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Sal Delaney Mysteries #3
Vale of Tears
Northumberland traffic cop Sal Delaney must keep her head in the game to solve a complex murder with dark motives in this pulse-pounding, gritty police procedural.
You can be so fascinated by demons and the afterlife that you don’t notice the monsters all around you.
Northumberland. Collision Investigation Officer Sal Delaney is at a road traffic accident scene near the infamous Bael Hill Farm – locally labelled the Murder House – when a body is discovered at the lot.
It turns out local hermit Rollo Savage took his own life, but something doesn’t add up. At first glance he seems to have hanged himself, but other evidence hints at murder.
Rollo’s past earned him a lot of enemies, but who would hurt the kind old man after all these years? Soon Sal is caught up in another twisted and dark case, one which shockingly seems to involve people she holds dear . . .
You can be so fascinated by demons and the afterlife that you don’t notice the monsters all around you.
Northumberland. Collision Investigation Officer Sal Delaney is at a road traffic accident scene near the infamous Bael Hill Farm – locally labelled the Murder House – when a body is discovered at the lot.
It turns out local hermit Rollo Savage took his own life, but something doesn’t add up. At first glance he seems to have hanged himself, but other evidence hints at murder.
Rollo’s past earned him a lot of enemies, but who would hurt the kind old man after all these years? Soon Sal is caught up in another twisted and dark case, one which shockingly seems to involve people she holds dear . . .
208 pages, Hardcover
First published April 17, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 16, 2026
Sal Delaney #3
Bael Hill Farm in Weardale is known locally as The Murder House, and it’s a forbidding sight and even more so when some teenagers discover a body there and it’s a macabre sight. As Sal is investigating an accident near the house, she is sent to the scene and at first glance it looks like Rollo Savage has committed suicide. However, it soon becomes apparent that Sal has been drawn into a very tricky and dark case which could involve those she loves.
I love, love, love this series and this is yet another cracker of a read. The way that David Marks writes with such lively and insightful prose makes the story jump off the pages as if I’m watching a screenplay. In my opinion, this is a really good mystery which is infused with the mystique of The Murder House, a murder which takes place here in 1880. This has become the stuff of legend and many a theory which includes faith, superstition, the supernatural and veils between worlds and so on. I love this aspect of the plot and it sure leads to some very creepy images.
The author connects the different plot strands well in a clever plot which has me intrigued from beginning to end. There are so many twists and turns, it goes this way and that as it heads at a swift pace to an excellent ending.
One of the greatest strengths of the series are the fantastic and larger than life characters. I love Sal and her deep connection to those she loves, as well as her kindness and bravery. Her backstory is not an easy one, her life is complex and complicated and as if that’s not enough to contend with, she’s made an enemy of a more powerful colleague. I read with baited breath hoping that their vengeful intent will not succeed. There are characters to like, those to love and loath and so it’s a great balance.
Overall, I can’t wait to get my hands on number four!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Severn House for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Bael Hill Farm in Weardale is known locally as The Murder House, and it’s a forbidding sight and even more so when some teenagers discover a body there and it’s a macabre sight. As Sal is investigating an accident near the house, she is sent to the scene and at first glance it looks like Rollo Savage has committed suicide. However, it soon becomes apparent that Sal has been drawn into a very tricky and dark case which could involve those she loves.
I love, love, love this series and this is yet another cracker of a read. The way that David Marks writes with such lively and insightful prose makes the story jump off the pages as if I’m watching a screenplay. In my opinion, this is a really good mystery which is infused with the mystique of The Murder House, a murder which takes place here in 1880. This has become the stuff of legend and many a theory which includes faith, superstition, the supernatural and veils between worlds and so on. I love this aspect of the plot and it sure leads to some very creepy images.
The author connects the different plot strands well in a clever plot which has me intrigued from beginning to end. There are so many twists and turns, it goes this way and that as it heads at a swift pace to an excellent ending.
One of the greatest strengths of the series are the fantastic and larger than life characters. I love Sal and her deep connection to those she loves, as well as her kindness and bravery. Her backstory is not an easy one, her life is complex and complicated and as if that’s not enough to contend with, she’s made an enemy of a more powerful colleague. I read with baited breath hoping that their vengeful intent will not succeed. There are characters to like, those to love and loath and so it’s a great balance.
Overall, I can’t wait to get my hands on number four!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Severn House for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
June 1, 2026
Having enjoyed parts of the first two Sal Delaney novels, Vale of Tears left me with mixed feelings. As with much of David Mark's work, there is plenty to admire here: a strong sense of place, an engaging central character, and an atmosphere thick with unease and local folklore. Yet, despite these strengths, this third instalment never fully clicked for me.
The story centres on the discovery of a body at Bael Hill Farm, a derelict property known locally as the Murder House. While investigating a nearby road traffic collision, Sal Delaney becomes embroiled in a case that reaches deep into the area's history and draws together numerous strands from earlier books. The novel blends police procedural elements with supernatural undertones, exploring local legends, old murders, and the possibility that some places never entirely let go of their past.
As in the previous books, Mark's greatest strength remains his ability to evoke a setting. Although I'm far less familiar with Cumbria than I am with Hull, the landscape, communities, and local folklore feel authentic and lived-in. Sal also continues to be an appealing protagonist. Her role as a collision investigator offers a refreshing perspective on crime fiction, and her complicated domestic circumstances add depth beyond the central mystery.
Where the book struggled for me was in its dependence on earlier instalments. While the first two novels also carried significant backstory, Vale of Tears feels particularly reliant on readers already being invested in Sal's extended cast of family members, allies, enemies, and their various histories. Much of the emotional impact comes from long-running storylines, and as a result the novel works poorly as a standalone. Even having read the earlier books, I occasionally found myself trying to remember connections and motivations rather than becoming fully immersed in the mystery.
The supernatural elements surrounding the Murder House create an effectively creepy atmosphere, but the central plot never felt quite as compelling as the premise suggested. With so many characters and intertwined storylines competing for attention, the investigation sometimes gets lost amid the wider series mythology. While there are plenty of twists and revelations, I found some developments more interesting in concept than execution.
Overall, Vale of Tears is an atmospheric and ambitious addition to the Sal Delaney series, featuring the qualities that have made these books worth reading: a memorable lead character, a vivid setting, and an unsettling sense of darkness beneath everyday life. However, its heavy reliance on previous books and an overcomplicated narrative made it a less satisfying read than I had hoped.
A solid but uneven entry that reinforces David Mark's strengths as a creator of character and place, while also highlighting some of the issues that have occasionally prevented this series from fully delivering on its potential.
Thanks to NetGalley, Severn House and the author for an advance copy.
The story centres on the discovery of a body at Bael Hill Farm, a derelict property known locally as the Murder House. While investigating a nearby road traffic collision, Sal Delaney becomes embroiled in a case that reaches deep into the area's history and draws together numerous strands from earlier books. The novel blends police procedural elements with supernatural undertones, exploring local legends, old murders, and the possibility that some places never entirely let go of their past.
As in the previous books, Mark's greatest strength remains his ability to evoke a setting. Although I'm far less familiar with Cumbria than I am with Hull, the landscape, communities, and local folklore feel authentic and lived-in. Sal also continues to be an appealing protagonist. Her role as a collision investigator offers a refreshing perspective on crime fiction, and her complicated domestic circumstances add depth beyond the central mystery.
Where the book struggled for me was in its dependence on earlier instalments. While the first two novels also carried significant backstory, Vale of Tears feels particularly reliant on readers already being invested in Sal's extended cast of family members, allies, enemies, and their various histories. Much of the emotional impact comes from long-running storylines, and as a result the novel works poorly as a standalone. Even having read the earlier books, I occasionally found myself trying to remember connections and motivations rather than becoming fully immersed in the mystery.
The supernatural elements surrounding the Murder House create an effectively creepy atmosphere, but the central plot never felt quite as compelling as the premise suggested. With so many characters and intertwined storylines competing for attention, the investigation sometimes gets lost amid the wider series mythology. While there are plenty of twists and revelations, I found some developments more interesting in concept than execution.
Overall, Vale of Tears is an atmospheric and ambitious addition to the Sal Delaney series, featuring the qualities that have made these books worth reading: a memorable lead character, a vivid setting, and an unsettling sense of darkness beneath everyday life. However, its heavy reliance on previous books and an overcomplicated narrative made it a less satisfying read than I had hoped.
A solid but uneven entry that reinforces David Mark's strengths as a creator of character and place, while also highlighting some of the issues that have occasionally prevented this series from fully delivering on its potential.
Thanks to NetGalley, Severn House and the author for an advance copy.
June 2, 2026
Vale of Tears is the third outing in the Sal Delaney series. Set in the bleak landscapes of northern England, where old sins cast long shadows and where the line between victim and perpetrator is rarely clear. From its chilling premise—a supposed suicide discovered near the notorious Bael Hill Farm, known locally as the Murder House—to its emotionally charged conclusion, this is a novel that grips from the first page and refuses to let go.
In the opening scene, a group of young teens, many of them related to Sal, are on a late-night jaunt to Bael Hill Farm and the locally infamous ‘Murder House’. What they find there has them running scared. So scared that they fail to notice quite where they are driving…
The isolated Northumberland setting is beautifully rendered. The landscape is cold, lonely and faintly threatening, perfectly complementing the themes of death, memory and obsession that run through the narrative. The references to demons, the afterlife and local folklore create an almost gothic quality, but Mark keeps the horror rooted in human behaviour rather than the supernatural. The real monsters here are people.
Not the least of these monsters is Dagmar Scrowther, currently in a nursing home, where her carers are looking after her amnesia. An arch manipulator, Dagmar is the puppet master, pulling on the strings whenever she feels like it.
What makes this series stand out is the character of Salome Delaney. Sal’s traumatic childhood has shaped every aspect of her adult life. Raised in an abusive household and forever haunted by the murder of her mother, she entered adulthood carrying scars that she can’t leave behind. Her past has left her wary, resilient and fiercely independent, but also vulnerable in ways she often struggles to acknowledge.
Rather than allowing trauma to become a defining character trait, David Mark uses it to create a woman who is constantly navigating the tension between emotional survival and professional responsibility.
As a police officer, Sal is particularly interesting because she occupies a somewhat unusual position as a Collision Investigation Officer rather than a traditional detective. This allows Mark to approach criminal investigations from fresh angles. Sal’s instincts are grounded in evidence, observation and procedure, yet she is never a purely analytical character. Her empathy often drives her investigations as much as her professional expertise. In Vale of Tears, the discovery of Rollo Savage’s body once again pulls her into a case that becomes deeply personal, demonstrating both her strengths and vulnerabilities.
Equally fascinating is Sal’s relationship with Detective Superintendent Magdalen Quinn. Quinn represents corrupt authority, experience and institutional power, while Sal often operates from instinct and personal conviction. Quinn loathes Sal and their relationship is characterised by tension, disagreement and an undercurrent of malevolence emanating from Quinn.
What appears to be a straightforward suicide rapidly evolves into a layered murder investigation involving old grievances, hidden histories and deeply buried secrets. Mark excels at peeling away layers of deception, revealing uncomfortable truths one piece at a time. The pacing is excellent. The novel never feels rushed, yet there is always a sense of momentum. Every revelation raises new questions, and every answer seems to expose an even darker mystery beneath.
Mark has an outstanding ability to inject darkness into his prose. His writing possesses a lyrical quality that makes even the bleakest scenes strangely beautiful. He writes about violence, grief and cruelty with an almost poetic precision, creating images that stay in the mind. There is a melancholy running through his work that elevates it beyond a conventional police procedural. His characters are damaged, his settings unforgiving and his crimes often horrifying, yet there is always an underlying humanity that prevents the novels from descending into nihilism. He has an ability to create bleak settings populated by deeply damaged characters while maintaining extraordinary tension and emotional impact.
Verdict: Vale of Tears is a superb crime novel that combines a compelling mystery, rich characterisation and a strong sense of atmosphere. Sal Delaney is such a great protagonist while David Mark once again demonstrates his mastery of darkness, suspense and emotional storytelling. I do love David Mark’s writing. His is haunting and rewarding crime fiction.
In the opening scene, a group of young teens, many of them related to Sal, are on a late-night jaunt to Bael Hill Farm and the locally infamous ‘Murder House’. What they find there has them running scared. So scared that they fail to notice quite where they are driving…
The isolated Northumberland setting is beautifully rendered. The landscape is cold, lonely and faintly threatening, perfectly complementing the themes of death, memory and obsession that run through the narrative. The references to demons, the afterlife and local folklore create an almost gothic quality, but Mark keeps the horror rooted in human behaviour rather than the supernatural. The real monsters here are people.
Not the least of these monsters is Dagmar Scrowther, currently in a nursing home, where her carers are looking after her amnesia. An arch manipulator, Dagmar is the puppet master, pulling on the strings whenever she feels like it.
What makes this series stand out is the character of Salome Delaney. Sal’s traumatic childhood has shaped every aspect of her adult life. Raised in an abusive household and forever haunted by the murder of her mother, she entered adulthood carrying scars that she can’t leave behind. Her past has left her wary, resilient and fiercely independent, but also vulnerable in ways she often struggles to acknowledge.
Rather than allowing trauma to become a defining character trait, David Mark uses it to create a woman who is constantly navigating the tension between emotional survival and professional responsibility.
As a police officer, Sal is particularly interesting because she occupies a somewhat unusual position as a Collision Investigation Officer rather than a traditional detective. This allows Mark to approach criminal investigations from fresh angles. Sal’s instincts are grounded in evidence, observation and procedure, yet she is never a purely analytical character. Her empathy often drives her investigations as much as her professional expertise. In Vale of Tears, the discovery of Rollo Savage’s body once again pulls her into a case that becomes deeply personal, demonstrating both her strengths and vulnerabilities.
Equally fascinating is Sal’s relationship with Detective Superintendent Magdalen Quinn. Quinn represents corrupt authority, experience and institutional power, while Sal often operates from instinct and personal conviction. Quinn loathes Sal and their relationship is characterised by tension, disagreement and an undercurrent of malevolence emanating from Quinn.
What appears to be a straightforward suicide rapidly evolves into a layered murder investigation involving old grievances, hidden histories and deeply buried secrets. Mark excels at peeling away layers of deception, revealing uncomfortable truths one piece at a time. The pacing is excellent. The novel never feels rushed, yet there is always a sense of momentum. Every revelation raises new questions, and every answer seems to expose an even darker mystery beneath.
Mark has an outstanding ability to inject darkness into his prose. His writing possesses a lyrical quality that makes even the bleakest scenes strangely beautiful. He writes about violence, grief and cruelty with an almost poetic precision, creating images that stay in the mind. There is a melancholy running through his work that elevates it beyond a conventional police procedural. His characters are damaged, his settings unforgiving and his crimes often horrifying, yet there is always an underlying humanity that prevents the novels from descending into nihilism. He has an ability to create bleak settings populated by deeply damaged characters while maintaining extraordinary tension and emotional impact.
Verdict: Vale of Tears is a superb crime novel that combines a compelling mystery, rich characterisation and a strong sense of atmosphere. Sal Delaney is such a great protagonist while David Mark once again demonstrates his mastery of darkness, suspense and emotional storytelling. I do love David Mark’s writing. His is haunting and rewarding crime fiction.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the third book in the series featuring Traffic Cop Sal Delaney, who we first met in When the Bough Breaks. You could do yourself a favour and read this and the second book - Don't Say a Word - before diving into this one. The story is self contained herein but I think Sal, and her entourage, are best met and got to know as the author intended...
In this book, Sal is called to the scene of a nasty accident involving a car going off the road, the driver having already been sent to hospital in critical condition. She has only just started to get to grips with her investigation when she is side-tracked by another call. It appears that a group of teens have discovered a body in an old abandoned farmhouse which is very close to where she is currently. On first look, it appears that it could be suicide but closer inspection throws enough doubt for the whole circus to arrive and investigate.
I already love both this series and Sal as a character and this book has only increased my connection to both. The author writes a mean interconnected, and convoluted story, weaving present and past seamlessly, with threads diverging and merging along the way until eventually, all is laid bare and I just have to sit back and applaud him for a job well done.
Outwith the investigations, Sal still has a lot on her plate with her domestic situation. Living with her ex - Lewis - parenting his children, at the same time as also looking after him, after his TBI, is all a bit overwhelming. Especially when one of his children is also caught up in the investigation and is being treated badly by those in the job who still hold a grudge against Lewis. See... this is why you really need to read the previous books to make sense of all of this! And that's not counting Jarod - Sal's errant brother, and Wulfric Hagman (still a great name) and all the baggage he comes with.
But, if you have read the previous books it will all make sense!
Oh and as well as a dark and twisty story, we also have some of the nest humour peppered throughout. Some quite laugh out loud!
All in all, a cracking addition to what is shaping up to be a very impressive series. I also have this author's Aector McAvoy series on my tbr - oh for more reading time...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
In this book, Sal is called to the scene of a nasty accident involving a car going off the road, the driver having already been sent to hospital in critical condition. She has only just started to get to grips with her investigation when she is side-tracked by another call. It appears that a group of teens have discovered a body in an old abandoned farmhouse which is very close to where she is currently. On first look, it appears that it could be suicide but closer inspection throws enough doubt for the whole circus to arrive and investigate.
I already love both this series and Sal as a character and this book has only increased my connection to both. The author writes a mean interconnected, and convoluted story, weaving present and past seamlessly, with threads diverging and merging along the way until eventually, all is laid bare and I just have to sit back and applaud him for a job well done.
Outwith the investigations, Sal still has a lot on her plate with her domestic situation. Living with her ex - Lewis - parenting his children, at the same time as also looking after him, after his TBI, is all a bit overwhelming. Especially when one of his children is also caught up in the investigation and is being treated badly by those in the job who still hold a grudge against Lewis. See... this is why you really need to read the previous books to make sense of all of this! And that's not counting Jarod - Sal's errant brother, and Wulfric Hagman (still a great name) and all the baggage he comes with.
But, if you have read the previous books it will all make sense!
Oh and as well as a dark and twisty story, we also have some of the nest humour peppered throughout. Some quite laugh out loud!
All in all, a cracking addition to what is shaping up to be a very impressive series. I also have this author's Aector McAvoy series on my tbr - oh for more reading time...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
June 10, 2026
Anyone who likes Scandinavian Noir should start reading David Mark's Sal Delaney novels (if they don't already) which surely introduce Cumbrian Noir. Nobody writes this type of dark detective fiction better.
Sal Delaney and get siblings are unforgettable creations. Sal's dark past constantly intrudes on her present bringing unimaginable dangers. There's a very fine line between good and evil in David Mark's characterisation which often gets blurred.
In 'Vale of Tears' there are devious hints of supernatural influences, ancient folklore, and dark occult rituals, lifting the veil between this world - and another, darker realm.
David Mark writes with assured confidence, producing a plot that is full of intrigue and shocking surprises; instantly addictive and totally compelling.
This is a book that is guaranteed to keep one reading into the darkest hours of the night, when whispers of fear sometimes become a scream of terror as the full moon reveals the creatures of the night just beyond one's bedroom window.
Sal Delaney and get siblings are unforgettable creations. Sal's dark past constantly intrudes on her present bringing unimaginable dangers. There's a very fine line between good and evil in David Mark's characterisation which often gets blurred.
In 'Vale of Tears' there are devious hints of supernatural influences, ancient folklore, and dark occult rituals, lifting the veil between this world - and another, darker realm.
David Mark writes with assured confidence, producing a plot that is full of intrigue and shocking surprises; instantly addictive and totally compelling.
This is a book that is guaranteed to keep one reading into the darkest hours of the night, when whispers of fear sometimes become a scream of terror as the full moon reveals the creatures of the night just beyond one's bedroom window.
May 13, 2026
I did like this book but found the plot (over)complicated . As it starts a group of teenagers find a body hung in a deserted house. Sal is a policewoman and lives with a former colleague, no longer working and who has dementia. There are lots of characters which was not a problem but I found it more difficult to get a handle on how they were related to one another. Sometimes the point of view switches in a chapter which added to the confusion for me .
The writing is fine, great descriptions of people and places of an area I know reasonably well. Some mystical element which was done well. I had read others in the series, but not recently so perhaps had to get into the team again? I had intended 4 stars, but have rounded down to 3, mostly because when I was thinking about the book, my main thoughts were what happened ? The actual crimes were described very quickly.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. I will look out for more from this author
The writing is fine, great descriptions of people and places of an area I know reasonably well. Some mystical element which was done well. I had read others in the series, but not recently so perhaps had to get into the team again? I had intended 4 stars, but have rounded down to 3, mostly because when I was thinking about the book, my main thoughts were what happened ? The actual crimes were described very quickly.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC. I will look out for more from this author
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What I enjoyed most about this (the third in the Sal Delaney series) is the darkness combined with other worldliness which adds to the tension and gives another dimension to this series. With various storylines weaving together this book was consuming and creepy in equal measure. Such believable and relatable characters - even the baddies - and a compelling protagonist in Sal , Marks somehow manages to carve out a space for the reality of Sal's complex domestic life among the chaos and unpredictability of her professional life. Throw into the mix a swathe of complex characters with dubious motives hellbent on causing destruction, this is a gripping and well plotted story. I was hooked from page 1!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the third in a series featuring Cumbrian traffic cop Sal Delaney. There is a great deal of back story involved for many of the characters, and it makes this a difficult read as a standalone novel.
Delaney investigates a car crash and is drawn into a supernatural tale involving a "murder house" - a supposedly haunted abandoned property. Most of the characters in the book know each other - it's a small town. And the plot relies on a lot of past connections.
This isn't a bad novel but the combination of a haunted house and lacking the back stories of so many characters made this less that satisfying for me.
Delaney investigates a car crash and is drawn into a supernatural tale involving a "murder house" - a supposedly haunted abandoned property. Most of the characters in the book know each other - it's a small town. And the plot relies on a lot of past connections.
This isn't a bad novel but the combination of a haunted house and lacking the back stories of so many characters made this less that satisfying for me.
June 4, 2026
This is book 3 in the well written, popular Sal Delaney mystery series by David Mark and it is filled with so many interesting characters. Sal is a complex person, a very memorable character with a complicated home life. The writing is atmospheric, dark and with a touch of the supernatural as well as being a twisty, suspense filled read. An excellent addition to a very good series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
June 4, 2026
This is the third Sal Delaney book and I would recommend reading the first two. A very good read as you'd expect from this author, I've read all of his books from his first book. Full of twists and family drama with well drawn characters. I would recommend this series. Thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this review ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
For some reason I couldn't get into this book, I had a hard time keeping track of all the characters. And of the story too, it was a muddle in my head, even though I had read an earlier one in the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
July 19, 2026
Brilliant series, is this the last
Loved this series of books. David Mark is such a great writer, who knows how to draw his readers in. Well done
Loved this series of books. David Mark is such a great writer, who knows how to draw his readers in. Well done
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