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Tyler and Mills #2
Blue Murder
Fame. Fortune. Murder.
Johnny and the Swamp Seeds are on the cusp of success when singer Johnny Richards goes missing. The body of a young man is found in the local canal.
But the dead man is not Johnny Richards.
DCI Jim Tyler leads the investigation into the brutal murder of Adam Lane, ex band member and friend of Richards since schooldays. Is the disappearance related? Is Richards alive or dead? Was he responsible for the death of his friend?
DS Danny Mills has concerns for DCI Tyler. The demons from Tyler’s past have caught up with him, threatening to tip him over the edge. Meanwhile, news of the singer’s disappearance has gone viral, sending the band to the top of the charts and turning a national spotlight on the case. Tyler is under immense pressure and Mills can see the cracks spreading.
Will Tyler and Mills find out what happened to Johnny Richards, and who killed Adam Lane – or is catastrophe looming for the stricken detective?
Johnny and the Swamp Seeds are on the cusp of success when singer Johnny Richards goes missing. The body of a young man is found in the local canal.
But the dead man is not Johnny Richards.
DCI Jim Tyler leads the investigation into the brutal murder of Adam Lane, ex band member and friend of Richards since schooldays. Is the disappearance related? Is Richards alive or dead? Was he responsible for the death of his friend?
DS Danny Mills has concerns for DCI Tyler. The demons from Tyler’s past have caught up with him, threatening to tip him over the edge. Meanwhile, news of the singer’s disappearance has gone viral, sending the band to the top of the charts and turning a national spotlight on the case. Tyler is under immense pressure and Mills can see the cracks spreading.
Will Tyler and Mills find out what happened to Johnny Richards, and who killed Adam Lane – or is catastrophe looming for the stricken detective?
323 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
5 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Mark L. Fowler
20 books28 followersMark writes in a number of genres, including detective crime fiction, psychological thrillers, and Gothic fantasy.
He is the author of the popular Tyler & Mills detective crime series set in Staffordshire in the noughties. RED IS THE COLOUR was shortlisted for the 2018 Arnold Bennett Prize and begins with the grim discovery of a schoolboy who disappeared thirty years earlier. BLUE MURDER involves a missing singer and a murdered guitarist, elevating an obscure band to sudden fame and fortune. THE DEVIL WORE BLACK unveils the mystery of a crucified priest. THE SMELL OF COPPER, finds Tyler out on a limb as the detectives uncover police corruption. SCARLET RIBBONS investigates the brutal murder of a sex worker. The latest book in the series, BLOOD ORANGE, concerns the death of a local greengrocer. All the books can be read as standalone crime novels.
Other detective mysteries include THE BATHROOM MURDERS. A series of women are found hacked to death while taking a shower. This is the first in a new series set in Manchester, featuring female detective Charlie Reed and her sidekick Paul Rigsby.
TWIST has the eponymous private investigator returning, against his better judgement, to the city of nightmares to look into the strange case of a dead philosophy student.
THE MAN UPSTAIRS introduces hard boiled Frank Miller, discovering he’s a fictional detective and that his author is plotting to kill him. This is the first in a series of crime fantasy novels, and the second book in the series has now been published: THE POISONED EYE OF A LOVING GOD,
Mark also writes psychological thrillers. SILVER finds journalist and crime writer Nick Slater obsessed with an unpublished manuscript that a best-selling author was working on when she was murdered, and which her family refuse to publish.
SEXTET explores the twisted rivalry between twin sisters, the weird games they played as children, and the rising murder rate in a small English town.
COFFIN MAKER is a Gothic tale. Death is sent two apprentices amid warnings from an out-of-favour priest that the devil has arrived on Earth.
PAINTED FIRE finds a writer travelling to America’s West Coast in a desperate bid to find a cure for a baffling illness afflicting his wife. An anonymous benefactor has offered to help, but at what price?
He is the author of the popular Tyler & Mills detective crime series set in Staffordshire in the noughties. RED IS THE COLOUR was shortlisted for the 2018 Arnold Bennett Prize and begins with the grim discovery of a schoolboy who disappeared thirty years earlier. BLUE MURDER involves a missing singer and a murdered guitarist, elevating an obscure band to sudden fame and fortune. THE DEVIL WORE BLACK unveils the mystery of a crucified priest. THE SMELL OF COPPER, finds Tyler out on a limb as the detectives uncover police corruption. SCARLET RIBBONS investigates the brutal murder of a sex worker. The latest book in the series, BLOOD ORANGE, concerns the death of a local greengrocer. All the books can be read as standalone crime novels.
Other detective mysteries include THE BATHROOM MURDERS. A series of women are found hacked to death while taking a shower. This is the first in a new series set in Manchester, featuring female detective Charlie Reed and her sidekick Paul Rigsby.
TWIST has the eponymous private investigator returning, against his better judgement, to the city of nightmares to look into the strange case of a dead philosophy student.
THE MAN UPSTAIRS introduces hard boiled Frank Miller, discovering he’s a fictional detective and that his author is plotting to kill him. This is the first in a series of crime fantasy novels, and the second book in the series has now been published: THE POISONED EYE OF A LOVING GOD,
Mark also writes psychological thrillers. SILVER finds journalist and crime writer Nick Slater obsessed with an unpublished manuscript that a best-selling author was working on when she was murdered, and which her family refuse to publish.
SEXTET explores the twisted rivalry between twin sisters, the weird games they played as children, and the rising murder rate in a small English town.
COFFIN MAKER is a Gothic tale. Death is sent two apprentices amid warnings from an out-of-favour priest that the devil has arrived on Earth.
