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‘Father, I committed murder…I haven’t been to confession since then…God forgive me…she didn’t deserve that…’
Detective Superintendent Mark Pemberton is first on the scene of a deadly car accident and he overhears a deathbed confession that sends him reeling. With his last breath, James Browning admits to killing a woman — the problem for Pemberton? No murders have been reported.
But when a woman’s body is found in the woods a few days later, Pemberton gets more than he bargained for. The victim is missing her shoes — the strange calling card of a serial killer who has terrorised the country for a decade.
Has Pemberton inadvertently stumbled upon the mass murderer eluding the police? Or does he have another murder on his hands?
This chilling thriller is the third in Nicholas Rhea’s Mark Pemberton series.
Confession was first published in 1997.
Detective Superintendent Mark Pemberton is first on the scene of a deadly car accident and he overhears a deathbed confession that sends him reeling. With his last breath, James Browning admits to killing a woman — the problem for Pemberton? No murders have been reported.
But when a woman’s body is found in the woods a few days later, Pemberton gets more than he bargained for. The victim is missing her shoes — the strange calling card of a serial killer who has terrorised the country for a decade.
Has Pemberton inadvertently stumbled upon the mass murderer eluding the police? Or does he have another murder on his hands?
This chilling thriller is the third in Nicholas Rhea’s Mark Pemberton series.
Confession was first published in 1997.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 25, 2019
Two unconnected events. Detective Pemberton is witness to a fatal car crash and assists the victim of the accident. Whilst dying, the man confesses to a murder. The rest of what he says is heard by a priest who has been a passenger in the Detective's car. The priest considers this as a confession and refuses to give any further information which he received.
Eleven young prostitutes have been murdered - every year around Midsummer. All strangled, raped violently and freakishly their sandals taken away.
With the victim's confession Pemberton is determined to find out what the murder is. He only knows that it is a woman who was murdered and no idea when, how or where. A proverbial needle in a haystack search. Investigating James's life is also a strange one - he is a likeable young man, with no social life and only had a passion for vintage motor cars. There is no history of violence, or crime and his background is quite normal.
Investigating further, the entire team work together to connect the faint dots they do have working backwards over a period of eleven years trying to get to grips how this man could have hidden his criminal tendencies so very cunningly and evaded arrest. The final outcome was surprising.
Well paced, good for those who like procedures and orderly detection, this was a good read.
Eleven young prostitutes have been murdered - every year around Midsummer. All strangled, raped violently and freakishly their sandals taken away.
With the victim's confession Pemberton is determined to find out what the murder is. He only knows that it is a woman who was murdered and no idea when, how or where. A proverbial needle in a haystack search. Investigating James's life is also a strange one - he is a likeable young man, with no social life and only had a passion for vintage motor cars. There is no history of violence, or crime and his background is quite normal.
Investigating further, the entire team work together to connect the faint dots they do have working backwards over a period of eleven years trying to get to grips how this man could have hidden his criminal tendencies so very cunningly and evaded arrest. The final outcome was surprising.
Well paced, good for those who like procedures and orderly detection, this was a good read.
November 12, 2019
I hadn't read any of this series before but have read the Constable series. An entertaining read - nothing too strenuous to read and an interesting story as they puzzle out what actually happened.
An easy read and a change from some of the dark crime novels out there
An easy read and a change from some of the dark crime novels out there
March 29, 2021
My thanks to Agora Books for a copy of this novel. This was an opportunity for me to read a mystery thriller, a genre of which I have only limited experience.
The writer is very brisk with his narrative, rattling through the story at a very swift pace. The novel throws light on the complexity of the work undertaken by detectives, which is thorough and protracted, but gives little away as to the personalities and surroundings. The relationship of Mike and Lorraine was clear: both fairly likeable but so very focused on the task at hand that there was little insight into their true personalities. The unfolding of the investigation was predictable, unsurprising and rather dull. Sorry to say, this type of novel just isn’t for me.
November 7, 2019
An excellent and solid mystery, engrossing and entertaining.
I loved the style of writing, the well thought cast of characters and the plot that kept me hooked.
The mystery is complex and well crafted, it kept me guessing till the end.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I loved the style of writing, the well thought cast of characters and the plot that kept me hooked.
The mystery is complex and well crafted, it kept me guessing till the end.
An excellent read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
February 3, 2020
Thankyou to NetGalley, Agora Books and the author, Nicholas Rhea, for the opportunity to read a digital copy of Confession in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
I thought this book offered a good, quick read. I really enjoyed it. You can't help but be drawn into the lives of the characters. 3.5 stars.
Worth a read.
I thought this book offered a good, quick read. I really enjoyed it. You can't help but be drawn into the lives of the characters. 3.5 stars.
Worth a read.
September 19, 2020
Mr. Rhea's Constable Nick series are all vignettes giving interesting insights into the life of an English country constable. In the D.S. Mark Pemberton stories he moves to a more traditional detective story. He includes a lot of personal information to make the characters live and they are believable. Mark's intuition is impressive.
November 6, 2019
Please refer to NetGalley review, also.
July 18, 2020
DNF... I couldn't finish this book. There was something about it that just list me.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2022
An interesting and gripping read.
October 8, 2015
I thought this was a strange procedural because Detective Superintendent Pemberton who witnessed the crash and DC Lorraine Cashmore, who is on his team and also witnessed the crash, are lovers. I cannot believe any police force would okay that no matter how discreet. Pemberton also has more regular hours than most police officers, but then he is a superintendent which in itself is unusual for an investigating officer. The whole case seemed contrived, especially the "confession" in front of the priest and the ending.
June 21, 2017
I Really enjoyed this book, its a good read, its one of those books that keep you on the edge of your seat, its a gripping murder mystery from the brilliant pen of Nicholas Rhea, you can tell he was in the police force from the very believable books he writes, I couldn't put this down.
October 27, 2015
Detective Superintendent Mark Pemberton witnesses a car crash and the following confession of murder.
His investigation leads to the Sandal Strangler case. But who is guilty
His investigation leads to the Sandal Strangler case. But who is guilty
October 8, 2015
Was a good mystery, liked the way we were given the clues and how we could draw a conclusion, right or wrong. Well done.
February 2, 2016
Decent plot , but not one of my favorite books. It was a little blah at times and didn't have the wow factor I had hoped for.
March 8, 2016
Good story
I liked the story itself, plot was great. Unfortunately, the characters never felt real to me. I also found the pace very slow.
I liked the story itself, plot was great. Unfortunately, the characters never felt real to me. I also found the pace very slow.
October 4, 2015
I was enjoying this mystery...until I got to the end.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews