The Hard Truth: A Gripping DI Hogarth Detective Mystery

by Solomon Carter

Doug Galvan has come home.
And the empire he built is gone.

While he was away, his son handed everything to the wrong people.
Now the streets Doug once controlled belong to someone colder.
Smarter.
And far more dangerous.

DI Joe Hogarth is still hunting the network behind a string of murders.
But every answer leads to the same conclusion—
Someone has been pulling the strings from the very beginning.

As Hogarth closes in, Doug starts asking questions of his own.
Questions the town's new masters don't want answered.
Questions people are willing to kill to keep buried.

Now two men are hunting the same enemy.
One wants justice.
The other wants revenge.

And somewhere between them stands a woman nobody understands.
A woman who always seems to know what's coming next.

Because bringing down the man behind it all is only the beginning.
The hardest truth is still waiting.

A tense, gripping British crime thriller packed with conspiracy, betrayal and deadly secrets.
Perfect for fans of Peter James, Mark Billingham and Ian Rankin.

Read the gripping finale today.

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 13, 2026

About the author

Hello folks,
My name is Solomon Carter, and I am the author of the Roberts and Bradley PI crime thriller series, The Last Line international thriller series, the DI Hogarth Darkest series and more. I write mysteries, crime and thriller novels and more besides.

I was born in Southend, Essex and lived there for most of my life apart from eventful student days in South London. But my life in Southend was even more eventful still. I ended up working in a string of jobs including as a jobcentre clerk, a book seller, tutor for youth with low skills and low self esteem, mortgage broker, and latterly manager of a food bank which dealt with all kinds of interesting people facing all kinds of eye-opening, jaw dropping problems. Because of these ear-to-the-ground jobs the majority of my novels are set in Southend. In 2016 I moved to North Cornwall because I liked the idea of never-ending holidays - but I also write almost every single day. My aim is to write action-packed thrillers and page-turning mysteries that readers love and my hope is to get better at what I do with every book across each and every year.

I like to give away lots of free books as part of what I do. If you would like to receive some of these and get the exclusives on offer, than you're invited to join my free readers group at SolomonCarter.net. I won't spam you, just send the occassional email with news on the latest books and forthcoming freebies.

And if you want to see the memes, personal shares and other oddball stuff I do, then you can join me at Facebook via www.facebook.com/solomoncarterwrites and join the fun there too.

What I am good at: telling stories
What I am bad at: dancing, being patient.
What I love: nature, the seaside, adventures
Writers I heartily recommend: Lee Child, Ian Rankin, Henning Mankell, Val McDermid, Harlan Coben, Robert Crais.
Writers I need to read more of: Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, Michael Connelly and others.
Other things I do beside writing: at present I like to keep my running going to balance out the sitting behind a laptop (a habit inspired by Haruki Murakami's 'What I talk about when I talk about running' - a great book).
-I am currently doing surf lessons. When in Rome, as they say...
-Getting out into nature as the weather allows.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Until then I'll keep on writing. Or running. Or surfing. Or chasing my children around the house.

All the very best,
Solomon :)

PS
if you have enjoyed any of my books, I'd be honoured if you could post a review. Those reviews really do help!

Reviews

[Craig Smedley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alex Galvan becomes a worried man as the story unfolds and it becomes likely that he has made an arrangement with the devil, so much so that his father comes home from Spain, although it is some time before Alex realises this. Doug Galvan is accompanied by a mysterious female, Karen Johns, but finally a few things start to break Hogarth’s way and as he continues his investigations, hindered once again by penny pinching by Long Melford, the team finds a couple of helpful assistants in a new Constable, PC Deighton, and an older member of the Southend Police – PCSO Beck Rawlins who is becoming bored with her present role. There is violence afoot but with help from Deighton and Rawlins and some hints dropped by the mysterious Karen Johns, Hogarth eventually is able to piece things together. He realises that there are two people orchestrating violence although very hard to prove that Doug Galvan is behind some of it but the team are able to apprehend the other perpetrator a long ago associate of Doug Galvan’s that has learned many lessons from Doug’s operation.
An excellent story finally bringing the truth out resulting in many crimes solved – BUT with an open end with I am sure more intrigue and twists and turns to come.

[Paul Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read.

After reading the first two books in this trilogy I couldn’t wait to get to the third book. I was not disappointed!
The same exciting pace of the first two books was maintained and if anything was increased. A guaranteed roller coaster thrill of a read.
Hogarth and co show no sign of slowing down and as the team changes so new opportunities promise to open up in the future.
How Solomon will follow on from this in the next, hopefully soon, Hogarth books I cannot imagine but I will wait with baited breath for the next adventure to begin.
This series needs to be serialised on tv!!

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the third instalment of the series we see the net closing in on Alex Galvan as his father is back in town and he realises that he has been siphoning off his beloved empire behind his back.
Meanwhile Hogarth, Kaplan and Palmer are trying to to get an angle on who is in charge now of the crumbling underworld kingdom.
With the bad guys chasing each other and the police hot on their trail this is an exciting finale, but left very open ended.
So think Hogarth has a few more cases in him yet.
A good series.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series of crime thrillers featuring DI Hogarth and set in Southend. It's a gritty series, fast paced with interesting, realistic, well developed characterisation and good plotting. Although this is book 3 and can be read as a stand alone, I highly recommend reading the previous two books for background information. There is plenty of tension throughout with an unexpected ending leaving me looking forward to reading more from DI Hogarth and his team.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

The final book in the Hard Break series with DI Hogarth.

An unwanted man has reappeared. Flying into Southend Airport Doug Galvan has appeared and just as quickly disappeared. Hogarth and team including PC Deighton seconded from uniform are on the case.

With an old adversary back in town, a new “kid” on the block and a son whose bad business decisions have inadvertently let decades of business slip through his hands, the team have their work cut out if it’s not going to end in a bloodbath.

[Sebastian Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb end to what has been another superb trilogy. And the best bit is that the ending has left it open for another trilogy.
Hogarth, Kaplan and Palmer worked their socks off to wade through all the mid to get a result. Some dogged help from Deighton and Rawlins gave them the break they were needing to get the CPS on side.
But who is the mystery woman and what is her interest in Hogarth or Galvan's empire? No doubt the future will give us the answer.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The conclusion of this trilogy sees Hogarth and the team racing to catch more than one villain.

It's well-written and fast-paced with great characters, twists and turns and a great sense of place.

I enjoyed the cat and mouse feeling, the mystery and the sense of more to come.

Engaging and entertaining.

[Moiraliddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hard break trilogy.

Wow what to say about this trilogy full justice.just that its best series yet.its got everything and more that youve come to expect from Hogarth.and his team.an if id been able to give more than five stars i would have . Absolutely mind blowing.

[Keith Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hogarth at his best

Hogarth and team strike again. Another cracking read with twists and turns you would never expect.
Go Hogarth and the future new team. Looking forward to the next chapter!

[Trudi Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic end to a phenomenal series

I absolutely love his books, an extremely prolific author with incredible writing skills and powers of description that set the scene in your head immediately. Set in Southend and the surrounding areas these are books I can't put down

[Robin Boot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thrilling book from Solomon Carter to finish off another excellent trilogy.
I wasn’t sure until the end how this one was going to end and I wouldn’t be surprised if Solomon brings some of the “badies” into a new trilogy.
I, for one, am looking forward to the next series.

[Christine Worton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the first two books of this trilogy and could not wait for the third book! It did not disappoint! Read it in one sitting as I could not put it down.

[Mrs Linda A Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of10 stars if I could

What a great finale, edge of the seats stuff yet again. You really have to read this series. Wonder how long to the next series Solomon.

[Graham Chesman · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

Just read the final one in this series another great book from Solomon carter lots of twists you can’t put it down when you start them

[Mrs C E Clegg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exciting end to a 3 book trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as I did the other 2.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best

I hope this is not the last of Hogarth the books are from start to finish one of the best detective novels around.

[edna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

Love hogarth stories ,be nice to see him settle down wuth someone nice.well done soloman for a great read as always.

[K L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow a brilliant series

An absolutely brilliant series, put you seatbelt on and buckle up for the ride.
Read all 3 back to back.
Absolutely brilliant

[Marjorie Bain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of twists and turns great read can’t wait for the next one

[sue wales · Rating 4 out of 5]

you end up as usual not wanting it to end

Waiting for next book because as usual you just want to carry on. I’ve just read all of Hogarth back to back