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DI Matt Brindle #1
His Third Victim
A man is shot dead and his body is dumped on the moors. His arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry.
There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark. The police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards was close to the murdered man. She lives with her five-year son and has begun a new life in the local area. But although clearly grief-stricken, she is not telling the police everything she knows.
Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case. But DI Matt Brindle is out of action. He was badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush. He is drawn into the investigation and must decide whether he wants to go to back to his old life.
What is the real connection between the victims and who will be next?
There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark. The police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards was close to the murdered man. She lives with her five-year son and has begun a new life in the local area. But although clearly grief-stricken, she is not telling the police everything she knows.
Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case. But DI Matt Brindle is out of action. He was badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush. He is drawn into the investigation and must decide whether he wants to go to back to his old life.
What is the real connection between the victims and who will be next?
235 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2017
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685 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
January 29, 2024
Bella was devastated to learn her beau, Alan Fisher, was dead, shot in the temple. Why? She had no clue, and neither did the police. When Bella's five year old son, Oliver, was abducted when her neighbour was bringing him home from school, it was the beginning of a nightmare. DI Matt Brindle was approached by his boss, Detective Talbot Dyson, to return to the force to take charge of the case. Matt had been involved in an incident six months prior where his partner was killed and Matt injured. He hadn't returned to the force. But as a favour to Dyson, he took it on.
With one person after another vanishing, unable to be found, Matt knew they had a serial killer on their hands. And Bella was central to the case. When he discovered that Bella was holding secrets about her past close to her chest, he knew he had to make her trust him. But would Bella give up her secrets? Would she get Ollie back? What would be the outcome in this brutal case?
His Third Victim is the 1st in the DI Matt Brindle series by Helen H. Durrant and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced, filled with gritty tension, the characters were great. Matt and his new partner, Lily, worked well together and I'm looking forward to checking out #2 in the series. Recommended.
With one person after another vanishing, unable to be found, Matt knew they had a serial killer on their hands. And Bella was central to the case. When he discovered that Bella was holding secrets about her past close to her chest, he knew he had to make her trust him. But would Bella give up her secrets? Would she get Ollie back? What would be the outcome in this brutal case?
His Third Victim is the 1st in the DI Matt Brindle series by Helen H. Durrant and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced, filled with gritty tension, the characters were great. Matt and his new partner, Lily, worked well together and I'm looking forward to checking out #2 in the series. Recommended.
October 18, 2017
HIS THIRD VICTIM is a brand new standalone detective mystery from best-selling author Helen H. Durrant. I have read and enjoyed all her Calladine & Bayliss, and Greco books so I was intrigued to see she had started another series, with the introduction of DI Matthew Brindle and his team. Another winner that will keep you guessing right to the end.
A man is shot dead and his body is dumped on the moors. His arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry.
There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark. The police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards was close to the murdered man. She lives with her five-year son and has begun a new life in the local area. But Bella is holding back information…she is not telling the police everything she knows.
Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case…DI Matt Brindle. But Matt is out of action after being badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush. He is pulled into the investigation and must decide whether he wants to go to back to his old job.
This is a fast-paced detective mystery novel with believable characters. I predict this is going to be another winning series.
Many thanks to Helen H. Durrant, Joffe Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
A man is shot dead and his body is dumped on the moors. His arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry.
There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark. The police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards was close to the murdered man. She lives with her five-year son and has begun a new life in the local area. But Bella is holding back information…she is not telling the police everything she knows.
Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case…DI Matt Brindle. But Matt is out of action after being badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush. He is pulled into the investigation and must decide whether he wants to go to back to his old job.
This is a fast-paced detective mystery novel with believable characters. I predict this is going to be another winning series.
Many thanks to Helen H. Durrant, Joffe Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
December 24, 2017
A BRAND NEW STANDALONE DETECTIVE MYSTERY FROM #1 BEST-SELLING AUTHOR HELEN H. DURRANT
A man is shot dead and his body is dumped on the moors. His arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry. There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark. The police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims. Bella Richards was close to the murdered man. She lives with her five-year son and has begun a new life in the local area. But although clearly grief-stricken, she is not telling the police everything she knows. Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case. But DI Matt Brindle is out of action. He was badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush. He is drawn into the investigation and must decide whether he wants to go to back to his old life.
What is the real connection between the victims and who will be next?
This is a detective mystery full of twists and turns, with a stunning edge-of-your-seat ending.
-----------------------------------------
This is my first time reading a Helen H. Durrant book but I know I will be reading many more in future. I want to catch up on all the other books she has written because I enjoyed this one immensely.
What originally drew me to reading the title was the synopsis, in particular, the Chinese symbology hallmarks stamped on each of the victims when they were discovered. This is the part that intrigued me the most.
Well written and immaculately paced, Ms. Durrant clearly knows how to write interesting and easy to read crime fiction. There were plenty of plot twists and turns and some great red herrings thrown in there. Full of suspense and managed to keep me enthralled the whole way through. Excellent.
I also enjoyed the characters very much. The killer is an intelligent and ruthless individual and I do hope that this is the beginning of a new series that will feature DI Matthew Brindle in the (hopefully) upcoming instalments as I would like to learn more about him and see his character developed more. It hasn't been announced whether this will be the first book in a series or not yet as far as I know. Although, in the description it does say standalone and that concerns me that this is a one off only but we shall see. Either way I will read more of Durrant's writing in the future!
Joffe books tend to have some fantastic authors and titles in their catalogue and I would urge other thriller readers to give Joffe books a go, you won't be disappointed!
I would like to thank Helen H. Durrant/Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
A man is shot dead and his body is dumped on the moors. His arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry. There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark. The police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims. Bella Richards was close to the murdered man. She lives with her five-year son and has begun a new life in the local area. But although clearly grief-stricken, she is not telling the police everything she knows. Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case. But DI Matt Brindle is out of action. He was badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush. He is drawn into the investigation and must decide whether he wants to go to back to his old life.
What is the real connection between the victims and who will be next?
This is a detective mystery full of twists and turns, with a stunning edge-of-your-seat ending.
-----------------------------------------
This is my first time reading a Helen H. Durrant book but I know I will be reading many more in future. I want to catch up on all the other books she has written because I enjoyed this one immensely.
What originally drew me to reading the title was the synopsis, in particular, the Chinese symbology hallmarks stamped on each of the victims when they were discovered. This is the part that intrigued me the most.
Well written and immaculately paced, Ms. Durrant clearly knows how to write interesting and easy to read crime fiction. There were plenty of plot twists and turns and some great red herrings thrown in there. Full of suspense and managed to keep me enthralled the whole way through. Excellent.
I also enjoyed the characters very much. The killer is an intelligent and ruthless individual and I do hope that this is the beginning of a new series that will feature DI Matthew Brindle in the (hopefully) upcoming instalments as I would like to learn more about him and see his character developed more. It hasn't been announced whether this will be the first book in a series or not yet as far as I know. Although, in the description it does say standalone and that concerns me that this is a one off only but we shall see. Either way I will read more of Durrant's writing in the future!
Joffe books tend to have some fantastic authors and titles in their catalogue and I would urge other thriller readers to give Joffe books a go, you won't be disappointed!
