Hitzetod

DI Jack Delaney #1

by Mark Pearson

London ächzt unter einem Jahrhundertsommer, doch es ist nicht die Hitze, die Detective Inspector Jack Delaney zu schaffen macht. Erst wurde die Leiche einer Prostituierten grausam zugerichtet aufgefunden, und dann wird ihm gleich noch ein weiterer Fall übertragen: Ein junges Mädchen wurde als vermisst gemeldet, und mit jeder Stunde sinken die Chancen sie lebend zu finden. Für den unkonventionellen Ermittler beginnt ein Wettlauf mit der Zeit, bei dem er nie weiß, wem er trauen kann …

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

352 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2008

Reviews

[Bücherhörnchen · Rating 2 out of 5]

CONTENT
Delaney's first case(es) are the murder of a prostitute he knew and a missing child. Unfortunately to me this felt as if Pearson wanted to tell two stores rather than one but could not quite decide which one it should be. I guess this is more or less a quite realistic setting though, as real DIs won't have the time/resources to focus on just one case alone, but it still isn't really what you expect to get out of a book.

SOMETHING OVERALL
So we read about Irish DI Delaney with his Irish dead wife, who had very Irish hair and his daughter with very Irish eyes. Then someone Irish appears and a lot of Irish bars are mentioned. Delaney also seems to have very Irish Intuition.
Honestly the book is so well placed in London that you could almost trace the characters steps back if you wanted to, but then every few pages someone mentions how Irish this and that is. It makes me wonder why the hell he did not place it in Ireland as this constant reminder of how Irish the main character and his habits or acquaintances are was absolutely unnecessary. (That is to say it is okay if he's Irish and/or if someone notices his accent or whatever. It was just so very over-mentioned)
AND PLEASE The part referenced to near the end of the book about Denmark is from Hamlet. That's Shakespeare. So if you feel the need to let your characters seem stupid at least correct them!

STYLE OF WRITING
Apart from probably being very Irish, which I cannot tell, it was confusing for me to read. English is not my first language, but I did not have this problem for a very very long time with a book.I felt a some parts were maybe slang...?
I also think Pearson took his metaphorical writing a tiiiiiny bit to far (sarcasm!) I don't know, if I really enjoy the traffic being compared to sick arthritic creatures or his boss being described as drive away like a salmon back on his way to its spawning grounds (or whatever it was)...

CHARACTERS
I very much like characters with problems in crime novels/thrillers. I really do. But Delaney was a bit over the top. His drinking started to really get on my nerves and while I cannot even start to imagine how it would feel like to lose the love of your live, his constant guilt did the story nothing good.
I liked Kate Walker a lot on the other hand. She was so cute when she finally had some screen time. For me she was the best part of the book. Especially since I hat problems distinguishing most of the other characters. I kept mixing up the new female coworker and Delaney's boss and I never knew if Eddie was Bonner and if there was another male cop involved or not...

OPINION
This may be one of the worst crime novels I've read. Sadly because I really WANTED to like it. The story/stories itself were interesting and I did not see the twist at the end coming (I saw Kate and Delaney ending up together coming however), but there were just so many (a lot of them Irish) things that bothered me and ultimately did not let me enjoy the book.
By the way: I read this because I bought the second part a few years back and had trouble understanding it so I reasoned I'd have to read the first book first. Maybe that was not the problem at all...

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, this is one of those typical crime series where the copper has issues that impede on his work etc, etc, etc. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the D I Delaney series and have already ordered the next one from my library :-)

[Kevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good fast paced story, few twists, little bit standard detective bad boy but enjoyable just the same. Read as this month's choice for Thurso Book Club.

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Googled Mark Pearson a few years ago when I read James Patterson's Private London and he remained on my to read list until a few days ago when I decided to read Hard Evidence. I'm so glad that I did. I love crime fiction, it is the genre that I have read the most over the years but in particular I love crime fiction set in London. The problem however is that some authors set their book in London but end up writing a book that could be taking place anywhere in the UK because of the lack of description and/or mention of places. I like London to be as much of a character as a books actual characters and I'm glad to say that in this book London was a character.

Mark Pearson is/was a scriptwriter and that was very evident whilst reading this book, particularly as he wrote for The Bill and at times this book was like an episode of The Bill, albeit an exaggerated one as up until the last few chapters of the book it felt very realistic and authentic. Delaney was a great character. As always it is the characters that refuse to play by the book that make the best characters and Delaney is certainly a character that plays by his own rules and nobody elses.

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot. In terms of location it was probably one of the best London based crime stories I have read. In terms of character Delaney has a lot of potential and I can't wait to read more about him and in terms of story I was kept guessing until the end and it was an enjoyable read. Unfortunately it appears that Pearson's latest book has had its publication abandoned but I can't seem to find out why. There are still three more books to read following this one but I am a bit disappointed that that seems to be it because Pearson is a fantastic writer and storyteller going only by this book.

[Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read so much since getting a kindle a couple of years ago and I seem to favour crime/forensic novels more than most. Trouble is, the more you read, the more similarities you find. Some good some not so good. Our hero cop having issues falls into the latter. In this book, Jack Delaney is our man mourning his wife's death and still drinking far too heavily. It's getting tiresome now and I just wish the writers would give us a break from this cliche.
All in all, a readable story but no real surprises.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found DI Jack Delaney hard to like at first but he improved as you got to know him better, towards the end of the book. This is a standard police procedural and you can tell that the author was as a TV scriptwriter as it reads a bit like the Bill.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Boo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was torn between a 2 and a 3, I'd give it a 2.5 if I could. Interesting plot and characters but I just couldn't find that pull to get me properly involved in the story. I'm not sure if it's how it's written but I feel like it could of been better. I will give another of Pearsons books a go, but unfortunately I was hoping for more.

[Gary Hutchinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the character of Jack Delaney, and the book was well written and had plenty of turns. I just find it disappointing when the murderer turns out to be within the force, it feels like we've been cheated. I do look forward to picking up the second book though.

[Alexandra Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me it was just another detective novel, with all the usual twists and turns - Delaney didn't endear himself to me - just another burnt-out copper with some bad habits.

[Ian Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Story.

From begging to end the story held my attention. Looking forward to reading further stories. Fully recommend for enjoyable read.

[Niqui Stanforth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty brutal and very London Irish. Delaney is an interesting character in the normally scarred and haunted way that all good detectives are.

[Jo Weaver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read book 2 first so had to see where it started. Good book.

[Maria O connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another bog standard detective story. Nothing at all special.

[Yas · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

[Dawn Elizabeth Laidlaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading about DI Jack Delnaly investigation and look forward to reading the next installment.

[Sambasivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nail biting. Go for it.

[A · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cliché and predictable, very disappointing read.

[Bryngel · Rating 3 out of 5]

As another reader wrote, "I seem to favor crime/forensic novels", well so do I, and I have always liked mysteries since I first started to read when I was five. Well I'd say that when I turned seven I got a book on my birthday, it was Enid Blyton, and I loved it! So since then I have favored crime above all. (Well I also love Fantasy, and then I found Isaac Asimov and could add Sci Fi to the list...)

Anyway, when you read a lot of books in the same genre, it's impossible to not compare it all, and then you get all the formulaic in said genre... This book is exactly that, just write like formula 1A - and you'll get the suckers. And here I am. It's an ok read, but I might perhaps not follow Jack Delaney, as it felt I've read it all before.

(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).

[Jessica Baumgartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read everything, but haven't picked up a good thriller in a while. This hits the spot. It's well written, good pacing, and keeps you engaged. My only complaint is that it end on a cliffhanger. Now I have to read book two damn it haha

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Newcomer to the scene and I will certainly read more of his, very good.

[Curlyhair · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed this about down trodden detective Jack Delaney

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loving DI Delaney and all his demons. This is the first Mark Pearson book I've read and I can't recall now how I stumbled across his books but I'm pleased I did !!

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in the series and a good start.Look forward to the next one which is on the tbr.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

cracking book, highly recommend to all who are into this genre ♥

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written, well paced crime thriller, dark and with a great storyline I would recommend this to all crime lovers!

[Maria Braun]

Laaaaangweilig

[Margaret Dudgeon · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good. goes at a nice steady pace to keep you interested and a surprise to who done it at end. I'd never heard of Mark Pearson before wish I had and if you haven't give him a go.