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Detective Chief Inspector Jack Harris #6
Error of Judgement
Years after a fatal plane crash, the investigation is reopened when a missing body is discovered.
It was a tragedy that shocked the nearby Pennine communities to the core. Several deaths were recorded, but one body was never found. That changes when a mountain rescue team, on a mission to help an injured hill walker, stumbles upon a corpse still strapped into an airplane seat.
But something is not quite right. Is the body they found really the missing passenger? DCI Jack Harris feels obliged to launch a new inquiry into the crash. Few people want old wounds reopened, least of all the widow of the pilot and the original investigating officer.
Foul play had been ruled out in the initial findings. Now Harris is not so sure. But a flurry of activity – financial and criminal – kicks off once the news became national. Someone is hiding something, and they are clearly prepared to kill to cover their tracks.
Can Harris crack the mystery and return to his blissful walks in the hills in peace? Or will his meddling in closed cases annoy the powers that be so much that he finally gets the boot?
ERROR OF JUDGEMENT is a standalone in a series of six books featuring the veteran nature-loving detective, DCI Jack Harris.
It was a tragedy that shocked the nearby Pennine communities to the core. Several deaths were recorded, but one body was never found. That changes when a mountain rescue team, on a mission to help an injured hill walker, stumbles upon a corpse still strapped into an airplane seat.
But something is not quite right. Is the body they found really the missing passenger? DCI Jack Harris feels obliged to launch a new inquiry into the crash. Few people want old wounds reopened, least of all the widow of the pilot and the original investigating officer.
Foul play had been ruled out in the initial findings. Now Harris is not so sure. But a flurry of activity – financial and criminal – kicks off once the news became national. Someone is hiding something, and they are clearly prepared to kill to cover their tracks.
Can Harris crack the mystery and return to his blissful walks in the hills in peace? Or will his meddling in closed cases annoy the powers that be so much that he finally gets the boot?
ERROR OF JUDGEMENT is a standalone in a series of six books featuring the veteran nature-loving detective, DCI Jack Harris.
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2019
About the author
John Dean
137 books85 followersJohn Dean is a freelance journalist who has runs his own business and draws heavily on his years as a crime reporter for newspapers and magazines to create his novels.
He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and cites Sherlock Holmes as his all-time favorite detective. He lives in the South West of Scotland.
(Also writes under the pseudonym John Stanley)
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
He is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association and cites Sherlock Holmes as his all-time favorite detective. He lives in the South West of Scotland.
(Also writes under the pseudonym John Stanley)
Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 18, 2019
Readable but nit memorable
This was quite a nice easy read in the series. Since it appears that the order of books is mixed up I would say this should be book 2 as Archie the dog is mentioned as recently acquired and if you have been reading them this far you will know that prior to the end of,and during 'book 3' there was one dog, despite books 1and 2 including 2 dogs. How an author mis-numbers his books I do not know.
Also the blurb of cold case ignites a gripping murder mystery? You don't know anything about a cold case until virtually the end of the book and once again I would hardly say gripping is the correct description. I haven't found any of them 'gripping'. Easy read yes. Fairly short yes. Gripping no. Cup of tea with a biscuit and your feet up I would describe these books as. Readable but not memorable.
This was quite a nice easy read in the series. Since it appears that the order of books is mixed up I would say this should be book 2 as Archie the dog is mentioned as recently acquired and if you have been reading them this far you will know that prior to the end of,and during 'book 3' there was one dog, despite books 1and 2 including 2 dogs. How an author mis-numbers his books I do not know.
Also the blurb of cold case ignites a gripping murder mystery? You don't know anything about a cold case until virtually the end of the book and once again I would hardly say gripping is the correct description. I haven't found any of them 'gripping'. Easy read yes. Fairly short yes. Gripping no. Cup of tea with a biscuit and your feet up I would describe these books as. Readable but not memorable.
April 25, 2019
Really liked this book. Nice tidy simple language. Story told well and clearly and in stages, so one part of the mystery is set up and just as you think, ok we've solved that, new questions emerge and the story progresses...very well put together. I will go and have a look at some other Jack Harris editions. Good stuff.
January 9, 2020
A great title for a great story. This book has good pace and keeps you interested throughout. It has believable characters, dashes of humour and fascinating twists. Highly recommended.
September 21, 2019
Not too bad a read!
Having read all the previous books in the Jack Harris series, this is possibly the most far fetched of reading so far. Some of the passages are repeated word for word, describing different characters that I have a feeling they are cut and paste from each story. I continue reading each of the books to the end, because the story is sufficiently interesting to arouse the need to find out how it ends.....but it is all just a little formulaic and repetitive.
It is a little difficult to accept that DCI Jack Harris has a best friend who manages to feed him information...in every book....from GMP simply because Graham Leckie is in the information gathering section of the police....but is only a lowly Police Constable....he should be at least a sergeant to have the access and be available to attend operational activities within Greater Manchester.
Just so many little things that irritate me that really stop me from actually feeling the book is worth four stars....but it is worth more than three, because it has the “want to know what happened” value.
Having read all the previous books in the Jack Harris series, this is possibly the most far fetched of reading so far. Some of the passages are repeated word for word, describing different characters that I have a feeling they are cut and paste from each story. I continue reading each of the books to the end, because the story is sufficiently interesting to arouse the need to find out how it ends.....but it is all just a little formulaic and repetitive.
It is a little difficult to accept that DCI Jack Harris has a best friend who manages to feed him information...in every book....from GMP simply because Graham Leckie is in the information gathering section of the police....but is only a lowly Police Constable....he should be at least a sergeant to have the access and be available to attend operational activities within Greater Manchester.
Just so many little things that irritate me that really stop me from actually feeling the book is worth four stars....but it is worth more than three, because it has the “want to know what happened” value.
June 23, 2019
Cold case skeleton and the chain of events leading to murder
DCI Jack Harris and DS Marty Gallagher pursue a new lead in a twenty-year-old cold case after a skeleton is found under suspicious circumstances. The cold case isn’t what it seems, and when DCI Harris begins investigating, a woman is killed in what appears to be a botched robbery. DCI Harris has doubts.
This is a light, quick read with a well-plotted storyline, with some nice twists. The characters are varied and distinctive—especially the tetchy Harris and Gallagher, who talks in cultural references.
The ending was . . . satisfying except for a hanging thread, which should have been clipped.
DCI Jack Harris and DS Marty Gallagher pursue a new lead in a twenty-year-old cold case after a skeleton is found under suspicious circumstances. The cold case isn’t what it seems, and when DCI Harris begins investigating, a woman is killed in what appears to be a botched robbery. DCI Harris has doubts.
This is a light, quick read with a well-plotted storyline, with some nice twists. The characters are varied and distinctive—especially the tetchy Harris and Gallagher, who talks in cultural references.
The ending was . . . satisfying except for a hanging thread, which should have been clipped.
March 22, 2025
I had taken a break from DCI Jack Harris after book #5, but I'm glad I returned. This case reopens old wounds that have festered for 20 years after a plane crash that killed 14 people and ruined the lives and reputations of others. A complex web of bribery and fraud fuels the new efforts to cover up what really happened, and the perpetrators almost succeed until Harris and his local team join forces with others from Manchester. I like Dean's mysteries because they are short and focused. There is some banter and comments about police officers' personal lives, but the attention to solving cases is paramount
March 6, 2023
Harris, Dog and Bone
I enjoyed this DCI Jack Harris book by John Dean. On a hillside rescue of a young couple, a body sat in an aeroplane seat is discovered. Jack was a young DC when a plane crashed on the hillside, so he remembered the case. Now, he has to establish who the body is. What follows is a trail of unbelievable crime, fraud, blackmail and ultimately Murder. As ever, Jack Harris is desperate to find the culprits. Good read with some great characters, some of which are immensely likeable and some not.
I enjoyed this DCI Jack Harris book by John Dean. On a hillside rescue of a young couple, a body sat in an aeroplane seat is discovered. Jack was a young DC when a plane crashed on the hillside, so he remembered the case. Now, he has to establish who the body is. What follows is a trail of unbelievable crime, fraud, blackmail and ultimately Murder. As ever, Jack Harris is desperate to find the culprits. Good read with some great characters, some of which are immensely likeable and some not.
April 27, 2019
As a reader one easily enters the world of DCI Jack Harris and Matty Gallagher, and as this series develops they become like old friends. It's great to revisit them when a new book comes out.
This one is a stonker. There is revenge, suspicion, jealousy and intrigue. Impossible to pick it up without wanting to know how the plot resolves itself.
A great, entertaining read.
This one is a stonker. There is revenge, suspicion, jealousy and intrigue. Impossible to pick it up without wanting to know how the plot resolves itself.
A great, entertaining read.
January 12, 2021
Another action filled Jack Harris thriller from John Dean
As Jack and his team of officers investigate a 20 year old tragic air crash out on the cold, wet northern moors, the number of dead raises elsewhere as suspect after suspect is killed before charges can be laid, is there a mole in Jack's team?
As Jack and his team of officers investigate a 20 year old tragic air crash out on the cold, wet northern moors, the number of dead raises elsewhere as suspect after suspect is killed before charges can be laid, is there a mole in Jack's team?
January 8, 2026
This was another British crime mystery, where Harris and his team investigate an old event about a plane crash.
There were plenty of twists and turns in addiction to highlighting the terrible things people will do to further their own agenda.
Well-written (despite some typos) with realistic characters and sense of place.
Engaging and enjoyable. '
There were plenty of twists and turns in addiction to highlighting the terrible things people will do to further their own agenda.
Well-written (despite some typos) with realistic characters and sense of place.
Engaging and enjoyable. '
August 12, 2019
Cracking yarn
Thoroughly enjoyed ERROR OF JUDGEMENT a well paced story with believable characters. This is the first book that I read in one day I couldn't put it down it was that good
Thoroughly enjoyed ERROR OF JUDGEMENT a well paced story with believable characters. This is the first book that I read in one day I couldn't put it down it was that good
June 29, 2020
Good book!
This book was easy to read and engaging. The author's descriptions of the actions involved in the book were vivid and the characters were well developed. I highly recommend this book to other police procedural readers and look forward to reading more Jack Harris books.
This book was easy to read and engaging. The author's descriptions of the actions involved in the book were vivid and the characters were well developed. I highly recommend this book to other police procedural readers and look forward to reading more Jack Harris books.
July 3, 2020
Good Read
When I can't put a book down no matter the hour, it's a book worth reading. Full of intrigue and suspense. DCI Harris has instinct and a calculating way of getting to the bottom line.
When I can't put a book down no matter the hour, it's a book worth reading. Full of intrigue and suspense. DCI Harris has instinct and a calculating way of getting to the bottom line.
January 13, 2023
An easy read and an interesting story line. Not the gripping page-turner I was expecting based on the cover blurb and some of the reviews, but engaging enough to keep my interest during a long airport layover.
May 24, 2019
great book as always . was good getting reacquainted with jack Harris
May 23, 2019
Another great story
Another great story by John Dean. Harris is a great character who does things his way and always gets his man. A really enjoyable w.
Another great story by John Dean. Harris is a great character who does things his way and always gets his man. A really enjoyable w.
June 11, 2019
An excellent read.
A great central character and a storyline that keeps you guessing. I'm looking forward to the next installment with 'Hawk'.
A great central character and a storyline that keeps you guessing. I'm looking forward to the next installment with 'Hawk'.
March 29, 2020
Different
Couldn't put it down. Amusing and clever. Kept me guessing and a series well worth reading. I recommend this book.
Couldn't put it down. Amusing and clever. Kept me guessing and a series well worth reading. I recommend this book.
April 18, 2020
Excellent
This is a good, satisfying read. I really like Jack Harris and looking forward to the next book. I hope the series will continue.
This is a good, satisfying read. I really like Jack Harris and looking forward to the next book. I hope the series will continue.
May 12, 2020
Another enjoyable and well-plotted story. The characters seemed to have stalled a little in their development, but these are are a good read.
May 29, 2021
An exciting mystery as detectives work on a 20-year old cold case. Great character development.
September 24, 2021
Comments
Interesting but a bit on the dry side. Didn’t stir up a any desires to read any of the authors other books.
Interesting but a bit on the dry side. Didn’t stir up a any desires to read any of the authors other books.
December 30, 2022
Twenty years ago a plane crash at Hobb's Point left all 14 dead. But with one body missing. Now while out with the hill rescue team has DCI Jack Harris found him. The case is now re-opened.
An entertaining modern mystery with its cast of likeable characters.
An entertaining modern mystery with its cast of likeable characters.
May 6, 2023
Another intriguing investigation. I enjoy reading about this team.
February 18, 2025
Excellent Reading
If you only have time for a quick read this rhe book.
Captured my attention and finished it fast.
Great new character to follow in this author's new detective!
If you only have time for a quick read this rhe book.
Captured my attention and finished it fast.
Great new character to follow in this author's new detective!
June 9, 2025
Enjoyed, love the characters
June 14, 2025
What starts of a s a hoax turns out to be a murder inquiry and deadly scam that went back years. Jack unravels it all with the help of his team
August 29, 2025
this is such a good series .DCI Jack Harris does things at times His way .But I have always thought that He is OK doing that . a Great Team and a Very Good Story
December 15, 2025
Excellent
Another thoroughly excellent novel from this author as usual I couldn't put the book down . I look forward to reading more of his work
Another thoroughly excellent novel from this author as usual I couldn't put the book down . I look forward to reading more of his work
February 21, 2026
Brilliant book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews