Satan's Beckoning

DCI Jack Mason #2

by Michael K. Foster

The DCI Mason & David Carlisle Series: Book 2

When a fatal road crash turns out to be murder, JACK MASON is sent to investigate. Within the seemingly dark vaults of the police missing persons files, lay untold dangers. Young women are easy pickings for a serial killer who believes God has sent him to rid the world of an overindulgent appetite for greed. When criminal profiler DAVID CARLISLE is drafted in to assist, Carlisle is met by the killers wrath.

Genres: Crime

280 pages, Paperback

Published October 20, 2016

About the author

Michael has been writing bestseller crime thrillers since 2006, all of them based in and around the North East of England. His bestselling debut novel, ‘The Wharf Butcher,’ was released in 2015 and offers a unique insight into this rugged landscape. Since then, he has written seven more full-length novels featuring the hard-hitting DCI Jack Mason and has garnished an army of loyal readers.

Michael grew up in Leeds, and after ten years’ service in the British Army he moved to Newcastle where he gained his master’s degree. A former Magistrate and lifelong fan of the mystery and crime thriller genres, he now lives in County Durham where enjoys travelling, walking, and two Siamese cats.

You can find out more about Michael by visiting his website: https://www.michaelkfoster.com

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I love a good serial killer book and I love police procedurals so coupled with the fact that "Satan's Beckoning" written by local author Michael K Foster is set in N.E. England where I live, this book was a win-win from the very start! And I wasn't disappointed! I adore books set in my home area - I just love being able to relate to the dialogue and the places mentioned in them.
Creepy and menacing, you are thrown straight into the gripping story from the start, with a preface written by the serial killer.
When what looks like a fatal RTA in Gateshead turns out to involve a sadistic murder, DCI Jack Mason is called in to investigate. When similarities are discovered between this murder and a previous one six years ago in Seaham, criminal profiler David Carlisle is asked to assist in the investigation. It's not long before they realise that they are on the hunt for a vicious serial killer. With many clues leading to possible inside information could the killer be one of their own?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fast paced and entertaining book and did so in a couple of days as I couldn't put it down - it was so compelling.
This book is the second in the DCI Mason and David Carlisle series - the first being the equally compelling "The Wharf Butcher". Although you will want to read the first one too, "Satan's Beckoning" can quite easily be read as a standalone, there's plenty of information in it to bring you up to date.
It's obvious a lot of research has been carried out for this book, police procedures, forensic scenes of crime, criminal profiling etc, all written about with so much attention to detail.
The varied characters are also brilliant! The relationship between DCI Mason and profiler David Carlisle is very believable, they make such an intelligent team yet have such different personalities.
Michael Foster has an incredible talent for writing books of this genre and i seriously look forward to the next book in the series later this year with bated breath!
A well deserved 5 stars for a fantastic book!

[Maxine (Booklover Catlady) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this great book available for review! To request your review copy please email me at booklovercatlady@gmail.com!

I really loved Michael's first novel The Wharf Butcher which I highly recommend. Both books feature some of the same characters but they can absolutely be read as stand-alone novels, no need to read in order or feel you will miss anything.

Satan's Beckoning is set in the North-East of England (as is The Wharf Butcher) and I love that because it's where I live. It was so great to know all of the locations in the book and feel like the crime fighting team were sometimes zooming past me nearby as I was reading the novel. Michael has done a brilliant job of creating authenticity in regards to the location and setting for this novel. Bravo!

A lot of crime novels these days can lack detail, others can be so bogged down in it you are lost by Chapter 2, one of the strengths in my opinion of Michael's books is that the detail in the plot is spot on. You can tell he has done his research, descriptions of crime scenes, police procedures, criminal profiling and the psychopathy of a deranged killer is done extremely well, I really give him lots of credit for that, again it adds an element of authenticity and realism to the book.

The plot is great, we have Carlisle drawn in by the police again to offer up his criminal profiling services. This is a man who can get inside the head of a killer and piece together a profile and idea of who the killer is and what the next move is going to be. I love, love, love books featuring a profiler, I think it ups the game from a lot of crime books. We get to experience being in the mind of the killer from time to time, not always comfortable but highly entertaining!

The crack crime team are a mixed bag of characters and again, so realistic - many of them are terribly flawed and some of them you will perhaps like and some not. These are not cookie cutout characters at all, I really like the mixture of personalities, temperaments and styles of the detectives and police officers in the book. A lot.

Dead bodies turn up. Females. All fitting a particular profile (thanks to Carlisle) and the hunt is on for the killer. The search stretches from Gateshead in Newcastle Upon Tyne to York in Yorkshire and all in-between and it's a gritty plot that gradually builds up pace as the book rolls out. I found it impossible to guess who the killer was, a few times I was certain that I (and the cops) had the killer only to be proved wrong. There is no easy reveal until towards the end of the book and I loved that.

The ending and lead up to it where the pace really starts to pick up strongly is brilliant. I was on the edge of my seat (well edge of the bed as it was 3am) with events that were presented and the eagerness to know if they were going to catch this twisted serial killer or not. Was Carlisle's profile going to prove to be right after all? You have to read it to find out for yourself!

Michael K. Foster is an outstanding writer of considerable talent and with this, his second novel he has proven yet again that he is a new force in British Crime Fiction. I am not in the least bit surprised that bookstores have snaffled Michael up for book signings and events and his name is creating a buzz across social media. An author to watch and if you love your crime fiction grab one or both of his novels and settle in for a great read!



5 stars from me for Satan's Beckoning for all the reasons mentioned above. I am a fan of Mr Carlisle and his profiling talents and cannot wait for the next book from this author, in fact I hope he is on the case already. Superbly entertaining, well researched and thrilling crime fiction. Yes, you can quote me on that.

I was given a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair honest and professional book review, many thanks.

Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...

To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook

To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg

Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Another winner in the explosive sequel to THE WHARF BUTCHER featuring DI Jack Mason and David Carlisle, a criminal profiler.

There is a serial killer at large, one who believes God has sent him to rid the world of young women who have no redeeming qualities. Mostly he sees them as greedy and that is a sin.

Mason is called out to investigate a fatal car accident. A young woman is found dead ... but is it really the car crash that killed her? Or was she already dead?

Mason and Carlisle team up again to get into the mind of this brutal serial killer. But with the addition of Carlisle, the killer sees red .... and Carlisle is in more danger than he ever thought possible.

I enjoyed The Wharf Butcher and I enjoyed this sequel. Mason and Carlisle are solid characters. Even though not unique, the story premise is a good one and very well written. It's highly suspenseful and leads to an explosive ending.

Many thanks to the author and to Booklover Catlady Publicity for the digital copy of this crime thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satan's Beckoning by Michael K. Foster Review:

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity in return for a fair and honest review.
Many thanks!

The never-ending work of DCI Mason and David Carlisle continues in the explosive sequel to Michael K. Foster's The Wharf Butcher, titled "Satan's
Beckoning". Filled with an even darker murder plot and shifting perspectives that keep the action and investigation of the plot moving forward
at an even pace, this was a fantastic sequel that builds upon the success of the first book and takes giant strides forward.

The Synopsis: The DCI Mason & David Carlisle Series: Book 2

When a fatal road crash turns out to be murder, JACK MASON is sent to investigate. Within the seemingly dark vaults of the police missing persons
files, lay untold dangers. Young women are easy pickings for a serial killer who believes God has sent him to rid the world of an overindulgent
appetite for greed. When criminal profiler DAVID CARLISLE is drafted in to assist, Carlisle is met by the killers wrath.

Delving into an even darker mind that uses religion to fuel his anger and devilish desires, this killer does something different that The Wharf
Butcher did: he gets into David Carlisle's mind. The cat and mouse game the two play while the police hunt for the killer is mesmerizing to read,
and the mystery behind the killer's identity will take the investigation into many different directions. Getting to see the investigation from
so many different views, from the bullish, physical take no prisoners approach of DCI Jack Mason to the analytical, psychological approach of
David Carlisle to the demented mind of the killer as he stalks his prey makes this a fantastic thriller that no one wants to miss out on.

Overall, this was a phenomenal read and actually manages to build upon the success of The Wharf Butcher with an even more thrilling and action
packed story that will lead readers into a climatic battle of wits between the killer and the investigators. Being a US blogger, I really enjoy
these books because it's great to see the different approach to police investigations that this UK-based novel takes, and the setting plays a
huge part of the plot. The characters are well developed and given more insight after the first book, and this plot makes this one of my favorite
thrillers of 2016. Be sure to pick up your copies of Satan's Beckoning by Michael K. Foster on October 20th, 2016!

Rating: 10/10

[Sarah Joint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written, tense, and detailed. It feels very authentic. A lot of the time as you're reading a book, you may know how it's going to end. You're just waiting to get there. This isn't one of those books, it's certainly not obvious or easy to figure out and I really enjoy that.

Mason and Carlisle, together again! Mason is a DCI and Carlisle is a criminal profiler who has his own private investigation practice. He's been called in to help members of the police force in the past. A new body shows up under very strange circumstances and the pathology technician correlates it to the body of a woman found six years ago because they were both missing the same fingers on the same hand. Turns out that's not the only thing they have in common. Carlisle is brought in to try to find who killed these women before he strikes again. What's his motive? Why the long gap between killings? And why is someone sending Carlisle strange text messages not long after he's put on the case? The murderer's knowledge of the investigation seems to point to an inside job... could a cop really be behind this?

I received an ARC of this book from the author and Booklover Catlady Publicity... thank you! As always, my review is unbiased and honest.

[Misfits farm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Straight to the heart of the story when a RTA is found to be a murder. Could this link to a very similar one 6 years ago. But why 6 years apart and what do these two women have in common? Why is the perpetrator always one step ahead- could they have inside information or even be a part of the police force?
Good characters and an excellent story line which keeps moving along nicely. One or two “niggles” which I think could be easily ironed out by publication date. Some parts are a little rushed in my opinion and others a little long. Finding the perpetrator’s last victim was over in a couple of pages and I felt more could have been made of this, whereas the last two or three chapters could have been condensed.
Overall an enjoyable read with an excellent plot. Twists and turns along the way keep you guessing (there is no chance of guessing in this one) and I did like the criminal profiler Carlisle who comes across very well, having the outside view from the police with his own way of doing things.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

[Gill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. I enjoyed the story. It kept me interested and was an easy read. I'll be looking out for the third in the series.

[Toby Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satan’s Beckoning is an enjoyable crime novel. The characters are well-drawn and totally believable. I particularly enjoyed the interaction between DCI Jack Mason and profiler David Carlisle. They make for an interesting team. I love books that are not only atmospheric but ones where the author also creates a sense of foreboding and suspense. Mike Foster skillfully creates a dark and foreboding atmosphere that only serves to build the suspense. Look forward to reading more by this author.

[Craig Gillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, great how the characters interact with each other and how they work together, full of twists and turns

[linda green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda 777@Gmail.com

Looking forward to reading your next book it was very interesting could not put it down it was very gripping all the way through

[Nicki Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

DCI Jack Mason teams up again with profiler David Carlisle.

A car fatal accident looks innocent enough on first inspection. It does become apparent that the dead woman had been killed before the accident. Why?

The teams start to investigate her lifestyle, wondering why such an elaborate plan has been put in place.

Eventually, it is established that she is not the first one with a similar lifestyle and age. What is it about young women with a history of drug abuse but no money concerns.

This book, Like the Wharf Butcher, is set in the North East which seems to be an area the author knows well. The investigation leads us to Newcastle and down to York.
This is a clever and well thought out plot. Michaels research has obviously been thorough. The attention to detail is remarkable.

With David Carlisle's help, they begin to build the profile of their killer. Or is it too late? The culprit is finally unveiled.á

DCI Jack Mason and David Carlisle are very likable characters and obviously work well together. The whole team pull together in order to catch this killer.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book courtesy of Booklover Catlady.

[Daniella Bernett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, authentic and absolutely terrifying. My heart was in my mouth as I read this fast-paced hunt for a vicious serial killer. The story was made even more real by the author's meticulous attention to detail. DCI Jack Mason and profiler David Carlisle are a savvy and intelligent team. Mike Foster is a genius at creating a dark and foreboding atmosphere that only serves to build the suspense.

[Shelley Bricker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding word-smithing and a suspense filled mystery. Yes, there were a couple nights when the "bumps" kept me awake!

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Michael K Foster. I enjoyed The Wharf Butcher and it was great to have some of the same characters again in Satan’s Beckoning. It has been enjoyable to get to know these characters a bit more. Michael puts great care and detail into his books, it has made for interesting reading. I have enjoyed the knowledge the author has put into the book regarding how a serial killers mind works and also how a profiler works and gets into the mind of a killer. This is a dark thriller with some great twists in the plot, the author manages to keep you guessing well. I have enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

[Threasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won Satan's Beckoning on goodreads, and I appreciate it greatly. This is a series by Michael Foster, but I think there was only one book before this one. I didn't feel as if I had missed anything pertaining to this story by not having read the first book. This was an entertaining book, but I found it a bit slow at times.

[David Stimpson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Bad at all

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this crime thriller. The characters seem true to life with various flaws and hang ups. The serial killer was not easy to suss out for most of the story.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first one in the series (IMHO) but definitely readable. Hope next one is better as I have it on my TBR.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well written book in the series. The combination of criminal profiler David Carlisle and DCI Jack Mason works well and together with the descriptions of the NorthEast of England will keep you hooked if you are familiar with the area.

When a RTA bears striking resemblances to a murder 6 years ago the pair must investigate and soon find out they are on the hunt for a serial killer.

[Michelle Ryles · Rating 5 out of 5]

recently enjoyed The Wharf Butcher that was set in my native Tyneside, so I was excited to read this second book in the series, Satan's Beckoning. There's always something so very special about fiction when it is based in an area that you know well, as it gives a hint of reality to our world of fiction.

It was good to meet up again with DCI Jack Mason and profiler, David Carlisle. It feels like they are doing a regional pub crawl as they arrange to meet at several bars of many of our local establishments. Mason has been called out to investigate a car crash in Windy Nook, Gateshead - on an incredibly steep bank running up from Felling to the Queen Elizabeth hospital. What's so unusual about that?, you might say. Well, the car at fault had no driver and it would appear that the lady passenger was already dead at the time of the accident.

When similarities become evident between this crime and one 6 years earlier down the coast in Seaham, the police and David Carlisle sift through all the clues looking for a connection. Both victims married older affluent men, but is there any thing that connects them? The addition of Carlisle is brilliant as he is like a secret weapon for the police - he is able to tap some unsavoury sources for information, sources who wouldn't even consider talking to the police.

Satan's Beckoning is an outstanding sequel to The Wharf Butcher, although it could be read as a standalone. I had sweaty palms gripping my kindle as the final Indiana Jones-esque scenes played out. I think I enjoyed it more as I had got to know the characters so well in The Wharf Butcher so I already knew some of their background and history. Mason and Carlisle are definitely two characters I want to read more about - I just hope they don't end up investigating in my street!

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Robert Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way the author creates the setting within the minds eye, of North of England. It is extremely well written. Has a good story-line, with twists and turns throughout. This is the second book I have read by Mike K Foster, and look forward to reading his next book. I would highly recommend it for readers who like a good crime thriller, that has you sitting on the edge of your seat.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to follow shortly.