What do you think?
Rate this book
DC Sean Blake #2
Marked Men
A corpse is found in a Manchester canal, encased in a sleeping bag and weighed down by bricks. DC Sean Blake's investigation has hardly begun before another body with links to it is discovered . . . also drowned. A mysterious figure seen asking questions about the victims becomes the prime suspect. But as Blake delves into the shady pasts of those killed, he finds connections to friends still living - including a crime lord of the city. Matters are complicated for Blake when those who once formed their childhood gang refuse to cooperate. With a killer so elusive and targets so unwilling to accept help, can Blake stop the body count from rising?
- GenresProceduralCrime
256 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Chris Simms
64 books82 followersI was born and brought up in rural Sussex, three miles from the nearest shop. Childhood holidays – which lasted for weeks as my dad was a teacher – were spent in a secluded spot in the heart of Exmoor. Sitting round the campfire at night, the haunting cries of owls floating in from the blackness beyond the flames, he would read me the ghost stories of MR James. The short walk to the safety of my tent was always taken at a sprint.
Books that interested me growing up? Plenty of mysteries – especially the Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators series. I also loved Roahl Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected and read plenty of Pan Horror Stories, too.
Later, it was novels that gave insights into unusual minds: the twisted desires of Frederick in John Fowles’, The Collector; the tormented thoughts of Scobie in Graham Greene’s, Heart of the Matter; the violent urges of Francie in Patrick McCabe’s, Butcher Boy all had a major influence.
After school and university came a series of abysmal jobs punctuated by travelling. Quite a lot of travelling, actually. Then, just after my 30th birthday, the idea for my first novel came to me. I was broken down on the hard shoulder of a motorway in the early hours of the morning, waiting for a rescue vehicle to arrive. It’s about the driver of a van who roams the roads in the dead of night, looking for stranded motorists to murder…
Ideas for subsequent novels have occurred at all sorts of odd moments: glimpsing a derelict church from the window of a moving train; browsing a newspaper report about a walker who claimed he’d been attacked by a panther; half-reading a doctor’s surgery article on how some tinnitus sufferers don’t hear whistles or buzzes – they’re tormented by birdsong; listening to a radio program about a flotilla of yellow ducks that fell from a cargo ship and floated slowly across the Atlantic.
Books that interested me growing up? Plenty of mysteries – especially the Alfred Hitchcock and The Three Investigators series. I also loved Roahl Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected and read plenty of Pan Horror Stories, too.
Later, it was novels that gave insights into unusual minds: the twisted desires of Frederick in John Fowles’, The Collector; the tormented thoughts of Scobie in Graham Greene’s, Heart of the Matter; the violent urges of Francie in Patrick McCabe’s, Butcher Boy all had a major influence.
After school and university came a series of abysmal jobs punctuated by travelling. Quite a lot of travelling, actually. Then, just after my 30th birthday, the idea for my first novel came to me. I was broken down on the hard shoulder of a motorway in the early hours of the morning, waiting for a rescue vehicle to arrive. It’s about the driver of a van who roams the roads in the dead of night, looking for stranded motorists to murder…
Ideas for subsequent novels have occurred at all sorts of odd moments: glimpsing a derelict church from the window of a moving train; browsing a newspaper report about a walker who claimed he’d been attacked by a panther; half-reading a doctor’s surgery article on how some tinnitus sufferers don’t hear whistles or buzzes – they’re tormented by birdsong; listening to a radio program about a flotilla of yellow ducks that fell from a cargo ship and floated slowly across the Atlantic.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 27, 2019
3.5 stars
Many of us had a particular group of friends that helped us navigate through all the firsts that make up the dreaded teenage years. First date, first job, first car, first murder….wait. Ok, maybe not the last one.
Unfortunately, Jordan Hughes ran with a crew of young delinquents meaning he experienced all that & more. Seventeen years have passed since he was convicted of killing a homeless man. Now he’s free & back to have a word with his former pals. He begins tracking them down & it’s not long before one is found floating in a watery grave.
The case is assigned to DC Sean Blake & DS Magda Dragomir. Sean is an earnest young detective eager to make his mark & he & Magda soon have their hands full when another body surfaces. Then another. They quickly make the connection between the victims. But getting the remaining members to talk is a different story. Most of the old gang still live on the fringes in one way or another & are reluctant to spill their secrets to the cops.
This is the second book in a series but can easily be read as a stand alone. The focus is on Sean & we get ample background in terms of his career & personal life. He’s a squeaky clean never-been-kissed kind of guy. And although the murders themselves are nasty, the author doesn’t dwell on graphic details. It’s a very clean read (no swearing, sex. etc.) & most of the main cast wouldn’t be out of place in a cozy.
The story is well written & has a good premise. If you read a lot of police procedurals, you’ll probably spot the culprit early on but it’s only in the final stretch that motive is revealed. If you prefer a more wholesome approach to suspense or just need a break from grit-lit, this is a quick easy read that will keep you entertained.
Many of us had a particular group of friends that helped us navigate through all the firsts that make up the dreaded teenage years. First date, first job, first car, first murder….wait. Ok, maybe not the last one.
Unfortunately, Jordan Hughes ran with a crew of young delinquents meaning he experienced all that & more. Seventeen years have passed since he was convicted of killing a homeless man. Now he’s free & back to have a word with his former pals. He begins tracking them down & it’s not long before one is found floating in a watery grave.
The case is assigned to DC Sean Blake & DS Magda Dragomir. Sean is an earnest young detective eager to make his mark & he & Magda soon have their hands full when another body surfaces. Then another. They quickly make the connection between the victims. But getting the remaining members to talk is a different story. Most of the old gang still live on the fringes in one way or another & are reluctant to spill their secrets to the cops.
This is the second book in a series but can easily be read as a stand alone. The focus is on Sean & we get ample background in terms of his career & personal life. He’s a squeaky clean never-been-kissed kind of guy. And although the murders themselves are nasty, the author doesn’t dwell on graphic details. It’s a very clean read (no swearing, sex. etc.) & most of the main cast wouldn’t be out of place in a cozy.
The story is well written & has a good premise. If you read a lot of police procedurals, you’ll probably spot the culprit early on but it’s only in the final stretch that motive is revealed. If you prefer a more wholesome approach to suspense or just need a break from grit-lit, this is a quick easy read that will keep you entertained.
June 2, 2019
A new to me series that covers Sean Blake, a newly minted DC in Manchester. This is a basic but well done police procedural. Jordan Hughes has just been released from prison and has his sights set on revenge against Anthony Brown and the rest of his teenage friends who fitted him for the murder that landed him in prison.
Meanwhile, DC Blake and his partner, DS Magda Dragomir are called to investigate a dead body found in a canal. And then again to a second body found again in similar circumstances.
The characters are well drawn, even the more minor ones. It was interesting to see how a group of high school friends could end up so differently. There is one rather unbelievable character on which the plot climax hangs. But it still kept my interest and I would happily read other books by Simms.
My thanks to netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of this book.
Meanwhile, DC Blake and his partner, DS Magda Dragomir are called to investigate a dead body found in a canal. And then again to a second body found again in similar circumstances.
The characters are well drawn, even the more minor ones. It was interesting to see how a group of high school friends could end up so differently. There is one rather unbelievable character on which the plot climax hangs. But it still kept my interest and I would happily read other books by Simms.
My thanks to netgalley and Severn House for an advance copy of this book.
May 23, 2019
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Although number two in the series, I felt this book was great and gave enough information from the first book and very quickly was able to fully understand the characters.
Also my first book by this author, but this series alone is enough for this author to be on my radar, with another great gritty police procedural series, with some great characters especially Magda and Sean.
Jordan Hughes, who has just finished serving more than a decade in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, is bent on taking revenge on those responsible, including Manchester, England, gang lord Anthony Brown. Two days after Hughes’s release, DC Sean Blake, and his partner, D.Sgt. Magda Dragomir, investigate the death of Lee Goodwin who was found in a canal with his hands bound together by a plastic tie. Goodwin’s mother, who is remarkably unmoved by Lee’s death, points them to a friend of her son’s, Phil Nordern, but before Blake and Dragomir can track him down, Nordern’s body, also with its hands secured by plastic, turns up in a park lake.
The story follows to the police inquiry but also alternate with ones from Hughes’s perspective, heightening suspense as even more murders are committed.
The book and story keeps to a great pace, with a great last few chapters with lots of shocks, great pace and good action.
I enjoyed the characters, the story, and the well paced gritty police story, with another author to watch for on the powerful British scene, keep up the good work.
Four stars, and not far off five stars.
Although number two in the series, I felt this book was great and gave enough information from the first book and very quickly was able to fully understand the characters.
Also my first book by this author, but this series alone is enough for this author to be on my radar, with another great gritty police procedural series, with some great characters especially Magda and Sean.
Jordan Hughes, who has just finished serving more than a decade in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, is bent on taking revenge on those responsible, including Manchester, England, gang lord Anthony Brown. Two days after Hughes’s release, DC Sean Blake, and his partner, D.Sgt. Magda Dragomir, investigate the death of Lee Goodwin who was found in a canal with his hands bound together by a plastic tie. Goodwin’s mother, who is remarkably unmoved by Lee’s death, points them to a friend of her son’s, Phil Nordern, but before Blake and Dragomir can track him down, Nordern’s body, also with its hands secured by plastic, turns up in a park lake.
The story follows to the police inquiry but also alternate with ones from Hughes’s perspective, heightening suspense as even more murders are committed.
The book and story keeps to a great pace, with a great last few chapters with lots of shocks, great pace and good action.
I enjoyed the characters, the story, and the well paced gritty police story, with another author to watch for on the powerful British scene, keep up the good work.
Four stars, and not far off five stars.
March 11, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for the eARC.
DC Sean Blake is moving into his own place after the death of his mother when a body is found, in a lock, drowned. His hands are tied with plastic ties and there are bricks in the bottom of his sleeping bag. Soon there's another drowned body, also with his hands tied. Sean and DS Magda Dragomir are soon on the lookout for a suspicious man who's been asking questions about the two men.
Jordan Hughes has just come out of jail after 17 years and he's bent on revenge on the men who accused him of setting a homeless man on fire, letting him take the rap when he wasn't even the one who committed the murder.
This is the 2nd book in the DC Sean Blake series and like the 1st one, a really good read. I love Sean, he's a good man who was a good son and his relationship with Magda is a joy to read. She's funny and really has Sean's back, as he has hers.
Even though Jordan is a killer, I couldn't help feeling empathy towards him, he got such a bad deal, and the men he's after are nasty brutes. The mystery has good twists with a surprising ending.
This series is becoming one of my favorites. I hope there are plenty more books to follow. The stories are gritty, but not overly gruesome and it helps that the two main detectives are so likeable. Highly recommended!
DC Sean Blake is moving into his own place after the death of his mother when a body is found, in a lock, drowned. His hands are tied with plastic ties and there are bricks in the bottom of his sleeping bag. Soon there's another drowned body, also with his hands tied. Sean and DS Magda Dragomir are soon on the lookout for a suspicious man who's been asking questions about the two men.
Jordan Hughes has just come out of jail after 17 years and he's bent on revenge on the men who accused him of setting a homeless man on fire, letting him take the rap when he wasn't even the one who committed the murder.
This is the 2nd book in the DC Sean Blake series and like the 1st one, a really good read. I love Sean, he's a good man who was a good son and his relationship with Magda is a joy to read. She's funny and really has Sean's back, as he has hers.
Even though Jordan is a killer, I couldn't help feeling empathy towards him, he got such a bad deal, and the men he's after are nasty brutes. The mystery has good twists with a surprising ending.
This series is becoming one of my favorites. I hope there are plenty more books to follow. The stories are gritty, but not overly gruesome and it helps that the two main detectives are so likeable. Highly recommended!
May 2, 2019
Superbly crafted.
Sean Blake is a Detective Constable in the Manchester area who works alongside his boss, DS Magda Drogomir. This is the second in the Sean Blake series but, as they are separate stories, they can be read in any order.
A body is found in a canal. It has been dumped there, and evidence points strongly to murder. Another body is found shortly after that with a similar MO and suspicion falls on Jordan Hughes, who has recently been released from prison having served 17 years for the murder of a homeless man. Hughes has always protested his innocence but the testaments given by a group of friends who were with him at the time of the crime were enough to convict him. He is now out for revenge.
What appears to be an open and shut case slowly opens up and proves to be more complex. Most of the gang still live locally and the passage of time has been kinder to some than others. Anthony Brown, for instance, has his finger in most illegal activities in his part of the city while others have descended into unemployment and drug taking. Whoever they are, their various nefarious activities will be slowly revealed as the plot progresses.
I enjoyed reading about how Sean and Magda investigated the murders. Their relationship felt real, and the atmosphere surrounding the local area was tangible. Even the internal police politics and rivalry was well played out and didn't intrude too much or feel forced. The dialogue was gritty, and the characterisation, even of the more minor characters was well developed. There were twists and turns towards the end where everything came together and although it ends more with a whimper than a bang it's entirely in keeping with the feel of the book and the lives it portrays. All the clues are there for the reader who takes the trouble to identify them.
First class. I shall be buying the first in the series and adding Chris Simms to the list of my favourite authors.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
Sean Blake is a Detective Constable in the Manchester area who works alongside his boss, DS Magda Drogomir. This is the second in the Sean Blake series but, as they are separate stories, they can be read in any order.
A body is found in a canal. It has been dumped there, and evidence points strongly to murder. Another body is found shortly after that with a similar MO and suspicion falls on Jordan Hughes, who has recently been released from prison having served 17 years for the murder of a homeless man. Hughes has always protested his innocence but the testaments given by a group of friends who were with him at the time of the crime were enough to convict him. He is now out for revenge.
What appears to be an open and shut case slowly opens up and proves to be more complex. Most of the gang still live locally and the passage of time has been kinder to some than others. Anthony Brown, for instance, has his finger in most illegal activities in his part of the city while others have descended into unemployment and drug taking. Whoever they are, their various nefarious activities will be slowly revealed as the plot progresses.
I enjoyed reading about how Sean and Magda investigated the murders. Their relationship felt real, and the atmosphere surrounding the local area was tangible. Even the internal police politics and rivalry was well played out and didn't intrude too much or feel forced. The dialogue was gritty, and the characterisation, even of the more minor characters was well developed. There were twists and turns towards the end where everything came together and although it ends more with a whimper than a bang it's entirely in keeping with the feel of the book and the lives it portrays. All the clues are there for the reader who takes the trouble to identify them.
First class. I shall be buying the first in the series and adding Chris Simms to the list of my favourite authors.
mr zorg
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.
March 26, 2019
Marked Men, the second book in the DC Sean Blake series, is as terrific as the first. DC Blake and his partner DS Dragomir are first on the scene of what seems to be a particularly cruel murder. Soon the bodies start to pile up and as the plot twists and turns the evidence points to a mad man bent on revenge. Unreliable witnesses and in-house professional jealousy complicate the investigation but are no match for Blake and Dragomir.
May 19, 2019
Chris Simms is probably best known for his solid series of novels about Manchester detective, DI Jon Spicer. Always reliable, and in the case of Cut Adrift exceptional, the eight DI Spicer books feature well developed, credible characters, interesting plots and vivid descriptions of Manchester and its surrounds. In recent years Simms has moved on from the Spicer novels, and Marked Men is the second in his new series about DC Sean Blake.
I really enjoyed Marked Men. The plotting and characters are interesting and the book builds to a neat twist. You don’t need to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, although those who have read Loose Tongues will relish watching Blake’s development as he copes with the emotional pangs of leaving his deceased mother’s house and moving into a new flat. He and Magda are good characters and I hope that they are around for some time yet.
See full review at murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
I really enjoyed Marked Men. The plotting and characters are interesting and the book builds to a neat twist. You don’t need to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, although those who have read Loose Tongues will relish watching Blake’s development as he copes with the emotional pangs of leaving his deceased mother’s house and moving into a new flat. He and Magda are good characters and I hope that they are around for some time yet.
See full review at murdermayhemandlongdogs.com
June 25, 2019
I don’t remember why I requested this book on Netgalley. The cover, perhaps? I’m not certain that I even read the blurb. (That’s not advisable, by the way.) But whatever the reason, I am glad that I did. Chris Simms just made a new fan.
By the end of the prologue, I knew I was reading an experienced writer. My notes gushed, “Great tension, hints of underlying sexual desire and violence. Strong opening! Simms knows what he’s doing here. Please, please, deliver the goods!”
He did.I thoroughly enjoyed this book from first page to last. Here’s why:
1. Sean Blake is an unusually sweet police officer.
For starters, he’s young and relatively inexperienced. He’s a Detective Constable, working under Detective Sergeant Magda Dragomir, who works under a DCI. He’s still new enough to his position that he’s excited to be a part of a murder investigation. His DCI compares him to an eager puppy, and that comparison came to mind at multiple times during the novel.
In my experience, most police procedural stories feature a world-weary and jaded investigator who’s seen too many dead bodies, too much blood, and too much horror. It comes with the job.
Sean, though, hasn’t been broken of his idealism. He’s shocked and saddened that murder victims are ranked by priority: the killing of a homeless thief is low priority. Sure, they’ll do the basic steps of “investigating” but as Magda says, “But we are not to give ourselves any headaches after that” (chapter 3).
Sean doesn’t like this. He wants justice for the victim. He’s bothered when relatives don’t ask if the man suffered. He’s infuriated by the very idea of a police officer tipping off the press.
Oh, and he sponsors a young wolf in an animal sanctuary, has a model of the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars in his apartment, and hasn’t had a girlfriend because he cared for his sick mother throughout his teens and twenties. He’s sweet. What’s not to love?
He’s not without his dark side, though.
2. Sean and Magda make great work partners.
Magda, an immigrant from Romania, is as deep a character as Sean. I appreciated how the two interacted and how she variously mentors, teases, and comforts him during the investigation. When she’s too abrasive, he smooths things over with the skill of a diplomat. He can confront her and she will listen. In short, the two may have conflicts but they respect each other, too.
We need to see more non-sexual relationships between the genders, in my opinion.
3. The other characters are well-developed.
Simms has a large cast of characters, but he does a great job bringing them to life. I was impressed by how he handled Jordan Hughes, a homeless man recently released from prison. It was hard not to have sympathy for him.
4. The story is well-plotted.
As you’d expect, this murder investigation turns up deeper, troubling things from the victim’s past. (It is troubling, and realistically so.) Simms cleverly slips in red herrings and clues, even as he develops well-rounded characters, compelling motives, and a vivid setting. It’s also relatively clean (though you may learn some colorful Romanian words!) What more could a reader ask for?
I highly recommend Marked Men.
By the end of the prologue, I knew I was reading an experienced writer. My notes gushed, “Great tension, hints of underlying sexual desire and violence. Strong opening! Simms knows what he’s doing here. Please, please, deliver the goods!”
He did.I thoroughly enjoyed this book from first page to last. Here’s why:
1. Sean Blake is an unusually sweet police officer.
For starters, he’s young and relatively inexperienced. He’s a Detective Constable, working under Detective Sergeant Magda Dragomir, who works under a DCI. He’s still new enough to his position that he’s excited to be a part of a murder investigation. His DCI compares him to an eager puppy, and that comparison came to mind at multiple times during the novel.
In my experience, most police procedural stories feature a world-weary and jaded investigator who’s seen too many dead bodies, too much blood, and too much horror. It comes with the job.
Sean, though, hasn’t been broken of his idealism. He’s shocked and saddened that murder victims are ranked by priority: the killing of a homeless thief is low priority. Sure, they’ll do the basic steps of “investigating” but as Magda says, “But we are not to give ourselves any headaches after that” (chapter 3).
Sean doesn’t like this. He wants justice for the victim. He’s bothered when relatives don’t ask if the man suffered. He’s infuriated by the very idea of a police officer tipping off the press.
Oh, and he sponsors a young wolf in an animal sanctuary, has a model of the Millennium Falcon from Star Wars in his apartment, and hasn’t had a girlfriend because he cared for his sick mother throughout his teens and twenties. He’s sweet. What’s not to love?
He’s not without his dark side, though.
2. Sean and Magda make great work partners.
Magda, an immigrant from Romania, is as deep a character as Sean. I appreciated how the two interacted and how she variously mentors, teases, and comforts him during the investigation. When she’s too abrasive, he smooths things over with the skill of a diplomat. He can confront her and she will listen. In short, the two may have conflicts but they respect each other, too.
We need to see more non-sexual relationships between the genders, in my opinion.
3. The other characters are well-developed.
Simms has a large cast of characters, but he does a great job bringing them to life. I was impressed by how he handled Jordan Hughes, a homeless man recently released from prison. It was hard not to have sympathy for him.
4. The story is well-plotted.
As you’d expect, this murder investigation turns up deeper, troubling things from the victim’s past. (It is troubling, and realistically so.) Simms cleverly slips in red herrings and clues, even as he develops well-rounded characters, compelling motives, and a vivid setting. It’s also relatively clean (though you may learn some colorful Romanian words!) What more could a reader ask for?
I highly recommend Marked Men.
March 4, 2023
This is a tale of revenge, wrapped up in a police procedural. The problem is, who is getting revenge on whom? Whodunnit lovers need to take a little care. The lowest ranked officer, DC Blake, is the protagonist, although his immediate boss and partner, Sgt. Dragomir, gets a bit of page time, and we learn how to swear in Romanian. And, in my case, immediately forgetting same. Why couldn't she have been French?
It's a cracking mystery, and the body count rises dramatically. The investigators are frustrated. There's a bit of a cliche cop rivalry going on, which is counter-productive, but there are no flies on DC Blake, and he manages to work around it while keeping his sense of perspective. There's even a sniff of a possible romance with the attractive civilian support person who volunteered to work with the investigative group. Wow!
Desperation sets in at police headquarters and they bring in a Super Recogniser, which to me smelled strongly of the good old deus ex machina. Not so, as apparently these special people are now an important part of modern policing.
The ending is extremely rushed, and is a major disappointment , but I have still rated this exciting novel a 4.0.
It's a cracking mystery, and the body count rises dramatically. The investigators are frustrated. There's a bit of a cliche cop rivalry going on, which is counter-productive, but there are no flies on DC Blake, and he manages to work around it while keeping his sense of perspective. There's even a sniff of a possible romance with the attractive civilian support person who volunteered to work with the investigative group. Wow!
Desperation sets in at police headquarters and they bring in a Super Recogniser, which to me smelled strongly of the good old deus ex machina. Not so, as apparently these special people are now an important part of modern policing.
The ending is extremely rushed, and is a major disappointment , but I have still rated this exciting novel a 4.0.
June 25, 2019
Well done procedural set in Manchester but the best part of this series (well, there are two books) are the characters. DC Sean Blake was the carer for his mother, who has just died, and he's dealing with her "estate." He's also got a nascent relationship with Katie May and a great partner in DS Magda Dragomir. The actual mystery of the killings, all related to a gang, isn't too twisty but there are good atmospherics. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a quick, entertaining read.
March 11, 2021
Wow what a book
Another brilliant read from Chris simms brilliant twist at the end the author is a legend I'm looking forward to his next book never get bored of his books definitely recommend to any one who enjoys crime and action
Another brilliant read from Chris simms brilliant twist at the end the author is a legend I'm looking forward to his next book never get bored of his books definitely recommend to any one who enjoys crime and action
February 28, 2020
Very average police procedural .
December 17, 2021
Could not finish this. While I enjoyed the first of this series, this story is set in the seedy life of Manchester, and I was put off by the story and the characters.
July 12, 2019
My thanks to Severn House Publishing and Netgalley for providing an eBook of this book. The views expressed about it are my own.
It's a better than average police procedural thriller that begins with a wrongly convicted thirty-something recently released from prison who is out for revenge on his buddies who essentially framed him for the murder of a homeless man, and escaped jail. The focus of the story is on his efforts to carry out his revenge plan as the police investigating a pair of murders follow his trail through present day Manchester, England. He narrates the story in alternative chapters where it is disclosed that he is plagued by blackouts from binge-drinking. Things take a surprise twist as the the story progresses and the possibility of a second killer comes to light. This all leads to an exciting conclusion with a surprising conclusion.
A couple of the investigating police detectives stand out. DC Sean Blake and DS Magda Dragomir are interesting characters and work together as a good team. They are different from many police procedural detectives in that they are still keen to do a good job and are not hampered by heavy drinking or other similar flaws. They are in competition with another pair of detectives, who are portrayed less favourably. This enmity is not resolved in this book and will likely carry over to any sequel. This book is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone.
It's a better than average police procedural thriller that begins with a wrongly convicted thirty-something recently released from prison who is out for revenge on his buddies who essentially framed him for the murder of a homeless man, and escaped jail. The focus of the story is on his efforts to carry out his revenge plan as the police investigating a pair of murders follow his trail through present day Manchester, England. He narrates the story in alternative chapters where it is disclosed that he is plagued by blackouts from binge-drinking. Things take a surprise twist as the the story progresses and the possibility of a second killer comes to light. This all leads to an exciting conclusion with a surprising conclusion.
A couple of the investigating police detectives stand out. DC Sean Blake and DS Magda Dragomir are interesting characters and work together as a good team. They are different from many police procedural detectives in that they are still keen to do a good job and are not hampered by heavy drinking or other similar flaws. They are in competition with another pair of detectives, who are portrayed less favourably. This enmity is not resolved in this book and will likely carry over to any sequel. This book is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone.
March 16, 2019
This is no straightforward murder mystery. It has an unusual storyline and carries the reader with several changes of direction before the very unlikely culprit is revealed. Set in and around Manchester,the characters are believable and the internal friction within the detectives involved adds to the context very effectively. There are moments of humour as well as accounts of dire events. I strongly recommend this as a gripping read.
March 29, 2019
This is the second book in the DC Sean Blake series. Based in Manchester, DC Sean Blake is a relative new comer in the SCU - serious crimes unit - and so far, he hasn't had an easy ride, already gaining the dislike of DS Dave Fuller. Fortunately, Romanian born Detective Sergeant Magda Dragomir and Blake have teamed up and make a good team, despite Dragomir being somewhat of a mother hen at times.
Blake and Dragomir are called to a drowning part of Manchester’s canal of a homeless man which turns into a bigger case when another man is found drowned in Debdale Park – an old reservoir on the outskirts of town. Meanwhile Jordan Hughes has just been released from prison in Leeds after serving seventeen years for the murder of a helpless homeless man he didn’t commit. He has skipped out on his parole, left the area and travelled back to Manchester determined to find and murder those people, supposedly his schooltime friends, who framed him for the murder having spent all his time plotting his revenge.
Blake, Dragomir and Blake’s potential love interest civilian support worker Katie May set to the task of investigating both murders. Whilst they are carrying out their investigation into the two murders DS Fuller and DC Ray Moor are giving the investigation into the murder of Kevin Rowe, found stabbed to death in his home and it is quickly established that all three murders are connected, and both teams are set to work together resulting in tension between the two teams.
Whilst this is ongoing Sean is having to deal with the sudden death of his mother, selling the childhood home he spent with her and moving into his own flat.
I was fortunate enough to discover Chris Simms whilst on holiday in Greece where I went to read a book left by another holiday maker in the apartment complex and went for his book purely because I was living in Manchester at the time and the idea of reading a crime novel set around my home town appealed to me. I haven’t looked back and have read every one of his books to date. Therefore, I feel I am in good stead to state that this is the best book Simms has written to date. His characters are realistic and believable, with good points and flaws everyone of us have. I stated in my review of Loose Tongues the first book of this series (also by Severn House) that I wanted to get to know more, not only about Blake, but also Magda Dragomir and Katie May, and I am not disappointed in the least. Simms’ portrayal of the other characters’ thoughts and actions also work well and there is no confusion when he flits from say, Hughes to Blake and back again.
Once again, the story builds at a good steady pace, and I found myself not wanting to put it down as the climax was building. Although I guessed at potential ‘villains’ I didn’t guess all the players until Simms was ready to reveal them, which is always a bonus – sometimes it’s good to know who the main villain is from the onset, sometimes it’s even good to guess who they are halfway through, but the best books to my mind are those that keep you guessing until the ‘big reveal’. I felt Simms excelled himself this time round.
I am looking forward to reading more about DC Sean Blake. Chris Simms has grown wonderfully as his books have progressed and I am sure that the next one will outdo even this – I look forward to the continuing progression of Blake within the SCU and his personal life.
Finally, I would like to say a huge thank you to Severn House Publishing, Mr Chris Simms and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book prior to publishing, and wish them all continued success.
I urge you, dear reader, to dive in and immerse yourself in Manchester and Simms.
Blake and Dragomir are called to a drowning part of Manchester’s canal of a homeless man which turns into a bigger case when another man is found drowned in Debdale Park – an old reservoir on the outskirts of town. Meanwhile Jordan Hughes has just been released from prison in Leeds after serving seventeen years for the murder of a helpless homeless man he didn’t commit. He has skipped out on his parole, left the area and travelled back to Manchester determined to find and murder those people, supposedly his schooltime friends, who framed him for the murder having spent all his time plotting his revenge.
Blake, Dragomir and Blake’s potential love interest civilian support worker Katie May set to the task of investigating both murders. Whilst they are carrying out their investigation into the two murders DS Fuller and DC Ray Moor are giving the investigation into the murder of Kevin Rowe, found stabbed to death in his home and it is quickly established that all three murders are connected, and both teams are set to work together resulting in tension between the two teams.
Whilst this is ongoing Sean is having to deal with the sudden death of his mother, selling the childhood home he spent with her and moving into his own flat.
I was fortunate enough to discover Chris Simms whilst on holiday in Greece where I went to read a book left by another holiday maker in the apartment complex and went for his book purely because I was living in Manchester at the time and the idea of reading a crime novel set around my home town appealed to me. I haven’t looked back and have read every one of his books to date. Therefore, I feel I am in good stead to state that this is the best book Simms has written to date. His characters are realistic and believable, with good points and flaws everyone of us have. I stated in my review of Loose Tongues the first book of this series (also by Severn House) that I wanted to get to know more, not only about Blake, but also Magda Dragomir and Katie May, and I am not disappointed in the least. Simms’ portrayal of the other characters’ thoughts and actions also work well and there is no confusion when he flits from say, Hughes to Blake and back again.
Once again, the story builds at a good steady pace, and I found myself not wanting to put it down as the climax was building. Although I guessed at potential ‘villains’ I didn’t guess all the players until Simms was ready to reveal them, which is always a bonus – sometimes it’s good to know who the main villain is from the onset, sometimes it’s even good to guess who they are halfway through, but the best books to my mind are those that keep you guessing until the ‘big reveal’. I felt Simms excelled himself this time round.
I am looking forward to reading more about DC Sean Blake. Chris Simms has grown wonderfully as his books have progressed and I am sure that the next one will outdo even this – I look forward to the continuing progression of Blake within the SCU and his personal life.
Finally, I would like to say a huge thank you to Severn House Publishing, Mr Chris Simms and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book prior to publishing, and wish them all continued success.
I urge you, dear reader, to dive in and immerse yourself in Manchester and Simms.
April 15, 2019
#MarkedMen #NetGalley What a cracker of a follow on to Loose Tongues, even better than the first in my opinion!! I love this series, not least as it is set in my home town of Manchester. I have lived away from there for many years now but all the references to various places takes me straight back there and I love it! In this second in the series we learn more about the central characters, in particular DC Sean Blake and DS Magda Dragomir, they are a great duo and I love the fact that although there is some baggage for Sean in relation to his mother, for the best part he is a normal, if a bit naïve at times, junior detective. Plenty of action and the real culprit only discovered near the end, which in my book is a sign of a great author! Cant wait to read more in this series!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews