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Damen Brook #6
Death Do Us Part
Even death cannot part these couples...DI Damen Brook is on a rare period of leave and determined to make the most of it by re-connecting with his daughter Terri. But with her heavy drinking proving a challenge, Brook takes the opportunity to visit a local murder scene when his help is requested.An elderly couple have each been executed with a single shot to the heart and the method echoes that of a middle-aged gay couple killed the previous month.With the same killer suspected and the officer currently in charge nearing retirement, Brook knows that he has little choice but to cut short his leave when forced by his superiors to take the lead on the case.Brook believes that he can catch this ruthless killer, but already distracted by Terri's problems, is he about to make a fatal mistake and lead the killer right to his own door?
352 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2016
10 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Steven Dunne
21 books122 followers Steven left Rhodesway School in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1976 after taking A-levels. He graduated from Kent University in 1979 and, after taking a year’s Post Graduate Certificate in Education at St Mary’s College in Twickenham, he undertook a variety of jobs in London, including Public Relations Consultant, freelance Journalist and supply teacher.
He wrote occasional articles for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent while working on various writing projects including his own brief career in stand-up comedy. During this time he co-wrote a comedy pilot for Channel 4 entitled Not Enough Poodles but, unfortunately it fell at the final commissioning hurdle. He wrote the Book for the award-winning Latchmere Theatre Christmas pantomime of Hansel and Gretel in 1989.
In 1988, he began teaching English in Croydon before moving to Derby in 1996, where he began to think about writing a novel.
After being turned onto thrillers by Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, he realised that most thrillers failed to deliver their promised exitement, so in 2007, after spending two fruitless years marketing the novel to the publishing industry, Steven self-published Reaper, a thriller about a serial killer who strikes in Derby. It sold over 1500 copies in the East Midlands and in 2008, and received very encouraging reviews. Harper Collins bought the rights and The Reaper was released internationally in 2009. A sequel, The Disciple, was released in August 2010. Both books were critically acclaimed. He signed a publishing deal at Headline to release the next DI Brook thriller Deity, which will be released in June 2012.
You can also contact him on Facebook.
He wrote occasional articles for The Guardian, The Times and The Independent while working on various writing projects including his own brief career in stand-up comedy. During this time he co-wrote a comedy pilot for Channel 4 entitled Not Enough Poodles but, unfortunately it fell at the final commissioning hurdle. He wrote the Book for the award-winning Latchmere Theatre Christmas pantomime of Hansel and Gretel in 1989.
In 1988, he began teaching English in Croydon before moving to Derby in 1996, where he began to think about writing a novel.
After being turned onto thrillers by Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs, he realised that most thrillers failed to deliver their promised exitement, so in 2007, after spending two fruitless years marketing the novel to the publishing industry, Steven self-published Reaper, a thriller about a serial killer who strikes in Derby. It sold over 1500 copies in the East Midlands and in 2008, and received very encouraging reviews. Harper Collins bought the rights and The Reaper was released internationally in 2009. A sequel, The Disciple, was released in August 2010. Both books were critically acclaimed. He signed a publishing deal at Headline to release the next DI Brook thriller Deity, which will be released in June 2012.
You can also contact him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 30, 2017
Firstly, my thanks go out to all those for my review copy.
I have to say after the previous book I was glad to see that book six in the series is back on form. DI Brook continues to be his irascible self in his quest to solve the mystery of two couples being shot in their home. Together with his team, and the ever present sergeant Noble, Brook approaches the case with his usual levels of diligence. Brook is also drawn to what should be now a cold case of the Black Farm murders. Terri, his daughter is having problems and drinking too much. Seeing things she shouldn't circumstances start to compound and roads start intermingling that throws the reader into all sorts of directions. Dunne is very clever at throwing red herrings into the mix and sending you off into different directions as you try to get a grip on proceedings.
Death Do Us Part is a cleverly plotted tale and is very much character led in Dunne's inimitable fashion. I actually in this instance worked out the end, well some of it anyways!! And that's rare for one of Dunne's books. I was actually quite pleased with myself!! This isn't my favourite read of the series, that's still The Unquiet Grave, a top class gem of a book. But this is still top notch crime mystery solving that's intricate and very well told.
Brook is like a comfortable coat..... you know what you're going to get and relax into it with ease. I do wonder if The Reaper story arc will ever be put to bed ..... or will it always be a nasty thorn in DI Brook's side ..... I guess only Dunne knows the answer to that one!!
Highly recommend.
I have to say after the previous book I was glad to see that book six in the series is back on form. DI Brook continues to be his irascible self in his quest to solve the mystery of two couples being shot in their home. Together with his team, and the ever present sergeant Noble, Brook approaches the case with his usual levels of diligence. Brook is also drawn to what should be now a cold case of the Black Farm murders. Terri, his daughter is having problems and drinking too much. Seeing things she shouldn't circumstances start to compound and roads start intermingling that throws the reader into all sorts of directions. Dunne is very clever at throwing red herrings into the mix and sending you off into different directions as you try to get a grip on proceedings.
Death Do Us Part is a cleverly plotted tale and is very much character led in Dunne's inimitable fashion. I actually in this instance worked out the end, well some of it anyways!! And that's rare for one of Dunne's books. I was actually quite pleased with myself!! This isn't my favourite read of the series, that's still The Unquiet Grave, a top class gem of a book. But this is still top notch crime mystery solving that's intricate and very well told.
Brook is like a comfortable coat..... you know what you're going to get and relax into it with ease. I do wonder if The Reaper story arc will ever be put to bed ..... or will it always be a nasty thorn in DI Brook's side ..... I guess only Dunne knows the answer to that one!!
Highly recommend.
August 6, 2016
I received this book from Netgalley/the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Where the hell have I been #bookjunkies!? Some one needs to slap me upside the head as I cannot believe it has taken me so long to read one of Steven Dunne’s books! And in typical CrimeBookJunkie fashion, I have started from the latest — Book 6 in the #DIDamenBrook series — but luckily, they (in the main) can be read as a standalone! #MyBad!!
Set in Derby, I was immediately hooked from the very first few pages. This author really knows how to capture his readers attention! In terms of the themes you will come across, well there is love, loss, betrayal, grief, PTSD, haunting memories, unresolved issues and mental health — to name but a few. The story-line is littered with various ploys to keep the readers interest piqued at all times.
The plot itself was cleverly written, with red-herrings being thrown at you — I was even stumped at times! Pace-perfect, I was never left feeling that any aspect of this story was dragging. And holy bejesus #bookjunkies – just when I thought I had it all figured out, the author threw another corker of a twist into the mix…and then another! WTAF?!?- The OMFG’s were flying out of my mouth!
I loved the style of writing in this book. The author’s voice was clear and the narrative compelling. The references to #The Reaper left me aching to read this book — so much so, I nearly stopped reading to go back to where it all started! But I never felt that anything was missing and I think it is fair to say, that I WILL be going back to the start fairly soon as I need to know what this Reaper is all about. Now that is great writing!
I always say this, but if you read my reviews, you will know that characters are my #BigThing. A character has to get under my skin, grab me, take me on their journey — or else, well…I just don’t connect with the book. Fortunately I loved the characters in this book and they did all of the above! The fact that Mr Dunne has left me wanting for more….well job done….I am a #Fan!
DI Damen Brook is meticulous, honest and a down right decent guy– but he does have his demons and he is, for me, “Columbo-like” in his breakdown of solving a crime. He deconstructs and then builds up the crime in order to solve it. He throws things out to his team and lets them draw their own conclusions and he is determined to ensure that justice is meted out. I have come across other reviews where people comment that they want something good/happy for DI Brook — sure, I guess that would be nice — but I think he may lose the edge he has- he almost, in a twisted way, thrives on his demons — and just does not fully realise it, in my opinion. Or maybe I am just mean! One of my favourite lines from this book was when Brook said to Caskey: “You see, I realised our dreams exist to house our demons. We may not like it, but as long as we wake up in the morning, we’re fine”. I have no idea why I was drawn to it — but I was– and it has stuck with me!
I also adore DS Noble. The relationship between Noble and Brook is great. Loyalty, friendship and concern is mutual in this relationship, along with respect. Brook’s daughter, Terri, also highlighted the different relationships…and demons….Brook has in his life. Wanting to protect his daughter and let her know how he feels, often backfires. Terri has her own demons to face and I am looking forward to seeing where this develops in future books. I could choose a dozen or more characters that I adored, even the not-so-nice ones– like Luke Coulson — who has a vulnerability that you just can’t help feel sorry for him — but then this review might never end– so I will leave it at that and hope that your interest has been grabbed enough to check them all out yourself!
So in case it was not obvious….this book…and no doubt this series….bloody well ROCKS! I dare you to read this book and not go out and buy the rest of the series It just cannot be done! And I can only apologise for my own foolishness in not picking this up sooner…but you know what …for all of you who HAVE read it….the best is yet to come for me…SO THERE! Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Naaaah!
A highly recommended read, get yourselves to amazon for a copy of this truly superb piece of crime fiction! EEEEEEEEK! ( you did not think I would end this with at least one EEEK did ya?)
Where the hell have I been #bookjunkies!? Some one needs to slap me upside the head as I cannot believe it has taken me so long to read one of Steven Dunne’s books! And in typical CrimeBookJunkie fashion, I have started from the latest — Book 6 in the #DIDamenBrook series — but luckily, they (in the main) can be read as a standalone! #MyBad!!
Set in Derby, I was immediately hooked from the very first few pages. This author really knows how to capture his readers attention! In terms of the themes you will come across, well there is love, loss, betrayal, grief, PTSD, haunting memories, unresolved issues and mental health — to name but a few. The story-line is littered with various ploys to keep the readers interest piqued at all times.
The plot itself was cleverly written, with red-herrings being thrown at you — I was even stumped at times! Pace-perfect, I was never left feeling that any aspect of this story was dragging. And holy bejesus #bookjunkies – just when I thought I had it all figured out, the author threw another corker of a twist into the mix…and then another! WTAF?!?- The OMFG’s were flying out of my mouth!
I loved the style of writing in this book. The author’s voice was clear and the narrative compelling. The references to #The Reaper left me aching to read this book — so much so, I nearly stopped reading to go back to where it all started! But I never felt that anything was missing and I think it is fair to say, that I WILL be going back to the start fairly soon as I need to know what this Reaper is all about. Now that is great writing!
I always say this, but if you read my reviews, you will know that characters are my #BigThing. A character has to get under my skin, grab me, take me on their journey — or else, well…I just don’t connect with the book. Fortunately I loved the characters in this book and they did all of the above! The fact that Mr Dunne has left me wanting for more….well job done….I am a #Fan!
DI Damen Brook is meticulous, honest and a down right decent guy– but he does have his demons and he is, for me, “Columbo-like” in his breakdown of solving a crime. He deconstructs and then builds up the crime in order to solve it. He throws things out to his team and lets them draw their own conclusions and he is determined to ensure that justice is meted out. I have come across other reviews where people comment that they want something good/happy for DI Brook — sure, I guess that would be nice — but I think he may lose the edge he has- he almost, in a twisted way, thrives on his demons — and just does not fully realise it, in my opinion. Or maybe I am just mean! One of my favourite lines from this book was when Brook said to Caskey: “You see, I realised our dreams exist to house our demons. We may not like it, but as long as we wake up in the morning, we’re fine”. I have no idea why I was drawn to it — but I was– and it has stuck with me!
I also adore DS Noble. The relationship between Noble and Brook is great. Loyalty, friendship and concern is mutual in this relationship, along with respect. Brook’s daughter, Terri, also highlighted the different relationships…and demons….Brook has in his life. Wanting to protect his daughter and let her know how he feels, often backfires. Terri has her own demons to face and I am looking forward to seeing where this develops in future books. I could choose a dozen or more characters that I adored, even the not-so-nice ones– like Luke Coulson — who has a vulnerability that you just can’t help feel sorry for him — but then this review might never end– so I will leave it at that and hope that your interest has been grabbed enough to check them all out yourself!
So in case it was not obvious….this book…and no doubt this series….bloody well ROCKS! I dare you to read this book and not go out and buy the rest of the series It just cannot be done! And I can only apologise for my own foolishness in not picking this up sooner…but you know what …for all of you who HAVE read it….the best is yet to come for me…SO THERE! Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Naaaah!
A highly recommended read, get yourselves to amazon for a copy of this truly superb piece of crime fiction! EEEEEEEEK! ( you did not think I would end this with at least one EEEK did ya?)
September 18, 2016
You can read lots of books but in the end quality trumps quantity every time. If you don't read a book like this during the year you haven'y read enough books yet.
At last a complicated thriller with more twists and turns than the winner of strictly come dancing. Firmly based in the countryside around Derby it is a novel with a heart and a rich grittiness that fully absorbs your mind, spirit and very being.
This is the 6th outing for DI Damen Brook and DS John Noble and is a a police procedural that needs its leader as much as the loyalty of the team. Brook has his demons and they are challenged here as never before. This book, one of the best so far, could easily be read as a standalone, however, for fans of Steven Dunne's earlier books there are snippets and throwbacks to his earlier cases. This enriches the reading experience and allows me to relax into the novel, gently led among the mayhem by an author I trust and knows his art, from canvas to paints. So his plot is tight and multifacitated and his words informing, enlightening and revealing.
A story full of loving characters whose passions sometimes spill over in violence and self-distruction. Yet, their normality brings the crimes closer to home and the reader can identify with a thriller that could happen in their own neighbourhood. This simplicity of telling a story is the skill the author has in abundance and makes the terror, the thrills and the complex mystery all the more credible.
The outline is simple. Police officers under pressure. Detectives incompetent and under more pressure. Couples being murdered for no obvious reason; suspects aplenty and motives galore while Brook wrestles with his failing relationship with his daughter and a letter from his past that endangers his focus and ability to concentrate on the hear and now.
Brilliant, life affirming and based on relationships and why things breakdown. Don't be surprised if more crimes are revealed and your opinions move in and out of focus like a poor telescope at the seaside that clears just as the 20p runs out.
However, I assure you, if you enjoy reading, this is a journey that you will not want to miss. For some the joy is the destination, reaching the end of the book, completing the read. For me it is the process, the experience of the story as it unfolds and tests you along the way.
The best news is Dunne is one of just a few authors that satifies both aspects of reading pleasure in that he is so thorough, so precise in creating that puzzles and revealing it with skill and timing. He wastes not one word and in the process weaves a mystery that will both amaze and satisfy even a casual reader. The determined fan of the crime mystery will purr and satiate at its conclusion and know they have read one of the best books of 2016.
At last a complicated thriller with more twists and turns than the winner of strictly come dancing. Firmly based in the countryside around Derby it is a novel with a heart and a rich grittiness that fully absorbs your mind, spirit and very being.
This is the 6th outing for DI Damen Brook and DS John Noble and is a a police procedural that needs its leader as much as the loyalty of the team. Brook has his demons and they are challenged here as never before. This book, one of the best so far, could easily be read as a standalone, however, for fans of Steven Dunne's earlier books there are snippets and throwbacks to his earlier cases. This enriches the reading experience and allows me to relax into the novel, gently led among the mayhem by an author I trust and knows his art, from canvas to paints. So his plot is tight and multifacitated and his words informing, enlightening and revealing.
A story full of loving characters whose passions sometimes spill over in violence and self-distruction. Yet, their normality brings the crimes closer to home and the reader can identify with a thriller that could happen in their own neighbourhood. This simplicity of telling a story is the skill the author has in abundance and makes the terror, the thrills and the complex mystery all the more credible.
The outline is simple. Police officers under pressure. Detectives incompetent and under more pressure. Couples being murdered for no obvious reason; suspects aplenty and motives galore while Brook wrestles with his failing relationship with his daughter and a letter from his past that endangers his focus and ability to concentrate on the hear and now.
Brilliant, life affirming and based on relationships and why things breakdown. Don't be surprised if more crimes are revealed and your opinions move in and out of focus like a poor telescope at the seaside that clears just as the 20p runs out.
However, I assure you, if you enjoy reading, this is a journey that you will not want to miss. For some the joy is the destination, reaching the end of the book, completing the read. For me it is the process, the experience of the story as it unfolds and tests you along the way.
The best news is Dunne is one of just a few authors that satifies both aspects of reading pleasure in that he is so thorough, so precise in creating that puzzles and revealing it with skill and timing. He wastes not one word and in the process weaves a mystery that will both amaze and satisfy even a casual reader. The determined fan of the crime mystery will purr and satiate at its conclusion and know they have read one of the best books of 2016.
April 27, 2016
Always been a fan of the Brook series me, this one was a corker. I’m liking them more and more with each passing book. Bang on crime fiction is what this is.
Anyway, theres probably not an awful lot I can say that I havent said before on these, Death Do Us Part was pretty much what I’ve come to expect from this author – good solid beautiful writing, plots with cohesive and addictive quality and a bunch of realistically flawed characters both heroes and villains.
The two elements that go into the making of a brilliant crime series – individual cases with twisty turny plots and ongoing life development for our returning favourites – are both here in spades. I have a massive book crush on Brook – in this novel his challenging and ever changing relationship with his daughter comes into much sharper focus and made up some of my favourite parts of this particular instalment.
On the mystery front there are several levels here, as ever Steven Dunne takes us all round the houses, back again, then through some woods for good measure – prepare for muddy boots as you attempt to unravel all the threads that lead to a resolution. It is fast, pacy yet intuitive puzzle making and Brook sits at the heart of it with his unique perception and values that have grown over time. Things creep up on you and the emotional core that I have to have in a book for it to engage me is here as it always is so really I have nothing to complain about at all.
Well except now I have to wait for more. Really. Its just not on.
Highly Recommended
Anyway, theres probably not an awful lot I can say that I havent said before on these, Death Do Us Part was pretty much what I’ve come to expect from this author – good solid beautiful writing, plots with cohesive and addictive quality and a bunch of realistically flawed characters both heroes and villains.
The two elements that go into the making of a brilliant crime series – individual cases with twisty turny plots and ongoing life development for our returning favourites – are both here in spades. I have a massive book crush on Brook – in this novel his challenging and ever changing relationship with his daughter comes into much sharper focus and made up some of my favourite parts of this particular instalment.
On the mystery front there are several levels here, as ever Steven Dunne takes us all round the houses, back again, then through some woods for good measure – prepare for muddy boots as you attempt to unravel all the threads that lead to a resolution. It is fast, pacy yet intuitive puzzle making and Brook sits at the heart of it with his unique perception and values that have grown over time. Things creep up on you and the emotional core that I have to have in a book for it to engage me is here as it always is so really I have nothing to complain about at all.
Well except now I have to wait for more. Really. Its just not on.
Highly Recommended
January 31, 2018
This is a secondhand bought book but the inscription by its writer was kind of unsettling:
To Mark.......Hope you enjoy the book, Mate............ Steven Dunne
Thanks mate I never met you but the inscription was kind of nice and Yes I did enjoy your book.
The book started of being quite exceptional with this personal little message for a certain other Mark, I am not sure I could do away a book with such a message for me. Not even a poor book. But it was kind of fun, as my wife asked me when I met Mr Dunne, which I never did.
Anyhow the book starts of with a detective who has taken a short holiday to bond with his daughter who is seriously drinking half the day away. When he gets a request from his superiour to take up the lead in a murder-case that seems to be the work of serial killer. Killing couples together letting them enter the hereafter together at the same time. (My heart sunk, it seems that most books are doing the serial killer these days and they tend to be poor in execution) He is taling over from a DI who is 4 weeks away from retirement but does not want to sail into the sunset, hence some office politics dropped into the mix.
The story contains an alarming amount of bigotry, not by its main character I would like to add, and while that might be the current case in the British police-force it does annoy me when people who should be looking at case that needs decent policing are caught up in their own pet issues.
Mr Dunne does write a decent thriller which contains some nice twists in the last 50 odd pages of the book, it took a long time getting there. But the journey was actually quite well worth the while. I would recommend this book easily to other readers, I found I had no need to know about the first 5 books whenever an issue popped up it was no big deal, only an appetizer.
Cheers Mr Dunne I did enjoy the book even if I was not the original Mark
To Mark.......Hope you enjoy the book, Mate............ Steven Dunne
Thanks mate I never met you but the inscription was kind of nice and Yes I did enjoy your book.
The book started of being quite exceptional with this personal little message for a certain other Mark, I am not sure I could do away a book with such a message for me. Not even a poor book. But it was kind of fun, as my wife asked me when I met Mr Dunne, which I never did.
Anyhow the book starts of with a detective who has taken a short holiday to bond with his daughter who is seriously drinking half the day away. When he gets a request from his superiour to take up the lead in a murder-case that seems to be the work of serial killer. Killing couples together letting them enter the hereafter together at the same time. (My heart sunk, it seems that most books are doing the serial killer these days and they tend to be poor in execution) He is taling over from a DI who is 4 weeks away from retirement but does not want to sail into the sunset, hence some office politics dropped into the mix.
The story contains an alarming amount of bigotry, not by its main character I would like to add, and while that might be the current case in the British police-force it does annoy me when people who should be looking at case that needs decent policing are caught up in their own pet issues.
Mr Dunne does write a decent thriller which contains some nice twists in the last 50 odd pages of the book, it took a long time getting there. But the journey was actually quite well worth the while. I would recommend this book easily to other readers, I found I had no need to know about the first 5 books whenever an issue popped up it was no big deal, only an appetizer.
Cheers Mr Dunne I did enjoy the book even if I was not the original Mark
August 17, 2016
I love this series and from the first book, The Reaper, I have (wrongly) thought that each one cannot be topped, the last book A Killing Moon was phenomenal and I worried that Steven Dunne simply couldn't raise his game higher than that - I was, I am delighted to say, very wrong!!
Death Do Us Part has the usual skillful writing and brilliantly paced, twisty plot which led me to identifying and re-assessing who the killer was time and time again. The characters are vivid and realistic - I love the partnership with Noble which is becoming more central to each book, and the personal storyline with his daughter which runs throughout the series.
Just when you think you can relax into the unravelling of the mystery, Steven Dunne trips you into one of the most breathtaking 'reveals' I can ever remember reading!! -- Bravo - so very, very clever!! Unreserved 5 stars - just read it!! Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for the ARC
Death Do Us Part has the usual skillful writing and brilliantly paced, twisty plot which led me to identifying and re-assessing who the killer was time and time again. The characters are vivid and realistic - I love the partnership with Noble which is becoming more central to each book, and the personal storyline with his daughter which runs throughout the series.
Just when you think you can relax into the unravelling of the mystery, Steven Dunne trips you into one of the most breathtaking 'reveals' I can ever remember reading!! -- Bravo - so very, very clever!! Unreserved 5 stars - just read it!! Many thanks to Headline and Netgalley for the ARC
May 12, 2016
Well this book was LITERALLY too hot to handle for me! As I was sitting reading it in the garden, I got to 94% and my kindle switched itself off as it was overheating! Thankfully a nice cool down indoors did the trick and an hour later I was able to finish, what is in my opinion, the best in the DI Damon Brook series so far!
Well, as if Brook doesn't have enough to worry about trying to establish a reconnection with his daughter Terri, he is called upon to solve the murder of an elderly couple in their own home. They have been shot, each with a single shot and they had been drinking champagne shortly before their deaths. Brook sees a possible connection with the murder of a gay couple recently and so sets about in his usual methodical way to investigate further. But is the truth a little closer to home than he is expecting?
I definitely think this is my favourite so far, I do love Brook! I think what makes me connect to him is that he just seems so.....normal!! I like his down to earth approach to his job and the way he admits that he can't delegate, it just makes him seem more realistic. And I like the way the plot follows the conversations he has with his colleagues so you can actually see his thought process throughout the case. I like dialogue! As usual we get to follow Brooks personal life as well and I found the relationship he had with Terri to be rather touching, the text messages that he sends her are just so typical of a father trying to do his best with his adult daughter, a relationship that can be a difficult at times. There are a few other usual players here as well and it felt like I had never been away from Brook and his colleagues-it was like settling back in with friends that you hadn't seen for a long time but as soon as you're together again, it's like nothing has changed!
The plot here is a cracker and I thought I had it all figured out but no. It's a really twisty tale that makes you think "oh I get it" then realise that you actually don't! Incredibly well thought out and brilliantly brought together. And that ending!!!!! I don't think I dared breathe for that last 6%!! This is easily one of my favourite detective series so now I feel quite low that it's all over for another book and I have to wait for the next. Patience really isn't my strong point!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Well, as if Brook doesn't have enough to worry about trying to establish a reconnection with his daughter Terri, he is called upon to solve the murder of an elderly couple in their own home. They have been shot, each with a single shot and they had been drinking champagne shortly before their deaths. Brook sees a possible connection with the murder of a gay couple recently and so sets about in his usual methodical way to investigate further. But is the truth a little closer to home than he is expecting?
I definitely think this is my favourite so far, I do love Brook! I think what makes me connect to him is that he just seems so.....normal!! I like his down to earth approach to his job and the way he admits that he can't delegate, it just makes him seem more realistic. And I like the way the plot follows the conversations he has with his colleagues so you can actually see his thought process throughout the case. I like dialogue! As usual we get to follow Brooks personal life as well and I found the relationship he had with Terri to be rather touching, the text messages that he sends her are just so typical of a father trying to do his best with his adult daughter, a relationship that can be a difficult at times. There are a few other usual players here as well and it felt like I had never been away from Brook and his colleagues-it was like settling back in with friends that you hadn't seen for a long time but as soon as you're together again, it's like nothing has changed!
The plot here is a cracker and I thought I had it all figured out but no. It's a really twisty tale that makes you think "oh I get it" then realise that you actually don't! Incredibly well thought out and brilliantly brought together. And that ending!!!!! I don't think I dared breathe for that last 6%!! This is easily one of my favourite detective series so now I feel quite low that it's all over for another book and I have to wait for the next. Patience really isn't my strong point!
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
May 7, 2016
My sincere thanks to NetGalley, Headline and Steven Dunne for an advanced review copy of 'Death Do Us Part' in exchange for an honest review.
This book blew me away, metaphorically speaking. From the high octane (yes - I'm actually using that phrase to describe the opening of this particular novel) first couple of chapters, the action is relentless and is one of the best police procedurals I have read in a good while.
I'll be completely honest here - I wasn't overly impressed with the previous book in this wonderful series. I was starting to think that DI Damon Brook was starting to lose his shine and so I was rather sceptical when I started out with 'Death Do Us Part'. My scepticism vanished within the first couple of pages and I now feel stupid for having ever doubted the talent for storytelling that is Steven Dunne. I've read the entire Damon Brook series and this latest offering is by far my favourite. I loved it and I cannot stress that enough.
Damon Brook seems to have got himself together quite a bit since his last outing and there's no escaping his qualities as a leader. He's cool, calm, collected and impossible to offend. I love that about him. Equally, I love his predilection for drinking tea and I find it a rather comforting quirk that his flask of tea goes everywhere with him. His ongoing tumultuous relationship with his daughter Terri features throughout this novel and I loved the way Terri's relationship with one of the main characters tied in nicely with the storyline. Brook's colleagues - his team - all are great characters in their own right and the bond that he shares with John Noble is an enjoyable one. It's as if we know Brook has demons (this is made clear in previous novels) but the loyalty he shares with his closest colleagues is testament to the unwavering good man that he is.
I found the story in 'Death Do Us Part' so gripping. Given that I love my thrillers to be shamelessly bloody, this didn't disappoint. The detail and accuracy that Dunne uses to describe the crime scenes he writes about gives authenticity and adds a whole lot of gritty realism to his novels. It's glaringly obvious that here is an author who does his research.
I thought I'd worked out the culprit about halfway through the novel, but with the help of a few cleverly introduced red herrings, I stopped trying to work things out and just got swept away with the enjoyment of a highly engaging and enjoyable novel, which kept me gripped until the very end.
If you haven't met Damon Brook yet, I'd urge you to go and discover him now. If you're familiar with him, you'll understand my enthusiastic ramblings and hopefully won't hesitate to give this 6th instalment a read. 'Death Do Us Part' - one of my favourite reads of the year so far, and more than deserving of a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.
This book blew me away, metaphorically speaking. From the high octane (yes - I'm actually using that phrase to describe the opening of this particular novel) first couple of chapters, the action is relentless and is one of the best police procedurals I have read in a good while.
I'll be completely honest here - I wasn't overly impressed with the previous book in this wonderful series. I was starting to think that DI Damon Brook was starting to lose his shine and so I was rather sceptical when I started out with 'Death Do Us Part'. My scepticism vanished within the first couple of pages and I now feel stupid for having ever doubted the talent for storytelling that is Steven Dunne. I've read the entire Damon Brook series and this latest offering is by far my favourite. I loved it and I cannot stress that enough.
Damon Brook seems to have got himself together quite a bit since his last outing and there's no escaping his qualities as a leader. He's cool, calm, collected and impossible to offend. I love that about him. Equally, I love his predilection for drinking tea and I find it a rather comforting quirk that his flask of tea goes everywhere with him. His ongoing tumultuous relationship with his daughter Terri features throughout this novel and I loved the way Terri's relationship with one of the main characters tied in nicely with the storyline. Brook's colleagues - his team - all are great characters in their own right and the bond that he shares with John Noble is an enjoyable one. It's as if we know Brook has demons (this is made clear in previous novels) but the loyalty he shares with his closest colleagues is testament to the unwavering good man that he is.
I found the story in 'Death Do Us Part' so gripping. Given that I love my thrillers to be shamelessly bloody, this didn't disappoint. The detail and accuracy that Dunne uses to describe the crime scenes he writes about gives authenticity and adds a whole lot of gritty realism to his novels. It's glaringly obvious that here is an author who does his research.
I thought I'd worked out the culprit about halfway through the novel, but with the help of a few cleverly introduced red herrings, I stopped trying to work things out and just got swept away with the enjoyment of a highly engaging and enjoyable novel, which kept me gripped until the very end.
If you haven't met Damon Brook yet, I'd urge you to go and discover him now. If you're familiar with him, you'll understand my enthusiastic ramblings and hopefully won't hesitate to give this 6th instalment a read. 'Death Do Us Part' - one of my favourite reads of the year so far, and more than deserving of a 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.
July 31, 2016
DI Brook is on annual leave and enjoying spending time with his daughter, Terri, who is drinking heavily to help her deal with past trauma. However, Brook's assistance is required at a murder scene. An elderly couple have been shot in the heart & killed. This case shares similarities with another murder case involving a gay couple & as the lead detective is nearing retirement, Brook is forced to take the lead and cut short his leave. Brook believes he can catch the murderer but as he keeps being distracted by Terri, will he make a fatal mistake and lead the killer to his door?
I became a fan of DI Damen Brook last year. I read & reviewed 'A Killing Moon', which is the 5th book in the series, and I loved it. I then decided to read the series in sequence and I am so glad I did. However I managed to read them quite quickly, which left me (impatiently) waiting for my next DI Damen Brook fix. I enjoyed the first 5 books in the series and I had high hopes for 'Death Do Us Part'. I was not to be disappointed as I LOVED it. I was gripped from the very first word on the very first page and I was entranced until the very last word of the very last page. 'Death Do Us Part' really is a CPID (can't put it down) book & it's the first time in a long time that I read almost non stop from getting up to going to bed. I even resented having to break off from reading to take my dogs out.
I 'got' DI Brook from the start as he reminded me of somebody close to me. He is a highly intelligent man of a certain age, who is a bit of a dinosaur in a lot of respects. Brook has traditional values and he is resistant to too much change. Brook will work with his superiors but he doesn't respect them. It's true that Brook has suffered with a mental illness and he certainly doesn't hide it although his peers throw it in his face on several occasions. Brook claims to have no friends but he enjoys a close working relationship with DS Noble, who is his trusty sidekick. You could say they have a bit of a 'bromance' going on. Brook thinks that the old ways were the best ways and to achieve a successful outcome, you sometimes need to bend the rules slightly. Brook doesn't care what people think of him but if any harm comes to those he cares about then he 'splits his shirt' so to speak.
In short I LOVED this book and I would definitely recommend this book to others. When you pick up a book by Steven Dunne you are guaranteed a thought provoking, action packed, dramatic, tense & nail biting read. Steven Dunne (or Sir Steven Dunne as he is known in THE Book Club on Facebook) really is a fantastic author, who fully deserves wider recognition and to be up there with the 'crime writing greats'.
I became a fan of DI Damen Brook last year. I read & reviewed 'A Killing Moon', which is the 5th book in the series, and I loved it. I then decided to read the series in sequence and I am so glad I did. However I managed to read them quite quickly, which left me (impatiently) waiting for my next DI Damen Brook fix. I enjoyed the first 5 books in the series and I had high hopes for 'Death Do Us Part'. I was not to be disappointed as I LOVED it. I was gripped from the very first word on the very first page and I was entranced until the very last word of the very last page. 'Death Do Us Part' really is a CPID (can't put it down) book & it's the first time in a long time that I read almost non stop from getting up to going to bed. I even resented having to break off from reading to take my dogs out.
I 'got' DI Brook from the start as he reminded me of somebody close to me. He is a highly intelligent man of a certain age, who is a bit of a dinosaur in a lot of respects. Brook has traditional values and he is resistant to too much change. Brook will work with his superiors but he doesn't respect them. It's true that Brook has suffered with a mental illness and he certainly doesn't hide it although his peers throw it in his face on several occasions. Brook claims to have no friends but he enjoys a close working relationship with DS Noble, who is his trusty sidekick. You could say they have a bit of a 'bromance' going on. Brook thinks that the old ways were the best ways and to achieve a successful outcome, you sometimes need to bend the rules slightly. Brook doesn't care what people think of him but if any harm comes to those he cares about then he 'splits his shirt' so to speak.
In short I LOVED this book and I would definitely recommend this book to others. When you pick up a book by Steven Dunne you are guaranteed a thought provoking, action packed, dramatic, tense & nail biting read. Steven Dunne (or Sir Steven Dunne as he is known in THE Book Club on Facebook) really is a fantastic author, who fully deserves wider recognition and to be up there with the 'crime writing greats'.
April 23, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Headline for an advance copy of Death Do Us Part, a police procedural set in Derby and the 6th outing for DI Damen Brooke. Brooke is on holiday spending time with his troubled daughter when he is called in to replace DI Ford who is due for retirement and investigate the murder of an elderly couple, which appears to have links to Ford's investigation into the murder of a gay couple the previous month. Ford and his team aren't happy, Terri, Brooke's daughter, isn't happy and Brooke gets on with it. In the middle of all this Brooke gets a letter from a lifer saying that Luke Coulson is not responsible for two of the three murders at Black Oak Farm a year earlier and another of Ford's cases. Brooke's curiosity is aroused.
What a great read Death Do Us Part is. I love a good police procedural and this has it all, smart but flawed protagonist, a twisting plot with suspect upon suspect, realistic dialogue, some bad feeling and personal complications to add a little spice to the narrative.
The plot is a masterpiece of twisted thinking, some of it I guessed, most of it I didn't and is extremely clever - it would hurt my brain to come up with it - and yet it unrolls in a natural way as the team uncovers more information and puts what they have together.
Damen Brooke seems very together in this novel (I have read all but the previous one). He is comfortable in his skin, impervious to insult, dedicated to solving crime and very likeable. It is also good that he has a loyal, competent team behind him. His Achilles Heel is his daughter, Terri who, quite frankly, is a selfish little madam, self absorbed and immature. I understand she was abused as a teenager but she has made no attempt to help herself and takes it all out on her dad. Deeply unpleasant.
I think Death Do Us Part is a very impressive read and Mr Dunne is becoming one of my must read authors so I heartily recommend it.
What a great read Death Do Us Part is. I love a good police procedural and this has it all, smart but flawed protagonist, a twisting plot with suspect upon suspect, realistic dialogue, some bad feeling and personal complications to add a little spice to the narrative.
The plot is a masterpiece of twisted thinking, some of it I guessed, most of it I didn't and is extremely clever - it would hurt my brain to come up with it - and yet it unrolls in a natural way as the team uncovers more information and puts what they have together.
Damen Brooke seems very together in this novel (I have read all but the previous one). He is comfortable in his skin, impervious to insult, dedicated to solving crime and very likeable. It is also good that he has a loyal, competent team behind him. His Achilles Heel is his daughter, Terri who, quite frankly, is a selfish little madam, self absorbed and immature. I understand she was abused as a teenager but she has made no attempt to help herself and takes it all out on her dad. Deeply unpleasant.
I think Death Do Us Part is a very impressive read and Mr Dunne is becoming one of my must read authors so I heartily recommend it.
October 5, 2016
I read a lot of crime fiction, and I'm quite picky about what I like. In my eyes, Steven Dunne can do no wrong, His writing is precise and his plotting is utterly compelling, believable and incredibly fine-tuned. However, it is his characters and how they develop and grow throughout the story that really excel. DI Damen Brook is a damaged, troubled individual who faces his own demons throughout this book, yet manages to care more about his colleagues and the victims of the crimes he is investigating than he does about himself. And, this may be his eventual downfall, who knows? His fraught relationship with his daughter Terri is a story on its own and is so cleverly interwoven into the plot.
In Death Us Do Part, Steven Dunne deals with up to the minute, serious issues that can affect all walks of life. Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, grief, mental health, dysfunctional families and intricate working relationships are all brought to the front, each issue impacting on the way that the plot develops.
What at first seems to be a random double-murder soon turns into something much more complicated and Brook is called in from his annual leave to work on the case. It has become clear that the senior detective already assigned to the case is not only tired and becoming incapable, but is biased and dismissive of some of the victims. Being asked to take over the case is difficult for Brook who has struggled to be accepted since his breakdown some years ago. However, his team are loyal and their working relationships are strong, and Brook is determined that he will solve this case.
I urge everyone who hasn't yet read Steven Dunne to go out now, buy the book, buy the whole series, you really will not be disappointed.
Classy, solid and incredibly well plotted. Characters who are robust and reliable. This is crime fiction as it should be.
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In Death Us Do Part, Steven Dunne deals with up to the minute, serious issues that can affect all walks of life. Post Traumatic Stress Disorders, grief, mental health, dysfunctional families and intricate working relationships are all brought to the front, each issue impacting on the way that the plot develops.
What at first seems to be a random double-murder soon turns into something much more complicated and Brook is called in from his annual leave to work on the case. It has become clear that the senior detective already assigned to the case is not only tired and becoming incapable, but is biased and dismissive of some of the victims. Being asked to take over the case is difficult for Brook who has struggled to be accepted since his breakdown some years ago. However, his team are loyal and their working relationships are strong, and Brook is determined that he will solve this case.
I urge everyone who hasn't yet read Steven Dunne to go out now, buy the book, buy the whole series, you really will not be disappointed.
Classy, solid and incredibly well plotted. Characters who are robust and reliable. This is crime fiction as it should be.
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May 3, 2016
I am a huge fan of Steven Dunne's writing and have been waiting for the 6th of the DI Damen Brook series to arrive. I opened the first chapter with a lot of excitement, a little nervousness and two questions in my head. Firstly, would the 6th book be as good as the others? And secondly, books one (The Reaper) to five (A Killing Moon) just got better and better as the series went along, so could the author sustain the improvement?
The answer? A big, fat, resounding YES on both counts!
This is crime fiction at its very, very best. As always, the characters are wonderful - Brook and Noble are fantastic and the cast of supporting characters are well-developed. The plot is complex and twisty and keeps you guessing right to the end. However, the thing that, for me, always sets Steven Dunne's books apart from the others is that the quality of the writing is just so high.
I can't praise this series of books enough and I will recommend them to anyone. By all means start with this one, I believe that it reads well as a stand-alone book, but if you want a real treat then start with The Reaper and share in the growth of a brilliant set of characters, fantastic plots and some of the very best writing in this genre today.
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an advanced review copy of Death Do Us Part in exchange for an honest review.
The answer? A big, fat, resounding YES on both counts!
This is crime fiction at its very, very best. As always, the characters are wonderful - Brook and Noble are fantastic and the cast of supporting characters are well-developed. The plot is complex and twisty and keeps you guessing right to the end. However, the thing that, for me, always sets Steven Dunne's books apart from the others is that the quality of the writing is just so high.
I can't praise this series of books enough and I will recommend them to anyone. By all means start with this one, I believe that it reads well as a stand-alone book, but if you want a real treat then start with The Reaper and share in the growth of a brilliant set of characters, fantastic plots and some of the very best writing in this genre today.
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline for an advanced review copy of Death Do Us Part in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2016
Just when you think an author can't get any better - they knock you flying! Just put down Death Do Us Part by the fantastic Steven Dunne and five stars just does not do this justice - I'm awarding it 7 stars out of 5!
What an awesome roller coaster of a ride that book was - so many twists and turns that my head was spinning!
The relationship between Brook and Noble strengthens with every book in the series and they compliment each other so well, Brook leads his team and although he's a "damaged detective" he is a strong and fair character. I'm not afraid to admit I've got a bit of a girl crush going on with Brook!
We get to see a bit more of Brook's daughter, Terri, in this book and she's a thorny wee character - comes across as really unlikeable but I don't know - she kind of gets under your skin - looking forward to see how things pan out between her and Brook.
This book had me glued to the pages and unable to put it down, heart pounding moments and laughter too as I love Brook's social awkwardness and his comebacks to others.
Excellent, solid plot, believable characters and brilliant work from Steven Dunne once again - this author deserves recognition for this series - it's a travesty that he is not in the best seller list! Cannot recommend highly enough!
What an awesome roller coaster of a ride that book was - so many twists and turns that my head was spinning!
The relationship between Brook and Noble strengthens with every book in the series and they compliment each other so well, Brook leads his team and although he's a "damaged detective" he is a strong and fair character. I'm not afraid to admit I've got a bit of a girl crush going on with Brook!
We get to see a bit more of Brook's daughter, Terri, in this book and she's a thorny wee character - comes across as really unlikeable but I don't know - she kind of gets under your skin - looking forward to see how things pan out between her and Brook.
This book had me glued to the pages and unable to put it down, heart pounding moments and laughter too as I love Brook's social awkwardness and his comebacks to others.
Excellent, solid plot, believable characters and brilliant work from Steven Dunne once again - this author deserves recognition for this series - it's a travesty that he is not in the best seller list! Cannot recommend highly enough!
September 11, 2024
I really enjoyed this one; multiple murders to solve and interesting characters to solve them.
June 12, 2016
I shockingly only read my first Steven Dunne book last year and that was the brilliant A Killing Moon (and the paperback version has my quote inside, which excited me greatly when I stumbled across it at the library!). I therefore couldn't wait to read Death Do Us Part when I requested it on NetGalley. For me the bar was set very high by Steven with his previous book but I think had I read all of his previous work, then I would probably be calling this book 'his best one yet' because it kept me thoroughly engrossed the whole way through and it was a very late night (or early morning) when I turned the final page.
I found DI Damen Brook to be a very interesting character in A Killing Moon and he was one I was looking forward to meeting again. In this latest instalment he has his work cut out for him both personally and professionally. Personally as he is attempting to reconnect with his daughter Terri who has a drinking problem, and he's attempting to get a handle on that when his presence is requested at a local murder scene. A scene which results in him taking on another murder case because the current officer in charge is nearing retirement. Not a lucky day for Brook. The case centres around the murders of first a middle-aged gay couple and the an elderly couple who were also murdered in the same way: a single gunshot to the heart. Straightaway I knew this would soon become an addictive case to read about, because what could possibly connect the murders of two very different couples?
The team that Steven Dunne has created to work alongside Brook is just fantastic, and very believable, everything between them flows very naturally and whether its in the field or out of it, they are an enjoyable bunch of characters to read about. The whole series just works and feels fresh because it seems as though (and this is only my second read of a Steven Dunne novel) he is an author that likes to mix things up, and even just reading the blurbs of his previous books gives me a sense of how different each book is from the last. Yes, Brook is taking on a murder case but it's never just a bog standard, everyday case for him to solve. I have also come to realise that Steven isn't an author that I am even going to attempt to second guess. Instead I will sit back, be throughly entertained and let Brook do all the hard work. Readers of my blog will know that I like my crime fiction at the more gruesome end of the spectrum and Steven delivers on that front.
Some brilliant twists are delivered in this story that really test Brook personally and emotionally and his daughter plays a huge role in that. To connect with a series and its characters I think the author does have to push the boundaries and make sure that their characters are people that we can see as real people, and make them characters that we can really invest in. Then, when they have achieved that, they can go and place them in situations that have us as readers sitting their with our hearts in our mouths. The last third of this book was especially enjoyable (and immensely thrilling) and definitely left me wanting more from Damen Brook and so I simply must try and somehow fit the previous books in this series into my TBR. If you are yet to pick up Death Do Us Part, then please do so right away. A truly enjoyable police procedural that delivers on every level.
I found DI Damen Brook to be a very interesting character in A Killing Moon and he was one I was looking forward to meeting again. In this latest instalment he has his work cut out for him both personally and professionally. Personally as he is attempting to reconnect with his daughter Terri who has a drinking problem, and he's attempting to get a handle on that when his presence is requested at a local murder scene. A scene which results in him taking on another murder case because the current officer in charge is nearing retirement. Not a lucky day for Brook. The case centres around the murders of first a middle-aged gay couple and the an elderly couple who were also murdered in the same way: a single gunshot to the heart. Straightaway I knew this would soon become an addictive case to read about, because what could possibly connect the murders of two very different couples?
The team that Steven Dunne has created to work alongside Brook is just fantastic, and very believable, everything between them flows very naturally and whether its in the field or out of it, they are an enjoyable bunch of characters to read about. The whole series just works and feels fresh because it seems as though (and this is only my second read of a Steven Dunne novel) he is an author that likes to mix things up, and even just reading the blurbs of his previous books gives me a sense of how different each book is from the last. Yes, Brook is taking on a murder case but it's never just a bog standard, everyday case for him to solve. I have also come to realise that Steven isn't an author that I am even going to attempt to second guess. Instead I will sit back, be throughly entertained and let Brook do all the hard work. Readers of my blog will know that I like my crime fiction at the more gruesome end of the spectrum and Steven delivers on that front.
Some brilliant twists are delivered in this story that really test Brook personally and emotionally and his daughter plays a huge role in that. To connect with a series and its characters I think the author does have to push the boundaries and make sure that their characters are people that we can see as real people, and make them characters that we can really invest in. Then, when they have achieved that, they can go and place them in situations that have us as readers sitting their with our hearts in our mouths. The last third of this book was especially enjoyable (and immensely thrilling) and definitely left me wanting more from Damen Brook and so I simply must try and somehow fit the previous books in this series into my TBR. If you are yet to pick up Death Do Us Part, then please do so right away. A truly enjoyable police procedural that delivers on every level.
May 4, 2016
Reaper and Disciple were two of the first books I read when I got a Kindle and I loved them so much that I have avidly followed the series ever since.
I am always of the mind that series of books should be read in order to get the best as there are the usual back-stories as well as character development but the story contained within this book is complete and, as such, will work as a stand-alone novel.
We start this book with Damen Brook trying to take time off to bond with daughter Terri. They have somewhat of a strained relationship and Brook's job and Terri's drinking don't really help matters. But then, he is called in to take over a case from DI Ford, a fellow officer who is due for retirement and, as such, would be unwise to start a murder enquiry. An elderly couple have been found dead in their home and it soon becomes apparent that this case has similarities to one DI Ford and his team were already investigating. Meanwhile, Brook gets a letter from an old adversary, currently incarcerated, informing him that another of Ford's cases may not be as solved as everyone thinks it is and hints that Brook might like to take another look.
Sound convoluted? Well, that's cos it is. And I haven't even scratched the surface describing it. I couldn't do the wonderful twists and turns, connections and false leads justice. It had me completely spellbound as I read. I spent the majority of the book wondering where the heck Mr Dunne was going to take me next. But, he wasn't all cruel, there was enough information and connections drip fed throughout to keep my interest and I did have several OH! moments throughout which kept me satisfied. I did try to figure it out but after several futile attempts at doing this, I gave up and just let the book take me where it wanted. I began to think that the slave/master relationship between me and the book had shifted and I was now powerless to do anything about it. I am simply in awe of Brook as he manages to make sense of all the small things that others, including me, didn't notice. He really has a nose for this kind of thing and the skills and team behind him to make sense of the nonsensical sometimes.
And his team are definitely up to their usual standard - banter wise that is! I do love a good team ethic in a police procedural as I like the banter and camaraderie to keep the book balanced. Especially when the crimes are heinous like in this series. Too much sometimes is too much and without respite, could get too heavy. Overall, pacing is spot on.
All the characters created by this author are wonderfully described and very well fleshed out. The all come across as totally real and credible both in personality and behaviour. The ones that have been in previous books continue to develop and mature as the series goes on and I do like that as it reflects real life. No one really stays the same forever.
So, all in all, another brilliant addition to another one of my top 5 series of books. Only bad thing I can say is that now I have to wait for the next one.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I am always of the mind that series of books should be read in order to get the best as there are the usual back-stories as well as character development but the story contained within this book is complete and, as such, will work as a stand-alone novel.
We start this book with Damen Brook trying to take time off to bond with daughter Terri. They have somewhat of a strained relationship and Brook's job and Terri's drinking don't really help matters. But then, he is called in to take over a case from DI Ford, a fellow officer who is due for retirement and, as such, would be unwise to start a murder enquiry. An elderly couple have been found dead in their home and it soon becomes apparent that this case has similarities to one DI Ford and his team were already investigating. Meanwhile, Brook gets a letter from an old adversary, currently incarcerated, informing him that another of Ford's cases may not be as solved as everyone thinks it is and hints that Brook might like to take another look.
Sound convoluted? Well, that's cos it is. And I haven't even scratched the surface describing it. I couldn't do the wonderful twists and turns, connections and false leads justice. It had me completely spellbound as I read. I spent the majority of the book wondering where the heck Mr Dunne was going to take me next. But, he wasn't all cruel, there was enough information and connections drip fed throughout to keep my interest and I did have several OH! moments throughout which kept me satisfied. I did try to figure it out but after several futile attempts at doing this, I gave up and just let the book take me where it wanted. I began to think that the slave/master relationship between me and the book had shifted and I was now powerless to do anything about it. I am simply in awe of Brook as he manages to make sense of all the small things that others, including me, didn't notice. He really has a nose for this kind of thing and the skills and team behind him to make sense of the nonsensical sometimes.
And his team are definitely up to their usual standard - banter wise that is! I do love a good team ethic in a police procedural as I like the banter and camaraderie to keep the book balanced. Especially when the crimes are heinous like in this series. Too much sometimes is too much and without respite, could get too heavy. Overall, pacing is spot on.
All the characters created by this author are wonderfully described and very well fleshed out. The all come across as totally real and credible both in personality and behaviour. The ones that have been in previous books continue to develop and mature as the series goes on and I do like that as it reflects real life. No one really stays the same forever.
So, all in all, another brilliant addition to another one of my top 5 series of books. Only bad thing I can say is that now I have to wait for the next one.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 1, 2016
DI Damen Brook gets his 6th outing in this brilliant new thriller set in and around Derby. He is on leave spending some time with his daughter Terri. His relationship with her has been difficult over the years and this time is no exception. She is drinking a lot and Brook's lack of social skills make it hard for him to connect with her.
Whilst on leave he is called in to assist on a murder investigation involving an elderly couple who have both been slain in their own home. Brook helps his team investigate and also looks into an earlier double murder of a gay couple which seems to be linked. The previous murder was investigated by DI Ford and his team and corners seem to have been cut and clues missed. Ford is forced to retire a month early and Brook takes over his cases. One of these is a triple homicide and rape at a farm: an elderly couple were murdered and their daughter assaulted. One of the perpatrators is in prison and the other was killed at the scene. Brook is directed by one of his own convicted murderers in the same prison to look again at Luke, the killer in the farm murders. Did he really do it? Brook's daughter becomes involved and this further complicates the investigation.
The plot twists and turns and just when you think you have worked out who the culprit is, another suspect is thrown into the mix.
One of the themes of the book is relationships: Brook's with his daughter, and other couples with their partners. How do people react when someone close to them dies?
This is a serial killer police procedural with many complications and plot twists. It is not until the final few chapters that all is revealed. It really kept me guessing right until the end.
I have read the other 5 books in the series over the last couple of years and although this book could be read as a stand alone novel I would recommend that you read the earlier ones too as there are a few references to past events from the previous books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was meticulously plotted and the characters were well drawn. I particularly liked Brook's troubled relationship with his daughter. Brook is a flawed character who is incredibly intelligent and very clever at reading crime scenrs and following clues-rather like Sherlock Holmes! He even has his own Dr Watson in Noble who like Watson is fiercly loyal to his DI.
This is a brilliant book and I would urge all crime fans to read it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Whilst on leave he is called in to assist on a murder investigation involving an elderly couple who have both been slain in their own home. Brook helps his team investigate and also looks into an earlier double murder of a gay couple which seems to be linked. The previous murder was investigated by DI Ford and his team and corners seem to have been cut and clues missed. Ford is forced to retire a month early and Brook takes over his cases. One of these is a triple homicide and rape at a farm: an elderly couple were murdered and their daughter assaulted. One of the perpatrators is in prison and the other was killed at the scene. Brook is directed by one of his own convicted murderers in the same prison to look again at Luke, the killer in the farm murders. Did he really do it? Brook's daughter becomes involved and this further complicates the investigation.
The plot twists and turns and just when you think you have worked out who the culprit is, another suspect is thrown into the mix.
One of the themes of the book is relationships: Brook's with his daughter, and other couples with their partners. How do people react when someone close to them dies?
This is a serial killer police procedural with many complications and plot twists. It is not until the final few chapters that all is revealed. It really kept me guessing right until the end.
I have read the other 5 books in the series over the last couple of years and although this book could be read as a stand alone novel I would recommend that you read the earlier ones too as there are a few references to past events from the previous books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It was meticulously plotted and the characters were well drawn. I particularly liked Brook's troubled relationship with his daughter. Brook is a flawed character who is incredibly intelligent and very clever at reading crime scenrs and following clues-rather like Sherlock Holmes! He even has his own Dr Watson in Noble who like Watson is fiercly loyal to his DI.
This is a brilliant book and I would urge all crime fans to read it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2016
DI Brook is supposed to be on leave and using the time to mend bridges with his daughter. This is far from easy given both their histories. But he doesn’t spend long away from work, because he is called to help out with a local murder where an elderly couple has been killed with a single shot. It is a murder that has a familiar ring to it because a gay couple has been killed under similar circumstances in the previous month.
Death Do Us Part begins in the thick of the action and tension, with the aftermath of the crime scene following quickly on its heels. This is the sixth outing of DI Brook and I am beginning to think that Steven Dunne is the chess player’s crime novelist. This is not a lazy read and requires the same attention to detail that Brook gives his cases, in order to be rewarded by spotting the slippery way that subtle clues might get away from the other detectives but, almost always, not from Brook.
This is more than your standard police procedural because, bit by bit, Brook eases into the heads of the killers and is quite prepared to set a trap for them. Although even he can be so focused as to be blind-sided, which does add a certain frisson and a ‘look behind you’ element to the books.
Small observations are deftly delivered and woven smoothly into the story, as are the forensic descriptions and explanations. Nothing is as it seems. But no detail is too small for Brook and he is like a hound that, once on the scent, is not going to let go until he has caught his quarry. As the novel progresses the clues and red herrings mount up, as the does the tension in preparation for the denouement.
Brook is described as unstable but is in fact remarkably high functioning, although I suspect that he revels in the extreme situations, and he may be closer psychologically to the perpetrators of the crimes he investigates than he would like to think. Add his daughter into the mix and although Brook might not have the smoothest of rides when it comes to parenting, if her safety is compromised he shifts up a gear.
That Brook is not averse to resorting to tactics that collar his villain has already been signalled in a previous novel, and there is a sense he is keeping something rather dangerous bottled up, which makes future stories worth waiting for.
Death Do Us Part was courtesy of Headline via NetGalley
Death Do Us Part begins in the thick of the action and tension, with the aftermath of the crime scene following quickly on its heels. This is the sixth outing of DI Brook and I am beginning to think that Steven Dunne is the chess player’s crime novelist. This is not a lazy read and requires the same attention to detail that Brook gives his cases, in order to be rewarded by spotting the slippery way that subtle clues might get away from the other detectives but, almost always, not from Brook.
This is more than your standard police procedural because, bit by bit, Brook eases into the heads of the killers and is quite prepared to set a trap for them. Although even he can be so focused as to be blind-sided, which does add a certain frisson and a ‘look behind you’ element to the books.
Small observations are deftly delivered and woven smoothly into the story, as are the forensic descriptions and explanations. Nothing is as it seems. But no detail is too small for Brook and he is like a hound that, once on the scent, is not going to let go until he has caught his quarry. As the novel progresses the clues and red herrings mount up, as the does the tension in preparation for the denouement.
Brook is described as unstable but is in fact remarkably high functioning, although I suspect that he revels in the extreme situations, and he may be closer psychologically to the perpetrators of the crimes he investigates than he would like to think. Add his daughter into the mix and although Brook might not have the smoothest of rides when it comes to parenting, if her safety is compromised he shifts up a gear.
That Brook is not averse to resorting to tactics that collar his villain has already been signalled in a previous novel, and there is a sense he is keeping something rather dangerous bottled up, which makes future stories worth waiting for.
Death Do Us Part was courtesy of Headline via NetGalley
May 23, 2016
Review is also on The Coffee and Kindle Book Review Blog
Death Do Us Part by Steven Dunne
Kindle Edition
Cost: Netgallery
Publisher: Headline
Release date: 05/05/16
The Blurb
Even death cannot part these couples . . .
DI Damen Brook is on a rare period of leave and determined to make the most of it by re-connecting with his daughter Terri. But with her heavy drinking proving a challenge, Brook takes the opportunity to visit a local murder scene when his help is requested.
An elderly couple have each been executed with a single shot to the heart and the method echoes that of a middle-aged gay couple killed the previous month.
With the same killer suspected and the officer currently in charge nearing retirement, Brook knows that he has little choice but to cut short his leave when forced by his superiors to take the lead on the case.
Brook believes that he can catch this ruthless killer, but already distracted by Terri's problems, is he about to make a fatal mistake and lead the killer right to his own door?
My thoughts
I have had Steven Dunnes’ The Reaper on my Kindle for a while, been trying to catch up on my Netgallery reviews, so I haven’t had time to read it. I saw Death Do Us Part on Netgallery and the publishers blurb really made me want to read it. I didn’t even realise it was by the same author until I started it and my god I wish I had read The Reaper earlier.
This book is amazing, absolutely amazing. The characters were strong, the storyline was engrossing and absorbing and it felt so real. The dialogue was just like being there; I felt a part of the book and really couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. It took me to many places and emotions, I gasped out loud on more than one occasion.
A must read book.
Death Do Us Part by Steven Dunne
Kindle Edition
Cost: Netgallery
Publisher: Headline
Release date: 05/05/16
The Blurb
Even death cannot part these couples . . .
DI Damen Brook is on a rare period of leave and determined to make the most of it by re-connecting with his daughter Terri. But with her heavy drinking proving a challenge, Brook takes the opportunity to visit a local murder scene when his help is requested.
An elderly couple have each been executed with a single shot to the heart and the method echoes that of a middle-aged gay couple killed the previous month.
With the same killer suspected and the officer currently in charge nearing retirement, Brook knows that he has little choice but to cut short his leave when forced by his superiors to take the lead on the case.
Brook believes that he can catch this ruthless killer, but already distracted by Terri's problems, is he about to make a fatal mistake and lead the killer right to his own door?
My thoughts
I have had Steven Dunnes’ The Reaper on my Kindle for a while, been trying to catch up on my Netgallery reviews, so I haven’t had time to read it. I saw Death Do Us Part on Netgallery and the publishers blurb really made me want to read it. I didn’t even realise it was by the same author until I started it and my god I wish I had read The Reaper earlier.
This book is amazing, absolutely amazing. The characters were strong, the storyline was engrossing and absorbing and it felt so real. The dialogue was just like being there; I felt a part of the book and really couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end. It took me to many places and emotions, I gasped out loud on more than one occasion.
A must read book.
May 3, 2016
WOW! Steven Dunne has done it again. Yet another gripping novel in the DI Damen Brook series.
I’ve read and enjoyed all the books in this series and this really is a brilliantly clever crime series.
I love Brook. He has his issues but he still gives his all to his job, mainly going above and beyond his call of duty. I don’t know what it is about him in this novel but he seems to have changed slightly. For the better.
He has a failed marriage as well as a struggling relationship with his daughter, Terri. In a way he seems to have come to terms with what has happened to Terri in the past, knowing that he can’t change anything and he seems to be trying to move forward from it. Even though Brook is trying to move on from it, Terri who seems to have handled it so well, is starting to unravel and causes Brook more concern.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Brook and colleague Caskey. He uses his past experiences to try and help her and he really does talk a lot of good sense.
With a brilliantly gripping start to the book, Death Do Us Part is a fast paced read that I just couldn’t get enough of. The whole storyline, characters, the twist and turns, brilliant just brilliant.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Headline for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ve read and enjoyed all the books in this series and this really is a brilliantly clever crime series.
I love Brook. He has his issues but he still gives his all to his job, mainly going above and beyond his call of duty. I don’t know what it is about him in this novel but he seems to have changed slightly. For the better.
He has a failed marriage as well as a struggling relationship with his daughter, Terri. In a way he seems to have come to terms with what has happened to Terri in the past, knowing that he can’t change anything and he seems to be trying to move forward from it. Even though Brook is trying to move on from it, Terri who seems to have handled it so well, is starting to unravel and causes Brook more concern.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Brook and colleague Caskey. He uses his past experiences to try and help her and he really does talk a lot of good sense.
With a brilliantly gripping start to the book, Death Do Us Part is a fast paced read that I just couldn’t get enough of. The whole storyline, characters, the twist and turns, brilliant just brilliant.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Headline for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2016
I actually won a signed copy of this book from the author via The Book Club so was a little apprehensive about reading and reviewing this book just in case I really didn't like it. All I can say my worries were groundless.
This is the first book I have read by Steven Dunne but will definitely not be my last. All I can say is why on earth haven't I read anything by him before.
This book held me from the beginning, drawing me into the story and carrying me along with the adventure as the pages turned. I felt myself becoming part of the action, trying to guess the perpetrator was difficult but one the less enjoyable due to all the twists and turns.
Brook is a very believable character, someone you warm to very quickly, a divorced father with a grown up daughter who is battling her own demons. A father who is trying to help but is having difficulties connecting with her though will not let anything stop him.
The book is very well written leading to an easy read with well rounded characters. A police procedural novel that has your turning the pages quickly wanting to know what the next page holds, leaving you breathless with anticipation.
A book that has a brilliant and complex plot that I would recommend to everyone. I can't wait to read another one of his books.
This is the first book I have read by Steven Dunne but will definitely not be my last. All I can say is why on earth haven't I read anything by him before.
This book held me from the beginning, drawing me into the story and carrying me along with the adventure as the pages turned. I felt myself becoming part of the action, trying to guess the perpetrator was difficult but one the less enjoyable due to all the twists and turns.
Brook is a very believable character, someone you warm to very quickly, a divorced father with a grown up daughter who is battling her own demons. A father who is trying to help but is having difficulties connecting with her though will not let anything stop him.
The book is very well written leading to an easy read with well rounded characters. A police procedural novel that has your turning the pages quickly wanting to know what the next page holds, leaving you breathless with anticipation.
A book that has a brilliant and complex plot that I would recommend to everyone. I can't wait to read another one of his books.
May 11, 2016
Wow! Wow! Wow! The DI Damen Brook series has just hit a new high point. This was an outstanding, fast paced story. An elderly couple shot through the heart in what is a baffling case and DI Brook is called back from leave to investigate. It initially appears to be an assisted suicide case but soon it becomes clear it isn't. Brook and his team soon link this to another killing which, although involves a couple shot, has some differences. The investigations begin in earnest but Brook is also trying to maintain relationships with his daughter who he has been estranged from in recent years.
The relationships within the team are growing with each story and Brook is beginning to mellow slightly and I think he is a better character for it. This was a story with so many twists and turns. I was sure on several occasions who the killer was, only for me to change my mind again. All in all an amazing read and I am really grateful to netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
The relationships within the team are growing with each story and Brook is beginning to mellow slightly and I think he is a better character for it. This was a story with so many twists and turns. I was sure on several occasions who the killer was, only for me to change my mind again. All in all an amazing read and I am really grateful to netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2016
I received my copy of this book via Netgalley.
Detective Damen Brook is called back from a well deserved holiday when an elderly couple are found murdered under strange circumsyances. Lying hand in hand they appear to have drank a glass of champange and played a favourite piece of music prior to their deaths from gunshot wounds.
It bears some resemblance to a recent gay couple homicide which was invesigated by another police detective who is nearing retirement who had put the crime down as a gay crime.
Brook, not only has a difficult case to solve, but also his daughter, who is sullen and uncommunicative.
The story is a tightly woven narrative with many red herrings that will have the reader guessing again and again who the murderer or murderers is and whether Brook's daughter is in a dangerous situation.
Followers of The Damen Brook series will be delighted with this latest installment while new readers will be intrigued and anxious to discover the history of Damen Brook and his police career.
Detective Damen Brook is called back from a well deserved holiday when an elderly couple are found murdered under strange circumsyances. Lying hand in hand they appear to have drank a glass of champange and played a favourite piece of music prior to their deaths from gunshot wounds.
It bears some resemblance to a recent gay couple homicide which was invesigated by another police detective who is nearing retirement who had put the crime down as a gay crime.
Brook, not only has a difficult case to solve, but also his daughter, who is sullen and uncommunicative.
The story is a tightly woven narrative with many red herrings that will have the reader guessing again and again who the murderer or murderers is and whether Brook's daughter is in a dangerous situation.
Followers of The Damen Brook series will be delighted with this latest installment while new readers will be intrigued and anxious to discover the history of Damen Brook and his police career.
May 30, 2018
21/07/16 The latest in the series, Mr Dunne never disappoints. There is enough information to help the reader understand the characters' history so this book could work as a stand alone but for an OCD reader (like myself) you would always want the full story.
The lead, ongoing characters and their relationship to each other continues to engage in this complex story. The reader is tantalised by a plot with many strands but in a way that logic allows one to follow. I KNEW who had done what several times - until I didn't!
DCI Brook's (almost melancholic) personality does not make him the most likeable of main characters but his alacrity of thought and his ability to lead the reader to use 'those little grey cells' is reminiscent of those other 'great detectives.'
A darned good read in an excellent series. Thank you Mr Dunne
29/05/18 Thought I’d found a D I BROOKS book I hadn’t read and was delighted..... Except I’d already ticked the box. Fortunately, I’ve read many since, it was a delight to enjoy it a second time!
The lead, ongoing characters and their relationship to each other continues to engage in this complex story. The reader is tantalised by a plot with many strands but in a way that logic allows one to follow. I KNEW who had done what several times - until I didn't!
DCI Brook's (almost melancholic) personality does not make him the most likeable of main characters but his alacrity of thought and his ability to lead the reader to use 'those little grey cells' is reminiscent of those other 'great detectives.'
A darned good read in an excellent series. Thank you Mr Dunne
29/05/18 Thought I’d found a D I BROOKS book I hadn’t read and was delighted..... Except I’d already ticked the box. Fortunately, I’ve read many since, it was a delight to enjoy it a second time!
July 28, 2016
Thank you Steven Dunne for another fantastic read. Finished this last night and I loved every minute. I've been a massive fan of Steven and DI Brook since I discovered the first book in the series The Reaper, and this one did not disappoint. I found the story a bittersweet poignant tale, touching on sensitive subjects like grief after the loss of the love of your life, and living with PTSD, and I will admit that I found myself with an ache in my chest at a certain part of the story. Both the style of writing and the characters are evolving with every book. Brook was at his quirky best, had me laughing out loud with his lines and I find his developing friendship with DS Noble endearing. There were a few plot twists along the way to keep you guessing leading up to a shocking ending leaving the reader wondering where this leaves Brook and his relationship with his daughter. Can't wait for the next instalment. Well done 5 stars from me!!
May 7, 2016
Another complex, perfectly written thriller from the ever brilliant Steven Dunne. Damon Brook is rapidly becoming one of my favourite detectives, who is unlike any others you may read about. This guy is a very unlikely hero. Addictive, compelling reading at its best. Dunne is always a step ahead in originality and likeable yet flawed with realism characters. I'm not sure if it's just me, but each book gets better than his last, seeing as his first 'Damen Brook' novel was utterly fantastic, that's the highest form of praise I can offer to the author. Don't just take my word for it, read for yourselves. You will be guaranteed a remarkable and unforgettable tale. Thank you Steven Dunne, for spoiling us crime thriller readers, your dedication to your craft is our utter gain.
June 1, 2016
This is the 6th instalment of The Reaper series featuring DI Damen Brook. I seriously thought this series could not get any better, but how wrong I was. In Death Do Us Part superbly written by Steven Dunne, DI Damen Brook is at his absolute best in this superior UK crime thriller series. The intricate plot and great partnership with Detective John Noblein this well written book is an absolute gem to read. Can't wait for book 7!
September 15, 2016
I've inched this up to 4 stars as I liked how it ended.
Really well written, great character development, you really get a sense of each person involved.
This is ideal for this who like a who dunnit, police procedural story.
Really well written, great character development, you really get a sense of each person involved.
This is ideal for this who like a who dunnit, police procedural story.
January 3, 2018
Another fine addition to the DI Brook series!
November 7, 2021
A superb read. A book full of twists and thrills. This one will certainly grab your attention and keep you reading those pages.
I've had this on my kindle so long I'd forgotten about it. I've made myself read one older book and one newer book in order. I'm so glad i finally got around to reading this book.
This is book 6 in the series. It's fine read as a stand alone, i've read it not long after reading book 5, so it felt more enjoyable.
INteresting storyline and some great characters. Very well written. Any crime thriller fans will enjoy this book.
I've had this on my kindle so long I'd forgotten about it. I've made myself read one older book and one newer book in order. I'm so glad i finally got around to reading this book.
This is book 6 in the series. It's fine read as a stand alone, i've read it not long after reading book 5, so it felt more enjoyable.
INteresting storyline and some great characters. Very well written. Any crime thriller fans will enjoy this book.
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