The Angel of Death

by Trevor Wood

When a self-styled Angel of Death begins granting the dying a final act of mercy on the streets of Newcastle, DCI Jack Parker is forced to confront both a ruthless killer and his own advancing dementia. The gripping third instalment in Trevor Wood's addictive, gritty DCI Jack Parker series.

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Killer or saint?

Death is stalking the streets of Newcastle. An anonymous killer is offering the terminally ill a dignified escape. Mercy to some. Murder to others.

DCI Jack Parker doesn't want the case. He has a secret of his own – an early-onset dementia diagnosis he's desperate to conceal. But the signs are becoming impossible to ignore. As his mind begins to betray him, the city faces its own moral reckoning.

While politicians debate a contentious new law and the self-styled Angel of Death selects another victim, Jack's world is shaken when the killings are traced to a carers' support group – one his wife, Helen, has been attending in secret.

Yet his deepest fear is also his darkest temptation. Because when his disease becomes unbearable, Jack can't escape one haunting could the Angel of Death be the saviour he's been waiting for?

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Praise for the DCI Jack Parker

'Weaves together an incredibly clever plot with a beautiful, soulful story. An absolutely magnificent book' Victoria Dowd

'Such a great story, so cleverly written. Taut, tender and full of very human twists. This is the start of something big' William Shaw

'One of the best hooks for a novel I've seen this year, and artfully executed by a writer at the top of his game. An absolute masterpiece of teasing tension that'll drag you by the scruff of the neck to the very last page' Robert Rutherford

'A juicy theme for a series of police procedurals . . . exquisite' The Times

'Crime fiction at its very best - the keep-you-guessing story is peopled with characters you can't help caring about. A superb start to this intriguing series' Frances Quinn

'A super-smart and highly original police thriller, written with huge heart' Doug Johnstone

'Told with Wood's signature directness, its serpentine twists keep the reader guessing. It heralds an exciting new series' Daily Mail

'Wood crafts characters that drip with humour and heart and you will not want to stop reading when you start' Sun

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2026

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series and jumping in partway through can be a challenge. However here, I didn’t feel disadvantaged at all. Of course I lost some character backstory but that didn’t affect my enjoyment, I would certainly now go back and read the previous books.

Set in Newcastle, this crime thriller has a gritty and atmospheric undertone. Well respected by his team, DCI Jack Parker is keen to keep his diagnosis of early onset dementia to his loved ones only however it is becoming more difficult to hide a problem and certain colleagues have noticed. With Jack’s symptoms gradually deteriorating, he needs to solve the case before his diagnosis is fully revealed. Because of his own circumstances, this case is especially close to home.

The Angel of Death is not your typical killer. They appear to have their own moral code when faced with potential ‘victims’ suffering from terminal illness. I say victims because those being helped on their way are seemingly doing so of their own will. The problem is are all exercising free will or is there coercion involved? The cases only come to the attention of the police when a complaint of murder is made.

With the Assisted Dying Bill having been recently in the news, there is a topicality and relevance to the story. With most crime thrillers it is easy to feel repugnance for the ‘bad guy’ but here there were shades of grey. As the police hunt intensified, I wasn’t always sure if I wanted the Angel of Death to be caught.

This was an excellent read about a really sensitive topic and despite the sad subject matter it is one I would highly recommend. I was totally invested in both the moral aspect and also the developing investigation and the individuals involved. Jack is of course the star of the story. He doesn’t suffer fools but there is also tenderness and sensitivity coming from that gruff exterior and I loved the dark humour throughout. I do hope there is a further book, as this one ended in a tantalising way.

[Monika Armet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in Newcastle and it follows DCI Jack Parker and his team, as they investigate another cracking case.

Simon Bishop reports the death of his mother, which according to him, is suspicious. He tells the police that his mother had terminal lung cancer but his father helped her to die sooner.

At the beginning, the team are a bit wary but when another person comes forward to report the suspicious death of her brother, the police realise that a killer is helping people to die.

The press are quick to dub him The Angel of Death, but is he in fact being merciful and brings ill people the much needed respite?

I loved this book!

I liked how it was told from various points of view, including the killer’s.

I was undecided about the killer. I understood the motivations of wanting to ease the suffering of those terminally ill and giving them a choice to die in dignity. However, assisted dying isn’t legal in the UK, therefore it’s classed as murder. So, is the killer truly a killer? Or is he a saviour?

I was saddened with Jack’s early-onset dementia diagnosis and its repercussions on his family, especially his teenage son, Aiden.

This was the first book that I have read by this author, but it won’t be my last. My plan is to catch up on the previous books in this series.

Overall, it’s a gripping police procedural. I definitely recommend it.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Angel of Death is a gripping police procedural that balances an intriguing murder investigation with a deeply emotional character study. While the mystery kept me guessing throughout, it was Jack’s personal story that really stayed with me.

I loved the multiple POVs, especially the inclusion of the Angel’s perspective. It added a fascinating layer to the story, giving the killer an unsettling sense of humanity without ever excusing their actions. It made me question my own feelings more than once.

Watching Jack’s life slowly unravel as he tried to hide his dementia diagnosis was heartbreaking. Trevor Wood handles such a difficult subject with compassion and realism, making Jack feel incredibly authentic as he struggles to hold on to both his career and his identity.

[Angi Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts
Trevor Wood has long been one of my must read authors. His Man on the Street series raised prevalent issues about society. As does this series.
These novels are not just an author telling you what to think, however. More they make you think.
The Angel of Death is just as thoughtful and thought provoking as all his other novels. Jack Parker struck a real chord in me. He’s an old school copper in a world that’s almost left him behind. In more ways than one. But he’s not the textbook old copper you might expect. He really gets people. He cares, and for himself and his family with his secret, he’s scared.
His colleagues and friends are covering for him. He knows that things are not what they were. But can he tell people?
This novel broke me into pieces because even dealing with the subjects it does, I felt for Jack, and those surrounding him as well as the people affected by the Angel.
I do have the other books in the series, and I’d recommend reading them. Not because you need them for background, but they are such good reads. Also because Trevor Wood has that knack of not only giving you a really great story, but he gives you food for thought. And sometimes that’s just what you need from a novel.
A brilliant read that I didn’t want to end.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book.

[Lucy Tarn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this 3rd instalment in the series was the best so far. Fast paced throughout. The book highlighted the topic of assisted dying and I thought Trevor wrote about the topic very sensitively.
Looking forward to the next one!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok. First things first. This is book three in a series, yes, and, no, as you might expect from me, I haven’t read books one or two, but that didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying The Angel of Death. Yes, there are likely some spoilers from the earlier books in this series, hard not to be given that the characters are recurring, but the book stands well enough in its own right that I didn’t feel I was adrift by not knowing all of what came before, so if you are also a newbie, fear not.

The Angel of Death is one of those books that was right up my street. Great characters, quite straight forward and yet complex in their own right, all with varying flaws - in the case of DCI Jack Parker a rather significant one, health wise - and all very authentic in their portrayal. I liked them. Liked the team dynamic, even if things between DS Emma Steel and DI Leon Johnson as more than a little complicated. They are the kinds of police characters who keep drawing me back to ‘procedurals’. Not perfect, not painted in a ‘can do no wrong’ way, but determined to do right by the concept of justice, even if that is not quite so clear cut this time around.

This is a story that really made me think. Technically the team are on the hunt for a murderer, but given the situation, and the context of the ‘murders’ it is hard to entirely condemn their actions, a sentiment echoed by many of the characters in the book. The narrative is focused up a so called ‘Angel of Mercy’, someone who is easing the passing of terminally ill patients. A highly topical concept given the assisted dying bill that has been doing the rounds in Parliament and the House of Lords of late, and the many complex, moral and legal arguments both for and against. If the victims want to end their suffering, if their given the opportunity and right to change their mind, is it really murder? Well that is something that us readers will long have to ponder after the book reaches its natural conclusion, a question that I am no sure there is an easy answer to, and not one the author tries to answer in full either.

I liked how this whole story was framed, how it compliments the complexities of Jack Parker’s situation and the potential future challenges he will face. There are many emotional arguments for and against what happens in the book, and it seems that a good number of the people we meet are invested in the outcome of the investigation, as was I as a reader. I can’t lie, I had settled on the guilty party shortly after ‘meeting’ them, but there is enough doubt cast over their guilt to make me question my convictions a little, and certainly a plethora of potential suspects introduced throughout the novel. But I don’t think the mystery over the who was as important here as the contemplation of how the case impacted those around it.

It is not all about the case in question, and Emma has a few issues to contend with throughout the book too, ones that will have impact upon Leon as her partner in work and, occasionally, more. I liked Emma, but parts of her personality could feel hard work at times. Leon, likewise, was a great character but occasionally too straight for his own good. The Northern Eastern setting is something I really enjoyed in this book, although the occasional foray to Cumbria helped to mix things up a bit. 

This is a really solid police based thriller, with complex questions asked and a story I became invested in really quickly. I’m intrigued to see where this may lead given how the book ends, and Jack’s personal situation, but I’m also curious to go back and read books one and two as well, see what I’ve been missing. Recommended for fans of great police based fiction.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a HUGE fan of this author and this series. Gritty, northern crime drama - an amazing cast of characters; tense and clever plotting, a terrific sense of place and also an empathetic and caring look at the horrors of early onset dementia. It really is a cracking series.

I read and reviewed the first two in the series; The Silent Killer, in October 2024, and The Inside Man in July 2025. It has felt like a very long wait for this third book. However, I have been absolutely blown away by The Angel of Death, the first two books were amazing but this one is incredible. The best yet.

The Angel of Death is on the streets of Newcastle. It's a strange case for DCI Jack Parker, and his team Leon and Emma. This is no ordinary serial killer, this is a man who appears to offering a dignified and pain free escape to those who are living with life limiting diseases. A sort of unofficial Dignitas and whilst there are surely arguments that say that this is a blessing, it is still murder and has to be investigated.

What I really love about this series is the intricate creation of the characters and their lives. We have followed Jack from his very first diagnosis of early onset dementia, where he kept it to himself and didn't cope well. He is now more open about his condition and the author has clearly researched this terrible disease as the reader accompanies Jack on what feels like a very authentic journey.

However, this doesn't ever take away from the central crime plot at all, in fact, in this story, Jack's own condition enhances his reasoning and determination to track down the 'Angel'. It's a tense and complex plot which is paced perfectly and totally gripped me. The gentle unravelling of the of the case is splendidly done, with fabulous dialogue, a little humour to lighten the darkness and OMG, that ending!

Another fabulous novel from one of our finest crime authors. Perfect plotting, amazing characterisation and totally gripping. Highly recommended.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Angel of Death by Trevor Wood is a book I think will provoke a lot of discussion, especially given the recent news about the assisted dying bill. In his latest crime novel, Trevor Wood casts a light on this deeply controversial topic, but he’s also created an utterly gripping crime thriller. I really enjoyed getting to know his cast of characters.

Trevor Wood opens the novel in a compelling way. A young man reports his mother’s murder to the police two months after she died, which is unusual in itself. This gives rise to the thinking that perhaps there is someone assisting people with their deaths, people who have terminal illnesses. As the news of this story breaks and more potential victims come forward, the perpetrator is given the name The Angel of Death. This certainly begins to cause alarm within the police force and the public, but Trevor Wood also tells parts of the story from the perspective of The Angel of Death himself. He is almost portrayed as an anti-hero, someone who can be sympathetic, easy to talk to, especially for the people he is helping. It does make him almost likeable. But in the eyes of the law, he is still committing a crime.

DCI Jack Ryan, the lead character in this book, was fascinating to get to know. I haven’t read the first two books in this series, but I had no difficulty in getting into this book. I really liked how open he was about his diagnosis of early-onset dementia, which brought out admirable qualities in him. I also really liked DS Emma Steel, who certainly seems very formidable and who knows what she wants to achieve.

Trevor Wood wrapped everything up in a tense and gripping finale. I can’t wait to come back to these characters. Hopefully there will be many more books to come; Trevor Wood has definitely left The Angel of Death on an ending that’s left me desperate for more.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in the DCI Jack Parker Series and another cracking read. You could read as a standalone but personally I would recommend reading in order to fully appreciate Jacks personal story. For anyone who hasn’t read the earlier books Jack has been diagnosed with early onset dementia; however, he has not told anyone at work apart from his colleague DS Emma Steele. Set in Newcastle and told from multiple POVs this is an exceptionally good read.

Briefly, a man calls at the station accusing his father of killing his mother. Although sceptical Jack’s team investigate and soon find that there may be a case to answer. Someone styling themselves as a mercy killer is offering their services to the terminally sick and there is a possible link to a carers support group.

I’m really enjoying this series. My heart goes out to Jack and his family; dementia is a devastating diagnosis at any age but early onset is heartbreaking, and the possibility that his son may carry the gene would be unbearably difficult to deal with. Having worked for a dementia research charity for 12 years I can say that all aspects have been dealt with both sympathetically and accurately. I love the relationship between Jack and his colleagues, but I do think Emma needs to take an empathy pill! The crime was in itself upsetting and I didn’t guess who the killer was so big tick. A dark gritty police procedural full of emotion. I loved it.

[What-Rian-Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gritty dark crime thriller set in Newcastle and I instantly felt connected to DCI Jack Parker and his team. It was clear he is well respected and the type of DCI who would do anything for the team.

I found the topic of this read, assisted dying fascinating as it is such a relevant topic particularly at the moment. The valued arguments on both sides, which were highlighted throughout the read. Ultimately though with the number of bodies rising Parker and the team have a responsibility to identify and capture the Angel of Death no matter their personal opinions.

Through the police procedural elements, the personal lives of Parker and his team and the twists that I love in a thriller I was fully invested in the investigation and the deeper moral challenges involved. There were some links back to storylines on previous books in the series but there is enough context provided that this can certainly be read as a standalone (but why read 1 when you can read 3…).

I have to praise Trevor Wood for his ability to take such a sensitive and relevant topic and turning it into a dark, gritty thriller with twists and perfect smatterings of humour whilst still respecting the underlying topic at its heart!

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating police procedural that has you questioning whether the angel is really in the wrong.

The assisted dying bill is a huge thing that brings up a lot of discussion and emotion. In this story we see a number of deaths where people have seemed to want an end to suffering but family members have gone on to raise concerns. Its kind of murky as you can understand why people wish to end suffering. But, the law is the law and we follow the police on their leads to uncover the angel of death.

It's a slow-burn with no giveaway as to who the angel is until the final reveal. The fact the lead detective has early onset dementia adds another dynamic to it all as you journey with him and his dilemmas with work and family. Definitely gives you a lot to think about and I like that nothing was obvious or easy.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a crime thriller that asks some difficult questions and doesn't offer easy answers. The moral dilemma at the heart of the story is handled thoughtfully, adding an emotional depth that sets it apart from a straightforward police procedural.

Jack Parker is a fantastic lead and his early-onset dementia diagnosis makes this case feel incredibly personal. Watching him fight to keep hold of both his career and his independence was heartbreaking, while the investigation itself kept the tension high throughout.

Trevor Wood balances the mystery with powerful themes of illness, dignity and choice, creating a story that is as thought-provoking as it is compelling. A gripping, emotional read and another excellent outing for Jack Parker.

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trevor Wood’s critically acclaimed DCI Jack Parker series continues with a riveting, moving and thought-provoking new instalment that tackles powerful and topical themes, including dementia and the right to die. At the heart of the story is Jack himself, battling his own demons while coming to terms with a potentially life-limiting diagnosis, which adds real emotional weight to the narrative.

While this is more character-driven than action-based, it never feels slow. The pacing remains tense and engaging throughout, building to an exciting denouement that genuinely kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s an addictive and entertaining read but one that also leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished.

The three central characters, Leon, Emma and Jack, are all brilliantly portrayed. Jack’s experience of the early stages of dementia, particularly while still working, is handled with sensitivity and realism. I especially enjoyed the dynamic between Leon and Emma; their complicated relationship extends into their personal lives and both show genuine respect and loyalty towards Jack. Their dedication to both their roles and to him personally creates a balance that is admirable and adds depth to the story.

The subject matter is incredibly relevant and will no doubt spark strong reactions. With the assisted dying bill currently being discussed in Parliament, this book feels especially timely. “The Angel of Death” is likely to divide readers, as it presents a range of perspectives through characters facing different illnesses and circumstances, each with their own views on whether to end their lives.

Overall, this is a compelling, emotionally charged thriller that blends tension with meaningful themes, making it perfect for book club discussions and readers who enjoy crime fiction with real depth. I love the Jack Parker series, especially since it’s set in my local area of Newcastle and I look forward to the next in the series, especially after the surprising closing revelation!

#TheAngelOfDeath - 4.5 stars

[Louise Fein · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this third in the DCI Jack Parker series. It has all the hallmarks of Trevor Wood’s brilliant and compelling crime novels - grit, fast pace, drama, mystery and heart. He never shies away from the emotion as well as the dark side of human nature which for me is a killer combination! I can’t wait for the next one.

[Francisco Valdes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent crime thriller with a strange central figure, a detective suffering the early stages of dementia in Newcastle.

[Mary Frain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. I can see why Trevor is very proud of this one.