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D.I. Denning and D.S. Fisher #2
Blood Family
All families have secrets... some are deadly.
When D.I. Matthew Denning is called in to investigate a house fire in a North London street, he never anticipated the horrors that awaited him. As Denning and D.S. Molly Fisher search the wreckage, the bodies of the Galloway family – Brian and Ellie, son Simon, daughter Amber and 9-year-old grandson Caleb – are discovered in the smouldering house.
All evidence points to a tragic accident… until Matthew and Molly discover that the family was dead before the fire, murdered in their home by a faceless psychopath. What started as a routine investigation swiftly turns into a murder investigation, with Denning and Fisher hunting a killer who has wiped out three generations with a shotgun.
But as the case deepens, Denning and Fisher discover that the Galloways were no ordinary family. Like all families, they harbour secrets - but unlike others, their secrets were so deadly, someone is willing to spill blood to keep them hidden…
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 8, 2020
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111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
January 10, 2020
Blood Family is the second book in the DI Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher series set in good ol' East London, and it isn't necessary to have read the first instalment prior to this one as they work perfectly well as standalones so new readers can jump right on in and immediately get immersed and engrossed just as I did. After a suspected arson attack, fire investigators are called in to do a routine check on a property. The house has burned to the ground and all involved believe it was a tragic accident and nothing more sinister. However, when a staggering five members of the same family are discovered brutally slaughtered amongst the rubble it is clear that something is going on. Killing five members of the Gallagher family is sending a very strong message and it's clear that the perpetrator set the fire to try to get rid of the evidence discreetly. Who would have wanted five members of the Gallagher family dead and what exactly had they done to deserve such a fate? And so ensues a murder investigation where secrets, lies and manipulation play a significant role.
This is a gripping and intriguing police procedural that I read in a single sitting as I simply couldn't put it down. There are twists and turns galore and a few red herrings thrown in for good measure to throw you off the scent. Some of the twists were rather predictable but it is so well written that this surprisingly didn't affect my enjoyment as much as it usually would. The story is primarily told from Matt and Molly's perspectives and whereas some stories suffer when switching points of view it was done seamlessly here and everything flowed easily from page to page. We learn a little more about the two detectives dysfunctional families and their personal lives and I found this fascinating. Now in order to solve this case, they must put personal issues aside and identify which of the Gallagher's managed to get almost their entire family brutally murdered. This is a well-crafted and compelling read. Many thanks to Hera Books for an ARC.
This is a gripping and intriguing police procedural that I read in a single sitting as I simply couldn't put it down. There are twists and turns galore and a few red herrings thrown in for good measure to throw you off the scent. Some of the twists were rather predictable but it is so well written that this surprisingly didn't affect my enjoyment as much as it usually would. The story is primarily told from Matt and Molly's perspectives and whereas some stories suffer when switching points of view it was done seamlessly here and everything flowed easily from page to page. We learn a little more about the two detectives dysfunctional families and their personal lives and I found this fascinating. Now in order to solve this case, they must put personal issues aside and identify which of the Gallagher's managed to get almost their entire family brutally murdered. This is a well-crafted and compelling read. Many thanks to Hera Books for an ARC.
January 14, 2020
4☆ Engrossing and Gritty Crime Thriller with Twists and Turns galore.... A book Not To Be Missed!!
Blood Family is an Engrossing, Gripping, Twisty Crime Thriller that i thoroughly enjoyed!
It's the second book in a new series but my first book, I had no problem reading this as a standalone. But I am definitely looking forward to reading the other book.
Detective Inspector Matthew Denning ... aka Denning for short and Detective Sergeant Molly Fisher Have been called out to investigate a very suspicious House Fire, where there are 5 bodies in different rooms, including a 9yr old child and his mother.
But what is even more suspicious is that the fire isn't what caused their death, they was dead killed beforehand. It was definitely murder but who did it and why!?
The family harboured secrets, things are not quiet what they seem. They wasn't what they seemed. But which family member was embroiled in something that ended up seeing them all murdered?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gripping crime thriller, just when I thought I had the motive and murderer sussed things changed and threw me off the scent. I loved it!
The Title for this book is perfect! It's all about Family. Blood Family, not just the family who was murdered but discovering all about Molly and Denning's home life and family dramas.
I really enjoyed getting to know Denning and his family life which was really tough and not easy for him especially investigation a child murder when he has a vulnerable child of his own at home. I really felt for him.
Molly was such an endearing character, her personal story was really intriguing and her brother certainly kept her on her toes!
I really liked Molly and Denning's Characters so very different yet they just worked. I can't wait to find out more!
The police investigation was very cleverly plotted and authentic, it definitely kept me on my toes.
I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering the secrets and juicy twists.
If you love Crime Fiction, with twists and turns galore, brilliant characters, great police work, an Engrossing and Gritty Plot with lots of secrets, then.... Blood Family.....is definitely the book for you!
Thank you to Book On The Bright Side Tours and Hera Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
Blood Family is an Engrossing, Gripping, Twisty Crime Thriller that i thoroughly enjoyed!
It's the second book in a new series but my first book, I had no problem reading this as a standalone. But I am definitely looking forward to reading the other book.
Detective Inspector Matthew Denning ... aka Denning for short and Detective Sergeant Molly Fisher Have been called out to investigate a very suspicious House Fire, where there are 5 bodies in different rooms, including a 9yr old child and his mother.
But what is even more suspicious is that the fire isn't what caused their death, they was dead killed beforehand. It was definitely murder but who did it and why!?
The family harboured secrets, things are not quiet what they seem. They wasn't what they seemed. But which family member was embroiled in something that ended up seeing them all murdered?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this gripping crime thriller, just when I thought I had the motive and murderer sussed things changed and threw me off the scent. I loved it!
The Title for this book is perfect! It's all about Family. Blood Family, not just the family who was murdered but discovering all about Molly and Denning's home life and family dramas.
I really enjoyed getting to know Denning and his family life which was really tough and not easy for him especially investigation a child murder when he has a vulnerable child of his own at home. I really felt for him.
Molly was such an endearing character, her personal story was really intriguing and her brother certainly kept her on her toes!
I really liked Molly and Denning's Characters so very different yet they just worked. I can't wait to find out more!
The police investigation was very cleverly plotted and authentic, it definitely kept me on my toes.
I thoroughly enjoyed uncovering the secrets and juicy twists.
If you love Crime Fiction, with twists and turns galore, brilliant characters, great police work, an Engrossing and Gritty Plot with lots of secrets, then.... Blood Family.....is definitely the book for you!
Thank you to Book On The Bright Side Tours and Hera Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
December 14, 2019
This is the second book in the D.I Denning and D.S Fisher series, as I haven’t had the pleasure of reading the first one yet, I can confidently say that it reads easily as a standalone.
Denning and Fisher are quite different characters. Denning comes across older and wiser where as Fisher is slightly more reckless letting her heart rule her head. It sure makes for some interesting reading though and have to say that as much as I liked Denning, I loved Fisher.
The story focuses very much on family. Not just the case that Denning and Fisher are working on, but we get to see more of both their personal home lives also. Is it wrong that it was good to see how dysfunctional other family lives can be? Will certainly make your own feel normal.
This is a case where the police seem to be sent around the houses, struggling to uncover the truth of who is behind the killings and why. The author cleverly throws a few red herrings in which had me guessing through out as to who the killer is.
Blood Family is my first introduction to D.I Denning and D.S Fisher and certainly won’t be my last. A gripping start that is steadily paced, picking up to a very satisfying conclusion. A must read for crime fans.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Denning and Fisher are quite different characters. Denning comes across older and wiser where as Fisher is slightly more reckless letting her heart rule her head. It sure makes for some interesting reading though and have to say that as much as I liked Denning, I loved Fisher.
The story focuses very much on family. Not just the case that Denning and Fisher are working on, but we get to see more of both their personal home lives also. Is it wrong that it was good to see how dysfunctional other family lives can be? Will certainly make your own feel normal.
This is a case where the police seem to be sent around the houses, struggling to uncover the truth of who is behind the killings and why. The author cleverly throws a few red herrings in which had me guessing through out as to who the killer is.
Blood Family is my first introduction to D.I Denning and D.S Fisher and certainly won’t be my last. A gripping start that is steadily paced, picking up to a very satisfying conclusion. A must read for crime fans.
My thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
January 6, 2020
A difficult book to review. It not only had a police investigation, but also dealt with family issues of the victims and the cops.
DI Denning and DS Molly were called when bodies were found by the firefighters only to be told by the coroner that they had been dead prior to the fire. They start their investigation.
My second book by author Graeme Hampton, though the first was my favorite, this too was quite good. I liked how the cops were thorough, though Molly took a great many risks. I loved how their personal lives were shown which made the whole investigation real. That gave an added depth to the officers who risked their lives to get to the truth.
The team worked with great camaraderie. There were days of back breaking work of getting every clue checked out. The writing was gritty yet so endearing in some ways. I liked knowing how cops too made mistakes in their family life, with missed chances of connecting with family members.
Overall the book had great investigation which kept me engrossed the entire evening
DI Denning and DS Molly were called when bodies were found by the firefighters only to be told by the coroner that they had been dead prior to the fire. They start their investigation.
My second book by author Graeme Hampton, though the first was my favorite, this too was quite good. I liked how the cops were thorough, though Molly took a great many risks. I loved how their personal lives were shown which made the whole investigation real. That gave an added depth to the officers who risked their lives to get to the truth.
The team worked with great camaraderie. There were days of back breaking work of getting every clue checked out. The writing was gritty yet so endearing in some ways. I liked knowing how cops too made mistakes in their family life, with missed chances of connecting with family members.
Overall the book had great investigation which kept me engrossed the entire evening
January 24, 2020
I am a Graeme Hampton novice and I was so impressed with this outstanding mystery-thriller! This is the second instalment of his DI Denning and DS Fisher series and I was happy to dive straight in. Although I have yet to read book one (entitled Know No Evil), the premise of Blood Family beckoned to me and I knew that I had to read this novel!
Blood Family definitely did not disappoint. It had everything I would expect from a fantastic mystery/police procedural - a great plot, well-drawn characters and terrific pacing.
Even though I have read quite a few books with a similar premise to this one - an "ordinary" family, unexposed secrets, murder, compulsive lies, manipulation, evil and several twists, so I began this book in the knowledge of what was to come. This police procedural has also been a great delight, full of jeopardy, deception, tension, dysfunction and fascinating characters, whether they were loved or hated and unexpected outcomes. There was oodles of suspense and it was definitely an enthralling reading experience that had me hooked throughout.
I loved the shock factor and twisting plot, making this extremely difficult to put down. I really appreciated the smooth writing style of Graeme Hampton and it was easy to connect with the characters - to imagine them, like or loathe them.
The great reveal was perfect, fulfilling and unexpected. Blood Family was everything I wanted in what was a pretty special mystery-thriller and I am already looking forward to my next read by this gifted author. I highly recommend Blood Family to lovers of the genre for a read that really packs a punch.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my request, from Hera Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
Blood Family definitely did not disappoint. It had everything I would expect from a fantastic mystery/police procedural - a great plot, well-drawn characters and terrific pacing.
Even though I have read quite a few books with a similar premise to this one - an "ordinary" family, unexposed secrets, murder, compulsive lies, manipulation, evil and several twists, so I began this book in the knowledge of what was to come. This police procedural has also been a great delight, full of jeopardy, deception, tension, dysfunction and fascinating characters, whether they were loved or hated and unexpected outcomes. There was oodles of suspense and it was definitely an enthralling reading experience that had me hooked throughout.
I loved the shock factor and twisting plot, making this extremely difficult to put down. I really appreciated the smooth writing style of Graeme Hampton and it was easy to connect with the characters - to imagine them, like or loathe them.
The great reveal was perfect, fulfilling and unexpected. Blood Family was everything I wanted in what was a pretty special mystery-thriller and I am already looking forward to my next read by this gifted author. I highly recommend Blood Family to lovers of the genre for a read that really packs a punch.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel, at my request, from Hera Books via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.
January 11, 2020
'Blood Family' is the second book in the series featuring DI Matthew Denning and DS Molly Fisher. Although it is the second book in the series it works perfectly well as a standalone too. I read, loved and reviewed the first book in the series called 'Know No Evil'. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of 'Blood Family' as I was looking forward to getting to know both DI Denning and DS Molly Fisher. I finally got myself a copy and squirrelled myself away until I had finished reading 'Blood Family'. 'Blood Family' was well worth the wait and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it but more about that in a bit.
The working relationship between DI Denning and DS Fisher just gets stronger in this book. Denning is somebody who has risen up the ranks relatively quickly as he entered the police service on the fast track graduate scheme. It's obvious that not everybody is too happy with the way in which he has been slotted into the force. This is particularly clear with certain older members of Denning's team, who have a tendency to answer back or try to get one up on him. Denning deals with them far more diplomatically than I ever would. Personally I would give them a slap around the chops with a wet flip flop but that's just me. Denning leads from the front and he takes on more than his fair share of the workload. He wouldn't ask you to do anything that he wouldn't be willing to do himself. Denning is fair, calm, compassionate and kind. If I am honest I have developed something of a soft spot for him. DS Fisher comes across as being somebody who lacks a bit of self belief. Fisher is unsure what to make of Denning at times and I think that at the moment she doesn't know whether to trust him or not. Fisher is a methodical, eager to please, highly intelligent and very compassionate police officer. Denning and Fisher work really well together.
Oh my flipping (not the word I want to write but you get the idea) word, 'Blood Family' was simply a brilliant read from start to finish. I was hooked on this book from the first word on the first page and it's fair to say that reading 'Blood Family' soon became an addiction. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd ten minutes or so but that was fatal because I would still be sat there over an hour and several chapters later. I was enjoying 'Blood Family' so much that I just couldn't put the book down. For me, 'Blood Family' was the definition of an unputdownable, pageturner of a read. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story and as a result the book became well travelled, as it accompanied me everywhere I went. I also found every excuse that I could to get out of having to put the book down. I soon got to the end of the story, which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong I was pleased to get to the end of the story because at least I knew who carried out the murders but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the shocking storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue on and on.
'Bloody Family' is superbly written and just as good as 'Know No Evil'. The author certainly gets your attention from the start with an evil crime. The crime was so evil that it will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. Once the author has your attention, he draws you into the story and you become so absorbed in the story that you notice neither the speed with which the pages are turning nor the speed with which the time is flying past. Graeme Hampton uses such vivid and powerful descriptions that I did feel as though I was part of the story myself and an extra member of DI Denning's team. I did find that I was getting far too involved in the story and I even began 'interacting' with the book as if the characters could hear me. Before anybody says anything, I know this is a work of fiction but I find that if I enjoy a book as much as I enjoyed this one then I tend to 'live' the story as if it were real.
Reading 'Blood Family' felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, the twists and turns and the stomach churning moments. On more than one occasion, I felt physically sick as I read the details of what happened to the family featured in this book. I also found that I went through most of the emotions that the invesigating team went through. I found that I kept wanting to jump inside the pages of the book to apply pressure to certain characters to ensure that they told the truth.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Blood Family', which in my opinion is just as good as 'Know No Evil'. I will definitely be recommending this author and this series to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Graeme's work in the future. To give this book anything other than 5* out of 5* would be a crime, so that's exactly what I will give it.
The working relationship between DI Denning and DS Fisher just gets stronger in this book. Denning is somebody who has risen up the ranks relatively quickly as he entered the police service on the fast track graduate scheme. It's obvious that not everybody is too happy with the way in which he has been slotted into the force. This is particularly clear with certain older members of Denning's team, who have a tendency to answer back or try to get one up on him. Denning deals with them far more diplomatically than I ever would. Personally I would give them a slap around the chops with a wet flip flop but that's just me. Denning leads from the front and he takes on more than his fair share of the workload. He wouldn't ask you to do anything that he wouldn't be willing to do himself. Denning is fair, calm, compassionate and kind. If I am honest I have developed something of a soft spot for him. DS Fisher comes across as being somebody who lacks a bit of self belief. Fisher is unsure what to make of Denning at times and I think that at the moment she doesn't know whether to trust him or not. Fisher is a methodical, eager to please, highly intelligent and very compassionate police officer. Denning and Fisher work really well together.
Oh my flipping (not the word I want to write but you get the idea) word, 'Blood Family' was simply a brilliant read from start to finish. I was hooked on this book from the first word on the first page and it's fair to say that reading 'Blood Family' soon became an addiction. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters to fill in the odd ten minutes or so but that was fatal because I would still be sat there over an hour and several chapters later. I was enjoying 'Blood Family' so much that I just couldn't put the book down. For me, 'Blood Family' was the definition of an unputdownable, pageturner of a read. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story and as a result the book became well travelled, as it accompanied me everywhere I went. I also found every excuse that I could to get out of having to put the book down. I soon got to the end of the story, which I had mixed feelings about. Don't get me wrong I was pleased to get to the end of the story because at least I knew who carried out the murders but I was enjoying the author's writing style, the characters and the shocking storylines so much that I just wanted the book to continue on and on.
'Bloody Family' is superbly written and just as good as 'Know No Evil'. The author certainly gets your attention from the start with an evil crime. The crime was so evil that it will stay fresh in my mind for a long time to come. Once the author has your attention, he draws you into the story and you become so absorbed in the story that you notice neither the speed with which the pages are turning nor the speed with which the time is flying past. Graeme Hampton uses such vivid and powerful descriptions that I did feel as though I was part of the story myself and an extra member of DI Denning's team. I did find that I was getting far too involved in the story and I even began 'interacting' with the book as if the characters could hear me. Before anybody says anything, I know this is a work of fiction but I find that if I enjoy a book as much as I enjoyed this one then I tend to 'live' the story as if it were real.
Reading 'Blood Family' felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with all the ups and downs, the twists and turns and the stomach churning moments. On more than one occasion, I felt physically sick as I read the details of what happened to the family featured in this book. I also found that I went through most of the emotions that the invesigating team went through. I found that I kept wanting to jump inside the pages of the book to apply pressure to certain characters to ensure that they told the truth.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Blood Family', which in my opinion is just as good as 'Know No Evil'. I will definitely be recommending this author and this series to other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Graeme's work in the future. To give this book anything other than 5* out of 5* would be a crime, so that's exactly what I will give it.
December 18, 2019
When you're called out to a house fire you hope no-one was home. Unfortunately for Detective Inspector Denning that isn't the case and when he finds out none of what happened was accidental he knows he is about to embark on a long and traumatic case.
With Detective Sergeant Fisher, Matt begins looking into a family history which begins as he imagined, ordinary, non-threatening and quiet but then he delves a little deeper...
Although I enjoyed this book and the way it was written it also felt a little formulaic. I worked out who was responsible quite early on as, to me, it seemed very clearly signposted. That said there were some lesser points and a secondary case which I didn't solved which kept my interest until the end.
Although I didn't feel overly connected to the two main characters, one following the rules, one not, I would give them another chance in a third novel. There are few spoilers for the first in the series contained here so it is probably best to read that first.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys London based fiction, especially if they have read the previous book and wants to find out what happens next.
With Detective Sergeant Fisher, Matt begins looking into a family history which begins as he imagined, ordinary, non-threatening and quiet but then he delves a little deeper...
Although I enjoyed this book and the way it was written it also felt a little formulaic. I worked out who was responsible quite early on as, to me, it seemed very clearly signposted. That said there were some lesser points and a secondary case which I didn't solved which kept my interest until the end.
Although I didn't feel overly connected to the two main characters, one following the rules, one not, I would give them another chance in a third novel. There are few spoilers for the first in the series contained here so it is probably best to read that first.
I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys London based fiction, especially if they have read the previous book and wants to find out what happens next.
January 20, 2020
Dark, gritty and gripping, police procedural fans are going to lap up Graeme Hampton’s latest thriller featuring D.I. Matthew Denning and D.S. Molly Fisher: Blood Family.
In the course of his work, D.I. Matthew Denning has had to face many a nerve-twisting and stomach churning sight, however, when he is called to a house fire in a North London home, even he is shocked by what awaits him. As he begins to search the wreckage with his colleague, D.S. Molly Fisher, the bodies of the Galloway family are discovered. The remains of Brian and Ellie, their daughter Amber and grandson Simon are unearthed and while the evidence all points to a tragic accident, Matthew and Molly are soon stunned when it is discovered that the entire Galloway family was dead long before the fire started. Who would want to harm an ordinary family like the Galloways? And who would go to such drastic lengths to ensure that secrets from the past are never unearthed?
A routine investigation into a household incident soon becomes much more dangerous when it is discovered that a faceless psychopath had wiped out three generations of one family with a shotgun. As Matthew and Molly begin to delve deeper and deeper into this investigation, they soon realize that the Galloways were not just ordinary citizens, but a family with dangerous secrets. Secrets so deadly that the entire family ended up paying the ultimate price to ensure that they remain hidden.
Can Matthew and Molly get to the bottom of this tangled web of jeopardy and deception which they’ve stumbled onto? Can they discover what secrets the Galloways were keeping? And can they find the person who committed such a heinous act of violence?
If you’re desperate for your Line of Duty fix, look no further than Graeme Hampton’s Blood Family. Matthew Denning and Molly Fisher are on top form and Graeme Hampton keeps his readers glued to the pages of his novel by deftly and expertly blending breath-taking suspense with nail-biting danger and heart-pounding tension.
In the best-selling tradition of Mark Billingham and Peter James, police procedural fans should not dare miss Graeme Hampton’s fabulous series featuring Matthew Denning and Molly Fisher and their hair-raising and terrifying adventures.
In the course of his work, D.I. Matthew Denning has had to face many a nerve-twisting and stomach churning sight, however, when he is called to a house fire in a North London home, even he is shocked by what awaits him. As he begins to search the wreckage with his colleague, D.S. Molly Fisher, the bodies of the Galloway family are discovered. The remains of Brian and Ellie, their daughter Amber and grandson Simon are unearthed and while the evidence all points to a tragic accident, Matthew and Molly are soon stunned when it is discovered that the entire Galloway family was dead long before the fire started. Who would want to harm an ordinary family like the Galloways? And who would go to such drastic lengths to ensure that secrets from the past are never unearthed?
A routine investigation into a household incident soon becomes much more dangerous when it is discovered that a faceless psychopath had wiped out three generations of one family with a shotgun. As Matthew and Molly begin to delve deeper and deeper into this investigation, they soon realize that the Galloways were not just ordinary citizens, but a family with dangerous secrets. Secrets so deadly that the entire family ended up paying the ultimate price to ensure that they remain hidden.
Can Matthew and Molly get to the bottom of this tangled web of jeopardy and deception which they’ve stumbled onto? Can they discover what secrets the Galloways were keeping? And can they find the person who committed such a heinous act of violence?
If you’re desperate for your Line of Duty fix, look no further than Graeme Hampton’s Blood Family. Matthew Denning and Molly Fisher are on top form and Graeme Hampton keeps his readers glued to the pages of his novel by deftly and expertly blending breath-taking suspense with nail-biting danger and heart-pounding tension.
In the best-selling tradition of Mark Billingham and Peter James, police procedural fans should not dare miss Graeme Hampton’s fabulous series featuring Matthew Denning and Molly Fisher and their hair-raising and terrifying adventures.
January 10, 2020
Blood Family by Graeme Hampton
DI Denning and DS Fisher #2
Family, murder, secrets and more...generations gone in one night but why? Who would kill so ruthlessly then burn everything to hide their trail? How will the police finally unearth the murderer and find justice for those murdered?
This book was a well crafted police procedural that dealt with arson and murder. It also revealed links to a cold case that kept cropping up as the search continued for the killer. A side trail lead to organized crime and human trafficking and the biggest thing of all was...not the actual investigation...at least not for me.
No, the biggest thing about this book was that it dealt with real people. The author drew me in with not only the police bits but with the police themselves. In seeing the issues those who protect us and search for criminals deal with not only while working but while at home...well...that was the biggest thing...the thing that made this story so very real to me.
I had not read the first book in this series but did not need to for this book to pack a powerful punch. I was drawn into the complexities of the story and search for the “bad guy” but also felt for both Denning and Fisher as they dealt with issues in their own lives.
Family is many things...sometimes it is what we share with blood relatives and sometimes it is more or less than the tie blood provides. Families can be “good” or “bad” or “dysfunctional” but in the end...the family we find ourselves within will help mold and shape us and give us much that will help us become who we ultimately are – that person will think and make decisions and move forward dependent on their past...and I say that because I do believe that in this book Denning and Fisher are impacted by their familial relations and both grow in new ways before the end of the book.
What made this special? It made me care and think about families and what my family means to me
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
DI Denning and DS Fisher #2
Family, murder, secrets and more...generations gone in one night but why? Who would kill so ruthlessly then burn everything to hide their trail? How will the police finally unearth the murderer and find justice for those murdered?
This book was a well crafted police procedural that dealt with arson and murder. It also revealed links to a cold case that kept cropping up as the search continued for the killer. A side trail lead to organized crime and human trafficking and the biggest thing of all was...not the actual investigation...at least not for me.
No, the biggest thing about this book was that it dealt with real people. The author drew me in with not only the police bits but with the police themselves. In seeing the issues those who protect us and search for criminals deal with not only while working but while at home...well...that was the biggest thing...the thing that made this story so very real to me.
I had not read the first book in this series but did not need to for this book to pack a powerful punch. I was drawn into the complexities of the story and search for the “bad guy” but also felt for both Denning and Fisher as they dealt with issues in their own lives.
Family is many things...sometimes it is what we share with blood relatives and sometimes it is more or less than the tie blood provides. Families can be “good” or “bad” or “dysfunctional” but in the end...the family we find ourselves within will help mold and shape us and give us much that will help us become who we ultimately are – that person will think and make decisions and move forward dependent on their past...and I say that because I do believe that in this book Denning and Fisher are impacted by their familial relations and both grow in new ways before the end of the book.
What made this special? It made me care and think about families and what my family means to me
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
December 14, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Hera Books for an advance copy of Blood Family, the second novel to feature DI Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher of the East London MIT.
Fire investigators initially suspect an accident when a house burns down but the discovery of five bodies, three generations of the Galloway family, they call in MIT and rightly so as all five had been shot.
I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Family which is an interesting police procedural with several twists and a constant stream of developments. It held my attention throughout and I read it in one sitting. It is mostly told from Matt and Molly’s points of view, alternating their completely different actions and reactions to the investigation and giving insight into their personal lives. It all gels together well and makes for a good read. The plot is lively with plenty of reveals and snippets of information to keep the reader hungry for more as, obviously in crime fiction, there is more to the Galloways than the happy law abiding family they are initially assumed to be. I must admit that I guessed most of the big twists in advance as they seem telegraphed loud and clear to me, but that may be just due to my years of reading crime fiction and, to be fair, a guess is not certain knowledge so it didn’t spoil my reading enjoyment in any way so, if anything, it spurred me on to see if I was right.
There is a theme of dysfunctional families running through the novel. The four adult Galloways all have problems so the detectives have to work out which one brought a killer to their door. I thought this was well done and fascinating as more and more of their dysfunction is revealed. At the same time Molly is trying to help her dropout brother and Matt is trying to build a relationship with his autistic son. The message of no such thing as a normal family is laid on with a trowel but it seems to work.
Blood Family is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
Fire investigators initially suspect an accident when a house burns down but the discovery of five bodies, three generations of the Galloway family, they call in MIT and rightly so as all five had been shot.
I thoroughly enjoyed Blood Family which is an interesting police procedural with several twists and a constant stream of developments. It held my attention throughout and I read it in one sitting. It is mostly told from Matt and Molly’s points of view, alternating their completely different actions and reactions to the investigation and giving insight into their personal lives. It all gels together well and makes for a good read. The plot is lively with plenty of reveals and snippets of information to keep the reader hungry for more as, obviously in crime fiction, there is more to the Galloways than the happy law abiding family they are initially assumed to be. I must admit that I guessed most of the big twists in advance as they seem telegraphed loud and clear to me, but that may be just due to my years of reading crime fiction and, to be fair, a guess is not certain knowledge so it didn’t spoil my reading enjoyment in any way so, if anything, it spurred me on to see if I was right.
There is a theme of dysfunctional families running through the novel. The four adult Galloways all have problems so the detectives have to work out which one brought a killer to their door. I thought this was well done and fascinating as more and more of their dysfunction is revealed. At the same time Molly is trying to help her dropout brother and Matt is trying to build a relationship with his autistic son. The message of no such thing as a normal family is laid on with a trowel but it seems to work.
Blood Family is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
January 17, 2020
This is my first book from Graeme Hampton, but Blood Family is the second in the DI Denning and DI Fisher series. This reads perfectly as a standalone, but per usual, since I enjoyed this novel so much, I’d really like to read the first.
I very much enjoyed Denning and Fisher. I loved the differences between the characters, which made them interesting to read together. I liked the contrasting personalities. Denning is a bit more wise and reserved, while Fisher is more of a “do it now, think about it later,” kind of character.
The plot was very intriguing. We get to focus in on family, between Denning and Fisher’s personal home lives as well as the case they are working on. It made it really compelling to read about the drama. I also really enjoyed the mystery. It was well-paced and with a few clever twists, I was never quite sure I knew who the killer was.
Graeme Hampton’s writing is fabulous. I’m a new fan, and I’m looking froward to reading more. I recommend checking Blood Family out.
(Complimentary copy of book received from BOTBS for an honest review during the blog tour. All opinions are my own.)
I very much enjoyed Denning and Fisher. I loved the differences between the characters, which made them interesting to read together. I liked the contrasting personalities. Denning is a bit more wise and reserved, while Fisher is more of a “do it now, think about it later,” kind of character.
The plot was very intriguing. We get to focus in on family, between Denning and Fisher’s personal home lives as well as the case they are working on. It made it really compelling to read about the drama. I also really enjoyed the mystery. It was well-paced and with a few clever twists, I was never quite sure I knew who the killer was.
Graeme Hampton’s writing is fabulous. I’m a new fan, and I’m looking froward to reading more. I recommend checking Blood Family out.
(Complimentary copy of book received from BOTBS for an honest review during the blog tour. All opinions are my own.)
December 11, 2019
A Gripping story of a family found in their fire ravaged home but it wasn't the fire that killed them,so DI Denning ad DS Fisher are given the case to solve.Denning and Fisher are a great team and are determined to find out why the family died.I look forward to the next book well done Graeme Hampton 5*
January 21, 2025
Good plot and development, but jumped around a bit and the typos were jarring.
Still enjoyed, thanks Georgia for lending it to me ;)
Still enjoyed, thanks Georgia for lending it to me ;)
January 4, 2020
Domestic thriller.
This is one of those books I find difficult to review. Some parts I really liked but it kind of lost me to the end. Some things seemed to be repeated and some actions by the characters seemed very unbelievable. It left me feeling a bit frustrated and wishing that the book will end. Even in saying that it was a fast read and especially the beginning I found very enjoyable.
DI Matthew Denning is called out to a suspicious fire in Gibney street, London. They find 5 bodies in the burned out house . Under what circumstances did they die? Soon it is clear that this was not an accident and that they are investigating multiple murders. What was the motive behind these killings and who's the culprit?
Thank you to #netgalley and #herabooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is one of those books I find difficult to review. Some parts I really liked but it kind of lost me to the end. Some things seemed to be repeated and some actions by the characters seemed very unbelievable. It left me feeling a bit frustrated and wishing that the book will end. Even in saying that it was a fast read and especially the beginning I found very enjoyable.
DI Matthew Denning is called out to a suspicious fire in Gibney street, London. They find 5 bodies in the burned out house . Under what circumstances did they die? Soon it is clear that this was not an accident and that they are investigating multiple murders. What was the motive behind these killings and who's the culprit?
Thank you to #netgalley and #herabooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
December 20, 2019
4 Stars from me
I love meeting new police characters and I enjoyed following DI Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher of the East London MIT in this second book of the series.
The books starts with a brutal and gruesome crime as a family home is set on fire and it doesn't take long for fire investigators to discover the five bodies, three generations of the Galloway family, inside. I couldn't hep but feel relieved that they had been shot first.
Denning and Fisher are a bit of an odd pairing and I plan to go back and read the first book in the series so that I can get to know them better. However, you learn a lot about them and their own dysfunctional families in Blood Family, with Matt Denning jugging his dedication to his career along with caring for his autistic son and Molly Fisher struggling with brother.
There seemed to be a different dynamic here than in other police procedurals that I have read recently and it made the book all the more engaging as Molly is actively encouraged to take risks and more cautious Denning plods doggedly onwards to solve the crime and catch the murderer.
The aspect of dysfunction and no such thing as a normal family is a strong message and not a bad one to promote.
Blood Family is a enjoyable read and I will look out for more in the series. My thanks to Graeme Hampton and BOTBSPublicity for letting me take part in this blog tour.
I love meeting new police characters and I enjoyed following DI Matt Denning and DS Molly Fisher of the East London MIT in this second book of the series.
The books starts with a brutal and gruesome crime as a family home is set on fire and it doesn't take long for fire investigators to discover the five bodies, three generations of the Galloway family, inside. I couldn't hep but feel relieved that they had been shot first.
Denning and Fisher are a bit of an odd pairing and I plan to go back and read the first book in the series so that I can get to know them better. However, you learn a lot about them and their own dysfunctional families in Blood Family, with Matt Denning jugging his dedication to his career along with caring for his autistic son and Molly Fisher struggling with brother.
There seemed to be a different dynamic here than in other police procedurals that I have read recently and it made the book all the more engaging as Molly is actively encouraged to take risks and more cautious Denning plods doggedly onwards to solve the crime and catch the murderer.
The aspect of dysfunction and no such thing as a normal family is a strong message and not a bad one to promote.
Blood Family is a enjoyable read and I will look out for more in the series. My thanks to Graeme Hampton and BOTBSPublicity for letting me take part in this blog tour.
December 1, 2019
A house is ravaged by fire. When the fire crew go in they find five victims- the parents a son and daughter and her son. Further investigation shows that they were already dead from gunshot wounds. What on earth has happened and why? Di Matthew Denning and Ds Molly Fisher discover what first appeared a harmless family had more than their fair share of issues but enough to lead to murder? They each have their own home issues. Molly with her errant brother Ben and Denning with his son. I like it when there is more to the main characters than “just” the plot line. It gives them depth and personality and more of that real feel to them. I took to this book very quickly-- always a good sign and liked the main characters tenacity , the chapters flowing easily and I wanted to know what happened next. An excellent plot line with nothing too gory or upsetting which gives a very comfortable read. A truly brilliant very entertaining read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
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January 3, 2020
There’s a lot of books that rely of twists and surprise endings to really shock readers, and while this book has a nice twist ending, it’s built up so well that it feels like the exact right conclusion to this multi-layered story.
The characters are great, I loved both Denning and Molly Fisher, and I really look forward to following their character development in the future. They were two very different people, which gives readers insight into two completely viewpoints on the investigation.
The central mystery itself was also really good in that there were so many different things going on, but it wasn’t confusing at all. It really kept me on my toes because as I followed along and tried to solve the mystery, there were so many aspects to things. But it all made sense and fit in. I didn’t ever feel overwhelmed with the details.
If you like classic mysteries with a little edge, you’ll love this book. It’s a great thriller with some fun twists that will keep readers on their toes and wanting more from this MIT team!
The characters are great, I loved both Denning and Molly Fisher, and I really look forward to following their character development in the future. They were two very different people, which gives readers insight into two completely viewpoints on the investigation.
The central mystery itself was also really good in that there were so many different things going on, but it wasn’t confusing at all. It really kept me on my toes because as I followed along and tried to solve the mystery, there were so many aspects to things. But it all made sense and fit in. I didn’t ever feel overwhelmed with the details.
If you like classic mysteries with a little edge, you’ll love this book. It’s a great thriller with some fun twists that will keep readers on their toes and wanting more from this MIT team!
December 5, 2019
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
This is the second in a series, although it's not necessary to have read the other instalment first. Matthew (the DI) and Molly (the DS) investigate a house fire in which five members of the same family died. It soon emerges that they were shot before the fire was set. This was a solid police procedural, with the plot following the investigation, apart from interludes describing Molly and Matthew's personal lives. I found the sub-plot concerning Molly's brother confusing and unnecessary.
I don't think the actions Molly took for most of the book were particularly likely for a DS (and they were certainly unwise). I was especially troubled by Molly's attitude to what was revealed about the Chisholm child hit and run. The ending was a bit of a stretch, but there were lots of satisfying twists and turns getting there and this was an easy and engrossing read.
This is the second in a series, although it's not necessary to have read the other instalment first. Matthew (the DI) and Molly (the DS) investigate a house fire in which five members of the same family died. It soon emerges that they were shot before the fire was set. This was a solid police procedural, with the plot following the investigation, apart from interludes describing Molly and Matthew's personal lives. I found the sub-plot concerning Molly's brother confusing and unnecessary.
I don't think the actions Molly took for most of the book were particularly likely for a DS (and they were certainly unwise). I was especially troubled by Molly's attitude to what was revealed about the Chisholm child hit and run. The ending was a bit of a stretch, but there were lots of satisfying twists and turns getting there and this was an easy and engrossing read.
January 10, 2020
This is #2 in the DI Denning/DS Fisher series, but can easily be read as a standalone.
After a house fire, five bodies are found, all from the same family. But when it’s discovered they had all been shot before the fire, a murder investigation begins.
Were the Galloway family as honest and law abiding as they seemed to be or was there something else going on?
This is a police procedural but also a family drama, with all its secrets, lies and tension. There are also plenty of background details of Denning and Fisher’s lives and family outside of the police force, which really helps build such likeable, well rounded characters.
I found this to be fast paced and utterly gripping, with plenty to keep you guessing from start to finish. Thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free ecopy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
After a house fire, five bodies are found, all from the same family. But when it’s discovered they had all been shot before the fire, a murder investigation begins.
Were the Galloway family as honest and law abiding as they seemed to be or was there something else going on?
This is a police procedural but also a family drama, with all its secrets, lies and tension. There are also plenty of background details of Denning and Fisher’s lives and family outside of the police force, which really helps build such likeable, well rounded characters.
I found this to be fast paced and utterly gripping, with plenty to keep you guessing from start to finish. Thoroughly entertaining.
Thank you to Sarah at Book On The Bright Side for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour, for the promotional materials and a free ecopy of the book. This is my honest and unbiased review.
December 9, 2019
Blood Family is the 2nd book in the DI Denning and DS Fisher series i haven't read the first one and i think this one can be read as a standalone crime thriller because there are only small references to past cases in the book.The book it's self is based round the murders of the Galloway family who are found in their burnt out home after been shot.Denning and Fisher are thrown onto an investigation where it seems the respectable Galloway family had secrets and someone was willing to murder them to keep them from telling all,i felt some of the chapters dragged on a little, often repeating the same things but all in all i would read more in this series but it is not the best crime thriller i have read this year but it is not the worst either,a decent 3 star read which i would recommend to readers of this genre.
September 20, 2020
This was a good follow-up book from the first book in this series, one which I had thoroughly enjoyed. DS Molly Fisher is now a permanent part of the MET alongside DI Denning and his team, And the story starts off in quite a gruesome way. And from there it just flows brilliantly. A really enjoyable story with well crafted characters and well paced writing. I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end and look forward to the next book in this series which Mr Hampton stated was going to be more DS Fisher centric. Overall a good book which I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone who enjoys a good police procedural. And a big thank you to NetGalley and Hera Books for giving me this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
January 22, 2020
What a great read this is and even though it is the second in the series you do not need to have read the first to jump right in.
This book sees Matthew and Molly investigating a house fire. The fire appears to be accidental at first but when five bodies are found within, they have to find out who wanted almost an entire family dead.
As they dig into the family’s history they find that nearly all of them have secrets that could have led to their deaths. The story unfolds through Matthew and Molly’s perspective and the switch between the two works well, as they compare their own family lives to the dysfunctional family that is now dead.
This book sees Matthew and Molly investigating a house fire. The fire appears to be accidental at first but when five bodies are found within, they have to find out who wanted almost an entire family dead.
As they dig into the family’s history they find that nearly all of them have secrets that could have led to their deaths. The story unfolds through Matthew and Molly’s perspective and the switch between the two works well, as they compare their own family lives to the dysfunctional family that is now dead.
December 29, 2022
A Good Series
This is the second book in the Denning and Fisher series and is just as good as the first book. DI Denning and DS Fisher are called out to a house fire but had no idea what they were about to face. A whole family has been wiped out and it is their job to find out what happened. On the whole the two work well together but Molly Fisher is a bit of a loose cannon, and tends to go off and work alone. Not sure she is a team player. With plenty of twists and turns this book kept me engrossed from beginning to end.
This is the second book in the Denning and Fisher series and is just as good as the first book. DI Denning and DS Fisher are called out to a house fire but had no idea what they were about to face. A whole family has been wiped out and it is their job to find out what happened. On the whole the two work well together but Molly Fisher is a bit of a loose cannon, and tends to go off and work alone. Not sure she is a team player. With plenty of twists and turns this book kept me engrossed from beginning to end.
December 15, 2019
The second book in the series to feature DI Denning and his DS, Molly Fisher of the MIT in London. I am enjoying the development of this series as the team investigate a case of arson and murder. The pace is steady throughout the book and the plot is based around families and their tensions. This is a really enjoyable and solid read for crime fans and I would recommend it. It can be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
February 17, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.
I liked this book, and found it to be a good, easy read, just not a great one. I thought the book started off well and I liked the characters. DI Denning and his team investigate when 5 family members are found dead after a house fire. There are a few twists in the plot, nothing that really surprised me though. I felt it was overly long at times and I lost interest towards the end. 3 stars
I liked this book, and found it to be a good, easy read, just not a great one. I thought the book started off well and I liked the characters. DI Denning and his team investigate when 5 family members are found dead after a house fire. There are a few twists in the plot, nothing that really surprised me though. I felt it was overly long at times and I lost interest towards the end. 3 stars
December 3, 2020
This is the 2nd book in the series although I hadn't read the first I didn't feel j had missed out as it mentioned it through out . This book started off with a bang which I like as it kept me reading . It was a gripping storyline and you got to know all the characters individually without it getting long winded and boring . It was a realistic and fast paced storyline . A police procedural thriller set in London that I would recommend
February 8, 2023
The plot was actually pretty ok. I also liked the theme of the book - how families all have dysfunctions at different levels. The theme is woven though all characters, whether it is the investigators, the supporting characters, the suspects and the witnesses - which is pretty natural as all people are experiencing dysfunctional things in life. This made all seem more real.
The writing is however pretty dull. I wasn’t engaged by the language or the dialogue. It felt stiff and uninspired.
The writing is however pretty dull. I wasn’t engaged by the language or the dialogue. It felt stiff and uninspired.
April 2, 2023
DI Denning and DS Fisher investigate the deaths of an entire family in a house fire. But there is much more to this that meets the eye - including the link to a long forgotten crime.
Family life, good and bad, is a theme that runs through the book, with both detectives facing their own challenges. The rest of the team feel like afterthoughts in the investigation, playing supporting roles only. The novel is unevenly paced but the ending is worth waiting for.
Family life, good and bad, is a theme that runs through the book, with both detectives facing their own challenges. The rest of the team feel like afterthoughts in the investigation, playing supporting roles only. The novel is unevenly paced but the ending is worth waiting for.
December 26, 2019
A gripping and fast paced story that kept me hooked till the end.
I liked the solid mystery that kept me guessing, the well written and interesting cast of characters, and the entertaining plot.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked the solid mystery that kept me guessing, the well written and interesting cast of characters, and the entertaining plot.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
October 8, 2024
I should have known better than to read this book as I found the first book in this series Know No Evil to be bland and uninteresting. Well, I now know for sure that this follow up was even worse.
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