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Dark Yorkshire #1
Divided House
The public face. A private reality. Sometimes, the dead have a lot to hide...
DI Nathaniel Caslin's life is a mess. He works the minimum, abuses substances to survive the day and drinks his nights away. A once-promising career is in freefall.
Investigating the death of an ex-serviceman in police custody, reveals the disappearance of a young family. No-one noticed. No-one seems to care. In the grip of a bitter, Yorkshire winter, a family home reluctantly offers up its grisly secrets. Out on the moors, a murder scene of horrific brutality demands Caslin's focused attention. In the search for answers, is anyone who they claim to be?
Haunted by the ghosts of the past, Caslin is pushed to his limits. Will this case break him or be his path to redemption?
DI Nathaniel Caslin's life is a mess. He works the minimum, abuses substances to survive the day and drinks his nights away. A once-promising career is in freefall.
Investigating the death of an ex-serviceman in police custody, reveals the disappearance of a young family. No-one noticed. No-one seems to care. In the grip of a bitter, Yorkshire winter, a family home reluctantly offers up its grisly secrets. Out on the moors, a murder scene of horrific brutality demands Caslin's focused attention. In the search for answers, is anyone who they claim to be?
Haunted by the ghosts of the past, Caslin is pushed to his limits. Will this case break him or be his path to redemption?
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2018
6751 people are currently reading
1121 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Dalgliesh
36 books932 followersJason Dalgliesh was born on the south coast of England and grew up in Hampshire, UK. He has worked in the power transmission industry, the retail sector, call centres and as a night-owl in a bakery. His greatest challenge of all is ongoing, as a stay at home parent.
He is presently writing the Dark Yorkshire crime-series, featuring DI Nathaniel Caslin.
The novels are set in Yorkshire, England. The medieval City of York is Caslin's home town and the plot lines take in some of the UK's most rugged and beautiful landscapes, from the windswept North Sea coastline and across the stunning North York Moors.
Penned in the style of the Crime Noir genre, Caslin is a deep character, as flawed as he is brilliant, battling his own demons as much as those he is pitted against. Readers who enjoy gritty, atmospheric thrillers will find the series a must read.
Having spent time abroad, Jason has lived and worked in various parts of England as well as the Scottish Highlands. He currently resides in the East Riding, with his wife and two young children.
You can reach him via his website at www.jmdalgliesh.com
You can also follow him on social media;
facebook.com/jmdalglieshauthor
twitter.com/darkyorkshire
He is presently writing the Dark Yorkshire crime-series, featuring DI Nathaniel Caslin.
The novels are set in Yorkshire, England. The medieval City of York is Caslin's home town and the plot lines take in some of the UK's most rugged and beautiful landscapes, from the windswept North Sea coastline and across the stunning North York Moors.
Penned in the style of the Crime Noir genre, Caslin is a deep character, as flawed as he is brilliant, battling his own demons as much as those he is pitted against. Readers who enjoy gritty, atmospheric thrillers will find the series a must read.
Having spent time abroad, Jason has lived and worked in various parts of England as well as the Scottish Highlands. He currently resides in the East Riding, with his wife and two young children.
You can reach him via his website at www.jmdalgliesh.com
You can also follow him on social media;
facebook.com/jmdalglieshauthor
twitter.com/darkyorkshire
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews
October 30, 2022
DI Nate Caslin - Dark Yorkshire Crime Thriller Book 1
What links, if anything, shootings in Ravenscar on the North Yorkshire Coast with what is found in an isolated farm between Pateley Bridge and Grassington? DI Nathanial Caslin is relentlessly on the case.
This has a good story line with a complex and very gritty plot and which is briskly paced. There is plenty of tension and multitude of twists and turns as it builds to an almost cinematic ending. Just as you think it’s all over there’s one major reveal to come. Such a treat to have a good ending!!
I really like DI Caslin as a central character as I have a fondness for “one-offs“ in my police procedurals and he’s most certainly that! I’m looking forward to reading what he gets up to next.
It’s also great to be in my stamping ground of the magnificent city of York and the beautiful surroundings of North Yorkshire as I love setting that I know. I’ll pop down later to Lendal Cellars and prop up the bar with Caslin! Mine’s a g and t.
Overall, this has been way more than a decent read though the occasional bit of pedantic style could easily be dispensed with! Thank you!!!
A Kindle Unlimited read.
What links, if anything, shootings in Ravenscar on the North Yorkshire Coast with what is found in an isolated farm between Pateley Bridge and Grassington? DI Nathanial Caslin is relentlessly on the case.
This has a good story line with a complex and very gritty plot and which is briskly paced. There is plenty of tension and multitude of twists and turns as it builds to an almost cinematic ending. Just as you think it’s all over there’s one major reveal to come. Such a treat to have a good ending!!
I really like DI Caslin as a central character as I have a fondness for “one-offs“ in my police procedurals and he’s most certainly that! I’m looking forward to reading what he gets up to next.
It’s also great to be in my stamping ground of the magnificent city of York and the beautiful surroundings of North Yorkshire as I love setting that I know. I’ll pop down later to Lendal Cellars and prop up the bar with Caslin! Mine’s a g and t.
Overall, this has been way more than a decent read though the occasional bit of pedantic style could easily be dispensed with! Thank you!!!
A Kindle Unlimited read.
August 22, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed One Lost Soul, the first in the Hidden Norfolk series when I read it and expected to feel the same about Divided House. Sadly, I was disappointed. DI Nathaniel Caslin was due to begin work – the late shift – and was at the pub instead of heading there. He was stopped from substance abuse by the arrival of another man whom he got into a fight with out in the pub. Then he went to work, arriving half an hour, at least, late for his shift. Not a good first impression, Caslin!
When a man fitted and died in custody, Caslin was suspicious there was more to the death than it seemed. So he decided to investigate without informing his boss. Then internal investigations became involved – still he didn’t particularly care. With a family missing, Caslin’s hangovers get steadily worse…
Divided House by J.M. Dalgliesh is the 1st in the Dark Yorkshire series, and I doubt I’ll continue. I will continue the Hidden Norfolk series though. Such a familiar scenario written by so many authors – drunk and drug using cop, not popular with his superiors, going off on his own. Not for me I’m afraid.
When a man fitted and died in custody, Caslin was suspicious there was more to the death than it seemed. So he decided to investigate without informing his boss. Then internal investigations became involved – still he didn’t particularly care. With a family missing, Caslin’s hangovers get steadily worse…
Divided House by J.M. Dalgliesh is the 1st in the Dark Yorkshire series, and I doubt I’ll continue. I will continue the Hidden Norfolk series though. Such a familiar scenario written by so many authors – drunk and drug using cop, not popular with his superiors, going off on his own. Not for me I’m afraid.
August 14, 2022
a fulfilling read ... explosive story with surprises ... interesting characters, all far from perfect ... great to find a new series
August 5, 2018
A dark and disturbing crime thriller. The chief protagonist, DI Caslin, is in the doghouse hence he's on the late shift. This all changes when a man brought into the cells one night commits suicide. Caslin stays on the case, his only help a rookie DC. When the dead man turns out to be an ex serviceman, and it turns out there is a family missing, things heat up.
The plot is just too convoluted to try and summarise but, trust me, its a cracker. There is plenty of murder and mayhem, a missing family and even police officers are being murdered. Caslin is under suspicion for a bunch of stuff. Can he redeem himself and solve these dark crimes? You will need your thinking cap for this one. Caslin himself is beset by demons and a bit of substance abuse but he is basically a good guy. I'm keen to read more in this series.
The plot is just too convoluted to try and summarise but, trust me, its a cracker. There is plenty of murder and mayhem, a missing family and even police officers are being murdered. Caslin is under suspicion for a bunch of stuff. Can he redeem himself and solve these dark crimes? You will need your thinking cap for this one. Caslin himself is beset by demons and a bit of substance abuse but he is basically a good guy. I'm keen to read more in this series.
August 12, 2018
Intriguing read
I found the storylines a bit confusing in parts, so many characters to keep track of. But the book was intriguing enough to carry on. The main character is likable enough, not perfect, which is an attribute, no cookie cutter characters. Well worth the read.
I found the storylines a bit confusing in parts, so many characters to keep track of. But the book was intriguing enough to carry on. The main character is likable enough, not perfect, which is an attribute, no cookie cutter characters. Well worth the read.
July 11, 2020
The book starts off with a woman imprisoned in a cellar and a man in a pit, a well-worn opening. The book introduces DI Nathaniel Caslin of York CID who is in Yorkshire having upset his career in London, he is also estranged from his wife Karen and their two children. The story unfolds with a driver who is not quite who he seems to be and then dies in his cell. Caslin goes to a remote farmhouse but finds no one there. Then on the moor, a family are shot to death in their car and an apparently random walker is also shot dead. Two separate investigations are underway.
The author has a tendency to begin to develop storylines only to leave them and they are not always picked up later, which is frustrating. My impression is that the book became disjointed and not so enjoyable because of that.
This is the beginning of the Yorkshire Murders series and for that reason, the next edition is on my radar. 2 stars it was just OK.
The author has a tendency to begin to develop storylines only to leave them and they are not always picked up later, which is frustrating. My impression is that the book became disjointed and not so enjoyable because of that.
This is the beginning of the Yorkshire Murders series and for that reason, the next edition is on my radar. 2 stars it was just OK.
August 8, 2018
Some odd and incorrect uses of language were distracting. However, plot and character development were excellent; a good, fast paced story. Will definitely read the next in the series.
November 9, 2018
I bought this on Kindle as I have a tenuous personal connection to the writer. I found the grammar very distracting at times - this could use a good editor. The description is also quite misleading, as the protagonist is far from a junkie barely coasting through his day-to-day life. He is a stressed, divorced policeman who sometimes drinks moderately. He's dedicated to his job to an extreme and just the right balance of flawed and likeable, having fallen from grace in his career due to a mysterious previous case. I found many of the supporting police officers very 2D and mixed their names and roles up quite a bit as the characters weren't particularly fleshed out and most had common names.
That said, I enjoyed this book. I read it in three long bursts, and it was interesting enough that I didn't put it down until I had to each time. The plot is compelling and dark at times, there are twists and surprises, action and thoughtful moments. There is some excellent description and moments where the story is really brought down to earth in a realistic way. Some of the villains are more complex characters than the hero and I would have liked to know more about what happened to them. I thought the end could have been more rounded off, but perhaps that is done deliberately to keep interest in the series. In all likelihood I will buy the next book in the series, but it won't be my next read.
That said, I enjoyed this book. I read it in three long bursts, and it was interesting enough that I didn't put it down until I had to each time. The plot is compelling and dark at times, there are twists and surprises, action and thoughtful moments. There is some excellent description and moments where the story is really brought down to earth in a realistic way. Some of the villains are more complex characters than the hero and I would have liked to know more about what happened to them. I thought the end could have been more rounded off, but perhaps that is done deliberately to keep interest in the series. In all likelihood I will buy the next book in the series, but it won't be my next read.
May 27, 2019
This was well written but something that really bothered me about it was that it’s almost the EXACT SAME STORY of real life serial killers Leonard Lake and Charles Ng. There was very very little changed. I understand being inspired by a real crime but telling the whole true story and portraying it as a work of fiction created by the writer is a bit bothersome and I’m not sure how I feel about it ethically, tbh.
November 28, 2019
Bailed out at 25%. Just too gloomy for me, depressing: I really wasn't enjoying it.
September 13, 2018
DNF, just found the story too rambling and confusing.. Gave up on it.
November 21, 2024
Much darker than the Norfolk or Scottish Island series - loved it!!
May 31, 2018
A Dark, British Police Procedural
This police procedural set in Yorkshire features hard-drinking DI Nate Caslin, who bends some police rules, brawls in bars w men who abuse women, is often late to work, is being investigated by the IPCC, and is punished by being assigned to night shit and is banished to a desk in the corner of the squad room. Although he is an excellent detective, bad things roll down hill. Several bosses don’t trust him, resulting in suspicions in the lower ranked police.
Everyone is waiting for the IPCC findings shoe to drop.
Instead, multiple unexpected shoes drop: 1) Four shooting deaths in one day, 2) Carlin and his PC discover a grisly serial murderer, 3) a couple and their child are missing, and 4) a suspect commits suicide whilst in police custody. The police are overwhelmed, but this situation is partially due to poor leadership and/or too many “leaders.” Amidst this imbroglio, a male PC commits suicide and a woman PC is murdered, adding to the anxiety, anger and confusion among the police.
Some family drama accompanies the police procedural but not to the point of becoming melodrama. DI Caslin is alienated from his family due to work load, but no surprise there.
If you like well-plotted police procedurals with multiple threads—all seemingly unrelated—this is a book for you.
This police procedural set in Yorkshire features hard-drinking DI Nate Caslin, who bends some police rules, brawls in bars w men who abuse women, is often late to work, is being investigated by the IPCC, and is punished by being assigned to night shit and is banished to a desk in the corner of the squad room. Although he is an excellent detective, bad things roll down hill. Several bosses don’t trust him, resulting in suspicions in the lower ranked police.
Everyone is waiting for the IPCC findings shoe to drop.
Instead, multiple unexpected shoes drop: 1) Four shooting deaths in one day, 2) Carlin and his PC discover a grisly serial murderer, 3) a couple and their child are missing, and 4) a suspect commits suicide whilst in police custody. The police are overwhelmed, but this situation is partially due to poor leadership and/or too many “leaders.” Amidst this imbroglio, a male PC commits suicide and a woman PC is murdered, adding to the anxiety, anger and confusion among the police.
Some family drama accompanies the police procedural but not to the point of becoming melodrama. DI Caslin is alienated from his family due to work load, but no surprise there.
If you like well-plotted police procedurals with multiple threads—all seemingly unrelated—this is a book for you.
March 30, 2019
Nowhere near previous standards.
There’s clumsy construction, careless punctuation and minor factual errors cropping up too often to make a satisfying read possible. The plot’s too obviously cribbed from event news events, with little effort to introduce interesting variations on the theme .
Sorry, but this one smacks of a hurried, poorly planned and executed work, published before it’s been properly edited.
There’s clumsy construction, careless punctuation and minor factual errors cropping up too often to make a satisfying read possible. The plot’s too obviously cribbed from event news events, with little effort to introduce interesting variations on the theme .
Sorry, but this one smacks of a hurried, poorly planned and executed work, published before it’s been properly edited.
October 6, 2018
I found this book didn't hold my interest. It seemed to ramble in places and I had trouble piecing things together. Lots of character names but hard to keep track of them as they weren't really developed. ,win character started as a policeman with alcohol issues but that wasn't continued through the book
June 6, 2020
Not usually an audio book person but daily walks with this book and its awesome narrator hooked me! (You know things are rough when a mystery this dark serves as an escape...) Recommended by @Asarum who dares me not to buy 4 and 5 when I’m done with the first three (which counted as one free download on Audible). I’m probably doomed.
April 8, 2020
4* rounded up
Audiobook
The author has got the city of York, and the surrounding area (s) described well.
The narrative of the book is well balanced and not overly stereotypical of others in this genre, however, what let's the book down is there is no depth in the characters which I find frustrating. I hope in book 2 this is rectified
Audiobook
The author has got the city of York, and the surrounding area (s) described well.
The narrative of the book is well balanced and not overly stereotypical of others in this genre, however, what let's the book down is there is no depth in the characters which I find frustrating. I hope in book 2 this is rectified
February 4, 2023
I don't know what to say...
This book started out well, but to tell you the truth, I never really understood what the crimes were. There was way too much wasted talk about Caslin...ok,he's drinking again, ok he's wiping the windshield with his sleeve again, ok his dad and family are mad again. So ooo many false leads, so many times that he'd turn off his phone and never call anyone back. I still don't get why Harmon was killed. Then there's the criminal, where did he come from? What was his problem? Daddy issues???? Too many nights of getting high &/or drunk and waking up feeling refreshed??? Really? And all this is supposed to spur me on to read more of this series? I don't think so. Do they just allow anyone to write a book anymore? Authors are so lazy and untalented, I'm starting to give up reading as my favorite hobby.
This book started out well, but to tell you the truth, I never really understood what the crimes were. There was way too much wasted talk about Caslin...ok,he's drinking again, ok he's wiping the windshield with his sleeve again, ok his dad and family are mad again. So ooo many false leads, so many times that he'd turn off his phone and never call anyone back. I still don't get why Harmon was killed. Then there's the criminal, where did he come from? What was his problem? Daddy issues???? Too many nights of getting high &/or drunk and waking up feeling refreshed??? Really? And all this is supposed to spur me on to read more of this series? I don't think so. Do they just allow anyone to write a book anymore? Authors are so lazy and untalented, I'm starting to give up reading as my favorite hobby.
February 5, 2019
I'm shocked that the author did not mention actual serial killers Leonard Lake and Charles Ng as the source of his plot. The parallels undeniable. The cyanide suicide in the police station. The underground bunker. The murder of families and infants. The recording of the torture of victims. The military connection. The Asian killer, even referred to as "Charlie" in the book, who had been abused by his father. The ex-wife who was forced to participate in violent, pornographic videos but also enabled the killers in several ways. Bodies buried in the yard and also bones found in a fire pit. I'm fine with mysteries based on actual facts, I just want that to be acknowledged. I lost interest in the book pretty early on because I realized that I already knew where this was going.
July 3, 2019
I could not manage more than a few chapters of this. I bought it based on the good reviews, and it may indeed be a good story, but I couldn't get past the writing. Poor grammar, exhaustive descriptions of simple actions like walking down the stairs, and in some places necessary explanation completely missing.
"Before saying anything further, he took a last look beyond Caslin to ensure that no-one else was able to hear what he was about to say.
Arriving at a side door to the yard..." WHAT DID THE DAMN DOCTOR SAY???
Agh. I'm so disappointed.
"Before saying anything further, he took a last look beyond Caslin to ensure that no-one else was able to hear what he was about to say.
Arriving at a side door to the yard..." WHAT DID THE DAMN DOCTOR SAY???
Agh. I'm so disappointed.
February 20, 2022
2.5 stars. This is a trusted genre for me, but this title fell short. A significant number of secondary/tertiary characters that complicated my experience. Caslin’s demons/temptations with substance abuse (cocaine) were unnecessary (and seemingly irrelevant), his appreciation of the drink being enough to set tone. Will not continue the series, but respect to the author for carrying on. As a non-author, I feel bad “taking the piss” out of this one. He’s done far better than I in the publishing sphere.
July 25, 2018
With a multitude of things going on in this fab detective novel, I became worried that all of my questions would not be answered by the time I turned the last page. My fears however were unfounded, as all pieces of the jigsaw fell neatly into place. This book was full of action and I enjoyed it immensely. Written by an ex-colleague, this was a clever plot and a real page turner. A most enjoyable novel thoroughly recommended. Well done Jason.
February 27, 2019
A slow starting police procedural that is increasingly tense, till you're racing towards the end, not able to stop reading. A likeable detective who's compulsively addicted to his job, losing his family in the process...he never has time for anything other than his current case. The ending is chilling and a surprise. I've already downloaded the next in the series, so I can definitely recommend this author.
March 26, 2019
The amount of violence or the number of deaths is no indication of the quality of a book. This book does not invite you in and does not stimulate thought. Too often the reader is kept away from insights and findings of the detective; threads are not always consistently followed. Readers are mainly kept in the dark until towards the end unsatisfactory and incomplete ‘solutions’ are thrown at you amidst a whirlwind of unrealistic pursuits and shootings.
November 3, 2018
Feeels like it’s written with a tv series in mind. Characterization a bit thin. Small bleat, but why all the commas in the wrong places?
July 26, 2020
3.75 stars this British police mystery didn’t quite make a 4. It was a really interesting story, great setting, well written but a slow read. The author includes so many little details, not description, observations. I kept looking at the percentage read on the kindle and thought this is going so slowly, then it dawned on me it was a 3 book omnibus, and the percentage shown was for all the books. I will read the rest of the books.
April 23, 2024
Darker side of Dalgliesh… Caslin is a great, flawed character, and a great detective. Seemingly unrelated crimes, unspeakable discoveries, and a lot of soul searching make this an excellent, gritty mystery!
June 8, 2024
This is a series by an author I have read before. I enjoyed this book.
November 26, 2024
Divided House
A very complex case. Not an easy read and definitely not for the squeamish. Characters well drawn and good rapport. I’ll certainly follow this new series.
A very complex case. Not an easy read and definitely not for the squeamish. Characters well drawn and good rapport. I’ll certainly follow this new series.
July 27, 2024
Good storyline, great characters, plenty of twists
Displaying 1 - 30 of 286 reviews