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DCI Isaac Cook #10
Murder in Hyde Park
An early-morning jogger is murdered in Hyde Park. It's the centre of London, but no one saw him enter the park, no one saw him die.
He carries no identification, only a water-logged phone. As the pieces unravel, it's clear that the dead man had a history of deception.
Is the murderer one of those that loved him? Or was it someone with a vengeance?
It's proving difficult for DCI Isaac Cook and his team at Challis Street Homicide to find the guilty person - not that they'll cease to search for the truth, not even after one suspect confesses.
He carries no identification, only a water-logged phone. As the pieces unravel, it's clear that the dead man had a history of deception.
Is the murderer one of those that loved him? Or was it someone with a vengeance?
It's proving difficult for DCI Isaac Cook and his team at Challis Street Homicide to find the guilty person - not that they'll cease to search for the truth, not even after one suspect confesses.
- GenresMystery
379 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2019
233 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Strang
177 books82 followersPhillip Strang is a well-travelled writer who has spent considerable time in many remote and exotic parts of the World installing telecommunication networks.
A number of years in Afghanistan and Pakistan have given him a good insight into the culture of both of these countries, and an understanding of the problems they jointly share.
In recent years, there have been extended periods throughout many countries in Africa including Liberia, Nigeria, and Guinea.
He is married and lives in Australia.
A number of years in Afghanistan and Pakistan have given him a good insight into the culture of both of these countries, and an understanding of the problems they jointly share.
In recent years, there have been extended periods throughout many countries in Africa including Liberia, Nigeria, and Guinea.
He is married and lives in Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 11, 2019
The dead man had a history of deception
Australian author Phillip Strang has gained his platform as an adventure writer through his career installing telecommunications networks in many remote and exotic parts of the globe, including time spent in Afghanistan and Pakistan - an experience that allowed him to gain direct insights in to the ongoing conflicts there. He has also spent considerable time in Africa including Liberia, Nigeria, and Guinea. It is this direct contact with troubled countries that gives his books intense credibility: he has first hand contact with the events he shares in his books such as DCI Cook Thriller Series (MURDER IS A TRICKY BUSINESS, MURDER HOUSE, MURDER WITHOUT REASON, MURDER IS ONLY A NUMBER, MURDER IN LITTLE VENICE, MURDER IN NOTTING HILL, MURDER IN ROOM 346, MURDER OF A SILENT MAN, MURDER HAS NO GUILE and now MURDER IN HYDE PARK.
We know the main characters and the genteel writing style of Phillip Strang so all that is left is a brief summation of the plot and the story is distilled well in Phillip’s synopsis: ‘An early-morning jogger is murdered in Hyde Park. It's the centre of London, but no one saw him enter the park, no one saw him die. He carries no identification, only a waterlogged phone. As the pieces unravel, it's clear that the dead man had a history of deception. Is the murderer one of those that loved him? Or was it someone with a vengeance? It's proving difficult for DCI Isaac Cook and his team at Challis Street Homicide to find the guilty person - not that they'll cease to search for the truth, not even after one suspect confesses.
Elegant writing and a keen sense of suspense – this is another Phillip Strang winner!
Australian author Phillip Strang has gained his platform as an adventure writer through his career installing telecommunications networks in many remote and exotic parts of the globe, including time spent in Afghanistan and Pakistan - an experience that allowed him to gain direct insights in to the ongoing conflicts there. He has also spent considerable time in Africa including Liberia, Nigeria, and Guinea. It is this direct contact with troubled countries that gives his books intense credibility: he has first hand contact with the events he shares in his books such as DCI Cook Thriller Series (MURDER IS A TRICKY BUSINESS, MURDER HOUSE, MURDER WITHOUT REASON, MURDER IS ONLY A NUMBER, MURDER IN LITTLE VENICE, MURDER IN NOTTING HILL, MURDER IN ROOM 346, MURDER OF A SILENT MAN, MURDER HAS NO GUILE and now MURDER IN HYDE PARK.
We know the main characters and the genteel writing style of Phillip Strang so all that is left is a brief summation of the plot and the story is distilled well in Phillip’s synopsis: ‘An early-morning jogger is murdered in Hyde Park. It's the centre of London, but no one saw him enter the park, no one saw him die. He carries no identification, only a waterlogged phone. As the pieces unravel, it's clear that the dead man had a history of deception. Is the murderer one of those that loved him? Or was it someone with a vengeance? It's proving difficult for DCI Isaac Cook and his team at Challis Street Homicide to find the guilty person - not that they'll cease to search for the truth, not even after one suspect confesses.
Elegant writing and a keen sense of suspense – this is another Phillip Strang winner!
January 31, 2019
An early morning jogger is killed in Hyde Park, in the center of London, and because of the hour, there are no witnesses. He's carrying no ID--not unusual for a jogger--and his phone, soaked in the Serpentine, takes a while to coax information from.
When they find a name, they gradually start to build a picture of a man with two identities, a male escort, a man called beautiful by everyone who knew him. His beauty attracted both men and women. His beauty plus his occupation and his distance sometimes caused conflicts.
And some of his customers were highly motivated to keep their involvement with him secret.
Was his killer a spurned lover? A jealous spouse? Someone who feared being outed?
DCI Isaac Cook and his team have very little to go on, and finding clues in this case is like pulling teeth.
Our regular characters continue to grow and develop. Isaac Cook has a live-in lover who doesn't love his unreliable schedule, but is handling it better than previous women he's been involved with--enough better that he plans to take her to Jamaica to meet his parents, if the trip doesn't get canceled by his work. Larry Hill is coming to terms with where he is in his career, and Wendy Gladstone takes, it seems to me, a larger role in this investigation.
Strang is always good with both characters and plot. This is a longer, more convoluted story, with twists and turns and quite a few people who have potential yet weak-seeming motives that leave the team frustrated. Another frustration is that some are also engaged in sensitive work that makes the government protective of them. As always, we care about the outcome, and the tension builds.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the author, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
When they find a name, they gradually start to build a picture of a man with two identities, a male escort, a man called beautiful by everyone who knew him. His beauty attracted both men and women. His beauty plus his occupation and his distance sometimes caused conflicts.
And some of his customers were highly motivated to keep their involvement with him secret.
Was his killer a spurned lover? A jealous spouse? Someone who feared being outed?
DCI Isaac Cook and his team have very little to go on, and finding clues in this case is like pulling teeth.
Our regular characters continue to grow and develop. Isaac Cook has a live-in lover who doesn't love his unreliable schedule, but is handling it better than previous women he's been involved with--enough better that he plans to take her to Jamaica to meet his parents, if the trip doesn't get canceled by his work. Larry Hill is coming to terms with where he is in his career, and Wendy Gladstone takes, it seems to me, a larger role in this investigation.
Strang is always good with both characters and plot. This is a longer, more convoluted story, with twists and turns and quite a few people who have potential yet weak-seeming motives that leave the team frustrated. Another frustration is that some are also engaged in sensitive work that makes the government protective of them. As always, we care about the outcome, and the tension builds.
Recommended.
I received a free electronic galley of this book from the author, and am reviewing it voluntarily.
October 5, 2024
Murder in Hyde Park is book ten in the DCI Isaac Cook series by Phillip Strang. DCI Isaac Cook and his team caught a problematic case of a jogger murder in Hyde Park without any identification. For DCI Isaac Cook and his team, the number one priority is to find the identity of the jogger and work out who and why he died. The readers of Murder in Hyde Park will follow DCI Isaac Cook's investigation to discover what happens.
Murder in Hyde Park is another excellent addition to Phillip Strang's enjoyable series. I did engage with the story and the characters. I like how Strang highlights the issues law enforcement has when an investigation is not going well. Phillip Strang did another great job portraying his characters and their interactions with each other. Murder in Hyde Park is well-written and researched. I like Phillip Strang's description of the settings of Murder in Hyde Park, which complements the book's plot.
The readers of Murder in Hyde Park will discover the beautiful London Park called Hyde Park and learn about the consequences of jealousy for everyone involved.
I Recommend this book.
Murder in Hyde Park is another excellent addition to Phillip Strang's enjoyable series. I did engage with the story and the characters. I like how Strang highlights the issues law enforcement has when an investigation is not going well. Phillip Strang did another great job portraying his characters and their interactions with each other. Murder in Hyde Park is well-written and researched. I like Phillip Strang's description of the settings of Murder in Hyde Park, which complements the book's plot.
The readers of Murder in Hyde Park will discover the beautiful London Park called Hyde Park and learn about the consequences of jealousy for everyone involved.
I Recommend this book.
April 18, 2022
Murder in Hyde Park - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
DCI Isaac Cook's holiday plans to take girlfriend Jenny to his parents' anniversary celebration in Jamaica are put on hold, following the eponymous murder of bisexual prostitute, Colin Young/Barry Montgomery.
Instead he and his team must untangle a complicated web of liaisons, lies, and deal with more deaths, where things are not always as they seem.
Phillip Strang's lengthy epic, Murder in Hyde Park, would make a great tv series or feature film. It's the 10th in the DCI Cook Thriller series and has well-developed, interesting characters and complicated but believable plots, while the author keeps getting better with each outing. Grab a copy today!
DCI Isaac Cook's holiday plans to take girlfriend Jenny to his parents' anniversary celebration in Jamaica are put on hold, following the eponymous murder of bisexual prostitute, Colin Young/Barry Montgomery.
Instead he and his team must untangle a complicated web of liaisons, lies, and deal with more deaths, where things are not always as they seem.
Phillip Strang's lengthy epic, Murder in Hyde Park, would make a great tv series or feature film. It's the 10th in the DCI Cook Thriller series and has well-developed, interesting characters and complicated but believable plots, while the author keeps getting better with each outing. Grab a copy today!
January 20, 2019
DCI Isaac Cook is at a critical point in his relationship with his fiancée, Jenny, when an unidentified corpse is found in a local park. Personal plans have to be put on hold when there’s a murder to be solved. Isaac and his team pull out all the stops to ID the John Doe, but when they do, the mystery only deepens. They discover that the dead man had been working as an escort under one name, but was actually someone else entirely, and was involved with a married woman whose previous lover died under questionable circumstances, and who is married to a shady defense contractor who is very possessive.
Intrigued? Well you should be. Murder in Hyde Park by Phillip Strang is yet another fantastic offering in the DCI Cook series, about the British-Jamaican police inspector who has to fight internal police bureaucracy and politics as much as he has to fight crime. Despite all obstacles, false trails, and red herrings, though, Isaac and his crew persistently unravel the tangled threads of the crime until they end up at the door of the killer.
If you are, like me, a fan of this series, you’ll be taking action right now to get this one. If you’ve not read them before, as soon as you finish this one, go back to book one and start educating yourself.
Mystery at its best. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I’m a great fan of the character, so I can’t say in all honesty that my review is totally unbiased. It is honest, though. I give it five stars.
Intrigued? Well you should be. Murder in Hyde Park by Phillip Strang is yet another fantastic offering in the DCI Cook series, about the British-Jamaican police inspector who has to fight internal police bureaucracy and politics as much as he has to fight crime. Despite all obstacles, false trails, and red herrings, though, Isaac and his crew persistently unravel the tangled threads of the crime until they end up at the door of the killer.
If you are, like me, a fan of this series, you’ll be taking action right now to get this one. If you’ve not read them before, as soon as you finish this one, go back to book one and start educating yourself.
Mystery at its best. I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I’m a great fan of the character, so I can’t say in all honesty that my review is totally unbiased. It is honest, though. I give it five stars.
January 19, 2019
Murder in Hyde Park - DCI Cook Thriller Bk 10 - Written by Phillip Strang
When is a case closed? When someone confesses? Maybe!!!!
An early-morning jogger is murdered in Hyde Park. It's the centre of London, but no one saw him enter the park, no one saw him die. He carries no identification, only a water-logged phone. As the pieces unravel, it's clear that the dead man had a history of deception. Is the murderer one of those that loved him? Or was it someone with a vengeance? It's proving difficult for DCI Isaac Cook and his team at Challis Street Homicide to find the guilty person - not that they'll cease to search for the truth, not even after one suspect confesses.
What did I like? I have read all but two of this series and I think that this one is the authors finest work. It was more complicated and intricate than the others. The complexity was on almost every page so that you never knew what was going to happen next.
What will you like? The multifaceted, sophisticated, elaborate and convoluted storyline that just kept getting more involved as the pages turned. Characters that were multifarious, complicated and full of twists and turns but yet kept growing till the very end. Absolutely a great read that will keep your head down and the pages turning! I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
When is a case closed? When someone confesses? Maybe!!!!
An early-morning jogger is murdered in Hyde Park. It's the centre of London, but no one saw him enter the park, no one saw him die. He carries no identification, only a water-logged phone. As the pieces unravel, it's clear that the dead man had a history of deception. Is the murderer one of those that loved him? Or was it someone with a vengeance? It's proving difficult for DCI Isaac Cook and his team at Challis Street Homicide to find the guilty person - not that they'll cease to search for the truth, not even after one suspect confesses.
What did I like? I have read all but two of this series and I think that this one is the authors finest work. It was more complicated and intricate than the others. The complexity was on almost every page so that you never knew what was going to happen next.
What will you like? The multifaceted, sophisticated, elaborate and convoluted storyline that just kept getting more involved as the pages turned. Characters that were multifarious, complicated and full of twists and turns but yet kept growing till the very end. Absolutely a great read that will keep your head down and the pages turning! I received this from the author for an honest review with no other compensation.
January 17, 2019
"Consistently great content"
The settings and circumstances change, but certain things remain constant. In this story, Isaac Cook and his team turn over stones to reveal the seedier side of life in London. The police work carried out by Larry, Bridget and Wendy is meticulous and moves forward at a slow, but relentless pace. A murder, a suicide, several dysfunctional suspects and several red herrings are paraded before the reader for analysis and interrogation. Could this daughter be the killer? Or perhaps it was the father? Will the author be sneaky and keep the vital clue hidden from our view until the very end? That's the charm of these Isaac Cook cases. You are taken on a journey. Sit back, let the pageant unfold before you page by page, safe in the knowledge that the solution will be found and there will be plenty to enjoy along the way. Another cracking addition to the Strang collection.
I was provided with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. It was my pleasure.
The settings and circumstances change, but certain things remain constant. In this story, Isaac Cook and his team turn over stones to reveal the seedier side of life in London. The police work carried out by Larry, Bridget and Wendy is meticulous and moves forward at a slow, but relentless pace. A murder, a suicide, several dysfunctional suspects and several red herrings are paraded before the reader for analysis and interrogation. Could this daughter be the killer? Or perhaps it was the father? Will the author be sneaky and keep the vital clue hidden from our view until the very end? That's the charm of these Isaac Cook cases. You are taken on a journey. Sit back, let the pageant unfold before you page by page, safe in the knowledge that the solution will be found and there will be plenty to enjoy along the way. Another cracking addition to the Strang collection.
I was provided with a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. It was my pleasure.
November 18, 2022
It all starts with the discovery of a body floating in the Serpentine in Hyde Park. From the moment the body is discovered, there are twists and turns with numerous suspects coming to the fore with a plethora of possible motives but the gut feeling of DCI Isaac Cook and DS Wendy Gladstone as the investigation proceeds, is that something is being missed. The story turns a spotlight on some of the seedier sides of life and the investigation by the police of the family of the murdered man reveals a hard task master of a father and a delicate mother who dies of grief at the loss of her son. Father and sister follow at their own hand, and this makes for an intriguing story worth your attention.
It is not until the final chapter that the actual murderer is revealed and arrested. A great story.
Moses
It is not until the final chapter that the actual murderer is revealed and arrested. A great story.
Moses
April 21, 2019
I enjoyed most of the book - while I did not find the regular characters to be all that interesting, the various witnesses and suspects were quite enough to hold my attention. It felt like a puzzle, with some pieces that ultimately would end up in the outer frame and others that might belong in the central picture - but as even as more pieces were turned up, the centre remained a muddle.
This puzzle kept me going, but in the end, I felt as if the author had wasted my time. The entire centre improbably turns up in the final pages - the murderer literally brings the solution to the police and wraps it in a bow.
In addition, the author indulged in a bit more moralising than I thought necessary. The investigative team, including the DCI, was undistinguished and rather stodgy.
This puzzle kept me going, but in the end, I felt as if the author had wasted my time. The entire centre improbably turns up in the final pages - the murderer literally brings the solution to the police and wraps it in a bow.
In addition, the author indulged in a bit more moralising than I thought necessary. The investigative team, including the DCI, was undistinguished and rather stodgy.
January 24, 2019
The body of a jogger found by Chinese tourists brings DCI Cook and his three associates into a world of lust, power, envy, and enemies. The characters involved are all detailed with effective backstories that help in the believability of the novel. The personalities of DCI Cook, Wendy, Larry, and Bridget bring them into the case with differing levels of involvement with the suspects. The clues are minimal and the statements of the suspects lead the team into a web of familial and marital intrigue. Death and apparent suicides push the investigators into a unique world. this is an terrific tale of police investigations colored by the interactions of the characters. Note: I received this book from the author as an ARC and am voluntarily providing this review.
March 29, 2019
"Difficult British Investigation"
In a park in the center of London, an early morning jogger is murdered. The man had no identification and no one had seen him in the park. He only has a flooded cell phone on him. It becomes a difficult case for DCI Isaac Cook and his staff to solve. A story of police procedures to keep you guessing if the true facts will ever be found. Lot's of characters and not a lot of action.
In a park in the center of London, an early morning jogger is murdered. The man had no identification and no one had seen him in the park. He only has a flooded cell phone on him. It becomes a difficult case for DCI Isaac Cook and his staff to solve. A story of police procedures to keep you guessing if the true facts will ever be found. Lot's of characters and not a lot of action.
May 7, 2019
Disappointing
Well enough written (I hate clunky language) but by about 2/3 through I didn’t really care enough about any of the characters to want to know what happened. Too many conversations with potential suspects that went nowhere and had no bearing on and did not add to the final reveal. The ending was underwhelming.
Well enough written (I hate clunky language) but by about 2/3 through I didn’t really care enough about any of the characters to want to know what happened. Too many conversations with potential suspects that went nowhere and had no bearing on and did not add to the final reveal. The ending was underwhelming.
June 16, 2020
A great read
I liked this book because it introduced me to DCI Isaac Cook a man with a strong sense of duty. A man is murdered and the hunt for his killer begins. There were twists and turns that had my brain spinning. Every time that I thought I'd identified the culprit, wham! another red herring. Interesting characters and an enjoyable story.
I liked this book because it introduced me to DCI Isaac Cook a man with a strong sense of duty. A man is murdered and the hunt for his killer begins. There were twists and turns that had my brain spinning. Every time that I thought I'd identified the culprit, wham! another red herring. Interesting characters and an enjoyable story.
January 17, 2019
Once again a great read from Phillip Strang that has twists and turns and keeps you guessing as to who did it. An excellent addition to the DCI Cook series, but as with the others can be read as a stand alone.
January 20, 2019
Realistic police procedural. A murdered jogger with a false identity leads to two suicides and one death from a broken heart. With dogged police work the very best alibi is broken. Realistic characters and descriptions. I was gifted this from the author.
August 18, 2019
Investigation or soap opera
Don’t know if this book was supposed to be a murder investigation or a soap opera. Just too many rounds of questioning Christine and the gang of suspects. Thank you.
Don’t know if this book was supposed to be a murder investigation or a soap opera. Just too many rounds of questioning Christine and the gang of suspects. Thank you.
December 28, 2020
A twisting thriller
The murder of a man in the park, leads the inspectors down a maze, so many suspects and sorting them out was difficult for them an me. Very well written a book hard to put down.
The murder of a man in the park, leads the inspectors down a maze, so many suspects and sorting them out was difficult for them an me. Very well written a book hard to put down.
December 17, 2021
Murder in Hyde Park
Well written story with a lot of red herrings just the way I like it no shortage of people to be considered as the murderer and I could not have foretold the outcome kept me on the edge of my seat
Well written story with a lot of red herrings just the way I like it no shortage of people to be considered as the murderer and I could not have foretold the outcome kept me on the edge of my seat
November 11, 2023
Excellent
My first book by this author but it won’t be the last, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked DCI Cook and his team. There weren’t too many characters as sometimes you can get a bit lost I thought this was just about right. Looking forward to my next instalment.
My first book by this author but it won’t be the last, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I especially liked DCI Cook and his team. There weren’t too many characters as sometimes you can get a bit lost I thought this was just about right. Looking forward to my next instalment.
January 14, 2019
A mystery and the police procedural that grinds along. There are some twists along the way, but never any suspense. Well written and good characters, though.
January 15, 2019
Great series.
Great characters. Lots of suspects. Subterfuge from many suspects. But the team flesh it out in the end. All of this series is awesome.
Great characters. Lots of suspects. Subterfuge from many suspects. But the team flesh it out in the end. All of this series is awesome.
February 2, 2019
Good solid police procedure.
February 6, 2019
This was a very good book. I look forward to reading more by this author. There were so many lies and miss directions on the truth. I never guessed who actually committed the murder.
March 7, 2019
Terrible
Police persons bumbling about. No plot and just awfully written. No investigative skills and the police procedures more like scare tactics on anyone and everyone.
Police persons bumbling about. No plot and just awfully written. No investigative skills and the police procedures more like scare tactics on anyone and everyone.
April 14, 2019
To be Honest I only read half of this book, I found it boring and certainly not up to the other books by this Author.
May 6, 2019
read a few weeks ago can't remember any details.
August 20, 2021
This has a really good storyline, sadly I just couldn't get in to it.
December 10, 2021
Who killed Barry Montgomery AKA Colin Young and why??? Isaac and Larry are on the job, aren’t they??? I enjoyed the story and recommend the book.
May 31, 2022
Love it!! This is a new author for me and I will read more of his work!!!! Gripping to the end!!!! Well written and worth reading, highly recommend it!
September 16, 2019
STARTLING INTRIGUE!
MURDER IN HYDE PARK Drops a mysterious murder in DCI Isaac Cook's lap, interrupting his personal life once again. Tragedies follow turning this into a riveting convoluted conudrum. An action packed innovative and intricate plot spinning a puzzle impossible to decipher or put down until the very end
MURDER IN HYDE PARK IS A MUST READ!
Start with book 1 for an AWESOME SERIES!
MURDER IN HYDE PARK Drops a mysterious murder in DCI Isaac Cook's lap, interrupting his personal life once again. Tragedies follow turning this into a riveting convoluted conudrum. An action packed innovative and intricate plot spinning a puzzle impossible to decipher or put down until the very end
MURDER IN HYDE PARK IS A MUST READ!
Start with book 1 for an AWESOME SERIES!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews