What do you think?
Rate this book
DI Mariner #7
Missing Lies
Do you love gripping mysteries with great characters?
Discover Detective Tom Mariner in this mystery with a huge twist at the end.
'Collett is a wonderful writer, subtle, clever, strong on atmosphere and character.’ Yorkshire Post
THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “DEAD OF NIGHT.”
18-year-old Grace Clifton vanishes on her way home from work. Amazingly, not a single witness comes forward. But Detective Tom Mariner suspects that she ran away from her overbearing, rich father.
A PACKAGE ARRIVES AT THE POLICE STATION. IT CONTAINS GRACE’S CLOTHES, NEATLY FOLDED AND CLEANED.
Then another woman disappears. And a disturbing pattern begins to emerge.
WHO IS TAKING THEM?
Detective Mariner must track down a suspected serial killer in his toughest, and strangest, case yet, with a conclusion that will have you gasping.
Perfect for fans of Peter James, Angela Marsons, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson. This is the seventh book in the DI MARINER SERIES.
What people are saying about MISSING LIES
"Definitely one of the best British crime novels I have read, with a great plot that twist and turns." Terje
"A brilliantly well thought out mystery with plenty of red herrings." Jacqueline
"A strong pace and multidimensional characters keep this British procedural moving briskly" (Library Journal)
“Cleverly plotted, with an unexpected shock ending, plenty of suspense, and a likably genuine cast of characters, this is a strong new entry in an increasingly popular police-procedural series.” (Booklist)
“I couldn’t put it down.” Barbara
"Procedural fans are in for a really good time.” (Publishers Weekly)
THE SETTING
Birmingham is a city of stark contrasts with a rich cultural and historical heritage. Playing a key role in the industrial revolution, it helped shape the nation’s manufacturing industry
But with its many green spaces, Birmingham also borders on the beautiful countryside of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, is just a few miles from Stratford on Avon and a short drive from the wild country of mid-Wales.
Birmingham’s population is large and ethnically diverse, and while urban regeneration has forged a modern and culturally vibrant city, the decaying remnants of the industrial past and 1960s concrete jungle give it a unique and gritty character; the dark underbelly policed by DI Tom Mariner and his team.
THE DETECTIVE
Detective Inspector Tom Mariner is, on the surface, an average dedicated policeman, but his experiences as a younger man have given him an insight into life on the dark side, and a clear sense of right and wrong. Mariner has little interest in material things. He lives in a modest canal-side cottage, enjoys the occasional (real) beer and game of dominoes and drives an old car. He is most at home in the outdoors, with an OS map and a compass, and in times of crisis, will take off and walk for miles in any weather.
THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “DEAD OF NIGHT.
Discover Detective Tom Mariner in this mystery with a huge twist at the end.
'Collett is a wonderful writer, subtle, clever, strong on atmosphere and character.’ Yorkshire Post
THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “DEAD OF NIGHT.”
18-year-old Grace Clifton vanishes on her way home from work. Amazingly, not a single witness comes forward. But Detective Tom Mariner suspects that she ran away from her overbearing, rich father.
A PACKAGE ARRIVES AT THE POLICE STATION. IT CONTAINS GRACE’S CLOTHES, NEATLY FOLDED AND CLEANED.
Then another woman disappears. And a disturbing pattern begins to emerge.
WHO IS TAKING THEM?
Detective Mariner must track down a suspected serial killer in his toughest, and strangest, case yet, with a conclusion that will have you gasping.
Perfect for fans of Peter James, Angela Marsons, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson. This is the seventh book in the DI MARINER SERIES.
What people are saying about MISSING LIES
"Definitely one of the best British crime novels I have read, with a great plot that twist and turns." Terje
"A brilliantly well thought out mystery with plenty of red herrings." Jacqueline
"A strong pace and multidimensional characters keep this British procedural moving briskly" (Library Journal)
“Cleverly plotted, with an unexpected shock ending, plenty of suspense, and a likably genuine cast of characters, this is a strong new entry in an increasingly popular police-procedural series.” (Booklist)
“I couldn’t put it down.” Barbara
"Procedural fans are in for a really good time.” (Publishers Weekly)
THE SETTING
Birmingham is a city of stark contrasts with a rich cultural and historical heritage. Playing a key role in the industrial revolution, it helped shape the nation’s manufacturing industry
But with its many green spaces, Birmingham also borders on the beautiful countryside of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, is just a few miles from Stratford on Avon and a short drive from the wild country of mid-Wales.
Birmingham’s population is large and ethnically diverse, and while urban regeneration has forged a modern and culturally vibrant city, the decaying remnants of the industrial past and 1960s concrete jungle give it a unique and gritty character; the dark underbelly policed by DI Tom Mariner and his team.
THE DETECTIVE
Detective Inspector Tom Mariner is, on the surface, an average dedicated policeman, but his experiences as a younger man have given him an insight into life on the dark side, and a clear sense of right and wrong. Mariner has little interest in material things. He lives in a modest canal-side cottage, enjoys the occasional (real) beer and game of dominoes and drives an old car. He is most at home in the outdoors, with an OS map and a compass, and in times of crisis, will take off and walk for miles in any weather.
THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “DEAD OF NIGHT.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
1253 people are currently reading
257 people want to read
About the author
Chris Collett
25 books137 followersChris Collett grew up in a Norfolk seaside town where she worked in a boarding house (now defunct) a local bakery (closed down) and a crisp factory (razed to the ground). After leaving school, Chris moved to Liverpool to train as a teacher for children with learning disabilities, including autism. Now a recently retired university lecturer, Chris is married with two grown up children and lives in Birmingham, on DI Tom Mariner's 'patch'. She has published short stories, teaches creative and crime writing and is a manuscript assessor for the Crime Writers Association.
All 8 books of the DI Tom Mariner series are released in revised editions by Joffe Books, along with a new standalone: The Truth About Murder.
Find out more at www.chriscollettcrime.co.uk
All 8 books of the DI Tom Mariner series are released in revised editions by Joffe Books, along with a new standalone: The Truth About Murder.
Find out more at www.chriscollettcrime.co.uk
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 9, 2022
About as exciting as watching paint dry.
November 1, 2018
This book was first published as Dead Of Night. Grace Clifton vanishes on her way home from work. There seems to be no witnesses. Detective Tom Mariner believes she has run away from home. Then a package containing Graces clothes is delivered to the police station. But when another woman disappears, a disturbing pattern starts to emerge. Are they now dealing with a serial killer?
DI Tom Mariner is back but his partner Maggie is still on maternity leave. His new case is not going to be easy. There is no clues, evidence and there seems to be no real motive behind Graces disappearance (maybe her overbearing father). This is a gripping story with several twists. The story is told from several points of view. It's well written and easy to read. I really quite like this series.
I would like to thank Joffe Books and the author Chris Collett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DI Tom Mariner is back but his partner Maggie is still on maternity leave. His new case is not going to be easy. There is no clues, evidence and there seems to be no real motive behind Graces disappearance (maybe her overbearing father). This is a gripping story with several twists. The story is told from several points of view. It's well written and easy to read. I really quite like this series.
I would like to thank Joffe Books and the author Chris Collett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2018
This is the 7th book in the DI Mariner series by author Chris Collett. I love this series and always look forward to the next instalment which has an additional interest to me with it based in Birmingham an area I know very well.
I find this series to be of a consistently high standard, full of strong interesting characters and believable plots. This latest book is no different and guaranteed to keep the reader entertained throughout.
Eighteen year old Grace Clifton disappears on her way home from work and is thought to have run away from home, but when a second young mother disappears, it is deemed to be a kidnapping. The clothes of the two women are sent to the police, dry cleaned and when the bodies are finally found, they were wrapped up in bed sheets.
A very good read that you will find difficult to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I find this series to be of a consistently high standard, full of strong interesting characters and believable plots. This latest book is no different and guaranteed to keep the reader entertained throughout.
Eighteen year old Grace Clifton disappears on her way home from work and is thought to have run away from home, but when a second young mother disappears, it is deemed to be a kidnapping. The clothes of the two women are sent to the police, dry cleaned and when the bodies are finally found, they were wrapped up in bed sheets.
A very good read that you will find difficult to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2018
DI Tom Mariner is back in action .. with a few changes. His long-time partner, Maggie, is still out on maternity leave. Mariner worries that she won't ever be back. He's still dealing with his autistic brother-in-law and keeping him home while awaiting a home in the center is really challenging Mariner on a daily basis.
If that doesn't keep him busy, his current investigation will. A young woman disappears on her way home. Mariner thinks she may have just taken off ..maybe with a boyfriend or to getaway from her father. But when a package is delivered to Mariner with her clothes, freshly washed, folded and cleaned, he changes his mind.
Days later another woman vanishes into thin air and once again a package of her clothing reaches Mariner.
When a third woman goes missing, Mariner understands that what he's dealing with is a serial killer. But without any evidence, DNA, clues to motive, Mariner doesn't even know where to begin.
This is an action-packed page turner, full of suspects with twists and turns that had me reading until the wee hours of night. The ending was surprising in a way I never saw coming.
I enjoy the professional, as well as personal life revealed about Mariner. I really enjoyed seeing what Maggie was up to since she's not officially working right now. I'm looking forward to the next adventure this author may treat us to.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley / Books n All Promotions / Jill Burkinshaw for the digital copy of this 7th book of a terrific series. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
If that doesn't keep him busy, his current investigation will. A young woman disappears on her way home. Mariner thinks she may have just taken off ..maybe with a boyfriend or to getaway from her father. But when a package is delivered to Mariner with her clothes, freshly washed, folded and cleaned, he changes his mind.
Days later another woman vanishes into thin air and once again a package of her clothing reaches Mariner.
When a third woman goes missing, Mariner understands that what he's dealing with is a serial killer. But without any evidence, DNA, clues to motive, Mariner doesn't even know where to begin.
This is an action-packed page turner, full of suspects with twists and turns that had me reading until the wee hours of night. The ending was surprising in a way I never saw coming.
I enjoy the professional, as well as personal life revealed about Mariner. I really enjoyed seeing what Maggie was up to since she's not officially working right now. I'm looking forward to the next adventure this author may treat us to.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley / Books n All Promotions / Jill Burkinshaw for the digital copy of this 7th book of a terrific series. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
November 4, 2018
This is the 7th book in the DI Mariner series by author Chris Collett. I love this series and always look forward to the next instalment which has an additional interest to me with it based in Birmingham an area I know very well.
I find this series to be of a consistently high standard, full of strong interesting characters and believable plots. This latest book is no different and guaranteed to keep the reader entertained throughout.
Eighteen year old Grace Clifton disappears on her way home from work and is thought to have run away from home, but when a second young mother disappears, it is deemed to be a kidnapping. The clothes of the two women are sent to the police, dry cleaned and when the bodies are finally found, they were wrapped up in bed sheets.
A very good read that you will find difficult to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
I find this series to be of a consistently high standard, full of strong interesting characters and believable plots. This latest book is no different and guaranteed to keep the reader entertained throughout.
Eighteen year old Grace Clifton disappears on her way home from work and is thought to have run away from home, but when a second young mother disappears, it is deemed to be a kidnapping. The clothes of the two women are sent to the police, dry cleaned and when the bodies are finally found, they were wrapped up in bed sheets.
A very good read that you will find difficult to put down.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Joffe Books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2018
REVIEW TO BE POSTED 11/1/18
Read
November 2, 2018Acting DCI Tom Mariner of the West Midlands Police has his hands full. Missing women, two of his team members away from the job, a new romantic relationship that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and an autistic charge at home. Whew -- he's definitely busy in this book, #7 in a long-running detective series.
Grace Clifton, 18-years-old, was on her way to meet friends after leaving her job at Symphony hall when she vanished. Mariner receives a package of her clothing in the mail so the police know this indicates probable foul play. Then another woman disappears and her clothing is sent to the station as well. What's interesting is that the clothes have been washed and pressed. Mariner, Jesson and Glover are stumped. The hunt is on to figure out who took these women and why. As the investigation continues, more deaths occur as first one suspect and then another is eliminated. Keeping all the characters and their relationships straight is a bit difficult as the case expands and the tedious process of seeking information and clues helps them narrow their focus. NO SPOILERS.
What a great police procedural! I can't believe I haven't read one of Collett's books before as I love crime thrillers with good detail and complicated cases. Although I have no clue about the development of Tom Mariner as a character from the first book to the present, I felt this worked OK as a standalone. That said, I fully intend to go find the others in the series. I liked the writing style, the perspectives from different points of view, the action and the relentless hunt for the perpetrator. I prefer little to no romance in books, so this lack within served me well. I can't wait to get to know the team members better. Basically a straight-forward detective mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I understand that it was previously published by Severn House in 2014 as DEAD OF NIGHT.
Grace Clifton, 18-years-old, was on her way to meet friends after leaving her job at Symphony hall when she vanished. Mariner receives a package of her clothing in the mail so the police know this indicates probable foul play. Then another woman disappears and her clothing is sent to the station as well. What's interesting is that the clothes have been washed and pressed. Mariner, Jesson and Glover are stumped. The hunt is on to figure out who took these women and why. As the investigation continues, more deaths occur as first one suspect and then another is eliminated. Keeping all the characters and their relationships straight is a bit difficult as the case expands and the tedious process of seeking information and clues helps them narrow their focus. NO SPOILERS.
What a great police procedural! I can't believe I haven't read one of Collett's books before as I love crime thrillers with good detail and complicated cases. Although I have no clue about the development of Tom Mariner as a character from the first book to the present, I felt this worked OK as a standalone. That said, I fully intend to go find the others in the series. I liked the writing style, the perspectives from different points of view, the action and the relentless hunt for the perpetrator. I prefer little to no romance in books, so this lack within served me well. I can't wait to get to know the team members better. Basically a straight-forward detective mystery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. I understand that it was previously published by Severn House in 2014 as DEAD OF NIGHT.
March 22, 2020
A DEAD exciting read in more ways than one! I got a cramp in my finger from "flicking" the pages in my Kindle so quickly - it literally was unputdownable. The ending left me completely gobsmacked, and I honestly can't remember the last time that's happened. Highly recommended read.
July 30, 2019
A ho-hum police procedural mystery. Missing girls, later found murdered, piques the reader’s interest early on. That interest wains as the plot lags in the middle of the book. The plot stalls as further progress in the investigation does. There is no driving force compelling the plot along.......just more missing girls. At the 65% mark, the villain is revealed, which seems too contrived, and the reader knows it is too perfect a resolution to be the true one. And so it is.
There is a good attempt at characterization, but, except for the main protagonist, the other characters are one dimensional. Motives of the antagonist are not developed.
The storyline held my attention, and the resolution was satisfying, but the novel, on the whole, lacked the thrills and chills I expect in a murder mystery. I am not interested in reading another installment in this series.
There is a good attempt at characterization, but, except for the main protagonist, the other characters are one dimensional. Motives of the antagonist are not developed.
The storyline held my attention, and the resolution was satisfying, but the novel, on the whole, lacked the thrills and chills I expect in a murder mystery. I am not interested in reading another installment in this series.
December 20, 2018
Detective Tom Mariner needs to solve the disappearance of a woman, then another one, so a pattern is set. It is my first book from this series and I like it very much, so I will read the others too.
Thank you Netgalley for this crime story.
Thank you Netgalley for this crime story.
November 11, 2018
This is Book 7 in the DI Mariner series and I have read and loved every book. It does work very well as stand alone but I think you will probably want to read them all as they are very addictive.
Mariner is feeling a little out of sorts. His partner, Tony Knox has been seconded to a special operations project. Vicky Jesson is fairly knew and Charlie Glover is not really a colleague Mariner could confide in. That said, disjointed though the team may be, they all get along and look out for each other.
To add to Mariners problems he recently lost his girlfriend and ended up with guardianship of Jamie, her severely autistic brother. So with caring responsibilities to add to the stresses of his position he is pulled many ways and his new relationship with Suzy is suffering as a result.
When a young woman goes missing the initial thoughts are she had run away and with no body and no clues the team don't really have much to go on. When more young women go missing the links are made and the race is on to find the abductor before he takes anyone else.
This is a real emotional roller coaster ride of a book with twists and turns all the way through and the people I had marked as possible bad guys - well I couldn't have been more wrong. The characters still have more to reveal about themselves and continue to develop.
Another adrenaline pumping addition to a brilliant series. 5 Golden stars from me.
Mariner is feeling a little out of sorts. His partner, Tony Knox has been seconded to a special operations project. Vicky Jesson is fairly knew and Charlie Glover is not really a colleague Mariner could confide in. That said, disjointed though the team may be, they all get along and look out for each other.
To add to Mariners problems he recently lost his girlfriend and ended up with guardianship of Jamie, her severely autistic brother. So with caring responsibilities to add to the stresses of his position he is pulled many ways and his new relationship with Suzy is suffering as a result.
When a young woman goes missing the initial thoughts are she had run away and with no body and no clues the team don't really have much to go on. When more young women go missing the links are made and the race is on to find the abductor before he takes anyone else.
This is a real emotional roller coaster ride of a book with twists and turns all the way through and the people I had marked as possible bad guys - well I couldn't have been more wrong. The characters still have more to reveal about themselves and continue to develop.
Another adrenaline pumping addition to a brilliant series. 5 Golden stars from me.
November 6, 2018
Wow - talk about launching the reader straight into the action. After a creepy sinister prologue we catch up with (acting) DCI Tom Mariner. The police are preparing to stage a reconstruction of the night that eighteen year old Grace Clifton disappeared on her way home from work. Grace just happened to be the daughter of Council leader Bob Clifton,a wealthy and overbearing man who doesn't hold back on his opinion on police incompetence. The more time Mariner has to be spend with the man,the more convinced he becomes that Grace has ran away of her own accord.
Then the police receive a package containing Grace`s clothes,neatly pressed and laundered,even her shoes have been polished. Then a second woman disappears and the police receive a second package.
It appears that there is a serial killer stalking the streets of Birmingham. Mariner who is still adapting to a new investigation team and is struggling to pull its members together is about to tackle one of his strangest and most challenging cases yet.
As well as struggling to adapt to a new team,Mariner is missing his right hand man DS Tony Knox who has been seconded to Operation Athena. A task force that is clamping down on the circulation of illegal firearms in the city. Mariner is also struggling with his decision to move severely autistic Jamie Barham into his home. Jamie is the younger brother of Mariner`s ex partner Anna and Mariner was positive that he had made the right decision at the time especially considering the conditions that Jamie was living in at his previous residential facility. Now Marriner is in charge of a major investigation,he feels guilty about being over reliant on kindly Mercy Brown who takes care of Jamie when he is not in day care. So Mariner has to seriously rethink his decision and is wondering wether he should find Jamie a new residential facility. Although Tony Knox is in this book,he only appears every now and again and like Mariner,I missed the banter and camaraderie that the two characters share when they are investigating a case together. Mariner still had Charlie Glover and the new addition to the team Vikki Jesson fitted in well with the team but the banter and camaraderie that the usual team share was missing. Jamilla (Millie) Khatoon is currently off on maternity leave and although she loves her new baby,she is also missing her colleagues in CID,the sense of belonging and the sudden bursts of energy when they go on a shout. Little does she realise the life threatening situation she will find herself in,all because she makes a new friend at the health clinic.
This intricately plotted thriller is told from the points of view of Mariner,Charlie,Millie and poor little eight year old Dominique who`s mummy doesn't come home from work. Dominique`s chapters were heart breaking as we witnessed the poor little girl try to take care of herself,getting herself to school and being bullied because she couldn't wash herself or her clothes properly. It was ingenious how the author made all the threads of the story pull together and the identity of the killer who was actually hiding in plain sight was revealed. The killer was a sick,twisted but very clever individual who's identity took me completely by surprise,I definitely didn't see that twist coming.
Missing Lies is a gripping page turner,packed with twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing throughout. It also contains are moral message which is that some people in different professions might be heroes but that doesn't mean everyone is. Although this is the seventh book in the series,it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this book and link forward to whatever Mariner`s next case is going to be,hopefully,fingers crossed,Tony and Millie will be part of his team again.
Many thanks to Joffe Books and Jill Burkinshaw for the opportunity to read and review this book and take part in the Blog tour
Then the police receive a package containing Grace`s clothes,neatly pressed and laundered,even her shoes have been polished. Then a second woman disappears and the police receive a second package.
It appears that there is a serial killer stalking the streets of Birmingham. Mariner who is still adapting to a new investigation team and is struggling to pull its members together is about to tackle one of his strangest and most challenging cases yet.
As well as struggling to adapt to a new team,Mariner is missing his right hand man DS Tony Knox who has been seconded to Operation Athena. A task force that is clamping down on the circulation of illegal firearms in the city. Mariner is also struggling with his decision to move severely autistic Jamie Barham into his home. Jamie is the younger brother of Mariner`s ex partner Anna and Mariner was positive that he had made the right decision at the time especially considering the conditions that Jamie was living in at his previous residential facility. Now Marriner is in charge of a major investigation,he feels guilty about being over reliant on kindly Mercy Brown who takes care of Jamie when he is not in day care. So Mariner has to seriously rethink his decision and is wondering wether he should find Jamie a new residential facility. Although Tony Knox is in this book,he only appears every now and again and like Mariner,I missed the banter and camaraderie that the two characters share when they are investigating a case together. Mariner still had Charlie Glover and the new addition to the team Vikki Jesson fitted in well with the team but the banter and camaraderie that the usual team share was missing. Jamilla (Millie) Khatoon is currently off on maternity leave and although she loves her new baby,she is also missing her colleagues in CID,the sense of belonging and the sudden bursts of energy when they go on a shout. Little does she realise the life threatening situation she will find herself in,all because she makes a new friend at the health clinic.
This intricately plotted thriller is told from the points of view of Mariner,Charlie,Millie and poor little eight year old Dominique who`s mummy doesn't come home from work. Dominique`s chapters were heart breaking as we witnessed the poor little girl try to take care of herself,getting herself to school and being bullied because she couldn't wash herself or her clothes properly. It was ingenious how the author made all the threads of the story pull together and the identity of the killer who was actually hiding in plain sight was revealed. The killer was a sick,twisted but very clever individual who's identity took me completely by surprise,I definitely didn't see that twist coming.
Missing Lies is a gripping page turner,packed with twists and turns and keeps the reader guessing throughout. It also contains are moral message which is that some people in different professions might be heroes but that doesn't mean everyone is. Although this is the seventh book in the series,it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this book and link forward to whatever Mariner`s next case is going to be,hopefully,fingers crossed,Tony and Millie will be part of his team again.
Many thanks to Joffe Books and Jill Burkinshaw for the opportunity to read and review this book and take part in the Blog tour
November 7, 2018
This is the 7th in the Tom Mariner series and I found it as enjoyable as the previous six. It is also perfectly possible to read it as a standalone, although I think the reader would be missing so much of the background to all the characters if he/she didn't read the previous novels.
Tom Mariner is still caring for the brother of his deceased girlfriend, Jamie, who is autistic and attends a day care centre. Tom realises that he really needs to be back in a residential home so that his care is consistent but Tom is prepared to care for Jamie for as long as it takes to sort one out. Tom has also temporarily lost two members of his team with Millie on maternity leave and Tony Knox on secondment to another investigation.
A young girl disappears on her way home from work and Tom believes she has run away from her bombastic father ( a councillor) but then a parcel of her clothes, carefully washed and pressed, is delivered to the police station and Tom knows that this is now a murder inquiry. When a second young woman goes missing and her clothes are delivered in the same fashion, Tom now has a serial killer on his hands. Add in what seems to be (at first) a side story of a missing mother with a little girl trying to cope alone, and the clues and dead ends abound.
I didn't work out who the killer was so the ending was a revelation to me which, as far as I am concerned, is the sign of a great book. The writing kept me glued to the page and the ending left me wanting more and more. I would recommend to all lovers of police procedurals.
Tom Mariner is still caring for the brother of his deceased girlfriend, Jamie, who is autistic and attends a day care centre. Tom realises that he really needs to be back in a residential home so that his care is consistent but Tom is prepared to care for Jamie for as long as it takes to sort one out. Tom has also temporarily lost two members of his team with Millie on maternity leave and Tony Knox on secondment to another investigation.
A young girl disappears on her way home from work and Tom believes she has run away from her bombastic father ( a councillor) but then a parcel of her clothes, carefully washed and pressed, is delivered to the police station and Tom knows that this is now a murder inquiry. When a second young woman goes missing and her clothes are delivered in the same fashion, Tom now has a serial killer on his hands. Add in what seems to be (at first) a side story of a missing mother with a little girl trying to cope alone, and the clues and dead ends abound.
I didn't work out who the killer was so the ending was a revelation to me which, as far as I am concerned, is the sign of a great book. The writing kept me glued to the page and the ending left me wanting more and more. I would recommend to all lovers of police procedurals.
January 9, 2015
A special thank you to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Chris Collett’s latest crime mystery, DEAD OF NIGHT, A Tom Mariner Mystery delivers a suspenseful and fast-paced complex police procedural with some likable characters.
Birmingham Detective Inspector Mariner is undertaking one of his most difficult cases, as he has come to terms with the loss of his former partner, Anna and attempts to move forward with his new girlfriend in Cambridge. In addition to his busy and hectic schedule, he is taking care of his autistic foster child, Jamie.
As the book opens Grace Clifton goes missing; a teenage daughter of Councilor Bob Clifton, and he no doubt enjoys the kind of money and power that would make him a target for potential kidnappers, and Grace is an attractive young woman.
Could Grace have chosen to disappear or that someone closer to home knew where she was? Current council leader would have substantial influence over police budgets for the next twelve months, at a time when public spending had become a dirty phase. And this was a man with an established record of criticism of the police. A very challenging case, Tom then has to deal with her overbearing and wealthy father.
Elsewhere in the city Dominique is left alone, as her mother has not come home from work. When another young woman goes missing, the heat intensifies along with the suspense. Is a serial killer on their hands? Could these two cases be connected? A complex case, for a thrilling roller coaster ride.
This was my first book by Collett, and now so intrigued, want to go back and read some of the back story in the previous books in the series. I really enjoyed the author’s inspiration behind the story. Inspiration Behind the Book
I wish more authors would add this information at the ending of their books (if not included, I go searching the web), as I find it quite fascinating! You can read about Collett’s inspiration for the series (above link), and for DEAD OF NIGHT, in particular using multiple viewpoints, set in Birmingham, and how her characters began to emerge, with the central narrative linking them together and how it takes shape. In addition her expertise, working with children on the autistic spectrum.
I really enjoyed Tom Mariner’s character, as he is sharp, with enough personal balance to make for an engaging read. I look forward to reading the previous books in the series and more from this British author.
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
Chris Collett’s latest crime mystery, DEAD OF NIGHT, A Tom Mariner Mystery delivers a suspenseful and fast-paced complex police procedural with some likable characters.
Birmingham Detective Inspector Mariner is undertaking one of his most difficult cases, as he has come to terms with the loss of his former partner, Anna and attempts to move forward with his new girlfriend in Cambridge. In addition to his busy and hectic schedule, he is taking care of his autistic foster child, Jamie.
As the book opens Grace Clifton goes missing; a teenage daughter of Councilor Bob Clifton, and he no doubt enjoys the kind of money and power that would make him a target for potential kidnappers, and Grace is an attractive young woman.
Could Grace have chosen to disappear or that someone closer to home knew where she was? Current council leader would have substantial influence over police budgets for the next twelve months, at a time when public spending had become a dirty phase. And this was a man with an established record of criticism of the police. A very challenging case, Tom then has to deal with her overbearing and wealthy father.
Elsewhere in the city Dominique is left alone, as her mother has not come home from work. When another young woman goes missing, the heat intensifies along with the suspense. Is a serial killer on their hands? Could these two cases be connected? A complex case, for a thrilling roller coaster ride.
This was my first book by Collett, and now so intrigued, want to go back and read some of the back story in the previous books in the series. I really enjoyed the author’s inspiration behind the story. Inspiration Behind the Book
I wish more authors would add this information at the ending of their books (if not included, I go searching the web), as I find it quite fascinating! You can read about Collett’s inspiration for the series (above link), and for DEAD OF NIGHT, in particular using multiple viewpoints, set in Birmingham, and how her characters began to emerge, with the central narrative linking them together and how it takes shape. In addition her expertise, working with children on the autistic spectrum.
I really enjoyed Tom Mariner’s character, as he is sharp, with enough personal balance to make for an engaging read. I look forward to reading the previous books in the series and more from this British author.
Judith D. Collins Must Read Books
November 14, 2018
If you love a good plot with great charactors then you will love this,i like to become absorbed into a book and feel as if i am there and this book delivers.well worth 5*
April 6, 2020
Great series
Enjoyed the opportunity read the entire series. Liked the fact that the conclusion was not predictable in any of the books.
Enjoyed the opportunity read the entire series. Liked the fact that the conclusion was not predictable in any of the books.
November 14, 2018
If there’s one thing this Ginger Book Geek loves to do, it’s discovering a new author and a new series. It wasn’t so very long ago that I had my first introduction to Detective Inspector Tom Mariner. Now it feels as though I have known him for years. Anyway I digress so back to the review I do go. I eagerly download my copy of each new book that Chris releases and I disappear into my reading den. I don’t emerge until I have finished reading. The most recent book in the series is called ‘Missing Lies’ and it was released on 28th October 2018. I absolutely, totally, utterly and completely loved it but more about that in a bit.
I have to admit that I have developed something of a soft spot for Detective Inspector Mariner. He is a dedicated police officer and he is most definitely dedicated to his work. He certainly doesn’t have an equal work/ life balance and his dedication to his work has often cost him dearly in his personal life. Mariner is currently single but he has a demanding home life. His late partner’s brother is autistic and following the death of his partner, it emerged that Tom had become his legal guardian. Tom feels ever so slightly out of his depth as he has never been a carer before and he doesn’t have any previous experience of autism. Gradually though he is getting there and he and his sort of brother-in-law are gradually forming a very close relationship and friendship. Mariner can’t help but pine (well sort of) for his old team as some members have gone to pastures new but that doesn’t mean that their friendships have been ended. ‘Missing Lies’ starts with the case of a disappearance of a young woman. Initially Mariner thinks that she has left of her own free will and that the reconstruction of her disappearance is unwarranted. Mariner is under the impression that the reconstruction has only been filmed because of who the woman’s father is. Soon the case becomes so much more serious and worrying details emerge. Will Mariner and his team solve the case before any lives are lost? Will they apprehend the abductor? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As soon as I opened ‘Missing Lies’ and began to read, I felt as though I had reunited with old friends. It didn’t take me long at all to get into the story- actually by the end of the first sentence, I was definitely hooked on this book and reading it became an addiction. I was like an addict in desperate need of her next fix. I couldn’t bear to be parted from the book and I took it everywhere with me. I just had to read on to see how the case progressed and if my hero (Mariner) survived in one piece. The author uses such vivid and powerful descriptions that I really did feel as though I was an invisible member of the investigative team. I even found myself trying to take an active part in the investigation and I would occasionally throw out the odd comment or suggestion, which did attract some strange looks when I was on the bus. Before anybody starts, yes I know it is fiction and therefore not real but I find that if I am convinced by the author’s writing style, the story and the characters I tend to ‘live’ the story. Reading this book was much like being a rather scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. Some of the twists I had worked out but other twists hit me like a punch to the gut.
It’s fair to say that I loved, no make that adored reading ‘Missing Lies’. I would definitely recommend this author, her books and this series to other readers. I can’t wait to read what further cases await DI Tom Mariner in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is an extremely well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I have to admit that I have developed something of a soft spot for Detective Inspector Mariner. He is a dedicated police officer and he is most definitely dedicated to his work. He certainly doesn’t have an equal work/ life balance and his dedication to his work has often cost him dearly in his personal life. Mariner is currently single but he has a demanding home life. His late partner’s brother is autistic and following the death of his partner, it emerged that Tom had become his legal guardian. Tom feels ever so slightly out of his depth as he has never been a carer before and he doesn’t have any previous experience of autism. Gradually though he is getting there and he and his sort of brother-in-law are gradually forming a very close relationship and friendship. Mariner can’t help but pine (well sort of) for his old team as some members have gone to pastures new but that doesn’t mean that their friendships have been ended. ‘Missing Lies’ starts with the case of a disappearance of a young woman. Initially Mariner thinks that she has left of her own free will and that the reconstruction of her disappearance is unwarranted. Mariner is under the impression that the reconstruction has only been filmed because of who the woman’s father is. Soon the case becomes so much more serious and worrying details emerge. Will Mariner and his team solve the case before any lives are lost? Will they apprehend the abductor? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As soon as I opened ‘Missing Lies’ and began to read, I felt as though I had reunited with old friends. It didn’t take me long at all to get into the story- actually by the end of the first sentence, I was definitely hooked on this book and reading it became an addiction. I was like an addict in desperate need of her next fix. I couldn’t bear to be parted from the book and I took it everywhere with me. I just had to read on to see how the case progressed and if my hero (Mariner) survived in one piece. The author uses such vivid and powerful descriptions that I really did feel as though I was an invisible member of the investigative team. I even found myself trying to take an active part in the investigation and I would occasionally throw out the odd comment or suggestion, which did attract some strange looks when I was on the bus. Before anybody starts, yes I know it is fiction and therefore not real but I find that if I am convinced by the author’s writing style, the story and the characters I tend to ‘live’ the story. Reading this book was much like being a rather scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty. Some of the twists I had worked out but other twists hit me like a punch to the gut.
It’s fair to say that I loved, no make that adored reading ‘Missing Lies’. I would definitely recommend this author, her books and this series to other readers. I can’t wait to read what further cases await DI Tom Mariner in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is an extremely well deserved 5* out of 5*.
October 30, 2018
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Missing Lies, the seventh police procedural to feature DCI Tom Mariner of the Birmingham Police.
When teenager Grace Clifton vanishes without trace from the city centre nobody is sure if she has engineered her own disappearance or if something more sinister has happened and when her clothes, neatly ironed and pressed, are delivered to the police station the mystery only deepens until another woman disappears. It then becomes clear that, at best, the women have been abducted.
I thoroughly enjoyed Missing Lies which is an absorbing read with some good twists. The novel is narrated from several different points of view although thankfully none of them is the perpetrator’s (can’t be bothered with the generic “psychology” that goes into most of them). Often this approach can be distracting but in this novel I found it intriguing as I tried to work out where each character slotted in to the overall plot, mostly unsuccessfully as the twists kept coming and changed the direction I believed it was heading. The only downside to the novel is the slightly sloppy procedures, like not trying to trace the victims’ mobile phone signals, but this is a minor criticism of a page turner of a read.
Tom Mariner is still a bit of an enigma to me after seven novels. He is a solitary man, more comfortable in his own company than that of others and yet he has a girlfriend whom he neglects and impulsively has a severely autistic man, Jamie, living with him. In this novel he is Acting DCI, normally a more administrative role, but he’s still leading the investigation actively, from the front. A mass of contradictions but his heart is in the right place so you can’t help liking him.
Missing Lies is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When teenager Grace Clifton vanishes without trace from the city centre nobody is sure if she has engineered her own disappearance or if something more sinister has happened and when her clothes, neatly ironed and pressed, are delivered to the police station the mystery only deepens until another woman disappears. It then becomes clear that, at best, the women have been abducted.
I thoroughly enjoyed Missing Lies which is an absorbing read with some good twists. The novel is narrated from several different points of view although thankfully none of them is the perpetrator’s (can’t be bothered with the generic “psychology” that goes into most of them). Often this approach can be distracting but in this novel I found it intriguing as I tried to work out where each character slotted in to the overall plot, mostly unsuccessfully as the twists kept coming and changed the direction I believed it was heading. The only downside to the novel is the slightly sloppy procedures, like not trying to trace the victims’ mobile phone signals, but this is a minor criticism of a page turner of a read.
Tom Mariner is still a bit of an enigma to me after seven novels. He is a solitary man, more comfortable in his own company than that of others and yet he has a girlfriend whom he neglects and impulsively has a severely autistic man, Jamie, living with him. In this novel he is Acting DCI, normally a more administrative role, but he’s still leading the investigation actively, from the front. A mass of contradictions but his heart is in the right place so you can’t help liking him.
Missing Lies is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
November 9, 2018
Missing Lies is the 7th book in the DI Tom Mariner series but you do not have to have read all the previous books to enjoy this one. I will confess that I have only dipped in and out briefly having previously only read book 4 but it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this latest offering. Although there are references to past characters they are not so integral to the storyline that you have to know how they fit in to anything.
This time Tom is working with a few new members in his team trying to find out what has happened to the missing daughter of a local councillor. Initially believing that the girl had run away they soon had to change the direction of the investigation when they received a package containing items of her clothing, closely followed by the disappearance of another woman. To add to the stress of the ongoing investigations he also has to juggle the care of the autistic brother of a former partner and his current relationship.
Part of what I love about these books is the area it is set in. Set around Birmingham I can actually picture some of the places that are mentioned as ones I have visited on occasion. Tom is quite a down to earth person who seems to have a good relationship with his team both old and new (even if he does sometimes wish he had not lost one or two of them).
Alongside the missing girls case there is a sub story involving one of his old team to do with gun smuggling. I will admit that I thought I knew how that part of the book would play out… turns out I was wrong but that’s a good thing as there is nothing worse than being able to work out what was going on before you get to the end of the book. Although I wouldn’t personally describe the book as fast paced there is certainly enough going on to hold the reader’s attention right to the end without confusing them. Although not really part of the story I do love the glossary of terms at the back of the book that explain some of the terms to overseas readers as they often give me a chuckle. Overall this is a really great read and I am going to try to find the time to read the rest in the series that I have missed.
This time Tom is working with a few new members in his team trying to find out what has happened to the missing daughter of a local councillor. Initially believing that the girl had run away they soon had to change the direction of the investigation when they received a package containing items of her clothing, closely followed by the disappearance of another woman. To add to the stress of the ongoing investigations he also has to juggle the care of the autistic brother of a former partner and his current relationship.
Part of what I love about these books is the area it is set in. Set around Birmingham I can actually picture some of the places that are mentioned as ones I have visited on occasion. Tom is quite a down to earth person who seems to have a good relationship with his team both old and new (even if he does sometimes wish he had not lost one or two of them).
Alongside the missing girls case there is a sub story involving one of his old team to do with gun smuggling. I will admit that I thought I knew how that part of the book would play out… turns out I was wrong but that’s a good thing as there is nothing worse than being able to work out what was going on before you get to the end of the book. Although I wouldn’t personally describe the book as fast paced there is certainly enough going on to hold the reader’s attention right to the end without confusing them. Although not really part of the story I do love the glossary of terms at the back of the book that explain some of the terms to overseas readers as they often give me a chuckle. Overall this is a really great read and I am going to try to find the time to read the rest in the series that I have missed.
November 11, 2018
Excellent Red Herrings Elevate This Mystery
I’m glad that I read new-to-me author, Chris Collett, because I enjoyed “Missing Lies,” which I read as a stand-alone. DCI Tom Mariner is busy with a multiple kidnap/murder case, but he’s missing two team members. Mariner’s reliable DS, Tony Knox, is seconded to an illegal firearms tracking operation.
Dependable DC Millie Khatoon is on maternity leave, but she’s trying to keep her brain sharp. Her friend and another new mum, Louise Easton, thinks she’s being watched, but she won’t tell her husband. Greg Easton—whose family manufactures sports-guns—is drinking more, working late hours; has meetings that his co-workers deny took place; and oddly, many pieces of his clothing are missing.
Mariner’s inquiry leads him to a hospital ICU where badly wounded soldiers are being treated. Uniformed MPs are on duty in case a patient—who was wounded during a FUBAR mission in Afghanistan—regains consciousness.
As a mystery/police procedural aficionado, I enjoyed ticking boxes to find the culprit. The author dropped excellent clues leading to just about every red herring. Brava, Chris Collett! I got the “where” correct, but I totally missed the “who.” I did enjoy solving the whodunnit with DCI Mariner and Millie, the new mum. The plot threads knitted together at the end and all were nicely tied off.
To the otherwise wonderful editors:
Here’s an odd bit: “. . . with an icy front from the Antarctic bringing a hard frost and . . . “
The story is set in England, so perhaps an Arctic front?
I’m glad that I read new-to-me author, Chris Collett, because I enjoyed “Missing Lies,” which I read as a stand-alone. DCI Tom Mariner is busy with a multiple kidnap/murder case, but he’s missing two team members. Mariner’s reliable DS, Tony Knox, is seconded to an illegal firearms tracking operation.
Dependable DC Millie Khatoon is on maternity leave, but she’s trying to keep her brain sharp. Her friend and another new mum, Louise Easton, thinks she’s being watched, but she won’t tell her husband. Greg Easton—whose family manufactures sports-guns—is drinking more, working late hours; has meetings that his co-workers deny took place; and oddly, many pieces of his clothing are missing.
Mariner’s inquiry leads him to a hospital ICU where badly wounded soldiers are being treated. Uniformed MPs are on duty in case a patient—who was wounded during a FUBAR mission in Afghanistan—regains consciousness.
As a mystery/police procedural aficionado, I enjoyed ticking boxes to find the culprit. The author dropped excellent clues leading to just about every red herring. Brava, Chris Collett! I got the “where” correct, but I totally missed the “who.” I did enjoy solving the whodunnit with DCI Mariner and Millie, the new mum. The plot threads knitted together at the end and all were nicely tied off.
To the otherwise wonderful editors:
Here’s an odd bit: “. . . with an icy front from the Antarctic bringing a hard frost and . . . “
The story is set in England, so perhaps an Arctic front?
November 4, 2018
Having read all the previous books in the Tom Mariner series, I was very pleased to receive this ARC from Joffe books to read and review. I have enjoyed all the previous books and was looking forward to another great Mariner adventure. In contrast to the others, this one started quite slowly, and I found it a little hard going to begin with. There didn’t seem to be quite so much action and excitement and, having lost Tony Knox to another section and Millie to her maternity leave, the team seemed a little depleted. However, Knox and Millie did manage to contribute quite significantly to the solving of the case, alongside Charlie Glover and Jesson who was assigned from another station. As usual, as well as trying to solve this very tricky case, Mariner was also juggling the looking after his ward, Jamie the brother of his ex-girlfriend Anna, and making an effort to fit in time for his new lady friend Suzy, which was proving to be very difficult. There were many false conclusions to this crime, with the team thinking they had identified the killer on more than one occasion only to realise that things weren’t quite as they seemed. Eventually though, the did manage to wind it all up and Mariner was starting to hope that his private life would start to get a bit easier. Although I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as the previous ones, it was still a good read and I look forward to the next in the series.
Read
May 17, 2021In the seventh book in the series, Tom Mariner, now acting Detective Chief Inspector, has a lot going on in his personal life. It means he needs to keep to a strict timetable and rely on help to look after autistic Jamie. At work, he’s got a new team around him as Millie’s on maternity leave and Tony Knox on a separate enquiry.
When the daughter of a prominent local politician goes missing, it looks like she’s run away from her parents. There’s no evidence of foul play and a reconstruction generates no leads. When her laundered and neatly pressed clothes arrive in a parcel at the station, everything changes. Within days, another set of clothes indicate another abducted woman.
When a local nurse goes missing, the hospital comes under close scrutiny as the detectives await another clothes parcel. But it never arrives, leaving them confused and struggling to make headway with the investigation.
It’s a complicated investigation that runs down several cul de sacs before a further death provides focus and an explanation for the crimes. Only Tom Mariner isn’t convinced and makes a sudden breakthrough to solve the crimes and apprehend the killer at the eleventh hour.
Missing Lies lacks the spark and focus of previous books in the series, perhaps because there’s so much time given to life outside the investigation. While Millie and Tony have peripheral roles in the investigation, the main plot feels hurried at the end.
When the daughter of a prominent local politician goes missing, it looks like she’s run away from her parents. There’s no evidence of foul play and a reconstruction generates no leads. When her laundered and neatly pressed clothes arrive in a parcel at the station, everything changes. Within days, another set of clothes indicate another abducted woman.
When a local nurse goes missing, the hospital comes under close scrutiny as the detectives await another clothes parcel. But it never arrives, leaving them confused and struggling to make headway with the investigation.
It’s a complicated investigation that runs down several cul de sacs before a further death provides focus and an explanation for the crimes. Only Tom Mariner isn’t convinced and makes a sudden breakthrough to solve the crimes and apprehend the killer at the eleventh hour.
Missing Lies lacks the spark and focus of previous books in the series, perhaps because there’s so much time given to life outside the investigation. While Millie and Tony have peripheral roles in the investigation, the main plot feels hurried at the end.
November 2, 2018
Number 7 in the Tom Mariner series and its just as fresh as the first.
Tom currently acting DCI finds himself running what amounts to a new team as two of his colleagues are absent. He still has Jamie his ex`s autistic brother living with him and although he still has a relationship of sorts with Suzie it doesn`t seem to be going anywhere.
Grace Clifton didn`t turn up to meet friends after work, as shes 18 its assumed at first that shes gone off with a boyfriend, but when her clothing is sent to Tom freshly laundered and neatly folded alarm bells start to ring.
A few days later another missing woman and once again the package of freshly washed clothing is sent to Tom and then a third goes missing.
Tom and the team set about investigating but as they have no clues as to why these women have been taken, the link between them or where they are being held this is no easy task.
That is until their bodies start turning up wrapped in bed sheets.
Now the race is on to solve the puzzle and apprehend the killer before he can strike again.
Eventually there are plenty suspects to choose from in what is an action packed and gripping read.
I couldn`t put it down, thanks to Joffe books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
Tom currently acting DCI finds himself running what amounts to a new team as two of his colleagues are absent. He still has Jamie his ex`s autistic brother living with him and although he still has a relationship of sorts with Suzie it doesn`t seem to be going anywhere.
Grace Clifton didn`t turn up to meet friends after work, as shes 18 its assumed at first that shes gone off with a boyfriend, but when her clothing is sent to Tom freshly laundered and neatly folded alarm bells start to ring.
A few days later another missing woman and once again the package of freshly washed clothing is sent to Tom and then a third goes missing.
Tom and the team set about investigating but as they have no clues as to why these women have been taken, the link between them or where they are being held this is no easy task.
That is until their bodies start turning up wrapped in bed sheets.
Now the race is on to solve the puzzle and apprehend the killer before he can strike again.
Eventually there are plenty suspects to choose from in what is an action packed and gripping read.
I couldn`t put it down, thanks to Joffe books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.
June 16, 2019
DCI Tom Mariner has a new team. Tony Knox is with another project that is trying to find out who is supplying guns to criminals. Millie Khatoon is on maternity leave, though she gets involved with another woman with a new baby, whose husband sells guns, and is in some kind of trouble. Mariner is involved with a serial killer case, where three women have disappeared with the clothing of two of them having been sent to the police. It appears that the women all had some connection to the hospital, and it has a component that takes of military casualties, coming back from Afghanistan. One particular man, Private Lomax, and the man who was constantly watching over him, who Mariner thinks is his father.
In this installment, Tom has Jamie living with him, but it is presenting a problem dealing with work schedules. In the end a permanent place opens up in a good facility. Mercy, his part-time caretaker will help on the weekends when Jamie visits. Her son, Carlton Renford, it turns out is working undercover, on the gunrunning case, not the undesirable that Tom had thought.
In this installment, Tom has Jamie living with him, but it is presenting a problem dealing with work schedules. In the end a permanent place opens up in a good facility. Mercy, his part-time caretaker will help on the weekends when Jamie visits. Her son, Carlton Renford, it turns out is working undercover, on the gunrunning case, not the undesirable that Tom had thought.
November 28, 2018
This is the seventh book in the series featuring Detective Tom Mariner. I have read most of the books in the series and found this one the best yet. Tom is adapting to a new investigation team and they are trying to solve the case of a young missing girl as they are not sure whether she has run away. But then a parcel of the clothes she was wearing arrives at the police station which points it in the way of a murder inquiry. A second young woman goes missing and her clothes are also sent to Tom and he realises there is a serial killer at large.
I love the character of Tom Mariner. He is a caring and dedicated police officer who juggles with his demanding job and caring for his late partner’s autistic brother. It was like meeting up with old friends being reunited with Tom and his previous team members and I would definitely recommend this series of books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
I love the character of Tom Mariner. He is a caring and dedicated police officer who juggles with his demanding job and caring for his late partner’s autistic brother. It was like meeting up with old friends being reunited with Tom and his previous team members and I would definitely recommend this series of books.
Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
December 15, 2020
Another book that has been sitting on my NetGalley shelf since 2018, oops!
Missing Lies is the seventh book in the DI Mariner series, it can be read as a standalone but I'd recommend reading a few of the previous books just to get a fuller picture of the characters.
The story follows the disappearance of Grace Clifton. It's unclear if she ran away or something bad happened to her. A package turns up at the station containing her clothes and another woman disappears, it's a race against time to find out who is taking these women and stop it from happening again.
Tom is struggling a little in this book. His team is depleted, with his second-in-command Tony Knox on secondment to another team and his DC Millie Khatoon on maternity leave. Add to the fact that he's still caring for Jamie, an autistic adult he's now the guardian of, to say his life is complicated is an understatement!
As always, with Chris Collett's books, it's well written with a steady pace and some good twists in there too.
Missing Lies is a complex and intriguing police procedural that had me gripped from the beginning.
Missing Lies is the seventh book in the DI Mariner series, it can be read as a standalone but I'd recommend reading a few of the previous books just to get a fuller picture of the characters.
The story follows the disappearance of Grace Clifton. It's unclear if she ran away or something bad happened to her. A package turns up at the station containing her clothes and another woman disappears, it's a race against time to find out who is taking these women and stop it from happening again.
Tom is struggling a little in this book. His team is depleted, with his second-in-command Tony Knox on secondment to another team and his DC Millie Khatoon on maternity leave. Add to the fact that he's still caring for Jamie, an autistic adult he's now the guardian of, to say his life is complicated is an understatement!
As always, with Chris Collett's books, it's well written with a steady pace and some good twists in there too.
Missing Lies is a complex and intriguing police procedural that had me gripped from the beginning.
October 28, 2018
I was absolutely thrilled to receive the ARC of this book from Joffe Publishers. It really made my day, and I whizzed through it not wanting it to end.
I must say I really like Tom Marriner and I think he’s had a lot on his plate over the past few years, what with Anna (who wasn’t right for him anyway)! and poor Jamie her autistic brother, whom he’s looking after at the moment whilst waiting for a place in residential care and trying to solve more heinous crimes.
The story is a good one, with a few red herrings and I, for one, didn’t work out who it was. Chris has a very good skill at leading you on until the very end, and it’s always someone completely different.
My thanks to Chris, Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
I must say I really like Tom Marriner and I think he’s had a lot on his plate over the past few years, what with Anna (who wasn’t right for him anyway)! and poor Jamie her autistic brother, whom he’s looking after at the moment whilst waiting for a place in residential care and trying to solve more heinous crimes.
The story is a good one, with a few red herrings and I, for one, didn’t work out who it was. Chris has a very good skill at leading you on until the very end, and it’s always someone completely different.
My thanks to Chris, Joffe Publishers for the ARC.
March 2, 2019
This is the 7th book in the DC Tom Mariner series but the 1st one I have read. Fine to read as a stand alone too although you can feel that there is plenty of history between the characters.
In the book when two women go m8ssing and their clothes are sent to DC Mariner freshly laundered and neatly folded they know they have a serial killer on their case.
But when another women goes missing but no clothes turn up they wondered why? Was she killed by the same person?
This book had me guessing all the way through with me not knowing who was really to blame. Loved the ending of this book too has it still had me guessing.
Can't wait to read more from Chris Collett in this series. 4.5/5 stars.
In the book when two women go m8ssing and their clothes are sent to DC Mariner freshly laundered and neatly folded they know they have a serial killer on their case.
But when another women goes missing but no clothes turn up they wondered why? Was she killed by the same person?
This book had me guessing all the way through with me not knowing who was really to blame. Loved the ending of this book too has it still had me guessing.
Can't wait to read more from Chris Collett in this series. 4.5/5 stars.
November 27, 2018
Good Detective Mystery!
If you like police procedurals, you will love this book! DCI Mariner has a sick killer on his hands; he needs to find the killer before more women are murdered. Parts are slow, then speed up, just like most police procedural stories. I liked him; I don't know about Suzy. I am never impressed when supposedly classy ladies behave like foul-mouthed women! The moral of the story is always the same to me, do not trust any man you don't genuinely know, don't ever drink out of a bottle, or glass that you did not see pored, or one you left on a table while dancing!
I recommend! Thank you #Netgalley
carolintallahassee
If you like police procedurals, you will love this book! DCI Mariner has a sick killer on his hands; he needs to find the killer before more women are murdered. Parts are slow, then speed up, just like most police procedural stories. I liked him; I don't know about Suzy. I am never impressed when supposedly classy ladies behave like foul-mouthed women! The moral of the story is always the same to me, do not trust any man you don't genuinely know, don't ever drink out of a bottle, or glass that you did not see pored, or one you left on a table while dancing!
I recommend! Thank you #Netgalley
carolintallahassee
December 9, 2018
Tom Mariner isn’t a familiar name but it will be now! This is the 7th(?!!?) book in the series and a rerelease to boot but I’m glad I caught it because I wasn’t familiar with the series and now I can go back and appreciate it from beginning.
The writing is solid. The characters have some chops. There is more than a mystery as we see the personal dilemmas these characters face. Maggie, his past partner is also a presence, currently on maternity leave.
This has some twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. Yeah, this was good.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Joffe Books for a copy in exchange for a review
The writing is solid. The characters have some chops. There is more than a mystery as we see the personal dilemmas these characters face. Maggie, his past partner is also a presence, currently on maternity leave.
This has some twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. Yeah, this was good.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Joffe Books for a copy in exchange for a review
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews