What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood Detective #3
Blood Reckoning
Northumberland; 1992. In the early years of his police career, a young and idealist Grant Foster investigates a crime that shocks the nation. A widower beaten to death in a sleepy former mining town. The murderers: two schoolboys aged 9 and 10. Eight years later, they are released from prison and disappear into adult life with new identities.
London; present day. DCI Foster investigates the death of a man found incinerated in his own car. But this isn't an isolated crime and as more gruesome murders come to light, he soon finds himself forced to confront not only that hideous scene from all those years ago, but also his own memories . . .
From the author of the award-winning The Blood Detective comes the long-awaited third book in the series. A crime novel about secrets, the ghosts of hideous crimes – and a past that refuses to die.
London; present day. DCI Foster investigates the death of a man found incinerated in his own car. But this isn't an isolated crime and as more gruesome murders come to light, he soon finds himself forced to confront not only that hideous scene from all those years ago, but also his own memories . . .
From the author of the award-winning The Blood Detective comes the long-awaited third book in the series. A crime novel about secrets, the ghosts of hideous crimes – and a past that refuses to die.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
49 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Dan Waddell
26 books94 followersDan Waddell is a journalist and author who lives in west London. He has published ten non-fiction books, including the bestselling Who Do You Think You Are?, which tied in with the successful BBC TV series. The Blood Detective is his first novel.
Series:
* Nigel Barnes
Series:
* Nigel Barnes
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
December 10, 2018
Blood Reckoning is the third book about DCI Grant Foster and his occasional working relationship with genealogist, Nigel Barnes. The two are also linked by Grant’s colleague DS Heather Jenkins, who is Nigel’s girlfriend. On this occasion the two men are working on separate cases. Nigel is straying away from his usual family research, as he investigates relationships and location for the causes of a young girl’s terrible nightmares.
Foster’s horrifying murder investigations take him back to his early career as a young police officer in Newcastle. In 1992, a well-respected 73-year-old man had been murdered by two young boys. On their release, they were given new identities but now Foster must revisit the scene and the circumstances of the murder. This major part of the novel is a gripping detective investigation by a policeman determined to find the truth without favour. An intense fast-moving plot reveals the far-reaching repercussions of the original case and in an unusual twist Nigel Barnes becomes personally entangled with the latest events.
Unlike the earlier books, crime features more prominently than genealogy, so this novel may have a wider audience, but personally I have enjoyed each of the three books. The characterisation of the two men is believable and each book stands on its own. A solid contemporary murder mystery.
Foster’s horrifying murder investigations take him back to his early career as a young police officer in Newcastle. In 1992, a well-respected 73-year-old man had been murdered by two young boys. On their release, they were given new identities but now Foster must revisit the scene and the circumstances of the murder. This major part of the novel is a gripping detective investigation by a policeman determined to find the truth without favour. An intense fast-moving plot reveals the far-reaching repercussions of the original case and in an unusual twist Nigel Barnes becomes personally entangled with the latest events.
Unlike the earlier books, crime features more prominently than genealogy, so this novel may have a wider audience, but personally I have enjoyed each of the three books. The characterisation of the two men is believable and each book stands on its own. A solid contemporary murder mystery.
January 30, 2019
No fewer than three very different stories threaded together in this complex thriller, all very interesting and credible. DCI Grant Foster, DS Heather Jenkins and genealogist Nigel Barnes have all developed considerably since the first Blood Detective novel, and I hope Mr Waddell will be writing other books in this series.
November 27, 2021
Je finis à regret cette trilogie avec le généalogiste Nigel Barnes. Ce dernier tome m'a beaucoup plu, deux énigmes qui se retrouvent, des familles malades de leurs histoires, des tentatives de reconstruction, des personnages qui évoluent au cours de cette trilogie. Vraiment un très bon moment de lecture !
Je recommande cette série !
Je recommande cette série !
October 14, 2022
I thought this was great, although the secondhand copy I have was I think printed to order and could do with a bit of proof reading in places. There was the usual mix of genealogy, police procedural and a touch of psycho-geography, and the various strands were tightly linked. There was a lot going on, but it was never confusing and the ending was very satisfying. I wish there were more in this series.
August 26, 2019
A welcome return! I'm already looking forward to further books in the series - but please can Nigel do more genealogy sleuthing?
August 31, 2018
I enjoyed the story. I thought the story was pretty clever and it grows in complexity as the book progresses. It touches on the very contemporary topic of leaking information, particularly where people do not understand what the information actually shows. There wasn't very much genealogy in the book although Nigel, the genealogist, does do some research into both families and also houses, which is good. It had reasonable pace although it dragged a little bit in the middle especially because DCI Grant Foster is off on his own.
My main quibble is in the way Mr Waddell tells us the story. There's nothing wrong the grammar and basic copy-editing and as I said it's a good story that I wanted to read. However, there are so many opportunities missed to make a really good novel out of it. I'm back here to my “show-not tell” hobbyhorse, rejuvenated by my recent reading of "The Bookshop" by Penelope Fitzgerald. In contrast to that novel, there is a lot of telling here and a lot of it reads like a story outline or a character profile, not the final version.
I spotted two examples that could have lifted the book and given the reader something more to do. Maybe they will show what I mean.
Firstly, somewhere in the middle of the book, Mr Waddell suddenly starts telling us about Gary, the young man we met as a very troubled youth in an earlier book. Ah, now, what can I say without spoilers? Well, simply that the book could have opened with a scene showing Grant interacting with Gary and that could have fed directly feed into Grant’s responses to the current case and to a reappraisal of the old case. Instead, at some random point, the book tells us about the relationship in the middle of Grant's solo excursion.
Secondly, at one point, Nigel is waiting for his girlfriend and thinking to himself how she always makes a point of arranging for them to spend quality time together. Well, why not start with them on holiday, or having just coming back. Dramatise the action and show how relaxed and happy they are, rather than have Nigel just tell us in the middle of the story.
i am very conscious that I have not written a book so it seems a little churlish to criticise someone who has. However, I think it could be so much better. I recommend the story though and the book as written is OK, just a bit unpolished.
My main quibble is in the way Mr Waddell tells us the story. There's nothing wrong the grammar and basic copy-editing and as I said it's a good story that I wanted to read. However, there are so many opportunities missed to make a really good novel out of it. I'm back here to my “show-not tell” hobbyhorse, rejuvenated by my recent reading of "The Bookshop" by Penelope Fitzgerald. In contrast to that novel, there is a lot of telling here and a lot of it reads like a story outline or a character profile, not the final version.
I spotted two examples that could have lifted the book and given the reader something more to do. Maybe they will show what I mean.
Firstly, somewhere in the middle of the book, Mr Waddell suddenly starts telling us about Gary, the young man we met as a very troubled youth in an earlier book. Ah, now, what can I say without spoilers? Well, simply that the book could have opened with a scene showing Grant interacting with Gary and that could have fed directly feed into Grant’s responses to the current case and to a reappraisal of the old case. Instead, at some random point, the book tells us about the relationship in the middle of Grant's solo excursion.
Secondly, at one point, Nigel is waiting for his girlfriend and thinking to himself how she always makes a point of arranging for them to spend quality time together. Well, why not start with them on holiday, or having just coming back. Dramatise the action and show how relaxed and happy they are, rather than have Nigel just tell us in the middle of the story.
i am very conscious that I have not written a book so it seems a little churlish to criticise someone who has. However, I think it could be so much better. I recommend the story though and the book as written is OK, just a bit unpolished.
October 16, 2018
Another enjoyable Blood Detective novel, though not with as much genealogical flavour as the other stories. While the main event concerned past events coming back to impact on the present, the time frame was within living memory, rather than further back in history as is usually the case with these novels. Nevertheless, it still created a compelling story, which was difficult to put down.
While genealogist Nigel Barnes is busy conducting an intriguing enquiry involving a house history and the effects on its current residents, Foster is forced to return to the old stomping ground of his earlier career, the North East of England, after realising that a gruesome incident on his own patch is linked to a crime he investigated years ago. We also learn how it's tied in to the reason he left the area so abruptly all those years ago.
A third strand brings us back to London and Foster's initial investigation, where it merges with Barnes's own family history to give the story's climax an exciting twist and a dramatic ending to the book.
While genealogist Nigel Barnes is busy conducting an intriguing enquiry involving a house history and the effects on its current residents, Foster is forced to return to the old stomping ground of his earlier career, the North East of England, after realising that a gruesome incident on his own patch is linked to a crime he investigated years ago. We also learn how it's tied in to the reason he left the area so abruptly all those years ago.
A third strand brings us back to London and Foster's initial investigation, where it merges with Barnes's own family history to give the story's climax an exciting twist and a dramatic ending to the book.
July 22, 2019
5 stars
Once again I was engrossed with
DCI Foster and Nigel Barnes delving into the past being linked to the present. Many characters with complex layers finally all was revealed. I prefer Nigel i think but he let me down being dense 're the delivery....if you've been told to watch your back and you had been assigned a bodyguard why would you dozily accept a delivery you weren't expecting into your flat ? In London ? I was mad at him 😮 One other point was in the case of the child why wasn't she moved to another bedroom? Would she have slept better there ? The story wouldn't have had the same outcome obviously. More please! 👍
Once again I was engrossed with
DCI Foster and Nigel Barnes delving into the past being linked to the present. Many characters with complex layers finally all was revealed. I prefer Nigel i think but he let me down being dense 're the delivery....if you've been told to watch your back and you had been assigned a bodyguard why would you dozily accept a delivery you weren't expecting into your flat ? In London ? I was mad at him 😮 One other point was in the case of the child why wasn't she moved to another bedroom? Would she have slept better there ? The story wouldn't have had the same outcome obviously. More please! 👍
July 31, 2018
I've read all the books in this series and enjoyed them all but this story is the best so far! It could be read as a stand alone because it doesn't rely too much on prior knowledge of the main characters. This story went along at a great pace, with twists and turns keeping you guessing. Unlike the previous books where Detective Foster and Nigel Barnes worked together, they have their own separate stories but come together in an explosive finale which still leaves a situation unfinished. I hope this isn't the last we read of these two!
December 20, 2018
Bloody Wonderful
I came upon these books accidentally and found them all to be marvelous reads. I highly recommend them to all and sundry who like twisty mysteries. I certainly hope the author continues the series. It's been a long time since I have so thoroughly enjoyed a new to me author. Oh - BTW reviewer who complained about the reference to squashing ants by saying there are no ants in Britain - according to the encyclopedia, there are many varieties of ants in the UK. It's true that most are in the southern counties, but there are some as far north as Scotland.
I came upon these books accidentally and found them all to be marvelous reads. I highly recommend them to all and sundry who like twisty mysteries. I certainly hope the author continues the series. It's been a long time since I have so thoroughly enjoyed a new to me author. Oh - BTW reviewer who complained about the reference to squashing ants by saying there are no ants in Britain - according to the encyclopedia, there are many varieties of ants in the UK. It's true that most are in the southern counties, but there are some as far north as Scotland.
May 13, 2018
Well worth waiting for. Excellent read loads of twists and turns that keep you really engrossed.
So pleased the main characters have been brought back. All the plot is so well worked out its a pleasure to read.
I never saw the end coming, I really hope we get more to continue the suspense.
If you like a good well thought out detective novel with some great characters then look no further than this series of books.
So pleased the main characters have been brought back. All the plot is so well worked out its a pleasure to read.
I never saw the end coming, I really hope we get more to continue the suspense.
If you like a good well thought out detective novel with some great characters then look no further than this series of books.
May 8, 2018
As always, a great read. There's a rather interesting twist in the tale that I couldn't quite see coming, though a seed of doubt is planted early on. Kudos to the author. I do have to complain about the Kindle edition, though—it was riddled with mistakes. Dan, I'd be happy to give your next book a once-over. ;-)
May 28, 2018
Many layers to the mystery
The novel was a little slow in the beginning, but gained momentum as the story unraveled. Complex plot and characters. The story makes many twists and turns. The major story line was resolved, but the ongoing underlying theme of Nigel's origins received a major boost which will be addressed in future books.
The novel was a little slow in the beginning, but gained momentum as the story unraveled. Complex plot and characters. The story makes many twists and turns. The major story line was resolved, but the ongoing underlying theme of Nigel's origins received a major boost which will be addressed in future books.
May 29, 2018
A Wonderful Read.
I bought the first book because it was only 99 cents, then looked for the rest of the series. So very glad I did. These are fun to read, love the characters and relationships and their history's. The look into genealogy and how to find information is interesting. Looking forward to the next book, I may have to look into more by this author.
I bought the first book because it was only 99 cents, then looked for the rest of the series. So very glad I did. These are fun to read, love the characters and relationships and their history's. The look into genealogy and how to find information is interesting. Looking forward to the next book, I may have to look into more by this author.
February 27, 2019
This was the third in the Nigel Barnes series and I have enjoyed all three tremendously, only a pity this last one wasn't published as an audiobook is well, as I loved Colin Mace's narration. I do hope the author finds time and energy to write a sequel or two. I have picked this book up on Amazon for $3.37 and find this almost an insult to the author.
August 17, 2019
Unsettling
This was an interesting book in many ways. Being set partly in Northumberland, always a,good thing, partly from an historical point of view, miners, European terrorists, corrupt policemen. There were many strands to this story but it was clever and ended as I expected it would, which is always gratifying!
This was an interesting book in many ways. Being set partly in Northumberland, always a,good thing, partly from an historical point of view, miners, European terrorists, corrupt policemen. There were many strands to this story but it was clever and ended as I expected it would, which is always gratifying!
April 7, 2024
Excellent series
These three books have had me gripped from the start. I read a lot of genealogical detective books and can honestly say that Dan Waddell has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next one.
These three books have had me gripped from the start. I read a lot of genealogical detective books and can honestly say that Dan Waddell has quickly become one of my favourite authors.
I am very much looking forward to reading the next one.
August 2, 2018
So glad this finally came out in english and ebook! Can't wait to read the next one
August 30, 2018
My favorite so far
I enjoyed the Blood Detective, but really enjoyed Blood Reckoning.
Dan Waddell is a great author and I love Nigel's character.
I enjoyed the Blood Detective, but really enjoyed Blood Reckoning.
Dan Waddell is a great author and I love Nigel's character.
March 21, 2019
Good book
Dan Waddell keeps getting better. I wish these were in print. I would like to share them with my girls.
Dan Waddell keeps getting better. I wish these were in print. I would like to share them with my girls.
May 25, 2020
Wow, they just get better and better. I couldn't put this one down.
May 4, 2021
Pas aussi passionnant que code 1879 mais on se plonge malgré tout dans la double intrigue. Je trouve dommage qu'il y ait beaucoup moins de généalogie dans celui-ci.
September 5, 2021
Loved it. Couldn’t put it down!
January 18, 2022
Hard to put down book. Amazing how many twists and turns appear in these books. Looking forward to the next one.
April 20, 2022
Good follow on from book 1
The character of Foster develops more depth in book 2.......a gripping read.
I would recommend book 1 as an introduction to this author.
The character of Foster develops more depth in book 2.......a gripping read.
I would recommend book 1 as an introduction to this author.
May 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this third book in the series featuring genealogist, Nigel. I hope there will be more.
March 10, 2023
In common with the two previous genealogical crime novels I much enjoyed the complex themes. Such a disappointment that Dan Waddell did not write more as he he promised to do. I wonder why not 🤔
October 1, 2023
Excellent urder mystery and genealogical mystery!
July 15, 2024
I really enjoyed this book and read it in one day ! Wish there was more as I have now read all 4 book! Oh and Dan, nice ending remark !
February 18, 2016
— Oh my God, they killed Kenny !
— You bastards !
Putain, ils ont tué Kenny, ces enfoirés ! Et vous comprendrez plus loin le pourquoi de cette introduction non conventionnelle.
Pour une fois, j'ai commencé par le tome 3 des enquêtes de l'inspecteur Foster, mais ce ne fut pas un soucis, loin de là.
En effet, il m'a fallu une petite seconde pour plonger dans le roman et dans la vie de cet inspecteur. En fait, c'est comme si je l'avais toujours connu.
L'inspecteur Foster a ses blessures bien enfouies, il nous en parlera à l'occasion, durant son enquête. Pour le reste, il ne fait pas trop de bruit, il est tenace et quand il tient un os, tel le pitbull, il ne le lâchera plus comme il le fit il y a 20 ans, lors de cette sordide affaire avec Kenny… Oui, Kenny !
C'était une sordide affaire, celle d'y a 20 ans : Kenny Chester, un vieil homme, héros de la mine, se fit tabasser à mort par deux jeunes gamins de 10 ans. « Putain, ils ont tué Kenny, ces enfoirés ! » Condamnés, ils furent, dix ans plus tard, relâchés et pourvu d'une nouvelle identité.
Et 20 ans après, Foster se trouve devant les cadavres des gamins criminels devenus adultes. Qui a balancé leurs nouvelles identités ? Qui a obtenu sa vengeance ?
Son enquête ne sera pas facile : tout le monde est content de la mort des deux anciens meurtriers et personne ne veut que l'on remue la merde. L'inspecteur Foster aura fort à faire pour résoudre tout ça, vu les inimités qu'il a avec certaines personnes bien considérées de son ancienne ville.
Sans user de métaphores, de grandes envolées lyriques, de phrases complexes et ampoulées, l'auteur nous plonge dans l'atmosphère « campagnarde » de la ville de Mackington (dans le Northumberland, le Nord) au-dessus de laquelle flotte une chape de plomb.
Ici, personne n'a oublié l'affaire et tout le monde a rêvé de vengeance, surtout dans la famille de Kenny Chester. Lui qui était presque un Dieu a eu sa famille quasi canonisée après son meurtre affreux.
Pas besoin non plus d'une pléthore de paragraphes pour décrire l'état de la ville et des gens après la fermeture des mines par la Tatcher : misère sociale, plus de boulot, jeunes sans avenir, alcool, drogues, moitié des commerces qui ont fermé, une population auparavant ouverte qui s'est repliée sur elle et plus de partage entre les habitants.
On a bien compris en peu de mot la merde que la miss Maggie a foutu.
Nous sommes ici face à un roman noir plus sombre que dans la raie des fesses d'un mineur occupé au fond de sa mine, à minuit, par une nuit sans lune.
Tu penses que tu as atteint la veine la plus sordide de la mine, mais non, t'as encore rien vu ! On peut toujours creuser plus profond dans la saloperie humaine. Je m'en doutais un peu, d'ailleurs…
Le poids du passé est lourd et il a tendance à t'entraîner au fond de cette mine sombre et une fois qu'on en ressort, on respire un grand coup l'air frais, tout en frissonnant de ce que l'on vient de lire.
Une saloperie d'excellent roman noir, une enquête qui m'a laissée sur les genoux, même sans avoir fait de courses-poursuites, des personnages principaux que l'on a envie de revoir et un final haletant rempli de surprise et d'horreur.
— You bastards !
Putain, ils ont tué Kenny, ces enfoirés ! Et vous comprendrez plus loin le pourquoi de cette introduction non conventionnelle.
Pour une fois, j'ai commencé par le tome 3 des enquêtes de l'inspecteur Foster, mais ce ne fut pas un soucis, loin de là.
En effet, il m'a fallu une petite seconde pour plonger dans le roman et dans la vie de cet inspecteur. En fait, c'est comme si je l'avais toujours connu.
L'inspecteur Foster a ses blessures bien enfouies, il nous en parlera à l'occasion, durant son enquête. Pour le reste, il ne fait pas trop de bruit, il est tenace et quand il tient un os, tel le pitbull, il ne le lâchera plus comme il le fit il y a 20 ans, lors de cette sordide affaire avec Kenny… Oui, Kenny !
C'était une sordide affaire, celle d'y a 20 ans : Kenny Chester, un vieil homme, héros de la mine, se fit tabasser à mort par deux jeunes gamins de 10 ans. « Putain, ils ont tué Kenny, ces enfoirés ! » Condamnés, ils furent, dix ans plus tard, relâchés et pourvu d'une nouvelle identité.
Et 20 ans après, Foster se trouve devant les cadavres des gamins criminels devenus adultes. Qui a balancé leurs nouvelles identités ? Qui a obtenu sa vengeance ?
Son enquête ne sera pas facile : tout le monde est content de la mort des deux anciens meurtriers et personne ne veut que l'on remue la merde. L'inspecteur Foster aura fort à faire pour résoudre tout ça, vu les inimités qu'il a avec certaines personnes bien considérées de son ancienne ville.
Sans user de métaphores, de grandes envolées lyriques, de phrases complexes et ampoulées, l'auteur nous plonge dans l'atmosphère « campagnarde » de la ville de Mackington (dans le Northumberland, le Nord) au-dessus de laquelle flotte une chape de plomb.
Ici, personne n'a oublié l'affaire et tout le monde a rêvé de vengeance, surtout dans la famille de Kenny Chester. Lui qui était presque un Dieu a eu sa famille quasi canonisée après son meurtre affreux.
Pas besoin non plus d'une pléthore de paragraphes pour décrire l'état de la ville et des gens après la fermeture des mines par la Tatcher : misère sociale, plus de boulot, jeunes sans avenir, alcool, drogues, moitié des commerces qui ont fermé, une population auparavant ouverte qui s'est repliée sur elle et plus de partage entre les habitants.
On a bien compris en peu de mot la merde que la miss Maggie a foutu.
Nous sommes ici face à un roman noir plus sombre que dans la raie des fesses d'un mineur occupé au fond de sa mine, à minuit, par une nuit sans lune.
Tu penses que tu as atteint la veine la plus sordide de la mine, mais non, t'as encore rien vu ! On peut toujours creuser plus profond dans la saloperie humaine. Je m'en doutais un peu, d'ailleurs…
Le poids du passé est lourd et il a tendance à t'entraîner au fond de cette mine sombre et une fois qu'on en ressort, on respire un grand coup l'air frais, tout en frissonnant de ce que l'on vient de lire.
Une saloperie d'excellent roman noir, une enquête qui m'a laissée sur les genoux, même sans avoir fait de courses-poursuites, des personnages principaux que l'on a envie de revoir et un final haletant rempli de surprise et d'horreur.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews