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DI Sean Corrigan #5
Killing Mind
A Killing Mind (DI Sean Corrigan, Book 5) [Paperback] Delaney, Luke
480 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2018
32 people are currently reading
414 people want to read
About the author
Luke Delaney
39 books290 followersLuke Delaney joined the Metropolitan Police Service in the late 1980s and his first posting was to an inner city area of South East London notorious for high levels of crime and extreme violence. He later joined CID where he investigated murders ranging from those committed by fledgling serial killers to gangland assassinations.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 31, 2018
I think this is my last DI Corrigan novel unless the author comes up with some new ideas and character development rather just another sensational crime. Delaney has slipped into a rut where his books have become too formulaic. Peter James manages to write a whole series of UK crime novels about DS Grace without falling into this trap.
October 15, 2018
4.5 stars!!!
For those that follow me on social media you will be aware that I have been raving about this new serial killer series that I have been reading at the rate of knots. I am absolutely addicted to this series, and although most of the books are near or over the 500-page mark, I have devoured nearly four of the books in as many days. As I said, addicted!!
It is refreshing that Luke Delaney is an ex-detective with the Metropolitan Police. The attention to detail and the insider knowledge certainly reflects extremely well through procedures and the inside mind and workings of an active officer. I love Criminal Minds, CSI etc so am an avid fan of anything psychological and forensic and this series certainly melds both together perfectly. I loved how this author shows the police as real people, the effects their jobs have on their family and the pressures of what is expected and the little time that leaves for them to have a social life and more importantly family life. However, this is just a very small part of this book. This was a fantastic psychological thriller, one that leaves you guessing at every turn as you become so embroiled in the investigation you almost become a copper yourself.
DI Sean Corrigan is a complex character and one that I came to respect. He is unconventional in how he tackles an investigation from the very beginning and I am hoping to learn a lot more about his past as this series progresses. Sean Corrigan has a knack of being able to put himself in the minds of the killers, he can think like them and can often predict their next move. This is not a gift he enjoys possessing, however, he loves the fact that it enables him to get results, despite the pain and mental suffering it can often inflict on him. Sean Corrigan immerses himself 100%, becomes tunnel visioned in his quest to succeed, he can be unfiltered, emotionally detached but this only enamours him all the more.
For those that follow me on social media you will be aware that I have been raving about this new serial killer series that I have been reading at the rate of knots. I am absolutely addicted to this series, and although most of the books are near or over the 500-page mark, I have devoured nearly four of the books in as many days. As I said, addicted!!
It is refreshing that Luke Delaney is an ex-detective with the Metropolitan Police. The attention to detail and the insider knowledge certainly reflects extremely well through procedures and the inside mind and workings of an active officer. I love Criminal Minds, CSI etc so am an avid fan of anything psychological and forensic and this series certainly melds both together perfectly. I loved how this author shows the police as real people, the effects their jobs have on their family and the pressures of what is expected and the little time that leaves for them to have a social life and more importantly family life. However, this is just a very small part of this book. This was a fantastic psychological thriller, one that leaves you guessing at every turn as you become so embroiled in the investigation you almost become a copper yourself.
DI Sean Corrigan is a complex character and one that I came to respect. He is unconventional in how he tackles an investigation from the very beginning and I am hoping to learn a lot more about his past as this series progresses. Sean Corrigan has a knack of being able to put himself in the minds of the killers, he can think like them and can often predict their next move. This is not a gift he enjoys possessing, however, he loves the fact that it enables him to get results, despite the pain and mental suffering it can often inflict on him. Sean Corrigan immerses himself 100%, becomes tunnel visioned in his quest to succeed, he can be unfiltered, emotionally detached but this only enamours him all the more.
August 12, 2018
It took me a while to get into this book. Maybe because there’s been such a long gap since I read book 4.
DI Sean Corrigan and the team are passed a murder case where two people have had their throats cut and finger nails and teeth removed.
The victims are both drug users but it’s not clear why they were targeted.
The race is on to stop the killer from striking again but they’re not fast enough and another victim is killed.
Anna is asked to help Sean again and she’s worried he’s too involved in the case.
Addis is putting pressure on Sean to catch this killer but the team don’t have much to go on until the killer makes a phone call to Sean.
This is a good read but not quite as gripping as previous books in this series.
DI Sean Corrigan and the team are passed a murder case where two people have had their throats cut and finger nails and teeth removed.
The victims are both drug users but it’s not clear why they were targeted.
The race is on to stop the killer from striking again but they’re not fast enough and another victim is killed.
Anna is asked to help Sean again and she’s worried he’s too involved in the case.
Addis is putting pressure on Sean to catch this killer but the team don’t have much to go on until the killer makes a phone call to Sean.
This is a good read but not quite as gripping as previous books in this series.
May 29, 2018
Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. I have not read any of this authors previous books, but this is one of my favourite genres and I thoroughly enjoyed it as a stand-alone read. The author, having had experience of the police force, ensures that this book is authentic and it is totally believable. This book is set in London and the writing is quite brutal. Horrendous murders are taking place and the descriptions leave nothing to the imagination. It is a fast paced novel and I read it over a period of 4-5 days. Whilst reading it I was willing the detective, Corrigan, to solve the crime and there are many twists and turns. I will definitely be reading more of this authors work.
August 2, 2018
What a disappointment!
May 15, 2019
DI Sean Corrigan never sleeps. Now, he is after a hunter - a brutal killer who gets to know his victims, spends time with them, gives them hope for a better life in order to later take it all away. They all trust him. They are all taken by surprise. He basks in their pain, enjoys being covered in their blood and strives to be infamous. Only when he has completed his mission will he surrender to none other but Sean.
I won't go into any more detail about the plot. I simply want to say that Sean's anchor is no longer as stable as it used to be. He still revisits the memory of kissing Anna (the psychologist) and matters do not get any easier for him when he partners with her again. He is once again after a killer but for the first time we see him afraid that his family might get hurt. His character only benefits from this story line as Sean appears more human - temptation, fear of losing a loved one, realisation that his family and he are growing apart.
In other words, enjoy!
I won't go into any more detail about the plot. I simply want to say that Sean's anchor is no longer as stable as it used to be. He still revisits the memory of kissing Anna (the psychologist) and matters do not get any easier for him when he partners with her again. He is once again after a killer but for the first time we see him afraid that his family might get hurt. His character only benefits from this story line as Sean appears more human - temptation, fear of losing a loved one, realisation that his family and he are growing apart.
In other words, enjoy!
August 12, 2020
I abandoned this disappointing and rather dull book on pg 55. I like mysteries, and having the killer named on pg 15 is way too early for me. I could live with that if the rest of the book is interesting - it's not. The murders are new , but there are several subplots that have been used in most of the preceding books ( Addis is still using Anna to spy on Corrigan, which was interesting the first time - the fourth time is distinctly less so and the jaded reporter Jackson is still obsessed with Corrigan, as he has been for the last few books) . This book also relies heavily on the readers knowledge of Sebastian Gibran who featured in Delaney's very first book ( and , unless you've read it recently, you've probably forgotten him). This series started off so well, but Delaney needs some new ideas rapidly if he's going to entice this reader back in the future.
December 30, 2018
It took me a while to get into this book. Maybe because there’s been such a long gap since I read book 4.
DI Sean Corrigan and the team are passed a murder case where two people have had their throats cut and finger nails and teeth removed.
The victims are both drug users but it’s not clear why they were targeted.
The race is on to stop the killer from striking again but they’re not fast enough and another victim is killed.
Anna is asked to help Sean again and she’s worried he’s too involved in the case.
Addis is putting pressure on Sean to catch this killer but the team don’t have much to go on until the killer makes a phone call to Sean.
This is a good read but not quite as gripping as previous books in this series.
DI Sean Corrigan and the team are passed a murder case where two people have had their throats cut and finger nails and teeth removed.
The victims are both drug users but it’s not clear why they were targeted.
The race is on to stop the killer from striking again but they’re not fast enough and another victim is killed.
Anna is asked to help Sean again and she’s worried he’s too involved in the case.
Addis is putting pressure on Sean to catch this killer but the team don’t have much to go on until the killer makes a phone call to Sean.
This is a good read but not quite as gripping as previous books in this series.
December 19, 2025
Distinctly alright. I’m a big Chris Carter fan and thought I’d try this. First in the series I read as it was the only one the library had.
Corrigan is a bit bland as the protagonist. I think earlier books probably flesh him out, so I’m not lingering on it. My biggest issue was that stakes in this book felt pretty low, and it was largely predictable. There wasn’t anything twisty, and to be honest the case didn’t really unfurl. The info they had at the start was more or less what they used to catch him. The killer was boring and again there wasn’t any development. What you found at the start of the book was what you got right through.
Anyway, I finished it and thought it was alright. I won’t be rushing to buy the others, but I’d probably try them if they were in the library.
Corrigan is a bit bland as the protagonist. I think earlier books probably flesh him out, so I’m not lingering on it. My biggest issue was that stakes in this book felt pretty low, and it was largely predictable. There wasn’t anything twisty, and to be honest the case didn’t really unfurl. The info they had at the start was more or less what they used to catch him. The killer was boring and again there wasn’t any development. What you found at the start of the book was what you got right through.
Anyway, I finished it and thought it was alright. I won’t be rushing to buy the others, but I’d probably try them if they were in the library.
September 23, 2024
That's it. This is definitely the last Luke Delaney book I'll ever read.
I read it fast, because I could skip vast portions of it, due to the amount of repetitive depiction.
The perpretrator is yet another man who's waited years before suddenly committing violent crimes, has a "destiny" to fulfill and knows all about Sean Corrigan. Boring. Can you change the record, please!!
Yet again, Sean Corrigan confronts the main suspect alone (without telling anyone where he's going) and basically f**ks up, showing his hand and alerting him to the fact that Sean is "on to him".
Sorry, but I doubt if police procedures nowadays have detectives confronting/interviewing anybody alone.
I read it fast, because I could skip vast portions of it, due to the amount of repetitive depiction.
The perpretrator is yet another man who's waited years before suddenly committing violent crimes, has a "destiny" to fulfill and knows all about Sean Corrigan. Boring. Can you change the record, please!!
Yet again, Sean Corrigan confronts the main suspect alone (without telling anyone where he's going) and basically f**ks up, showing his hand and alerting him to the fact that Sean is "on to him".
Sorry, but I doubt if police procedures nowadays have detectives confronting/interviewing anybody alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2018
Book 5 in the D.I. Corrigan series and whilst it was very enjoyable this series is becoming a bit prescriptive. All the gruesome crimes/violence of previous books are her in abundance and the author makes a good job of making you feel that you are right in the middle of the investigation.
I have a bit of a problem with the Addis character and with D.I. Corrigan often going it alone all based on a potential leak from his team.
All in all a welcome return to the series after the author's standalone novel which didn't work for me.
I have a bit of a problem with the Addis character and with D.I. Corrigan often going it alone all based on a potential leak from his team.
All in all a welcome return to the series after the author's standalone novel which didn't work for me.
May 4, 2023
I normally fly through Luke’s books but I was finding this one a bit more repetitive in the way that the sensationalist murders shaun getting into the head of the killers confronting them by himself at the end etc etc. it took me a little longer to read than normal because I actually think I got a bit bored of it all.
It’s a good book but it’s all muddling into one and sorry but I did get bored but did finish the book. I only gave it 3 stars due to it taking me so long to read. Moving to another of Luke’s books in a different series see how they go
It’s a good book but it’s all muddling into one and sorry but I did get bored but did finish the book. I only gave it 3 stars due to it taking me so long to read. Moving to another of Luke’s books in a different series see how they go
November 2, 2025
Once again all praise to Luke Delaney
Such twists in this story linking back to the incredible Cold Killing opener (but I wont give anything else away) make for a truly memorable read. Once again Luke manages to keep me captivated and feel as though I am really there, trying to solve the crime with DI Corrigan while at the same time I am desperate to beat him to it. I have got lost in every one of this series and cannot wait to see what he comes out with next!
Such twists in this story linking back to the incredible Cold Killing opener (but I wont give anything else away) make for a truly memorable read. Once again Luke manages to keep me captivated and feel as though I am really there, trying to solve the crime with DI Corrigan while at the same time I am desperate to beat him to it. I have got lost in every one of this series and cannot wait to see what he comes out with next!
July 3, 2018
This was once again a very accomplished book with enough blood and gore to keep the most bloodthirsty reader happy. The killer was someone you could meet anywhere going about his daily life but deep down harbouring those deep chilling thoughts of who, what, where and how to kill and when, today, tomorrow or next week.
Recommended
Recommended
October 31, 2018
By far the best book so far. I highly recommend reading the prequels before starting on the series. It makes Corrigan a far better character. I still find the criminal elements have far better charter development. I also felt finally the author spent more time on the story rather than Corrigan's so-called special powers. It made for a far better read. I will be looking out for book 6.
January 15, 2019
Another decent effort from Delaney although nowhere near as good as the earlier DI Corrigan novels. I think its about time his dark side manifested itself now!! Classic case of sadistic killer and a race against time to stop him. No major twists and the ending was fairly standard but will certainly read the next in the series.
February 4, 2019
This book followed on from the previous novel, The Jackdaw. It was definitely a page turner, but a few repetitions throughout the novel, which I did find annoying, otherwise it would have been 5 stars for me. I like Luke Delaney's style of writing, read as part of the series, you will not be disappointed.
March 27, 2019
With yet another killer running wild across London stalking his victims it's up to DI Sean Corrigan. As the clock ticks down unlike another victim appears Corrigan has to use his abilities to find the killer whilst he is constantly under fire from his own squad. I highly recommend it if you are a fan of serial killer/ detective stories. It doesn't disappoint.
May 6, 2021
This is the first book that I actually felt bad for Donnelly. In the other books I haven't liked him. He seems sneaky and miserable. But this book shows he is actually human.
Sean is becoming the obsession with all murderers and I'm not sure whether this is going to leave much room for story development.
I loved the cliff hanger at the end of the book. It is different to the previous books.
Sean is becoming the obsession with all murderers and I'm not sure whether this is going to leave much room for story development.
I loved the cliff hanger at the end of the book. It is different to the previous books.
June 5, 2021
DI Sean Corrigan runs a small team dedicated to solving murders. Although this is the first of the series that I have read it does stand alone. The murderer wants fame and notoriety and is succeeding. The team are running out of time before he strikes again. Too much revolves around Sean’s instinctiveness and his solo attitude doesn’t quite ring true
November 14, 2021
Finding out who the killer was on page 15 made me think is it worth it to keep reading? I did keep going with it. I found that 75% of the book was Corrigan's battle with himself and how he can think so much like the killer. Not actually sure whether that would happen with a detective in real life. That last few chapters were the most exciting and where all the action was.
October 25, 2022
I don’t usually read this genre but I really enjoyed it! It reminds me of the BBC Luther series. I would like to read more from this series. The writing was impeccable and I loved the level of description, the characters were described brilliantly and the plot was excellently unravelled. Overall, amazing I highly recommend.
June 9, 2018
A fabulous read, I couldn't put it down and I certainly wasn't expecting the ending. Even though I knew who the killer was I could not tell where the story was going. I love this author and cannot wait for the next one in the series.
September 18, 2018
Getting a bit predictable
First up I really like the series, but a formula gets boring fast if your main subject doesn’t learn from obvious mistakes in the past and just repeats them, time for a change in behaviour for DI Corrigan.
First up I really like the series, but a formula gets boring fast if your main subject doesn’t learn from obvious mistakes in the past and just repeats them, time for a change in behaviour for DI Corrigan.
August 13, 2024
Chillingly gruesome. Fast-paced and unsettling.
DI Sean Corrigan follows his uncanny instincts to try and uncover a particularly confident murderer who is looking to make the history books for his killings.
DI Sean Corrigan follows his uncanny instincts to try and uncover a particularly confident murderer who is looking to make the history books for his killings.
May 30, 2018
DI Sean Corrigan and his team are given a nasty case , Luke Delaney brings us another great thriller in the series well worth reading
July 7, 2018
Audio version of this book 📚- good storyline though I don’t think it was as good as the others in the series. Narration terrible!
December 10, 2018
there's something missing in this series, not thrilling enough? just feels a bit flat.
February 10, 2019
Brilliant as always!
August 31, 2019
4.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews