*
Gore score 5/5
#1 in the Jake Pettman series.
It’s been tagged as a gruesome no holds barred book, so I was looking forward to it as thats my kind of book.
It is set in a small town in the US, not my favourite location, but it’s written by a British author and the protagonist is an ex UK police officer, so things are looking up 😊 it’s not Americanised phew.
We dive straight into the action, another plus for me.
The writing style is concise, with short snappy sentences, great again, as it keeps the pace up.
Jake who is on the run from the UK has rocked up in a small town in the US where he has history. It has a few influential townsfolk who are ruling it with an iron fist. Jake gets involved with the case of a missing girl which the chief of police is not interested in investigating. He is ruffling some dangerous feathers.
There’s quite a few characters to get to grips with. The benefit of which is there’s lots going on, so bags of interest with a great pace, there’s no lull.
There are some really engaging characters, Piper who works on the bar, she is gutsy and forthright. Peter Sherman an older Native American Indian with an interesting history of the Vietnam war to tell. Jake seems an all round decent guy, with a hidden intriguing past.
There’s a bunch of antagonists that seem all equally as vile, hateful, corrupt and sinister. They certainly add colour,grit and darkness to the book.
This book is on the far right of the cosy to gory scale, so perfect for those who love dark gory gritty thrillers, fans of Chris Carter, Rob Ashman, Robin Roughley’s Tunny.
But it may not be for everyone with its themes of which include child and animal abuse, and high levels of violence. There were 2 scenes that i had to skip past.
For me this is on a par with Tunny which was my top book of the year last year. For those who can stomach it, this is a great book, I highly recommend it.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Killing Pit - a review by Rosemary Kenny

*slight spoilers*
Jothem MacLeoid is the evil master of Blue Falls. Loving only his fighting bitches and his daughter, Kayla, he has disdain for his sons and hatred and contempt for others under his control.

Returning to the town his ancestors established, Jake Pettman is a UK cop on the run from a similar, life-threatening situation.
He decides to rid the town of Jotham and his henchmen, to end the former's reign of terror.
Local barmaid Piper tells Jake about the disappearance of one of her fellow bar workers, Maddie. He vows to help carry on looking for the teen. Who saw what happened to Maddie?
What effect has her loss had on her family?

Pedophile Police Chief Gabriel Jewell holds the threat of exposure to Jake's UK enemies over his head - what is he hiding?
Terrible, terrifying secrets and lies are exposed as Jake, Lillian (a police officer), Piper and others risk life and limb to reveal the shocking truths, that have damaged and ruined so many lives in Blue Falls. Who will survive to take down the monster?
What happens next? Can anyone who's lived through the horrors ever know peace of mind or happiness again?

Only Wes Markin knows all the answers and you should get your copy of his riveting, adrenaline-pumping thriller, The Killing Pit to learn the truth - if you dare!

[Erin Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, loved the characters - HOWEVER - if you’re like me and VERY sensitive to anything dealing with animal abuse, you will have difficulty at several points. I actually skipped a handful of pages simply because I couldn’t handle the details.. That aside, good story, great writing, and fun twists..

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

With the Michael Yorke series sadly coming to an end I was wondering what would be next for the author. Well... it's this... a kind of spin off from that series, insofar as it features one of the characters, but completely different as it is set in the US. If you want the full background on the main character Jake Pettman, specifically how he found himself running away and what from, then I do suggest you start with the Yorke series. It's not compulsory though but they are all cracking reads in themselves so... well.. why not?!
So... Jake is now in Blue Falls, Maine. The home of his ancestors apparently. Ancestors with an interesting past as it happens too. He wants to go back to his roots to find somewhere new to fit into. A bit of quiet after the shenanigans and danger he has left behind. But little does he know that the where he has ended up will be so far away from that. We are drawn into the action from the very first page and it doesn't let up until the very last as we follow Jake as he tries to, well, put things right. Things that have gone sour, infecting the whole town, powerless to resist. He is just one man. But, if you have read the previous series, he's Jake Pettman...!
Wowsers. I loved the Yorke series and was a bit devastated when it ended. But all great things do have to end - and it's always good to go out on a high, not that there were any signs of flagging, but still. Obviously I really loved Yorke as a character in that series but also had a soft spot for Jake. Even though he was/is a bit of a lad and really does get himself involved in stuff he really shouldn't. But it wouldn't be much of a book/series if he did that, eh?!
It starts with a missing girl but ends with so much more. It's fast paced but with the odd slower section, necessary for reader respite methinks. It drew me in from the start, held my attention nicely throughout, spitting me out at the end exhausted but satisfied. Obviously there is a bit of scene setting but nothing above what you would expect and the story gets on with itself very well. Pacing matching the narrative throughout.
All in all, a cracking series opener which goes a long way to filling the gap left by Yorke. I really can't wait to see what Jake gets himself involved with next time.

[Donna Morfett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be given this to read, and here is my review.
The Killing Pit by Wes Markin

Wes has taken one of his characters, Jake Pettman from the Yorke series and landed him in small-town America. Blue Falls, Maine, has a powerful family controlling everything. All of the town is somehow in his pocket and as a consequence, he can do exactly as he wishes.
A young girl goes missing, and her colleague knows this is unusual. She feels it is probably Jotham McLeoid at the heart of it but the Chief of Police won't even pretend to investigate.
A young girl goes missing, and her colleague knows this is unusual. She feels it is probably Jotham McLeoid at the heart of it but the Chief of Police won't even pretend to investigate.
The Killing Pit of the title is horrific and I won't even being to try and describe it, you need to read it for yourself.
This book contains some stuff that I normally wouldn't like to read, but this is one of those rare books that comes along that completely sucks you in and doesn't let you go until you have turned the last page. I had to know.
When Wes wrote this he knew he was writing a trilogy, so the story from this book is tied up nicely but there are more unanswered questions to continue to the other two. You dont need to have read the previous Yorke books to enjoy this. I would suggeset you do however as they are also fab.
This receives an easy 5 star from me.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness what an introduction to this new series. From the first page you are dragged into the evil world of Jotham MacLeoid. The opening chapter is a corker. This writer certainly doesn’t pull his punches when it comes to the horrifying details or the disturbing content. It is brilliantly awful.

Briefly, Jake Pettman left Wiltshire, UK for the backwater town of Blue Falls, Maine, USA to escape those who wanted him dead. But he finds himself in the middle of a search for a missing 15 year old girl. From the start it is clear that MacLeoid is involved but he hold the town in the his hand, virtually everyone is reliant on him for their livelihoods or are too scared to go up against him. But when his own daughter disappears his anger knows no bounds...

This was one of those books where I found myself absolutely hating someone to the extent I felt physically angry at him. The content of this story, not just the graphic details, may be upsetting for some. I admit to jumping over some pages of animal abuse that I just couldn’t read. The though of the killing pit is terrifying and the truth behind it horrifying. If you like your thrillers fast moving, scary and graphics with a great twist at the end then this is for you. I can only give this 5*. It’s worth nothing less.

[Rosie Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Few authors manage to draw a visceral reaction from their readers, but Wes Markin achieves just that with his first solo outing for Jake Pettman. Jake is on the run from some serious bad people back home, but when he finds himself in Blue Hills, Maine he comes up against someone who probably should have evil as their middle name ~ Jotham MacLeoid. A product of his brutal upbringing, he's taking depravity to a whole new level.

There are few people in Blue Hills prepared to speak out against Jotham, fearing retribution for themselves or their families but when Jake hears about a missing teenager, Maddie Thompson he feels compelled to act, especially when the chief of police seems disinterested in believing that there is anything criminal going on. Or perhaps he has his own agenda?

Jake enlists the help of some local people to get to the bottom of the mystery and takes the reader on a roller coaster of a ride. The twist towards the end of the book had me gasping, certainly didn't see it coming but wow, what a kicker!! All I can say is that I'm so glad there are going to be more books in this series, as this was outstanding.

I received this book as an advance reader copy, in return for posting an honest review

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

You’re never 100% sure of what you are going to get with a Wes Markin book; a bit of policing, maybe some horror or at least something stomach churning, certainly a few cracking characters &, of course, a good story. This new series does not disappoint, admittedly Jake Pettman has appeared before but if you haven’t read the previous Yorke series, it doesn’t matter.
Jake is now in the US, looking in to his family history, in a relatively small town called Blue Falls. Virtually straightaway, he becomes embroiled in the mystery of a missing 15 year old girl &, with the help of a local barmaid, he can’t help but investigate.
He doesn’t realise what he has taken on. The town is run by Jotham MacLeoid, a no good landowner, who has everyone in his pocket including the local chief of police. Jake won’t give up & it’s his relentless search for the girl which is the core of the book.
The writing carries you at speed through the narrative, but a word of warning, there are some quite graphic descriptions (& much left to your imagination).
I do recommend this book but you have been warned.

[Paul Lautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very tall guy who doesn't like driving, arrives at an American town where bad things are going on. He helps to solve it while people try to kill him. Oh and he's an ex cop. Sound familiar? I bet you think you know exactly who I'm talking about. But that is where the similarities to the infamous man without a middle name end.

When I started the book I immediately thought that it was going to be another of the Jack Reacher formula knock offs. I was wrong. The protagonist has a far gentler character and is not at all so calculating. If he gets into a fight, he's more likely to get hurt than to hurt others.

Be prepared for a lot of gruesome stuff to go on. It contains life at its most unpleasant, but I guess these things do happen, so they're better in the book than not.

I understand that there is back story in a previous series (The DCI Michael Yorke series), so I may well go back and have a read of those. This book stands well enough on its own, although I'm sure you'll want to know what happens in the next instalment.

[Kim J · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I would like to thank Wes Markin for this free copy of this excellent book. Its main character is Jake from his other fantastic series about DCI Yorke and company. He left town because he had killers after him. And he ends up in Maine, in the United states. But the town has many monsters and some have done the unthinkable in Jakes eyes and harmed a child! Now, if you read the York's series, then you know what this does to him, if not well you'll have to read this book and find out for yourself. Though reading the other series first will really understand where he came from, and what type of man he is.. This story had me sitting still and reading it from front to back in one sitting! The twist and turns were crazy, the gore was definitely very gory, and the subject matter was tough. I don't think I wou!d tell you anything else, you really need to read it for yourself! But I highly recommend you do, as a matter of fact, I highly recommend you read all of the books by Wes Markin! And me? I'm off to read the next book in Jake's series!

[Kaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whatever thoughts I had to what the Killing Pit held, the truth when it was eventually revealed was a real shock. From the first page The Killing Pit started as it finished, a fast paced plot with an ending that now makes me want to buy the second book in the Jake Pettman series, I need to know what happens to some characters, and soon!. The story is based in Blue Falls, Maine, a pretty run down town with some very wealthy inhabitants, two main families, who run not only Blue Falls but two more towns close by, they rule by fear and violence, people go missing, a Police Chief who has his own dark secret, and answers to the two families, that is until Jake turns up, just when a 15 year old girl has gone missing, and no one seems care until Jake sets out to uncover the truth. It is guite graphic in places, but that adds to the intensity of the storyline. I did feel an ‘Oh’ at the end, but of course now I can’t wait for the second book in the series!. Definitely recommended.

[Livia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ex Detective Sergeant Jake Pettmen leaves Wiltshire for the out of the way Blue Falls in Maine, America..A place where his ancestors lived a time ago ..But sometimes though you may leave your past behind ..there are pieces of your past that never leave you ..And in Blue Falls..Jake is about to find a darkness that is so intense..so savage and so out of control..its almost untouchable ..Trouble finds him on his arrival ..When he is asked to help find a young girl. he doesn't hesitate..But this town is a town full of secrets..And on the edge of town where the walls are high there's an evil so dark ..you can almost feel it .But Jake Pettmen is a man with a mission, and though he may not know the rules and ways of this small minded place ..Pettmen will go where angels fear to tread ...All the stars ..A Stunningly Dark and Unsettling read ...I have already preordered the next two books in this series ...

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Killing Pit is an adrenaline-pumping crime thriller novel from the Amazon bestselling author of One Last Prayer for the Rays, and the DCI Yorke series. Perfect for fans of Chris Carter, James Patterson, Chris Brookmyre, and Stuart Macbride. "This is a brilliant read ... well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable. Great suspense and action with and wonderful world building. Crisp dialogue without unnecessary fluff or filler, three dimensional characters that come to life on the pages and a believable storyline made for a quick, entertaining read. Once I started this surreal and exciting adventure I could not put it down. I gave this honest, voluntary review after being given a free copy of the book with no monetary compensation.

[Vi Elswick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very calculated and there were so many twists and turns that I had no clue what was going to happen next or what secrets were going to be revealed, but in such a good way. The plot line was very riveting. The only two criticisms that I have, and why I cannot give this book five stars, is because there should have been a trigger warning that the book dealt heavily with child SA/pedophilia and that the book ends with a lot of loose ends. Everything just abruptly stops, expecting there to be more to the book to neatly tie everything up, and it doesn’t. Hopefully, that is dealt with in the rest of the series because I just feel that the ending could have at least alluded to or foreshadowed that the next book held answers instead of just dropping off without warning. It leaves me feeling empty and dissatisfied.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for gruesome and no holds barred, here’s the book for you. It’s set in the US. British ex-police officer Jake finds the little town of Blue Falls unnerving. Everyone is in thrall to Jotham MacLeoid, an unscrupulous bully. Even the chief of police there has been corrupted. I love to read about an unscrupulous villain. It seems hopeless to try to go up against him as all those who did so are dead. Or worse – their families are dead. It’s up to Jake, and the one honest police officer at the local station, to take him on. It’s hair-raising at times, and I enjoyed the story a great deal.

[Brenda Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

This certainly is an adrenaline pumping ride. We have a great set up, from the broken ex-detective, who I loved. A corrupt chief of police, an oh so bad drug lord and a missing child.
The first chapter is - wow and the pace of this book doesn't let up. It is gruesome, my imagination went into overdrive and the book gave me some vivid dreams, but that's just me. Difficult and disturbing subjects are covered and done well.
I loved Jake and want to know more about him. I've not read this author before, but I've discovered his Yorke series of books and Jake does appear in these, so I can't wait to get into them.
Great read, highly recommend.

[kelly freaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading this I wasn't sure if I could finish.. The writing is brilliant.. But it's that's good the dark subjects it explored I didn't know if it would be too dark for me. The writer writes in a way we're I was scared of the words and that's a rarity for me, I read thrillers / crime books every week and non have made me wonder if I could finish due to fear of nightmares!
This is the first book I have read by the author and I think Jake maybe a character in other novels but I was able to read this a a standalone. I still have questions from this book but unsure if there will be a follow up? Reccomend but definitely in the daylight

[Laura R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jake Pettman has fled from his home in England and gone to Blue Falls, Maine where his ancestors came from. It's a small town that is ruled by an evil man. He controls others through intimidation and by employing them with wages so high that they turn a blind eye. But then Jake comes to town and he can't let matters slide when a 15 year old girl goes missing. He does find help from a couple locals although the Sheriff isn't keen on doing much. There are dark secrets that arise as the story progresses. We get a hint as to what happened to cause Jake to come to America but not the whole story and there is an open storyline regarding a couple of children.

[Mary Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in the new Jake Pettman series. He is AWOL in the US and finds himself involved in looking for a missing girl since the police chief isn't too pushed about it.

What follows next is a fight to find the girl and also to rid the town of the man who rules the roost and whom everyone is terrified of.

I found this book very enjoyable, easy to read and am looking forward to the rest of the series. The character of Jake is only portrayed lightly so I am eager to learn more about him.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series. There were quite a few interesting characters in this book though I will say that Jake Pettman is definitely the most interesting and intriguing of them all. I was so engrossed in reading this book that when I was upset with something I would talk out loud and cause some questions to be asked by anyone around me at the time. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series and finding out more about Jake Pettman. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

[Vicsta Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by this author and it certainly packs a punch. From the off it’s very quick to engage into something horrific happening which develops as the story moves on but extremely gripping from the start. The story involves a killing pit but what really goes on and why. A story with great twists along the way but with some parts of hard subject matters one being dog fighting. Absolutely loved this book and will definitely be reading more from the author

[K Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to new series

I always liked the character Jake in the DCI Yorke series so was happy to see that he was going to have his own. Fantastic start, thoroughly enjoyed and read in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down. I had to skip over the dog fighting parts but they didn't really go into detail thankfully. Lots of surprises and an unexpected ending, great read and I look forward to the next book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

9/10
Oooow err. Brilliant first book in a series. Gory overload. Who doesn't love a bit of blood? Can see Mr Pettman getting up to an awful lot more in the books to follow, looking forward to it. This first book has given some tiny hints of who he is and why he has found himself where he is. Lot's more to find out I think. Bring it on! If this series ends up anything like his Yorke series it's going to be brilliant.

[Brian Murgatroyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blood thirsty read.

A very pacy storyline which is up to Wes Markins usual mode of writing.Plenty of blood letting and not very likable characters,you'll wish the worst for them.Be aware dogs are included.All in all,I have read all the authors books,not one following after each other,they would be quite a task.😛Wes has I would think has a very good following,I like his novels but in small doses,I have the next one of the series.😎😎.