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Calladine & Bayliss #4
Dead Lost
PRE-ORDER THE NEXT GRIPPING CALLADINE AND BAYLISS MYSTERY NOW!
An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase.
But one of the men is not what he seems. He has a secret he will do anything to cover up. And once Calladine and Bayliss investigate, they find the crimes go much further than they could have ever imagined.
Will Ruth be able to juggle her personal and professional lives, and can Calladine deal with their new boss, a woman he neither trusts nor likes? Willing to do anything to bring terrible suffering to an end, Calladine make an astonishing move . . .
If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will be gripped by this exciting new crime fiction writer.
DEAD LOST is book four of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine. They can be read together or as standalone novels.
Tom Calladine is a single, fifty-one-year-old detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. Her personal life is about to change forever.
The series is set in the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
AVAILABLE NOW
Book One: DEAD WRONG
A bag of severed fingers is found in the playground by a rough housing estate. Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to track down a killer before the whole area erupts in violence. Their boss thinks it’s all down to drug lord Ray Fallon, but Calladine’s instincts say something far nastier is happening on the Hobfield housing estate.
Book Two: DEAD SILENT
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to catch a vicious serial killer. The first two victims are American university students and both have livestock tags fixed to their earlobes.
Book Three: DEAD LIST
An unlikely serial killer with a bucket list of victims . . .
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss battle a murderer who is working their way through a list of victims. Each murder is meticulously planned and unique, and a tarot card is left at the scene of the crime.
When two children disappear in the local area, the stakes are raised and the team are baffled by the link between the crimes. Calladine and Bayliss race against time to prevent any more carnage.
An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase.
But one of the men is not what he seems. He has a secret he will do anything to cover up. And once Calladine and Bayliss investigate, they find the crimes go much further than they could have ever imagined.
Will Ruth be able to juggle her personal and professional lives, and can Calladine deal with their new boss, a woman he neither trusts nor likes? Willing to do anything to bring terrible suffering to an end, Calladine make an astonishing move . . .
If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Mel Sherratt, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will be gripped by this exciting new crime fiction writer.
DEAD LOST is book four of a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ruth Bayliss and D.I. Tom Calladine. They can be read together or as standalone novels.
Tom Calladine is a single, fifty-one-year-old detective inspector who is devoted to his job. His personal life, however, is not so successful. Having been married and divorced before the age of twenty-one has set a pattern that he finds difficult to escape.
Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, plain-speaking but loyal. Her personal life is about to change forever.
The series is set in the fictional village of Leesdon on the outskirts of an industrial northern English city. There is little work and a lot of crime. The bane of Calladine’s life is the Hobfield housing estate, breeding ground to all that is wrong with the area that he calls home.
AVAILABLE NOW
Book One: DEAD WRONG
A bag of severed fingers is found in the playground by a rough housing estate. Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to track down a killer before the whole area erupts in violence. Their boss thinks it’s all down to drug lord Ray Fallon, but Calladine’s instincts say something far nastier is happening on the Hobfield housing estate.
Book Two: DEAD SILENT
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to catch a vicious serial killer. The first two victims are American university students and both have livestock tags fixed to their earlobes.
Book Three: DEAD LIST
An unlikely serial killer with a bucket list of victims . . .
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss battle a murderer who is working their way through a list of victims. Each murder is meticulously planned and unique, and a tarot card is left at the scene of the crime.
When two children disappear in the local area, the stakes are raised and the team are baffled by the link between the crimes. Calladine and Bayliss race against time to prevent any more carnage.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2016
1373 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
February 19, 2016
DI Calladine and DS Bayliss return again in book four of a new series of detective thrillers, called DEAD LOST by author Helen H. Durrant. I have read all four books in the series, and enjoyed all of them equally. This is a gripping detective thriller full of suspense.
In this mystery, in an abandoned cotton mill, set in the fictional village of Leesdon, someone is killing homeless men!
These drifters lived in the homeless village at the Old Chase Cotton Mill, in a camp, squatting on the land.
“These people needed homes and it seemed ridiculous that a huge building like the Chase Mill was standing empty when people had nowhere to go. It could so easily be turned into flats.” But the owner of the property, Damien Chase wanted them off the property.
“An old coat drenched in blood lay festering among the rest of the debris in the bin.”
Now a crime scene, police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss are assigned to the case...but it is not what it seems. Tom Calladine is a single, fifty-one-year-old detective inspector who is devoted to his job, with no successful track record in his personal life. His work is his life. Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, loyal and now seven months pregnant in this series.
Calladine is not happy as he has to deal with a new woman boss, the “Hatchet Queen”, a real pain in the neck! She is trying to “poach” his team. He neither likes or trusts her.
I have enjoyed reading all the books in the series. It is nice to touch base with old friends!
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and author Helen H. Durrant for providing me with an ARC of DEAD LOST in exchange for an honest review.
In this mystery, in an abandoned cotton mill, set in the fictional village of Leesdon, someone is killing homeless men!
These drifters lived in the homeless village at the Old Chase Cotton Mill, in a camp, squatting on the land.
“These people needed homes and it seemed ridiculous that a huge building like the Chase Mill was standing empty when people had nowhere to go. It could so easily be turned into flats.” But the owner of the property, Damien Chase wanted them off the property.
“An old coat drenched in blood lay festering among the rest of the debris in the bin.”
Now a crime scene, police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss are assigned to the case...but it is not what it seems. Tom Calladine is a single, fifty-one-year-old detective inspector who is devoted to his job, with no successful track record in his personal life. His work is his life. Ruth Bayliss is in her mid-thirties, loyal and now seven months pregnant in this series.
Calladine is not happy as he has to deal with a new woman boss, the “Hatchet Queen”, a real pain in the neck! She is trying to “poach” his team. He neither likes or trusts her.
I have enjoyed reading all the books in the series. It is nice to touch base with old friends!
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and author Helen H. Durrant for providing me with an ARC of DEAD LOST in exchange for an honest review.
February 11, 2020
Ugh, whenever I start a poor review I always want to pretty it up, but I just can't with this one.
This is probably the least sophisticated police procedural novel I've ever read. The language is basic, there was so much going on it just didn't work in a 200 page book, everything was half hearted and brushed over. Both the plot and the characters lacked substance.
It probably didn't help that I jumped in at book four of the series. Having now read this I can see it's one of those series where you do need to read the books in order unlike Jack Reacher for example where you can read them any how you like.
Regardless though, having disliked the authors style and the characters theres really no point in me starting this series from the beginning.
We are over.
This is probably the least sophisticated police procedural novel I've ever read. The language is basic, there was so much going on it just didn't work in a 200 page book, everything was half hearted and brushed over. Both the plot and the characters lacked substance.
It probably didn't help that I jumped in at book four of the series. Having now read this I can see it's one of those series where you do need to read the books in order unlike Jack Reacher for example where you can read them any how you like.
Regardless though, having disliked the authors style and the characters theres really no point in me starting this series from the beginning.
We are over.
February 2, 2016
This is the fourth book in the Calladine and Bayliss series. I've read and enjoyed the previous three, and this one was equally good.
There are several seemingly unrelated crimes, and Calladine and his team are frustrated because they can't find evidence of any connections. Actually, they don't even have a body. Imogen and Rocco are more prominent because Bayliss is pregnant and ready to go on leave. There's a new DCI that's been assigned to Leesdon, and no one really trusts her, as it appears she's going to break up the team.
Calladine's personal life is changing drastically and there's not much he can do about it. Some of the changes scare him, but some are welcome. There are some things still in limbo, and some new things on the horizon.
I have liked Calladine through all four books. His internal thoughts don't always match his spoken words. He seems bumbling sometimes, but he's really not.
I don't know if there's another book forthcoming in this series, but I'd be happy if there was!
There are several seemingly unrelated crimes, and Calladine and his team are frustrated because they can't find evidence of any connections. Actually, they don't even have a body. Imogen and Rocco are more prominent because Bayliss is pregnant and ready to go on leave. There's a new DCI that's been assigned to Leesdon, and no one really trusts her, as it appears she's going to break up the team.
Calladine's personal life is changing drastically and there's not much he can do about it. Some of the changes scare him, but some are welcome. There are some things still in limbo, and some new things on the horizon.
I have liked Calladine through all four books. His internal thoughts don't always match his spoken words. He seems bumbling sometimes, but he's really not.
I don't know if there's another book forthcoming in this series, but I'd be happy if there was!
June 27, 2020
This is the 4th book in the Calladine and Bayliss series by author Helen Durrant.
A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase and he is eager to remove them.
Other crimes that appear to be unrelated frustrate Calladine and his team as evidence is scarce. With Ruth Bayliss heavily pregnant Calladine is forced to rely more on Imogen and Rocco to help solve these crimes, while Ruth struggles to juggle her personal and professional lives. An additional distraction for Calladine is the new boss, a woman who he neither trusts nor likes.
I am enjoying this series, good plots and interesting back stories to entertain the reader. With every book you read in this series the more layers each character gains. Great short reads.
A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase and he is eager to remove them.
Other crimes that appear to be unrelated frustrate Calladine and his team as evidence is scarce. With Ruth Bayliss heavily pregnant Calladine is forced to rely more on Imogen and Rocco to help solve these crimes, while Ruth struggles to juggle her personal and professional lives. An additional distraction for Calladine is the new boss, a woman who he neither trusts nor likes.
I am enjoying this series, good plots and interesting back stories to entertain the reader. With every book you read in this series the more layers each character gains. Great short reads.
February 4, 2016
It's Summer here right now and I needed a light, fast read, DEAD LOST a gripping detective thriller full of suspense provided me just that.
That's the first book of this series I've read and now I want to read the other ones (although I know I've spoiled myself with plot points from some of the previous books).
One thing I really love is when characters feel real, relatable, and both D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss are just that. They're not sherlockian, higher than thou genius people, they are hard working police officers trying to do their best and who care for the people they are trying to protect.
Dead Lost was fast fun read, one that can easily be read in one weekend.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and author Helen H. Durrant for providing me with an ARC of DEAD LOST a gripping detective thriller full of suspense in exchange for an honest review.
***
Review now also posted on my blog Tiny Box of Imagination.
That's the first book of this series I've read and now I want to read the other ones (although I know I've spoiled myself with plot points from some of the previous books).
One thing I really love is when characters feel real, relatable, and both D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss are just that. They're not sherlockian, higher than thou genius people, they are hard working police officers trying to do their best and who care for the people they are trying to protect.
Dead Lost was fast fun read, one that can easily be read in one weekend.
I'd like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and author Helen H. Durrant for providing me with an ARC of DEAD LOST a gripping detective thriller full of suspense in exchange for an honest review.
***
Review now also posted on my blog Tiny Box of Imagination.
January 31, 2016
DI Calladine and DS Bayliss are back again! Since I have read the previous books in this series, I could not wait to get my hands on this one!
A large group of homeless people have taken up residence on the grounds of an empty cotton mill. One of these people has secrets ... secrets that kill. And when one man goes missing, Calladine and Bayliss investigate.
Bayliss is now 7 months pregnant, and while her heart is in the chase, her body needs to slow it down. Seems like it's going to be Calladine and the rest of the team .. including a new supevisor who seems to have it in for Calladine.
The investigation leads to much more than just a missing man .....
I have really enjoyed this series! Dead Lost features a lot of family dynamics that the reader only got a glimpse of in earlier books. Their team is more fully fleshed out and they have become much more important to the story line, rather than 'just' secondary characters.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I give it a 5 for the series, a 5 for Dead Lost.
A large group of homeless people have taken up residence on the grounds of an empty cotton mill. One of these people has secrets ... secrets that kill. And when one man goes missing, Calladine and Bayliss investigate.
Bayliss is now 7 months pregnant, and while her heart is in the chase, her body needs to slow it down. Seems like it's going to be Calladine and the rest of the team .. including a new supevisor who seems to have it in for Calladine.
The investigation leads to much more than just a missing man .....
I have really enjoyed this series! Dead Lost features a lot of family dynamics that the reader only got a glimpse of in earlier books. Their team is more fully fleshed out and they have become much more important to the story line, rather than 'just' secondary characters.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
I give it a 5 for the series, a 5 for Dead Lost.
August 28, 2023
This book is the fourth book in this series, another great read.DI Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss on a case of homeless people who start to disappear is it the owner of the disused cotton mill who wants them out?a parcel was sent with bones are they human?Calladine past his cousin in prison wants him dead,Ruth is pregnant and she should slow down...another fantastic read,and quick easy reads.looking forward to the next instalment..
January 3, 2022
I really enjoyed instalment #4! Lots of threads, lots of mystery, great police procedural.
A large group of homeless people have taken up residence on the grounds of an empty cotton mill. Also, the contentious site is earmarked for development. It quickly becomes apparent that not all the homeless are who they seem, and secrets abound. Then one goes missing. Bring in DI Calladine and DI Bayliss to investigate.
Added to the mix is Calladine's growing dread of Bayliss going on maternity leave (she is now 7 months pregnant); add in a new supervisor who seems to have it in for Calladine, and the drama moves the story and the series along quickly.
So many twists and turns. A few great red herrings, too. I read books 3 and 4 back-to-back and enjoyed the ongoing character development. Now, to find time to read the rest!
A large group of homeless people have taken up residence on the grounds of an empty cotton mill. Also, the contentious site is earmarked for development. It quickly becomes apparent that not all the homeless are who they seem, and secrets abound. Then one goes missing. Bring in DI Calladine and DI Bayliss to investigate.
Added to the mix is Calladine's growing dread of Bayliss going on maternity leave (she is now 7 months pregnant); add in a new supervisor who seems to have it in for Calladine, and the drama moves the story and the series along quickly.
So many twists and turns. A few great red herrings, too. I read books 3 and 4 back-to-back and enjoyed the ongoing character development. Now, to find time to read the rest!
August 7, 2016
This is the 4th book in the series and just as good as the others.
DI Calladine and DS Bayliss are back again a group of homeless people are living on the grounds of an old cotton mill but the owner wants them off his property.
A blood stained coat is found but o body, young girls are disappearing are they related? but the police are having trouble finding evidence.
A good fast read a page turner once you start the book you don't want to stop.
Thanks you to Netgalley the Publisher and Author for a chance to read this book.
DI Calladine and DS Bayliss are back again a group of homeless people are living on the grounds of an old cotton mill but the owner wants them off his property.
A blood stained coat is found but o body, young girls are disappearing are they related? but the police are having trouble finding evidence.
A good fast read a page turner once you start the book you don't want to stop.
Thanks you to Netgalley the Publisher and Author for a chance to read this book.
June 7, 2020
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Another one in the Calladine & Bayliss series. This time, they have trouble to find the body. These are quite simple and uncomplicated police procedurals that I enjoy to read from time to time. There is also a lot of the personal lives of the main detectives thrown in, which could have been toned down a little for my taste.
A nice quick read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Another one in the Calladine & Bayliss series. This time, they have trouble to find the body. These are quite simple and uncomplicated police procedurals that I enjoy to read from time to time. There is also a lot of the personal lives of the main detectives thrown in, which could have been toned down a little for my taste.
A nice quick read.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 20, 2016
This is the first book I have read by this author and in this series and it is a stunning read! It works as a standalone altthough there are references to previous books. It is a police procedural featuring DI Tom Calladine and DS Ruth Bayliss, who work well together and we get caught up in their personal lives too.
In Leesdon, in an old cotton mill, the homeless are being murdered and young girls are disappearing. Are the cases connected? What is going on? Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss investigate. There are plenty of plot twists and action. The narrative is compelling and gripping. The author has a real handle on the characters, so much so that they are realistic. All in all, a good absorbing read. Many thanks to Joffe Books, the publishers for a copy of the book via netgalley.
In Leesdon, in an old cotton mill, the homeless are being murdered and young girls are disappearing. Are the cases connected? What is going on? Tom Calladine and Ruth Bayliss investigate. There are plenty of plot twists and action. The narrative is compelling and gripping. The author has a real handle on the characters, so much so that they are realistic. All in all, a good absorbing read. Many thanks to Joffe Books, the publishers for a copy of the book via netgalley.
May 17, 2020
Yuck. I got all nine books but I am done.
Stupid characters. Not believable in any sense.
Stupid characters. Not believable in any sense.
October 21, 2025
Solid 4 stars!
"Dead Lost" (#4) maintains the high standard of this series. What I like most is the author’s sharp, to-the-point writing, making the 222-page length feel perfectly punchy and satisfying. Even this far in, the character building is still engaging. I'm already eagerly anticipating where everything goes in Book #5.
"Dead Lost" (#4) maintains the high standard of this series. What I like most is the author’s sharp, to-the-point writing, making the 222-page length feel perfectly punchy and satisfying. Even this far in, the character building is still engaging. I'm already eagerly anticipating where everything goes in Book #5.
September 2, 2019
Another great addition to the Detectives Calladine and Bayliss series.
Calladine is struggling personally. He is trying to find himself after the bombshell his Mum left him. His is bouncing from one unlikely relationship to another and his Sergeant is heavily pregnant and about to go on Maternity leave. But things are going to get worse before they get better and to add to the confusion he has to deal with the upcoming court case knowing that there are people out there who will stop at nothing to prevent him giving evidence.
He suspects someone in the force is corrupt but who is it? Prime suspect is his new DCI. They get off on the wrong foot and he begins to think she is on a mission to remove him from the team or dismantle the team either way he is very much on his guard.
The story has several strands. The homeless camp seems to be the central point but a very unlikely one. When homeless men go missing will anyone care? Well Calladine and his team do and when their investigations turn up other possible crimes the team are struggling to work out what is going on.
Another gripping story full of twists, turns and red herrings all the way to a totally shocking conclusion. A 5 star read that will appeal to all crime fiction readers.
Calladine is struggling personally. He is trying to find himself after the bombshell his Mum left him. His is bouncing from one unlikely relationship to another and his Sergeant is heavily pregnant and about to go on Maternity leave. But things are going to get worse before they get better and to add to the confusion he has to deal with the upcoming court case knowing that there are people out there who will stop at nothing to prevent him giving evidence.
He suspects someone in the force is corrupt but who is it? Prime suspect is his new DCI. They get off on the wrong foot and he begins to think she is on a mission to remove him from the team or dismantle the team either way he is very much on his guard.
The story has several strands. The homeless camp seems to be the central point but a very unlikely one. When homeless men go missing will anyone care? Well Calladine and his team do and when their investigations turn up other possible crimes the team are struggling to work out what is going on.
Another gripping story full of twists, turns and red herrings all the way to a totally shocking conclusion. A 5 star read that will appeal to all crime fiction readers.
October 18, 2016
Another brilliant book to the series. Another top series I love and can't wait to read more
February 4, 2016
I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Another great book from Helen Durrant. She has a lovely writing style that is easy to read making it quite a fast, pacy read that I couldn't put down.
Once again Calladine and Bayliss are working together to discover the secrets held within the homeless camp and what, if any, connection is there to the old Chase Mill?
Calladine's old adversary and cousin, Ray Fallon, is still making waves for him and now there is a new DCI to contend with, whilst Bayliss is slowly winding down getting ready to take maternity leave.
Nothing comes easily to Calladine, his private life is taking a turn for the worst, his professional life is in jeopardy an his personal safety is in the balance.
Once again Helen Durrant takes us on a merry chase trying to discover who is doing what to whom and why with a bit of a twist. Keeping you guessing trying to figure out how all the different threads fit together.
My only niggle, if it can be called that, is that the book finishes too quickly. Once everything has been discovered the story wraps up very quickly.
Having said that I have no hesitation in recommending this book as it is a really good read. I look forward to reading the next one.
Another great book from Helen Durrant. She has a lovely writing style that is easy to read making it quite a fast, pacy read that I couldn't put down.
Once again Calladine and Bayliss are working together to discover the secrets held within the homeless camp and what, if any, connection is there to the old Chase Mill?
Calladine's old adversary and cousin, Ray Fallon, is still making waves for him and now there is a new DCI to contend with, whilst Bayliss is slowly winding down getting ready to take maternity leave.
Nothing comes easily to Calladine, his private life is taking a turn for the worst, his professional life is in jeopardy an his personal safety is in the balance.
Once again Helen Durrant takes us on a merry chase trying to discover who is doing what to whom and why with a bit of a twist. Keeping you guessing trying to figure out how all the different threads fit together.
My only niggle, if it can be called that, is that the book finishes too quickly. Once everything has been discovered the story wraps up very quickly.
Having said that I have no hesitation in recommending this book as it is a really good read. I look forward to reading the next one.
February 28, 2016
Another exciting, suspenseful detective thriller with D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss.
In Dead Lost, I was kept guessing as to what was happening and just how the different threads would fit together eventually and they do in a very clever way.
I really love the D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss team and in Dead Lost we meet the “Hatchet Queen” who is unpopular and not trusted by D.I. Calladine.
We also get to find out more about Tom Calladine’s family and personal life, which is not as successful as his career.
Dead Lost kept me interested from beginning to end and I can highly recommend it to fans of police procedurals.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC
In Dead Lost, I was kept guessing as to what was happening and just how the different threads would fit together eventually and they do in a very clever way.
I really love the D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss team and in Dead Lost we meet the “Hatchet Queen” who is unpopular and not trusted by D.I. Calladine.
We also get to find out more about Tom Calladine’s family and personal life, which is not as successful as his career.
Dead Lost kept me interested from beginning to end and I can highly recommend it to fans of police procedurals.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC
January 17, 2025
This time Calladine and his colleagues are confronted with gruesome murders and lost girls and of course the two cases come nicely together in the end.
The team is working well together and there are some interesting developments.
The team is working well together and there are some interesting developments.
August 3, 2019
Another very good read in this series.
October 22, 2023
Another great story with fabulous characters. Continuing in the background the contentious storyline with Fallon comes to a head
January 16, 2024
I am continuing binge listening to this series - great and short but ticks all the boxes. The narration works well and you can really tell the different characters. The crime itself works well.
August 31, 2023
Dead Lost by Helen H Durrant is book 4 in the Calladine & Bayliss series and it is another excellent storyline. I enjoyed listening to this third book and enjoyed the plot and the end result. The main characters are developing more with each book and all of them have definite personalities and are dedicated police officers.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended
May 16, 2023
Gruesome at times , tense with a good plot line. A goofy read.
February 7, 2016
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets...
I am fairly new to reading books by Helen H Durrant but I have read two so far and loved both them. I had this one on my wish list so was delighted when it was released. I love her writing style, the characters are great and work so well together. The plots are realistic, detailed and you can imagine them happening, unlike some other books out there which are good but a bit too unrealistic for me.
In DEAD LOST, Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase. But one of the men is not what he seems. He has a secret he will do anything to cover up. And once Calladine and Bayliss investigate, they find the crimes go much further than they could have ever imagined. Will Ruth be able to juggle her personal and professional lives, and can Calladine deal with their new boss, a woman he neither trusts nor likes? Willing to do anything to bring terrible suffering to an end, Calladine make an astonishing move . . .
This book is out now - I highly recommend if you love crime fiction!! Its fast paced and it gripped me and I read it in a day, it was a 'just one more page' job and I ended up finishing it! The plot is great, it covers a lot of tough and uncomfortable subjects but they are done so well. 5 stars from me.
An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets...
I am fairly new to reading books by Helen H Durrant but I have read two so far and loved both them. I had this one on my wish list so was delighted when it was released. I love her writing style, the characters are great and work so well together. The plots are realistic, detailed and you can imagine them happening, unlike some other books out there which are good but a bit too unrealistic for me.
In DEAD LOST, Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase. But one of the men is not what he seems. He has a secret he will do anything to cover up. And once Calladine and Bayliss investigate, they find the crimes go much further than they could have ever imagined. Will Ruth be able to juggle her personal and professional lives, and can Calladine deal with their new boss, a woman he neither trusts nor likes? Willing to do anything to bring terrible suffering to an end, Calladine make an astonishing move . . .
This book is out now - I highly recommend if you love crime fiction!! Its fast paced and it gripped me and I read it in a day, it was a 'just one more page' job and I ended up finishing it! The plot is great, it covers a lot of tough and uncomfortable subjects but they are done so well. 5 stars from me.
January 26, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for allowing me an advance copy of Dead Lost, the latest addition to the Calladine and Bayliss series of police procedurals.
Having read and enjoyed the previous novels in the series I am pleased to report that this is another good, absorbing read.
It starts with the murder of a homeless man by an unnamed acquaintance but all the police find is his bloody coat, no sign of the body. At the same time someone is posting animal bones to the organisers of a squat for the homeless and when there to investigate a man is reported missing. Gradually the police start to tie together the bloody coat and the missing man and then another man disappears. I hope you're keeping up because it gets complicated after this.
Dead Lost is an intricately plotted novel with something happening on every page, or so it seems, which makes it an absorbing read. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It all unfolds, however, in a linear, logical way so whilst it has plenty of twists and detail it is not difficult to read or follow. The characters are realistic, whether it's Tom Calladine's ambivalence about his newfound family or Ruth Bayliss's pregnancy discomfort, and their dialogue authentic, I note with interest that Ms Durrant includes a glossary of English terms for her American readers (do they not have Portakabins?, one of the more esoteric entries).
If you want a good, interesting read which will hold your attention without frying your brain trying to keep up then I strongly recommend Dead Lost.
Having read and enjoyed the previous novels in the series I am pleased to report that this is another good, absorbing read.
It starts with the murder of a homeless man by an unnamed acquaintance but all the police find is his bloody coat, no sign of the body. At the same time someone is posting animal bones to the organisers of a squat for the homeless and when there to investigate a man is reported missing. Gradually the police start to tie together the bloody coat and the missing man and then another man disappears. I hope you're keeping up because it gets complicated after this.
Dead Lost is an intricately plotted novel with something happening on every page, or so it seems, which makes it an absorbing read. I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. It all unfolds, however, in a linear, logical way so whilst it has plenty of twists and detail it is not difficult to read or follow. The characters are realistic, whether it's Tom Calladine's ambivalence about his newfound family or Ruth Bayliss's pregnancy discomfort, and their dialogue authentic, I note with interest that Ms Durrant includes a glossary of English terms for her American readers (do they not have Portakabins?, one of the more esoteric entries).
If you want a good, interesting read which will hold your attention without frying your brain trying to keep up then I strongly recommend Dead Lost.
April 12, 2016
My instincts have paid off. This is the fourth in this series set in the fictional pennine towns outside Manchester where DI Calladine & DS Bayliss ply their investigative trade. I am rewarded at last with a story that matches the skill of the author and allows me to write my most positive review to date.
When a missing person case expands to include a homeless camp close to a disused cotton mill which is earmarked for development a complex case unravels that is both credible and consuming. It makes the reader want to continue and unlock the mysteries the story throws up.
I found the engagement of previous characters believable and this helps drive the story forward and makes for a more 3 dimensional accouunt.
Perhaps as an old middle aged man who craves female attention beyond my wife's love and daughters' appreciation I find Calladine a little grating as he seems always to attract women who want him while he seems disfunctional in his own understanding of how to keep a relationship working.
However it makes for an interesting story as the author seems comfortable with these characters and with this plot has a book that is difficult to put down.
When a missing person case expands to include a homeless camp close to a disused cotton mill which is earmarked for development a complex case unravels that is both credible and consuming. It makes the reader want to continue and unlock the mysteries the story throws up.
I found the engagement of previous characters believable and this helps drive the story forward and makes for a more 3 dimensional accouunt.
Perhaps as an old middle aged man who craves female attention beyond my wife's love and daughters' appreciation I find Calladine a little grating as he seems always to attract women who want him while he seems disfunctional in his own understanding of how to keep a relationship working.
However it makes for an interesting story as the author seems comfortable with these characters and with this plot has a book that is difficult to put down.
January 24, 2022
*A Gritty Case*
In this instalment DI Tom Callandine and DS Ruth Bayliss have their work cut out. There is a group of homeless people who have set up camp on the land belonging to a local businessman Damien Chase.
The main issue is that he has a secret that he wants covered up, he is keeping women locked up ready to sell them. Like all people like him most of the donkey work is left to others in his group. Sadly for him someone has witnessed something that could upset the apple cart and they are dealt with in the most cruel way. Callandine as usual has a nose for trouble and he will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of things.
Whilst all this is going on his personal life is still a mess and he gains an unexpected relative or two. His so called cousin is awaiting trial for all his viscous crimes and one by one he is having the witnesses taken out of the equation, one of those on the list is Callandine!!!
How will Tom cope and what about Ruth how will she balance her new life to come. Add to this a new DCI that rubs Tom up the wrong way, there is also a surprise Ally
In this instalment DI Tom Callandine and DS Ruth Bayliss have their work cut out. There is a group of homeless people who have set up camp on the land belonging to a local businessman Damien Chase.
The main issue is that he has a secret that he wants covered up, he is keeping women locked up ready to sell them. Like all people like him most of the donkey work is left to others in his group. Sadly for him someone has witnessed something that could upset the apple cart and they are dealt with in the most cruel way. Callandine as usual has a nose for trouble and he will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of things.
Whilst all this is going on his personal life is still a mess and he gains an unexpected relative or two. His so called cousin is awaiting trial for all his viscous crimes and one by one he is having the witnesses taken out of the equation, one of those on the list is Callandine!!!
How will Tom cope and what about Ruth how will she balance her new life to come. Add to this a new DCI that rubs Tom up the wrong way, there is also a surprise Ally
August 27, 2016
Another in the Bayliss and Calladine series from Helen Durrant is a must read for me!
They investigate a potential disappearance from a local homeless site, set up in a disused cotton mill.
Has the man disappeared or was he something other than what he told people?
Was it anything to do with the animal bones posted to the organisers of the homeless shelter, or the blood found nearby?
When more blood is found,Calladine and his crew are bought in to investigate...
Many thn aks to Netgalley for this in return for an honest review, this is a lovely quick read for anyone who enjoys police procedurals.
They investigate a potential disappearance from a local homeless site, set up in a disused cotton mill.
Has the man disappeared or was he something other than what he told people?
Was it anything to do with the animal bones posted to the organisers of the homeless shelter, or the blood found nearby?
When more blood is found,Calladine and his crew are bought in to investigate...
Many thn aks to Netgalley for this in return for an honest review, this is a lovely quick read for anyone who enjoys police procedurals.
October 26, 2018
Very good book. I read the first 3 a year or so ago so I decided to continue with the series.
This was about murder and young girls held captive and forced into prostitution as well as being auctioned off and sent to other parts of the world. It was about Tom and Ruth, a very pregnant Ruth, trying to put everything together and arrest all the right people.
There was no romance in this and the F-bomb was used 5 times.
As to the narrator: Love, love, love Jonathan Keeble. He does the DCI Ryan Mysteries by LJ Ross and I’ve listened to all 8 of those. He does great voices and he reads with such emotion.
February 21, 2016
I tripped over Helen Durant's first two books in my local library and now I am indulging myself with the remainder on my Kindle. She is, in my opinion, the female equivalent of Ian Rankin.
Her characters are believable. They all have individual identifiers and a fair share of faults - real people faults.
I'm not going to say anything about the storyline because if I start I will give too much away.
If you like crime thrillers read her books. I think you will be happy to add her to your 'must read' list.
Her characters are believable. They all have individual identifiers and a fair share of faults - real people faults.
I'm not going to say anything about the storyline because if I start I will give too much away.
If you like crime thrillers read her books. I think you will be happy to add her to your 'must read' list.
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