Driven to Death

The Detective Bex Wynter Files #1

by Elleby Harper

Alternate cover edition of ASIN B075WB4ZV9

Would you save your daughter’s killer?

When Evie Butterworth faces every parent’s nightmare, the death of her daughter, the police are brought in to determine whether it was murder. Heading the investigation is NYPD homicide detective Bex Wynter. Abandoning her own train wreck of a life she becomes head of a new investigative team in a brand new country. But not everyone welcomes an American to the London Met. Quinn Standing has a hard time dealing with the failures piling up in his life, and an even harder time adjusting to his new boss.

As her team peels back the layers to discover what really happened at Richmond Bridge, pressure builds from the media, the killer’s high profile father and Bex’s tragic past. Will she be able to shake off her demons to bring justice to light?

Driven to Death is British crime with an American twist!

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

167 pages, ebook

First published September 26, 2017

About the author

Elleby Harper was born in England and raised in Australia. She has also lived in North America. She has previously worked as a medical receptionist, a croupier in a casino, an exhibition curator, a librarian and a journalist.

Reviews

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted Driven to Death, the first book of the Bex Wynter Files series, by the author, Elleby Harper. Thank you so much for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I always enjoy works by Elleby Harper. The only thing better than an Elleby Harper mystery is another series by her...

Bex Winter's life has been disrupted by one of life's emotional trainwrecks - her husband Zane is killed in a traffic accident - herself badly injured - and after she is medically sound again she can't face New York City or even her job as a homicide detective with the NYPD without him. She can't separate her life from the pain of losing him. So she interviews for a position in London for an experienced cop to set up a new division that will try to rescue and retrain youthful offenders. It is a cause after her own heart, one she feels strongly about. Institutionalizing youthful offenders simply embed them on the path to waste their whole life. In fact, Bex used Zane life insurance to buy and restore an old hotel in NYC, a halfway house for kids getting out of reform school with personnel to help them with schooling, looking for work, and finding healthy outlets for tension and angst.

She lands in London early on Wednesday morning, July 5th, drops off her luggage at her reserved hotel as she can't check in until 3, and heads out to explore downtown. She has time - she is scheduled to begin her training on Monday. She has four days to get over jetlag and settle in. Wearing her favorite NYC tee shirt, jeans, and old tennis shoes, she heads out, perhaps to go to the Tower of London, or whatever comes first. And everything falls into place - she even manages to 'rescue' a young pickpocket from his thieving ways and find a decent double-shot of coffee at the Tower of London- until about noon, when her new boss calls her on her cellphone and asks her to check into the office by 2:00 on the first floor of New Scotland Yard as there is a case that just happened that is an ideal vehicle for the new task force.

The hotel can't let her register early, nor can she have access to her luggage until she is registered. She wants a shower and professional clothes, and what she gets is a pitstop in the hotels' public bathroom and a cabbie almost willing to take her hot, sweaty, tired, jet-lagged self to New Scotland Yard. Where she is immediately run into by the junior member of what will be her new squad, the Youth Squad Team. As he recognizes her accent, Reuben addresses her as his new boss, 'New Yank', offers to escort her to the hastily called meeting, and instructs her in an aside to only address their boss as DETECTIVE Superintendent Dresden. Never forget the Detective part, he tells her. And informs her that they will have to take the elevator to get to the first floor, as this is the ground floor. Culture shock escalates her headache and jetlag even before they get on the elevator. The day goes downhill from there. Who knew barrister pronounced with a London accent sounded exactly like barista? Or that Quinn would become so inflamed when she confused his ex-wife's profession? That Quinn would be such a pain in the butt from the git-go? And how can she handle this accident investigation when she is still so soul weary of her own tragedy?

But the accident that takes the lives of both the car driver and the struck pedestrian IS a perfect case for the new squad. Clara Butterworth was sixteen, studying for her GCSEs at Merrywell Park School in Twickenham, raised by her widowed mom who was a night-shift nurse at the Emergency Room of the West Middlesex University Hospital. The Honorable Richard Bonneville Galliers, 'Bon' to his friends, was the son of Charles Henry Galliers, Viscount Dunreath, a member of the House of Lords, and Penelope Ann Galliers, Viscountess Dunreath. Bon was 17 and a boarding student at Harrow. The couple had recently broken up after dating for several months.

Did Bon accidentally lose control of his car, or did he intentionally run Clara down? Was the second impact that tossed his car into the river an unavoidable reaction accident, or did he intend to kill himself, as well? How had Clara's mother, Evie Butterworth, after determining that her daughter was dead but starting a chain of CPR, find it in her heart to rush down to the river and start mouth-to-mouth rescue to try to save the boy who had just killed her only child?

And how can you handle a case with all the internet and TV coverage of this sort of tragedy, and that attempted rescue? Millions have seen the film of that rescue attempt, the public naming Evie that 'Freakin' Saint' and calling for her to receive a commendation from the Queen for bravery.

This case is not going to be easy, and it can make or break the new squad. It will have to be handled with kid gloves. Being a New Yorker might be a disadvantage. But perhaps this New Yorker is the perfect ingredient to add true equality to the mix.

Reviewed on January 17, 2022, at Goodreads, AmaonSmile, and Barnes&Noble. Not available for review on Kobo, BookBub, or GooglePlay.

[Lynda Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this new author to me but it's already under 200 pages (which is usually my minimum pagecount) and it actually ended 84% in !!! Luckily, I've seen the follow-up stories appear to go a little longer so I'll definitely stick with the series. I like the way she writes and her sense of humour as well. It's a clever idea using an American landing up in London and all the cultural differences you'd not really expect. The barrister/barista mix-up made me laugh aloud at one point !! Just goes to show, it's all in the intonation ! My favourite member of Bex's team is Reuben. I just adored that lad.
Something really bothered me near the beginning.....now, I hate things left unsaid or undone, it has to be a 'tidy' read and yet I kept going back to the passage where Clara and Evie are walking near Richmond Bridge and I could NOT figure how they ended up on opposite sides. I read and reread and reread again and still couldn't get it "tidied up" or making sense in my head and that was pretty distracting. She also refers to the London Tower, which I Googled, thinking it was someplace different to the Tower of London. But it's not so I was a bit irritated by that, as that is the same whether in English or American !! Another baffling scene for me is when a phone is located.......it was accompanied by a set of fountain pens.....now THAT in itself is pretty random but these pens were never referred to again so I had no idea why they were mentioned in the first place !
I am also confused by what occurred with her husband. It sounded pretty straightforward to me yet she seems to be on this mission to apportion blame elsewhere, and I just didn't get that !!
She does get her apostrophes misplaced a lot of times, especially with Galliers' as she uses it every time and it isn't needed at each mention. I found a slang translation(as I was clueless) for "high on aimies" and Botox needs capitalising. Yet another bafflement was this sentence, "....she finished off with barbell Russian twists and situps to failure"......huh ??
Another repeated error is sticking a space into a word where it isn't needed, as with under steer, button down, smart phone, road works and heart rate. Clamboring should be clambering, too.
I did Google what a hydroponic garden is and my only question, really, is why ? I don't really "get" why anyone would have one. Another phrase was peculiar, "Charles Galliers had spoken to Reuben the afternoon they interviewed him and his wife, so he knew Bex was American." What does it have to do with Reuben ? If she spoke with Galliers, of course he knows she's American !! That was a very strange sentence altogether.
So, confusion aside, this IS a good story and I will be reading the next one for sure. I do like the cover on this one as well. I think it's a redone one but it is very nice.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new job; a new city; a new country even. But Bex Wynter finds herself in a situation that brings back too many memories and too many questions about how a loved one should react to a violent crime. Thrown into the investigation of a car crash she must first pull her team together then determine if it was a premeditated rundown while evading political influence and, by the way, is she actually legal to work yet. The author packs quite a story into a fairly short book. Quick and exciting. Recommended.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good detective novel

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book brings in a female, American detective (Bex) into the midst of a new Juvenile Crime Team at New Scotland Yard, full of an assortment of male British police officers, one completely new to the force and even one who is openly hostile to Bex. Bring in the confusion with American and English terminology and its causes a few problems.

Bex has come over from the States to escape her friends and family after the death of her husband in a car accident. Unfortunately, the first case she is dragged into, before her officall start date, is another car crash involving two teens, with death involved. Was it an accident or was it a deliberate action.

Include social media cover and one of the parties having an influential parent with political links, then this story certainly adds some punch to the mix. This is a great crime story with an interesting combination of characters that will no doubt go on to develop more in any following books. The crime investigation is very realistic, with enough twists and surprises to keep you interested and the actions of the main characters are all believable, with a sad background for one at least, which affects how they do their work.

I was fortunate to receive a free copy of this book from the author and can honestly say I have now found a new author to put in my top ten list ! The author brings just the right amount of realism to the crime and investigation and the book moves with a good pace, with no dead or unnecessary portions dragging it down. If you like crime/detective books then this author is certainly one to follow and read. I shall certainly be looking out for their next book and to see how the characters have developed.

I have freely given my own opinion of the book above. Enjoy !

[Teresa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy through a BookFunnel giveaway and this is my honest opinion. I definitely enjoyed the story of Bex Wynter, an NYPD detective, who moves to London to join the Metropolitan Police in order to escape a devastating loss. Ms. Harper's story is full of three-dimensional, fully-fleshed characters, great dialogue, plenty of action, and a twist for the ending that I suspected but couldn't figure out how she was going to pull off. Needless to say, she did it quite well. The back and forth between Wynter and her second-in-command, Quinn Standing was enough to run up my blood pressure, the sign of a really good author, in my opinion. Standing is an arrogant "arse" that I would love to get my hands on in order to strangle him. (Another point for Ms. Harper.) I enjoyed watching the Youth Crime Team develop from a group of individuals going their own way to the makings of a cohesive team. The only issue I had with the book was that it seemed to really harp on Bex's loss and her emotions. I realize that was the motivating factor for her moving to London, but at times I felt like the story bogged down just a little because of it; not enough to really hamper the movement but enough to be noticed. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I highly recommend them.

[Evelyn Grabas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book. Great plot, characters and dialogue. I will not give a synopsis of the book as some are wont to do, only a review as to its merit, which I think is what is looked for. I do, wholeheartedly recommend reading this book and finding out all about it rather than having me tell you the story.
Personally, I predict that this new female detective, Bex, is destined to be one of the newest and best of female police detectives. It is rather enjoyable that she has transferred to England and the reader is able to glean the difference between the way British do and say things as opposed to Americans. It is also interesting to see how British "bobbies" relate to their American counterparts. I think all of the letters regarding their rank that are added to their titles are hilarious.
All in all, I look forward to more in what I hope will be a new detective series.

[Chris Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a great deal. I liked the idea of an American trying to fit in with the British police. Add to that her own troubles and the high profile case she's given as her first job and you know she'll have a tough time. I personally liked the fact that the main character had her own doubts, like people really do. She's not a super confident super-hero thwarting bad guys with ease. There's a vulnerability to her and that makes it all the more interesting a read. I suppose the best recommendation for any book is that you want to read others in the series and I certainly do in this case.

[Jenifer Ruff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending was a little abrupt considering how much I was enjoying the book, but the good news is that it's the first in a series. The writing in Driven to Death is exceptional - no filters, very focused on the current scenes as if we are there with the POV character seeing everything through her eyes.

[Charles Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

After her husband is killed in an auto accident, Bex Wynter leaves her job as a homicide detective at NYPD and heads to London where she’s been hired to head a new division within the London Metropolitan Police. Even before she can unpack her bags, the day she arrives in fact, she’s assigned the task of determining whether or not an auto fatality involving a young girl and the errant son of an English VIP was an accident or murder. Her life is complicated by the high-profile nature of the case, the mess that is her own life, and a co-worker who resents an American being brought in over him to head a unit which he feels should be his to lead.

Driven to Death by Elleby Harper is a fascinating short novel, novella, that moves with the precision of a Swiss watch and the inexorable force of a hurricane, following the actions of a diverse and interesting cast of characters as they tackle a situation in which the main perpetrator is dead, and thus beyond the law, but in the interests of justice, the case must be resolved. The author sets up the twist ending very well, but it still came as a shocker.

