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DI Gardener #2
Imperfection
A haunting message scrawled on the dressing room wall of a theatre: the scene of a murder. It had been written using the blood from the victim, previously drained in a separate location. At the autopsy, D.I. Gardener and D.S. Reilly are shown a riddle carved into the chest of the corpse, informing them there would be more.
Their efforts to find out why are continually blocked by a wall of contradiction, with little in the way of evidence to support their cause. Steered back to the scene of the crime and a disused prop room, Gardener and his trusted sergeant find another puzzle. The murderer, it seems, is playing games.
It soon becomes clear to Gardener and Reilly that to find the killer they need to solve the clues, and to do that, they must tunnel their way into the past, where the streets were paved with gold, and to a man who had terrified people before either of them had even been born...
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 30, 2017
140 people are currently reading
113 people want to read
About the author
Ray Clark
41 books35 followersThe British Fantasy Society published Ray Clark's first work in 1995 - Manitou Man: The World of Graham Masterton, was nominated for both the World and British Fantasy Awards. In 2009, Ray's short story, Promises To Keep, made the final shortlist for the best short story award from The Tom Howard Foundation. Ray is based in Goole, and has set his Gardener and Reilly crime series in nearby Leeds.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 25, 2017
"Imperfection" by Ray Clark is the first in the gritty Gardener/Reilly crime series. I really enjoyed this gripping crime book and thought the idea of mixing a police procedural of solving murders using cryptic puzzles and harrowing messages very unique. I liked the fact that the grizzly murders were based around the theatre and I particularly liked the references to the old movies and their film stars.
Set in Leeds we are introduced straight away to the first murder when Leonard White - an ageing actor - is found dead at a theatre he was due to perform in. His body drained of all blood and with a bloodied message painted onto his dressing room wall, the police are baffled at the strange and eerie circumstances - all leading to a thrilling and climatic finish.
The working relationship between DI Gardener and DS Reilly was totally realistic and I believe the author has done really well in developing the many and varied characters. The superb plot line was very cleverly thought out and the crimes were highly imaginative that only stretch the boundaries of reality just a little. The chapter relating to spiders had me worried, not sure what I'll do next time I have one in the house!!!!
"Imperfection" is advertised as the first in the series but it almost felt like there was a previous book in the series as there were quite a few hints and mentions to Gardener's wife / girlfriend and a 'Christmas Murders' investigation.
I do hope there will be more in this entertaining series to come and that they will be just as gruesome, I like Ray Clark's excellent writing style and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this intriguing book to others.
Well done once again to Urbane Publications on producing another beautifully printed book inside and out, making the reading experience so much more enjoyable! I purchased this book through the year long monthly Urbane Book Club and I am very pleased that this book was part of this month's parcel!
A well deserved 5 stars!
Set in Leeds we are introduced straight away to the first murder when Leonard White - an ageing actor - is found dead at a theatre he was due to perform in. His body drained of all blood and with a bloodied message painted onto his dressing room wall, the police are baffled at the strange and eerie circumstances - all leading to a thrilling and climatic finish.
The working relationship between DI Gardener and DS Reilly was totally realistic and I believe the author has done really well in developing the many and varied characters. The superb plot line was very cleverly thought out and the crimes were highly imaginative that only stretch the boundaries of reality just a little. The chapter relating to spiders had me worried, not sure what I'll do next time I have one in the house!!!!
"Imperfection" is advertised as the first in the series but it almost felt like there was a previous book in the series as there were quite a few hints and mentions to Gardener's wife / girlfriend and a 'Christmas Murders' investigation.
I do hope there will be more in this entertaining series to come and that they will be just as gruesome, I like Ray Clark's excellent writing style and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this intriguing book to others.
Well done once again to Urbane Publications on producing another beautifully printed book inside and out, making the reading experience so much more enjoyable! I purchased this book through the year long monthly Urbane Book Club and I am very pleased that this book was part of this month's parcel!
A well deserved 5 stars!
September 25, 2018
I was nervous when I started this one as it didn’t hook me right away and I was worried I wouldn’t enjoy it, but I soon settled into it. It being more mystery than thriller did give the novel a slower pace, but I enjoy both mystery and thriller books so it wasn’t a problem for me. I definitely think this novel has an old fashion feel to it. Both Gardener and Reilly are likeable, and though I love the ‘flawed detective’ trope, it was nice that this one focused on the mystery with minimal backstory. The mystery was good and the end was creepy, but it did feel a bit anticlimactic. Overall, I enjoy this one, but with so many crime series out, I’m undecided if I’ll continue with it.
March 27, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Urbane Publications for an advance copy of Imperfection, the first novel in a Leeds based crime series.
Leonard White, an ageing horror actor, is to perform a one man show at The Grand Theatre, Leeds but when the curtain opens his body drops in a noose from above. DI Stewart Gardener and DS Sean Reilly are called in to investigate but what they find, not least puzzling messages and jars of blood, leaves them baffled.
I thoroughly enjoyed the opening chapters which really convey the urgency, stress, tension and panic at the start of an investigation. Their sense of being at a loss over what they are dealing with and how to cope are extremely believably. Unfortunately these are the last believable moments in the novel and I wasn't surprised to find at the end that Mr Clark has a fantasy fiction background.
Imperfection is well written and plotted although the much vaunted twist is easily guessable to any seasoned crime fiction reader (and probably to others as well). The characters are pleasant but not particularly well defined as the strength of the novel lies in its convoluted plotting.
I think Imperfection will strongly divide opinion. I thought I would be reading a police procedural with the normal dose of reality but it's more of an improbable puzzle, not in identifying the killer who is introduced early on, but in the how and why. I didn't take to it and struggled to get through it but my taste is not everyone's and I think many readers will enjoy the readable style, the information and journey to the solution.
Leonard White, an ageing horror actor, is to perform a one man show at The Grand Theatre, Leeds but when the curtain opens his body drops in a noose from above. DI Stewart Gardener and DS Sean Reilly are called in to investigate but what they find, not least puzzling messages and jars of blood, leaves them baffled.
I thoroughly enjoyed the opening chapters which really convey the urgency, stress, tension and panic at the start of an investigation. Their sense of being at a loss over what they are dealing with and how to cope are extremely believably. Unfortunately these are the last believable moments in the novel and I wasn't surprised to find at the end that Mr Clark has a fantasy fiction background.
Imperfection is well written and plotted although the much vaunted twist is easily guessable to any seasoned crime fiction reader (and probably to others as well). The characters are pleasant but not particularly well defined as the strength of the novel lies in its convoluted plotting.
I think Imperfection will strongly divide opinion. I thought I would be reading a police procedural with the normal dose of reality but it's more of an improbable puzzle, not in identifying the killer who is introduced early on, but in the how and why. I didn't take to it and struggled to get through it but my taste is not everyone's and I think many readers will enjoy the readable style, the information and journey to the solution.
September 17, 2022
This was another disturbing but intriguing crime thriller where D.I. Gardener attempts to unravel some grisly murders.
The writing style was good, though there was a 'repeat' error concerning a phone call from Fitz.
I did like the plot and the overall story and would recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
This is the second in a box set I have in the series.
The writing style was good, though there was a 'repeat' error concerning a phone call from Fitz.
I did like the plot and the overall story and would recommend it to those who enjoy this genre.
This is the second in a box set I have in the series.
October 21, 2021
Imperfection by Ray Clark.
When theatregoers are treated to the gruesome spectacle of an actor’s lifeless body hanging on the stage, DI Stewart Gardener is immediately called in to investigate.
A good read with good characters. I liked Stewart. 4*.
When theatregoers are treated to the gruesome spectacle of an actor’s lifeless body hanging on the stage, DI Stewart Gardener is immediately called in to investigate.
A good read with good characters. I liked Stewart. 4*.
March 30, 2017
I have to say a massive "THANK YOU", not just to Matthew from Urbane Publications for sending me this but to Ray Clark for writing such an amazing piece of work.
This is a beautifully written story. I was sucked in before I had even started to read. The cover gives a mysterious air which, naturally, nibbled my curiosity then we have the pages. OH MY WORD, those pages! There is the most beautiful artwork on the pages. It is nothing more than a noose and blood splatter done in greyscale behind the writing but it helps to get the heart racing as you read the words.
As I was reading it was like it was unfolding on film in front of me. So much attention has been paid to detail that it had me not wanting to put the book down. As the main players are doing their investigation I found myself thinking 'It's this guy!', 'I was wrong, it's this guy!' and I kept this up the whole first and second act of the book. As we reached the climax, and time was counting down, I just did not see how it was all going to come together. When it unfolded I just thought how amazingly it had been dealt with and I was smiling along with holding my breath.
A very fun thing about this story was how there were names of actors and places in the real world and I believe that is was made it more realistic while reading.
I am really hoping there will be more from Gardner and Reilly!
Thank you, Matthew, from Urbane Publications for sending me a copy of this book for review.
This is a beautifully written story. I was sucked in before I had even started to read. The cover gives a mysterious air which, naturally, nibbled my curiosity then we have the pages. OH MY WORD, those pages! There is the most beautiful artwork on the pages. It is nothing more than a noose and blood splatter done in greyscale behind the writing but it helps to get the heart racing as you read the words.
As I was reading it was like it was unfolding on film in front of me. So much attention has been paid to detail that it had me not wanting to put the book down. As the main players are doing their investigation I found myself thinking 'It's this guy!', 'I was wrong, it's this guy!' and I kept this up the whole first and second act of the book. As we reached the climax, and time was counting down, I just did not see how it was all going to come together. When it unfolded I just thought how amazingly it had been dealt with and I was smiling along with holding my breath.
A very fun thing about this story was how there were names of actors and places in the real world and I believe that is was made it more realistic while reading.
I am really hoping there will be more from Gardner and Reilly!
Thank you, Matthew, from Urbane Publications for sending me a copy of this book for review.
March 11, 2023
Excellent
This is one of the most exciting, extraordinary, brilliant crime thriller, full of nail biting suspense, spine chilling murders, and highly impossible to put down story. Author Ray Clark is a master story teller and what a fascinating read!
Detective Inspector Stewart Gardner visits the first crime scene, which is the stage of Grand Theatre where the gruesome corpse of actor Leonard White, completely drained of blood, is found. The killer is a highly intelligent maniac who leaves behind a puzzling clue as if to challenge the cops to prevent the subsequent murders from happening. But more decapitated, mutilated bodies with taunting messages show up at different locations. During the course of investigation, DI Gardner finds out that his own father, Malcolm, could be one of the intended victims of the psycho killer. There are so many startling revelations and unexpected twists and turns that you would definitely get goosebumps as you turn every page. This is an absolutely flawless, perfect, mind boggling crime thriller.
It's definitely a must read for all the lovers of mysteries and great thrillers,
This is one of the most exciting, extraordinary, brilliant crime thriller, full of nail biting suspense, spine chilling murders, and highly impossible to put down story. Author Ray Clark is a master story teller and what a fascinating read!
Detective Inspector Stewart Gardner visits the first crime scene, which is the stage of Grand Theatre where the gruesome corpse of actor Leonard White, completely drained of blood, is found. The killer is a highly intelligent maniac who leaves behind a puzzling clue as if to challenge the cops to prevent the subsequent murders from happening. But more decapitated, mutilated bodies with taunting messages show up at different locations. During the course of investigation, DI Gardner finds out that his own father, Malcolm, could be one of the intended victims of the psycho killer. There are so many startling revelations and unexpected twists and turns that you would definitely get goosebumps as you turn every page. This is an absolutely flawless, perfect, mind boggling crime thriller.
It's definitely a must read for all the lovers of mysteries and great thrillers,
February 1, 2023
A decent murder mystery with an old fashioned feel. DI Gardener is faced with a brutal killing in a theatre - and then several more murders follow. Clues are left that may come from old films. And as the descriptions of the killer vary considerably, there is clearly a theatrical link.
Gardener and his team again find that the case comes close to home, with links to the past actions of his father a possibility. It's a tricky case but they follow the clues.
There isn't a lot of character development in this novel, and the finale relies on a few too many coincidences - a car happening to break down in just the right place. But it's a good read, if a little slow.
Gardener and his team again find that the case comes close to home, with links to the past actions of his father a possibility. It's a tricky case but they follow the clues.
There isn't a lot of character development in this novel, and the finale relies on a few too many coincidences - a car happening to break down in just the right place. But it's a good read, if a little slow.
June 23, 2020
On the strength of Impurity, the first in this series, I bought the remaining three books. Unfortunately I was disappointed with Imperfection. It was slow paced, with clues missed by the 'detectives' and Gardiner's actions at one point left me feeling shocked as there was no apparent reason for it. I stuck with it hoping it would get better but was also let down by the ending which was a total anticlimax. I just hope book 3 Implant is an improvement.
September 10, 2020
DI Stewart Gardiner and his team are called in to investigate a hanging during an evening performance at a theatre in Leeds. But actor Leonard White did not die from the hanging but had been dead a while. So who was impersonating him during the day. But what is the connection to the next murder.
An entertaining modern crime story
An entertaining modern crime story
July 6, 2022
Perfect Imperfection!
Takes acting and dress up to a whole new level! A brilliant book albeit disturbing on every front. Bodies were racking up and the detectives were getting no closer to finding the murderer. A personal case for Stewart and Sean. Where does the author get their ideas from. Absolutely superb. A 5 star must read.
Takes acting and dress up to a whole new level! A brilliant book albeit disturbing on every front. Bodies were racking up and the detectives were getting no closer to finding the murderer. A personal case for Stewart and Sean. Where does the author get their ideas from. Absolutely superb. A 5 star must read.
June 30, 2024
Doesn’t quite warrant 4* but 3 stars seemed a bit mean. The story was clever and I enjoyed the plot.
However Some obvious plot devices that had me frustrated by the Detectives seemingly oblivious to things right in front of them. Continually leaving their phones around so they couldn’t call for help became a bit tedious.
The ending felt a bit rushed
However Some obvious plot devices that had me frustrated by the Detectives seemingly oblivious to things right in front of them. Continually leaving their phones around so they couldn’t call for help became a bit tedious.
The ending felt a bit rushed
December 25, 2019
DI Stewart Gardener investigates the killing of an actor in a theatre. The death is gruesome, but the murderer is only just getting started. A difficult case involving strong detective work, but some clues are left along the way for the diligent reader. A real page-turner.
June 24, 2020
WOW!!! I'm wrecked, this book tied my stomach into knots, A Totally Gripping Murder Mystery is exactly the right description, the tension builds so much as it moves towards the end, that I had to make myself a cup of tea after I had finished it, It's a brilliant book by a brilliant author.
March 19, 2020
Another great story
A great follow up story in this series and I am looking forward to reading the next one. Great characters and a story that has plenty of twists and turns.
A great follow up story in this series and I am looking forward to reading the next one. Great characters and a story that has plenty of twists and turns.
August 9, 2020
Perfect Thriller
Really liked the book, everything about it was well done, loved the characters even the nasty one, will be looking for more books by the author.
Really liked the book, everything about it was well done, loved the characters even the nasty one, will be looking for more books by the author.
August 18, 2021
I enjoyed the book until near the end. The police protocol was thrown out the window making the end unrealistic.
August 15, 2022
Another gripping instalment and fast paced story with a lot of twists and turns. Gripping!
November 20, 2022
Fascinating
Leaves the reader wondering till the very last page, if we'll see the murderer again.
Great read, fascinating and scary..at the same time.
Leaves the reader wondering till the very last page, if we'll see the murderer again.
Great read, fascinating and scary..at the same time.
December 15, 2022
One of 4 books in the Northern Crime Series which i have reviewed in full on the Collection Page.
A very good read.
A very good read.
February 2, 2023
What a Great read .. The second of the DI Gardener stories .. A very good idea and a very well written story .. going to go strait into Book 3
April 5, 2023
Very well written, engaging, good main characters
May 16, 2023
Imperfection
I did,nt enjoy this book as much as the first in series , 95% police work, no personal touches. I was disspointed, I found it boring.
I did,nt enjoy this book as much as the first in series , 95% police work, no personal touches. I was disspointed, I found it boring.
June 23, 2023
A quick easy read. My suspicions were correct.
November 19, 2023
Luisterboek via Storytel
Read by Greg Wagland
Verschenen: 21 mei 2020
Uitgever: QUEST from W. F. Howes Ltd
Read by Greg Wagland
Verschenen: 21 mei 2020
Uitgever: QUEST from W. F. Howes Ltd
April 14, 2017
Imperfection is a crime novel, but like no other I have ever read before. This book fuses together the genre of crime writing with that of superstitious tales and the unnatural. There was an almost Sherlock Holmes feel to this book, as I worked alongside the police to find out what was behind the killer's motives. It is a very unique novel, and I loved it. I did have to stretch the boundaries of reality a little while reading, and accept that the author had used much artistic licence in the descriptions of police procedures, but once I did, and fully embraced this new type of genre, I found it a highly engaging read.
Imperfection is set in Leeds and I guessed around the early 2000s, with the clues that we were given with regards to the timeframe. This helped to give a slightly nostalgic feel to the novel. The book opens when an aging actor, Leonard White, is found murdered at the Grand Theatre. His body has been drained of all blood and a cryptic clue/message has been painted using his blood onto his dressing room wall. From this moment on, the police are out to find out who the murderer is. The real joy of this book is that from very early on we are in on who the murderer is, and we are able to read passages were he describes his life. So we get the viewpoints of both the police and the killer. Therefore, I wanted to find out why he was killing, just as much as the police did.
This book is very well written, it has a natural flow to the writing and we follow the story with ease. Coupled with this are descriptive and interesting characters. The two police officers who are following the case are D.I. Stewart Gardener and D. S. Sean Reilly. They work well as a team and I found them hugely likeable. Gardener lives with his father and son, and we learn that he has lived in Leeds all of his life, as everyone seems to know him from being a little boy. Reilly on the other hand is an Irishman, an outsider, and it took me a little longer to get to know him, but by the end of the book, I had a lot of respect for him. This novel also has some interesting supporting characters. For instance, I loved the character of Fittle, who had worked at the Theatre for the past thirty years and practically lived in a small cupboard drinking tea and eating biscuits. He added a much needed sense of humour to proceedings in what was quite a dark and disturbing book.
Imperfection is the story of a serial killer. A killer who is sadistic and caries out grotesque murders, of which the aftermath is described in some detail. But the brutality and amount of planning that the murderer does is pivotal to the plot. We need to despise him and everything that he stands for, without question, and I did.
As I mentioned earlier, this is not your run of the mill crime drama and serial killer book. The police procedures seem to be from a time long ago and their way of solving crimes is most definitely 'off beat'. This is shown by the fact that the police do not think about using the internet to check the quotes that are from the killer. Instead they go to experts and find the answers in books. Although I did find this a little strange, and did shout at one point that they should simply Google the answer, at the same time I found this quality endearing. It very much felt like good old fashioned detective work, but with a likeable twist.
Imperfection is a very ambitious book that blurs genres and somehow withstands the boundaries of time. It is a hugely refreshing read and I now need to go back and read the first book in the series. If you want to read a crime novel with a twist, and one that is highly unique, then I thoroughly recommend Imperfection. I really enjoyed it.
With thanks to Urbane Publications and NetGalley for a review copy.
Imperfection, published on Match 30 by Urbane Publications, can be found on Amazon here.
Imperfection is set in Leeds and I guessed around the early 2000s, with the clues that we were given with regards to the timeframe. This helped to give a slightly nostalgic feel to the novel. The book opens when an aging actor, Leonard White, is found murdered at the Grand Theatre. His body has been drained of all blood and a cryptic clue/message has been painted using his blood onto his dressing room wall. From this moment on, the police are out to find out who the murderer is. The real joy of this book is that from very early on we are in on who the murderer is, and we are able to read passages were he describes his life. So we get the viewpoints of both the police and the killer. Therefore, I wanted to find out why he was killing, just as much as the police did.
This book is very well written, it has a natural flow to the writing and we follow the story with ease. Coupled with this are descriptive and interesting characters. The two police officers who are following the case are D.I. Stewart Gardener and D. S. Sean Reilly. They work well as a team and I found them hugely likeable. Gardener lives with his father and son, and we learn that he has lived in Leeds all of his life, as everyone seems to know him from being a little boy. Reilly on the other hand is an Irishman, an outsider, and it took me a little longer to get to know him, but by the end of the book, I had a lot of respect for him. This novel also has some interesting supporting characters. For instance, I loved the character of Fittle, who had worked at the Theatre for the past thirty years and practically lived in a small cupboard drinking tea and eating biscuits. He added a much needed sense of humour to proceedings in what was quite a dark and disturbing book.
Imperfection is the story of a serial killer. A killer who is sadistic and caries out grotesque murders, of which the aftermath is described in some detail. But the brutality and amount of planning that the murderer does is pivotal to the plot. We need to despise him and everything that he stands for, without question, and I did.
As I mentioned earlier, this is not your run of the mill crime drama and serial killer book. The police procedures seem to be from a time long ago and their way of solving crimes is most definitely 'off beat'. This is shown by the fact that the police do not think about using the internet to check the quotes that are from the killer. Instead they go to experts and find the answers in books. Although I did find this a little strange, and did shout at one point that they should simply Google the answer, at the same time I found this quality endearing. It very much felt like good old fashioned detective work, but with a likeable twist.
Imperfection is a very ambitious book that blurs genres and somehow withstands the boundaries of time. It is a hugely refreshing read and I now need to go back and read the first book in the series. If you want to read a crime novel with a twist, and one that is highly unique, then I thoroughly recommend Imperfection. I really enjoyed it.
With thanks to Urbane Publications and NetGalley for a review copy.
Imperfection, published on Match 30 by Urbane Publications, can be found on Amazon here.
April 23, 2017
Published by: Urbane Publications (30 March 2017)
ISBN: 978-1911331247
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4*
Synopsis:
Imperfection is a new crime series featuring D.I. Stewart Gardener and D. S. Sean Reilly, and set in the West Yorkshire city of Leeds.
A haunting message scrawled on the dressing room wall of a theatre: the scene of a murder. It had been written using the blood from the victim, previously drained in a separate location. At the autopsy, D.I. Gardener and D.S. Reilly are shown a riddle carved into the chest of the corpse, informing them there would be more. Their efforts to find out why are continually blocked by a wall of contradiction, with little in the way of evidence to support their cause. Steered back to the scene of the crime and a disused prop room, Gardener and his trusted sergeant find another puzzle. The murderer, it seems, is playing games.
It soon becomes clear to Gardener and Reilly that to find the killer they need to solve the clues, and to do that, they must tunnel their way into the past, where the streets were paved with gold, and to a man who had terrified people before either of them had even been born...
Review:
Imperfection is a different kind of crime novel, as we are introduced to the killer early on; we just don't know his identity at first. From the outset, he leads Gardener and Reilly in a game of cat and mouse, leaving seemingly unsolvable clues for them at the scenes of his crimes. Although it doesn't give a specific time period in the book, it seems as though it is set in the past, as there is no reference made to googling the clues! That would have been the first thing I would have done, so I found it rather frustrating that Gardener and Reilly weren't doing so! I felt there was a Sherlock Holmes-type vibe to the story on the whole, which would also fit with being set in the past, but it's just my theory.
I really enjoyed the parts with the killer and all his different guises, but I found some parts rather slow and quite hard going. Usually it takes me a few days to read a book, but I kept losing interest, so it took me much longer to read this one. It didn't surprise me to learn that Ray Clark writes fantasy novels; I'll have to read some.
If you like lots of detail, prefer a train journey over a rollercoaster ride, and have a thing for Sherlock, I recommend Imperfection.
Special thanks to Matthew at Urbane Publications for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in return for my unbiased review.
ISBN: 978-1911331247
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4*
Synopsis:
Imperfection is a new crime series featuring D.I. Stewart Gardener and D. S. Sean Reilly, and set in the West Yorkshire city of Leeds.
A haunting message scrawled on the dressing room wall of a theatre: the scene of a murder. It had been written using the blood from the victim, previously drained in a separate location. At the autopsy, D.I. Gardener and D.S. Reilly are shown a riddle carved into the chest of the corpse, informing them there would be more. Their efforts to find out why are continually blocked by a wall of contradiction, with little in the way of evidence to support their cause. Steered back to the scene of the crime and a disused prop room, Gardener and his trusted sergeant find another puzzle. The murderer, it seems, is playing games.
It soon becomes clear to Gardener and Reilly that to find the killer they need to solve the clues, and to do that, they must tunnel their way into the past, where the streets were paved with gold, and to a man who had terrified people before either of them had even been born...
Review:
Imperfection is a different kind of crime novel, as we are introduced to the killer early on; we just don't know his identity at first. From the outset, he leads Gardener and Reilly in a game of cat and mouse, leaving seemingly unsolvable clues for them at the scenes of his crimes. Although it doesn't give a specific time period in the book, it seems as though it is set in the past, as there is no reference made to googling the clues! That would have been the first thing I would have done, so I found it rather frustrating that Gardener and Reilly weren't doing so! I felt there was a Sherlock Holmes-type vibe to the story on the whole, which would also fit with being set in the past, but it's just my theory.
I really enjoyed the parts with the killer and all his different guises, but I found some parts rather slow and quite hard going. Usually it takes me a few days to read a book, but I kept losing interest, so it took me much longer to read this one. It didn't surprise me to learn that Ray Clark writes fantasy novels; I'll have to read some.
If you like lots of detail, prefer a train journey over a rollercoaster ride, and have a thing for Sherlock, I recommend Imperfection.
Special thanks to Matthew at Urbane Publications for providing me with an ARC via Netgalley in return for my unbiased review.
March 27, 2017
4 and 1 / 2 stars
DI Stewart Gardener and DS Sean Reilly feature in this case.
They are notified of a murder in a live theater with a message left on the restroom wall. It is written in the victim’s blood. The autopsy reveals a message carved into the deceased’s chest. The message says that there will be more killings.
Interviewing witnesses and the wife of the murdered man, the police come to the conclusion that their killer is a master of disguise. He was able to fool everyone.
As the investigation continues, more horrific murders are committed. The killer taunts the police relentlessly. Although the name of the killer is told to the read about half way through the book, the second half of the book offers a thrilling chase. The police might know who is doing the killing, but have no evidence. How are they going to catch them?
This is a very well written and plotted novel. Mr. Clark does an amazing job of both making his story suspenseful and making his police officers human. We learn a great deal about both DI Gardener and DS Reilly’s backgrounds without it being intrusive. The book flows nicely and moves steadily along.
This is my first Ray Clark novel, but it won’t be my last. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the Gardener/Reilly series.
I want to thank Netgalley and Urbane Publications for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book to read.
DI Stewart Gardener and DS Sean Reilly feature in this case.
They are notified of a murder in a live theater with a message left on the restroom wall. It is written in the victim’s blood. The autopsy reveals a message carved into the deceased’s chest. The message says that there will be more killings.
Interviewing witnesses and the wife of the murdered man, the police come to the conclusion that their killer is a master of disguise. He was able to fool everyone.
As the investigation continues, more horrific murders are committed. The killer taunts the police relentlessly. Although the name of the killer is told to the read about half way through the book, the second half of the book offers a thrilling chase. The police might know who is doing the killing, but have no evidence. How are they going to catch them?
This is a very well written and plotted novel. Mr. Clark does an amazing job of both making his story suspenseful and making his police officers human. We learn a great deal about both DI Gardener and DS Reilly’s backgrounds without it being intrusive. The book flows nicely and moves steadily along.
This is my first Ray Clark novel, but it won’t be my last. I am very much looking forward to reading the next book in the Gardener/Reilly series.
I want to thank Netgalley and Urbane Publications for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book to read.
April 4, 2017
I could not finish this book. It felt like reading a sequel even though it is listed as the first in a series. Off handed comments and facts make you feel as if you were being told something you should already know. The characters were so vague I couldn't tell them apart. A quote that is left at a crime scene is not looked up on the internet. The internet is passingly mentioned at a different time, but not pertaining to researching the quote. A VCR is mentioned along with a DVD player, so I don't know if it is a huge plot hole or sloppily updated from a previous edition.
I would like to thank NetGally for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would like to thank NetGally for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2017
There were parts of this that I enjoyed, but I think that's mainly because it was set around my home town and it was nice to read about streets and areas that were entirely familiar to me. Other than that, there isn't much to recommend this one. The basic premise is ok, but the writing is a little stilted and the plot doesn't move with any urgency. For me, a crime novel should be really pacy, and this one just lagged a little. Also, the 'clues' were a bit ridiculous and the police procedure seemed a little old fashioned. It's not terrible, but it's not great either I'm afraid.
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