I would like to thank Helen H. Durrant/Joffe Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
December 29, 2017
"All she had to do was make him happy. It wasn't much to ask, but his chosen ones always seemed to fail him in one way or another."
A serial murderer is at work in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. His 'perfect' crimes have gone unnoticed, as he has made sure that the women his victims are not even reported missing. How? He also kills everyone that would be likely to do so... The police are confused as the victims seem random - the only thing connecting them is that the victims have all had a stamp on their body with the Chinese calligraphy for the word 'sorry'.
The East Pennine Police have the murders on their books. They are puzzled by the fact that the stamps on the bodies are different colours. There are three green, two red, and now... a blue. Chief Inspector Dyson is unsatisfied with the DI and DC that are currently working the case. His best man, DI Matthew Brindle is on sick leave after suffering from an ambush the previous year. A grenade ripped into DI Brindle and left his sergeant, Paula Wright, dead.
When Chief Inspector Dyson goes to Brindle's home to enlist his help with the case, the temptation is just too great for Brindle, who acquiesces, and returns to work, much to his mother's disgust.
"He'd sworn he would never return, that nothing and no one could tempt him. But he'd been wrong. It was in his blood and wouldn't let him be."
We meet Bella Richards. Bella is the single mother of a young son. When her lover is murdered and found with a blue stamp on his body, she is devastated. Then, shortly thereafter, her Aunt is also found murdered with the very same stamp on her body...
Bella is somewhat of a mystery to the police. It would seem that she has no personal history older than two years. Before that time she does not seem to have existed. And now... Bella's young son has been abducted! How could all of these events possibly be related??? Why is Bella lying to the police who are trying to help her?
As with most police procedurals, I admit I enjoy the policeman's 'back story' as much, if not more, that the crime case itself. In the case of Detective Inspector Matt Brindle, this proves true once again. He is an interesting character. In his mid-thirties, badly injured - and traumatized by the death of his partner, he lives in 'Brindle Hall', the large Georgian manor house owned by his family for generations. His mother, lady of the manor, does not want him to return to work as she fears for his well-being. While he was off work, he had decided to open his rather grand home and the surrounding grounds to the public. Though everyone thinks the family to be wealthy, the upkeep of the manor has decimated their finances and they really need some cash to fend off imminent bankruptcy.
When Matt returns to work with the CID, he is paired with Lily, a new, very young, female sergeant. I enjoyed reading about how they are adjusting to their partnership and how they work.
As far as the case went, there was no shortage of possible suspects to leave the reader guessing. The pacing perfectly kept up the suspense, and the characters seemed genuine and believable. Then there is the surprise when the reader learns the identity of the murderer. I had my suspicions, but once again, I was wrong. The climax of the novel occurs in memorable scenes at a remote Yorkshire farmhouse.
So far, Helen H. Durrant has never disappointed me and I highly recommend this mystery to anyone who likes character-rich police procedurals. The publisher's website states that this is a stand-alone mystery, but I am fervently hoping that we will meet D.I. Matt Brindle in further novels...
I received a digital copy of this novel from Joffe Books via NetGalley.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for GoodReads.
A serial murderer is at work in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. His 'perfect' crimes have gone unnoticed, as he has made sure that the women his victims are not even reported missing. How? He also kills everyone that would be likely to do so... The police are confused as the victims seem random - the only thing connecting them is that the victims have all had a stamp on their body with the Chinese calligraphy for the word 'sorry'.
The East Pennine Police have the murders on their books. They are puzzled by the fact that the stamps on the bodies are different colours. There are three green, two red, and now... a blue. Chief Inspector Dyson is unsatisfied with the DI and DC that are currently working the case. His best man, DI Matthew Brindle is on sick leave after suffering from an ambush the previous year. A grenade ripped into DI Brindle and left his sergeant, Paula Wright, dead.
When Chief Inspector Dyson goes to Brindle's home to enlist his help with the case, the temptation is just too great for Brindle, who acquiesces, and returns to work, much to his mother's disgust.
"He'd sworn he would never return, that nothing and no one could tempt him. But he'd been wrong. It was in his blood and wouldn't let him be."
We meet Bella Richards. Bella is the single mother of a young son. When her lover is murdered and found with a blue stamp on his body, she is devastated. Then, shortly thereafter, her Aunt is also found murdered with the very same stamp on her body...
Bella is somewhat of a mystery to the police. It would seem that she has no personal history older than two years. Before that time she does not seem to have existed. And now... Bella's young son has been abducted! How could all of these events possibly be related??? Why is Bella lying to the police who are trying to help her?
As with most police procedurals, I admit I enjoy the policeman's 'back story' as much, if not more, that the crime case itself. In the case of Detective Inspector Matt Brindle, this proves true once again. He is an interesting character. In his mid-thirties, badly injured - and traumatized by the death of his partner, he lives in 'Brindle Hall', the large Georgian manor house owned by his family for generations. His mother, lady of the manor, does not want him to return to work as she fears for his well-being. While he was off work, he had decided to open his rather grand home and the surrounding grounds to the public. Though everyone thinks the family to be wealthy, the upkeep of the manor has decimated their finances and they really need some cash to fend off imminent bankruptcy.
When Matt returns to work with the CID, he is paired with Lily, a new, very young, female sergeant. I enjoyed reading about how they are adjusting to their partnership and how they work.
As far as the case went, there was no shortage of possible suspects to leave the reader guessing. The pacing perfectly kept up the suspense, and the characters seemed genuine and believable. Then there is the surprise when the reader learns the identity of the murderer. I had my suspicions, but once again, I was wrong. The climax of the novel occurs in memorable scenes at a remote Yorkshire farmhouse.
So far, Helen H. Durrant has never disappointed me and I highly recommend this mystery to anyone who likes character-rich police procedurals. The publisher's website states that this is a stand-alone mystery, but I am fervently hoping that we will meet D.I. Matt Brindle in further novels...
I received a digital copy of this novel from Joffe Books via NetGalley.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for GoodReads.
May 16, 2018
This is a 4.5 star read.
I have read quite a lot of Helen H. Durant's novels but none of them quite resonated with me like this new standalone novel "His Third Victim".
I absolutely LOVE DI Matt Brindle - a man's man with softer, polished edges, who is consumed by the fight to solve investigations and bring justice to the victims. His previous case ending with the death of his sergeant and his own threatening injuries reveals a damaged man but one who is all the more life-like for it.
At the start of the investigation he is simply a "civvy" attending a funeral for a friend, one that has been murdered. It is here that Matt meets the victim's partner Bella and where his interest is piqued. But no ...... he can't interfere ..... he has resigned as a Detective. Besides he has big plans for a new business venture to be built around the family Manor that's going to take up a lot of his time, especially convincing his titled, loving but manipulative mother that it's the right thing to do.
But Matt's old boss, Detective Superintendent Talbot Dyson, has other plans in store for him, drawing him back into the investigation by using his natural inquisitiveness and revealing a pleasant surprise to his much regarded DI. As the case progresses Matt finds that the killing is linked to old cold cases and also to Bella directly. But Bella has big secrets ...... ones she is not going to reveal.
This novel is a fastly paced and tightly woven serial killer story that held me engaged until the surprising reveal of the killer in the finale. Packed with secrets, twists and life-like characters that draw you in, this is a must read for fans of Helen H. Durrant and those that love serial killer thrillers.
I received an ARC of this novel directly from the author and publisher Joffe Books. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book, and the gifting in no way determines my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.
I have read quite a lot of Helen H. Durant's novels but none of them quite resonated with me like this new standalone novel "His Third Victim".
I absolutely LOVE DI Matt Brindle - a man's man with softer, polished edges, who is consumed by the fight to solve investigations and bring justice to the victims. His previous case ending with the death of his sergeant and his own threatening injuries reveals a damaged man but one who is all the more life-like for it.
At the start of the investigation he is simply a "civvy" attending a funeral for a friend, one that has been murdered. It is here that Matt meets the victim's partner Bella and where his interest is piqued. But no ...... he can't interfere ..... he has resigned as a Detective. Besides he has big plans for a new business venture to be built around the family Manor that's going to take up a lot of his time, especially convincing his titled, loving but manipulative mother that it's the right thing to do.
But Matt's old boss, Detective Superintendent Talbot Dyson, has other plans in store for him, drawing him back into the investigation by using his natural inquisitiveness and revealing a pleasant surprise to his much regarded DI. As the case progresses Matt finds that the killing is linked to old cold cases and also to Bella directly. But Bella has big secrets ...... ones she is not going to reveal.
This novel is a fastly paced and tightly woven serial killer story that held me engaged until the surprising reveal of the killer in the finale. Packed with secrets, twists and life-like characters that draw you in, this is a must read for fans of Helen H. Durrant and those that love serial killer thrillers.
I received an ARC of this novel directly from the author and publisher Joffe Books. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book, and the gifting in no way determines my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.
October 9, 2017
He watches her very closely as he has for quite a while now. First he kills her lover, then he kills a family member. The bodies are left with an ink stamp ... the Chinese symbol for sorry. Now there is no one close to her who will question her disappearance when he grabs her.
This is not the first time he has done this. There are five unsolved crimes .... each with the same ink stamp, only in different colors.
When the police can't find any connection with the missing and the dead, DI Matt Brindle is called in despite his being determined to not go back after his partner was killed and he was severely injured. But at heart, all he's ever wanted to do is chase the bad guys.
Bella Richards was the lover of one of the victims. She also has a 5-year-old son. Bella has secrets... and she's not willing to share them with law enforcement.... not even when her son disappears.
It takes Brindle and a new team to spot things that have been overlooked .... things like Bella doesn't seem to have existed before 2 years ago. Why does she have two phones? Why won't she work with the police. Where did a smooth talking solicitor come from? Who is the man who follows her wherever she goes?
This author has fast become one of my favorites. She has some terrific series on her side of the board. HIS THIRD VICTIM is a stand-alone, not associated with a series. If you have never read her, this is the place to start. I guarantee you will want to gather up all her other books.
As always, this is a well written crime thriller full of mystery and suspense with both big and little twists and surprises along the way. All the characters are well defined and I'm eager to learn more about them . Brindle is a man's man, but he does have his issues. His previous injuries have left him with PTSD. Lily is young, and fairly inexperienced, but there's nothing she won't do to prove her worth as a law enforcement officer. I even liked Brindle's mom and sister .. they lend a lot of credibility to her character.
Many thanks to the author and Joffee Books for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 7, 2020
This is the first book in the DI Matt Brindle series by author Helen Durrant. I enjoy the 'Calladine and Bayliss' series by this author and have recently been steadily working my way through all of her work.
This novel starts fast and keeps going at quite a pace. The characters are interesting and feel there is plenty of scope to develop in the next books in the series.
A dead man's body is found on the moors, shot dead and his arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry. There are five unsolved murders with the same modus operandi, yet the police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards is new to the area and lives with her five year old son. She was close to the murdered man and is trying to cope with the situation although it becomes obvious she is not being completely honest with the police.
DI Matt Brindle was recently badly injured on duty and his sergeant was killed in an ambush. With pressure being applied by Detective Talbot Dyson, Matt needs to decide if he wants to go back to his job and lead the case.
This is a really good crime procedural novel, fast paced, good characters and lots of twists and turns. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
This novel starts fast and keeps going at quite a pace. The characters are interesting and feel there is plenty of scope to develop in the next books in the series.
A dead man's body is found on the moors, shot dead and his arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry. There are five unsolved murders with the same modus operandi, yet the police can’t find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards is new to the area and lives with her five year old son. She was close to the murdered man and is trying to cope with the situation although it becomes obvious she is not being completely honest with the police.
DI Matt Brindle was recently badly injured on duty and his sergeant was killed in an ambush. With pressure being applied by Detective Talbot Dyson, Matt needs to decide if he wants to go back to his job and lead the case.
This is a really good crime procedural novel, fast paced, good characters and lots of twists and turns. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
October 21, 2017
Well Helen Durrant has done it again another awesome 5 star book. The suspense starts at the beginning and continues right through to the edge of your seat ending. I am really hoping there will be more books featuring Matt Brindle.
The killer is clever, very clever, nobody will ever catch him but he reckoned without Matt Brindle. Matt was badly injured and has retired from the Police Force (or has he?). Struggling with PTSD and guilt about the death of his partner he is struggling to pick up the pieces of his life. When a friend is murdered Matt is persuaded to return to work on a trial basis. The case is very complex and is split between 2 teams as everyone struggles with dead ends and false leads plus what appears to be a total lack of motive a young boy is abducted and the race is on to find the killer before anyone else dies.
The characters build through the book into well developed, realistic characters. I love Matt, he is struggling with his personal life and career and is traumatised by past events. His temporary partner is his opposite but it is obvious from very early on that the 2 are going to make a very effective team.
The plot is very intriguing and the reader is left guessing right to the end. When the killer is identified it is a real shocker leaving the reader going WOW.
A well deserved 5 stars from me and a big thank you to Joffe Books for the advance copy
The killer is clever, very clever, nobody will ever catch him but he reckoned without Matt Brindle. Matt was badly injured and has retired from the Police Force (or has he?). Struggling with PTSD and guilt about the death of his partner he is struggling to pick up the pieces of his life. When a friend is murdered Matt is persuaded to return to work on a trial basis. The case is very complex and is split between 2 teams as everyone struggles with dead ends and false leads plus what appears to be a total lack of motive a young boy is abducted and the race is on to find the killer before anyone else dies.
The characters build through the book into well developed, realistic characters. I love Matt, he is struggling with his personal life and career and is traumatised by past events. His temporary partner is his opposite but it is obvious from very early on that the 2 are going to make a very effective team.
The plot is very intriguing and the reader is left guessing right to the end. When the killer is identified it is a real shocker leaving the reader going WOW.
A well deserved 5 stars from me and a big thank you to Joffe Books for the advance copy
October 15, 2017
Wow,I absolutely loved this gripping thriller
Blog tour review
A man is shot dead and his body is dumped on the moors.His arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry.
There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark.The police can't find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards was close to the murdered man.She lives with her five year old son Oliver and has begun a new life in the local area.But although she is clearly grief stricken,she is not telling the police everything she knows.
Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case.But DI Matt Brindle is out of action.He was badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush.Matt is drawn into the investigation and must decide whether he is going to go back to his old life.
What is the connection between the victims and who will be next?
The main characters of this twist packed,gripping thriller are Matt,Bella and the twisted killer.We follow Matt`s return back to work after being away for six months following the attack that has left him with a limp,suffering from panic attacks and post traumatic stress disorder.Matt is unsure whether he wants to return to police work,his mother certainly doesn't want him to but he is intregued by the case and can't resist contacting his old friend Talbot Dyson to talk about the murders.So he is drawn into the case and returns back to work where he is introduced to his new partner Lily Haines.I was expecting Matt to be reluctant about being partnered with someone new after what happened to his previous partner but him and Lily clicked from the moment they started working together and it was like they had known each other for years.Bella Richards is a very mysterious young lady who has hidden secrets that she will do anything to avoid being uncovered even after her young son Ollie goes missing.As the story unfolded I suspected that any one of a number of characters was the killer and I was genuinely surprised when the person's identity was revealed.The characters in this riveting story are a mixed bag of well developed,believable personalities,the reason behind the killings was very clever and ingenious.There was enough description of places to set the scene but no part of the story dragged or felt like padding.
This is quite a quick read,I read it in just under seven hours,it's well written,fast paced,gripping and packed with twists.It looks like the mystery of who was behind the attack on Matt and his previous partner is going to be a on going arc that will carry on in the following books.I absolutely loved this book,I really liked Matt and Lily and am looking forward to reading more thrillers featuring them in the future.
Many thanks to Joffe books and Jill Burkinshaw for the opportunity to read and review this book and for the opportunity to take part in the blog tour
Blog tour review
A man is shot dead and his body is dumped on the moors.His arm is stamped with the Chinese symbol for sorry.
There have been five unsolved murders with the same hallmark.The police can't find any motive or connection between the victims.
Bella Richards was close to the murdered man.She lives with her five year old son Oliver and has begun a new life in the local area.But although she is clearly grief stricken,she is not telling the police everything she knows.
Detective Talbot Dyson wants his most trusted inspector on the case.But DI Matt Brindle is out of action.He was badly injured and his sergeant was killed in a criminal ambush.Matt is drawn into the investigation and must decide whether he is going to go back to his old life.
What is the connection between the victims and who will be next?
The main characters of this twist packed,gripping thriller are Matt,Bella and the twisted killer.We follow Matt`s return back to work after being away for six months following the attack that has left him with a limp,suffering from panic attacks and post traumatic stress disorder.Matt is unsure whether he wants to return to police work,his mother certainly doesn't want him to but he is intregued by the case and can't resist contacting his old friend Talbot Dyson to talk about the murders.So he is drawn into the case and returns back to work where he is introduced to his new partner Lily Haines.I was expecting Matt to be reluctant about being partnered with someone new after what happened to his previous partner but him and Lily clicked from the moment they started working together and it was like they had known each other for years.Bella Richards is a very mysterious young lady who has hidden secrets that she will do anything to avoid being uncovered even after her young son Ollie goes missing.As the story unfolded I suspected that any one of a number of characters was the killer and I was genuinely surprised when the person's identity was revealed.The characters in this riveting story are a mixed bag of well developed,believable personalities,the reason behind the killings was very clever and ingenious.There was enough description of places to set the scene but no part of the story dragged or felt like padding.
This is quite a quick read,I read it in just under seven hours,it's well written,fast paced,gripping and packed with twists.It looks like the mystery of who was behind the attack on Matt and his previous partner is going to be a on going arc that will carry on in the following books.I absolutely loved this book,I really liked Matt and Lily and am looking forward to reading more thrillers featuring them in the future.
Many thanks to Joffe books and Jill Burkinshaw for the opportunity to read and review this book and for the opportunity to take part in the blog tour
October 15, 2017
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Anyone who follows my blog or reviews will know that I am a huge fan of Helen H. Durrant's books - so when I saw that she had released a brand new stand alone book (this one - His Third Victim) I jumped at the chance to get a copy of the book and did it without reading any of the blurb, I was that keen to get started!
Well I can honestly say that I loved the book - I loved the writing style which was excellent as normal, the pace was absolutely spot on and the plot was well thought out - I really, really enjoyed it. I liked the main characters a lot - Bella was really complex with a lot of hidden baggage and DI Brindle also had his own issues that he brought to the tale having returned to work following a horrific injury and the loss of a colleague, very sad but it is a great back story to give added depth to the character.
There was plenty of suspense and lot of twists and turns and you really don't find out who the killer is until the very end, and for me it was really unexpected!! No hesitation in giving the book 5 stars and I'm already eagerly waiting for Helen's next release!!
Anyone who follows my blog or reviews will know that I am a huge fan of Helen H. Durrant's books - so when I saw that she had released a brand new stand alone book (this one - His Third Victim) I jumped at the chance to get a copy of the book and did it without reading any of the blurb, I was that keen to get started!
Well I can honestly say that I loved the book - I loved the writing style which was excellent as normal, the pace was absolutely spot on and the plot was well thought out - I really, really enjoyed it. I liked the main characters a lot - Bella was really complex with a lot of hidden baggage and DI Brindle also had his own issues that he brought to the tale having returned to work following a horrific injury and the loss of a colleague, very sad but it is a great back story to give added depth to the character.
There was plenty of suspense and lot of twists and turns and you really don't find out who the killer is until the very end, and for me it was really unexpected!! No hesitation in giving the book 5 stars and I'm already eagerly waiting for Helen's next release!!
July 23, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.
AWWK! once again, I'm reading a series backwards! The good news is that I've finally caught up on this series of Matt Brindle stories. And it's a very good series. This is the first of the Matt Brindle stories and a great introduction to a wonderful cast of characters. This procedural moves at a good pace, fast but not at whiplash speeds and kept my interest throughout. It started off with an investigation into some seemingly random killings by another (lazier) DI, but when Matt became involved, the investigations began to merge. More and more questions came up as more and more answers started to come. There were several "bad" guys to choose from ranging from the super creepy to nearly normal.
The characters of the police team were well developed and mostly sympathetic and likeable. Enough of their personal lives were revealed during the story, but not so much as to overwhelm.
AWWK! once again, I'm reading a series backwards! The good news is that I've finally caught up on this series of Matt Brindle stories. And it's a very good series. This is the first of the Matt Brindle stories and a great introduction to a wonderful cast of characters. This procedural moves at a good pace, fast but not at whiplash speeds and kept my interest throughout. It started off with an investigation into some seemingly random killings by another (lazier) DI, but when Matt became involved, the investigations began to merge. More and more questions came up as more and more answers started to come. There were several "bad" guys to choose from ranging from the super creepy to nearly normal.
The characters of the police team were well developed and mostly sympathetic and likeable. Enough of their personal lives were revealed during the story, but not so much as to overwhelm.
October 19, 2017
This book is available on the kindle unlimited scheme but I received this on netgalley, this doesn't change my opinion on this book, this is also my first review of a book from the netgalley.
I like a good mystery but I don't read them very often mostly because I have so many romances at home trying to get through more books is impossible. That being said I fancied a nice thriller mystery and this definitely fulfilled that need or rather want. I'm not 100% convinced its different to other books in this genre, its not massively twisty but it also isn't very obvious who it was. You end up with 3 suspects and 2 are quite good red herrings I was torn between 2 but one was pretty obvious it was too obvious for me. I'm pretty darn good at guessing the who did it, I can almost always tell in a murder TV program who did it. Its just an annoying gift, and I suspect its obvious to everyone that frequently watches those programmes. This book kept me guessing kept me on my toes.
So this book is basically picking up during the creepy murderers 3rd victim, this is a double meaning. I'm not going to ruin how its a double meaning but quite simply this is taken as he has only killed 3 people which is a little bit misleading. Lets say the author has created a real monster and that should be applauded.
Good points:
- The murderer is fully evil
- The victims are not perfect. (they have flaws and this includes his latest victim, she is hiding so much from the police and you start to dislike her a little)
- The characters are very well written,
- I enjoyed the world building
Bad points:
- Stereotypical red herring
- A dog is killed, and its spoken about for more than one sentence and it drove me nuts. Don't kill dogs. Evil person.
I like a good mystery but I don't read them very often mostly because I have so many romances at home trying to get through more books is impossible. That being said I fancied a nice thriller mystery and this definitely fulfilled that need or rather want. I'm not 100% convinced its different to other books in this genre, its not massively twisty but it also isn't very obvious who it was. You end up with 3 suspects and 2 are quite good red herrings I was torn between 2 but one was pretty obvious it was too obvious for me. I'm pretty darn good at guessing the who did it, I can almost always tell in a murder TV program who did it. Its just an annoying gift, and I suspect its obvious to everyone that frequently watches those programmes. This book kept me guessing kept me on my toes.
So this book is basically picking up during the creepy murderers 3rd victim, this is a double meaning. I'm not going to ruin how its a double meaning but quite simply this is taken as he has only killed 3 people which is a little bit misleading. Lets say the author has created a real monster and that should be applauded.
Good points:
- The murderer is fully evil
- The victims are not perfect. (they have flaws and this includes his latest victim, she is hiding so much from the police and you start to dislike her a little)
- The characters are very well written,
- I enjoyed the world building
Bad points:
- Stereotypical red herring
- A dog is killed, and its spoken about for more than one sentence and it drove me nuts. Don't kill dogs. Evil person.
August 18, 2019
DI Matt Brindle is still suffering after his last case ended up with his partner dead and him seriously injured. He’s sure he’s done with the police but he’s drawn back in after Alan Fisher, a man he knew is found dead at the hands of a serial killer no less!
They’ve been after this killer for months dubbed ‘the Mr Apology killer’ but they’ve got no leads and no idea who he could be.
Bella Richards was the last one to see Alan Fisher alive but she’s not tell them the whole truth. Will Matt get to the bottom of it before the killer strikes again?
So I really enjoyed the second book in this series so when Helen H Durrant asked me if I’d like an audiobook copy of the first I gladly snapped it up.
Now I’m not one for audiobooks, in fact this only the second I’ve ever listened to but I’ve been suffering from terrible headaches recently and this was perfect to close my eyes and lose myself in.
His Third Victim was a really gripping police procedural with plenty of shocks and surprises along the way.
Matt is a great character, damaged yet you just can’t help warming to him. Even though he grew up in a manor house, he’s down to earth and not stuck up like his mother.
My only issue with the narration was the fact I felt it may have been better if there were two narrators, one for the male voices and one for the female. Not that the narrator did a bad job, but it just didn’t sound quite right when he was doing the female voices.
I hope there will be more from Matt Brindle in the future!
They’ve been after this killer for months dubbed ‘the Mr Apology killer’ but they’ve got no leads and no idea who he could be.
Bella Richards was the last one to see Alan Fisher alive but she’s not tell them the whole truth. Will Matt get to the bottom of it before the killer strikes again?
So I really enjoyed the second book in this series so when Helen H Durrant asked me if I’d like an audiobook copy of the first I gladly snapped it up.
Now I’m not one for audiobooks, in fact this only the second I’ve ever listened to but I’ve been suffering from terrible headaches recently and this was perfect to close my eyes and lose myself in.
His Third Victim was a really gripping police procedural with plenty of shocks and surprises along the way.
Matt is a great character, damaged yet you just can’t help warming to him. Even though he grew up in a manor house, he’s down to earth and not stuck up like his mother.
My only issue with the narration was the fact I felt it may have been better if there were two narrators, one for the male voices and one for the female. Not that the narrator did a bad job, but it just didn’t sound quite right when he was doing the female voices.
I hope there will be more from Matt Brindle in the future!
November 19, 2017
As a fan of Helen Durrant's other two series of crime novels I was intrigued to hear a new detective was featuring in this one.
I have to confess it took a little while to get a feel for the police team, probably because I'm used to the other two established teams she writes so this was all new. However I loved the complex plot that twisted and turned in order to keep you guessing.
Though the police team were a slow build for me by half way I didn't want to put this down and I'm now very much looking forward to Matt Brindle's return with the lovely sidekick Lily. It will be interesting to see how family background, old cases and new crimes alike continue in Matt's new team. I am looking forward to seeing background characters from this case develop as they join Brindle in future cases.
I have to confess it took a little while to get a feel for the police team, probably because I'm used to the other two established teams she writes so this was all new. However I loved the complex plot that twisted and turned in order to keep you guessing.
Though the police team were a slow build for me by half way I didn't want to put this down and I'm now very much looking forward to Matt Brindle's return with the lovely sidekick Lily. It will be interesting to see how family background, old cases and new crimes alike continue in Matt's new team. I am looking forward to seeing background characters from this case develop as they join Brindle in future cases.
March 11, 2018
His Third Victim is a slower paced book than I normally read, but in saying that I did enjoy it, although there were some loose ends for me that are not answered in the book........maybe it may continue in a series? as this is the first book featuring DI Matt Brindle. I warmed to his character and I enjoyed the background on his life, letting us get to know him. I enjoyed the plot and the use of the symbols and I think the story ran really well. I would definitely buy the next one in the series if it ever comes along :)
April 23, 2021
2.5 stars. Lots of plot holes, and I didn’t find any of the protagonists very convincing. I skipped through some of it and the end was disappointing. I won’t read more of this series.
October 14, 2017
I have enjoyed Helen Durrant’s ‘Dead’ series of books and was looking forward to her new standalone book. I was not disappointed. This book features D I Matt Bridle who was badly injured in a bombing that killed his partner. He is brought back to help solve the complex case. Alan Fisher, an acquaintance of Matt, is murdered. He has been shot dead and the Chinese symbol for sorry stamped on his arm. Matt attends his funeral and meets a close friends of Alan’s, Bella. Not long after her five year old son is abducted. Matt has to find the connection between tthe two crimes. He discovers that there have been previous killings where the victims have the Chinese stamp. This book draws you in from the start and keeps you guessing until the end. I am looking forward to reading more about Matt Bridle and his team. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 23, 2017
Helen Durrant does it again with another 5☆ review from me and she is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
Her newest book, His Third Victim had me gripped from page one! It’s action packed from the get go. With bodies piling up, no new clues, the police and myself are stumped…… this all makes for gripping reading!
I loved the main character, Matt Brindle, although suffering from his own demons that happened only 6 months ago he really throws himself into the case. I liked seeing the two sides of his character, the victim of his own attack and the professional DI side.
This book is action packed, with twists and turns a plenty…. I also liked the fact it was set in places that I know and recognise, this made the story all the more real for me.
This is the second book I have read of Helens, and like the last I didn’t work out the killer until it was revealed and my shouting “NO WAY!” hats off again Helen!