A received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my review. A very well done book.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bex has just arrived from New York to become the head of a group in the Metropolitan police force in London. She can’t check into her hotel room yet, so she goes sightseeing. While out and about, she gets a call that her new job needs her to check in days earlier than planned. She goes back to hotel and is able to wash up in the bathroom and snag a pair of heels and a blazer from her luggage and takes a cab to the workplace. Getting out of the cab, she catches a heel and damages her shoe. She is also barely covering a tee shirt that she wore when she flew into London. And so she meets her new team, not quite making the impression that she had hoped.
On her team is newly graduated Reuben, who is thrilled to be working on the force, and Quinn, an experienced investigator who has recently transferred to the team. He is not pleased that someone else is leading the team that he thinks he should be leading. And she’s an American and a woman, no less.
Bex’s team is asked to investigate a fatal car crash that may have been a murder. The case develops some twists and the case is closed with an unexpected development.
Interesting story, well written. I’m looking forward to reading other books in the series.

[Renee Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evie takes her daughter, Clara, to a movie marathon for the day. It's a nice change since they haven't seen much of each other lately. As they're leaving the theater the Clara's boyfriend Bon's car waiting. Evie doesn't know what the think when Clara starts yelling at Noon, but she soon finds out that they've broken up. Confused about things Clara has said they continue walking but Clara slips across the street without her. As she's nearing her daughter she hears an engine revving up and Bon's car hit and kills Clara. Bex has come across the pond to England to join the police as a DCI in a type of exchange program. She gets the call to go into New Scotland Yard and is put on the case the same day she arrives with no training yet. Bex proves that she and her team can solve this case. The characters and the dynamics between them are quite good as is the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is poignant, with a tragedy sparking an intense investigation. Bex Wynter is a NYPD transplant to the UK, tasked with leading a new Youth Crimes Team. And when she arrives on the scene she is thrust immediately into that role before her official start date. She takes it in stride and does her very best against odds. There is more resentment on her new team than welcoming. She struggles to learn the British nomenclature and is glad to have one team member who is supportive help her get around. Soon all but one team member accept her.

The investigation involves a dead girl who was hit by a car driven by the boy she had broken up with not long before. Was it an accident or murder? The story goes through all the police work in great detail. There is also a political element, and the police force may be compromised by outside pressure. Bex eventually wins over her new boss with her outstanding work. It's a very good book with multiple dimensions.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new author for me, and this one gets high marks. The plot and characters flow, and you feel like your observing them. A mother who sees she’s losing her daughter, just in the fact of her maturing, and wondering about the path she is taking. Clara, her daughter has a stalking boyfriend, then a car, was it Bon’s, a life taken. Social media, and the status of the family, this has become a priority case, wanting name cleared. Intriguing of how this was handled, and pieces put together. It was almost too much for Bex with the lost she had, a new job and new team. Readers won’t be disappointed, and looking forward to the next book by this author.

[Candy Robosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Driven to Death was a well written book that crosses American crime solving techniques with British life. Bex is devastated by her husband's death and decides to take a job with Scotland Yard. Her plane no sooner lands than she is called into work early due to a high profile car accident that results in 2 deaths.
I enjoyed how even though Bex is the main character we find out information about her entire team. This story keeps you guessing as to what the final verdict will be. All I will say is "Remember things are not always as they appear and don't rely only on first impressions."
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never a spoiler in my reviews: This is the first book I've read by this author and I was immediately captivated by the story and the characters. The lead character Bex deals with a variety of situations and dilemmas that would have any other person in a corner whimpering. The embraces her 'challenges' and rises to the occasion of overcoming and defeating all that's thrown at her. This is a well-written story which I easily got into and was in a hurry to finish. Twists and turns, lots of suspense and a surprise ending, all the ingredients necessary for a great detective/mystery story. I am getting ready to start the second one right now!

[Bettyboop · Rating 5 out of 5]

One DCI worth reading

Bek Wynter is one DCI that has grabbed my interest.
She is an ex New York detective that left her life to start a new one as a London DCI. Her memory flashes are intriguing, I want to know more, but Driven to Death unfolds as a story with believable characters living what could be real lives.
Bek has no problem with this case of drugs, stalking, controlling love. Her problem is being accepted by the DCI team she heads, solving this case would help.
Author, Elleby Harper keeps you drawn in and on edge with no way possible twists and a shocking end! Excellent goodread!
Bek Wynter is a DCI that detective fans cannot miss reading.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

NY police detective Bex Wynter, after the tragedy of her police husband being killed, joins the London police force at their newly established youth crimes unit. Her first investigation as lead DCI is to determine if 17 year old Bon Galliers accidentally killed his ex-girlfriend Clara Butterworth.
Can American Bex win over her British team or will they resent her.
A well-written, good solid start, with the right blend of characters to what might develop into a series
Received an Advanced Reader Copy

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I loved the characters. Bex is a believable detective transplanted from NYPD to New Scotland Yard. Quinn makes a good antagonist but you get the feeling that something more might occur between them. Lots of anger and misunderstandings on both sides. I will be continuing this series. Hope there are many to go. The whole story is about how a girl is killed by her recent boyfriend who is stalking her after the breakup. You get the feeling that it was murder but was it simply anger and then what? Well worth the read.

[Colin Rochford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Driven to Death by Elleby Harper
As Bernard Shaw or perhaps Oscar Wilde said, America and England are two nations separated by a common language. This book is an exemplar of this quote. And it is well done.
There are comments about different meanings of words, different pronunciations such as barrister and barista and much of the story of the book hangs on these variations.
There is plenty of tension, excitement and misunderstanding in this story. And beating the odds. I loved it.
I am desperate to get into the next one, because I feel there is so much more to learn about our American detective and her insertion into the British police system.
it is full of language mix-ups, such as: “That’s right. We’re on the ground floor, first floor is the next level up.”
And
Bex knew enough to register arse as the equivalent of ass.
And a few gems of lines as per the following: ‘As they exited the car, reporters fell on them like rampaging lions on the South African Veldt.’

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting!! An American detective working in Scotland Yard. She must cope with living in a different country, a new team to work with and learn how the English do things. This book grabs you at the beginning and doesn't let go. It is well thought out and well written. The story flows well. The characters are very real. Twists and turns will keep you in suspense. I enjoyed reading this and recommend it. Get a copy and come along with Bex as she works on this case.
I voluntarily received a copy of this book and I'm voluntarily posting a review. My opinion is entirely my own.

[Jay Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different police procedural as an American detective is placed in charge of a special British task force. The story revolves around the investigation of the death of a young woman hit by a car being operated by her ex boyfriend whose family is among the British nobles. The task force has a number of interesting characters, and their interaction with their new leader is an important part of the story. The ending arrives after an in-depth investigation wherein the American shows her stuff.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

An American detective in London is appointed the head of the new Youth Crimes Team. Detective Bex Wynter has her work cut out for her in trying to do her job. Seems not everyone is happy with an American being in such a coveted position. This is a great police procedural story...to which I am a junkie reader! I was pulled in from the very start and couldn't stop reading it! Great job!!! I am looking forward to more books in this series.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Driven to Death: An addictive and thrilling crime mystery (Detective Bex Wynter Files Book 1) my first read from author Elleby Harper. I got this back in October of 2018 & never got around to reading it until now. Wonderful characters & plot. Very good read! Next up Stolen Girls: An addictive and thrilling crime mystery (Detective Bex Wynter Files Book 2). I look forward to more about Bex Wynter. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Teresa Calton-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drew me in from the first paragraph.

Bex must face the stumbling blocks In her life when she moves to London to put distance from the pain caused by her husband's death and try to heal and forgive the person who caused the accident. Loved that the author kept my attention from beginning to end and even threw a curve ball that I didn't see coming. Can't wait to read her next book!

[Brenda Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Held my interest

Rebecca (Bex) Wynter is an American detective who was recently widowed. She takes a job with Scotland Yard in London, taking advantage of their new recruitment policy. Of course she faces some resentment from the members of her new team. Her first case is an auto accident resulting in two fatalities which just so happens to be how she lost her husband. Good first book in the series.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book! Precise, to the point and a nice combination of English and American speech. A fairly simple mystery but a nice way to introduce an American detective to an English police squad. This was a pretty quick read that covered all the bases with no cliffhangers (a pet peeve of mine). I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Julie Blumke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written book. I loved the plot. Very original and believable storyline. I like the main character. She is very believable and likeable. I couldn't put it down once I started it. Had me from page one.
I can't wait to read more from this author. This is a must read for police procedures genre.

[Patty U. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book. I think this is going to be a great series. Bex, a detective from NYC, transfers to the London Met in England. This first case reminds her so much of the car accident her husband died in.
Her second in command does not like her very much and causes her problems. There is a twist at the end I did not see coming.

[Leanne Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read, a nice change to see an American detective move to London, even though under terrible circumstances, to try and start a new life and career. Looking forward to reading more in the series to see how the office politics work out and the other investigations Bex will encounter.