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DI Jake Sawyer #4
Pray For Rain
A British detective thriller set in a sweltering Peak District summer, where a serial killer of women taunts the police and the media crowns him with a Ripper name. Procedural crime suspense with dark humour and a haunted lead investigator.
A killer on the loose. A detective on the edge
Jake Sawyer is feeling the heat. Returning to duty after an enforced psychological break, he’s called in to investigate the murder of a young woman found near one of the Peak District’s key beauty spots.
Sawyer is intrigued by the unusual mix of extreme violence and decorative presentation, and when the death is connected to the earlier killings of three other local women, he joins a task force of regional detectives in a hunt for the man the media are calling The New Ripper.
As the UK sweats in a record-breaking heatwave, a fifth woman goes missing, and the killer contacts the police, personally challenging Sawyer to catch him before he claims her as his next victim.
A page-turning British detective murder-mystery with twists, dark humour and a compelling lead character whose backstory continues through the series.
Pray For Rain is book ten in the Jake Sawyer Crime Thrillers, a British thriller for fans of Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.
Praise for Pray for Rain.
★★★★★ “Edge of your seat reading with great characters, twists, and a compelling plot.”
★★★★★ “Set aside plenty of time, because you won’t want to put it down.”
★★★★★ “I absolutely loved this book. It kept me wanting more and more.”
★★★★★ “Prose that gets under your flesh and into your bones.”
★★★★★ “Taut and compelling. Not a wasted word.”
★★★★★ “Plot and character perfectly intertwined.”
★★★★★ “Keeps you reading through the night.”
★★★★★ “Poetic and utterly gripping.”
A killer on the loose. A detective on the edge
Jake Sawyer is feeling the heat. Returning to duty after an enforced psychological break, he’s called in to investigate the murder of a young woman found near one of the Peak District’s key beauty spots.
Sawyer is intrigued by the unusual mix of extreme violence and decorative presentation, and when the death is connected to the earlier killings of three other local women, he joins a task force of regional detectives in a hunt for the man the media are calling The New Ripper.
As the UK sweats in a record-breaking heatwave, a fifth woman goes missing, and the killer contacts the police, personally challenging Sawyer to catch him before he claims her as his next victim.
A page-turning British detective murder-mystery with twists, dark humour and a compelling lead character whose backstory continues through the series.
Pray For Rain is book ten in the Jake Sawyer Crime Thrillers, a British thriller for fans of Val McDermid and Ian Rankin.
Praise for Pray for Rain.
★★★★★ “Edge of your seat reading with great characters, twists, and a compelling plot.”
★★★★★ “Set aside plenty of time, because you won’t want to put it down.”
★★★★★ “I absolutely loved this book. It kept me wanting more and more.”
★★★★★ “Prose that gets under your flesh and into your bones.”
★★★★★ “Taut and compelling. Not a wasted word.”
★★★★★ “Plot and character perfectly intertwined.”
★★★★★ “Keeps you reading through the night.”
★★★★★ “Poetic and utterly gripping.”
- GenresCrime
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 11, 2020
About the author
Andrew Lowe
31 books65 followersAndrew Lowe was born in the North of England, back when it was okay to play outside and people ate trifle a lot.
He has written for The Guardian and Sunday Times, and contributed to numerous books on film, music, TV, videogames, sex and shin splints.
The Ghost is his first novel.
He has written for The Guardian and Sunday Times, and contributed to numerous books on film, music, TV, videogames, sex and shin splints.
The Ghost is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
March 27, 2024
It was good to read and continue following up on Sawyer's brother and his they are since their father shot himself. The continual saga with Dale Strictland.
Sawyer is certainly going through some form of breakdown.
However as far as the murder investigation, I thought was weak.
Sawyer is certainly going through some form of breakdown.
However as far as the murder investigation, I thought was weak.
January 15, 2020
What a story. Suspenseful and gripping. Impossible to not enjoy. Fast paced. Not to be missed.
January 31, 2020
This is book four in the DI Jake Sawyer series and follows Sawyer as he returns from medical leave after the death of his father. He runs straight into a county wide hunt for a serial killer. It seems someone has been killing blonde women and leaving their bodies in a very posed manner out in the wilderness, one in each of the adjoining counties and now one in Sawyer’s own patch in the Peak District. A task force is set up by his boss, of all the regional detectives involved in the previous cases and linking in the case that has now dropped in their patch. The similarities make it obvious this is a serial killer, but the method of killing and then the discrepancy with the method of posing used, makes it difficult to give a profile for the killer.
Comments are made by some, as to whether Sawyer is actually fit or ready to return to work, but he says he is. One of his fellow officers, Farrell, from a neighbouring, was one of the ones who held him in custody when he was being accused of murder. He doesn’t think that Sawyer should be on the case, never mind in charge of this part of the investigation. The task force has kept the manner of death and posing the body, from the press who have named the serial killer the New Ripper. Sawyer’s place on the task force raises media attention, brought about from the social media circus around his rescue of a man from a bear enclosure at the local zoo, as well as his previous arrest for murder, have made him quite famous in the media and locally.
The killer sees the latest police briefing, with Sawyer giving his own opinion of the killer. He then taunts the police with direct contact, personally challenging Sawyer to catch him, before he takes another person captive and them kills them. The weather is unusual for the time of year, with a record breaking heatwave taking place, leaving everyone hot, tired and stroppy. Each separate region wants to take charge of the investigation and run it, all with different opinion on what the killer’s reasons are. Another woman is taken and now matters are getting more confusing. Is the person asking for money and revealing clues about the murder scenes really the killer? What links each of the women that have been taken and killed? Sawyer is still working on his lack of fear and the events that led to his mother’s violent death. His brother is still mostly lost in his own little world and past events also have a local club owner and criminal gunning for him.
A detective under pressure, media with a hot story and a serial killer who will never stop! Another intriguing read from the author, with Sawyer back at what he does best, but with a slightly more damaged psyche. He has been receiving therapy, but also has to learn to deal with the events from his childhood and his recent past. He does things his way, not necessarily following the letter of the law and gets things done. This time he may have gone a little bit too far! Can’t wait to keep reading this series, a great flawed main character, with his own high level of morals. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Comments are made by some, as to whether Sawyer is actually fit or ready to return to work, but he says he is. One of his fellow officers, Farrell, from a neighbouring, was one of the ones who held him in custody when he was being accused of murder. He doesn’t think that Sawyer should be on the case, never mind in charge of this part of the investigation. The task force has kept the manner of death and posing the body, from the press who have named the serial killer the New Ripper. Sawyer’s place on the task force raises media attention, brought about from the social media circus around his rescue of a man from a bear enclosure at the local zoo, as well as his previous arrest for murder, have made him quite famous in the media and locally.
The killer sees the latest police briefing, with Sawyer giving his own opinion of the killer. He then taunts the police with direct contact, personally challenging Sawyer to catch him, before he takes another person captive and them kills them. The weather is unusual for the time of year, with a record breaking heatwave taking place, leaving everyone hot, tired and stroppy. Each separate region wants to take charge of the investigation and run it, all with different opinion on what the killer’s reasons are. Another woman is taken and now matters are getting more confusing. Is the person asking for money and revealing clues about the murder scenes really the killer? What links each of the women that have been taken and killed? Sawyer is still working on his lack of fear and the events that led to his mother’s violent death. His brother is still mostly lost in his own little world and past events also have a local club owner and criminal gunning for him.
A detective under pressure, media with a hot story and a serial killer who will never stop! Another intriguing read from the author, with Sawyer back at what he does best, but with a slightly more damaged psyche. He has been receiving therapy, but also has to learn to deal with the events from his childhood and his recent past. He does things his way, not necessarily following the letter of the law and gets things done. This time he may have gone a little bit too far! Can’t wait to keep reading this series, a great flawed main character, with his own high level of morals. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
October 3, 2025
Can't fault our MC Jake Sawyer's resolve. His mental health is even worse since he discovered his mother's killer and watched horrified as his father killed himself - who can wonder? But he remains razor sharp as he applies his considerable mind to the latest serial killings. This time he has not only the doubts and misgivings of his superiors to deal with (hurrah for the loyal Shepherd) but also a turf war with police colleagues over the county border who want their share of the action. And all the while dealing with the local drug thugs. Again Sawyer's intellect leads him towards the answer, and to cornering the killer. But yet again in this series he ends up in a deadly duel, and I'm tempted to take a star off for all the philosophising that takes place as he and Bowman knock seven bells out of each other, and another star for the considerable reach in linking the killer's action back to his mother who rejected him. But our hero wins the day again. And inevitably ends up suspended for doing so against policing protocol. Addictive stuff, Lowe plots and writes brilliantly so I leave his stars intact.
April 4, 2024
Another brilliant read in a fantastic series. Jake is back after his leave following events in the last book. Someone is abducting women who have profiles on some dating sites and their bodies are turning up a few days later. He has some other jurisdictional colleagues to deal with also as part of a task force.
I was engrossed in this from the start. I like the continuation of events from prior books while also having a new case each time. Jake feels so real, a genuine good guy but with some PTSD and that endears him more to me. Sometimes though, he goes too far and this might have caught up with him in the end this time. I liked the way it ends and it leads up nicely to the next book.
I was engrossed in this from the start. I like the continuation of events from prior books while also having a new case each time. Jake feels so real, a genuine good guy but with some PTSD and that endears him more to me. Sometimes though, he goes too far and this might have caught up with him in the end this time. I liked the way it ends and it leads up nicely to the next book.
January 20, 2020
Detective Inspector Jake Sawyer is a man with a horrifying past and an uncertain, shaky, present. Formerly with London's Met, now after time away he is a member of a Major Intelligence Unit in England 's Peak District. Faced with a seemingly unstoppable and invisible killer with a predilection for both violence and staging, Jake has to battle his own psyche and psychology while racing to prevent yet more murders. A well-written and character-driven psychological thriller and police procedural.
January 20, 2020
I received this book from the author in exchange of an honest review.
After returning from a forced break, DI Jake is on the hunt for a serial killer. Working in the extreme heat, the police are trying to stop this killer from taking more victums. Edge of your seat reading, with great characters, twists, and a compelling plot. Not having read the first three books in the series doesn't lose anything in the book, but now I will! Well done, you'd be wise to pick this up, but set aside plenty of time, because you won't want to put it down!
After returning from a forced break, DI Jake is on the hunt for a serial killer. Working in the extreme heat, the police are trying to stop this killer from taking more victums. Edge of your seat reading, with great characters, twists, and a compelling plot. Not having read the first three books in the series doesn't lose anything in the book, but now I will! Well done, you'd be wise to pick this up, but set aside plenty of time, because you won't want to put it down!
November 14, 2020
Book 4 done! One more to go.
The books just get better and better. Jake's story continues as he seeks answers to a few things, as well as having to look for a new killer. The Peak District certainly has livened up since he moved back! This time a multi task force is assembled. Will Jake be a team player?
Once again, the writing is top notch. The dialogue between characters, even the bad guys, was spot on (and often amusing).
Anyway, can't stop...book 5 awaits!
The books just get better and better. Jake's story continues as he seeks answers to a few things, as well as having to look for a new killer. The Peak District certainly has livened up since he moved back! This time a multi task force is assembled. Will Jake be a team player?
Once again, the writing is top notch. The dialogue between characters, even the bad guys, was spot on (and often amusing).
Anyway, can't stop...book 5 awaits!
June 21, 2023
Thrilling from Go to Whoa
Not sure how the protagonist, Jake Sawyer, is still standing. Sawyer is certainly an interesting character. You can’t help but like him, even if he is a bit beyond reality. Great plot. Lots of things happening. I keep seeing a hint of ‘Luther’ in this story. Worth reading.
Not sure how the protagonist, Jake Sawyer, is still standing. Sawyer is certainly an interesting character. You can’t help but like him, even if he is a bit beyond reality. Great plot. Lots of things happening. I keep seeing a hint of ‘Luther’ in this story. Worth reading.
March 20, 2021
Engaging and entertaining.
Very interesting series full of great characters. The plots are complex and pull you in. The dialogue is sharp and witty and realistic. Best read in order to get the picture.
Very interesting series full of great characters. The plots are complex and pull you in. The dialogue is sharp and witty and realistic. Best read in order to get the picture.
April 23, 2024
Great characters….
I love Jake Sawyer, a troubled soul….
Definitely will continue reading until the end of the series…..
Once started, you cannot put it down, I’ve never read books so fast, so good……
I love Jake Sawyer, a troubled soul….
Definitely will continue reading until the end of the series…..
Once started, you cannot put it down, I’ve never read books so fast, so good……
Read
May 16, 2026I have enjoyed this book but I am beginning to find the repitition of Jake's history in each book a bit wearing. I know that some people won't read the books in order but for the rest of us this constant reiteration of his past is becoming boring.
September 21, 2020
There's no going to sleep with Andrew Lowe!
Just read all 4 Jake Sawyer books ...fantastic reads edge of your seat & keep you thinking - there's no going to sleep with Andrew Lowe!!
Just read all 4 Jake Sawyer books ...fantastic reads edge of your seat & keep you thinking - there's no going to sleep with Andrew Lowe!!
February 3, 2022
Really enjoying this series.
August 24, 2025
Excellent read as always
A very gripping book with DI Sawyer up to his old tricks. Can't wait to read about his next adventure.
A very gripping book with DI Sawyer up to his old tricks. Can't wait to read about his next adventure.
February 12, 2026
Another good one with rebel cop Jake Sawyer. Good story, a few twists and turns. A fast-paced page turner. More on Jake's personal life, that just seems to get more complicated with each book.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews