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DCI Matilda Darke #1
For Reasons Unknown
Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.
Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
A darkly compelling debut crime novel, this is the start of a brilliant series, perfect for fans of Louise Penny and Val McDermid.
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.
Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
A darkly compelling debut crime novel, this is the start of a brilliant series, perfect for fans of Louise Penny and Val McDermid.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
April 6, 2017
Wow, I have just stumbled upon another well-hidden little gem! Where have you been hiding, Mr. Wood? This novel adds to my growing pile of terrific debut thrillers and new authors to watch that I have been fortunate enough to discover over the last year. I just loved this book!
For Reasons Unknown is a compelling police procedural marinated with a very heavy dose of character development. The protagonist, DCI Matilda Darke, has been hit hard with a double whammy of a work disaster and a family tragedy several months previous. As the story opens, she is struggling mightily to regain her confidence and resume her career as head of the Murder Investigation Team. She is assigned a 20-year-old double murder cold case with which to ease back in, but the case takes some unanticipated turns, evolving into a very active situation. Jonathan Harkness, another major character, is the only witness to the double murder of his parents when he was 11 years old. He was rendered mute for 18 months by this trauma and has blocked out most of what happened. Mr. Wood does a great job getting us inside not only Matilda’s head, but Jonathan’s as well, giving us a great vantage points from which to observe the investigation play out. Matilda is also dealing with a hostile colleague, Ben Hales, who has been Acting DCI and head of the Murder unit while Matilda is working her way back; we also get his viewpoint of the situation as well as that of Maun Barrington, Jonathan’s neighbor. Other characters to enjoy include Matilda’s engaging best friend (Dr. Adele Kean), Matilda’s likeable colleagues (especially DS Sian Mills and DC Rory Fleming), and Jonathan’s boss (Stephen Egan).
As far as the plot goes, it provides a knock-your-socks-off page-turning experience with many unputdownable moments. Though I had an “intermittent inkling” of who the baddie was, I couldn’t really piece it together and the many twists and turns occurring all the way through to the last chapter had me changing my mind multiple times. I hated the book to end!
Over the last year and a half I have discovered some wonderful newer thriller writers, most notably Angela Marsons, Cody McFadyen, Robert Bryndza, Stacy Green, Tom Bale, Owen Mullen and Matt Brolly. I am adding Michael Wood to this list. I liken him most to Ms. Marsons and Mr. Bryndza. If you like these writers, do yourself a favor and grab For Reasons Unknown. I was so impressed I just bought the newly released second book in the Matilda Darke series, Outside Looking In, and immediately put it on my “Top 5” shelf. Kudos, Mr. Wood, for a most auspicious debut novel!!
For Reasons Unknown is a compelling police procedural marinated with a very heavy dose of character development. The protagonist, DCI Matilda Darke, has been hit hard with a double whammy of a work disaster and a family tragedy several months previous. As the story opens, she is struggling mightily to regain her confidence and resume her career as head of the Murder Investigation Team. She is assigned a 20-year-old double murder cold case with which to ease back in, but the case takes some unanticipated turns, evolving into a very active situation. Jonathan Harkness, another major character, is the only witness to the double murder of his parents when he was 11 years old. He was rendered mute for 18 months by this trauma and has blocked out most of what happened. Mr. Wood does a great job getting us inside not only Matilda’s head, but Jonathan’s as well, giving us a great vantage points from which to observe the investigation play out. Matilda is also dealing with a hostile colleague, Ben Hales, who has been Acting DCI and head of the Murder unit while Matilda is working her way back; we also get his viewpoint of the situation as well as that of Maun Barrington, Jonathan’s neighbor. Other characters to enjoy include Matilda’s engaging best friend (Dr. Adele Kean), Matilda’s likeable colleagues (especially DS Sian Mills and DC Rory Fleming), and Jonathan’s boss (Stephen Egan).
As far as the plot goes, it provides a knock-your-socks-off page-turning experience with many unputdownable moments. Though I had an “intermittent inkling” of who the baddie was, I couldn’t really piece it together and the many twists and turns occurring all the way through to the last chapter had me changing my mind multiple times. I hated the book to end!
Over the last year and a half I have discovered some wonderful newer thriller writers, most notably Angela Marsons, Cody McFadyen, Robert Bryndza, Stacy Green, Tom Bale, Owen Mullen and Matt Brolly. I am adding Michael Wood to this list. I liken him most to Ms. Marsons and Mr. Bryndza. If you like these writers, do yourself a favor and grab For Reasons Unknown. I was so impressed I just bought the newly released second book in the Matilda Darke series, Outside Looking In, and immediately put it on my “Top 5” shelf. Kudos, Mr. Wood, for a most auspicious debut novel!!
July 31, 2018
4.5 stars
For Reasons Unknown, I did not know this series existed until I read Christine's review, and now I am hooked!!!! I'll be devouring the following books in this series as fast as I can get my hands on them!
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a 9-month absence. She is disappointed to lean she will not be returning quite yet to her former position but will be re-opening a cold case. DCI Darke, is a complex and flawed woman. She is battling some demons and after some time away from her job, is attempting to get back to work. The cold case she is given is that of the Harkness family murders. Twenty years ago, Miranda and Stefan Harkness, were brutally murdered in their home. Their son, Jonathan, was home at the time, but too traumatized to speak. Now the home where the family lived is being demolished, the police have decided to look at his case one last time. DCI Darke's interest in the cold case has some characters in this book nervous.
Jonathan, the sole survivor from that murderous night, is now living alone and working in a bookstore. He has formed a friendship with his neighbor, Maun Barrington but otherwise he is quiet and keeps to himself. He is content to live a quiet life, but now that his former home has been demolished and his parent's murder case has been re-opened, he is finally forced to talk to officials about his past. Then a dead body is found - a body which may have ties to the Harkness murders. Aaaah the plot thickens!
This book is full of interesting characters - some with secrets, some hidden agendas, etc. This is a police procedural with a female protagonist dealing with her own personal issues, a hostile co-worker, the investigation of a cold case all the while being prodded by her friend to get her act together. There are several twists, turns and revelations which kept me turning the pages. I loved that there was never a dull moment, which kept the pace up and me guessing as to what happened in the home that night. Who had motive? Who had it in for this family?
I also liked how certain "truths" about other minor characters came to life in this book. I always love putting on my super sleuth hat and trying to figure out whodunit.
Well written, captivating with complex characters, this book was a I-can't-put-this-book-down for me!
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
For Reasons Unknown, I did not know this series existed until I read Christine's review, and now I am hooked!!!! I'll be devouring the following books in this series as fast as I can get my hands on them!
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a 9-month absence. She is disappointed to lean she will not be returning quite yet to her former position but will be re-opening a cold case. DCI Darke, is a complex and flawed woman. She is battling some demons and after some time away from her job, is attempting to get back to work. The cold case she is given is that of the Harkness family murders. Twenty years ago, Miranda and Stefan Harkness, were brutally murdered in their home. Their son, Jonathan, was home at the time, but too traumatized to speak. Now the home where the family lived is being demolished, the police have decided to look at his case one last time. DCI Darke's interest in the cold case has some characters in this book nervous.
Jonathan, the sole survivor from that murderous night, is now living alone and working in a bookstore. He has formed a friendship with his neighbor, Maun Barrington but otherwise he is quiet and keeps to himself. He is content to live a quiet life, but now that his former home has been demolished and his parent's murder case has been re-opened, he is finally forced to talk to officials about his past. Then a dead body is found - a body which may have ties to the Harkness murders. Aaaah the plot thickens!
This book is full of interesting characters - some with secrets, some hidden agendas, etc. This is a police procedural with a female protagonist dealing with her own personal issues, a hostile co-worker, the investigation of a cold case all the while being prodded by her friend to get her act together. There are several twists, turns and revelations which kept me turning the pages. I loved that there was never a dull moment, which kept the pace up and me guessing as to what happened in the home that night. Who had motive? Who had it in for this family?
I also liked how certain "truths" about other minor characters came to life in this book. I always love putting on my super sleuth hat and trying to figure out whodunit.
Well written, captivating with complex characters, this book was a I-can't-put-this-book-down for me!
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
March 26, 2017
Having read this series backward, I have now finished reading the first. This is a brilliant and quick read that lays down all the markers of a talented author that culminates in the superb A Room Full of Killers. Michael Wood creates complex and damaged characters that capture your imagination and your heart. DCI Matilda Darke is a shattered woman, a shadow of her self as she battles her demons, the Carl Meaghan case and her perceived failures in it, and an all encompassing grief for her dead husband that has broken her into pieces. Acting DCI Ben Hales is eaten up by resentment and jealousy, whose life implodes in the novel. Jonathan Harkness, a vulnerable man, who at 11 years old in 1994, was in the house where his parents were brutally slain which turned him mute for a considerable time, and this harrowing event has dogged his life ever since. What makes the story riveting is the relationships between the three characters, again showcasing the author's abilities.
