Bye Bye Baby

DCI Jack Hawksworth #1

by Fiona McIntosh

A spate of seemingly unconnected murders in southern England prompts a high-profile taskforce to be formed and led by DCI Jack Hawksworth, one of the Force’s new rising stars who combines modern methods with old-school instincts. The victims appear as disparate as their style of death; the only link that Hawk and his team can pull together is that all the murdered are men of identical age. With that platform as their only way forward, the taskforce has nothing tangible but cold cases of decades past to comb through in the hope that they might find a clue to who might be behind the savagery. But with little progress frustrating everyone and his most trusted detective threatening to betray him while the public and police force are pressuring for results, Jack must confront his own ability and conduct as the morgue fills and media hysteria builds. An emotional tale of brutal revenge with a chilling twist that profoundly affects the lives of all the people involved in its shocking climax.

Genres: Crime, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Detective, Suspense

448 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2007

About the author

Fiona writes best selling historical adventure-romance alongside the heroic-romantic, often brutal, fantasy she built her career upon. She lives in Australia but frequently roams the world meticulously researching the locations and gathering material for her historical novels that have international settings. Her books are published worldwide and in various languages.
Her most recent historical fiction has gathered such a following that she is now hosting a tour in 2014 to Paris and Provence so eager readers can walk in the footsteps of her characters.


Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Mike Sheriff died in a horrific and brutal manner, his death was the beginning of a high-profile case which was run by DCI Jack Hawksworth at London’s Scotland Yard. His handpicked team were all bright and tenacious; Jack’s instincts served him well most of the time. With his sister in Australia, he didn’t have any family in London, but his job was his life anyway.

When the second body was found, killed in the same manner but left a long way apart, Jack and the team were sure it was a serial killer. They needed to find the link between the two men who’d been murdered. As they learned more, it seemed the murders went back to events thirty years prior. Would they find the killer before another body was found? They needed to stop the killer and then discover the motive…

Bye Bye Baby is the 1st in DCI Jack Hawksworth series by Aussie author Fiona McIntosh. This one was published originally in 2007 (I’ve owned it since 2014) I read the second in the series, Beautiful Death, in 2016 – not sure why I read #2 before #1 – but with #3 now out, I wanted to catch up! And I’m really glad I did. Now I’m familiar with Hawksworth again which will be good going forward. Bye Bye Baby is an excellent read and a great series starter. The twists and turns littered the pages, with the flashbacks to the past and the events which led to current day, and it was easy to see the frustration of the police. An excellent read which I recommend.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Bye Bye Baby

Once again from Fiona McIntosh, an enjoyable read that you won’t want to put down until you finish.

Dashing DCI Jack Hawksworth is tasked to lead a criminal investigation that leads to a serial killer who drugs and mutilates his victims in the most shocking way. The male victims die with blue paint on their faces, what is the significance of this? Time is running out to piece the clues together before another life is lost.

Could an unbelievably shocking crime committed 30 years before be a connection?

It’s strange that I emphasise with a serial killer but I found myself hoping the killer wouldn’t be caught. I can’t wait to read the 2nd in the Jack Hawksworth series ‘Beautiful Death’.

[Alex Cantone · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘I think I like these photographs best of all,’ he said, turning to a series of monochromes. ‘All of the same place, obviously.’
‘Why do you like them?’
‘They’re awfully lonely, very bleak. Despite that, I like the defiance of the place – probably because it’s a ruin rather than its once-proud self…’

Switching between Lincoln, London and Brighton, this thriller of a victim getting the ultimate revenge starts well but then (for me), lost its momentum with the killer’s identity revealed one-third in. Half-way I was close to a DNF: for a police procedural it suffered from too much bitch-slapping and personal dramas – with DCI Hawksworth’s handsome features and long legs (choke!), and DI Carter’s domestic arrangements - turning it into a soap-opera. Is this really how Scotland Yard operates? The best character other than the killer, was DS Sarah Jones, fresh out of Hendon Police College so untainted by all the b-shit. The gay link was a bit too obvious.

The best part was the settings – especially the denouement. As a reader who prefers atmosphere to melodrama, (spoilt by too many Peter May novels perhaps) I would have liked more in the descriptions – the murmuration of starlings, the sounds and smells, but the weather was handled well. Overall, an average read, but not one that leaves me wanting more.

[Ace · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual storyline for a serial killer this book kept me interested in how the mystery would be solved. A page turner with many plot twists.

My first by this author but apparently this is only one of two in this series before the author stopped writing in this genre. I will read the second one, one day.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book expecting a British crime/detective story. For me it had too much concentration on how good looking the main character was and how his two female co-workers kept getting distracted by how good looking he was. Then one of the co-workers admitted to him how infatuated she was with him, had a fight with her fiance about this (who then stalked the main character to confront him about this), even the plot line was tied in to how good looking Jack was. I will say that the plot had good points (rather graphic for a romantic crime drama) but showed promise. For those who like crime novels with a romantic story line, I would recommend it. For those looking for a true British crime/mystery give this one a miss.

[Lee at ReadWriteWish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before Fiona McIntosh made her name and the bestseller list with historical romantic fiction, she tried her hand at a couple of mystery/thrillers. I picked up this one, the first of a shortlived series, cheaply and thought I’d give it a go. It’s not a bad book overall but I can perhaps see why she switched genres.

The story revolves around DCI Jack Hawksworth who is heading up the team on the hunt for a murderer who might just be a serial killer, given that two men have been found murdered in very similar ways.

Jack is an okay character but maybe a bit bland. We also get quite a lot from the killer’s point of view, including their background and motivation for killing. I’m not sure what I thought about this; I almost found some of the details were a little far fetched.

I wasn’t sure about the romantic B plot either. Basically Jack has two potential suitors; Kate, one of his underling detectives, and Sophie, his neighbour. It turns into more of a love quadrangle than triangle actually as Kate is already engaged to another man. None of it really works completely for me but I guess some of it might be explored further in the second book.

The length of this book is crazy. It’s a huge 573 pages. Obviously there were a lot of scenes that could have been cut (I’ll say the endless repeating of the background story of the killer -- it felt like McIntosh went over it again and again).

Also, despite the book's size, the mystery plot wasn’t that complicated. In fact, one important plot point was glaringly obvious. The book detectives too, must have thought the same as they seemed to solve things and reach conclusions with apparent ease.

I’ve got to mention too that McIntosh came across as someone with a bit of an issue with appearances. She probably spent 200 of those 573 pages telling how handsome Jack was and how beautiful Sophie was. We also got passages and passages dedicated to how fat one of the other characters was, how handsome one of the victims was, and how one of the other potential victims was not handsome. My care factor was low. (I hope her historical fiction books don’t always have these extremely cliched beautiful characters in them but I guess they probably do… *sigh*)

The Brighton area, on the other hand, doesn’t really come out looking good! The old disused pier actually sounded horrid and the description of flocks of starlings living there only evoked thoughts of stinky bird dropping, I’m afraid.

I probably will read the sequel though. One advantage of McIntosh abandoning the genre does mean it’s not too much of an effort to read a series of two books. However, I’ve checked and it’s crazy long too at almost 500 pages. *sigh*

I guess I’d give this 3 out of 5

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome story, I could barely put this one down, action packed, twists and turns, such fabulous characters so much going on I love Jack Hawksworth, I have read some of MS McIntosh’s other stories so I was drawn to this one and I am so glad I picked it up and I can’t wait to dive into the others.

When a body is found horribly mutilated, New Scotland Yard suspect a serial killer and start operation Danube and have it headed up by DCI Jack Hawksworth he is young and a rising star and sure to find the killer before too many more bodies are found.

They are not finding too many clues to start with and piecing together the clues and evidence they have is a slow task, but Jack does have a great team and slowly they uncover a plot for revenge but is the killer male or female? So far there are two victims but they soon discover that there is probably going to be at least two more if they cannot find them first.

Things are heating up with the investigation and with Jack’s personal life, will Jack and the team get the answers they need in time and what will they find if they get there. This story is absolutely fabulous and I loved it from start to finish, I would highly recommend this one to any reader who loves a good crime, mystery story that will keep your turning the pages.

[Beccabeccabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's such an exciting introduction to a brand new police procedural series! Who knew that Fiona McIntosh, famous for her historical romances, had it in her? As a long-term fan, I was curious at how such a genre swap would play out. I'm impressed. I'm so impressed.

Operation Danube will be the case that will make or break rising star, Scotland Yard's DCI Jack Hawkesworth. This is the chance he's been given to prove himself after being cleared by an internal investigation. Jack is dishy, has a sharp mind, and is a well-respected member of the Force. However, his flaws include being blind to what's happening around him. This will prove to be a massive hindrance regarding this investigation.

The person of interest is a serial killer, a victim of relentless bullying as a school child. Now, this person is seeking revenge, picking off her tormentors one by one. I won't go into full detail about their MO, except that it's pretty gruesome. So, why wait thirty years to become a vingalate? Whatever the reason, it extends well past the playground...

Although Bye Bye Baby started off a bit slow, it ramped up considerably. It's long, clocking in at 498 pages, but damn, when you're hooked, you are HOOKED. I was swayed by the Red Herrings that cropped up from time to time. The serial killer sucked me in, too, like they did with Jack and his awesome team. I didn't know what was what sometimes! It's also great that Fiona's Aussieness came into play. If you can't make your MC Australian, the next best thing is to give him a sister that emigrated to Australia! Amy is a crack up (that birthday shirt is soooo garish, something only a sibling could gift). I do hope we see her in the future.

Apparently, Fiona abandoned this series at one point. I'm so happy that she's picked it up again because I get to experience it all at once!

4.75 🌟

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In separate parts of England two bodies have been found - both of them horribly mutilated, ritually humiliated... but strangely, it seems, most of the worst of the atrocities are committed after the men were heavily drugged. Aside from the method, which indicates a single killer, there's precious little obvious connection between these two victims, and Scotland Yard is called in to take over the investigation. DCI Jack Hawksworth is put in charge of the investigation, despite an horrendous outcome in his last case. He puts together a team of investigators - many of whom he has worked with before. DI Kate Carter is smart, ambitious, attractive and excited to be included in that team. Sure she has always found herself attracted to Hawk, but they have worked together before, and she's now engaged and planning her wedding. Surely they can work together. Meanwhile the killer they seek is after vengeance for crimes past and it is not until Hawk and his team can work that out, that they have a chance of stopping the deaths.

BYE BYE BABY is the first crime novel by well-known Australian Fantasy author Fiona McIntosh, which makes the reading of this supposedly debut novel make a lot more sense. There's an aplomb about the structure of the story and accomplishment to the writing that can sometimes be less obvious in a debut novel. There's also some elements in BYE BYE BABY that did stand out as the mark of a debut crime novelist. This dichotomy makes reviewing this book quite a challenge. There's a bit of tweaking of common crime fiction cliches in BYE BYE BABY. Jack Hawksworth is the gorgeous, much coveted DCI - haunted by romantic attachments in the past and the death of a policeman in his last case - these events still threaten his career. He is counseled by his senior officers to take care in his relationships with his new team - especially put together to track down this killer. Kate Carter is attractive in her own right, but she's finding herself questioning her own marriage plans and increasingly feeling attracted to Jack and cannot control jealous reactions when he is encouraging of the younger, female DS in their team. There's also the source of the original crime - the event that triggered this killer's reactions and the killer themselves. Suffice to say there's a twist in there that you can see coming pretty early in the book. There are quite a few elements to the plot that are revealed to the reader much earlier than the police come across the detail which sort of gives the reader a bit of a pantomime feeling - you sort of find yourself wanting to yell "he's behind you" - or the literary equivalent at points throughout the book. There is also some interesting characterisations going on - there are points in this book that I sincerely disliked every single person - police, victims, killer, families and all. There were other points when it was possible to empathise, to understand - but most of the time you weren't too sure whose side you were on.

What's really interesting was that you'd think that some the clunky plot elements, some of the romantic tension, the angst over personal lives, the almost voyeuristic feeling that the reader has in knowing what's going on a long time before the police work it out - would detract considerably from the book. But it doesn't totally turn you off. The aplomb of the writing, the tension of the story and the plot, the compassion you can feel for the killer keeps the reader occupied and engaged and just ever so slightly conflicted about what is really justice. The final twist ending was, to tell the truth, hard to decide on. Was it intriguing, and in a strange way, a form of ultimate justice, or was it a convenient cop-out - a desire by the author to throw that final massive twist the reader's way. It's one of those endings that some readers are going to hate, and others are going to like.

[Lejla Dautovski · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was messed up. 💀

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a riveting and great tale, and yet also frustrating to read. I have read a lot of McIntosh’s work, but not the Hawksworth stories so I was ready for something new. It’s got a great wrap. But if I have to hear about how ‘attractive to women’ Hawksworth is one more time, I’ll puke! And there were maaaaaany unnecessary conversations (how the hell do we get two female coppers in a car having a rant about love lives? Wth) and even some conversations that didn’t fit with the wider plot. They seemed to be stuck in there to pad out the characters. It seemed a bit odd in places.

Not sure. I liked the premise, the way the story ticked along (despite the fact the killer is revealed IMMEDIATELY - noooo!). Wasn’t keen on so many POV flips, sometimes multiple in a chapter which got confusing - but I did like that breadth of human experience that we got to see I suppose. How someone can be more than we’re allowed to see, or that they let us get to know.

**SPOILER**
A bit miffed that a DCI who is so GOOD with people and situations that’s he moved up the ranks this quickly, can’t sniff out the culprit LITERALLY under his nose.

Anyway, I hope the other Hawksworth ones are a little less predictable (oh you know he’s gay do you, Carter? Why is that relevant to this conversation AT ALL? Whelp, we must assume it’ll be immediately used to reveal something else in a chapter or two *face palm*) and a little less focused on the pretty boy copper (we get it, you keep NSY on it’s knees with your looks Hawk. Insert *eye roll* here).

[Crooked Eye · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf at approx 50%. Jack is so handsome the women are incapable of doing their jobs...unless it makes Jack happy. The cops at Scotland Yard are behaving more like teenagers with all their jealous drooling over the fabulous Jack.

I can't stand it.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I'm a little conflicted by this book. but perhaps I was in a different frame of mind when I read it. The prose and the plot were well constructed, but some of the content just hurt to read. The action picked up from the first page, and introduced characters, and then went and placed them in past events allowing me to build a narrative and then blithely yanking out the rug after I'd constructed a house of cards on top of an assumption. The climax was incredibly late, but sadly, also extremely predictable. Frankly, I was appalled by the resolution, and I am not certain if I will read the next in the series.

[Ann Mallia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiona McIntosh is a great author. I love her historical fiction books and her crime writing is amazing - her research into solving a crime is so impressive.
I am so pleased that I have the other Hawksworth books in my library and to know that there are more to come makes me happy.

[Ros Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down. A new pommie detective series, what more could I want. This was a great storyline and kept me interested the whole way. Happy there’s more books in this series yay!

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm used to seeing Fiona McIntosh and thinking - historical romance.
But she's doing a bloody good job of these crime novels.
Following DCI Jack Hawksworth, British copper, New Scotland Yard.
He is an engaging character. Too attractive to women, including his fellow officers. And a little naive with it too. He keeps being burned and doesn't seem to learn.
But he is a great policeman, if he could keep the women off his case.
Imagine, going to work everyday and not having to worry whether the women are falling in love with him. It means he's distracted from the work, worrying about bureaucracy and being accused of something - all the time.
But he is very engaging and these crime stories are good.
This case follows a serial killer. Suddenly, 30 years after a vicious and unreported crime the victim is seeking vengeance. And they are doing a fantastic job of it.
The killer is very clever, plans well. And is so unexpected that she easily tricks her 'now' victims.
And blindsides Jack Hawksworth.
Well done, Fiona.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Fiona McIntosh at an event in Hervey Bay a few years ago. I didn't know much about her work then as I was still fairly new to book blogging and most of the books for which she's well-known (The Perfumer's Secret, The Chocolate Tin and The Pearl Thief - to name her most recent releases) are outside of my usual reading genre.

I did know however - in addition to fantasy and historical fiction - she's written about the art of novel writing and has been conducting writing masterclasses for some time.

Her Australian publisher is re-releasing a crime fiction series McIntosh published under the pseudonym Lauren Crow, which is right up my reading alley!
Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[Georgina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this sexist, ablest, and generally terrible. the mystery is absent (you're told who did it less than half way through), none of the characters are likeable - they're just stereotypes...
But it did have enough of a story to be 2* not 1.
Finished it because it has good reviews and I wanted to see the twist at the end. not worth finishing. Not for me

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first crime genre I have read of Fiona McIntosh's and I didn't enjoy it as much as her historical fiction books. The characters actions were unusual at times and the book was very long with a lot of emphasis on appearance.

[Trish McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh this is such a good book! I took it to work and read it during my breaks rather than having coffee and talking to people - it's that good!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Bye Bye Baby (DCI Jack Hawksworth Book #1) by Fiona McIntosh...
Book Club Reading Challenge.

Review to come.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts a little slow and some of the plot twists are in view long before they happen, but it’s a great read with a very satisfying final showdown and, despite this being a classic crime thriller led by a male protagonist, the female characters are more than decorative. Escape into the world McIntosh creates and enjoy the ride.

[Sarah Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of Fiona McIntosh’s historical fiction novels so decided to give her murder thriller genre a go. From the very first page I was immersed in the police hunt for a ‘serial killer’. The story moves at a fast pace toward its dramatic conclusion. I couldn’t put it down and Iook forward now to reading the other DCI Jack Hawksworth novels that Fiona has written.

[Susan Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this story, nothing like I have read by Fiona McIntosh. Everybody loves DCI Jack Hawksworth and it is almost unbelievable that he has been conned. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested and guessing what is happening, and the ever present sexual tension with his co worker. Looking forward to hearing from Jack in #2

[Lance Kirby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book unlike some British based books where I find that they spend more time in meetings talking about the investigation than reading about the investigation itself this book had the right balance between the two and I’m definitely looking forward to reading more of her books and this series

[Donna McEachran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I thought I had discovered my new favourite book series in Gary Disher, along comes Fiona McIntosh...

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous psychological thriller.

[Jenny Bazley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn’t put it down

[Christine Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable and a good page turner. Believable characters and plot.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book
Couldn't put it down