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DI Tanner #1
Broadland
Broadland is the first in a chilling series of serial killer books which will rapidly convert followers of Faith Martin, Joy Ellis and Damien Boyd into David Blake devotees.
When a girl’s body is found strangled, raped, and horrifically mutilated by a boat’s propeller, deep in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, newly arrived Detective Inspector John Tanner is asked to assist with the investigation.
At first, all the evidence points to a man who had a multi-million-pound reason to kill her. But when an alibi is produced from an unexpected source, and another body appears at the base of a slipway, Tanner finds himself turning to local girl Detective Constable Jenny Evans for help.
As a more romantic relationship develops between them, they find themselves facing a race against time to identify a lethal adversary, one with a lust for blood and a mind set on revenge.
When a girl’s body is found strangled, raped, and horrifically mutilated by a boat’s propeller, deep in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, newly arrived Detective Inspector John Tanner is asked to assist with the investigation.
At first, all the evidence points to a man who had a multi-million-pound reason to kill her. But when an alibi is produced from an unexpected source, and another body appears at the base of a slipway, Tanner finds himself turning to local girl Detective Constable Jenny Evans for help.
As a more romantic relationship develops between them, they find themselves facing a race against time to identify a lethal adversary, one with a lust for blood and a mind set on revenge.
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First published April 5, 2019
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About the author
David Blake
32 books296 followersNO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR
With number one bestsellers in both the UK and Australia, to date David has written twenty-two books along with a collection of short stories. He's currently working on his twenty-third, Bluebell Wood, which is the next in his series of fast-paced crime thrillers. When not writing, David likes to spend his time mucking about in boats, often in the Norfolk Broads, where his crime fiction books are based.
Get news of all future releases, ARC reader info, free books, and all promo offers by signing up to my newsletter:
www.david-blake.co.uk/CONTACTDAVID
With number one bestsellers in both the UK and Australia, to date David has written twenty-two books along with a collection of short stories. He's currently working on his twenty-third, Bluebell Wood, which is the next in his series of fast-paced crime thrillers. When not writing, David likes to spend his time mucking about in boats, often in the Norfolk Broads, where his crime fiction books are based.
Get news of all future releases, ARC reader info, free books, and all promo offers by signing up to my newsletter:
www.david-blake.co.uk/CONTACTDAVID
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 447 reviews
May 17, 2019
A readable book set amid the quiet backwaters of the Norfolk Broads. The locations are made for a warm and relaxing read and the contrast to the macabre murder of a young woman is quite disturbing.
The premise of a new DI joining the local CID is a good one and placing him on an old sailing boat is a great idea.
His welcome and the resentment others have is also a rich seam that is ready to be mined.
Thereafter, I found the characters less rounded and a little unbelievable. Tanner is too assertive and his boss too weak. Jenny and Tanner strike up a quite unprofessional relationship from the very start. To me this seems inconceivable on one’s first day, that a junior officer would behave in such a manner and so quite unrealistic. The open rivalry with Burgess is to be expected but it is poorly managed.
Aside from the characters within what is a police procedural the cast of victims and suspects are limited and they appear to be assigned strange behaviours and only two-dimensional personalities. Inconsistencies abound and the police investigation is incompetent to the point of embarrassing. Norwich is so close to Wroxham that you wonder when a serial killer is suspected they do nothing to assist and manage the PR nightmare.
Finally the plot is good but poorly constructed. Not so original and only works to a point at the expense of such a botched investigation. It seems Norfolk is awash with simple police officers and Norwich ignores their county bumpkins.
The cavalier approach to policing is so amateur that it begs the question: Do they have to be so stupid just to allow the plot a sporting chance to work at all?
The police interviews under caution are also cringe worthy and the response of the suspects dim and dimmer.
So much potential but so little craft and guile.
This is a real disappointment to me as it is has legs as a series, set in s beautiful part of the country. It might have worked if more finesse had been appropriated in the plot management.
An experienced writer it seems has lost his way in the belief that crime fiction is a sure bet. Sadly this book does little to justify the thought that we all have a book within us. A second book is due to be published in the series around the two strongest but unbelievable characters. Unfortunately although I love the Broads I will not be reading it.
The premise of a new DI joining the local CID is a good one and placing him on an old sailing boat is a great idea.
His welcome and the resentment others have is also a rich seam that is ready to be mined.
Thereafter, I found the characters less rounded and a little unbelievable. Tanner is too assertive and his boss too weak. Jenny and Tanner strike up a quite unprofessional relationship from the very start. To me this seems inconceivable on one’s first day, that a junior officer would behave in such a manner and so quite unrealistic. The open rivalry with Burgess is to be expected but it is poorly managed.
Aside from the characters within what is a police procedural the cast of victims and suspects are limited and they appear to be assigned strange behaviours and only two-dimensional personalities. Inconsistencies abound and the police investigation is incompetent to the point of embarrassing. Norwich is so close to Wroxham that you wonder when a serial killer is suspected they do nothing to assist and manage the PR nightmare.
Finally the plot is good but poorly constructed. Not so original and only works to a point at the expense of such a botched investigation. It seems Norfolk is awash with simple police officers and Norwich ignores their county bumpkins.
The cavalier approach to policing is so amateur that it begs the question: Do they have to be so stupid just to allow the plot a sporting chance to work at all?
The police interviews under caution are also cringe worthy and the response of the suspects dim and dimmer.
So much potential but so little craft and guile.
This is a real disappointment to me as it is has legs as a series, set in s beautiful part of the country. It might have worked if more finesse had been appropriated in the plot management.
An experienced writer it seems has lost his way in the belief that crime fiction is a sure bet. Sadly this book does little to justify the thought that we all have a book within us. A second book is due to be published in the series around the two strongest but unbelievable characters. Unfortunately although I love the Broads I will not be reading it.
November 19, 2024
0/5
This shit was incredibly misogynistic and homophobic.
The only gay character is only there to play the victim card with "I'm being arrested for being gay" and to take homophobic comments from the detective.
The female detective takes 0.5 seconds after meeting the MC to start flirting with him. And she exists to cover the wet dreams of the author in her portrayal of the perfect girl.
The male detectives are all called "Detective+surname" but the female detectives are "Jenni", "Vicky" or very informal abbreviations of their names, like their professions are a game and only the men actually work.
And something that pissed me the fuck off was the forensic doctor saying the victim was pregnant between 14 and 27 weeks. Are you seriously telling me a doctor can't pinpoint a pregnancy any shorter than 3 months? Fuck off.
This shit was incredibly misogynistic and homophobic.
The only gay character is only there to play the victim card with "I'm being arrested for being gay" and to take homophobic comments from the detective.
The female detective takes 0.5 seconds after meeting the MC to start flirting with him. And she exists to cover the wet dreams of the author in her portrayal of the perfect girl.
The male detectives are all called "Detective+surname" but the female detectives are "Jenni", "Vicky" or very informal abbreviations of their names, like their professions are a game and only the men actually work.
And something that pissed me the fuck off was the forensic doctor saying the victim was pregnant between 14 and 27 weeks. Are you seriously telling me a doctor can't pinpoint a pregnancy any shorter than 3 months? Fuck off.
January 1, 2022
The call of nature forced him up. Feeling brave, he successfully navigated the use of the emergency toilet services in the port bow. After that, he grabbed a towel along with a plastic bag in which he’d packed his toiletries, and set off for what he’d discovered the previous evening, the humble shower housed within the even more humble marina building.
Amazon Prime recently offered me this book for free. As I was in my native Norfolk and with no books to read, it seemed a timely choice and a generous offer. I am now contemplating charging them for my time spent reading it!
As a detective novel, it contains many of the cliches of the genre - the mutual suspicion between the younger big-city cop and the experienced local, a lead detective with a traumatic family life, policemen who seem more interested in who gets credit than actually solving the crime. But it adds a new ingredient of its own with a female junior cop who checks out the new boy for a wedding ring at their first meeting:
As the new DI looked over his shoulder to reverse out, she took the opportunity to steal a close-up look at his face. Despite the fact that he must be a good fifteen years older than her, probably nearer twenty, and that he could hardly be considered successful, given that he was still only a Detective Inspector, and one who’d moved up from London to the Norfolk Broads, instead of the other way round – something she’d been hoping to do herself, in the not too distant future – combined with the fact that he drove a car straight out of some sort of sad Eighties TV mini-series, she couldn’t help but find him attractive…No wedding ring, she noted, as he turned the steering wheel; but then she saw the hint of white where there perhaps had been one.
And by that afternoon, this while about to see a body that has been found in the river, is engaging in flirtation that deserves a sub-category in the Bad Sex Awards:
’What about you? Where are you from?’
‘Oh, I’m a Horning girl,’ she answered, quickly adding, ‘No jokes please!’
With a boyish smirk, Tanner said, ‘Heaven forbid!’ But he couldn’t resist, and feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time, said, ‘So you don’t go around feeling permanently horny?’
Pretending to be upset, Jenny glared up at him. ‘I said, no jokes!’
‘Sorry,’ said Tanner, turning away to hide his grin. ‘I couldn’t help it.’
‘No? Well, don’t worry. It’s to be expected, I suppose.’ She turned her face away slightly, muttering under her breath, just loud enough for Tanner to hear, ‘But I do, though.’
Finding himself about as aroused by the comment as he was embarrassed, Tanner wasn’t sure where to look.
And then the next day:
As he pushed open the Jag’s heavy door, it creaked loudly. Opening her own door, Jenny said, ‘You may want to put some oil on that.’
‘On me, or the door?’ questioned Tanner, groaning as he heaved himself out.
‘I suppose that depends on if you enjoy being covered in oil whilst someone tugs at your handle,’ said Jenny.
Somewhere under this there is a spectacularly over the top murder mystery and the novel ends with Tanner, the main detective channeling another of Norfolk’s finest temporary-becoming-permanent residents, Alan Partridge, but with his boat standing in for the Travelodge.
Seeing the car ahead set off through the now almost fully open gates, he put the phone away, wiped the tears which had appeared from nowhere from his eyes, placed his XJS’s gear lever into the drive position, and headed back towards Wroxham.
Forcing himself to stop thinking about Jenny, instead he thought about the wooden yacht that was waiting for him, and was surprised to find himself actually looking forward to being back on board. Despite its insanely cramped accommodation and total lack of even the most basic amenities, he was beginning to think of it as a safe haven; one that was far removed from society’s seemingly endless storm of dangerous obsessions and cruel machinations, and one which was increasingly beginning to feel like being his new home.
The author apparently also writes “comedy” crime thrillers including titles such as The Thrills and Spills of Genocide Gill (which from the Kindle preview is like this dialled up to 11 - sample line “She looked up to see him staring straight down her cleavage as he played with his teaspoon with one hand and himself with the other”) so perhaps this is also intended as a satire of the genre. Except it isn’t marketed as such, hasn’t been received as such by most reviewers and in any case it is a very poor and ill-judged attempt at humour.
What a load of old squit.
Amazon Prime recently offered me this book for free. As I was in my native Norfolk and with no books to read, it seemed a timely choice and a generous offer. I am now contemplating charging them for my time spent reading it!
As a detective novel, it contains many of the cliches of the genre - the mutual suspicion between the younger big-city cop and the experienced local, a lead detective with a traumatic family life, policemen who seem more interested in who gets credit than actually solving the crime. But it adds a new ingredient of its own with a female junior cop who checks out the new boy for a wedding ring at their first meeting:
As the new DI looked over his shoulder to reverse out, she took the opportunity to steal a close-up look at his face. Despite the fact that he must be a good fifteen years older than her, probably nearer twenty, and that he could hardly be considered successful, given that he was still only a Detective Inspector, and one who’d moved up from London to the Norfolk Broads, instead of the other way round – something she’d been hoping to do herself, in the not too distant future – combined with the fact that he drove a car straight out of some sort of sad Eighties TV mini-series, she couldn’t help but find him attractive…No wedding ring, she noted, as he turned the steering wheel; but then she saw the hint of white where there perhaps had been one.
And by that afternoon, this while about to see a body that has been found in the river, is engaging in flirtation that deserves a sub-category in the Bad Sex Awards:
’What about you? Where are you from?’
‘Oh, I’m a Horning girl,’ she answered, quickly adding, ‘No jokes please!’
With a boyish smirk, Tanner said, ‘Heaven forbid!’ But he couldn’t resist, and feeling more relaxed than he had in a long time, said, ‘So you don’t go around feeling permanently horny?’
Pretending to be upset, Jenny glared up at him. ‘I said, no jokes!’
‘Sorry,’ said Tanner, turning away to hide his grin. ‘I couldn’t help it.’
‘No? Well, don’t worry. It’s to be expected, I suppose.’ She turned her face away slightly, muttering under her breath, just loud enough for Tanner to hear, ‘But I do, though.’
Finding himself about as aroused by the comment as he was embarrassed, Tanner wasn’t sure where to look.
And then the next day:
As he pushed open the Jag’s heavy door, it creaked loudly. Opening her own door, Jenny said, ‘You may want to put some oil on that.’
‘On me, or the door?’ questioned Tanner, groaning as he heaved himself out.
‘I suppose that depends on if you enjoy being covered in oil whilst someone tugs at your handle,’ said Jenny.
Somewhere under this there is a spectacularly over the top murder mystery and the novel ends with Tanner, the main detective channeling another of Norfolk’s finest temporary-becoming-permanent residents, Alan Partridge, but with his boat standing in for the Travelodge.
Seeing the car ahead set off through the now almost fully open gates, he put the phone away, wiped the tears which had appeared from nowhere from his eyes, placed his XJS’s gear lever into the drive position, and headed back towards Wroxham.
Forcing himself to stop thinking about Jenny, instead he thought about the wooden yacht that was waiting for him, and was surprised to find himself actually looking forward to being back on board. Despite its insanely cramped accommodation and total lack of even the most basic amenities, he was beginning to think of it as a safe haven; one that was far removed from society’s seemingly endless storm of dangerous obsessions and cruel machinations, and one which was increasingly beginning to feel like being his new home.
The author apparently also writes “comedy” crime thrillers including titles such as The Thrills and Spills of Genocide Gill (which from the Kindle preview is like this dialled up to 11 - sample line “She looked up to see him staring straight down her cleavage as he played with his teaspoon with one hand and himself with the other”) so perhaps this is also intended as a satire of the genre. Except it isn’t marketed as such, hasn’t been received as such by most reviewers and in any case it is a very poor and ill-judged attempt at humour.
What a load of old squit.
February 14, 2024
I grew up in Norfolk but spent very little time on the Broads, but now with a second home where North Norfolk meets the Broadlands, I have started to take day hire cruises in the area. At the same time I have started to collect and read books set in Norfolk and for some time have been interested in the Detective Tanner Murder Mystery series of crime fiction set in the Broads.
So when the first of the series was made available free on Amazon as a promotion for the series I had to give it a read.
The book starts in a very cliched sense but not entirely unpromisingly – firstly with the set up for a murder and then with an introduction to the hero of the series.
In the Prologue Jane Richardson, walking back to her Wroxham home, is confronted by someone she recognises but does not know who wants to “take back what’s mine”; later she is reported missing by her strangely distant husband Simon, leading to immediate pressure on the police as her father owns a nationwide brewing chain and is something of a local celebrity. Soon after a body is found by some holiday makers when it gets tied up in their propellors.
Tanner joins in the first few chapters – he has taken a strictly sideways but effectively downwards move as a Detective Inspector from the Met to the Wroxham branch of the Norfolk police. His marriage came to an end after the death of his daughter, dragged into the London underworld drugs and crime scene while her father neglected her parenting for his career. For want of better accommodation he is staying on a small boat. His move to Wroxham seems resented both by the Detective Chief Inspector (who favours local knowledge and resents having someone who has transferred for an easier life) and the resident Detective Inspector (who sees him as a rival). The missing person and murder investigations and their possible links only add to this tension.
From there on things for my tastes spiralled downwards.
Tanner forms an almost immediate but to me inappropriate bond of mutual attraction with a much younger (much closer in age to his daughter) and junior colleague - Jenny Evans: the two engaging in cringeworth banter which starts with puns around Jenny being a Horning girl and rapidly descends into Fnarr Fnarr territory. The author seems well known for a number of comedy caper crime series – but this book seems designed as hard-hitting fiction and the humour felt to me not just clunky but out of place as a result (albeit recent events have unfortunately shown that the portrayal may not be entirely inaccurate).
The main action of the book seems sustained by almost incredibly incompetent policing – ostensibly by the DCI (under pressure for results) and the other DI (desperate to prove his credentials and get one-up on Tanner) but with Tanner and Evans joining in – and by incredulous plot elements. Suspects are given high profile arrests on the immediate flimsy evidence; a person of key interest is subject to fatal assault despite being under police guard and a media frenzy (neither apparently bothering to check on the actual person of interest); two pregnant women are subject to apparent disembowelment without anyone drawing a link; absurd theories are formed as to how someone may have gained access to sperm which they can use for incrimination – all of which taking place alongside various apparently unrelated enquiries at a IVF clinic frequented by the person incriminated; the climactic scene of the novel ends with a policeman left to die and his assailant allowed to escape with seemingly limited attempt to prevent either and so it goes on.
And all of this against the actual motivations for the killings and their aftermath being extremely unpleasant.
On my first Broads trips we stopped off at St Benet’s Abbey. My avatar, a water lover true to her breed, decided to an ill advised swim in a drainage ditch which unfortunately seemed to be full of silage run-off – and was left with a rather unwholesome after-effect on her fur. The second in this series is set in and named after St Benet’s (which is one of the things that attracted me to the
series) and this book features the opening of that book, which was equally unpleasant to my tastes.
Overall reading this book (and the prequel to the next) had the same effect on my mind as the drainage ditch on my avatar’s fur - however I suspect that was due to an ill advised choice of book on my behalf - I had assumed this was more of a police procedural series rather than a serial killer series.
So not for me although a series that has plenty of fans.
So when the first of the series was made available free on Amazon as a promotion for the series I had to give it a read.
The book starts in a very cliched sense but not entirely unpromisingly – firstly with the set up for a murder and then with an introduction to the hero of the series.
In the Prologue Jane Richardson, walking back to her Wroxham home, is confronted by someone she recognises but does not know who wants to “take back what’s mine”; later she is reported missing by her strangely distant husband Simon, leading to immediate pressure on the police as her father owns a nationwide brewing chain and is something of a local celebrity. Soon after a body is found by some holiday makers when it gets tied up in their propellors.
Tanner joins in the first few chapters – he has taken a strictly sideways but effectively downwards move as a Detective Inspector from the Met to the Wroxham branch of the Norfolk police. His marriage came to an end after the death of his daughter, dragged into the London underworld drugs and crime scene while her father neglected her parenting for his career. For want of better accommodation he is staying on a small boat. His move to Wroxham seems resented both by the Detective Chief Inspector (who favours local knowledge and resents having someone who has transferred for an easier life) and the resident Detective Inspector (who sees him as a rival). The missing person and murder investigations and their possible links only add to this tension.
From there on things for my tastes spiralled downwards.
Tanner forms an almost immediate but to me inappropriate bond of mutual attraction with a much younger (much closer in age to his daughter) and junior colleague - Jenny Evans: the two engaging in cringeworth banter which starts with puns around Jenny being a Horning girl and rapidly descends into Fnarr Fnarr territory. The author seems well known for a number of comedy caper crime series – but this book seems designed as hard-hitting fiction and the humour felt to me not just clunky but out of place as a result (albeit recent events have unfortunately shown that the portrayal may not be entirely inaccurate).
The main action of the book seems sustained by almost incredibly incompetent policing – ostensibly by the DCI (under pressure for results) and the other DI (desperate to prove his credentials and get one-up on Tanner) but with Tanner and Evans joining in – and by incredulous plot elements. Suspects are given high profile arrests on the immediate flimsy evidence; a person of key interest is subject to fatal assault despite being under police guard and a media frenzy (neither apparently bothering to check on the actual person of interest); two pregnant women are subject to apparent disembowelment without anyone drawing a link; absurd theories are formed as to how someone may have gained access to sperm which they can use for incrimination – all of which taking place alongside various apparently unrelated enquiries at a IVF clinic frequented by the person incriminated; the climactic scene of the novel ends with a policeman left to die and his assailant allowed to escape with seemingly limited attempt to prevent either and so it goes on.
And all of this against the actual motivations for the killings and their aftermath being extremely unpleasant.
On my first Broads trips we stopped off at St Benet’s Abbey. My avatar, a water lover true to her breed, decided to an ill advised swim in a drainage ditch which unfortunately seemed to be full of silage run-off – and was left with a rather unwholesome after-effect on her fur. The second in this series is set in and named after St Benet’s (which is one of the things that attracted me to the
series) and this book features the opening of that book, which was equally unpleasant to my tastes.
Overall reading this book (and the prequel to the next) had the same effect on my mind as the drainage ditch on my avatar’s fur - however I suspect that was due to an ill advised choice of book on my behalf - I had assumed this was more of a police procedural series rather than a serial killer series.
So not for me although a series that has plenty of fans.
September 29, 2021
This book starts out very readable and it was easy to get sucked into. As a native of Norfolk the descriptions of the locations rang true and set the scene very nicely and came across as authentic. (A few peeks at Google Earth were also useful.)
Plot wise, and as a police procedural this was okay but nothing special. Most of the characters were a bit too text book or stereotypical for my tastes. They were also a bit dim for police. Early on there was a glaring connection that jumped off the page but the main characters didn't get it until much later. It wasn't as if they had an overwhelming number of leads to work on.
As other people have pointed out, there are some holes in the plot that astute readers will probably notice. There is also the problem of the police using the phrase 'first degree murder'. That's an American term and in the UK it would just be murder, or technically 'unlawful killing committed with an intention to kill'.
Still, I liked the book enough to read the next one in the series.
Plot wise, and as a police procedural this was okay but nothing special. Most of the characters were a bit too text book or stereotypical for my tastes. They were also a bit dim for police. Early on there was a glaring connection that jumped off the page but the main characters didn't get it until much later. It wasn't as if they had an overwhelming number of leads to work on.
As other people have pointed out, there are some holes in the plot that astute readers will probably notice. There is also the problem of the police using the phrase 'first degree murder'. That's an American term and in the UK it would just be murder, or technically 'unlawful killing committed with an intention to kill'.
Still, I liked the book enough to read the next one in the series.
April 10, 2019
Having been lucky enough to have had a couple of holidays on the Norfolk Broads, one of which was spent on a boat, I knew a lot of the places that were mentioned throughout the novel which really made it come alive. Whilst you get a feel for how picturesque the area is, you also get to see a lot of a darker side through the crimes committed in the story.
Tanner I really liked. He is a man with a past, of which the author doesn’t reveal to much, leaving, I hope more to come. The glimpses we do get, left me wanting to know more. Whilst the new boy in town, he finds himself not quite getting the easy work life he has envisioned after his move from London. I enjoyed the bit of camaraderie between him and work colleague Jenny. There seems to be a bit of an attraction between the both and will certainly be interested to see where the author goes with that particular thread.
The start of the story grabbed me straight away and the short chapters kept me going. As I would expect from this genre of book, the pace picks up the further towards the end we get and have to say I wasn’t quite expecting how much of an edge of a seat read it would get!
Broadland is a great start to a brand new crime series. The setting and pace of the story was good with some very unexpected surprises which always gets the thumbs up from me. Could easily see this being made into a crime series for television. First book by a new author to me and definitely looking forward to reading more.
Tanner I really liked. He is a man with a past, of which the author doesn’t reveal to much, leaving, I hope more to come. The glimpses we do get, left me wanting to know more. Whilst the new boy in town, he finds himself not quite getting the easy work life he has envisioned after his move from London. I enjoyed the bit of camaraderie between him and work colleague Jenny. There seems to be a bit of an attraction between the both and will certainly be interested to see where the author goes with that particular thread.
The start of the story grabbed me straight away and the short chapters kept me going. As I would expect from this genre of book, the pace picks up the further towards the end we get and have to say I wasn’t quite expecting how much of an edge of a seat read it would get!
Broadland is a great start to a brand new crime series. The setting and pace of the story was good with some very unexpected surprises which always gets the thumbs up from me. Could easily see this being made into a crime series for television. First book by a new author to me and definitely looking forward to reading more.
April 9, 2019
Oh wow, what a terrific start of a new series. As soon as I opened the book, I was lost, lost in the story. Unfortunately, one has to sleep from time to time. If not I would have devoured the book in one go.
I loved DI Tanner and the banter between him and Jenny. It was very interesting to get a peek in the DI’s past which gave us a better impression of the person behind the police officer.
I enjoyed the story a lot and this was also due to the author’s fluent writing style.
The author managed to create such an intriguing and captivating story that the fact that I figured out where the culprit could be found, did not disturb me in the least. I was proud of myself that my flashbulb moment seemed to be correct and the author kept me glued to my chair during the revelations of who and why. He gave me an ‘ OH NOOOOO’ almost panic attack but all is well that ends well. Phew! (*throws away sweaty tissue 🙂 )
I can’t wait to read the next part. This one deserves the full 5 stars.
Thank you, David Blake and Book On The Bright Side Publicity & Promo.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
I loved DI Tanner and the banter between him and Jenny. It was very interesting to get a peek in the DI’s past which gave us a better impression of the person behind the police officer.
I enjoyed the story a lot and this was also due to the author’s fluent writing style.
The author managed to create such an intriguing and captivating story that the fact that I figured out where the culprit could be found, did not disturb me in the least. I was proud of myself that my flashbulb moment seemed to be correct and the author kept me glued to my chair during the revelations of who and why. He gave me an ‘ OH NOOOOO’ almost panic attack but all is well that ends well. Phew! (*throws away sweaty tissue 🙂 )
I can’t wait to read the next part. This one deserves the full 5 stars.
Thank you, David Blake and Book On The Bright Side Publicity & Promo.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
June 11, 2019
This was an interesting read and I had no idea who was the culprit. The main characters were D.I. John Tanner and D.C. Jenny Evans. Tanner was new to the area and there were the usual rivalry between newcomer and old. I was surprised by the inappropriate comments Jenny made to a superior officer, particularly when first meeting. However, I did enjoy this book and will look out for the next one in the series. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 12, 2023
1.5 rounded up
DI Tanner arrives to take over a new job with a team stationed on the Norfolk Broads. He comes with a personal history, and there is obviously some friction between him, a Londoner, and the local boys. No sooner is he on the job and he is investigating a series of murders.
This was an easy read, fast paced with a lot of action although much of this was driven by the overall inadequacies of at least one of the detectives. Although set in recent years some of the dialogue, characterisations and relationships felt at best unbelievable and perhaps even a little dated. By this I mean that it seemed odd that a very junior female officer would, on Tanner's first day, be approaching him, a very senior officer, with constant blatant sexual innuendo and checking out his ring finger. This quickly developing relationship felt very unlikely and cringe worthy. Secondly, I noted that all female characters were described in terms of their appearance, even the hotel receptionists. There were some inconsistencies in plot and a lot of drama and death in the rapidly paced conclusion. Really not convinced on this one.
DI Tanner arrives to take over a new job with a team stationed on the Norfolk Broads. He comes with a personal history, and there is obviously some friction between him, a Londoner, and the local boys. No sooner is he on the job and he is investigating a series of murders.
This was an easy read, fast paced with a lot of action although much of this was driven by the overall inadequacies of at least one of the detectives. Although set in recent years some of the dialogue, characterisations and relationships felt at best unbelievable and perhaps even a little dated. By this I mean that it seemed odd that a very junior female officer would, on Tanner's first day, be approaching him, a very senior officer, with constant blatant sexual innuendo and checking out his ring finger. This quickly developing relationship felt very unlikely and cringe worthy. Secondly, I noted that all female characters were described in terms of their appearance, even the hotel receptionists. There were some inconsistencies in plot and a lot of drama and death in the rapidly paced conclusion. Really not convinced on this one.
April 6, 2019
My 5** review of David Blake 'Broadlands' Started this morning, could not put it down. Set on the Norfolk Broads a compelling read. Loved all the twists and turns to the extent I have now pre-ordered book 2 'St. Benets'
March 15, 2019
2 stars
I feel like I've come upon an episode of the Keystone Cops.
DI John Tanner turns up for a new postion. He meets with DCI Burgess who is a totally unlikeable man in the form of a blowhard. Tanner himself seems a little inept and has a bad temper. (Would a cop really get away with talking to his boss that way?)
He and his subordinate DC Jenny have an immediate attraction to one another. How cliché. Jenny was sizing Tanner up for boyfriend material before they even got to the car to take them to interview the husband of the missing woman. It made her look really bad, as though that were her aim rather than being a good and competent policewoman.
There is far too much dithering and detail given in the book. It detracted from the storyline and made the book move very slowly.
By the time I got through half of the book, I found I really didn't care who murdered the woman – or about any of the characters either.
I want to thank NetGalley and Black Oak Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.
I feel like I've come upon an episode of the Keystone Cops.
DI John Tanner turns up for a new postion. He meets with DCI Burgess who is a totally unlikeable man in the form of a blowhard. Tanner himself seems a little inept and has a bad temper. (Would a cop really get away with talking to his boss that way?)
He and his subordinate DC Jenny have an immediate attraction to one another. How cliché. Jenny was sizing Tanner up for boyfriend material before they even got to the car to take them to interview the husband of the missing woman. It made her look really bad, as though that were her aim rather than being a good and competent policewoman.
There is far too much dithering and detail given in the book. It detracted from the storyline and made the book move very slowly.
By the time I got through half of the book, I found I really didn't care who murdered the woman – or about any of the characters either.
I want to thank NetGalley and Black Oak Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.
July 31, 2019
Really quite bad
I did manage to finish it, so that’s a plus, but I don’t think I’ve finished a worse book. Dialogue not believable, plot ridiculous, no logic. Somehow a foetus managed to be both inside a murder victim in order for pregnancy to be discovered at post-mortem, and cut out by the murderer in order to become a maggot-encrusted mess. Truly archaic attitudes displayed by characters. Really really quite bad.
I did manage to finish it, so that’s a plus, but I don’t think I’ve finished a worse book. Dialogue not believable, plot ridiculous, no logic. Somehow a foetus managed to be both inside a murder victim in order for pregnancy to be discovered at post-mortem, and cut out by the murderer in order to become a maggot-encrusted mess. Truly archaic attitudes displayed by characters. Really really quite bad.
March 4, 2019
I am a big fan of this author's comedy space series so I was very intrigued when I heard that he had "gone all serious" for this, the beginning of his police procedural crime series, set in the Norfolk Broads. Would he really be able to put all the bonkers, irreverent humour behind him and set his mind to something a little more serious?
And... the verdict is... yes he blooming well can! Although it did hold echos of his trademark humour in some of the dialogue between the two main characters, but nothing on the scale of Capstan and Dewbush! So, for all you who didn't quite gel with these books, and are not sure whether to take a punt on this series, have no fear, they are nothing the same!
Jane Richardson is missing. Daughter of a prominent local millionaire, could it be money related? Could it be kidnap? New boy to the team, just transferred in, DI John Tanner is teamed up with born-and-bred DC Jenny Evans to investigate. Then Jane's body turns up and fingers start to point at the husband. But he was, well, he was pretty well occupied at the time. Or was he? Tanner and Evans continue with their investigations, alongside other officers and it soon becomes evident that this is going to be a tricky one to solve.
As with all new series, there is quite a bit scene setting and character development to be found in this book. Nothing more than the average series opener, and it doesn't distract from the main plot. Personally, I can do without all the boaty stuff but as the setting is quite important to both the series and the crimes being investigated, and also spoke to character development, I was happy to accept their inclusion.
Yes, there are a few cliches to be found herein. The wounded cop with a dark past, a colleague who is less than welcoming and a sidekick that, well, you'll discover that when you read the book. But, that formula generally works, and this book is no exception to that.
The crimes in the book are well plotted and the investigation flows along nicely, with twists and turns aplenty, along with the usual secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour. Yes, I did think they were a bit slow on the uptake regarding one key thing that I saw a mile off, and I did spend a bit shouting at them to see it too but they did get there in the end!
The characters were all well described and I took to the majority right from the off as I found them all easy to connect to. Interaction and banter between them was also spot on for me and made them feel more real. So much so that, when things transpired towards the end, I was literally reading with my heart in my mouth as the book reached its rather shocking conclusion.
All in all, a cracking series opener which I thoroughly enjoyed and which left me hankering for the next one. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
And... the verdict is... yes he blooming well can! Although it did hold echos of his trademark humour in some of the dialogue between the two main characters, but nothing on the scale of Capstan and Dewbush! So, for all you who didn't quite gel with these books, and are not sure whether to take a punt on this series, have no fear, they are nothing the same!
Jane Richardson is missing. Daughter of a prominent local millionaire, could it be money related? Could it be kidnap? New boy to the team, just transferred in, DI John Tanner is teamed up with born-and-bred DC Jenny Evans to investigate. Then Jane's body turns up and fingers start to point at the husband. But he was, well, he was pretty well occupied at the time. Or was he? Tanner and Evans continue with their investigations, alongside other officers and it soon becomes evident that this is going to be a tricky one to solve.
As with all new series, there is quite a bit scene setting and character development to be found in this book. Nothing more than the average series opener, and it doesn't distract from the main plot. Personally, I can do without all the boaty stuff but as the setting is quite important to both the series and the crimes being investigated, and also spoke to character development, I was happy to accept their inclusion.
Yes, there are a few cliches to be found herein. The wounded cop with a dark past, a colleague who is less than welcoming and a sidekick that, well, you'll discover that when you read the book. But, that formula generally works, and this book is no exception to that.
The crimes in the book are well plotted and the investigation flows along nicely, with twists and turns aplenty, along with the usual secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour. Yes, I did think they were a bit slow on the uptake regarding one key thing that I saw a mile off, and I did spend a bit shouting at them to see it too but they did get there in the end!
The characters were all well described and I took to the majority right from the off as I found them all easy to connect to. Interaction and banter between them was also spot on for me and made them feel more real. So much so that, when things transpired towards the end, I was literally reading with my heart in my mouth as the book reached its rather shocking conclusion.
All in all, a cracking series opener which I thoroughly enjoyed and which left me hankering for the next one. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
April 9, 2019
Whoa the opening was one that really made me sit up, take notice and raise my heart rate like that of Jane Richardson as she is faced with a choice, one similar to the one I had to make late at night after work too. Should she take the short cut home, a much darker and deserted way that cut precious minutes from an already very long day or walk the safe but long way home? Believe me it isn’t common sense that makes the choice, it is your feet after a 14 hour shift. Her feet won and my nightmare became her reality.
This is the first book in a new series set on the beautiful Norfolk Broads. DI John Tanner has transferred from London because of a personal tragedy, in the hope that the pace is much slower and the day-to-day problems much smaller. He is paired with DC Jenny Evans to find his feet and get to know the locals and area, with the first case they are to follow-up on being that of a missing woman.
Evans is a speak first think after sort of young woman, with her tongue in cheek remarks that give her and Tanner perfect banter. They have a real ease with each other making some light-hearted moments with such an intense story but the perfect working team for the job too. Not everyone at the station are happy with Tanner’s position.
This is a real who dunnit and why? especially when a second murder takes place and what begins as a shocking start slows down to the ground work of investigating and the thought of 4 mph police chases taking place on the Norfolk Broads bringing a smile to my face, before going to full throttle with a ‘I didn’t see that coming ending’. What a tremendous story, I was totally caught out and for once speechless. Belting. Bring it on!
This is the first book in a new series set on the beautiful Norfolk Broads. DI John Tanner has transferred from London because of a personal tragedy, in the hope that the pace is much slower and the day-to-day problems much smaller. He is paired with DC Jenny Evans to find his feet and get to know the locals and area, with the first case they are to follow-up on being that of a missing woman.
Evans is a speak first think after sort of young woman, with her tongue in cheek remarks that give her and Tanner perfect banter. They have a real ease with each other making some light-hearted moments with such an intense story but the perfect working team for the job too. Not everyone at the station are happy with Tanner’s position.
This is a real who dunnit and why? especially when a second murder takes place and what begins as a shocking start slows down to the ground work of investigating and the thought of 4 mph police chases taking place on the Norfolk Broads bringing a smile to my face, before going to full throttle with a ‘I didn’t see that coming ending’. What a tremendous story, I was totally caught out and for once speechless. Belting. Bring it on!
May 20, 2019
Pros:
- Bloody, sick, horrific...crimes. Interesting plot.
- Very charming killer or killers
- smart ending
Cons:
- starts very slowly, in the beginning of the book (or about 20%) - all we see are boats, nothing is happening ...plus, DI Tanner is too busy with “toilets” & “instant coffees”.
- as a result, we’ve got a bit boring DI (I liked Jenny better, at least can relate to her “horny” humor).
- lots of heroes (as well as places) starts with “B”
- Bloody, sick, horrific...crimes. Interesting plot.
- Very charming killer or killers
- smart ending
Cons:
- starts very slowly, in the beginning of the book (or about 20%) - all we see are boats, nothing is happening ...plus, DI Tanner is too busy with “toilets” & “instant coffees”.
- as a result, we’ve got a bit boring DI (I liked Jenny better, at least can relate to her “horny” humor).
- lots of heroes (as well as places) starts with “B”
May 3, 2019
Having not read any other books by this author I now avidly want to. The Norfolk broads a favourite haunt of mine portrayed this story well. It definitely was fast paced and I couldn’t solve myself before the end of the book. A definite must read excellent
March 22, 2019
This is a really good book! I finished this in 2 days flat. It was quite the page turner and had me hooked from the very beginning. I really enjoyed the style of writing and the characters. were well crafted. I enjoyed the rapport and the banter between DI Tanner and DC Evans. The ending I could guess but I still enjoyed it. My only point of contention was that the ending felt a bit simple and rushed. Overall a good book, one which I thoroughly enjoyed and wouldn't hesitate to recommend. And a big thank you to NetGalley and Black Oak Publishing for giving me the chance to read this ARC in exchange of my honest review.
September 25, 2019
This is the first book I have read by this author and the first of a series. It made a good holiday read while I was away from home. DI John Tanner is newly arrived in Norfolk from London expecting a much slower pace of life when he is plunged into a horrific murder. He quickly establishes a good working relationship with DC Jenny Evans, ( a saucy one indeed), but is sorely resented by Burgess who feels cheated by the new comer. After a slow start the pace picks up a the finale is unexpected and tense. Hopefully the characters will flesh out as the series moves on.
March 26, 2020
A very good murder mystery about 2 women who were murdered and mutilated and Tanner and Jenny, his love interest, that had to solve it, along with the help of Burgess. I figured out who was doing it but it was fun to watch the others figure it out.
There was no sex, and very little romance and the F-bomb was used 2 times.
As to the narration: I really only bought this book because I love the narrator, Jonathan Keeble. He’s such a perfect narrator.
There was no sex, and very little romance and the F-bomb was used 2 times.
As to the narration: I really only bought this book because I love the narrator, Jonathan Keeble. He’s such a perfect narrator.
December 1, 2024
This was so bad, I don't know where to start. Suffice to say it felt more like it was set in the 1970s than in 2019. So many jaded old detective clichés, intermingled with rampant misogyny and homophobia. Also classifying it as a serial killer book is disingenuous, as there are only 2 investigated murders.
November 7, 2019
Tense and entertaining!
Excellent quick and gripping thriller. It evoked the atmosphere of the Broads very well. This is a light but engrossing read - recommended.
Excellent quick and gripping thriller. It evoked the atmosphere of the Broads very well. This is a light but engrossing read - recommended.
March 16, 2022
I love a good thriller, especially when Jonathan Keeble reads it!
There was way too many clichés in this one though.. the forcing of a love story and the inappropriate comments didn't help either.
There was way too many clichés in this one though.. the forcing of a love story and the inappropriate comments didn't help either.
December 19, 2020
Broadland is my first book by this author and I very much enjoyed it, for the most part. I liked the characters, especially Tanner and Jenny. (Although having them already falling for each other after a couple of days made me roll my eyes.) I loved the descriptions of the Norfolk countryside, particularly the waterways, and felt as though I was right there with the characters! Secrets were uncovered, reputations were ruined and mistakes were made. I didn't even suspect whodunit until it was revealed. All in all, this was an entertaining police procedural series. My only complaint was the instant romance, which felt forced. Otherwise, it would have been a five star read for me.
On to St. Benet's!
On to St. Benet's!
June 3, 2019
A mixture to start with, but an appealing one: new man on job, young daughter dead, but he’s trying to accommodate himself in the unfamiliar surroundings of a friend’s boat while he looks for a flat. The office politics while he fits into a new police station are quite amusing and well depicted, though I wondered at the DC’s instant attraction to and flirtation with her new colleague. The plot was good except that there was one link I made that I felt the police should have made much earlier – after that, things moved fast and although there was a bit of jumping about, the book reached a pretty satisfactory end. I’m inclined to read more.
September 16, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. Quite like Stephen Booth. Especially enjoyed it being set all around Wroxham.
June 3, 2019
Fantastic reading. Couldn't put it down
Easy to read and would definitely recommend it. Enjoyed the storyline and look forward to reading more of his books. I do like detective style stories so generally search for similar style writing
Easy to read and would definitely recommend it. Enjoyed the storyline and look forward to reading more of his books. I do like detective style stories so generally search for similar style writing
May 20, 2019
A hair-raising mystery
David Blake's mystery is based in the Norfolk Broads. Detective Inspector Tanner arrives as a new member of staff transferred from London. He becomes involved in solving a Murder with some chilling consequences. An exciting read.
David Blake's mystery is based in the Norfolk Broads. Detective Inspector Tanner arrives as a new member of staff transferred from London. He becomes involved in solving a Murder with some chilling consequences. An exciting read.
May 15, 2019
Broadland is a thriller set on the Norfolk Broads. A family out on a hire boat for a much needed holiday find a body tangled in their propellor. this sets off a murder investigation. D I Tanner is newly arrived in Wroxham from London so is not made very welcome by DI Burgess who wants top job. so this story is not only about a murder but also the interaction of the characters. an excellent read that will keep you turning the pages.
May 9, 2021
I'm about 80% into this one now and, oddly, it's endeared itself to me less and less as I've gone on. It started quite well with the new DI, Tanner, starting his job in the Norfolk Broads. It had good 'spirit of place' with Tanner moving into an old boat on the Broads, his sense of dislocation at having to leave London was interesting. But somehow, once the actual action started it became really pedestrian and unconvincing. I found it extremely odd that Tanner and his new Detective Constable Jenny would immediately feel attracted to each other and start inappropriate flirting. Day one! Seriously, this would be so unlikely. Maybe in the 'good old days'. But not in today's fraught sexual climate.
I will finish this one, but I don't think I'll be reading another in this series.
I do however think that if you are into Mid-Summer Murders, Miss Marple or other kinds of 'cosy' crime (and you don't read a lot of crime fiction), then you might like this a lot. For me, this was like turning up for an Ironman contest only to find everyone playing bowls.
I'll rate when I've finished.
I've read two or three other novels whilst putting off finishing this one. When I finally got back to it I discovered I only had half a dozen pages left. All exposition, explaining what had gone on. I really didn't enjoy this, won't be reading another.
I will finish this one, but I don't think I'll be reading another in this series.
I do however think that if you are into Mid-Summer Murders, Miss Marple or other kinds of 'cosy' crime (and you don't read a lot of crime fiction), then you might like this a lot. For me, this was like turning up for an Ironman contest only to find everyone playing bowls.
I'll rate when I've finished.
I've read two or three other novels whilst putting off finishing this one. When I finally got back to it I discovered I only had half a dozen pages left. All exposition, explaining what had gone on. I really didn't enjoy this, won't be reading another.
May 10, 2019
Super yarn
Well great story with fine Characters I was so keen that the two would get together. Hope we n
Can meet them both again
Well great story with fine Characters I was so keen that the two would get together. Hope we n
Can meet them both again
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