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DI Meg Dalton #1
The Devil's Dice
Detective Inspector Meg Dalton has recently returned to her Peak District roots, when a man's body is found near The Devil's Dice - a vast network of caves and well-known local suicide spot. The man's initials and a figure of the Grim Reaper are carved into the cave wall behind his corpse, but bizarrely, the carvings have existed for over one hundred years.
The locals talk about a mysterious family curse that started in the times of the witch trials, and Meg finds it increasingly hard to know who to trust. Even her own mother may be implicated.
For Meg, the case is a chance to prove herself in a police force dominated by men, one of whom knows a lot more about her past than she'd like, and is convinced she's not fit for the role. In a race against time, Meg finds her own life at risk as she fights to stop the murderer from killing again.
The locals talk about a mysterious family curse that started in the times of the witch trials, and Meg finds it increasingly hard to know who to trust. Even her own mother may be implicated.
For Meg, the case is a chance to prove herself in a police force dominated by men, one of whom knows a lot more about her past than she'd like, and is convinced she's not fit for the role. In a race against time, Meg finds her own life at risk as she fights to stop the murderer from killing again.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 8, 2018
406 people are currently reading
1023 people want to read
About the author
Roz Watkins
12 books131 followersRoz Watkins is the author of the DI Meg Dalton crime series, which is set in the Peak District where she lives with her partner and a menagerie of demanding animals.
Her first book, THE DEVIL'S DICE, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award, and has been optioned by ITV Studios.
Roz originally studied engineering and natural sciences at Cambridge, before studying patent law. She was a partner in a firm of patent attorneys in Derby, but this has absolutely nothing to do with there being a dead one in her first book.
In her spare time, Roz clicker-trains her dog and horse, and likes to walk in the Peak District, scouting out murder locations.
Her first book, THE DEVIL'S DICE, was shortlisted for the CWA Debut Dagger Award, and has been optioned by ITV Studios.
Roz originally studied engineering and natural sciences at Cambridge, before studying patent law. She was a partner in a firm of patent attorneys in Derby, but this has absolutely nothing to do with there being a dead one in her first book.
In her spare time, Roz clicker-trains her dog and horse, and likes to walk in the Peak District, scouting out murder locations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
January 20, 2018
I loved this because it was REALLY CREEPY in places and had a whole lot going for it on a whole lot of levels.
First of all Meg, our main protagonist, has a wonderful sense to her. You know ye olde flawed detective tropes, well she has flaws for sure but really engaging ones, she is also very endearing so immediately you are right there with her.
Which she would probably be grateful for as she investigates some suspicious deaths and gets all caught up with an ancient curse. One of the huge strengths of this novel was the beautifully described settings, haunting and bleak, the tension is palpable throughout much of the narrative but Roz Watkins manages to lighten the mood with some randomly funny moments too, also down to the strong and layered character we are following along with.
It is an intriguing mystery - kind of old school in the sense of it, with some beautifully done twists and turns and an unexpected and edgy resolution - so there's that too.
The relationships between Meg and the "supporting cast" are beautifully done as well, a really compelling start to a new series, laying the groundwork for us readers, I'm dying to know what happens next with Meg in several of the strands left unresolved.
This particular mystery is done but I'm sure there will be consequences, this means that you'll be eager for the next instalment and this one will stay with you.
Also - just saying - I'm not going in any caves. Or any houses on the edge of cliffs. Or actually leaving my house at all for a while.
Plus I may not play any games involving dice....
Yes. Good then. Let's have more Meg Dalton as soon as possible.
Recommended.
First of all Meg, our main protagonist, has a wonderful sense to her. You know ye olde flawed detective tropes, well she has flaws for sure but really engaging ones, she is also very endearing so immediately you are right there with her.
Which she would probably be grateful for as she investigates some suspicious deaths and gets all caught up with an ancient curse. One of the huge strengths of this novel was the beautifully described settings, haunting and bleak, the tension is palpable throughout much of the narrative but Roz Watkins manages to lighten the mood with some randomly funny moments too, also down to the strong and layered character we are following along with.
It is an intriguing mystery - kind of old school in the sense of it, with some beautifully done twists and turns and an unexpected and edgy resolution - so there's that too.
The relationships between Meg and the "supporting cast" are beautifully done as well, a really compelling start to a new series, laying the groundwork for us readers, I'm dying to know what happens next with Meg in several of the strands left unresolved.
This particular mystery is done but I'm sure there will be consequences, this means that you'll be eager for the next instalment and this one will stay with you.
Also - just saying - I'm not going in any caves. Or any houses on the edge of cliffs. Or actually leaving my house at all for a while.
Plus I may not play any games involving dice....
Yes. Good then. Let's have more Meg Dalton as soon as possible.
Recommended.
November 2, 2020
Full review to follow shortly.
November 19, 2020
“A deadly game of murder”
Wow! After an adrenaline rush like that, I seriously need a short break before I even think about my next review assignment. Roz certainly stirred up a whole host of emotions and pushed so many personal ‘hot buttons’ for me, that I need to get my thoughts in some kind of logical sequence.
The opening narrative passages of this book really set the scene, before there was even a single word of dialogue spoken. The storyline unfolded at quite an even pace, although I must admit I was getting to the stage when I wondered whether it was being stretched out a tad too much and the book was longer than it needed to have been. Then BAM! I hit the 70% marker, or thereabouts, and all hell breaks loose, leading to an ending which I hadn’t worked out at all and which changed and morphed so many times as I was reading, that I even began to confuse myself! The suspense levels were off the scale, the red herrings just kept coming, and there were more twists and turns in the storyline than in a coiled snake!
My personal journey through this story as it infolded was a little uncomfortable, as there were so many ‘too close to home’ ethicacy and morality truths that I needed to confront long before Meg did. I won’t be giving too much away in my review as that would spoil everything, but neither will I be venturing a personal opinion about any of the many issues discussed, as my thoughts might be deemed too controversial. Let’s just say that this one would make for a great book club / reading group option, as believe me, there will be plenty to discuss and debate when you have finished! I definitely need to catch up with the subsequent two books in this series, and I’m sure you will too!
Most certainly not your ‘traditional’ crime / thriller, this often highly emotional, well constructed storyline was definitely multi-layered to the point where I didn’t know whether I was coming or going, but that was just Roz setting me up for a big fall (well several actually!), when I guessed the outcome wrong again! The action was intense, vividly and richly descriptive, and oozing with atmosphere. There was a real depth and range to the many troubling issues which crowded this storyline and they were each focussed upon with great empathy and sympathy. Roz unravelled them all excruciatingly slowly, whilst linking them all together with great expertise and fluidity, to create the very disturbing bigger picture, which led to a killer, with retribution very much on their mind. The sometimes equally unconventional narrative and dialogue was written with more than enough authority and confidence to heighten the suspense to barely sustainable levels, whilst references to folklore, witchcraft and superstition, had me looking over my shoulder with as much suspicion and fear as Meg herself.
Roz also featured some interesting references to the local area, which she knows so well, working them seamlessly into the narrative, and me being of the slightly nerdy disposition that I am, spent several short spells away from actually reading, checking out the places and landscapes she described, as despite me also living in the UK, this is a part of the country I have never explored. Similarly, it was good to see that Roz also selected a period of her own employment history and featured that in the storyline, making this a truly personal backstory for what is a gripping, toe-curling, hide-under-the-duvet, kind of story.
Roz invested equal care, consideration, empathy and exposure to her sprawling cast of complex characters, as she did to that jaw dropping storyline. Whilst none of them were particularly easy to connect with, or often even to like, she expertly opened them all up to outside scrutiny, until they really got under my skin and forced me to opine about them. Meg herself, as the main protagonist, was perhaps one of the most difficult to assess. As with so many fictional detectives, she came with so much excess baggage that she was almost on her knees with the sheer weight of it all! Add to that, she is the first fictional detective I have met with a physical disability and such low self esteem, that I was wondering how she had achieved her rank. Bit by bit though, she reveals her story to be that of someone with a comprehensive education, who worked her butt off to gain a place at Cambridge, and who has worked her way up through the ranks to achieve her current position. At one point, when her physical appearance, her penchant for being accident prone, the state of her home and the way she operated, all contrived to paint this picture in my head, I was left with someone who was a cross between a young Hetty Wainthropp, a female Columbo, with a twist on Mary Beth Lacey (of Cagney & Lacey fame) and maybe a little of DI Jack Frost thrown in for good measure!! Not fair I know and very disingenuous I suspect, as it transpires that she is very competent officer and highly intelligent, just very insecure, searching for a sense of belonging, lacking confidence and a little too eager to prove herself to her new boss and colleagues.
Meg’s position as a ‘newbie’, was not helped at all by the attitude of some members of her new team. She has a boss who I thought might have been slightly misogynistic and one DS who wanted promotion to her job, but was overlooked, making him bitter, twisted and almost dangerous to know. Whilst the two younger members of her team, Jai and Fiona, are more than willing to give her a chance and know the value of collaborative thinking, when faced with such a complex case. If she is to grow, progress and succeed in her new role, I really want to see Meg showing leadership and taking control of the situation in a disciplined way, although she does need to keep a wary eye on the personal relationship which may be developing between herself and Jai!
What a brilliant debut for DI Meg Dalton and I hope that now she has unburdened herself of some of the emotional baggage which has been haunting her for so long, her career will flourish and go from strength to strength, as the series progresses.
BTW! – I also got scared witless! – But that’s all good!
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
Wow! After an adrenaline rush like that, I seriously need a short break before I even think about my next review assignment. Roz certainly stirred up a whole host of emotions and pushed so many personal ‘hot buttons’ for me, that I need to get my thoughts in some kind of logical sequence.
The opening narrative passages of this book really set the scene, before there was even a single word of dialogue spoken. The storyline unfolded at quite an even pace, although I must admit I was getting to the stage when I wondered whether it was being stretched out a tad too much and the book was longer than it needed to have been. Then BAM! I hit the 70% marker, or thereabouts, and all hell breaks loose, leading to an ending which I hadn’t worked out at all and which changed and morphed so many times as I was reading, that I even began to confuse myself! The suspense levels were off the scale, the red herrings just kept coming, and there were more twists and turns in the storyline than in a coiled snake!
My personal journey through this story as it infolded was a little uncomfortable, as there were so many ‘too close to home’ ethicacy and morality truths that I needed to confront long before Meg did. I won’t be giving too much away in my review as that would spoil everything, but neither will I be venturing a personal opinion about any of the many issues discussed, as my thoughts might be deemed too controversial. Let’s just say that this one would make for a great book club / reading group option, as believe me, there will be plenty to discuss and debate when you have finished! I definitely need to catch up with the subsequent two books in this series, and I’m sure you will too!
Most certainly not your ‘traditional’ crime / thriller, this often highly emotional, well constructed storyline was definitely multi-layered to the point where I didn’t know whether I was coming or going, but that was just Roz setting me up for a big fall (well several actually!), when I guessed the outcome wrong again! The action was intense, vividly and richly descriptive, and oozing with atmosphere. There was a real depth and range to the many troubling issues which crowded this storyline and they were each focussed upon with great empathy and sympathy. Roz unravelled them all excruciatingly slowly, whilst linking them all together with great expertise and fluidity, to create the very disturbing bigger picture, which led to a killer, with retribution very much on their mind. The sometimes equally unconventional narrative and dialogue was written with more than enough authority and confidence to heighten the suspense to barely sustainable levels, whilst references to folklore, witchcraft and superstition, had me looking over my shoulder with as much suspicion and fear as Meg herself.
Roz also featured some interesting references to the local area, which she knows so well, working them seamlessly into the narrative, and me being of the slightly nerdy disposition that I am, spent several short spells away from actually reading, checking out the places and landscapes she described, as despite me also living in the UK, this is a part of the country I have never explored. Similarly, it was good to see that Roz also selected a period of her own employment history and featured that in the storyline, making this a truly personal backstory for what is a gripping, toe-curling, hide-under-the-duvet, kind of story.
Roz invested equal care, consideration, empathy and exposure to her sprawling cast of complex characters, as she did to that jaw dropping storyline. Whilst none of them were particularly easy to connect with, or often even to like, she expertly opened them all up to outside scrutiny, until they really got under my skin and forced me to opine about them. Meg herself, as the main protagonist, was perhaps one of the most difficult to assess. As with so many fictional detectives, she came with so much excess baggage that she was almost on her knees with the sheer weight of it all! Add to that, she is the first fictional detective I have met with a physical disability and such low self esteem, that I was wondering how she had achieved her rank. Bit by bit though, she reveals her story to be that of someone with a comprehensive education, who worked her butt off to gain a place at Cambridge, and who has worked her way up through the ranks to achieve her current position. At one point, when her physical appearance, her penchant for being accident prone, the state of her home and the way she operated, all contrived to paint this picture in my head, I was left with someone who was a cross between a young Hetty Wainthropp, a female Columbo, with a twist on Mary Beth Lacey (of Cagney & Lacey fame) and maybe a little of DI Jack Frost thrown in for good measure!! Not fair I know and very disingenuous I suspect, as it transpires that she is very competent officer and highly intelligent, just very insecure, searching for a sense of belonging, lacking confidence and a little too eager to prove herself to her new boss and colleagues.
Meg’s position as a ‘newbie’, was not helped at all by the attitude of some members of her new team. She has a boss who I thought might have been slightly misogynistic and one DS who wanted promotion to her job, but was overlooked, making him bitter, twisted and almost dangerous to know. Whilst the two younger members of her team, Jai and Fiona, are more than willing to give her a chance and know the value of collaborative thinking, when faced with such a complex case. If she is to grow, progress and succeed in her new role, I really want to see Meg showing leadership and taking control of the situation in a disciplined way, although she does need to keep a wary eye on the personal relationship which may be developing between herself and Jai!
What a brilliant debut for DI Meg Dalton and I hope that now she has unburdened herself of some of the emotional baggage which has been haunting her for so long, her career will flourish and go from strength to strength, as the series progresses.
BTW! – I also got scared witless! – But that’s all good!
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
January 29, 2018
I won an early uncorrected proof copy of this book in a recent competition, and I am so pleased that I did. Very cleverly written and quite believable. I'm assuming that there isn't a vast network of Peak District caves known as The Devil's Dice (I actually tried googling to confirm this), but it was incredibly convincing. For me, a good crime book is one where you feel you really get to know the characters, in conjunction with an interesting story that keeps you wanting to turn the pages. This ticked all the boxes. An element of humour during the course of the story is a nice touch too. Here's hoping there will be many more books to follow about DI Meg Dalton.
March 9, 2018
Compelling reading with bags of suspense set against the atmospheric backdrop of the Peak District. It's everything you could want in a crime thriller and more.
April 18, 2018
This book started incredibly well and I was really excited to read it because it sounded like it would be interesting. Sadly it quickly became really annoying and frustrating for me. Firstly let me say that I was a DS on a murder squad working with HOLMES for ten years so I know I am pernickety about it but if you are going to refer to it and you are going to do a police procedural then get it right! Otherwise don't mention it. I don't understand why it was mentioned at all, it didn't add to the story and it read more like I know this word so I am going to use it. A murder investigation run by a DI who also investigates it herself and inputs the stuff onto Holmes. Nope. Her team consists of 2 DS's and a DC from what I can read. Nope. She is making decisions about the investigation, allocating the actions, actioning the actions. Nope. Incident rooms are very clearly structured to ensure actions are recorded and prioritised and the right people do the work. To make progress. Meg was a one woman team ultimately and verbally allocating actions to Jai in a coffee shop. If she got told one more time that they were on it with regard to a line of enquiry I was going to chuck the book out the window. Who's on it? And don't get me started on the "coldly logical" autistic character that could have done the murder. If that person had done it, honestly, I would have given this 1 star. Instead it was the cliche religious nut that did it. Yawn. I found this book full of cliche, terrible similes, and poor police procedural representation. I hope that if this book series continues the author takes some actual advice from a police officer than has investigated murder. I for one won't be back. There are far better authors dealing with British Police Procedurals out there
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 18, 2018
This was great!!! Suspenseful, intriguing and different. Roz Watkins brings to life the brooding Derbyshire setting perfectly. I found it to be a mixture of horror, thriller, mystery and detective novel all rolled into one. I especially liked the humorous banter between Jai and Meg. Definitely recommended!
March 3, 2018
I read two thirds of this brilliant debut in one sitting today. I loved it! The Derbyshire setting is great and so too is Meg, our detective. I can't wait to meet her again in the next book. Roz Watkins writes so well. It all feels believable. There's a real lightness of touch. Excellent! Review to follow shortly on For Winter Nights.
January 18, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ for an advance copy of The Devil's Dice, a police procedural set in Derbyshire.
Meg Dalton has newly returned to her native Derbyshire when she is called to a murder scene. A man has been found poisoned by a cake laced with cyanide in a supposedly haunted cave beside a carving of the grim reaper and the man's initials.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Devil's Dice which is full of twists and turns and I read it in one sitting, desperate to know what was coming next. It seems a very mature novel for a debut with great pacing, plotting and characterisation. Ms Watkins seem to know exactly when to dole out the information that will either push the plot forward or satisfy some of the reader's curiosity. It's impressive. I must admit that I had an inkling of where the plot was going but with several suspects and and a well hidden motive it was only one of several possibilities. I loved the way Ms Watkins kept me guessing and my mind working out all the possibilities as it makes for a great, absorbing read.
Meg Dalton is a great character and very realistic. Outwardly smart and well accomplished with a Cambridge degree inwardly she is a worrier and riddled with guilt. The reason for the guilt becomes apparent over the course of the novel and while unfounded and irrational it strikes a chord as very realistic. It seems to cast a pall over her personality making her a people pleaser and and always anxious about doing the wrong thing or upsetting people. I found these feelings very easy to identify with and it makes her a very endearing personality.
Why not 5*? The only thing I found unrealistic in the novel is the level of violence and injuries Meg suffers. She is like a superhero - bruised and battered but still she gets up and continues the good fight.
The Devil's Dice is an impressive debut which I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read. 4.5*
Meg Dalton has newly returned to her native Derbyshire when she is called to a murder scene. A man has been found poisoned by a cake laced with cyanide in a supposedly haunted cave beside a carving of the grim reaper and the man's initials.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Devil's Dice which is full of twists and turns and I read it in one sitting, desperate to know what was coming next. It seems a very mature novel for a debut with great pacing, plotting and characterisation. Ms Watkins seem to know exactly when to dole out the information that will either push the plot forward or satisfy some of the reader's curiosity. It's impressive. I must admit that I had an inkling of where the plot was going but with several suspects and and a well hidden motive it was only one of several possibilities. I loved the way Ms Watkins kept me guessing and my mind working out all the possibilities as it makes for a great, absorbing read.
Meg Dalton is a great character and very realistic. Outwardly smart and well accomplished with a Cambridge degree inwardly she is a worrier and riddled with guilt. The reason for the guilt becomes apparent over the course of the novel and while unfounded and irrational it strikes a chord as very realistic. It seems to cast a pall over her personality making her a people pleaser and and always anxious about doing the wrong thing or upsetting people. I found these feelings very easy to identify with and it makes her a very endearing personality.
Why not 5*? The only thing I found unrealistic in the novel is the level of violence and injuries Meg suffers. She is like a superhero - bruised and battered but still she gets up and continues the good fight.
The Devil's Dice is an impressive debut which I have no hesitation in recommending as a good read. 4.5*
February 20, 2018
Set in the dramatic and atmospheric Derbyshire countryside this book is not only wonderfully descriptive but it is based around some of my favourite areas in this county and so I could absolutely picture the woods, the caves, the quarries, which was fantastic. There has long been Derbyshire myths, legends, ghost stories and haunting crimes that make this the ideal place to set a book like this and Roz Watkins actually details a number of local sites you can actually visit such as the Nine Ladies Stone Circle on Stanton Moor.
Following on from this perfect back drop, a terrible discovery is made within a cave and initial suspicions are thrown in to doubt with a more unnerving discovery and it transpires there's much more than meets the eye (well it wouldn't be a very good thriller otherwise!)
DI Meg Dalton is a complex character, wracked with guilt and unresolved issues she is starting a new job back in her home county trying to prove to her team, and herself that she is up to the job. Although "damaged detective" is a bit of a crime thriller trope (though honestly with the magnitude and demands of the job I'm not convinced anyone can do it in real life without being affected) it is not over a man, thank god! I do love reading crime/murder/detective series' by female authors with a female protagonist, because you get that authenticity that's relatable and beautifully complex.
This plot has many red herrings, with subtle twists and a spooky local curse mystery that seems unfathomably at the heart of a tragedy befalling a family in the local area. It is fast-paced, gripping and I couldn't put it down once I was 50% in so devoured it in one afternoon. I found the individual characters written; Meg's family, her colleagues, the suspects, were all fascinating additions to the plot and I definitely look forward to reading more in the series of this talented debut.
March 9, 2018
I heard about The Devil’s Dice last year when I was at the Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate so I stored the title away in my brain to watch out for. Being set around an area I know will always pique my interest in a book and The Devil’s Dice is set in and around my childhood locale of the Peak District which I loved.
I was totally drawn into the story from the beginning; how could you not be when the first body is death by cake! It was a kind of locked room mystery. And then there is the legend of the labyrinth. It gave the whole story a sinister feel. This story centres around secrets – within a community, within a business, within a family. Everywhere there are secrets.
Roz Watkins kept me guessing throughout this thoroughly addictive read. It’s a brilliantly crafted debut which saw me clicking through the kindle pages at pace. I really hope to see more from Meg Dalton and the team and I definitely can’t wait to see what the TV series looks like!!!
I was totally drawn into the story from the beginning; how could you not be when the first body is death by cake! It was a kind of locked room mystery. And then there is the legend of the labyrinth. It gave the whole story a sinister feel. This story centres around secrets – within a community, within a business, within a family. Everywhere there are secrets.
Roz Watkins kept me guessing throughout this thoroughly addictive read. It’s a brilliantly crafted debut which saw me clicking through the kindle pages at pace. I really hope to see more from Meg Dalton and the team and I definitely can’t wait to see what the TV series looks like!!!
March 5, 2018
What a fantastic start to a new series.
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one.
DI Meg Dalton moves up to Derbyshire to take on a new job and be nearer to her Mum and Gran.
It soon becomes clear that something happened in Meg’s past that is affecting her now but it’s not until later in the book that we find out what happened.
A body is found in a cave along with the person’s initials scraped into the wall and a grim reaper figure.
When Meg starts to investigate it seems there’s a local myth about a curse on the house where the victim lives. Soon another life is lost and they have to work out if the deaths were suicides or murders.
This is a gripping story that really had me hooked from the first few chapters. The final chapters were breathtaking and I really didn’t want it to end.
If you’re looking for a new crime series to get your teeth into then I’d highly recommend this book.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one.
DI Meg Dalton moves up to Derbyshire to take on a new job and be nearer to her Mum and Gran.
It soon becomes clear that something happened in Meg’s past that is affecting her now but it’s not until later in the book that we find out what happened.
A body is found in a cave along with the person’s initials scraped into the wall and a grim reaper figure.
When Meg starts to investigate it seems there’s a local myth about a curse on the house where the victim lives. Soon another life is lost and they have to work out if the deaths were suicides or murders.
This is a gripping story that really had me hooked from the first few chapters. The final chapters were breathtaking and I really didn’t want it to end.
If you’re looking for a new crime series to get your teeth into then I’d highly recommend this book.
Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
May 18, 2018
This was just dreadful. It started well and intrigued me bit it quickly went downhill. The research was horrible if it happened. Knowledge of how an incident room worked was non existent. It made me angry that the author tried to suggest she knew what she was talking about by using the right words. Rubbish. The characters were cliche. The autistic and the religious but. BOring. And the writing tended to be pretty dreadful. This is and will doubtless remain the worst book I’ve read this year and may achieve a lifetime achievement award. Just awful.
To the author. Please speak to an actual detective from a murder squad next time.
To the author. Please speak to an actual detective from a murder squad next time.
April 17, 2021
Review will be published on the girly bookclub website and I will post on here in 3 months time.
March 13, 2018
This novel is creepy, dark and atmospheric and I really loved it. It is the first novel featuring Meg Dalton, the new DI in the Derbyshire Police. She has a troubled past that slowly unravels through the novel. She has also unresolved issues and she is broken by the guilt that she feels over her sister.
The novel starts with a great opening. A man slowly dying in a cave. The man’s name is Peter Hamilton and he is a patent lawyer. The cave his body was found in is called by the locals The Devil’s Dice and the legend say that people go there to kill themselves. What at first looked like a suicide, it quickly turns into murder as Meg finds out that Peter Hamilton had many secrets. And even all the people around him seem to be hiding something, from his wife to his siblings, from his colleagues to their wives.
While Meg investigates she has other things to deal with: someone seems to be after her and there is a male colleague who constantly throws cutting remarks at her because she is a woman. On the personal side, she is worried about her mother who lately seems forgetful and she is clearly hiding something.
I liked the character of Meg, she is flawed, troubled and complicated, but she is a good detective and good daughter. The other characters are (mostly) likable and engaging, but what I liked most was Meg’s relationship with her colleague Jai and their funny and witty exchanges.
The author adds a mystical touch to the plot with the elements of the cursed house, the Greek mythology, the legend of the Devil’s Dice, and the witchcraft. The setting of Derbyshire and Peak District is dark and atmospheric and it suits perfectly to the story.
THE DEVIL’S DICE is the first novel in a series and I really look forward to reading more about these characters and from this author.
Thank you HQ for providing me with an early copy of the book.
The novel starts with a great opening. A man slowly dying in a cave. The man’s name is Peter Hamilton and he is a patent lawyer. The cave his body was found in is called by the locals The Devil’s Dice and the legend say that people go there to kill themselves. What at first looked like a suicide, it quickly turns into murder as Meg finds out that Peter Hamilton had many secrets. And even all the people around him seem to be hiding something, from his wife to his siblings, from his colleagues to their wives.
While Meg investigates she has other things to deal with: someone seems to be after her and there is a male colleague who constantly throws cutting remarks at her because she is a woman. On the personal side, she is worried about her mother who lately seems forgetful and she is clearly hiding something.
I liked the character of Meg, she is flawed, troubled and complicated, but she is a good detective and good daughter. The other characters are (mostly) likable and engaging, but what I liked most was Meg’s relationship with her colleague Jai and their funny and witty exchanges.
The author adds a mystical touch to the plot with the elements of the cursed house, the Greek mythology, the legend of the Devil’s Dice, and the witchcraft. The setting of Derbyshire and Peak District is dark and atmospheric and it suits perfectly to the story.
THE DEVIL’S DICE is the first novel in a series and I really look forward to reading more about these characters and from this author.
Thank you HQ for providing me with an early copy of the book.
May 5, 2019
Very good.. I enjoyed the story line, and the characters. I will read the next one in series in a heartbeat.
January 29, 2018
If you're looking for an exciting read that keeps you on your toes from start to finish, then the The Devil’s Dice should be your book of choice. We are introduced to the main character DI Meg Dalton as she attempts, with her sidekick DS Jai Sanghera, to unravel the mystery of the dead body found in mysterious circumstances in a cave system in the Peak District of Derbyshire. The underlying themes of witchcraft, family secrets and a family curse are explored in forensic detail by Meg, who is struggling with her own demons as she engages in a battle of wits with the murderer. The relationships are finely crafted and Meg is endowed with the precise amounts of independence, prickliness and vulnerability to make her an eminently interesting and likeable character. The plot is labyrinthian, pardon the pun, but executed in a plausible way that challenges but does not patronise the reader. There are larger issues than the crime itself and these are dealt with in a stimulating and thought provoking manner by the author. I await in eager anticipation, further books in the series by the author Roz Watkins.
October 12, 2018
I don't know how this got on the cwa shortlist - as it's full of appalling stereotypes- whole paragraphs wedged in and copied from other sources eg comments on on Alansis morrisette song not being ironic were first performed by a comedian about 20 years ago and this was completedly ripped off - and the motive is so weak. The protagonist DI Meg Dalton is literally the damaged female cliche whose never ending physical injuries and emotional tramas would have a normal person signed off work for 6 months. I read a lot and have read quite a few rural murder series - but this feels old fashioned churning out same old stuff again. For a clearly bright author (Cambridge educated lawyer) i guess she thought she could look down on her readers by churning out this guff.
February 9, 2018
I absolutely loved this book!
It had me gripped from the first chapter and I was unable to put it down. It is cleverly plotted and paced really well with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The characters are realistic and Meg is flawed but likeable; she is intelligent, hard working but has all the foibles and issues that many can relate to.
Roz has captured the atmosphere of the Peak District really well and it is woven into the story to add to the general creepiness and suspense. She tackles some difficult subjects with sensitivity and there are some humorous moments as well.
All in all it's a great story with great characters and I can't wait to read the next instalment!
It had me gripped from the first chapter and I was unable to put it down. It is cleverly plotted and paced really well with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. The characters are realistic and Meg is flawed but likeable; she is intelligent, hard working but has all the foibles and issues that many can relate to.
Roz has captured the atmosphere of the Peak District really well and it is woven into the story to add to the general creepiness and suspense. She tackles some difficult subjects with sensitivity and there are some humorous moments as well.
All in all it's a great story with great characters and I can't wait to read the next instalment!
January 22, 2018
A right-rollicking read! A must for any fan of this genre. The story gripped throughout, with exquisite detail of its Derbyshire setting leaving me virtually soaked through from the ever-present rain! While I was rooting for DI Meg from the start I hope she's had self confidence, or self defence, lessons by the second book - I was dying for her to punch above her weight at times. I devoured this story in just a couple of sittings: more please!!
January 10, 2018
A really good mystery!! Obviously the first in a series do I am looking forward to reading more of DI Meg Daltons investigations!
January 15, 2018
This book is an excellent read - I found it hard to put down!
Read
February 9, 2018The Devil's Dice is a fast-paced compelling read set in Derbyshire, with many unexpected twists and turns, sinister messages and rumours of a curse.
All characters are relatable, and I like the way in which ethical issues are woven into the story.
All characters are relatable, and I like the way in which ethical issues are woven into the story.
July 1, 2020
Well, I know I am late to the party but what an amazing start to a new series!
I was introduced to Roz Watkins’ books when I met her at our Stoke-on-Trent blogger/author meet up in (very early) March (before lockdown!). It was so lovely to meet her and she very kindly gifted me a paperback copy of The Devil’s Dice. I have been very much looking forward to reading it.
The Devil’s Dice is an extremely gripping crime thriller set in the Peak District (which I love and hope to be visiting again very soon!). It’s a fairly familiar place for me as my husband works in Derby and I absolutely LOVE Matlock Bath. It’s not far from me, either by car or a short train ride (under normal circumstances!). I love it when books are set in places I know!
Anyway, Meg and her colleagues are faced with a case which seems to be a suicide initially. They find the man in a cave which makes the whole scene massively creepy. I could almost feel the cold, dark, damp atmosphere and didn’t envy those having to recover the body. When his initials are found carved into the stone, seemingly from years ago, alarm bells start ringing. Talk of a local curse comes into play which makes the whole case even more eerie. There are too many unanswered questions and they are convinced this is no suicide.
The investigation is far from straight forward and it unearths all sorts of secrets along the way. As shocking as some are, they are also somewhat understandable given the circumstances.
There is a cast of fascinating characters throughout this book, especially Meg herself who I liked immediately! She is so straight talking and perfectly flawed. She has her own difficult past to contend with alongside her challenging and responsible position as a DI. I’m not surprised she struggles with her mental health sometimes. She has quite a dry sense of humour too and made me chuckle on more than one occasion. I love that she stresses about her Mum and Gran and that she is obsessed with checking all of the rooms in her house every time she comes home which seems like a weird thing to say but these things, among others, make her very real and believable. I would want her on my side if I was ever in trouble. She’s not afraid to bend the rules if absolutely necessary.
I found this murder case quite fascinating and quite sad, in part, in the end. Not that death isn’t sad generally, but you’ll know what I mean if you’ve read it. If you haven’t read it yet, then I highly recommend that you do.
I’m very much looking forward to catching up with Meg again in Book 2 (which I already have waiting patiently on my kindle).
I was introduced to Roz Watkins’ books when I met her at our Stoke-on-Trent blogger/author meet up in (very early) March (before lockdown!). It was so lovely to meet her and she very kindly gifted me a paperback copy of The Devil’s Dice. I have been very much looking forward to reading it.
The Devil’s Dice is an extremely gripping crime thriller set in the Peak District (which I love and hope to be visiting again very soon!). It’s a fairly familiar place for me as my husband works in Derby and I absolutely LOVE Matlock Bath. It’s not far from me, either by car or a short train ride (under normal circumstances!). I love it when books are set in places I know!
Anyway, Meg and her colleagues are faced with a case which seems to be a suicide initially. They find the man in a cave which makes the whole scene massively creepy. I could almost feel the cold, dark, damp atmosphere and didn’t envy those having to recover the body. When his initials are found carved into the stone, seemingly from years ago, alarm bells start ringing. Talk of a local curse comes into play which makes the whole case even more eerie. There are too many unanswered questions and they are convinced this is no suicide.
The investigation is far from straight forward and it unearths all sorts of secrets along the way. As shocking as some are, they are also somewhat understandable given the circumstances.
There is a cast of fascinating characters throughout this book, especially Meg herself who I liked immediately! She is so straight talking and perfectly flawed. She has her own difficult past to contend with alongside her challenging and responsible position as a DI. I’m not surprised she struggles with her mental health sometimes. She has quite a dry sense of humour too and made me chuckle on more than one occasion. I love that she stresses about her Mum and Gran and that she is obsessed with checking all of the rooms in her house every time she comes home which seems like a weird thing to say but these things, among others, make her very real and believable. I would want her on my side if I was ever in trouble. She’s not afraid to bend the rules if absolutely necessary.
I found this murder case quite fascinating and quite sad, in part, in the end. Not that death isn’t sad generally, but you’ll know what I mean if you’ve read it. If you haven’t read it yet, then I highly recommend that you do.
I’m very much looking forward to catching up with Meg again in Book 2 (which I already have waiting patiently on my kindle).
March 18, 2018
The Devil's Dice by Roz Watkins is a fabulous contemporary detective novel set in the Derbyshire Dales. It is the first in the D.I. Meg Dalton series and I cannot wait for the rest.
The Devil's Dice grips from the start as the reader gets caught up in the action. As the body count rises, so do the suspects in the reader's mind.
Ancient curses bump into modern crimes. Is the area really cursed or is it just old fashioned bad luck?
Everyone has a past. Sometimes our past haunts us. We cannot escape so we cope the best we can.
We all have fears. Some face them. Others run.
Secrets can ruin lives. Secrets meant to protect may spell disaster. Other secrets cover old crimes.
Good old fashioned policing, a coppers nose, knowledge and intelligence are needed to solve crimes. The Devil's Dice is a thinking man's detective novel. It reminded me of Morse where we need to follow the clues to solve the crime.
Roz Watkins weaves a fabulous plotline that keeps the reader entertained and guessing throughout. Her characters were well thought out and realistic with their faults and failings. I really like Meg Dalton and her sidekick Jai.
The Devil's Dice is a marvellous debut novel. I hope Roz Watkins has many more stories inside her. The Devil's Dice would translate wonderfully into an ITV police drama that I would love to see - any producers out there please take note.
A fabulous compelling read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The Devil's Dice grips from the start as the reader gets caught up in the action. As the body count rises, so do the suspects in the reader's mind.
Ancient curses bump into modern crimes. Is the area really cursed or is it just old fashioned bad luck?
Everyone has a past. Sometimes our past haunts us. We cannot escape so we cope the best we can.
We all have fears. Some face them. Others run.
Secrets can ruin lives. Secrets meant to protect may spell disaster. Other secrets cover old crimes.
Good old fashioned policing, a coppers nose, knowledge and intelligence are needed to solve crimes. The Devil's Dice is a thinking man's detective novel. It reminded me of Morse where we need to follow the clues to solve the crime.
Roz Watkins weaves a fabulous plotline that keeps the reader entertained and guessing throughout. Her characters were well thought out and realistic with their faults and failings. I really like Meg Dalton and her sidekick Jai.
The Devil's Dice is a marvellous debut novel. I hope Roz Watkins has many more stories inside her. The Devil's Dice would translate wonderfully into an ITV police drama that I would love to see - any producers out there please take note.
A fabulous compelling read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
April 22, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
Well this was a good read! There’s something about the Peak District – the remote land, the rugged moorland, the caves…oh my goodness the caves. You’ll not see the caves in the same way again. Or pictures of the Grim Reaper. Or dice. Or a lot of things really.
This author has claimed the Peak District as her stomping ground I’m pleased to say as this is the start of a very impressive series. When a man’s body is displayed in the cave system with a message carved into the rock. There’s also a cake packet close to the victim and it’s suspected that this could be death by cake so instantly there is a bubbling cauldron of interesting facts to dive into. Talking of cauldrons, there’s mentions of witchcraft and witch trials too..
Oh the legend of the labyrinth.
Whilst the setting shines, it’s the characters who really stand out. The community who lives in these parts look after their own, protect their culture and legends and don’t like outsiders such as the police wandering on their land. turns out it’s not the police they need to fear.
Yup – totally on board with this book and this series. I HAVE to read this on location one day to totally freak myself out even more.
April 12, 2018
How exciting, a new author for the Peak Noir genre! That first outing is always a toughie with such a lot to establish as well as getting on with a proper crime plot. I thought Roz Watkins played a bit of a blinder there - very brave to get it done the way she did and she pulls it off.
There's perhaps a bit too much going on in this novel, and the biggest of the peril scenes was pushing things a bit far for the sake of neatness (and I couldn't remember who one of the key people was in that scene). She admits that she has included known inaccuracies for the sake of the plot.
Lots of references to contemporary debates - readers may find it quite challenging as the author doesn't skim it. Also plenty of nice Derbyshire detail, of which my favourite bit wasn't a description of scenery but the formalities of a proper Derbyshire greeting.
Plenty to look forward to from more in the series...
There's perhaps a bit too much going on in this novel, and the biggest of the peril scenes was pushing things a bit far for the sake of neatness (and I couldn't remember who one of the key people was in that scene). She admits that she has included known inaccuracies for the sake of the plot.
Lots of references to contemporary debates - readers may find it quite challenging as the author doesn't skim it. Also plenty of nice Derbyshire detail, of which my favourite bit wasn't a description of scenery but the formalities of a proper Derbyshire greeting.
Plenty to look forward to from more in the series...
March 28, 2018
I was amused by the juxtaposition of a crime committed in a cave in the middle of the Peak District in a solitary environment, and the weapon of choice being death by cake. Oh the sweet irony. If you’re going to die then cake is the way to go.
Watkins tackles a controversial issue in The Devil’s Dice, and when I say controversial it’s because it is generating a lot of discussion, even though it should probably go without saying. In the UK there is a campaign called Dignity in Dying, and they and their supporters, have been advocating for a change in the law.
People and/or patients who are terminally ill or suffering from an incurable degenerative disease should be allowed to choose to end their pain and suffering with the help of medical institutions and doctors. Euthanasia, assisted suicide or physician assisted suicide. Instead they are forced to go overseas to countries where it has been made legal, and die alone in strange surroundings without the comfort of home or family members.
On top of the costs of a foreign assisted suicide any person travelling with the patient has to adhere to certain rules and regulations, so they are not charged with assisted manslaughter when they return to their home country. It is tragic, especially when you take into consideration how many countries have already worked assisted dying into their legal system.
DI Meg Dalton is forced to consider this very question in her own family. Her mother is caring for her grandmother, and both of them struggle with the care and the fact her grandmother would rather die than be kept in a state of constant misery and pain.
Watkins explores both sides of this contentious issue, which includes the religious argument of it being against God’s will. Suicide is a sin. It weakens society’s view on the sanctity of life, aids the slippery slope towards involuntary euthanasia and getting rid of undesirables or the fact it might not be in the patient’s best interests. Valid points of view, but none of them take the lucid arguments of people into consideration, who are quite capable of making decisions for themselves.
Watkins presents a main character who is vulnerable, actually pretty darn accident prone and always in the middle of some kind of violent altercation. She is driven by anxiety and fears, and has to deal with sexism and harassment at work on a daily basis. Overall more of an anti-heroine, which makes her more meaty.
It will be interesting to see where the author takes Meg, given a little more direction. Eventually those anxieties and her past will have to be dealt with. The lone wolf with flaws combined with unusual scenarios and deaths, what’s not to like?
*I received a copy courtesy of the publisher.*
Watkins tackles a controversial issue in The Devil’s Dice, and when I say controversial it’s because it is generating a lot of discussion, even though it should probably go without saying. In the UK there is a campaign called Dignity in Dying, and they and their supporters, have been advocating for a change in the law.
People and/or patients who are terminally ill or suffering from an incurable degenerative disease should be allowed to choose to end their pain and suffering with the help of medical institutions and doctors. Euthanasia, assisted suicide or physician assisted suicide. Instead they are forced to go overseas to countries where it has been made legal, and die alone in strange surroundings without the comfort of home or family members.
On top of the costs of a foreign assisted suicide any person travelling with the patient has to adhere to certain rules and regulations, so they are not charged with assisted manslaughter when they return to their home country. It is tragic, especially when you take into consideration how many countries have already worked assisted dying into their legal system.
DI Meg Dalton is forced to consider this very question in her own family. Her mother is caring for her grandmother, and both of them struggle with the care and the fact her grandmother would rather die than be kept in a state of constant misery and pain.
Watkins explores both sides of this contentious issue, which includes the religious argument of it being against God’s will. Suicide is a sin. It weakens society’s view on the sanctity of life, aids the slippery slope towards involuntary euthanasia and getting rid of undesirables or the fact it might not be in the patient’s best interests. Valid points of view, but none of them take the lucid arguments of people into consideration, who are quite capable of making decisions for themselves.
Watkins presents a main character who is vulnerable, actually pretty darn accident prone and always in the middle of some kind of violent altercation. She is driven by anxiety and fears, and has to deal with sexism and harassment at work on a daily basis. Overall more of an anti-heroine, which makes her more meaty.
It will be interesting to see where the author takes Meg, given a little more direction. Eventually those anxieties and her past will have to be dealt with. The lone wolf with flaws combined with unusual scenarios and deaths, what’s not to like?
*I received a copy courtesy of the publisher.*
January 13, 2020
So Eine
DI Meg Dalton hat sich nach einer Auszeit an ihrem Heimatort im Peak District versetzen lassen. Zum eine will sie neu durchstarten, zum anderen möchte sie näher bei ihrer Mutter sein und diese bei der Pflege der Großmutter unterstützen. Gleich gibt es einen ersten Todesfall zu vermelden. Ein Anwalt wurde in einer ehemals bewohnten Höhle tot aufgefunden. Noch ist nicht entschieden, ob es sich um Mord oder Selbstmord handelt. Fest steht aber, dass er vergifteten Kuchen zu sich genommen hat. Meg und ihr Kollege Jai nehmen die Ermittlungen auf, wobei sie zunächst mit den Befragungen beginnen.
Meg Dalton muss sich in ihrem neuen Team einfügen. Das ist nicht so einfach, denn sie gilt als Überfliegerin allerdings mit einer Macke. Und so gibt es Kollegen, die das ausnutzen wollen, und solche, die sich davon nicht beirren lassen. Da muss also erstmal sortiert werden. Gleichzeit soll aber die Lösung des Falles her. Das Opfer hatte sich vor seinem Tod verändert, was aber sein Umfeld nicht so richtig wahrhaben wollte. Dazu hört man von einem Gerücht über ein verfluchtes Haus, von dessen Bewohnern über die Jahrzehnte schon mehrere unter seltsamen Umständen starben. Auch privat wird Meg von Sorgen geplagt, ihrer Mutter scheint es immer schwerer zu fallen, die Pflege der Großmutter zu bewältigen.
Diese neue Ermittlerin muss man sich merken. Zwar braucht man ein Weilchen, um sich an ihre Eigenheiten zu gewöhnen, doch schon bald hat sie die Sympathie gewonnen. Trotz schwerer Erlebnisse in ihrer Vergangenheit verliert sie nicht den Mut, im Gegenteil, sie geht die Probleme an und lässt sich auch von Rückschlägen nicht stoppen. Ihr erster Fall führt sie zu einer vom Schicksal gebeutelten Familie, die nur schwer ertragen kann, dass sie es nun auch noch mit einem unnatürlichen Todesfall zu tun bekommt. Meg und ihre Kollegen wühlen sich durch ein beinahe undurchdringliches Geflecht von Hinweisen. Ein Buch, bei dem man die ersten hundert Seiten überstehen will, um die nächsten vierhundert zu verschlingen.
DI Meg Dalton hat sich nach einer Auszeit an ihrem Heimatort im Peak District versetzen lassen. Zum eine will sie neu durchstarten, zum anderen möchte sie näher bei ihrer Mutter sein und diese bei der Pflege der Großmutter unterstützen. Gleich gibt es einen ersten Todesfall zu vermelden. Ein Anwalt wurde in einer ehemals bewohnten Höhle tot aufgefunden. Noch ist nicht entschieden, ob es sich um Mord oder Selbstmord handelt. Fest steht aber, dass er vergifteten Kuchen zu sich genommen hat. Meg und ihr Kollege Jai nehmen die Ermittlungen auf, wobei sie zunächst mit den Befragungen beginnen.
Meg Dalton muss sich in ihrem neuen Team einfügen. Das ist nicht so einfach, denn sie gilt als Überfliegerin allerdings mit einer Macke. Und so gibt es Kollegen, die das ausnutzen wollen, und solche, die sich davon nicht beirren lassen. Da muss also erstmal sortiert werden. Gleichzeit soll aber die Lösung des Falles her. Das Opfer hatte sich vor seinem Tod verändert, was aber sein Umfeld nicht so richtig wahrhaben wollte. Dazu hört man von einem Gerücht über ein verfluchtes Haus, von dessen Bewohnern über die Jahrzehnte schon mehrere unter seltsamen Umständen starben. Auch privat wird Meg von Sorgen geplagt, ihrer Mutter scheint es immer schwerer zu fallen, die Pflege der Großmutter zu bewältigen.
Diese neue Ermittlerin muss man sich merken. Zwar braucht man ein Weilchen, um sich an ihre Eigenheiten zu gewöhnen, doch schon bald hat sie die Sympathie gewonnen. Trotz schwerer Erlebnisse in ihrer Vergangenheit verliert sie nicht den Mut, im Gegenteil, sie geht die Probleme an und lässt sich auch von Rückschlägen nicht stoppen. Ihr erster Fall führt sie zu einer vom Schicksal gebeutelten Familie, die nur schwer ertragen kann, dass sie es nun auch noch mit einem unnatürlichen Todesfall zu tun bekommt. Meg und ihre Kollegen wühlen sich durch ein beinahe undurchdringliches Geflecht von Hinweisen. Ein Buch, bei dem man die ersten hundert Seiten überstehen will, um die nächsten vierhundert zu verschlingen.
August 29, 2019
This was an intriguing book to read, set in the Peak District, around Eldercliffe and Matlock. It was very descriptive and must have taken a lot of research for the content of this book as it was quite involved and informative.
Detective Inspector Meg Dalton has recently returned to the Peak District, she has family living close by and wanted to get away from Manchester where she was previously based. She gets a call to a man’s body that has been found at a local beauty spot called The Devil’s Dice. This is a network of caves and tunnels. Also, it’s well known as a local suicide spot.
Meg hears about the witch trial curse where if you were suspected to be a witch, you were taken to the caves and taken to find a noose with your initials carved into the stone wall, if your initials weren’t there, you were left to find your way own way out. If you didn’t, you would die anyway. Also, the mysterious family curse that started where family members would commit suicide.
It was a time for Meg to prove herself in a police force that was dominated by men. There was a colleague who is convinced she is not up to the role and knows a lot more about her past life than she would like. She is a fighter though and will fight to the end.
Brilliant writing on a very interesting subject which would have taken some researching and then putting into words, let alone a story. This was a great read which really got good towards the end. Lots of twists and turns, so gripping and intriguing, really makes you think about life and stuff. Now I want to read the next book!
Detective Inspector Meg Dalton has recently returned to the Peak District, she has family living close by and wanted to get away from Manchester where she was previously based. She gets a call to a man’s body that has been found at a local beauty spot called The Devil’s Dice. This is a network of caves and tunnels. Also, it’s well known as a local suicide spot.
Meg hears about the witch trial curse where if you were suspected to be a witch, you were taken to the caves and taken to find a noose with your initials carved into the stone wall, if your initials weren’t there, you were left to find your way own way out. If you didn’t, you would die anyway. Also, the mysterious family curse that started where family members would commit suicide.
It was a time for Meg to prove herself in a police force that was dominated by men. There was a colleague who is convinced she is not up to the role and knows a lot more about her past life than she would like. She is a fighter though and will fight to the end.
Brilliant writing on a very interesting subject which would have taken some researching and then putting into words, let alone a story. This was a great read which really got good towards the end. Lots of twists and turns, so gripping and intriguing, really makes you think about life and stuff. Now I want to read the next book!
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