Death and the Good Son

Detective Hellier #2

by B.A. Steadman

Death And The Good Son: an edge of your seat crime thriller
Life is good for DI Dan Hellier. He has made several successful drugs' busts and even the Assistant Chief Constable is smiling. But the discovery of two headless, handless corpses buried in the bog on Dartmoor will test his team to their limits. How are they expected to identify the bodies when nobody has reported them missing?

The pressure mounts when the death of a teenager from an overdose of Mephedrone plunges Dan into the murky world of the Garrett family. Could the peaceful, family-run Animal Rescue Centre really be a cover for murder and drug-dealing?

Just how far will people go to get what they want?

And what links death to the good son?

This investigation will challenge Dan's decisions and beliefs as he races to catch a criminal before another child dies.

DISCOVER YOUR NEXT FAVOURITE MYSTERY SERIES NOW

Perfect for fans of Joy Ellis, Helen H. Durrant, Robert Bryndza, Mel Sherratt, Angela Marsons or Ruth Rendell.

282 pages, Paperback

Published December 9, 2016

About the author

I taught English for many years and completed my debut novel, Death and Deception, when I escaped the classroom and could finally stop marking essays.

These days I write, walk, and bend a bit in yoga. I have a husband and two cats, and live in the East Devon countryside. I am a passionate supporter of wildlife, and am vice-chair of trustees at a local animal sanctuary - after all, animals have no voice but ours to speak for them.

With the publication of the second book in the Dan Hellier Crime series, I guess I'm planning several years of adventures for the team in the apparently peaceful city of Exeter, England. As I live in a small village, where the usual crime rate is zero, it was with great pleasure that I set the books in and around Exeter, an ancient Roman city which has seen its fair share of murder and mayhem over the centuries. Death and the Good Son takes the action out of the city and towards the estuary. Book 3 will extend even further along the Jurassic coastline.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death and The Good Son is the second novel in the DI Dan Hellier series, as the book does refer to something that happens in the first novel, I do think it would be beneficial to have read the first book before this one.

Dan and his team really have their work cut out with their current cases. I mean bodies with no hands or heads? Obviously trying to identify these victims is going to be very difficult and I was really intrigued how they were going to get to the bottom of it. Then to also have the death of a young lad which is due to drugs, I could really feel the pressure the team were finding themselves under.

What I really loved about this novel is how it flowed. It has a great cast of characters and due to the gripping story line also, I was well and truly hooked. Sometimes my level of interest can drop at times but this is one author who commanded my attention through out the whole book.

Dan and his team have one of the best working relationships I’ve ever read in a crime series. This is one very tight unit. Sally I absolutely love and at times she brings some light hearted relief to the story. You can’t help but be as interested in Dan’s personal life as well as his working life. These are characters that will certainly capture the reader and have them routing for them.

The author skilfully leads the reader into different directions that kept me doubting and guessing so that there was some shocking surprises in store. It was one that I actually didn’t want to end.

Death and The Good Son is a crime series I would highly recommend. If you love authors like R C Bridgestock you are going to love this authors books.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found on www.novelgossip.com

I had such fun reading this one, which is not a word I would usually choose to describe my reading experience when I’m engrossed in a mystery/thriller. However, there was such an endearing quality to this book that really added so much depth and substance to the story that fun is exactly how I have to explain my time with this book.

This is the second book in a series but I didn’t read the first one but I’m regretting that now. It read perfectly well on it’s own though, any pertinent backstory was explained to my satisfaction and I didn’t experience any confusion at all. DI Hellier is the protagonist here and I really warmed to him. He’s sharp, fast on his feet and a quick thinker, all good qualities for a competent DI. The rest of the team was compromised of Sally, Lizzie, Adam, Ben and Bill. All of them have a great sense of camaraderie and are willing to go the extra mile to solve a case. Thank god for that, because they have their work cut out for them when they’re tasked with solving two cases simultaneously. First, two skeletons are found in a bog but they’re missing their heads and hands. Doesn’t get much creepier than that. Meanwhile, a local teenager dies after taking a bad batch of drugs and the team must work quickly to get the dealer off their streets.

Some of my favorite scenes were when Dan and Sally were working the cases together. They have an amazing rapport and they gave me a good laugh when they ribbed each other. Young Adam, the newbie to the team also added some lighthearted moments when he was rather eager to impress his superiors. I so appreciate when authors add humor and warmth to crime novels, it’s such a nice touch and it really breaks things up. There was a perfect balance between Dan’s personal and professional life which really allows the reader to connect with him on a deeper level.

Crime fiction fans looking for a new series have no need to look further, this is an excellent book to lose yourself in. This took quite a few surprising turns and there were some great action scenes that got my heart beating faster. I’ll be anxiously waiting for the next book in the series and I may even try and squeeze the first book into my TBR at some point.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Elspeth Price and her dog, Topsy, make a grim discovery on Dartmoor, she is thoroughly delighted. Convinced it is a discovery of archaeological importance, she calls in an expert from Exeter University. Dr Neil Pargeter understands the significance of the find, that this is not a pre-historic 'bog body', more a burial site, the bones Topsy found likely belonging to an altogether more recent victim. He calls in the police and the case is assinged to DI Dan Hellier and his team to investigate. As they begin to excavate the body, they begin to realise how hard this case will be. For there is not one body but two and both are missing the elements that could ease identification. Their heads and hands are missing and nobody fitting their limited descriptions has ever been reported missing.

To compound their problems, despite a number of successful raids shutting down a lot of the local drug dealers, a group of teenage boys are admitted to hospital in a serious condition having taken a tainted batch of Mephedrone or MCat, a previously legal high. When one of the teenagers dies, it is down to Hellier and his team to track the source of the drugs before anyone else gets hurt.

With the families of the boys also seeking revenge, an Hellier find out who is responsible before they can mete out their own kind of justice. The investigation brings them a little too close to home for some connected to the team and with some very dangerous men in the frame, Hellier, still haunted by the mistakes of his last major investigation, knows there is a lot to lose if he gets this wrong again.

…

'Death and the Good Son' is a really gripping and intriguing story which I whizzed through in a few hours. From the drugs raid opening, to the discovery of the bodies in the bog, the investigation and the pace never wavers. There is an ever building sense of frustration among the officers about their inability to identify their 'boggies' and a growing sense of dread over the chances of a new dealer on the streets selling tainted drugs to unsuspecting teenagers. Although we know who is responsible for selling the drugs early on, we do not know their source and Miss Steadman keenly fills the narrative with misdirection to keep those repsonsible well hidden until the end.

The characters in this book are very well developed. From the straight and somewhat guilt ridden Dan Hellier, to the overly excited, bound to make mistakes rookie, Adam Foster, you have a clear picture of all of them. The sense of team is established really early on. I really liked the dynamic between Hellier and his DS Sally Ellis but all of the team worked and there was a fine balance between compassion and professional for all. And I like the camaraderie which built between Hellier and Dr Pargeter, and his more gentle relationship with Claire. The elements of personal life, for all of the characters in fact, even the suspects, make it easier to relate and to feel invested in the story.

What I really enjoyed, and possibly because I've spent a lot of my career working down and around Exeter, was that I could really picture the scene being set. I smiled at the mention of the Countess Wear (how many times have I stayed at that Premier Inn?), I know Topsham, and I could picture the scene as Hellier tried to clamber up onto the M5 as the trucks trundle past on their way to Newquay or Plymouth. I love it when that happens. It makes a book come to life for me.

The chapters are short, and drive the action onward as a result. I was wondering just how, or if, the two cases came together, or if they were just to demonstrate how over worked and underfunded the police forces were. What the author does with these two stories is very clever and she highlights, quite clearly, just how callous and unremorseful one of our perpetrators truly is. She also leads us to question whether true evil is inherent or if it is brought about by conditioning. You can read and make up your own mind.

A very twisty 4 stars from me

[Susan Hampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well who would have thought that a little old lady with her dog would be over the moon about finding a dead body, in fact who would have thought that a little old lady with her dog would go out purposely hunting for a dead body in the first place? To be fair she was looking for something a little more ancient than what she found and boy was she disappointed bless her. What begins as the discovery off two headless and handless bodies, that have been buried round about 10 years earlier, quickly becomes a mystery to why has no one missed them?
This is the first novel that I have read by this author and although it is second in the series I always felt comfortable with the characters, which the author brought me up to speed on when needed, but if you can do read in order.   I clicked with D.I. Dan Hellier from the beginning, Met trained but now working in Devon he has a cracking team that can be a little over enthusiastic at times. But when a young lad dies from taking a bad batch of drugs and another is left in a coma things heat up in town and the force are stretched to the limit. Stuck a little between a rock and a hard place.
B. A. Steadman can certainly tell a story that keeps you engrossed, as you feel the speed of reading becoming quicker with the pace of urgency to stop further bad drugs appearing on the street. I love a book that creates clear pictures in my mind not words but a whole movie playing there, well she does this with her writing, it has crisp and vivid descriptions of the characters and places and even the smells which kick the brain into mimicking them just for that second. It all makes for a very memorable novel. A super end.
A brilliantly structured plot that kept me guessing how it would all come together. Loved it!
I wish to thank Bloodhound Books for a copy of this book which I have chosen to review

[Elainedav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death and the Good Son is the second in the DI Hellier series. I had not read the first and this doesn't matter - the book stands alone well. Having said that, I will probably go back and read number one, as this one was so good.

DI Hellier is based in Exeter. He picks up one case somewhere in Dartmoor and a second case on the edge of town. The two stories are cleverly twisted together and you are left wondering whether there could be a connection. Also intriguing is the book title and when or how this will be referenced into the storyline. It all comes together in the end!

The writing style reminded me very much of James Patterson in that the chapters are short and there are lots of them. I particularly like this as it means I can read little bits at a time and get to a good place to stop again quickly. Lots of my reading time is structured like this.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Caz C Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Bernie Steadman’s second book in the ‘Detective Hellier Series’ and it’s rapidly becoming one of my favourite detectives! You can perfectly read it as a stand-alone, however I feel having read the first book is not only insightful, but it also enhances the feeling of reconnecting with old friends. DI Dan Hellier is now fully accepted and respected by his team. Together with his right hand, DS Sally Ellis, and colleagues as DC Sam Knowles and DC Lizzy Singh, they are a formidable team!

DI Hellier, whose foot still is not fully healed from having a car run over it in the first book of the series 'Death and Deception' struggles to keep a new and eager member of his team under control: DC Adam Foster, who can barely hide his excitement at being 'part of the action', a drugs raid. Once the operation has succeeded, there's a new case waiting for the team: two bodies have been found in a bog on Dartmoor. Time to call in Dr Neil Pargeter from the University Archeology Department, because it seems the bodies have been lying there for quite some time. It will be a difficult task and challenging to identify the bodies since the heads and hands have been removed from both bodies.

Who are the two people whose bodies were dumped in the bog? And how long have they been lying there, unnoticed by anyone until the present fateful day? Ten or maybe even fifteen years? The pathologist will have to establish a cause of death for the two bodies, but for the timeframe he's happy to work with the archeologist Pargeter. Hellier and Pargeter connect and Hellier feels it's about time he found a friend here in Exeter. Hellier also has a girlfriend: the lovely Claire, a teacher who was assaulted in the first book in the series. It seems Hellier is finally able to settle down, to make Exeter his own.

However something terrible happens that will put the team under enormous pressure: at a party five teenagers became sick after taking a party drug called 'MCat.' They've been taken to hospital, but two of them are in a bad condition, so much so that they are in a coma. The two boys are the 15-year old friends Ryan Carr and Lee Bateson. This is completely different, but the more hazardous because youngsters taking a party drug they think (or want to believe) is legal do not realize the consequences of taking illegal drugs. The consequences are serious this time because Ryan Carr dies in hospital following the intake of this so called 'MCat'. Hellier needs to take action quickly because the prospect of many more youngsters taking bad 'MCat', with horrendous results, is terrifying.

Who can blame the family members for their involvement, but will it cause an outbreak of violence, barely controllable by the police? The detective team have now two cases to work on and both are demanding: the identity of the bog murder victims is very difficult to establish, with hardly any leads to follow. To find the one responsible for bringing batches of the faulty 'MCat' onto the market, delivering those lethal drugs to youngsters, proves even harder. The reader knows the name of the drug dealer, but has no idea who it is, where he gets his drugs from, who was responsible for making the 'MCat'. As the police are determined to catch the drug dealers, even if they have to go undercover, violent events happen that cause the police investigations to halt, much to the disappointment of Dan Hellier.

Follow DI Dan Hellier and his team as they leave no stone unturned to identify the bog bodies as well as their murderer, and find the culprits responsible for supplying youngsters with illegal and lethal drugs. Where the urgency to find the identities and the murderer of the bog bodies is not high, the pressure is on to find the drug dealers, for taking the bad 'MCat' off the market. I enjoyed meeting the detective team again, finding DI Dan Hellier now more confident in his role as their head and seeing him accepted by them as such. It's a pleasure to see how the various team members interact and cooperate, most of the time that is. What I especially love about B.A. (Bernie) Steadman's detective series is the pleasant pace of the crime thriller and the fact that the plot is intertwined with the personal lives of the main characters.

Read the full review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/death-...

[Sarah Maleficent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death and the good son is the second in the series featuring D.I. Hellier. Now, i confess, i haven't read the first one Death and deception, however, this one was fine to read as a standalone.There were discreet references to the previous novel, but this was only used to enhance and explain the situations and feelings in the book. Added more credence to the novel as a whole.

It starts off with Bog bodies. Two bodies found headless and handless in the bogs of Dartmoor. The remains near on skeletal. Looking like they may have been there for a period of time rather than fresh, Dr Neil Pargeter is called upon to to arrange excavation and examination of them due to his expertise in forensics.

Elsewhere, someone is selling a bad batch of m-cat, up until recently, a drug classed as a legal high.At one party there are 5 kids affected, some hospitalised and one dead. Forcing this into a murder investigation.

Now, throw in an animal rescue centre, the retreat. A sanctuary run by the family Garret, Mum and 2 sons, Moss and Merlin.

Could all of these be related? and if so, how?

Right from the start the author puts you in the thick of it. You know when it opens immediately with the discovery of bodies, you are not in for an easy ride. It starts fast paced and intense. I'm very pleased to say that the whole book continues in that same vein.
The characters are well thought out and have a great depth that allows the reader to fully engage with them and their emotions.
D.I. Hellier has clearly now shown his team who he is and what he can do and take on. In return it is clear that they like him and respect him. He needs to pull on all of his reserves when dealing with these cases. The families of the dead boy and his friend are out for revenge.It will take all his powers of communication and diplomacy to keep them under control whilst still working the case.
D.C. Foster is a young man, desperate to prove himself to the team. With this in mind, and his eagerness, he does have a tendency to jump in feet first in some situations. He himself needs to learn control, otherwise he runs the risk of jeopardising the investigations and the lives of himself and his team.
Each character brings something to this book, from Dan to Hellier to Adam Foster, to Sam, Lizzie and Sally. I found they all complemented each other beautifully, and all served a purpose.

I did find it difficult for the first chapter or two, i had to re-read a couple of times to make sure i had all the names and where they fitted in. (Obviously, had i read Death and deception first, i feel this wouldn't have been an issue anyway) Once i got over that i found the story drew me in and i couldn't put it down.There was no good place to stop and take a break, as the pace was brilliant and made you feel like you'd miss something if you left it. It was always "just this bit and then i'll stop" (Never happened!)
Not your basic crime/mystery novel i was pleasantly surprised at some of the impromptu twists and turns that were thrown up whilst reading it.
I'd highly recommend this book. I'm looking forward to the next. But in the meantime. i have the pleasure of going back to the start and reading Death and Deception.

Although received as an ARC from Bloodhound books, all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Aidy Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the second in the DI Dan Hellier series, I’ve not actually read the first one, but this book worked perfectly well as a standalone novel. Set in Devon and Cornwall, the story follows Hellier and his team as they investigate the case of two bodies that have been found in a bog. The bodies seem to have been there some time, so the help of archaeologist Pargeter is enlisted. Elsewhere, a bad batch of the party drug “M-Kat” is doing the rounds, five teenagers have fallen ill after taking it, and when one of the youngsters die, the trail leads Hellier to a very nasty family indeed….

Within pages of starting this book it had me gripped with its mean claws and wouldn’t let me go! This is one of those books that once you start you can’t put down, as I stayed up till all hours to get it finished. It was like “Breaking Bad” only with poor quality merchandise making the consumers very ill indeed. The characters are well-developed, I found myself wanting to know more about Dan Hellier. He runs a tight ship and his team work well together, the dynamics giving life to the characters on page. I was frustrated with myself that I hadn’t gone in and read the first in the series before I started this as I would have liked more detail on the back story, but that’s just me personally.

There are some shocking twists in the story that keep you guessing along the way, as not everything is as it first seems. This is a fast paced novel with short chapters to keep excitement and suspense cranked up to the maximum. There is plenty of misdirection sending the reader in the wrong direction (which I love) making this an intriguing and eventful read.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes crime or mystery, as there is a bit of both genre thrown in there. Overall rating four fabulous stars. I need to go and read Death and Deception now! Thanks to BA Steadman and the lovely team over at Bloodhound Books for my advanced reader copy and the chance to take part in the Blog Tour.

[Nicki Southwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a cracking read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

DI Dan Hellier is still making his mark in the police force in Devon, after starting his career in the Met.

Two headless and handless skeletons are found on Dartmoor. Who are they and how long have they been there?

Once this enquiry starts, progress is very slow, until they can establish their identity, another case arrives. A young man is found dead from a suspicious batch of Mcat. His friend in the next bed is also in a coma but expected to live.

Their enquiries eventually lead them to The Retreat, an animal sanctuary, and Moss Garrett who has been dealing drugs. This, they think, is where the contaminated drugs come from.

Amazingly, tests reveal that the two headless skeletons are from New Zealand. They went missing years earlier and their Land Rover is found at The Haven.

Once they begin a search, a quantity of chemicals is unearthed and then a body in the Land Rover which is hidden in a field. Will there be more evidence?

I like the main characters, especially DI Dan Hellier.

I will not spoil the ending but suffice to say I highly recommend this as a great read. It certainly deserves my 5 stars.

I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to Bloodhound Books for this opportunity,

[Misfits farm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the Devon and Cornwall area, two bodies are found in the local bog. Are they historical remains or recent murders? Meanwhile drugs are being dealt with lethal consequences. DI Dan Hellier and his team have their hands full. A young man is dead and another critical. Drugs are being “doctored” so where are the ingredients being sourced?
I love the characters in this book, they really come to life as we get snippets of their personal lives and loves and quirks as real people, not just the main aspect. A gripping story of life and twists and turns to keep you enthralled. The descriptions are vivid of scenes and people to get you deep into the story. I loved the last chapter- a lovely personal ending, A thoroughly enjoyable, enticing read.

I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death and The Good Son is the 2nd book Of Detective Hellier series but it can be read as a standalone. Two headless and handless bodies are found in a bog in Dartmoor. Di Hellier is set to investigate.

Then another investigate comes in, when a boy dies and others end up in hospital after taking the drug Mcat after the ingredients being doctored. So DI Hellier has both cases to deal with.

The drugs investigation leads them to a place called the retreat where unwanted animals are kept. Where the owners Moss Garrett and mother Anne are investigated.

I liked this book there was likeable characters and I liked the relationships between the teams. I thought it was very realistic and kept me gripped throughout.

Thank you Bloodhound Books for and ARC of this book.

[Craig Gillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Real rollercoaster of a book, enjoyed reading it and wondering where the story was going to take us next. Great team of detectives that I'd like to read more of

[M.K. Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, the second Detective Hellier novel. Hellier seems more relaxed and has settled into his role in Exeter and is beginning to make his mark. With murder, teenage drugs death, and the discovery of headles bodies in a bog, both he and his team find themselves stretched. This novel introduces some interesting characters which I'm guesing may appear in future novels. Twists, turns and overlaps to a satisfying ending.

[David Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story

BA Steadman has created great characters who you can empathise with. Excellent story line which made me read it in two settings. Can't wait for the next one.

[Lady Penelope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this - hadn't read any of these before. After reading this I went for the 1st one in the series - love DI Hellier and the others can't wait for the next one.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit that this book was my first encounter with DI Hellier and his team. I have the first book ‘Death & Deception’ on my gigantic ‘To Be Read’ pile but I just hadn’t got around to reading it. Shame on me. Needless to say after reading this book I have realized just what I have been missing out on. ‘Death & Deception’ has made a Usain Bolt like charge right to the top of the pile.
‘Death & The Good Son’ deals with two apparently unconnected cases. The first case deals with the topical subject of (not so) legal highs and the consequences of what happens when things go wrong. The second case deals with the discovery of two bodies in a bog, who have had their heads and hands removed to prevent identification. I don’t want to say too much more about the progress of the inquiries as I don’t want to spoil the story for anybody. However, what I will say is that there are more twists, turns and stomach churning moments within these two cases than you would experience on a rollercoaster ride.
I loved most of the main characters. DI Dan Hellier is a workaholic copper, who is determined to get to the truth and seek justice for the victims. This book sees Hellier return to work after a tragic ending to a case, which haunts Hellier to this day. As is often the case, he does have skeletons in the closet that he tries to keep hidden from his work colleagues. DI Hellier is not afraid to muck in with the investigation and he loves getting his hands dirty. He has a dedicated and well balanced team beneath him and each has each others backs. I loved the character of DS Sally Ellis. She is one feisty lady who is dedicated to her work but she is also a mother of twins. Sally has a good support network behind her with a mother who steps in to care for the twins when Sally needs to work late. As for the Garrett family well what can you say? All I will say about them is that appearances can be deceptive.
B.A.Steadman uses such language that you can actually imagine that you are there in the county and you are taking part in the investigation. I really did feel as though I was an invisible member of the team. In fact, I would love to work with DI Dan Hellier and his team. I know it’s fiction but I have a vivid imagination and I have a tendency to get far too involved with the story. It’s almost as if I live the story.
I loved the setting of Devon & Cornwall. I visited Cornwall when I was a child and I love going back there. It was refreshing to read a book that is set outside the usual areas of London, Manchester, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
In short I absolutely LOVED this book and I would definitely recommend it to others. I would definitely easily award this book 5* out of 5* and I would award it more stars if I could have as it really is that good. I can’t wait to read further books in the series featuring DI Dan Hellier and his team and I look forward to discovering more about the individual team members.

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 star review.

Thank you to Bloodhound Books who kindly gave me an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I am aware that one of the most difficult parts of writing a book is choosing the title and sometimes the title turns out to be the biggest spoiler.

This is the first book I have read by B A Steadman but is the 2nd in the series. Given that I would have expected it to have been proof read to a higher standard but this is an advance copy, and therefore some of the errors could have been corrected in the published version, but I found several errors for example:
"Sally Ellis stood with her hands on her hips.......finishing a cheese sandwich
and swigging from a mug of tea" (Chapter 45)
quite an achievement for 2 hands. However, I have read bigger errors in books at the high cost level and it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book.

I found the story a bit slow going in places. I assume the descriptive sections were an attempt to build depth in the characters but it didn't work very well for me.

I did grow to love Dan and Sally who are both well rounded compassionate characters and as I haven't read book 1 I could have missed some character building.

The story is a very good one related to the myth of bodies in the bogs on Dartmoor. It sees many different areas of expertise working together to solve the mystery of the bog bodies. When a bad drugs case gets thrown into the mix the police find themselves juggling cases. There are many different threads to the story and unexpected links are discovered.

I struggled with parts of the book and found myself skim reading sections up to about 70% then it evolved from being an okay book to the gripping page turner with twists and turns that I love. Unfortunately the lack of adrenaline pumping action and too much about house decor lost it a few marks but it is still a very good read.

[Chris Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC of this book by Bloodhound Books in exchange for a fair and honest review. I had already read the first book in this new series featuring DI Dan Hellier, recently moved from the Met to rural Devon, and was looking forward to seeing how that would be followed up. In no way was I disappointed; the character of Dan is nicely developed and the crime at the heart of the story is fascinating. Long may this promising series continue!

[Amy Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down

Even better than Book 1 in the series which was awfully good for a rookie author. The characters were more interesting with more depth - something you would expect as a saga continues. But Book 2's plot was just as intricate as Book 1's but much tighter and easier to follow. I'm looking forward to Book 3.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this in return for an honest review. Thank you Bloodhound Books. This the second book in the Detective Hellier series. I have not read the first book in the series which is Death and Deception. I personally feel you can read Death and the Good Son without reading the first book and still understand the story. I hope to read more of Detective Hellier in the future.

[Mary Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read with a nice bunch of characters taking on personalities to make them memorable. A good story though a bit ‘tidy’ in the ending, this book was not as ‘snappy’ as it’s predecessor. Despite that, enjoyable and I will read more.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining, Dan Hellier runs a tight team and the action is pacey enough to keep you reading, far in to the night in my case. I cannot find a third in the series, I hope there will be one.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

This is a great story. Keeps you guessing right up to the very end. Glad I found this new author and series.

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like tv series like Midsomer Murders you will like this book.

[Naomi Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book and I like the characters more and more. The plot turned about and tied up beautifully and I still love reading about all the murderous doings in an area I'm familiar with.

[Laura Blew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting, well paced, with a satisfying conclusion

I thoroughly enjoyed the first in the Dan Hellier series and this did not disappoint either. Although part of a series, it's a standalone novel. It's refreshing for a crime thriller to be set somewhere other than London or the US, and as a native of the South West it adds a little something to a narrative when it involves places I know. Great storyline, rapidly gaining pace towards the end. The conclusion was extremely satisfying.

[Monica Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book in the series, and although I hadn't read the first one, this book was perfectly fine as a standalone.

A solid book with great characters, I really enjoyed it.

Dan Hellier is a man on a mission - he has two handless, headless corpses to try and identify and on top of that, he has several teenagers who have taken some dodgy drugs. Then he has an odd family who run an animal retreat to contend with....how these three very different cases and people intersect, is the premise of the story. It wasn't until somewhere towards the end of the book that I realised who the Good Son was, and that was well done too.

This really was a clever book and a very good read.

Highly recommended from me.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to Bloodhound Books and the author. Looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Dan Helliers new case consists of two headless, handless corpses buried on Dartmoor. Then a teen dies from an overdose.
The 2nd Hellier book, can be read as a standalone. A good book and looking forward to more.

[Dawn Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, I loved the setting, the characters and the storyline, very well written a good read