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West Country Crime Mysteries #1
Death In The Woods
Meet Detective Inspector Dan Hellier, a man who needs to redeem his career and catch a killer.
Soon after DI Hellier returns home to Exeter under a cloud, the body of a talented young singer is found in the woods.
When her death reveals links to the boss of a recording studio, a predatory gang and a school music teacher, Hellier knows he has his work cut out.
Before any more innocent people are put in danger, Hellier will need to untangle the web of lies and work out which of many suspects are guilty of murder. But can he solve the case in time?
*** Death in the Woods was previously published as Death and Deception by B.A. Steadman***
Soon after DI Hellier returns home to Exeter under a cloud, the body of a talented young singer is found in the woods.
When her death reveals links to the boss of a recording studio, a predatory gang and a school music teacher, Hellier knows he has his work cut out.
Before any more innocent people are put in danger, Hellier will need to untangle the web of lies and work out which of many suspects are guilty of murder. But can he solve the case in time?
*** Death in the Woods was previously published as Death and Deception by B.A. Steadman***
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2016
68 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 11, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ — I absolutely gauged myself on this surprisingly taut, fun & utterly engrossing Police Procedural & am calling it my Hallie’s accident of 2025 such was the circumstances I decided to listen in the first place!
Death in the Woods by Bernie Steadman was, quite simply, a serendipitous stumble that became an unexpected triumph. I selected this free Audible Plus listen almost by accident — a click made in haste, as the expiration date for this title loomed on July 15th. What I discovered was a debut police procedural of such assurance, nuance, and deftly-woven suspense that I found myself genuinely stunned it hasn’t received more mainstream acclaim.
Set amidst the somewhat bleak & bracken-covered Devon moorland, that’s brought to vivid dourly splendour by Steadman’s narrative, has the damp, mossy patina of a classic British whodunnit — but there’s a modern pulse beneath the soil. DI Dan Hellier, newly transferred from the Met, is a study in contradiction: jaded yet quietly principled, decisive yet constantly grappling with the moral nebulousness that surrounds each new turn in the case. Steadman paints him with a remarkably steady hand — he is not merely a vessel for plot propulsion, but a richly observed character, with a backstory that seeps into his every decision like ground fog on a winter morning.
The case itself — A discovery of a body in the woods on school grounds near the Dartmoor town of Ashburton — begins with a whisper & builds to a sinister, action laden crescendo. As Hellier & his team begin to untangle a web of secrets, buried trauma, and small-town caprice, I found myself admiring the economy and elegance of Steadman’s plotting. Red herrings abound, yet never feel cheap. Each twist emerges organically from the narrative mulch, satisfying even the most persnickety genre devotees.
A particular joy lies in the supporting characters: DS Palmer, sharp and assertive; the delightfully gruff pathologist; and the townsfolk, each sketched with a keen ear for vernacular and motive. These aren’t caricatures; they’re individuals molded by the geographic and emotional terrain they inhabit.
Then there’s Greg Wagland’s narration — a masterclass in restraint and atmosphere. He reads with a calm gravitas that evokes not only Hellier’s contemplative inner world but also the claustrophobic chill of the Devon woods. His delivery somehow balances poise with pathos, and I’m not overstating it when I say that his performance elevated an already excellent novel into something quietly unforgettable.
If Death in the Woods has a flaw, it lies only in its occasional proclivity toward exposition. Some backstories or procedural threads are drawn out a fraction longer than needed, a minor indulgence that never truly detracts from the story’s grip. But for a debut? Remarkable.
That a novel of this calibre remains so under-the-radar is, frankly, bewildering. Steadman’s prose is confident, his pacing meticulous, and his thematic exploration of guilt, trauma, and institutional decay strikingly relevant. His narrative compass is unwavering, his characters compelling, and his setting a moody presence unto itself.
To any fellow crime fiction aficionado who relishes a richly crafted procedural, Death in the Woods is a must-listen. Don’t let this one vanish quietly into the digital underbrush. I’m already on to the next in the DI Hellier series.
📚Key Passages 📕
“The woods held their breath, and so did he. There was something not right in the air — a stillness that wasn’t silence but a kind of listening, as if the land itself was waiting to see what he would do next.”
(— Chapter 2)
“You don’t get to choose the damage, Dan. That’s the caprice of it. One mistake, one misjudged loyalty, and it echoes through a dozen other lives. We’re just the ones left to pick up the pieces and pretend that justice is anything more than cold paperwork and tired apologies.”
(— Chapter 14)
“She wasn’t crying, not in the way he’d expected. There were no tears, just this awful stillness — like all the grief had congealed somewhere beneath her skin, waiting to rupture. It was the kind of silence that screamed louder than any breakdown.”
(— Chapter 18)
Death in the Woods by Bernie Steadman was, quite simply, a serendipitous stumble that became an unexpected triumph. I selected this free Audible Plus listen almost by accident — a click made in haste, as the expiration date for this title loomed on July 15th. What I discovered was a debut police procedural of such assurance, nuance, and deftly-woven suspense that I found myself genuinely stunned it hasn’t received more mainstream acclaim.
Set amidst the somewhat bleak & bracken-covered Devon moorland, that’s brought to vivid dourly splendour by Steadman’s narrative, has the damp, mossy patina of a classic British whodunnit — but there’s a modern pulse beneath the soil. DI Dan Hellier, newly transferred from the Met, is a study in contradiction: jaded yet quietly principled, decisive yet constantly grappling with the moral nebulousness that surrounds each new turn in the case. Steadman paints him with a remarkably steady hand — he is not merely a vessel for plot propulsion, but a richly observed character, with a backstory that seeps into his every decision like ground fog on a winter morning.
The case itself — A discovery of a body in the woods on school grounds near the Dartmoor town of Ashburton — begins with a whisper & builds to a sinister, action laden crescendo. As Hellier & his team begin to untangle a web of secrets, buried trauma, and small-town caprice, I found myself admiring the economy and elegance of Steadman’s plotting. Red herrings abound, yet never feel cheap. Each twist emerges organically from the narrative mulch, satisfying even the most persnickety genre devotees.
A particular joy lies in the supporting characters: DS Palmer, sharp and assertive; the delightfully gruff pathologist; and the townsfolk, each sketched with a keen ear for vernacular and motive. These aren’t caricatures; they’re individuals molded by the geographic and emotional terrain they inhabit.
Then there’s Greg Wagland’s narration — a masterclass in restraint and atmosphere. He reads with a calm gravitas that evokes not only Hellier’s contemplative inner world but also the claustrophobic chill of the Devon woods. His delivery somehow balances poise with pathos, and I’m not overstating it when I say that his performance elevated an already excellent novel into something quietly unforgettable.
If Death in the Woods has a flaw, it lies only in its occasional proclivity toward exposition. Some backstories or procedural threads are drawn out a fraction longer than needed, a minor indulgence that never truly detracts from the story’s grip. But for a debut? Remarkable.
That a novel of this calibre remains so under-the-radar is, frankly, bewildering. Steadman’s prose is confident, his pacing meticulous, and his thematic exploration of guilt, trauma, and institutional decay strikingly relevant. His narrative compass is unwavering, his characters compelling, and his setting a moody presence unto itself.
To any fellow crime fiction aficionado who relishes a richly crafted procedural, Death in the Woods is a must-listen. Don’t let this one vanish quietly into the digital underbrush. I’m already on to the next in the DI Hellier series.
📚Key Passages 📕
“The woods held their breath, and so did he. There was something not right in the air — a stillness that wasn’t silence but a kind of listening, as if the land itself was waiting to see what he would do next.”
(— Chapter 2)
“You don’t get to choose the damage, Dan. That’s the caprice of it. One mistake, one misjudged loyalty, and it echoes through a dozen other lives. We’re just the ones left to pick up the pieces and pretend that justice is anything more than cold paperwork and tired apologies.”
(— Chapter 14)
“She wasn’t crying, not in the way he’d expected. There were no tears, just this awful stillness — like all the grief had congealed somewhere beneath her skin, waiting to rupture. It was the kind of silence that screamed louder than any breakdown.”
(— Chapter 18)
May 21, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bloodhound Books for a review copy of Death in the Woods, the first novel in the West Country series of police procedurals, featuring DI Dan Hellier.
When schoolboys discover a dead body in the woods in school grounds they recognise her immediately as 16 year old Carly Braithwaite, fellow pupil and potential singing star of the future. DI Dan Hellier, newly returned to his home town of Exeter from The Met is put in charge of the investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed Death in the Woods, a fast paced, action packed procedural which held my attention from start to finish. There aren't many suspects in the case but trying to sort through their secrets and lies is a tough job, made worse by their sometimes inexplicable and almost always unexpected actions. It makes for a great read. I love the third person narrative voice from Dan's point of view as it keeps the novel simple and straightforward. There is almost no change of perspective so the reader knows what Dan knows, making it easy to get immersed in the novel and identify with him. It seems to be an old fashioned approach nowadays but it's my favourite format for a novel and it works really well in this case.
The novel widens from a murder investigation into something bigger as the novel progresses. It is this secondary plot that produces much of the action but it is the murder that produces most of the thinking and reasoning. This is another of my favourite plot devices where investigation into one thing leads to the uncovering of other crimes. This seems logical and realistic to me although the actual secondary plot may seem far fetched to some readers. Personally I just got caught up in the book and went where the author led me.
Dan Hellier is a good protagonist. Initially he's a bit cocky and not the most likeable of characters but as he makes mistakes and learns some self awareness he becomes much more human and likeable. Roll on book 2 as I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.
Death in the Woods is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When schoolboys discover a dead body in the woods in school grounds they recognise her immediately as 16 year old Carly Braithwaite, fellow pupil and potential singing star of the future. DI Dan Hellier, newly returned to his home town of Exeter from The Met is put in charge of the investigation.
I thoroughly enjoyed Death in the Woods, a fast paced, action packed procedural which held my attention from start to finish. There aren't many suspects in the case but trying to sort through their secrets and lies is a tough job, made worse by their sometimes inexplicable and almost always unexpected actions. It makes for a great read. I love the third person narrative voice from Dan's point of view as it keeps the novel simple and straightforward. There is almost no change of perspective so the reader knows what Dan knows, making it easy to get immersed in the novel and identify with him. It seems to be an old fashioned approach nowadays but it's my favourite format for a novel and it works really well in this case.
The novel widens from a murder investigation into something bigger as the novel progresses. It is this secondary plot that produces much of the action but it is the murder that produces most of the thinking and reasoning. This is another of my favourite plot devices where investigation into one thing leads to the uncovering of other crimes. This seems logical and realistic to me although the actual secondary plot may seem far fetched to some readers. Personally I just got caught up in the book and went where the author led me.
Dan Hellier is a good protagonist. Initially he's a bit cocky and not the most likeable of characters but as he makes mistakes and learns some self awareness he becomes much more human and likeable. Roll on book 2 as I'm looking forward to getting to know him better.
Death in the Woods is a great read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
April 2, 2019
3.5 stars
I have rounded this up to 4 stars as I am sure that it deserves at least 4.
It has a good story line and some great characters, the pace is quite good. However for some reason it just didn't feel that special for me,, despite hanving all the ingredients. I really believe that on a different day I would really enjoy this book.
Hope I am not heading into a reading slump.
I think I will read book 2 later, hopefully that will work better for me.
I have rounded this up to 4 stars as I am sure that it deserves at least 4.
It has a good story line and some great characters, the pace is quite good. However for some reason it just didn't feel that special for me,, despite hanving all the ingredients. I really believe that on a different day I would really enjoy this book.
Hope I am not heading into a reading slump.
I think I will read book 2 later, hopefully that will work better for me.
July 30, 2018
Detective Inspector Dan Hellier has transferred to Exeter .. it was transfer or be demoted or possibly lose his job altogether. He has a lot to prove ... and when a young girl is found murdered, this is his chance to lead an investigation. He's ot too happy about being supervised by another detective who is retiring soon, but he'll work with it in order to cement his position.
The 16-year-old girl found murdered had just won an esteemed award for her singing. When last seen, she was on her way to a recording studio ... but she never made it. So how did she wind up in the woods?
There are lots of suspects that Hellier has to sort through .... the girl's father, a seemingly violent man, a jealous sister, the boss of the recording studio - who has secrets, the young boy who loved her ... a music teacher who shouldn't have been involved with her. Toss into the mix a drug gang, and the mystery gets even deeper.
More bodies will fall if Hellier doesn't act fast and delve in the lies and secrets that no one wants to see uncovered.
This is a well-written action-packed crime fiction. The suspense is palpable and stays the course of the book until the very last page. I really enjoyed the character of Hellier. This first book in a series, mixes his professional with personal life. There are hints to his past with two women in his life, one his sister, another he loved. I look forward to hearing more about how that shaped the man he is today.
This is the first of a new series ... and it looks like a good one!
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of the introduction of a new crime fighter. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 20, 2018
4 stars
I read the Kindle edition.
Two boys are sneaking a smoke in the woods before class. They notice something near a fallen log. Uncovering the body, they are startled to see that it is Carly Braithwaite.
This is to be DI Dan Hellier’s first case as lead. He is to be “supervised” by DCI Ian Gould who is set to retire in three weeks. The investigation into the death of Carly begins with DCI Gould interviewing students and staff at the school near where Carly’s body was discovered. At the same time, DI Dan Hellier goes to speak to Carly’s father and surviving sister. The father reacts violently but finally manages to calm down. At the school, DCI Gould interviews the students, but one person of interest named Jamie manages to get away before the interviews begin. One of the teachers, Miles who is the school music teacher, acts oddly. He claims that he is over-sensitive.
Meanwhile, Carly’s English teacher, Claire goes around to see Miles at home and sees more than she should. She gets in deep trouble.
The next day, they are speaking to Jed Abrams, the person in charge of the recording studio where Carly was to go on Sunday. He claims she never showed up, but is also acting very suspiciously. Suddenly, the case seems to go in two directions.
When the suspects are brought in, the stories turn into a he-said/she-said situation. The questioning was done very well, and was interesting and informative.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel – at least I couldn’t find any other books by Mr. Steadman. This novel is very well written and plotted. I only discovered a couple of minor gaffes in it. The tension in this story begins with the discovery of Carly’s body. It continues at a high level throughout the novel. I was a little disappointed in the DI Dan Hellier character. He was always doubting and questioning himself. Of course, he had good reason, so perhaps I’m misjudging him. He almost seemed incompetent at times. He seemed to get along well with his team, but was a little cranky with his superior. There is always something going on in this book – action galore. There is not a wasted word anywhere in this book. I really liked this novel and I certainly intend to read more of Mr. Steadman’s writing. Perhaps DI Dan’s confidence will rise as he gains experience in his present position.
I want to thank NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful debut novel for me to read, enjoy and review.
I read the Kindle edition.
Two boys are sneaking a smoke in the woods before class. They notice something near a fallen log. Uncovering the body, they are startled to see that it is Carly Braithwaite.
This is to be DI Dan Hellier’s first case as lead. He is to be “supervised” by DCI Ian Gould who is set to retire in three weeks. The investigation into the death of Carly begins with DCI Gould interviewing students and staff at the school near where Carly’s body was discovered. At the same time, DI Dan Hellier goes to speak to Carly’s father and surviving sister. The father reacts violently but finally manages to calm down. At the school, DCI Gould interviews the students, but one person of interest named Jamie manages to get away before the interviews begin. One of the teachers, Miles who is the school music teacher, acts oddly. He claims that he is over-sensitive.
Meanwhile, Carly’s English teacher, Claire goes around to see Miles at home and sees more than she should. She gets in deep trouble.
The next day, they are speaking to Jed Abrams, the person in charge of the recording studio where Carly was to go on Sunday. He claims she never showed up, but is also acting very suspiciously. Suddenly, the case seems to go in two directions.
When the suspects are brought in, the stories turn into a he-said/she-said situation. The questioning was done very well, and was interesting and informative.
It is hard to believe that this is a debut novel – at least I couldn’t find any other books by Mr. Steadman. This novel is very well written and plotted. I only discovered a couple of minor gaffes in it. The tension in this story begins with the discovery of Carly’s body. It continues at a high level throughout the novel. I was a little disappointed in the DI Dan Hellier character. He was always doubting and questioning himself. Of course, he had good reason, so perhaps I’m misjudging him. He almost seemed incompetent at times. He seemed to get along well with his team, but was a little cranky with his superior. There is always something going on in this book – action galore. There is not a wasted word anywhere in this book. I really liked this novel and I certainly intend to read more of Mr. Steadman’s writing. Perhaps DI Dan’s confidence will rise as he gains experience in his present position.
I want to thank NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful debut novel for me to read, enjoy and review.
March 8, 2025
Well written, well plotted, well paced, Death In The Woods delivers on so many levels. It's an abolute corker of a first book in the new series featuring detective Hellier and I can't wait to read more.
June 17, 2018
Death in the Woods by Bernie Steadman
West Country Crime Mysteries #1
Detective Inspector Dan Hellier is lead in his first murder investigation soon after he transfers to Exeter from the big city. Supervising him as his senior advisor is soon to retire, Ian Gould.
Who was murdered? Sixteen year old, Carly Braithwaite, who seemed to have a big successful future ahead of her.
Who found her? Schoolmates out to sneak a smoke in the woods
How many potential killers are there? More than a handful
As Dan begins the case he is full of himself and a bit brash but as time passes he realizes that there is much more to the job than he thought. He has let his temper rule him in the past and is trying to rein in his impetuousness as he leads his team in finding out what happened to Carly and who ended her life.
As an introduction to a new crime solving series this was filled with action, dealt well with the police procedural aspect of the story, introduced characters that will be seen throughout the series and made me care about more than one character while learning some rather horrific things as another criminal activity was uncovered. The story does deal with pedophilia, pornography, an Eastern European gang and a few things that may be triggers for some readers. It made me think again about how important it is for parents to be involved in their children’s lives and for them to maintain lines of communication with their children. I enjoyed the way those on Dan’s team began to work together as he found his place with them and I was thrilled that the bad guys were ultimately found and dealt with.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes
Will I read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
West Country Crime Mysteries #1
Detective Inspector Dan Hellier is lead in his first murder investigation soon after he transfers to Exeter from the big city. Supervising him as his senior advisor is soon to retire, Ian Gould.
Who was murdered? Sixteen year old, Carly Braithwaite, who seemed to have a big successful future ahead of her.
Who found her? Schoolmates out to sneak a smoke in the woods
How many potential killers are there? More than a handful
As Dan begins the case he is full of himself and a bit brash but as time passes he realizes that there is much more to the job than he thought. He has let his temper rule him in the past and is trying to rein in his impetuousness as he leads his team in finding out what happened to Carly and who ended her life.
As an introduction to a new crime solving series this was filled with action, dealt well with the police procedural aspect of the story, introduced characters that will be seen throughout the series and made me care about more than one character while learning some rather horrific things as another criminal activity was uncovered. The story does deal with pedophilia, pornography, an Eastern European gang and a few things that may be triggers for some readers. It made me think again about how important it is for parents to be involved in their children’s lives and for them to maintain lines of communication with their children. I enjoyed the way those on Dan’s team began to work together as he found his place with them and I was thrilled that the bad guys were ultimately found and dealt with.
Did I enjoy the book? Yes
Will I read more in the series? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
May 17, 2018
Death in the Woods is a great action packed mystery that deals almost with any crime you can imagine. This book kept me reading until 5:39 am. The main story is about a murder of a 16-year-old who has just won a prestigious music award and is set for a life in the world of young stars. Side stories include underage pedophile ring, kidnapping, human trafficking and that’s just for starters. DI Dan Hellier is assigned to the case but with the caveat that a retiring DCI will be nominally in charge. Things quickly take off and we are on our way through a fast paced nonstop book that never slows down. I wasn’t too keen on DI Hellier in the beginning but he finally learned how to lead and not let his personal history interfere with the job at hand. There are some great women detectives in the book who could easily spin into their own books. I would love to recommend this book to anyone and happily give it a 5 star rating. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my unbiased review. Great book
July 1, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this arc.
This was a fast paced and twisty read for me. Lots of action, lots going on. Initially, just the murder of a teenage girl seemed to be the main story line, but it soon morphed into something far more complex than just idiots behaving badly. Bernie Steadman writes strong female characters with weaker male characters taking on the "leading" roles within the police department....and the porno ring. At one point, I just had to shake my head.... Poor Ellis and Oliver (females) seemed like they were having to wrestle a hundred pound sack of rabid cats around trying to get the "boys" to behave. The DI Hellier character seemed like he had a good heart and wanted to do a good job but kept tripping over his ego and testosterone! I am looking forward to further books in this series!
This was a fast paced and twisty read for me. Lots of action, lots going on. Initially, just the murder of a teenage girl seemed to be the main story line, but it soon morphed into something far more complex than just idiots behaving badly. Bernie Steadman writes strong female characters with weaker male characters taking on the "leading" roles within the police department....and the porno ring. At one point, I just had to shake my head.... Poor Ellis and Oliver (females) seemed like they were having to wrestle a hundred pound sack of rabid cats around trying to get the "boys" to behave. The DI Hellier character seemed like he had a good heart and wanted to do a good job but kept tripping over his ego and testosterone! I am looking forward to further books in this series!
March 22, 2019
A young Detective recently transferred to Exeter is put on his first Big case in charge, this story shows his naivity as a leader and decision maker which is realistic and a good part of the story, the storyline could be upsetting and if you prefer your stories not about children then beware but otherwise this is a realistic and twisting novel that makes you want to turn a page. Lessons are learnt
May 7, 2019
Terrific story that kept me turning pages till dawn!
Well written, suspenseful plot, with believable characters and some unexpected twists. A sensitive handling of a delicate subject makes for a more mature audience. Well done!
Well written, suspenseful plot, with believable characters and some unexpected twists. A sensitive handling of a delicate subject makes for a more mature audience. Well done!
July 1, 2018
Death in the Woods is Book 1 in the West-Country Crime Series and introduces DI Dan Hellier as he returns to his home town and the Exeter Police Department, having left The Met in London under less than stellar circumstances. The body of young, up-and-coming singer Carly Braithwaite is discovered, and DI Hellier finds himself leading his first major crime for his new police department, albeit he is to be overseen by soon-to-retire DCI Ian Gould.
The case is a complex one with several potential suspects and sub-plots and full of some very nasty characters. Kidnapping, human trafficking, outright lies and deceptions, this book covers it all. We are taken down many roads as the team works to bring the killer to justice.
We start to know the team that DI Hellier will be working with. One of his challenges is to form that team into a cohesive unit loyal to him. I enjoyed many things about this book, and one was that we see DI Hellier, his supervisors and his team as human. Dan struggles, no question, to find his leadership style. He makes mistakes, doesn’t always listen to the wisdom of his team mates, second guesses himself. He knows this and is working hard to find his path and keep his temper under control. He definitely worked his way into my heart.
I read this book far into the night to reach the end and loved every minute spent lost in this story. The West-Country Crime series has found a place on my “must-read” list. I have no doubt that DI Hellier and his team will continue to forge a tight, cohesive unit and I look forward to many more books in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhouse Books for providing an ARC of Death in The Woods in exchange for an honest review.
The case is a complex one with several potential suspects and sub-plots and full of some very nasty characters. Kidnapping, human trafficking, outright lies and deceptions, this book covers it all. We are taken down many roads as the team works to bring the killer to justice.
We start to know the team that DI Hellier will be working with. One of his challenges is to form that team into a cohesive unit loyal to him. I enjoyed many things about this book, and one was that we see DI Hellier, his supervisors and his team as human. Dan struggles, no question, to find his leadership style. He makes mistakes, doesn’t always listen to the wisdom of his team mates, second guesses himself. He knows this and is working hard to find his path and keep his temper under control. He definitely worked his way into my heart.
I read this book far into the night to reach the end and loved every minute spent lost in this story. The West-Country Crime series has found a place on my “must-read” list. I have no doubt that DI Hellier and his team will continue to forge a tight, cohesive unit and I look forward to many more books in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloodhouse Books for providing an ARC of Death in The Woods in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2018
This was a new author to me, found almost by chance but my goodness, I am glad of that chance encounter.
I do like police officers to be humanly flawed rather than automatons who never make mistakes. This DI, newly promoted and handling his first murder case, makes plenty of mistakes but he admits to them and learns from them, although, perhaps not fast enough. Some mistakes have consequences which have to be lived with forever, they are the ones which teach the harshest lessons.
Ultimately the DI learns to work as part of a team whilst simultaneously leading it and taking direction from his senior officers but can still use his instincts to great effect. Those instincts lead him in one direction when everything else around the case suggests otherwise. How can he successfully bring the two together, indeed, can he bring the two together or are someone else's instincts better than his?
This book would have been worth reading simply for the description of a teenager's vocabulary by the officer who arrested him! I thoroughly enjoyed my serendipitous find and am about to download the next in the series.
I do like police officers to be humanly flawed rather than automatons who never make mistakes. This DI, newly promoted and handling his first murder case, makes plenty of mistakes but he admits to them and learns from them, although, perhaps not fast enough. Some mistakes have consequences which have to be lived with forever, they are the ones which teach the harshest lessons.
Ultimately the DI learns to work as part of a team whilst simultaneously leading it and taking direction from his senior officers but can still use his instincts to great effect. Those instincts lead him in one direction when everything else around the case suggests otherwise. How can he successfully bring the two together, indeed, can he bring the two together or are someone else's instincts better than his?
This book would have been worth reading simply for the description of a teenager's vocabulary by the officer who arrested him! I thoroughly enjoyed my serendipitous find and am about to download the next in the series.
March 31, 2024
( Format : Audiobook )
"Catch me a killer."
Transferred out of London after his long term relationship ended, DI Dan Hellier moved to Devon and the Exeter police, unsure if returning to his family home was the right move. Then a murder victim was found. Three teenage boys on a cigarette break in the woods behind the school, found 16 years old Carly Braithwaite' body under a tree limb. They knew who she was: she had won a singing competition and was expected to become the next big thing in the pop world. But who would have wanted her dead?
Written from Dan Hellier's pov, as the newcomer encounters everyone and everything with fresh eyes, so the reader gets to see all.that he does. Descriptions are brief but still form an eloquent slow building picture both of the people and the situations. Simple, but very effective. The performance by Greg Garland is also muted with little definition between character voices, and yet it is enough.
So an enjoyable, easy read police procedural with good character potential and interesting storyline. And it's available as a free download through the Audible Plus programme. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.
"Catch me a killer."
Transferred out of London after his long term relationship ended, DI Dan Hellier moved to Devon and the Exeter police, unsure if returning to his family home was the right move. Then a murder victim was found. Three teenage boys on a cigarette break in the woods behind the school, found 16 years old Carly Braithwaite' body under a tree limb. They knew who she was: she had won a singing competition and was expected to become the next big thing in the pop world. But who would have wanted her dead?
Written from Dan Hellier's pov, as the newcomer encounters everyone and everything with fresh eyes, so the reader gets to see all.that he does. Descriptions are brief but still form an eloquent slow building picture both of the people and the situations. Simple, but very effective. The performance by Greg Garland is also muted with little definition between character voices, and yet it is enough.
So an enjoyable, easy read police procedural with good character potential and interesting storyline. And it's available as a free download through the Audible Plus programme. I'm really looking forward to the next in the series.
October 30, 2024
Meet Detective Inspector Dan Hellier, a man who needs to redeem his career and catch a killer.
Soon after DI Hellier returns home to Exeter under a cloud, the body of a talented young singer is found in the woods. When her death reveals links to the boss of a recording studio, a predatory gang and a school music teacher, Hellier knows he has his work cut out. Before more innocent people are put in danger, Hellier will need to untangle the web of lies and work out which of many suspects are guilty of murder.
I read this because I am currently doing a short course on detective fiction and found it interesting. I learnt a lot about the way a story like this is structured and as usual I did not figure out who the killer was. I was surprised at about the halfway point a large plot was revealed, I felt it should of been left until the very end. However I did enjoy this, I felt the characters were a bit light, but it is the first in a series so perhaps it will deepen as it goes along. The narration by Greg Wagland was solid, subtle changes between characters brought them alive, as well as he performance of the female characters.
Soon after DI Hellier returns home to Exeter under a cloud, the body of a talented young singer is found in the woods. When her death reveals links to the boss of a recording studio, a predatory gang and a school music teacher, Hellier knows he has his work cut out. Before more innocent people are put in danger, Hellier will need to untangle the web of lies and work out which of many suspects are guilty of murder.
I read this because I am currently doing a short course on detective fiction and found it interesting. I learnt a lot about the way a story like this is structured and as usual I did not figure out who the killer was. I was surprised at about the halfway point a large plot was revealed, I felt it should of been left until the very end. However I did enjoy this, I felt the characters were a bit light, but it is the first in a series so perhaps it will deepen as it goes along. The narration by Greg Wagland was solid, subtle changes between characters brought them alive, as well as he performance of the female characters.
July 12, 2020
The first of a new series. A mixture of police procedural and whodunit, with perhaps more of the former.
Strong themes - a killing of a teenager and a sideplot (perhaps a bit more than a sideplot) of some other serious offences, as to which i will not give spoilers.
The hero is an interesting flawed character, with some of the typical problematic background of fictional detectives. He has other interesting weaknesses; he tires to work on those, but I hope he will not conquer then too quickly,because they make him more interesting.
Other members of the team are also more than the carboard cutouts we often see, though Hellier is unusually fortunate in having a supportive superior, rather than the unreasonable, irasicble boss so many fictional detectives get.
There is potential here for a good series, but the author will need t o becareful not to let the team get too cosy with each other. It would also be good if the setting (Exeter) could be used a bit more. At the moment the story could be happening amost anywhere.
Strong themes - a killing of a teenager and a sideplot (perhaps a bit more than a sideplot) of some other serious offences, as to which i will not give spoilers.
The hero is an interesting flawed character, with some of the typical problematic background of fictional detectives. He has other interesting weaknesses; he tires to work on those, but I hope he will not conquer then too quickly,because they make him more interesting.
Other members of the team are also more than the carboard cutouts we often see, though Hellier is unusually fortunate in having a supportive superior, rather than the unreasonable, irasicble boss so many fictional detectives get.
There is potential here for a good series, but the author will need t o becareful not to let the team get too cosy with each other. It would also be good if the setting (Exeter) could be used a bit more. At the moment the story could be happening amost anywhere.
June 27, 2018
Death In The Woods by Bernie Steadman is the first book featuring DI Dan Hellier,recently transferred to Exeter after having escaped demotion from his previous post in the Met.Dan soon finds himself thrown in at the deep end after a young girls body is found in the woods,as the case proceeds it appears that nobody is telling the full story which is further complicated when evidence reveals a possible link to another case involving drugs and child pornograph.Overall it is a well written story with plenty of twists along the way to keep you guessing.I would recommend this to any reader who likes Police procedurals and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
I would like to thank Bloodhound Books,Netgalley and of course the author for a free copy of this book
I would like to thank Bloodhound Books,Netgalley and of course the author for a free copy of this book
June 22, 2018
What a brilliant start to the upcoming Detective Hellier series that is bound to be amazing. It had me hooked from the first chapter. Thrilling… I found it an easy to read, fast paced mystery/crime.
A real who dunnit which will keep you guessing throughout. Death in the Woods can easily be devoured within one sitting. Very impressed! I look forward to reading book two of this series soon. A well deserved four stars, I would highly recommend this story to you all. An unexpected outcome.
Can they solve who killed the girl? They have plenty of suspects but is the killer one of them?
A real who dunnit which will keep you guessing throughout. Death in the Woods can easily be devoured within one sitting. Very impressed! I look forward to reading book two of this series soon. A well deserved four stars, I would highly recommend this story to you all. An unexpected outcome.
Can they solve who killed the girl? They have plenty of suspects but is the killer one of them?
December 25, 2024
What a hot pile of garbage. There are so many examples of Hellier’s incompetence that I don’t even have time to write them all down. Let’s go with being transferred for assaulting a member of the public, getting his partner killed, a young woman is paralyzed, he almost kills a man, he completely misses the key clues in the mystery, and he doesn’t bother getting to know his new team but they all seems to love him and want to work well for him even though he clearly sucks. Gould was killed and everyone mourns for about a paragraph before they move on. Wow, this one was bad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2024
A very kind two stars. A fairly ok story, but that's about it. It's thin on every part, plot, characters and writing. It doesn't help that it drags on and on in parts and that the characters are paper thin. However, it's interesting enough, and I am curious about Detective Hellier, so I'll read Death On Dartmoor and hope for a little more depth on all accounts.
May 20, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the first page to the last! A clever police detective story, complex enough to keep the reader turning pages and wanting more, with plenty of suspects and clues along the way. It featured strong main characters who I have already warmed to and am keen to meet again very soon in the next two novels. More please!
June 19, 2018
Death in the Woods is the first in the West Country Crime Series. We meet DI Dan Hillier as he tries to uncover who killed teenager Carly Braithwaite and dumped her body in the woods behind her school.
What starts out as a simple case of murder soon takes on many twists and turns and the investigations uncover so many different things with key witnesses and suspects seeming to be keeping secrets. Just as Dan thinks he knows who the killer is, evidence leads him down the path of drug smuggling and child prostitution. The question is do they have any relevance to his case and if so what is the connection to Carly? As he digs further into her personal life he finds that maybe she is not the wholesome girl that everyone thinks she is and questions if this could be the motive for her murder? In his quest for answers finds both himself and his DCI in danger and his actions are called into question by his superiors. Dan is determined to solve it and prove that they were right to trust him with this case.
What struck me about this book is that although Dan has made few mistakes in his personal life that resulted in his move back to Exeter from London he did not seem to have a dark past that is impacting on him or his decisions. He tries to learn from his mistakes in the hope that it will make a him a better detective. That being said in his eagerness to prove his worth and show that prior actions were just a blip he does allow himself to be lead into some dodgy investigative work (albeit by his soon to retire DCI). Despite this his team rally round and prove to be vital back up and support when he needs it the most. I also had a bit of a chuckle every time I read about the two detectives called Bill and Ben (affectionately known in the station as The Flower Pot Men).
This book will certainly have the reader hooked throughout as they follow all the leads and if they are like me will be changing their minds on who the culprit is just as much as DI Hillier and his team. Each of the characters in this book had a purpose, providing a vital link in the team and were not just thrown in to pad things out. I will certainly keep a look out for further works by Bernie Steadman as I look forward to seeing what is next for DI Hillier and co.
What starts out as a simple case of murder soon takes on many twists and turns and the investigations uncover so many different things with key witnesses and suspects seeming to be keeping secrets. Just as Dan thinks he knows who the killer is, evidence leads him down the path of drug smuggling and child prostitution. The question is do they have any relevance to his case and if so what is the connection to Carly? As he digs further into her personal life he finds that maybe she is not the wholesome girl that everyone thinks she is and questions if this could be the motive for her murder? In his quest for answers finds both himself and his DCI in danger and his actions are called into question by his superiors. Dan is determined to solve it and prove that they were right to trust him with this case.
What struck me about this book is that although Dan has made few mistakes in his personal life that resulted in his move back to Exeter from London he did not seem to have a dark past that is impacting on him or his decisions. He tries to learn from his mistakes in the hope that it will make a him a better detective. That being said in his eagerness to prove his worth and show that prior actions were just a blip he does allow himself to be lead into some dodgy investigative work (albeit by his soon to retire DCI). Despite this his team rally round and prove to be vital back up and support when he needs it the most. I also had a bit of a chuckle every time I read about the two detectives called Bill and Ben (affectionately known in the station as The Flower Pot Men).
This book will certainly have the reader hooked throughout as they follow all the leads and if they are like me will be changing their minds on who the culprit is just as much as DI Hillier and his team. Each of the characters in this book had a purpose, providing a vital link in the team and were not just thrown in to pad things out. I will certainly keep a look out for further works by Bernie Steadman as I look forward to seeing what is next for DI Hillier and co.
March 15, 2024
I really liked this story it worked on so many levels but I didnt really gel with the narration, it worked towards the end. Yes I will go straight onto the next book.
I think this is the joys of the audible plus you get to try books out, I am glad I didnt buy it but I am glad I listened to it if that makes sense.
I think this is the joys of the audible plus you get to try books out, I am glad I didnt buy it but I am glad I listened to it if that makes sense.
January 25, 2019
I've found a new author, and what an author, I couldn't put this book down, it starts with a young girls murder, and before you have time to catch your breath its moved to porn films and pedophiles, great characters and a brilliant book, I would have given it ten points if I could.
June 6, 2019
"Page-turning thriller"
Thoroughly enjoyed this non-stop white-knuckle ride. There were a few liberties taken with police procedure but on the whole this delivered the goods. Would I be tempted by the rest of the series? On the strength of this one, yes I would.
Thoroughly enjoyed this non-stop white-knuckle ride. There were a few liberties taken with police procedure but on the whole this delivered the goods. Would I be tempted by the rest of the series? On the strength of this one, yes I would.
February 4, 2023
I liked the setting around Exeter, but the story wasn’t really for me. I think i struggled most as none of the characters were particularly likeable. I found some of the decisions made by the DI odd and overall it just didn’t grip me.
February 22, 2023
I enjoyed this police procedural which had so many twists and turns, with red herrings. The police special operation was also very exciting. Dan is emotionally vulnerable at times, but he has a good team backing him up. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
January 8, 2024
This was an okay story with some likable characters and a fairly decent plot, but for me, it dragged on too much. It needed a twistier plot and more depth to the character development. I will try the next one in the series.
February 7, 2024
Enjoyed this detective novel which was fast paced and kept enthralled as I got to know DI Dan Heiller and watched his character develop. The plot was starts with a modern, don’t they all, but has a secondary plot that develops alongside which I found interesting. I would definitely recommend it.
May 27, 2024
This was a great read. There was several suspects and it was not obvious to me who the killer was right away. Listened on audible and the narrator was good, varied accents so it was clear when he switched from one character to the other.
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