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DS Aector McAvoy #5
Dead Pretty
One girl missing. One girl dead. A stunning new novel from one of Britain's most original crime writers, Dead Pretty finds Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy and Detective Superintendent Trish Pharaoh grappling with vigilantes, unsolved murders, and a killer far too close to home.
While a colleague struggles to solve the recent killing of a man too vile to have mourners, Aector McAvoy, Detective Sergeant of the Humberside Police's murder squad, is still haunted by the past. His devotion to his cases is unshakeable, but it's been nine months since Hannah Kelly disappeared in the quiet English countryside, and it is becoming harder to convince himself that she is just missing instead of dead... especially when another young woman is found brutally murdered.
As McAvoy looks for connections between the women, his boss Trish Pharaoh is preoccupied with troubles of her own. Reuben Hollow--a man convicted of murder with the help of perjured testimony from the Humberside Police--has just been released from prison after a high-profile wrongful conviction suit, putting Pharaoh's reputation at stake. But when her house is broken into and her children threatened, she soon learns it is not only her good name that's in danger.
As the cases intertwine and Pharaoh's behavior becomes more erratic, McAvoy must question who he can trust if he is to uncover Hannah's fate and find justice for the dead--without joining them himself.
Gritty, atmospheric, and endlessly entertaining, David Mark's Dead Pretty is an absorbing, twisty ride readers won't soon forget.
While a colleague struggles to solve the recent killing of a man too vile to have mourners, Aector McAvoy, Detective Sergeant of the Humberside Police's murder squad, is still haunted by the past. His devotion to his cases is unshakeable, but it's been nine months since Hannah Kelly disappeared in the quiet English countryside, and it is becoming harder to convince himself that she is just missing instead of dead... especially when another young woman is found brutally murdered.
As McAvoy looks for connections between the women, his boss Trish Pharaoh is preoccupied with troubles of her own. Reuben Hollow--a man convicted of murder with the help of perjured testimony from the Humberside Police--has just been released from prison after a high-profile wrongful conviction suit, putting Pharaoh's reputation at stake. But when her house is broken into and her children threatened, she soon learns it is not only her good name that's in danger.
As the cases intertwine and Pharaoh's behavior becomes more erratic, McAvoy must question who he can trust if he is to uncover Hannah's fate and find justice for the dead--without joining them himself.
Gritty, atmospheric, and endlessly entertaining, David Mark's Dead Pretty is an absorbing, twisty ride readers won't soon forget.
322 pages, Hardcover
First published January 28, 2016
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697 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 11, 2021
This is the fifth book in the series about Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy and Detective Superintendent Trish Pharaoh. However, for some reason book 6 seems to have been published in the US before book 5 and I've already read 6. I've also read 2 of the earlier books in the series. It's probably better to be a little familiar with the characters, but this is a self contained story so it can be read as a standalone.
McAvoy is haunted by the disappearance of Hannah Kelly 9 months ago but now he has a new case to deal with, the murder of another young woman, Ava Delaney. Pharaoh has her own problems, including her increasing alcohol consumption, a rebellious teenaged daughter, her husband who suffered a severe stroke and a couple of thugs who want to collect payment for her husband's gambling debts. Pharaoh also suffered career damage when she sent Reuben Hollow to jail for a murder that turned out to be self defense. His conviction was also based on tainted evidence. I have always found Pharaoh to be a much more interesting character than McAvoy who is too good to be true, and I absolutely loathe McAvoy's wife and I keep hoping a truck hits her. I initially didn't think I would like this series but it has grown on me.
The author does a good job of weaving together a lot of disparate threads. As in his other books, he has a fondness for creepy and sadistic crimes and he also has a fondness for Pharaoh's breasts, which he mentions every 10 pages. I wouldn't be upset to see either of these obsessions axed in his next book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
McAvoy is haunted by the disappearance of Hannah Kelly 9 months ago but now he has a new case to deal with, the murder of another young woman, Ava Delaney. Pharaoh has her own problems, including her increasing alcohol consumption, a rebellious teenaged daughter, her husband who suffered a severe stroke and a couple of thugs who want to collect payment for her husband's gambling debts. Pharaoh also suffered career damage when she sent Reuben Hollow to jail for a murder that turned out to be self defense. His conviction was also based on tainted evidence. I have always found Pharaoh to be a much more interesting character than McAvoy who is too good to be true, and I absolutely loathe McAvoy's wife and I keep hoping a truck hits her. I initially didn't think I would like this series but it has grown on me.
The author does a good job of weaving together a lot of disparate threads. As in his other books, he has a fondness for creepy and sadistic crimes and he also has a fondness for Pharaoh's breasts, which he mentions every 10 pages. I wouldn't be upset to see either of these obsessions axed in his next book.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
December 18, 2017
David Mark tends to write what is initially a confusing story. It is imperative to remember the characters and their relationships. Chapters end and those characters reappear in a later chapter. The plots move slowly because there is a lot of atmospheric description and internal thinking.
Some of my confusion in this book stemmed from certain main characters behaving in uncharacteristic manners. Something didn’t feel right, and the author reflected my confusion in Aector McAvoy's thoughts. He was a wreck, too. I found it hard to believe he took his wife and daughter somewhere dangerous. Ah, well, all is revealed in the end.
So, another enjoyable book set in foggy Hull. I will be reading the sixth book in the series soon, and then must wait for the seventh to be published.
Some of my confusion in this book stemmed from certain main characters behaving in uncharacteristic manners. Something didn’t feel right, and the author reflected my confusion in Aector McAvoy's thoughts. He was a wreck, too. I found it hard to believe he took his wife and daughter somewhere dangerous. Ah, well, all is revealed in the end.
So, another enjoyable book set in foggy Hull. I will be reading the sixth book in the series soon, and then must wait for the seventh to be published.
November 18, 2015
This is book 5 in the McAvoy series and I’ve been a pretty quiet fan of it throughout to be honest, I have a little collection on my (one of many) bookshelves and when I got the chance to read Dead Pretty early there was just no way I was turning that down.
There is a peculiar brilliance to David Mark’s writing that just gives this particular crime series an oddly magical edge over most of the others out there – addictive quality in spades but also deeply fascinating character studies and a main protagonist to die for -the uniquely defined gentle giant that is DS Aector McAvoy. His personality and that of those around him (particularly wife Roisin and his boss Trish Pharoah) really resonates – you will be immersed before you know it into their world, where violence is often rife and walking the moral line is not always easy.
In “Dead Pretty” Aector is searching for a missing girl, resolutely and with determination. Then another girl is found murdered, a body is discovered on another estate – on top of that Trish is behaving quite oddly after her career has taken a hit from a rather enigmatic and intriguing recently released prisoner. This sets the scene for a truly riveting story, absolutely chocka block full of nail biting moments (I’m not even exaggerating I did really bite nails!) but also plenty of the more contemplative and thoughtful introspection that I’ve come to expect and love from this author.
Its a heady mix for sure for any crime fiction fan – and actually for anyone, why limit the field – they are intuitively done so you can start anywhere but also will be completely rewarded by reading in order, so take your pick. Having followed Aector from his first appearance back in The Dark Winter I am still completely in love with him and his supporting cast of highly alluring friends and family – with Dead Pretty David Mark has taken it up a notch if that is even possible so all of these come highly recommended from me.
And do hurry along another one. Yes I do sometimes wish there was a magic book fairy who could grant book wishes. This is one of those times – I finished this earlier today in a rush of adrenalin and a lot of crossed fingers for the outcome I hoped for – what I got was **redacted** and it was blinking brilliant!
Happy Reading Folks!
There is a peculiar brilliance to David Mark’s writing that just gives this particular crime series an oddly magical edge over most of the others out there – addictive quality in spades but also deeply fascinating character studies and a main protagonist to die for -the uniquely defined gentle giant that is DS Aector McAvoy. His personality and that of those around him (particularly wife Roisin and his boss Trish Pharoah) really resonates – you will be immersed before you know it into their world, where violence is often rife and walking the moral line is not always easy.
In “Dead Pretty” Aector is searching for a missing girl, resolutely and with determination. Then another girl is found murdered, a body is discovered on another estate – on top of that Trish is behaving quite oddly after her career has taken a hit from a rather enigmatic and intriguing recently released prisoner. This sets the scene for a truly riveting story, absolutely chocka block full of nail biting moments (I’m not even exaggerating I did really bite nails!) but also plenty of the more contemplative and thoughtful introspection that I’ve come to expect and love from this author.
Its a heady mix for sure for any crime fiction fan – and actually for anyone, why limit the field – they are intuitively done so you can start anywhere but also will be completely rewarded by reading in order, so take your pick. Having followed Aector from his first appearance back in The Dark Winter I am still completely in love with him and his supporting cast of highly alluring friends and family – with Dead Pretty David Mark has taken it up a notch if that is even possible so all of these come highly recommended from me.
And do hurry along another one. Yes I do sometimes wish there was a magic book fairy who could grant book wishes. This is one of those times – I finished this earlier today in a rush of adrenalin and a lot of crossed fingers for the outcome I hoped for – what I got was **redacted** and it was blinking brilliant!
Happy Reading Folks!
May 7, 2018
Four Cups of Latte☕☕☕☕
An Intense Crime Thriller. Dead Pretty is the fifth book in this series. I wish I had read the previous books before reading this. It would have been that much more powerful. This is my first David Mark read. This is a gritty crime thriller with an obsessed detective looking for a missing girl. When another is found brutally murdered. Detective Sergeant Aector McAvoy starts piecing the two together. A multi layered dark and very detailed plot. I enjoyed this creepy thrill into the dark side of crime fiction.
Thank You
Penguin Books
First to Read
Book Gypsy
Novels & Latte
February 18, 2019
felt this part of series was more predictable than the others so far in the series and the plot could of been better even though did enjoy the book though
January 24, 2016
The book opens with Aector on a family picnic, although he’s not fooling his wife Roisin who knows that he is trying to find the body of a girl who has been missing for nine months, an unsolved case that preoccupies him. But, life as a policeman never allows him to relax for long and no sooner have they eaten their sandwiches when a call comes in about a murdered girl.
What I particularly enjoyed with this novel was the multiple strands. A missing persons investigation and a murder would be enough for most crime writers to handle, but no we also have Reuben Hollow who has been released from prison, put away by Aector’s boss, Trish Pharaoh, on what appears to be false evidence, and who is now political dynamite as a result. With Pharaoh looking as if she is going to be hung out to dry Aector’s natural protective instinct goes into overdrive, but his boss seems to be changing; still feisty but drinking far too much and behaving secretively, he’s not quite sure what she wants from him anymore.
As in many police procedurals there are plenty of politics and rivalry between the teams as to who gets the ‘best’ cases although within the Special Investigation team things are relatively settled, just as well because the investigation into the murder is complex with leads taking them all in many different directions, none of them particularly good!
This was an engaging read and although Aector still comes across as a little too good to be true,, it makes a nice change from the gruff surly policemen that often inhabit this genre. I warmed far more to Trish Pharaoh in this book perhaps because we got to view her home life in a bit more detail and so I appreciated more of what made the core of the woman, and which aspects of her character she has capitalised to get on, both in her career and life in general. It was interesting to see some rivalry between her and Roisin, both women adore Aector and with one his wife and the other his boss, you have to wonder quite what is going to happen next.
One thing is for certain is that this is not a gentle read, the complexities of the plot coupled with the smart pace alone keeps the tension high from page to page and there are some fairly gruesome scenes. I thought I was fairly shock-proof but this book made me wince more than once along the way! I’m also not sure what whoever is in charge of Hull’s tourism thinks, as the descriptions of the city are less than flattering but there is nothing like a grim backdrop to set the scene for a disturbing crime!
I’d like to thank the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read a review copy of this book ahead of publication on 28 January 2016. I’m now well and truly motivated to read the missing episodes before book six gets published (sorry for those of you who think this is completely the wrong way to manage a series!)
What I particularly enjoyed with this novel was the multiple strands. A missing persons investigation and a murder would be enough for most crime writers to handle, but no we also have Reuben Hollow who has been released from prison, put away by Aector’s boss, Trish Pharaoh, on what appears to be false evidence, and who is now political dynamite as a result. With Pharaoh looking as if she is going to be hung out to dry Aector’s natural protective instinct goes into overdrive, but his boss seems to be changing; still feisty but drinking far too much and behaving secretively, he’s not quite sure what she wants from him anymore.
As in many police procedurals there are plenty of politics and rivalry between the teams as to who gets the ‘best’ cases although within the Special Investigation team things are relatively settled, just as well because the investigation into the murder is complex with leads taking them all in many different directions, none of them particularly good!
This was an engaging read and although Aector still comes across as a little too good to be true,, it makes a nice change from the gruff surly policemen that often inhabit this genre. I warmed far more to Trish Pharaoh in this book perhaps because we got to view her home life in a bit more detail and so I appreciated more of what made the core of the woman, and which aspects of her character she has capitalised to get on, both in her career and life in general. It was interesting to see some rivalry between her and Roisin, both women adore Aector and with one his wife and the other his boss, you have to wonder quite what is going to happen next.
One thing is for certain is that this is not a gentle read, the complexities of the plot coupled with the smart pace alone keeps the tension high from page to page and there are some fairly gruesome scenes. I thought I was fairly shock-proof but this book made me wince more than once along the way! I’m also not sure what whoever is in charge of Hull’s tourism thinks, as the descriptions of the city are less than flattering but there is nothing like a grim backdrop to set the scene for a disturbing crime!
I’d like to thank the publishers Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me to read a review copy of this book ahead of publication on 28 January 2016. I’m now well and truly motivated to read the missing episodes before book six gets published (sorry for those of you who think this is completely the wrong way to manage a series!)
June 28, 2016
David Mark has written five novels in the McAvoy series. Two girls have disappeared and then killed. The Serious and Organised Crime Unit of Humberside Police had been searching for Hannah Kelly since August last year. Hannah Kelly remains a missing person she vanished just twenty-six miles away from where Ava Delaney was killed. They both are of similar age. David Mark knows how to write crime fiction as he spent seven years as a crime reporter.
April 16, 2018
This book was initially a little confusing to me. It took me some time to get used to David Mark's writing, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. This is book five of Detective Sargeant Aector McAvoy and not having read any of the previous books in the series might have contributed to my initial confusion. Once I got into the book, I just couldn't put it down.
I love a good crime story, and this is a great one. The story is a bit disturbing with some pretty descriptive scenes, but overall this is a gritty and riveting story that would've probably received 5-stars had I read the other books. I highly recommend this one. David Mark got me hooked, and his other books just made it to my TBR list.
I received an early copy of this book for free from Penguin Random House First To Read in exchange for my honest review.
I love a good crime story, and this is a great one. The story is a bit disturbing with some pretty descriptive scenes, but overall this is a gritty and riveting story that would've probably received 5-stars had I read the other books. I highly recommend this one. David Mark got me hooked, and his other books just made it to my TBR list.
I received an early copy of this book for free from Penguin Random House First To Read in exchange for my honest review.
August 8, 2016
First of all I would like to thank Bookbridgr and Mulholland for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I know there are plenty of fans of David Mark's books, and I can see from other reviews on GoodReads that my 1* review is very much the exception, rather than the rule. Perhaps it's because this is the 5th book in the series, but the first that I've read, so I found it hard to get into the characters. Who knows. Either way it wasn't for me.
I have an issue in general with detectives in murder/mystery/psychological thrillers having silly names, and "Aector McAvoy" is no exception. Aector?!! It's a gaelic name according to the author, but not one I've ever come across. On top of that one of the characters insisted on calling him "Hector" throughout the book. I thought it was a typo at first, but it was so consistent I decided it must be a "character trait" even though it was intensely annoying.
I couldn't get on board with the writing either. Another issue I have is the overuse of metaphors in writing, and this book is absolutely peppered with them. Open practically any page and you can find some ridiculous metaphor ...
And so it goes on. There's even one comparing someone's eyes to blue cheese, which annoyingly I can't find in the book as I write this review. I really should keep notes as I go of such annoying turns of phrase.
There are also lot of repeated phrases including lots of "running his/her tongue over his/her teeth", words "greasy" with regret, and lots of inaccuracies such as "scalped underarms" (you can only scalp a scalp!) and someone who was described as "making a fist with his toes" which almost had me throwing the book across the room in frustration!
All the literary annoyances aside, I couldn't really get on-board with the storyline either. It starts with "Aector" being unable to leave a cold case behind and telling his wife, in-depth, all about a missing girl. It then gets very confusing with so many characters coming and going, so many (seemingly unrelated) accidents, gangsters, ex-convicts and police politics, it was hard to follow at times. Even when I finally got to the conclusion it was completely underwhelming.
As I say, this is the 5th in the series and there are plenty of fans of Mark's books. I'm afraid I am just not one of them.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I know there are plenty of fans of David Mark's books, and I can see from other reviews on GoodReads that my 1* review is very much the exception, rather than the rule. Perhaps it's because this is the 5th book in the series, but the first that I've read, so I found it hard to get into the characters. Who knows. Either way it wasn't for me.
I have an issue in general with detectives in murder/mystery/psychological thrillers having silly names, and "Aector McAvoy" is no exception. Aector?!! It's a gaelic name according to the author, but not one I've ever come across. On top of that one of the characters insisted on calling him "Hector" throughout the book. I thought it was a typo at first, but it was so consistent I decided it must be a "character trait" even though it was intensely annoying.
I couldn't get on board with the writing either. Another issue I have is the overuse of metaphors in writing, and this book is absolutely peppered with them. Open practically any page and you can find some ridiculous metaphor ...
"Jez Gavan and his partner have burrowed in at number 17 like ticks in a dog's back leg" (p68)
"'I still receive a birthday card from Doug', says Jackson-Savannah, like a teenage girl showing off a signed photograph from her favourite boy band" (p56)
"... a billion tiny raindrops hovering like flies" (p202)
And so it goes on. There's even one comparing someone's eyes to blue cheese, which annoyingly I can't find in the book as I write this review. I really should keep notes as I go of such annoying turns of phrase.
There are also lot of repeated phrases including lots of "running his/her tongue over his/her teeth", words "greasy" with regret, and lots of inaccuracies such as "scalped underarms" (you can only scalp a scalp!) and someone who was described as "making a fist with his toes" which almost had me throwing the book across the room in frustration!
All the literary annoyances aside, I couldn't really get on-board with the storyline either. It starts with "Aector" being unable to leave a cold case behind and telling his wife, in-depth, all about a missing girl. It then gets very confusing with so many characters coming and going, so many (seemingly unrelated) accidents, gangsters, ex-convicts and police politics, it was hard to follow at times. Even when I finally got to the conclusion it was completely underwhelming.
As I say, this is the 5th in the series and there are plenty of fans of Mark's books. I'm afraid I am just not one of them.
This review was originally posted on Babs' Bookshelf
April 20, 2018
I hate reviews with spoilers so you won't read any here. All you'll get is my humble opinion about the quality of this novel.
I generally enjoy police procedurals but it took me a minute to get into this one, maybe because this is the fifth in a series and I hadn’t read the previous installments. Since there were holes in the backstory, some references were unclear. I was initially confused about the lead male character’s name, as he is called Aector by his spouse and Hector by his boss, unless this is a remarkably consistent typo. The author’s apparent fascination with saliva, spitting, mucus and all things disgusting was a definite negative. The story itself is pretty good, though David Mark’s writing style is overly wordy. There were interesting and engrossing plot twists that ultimately made this a fairly enjoyable read. I was chosen to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
I generally enjoy police procedurals but it took me a minute to get into this one, maybe because this is the fifth in a series and I hadn’t read the previous installments. Since there were holes in the backstory, some references were unclear. I was initially confused about the lead male character’s name, as he is called Aector by his spouse and Hector by his boss, unless this is a remarkably consistent typo. The author’s apparent fascination with saliva, spitting, mucus and all things disgusting was a definite negative. The story itself is pretty good, though David Mark’s writing style is overly wordy. There were interesting and engrossing plot twists that ultimately made this a fairly enjoyable read. I was chosen to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
December 2, 2015
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm sad to say it will probably be the last. I just could not like any of the characters. I found the main character, McAvoy quite pathetic really.
The premise of the book was good but the author made the villains far too obvious and I knew who they were right from the off. There was no mystery. So this, coupled with not liking any of the characters, made this a dull read.
This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm sad to say it will probably be the last. I just could not like any of the characters. I found the main character, McAvoy quite pathetic really.
The premise of the book was good but the author made the villains far too obvious and I knew who they were right from the off. There was no mystery. So this, coupled with not liking any of the characters, made this a dull read.
April 17, 2017
The books keep on getting better and darker. McAvoy is a by-the-book policeman who tries his hardest to follow the rules and apprehend the perpetrators. The trouble is that the women around him, including his wife, straddle the line between good and bad and sometimes lean towards the dark side. The author does such a wonderful job with the characters of Helen, Trish and Roison that at times McAvoy becomes a ghost. I look forward to the next book.
June 23, 2018
#FirstLine ~ She's blonde, near enough.
Twisty, turny and unpredictable Dead Pretty was certainly a thrill. With a story that was quite absorbing and characters that kept me on my toes this read was one that will stay with me for some time. I loved that I never knew quite what was going to happen and was kept in suspense. A great read for those that want to escape into a story and to lose track of time!
Twisty, turny and unpredictable Dead Pretty was certainly a thrill. With a story that was quite absorbing and characters that kept me on my toes this read was one that will stay with me for some time. I loved that I never knew quite what was going to happen and was kept in suspense. A great read for those that want to escape into a story and to lose track of time!
May 2, 2016
This review also featured on www.crimepieces.com
It seems hard to believe that Dead Pretty sees the fifth outing of DS Aector McAvoy in a series which first made an appearance in 2012. In that time, David Mark has quickly established himself as a writer with a reputation for his gritty police procedurals featuring the gentle giant DS McAvoy. Consistently strong on characterisation and with superb dialogue, Mark delivers a powerful story with the victims of some of the very darkest crimes of society right at its heart and a wry line in black humour along the way.
This is a series which I first encountered with book three, Sorrow Bound, which read well as a standalone but also left me with a need to hear more from both David Mark and his characters, in particular boss DS Trish Pharoah. Whilst it is wife Roisin with her traveller background that so many are keen to point out as what makes Aector so distinct, it is his rapport and relationship with Pharoah which really shines through and makes this series a winner.
Stubborn and relentless in his search for justice, the polite and restrained McAvoy seems the opposite of his brassy and often abrasive superior. Yet these two are both dedicated detectives, and readers learn that this is a team who have grown together over time. From his earnest years at the inception of the series, Pharoah has guided McAvoy and he, in turn, has shown her the benefit of not always storming in with all guns blazing. There is a believable chemistry between the pair and a mutual respect and affection is evident.
Dead Pretty sees the team in Hull facing numerous problems against a backdrop of scarce resources and an increasing workload. David Mark presents a picture of the despondency and disillusionment which prevail among the rank and file officers and the black humour which the characters call on to keep morale up feels natural. Aector is steadfastly searching for a missing girl and his devoted wife Roisin knows that his failure to find her is haunting him. When another girl is found brutally murdered, he looks for the connections between the two. DC Helen Bremberg, on her return from maternity leave, finds herself an unwilling secondee to the Drug Squad and back working for her nemesis, DI Shaz Archer. However, her discovery of a body in a disused property on a council estate and what looks like a victim of a vigilante attack draws her back within the domain of her former colleagues.
Whilst I found the connections between the two girls that McAvoy identifies somewhat tenuous, and whilst I retained my scepticism of the likelihood of such an occurrence, it did not spoil my enjoyment of Dead Pretty. David Mark taps into wider media debate surrounding feelings toward those who commit vigilante attacks and an individual’s right to protect themselves and their family which in turn leads some of those who work within the unit to evaluate where they stand on the issue.
Mark does a magnificent job in painting a vivid picture of Hull, a city where picturesque rural villages stand shoulder to shoulder with sink estates and he delivers an authentic picture of a busy city with a diverse population. With trendy drinking haunts side by side with the altogether more unsavoury goings on in society, Dead Pretty also makes interesting social observations. With the odd snippets of information about the people who inhabit the city, Mark speaks volumes about the people who choose to make this city their home.
Dead Pretty can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but I doubt one encounter with McAvoy and Pharoah will be enough. There is no doubt these two work together well. If you are looking for a gritty police procedural with a strong moral compass and a splendid eye for dark humour then look no further than David Mark. Dead Pretty makes for a pleasingly complicated and satisfying novel.
It seems hard to believe that Dead Pretty sees the fifth outing of DS Aector McAvoy in a series which first made an appearance in 2012. In that time, David Mark has quickly established himself as a writer with a reputation for his gritty police procedurals featuring the gentle giant DS McAvoy. Consistently strong on characterisation and with superb dialogue, Mark delivers a powerful story with the victims of some of the very darkest crimes of society right at its heart and a wry line in black humour along the way.
This is a series which I first encountered with book three, Sorrow Bound, which read well as a standalone but also left me with a need to hear more from both David Mark and his characters, in particular boss DS Trish Pharoah. Whilst it is wife Roisin with her traveller background that so many are keen to point out as what makes Aector so distinct, it is his rapport and relationship with Pharoah which really shines through and makes this series a winner.
Stubborn and relentless in his search for justice, the polite and restrained McAvoy seems the opposite of his brassy and often abrasive superior. Yet these two are both dedicated detectives, and readers learn that this is a team who have grown together over time. From his earnest years at the inception of the series, Pharoah has guided McAvoy and he, in turn, has shown her the benefit of not always storming in with all guns blazing. There is a believable chemistry between the pair and a mutual respect and affection is evident.
Dead Pretty sees the team in Hull facing numerous problems against a backdrop of scarce resources and an increasing workload. David Mark presents a picture of the despondency and disillusionment which prevail among the rank and file officers and the black humour which the characters call on to keep morale up feels natural. Aector is steadfastly searching for a missing girl and his devoted wife Roisin knows that his failure to find her is haunting him. When another girl is found brutally murdered, he looks for the connections between the two. DC Helen Bremberg, on her return from maternity leave, finds herself an unwilling secondee to the Drug Squad and back working for her nemesis, DI Shaz Archer. However, her discovery of a body in a disused property on a council estate and what looks like a victim of a vigilante attack draws her back within the domain of her former colleagues.
Whilst I found the connections between the two girls that McAvoy identifies somewhat tenuous, and whilst I retained my scepticism of the likelihood of such an occurrence, it did not spoil my enjoyment of Dead Pretty. David Mark taps into wider media debate surrounding feelings toward those who commit vigilante attacks and an individual’s right to protect themselves and their family which in turn leads some of those who work within the unit to evaluate where they stand on the issue.
Mark does a magnificent job in painting a vivid picture of Hull, a city where picturesque rural villages stand shoulder to shoulder with sink estates and he delivers an authentic picture of a busy city with a diverse population. With trendy drinking haunts side by side with the altogether more unsavoury goings on in society, Dead Pretty also makes interesting social observations. With the odd snippets of information about the people who inhabit the city, Mark speaks volumes about the people who choose to make this city their home.
Dead Pretty can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, but I doubt one encounter with McAvoy and Pharoah will be enough. There is no doubt these two work together well. If you are looking for a gritty police procedural with a strong moral compass and a splendid eye for dark humour then look no further than David Mark. Dead Pretty makes for a pleasingly complicated and satisfying novel.
July 1, 2020
I am still unsure about this series mainly because the lead characters are a bit too “larger than life” but an engaging read nonetheless which will keep me going at least for one more.
February 8, 2016
The links between the disappearance of Hannah Kelly and the butchered body of Ava Delaney are tenuous at best, but that doesn't diminish DS McAvoy's adamance that the two women were murdered by the same person.
I found his obsession with Kelly's disappearance somewhat macabre... taking his family on a picnic to the spot she disappeared. And not for the first time.
McAvoy's boss DS Trish Pharaoh is of little help on the case.... distracted following the release of a man put away for the (accidental) death of another. Reuben Hollow has become obsessed with Pharaoh following his release and I was stunned by her behaviour towards Hollow and indifference towards the case at hand.
Of course we learn more later but as this was my first outing with the hard-drinking effed-up Pharaoh I wondered what the hell I'd wandered into.
I didn't find McAvoy or Pharaoh particularly likeable and found it hard to engage with either.
I almost put this aside several times at the beginning but ploughed on. Ultimately the plot was an interesting one but I suspect my lack of history with the series was responsible for my frustration with this book.
Mark included some backstory but I felt a bit like I was at a party where I knew no one and those present made little effort to befriend me.
I found his obsession with Kelly's disappearance somewhat macabre... taking his family on a picnic to the spot she disappeared. And not for the first time.
McAvoy's boss DS Trish Pharaoh is of little help on the case.... distracted following the release of a man put away for the (accidental) death of another. Reuben Hollow has become obsessed with Pharaoh following his release and I was stunned by her behaviour towards Hollow and indifference towards the case at hand.
Of course we learn more later but as this was my first outing with the hard-drinking effed-up Pharaoh I wondered what the hell I'd wandered into.
I didn't find McAvoy or Pharaoh particularly likeable and found it hard to engage with either.
I almost put this aside several times at the beginning but ploughed on. Ultimately the plot was an interesting one but I suspect my lack of history with the series was responsible for my frustration with this book.
Mark included some backstory but I felt a bit like I was at a party where I knew no one and those present made little effort to befriend me.
May 19, 2017
Actually I have not finished. I got about halfway and quite frankly couldn't take anymore. This book is so badly written I can not continue with it. It has been overwritten to the point of interfering with the story line, which may be quite good if I could care enough about the characters. There are more metaphors than I have ever seen in one book and actually sometimes on one page. It just screams trying too hard. The main character has an unreadable name and is just too much. I mean seriously the whole tortured detective thing is fine but this guy is so bad that in reality his wife would have left him and he would be in a psychiatric ward. Family picnic with young children at the place the body might be? Going over the events repeatedly with your wife as a standard conversation? Just No!!! This is weird even by tortured cop standards. This is the 5 novel in the series though so other people must like it, but I certainly didn't.
September 19, 2018
The Blah, Blah, Blah
He's watching an old lady wrestle with an umbrella. It isn't actually raining but gathering fog has made the air cold and damp. He watched as she spotted the droplets of water on her glasses. Saw her stop at the roadside to begin the complex process of hauling an umbrella from her bag...blah blah blah.
A poorly written book. I hadn't read the previous four Aector McAvoy books which may have put me at a disadvantage.
The blah blah blah really slowed the book down. Overly descriptive and endless metaphors
One reviewer said "It has been overwritten to the point of interfering with the story line."
I say at times the story line just stopped.
A convoluted plot and head shaking dumb. No feel for Detective Sergeant McAvoy, Trish Pharoah was a strange character and her relationship with her daughters was highly dysfunctional. Gangsters and part time lovers Teddy and Foley were super slimy.
Skip it.
He's watching an old lady wrestle with an umbrella. It isn't actually raining but gathering fog has made the air cold and damp. He watched as she spotted the droplets of water on her glasses. Saw her stop at the roadside to begin the complex process of hauling an umbrella from her bag...blah blah blah.
A poorly written book. I hadn't read the previous four Aector McAvoy books which may have put me at a disadvantage.
The blah blah blah really slowed the book down. Overly descriptive and endless metaphors
One reviewer said "It has been overwritten to the point of interfering with the story line."
I say at times the story line just stopped.
A convoluted plot and head shaking dumb. No feel for Detective Sergeant McAvoy, Trish Pharoah was a strange character and her relationship with her daughters was highly dysfunctional. Gangsters and part time lovers Teddy and Foley were super slimy.
Skip it.
January 28, 2016
I was given an ARC of this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
This is the first in the McAvoy series I have read and I must now go back and read the books I have missed. This is excellent. A murder mystery with several different threads pulling you in and keeping you interested until the end. Several twists and turns to keep you focused and turning the pages.
What is the link, or is there a link, between the murder of two young girls and the release of Reuben Hollow? Why is McAvoy's boss, Trish Pharaoh, acting strangely?
What also fascinated me was the character of McAvoy who appears to be a large intimidating character who would love any excuse for a fight but is in fact a gentle giant who likes nothing better than spending time with his wife and children. He is not your typical murder detective.
Great book, looking forward to reading more by this author.
This is the first in the McAvoy series I have read and I must now go back and read the books I have missed. This is excellent. A murder mystery with several different threads pulling you in and keeping you interested until the end. Several twists and turns to keep you focused and turning the pages.
What is the link, or is there a link, between the murder of two young girls and the release of Reuben Hollow? Why is McAvoy's boss, Trish Pharaoh, acting strangely?
What also fascinated me was the character of McAvoy who appears to be a large intimidating character who would love any excuse for a fight but is in fact a gentle giant who likes nothing better than spending time with his wife and children. He is not your typical murder detective.
Great book, looking forward to reading more by this author.
February 20, 2016
Loved it!! So enjoy the relationships at the centre of this series of books and intrigued to be exploring more of the back stories of the main characters. It feels rewarding to understand what drives them and what they are fighting against or escaping from. The plot is intriguing and, as you've probably grown to expect from David, explores the darker side of romance and obsession but with a plot that's a little outside the norm! The pace is fantastic; at times, intricate details are used to enrich the mental picture, whilst, when necessary, only the minimum necessary is recounted to support the faster moving scenes. Fabulous chemistries add to the tension but will undoubtedly also develop futher in future books. You couldn't ask for more, other than, when does the next book come out?
April 6, 2018
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book early. I however at this time am not able to finish it. It is just a little too graphic and intense for me, and the mention of grown men sleeping with minor children is a no go topic for me. While I felt like it was written well, it is just not the right type of book for me.
January 3, 2018
I am being spoilt for excellent crime fiction in 2016 and this book is wonderful, largely due to the characters of McAvoy and Pharaoh - particularly Pharaoh. 4.5 stars.
December 8, 2025
3.5 stars for me.
Hannah Kelly missing for nine months,Ava Denlay dead for five days,is there a connection between them?DS Aector McAvoy will find the killer,that's his only way to get a justice.
A engrossing read,told from few POV I could understand each character,which helps as I didn't read previous books in the series.The twist and the killer was unexpected and the ending satisfying.
If you like a crime thriller were there is a crime and bad guys at every corner I would recommend this one.
November 30, 2018
I didn't finish this book because I didn't realize it was part of a series and I had trouble following the story. I will try again with the first book of the series and perhaps it will be easier to understand who is who.
June 24, 2021
This continues the series featuring Aector McAvoy and Trish Pharoah as they hunt a serial killer. Some gruesome scenes, but the mystery is gripping and I had a hard time putting the book down.
August 22, 2018
I don't mind a dark novel, they can be good. However, in this one, almost all the characters are a'holes and fairly cardboard stereotypes. Couldn't get halfway through before I got fed up with it.
March 7, 2016
The 5th outing for Hull based, DS Aector McAvoy and this series just keeps getting better and better. If you haven't read any before, this could be read as a stand alone, but I strongly recommend you go back and savour the series from the beginning. There are some spoilers in this one, but essentially it's watching McAvoy and his relationships develop that are a joy, as well as the definitely dark and gritty plots that don't fail to get the adrenalin flowing.
McAvoy is a gentle giant, with an empathy that is often lacking in the hardened, seen it all world of policing. Moreover his wife Roisin, a feature character in her own right, is not what you'd expect either. Both Roisin and his boss, the harder, wisecracking, Trish Pharoah are perfect foils for McAvoy, and both bring out his protective side.
In this outing we find McAvoy haunted by the unsolved case of a missing teenager, a case which is brought back into focus with the discovery of another young girl. While this thread runs throughout the book, as ever there are complications that impinge on what he thinks he is investigating.
We also get to see more of Trish Pharoah and her personal life which helps to explain the "face" she normally presents to the world. Although the face she is presenting for much of the plotline here is one that brings into question whether she is the woman McAvoy, and for that matter the readers thought she was.
Much of McAvoy's motivation comes from seeking justice for his victims and their families, so it is interesting that one of the plot lines involves a vigilante doing just that. This blurs the lines as to whether the end justifies the means as their 'hero' becomes linked with other aspects of their case. With murder, psychopathic debt collectors and sexual deviancy, this is not a book for the faint hearted, as it can get a little graphic.
If you like police procedurals that have a dark, gritty realism, with engaging characters and unexpected plot lines then this book is for you.
I received a review copy from the publisher via Bookbloggr in return for an honest review.
McAvoy is a gentle giant, with an empathy that is often lacking in the hardened, seen it all world of policing. Moreover his wife Roisin, a feature character in her own right, is not what you'd expect either. Both Roisin and his boss, the harder, wisecracking, Trish Pharoah are perfect foils for McAvoy, and both bring out his protective side.
In this outing we find McAvoy haunted by the unsolved case of a missing teenager, a case which is brought back into focus with the discovery of another young girl. While this thread runs throughout the book, as ever there are complications that impinge on what he thinks he is investigating.
We also get to see more of Trish Pharoah and her personal life which helps to explain the "face" she normally presents to the world. Although the face she is presenting for much of the plotline here is one that brings into question whether she is the woman McAvoy, and for that matter the readers thought she was.
Much of McAvoy's motivation comes from seeking justice for his victims and their families, so it is interesting that one of the plot lines involves a vigilante doing just that. This blurs the lines as to whether the end justifies the means as their 'hero' becomes linked with other aspects of their case. With murder, psychopathic debt collectors and sexual deviancy, this is not a book for the faint hearted, as it can get a little graphic.
If you like police procedurals that have a dark, gritty realism, with engaging characters and unexpected plot lines then this book is for you.
I received a review copy from the publisher via Bookbloggr in return for an honest review.
February 19, 2016
Usually when I read about towns, cities, countries and even streets I don't know I always take something away from the story. When I know the area slightly it gives me a sense of familiarity.
I wasn't expecting to be completely distracted and irritated by the fact that I know all the towns, villages, streets and general area mentioned in this book, intimately. Strangely weird.
I found McAvoy a bit of a conundrum. On one side you have his physical description, which doesn't gel at all with his behaviour and reactions. Then you have his obsession with crimes and the way he lets the obsession flow into his family life.
Who has picnics with his children in possible crime scenes in the hopes that he discovers a missing girl or rather her corpse. Very strange indeed. Almost macabre, at the very least just downright odd.
McAvoy and Pharaoh have a really strange relationship. I'm not sure whether it is mutual attraction or a meeting of kindred spirits. Pharaoh appears to be completely off the rails where Reuben Hollow is concerned.
Then there is the scene in the kitchen during the home invasion, and the way it was dealt with in the aftermath. Rather than worry about the fact two thugs nearly attacked his wife and Pharaoh's family, he is more concerned by the doe eyes his wife gives the rescuer. His insecurity is quite bizarre, despite the fact he seems to have a way with women.
I found it a little disjointed at times, despite the interesting plot and memorable characters. It often seemed as if there were lots of threads going off in different directions with little connection to each other.
Mark describes it as Noir, but it doesn't quite tick all the boxes for that.
*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.*
I wasn't expecting to be completely distracted and irritated by the fact that I know all the towns, villages, streets and general area mentioned in this book, intimately. Strangely weird.
I found McAvoy a bit of a conundrum. On one side you have his physical description, which doesn't gel at all with his behaviour and reactions. Then you have his obsession with crimes and the way he lets the obsession flow into his family life.
Who has picnics with his children in possible crime scenes in the hopes that he discovers a missing girl or rather her corpse. Very strange indeed. Almost macabre, at the very least just downright odd.
McAvoy and Pharaoh have a really strange relationship. I'm not sure whether it is mutual attraction or a meeting of kindred spirits. Pharaoh appears to be completely off the rails where Reuben Hollow is concerned.
Then there is the scene in the kitchen during the home invasion, and the way it was dealt with in the aftermath. Rather than worry about the fact two thugs nearly attacked his wife and Pharaoh's family, he is more concerned by the doe eyes his wife gives the rescuer. His insecurity is quite bizarre, despite the fact he seems to have a way with women.
I found it a little disjointed at times, despite the interesting plot and memorable characters. It often seemed as if there were lots of threads going off in different directions with little connection to each other.
Mark describes it as Noir, but it doesn't quite tick all the boxes for that.
*I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.*
May 11, 2017
When I first started this series, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, but glad I stuck with it. The books get better each time. David Mark has really hit his stride in this one. The descriptions have become more apt and poetic. Good pacing and the more character development especially of Trish Pharaoh. I figured out who the killer McAvoy was chasing early on, but it didn't detract from enjoying the rest of the book as there were some interesting twists.
The book could be read without reading the earlier ones, but then you'd miss some of the nuances and there is unfinished business woven lightly through the book although from the blurb for the next in series, it would appear we may have to wait a while longer for resolution.
The book could be read without reading the earlier ones, but then you'd miss some of the nuances and there is unfinished business woven lightly through the book although from the blurb for the next in series, it would appear we may have to wait a while longer for resolution.
May 22, 2016
I haven't read any of the previous books which I feel I should have done before reading this one but it didn't spoil the book for me.
The story is set in Hull in the North of England.
Hannah Kelly went missing nine months ago and Ava Delanie has been dead a short while even though there is a big time lapse between them McAvoy is convinced that they are linked.
I found the characters engaging.
The book was a bit graphic with Murder sexual deviancy etc but I don't mind that it all adds to the story....
Now i need to go read the other books.
Thanks to the Author publisher and Netgalley for a chance to read this book.
The story is set in Hull in the North of England.
Hannah Kelly went missing nine months ago and Ava Delanie has been dead a short while even though there is a big time lapse between them McAvoy is convinced that they are linked.
I found the characters engaging.
The book was a bit graphic with Murder sexual deviancy etc but I don't mind that it all adds to the story....
Now i need to go read the other books.
Thanks to the Author publisher and Netgalley for a chance to read this book.
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