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DCI Jericho #2
We Are Death
Morlock is coming. Death will follow.
DCI Jericho may have evaded the Hanged Man, but he knew there was something missing. He knew there was still someone out there. He knew there would be more death…
A man is murdered on the Somerset Levels, a bullet in the head from three feet. Jericho soon learns there was a connected killing the previous day in the Swiss Alps.
Death comes in the post, and quickly strands from the past become entangled: the hunted mountaineers, a long lost secret, the mystery of Jericho’s wife, and the covert organisation, working in the shadows, always in control.
Joined by DI Badstuber of the Swiss police, Jericho travels across Europe to North Africa, chasing an invisible killer. But Death is always one step ahead, while his past, sinister and terrifying, is closing in.
Praise for Douglas Lindsay
"This chilling black comedy unfolds at dizzying speed" - Sunday Mirror
"The plot, Russian literature fans, is a modern spin on Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment. The bloody ending, movie buffs, is pure Reservoir Dogs." - The Mirror
"Fantastic plot, unforgettable scenes and plenty of twisted belly laughs." - New Woman
"A mad, macabre romp with surreal characters and cutting black humour." - The Sunday Mirror
"Gloriously over the top" - Daily Telegraph
"Lindsay’s burlesque thrills offer no sex, no drugs, no desperation to be cool. Just straightforward adult story; fantastic plot, classic timing and gleeful delight in the grotesque. With more talent than Irvine Welsh could dream of, Lindsay has crafted a macabre masterpiece where content lives up to style." - What's OnDouglas Lindsay is the author of more than a dozen novels, including The Unburied Dead (DS Hutton series), We Are The Hanged Man (DCI Jericho series), the surreal thriller Being For The Benefit of Mr Kite! and The Legend Of Barney Thomson, now a major movie starring Robert Carlyle and Emma Thompson.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2016
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39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
June 10, 2016
I wasn't sure what my rating was going to be for this book as I thought it was a slow starter but once I got past the first few chapters it really started to build.
Jericho is still a grumpy bleeder but you can understand why if you read the first book, Haynes is really getting into the swing of things and is getting a real feel for his job.
The action mainly takes place in Switzerland and Oslo but there are scenes in the UK and Paris, it's nice to see Jericho and Haynes out of their comfort zone and having to take orders from other people rather than doing as they want.
The end of the book is wonderful and sets up the third book in the series perfectly, I can't wait to read it and see what happens.
*Huge thanks to Douglas Lindsay, Blasted Heath and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review*
Jericho is still a grumpy bleeder but you can understand why if you read the first book, Haynes is really getting into the swing of things and is getting a real feel for his job.
The action mainly takes place in Switzerland and Oslo but there are scenes in the UK and Paris, it's nice to see Jericho and Haynes out of their comfort zone and having to take orders from other people rather than doing as they want.
The end of the book is wonderful and sets up the third book in the series perfectly, I can't wait to read it and see what happens.
*Huge thanks to Douglas Lindsay, Blasted Heath and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review*
June 23, 2016
We Are Death is the second book in Douglas Lindsay's DCI Jericho series, and it nicely develops some of the narrative threads left unresolved in We Are The Hanged Man. Its strength may also prove to be the series' greatest weakness, however.
As the publisher's description notes, "quickly strands from the past become entangled"; you have to have read We Are The Hanged Man to fully understand what happens in We Are Death, especially with respect to the disappearance of Jericho's wife. To promote the June 15 release of this book, Blasted Heath kindly made the first book available to reviewers as well, but for the average reader, We Are The Hanged Man came out four years ago. Had I read it then, I would have had to read it again to pick up those "entangled strands," and there are just too many books on my TBR list to spend time on re-reading. Thus, whether I maintain my interest in the series depends on how quickly the next book is published. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a tarot deck, of which The Hanged Man and Death are cards 12 and 13, respectively. Even if Lindsay only moves forward through the deck, at the rate he's going, I will have forgotten the plot when We Are Temperance comes out, and I'll probably be dead by the time the series concludes with We Are The World in 2048.
I'm anxious to see where DCI Jericho goes next; I hope Lindsay and Blasted Heath don't keep me waiting too long.
I received a free copy of We Are Death from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As the publisher's description notes, "quickly strands from the past become entangled"; you have to have read We Are The Hanged Man to fully understand what happens in We Are Death, especially with respect to the disappearance of Jericho's wife. To promote the June 15 release of this book, Blasted Heath kindly made the first book available to reviewers as well, but for the average reader, We Are The Hanged Man came out four years ago. Had I read it then, I would have had to read it again to pick up those "entangled strands," and there are just too many books on my TBR list to spend time on re-reading. Thus, whether I maintain my interest in the series depends on how quickly the next book is published. There are 22 Major Arcana cards in a tarot deck, of which The Hanged Man and Death are cards 12 and 13, respectively. Even if Lindsay only moves forward through the deck, at the rate he's going, I will have forgotten the plot when We Are Temperance comes out, and I'll probably be dead by the time the series concludes with We Are The World in 2048.
I'm anxious to see where DCI Jericho goes next; I hope Lindsay and Blasted Heath don't keep me waiting too long.
I received a free copy of We Are Death from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2016
Review: WE ARE DEATH by Douglas Lindsay [DCI Jericho #2]
The electric second installment in the series focusing on depressive Detective Chief Inspector Robert Jericho, WE ARE DEATH catapults Jericho on an international manhunt, to find a sniper-assassin who never fails. In the shadowy background still is The Pavilion, the centuries-old secret society which seems to move Jericho and his Detective Sergeant, Stuart Haynes, as pawns on a global chessboard. But the stunning conclusion will upend everything Jericho--and the reader--knows.
The electric second installment in the series focusing on depressive Detective Chief Inspector Robert Jericho, WE ARE DEATH catapults Jericho on an international manhunt, to find a sniper-assassin who never fails. In the shadowy background still is The Pavilion, the centuries-old secret society which seems to move Jericho and his Detective Sergeant, Stuart Haynes, as pawns on a global chessboard. But the stunning conclusion will upend everything Jericho--and the reader--knows.
October 24, 2017
An easy 4.5 stars.
This was another cracker book. I love the morose DCI Jericho, he's a marvellous character. Seven months after the events of book 1 Jericho is told that due to budget cutbacks both the Superintendent and the DCI positions at his station are to be abolished. He and his boss will have to move, or he could take a redundancy. This will all happen in one month.
So Jericho finally decides its time to show Sergeant Haynes the death card he received at the end of the hanged man case. Suddenly its on again. This time, Haynes gets a death card. The figure of death is on horseback riding through a forrest. There are five hanged men, two are already dad. They work out the case must concern the recent climbing expedition to Kampchangjunga where five men reached the summit. Two have recently been shot dead, one in England and one in Switzerland. Jericho must work with a Swiss policewoman, they visit Morocco where two of the other climbers are hiking through the Atlas Mountains.
This was a complex story that ended up chasing a secret organisation that wielded much power and influence. The story ends up in Oslo with a massive shootout and a huge shock for Jericho that totally screws with his mind. I have a feeling the door has been left open for another book (hoping) and I'm keen to see where poor old Jericho goes from here. I'm loving this series, but you MUST read book 1 first if you are going to dip your toe into this one.
This was another cracker book. I love the morose DCI Jericho, he's a marvellous character. Seven months after the events of book 1 Jericho is told that due to budget cutbacks both the Superintendent and the DCI positions at his station are to be abolished. He and his boss will have to move, or he could take a redundancy. This will all happen in one month.
So Jericho finally decides its time to show Sergeant Haynes the death card he received at the end of the hanged man case. Suddenly its on again. This time, Haynes gets a death card. The figure of death is on horseback riding through a forrest. There are five hanged men, two are already dad. They work out the case must concern the recent climbing expedition to Kampchangjunga where five men reached the summit. Two have recently been shot dead, one in England and one in Switzerland. Jericho must work with a Swiss policewoman, they visit Morocco where two of the other climbers are hiking through the Atlas Mountains.
This was a complex story that ended up chasing a secret organisation that wielded much power and influence. The story ends up in Oslo with a massive shootout and a huge shock for Jericho that totally screws with his mind. I have a feeling the door has been left open for another book (hoping) and I'm keen to see where poor old Jericho goes from here. I'm loving this series, but you MUST read book 1 first if you are going to dip your toe into this one.
May 21, 2016
"Haynes reached down, opened the envelope and took out the small tarot card. He'd been expecting another hanged man, like the ones that had dominated the previous investigation. This, however, was a death card. Death himself sitting on a black horse, bearing a white standard in his right hand, a curious emblem on the standard, riding through the fields of the dead, bodies strewn far and wide, too great in number to be counted. " Jesus," he said, as looked up at Jericho. "When did this come?"........
Detective Chief Inspector Robert Jericho is back in the 2nd book of this series. Having survived "The Hanged Man" serial killer in Book 1, Jericho still has unresolved heartache. Our story starts out in Wells, England, but before long the chase will spread out. The things that were in play in Book 1 take their place in this story. Will Jericho ever find out what happened to his missing wife, Amanda? Is someone still shadowing his life? There is a secret group at work in the background. Can he find out who they are and what it has to do with his life? Or perhaps they are so powerful that they will continue and the mystery will not be unraveled.
When the murder of a man, just back from a mountain climbing trip, is connected to another one of the climbers, it will have Jericho taking a trip across Europe in search of the connection. With the help of his detective, Haynes, and a Swiss detective named Badstuber, Jericho tries to pick up the trail, while his past is quickly approaching him. Somewhere there will be a collision. Why would five people connected by their mountain climbing trip suddenly start being executed. Can Jericho and his team find a connection? Is there one?
The tarot cards are back. Together perhaps they can unravel what sinister plan is being played out on the five mountain climbers. Somehow it all connects to Jericho and his life. While Haynes tries to find the mystery of the delivered tarots, danger and death are fast approaching.
A great mystery adventure. I think this book was better than the first in the series, although both had their creepy jaw dropping moments. The implied threat of these scary tarot cards is enough to keep you on edge as the story plays out. There is definitely room for a third book in this series. A stand alone with everything satisfyingly explained, you'd still not want to miss the first book in the series. Creepy and a bit haunting at the thought of what could be out there in the world. Something or someone could be more in control then perhaps we'd want to believe. I enjoy this police story, a bit different from your typical American crime and police novels.
Thank you Douglas Lindsay, Netgalley and Blasted Heath Publishing.
May 6, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley and Blasted Heath for an arc of this book, received in exchange for an honest review. It it the follow up book to We are the Hanged Man and ties up some of the loose ends from that. I am a big fan of Douglas Lindsay, his books are quirky, surreal and are a right good read! This one is a murder mystery suspense novel, with the wonderfuly deep and dark character of DCI Jericho taking centre stage again. As always, there is a theme of black humour running through the book, although not as obvious as the Barney Thomson books, it is still there. Reading the end, I think there will be a third in the series so am looking forward to that. If you haven't read of of Douglas Lindsay's books, definitely give them a try!
January 26, 2018
Ludicrous
A completely ludicrous, although reasonably well written, tale involving anti-agathic agents, apparitions and an alliance of aloof affluence. Jericho, as a character, lies somewhere between Morse and Scrooge in his blackly bilious demeanour and his readiness to engage with 'spirits', whilst other characters are wantonly stereotypical to the point of being utterly unbelievable. Perhaps my greatest irritation came from the use of the word puscillanimous twice in the book; very feeble-minded proof reading perhaps? Only to be read if DCI Jericho Book 1 leaves you wanting more, I did, but regret it and if there is to be third instalment I will ignore it.
A completely ludicrous, although reasonably well written, tale involving anti-agathic agents, apparitions and an alliance of aloof affluence. Jericho, as a character, lies somewhere between Morse and Scrooge in his blackly bilious demeanour and his readiness to engage with 'spirits', whilst other characters are wantonly stereotypical to the point of being utterly unbelievable. Perhaps my greatest irritation came from the use of the word puscillanimous twice in the book; very feeble-minded proof reading perhaps? Only to be read if DCI Jericho Book 1 leaves you wanting more, I did, but regret it and if there is to be third instalment I will ignore it.
March 23, 2021
Starts slowly, but hang in there, it soon gets going!
Another great tale. There seems no way out, a very efficient killer is on the loose, with a great selection of disguises and a bewildering array of different names. He is employed by a mysterious, extremely powerful organisation with eyes everywhere and fingers in every pie. The ending is most unexpected, and surely heralds another episode in the life of DCI Jericho. Surely this can't be the end, but if it is, it has been an awesome, enthralling read.
Another great tale. There seems no way out, a very efficient killer is on the loose, with a great selection of disguises and a bewildering array of different names. He is employed by a mysterious, extremely powerful organisation with eyes everywhere and fingers in every pie. The ending is most unexpected, and surely heralds another episode in the life of DCI Jericho. Surely this can't be the end, but if it is, it has been an awesome, enthralling read.
May 11, 2018
Detective Jericho although seasoned approaching retirement seems all too old school when dealing with today's policing but as always is the hero of the day when up against well prepared criminals of an extreme ilk. Great read.
December 27, 2019
This was a difficult book to give a rating too,I gave it 3 stars finally because I found it very readable. having said that,I found the plot,and story line totally implausible,and unbelievable,no more like this Douglas please.
August 21, 2020
Two men have been killed, shot. Is there a connection between them. DCI Jericho and DS Haynes investigate, but it seems that Jericho's past is connected to the case. How many more must die before the end.
An interesting story but it is best that the the series is read in order.
An interesting story but it is best that the the series is read in order.
August 4, 2024
Grew on me
I love Scottish mystery series. This has 2 books. First started off slow and did not like lead character too much. Not much to say. Read both books because second is very entertaining and sucks you right in. Good ‘didn’t see that’ ending.
I love Scottish mystery series. This has 2 books. First started off slow and did not like lead character too much. Not much to say. Read both books because second is very entertaining and sucks you right in. Good ‘didn’t see that’ ending.
October 1, 2025
Definitely Not The Champions
Second in series and follows the same pattern: non-communicative DCI, his DS doing the legwork, no-one knowing who to trust and mass murder. Few, if any, light-hearted moments in absorbing, part police procedural and part paranoid conspiracy thriller.
Second in series and follows the same pattern: non-communicative DCI, his DS doing the legwork, no-one knowing who to trust and mass murder. Few, if any, light-hearted moments in absorbing, part police procedural and part paranoid conspiracy thriller.
December 5, 2019
Always entertaining
Hard to put down. So different from the vast majority of mystery detective writers that seem to just do rewrights of same tired old stories.
Hard to put down. So different from the vast majority of mystery detective writers that seem to just do rewrights of same tired old stories.
June 9, 2016
This is the second book in the DCI Jericho series and continues where that one left off so, although there is enough of a catch-up in this book to make it make sense, it really would be better reading "We Are the Hanged Man" first.
After surviving the serial killer in book one, there are still a fair few unanswered questions for Jericho. He is back at work but there are certain changes happening that unsettle him. What he really needs is a distraction and he gets it in the form of a murder on the Somerset Levels. As he gets to grips with this, he finds out that there is the possibility that a killing in Switzerland the previous day could be related to the one he is investigating and he is paired up with a Swiss detective to try and figure things out. Aided and abetted by his loyal DS, Haynes, Jericho finally opens up to having received another card and when Haynes also receives one, they re-open the case they thought they had solved. Then more cards turn up which appear connected to the new murders. Will they manage to see through the smoke and mirrors and finally find out who is the puppet master.
I have read and enjoyed every one of this author's books since I discovered the wonderful world of Barney Thomson back in 2011. As most people who know me will agree, I do love characters in books and Mr Lindsay does create some wonderful characters and this to me is a key element which can make or break a book for me. Unlike a lot of authors who write stereotyped flawed (anti-)heroes, his are flawed but in different ways. Here, Jericho has "lost" his wife and this is a continuing theme in this book. The other characters are just as well drawn and, for me anyway, easy to relate to / emote with. I especially like the relationship between Jericho and Haynes. Lindsay's plotting is also very clever and tight and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. His research is also top notch as usual. This is especially key in this book as the action takes place over several countries and all comes across (to my knowledge) as authentic and credible.
As with the majority of his book, there is also quite a bit of humour. Mostly on the black side. I had to read the "dwarf" conversation out to my brother as I giggled through it so much whilst reading it. Yep, that's my level!
All in all, this is a great addition to this series and also Lindsay's catalogue. Hopefully I won't have long to wait for the next offering.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
After surviving the serial killer in book one, there are still a fair few unanswered questions for Jericho. He is back at work but there are certain changes happening that unsettle him. What he really needs is a distraction and he gets it in the form of a murder on the Somerset Levels. As he gets to grips with this, he finds out that there is the possibility that a killing in Switzerland the previous day could be related to the one he is investigating and he is paired up with a Swiss detective to try and figure things out. Aided and abetted by his loyal DS, Haynes, Jericho finally opens up to having received another card and when Haynes also receives one, they re-open the case they thought they had solved. Then more cards turn up which appear connected to the new murders. Will they manage to see through the smoke and mirrors and finally find out who is the puppet master.
I have read and enjoyed every one of this author's books since I discovered the wonderful world of Barney Thomson back in 2011. As most people who know me will agree, I do love characters in books and Mr Lindsay does create some wonderful characters and this to me is a key element which can make or break a book for me. Unlike a lot of authors who write stereotyped flawed (anti-)heroes, his are flawed but in different ways. Here, Jericho has "lost" his wife and this is a continuing theme in this book. The other characters are just as well drawn and, for me anyway, easy to relate to / emote with. I especially like the relationship between Jericho and Haynes. Lindsay's plotting is also very clever and tight and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. His research is also top notch as usual. This is especially key in this book as the action takes place over several countries and all comes across (to my knowledge) as authentic and credible.
As with the majority of his book, there is also quite a bit of humour. Mostly on the black side. I had to read the "dwarf" conversation out to my brother as I giggled through it so much whilst reading it. Yep, that's my level!
All in all, this is a great addition to this series and also Lindsay's catalogue. Hopefully I won't have long to wait for the next offering.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 4, 2016
I was not really sure what to expect from this book as I found the previous book rather difficult to get into as I am not really in to satire in any way shape or form. As it turned out this one was easier to get into not least that we knew the characters and it was a straight police procedural that continues on from the first.
The unseen hand that guided the events in the first book is back manipulating the characters once again and leads them on a manhunt across Europe.
This author writes real characters and this novel only builds on this all the while having a dark humour running through the entire novel. I love the interaction between Jericho and Hayes. I also enjoyed the Hayes’s romance which in no way detracted from the novel itself.
The plot was reasonably well plotted and the author’s research was good; the descriptions of the other countries were consistent with those of other novels this reader has read.
Unfortunately, there were a few unresolved issues from the first novel, together with unresolved questions from this novel, which I hope will be dealt with in the next novel in the series, of which am sure there will be one. One thing that did stick in this reader’s craw was what Jericho did with his inheritance – I mean would a real person really do that?
If you love police procedurals, especially British police procedurals with a bit of bite and a lot of creep. Or if you love the works of Douglas Lindsay then this novel is definitely one for you.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to provide an honest review in exchange for receiving a copy of this book
The unseen hand that guided the events in the first book is back manipulating the characters once again and leads them on a manhunt across Europe.
This author writes real characters and this novel only builds on this all the while having a dark humour running through the entire novel. I love the interaction between Jericho and Hayes. I also enjoyed the Hayes’s romance which in no way detracted from the novel itself.
The plot was reasonably well plotted and the author’s research was good; the descriptions of the other countries were consistent with those of other novels this reader has read.
Unfortunately, there were a few unresolved issues from the first novel, together with unresolved questions from this novel, which I hope will be dealt with in the next novel in the series, of which am sure there will be one. One thing that did stick in this reader’s craw was what Jericho did with his inheritance – I mean would a real person really do that?
If you love police procedurals, especially British police procedurals with a bit of bite and a lot of creep. Or if you love the works of Douglas Lindsay then this novel is definitely one for you.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to provide an honest review in exchange for receiving a copy of this book
June 4, 2016
To be honest I was disappointed in this second outing of DCI Robert Jericho. There were unresolved issues from the first book. What were the Tarot Cards really saying? What about Jericho's wife, missing these past 10 years? Would Jericho mentally recover from his second grisly crime scene involving Durrant? I was looking forward to "We are Death". What we get is an international thriller/fantasy which includes a master society with inexhaustible funds that is capable of maneuvering people and governments to do its bidding, a book which contains some sort of answer to life, the universe and everything, more Tarot cards, and what appears to be a detective who is have hallucinations.
I no longer cared what happened to our protagonist Robert Jericho or any of the antagonists. The deaths of individuals is without any real build-up. They arrive at a random spot, at a random time but still the killer is there waiting. They die, we move on.
What I can say in a positive way is that Douglas Lindsay can write. His style of writing will draw me to another of his books, just not the next installment of the Jericho series. The plot is what kept me saying What are you doing?
I wish to thank NetGalley for my copy of "We are Death" in exchange for my honest opinion.
I no longer cared what happened to our protagonist Robert Jericho or any of the antagonists. The deaths of individuals is without any real build-up. They arrive at a random spot, at a random time but still the killer is there waiting. They die, we move on.
What I can say in a positive way is that Douglas Lindsay can write. His style of writing will draw me to another of his books, just not the next installment of the Jericho series. The plot is what kept me saying What are you doing?
I wish to thank NetGalley for my copy of "We are Death" in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 10, 2016
If you have read "We Are The Hanged Man" you knew that there was more to come. The mysterious organization that engineered the events in that novel had not been discovered at the conclusion, but another Tarot card had been delivered to DCI Jericho. Now we have another series of murders. This time the case takes Jericho from Britain to Switzerland to Morocco in pursuit of a highly skilled assassin who is always a step ahead of our detectives. The shadowy organization will be given a name, and its motives become clearer, however wildly improbable they may seem.
As in the first novel, the writing is excellent, the very engaging characters are further developed, the plot is thrilling and satisfying. Jericho will learn something about the fate of his long missing wife. The reader will again be left with questions to be answered in the next novel. I sincerely hope to read that one soon. Highly recommended.
As in the first novel, the writing is excellent, the very engaging characters are further developed, the plot is thrilling and satisfying. Jericho will learn something about the fate of his long missing wife. The reader will again be left with questions to be answered in the next novel. I sincerely hope to read that one soon. Highly recommended.
August 14, 2016
I've read the first in the series, which I loved, so I was excited to get my hands on the second book in this series. This one wasn't as good as this one was, but it was good. The author is a great writer and has a great story to share. There is mystery and intrigue to throw the reader off throughout the book, plus plenty of surprises. We learn a lot more about DCI Jericho and his past and what happened to his wife in this book. We also learn more about how how fragile his mind is over his wife's disappearance. If you liked the first book, you'll want to followup on Jericho and his company in this second adventure. Not as good as the first but still a good read.
April 2, 2016
I received the ebook in exchange for an honest review from netgalley
When I was younger I loved the books of Agatha Christie and I still love detectives. I decided this was probably a book for me, especially after I liked the first book. This book is well-written and quick paced. There was a twist in the end I was able to foresee, but I feel that was done deliberately. I was a good story and I liked reading it.
When I was younger I loved the books of Agatha Christie and I still love detectives. I decided this was probably a book for me, especially after I liked the first book. This book is well-written and quick paced. There was a twist in the end I was able to foresee, but I feel that was done deliberately. I was a good story and I liked reading it.
May 2, 2016
This is the second book of the Jericho series, I believe. It resonated with me because of my interest in the tarot, although that really didn't play a big part in the story. Still, it was very well written and a good read.
September 25, 2016
Interesting and well written but I think I would have benefited from reading the first book closely. I did enjoy the interplay between Jericho and Haynes (as well as with the other characters.) Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. I'd like to see more from Lindsay.
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