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DCI John Blizzard #8
The Latch Man
No one sees him come or go, but they all know he’s been
Doris Hornsby, the bed-bound matriarch of a notorious criminal family , calls in the police after she sees an intruder in her room.
DCI Blizzard attends in person, bemused that a woman who has spent her life evading the law , now seeks its protection.
Meeting the tough old bird, he senses a genuine fear . But if suspicions that the unwelcome guest was the infamous Latch Man are true, that fear should be allayed. A ‘gentleman thief’, he has never harmed a soul.
But when the woman is later found to have died, DCI John Blizzard senses something is afoot . Dismissing the doctor’s summary conclusion of natural causes, he determines to investigate further.
What he discovers will shake the community to its core , scaring criminals and law-abiding folk alike. If it is true The Latch Man has returned, that is only part of the puzzle.
Rivalries that have been simmering for years have come to the fore, and Blizzard must stop the case from snowballing into further tragedy .
Can Blizzard discover The Latch Man’s identity , and can he collar him for the crime?
THE LATCH MAN is the eighth standalone title in a series of murder mysteries set in the fictional city of Hafton in northern England. It can be enjoyed on its own or alongside the other books in the series.
Doris Hornsby, the bed-bound matriarch of a notorious criminal family , calls in the police after she sees an intruder in her room.
DCI Blizzard attends in person, bemused that a woman who has spent her life evading the law , now seeks its protection.
Meeting the tough old bird, he senses a genuine fear . But if suspicions that the unwelcome guest was the infamous Latch Man are true, that fear should be allayed. A ‘gentleman thief’, he has never harmed a soul.
But when the woman is later found to have died, DCI John Blizzard senses something is afoot . Dismissing the doctor’s summary conclusion of natural causes, he determines to investigate further.
What he discovers will shake the community to its core , scaring criminals and law-abiding folk alike. If it is true The Latch Man has returned, that is only part of the puzzle.
Rivalries that have been simmering for years have come to the fore, and Blizzard must stop the case from snowballing into further tragedy .
Can Blizzard discover The Latch Man’s identity , and can he collar him for the crime?
THE LATCH MAN is the eighth standalone title in a series of murder mysteries set in the fictional city of Hafton in northern England. It can be enjoyed on its own or alongside the other books in the series.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2006
385 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
John Dean
133 books82 followersJohn Dean is a freelance journalist who has runs his own business and draws heavily on his years as a crime reporter for newspapers and magazines to create his novels.
He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and cites Sherlock Holmes as his all-time favorite detective. He lives in the South West of Scotland.
(Also writes under the pseudonym John Stanley)
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and cites Sherlock Holmes as his all-time favorite detective. He lives in the South West of Scotland.
(Also writes under the pseudonym John Stanley)
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
April 24, 2022
A Scottish Crime writer, Dean has written several murder stories. The Latch Man was a quick easy read, 2 families intertwined in so many ways. A good crime fiction if you like that genre.
April 13, 2022
This was my first book by this author, and I did wonder if the lead character "Blizzard" would turn out to be an imitation of "Jack Frost". But no, he's nothing like Jack F.
I enjoyed the story, well told and with good pace. Just for a change the police characters are not all difficult individuals who don't get on but instead get stuck into good detecting.
And now I need to read some more from the author!
I enjoyed the story, well told and with good pace. Just for a change the police characters are not all difficult individuals who don't get on but instead get stuck into good detecting.
And now I need to read some more from the author!
June 17, 2020
Loved it!
I enjoyed this DCI Blizzard book. He’s one of my favorite detectives. The characters are very well written and the story moved along well. I didn’t have this one worked out but I was close! I highly recommend this author. It’s kind of distracting to read with the lack of contractions but that’s my only complaint.
I enjoyed this DCI Blizzard book. He’s one of my favorite detectives. The characters are very well written and the story moved along well. I didn’t have this one worked out but I was close! I highly recommend this author. It’s kind of distracting to read with the lack of contractions but that’s my only complaint.
June 15, 2020
Another great story
Another great story by John Dean featuring DCI Blizzard and his team.I have read all the books in this series and they just keep getting better. Great story lines with great characters and good endings.
Another great story by John Dean featuring DCI Blizzard and his team.I have read all the books in this series and they just keep getting better. Great story lines with great characters and good endings.
September 12, 2025
Great Series
Detective John Blizzard is Back in His 8th Book and it is every Bit as Good as the ones Before it . Looking forward to reading No.9
Detective John Blizzard is Back in His 8th Book and it is every Bit as Good as the ones Before it . Looking forward to reading No.9
June 9, 2020
Another good one
Have read both the John Blizzard and Jack Harris series of books by John Dean and enjoy them immensely. Looking forward to the next one.
Have read both the John Blizzard and Jack Harris series of books by John Dean and enjoy them immensely. Looking forward to the next one.
June 24, 2020
From the title right through to the last page, this is a terrific tale. A complex web woven around a criminal family wreaks havoc in the north of England town. Old ladies are dying - but is it murder or just old age that is killing them?
DCI Blizzard goes against the instincts of his boss and old time friend, and follows his instincts which prove correct in the end. Blizzards new protege proves her worth when things get tough too.
This is a really engaging read and will keep you turning the pages well into the night. And if you hear a strange noise downstairs - be careful - it could be The Latch Man!
DCI Blizzard goes against the instincts of his boss and old time friend, and follows his instincts which prove correct in the end. Blizzards new protege proves her worth when things get tough too.
This is a really engaging read and will keep you turning the pages well into the night. And if you hear a strange noise downstairs - be careful - it could be The Latch Man!
March 27, 2022
Great read several themes evolved in the story line all unraveled very nicely.
Great British cops and robbers evolved into three separate conclusions but not all at once. Only several characters to keep track of several it turns out are related. I enjoyed the story ending since it hadn't happened abruptly as happens in many instances.
Great British cops and robbers evolved into three separate conclusions but not all at once. Only several characters to keep track of several it turns out are related. I enjoyed the story ending since it hadn't happened abruptly as happens in many instances.
February 27, 2021
Another dependable read from John Dean
Another excellent read from John Dean. The author keeps you guessing until the last chapter. I recommend all of John Dean' books.
Another excellent read from John Dean. The author keeps you guessing until the last chapter. I recommend all of John Dean' books.
May 31, 2021
Really enjoyed this book as I have the rest of the series. Love the characters and the story.
March 19, 2022
I like Blizzard
Good east read. Interesting story with some twists I didn't see coming. Looking forward to the next one, always a fun read.
Good east read. Interesting story with some twists I didn't see coming. Looking forward to the next one, always a fun read.
April 6, 2022
trying to do a bit of research to see if i have read anything from John Dean before?? i see this is book #8. i do believe it was free (looked on Bookbub and grabbed the kindle version) great read. take that part back ...i won it in a giveaway through Goodreads. see research. all good. giveaway there. so would recommend looking at Bookbub for free or lower priced reads. if like me u r no longer using Kindle Unlimited. but if you have KU this book is in KU. like always, sometimes u gotta be a broken record, i love thriller ...now i don't wanna wish to read them daily but i do it often. John's face looks familiar. i think?? if you enjoy that kind of fast paced read u will enjoy seeing where this one goes???!
July 3, 2023
I wasn't a big fan of this one. It was rather slow, with the plot dragging a bit. It's part of a series but supposedly a stand-alone book, though I don't know if that worked in its favor. It did give enough(ish) information on various characters’ backstories (the ones who seemed to be characters from the series, not just this particular book) that I didn't really feel I was missing out by not reading the previous books. However, I do wonder if I would have enjoyed the book more as a series reader instead of just reading this book since I didn't really have any reason to care for any of the characters as I was reading, whether they were from previous books or not.
June 21, 2024
A good result... the door closing finally
The door left on the latch is just the starting point for a huge and complex tale of deceit, murder and mayhem at Abbey Road Police Office. Blizzard at his best, doubting even his own tried and tested gut feeling leads us to a certain degree of doubts right to the last page, where his love of his new family is once again, at last, put first over the dirty and perhaps even in-house shady past. Different times indeed. A continuation of a fine up north detective series, well worth the read.
The door left on the latch is just the starting point for a huge and complex tale of deceit, murder and mayhem at Abbey Road Police Office. Blizzard at his best, doubting even his own tried and tested gut feeling leads us to a certain degree of doubts right to the last page, where his love of his new family is once again, at last, put first over the dirty and perhaps even in-house shady past. Different times indeed. A continuation of a fine up north detective series, well worth the read.
June 5, 2023
I like the straightforward police procedural format of this book. I like the interplay among the police officers, especially John Blizzard and his subordinates. Yes, if I stop to think about it, Hafton seems riddled by organized crime, and they can't be outwitted. But some of them can be stopped, and the mystery develops at a good pace. Plus these books are short! Why take more pages than are necessary?
August 8, 2025
I like this series.
Something about John Blizzard with his attitude to senior officers, except for Arnold. But he gets the job done even when he had little time for authority.
John moaning about having to do paperwork as things are a bit quiet sparks everything off. The death of an old dear with criminal connections gets everyone motivated. Plenty of twists and turns in this crime thriller.
Something about John Blizzard with his attitude to senior officers, except for Arnold. But he gets the job done even when he had little time for authority.
John moaning about having to do paperwork as things are a bit quiet sparks everything off. The death of an old dear with criminal connections gets everyone motivated. Plenty of twists and turns in this crime thriller.
May 2, 2022
very good
This book, though not a long one, I read it in a few hours, has a very good plot, with multiple villains that may surprise you when you read it. It’s written in an easy to read manner and is fast paced.
It’s clean apart from one outburst of blasphemy.
No crudeness or swearing.
It’s a very good tale of policing and locking up the long thought dead.
This book, though not a long one, I read it in a few hours, has a very good plot, with multiple villains that may surprise you when you read it. It’s written in an easy to read manner and is fast paced.
It’s clean apart from one outburst of blasphemy.
No crudeness or swearing.
It’s a very good tale of policing and locking up the long thought dead.
June 18, 2020
The latch man comes and goes and rarely leaves a trace. A gentleman burglar. So why is he now being feared as a murderer. The police are struggling to grasp quite what they are dealing with in this gripping murder mystery.
June 20, 2020
Another great DCI Blizzard book.
John Dean never disappoints. The John Blizzard series and the Jack Harris series are excellent. Dry wit by both Inspectors make them likable and unique characters. The plots are complex and the supporting cast is well developed.
John Dean never disappoints. The John Blizzard series and the Jack Harris series are excellent. Dry wit by both Inspectors make them likable and unique characters. The plots are complex and the supporting cast is well developed.
September 8, 2020
One more for DCI Blizzard
Many old threads are finally woven together and tied off as longstanding mysteries come to a head with the deaths of two elderly widows - both with ties to decades-old criminal enterprises. But do their deaths have anything to do with their pasts?
Many old threads are finally woven together and tied off as longstanding mysteries come to a head with the deaths of two elderly widows - both with ties to decades-old criminal enterprises. But do their deaths have anything to do with their pasts?
March 28, 2022
Really good detective story with characters you are involved with. DCI John Blizzard and his crew, they should have a heroic name like Blizzard and the Tornado crew clearing up crooks and solving crimes. Thoroughly engrossing and well worth the read.
March 30, 2022
Occasionally you come across a hidden gem amongst Amazon’s free kindle books.
This isn’t it, it’s free for a reason.
Poorly written with changing facts, it tries to be a 1930s gumshoe style police story, but is just difficult to read.
This isn’t it, it’s free for a reason.
Poorly written with changing facts, it tries to be a 1930s gumshoe style police story, but is just difficult to read.
June 4, 2022
3 1/2*stars RALLY.
SO MANY VILLIANS IT GOT KINDA CONFUSING AT THE END. I HAD MIXED EMOTIONS I FELT BAD FOR SOME OF THEM. SINS OF THE FATHER STUFF (not fair). I WAS HAPPY WITH THE ENDING FEE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE SCORE CARD IN THE BACK. ;D
SO MANY VILLIANS IT GOT KINDA CONFUSING AT THE END. I HAD MIXED EMOTIONS I FELT BAD FOR SOME OF THEM. SINS OF THE FATHER STUFF (not fair). I WAS HAPPY WITH THE ENDING FEE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE SCORE CARD IN THE BACK. ;D
September 10, 2023
A quick read
This was a quick and entertaining read. The story was pretty good and kept me interested. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I probably will based on how I enjoyed this one.
This was a quick and entertaining read. The story was pretty good and kept me interested. I haven't read any of the other books in the series, but I probably will based on how I enjoyed this one.
October 25, 2023
Perfect Brit Police Story
The characters are witty and well developed with no ridiculous back stories. It’s a mystery, with an assortment of side stories that come together in a believable fashion and for once, I think the actual “bad guy” will not be guessed…
The characters are witty and well developed with no ridiculous back stories. It’s a mystery, with an assortment of side stories that come together in a believable fashion and for once, I think the actual “bad guy” will not be guessed…
July 5, 2025
Refreshing
This is a standard British police mystery that is more complex and better written than usual. It is reassuring In its familiarity but in involved enough to keep the reader alert.
This is a standard British police mystery that is more complex and better written than usual. It is reassuring In its familiarity but in involved enough to keep the reader alert.
November 21, 2025
Another thoroughly enjoyable novel
As usual I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of his work. I have spoken to a friend today and recommended this series of books to them .
As usual I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more of his work. I have spoken to a friend today and recommended this series of books to them .
June 19, 2020
Good read. Great characters and storyline.
September 13, 2020
Saw at least part of the solution early...but not entirely.
Read
October 20, 2020Another good story. Consistent and well crafted as usual. Looking forward to the next one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews