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Inspector Drake #1-3
Spilled Blood: Inspector Drake Mysteries Box Set Book 1-3
Every murder has a motive, every killer leaves a trace. Thankfully Detective Inspector Ian Drake is on the case.Spilled BloodThe first three mysteries in the Ian Drake series in one great value box set.
Brass in Ian Drake barely manages to keep his OCD under control. So after two fellow police officers are brutally murdered on an isolated mountain route, the pressure to solve the case threatens to make him crack. Drake is taunted by the killer with lyrics from famous songs and his head pounds at the thought of more victims marching to their doom. Can he catch the sociopathic felon before he loses his sanity… or his life?
Worse than When a ferry arrives in port Detective Drake knows a killer is on board. Unable to trace the killer after the ship berths he fears the worse. Tension mounts when two more members of the crew are killed. And links to a well-known criminal family make the inquiry even more demanding. Can he catch the killer and avert more deaths?
Against the A fisherman lies dead. A beautiful girl is strangled. Can Detective Drake uncover the secrets that connect them? He struggles with a wall of silence from the rural community. Drake believes there are powerful forces at work. Can he expose the truth and catch the killer… or killers?
Spilled Inspector Drake Series Books 1-3 of contains the first three books in this dynamic series. If you like engaging mysteries full of twists and turn and believable characters, then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s unputdownable box set.
Click the Buy Nowbutton to enjoySpilled Inspector Drake Series Books 1-3>/i>
Brass in Ian Drake barely manages to keep his OCD under control. So after two fellow police officers are brutally murdered on an isolated mountain route, the pressure to solve the case threatens to make him crack. Drake is taunted by the killer with lyrics from famous songs and his head pounds at the thought of more victims marching to their doom. Can he catch the sociopathic felon before he loses his sanity… or his life?
Worse than When a ferry arrives in port Detective Drake knows a killer is on board. Unable to trace the killer after the ship berths he fears the worse. Tension mounts when two more members of the crew are killed. And links to a well-known criminal family make the inquiry even more demanding. Can he catch the killer and avert more deaths?
Against the A fisherman lies dead. A beautiful girl is strangled. Can Detective Drake uncover the secrets that connect them? He struggles with a wall of silence from the rural community. Drake believes there are powerful forces at work. Can he expose the truth and catch the killer… or killers?
Spilled Inspector Drake Series Books 1-3 of contains the first three books in this dynamic series. If you like engaging mysteries full of twists and turn and believable characters, then you’ll love Stephen Puleston’s unputdownable box set.
Click the Buy Nowbutton to enjoySpilled Inspector Drake Series Books 1-3>/i>
1113 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 22, 2015
508 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Puleston
49 books298 followersI write mysteries and thrillers.
I have published the first novel in a series featuring Inspector Drake based in North Wales and also the first in a series with Inspector John Marco based in Cardiff. The first Drake mystery is called BRASS IN POCKET and the second WORSE THAN DEAD. The third, AGAINST THE TIDE.
My second detective is Inspector Marco who comes from an Italian/Welsh background and he lives in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The first Inspector Marco novel SPEECHLESS has been published on Amazon and the second and third in the series will be published in 2015.
Before turning to crime fiction I had written three other unpublished novels and you can read about my writing and about Wales, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, on my website http://www.stephenpuleston.co.uk/
I was brought up on the Isle of Anglesey, off the North Wales coast and went to school in Holyhead. After a degree in Theology from London University I decided to train as a lawyer and returned to work in the practice run by my father on Anglesey. For many years I worked as a lawyer in a small practice representing clients in the criminal courts and doing divorce work all of which has given me valuable raw material for my novels.
I still live and work in North Wales where the Inspector Drake novels are set.
You can contact me on twitter @stephenpuleston or @inspector_marco
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/17G6iIA
I have published the first novel in a series featuring Inspector Drake based in North Wales and also the first in a series with Inspector John Marco based in Cardiff. The first Drake mystery is called BRASS IN POCKET and the second WORSE THAN DEAD. The third, AGAINST THE TIDE.
My second detective is Inspector Marco who comes from an Italian/Welsh background and he lives in Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. The first Inspector Marco novel SPEECHLESS has been published on Amazon and the second and third in the series will be published in 2015.
Before turning to crime fiction I had written three other unpublished novels and you can read about my writing and about Wales, one of the most beautiful countries in the world, on my website http://www.stephenpuleston.co.uk/
I was brought up on the Isle of Anglesey, off the North Wales coast and went to school in Holyhead. After a degree in Theology from London University I decided to train as a lawyer and returned to work in the practice run by my father on Anglesey. For many years I worked as a lawyer in a small practice representing clients in the criminal courts and doing divorce work all of which has given me valuable raw material for my novels.
I still live and work in North Wales where the Inspector Drake novels are set.
You can contact me on twitter @stephenpuleston or @inspector_marco
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/17G6iIA
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 9, 2016
These three mystery novels progress through reasonably engaging stories that allow the protagonist (who is as uptight and depressive as the most intense Scandinavian fellows) to evolve and develop. His OCD is non-stereotypic and therefore much more interesting than it might be. The first book is the hardest to crack--once you have pushed through it, things go much more easily. Enjoyable overall!
July 3, 2022
Another well crafted story.
Ian Drake and his team have 3 murders that must be solved. But how many killers are actually involved? With many twists and turns, this third installment of the Det. Drake series will keep you engrossed, as the case unfolds.
Ian Drake and his team have 3 murders that must be solved. But how many killers are actually involved? With many twists and turns, this third installment of the Det. Drake series will keep you engrossed, as the case unfolds.
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March 22, 20163 Good Stories but I could not warm to the Characters...
May 18, 2016
Interesting
Interesting stories. A good sense of locale and character. Some what plodding at times and some confusion with the characters.
Interesting stories. A good sense of locale and character. Some what plodding at times and some confusion with the characters.
July 13, 2025
If you like police procedurals then this is the box set for you. You get three books that follow on from each other but everything gets nicely wrapped in each book, so you can read straight through or have a break between each, either choice works. The cases are very different from each other but follows Ian Drake and his team as he tries to solve the cases before the next murder. Drake is an unusual characters and has a few quirks, think along the lines of the tv show Monk, that take some getting use to. The stories mostly focus on the murder investigations but you do also get some home life drama from the investigating team members. Each book contains a lot of suspects and has a lot going on. It was unusual to be set in Wales and there was some Welsh words and places mentioned but not enough to confuse any non speaking Welsh people, like me.
Songs for the Dead book one
I think this was my favourite out of the three books. I had worked out who the killer was but with the killer taunting the police with song lyrics it was an unusual case. I wasn't sure if the stories were going to be for me because the first murders were quite violent and gory but I soon got swept up in the case.
When two police officers are killed while out of patrol Ian Drake and his team are called in to investigate. Sony lyrics are discovered and it up to Drake to work out what the killer is trying to tell them. When another body is discovered with different song lyrics the fear is the killer isn't finished and they might be chasing a serial killer. Can they stop the killer before the next body is discovered.
The method of death is unusual and the only clues they have are the songs but the killer makes it personal and drags Drakes's family in to the case, can Drake crack the case of will it crack him?
Worse than Dead: book two.
I think this was my least favourite only because there was a lot of characters and I struggled to keep them all straight. This book revolved around a drug ring and Drake coming to terms with his father's cancer diagnosis.
In this case Ian Drake and his team will have to find there sea legs when a man is killed on the ferry. A small suspect pool of just the people trapped on the ferry should make it a simple case but it is anything but simple. With pressure from the higher ups to release the ferry Drake and his team hardly have time to take down names, let alone look for clues or a missing laptop. When another person connected to the ferry is killed, the case is blown wide open with the discover of a connection to a flying club and drugs. Can Drake find the killer and he there for his family?
Against the Tide: book three
I was glad we didn't have to go through the death of his father, as I get emotional at the best of times but the drama for Drake isn't over. He also has to deal with historic child abuse too in this book.
When a fisherman is killed Drake and his team get the call. The fisherman had land that developers wanted and it was causing a lot of animosity in the village but when a teenage girl is killed he has to rethink the case and find the connection between them. Was the deaths over the land or something more sinister?
It was the same narrator for all three books. Which was good as he did a good job of providing some interesting voices.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Songs for the Dead book one
I think this was my favourite out of the three books. I had worked out who the killer was but with the killer taunting the police with song lyrics it was an unusual case. I wasn't sure if the stories were going to be for me because the first murders were quite violent and gory but I soon got swept up in the case.
When two police officers are killed while out of patrol Ian Drake and his team are called in to investigate. Sony lyrics are discovered and it up to Drake to work out what the killer is trying to tell them. When another body is discovered with different song lyrics the fear is the killer isn't finished and they might be chasing a serial killer. Can they stop the killer before the next body is discovered.
The method of death is unusual and the only clues they have are the songs but the killer makes it personal and drags Drakes's family in to the case, can Drake crack the case of will it crack him?
Worse than Dead: book two.
I think this was my least favourite only because there was a lot of characters and I struggled to keep them all straight. This book revolved around a drug ring and Drake coming to terms with his father's cancer diagnosis.
In this case Ian Drake and his team will have to find there sea legs when a man is killed on the ferry. A small suspect pool of just the people trapped on the ferry should make it a simple case but it is anything but simple. With pressure from the higher ups to release the ferry Drake and his team hardly have time to take down names, let alone look for clues or a missing laptop. When another person connected to the ferry is killed, the case is blown wide open with the discover of a connection to a flying club and drugs. Can Drake find the killer and he there for his family?
Against the Tide: book three
I was glad we didn't have to go through the death of his father, as I get emotional at the best of times but the drama for Drake isn't over. He also has to deal with historic child abuse too in this book.
When a fisherman is killed Drake and his team get the call. The fisherman had land that developers wanted and it was causing a lot of animosity in the village but when a teenage girl is killed he has to rethink the case and find the connection between them. Was the deaths over the land or something more sinister?
It was the same narrator for all three books. Which was good as he did a good job of providing some interesting voices.
I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
December 11, 2019
I enjoyed reading the first 3 books in this series. As in any series, it takes more than the first book to start to “ know” the characters. Drake is definitely hindered in his job and especially in his life by his OCD but his wife was not supportive and had her own personality problems. I liked the other characters too. I liked the description of that part of Wales. I would continue to read this series.
September 26, 2024
Two traffic officers murdered in bleak North Wales. Inspector Drake’s first case. Promising. The killer starts sending snippets from rock songs to the police, and then to Drake and his family. I liked the setting which I have travelled through. The author hails from the area. Drake suffers from OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder. Alas the promise is competently developed but not as compulsive as the main character’s problems. I didn’t feel compelled to continue with the series.
July 26, 2019
Engaging
At first I disliked Drake,the main character,he seemed too fussy and disagreeable but as the books go on I began to change my mind about him .There are an awful lot of Welsh names to try and get your tongue around so I just didn't bother ,I probably couldn't pronounce them anyway.All in all I enjoyed reading these books and I'm going to download the next instalment
At first I disliked Drake,the main character,he seemed too fussy and disagreeable but as the books go on I began to change my mind about him .There are an awful lot of Welsh names to try and get your tongue around so I just didn't bother ,I probably couldn't pronounce them anyway.All in all I enjoyed reading these books and I'm going to download the next instalment
October 29, 2018
Spilled Blood
Spilled Blood: Inspector Drake Mysteries. Wonderfully entertaining books. Really like the area (Wales). I felt Inspector Drake’s psychological issues were referred to a bit too frequently. Overall a very good read and I will read more in this series.
Spilled Blood: Inspector Drake Mysteries. Wonderfully entertaining books. Really like the area (Wales). I felt Inspector Drake’s psychological issues were referred to a bit too frequently. Overall a very good read and I will read more in this series.
February 23, 2018
The novels were well written but I don't know that I've ever come across a more disagreeable and irritating Main character than Ian Drake
May 21, 2018
Good enough to persist through the set; a bit uneven.
July 19, 2020
Good Read
Three interesting, who done it reads set in Wales. I happen to like the vernacular and found the reads quite good. A nice, different, slant on who-done-it!
Three interesting, who done it reads set in Wales. I happen to like the vernacular and found the reads quite good. A nice, different, slant on who-done-it!
November 1, 2020
There were too many undeveloped characters for me to keep track of. Plus, Drake goes about sudoku puzzles all wrong!
November 19, 2021
Fast paced from the start!
The Inspector Drake series is fast paced with so many twists it is intriguing up to the last sentence. A very good series!
The Inspector Drake series is fast paced with so many twists it is intriguing up to the last sentence. A very good series!
March 20, 2023
very well written
September 9, 2016
Inspector Drake
I had never read any of the Inspector Drake novels,and my first impression of Inspector Drake was that he was a failing obsessive who was likely unable to solve a crime much less maintain a normal life. I was wrong on both counts. I watched him sink to the bottom, and found myself incredulously rooting for him as he not only solves a very complex case, but begins to work himself out of his neurosis. At the end he seems to have some hope.
I had never read any of the Inspector Drake novels,and my first impression of Inspector Drake was that he was a failing obsessive who was likely unable to solve a crime much less maintain a normal life. I was wrong on both counts. I watched him sink to the bottom, and found myself incredulously rooting for him as he not only solves a very complex case, but begins to work himself out of his neurosis. At the end he seems to have some hope.
December 23, 2016
This is a collection of 3 novels centering around Welsh detective inspector Ian Drake. The stories are pretty straightforward mysteries. Personally I would have liked more development of backstory, especially of the supporting characters.
The mysteries are well developed, and everything is there to help you work along with the detective to solve the crimes.
The mysteries are well developed, and everything is there to help you work along with the detective to solve the crimes.
August 24, 2016
I found this series disappointing, not because of the plot lines which were all good, but because the lead character and his side-kicks are all so unlike able! Very human maybe, but I find it hard to enjoy a book when I can't warm to the characters!
August 15, 2016
Not even close to S. Larson
Touted to be as good as / like S. Larson trilogy...in my opinion, not even close! So many unnecessary details made these books longer than necessary
Touted to be as good as / like S. Larson trilogy...in my opinion, not even close! So many unnecessary details made these books longer than necessary
October 5, 2016
Enjoyed
I enjoyed these very much. Lots of twists and turns along with personal stories. Never know where thing will end.
I enjoyed these very much. Lots of twists and turns along with personal stories. Never know where thing will end.
August 8, 2017
In this the third in the Inspector Ian Drake series, we see Drake struggle with his marriage, kids and obsessive compulsions while trying to solve multiple murders.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews