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Barrett & Palmer #2
Murder in the Dark
"Thoroughly entertaining, tense, suspenseful, and so well-written. Don’t miss this one. Highly recommended reading!" – John Nicholl - bestselling author
"A triumph of a mystery, a good cosy crime to entertain everyone - Betsy Reavley has done it again!" – Anita Waller bestselling author
Without a motive, how do you identify the killer?Imagine a quaint little bookshop. Outside the snow is falling. Inside the shelves are stacked with books by authors waiting to be discovered. What could be better?
When Tilly Edgely lands a position working at Ashton’s bookshop in Cambridge she thinks she’s found her perfect job. But one winter’s morning, when she arrives to open up, she discovers the body of her boss suspended from the ceiling, hanging by a rope around his neck.
DCI Barrett and DI Palmer are called to the scene and quickly find themselves searching for a twisted killer whose identity and motive are nearly impossible to trace.
But just when they think they have the murderer in their sights, another body shows up throwing the case wide open…
Who is behind the killings and why?
The police have their work cut out and the key to unlocking the gruesome mystery might be found right under their nose.
But one thing is for certain, this killer will leave you hanging...
What everyone is saying about Murder in the Dark:
"Another great cozy crime from Ms Reavley. Perfect for those dark winter evenings..." – J.A. Baker bestselling author
"Once again this author has written a thrilling read with a totally unexpected outcome!" – Susan Hunter reviewer
"An amazing twisted story that sends chills down your spine" – Sarah Hodgson reviewer
Betsy Reavley is the international best-selling author of multiple thrillers, including The Optician's Wife and Frailty. Murder in the Dark is the follow-on to Murder at the Book Club, though can equally be read as a stand-alone. It's a gripping mystery thriller which will appeal to fans of authors like Joy Ellis, Faith Martin and LJ Ross.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 12, 2018
703 people are currently reading
985 people want to read
About the author
Betsy Reavley
24 books270 followersBetsy Freeman Reavley is the author of Beneath the Watery Moon and A Worm in the Bottle. Carrion, her latest psychological thriller will be released in November 2014.
She was born in Hammersmith, London.
As a child she moved around frequently with her family, spending time in London, Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.
She showed a flair for literature and writing from a young age and had a particular interest in poetry, of which she was a prolific consumer and producer.
In her early twenties she moved to Oxford, where she would eventually meet her husband. During her time in Oxford her interests turned from poetry to novels and she began to develop her own unique style of psychological thriller.
Beneath the Watery Moon is Betsy Reavley’s beautifully written first release and tells the macabre story of a young woman battling against mental illness.
Beneath the Watery Moon is published by Not So Noble Books and is available as an eBook from Amazon.
Betsy Reavley's second novel Carrion is a psychological chiller that address the link between grief and mental illness.
Reavley says "I think people are at their most fascinating when they are faced with life's real horrors." This is what I love to write about.
Betsy Reavley currently lives in North London, with her husband 2 children, dog, cat and chickens. You can follow her on Twitter @BetsyReavley
She was born in Hammersmith, London.
As a child she moved around frequently with her family, spending time in London, Provence, Tuscany, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire.
She showed a flair for literature and writing from a young age and had a particular interest in poetry, of which she was a prolific consumer and producer.
In her early twenties she moved to Oxford, where she would eventually meet her husband. During her time in Oxford her interests turned from poetry to novels and she began to develop her own unique style of psychological thriller.
Beneath the Watery Moon is Betsy Reavley’s beautifully written first release and tells the macabre story of a young woman battling against mental illness.
Beneath the Watery Moon is published by Not So Noble Books and is available as an eBook from Amazon.
Betsy Reavley's second novel Carrion is a psychological chiller that address the link between grief and mental illness.
Reavley says "I think people are at their most fascinating when they are faced with life's real horrors." This is what I love to write about.
Betsy Reavley currently lives in North London, with her husband 2 children, dog, cat and chickens. You can follow her on Twitter @BetsyReavley
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
December 11, 2018
One of my favorite settings .... a quaint little bookshop. My favorite season ... winter.
Tilly loves her job working at a small bookshop .. it seems perfect for her. It allows her to save money so she can go to school .. her co-workers are pleasant ... her boss is a nice man to work for.
But this morning when Tilly goes to work, she finds her boss hanging from the ceiling with a rope around his neck.
DCI Barrett and DI Palmer are called to investigate. The first assumption was suicide, but the detectives and medical examiner put paid to that idea. This was a murder, plain and simple. Well .. maybe not so simple.
When other murders occur in the same fashion, Barrett and Palmer look diligently for some kind of connection among the victims.
Who would want these people dead ... and why?
This is a police procedural wrapped in a cozy mystery with likeable characters and a story premise that keeps the reader turning pages leading to an unexpected ending.
Murder in the Dark is the follow-up to Murder at the Book Club, though can equally be read as a stand-alone.
Many thanks to the author / Bloodhound Books / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of MURDER IN THE DARK. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
March 7, 2019
Next
I have read most of the books written by this author and generally they are pretty good. But for some reason this series doesn't work. .. for me anyway. I gave the first book 4 stars as I thought it had to be better than 3 stars, based on her other work.
I don't really feel any connection or empathy with the characters. Probably just me. If you really enjoyed the first book, you will probably like this one.
I have read most of the books written by this author and generally they are pretty good. But for some reason this series doesn't work. .. for me anyway. I gave the first book 4 stars as I thought it had to be better than 3 stars, based on her other work.
I don't really feel any connection or empathy with the characters. Probably just me. If you really enjoyed the first book, you will probably like this one.
November 12, 2019
They call him the Hangman.
One morning when Tilly arrives at the bookshop she works in, she finds the owner of the shop hanging from a rope. He is missing a finger.
The police begin their investigations but can’t find any apparent motive for the murder.
When another body is found hanging, it becomes apparent there is a brutal serial killer in town.
But why is the killer targeting these totally different people? Is there a connection between the victims? Who is next?
I loved Pressure by this author, but Murder in the Dark was a bit drawn out, with unnecessary details and the twist appeared too late in the book.
One morning when Tilly arrives at the bookshop she works in, she finds the owner of the shop hanging from a rope. He is missing a finger.
The police begin their investigations but can’t find any apparent motive for the murder.
When another body is found hanging, it becomes apparent there is a brutal serial killer in town.
But why is the killer targeting these totally different people? Is there a connection between the victims? Who is next?
I loved Pressure by this author, but Murder in the Dark was a bit drawn out, with unnecessary details and the twist appeared too late in the book.
December 14, 2018
Murder In The Dark is a stand alone story and very much a detective/crime novel.
Whilst not a festive read, it is set in the run up to Christmas. You can feel the frustration by the police in having such a high profile case to be working on, especially at a busy time of year as well as the weather being a hindrance. I didn’t envy them one bit!
In the style of most books in this sort of genre, we are taken on a journey on how the police investigate and zone in on a killer. The author does well in keeping the identity of the killer from me until she is ready to reveal all. Not only did she keep the killer’s identity from me, I also hadn’t guessed the reasoning behind the murders. When all is revealed, it actually made for quite a surprising but sad revelation.
Murder In The Dark was an engrossing, page turner of a read. It isn’t a fast paced read but more of a steady one that will keep you hooked through out. Not sure if there will be more featuring Barrett and Palmer, but there is definitely scope for more and where better than Cambridge to have a murder/mystery series set?
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Whilst not a festive read, it is set in the run up to Christmas. You can feel the frustration by the police in having such a high profile case to be working on, especially at a busy time of year as well as the weather being a hindrance. I didn’t envy them one bit!
In the style of most books in this sort of genre, we are taken on a journey on how the police investigate and zone in on a killer. The author does well in keeping the identity of the killer from me until she is ready to reveal all. Not only did she keep the killer’s identity from me, I also hadn’t guessed the reasoning behind the murders. When all is revealed, it actually made for quite a surprising but sad revelation.
Murder In The Dark was an engrossing, page turner of a read. It isn’t a fast paced read but more of a steady one that will keep you hooked through out. Not sure if there will be more featuring Barrett and Palmer, but there is definitely scope for more and where better than Cambridge to have a murder/mystery series set?
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
December 13, 2018
MURDER IN THE DARK by Betsy Reavley.
Tilly is a veterinary student in Cambridge and works in a bookshop in order to fund herself. Her parents live in a small village outside of Ilfracombe so home is a distance away. One morning she arrives at the shop to find the door open. She steps inside, calling out as she goes and is horrified to find the owner of the shop hanging.from a rope. She calls the police who very soon discover that this was not suicide.DCI Barrett and his team are on the case which has somewhat of an oddity to it.. When another body in similar circumstances is found the pressure heightens. There appears to be no link between the victims so the why’s are piled high. Whatever is going on? I enjoyed this book, it was almost like an old fashioned murder case. Nothing too technological (OK there are references to forensics etc) but in its own was it was good solid detective work and curiosity that brought the case together. The characters came across well and I took to Tilly and Barrett., both solid people who weren’t going to let circumstances get the better of them. A highly enjoyable read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Amazon Top 1000 reviewer.
Tilly is a veterinary student in Cambridge and works in a bookshop in order to fund herself. Her parents live in a small village outside of Ilfracombe so home is a distance away. One morning she arrives at the shop to find the door open. She steps inside, calling out as she goes and is horrified to find the owner of the shop hanging.from a rope. She calls the police who very soon discover that this was not suicide.DCI Barrett and his team are on the case which has somewhat of an oddity to it.. When another body in similar circumstances is found the pressure heightens. There appears to be no link between the victims so the why’s are piled high. Whatever is going on? I enjoyed this book, it was almost like an old fashioned murder case. Nothing too technological (OK there are references to forensics etc) but in its own was it was good solid detective work and curiosity that brought the case together. The characters came across well and I took to Tilly and Barrett., both solid people who weren’t going to let circumstances get the better of them. A highly enjoyable read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Amazon Top 1000 reviewer.
December 4, 2018
I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. So this author is doing police procedurals now, instead of her weird, twisted thrillers . This one is perfectly good, but I miss the weirdness of some of her earlier work. Solid police mystery – nothing really out of the ordinary – fine if that's your thing but nothing to necessarily recommend it
January 12, 2022
This wasn't as good as the first one: now we followed all the time action from detectives' POV. Murderer was obvious, but it was nice that motive behind the murders weren't as obvious. The ending was great! It saved this book and this was eventually quite gruesome and twisted story.
December 8, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Bloodhound Books for this arc.
This one looked to be right up my alley. Maybe it's me... but it just didn't work. For a short book these days (less than 250 pages), it took me forever to get through it. Like eight never unending hours... Could be I had been out way past my bedtime the previous night (another interminable holiday party in yet another unheated venue.... always a challenge to coordinate a party dress with long underwear). I just didn't hold my attention. I just couldn't like or engage with any of the characters nor did I find the story compelling enough to stay awake.
Maybe under different circumstances, this would have been a more enjoyable read for me... but given the overall limpness of the characters in this book, I doubt it.
This one looked to be right up my alley. Maybe it's me... but it just didn't work. For a short book these days (less than 250 pages), it took me forever to get through it. Like eight never unending hours... Could be I had been out way past my bedtime the previous night (another interminable holiday party in yet another unheated venue.... always a challenge to coordinate a party dress with long underwear). I just didn't hold my attention. I just couldn't like or engage with any of the characters nor did I find the story compelling enough to stay awake.
Maybe under different circumstances, this would have been a more enjoyable read for me... but given the overall limpness of the characters in this book, I doubt it.
February 15, 2019
The writing never pulled me in, it just plodded along. The characters weren't really interesting, got annoyed by the going nowhere interest one officer had for another(why even go there?), and the murderer was easily identified way way early.
December 9, 2018
I liked the storyline, it kept me engaged and entertained throughout, but at the same time I felt that some parts of the storyplot were a little weak in places. Some of the events that took place seemed to fall into place a little bit too easily, there was no suspense or anticipated lead up to them.
Having said that, I do read a lot crime thrillers which is what I was expecting when I read this and so what I've said above is probably me being overly critical and I should probably make it very clear that this is the first time I've ever read a cozy mystery which I believe is the genre this book falls into.
So with that said, if you are looking for a lightweight easy read or a cozy mystery read, then this is definitely one to read.
Final words, I loved that the book was based in Cambridge which is a place I visit from time to time, and even better is that Peterborough gets a mention a few times which is where I live. I do love it when my home town gets a mention or is featured within the story.
Having said that, I do read a lot crime thrillers which is what I was expecting when I read this and so what I've said above is probably me being overly critical and I should probably make it very clear that this is the first time I've ever read a cozy mystery which I believe is the genre this book falls into.
So with that said, if you are looking for a lightweight easy read or a cozy mystery read, then this is definitely one to read.
Final words, I loved that the book was based in Cambridge which is a place I visit from time to time, and even better is that Peterborough gets a mention a few times which is where I live. I do love it when my home town gets a mention or is featured within the story.
December 14, 2018
My perfect read.
Murder In The Dark - My perfect kind of read.
The story is set Cambridge just before Christmas where the author evoked picturesque images of snowy streets in a beautiful city - and then came the murders.
The police team were interesting, a younger officer juggling work and family while his senior was facing the prospect of being alone for Christmas. What also appealed was that within the investigation I didn’t get too bogged down with police procedure, the author gets on with telling the story which is very well paced.
The other characters were a mixed bunch and I was able to build up a very clear picture of them all. The author has a knack of getting under the skin of relationships and how we interact with one another - I have always enjoyed this aspect of her other books. I found myself empathising with the sisters in the story while at the same time disliked those that were purposely written in a bad light.
The book was very absorbing and in some parts poignant. The conclusion was well executed and explained - I hate loose ends and the final chapter was fitting with the tone of the book. I was left hoping for more stories featuring the police team and especially set in and around Cambridge.
Murder In The Dark - My perfect kind of read.
The story is set Cambridge just before Christmas where the author evoked picturesque images of snowy streets in a beautiful city - and then came the murders.
The police team were interesting, a younger officer juggling work and family while his senior was facing the prospect of being alone for Christmas. What also appealed was that within the investigation I didn’t get too bogged down with police procedure, the author gets on with telling the story which is very well paced.
The other characters were a mixed bunch and I was able to build up a very clear picture of them all. The author has a knack of getting under the skin of relationships and how we interact with one another - I have always enjoyed this aspect of her other books. I found myself empathising with the sisters in the story while at the same time disliked those that were purposely written in a bad light.
The book was very absorbing and in some parts poignant. The conclusion was well executed and explained - I hate loose ends and the final chapter was fitting with the tone of the book. I was left hoping for more stories featuring the police team and especially set in and around Cambridge.
September 18, 2020
I can't say I loved this book fro, start to finish but it hooked me part way through and never let me know. I didn't see the end coming which is always a bonus. I will read more by this author.
January 7, 2019
Murder In The Dark by Betsy Reavley
This book was my first read in 2019 and it was immediately 5⭐ read!
Murder In The Dark is part of DCI Barrett and DI Palmer series but stands as a single novel too. This time the detectives must soleve a murder in a bookstore. Young employee called Tilly finds her manager dead in the bookstore one morning. At the begging she thinks that it's a suicide but detectives know straight away that it was a murder as there is a missing finger on his hand and he is hanging from very high ceiling.
The Book is written in more perspective but mostly from the detective ones which is exactly what I like! The book was absolutely gripping and massive page turner. I was shocked by ending of the book in a good way and I would definitely recommend it to thriller/ crime fans!
This book was my first read in 2019 and it was immediately 5⭐ read!
Murder In The Dark is part of DCI Barrett and DI Palmer series but stands as a single novel too. This time the detectives must soleve a murder in a bookstore. Young employee called Tilly finds her manager dead in the bookstore one morning. At the begging she thinks that it's a suicide but detectives know straight away that it was a murder as there is a missing finger on his hand and he is hanging from very high ceiling.
The Book is written in more perspective but mostly from the detective ones which is exactly what I like! The book was absolutely gripping and massive page turner. I was shocked by ending of the book in a good way and I would definitely recommend it to thriller/ crime fans!
December 15, 2018
This is the second in series to feature DCI Barrett and DI Palmer but can be read as a stand alone something I can say without a doubt as I’ve yet to read the first!
It’s the run up to Christmas and the body of Dennis Wade, owner of Ashton’s Bookshop, is found hanging from the rafter inside his shop by young employee Tilly Edgely. It’s quickly discovered that it’s not suicide but murder but why would anyone want to kill a respectable bookshop owner?
Barrett and Palmer are tasked to investigate but another body shows up bearing the same hallmarks as the first but with no apparent tie to the first victim.
The killer starts to show off leaving packages, taunting the police, can Barrett and Palmer stop this maniac before they strike again?
This is what I like to call a cosy mystery with a little more bite as the death’s are a little more gruesome than in this type of book. There’s plenty of twists and turns which kept me guessing until the end.
It’s a real character driven novel, we hear from several perspectives throughout the book each one with their own unique voice so I never once got them confused.
DCI Barrett seems on the surface like an irascible, fussy and rude man but dig a bit deeper you find out he lost his wife to cancer and what with the stresses and strains of his job it does make his moods a little more understandable. Palmer seems like his polar opposite happily married with a son, he’s solid and dependable but there’s a little frisson sexual tension between him another a member of the team, Elly Hale, just to make things juicy.
Overall Murder In The Dark is fast paced mystery prefect for those who like their crime novels character driven and a little less graphic.
It’s the run up to Christmas and the body of Dennis Wade, owner of Ashton’s Bookshop, is found hanging from the rafter inside his shop by young employee Tilly Edgely. It’s quickly discovered that it’s not suicide but murder but why would anyone want to kill a respectable bookshop owner?
Barrett and Palmer are tasked to investigate but another body shows up bearing the same hallmarks as the first but with no apparent tie to the first victim.
The killer starts to show off leaving packages, taunting the police, can Barrett and Palmer stop this maniac before they strike again?
This is what I like to call a cosy mystery with a little more bite as the death’s are a little more gruesome than in this type of book. There’s plenty of twists and turns which kept me guessing until the end.
It’s a real character driven novel, we hear from several perspectives throughout the book each one with their own unique voice so I never once got them confused.
DCI Barrett seems on the surface like an irascible, fussy and rude man but dig a bit deeper you find out he lost his wife to cancer and what with the stresses and strains of his job it does make his moods a little more understandable. Palmer seems like his polar opposite happily married with a son, he’s solid and dependable but there’s a little frisson sexual tension between him another a member of the team, Elly Hale, just to make things juicy.
Overall Murder In The Dark is fast paced mystery prefect for those who like their crime novels character driven and a little less graphic.
December 24, 2018
i wish they still had little bookshop ...Virginia doesn't have them where i live??! what fun they use to be. very engaging read. well written, great characters, curious where it would head??! mystery. i am kind of shocked at how little reviews are on this read? such a great read. i am new to this author, Betsy will be one i check out more from soon enough! right now is a perfect time to check it out ... set in the wintertime. cozy crime thriller. twists and turns ... if that floats your boat?
December 26, 2018
Another brilliant read by this author, it certainly kept me on my toes throughout. I loved the characters, very likeable and hope there is more to come from Barrett, Palmer and the team. I highly recommend this book, huge 5 stars.
December 9, 2018
Murder in the Dark is a really good cozy mystery set in wintertime, a perfect read for those cold evenings ahead. I didn't guess the identity of the murderer until the final few pages. There were lots of twists and turns I didn't see coming! Would recommend this to fans of cozy crime thrillers.
December 14, 2018
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
One fateful day, Tilly, a veterinary student in Cambridge goes to the bookshop she works at to open for the day. Inside, she finds the owner of the shop, her boss, hanging and clearly dead. She calls the police, who (unlike Tilly) realize that this was not suicide and begin their investigation right away.
While the investigation goes on, we spend a lot more time with Tilly and her coworkers as well as the family of Dennis Wade than you do in most Crime Fiction. Tilly is haunted (practically literally) by what she found. Her other coworkers are focused on trying to act appropriately in this situation, or worried about their jobs. Wade's widow, her sister, and the Wade's son all react in very different ways. His poor widow's life is shattered, her pain and lost-ness is palpable -- just great work on Beavley's part, although watching what Tilly goes through may be more devastating.
Meanwhile, DCI Barrett, DI Palmer and their team start their procedure -- knowing full well they need to close the case early for the good of the city, the Wade family -- and because no one wants to spend Christmas (which is just around the corner) finding out why a body was left hanging. When other bodies start to be discovered, the pressure builds (internally and externally) and yet the procedure has to continue. Even when the procedure involves things like thoroughly vetting Wade's son (with a criminal record) and spending a good deal of time pursuing other dead ends.
Beavley's work showing the way the police have to tick off every box, have to turn over stone -- even when they are virtually certain that no answers will be found by doing so -- just to move on to another stone. There's no maverick cop saving the day here. No detective relying on instinct. Just dedicated professionals doing their jobs the way they're supposed to do them to get the result they need. It's really kind of striking that in the ocean of "police procedurals" out there, just how few actually rely on the procedure.
When the answers come -- they come from going through all the steps and no one is more surprised than the detectives who uncover it. It feels as authentic as you could want. The depravity uncovered by these detectives is the kind that makes you glad this is fiction, so you can pretend that such things only happen in books. And you will keep turning the pages until you get to the bottom of everything.
You get a much better sense of Tilly, a couple of coworkers, and the Wade family than you do the detectives investigating the case -- which isn't to say they're strangers to the reader. But by and large, these are primarily people doing a job - with the emphases on the job, not the person.
I'd have appreciated more time with the family and friends of some of the later victims -- just to see Reavley get to show off a little. We get a little taste with the second victim's family -- just not as much. But their reactions are so different from Wade's family and friends, it'd be great to get more time seeing that.
One tangent -- I'm counting on readers to comment on this -- there's a golf club mentioned a couple of times in the book, "The Gog Magog Golf Club" to be specific. Now, when I read that name I think of the figures and places mentioned in Ezekiel and Revelation. Neither of which is suggestive of a stroll along the greenways or putting around. Is this the kind of names used in England? In the US, courses are named after hills, valleys -- that kind of thing. Not names steeped in apocalyptic visions. It's a minor point, but it really threw me.
This is (I believe) the second book to feature DCI Barrett and DI Palmer and their team -- I'm curious about how they work together both before this case (also book related) and in the future. But this works well as a stand-alone, too. You don't have to sign up for the long haul to get anything from this. A solid mystery, one of the best procedurals I've read in ages, and a depiction of the aftermath of violent crime that you won't easily forget. A Murder in the Dark will stick with you.
---
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book) they provided. The opinions expressed are all mine, however.
---
One fateful day, Tilly, a veterinary student in Cambridge goes to the bookshop she works at to open for the day. Inside, she finds the owner of the shop, her boss, hanging and clearly dead. She calls the police, who (unlike Tilly) realize that this was not suicide and begin their investigation right away.
While the investigation goes on, we spend a lot more time with Tilly and her coworkers as well as the family of Dennis Wade than you do in most Crime Fiction. Tilly is haunted (practically literally) by what she found. Her other coworkers are focused on trying to act appropriately in this situation, or worried about their jobs. Wade's widow, her sister, and the Wade's son all react in very different ways. His poor widow's life is shattered, her pain and lost-ness is palpable -- just great work on Beavley's part, although watching what Tilly goes through may be more devastating.
Meanwhile, DCI Barrett, DI Palmer and their team start their procedure -- knowing full well they need to close the case early for the good of the city, the Wade family -- and because no one wants to spend Christmas (which is just around the corner) finding out why a body was left hanging. When other bodies start to be discovered, the pressure builds (internally and externally) and yet the procedure has to continue. Even when the procedure involves things like thoroughly vetting Wade's son (with a criminal record) and spending a good deal of time pursuing other dead ends.
Beavley's work showing the way the police have to tick off every box, have to turn over stone -- even when they are virtually certain that no answers will be found by doing so -- just to move on to another stone. There's no maverick cop saving the day here. No detective relying on instinct. Just dedicated professionals doing their jobs the way they're supposed to do them to get the result they need. It's really kind of striking that in the ocean of "police procedurals" out there, just how few actually rely on the procedure.
When the answers come -- they come from going through all the steps and no one is more surprised than the detectives who uncover it. It feels as authentic as you could want. The depravity uncovered by these detectives is the kind that makes you glad this is fiction, so you can pretend that such things only happen in books. And you will keep turning the pages until you get to the bottom of everything.
You get a much better sense of Tilly, a couple of coworkers, and the Wade family than you do the detectives investigating the case -- which isn't to say they're strangers to the reader. But by and large, these are primarily people doing a job - with the emphases on the job, not the person.
I'd have appreciated more time with the family and friends of some of the later victims -- just to see Reavley get to show off a little. We get a little taste with the second victim's family -- just not as much. But their reactions are so different from Wade's family and friends, it'd be great to get more time seeing that.
One tangent -- I'm counting on readers to comment on this -- there's a golf club mentioned a couple of times in the book, "The Gog Magog Golf Club" to be specific. Now, when I read that name I think of the figures and places mentioned in Ezekiel and Revelation. Neither of which is suggestive of a stroll along the greenways or putting around. Is this the kind of names used in England? In the US, courses are named after hills, valleys -- that kind of thing. Not names steeped in apocalyptic visions. It's a minor point, but it really threw me.
This is (I believe) the second book to feature DCI Barrett and DI Palmer and their team -- I'm curious about how they work together both before this case (also book related) and in the future. But this works well as a stand-alone, too. You don't have to sign up for the long haul to get anything from this. A solid mystery, one of the best procedurals I've read in ages, and a depiction of the aftermath of violent crime that you won't easily forget. A Murder in the Dark will stick with you.
---
My thanks to Bloodhound Books for the invitation to participate in this tour and the materials (including the book) they provided. The opinions expressed are all mine, however.
December 17, 2018
Tilly didn’t expect to find her boss hanging when she arrived to work. The police detectives soon realise that the position of the body meant this wasn’t a suicide. The murderer taunts the police with another body and a mysterious trail begins as they piece information together.
This is my first time reading a book by this author and I spent a cold wintery afternoon reading this one, and it was in one sitting, so that kind of gives you an idea of how much I liked it. I really enjoyed this style of murder/mystery, yes it has police procedural aspects, but also a lot more other things. I think what I am trying to say is that it was more a sense of seeing the bigger picture from various perspectives. Yes, there is a body, but also the person the found it, the police investigating, the family connected to the body and also any other people who might be directly involved with all the previously mentioned people. Each person was introduced at the right time and in the right order for me to be able to remember them. No needless bystanders, each person there for a reason.
The plot itself I thoroughly enjoyed as it took me on a murder/mystery tour and I enjoyed getting to know more about the characters. I will say that there was no way of me guessing the killers’ identity until the author started to give me the pieces and put them together. This was something that Agatha Christie used to do with her books and is something that I personally like. The other great thing was that the author didn’t just stop the story at the arrest stage, instead adding a further step that for me left the story with a definite feeling of being finished in a very satisfactory way.
This is a story of murder, mystery and suspense that I really did enjoy. This is one that I think would appeal to many readers and is one I would recommend.
A great introduction for me to this author and an added bonus is that there are a few books already published for me to buy and read.
This is my first time reading a book by this author and I spent a cold wintery afternoon reading this one, and it was in one sitting, so that kind of gives you an idea of how much I liked it. I really enjoyed this style of murder/mystery, yes it has police procedural aspects, but also a lot more other things. I think what I am trying to say is that it was more a sense of seeing the bigger picture from various perspectives. Yes, there is a body, but also the person the found it, the police investigating, the family connected to the body and also any other people who might be directly involved with all the previously mentioned people. Each person was introduced at the right time and in the right order for me to be able to remember them. No needless bystanders, each person there for a reason.
The plot itself I thoroughly enjoyed as it took me on a murder/mystery tour and I enjoyed getting to know more about the characters. I will say that there was no way of me guessing the killers’ identity until the author started to give me the pieces and put them together. This was something that Agatha Christie used to do with her books and is something that I personally like. The other great thing was that the author didn’t just stop the story at the arrest stage, instead adding a further step that for me left the story with a definite feeling of being finished in a very satisfactory way.
This is a story of murder, mystery and suspense that I really did enjoy. This is one that I think would appeal to many readers and is one I would recommend.
A great introduction for me to this author and an added bonus is that there are a few books already published for me to buy and read.
December 28, 2018
I have read one of Betsy’s previous books and I really enjoyed it. I also have a few of her books on my ever increasing ‘to be read’ mountain but I just haven’t got round to it yet. ‘Murder In The Dark’ is the second in the series featuring DCI Barrett and DI Palmer. The first book was called ‘Murder At The Book Club’ and it was released earlier this year.
I loved the wide range of characters in this story. Each was different from the other. It soon becomes clear that most of them are keeping secrets and will do almost anything to ensure that the secrets remain just that- secret. I enjoyed finding out their secrets but then I am a nebby Nora (nosy parker), who loves to find out the gossip. I can’t say that I especially warmed to any one character but the flip side of that is that I didn’t immediately dislike certain characters either. Some of the characters irritated me at times and I could have quite cheerfully slapped a couple of them with a wet fish.
First off, I loved the sound of the synopsis for this book. I got to the word ‘bookshop’ and I was sold on the book as it were. I began to read and it’s no word of a lie to say that I was hooked on reading this book by the time I got to the bottom of the first page. From then on, reading ‘Murder In The Dark’ became an addiction and I became an addict in desperate need of my next fix. If I had to put the book down, then I would count down the time until I could pick the book back up again. This is one of those books that certainly kept me guessing and it kept me on my toes as it were. On more than one occasion I smugly thought out that I had fathomed out who the murderer was and what their motivation was, only to discover that I had the wrong end of the stick and the perpetrator was somebody else entirely.
‘Murder In The Dark’ is well written and the author certainly knows how to entice people into the book. She grabs your attention and she reels you in just as a fisherman reels in a catch.
Reading ‘Murder In The Dark’ is much like being on an occasionally scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Some of the twists I saw coming but there were some twists that were a total surprise.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Murder In The Dark’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It can be read perfectly well as a standalone but because I am a bit OCD and like reading series in order, I fully intend to read ‘Murder At The Book Club’ before reading this book again. I can’t wait to read what this author comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
I loved the wide range of characters in this story. Each was different from the other. It soon becomes clear that most of them are keeping secrets and will do almost anything to ensure that the secrets remain just that- secret. I enjoyed finding out their secrets but then I am a nebby Nora (nosy parker), who loves to find out the gossip. I can’t say that I especially warmed to any one character but the flip side of that is that I didn’t immediately dislike certain characters either. Some of the characters irritated me at times and I could have quite cheerfully slapped a couple of them with a wet fish.
First off, I loved the sound of the synopsis for this book. I got to the word ‘bookshop’ and I was sold on the book as it were. I began to read and it’s no word of a lie to say that I was hooked on reading this book by the time I got to the bottom of the first page. From then on, reading ‘Murder In The Dark’ became an addiction and I became an addict in desperate need of my next fix. If I had to put the book down, then I would count down the time until I could pick the book back up again. This is one of those books that certainly kept me guessing and it kept me on my toes as it were. On more than one occasion I smugly thought out that I had fathomed out who the murderer was and what their motivation was, only to discover that I had the wrong end of the stick and the perpetrator was somebody else entirely.
‘Murder In The Dark’ is well written and the author certainly knows how to entice people into the book. She grabs your attention and she reels you in just as a fisherman reels in a catch.
Reading ‘Murder In The Dark’ is much like being on an occasionally scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. Some of the twists I saw coming but there were some twists that were a total surprise.
In short I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Murder In The Dark’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. It can be read perfectly well as a standalone but because I am a bit OCD and like reading series in order, I fully intend to read ‘Murder At The Book Club’ before reading this book again. I can’t wait to read what this author comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.
December 12, 2018
An absorbing and intriguing murder mystery, MURDER IN THE DARK by Betsy Reavley had all the components to keep me hooked to the very end.
Tilly Edgely has the perfect job in the nicest bookstore in Cambridge and with Christmas on the way, everything seems to be going swimmingly. That is until she arrives at work one morning to find her boss dead. With DCI Barrett and DI Palmer on the case, they are sure that they will uncover this twisted killer and soon but when the body count begins to rise with no apparent connection between the victims, will they be able to solve this case?
As someone who used to work in a bookstore, the premise of this story is what snared my attention and it really worked for me. There is plenty of detective work needed and I have to say that I didn't see the who and the why which always shows the greatness of the writer. The setting and characters are all excellent and while this is a sequel, it can easily be read as a standalone novel which is what I did.
MURDER IN THE DARK by Betsy Reavley is an evenly-paced, gripping read and I highly recommend it to crime fiction and mystery fans everywhere.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
Tilly Edgely has the perfect job in the nicest bookstore in Cambridge and with Christmas on the way, everything seems to be going swimmingly. That is until she arrives at work one morning to find her boss dead. With DCI Barrett and DI Palmer on the case, they are sure that they will uncover this twisted killer and soon but when the body count begins to rise with no apparent connection between the victims, will they be able to solve this case?
As someone who used to work in a bookstore, the premise of this story is what snared my attention and it really worked for me. There is plenty of detective work needed and I have to say that I didn't see the who and the why which always shows the greatness of the writer. The setting and characters are all excellent and while this is a sequel, it can easily be read as a standalone novel which is what I did.
MURDER IN THE DARK by Betsy Reavley is an evenly-paced, gripping read and I highly recommend it to crime fiction and mystery fans everywhere.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher
December 17, 2018
Tilly Edgley goes to work one morning in the lead up to Christmas. Unfortunately for her, she finds her boss hanging from the ceiling. It's another case for DCI Barrett and DI Palmer. But with no obvious motive, they find themselves at a loss, and soon another body is found....
This is the second in the DCI Barrett and DI Palmer, and it can easily be read as a standalone. However I recommend picking up the first (Murder at the Book Club) as well as they are both good reads.
The plot is really gripping, you can feel the tension in the investigation. With it being the lead up to Christmas, you really feel for the team who just want to get home in time for Christmas. The author does a very good job of pulling the wool over your eyes, and whilst there are a few red herrings, the revelation is quite shocking and unexpected.
I do like the team of Barrett and Palmer, and we do get to see something of their home lives. My only slight niggle was I could have done without the potential romance blossoming with Palmer and one of the other team members.
I hope this won't be the last we see of Barrett and Palmer.
This is the second in the DCI Barrett and DI Palmer, and it can easily be read as a standalone. However I recommend picking up the first (Murder at the Book Club) as well as they are both good reads.
The plot is really gripping, you can feel the tension in the investigation. With it being the lead up to Christmas, you really feel for the team who just want to get home in time for Christmas. The author does a very good job of pulling the wool over your eyes, and whilst there are a few red herrings, the revelation is quite shocking and unexpected.
I do like the team of Barrett and Palmer, and we do get to see something of their home lives. My only slight niggle was I could have done without the potential romance blossoming with Palmer and one of the other team members.
I hope this won't be the last we see of Barrett and Palmer.
December 13, 2018
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I loved this story!!
It is well written, it was an addictive story and had some fabulous characters – everything I’ve now come to expect in a book from this author!
The plot was intriguing and I was hooked from the outset, the setting was great and it worked really well with the story. There was plenty to keep me guessing as the book progressed and it certainly made for a very enjoyable read. The attention to detail was superb and it a perfect read for this time of the year being set in the run up to Christmas.
4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – can’t wait to see what she releases next!!
I loved this story!!
It is well written, it was an addictive story and had some fabulous characters – everything I’ve now come to expect in a book from this author!
The plot was intriguing and I was hooked from the outset, the setting was great and it worked really well with the story. There was plenty to keep me guessing as the book progressed and it certainly made for a very enjoyable read. The attention to detail was superb and it a perfect read for this time of the year being set in the run up to Christmas.
4.5 stars from me for this one, rounded up to 5 stars for Goodreads and Amazon – can’t wait to see what she releases next!!
December 12, 2018
This was my second book by Betsy Reavley. The first one was The Opticians wife and it is one of my favorite books. I expected this one to be like that one but it was a little different. To me, this seemed more like a slow burner. If I had my time back, I would have waiting until after the holidays when I could sit for a good chunk of time and just really take it all in. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this book and will definitely keep reading this authors work but for me personally, timing is everything and I think after all the hustle and bustle is over will be the perfect time to read this book.
December 14, 2018
Murder in the Dark by Betsy Reavley.
This was a fantastic read I loved the story. Had no clue who it could be. Very cryptic. I had no idea who it was until it was revealed. Didn't want this book to finish. 5*. Highly recommended.
This was a fantastic read I loved the story. Had no clue who it could be. Very cryptic. I had no idea who it was until it was revealed. Didn't want this book to finish. 5*. Highly recommended.
January 7, 2019
Other reviewers called this a cosy detective which, I suppose it is if by that they mean a detective story with no horrendously gruesome, gory, details. That's fine by me too. As such the story is believable, not complex but, equally, not so obvious that the perpetrator is known from page 10. It flows well. However it lacks depth as do the characters. I have no idea what they look like or any other details other than the pleasingly normal marriages that the two detectives seem to share. The other characters likewise feel shallow to me and, frankly, I didn't care what happened to them. Given that I know Cambridge and the Fens well I should have felt engaged with the descriptions of the city, knowing where events took place. I wasn't. I'm sorry to say that I wasn't drawn in at all.
November 26, 2020
The book was very slow in pace until 90% was read, the writing was repetitive, with characters that I did not like and the culprit was who I though it was way too early into the book. Good writing but the only thing that make me give this book 2 stars instead of 3 was the amount of stereotypes I found.
Stereotypes galore! We had the Chinese woman that cannot speak English, only cooks Chinese food and giggles covering her mouth, we got to know a gay man that lives lavishly but at night meets male prostitutes, the older white boss who is always angry at his subordinates, a police woman who although intelligent just flirts and the manager of a golf course who the author refers to as “the fat man” who sweats profusely and it is seen in a negative way. The only exception was Mohammed who in one paragraph (fortunately) we learn more about his life story than any other characters in the book.
I see developing characters as an art form, you do not pass judgment, you explain his or her life story so the readers will understand them. Not two readers are alike and they should come up with their own conclusions based on his/her life experiences.
Stereotypes galore! We had the Chinese woman that cannot speak English, only cooks Chinese food and giggles covering her mouth, we got to know a gay man that lives lavishly but at night meets male prostitutes, the older white boss who is always angry at his subordinates, a police woman who although intelligent just flirts and the manager of a golf course who the author refers to as “the fat man” who sweats profusely and it is seen in a negative way. The only exception was Mohammed who in one paragraph (fortunately) we learn more about his life story than any other characters in the book.
I see developing characters as an art form, you do not pass judgment, you explain his or her life story so the readers will understand them. Not two readers are alike and they should come up with their own conclusions based on his/her life experiences.
December 30, 2018
I have read better mysteries
The solution was not that believable -could have done more to make it a better read if not just getting to the killer in the last chapter.
The solution was not that believable -could have done more to make it a better read if not just getting to the killer in the last chapter.
December 12, 2018
This book is a cracking read! What begins with a terrible crime which, is seemingly, without motive, soon starts twisting and turning in all ways. Betsy has done it again! Delivered a story which ticks all the boxes! The characters are so believable.Here's to hoping there is another book and this os the start to a new series.
May 3, 2019
OUTSTANDINGLY well-written book! Such a thrilling experience! Marvelous!!!
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