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D.I. Dani Stephens #1
The Essence of Evil
He’s your attacker.
He’s a murderer.
He’s your twin.
When D.I Dani Stephens returns to work after the attack that almost ended her life, she’s quickly plunged into a horrific new case, as dead bodies are discovered on the streets of Birmingham.
But with no link between the victims, Dani has to get inside a killer’s mind - so turns to the murderer she knows best. Her own twin brother…
But what makes a psychopath? Can understanding her twin help her find a murderer who leaves no trace? As the circle closes on Dani, the clock is ticking and she needs a breakthrough – before she becomes the latest victim.
A heart-stopping crime thriller that fans of Peter James and Mark Billingham won’t be able to put down.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 2019
562 people are currently reading
937 people want to read
About the author
Rob Sinclair
34 books680 followersRob is the author of the critically acclaimed and bestselling Enemy series and James Ryker series of espionage thrillers. His books have sold over half a million copies to date with many reviewers and readers having likened Rob's work to authors at the very top of the genre, including Lee Child and Vince Flynn.
Rob began writing in 2009 following a promise to his wife, an avid reader, that he could pen a ‘can’t put down’ thriller. He worked for nearly 13 years for a global accounting firm after graduating from The University of Nottingham in 2002, specialising in forensic fraud investigations at both national and international levels. Rob now writes full time.
Originally from the North East of England, Rob has lived and worked in a number of fast paced cities and is now based near Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, sons and dog
Rob began writing in 2009 following a promise to his wife, an avid reader, that he could pen a ‘can’t put down’ thriller. He worked for nearly 13 years for a global accounting firm after graduating from The University of Nottingham in 2002, specialising in forensic fraud investigations at both national and international levels. Rob now writes full time.
Originally from the North East of England, Rob has lived and worked in a number of fast paced cities and is now based near Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, sons and dog
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
September 10, 2019
DI Dani Stephens #1
DI Dani Stephens has just returned to work after having two years off. She is still recovering from the traumatic brain injury she recieved due to her twin brother trying to kill her.she is ent to investigate the murder of a woman who had been stabbed to death. She believes it could be the work of a serial killer. But no one else agrees with her. Some of her colleagues start to doubt her.
Dani is still suffering from the side effects of her brain injury. The story starts off slowly. The characters are true to life and believable. I miked that we got some background to Dani's recovery process. The pace pick up the more you get into the story. The last 15% of the book is action packed. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Canelo and the author Rob Sinclair for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DI Dani Stephens has just returned to work after having two years off. She is still recovering from the traumatic brain injury she recieved due to her twin brother trying to kill her.she is ent to investigate the murder of a woman who had been stabbed to death. She believes it could be the work of a serial killer. But no one else agrees with her. Some of her colleagues start to doubt her.
Dani is still suffering from the side effects of her brain injury. The story starts off slowly. The characters are true to life and believable. I miked that we got some background to Dani's recovery process. The pace pick up the more you get into the story. The last 15% of the book is action packed. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series.
I would like to thank Netgalley, Canelo and the author Rob Sinclair for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 29, 2019
Omg what a twisted tale came from the mind of author Rob Sinclair where evil seeped the book with its essence slowly ozzing into the crevices, spreading so deep into its pages that it became difficult for me to guess where and when it started.
The author did the only thing he could do. He knew that the one person who could counter his essence of evil was a strong woman who had the heart of courage. Evil could be fought only by someone who had faced evil and survived. Enter the brilliant Detective DI Dani Stephens.
The brain of the author must have been so wicked the moment he conceptualized Dani and then went about creating a background for her. She was literally the phoenix who not only emerged from the author's pen but from the ashes. Her twin brother had attacked her and left her for dead. It took her two years to join back the force, and the first thing she saw was the murder of a young woman.
Soon dead bodies started mounting up, and Dani knew she had a fight in her hands. Getting to that killer would require all her wits and intelligence, especially when evil twisted the case so much so that she didn't know what was real anymore.
I loved Dani, not only did she have to beat the killer at his own game, she also had to deal with the repercussions of the traumatic brain injury. Her friendship and connection with Jason was solid, and it felt like it would flow into the next book. This was Dani's book through and through. As I kept reading down the pages, I knew that it was her courage which would lead her to the killer, who brought malice and darkness to the story.
Some parts meandered a bit in the middle, but considering this was the author's first foray into a police procedural, it was understandable. The ending more than made up for it and gave me the twist I so wanted.
Overall, what can I say? I am a DI Dani Stephens fan all the way. Book 1 was great, I wonder what has the author in store for book 2. More evil perhaps!! Yayy!!
The author did the only thing he could do. He knew that the one person who could counter his essence of evil was a strong woman who had the heart of courage. Evil could be fought only by someone who had faced evil and survived. Enter the brilliant Detective DI Dani Stephens.
The brain of the author must have been so wicked the moment he conceptualized Dani and then went about creating a background for her. She was literally the phoenix who not only emerged from the author's pen but from the ashes. Her twin brother had attacked her and left her for dead. It took her two years to join back the force, and the first thing she saw was the murder of a young woman.
Soon dead bodies started mounting up, and Dani knew she had a fight in her hands. Getting to that killer would require all her wits and intelligence, especially when evil twisted the case so much so that she didn't know what was real anymore.
I loved Dani, not only did she have to beat the killer at his own game, she also had to deal with the repercussions of the traumatic brain injury. Her friendship and connection with Jason was solid, and it felt like it would flow into the next book. This was Dani's book through and through. As I kept reading down the pages, I knew that it was her courage which would lead her to the killer, who brought malice and darkness to the story.
Some parts meandered a bit in the middle, but considering this was the author's first foray into a police procedural, it was understandable. The ending more than made up for it and gave me the twist I so wanted.
Overall, what can I say? I am a DI Dani Stephens fan all the way. Book 1 was great, I wonder what has the author in store for book 2. More evil perhaps!! Yayy!!
September 8, 2019
I’ve been a bit of a fan of this authors books for awhile now, more so his James Ryker series. I have to say after reading the first book in the DI Dani Stephens series, I am really enjoying this darker side to his work.
Like most main protagonists in a crime series, Dani has her own demons to bear and boy what demons they are! I have a feeling there is more to come in the way of her twin brother. Well I’m really hoping so anyway. That could be a novel in itself I’m sure.
The case that Dani and her colleague Jason are working on gets so much darker. This story focuses a lot on serial killers. A crime lovers paradise. Like Dani, I wanted to get in their mind and see what makes them tick. I also enjoyed the relationship between both Dani and Jason and am interested to see where things go with both of them.
The Essence Of Evil is a great start to a new series. The story starts off at a steady pace increasing the more into the story the reader gets. The last part of the novel had me racing through as it well and truly had me gripped and there were shocks and surprises galore. This is such a promising start and I really can not wait for more in the series.
My thanks to Canelo & Hera Books as well as NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Like most main protagonists in a crime series, Dani has her own demons to bear and boy what demons they are! I have a feeling there is more to come in the way of her twin brother. Well I’m really hoping so anyway. That could be a novel in itself I’m sure.
The case that Dani and her colleague Jason are working on gets so much darker. This story focuses a lot on serial killers. A crime lovers paradise. Like Dani, I wanted to get in their mind and see what makes them tick. I also enjoyed the relationship between both Dani and Jason and am interested to see where things go with both of them.
The Essence Of Evil is a great start to a new series. The story starts off at a steady pace increasing the more into the story the reader gets. The last part of the novel had me racing through as it well and truly had me gripped and there were shocks and surprises galore. This is such a promising start and I really can not wait for more in the series.
My thanks to Canelo & Hera Books as well as NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
August 15, 2020
DI Dani Stephens has returned to work after suffering an attack 2 years ago, almost killing her, and leaving her with Traumatic Brain Injury. To make it worse, her attacker was her own twin brother.
There's no time to ease into her job .... multiple bead bodies are discovered. There is no seemingly connection between the victims ... the killer leaves no clues.
Trying to get into the killer's mind, she goes to the one person who may be able to help her ... her twin brother.
The intricate plot is well paced with characters deftly drawn. I appreciated Stephens' backstory and look forward to seeing more of her. There are twists and turns that lead to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Canelo / Hera / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
There's no time to ease into her job .... multiple bead bodies are discovered. There is no seemingly connection between the victims ... the killer leaves no clues.
Trying to get into the killer's mind, she goes to the one person who may be able to help her ... her twin brother.
The intricate plot is well paced with characters deftly drawn. I appreciated Stephens' backstory and look forward to seeing more of her. There are twists and turns that lead to an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Canelo / Hera / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 10, 2024
There is a quote in this book that stood out to me.
"Whether people are born killers, inherently evil or if environmental factors led them to kill"
Characters :
Dani was the main character in this book and she is the one I connected to the most. After what she had been through, she remained strong as she went back into the police force dedicated to solving this case.
Plot :
It was very hard to guess who the killer was, and I like it that way . The ending was the best part of the whole book as we get our answers.
I will definately be reading more of Rob's books especially in the Dani Stephens series. Loved this one.
"Whether people are born killers, inherently evil or if environmental factors led them to kill"
Characters :
Dani was the main character in this book and she is the one I connected to the most. After what she had been through, she remained strong as she went back into the police force dedicated to solving this case.
Plot :
It was very hard to guess who the killer was, and I like it that way . The ending was the best part of the whole book as we get our answers.
I will definately be reading more of Rob's books especially in the Dani Stephens series. Loved this one.
September 19, 2019
Finished reading: September 3rd 2019
"All humans are the same. We're all made of the same stuff, and deep down every single one of us is a potential killer."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Canelo Hera in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
September 11, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of The Essence of Evil, the first novel to feature DI Dani Stephens of the Birmingham police.
Two years earlier Dani’s twin brother, Ben, tried to kill her and left her with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) from which she has slowly recovered. On her first day back she is called to investigate the stabbing death of an unidentified young woman. Dani believes there is more to the murder than a simple stabbing but she seems to be the only one.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Essence of Murder which is a tense read with a few twists and turns, especially in the final scenes. The novel is all about Dani, her investigation, her struggles with the TBI and her spiky relationships with others. At first it is a bit overwhelming as she’s really in your face. She is angry, rude and closed off but she is also unsure of herself, unable to control her moods or outbursts. The novel is also intercut with excerpts from her diary over the past few years detailing her struggles to recover. She is extremely well drawn and I came to love her as the novel progressed although I would like to see her in future novels with less emphasis on the TBI and more emphasis on her investigative prowess.
Obviously with all the attention on Dani the investigation is a little underdone. It is still well thought out and exciting in parts but it seems like a series of incidents rather than a steady accumulation of facts. It is, however, a good start to what I think will become a favourite series. Time will tell.
The Essence of Evil is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Two years earlier Dani’s twin brother, Ben, tried to kill her and left her with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) from which she has slowly recovered. On her first day back she is called to investigate the stabbing death of an unidentified young woman. Dani believes there is more to the murder than a simple stabbing but she seems to be the only one.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Essence of Murder which is a tense read with a few twists and turns, especially in the final scenes. The novel is all about Dani, her investigation, her struggles with the TBI and her spiky relationships with others. At first it is a bit overwhelming as she’s really in your face. She is angry, rude and closed off but she is also unsure of herself, unable to control her moods or outbursts. The novel is also intercut with excerpts from her diary over the past few years detailing her struggles to recover. She is extremely well drawn and I came to love her as the novel progressed although I would like to see her in future novels with less emphasis on the TBI and more emphasis on her investigative prowess.
Obviously with all the attention on Dani the investigation is a little underdone. It is still well thought out and exciting in parts but it seems like a series of incidents rather than a steady accumulation of facts. It is, however, a good start to what I think will become a favourite series. Time will tell.
The Essence of Evil is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
September 6, 2019
I absolutely love reading the start of a new series and this was a brilliant read.
This is a nice good length of a story at nearly 400 pages. When I wasn’t reading it I was wishing that I was.
DI Dani Stephens was attacked by her twin brother and left for dead. It left its impact on her but she has tried not to let it affect her job which she loves.
When she believes there is a serial killer on the loose she needs to go back to her past to help her.
This is a brilliantly written story with a fantastic storyline. To say I was gripped was an understatement. There is so much going on in the story that it pulled me in even more.
I can’t believe this is my first read by this author. I’m so looking forward to reading more starting with his previous books until I get more of DI Dani Stephens.
This is a nice good length of a story at nearly 400 pages. When I wasn’t reading it I was wishing that I was.
DI Dani Stephens was attacked by her twin brother and left for dead. It left its impact on her but she has tried not to let it affect her job which she loves.
When she believes there is a serial killer on the loose she needs to go back to her past to help her.
This is a brilliantly written story with a fantastic storyline. To say I was gripped was an understatement. There is so much going on in the story that it pulled me in even more.
I can’t believe this is my first read by this author. I’m so looking forward to reading more starting with his previous books until I get more of DI Dani Stephens.
November 8, 2019
After two years recovering from a vicious attack by her twin brother that almost killed her and left with a traumatic brain injury and visible scars, DI Dani Stephens has returned to work. It has been a long, hard road to to reach this point and, much as she wants to get back to some sort of normality, she’s feeling anxious. The injury has changed her, she isn’t the same person she used to be.
Spread throughout the story are extracts from her diary, charting Dani’s rehabilitation and fight to regain her physical and emotional health. Although she has made great progress there are long term consequences, and she still sometimes needs a cocktail of drugs to function normally. She desperately wants to prove she’s up to the job, but is unsure of herself and her ability to cope.
On her first day back Dani is assigned to a murder investigation. An unidentified woman had been found stabbed to death, also with surface wounds which suggested she’d been bound and held prisoner.
While trying to identify the victim, Dani realises how many young women have disappeared and are still unaccounted for. She suspects a serial killer but there are no obvious links, and no-one else of the same mind. As a last resort, Dani visits her brother to see if she could gain any insight into the mind of a killer. She desperately needs a breakthrough in the case.
The course of the investigation brings Dani into contact with Professor Steven Grant, a lecturer in Criminology who himself was abducted and tortured by a serial killer many years ago. This terrible experience resulted in him writing a book which became a best seller.
The story follows on from Dark Fragments but is easily read as a stand alone. The narrative is paced steadily, with a lot of emphasis on Dani’s traumatic previous two years and her interactions with old and new colleagues, which does take away a little from the investigation itself but at the same time adds a new dimension. There’s still a well written police procedural element with a well crafted and dark plot, some surprise twists and a protagonist you can root for. A promising start to a new series.
I chose to read and review The Essence of Evil based on an advance reader copy of the book kindly supplied by the author/publisher via NetGalley.
Spread throughout the story are extracts from her diary, charting Dani’s rehabilitation and fight to regain her physical and emotional health. Although she has made great progress there are long term consequences, and she still sometimes needs a cocktail of drugs to function normally. She desperately wants to prove she’s up to the job, but is unsure of herself and her ability to cope.
On her first day back Dani is assigned to a murder investigation. An unidentified woman had been found stabbed to death, also with surface wounds which suggested she’d been bound and held prisoner.
While trying to identify the victim, Dani realises how many young women have disappeared and are still unaccounted for. She suspects a serial killer but there are no obvious links, and no-one else of the same mind. As a last resort, Dani visits her brother to see if she could gain any insight into the mind of a killer. She desperately needs a breakthrough in the case.
The course of the investigation brings Dani into contact with Professor Steven Grant, a lecturer in Criminology who himself was abducted and tortured by a serial killer many years ago. This terrible experience resulted in him writing a book which became a best seller.
The story follows on from Dark Fragments but is easily read as a stand alone. The narrative is paced steadily, with a lot of emphasis on Dani’s traumatic previous two years and her interactions with old and new colleagues, which does take away a little from the investigation itself but at the same time adds a new dimension. There’s still a well written police procedural element with a well crafted and dark plot, some surprise twists and a protagonist you can root for. A promising start to a new series.
I chose to read and review The Essence of Evil based on an advance reader copy of the book kindly supplied by the author/publisher via NetGalley.
January 23, 2020
*3.5* Overall, a decent start to a new police procedural. The main character has an interesting backstory that was well told in diary flashbacks. In the authors note, he states that this is his first crime novel, and it shows. He tried to cram too much into this story which bogged it down. At times the writing was tedious and I started skimming (never a good sign). I will check out the next book in the series with the hopes that there's less emphasis on Dani and her recovery - I'd like to see the supporting characters get more page time.
September 16, 2019
An exciting start to DI Dani Stephens.
A lot of research by Rob Sinclair into serial killers which were delivered by University Lecturer Stephen Grant.
Lots of flashbacks building the story around Dani reading them you can't help but want Dani to survive and a few times reading about her Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) I found myself feeling lots of sympathy towards her.
All in all a great beginning and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
A lot of research by Rob Sinclair into serial killers which were delivered by University Lecturer Stephen Grant.
Lots of flashbacks building the story around Dani reading them you can't help but want Dani to survive and a few times reading about her Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) I found myself feeling lots of sympathy towards her.
All in all a great beginning and I look forward to reading the next in the series.
August 23, 2019
Rob Sinclair writes a classic who-done-it in Essence of Evil. I believe this will be a series of books about D.I. Dani Stephens. I really look forward to reading more books staring Dani.
Dani, a detective, was attacked and has been out of work for three years. Her brother, her twin brother no less, attacked her and left her for dead. She didn't die, but suffered a traumatic brain injury and is essentially a much different person than she was.
She has changed but her commitment to her job and catching the criminals has not. Dead bodies are piling up and she believes it's the work of a serial killer even if everyone around her thinks she is crazy. Dani doesn't give up and even puts her life on the line to find out who the murder is. Dani has to make peace with her old life and who she is now if she is to come out of this alive.
Great book, great characters that are real and realistic. I did not want to put this book down it was so good. As a reader, I was rooting for Dani to solve the puzzle and also to let herself heal. Five stars and highly recommended.
Dani, a detective, was attacked and has been out of work for three years. Her brother, her twin brother no less, attacked her and left her for dead. She didn't die, but suffered a traumatic brain injury and is essentially a much different person than she was.
She has changed but her commitment to her job and catching the criminals has not. Dead bodies are piling up and she believes it's the work of a serial killer even if everyone around her thinks she is crazy. Dani doesn't give up and even puts her life on the line to find out who the murder is. Dani has to make peace with her old life and who she is now if she is to come out of this alive.
Great book, great characters that are real and realistic. I did not want to put this book down it was so good. As a reader, I was rooting for Dani to solve the puzzle and also to let herself heal. Five stars and highly recommended.
January 28, 2020
The synopsis was quite misleading; I thought this was going to be a Hannibal Lecter type situation and it really wasn't.
I will say that the author was mildly good at writing that sudden gut-dropping tension that comes from seeing a figure suddenly or hearing a noise behind you. But other than that this was predictable and boring for me. I was never in even two minds about the killer's identity and that made it slightly pointless to finish and therefore unexcited and unengaging. I didn't hate it, just didn't enjoy it.
I will say that the author was mildly good at writing that sudden gut-dropping tension that comes from seeing a figure suddenly or hearing a noise behind you. But other than that this was predictable and boring for me. I was never in even two minds about the killer's identity and that made it slightly pointless to finish and therefore unexcited and unengaging. I didn't hate it, just didn't enjoy it.
August 4, 2019
"The Essence Of Evil" is the first novel in the DI Dani Stephens series. Our protagonist is a feisty female with an intriguing back story. The chapters are short which keeps the pace up and makes the book very hard to put down. I loved the plot and characters, and I can't wait to see this new series develop.
May 5, 2022
Birmingham based DI Dani Stephens returns to work after two years. The reason? A traumatic brain injury suffered at the hands of her psychopathic twin brother. Rehab was hard, and she is delighted to get back to work.
Stephens faces an immediate challenge with a new murder case. Taking the lead, although not fully trusted by her colleagues and bosses, she finds herself in trouble. But she has ideas about the killer - and heads off on her own to chase down the answer.
As the first in a new series, this works well. We learn Dani's back story gradually through the novel - there's a prequal waiting to be written. And her character, changed by her experiences, is revealed gradually too. The ending feels a little rushed but overall this is a compelling read.
Stephens faces an immediate challenge with a new murder case. Taking the lead, although not fully trusted by her colleagues and bosses, she finds herself in trouble. But she has ideas about the killer - and heads off on her own to chase down the answer.
As the first in a new series, this works well. We learn Dani's back story gradually through the novel - there's a prequal waiting to be written. And her character, changed by her experiences, is revealed gradually too. The ending feels a little rushed but overall this is a compelling read.
June 12, 2021
The Essence of Evil. Rob Sinclair
For reasons unknown , I read books two and three in this series prior to reading this. This excellent mystery gave me a deeper understanding of DI Stephens survival skiils, stubbornness as well as that of Jason Barnes, also a homicide detective.Their caring for each other and bond is part of being forced into a survival mode. This is an excellent murder mystery which I enjoyed immensely!!
For reasons unknown , I read books two and three in this series prior to reading this. This excellent mystery gave me a deeper understanding of DI Stephens survival skiils, stubbornness as well as that of Jason Barnes, also a homicide detective.Their caring for each other and bond is part of being forced into a survival mode. This is an excellent murder mystery which I enjoyed immensely!!
July 16, 2020
I loved this book and I look forward to reading more of this author and this series.
August 11, 2019
My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Canelo for the ARC.
This is the first book in a new detective series featuring DI Dani Stephens of Force CID, Homicide, West Midlands Police - and what a cracking start! Well-written, great characterisation, flowing dialogue, mystery, suspense and murder.
Dani has spent 2 years recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) inflicted upon her by her twin brother Ben when she got in his way trying to prevent him murdering again. Throughout the book we learn of Dani's emotional and physical road to recovery and her relationship with Jason Barnes through her diary excerpts, leading to her return to work. Jason is now a DI and her new assigned partner is DS Aaron Easton whom she meets for the first time following an early morning call to a crime scene on her first day back on duty.
A young semi-naked girl has been murdered in someone's front garden in Moseley. There's evidence the victim had been previously tied-up and had been caught and killed when she escaped.
Trying to identify her Dani searches the list of missing persons and is appalled that several young women have disappeared without trace and without reason. She is convinced that a serial killer is out there somewhere.
During the investigation she becomes aware of, but never sees, someone watching her, but cannot be sure it is real or whether a result of her TBI and the various medications she has to take. During a suspect pursuit a young man dies and Dani is suspended. She slips further into paranoia when she receives notes from the killer.
Professor Steven Grant lectures in Criminology at the university. He once was abducted and tortured by a murderer but survived and wrote a bestseller - The Essence of Evil. Dani had previously interviewed him in connection with his wayward son Ethan being a person of interest in her original murder investigation and whilst suspended discusses the notes she'd been receiving and what the killer may be thinking and how victims could really disappear without trace.
Meanwhile, Grant is obsessed with the nosiness of his opposite neighbour Ed Francis who reports domestic disturbances between Ethan and his parents, resulting in Ethan leaving home.
Things go from bad to worse when a murder weapon with Dani's fingerprints on it is found in a victim's flat and she becomes convinced someone is setting her up. Can they believe she hadn't written the notes herself?
Dani also dwells on the question of 'nature v nurture' - after all, she and Ben are twins - is there such a thing as a born killer? How much has her TBI changed her personality and is The Force just trying to get rid of her?
Dani is a complicated person, courageous and driven; she lives for her job but is finding she perhaps speaks her mind more quickly and forthrightly than would be considered cautious especially to her senior officers.
She's a fantastic new character and I can't wait to read a continuation of her exploits.
Thoroughly recommended.
This is the first book in a new detective series featuring DI Dani Stephens of Force CID, Homicide, West Midlands Police - and what a cracking start! Well-written, great characterisation, flowing dialogue, mystery, suspense and murder.
Dani has spent 2 years recovering from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) inflicted upon her by her twin brother Ben when she got in his way trying to prevent him murdering again. Throughout the book we learn of Dani's emotional and physical road to recovery and her relationship with Jason Barnes through her diary excerpts, leading to her return to work. Jason is now a DI and her new assigned partner is DS Aaron Easton whom she meets for the first time following an early morning call to a crime scene on her first day back on duty.
A young semi-naked girl has been murdered in someone's front garden in Moseley. There's evidence the victim had been previously tied-up and had been caught and killed when she escaped.
Trying to identify her Dani searches the list of missing persons and is appalled that several young women have disappeared without trace and without reason. She is convinced that a serial killer is out there somewhere.
During the investigation she becomes aware of, but never sees, someone watching her, but cannot be sure it is real or whether a result of her TBI and the various medications she has to take. During a suspect pursuit a young man dies and Dani is suspended. She slips further into paranoia when she receives notes from the killer.
Professor Steven Grant lectures in Criminology at the university. He once was abducted and tortured by a murderer but survived and wrote a bestseller - The Essence of Evil. Dani had previously interviewed him in connection with his wayward son Ethan being a person of interest in her original murder investigation and whilst suspended discusses the notes she'd been receiving and what the killer may be thinking and how victims could really disappear without trace.
Meanwhile, Grant is obsessed with the nosiness of his opposite neighbour Ed Francis who reports domestic disturbances between Ethan and his parents, resulting in Ethan leaving home.
Things go from bad to worse when a murder weapon with Dani's fingerprints on it is found in a victim's flat and she becomes convinced someone is setting her up. Can they believe she hadn't written the notes herself?
Dani also dwells on the question of 'nature v nurture' - after all, she and Ben are twins - is there such a thing as a born killer? How much has her TBI changed her personality and is The Force just trying to get rid of her?
Dani is a complicated person, courageous and driven; she lives for her job but is finding she perhaps speaks her mind more quickly and forthrightly than would be considered cautious especially to her senior officers.
She's a fantastic new character and I can't wait to read a continuation of her exploits.
Thoroughly recommended.
September 5, 2019
The Essence of Evil by Rob Sinclair is the beginning of a new series featuring fascinating new character DI Dani Stephens. Dani is returning to work after a traumatic event that nearly ended her life. Still recovering from her injuries, she is quickly thrown back in at the deep end, as she is assigned to a horrific murder case that sees dead bodies being discovered on the streets of Birmingham.
With no link between the victims, Dani must try to get inside the mind of the killer. So who better to turn to than the murderer she knows best – her own twin brother. Will understanding her twin help her get inside the head of a murderer who leaves no trace? Or will it just open up old wounds that would be better off left closed?
What follows is a fast paced and gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Brilliantly written, with twists and turns to keep you guessing, this is a book that will keep you on your toes. As Dani gets closer to the truth the tension ratchets up to almost breaking point. Can she find the killer before it’s too late? Or is she about to become the next victim?
I loved this book. The fact it’s set in Birmingham, the city I grew up in, makes it even more interesting to me as I recognise so many of the places mentioned. Dani is an intriguing character who I hope to learn more about as the series continues. A flawed but fascinating character, the traumatic brain injury she suffered at the hands of her brother continues to plague her throughout The Essence of Evil, which adds an extra element to the story that I found particularly interesting.
Rob Sinclair has written a superb crime thriller that’s full of intrigue and suspense. The story flows well and has a cast of supporting characters who I look forward to seeing more of in future installments. The Essence of Evil is a promising start to what I hope will be a fantastic new series featuring DI Dani Stephens and is a book I would highly recommend.
With no link between the victims, Dani must try to get inside the mind of the killer. So who better to turn to than the murderer she knows best – her own twin brother. Will understanding her twin help her get inside the head of a murderer who leaves no trace? Or will it just open up old wounds that would be better off left closed?
What follows is a fast paced and gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Brilliantly written, with twists and turns to keep you guessing, this is a book that will keep you on your toes. As Dani gets closer to the truth the tension ratchets up to almost breaking point. Can she find the killer before it’s too late? Or is she about to become the next victim?
I loved this book. The fact it’s set in Birmingham, the city I grew up in, makes it even more interesting to me as I recognise so many of the places mentioned. Dani is an intriguing character who I hope to learn more about as the series continues. A flawed but fascinating character, the traumatic brain injury she suffered at the hands of her brother continues to plague her throughout The Essence of Evil, which adds an extra element to the story that I found particularly interesting.
Rob Sinclair has written a superb crime thriller that’s full of intrigue and suspense. The story flows well and has a cast of supporting characters who I look forward to seeing more of in future installments. The Essence of Evil is a promising start to what I hope will be a fantastic new series featuring DI Dani Stephens and is a book I would highly recommend.
September 11, 2019
With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
The Essence of Evil is Rob Sinclair's first foray into the crime genre. The book will be the first in a series featuring DI Dani Stevens. Dani`s twin brother Ben had murdered his first wife and was never discovered. Years later he tried to kill Dani and his second wife. The attack left Dani with devastating brain injuries and was off work for two years. Ben was found to have schizophrenia but Dani thought he was just evil
On her first day back at work Dani was called to the murder of a young woman found stabbed in a front garden. It appeared that the woman had been held prisoner nearby and was murdered trying to escape.
Dani discovered that another woman of the same age had gone missing in the local area. In desperation she visited Ben in prison to see if could advise what the killer would do next.
Whilst investigating she visited infamous criminologist Professor Steven Grant. Years early a serial.killer had become obsessed with Stephen and kidnapped him from his own home. In the aftermath Stephen wrote a best selling book about serial killers. Dani thought it was the work of a serial killer but her superiors did not believe her.
When Dani believes someone has been in her flat, she is not sure if it's the killer or her own imagination.
I think The Essence of Evil was a brilliant introduction to Di Dani Stephens. The plot was gripping as she became more paranoid I feared for her sanity.
I liked her ex boyfriend DI Jason Barnes who seemed to have infinite patience, especially when Dani treated him so badly.
There were red herrings galore. I would guess the culprit and then something would happen to change my mind. However I was disappointed with the closing chapters in the warehouse. I thought it was ridiculous and more suited to a gory horror film.
I look forward to see what happens next for Dani.
August 26, 2019
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. Leaving a voluntary and honest review.
This is the start of a series based on DI Dani Stevens, who has been out of work for 2 years. Still suffering from effects of a TBI, caused by her twin brother trying to kill her. On her first day back to work, she is called to the body of a young woman who has been stabbed to death. While investigating, she believes that there is a serial killer at work here, but no one else agrees. Can she get the other investigators to believe her? Some of them doubt her and she starts to wonder if her brain is causing her to do things, see things, is she losing her mind and becoming a monster like her brother. Really got caught up in the book trying to figure it all out. Was a little slow in places and was surprised at the ending. But overall a very good read.
Merged review:
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. Leaving a voluntary and honest review.
This is the start of a series based on DI Dani Stevens, who has been out of work for 2 years. Still suffering from effects of a TBI, caused by her twin brother trying to kill her. On her first day back to work, she is called to the body of a young woman who has been stabbed to death. While investigating, she believes that there is a serial killer at work here, but no one else agrees. Can she get the other investigators to believe her? Some of them doubt her and she starts to wonder if her brain is causing her to do things, see things, is she losing her mind and becoming a monster like her brother. Really got caught up in the book trying to figure it all out. Was a little slow in places and was surprised at the ending. But overall a very good read.
This is the start of a series based on DI Dani Stevens, who has been out of work for 2 years. Still suffering from effects of a TBI, caused by her twin brother trying to kill her. On her first day back to work, she is called to the body of a young woman who has been stabbed to death. While investigating, she believes that there is a serial killer at work here, but no one else agrees. Can she get the other investigators to believe her? Some of them doubt her and she starts to wonder if her brain is causing her to do things, see things, is she losing her mind and becoming a monster like her brother. Really got caught up in the book trying to figure it all out. Was a little slow in places and was surprised at the ending. But overall a very good read.
Merged review:
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher. Leaving a voluntary and honest review.
This is the start of a series based on DI Dani Stevens, who has been out of work for 2 years. Still suffering from effects of a TBI, caused by her twin brother trying to kill her. On her first day back to work, she is called to the body of a young woman who has been stabbed to death. While investigating, she believes that there is a serial killer at work here, but no one else agrees. Can she get the other investigators to believe her? Some of them doubt her and she starts to wonder if her brain is causing her to do things, see things, is she losing her mind and becoming a monster like her brother. Really got caught up in the book trying to figure it all out. Was a little slow in places and was surprised at the ending. But overall a very good read.
June 24, 2020
I'll start by saying I think the cover is so good, it really did grab my attention. I was super excited to read 'The Essence of Evil' and the premise is gripping; but the actual storytelling just didn't deliver for me and I'm so disappointed. I stuck with it but it took me ages to finish, I just found it - I hate saying this - but boring. The writing style is actually enjoyable for me but the actual story line and the way it was delivered was just pretty underwhelming. It's a lot of 'what ifs' and not much action. None of the characters were likeable or interesting to me. The plot wasn't gripping or even that well developed. It was just a lot of bumbling about to find that it could have been a really interesting plot but we were kept in the dark until the last 50 pages when everything spewed out in a bit of a mess. It doesn't really even have anything to do with Dani's twin brother, so I feel a bit cheated that it was even used to draw you in. He doesn't explain anything of why he did anything, she barely sees him and he has no real development or impact on the main story apart from when it comes to her recovery. It doesn't even help her to work out the murderer and their motives, it's all just stumbled upon by pure chance and very little police work on Dani's part. A lot of things are left unexplained and there seem to be a number of mayor plot holes. The longer I write this review the more frustrating I find the entire thing. On a brighter note, I seem to be in the minority so I hope that a lot of readers find this highly enjoyable.
August 4, 2019
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Dani returns to her job after a brain injury cause by her twin brother Ben who is murder who went into a killing spree in the first book.
Dani is still recovering from this when she in task to investigate a young woman name Natalya murder as she and her assign partner Easton investigate it leads them to the Grant family we learn the father Robert who is a professor was victim of crime years ago when their son Ethan is a person of interest.
Dani feels like someone is watching her but she doesn't know if it's her brain injury or something else as she pushes her ex boyfriend Jason away and when she runs after a potential suspect that cause his death she suspend and then she get notes from the killer.
This was a good read even though I kinda wish she quit her job at the end and became a private investigator because it's seem like no-one trusts her and she almost get killed again because she knew their was more to this crime was letting on.
Dani returns to her job after a brain injury cause by her twin brother Ben who is murder who went into a killing spree in the first book.
Dani is still recovering from this when she in task to investigate a young woman name Natalya murder as she and her assign partner Easton investigate it leads them to the Grant family we learn the father Robert who is a professor was victim of crime years ago when their son Ethan is a person of interest.
Dani feels like someone is watching her but she doesn't know if it's her brain injury or something else as she pushes her ex boyfriend Jason away and when she runs after a potential suspect that cause his death she suspend and then she get notes from the killer.
This was a good read even though I kinda wish she quit her job at the end and became a private investigator because it's seem like no-one trusts her and she almost get killed again because she knew their was more to this crime was letting on.
February 3, 2020
Audio version of this book 📚- very disappointing, the blurb said it was gripping but I felt there was hardly any storyline and it concentrated on the main characters health problems than the actual murders!!
June 29, 2023
I’m clearly in a thriller/murder mystery binge mood and I really enjoyed this. Loved the twists and turns and Dani’s character arc. I didn’t see one of the killers coming so definitely caught me off guard!
One of the reasons I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn’t particularly like the romance between Dani and Jason and then reconciling at the end felt a bit wishy washy to me. I’m hoping I come to like him as I continue the series though.
The other is because the explanation of Ben being a murderer and his crimes I needed to read a few times to understand. The booked tells us about him murdering his wife and then marrying Gemma and having another child but there’s no mention of the first child prior. I think a sentence might have been deleted in error somewhere!
One of the reasons I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I didn’t particularly like the romance between Dani and Jason and then reconciling at the end felt a bit wishy washy to me. I’m hoping I come to like him as I continue the series though.
The other is because the explanation of Ben being a murderer and his crimes I needed to read a few times to understand. The booked tells us about him murdering his wife and then marrying Gemma and having another child but there’s no mention of the first child prior. I think a sentence might have been deleted in error somewhere!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2024
Set in my home city of Birmingham this intriguing story made me feel at home straightaway. Dani Stephens is a great character with an interesting back story that at times make her fairly unlikeable but I think that was the point the author was trying to portray. The story- if slightly overlong- was well written and kept great pace. Terrific tension in the latter part of the story and although the ending wasn’t a shocker it was still very good. An impressive start to this series
October 2, 2020
Different to the 13 series of books I read by this author but really enjoyed it, had me guessing who the perpetrator was right towards the end of the book. Well worthy of the 5 stars.
September 8, 2019
DI Dani Stephens is back at work after a 2 year absence. Her twin brother, Ben had killed others and attempted to murder her too. After a traumatic brain injury and extensive rehab, she is now back……but is she ready?
Immediately thrown into a murder case, Dani feels there is more to this than a random murder and a serial killer may be at work. Her bosses disagree and after a person of interest dies, she is suspended while an internal investigation is completed. But she can’t let it go…..when a young student goes missing, she knows she is right and carries on her own investigation, putting herself In danger.
Dani is damaged, she’s afraid, frustrated and angry, partly due to her brain injury but is her feeling of paranoia justified? Will Jason stick around to support her, even though she keeps pushing him away?
Great, realistic characters, with some real surprising moments in this incredibly well plotted crime thriller, that’s so engrossing it really is unputdownable…. If you like a dark twisty thriller, you’ll love this.
Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest, unbiased review
Merged review:
DI Dani Stephens is back at work after a 2 year absence. Her twin brother, Ben had killed others and attempted to murder her too. After a traumatic brain injury and extensive rehab, she is now back……but is she ready?
Immediately thrown into a murder case, Dani feels there is more to this than a random murder and a serial killer may be at work. Her bosses disagree and after a person of interest dies, she is suspended while an internal investigation is completed. But she can’t let it go…..when a young student goes missing, she knows she is right and carries on her own investigation, putting herself In danger.
Dani is damaged, she’s afraid, frustrated and angry, partly due to her brain injury but is her feeling of paranoia justified? Will Jason stick around to support her, even though she keeps pushing him away?
Great, realistic characters, with some real surprising moments in this incredibly well plotted crime thriller, that’s so engrossing it really is unputdownable…. If you like a dark twisty thriller, you’ll love this.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review
Immediately thrown into a murder case, Dani feels there is more to this than a random murder and a serial killer may be at work. Her bosses disagree and after a person of interest dies, she is suspended while an internal investigation is completed. But she can’t let it go…..when a young student goes missing, she knows she is right and carries on her own investigation, putting herself In danger.
Dani is damaged, she’s afraid, frustrated and angry, partly due to her brain injury but is her feeling of paranoia justified? Will Jason stick around to support her, even though she keeps pushing him away?
Great, realistic characters, with some real surprising moments in this incredibly well plotted crime thriller, that’s so engrossing it really is unputdownable…. If you like a dark twisty thriller, you’ll love this.
Thank you to The publishers, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for free. This is my honest, unbiased review
Merged review:
DI Dani Stephens is back at work after a 2 year absence. Her twin brother, Ben had killed others and attempted to murder her too. After a traumatic brain injury and extensive rehab, she is now back……but is she ready?
Immediately thrown into a murder case, Dani feels there is more to this than a random murder and a serial killer may be at work. Her bosses disagree and after a person of interest dies, she is suspended while an internal investigation is completed. But she can’t let it go…..when a young student goes missing, she knows she is right and carries on her own investigation, putting herself In danger.
Dani is damaged, she’s afraid, frustrated and angry, partly due to her brain injury but is her feeling of paranoia justified? Will Jason stick around to support her, even though she keeps pushing him away?
Great, realistic characters, with some real surprising moments in this incredibly well plotted crime thriller, that’s so engrossing it really is unputdownable…. If you like a dark twisty thriller, you’ll love this.
Thank you to Tracy and Compulsive Readers for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review
October 18, 2019
5 Stars
It doesn’t say this on Goodreads but I believe this is the first book in a series featuring D.I. Dani Stephens.
I thought this was a great book. Lots of tension and drama. The protagonist was an unusual gal. At times she was down right unlikeable and did things I didn’t expect. Her head injury made her susceptible to outbursts of anger and near the end she finally embraced that fact.
There was a lot of unfairness between her and her work colleagues and one time when she was suspended I couldn’t figure out why that hammer had come down so harshly on her. Maybe the laws in Britain/UK and the US are different.
As I was reading along I was unsure of who the main character truly was. I was waffling between the professor who wrote the book “The Essence of Evil” and DI Dani Stephens. The plot line was pretty much equally shared between the two for a good portion of the book. The whole thing is pretty fascinating and I was glued to the page throughout.
I think this would make a good tv series or movie since a lot of the action comes across better if you physically see it.
One thing I did find unusual was the cover. The subhead was: He’s our attacker. He’s a murderer. He’s your twin. Although, that is a fascinating way to get people to read this, I don’t think it really speaks to the book inside. Yes, Dani’s brother is a murderer. Yes, she struggled with this fact and that her DNA and his might make her more prone to a similar violence but that is not what this book was about. Her brother was already in jail when the novel started. The plot really had nothing to do with him. He was a plot device, yes, but not the antagonist as this subhead suggests.
Overall, one great book. If you love detective fiction and police procedural, definitely check this one out.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
It doesn’t say this on Goodreads but I believe this is the first book in a series featuring D.I. Dani Stephens.
I thought this was a great book. Lots of tension and drama. The protagonist was an unusual gal. At times she was down right unlikeable and did things I didn’t expect. Her head injury made her susceptible to outbursts of anger and near the end she finally embraced that fact.
There was a lot of unfairness between her and her work colleagues and one time when she was suspended I couldn’t figure out why that hammer had come down so harshly on her. Maybe the laws in Britain/UK and the US are different.
As I was reading along I was unsure of who the main character truly was. I was waffling between the professor who wrote the book “The Essence of Evil” and DI Dani Stephens. The plot line was pretty much equally shared between the two for a good portion of the book. The whole thing is pretty fascinating and I was glued to the page throughout.
I think this would make a good tv series or movie since a lot of the action comes across better if you physically see it.
One thing I did find unusual was the cover. The subhead was: He’s our attacker. He’s a murderer. He’s your twin. Although, that is a fascinating way to get people to read this, I don’t think it really speaks to the book inside. Yes, Dani’s brother is a murderer. Yes, she struggled with this fact and that her DNA and his might make her more prone to a similar violence but that is not what this book was about. Her brother was already in jail when the novel started. The plot really had nothing to do with him. He was a plot device, yes, but not the antagonist as this subhead suggests.
Overall, one great book. If you love detective fiction and police procedural, definitely check this one out.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
September 11, 2019
I am a big fan of this author's other series which lean more towards Action than this type of crime. But Police procedurals are my bread and butter genre so...
So, we have all the elements that you would expect from a series book of this genre. A wounded main character, DI Dani Stephens, with a dubious past, still struggling in her present with the aftereffects. She suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) two years earlier at the hands of her own brother and has just returned to work. Obviously she still bears the scars of this, both physically and mentally and, aided by excerpts from her recovery diary, interspersed throughout the main story, we get to know this side of her very well. The crime being investigated does rather fall second place behind Dani's issues but that's more/less to be expected from a first in series where there is always a bit of setting-up to do. It's a fine line to keep this balanced but I felt that Dani did overshadow the crime a bit and, tbh, the crime is where it's at for me with this genre book. But, that said, the plaster has been ripped off now so hopefully future books will lean more towards Dani as a copper rather than Dani as a victim/survivor.
Pacing was good, other characters were just as well drawn as Dani and developed well during the book. Plot was tight but a tad underdone compared with Dani's story but it was well written and got on with itself nicely. This was ably assisted by the use of short, punchy chapters making the book extremely hard to put down.
All in all, a solid opener which has hopefully laid down all the foundations necessary for future books to be a bit more crime related. Looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for Dani's next outing. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So, we have all the elements that you would expect from a series book of this genre. A wounded main character, DI Dani Stephens, with a dubious past, still struggling in her present with the aftereffects. She suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) two years earlier at the hands of her own brother and has just returned to work. Obviously she still bears the scars of this, both physically and mentally and, aided by excerpts from her recovery diary, interspersed throughout the main story, we get to know this side of her very well. The crime being investigated does rather fall second place behind Dani's issues but that's more/less to be expected from a first in series where there is always a bit of setting-up to do. It's a fine line to keep this balanced but I felt that Dani did overshadow the crime a bit and, tbh, the crime is where it's at for me with this genre book. But, that said, the plaster has been ripped off now so hopefully future books will lean more towards Dani as a copper rather than Dani as a victim/survivor.
Pacing was good, other characters were just as well drawn as Dani and developed well during the book. Plot was tight but a tad underdone compared with Dani's story but it was well written and got on with itself nicely. This was ably assisted by the use of short, punchy chapters making the book extremely hard to put down.
All in all, a solid opener which has hopefully laid down all the foundations necessary for future books to be a bit more crime related. Looking forward to seeing what the author has in store for Dani's next outing. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
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