PAINTED FIRE finds a writer travelling to America’s West Coast in a desperate bid to find a cure for a baffling illness afflicting his wife. An anonymous benefactor has offered to help, but at what price?
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
July 11, 2018
Johnny and the Swamp Seeds -- catchy name for a new band trying to get their music heard. This group includes the members of the band, with Johnny in the lead, the girlfriends who happen to be sisters, all seemingly fueled by jealousy and anger. Throw in a manager who may or may not be doing the best for the group, but undeniably is doing the best for himself.
When the group gets a big break appearing in a certain club, everyone is amazed when the gig is cancelled at the last moment. Where is Johnny?
When a young man is found face down in a canal, people jump to the conclusion that this is Johnny. DCI Jim Tyler and DS Danny Mills are called to investigate. They know they have a murder ... but imagine the surprise to learn that the dead man is Adam Lane, an ex-band member. Where is Johnny? Did he murder Adam and then run? Has he also been killed?
The two detectives will have to muddle through a lot of lies, secrets, and feuding sisters to get at the crux of this puzzle. When the national spotlight is aimed at the missing singer and the detectives who seem to be getting nowhere, things get even worse.
While the murder mystery remains just that, personal demons are poking at DCI Tyler. The stress of the case is pushing him back to the bottle and his anger issues. Even though Tyler and Mills have overcome their working relationship problems, Mills is very worried about Tyler. Will Tyler's issues complicate this case even further?
Where is Johnny?
This is an intriguing British police procedural which takes a look at the inner working of the music industry. Well written, it features well drawn characters in Tyler and Mills. I really enjoyed the interaction of the silent, brooding Tyler with the humor that Mills brings to their partnership.
Although this is the second book in the series, it easily passes as a stand alone. As usual, I do recommend starting with the first book, to soak up all those little nuggets of information that make this a riveting series.
Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Request Group for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
When the group gets a big break appearing in a certain club, everyone is amazed when the gig is cancelled at the last moment. Where is Johnny?
When a young man is found face down in a canal, people jump to the conclusion that this is Johnny. DCI Jim Tyler and DS Danny Mills are called to investigate. They know they have a murder ... but imagine the surprise to learn that the dead man is Adam Lane, an ex-band member. Where is Johnny? Did he murder Adam and then run? Has he also been killed?
The two detectives will have to muddle through a lot of lies, secrets, and feuding sisters to get at the crux of this puzzle. When the national spotlight is aimed at the missing singer and the detectives who seem to be getting nowhere, things get even worse.
While the murder mystery remains just that, personal demons are poking at DCI Tyler. The stress of the case is pushing him back to the bottle and his anger issues. Even though Tyler and Mills have overcome their working relationship problems, Mills is very worried about Tyler. Will Tyler's issues complicate this case even further?
Where is Johnny?
This is an intriguing British police procedural which takes a look at the inner working of the music industry. Well written, it features well drawn characters in Tyler and Mills. I really enjoyed the interaction of the silent, brooding Tyler with the humor that Mills brings to their partnership.
Although this is the second book in the series, it easily passes as a stand alone. As usual, I do recommend starting with the first book, to soak up all those little nuggets of information that make this a riveting series.
Many thanks to the author / TBC Reviewer Request Group for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
July 20, 2018
Having read RED IS THE COLOUR I was very much looking forward to this 2nd book in the Tyler & Mills series. I wasn't disappointed the book had me hooked from the very first page and I became more engrossed in the story with each page.
It is an intriguing story with so many jaw-dropping twists and turns that I just kept turning page after page.I do like the way the stories in Mark's books seem to begin in school and I think that makes them all the more believable because many adults are affected one way or another with how their schooldays shaped them.
Tyler's relationship with the head of the local school brings a different issue into the story and in this book we learn a little more about Tyler's traumatic childhood and I think that is what makes the story because he can sympathise with some of the characters and that shows that the author was thinking long-term about this series rather than adding on a book at a time which often happens. This comes across very strongly in the way the different strands link up and create a robust story that keeps the reader's attention from the first page to the last.
This is a psychological thriller at its very best we see into the minds of several of the characters as they develop throughout the book. The suspense builds but it is impossible to foresee the ending until the very end.
WOW a brilliant read and I am so pleased I had the opportunity to enjoy it.
More please Mark, as soon as possible.
5 golden stars from me.
It is an intriguing story with so many jaw-dropping twists and turns that I just kept turning page after page.I do like the way the stories in Mark's books seem to begin in school and I think that makes them all the more believable because many adults are affected one way or another with how their schooldays shaped them.
Tyler's relationship with the head of the local school brings a different issue into the story and in this book we learn a little more about Tyler's traumatic childhood and I think that is what makes the story because he can sympathise with some of the characters and that shows that the author was thinking long-term about this series rather than adding on a book at a time which often happens. This comes across very strongly in the way the different strands link up and create a robust story that keeps the reader's attention from the first page to the last.
This is a psychological thriller at its very best we see into the minds of several of the characters as they develop throughout the book. The suspense builds but it is impossible to foresee the ending until the very end.
WOW a brilliant read and I am so pleased I had the opportunity to enjoy it.
More please Mark, as soon as possible.
5 golden stars from me.
July 29, 2018
I have to admit to being a little partial to Mark Fowler books, having read all of his previous books before. This one didn’t disappoint either. Blue Murder is the second in the Tyler Mills series where a little more is found out about this chalk and cheese pair of Detectives. Set in 2003 there is a little more to the interview side of investigations rather than the scientific side. The story opens with a murder where the victim clearly knows the killer so it gives the reader a bit of a heads up. Mark Fowler doesn’t cloud the water of the investigation either as it is kept to quite a small group of suspects as to who the murderer is.
The victim, uni student Adam Lane, was a talented young man, an ex-band member of an up and coming pop band and with a complicated love life that involves estranged sisters and best mates from school, so plenty to go on for an investigation. This story takes the reader into the seedier side of the pop industry as well as internal battles of some of the testosterone fuelled group members.
I really loved the continuing development between Tyler and Mills with the story set in Stoke on Trent, a town very close to where I live. Mills is a London man in a small town and still fighting demons that re-surface in violent out bursts. There are some cracks appearing and I have warmed to this man tremendously. The dry humour is something that I am loving along with Tyler’s answer to most things, a nice cuppa tea, biscuits and cake.
Very much looking forward to more from Mark Fowler and this super duo.
The victim, uni student Adam Lane, was a talented young man, an ex-band member of an up and coming pop band and with a complicated love life that involves estranged sisters and best mates from school, so plenty to go on for an investigation. This story takes the reader into the seedier side of the pop industry as well as internal battles of some of the testosterone fuelled group members.
I really loved the continuing development between Tyler and Mills with the story set in Stoke on Trent, a town very close to where I live. Mills is a London man in a small town and still fighting demons that re-surface in violent out bursts. There are some cracks appearing and I have warmed to this man tremendously. The dry humour is something that I am loving along with Tyler’s answer to most things, a nice cuppa tea, biscuits and cake.
Very much looking forward to more from Mark Fowler and this super duo.
July 26, 2018
Adam Lane is found dead in the local canal on the same night Johnny Richards lead singer of Johnny and The Swamp Seeds goes missing. Adam used to be part of the band but left after an apparent falling out with his best friend Johnny. Has Johnny ran because he’s guilty or has something sinister happened to him? DCI Tyler and DS Mills are tasked to investigate and are thrown into the murky world of the music business.
So this is the second in the Tyler and Mills series but this is the first I’ve read myself and I can safely say it can be read as a stand alone.
There’s something quite tragic about this story. Adam, only twenty one, killed too young caught in the war between his girlfriend, his sister and his best friend all set with the backdrop of the dark side of the music industry.
DCI Tyler is still adjusting to life in Stoke On Trent after a hasty transfer from London. He’s a former alcoholic with some serious anger issues. This case brings up some feelings from his past, as one of the suspects was raised in care like he was.
Although my favourite character has to be DS Mills. He’s happily married with two kids and likes nothing more that a cup of tea and biscuits but it’s the way he cares for his partner and tries to support him to open up really made me appreciate him as a character.
I felt it was quite realistically done, although it does focus more on the gathering of evidence through interviews rather than the forensic side of it but I felt it went over the same things quite a lot which made it a little repetitive.
I would recommend this to people who like police procedurals focusing on the psychological aspect and motive.
So this is the second in the Tyler and Mills series but this is the first I’ve read myself and I can safely say it can be read as a stand alone.
There’s something quite tragic about this story. Adam, only twenty one, killed too young caught in the war between his girlfriend, his sister and his best friend all set with the backdrop of the dark side of the music industry.
DCI Tyler is still adjusting to life in Stoke On Trent after a hasty transfer from London. He’s a former alcoholic with some serious anger issues. This case brings up some feelings from his past, as one of the suspects was raised in care like he was.
Although my favourite character has to be DS Mills. He’s happily married with two kids and likes nothing more that a cup of tea and biscuits but it’s the way he cares for his partner and tries to support him to open up really made me appreciate him as a character.
I felt it was quite realistically done, although it does focus more on the gathering of evidence through interviews rather than the forensic side of it but I felt it went over the same things quite a lot which made it a little repetitive.
I would recommend this to people who like police procedurals focusing on the psychological aspect and motive.
October 4, 2018
I was very lucky to have read book one in the series when it was released last year and loved it so have been waiting for the sequel with some anticipation. The wait was certainly worth it as this book is so much better than the first one.
Even though it is a sequel it can be read as a stand alone book if you want as we are introduced to all relevant main characters early on and can catch up with what's happened easily enough.
I have to admit I am very fond of Mark's previous books, especially The Man Upstairs, so I knew I would enjoy this one.
The book starts off with a murder and disappearance of two people both linked to a music band, one the lead singer and the other an ex-band member.
From here there is a nice short list of suspects all accusing each other but all looking a bit shifty throughout.
The book is so well written that I was hooked from the start as I was trying to guess and second guess where the book was heading and who was responsible for all of it.
I really liked the fact that we learn a lot more about Tyler as we learn more about his upbringing, which does appear quite traumatic. Fortunately for him he has his DS Mills looking out for him and keeping him sane.
The book is a very good read and a brilliant example of Police Procedural books, which thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to reading more in this series.
Even though it is a sequel it can be read as a stand alone book if you want as we are introduced to all relevant main characters early on and can catch up with what's happened easily enough.
I have to admit I am very fond of Mark's previous books, especially The Man Upstairs, so I knew I would enjoy this one.
The book starts off with a murder and disappearance of two people both linked to a music band, one the lead singer and the other an ex-band member.
From here there is a nice short list of suspects all accusing each other but all looking a bit shifty throughout.
The book is so well written that I was hooked from the start as I was trying to guess and second guess where the book was heading and who was responsible for all of it.
I really liked the fact that we learn a lot more about Tyler as we learn more about his upbringing, which does appear quite traumatic. Fortunately for him he has his DS Mills looking out for him and keeping him sane.
The book is a very good read and a brilliant example of Police Procedural books, which thoroughly enjoyed and look forward to reading more in this series.
July 21, 2018
The story begins with the callous murder of a young man, and DCI Tyler and DS Mills have the task of discovering who killed him. He used to be in a band which is about to get its big break, but he left to start his university studies. He wrote one of the songs that his erstwhile best friend is claiming authorship of. There’s a tangled web between the young men involved, and two sisters who at various times have been the girlfriends of some of them. These lives and intrigues weave together to make a real knot, and it’s a job and three quarters for Tyler and Mills to untangle it.
Mark Fowler had given all these characters a reason to mistrust one another, in some cases even to hate each other. Yet is it enough to murder someone? Someone who wasn’t even in the band any longer? The more questions they ask the tighter the knot becomes. I found this intriguing and at times very exciting as the detectives, whose banter has now become more relaxed, work their way through conflicting evidence. Is anyone telling the truth? A very good read indeed.
Mark Fowler had given all these characters a reason to mistrust one another, in some cases even to hate each other. Yet is it enough to murder someone? Someone who wasn’t even in the band any longer? The more questions they ask the tighter the knot becomes. I found this intriguing and at times very exciting as the detectives, whose banter has now become more relaxed, work their way through conflicting evidence. Is anyone telling the truth? A very good read indeed.
March 22, 2019
When an ex-member of a band is found murdered and the current lead singer is missing, detectives Tyler and Mills have their work cut out for them. A knot of relationships, past and present, tie the dead man and lead singer together, creating motives galore. And at times, even Tyler’s background that brings with it plenty of emotional baggage, threatens to muddy the waters, as he applies his own unique perspective on what drive’s the suspects.
The scenes are well set and the two lead detectives rub along like a pair of comfy shoes. The plot is solid, and despite it being quite a closed cast, there is plenty of back-story and untruths being told to keep you guessing, right to the very end.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it well written and very easy to read. An easy five stars from me.
The scenes are well set and the two lead detectives rub along like a pair of comfy shoes. The plot is solid, and despite it being quite a closed cast, there is plenty of back-story and untruths being told to keep you guessing, right to the very end.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it well written and very easy to read. An easy five stars from me.
July 18, 2018
STOKE NOIR
Jim Tyler had a tough childhood, and it threatens to spill over into his police job. This is another enjoyable slice of Stoke-on-Trent Noir, with a murder mystery erupting on the local music scene just as a band seems set for the big time.
Jim Tyler had a tough childhood, and it threatens to spill over into his police job. This is another enjoyable slice of Stoke-on-Trent Noir, with a murder mystery erupting on the local music scene just as a band seems set for the big time.
July 19, 2018
Blue Murder: Fame. Fortune. Murder. (Tyler and Mills Book 2)
By: Mark L. Fowler
5 out of 5 stars
The story Blue Murder: Fame. Fortune. Murder. (Tyler and Mills Book 2) by Mark L. Fowler is the next book in a series that once I started reading I didn’t want to put down until I had finished the last page. I loved it just as much as the first story. It is a book that includes mystery and suspense. This is a story that kept me guessing and wondering what was going to happen next. I felt like I was putting together a puzzle in order to see the whole picture. One of the reasons that the story is so enjoyable are the main characters of DCI Jim Tyler and DS Danny Mills. A friendship has formed between these two since their first case. Tyler is a man who has great instincts and when working a case is determined to see justice done. He also is a man that is haunted by the past and has issues with anger. Mills recognizes that his partner is under stress because of their current case and worries that his friend may come to a breaking point. Throughout the book, you read about the thoughts and how the two main characters feel about their situation. I enjoy reading about when Tyler and Mills interact with each other. There are constant exchanges between them about the case. Interrogating suspects, interviewing acquittances and following where the leads go have these two showing just how amazing their skills as detectives are. If something happened to someone I cared about they would be the ones I would want on the case. Their current case is a high profile one. Will Tyler and Mills find out why one man was murdered and another has disappeared? Read this book to find out if the case is solved. This book is a well-written page-turner that I highly recommend reading. I look forward to reading more stories in this series.
By: Mark L. Fowler
5 out of 5 stars
The story Blue Murder: Fame. Fortune. Murder. (Tyler and Mills Book 2) by Mark L. Fowler is the next book in a series that once I started reading I didn’t want to put down until I had finished the last page. I loved it just as much as the first story. It is a book that includes mystery and suspense. This is a story that kept me guessing and wondering what was going to happen next. I felt like I was putting together a puzzle in order to see the whole picture. One of the reasons that the story is so enjoyable are the main characters of DCI Jim Tyler and DS Danny Mills. A friendship has formed between these two since their first case. Tyler is a man who has great instincts and when working a case is determined to see justice done. He also is a man that is haunted by the past and has issues with anger. Mills recognizes that his partner is under stress because of their current case and worries that his friend may come to a breaking point. Throughout the book, you read about the thoughts and how the two main characters feel about their situation. I enjoy reading about when Tyler and Mills interact with each other. There are constant exchanges between them about the case. Interrogating suspects, interviewing acquittances and following where the leads go have these two showing just how amazing their skills as detectives are. If something happened to someone I cared about they would be the ones I would want on the case. Their current case is a high profile one. Will Tyler and Mills find out why one man was murdered and another has disappeared? Read this book to find out if the case is solved. This book is a well-written page-turner that I highly recommend reading. I look forward to reading more stories in this series.
August 13, 2018
A Gripping Read where Jealousy..Fame and Murder are intertwined...
Johnny and The Bad Seeds are a band on their way to success.They just need one gig at Club Thirteen then fame and the World is theirs for the taking...On the day of the gig Johnny Richards goes missing...When the body of a young man is found in the local canal, at first it is assumed to be Johnny..but it is Adam Lane who once played in the same band and went to school with Johnny.DCI Jim Tyler and DS Danny Mills are on the case..Tyler is a brilliant detective ..but inside he is haunted ,there are things from the past that have a habit of pulling and grinding into his thoughts...He never in a million years would let anyone see this part of him..He has been told by his CS he must see a counsellor..and agrees..On the case Tyler knows that there is something missing here...Through questioning witnesses friends and those in relationships with those within the group ...Tyler and Mills are getting closer to the truth...But before they find out why Adam Lane a young man with his whole life in front of him died..There will be more blood spilled..Tragedy and death will be on the Horizon..And for Tyler...who puts all his demons into a box...to find a killer..the answers that he has been waiting for will all come at once....This is a story of Jealousy, two selfish twisted greedy sisters and Three young men who wanted it all..Be Careful what You Wish For in Life...Tyler and Mills are unstoppable...I would recommend reading Red is The Colour first as it is a great introduction to Tyler...Both for me Five Star reads...
Johnny and The Bad Seeds are a band on their way to success.They just need one gig at Club Thirteen then fame and the World is theirs for the taking...On the day of the gig Johnny Richards goes missing...When the body of a young man is found in the local canal, at first it is assumed to be Johnny..but it is Adam Lane who once played in the same band and went to school with Johnny.DCI Jim Tyler and DS Danny Mills are on the case..Tyler is a brilliant detective ..but inside he is haunted ,there are things from the past that have a habit of pulling and grinding into his thoughts...He never in a million years would let anyone see this part of him..He has been told by his CS he must see a counsellor..and agrees..On the case Tyler knows that there is something missing here...Through questioning witnesses friends and those in relationships with those within the group ...Tyler and Mills are getting closer to the truth...But before they find out why Adam Lane a young man with his whole life in front of him died..There will be more blood spilled..Tragedy and death will be on the Horizon..And for Tyler...who puts all his demons into a box...to find a killer..the answers that he has been waiting for will all come at once....This is a story of Jealousy, two selfish twisted greedy sisters and Three young men who wanted it all..Be Careful what You Wish For in Life...Tyler and Mills are unstoppable...I would recommend reading Red is The Colour first as it is a great introduction to Tyler...Both for me Five Star reads...
July 30, 2018
I received an advanced copy of Mark Fowler's second DCI Tyler and DS Mills murder mystery novel, Blue Murder, and this review is given freely.
Not having read the first novel, Red Is The Colour, I found myself easily engrossed in Blue Murder (trying to finish the book during early hours of the night), enjoying the developing professional relationship between brooding DCI Jim Tyler and the sarcastically witty DS Danny Mills, and getting to know more about Tyler's dark past.
Blue Murder sees an ex-band member, Adam, murdered. His girlfriend, Daisy, points the finger to her sister, Janine, who stole her ex-boyfriend and lead singer of the band, Johnny, from her. But there's also Billy, the two young men's school buddy, who had stepped in to take Adam's place when he left the band not too long ago. Then there's the band's song, ‘All Colours are Blue,’ that's becoming a hit, and money is being made. Now everybody is claiming to have written the song. Tyler and Mills have their hands full trying to figure out who's lying about what, which is made difficult with lead singer Johnny missing since Adam's murder.
Blue Murder is a great psychological thriller. Tactical interrogations are prime in this well-told story. Red herrings are strewn left, right, and center to keep you guessing. Pick up this book and you're in for a great, keeping-you-on-your-toes detective novel!
Not having read the first novel, Red Is The Colour, I found myself easily engrossed in Blue Murder (trying to finish the book during early hours of the night), enjoying the developing professional relationship between brooding DCI Jim Tyler and the sarcastically witty DS Danny Mills, and getting to know more about Tyler's dark past.
Blue Murder sees an ex-band member, Adam, murdered. His girlfriend, Daisy, points the finger to her sister, Janine, who stole her ex-boyfriend and lead singer of the band, Johnny, from her. But there's also Billy, the two young men's school buddy, who had stepped in to take Adam's place when he left the band not too long ago. Then there's the band's song, ‘All Colours are Blue,’ that's becoming a hit, and money is being made. Now everybody is claiming to have written the song. Tyler and Mills have their hands full trying to figure out who's lying about what, which is made difficult with lead singer Johnny missing since Adam's murder.
Blue Murder is a great psychological thriller. Tactical interrogations are prime in this well-told story. Red herrings are strewn left, right, and center to keep you guessing. Pick up this book and you're in for a great, keeping-you-on-your-toes detective novel!
July 21, 2018
This is the second book in a series featuring Detective Inspector Jim Tyler and his sergeant Danny Mills. I haven't read the first and was worried that I might find that there were gaps in the story but it works very well as a stand alone (although I am now going to read the first one). A lot of the back story comes through as part of the narrative without any hint of 'I'm just filling you in on the details'.
A member of a band is missing and then a body is found, but it isn't the missing singer, it's an ex-band member so Tyler has a murder to solve as well as a missing person. I know nothing about the music business but I enjoyed the interplay of the band members and their manager and could fully believe that the story is true to life. I also enjoyed learning about Tyler's past, going right back to his schooldays, without feeling that his story was being thrust down my throat.
The book is very well-written and keeps the reader turning page after page, captivated by the characters, even the ones with a very small part to play. I had no idea who had done it, even right up to the end but reaching the end has given me an appetite for more from this writer. I shall be reading the first in the series and am waiting for more to be written. Brilliant book.
A member of a band is missing and then a body is found, but it isn't the missing singer, it's an ex-band member so Tyler has a murder to solve as well as a missing person. I know nothing about the music business but I enjoyed the interplay of the band members and their manager and could fully believe that the story is true to life. I also enjoyed learning about Tyler's past, going right back to his schooldays, without feeling that his story was being thrust down my throat.
The book is very well-written and keeps the reader turning page after page, captivated by the characters, even the ones with a very small part to play. I had no idea who had done it, even right up to the end but reaching the end has given me an appetite for more from this writer. I shall be reading the first in the series and am waiting for more to be written. Brilliant book.
December 13, 2020
'Johnny and the Swamp Seeds' - a great name for an up and coming rock band. This book delves into the mystery surrounding the murder of ex-band member Adam Lane and the corresponding disappearance of main vocalist Johnny Richards. Into the story come Adam's successor Billy Steele and two sisters Janine and Daisy who have been in relationships with some of the band members - in the process creating an element of unrest and mistrust within the band. This story is well paced as DCI Tyler, who is facing his own demons, pairs up with DS Mills to try to unravel what has unfolded. I found the story-line very gripping, it keeps you guessing right to the end as the characters develop to give clues along the way which don't necessarily take you down the path that you imagine. A brilliant and excellently put together read.
July 18, 2018
Detective Inspector Tyler is on the cusp of a nervous breakdown having been transferred from the Met to the provincial backwater of Stoke. He must force himself to focus on the murder of a young musician from an upcoming local band, and the disappearance of a second band member. The troubled DI has a reliable sidekick in DS Mills, a local lad with an unhealthy addiction to tea, cake and biscuits. The author skilfully sets up this intriguing murder mystery that baffles the detectives as they delve into the relationships involving band members and those around them and slowly uncovers their various vices and motives. All the while DI Tyler battles his own demons leaving the reader wondering if he'll stay the course and nail his man. There is dry humour aplenty in this at times gritty thriller, building to an ending that keeps the reader guessing.
July 27, 2018
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I really enjoyed this book, I was hooked right from the start through to its brilliant ending! This is the second book I have read by this author and I have really enjoyed them both. The writing style has been perfectly suited to both of the books.
I enjoyed the plot for the book and thought that it flowed very well. It was a book I read in pretty much one sitting and when I did put it down it was very hard not to pick it straight back up! One of the perks of my husband being at work on later and my daughter being in bed early means more reading time in the evening and I really enjoyed my time spent with Mills and Tyler!
4.5 stars out of 5 for me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – very highly recommended and certainly a book I really enjoyed!!
I really enjoyed this book, I was hooked right from the start through to its brilliant ending! This is the second book I have read by this author and I have really enjoyed them both. The writing style has been perfectly suited to both of the books.
I enjoyed the plot for the book and thought that it flowed very well. It was a book I read in pretty much one sitting and when I did put it down it was very hard not to pick it straight back up! One of the perks of my husband being at work on later and my daughter being in bed early means more reading time in the evening and I really enjoyed my time spent with Mills and Tyler!
4.5 stars out of 5 for me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – very highly recommended and certainly a book I really enjoyed!!
July 22, 2018
Blue Murder is book two in the Tyler and Mills series. After reading and enjoying Red is the Colour this was a must read for me. It can be read as a standalone. Cleverly written with an outcome I did not expect at all. Gripping. Thrilling. Brilliant.
That first chapter is bound to intrigue and pull the reader straight into the story, a real grabber of a chapter! I was hooked. Blue Murder is a fast paced, easy to read thriller. A real page turner that can easily be read in one sitting. I am absolutely loving this series! An author to keep your eye on. A well deserved five stars, highly recommend. I look forward to reading the next book.
That first chapter is bound to intrigue and pull the reader straight into the story, a real grabber of a chapter! I was hooked. Blue Murder is a fast paced, easy to read thriller. A real page turner that can easily be read in one sitting. I am absolutely loving this series! An author to keep your eye on. A well deserved five stars, highly recommend. I look forward to reading the next book.
July 16, 2018
Interesting view of the music industry from a police investigation point of view- fully believable that this could actually happen! I like the partnership between detectives which adds an edge to the story
July 19, 2018
A rock band on the cusp of greatness, one band member found dead, one missing what follows is a page turning mystery with a pair of detectives on the trail.
Number two involving this crimesolving duo but a great stand alone read.
I loved the fact that though at times you think you have solved it but then you start to question that as more facts are unearthed even towards the end when it is pointing towards the right person you dont guess the motive.
Would recommend this book and will now look for the first book and look forward to any more that follow.
Number two involving this crimesolving duo but a great stand alone read.
I loved the fact that though at times you think you have solved it but then you start to question that as more facts are unearthed even towards the end when it is pointing towards the right person you dont guess the motive.
Would recommend this book and will now look for the first book and look forward to any more that follow.
December 11, 2020
I love a Mark Fowler read and this one is no exception!
Another cracking effort with Tyler and Mills- who have excellent character interactions throughout the whole novel.
Well written with enough highs and lows to qualify for it's own fairground spot!
A brilliant read
Another cracking effort with Tyler and Mills- who have excellent character interactions throughout the whole novel.
Well written with enough highs and lows to qualify for it's own fairground spot!
A brilliant read
July 26, 2018
4,5 stars. A worthy sequel to Red Is The Colour. I loved the way that the music industry ran alongside the police process in the plot. With a dead man, Tyler facing a nervous breakdown, will the crime be solved or will it be a colossal fail in the public spotlight?
July 23, 2018
Johnny and the Swamp Seeds are a young and upcoming band but all goes horribly wrong when Johnny goes missing and Adam one of the bands prior members is found dead. Tyler and Mills are on the case again and as in the previous book Red is the Colour Tyler is struggling to cope. There are lots of twists in this as one minute you are sure who did it then BOOM you go off at a 180 degrees. It is all hugely intriguing and will keep you hooked all the way through and a big thumbs up from me.
July 20, 2018
Blue murder by Mark Fowler.
Johnny Richards is lead singer in Johnny and then swamp seeds. They have a major gig at the thirteen club. But Johnny cannot be found. Where is he? DCI Jim Tyler and dc Danny mills
Are on the case when a body is found in a lake. Mrs Maureeen Richards Johnnys mother has reported him as missing. She is to see if the body is Johnny. But it's Adam lane. So where is Johnny? Can Tyler and mills find out who killed Adam and find Johnny?
A fantastic read with brilliant characters.
It wasn't who I though it was. I had to read it to the end to find out who killed Adam. Very cleverly written. 5*.
Johnny Richards is lead singer in Johnny and then swamp seeds. They have a major gig at the thirteen club. But Johnny cannot be found. Where is he? DCI Jim Tyler and dc Danny mills
Are on the case when a body is found in a lake. Mrs Maureeen Richards Johnnys mother has reported him as missing. She is to see if the body is Johnny. But it's Adam lane. So where is Johnny? Can Tyler and mills find out who killed Adam and find Johnny?
A fantastic read with brilliant characters.
It wasn't who I though it was. I had to read it to the end to find out who killed Adam. Very cleverly written. 5*.
November 30, 2020
What a great book. A truly gripping police procedural, I couldn’t wait to finish it (in a good way).
Troubled DCI Tyler and sarcastic DS Mills have a murder to investigate but find themselves on the hunt for a missing lead singer and having to unravel the complexities of songwriting at the same time.
This is the second book of the series but it does not matter if you haven’t read the first, it is referred to but that is all. New author for me, first book is on my tbr pile and I have no doubt the third will follow.
Loved it!
Troubled DCI Tyler and sarcastic DS Mills have a murder to investigate but find themselves on the hunt for a missing lead singer and having to unravel the complexities of songwriting at the same time.
This is the second book of the series but it does not matter if you haven’t read the first, it is referred to but that is all. New author for me, first book is on my tbr pile and I have no doubt the third will follow.
Loved it!
November 30, 2020
Loved both Tyler and Mills-great characters and great detectives.
This murder starts with the death of someone who is not the expected victim and hard to tell from the outset if he is the intended victim. The thread running in the background about local boys trying for the big time with their music is a nice aside to the grisly main business of the book and really brings the characters to life (in their own truely annoying way!) with their odd and strained relationships, petty jealousies and the general callousness of youth.
A great read.
This murder starts with the death of someone who is not the expected victim and hard to tell from the outset if he is the intended victim. The thread running in the background about local boys trying for the big time with their music is a nice aside to the grisly main business of the book and really brings the characters to life (in their own truely annoying way!) with their odd and strained relationships, petty jealousies and the general callousness of youth.
A great read.
June 24, 2018
BLUE MURDER by Mark J. Fowler
(ARC)
I enjoy a good British police procedural and this is exactly what I got in Blue Murder. This book has all the elements a reader wants; a strong main character, and good sidekick, a dry sense of humour in the narrative voice, and great dialogue. This is the second book in a series but I had not read the first one and had no trouble with backstory. It stands well alone.
The book opens with a young man walking home along a canal in a downpour. He sees a shadowy figure in the gloom and thinks there may be something familiar about him. But he can’t see in the dense rain and has no time to make sure one way or another when he is attacked and ends up in the canal.
The case ends up with DCI Jim Tyler and his partner, amusing Danny Mills. Jim comes with a lot of baggage, including alcoholism and constant rage that threatens to boil over into violence now and then. But he us a good detective, with a gift if questioning suspects and lulling them into relaxing enough to let things slip.
The case revolves around a wannabe rock band, Johnny and the Seed Swamps. This group includes the girlfriends, a feisty bunch rife with jealousy and bile. I enjoyed a good look into the lot of young musicians being taken advantage of as they accept bad deals in order to get ahead.
Scumbags and suspects abound in this story but in the end, Jim and Danny muddle through and figure it out. I did get a tad weary of Jims anger and brooding but he does make some progress so it will be interesting to see where Fowler will take him in the next book.
(ARC)
I enjoy a good British police procedural and this is exactly what I got in Blue Murder. This book has all the elements a reader wants; a strong main character, and good sidekick, a dry sense of humour in the narrative voice, and great dialogue. This is the second book in a series but I had not read the first one and had no trouble with backstory. It stands well alone.
The book opens with a young man walking home along a canal in a downpour. He sees a shadowy figure in the gloom and thinks there may be something familiar about him. But he can’t see in the dense rain and has no time to make sure one way or another when he is attacked and ends up in the canal.
The case ends up with DCI Jim Tyler and his partner, amusing Danny Mills. Jim comes with a lot of baggage, including alcoholism and constant rage that threatens to boil over into violence now and then. But he us a good detective, with a gift if questioning suspects and lulling them into relaxing enough to let things slip.
The case revolves around a wannabe rock band, Johnny and the Seed Swamps. This group includes the girlfriends, a feisty bunch rife with jealousy and bile. I enjoyed a good look into the lot of young musicians being taken advantage of as they accept bad deals in order to get ahead.
Scumbags and suspects abound in this story but in the end, Jim and Danny muddle through and figure it out. I did get a tad weary of Jims anger and brooding but he does make some progress so it will be interesting to see where Fowler will take him in the next book.
July 19, 2018
I really enjoyed this. The interaction of the 2 detectives grows into a friendship. While I enjoyed the first book in the series, I think this second one does a better job of the little things that make characters come to life.
January 13, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I like any book by this author. I find them really interesting.
I would like to thank TBC group for this opportunity to review this book,and the author's superb writing.
I would like to thank TBC group for this opportunity to review this book,and the author's superb writing.
November 21, 2020
This book immersed me completely in the world of music and bands and totally reminded me of my late teens and early twenties when everyone I knew was in a band and the complex relationships and histories of bands and their members. The added layer to this story, however, was the fact that someone had been murdered. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of the characters and different suspects being presented, all of which seemed to be the potential killer at one point or another. A compelling and well written book.
November 1, 2018
I haven’t read the series but was able to pick up instantly on the rapport between Tyler and Mills and really liked their characters. The story slowly evolves into a great murder mystery, based around a band; Johnny and the Swamp Seeds. Set against the backdrop of a post-industrial town harbouring secrets. This is a pretty cool read.
October 19, 2018
What I have liked most about this series is the fact that, for me, it is a relatively locally set piece. North Staffs, or more specifically Stoke, where the lion's share of the action is set is but a stone's throw from where I live and I love being able to recognise the places and character types that are described. Throw in a great story and protagonists that you can care about and you have the perfect formula for a really good read.
This is the story of two friends - one is missing the other dead. DCI Tyler and DS Mills are faced with the task of finding out what happened to Adam Lane whilst coming under increasing pressure from the powers that be, the media and an ever growing public fan base to locate the missing Johnny Richards. Undoubtedly the two cases are linked, but how and should the detectives be preparing themselves to find a second body? Faced with a whole host of obstructions, from family members and friends who are not being exactly helpful, and ambiguity over why a man on the verge of his big break would suddenly disappear, Tyler and Mills have their work cut out for them and no mistake.
Now there is a twisting storyline in play here and there are many characters who seem to have something to hide. I didn't quite trust anyone in the book, all of them holding back and almost revelling in one-upmanship on their so called family and friends. Despite their apparent grief, there seemed no one who was willing to help in solving the case, everyone keeping secrets and manipulating all around them. It led the Detectives, and me as the reader, on a merry dance, going round in circles, never quite knowing the fact from fiction and leaving very limited places to turn. Very slowly, bit by bit, clues are uncovered and possible motives are revealed but as to whether any of them lead us closer to the truth ... you'll have to read to find out.
Blue Murder makes quite an intriguing follow up to Red is the Colour and sees our main character, DCI Tyler, facing somewhat of a crisis in his life. He has always suffered with anger issues and falling foul of his past but in this book it is an ever present entity almost, something which consumes his attention and threatens both his personal relationships and almost his job. I do like Tyler as a character but he was so absorbed in his problems that it almost became a distraction to the story and would be possibly my only criticism that someone, somewhere, just needs to give this guy a right good kick up the backside. Thankfully, to offset Tyler's pessimism and darkness you have Mills. Altogether a much lighter character his joking, sarcastically dry wit lightens many scenes which bringing a smile to my face.
Author Mark L Fowler has captured the essence of the area perfectly in his writing - the sense of place was strong and you get a real feeling of the pride that locals (Mills) have in a city which they will gladly mock themselves and yet still defend to the hilt to outsiders. Characterisations are also strong with the bickering sisters, a slimy and altogether too slick club owner and the mixture of highly strung and completely laid back band mates. All in all it made for a really entertaining read and for fans of the first book it's a great follow up. I'm hoping we hear more from Tyler and Mills, assuming Tyler can find his peace and get his game face on.
This is the story of two friends - one is missing the other dead. DCI Tyler and DS Mills are faced with the task of finding out what happened to Adam Lane whilst coming under increasing pressure from the powers that be, the media and an ever growing public fan base to locate the missing Johnny Richards. Undoubtedly the two cases are linked, but how and should the detectives be preparing themselves to find a second body? Faced with a whole host of obstructions, from family members and friends who are not being exactly helpful, and ambiguity over why a man on the verge of his big break would suddenly disappear, Tyler and Mills have their work cut out for them and no mistake.
Now there is a twisting storyline in play here and there are many characters who seem to have something to hide. I didn't quite trust anyone in the book, all of them holding back and almost revelling in one-upmanship on their so called family and friends. Despite their apparent grief, there seemed no one who was willing to help in solving the case, everyone keeping secrets and manipulating all around them. It led the Detectives, and me as the reader, on a merry dance, going round in circles, never quite knowing the fact from fiction and leaving very limited places to turn. Very slowly, bit by bit, clues are uncovered and possible motives are revealed but as to whether any of them lead us closer to the truth ... you'll have to read to find out.
Blue Murder makes quite an intriguing follow up to Red is the Colour and sees our main character, DCI Tyler, facing somewhat of a crisis in his life. He has always suffered with anger issues and falling foul of his past but in this book it is an ever present entity almost, something which consumes his attention and threatens both his personal relationships and almost his job. I do like Tyler as a character but he was so absorbed in his problems that it almost became a distraction to the story and would be possibly my only criticism that someone, somewhere, just needs to give this guy a right good kick up the backside. Thankfully, to offset Tyler's pessimism and darkness you have Mills. Altogether a much lighter character his joking, sarcastically dry wit lightens many scenes which bringing a smile to my face.
Author Mark L Fowler has captured the essence of the area perfectly in his writing - the sense of place was strong and you get a real feeling of the pride that locals (Mills) have in a city which they will gladly mock themselves and yet still defend to the hilt to outsiders. Characterisations are also strong with the bickering sisters, a slimy and altogether too slick club owner and the mixture of highly strung and completely laid back band mates. All in all it made for a really entertaining read and for fans of the first book it's a great follow up. I'm hoping we hear more from Tyler and Mills, assuming Tyler can find his peace and get his game face on.
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