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DCI Morton #3
Ten Guilty Men
Beauty, fame, riches. She had it all. They killed her anyway.When millionairess Ellis DeLange is found floating face-down in her own swimming pool on the night of her 30th birthday party, the media assumes another celebrity overdose.
Morton must pierce the veil of secrecy surrounding her famous friends to find out who called in her death, how she died, and why one of her friends was spotted running through Richmond Park in the dead of night. Without any clothes on.
Ten Guilty Men is the third book in the bestselling DCI Morton series.
Morton must pierce the veil of secrecy surrounding her famous friends to find out who called in her death, how she died, and why one of her friends was spotted running through Richmond Park in the dead of night. Without any clothes on.
Ten Guilty Men is the third book in the bestselling DCI Morton series.
316 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 31, 2015
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561 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
November 4, 2016
I enjoy these DCI Morton stories because he’s a detective with a difference. In modern fiction it’s refreshing to read about a man in his position who’s married – and happily so. His older son hasn’t spoken to him for over a year but you can’t have everything. A body has been found – that of a famous photographer – and it was the night of her birthday party when the deed was done. Five people are in the frame and Morton has to find evidence to pinpoint the murderer.
This is a fascinating puzzle and gradually Morton and his team – all great characters – manage to eliminate three of them. Finally, two are tried for murder – accused of conspiring together. I found some of the working through of the evidence a little repetitive but the story is certainly thoughtful. Is it better to let ten guilty men go free than to risk imprisoning an innocent one? That’s your choice. A very good read.
This is a fascinating puzzle and gradually Morton and his team – all great characters – manage to eliminate three of them. Finally, two are tried for murder – accused of conspiring together. I found some of the working through of the evidence a little repetitive but the story is certainly thoughtful. Is it better to let ten guilty men go free than to risk imprisoning an innocent one? That’s your choice. A very good read.
December 27, 2018
DCI Morton is called in to investigate the murder of a celebrity photographer and socialite, Ellis DeLange. He and his team have to sort through the junk in the house and her celebrity friends to figure out who could have murdered her.
This book is a good police procedural even extending into the trial. However, the reason it didn't receive more stars from me is the writing wasn't quite up to the first two books in this series. Also--the ending wasn't very satisfying...
This book is a good police procedural even extending into the trial. However, the reason it didn't receive more stars from me is the writing wasn't quite up to the first two books in this series. Also--the ending wasn't very satisfying...
February 6, 2017
***Spoilers***
If you are writing a whodunit there is basically one rule: You have to tell the reader who done it. This book doesn't do that. You finish the book without ever knowing who the killer was and how it was done. I haven't been so angry at a book in a long time. Definitely won't read anything else by this author.
If you are writing a whodunit there is basically one rule: You have to tell the reader who done it. This book doesn't do that. You finish the book without ever knowing who the killer was and how it was done. I haven't been so angry at a book in a long time. Definitely won't read anything else by this author.
October 21, 2016
Interesting
An interesting story; don't really know who the killer is. Sorry, had a hard time staying concentrated on the story.
An interesting story; don't really know who the killer is. Sorry, had a hard time staying concentrated on the story.
November 10, 2020
Mayberry had long become a running joke in the office. He was regularly sent to find tartan paint, left-handed screwdrivers and long weights. Every time someone sent him down to procurement, he came back with a puppy-dog expression.
'They h-haven't got it.' he'd say apologetically. It didn't help that he had a mild speech impediment and regularly mixed up his words.
At this point I stopped reading. Bullying in the workplace is never pleasant, especially when it is condoned (and encouraged) by the character who is meant to be the 'hero' of the story. And mocking someone's speech impediment is repulsive.
Sorry Morton. I'm done.
'They h-haven't got it.' he'd say apologetically. It didn't help that he had a mild speech impediment and regularly mixed up his words.
At this point I stopped reading. Bullying in the workplace is never pleasant, especially when it is condoned (and encouraged) by the character who is meant to be the 'hero' of the story. And mocking someone's speech impediment is repulsive.
Sorry Morton. I'm done.
January 12, 2019
Not sure what to say about this book. I was well written and had multiple suspects woven through the story. However, had I paid more attention to the books title I would have figured out the ending a lot sooner than I did. I didn't like the ending probably because I don't like loose ends!!!
Not my favorite DCI Morton book.
Not my favorite DCI Morton book.
November 9, 2018
Ended?
I have never read a book before that has not had a closed ending. Ten Guilty Men ended with such a big surprise l definitely did not see it coming.
I have never read a book before that has not had a closed ending. Ten Guilty Men ended with such a big surprise l definitely did not see it coming.
September 5, 2018
4 and 1 / 2 stars
DCI David Morton responds to the call of a dead body inside a home in the upper class part of town. The victim is Ellis DeLange wealthy daughter and celebrity photographer. She was thirty-years old and from the state of the messy house and substances found there, was also a drug user. She was found in the pool with a head wound. DI Bertram Ayala, Morton’s partner is already at the scene. A neighbor’s housekeeper says she saw a naked man running from the house. DS Newberry is the only other member of Morton’s team.
They visit the younger sister Brianna first. Then they go to interview the boyfriend, Kallum “Kal” Fielder who is an on-air personality for a morning television show. He admits arguing with Ellis the night of her birthday party, but says she was alive and well when he left. When they go to interview Lord Culloden they find that he is not home, but his wife produced two plane tickets showing that they were out of the country at the time of the party. So who was the man at the party pretending to be him?
They locate the streaker (although news media got there first), and bring in Aleksander Barchester for questioning. He is somewhat of a media mogul in the photography field and Ellis worked for him. He had relations with both Gabriella and Ells the night Ellis was murdered. He had an argument with Gabby and ran from the house with just a towel. When he comes in he tells a major fib (the police find out later). He was representing himself as Lord of Culloden because he believes that he is the real Lord Culloden’s son. The real Lord Culloden confirms this.
When they trace the source of the anonymous call to emergency services, they are led to the man who installed the heating system at Ellis’ home. A stolen suitcase was found in his home with some items missing. The man they brought in says that he sold the camera equipment that was in the suitcase.
In a surprise twist Morton learns that Ellis had another sibling. In a race against time, he goes looking for Brianna. After a tense-filled standoff both people are arrested.
The trial occurs and both of the arrestees are tried at the same time by prosecutor Kiernan. This book has a rather disappointing conclusion. I’m still thinking about it.
This novel is well written and plotted. There is not a wasted word or scene in it. I can’t say that I liked any of the suspects, but it was a very good police procedural. It shows the painstaking and tedious aspect of an investigation. The team works well together, especially Morton and his right-hand man Ayala. Newberry, having recovered from a stroke, is struggling but getting along. I’m not sure why Morton thinks that he is such a liability or perhaps his aphasia is just too much for Morton to handle. I imagine it is a liability in police work, especially in interviewing suspects.
I will continue to read the Campbell’s book as long as they continue to write.
DCI David Morton responds to the call of a dead body inside a home in the upper class part of town. The victim is Ellis DeLange wealthy daughter and celebrity photographer. She was thirty-years old and from the state of the messy house and substances found there, was also a drug user. She was found in the pool with a head wound. DI Bertram Ayala, Morton’s partner is already at the scene. A neighbor’s housekeeper says she saw a naked man running from the house. DS Newberry is the only other member of Morton’s team.
They visit the younger sister Brianna first. Then they go to interview the boyfriend, Kallum “Kal” Fielder who is an on-air personality for a morning television show. He admits arguing with Ellis the night of her birthday party, but says she was alive and well when he left. When they go to interview Lord Culloden they find that he is not home, but his wife produced two plane tickets showing that they were out of the country at the time of the party. So who was the man at the party pretending to be him?
They locate the streaker (although news media got there first), and bring in Aleksander Barchester for questioning. He is somewhat of a media mogul in the photography field and Ellis worked for him. He had relations with both Gabriella and Ells the night Ellis was murdered. He had an argument with Gabby and ran from the house with just a towel. When he comes in he tells a major fib (the police find out later). He was representing himself as Lord of Culloden because he believes that he is the real Lord Culloden’s son. The real Lord Culloden confirms this.
When they trace the source of the anonymous call to emergency services, they are led to the man who installed the heating system at Ellis’ home. A stolen suitcase was found in his home with some items missing. The man they brought in says that he sold the camera equipment that was in the suitcase.
In a surprise twist Morton learns that Ellis had another sibling. In a race against time, he goes looking for Brianna. After a tense-filled standoff both people are arrested.
The trial occurs and both of the arrestees are tried at the same time by prosecutor Kiernan. This book has a rather disappointing conclusion. I’m still thinking about it.
This novel is well written and plotted. There is not a wasted word or scene in it. I can’t say that I liked any of the suspects, but it was a very good police procedural. It shows the painstaking and tedious aspect of an investigation. The team works well together, especially Morton and his right-hand man Ayala. Newberry, having recovered from a stroke, is struggling but getting along. I’m not sure why Morton thinks that he is such a liability or perhaps his aphasia is just too much for Morton to handle. I imagine it is a liability in police work, especially in interviewing suspects.
I will continue to read the Campbell’s book as long as they continue to write.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2017
.
Very disappointing. I could have just read the newspapers to come up with unsolved crime! You get to the end and still have no clue as to who did it. No point in wasting the time to read this
Very disappointing. I could have just read the newspapers to come up with unsolved crime! You get to the end and still have no clue as to who did it. No point in wasting the time to read this
June 20, 2017
Poor
I have read previous books by these authors and quite enjoyed them, not in this case though. Sadly this will rate amongst the most boring I have ever read
I have read previous books by these authors and quite enjoyed them, not in this case though. Sadly this will rate amongst the most boring I have ever read
November 5, 2017
Easy novel
I enjoyed the plot and found it easy to follow but did not like the abrupt ending which left me feeling like there was more to come.
I enjoyed the plot and found it easy to follow but did not like the abrupt ending which left me feeling like there was more to come.
July 31, 2018
Disappointed to be honest. Thought the whole thing was somewhat strung out and the ending weak. Will not be reading any more of this series.
June 4, 2017
When an anonymous call leads police to a house where they find the body of famous photographer and notorious socialite, Ellis DeLange, DCI David Morton is assigned to investigate the case. With his serious crime unit, he begins to delve into the woman’s background, and the more he digs, the murkier it gets. The case includes just about everything but the kitchen sink; several people with opportunity, but no motive; people with motive, but no opportunity that he can see, a pretend lord, and a strange man seen leaving the premises in the middle of the night, completely nude.
Morton has to deal with all this, and the attendant publicity that such a high-profile case attracts, along with problems within his team, including one detective who, because of a stroke, has communication problems. Clues pile up, problems pile up, but bit by bit, Morton and his team whittle the list of suspects down to two, both with motive and opportunity, but which one did the crime—or, were they working together.
You will enjoy Ten Guilty Men by Daniel Campbell and Sean Campbell. It has suspense, it has humor, and it has a modicum of excitement—well, it is British mystery, and unlike their American counterparts, car chases and shootouts aren’t a staple of good mysteries. If you like well-rounded, but ultimately flawed, characters, tight plots, and good pacing, you’ll like the DCI Morton series.
Morton has to deal with all this, and the attendant publicity that such a high-profile case attracts, along with problems within his team, including one detective who, because of a stroke, has communication problems. Clues pile up, problems pile up, but bit by bit, Morton and his team whittle the list of suspects down to two, both with motive and opportunity, but which one did the crime—or, were they working together.
You will enjoy Ten Guilty Men by Daniel Campbell and Sean Campbell. It has suspense, it has humor, and it has a modicum of excitement—well, it is British mystery, and unlike their American counterparts, car chases and shootouts aren’t a staple of good mysteries. If you like well-rounded, but ultimately flawed, characters, tight plots, and good pacing, you’ll like the DCI Morton series.
December 8, 2020
3.5 stars I think. The book itself was good, I saw another reviewer commenting about the character with a disability and how he's bullied. It's true, it's sad to see how people see and treat him as a liability, but he gets plenty of moments to shine and is pretty important to the case overall, as much atleast as Morton's deputy Ayala. Regarding the rest, the mystery was intriguing as ever, and some scenes played out like a movie in my head. I didn't particularly like the ending though. Spoilers for the ending ahead now:
Aside from that, it was enjoyable as I've come to expect. Looking forward to reading the next one!
Aside from that, it was enjoyable as I've come to expect. Looking forward to reading the next one!
July 18, 2025
I do so enjoy authors who can deliver such consistently high crime detective fiction series, and Sean Campbell is definitely up there with the elite. Ten Guilty Men is book 3 in his DCI Morton series and like a glove that fits perfectly, I was engaged right from the opening pages.
The guessing game based on misdirection – both for Morton and his team, and me, the reader – is a masterclass in good crime thriller writing. I love the team dynamics and expansion of the relationships between the regular characters. But the author always introduces such interesting others in the form of victim, in this case a high-profile millionairess, and those associated with her many of whom are also prominent in the public eye.
The struggles to solve the crime are made ever more difficult by the secrecy that surrounds the victim’s life, and a press which is relentless in its pursuit of finding newsworthy stories to bring to a captivated readership.
A great read but then, no surprise given its creator is Sean Campbell.
The guessing game based on misdirection – both for Morton and his team, and me, the reader – is a masterclass in good crime thriller writing. I love the team dynamics and expansion of the relationships between the regular characters. But the author always introduces such interesting others in the form of victim, in this case a high-profile millionairess, and those associated with her many of whom are also prominent in the public eye.
The struggles to solve the crime are made ever more difficult by the secrecy that surrounds the victim’s life, and a press which is relentless in its pursuit of finding newsworthy stories to bring to a captivated readership.
A great read but then, no surprise given its creator is Sean Campbell.
April 5, 2019
DCI Morton gets anonymous phone call the famous photographer was dead, on eve of her birthday. The mansion is worth plenty, the inside was a mess. A party, they said she was a user, and she was in the pool from a head wound. The clues are there a neighbor saw a naked man running away
at night, another had argument on night of party, there siblings. Good police procedure is shown and Morton and Ayala worked good together.
High profile case, so pressure to get it solved quickly.Morton is stumped by the anonymous call.
at night, another had argument on night of party, there siblings. Good police procedure is shown and Morton and Ayala worked good together.
High profile case, so pressure to get it solved quickly.Morton is stumped by the anonymous call.
July 11, 2019
Third in the DOC Morton series
A typically enjoyable British police procedural. DCI Morton and team are tapped to solve a celebrity murder. Suspects include the victim's sister, her boyfriend, a drug dealer, a model, and a mystery man impersonating a peer. Morton and team have to unravel who was where, when, and who had a motive to kill. Lots of dead ends and a few monkey wrenches made this a good read for anyone who enjoys who-done-its.
A typically enjoyable British police procedural. DCI Morton and team are tapped to solve a celebrity murder. Suspects include the victim's sister, her boyfriend, a drug dealer, a model, and a mystery man impersonating a peer. Morton and team have to unravel who was where, when, and who had a motive to kill. Lots of dead ends and a few monkey wrenches made this a good read for anyone who enjoys who-done-its.
May 24, 2017
A great crime novel
Throughly enjoyed the read characters are strong and develop as the story unfolds. Morton shows a nice level of understanding for his junior colleague with aphasia, a common problem after a stroke. While the jury convicts there is still some doubt in Morton's mind on who did it. Excellent recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author
Throughly enjoyed the read characters are strong and develop as the story unfolds. Morton shows a nice level of understanding for his junior colleague with aphasia, a common problem after a stroke. While the jury convicts there is still some doubt in Morton's mind on who did it. Excellent recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author
May 21, 2020
Ive read a couple of authors books in this collection and live the flow , characters and storey with plots and twists , this is my least favourite one . For me it seemed to drag a little and re go over evidence and suspects alibis , not as many unseen twists as previous books in collection.
I would still read this author books I hope this was once off average crime book
I would still read this author books I hope this was once off average crime book
March 3, 2022
Not as good as previous books
Not as good as previous books in the series. It started well but soon became repetitive. The ending is disappointing as if the authors couldn't figure out how to tie up the plot. Early in the book they make fun of someone with a disability, although this character is treated better later in the book the earlier bullying should have been taken out.
Not as good as previous books in the series. It started well but soon became repetitive. The ending is disappointing as if the authors couldn't figure out how to tie up the plot. Early in the book they make fun of someone with a disability, although this character is treated better later in the book the earlier bullying should have been taken out.
October 4, 2022
This is a variation on the locked room mystery where a body is discovered and seemingly no one could have killed her or everyone could have killed her.
The thing is I didn't care. unlike the first book in the series the suspects are a bunch of loads I didn't care about. As is the victim.
As the cops run around trying to understand who was where when I was just like whatever.
The thing is I didn't care. unlike the first book in the series the suspects are a bunch of loads I didn't care about. As is the victim.
As the cops run around trying to understand who was where when I was just like whatever.
December 23, 2017
One murder, too many liars, what is a prosecutor to do.
DCI Morton has his hands full. Reluctant suspects, his squad in disarray and no smoking gun. He can only do his best and let the prosecutor do his best with what he has to work with. Good luck.
DCI Morton has his hands full. Reluctant suspects, his squad in disarray and no smoking gun. He can only do his best and let the prosecutor do his best with what he has to work with. Good luck.
January 27, 2018
What is Justice?
This intriguing story leads us through a tough investigation. At the end, there is more than one primary suspect. Can justice prevail? The ending is both realistic and thought provoking.
This intriguing story leads us through a tough investigation. At the end, there is more than one primary suspect. Can justice prevail? The ending is both realistic and thought provoking.
May 21, 2018
A good second read
I like the cast of characters that weave through the plot and the ending was a bit of a surprise but I do assume the killers will reappear in some future efforts. Certainly a very entertaining book and will read the rest of the series
I like the cast of characters that weave through the plot and the ending was a bit of a surprise but I do assume the killers will reappear in some future efforts. Certainly a very entertaining book and will read the rest of the series
June 6, 2019
Hmmm....the title must be a riff on Agatha Christi - as there are only 5 or 6 main suspects....or maybe it's referring to the jury....but either way, many were women. Still a good story. Not sure the stags on the cover are relevant...
August 25, 2020
A procedural detective tale, a murder and several dodgy suspects, a detective in DI Morton who is human and reasonably normal. It flowed well until the last page when it came to a disappointing finale. Not challenging, it reminded me of a good B movie and would transfer to a small screen well.
December 2, 2021
That was forgotten
Boyfriend
Both found guilty. The Martha
They were both found guilt. But it was a set up by the defence to get his money as paddy now will get the three million.
Boyfriend
Both found guilty. The Martha
They were both found guilt. But it was a set up by the defence to get his money as paddy now will get the three million.
June 27, 2017
Another thriller
The story line has numerous twists and that makes it a very interesting read. I enjoyed the surprise twists in the trial.
The story line has numerous twists and that makes it a very interesting read. I enjoyed the surprise twists in the trial.
November 2, 2017
Excellent
Another well written book, really enjoyed this one as well. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Another well written book, really enjoyed this one as well. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
May 18, 2018
A compelling who-done -it!
Here's a crime drama that will make you wonder how good a detective you would make??? What would your verdict have been?
Here's a crime drama that will make you wonder how good a detective you would make??? What would your verdict have been?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews