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DI Gardener #1
Impurity
A murder with no weapon or motive. A detective on edge. A community that wants answers.
One fateful night when off duty, DI Stewart Gardener intervenes in a street brawl and his wife is shot dead .
Trying to come to terms with this, he gradually returns to normal duties policing the streets of Leeds . Finding his wife’s murderer is never far from his mind, but with no leads and a hazy recollection of events, it seems hopeless.
Soon he is presented with a shocking case. A man is found dead in a grubby apartment, having been killed in the cruellest of ways. It is not long before another man meets the same fate.
The deaths are caused by a rapid and violent disintegration of the victims’ flesh. Pathology cannot ascertain the cause .
The only connection between the victims is they both worked seasonally as Santas, dressing up as Father Christmas and entertaining kids in grottos and such like. Who would want to kill such innocuous men as these?
The detective is flummoxed. The local community is ruffled. The press is having a field day. The top brass wants answers. Can DI Gardener overcome his grief and solve the case?
One fateful night when off duty, DI Stewart Gardener intervenes in a street brawl and his wife is shot dead .
Trying to come to terms with this, he gradually returns to normal duties policing the streets of Leeds . Finding his wife’s murderer is never far from his mind, but with no leads and a hazy recollection of events, it seems hopeless.
Soon he is presented with a shocking case. A man is found dead in a grubby apartment, having been killed in the cruellest of ways. It is not long before another man meets the same fate.
The deaths are caused by a rapid and violent disintegration of the victims’ flesh. Pathology cannot ascertain the cause .
The only connection between the victims is they both worked seasonally as Santas, dressing up as Father Christmas and entertaining kids in grottos and such like. Who would want to kill such innocuous men as these?
The detective is flummoxed. The local community is ruffled. The press is having a field day. The top brass wants answers. Can DI Gardener overcome his grief and solve the case?
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2016
237 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Ray Clark
38 books35 followersThe British Fantasy Society published Ray Clark's first work in 1995 - Manitou Man: The World of Graham Masterton, was nominated for both the World and British Fantasy Awards. In 2009, Ray's short story, Promises To Keep, made the final shortlist for the best short story award from The Tom Howard Foundation. Ray is based in Goole, and has set his Gardener and Reilly crime series in nearby Leeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 10, 2019
This crackles from beginning to end. Starts off with a bang and the tension is kept up to the end. There is a startlingly original murder method, and a wonderful scene where Santa is murdered in public in the department store he works in. A well-motivated murder and a fully drawn detective. Well worth a read.
December 19, 2019
Impurity
New Author for me but one I shall definitely be following,enjoyed the book from start to finish.Great storyline and believable characters.Look forward to the next one.
New Author for me but one I shall definitely be following,enjoyed the book from start to finish.Great storyline and believable characters.Look forward to the next one.
June 18, 2020
I really want to give this book a 10 and I'm so glad to have discovered this author, It's a brilliant story which tied my stomach into knots, if you like crime fiction books that grip you, you will really enjoy this, the tension holds you from start to finish building as it goes along, I'm so glad I've got the next one in the series "Imperfections" to start reading.
January 9, 2020
This is a really well crafted book from a well liked author. The characters are totally believable, and the plot is very well written and cleverly rendered. The sub-plot of the protagonists' wife's murder rumbles through the book like a drum beat, adding an extra dimension to the story.
I loved it, and am looking forward to reading more from Ray very soon.
I loved it, and am looking forward to reading more from Ray very soon.
July 11, 2020
Good story plus action.
September 16, 2022
This was a disturbing crime thriller in various ways - the way the victims died and the reasons they died, which showed the depravity of human behaviour.
D.I. Gardener has his own demons and it was good to see how he tackled the situations.
I was confused about some of the police procedures - or lack thereof - but I can't say much because I don't give spoilers. Maybe others will notice and wonder. It could have been for the purposes of the plot, but...
Overall, I thought the writing style was good, the characters suited the plot and the story, although horrendous, kept me reading until the end.
Worth a look.
(This book is part of a box set)
D.I. Gardener has his own demons and it was good to see how he tackled the situations.
I was confused about some of the police procedures - or lack thereof - but I can't say much because I don't give spoilers. Maybe others will notice and wonder. It could have been for the purposes of the plot, but...
Overall, I thought the writing style was good, the characters suited the plot and the story, although horrendous, kept me reading until the end.
Worth a look.
(This book is part of a box set)
November 27, 2022
This is the opening book in a set of four and a first time read of this new (to me) author.
Several murders which involve quite a gruesome mode of death for the victims has our protagonist, DI Steward Granger, baffled as to the how and the why. When the investigation brings up some connections to the unsolved murder of Granger's own wife a year earlier it becomes personal.
The author is quite graphic and visits subjects some might consider taboo but which sadly in the times we live in are more common than we would like to think.
The whole story is gritty and edgy and I loved it.
A great read and I can't wait to turn the first page of the second book.
Several murders which involve quite a gruesome mode of death for the victims has our protagonist, DI Steward Granger, baffled as to the how and the why. When the investigation brings up some connections to the unsolved murder of Granger's own wife a year earlier it becomes personal.
The author is quite graphic and visits subjects some might consider taboo but which sadly in the times we live in are more common than we would like to think.
The whole story is gritty and edgy and I loved it.
A great read and I can't wait to turn the first page of the second book.
January 3, 2023
An interesting, if slow, start to a new series based in Leeds. DI Gardener returns to work following the murder of his wife and immediately faces a baffling series of murders and a set of child abductions. The cases eventually merge and the ending draws everything together, perhaps a little too neatly.
Gardener is an interesting character, facing the challenges of the job and of rebuilding his life with this father and young son. The rest of the team are not too involved, apart from partner DS Reilly, a tough former RUC sergeant. There is plenty of scope for further character development in future books.
Gardener is an interesting character, facing the challenges of the job and of rebuilding his life with this father and young son. The rest of the team are not too involved, apart from partner DS Reilly, a tough former RUC sergeant. There is plenty of scope for further character development in future books.
December 24, 2020
Cure for Pedophilia
Suspected pedophiles are being butchered via a brutal chemical agent. Could their deaths be related to the cases of missing and murdered children? DI Gardiner must find out.
This is a decent police procedural. Gardiner is still mourning the murder of his wife and finally meets a charming minister who awakens dormant feelings. The book runs on too long and the police politics and domestic drama wear. Still it is pretty interesting with a novel cause of death and surprising killers.
Suspected pedophiles are being butchered via a brutal chemical agent. Could their deaths be related to the cases of missing and murdered children? DI Gardiner must find out.
This is a decent police procedural. Gardiner is still mourning the murder of his wife and finally meets a charming minister who awakens dormant feelings. The book runs on too long and the police politics and domestic drama wear. Still it is pretty interesting with a novel cause of death and surprising killers.
April 11, 2022
It is, quite rightly, said that there are only a limited number of ways to kill someone so it is difficult for an author to come up with something different. In this book the author has found a novel way of using one of those limited means of death, certainly not something I have ever come across before. I worked out the how very early on but without the exact who and the why it was not a spoiler. I’m not sure that things would necessarily go as the story sets out but it is fiction so licence is allowed.
This was an intriguing first book in a series and I will certainly be reading more.
This was an intriguing first book in a series and I will certainly be reading more.
July 16, 2022
What a trap
Enjoyed the first in the DI Stewart Gardener series from Ray Clark. Gardener is recovering from the loss of his wife, he and O'Reilly his DS are busily looking into the loss of two school girls and a schoolboy. The schoolboy was a friend of Gardeners son. What follows is a twisted tale of Murder, Perversion and Revenge. You will need to read the book to find out who, what and when. Well written, well structured as the novel pulls you further into the tale and increases the pace at which you read the book. Will read another DI Gardener adventure for sure
Enjoyed the first in the DI Stewart Gardener series from Ray Clark. Gardener is recovering from the loss of his wife, he and O'Reilly his DS are busily looking into the loss of two school girls and a schoolboy. The schoolboy was a friend of Gardeners son. What follows is a twisted tale of Murder, Perversion and Revenge. You will need to read the book to find out who, what and when. Well written, well structured as the novel pulls you further into the tale and increases the pace at which you read the book. Will read another DI Gardener adventure for sure
November 27, 2019
If the following books are as good as this one, we're set for a truly excellent series.
Detective Gardener has lost his wife and catching her killer is never far from his mind. But there are other cases to solve first. Namely that of a seasonal worker killed with a lethal cocktail of chemicals that forensics have trouble identifying. More bodies are found and the pressure is on before Xmas is ruined for everyone.
Detective Gardener has lost his wife and catching her killer is never far from his mind. But there are other cases to solve first. Namely that of a seasonal worker killed with a lethal cocktail of chemicals that forensics have trouble identifying. More bodies are found and the pressure is on before Xmas is ruined for everyone.
May 14, 2022
This started well - intriguing and it encouraged the time spent reading. To me, though, it degenerated into a way too long, meandering story with too many characters. The plot became more far-fetched and increasingly unbelievable. I skimmed the last half. Others may find this story worth reading so I won't state any spoilers. I liked the characters of the two detectives and their normal lives in comparison to the weirdness of the rest of the criminal elements.
July 1, 2022
Impurity!!
I wasn’t quite sure sure I was going to enjoy this book. Although I love the detective drama books, this one seemed and started differently. Although, for me, it got off to an awkward start, it very quickly redeemed itself. A fascinating book, a murderer with a very unique M.O. and a Detective still grief stricken. But he has a trusty sidekick and good friend. My advice to all you Detective junkies out there is to read this book. It’s pretty awesome.
I wasn’t quite sure sure I was going to enjoy this book. Although I love the detective drama books, this one seemed and started differently. Although, for me, it got off to an awkward start, it very quickly redeemed itself. A fascinating book, a murderer with a very unique M.O. and a Detective still grief stricken. But he has a trusty sidekick and good friend. My advice to all you Detective junkies out there is to read this book. It’s pretty awesome.
January 5, 2021
Not very believable
I find the DI totally lacking in empathy for most of the people he meets. The descriptions which become tiresome are usually critical.
Many of the phrases used are out of date. Some of the cast give a commentary to themselves as things happen to them and these usually contain things that would just not seem to be be fitting.
I find the DI totally lacking in empathy for most of the people he meets. The descriptions which become tiresome are usually critical.
Many of the phrases used are out of date. Some of the cast give a commentary to themselves as things happen to them and these usually contain things that would just not seem to be be fitting.
March 21, 2021
With smarter detective work this could have been a much better book. The police work bordered on incompetency. To wit: Not posting police near school when Gardner found out Wart-head was hanging around the school. Not meeting the last victim at the airport or at his home or work when he returned from Spain and having police come immediately when Gardner found his son.
September 23, 2021
I could really get to like D I Gardener. He is not perfect, he has doubts but he perseveres and gets there in the end.
I loved the sheer complexity of the plot. I enjoyed the relationships between the various characters. I disliked the unnecessary use of the 'f'word and also the verb 'careen' which does not relate to a car! But that said this is great read.
I loved the sheer complexity of the plot. I enjoyed the relationships between the various characters. I disliked the unnecessary use of the 'f'word and also the verb 'careen' which does not relate to a car! But that said this is great read.
Read
December 18, 2021The story was okay aside from the irritations mentioned by another reviewer (Gaining: 13 July 2021). Unfortunately, I was unable to completely engage with the story and consequently failed to feel the suspense as the story’s climax approached. This review relates to the audiobook and maybe my review would have been different if I read the Kindle version.
April 17, 2020
A new author for me......
but certainly not disappointed. Engrossing characters, engrossing story, engrossing plot......I was engrossed! Will definitely be reading more! A page turner.....
but certainly not disappointed. Engrossing characters, engrossing story, engrossing plot......I was engrossed! Will definitely be reading more! A page turner.....
January 5, 2021
I was looking for something different to read and came across ray clark. Story line sharp from beginning to end. Fast paced a definite page turner. Enjoyed this book emmensly. Have now bought the next four in the series. Rated A++++++
May 4, 2023
DNF. 38%. DI Gardner and everyone in his life have not got one single flaw between them. A perfect (now dead) wife. A perfect father. A perfect son. A perfect love interest. And every conversation is ridiculously positive. Even 2 serial killers couldn't add any real grit to this nonsense.
May 13, 2023
Impurity
Well, this was the first in a new series for me. What an excellent book. Plenty twists and turns. I like the link with the characters personal life, not all police work. I shall start next in series ,watch this space.
Well, this was the first in a new series for me. What an excellent book. Plenty twists and turns. I like the link with the characters personal life, not all police work. I shall start next in series ,watch this space.
July 3, 2025
Wow - a truly horrific way to kill people. (I'd love to know how accurate the science on that is.) And by the end it was hard not to feel that they had deserved it.
A very good book, though I was a bit hazy on the relationship between several of the characters for a good part of it.
A very good book, though I was a bit hazy on the relationship between several of the characters for a good part of it.
January 15, 2020
Fast read keeps you guessing right until the end .
September 22, 2020
Undecided, I got through it and did enjoy some of it but.... not enough. I think I'll try another but not yet.
December 31, 2020
12 months have passed since Sarah, the wife of D.I. Stewart Gardener was shot and killed. Now he has a case, a body is discovered badly decomposed but only a few hours dead. How and why. Then there is the case of the missing 3 children of which only 12 year David Vickers body has been found.
An interesting well-written crime story with some likeable characters. A good start to a new series.
An interesting well-written crime story with some likeable characters. A good start to a new series.
January 10, 2021
Impurity
This was probably one of the most unusual murder mysteries I have ever read. Keeps your interest all the way to the very end.
This was probably one of the most unusual murder mysteries I have ever read. Keeps your interest all the way to the very end.
May 6, 2021
Unusual story, twists and turns
Interesting use of plant poisons. Writing and dialogue below par. Many twists final chapter. Liked Gardener, his son and dad.
Interesting use of plant poisons. Writing and dialogue below par. Many twists final chapter. Liked Gardener, his son and dad.
August 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this - the sensitivity throughout and the twists and turns but still don't actually know who did it! Great (if not a bit gruesome) storyline and well written
December 17, 2022
The 1st in the series of DI Stewart Gardiner murder Mysteries.. of Course Gardiner has a Haunted past .. I really did like this Story .it was vert clever .. I shall look for No.2
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews