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DI Mariner #8
A Good Death
Detective Inspector Tom Mariner investigates a suspected arson attack and a missing bridegroom in this latest intriguing mystery.
When an elderly man dies in a house fire, the investigating officers are left baffled as to whether the blaze was accidental or started deliberately. If arson, was it a random attack - or part of a personal vendetta? It's not the first time the Shah family has been targeted.
At the same time, DI Mariner is searching for a missing bridegroom who has vanished two weeks before his wedding. A case of cold feet? Or is there something more sinister behind his disappearance?
Two seemingly unrelated investigations - but there is more to each case than meets the eye. And when a second body is found, events take a decidedly darker turn.
When an elderly man dies in a house fire, the investigating officers are left baffled as to whether the blaze was accidental or started deliberately. If arson, was it a random attack - or part of a personal vendetta? It's not the first time the Shah family has been targeted.
At the same time, DI Mariner is searching for a missing bridegroom who has vanished two weeks before his wedding. A case of cold feet? Or is there something more sinister behind his disappearance?
Two seemingly unrelated investigations - but there is more to each case than meets the eye. And when a second body is found, events take a decidedly darker turn.
235 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 1, 2017
About the author
Chris Collett
21 books144 followersChris Collett grew up in a Norfolk seaside town where she worked in a boarding house (now defunct) a local bakery (closed down) and a crisp factory (razed to the ground). After leaving school, Chris moved to Liverpool to train as a teacher for children with learning disabilities, including autism. Now a recently retired university lecturer, Chris is married with two grown up children and lives in Birmingham, on DI Tom Mariner's 'patch'. She has published short stories, teaches creative and crime writing and is a manuscript assessor for the Crime Writers Association.
All 8 books of the DI Tom Mariner series are released in revised editions by Joffe Books, along with a new standalone: The Truth About Murder.
Find out more at www.chriscollettcrime.co.uk
All 8 books of the DI Tom Mariner series are released in revised editions by Joffe Books, along with a new standalone: The Truth About Murder.
Find out more at www.chriscollettcrime.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
June 13, 2017
DI Tom Mariner returns in this crime thriller having to investigate a suspected arson attack on a private home and in an unrelated case, a missing man.
The missing man is due to be married in 2 weeks. So did he get cold feet? Or is there something else at play? Talking to his friends and family, there seems to be no reason. But when they inspect his apartment, they find women's clothing that is way to big to belong to the petite woman he is to marry. So is he involved with another woman?
A house fire took the life of an elderly man. The fire inspectors are having a problem determining whether is was accidental ... or arson. If arson, who would want to burn the residents out? Being of a different religion, the family has been targeted before. Or are they going for the insurance?
Mariner has his hands full, especially as his professional and personal life seem to collide. His brother is in a care home and ill. He and his girlfriend are having a personal issue that neither of them seem to be able to talk about.
There are allusions to previous books, but does well as a stand alone. The characters are well defined. A few surprises pop up here and there that keep the reader compelled to continue reading. This one may be a good series to start from the beginning.
Many thanks to the author / Severn House Publishers / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The missing man is due to be married in 2 weeks. So did he get cold feet? Or is there something else at play? Talking to his friends and family, there seems to be no reason. But when they inspect his apartment, they find women's clothing that is way to big to belong to the petite woman he is to marry. So is he involved with another woman?
A house fire took the life of an elderly man. The fire inspectors are having a problem determining whether is was accidental ... or arson. If arson, who would want to burn the residents out? Being of a different religion, the family has been targeted before. Or are they going for the insurance?
Mariner has his hands full, especially as his professional and personal life seem to collide. His brother is in a care home and ill. He and his girlfriend are having a personal issue that neither of them seem to be able to talk about.
There are allusions to previous books, but does well as a stand alone. The characters are well defined. A few surprises pop up here and there that keep the reader compelled to continue reading. This one may be a good series to start from the beginning.
Many thanks to the author / Severn House Publishers / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 6, 2016
This is my first experience of the work of Chris Collett author of the Tom Mariner series but I have already made plans to read more.
Detective Inspector Tom Mariner investigates a suspected arson attack and a missing bridegroom in two seemingly unrelated investigations. In one case a elderly man dies in a house fire leaving the investigating officers baffled as to whether the blaze was accidental or started deliberately. This is not the first time that the Shah family has been targeted so could it be part of an on-going personal vendetta or just a random attack.
The second case surrounds a missing bridegroom who has vanished two weeks before his wedding. Tom Mariner investigates trying to determine if it is just the groom having second thoughts or is there something more sinister behind the disappearance.
This book gave me a god grounding to the main characters and I will read more from this series.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Severn House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
Detective Inspector Tom Mariner investigates a suspected arson attack and a missing bridegroom in two seemingly unrelated investigations. In one case a elderly man dies in a house fire leaving the investigating officers baffled as to whether the blaze was accidental or started deliberately. This is not the first time that the Shah family has been targeted so could it be part of an on-going personal vendetta or just a random attack.
The second case surrounds a missing bridegroom who has vanished two weeks before his wedding. Tom Mariner investigates trying to determine if it is just the groom having second thoughts or is there something more sinister behind the disappearance.
This book gave me a god grounding to the main characters and I will read more from this series.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Severn House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
September 23, 2021
RIVETING ROLLERCOASTER MYSTERY!
DARKEST LIES kicks off with a horrific tragedy in the night. The scene is too dangerous to explore. A man with a tenuous personal connection mysteriously goes missing. A gruesome discovery complicates the investigation into the overnight catastrophe raising suspicion. A riveting rollercoaster of baffling mysteries. The twists and turns will keep you guessing as the pages fly by leading to a dynamite conclusion you won't see coming.
DARKEST LIES kicks off with a horrific tragedy in the night. The scene is too dangerous to explore. A man with a tenuous personal connection mysteriously goes missing. A gruesome discovery complicates the investigation into the overnight catastrophe raising suspicion. A riveting rollercoaster of baffling mysteries. The twists and turns will keep you guessing as the pages fly by leading to a dynamite conclusion you won't see coming.
July 31, 2018
Riveting Reading
I can hardly wait for the next Tom Mariner mystery. Once I start reading, I don't want to put it down! Excellent reading.
I can hardly wait for the next Tom Mariner mystery. Once I start reading, I don't want to put it down! Excellent reading.
October 27, 2016
I would like to thank Netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of A Good Death, the eighth police procedural to feature DCI Tom Mariner. This is a series I have always meant to get round to reading, but so many books, so little time I never did so I jumped at the chance of reading A Good Death.
Tom is in bed when he wakes up and smells smoke. He follows the smell and arrives in time to help Selwa Shah and her two children out of their burning house. Unfortunately the fire is too hot for him to rescue her father. Arson is suspected so Tom leads the investigation into possible culprits. At the same time he is contacted by Gaby Boswell, a recent acquaintance, asking for help as her fiancé, Sam Fleetwood, has disappeared two weeks before the wedding. The novel centres on Tom and his team's investigation into the two cases.
I do like a good police procedural and A Good Death fits the bill. Apart from the opening chapter featuring a character called Talayeh who doesn't feature again until late in the novel it is all told from the team's point of view with different characters featuring in different chapters. The reader doesn't have the extra knowledge so prevalent nowadays from insights into the perpetrator's thoughts and actions and has to follow the investigation. I much prefer it this way as it concentrates the mind on the clues at hand. I did guess Sam's secret early on but I had no idea about the rest. The novel runs along traditional lines with snippets of information leading to new lines of enquiry until connecting it all together leads to a result. The pacing is good with just enough revealed at any one time to keep you turning the pages. It is not, however, all investigation as the team's home lives gets a mention as well.
I can't say I particularly warmed to Tom Mariner as I don't think I got a real feel for his character or motivations. This may be because I am coming cold to an established series but to me he seems a little drab. I like the rest of the team who seem so much warmer and engaged.
A Good Death will engage your attention and hold it so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
Tom is in bed when he wakes up and smells smoke. He follows the smell and arrives in time to help Selwa Shah and her two children out of their burning house. Unfortunately the fire is too hot for him to rescue her father. Arson is suspected so Tom leads the investigation into possible culprits. At the same time he is contacted by Gaby Boswell, a recent acquaintance, asking for help as her fiancé, Sam Fleetwood, has disappeared two weeks before the wedding. The novel centres on Tom and his team's investigation into the two cases.
I do like a good police procedural and A Good Death fits the bill. Apart from the opening chapter featuring a character called Talayeh who doesn't feature again until late in the novel it is all told from the team's point of view with different characters featuring in different chapters. The reader doesn't have the extra knowledge so prevalent nowadays from insights into the perpetrator's thoughts and actions and has to follow the investigation. I much prefer it this way as it concentrates the mind on the clues at hand. I did guess Sam's secret early on but I had no idea about the rest. The novel runs along traditional lines with snippets of information leading to new lines of enquiry until connecting it all together leads to a result. The pacing is good with just enough revealed at any one time to keep you turning the pages. It is not, however, all investigation as the team's home lives gets a mention as well.
I can't say I particularly warmed to Tom Mariner as I don't think I got a real feel for his character or motivations. This may be because I am coming cold to an established series but to me he seems a little drab. I like the rest of the team who seem so much warmer and engaged.
A Good Death will engage your attention and hold it so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.
January 13, 2017
A Good Death exemplifies everything I look for in a police procedural - a well developed set of investigators who are believable on and off the job, one or more well plotted mysteries, an interesting variety of suspects/supporting characters. There are three cases in A Good Death: a death that takes place during a house fire, a man who goes missing on the eve of his wedding, and the death of a researcher. Superficially they are very different, but thematically they go well together. The results are quite surprising - Collett is good at providing readers with twists. I liked Constable Kevin "Brown", the new addition to DI Mariner's team. Despite being almost painfully clumsy, he is dedicated, smart and highly competent. I hope he has a place in the next DI Mariner novel.
A Good Death is a very human police procedural. Personal lives affect the professional lives of DI Mariner and his team, and impact how the cases are approached. It gives the novel a realistic, three dimensional feel. A Good Death is an appealing police procedural, refreshingly different. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern British police procedurals.
5/5
I received a copy of A Good Death from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
A Good Death is a very human police procedural. Personal lives affect the professional lives of DI Mariner and his team, and impact how the cases are approached. It gives the novel a realistic, three dimensional feel. A Good Death is an appealing police procedural, refreshingly different. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys modern British police procedurals.
5/5
I received a copy of A Good Death from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
January 16, 2021
Another excellent Tom Mariner novel. I’ve read the lot now and am eagerly awaiting the next one. A man goes missing two weeks before his wedding. His bride to be is distraught. His sister claims this is completely out of character for her brother but do they really know this man and what was a very important aspect of his life? Read on as Tom and his colleagues unravel the clues.
Meanwhile, Jamie is having some health issues at his care home which Tom becomes worried about and supports Jamie with hospital visits.
Another strand to the story is Suzy, Tom’s sort of partner. Having taken up the offer of a colleague’s offer of accommodation, Suzy finds out some disturbing information about her hitherto uncomplicated university colleague. Finally after the story lines are completed Suzy has some personal information to share with Tom. Tom wanders if he is about to become a father but is he? ..............
Meanwhile, Jamie is having some health issues at his care home which Tom becomes worried about and supports Jamie with hospital visits.
Another strand to the story is Suzy, Tom’s sort of partner. Having taken up the offer of a colleague’s offer of accommodation, Suzy finds out some disturbing information about her hitherto uncomplicated university colleague. Finally after the story lines are completed Suzy has some personal information to share with Tom. Tom wanders if he is about to become a father but is he? ..............
September 26, 2021
Book Eight in the DI Tom Mariner series and its a cracking story.
working along side DS Vicky Jesson at Granville Road station a call out to a fire in Wellington Road the Shahs family home Sawla and her family get out safe her father doesn't make it is this a deliberate attack on this family, the team soon find out as the story entails.
this book is so action packed on going with a lot of twists its an easy stand alone read, I felt pulled into the story from the start, and we learn more of Tom and Suzy as their relationship steps up, brilliant read brilliant
working along side DS Vicky Jesson at Granville Road station a call out to a fire in Wellington Road the Shahs family home Sawla and her family get out safe her father doesn't make it is this a deliberate attack on this family, the team soon find out as the story entails.
this book is so action packed on going with a lot of twists its an easy stand alone read, I felt pulled into the story from the start, and we learn more of Tom and Suzy as their relationship steps up, brilliant read brilliant
December 8, 2016
3 Stars
This book was well written, but was a very slow read.
It starts out with a house fire where one person is killed. Then it slowly moves on to a missing person inquiry.
And oh so painfully slowly, it moves on toward a conclusion.
Thank you to Net galley and Severn House for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.
This book was well written, but was a very slow read.
It starts out with a house fire where one person is killed. Then it slowly moves on to a missing person inquiry.
And oh so painfully slowly, it moves on toward a conclusion.
Thank you to Net galley and Severn House for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.
October 2, 2021
Rather dull
Not really sure what to make of this book. Several stories but none of them particularly capturing and was rather disappointed.
Not really sure what to make of this book. Several stories but none of them particularly capturing and was rather disappointed.
June 4, 2026
A mystery that keeps you guessing.
It’s been a while since I read one of Chris Collett’s DI Mariner books, but after finishing this one I am most certainly going to read the next in the series. This was certainly a compelling and intriguing story. Tom Mariner is faced with not one, but two cases to solve with a small team. However, with a DC on loan from another team, he finds that his limited resources are used very effectively and, as the investigations commence, he gradually sees positive results.
Right from the start, Tom is made aware of a house fire in which he becomes involved in trying to save a mother and her two children. The cause of the fire becomes the subject of an investigation which proves difficult to solve. At the same time, Tom is contacted by a friend of one of his team regarding the possible disappearance of her fiancé. Not concerned enough to make the enquiry official, Tom asks one of his officers to look into it on a casual basis. As both investigations begin to make progress, things become increasingly complicated and extremely interesting.
In the meantime, his personal life begins to improve as his girlfriend starts a new job and moves into new accommodation, which unexpectedly brings with it another mystery that needs to be solved. The ending is a little incomplete, leaving us with a cliffhanger which I am positive will be resolved in the next book. This is a well-written, gentle and yet engrossing book, and it was a pleasure to read.
It’s been a while since I read one of Chris Collett’s DI Mariner books, but after finishing this one I am most certainly going to read the next in the series. This was certainly a compelling and intriguing story. Tom Mariner is faced with not one, but two cases to solve with a small team. However, with a DC on loan from another team, he finds that his limited resources are used very effectively and, as the investigations commence, he gradually sees positive results.
Right from the start, Tom is made aware of a house fire in which he becomes involved in trying to save a mother and her two children. The cause of the fire becomes the subject of an investigation which proves difficult to solve. At the same time, Tom is contacted by a friend of one of his team regarding the possible disappearance of her fiancé. Not concerned enough to make the enquiry official, Tom asks one of his officers to look into it on a casual basis. As both investigations begin to make progress, things become increasingly complicated and extremely interesting.
In the meantime, his personal life begins to improve as his girlfriend starts a new job and moves into new accommodation, which unexpectedly brings with it another mystery that needs to be solved. The ending is a little incomplete, leaving us with a cliffhanger which I am positive will be resolved in the next book. This is a well-written, gentle and yet engrossing book, and it was a pleasure to read.
February 2, 2025
Suzy is thinking of buying a new house - she and Mariner meet an Estate Agent who turns out to be the same part of a Christian network as one of Mariners’s colleagues. Then her fiancé disappears. Meanwhile there’s a fire which kills an elderly man from Yemen that looks like arson. Have read all eight books in this series pretty much in the spin and enjoyed them a lot - wait a minute, there’s a ninth?!
February 10, 2025
3 deaths where all is not what it seems. Just another period in the life of Tom Mariner. A great novel as is expected from the author and his style makes them a joy to read. And Mariner is still single!
May 2, 2025
The first 1/8th of the book was somewhat slow and inundated with fire investigation details, but once the pace picked up, the three mysteries were well set out and interesting.
November 12, 2024
Volume 8 in the series about DI Tom Mariner. He investigates a suspected arson attack, an elderly man is found dead in the house, and the Shah family have been the victims before of racial intolerance. However, they seem curiously reluctant to help the police. Good story, lots of intrigue.
October 8, 2021
Addictive thriller
A house fire and the death of one of his neighbours is the catalyst for a complex and frustrating case that finds DCI Tom Mariner and his loyal team of investigators confronting more dead ends than you would find in a maze. The elderly man victim had been held in high regard by the community and the team had to figure wether he had died due to the accident waiting to happen wiring of the building,a unfortunate accident or had he been murdered? They also had to be aware of multi cultural diversity due to the victim and his families ethnicity. Then, as if the case wasn't complicated enough already, the charred body of a woman was found in the wreckage of the house. Who was she and why hasn't any of the other members of the family mentioned another person being in their home?
The investigation had barely started when Mariner was contacted by Gaby Boswell who he had met at his right hand man Charlie Glover's wedding reception. Gaby was concerned because her fiance Sam Fleetwood had mysteriously disappeared after he had told her that he was going to their new home to construct some flatpack furniture. The concern in Gaby's voice and the fact that she and her father attended the same church as Charlie and his new bride made Mariner feel like it was his responsibility to investigate Sam's disappearance. where was the young man? Had he developed cold feet about his upcoming marriage to Gaby? Where a notorious family behind his disappearance? Or was there another shocking reason for him being missing, one that neither Mariner or the reader will see coming?
With Charlie Glover being away on his honeymoon, Mariner's team was seriously short of officers so it was fortunate that Millie Khatoon had returned back to work after her maturity leave even if she was only working part time hours. They were also joined by PC Kevin Bingley who initially came across like he was related to Mr Bean but he swiftly proved that he was a very intelligent individual and became a real assist to the team. I'll be honest and admit that I have a bit of a crush on Tom Mariner, he is such a likeable individual who genuinely cared about the members of his team no matter how long they had worked with him. Each member of the team was a likeable individual and I liked how they all worked well together and contributed their own personal input into the investigations. I really liked how the author didn't bog down the story with interdepartmental politics and back stabbings.
In the personal front, Mariner and his girlfriend Suzie were both trying their best to ignore the cracks that were starting to appear below the surface of their relationship. Adding to Mariner's problems were his concerns for Jamie and the possibility that history was repeating itself at the care home where he resided.
Darkest Lies is a gripping, addictive page turner that hooks the reader in and keeps you guessing. The plot contains the moral message that you shouldn't judge people from first impressions or because of their social status and ethnicity. Although this is the eighth book in the series, it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. The author has created a fantastic cast of recurring characters, individuals that you enjoy spending your time with and look forward to revisiting again and again. A entertaining, thrilling read and very highly recommended.
A house fire and the death of one of his neighbours is the catalyst for a complex and frustrating case that finds DCI Tom Mariner and his loyal team of investigators confronting more dead ends than you would find in a maze. The elderly man victim had been held in high regard by the community and the team had to figure wether he had died due to the accident waiting to happen wiring of the building,a unfortunate accident or had he been murdered? They also had to be aware of multi cultural diversity due to the victim and his families ethnicity. Then, as if the case wasn't complicated enough already, the charred body of a woman was found in the wreckage of the house. Who was she and why hasn't any of the other members of the family mentioned another person being in their home?
The investigation had barely started when Mariner was contacted by Gaby Boswell who he had met at his right hand man Charlie Glover's wedding reception. Gaby was concerned because her fiance Sam Fleetwood had mysteriously disappeared after he had told her that he was going to their new home to construct some flatpack furniture. The concern in Gaby's voice and the fact that she and her father attended the same church as Charlie and his new bride made Mariner feel like it was his responsibility to investigate Sam's disappearance. where was the young man? Had he developed cold feet about his upcoming marriage to Gaby? Where a notorious family behind his disappearance? Or was there another shocking reason for him being missing, one that neither Mariner or the reader will see coming?
With Charlie Glover being away on his honeymoon, Mariner's team was seriously short of officers so it was fortunate that Millie Khatoon had returned back to work after her maturity leave even if she was only working part time hours. They were also joined by PC Kevin Bingley who initially came across like he was related to Mr Bean but he swiftly proved that he was a very intelligent individual and became a real assist to the team. I'll be honest and admit that I have a bit of a crush on Tom Mariner, he is such a likeable individual who genuinely cared about the members of his team no matter how long they had worked with him. Each member of the team was a likeable individual and I liked how they all worked well together and contributed their own personal input into the investigations. I really liked how the author didn't bog down the story with interdepartmental politics and back stabbings.
In the personal front, Mariner and his girlfriend Suzie were both trying their best to ignore the cracks that were starting to appear below the surface of their relationship. Adding to Mariner's problems were his concerns for Jamie and the possibility that history was repeating itself at the care home where he resided.
Darkest Lies is a gripping, addictive page turner that hooks the reader in and keeps you guessing. The plot contains the moral message that you shouldn't judge people from first impressions or because of their social status and ethnicity. Although this is the eighth book in the series, it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. The author has created a fantastic cast of recurring characters, individuals that you enjoy spending your time with and look forward to revisiting again and again. A entertaining, thrilling read and very highly recommended.
July 13, 2019
A mercy killing, a murder, an honor death...which is the good death? Tom Mariner and Suzy respond to a fire across the canal from Tom's house, in the middle of the night. Tom then helps rescue a woman and her two children, but unable to get to her father, Soltan Ahmed, who was suffering from Alzheimer's and was despondent and dies in the fire. Gerry Docherty is the lead fire investigator who believes that it was arson...and the family has been the target of a fire and other harassment in the neighborhood. At the same time a young man, Sam Fleetwood, who had attended the ceremony of renewing vows of Charlie and Helen Glover, and whom Tom and Suzy met, disappears. Did he continue to investigate Carter's, a waste facility that he thought dodgy, after his boss Figgis, told him to stop. Was Figgis taking kickbacks to overlook things. Though in the beginning it appears that he may have done so to get some space before his wedding, to Gaby Boswell, daughter of wealthy and controlling Clive Boswell, he may also have another woman.
Meanwhile Suzy finds a new cottage on the property of her new friend, who is married to a highly regarded scientist, who is also very ill. Suzy thinks she is very lucky, but here again are some strange happenings...like Rosalind sleeping with the priest who comes to see her ill husband, Professor Gideon Wiley. And when he dies of an overdose of morphine, she admits to assisted death at the request of her husband. Sam Fleetwood appears to have met with foul play, and another body, that of Talayeh Farzi, turns up in the ruins from the Shah home fire. Accidental or was it related to her being a particularly difficult young woman who refuses the marriage to Kaspa Rani, who was embarrassed by her inappropriate behavior.
As the story progresses, the various deaths appear to be one thing and turn out to be another. There are number of twists in each of the deaths A complicated and fascinating story with a creative plot. In this installment, DC Millie Khatoon returns from maternity leave, and a new transfer, PC Kevin Bingley comes to the Constabulary; Tony Knox appears to be permanently gone. In the end Suzy takes a position in China, and leaves Tom's life. Lots of change. Will there be another in this series, since it has been several years since this one was published. Hopefully.
Meanwhile Suzy finds a new cottage on the property of her new friend, who is married to a highly regarded scientist, who is also very ill. Suzy thinks she is very lucky, but here again are some strange happenings...like Rosalind sleeping with the priest who comes to see her ill husband, Professor Gideon Wiley. And when he dies of an overdose of morphine, she admits to assisted death at the request of her husband. Sam Fleetwood appears to have met with foul play, and another body, that of Talayeh Farzi, turns up in the ruins from the Shah home fire. Accidental or was it related to her being a particularly difficult young woman who refuses the marriage to Kaspa Rani, who was embarrassed by her inappropriate behavior.
As the story progresses, the various deaths appear to be one thing and turn out to be another. There are number of twists in each of the deaths A complicated and fascinating story with a creative plot. In this installment, DC Millie Khatoon returns from maternity leave, and a new transfer, PC Kevin Bingley comes to the Constabulary; Tony Knox appears to be permanently gone. In the end Suzy takes a position in China, and leaves Tom's life. Lots of change. Will there be another in this series, since it has been several years since this one was published. Hopefully.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2021
All Done with the Series
Tom Mariner starts off as a DI in the first book and has been promoted to DCI by the end of the series. Throughout the series, Mariner investigates a variety of murders assisted by his team of detectives. The series starts off with Tony Knox, a demoted former detective, now a PC who, by book two, has redeemed himself. Millie Khatoon, who starts as a Family Liaison Officer, but like Tony, finds a niche on Mariner's team. Last (and least utilized) is Charlie Glover who seems to stay in the background but contributes information that often leads to a break in a case.
Of course, over time, the cast of characters change as expected in any real life scenario and the characterizations get a bit thinner. Vicky Lesson is the most developed of the new cast and Bingley the most difficult to picture.
Mariner and his team tackle some of the most gruesome crimes that follow the pattern of two crimes needing investigating concurrently.
Along with crimes, the team has to deal with their social life. Tony can't seem to keep his pants on so has an on-again/off-again relationship with his wife. Millie and Charlie have stable relationships with their significant others. Poor Tom can't seem to get out right and struggles through a couple of relationships and more than a couple of one night stands. His longest relationship is as the guardian of his first love's younger brother; a grown man with severe autism.
This last book seems to wind up the series with four deaths. One accidental, one assisted suicide and two murders (in keeping with the pattern).
I like that Collett gives each character time to develop in the stories and fleshes them out with their own personalities. The plots are pretty standard fare and not always as "gripping" as advertised. Still, the characters make the series worth the time and I still get a kick out of "translating" British English into American English (jumper/sweater and so on).
I say, go for it it you're looking for an affordable (aka KU) read. Just a warning, somewhere around book five or six, there are editing errors that made me think it was written during a session of sleep deprivation.
Tom Mariner starts off as a DI in the first book and has been promoted to DCI by the end of the series. Throughout the series, Mariner investigates a variety of murders assisted by his team of detectives. The series starts off with Tony Knox, a demoted former detective, now a PC who, by book two, has redeemed himself. Millie Khatoon, who starts as a Family Liaison Officer, but like Tony, finds a niche on Mariner's team. Last (and least utilized) is Charlie Glover who seems to stay in the background but contributes information that often leads to a break in a case.
Of course, over time, the cast of characters change as expected in any real life scenario and the characterizations get a bit thinner. Vicky Lesson is the most developed of the new cast and Bingley the most difficult to picture.
Mariner and his team tackle some of the most gruesome crimes that follow the pattern of two crimes needing investigating concurrently.
Along with crimes, the team has to deal with their social life. Tony can't seem to keep his pants on so has an on-again/off-again relationship with his wife. Millie and Charlie have stable relationships with their significant others. Poor Tom can't seem to get out right and struggles through a couple of relationships and more than a couple of one night stands. His longest relationship is as the guardian of his first love's younger brother; a grown man with severe autism.
This last book seems to wind up the series with four deaths. One accidental, one assisted suicide and two murders (in keeping with the pattern).
I like that Collett gives each character time to develop in the stories and fleshes them out with their own personalities. The plots are pretty standard fare and not always as "gripping" as advertised. Still, the characters make the series worth the time and I still get a kick out of "translating" British English into American English (jumper/sweater and so on).
I say, go for it it you're looking for an affordable (aka KU) read. Just a warning, somewhere around book five or six, there are editing errors that made me think it was written during a session of sleep deprivation.
November 3, 2021
Police procedural fans will not want to miss Chris Collett’s page-turning crime thriller, Darkest Lies.
The news that a frail old man has died in a house fire has Detective Tom Mariner racing to the scene. The man in question was Soltan Ahmed and he lived next door to Mariner. The fire was no accident, but a deliberate attack on Ahmed. Was his neighbour just unlucky? Or was this a deliberate attack on the old man? Who started the fire that claimed Ahmed’s life? Mariner will do whatever it takes to untangle this twisted mystery, however, his neighbour’s death is not the only case occupying his time.
Mariner certainly has his hands full, but when he is told to investigate the disappearance of a bridegroom who vanished weeks before his wedding, the intrepid detective cannot help but wonder what made this man leave everything behind so suddenly? Did he get a bad case of cold feet at the eleventh hour? Did the bridegroom just not want to be tied down and ran for the hills in order to avoid a lifelong commitment? The more he investigates, the more questions Mariner has about this case, however, when a shocking discovery is made that changes everything, the shocked detective wonders whether he will ever solve these two impenetrable cases.
The charred body of a young woman is found hidden in the back room of Ahmed’s house. How did this body get there? What was Ahmed’s involvement? And will Mariner ever get to the truth?
Chris Collett’s Darkest Lies is a fast-paced thriller full of twists and turns. Suspenseful, tense and superbly plotted, Darkest Lies is a nail-biting case for Tom Mariner that will pit him against dangerous enemies that will have him questioning who he can trust.
Sure to keep readers gripped from start to finish, Chris Collett’s Darkest Lies is an engrossing crime novel full of grit, chills and thrills that delivers on all counts.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The news that a frail old man has died in a house fire has Detective Tom Mariner racing to the scene. The man in question was Soltan Ahmed and he lived next door to Mariner. The fire was no accident, but a deliberate attack on Ahmed. Was his neighbour just unlucky? Or was this a deliberate attack on the old man? Who started the fire that claimed Ahmed’s life? Mariner will do whatever it takes to untangle this twisted mystery, however, his neighbour’s death is not the only case occupying his time.
Mariner certainly has his hands full, but when he is told to investigate the disappearance of a bridegroom who vanished weeks before his wedding, the intrepid detective cannot help but wonder what made this man leave everything behind so suddenly? Did he get a bad case of cold feet at the eleventh hour? Did the bridegroom just not want to be tied down and ran for the hills in order to avoid a lifelong commitment? The more he investigates, the more questions Mariner has about this case, however, when a shocking discovery is made that changes everything, the shocked detective wonders whether he will ever solve these two impenetrable cases.
The charred body of a young woman is found hidden in the back room of Ahmed’s house. How did this body get there? What was Ahmed’s involvement? And will Mariner ever get to the truth?
Chris Collett’s Darkest Lies is a fast-paced thriller full of twists and turns. Suspenseful, tense and superbly plotted, Darkest Lies is a nail-biting case for Tom Mariner that will pit him against dangerous enemies that will have him questioning who he can trust.
Sure to keep readers gripped from start to finish, Chris Collett’s Darkest Lies is an engrossing crime novel full of grit, chills and thrills that delivers on all counts.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 12, 2017
A Detective Inspector Tom Mariner mystery
DI Mariner is woken in the small hours of a Sunday morning by a tickle of smoke in his nostrils and manages to save a Yemeni mother and her two children from a fiery death but is unable to save her father. The investigation lands on his desk on Monday and him and his team, together with the fire investigation unit work at solving the puzzle of how the fire was started and why.
On top of this a missing person case comes to his desk that may be just a missing person case or could it be more? A man goes missing just days before his wedding, has he gotten cold feet and made a run for it or is there something more sinister to his disappearance?
The book is very well written and I found it impossible to put down. The characters are full of life, diverse and you get to know many surprising aspects of each one, from DI Mariner’s partner, Suzy Yin doing postgraduate work at university; Jaime, his severely autistic legal ward that he is guardian to; Detective Sergeant Vicky Jesson, a single mom of three who manages to balance her family and her police work; Detective Constable Millie Khatoon, returning to work after her maternity leave and Police Constable Kevin Bingley, who is keen, diligent and humble. The two investigations run side by side and piece by piece, using solid detective work, the team solve both cases. The author manages to capture you, pull you into the investigation and keeps you guessing right till the end that you would never in your wildest dreams have imagined. A must read!
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
DI Mariner is woken in the small hours of a Sunday morning by a tickle of smoke in his nostrils and manages to save a Yemeni mother and her two children from a fiery death but is unable to save her father. The investigation lands on his desk on Monday and him and his team, together with the fire investigation unit work at solving the puzzle of how the fire was started and why.
On top of this a missing person case comes to his desk that may be just a missing person case or could it be more? A man goes missing just days before his wedding, has he gotten cold feet and made a run for it or is there something more sinister to his disappearance?
The book is very well written and I found it impossible to put down. The characters are full of life, diverse and you get to know many surprising aspects of each one, from DI Mariner’s partner, Suzy Yin doing postgraduate work at university; Jaime, his severely autistic legal ward that he is guardian to; Detective Sergeant Vicky Jesson, a single mom of three who manages to balance her family and her police work; Detective Constable Millie Khatoon, returning to work after her maternity leave and Police Constable Kevin Bingley, who is keen, diligent and humble. The two investigations run side by side and piece by piece, using solid detective work, the team solve both cases. The author manages to capture you, pull you into the investigation and keeps you guessing right till the end that you would never in your wildest dreams have imagined. A must read!
Saphira
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
November 11, 2016
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
I have read a couple of the previous books in this well written police procedural series set in and around Birmingham and this is number eight in the series. DI Tom Mariner sees flames in the middle of the night and goes to rescue people from a house fire across the canal from his own home. He is unable to rescue on of the inhabitants who dies in the fire. Is this a racially motivated crime? Or is it just a tragic accident?
In addition he is asked to look into the disappearance of a young man who is about to be married. Mariner and his partner Suzy have actually met Sam Fleetwood and his fiancée, Gaby Boswell, at a social occasion though neither knows them well. Mariner is puzzled by both cases and at first seems to be making little progress. He has a new member of his team who looks like being a useful addition when it comes to painstaking attention to detail and it looks as though the cases will be solved by patient attention to detail.
I like the characters in this well written crime story. There is little on the page violence but that doesn't mean the book ignores the darker elements of criminal activities. Mariner himself is an interesting character and I shall definitely be going back and reading the earlier books in this series. I can confirm that it is possible to read the books as standalone novels as there is enough background information for the reader to follow the story of Mariner's private life.
I have read a couple of the previous books in this well written police procedural series set in and around Birmingham and this is number eight in the series. DI Tom Mariner sees flames in the middle of the night and goes to rescue people from a house fire across the canal from his own home. He is unable to rescue on of the inhabitants who dies in the fire. Is this a racially motivated crime? Or is it just a tragic accident?
In addition he is asked to look into the disappearance of a young man who is about to be married. Mariner and his partner Suzy have actually met Sam Fleetwood and his fiancée, Gaby Boswell, at a social occasion though neither knows them well. Mariner is puzzled by both cases and at first seems to be making little progress. He has a new member of his team who looks like being a useful addition when it comes to painstaking attention to detail and it looks as though the cases will be solved by patient attention to detail.
I like the characters in this well written crime story. There is little on the page violence but that doesn't mean the book ignores the darker elements of criminal activities. Mariner himself is an interesting character and I shall definitely be going back and reading the earlier books in this series. I can confirm that it is possible to read the books as standalone novels as there is enough background information for the reader to follow the story of Mariner's private life.
February 11, 2017
I did enjoy A Good Death by Chris Collett but I cannot say that I was enthralled by it. My sense of the book is that it is more of a Ruth Rendell than a Val McDermoid, which means that in reality it is a more gentle description of policing and investigation.
Mariner is the main protagonist and as such he is portrayed as thoughtful, meticulous, but in one sense flawed inasmuch as he questions his relationship and commitment to his girlfriend Suzy. As the narrative unfolds two seemingly separate situations are presented to the detective; one is an arson attack leading to a death and the second is the disappearance of a bridegroom shortly before the wedding.
The plot is clever and well-thought out and gently unfolds. The characters supporting Mariner are well drawn and believable and I particularly liked the character of Brown/Bingley who was also somewhat enigmatic – that said it would be impossible not to like Mariner.
A Good Death is a good read but not thriller packed as mentioned earlier. However, it occurs to me that, if like my friend Mary who would never read a scary, graphic book, this is IDEAL for her and those of you who like a milder detective story without losing any of the plot twists and turns.
Mariner is the main protagonist and as such he is portrayed as thoughtful, meticulous, but in one sense flawed inasmuch as he questions his relationship and commitment to his girlfriend Suzy. As the narrative unfolds two seemingly separate situations are presented to the detective; one is an arson attack leading to a death and the second is the disappearance of a bridegroom shortly before the wedding.
The plot is clever and well-thought out and gently unfolds. The characters supporting Mariner are well drawn and believable and I particularly liked the character of Brown/Bingley who was also somewhat enigmatic – that said it would be impossible not to like Mariner.
A Good Death is a good read but not thriller packed as mentioned earlier. However, it occurs to me that, if like my friend Mary who would never read a scary, graphic book, this is IDEAL for her and those of you who like a milder detective story without losing any of the plot twists and turns.
September 26, 2021
This is book eight in the Detective Tom Mariner series- but all stand happily alone ( I haven’t read all of the others )This was originally published as “A Good Death”.
DI Tom and his girlfriend Suzy are awakened by seeing flames- a neighbour's house is on fire. Tom helps the woman and her children but is unable to get to her father who sadly dies in the blaze. Was this an accident as later fire investigation found some rather dodgy wiring, or arson as there also appears to have been an accelerant?. The family had a small arson attack a few months ago- could this be the same in a racially motivated attack? Tom and Suzy go to a wedding celebration and by chance meet a woman who had just shown them around a house Suzy was looking at. A while later Gaby calls Tom as her fiance has gone missing, something totally out of character for him and the wedding is only a couple of weeks away.
I really enjoy these books- they are easy to get into and there is plenty going on to keep the pages turning and the grey matter active. There are several subplots cleverly woven into the main plot and the characters quickly come alive- to me the sign of a skillful writer. A highly enjoyable read with twists and turns along the way. One to snuggle down with.
DI Tom and his girlfriend Suzy are awakened by seeing flames- a neighbour's house is on fire. Tom helps the woman and her children but is unable to get to her father who sadly dies in the blaze. Was this an accident as later fire investigation found some rather dodgy wiring, or arson as there also appears to have been an accelerant?. The family had a small arson attack a few months ago- could this be the same in a racially motivated attack? Tom and Suzy go to a wedding celebration and by chance meet a woman who had just shown them around a house Suzy was looking at. A while later Gaby calls Tom as her fiance has gone missing, something totally out of character for him and the wedding is only a couple of weeks away.
I really enjoy these books- they are easy to get into and there is plenty going on to keep the pages turning and the grey matter active. There are several subplots cleverly woven into the main plot and the characters quickly come alive- to me the sign of a skillful writer. A highly enjoyable read with twists and turns along the way. One to snuggle down with.
March 22, 2022
Full of absurdities!
This one really stretches the limits of plausibility to the breaking point. The who, how, and why of three murders is truly ridiculous. The amount of time given to useless info to establish red herrings is incredibly disproportunate to the plot. Jamie is a brief afterthought. Mariner continues, more and more annoyingly, to be an immature dolt with relationsships.
And to add insult to injury, a suspicion of "wanking" when a female can't see what the new constable is doing behind the computer!!! Are you kidding??? Speaking of juvenile, the writer certainly reverted to a middle schooler with that one!
Collect should have stopped writing the series before this one,.
This one really stretches the limits of plausibility to the breaking point. The who, how, and why of three murders is truly ridiculous. The amount of time given to useless info to establish red herrings is incredibly disproportunate to the plot. Jamie is a brief afterthought. Mariner continues, more and more annoyingly, to be an immature dolt with relationsships.
And to add insult to injury, a suspicion of "wanking" when a female can't see what the new constable is doing behind the computer!!! Are you kidding??? Speaking of juvenile, the writer certainly reverted to a middle schooler with that one!
Collect should have stopped writing the series before this one,.
February 10, 2017
I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this which I voluntarily reviewed.
I didn't realise this was part of a series but had no problem reading it as a stand alone.
There are 2 stories running parallel, an arson attack and a missing bridegroom. I thought I'd solved the puzzle of the missing bridegroom but was way off the mark.
The characters were all well written. I liked the way the backgrounds of each of the characters were fleshed out. You really felt as if you knew them.
I will certainly be reading more books in this series.
If you enjoy police thrillers without a lot of gory details this is definitely one for you.
I didn't realise this was part of a series but had no problem reading it as a stand alone.
There are 2 stories running parallel, an arson attack and a missing bridegroom. I thought I'd solved the puzzle of the missing bridegroom but was way off the mark.
The characters were all well written. I liked the way the backgrounds of each of the characters were fleshed out. You really felt as if you knew them.
I will certainly be reading more books in this series.
If you enjoy police thrillers without a lot of gory details this is definitely one for you.
February 12, 2017
My original thought on this book was 2 stars, but part of my dislike was the fact that the author and story are English, set in England, with the associated difference in slang, spelling, vocabulary, etc. If I put that bias aside, I give it three. The overall storytelling was fine, but I was a bit disappointed in the the resolutions of the crimes and how there was virtually no hint of what was to come during the book, that I could look back on and say "aha, so that's where that was going".
I'd say read it and decide for yourself, I will probably read other books by the author eventually on a low priority basis.
I'd say read it and decide for yourself, I will probably read other books by the author eventually on a low priority basis.
March 28, 2023
Tom Mariner is on hand when a fire at a neighbours house means the family need help to get out. Unfortunately, he cannot save them all. Then fire investigators find another body in the wreckage. On top of this a bridegroom has gone missing about a week before the wedding. Is this a case of nerves or something more sinister? The team have their work cut out and the latter case ended in a way I was certainly not expecting.
October 5, 2024
An arson attack on the home of the Shahs results in a death, later another body is found. But why was the fire set and by whom. Meanwhile it seems that Sam Fleetwood, soon to be wed has gone missing, cold feet or has he been attacked.
An enjoyable modern mystery
An enjoyable modern mystery
May 27, 2021
Another great novel following Tom Mariner and team
A well written good read with the twist and turns one would expect from a quality detective novel. I did feel it was a little rushed towards the end to tie everything up but that does not distract it from being a worthy read as good as the contemporaries we see made into tv production.
A well written good read with the twist and turns one would expect from a quality detective novel. I did feel it was a little rushed towards the end to tie everything up but that does not distract it from being a worthy read as good as the contemporaries we see made into tv production.
September 26, 2021
Multifaceted main characters, believable quandaries
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mariner is a likeable character who treats his tram members with respect. The author endowed them all with realistic personalities so that there's not only a couple of mysteries to solve, but that's done with a complementary series of workplace characters and their interactions.
Detective Chief Inspector Tom Mariner is a likeable character who treats his tram members with respect. The author endowed them all with realistic personalities so that there's not only a couple of mysteries to solve, but that's done with a complementary series of workplace characters and their interactions.
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