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Seven years ago Thomas Frost was arrested for the murders of five women in the Manchester area and Detective Sergeant Blake Harte was the officer in charge of his arrest, saving the life of Kerry Nightingale in the process. Now, Frost has promised that Kerry was never safe and she'll be dead within a few days.
Sure enough, somehow, Kerry is found dead in her top floor apartment - a place that was being guarded by Blake and the apartment's security. How is it possible for Kerry to have been murdered in her apartment when nobody could have gotten in or out?
Did Thomas Frost somehow manage to murder Kerry from his prison cell? Who else could want to see her dead quite as much? As Blake and the team attempt to stop a killer who is seemingly capable of anything, he could never imagine that for somebody else in Harmschapel, time is also ticking....Gay
Sure enough, somehow, Kerry is found dead in her top floor apartment - a place that was being guarded by Blake and the apartment's security. How is it possible for Kerry to have been murdered in her apartment when nobody could have gotten in or out?
Did Thomas Frost somehow manage to murder Kerry from his prison cell? Who else could want to see her dead quite as much? As Blake and the team attempt to stop a killer who is seemingly capable of anything, he could never imagine that for somebody else in Harmschapel, time is also ticking....Gay
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 18, 2017
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89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 20, 2017
Locked room mystery...what's not to like? Well, there's lots to dislike about this one. It was obvious from the beginning who the murderer was as the author threw clues out on nearly every page. I only read to the end because of the side stories (Blake and Harrison deciding to live together and Mini and Matti's arguments). I was very disappointed in both the mystery aspects and the editing of the book (mostly sentences that made no sense).
July 18, 2017
Loved this book! It's the 4th in the Blake Harte series, but can 100% be read as a standalone. An old foe of Blake's comes back to haunt him, and another impossible crime happens soon. Robert Innes is great at creating crimes that you never figure out, and this was no exception! Can't wait for the next book.
January 23, 2021
Series Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2020/01/17/...
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
Rating: 4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits
August 13, 2020
Reach (Blake Harte, 4)
By Robert Innes
Published by the author, 2017
Four stars
These Blake Harte mysteries are juicy little nuggets, each with its own distinct flavor, but comfortingly part of a larger, familiar context. Harmschapel isn’t St. Mary Mead, but then Detective Sargent Harte isn’t Mrs. Marple. His personal life is at the side, but not dismissed or passed over. When Harte comes home, reeling from what the day has thrown at him, his boyfriend Harrison is there, his emotional rock, a reminder of why he does what he does. It is also a reminder that Harte is young, with a long career and many mysteries before him.
The creepy premise of this mystery is the apparent ability of a long-imprisoned serial killer to precisely forecast the death of the only one of his victims who got away—saved, in fact, by Blake Harte himself. This time, the murder is personal, and Harte gives his all to solve the crime.
Innes is good at salting little clues throughout the narrative, as well as a few red herrings; but while I cottoned onto the murderer at about 85%, I did not have all the answers. The problem with the relative shortness of these books is that I get through them all too fast, with barely time to settle down and really savor them.
Innes, to my surprise, has an almost American imprecision with language at times. On the other hand, there is an unaffected realism to Harte and the other characters. I’d love to spend a little more time getting to know these people. I guess I’ll have a chance in the next books.
By Robert Innes
Published by the author, 2017
Four stars
These Blake Harte mysteries are juicy little nuggets, each with its own distinct flavor, but comfortingly part of a larger, familiar context. Harmschapel isn’t St. Mary Mead, but then Detective Sargent Harte isn’t Mrs. Marple. His personal life is at the side, but not dismissed or passed over. When Harte comes home, reeling from what the day has thrown at him, his boyfriend Harrison is there, his emotional rock, a reminder of why he does what he does. It is also a reminder that Harte is young, with a long career and many mysteries before him.
The creepy premise of this mystery is the apparent ability of a long-imprisoned serial killer to precisely forecast the death of the only one of his victims who got away—saved, in fact, by Blake Harte himself. This time, the murder is personal, and Harte gives his all to solve the crime.
Innes is good at salting little clues throughout the narrative, as well as a few red herrings; but while I cottoned onto the murderer at about 85%, I did not have all the answers. The problem with the relative shortness of these books is that I get through them all too fast, with barely time to settle down and really savor them.
Innes, to my surprise, has an almost American imprecision with language at times. On the other hand, there is an unaffected realism to Harte and the other characters. I’d love to spend a little more time getting to know these people. I guess I’ll have a chance in the next books.
August 26, 2017
This story was still as engaging as the other books, well perhaps not quite as much, but it was still very enjoyable. Nevertheless, what other reviewers pointed out about the previous books and what then I didn't find disturbing at all - lots of errors, missing letters, missing words, wrong names - here it became totally distracting and it got on my nerves a lot. It was during the whole book and nothing showed it more than the final sentence, after 'The End': Blake Harte will be back soon with a fourth mystery. Funny, I thought I just finished that.
Perhaps the author should take some more time to proof-read his finished writing to send out a really good product to his customers. (Btw. as I'm not a member of this KU thingy, I paid $2,99 for this.)
Story 4 stars, minus 1 star for a sloppy editing.
Perhaps the author should take some more time to proof-read his finished writing to send out a really good product to his customers. (Btw. as I'm not a member of this KU thingy, I paid $2,99 for this.)
Story 4 stars, minus 1 star for a sloppy editing.
July 21, 2017
Reach
The author does a great job with this mystery series. There are twists, turns and surprises with each one. I caught on to the culprit but didn't figure out the how or why until the author shared it!
The author does a great job with this mystery series. There are twists, turns and surprises with each one. I caught on to the culprit but didn't figure out the how or why until the author shared it!
November 17, 2018
3.5 stars
July 20, 2017
I am really fond of crime and thriller books and when I read the first novel by the new author Robert Innes, after I got the recommenation by the gay romance author Ashley John, I was hooked. The fourth book in the series deals with Detective Seargant Blake Harte’s past: a criminal he brought into prison is threaten him and Blake has every reason to worry about it.
From the first to the last page the whole book is a mix of suspense and great character development. Though events from the last three books are mentioned and the relationships between the character are clear and evolving, you can read the book as a stand alone. You get the necessary information about everything. What I really love about the book is the way how Robert Innes is able to create the suspense. For a long time you suspect somebody different behind the murder, the culprit is a surprise at the end.
What I also enjoyed was the way how the different relationships in the crime department is getting its attention and the cliffhanger at the end of the book gives a preview of what will follow… Nothing good it seems.
The writing is light, but full of suspence and thrill. The dialogues flow naturally, the culprits are displayed in a really creative way, the murder from Blake’s past is quite intimidating and the way the surroundings are described give you the right scenery. All I can say: job well done.
I am eager to read the next book, the character Blake has really capured my heart but also the other lovely character. Can’t wait to read more of their daily lives and the wel-meant banter. :)
5 out of 5 stars for this. The cover is amazing and captures the thrill of the book on a really basic way.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
From the first to the last page the whole book is a mix of suspense and great character development. Though events from the last three books are mentioned and the relationships between the character are clear and evolving, you can read the book as a stand alone. You get the necessary information about everything. What I really love about the book is the way how Robert Innes is able to create the suspense. For a long time you suspect somebody different behind the murder, the culprit is a surprise at the end.
What I also enjoyed was the way how the different relationships in the crime department is getting its attention and the cliffhanger at the end of the book gives a preview of what will follow… Nothing good it seems.
The writing is light, but full of suspence and thrill. The dialogues flow naturally, the culprits are displayed in a really creative way, the murder from Blake’s past is quite intimidating and the way the surroundings are described give you the right scenery. All I can say: job well done.
I am eager to read the next book, the character Blake has really capured my heart but also the other lovely character. Can’t wait to read more of their daily lives and the wel-meant banter. :)
5 out of 5 stars for this. The cover is amazing and captures the thrill of the book on a really basic way.
Review originally posted on my blog with added content Mikku-chan / A world full of words
October 17, 2017
3.5 stars, maybe? I figured out who dunnit right away, but stuck with the book to the end anyways. Almost DNFed it, though. Also note that this isn't a romance at all. Has a gay main character, but that's it. Felt a bit, I don't know... like the author has a set number of books contracted and has to get them out quickly. The depth is missing.
July 18, 2017
Loved it! Favourite book in the series so far!
June 22, 2020
3.5 - Unique Twists in Delightful Gay Cozy British Mystery Series
I really enjoy good cozy British mysteries, whether on PBS or on page. While a bit predictable, it still was an enjoyable continuation in Robert Innes' series of cozy gay mysteries, each a standalone with an impossible crime, and in the background the developing relationship between DS Harte and Harrison.
So, how could a threatening serial killer reach out from prison to kill his surviving victim, with the DS standing guard just outside her penthouse door? I puzzled over the how more than who, so a bit disappointed on the latter. But I did like the unique twist behind how it was done. There were enough clues, I just did not know about it.
Still, as in any cozy mystery, it's not just about the mystery; and I enjoyed the other elements. The quaint village. A cast of new and familiar colorful characters. An easy read, with also a manner of phrasing that isn't in error but a dialect that made me feel a part of the locale.
Continuing on. While "cozy," an edginess brought on by, tbh, some characters who were not very appealing, and some in danger of becoming caricatures (by this point I would have wanted to see more nuance and depth). On the other hand, a likable gay DS getting settled in his new job and town. An equally likable new boyfriend. Yet a developing gay relationship that refreshingly did not take center stage but was just a part of life.
And a classic culmination, put best by DS Harte himself, "Thanks for coming everybody. I'm sorry to make this all so cliched [I'm not], but in this instance, I'm afraid it was necessary." So again in the colloquial vernacular, the ending did brought closure to the mystery, and the epilogue had set me up nicely for the next one.
I really enjoy good cozy British mysteries, whether on PBS or on page. While a bit predictable, it still was an enjoyable continuation in Robert Innes' series of cozy gay mysteries, each a standalone with an impossible crime, and in the background the developing relationship between DS Harte and Harrison.
So, how could a threatening serial killer reach out from prison to kill his surviving victim, with the DS standing guard just outside her penthouse door? I puzzled over the how more than who, so a bit disappointed on the latter. But I did like the unique twist behind how it was done. There were enough clues, I just did not know about it.
Still, as in any cozy mystery, it's not just about the mystery; and I enjoyed the other elements. The quaint village. A cast of new and familiar colorful characters. An easy read, with also a manner of phrasing that isn't in error but a dialect that made me feel a part of the locale.
Continuing on. While "cozy," an edginess brought on by, tbh, some characters who were not very appealing, and some in danger of becoming caricatures (by this point I would have wanted to see more nuance and depth). On the other hand, a likable gay DS getting settled in his new job and town. An equally likable new boyfriend. Yet a developing gay relationship that refreshingly did not take center stage but was just a part of life.
And a classic culmination, put best by DS Harte himself, "Thanks for coming everybody. I'm sorry to make this all so cliched [I'm not], but in this instance, I'm afraid it was necessary." So again in the colloquial vernacular, the ending did brought closure to the mystery, and the epilogue had set me up nicely for the next one.
May 10, 2023
DS Blake Harte is confronted by a serial murderer he put away years ago who says he will kill the one victim that Blake stopped him from finishing off. When the victim dies, Blake is left pondering how the killer reached out from prison to strangle the woman when no one was in her apartment with her. Meanwhile, Blake and his boyfriend, Harrison, contemplate taking their relationship to the next level. Look, I’ve loved this cosy mystery series, the puzzling cases and the characters, but … this was a little short and while the locked room mystery trope was used really well in the first book, it felt like déjà vu here. British actor Paul Woodson does gives another great narrative performance, but what about the other seven books in the series, is this going to be the last audiobook?! (Audiobooks 1-4 are currently free on the Audible Plus catalogue)
August 12, 2017
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews.)
As any of you who follow my reviews will know, I’ve been quite pleased with the Blake Harte Mysteries from Robert Innes that I’ve reviewed over the last few weeks. Now we have a new one, and I’ve got to keep it honest and tell you I wasn’t as pleased with this one. Let me explain.
In Reach, the author brings to life a very dark serial killer character from Blake’s past. We learn that Blake solved the crime and was there for the arrest and conviction of the killer. The killer has been trying to reach Blake for years, but he has ignored it up until now. When he breaks down and meets the killer at the local prison where he is incarcerated, things start to go downhill. The killer insists that the woman Blake rescued from him seven years ago, will be dead within days. The book focuses on that statement and Blake’s scramble to find out what is going on and how another ‘impossible’ crime could take place.
The story was good, but the execution was a little rushed. For some reason, the author decided to tell this story in roughly half the pages he has used in the previous three installments, and I’ve got to tell you that it lost out due to the length. I’m not sure the author realized it wasn’t long enough or detailed enough. I recently self-published a story myself that was roughly this same length that I felt was complete, but several reviewers felt was too short, so I can sympathize with the author, and I won’t hold it against him. Sometimes you feel you’ve told an entire story, but others want more. I still liked the story, but in my opinion, based on its length, it seemed hurried and before I really got into it, it was over.
On the plus side, it was pleasant following along with the characters the author has developed in the previous books, and I look forward to future installments.
I’d recommend this one to anyone who is reading the series. It sets us up for some events I think will take place in future installments. It is not a standalone in my opinion. Give the first three books a read first. I think you will like them, and maybe, like me, forgive this one for being too short and a little rushed. I’d say this one was somewhere between a 3.5 and 4.0 on our scale, and I’m rounding it up. Just because I can.
As any of you who follow my reviews will know, I’ve been quite pleased with the Blake Harte Mysteries from Robert Innes that I’ve reviewed over the last few weeks. Now we have a new one, and I’ve got to keep it honest and tell you I wasn’t as pleased with this one. Let me explain.
In Reach, the author brings to life a very dark serial killer character from Blake’s past. We learn that Blake solved the crime and was there for the arrest and conviction of the killer. The killer has been trying to reach Blake for years, but he has ignored it up until now. When he breaks down and meets the killer at the local prison where he is incarcerated, things start to go downhill. The killer insists that the woman Blake rescued from him seven years ago, will be dead within days. The book focuses on that statement and Blake’s scramble to find out what is going on and how another ‘impossible’ crime could take place.
The story was good, but the execution was a little rushed. For some reason, the author decided to tell this story in roughly half the pages he has used in the previous three installments, and I’ve got to tell you that it lost out due to the length. I’m not sure the author realized it wasn’t long enough or detailed enough. I recently self-published a story myself that was roughly this same length that I felt was complete, but several reviewers felt was too short, so I can sympathize with the author, and I won’t hold it against him. Sometimes you feel you’ve told an entire story, but others want more. I still liked the story, but in my opinion, based on its length, it seemed hurried and before I really got into it, it was over.
On the plus side, it was pleasant following along with the characters the author has developed in the previous books, and I look forward to future installments.
I’d recommend this one to anyone who is reading the series. It sets us up for some events I think will take place in future installments. It is not a standalone in my opinion. Give the first three books a read first. I think you will like them, and maybe, like me, forgive this one for being too short and a little rushed. I’d say this one was somewhere between a 3.5 and 4.0 on our scale, and I’m rounding it up. Just because I can.
July 19, 2017
This series just gets better and better. I honestly think the author is slightly twisted....the crimes and then the mystery surrounding the crimes are just phenomenal....I mean, what sort of brain comes up with that?! Harrison is a fleeting character in this, but I liked that too....a pillar of support for Blake. Interesting turn of events at the end of the book. I look forward to the next book in the series.
March 9, 2018
A short-ish visit back to Harmschapel.
A serial killer seemingly kills again from solitary confinement in prison so it is about the who and the how.
The who comes to mind quite quickly after the first death and becomes a solid after the second but then it is the how it happened. And how one suspect always seems to be in the wrong place.
A bit of character story development for the police, Harrison and Blake (and the goat) move forward - and shocker ending for the force.
3.5*
A serial killer seemingly kills again from solitary confinement in prison so it is about the who and the how.
The who comes to mind quite quickly after the first death and becomes a solid after the second but then it is the how it happened. And how one suspect always seems to be in the wrong place.
A bit of character story development for the police, Harrison and Blake (and the goat) move forward - and shocker ending for the force.
3.5*
July 23, 2024
There's some genuine cleverness relating to the murder plot and an effectively realized villainous figure in Frost. One clue stood out to me as especially subtle. However, this is otherwise a somewhat frustrating reading experience, with an obvious killer due to a quickly-pruned suspect list and the engaging character drama of Ripples traded for a petty dispute between Harte's subordinates. Still, it's hard to be negative about a book this short...
July 18, 2017
I really enjoy this series. The romance is always on the backburner but still sweet all the same. I cottoned on to who the 'bad guy' was pretty early but the 'how' eluded me. One niggle; the female involved says she is approaching fifty but then it later says she was 35. As someone who really IS approaching 50, 35 is a ways to go! ha ha
August 24, 2017
I loved it again!!! I felt like this one was a lot shorter or reached the conclusion a lot faster then the other books but I still really really liked it . I just love the character and world building happening in this series I can picture this quant English town I want to live in and these people that I care about. Looking forward to so much more!!
July 11, 2024
I really like these short and sharp little mysteries. The character development over the four books I have read so far is starting to stabilise and the cast is becoming a cohesive whole. This one departed from the previous by giving a POV to a different character, rather than Harrison. This certainly added to the development of the story world and made the mystery even deeper.
March 29, 2018
This was a very weak entry in this series. What I like about the series is the development of relationships among the core group of characters. This book ignored that. The story was extremely unoriginal and the writing was barely adequate. I cannot recommend this book to anyone.
June 4, 2019
I didn’t love the mystery in this one but I’m super invested in Blake & Harrison so I still enjoyed the book overall. Sad that there aren’t any more audios and I’ll have to switch over to the kindle versions to continue the series😕
December 14, 2020
This was definitely the best book in the series bc the mystery was so good. I was hooked on trying to figure out what happened. My only complaint was that there was very little interaction between Blake and Harrison. I love them as a couple and would have liked more of their story.
July 27, 2017
** 3.5 Stars **
October 24, 2017
3.5 stars
August 22, 2018
Love this series
Good mystery with relatable characters. I like the way that Blake's personal life is woven into the story without detracting from it.
Good mystery with relatable characters. I like the way that Blake's personal life is woven into the story without detracting from it.
February 28, 2020
I'm a sucker for murder mystery series and it gets better as you know the characters.
April 3, 2020
Another fast, fun read. I'm gobbling these up like candy.
August 3, 2021
I am really enjoying this series and usually I just ignore the minor errors but there were a few more blatant then usual. I still like this series and am looking forward to reading the next books.
December 31, 2021
~ 3.5 stars ~
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews