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DI Nick Dixon #6
Death Sentence
The highly anticipated new book in the bestselling DI Nick Dixon Crime Series.
The body of an elderly man is found in an abandoned World War Two pillbox beside the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. With no obvious motive and no credible suspect, DI Nick Dixon starts digging into the victim’s past.
The more he digs, the deeper Dixon is drawn into a case that takes him from the cave systems beneath rural Somerset to the heart of government, and threatens to expose a military cover-up at the highest level.
Blocked by a wall of silence, Dixon must unravel a dangerous conspiracy before the killer strikes again.
The body of an elderly man is found in an abandoned World War Two pillbox beside the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. With no obvious motive and no credible suspect, DI Nick Dixon starts digging into the victim’s past.
The more he digs, the deeper Dixon is drawn into a case that takes him from the cave systems beneath rural Somerset to the heart of government, and threatens to expose a military cover-up at the highest level.
Blocked by a wall of silence, Dixon must unravel a dangerous conspiracy before the killer strikes again.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 4, 2016
1419 people are currently reading
980 people want to read
About the author
Damien Boyd
21 books953 followersDamien Boyd is a former solicitor turned crime fiction writer.
Drawing on extensive experience of criminal law as well as a spell in the Crown Prosecution Service, Damien writes fast paced crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Nick Dixon.
Damien is published by Thomas & Mercer.
Drawing on extensive experience of criminal law as well as a spell in the Crown Prosecution Service, Damien writes fast paced crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Nick Dixon.
Damien is published by Thomas & Mercer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
October 18, 2020
This series is getting better and better as it goes along. In this worthy instalment Nick and his team are investigating the murder of a Falklands War veteran, and they find that things go deeper than they originally thought. With excellent characters and plot development, I recommend this book to all lovers of crime novels and police procedurals.
October 25, 2016
This is a familiar author to me; having read the previous five books in this series I have to announce this is probably the best yet.
The characters are fully believable and as a police procedural it is right up there.
A case has no legs without eye witnesses or motive. Here these are explored but the Falklands veteran killed in a WW2 pillbox looks like a senseless murder until Nick Dixon finds a past and a modern day connection.
The unravelling investigation then becomes an action thriller with wonderful insights into the world of caving. Marines under fire seeking to reclaim the Falkland Islands. It throws up the plight of former combat soldiers and litigation taken against the MOD.
A very contemporary novel that has a range of interesting asides but never makes assumptions or jumps before the reader can make the connection.
A real pleasure to read, no slight of hand just old fashion police work testing ideas and doing the work. A solid team of detectives doing the graft and the inspirational leader in Dixon to link it altogether.
The star though is the author who is relevant and can tell a good story. However Monty the dog perhaps steals the show.
The characters are fully believable and as a police procedural it is right up there.
A case has no legs without eye witnesses or motive. Here these are explored but the Falklands veteran killed in a WW2 pillbox looks like a senseless murder until Nick Dixon finds a past and a modern day connection.
The unravelling investigation then becomes an action thriller with wonderful insights into the world of caving. Marines under fire seeking to reclaim the Falkland Islands. It throws up the plight of former combat soldiers and litigation taken against the MOD.
A very contemporary novel that has a range of interesting asides but never makes assumptions or jumps before the reader can make the connection.
A real pleasure to read, no slight of hand just old fashion police work testing ideas and doing the work. A solid team of detectives doing the graft and the inspirational leader in Dixon to link it altogether.
The star though is the author who is relevant and can tell a good story. However Monty the dog perhaps steals the show.
August 16, 2020
Setting: Somerset, UK. Really loved this latest (for me) in the DI Nick Dixon series and looking forward to reading the rest that I have already waiting on kindle.
Investigating the murder of a Falklands veteran, whose body is found in an old WW2 pillbox on the banks of the Bridgwater and Somerset canal in the depths of winter, Nick and his team must first identify the victim and then discover a motive for this seemingly senseless and motiveless crime. But Nick and his team persevere and eventually manage to tease out motives linking the Falklands War with events in the present day.
I have enjoyed all the books in this series, both for the crime investigations and for the characters themselves and their back stories. This is certainly one of the best so far and I found it really hard to stop reading - 9.5/10.
Investigating the murder of a Falklands veteran, whose body is found in an old WW2 pillbox on the banks of the Bridgwater and Somerset canal in the depths of winter, Nick and his team must first identify the victim and then discover a motive for this seemingly senseless and motiveless crime. But Nick and his team persevere and eventually manage to tease out motives linking the Falklands War with events in the present day.
I have enjoyed all the books in this series, both for the crime investigations and for the characters themselves and their back stories. This is certainly one of the best so far and I found it really hard to stop reading - 9.5/10.
September 23, 2019
2.5*
Really struggled with this as I listened to the audiobook (the only way I consume police procedurals) and to say I didn’t get along with the narrators would be a severe understatement. Unfortunately, this had an adverse impact on my enjoyment of the book. I’ve tried to separate this from my rating as the story was solid.
Really struggled with this as I listened to the audiobook (the only way I consume police procedurals) and to say I didn’t get along with the narrators would be a severe understatement. Unfortunately, this had an adverse impact on my enjoyment of the book. I’ve tried to separate this from my rating as the story was solid.
June 13, 2018
2.5 stars.
Another slow solid read. Strong mystery with a solution that’s not quite so out of left field this time. I continued to love Jane in this one. The romance was slightly more prominent in this one but hardly front and center. A nice police procedural.
Another slow solid read. Strong mystery with a solution that’s not quite so out of left field this time. I continued to love Jane in this one. The romance was slightly more prominent in this one but hardly front and center. A nice police procedural.
May 20, 2020
Excellent novel in the Nick Dixon series. What I loved: the characters, especially the development of Jane; the complex plot and interconnections; the just cause of the lawsuit. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about were all the names, which were hard to keep track of. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book.
November 14, 2022
Have been struggling along with this series. Keep thinking at some point it’s going to get better as others seem to really rate it. But still can’t work out why it gets such gushing reviews.
It wasn’t quite a death sentence reading this, but it definitely felt punishing to read.
For a start, the lead detective DI Nick Dixon seems really unlikeable. He’s boorish, and spends most of his time steam-rollering over his colleagues, witnesses and anyone who dares get in his way.
It’s probably one of the few books where when the “hero” faces off against the villain at the end and is in danger, I was on the side of the villain. That’s how annoying I found the lead character.
It doesn’t help that the writing doesn’t flow well. It’s full of unnecessary detail. Not really interested in what time he eats, or gets home, or the minute detail of how he searches for something online. Maybe this detail was added to pad the book out for word count? But it makes it a grind to get through.
I also didn’t enjoy the dialogue. It sounds so unnatural. Every “interview” is a series of questions and answers, where the detective seems to not hear the answer to the question before.
Is that right? Yes, it is. What about the plot? Very contrived and not all that gripping, to be honest. What about the caving descriptions? That seemed to be there so the author could write about caving, rather than have any real link to what was going on. The killer could have killed that person in a thousand easier ways than they did. Was the ending any good? Not really, parts of it didn’t make sense. Did you like anything? Maybe the setting in the South West of England? That’s about it though.
Sigh.
Plot-wise, it’s functional. A dead body of an ex-soldier turns up that’s linked to events which happened in the Falklands. DI Dixon and team drive around South West England, asking boring questions to witnesses and relatives, and eventually work out who killed the guy, and why.
It’s not the worst I’ve ever read, and I quite like the locations, but it’s below average for books in this genre. Not recommended.
It wasn’t quite a death sentence reading this, but it definitely felt punishing to read.
For a start, the lead detective DI Nick Dixon seems really unlikeable. He’s boorish, and spends most of his time steam-rollering over his colleagues, witnesses and anyone who dares get in his way.
It’s probably one of the few books where when the “hero” faces off against the villain at the end and is in danger, I was on the side of the villain. That’s how annoying I found the lead character.
It doesn’t help that the writing doesn’t flow well. It’s full of unnecessary detail. Not really interested in what time he eats, or gets home, or the minute detail of how he searches for something online. Maybe this detail was added to pad the book out for word count? But it makes it a grind to get through.
I also didn’t enjoy the dialogue. It sounds so unnatural. Every “interview” is a series of questions and answers, where the detective seems to not hear the answer to the question before.
Is that right? Yes, it is. What about the plot? Very contrived and not all that gripping, to be honest. What about the caving descriptions? That seemed to be there so the author could write about caving, rather than have any real link to what was going on. The killer could have killed that person in a thousand easier ways than they did. Was the ending any good? Not really, parts of it didn’t make sense. Did you like anything? Maybe the setting in the South West of England? That’s about it though.
Sigh.
Plot-wise, it’s functional. A dead body of an ex-soldier turns up that’s linked to events which happened in the Falklands. DI Dixon and team drive around South West England, asking boring questions to witnesses and relatives, and eventually work out who killed the guy, and why.
It’s not the worst I’ve ever read, and I quite like the locations, but it’s below average for books in this genre. Not recommended.
October 7, 2017
I've read the six books in this series in order within quiet a short time period, which is unusual for me, but I find them inexplicably compulsive. DI Nick Dixon is clever, determined and resourceful when it comes to solving his cases, although he can be rather arrogant, but it's so refreshing that he's supported by a capable team, sympathetic boss, and plucky girlfriend, rather than the usual Maverick hero fighting the system and his colleagues of so many other police series.
This one has Nick investigating the murder of an elderly man in a pillbox (part of the WW2 defences in Southern England). He discovers links to the Falklands war and a legal battle for compensation of old soldiers. There are no great surprises or twists but I enjoyed observing as he solves the clues and follows his hunches to unravel the mystery. One does have to wonder how one detective in a small town can survive quite so many near death experiences in a short space of time (the series spans about 8 months so far I think) and the plot is starting to follow a bit of a formula, but it's a satisfying one.
This one has Nick investigating the murder of an elderly man in a pillbox (part of the WW2 defences in Southern England). He discovers links to the Falklands war and a legal battle for compensation of old soldiers. There are no great surprises or twists but I enjoyed observing as he solves the clues and follows his hunches to unravel the mystery. One does have to wonder how one detective in a small town can survive quite so many near death experiences in a short space of time (the series spans about 8 months so far I think) and the plot is starting to follow a bit of a formula, but it's a satisfying one.
October 28, 2019
This is the first book in this series I have read - and I chose it for no better reason than knowing the setting for this book, the Taunton to Bridgwater canal, intimately. Inspector Nick Dixon of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary, is alerted to the discovery of a body in one of the Second World War pillboxes beside the canal.
The identity of the body is not that hard to discover, but as to finding the reason he was killed and the perpetrator, there is very little to go on. But the inspector perseveres ...
The book is fast paced, atmospheric, and the protagonist, Nick Dixon, is a credible and engaging character. The atmosphere of the canal and its pillboxes - especially at night - is captured very well. I recommend it and shall look for others.
The identity of the body is not that hard to discover, but as to finding the reason he was killed and the perpetrator, there is very little to go on. But the inspector perseveres ...
The book is fast paced, atmospheric, and the protagonist, Nick Dixon, is a credible and engaging character. The atmosphere of the canal and its pillboxes - especially at night - is captured very well. I recommend it and shall look for others.
January 11, 2020
Getting somewhat bored
Obviously, this is the sixth of the series I have read and nothing seems to be moving on, not in Nick's private life, nor the actual storylines. Nick still walks his dog, goes to the pub, has a curry, kisses his girlfriend and takes his Diabetes doses each day and at the end of the book almost ends up dead, gosh if this happened to every policeman on the force, we would have none left!! Same old, same old
Obviously, this is the sixth of the series I have read and nothing seems to be moving on, not in Nick's private life, nor the actual storylines. Nick still walks his dog, goes to the pub, has a curry, kisses his girlfriend and takes his Diabetes doses each day and at the end of the book almost ends up dead, gosh if this happened to every policeman on the force, we would have none left!! Same old, same old
June 23, 2019
I had read a previous 'Nick Dixon' book but I forgot how excellent this series is. My bad! Death Sentence has Detective Inspector Nick Dixon on the trail of a killer who appears to have been motivated by events from a distant past. Damien Boyd was an attorney in the past so his character Nick Dixon is also an attorney who became a successful police detective. Boyd has an excellent writing style - Dixon described an old computer printer that he's stuck with as a "pensionable printer". Anyone who writes like that has my vote! The story moves quickly and there are many clues to follow. You get to see Dixon in action while he leads his investigative staff through some harrowing events. The main character rolls up his sleeves and takes the lion share of risk. Dixon is no slouch when it comes to risky moves. It's how he fits the pieces together. Two thumbs up!
September 9, 2021
Nick Dixon the experienced rock climber is underground in this book as he is introduced to caving. A woman drowns in an area which is usually quite safe. There are several other accidental deaths, apparently unrelated until, of course, Nick works out the common denominator. Unfortunately, despite his best efforts there are more killings before the perpetrator is found. As often happens, if I the route of the problem goes back decades to a group of comrades asked to undertake a dangerous job. Only years later was it discovered how dangerous that task had been.
December 5, 2023
DI Nick Dixon #6
Death Sentence
It's been a while since i started this series and and I though it was about time to catch up.
This is the 6th book in the DI Nick Dixon series.
A good solid read. A thriller to get you hooked and turning those pages.
Good believable characters, I really do like the character of Nick Dixon.
This book is filled with tension, thrills along with some great facts as the story progresses you are dragged in deeper and deeper. I look forward to starting book 7 which is Heads or Tails.
Death Sentence
It's been a while since i started this series and and I though it was about time to catch up.
This is the 6th book in the DI Nick Dixon series.
A good solid read. A thriller to get you hooked and turning those pages.
Good believable characters, I really do like the character of Nick Dixon.
This book is filled with tension, thrills along with some great facts as the story progresses you are dragged in deeper and deeper. I look forward to starting book 7 which is Heads or Tails.
January 6, 2025
Nick Dixon and Jane Winter, now promoted to Sergeant, have been separated at work, with Jane sent to the Child Protection unit and is on a course looking at abuse crimes and the internet. Meanwhile, Nick is put onto a case of a body discovered in an ex World War 2 pillbox. The man's hands have been cable-tied behind his back. Soon he is off onto the killer's trail which leads him to some former Falkland War marines and a debilitating issue of asbestos. We have it all here, murders, heroes, illegal workers and law firms on the edge. Oh! and there are the caves. 4 stars.
October 17, 2016
Somehow a police procedural always seems to work better set in the British Isles. The plot unfolds with more twists than a pretzel, and the richness of the characters keeps the suspense level and interest high. The prologue sets the stage with a possible murder deep underground, and doesn't tie in until much later in the book. Many elements of human nature, both good and bad are on display. DI Dixon displays an amazing ability to glean the clues and create a theory of the crimes as a series of possibly related murders take place. The plodding nature of the investigation could quickly become boring, but is supplemented with interest items and subplots to keep the reader fully engaged. Another great book in the Nick Dixon series.
July 17, 2017
The sixth outing for DT Nick Dixon and his team, plus DS Jane Winters and the wonderful Monty. This one covers Falklands veterans, legal wrangling over medical claims and caving; and as always, Boyd's detailed research is evident. Another easy read, most enjoyable. I look forward to further books in the series.
August 12, 2018
Another great read
Just gets better and better, great plots, tension, atmosphere and great locations. Hope that there will be many more in the series.
Just gets better and better, great plots, tension, atmosphere and great locations. Hope that there will be many more in the series.
January 10, 2021
I liked this one. It was a guess until the end. All the connections didnt start adding up until about 5 chapters before it finished.
March 25, 2025
Harmless nonsense
July 9, 2021
Good as always
This starts slow and is a bit dull, but I love Nick Dixon, Jane and Monty so kept going. And then it takes off! And I was racing through the book. Def not one to give up on.
This starts slow and is a bit dull, but I love Nick Dixon, Jane and Monty so kept going. And then it takes off! And I was racing through the book. Def not one to give up on.
October 7, 2016
I have read and enjoyed all of this series. As with all series books, it is always best to start from book one and read in order as you really do miss out on character development if you don't. As I keep saying, this is one of my favourite series, one I do keep a close eye on for a new book release so I can once more delve into the characters' world. Unlike other series I follow, not only have I seen the characters develop, I have also seen the author himself mature as a writer. Any qualms and niggle I had in early books have now been completely obliterated in this latest offering. One I totally immersed myself in and which kept my attention solidly throughout the time I was reading.
So, we have the body of an old man in a pill-box. As usual, we find DI Nick Dixon going that extra few yards to get to the bottom of who and why. Discovering that the victim was an ex-soldier, Dixon is forced to examine his army career and what he discovers there leads him to what turns out to be a long story that many would want to remain hidden. As the bodies start to pile up, can Dixon get to the bottom of things or will the vital secrets people are keeping prevent him from uncovering the truth.
As with some of the previous books in this series, there is a bit of a real life story of injustice to be told within the pages of this fiction. It is not hammered home or preachy in any way, and I suspect that I only really noticed because I follow this series avidly. It does show that the author has done his research well and I have to admit to googling some stuff after finishing the book, something I don't often do.
One thing I did like about this book was that it was mostly all about Nick as opposed to being about Nick and Jane. This was one of my early reservations about this series and, although she is an integral character to Nick's life, she takes a bit of a back seat in the main crime story. I do wonder though, with the direction her job is going, will we be seeing her in her own spin off series or stand alone in the not too distant future. I'd definitely be up for that!
When it all comes down to it, yes, it's your bulk standard police procedural series. But, that said, it is a very good example of one. With so many out there, you need something to get the edge over the others and I think that this author has managed to do that successfully. Whether it's the lead character himself, his methods, the cases he has to solve, even if it's just the fact that he dotes on his dog something sets this series apart from the rest. Something that will have me waiting for book 7 with baited breath.
My thanks go to NetGalley and the Publisher for the chance to read an advance copy of this book.
So, we have the body of an old man in a pill-box. As usual, we find DI Nick Dixon going that extra few yards to get to the bottom of who and why. Discovering that the victim was an ex-soldier, Dixon is forced to examine his army career and what he discovers there leads him to what turns out to be a long story that many would want to remain hidden. As the bodies start to pile up, can Dixon get to the bottom of things or will the vital secrets people are keeping prevent him from uncovering the truth.
As with some of the previous books in this series, there is a bit of a real life story of injustice to be told within the pages of this fiction. It is not hammered home or preachy in any way, and I suspect that I only really noticed because I follow this series avidly. It does show that the author has done his research well and I have to admit to googling some stuff after finishing the book, something I don't often do.
One thing I did like about this book was that it was mostly all about Nick as opposed to being about Nick and Jane. This was one of my early reservations about this series and, although she is an integral character to Nick's life, she takes a bit of a back seat in the main crime story. I do wonder though, with the direction her job is going, will we be seeing her in her own spin off series or stand alone in the not too distant future. I'd definitely be up for that!
When it all comes down to it, yes, it's your bulk standard police procedural series. But, that said, it is a very good example of one. With so many out there, you need something to get the edge over the others and I think that this author has managed to do that successfully. Whether it's the lead character himself, his methods, the cases he has to solve, even if it's just the fact that he dotes on his dog something sets this series apart from the rest. Something that will have me waiting for book 7 with baited breath.
My thanks go to NetGalley and the Publisher for the chance to read an advance copy of this book.
October 7, 2016
“It wasn’t an order…………It was a …. a f…ing death sentence.”
When the body of an elderly man is found in an abandoned WW2 pillbox, DI Nick Dixon and his team are confounded as to the reason for the murder. As Dixon starts digging around he finds that the causes date back over 30 years to events that took place more than 3,500 miles away.
I must confess that it was with some deal of pleasure that I commenced reading this, the 6th in the DI Nick Dixon series. I have had the privilege of reading all of Damian Boyd’s DI Nick Dixon books and it has been heart-warming to see not only Nick mature as a copper- whilst still retaining that edge of bloody-mindedness – but also Damian mature as a writer. Like a spider spinning the threads of his web, Damian Boyd weaves his plot, so that very quickly the reader is totally enmeshed in the book.
Damian uses his knowledge of the law and his time with the CPS to once again create a plausible yet tight plot, and the amount of time put into the research necessary for a book of this quality has clearly paid off. As well as the central character, we have all the usual supporting cast, including the newly-promoted DS Jane Winter, pathologist Roger Poland and Dixon’s immediate superior DCI Lewis. The manner in which the layers of the plot are peeled back is both masterly and creative. Many false turns are taken but we know that in the end, Nick will get there.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book and would like to thank Damian Boyd for yet another great crime thriller.
Look out Peter James and DCI Roy Grace, Damian Boyd and DI Nick Dixon are right on your tail!
Smeagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book directly from the author to review.
When the body of an elderly man is found in an abandoned WW2 pillbox, DI Nick Dixon and his team are confounded as to the reason for the murder. As Dixon starts digging around he finds that the causes date back over 30 years to events that took place more than 3,500 miles away.
I must confess that it was with some deal of pleasure that I commenced reading this, the 6th in the DI Nick Dixon series. I have had the privilege of reading all of Damian Boyd’s DI Nick Dixon books and it has been heart-warming to see not only Nick mature as a copper- whilst still retaining that edge of bloody-mindedness – but also Damian mature as a writer. Like a spider spinning the threads of his web, Damian Boyd weaves his plot, so that very quickly the reader is totally enmeshed in the book.
Damian uses his knowledge of the law and his time with the CPS to once again create a plausible yet tight plot, and the amount of time put into the research necessary for a book of this quality has clearly paid off. As well as the central character, we have all the usual supporting cast, including the newly-promoted DS Jane Winter, pathologist Roger Poland and Dixon’s immediate superior DCI Lewis. The manner in which the layers of the plot are peeled back is both masterly and creative. Many false turns are taken but we know that in the end, Nick will get there.
I have no hesitation in recommending this book and would like to thank Damian Boyd for yet another great crime thriller.
Look out Peter James and DCI Roy Grace, Damian Boyd and DI Nick Dixon are right on your tail!
Smeagol
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book directly from the author to review.
October 12, 2016
Having read all of the previous 5 DI Nick Dixon stories.
Will Damien Boyd be able to find yet another case for him to investigate? The result is a resounding 'yes'. I like the fact that in this complex police procedural novel, DI Nixon and the team venture further afield than Somerset.
If you like this genre and are looking for a well-researched novel with a range of UK based geographical locations, I think you will enjoy this book.
Boyd draws heavily upon his experience of the legal profession in this pacey crime thriller.
Right from the start with an extremely well-written and hauntingly claustrophobic prologue, I was drawn into this story.
The crafting of the developing enquiry provides a fast paced narrative which kept me engaged.
One, Two, Three, four…Can they all be victims of the same enquiry?
Who knows?
You have to read right to the end to find out!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Thomas and Mercer for a copy in exchange for this honest review.
Will Damien Boyd be able to find yet another case for him to investigate? The result is a resounding 'yes'. I like the fact that in this complex police procedural novel, DI Nixon and the team venture further afield than Somerset.
If you like this genre and are looking for a well-researched novel with a range of UK based geographical locations, I think you will enjoy this book.
Boyd draws heavily upon his experience of the legal profession in this pacey crime thriller.
Right from the start with an extremely well-written and hauntingly claustrophobic prologue, I was drawn into this story.
The crafting of the developing enquiry provides a fast paced narrative which kept me engaged.
One, Two, Three, four…Can they all be victims of the same enquiry?
Who knows?
You have to read right to the end to find out!
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Thomas and Mercer for a copy in exchange for this honest review.
July 5, 2018
A rude arrogant and unbelievable detective.
Found the main character's attitude annoying and too many things missed, more research needed into legal position on mesothelioma as some inaccuracies.
Found the main character's attitude annoying and too many things missed, more research needed into legal position on mesothelioma as some inaccuracies.
June 18, 2020
Ok
I found this book pretty hard to get into, I’m not sure why. I loved the others and read them within a few days but I found this one different. I still love the underlying story line though and will still go on to read the others in the series.
I found this book pretty hard to get into, I’m not sure why. I loved the others and read them within a few days but I found this one different. I still love the underlying story line though and will still go on to read the others in the series.
November 27, 2019
I am claustrophobic so the prologue to death sentence had me hyperventilating in seconds. A woman is on a date in a cave. Her date encourages her to slither and crawl over rocks and through narrow passageways. She is reluctant but game until they come to the sump. This will be a crawl through an underground passageway seven feet long. Her courage fails her. Her date shows her how easy it’s going to be with a demonstration and he goes ahead to pull her through. She screws up her courage and starts the crawl. Suddenly she’s stuck. She can’t go forwards and she realises she can’t move backwards either. She drowns. It’s over half the book before we find out the significance of this death.
Meanwhile Nick is called out to a suspicious death in an old army pill box by a canal. The elderly man has his hands and feet tied and a mysterious brown powder around his nose and mouth. He will have to do without Jane’s help on this one. She’s been promoted to DS and is about to start training for the Child Protection Unit. This left a vacancy for a DC and Louise has been promoted from uniform.
It turns out the dead man, Alan Fletcher, had a heart attack and that’s the cause of death but, of course, this was brought on by the stress of being attacked. There is nothing to identify the man but the team strike lucky when a local woman reports her concern about an elderly neighbour left on her own by her son, who appears to have gone missing. The description of the missing son matches the body. When Nick goes into the house of the elderly lady, she is dead upstairs in bed. Her doctor is confident that she will have died from natural causes as she was on borrowed time anyway.
Digging in to the background of Alan Fletcher reveals a very sad story. He was a career officer destined for high rank until his stint in the Falklands War. His career derailed after that point and he acquired a drinking habit. After leaving the army, a series of failed businesses followed along with the breakdown of his marriage. He had returned to the family home to look after his mother. Nick starts with the immediate family, trying to work out who would benefit from his death. Although there was no love lost between Alan and his sister or his estranged wife, Nick doesn’t think they are involved. Then he turns to the failed businesses but they prove to be a dead end too. Eventually, Nick turns his attention to the Falklands War and to finding out exactly why it suddenly all went wrong for Alan Fletcher. This is not easy because no one wants to talk: the regiment comes first. However, Nick shows his usual doggedness and eventually a story, and possible motives, starts to appear. From no suspects, there’s now so many suspects that the team is completely bogged down in paperwork. This wouldn’t be so bad but more dead bodies start appearing. Can Nick work out who’s responsible and stop them before the body count starts to rise even further. Will that body count include Nick himself?
Meanwhile Nick is called out to a suspicious death in an old army pill box by a canal. The elderly man has his hands and feet tied and a mysterious brown powder around his nose and mouth. He will have to do without Jane’s help on this one. She’s been promoted to DS and is about to start training for the Child Protection Unit. This left a vacancy for a DC and Louise has been promoted from uniform.
It turns out the dead man, Alan Fletcher, had a heart attack and that’s the cause of death but, of course, this was brought on by the stress of being attacked. There is nothing to identify the man but the team strike lucky when a local woman reports her concern about an elderly neighbour left on her own by her son, who appears to have gone missing. The description of the missing son matches the body. When Nick goes into the house of the elderly lady, she is dead upstairs in bed. Her doctor is confident that she will have died from natural causes as she was on borrowed time anyway.
Digging in to the background of Alan Fletcher reveals a very sad story. He was a career officer destined for high rank until his stint in the Falklands War. His career derailed after that point and he acquired a drinking habit. After leaving the army, a series of failed businesses followed along with the breakdown of his marriage. He had returned to the family home to look after his mother. Nick starts with the immediate family, trying to work out who would benefit from his death. Although there was no love lost between Alan and his sister or his estranged wife, Nick doesn’t think they are involved. Then he turns to the failed businesses but they prove to be a dead end too. Eventually, Nick turns his attention to the Falklands War and to finding out exactly why it suddenly all went wrong for Alan Fletcher. This is not easy because no one wants to talk: the regiment comes first. However, Nick shows his usual doggedness and eventually a story, and possible motives, starts to appear. From no suspects, there’s now so many suspects that the team is completely bogged down in paperwork. This wouldn’t be so bad but more dead bodies start appearing. Can Nick work out who’s responsible and stop them before the body count starts to rise even further. Will that body count include Nick himself?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2022
When the body of a Veteran is found in a World War Two pillbox DI Nick Dixon at first struggles to find any kind of motive that makes sense. But as he and his team peel back the layers the military cover-up and resounding silence that meets them leads Dixon into very dangerous territory.
I have been enjoying this series and really enjoyed this newest addition. I was very pleased that the author kept a series of strong and believable links between what happened in the past and how it was relevant and still effecting people in the present – I feel this kept the book from dwelling too hard on the history and kept it modern and far more relatable.
I also really appreciated how – tempting though it might have been for the author – the story didn’t have many flashbacks to the past. This also really helped me feel like the story was centered and rooted in the present and I was very happy with this. One slight critique would be that there is a short opening scene at the start of the book set in some underground caves and while I thoroughly enjoyed this scene is it not referenced or linked in any way to the rest of the book until well after the halfway mark of the story. Indeed, around the halfway mark I went back to that opening scene and reread it to make sure I hadn’t missed anything as I could not see at all how it related to the rest of the book. It felt like an incredibly long time to not know how it fit in and I really wonder if it needed to be the opening scene – well written and attention grabbing as it was – or if it would have been better served later on in the story.
That said I really enjoyed this British police procedural style of story. I definitely feel readers can pick it up and enjoy it even though it’s part of a series. While some of the secondary characters feel a little thin – more of a support than a standout character – DI Dixon and the main characters are strongly written, and I found thoroughly enjoyable.
I have been enjoying this series and really enjoyed this newest addition. I was very pleased that the author kept a series of strong and believable links between what happened in the past and how it was relevant and still effecting people in the present – I feel this kept the book from dwelling too hard on the history and kept it modern and far more relatable.
I also really appreciated how – tempting though it might have been for the author – the story didn’t have many flashbacks to the past. This also really helped me feel like the story was centered and rooted in the present and I was very happy with this. One slight critique would be that there is a short opening scene at the start of the book set in some underground caves and while I thoroughly enjoyed this scene is it not referenced or linked in any way to the rest of the book until well after the halfway mark of the story. Indeed, around the halfway mark I went back to that opening scene and reread it to make sure I hadn’t missed anything as I could not see at all how it related to the rest of the book. It felt like an incredibly long time to not know how it fit in and I really wonder if it needed to be the opening scene – well written and attention grabbing as it was – or if it would have been better served later on in the story.
That said I really enjoyed this British police procedural style of story. I definitely feel readers can pick it up and enjoy it even though it’s part of a series. While some of the secondary characters feel a little thin – more of a support than a standout character – DI Dixon and the main characters are strongly written, and I found thoroughly enjoyable.
June 12, 2025
this is a good series by Damien Boyd, his main character Detective Inspector Nick Dixon who is living with a fellow police officer Jane, and his dog Monty who travels it seems everywhere in the back of his ancient landrover. Nick is called out to look at a body of a fairly well dressed man lying amongst human waste in the doorway of a World War II pillbox, these were cement and brick built boxes for soldiers or even non-soldiers to sit in and man with weaponry to scan the horizons looking for the enemy on british shores during war times.
This man turns out to be a veteran of the Falklands War and in investigating his death they discover he is involved with the MOD (ministry of defence) who are looking at claims for now I can't spell it, but a type of absestos which fills up your lungs and rots them, there is no real cure. In fact he is regarded as a "bad man" by his fellow soldiers as he made the men on the Falklands islands take down the asbestos riddled buildings, without any protective clothing at all, and ship them back to england where they were stored in a unit on an army base. There were a lot of men holding him to account for their medical condition.
Amidst all this Nick discovers that anyone involved in trying to stop this going through the courts shortly, has been murdered. Someone doesn't want the court case delayed. So we have the dead man in the pillbox, a young woman killed in a caving incident, a man thrown under a train and I can't remember who the others were now. However Nick is deep diving into this and not letting go even as his own life is in extreme danger right at the end of the book. Fret not there are more books after that so he lived to tell the tale. And his dog is ok.
And his girlfriend Jane who is adopted and trying to get in touch with her birth mother. This will no doubt be running through the next book.
This man turns out to be a veteran of the Falklands War and in investigating his death they discover he is involved with the MOD (ministry of defence) who are looking at claims for now I can't spell it, but a type of absestos which fills up your lungs and rots them, there is no real cure. In fact he is regarded as a "bad man" by his fellow soldiers as he made the men on the Falklands islands take down the asbestos riddled buildings, without any protective clothing at all, and ship them back to england where they were stored in a unit on an army base. There were a lot of men holding him to account for their medical condition.
Amidst all this Nick discovers that anyone involved in trying to stop this going through the courts shortly, has been murdered. Someone doesn't want the court case delayed. So we have the dead man in the pillbox, a young woman killed in a caving incident, a man thrown under a train and I can't remember who the others were now. However Nick is deep diving into this and not letting go even as his own life is in extreme danger right at the end of the book. Fret not there are more books after that so he lived to tell the tale. And his dog is ok.
And his girlfriend Jane who is adopted and trying to get in touch with her birth mother. This will no doubt be running through the next book.
May 26, 2019
Death Sentence (DI Nick Dixon Crime Book 6)
By: Damien Boyd
5 out of 5 stars
The story Death Sentence (DI Nick Dixon Crime Book 6) by Damien Boyd is a thrilling mystery book. It is a book that kept me turning pages wondering what was going to happen next. It had me on the edge of my seat and trying to put together the clues right along with Dixon to find who was responsible. It was like trying to put together a puzzle. I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the final page. I love reading about the character of DI Nick Dixon. Once he starts his investigation there is no letting go until he finds the truth and justice. With determination, he pushes forward even when the motive and suspects are not immediately clear. This case starts with the killing of an elderly man who was found in an abandoned World War Two pillbox. The investigation turns to the man’s past and Dixon starts to uncover a conspiracy and cover-up. If he digs deep enough will it lead him to the killer? Will there be justice for the victim? How much danger is Dixon in and how far with some go to keep him from finding the truth? Read this book to find out. This book is fast paced and keeps you guessing. The suspense is high, and I had to remind myself to breathe. There are also other additional characters that you are introduced to. Some of them help Dixon and others are only there to look out for themselves. I enjoyed reading about the interactions the additional characters and Dixon have. This is a thrilling story that I would highly recommend reading.
By: Damien Boyd
5 out of 5 stars
The story Death Sentence (DI Nick Dixon Crime Book 6) by Damien Boyd is a thrilling mystery book. It is a book that kept me turning pages wondering what was going to happen next. It had me on the edge of my seat and trying to put together the clues right along with Dixon to find who was responsible. It was like trying to put together a puzzle. I didn’t want to put it down until I had read the final page. I love reading about the character of DI Nick Dixon. Once he starts his investigation there is no letting go until he finds the truth and justice. With determination, he pushes forward even when the motive and suspects are not immediately clear. This case starts with the killing of an elderly man who was found in an abandoned World War Two pillbox. The investigation turns to the man’s past and Dixon starts to uncover a conspiracy and cover-up. If he digs deep enough will it lead him to the killer? Will there be justice for the victim? How much danger is Dixon in and how far with some go to keep him from finding the truth? Read this book to find out. This book is fast paced and keeps you guessing. The suspense is high, and I had to remind myself to breathe. There are also other additional characters that you are introduced to. Some of them help Dixon and others are only there to look out for themselves. I enjoyed reading about the interactions the additional characters and Dixon have. This is a thrilling story that I would highly recommend reading.
May 24, 2024
Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this book anywhere near as much as the others so far in the series. Admittedly, I found it more enjoyable as the story developed but even so I was reading it to get to the end rather than because I was loving the story.
I lot of the technical jargon went over my head which of course can't be pointed out as a fault of the book but did make it personally less enjoyable for me. I should also add that I am very impressed with the amount of research and effort that has gone I to writing this book, which is something I have noticed throigiut the series so far.
I also found the amount of different characters, who were newly introduced throughout the book, difficult to keep up with.
It massively stood out to me in this book just how cold and practical nick and Jane's relationship is portrayed as. I can understand this is a crime novel and not a romance novel but it seems odd and almost pointless to me to add a romance storyline which actually involves little to no romance. Jane and Nick purely talk about work and in the previous books where they worked on cases together this worked but for me in this book it was an unnecessary addition. To add to this, they appear to drink every night which for some reason started to wind me up, it adds nothing to the story other than reinforcing the fact Nick and Jane don't appear to have a relationship beyond work. I'm unsure why the author felt it was necessary to paint this image of alcoholism without addressing it.
I lot of the technical jargon went over my head which of course can't be pointed out as a fault of the book but did make it personally less enjoyable for me. I should also add that I am very impressed with the amount of research and effort that has gone I to writing this book, which is something I have noticed throigiut the series so far.
I also found the amount of different characters, who were newly introduced throughout the book, difficult to keep up with.
It massively stood out to me in this book just how cold and practical nick and Jane's relationship is portrayed as. I can understand this is a crime novel and not a romance novel but it seems odd and almost pointless to me to add a romance storyline which actually involves little to no romance. Jane and Nick purely talk about work and in the previous books where they worked on cases together this worked but for me in this book it was an unnecessary addition. To add to this, they appear to drink every night which for some reason started to wind me up, it adds nothing to the story other than reinforcing the fact Nick and Jane don't appear to have a relationship beyond work. I'm unsure why the author felt it was necessary to paint this image of alcoholism without addressing it.
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