Unquiet Souls

DI Gus McGuire #1

by Liz Mistry

Unquiet Souls: a crime thriller you won't be able to put down.

"A must read for all crime fiction fans."

Book Description: 

What is the link between the abduction of a little girl and a dead prostitute?

When the body of a prostitute is found, followed by the discovery of children locked in an attic, DI Gus McGuire is handed the case. But what at first appears to be a simple murder soon turns into an international manhunt for the members of a twisted child trafficking ring.

McGuire who is suffering with his own emotional problems, must pick his way through the web of deceit and uncover the truth in time before the body count rises.

Can McGuire identify The Matchmaker before it’s too late? And can he trust those he is working with?

Unquiet Souls is the first book in a dark and compelling new police series.

Reviews:

"Mistry tackles a difficult subject with great craft in this dark novel. It is a gripping read which keeps the reader turning the pages until an explosive finale. With plenty of twists and turns, this is a must read for all crime fiction fans." David Evans, author of the critically acclaimed Wakefield Series.

"A brilliantly atmospheric and unsettling debut. Mistry writes with natural ease. This book is better than good, it's great and deserves to be up there with the best in the business." Betsy Reavley, author of best-selling thrillers Carrion, The Quiet Ones and The Optician's Wife.

Unquiet Souls is the first in an explosive new crime series. It will appeal greatly to fans of authors like Helen Durrant, Angela Marsons, K.A. Richardson and Robert Bryndza.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Audiobook, British Literature, Procedural

416 pages, ebook

First published July 27, 2016

About the author

Born in Scotland, Made in Bradford sums up Liz Mistry’s life. Liz uses her experiences of living and working in the inner city to flavour her writing. Her gritty crime fiction police procedural novels set in Bradford embrace the city she describes as ‘Warm, Rich and Fearless’ whilst exploring the darkness that lurks beneath.
Struggling with severe clinical depression and anxiety for a large number of years, Liz often includes mental health themes in her writing. Being a debut novelist in her fifties was something Liz had only dreamed of and she counts herself lucky, whilst pinching herself regularly to make sure it’s all real. One of the nicest things about being a published author is chatting with and responding to readers’ feedback and Liz regularly does events at local libraries, universities, literature festivals and open mics. She also teaches creative writing too.

Reviews

[Paul Ataua · Rating 3 out of 5]

The discovery of a dead prostitute seems like an isolated incident, but it is soon to be linked the abduction of a little girl, and this all leads to an international manhunt for a child trafficking gang. While others talk about its fast pace, I felt it slow to get to the actual investigation. I noticed that DI Gus McGuire, the main protagonist, only arrives back on the job some 200+ pages in, and before that we had to deal with his troubled therapy and the constant hero worship bestowed on him by his fellow detectives. Maybe this is envy on my part. Maybe I just have this dream that when I take a day off, all my colleagues sit around bemoaning my absence, claiming I am by far the best in the department, and if I were there, I would know exactly what to do. Sorry, I digress. It’s a very competent thriller with abundant complications and a satisfying ending. Don’t listen to me!

[Janet Newport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ooooh! This was a great, good twisty book!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this arc.

A wonderful read! I had read the 4th Gus McGuire book sometime ago and promised myself that I would read the 1st 3 books "soon". Unquiet Souls is the 1st book of this series and I am still kicking myself for not having read it sooner. But I have already loaded books 2 & 3 onto my kindle and am hoping it charges up quickly. The story itself was nice and twisty.... and the history was equally intriguing. It felt very real, although there may have been a very minor coincidence here and there, I didn't find them to be obvious at all. The pacing was nice and fast, just the way I like. But it was the characters I found to be so very wonderful. They all felt real and were well developed. I loved the team DI McGuire has assembled for himself and his leadership skills.

Gotta go see if my kindle has charged back up!

Thanks again NetGalley and Bloodhound Books! Please continue writing, Liz Mistry.

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently I totally missed out on this series, which is a pity This first book, where we are introduced to Gus, his colleagues, family and friends, is very difficult to put down. The author gives us just enough background information on Gus and the other characters to understand why they behave like the do, and at the same time having the reader want to know more about them.
The story is gruesome at places, but filled with love at others. Very cleverly written and I'm happy Netgalley sent me this book.

[The Cats’ Mother · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the DI Gus McGuire series, set in Bradford, England. I had not heard of his author prior to joining the UKCBC Facebook group, but having seen lots of recommendations for the series, was happy to see this up on NetGalley. It's a great pleasure to discover a new series with several more instalments to look forward to (currently four) but not such a large number as to be impossible to catch up with.

Angus McGuire is off on sick leave with serious injuries received during an attack by his schizophrenic best friend. Wracked with guilt that he had to kill him to defend himself, and was unable to save the wife and child, he knows that the only cure is a return to work, if only he can convince the stroppy psychiatrist he's being forced to see. Meanwhile, a vicious paedophile gang are importing children from Eastern Europe to rent to the highest bidder, and are hellbent on revenge against the wife who took them down twelve years earlier. When a local prostitute is murdered, and a group of children found hidden in her attic, Gus is brought back in to help his team, but the evil Matchmaker, who leads the gang, is always two steps ahead of them...

I have been avoiding books featuring kidnapped children storylines, having read far too many of them in the past year, so was somewhat dismayed to discover that this is a central part of the plot, but by this time was far too invested to give up. In some ways this is a standard British police procedural, with many of the usual tropes, but it stands out from the crowded genre because of the brilliantly drawn central characters, realistically gritty modern multi-ethnic northern city setting, superb writing and gripping tension.

I liked that Gus is a youngish, mixed-race detective from a solidly middle-class background, who actually has lovely parents - this makes a big change to the norm in crime fiction. He's down to earth and humble, but defiant in the defence of his rather anarchic team. I look forward to getting to know them through the rest of the series.

The story is pretty bleak, featuring child trafficking and references to sexual abuse and neglect, although thankfully this is not shown, although horrific child cruelty is. The violence is not gratuitous, and is necessary to the plot. There's moderate swearing, minimal sex, and no animal cruelty.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the free ARC in exchange for a voluntary honest review. Unquiet Souls was published in 2015 so is available now.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unquiet Souls is the first book in a brand new crime series set in West Yorkshire.

I connected with this book so easily. Living in Yorkshire myself and reading of mentions of my favourite radio station and presenters as well as one of my favourite restaurants in Leeds, well it was almost like what was going on was happening right round me. Was so easy to visualise a lot of the areas as well as the characters.

I love Gus, he hasn't had an easy time of it but thanks to his dad and his work colleague, he is finally allowed back to work. His work is something that Gus is good at and it gives him a purpose in life. I also love his parents. His dad is just a brilliant character and brings a slight humour to the otherwise dark and sometimes uncomfortable read.

The case that Gus comes back to is a child trafficking racket. I knew as I was reading it that at times this was going to be out of comfort zone and I wasn't wrong. The author does it in a way though that they give enough away without giving to much.

Unquiet Souls I have to say is a cracker of a book for the first in a series. The author had the perfect balance for me of the characters and their background without it affecting the actual case and story line. It's a dark and gritty read that had me feeling like I was holding my breath towards the end as I was so caught up in everything that was going on. Can not wait for the next one.

My thanks to Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Miriam still reading! HIATUS from GR · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars audio
4.25 stars story

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be honest I have already read the third book in the series a while ago and promised myself that I would get back to the beginning and read from Book One. I had assumed that because Untainted Blood was so good that it would partly be because the characters had become established and the author more familiar and confident with them. How wrong I was. This is a superb book in its own right and perfect foundation stone for the fabulous series it was to become.
I absolutely loved this book, yes the story line is very dark and it is at times shocking to read but one that gives you that adrenaline, heart in your mouth moments that every true crime reader is after from opening a new book. It begins with a dead woman in the street and an attic full of stolen children. Now you know that this will need a special kind of person to investigate these crimes and so a broken and damaged DI struggling with his own ugly headed demons is called upon to chase down one of the vilest paedophile and child trafficking rings I have read about. Believe me it is the perfect choice. DI Gus McGuire makes it compelling reading.
I really took to Gus that had little patience with the bureaucracy and just wanted to get the job done, kids saved and the bad guys put away but the more ground he gained seemed to take him a step further away from who was behind the set up. This was driving me mad because I was just suspecting everyone as being the Master Mind that I kept missing. The story has far more to it than I could have ever guessed. I had only just scratched the surface, it was intense and by the end going at an alarming pace that would be impossible to stop without more casualties.
The team that Gus works with bring so many lighter moments to the story. I suppose it is their way to deal with the horrors and then have a home life. A brilliant no holds barred read from an author prepared to go the whole way on impact. Super!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unquiet Souls by Liz Mistry.
a DS Gus McGuire Case book #1.
When the body of a prostitute is found, followed by the discovery of children locked in an attic, DI Gus McGuire is handed the case. But what at first appears to be a simple murder soon turns into an international manhunt for the members of a twisted child trafficking ring. McGuire who is suffering with his own emotional problems, must pick his way through the web of deceit and uncover the truth in time before the body count rises.
Can McGuire identify The Matchmaker before it’s too late? And can he trust those he is working with?
A brilliant read. Great story. I loved Gus. 5*.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that had me hooked from the first page. Had everything that i expect from a good crime story with plenty of twists and turns. I shall certainly be wanting to read more books by this author. Recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review, freely given.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unquiet Souls is the first in the DI Gus McGuire series. This is a very dark and emotional book to read but I was gripped from the start. Parts of this story had my heart feeling like it was going to burst out of my chest, the tension was astounding! A well written book that has left me wanting more from this author. I would highly recommend this book.

[A.J. Griffiths-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have hardly been able to put this book down, so gripping was the storyline, characters & fast-paced writing. The author had a clever way of giving just enough clues to exit each chapter on a cliff-hanger but every step of the way her writing was realistic, intelligent and at times breathtaking. I have great admiration for Mistry’s skill, this is one of the best crime thrillers I’ve read in ages, certainly on a par with the likes of Rankin & McDermid. Book two in the series is already on my bookshelf.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Dark and disturbing"

I think the overriding feeling I had after finishing this dark thriller was one of despair. Not for the execution of the story, because that was excellent. The detailed police procedural explored layer after layer of the grimy world in which these sex traffickers exist. The tangled investigation was mirrored by the tangled, emotional lives of the team handling the case. It was like travelling through a haunted house at the fair. You knew the next corner could reveal something you would rather not see, but you get dragged along regardless. Why despair? How have we allowed crimes like these to be so prevalent that they are the main feature in a potentially best-selling book? I hope many more people read it, consider the message it offers, and are encouraged to speak up against this inhumane trade.

[Sophie Bristow Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Unquiet Souls" is an excellent Pschological Thriller by Liz Mistry - set in West Yorkshire.
The chapters were short and snappy, making me want to read without any breaks. Each chapter is told in a different point of view, either by DI Gus McGuire (I'd love to know him in real life

[Ruhani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written story and a series I would like to continue but this was difficult for me to read because the central theme was child abuse. I had to skip some sections and overall it took me some time to get through it. I really like the author and her style and the detective team led by Gus McGuire is one I want to follow.

[Clair · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story which is full of twists and turns whilst being sensitively written about an absolute horrendous subject!

Unquiet Souls very quickly introduces the reader to 3 distinct but linked time periods, firstly opening in 1998, this book throws the reader straight into the action with the immediate aftermath of a violent act which shapes the future for ‘The Matchmaker’, introducing the concept of an unquiet soul. In the present day, DI Angus McGuire (Gus) is desperate to get back to work after a traumatic event 6 months previous but has to convince the psychiatrist that he is mentally ready. Finally, in 2003 with the activities of the Matchmaker, the Facilitator, the Provider and their clients. From this point, the narrative changes between the different time periods however this is seamless and easy to follow.

As I alluded to at the start, this book is not for the fainthearted as Gus is thrown into a difficult investigation which is child trafficking from Eastern Europe for a paedophile ring in the UK. It is difficult reading at times, not only because of the subject, but also because this sadly happens around the world. Mistry handles this very well because the narrative is not needlessly explicit or graphic, instead she uses the inference of what is happening to full effect.

What is great about this book is the back stories in 1998 and 2003 as the reader is privy to information that Gus and his team aren’t at times, or it gives the inference as to what is to come. Some of the characters feature in the other years which demonstrates both their career development and also their attachment to the case and getting justice not only for the children they find in the attic in 2015, but also the missing children from previous years.

I really enjoyed this book, it was a difficult and brave subject to tackle but Mistry does it exceptionally well with narrative that flows despite changes in time periods and with wonderful characters who come alive from the page. I loved the relationship that Gus has with his Pathologist father, Dr Fergus McGuire as well as DS Alice Cooper. There is a great rapport across the team which is built upon respect and looking out for one another.

Unquiet Souls is the first in a new crime series centred around Gus and his team, it’s amazing to think that this is Mistry’s debut – it is well written with twists and turns, absolute page turner! I struggled to actually put it down once I started and look forward to more investigations from Gus.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unquiet Souls is a very good read - it holds your interest with excellent tension and pace. It open in 1998 with an unnamed wife beater finding a different outlet for his pent up aggression with other like minded individuals. The next few chapters alternate between Cambridge 2003 where the police investigate a paedophile ring and 2015 where DI Angus "Gus" McGuire is struggling back to fitness, both mentally and physically after a horrific personal tragedy. Strings are pulled to get him back when the murder of a prostitute uncovers something far worse and the police judge him the only one capable of finding the perpetrators. The novel also switches point of view from the police investigation to the actions and conversations of the main paedophile characters, The Matchmaker, The Facilitator, The Treasurer, The Distributor and The Provider.These are chilling and extremely well done.

Let's be honest here. Unquiet Souls is a work of fiction so I don't expect realism on every page but the final twist was a step too far for me (I can't say what it is) and dropped my review from 5 to 4 stars.I also guessed almost immediately the identity of The Matchmaker and I think most seasoned crime fiction readers will do too as there are too many hints.

Gus McGuire is a very likeable character. He is smart and organised with a good team and while he has the support of his hierarchy he often comes into conflict with other senior figures. It is a cliche but it's well done and seems natural within the novel.

Unquiet Souls is a very promising debut and while it has a few minor teething problems I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good, engrossing read. I will be looking out for any sequels.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC of Unquiet Souls in return for an honest review.
The topic of this book is way beyond the comfort zone of most of us (thankfully) - paedophile rings and people trafficking are difficult to read about and to write about, however Liz Mistry has managed to do this and draw the reader right into the midst of the story.
I could feel my heart racing and my muscles tensing as I read, I could feel the frustrations of DI Gus McGuire's team as they battled to find the link between a dead prostitute and the trafficked children found in her loft - the tension in the pages was palpable.
I really warmed to Gus and his team, they gelled well together and brought the reader into the heart of their investigation. I love Gus' character, recently signed back to work following an incident the year before, his wife has upped and left him, he feels he has a lot to prove on his return with the physical and mental scars still impacting on his life. I'm looking forward to see how his character develops as the series progresses.
The plot line was strong and the key characters leave you wanting to find out more about them which is a great skill for a writer. I struggled a little at the beginning with the different timespans in the story and felt a little like I was missing some sort of back story to the team and the plot - however this was not a major issue and as I read on it all became clearer to me.
I am really looking forward to reading more from this author and in this series.

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big thank you to the author and TBC for allowing me a copy to review. This is a brilliant and cleverly written story with a MAJOR twist! I have to be honest and say that it did take me a while to get into the story at first but once I was in I wasn’t coming out. I was hooked! I do have to mention that this story may not be too every readers taste as some parts are very upsetting and it contains children within. But other than that I am not giving anything away as I would highly recommend you buy it and read it yourself. You will not be disappointed. As Liz’s first book it is brilliant, easy to read, fast paced and contains short chapters. I cannot wait to read more by this author. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy an outstanding crime, suspense and mystery rolled into one full plot. Prepare for many twists and turns… Are you ready?
Enjoy, I did.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Having been a little disappointed with some crime novels I have read recently, this book ticks all the boxes for me. I loved the character of Gus, loved the setting (I've lived in Yorkshire for over thirty years now) and the plot kept me glued. It's so well written, all the characters are believable and the pace is perfect. I hope that this is the first in a series, I'll be looking out for the next instalment!
My thanks to The Book Club on FB for my arc in return for an honest review.

[Alexina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is difficult to believe this is a debut novel.

The start was powerful, and it didn't disappoint. It was great to meet the characters and back stories without it overtaking the case.
I could visalise this book played out as a series.

Gus, is a great character, with some great team members.

This book had grit, dark storylines, but humour in the right places to lighten the mood.

Brilliant and can't wait for the next instalment.

Thanks to TBC for a copy in exchange for an honest review

[Susan Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to TBC for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was gripped from the beginning in this fantastic crime thriller.The sordid crimes being investigated was hard to stomach, but the plot was superb! The brilliant team of investigators, Compo, Sampson, Sadia and Alice led by Gus McGuire are all great characters. There are several heart pounding moments in this brilliantly written thriller. I look forward to reading a lot more books from Liz Mistry!

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing and very good.

[A.A. Chaudhuri · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say, Unquiet Souls is a dark, compelling, simply superb read on so many levels, it’s hard to believe this is Liz Mistry’s first book in the DI Gus McGuire series, it’s that good! The story, which centres on the hunt for a repellent gang of child traffickers led by The Matchmaker (whose identity I did not guess at any point!), moves along at a cracking pace in the form of short, sharp, punchy chapters told though various viewpoints which veer into psychological thriller territory and give the novel an added dimension. The action crescendos to a nail-biting finale I did not see coming (the sign of a really great crime novel) and leaves you gasping for breath by the time you close the back cover. The investigation is led by the incredibly enigmatic DI Gus McGuire, tormented by a harrowing event in his past which has also left him suffering from chronic physical pain, but who remains deeply committed to the job no matter the cost to his mental or physical health. I admire Mistry for tackling such a deeply disturbing issue in a way that doesn’t hold back from depicting its heart-breaking reality and brings tears to your eyes. As a mother, my heart bled for the victims and for the parents of those wrenched from their families by a set of criminals so vile you cannot imagine they have human blood running through their veins. Her vivid use of language and the senses is quite remarkable, drawing the reader in, making you feel you are there in the moment, inside the minds of the characters and their thought processes. The mark of a great crime writer, however, is the ability to intersperse the darker moments and heart-stopping action with lighter moments that give you time to recover, and Mistry works these in at just the right points. I really felt I connected with and cared about Gus and his loyal crew and I am looking forward to reading more in the series. An easy five stars from me. Simply one of the best police procedurals I have read in a long time!

[Candice Conner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kept me on the edge of my seat, but proceed with caution.

Probably a 3.5 ⭐️. Before I say anything else about the book I think I should give some kind of warning. There are a lot of descriptions of severe child abuse, the detectives are trying to catch the ringleaders of a child sex trafficking ring. I almost stopped reading a few times, so approach this book with caution.

Overall I couldn’t put the book down because I had to know what was going to happen! I figured out who the main baddie was not too far in, but there was an extra twist I wasn’t expecting, so I felt like it was a satisfying mystery. I loved Gus McGuire and his team. I would love to read more DI Gus McGuire books, but if they are all as graphic in content as this one, I’m not sure I have the stomach for it.

[Craig Gillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written book that really draws you in, disturbing at times but a great read

[Donna Morfett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fast paced thriller, lots of red herrings along the way. Really enjoyed it.

[Suzanne Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow my first introduction to Liz Mistry’s books and what a book!! Couldn’t put it down and kept me guessing all the way through..and I still got it wrong!! Clever storyline, good plot development and characters you root for all the way through..can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Heather Fitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great debut novel from Liz Mistry!

I loved Gus and his team and even the supporting characters on the fringes of the story. I thought it quite brave to use a child trafficking ring as the vehicle for a debut novel, but Liz has not shied away from an incredibly emotive subject. All to often authors try to take on a big subject but don't go after it full throttle, I'm always left wanting more when that happens, that has not happened here. In fact she has tackled it head on and pulled no punches; I commend her for that.

I did like the fact that the story is set somewhere different from a lot of other police procedurals. Bradford is not somewhere I can ever say I have read about in any book and made for a refreshing change. I've never been to Bradford, but I understand it is incredibly culturally diverse and I think Liz has managed to convey that very well within the story.

I have some small criticisms; there seemed to be quite a lot of repetition of adverbs and adjectives which jarred the story a little and 'broke the spell' as it where. Also, I don't think every single character, however small, needs to have a first and last name. (Or indeed any name at all when a profession would have sufficed - the lawyer, the social worker etc.) It just means that there are too many characters for the reader to try and remember!

I think this is a fantastic book and I can't wait to read more from Liz and hopefully more about Gus.

I was gifted a copy of this book from TBC in return for an honest review.

[Alison Taylor-Muhl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it’s safe to say I was hooked to this book from the start! Living in Leeds, which is 'just down the road’ from Bradford, it was great to read about locations I could picture easily. Liz does a great job of capturing the flavour and diversity of Bradford too.

The plot is excellent and of course, there are some twists and turns along the way. Liz’s writing is seamless and flows naturally – allowing the story to unfold at a great pace, which I feel is important as there are a lot of named characters to think about. I really warmed to Gus, Alice and Compo – great characters and I can’t wait to read more about them all. Perhaps strangely, I also really liked the fact that Gus is a damaged character, his vulnerability at times coupled with his frustration and impatience at other times makes him feel very real.

The thing that prevented me from giving this novel 5 stars is the presence of spelling and grammatical errors, which I feel should have been picked up at the proofing stage: Renault ‘Cleo’ as opposed to Clio, the dropping of capital letters – ‘west Yorkshire’, as opposed to West Yorkshire and so on. Sorry if this sounds harsh, but these things impact on my enjoyment of a book.

All in all, a very gripping read, which has left me eagerly-awaiting the next installment.

Many thanks to Liz Mistry for gifting me a copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review (#TBC).

[Laura Furuta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unquiet Souls: a DI Gus McGuire case
By: Liz Mistry
5 out of 5 stars

The story Unquiet Souls: a DI Gus McGuire case by Liz Mistry is a crime thriller. It is the story of DI Gus McGuire who has just returned to work still recovering from a previous case. He is handed the murder case of a prostitute. However what the police find at the victims home is even more disturbing. In a room hidden and locked with a padlock there are children, most alive although two are dead. Jumping into this case puts Gus head to head with a man called “The Matchmaker.” Will Gus be able to crack this case before anymore become victims?

This book is amazing! I have read a lot of mystery/thrillers before and they have not affected me as this one has. Touching on a very delicate subject in the story I found the subject tastefully described and covered. The story is told in two different time periods as it goes from 2003 when one crime happened and then 2015 the time frame when the new case and crime is discovered. The characters are rich in personality and you feel you can relate to them and how they feel. I found Gus to be a wonderful representation of how police officers deal with the emotions from one case while working on another.

Without going into detail, this story does touch on a sensitive subject and has adult language. I would recommend this book to anyone 18 years or older. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.