The series is set in Sheffield amidst a police force having to live down the Hillsborough disaster, and the child sex grooming scandal. Matilda is returning to work after a 9 month break, still not really having recovered. To ease her in, her superior has her working on the impossible Harkness cold case where the killer was never identified. The Harkness home is being demolished and the media spotlight has pushed the police into reopening the case. Matilda is less than happy to be assigned the case, but determinedly works it and finds herself developing a close and empathetic relationship with Jonathan. The case becomes increasingly even more high profile as a murdered victim turns out to be Jonathan's brother. Ben Hales's mental health becomes increasingly fragile as the investigation gathers pace. Matilda is forced to draw on her inner reserves and the help of her stalwart friend, Adele, to keep herself together in a battle that sees her closing in on the killer.
This is a wonderful series, atmospheric and fast paced. The narrative never ceases in keeping the reader riveted to the book. I cannot wait for the fourth book in the series, I have no doubt that it will continue the high standards achieved by the author. Highly recommended. Oddly enough, I liked the perspective that reading the series backward gave me!!
The series is set in Sheffield amidst a police force having to live down the Hillsborough disaster, and the child sex grooming scandal. Matilda is returning to work after a 9 month break, still not really having recovered. To ease her in, her superior has her working on the impossible Harkness cold case where the killer was never identified. The Harkness home is being demolished and the media spotlight has pushed the police into reopening the case. Matilda is less than happy to be assigned the case, but determinedly works it and finds herself developing a close and empathetic relationship with Jonathan. The case becomes increasingly even more high profile as a murdered victim turns out to be Jonathan's brother. Ben Hales's mental health becomes increasingly fragile as the investigation gathers pace. Matilda is forced to draw on her inner reserves and the help of her stalwart friend, Adele, to keep herself together in a battle that sees her closing in on the killer.
This is a wonderful series, atmospheric and fast paced. The narrative never ceases in keeping the reader riveted to the book. I cannot wait for the fourth book in the series, I have no doubt that it will continue the high standards achieved by the author. Highly recommended. Oddly enough, I liked the perspective that reading the series backward gave me!!
March 8, 2017
This was a fantastic start to this series and I am looking forward to reading book two of this series this month. This book just Wowed me, it surely met the Wow factor that I look for in my books. This author did a really great job.
A crime, mystery novel with a slight thriller twist, For Reasons Unknown takes you through the life of Jonathan who witnessed his parents death when he was eleven.
Twenty years later and his childhood home is being demolished. South Yorkshire Police decide to re-open the cold case and assign DCI Matilda Darke to it in order to ease her back into Police investigation after an enforced sabbatical. As the investigation begins, a dead body is found...
The fast paced story follows DCI Darke's attempts to get one step ahead of the killer to prevent further deaths - can she solve the case? Can she regain her confidence and credibility as Head of the Murder Investigation Team?
A dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
An absolute page turner, this book keeps you guessing till the end with a great twist. This book is just fantastic to all thriller and mystery fans!
A crime, mystery novel with a slight thriller twist, For Reasons Unknown takes you through the life of Jonathan who witnessed his parents death when he was eleven.
Twenty years later and his childhood home is being demolished. South Yorkshire Police decide to re-open the cold case and assign DCI Matilda Darke to it in order to ease her back into Police investigation after an enforced sabbatical. As the investigation begins, a dead body is found...
The fast paced story follows DCI Darke's attempts to get one step ahead of the killer to prevent further deaths - can she solve the case? Can she regain her confidence and credibility as Head of the Murder Investigation Team?
A dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
An absolute page turner, this book keeps you guessing till the end with a great twist. This book is just fantastic to all thriller and mystery fans!
August 6, 2019
A top-notch and thrilling start to the DCI Matilda Darke series! 4.5★'s
Sitting on the floor was a blond, blue-eyed eleven-year-old boy dressed in a grey tracksuit that didn’t belong to him. He was surrounded by blank sheets of paper and an array of wax crayons, coloured pencils, and felt-tip pens. Squatting next to him was a young PC, who, against orders from his superiors, had not changed out of uniform.
The door opened and in walked Dr Sally McCartney. Unlike the PC, she had softened her appearance. Gone were the severe ponytail and conservative jacket. She had removed her glasses and suffered the anxiety of touching her eyes to put in contact lenses . She shot the PC a look of indignation. He could have at least taken off his uniform jacket.
‘Hello Jonathan ,’ she said. The young boy didn’t look up from his drawings. ‘My name is Sally. I’ve come to have a chat with you if that’s all right?’
He continued to scribble on the paper. Sally McCartney knelt down to his level and looked over his shoulder. He had drawn a house and was colouring in a large tree next to it.
‘Is this your house?’
Jonathan nodded.
‘It’s very nice. That’s a lovely tree too. Do you climb it?’ No reply. ‘Which room is yours?’ He pointed to the top right window with the blue curtains, then went back to colouring in the tree.
‘Is the room next to yours your brother’s?’
He nodded again.
‘Jonathan, we’ve been looking for your brother but we can’t seem to find him. Do you know where he might be?’
Jonathan stopped drawing and looked up as if in thought. He looked across to Dr McCartney and fixed her with an expressionless stare, then returned his attention back to his drawing.
‘Jonathan, we need to find your brother. It’s very important. Do you know any of his friends?’
The door opened and Detective Sergeant Pat Campbell popped her head into the room. She looked haggard , having been on duty for more than twenty hours. She signalled for Dr McCartney to join her in the corridor.
‘Why didn’t that PC change out of his bloody uniform as I told him to?’ she asked before the DS could speak.
‘I don’t know. He should have done.’ The DS sighed and looked to the ceiling. ‘Has the boy said anything?’
‘Not yet.’
‘It is paramount we find his brother.’
‘I heard that his mother was still alive. How is she?’
‘I don’t know where you heard that from. Both parents were pronounced dead at the scene. They were hacked to death.’
‘Jesus. Well he doesn’t need to know any of that. Not now at any rate.’
‘We’ve managed to locate a relative in Newcastle. She’s coming straight down, but it’ll be a few hours before she gets here. Look, whatever happened in that house, he saw it, or at least heard it, and I need to know.’
********
For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood is the first book in the DCI Matilda Darke series.
I really enjoyed the prequel and was looking forward to reading book one and it came through in spades! It's well written, thrilling, and twisty and I love all of the primary characters! I'm especially fond of Matilda Darke!
I enjoyed the unusual storyline and was tricked by several twists I didn't see coming! This is terrific and exciting start to a series that I'm already addicted to! I've fit book two, Outside Looking In, into my pile o' books to be read for next month!
Sitting on the floor was a blond, blue-eyed eleven-year-old boy dressed in a grey tracksuit that didn’t belong to him. He was surrounded by blank sheets of paper and an array of wax crayons, coloured pencils, and felt-tip pens. Squatting next to him was a young PC, who, against orders from his superiors, had not changed out of uniform.
The door opened and in walked Dr Sally McCartney. Unlike the PC, she had softened her appearance. Gone were the severe ponytail and conservative jacket. She had removed her glasses and suffered the anxiety of touching her eyes to put in contact lenses . She shot the PC a look of indignation. He could have at least taken off his uniform jacket.
‘Hello Jonathan ,’ she said. The young boy didn’t look up from his drawings. ‘My name is Sally. I’ve come to have a chat with you if that’s all right?’
He continued to scribble on the paper. Sally McCartney knelt down to his level and looked over his shoulder. He had drawn a house and was colouring in a large tree next to it.
‘Is this your house?’
Jonathan nodded.
‘It’s very nice. That’s a lovely tree too. Do you climb it?’ No reply. ‘Which room is yours?’ He pointed to the top right window with the blue curtains, then went back to colouring in the tree.
‘Is the room next to yours your brother’s?’
He nodded again.
‘Jonathan, we’ve been looking for your brother but we can’t seem to find him. Do you know where he might be?’
Jonathan stopped drawing and looked up as if in thought. He looked across to Dr McCartney and fixed her with an expressionless stare, then returned his attention back to his drawing.
‘Jonathan, we need to find your brother. It’s very important. Do you know any of his friends?’
The door opened and Detective Sergeant Pat Campbell popped her head into the room. She looked haggard , having been on duty for more than twenty hours. She signalled for Dr McCartney to join her in the corridor.
‘Why didn’t that PC change out of his bloody uniform as I told him to?’ she asked before the DS could speak.
‘I don’t know. He should have done.’ The DS sighed and looked to the ceiling. ‘Has the boy said anything?’
‘Not yet.’
‘It is paramount we find his brother.’
‘I heard that his mother was still alive. How is she?’
‘I don’t know where you heard that from. Both parents were pronounced dead at the scene. They were hacked to death.’
‘Jesus. Well he doesn’t need to know any of that. Not now at any rate.’
‘We’ve managed to locate a relative in Newcastle. She’s coming straight down, but it’ll be a few hours before she gets here. Look, whatever happened in that house, he saw it, or at least heard it, and I need to know.’
********
For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood is the first book in the DCI Matilda Darke series.
I really enjoyed the prequel and was looking forward to reading book one and it came through in spades! It's well written, thrilling, and twisty and I love all of the primary characters! I'm especially fond of Matilda Darke!
I enjoyed the unusual storyline and was tricked by several twists I didn't see coming! This is terrific and exciting start to a series that I'm already addicted to! I've fit book two, Outside Looking In, into my pile o' books to be read for next month!
April 29, 2020
A really good beginning to the series!
A cop down on her luck, a cold case, and a new murder. This particular mix was enough to keep my attention throughout the book.
Matilda Darke is coming back to work after a long absence and having had the most difficult time in her life. She has lost her husband and a prominent case she was working on went south. This has left her suffering from panic attacks and she has lost her self-confidence. Coming back to work after nine months only makes her anxiety less manageable. She questions herself. She's not sure she can still do her job. When her superior assigns her a twenty-year-old cold case, the Harkness murders, as her next investigation, her uncertainty about keeping her position as DCI doubles.
The Harkness case is well-known to the community. Miranda and Stefan Harkness were murdered around Christmastime. The only witness to the crime, a then eleven-year-old, Jonathan. Jonathan was so affected by what happened that night, that he stopped speaking. He was sent to live with his aunt.
In the present, Jonathan is now an adult. He has learned his childhood home is being demolished. He knows reporters will come back knocking and by Matilda investigating the case, he knows his anonymity is about to end.
Then a new murder occurs and the connection to the Harkness case is undeniable. The past and the present collide and it's up to Matilda to unearth the truth.
I was pleased by the start of the series. It was was a good storyline with interesting characters.
Matilda was such a broken character at the beginning. Her imperfections only make me like her more and I was rooting for her to succeed.
The rest of the team complemented her well. The doc was a true friend to Matilda. She was there for her. The drama inside the police station helped with the narrative instead of becoming a distraction.
I'm glad that there are more books already out. I can see my self reading the next one soon.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
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February 20, 2017
For Reason's Unknown is a dark and engaging debut novel that you don't want to miss!
The novel starts out featuring DCI Matilda Darke who is returning from work after a traumatic loss in her personal life. Matilda is given a 20 year old cold case involving a double murder which she feels is impossible to solve, but slowly new murders begin to emerge which somehow connects to her cold case.
All of the elements of a great crime thriller are here= a gripping and engaging mystery, an awesome twist and unpredictable murder case coming to life as you read each chapter, and of course a plethora of characters that are dark and at times creepy.
One of the things that I really was impressed with was Wood's writing style. Ultimate depth in connecting the main character's past to present day life. Really diving deep into understanding how an individual that goes through such trauma/grief can affect them psychologically and mentally as time passes.
Now, there are some things that I did not like about this novel. I just was like merpppp and merpppp with the ending. Come on Woods.... that's all you could do for the ending? I was expecting a bang for my buck kind of ending and it just wasn't there for me. So, that left me a little disappointed which knocked my overall rating down from a 5 to a 4.5 (not bad lol)
Also, not really sure what the title "For Reasons Unknown" means? Anyone that has read this book can you explain what the title means?? Usually, I'm pretty good with this and can connect but I just was left a little confused on this.... hmmmmm
BUT, I did have to say THANK YOU Mr. Woods for not having the SAME storyline!!! Yay to this!!! (And what I mean by this is, main detective is usually always kidnapped etc by the killer and what a nice surprise this did NOT play out!!!).
So, I will definitely be looking forward to what Matilda Drake has in store next! :) Highly recommended if you want to pick up a new and addicting series!
The novel starts out featuring DCI Matilda Darke who is returning from work after a traumatic loss in her personal life. Matilda is given a 20 year old cold case involving a double murder which she feels is impossible to solve, but slowly new murders begin to emerge which somehow connects to her cold case.
All of the elements of a great crime thriller are here= a gripping and engaging mystery, an awesome twist and unpredictable murder case coming to life as you read each chapter, and of course a plethora of characters that are dark and at times creepy.
One of the things that I really was impressed with was Wood's writing style. Ultimate depth in connecting the main character's past to present day life. Really diving deep into understanding how an individual that goes through such trauma/grief can affect them psychologically and mentally as time passes.
Now, there are some things that I did not like about this novel. I just was like merpppp and merpppp with the ending. Come on Woods.... that's all you could do for the ending? I was expecting a bang for my buck kind of ending and it just wasn't there for me. So, that left me a little disappointed which knocked my overall rating down from a 5 to a 4.5 (not bad lol)
Also, not really sure what the title "For Reasons Unknown" means? Anyone that has read this book can you explain what the title means?? Usually, I'm pretty good with this and can connect but I just was left a little confused on this.... hmmmmm
BUT, I did have to say THANK YOU Mr. Woods for not having the SAME storyline!!! Yay to this!!! (And what I mean by this is, main detective is usually always kidnapped etc by the killer and what a nice surprise this did NOT play out!!!).
So, I will definitely be looking forward to what Matilda Drake has in store next! :) Highly recommended if you want to pick up a new and addicting series!
June 7, 2022
DCI Matilda Darke receives light duty after a leave of absence. The case on her desk is a cold case of the murders of Stefan and Miranda Harkness. Their 7 year old son Jonathan is found at the scene while their 15 year old son Matthew was missing for 2 days. Present day: a dead body is discovered and it links to DCI Darke's case.
In this first instalment of this story we get a look into Matilda's life. She is a very compassionate person and gets really invested in solving this crime. She also compares her depression to that of Jonathan and has to re-evaluate herself. We receive really good character development which is crucial in a first book series.
I found this to be a really easy read. Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely continue wit the other books.
In this first instalment of this story we get a look into Matilda's life. She is a very compassionate person and gets really invested in solving this crime. She also compares her depression to that of Jonathan and has to re-evaluate herself. We receive really good character development which is crucial in a first book series.
I found this to be a really easy read. Overall, I enjoyed it and will definitely continue wit the other books.
July 7, 2018
WOW what a great start to a series it is very fast paced & had that touch of a thriller/ mystery to it, loved the characters all were flawed but likeable except one I will get to that later but this is such a terrific I cant say anything bad about it. This is my first book by Michael Wood & definitely wont be my last the premise never missed a beat & there wasn't any lowlight.
The story is about Jonathan Harkness who was 11 when he witnessed the brutal murder of his parents Stefan & Miranda everyone thought they were the happy family!! BUT now 20 years later Jonathan returns to his home town to see his childhood home demolished.
A body turns up & its up to Matilda Darke who is a member of the South Yorkshire decide to reopen the case & Darke is assigned to the case after a long sabbatical due to a previous case. Acting DCI Ben Hales isn't that happy at having Matilda back, he tries everyway possible to get in her way of finding the perpetrator who did this awful thing.
Its not until Jonathans brother Matthew who turns up dead the heat really rises & Hales takes matters into his own hands, he was a despicable cantankerous man who had his own agenda, its not until Hales interviews Jonathan in the wee hours of the morning that Matilda's anger gets the better of her the case is hers & hales has nothing to do with it, Matilda is also fighting her demons & vodka is her best friend as her husband James passed away is seeing a Psychiatrist suffering depression, which I can relate to as I have it myself.
MY THOUGHTS
Like I said this is a wonderful start to a series & I loved every minute from the very first page to the last there was one almighty twist as well which threw me for a loop never saw that coming, I hated Acting DCI Hales but again he made the premise even more intriguing id recommend this for mystery thriller fans already have book 2 on my list.
The story is about Jonathan Harkness who was 11 when he witnessed the brutal murder of his parents Stefan & Miranda everyone thought they were the happy family!! BUT now 20 years later Jonathan returns to his home town to see his childhood home demolished.
A body turns up & its up to Matilda Darke who is a member of the South Yorkshire decide to reopen the case & Darke is assigned to the case after a long sabbatical due to a previous case. Acting DCI Ben Hales isn't that happy at having Matilda back, he tries everyway possible to get in her way of finding the perpetrator who did this awful thing.
Its not until Jonathans brother Matthew who turns up dead the heat really rises & Hales takes matters into his own hands, he was a despicable cantankerous man who had his own agenda, its not until Hales interviews Jonathan in the wee hours of the morning that Matilda's anger gets the better of her the case is hers & hales has nothing to do with it, Matilda is also fighting her demons & vodka is her best friend as her husband James passed away is seeing a Psychiatrist suffering depression, which I can relate to as I have it myself.
MY THOUGHTS
Like I said this is a wonderful start to a series & I loved every minute from the very first page to the last there was one almighty twist as well which threw me for a loop never saw that coming, I hated Acting DCI Hales but again he made the premise even more intriguing id recommend this for mystery thriller fans already have book 2 on my list.
November 23, 2016
For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood is one of those books that stays with you for a while. But bear with me while I get a couple things off my chest. Matilda Darke? Really? That was the second problem I had with this book. It’s really a terrible name! The first problem I had was the title, For Reasons Unknown. Don’t ask me why, but it just rubbed me the wrong way.
There. Done. Those were the only things I could find wrong with Michael Wood’s powerful debut novel, and I’ll admit, I’m nitpicking. Admittedly, Matilda Darke is a difficult name to forget. Acting DCI Ben Hales would like to forget her, as he’s taken over her position as head of the Murder Unit while “Mat” has been away on leave following a case in which she failed to recover a kidnapped child (which, in my view, seems like an incredibly difficult task and one for which she should not have shouldered all the blame). Hales would like to keep the job permanently. Matilda is assigned to a 20-year-old cold case involving a double murder. The only witness was an eleven-year-old boy, Jonathan Harkness, who was in a state of shock when found and did not speak for 18 months following the brutal killing of his parents. He went to live with an aunt; his older brother Matthew, with whom he had nothing in common, went to live with friends.
The adult Jonathan is a loner, a quiet, reticent man who prefers the company of books rather than people. Now, as his childhood home is about to be destroyed, the spotlight is on him again. DCI Darke, herself a woman who has experienced a tragic loss, having recently lost her husband to cancer, sees Jonathan as a fragile person who must be handled carefully. This enrages Hales, who thinks that Darke has no business back on the job. When a case being handled by Hales leads back to Darke’s case, the two detectives butt heads, setting tongues wagging in the investigation room and bringing down the wrath of their superior officer.
Pardon the pun, but much of this story is rather dark. Despite Matilda’s brave attempts to convince herself that she is up to the task, she really questions her readiness for being back in the saddle. So do many others. But she strikes up a kinship with Jonathan Harkness, and her sensitivity and understanding of this strange man is quite impressive. As she struggles to battle her own demons, some of her guilt and insecurity come out sideways. This version of Matilda is quite difficult to like. I liked Jonathan – he seemed hopelessly melancholy and unable to see his own self-worth. I think mostly I felt sorry for him. In the end, I was awed by the author’s portrayal of this troubled soul. Ben Hales had no redeeming qualities. On the plus side, I loved DS Sian Mills and Adele Kean, the pathologist who was Matilda’s best friend. The latter was someone who was nurturing, but at the same time, wasn’t afraid to tell her friend the truth, even when it hurt. Matilda Darke, when she is herself, is confident, capable, caring, and a very good detective.
The story kept me turning the pages from beginning to end. Not once was I tempted to skim or rush. There were times when I thought I had the answers – yes, I got a few things right, but I also got some things wrong. This wasn’t what I would call a “fun” read, because I actually felt that it was quite sad, but I did like the plot, the characterization, and the surprises. I definitely plan to read the next Matilda Darke novel – now that she’s starting to feel like a friend.
5 stars
March 10, 2021
I enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more in this series. The grief and sadness were parallel for multiple characters, and the horror and sadness felt real and palpable. I felt anguish and anger, frustration and I wanted to smack a couple characters upside the head. In spite of the issues I had, I did enjoy the characters of Mathilda and Jonathan. I feel the need to give Jonathan a long drawn out hug, that he’d no doubt hate.
We meet 11 year old Jonathan. His parents were brutally murdered and he survived, leaving him mute and in shock, full of mental disturbances. His older brother, Matthew, went missing for several days after the murder and there didn’t seem to be much information about him at the time. Either way, he’s was a deplorable, violent narcissist and the two brothers ended up separating in aftercare and in life.
Matilda, the lead investigator, has been off work for 10 months after losing her husband and also taking a break from her job, where she believes she screwed up a kidnapping case, causing a child’s likely death. She was lonely and miserable and she continued to hold tightly to her misery. Luckily, she had the kind of best friend we’d all be lucky to have.
Upon her return to work, Matilda is assigned a cold case, which she views as punishment for her mistake. As she gets to know Jonathan she finds that his sadness and depression mock her own and she feels a kindred spirit on a human level.
As the book proceeds, we learn that Jonathan never fully recovered from his nightmare and memories, and his only solace in life was reading crime fiction (he had my ❤️ at this point) . In his books he found comfort and a haven in which he found the courage to face each new day. He craves living alone, quietly in the shadows with his books. But this is not to be the case when the case is resurrected with new investigation AND the house of the horrors is being demolished.
Throughout this book, I had questions and there were things that didn’t make sense, beginning with the original detective’s sloppy work. Then I couldn’t understand why the new detectives were so slow to follow up on things that were really important (I can’t mention these without spoilers). One of the leads involving evidence was hard to swallow, since the killer was very intelligent and doubtfully would be so careless.
Another, “shaking my head” moment, was the bitterness and animosity between Matilda and another top detective. It was a bit overdone. While I completely understood it, the final result seemed to overshadow the storyline and it felt like an obvious ploy.
The ending, while good, left me wanting more.
I enjoyed the story, the characters, I felt many different things, got a couple chuckles from one-liners and I will read another in the series.
My first 3.5 star review, bumped to 4.
We meet 11 year old Jonathan. His parents were brutally murdered and he survived, leaving him mute and in shock, full of mental disturbances. His older brother, Matthew, went missing for several days after the murder and there didn’t seem to be much information about him at the time. Either way, he’s was a deplorable, violent narcissist and the two brothers ended up separating in aftercare and in life.
Matilda, the lead investigator, has been off work for 10 months after losing her husband and also taking a break from her job, where she believes she screwed up a kidnapping case, causing a child’s likely death. She was lonely and miserable and she continued to hold tightly to her misery. Luckily, she had the kind of best friend we’d all be lucky to have.
Upon her return to work, Matilda is assigned a cold case, which she views as punishment for her mistake. As she gets to know Jonathan she finds that his sadness and depression mock her own and she feels a kindred spirit on a human level.
As the book proceeds, we learn that Jonathan never fully recovered from his nightmare and memories, and his only solace in life was reading crime fiction (he had my ❤️ at this point) . In his books he found comfort and a haven in which he found the courage to face each new day. He craves living alone, quietly in the shadows with his books. But this is not to be the case when the case is resurrected with new investigation AND the house of the horrors is being demolished.
Throughout this book, I had questions and there were things that didn’t make sense, beginning with the original detective’s sloppy work. Then I couldn’t understand why the new detectives were so slow to follow up on things that were really important (I can’t mention these without spoilers). One of the leads involving evidence was hard to swallow, since the killer was very intelligent and doubtfully would be so careless.
Another, “shaking my head” moment, was the bitterness and animosity between Matilda and another top detective. It was a bit overdone. While I completely understood it, the final result seemed to overshadow the storyline and it felt like an obvious ploy.
The ending, while good, left me wanting more.
I enjoyed the story, the characters, I felt many different things, got a couple chuckles from one-liners and I will read another in the series.
My first 3.5 star review, bumped to 4.
January 14, 2020
EXCERPT: She turned and went back into the room. Jonathon had drawn two adults, a child, and was currently on a second child: his family. Dr McCartney bent down next to him and watched him draw in all the details: the hair, the clothes, the eyes, the smiles. He then picked up a red felt-tip and with a forceful action that caused the doctor and the PC to jump, he scribbled all over the picture. He didn't stop until his mother, father and brother were completely covered in blood.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.
Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
MY THOUGHTS: This is another series that I started mid-way through and liked so much that I have gone back to reading from the beginning. I started with #4, The Hangman's Hold, and currently also have the fifth, The Murder House, on my shelf waiting to be read.
We have a police officer in crisis, a cold case, and a whole cast of very interesting characters. I was wavering right up to the end about who had actually killed Jonathon's parents, and I was wrong, despite being right about a number of other things that occur during the book.
The plot is great....reminiscent of a locked room murder.
This is going to be a great series, and I will be devouring the lot.
***.5
THE AUTHOR: Before he became an author, Michael Wood used to serve as a journalist and a proofreader. Wood resides in Sheffield, Yorkshire. For Unknown Reasons was Michael Wood’s debut novel, which was published in the year 2015. HarperCollins published the second installment, Outside Looking In in 2016.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood, narrated by Stephanie Beattie, published by Killer Reads, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbooksday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.
Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
MY THOUGHTS: This is another series that I started mid-way through and liked so much that I have gone back to reading from the beginning. I started with #4, The Hangman's Hold, and currently also have the fifth, The Murder House, on my shelf waiting to be read.
We have a police officer in crisis, a cold case, and a whole cast of very interesting characters. I was wavering right up to the end about who had actually killed Jonathon's parents, and I was wrong, despite being right about a number of other things that occur during the book.
The plot is great....reminiscent of a locked room murder.
This is going to be a great series, and I will be devouring the lot.
***.5
THE AUTHOR: Before he became an author, Michael Wood used to serve as a journalist and a proofreader. Wood resides in Sheffield, Yorkshire. For Unknown Reasons was Michael Wood’s debut novel, which was published in the year 2015. HarperCollins published the second installment, Outside Looking In in 2016.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood, narrated by Stephanie Beattie, published by Killer Reads, via Overdrive. All opinions expressed in this review are my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbooksday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter and my webpage.
October 14, 2015
Absolutely thoroughly enjoyed For Reasons Unknown – a fast paced and endlessly compellling crime thriller and (we hope) the first in a series featuring Matilda Darke (great name great character) a DCI who has returned to work after a traumatic case and personal loss has seen her out of the picture for a while.
It’s always interesting reading a new crime fiction novel when you read as many of them as I do – often they can be quite same old same old, then sometimes one comes along that grips you completely for reasons you can’t quite put your finger on ….aptly in this case given it’s title – and you know that you are going to want more. I want more.
All the elements of great crime fiction are in here – a puzzling and engaging mystery, a touch of emotional angst, characters with a past that speaks to who they are today- what Michael Wood has done particularly well here is give psychological and realistic depth to all of this, especially in relation to how he offsets one personality against the other.
Then you have a lovely twisty turny murder case, where some things are predictable and some things are most definitely not so, a great piece of storytelling that gives the old brain cells a work out and really will have you avidly turning the pages to find out what is what.
On top of that Matilda is a really really terrific main protagonist – her back story is utterly captivating and you absolutely get caught up in her struggle to return to some kind of normality. The relationship between her and the surviving child (now grown) of the cold case she is looking at is brilliantly drawn. As for Ben Hale, the man in charge in Matilda’s absence, well – to say I was enthralled by his personality and what happens to him would be putting it mildly. Really well written to completely involve the reader.
Overall then a great read. One I achieved in one sitting, perfectly paced, entirely fluent throughout, a genuinely first rate first novel.
Bring on book two. I’ll be waiting.
Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
It’s always interesting reading a new crime fiction novel when you read as many of them as I do – often they can be quite same old same old, then sometimes one comes along that grips you completely for reasons you can’t quite put your finger on ….aptly in this case given it’s title – and you know that you are going to want more. I want more.
All the elements of great crime fiction are in here – a puzzling and engaging mystery, a touch of emotional angst, characters with a past that speaks to who they are today- what Michael Wood has done particularly well here is give psychological and realistic depth to all of this, especially in relation to how he offsets one personality against the other.
Then you have a lovely twisty turny murder case, where some things are predictable and some things are most definitely not so, a great piece of storytelling that gives the old brain cells a work out and really will have you avidly turning the pages to find out what is what.
On top of that Matilda is a really really terrific main protagonist – her back story is utterly captivating and you absolutely get caught up in her struggle to return to some kind of normality. The relationship between her and the surviving child (now grown) of the cold case she is looking at is brilliantly drawn. As for Ben Hale, the man in charge in Matilda’s absence, well – to say I was enthralled by his personality and what happens to him would be putting it mildly. Really well written to completely involve the reader.
Overall then a great read. One I achieved in one sitting, perfectly paced, entirely fluent throughout, a genuinely first rate first novel.
Bring on book two. I’ll be waiting.
Highly Recommended.
Happy Reading Folks!
September 8, 2018
Dear reader,
If you're looking for a new female DCI to admire and while away a few hours with,one whose resilience in the face of many personal and work related factors must be admired,then let me introduce you to one Mildred Darke.
Returning to work,after a nine month period which saw her grieve for her husband, and now officially cleared of the whiff of scandal at a botched hostage situation,we are privy to a very anxious Mildred.
While she relishes the idea of doing the job she loves best,she experiences a severe crisis of confidence in her ability to practically take up the reins of her former life and regain her much valued and highly esteemed position as DCI.
Never far from an impending panic attack, and with her work related responsibilities severely curtailed,she now finds herself 'occupied' by a cold case some twenty years old.
Jonathan Harkness,an eleven year old boy,the only witness to the brutal slaying of his parents,struck mute for eighteen months after the horrific scenes he witnessed,has never spoken to the media about the exact circumstances of that fateful day.
With the initial focus on Jonathan's brother, Matthew as a missing person and no murder weapon,this perplexing case proved quite a challenge for not only the police two decades ago,but for Mildred too.
Adding to the complex reality her life has now become,is the great animosity that exists between the acting DCI,Ben Hales and herself.
Convinced that she can no longer perform her duties,and assured that he,himself is the best man for the job,Ben goes on a solo run when the latest murder victim in his caseload happens to be related to the Harkness case. Coincidence or is there some other Machiavellian force at hand?
What of Jonathan,a self imposed semi prisoner in his tunnel vision life of work, books,books and more books?
Is his isolated existence the only means for him to survive or is there more to the man than the mask he portrays to the public?
I must admit to loving this utterly compelling story. I really liked Mildred,yes,she tottered on the brink of anxiety,fear and a potentially dangerous reliance on the gin bottle to see her through,but the way the author chose to couch these elements of the story made it very realistic,and Mildred very human.
I admire Mildred!
Life has played her two successive jokers in the game of life,in quick succession,but with great perseverance and a healthy level of support in the guise of her long time friend,Adele Kean,we want her to gain the confidence she once had and see her gain full acceptance in her colleagues' hearts and minds.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of a good mystery story. I thought the ending quite clever and hope to read more of Mildred and her team.
If you're looking for a new female DCI to admire and while away a few hours with,one whose resilience in the face of many personal and work related factors must be admired,then let me introduce you to one Mildred Darke.
Returning to work,after a nine month period which saw her grieve for her husband, and now officially cleared of the whiff of scandal at a botched hostage situation,we are privy to a very anxious Mildred.
While she relishes the idea of doing the job she loves best,she experiences a severe crisis of confidence in her ability to practically take up the reins of her former life and regain her much valued and highly esteemed position as DCI.
Never far from an impending panic attack, and with her work related responsibilities severely curtailed,she now finds herself 'occupied' by a cold case some twenty years old.
Jonathan Harkness,an eleven year old boy,the only witness to the brutal slaying of his parents,struck mute for eighteen months after the horrific scenes he witnessed,has never spoken to the media about the exact circumstances of that fateful day.
With the initial focus on Jonathan's brother, Matthew as a missing person and no murder weapon,this perplexing case proved quite a challenge for not only the police two decades ago,but for Mildred too.
Adding to the complex reality her life has now become,is the great animosity that exists between the acting DCI,Ben Hales and herself.
Convinced that she can no longer perform her duties,and assured that he,himself is the best man for the job,Ben goes on a solo run when the latest murder victim in his caseload happens to be related to the Harkness case. Coincidence or is there some other Machiavellian force at hand?
What of Jonathan,a self imposed semi prisoner in his tunnel vision life of work, books,books and more books?
Is his isolated existence the only means for him to survive or is there more to the man than the mask he portrays to the public?
I must admit to loving this utterly compelling story. I really liked Mildred,yes,she tottered on the brink of anxiety,fear and a potentially dangerous reliance on the gin bottle to see her through,but the way the author chose to couch these elements of the story made it very realistic,and Mildred very human.
I admire Mildred!
Life has played her two successive jokers in the game of life,in quick succession,but with great perseverance and a healthy level of support in the guise of her long time friend,Adele Kean,we want her to gain the confidence she once had and see her gain full acceptance in her colleagues' hearts and minds.
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of a good mystery story. I thought the ending quite clever and hope to read more of Mildred and her team.
January 11, 2025
Part 1
2 😏🤔⭐️s
Very poorly executed in all aspects crime novel.
2 😏🤔⭐️s
Very poorly executed in all aspects crime novel.
August 19, 2019
Jonathan Harkness was 11 years old when his parents were brutally murdered in their home. He was found unharmed but in shock.
20 years later as the house in which the murders took place is scheduled to be demolished, the case is re-opened and assigned to a team of investigators with fresh eyes.
And when someone else is murdered who was closely related to the 20 year old case, they realize the killer is not done yet.
I loved this author’s third book in the series A Room Full of Killers, but in my opinion this first book was predictable and the ending a bit rushed with a couple of loose ends dangling right in front of my eyes. I Hate Loose Ends!
20 years later as the house in which the murders took place is scheduled to be demolished, the case is re-opened and assigned to a team of investigators with fresh eyes.
And when someone else is murdered who was closely related to the 20 year old case, they realize the killer is not done yet.
I loved this author’s third book in the series A Room Full of Killers, but in my opinion this first book was predictable and the ending a bit rushed with a couple of loose ends dangling right in front of my eyes. I Hate Loose Ends!
January 6, 2016
WOW!! I have just finished this book and wanted to get my thoughts written down as soon as possible. This is a fabulous book that, in a world full of crime books, really stands out. It is a police procedural that will stay in my mind for a lot longer than the norm. And I think the reason is that it just seems very "real" and "personal". This book had been recommended by several bloggers that I trust 100% so I knew it was one I needed to buy asap!
DCI Matilda Darke has been off work due to reasons that become clearer as the book progresses. She returns to a station where the covering DCI is unhappy with her reappearance and she is to have a phased return with reduced hours and shut away from the MIT to have a look at a particular cold case. That case turns out to be the murder of a couple twenty years ago were the only witness was the couples 11 year old son. The demolition of the murder scene seems to spark off a series of events that are going to test Matilda to the extreme. Is she ready to be back?
This was a 5* read for me for many reasons. The setting of Sheffield was a great choice-the gritty northern city is obviously well known and loved by the author and added a darkness to the crime scenes. Mainly though, I loved the way the characters were so well described and layered that their personalities really shone through. I loved them all especially Matilda and her best friend Adele. I also loved Jonathan and the way he developed throughout-a crime book loving misfit working in a book shop, I found myself really rooting for a better life for him and the happiness he was convinced would never come his way. I also want to say I love any book where Tunnocks teacakes make several appearances!
This is one series where I am absolutely desperate to get my hands on Book 2 as I am really taken by Matilda and want to see where she goes from here. I also think there is more to come about the "kidnapping" case as my interest was certainly piqued by the snippets we received in this first book. I just hope I don't have too long to wait!! One of my top reads so far this year.
DCI Matilda Darke has been off work due to reasons that become clearer as the book progresses. She returns to a station where the covering DCI is unhappy with her reappearance and she is to have a phased return with reduced hours and shut away from the MIT to have a look at a particular cold case. That case turns out to be the murder of a couple twenty years ago were the only witness was the couples 11 year old son. The demolition of the murder scene seems to spark off a series of events that are going to test Matilda to the extreme. Is she ready to be back?
This was a 5* read for me for many reasons. The setting of Sheffield was a great choice-the gritty northern city is obviously well known and loved by the author and added a darkness to the crime scenes. Mainly though, I loved the way the characters were so well described and layered that their personalities really shone through. I loved them all especially Matilda and her best friend Adele. I also loved Jonathan and the way he developed throughout-a crime book loving misfit working in a book shop, I found myself really rooting for a better life for him and the happiness he was convinced would never come his way. I also want to say I love any book where Tunnocks teacakes make several appearances!
This is one series where I am absolutely desperate to get my hands on Book 2 as I am really taken by Matilda and want to see where she goes from here. I also think there is more to come about the "kidnapping" case as my interest was certainly piqued by the snippets we received in this first book. I just hope I don't have too long to wait!! One of my top reads so far this year.
September 8, 2024
Kind of predictable but not :) as is hindsight it's predictable. So my first Michael Wood book I just loved. It was the first in the Olivia Winter series and is the only one in it with the next coming out in a few months. Based on the fact that one was so good I bought the first in the Matilda Darke series.
Matilda is the DCI in charge of the Murder Investigation Team in South Yorkshire but has been off work and is a broken down mess. She is a mess as she was blamed (mainly by herself) for screwing up a ransom drop for a kidnapped kid. The drop was unsuccessful and the kid remains missing and it is 8 months later. She also lost her husband who she greatly loved during that time. She sees a female shrink regularly and has been deemed fit for work.
Upon returning to work ACC Masterton informs her that she cannot simply go back to regular duties and that there are steps involved to get her back to par. Darke is stunned by this - like really? I think anyone with any common sense would know that and it is always done that way in policing so that should have not come as a surprise.
Masterton informs her that the Harkness house which was the scene of a double murder some 20 years ago is going to be demolished in the coming days and that will bring the old murders back into the limelight as they were never solved and are a black stain on the force as the crimes were never solved. She is given the cold case to solve and she is not happy. Cold cases are cold for a reason and good luck solving them after the fact especially 20 years later. Yet Darke knows she has no options and is given a DC (Rory Fleming) to assist her.
The only potential witness to the murders is 11 year old Jonathan Harkness who went mute for months after the murders. Darke and Fleming note that the file has no statement from him and wonder if it went missing or if one was never taken for some strange reason.
Complicating matters in the current acting DCI of her unit (Ben Hales) does not want her back and wants her job and thinks she should have been fired for screwing up the kidnapping case. There is much animosity between the two and it is hard for a still fragile Darke to handle.
Another murder pops up on the scene and it is found out to be none other than Matthew Darkness the brother of Jonathan who was missing when the parents murder originally happened. He is four years older than Jonathan and was a suspect at the time of the original murder of his parents.
We soon learn that Hales and the old murder have a connection too and he has always suspected eleven year old Jonathan for killing his parents. Jonathan is in fact clearly a suspect but could an eleven year old kill his parents? His parents were stabbed but at the time Jonathan was small and sleight. Seeing what that broken child evolved into is kind of sad for us looking in but Jonathan is more than ok with who he is except for the fact that many who come into contact with him die.....
The author has worked with police departments before and this is a very good procedural as well. The story is really cool and full of a lot of twists and turns and some really shocking stuff. I really liked it but not as much as the first Wood book I read. Still I am going to clearly continue to read this author and his stories. He has a lot of good insight into policing and the story was solid and very engaging. Highly recommended and an easy five stars!!
Matilda is the DCI in charge of the Murder Investigation Team in South Yorkshire but has been off work and is a broken down mess. She is a mess as she was blamed (mainly by herself) for screwing up a ransom drop for a kidnapped kid. The drop was unsuccessful and the kid remains missing and it is 8 months later. She also lost her husband who she greatly loved during that time. She sees a female shrink regularly and has been deemed fit for work.
Upon returning to work ACC Masterton informs her that she cannot simply go back to regular duties and that there are steps involved to get her back to par. Darke is stunned by this - like really? I think anyone with any common sense would know that and it is always done that way in policing so that should have not come as a surprise.
Masterton informs her that the Harkness house which was the scene of a double murder some 20 years ago is going to be demolished in the coming days and that will bring the old murders back into the limelight as they were never solved and are a black stain on the force as the crimes were never solved. She is given the cold case to solve and she is not happy. Cold cases are cold for a reason and good luck solving them after the fact especially 20 years later. Yet Darke knows she has no options and is given a DC (Rory Fleming) to assist her.
The only potential witness to the murders is 11 year old Jonathan Harkness who went mute for months after the murders. Darke and Fleming note that the file has no statement from him and wonder if it went missing or if one was never taken for some strange reason.
Complicating matters in the current acting DCI of her unit (Ben Hales) does not want her back and wants her job and thinks she should have been fired for screwing up the kidnapping case. There is much animosity between the two and it is hard for a still fragile Darke to handle.
Another murder pops up on the scene and it is found out to be none other than Matthew Darkness the brother of Jonathan who was missing when the parents murder originally happened. He is four years older than Jonathan and was a suspect at the time of the original murder of his parents.
We soon learn that Hales and the old murder have a connection too and he has always suspected eleven year old Jonathan for killing his parents. Jonathan is in fact clearly a suspect but could an eleven year old kill his parents? His parents were stabbed but at the time Jonathan was small and sleight. Seeing what that broken child evolved into is kind of sad for us looking in but Jonathan is more than ok with who he is except for the fact that many who come into contact with him die.....
The author has worked with police departments before and this is a very good procedural as well. The story is really cool and full of a lot of twists and turns and some really shocking stuff. I really liked it but not as much as the first Wood book I read. Still I am going to clearly continue to read this author and his stories. He has a lot of good insight into policing and the story was solid and very engaging. Highly recommended and an easy five stars!!
June 9, 2021
Where has this series been hiding? I read the prequel a few months ago, which I pulled me in, I quickly got the rest of the series to date.
Book 1 has such a great storyline, with lots of flawed but likeable characters except one! As this story started DCI Matilda Darke was so broken you wonder how she is going to pull this off. But her imperfections made me like her more and I was rooting for her to succeed.
This is a well written and captivating story that is difficult to put down. Multiple twists, turns and revelations keep you turning the pages, in this fast-paced book. There is never a dull moment. As truths and revelations are revealed, you will need to put your sleuths hat one to trying and find out what the truth is. I was right about most of it, but not revealed to the end so always the element of have I got it wrong.
At this point I would probably say I look forward to reading more in this series. But as I write this book 7 has just been published, this new book may cost me my job! I really can’t put it down.
Book 1 has such a great storyline, with lots of flawed but likeable characters except one! As this story started DCI Matilda Darke was so broken you wonder how she is going to pull this off. But her imperfections made me like her more and I was rooting for her to succeed.
This is a well written and captivating story that is difficult to put down. Multiple twists, turns and revelations keep you turning the pages, in this fast-paced book. There is never a dull moment. As truths and revelations are revealed, you will need to put your sleuths hat one to trying and find out what the truth is. I was right about most of it, but not revealed to the end so always the element of have I got it wrong.
At this point I would probably say I look forward to reading more in this series. But as I write this book 7 has just been published, this new book may cost me my job! I really can’t put it down.
February 9, 2017
Where do I start,brilliant book couldn't put this book down had this book on my Kindle for a while but when I seen his third book in this series and wanted to read it,I started reading the first book this is the quickest book I've read as couldn't put it down.the characters are really engaging DCI Matilda Drake was back to work after loss of her husband she felt left out and drinking and finding it difficult as she was put on a case that was twenty years old. thinking she had no chance of solving it,There's a lot of twists and turns in this storyline which I kept thinking all different scenarios.Brilliant writing can't wait to read the second book and third.crime lovers won't be disappointed.
January 9, 2020
I enjoyed this book and see lots of potential for future books in the series. I hope Matilda shows growth and better mental health and that the secondary characters get further developed. I will be reading the second book soon.
December 14, 2019
This is the 1st book in the DCI Matilda Darke series by author Michael Wood. I was recently given the fifth book in this series to review 'The Murder House' which is due to be released early 2020. Having not read any of the previous books in the series I was a little hesitant but something attracted me to the book. Well after reading for about 30 minutes I was already planning to buy the previous four books as well as two short reads. I was hooked and for the following ten days I did little else but read Michael Wood books. The books feature a great team of characters that develop as each page is read and there are lots of very addictive sub plots. Although I read the last book first I would recommend reading them in order.
DCI Matilda Darke is a damaged woman and is haunted by the Carl Meagan case where she was largely blamed for it's failure. Recently widowed she battles to get both her personal life and career back together. Having returned to work after a nine month absence she is given a cold case to investigate. The brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness, the only witness to their killings was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatised to speak a word.
During the investigation a dead body is discovered and everything leads back to Matilda's case. There are further complications for Miranda with Acting DCI Ben Hales who resents her personally and is never going to make life easy for her.
This is an excellent read and a great series.
DCI Matilda Darke is a damaged woman and is haunted by the Carl Meagan case where she was largely blamed for it's failure. Recently widowed she battles to get both her personal life and career back together. Having returned to work after a nine month absence she is given a cold case to investigate. The brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness, the only witness to their killings was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatised to speak a word.
During the investigation a dead body is discovered and everything leads back to Matilda's case. There are further complications for Miranda with Acting DCI Ben Hales who resents her personally and is never going to make life easy for her.
This is an excellent read and a great series.
October 18, 2015
For Reasons Unknown by Michael Wood
I've had this book on my kindle for a few weeks, and I kept trying to get to it to no avail. Until this week. I had pretty much caught up on all my "read to review" books and I had been promising Michael over on Twitter that I would read and review For Reasons Unknown for ages so I started it Friday night!
About the book:
Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…
A darkly compelling debut crime novel. The start of a brilliant series, perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, and James Oswald.
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.
Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
My thoughts:
Where to start?! First off, I loved this book. I read so many crime books that at times they all run into each other but every so often a book comes along with a story that stands out. For Reasons Unknown did just that.
DCI Darke (what a name by the way!) is back to work after some traumatic events in both her personal and professional life. Clearly not 100%, she is tasked with solving a cold case from twenty years ago. The double murder of Miranda and Stefan Harkness, whose murder was witnessed by their eleven year old son and in turn, rendered him mute.
Simultaneously, acting DCI Hales is investigating a murder in the city. Both past and present cases end up related so it becomes a race against time as it appears that the murderer may not be finished. While I saw this coming, I still enjoyed the way it was going.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story, and I found myself reading at every opportunity (including in the car even though it makes me sick!!! I had 6% left to read!!
I've had this book on my kindle for a few weeks, and I kept trying to get to it to no avail. Until this week. I had pretty much caught up on all my "read to review" books and I had been promising Michael over on Twitter that I would read and review For Reasons Unknown for ages so I started it Friday night!
About the book:
Two murders. Twenty years. Now the killer is back for more…
A darkly compelling debut crime novel. The start of a brilliant series, perfect for fans of Stuart MacBride, Val McDermid, and James Oswald.
DCI Matilda Darke has returned to work after a nine month absence. A shadow of her former self, she is tasked with re-opening a cold case: the terrifyingly brutal murders of Miranda and Stefan Harkness. The only witness was their eleven-year-old son, Jonathan, who was too deeply traumatized to speak a word.
Then a dead body is discovered, and the investigation leads back to Matilda's case. Suddenly the past and present converge, and it seems a killer may have come back for more…
My thoughts:
Where to start?! First off, I loved this book. I read so many crime books that at times they all run into each other but every so often a book comes along with a story that stands out. For Reasons Unknown did just that.
DCI Darke (what a name by the way!) is back to work after some traumatic events in both her personal and professional life. Clearly not 100%, she is tasked with solving a cold case from twenty years ago. The double murder of Miranda and Stefan Harkness, whose murder was witnessed by their eleven year old son and in turn, rendered him mute.
Simultaneously, acting DCI Hales is investigating a murder in the city. Both past and present cases end up related so it becomes a race against time as it appears that the murderer may not be finished. While I saw this coming, I still enjoyed the way it was going.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story, and I found myself reading at every opportunity (including in the car even though it makes me sick!!! I had 6% left to read!!
September 25, 2015
The first in a new British police procedural set in Sheffield, which follows DCI Matilda Darke returning to work after a nine months absence. Still in a fragile mental state, she is tasked with looking into a cold case from 20 years ago. But when a murdered body turns up, it soon becomes clear that the two cases are linked.
This was an enjoyable story that held my attention throughout. Some developments were fairly predictable but it was interesting enough that you still wanted to discover the why and how. It also had some nice surprises that I didn't see coming. Well written without any unnecessary padding, it was a fast paced story that I easily finished within a day or so. I neither loved nor hated Matilda. It was more the characters she was working with, and especially the suspects, that made the book really engaging. Overall, a very good start to a new series, and I would certainly be willing to follow more of Matilda's cases in the future.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
This was an enjoyable story that held my attention throughout. Some developments were fairly predictable but it was interesting enough that you still wanted to discover the why and how. It also had some nice surprises that I didn't see coming. Well written without any unnecessary padding, it was a fast paced story that I easily finished within a day or so. I neither loved nor hated Matilda. It was more the characters she was working with, and especially the suspects, that made the book really engaging. Overall, a very good start to a new series, and I would certainly be willing to follow more of Matilda's cases in the future.
Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
November 8, 2015
I saw this book mentioned by various blogger friends and on social media sites. It was getting a lot of positive feedback so I broke my book-buying ban and purchased a copy. Well that was one of the smartest things I have done in a while as this book was…well…phenomenal! I don’t often say that…check my reviews…you’ll see!
The characters in this book full of life. As I turned each page I really got a feel for Matilda, Jonathan, Stephen, Maun, and DCI Hales to name a few. But what I really enjoyed was the author only gave you enough to keep hold of you. As I read this book, it was like I was sucking in air and holding my breath as each chapter revealed a little bit more. And then came the twists. I think I was hyperventilating by that point as I had predicted some things, but they did not make sense until the author chucked in a little more information and this kept me hooked.
I am still surprised that this is a debut novel because it felt like the author had nailed the plot, the character development and the sequencing. All of the hooks were right on target. I actually stayed up until 3am when I had to get up for work at 5am because I just could not bear to put this book down. I just had to know what happened!
I often wonder when I read books, how much of the author is in the characters/pages. With this book, for some reason, I felt there was a lot of the author in this book…the only thing that was missing was Woody…and if you want to know who Woody is, check out Michael Wood’s pictures on Twitter ! He is a cutie! Woody that is...though I guess Michael is easy on the eyes too! LOL ...Don't want to leave him out!
This book was eery, thought provoking, full of suspense and really made me squeal with excitement at times. I feel like it is one of those books that you cannot and should not pass up reading …Treat yourself to one of my favourite books of 2015. Definitely going in my top 10
The characters in this book full of life. As I turned each page I really got a feel for Matilda, Jonathan, Stephen, Maun, and DCI Hales to name a few. But what I really enjoyed was the author only gave you enough to keep hold of you. As I read this book, it was like I was sucking in air and holding my breath as each chapter revealed a little bit more. And then came the twists. I think I was hyperventilating by that point as I had predicted some things, but they did not make sense until the author chucked in a little more information and this kept me hooked.
I am still surprised that this is a debut novel because it felt like the author had nailed the plot, the character development and the sequencing. All of the hooks were right on target. I actually stayed up until 3am when I had to get up for work at 5am because I just could not bear to put this book down. I just had to know what happened!
I often wonder when I read books, how much of the author is in the characters/pages. With this book, for some reason, I felt there was a lot of the author in this book…the only thing that was missing was Woody…and if you want to know who Woody is, check out Michael Wood’s pictures on Twitter ! He is a cutie! Woody that is...though I guess Michael is easy on the eyes too! LOL ...Don't want to leave him out!
This book was eery, thought provoking, full of suspense and really made me squeal with excitement at times. I feel like it is one of those books that you cannot and should not pass up reading …Treat yourself to one of my favourite books of 2015. Definitely going in my top 10
November 24, 2016
My first foray into the world of DCI Matilda Darke and it was a really good one.
Darke has been away from her job for nine months due to stress both work and family related. She is normally heading up the MIT team but has now been asked as a way of easing herself back to work to look into a cold case that goes back twenty years. A young boy was in the house when his parents were murdered and he was the one that found them. A deeply traumatic experience that took him a long way from home when he went to live with his aunt. After she passes he comes back to his hometown (Sheffield) and lives not too far away from his original home.
This story essentially is a police procedural with an investigation that looks into the present and the past. Coupled with additional murders that take place in the current timeframe too the question becomes 'are they linked to the past?' Wood has written a fabulous character in Matilda Darke. Capturing well her troubles and heartache as she tries to comes to terms with her past and ease herself back to work. She is also up against her nemesis who would love to take her job and finds herself juggling many balls.
This is a well written, terrific page turner of a story that kept me enthralled throughout. Many times I thought I knew exactly where it was all going to be constantly thrown off the scent .... then picking it up again! The plot, the Sheffield setting was plausible and realistic with some great characters present - good and bad!]
Suffice to say it was a debut I very much enjoyed and this looks to be a series I will not be veering away from. Highly recommend.
Darke has been away from her job for nine months due to stress both work and family related. She is normally heading up the MIT team but has now been asked as a way of easing herself back to work to look into a cold case that goes back twenty years. A young boy was in the house when his parents were murdered and he was the one that found them. A deeply traumatic experience that took him a long way from home when he went to live with his aunt. After she passes he comes back to his hometown (Sheffield) and lives not too far away from his original home.
This story essentially is a police procedural with an investigation that looks into the present and the past. Coupled with additional murders that take place in the current timeframe too the question becomes 'are they linked to the past?' Wood has written a fabulous character in Matilda Darke. Capturing well her troubles and heartache as she tries to comes to terms with her past and ease herself back to work. She is also up against her nemesis who would love to take her job and finds herself juggling many balls.
This is a well written, terrific page turner of a story that kept me enthralled throughout. Many times I thought I knew exactly where it was all going to be constantly thrown off the scent .... then picking it up again! The plot, the Sheffield setting was plausible and realistic with some great characters present - good and bad!]
Suffice to say it was a debut I very much enjoyed and this looks to be a series I will not be veering away from. Highly recommend.
April 24, 2021
4 Stars
June 19, 2016
This is the first book by Michael Wood that I have read and I am so excited that I now have a new author to follow. Matilda Drake is a DCI who has been on nine months leave, on return to work she is given a 20 year old cold case to ease her back into full time work. Her last case involved a child and she was not successful in keeping the killer inside prison, this has weighed heavily on Matilda for a long time.
Jonathan Harkness was only 11 years old when he witnessed the slaying of both his parents and for the next 18 months he became mute, it was only after living with his Aunt Clara, who he was very close to that one day he spoke again. When she died suddenly Jonathan was devastated, how could he lose another family member and the only one that was there for him after his parent's deaths.
I really loved this book, it is an excellent thriller that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen. Great plot and characters, all the makings of an excellent novel. Thank you again to Mr Wood.
Jonathan Harkness was only 11 years old when he witnessed the slaying of both his parents and for the next 18 months he became mute, it was only after living with his Aunt Clara, who he was very close to that one day he spoke again. When she died suddenly Jonathan was devastated, how could he lose another family member and the only one that was there for him after his parent's deaths.
I really loved this book, it is an excellent thriller that kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen. Great plot and characters, all the makings of an excellent novel. Thank you again to Mr Wood.
June 16, 2018
A debut novel, so I don't suppose I should be too harsh, but there are too many examples of bad writing here than I couldn't ignore. One didn't have to read many pages without spotting some missed punctuation and poor grammar ("your" instead of "you're", "refute" instead of "deny") and, even though written in the third person, we, supposedly, get glimpses into the thoughts of each character.
I did enjoy some of the scenes describing the hilly city of Sheffield caught in the throes of harsh mid-winter weather, although the plotting went really haywire towards the end and none of the three central characters, Matilda Darke, Jonathan Harkness and, particularly, Ben Hales rang true for me.
I did enjoy some of the scenes describing the hilly city of Sheffield caught in the throes of harsh mid-winter weather, although the plotting went really haywire towards the end and none of the three central characters, Matilda Darke, Jonathan Harkness and, particularly, Ben Hales rang true for me.
January 30, 2016
This was a frustrating novel. From all the rave reviews I was looking forward to it, but from the outset it had me huffing. The second line of chapter 1 describes someone as having gone through “a painful miasma of emotions.” Now, since a miasma is a noxious emanation, from a swamp, for example, what is a miasma of emotions? I presume the author must have intended a word that meant “range.” Miasma is misused later in the book as well: where we get a “miasma of thoughts.”
Then you get odd shifts in point of view. Here we’re following Matilda’s thoughts when we get: “ ‘You’re looking very well,’ Valerie lied.” (We are now in Valerie’s head.) Then the next line is: “ ‘Thank you. I feel well,’ Matilda lied back.” There are such bizarre shifts in point of view throughout the book — here for example we’re following someone reading a book: “When he came to the end of the chapter he looked up at the mass of books that surrounded him. He was content here. He was safe in this room. In reality his mind was diseased, and forever tortured him with paranoia and depressive thoughts, but in this room he was safe.” Is that the author diagnosing him? Would someone really be reading and think “I feel safe, but in reality my mind is diseased and torturing me with paranoia and depressive thoughts.”
There are things like: “ ‘No of course not. You’re right. Start as you mean to go on and all that,’ she half laughed.” How can you say all that whilst half laughing? Punctuation is not great: semicolons are used throughout where colons are required. (I don’t think there is a single use of a colon.) Commas are missed: my favourite is the “stiff cream envelope” which for a millisecond I read as an envelope made for stiff cream or made of stiff cream. We have a “you’re” instead of a “your,” “God forbid anyone on the receiving end of it” when what is meant is “God help anyone,” “for argument’s say” instead of “for argument’s sake.”
If these were my only gripes it would be just so much pedantry but it doesn’t stop there — characters aren’t quite consistent — incredibly amateurish interviewing by the Assistant Chief Constable, a pathologist who also seems to double up as a police surgeon in the police station, dodgy police procedures, bizarre actions on the part of an acting DCI justified by cod psychology, and strange plot constructs. A house is demolished: “All that remained were the foundations and, for some reason, the staircase at the side of the house and a small section of landing.” But the reader knows the reason: it is because it suited the author’s plot — no other explanation is credible. And critically to the whole plot: a vicious knife attack that doesn’t cover the perpetrator in blood, when it would have been obvious to anyone, in reality, who did such a crime. Also lots of clichés: blood running cold, beads and sheens of sweat appearing when anyone is under pressure etc.
All this is easily understandable from any author — these are things which can happen in early drafts, but this is not even self-published. It is a Harper Collins publication and one presumes has been professionally edited. They did not do a good job and have badly let down a potentially good author. It is such a shame that all I have talked about is the stuff which distracted me from the story, which had a lot of potential and was absorbing in many places. However, having read the Kindle sample, I would not have bought this but for adding to my reviews of Sheffield novels. (Oh and the cover: it bears no relation to the story whatsoever. Perhaps the title refers to Harper Collins’ decisions) 30 Sheffield novels reviewed at: http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...
Then you get odd shifts in point of view. Here we’re following Matilda’s thoughts when we get: “ ‘You’re looking very well,’ Valerie lied.” (We are now in Valerie’s head.) Then the next line is: “ ‘Thank you. I feel well,’ Matilda lied back.” There are such bizarre shifts in point of view throughout the book — here for example we’re following someone reading a book: “When he came to the end of the chapter he looked up at the mass of books that surrounded him. He was content here. He was safe in this room. In reality his mind was diseased, and forever tortured him with paranoia and depressive thoughts, but in this room he was safe.” Is that the author diagnosing him? Would someone really be reading and think “I feel safe, but in reality my mind is diseased and torturing me with paranoia and depressive thoughts.”
There are things like: “ ‘No of course not. You’re right. Start as you mean to go on and all that,’ she half laughed.” How can you say all that whilst half laughing? Punctuation is not great: semicolons are used throughout where colons are required. (I don’t think there is a single use of a colon.) Commas are missed: my favourite is the “stiff cream envelope” which for a millisecond I read as an envelope made for stiff cream or made of stiff cream. We have a “you’re” instead of a “your,” “God forbid anyone on the receiving end of it” when what is meant is “God help anyone,” “for argument’s say” instead of “for argument’s sake.”
If these were my only gripes it would be just so much pedantry but it doesn’t stop there — characters aren’t quite consistent — incredibly amateurish interviewing by the Assistant Chief Constable, a pathologist who also seems to double up as a police surgeon in the police station, dodgy police procedures, bizarre actions on the part of an acting DCI justified by cod psychology, and strange plot constructs. A house is demolished: “All that remained were the foundations and, for some reason, the staircase at the side of the house and a small section of landing.” But the reader knows the reason: it is because it suited the author’s plot — no other explanation is credible. And critically to the whole plot: a vicious knife attack that doesn’t cover the perpetrator in blood, when it would have been obvious to anyone, in reality, who did such a crime. Also lots of clichés: blood running cold, beads and sheens of sweat appearing when anyone is under pressure etc.
All this is easily understandable from any author — these are things which can happen in early drafts, but this is not even self-published. It is a Harper Collins publication and one presumes has been professionally edited. They did not do a good job and have badly let down a potentially good author. It is such a shame that all I have talked about is the stuff which distracted me from the story, which had a lot of potential and was absorbing in many places. However, having read the Kindle sample, I would not have bought this but for adding to my reviews of Sheffield novels. (Oh and the cover: it bears no relation to the story whatsoever. Perhaps the title refers to Harper Collins’ decisions) 30 Sheffield novels reviewed at: http://stevek1889.blogspot.co.uk/2014...
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