A very easy 5☆ rating from me….. roll on the next book!
Her newest book, His Third Victim had me gripped from page one! It’s action packed from the get go. With bodies piling up, no new clues, the police and myself are stumped…… this all makes for gripping reading!
I loved the main character, Matt Brindle, although suffering from his own demons that happened only 6 months ago he really throws himself into the case. I liked seeing the two sides of his character, the victim of his own attack and the professional DI side.
This book is action packed, with twists and turns a plenty…. I also liked the fact it was set in places that I know and recognise, this made the story all the more real for me.
This is the second book I have read of Helens, and like the last I didn’t work out the killer until it was revealed and my shouting “NO WAY!” hats off again Helen!
A very easy 5☆ rating from me….. roll on the next book!
Read
January 10, 2020I picked one that I thought was the killer BUT I was wrong! I wasn’t even close to who it really was. However, this was a really good murder mystery. Jeez, there were 6 or 7 murders. This guy was a whacko. It was a good storyline, but it was kinda boring too. That could have been the narrator, though.
No romance and no F-bomb.
As to the narration: Tim Bentinck just read the book. No emotions whatsoever. His female voices were not very good either.
October 25, 2023
An extremely satisfying book. It has dead ends, twisted plot lines, and many ways of considering and trying to incorporate all the characters. By the end, the reader was unable to determine the actual characteristics and personalities of each of the important characters. The intrigue was palpable, and the conclusion incorporated all of the clues and left the reader, well, satisfied.
February 9, 2021
3.5 stars
October 6, 2017
I find reviewing this book hard. i've loved the author's previous work however, this story just did not measure up to her previous high standard. i didn't particularly warm to the main characters and felt the ending was rushed and didn't really tie up all the loose ends for me.
many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2017
Actually 4.5 stars
I do love this author's style of writing. No nonsense and straight to the point with very little waffle. I have read and enjoyed all her Calladine & Bayliss, and Greco books so I was intrigued to see she had started another series, please welcome DI Matthew Brindle to the fold!
As we start the book Brindle is not on active duty having been injured in a bombing that killed his colleague. Having lost his way in the police since the devastating event, and indeed resigned, he has thrown himself into other, more personal, projects regarding his, shall we call it, house! But the force never really leaves a good cop as we find out as he is drawn into a new case when Olly, the son of Bella, a woman he meets at a funeral, goes missing. He has a feeling that this disappearance could be linked to the death of the man whose funeral he was attending whose death in turn has links to several others. Taking these thoughts to his old boss, he is welcomed back and given the case, his resignation having not quite been processed; not really a spoiler as the series is named for his rank. But the investigation is tough as it soon appears that Bella has some pretty big secrets that she is reluctant to share, even though her son is missing. Can Brindle cut through all the secrets and lies to get to the truth and bring Olly back home and also find the link between the other murders and catch the culprit?
What I like best about this author's books, apart from the straight forward writing is that they are your bulk standard proper police procedural. Yes, she does stretch things on occasion and there may be the odd thing that doesn't quite ring true but all is swiftly forgiven given the big picture of the whole book. Her characters are great, occasionally a tad on the stereotypical side but, why not? They all come across as real and the interaction and banter between them is always well written. The story flows well and has the requisite twists, turns and red herrings that go hand in hand with the genre. It builds up well throughout and gets on with itself at just the right pace to match the narrative.
If you are a fan of this genre you could do worse than try this author. Any of her series, they're all good, solid reads. Just remember to read in order as the characters do develop and evolve along the way.
Unlike a lot of series openers which take up quite a bit of the book with the main character's background, here it seems that there is a lot more to Brindle than we are initially privy to. I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with him in future books and getting to know him better.
My thanks go to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
I do love this author's style of writing. No nonsense and straight to the point with very little waffle. I have read and enjoyed all her Calladine & Bayliss, and Greco books so I was intrigued to see she had started another series, please welcome DI Matthew Brindle to the fold!
As we start the book Brindle is not on active duty having been injured in a bombing that killed his colleague. Having lost his way in the police since the devastating event, and indeed resigned, he has thrown himself into other, more personal, projects regarding his, shall we call it, house! But the force never really leaves a good cop as we find out as he is drawn into a new case when Olly, the son of Bella, a woman he meets at a funeral, goes missing. He has a feeling that this disappearance could be linked to the death of the man whose funeral he was attending whose death in turn has links to several others. Taking these thoughts to his old boss, he is welcomed back and given the case, his resignation having not quite been processed; not really a spoiler as the series is named for his rank. But the investigation is tough as it soon appears that Bella has some pretty big secrets that she is reluctant to share, even though her son is missing. Can Brindle cut through all the secrets and lies to get to the truth and bring Olly back home and also find the link between the other murders and catch the culprit?
What I like best about this author's books, apart from the straight forward writing is that they are your bulk standard proper police procedural. Yes, she does stretch things on occasion and there may be the odd thing that doesn't quite ring true but all is swiftly forgiven given the big picture of the whole book. Her characters are great, occasionally a tad on the stereotypical side but, why not? They all come across as real and the interaction and banter between them is always well written. The story flows well and has the requisite twists, turns and red herrings that go hand in hand with the genre. It builds up well throughout and gets on with itself at just the right pace to match the narrative.
If you are a fan of this genre you could do worse than try this author. Any of her series, they're all good, solid reads. Just remember to read in order as the characters do develop and evolve along the way.
Unlike a lot of series openers which take up quite a bit of the book with the main character's background, here it seems that there is a lot more to Brindle than we are initially privy to. I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with him in future books and getting to know him better.
My thanks go to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
October 28, 2017
Wow Helen Durrant is definitely a name to remember (Brilliant)(Brilliant)
Awesome book as one as become realise this lady definitely does not disappoint at all. Once again Helen Durrant has created another masterpiece again. It's a extremely well written book as one as come to expect of Helen Durrant. It's one of those books you just do not want to put down, it Lee you guessing full of twists, the further along get and just when you think your almost sure who the culprit is. It changes and really catches you out. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and DI Mat Brindle who has been out of action due to a injury that cost is sergeant Paula, her life, He was offered a deal by Dawson his boss, a opportunity to come back to being a DI although he had said he would not go back because he b l named himself for Paula's death. Yet DI Mat Brindle deep down its all he's wanted to do in his life. Having come from a wealthy background of private education. He's never wanted to be anything other than be a police officer. His mother is so set against it and tries to stop him going back. Although Mat himself was badly injured with his twisted leg, he just could not refuse Detective Talbot Dawons offer. Dawson wants his most trusted detective back. It is a brilliant book with twists and turns all the way through the book, it just keeps you guessing right to the end. Lilly part of is team just hopes he continues to stay yet they both come from different sides of the track. They do get on so well. I have read every single book written by Helen Durrant and when you think each book can not get any better some how they do. I most definitely recommend this novel, although it's a standalone detective crime and thriller mystery, I do hope we will be hearing a lot more about DI Mat Brindle. A very very highly recommended read, one that should not be missed. I can honestly say Helen Durrant is in my list of 10 best authors. I have such a collection of diverse reading material from classics like D H Lawrence to Military History and Martina Cole. So from a personal point of f view who is a total bookworm to be in my list of favourites actually takes s some doing yet, I have said my favourite 10 authors, she definitely is well below 5. The lower the number is a higher ranking. I can not recommend this book enough or the author. If you ever only read one type of book in your life, I would say make Helen Currant that author. You will not be disappointed..... Now going to research when her next book will be published.
Awesome book as one as become realise this lady definitely does not disappoint at all. Once again Helen Durrant has created another masterpiece again. It's a extremely well written book as one as come to expect of Helen Durrant. It's one of those books you just do not want to put down, it Lee you guessing full of twists, the further along get and just when you think your almost sure who the culprit is. It changes and really catches you out. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and DI Mat Brindle who has been out of action due to a injury that cost is sergeant Paula, her life, He was offered a deal by Dawson his boss, a opportunity to come back to being a DI although he had said he would not go back because he b l named himself for Paula's death. Yet DI Mat Brindle deep down its all he's wanted to do in his life. Having come from a wealthy background of private education. He's never wanted to be anything other than be a police officer. His mother is so set against it and tries to stop him going back. Although Mat himself was badly injured with his twisted leg, he just could not refuse Detective Talbot Dawons offer. Dawson wants his most trusted detective back. It is a brilliant book with twists and turns all the way through the book, it just keeps you guessing right to the end. Lilly part of is team just hopes he continues to stay yet they both come from different sides of the track. They do get on so well. I have read every single book written by Helen Durrant and when you think each book can not get any better some how they do. I most definitely recommend this novel, although it's a standalone detective crime and thriller mystery, I do hope we will be hearing a lot more about DI Mat Brindle. A very very highly recommended read, one that should not be missed. I can honestly say Helen Durrant is in my list of 10 best authors. I have such a collection of diverse reading material from classics like D H Lawrence to Military History and Martina Cole. So from a personal point of f view who is a total bookworm to be in my list of favourites actually takes s some doing yet, I have said my favourite 10 authors, she definitely is well below 5. The lower the number is a higher ranking. I can not recommend this book enough or the author. If you ever only read one type of book in your life, I would say make Helen Currant that author. You will not be disappointed..... Now going to research when her next book will be published.
October 18, 2017
His Third Victim is a standalone police procedural concentrating on DI Matt Brindle who was semi-retired from the force after an incident which killed his sergeant and left him suffering a terrible injury. While reading His Third Victim it gave me the impression that another series could be in the offing centred around DI Matt Brindle, I sincerely hope so I have my fingers and toes crossed that this may come to fruition because it would be another smash hit.
Starting off with a formidable crime the death of a man known to Brindle and an abduction of a young child, it doesn’t take long for Brindle to return to work as the investigation has peaked his interest. Is there a connection between them and previously discovered victims, can Brindle bring it all together and prevent any more deaths, its a race against time.
The characters in His Third Victim are true to life giving the sense that you could easily interact with them, Brindle is flawed and struggling with his personal and work life, PTSD his gripped him ever since his traumatic injury leaving him uncertain and struggling to put the guilt behind him. Haines is the opposite of Brindle, shown in her confidence and how assertive she is, Brindle and Haines make a perfect match.
Helen has developed a plotline which I found plausible and quite intense at times, with plenty of characters in which I was convinced were capable of the killings only to be thrown another red herring, I certainly was agog when I found out who was responsible.
His Third Victim is fast paced with graceful fluidity of the writing enabling an easy and effortless read where I raced through the pages, adrenaline flowing salivating at the twists and turns until the very end.
I beg of Helen to carefully consider a Brindle and Haines series, it would be another great series of books which would be an absolute thrill to follow.
Thank you to Joffe Books, Helen Durrant and Jill Burkinshaw for the invitation to take part in the Blog Tour for His Third Victim. All opinions in my review are my own and written with impartiality and honesty.
Starting off with a formidable crime the death of a man known to Brindle and an abduction of a young child, it doesn’t take long for Brindle to return to work as the investigation has peaked his interest. Is there a connection between them and previously discovered victims, can Brindle bring it all together and prevent any more deaths, its a race against time.
The characters in His Third Victim are true to life giving the sense that you could easily interact with them, Brindle is flawed and struggling with his personal and work life, PTSD his gripped him ever since his traumatic injury leaving him uncertain and struggling to put the guilt behind him. Haines is the opposite of Brindle, shown in her confidence and how assertive she is, Brindle and Haines make a perfect match.
Helen has developed a plotline which I found plausible and quite intense at times, with plenty of characters in which I was convinced were capable of the killings only to be thrown another red herring, I certainly was agog when I found out who was responsible.
His Third Victim is fast paced with graceful fluidity of the writing enabling an easy and effortless read where I raced through the pages, adrenaline flowing salivating at the twists and turns until the very end.
I beg of Helen to carefully consider a Brindle and Haines series, it would be another great series of books which would be an absolute thrill to follow.
Thank you to Joffe Books, Helen Durrant and Jill Burkinshaw for the invitation to take part in the Blog Tour for His Third Victim. All opinions in my review are my own and written with impartiality and honesty.
October 7, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of His Third Victim, a stand alone police procedural set in Huddersfield.
Matt Brindle was injured in a bomb attack when investigating drug dealing. With his injuries and the death of his partner weighing on him he resigned from the police to concentrate on other things but the lure of the police is too much when 5 year old Olly Richards disappears because Matt realises that he met Bella, Olly's mum, at her partner's funeral a few days before. Alan, her partner, was found shot to death. It may only be coincidence but Matt doesn't think so and is determined to do something despite Bella's unwillingness to help and the secrets she is obviously keeping.
I thoroughly enjoyed His Third Victim which is a straightforward police procedural with all the requisite twists and turns to keep it interesting and the reader guessing, although the reader has slightly more information than the police as there are glimpses of the perpetrator's mindset and motivation but not his identity which is well hidden.
Some of the detail in the novel does stretch belief and I found myself occasionally thinking "oh, really" but Ms Durrant has crafted a good tale with tension and invitation - I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out what was coming next - so what's the odd incredible detail in a satisfying read?
The characterisation is sufficient for a plot driven novel but I don't feel I really got a feel for how Matt Brindle ticks. He is smart and dedicated with an unusual background but what he thinks and feels is a bit of a mystery. The novel is billed as a stand alone but there are enough unresolved loose ends in his life to suggest a sequel where some of these and his thinking could be resolved.
His Third Victim is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Matt Brindle was injured in a bomb attack when investigating drug dealing. With his injuries and the death of his partner weighing on him he resigned from the police to concentrate on other things but the lure of the police is too much when 5 year old Olly Richards disappears because Matt realises that he met Bella, Olly's mum, at her partner's funeral a few days before. Alan, her partner, was found shot to death. It may only be coincidence but Matt doesn't think so and is determined to do something despite Bella's unwillingness to help and the secrets she is obviously keeping.
I thoroughly enjoyed His Third Victim which is a straightforward police procedural with all the requisite twists and turns to keep it interesting and the reader guessing, although the reader has slightly more information than the police as there are glimpses of the perpetrator's mindset and motivation but not his identity which is well hidden.
Some of the detail in the novel does stretch belief and I found myself occasionally thinking "oh, really" but Ms Durrant has crafted a good tale with tension and invitation - I found myself turning the pages quickly to find out what was coming next - so what's the odd incredible detail in a satisfying read?
The characterisation is sufficient for a plot driven novel but I don't feel I really got a feel for how Matt Brindle ticks. He is smart and dedicated with an unusual background but what he thinks and feels is a bit of a mystery. The novel is billed as a stand alone but there are enough unresolved loose ends in his life to suggest a sequel where some of these and his thinking could be resolved.
His Third Victim is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
February 22, 2020
Another Solid Thriller
This is a taut mystery from Ms Durant and the second one I read featuring detective Matt Brindle, of Brindle Hall. While Matt is the author’s only “aristocratic” hero I’ve seen so far, American readers will not only be bewildered by the British slang (some of it regional too) but they might also have to learn that the peerage isn’t the way Jane Austen would describe it and therefore mr. Brindle knows he’s not going to be Lord Brindle when his mother dies. He’s rather self conscious about living in a rambling mansion that I imagine looking like Downton Abbey but without its army of servants.
The other remarkable feature of the book is the villain. Every mystery, especially, must have a good villain and this one is suitably obsessive and understandable in a psychological way. His wife couldn’t live up to his standards of feminine perfection so he killed her. But still looking for the perfect woman he goes through several others who resembled her physically and tortures and kills them — frightfully believable for the reader. How he gets away with it so many times rings true. Suspicion falls on several suspects before Brindle knows his identity and readers don’t find out till the last chapter.
This is my one disappointment with the book — since we don’t know which suspect is the perp we lack an imaginative visual notion of the crimes. The book is exceptional in that we get to see the perp doing his dirty work but the author faced a tough choice in how much detail she could provide without giving the game away.
This is a taut mystery from Ms Durant and the second one I read featuring detective Matt Brindle, of Brindle Hall. While Matt is the author’s only “aristocratic” hero I’ve seen so far, American readers will not only be bewildered by the British slang (some of it regional too) but they might also have to learn that the peerage isn’t the way Jane Austen would describe it and therefore mr. Brindle knows he’s not going to be Lord Brindle when his mother dies. He’s rather self conscious about living in a rambling mansion that I imagine looking like Downton Abbey but without its army of servants.
The other remarkable feature of the book is the villain. Every mystery, especially, must have a good villain and this one is suitably obsessive and understandable in a psychological way. His wife couldn’t live up to his standards of feminine perfection so he killed her. But still looking for the perfect woman he goes through several others who resembled her physically and tortures and kills them — frightfully believable for the reader. How he gets away with it so many times rings true. Suspicion falls on several suspects before Brindle knows his identity and readers don’t find out till the last chapter.
This is my one disappointment with the book — since we don’t know which suspect is the perp we lack an imaginative visual notion of the crimes. The book is exceptional in that we get to see the perp doing his dirty work but the author faced a tough choice in how much detail she could provide without giving the game away.
December 31, 2017
3.5* rounded down.
Bella's lover is abducted and murdered and shortly afterwards her 5 year old son is also abducted. DI Matthew Brindle, who knew her lover, is intrigued by the case and therefore returns to the police force after a medical leave. This is described as the first in a series, but reads as if we are joining the story part-way through; there is all the detailed back story about Matthew's injury and former colleague and his family and former girlfriend etc etc. There is also a detective at the very beginning who attends the first murder scene, but then loses the case to the neighbouring force - what was he even doing in the book?
I thought this was mostly well-plotted, and my doubts about how
My other main issue was the very formal way in which speech was written; characters would say thing like "nowt", but never use contractions and it read very oddly, to the point of being distracting. Also, why were the stamps in a Chinese character?
I'd read more of these, but borrow them from the library.
Bella's lover is abducted and murdered and shortly afterwards her 5 year old son is also abducted. DI Matthew Brindle, who knew her lover, is intrigued by the case and therefore returns to the police force after a medical leave. This is described as the first in a series, but reads as if we are joining the story part-way through; there is all the detailed back story about Matthew's injury and former colleague and his family and former girlfriend etc etc. There is also a detective at the very beginning who attends the first murder scene, but then loses the case to the neighbouring force - what was he even doing in the book?
I thought this was mostly well-plotted, and my doubts about how
My other main issue was the very formal way in which speech was written; characters would say thing like "nowt", but never use contractions and it read very oddly, to the point of being distracting. Also, why were the stamps in a Chinese character?
I'd read more of these, but borrow them from the library.
May 24, 2024
I had a few free downloads on my Kindle courtesy of this author so thought it was time I got round to one !! However, I was a bit disappointed. Some of the writing, particularly the dialogue, I found didn't ring true enough for me. It just didn't "sound" genuine, like people really speak. Then I see that on the series I chose to read that there's only one further book !! So it seems it's not really worth getting that since that's the lot. I liked the characters and would've probably carried on with the series to learn how they progress but I won't bother starting another of her series......
We never learned why there were Chinese symbols left on the bodies, which I found a bit odd. Why bother mentioning them in the first place ?
Then a policewoman called Alice was mentioned a couple of times and it turns out her name was actually Alison.....properly sloppy. Then a character was referred to as Mark near the end when he'd been known under another name to the character......and said character hadn't been told his real name. Again, sloppy.
A family in witness protection are mentioned in the story but not all the members of the family had their names changed which I would think wouldn't be the case, either.
Figure hugging, stone walled and drug induced lost hyphens, apostrophes were dropped here and there along with speechmarks.
Off the back of this one, I won't try another by this author. I was interested enough to finish this, though.
We never learned why there were Chinese symbols left on the bodies, which I found a bit odd. Why bother mentioning them in the first place ?
Then a policewoman called Alice was mentioned a couple of times and it turns out her name was actually Alison.....properly sloppy. Then a character was referred to as Mark near the end when he'd been known under another name to the character......and said character hadn't been told his real name. Again, sloppy.
A family in witness protection are mentioned in the story but not all the members of the family had their names changed which I would think wouldn't be the case, either.
Figure hugging, stone walled and drug induced lost hyphens, apostrophes were dropped here and there along with speechmarks.
Off the back of this one, I won't try another by this author. I was interested enough to finish this, though.
October 21, 2018
As I finished this I felt I had enjoyed the book but was disappointed because some story arcs that were given significance just disappeared without getting resolved by the end. As, at the time of writing, Audible are describing this as a stand-alone book that and the slightly flat ending had me feeling short-changed. However, this is apparently actually the start of a series of books with the second one already out in written form so assuming Audible persist with it my concern about the "missing pieces" should subside.
It is a short book that delivers an enjoyable detective fiction adventure with the prime character having the unique dilemma of trying to choose between police work and the renovation of his family home which he would like to open as a tourist attraction to save the family's ailing finances.
Tim Bentnick's narration is definitely a highlight, he has a lot of authentic (to me as a Southerner!) character voices though he is probably best with the older characters.
The story itself has some clever touches, I don't think it hits the high notes of say a classic Rankin but it is very enjoyable and if Audible do persist with the series then those "missing pieces" will likely tempt me back.
It is a short book that delivers an enjoyable detective fiction adventure with the prime character having the unique dilemma of trying to choose between police work and the renovation of his family home which he would like to open as a tourist attraction to save the family's ailing finances.
Tim Bentnick's narration is definitely a highlight, he has a lot of authentic (to me as a Southerner!) character voices though he is probably best with the older characters.
The story itself has some clever touches, I don't think it hits the high notes of say a classic Rankin but it is very enjoyable and if Audible do persist with the series then those "missing pieces" will likely tempt me back.
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