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Hidden Norfolk #3
Kill Our Sins
What would you do to keep your past a secret?
When the mutilated remains of a woman are retrieved by local fishermen, it falls to DI Tom Janssen and his team to identify how she came to be in the water and what put her there. Joined on the case by his new permanent boss, DCI Tamara Greave, it remains to be proven if the woman's death was as a result of foul play or a tragic accident.
The victim carried no means of identification, was poorly dressed for the winter and horribly disfigured when pulled from the water. As the case progresses old ghosts return to haunt those living in the present. Matters thought settled a long time ago face intense scrutiny... attention that some hoped would never come to pass. When childhood friends begin to question one another, suddenly the long forgotten past comes to the fore.
The misadventure of youth can have grave consequences. No matter how much time passes nor how deep you bury them, your sins will always return to haunt you. But who has the most to lose and what else are they willing to sacrifice in order to keep what they have? Is someone prepared to kill for their sins?
Janssen must reveal and catch a killer without a conscience before they strike again...
Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Norfolk, this fast-paced British detective novel is a dark murder mystery with moments of humour and a touch of romance, one that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed.
Kill Our Sins is the third novel in a new series of thrillers from Amazon number one bestselling crime writer, JM Dalgliesh, the author of the Dark Yorkshire books. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, JD Kirk, Angela Marsons, Joy Ellis and Damien Boyd.
When the mutilated remains of a woman are retrieved by local fishermen, it falls to DI Tom Janssen and his team to identify how she came to be in the water and what put her there. Joined on the case by his new permanent boss, DCI Tamara Greave, it remains to be proven if the woman's death was as a result of foul play or a tragic accident.
The victim carried no means of identification, was poorly dressed for the winter and horribly disfigured when pulled from the water. As the case progresses old ghosts return to haunt those living in the present. Matters thought settled a long time ago face intense scrutiny... attention that some hoped would never come to pass. When childhood friends begin to question one another, suddenly the long forgotten past comes to the fore.
The misadventure of youth can have grave consequences. No matter how much time passes nor how deep you bury them, your sins will always return to haunt you. But who has the most to lose and what else are they willing to sacrifice in order to keep what they have? Is someone prepared to kill for their sins?
Janssen must reveal and catch a killer without a conscience before they strike again...
Set within the mysterious beauty of coastal Norfolk, this fast-paced British detective novel is a dark murder mystery with moments of humour and a touch of romance, one that will keep you guessing until the very end when the final shocking twist is revealed.
Kill Our Sins is the third novel in a new series of thrillers from Amazon number one bestselling crime writer, JM Dalgliesh, the author of the Dark Yorkshire books. Perfect for fans of LJ Ross, JD Kirk, Angela Marsons, Joy Ellis and Damien Boyd.
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2020
4634 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Dalgliesh
36 books941 followersJason Dalgliesh was born on the south coast of England and grew up in Hampshire, UK. He has worked in the power transmission industry, the retail sector, call centres and as a night-owl in a bakery. His greatest challenge of all is ongoing, as a stay at home parent.
He is presently writing the Dark Yorkshire crime-series, featuring DI Nathaniel Caslin.
The novels are set in Yorkshire, England. The medieval City of York is Caslin's home town and the plot lines take in some of the UK's most rugged and beautiful landscapes, from the windswept North Sea coastline and across the stunning North York Moors.
Penned in the style of the Crime Noir genre, Caslin is a deep character, as flawed as he is brilliant, battling his own demons as much as those he is pitted against. Readers who enjoy gritty, atmospheric thrillers will find the series a must read.
Having spent time abroad, Jason has lived and worked in various parts of England as well as the Scottish Highlands. He currently resides in the East Riding, with his wife and two young children.
You can reach him via his website at www.jmdalgliesh.com
You can also follow him on social media;
facebook.com/jmdalglieshauthor
twitter.com/darkyorkshire
He is presently writing the Dark Yorkshire crime-series, featuring DI Nathaniel Caslin.
The novels are set in Yorkshire, England. The medieval City of York is Caslin's home town and the plot lines take in some of the UK's most rugged and beautiful landscapes, from the windswept North Sea coastline and across the stunning North York Moors.
Penned in the style of the Crime Noir genre, Caslin is a deep character, as flawed as he is brilliant, battling his own demons as much as those he is pitted against. Readers who enjoy gritty, atmospheric thrillers will find the series a must read.
Having spent time abroad, Jason has lived and worked in various parts of England as well as the Scottish Highlands. He currently resides in the East Riding, with his wife and two young children.
You can reach him via his website at www.jmdalgliesh.com
You can also follow him on social media;
facebook.com/jmdalglieshauthor
twitter.com/darkyorkshire
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
September 13, 2021
DI Tom Janssen was spending a rare day off with Alice and her eight-year-old daughter when he received a call from DCI Tamara Greave. They had found a body partially submerged in the local Norfolk waterways and she needed him to assist. As the investigation moved forward, there were many links but not a lot of evidence. Wellesley House, an old and now run-down children’s home became part of the picture, and the past beckoned with its insinuations and horrors. Tom and Tamara knew they had to solve this mystery quickly, as the killer had no compunction at removing people who were in the way.
Kill Our Sins is the 3rd in Hidden Norfolk series by J.M. Dalgliesh and it was every bit as good as the first two. In the dark beauty of a surrounding coastal Norfolk, many things could and did happen; the author sets the story well, paints vivid word pictures and plants plenty of twists. My only criticism is the raft of typos and editing errors in my copy – a good editor would have fixed this. A great read, apart from that and one I recommend. I’m looking forward to #4.
Kill Our Sins is the 3rd in Hidden Norfolk series by J.M. Dalgliesh and it was every bit as good as the first two. In the dark beauty of a surrounding coastal Norfolk, many things could and did happen; the author sets the story well, paints vivid word pictures and plants plenty of twists. My only criticism is the raft of typos and editing errors in my copy – a good editor would have fixed this. A great read, apart from that and one I recommend. I’m looking forward to #4.
October 21, 2021
This series has reached the point where the personal lives of the detectives have become as interesting as the cases they are working on
April 5, 2020
Great Book!
I have read all of J M DLgliesh’s books. They have all been good. The characters are well written and likable. The mysteries keep you guessing until the end. I highly recommend this book and this author.
I have read all of J M DLgliesh’s books. They have all been good. The characters are well written and likable. The mysteries keep you guessing until the end. I highly recommend this book and this author.
November 9, 2022
These books are good, but not great. If you want an easy read this series is good. There are a few surprises, but I find the characters to be boring, or annoying.
March 30, 2022
Still working my way through this series because they're quite short and quick to read and the stories themselves are sort-of ok, but the writing isn't improving and I'm seriously losing patience with the attempts to delve into the characters' tedious private lives.
January 25, 2022
Kill Our Sins was the first JM Dalgliesh novel that I’ve not enjoyed.
The plot was uninteresting, the pace slow and all but the regular characters dull.
The best part of it was the ongoing saga of the relationships involving the two principals.
Dalgliesh has written so many gripping detective stories I shall move on to Hidden Norfolk #4 soon, knowing that this was just a blip.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of ‘39, all published by Sacristy Press.
The plot was uninteresting, the pace slow and all but the regular characters dull.
The best part of it was the ongoing saga of the relationships involving the two principals.
Dalgliesh has written so many gripping detective stories I shall move on to Hidden Norfolk #4 soon, knowing that this was just a blip.
David Lowther. Author of The Blue Pencil, Liberating Belsen, Two Families at War and The Summer of ‘39, all published by Sacristy Press.
December 17, 2024
Very disappointing book, it just rambled on and on, in the end there were no real big surprises then it just sort of petered out.
Probably won't bother with any more of this series. Plus why do authors seem to think we need to know the ins and outs of the main detectives personal lives? This adds nothing to the plot, my guess is it's easier to meets the required amount of words the publishers require.
Please just get on with the story, I couldn't care less about who they are or are not sleeping with.
Probably won't bother with any more of this series. Plus why do authors seem to think we need to know the ins and outs of the main detectives personal lives? This adds nothing to the plot, my guess is it's easier to meets the required amount of words the publishers require.
Please just get on with the story, I couldn't care less about who they are or are not sleeping with.
May 18, 2024
This is the last book i shall read in this series, we have the love life of the two main boring characters in a lot of this book so goodbye the norfolk series.
November 26, 2020
Another very good read by this author.
Read
June 23, 2021Interesting read and the Norfolk setting is very evocative. The characters are developing and interaction is worth following.
November 1, 2021
This for me was better than the first two books as we are now getting more about the Detectives lives making them far more interesting. looking forward to book 4
November 30, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The twists and turns!
January 18, 2026
Finally this series is getting somewhere! A mostly believable story (I audiobook’d this so may have missed bits, but did we ever really figure out why the murdered left her husband and son in the first place??) I also think this story had a better balance of suspects and mystery than the ones prior. However, I’m still infuriated that it’s always a woman’s body they seem to find at the beginning of every Hidden Norfolk.
I’ve now been convinced to have an interest in the meandering love story that is developing between the two Ts. Especially after that horrendous non-proposal and the reappearance of Tom’s ‘London problem’; a happy excuse for the impending break up if ever we needed one.
I’ve now been convinced to have an interest in the meandering love story that is developing between the two Ts. Especially after that horrendous non-proposal and the reappearance of Tom’s ‘London problem’; a happy excuse for the impending break up if ever we needed one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2020
As always, superb!
March 8, 2020
The third book in the Hidden Norfolk Murder Mystery series is another winner with me. There are plenty of characters to keep the police team (and the reader) guessing who did what. That’s just how I prefer mysteries- no obvious murderer in the first chapter for me. If you like to think about the puzzle and maybe get surprised a time or two along the way, this one will please you.
I received this book as an ARC. I am very pleased to be able to recommend it to mystery lovers.
I received this book as an ARC. I am very pleased to be able to recommend it to mystery lovers.
March 9, 2020
The best of the Hidden Norfolk murder mystery series. The character arcs are continuing and filling in. The plot keeps you guessing until the end, which is one of the things I look for in a detective series.
I received this book as an ARC. Great job J M Dalgliesh.
I received this book as an ARC. Great job J M Dalgliesh.
September 3, 2025
In short, I'm glad the book is finished.
A personal view but I felt the story dragged on a bit too long and became more complex than it needed to be in an effort to maintain or provide additional intrigue to the reader. I also grew weary of the off the case social life snippets introduced in what became a relationship square rather than a love triangle. Almost click bait, snippets and interactions introduced to draw things out especially at the close of each book. Get the next book to find out if... I won't bother.
Book three is consistent with books 1 and 2, the lower ranking officer continues to be treated as a dog's body with very little thanks, training or encouragement provided. The senior officer tends to play second fiddle to the main character after whom the series is named.
The investigation procedure is also consistent with the first two books occasionally stopping or deviating from a path of investigation when personally I thought, " Why not ask...?" again that seemed to draw the story out longer. But these are just my thoughts.
Because of these views I rated book three as three stars and will take a break possible even stopping altogether. Nothing compelling in the characters or unfinished relationship issues of significant interest to keep me going. An OK read with sufficient stuff happening to see me through to the end but I was glad to reach it.
A personal view but I felt the story dragged on a bit too long and became more complex than it needed to be in an effort to maintain or provide additional intrigue to the reader. I also grew weary of the off the case social life snippets introduced in what became a relationship square rather than a love triangle. Almost click bait, snippets and interactions introduced to draw things out especially at the close of each book. Get the next book to find out if... I won't bother.
Book three is consistent with books 1 and 2, the lower ranking officer continues to be treated as a dog's body with very little thanks, training or encouragement provided. The senior officer tends to play second fiddle to the main character after whom the series is named.
The investigation procedure is also consistent with the first two books occasionally stopping or deviating from a path of investigation when personally I thought, " Why not ask...?" again that seemed to draw the story out longer. But these are just my thoughts.
Because of these views I rated book three as three stars and will take a break possible even stopping altogether. Nothing compelling in the characters or unfinished relationship issues of significant interest to keep me going. An OK read with sufficient stuff happening to see me through to the end but I was glad to reach it.
October 15, 2022
I just didn't think this was very good. It made so little impression that I finished it last night, and when I got up this morning, I couldn't even remember who the murderer was. It took me a few minutes to recall how it ended. Meh.
At least it was free b/c I read it through the KU library. I'm willing to keep going with the series, but hopefully future installments are better. Also, if the "will they; won't they" things keeps going between Jansson & Greave, I'm out.
At least it was free b/c I read it through the KU library. I'm willing to keep going with the series, but hopefully future installments are better. Also, if the "will they; won't they" things keeps going between Jansson & Greave, I'm out.
August 23, 2020
A p leasing tale of deception and conflict. Quite an readable episode in this fascinating
detective 's career. One for fans and crime genre groupies. Looking forward to more
of the same. No unnecessary bad language, sex or violence. What I prefer i my choice
of reading material.
detective 's career. One for fans and crime genre groupies. Looking forward to more
of the same. No unnecessary bad language, sex or violence. What I prefer i my choice
of reading material.
June 24, 2021
A good story with our three detectives taking on multiple cases. Are the cases related? Is anyone telling the truth?
I liked this book. I do think too much time was spent on personal issues. Somehow it detracted from the flow of the story.
The audiobook narration was well done. I especially noticed the various dialects used. Well done.
I liked this book. I do think too much time was spent on personal issues. Somehow it detracted from the flow of the story.
The audiobook narration was well done. I especially noticed the various dialects used. Well done.
February 2, 2021
This was a typical British murder mystery. A very fun light read. You will want to read the series with the ongoing plots surrounding the investigators. However, after several books they do get tiresome, so give a break with more meaningful books.
December 5, 2021
Pretty exciting - twists and turns in the plot keep you guessing - hallmarks of a good mystery. Slightly distracting was the personal story, which added nothing to the book.
May 27, 2022
This is the third book in the “Hidden Norfolk” series featuring DI Tom Janssen and DCI Tamara Greave and I found it to be a solid addition. I was very pleased not just with the plot of the mystery itself, but that this time I felt there was significant growth in Tom’s character. We learn a bit about his past, and there was a good amount of time spent showing the conflict and growth in Tom’s personal relationship with his girlfriend. I thought the author did an excellent job balancing these two critical aspects to the book – the mystery plot and the more personal aspects to the story as a greater whole. The book not only felt well balanced but as a result very satisfying. There was a well-woven, interesting and well paced murder mystery plot, but this is the first book where I felt genuinely interested and pleased with Tom’s character and the growth/revelations that were shown to me as the reader. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
The mystery was one I personally found quite interesting – the murder of a woman with deep secrets hidden in her past and a delightfully complicated history. While in many ways a standard British style of police procedural plot, I thought there were enough turns in the storyline and plenty of depth to the mystery of the victim to easily keep my attention. I found the working relationship between Tom and Tamara to be a little easier and smoother in this book – the previous book in the series in particular I had a lot of trouble with the fluctuating emotions and mixed signals, so I was really pleased to find this had all seemed to sort itself out.
While I do feel readers can pick up this book and enjoy reading it as a stand alone story, there are two previous installments in the series. I feel readers will find a deeper appreciation for the working cohesion between the police team unit if they’ve read the two prior stories, though this isn’t strictly necessary. The plot and the personal relationship between Tom and his girlfriend stand very well on their own in this book – and while I had no problems sorting through the characters of the small police unit, I do feel readers will gain a deeper appreciation for their working relationship with the background in the previous stories.
An excellent read, this British police procedural style story is a good book with complex characters, a delightfully twisting plot and plenty of personal growth in the characters. Recommended.
The mystery was one I personally found quite interesting – the murder of a woman with deep secrets hidden in her past and a delightfully complicated history. While in many ways a standard British style of police procedural plot, I thought there were enough turns in the storyline and plenty of depth to the mystery of the victim to easily keep my attention. I found the working relationship between Tom and Tamara to be a little easier and smoother in this book – the previous book in the series in particular I had a lot of trouble with the fluctuating emotions and mixed signals, so I was really pleased to find this had all seemed to sort itself out.
While I do feel readers can pick up this book and enjoy reading it as a stand alone story, there are two previous installments in the series. I feel readers will find a deeper appreciation for the working cohesion between the police team unit if they’ve read the two prior stories, though this isn’t strictly necessary. The plot and the personal relationship between Tom and his girlfriend stand very well on their own in this book – and while I had no problems sorting through the characters of the small police unit, I do feel readers will gain a deeper appreciation for their working relationship with the background in the previous stories.
An excellent read, this British police procedural style story is a good book with complex characters, a delightfully twisting plot and plenty of personal growth in the characters. Recommended.
December 3, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Four stars.
This series has been getting slowly but consistently better every book that I have read. I can’t help but be impressed. The main characters are intriguing and we don’t get to know everything about them, though we find a bit more out each book and I like this approach. It adds to the mystery feel of the stories. This one was a fascinating and complex case that started out with something that seemed relatively simple and became more intricate and involved as the story progressed. I also love the setting that this series is based in. I feel like it really adds to the atmosphere of the whole thing. It honestly reminds me of a gritty BBC crime drama (and I love those!). I can see that the author is really settling into their stride with this series by this book. The story is based very well and I still enjoy the different perspectives. The story in this went all over the place and just when I thought I had a handle on what actually happened, some new information was revealed and I realised if I wasn’t completely wrong, then I wasn’t very close to being right either. I don’t like it when it is too overtly obvious what happened, or who the killer is or whatever. And the author of this series is very clever in how they do this. So overall, another excellent read and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
Four stars.
This series has been getting slowly but consistently better every book that I have read. I can’t help but be impressed. The main characters are intriguing and we don’t get to know everything about them, though we find a bit more out each book and I like this approach. It adds to the mystery feel of the stories. This one was a fascinating and complex case that started out with something that seemed relatively simple and became more intricate and involved as the story progressed. I also love the setting that this series is based in. I feel like it really adds to the atmosphere of the whole thing. It honestly reminds me of a gritty BBC crime drama (and I love those!). I can see that the author is really settling into their stride with this series by this book. The story is based very well and I still enjoy the different perspectives. The story in this went all over the place and just when I thought I had a handle on what actually happened, some new information was revealed and I realised if I wasn’t completely wrong, then I wasn’t very close to being right either. I don’t like it when it is too overtly obvious what happened, or who the killer is or whatever. And the author of this series is very clever in how they do this. So overall, another excellent read and I am looking forward to reading the next one.
September 12, 2020
This was a good book with an interesting story about what went on in an orphanage many years ago and how those who went through abuse at the hands of the people who were meant to be keeping them safe and what's subsequently become of their lives since.
DI Tom Jannsen is at the beach with his partner Alice and her daughter Saffron having a much needed day off. They're building sandcastles and having great fun and Tom and Alice are talking about what their future holds when his phone rings. He answers the call from his boss DCI Tamara Greave reminding her it's his day off when she tells him a body's been found on Holkham beach and it's a bad one and she'd like his input. He tells Alice he's needed and that their conversation can continue later and leaves.
The story then follows many twists and turns from there and it's all interwoven through the book beautifully. The author's storytelling is improving with each book in this series in my opinion. I wasn't going to continue the series after the first book but I'm glad I stuck with it as I'm growing fond of the two main protagonists ably assisted by DC Eric Collett. This is the third book in the series and by far the best yet. If you like a good detective series this is pretty decent and getting better with each book.
DI Tom Jannsen is at the beach with his partner Alice and her daughter Saffron having a much needed day off. They're building sandcastles and having great fun and Tom and Alice are talking about what their future holds when his phone rings. He answers the call from his boss DCI Tamara Greave reminding her it's his day off when she tells him a body's been found on Holkham beach and it's a bad one and she'd like his input. He tells Alice he's needed and that their conversation can continue later and leaves.
The story then follows many twists and turns from there and it's all interwoven through the book beautifully. The author's storytelling is improving with each book in this series in my opinion. I wasn't going to continue the series after the first book but I'm glad I stuck with it as I'm growing fond of the two main protagonists ably assisted by DC Eric Collett. This is the third book in the series and by far the best yet. If you like a good detective series this is pretty decent and getting better with each book.
Read
March 7, 2024What would you do to keep your past a secret?
When the mutilated remains of a woman are retrieved by local fishermen, it falls to DI Tom Janssen and his team to identify how she came to be in the water and what put her there. Joined on the case by his new permanent boss, DCI Tamara Greave, it remains to be proven if the woman's death was as a result of foul play or a tragic accident.
The victim carried no means of identification, was poorly dressed for the winter and horribly disfigured when pulled from the water. As the case progresses old ghosts return to haunt those living in the present. Matters thought settled a long time ago face intense scrutiny... attention that some hoped would never come to pass. When childhood friends begin to question one another, suddenly the long forgotten past comes to the fore.
The misadventure of youth can have grave consequences. No matter how much time passes nor how deep you bury them, your sins will always return to haunt you. But who has the most to lose and what else are they willing to sacrifice in order to keep what they have? Is someone prepared to kill for their sins?
Janssen must reveal and catch a killer without a conscience before they strike again...
Good.
When the mutilated remains of a woman are retrieved by local fishermen, it falls to DI Tom Janssen and his team to identify how she came to be in the water and what put her there. Joined on the case by his new permanent boss, DCI Tamara Greave, it remains to be proven if the woman's death was as a result of foul play or a tragic accident.
The victim carried no means of identification, was poorly dressed for the winter and horribly disfigured when pulled from the water. As the case progresses old ghosts return to haunt those living in the present. Matters thought settled a long time ago face intense scrutiny... attention that some hoped would never come to pass. When childhood friends begin to question one another, suddenly the long forgotten past comes to the fore.
The misadventure of youth can have grave consequences. No matter how much time passes nor how deep you bury them, your sins will always return to haunt you. But who has the most to lose and what else are they willing to sacrifice in order to keep what they have? Is someone prepared to kill for their sins?
Janssen must reveal and catch a killer without a conscience before they strike again...
Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2022
The past surfaces.
A dead body found, but she has been missing for years. Why now, had she returned to a place of abuse and bad memories?
A historic covered up scandal of abuse at a children's home. Set up presumably with good intentions, but causing so much pain and still haunting the lives of past victims.
The main abuser was living his life with illness ruling it.
The victims had married, some to those outside the circle of abuse, who had offered them love and comfort as they saw it. But still servicing their now husband like they had years ago as an escape.
Identified, the question remains, where had she been and why had she left her husband and son.
The other victims and perpetrators are spooked when the police start asking questions. Everyone interviewed is holding something back, Tamara and Jannsen are convinced hey are trying to hide the past. A past death, a current apparent suicide.
Where does it all lead and who is willing to kill to keep the past where they believe it belongs.
Very good read, with Jannsen's personal life affecting his usual clear thinking.
A dead body found, but she has been missing for years. Why now, had she returned to a place of abuse and bad memories?
A historic covered up scandal of abuse at a children's home. Set up presumably with good intentions, but causing so much pain and still haunting the lives of past victims.
The main abuser was living his life with illness ruling it.
The victims had married, some to those outside the circle of abuse, who had offered them love and comfort as they saw it. But still servicing their now husband like they had years ago as an escape.
Identified, the question remains, where had she been and why had she left her husband and son.
The other victims and perpetrators are spooked when the police start asking questions. Everyone interviewed is holding something back, Tamara and Jannsen are convinced hey are trying to hide the past. A past death, a current apparent suicide.
Where does it all lead and who is willing to kill to keep the past where they believe it belongs.
Very good read, with Jannsen's personal life affecting his usual clear thinking.
April 27, 2020
Out of the Past
I think statistically, murders are often an act of sudden impulse, perhaps triggered by a fit of rage. The murders in this book aren’t. They result from tragic events at an orphanage— I guess there must still be orphanages, but you never hear about them now — that continue to distort the lives of the survivors into middle age. The staff and the inmates all have good reasons to want to keep the past buried, but then someone turns up at the scene of the crime whom the others thought was dead, and one of the others decides dead people tell no tales. So our detectives have a tough case to solve, made richer by the main character’s romantic entanglements. He has an ex wife and an ex girlfriend and it seemed to me he also fancies his new boss. But of course life is like that. (All 3 of these women talk to him in this book). It’s fast moving and tightly plotted as crime fiction must be, but characterization is a cut above. A good read to keep you home hiding from the epidemic.
I think statistically, murders are often an act of sudden impulse, perhaps triggered by a fit of rage. The murders in this book aren’t. They result from tragic events at an orphanage— I guess there must still be orphanages, but you never hear about them now — that continue to distort the lives of the survivors into middle age. The staff and the inmates all have good reasons to want to keep the past buried, but then someone turns up at the scene of the crime whom the others thought was dead, and one of the others decides dead people tell no tales. So our detectives have a tough case to solve, made richer by the main character’s romantic entanglements. He has an ex wife and an ex girlfriend and it seemed to me he also fancies his new boss. But of course life is like that. (All 3 of these women talk to him in this book). It’s fast moving and tightly plotted as crime fiction must be, but characterization is a cut above. A good read to keep you home hiding from the epidemic.
November 10, 2021
Dark sinister secrets!
Yet again the author transports the readers imagination to the beautiful coast of Norfolk, this time it's shocking revelations are from the past. Revelations from the past brought to the present day with dark sinister undercurrents that many would prefer to stay buried, especially when they revolve around children.The team, Tom, Tamara and Eric are run ragged as they desperately try to unravel deep seated secrets from the past, chilling dark secrets that were brushed under the carpet many years ago and some will do anything to see they stay buried.
Clever plot and original storyline, which seems to be a great strength of this author so keeping the reader glued to the pages.
Tom's secret past comes back to haunt him in a spectacular fashion, I didn't see that coming for one minute,absolutely brilliant writing I loved every page and chapter making it impossible to put down until the end!
Another brilliant read, now for book #4!
Yet again the author transports the readers imagination to the beautiful coast of Norfolk, this time it's shocking revelations are from the past. Revelations from the past brought to the present day with dark sinister undercurrents that many would prefer to stay buried, especially when they revolve around children.The team, Tom, Tamara and Eric are run ragged as they desperately try to unravel deep seated secrets from the past, chilling dark secrets that were brushed under the carpet many years ago and some will do anything to see they stay buried.
Clever plot and original storyline, which seems to be a great strength of this author so keeping the reader glued to the pages.
Tom's secret past comes back to haunt him in a spectacular fashion, I didn't see that coming for one minute,absolutely brilliant writing I loved every page and chapter making it impossible to put down until the end!
Another brilliant read, now for book #4!
March 11, 2025
Hidden Norfolk #3 - DI Janssen. On the whole this is a decent series, and this is no different. The police characters are quite believable, although a female DCI conducting interviews is a desperation measure - they are short one DS. The personal life of Janssen intrudes a bit, and the cliched call-out on his day off is a negative (what about all the other Sundays where there was no dead body found?). Tamara seems to be having issues too, and has a binge - better watch that before it impacts on work performance.
The investigation reveals connections to a children's home, and there is a thread of child abuse. The author didn't get on a soapbox about it,though. The minor characters are damaged in some way by their experiences. All seem to be either lying to the police or holding back - a red flag. Whodunnit lovers will be right onto that!
The ending seemed a bit of a fizzle all round - including personal relationships.
Rating 3.3.
The investigation reveals connections to a children's home, and there is a thread of child abuse. The author didn't get on a soapbox about it,though. The minor characters are damaged in some way by their experiences. All seem to be either lying to the police or holding back - a red flag. Whodunnit lovers will be right onto that!
The ending seemed a bit of a fizzle all round - including personal relationships.
Rating 3.3.
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