Promises of Blood

Daniel Connell #3

by David Thorne

When dying millionaire William Gove asks Daniel Connell to execute his will, Daniel has no idea what he's getting himself into. Gove has chosen 10 random names from the phone book as the recipients of his fortune. When he dies, Daniel sets out to track them down. But a chance remark by one—that perhaps this is God's way of compensating for her daughter's disappearance—gives him pause. Another mention of a missing person, and Daniel suspects there may be something darker at work. His discoveries set him on a lethal trajectory with a powerful family who believe themselves to be above the law.

Genres: Fiction, Crime

400 pages, Paperback

Published June 1, 2016

About the author

David Thorne has worked as a writer for the last 15 years, originally in advertising, then in television and radio comedy. He has written material for many comedians, including Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, David Mitchell and Bob Mortimer. He was a major contributor to the BAFTA-winning Armstrong and Miller Show, and has worked on shows including Facejacker, Harry and Paul and Alan Carr: Chatty Man. Nothing Sacred is his second novel in the Daniel Connell series, after East of Innocence.

Reviews

[Roslyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I enjoyed it immensely but was so sad knowing there are only three books in this series. Would love to see a TV series based on the trilogy. As in the previous books, the lead character, Daniel, proves to be reckless, brave, brutal sometimes, but honourable and so loyal to his close friends. Again, I wasn't sure how key characters would get out of some situations and was delighted with the creativity in how they were resolved. David Thorne is a wonderful writer and I hope he continues to write these captivating books.

[John Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Thorne is a talented wordsmith and his three novels in the Daniel Connell series are beautifully written. Daniel Connell is a flawed character with a past that catches up with him from time to time. In many ways, he is bit like an English Jack Reacher, albeit confined mainly to his patch in Essex. Trouble follows him at every turn and he confronts it all head on, never afraid of a little violence.

Although the series was a pleasure to read, it did often stretch the imagination with sadistic gangsters seemingly lurking on every corner. Connell seems to get into too many scrapes to be entirely plausible and his escapes from the jaws of death are a little over the top.

I would like to see the plots toned down a little but I hope the author continues the series and comes up with another instalment in the Daniel Connell series.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daniel Connell is a rough and tumble lawyer with a heart of gold and fists of steel. Contacting beneficiaries of a will, he uncovers dark secrets of a rich and powerful family. Meanwhile, an old enemy returns to threaten Daniel’s nearest and dearest. These aren’t happy stories, exposing the seamy side of humanity, and I often feel a sense of foreboding, but they are engrossing. I’ve enjoyed David Thorne’s writing style. He often jumps forward in time to present a pivotal new scene, and then backtracks to narrate the events leading to it - it gives the narration a more intimate tone, like a storyteller explaining why something has occurred. He also writes in the present tense which gives a vibrant immediacy to the action. Audio narrator, Rupert Degas is a revelation - superb on every level.

[Nella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't realise this was a series. Stands alone well enough.

[Ruth Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧 Really enjoyed this series, sad that there is only 3 books. Will keep my fingers crossed that there will more to come 🤞

[ronald hogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have I read this before?

When I started to read this book I thought I had purchased it by mistake.
It is so similar to the others .
If I heard once more about " Gabe's exploits in the army I would have stopped reading!
It is so formulaic that it's generic . I am sick of reading about lawyer types who turn into Superman , and can fight with a broken knuckle , a broken rib and can carry women around after being shot three times I see he writes for the likes of Jimmy Carr , Alan Carr etc .
Say no more !

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book of the Daniel Connell series I have read. Full on first person writing reading more like a hard boiled private investigator rather than lawyer. A tough guy lawyer from the wrong side of the tracks but a good heart......but versed in and willing to fight violence with violence and law breaking.

Daniel gets into far too many scrapes and has implausible help getting out of them. The Gove thread is plausible but the Halliday/Kane thread is full of damaged characters.

Rated a 3 - ok for a light read but quite grusome in many ways.

[Miss Dizzy Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant series!!!

[Any Length · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me on my toes and I thought what would happen next on many occasion and was wrong every time. I was quite gripped by it. Well done.