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DC Maggie Neville #4
Dead Guilty
Dead Guilty by Michelle Davies is the captivating fourth novel in the critically acclaimed Maggie Neville crime series, following False Witness.Has the killer in DC Maggie Neville’s cold case returned after a decade of silence?Katy Pope was seventeen when she was brutally murdered on a family holiday in Majorca. Despite her mother’s high rank in the Met and the joint major investigation between the British and Spanish police, Katy’s killer was never caught.Ten years later, Katy’s family return to the Spanish island to launch a fresh appeal for information, taking with them the now skeletal team of investigating Met detectives, and newly seconded Maggie as the family liaison officer.But Maggie’s first international investigation quickly goes from being more than just a press conference when another British girl there on holiday goes missing, and Katy’s killer announces that it’s time for an encore . . .
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 11, 2019
14 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Davies
14 books104 followersMichelle Davies was born in Middlesex in 1972, raised in Buckinghamshire and now lives in north London.
Her debut crime novel, Gone Astray, was published in 2016 and features Family Liaison Officer DC Maggie Neville as its central police character. Gone Astray was part of a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan and the follow-up, Wrong Place, also featuring Maggie, is out now. Her third in the series, False Witness, is due out in July next year while a fourth will follow in 2019.
When she's not turning her hand to crime, Michelle writes as a freelance journalist for women's magazines including Marie Claire, YOU and Stylist. Her last staff job before going freelance was as Editor-at-Large at Grazia and she was previously Features Editor at heat. She began her career straight from school at 18, working as a trainee reporter on her home-town newspaper, the Bucks Free Press.
Her debut crime novel, Gone Astray, was published in 2016 and features Family Liaison Officer DC Maggie Neville as its central police character. Gone Astray was part of a two-book deal with Pan Macmillan and the follow-up, Wrong Place, also featuring Maggie, is out now. Her third in the series, False Witness, is due out in July next year while a fourth will follow in 2019.
When she's not turning her hand to crime, Michelle writes as a freelance journalist for women's magazines including Marie Claire, YOU and Stylist. Her last staff job before going freelance was as Editor-at-Large at Grazia and she was previously Features Editor at heat. She began her career straight from school at 18, working as a trainee reporter on her home-town newspaper, the Bucks Free Press.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
September 20, 2021
Wow wow wow wow.
This book was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning page to the very end - the twist left me in shock and I have that empty feeling you get when you finish the last book an author currently has available and you’re not sure how any other book will compare!!
Definitely left open for the series to continue - PHEW!
Beautifully written; gripping with characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Maggie’s personal story intertwines so well with the story of the novel that it is seamless.
Fully recommend - but please read in order for maximum enjoyment! Xx
This book was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat from the beginning page to the very end - the twist left me in shock and I have that empty feeling you get when you finish the last book an author currently has available and you’re not sure how any other book will compare!!
Definitely left open for the series to continue - PHEW!
Beautifully written; gripping with characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. Maggie’s personal story intertwines so well with the story of the novel that it is seamless.
Fully recommend - but please read in order for maximum enjoyment! Xx
October 6, 2019
Sharp, engrossing, and perfectly plotted!
In this fourth novel in the DC Maggie Neville series, Dead Guilty, Davies has written a fast-paced, police procedural that has DC Maggie Neville struggling to adapt to her new role within the Met, whisking off to Majorca to act as the Family Liason Officer for the Pope family as they struggle to cope with their emotional fragility, endless grief, and irrepressible desire for justice for the 10-year-old unsolved murder of their daughter, and on the hunt for a sadistic serial killer who may have just found a new victim to terrorize.
The writing is crisp and bold. The characters are tenacious, flawed, and astute. And the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat with its short, intense chapters that submerge you into an ominous tale full of twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, obsession, mayhem, deduction, attraction, violence, and murder.
Overall, Dead Guilty has an incredibly pacey storyline and exceptional character development. It’s dark, crafty, and riveting and is a clear indicator that Davies has hit her stride. If you love well-written police procedurals with intriguing characters then this is definitely one book/series you don’t want to miss.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
In this fourth novel in the DC Maggie Neville series, Dead Guilty, Davies has written a fast-paced, police procedural that has DC Maggie Neville struggling to adapt to her new role within the Met, whisking off to Majorca to act as the Family Liason Officer for the Pope family as they struggle to cope with their emotional fragility, endless grief, and irrepressible desire for justice for the 10-year-old unsolved murder of their daughter, and on the hunt for a sadistic serial killer who may have just found a new victim to terrorize.
The writing is crisp and bold. The characters are tenacious, flawed, and astute. And the plot keeps you on the edge of your seat with its short, intense chapters that submerge you into an ominous tale full of twists, turns, red herrings, secrets, obsession, mayhem, deduction, attraction, violence, and murder.
Overall, Dead Guilty has an incredibly pacey storyline and exceptional character development. It’s dark, crafty, and riveting and is a clear indicator that Davies has hit her stride. If you love well-written police procedurals with intriguing characters then this is definitely one book/series you don’t want to miss.
Thank you to Publishers Group Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of Dead Guilty, the fourth novel to feature DC Maggie Neville.
Maggie is now with the Met and not particularly enjoying it when a chance interview with a drop in leads new developments in the ten year old murder of teenager Katy Pope. Within hours Maggie has been seconded to the skeleton team of Operation Pivot and shortly afterwards on her way to the Mallorcan resort of Saros where Katy was killed and her parents are planning a memorial service to draw fresh attention to the case. Then another British girl goes missing.
I enjoyed Dead Guilty which is a good procedural with the twist of a foreign location and a lack of jurisdiction. The novel is told from several points of view which gives the reader a close up view of several suspects and allows for a fair amount of speculation which I failed at miserably, unable to guess the unidentified killer or his motive. I’m not so sure that these were totally convincing when revealed but I had fun along the way trying to guess. Having just read a couple of high octane novels this seems slow in comparison so it took a bit of time for me to adjust to the pace. It’s not slow as it has regular developments and a good mystery but it’s more cerebral action than tension and physical action.
I like Maggie Neville as a protagonist as she is smart, level headed and good at her job but she is also human and makes mistakes along the way. I also like that Ms Davies moves her character along, first with the move to the Met and then with a rather unlikely bombshell at the end.
Dead Guilty is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Maggie is now with the Met and not particularly enjoying it when a chance interview with a drop in leads new developments in the ten year old murder of teenager Katy Pope. Within hours Maggie has been seconded to the skeleton team of Operation Pivot and shortly afterwards on her way to the Mallorcan resort of Saros where Katy was killed and her parents are planning a memorial service to draw fresh attention to the case. Then another British girl goes missing.
I enjoyed Dead Guilty which is a good procedural with the twist of a foreign location and a lack of jurisdiction. The novel is told from several points of view which gives the reader a close up view of several suspects and allows for a fair amount of speculation which I failed at miserably, unable to guess the unidentified killer or his motive. I’m not so sure that these were totally convincing when revealed but I had fun along the way trying to guess. Having just read a couple of high octane novels this seems slow in comparison so it took a bit of time for me to adjust to the pace. It’s not slow as it has regular developments and a good mystery but it’s more cerebral action than tension and physical action.
I like Maggie Neville as a protagonist as she is smart, level headed and good at her job but she is also human and makes mistakes along the way. I also like that Ms Davies moves her character along, first with the move to the Met and then with a rather unlikely bombshell at the end.
Dead Guilty is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
August 18, 2019
Oh man, I loved the book so much!! A cold case which occurred 10 years ago soon started becoming hotter than the sun as the British police team went to the island of Saros, Majorca, Spain for the anniversary.
Patricia and Philip had lost their daughter Katy to a macabre killer who had dismembered her body parts after kidnapping and keeping her for a week. Patricia had been the ex-chief of police, and getting justice for her daughter was her only aim now. This team had Maggie as the family liason officer on the trip, and new truths came out.
My first book by Michelle Davies, and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed reading it I savoured every word of it. Something about the author's writing simply pulled me in. I don't think I have words to describe it.
The various characters did tell me their parts in Katy's life, which soon bulit up to give a complete picture. But it was Maggie and her investigation, her quiet, calm demeanour which made the story come alive. She was a brilliant detective. Her interrogation techniques had almost everyone telling her those tiny tidbits which had been missing in the first investigation. But make no mistake, she was human too, goofed up quite a bit in her personal life. And that made her all the more interesting to me.
The book made me look at everyone with suspicious eyes. With every new evidence my evil eye decided to cast its glance upon the character with a surety. But author Michelle Davies went one-up on me. Every chapter brought out a new evidence that I had to backtrack. This happened quite a few times till I shut my mind and just enjoyed the ride.
My only niggle would be a better reason for the murder would have made the killer interesting. Ah well, who can predict the minds of psychopaths or the authors who write them. They are quite wicked, you know. The authors only make us more greedy for thrillers.
My breakfast read was quite enjoyable, I have to say. I carried my kindle all over while doing my chores. Ah now you know why there was no sugar in my tea. A fab read.
Patricia and Philip had lost their daughter Katy to a macabre killer who had dismembered her body parts after kidnapping and keeping her for a week. Patricia had been the ex-chief of police, and getting justice for her daughter was her only aim now. This team had Maggie as the family liason officer on the trip, and new truths came out.
My first book by Michelle Davies, and I was blown away by how much I enjoyed reading it I savoured every word of it. Something about the author's writing simply pulled me in. I don't think I have words to describe it.
The various characters did tell me their parts in Katy's life, which soon bulit up to give a complete picture. But it was Maggie and her investigation, her quiet, calm demeanour which made the story come alive. She was a brilliant detective. Her interrogation techniques had almost everyone telling her those tiny tidbits which had been missing in the first investigation. But make no mistake, she was human too, goofed up quite a bit in her personal life. And that made her all the more interesting to me.
The book made me look at everyone with suspicious eyes. With every new evidence my evil eye decided to cast its glance upon the character with a surety. But author Michelle Davies went one-up on me. Every chapter brought out a new evidence that I had to backtrack. This happened quite a few times till I shut my mind and just enjoyed the ride.
My only niggle would be a better reason for the murder would have made the killer interesting. Ah well, who can predict the minds of psychopaths or the authors who write them. They are quite wicked, you know. The authors only make us more greedy for thrillers.
My breakfast read was quite enjoyable, I have to say. I carried my kindle all over while doing my chores. Ah now you know why there was no sugar in my tea. A fab read.
April 23, 2020
Although I have yet to read any of the other three books in this series by Michelle Davies, I was happy to dive into this fourth book,
Dead Guilty
and I think it worked well as an individual thriller as the story was reasonably self-contained. This was a mightily impressive, cleverly plotted, utterly engrossing read that threw out twists leaving me fizzing with tension throughout!
Ten years ago, Katy Pope, then 17, was brutally murdered on a family holiday in Majorca. Despite her mother’s high rank in the Met and the joint major investigation between the British and Spanish police, Katy’s killer was never caught. Ten years later, Katy’s family are returning to the Spanish island to launch a fresh appeal for information. Meanwhile, DC Maggie Neville, having recently transferred from Nottinghamshire Police to the Met, is feeling put out because her boss doesn't think that she is cutting the mustard in her new role. She is thrilled therefore, to have been seconded as the family liaison officer to the Pope family and heads off to Spain with the rest of the team of investigating Met detectives. But Maggie’s first international investigation rapidly goes awry when another British girl there goes missing...
Dead Guilty is told through the eyes of a variety of people, and I appreciated the way the author structured the novel, switching the point of view from Maggie to one of the victims, then their family, and even the killer. This approach gave the reader a comprehensive overview of the story, but never divulging too much that it may have spoilt the story before the truth was intended to be revealed. Michelle Davies possesses some admirable character development skills - I enjoyed the parts including Maggie, who I found to be intuitive, determined, and realistic. She wasn't always the main event of the story, but helped things nicely along nudging the reader towards the satisfying conclusion.
The international setting was fun and I'm looking forward to the next instalment, as well as catching up with Maggie in the first three books. Ingeniously plotted and perfectly executed, Dead Guilty is an absolute treat. Very highly recommended, I am certain that psychological thriller aficionados will love it!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Pan Macmillan via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
Ten years ago, Katy Pope, then 17, was brutally murdered on a family holiday in Majorca. Despite her mother’s high rank in the Met and the joint major investigation between the British and Spanish police, Katy’s killer was never caught. Ten years later, Katy’s family are returning to the Spanish island to launch a fresh appeal for information. Meanwhile, DC Maggie Neville, having recently transferred from Nottinghamshire Police to the Met, is feeling put out because her boss doesn't think that she is cutting the mustard in her new role. She is thrilled therefore, to have been seconded as the family liaison officer to the Pope family and heads off to Spain with the rest of the team of investigating Met detectives. But Maggie’s first international investigation rapidly goes awry when another British girl there goes missing...
Dead Guilty is told through the eyes of a variety of people, and I appreciated the way the author structured the novel, switching the point of view from Maggie to one of the victims, then their family, and even the killer. This approach gave the reader a comprehensive overview of the story, but never divulging too much that it may have spoilt the story before the truth was intended to be revealed. Michelle Davies possesses some admirable character development skills - I enjoyed the parts including Maggie, who I found to be intuitive, determined, and realistic. She wasn't always the main event of the story, but helped things nicely along nudging the reader towards the satisfying conclusion.
The international setting was fun and I'm looking forward to the next instalment, as well as catching up with Maggie in the first three books. Ingeniously plotted and perfectly executed, Dead Guilty is an absolute treat. Very highly recommended, I am certain that psychological thriller aficionados will love it!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Pan Macmillan via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
August 31, 2019
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review
I have read and enjoyed all three DC Maggie Neville books. I was excited when I found out the author was due to release a new book.
In Dead Guilty Maggie had transferred from Nottinghamshire Police to the MET (Metropolitan Police) I n London. Maggie was disgruntled because her new sergeant did not think she was suitable for the MET. She also felt she was not given responsible tasks because her bosses didn't trust her.
All that changed when Maggie was asked to br FLO to the Pope family. Ten years earlier seventeen year old Katy Pope disappeared on the island of Majorca. Kate had stormed off the beach after a row with her Mother Patricia. Kate was not seen again until her dismembered body was found in the grounds of a luxury hotel.
The Spanish Police suspected Kate`s boyfriend Declan who was also on the trip. The police were so certain Declan was the killer that they failed to interview other eyewitnesses. When Declan`s alibi.checked out, the police had no other suspects and the killer was still free
Maggie and a small team were to accompany the parents back to Majorca for a ten year memorial service. However whilst there another British girl called Jade Reynolds was kidnapped from outside a shop. Can Maggie and her team help the Spanish Police to find Jade.
I enjoy this series because I like reading about an investigation through they eyes of the FLO. It was nice to see Maggie investigate a case outside the UK. I was glued to see this book from the first page, the chapters were short begging me to read a little bit more.
During questioning Patricia and Philip found out that Katy had secrets of her own. The book had red herrings galore. I would guess who had done it, then something would happen and I change my mind again.
I thought retired Chief Superintendent Patricia Pope, Her husband Philip and son George were interesting characters. I suppose there must be extra pressure when a member of the victims family is a high ranking officer. I liked Philip but he was definitely brow beaten by Patricia. I was glad when he stepped out of Patricia`s shadow to help Jade`s family
I don't want to give to much away but there is a shock in store for Maggie at the end of the book. I can't wait to see what happens next.
I highly recommend this book.
I have read and enjoyed all three DC Maggie Neville books. I was excited when I found out the author was due to release a new book.
In Dead Guilty Maggie had transferred from Nottinghamshire Police to the MET (Metropolitan Police) I n London. Maggie was disgruntled because her new sergeant did not think she was suitable for the MET. She also felt she was not given responsible tasks because her bosses didn't trust her.
All that changed when Maggie was asked to br FLO to the Pope family. Ten years earlier seventeen year old Katy Pope disappeared on the island of Majorca. Kate had stormed off the beach after a row with her Mother Patricia. Kate was not seen again until her dismembered body was found in the grounds of a luxury hotel.
The Spanish Police suspected Kate`s boyfriend Declan who was also on the trip. The police were so certain Declan was the killer that they failed to interview other eyewitnesses. When Declan`s alibi.checked out, the police had no other suspects and the killer was still free
Maggie and a small team were to accompany the parents back to Majorca for a ten year memorial service. However whilst there another British girl called Jade Reynolds was kidnapped from outside a shop. Can Maggie and her team help the Spanish Police to find Jade.
I enjoy this series because I like reading about an investigation through they eyes of the FLO. It was nice to see Maggie investigate a case outside the UK. I was glued to see this book from the first page, the chapters were short begging me to read a little bit more.
During questioning Patricia and Philip found out that Katy had secrets of her own. The book had red herrings galore. I would guess who had done it, then something would happen and I change my mind again.
I thought retired Chief Superintendent Patricia Pope, Her husband Philip and son George were interesting characters. I suppose there must be extra pressure when a member of the victims family is a high ranking officer. I liked Philip but he was definitely brow beaten by Patricia. I was glad when he stepped out of Patricia`s shadow to help Jade`s family
I don't want to give to much away but there is a shock in store for Maggie at the end of the book. I can't wait to see what happens next.
I highly recommend this book.
July 13, 2019
Katy Pope was seventeen when she was brutally murdered on a family holiday in Majorca. Despite her mother’s high rank in the Met and the joint major investigation between the British and Spanish police, Katy’s killer was never caught. Ten years later, Katy’s family return to the Spanish island to launch a fresh appeal for information, taking with them the now skeletal team of investigating Met detectives, and newly seconded Maggie as the family liaison officer. But Maggie’s first international investigation quickly goes from being more than just a press conference when another British girl there on holiday goes missing, and Katy’s killer announces that it’s time for an encore.
Oh my goodness thank you so much to Davies for restoring my faith in crime reads! I have read a lot recently and they have felt stale and dull, this is exactly the opposite. The plot, considered on its own is out of this world, a really great premise with lots of suspects and twists along the way. Should just say there are a couple of scenes the squeamish will not enjoy. So, just looking at the plot we have an enthralling, enticing read that kept me on the edge of my seat and meant I devoured this in one sitting.
Then we come to the other aspect that makes this read so amazing, Maggie Neville. She is one of my favourite characters from recent years, she is likeable, grounded and flawed and I have come to see her as one of my friends and I just adore getting to catch up with her. I feel like Davies took a risk in this, it is no spoiler that this is set in another location and this could have failed but it really pays off and then some! Moving the location meant this read feels fresh and unique and has not become stale, as can often happen with a series. This felt like a whole new chapter in Maggie’s life and I loved it.
The other aspect I loved is Davies is always developing Maggie and there are some major developments in ‘Dead Guilty’. Again it ensures the read feels fresh and means the reader always has something to learn about Maggie and something to cheer or scream at her for!
‘Dead Guilty’ really is the perfect crime read, couple with the sensational character that is Maggie Neville means this is a pure delight for readers. I am only jealous of everyone who has not yet read this as you get to discover these delights for yourself! If you only read one crime book this summer, make it this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy.
Oh my goodness thank you so much to Davies for restoring my faith in crime reads! I have read a lot recently and they have felt stale and dull, this is exactly the opposite. The plot, considered on its own is out of this world, a really great premise with lots of suspects and twists along the way. Should just say there are a couple of scenes the squeamish will not enjoy. So, just looking at the plot we have an enthralling, enticing read that kept me on the edge of my seat and meant I devoured this in one sitting.
Then we come to the other aspect that makes this read so amazing, Maggie Neville. She is one of my favourite characters from recent years, she is likeable, grounded and flawed and I have come to see her as one of my friends and I just adore getting to catch up with her. I feel like Davies took a risk in this, it is no spoiler that this is set in another location and this could have failed but it really pays off and then some! Moving the location meant this read feels fresh and unique and has not become stale, as can often happen with a series. This felt like a whole new chapter in Maggie’s life and I loved it.
The other aspect I loved is Davies is always developing Maggie and there are some major developments in ‘Dead Guilty’. Again it ensures the read feels fresh and means the reader always has something to learn about Maggie and something to cheer or scream at her for!
‘Dead Guilty’ really is the perfect crime read, couple with the sensational character that is Maggie Neville means this is a pure delight for readers. I am only jealous of everyone who has not yet read this as you get to discover these delights for yourself! If you only read one crime book this summer, make it this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy.
September 10, 2019
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
I have really enjoyed the previous novels in this series, but found this one a little disappointing. On the plus side, after a slow beginning, the plot moved fast, and I thought the author did a good job of keeping the reader guessing about the identity of the murderer. On the other hand, when his identity was revealed it was something of an anticlimax, and his motivation and method hard to comprehend.
I wonder if part of my dissatisfaction with the story was its setting in Spain. We were supposed to believe that not only did a murder which took place abroad 10 years ago have a team of four British detectives still working on it, but also that these detectives would be permitted to carry out an almost unsupervised cold case investigation in Spain. Heroine Maggie's instant attraction to George, the brother of the victim, read like a bad romance novel and Maggie's actions with regard to George were wildly out of character to the extent that they threw me out of the story, especially as he had little personality and what there was of it was creepy. Maggie also acted without regard to her own safety or presumably to protocol at the very end, but this fortunately worked out for her.
In previous books I have found Maggie likeable and relatable, but this one didn't work for me. (There were also a few places where entire lines of text were missing, but I am assuming this will be corrected before publication).
I have really enjoyed the previous novels in this series, but found this one a little disappointing. On the plus side, after a slow beginning, the plot moved fast, and I thought the author did a good job of keeping the reader guessing about the identity of the murderer. On the other hand, when his identity was revealed it was something of an anticlimax, and his motivation and method hard to comprehend.
I wonder if part of my dissatisfaction with the story was its setting in Spain. We were supposed to believe that not only did a murder which took place abroad 10 years ago have a team of four British detectives still working on it, but also that these detectives would be permitted to carry out an almost unsupervised cold case investigation in Spain. Heroine Maggie's instant attraction to George, the brother of the victim, read like a bad romance novel and Maggie's actions with regard to George were wildly out of character to the extent that they threw me out of the story, especially as he had little personality and what there was of it was creepy. Maggie also acted without regard to her own safety or presumably to protocol at the very end, but this fortunately worked out for her.
In previous books I have found Maggie likeable and relatable, but this one didn't work for me. (There were also a few places where entire lines of text were missing, but I am assuming this will be corrected before publication).
June 29, 2019
A very well written book. With some very good characters. Although this is a continuation of a book series. I read this book as it was the first one that I came across. I am now going to go back and find the others in the series so that I can read it from the start.
August 21, 2019
This is the fourth in the DC Maggie Neville series of books but it's my first and I can honestly say that it didn't matter a jot that I hadn't read the others. Anything of importance was explained enough and the other stuff wasn't relevant to the story in Dead Guilty. That's not to say that it wouldn't have been nice to start from the beginning and follow Maggie through the series but it's just not a necessity.
What appealed to me in particular about Dead Guilty was the cold case aspect and also that it's set in Majorca. It gave a different edge to the police procedural/crime genre. The cold case is that of Katy Pope, a 17 year old who was murdered whilst on holiday with her family ten years previously. Her parents, brother and boyfriend head back to Majorca for a memorial and to see if a new appeal will bring forth any new information. Also going to the island are the small police team who are still trying to find out who killed Katy, and this includes Maggie.
I rather liked Maggie. I found her sensible in her work (if not in her private life), quite calm and measured in her thinking, and I particularly liked her way of dealing with difficult people and the way she could shut people down without being nasty or getting angry. I found the Majorcan aspect really interesting and the way the team had to interact with the Spanish police who didn't really want the British contingency to be there added an extra complication to the investigation.
I was kept guessing until the end, with my focus shifting between various possible culprits. The author did a good job with the red herrings and I was racing through the last few chapters to see how it would all turn out.
Although Maggie made a bit of a mess of things, there was a strand of the story that I thought might just be explored in future books and I'd be really interested to see if that happened. The ending also made me wonder what direction her life is going to go in next. She's such an engaging character, a Family Liaison Officer as well as a detective, and I'm really pleased to have read this instalment of her story.
What appealed to me in particular about Dead Guilty was the cold case aspect and also that it's set in Majorca. It gave a different edge to the police procedural/crime genre. The cold case is that of Katy Pope, a 17 year old who was murdered whilst on holiday with her family ten years previously. Her parents, brother and boyfriend head back to Majorca for a memorial and to see if a new appeal will bring forth any new information. Also going to the island are the small police team who are still trying to find out who killed Katy, and this includes Maggie.
I rather liked Maggie. I found her sensible in her work (if not in her private life), quite calm and measured in her thinking, and I particularly liked her way of dealing with difficult people and the way she could shut people down without being nasty or getting angry. I found the Majorcan aspect really interesting and the way the team had to interact with the Spanish police who didn't really want the British contingency to be there added an extra complication to the investigation.
I was kept guessing until the end, with my focus shifting between various possible culprits. The author did a good job with the red herrings and I was racing through the last few chapters to see how it would all turn out.
Although Maggie made a bit of a mess of things, there was a strand of the story that I thought might just be explored in future books and I'd be really interested to see if that happened. The ending also made me wonder what direction her life is going to go in next. She's such an engaging character, a Family Liaison Officer as well as a detective, and I'm really pleased to have read this instalment of her story.
August 27, 2019
I am a huge fan of this series and was really glad to get stuck in to this story, the fourth outing for DC Maggie Neville.
Maggie is now with the MET and not at all happy in her new role or with her new colleagues. So when she gets the opportunity to join Operation Pivot as they go to Mallorca for the 10 year anniversary of an unsolved cold case, she jumps at the chance. Maggie is a very experienced FLO, but the task of supporting the formidable mother, who also happens to be an ex-chief of police, after she has already chased off several others is daunting even for her. When another young woman is reported missing during the memorial, Maggie and the team are drawn into the new investigation. They believe that there are similarities to the cold case, but find themselves up against the Spanish Police who are reluctant to take their advice.
I love the character of Maggie, and have done throughout this series. She is normal, likeable and brilliant at her job in a quiet unassuming way. Adding in some new fresh characters and the change of location really worked, but it kept the link to the series with the added undercurrent of Maggies life back home.
This is an excellent crime read with lots of suspects, red herrings and twists. It will work as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend this whole series.
Maggie is now with the MET and not at all happy in her new role or with her new colleagues. So when she gets the opportunity to join Operation Pivot as they go to Mallorca for the 10 year anniversary of an unsolved cold case, she jumps at the chance. Maggie is a very experienced FLO, but the task of supporting the formidable mother, who also happens to be an ex-chief of police, after she has already chased off several others is daunting even for her. When another young woman is reported missing during the memorial, Maggie and the team are drawn into the new investigation. They believe that there are similarities to the cold case, but find themselves up against the Spanish Police who are reluctant to take their advice.
I love the character of Maggie, and have done throughout this series. She is normal, likeable and brilliant at her job in a quiet unassuming way. Adding in some new fresh characters and the change of location really worked, but it kept the link to the series with the added undercurrent of Maggies life back home.
This is an excellent crime read with lots of suspects, red herrings and twists. It will work as a stand-alone, but I highly recommend this whole series.
August 24, 2019
This is #4 in the Maggie Neville series, but I found it easy to read as a stand-alone, although you do miss out on some of the background, but at no detriment to this tale.
Maggie is now with the Met and she finds it difficult to adjust to this new regime….the lack of trust and respect. So when the opportunity arises to be a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) she jumps at it.
Dealing with the family, she starts to get emotionally involved, but the. Another woman goes missing and Maggie is now working to try and prevent another murder.
This is an impressive police procedural and I love the character of Maggie, she is committed and dogged in her determination to find the truth. A dark tale full of a creeping, underlying menace and the chapters from the unknown killers perspective are so creepy it will give you chills…utterly compelling.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
Maggie is now with the Met and she finds it difficult to adjust to this new regime….the lack of trust and respect. So when the opportunity arises to be a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) she jumps at it.
Dealing with the family, she starts to get emotionally involved, but the. Another woman goes missing and Maggie is now working to try and prevent another murder.
This is an impressive police procedural and I love the character of Maggie, she is committed and dogged in her determination to find the truth. A dark tale full of a creeping, underlying menace and the chapters from the unknown killers perspective are so creepy it will give you chills…utterly compelling.
Thank you to Anne Cater and Random Things Tours for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the book. This is my honest, unbiased review.
August 19, 2019
If you enjoy crime and psychological thrillers then you’re certainly in for a treat with this one! A cold case 10 years ago in which Katy was murdered, but fast forwards to now and her family return to dig up more information, to chase people involved and encourage the investigation to start fresh for their own closure and the killer to be brought to justice....
And of course, it all goes downhill. Because the murderer still hasn’t been caught, and with the victims family now back on scene, the killer begins again.
This was actually my first book from the author, but it has certainly entertained and intrigued me enough throughout that I find myself determined to go back to the beginning and read them all. The Characters are very well developed, and this can easily be read as a stand alone although I feel that as with any series, it is entirely probable that the Main Character Maggie Neville would be even better appreciated if enjoyed from start to end.
I often find that in such series, starting in the middle, despite protests to the contrary, often means you lose a lot of the personality and by play, and there ate clear holes in conversations and reactions where they simply seem to make no sense, with regular reference to previous stories. In this case, I’m not entirely sure that I would have even know this was a middle book had I not decided to go searching for more from the Author.
I thoroughly loved how this story progressed, the twists and turns within it were clearly very well thought out and surprised me at several points. I wasn’t certain what to expect from the ending, and yet it surpassed my expectations. Having read so many, it is getting to be the case that I often can figure out the reveal before it happens, but this was a fun an thrilling journey throughout.
If you are a fan of the Genres, then this is certainly one to add to your book Pile ASAP!
And of course, it all goes downhill. Because the murderer still hasn’t been caught, and with the victims family now back on scene, the killer begins again.
This was actually my first book from the author, but it has certainly entertained and intrigued me enough throughout that I find myself determined to go back to the beginning and read them all. The Characters are very well developed, and this can easily be read as a stand alone although I feel that as with any series, it is entirely probable that the Main Character Maggie Neville would be even better appreciated if enjoyed from start to end.
I often find that in such series, starting in the middle, despite protests to the contrary, often means you lose a lot of the personality and by play, and there ate clear holes in conversations and reactions where they simply seem to make no sense, with regular reference to previous stories. In this case, I’m not entirely sure that I would have even know this was a middle book had I not decided to go searching for more from the Author.
I thoroughly loved how this story progressed, the twists and turns within it were clearly very well thought out and surprised me at several points. I wasn’t certain what to expect from the ending, and yet it surpassed my expectations. Having read so many, it is getting to be the case that I often can figure out the reveal before it happens, but this was a fun an thrilling journey throughout.
If you are a fan of the Genres, then this is certainly one to add to your book Pile ASAP!
August 20, 2019
Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, just off the Spanish coast. Beautiful, exotic, a fantastic place to go on holiday. But it was also the setting of the kidnapping of Katy Pope, a young English girl on holiday with her family and boyfriend. Her body was found mutilated a week later and her killer was never arrested. Ten years later, Katy’s family is visiting the Spanish island again hoping that the memorial service will draw new attention to the case and it will help the police to find her killer, at last.
DC Maggie Neville has recently joined the Met, but she is not finding it easy so when she is asked to join the team still investigating Katy’s murder as the family liaison officer, she doesn’t have to think twice. Sure, Maggie has to endure the continuous demands of Katy’s mother, her conflicting and unprofessional feelings for Katy’s brother, and the encumbrance of the uncooperative Spanish police, but this is her chance to prove herself. When another woman goes missing, for Maggie and her colleagues is a race against time to find the killer before it’s too late.
So, this is the fourth novel featuring DC Maggie Neville, but it’s my first time reading this series and I loved it. I am definitely going to read the first three books and whatever comes next (especially after reading the shocking revelation at the end). Maggie is determined, intuitive, and good at her job. I can’t say I always liked her because I didn’t like some of the choices she made, but being flawed and making mistakes made her more realistic and relatable.
I loved how the author structured the novel switching the point of view from Maggie to the family of the victims, from the killer to one of his victims giving the reader a 360° view of the story, but never giving away too much so that I didn’t figure out the truth until it was revealed.
DEAD GUILTY is self-paced and with the tension building slowly. The author plays also on the emotions of the characters: Maggie’s insecurities, a family in mourning, a young scared woman trying to survive. These feelings are vividly drawn and make the characters feel more real and the story more intriguing.
DEAD GUILTY is a suspenseful and compelling procedural novel, highly recommended to all crime lovers!
DC Maggie Neville has recently joined the Met, but she is not finding it easy so when she is asked to join the team still investigating Katy’s murder as the family liaison officer, she doesn’t have to think twice. Sure, Maggie has to endure the continuous demands of Katy’s mother, her conflicting and unprofessional feelings for Katy’s brother, and the encumbrance of the uncooperative Spanish police, but this is her chance to prove herself. When another woman goes missing, for Maggie and her colleagues is a race against time to find the killer before it’s too late.
So, this is the fourth novel featuring DC Maggie Neville, but it’s my first time reading this series and I loved it. I am definitely going to read the first three books and whatever comes next (especially after reading the shocking revelation at the end). Maggie is determined, intuitive, and good at her job. I can’t say I always liked her because I didn’t like some of the choices she made, but being flawed and making mistakes made her more realistic and relatable.
I loved how the author structured the novel switching the point of view from Maggie to the family of the victims, from the killer to one of his victims giving the reader a 360° view of the story, but never giving away too much so that I didn’t figure out the truth until it was revealed.
DEAD GUILTY is self-paced and with the tension building slowly. The author plays also on the emotions of the characters: Maggie’s insecurities, a family in mourning, a young scared woman trying to survive. These feelings are vividly drawn and make the characters feel more real and the story more intriguing.
DEAD GUILTY is a suspenseful and compelling procedural novel, highly recommended to all crime lovers!
November 9, 2023
Still don't like the protagonist and her personal life choices. It's not just that she makes the worst decisions, it's also the fact that they bear no consequences on her cases, so I'm just scheming through those parts. She's a great detective though, and every single mystery from the series has been a surprise. This last one also wrapped up better, so I'll say the books are actually improving.
October 26, 2021
This book was awesome. A thriller. I was guessing and trying to figure out who it was. The characters were great at usual and this book was upped on the last one. A great story. Well done Michelle Davies.
April 5, 2020
I love this series and the protagonist Maggie Neville. I’m waiting with baited breath for the next instalment.
July 8, 2024
Read it in one day, I was hooked by Chapter 2. Was delighted to see it was a series which made sense as the ending made me want to learn more about DC Neville.
June 21, 2021
Family Liaison Officer Maggie Gilbert is tasked with looking after a grieving family who are returning to Majorca where their teenage daughter was brutally murdered 10 years earlier. Their intention is to hold a memorial service and to rekindle interest in the case, hoping that their daughter's killer will eventually be found. To this end they are accompanied by a small group of police officers, including Maggie.
I enjoyed the story although at times the number of former boyfriends of the murdered Katy who had also returned for the memorial became a little confusing !
I enjoyed the story although at times the number of former boyfriends of the murdered Katy who had also returned for the memorial became a little confusing !
August 25, 2019
Holy crow, Michelle Davies has penned an incredible mystery that I am still thinking about since I put it down! I was pulled in from the first word and couldn’t stop reading until the last…and then I wanted to re-read it. Dead Guilty is just one of those books.
I was chasing leads left and right, but I never quite guessed what was happening. I love books that do this. This will definitely not be my last read from Michelle Davies and it’s likely going to end up on my list of favorites from 2019!
I highly recommend checking this one out. It’s fantastic and a book you won’t regret taking the time to read!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Random Things Tours. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
I was chasing leads left and right, but I never quite guessed what was happening. I love books that do this. This will definitely not be my last read from Michelle Davies and it’s likely going to end up on my list of favorites from 2019!
I highly recommend checking this one out. It’s fantastic and a book you won’t regret taking the time to read!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Random Things Tours. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
August 23, 2019
# Dead Guilty # Netgally
A really good storyline. It was enjoyable. However I thought it was a little slow to get going at first. Then it really picked up, great I thought so here I was enjoying the story line, going at a twisty turner rate. Just got of the rollercoaster of a mind, say on the edge of my seat with my harvesting faster. Started the next chapter. Came down with a bit of a bsng. Everything fell into place it started to slow down and on top of that the ending was no surprise at all. Now that was a.real shame. Once it really got going I. Was in my element of pure joy when it literally slowed right down. I really would of liked to have given it a minimum of 4 stars. I can't do that now. I could or the storyline. Not for how it just slowed right down again
A really good storyline. It was enjoyable. However I thought it was a little slow to get going at first. Then it really picked up, great I thought so here I was enjoying the story line, going at a twisty turner rate. Just got of the rollercoaster of a mind, say on the edge of my seat with my harvesting faster. Started the next chapter. Came down with a bit of a bsng. Everything fell into place it started to slow down and on top of that the ending was no surprise at all. Now that was a.real shame. Once it really got going I. Was in my element of pure joy when it literally slowed right down. I really would of liked to have given it a minimum of 4 stars. I can't do that now. I could or the storyline. Not for how it just slowed right down again
December 26, 2019
This is the second book I have read in this brilliant series. Maggie is sent to Spain to take on the role of FLO for a family that lost their daughter Katie to a brutal murder ten years ago. The family have travelled back out to the resort to hold a memorial service and also hoping to bring their daughters murderer to justice as the local police were still nowhere near catching him. During all this another young girl is abducted in what looks like similar circumstances. It's a race against time for Maggie and her team to work alongside the local police to find the missing girl before it's too late
A nice easy thriller that keeps you guessing till the end.
A nice easy thriller that keeps you guessing till the end.
December 16, 2019
Another great Maggie Neville novel. I'm always excited to jump into one of these books because Michelle Davies does such an incredible job of weaving together multiple plots and character arcs in the most fulfilling, sensible way. Maggie is a smart, sensible, hardworking woman and it's always good to see a character like hers well utilised and well-appreciated by her team. The international setting was fun, the mystery mysterious, and the cast engaging. I'd highly recommend this series to anyone and I'm already looking forward to the next entry.
January 4, 2025
My rating strategy:
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some goood points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
5 stars = An all time favourite, I could tell you about this 10 years later.
4 stars = Loved this, really gripping/fun/exciting, will remember long term.
3 stars = Definitely enjoyed, might forget quickly though, but happy to read more by the author.
2 stars = Likely to have some goood points, but it didn't properly captivate me.
1 star = Not my cup of tea at all, wouldn't return to the author.
August 19, 2019
“Dead Guilty” is a gripping crime story investigating the death of British holiday-maker ten years earlier and I really enjoyed trying to work out the details of this mystery. It’s 4 stars from me – thanks so much to Anne Cater and Michelle Davies for the opportunity to read this one!
My full review can be found here: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
My full review can be found here: https://whatrebeccasread.wordpress.co...
January 19, 2020
Another Good police procedural story. It's always good to link recent news to these books and this one brings in both the Madeline McCann story and similar events.
It was a shame more was not done to introduce the characters of team she was working with. Again with books based on a series please authors offer an appendix to describe the main character and their history.
It was a shame more was not done to introduce the characters of team she was working with. Again with books based on a series please authors offer an appendix to describe the main character and their history.
April 19, 2020
I hadn't read any of the DC Neville series so this was a pleasant surprise. A classic murder mystery with a range of different possible candidates and the English police at a disadvantage given the foreign location of the original murder. Some fiesty female characters. A flawed lead. All rather predictable in some ways but an engaging read.
February 25, 2021
I’ve loved the four books of DC Maggie, she’s a great detective and FLO. It would have been a 5 if she didn’t make such bad decisions in her personal life. I’m disappointed this is the last book in the series. It’s left with such a cliffhanger!!
July 19, 2021
This is the first book in this series that I’ve read. Dreary and slow to start but the pace did pick up. My personal opinion does not match others’ reviews…to me there was just something missing…the book, although a reasonably pleasant read, did not grab me as do other authors in this genre.
September 26, 2022
Too many characters, then one has a nickname for no reason (empire? umpire? I listened on audiobook so hard to tell). There was an unnecessary affair, attempts to throw reader off (bloody cuts on two men’s heads?)… not a good book. It had potential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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